第 28 节
作者:泰达魔王      更新:2024-07-17 14:41      字数:9322
  found。  I rap him up in de paper and stuff a piece of it in he
  mouffdat was de way。〃
  〃And you think; then; that your master was really bitten by the
  beetle; and that the bite made him sick?〃
  〃I don't think noffin about itI nose it。  What make him dream
  'bout de goole so much; if 'taint cause he bit by the goole…bug?
  Ise heered 'bout dem goole…bugs 'fore dis。〃
  〃But how do you know he dreams about gold?〃
  〃How I know?  why; 'cause he talk about it in he sleepdat's how I
  nose。〃
  〃Well; Jup; perhaps you are right; but to what fortunate
  circumstance am I to attribute the honor of a visit from you to…
  day?〃
  〃What de matter; massa?〃
  〃Did you bring any message from Mr。 Legrand?〃
  〃No; massa; I bring dis here pissel;〃 and here Jupiter handed me a
  note which ran thus:
  〃MY DEAR
  〃Why have I not seen you for so long a time?  I hope you have not
  been so foolish as to take offense at any little brusquerie of
  mine; but no; that is improbable。
  〃Since I saw you I have had great cause for anxiety。  I have
  something to tell you; yet scarcely know how to tell it; or whether
  I should tell it at all。
  〃I have not been quite well for some days past; and poor old Jup
  annoys me; almost beyond endurance; by his well…meant attentions。
  Would you believe it?he had prepared a huge stick; the other day;
  with which to chastise me for giving him the slip; and spending the
  day; solus; among the hills on the mainland。  I verily believe that
  my ill looks alone saved me a flogging。
  〃I have made no addition to my cabinet since we met。  〃If you can;
  in any way; make it convenient; come over with Jupiter。  DO come。
  I wish to see you TO…NIGHT; upon business of importance。  I assure
  you that it is of the HIGHEST importance。
  〃Ever yours;
  〃WILLIAM LEGRAND。〃
  There was something in the tone of this note which gave me great
  uneasiness。  Its whole style differed materially from that of
  Legrand。  What could he be dreaming of?  What new crotchet
  possessed his excitable brain?  What 〃business of the highest
  importance〃 could HE possibly have to transact?  Jupiter's account
  of him boded no good。  I dreaded lest the continued pressure of
  misfortune had; at length; fairly unsettled the reason of my
  friend。  Without a moment's hesitation; therefore; I prepared to
  accompany the negro。
  Upon reaching the wharf; I noticed a scythe and three spades; all
  apparently new; lying in the bottom of the boat in which we were to
  embark。
  〃What is the meaning of all this; Jup?〃 I inquired。
  〃Him syfe; massa; and spade。〃
  〃Very true; but what are they doing here?〃
  〃Him de syfe and de spade what Massa Will sis 'pon my buying for
  him in de town; and de debbil's own lot of money I had to gib for
  em。〃
  〃But what; in the name of all that is mysterious; is your 'Massa
  Will' going to do with scythes and spades?〃
  〃Dat's more dan I know; and debbil take me if I don't b'lieve 'tis
  more dan he know too。  But it's all cum ob de bug。〃
  Finding that no satisfaction was to be obtained of Jupiter; whose
  whole intellect seemed to be absorbed by 〃de bug;〃 I now stepped
  into the boat; and made sail。  With a fair and strong breeze we
  soon ran into the little cove to the northward of Fort Moultrie;
  and a walk of some two miles brought us to the hut。  It was about
  three in the afternoon when we arrived。  Legrand had been awaiting
  us in eager expectation。  He grasped my hand with a nervous
  empressement which alarmed me and strengthened the suspicions
  already entertained。  His countenance was pale even to ghastliness;
  and his deep…set eyes glared with unnatural luster。  After some
  inquiries respecting his health; I asked him; not knowing what
  better to say; if he had yet obtained the scarabaeus from
  Lieutenant G。
  〃Oh; yes;〃 he replied; coloring violently; 〃I got it from him the
  next morning。  Nothing should tempt me to part with that
  scarabaeus。  Do you know that Jupiter is quite right about it?〃
  〃In what way?〃 I asked; with a sad foreboding at heart。
  〃In supposing it to be a bug of REAL GOLD。〃  He said this with an
  air of profound seriousness; and I felt inexpressibly shocked。
  〃This bug is to make my fortune;〃 he continued; with a triumphant
  smile; 〃to reinstate me in my family possessions。  Is it any
  wonder; then; that I prize it?  Since Fortune has thought fit to
  bestow it upon me; I have only to use it properly; and I shall
  arrive at the gold of which it is the index。  Jupiter; bring me
  that scarabaeus!〃
  〃What! de bug; massa?  I'd rudder not go fer trubble dat bug; you
  mus' git him for your own self。〃  Hereupon Legrand arose; with a
  grave and stately air; and brought me the beetle from a glass case
  in which it was enclosed。  It was a beautiful scarabaeus; and; at
  that time; unknown to naturalistsof course a great prize in a
  scientific point of view。  There were two round black spots near
  one extremity of the back; and a long one near the other。  The
  scales were exceedingly hard and glossy; with all the appearance of
  burnished gold。  The weight of the insect was very remarkable; and;
  taking all things into consideration; I could hardly blame Jupiter
  for his opinion respecting it; but what to make of Legrand's
  concordance with that opinion; I could not; for the life of me;
  tell。
  〃I sent for you;〃 said he; in a grandiloquent tone; when I had
  completed my examination of the beetle; 〃I sent for you that I
  might have your counsel and assistance in furthering the views of
  Fate and of the bug〃
  〃My dear Legrand;〃 I cried; interrupting him; 〃you are certainly
  unwell; and had better use some little precautions。  You shall go
  to bed; and I will remain with you a few days; until you get over
  this。  You are feverish and〃
  〃Feel my pulse;〃 said he。
  I felt it; and; to say the truth; found not the slightest
  indication of fever。
  〃But you may be ill and yet have no fever。  Allow me this once to
  prescribe for you。  In the first place go to bed。  In the next〃
  〃You are mistaken;〃 he interposed; 〃I am as well as I can expect to
  be under the excitement which I suffer。  If you really wish me
  well; you will relieve this excitement。〃
  〃And how is this to be done?〃
  〃Very easily。  Jupiter and myself are going upon an expedition into
  the hills; upon the mainland; and; in this expedition; we shall
  need the aid of some person in whom we can confide。  You are the
  only one we can trust。  Whether we succeed or fail; the excitement
  which you now perceive in me will be equally allayed。〃
  〃I am anxious to oblige you in any way;〃 I replied; 〃but do you
  mean to say that this infernal beetle has any connection with your
  expedition into the hills?〃
  〃It has。〃
  〃Then; Legrand; I can become a party to no such absurd proceeding。〃
  〃I am sorryvery sorryfor we shall have to try it by ourselves。〃
  〃Try it by yourselves!  The man is surely mad!but stay!how long
  do you propose to be absent?〃
  〃Probably all night。  We shall start immediately; and be back; at
  all events; by sunrise。〃
  〃And will you promise me; upon your honor; that when this freak of
  yours is over; and the bug business (good God!) settled to your
  satisfaction; you will then return home and follow my advice
  implicitly; as that of your physician?〃
  〃Yes; I promise; and now let us be off; for we have no time to
  lose。〃
  With a heavy heart I accompanied my friend。  We started about four
  o'clockLegrand; Jupiter; the dog; and myself。  Jupiter had with
  him the scythe and spadesthe whole of which he insisted upon
  carryingmore through fear; it seemed to me; of trusting either of
  the implements within reach of his master; than from any excess of
  industry or complaisance。  His demeanor was dogged in the extreme;
  and 〃dat deuced bug〃 were the sole words which escaped his lips
  during the journey。  For my own part; I had charge of a couple of
  dark lanterns; while Legrand contented himself with the scarabaeus;
  which he carried attached to the end of a bit of whipcord; twirling
  it to and fro; with the air of a conjurer; as he went。  When I
  observed this last; plain evidence of my friend's aberration of
  mind; I could scarcely refrain from tears。  I thought it best;
  however; to humor his fancy; at least for the present; or until I
  could adopt some more energetic measures with a chance of success。
  In the meantime I endeavored; but all in vain; to sound him in
  regard to the object of the expedition。  Having succeeded in
  inducing me to accompany him; he seemed unwilling to hold
  conversation upon any topic of minor importance; and to all my
  questions vouchsafed no other reply than 〃we shall see!〃
  We crossed the creek at the head of the island by means of a skiff;
  and; ascending the high grounds on the shore of the mainland;
  proceeded in a northwesterly direction; through a tract of country
  excessiv