第 19 节
作者:向前      更新:2021-02-18 21:59      字数:9322
  morning my suspicions were confirmed by reading that he had been
  present at a tea…party given on the terrace by Mr。 Will Crooks。  Mr。
  Parable conveyed to me the suggestion of a man absorbed in thought;
  and not quite aware of what he was doing; but in this; of course; I
  may have been mistaken。  He paused for a moment to look over the
  railings at the pelican。  Mr。 Parable said something to the pelican
  which I was not near enough to overhear; and then; still apparently
  in a state of abstraction; crossed the path and seated himself on
  the chair next to that occupied by the young lady。
  From the tree against which I was standing I was able to watch the
  subsequent proceedings unobserved。  The lady looked at Mr。 Parable
  and then turned away and smiled to herself。  It was a peculiar
  smile; and; again in some way I am unable to explain; reminded me of
  my first wife。  It was not till the pelican put down his other leg
  and walked away that Mr。 Parable; turning his gaze westward; became
  aware of the lady's presence。
  From information that has subsequently come to my knowledge; I am
  prepared to believe that Mr。 Parable; from the beginning; really
  thought the lady was a friend of his。  What the lady thought is a
  matter for conjecture; I can only speak to the facts。  Mr。 Parable
  looked at the lady once or twice。  Indeed; one might say with truth
  that he kept on doing it。  The lady; it must be admitted; behaved
  for a while with extreme propriety; but after a time; as I felt must
  happen; their eyes met; and then it was I heard her say:
  〃Good evening; Mr。 Parable。〃
  She accompanied the words with the same peculiar smile to which I
  have already alluded。  The exact words of Mr。 Parable's reply I
  cannot remember。  But it was to the effect that he had thought from
  the first that he had known her but had not been quite sure。  It was
  at this point that; thinking I saw my colleague approaching; I went
  to meet him。  I found I was mistaken; and slowly retraced my steps。
  I passed Mr。 Parable and the lady。  They were talking together with
  what I should describe as animation。  I went as far as the southern
  extremity of the suspension bridge; and must have waited there quite
  ten minutes before returning eastward。  It was while I was passing
  behind them on the grass; partially screened by the rhododendrons;
  that I heard Mr。 Parable say to the lady:
  〃Why shouldn't we have it together?〃
  To which the lady replied:
  〃But what about Miss Clebb?〃
  I could not overhear what followed; owing to their sinking their
  voices。  It seemed to be an argument。  It ended with the young lady
  laughing and then rising。  Mr。 Parable also rose; and they walked
  off together。  As they passed me I heard the lady say:
  〃I wonder if there's any place in London where you're not likely to
  be recognised。〃
  Mr。 Parable; who gave me the idea of being in a state of growing
  excitement; replied quite loudly:
  〃Oh; let 'em!〃
  I was following behind them when the lady suddenly stopped。
  〃I know!〃 she said。  〃The Popular Cafe。〃
  The park…keeper said he was convinced he would know the lady again;
  having taken particular notice of her。  She had brown eyes and was
  wearing a black hat supplemented with poppies。
  *          *          *
  Arthur Horton; waiter at the Popular Cafe; states as follows:
  I know Mr。 John Parable by sight。  Have often heard him speak at
  public meetings。  Am a bit of a Socialist myself。  Remember his
  dining at the Popular Cafe on the evening of Thursday。  Didn't
  recognise him immediately on his entrance for two reasons。  One was
  his hat; and the other was his girl。  I took it from him and hung it
  up。  I mean; of course; the hat。  It was a brand…new bowler; a
  trifle ikey about the brim。  Have always associated him with a soft
  grey felt。  But never with girls。  Females; yes; to any extent。  But
  this was the real article。  You know what I meanthe sort of girl
  that you turn round to look after。  It was she who selected the
  table in the corner behind the door。  Been there before; I should
  say。
  I should; in the ordinary course of business; have addressed Mr。
  Parable by name; such being our instructions in the case of
  customers known to us。  But; putting the hat and the girl together;
  I decided not to。  Mr。 Parable was all for our three…and…six…penny
  table d'hote; he evidently not wanting to think。  But the lady
  wouldn't hear of it。
  〃Remember Miss Clebb;〃 she reminded him。
  Of course; at the time I did not know what was meant。  She ordered
  thin soup; a grilled sole; and cutlets au gratin。  It certainly
  couldn't have been the dinner。  With regard to the champagne; he
  would have his own way。  I picked him out a dry '94; that you might
  have weaned a baby on。  I suppose it was the whole thing combined。
  It was after the sole that I heard Mr。 Parable laugh。  I could
  hardly credit my ears; but half…way through the cutlets he did it
  again。
  There are two kinds of women。  There is the woman who; the more she
  eats and drinks; the stodgier she gets; and the woman who lights up
  after it。  I suggested a peche Melba between them; and when I
  returned with it; Mr。 Parable was sitting with his elbows on the
  table gazing across at her with an expression that I can only
  describe as quite human。  It was when I brought the coffee that he
  turned to me and asked:
  〃What's doing? Nothing stuffy;〃 he added。  〃Is there an Exhibition
  anywheresomething in the open air?〃
  〃You are forgetting Miss Clebb;〃 the lady reminded him。
  〃For two pins;〃 said Mr。 Parable; 〃I would get up at the meeting and
  tell Miss Clebb what I really think about her。〃
  I suggested the Earl's Court Exhibition; little thinking at the time
  what it was going to lead to; but the lady at first wouldn't hear of
  it; and the party at the next table calling for their bill (they had
  asked for it once or twice before; when I came to think of it); I
  had to go across to them。
  When I got back the argument had just concluded; and the lady was
  holding up her finger。
  〃On condition that we leave at half…past nine; and that you go
  straight to Caxton Hall;〃 she said。
  〃We'll see about it;〃 said Mr。 Parable; and offered me half a crown。
  Tips being against the rules; I couldn't take it。  Besides; one of
  the jumpers had his eye on me。  I explained to him; jocosely; that I
  was doing it for a bet。  He was surprised when I handed him his hat;
  but; the lady whispering to him; he remembered himself in time。
  As they went out together I heard Mr。 Parable say to the lady:
  〃It's funny what a shocking memory I have for names。〃
  To which the lady replied:
  〃You'll think it funnier still to…morrow。〃 And then she laughed。
  Mr。 Horton thought he would know the lady again。  He puts down her
  age at about twenty…six; describing herto use his own piquant
  expressionas 〃a bit of all right。〃  She had brown eyes and a
  taking way with her。
  *          *          *
  Miss Ida Jenks; in charge of the Eastern Cigarette Kiosk at the
  Earl's Court Exhibition; gives the following particulars:
  From where I generally stand I can easily command a view of the
  interior of the Victoria Hall; that is; of course; to say when the
  doors are open; as on a warm night is usually the case。
  On the evening of Thursday; the twenty…seventh; it was fairly well
  occupied; but not to any great extent。  One couple attracted my
  attention by reason of the gentleman's erratic steering。  Had he
  been my partner I should have suggested a polka; the tango not being
  the sort of dance that can be picked up in an evening。  What I mean
  to say is; that he struck me as being more willing than experienced。
  Some of the bumps she got would have made me cross; but we all have
  our fancies; and; so far as I could judge; they both appeared to be
  enjoying themselves。  It was after the 〃Hitchy Koo〃 that they came
  outside。
  The seat to the left of the door is popular by reason of its being
  partly screened by bushes; but by leaning forward a little it is
  quite possible for me to see what goes on there。  They were the
  first couple out; having had a bad collision near the bandstand; so
  easily secured it。  The gentleman was laughing。
  There was something about him from the first that made me think I
  knew him; and when he took off his hat to wipe his head it came to
  me all of a sudden; he being the exact image of his effigy at Madame
  Tussaud's; which; by a curious coincidence; I happened to have
  visited with a friend that very afternoon。  The lady was what some
  people would call good…looking; and others mightn't。
  I was watching them; naturally a little interested。  Mr。 Parable; in
  helping the lady to adjust her cloak; drew herit may have been by
  accidenttowards him; and then it was that a florid gentleman with
  a short pipe in his mouth stepped forward and addressed the lady。
  He raised his hat and; remarking 〃Good evening;〃 added that he hoped
  she was 〃having a pleasant time。〃  His tone; I should explain; was
  sarcastic。
  The young woman; whatever else may be said of her; struck me as
  behaving quite correctly。  Replying to his salutation with a cold
  and distant bow; she rose; and; turning to Mr。 Parable; o