第 43 节
作者:
指点迷津 更新:2021-02-20 05:05 字数:9322
hundred and fifty pounds for a lot of them。 I came into
possession of a number of family fetishesheirlooms; as they are
called。 There was a sword that one of my forbears wore at
Edgehill and other battles in Charles the First's time。 We fought
on the wrong side; of course; but the sword fetched thirty…five
shillings nevertheless。 You will hardly believe that I was
offered one hundred and fifty pounds for a gold cup worth about
twenty…five; merely because Queen Elizabeth once drank from it。
This is my study。 It was designed for a banqueting hall。〃
They entered a room as long as the wall of the house; pierced on
one side by four tall windows; between which square pillars; with
Corinthian capitals supporting the cornice; were half sunk in the
wall。 There were similar pillars on the opposite side; but
between them; instead of windows; were arched niches in which
stood life…size plaster statues; chipped; broken; and defaced in
an extraordinary fashion。 The flooring; of diagonally set narrow
boards; was uncarpeted and unpolished。 The ceiling was adorned
with frescoes; which at once excited Sir Charles's interest; and
he noted with indignation that a large portion of the painting at
the northern end had been destroyed and some glass roofing
inserted。 In another place bolts had been driven in to support
the ropes of a trapeze and a few other pieces of gymnastic
apparatus。 The walls were whitewashed; and at about four feet
from the ground a dark band appeared; produced by pencil
memoranda and little sketches scribbled on the whitewash。 One end
of the apartment was unfurnished; except by the gymnastic
apparatus; a photographer's camera; a ladder in the corner; and a
common deal table with oil cans and paint pots upon it。 At the
other end a comparatively luxurious show was made by a large
bookcase; an elaborate combination of bureau and writing desk; a
rack with a rifle; a set of foils; and an umbrella in it; several
folio albums on a table; some comfortable chairs and sofas; and a
thick carpet under foot。 Close by; and seeming much out of place;
was a carpenter's bench with the usual implements and a number of
boards of various thicknesses。
〃This is a sort of comfort beyond the reach of any but a rich
man;〃 said Trefusis; turning and surprising his visitors in the
act of exchanging glances of astonishment at his taste。 〃 I keep
a drawing…room of the usual kind for receiving strangers with
whom it is necessary to be conventional; but I never enter it
except on such occasions。 What do you think of this for a study?〃
〃On my soul; Trefusis; I think you are mad;〃 said Sir Charles。
〃The place looks as if it had stood a siege。 How did you manage
to break the statues and chip the walls so outrageously?〃
Trefusis took a newspaper from the table and said; 〃Listen to
this:
'In spite of the unfavorable nature of the weather; the sport of
the Emperor and his guests in Styria has been successful。 In
three days 52 chamois and 79 stags and deer fell to 19
single…barrelled rifles; the Emperor allowing no more on this
occasion。'
〃I share the Emperor's delight in shooting; but I am no butcher;
and do not need the royal relish of blood to my sport。 And I do
not share my ancestors' taste in statuary。 Hence〃 Here Trefusis
opened a drawer; took out a pistol; and fired at the Hebe in the
farthest niche。
〃Well done!〃 said Erskine coolly; as the last fragment of Hebe's
head crumbled at the touch of the bullet。
〃Very fruitlessly done;〃 said Trefusis。 〃I am a good shot; but of
what use is it to me? None。 I once met a gamekeeper who was a
Methodist。 He was a most eloquent speaker; but A bad shot。 If he
could have swapped talents with me I would have given him ten
thousand pounds to boot willingly; although he would have
profited as much as I by the exchange alone。 I have no more
desire or need to be a good shot than to be king of England; or
owner of a Derby winner; or anything else equally ridiculous; and
yet I never missed my aim in my lifethank blind fortune for
nothing!〃
〃King of England!〃 said Erskine; with a scornful laugh; to show
Trefusis that other people were as liberty…loving as he。 〃Is it
not absurd to hear a nation boasting of its freedom and
tolerating a king?〃
〃Oh; hang your republicanism; Chester!〃 said Sir Charles; who
privately held a low opinion of the political side of the Patriot
Martyrs。
〃I won't he put down on that point;〃 said Erskine。 〃I admire a
man that kills a king。 You will agree with me there; Trefusis;
won't you?〃
〃Certainly not;〃 said Trefusis。 〃A king nowadays is only a dummy
put up to draw your fire off the real oppressors of society; and
the fraction of his salary that he can spend as he likes is
usually far too small for his risk; his trouble; and the
condition of personal slavery to which he is reduced。 What
private man in England is worse off than the constitutional
monarch? We deny him all privacy; he may not marry whom he
chooses; consort with whom he prefers; dress according to his
taste; or live where he pleases。 I don't believe he may even eat
or drink what he likes best; a taste for tripe and onions on his
part would provoke a remonstrance from the Privy Council。 We
dictate everything except his thoughts and dreams; and even these
he must keep to himself if they are not suitable; in our opinion;
to his condition。 The work we impose on him has all the hardship
of mere task work; it is unfruitful; incessant; monotonous; and
has to be transacted for the most part with nervous bores。 We
make his kingdom a treadmill to him; and drive him to and fro on
the face of it。 Finally; having taken everything else that men
prize from him; we fall upon his character; and that of every
person to whom he ventures to show favor。 We impose enormous
expenses on him; stint him; and then rail at his parsimony。 We
use him as I use those statuesstick him up in the place of
honor for our greater convenience in disfiguring and abusing him。
We send him forth through our crowded cities; proclaiming that he
is the source of all good and evil in the nation; and he; knowing
that many people believe it; knowing that it is a lie; and that
he is powerless to shorten the working day by one hour; raise
wages one penny; or annul the smallest criminal sentence; however
unjust it may seem to him; knowing that every miner in the
kingdom can manufacture dynamite; and that revolvers are sold for
seven and sixpence apiece; knowing that he is not bullet proof;
and that every king in Europe has been shot at in the streets; he
must smile and bow and maintain an expression of gracious
enjoyment whilst the mayor and corporation inflict upon him the
twaddling address he has heard a thousand times before。 I do not
ask you to be loyal; Erskine; but I expect you; in common
humanity; to sympathize with the chief figure in the pageant; who
is no more accountable for the manifold evils and abominations
that exist in his realm than the Lord Mayor is accountable for
the thefts of the pickpockets who follow his show on the ninth of
November。〃
Sir Charles laughed at the trouble Trefusis took to prove his
case; and said soothingly; 〃My dear fellow; kings are used to it;
and expect it; and like it。〃
〃And probably do not see themselves as I see them; any more than
common people do;〃 assented Trefusis。
〃What an exquisite face!〃 exclaimed Erskine suddenly; catching
sight of a photograph in a rich gold and coral frame on a
miniature easel draped with ruby velvet。 Trefusis turned quickly;
so evidently gratified that Sir Charles hastened to say;
〃Charming!〃 Then; looking at the portrait; he added; as if a
little startled; 〃It certainly is an extraordinarily attractive
face。〃
〃Years ago;〃 said Trefusis; 〃when I saw that face for the first
time; I felt as you feel now。〃
Silence ensued; the two visitors looking at the portrait;
Trefusis looking at them。
〃Curious style of beauty;〃 said Sir Charles at last; not quite so
assuredly as before。
Trefusis laughed unpleasantly。 〃Do you recognize the artistthe
enthusiastic amateurin her?〃 he said; opening another drawer
and taking out a bundle of drawings; which he handed to be
examined。
〃Very clever。 Very clever indeed;〃 said Sir Charles。 〃I should
like to meet the lady。〃
〃I have often been on the point of burning them;〃 said Trefusis;
〃but there they are; and there they are likely to remain。 The
portrait has been much admired。〃
〃Can you give us an introduction to the original; old fellow?〃
said Erskine。
〃No; happily。 She is dead。〃
Disagreeably shocked; they looked at him for a moment with
aversion。 Then Erskine; turning with pity and disappointment to
the picture; said; 〃Poor girl! Was she married?〃
〃Yes。 To me。〃
〃Mrs。 Trefusis!〃 exclaimed Sir Charles。 〃Ah! Dear me!〃
Erskine; with proof before him that it was possible for a
beautiful girl to accept Trefusis; said nothing。
〃I keep her portrait constantly before me to correct my natural
amativeness。 I fell in love with her and married her。 I have
fallen in love once or twice since but a glance at my lost Hetty
has cured me of the slightest inclination to marry。〃
Sir Charles did not reply。 It occurre