第 51 节
作者:连过十一人      更新:2021-02-20 18:45      字数:9322
  before his feet; and the accessibility of all the world。  Dim
  recollections of the good things he had said; of his brother and
  Traquair seated in the background eating ordinary meals with
  inquiring; acid visages; caused perpetual smiles to break out on his
  face; and he steered himself stubbornly; to prove that he was a
  better man than either' of his guests。  He knew; vaguely; that he was
  going somewhere with an object; Rozsi's face kept dancing before him;
  like a promise。  Once or twice he gave Kasteliz a glassy stare。
  Towards Boleskey; on the other hand; he felt quite warm; and recalled
  with admiration the way he had set his glass down empty; time after
  time。  'I like to see him take his liquor;' he thought; 'the fellow's
  a gentleman; after all。'  Boleskey strode on; savagely inattentive to
  everything; and Kasteliz had become more like a cat than ever。  It
  was nearly dark when they reached a narrow street close to the
  cathedral。  They stopped at a door held open by an old woman。  The
  change from the fresh air to a heated corridor; the noise of the door
  closed behind him; the old woman's anxious glances; sobered Swithin。
  〃I tell her;〃 said Boleskey; 〃that I reply for you as for my son。〃
  Swithin was angry。  What business had this man to reply for him!
  They passed into a large room; crowded with men all women; Swithin
  noticed that they all looked fit him。  He stared at them in turn
  they seemed of all classes; some in black coats or silk dresses;
  others in the clothes of work…people; one man; a cobbler; still wore
  his leather apron; as if he had rushed there straight from his work。
  Laying his hand on Swithin's arm; Boleskey evidently began explaining
  who he was; hands were extended; people beyond reach bowed to him。
  Swithin acknowledged the greetings with a stiff motion of his head;
  then seeing other people dropping into seats; he; too; sat down。
  Some one whispered his nameMargit and Rozsi were just behind him。
  〃Welcome!〃 said Margit; but Swithin was looking at Rozsi。  Her face
  was so alive and quivering!  'What's the excitement all about?' he
  thought。  'How pretty she looks!'  She blushed; drew in her hands
  with a quick tense movement; and gazed again beyond him into the
  room。  'What is it?' thought Swithin; he had a longing to lean back
  and kiss her lips。  He tried angrily to see what she was seeing in
  those faces turned all one way。
  Boleskey rose to speak。  No one moved; not a sound could be heard but
  the tone of his deep voice。  On and on he went; fierce and solemn;
  and with the rise of his voice; all those faces…fair or swarthy
  seemed to be glowing with one and the same feeling。  Swithin felt the
  white heat in those facesit was not decent!  In that whole speech
  he only understood the one word〃Magyar〃 which came again and again。
  He almost dozed off at last。  The twang of a czymbal woke him。
  'What?' he thought; 'more of that infernal music!' Margit; leaning
  over him; whispered: 〃Listen! Racoczy! It is forbidden!〃 Swithin saw
  that Rozsi was no longer in her seat; it was she who was striking
  those forbidden notes。  He looked roundeverywhere the same unmoving
  faces; the same entrancement; and fierce stillness。  The music
  sounded muffled; as if it; too; were bursting its heart in silence。
  Swithin felt within him a touch of panic。  Was this a den of tigers?
  The way these people listened; the ferocity of their stillness; was
  frightful。。。!  He gripped his chair and broke into a perspiration;
  was there no chance to get away?  'When it stops;' he thought;
  'there'll be a rush!'  But there was only a greater silence。  It
  flashed across him that any hostile person coming in then would be
  torn to pieces。  A woman sobbed。  The whole thing was beyond words
  unpleasant。  He rose; and edged his way furtively towards the
  doorway。  There was a cry of 〃Police!〃  The whole crowd came pressing
  after him。  Swithin would soon have been out; but a little behind he
  caught sight of Rozsi swept off her feet。  Her frightened eyes
  angered him。  'She doesn't deserve it;' he thought sulkily; 'letting
  all this loose!' and forced his way back to her。  She clung to him;
  and a fever went stealing through his veins; he butted forward at the
  crowd; holding her tight。  When they were outside he let her go。
  〃I was afraid;〃 she said。
  〃Afraid!〃 muttered Swithin; 〃I should think so。〃  No longer touching
  her; he felt his grievance revive。
  〃But you are so strong;〃 she murmured。
  〃This is no place for you;〃 growled Swithin; 〃I'm going to see you
  home。〃
  〃Oh!〃 cried Rozsi; 〃but papa andMargit!〃
  〃That's their look…out!〃 and he hurried her away。
  She slid her hand under his arm; the soft curves of her form brushed
  him gently; each touch only augmented his ill…humour。  He burned with
  a perverse rage; as if all the passions in him were simmering and
  ready to boil over; it was as if a poison were trying to work its way
  out of him; through the layers of his stolid flesh。  He maintained a
  dogged silence; Rozsi; too; said nothing; but when they reached the
  door; she drew her hand away。
  〃You are angry!〃 she said。
  〃Angry;〃 muttered Swithin; 〃no! How d'you make that out?〃  He had a
  torturing desire to kiss her。
  〃Yes; you are angry;〃 she repeated; 〃 I wait here for papa and
  Margit。〃
  Swithin also waited; wedged against the wall。  Once or twice; for his
  sight was sharp; he saw her steal a look at him; a beseeching look;
  and hardened his heart with a kind of pleasure。  After five minutes
  Boleskey; Margit; and Kasteliz appeared。  Seeing Rozsi they broke
  into exclamations of relief; and Kasteliz; with a glance at Swithin;
  put his lips to her hand。  Rozsi's look said; 〃Wouldn't you like to
  do that?〃  Swithin turned short on his heel; and walked away。
  V
  All night he hardly slept; suffering from fever; for the first time
  in his life。  Once he jumped out of bed; lighted a candle; and going
  to the glass; scrutinised himself long and anxiously。  After this he
  fell asleep; but had frightful dreams。  His first thought when he
  woke was; 'My liver's out of order!' and; thrusting his head into
  cold water; he dressed hastily and went out。  He soon left the house
  behind。  Dew covered everything; blackbirds whistled in the bushes;
  the air was fresh and sweet。  He had not been up so early since he
  was a boy。  Why was he walking through a damp wood at this hour of
  the morning?  Something intolerable and unfamiliar must have sent him
  out。  No fellow in his senses would do such a thing!  He came to a
  dead stop; and began unsteadily to walk back。  Regaining the hotel;
  he went to bed again; and dreamed that in some wild country he was
  living in a room full of insects; where a housemaidRozsiholding a
  broom; looked at him with mournful eyes。  There seemed an unexplained
  need for immediate departure; he begged her to forward his things;
  and shake them out carefully before she put them into the trunk。  He
  understood that the charge for sending would be twenty…two shillings;
  thought it a great deal; and had the horrors of indecision。  〃No;〃 he
  muttered; 〃pack; and take them myself。〃  The housemaid turned
  suddenly into a lean creature; and he awoke with a sore feeling in
  his heart。
  His eye fell on his wet boots。  The whole thing was scaring; and
  jumping up; he began to throw his clothes into his trunks。  It was
  twelve o'clock before he went down; and found his brother and
  Traquair still at the table arranging an itinerary; he surprised them
  by saying that he too was coming; and without further explanation set
  to work to eat。  James had heard that there were salt…mines in the
  neighbourhoodhis proposal was to start; and halt an hour or so on
  the road for their inspection; he said: 〃Everybody'll ask you if
  you've seen the salt…mines: I shouldn't like to say I hadn't seen the
  salt…mines。  What's the good; they'd say; of your going there if you
  haven't seen the salt…mines?〃  He wondered; too; if they need fee the
  second waiteran idle chap!
  A discussion followed; but Swithin ate on glumly; conscious that his
  mind was set on larger affairs。  Suddenly on the far side of the
  street Rozsi and her sister passed; with little baskets on their
  arms。  He started up; and at that moment Rozsi looked roundher face
  was the incarnation of enticement; the chin tilted; the lower lip
  thrust a little forward; her round neck curving back over her
  shoulder。  Swithin muttered; 〃Make your own arrangementsleave me
  out!〃 and hurried from the room; leaving James beside himself with
  interest and alarm。
  When he reached the street; however; the girls had disappeared。  He
  hailed a carriage。  〃Drive!〃 he called to the man; with a flourish of
  his stick; and as soon as the wheels had begun to clatter on the
  stones he leaned back; looking sharply to right and left。  He soon
  had to give up thought of finding them; but made the coachman turn
  round and round again