He had known all along that some day she would turn up in Manila. It was impossible for them to resist the temptation to view their handiwork. Tigers, they always return to the kill. But he had her now, had her in the hollow of his hand. All the fear of her was gone. This afternoon he would teach her what the word meant. Civilians5 were lucky. These sordid6 things could pop up into their lives, even get into the papers, and shortly be forgotten. But in the navy it was the knell7 of advancement8. It never mattered if the wrong was wholly on the other side; the result was the same. But he had her, thank God! The world would never know what had turned Bob Hallowell into a misanthrope9. The tentacles10 of the octopus11 had been lopped off, as by a miracle. He was a free man.
Never would he forget the shame and misery12, the horror of that night in the Grand Hotel in Yokohama. The brazenness13 of that confession—on the first night of his honeymoon14! He was free, yes, but[Pg 3] he would never be able to blot15 out that infernal night. Well, he had her. She should leave Manila on the first ship that left port; it did not matter whether it went north or east. If she proved obdurate16, he would have her arrested. He would fight her tooth and nail. The world had changed since that night. The old order had gone to smash since August, 1914. Traditions had been badly mauled by necessities. Such a scandal, in which he had been merely the dupe, would scarcely leave a ripple17 in passing. Who would care, these tremendous times?
He stopped abruptly18. His thoughts had almost carried him past the hotel, one of those second-rate establishments which you find in all Oriental cities that are seaports19, hotels full of tragic20 and sordid histories. He entered, ran up the first flight of stairs, scrutinized21 the numbers on two doors, and paused before the third. He raised his hand and struck the panel. A touch of vertigo22 seized him. Supposing his love for the Jezebel was still a living thing and needed only the sight of the woman to revive it?
"Come in!"
[Pg 4]
He opened the door and closed it behind him, standing23 with his back to it. He did not take off his hat. A cold little shudder24 ran over him. She was more beautiful than ever.
She rose from a dilapidated corduroy divan25, pressed the coal of a cigarette into the ash-tray, and faced him, her air one of hesitance and timidity. What she saw was a squat26 muscular body, a beautiful head with a rugged27, kindly28 face. She noted29 the hair, shot with silver. That was always a good sign. Still, there was something in the elevation30 of his jaw31 and the set of his powerful shoulders she did not like.
What he saw was a woman of medium height, slender but perfectly32 molded, young, beautiful, exquisite33. Her hair was the color of spun34 molasses, lustrous35 because the color was genuine. Her eyes were velvety36 purple. The skin was milk-white, with a hint of peachblow under the eyes and temples. The marvel37 of her lay in the fact that she never had to make up. The devil had given her all those effectives for which most women strive in vain. Innocence38! She might have stepped out of one of Bouguereau's masterpieces. At one [Pg 5]corner of her mouth was the most charming mole39 imaginable. You might look at her nose, her eyes, the curve of her chin, but invariably your glance returned to the mole. The devil's finishing-touch; it permitted you to see the mouth indirectly40, and you lost the salient—a certain grim, cruel hardness.
He waited with an ironical41 twist to one corner of his mouth. But in his heart there was great rejoicing. Aside from the initial chill—nothing, not a thrill, not a tingle42 at the roots of his hair. He could look upon her beauty without a single extra heartbeat. He was free, spiritually as well as legally.
"Well?" he said.
"I came to Manila, to you, because I am tired and repentant43 and want a home. I am growing old."
He laughed and rested his shoulders against the door. There was a repressed volcanic44 flash in her eyes. That laugh did not presage45 well.
"Is it so hard to forgive?" Vocal46 honey.
"What is it you really want?" he asked, perfectly willing to see the comedy to its end.
[Pg 6]
"A home ... with you. I know, Robert, that I was a wretch47 in those days. But the world over here ... men ... the temptation ... the primordial48 instinct of woman to fight man with any weapon she can lay a hand to!... Won't you take me back and forgive?"
"Take care, Berta! Don't waste those tears! In your eyes they are pearls without price. Don't waste them on me."
"Then you won't forgive?"
"Forgive? What manner of fool have you written me down? Forgive! I gave you an honest man's love ... and you picked my pockets! I would not give two coppers49 to place on your dead eyes. Take you home? Innocent child!"
"Ah! Then it is war?"
"War to the end, pretty cobra! You don't suppose I came here with any other idea?"
How she hated this man! Hated him because she had never beaten him, never seen him cringe nor heard him plead. She, too, would remember that night in Yokohama, six years gone. After the blow, silence, not a word or a look. Stonily50 he had packed up his belongings51 and gone to the Yokohama Club, whence he had gone[Pg 7] aboard a cruiser in the morning. Since that moment until this she had never laid eyes on him. Every six months a check came; but even that lacked his signature—a draft from Cook's. War! So be it. He would learn when she began to turn the screws.
"You will take me home and acknowledge me," she whipped back at him.
"Acknowledge you ... what?"
"As your wife!" stormily.
Again he laughed. "You are not my wife, and never have been."
"And how will you prove it?"
"That will be easy. Curious old world, isn't it? I thought, when I received your note, that nothing would satisfy me but to wring52 your neck. And all I want is a kiss ... because I'm sure it would poison you! I know. You have in that head of yours schemes for my humiliation53, scandal, and all that. A woman, known as The Yellow Typhoon, claiming to be the wife of one Robert Hallowell, rampaging the office, storming the villa54 gate, getting interviewed. No, Berta, it isn't going to happen at all. On the contrary, you will leave Manila on the first ship out."
[Pg 8]
"And if I refuse?"
"Bilibid prison. While we are very busy militarily, our civil courts have plenty of time to try a prime case of bigamy. War? You will jolly well find out!"
"Bigamy!"
"Sure. Lieutenant55 Graham is dead, and I had charge of his effects. I found some interesting letters. These led me to the Protestant Episcopal cathedral, where your name and his were neatly56 inscribed57 on the register ... six months before you laid your trap for me. You found, after you had married him, that he wasn't the Graham who had inherited a fortune. Marriage! It seems to be a mania58 with you. How many of us poor devils have you rooked with your infernal beauty? What's God's idea, anyhow? Or is it the devil himself who fits you out, covers your black heart with alluring59 flesh? No matter. The first ship out or Bilibid. I have warned you."
Then he did something that he afterward60 regretted. But malice61 burned so hotly in his veins62 that he could not resist the impulse. He walked over to her and, before she could comprehend his purpose, swept her into his arms, held her tightly for a [Pg 9]moment, and kissed her, her eyes, her lips, her throat. Then he flung her roughly back upon the divan, stalked from the room, and closed the door with an emphasis which proclaimed that it was to stand between them eternally. Once he reached the street, he spat63 and rubbed his lips energetically.
He had been a fool to do that. He had slipped down to her level. But, hang it! it was the only way he could make her feel anything, the viper64!
A fool indeed; for later that act was going to cost him dearly.
He left behind a tableau65. Not until his footsteps died away did the woman stir. Then she sprang to her feet, a fury. She swept her hand savagely66 across her mouth. She, too, spat.
"Oh!" she cried, through her teeth, in a kind of animal roar. She seized the divan pillow, tore at it, and sent it hurtling across the room. "Oh!"
"There, there! Enough of that, Berta!"
A man stepped from behind the screen. He was notable for three things, his bulk, his straw-colored hair, and the pleasant expression of his smooth, ruddy face. The ensemble67 was particularly agreeable. But[Pg 10] in detail, somehow, the man lost out. There wasn't enough skull68 at the back of his head, his eyes were too shallow, there was a bad droop69 to his nether70 lip. For all these defects, everything about the man suggested power—power never wastefully71 applied72.
The woman whirled upon him. "But you!" her voice thick with passion. "You saw what he did?"
"Yes."
"And you let him go?"
"I have told you. If there is one man in Manila I do not care to meet, it's the captain."
"I despise you all!" She flew about the room, gesticulating.
"You will die of apoplexy some day, if you ever have the misfortune to grow fat. Enough of that nonsense. That goose is dead; but there are others, and larger golden eggs."
"But I hate him! I want him broken, disgraced! Didn't you hear him order me out of Manila?"
"Don't let that worry you. You'll stay here until I'm ready to leave. I'll hide you over in the Tondo."
"What! Among the natives?"
[Pg 11]
The man crossed the room and caught hold of her. "Be sensible. The captain will do exactly as he threatens. It's Bilibid if I don't hide you at once. You couldn't walk five blocks up the Escolta without running into some one who knows you. You left a trail across these diggings, my tiger-kitten. They don't call you The Yellow Typhoon for nothing. You've got to keep under cover, since we can't get you into that villa of his. These are war-times and I've big work to do. You'll go to Tondo because it is my will. I've let you play your game; now you'll help me play mine. When this job is done we'll return to the States and live like nabobs. I tell you, Berta, there's a fortune for the picking. Risks, yes; but not any more dangerous than we've been accustomed to. These American swine—"
"Hush73!"
"All right." The man switched into Danish. "These American swine don't shoot spies; they arrest them and let them out on bail74. Ye gods! But I say, I've got a little surprise for you. Remember those sables75 I smuggled76 in last spring? Well, Wu Fang77 is making them into a coat[Pg 12] that will be worth seven thousand in the States."
"Manchurian!" disdainfully.
"Real Russian." He smoothed her hair; but it was some time before she began to purr. "No nonsense. We'll clear out of here at once. I'll take you to the Tondo and you can rig up in that Chinese costume of yours. You can ride after sundown, and I'll be out frequently. I'll fix you up like the Sultan's favorite. You can wear a cap outside of doors. Inside, it won't matter if the natives see your hair."
"For how long?"
"Perhaps two weeks."
"Something of naval importance," she mused78.
"So big that the fatherland will pay a million. One of the biggest things in the world, here in Manila; and it's packed away in the brain of that experimental husband of yours. That's why I wanted you out there. There is a blue-print at that villa. If I can't land the big goose, I can land that. If we can't apply the principle, we can learn what it is."
"And if he loses it, it will break him?"
"Something like that."
[Pg 13]
"Then I'll go peacefully into the Tondo. The thought of his being broken will keep me alive. Make him pay for those kisses!"
The man held her off at arm's-length. "You're a queer hawk79. I don't suppose there's a man on earth you really care for. You're afraid of me; that's my hold."
"Afraid of you? No. You are generally sensible and necessary. And I happen to be your wife. You're a port in the storm."
"There seems to be only one idea in your head—to break men, twist their hearts and empty their pockets."
"I hate them. I have always hated them. As a child I fought the boys when they tried to kiss me. I was born that way. Analyze80 it? I've never tried to. Perhaps I am Nemesis81 for all the wrongs mankind has done womankind. I hate them. They never kiss me—even you—that I don't want to strike and cut."
"And you've been successful for one reason only."
"And what is that?"
"Naval officers, English and American, proud and inherently afraid of scandal. You may thank God you never tried your game on a man of my kidney. Your pretty neck[Pg 14] would have twisted long ago. Mark me, Berta, you are mine. Never try to play any of those tricks on me. If you do I'll kill you with bare hands. To you I am a reliable business partner; to me you're the one woman. Remember that. You hold me because you are always a bit of mystery. What's behind that day in San Francisco when you decided82 to cast your lot with mine? More than seven years gone, and I've never found out. Some man, and because he did not give you a square deal—all these wrecks83."
"Do you want the truth? You are the first man who ever laid his hand on me. I ran away from a humdrum84 world. I wanted adventure, swift, red-blooded. I'm a viking's daughter."
"I can believe that. You don't care for money or jewels. It's the game, the sport. Typhoons! that's you. You come and go across men's lives exactly like a typhoon. Wherever you pass—wreckage. But our captain seems to have escaped."
"I have your promise in regard to him."
The man laughed. "That's one of your charms—you stick it out. What are you—German, Dane, Finn? To this day I don't[Pg 15] know. But always keep in your pretty head that you are mine. Marry them, kiss them, and say good-by; but always recollect85 that I'm under the latticed window. After all, it's just as well that you didn't go out to San Miguel. The captain has a partner. He'd have been too much for you."
"In what way?"
"Your way. Handsomest man in the Asiatic fleet, and rich. He's to be transferred shortly to the Atlantic. And if I've got the right of it, you and I are going to be very much interested in his journey."
"Rich and handsome," she said, ruminatingly.
The man smiled ironically. "An officer who has never had an affair; ice, where women are concerned. I dig up their histories; part of my game. You would have about as much chance with him as I would in a sampan in the middle of one of your happy-go-lucky typhoons. A handsome, vigorous young man, who carries a Rajputana parrakeet with him when he travels, a talking parrakeet. Everybody in Manila has heard about that bird."
"A handsome young man with money and a talking parrakeet!" The woman [Pg 16]began to laugh. "I never heard anything like that before. I am interested. What's he look like?"
The man took out a wallet from which he drew a newspaper clipping. "That's a good likeness86."
"He is handsome!... Good Heavens!"
"Well?"
"But this isn't his photograph. It's a crook's—'Black' Ellison, wanted for diamond robbery and assault in San Francisco."
"The two look enough alike to be useful ... maybe. Not a physical likeness; it's merely photographic. I never overlook anything. If he takes the journey I have in mind, it may be of use. Photographically, they look enough alike to be twins."
The woman returned the clipping, her eyes somber87. She walked slowly over to a window and stared down into the street—without seeing anything of the busy life below.
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收听单词发音
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1
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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configuration
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| n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置 | |
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3
winnowed
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| adj.扬净的，风选的v.扬( winnow的过去式和过去分词 )；辨别；选择；除去 | |
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chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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civilians
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| 平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓 | |
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6
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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knell
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| n.丧钟声；v.敲丧钟 | |
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8
advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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misanthrope
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| n.恨人类的人；厌世者 | |
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10
tentacles
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| n.触手( tentacle的名词复数 )；触角；触须；触毛 | |
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octopus
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| n.章鱼 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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13
brazenness
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| 厚颜无耻 | |
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honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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15
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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16
obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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18
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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19
seaports
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| n.海港( seaport的名词复数 ) | |
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20
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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21
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
vertigo
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| n.眩晕 | |
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23
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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24
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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25
divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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26
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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31
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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32
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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36
velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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37
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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38
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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42
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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43
repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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44
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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45
presage
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| n.预感，不祥感；v.预示 | |
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46
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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47
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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48
primordial
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| adj.原始的；最初的 | |
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coppers
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| 铜( copper的名词复数 )； 铜币 | |
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50
stonily
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| 石头地，冷酷地 | |
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51
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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52
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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53
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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54
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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55
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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56
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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57
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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58
mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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59
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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60
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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61
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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62
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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63
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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64
viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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67
ensemble
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| n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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69
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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70
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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71
wastefully
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| 浪费地，挥霍地，耗费地 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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73
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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74
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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75
sables
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| n.紫貂( sable的名词复数 )；紫貂皮；阴暗的；暗夜 | |
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76
smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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77
fang
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| n.尖牙，犬牙 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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80
analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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81
nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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82
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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83
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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84
humdrum
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| adj.单调的，乏味的 | |
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85
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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86
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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87
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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