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首页 » 英文短篇小说 » Spirits Do Return » CHAPTER XV. “Thank God, He Is Innocent!”
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CHAPTER XV. “Thank God, He Is Innocent!”
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“Well, I have been repaid for this night’s work. I must get back to the office, before I am seen coming from this cell,” said the official.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning, Pearson. You are looking tired. Have you had a hard night of it?”

“Yes; I am trying to unravel1 a mystery, and I am somewhat worried.”

“So am I, Pearson. I am trying to look into the past life of this prisoner, No. 78. I want to see if he has been a bad fellow. I am under the impression that he is not guilty of the crime for which he is being punished; he seems so honest about his past, and he has even given his real name, and that is some proof that he is no crook2, or murderer. He would surely deny his name if he were either, and I feel it my duty to look into this whole affair.”

“Well, officer, I am under the impression that he has registered under an assumed name—that he is holding back his real name.”

[153]

“Why have you formed such an impression?”

“Well, I have a feeling that he will tell his real name if pressed to do so.”

“I will send for him and we can press him for the truth.”

Pat’s voice was heard as he approached, saying: “I wonder what this day will bring forth3. Here I am, walking to the office. I have a feeling that it is time the ‘pet-fellow’ had a little exercise, and I must be there in case I’m needed.”

“There you are, Pat. You are always on hand when you are needed. You may bring No. 78 into the office.”

“I am getting to be a fortune-teller indade. I can tell when I am wanted without being told. Here, you ‘pet-fellow’! Wake up! I am going to take you for your morning’s walk.”

“I am very willing to go.”

“I am quite sure that you will go, willing or not. When I am told to do anything, I usually do it. Here we are.”

“Bring him in, Pat.”

“Plase open the door. How do you expect me to do—break in?”

“The night lock is thrown on, officer. How did that happen? We never do so unless we[154] all go inside of the prison. Were you in the prison last night?”

“We will discuss that later. We have sent for the prisoner and he is here. Let him in.”

“You may go, Pat. We have some investigations4 to make, and we prefer to be alone.”

Pat went, out, remaining within hearing and saying: “Here is a very comfortable seat. I will sit meself down and I won’t have to walk so far when I come back.”

“Now, did I understand you—No. 78 I am speaking to—did I understand you to say that you have given your real Christian5 name, and surname also, to be recorded in the prison books?”

“Well, I have been thinking.”

“About changing your name?”

“How do you know that, sir?”

“Mr. Pearson has told me so.”

“He told you so?”

“Do you deny it—can you, will you?”

“My God! what shall I do? You have told him all?”

“I have told him nothing.”

“Pearson, why are you so excited?”

“I am astonished at your falsehood.”

[155]

“And you may be more astonished before I get through with you.

“Come, did I understand you to say—or have you answered me? Do you hear me speak to you?”

“I do, sir. Well, then, I will have to be protected if I tell the truth.”

“From whom?”

“Oh, man! can not you see the danger I am in:”

“You in danger? Explain in what way. With your God, for swearing to falsehoods, or from your fellow-man?”

“I have not deceived my God.”

“Then you have given your own real name?”

“I will tell you. I have.”

“So you want protection, now you have told the truth? Give me the name of your enemy.”

“Officer, can you not relieve me of this torture? Can you not see?”

“Yes, I think I can.

“Well, Pearson, do you think you could rest comfortably behind the bars for a few hours?”

“I? What do you mean?”

“I mean that you have been trying to bribe6 this man to disown his name. Now I am not[156] in the dark. I understand it all, and I am going to make a clean breast of it. I shall send him back to his cell, and send you to another one.”

“I’ll just get up and stretch myself. I may have to use my muscles, and club too,” commented Pat. “I hope he will like his new home.”

“You must have good hearing, Pat,” said the official. “I was just going to ring for you. You must hear my thoughts. You may take No. 78 back, and return at once.”

“I will, your honor.

“Walk up fast, ‘pet.’ I am going to fill the order to a minute, and I will sure be proud to see him leaving me alone for a while. Here we are. Get in gently, ‘pet.’ I’ll be closing the door aisy, to not shock you. Now I must be bating it back to the office to get the other man.”

“Well, Pearson, ‘murder will out.’”

“I have not murdered anyone, and why should you talk to me in that way?”

“I don’t think that your brother has, either.”

“My brother!”

“Yes, your brother. Do you not know that[157] the convict is your brother? If you do not, I do.”

“We have the same name. Is that any reason why we should be brothers?”

“Not because you have the same name, no; but in this case the two men who bear the same name are brothers.”

“Tell me, why am I to be placed behind the bars?”

“So that you may not kill your brother.”

“Man! I’m not going behind the bars on any such freak ideas as yours. I shall not be disgraced by a prisoner who has no cause to fear me, just because he has a name like mine and makes the statement that he fears me.”

“You understand it all. Pearson, here is Pat. You may occupy cell No. 77, next to that of your brother.

“Come along, Pat. Take charge of Mr. Pearson, here.

“Give me your arms, officer.”

“I will never do so, not as long as I have a drop of blood in my body. I shall not give up my arms and allow Pat, the scoundrel, to place me behind the bars.”

“You will have it to do, sir. I will see that you do. Hand them over to me.”

[158]

“I refuse to do so. I will die before I do.”

“Well, me friend, you had better ask your God about that. Perhaps you are a little perverse7 about going.”

“You are not acting8 wisely, Pearson. You had just as well be brave and await the outcome.”

“Message here,” called out a voice.

“Give it to me. The charges? None? Very well.”

He read: “Your answer is, ‘Yes; we have the man in jail. Have his confession9 of murder of woman.’”

“My God! Can it be? He has received it, and my brother will be free.”

“I have not been deceived. Thank God, he is innocent!” exclaimed the superintendent10.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 unravel Ajzwo     
v.弄清楚(秘密);拆开,解开,松开
参考例句:
  • He was good with his hands and could unravel a knot or untangle yarn that others wouldn't even attempt.他的手很灵巧,其他人甚至都不敢尝试的一些难解的绳结或缠在一起的纱线,他都能解开。
  • This is the attitude that led him to unravel a mystery that long puzzled Chinese historians.正是这种态度使他解决了长期以来使中国历史学家们大惑不解的谜。
2 crook NnuyV     
v.使弯曲;n.小偷,骗子,贼;弯曲(处)
参考例句:
  • He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.我骂他骗子,他要我向他认错。
  • She was cradling a small parcel in the crook of her elbow.她用手臂挎着一个小包裹。
3 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
4 investigations 02de25420938593f7db7bd4052010b32     
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究
参考例句:
  • His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查,但没有发现什么。
  • He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
5 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒
参考例句:
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
6 bribe GW8zK     
n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通
参考例句:
  • He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
  • He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。
7 perverse 53mzI     
adj.刚愎的;坚持错误的,行为反常的
参考例句:
  • It would be perverse to stop this healthy trend.阻止这种健康发展的趋势是没有道理的。
  • She gets a perverse satisfaction from making other people embarrassed.她有一种不正常的心态,以使别人难堪来取乐。
8 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
9 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白,供认,承认
参考例句:
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
10 superintendent vsTwV     
n.监督人,主管,总监;(英国)警务长
参考例句:
  • He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
  • He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。


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