"I don't give a tinker's dam who you are," he growled6 before he had made out the features before him, "it's a blasted outrage7! Hello, Don, what in thunder brings you out at this time of night? You look white, man, what's the trouble?"
Saul hitched8 up his trousers, his round sleepy face that of a good-natured farmer.
"I want you to do me a favor if you will, Beefy. I know it 's a darned shame to get you out at this hour."
"Tut, tut, man. If a friend can't get up for another friend, he ain't much of a friend. Tell your troubles."
"I 'm looking for a man, Beefy, who 's down there somewhere among your Chinks."
"Hitting the pipe?"
"I 'm afraid so."
"Have n't any address I suppose—don't know his favorite joint9?"
"I don't know a thing about him except that he has been down there before—that he lit out again a little over an hour ago, half mad—and that I must find him."
"An hour ago, eh? That helps, some. There 's only a few of 'em open to the public at that time. But say, is there any special hurry? He's had time to get his dope by now. I 've got some work there in the morning."
"There's a girl waiting for him, Beefy, a girl who is paying big for every hour he's gone."
"So? Well, m' boy, guess we 'll have to get him then. I 'll be down in ten minutes. Make yourself at home on the doorstep."
Donaldson waited in the taxicab. For the first time in his life he computed10 the value of one-sixth of an hour. So long as he had been with the girl—or so long as he had been active in her behalf—the minutes were filled with sufficient interest to make them pass unreckoned. But to sit here and wait, to sit here and watch the seconds wasted, to sit here and be conscious of each one of them as it bit, like a thieving wharf11 rat, into his dwindling12 Present and carried the morsel13 of time back to the greedy Past, was a different matter. When finally Saul appeared with a fat cigar in one corner of his chubby14 mouth, Donaldson was halfway15 across the sidewalk to meet him.
"Good Lord!" he laughed excitedly, almost pushing the big man toward the cab, "I thought you were lost up there."
Saul paused with one foot already on the step. Then turning back, he struck a match for his cigar. The flare16 revealed Donaldson's eager eyes, his tense mouth. He carelessly snapped the burnt match to the lapel of Donaldson's coat and stooping to pick it off took occasion to whiff the latter's breath.
"The sooner we start—" suggested Donaldson, impatiently.
Saul stepped in, his two hundred pounds making the springs squeak17, and sinking into a corner waited to see what he might learn from Donaldson's talk. The suspicion had crossed his mind that possibly the latter had got into some such way himself—it was over a year since he had seen him—and was taking this method to hunt up an all-night opium18 joint. His experience made him constantly suspicious, but unlike the regular police, a suspicion with him remained a suspicion until proven. It never gained strength merely by being in his thought. At the end of five minutes he had discarded this theory. Stopping the machine, he gave the cabby a real address in the place of the fictitious19 one he had first given in Donaldson's hearing. The latter's mind, supernormally alert, detected the ruse20 instantly. He placed a hand upon Saul's knee.
"Beefy, you didn't suspect me, did you?"
"What the devil is the matter with you then?" demanded Saul.
"Nothing. What makes you think there is?"
"The mouth, man, the mouth! You don't get those wrinkles in the corner and a tight chin by being left alone five minutes, if all that is troubling you is a lost friend."
"You 're too confounded suspicious. It's only that I 've so many things to do, Beefy."
"Business picked up?"
Donaldson smiled. Saul had known his Grub Street life. As the cab sped on he regained21 his self-control. Action, movement was all he needed. For the next ten minutes he surprised Saul with his enthusiasm and loquacity22. The latter having known him as a quiet and rather reserved fellow, finally decided23 that it was a clear case of woman. The questions he asked about young Arsdale, in securing a minute description of the man, confirmed this impression.
The cab turned into the narrow cobbled streets of Chinatown, past the dark windows, Chinese stores and restaurants, a region that, deserted24 now, appeared in the early morning quiet ominous25 rather than peaceful. Dark alleys26 opened out frequently—alleys which coiled like snakes past cellar entrances, noisome27 rears of tottering28 tenements30, to grease-fingered doors as impassive as the stolid31 faces of guards who drowsed behind them asleep to all save those who knew the deadly pass-word. Paradoxical doors which shut in, instead of out, danger! But Saul knew them and they knew Saul. He knew further the haunts of beginners, where opium is high and the surroundings are fairly clean, he knew the haunts of the confirmed, where opium is cheaper and where surroundings do not matter at all. Also he knew Wun Chung, who does not smoke, but who, being rich, controls the trade and so keeps in touch with all who buy.
On the way to Chung's Saul made one stop. With Donaldson at his heels, he darted32 down a side street, pushed open, without knocking, a dingy33 door, went up a flight of stairs, along a dark hallway and down another flight, where he was stopped by a shadow. The big man spoke34 his name, and the shadow turned instantly from a guard to an obsequious35 servant. He opened the door and Saul strode across a narrow yard, stooping to brush beneath the stout36 clothes-line hung with blankets, an innocent appearing wash, which however served as an effective barrier to any one who might approach at a run. They entered the rear of a second tenement29 which faced a parallel street, but which, oddly enough, had no entrance to its rear rooms from the front. Another shadow rose before them only to vanish as the round red face of Saul appeared. He pushed on into a long, low-ceilinged room lined with bunks38, the air heavy with the acrid39 dead smoke of opium.
"Light," demanded Saul.
The sleepy proprietor40 brought a kerosene41 lamp, the chimney befouled with soot42 and grease. It was an old trick. These fellows protect their customers and through a sooted43 chimney the feeble light makes scarcely more than shadows in which it is very difficult to identify a man. Seizing the slant-eyed ghoul by the arm Saul held the lamp within an inch of the yellow face, so close that it burned.
"Don't try such fool things on me, Tong," he warned. "Bring me a light."
The Chinaman squirmed in terror, and when loosed was back again in a hurry with a lamp that lighted the whole room. Saul took it and examined the nearest bunk37. Donaldson glanced at the first face. That was enough. He retreated to the door for fresh air. Down the line went Saul, looking like some devil in Hell making tally44 of lost souls. He reached in and turned them, one after the other, face to the light, while Donaldson stood outside, dreading45 the call that should force him to look again. He was no man of the world and the reek46 of the place appalled47 him. Nothing he had ever read conveyed anything of the plain sordidness49 of it,—the unrelieved pall48 of it which burdened like the weary dead stretch of an alkali desert. The scene did not even become romantic to him, until glancing up, he saw above the irregular roof-tops, the stars still bright in the virgin50 purple, saw the unfouled spaces of the planet fields between them. What had such clean things as the stars to do with this mired51 world below? This jeweled roof was not intended for so squalid a floor. But the stars above brought him back to the girl again, and she to her brother, and her brother to this. Strange cycle! Then the stars and the blue gathered them all into one. Strange one!
"Not here," announced Saul, wiping the oil from his fingers. Donaldson breathed more freely. Without delay they hurried back to the cab.
"I had sort of a hunch52 that we 'd find him there," said Saul, "but we did n't. Now we 'll have a cup of tea with Chung and set him to work. It's a darned sight easier and a lot swifter way when you have n't any clue at all to work on."
"And pleasanter," returned Donaldson. "I 've seen enough of this."
"Not so bad when you get used to 'em," answered Saul, lighting53 a fresh cigar. "But I know how you feel; I 'm just that queer about morgues. Can't get used to 'em nohow. Get the creeps every time I step inside a morgue. But then I don't hanker after murder work of any sort like some of the boys. It would be just my chance to get a taste of it before I 'm done with the Riverside robberies."
"What are the Riverside robberies?" inquired Donaldson, with a faint remembrance of the name.
"You been out of town?"
"No, but I don't read the papers much."
"I should say not. Four hold-ups in three weeks, all within half a mile of one another on Riverside Drive."
"Riverside Drive?"
He remembered now. The Arsdale home was near Riverside Drive. Barstow had spoken of these crimes.
"You on the case?" he asked indifferently,
"Yes," answered Saul. "I 'm on the case and if another one breaks, the case and the Chief will be on me."
The cab had stopped before an unlighted store. The street light revealed a window filled with a medley54 of china, teas, silks, and joss-sticks. Above, in big gilt55 letters, was the sign "Wun Chung and Co."
It was surprising how quickly in response to Saul's knocking a door to the left of the main entrance, and leading upstairs, opened. After a few words with the moon-faced attendant, the light was switched on and the three ascended56 to a small room, brilliant with gaudy57 Oriental colors and heavy with ebony furnishings. A group of three or four Chinamen sat at a small table soberly drinking their tea with the exaggerated innocence58 of those who have a deck of cards up their sleeves. The proprietor himself, fat as a butter ball, toddled59 up to Saul with a grin upon his round, colorless face. He ordered tea for all and they sat down. In two minutes Saul had explained what he wished, and in five a couple of the silent group near had taken Chung's orders and stolen out like ghosts.
Saul swallowed his tea boiling hot and glanced at his watch. It was half-past four.
"Now," he said, "I 'm going back for a wink60 of sleep. You can sit on here or you can have Chung notify you at your hotel, eh, Chung?"
"Allee light," nodded the proprietor.
"How long do you think it will take?" asked Donaldson quickly.
"Might take till noon to search every place—and then we might not find him if he's an old hand at the game," answered Saul.
"Till noon!" exclaimed Donaldson irritably61. "Good Lord, that's eight hours!"
Saul placed his hand affectionately upon Donaldson's shoulder.
"See here, Don," he replied earnestly. "Take my advice and get some sleep."
"Do you think I can waste time in sleep?"
"Better take a little now or you 'll be having a long one coming to you."
"That's just it," retorted Donaldson. "I 've got all eternity62 for sleep."
"So? Well, I 'll take mine here and now, thanks. I want to wake up!"
The older man's sober common-sense brought Donaldson to himself.
"Guess you 're right," he admitted.
He took out a card and scribbled63 two addresses, one of the Waldorf and the other of the Arsdale house.
"You will notify me at one of these places as soon as you learn anything?"
"Allee light."
"At once, you understand?"
Saul insisted upon landing Donaldson at his hotel before going on to his own home. The latter grasped the big hand of his friend.
"Beefy," he said, "if ever I can give her a chance to thank you, I 'll bet you 'll think your trouble worth while."
"Turn in and give her a chance to thank you in the morning. I reckon she 'll appreciate that more than an opportunity to thank me."
The cab bearing the big detective glided64 off. Donaldson watched it melt down the dwindling vista65 until finally, dissolved altogether, it became one with the dark.
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收听单词发音
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1
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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2
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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3
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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6
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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7
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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8
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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9
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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10
computed
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| adj.[医]计算的，使用计算机的v.计算，估算( compute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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12
dwindling
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| adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 ) | |
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13
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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14
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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15
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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16
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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17
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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18
opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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19
fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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20
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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21
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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22
loquacity
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| n.多话，饶舌 | |
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23
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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24
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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25
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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26
alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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noisome
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| adj.有害的，可厌的 | |
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28
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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29
tenement
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| n.公寓；房屋 | |
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tenements
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| n.房屋，住户，租房子( tenement的名词复数 ) | |
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31
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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32
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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33
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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34
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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35
obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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37
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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38
bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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39
acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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40
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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41
kerosene
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| n.(kerosine)煤油，火油 | |
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42
soot
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| n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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43
sooted
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| v.煤烟，烟灰( soot的过去分词 ) | |
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44
tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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45
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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46
reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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47
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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48
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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49
sordidness
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| n.肮脏；污秽；卑鄙；可耻 | |
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50
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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51
mired
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| abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
hunch
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| n.预感，直觉 | |
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53
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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54
medley
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| n.混合 | |
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55
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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56
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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58
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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59
toddled
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| v.（幼儿等）东倒西歪地走( toddle的过去式和过去分词 )；蹒跚行走；溜达；散步 | |
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60
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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61
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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62
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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63
scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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64
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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65
vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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