Miller gave me the look of a dog that wants but does not dare to lick your hand. His gratitude was pathetic. I shut the door in his face.
Hubbard did not rise. He did not even offer to shake hands. He half closed his eyes and murmured in a tired voice: "The bad penny is back again, and uglier than ever."
I crossed the room and threw open a window. Then I marched into his bedroom, seized a water jug27, returned and put out the fire.
"You've been coddling yourself too long," I remarked. "Get up and put on your hat. It's almost one. You are going to lunch with me at Verrey's."
"I have a stiff leg," he remonstrated28.
The room was full of steam and smoke. Hubbard said a wicked thing and got afoot, coughing. I found his hat, crammed30 it on his skull31 and crooked32 my arm in his. He declined to budge33 and wagged a blistering34 tongue, but I laughed and, picking him up, I carried him bodily downstairs to a cab. He called me forty sorts of cowardly bully in his gentle sweetly courteous35 tones, but before two blocks were passed his ill-humour had evaporated. He remembered he had news to give me. We had not met[Pg 114] for eighteen months. Of a sudden he stopped beshrewing me and leaned back in the cushions. I knew his ways and talked about the weather. He endured it until we were seated within the grill-room. Then he begged me very civilly to let God manage His own affairs.
"I am very willing," I said.
He impaled36 an oyster38 on a fork and sniffed39 at it with brutal40 indifference41 to the waiter's feelings. Satisfied it was a good oyster, he swallowed it.
"I am no longer a bachelor," said he. "I have taken unto myself a wife."
"The deuce!" I cried.
"My dear Hubbard, I assure you——"
"My dear Pinsent, you have blundered on the truth."
"But——"
He held up a warning finger. "It occurred a year ago. We lived together for six weeks. Then we compromised. I gave her my house in Park Lane and returned myself to Bruton Street. Pish! man, don't look so shocked. Helen and I are friends—I see her once a week now at least, sometimes more often. I assure you I enjoy her conversation. She has a natural genius for gossip and uses all her opportunities. She has already become a fixed42 star in the firmament43 of society's smartest set and aspires44 to found a new solar system. I allow her fifteen[Pg 115] thousand pounds a year. She spends twenty. My compensation is that I am never at a loss for a subject of reflection. We shall call on her this afternoon. A devil, but diverting. You will be amused."
"Do I know her, Hubbard?"
"Lady Helen Arbuthnot!" I cried.
He smiled and shrugged47 his shoulders. "You will find her changed. Marriage has developed her. I remember before you went away—was it to Egypt?—she tried her blandishments on you. But then she was a mere apprentice48. Heaven help you now—if she marks you for her victim."
"Poor wretch49!" I commented. "I suppose you can't help it. But you ought to make an effort, Hubbard, really."
"An effort. What for?"
He bit his lips and frowned. "Children and fools speak the truth," he murmured. Then he set to work on the champagne51 and drank much more than was good for him. The wine, however, only affected52 his appearance. It brought a flush to his pallid53 cheeks and made his dull eyes sparkle. He deluged54 me with politics till three o'clock. Then we drove to Park Lane. Lady Helen kept us waiting for twenty minutes. In the meantime, two other[Pg 116] callers joined us. Men. In order to show himself at home Hubbard smoked a cigarette. The men looked pensively55 appalled56. They were poets. They wore long hair and exotic gardens in their buttonholes. And they rolled their eyes. They must have been poets. Also they carried bouquets57. Certainly they were poets. When Lady Helen entered they surged up to her, uttering little artistic58 foreign cries. And they kissed her hand. She gave their bouquets to the footman with an air of fascinating disdain59. Their dejection was delightful60. But she consoled them with a smile and advanced to us. Certainly she had changed. I had known her as a somewhat unconventional and piquant61 débutante. She was now a brilliant siren, an accomplished62 coquette and a woman of the world. Her tiny stature63 made her attractive, for she was perfectly64 proportioned and her costume ravishingly emphasised the petite and dainty grace of her figure. Her face was reminiscent of one of those wild flowers of torrid regions which resemble nothing grown in an English garden, but which, nevertheless, arrest attention and charm by their bizarrerie. It was full of eerie65 wisdom, subtle wilfulness66 and quaint45, half-humorous diablerie. In one word, she was a sprite. She greeted her husband with an unctuous67 affectation of interest which would have made me, in his place, wish to box her ears. Hubbard, however, was as good an actor as herself. He protested he was grateful for the audience and claimed credit for [Pg 117]introducing me. Lady Helen looked me up and down and remembered that I had owed her a letter for nearly thirty-seven months. She gave me the tips of her fingers and then rushed away to kiss on both cheeks a lady who had just entered. "Oh, you darling!" she twittered. "This is just too lovely of you. I have longed for you to come."
It was May Ottley. She did not see me at once. Lady Helen utterly68 engrossed her. I had, therefore, time to recover from the unexpected shock of her appearance. I was ridiculously agitated69. I slipped into an alcove70 and picked up a book of plates. At first my hands shook so that I could hardly turn the pages. Hubbard glided71 to my side. I felt his smile without seeing it. "I smell a brother idiot," he whispered.
I met his eyes and nodded.
"In Egypt, of course?"
"Yes."
"She marries a guardsman next month, I hear."
"Indeed."
"The poor man," murmured Hubbard. "Come out and let us drink his health."
"No, thank you."
"And you?"
"Mine," said he, "were amputated in St. James Church. She is a lovely creature, Pinsent."
"Which?"
"Bring the tea, please," said Lady Helen's voice.
"She is staring this way at you," murmured Hubbard. "She recognises your back. No, not quite, she is puzzled."
"She has never seen me in civilised apparel," I explained.
"Are you afraid of her, my boy?"
"Yes."
"Well, you are honest."
"Three thousand, I tell you. He cannot go on like that. Shouldn't wonder if he went abroad. Like father, like son. Old Ranger77 had the same passion for bridge."
"You can say what you like, names tell one nothing. In my opinion the man is a Jew. What if he does call himself Fortescue? Consider his nose. I am tired of these rich colonials. I have no time for them. Heaven knows what they are after."
"She will spoil her lower register completely if she keeps on. Her voice is a mezzo and nothing else. You should have seen the way old Delman sneered78 when he listened to her last night."
"My test of a really fine soprano is the creepy feeling the high C gives one in the small of the back. Delicious. She never thrills me at all."
"He plays billiards80 too well to have been anything but a marker in his youth. I believe he kept a saloon somewhere in the States."
"They say it will end in the divorce court. That is what comes of marrying a milkmaid. And, after all, she did not present him with a son. Ah, well, it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Young Carnarvon is his heir still, and his chances of succeeding grow rosier81 every day."
"My dear Mrs. Belvigne, if it was not for her red hair, she would be as commonplace as—as my dear friend Mrs. Sorenson. What you men see in red hair——"
"Conscience, Lady Helen, is a composition of indulgences. It is a marriage de convenance between the conventional instinct and the appetite."
"Dr. Pinsent," said Miss Ottley, "is it really you?"
I turned and looked into her eyes. They were all aglow82 and her cheeks were suffused83 with colour. She gave me both her hands. The room was already crowded. People entered every minute. Hubbard pointed84 significantly at the tea-cups. Miss Ottley and I drifted to the divan85. We watched the crowd through the parted curtains, sipping86 our tea. We might as well have been in a box at the theatre watching the play.
"I knew you would escape," she murmured,[Pg 120] presently. "The others believe you to have perished in the desert."
"They consoled themselves, no doubt?"
"My father especially."
"Did he recover his Arab?"
"What Arab?"
"The creature he had imprisoned87 in the sarcophagus."
"The mummy, you mean. The body of Pthames? Oh, yes, that was safe enough, but he was in a fearful state until we found the punt. He feared that you would either steal or destroy the mummy, I believe."
"Miss Ottley!" I cried.
"You must not blame him too much," she murmured; "you know how he had set heart——"
"Look here!" I interrupted. "Do you mean to tell me that you found the mummy in the sarcophagus?"
"Certainly. Why?"
"Did you see it?"
"Yes."
"The mummy?"
"Why, of course."
"A dead body, a mummy?"
"Dr. Pinsent, how strangely you insist."
"I'll tell you the reason. When I opened the sarcophagus——"
"Yes."
"It contained not a mummy, but a living man."
"Impossible."
"You think so? The Arab was the very man who frightened you so often in the temple at the Hill of Rakh."
"Dr. Pinsent!"
"When I removed the lid he leaped out of the sarcophagus, sprang ashore88 and fled to the desert. I followed him for several miles. But I could not catch him. I was compelled to give up the chase. And now you tell me that you afterwards found a mummy in the coffin89 which I had left empty."
"One of us is dreaming," said the girl.
"What was this mummy like?"
"A tall man—with a curious conical-shaped head—and eyes set hideously90 far apart in its skull—but you have seen the Arab who frightened me—and indeed he attacked you at your camp. His mummified counterpart."
"I do not know."
"Good heavens!" she exclaimed. She put down her cup. "You make me very unhappy. You force me to recall my horror—in the cave temple. The wretched uncanny sense of the supernatural that oppressed me there. You make me remember that I was tortured into a fancy that the mummy was a ghost—that we were haunted—that—oh! oh! And father has been so kind to me lately, kinder than ever before."
"He is in London?"
"Yes."
"And the mummy?"
"Yes."
"And Dr. Belleville?"
"He is staying with us."
"Captain Weldon?"
She turned aside her head. "He is in London, too."
"You are shortly to be married, I am informed."
She stood up. "I must really be going," she observed constrainedly93; then she held out her hand. I watched her pick her way through the crowd to our hostess. It was a well-bred crowd, but it stared at her. She was worth looking at. She walked just as a woman should and she bore herself with the proper touch of pride that is at the same time a personal protection and a provocative94 of curiosity. Some people call it dignity. Hubbard materialised from the shadow of a neighbouring curtain. "My wife has invited me to dinner," he announced. "You, too. I have made her your excuses because I have a money matter to discuss that should not be postponed95."
"You have my deepest sympathy," I answered, and left him as puzzled to know what I meant as I was. Something was whispering over and over in my ear—"Work! work! work!" and whispering in the imperative96 mood. I determined97 to call upon Captain Weldon and procure98 from him my manuscript, at once. I remembered he lived in Jermyn Street. I walked thither99 as fast as I was able.
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1
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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misanthrope
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| n.恨人类的人；厌世者 | |
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detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reprisal
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| n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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7
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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jibing
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| v.与…一致( jibe的现在分词 )；（与…）相符；相匹配 | |
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rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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exhortation
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| n.劝告，规劝 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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mordant
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| adj.讽刺的；尖酸的 | |
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gibes
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| vi.嘲笑，嘲弄（gibe的第三人称单数形式） | |
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sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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28
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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29
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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31
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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32
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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34
blistering
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| adj.酷热的；猛烈的；使起疱的；可恶的v.起水疱；起气泡；使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡 | |
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35
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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36
impaled
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| 钉在尖桩上( impale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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39
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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40
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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42
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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aspires
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 ) | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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48
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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49
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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50
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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51
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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52
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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53
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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54
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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56
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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57
bouquets
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| n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 )；（酒的）芳香 | |
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58
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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59
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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60
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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61
piquant
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| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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65
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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66
wilfulness
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| 任性；倔强 | |
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67
unctuous
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| adj.油腔滑调的，大胆的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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69
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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70
alcove
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| n.凹室 | |
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71
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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72
singe
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| v.(轻微地)烧焦；烫焦；烤焦 | |
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73
moth
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| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
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74
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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76
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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77
ranger
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| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
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78
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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80
billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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81
rosier
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| Rosieresite | |
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82
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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83
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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85
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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86
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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87
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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89
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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90
hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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91
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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92
nude
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| adj.裸体的；n.裸体者，裸体艺术品 | |
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93
constrainedly
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| 不自然地，勉强地，强制地 | |
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94
provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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95
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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96
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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97
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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98
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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99
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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