Chapter XV A Quaint Love Pact

 One evening after a hard morning's work on my book, and a particularly fatiguing¹ afternoon spent in vainly trying to lift Hubbard out of a funereal² mood, I thought I should make myself a present of a few minutes' conversation with Miss Ottley. I argued that she would be sure to spend the evening out somewhere, so I knocked at her father's door a few minutes before eight o'clock. A gloomy-looking footman opened the door. Yes, Miss Ottley was at home. He would give her my card. Would I wait? I would, though I wondered. I heard Dr. Belleville's voice. It issued from a room that opened on the hall. He was talking shrilly³ as though he were angered, and in French, perhaps to spare the feelings of the servants. He kept repeating that he had made up his mind and that he would not wait another day for God Almighty⁴. All of a sudden the door opened and he stalked out looking like the baffled villain⁵ in a melodrama⁶. We came face to face. He stopped dead and glared at me. "You!" he gasped⁷. "What are you doing here; what do you want?"

 

I glanced beyond him and saw Miss Ottley. He had been speaking to her, then, and like that. My blood began to boil. I advanced upon him trying to smile. I had seen Miss Ottley's face. "I want you to go right back into that room and pretend you are a gentleman," I said. The girl had put a kerchief to her eyes. "Quickly!" I added.

 

Dr. Belleville returned into the room. I followed and closed the door.

 

"Dr. Pinsent——" he began as I turned. But I cut him short.

 

"On your knees," I commanded. He went livid. "Dr. Pinsent," said Miss Ottley, "I beg you not to interfere⁸. You will only make it the harder for me."

 

She might as well have spoken to a fence. I never took my eyes from Belleville. "You know what you ought to do," I murmured. "If you compel me to teach you, you'll repent⁹ the object lesson in a hospital."

 

He fell on his knees before the girl. "I apologise," he groaned¹¹ out in a choking voice.

 

I bowed him out of the room as deferentially¹² as if he were a woman. He vanished silently. Miss Ottley was dressed for the opera.

 

"You are going out?" I asked.

 

"Y-yes," she said. She was powdering her face before a mirror.

 

"To the opera?"

 

"Yes. To meet there Mrs. Austin."

 

 

"Dare you walk there—with me for a companion?"

 

"Oh, yes," she said.

 

A moment later we found ourselves in Curzon Street. She took my arm. We walked for two blocks in absolute silence, save that every now and then she choked back a sob¹³. She was her own mistress again at length, however. "Why did you come—of all times to-night?" she asked.

 

"I do not know."

 

"Did you wish to see my father?"

 

"No. You."

 

"Why?"

 

"I had a subconscious¹⁴ conviction that you might be needing me."

 

"Truly?" she cried—and pressed my arm.

 

"That or something else. At any rate, I felt obliged to call. It may have been from a desire to reassure¹⁵ myself about the colour of your eyes."

 

"Ah! I suppose you are wondering—because—Dr. Belleville—because—I——," she paused.

 

"I am human," I observed.

 

"I want you to forget it. Will you, Dr. Pinsent?"

 

"On the spot."

 

"That is good of you." Her tone was crisp with disappointment. "You are indeed a friend."

 

"But not in need a friend, eh? Come, come, Miss Ottley, you are in trouble. I am strong and[Pg 141] trustworthy and capable. There are times when a man may tell the truth about himself, and this, I think, is one of them. Can I help you?"

 

"No one can help me," she said sadly, "you least of all."

 

"And why least of all?"

 

"Because you hate my father."

 

"Is he in trouble, too?"

 

"He is the willing but unwitting victim of a wicked, wicked man—but, oh, what am I saying? Dr. Pinsent, please, please let us talk of something else."

 

"You are trembling—May."

 

"Oh!" she said—and looked at me.

 

"It slipped out—unconsciously," I stammered¹⁶. "I did not mean to be impertinent. I think of you—by that name. Is it impertinent to think——"

 

"No, no."

 

"Then you'll forgive me?"

 

"What is there to forgive?"

 

"All that the circumstance implies. Come, after all, I am not sorry for the slip. Why should I twist its meaning either, like a coward. It is only the weak who need the shelter of hypocrisy¹⁷. Look straight before you—May—and do not turn your eyes. May again, you see."

 

"You have something to tell me," she said gravely.

 

"The old, old story, May," I answered with a short but reckless laugh.

 

"Should you—Dr. Pinsent—do you think?"

 

"Yes, because the husband you have chosen is a gallant¹⁸ fellow and my friend. I am too fond of him to wish to do him an ill turn, even in my own adventure. Why, look you, May, were you to turn to me and say, 'I love you, Hugo Pinsent,' I would answer, 'Yes—and we both love Frankfort Weldon.'"

 

"Yes," said Miss Ottley. She stopped and we looked deep into each other's eyes.

 

"Yes," she said again. "And we both love Frankfort Weldon."

 

"God help us," I exclaimed.

 

"It is a good prayer. God will hear it," she said softly.

 

"What made you?" I asked a little later; we were walking on again—but now apart.

 

"You," she said.

 

"It is very wonderful."

 

"And sad," said she.

 

"But grand and beautiful."

 

"I shall not go to the opera to-night," she said. "Will you put me in a cab?"

 

"You will go home?"

 

"Yes."

 

"And Belleville?"

 

"He will be at work. I shall not see him."

 

"He threatened you?"

 

"Not me, but Captain Weldon. He demands that I shall marry him. My father also wishes it.[Pg 143] You see I tell you everything—now. You will help me, will you not?"

 

"Of course. But you must teach me how. In what fashion does Belleville threaten Weldon?"

 

"He vows—that unless I do as he demands within this week—Captain Weldon will be found dead in his bed."

 

"Murder!" I cried.

 

"He does not scruple¹⁹ to conceal²⁰ the fact. He declares he has nothing to fear. He pretends to possess a secret which gives him as great a power over life and death as Providence²¹. An esoteric power, of course. It is connected with the discovery of Ptahmes. He claims to have already tested it. My father has used it in other ways. He has been experimenting on the Stock Exchange. In ten days he has already doubled his fortune. Surely of that you must have heard."

 

"I have heard that he has been speculating with extravagant²² success. But that his luck was due to supernatural agency I decline to believe. In my opinion Belleville is simply putting up a scoundrelly game of bluff²³."

 

"I wish I could think so, too. But I cannot."

 

"But, my dear girl, consider the probabilities. Belleville's story belongs to the Middle Ages."

 

"Yes—but he believes it. I am as sure of that as that I live."

 

"And is that a reason why you should believe it, too? The man is perhaps a lunatic."

 

"Ah!" she said. "I knew that you would take this view. That was partly why I felt you could not help me."

 

But her distress²⁴ cut me to the quick. "It does not matter what view I take," I muttered hastily. "I'll do anything you wish."

 

"Anything?"

 

"Did you doubt it?"

 

"No."

 

"Then——"

 

"Then go and stay with Captain Weldon. He will welcome you, for he likes you out of mention. Spend the week with him. Do not let him from your sight at night. Especially guard him while he sleeps. Is it too much to ask?"

 

"No."

 

"There is a cab—stop it, please! Thanks. Now say good-bye to me."

 

"Good-bye—May." I helped her into the vehicle. "Would it be permissible²⁵ to kiss your hand?"

 

"No!" she said, "but give me yours."

 

I felt her lips upon my fingers, and with a sort of groan¹⁰ I snatched them away from her grasp. That was our good-bye.

1 fatiguing   

a.使人劳累的

参考例句：

• He was fatiguing himself with his writing, no doubt. 想必他是拼命写作，写得精疲力尽了。
• Machines are much less fatiguing to your hands, arms, and back. 使用机器时，手、膊和后背不会感到太累。

2 funereal   

adj.悲哀的；送葬的

参考例句：

• He addressed the group in funereal tones.他语气沉痛地对大家讲话。
• The mood of the music was almost funereal.音乐的调子几乎像哀乐。

3 shrilly   

尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的

参考例句：

• The librarian threw back his head and laughed shrilly. 图书管理员把头往后面一仰，尖着嗓子哈哈大笑。
• He half rose in his seat, whistling shrilly between his teeth, waving his hand. 他从车座上半欠起身子，低声打了一个尖锐的唿哨，一面挥挥手。

4 almighty   

adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的

参考例句：

• Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
• It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。

5 villain   

n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因

参考例句：

• He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
• The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。

6 melodrama   

n.音乐剧；情节剧

参考例句：

• We really don't need all this ridiculous melodrama!别跟我们来这套荒唐的情节剧表演！
• White Haired Woman was a melodrama,but in certain spots it was deliberately funny.《白毛女》是一出悲剧性的歌剧，但也有不少插科打诨。

7 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

9 repent   

v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔

参考例句：

• He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
• Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。

10 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

11 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 deferentially   

adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地

参考例句：

• "Now, let me see,'said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie's shoulder very deferentially. “来，让我瞧瞧你的牌。”赫斯渥说着，彬彬有礼地从嘉莉背后看过去。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• He always acts so deferentially around his supervisor. 他总是毕恭毕敬地围着他的上司转。 来自互联网

13 sob   

n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣

参考例句：

• The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
• The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。

14 subconscious   

n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的)

参考例句：

• Nail biting is often a subconscious reaction to tension.咬指甲通常是紧张时的下意识反映。
• My answer seemed to come from the subconscious.我的回答似乎出自下意识。

15 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

16 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

17 hypocrisy   

n.伪善，虚伪

参考例句：

• He railed against hypocrisy and greed.他痛斥伪善和贪婪的行为。
• He accused newspapers of hypocrisy in their treatment of the story.他指责了报纸在报道该新闻时的虚伪。

18 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

19 scruple   

n./v.顾忌，迟疑

参考例句：

• It'seemed to her now that she could marry him without the remnant of a scruple.她觉得现在她可以跟他成婚而不需要有任何顾忌。
• He makes no scruple to tell a lie.他说起谎来无所顾忌。

20 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

21 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

22 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

23 bluff   

v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗

参考例句：

• His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
• John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。

24 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

25 permissible   

adj.可允许的，许可的

参考例句：

• Is smoking permissible in the theatre?在剧院里允许吸烟吗？
• Delay is not permissible,even for a single day.不得延误，即使一日亦不可。