“Roy Morton, by all that’s good!” he cried.
“Hello Saxe, old man,” came the answer, in a musical monotone surprisingly gentle from one so stalwart. “Got your letter, and here I am. Incidentally, I’m tickled3 to death over the idea of some real excitement. I haven’t had any since a jolly fight in Mexico with a detective, who thought I was an absconder4 from the States, and tried to hustle5 me across the border.” Morton thrust out a rather heavy chin, so that in a twinkling his face grew threatening, savage6; his kindly7 blue eyes paled, the lids drew closer. “I had colored souvenirs of his earnestness scattered8 all over my anatomy9 for a fortnight. But I didn’t have to have[16] a doctor to patch me up, and he did, so I was satisfied. In fact, I got the doctor for him as soon as he apologized for his mistake.” Morton chuckled10 at the memory. His face was again all amiability11.
Saxe laughed. “You still wear a chip on your shoulder in order to entice12 somebody into a scrap,” he said.
“Nonsense!” Morton exclaimed, huffily. “You ought to know that I don’t want anything violent. I always try to steer13 clear of trouble. It’s only when something comes up that a man must resent for the sake of his self-respect that I ever resort to brute14 force. Why, I——”
Saxe ruthlessly interrupted:
“Oh, certainly, you’re a man of peace, all right! Only—ah, here’s one of them.”
Saxe sprang to his feet, and hurried to the door, on which an imperative15 knocking sounded. As he turned the knob, the newcomer pushed his way into the room unceremoniously, a man as tall as Morton, but whose six feet of height bulked much larger by reason of the massive build and large head, thatched shaggily with thick, iron-gray hair. The face[17] showed rugged16 ugliness, emphasized by muddy skin. His voice was wheezy from climbing the stairs.
“Well, and what’s it all about? What and why? Filibustering17? Abduction? Sunken treasure? Count me in on the scheming, strategy, conspiring18, plotting. But leave me out when it comes to donning the diving-suit, or engaging in the merry sword-play at the head of the stairs, or any aviation. Well, well, it’s like old times to be together.” He had shaken hands with the two men while speaking, serenely19 disregarding their verbal greetings, for his huge voice boomed over theirs. “No cigarette,” he concluded, waving away the offered box, as he sank down beside Morton on the couch. “I prefer a man’s smoke.” He drew forth20, prepared and lighted an especially fat and black cigar. “The doctor says I smoke too much,” he added, comfortably, after inhaling21 a startling volume of the smoke.
Saxe smiled unsympathetically.
“It’s eating so much and taking no exercise that makes you puffy.”
Billy Walker snorted indignantly.
“I only eat enough to keep this absurdly[18] large carcass of mine properly stoked,” he declared. “Of course, I don’t take violent exercise. I want my strength for brain-work. You can’t use the same vital force in two ways. If I wanted to be intellectually foolish like you and Roy, why, I’d consume my energy in keeping hard as nails. I, however, prefer intelligence to biceps—where’s Dave?”
“That’s the answer,” Saxe exclaimed, as a knock again sounded.
A moment later, David Thwing, the third and last guest, was in the room. He was the only short member of the group, but he was broad across the shoulders, with a stocky form that promised unusual strength. He might have been good-looking, but for the fact that his nose had once been disastrously22 smashed and never rightly repaired. Its present outline was as choppy as the Channel seas in a gale23. It gave to his face a suggestion of the prize-ring.
Now that the party was complete, Saxe bade his guests take their places at the table.
“No explanations till we’re done with the meal,” he announced, in answer to the questions of his friends.
[19]It was only when the table had been cleared of all save decanters and glasses and smoking materials, that he at last stood up to address his friends. A certain formality in his manner arrested their attention, and they regarded him with a sudden increase of curiosity.
“It’s now six years since we left the university,” Saxe began. “In the last year, we made a boyish pact24. We agreed to answer the call of anyone of us who became embarked25 in adventure of a sort to require the assistance from the others. So I have summoned you in accordance with the terms of our agreement; you see, I really have a sort of adventure to offer you, though perhaps you’ll think I’m a bit selfish in the matter, for the profit will be all mine. Roy, however, has made money enough so that he doesn’t need any more, and Billy always did have more than he could spend, with his foolish ideas of just learning things, instead of living them. Dave is reasonably poor, but, too, he’s reasonably honest, and so he’s better off without the temptations of great wealth. I’ve come to the conclusion, after careful reflection, that I’m the only one of the quartette who actually is in want of money.[20] My tastes are luxurious26, and, too, I have ambitious projects in the direction of operas that I wish to write. I can’t give myself to such serious work while I have to turn all my energies into musical pot-boilers to soothe27 the savage breast of the wolf at the door.”
“The metaphor28 is mixed,” Billy Walker grumbled29. “The purpose of pot-boilers is to soothe the stomach, not the breast. But what could be expected of a composer essaying oratory30?”
“Anyhow, I’ll let that stand by way of introduction,” he continued. “The pith of the matter is this: I’ve had some money left to me, a tidy sum in fact.”
Instantly, there came a chorus of congratulations from his friends. But the host waved his hand for silence, while he shook his head lugubriously32.
“I’m not exactly ready for congratulations yet,” he declared, when they had fallen silent again. “It’s true, I’ve had some money left to me, but the deuce of it is, I don’t know where the money is.”
Exclamations33 burst forth anew, eager questionings.
[21]“The simplest way of explaining the whole affair,” Saxe went on, “is to make it known to you in the form in which it was made known to me:
“The morning of the day on which I wrote to you, I received a letter. That letter was the first warning I had of this possible adventure. Now, I’ll read the letter to you, and then you’ll have the same knowledge of the whole matter as I have. By way of preface, I need only say that the writer of the letter has since died, and I have been formally notified by his lawyer concerning the old man’s will, in exact accordance with the terms of the letter he wrote me.”
The young man took from his breast-pocket a typewritten letter, and proceeded to read it aloud. From the first word to the last, the auditors34 sat silent, almost without movement, save now and then for the relighting of cigar or cigarette.
The letter ran as follows:
Saxe Temple, Esq.,
New York City.
Dear Sir:
It will doubtless astonish you at the outset to receive[22] a letter of this length from one who is a complete stranger to you. It will astonish you still more when you learn the contents of this communication. I shall, however, set forth the facts in such wise as may enable you to grasp them understandingly. For your opinion concerning them or me I care little. I am, in fact, making use of you as a sort of sop35 to conscience on finding myself face to face with death.
All that you need to know is this:
I am a musician. All the love of my life has been given to music—with two exceptions, of which I shall write later on in this letter. As to the music, I have loved it as an amateur, for I was of independent means with no need to mix in the sordid36 struggle for money. I have never written for production. I have been content for the most part merely to study, to apprehend37 as best I might the work of the masters. What I have myself composed has been of a wholly desultory38 sort, fragments of fragmentary ideas. I have fashioned now and then the motif39 of a theme. I have scientifically worked out by an application of mathematical laws, based on ratios of vibration40, certain new things in the way of harmony. All these I have left to you unconditionally41. I dare hope and believe that you will be able to make some use of the material. If you do so, pray spare yourself the pains of giving me any credit—if your honesty be over-nice—or worrying your conscience if you chance to be dishonest. I have no idea that I shall be messing around anywhere in your environment after I am once dead, and the world’s praise can be less than nothing to me after I have gone from earth. But because you are a musician and, as I have come to believe, an earnest one, I have decided42 to make you heir to my musical legacies43 certainly—to my money perhaps. I’ll explain the “perhaps” presently.
But first I must tell you of the love that rivaled my love for music. This was for your mother. On that[23] account my thoughts have been directed to you with special force. On that account this letter to you and all this letter implies.
Your mother as a girl possessed44 a wonderful natural voice and, too, the soul of a musician. It so chanced that she and I were neighbors and we met often socially. I was only a few years older than she, and I was already skilled in music, for I had devoted45 myself to the study of it from childhood. I recognized the supreme46 worth of her voice at the first hearing. I fell in love with your mother then—as a man with a woman, yes—even more as a musician in love, with a glorious instrument of music. It soon became evident that while she liked me, she could not love me as a wife should love her husband. I realized the truth, and though I suffered as an emotional temperament47 must suffer in such case, I did not despair. The musician in me triumphed over the man for I rejoiced in the glorious gift that she would manifest to the world. So I merged48 my passion for the woman in the enthusiasm of the maestro for his pupil. I offered myself as her teacher and she accepted me in that capacity. For two years I taught her. Under my training, her method became perfect. Her soul, too, grew, so that she had sympathy and understanding.
Then, just when she was all prepared for her triumph and my own, she fell in love with your father. She married him. In spite of all my prayers, my reproaches, my supplications, she abandoned her career for love’s sake. Her husband was opposed to his wife’s appearing in public as a singer. She yielded to his wishes without remonstrance49. I believe she was happy in her way because she loved your father sincerely, and she counted no sacrifice too great for love.
You, as a musician, can apprehend perhaps the suffering I underwent in consequence of this disappointment. It sickened me of my fellows—made me a[24] recluse50. It was in my life of retirement51 that I developed my third love—that of the miser52 for gold. I secretly transformed all my possessions into gold, which I kept in a secret safe here in my house. Oh, the hours of night during which I have worshiped before the shining heaps! But enough has been written at one time and another over the raptures54 of the miser, a rapture53 without justification55 in reason, yet more masterful than any other. I shall not weary you with explanation or excuse. The statement of the fact alone is sufficient.
Now at last I find myself the victim of a disease that must end my life course within a few days, perhaps hours. It becomes necessary then for me to dispose of my wealth. I am without relations with the exception of a distant cousin and her daughter, who are already well-to-do. To this daughter I have left my house here and the land that goes with it—a thousand acres—which has some value today and will have more very soon, as the region is being opened up.
For the bulk of my wealth, which as I have said is in gold, I have selected you as a possible heir, but you must do your part. I have thus chosen you because I dare hope that by it you may be helped in accomplishing something of worth in the art of music and so atone56 in some measure for the loss occasioned by your mother’s abandonment of her career. The condition which I have imposed on this legacy57 is merely to test you as to your perseverance58 and your intelligence. In the event of your failure, half of the money will go to the girl, and the other half to the founding of a musicians’ home.
After my death you will be notified by my lawyer, who has my will duly drawn59 in accordance with the conditions I here roughly explain. At once then, you will come to this place and here conduct a search for my treasure-chest, which contains three hundred thousand dollars in gold. If you discover this within[25] a month from the day of my death, this treasure shall be yours absolutely. If you fail in the quest the seals of my description of the hiding-place, which has been deposited with my lawyer, will be opened and the treasure secured, to be divided between my young kinswoman, Margaret West, and the establishing and endowing of a home for disabled musicians.
Because you are the son of your mother whom I loved, and because you are a musician of promise, I have thus chosen you as my possible heir. If you are as acute as I think, you will easily discover the necessary clues to the hiding-place of the gold. In the hunt you have full liberty to use any means you wish, with the privilege of residing in the house here with your helpers—if you employ them—during the length of the time allowed you.
Yours truly,
Horace Abernethey.
As he finished the reading, Saxe folded the sheets, and replaced the letter in his pocket. Then, he sank back into his chair, and surveyed his friends quizzically.
“Well?” he demanded.
“And so you want us to go with you, and of course we will.” He gazed benignantly on his fellow guests, then opened his mouth, and trolled in a musical baritone, “A hunting we will go!” Roy swung into the measure[26] with a nicety of accord in the tenor61 that told of old-time practice. Saxe added his bass62, and the song rang out in an harmonious63 prophecy of success.
As the refrain ceased, Billy Walker expressed himself whimsically:
“This comes as a great relief to me,” he explained, grinning cheerfully. “I’m all tied up with commission for erudite essays I’ve promised to write. I’ve been unable to figure any way in which I could fulfill64 my obligations. Now, by cutting the whole thing, the difficulty will be removed. I shall simply disappear with you. Saxe, old boy, I thank you. When do we start?”
“And you, Dave?” the host questioned eagerly, though this friend had already given consent for the three.
“I haven’t a blessed thing to do,” was the contented65 answer. “Apart from the pleasant thrill incident to this questing for hidden treasure, your wish for my assistance gives me a new feeling of self-respect, due to the fact of having something in the nature of business to attend to. When do we start?”
“Of course,” he declared. “When do we start?”
“You’re trumps67, all of you,” the host declared, gratefully. “I knew I could depend on you, but to have your assurance takes a weight off my mind all the same. I’d feel infernally helpless, alone on the job. With you chaps standing by, I know we’ll win out. As for starting, well, time is important—there’s a bit less than a month now left to us. I’ve looked up trains. There’s a good one that starts in the afternoon. I know it’s awfully68 short notice, but, if you could manage to make it tomorrow, why—” he halted doubtfully, to stare at his friends.
“Tomorrow it is!” boomed Billy Walker; and the others echoed agreement.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
parlor
|
|
| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
tickled
|
|
| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
absconder
|
|
| n.潜逃者，逃跑者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
5
hustle
|
|
| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
anatomy
|
|
| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
amiability
|
|
| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
entice
|
|
| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
steer
|
|
| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
brute
|
|
| n.野兽，兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
imperative
|
|
| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
rugged
|
|
| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
filibustering
|
|
| v.阻碍或延宕国会或其他立法机构通过提案( filibuster的现在分词 )；掠夺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
18
conspiring
|
|
| 密谋( conspire的现在分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
serenely
|
|
| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
inhaling
|
|
| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
disastrously
|
|
| ad.灾难性地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
pact
|
|
| n.合同，条约，公约，协定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
embarked
|
|
| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
luxurious
|
|
| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
metaphor
|
|
| n.隐喻，暗喻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
oratory
|
|
| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
rancor
|
|
| n.深仇，积怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
lugubriously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
exclamations
|
|
| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
auditors
|
|
| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
sop
|
|
| n.湿透的东西，懦夫；v.浸，泡，浸湿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
sordid
|
|
| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
apprehend
|
|
| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
desultory
|
|
| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
motif
|
|
| n.(图案的)基本花纹，(衣服的)花边；主题 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
vibration
|
|
| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
unconditionally
|
|
| adv.无条件地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
legacies
|
|
| n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
temperament
|
|
| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
merged
|
|
| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
remonstrance
|
|
| n抗议，抱怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
recluse
|
|
| n.隐居者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
retirement
|
|
| n.退休，退职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
miser
|
|
| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
rapture
|
|
| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
raptures
|
|
| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
justification
|
|
| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
atone
|
|
| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
legacy
|
|
| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
perseverance
|
|
| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
tenor
|
|
| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
bass
|
|
| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
harmonious
|
|
| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
fulfill
|
|
| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
amiably
|
|
| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
trumps
|
|
| abbr.trumpets 喇叭；小号；喇叭形状的东西；喇叭筒v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去式 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |