The engineer found Mrs. West and Billy Walker chatting cozily on the porch, as usual. Mrs. West beamed kindly9 in her greeting, for she enjoyed the breezy manner of this handsome young man. Billy merely grunted10. To judge from the expression of his face, the utterance11 were better inarticulate.
Masters leaned his long length against a pillar at the head of the flight of steps, and joined genially12 in the conversation for a few minutes, despite the manifest grumpiness of Billy Walker, who, never a courtier, was at no pains to conceal13 his distaste for the engineer’s society. Mrs. West, however, was amiability14 itself, and Masters was minded to ignore the superciliousness15 of the other man’s manner, though fully16 conscious of it. He felt that, under the circumstances, he could ill afford to be too finical over such a trifle, notwithstanding the irritation17 to his vanity. So he rolled a[96] cigarette from the chip tobacco and wheat-straw paper which he affected18, and chatted jauntily19 with Mrs. West. When he deemed that a sufficient interval20 had elapsed, the engineer prepared the way to continue his delayed search of the cottage:
“I’ll just take a look inside. Miss Thurston promised me a book.”
“Miss Thurston isn’t in the cottage, Mr. Masters. You will find her down at the boat-house.”
Masters thanked her with his most winning smile, and strolled away toward the lake. Mrs. West looked after him with a femininely appreciative22 smile.
“What a delightful23 gentleman Mr. Masters is!” she remarked innocently to Billy; by way of answer, there came a rumbling24, luckily again quite inarticulate.
Forced thus by his own error to postpone25 the anticipated investigation26, Masters was in no pleasant mood as he made his way to the boat-house, with the intention of venting27 his[97] spite on the girl who loved him. But even this relief was not to be vouchsafed29 him yet. On the contrary, his displeasure was swiftly to become wrath30, venomed31 by alarm; for, as he drew near the boat-house, he heard a chorus of merry voices. Instantly, he realized that the other men were here where he had expected to find only May, and possibly Miss West. Fury mounted high at the thought. A fierce, unreasoning jealousy32 bit at him. So great was his emotion under these confederate causes that, for once, he forgot discretion33, and passed with hasty steps around the boat-house, totally heedless of the distraught expression on his usually debonair34 countenance35.
As the engineer rounded the corner, a scowl36 bent37 his brows at sight of the scene before him. The summer morning was of bland38 sun and gentle airs to set the care-free in a mood for lazy delights. The group of four, it was plain, had yielded to the soft seduction of the hour, for their faces were radiant. Roy Morton was sitting, in a boyish attitude, on the top of a snubbing post, about which his long legs were twined for security’s sake, while May Thurston cuddled at his feet, her face uplifted, her[98] eyes rapt, as she listened to some tale told from the book of his adventures. The spectacle infuriated Masters, and new fuel fed the flame as his eyes fell on the other two. These had their backs to the newcomer, who approached immediately behind them. Margaret sat at the edge of the dock, leaning against a post, in a posture39 of perfect comfort peculiarly exasperating40 to the observer. A little to the right, and so placed as to face the girl, Saxe sat, with his feet folded under him like a Turk. Masters noted41, even in this gusty42 moment, that his rival was an especially good-looking young man, of the shaven, clean-cut type most esteemed43 by the contemporary illustrator. The engineer appreciated the type of which he himself was the exemplar, and appreciated it indeed at its full worth, but, having a fair degree of intelligence, he knew that women admired also the vigorous, wholesome44 and cultured man, of the kind there before him. Though he had not the least fear for his own prowess where the hearts of women were concerned, he could not disguise from himself the fact that here was one who might easily prove a dangerous rival were the opportunity given.
[99]Saxe had just done with explaining to Miss West the reason for the new era of idleness, which the day had inaugurated for himself and his two companions. With Billy Walker, the era was merely continued.
It must be confessed that Saxe had cast a reconnoitering glance toward Roy before beginning his recital45, and that he held his voice lowered throughout the telling. He knew that this confidence to the girl, whom, to a certain extent, at least, the others distrusted, might be deemed by them the height of folly46. But he was past respecting their opinions in aught that concerned her and him. So, he told her freely of the decision to abandon systematic47 search, in favor of a recondite48 dependence49 upon occult inspiration. Margaret’s interest in the narrative50 was of the sincerest, and it delighted him. Her manner of receiving the information was proof enough to his mind that she harbored no least desire for his failure in this undertaking51. His heart was in a glow of happiness, as she bent a little toward him, her face all eagerness, her limpid52 eyes dazzlingly blue in the brilliant light. She met his gaze squarely, as she voiced her protest against the[100] course adopted:
“Oh, but, Mr. Temple, the time’s so short—less than three weeks now—it isn’t safe!”
The two were in this attitude of absorbed intimacy53 when Masters’ glance fell upon them. The evident intensity54 of their interest in each other capped the climax55 of his rage. He strode forward, with a sneer56 arching the heavy mustache. At the sound of his steps, the group looked up, and, in varying fashion, each of the four showed unmistakable signs of dissatisfaction at this interruption of the conversation. Masters so far forgot his manners as to make no response to the rather curt57 nods with which the two men greeted him. Instead, he halted abruptly58, and stared, glowering59, at Margaret and Saxe. After the first moment of astonishment60 at the engineer’s discourteous61 manner, Saxe’s expression of animation62 died out suddenly, to be replaced by a set severity that augured63 ill for him who should challenge it. Roy’s jaw64 shot out a little, and the veil dropped over his eyes, which, a moment before, had been mild and deep. Margaret could only regard the malevolent65 face of Masters with sheer amazement66, as his wrathful eyes met hers.
[101]It was May who saved the situation. She sprang to her feet with a little cry, which might have been of pleasure or of pain. With the intuition of a loving woman, she seized instantly on the fact that something had thrown her lover from his customary poise67. Without a particle of hesitation68, she employed the first ruse suggested by her woman’s wit:
She had no least idea as to the cause that had put the man in this tempestuous70 temper, but she realized the necessity of restoring him to some measure of self-control ere he should commit himself hopelessly by a violent outbreak. The fiction concerning the tooth rose to her lips without conscious volition71 on her part, the grimace72 with which Masters faced her, though merely a physical symbol of fury, might well have had its origin in a spasm73 of pain.
As he met May’s dismayed and imploring74 eyes, sanity75 rushed back on the engineer. By a stern effort, he fought back the flooding wrath. His face worked a little, then settled into a grim repose76. While the others waited in[102] silence for the outcome, he suddenly smiled, crookedly77.
“I had a frightful78 twinge while I was coming through the woods, but that didn’t matter so much, because I was alone, and could make faces, and say just what I wanted to. But I do think it was unkind of fate to visit the worst twinge of a jumping toothache on me at the very instant when I stepped into the presence of company; forgive me the face I made, please.” His big eyes were shining gently now, where before they had been blazing. His demeanor79 was convincing to the unsuspicious Margaret, who, having once experienced a jumping toothache, was prepared to accept it as full justification80 for any desperate deed. Of the others, May felt a profound relief in finding that he had so swiftly made use of her offered help, and, for the moment, this satisfaction contented81 her; Roy adjusted his jaw in a less-belligerent fashion, as contempt took the place of anger; Saxe found himself smiling, genuinely amused over the fancy of so piratical-seeming a person in the throes of toothache. Neither of the men, however, had the slightest doubt that May had offered an[103] ingenious excuse to account for the engineer’s savage82 manner; and forthwith, Saxe and Roy began to wonder mightily83 as to what, in fact, had occurred to destroy so completely the ordinary suavity84 of this young gentleman whom they cordially detested85.
Mrs. West sent her servant, Chris, in quest of Margaret, and, soon afterward86, May and Masters also went to the cottage, without troubling much for an excuse, so that the two friends were left alone together on the dock. But, before they had time to voice their common astonishment over the scene that had just passed, they were confronted by Jake, who, as they looked up at his approach, bobbed his head at them, and winked87 with a fine air of mystery. When he spoke88, he addressed himself directly to Roy, for the love each of them bore to niceties of mechanism89 sealed their sympathy.
Another series of bobbings and winks91 emphasized the importance of the forthcoming communication. Then, finally, he spoke in a husky whisper, for secrecy’s sake:
“Thought I’d look in on ye, and tell ye I got[104] an idee.”
“Capital, Jake!” Roy’s tone was distinctly encouraging. “What’s it all about?”
“It’s this way,” Jake began, with manifest pride in the importance of the coming revelation. “You see, I know somethin’ ’bout the house up thar—” he nodded over his shoulder in the direction of the cottage—“that you chaps don’t. That’s what!”
At this preamble92, Saxe, who had been giving only desultory93 attention to the old man, quickly ceased looking out over the lake, and gave ear to what the boatman was saying, while Roy, too, displayed a new interest. Jake was plainly gratified by the effect he had wrought94 on his hearers, and he proceeded with a note of pride in his voice.
“That’s one thing ’bout that-thar cottage that you ain’t onto, and, thinkin’ as how you wa’n’t likely to be, I says to myself, says I, I’ll jest put ’em wise, seein’ as how ye come, to a kind o’ standstill, as it were.”
“Thanks, Jake,” Roy said. “We surely need any help we can get at this stage of the game. Go ahead.”
The cottage was an uncouth95 structure. It[105] had originally been a story-and-a-half building, and to this Abernethey had added a sort of wing to make the music-room, and eventually this portion had become the principal bulk of the edifice96, for domestic offices had been joined to it, and a second story set above, in which were a number of bedrooms. It was in reference to this second story on the wing that Jake now came with tidings for the treasure-seekers.
“Si Hatch did that-thar job,” he said, with a wheezy chuckle97 of amused reminiscence. “Si means well, but, ’tween you and me and the lamp-post, he ain’t wuth shucks as a carpenter and j’iner—no, siree! Well, bein’ a cussed fool, Si misca’c’lated somehow, and left ’bout two-fut space at the forrerd end ’tween the outside wall and the lath to that side o’ the bedroom. I s’posed, o’ course, the old man’d be madder’n a hornet, but he only jest grinned some, and says to me, says he, it’ll save that much floorin’ for the bedroom, yes, I snummy, he did! Mighty98 clus, the old man was.” Jake paused, and regarded the listeners with merrily twinkling eyes. “Might so be as the gold’s in thar,” he concluded. “O’ course, ’tain’t likely,[106] but it might so be.” He stood silent, awaiting comment.
“We’re tremendously obliged, Jake,” Roy declared promptly99; and Saxe added a phrase of appreciation100.
“Do we have to tear the house down to get into the space?” Roy continued.
Jake shook his head vehemently101.
“Not a bit on it,” he declared; and he forthwith gave vent28 to another chuckling102 series of explosions.
“You see, the old man was clus, as I said. That’s right, he was gorrammed clus—meanin’ no disrespect. You know that-thar closet in the front hall upstairs, by the bedroom door. Well, the old man said they wa’n’t no earthly use o’ wastin’ good timber puttin’ a back to that closet, with plasterin’ and all. So, he jest had paper put up. You break away the paper, and then you can sidle right in’tween the outside wall and the lath o’ the bedroom; thought it might be wuth while jest to look in, as it were.”
“Indeed, we shall look in,” Saxe declared, “and we’re tremendously grateful to you, Jake, for the tip, because we need a lot of help, I’m[107] thinking.”
“We appreciate the kindness, old chap,” he exclaimed. “And let me tell you that I’m going to show my friendship by getting you a decent berth104, after this wild adventure is over and done with, where you’ll have the chance of your life. Your skill with engines is wasted here; it’s ’way off in Cuba, but it’ll be worth your while. Would you like that?”
“You bet ye!” was the sententious answer of the boatman, as he turned to lead the way toward the house. Presently, he chuckled105 yet once again, contentedly106, and added: “My old woman allus has been a-pinin’ to travel in furrin parts.”
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1
stipend
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| n.薪贴；奖学金；养老金 | |
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pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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14
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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superciliousness
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| n.高傲，傲慢 | |
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16
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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17
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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24
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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25
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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venomed
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| adj.恶毒的，含有恶意的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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debonair
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| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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42
gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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47
systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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recondite
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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52
limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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53
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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54
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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55
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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56
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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57
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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58
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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59
glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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60
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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61
discourteous
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| adj.不恭的，不敬的 | |
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62
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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63
augured
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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74
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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75
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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76
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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crookedly
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| adv. 弯曲地，不诚实地 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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82
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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83
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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85
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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86
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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88
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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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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93
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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94
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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97
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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98
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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99
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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100
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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101
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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102
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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103
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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104
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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105
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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