“You are impatient, my friend; I have nearly—”
But recognising Gregorio, she did not finish the sentence. She sat down on the edge of the box. Her face became white, and the blood left her lips. With a great effort she remained quiet and folded her hands on her lap.
Gregorio looked at her for a moment, a cruel smile making his sinister2 face appear almost terrible, and his bloodshot eyes glared at her savagely3. At last he broke the silence by shouting her name hoarsely4, making at the same time a movement toward her. He looked like a wild animal about to spring upon his prey5. Xantippe, however, did not flinch6, answering softly:
“I am not deaf. What do you want here?”
“It is my room; I suppose I have a right to be here.”
“None of your smooth speeches. The Englishman has schooled you carefully, I see. Can you say ‘good-bye’ in English yet?”
“Why should I say ‘good-bye’?”
“It is time. You will come back to me now.”
“Never.”
Gregorio laughed hysterically8 and stood beside her. His fingers played with her hair. In spite of her fear lest she should irritate him, Xantippe shrank from his touch. Gregorio noticed her aversion and said savagely:
“You must get used to me, Xantippe. From to-night we live together again. It is not necessary now for you to earn money.”
“I shall not come back to you. I have told you I hate you. It is your own fault that I leave you.”
“It will be my fault if you do leave me.”
“Let us talk,” he said.
For a few minutes there was silence, and then he continued:
“Amos is dead, and our debts are paid.”
“How did you pay them?”
“With this,” and as he spoke10 he touched the handle of his knife. “Don’t shudder11; he deserved it, and I shall be safe in a few days. These affairs are quickly forgotten. Besides, there is another reason why we should not live as we have lately been living.”
Xantippe opened her eyes as she asked, “What reason?”
Gregorio relaxed his hold, for the memory of his loss shook him with sobs12. Cat-like, Xantippe had waited her opportunity and sprang away from his grasp. The movement brought the man to his senses. He rushed at her with an oath, waving the knife in his hand. Xantippe prepared to defend herself. They stood, desperate, before each other, neither daring to begin the struggle. Through the awful silence came the sound of sobs and a plaintive13 voice crying:
“Gregorio, come back, leave her; I love you.”
“Yes.”
“Then go to her. I tell you I hate you.” She pointed15 to the half-filled box—“I was going to leave here to-night. I will never return to you.”
“You were going with the Englishman?”
“He is a man.”
Gregorio paused a moment, then in a suppressed voice, half choking at the words, said:
“Our son—do you know what has happened to him? You shall not leave me.”
“I know about our son. I am glad to think he is away from your evil influence. Let me pass.” Xantippe moved toward the door, but Gregorio seized her by the throat.
“You are glad our son is killed; you helped Amos to kill him.”
Rage and despair impelled16 him. Laughing brutally17, he struck her on the breast, and, as he tottered18, sent his knife deep into her heart. For a few seconds he stood over her exulting19, and then opened the door. Madam Marx, white with fear, rushed into the room. Seeing the murdered woman, a look of triumph came into her eyes. But it was a momentary20 triumph, for she realised at once the gravity of the crime. She had little pity or sorrow to waste on the dead, but she was full of concern for the safety of the murderer.
“This is a bad night’s work, Gregorio.”
“Is it? She deserved death. I am glad I killed her. God, how peacefully I shall sleep tonight!”
“This is a worse matter than the other, my friend; you must get away from here at once.”
“Let us leave the corpse21; I am thirsty,” Gregorio answered, callously22. With a last look at Xantippe dead upon the floor, the two left the room and made fast the bolt before descending23 the stairs. As they emerged from the doorway24 into the street, some police rode by, and Gregorio trembled a little as he stood watching them.
“I want a drink; I am trembling,” he said, huskily, and followed Madam Marx into the shop.
The sun was beginning to rise, and already signs of a new life were stirring. The day-workers appeared at the windows and in the streets.
“You must get away at night, Gregorio, and keep hidden all day.”
“All right. Give me some wine. I can arrange better when my thirst is satisfied.”
After drinking deeply he turned and laughed. “It has been a busy time since sunset.”
Then, as if a new idea suddenly struck him, he queried25 cunningly, “There will be a reward offered?”
“I suppose so.”
“Then you will be a rich woman.”
Madam Marx flung herself at his feet and wept bitterly. The blow was a cruel one indeed. Eagerly she entreated26 him to retract27 his words. She reminded him of all she had done for him, of all she would still do. A sort of eloquence28 came to her as she pleaded her cause, and Gregorio, weary with excitement, kissed her as he asked:
“But why should you not give me up?”
“Because I love you.”
Neither blood nor cruelty could stain him in her eyes.
At last her passion spent itself; calmed and soothed29 by Gregorio’s caress30 she realised again the danger her lover ran. Vainly were plans discussed; no fair chance of escape seemed open. At last Gregorio said:
“I shall leave here to-night for Ramleh and live in the desert for a time. If you help me we can manage easily. When my beard is grown I can get back here safely enough, and the matter will be forgotten. You must collect food and take it by train to the last station, and get the box buried by Ahmed near the palace. I can creep toward it at night unseen.”
“But I will come to you at night and bring food and drink.”
“No. That would only attract attention. You must not leave your customers. But the drink is the worst part of the matter. I must have water. Get as many ostrich-eggs as you can, and fill them with water, and seal them. Hide these with the food, and I will carry some of them into the farther desert and bury them there.”
“Gregorio, if all comes right you will not be sorry you killed her?”
“She hated me. I shall not be sorry.”
And Madam Marx smiled and forgot her fears.
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1
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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3
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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7
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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8
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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9
mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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10
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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11
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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12
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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13
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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14
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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15
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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16
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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18
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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19
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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20
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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21
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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callously
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23
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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24
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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25
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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26
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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28
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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29
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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30
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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