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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Tony The Tramp;Or Right is Might » CHAPTER XXII “I HOLD YOU TO THE BOND”
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CHAPTER XXII “I HOLD YOU TO THE BOND”
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On reaching New York, Rudolph made his way at once to the shop from which he had obtained his Quaker dress.

Has thee come back?” asked the old man, in a jocular tone.

Yea, verily,” answered Rudolph.

How do you like being a Quaker?”

“I’ve had enough of it. I want you to take them back. You promised to return me twenty-five dollars.”

“Let me look at them,” said the old man, cautiously. “They’ve seen hard usage,” he said. “Look at that rip, and that spot.”

“Humbug!” answered Rudolph. “There’s nothing but what you can set straight in half an hour, and five dollars is handsome pay for that.”

But the old man stood out for seven, and finally the tramp, though grumbling1 much, was obliged to come to his terms.

Where have you been?” asked the old man, whose curiosity was aroused as to what prompted Rudolph to obtain the disguise.

That’s my business,” said Rudolph, who had his reasons for secrecy2, as we know.

I meant no offense—I only wondered if you left the city.”

“Yes, I’ve been into New Jersey,” answered the tramp, who thought it politic3 to put the costumer on the wrong scent4. “You see, I’ve got an old uncle—a Quaker—living there. The old man’s got plenty of money, and I thought if I could only make him think me a good Quaker, I should stand a good chance of being remembered in his will.”

“I see—a capital idea. Did it work?”

“I can’t tell yet. He gave me four dollars and his blessing5 for the present,” said Rudolph, carelessly.

That’s a lie, every word of it!” said the old man to himself, after the tramp went out. “You must try to fix up a more probable story next time, Mr. Rudolph. He’s been up to some mischief6, probably. However, it’s none of my business. I’ve made seven dollars out of him, and that pays me well—yes, it pays me well.”

When Rudolph left the costumer’s, it occurred to him that the tramp’s dress which he had resumed had better be changed, partly because he thought it probable that a journey lay before him. He sought out a large readymade clothing establishment on Broadway, and with the money which had been returned to him obtained a respectable-looking suit, which quite improved his appearance. He regarded his reflection in a long mirror with considerable satisfaction. He felt that he would now be taken for a respectable citizen, and that in discarding his old dress he had removed all vestiges7 of the tramp. In this, however, he was not wholly right. His face and general expression he could not change. A careful observer could read in them something of the life he had led. Still, he was changed for the better, and it pleased him.

Now,” he reflected, “I had better go and see Mrs. Harvey Middleton. I have done the work, and I shall claim the reward.”

He hurried to the St. Regis, and, experienced now in the ways of obtaining access to a guest, he wrote his name on a card and sent it up.

The lady will see you,” was the answer brought back by the servant.

Of course she will,” thought Rudolph. “She’ll want to know whether it’s all settled, and she has no further cause for fear.”

Mrs. Middleton looked up as he entered.

Sit down, Mr. Rugg,” she said, politely.

Her manner was cool and composed; but when the servant had left the room, she rose from her chair, and in a tone which showed the anxiety which she had till then repressed, she asked, abruptly8: “Well, Mr. Rugg, have you any news for me?”

“Yes, ma’am, I have,” he answered, deliberately9.

What is it? Don’t keep me in suspense,” she said, impatiently.

The job’s done,” said Rudolph, briefly10.

You mean that the boy—?—” “Accidentally fell down a well and was killed,” said the visitor, finishing the sentence.

Horrible!” murmured the lady.

Wasn’t it?” said Rudolph, with a grin. “He must have been very careless.”

Mrs. Middleton did not immediately speak. Though she was responsible for this crime, having instigated11 it, she was really shocked when it was brought home to her.

You are sure he is dead?” she said, after a pause.

When a chap pitches head first down a well thirty feet deep, there isn’t much hope for him, is there?”

“No, I suppose not. Where did this accident happen?” asked the lady.

That ain’t important,” answered Rudolph. “It’s happened—that’s all you need to know. Tony won’t never come after that estate of his.”

“It would have done him little good. He was not fitted by education to assume it.”

“No; but he might have been educated. But that’s all over now. It’s yours. Nobody can take it from you.”

“True!” said Mrs. Middleton, and a look of pleasure succeeded the momentary12 horror. “You will be ready to testify that the boy is dead?”

“There won’t be any danger, will there? They won’t ask too many questions?”

“As to that, I think we had better decide what we will say. It won’t be necessary to say how the boy died.”

“Won’t it?”

“No. Indeed, it will be better to give a different account.”

“Will that do just as well?”

“Yes. You can say, for instance, that he died of smallpox13, while under your care in St. Louis, or any other place.”

“And that I tended him to the last with the affection of a father,” added Rudolph, grinning.

To be sure. You must settle upon all the details of the story, so as not to be caught in any discrepancies14.”

“What’s that?” asked the tramp, rather mystified.

Your story must hang together. It mustn’t contradict itself.”

“To be sure. How long are you going to stay in New York?”

“There is no further occasion for my staying here. I shall sail for England in a week.”

“Will it be all right about the money?” asked Rudolph, anxiously.

Certainly.”

“How am I to be sure of that?”

“The word of a lady, sir,” said Mrs. Middleton, haughtily15, “ought to be sufficient for you.”

“That’s all very well, but suppose you should get tired of paying me the money?”

“Then you could make it very disagreeable for me by telling all you know about the boy. However, there will be no occasion for that. I shall keep my promise. Will you be willing to sail for England next week?”

“Do you mean that I am to go with you?”

“I mean that you are to go. Your testimony16 must be given on the other side, in order to make clear my title to the estate.”

“I see, ma’am. If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have had no fears about the money.”

“You need have none, Mr. Rugg,” said Mrs. Middleton, coldly. “The fact is, we are necessary to each other. Each can promote the interests of the other.”

“That’s so, ma’am. Let’s shake hands on that,” said Rudolph, advancing with outstretched hand.

No, thank you,” said Mrs. Middleton, coldly. “You forget yourself, sir. Do not forget that I am a lady, and that you are—?—” “We are equal, ma’am, in this matter,” said Rudolph offended. “You needn’t shrink from shaking hands with me.”

“That is not in the agreement,” said Mrs. Middleton, haughtily. “I shall do what I have agreed, but except so far as it is necessary in the way of business, I wish you to keep yourself away from me. We belong to different grades in society.”

“Why didn’t you say that the other day, ma’am?” said Rudolph, frowning.

Because I didn’t suppose it to be necessary. You did not offer to shake hands with me then. Besides, at that time you had not—?—” “Pushed the boy down the well, if that’s what you mean,” said Rudolph, bluntly.

Hush17! Don’t refer to that. I advise you this for your own sake.”

“And for the sake of somebody else.”

“Mr. Rugg, all this discussion is idle. It can do no good. For whatever service you have rendered, you shall be well paid. That you understand. But it is best that we should know as little of each other henceforth as possible. It might excite suspicion, as you can understand.”

“Perhaps you are right, ma’am,” said Rudolph, slowly.

Call here day after to-morrow, and I will let you know by what steamer I take passage for England, that you may obtain a ticket. Good afternoon.”

Rudolph left the lady’s presence not wholly pleased.

Why wouldn’t she take my hand?” he muttered to himself. “She’s as deep in it as I am.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 grumbling grumbling     
adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的
参考例句:
  • She's always grumbling to me about how badly she's treated at work. 她总是向我抱怨她在工作中如何受亏待。
  • We didn't hear any grumbling about the food. 我们没听到过对食物的抱怨。
2 secrecy NZbxH     
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
  • Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。
3 politic L23zX     
adj.有智虑的;精明的;v.从政
参考例句:
  • He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage.他很聪明,不会与这么重要的人争吵。
  • The politic man tried not to offend people.那个精明的人尽量不得罪人。
4 scent WThzs     
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉
参考例句:
  • The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
  • The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。
5 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
6 mischief jDgxH     
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹
参考例句:
  • Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
  • He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。
7 vestiges abe7c965ff1797742478ada5aece0ed3     
残余部分( vestige的名词复数 ); 遗迹; 痕迹; 毫不
参考例句:
  • the last vestiges of the old colonial regime 旧殖民制度最后的残余
  • These upright stones are the vestiges of some ancient religion. 这些竖立的石头是某种古代宗教的遗迹。
8 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
9 deliberately Gulzvq     
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地
参考例句:
  • The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
  • They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
10 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地,简短地
参考例句:
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
11 instigated 55d9a8c3f57ae756aae88f0b32777cd4     
v.使(某事物)开始或发生,鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The government has instigated a programme of economic reform. 政府已实施了经济改革方案。
  • He instigated the revolt. 他策动了这次叛乱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
12 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
13 smallpox 9iNzJw     
n.天花
参考例句:
  • In 1742 he suffered a fatal attack of smallpox.1742年,他染上了致命的天花。
  • Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child?你小时候打过天花疫苗吗?
14 discrepancies 5ae435bbd140222573d5f589c82a7ff3     
n.差异,不符合(之处),不一致(之处)( discrepancy的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • wide discrepancies in prices quoted for the work 这项工作的报价出入很大
  • When both versions of the story were collated,major discrepancies were found. 在将这个故事的两个版本对照后,找出了主要的不符之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 haughtily haughtily     
adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地
参考例句:
  • She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
  • Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯,走到二楼,我刚好站在那儿。
16 testimony zpbwO     
n.证词;见证,证明
参考例句:
  • The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
  • He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
17 hush ecMzv     
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静
参考例句:
  • A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
  • Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!


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