CHAPTER XXXV. DAN DISGUISES HIMSELF.

 For several days Dan strolled about Harlem, using his eyes to good advantage. As a pretext¹ he carried with him a few morning papers for sale. Armed with these he entered shops and saloons without exciting surprise or suspicion. But he discovered not a trace of the lost girl.

 

One day, as he was riding home in the Third avenue cars, there flashed upon his mind a conviction that he was on a wrong scent².

 

"Is it probable that the man who carried away Althea would give the right direction so that it could be overheard by a third party? No; it was probably meant as a blind, and I have been just fool enough to fall into the trap."

 

So Dan's eyes were partially³ opened.

 

Before the day was over they were wholly opened. He met John Hartley on Broadway toward the close of the afternoon.

 

"Well, have you heard anything of your sister?" he asked, with an appearance of interest.

 

[Pg 253]

 

"Not yet," answered Dan.

 

"That's a pity. Do you go up to Harlem every day?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Keep on, you will find her in time."

 

After they parted, Dan, happening to look back, detected a mocking glance in the face of his questioner, and a new discovery flashed upon him. Hartley was making a fool of him. He had sent him to Harlem, purposely misleading him.

 

"What can be his object?" thought Dan. "Can he have had anything to do with the abduction of Althea?"

 

This was a question which he could not satisfactorily answer, but he resolved to watch Hartley, and follow him wherever he went, in the hope of obtaining some clew. Of course he must assume some disguise, as Hartley must not recognize him.

 

Finally Dan decided⁴ upon this plan.

 

He hired a room on East Fourth street for a week, and then sought an Italian boy to whom he had occasionally given a few pennies, and with some difficulty (for Giovanni knew but little English, and he no Italian) proposed that the Italian should teach him to sing and play "Viva Garibaldi." Dan could play a little on the violin, and soon qualified⁵ himself for his new business.

 

[Pg 254]

 

At a second-hand⁶ shop on Chatham street he picked up a suit of tattered⁷ velvet⁸, obtained a liquid with which to stain his skin to a dark brown, and then started out as an Italian street musician. His masquerade suit he kept in his room at East Fourth street, changing therefrom his street dress morning and evening. When in full masquerade he for the first time sang and played, Giovanni clapped his hands with delight.

 

"Will I do, Giovanni?" asked Dan.

 

"Yes, you do very well. You look like my brother."

 

"All right."

 

Giovanni was puzzled to understand why Dan took so much pains to enter upon a hard and unprofitable profession, but Dan did not enlighten him as to his motive⁹.

 

He thought it most prudent¹⁰ to keep his secret, even from his mother. One day he met her on the sidewalk, and began to sing "Viva Garibaldi."

 

Mrs. Mordaunt listened without a suspicion that it was her own son, and gave him two pennies, which he acknowledged by a low bow, and "Grazia, signora."

 

"Poor boy! Do you earn much money?" she asked.

 

"I no understand English," said Dan.

 

"I hope his padrone does not beat him," said Mrs.[Pg 255] Mordaunt to herself. "I hear these poor boys are much abused. I wonder if I can make him understand? Have you a padrone?" she asked.

 

"Si, signora, padrone," answered Dan.

 

"Does he beat you?"

 

"I no understand."

 

"It is no use; he doesn't understand English. Here is some more money for you," and she handed him a five-cent coin.

 

"Its a wise mother that knows her own child," thought Dan. "Hallo! there's Hartley. I'll follow him."

 

Hartley boarded a University Place car, and Dan jumped on also.

 

"I wonder where he's going?" thought our hero.

 

Italian boys so seldom ride that the conductor eyed Dan with some suspicion.

 

"Five cents," he demanded.

 

Dan produced the money.

 

"I thought you might be expecting to ride for nothing," said the conductor. "Seems to me you're flush for an Italian fiddler."

 

"No understand English," said Dan.

 

"And I don't understand your lingo¹¹."

 

A charitable lady inside the car chanced to see Dan, and it occurred to her that she would do him a service.

 

[Pg 256]

 

"Can you sing, my boy?" she asked.

 

"I sing a little," answered Dan.

 

"If the conductor doesn't object, you may sing while we are on our way. Here's ten cents for you."

 

Dan bowed and took the money.

 

"You can sing and play," said the conductor, good-naturedly.

 

Dan was not at all desirous of doing this, for Hartley sat only three feet from him, and he feared he might recognize him, but it would not be in character to refuse, so he began, and sang his one air, playing an accompaniment. Several of the passengers handed him small coins, among them Hartley.

 

"How well he sings!" said the charitable lady.

 

"I can't agree with you, ma'am," said Hartley. "I would rather give him money to stop."

 

"His voice strikes me as very rich, and the Italian is such a beautiful language."

 

Hartley shrugged¹² his shoulders.

 

"I have heard a good deal better performers even among the street boys," said Hartley.

 

"So have I," said Dan to himself. "He doesn't suspect me; I am glad of that."

 

Hartley remained in the car till it reached the Astor House, and so, of course, did Dan. In fact, Hartley was on his way to Brooklyn to pay another installment[Pg 257] to the guardians¹³ of the little girl whom he had carried off. Dan, therefore, was in luck.

 

Hartley kept on his way to Fulton Ferry, Dan following at a prudent distance.

 

Had Hartley looked back, he would have suspected nothing, for he had not penetrated¹⁴ Dan's disguise, and would therefore have been quite at a loss to understand any connection between the street musician and himself.

 

They both boarded the same ferry-boat, and landed in Brooklyn together.

 

At this moment Hartley turned round, and his glance fell upon Dan.

 

"Hallo! you here?" he said, with surprise.

 

"Si, signor," answered Dan, bowing deferentially¹⁵.

 

"What brings you to Brooklyn?"

 

"I sing, I play," said our hero.

 

"And you do both abominably¹⁶."

 

"I no understand English," said Dan.

 

"It is lucky you don't, or you might not like my compliment."

 

"Shall I sing 'Viva Garibaldi?'" asked our hero, innocently.

 

"No—good heavens, no! I've had enough of your squeaking¹⁷. Here, take this money, and don't sing."

 

"Si, signor," answered Dan, assuming a look of bewilderment.

 

[Pg 258]

 

Hartley prepared to board a car, which was not yet ready to start. Dan rapidly decided that it would not do for him to follow Hartley any farther. It would certainly arouse his suspicions. But must he abandon the pursuit? That would not do either. Looking about him, his eye fell on a bright-looking newsboy of about twelve.

 

"Do you want to make some money, Johnny?" he asked.

 

The boy surveyed him with astonishment¹⁸.

 

"Did you speak to me, Garibaldi?" he asked, jocosely¹⁹.

 

"Yes, but I am no Italian," said Dan, rapidly. "I am on the track of that man, but he suspects me. I will give you a dollar if you will jump on the car and find out where he goes."

 

"Where's the dollar?" asked the boy, cautiously.

 

"Here. Pay your expenses out of it, and I will pay you back when you report to me."

 

"Where will I find you?"

 

"Here. I will stay till you come back."

 

"It's a bargain."

 

"Hurry; the car is starting."

 

The newsboy ran, jumped on the car, and it moved on.

 

"It is the best thing I could do," thought Dan. "I hope the boy is sharp, and won't lose sight of him. I[Pg 259] feel sure that he had something to do with carrying off poor little Althea."

 

For two hours Dan lingered near the ferry, playing occasionally by way of filling up the time. It seemed to be a good location, for he received from fifty to sixty cents from passers-by.

 

"When hard times come," thought Dan, "I shall know what to do. I will become an Italian street singer."

 

After two hours the newsboy jumped off an incoming car, and approached Dan.

 

"Did you find out where he went?" asked Dan, eagerly.

 

"Yes," answered the boy.

1 pretext   

n.借口，托词

参考例句：

• He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
• He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口，没参加那个会议。

2 scent   

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。

3 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

6 second-hand   

adj.用过的，旧的，二手的

参考例句：

• I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
• They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。

7 tattered   

adj.破旧的，衣衫破的

参考例句：

• Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
• Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。

8 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

9 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

10 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

11 lingo   

n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语

参考例句：

• If you live abroad it helps to know the local lingo.住在国外，学一点当地的语言自有好处。
• Don't use all that technical lingo try and explain in plain English.别尽用那种专门术语，用普通的词语解释吧。

12 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 guardians   

监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者

参考例句：

• Farmers should be guardians of the countryside. 农民应是乡村的保卫者。
• The police are guardians of law and order. 警察是法律和秩序的护卫者。

14 penetrated   

adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
• They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。

15 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

16 abominably   

adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地

参考例句：

• From her own point of view Barbara had behaved abominably. 在她看来，芭芭拉的表现是恶劣的。
• He wanted to know how abominably they could behave towards him. 他希望能知道他们能用什么样的卑鄙手段来对付他。

17 squeaking   

v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者

参考例句：

• Squeaking floorboards should be screwed down. 踏上去咯咯作响的地板应用螺钉钉住。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Can you hear the mice squeaking? 你听到老鼠吱吱叫吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

19 jocosely   

adv.说玩笑地，诙谐地

参考例句：