CHAPTER X. A ROOM IN CENTRE STREET.

 In a room on the third floor of a miserable¹ tenement² house in Centre street two men were sitting. Each had a forbidding exterior³, and neither was in any danger of being mistaken for a peaceful, law-abiding citizen. One, attired⁴ in a red shirt and pants, was leaning back in his chair, smoking a clay pipe. His hair was dark and his beard nearly a week old. Over his left eye was a scar, the reminder⁵ of a wound received in one of the numerous affrays in which he had been engaged.

 

This was Jack⁶ Morgan, already referred to as the guardian⁷ of the boy Julius. He was certainly a disreputable-looking ruffian, and his character did not belie⁸ his looks.

 

The other man was taller, better dressed, and somewhat more respectable in appearance. But, like Jack, he, too, was a social outlaw⁹, and the more dangerous that he could more easily assume an air of respectability, and pass muster¹⁰, if he chose, as an honest man.

 

"Well, Marlowe," said Jack Morgan to the latter, who had just entered, "how's business?"

 

"Not very good," said Marlowe, shaking his head. "I haven't been so hard up for a long time. You haven't lost much by being shut up."

 

"I've had my board and lodging¹¹ free," said Morgan; "but I'd rather look out for myself. I don't like free hotels." Marlowe smiled.

 

"That's where you're right, Jack. I never tried it but once, and then I didn't like it any better than you."

 

"You're a sharp one. You always cover your tracks."

 

"The cops don't often get hold of me," said Marlowe, with pride. "You remember that big bond robbery a year ago?"

 

"Yes. You wasn't in that?"

 

"Yes, I was."

 

"The rest of the fellows got trapped."

 

"That's so; but I heard in time and got off."

 

"Did you make anything out of it?"

 

"I made sure of a thousand-dollar bond."

 

"Did you put it off?"

 

"Yes; I sold it for half price."

 

"Where is the money?"

 

"It lasted me a month," said Marlowe, coolly. "I lived then, you can bet. But I haven't done much since. Do you see that?"

 

He took from his vest pocket a dollar greenback.

 

"What of it?"

 

"It's my last dollar."

 

"Then you've got to do something."

 

"Yes."

 

"Haven't you thought of anything?"

 

"I've got a plan that may work."

 

Here Julius entered, and his entrance produced a brief interruption. "What luck, Julius?" asked Morgan.

 

"Nothing much. I got a bundle to carry for a quarter."

 

"Have you got the money?"

 

"There's ten cents. I bought my supper with the rest."

 

"Give it to me."

 

Jack Morgan took the ten cents and thrust it into his pocket.

 

"You ain't smart, Julius," he said. "You ought to have brought more than that."

 

"Buy me a blacking-box and I will," said Julius.

 

"I'll see about it. But, Marlowe, you were just goin' to tell me of your plan."

 

"Shall I tell before him?" asked Marlowe, indicating the boy.

 

"Drive ahead. He's one of us."

 

"There's a house on Madison avenue that I've heard about. It belongs to a man that's gone to Europe."

 

"Then there isn't much left in it worth taking."

 

"That's where you're wrong. I've found out that he has left all his plate locked up in a safe on the second floor and some bonds, too, it's most likely."

 

"Has he got much?"

 

"So I hear."

 

"Who told you?"

 

"A man that was in his service. He was discharged for drunkenness, and he owes this Mr. Talbot a grudge¹²."

 

"Is he a thief himself?"

 

"No, but he is willing to help us, out of revenge."

 

"Then you can depend on his information."

 

"Yes; there is no doubt of it."

 

"Is the house empty?"

 

"No; there's a family in charge."

 

"That's bad."

 

"Not so bad; it's a widow, with two children—one a little boy of eight or thereabouts, the other sixteen."

 

"Do you know anything about them?"

 

"The oldest boy is a street peddler. He keeps a necktie stand below the Astor House."

 

Hitherto Julius had not taken much interest in the conversation. That his disreputable guardian should be planning a burglary did not strike him with surprise. It seemed only a matter of course. But the last remark of Marlowe put a different face upon the matter. The description was so exact that he felt almost certain the boy spoken of must be his new friend, to whom he had been indebted for the best dinner he had eaten for many a day. He began to listen now, but not too obtrusively¹³, as that might awaken¹⁴ suspicion.

 

"A boy of sixteen may give trouble," said Jack Morgan.

 

"He is easily disposed of," said Marlowe, indifferently.

 

"I wish it were only the woman and little boy we had to deal with."

 

"We can easily secure the boy's absence for that night."

 

"How?"

 

"I can't tell yet, but there's plenty of ways. He might be arrested on a false charge and kept over night in the station-house. Or there's other ways. But I can't tell till I know more about him. A letter might be sent him, asking him to go over to Brooklyn."

 

"Wouldn't do. His mother would get somebody else in his place."

 

"We must find out all about him. How's that boy of yours? Is he sharp?"

 

"He ought to be. He's knocked about for himself long enough."

 

"We can try him. Come here, my son."

 

Julius rose from his seat and walked up to the pair.

 

"Hark you, my lad, can you do as you're told?"

 

Julius nodded.

 

"We've got something for you to do. It'll lead to money—do you hear?"

 

"I hear," said Julius.

 

"Have you heard what we were talking about?"

 

"I heard, but I didn't mind."

 

"Then I want you to hear, and mind, too, now. Have you ever seen a necktie stand between Dey and Cortlandt streets?"

 

"Yes."

 

"There's a boy keeps it."

 

"I've seed him."

 

"So far so good, then. Do you know anything about him?"

 

Julius shook his head.

 

"Then I want you to find out all you can about him. Find out if he's got any friends in Brooklyn, or just outside of the city. I'll tell you what I know about him, and then you must learn as much more as possible. Do you know his name?"

 

"No."

 

"It is Paul Hoffman. He and his mother live in a house that they take care of on Madison avenue. We want to break into that house some night next week and carry off some plate and bonds that are in the safe. If we make the haul we'll do well by you."

 

"I understand," said Julius, nodding intelligently.

 

"What we want," pursued Marlowe, "is to have the boy sleep out of the house the night we make the attempt. That will leave the coast clear. If the woman wakes up and discovers us, we'll threaten to kill her if she makes any fuss. Do you hear?"

 

Julius nodded again.

 

"Do you think you can do what we want?"

 

"Yes."

 

"That's well. We'll wait for the boy's report before we lay our plans, Jack. Now that's settled, we'll send out for some whisky and drink success to the job."

 

"Then you must find the money, Marlowe, for I'm dead broke."

 

"Here, boy, take this," said Marlowe, handing Julius the bill he had recently displayed, "and bring back a pint¹⁵ of whisky."

 

"All right," said Julius.

 

"And mind you bring back the change, or I must go without breakfast to-morrow morning."

 

"I'll remember," said Julius.

 

When he had gone out, Marlowe said: "Where did you pick up that boy, Jack? He isn't your son, is he?"

 

"No; I have no son. I picked him up one day when he was a little chap. He didn't seem to belong to nobody; so I took him home, and he's been with me ever since."

 

"Where does he go when you are shut up, Jack? That's a good part of the time, you know."

 

"Into the streets. He picks up a living there somehow. I don't ask how."

 

"And he always comes back to you when you get out again?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Loves you like a father, eh?" said Marlowe, laughing.

 

"He's used to me," said Jack, indifferently.

 

Not being sentimental¹⁶, he never troubled himself to expect affection from his young ward¹⁷, and would not have felt very deeply afflicted¹⁸ if he had deserted¹⁹ him. Still, he, too, had got used to the society of Julius, who was the only living thing that clung to him, and probably would have felt a degree of regret at his loss. There are few, however callous²⁰, who do not feel some satisfaction in companionship.

 

Marlowe laughed.

 

"What are you laughing at?" said Jack.

 

"I was thinking, Jack, that you wasn't exactly the right sort to train up a boy in the way he should go, and all that. If he takes pattern by you, it's easy to tell where he'll fetch up."

 

"He ain't a bad sort," said Jack.

 

"Has he ever been over to the island?"

 

"No."

 

"Then he hasn't followed your teaching, that's all I can say."

 

"Never mind about the boy," said Jack, who had grown weary of the subject. "He can take care of himself."

 

Here Julius reappeared with the whisky. Both men brightened up at the sight of their favorite beverage²¹.

 

"Have you got a pack of cards?" asked Marlowe.

 

"Are there any cards?" asked Jack, appealing to Julius.

 

The boy found some hidden away in the cupboard, and the men taking them were soon intent upon a game of poker²². Julius looked on for a time, for he, too, knew something of the game; but after a time he became drowsy²³, and threw himself upon a pallet in the corner, which he shared with his guardian. He didn't sleep immediately, however, for now that his attention was drawn²⁴ away from the game, he began to consider how he should act in the matter which had been confided²⁵ to him. Should he prove true to his guardian and treacherous²⁶ to Paul, or should he repay the latter for the kindness he had received at his hands? It was a difficult question. While he was pondering it his eyes closed and he fell asleep.

 

The men continued to play for about two hours, for penny stakes. The game had no interest for them unless something was staked upon it, and the winner pocketed his winnings with as much satisfaction as if it had been a thousand times as large.

1 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

2 tenement   

n.公寓；房屋

参考例句：

• They live in a tenement.他们住在廉价公寓里。
• She felt very smug in a tenement yard like this.就是在个这样的杂院里，她觉得很得意。

3 exterior   

adj.外部的，外在的；表面的

参考例句：

• The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。
• We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

4 attired   

adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bride was attired in white. 新娘穿一身洁白的礼服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is appropriate that everyone be suitably attired. 人人穿戴得体是恰当的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

6 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

7 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

8 belie   

v.掩饰，证明为假

参考例句：

• The gentle lower slopes belie the true nature of the mountain.低缓的山坡掩盖了这座山的真实特点。
• His clothes belie his station.他的衣服掩饰了他的身分。

9 outlaw   

n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法

参考例句：

• The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
• The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。

10 muster   

v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册

参考例句：

• Go and muster all the men you can find.去集合所有你能找到的人。
• I had to muster my courage up to ask him that question.我必须鼓起勇气向他问那个问题。

11 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

12 grudge   

n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做

参考例句：

• I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
• I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

13 obtrusively   

adv.冒失地，莽撞地

参考例句：

• He works imprudently and obtrusively, and is never a stable man. 他做事情毛头毛脑的，一点也不稳重。 来自互联网

14 awaken   

vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起

参考例句：

• Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
• Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

15 pint   

n.品脱

参考例句：

• I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
• In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前，花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。

16 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

17 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

18 afflicted   

使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
• A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

19 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

20 callous   

adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的

参考例句：

• He is callous about the safety of his workers.他对他工人的安全毫不关心。
• She was selfish,arrogant and often callous.她自私傲慢，而且往往冷酷无情。

21 beverage   

n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料

参考例句：

• The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
• Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。

22 poker   

n.扑克；vt.烙制

参考例句：

• He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌，把钱都输光了。
• I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了，可以玩些花样。

23 drowsy   

adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的

参考例句：

• Exhaust fumes made him drowsy and brought on a headache.废气把他熏得昏昏沉沉，还引起了头疼。
• I feel drowsy after lunch every day.每天午饭后我就想睡觉。

24 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

25 confided   

v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等）

参考例句：

• She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
• He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露，他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 treacherous   

adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的

参考例句：

• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
• The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。