There were other men besides Mr Tippet who could be true to their promises when it suited them.
D. Gorman was true to his, in so far as they concerned David Boone. He visited that unfortunate invalid1 so frequently, and brought him so many little “nice things” for the alleviation2 of his sufferings, and exhibited altogether such nervous anxiety about his recovery, that worthy3 Mrs Craw was quite overwhelmed, and said, in the fulness of her heart, that she never did see a kinder friend, or one who more flatly gave the lie-direct to his looks, which, she was bound to admit, were not prepossessing.
But, despite his friend’s solicitude4, and his doctor’s prescriptions5, and his nurse’s kindness, David Boone continued steadily6 to sink, until at last the doctor gave it as his opinion that he would not recover.
One afternoon, soon after the expression of this opinion, Gorman called on his friend, and was shown as usual into his chamber7. It was a wet, cold, stormy afternoon, and the window rattled8 violently in its frame.
Boone was much better that afternoon. It seemed as if he had just waited for the doctor to pronounce his unfavourable opinion in order to have the satisfaction of contradicting it.
“He’s better to-day, sir,” said Mrs Craw, in a whisper.
“Better!” exclaimed Gorman with a look of surprise, “I’m glad to hear that—very glad.”
“He’s asleep now, sir; the doctor said if he slept he was on no account to be waked up, so I’ll leave you to sit by him, sir, till he wakes, and, please, be as quiet as you can.”
Mrs Craw left the room on tip-toe, and Gorman went to the bedside and looked on the sick man’s wasted features with a frown.
“Ha! you’re asleep, are you, and not to be waked up—eh? Come, I’ll rouse you.”
“Hope I didn’t disturb you, Boone,” said his friend in a quiet voice. “I came to inquire for you.”
Boone started up in his bed and stared wildly at some object which appeared to be at the foot of the bed. Gorman started too, and turned pale as his eyes followed those of the invalid.
“What is it you see, Boone?”
“There, there!” he whispered hoarsely11, clutching Gorman’s arm as if for protection, “look, I heard his voice just now; oh! save me from that man; he—he—wants to kill me!”
“Come, David,” said Gorman soothingly13, “it’s only a fancy—there’s nobody there—nobody in the room but me.”
“And who are you?” inquired the sick man, falling back exhausted14, while he gazed vacantly at his friend.
“Don’t you know me, David?”
“Never mind, shut your eyes now and try to sleep. It’ll be time to take your physic soon.”
“Physic!” cried Boone, starting up in alarm, and again clutching Gorman’s arm. “You won’t let him give it me, will you? Oh! say you won’t—promise to give it me yourself!”
Gorman promised, and a very slight but peculiar15 smile turned up the corners of his mouth as he did so.
Boone again sank back on his pillow, and Gorman sat down on a chair beside him. His villainous features worked convulsively, for in his heart he was meditating16 a terrible deed. That morning he had been visited by Ned Hooper, who in the most drunken of voices told him, “that it wash ’mposh’ble to git a body f’r love or munny, so if ’e wanted one he’d better cut’s own throat.”
His plans having miscarried in this matter, Gorman now meditated17 taking another and more decided18 step. He looked at the sick man, and, seeing how feeble he was, his fingers twitched19 as if with a desire to strangle him. So strong was the feeling upon him that he passed his fingers nervously20 about his own throat, as if to ascertain21 the formation of it and the precise locality of the windpipe. Then his hand dropped to his side, and he sat still again, while Boone rolled his poor head from side to side and moaned softly.
Evening drew on apace, and the shadows in the sick-room gradually became deeper and deeper until nothing could be seen distinctly. Still Gorman sat there, with his features pale as death, and his fingers moving nervously; and still the sick man lay and rolled his head from side to side on the pillow. Once or twice Gorman rose abruptly22, but he as often sat down again without doing anything.
Suddenly a ray of bright light shot through the window. Gorman started and drew back in alarm. It was only a lamp-lighter who had lighted one of the street-lamps, and the ray which he had thus sent into the sick-chamber passed over the bed. It did not disturb Boone, for the curtains were between him and it, but it disturbed Gorman, for it fell on the chimney-piece and illuminated23 a group of phials, one of which, half full of a black liquid, was labelled “Poison!”
Gorman started up, and this time did not sit down, but with a trembling step moved to the fireplace. He stretched out his hand to grasp the bottle, and almost overturned it, for just at the moment his own figure intercepted24 the ray of light, and threw the spot where it stood into deep shadow.
“What’s that?” asked Boone.
“It’s only me,” said Gorman, “getting you your physic. I almost upset it in the dark. Here now, drink it off. I can’t find the cup, but you can take it out of the bottle.”
“You won’t let him come near when you give it, will you?” asked Boone anxiously.
“No, no; come, open your mouth.”
Boone hesitated to do so, but Gorman used a little force. His hands were steady now! His heart was steeled to the deed, and the cry which Boone was about to utter was choked by the liquid flowing down his throat.
Gorman had flung him back with such violence that he lay stunned25, while the murderer replaced the bottle on the chimney-piece and hurried to the door. A gentle knock at it arrested him, but his indecision was momentary26. He opened the door softly, and going out, said to Mrs Craw in a whisper—
“He’s sleeping now. I found it hard to get him to give up talking, for he waked up soon after I went in; but he’s all right now. I suppose the medicine is beginning to operate; he told me he took it himself just before I came in.”
“Took it himself!” exclaimed Mrs Craw. “Impossible.”
“Well, I don’t know, but he’s better now. I would let him rest a while if I were you.”
“Stay, sir! I’ll go fetch a light,” said Mrs Craw.
“Never mind; I know the stair well,” said Gorman hurriedly; “don’t mind a light; I shan’t want it.”
He was right. If any man ever wanted darkness rather than light—thick, heavy, impenetrable darkness—it was D. Gorman at that time.
“Took it himself!” repeated Mrs Craw in unabated surprise as she closed the street door. “It’s impossible. He’s got no more strength than an unborn hinfant. I must go an’ see to this.”
Lighting27 a candle, she went softly into the sick chamber and looked at the invalid, who was apparently28 asleep, but breathing heavily. She then went to the chimney-piece and began to examine the phials there.
“My!” she exclaimed suddenly, with a look of alarm, “if he han’t bin29 an’ drunk up all the tinctur’ o’ rhubarb! An’ the laudanum-bottle standin’ close beside it too! What a mercy he didn’t drink that! Well, lucky for him there wasn’t much in it, for an overdose of anything in his state would be serious.”
Full of her discovery, Mrs Craw set the candle on the table, and sat down on the chair by the bedside to think about it; but the more she thought about it the more puzzled she was.
She continued to shake her head and mutter “Impossible” for some time, while she stared at the candle as if she expected that it would solve the mystery. Then she got up and examined the bedclothes, and found that a good deal of the rhubarb had been spilt on the sheets, and that a good deal more of it had been spilt on Boone’s chin and chest; after which her aspect changed considerably31, as, setting down the candle, she resumed her seat and said—
“Took it himself! Impossible!”
Darkness! If ever a man sought darkness in vain, and found light, bright blazing light, everywhere, it was Gorman. At first, in a burst of frenzy32, he rushed away at full speed. It was well for him that the wind had increased to a hurricane and the rain was blinding, else had he been stopped on suspicion, so fierce was his mien33, so haggard his look, so wild his race. Gradually his pace slackened, and gradually as well as naturally he gravitated to his old familiar haunts; but go where he would, there was light everywhere except within his own breast. It was all darkness there.
It is true the sky was dark enough, for the war of elements was so great that it seemed to have been blotted34 out with ink, but the shops appeared to have been lit up more brilliantly than usual. Every lamp poured a flood of light around it. The lanterns of the cabs and omnibuses sent rich beams of light through the air, and the air itself, laden35 as it was with moisture, absorbed a portion of light, and invested everything with a halo. Light, light! all round, and the light of conscience within rendering36 the darkness there visible, and shining on the letters of a word written in dark red—“Murderer!”
Gorman tried to extinguish the light, but it was a fire that would not be put out. He cursed the shop-windows and the lamps for shining so brightly on him; he cursed the few people whose curiosity induced them to pause and look back at him, and he cursed himself for being such a fool.
On reaching Cheapside he began to recover his self-possession, and to walk in the storm as other men did. But in proportion as his composure returned the enormity of his crime became more apparent to him, and the word written in red letters became so bright that he felt as if every passer-by must read it, unless he dropt his eyes to prevent their seeing through them into his soul.
At London Bridge he became nervously apprehensive37. Each unusually quick footstep startled him. Every policeman was carefully avoided, and anything approaching to a shout behind caused him to start into an involuntary run. Despite his utmost efforts to control himself, the strong man was unmanned; a child could have made him fly.
He was about to cross London Bridge, when he observed a policeman taking shelter under the parapet, and apparently watching those who passed him. Gorman could not make up his mind to go on, so he turned aside and descended38 the nearest stairs.
The policeman had doubtless been watching for someone, or suspected Gorman because of his undecided movements, for he followed him. The latter observed this and quickened his pace. The instant he was hidden from his pursuer, he darted39 away at full speed, and did not halt until he stood at the foot of one of the stairs where wherries are usually to be found. The sight that met his gaze there might have overawed the most reckless of men.
A hurricane was raging such as is not often experienced in our favoured island. The wind blew, not in gusts40 and squalls, but in one continuous roar, lashing41 the Thames into crested42 waves, tearing ships from their moorings, and dashing them against other ships, which were likewise carried away, and swept downward with the tide. Dozens of barges43 were sunk, and the shrieks44 of their crews were heard sometimes rising above the storm.
The gale46 was at its height when Gorman came into full view of the Thames. A waterman, who was crouching47 for shelter in the angle of a warehouse48, observed him, and came forward.
“An awful night, sir,” he said.
“Yes,” answered Gorman curtly49. He started as he spoke50, for he heard, or he fancied he heard, a shout behind him.
“Is that your boat?” said he.
“It is,” replied the waterman in surprise, “you don’t want to go on the water on such a night, do you?”
“Yes, I do,” said Gorman, trembling in every limb; “come, jump in, and shove off.”
At that moment a policeman came running down towards them.
“Are you mad?” exclaimed the man, grasping Gorman by the arm as he sprang toward the boat.
In a moment, Gorman struck him to the ground, and leaping into the boat pushed off, just as the policeman came up. He was whirled away instantly.
Grasping one of the oars12, he was just in time to prevent the boat being dashed against one of the wooden piers51 of a wharf52. He was desperate now. Shipping53 both oars he pulled madly out into the stream, but in a few moments he was swept against the port-bow of a large vessel54, against the stem of which the water was curling as if the ship had been breasting the Atlantic waves before a stiff breeze. One effort Gorman made to avoid the collision, then he leaped up, and just as the boat struck, sprang at the fore-chains. He caught them and held on, but his hold was not firm; the next moment he was rolling along the vessel’s side, tearing it with his nails in the vain attempt to grasp the smooth hull55. He struck against the bow of the vessel immediately behind and was swept under it.
Rising to the surface, he uttered a wild shriek45, and attempted to stem the current. He was a powerful swimmer, and despair lent him energy to buffet56 the waves for a short time; but he was again swept away by the irresistible57 tide, and had almost given up hope of being saved, when his forehead was grazed by a rope which hung from a vessel’s side. Seizing this, he held on, and with much difficulty succeeded in gaining the vessel’s deck.
With his safety Gorman’s fear of being captured returned. He hid himself behind some lumber58, and while in this position wrung59 some of the water out of his clothes. In a few minutes he summoned courage to look about him, and discovered that the vessel was connected with the one that lay next to it by a plank60. No one appeared to be moving, and it was so dark that he could not see more than four or five yards before him. To pass from one vessel to the other was the work of a few seconds. Finding that the second vessel lay moored61 to the quay62, he sprang from it with all his might and alighted safely on the shore. From the position of the shipping he knew that he stood on the south bank of the river, having been swept right across the Thames, so he had now no further difficulty in hiding his guilty head in his own home.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
invalid
|
|
| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
alleviation
|
|
| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
prescriptions
|
|
| 药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
rattled
|
|
| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
belied
|
|
| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
oars
|
|
| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
soothingly
|
|
| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
meditating
|
|
| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
meditated
|
|
| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
intercepted
|
|
| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
stunned
|
|
| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bin
|
|
| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
reverting
|
|
| 恢复( revert的现在分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
frenzy
|
|
| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
blotted
|
|
| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
rendering
|
|
| n.表现，描写 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
apprehensive
|
|
| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gusts
|
|
| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
lashing
|
|
| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
crested
|
|
| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
barges
|
|
| 驳船( barge的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
shrieks
|
|
| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
crouching
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
warehouse
|
|
| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
curtly
|
|
| adv.简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
piers
|
|
| n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
wharf
|
|
| n.码头，停泊处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
shipping
|
|
| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
hull
|
|
| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
buffet
|
|
| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
lumber
|
|
| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
wrung
|
|
| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
plank
|
|
| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
moored
|
|
| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
quay
|
|
| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |