“Hakkabut! do you take us for thieves?” asked Servadac, in tones of stern displeasure.
“Oh, your Excellency, my lord, I did not know that it “was you,” whined1 the Jew, but without emerging any farther from his cabin.
“Now, old Hakkabut, come out of your shell! Come and show the governor proper respect, when he gives you the honor of his company,” cried Ben Zoof, who by this time had clambered onto the deck.
After considerable hesitation2, but still keeping his hold upon the cabin-door, the Jew made up his mind to step outside. “What do you want?” he inquired, timorously3.
“I want a word with you,” said Servadac, “but I do not want to stand talking out here in the cold.”
Followed by the rest of the party, he proceeded to mount the steps. The Jew trembled from head to foot. “But I cannot let you into my cabin. I am a poor man; I have nothing to give you,” he moaned piteously.
“Here he is!” laughed Ben Zoof, contemptuously; “he is beginning his chapter of lamentations over again. But standing4 out here will never do. Out of the way, old Hakkabut, I say! out of the way!” and, without more ado, he thrust the astonished Jew on one side and opened the door of the cabin.
Servadac, however, declined to enter until he had taken the pains to explain to the owner of the tartan that he had no intention of laying violent hands upon his property, and that if the time should ever come that his cargo5 was in requisition for the common use, he should receive a proper price for his goods, the same as he would in Europe.
“Europe, indeed!” muttered the Jew maliciously6 between his teeth. “European prices will not do for me. I must have Gallian prices — and of my own fixing, too!”
So large a portion of the vessel7 had been appropriated to the cargo that the space reserved for the cabin was of most meager8 dimensions. In one corner of the compartment9 stood a small iron stove, in which smoldered10 a bare handful of coals; in another was a trestle-board which served as a bed; two or three stools and a rickety deal table, together with a few cooking utensils11, completed a stock of furniture which was worthy12 of its proprietor13.
On entering the cabin, Ben Zoof’s first proceeding14 was to throw on the fire a liberal supply of coals, utterly15 regardless of the groans16 of poor Isaac, who would almost as soon have parted with his own bones as submit to such reckless expenditure17 of his fuel. The perishing temperature of the cabin, however, was sufficient justification18 for the orderly’s conduct, and by a little skillful manipulation he soon succeeded in getting up a tolerable fire.
The visitors having taken what seats they could, Hakkabut closed the door, and, like a prisoner awaiting his sentence, stood with folded hands, expecting the captain to speak.
“Listen,” said Servadac; “we have come to ask a favor.”
Imagining that at least half his property was to be confiscated19, the Jew began to break out into his usual formula about being a poor man and having nothing to spare; but Servadac, without heeding20 his complainings, went on: “We are not going to ruin you, you know.”
Hakkabut looked keenly into the captain’s face.
“We have only come to know whether you can lend us a steelyard.”
So far from showing any symptom of relief, the old miser21 exclaimed, with a stare of astonishment22, as if he had been asked for some thousand francs: “A steelyard?”
“Yes!” echoed the professor, impatiently; “a steelyard.”
“Have you not one?” asked Servadac.
“To be sure he has!” said Ben Zoof.
Old Isaac stammered23 and stuttered, but at last confessed that perhaps there might be one amongst the stores.
“Then, surely, you will not object to lend it to us?” said the captain.
“Only for one day,” added the professor.
The Jew stammered again, and began to object. “It is a very delicate instrument, your Excellency. The cold, you know, the cold may do injury to the spring; and perhaps you are going to use it to weigh something very heavy.”
“Why, old Ephraim, do you suppose we are going to weigh a mountain with it?” said Ben Zoof.
“Better than that!” cried out the professor, triumphantly24; “we are going to weigh Gallia with it; my comet.”
“Merciful Heaven!” shrieked25 Isaac, feigning26 consternation27 at the bare suggestion.
Servadac knew well enough that the Jew was holding out only for a good bargain, and assured him that the steelyard was required for no other purpose than to weigh a kilogramme, which (considering how much lighter28 everything had become) could not possibly put the slightest strain upon the instrument.
The Jew still spluttered, and moaned, and hesitated.
“Well, then,” said Servadac, “if you do not like to lend us your steelyard, do you object to sell it to us?”
Isaac fairly shrieked aloud. “God of Israel!” he ejaculated, “sell my steelyard? Would you deprive me of one of the most indispensable of my means of livelihood29? How should I weigh my merchandise without my steelyard — my solitary30 steelyard, so delicate and so correct?”
The orderly wondered how his master could refrain from strangling the old miser upon the spot; but Servadac, rather amused than otherwise, determined31 to try another form of persuasion32. “Come, Hakkabut, I see that you are not disposed either to lend or to sell your steelyard. What do you say to letting us hire it?”
The Jew’s eyes twinkled with a satisfaction that he was unable to conceal33. “But what security would you give? The instrument is very valuable;” and he looked more cunning than ever.
“What is it worth? If it is worth twenty francs, I will leave a deposit of a hundred. Will that satisfy you?”
He shook his head doubtfully. “It is very little; indeed, it is too little, your Excellency. Consider, it is the only steelyard in all this new world of ours; it is worth more, much more. If I take your deposit it must be in gold — all gold. But how much do you agree to give me for the hire — the hire, one day?”
“You shall have twenty francs,” said Servadac.
“Oh, it is dirt cheap; but never mind, for one day, you shall have it. Deposit in gold money a hundred francs, and twenty francs for the hire.” The old man folded his hands in meek34 resignation.
“The fellow knows how to make a good bargain,” said Servadac, as Isaac, after casting a distrustful look around, went out of the cabin.
“Detestable old wretch35!” replied the count, full of disgust.
Hardly a minute elapsed before the Jew was back again, carrying his precious steelyard with ostentatious care. It was of an ordinary kind. A spring balance, fitted with a hook, held the article to be weighed; a pointer, revolving36 on a disc, indicated the weight of the article. Professor Rosette was manifestly right in asserting that such a machine would register results quite independently of any change in the force of attraction. On the earth it would have registered a kilogramme as a kilogramme; here it recorded a different value altogether, as the result of the altered force of gravity.
Gold coinage to the worth of one hundred and twenty francs was handed over to the Jew, who clutched at the money with unmistakable eagerness. The steelyard was committed to the keeping of Ben Zoof, and the visitors prepared to quit the Hansa.
All at once it occurred to the professor that the steelyard would be absolutely useless to him, unless he had the means for ascertaining37 the precise measurement of the unit of the soil of Gallia which he proposed to weigh. “Something more you must lend me,” he said, addressing the Jew. “I must have a measure, and I must have a kilogramme.”
“I have neither of them,” answered Isaac. “I have neither. I am sorry; I am very sorry.” And this time the old Jew spoke38 the truth. He would have been really glad to do another stroke or two of business upon terms as advantageous39 as the transaction he had just concluded.
Palmyrin Rosette scratched his head in perplexity, glaring round upon his companions as if they were personally responsible for his annoyance40. He muttered something about finding a way out of his difficulty, and hastily mounted the cabin-ladder. The rest followed, but they had hardly reached the deck when the chink of money was heard in the room below. Hakkabut was locking away the gold in one of the drawers.
Back again, down the ladder, scrambled41 the little professor, and before the Jew was aware of his presence he had seized him by the tail of his slouchy overcoat. “Some of your money! I must have money!” he said.
“Money!” gasped42 Hakkabut; “I have no money.” He was pale with fright, and hardly knew what he was saying.
“Falsehood!” roared Rosette. “Do you think I cannot see?” And peering down into the drawer which the Jew was vainly trying to close, he cried, “Heaps of money! French money! Five-franc pieces! the very thing I want! I must have them!”
The captain and his friends, who had returned to the cabin looked on with mingled43 amusement and bewilderment.
“They are mine!” shrieked Hakkabut.
“I will have them!” shouted the professor.
“You shall kill me first!” bellowed44 the Jew.
“No, but I must!” persisted the professor again.
It was manifestly time for Servadac to interfere45. “My dear professor,” he said, smiling, “allow me to settle this little matter for you.”
“Ah! your Excellency,” moaned the agitated46 Jew, “protect me! I am but a poor man —”
“None of that, Hakkabut. Hold your tongue.” And, turning to Rosette, the captain said, “If, sir, I understand right, you require some silver five-franc pieces for your operation?”
“Forty,” said Rosette, surlily.
“Two hundred francs!” whined Hakkabut.
“Silence!” cried the captain.
“I must have more than that,” the professor continued. “I want ten two-franc pieces, and twenty half-francs.”
“Let me see,” said Servadac, “how much is that in all? Two hundred and thirty francs, is it not?”
“I dare say it is,” answered the professor.
“Count, may I ask you,” continued Servadac, “to be security to the Jew for this loan to the professor?”
“Loan!” cried the Jew, “do you mean only a loan?”
“Silence!” again shouted the captain.
Count Timascheff, expressing his regret that his purse contained only paper money, begged to place it at Captain Servadac’s disposal.
“No paper, no paper!” exclaimed Isaac. “Paper has no currency in Gallia.”
“About as much as silver,” coolly retorted the count.
“I am a poor man,” began the Jew.
“Now, Hakkabut, stop these miserable47 lamentations of yours, once for all. Hand us over two hundred and thirty francs in silver money, or we will proceed to help ourselves.”
Isaac began to yell with all his might: “Thieves! thieves!”
In a moment Ben Zoof’s hand was clasped tightly over his mouth. “Stop that howling, Belshazzar!”
“Let him alone, Ben Zoof. He will soon come to his senses,” said Servadac, quietly.
When the old Jew had again recovered himself, the captain addressed him. “Now, tell us, what interest do you expect?”
Nothing could overcome the Jew’s anxiety to make another good bargain. He began: “Money is scarce, very scarce, you know —”
“No more of this!” shouted Servadac. “What interest, I say, what interest do you ask?”
Faltering48 and undecided still, the Jew went on. “Very scarce, you know. Ten francs a day, I think, would not be unreasonable49, considering —”
The count had no patience to allow him to finish what he was about to say. He flung down notes to the value of several rubles. With a greediness that could not be concealed50, Hakkabut grasped them all. Paper, indeed, they were; but the cunning Israelite knew that they would in any case be security far beyond the value of his cash. He was making some eighteen hundred per cent. interest, and accordingly chuckled51 within himself at his unexpected stroke of business.
The professor pocketed his French coins with a satisfaction far more demonstrative. “Gentlemen,” he said, “with these franc pieces I obtain the means of determining accurately52 both a meter and a kilogramme.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
whined
|
|
| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
timorously
|
|
| adv.胆怯地，羞怯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
maliciously
|
|
| adv.有敌意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
meager
|
|
| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
compartment
|
|
| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
smoldered
|
|
| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
utensils
|
|
| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
proprietor
|
|
| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
groans
|
|
| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
expenditure
|
|
| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
justification
|
|
| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
confiscated
|
|
| 没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
heeding
|
|
| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
miser
|
|
| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
feigning
|
|
| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
consternation
|
|
| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
livelihood
|
|
| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
revolving
|
|
| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
ascertaining
|
|
| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
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： |
|
|
|
|
39
advantageous
|
|
| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bellowed
|
|
| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
faltering
|
|
| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
accurately
|
|
| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |