That evening, about nine o’clock, the Princess Casamassima drove in a hansom to Hyacinth’s lodgings48 in Westminster. The door of the house was a little open, and a man stood on the step, smoking his big pipe and looking up and down. The Princess, seeing him while she was still at some distance, had hoped he was Hyacinth, but he proved to be a very different figure indeed from her devoted49 young friend. He had not a forbidding countenance50, but he looked very hard at her as she descended from her hansom and approached the door. She was used to being looked at hard, and she didn’t mind this; she supposed he was one of the lodgers51 in the house. He edged away to let her pass, and watched her while she endeavoured to impart an elasticity52 of movement to the limp bell-pull beside the door. It gave no audible response, so that she said to him, “I wish to ask for Mr Hyacinth Robinson. Perhaps you can tell me —”
“Yes, I too,” the man replied, smiling. “I have come also for that.”
The Princess hesitated a moment. “I think you must be Mr Schinkel. I have heard of you.”
“You know me by my bad English,” her interlocutor remarked, with a sort of benevolent53 coquetry.
“Your English is remarkably54 good – I wish I spoke German as well. Only just a hint of an accent, and evidently an excellent vocabulary.”
“I think I have heard, also, of you,” said Schinkel, appreciatively.
“Yes, we know each other, in our circle, don’t we? We are all brothers and sisters.” The Princess was anxious, she was in a fever; but she could still relish55 the romance of standing in a species of back-slum and fraternising with a personage looking like a very tame horse whose collar galled56 him. “Then he’s at home, I hope; he is coming down to you?” she went on.
“That’s what I don’t know. I am waiting.”
“Have they gone to call him?”
Schinkel looked at her, while he puffed57 his pipe. “I have called him myself, but he will not say.”
“How do you mean – he will not say?”
“His door is locked. I have knocked many times.”
“I suppose he is out,” said the Princess.
“Yes, he may be out,” Schinkel remarked, judicially58.
He and the Princess stood a moment looking at each other, and then she asked, “Have you any doubt of it?”
“Oh, es kann sein. Only the woman of the house told me five minutes ago that he came in.”
“Well, then, he probably went out again,” the Princess remarked.
“Yes, but she didn’t hear him.”
The Princess reflected, and was conscious that she was flushing. She knew what Schinkel knew about their young friend’s actual situation, and she wished to be very clear with him, and to induce him to be the same with her. She was rather baffled, however, by the sense that he was cautious, and justly cautious. He was polite and inscrutable, quite like some of the high personages – ambassadors and cabinet-ministers – whom she used to meet in the great world. “Has the woman been here, in the house, ever since?” she asked in a moment.
“No, she went out for ten minutes, half an hour ago.”
“Surely, then, he may have gone out again in that time!” the Princess exclaimed.
“That is what I have thought. It is also why I have waited here,” said Schinkel. “I have nothing to do,” he added, serenely59.
“Neither have I,” the Princess rejoined. “We can wait together.”
“It’s a pity you haven’t got some room,” the German suggested.
“No, indeed; this will do very well. We shall see him the sooner when he comes back.”
“Yes, but perhaps it won’t be for long.”
“I don’t care for that; I will wait. I hope you don’t object to my company,” she went on, smiling.
“It is good, it is good,” Schinkel responded, through his smoke.
“Then I will send away my cab.” She returned to the vehicle and paid the driver, who said, “Thank you, my lady,” with expression, and drove off.
“You gave him too much,” observed Schinkel, when she came back.
“Oh, he looked like a nice man. I am sure he deserved it.”
“It is very expensive,” Schinkel went on, sociably60.
“Yes, and I have no money, but it’s done. Was there no one else in the house while the woman was away?” the Princess asked.
“No, the people are out; she only has single men. I asked her that. She has a daughter, but the daughter has gone to see her cousin. The mother went only a hundred yards, round the corner there, to buy a pennyworth of milk. She locked this door, and put the key in her pocket; she stayed at the grocer’s, where she got the milk, to have a little conversation with a friend she met there. You know ladies always stop like that – nicht wahr? It was half an hour later that I came. She told me that he was at home, and I went up to his room. I got no sound, as I have told you. I came down and spoke to her again, and she told me what I say.”
“Then you determined61 to wait, as I have done,” said the Princess.
“Oh, yes, I want to see him.”
“So do I, very much.” The Princess said nothing more, for a minute; then she added, “I think we want to see him for the same reason.”
“Das kann sein – das kann sein.”
The two continued to stand there in the brown evening, and they had some further conversation, of a desultory62 and irrelevant63 kind. At the end of ten minutes the Princess broke out, in a low tone, laying her hand on her companion’s arm, “Mr Schinkel, this won’t do. I’m intolerably nervous.”
“Yes, that is the nature of ladies,” the German replied, imperturbably64.
“I wish to go up to his room,” the Princess pursued. “You will be so good as to show me where it is.”
“It will do you no good, if he is not there.”
The Princess hesitated. “I am not sure he is not there.”
“Well, if he won’t speak, it shows he likes better not to have visitors.”
“Oh, he may like to have me better than he does you!” the Princess exclaimed.
“Das kann sein – das kann sein.” But Schinkel made no movement to introduce her into the house.
“There is nothing to-night – you know what I mean,” the Princess remarked, after looking at him a moment.
“Nothing to-night?”
“At the Duke’s. The first party is on Thursday, the other is next Tuesday.”
“Sch?n. I never go to parties,” said Schinkel.
“Neither do I.”
“Except that this is a kind of party – you and me,” suggested Schinkel.
“Yes, and the woman of the house doesn’t approve of it.” The footstep of the personage in question had been audible in the passage, through the open door, which was presently closed, from within, with a little reprehensive bang. Something in this incident appeared to quicken exceedingly the Princess’s impatience65 and emotion; the menace of exclusion66 from the house made her wish more even than before to enter it. “For God’s sake, Mr Schinkel, take me up there. If you won’t, I will go alone,” she pleaded.
Her face was white now, and it need hardly be added that it was beautiful. The German considered it a moment in silence; then turned and reopened the door and went in, followed closely by his companion.
There was a light in the lower region, which tempered the gloom of the staircase – as high, that is, as the first floor; the ascent67 the rest of the way was so dusky that the pair went slowly and Schinkel led the Princess by the hand. She gave a suppressed exclamation68 as she rounded a sharp turn in the second flight. “Good God, is that his door, with the light?”
“Yes, you can see under it. There was a light before,” said Schinkel, without confusion.
“And why, in heaven’s name, didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I thought it would worry you.”
“And doesn’t it worry you?”
“A little, but I don’t mind,” said Schinkel. “Very likely he may have left it.”
“He doesn’t leave candles!” the Princess returned, with vehemence69. She hurried up the few remaining steps to the door, and paused there with her ear against it. Her hand grasped the handle, and she turned it, but the door resisted. Then she murmured, pantingly, to her companion, “We must go in – we must go in!”
“What will you do, when it’s locked?” he inquired.
“You must break it down.”
“It is very expensive,” said Schinkel.
“Don’t be abject70!” cried the Princess. “In a house like this the fastenings are certainly flimsy; they will easily yield.”
“And if he is not there – if he comes back and finds what we have done?”
She looked at him a moment through the darkness, which was mitigated71 only by the small glow proceeding72 from the chink. “He is there! Before God, he is there!”
“Sch?n, sch?n,” said her companion, as if he felt the contagion73 of her own dread74 but was deliberating and meant to remain calm. The Princess assured him that one or two vigorous thrusts with his shoulder would burst the bolt – it was sure to be some wretched morsel75 of tin – and she made way for him to come close. He did so, he even leaned against the door, but he gave no violent push, and the Princess waited, with her hand against her heart. Schinkel apparently was still deliberating. At last he gave a low sigh. “I know they found him the pistol; it is only for that,” he murmured; and the next moment Christina saw him sway sharply to and fro in the gloom. She heard a crack and saw that the lock had yielded. The door collapsed76: they were in the light; they were in a small room, which looked full of things. The light was that of a single candle on the mantel; it was so poor that for a moment she made out nothing definite. Before that moment was over, however, her eyes had attached themselves to the small bed. There was something on it – something black, something ambiguous, something outstretched. Schinkel held her back, but only for an instant; she saw everything, and with the very act she flung herself beside the bed, upon her knees. Hyacinth lay there as if he were asleep, but there was a horrible thing, a mess of blood, on the bed, in his side, in his heart. His arm hung limp beside him, downwards77, off the narrow couch; his face was white and his eyes were closed. So much Schinkel saw, but only for an instant; a convulsive movement of the Princess, bending over the body while a strange low cry came from her lips, covered it up. He looked about him for the weapon, for the pistol, but the Princess, in her rush at the bed, had pushed it out of sight with her knees. “It’s a pity they found it – if he hadn’t had it here!” he exclaimed to her. He had determined to remain calm, so that, on turning round at the quick advent78 of the little woman of the house, who had hurried up, white, scared, staring, at the sound of the crashing door, he was able to say, very quietly and gravely, “Mr Robinson has shot himself through the heart. He must have done it while you were fetching the milk.” The Princess got up, hearing another person in the room, and then Schinkel perceived the small revolver lying just under the bed. He picked it up and carefully placed it on the mantel-shelf, keeping, equally carefully, to himself the reflection that it would certainly have served much better for the Duke.
The End
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1
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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2
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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3
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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4
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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6
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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7
superseded
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| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
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8
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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9
spoke
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| 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 | |
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10
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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11
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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12
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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13
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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14
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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15
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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16
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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17
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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18
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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19
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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20
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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21
solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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22
barges
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| 驳船( barge的名词复数 ) | |
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23
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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24
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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25
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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26
pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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27
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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28
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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29
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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30
sophistries
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| n.诡辩术( sophistry的名词复数 )；（一次）诡辩 | |
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31
civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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32
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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33
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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34
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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35
wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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36
ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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37
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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38
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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39
labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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40
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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41
nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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42
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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44
attired
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| 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 ) | |
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45
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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46
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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47
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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48
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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49
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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50
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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51
lodgers
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| n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 ) | |
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52
elasticity
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| n.弹性，伸缩力 | |
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53
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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54
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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55
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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56
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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57
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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58
judicially
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| 依法判决地，公平地 | |
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59
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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60
sociably
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| adv.成群地 | |
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61
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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62
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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63
irrelevant
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| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
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64
imperturbably
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| adv.泰然地，镇静地，平静地 | |
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65
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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66
exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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67
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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68
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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69
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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70
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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71
mitigated
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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73
contagion
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| n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延 | |
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74
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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75
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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76
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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77
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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78
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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