All she thought of — the essence of her tremors17, her flushes of heat, and her shudders18 of cold — was the question how to get hold of that knife, the mark and sign of stalking death. A tremor16 of impatience19 to clutch the frightful20 thing, glimpsed once and unforgettable, agitated21 her hands.
The instinctive22 flinging forward of these hands stopped Ricardo dead short between the door and her chair, with the ready obedience6 of a conquered man who can bide23 his time. Her success disconcerted her. She listened to the man’s impassioned transports of terrible eulogy24 and even more awful declarations of love. She was even able to meet his eyes, oblique25, apt to glide26 away, throwing feral gleams of desire.
“No!” he was saying, after a fiery27 outpouring of words in which the most ferocious28 phrases of love were mingled29 with wooing accents of entreaty30. “I will have no more of it! Don’t you mistrust me. I am sober in my talk. Feel how quietly my heart beats. Ten times today when you, you, you, swam in my eye, I thought it would burst one of my ribs31 or leap out of my throat. It has knocked itself dead and tired, waiting for this evening, for this very minute. And now it can do no more. Feel how quiet it is!”
He made a step forward, but she raised her clear voice commandingly:
“No nearer!”
He stopped with a smile of imbecile worship on his lips, and with the delighted obedience of a man who could at any moment seize her in his hands and dash her to the ground.
“Ah! If I had taken you by the throat this morning and had my way with you, I should never have known what you am. And now I do. You are a wonder! And so am I, in my way. I have nerve, and I have brains, too. We should have been lost many times but for me. I plan — I plot for my gentleman. Gentleman — pah! I am sick of him. And you are sick of yours, eh? You, you!”
He shook all over; he cooed at her a string of endearing names, obscene and tender, and then asked abruptly32:
“Why don’t you speak to me?”
“It’s my part to listen,” she said, giving him an inscrutable smile, with a flush on her cheek and her lips cold as ice.
“But you will answer me?”
“Yes,” she said, her eyes dilated33 as if with sudden interest.
“Where’s that plunder34? Do you know?”
“No! Not yet.”
“But there is plunder stowed somewhere that’s worth having?”
“Yes, I think so. But who knows?” she added after a pause.
“And who cares?” he retorted recklessly. “I’ve had enough of this crawling on my belly35. It’s you who are my treasure. It’s I who found you out where a gentleman had buried you to rot for his accursed pleasure!”
He looked behind him and all around for a seat, then turned to her his troubled eyes and dim smile.
“I am dog-tired,” he said, and sat down on the floor. “I went tired this morning, since I came in here and started talking to you — as tired as if I had been pouring my life-blood here on these planks36 for you to dabble37 your white feet in.”
Unmoved, she nodded at him thoughtfully. Woman-like, all her faculties38 remained concentrated on her heart’s desire — on the knife — while the man went on babbling39 insanely at her feet, ingratiating and savage, almost crazy with elation40. But he, too, was holding on to his purpose.
“For you! For you I will throw away money, lives — all the lives but mine! What you want is a man, a master that will let you put the heel of your shoe on his neck; not that skulker41, who will get tired of you in a year — and you of him. And then what? You are not the one to sit still; neither am I. I live for myself, and you shall live for yourself, too — not for a Swedish baron42. They make a convenience of people like you and me. A gentleman is better than an employer, but an equal partnership43 against all the ‘yporcrits is the thing for you and me. We’ll go on wandering the world over, you and I both free and both true. You are no cage bird. We’ll rove together, for we are of them that have no homes. We are born rovers!”
She listened to him with the utmost attention, as if any unexpected word might give her some sort of opening to get that dagger45, that awful knife — to disarm46 murder itself, pleading for her love at her feet. Again she nodded at him thoughtfully, rousing a gleam in his yellow eyes, yearning47 devotedly48 upon her face. When he hitched49 himself a little closer, her soul had no movement of recoil50. This had to be. Anything had to be which would bring the knife within her reach. He talked more confidentially51 now.
“We have met, and their time has come,” he began, looking up into her eyes. “The partnership between me and my gentleman has to be ripped up. There’s no room for him where we two are. Why, he would shoot me like a dog! Don’t you worry. This will settle it not later than tonight!”
He tapped his folded leg below the knee, and was surprised, flattered, by the lighting52 up of her face, which stooped towards him eagerly and remained expectant, the lips girlishly parted, red in the pale face, and quivering in the quickened drawing of her breath.
“You marvel53, you miracle, you man’s luck and joy — one in a million! No, the only one. You have found your man in me,” he whispered tremulously. “Listen! They are having their last talk together; for I’ll do for your gentleman, too, by midnight.”
Without the slightest tremor she murmured, as soon as the tightening55 of her breast had eased off and the words would come:
“I wouldn’t be in too much of a hurry — with him.”
The pause, the tone, had all the value of meditated56 advice.
“Good, thrifty57 girl!” he laughed low, with a strange feline58 gaiety, expressed by the undulating movement of his shoulders and the sparkling snap of his oblique eyes. “You am still thinking about the chance of that swag. You’ll make a good partner, that you will! And, I say, what a decoy you will make! Jee-miny!”
He was carried away for a moment, but his face darkened swiftly.
“No! No reprieve59. What do you think a fellow is — a scarecrow? All hat and clothes and no feeling, no inside, no brain to make fancies for himself? No!” he went on violently. “Never in his life will he go again into that room of yours — never any more!”
A silence fell. He was gloomy with the torment60 of his jealousy61, and did not even look at her. She sat up and slowly, gradually, bent62 lower and lower over him, as if ready to fall into his arms. He looked up at last, and checked this droop63 unwittingly.
“Say! You, who are up to fighting a man with your bare hands, could you — eh? — could you manage to stick one with a thing like that knife of mine?”
She opened her eyes very wide and gave him a wild smile.
“How can I tell?” she whispered enchantingly. “Will you let me have a look at it?”
Without taking his eyes from her face, he pulled the knife out of its sheath — a short, broad, cruel double-edged blade with a bone handle — and only then looked down at it.
“A good friend,” he said simply. “Take it in your hand and feel the balance,” he suggested.
At the moment when she bent forward to receive it from him, there was a flash of fire in her mysterious eyes — a red gleam in the white mist which wrapped the promptings and longings64 of her soul. She had done it! The very sting of death was in her hands, the venom65 of the viper66 in her paradise, extracted, safe in her possession — and the viper’s head all but lying under her heel. Ricardo, stretched on the mats of the floor, crept closer and closer to the chair in which she sat.
All her thoughts were busy planning how to keep possession of that weapon which had seemed to have drawn67 into itself every danger and menace on the death-ridden earth. She said with a low laugh, the exultation in which he failed to recognize:
“I didn’t think that you would ever trust me with that thing!”
“Why not?”
“For fear I should suddenly strike you with it.”
“What for? For this morning’s work? Oh, no! There’s no spite in you for that. You forgave me. You saved me. You got the better of me, too. And anyhow, what good would it be?”
“No, no good,” she admitted.
In her heart she felt that she would not know how to do it; that if it came to a struggle, she would have to drop the dagger and fight with her hands.
“Listen. When we are going about the world together, you shall always call me husband. Do you hear?”
“Yes,” she said bracing68 herself for the contest, in whatever shape it was coming.
The knife was lying in her lap. She let it slip into the fold of her dress, and laid her forearms with clasped fingers over her knees, which she pressed desperately69 together. The dreaded70 thing was out of sight at last. She felt a dampness break out all over her.
“I am not going to hide you, like that good-for-nothing, finicky, sneery gentleman. You shall be my pride and my chum. Isn’t that better than rotting on an island for the pleasure of a gentleman, till he gives you the chuck?”
“I’ll be anything you like,” she said.
In his intoxication71 he crept closer with every word she uttered, with every movement she made.
“Give your foot,” he begged in a timid murmur54, and in the full consciousness of his power.
Anything! Anything to keep murder quiet and disarmed72 till strength had returned to her limbs and she could make up her mind what to do. Her fortitude73 had been shaken by the very facility of success that had come to her. She advanced her foot forward a little from under the hem44 of her skirt; and he threw himself on it greedily. She was not even aware of him. She had thought of the forest, to which she had been told to run. Yes, the forest — that was the place for her to carry off the terrible spoil, the sting of vanquished74 death. Ricardo, clasping her ankle, pressed his lips time after time to the instep, muttering gasping75 words that were like sobs76, making little noises that resembled the sounds of grief and distress77. Unheard by them both, the thunder growled78 distantly with angry modulations of it’s tremendous voice, while the world outside shuddered79 incessantly80 around the dead stillness of the room where the framed profile of Heyst’s father looked severely81 into space.
Suddenly Ricardo felt himself spurned82 by the foot he had been cherishing — spurned with a push of such violence into the very hollow of his throat that it swung him back instantly into an upright position on his knees. He read his danger in the stony83 eyes of the girl; and in the very act of leaping to his feet he heard sharply, detached on the comminatory voice of the storm the brief report of a shot which half stunned84 him, in the manner of a blow. He turned his burning head, and saw Heyst towering in the doorway85. The thought that the beggar had started to prance86 darted87 through his mind. For a fraction of a second his distracted eyes sought for his weapon an over the floor. He couldn’t see it.
“Stick him, you!” he called hoarsely88 to the girl, and dashed headlong for the door of the compound.
While he thus obeyed the instinct of self-preservation, his reason was telling him that he could not possibly reach it alive. It flew open, however, with a crash, before his launched weight, and instantly he swung it to behind him. There, his shoulder leaning against it, his hands clinging to the handle, dazed and alone in the night full of shudders and muttered menaces, he tried to pull himself together. He asked himself if he had been shot at more than once. His shoulder was wet with the blood trickling89 from his head. Feeling above his ear, he ascertained90 that it was only a graze, but the shock of the surprise had unmanned him for the moment.
What the deuce was the governor about to let the beggar break loose like this? Or — was the governor dead, perhaps?
The silence within the room awed him. Of going back there could be no question.
“But she know show to take care of her self,” he muttered.
She had his knife. It was she now who was deadly, while he was disarmed, no good for the moment. He stole away from the door, staggering, the warm trickle91 running down his neck, to find out what had become of the governor and to provide himself with a firearm from the armoury in the trunks.
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1
bungalow
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| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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3
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reposeful
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| adj.平稳的，沉着的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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6
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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7
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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8
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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9
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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potency
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| n. 效力，潜能 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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12
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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13
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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14
embodied
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| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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15
descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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16
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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17
tremors
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| 震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动 | |
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18
shudders
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| n.颤动，打颤，战栗( shudder的名词复数 )v.战栗( shudder的第三人称单数 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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19
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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20
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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21
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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22
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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23
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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24
eulogy
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| n.颂词；颂扬 | |
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25
oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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26
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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27
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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28
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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29
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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30
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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31
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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32
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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33
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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35
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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36
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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37
dabble
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| v.涉足，浅赏 | |
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38
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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39
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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40
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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41
skulker
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| n.偷偷隐躲起来的人，偷懒的人 | |
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42
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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43
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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44
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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45
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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46
disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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47
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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48
devotedly
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| 专心地； 恩爱地； 忠实地； 一心一意地 | |
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49
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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50
recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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51
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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52
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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53
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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54
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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55
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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56
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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57
thrifty
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| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
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58
feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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59
reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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60
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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61
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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62
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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63
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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64
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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65
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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66
viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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67
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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68
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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69
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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70
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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71
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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72
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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73
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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74
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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75
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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76
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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77
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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79
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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80
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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81
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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82
spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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84
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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85
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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86
prance
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| v.（马）腾跃，(人)神气活现地走 | |
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87
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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88
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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89
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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90
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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