Peter had not forgotten nor ceased to lament2 the heavy draft which had been made upon him by Randall. The thousands which he had left could not compensate3 to him for the one he had lost. So, in the hope of making it up, he strove to live even more economically than before, if, indeed, that were possible. The additional privations to which he subjected himself began to tell upon the old man's constitution. He grew thinner and weaker and more shrivelled than before, and all this to save a penny or two additional each day.
As Peter was crawling feebly along towards his gloomy den4 one afternoon, clad in the invariable blue cloak, he was startled by[277] hearing a hoarse5 voice behind him, calling out, "Peter Manson—Peter, I say!"
"Who calls?" asked Peter, in a quavering voice, slowly turning round.
"Don't you remember me?" asked Randall, for it was he.
Peter muttered something unintelligible6 as he cast a terrified glance at the mate, and quickened his pace.
"You're not very polite, Peter," said the other, quickly overtaking and joining the old man. "Is this the way to greet an old friend, whom you have not seen for nearly a year?"
Peter looked anxious and alarmed, and glanced askance at his companion.
By this time they had reached the miser7's quarters, and Peter, taking out a key, opened the door.
He opened it just sufficiently8 to admit himself, and was then about to close it when Randall, unceremoniously pushing him aside, entered also.
"By your leave, Peter, I will spend a short time with you."
"I have no fire," said Peter Manson, hastily.
"I dare say not," said Randall, carelessly, "but you can easily kindle9 one."
"I—I have no fuel."
[278]
"None at all?"
"Why, a little—a very little," stammered10 Peter, uneasily.
"I thought so. Come, lead the way. I won't trouble you to light the fire. I'll do it myself."
With something that sounded like a groan11, the old man led the way, and ushered12 his unwelcome guest into the room described in one of the earlier chapters.
Randall used as much wood in kindling13 a fire as would have lasted Peter a whole day.
"You will ruin me," he said, in dismay.
"Then you'll be ruined in a good cause," said Randall. "But I say, Peter, don't you remember what we talked about when I visited you last?"
The old man groaned14, thinking of the thousand dollars.
"Seems to me it has not left a very agreeable impression upon your mind," remarked his companion. "Don't you want me to tell you of the boy that I spirited away?"
"Is he dead?" asked Peter, eagerly.
"No; curse him, he escaped from me."
"You—you didn't let him know about the money?"
"Which you feloniously kept from him? Was that what you mean?"
[279]
"Ye—yes."
"No, I didn't."
Peter looked relieved.
"Where is he now?"
"Heaven knows! I don't. He deserted15 from the ship at Rio Janeiro. But let me ask you, in turn, Peter, what has become of the mother, whom each of us has so much reason to hate?"
"I don't know."
"Then she is no longer a tenant16 of yours?"
"She moved in less than a month after you went away."
"Couldn't pay her rent, ha!"
"Yes; she paid it as long as she stayed. I have not seen or heard anything of her since."
"I have," said the mate, significantly.
"You!" exclaimed Peter, eagerly.
"I saw her to-day."
"How—where?"
"In a carriage."
"A carriage!" echoed Peter, in surprise.
"Yes; looking as bright and handsome as when she rejected you with scorn."
The miser frowned.
"Where did you meet her?"
"On Washington Street. I was walking[280] there when I chanced to look into a gay carriage that was driving by, and saw her."
"Are you sure you are not mistaken?"
"No. I followed her to her place of residence."
"Where is it?"
"No.——Mt. Vernon Street."
"She must be rich, then."
"No; she is a governess there, though enjoying, I should think, unusual privileges, and is, no doubt, happy."
Peter made no reply, but seemed occupied by other thoughts.
"And now, Peter, have you any idea what I came for?"
"To tell me this."
"I am not fool enough to take all this trouble."
"Then I don't know."
"I want money, Peter."
Peter could not be said to change color, but he grew more ghastly than before, at this demand.
"I have nothing to give you," he said.
"Tell that to the marines. You must give me another thousand dollars."
"Another thousand dollars!" exclaimed the old man. "Where do you think I should get it? Did I not impoverish17 myself in satisfying[281] your last demand, and have I not been obliged to live on bread and water since?"
Randall shrugged18 his shoulders.
"I dare say you have lived on bread and water, but as to being obliged to, that is nonsense. I ask you again, to give me a thousand dollars. You will have thousands left."
"I shall be a beggar," said the old man, passionately19.
"A beggar!" returned Randall, laughing scornfully.
"Yes," said Peter, with energy. "You promised, when I gave you a thousand dollars,"—his voice faltered20 as he recalled the sacrifice,—"that you would ask no more. Now, you come back for another sum as large, and it is not yet a year. You shall not have it!" he exclaimed, passionately; "not if I had it fifty times over."
"Bethink you what you are saying, old man," said Randall, menacingly. "Do you know that I can go to Mrs. Codman and denounce you?"
"You will not," said Peter, trembling.
"But I will, unless you comply with my demand. Now what do you say? Better be reasonable, and consent, before I compel you."
[282]
"Never!" exclaimed the miser, desperately21.
"I will denounce you to the police. Shall I have the money?"
But Peter was no longer to be moved, even by his fears. His love of money overcame every other consideration, and again he exclaimed, "Never!" with all the energy of which he was capable.
"Is this your final answer?"
"It is."
"Then I will help myself," said Randall, coolly, leaving his chair, and beginning to lift up the trap-door, beneath which was the miser's box of treasure.
As soon as Peter fairly comprehended his design, and saw the gold coins in the grasp of the purloiner22, unable to restrain himself, he threw himself upon the mate with a cry as of a lioness deprived of her young, and grasped the strong man by the throat with fingers, which, though naturally weak, despair and rage made strong. At all events, it was not particularly comfortable, and provoked Randall, who seized the old man in his strong arms, and, with a muttered curse, hurled23 him to the floor, where he lay pale and senseless.
"Confusion!" muttered Randall, in dismay, for Peter had uttered a shrill24 scream as he[283] fell. "I am afraid I shall get into an ugly scrape."
He was not altogether wrong.
The scream had been heard by two, at least, who were passing. The door was burst open, and in rushed Bill Sturdy and Charlie, our young hero, who had just returned to Boston, and were passing on their way up from the wharf25 at which the vessel26 was lying.
"Mr. Randall!" exclaimed Charlie, in surprised recognition.
Randall strove to escape through the opened door, but Sturdy, seizing him in his powerful grasp, cried, "Not so fast, my hearty27! You've been up to some mischief28, and if I don't see justice done you, may I never see salt water again!"
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收听单词发音
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1
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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5
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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6
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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7
miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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8
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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9
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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12
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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14
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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15
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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16
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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17
impoverish
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| vt.使穷困，使贫困 | |
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18
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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19
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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20
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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22
purloiner
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| [法] 小偷，窃盗者 | |
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23
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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27
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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28
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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