“You may certainly assume that.” I smiled at his smug assurance.
“The next extract, then, from our Diarist is two years later, December, 1501, to be precise. In the meanwhile, it seems the Doge had regained2 the confidence of the republic. At any rate he had evidently not been removed from office.
“‘This day was erected3 a tablet in the Frari to Giovanni da Sestos, who died some six weeks since. He was an incomparable artist in gold and precious stones, the greatest that Venice has known, but famous even beyond his just merits as an artist by reason of the mystery of the wonderful casket and the more wonderful gems4. And people are saying (though I myself have not seen it) that he hath left a clock that is a greater marvel5 than the lost casket itself, which only the jeweler and his son (beside the Doge) set eyes on before it was stolen. And certain 77ones who have seen this clock (before it was broken) declare that the clock of our Piazza6, though infinitely7 larger, is but a puerile8 thing compared to it.
“‘When first imprisoned9 in his own house, Giovanni utterly10 despaired, for he was watched by spies day and night, and none might converse11 with him without their being present. For days he did not move, but sat moody12 and sullen13, gazing at nothing with his terrible, burning eyes.
“‘So he lived for many weeks. Then one day he leaped to his feet and shouted aloud for his tools. Though his adored casket had been stolen from him, he swore he would make something more marvelous than that before death came on him. And because he was so great an artist, not even the Doge dared to deprive Venice of any wonder that he might make, though he had sworn that Giovanni should never again breathe the fresh air of the Piazza. So they gave to him his tools, and for certain hours during the day his son was permitted to aid him, since he suffered no other to enter his workshop. Two years the father and son labored14 at this clock until it was quite finished.
“‘And when it was finished, Giovanni sent his son to that Doge who had caused him to make the casket and had since imprisoned him, beseeching15 78him to come to him with all haste, for he had somewhat to say to him, and to show him. The Doge went straightway to his house. For he thought he was to hear some confession16 as to the missing casket, since he believed steadfastly17 that it was the goldsmith who had caused it to be stolen, and no other.
“‘Giovanni met him with all ceremony, and, taking him courteously18 by the hand, led him to his workshop, where stood the wonderful clock.
“‘When the Doge saw this clock he was filled with anger, for the three bronze figures reclining about the face of the clock were hideous19 images of Giovanni’s most bitter foes20. Two of them were a rival goldsmith and the jailer who had fed him when he was a prisoner in the piombi. But the third and most hideous of all was the Doge himself, such a miracle of ugliness and horror that to look on it would make a man shudder21. But because he wished to hear what Giovanni had to say, the Doge spoke22 Giovanni fair, and declared himself delighted with his ingenuity23. For they say (though, as I have written before, neither have I seen the clock nor have I known any that have) that at every hour a door opened, and some story out of the history of Venice was acted.
“‘And as each hour went by the Doge became 79wearied of watching the antics of the clock as the hours struck. But Giovanni compelled him to be patient and besought24 him to see the antics of the figures of all of the twelve hours. Between each hour the Doge kept inquiring of the goldsmith if he had anything to tell him. And each time that the question was asked the goldsmith laughed boisterously25, and said, “Though I did tell thee, thou hast not ears to hear.” This answer he made several times, till at last the Doge, seeing at last that he was being ridiculed26, arose in anger and cried: “For the last time, Messer Giovanni, hast thou anything to say to me?” And still the goldsmith answered with jeers27, “Though I told thee, thou hast not ears to hear,” and would say no more.
“‘Then, because he had been answered in this rude fashion many times, the Doge could no longer restrain his passion. He lifted his staff, and furiously smote28 off the three figures of the clock, and in doing so the clock fell violently to the earth, and it was broken in its insides, and never more will it strike hour, so at least I am told.
“‘When Giovanni saw that his marvelous clock was broken, he raved29 like a madman, and spat30 on the Doge, and belabored31 him with his fists so that he was compelled to take flight from 80the house. And as he fled, the goldsmith called after him very bitterly: “Did I not say thou wert a fool? For, though the casket were lost, did I not make a greater marvel? But thou canst not understand its divine beauty and wonder. And now, by my oath, though I knew the secret place of the casket, yet shouldst thou never know, seeing that thou hast broken my clock.”
“‘As soon as the Doge reached the Ducal Palace, he bade the captain of the inquisitorial guard fetch Giovanni. He determined32 that he would once more put him to extremest tortures, for he remembered the words: “And now, by my oath, though I knew the secret place of the casket, yet shouldst thou never know.” But when they reached the house of Giovanni they found both his son and himself lying dead, side by side, and by the look of their faces they saw that they had taken poison. And now the mystery of the casket will never be known. As for the clock, it is said that it had an evil spirit, and no man cares whether the Inquisition hath destroyed it or hidden it.’”
St. Hilary closed the slim little book and gently laid it on the table. During the latter part of his recital33 I had risen from my seat and was walking about the room. Now I sat at the table opposite him, my hands stretched out limply before 81me. I stared at him as the Guest must have stared at the Ancient Mariner34. For the Mariner’s story was of things that were past and done with. St. Hilary’s story was of things to come.
When I spoke, it was almost in a whisper, as if I were saying something too extravagant35 to be spoken out loud.
“Then you believe, St. Hilary, that the clock holds the secret? You believe that if you could discover the secret you would have a clue to the D’Este jewels? I see. Da Sestos was the thief, and when he saw that he was never to feast his eyes on the glorious fruit of his rascality36, when he knew he was being watched night and day, he sank into the apathy37 of despair, until–until––”
I raised both my arms and stretched them out as if I were groping for something.
“Until?” repeated St. Hilary mockingly.
“Before heaven, St. Hilary,” I cried, laughing loudly, “are you and I the two maddest men in Venice this evening?”
“On the contrary,” he answered carelessly, flicking38 the ash of his cigarette daintily, “I begin to think I have made no mistake in choosing you for my companion. But the facts first. You are ready for chapter three?”
82“Your own theories about this extraordinary mystery? Yes, yes.”
The little man threw himself back in my armchair, a smirk39 of satisfaction on his wizened40 face. There was something of the actor about St. Hilary; he loved an appreciative41 audience, and he was determined to make the most of the present one.
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1
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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2
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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3
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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5
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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6
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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7
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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8
puerile
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| adj.幼稚的，儿童的 | |
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9
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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11
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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12
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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14
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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15
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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16
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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17
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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18
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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19
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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20
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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21
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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22
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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23
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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24
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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25
boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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26
ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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29
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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30
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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31
belabored
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| v.毒打一顿( belabor的过去式和过去分词 )；责骂；就…作过度的说明；向…唠叨 | |
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32
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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33
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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34
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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35
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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36
rascality
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| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
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37
apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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38
flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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39
smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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40
wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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41
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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