Gold and silver watches, with little parchment labels attached, setting forth13 their value, displayed themselves in a tempting14 row, and their chains were gracefully15 festooned between them, intermixed with strings16 of red coral, old-fashioned lockets, and bracelets17 of jet and amber18. Worn-out silver teapots were placed dismally19 at the back in company with cracked cups and saucers of apparently21 rare old Worcester and Sêvres china. Dingy velvet22 trays, containing innumerable coins and medals of every description, antique jewellery of a mode long since out of date, were incongruously mingled23 with revolvers, guns, spoons, cruets, and japanned trays, decorated with sprawling24 golden dragons; richly-chased Indian daggers25, tarnished26 silver mugs, in company with deadly-looking American bowie knives; bank-notes of long since insolvent27 banks were displayed as curiosities, while a child's rattle28 lay next to a Book of Beauty, from out whose pages looked forth simpering faces of the time of D'Orsay and Lady Blessington. And over all this queer heterogeneous29 mixture the dust lay thick and grey, as if trying for very pity to hide these remnants of past splendours and ruined lives.
The shop was broad, low-roofed, and shallow, with a choky atmosphere of dust, through which the golden sunlight slanted30 in heavy, solid-looking beams. On the one side there was a row of little partitions like bathing-boxes, designed to secure secrecy31 to those who transacted32 business with Mr. Lazarus, and, on the other, long rows of old clothes were hanging up against the wall, looking like the phantoms33 of their former owners. At the back, a door, covered with faded green baize, and decorated with brass-headed nails, gave admittance to the private office of the presiding genius of the place. The whole appearance of the shop was gloomy in the extreme, and the floor, being covered with boxes and bundles, with a little clearing here and there, it was naturally rather embarrassing to strangers (especially as the bright sunlight outside prevented them seeing an inch before their noses) when they first entered the dismal20 den6 wherein Mr. Lazarus sat like a spider waiting for unwary flies.
In one of the bathing machines aforesaid, a large red-faced woman, with a gruff voice and a strong odour of gin, was trying to conclude a bargain with a small, white-faced Jewish youth whose black beady eyes were scornfully examining a dilapidated teapot, which the gruff lady asserted was silver, and which the Jewish youth emphatically declared was not. The gruff female, who answered to the name of Tibsey, grew wrathful at this opposition35, and prepared to do battle.
"Old 'uns knows more nor youngers," she growled36 in an angry tone. "'Tain't by the sauce of babes and sucklers as I'm goin' to be teached."
"'Old your row," squeaked37 Isaiah, that being the shrill38 boy's name. "Five bob, and dear at that."
Mrs. Tibsey snorted, and her garments--a tartan shawl and a brown wincey--shook with wrath34.
"Lor a mussy, 'ear the brat," she said, lifting up her fat hands; "why, five poun' wouldn't buy it noo; don't be 'ard on me, my lovey--me as 'ave popped everythink with you, includin' four silver spoons, a kittle, a girdiron, an' a coal-scuttle; don't be 'ard, ducky; say ten an' a tizy."
"Five bob," returned the immovable Isaiah.
"You Jewesis is the cuss of hus hall," cried Mrs. Tibsey, whacking39 the counter with a woefully ragged40 umbrella. "You cheats an' you swindles like wipers, an' I 'ates the sight of your 'ook noses, I do."
"You'll 'ave the boss out," said Isaiah, in a high voice, like a steam whistle, to which Mrs. Tibsey replied in a rolling bass41, a duet which grew wilder and wilder till the sudden opening of the green baize door reduced them both to silence.
An old man appeared--such a little old man--very much bent42, and dressed in a greasy43 old ulster which covered him right down to his ragged carpet slippers44. He had white hair and beard, piercing black eyes under shaggy white eyebrows45, sharply-cut features, and a complexion46 like dirty parchment, seared all over with innumerable lines.
"You again?" he said, in a feeble Jewish voice. "Oh, you devil!--you--you--" here a fit of coughing seized him, and he contented47 himself with glaring at Mrs. Tibsey, upon which he was immediately confronted by that indomitable female, who seized the teapot and shook it in his face.
"Five bob!" she shrieked48; "five bob for this!"
"Too much--far too much," said Lazarus in dismay; "say four, my dear, four."
"Ten; I want ten," said Mrs. Tibsey.
"No, no; four; you say ten, but you mean four."
"Say six."
"Four."
"Then take it," said Mrs. Tibsey, clashing it down in wrath, "and the devil take you."
"All in good time--all in good time," chuckled49 the old man, and disappeared through the door.
"You see, you oughter 'ave taken the five," sniggered Isaiah, making out the pawnticket. "There's four bob, don't spend it in drink."
"Me drink, you hugly himp," said the lady, sweeping50 the money into her capacious pocket, where it reposed51 in company with an empty gin bottle; "me drink, as takes in washin' and goes hout nussin', an' was quite the lady afore I fell into the company of wipers: me dr-- well," and, language failing her, Mrs. Tibsey sailed majestically52 out of the shop, coming into collision with Ezra and Keith, who were just entering.
"A whirlwind in petticoats," said Keith, startled by this ragged apparition53.
"Askin' your parding, gents both," said Mrs. Tibsey, dropping a very shaky curtsey, "but a young limb h'insides bin54 puttin' my back hup like the wrigglin' heel 'e h'are, and if you're goin' to pop anythink, don't let it be a silver teapot, 'cause old Sating h'inside is the cuss of orphens and widders," and, having relieved her mind, Mrs. Tibsey flounced indignantly away to refresh herself with her favourite beverage55.
"Complimentary56 to your parent," observed Keith, as they entered the shop.
"Oh, they're much worse sometimes," said Ezra complacently57. "Isaiah, where's my father?"
"In 'is room," replied Isaiah, resuming the reading of a sporting newspaper.
Ezra opened the green baize door without knocking, and entered, followed by Keith. A small square room, even dingier58 than the shop. At one side a truckle bed pushed up against the wall, and next to it a large iron safe. A rusty59 grate, with a starved-looking fire, had an old battered kettle simmering on its hob. At the back a square dirty-paned window, through which the light fell on a small table covered with greasy green cloth, and piled up with papers. At this table sat old Lazarus, mumbling60 over some figures. He looked up suddenly when the young men entered, and cackled a greeting to his son, after which effort he was seized with a violent fit of coughing, which seemed to shake him to pieces. The paroxysm having passed, he began to talk in his feeble, Jewish voice.
"He, he! my dear," looking sharply at Keith, "is this the young man you spoke61 of? Well, well--too good-looking, my dear--the women--ah, the women, devil take 'em, they'll be turning his head."
"That's his own business, not yours," said Ezra curtly62.
"He, he! but it is my business--they'll love him, and love means presents--that means money--my money--I can't trust him."
"That's rather severe, isn't it?" said Keith, speaking for the first time. "You can't tell a man's character altogether by his face--good looks do not invariably mean libertine63 principles."
"Ah! I know, I know!" muttered Lazarus, rubbing his hands together; "well, well, can you keep books?"
"Yes, I have been accustomed to do so."
"Are you honest?"
Keith laughed.
"I'm generally considered so."
"He, he! that's not saying much. What wages do you want?"
"Three pounds a week," said Stewart modestly.
"Oh, my dear, my dear, what a large sum; say two, my dear, two pounds, or forty shillings, it's very large; you can save out of two pounds."
"I'm glad you think so," said Keith dryly. "I've got my doubts on the subject; however, beggars must not be choosers, so I agree."
"On trial, mind on trial," muttered the old man cautiously.
"I'm quite agreeable," replied Keith complacently, hoping that by the time his trial is over he would be on the staff of some paper. "What are the hours?"
"Nine, my dear," said Lazarus, stroking his beard, "nine till six, with half-an-hour for something to eat in the day--a bun and a cup of coffee--don't be extravagant64."
"I can't very well be, on such a salary," replied Stewart. "Well, Mr. Lazarus, as it's all settled, I'll come at nine o'clock to-morrow morning."
"Yes! yes! quite right; but no horse-racing, no gambling65, no women--they're the devil, my dear, the devil."
"You're rather hard on the sex, father," said Ezra satirically, "considering how useful they are to you."
"Aha! quite right, quite right," chuckled the old man. "Oh, I know fine ladies; they come to old Lazarus for money--to sell diamonds--ah, my dear, there's lots of diamonds in that safe, he, he!"
"I wonder you're not afraid of being robbed," said Keith.
The old man looked up with a sudden gleam of suspicion in his eyes.
"No, no; I keep the keys under my pillow, and I've got a pistol. I can fire it, oh, yes, I can fire it, then the neighbours, my dear, all round; oh, I'm quite safe--yes, yes, quite safe; no one would hurt old Lazarus. How's Esther, my dear?" turning suddenly to his son.
Esther was the girl to whom Ezra was engaged.
"Oh, she's all right," he replied. "I took her the other night to see Caprice."
"Aha!" cried old Lazarus, lifting up his hands. "Oh, dear, dear, what a woman. I know her, oh, I know her."
"Personally?" asked Keith, whereupon Mr. Lazarus suddenly became deaf.
"Yes, yes, a fine woman; ruins everybody, ruins 'em body and soul, and laughs at 'em, like the fiend she is."
Ezra looked at his paternal66 relative in disgust, and took Keith's arm. "Come along," he said, "I've got an engagement."
"Good boy, good boy," muttered his parent, nodding his head, "make money, my dear, make--" here another fit of coughing interrupted him, and Ezra hurried Keith away.
"Faugh!" said Ezra, lifting up his hat when they were in the street; "how I hate the miasma67 of that place. It's like the upas tree, and kills all who come within its circle."
"Do you think your father knows Caprice?" asked Keith, as they walked down Bourke Street.
"Can't tell you," answered Lazarus coolly; "I shouldn't be surprised--he knows half the women in Melbourne. When a spendthrift wants money, he goes to my father; when a woman is in trouble, she goes there also; in spite of her lovers, Caprice is such an extravagant woman, that I've no doubt she's had dealings with my father. If the secret life of Lazarus the pawnbroker were only written, it would be very interesting, I assure you."
"I'm glad I got the place," said Keith thoughtfully; "it isn't much, but will keep me alive till I get on my feet."
"You are sure to drop into a newspaper appointment," replied Ezra, "and of course I will do my best for you."
"You're very good," answered Keith gratefully; "ha, ha, what queer tricks the jade68 Fortune plays us. I come to Melbourne full of poetic69 dreams, and find my fate in a pawnbroker's office--it isn't romantic, but it's bread and butter."
"You're not the first poet who has gone to the pawnbroker."
"I expect I'm the first that ever went on such good terms," retorted Keith shrewdly.
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1
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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pawnbroker
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| n.典当商，当铺老板 | |
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blistered
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| adj.水疮状的，泡状的v.（使）起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 )；（使表皮等）涨破，爆裂 | |
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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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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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9
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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12
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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13
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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14
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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15
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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16
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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18
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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19
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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20
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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21
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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22
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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23
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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24
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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25
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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26
tarnished
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| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
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27
insolvent
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| adj.破产的，无偿还能力的 | |
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28
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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29
heterogeneous
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| adj.庞杂的；异类的 | |
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30
slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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32
transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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33
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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34
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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35
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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36
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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37
squeaked
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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38
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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39
whacking
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| adj.（用于强调）巨大的v.重击，使劲打( whack的现在分词 ) | |
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40
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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41
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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42
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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43
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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44
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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45
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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46
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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47
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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48
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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51
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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53
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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54
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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55
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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56
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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57
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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58
dingier
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| adj.暗淡的，乏味的( dingy的比较级 )；肮脏的 | |
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59
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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60
mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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61
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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62
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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63
libertine
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| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
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64
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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65
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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66
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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67
miasma
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| n.毒气；不良气氛 | |
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68
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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69
poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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