Full of strange thoughts, and fancies whimsical,
Who dreams of dreams that make his life a dream.
And had he powers supernal1 at command,
Would tumble heaven itself about our ears
In his mad searchings for--I wot not what."
The room which Beaumont had turned into a studio while painting Squire2 Garsworth's portrait, overlooked the terrace on to which the French windows opened. It was the drawing-room of the Grange, and was magnificently furnished in the ponderous3 style of the Georgian period, though now, being but rarely used, an air of desertion and decay seemed to linger about it. The windows, however, being large and curtainless, there was an excellent light to paint by, so Basil established his easel near the centre window, and placed the squire at one further along, in order that the full light should fall on his withered4 face, showing the multitudinous wrinkles and stern expression that made it a study worthy5 of Rembrandt. Beaumont often glanced at the attenuated6 form lying listlessly back in the great arm-chair, and wondered what curious event had changed this man from an idle reveller7 into an industrious8 scholar.
Above was the painted ceiling of the apartment, whereon gods and goddesses, in faded tints9, disported10 themselves among dingy11 blue clouds, surrounded by cupids, sea-horses, rising suns and waning12 moons, while, below, a threadbare carpet covered the polished floor but imperfectly. A huge marble fireplace, cold and black-looking, heavy, cumbersome13 chairs, solid-looking tables, a quaint14 old spinet15 with thin legs and several comfortable-looking sofas, filled up the room. There were also grim-looking faces frowning from the walls, cabinets filled with grotesque16 china, now worth its weight in gold, bizarre ornaments17 from India and China, and many other quaint things, which made the apartment look like a curiosity-shop to the refined taste of the artist. But in spite of the old-time magnificence of the place, spiders spun18 their webs in the corners, grey dust lay thickly around, and a chill, tomb-like feeling pervaded19 the room. Even the cheerful sunlight could not lift the heavy shadow which seemed to brood over it, and it seemed, in its loneliness, to be a chamber20 of some enchanted21 palace, such as we read of in eastern tales.
Nor was the proprietor22 out of place in this decayed realm of former grandeur23, for he looked old and weird24 enough to have been coeval25 with the pristine26 splendours of the Grange. The worn face, the sudden gleams of insane fire from the deeply-set eyes, the snowy, sparse28 hair that fell from under the black skull-cap, and the sombre robe, all seemed to be the semblance29 of some hoary30 necromancer31 rich in malignant32 spells of magic.
Had Randal Garsworth mixed with the world he would have been a different creature. Had he gone abroad among his fellow men and taken an interest in their ideas concerning politics, literature, and music, he would have retained a healthy mind by such generalization33 of his intellect. But, shutting himself up, as he had done, in a lonely house, and concentrating his mind upon himself, he lapsed34 into a morbid35 state which prepared him for the reception of any fantastical idea. While thus lingering in this unhealthy life, he chanced upon the curious doctrine36 of metempsychosis, and it speedily took possession of his diseased mind, already strongly inclined towards strange searchings. The weirdness37 of the Pythagorean theory appealed to his love of the whimsical, and he became a monomaniac on the subject. Under the influence of a lonely life, ardent38 studies of the philosophers who supported the theory of transmigration, and his selfish application of these wild doctrines39 to his own soul, the monomania under which he laboured deepened into madness.
To all appearances he conducted himself in a rational manner, though slightly eccentric, but with his firm belief in metempsychosis, and his preparations for his future incarnation he could hardly be called sane27. Yet he conducted all business matters with admirable skill, and in spite of the dilapidated state of the Grange, his farms were well managed, and his tenants40 found no cause to complain of neglect on the part of their landlord. Like all madmen, he was a profound egotist, and absorbed in his belief of a re-incarnation on this earth, he paid no heed41 to the claims of relatives or friends, neglecting all social duties in order to devote himself entirely42 to his favourite delusions43. Such was the man who sat before Basil Beaumont, by whose skilful44 brush and genuine talent the strange face of the recluse45 was rapidly being transferred to the canvas in the most life-like manner.
"I hope this portrait will please you," said Beaumont, breaking the silence which had lasted some minutes, "it's the best thing I have ever done."
"Is it?" replied Garsworth, vaguely46, his mind being far away, occupied with some abstruse47 thought. "Yes, of course. What did you say?"
"I hope you'll like the picture," repeated Beaumont, slowly.
"Of course I will," said the squire, quickly. "I want to see myself in the future as I am now. Some people look back on their portraits taken in youth, and see a faint semblance of their old age in the unwrinkled faces, but I will see this picture when in a new body which will have no resemblance in its form to the withered shape I now bear."
"A strange doctrine."
"As you say--a strange doctrine," said Garsworth, warming with his subject, "but a very true one. My body is old and worn out. Physically48, I am an irreparable wreck49, but my soul is as lusty, fresh and eager as it was in the days of my youth. Why, then, should not my true entity50 shed this worn-out, fleshly envelope as a snake does its skin, and enter into a new one replete51 with the vigour52 of youth?"
"A difficult question to answer," replied Beaumont, calmly, "very, very difficult. We have no proof that such a thing can happen."
"You are a materialist53?"
"Pardon me, no. A materialist, as I understand the word, denies the independent existence of spirit; I do not. I believe our spirits or souls to be immortal54: but, as to this re-incarnation theory--it is a dream of Pythagoras."
"It was a dream of many before Pythagoras, and has been the dream of many since," rejoined Garsworth, coldly. "The Egyptians, the Hindoos and the Buddhists55 all accepted the doctrine, although each treated it according to their different religions. In our modern days Lessing believed in it; and if you have read the writings of Kardec you will find that re-incarnation is the very soul of the spiritist belief."
Beaumont sneered56.
"I can't say I have much faith in the maunderings of spiritualists. Table-turning and spirit-rapping may be very pleasant as an amusement; but as a religion--bah!"
"You talk like that because you don't understand the subject. The things you mention are only the outward manifestation57 of spiritualism. If you read Kardec's books you would find that the true theory of spiritualism is transmigration. Spirits are incarnated58 in human bodies in order to work out their own advancement59. If they resist temptation while in the flesh, they enter into a higher sphere, in order to advance another step. If they fail to lead a pure life, they again become re-incarnated in the flesh to make another effort; but they never retrograde."
"And you believe in this doctrine?" asked Beaumont, incredulously.
"With certain reservations--yes."
"And those reservations?"
"I need not mention all, but I will tell you one as an example. The spiritists deny that we remember former existences--I believe we do."
"Oh! and you think in your next body you will remember your incarnation as Squire Garsworth?"
"I do."
"Do you remember your former existences?"
"Some of them."
"Why not all?"
"Because some of the lives I then lived were base in the extreme, and not worthy of remembrance, so I forgot them--in the same way as you forget disagreeable things and only have thoughts of agreeable events."
"Will you tell me some of your former existences?"
"It would be hardly worth while," replied the squire, irritably60, "as you would only look upon my narration61 as a fairy-tale. But I can tell you what I was--an Egyptian prince, a Roman soldier, a Spanish Moor62, and an English pauper63 in the reign64 of Elizabeth."
Beaumont looked in astonishment65 at the old man, glibly66 running off this fantastic list.
"And since the pauper stage?" he asked, smothering67 a smile.
"I have been re-incarnated in this present form," responded the squire, gravely; "it is because I experienced poverty in my last existence that I am saving money now."
"I don't understand."
"To keep myself during my next incarnation."
The artist was becoming quite bewildered at hearing this farrago of nonsense uttered in such a serious tone. However the conversation was so extraordinary that he could not forbear humouring the madman.
"A very laudable intention," he said, quietly, "but as you will be someone else in your next incarnation, how are you going to claim Squire Garsworth's money?"
"Ah!" responded the squire, with a cunning smile, "that is my secret; I have arranged all that in a most admirable way. I can claim my own money without any trouble."
"But suppose you are born a savage68?"
"I will not be born a savage--that would be retrogression, and spirits never retrograde."
"Well," said Beaumont, rising to his feet, and putting his brushes away, "your conversation is getting too deep for me, Mr. Garsworth. I understand your metempsychosis theory all right, though I don't agree with it; but I fail to see how you are going to arrange about getting your own money."
"No, no!" replied Garsworth, raising his form, tall and gaunt, against the bright light outside, "of course not; that is my secret. No one will know--not one! Is your sitting finished?"
"Yes, for to-day."
"Come to-morrow--come to-morrow!" said the old man, coming round to look at the picture, "no time to be lost, I may die before it's done, and then I won't be able to see myself as I was: but Nestley will keep me alive--good doctor--very good doctor--paid him handsomely--yes, handsomely! Good-bye for to-day, Mr. Beaumont. Don't forget to-morrow; I may die--no time to lose--good-bye!"
The old man shuffled69 tremulously out of the room, and Beaumont stood looking after him with a puzzled smile on his lips. He began to put his paraphernalia70 away slowly and talked softly to himself meanwhile.
"I wonder if there's any sense in the old fool's ravings--I don't believe in this incarnation rubbish--but he's got some scheme in his head about that money--I'd like to find it out--there might be something in it by which I could benefit--he's a madman sure enough but still there is method in his madness--however, I'll try to discover his secret somehow."
He lighted a cigarette and sauntered out on to the terrace, thinking over the chances of finding out the Squire's secret with a view to turning it to his own account. Apparently71 his cogitations led to some result, for after standing72 for a few minutes at the end of the terrace in a brown study, he removed his cigarette from his mouth and uttered one word:
"Hypnotism."
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1
supernal
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| adj.天堂的，天上的；崇高的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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3
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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4
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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5
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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6
attenuated
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| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
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7
reveller
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| n.摆设酒宴者，饮酒狂欢者 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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9
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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10
disported
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| v.嬉戏，玩乐，自娱( disport的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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12
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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13
cumbersome
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| adj.笨重的，不便携带的 | |
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14
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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15
spinet
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| n.小型立式钢琴 | |
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16
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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17
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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19
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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21
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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23
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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24
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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25
coeval
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| adj.同时代的；n.同时代的人或事物 | |
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26
pristine
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| adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的 | |
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27
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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28
sparse
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| adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的 | |
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29
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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30
hoary
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| adj.古老的；鬓发斑白的 | |
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31
necromancer
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| n. 巫师 | |
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32
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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33
generalization
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| n.普遍性，一般性，概括 | |
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34
lapsed
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| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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35
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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36
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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37
weirdness
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| n.古怪，离奇，不可思议 | |
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38
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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39
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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40
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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41
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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42
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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43
delusions
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| n.欺骗( delusion的名词复数 )；谬见；错觉；妄想 | |
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44
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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45
recluse
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| n.隐居者 | |
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46
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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47
abstruse
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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48
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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49
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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50
entity
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| n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物 | |
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51
replete
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| adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁 | |
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52
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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53
materialist
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| n. 唯物主义者 | |
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54
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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55
Buddhists
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| n.佛教徒( Buddhist的名词复数 ) | |
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56
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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58
incarnated
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| v.赋予（思想、精神等）以人的形体( incarnate的过去式和过去分词 )；使人格化；体现；使具体化 | |
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59
advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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60
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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61
narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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64
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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65
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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66
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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67
smothering
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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68
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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69
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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70
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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71
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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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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