The day dragged on, and Walter waited with what patience he had till the evening. He was not displeased7 to find that Vera was dining out with some friends in Sloane Square, for this would give him the opportunity he needed. He changed his dinner jacket presently for an old tweed coat and cap. Then he set out on his errand in Vauxhall Bridge Road. Walter was not alone on this occasion, for he was accompanied by a journalist friend whose particular study was the life and habits of the lower classes. It was this friend who had suggested the advisability of the humble9 garb10, so that they could thus mix freely with the people around them. Walter congratulated himself upon his friend's prudence11 when he saw the class of audience that filled the Imperial Palace Theatre.
The place was large enough, and by no means lacked artistic12 finish. At one time it had been an actual theatre, run by some enthusiast13 with a view to the elevation14 of the masses and the production of high-class plays at popular prices. The experiment had ended in a ghastly failure, and now a shrewd, hard-headed publican in the neighbourhood was making a fortune by the simple expedient15 of giving his patrons exactly what they required.
"What part of the house shall we try?" Walter asked.
"We can't do better than the pit," Venables replied. "That will cost you sixpence, or perhaps, if you like to be extravagant16, we can have a box for half-a-crown. Still, we don't want to make ourselves conspicuous17. The pit is quite good enough for me. You can smoke here, you know, and drink too, for the matter of that. But I should not advise you to try the latter experiment."
The house was fairly well filled as the two friends entered and took their seats. The audience for the most part were respectable enough, but the whole place reeked18 with perspiring19 humanity, and the air was pungent20 with the smell of acrid21 tobacco. A constant fusillade of chaff22 went on between the stage and the audience. Indeed, the artistes, for the most part, appeared to be on the most friendly terms with the habitués of the theatre. A dreary23-looking comedian24 was singing one of the inevitable25 patter songs, full of the feeble allusions26 to drink without which songs of that kind never appear to be complete. The audience listened stolidly27 enough.
"Are they never going to tire of this kind of thing?" Walter asked his companion. "Is there nothing humorous in the world outside the region of too much beer? These people sadden me."
Oh, they are all right," Venables said, cheerfully. "They are quite happy in their own particular way. I have long ceased to look for anything fresh on the music hall stage. An original artist and an original manner wouldn't be tolerated."
The dreary song came to an end at length; then it was followed by two so-called sisters, who, in short skirts and large picture hats, discoursed28 of the joys of country life in a peculiarly aggressive Cockney accent. The whole thing was dull and depressing to the last degree, and Walter began to regret his loss of time. He noticed from his programme that Valdo was down rather late, so there was nothing for it but to possess his soul in patience till the time came. It was a little past ten o'clock before the stage was cleared, and the attendants, in their grimy uniforms, began to erect30 a series of fine wires running from the roof to the floor. Then there was an extra flourish from the aggressive orchestra, and a slim man, dressed entirely in black, came on to the stage. He was received with great enthusiasm and the smiting31 of glasses upon the tables. Evidently Valdo had established himself as a firm favourite with the patrons of the Imperial Palace Theatre.
All Walter's apathy32 had vanished, as he turned to the stage and scrutinised the acrobat33 long and carefully. So far as he could judge, Valdo was no Englishman with a foreign name, but a genuine foreigner, presumably of Italian birth. The man was not tall or particularly broad, but he was well proportioned, and gave the idea of one possessed34 of considerable physical strength. In particular, Walter noticed how long his arms were, and how the muscles stood out between his shoulders. As to the rest, the man looked mild enough, and his dark Southern face was wreathed in an amiable35 smile.
He proceeded, with the aid of an attendant, to fasten two small curved canvas frames to his shoulders. These he thrashed up and down with his arms much as a cock flaps its wings before crowing. Then, with an agile36 leap from the stage, the man proceeded to sail up slowly from the floor to the flies.
"That's clever," Venables exclaimed. "It looks to me as if our friend has solved the art of the flying machine. But one never knows. I daresay it is no more than some ingenious trick."
This speech appeared to be resented by a respectable-looking mechanic who was occupying the next seat to Venables.
"Nothing of the kind," the man said indignantly. "I've been here three nights now, and I know something about mechanics, too. If you think that wires are used you are just mistaken. A friend of mine is stage carpenter here, and he told me all about it. Depend upon it, that chap has got the knack37 right enough."
The performer fluttered down again from the wings as lightly and easily as he had risen, and a tremendous outbreak of applause followed. When the din8 had died away, the stage manager came forward and invited any of the audience who chose to come up and see for themselves that everything was fair and legitimate38, and that no mechanism39 had been employed. The intelligent mechanic turned to Venables with a defiant40 smile.
"Now is your chance, guv'nor," he exclaimed. "You go and smell it out for yourself."
Venables would have declined the offer, but already Walter had risen eagerly from his seat. The opportunity was too good to be missed. Though he did not associate this man Valdo with the mysterious attack on Lord Ravenspur's life, he felt quite convinced that the artist was indirectly41 concerned in it. To waste a chance would be the height of folly42. A moment or two later the two friends were on the stage. They stood there whilst the performer went through another series of graceful43 performances, but they could see absolutely nothing which suggested mechanical contrivance of any kind. The whole act came to an end at length, and Valdo stood there bowing and smiling when his wings were removed.
"Let's have a chat with him," Venables whispered. "Apart from the thing being decidedly interesting, there ought to be some good 'copy' here. Properly worked, Signer Valdo ought to be worth a couple of columns to me."
At the suggestion of the "Press," the stage manager pricked44 up his ears. He was not insensible to the value of a good advertisement. He suggested a move to his private office, where it would be possible for the visitors to interview quietly.
"Nothing I should like better," Walter said eagerly. "Perhaps you will come with us, and join us in a bottle of champagne45?"
They made their way behind the stage to a dingy46 little room, insufficiently47 lighted with one gas jet. The back of the stage was in a turmoil48. It was almost impossible to hear for the din. Then very briefly49 and modestly Valdo told his history. He had found out his peculiar29 powers by a series of experiments with the parachute. The whole secret lay, he explained, in the enormously powerful muscles between his shoulders and the backs of his arms. The rest was worked by the amazing rapidity with which he had learnt to move his arms. So far the thing was effective enough, but the strain was so great that, hitherto, he had found it impossible to rise to a height of more than forty feet. This naturally prevented him from obtaining engagements in the larger theatres and halls where so limited a flight would have been far less imposing50 than it appeared to be when performed in a place like the Imperial Palace. There was nothing more to be said, and the two friends were turning away when a woman put her head into the door, and looked inquiringly at Valdo. He muttered something to the effect that he would be ready in a moment or two, and the woman vanished.
Walter caught his lip in his teeth. It was hard work to conceal51 his surprise. There was no doubt whatever about it, no question as to the identity of the intruder. Strange as it appeared to be, Walter recognised the features of Mrs. Delahay. There was no mistaking that white, stern face. It was only for a moment, but that moment had been enough for Lance.
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1
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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reeked
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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pungent
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| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
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acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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comedian
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| n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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stolidly
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| adv.迟钝地，神经麻木地 | |
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discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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acrobat
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| n.特技演员，杂技演员 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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44
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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45
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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insufficiently
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| adv.不够地，不能胜任地 | |
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48
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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50
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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51
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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