The Sunday editor glanced the item over and said: "H'm!" Afterward1 he sent for a reporter and expanded his comment.
"You might see General Ludlow," he said, "and make a story out of this if you can. Diamond stories are a drug; but this one is big enough to be found by a scrubwoman wrapped up in a piece of newspaper and tucked under the corner of the hall linoleum2. Find out first if the General has a daughter who intends to go on the stage. If not, you can go ahead with the story. Run cuts of the Kohinoor and J. P. Morgan's collection, and work in pictures of the Kimberley mines and Barney Barnato. Fill in with a tabulated3 comparison of the values of diamonds, radium, and veal4 cutlets since the meat strike; and let it run to a half page."
On the following day the reporter turned in his story. The Sunday editor let his eye sprint5 along its lines. "H'm!" he said again. This time the copy went into the waste-basket with scarcely a flutter.
The reporter stiffened6 a little around the lips; but he was whistling softly and contentedly7 between his teeth when I went over to talk with him about it an hour later.
"I don't blame the 'old man'," said he, magnanimously, "for cutting it out. It did sound like funny business; but it happened exactly as I wrote it. Say, why don't you fish that story out of the w.-b. and use it? Seems to me it's as good as the tommyrot you write."
I accepted the tip, and if you read further you will learn the facts about the diamond of the goddess Kali as vouched8 for by one of the most reliable reporters on the staff.
Gen. Marcellus B. Ludlow lives in one of those decaying but venerated9 old red-brick mansions10 in the West Twenties. The General is a member of an old New York family that does not advertise. He is a globe-trotter by birth, a gentleman by predilection11, a millionaire by the mercy of Heaven, and a connoisseur12 of precious stones by occupation.
The reporter was admitted promptly13 when he made himself known at the General's residence at about eight thirty on the evening that he received the assignment. In the magnificent library he was greeted by the distinguished14 traveller and connoisseur, a tall, erect15 gentleman in the early fifties, with a nearly white moustache, and a bearing so soldierly that one perceived in him scarcely a trace of the National Guardsman. His weather-beaten countenance16 lit up with a charming smile of interest when the reporter made known his errand.
"Ah, you have heard of my latest find. I shall be glad to show you what I conceive to be one of the six most valuable blue diamonds in existence."
The General opened a small safe in a corner of the library and brought forth17 a plush-covered box. Opening this, he exposed to the reporter's bewildered gaze a huge and brilliant diamond—nearly as large as a hailstone.
"This stone," said the General, "is something more than a mere18 jewel. It once formed the central eye of the three-eyed goddess Kali, who is worshipped by one of the fiercest and most fanatical tribes of India. If you will arrange yourself comfortably I will give you a brief history of it for your paper."
General Ludlow brought a decanter of whiskey and glasses from a cabinet, and set a comfortable armchair for the lucky scribe.
"The Phansigars, or Thugs, of India," began the General, "are the most dangerous and dreaded19 of the tribes of North India. They are extremists in religion, and worship the horrid20 goddess Kali in the form of images. Their rites21 are interesting and bloody22. The robbing and murdering of travellers are taught as a worthy23 and obligatory24 deed by their strange religious code. Their worship of the three-eyed goddess Kali is conducted so secretly that no traveller has ever heretofore had the honour of witnessing the ceremonies. That distinction was reserved for myself.
"While at Sakaranpur, between Delhi and Khelat, I used to explore the jungle in every direction in the hope of learning something new about these mysterious Phansigars.
"One evening at twilight25 I was making my way through a teakwood forest, when I came upon a deep circular depression in an open space, in the centre of which was a rude stone temple. I was sure that this was one of the temples of the Thugs, so I concealed26 myself in the undergrowth to watch.
"When the moon rose the depression in the clearing was suddenly filled with hundreds of shadowy, swiftly gliding27 forms. Then a door opened in the temple, exposing a brightly illuminated28 image of the goddess Kali, before which a white-robed priest began a barbarous incantation, while the tribe of worshippers prostrated29 themselves upon the earth.
"But what interested me most was the central eye of the huge wooden idol30. I could see by its flashing brilliancy that it was an immense diamond of the purest water.
"After the rites were concluded the Thugs slipped away into the forest as silently as they had come. The priest stood for a few minutes in the door of the temple enjoying the cool of the night before closing his rather warm quarters. Suddenly a dark, lithe31 shadow slipped down into the hollow, leaped upon the priest; and struck him down with a glittering knife. Then the murderer sprang at the image of the goddess like a cat and pried32 out the glowing central eye of Kali with his weapon. Straight toward me he ran with his royal prize. When he was within two paces I rose to my feet and struck him with all my force between the eyes. He rolled over senseless and the magnificent jewel fell from his hand. That is the splendid blue diamond you have just seen—a stone worthy of a monarch's crown."
"That's a corking33 story," said the reporter. "That decanter is exactly like the one that John W. Gates always sets out during an interview."
"Pardon me," said General Ludlow, "for forgetting hospitality in the excitement of my narrative34. Help yourself."
"Here's looking at you," said the reporter.
"What I am afraid of now," said the General, lowering his voice, "is that I may be robbed of the diamond. The jewel that formed an eye of their goddess is their most sacred symbol. Somehow the tribe suspected me of having it; and members of the band have followed me half around the earth. They are the most cunning and cruel fanatics35 in the world, and their religious vows36 would compel them to assassinate37 the unbeliever who has desecrated38 their sacred treasure.
"Once in Lucknow three of their agents, disguised as servants in a hotel, endeavoured to strangle me with a twisted cloth. Again, in London, two Thugs, made up as street musicians, climbed into my window at night and attacked me. They have even tracked me to this country. My life is never safe. A month ago, while I was at a hotel in the Berkshires, three of them sprang upon me from the roadside weeds. I saved myself then by my knowledge of their customs."
"How was that, General?" asked the reporter.
"There was a cow grazing near by," said General Ludlow, "a gentle Jersey39 cow. I ran to her side and stood. The three Thugs ceased their attack, knelt and struck the ground thrice with their foreheads. Then, after many respectful salaams40, they departed."
"Afraid the cow would hook?" asked the reporter.
"No; the cow is a sacred animal to the Phansigars. Next to their goddess they worship the cow. They have never been known to commit any deed of violence in the presence of the animal they reverence41."
"It's a mighty42 interesting story," said the reporter. "If you don't mind I'll take another drink, and then a few notes."
"If I were you," advised the reporter, "I'd take that sparkler to Texas. Get on a cow ranch44 there, and the Pharisees—"
"Phansigars," corrected the General.
"Oh, yes; the fancy guys would run up against a long horn every time they made a break."
"The spies of the tribe have found me out in New York," he said, straightening his tall figure. "I'm familiar with the East Indian cast of countenance, and I know that my every movement is watched. They will undoubtedly46 attempt to rob and murder me here."
"Here?" exclaimed the reporter, seizing the decanter and pouring out a liberal amount of its contents.
"At any moment," said the General. "But as a soldier and a connoisseur I shall sell my life and my diamond as dearly as I can."
At this point of the reporter's story there is a certain vagueness, but it can be gathered that there was a loud crashing noise at the rear of the house they were in. General Ludlow buttoned his coat closely and sprang for the door. But the reporter clutched him firmly with one hand, while he held the decanter with the other.
"Tell me before we fly," he urged, in a voice thick with some inward turmoil47, "do any of your daughters contemplate48 going on the stage?"
"I have no daughters—fly for your life—the Phansigars are upon us!" cried the General.
The two men dashed out of the front door of the house.
The hour was late. As their feet struck the side-walk strange men of dark and forbidding appearance seemed to rise up out of the earth and encompass49 them. One with Asiatic features pressed close to the General and droned in a terrible voice:
"Buy cast clo'!"
They hurried on, but only into the arms of a black-eyed, dusky-browed being, who held out his hat under their noses, while a confederate of Oriental hue54 turned the handle of a street organ near by.
Twenty steps farther on General Ludlow and the reporter found themselves in the midst of half a dozen villainous-looking men with high-turned coat collars and faces bristling55 with unshaven beards.
"Run for it!" hissed56 the General. "They have discovered the possessor of the diamond of the goddess Kali."
The two men took to their heels. The avengers of the goddess pursued.
When near the corner they both fell over an iron object that rose from the sidewalk close to the gutter58. Clinging to it desperately59, they awaited their fate.
"If I only had a cow!" moaned the reporter—"or another nip from that decanter, General!"
As soon as the pursuers observed where their victims had found refuge they suddenly fell back and retreated to a considerable distance.
"They are waiting for reinforcements in order to attack us," said General Ludlow.
"Guess again," he shouted, and leaned heavily upon the iron object. "Your old fancy guys or thugs, whatever you call 'em, are up to date. Dear General, this is a pump we've stranded62 upon—same as a cow in New York (hic!) see? Thas'h why the 'nfuriated smoked guys don't attack us—see? Sacred an'mal, the pump in N' York, my dear General!"
"Come on, Reddy," said one. "Let's go frisk the old 'un. He's been showin' a sparkler as big as a hen egg all around Eighth Avenue for two weeks past."
"Not on your silhouette," decided64 Reddy. "You see 'em rallyin' round The Pump? They're friends of Bill's. Bill won't stand for nothin' of this kind in his district since he got that bid to Esopus."
This exhausts the facts concerning the Kali diamond. But it is deemed not inconsequent to close with the following brief (paid) item that appeared two days later in a morning paper.
"It is rumored65 that a niece of Gen. Marcellus B. Ludlow, of New York City, will appear on the stage next season.
"Her diamonds are said to be extremely valuable and of much historic interest."
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1
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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linoleum
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| n.油布，油毯 | |
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tabulated
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| 把（数字、事实）列成表( tabulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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veal
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| n.小牛肉 | |
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sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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vouched
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| v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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venerated
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| 敬重（某人或某事物），崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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predilection
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| n.偏好 | |
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connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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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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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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obligatory
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| adj.强制性的，义务的，必须的 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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corking
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| adj.很好的adv.非常地v.用瓶塞塞住( cork的现在分词 ) | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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fanatics
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| 狂热者，入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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desecrated
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| 毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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salaams
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| （穆斯林的）额手礼，问安，敬礼( salaam的名词复数 ) | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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encompass
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| vt.围绕，包围；包含，包括；完成 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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lithely
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| adv.柔软地，易变地 | |
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whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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dime
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| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
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54
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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55
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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56
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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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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gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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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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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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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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62
stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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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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rumored
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| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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