“This, gentlemen,” said Mr. Tuke, “is a quite overpowering welcome.”
He saw surrounding him a very choice variety of villainous faces—perhaps a dozen types in all; but, if his blood ran cold, he had a lofty fancy to attribute it to the weather.
A second little griding of laughter was his response.
“Stow your cursed babble6!” yawped a voice that the captive recognized; “and tie his hands behind him.”
He had not been able to suppress a start at the tones, though he cursed himself for his weakness; but now he looked forward cool and steady as the speaker faced him.
“Why, sir,” said the pedagogue8 sourly, “you may have stumbled through the fifth proposition and yet lack penetration9. I have not the honour to lead in this business.”
“Will you answer me a question?”
“Not one. Are his hands tied, you?”
“As fast as your tongue, sir, I can assure you. Mr. Corby here, whom I recognize by his bashfulness, has spliced10 me as conscientiously11 as he would bud a rose. How is gardening doing, Joe?”
“Get along!” said that person. “You want bedding out, you do.”
“Why, Joe, I’m with you. I never felt myself in closer quarters.”
Another squiggle of laughter greeted the sally.
“You might graft12 a new pair of ears to this gentleman,” said Tuke. “He’s been lopped, it seems, for canker; and that’s a disease peculiar13 to roses and curs, Joe.”
Brander’s face went furious.
“You stinking14 aristocrat15!” he screamed. “I’ll pipe a tune16 for you by and by, and you shall dance, by God!”
He stamped his foot and waved with his gaunt arms.
“Kick him into the parlour!” he shouted—“and let his wits fatten17 on the frog-skins. He’ll want them in good condition presently.”
The prisoner made no resistance, and was haled rather than driven through the doorway18 of the room to his right—thrust and locked in.
The shutters19, it seemed, were closed, and the place—except for the little glow diffused20 by a fire smouldering on the hearth—was in darkness. Not knowing if a trap of some sort was set for him, and being indeed considerably21 amazed and dumbfounded for all his fine show of sang-froid, he would not venture to do more than cross cautiously to the neighbourhood of the chimney corner, where he set his back against the wall and awaited events with what philosophy he could muster22.
Little sound of voice or movement came to him from without. The rogues23, their ruse25 accomplished26, assumed all the secrecy27 of their profession, and to the noise of boisterous28 mirth succeeded some fitful suggestions of stealthy toing and froing that it was far more difficult to hear with equanimity29.
Fortunately his trial of suspense30 was a short one. He had not been in the room many minutes, when he became conscious that he was not alone. Somebody had come in, but so softly and with so sidling an action that he was hardly aware of the fact until he heard gentle fingers manipulating the bolts of the shutters. The next moment the flaps were pushed quietly open and white daylight broke into the room.
He was in Darda’s museum—that he had guessed—and advancing towards him was a figure, very placid31, very venerable—Mr. Fern, whom it seemed a profanation32 to dub33 Jack34.
“We are badly accommodated for seats,” he said in his mild, high voice; “but here is a chair—or the remains36 of one, and a little steadiness of posture37 may make it even comfortable to you. Pray avail yourself of it.”
The gentleman laughed.
“I see no difficulty, Mr. Tuke. You will of course give me your parole not to attempt to escape.”
“Am I to be a prisoner in my own lodge?”
“I greatly fear so, sir. This quite unexpected development largely facilitates what might have been otherwise a prolonged and tiresome39 business, and we can’t afford to let you go. I will be frankness itself, Mr. Tuke; and we really can’t afford it, sir.”
“And I will imitate your candour, and ask what the devil you, a common thief, mean by asking a gentleman for his parole?”
“Rash blood, sir—hot, rash blood. I was older than you before I learnt to pick my words. But, without that little one of yours, I much fear that I shall be unable to relieve you of this temporary inconvenience.”
“Why, zounds, Mr. Fern! You are here in force, it seems—a dozen or more blazing cut-throats to keep the cage.”
“Honest fellows and well to be trusted, sir. At the same time you are noted40 for being a gentleman of daring and resource (I must really make you that acknowledgment), and far be it from me to risk the least of those scenes of violence that my soul abhors41.”
“Botany Bay has made you squeamish, it appears. Have you buried the hatchet42 with which you killed Cutwater?”
“Such an old slander, sir; and is the age of reason never to be forgiven its youthful peccadilloes47?”
“Oh! I cry you mercy, Mr. Fern. If this was a peccadillo46, I can understand your abhorring48 violence.”
“Harkee! Mr. Tuke. I don’t say I would have withheld49 my men from their just resentment50; but that I took no active part in it is the truth.”
“What sucking infants, to be sure, are you and your schoolmaster! I shall believe just this—that Cutwater stabbed himself in twenty places and then jumped his neck into the chains. But—to be candid51 again, Mr. Fern—what an unperspicacious rascal3 you must have been to kill your goose with the golden eggs.”
“Sir, there is one crime that, to my mind, cries to heaven above all others for vengeance52, and that is treachery on the part of a confederate. What was I to hesitate, if I was chosen the minister of a divine retribution? And now, by your leave, we will come to business.”
“What can there possibly be of that between us?”
“Ransom—ransom? in the matter of a few hundreds of yards of drive?”
“What is that to the point? One may lie in Newgate and only three feet of wall separate him from free pavement.”
“Very pertinently54 put; and you have all the advantage of knowing. But, do you seriously propose, as a sane55 man, Mr. Fern, to place, at this end of the eighteenth century, a gentleman’s private house under siege?”
“I am bound to confess I do.”
“Well, you have your plans, I presume, that you are not likely to acquaint me of.”
“Indeed, sir, you are free to know all. It is my simple intention to force entrance, and deal summarily with any that shall oppose me in my perfectly56 legitimate57 search.”
“I may tell you,” he said, a little loudly for him, “that I have here a disciplined and rather unscrupulous force under my command, and that this show of resistance on your part is neither convincing nor judicious60. Indeed, your somewhat fatuous61 self-confidence in thus venturing beyond your own lines, proves you quite ill-fitted to cope with so pregnant a situation.”
“At least you will acknowledge the house is well-defended?”
“Pooh! A mere62 question of gunpowder63. You have Cutwater’s iron shutters—which you have closed, of course—and a quite inadequate64 company to hold them; and of this, one already, as you know, is but now placed hors de combat by a shot from an over-eager young member of my band.”
“True, true,” murmured Tuke—“the man.”
“A man, sir, undoubtedly65; and a fool to thus expose himself. What could you do with such material, Mr. Tuke, even had you remained there to captain it?”
“Oh! thank you, Mr. Fern. You have comforted my heart amazingly. That Whimple is a sterling66 soul, and his precautions that I have laughed at justify67 themselves. But who thought to put them into practice?”
“Truly, sir,” he said. “I fail to comprehend you.”
“It is simple, my fatuous and over self-confident friend. You have greatly enlightened me. I do not come from the house. I was benighted69 yester-eve in the snow, and this morning, seeking to escape from my predicament, stumbled hap-hazard upon your camp.”
“You do not come from the house!”
“On the contrary. From quite another direction.”
“And you are alone?”
“Surely that is a superfluous70 question?”
For the moment Mr. Fern seemed to blaze up into a rather fearful travesty71 of himself. The contrast between his white hair and brick-red face became an exceedingly baneful72 one. In the flashing of the fire, however, he was his placid self again.
“This,” he said (his precise lips seemed educated, like stops, to the exact harmonies of speech), “all redounds73 to our advantage. Wherever you come from, you have fallen a very opportune74 hostage.”
“Ah! my friend. But it shows others than the master of the house to be on the alert. I am not informed of the details of your attack; but no doubt you thought to rush the place at your first assault.”
“You are absolutely right. We failed in that; but I may tell you, sir, that any prolonged resistance there, besides necessarily proving futile75, will greatly incense76 my men.”
“But why necessarily futile?”
“Pooh! Mr. Tuke. We have gone over our ground long and carefully. (Again I will be entirely77 open with you. Why should I not? If ever right justified78 might, it does in this business.) Do you fancy I am ignorant of the nature and capacity of your household?”
“True, true. Now, I am curious to know, Mr. Fern, how long you have been gathered here in this force?”
“Shall we put it at seventeen hours? When the snow increased we saw that Providence79 was set to favour the cause of justice, and we moved up here by twos and threes, and were all—thirteen of us, sir—assembled in the lodge by four o’clock of yesterday afternoon.”
“Sir, I will own to you that we had thought originally to make a simpler finish of the matter; but your unexpected return from London disturbed our plans. However, all has worked for the best; for here we stand in our relations of besieged81 and besieging82, as isolated83 as though we were vulture and deserted84 camel in the midst of Sahara. You see your position, Mr. Tuke. There is no hope of succour from any quarter. We have food and ammunition85 in abundance, and if we choose, we can batter86 your house about the ears of its two or three defenders87. Already my strong fellows have been at work, cutting a path up the drive and beyond it, and they have accounted for one of your trumpery88 force. If you are wise, you will consent to treat. If you are humane89, you will forbear to sacrifice to your vanity the lives of the unthinking few who serve you. And you have women there, Mr. Tuke—women, sir, women! They have a fashion of thinking death not the worst evil they can suffer.”
The captive, his heart blazing, saw the soul of this unspeakable ruffian revealed. He would have risked all and choked him with his hands, had these been free. As it was, he sought to play a sounder part by hiding his repulsion.
“Now, sir,” said the white-haired man very softly, “I put my proposal quite definitely—quite plainly, that there may be no mistaking it and no temporizing90 with it. I will exchange the person of Mr. Tuke for the stone that goes by the name of the ‘Lake of Wine,’ and, upon receipt of the latter, will withdraw my men and leave this neighbourhood for ever at peace.”
The other did not answer.
“You need not say,” went on Mr. Fern in the same quiet tone, “that you have not the jewel or any knowledge of its whereabouts. That were superfluous. I possess convincing evidence of its being concealed91 somewhere in your house. Pray do not trouble yourself or me with a denial.”
He paused for an answer. An acute observer might have noticed that his fingers twitched92 a little, as though they longed to tear out by the roots the confession93 he so suavely94 invited.
“Then I much regret it will be necessary to adopt coercive measures.”
The baronet drew himself up, the fury he had so long suppressed glinting in his eyes.
“You brazen96 scoundrel!” he cried, “to dare to assume that any threat could bring me to condone97 your villainy! Do your worst, you dog, and clinch98 your account with the devil!”
He was starting forward, when the other went swiftly to the door, opened it, looked back with a horrible smile, and vanished.
“And here endeth the first lesson,” said Mr. Tuke.
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收听单词发音
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1
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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3
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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5
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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7
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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pedagogue
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| n.教师 | |
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penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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10
spliced
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| adj.（针织品）加固的n.叠接v.绞接( splice的过去式和过去分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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11
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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graft
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| n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接 | |
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13
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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14
stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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15
aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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16
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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17
fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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18
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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19
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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23
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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30
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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profanation
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| n.亵渎 | |
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33
dub
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| vt.（以某种称号）授予，给...起绰号，复制 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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35
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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38
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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39
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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40
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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41
abhors
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| v.憎恶( abhor的第三人称单数 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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42
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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43
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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44
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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45
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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46
peccadillo
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| n.轻罪，小过失 | |
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47
peccadilloes
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| n.轻罪，小过失( peccadillo的名词复数 ) | |
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48
abhorring
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| v.憎恶( abhor的现在分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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49
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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50
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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51
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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52
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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53
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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54
pertinently
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| 适切地 | |
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55
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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56
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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57
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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58
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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59
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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60
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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61
fatuous
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| adj.愚昧的；昏庸的 | |
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62
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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63
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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64
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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65
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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67
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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68
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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69
benighted
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| adj.蒙昧的 | |
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70
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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71
travesty
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| n.歪曲，嘲弄，滑稽化 | |
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72
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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73
redounds
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| v.有助益( redound的第三人称单数 )；及于；报偿；报应 | |
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74
opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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75
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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76
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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77
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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78
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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79
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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80
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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81
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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83
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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84
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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85
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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86
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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87
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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88
trumpery
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| n.无价值的杂物；adj.（物品）中看不中用的 | |
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89
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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90
temporizing
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| v.敷衍( temporize的现在分词 )；拖延；顺应时势；暂时同意 | |
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91
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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92
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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93
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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94
suavely
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95
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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96
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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97
condone
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| v.宽恕；原谅 | |
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clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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