As he lighted lamp after lamp and soft illumination crept about the big room, because of the heavy shadows created the place seemed to become mysteriously enlarged. That it was an Eastern apartment cunningly devised to appeal to the Western eye, one familiar with Arab households must have seen at once. It was a traditional Oriental interior, a stage setting rather than the nondescript and generally uninteresting environment of the modern Egyptian at home.
Brightly coloured divans4 there were and many silken cushions of strange pattern and design. The hanging lamps were of perforated brass5 with little coloured glass panels. In carved wooden cabinets stood beautiful porcelain6 jars, trays, and vessels7 of silver and copper8 ware9. Rich carpets were spread about the floor, and the draperies were elegant and costly10, while two deep windows projecting over the court represented the best period of Arab architecture. Their intricate carven woodwork had once adorned11 the palace of a Grand Wazir. Agapoulos had bought them in Cairo and had had them fitted to his house in Chinatown. A smaller brass lamp of very delicate workmanship was suspended in each of the recesses12.
As Hassan, having lighted the four larger lanterns, was proceeding13 leisurely14 to light the first of the smaller ones, draperies before a door at the east end of the room were parted and Agapoulos came in. Agapoulos was a short but portly Greek whom the careless observer might easily have mistaken for a Jew. He had much of the appearance of a bank manager, having the manners of one used to making himself agreeable, but also possessing the money-eye and that comprehensive glance which belongs to the successful man of commerce.
Standing15 in the centre of the place he brushed his neat black moustache with a plump forefinger16. A diamond ring which he wore glittered brilliantly in the coloured rays of the lanterns. With his right hand, which rested in his trouser pocket, he rattled17 keys. His glance roved about the room appraisingly18. Walking to a beautifully carved Arab cabinet he rearranged three pieces of Persian copperware which stood upon it. He moved several cushions, and taking up a leopard19 skin which lay upon the floor he draped it over an ebony chair which was inlaid intricately with ivory.
The drooping20 eyelids21 of M. Agapoulos drooped22 lower, as returning to the centre of the room he critically surveyed the effect of these master touches. At the moment he resembled a window-dresser, or, rather, one of those high-salaried artists who beautify the great establishments of Regent Street, the Rue23 de la Paix, and Ruination Avenue, New York.
Hassan lighted the sixth lamp, muttering smilingly all the time. He was about to depart when Agapoulos addressed him in Arabic.
“There will be a party down from the Savoy tonight, Hassan. No one else is to come unless I am told. That accursed red policeman, Kerry, has been about here of late. Be very careful.”
Hassan saluted24 him gravely and retired25 through one of the draped openings. In his hand he held the taper26 with which he had lighted the lamps. In order that the draperies should not be singed27 he had to hold them widely apart. For it had not occurred to Hassan to extinguish the taper. The Egyptian mind is complex in its simplicity28.
M. Agapoulos from a gold case extracted a cigarette, and lighting29 it, inhaled30 the smoke contentedly31, looking about him. The window-dresser was lost again in the bank manager who has arranged a profitable overdraft32. Somewhere a bell rang. Hassan, treading silently, reappeared, crossed the room, and opening a finely carved door walked along a corridor which it had concealed33. He still carried the lighted taper.
Presently there entered a man whose well-cut serge suit revealed the figure of a soldier. He wore a soft gray felt hat and carried light gloves and a cane34. His dark face, bronzed by recent exposure to the Egyptian sun, was handsome in a saturnine35 fashion, and a touch of gray at the temples tended to enhance his good looks. He carried himself in that kind of nonchalant manner which is not only insular36 but almost insolent37.
M. Agapoulos bowed extravagantly39. As he laid his plump hand upon his breast the diamond ring sparkled in a way most opulent and impressive.
“I greet you, Major Grantham,” he said. “Behold”—he waved his hand glitteringly—“all is prepared.”
“Oh, yes,” murmured the other, glancing around without interest; “good. You are beginning to get straight in your new quarters.”
Agapoulos extended the prosperous cigarette-case, and Major Grantham took and lighted a superior cigarette.
“How many in the party?” inquired the Greek smilingly.
“Three and myself.”
A shadow of a frown appeared upon the face of Agapoulos.
“Only three,” he muttered.
Major Grantham laughed.
“You should know me by this time, Agapoulos,” he said. “The party is small but exclusive, you understand?”
He spoke40 wearily, as a tired man speaks of distasteful work which he must do. There was contempt in his voice; contempt of Agapoulos, and contempt of himself.
“Ah!” cried the Greek, brightening; “do I know any of them?”
“Probably. General Sir Francis Payne, Mr. Eddie, and Sir Horace Tipton.”
“An Anglo-American party, eh?”
“Quite. Mr. Eddie is the proprietor41 of the well-known group of American hotels justly celebrated42 for their great height and poisonous cuisine43; while Sir Horace Tipton alike as sportsman, globe-trotter, and soap manufacturer, is characteristically British. Of General Sir Francis Payne I need only say that his home services during the war did incalculable harm to our prestige throughout the Empire.”
He spoke with all the bitterness of a man who has made a failure of life. Agapoulos was quite restored to good humour.
Major Grantham dropped into the carven chair upon which the Greek had draped the leopard skin. Momentarily the window-dresser leapt into life as Agapoulos beheld45 one of his cunning effects destroyed, but he forced a smile when Grantham, shrugging his shoulders, replied:
“If they are fools enough to play—the usual 5 per cent, on the bank's takings.”
He paused, glancing at some ash upon the tip of his cigarette. Agapoulos swiftly produced an ashtray46 and received the ash on it in the manner of a churchwarden collecting half a crown from a pew-holder.
“I think,” continued Grantham indifferently, “that it will be the dances. Two of them are over fifty.”
“Ah!” said Agapoulos thoughtfully; “not, of course, the ordinary programme?”
He laughed again, noting the rather blank look of Agapoulos.
“You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?” he added. “I mean to say that these men have been everywhere and done everything. They have drunk wine sweet and sour and have swallowed the dregs. I am bringing them. It is enough.”
“More than enough,” declared the Greek with enthusiasm. He bowed, although Grantham was not looking at him. “In the little matter of fees I can rely upon your discretion49, as always. Is it not said that a good dragoman is a desirable husband?”
Major Grantham resettled himself in his chair.
“M. Agapoulos,” he said icily, “we have done shady business together for years, both in Port Said and in London, and have remained the best of friends; two blackguards linked by our common villainy. But if this pleasant commercial acquaintance is to continue let there be no misunderstanding between us, M. Agapoulos. I may know I'm a dragoman; but in future, old friend”—he turned lazy eyes upon the Greek—“for your guidance, don't remind me of the fact or I'll wring50 your neck.”
The drooping eyelids of M. Agapoulos flickered51 significantly, but it was with a flourish more grand than usual that he bowed.
“Pardon, pardon,” he murmured. “You speak harshly of yourself, but ah, you do not mean it. We understand each other, eh?”
“I understand you perfectly,” drawled Grantham; “I was merely advising you to endeavour to understand me. My party will arrive at nine o'clock, Agapoulos, and I am going back to the Savoy shortly to dress. Meanwhile, if Hassan would bring me a whisky and soda52 I should be obliged.”
“Of course, of course. He shall do so at once,” cried Agapoulos. “I will tell him.”
Palpably glad to escape, the fat Greek retired, leaving Major Grantham lolling there upon the leopard skin, his hat, cane and gloves upon the carpet beside him; and a few moments later Hassan the silent glided53 into the extravagant38 apartment bearing refreshments54. Placing his tray upon a little coffee-table beside Major Grantham, he departed.
There was a faint smell of perfume in the room, a heavy voluptuous55 smell in which the odour of sandal-wood mingled56 with the pungency57 of myrrh. It was very silent, so that when Grantham mixed a drink the pleasant chink of glass upon glass rang out sharply.
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1
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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4
divans
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| n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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8
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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9
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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10
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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13
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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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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16
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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17
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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appraisingly
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| adv.以品评或评价的眼光 | |
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19
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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20
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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21
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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22
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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24
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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25
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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26
taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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27
singed
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
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28
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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29
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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30
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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overdraft
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| n.透支，透支额 | |
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33
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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34
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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35
saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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36
insular
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| adj.岛屿的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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37
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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38
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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39
extravagantly
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| adv.挥霍无度地 | |
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40
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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41
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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42
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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43
cuisine
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| n.烹调，烹饪法 | |
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44
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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45
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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46
ashtray
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| n.烟灰缸 | |
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47
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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48
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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49
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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50
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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51
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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53
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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54
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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55
voluptuous
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| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
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56
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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57
pungency
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| n.（气味等的）刺激性；辣；（言语等的）辛辣；尖刻 | |
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