Luke Soames was a man of unpleasant character; a man ever seeking advancement—advancement to what he believed to be an ideal state, viz.: the possession of a competency; and to this ambition he subjugated1 all conflicting interests—especially the interests of others. From narrow but honest beginnings, he had developed along lines ever growing narrower until gradually honesty became squeezed out. He formed the opinion that wealth was unobtainable by dint2 of hard work; and indeed in a man of his limited intellectual attainments3, this was no more than true.
At the period when he becomes of interest, he had just discovered himself a gentleman-at-large by reason of his dismissal from the services of a wealthy bachelor, to whose establishment in Piccadilly he had been attached in the capacity of valet. There was nothing definite against his character at this time, save that he had never remained for long in any one situation.
His experience was varied5, if his references were limited; he had served not only as valet, but also as chauffeur6, as steward7 on an ocean liner, and, for a limited period, as temporary butler in an American household at Nice.
Soames' banking8 account had increased steadily9, but not at a rate commensurate with his ambitions; therefore, when entering his name and qualifications in the books of a certain exclusive employment agency in Mayfair he determined10 to avail himself, upon this occasion, of his comparative independence by waiting until kindly11 Fate should cast something really satisfactory in his path.
Such an opening occurred very shortly after his first visit to the agent. He received a card instructing him to call at the office in order to meet a certain Mr. Gianapolis. Quitting his rooms in Kennington, Mr. Soames, attired12 in discreet13 black, set out to make the acquaintance of his hypothetical employer.
He found Mr. Gianapolis to be a little and very swarthy man, who held his head so low as to convey the impression of having a pronounced stoop; a man whose well-cut clothes and immaculate linen14 could not redeem15 his appearance from a constitutional dirtiness. A jet black mustache, small, aquiline16 features, an engaging smile, and very dark brown eyes, viciously crossed, made up a personality incongruous with his sheltering silk hat, and calling aloud for a tarboosh and a linen suit, a shop in a bazaar17, or a part in the campaign of commercial brigandage18 which, based in the Levant, spreads its ramifications19 throughout the Orient, Near and Far.
Mr. Gianapolis had the suave20 speech and smiling manner. He greeted Soames not as one greets a prospective21 servant, but as one welcomes an esteemed22 acquaintance. Following a brief chat, he proposed an adjournment23 to a neighboring saloon bar; and there, over cocktails25, he conversed26 with Mr. Soames as one crook27 with another.
Soames was charmed, fascinated, yet vaguely28 horrified29; for this man smilingly threw off the cloak of hypocrisy30 from his companion's shoulders, and pretended, with the skill of his race, equally to nudify his own villainy.
“My dear Mr. Soames!” he said, speaking almost perfect English, but with the sing-song intonation31 of the Greek, and giving all his syllables32 an equal value—“you are the man I am looking for; and I can make your fortune.”
“I know,” continued Gianapolis, proffering34 an excellent Egyptian cigarette, “that you were cramped35 in your last situation—that you were misunderstood”...
Soames, cigarette in hand, suppressed a start, and wondered if he were turning pale. He selected a match with nervous care.
“The little matter of the silver spoons,” continued Gianapolis, smiling fraternally, “was perhaps an error of judgment36. Although”—patting the startled Soames upon the shoulder—“they were a legitimate37 perquisite38; I am not blaming you. But it takes so long to accumulate a really useful balance in that petty way. Now”—he glanced cautiously about him—“I can offer you a post under conditions which will place you above the consideration of silver spoons!”
Soames, hastily finishing his cocktail24, sought for words; but Gianapolis, finishing his own, blandly39 ordered two more, and, tapping Soames upon the knee, continued:
“Then that matter of the petty cash, and those trifling40 irregularities in the wine-bill, you remember?—when you were with Colonel Hewett in Nice?”...
Soames gripped the counter hard, staring at the newly arrived cocktail as though it were hypnotizing him.
“These little matters,” added Gianapolis, appreciatively sipping41 from his own glass, “which would weigh heavily against your other references, in the event of their being mentioned to any prospective employer”...
Soames knew beyond doubt that his face was very pale indeed.
“These little matters, then,” pursued Gianapolis, “all go to prove to ME that you are a man of enterprise and spirit—that you are the very man I require. Now I can offer you a post in the establishment of Mr. Henry Leroux, the novelist. The service will be easy. You will be required to attend to callers and to wait at table upon special occasions. There will be no valeting, and you will have undisputed charge of the pantry and wine-cellar. In short, you will enjoy unusual liberty. The salary, you would say? It will be the same as that which you received from Mr. Mapleson”...
“It isn't a salary,” he began, “which”...
“My dear Mr. Soames,” said Gianapolis, tapping him confidentially44 upon the knee again—“my dear Soames, it isn't the salary, I admit, which you enjoyed whilst in the services of Colonel Hewett in a similar capacity. But this is not a large establishment, and the duties are light. Furthermore, there will be—extras.”
“Extras?”
Mr. Soames' eye brightened, and under the benignant influence of the cocktails his courage began to return.
“I do not refer,” smiled Mr. Gianapolis, “to perquisites45! The extras will be monetary46. Another two pounds per week”...
“Two pounds!”
“Bringing your salary up to a nice round figure; the additional amount will be paid to you from another source. You will receive the latter payment quarterly”...
“From—from”...
“From me!” said Mr. Gianapolis, smiling radiantly. “Now, I know you are going to accept; that is understood between us. I will give you the address—Palace Mansions47, Westminster—at which you must apply; and I will tell you what little services will be required from you in return for this additional emolument48.”
Mr. Soames hurriedly finished his second cocktail. Mr. Gianapolis, in true sporting fashion, kept pace with him and repeated the order.
“You will take charge of the mail!” he whispered softly, one irregular eye following the movements of the barmaid, and the other fixed49 almost fiercely upon the face of Soames. “At certain times—of which you will be notified in advance—Mrs. Leroux will pay visits to Paris. At such times, all letters addressed to her, or re-addressed to her, will not be posted! You will ring me up when such letters come into your possession—they must ALL come into your possession!—and I will arrange to meet you, say at the corner of Victoria Street, to receive them. You understand?”
Mr. Soames understood, and thus far found his plastic conscience marching in step with his inclinations50.
“Then,” resumed Gianapolis, “prior to her departure on these occasions, Mrs. Leroux will hand you a parcel. This also you will bring to me at the place arranged. Do you find anything onerous51 in these conditions?”
“Not at all,” muttered Soames, a trifle unsteadily; “it seems all right”—the cocktails were beginning to speak now, and his voice was a duet—“simply perfectly52 all right—all square.”
“Good!” said Mr. Gianapolis with his radiant smile; and the gaze of his left eye, crossing that of its neighbor, observed the entrance of a stranger into the bar. He drew his stool closer and lowered his voice:
“Mrs. Leroux,” he continued, “will be in your confidence. Mr. Leroux and every one else—EVERY ONE else—must not suspect the arrangement”...
“Certainly—I quite understand”...
“Mrs. Leroux will engage you this afternoon—her husband is a mere53 cipher54 in the household—and you will commence your duties on Monday. Later in the week, Wednesday or Thursday, we will meet by appointment, and discuss further details.”
“Where can I see you?”
“Ring up this number: 18642 East, and ask for Mr. King. No! don't write it down; remember it! I will come to the telephone, and arrange a meeting.”
Shortly after this, then, the interview concluded; and later in the afternoon of that day Mr. Soames presented himself at Palace Mansions.
He was received by Mrs. Leroux—a pretty woman with a pathetically weak mouth. She had fair hair, not very abundant, and large eyes; which, since they exhibited the unusual phenomenon, in a blonde, of long dark lashes55 (Mr. Soames judged their blackness to be natural), would have been beautiful had they not been of too light a color, too small in the pupils, and utterly56 expressionless. Indeed, her whole face lacked color, as did her personality, and the exquisite57 tea-gown which she wore conveyed that odd impression of slovenliness58, which is often an indication of secret vice4. She was quite young and indisputably pretty, but this malproprete, together with a certain aimlessness of manner, struck an incongruous note; for essentially59 she was of a type which for its complement60 needs vivacity61.
Mr. Soames, a man of experience, scented62 an intrigue63 and a neglectful husband. Since he was engaged on the spot without reference to the invisible Leroux, he was immediately confirmed in the latter part of his surmise64. He departed well satisfied with his affairs, and with the promise of the future, over which Mr. Gianapolis, the cherubic, radiantly presided.
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1
subjugated
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| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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attainments
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| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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banking
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| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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10
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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12
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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14
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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15
redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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16
aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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bazaar
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| n.集市，商店集中区 | |
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18
brigandage
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| n.抢劫；盗窃；土匪；强盗 | |
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ramifications
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| n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 ) | |
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20
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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21
prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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22
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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23
adjournment
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| 休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期 | |
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24
cocktail
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| n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物 | |
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cocktails
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| n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物 | |
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26
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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27
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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28
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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29
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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30
hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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31
intonation
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| n.语调，声调；发声 | |
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32
syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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33
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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34
proffering
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的现在分词 ) | |
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35
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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36
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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37
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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38
perquisite
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| n.固定津贴，福利 | |
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39
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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40
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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41
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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42
drearily
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| 沉寂地，厌倦地，可怕地 | |
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43
toils
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| 网 | |
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44
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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45
perquisites
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| n.（工资以外的）财务补贴( perquisite的名词复数 )；额外收入；（随职位而得到的）好处；利益 | |
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46
monetary
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| adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的 | |
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47
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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48
emolument
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| n.报酬，薪水 | |
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49
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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50
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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51
onerous
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| adj.繁重的 | |
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52
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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53
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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54
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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55
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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56
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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57
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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58
slovenliness
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59
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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60
complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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61
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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62
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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63
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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64
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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