He rarely saw Ho-Pin, and desired not to see him at all; as for Mr. King, he even endeavored to banish4 from his memory the name of that shadowy being. The memory of the Eurasian he could not banish, and was ever listening for the silvery voice, but in vain. He had no particular duties, apart from the care of the six rooms known as Block A, and situated5 in the corridor to the left of the cave of the golden dragon; this, and the valeting of departing occupants. But the hours at which he was called upon to perform these duties varied6 very greatly. Sometimes he would attend to four human wrecks7 in the same morning; whilst, perhaps on the following day, he would not be called upon to officiate until late in the evening. One fact early became evident to him. There was a ceaseless stream of these living dead men pouring into the catacombs of Ho-Pin, coming he knew not whence, and issuing forth8 again, he knew not whither.
Twice in the first week of his new and strange service he recognized the occupants of the rooms as men whom he had seen in the upper world. On entering the room of one of these (at ten o'clock at night) he almost cried out in his surprise; for the limp, sallow-faced creature extended upon the bed before him was none other than Sir Brian Malpas—the brilliant politician whom his leaders had earmarked for office in the next Cabinet!
As Soames stood contemplating9 him stretched there in his stupor10, he found it hard to credit the fact that this was the same man whom political rivals feared for his hard brilliance11, whom society courted, and whose engagement to the daughter of a peer had been announced only a few months before.
Throughout this time, Soames had made no attempt to seek the light of day: he had not seen a newspaper; he knew nothing of the hue12 and cry raised throughout England, of the hunt for the murderer of Mrs. Vernon. He suffered principally from lack of companionship. The only human being with whom he ever came in contact was Said, the Egyptian; and Said, at best, was uncommunicative. A man of very limited intellect, Luke Soames had been at a loss for many days to reconcile Block A and its temporary occupants with any comprehensible scheme of things. Whereas some of the rooms would be laden13 with nauseating14 fumes15, others would be free of these; the occupants, again, exhibited various symptoms.
That he was a servant of an opium16-den de luxe did not for some time become apparent to him; then, when first the theory presented itself, he was staggered by a discovery so momentous17.
But it satisfied his mind only partially18. Some men whom he valeted might have been doped with opium, certainly, but all did not exhibit those indications which, from hearsay19, he associated with the resin20 of the white poppy.
Knowing nothing of the numerous and exotic vices21 which have sprung from the soil of the Orient, he was at a loss for a full explanation of the facts as he saw them.
Finding himself unmolested, and noting, in the privacy of his own apartment, how handsomely his tips were accumulating, Soames was rapidly becoming reconciled to his underground existence, more especially as it spelt safety to a man wanted by the police. His duties thus far had never taken him beyond the corridor known as Block A; what might lie on the other side of the cave of the golden dragon he knew not. He never saw any of the habitues arrive, or actually leave; he did not know whether the staff of the place consisted of himself, Said, Ho-Pin, the Eurasian girl—and... the other, or if there were more servants of this unseen master. But never a day passed by that the clearance23 of at least one apartment did not fall to his lot, and never an occupant quitted those cells without placing a golden gratuity24 in the valet's palm.
His appetite returned, and he slept soundly enough in his clean white bedroom, content to lose the upper world, temporarily, and to become a dweller25 in the catacombs—where tips were large and plentiful26. His was the mind of a domestic animal, neither learning from the past nor questioning the future; but dwelling27 only in the well-fed present.
No other type of European, however lowly, could have supported existence in such a place.
Thus the days passed, and the nights passed, the one merged28 imperceptibly in the other. At the end of the first week, two sovereigns appeared upon the breakfast tray which Said brought to Soames' room; and, some little time later, Said reappeared with his bottles and paraphernalia29 to renew the ex-butler's make-up. As he was leaving the room:
“Ahu hina—G'nap'lis effendi!” he muttered, and went out as Mr. Gianapolis entered.
At sight of the Greek, Soames realized, in one emotional moment, how really lonely he had been and how in his inmost heart he longed for a sight of the sun, for a breath of unpolluted air, for a glimpse of gray, homely30 London.
“My dear Soames!” he cried, greeting the really delighted man. “How well your new complexion32 suits you! Sit down, Soames, sit down, and let us talk.”
Soames placed a chair for Gianapolis, and seated himself upon the bed, twirling his thumbs in the manner which was his when under the influence of excitement.
“Now, Soames,” continued Gianapolis—“I mean Lucas!—my anticipations33, which I mentioned to you on the night of—the accident... you remember?”
“Yes,” said Soames rapidly, “yes.”
“Well, they have been realized. Our establishment, here, continues to flourish as of yore. Nothing has come to light in the press calculated to prejudice us in the eyes of our patrons, and although your own name, Soames”...
Soames started and clutched at the bedcover.
“Although your own name has been freely mentioned on all sides, it is not generally accepted that you perpetrated the deed.”
“That I,” he began dryly, paused and swallowed—“that I perpetrated.... Has it been”...
“It has been hinted at by one or two Fleet Street theorists—yes, Soames! But the post-mortem examination of—the victim, revealed the fact that she was addicted37 to drugs”...
“Opium?” asked Soames, eagerly.
Gianapolis smiled.
“What an observant mind you have, Soames!” he said. “So you have perceived that these groves38 are sacred to our Lady of the Poppies? Well, in part that is true. Here, under the auspices39 of Mr. Ho-Pin, fretful society seeks the solace40 of the brass41 pipe; yes, Soames, that is true. Have you ever tried opium?”
“Never!” declared Soames, with emphasis, “never!”
“Well, it is a delight in store for you! But the reason of our existence as an institution, Soames, is not far to seek. Once the joys of Chandu become perceptible to the neophyte42, a great need is felt—a crying need. One may drink opium or inject morphine; these, and other crude measures, may satisfy temporarily, but if one would enjoy the delights of that fairyland, of that enchanted43 realm which bountiful nature has concealed44 in the heart of the poppy, one must retire from the ken22 of goths and vandals who do not appreciate such exquisite45 delights; one must dedicate, not an hour snatched from grasping society, but successive days and nights to the goddess”...
Soames, barely understanding this discourse46, listened eagerly to every word of it, whilst Gianapolis, waxing eloquent47 upon his strange thesis, seemed to be addressing, not his solitary48 auditor49, but an invisible concourse.
“In common with the lesser50 deities,” he continued, “our Lady of the Poppies is exacting51. After a protracted52 sojourn53 at her shrine54, so keen are the delights which she opens up to her worshipers, that a period of lassitude, of exhaustion55, inevitably56 ensues. This precludes57 the proper worship of the goddess in the home, and necessitates58—I say NECESSITATES the presence, in such a capital as London, of a suitable Temple. You have the honor, Soames, to be a minor59 priest of that Temple!”
Soames brushed his dyed hair with his fingers and endeavored to look intelligent.
“A branch establishment—merely a sacred caravanserai where votaries60 might repose61 ere reentering the ruder world,” continued Gianapolis—“has unfortunately been raided by the police!”
With that word, POLICE, he seemed to come to earth again.
“Our arrangements, I am happy to say, were such that not one of the staff was found on the premises62 and no visible link existed between that establishment and this. But now let us talk about yourself. You may safely take an evening off, I think”...
“You will be discreet65 as a matter of course, and I should not recommend your visiting any of your former haunts. I make this proposal, of course, with the full sanction of Mr. King.”
The muscles of Soames' jaw66 tightened67 at sound of the name, and he avoided the gaze of the crossed eyes.
“And the real purpose of my visit here this morning is to acquaint you with the little contrivance by which we ensure our privacy here. Once you are acquainted with it, you can take the air every evening at suitable hours, on application to Mr. Ho-Pin.”
Soames coughed dryly.
“Very good,” he said in a strained voice; “I am glad of that.”
“I knew you would be glad, Soames,” declared the smiling Gianapolis; “and now, if you will step this way, I will show you the door by which you must come and go.” He stood up, then bent68 confidentially69 to Soames' ear. “Mr. King, very wisely,” he whispered, “has retained you on the premises hitherto, because some doubt, some little doubt, remained respecting the information which had come into the possession of the police.”
Again that ominous70 word! But ere Soames had time to reflect, Gianapolis led the way out of the room and along the matting-lined corridor into the apartment of the golden dragon. Soames observed, with a nervous tremor71, that Mr. Ho-Pin sat upon one of the lounges, smoking a cigarette, and arrayed in his usual faultless manner. He did not attempt to rise, however, as the pair entered, but merely nodded to Gianapolis and smiled mirthlessly at Soames.
They quitted the room by the door opening on the stone steps—the door by which Soames had first entered into that evil Aladdin's cave. Gianapolis went ahead, and Soames, following him, presently emerged through a low doorway72 into a concrete-paved apartment, having walls of Portland stone and a white-washed ceiling. One end consisted solely73 of a folding gate, evidently designed to admit the limousine74.
Gianapolis turned, as Soames stepped up beside him.
“If you will glance back,” he said, “you will see exactly where the door is situated.”
Soames did as directed, and suppressed a cry of surprise. Four of the stone blocks were fictitious—were, in verity75, a heavy wooden door, faced in some way with real, or imitation granite—a door communicating with the steps of the catacombs.
“Observe!” said Gianapolis.
He closed the door, which opened outward, and there remained nothing to show the keenest observer—unless he had resorted to sounding—that these four blocks differed in any way from their fellows.
He rolled back the folding gates; and beyond was a garage, wherein stood the big limousine.
“I keep my car here, Soames, for the sake of—convenience! And now, my dear Soames, when you go out this evening, Said will close this entrance after you. When you return, which, I understand, you must do at ten o'clock, you will enter the garage by the side door yonder, which will not be locked, and you will press the electric button at the back of the petrol cans here—look! you can see it!—the inner door will then be opened for you. Step this way.”
He passed between the car and the wall of the garage, opened the door at the left of the entrance gates, and, Soames following, came out into a narrow lane. For the first time in many days Soames scented77 the cleaner air of the upper world, and with it he filled his lungs gratefully.
Behind him was the garage, before him the high wall of a yard, and, on his right, for a considerable distance, extended a similar wall; in the latter case evidently that of a wharf78—for beyond it flowed the Thames.
Proceeding79 along beside this wall, the two came to the gates of a warehouse80. They passed these, however, and entered a small office. Crossing the office, they gained the interior of the warehouse, where chests bearing Chinese labels were stacked in great profusion81.
“Then this place,” began Soames...
“Is a ginger82 warehouse, Soames! There is a very small office staff, but sufficiently83 large to cope with the limited business done—in the import and export of ginger! The firm is known as Kan-Suh Concessions84 and imports preserved Chinese ginger from its own plantations85 in that province of the Celestial86 Empire. There is a small wharf attached, as you may have noted87. Oh! it is a going concern and perfectly88 respectable!”
Soames looked about him with wide-opened eyes.
“The ginger staff,” said Gianapolis, “is not yet arrived. Mr. Ho-Pin is the manager. The lane, in which the establishment is situated, communicates with Limehouse Causeway, and, being a cul-de-sac, is little frequented. Only this one firm has premises actually opening into it and I have converted the small corner building at the extremity89 of the wharf into a garage for my car. There are no means of communication between the premises of Kan-Suh Concessions and those of the more important enterprise below—and I, myself, am not officially associated with the ginger trade. It is a precaution which we all adopt, however, never to enter or leave the garage if anyone is in sight.”...
Soames became conscious of a new security. He set about his duties that morning with a greater alacrity90 than usual, valeting one of the living dead men—a promising91 young painter whom he chanced to know by sight—with a return to the old affable manner which had rendered him so popular during his career as cabin steward92.
He felt that he was now part and parcel of Kan-Suh Concessions; that Kan-Suh Concessions and he were at one. He had yet to learn that his sense of security was premature93, and that his added knowledge might be an added danger.
When Said brought his lunch into his room, he delivered also a slip of paper bearing the brief message:
“Go out 6.30—return 10.”
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收听单词发音
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1
pliable
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| adj.易受影响的；易弯的；柔顺的，易驾驭的 | |
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2
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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3
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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4
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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5
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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7
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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8
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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9
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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10
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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11
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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12
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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13
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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14
nauseating
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| adj.令人恶心的，使人厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的现在分词 ) | |
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15
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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16
opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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17
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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20
resin
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| n.树脂，松香，树脂制品；vt.涂树脂 | |
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21
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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22
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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23
clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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24
gratuity
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| n.赏钱，小费 | |
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25
dweller
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| n.居住者，住客 | |
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26
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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28
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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29
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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30
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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31
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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32
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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33
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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34
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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35
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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38
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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39
auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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40
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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41
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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42
neophyte
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| n.新信徒；开始者 | |
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43
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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44
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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45
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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46
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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47
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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48
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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49
auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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50
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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51
exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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52
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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53
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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54
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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55
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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56
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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57
precludes
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| v.阻止( preclude的第三人称单数 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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58
necessitates
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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60
votaries
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| n.信徒( votary的名词复数 )；追随者；（天主教）修士；修女 | |
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61
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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62
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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63
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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65
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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66
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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67
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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68
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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69
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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70
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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71
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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72
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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73
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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limousine
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| n.豪华轿车 | |
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75
verity
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| n.真实性 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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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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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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80
warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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81
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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82
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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83
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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84
concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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85
plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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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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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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91
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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92
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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