"No; that is not the answer."
"Catalepsy?" guessed Major Jen, giving his mustache a nervous twist.
"Nor that, either."
Maurice, whose nerves were proof against such fantasies, laughed disbelievingly.
"I don't believe you know the answer to your own riddle," he said calmly.
"I don't know for certain, Mr. Alymer, but I can guess."
"Tell us your guess, doctor; as it interests me so nearly, I have a right to know."
"Bad news comes quickly enough in the telling," said the doctor, judicially5, "so I shall say nothing more. Life in death is your fate, Mr. Alymer; unless," he added, with a swift and penetrating6 glance, "you choose to avert7 the calamity8."
"Can I do so?"
"Yes, and in an easy manner. Never get married."
Maurice flushed crimson9, and, resenting the mocking tone of Etwald, half rose from his seat; but without moving a finger, Etwald continued in a cold tone:
"You are in love with a young lady, and you wish to marry her!"
The others stared at him, and with the skepticism of thoroughly12 healthy minds refused to attach much importance to Etwald's mysticism. Jen was the first to speak, and he did so in rather a stiff way, quite different from his usual jovial13 style of conversation.
"I am no charlatan, major," rejoined Etwald, coolly. "I ask no money for my performance."
"So it is a performance, after all?" said David, carelessly.
"If you choose to call it so. Only I repeat my warning to Mr. Alymer. Never get married."
Maurice laughed.
"I am afraid it is too late for me to take your advice, doctor," he said, merrily. "I am in love."
"I know you are, and I admire your taste."
"Pardon me, doctor," said Maurice, stiffly. "I mention no names."
"Neither do I, but I think of one name, my friend."
Here David, who had been fidgeting with his cigar, broke in impatiently.
"Now you are making a mystery out of a plain, common-sense question," he said, irritably15. "We all know that Maurice is in love," here he raised his eyes suddenly, and looked keenly at his friend, "with Lady Meg Brance."
Major Jen chuckled16 and rubbed his hands together in a satisfied manner. Etwald bent17 his sombre looks on Maurice, and that young man, biting his lip, took up the implied challenge in Sarby's remark, and answered plainly:
"I am not in love with Lady Meg, my dear fellow," said he, sharply; "but if you must know, I admire"--this with emphasis--"Miss Dallas."
The brow of Sarby grew black, and in his turn he rose to his feet.
"I am glad to hear it is only 'admire,'" he remarked, slowly, "for had the word been any other I should have resented it."
"You! And upon what grounds?" cried Alymer, flushing out in a rage.
"That is my business."
"And mine, too," said Maurice, hotly. "Isabella is--"
"I forbid you to call Miss Dallas by that name," declared David, in an overbearing manner.
"You--you--you forbid me!"
"Come, come, boys!" said Jen, annoyed at this scene between two hot-headed young men, who were not yet gifted with the self-restraint of experience.
"Don't talk like this. You are at my table. There is a stranger" (here he bowed ceremoniously to Etwald) "or shall I say a friend, present!"
"Say a friend," observed Etwald, calmly, "although I am about to say that which may cause these two young gentlemen to look upon me as an enemy."
"What do you mean?" asked Maurice, turning his still frowning face toward this strange and enigmatic man.
"What I say, Mr. Alymer! You--admire Miss Dallas?"
"Why bring her name into the question? Yes, I admire Miss Dallas."
"And you, Mr. Sarby, I can tell from your attitude, from your look; you love Miss Dallas."
David was taken aback by this strange speaking.
"Yes. I--I--I do love Miss Dallas."
"I guessed as much," resumed Etwald, with a cold smile. "Now, it is strange--"
"It is strange that a lady's name should be thus introduced," said Jen, annoyed at the tone of the conversation. "Let us drop the subject. Another cigar, Maurice. David, the wine is with you. Dr. Etwald--"
"One moment, major. I wish we three to understand one another"--here the doctor hesitated, then went on in an impressive voice--"about Miss Dallas!"
"Why do you speak of her?" asked Maurice, fiercely, while David looked loweringly at Etwald.
"Because I love her!"
"You love her!"
The two young men burst out simultaneously18 with the speech in tones of sheer astonishment19, and stared at Etwald as at some strangle animal. That this elderly man--Etwald was midway between thirty and forty, but that looked elderly to these boys of twenty-five--should dare to love Isabella Dallas, was a thing unheard of. She so young, so beautiful, so full of divine youth and diviner womanhood; he so sombre, pale and worn with intellectual vigils; with a mysterious past, a doubtful present and a problematic future.
Maurice and David, divided one against the other by their passion for the same woman, united in a feeling of rage and contempt against this interloper, who dared to make a third in their worship of Isabella. They looked at Etwald, they looked at one another, and finally both began to laugh. Jen frowned at the sound of their mirth, but Etwald, in nowise discomposed, sat unsmiling in his seat waiting for further developments.
"Oh, it is too absurd!" said Maurice, resuming his seat.
"Why?"
Etwald put the question with the greatest calmness, stared steadily20 at the young man, and waited for the reply, which he knew would be difficult to make.
"Oh, because--because--"
"Never mind explaining, Mr. Alymer. I can guess your objection. I am too old, too plain, too poor for this charming young lady. You, on the contrary, are young, passing well off, and handsome--all the gifts of fortune are on your side. Decidedly," added the doctor, "you hold the best hand. Well, we shall see who will win this game--as we may call it."
"And what about me?" said David. "You forget that I am a third player. Come, Etwald, you have prophesied21 about Maurice; now read my fate."
"No," said Etwald, rising. "We have talked long enough on this subject. It is plain that we three men are in love with the same woman. You can't blame me, nor I you. Miss Dallas is a sufficiently22 beautiful excuse for our madness. I spoke23 out simply because I want you both to understand the position. You are warned, and we can now do battle for the smiles of this charming lady. Let the best man win!"
"Nothing could be fairer than that," said Jen, quickly; "but I agree with you, doctor, that the subject has been sufficiently discussed; but, indeed, if you will pardon me saying so, it should have never been begun. Let us go to the smoking-room."
Thither24 the three young men went in the wake of the major. It was a comfortable room, with one wide window, which at the present moment was open. Outside, the light of the newly-risen moon bathed lawn and trees and flowers in a flood of cold silver; and the warm radiance of the lamp poured out rays of gold into the wonderful white world without. The three men sat down in comfortable chairs, and the major went to get out a particular brand of cigars which he offered to favored guests.
Self-contained as ever, Etwald looked up at the wall near him, and seemed to be considering a decoration of savage25 arms, which looked barbaric and wild, between two oil-paintings. When Jen came back with the cigars, his gaze followed that of his guest, and he made a remark about the weapons.
"All those came from Ashantee and the West Coast of Africa," said he, touching26 a vicious-looking axe27. "This is a sacrificial axe; this murderous looking blade is the sword of the executioner of King Koffee; and this," here he laid his fingers lightly upon a slender stick of green wood, with a golden top set roughly with large turquoise28 stones, "is a poison-wand!"
"A poison-wand!" echoed Etwald, a sudden light showing in his cold eyes. "I never heard of such a thing."
David, who was watching him, felt an instinctive29 feeling that Etwald was telling a lie. He saw that the man could hardly keep his seat for his eagerness to examine and handle the strange weapon. However, he said nothing, but watched and watched, when Maurice made a remark about the stick.
"Oh, that is Uncle Jen's greatest treasure," he said, smiling. "He can tell twenty stories about that innocent-looking cane30."
"Innocent-looking!" echoed Jen, taking down the green wand. "How can you say such a thing? Look here, Etwald," and he laid the stick on the table. "No, don't touch it, man," he added, hastily, "there is plenty of venom31 in it yet. 'Tis as dangerous as a snake bite. If you touch this slender iron spike32 projecting from the end, you die!"
Again David noted33 that the tigerish light leaped up in the eyes of Etwald, but he had sufficient control of his features to preserve a look of courteous34 curiosity. He carefully handled and examined the instrument of death.
It was a little over a foot long, of a hard-looking green wood; the handle of gold was coarsely molded in a barbaric fashion round the turquoise stones, and these, of all hues36, from green to the palest of blue, were imbedded like lumps of quartz37 in the rough gold. Round this strange implement38 there lingered a rich and heavy perfume, sickly and sensuous39.
"See here!" said Jen, pressing or rather squeezing the handle. "I tighten40 my grip upon this, and the sting of the serpent shows itself!" Whereupon Etwald glanced at the end of the wood and saw a tiny needle of iron push itself out. When Jen relaxed his pressure on the gold handle, this iron tongue slipped back and disappeared entirely41.
"I got this at Kumassie," explained Jen, when he had fully35 exhibited the gruesome mechanism42 of the devil-stick. "It belonged to the high priest. Whenever he or the king disliked any man who was too powerful to be openly slain43, they used this wand. What excuse they made I don't know, but I suppose it had something to do with fetish worship. However, the slightest touch of this needle produces death."
"It is poisoned at the tip?"
"Not exactly. The needle within is hollow, and a store of poison is contained in the handle up here. When squeezed these turquoise stones press a bag within and the poison runs down to the point of the needle. In fact, the whole infernal contrivance is modeled upon a serpent's fang44."
"But it is quite harmless now," said David, as Jen replaced the wand in its old place on the wall. "Else you wouldn't have it there."
"Well, no doubt the poison has dried up," said Jen, with a nod. "All the same, I shouldn't like to prick45 myself with that needle. I might die," finished the major, with the naive46 simplicity47 of a child.
"You may break, you may shatter the vase as you will,
quoted Maurice, with a laugh. "No doubt the devil-stick can still do harm. Ugh! What a gruesome idea. I'd remove it from so conspicuous49 a position if I were you, Uncle Jen; someone might come to grief over it."
"Rubbish, my boy. It has been hanging on the wall for years, and has never hurt anyone yet!"
Etwald said nothing. With his eyes fixed50 upon the devil-stick, he meditated51 deeply. The barrister, whose belief was that Etwald knew more about the wand than he chose to say, watched him closely. He noticed that the doctor eyed the stick, then, after a pause, let his gaze wander to the face of Maurice. Another pause, and he was looking at David, who received the fire of this strange man's eyes without blanching52.
There was something so mesmeric in the gaze that David felt uncomfortable and as though he were enveloped53 in an evil atmosphere. To his surprise he found that his eyes also were attracted to the devil-stick, and a longing54 to handle it began to possess him. Clearly Etwald was trying to hypnotize him for some evil purpose. By an effort of will David broke through these nightmare chains and rose to his feet. The next moment he was in the open air, in the cold moonlight, breathing hard and fast.
Within, Maurice and the major were talking gaily55, and the sound of their voices and laughter came clearly to the ears of David. But silent in his deep chair sat Etwald, and the burning glance of his eyes seemed to beam menacingly through the air and compel the young man to evil thoughts. David looked at Etwald, dark and voiceless; and over his head, in the yellow lamplight, he saw the glittering golden handle of the devil-stick.
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1
jargon
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| n.术语，行话 | |
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2
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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3
paralysis
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| n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症) | |
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4
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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5
judicially
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| 依法判决地，公平地 | |
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6
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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7
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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8
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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9
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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10
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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11
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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12
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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13
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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14
charlatan
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| n.骗子；江湖医生；假内行 | |
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15
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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16
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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18
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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19
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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20
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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21
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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23
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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24
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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25
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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26
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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27
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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28
turquoise
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| n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的 | |
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29
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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30
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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31
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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32
spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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33
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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34
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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35
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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36
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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37
quartz
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| n.石英 | |
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38
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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39
sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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40
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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41
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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42
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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43
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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44
fang
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| n.尖牙，犬牙 | |
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45
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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46
naive
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| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
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47
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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48
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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49
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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50
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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51
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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52
blanching
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| adj.漂白的n.热烫v.使变白( blanch的现在分词 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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53
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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55
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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