O n the evening of 19th November Canon Pennyfather had finished an early dinner at the Athenaeum, he had noddedto one or two friends, had had a pleasant acrimonious1 discussion on some crucial points of the dating of the Dead SeaScrolls and now, glancing at his watch, saw that it was time to leave to catch his plane to Lucerne. As he passedthrough the hall he was greeted by one more friend: Dr. Whittaker of the SOAS, who said cheerfully:
“How are you, Pennyfather? Haven’t seen you for a long time. How did you get on at the Congress? Any points ofinterest come up?”
“I am sure there will be.”
“Just come back from it, haven’t you?”
“No, no, I am on my way there. I’m catching2 a plane this evening.”
“Oh I see.” Whittaker looked slightly puzzled. “Somehow or other I thought the Congress was today.”
“No, no. Tomorrow, the 19th.”
Canon Pennyfather passed out through the door while his friend, looking after him, was just saying:
“But my dear chap, today is the 19th, isn’t it?”
Canon Pennyfather, however, had gone beyond earshot. He picked up a taxi in Pall3 Mall, and was driven to the airterminal in Kensington. There was quite a fair crowd this evening. Presenting himself at the desk it at last came to histurn. He managed to produce ticket and passport and other necessities for the journey. The girl behind the desk, aboutto stamp these credentials4, paused abruptly5.
“I beg your pardon, sir, this seems to be the wrong ticket.”
“The wrong ticket? No, no, that is quite right. Flight one hundred and—well, I can’t really read without my glasses—one hundred and something to Lucerne.”
“It’s the date, sir. This is dated Wednesday the 18th.”
“No, no, surely. At least—I mean—today is Wednesday the 18th.”
“I’m sorry, sir. Today is the 19th.”
“The 19th!” The Canon was dismayed. He fished out a small diary, turning the pages eagerly. In the end he had tobe convinced. Today was the 19th. The plane he had meant to catch had gone yesterday.
“Then that means—that means—dear me, it means the Congress at Lucerne has taken place today.”
He stared in deep dismay across the counter; but there were many others travelling; the Canon and his perplexitieswere elbowed aside. He stood sadly, holding the useless ticket in his hand. His mind ranged over various possibilities.
Perhaps his ticket could be changed? But that would be no use—no indeed—what time was it now? Going on for 9o’clock? The conference had actually taken place; starting at 10 o’clock this morning. Of course, that was whatWhittaker had meant at the Athenaeum. He thought Canon Pennyfather had already been to the Congress.
“Oh dear, oh dear,” said Canon Pennyfather, to himself. “What a muddle6 I have made of it all!” He wandered sadlyand silently into the Cromwell Road, not at its best a very cheerful place.
He walked slowly along the street carrying his bag and revolving7 perplexities in his mind. When at last he hadworked out to his satisfaction the various reasons for which he had made a mistake in the day, he shook his head sadly.
“Now, I suppose,” he said to himself, “I suppose—let me see, it’s after nine o’clock, yes, I suppose I had betterhave something to eat.”
It was curious, he thought, that he did not feel hungry.
Wandering disconsolately8 along the Cromwell Road he finally settled upon a small restaurant which served Indiancurries. It seemed to him that though he was not quite as hungry as he ought to be, he had better keep his spirits up byhaving a meal, and after that he must find a hotel and—but no, there was no need to do that. He had a hotel! Of course.
He was staying at Bertram’s; and had reserved his room for four days. What a piece of luck! What a splendid piece ofluck! So his room was there, waiting for him. He had only to ask for his key at the desk and — here anotherreminiscence assailed9 him. Something heavy in his pocket?
He dipped his hand in and brought out one of those large and solid keys with which hotels try and discourage theirvaguer guests from taking them away in their pockets. It had not prevented the Canon from doing so!
“No. 19,” said the Canon, in happy recognition. “That’s right. It’s very fortunate that I haven’t got to go and find aroom in a hotel. They say they’re very crowded just now. Yes, Edmunds was saying so at the Athenaeum this evening.
He had a terrible job finding a room.”
Somewhat pleased with himself and the care he had taken over his travelling arrangements by booking a hotelbeforehand, the Canon abandoned his curry10, remembered to pay for it, and strode out once more into the CromwellRoad.
It seemed a little tame to go home just like this when he ought to have been dining in Lucerne and talking about allsorts of interesting and fascinating problems. His eye was caught by a cinema.
Walls of Jericho.
It seemed an eminently11 suitable title. It would be interesting to see if biblical accuracy had been preserved.
He bought himself a seat and stumbled into the darkness. He enjoyed the film, though it seemed to him to have norelationship to the biblical story whatsoever12. Even Joshua seemed to have been left out. The walls of Jericho seemedto be a symbolical13 way of referring to a certain lady’s marriage vows14. When they had tumbled down several times, thebeautiful star met the dour15 and uncouth16 hero whom she had secretly loved all along and between them they proposedto build up the walls in a way that would stand the test of time better. It was not a film destined17 particularly to appealto an elderly clergyman; but Canon Pennyfather enjoyed it very much. It was not the sort of film he often saw and hefelt it was enlarging his knowledge of life. The film ended, the lights went up, the National Anthem18 was played andCanon Pennyfather stumbled out into the lights of London, slightly consoled for the sad events of earlier in theevening.
It was a fine night and he walked home to Bertram’s Hotel after first getting into a bus which took him in theopposite direction. It was midnight when he got in and Bertram’s Hotel at midnight usually preserved a decorousappearance of everyone having gone to bed. The lift was on a higher floor so the Canon walked up the stairs. He cameto his room, inserted the key in the lock, threw the door open and entered!
Good gracious, was he seeing things? But who—how—he saw the upraised arm too late….
Stars exploded in a kind of Guy Fawkes’ display within his head….
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1
acrimonious
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| adj.严厉的，辛辣的，刻毒的 | |
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2
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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3
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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4
credentials
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| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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6
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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7
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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8
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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9
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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10
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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11
eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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12
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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13
symbolical
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| a.象征性的 | |
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14
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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15
dour
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| adj.冷酷的，严厉的；（岩石）嶙峋的；顽强不屈 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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17
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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