pgw.piccadillyjim-第21节

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Hanger；　a　Quilt　Designer；　a　Roofer；　a　Ship　Plumber；　a　Tinsmith；　an　Undertaker；　a　Veterinarian；　a　Wig　Maker；　or　X…ray　apparatus　manufacturer；　a　Yeast　producer；　or　a　Zinc　Spelter。〃　He　closed　the　book。　〃There　is　only　one　thing　to　do。　I　must　starve　in　the　gutter。　Tell　meyou　know　New　York　better　than　I　dowhere　is　there　a　good　gutter？〃
　At　this　moment　there　entered　the　restaurant　an　Immaculate　Person。　He　was　a　young　man　attired　in　faultlessly　fitting　clothes；　with　shoes　of　flawless　polish　and　a　perfectly　proportioned　floweret　in　his　buttonhole。　He　surveyed　the　room　through　a　monocle。　He　was　a　pleasure　to　look　upon；　but　Jimmy；　catching　sight　of　him；　started　violently　and　felt　no　joy　at　all；　for　he　had　recognised　him。　It　was　a　man　he　knew　well　and　who　knew　him　wella　man　whom　he　had　last　seen　a　bare　two　weeks　ago　at　the　Bachelors'　Club　in　London。　Few　things　are　certain　in　this　world；　but　one　was　that；　if　Bartlingsuch　was　the　Vision's　nameshould　see　him；　he　would　e　over　and　address　him　as　Crocker。　He　braced　himself　to　the　task　of　being　Bayliss；　the　whole　Bayliss；　and　nothing　but　Bayliss。　It　might　he　that　stout　denial　would　carry　him　through。　After　all；　Reggie　Bartling　was　a　man　of　notoriously　feeble　intellect；　who　could　believe　in　anything。
　The　monocle　continued　its　sweep。　It　rested　on　Jimmy's　profile。
　〃By　Gad！〃　said　the　Vision。
　Reginald　Bartling　had　landed　in　New　York　that　morning；　and　already　the　loneliness　of　a　strange　city　had　begun　to　oppress　him。　He　had　e　over　on　a　visit　of　pleasure；　his　suit…case　stuffed　with　letters　of　introduction；　but　these　he　had　not　yet　used。　There　was　a　feeling　of　home…sickness　upon　him；　and　he　ached　for　a　pal。　And　there　before　him　sat　Jimmy　Crocker；　one　of　the　best。　He　hastened　to　the　table。
　〃I　say；　Crocker；　old　chap；　I　didn't　know　you　were　over　here。　When　did　you　arrive？〃
　Jimmy　was　profoundly　thankful　that　he　had　seen　this　pest　in　time　to　be　prepared　for　him。　Suddenly　assailed　in　this　fashion；　he　would　undoubtedly　have　incriminated　himself　by　recognition　of　his　name。　But；　having　anticipated　the　visitation；　he　was　able　to　say　a　whole　sentence　to　Ann　before　showing　himself　aware　that　it　was　he　who　was　addressed。
　〃I　say！　Jimmy　Crocker！〃
　Jimmy　achieved　one　of　the　blankest　stares　of　modern　times。　He　looked　at　Ann。　Then　he　looked　at　Bartling　again。
　〃I　think　there's　some　mistake；〃　he　said。　〃My　name　is　Bayliss。〃
　Before　his　stony　eye　the　immaculate　Bartling　wilted。　It　was　a　perfectly　astounding　likeness；　but　it　was　apparent　to　him　when　what　he　had　ever　heard　and　read　about　doubles　came　to　him。　He　was　confused。　He　blushed。　It　was　deuced　bad　form　going　up　to　a　perfect　stranger　like　this　and　pretending　you　knew　him。　Probably　the　chappie　thought　he　was　some　kind　of　a　confidence　johnnie　or　something。　It　was　absolutely　rotten！　He　continued　to　blush　till　one　could　have　fancied　him　scarlet　to　the　ankles。　He　backed　away；　apologising　in　ragged　mutters。　Jimmy　was　not　insensible　to　the　pathos　of　his　suffering　acquaintance's　position；　he　knew　Reggie　and　his　devotion　to　good　form　sufficiently　well　to　enable　him　to　appreciate　the　other's　horror　at　having　spoken　to　a　fellow　to　whom　he　had　never　been　introduced；　but　necessity　forbade　any　other　course。　However　Reggie's　soul　might　writhe　and　however　sleepless　Reggie's　nights　might　bee　as　a　result　of　this　encounter；　he　was　prepared　to　fight　it　out　on　those　lines　if　it　took　all　summer。　And；　anyway；　it　was　darned　good　for　Reggie　to　get　a　jolt　like　that　every　once　in　a　while。　Kept　him　bright　and　lively。
　So　thinking；　he　turned　to　Ann　again；　while　the　crimson　Bartling　tottered　off　to　restore　his　nerve　centres　to　their　normal　tone　at　some　other　hostelry。　He　found　Ann　staring　amazedly　at　him；　eyes　wide　and　lips　parted。
　〃Odd；　that！〃　he　observed　with　a　light　carelessness　which　he　admired　extremely　and　of　which　he　would　not　have　believed　himself　capable。　〃I　suppose　I　must　be　somebody's　double。　What　was　the　name　he　said？〃
　〃Jimmy　Crocker！〃　cried　Ann。
　Jimmy　raised　his　glass；　sipped；　and　put　it　down。
　〃Oh　yes；　I　remember。　So　it　was。　It's　a　curious　thing；　too；　that　it　sounds　familiar。　I've　heard　the　name　before　somewhere。〃
　〃I　was　talking　about　Jimmy　Crocker　on　the　ship。　That　evening　on　deck。〃
　Jimmy　looked　at　her　doubtfully。
　〃Were　you？　Oh　yes；　of　course。　I've　got　it　now。　He　is　the　man　you　dislike　so。〃
　Ann　was　still　looking　at　him　as　if　he　had　undergone　a　change　into　something　new　and　strange。
　〃I　hope　you　aren't　going　to　let　the　resemblance　prejudice　you　against　me？〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Some　are　born　Jimmy　Crockers；　others　have　Jimmy　Crockers　thrust　upon　them。　I　hope　you'll　bear　in　mind　that　I　belong　to　the　latter　class。〃
　〃It's　such　an　extraordinary　thing。〃
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　You　often　hear　of　doubles。　There　was　a　man　in　England　a　few　years　ago　who　kept　getting　sent　to　prison　for　things　some　genial　stranger　who　happened　to　look　like　him　had　done。〃
　〃I　don't　mean　that。　Of　course　there　are　doubles。　But　it　is　curious　that　you　should　have　e　over　here　and　that　we　should　have　met　like　this　at　just　this　time。　You　see；　the　reason　I　went　over　to　England　at　all　was　to　try　to　get　Jimmy　Crocker　to　e　back　here。〃
　〃What！〃
　〃I　don't　mean　that　I　did。　I　mean　that　I　went　with　my　uncle　and　aunt；　who　wanted　to　persuade　him　to　e　and　live　with　them。〃
　Jimmy　was　now　feeling　pletely　out　of　his　depth。
　〃Your　uncle　and　aunt？　Why？〃
　〃I　ought　to　have　explained　that　they　are　his　uncle　and　aunt；　too。　My　aunt's　sister　married　his　father。〃
　〃But…〃
　〃It's　quite　simple；　though　it　doesn't　sound　so。　Perhaps　you　haven't　read　the　Sunday　Chronicle　lately？　It　has　been　publishing　articles　about　Jimmy　Crocker's　disgusting　behaviour　in　Londonthey　call　him　Piccadilly　Jim；　you　know〃
　In　print；　that　name　had　shocked　Jimmy。　Spoken；　and　by　Ann；　it　was　loathly。　Remorse　for　his　painful　past　tore　at　him。
　〃There　was　another　one　printed　yesterday。〃
　〃I　saw　it；〃　said　Jimmy；　to　avert　description。
　〃Oh；　did　you？　Well；　just　to　show　you　what　sort　of　a　man　Jimmy　Crocker　is；　the　Lord　Percy　Whipple　whom　he　attacked　in　the　club　was　his　very　best　friend。　His　step…mother　told　my　aunt　so。　He　seems　to　be　absolutely　hopeless。〃　She　smiled。　〃You're　looking　quite　sad；　Mr。　Bayliss。　Cheer　up！　You　may　look　like　him；　but　you　aren't　him　he？him？no；　'he'　is　right。　The　soul　is　what　counts。　If　you've　got　a　good；　virtuous；　Algernonish　soul；　it　doesn't　matter　if　you're　so　like　Jimmy　Crocker　that　his　friends　e　up　and　talk　to　you　in　restaurants。　In　fact；　it's　rather　an　advantage；　really。　I'm　sure　that　if　you　were　to　go　to　my　aunt　and　pretend　to　be　Jimmy　Crocker；　who　had　e　over　after　all　in　a　fit　of　repentance；　she　would　be　so　pleased　that　there　would　be　nothing　she　wouldn't　do　for　you。　You　might　realise　your　ambition　of　being　adopted　by　a　millionaire。　Why　don't　you　try　it？　I　won't　give　you　away。〃
　〃Before　they　found　me　out　and　hauled　me　off　to　prison；　I　should　have　been　near　you　for　a　time。　I　should　have　lived　in　the　same　house　with　you；　spoken　to　you！〃　Jimmy's　voice　shook。
　Ann　turned　her　head　to　address　an　imaginary　panion。
　〃You　must　listen　to　this；　my　dear；〃　she　said　in　an　undertone。　〃He　speaks　wonderfully！　They　used　to　call　him　the　Boy　Orator　in　his　home…town。　Sometimes　that；　and　sometimes　Eloquent　Algernon！〃
　Jimmy　eyed　her　fixedly。　He　disapproved　of　this　frivolity。
　〃One　of　these　days　you　will　try　me　too　high！〃
　〃Oh；　you　didn't　hear　what　I　was　saying　to　my　friend；　did　you？〃　she　said　in　concern。　〃But　I　meant　it；　every　word。　I　love　to　hear　you　talk。　You　have　such　feeling！　〃
　Jimmy　attuned　himself　to　the　key　of　the　conversation。
　〃Have　you　no　sentiment　in　you？〃　he　demanded。
　〃I　was　just　warming　up；　too！　In　another　minute　you　would　have　heard　something　worth　while。　You've　damped　me　now。　Let's　talk　about　my　lifework　again。〃
　〃Have　you　thought　of　anything？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　be　one　of　those　fellows　who　sit　in　offices；　and　sign　checks；　and　tell　the　office…boy　to　tell　Mr。　Rockerfeller　they　can　give　him　five　minutes。　But　of　course　I　should　need　a　check…book；　and　I　haven't　got　one。　Oh　well；　I　shall　find　something　to　do　all　right。　Now　tell　me　something　about　yourself。　Let's　drop　the　future　for　awhile。〃
　An　hour　later　Jimmy　turned　into　Broadway。　He　walked　pensively；　for　he　had　much　to　occupy　his　mind。　How　strange　that　the　Petts　should　have　e　over　to　England　to　try　to　induce　him　to　return　to　New　York；　and　how　galling　that；　now　that　he　was　in　New　York；　this　avenue　to　a　prosperous　future　was　closed　by　the　fact　that　something　which　he　had　done　five　years　agothat　he　could　remember　nothing　about　it　was　quite　maddeninghad　caused　Ann　to　nurse　this　abiding　hatred　of　him。　He　began　to　dream　tenderly　of　Ann；　bumping　from　pedestrian　to　pedestrian　in　a　gentle　trance。
　From　this　trance　the　seventh　pedestrian　aroused　him　by　uttering　his　name；　the　name　which　circumstances　had　pelled　him　to　abandon。
　〃Jimmy　Crocker！〃
　Surprise　brought　Jimmy　back　from　his　dreams　to　the　hard　world　surprise　and　a　certain　exasperation。　It　was　ridiculous　to　be　incognito　in　a　city　which　he　had　not　visited　in　five　years　and　to　be　instantly　recognised　in　this　way　by　every　second　man　he　met。　He　looked　sourly　at　the　man。　The　other　was　a　sturdy；　square…shouldered；　battered　young　man；　who　wore　on　his　homely　face　a　grin　of　recognition　and