the lost house(失踪的房子)-第12节
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to do that。 And before I saw you； it was all in the day's work。 But after I
saw you it was no longer a part of the day's work； it became a matter of a
life time。〃
The girl at his side laughed softly and lightly。 〃A lifetime is not long；〃
she said； 〃when you are locked in a room and a madman is shooting at you。
It may last only an hour。〃
〃Whether it lasts an hour or many years； said Ford； 〃it can mean to me
now only one thing〃 He turned quickly and looked in her face boldly
and steadily： 〃You；〃 he said。
The girl did not avoid his eyes； but returned his glance with one as
steady as his own。 〃You are an amusing person；〃 she said。 〃Do you feel it
is necessary to keep up my courage with pretty speeches？〃
〃I made no pretty speech；〃 said Ford。 〃I proclaimed a fact。 You are the
most charming person that ever came into my life； and whether Prothero
shoots us up； or whether we live to get back to God's country； you will
never leave it。〃
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The girl pretended to consider his speech critically。 〃It would be
almost a compliment；〃 she said； 〃if it were intelligent； but when you know
nothing of meit is merely impertinent。〃
〃I know this much of you； 〃 returned Ford； calmly； 〃I know you are
fine and generous； for your first speech to me； in spite of your own danger；
was for my safety。 I know you are brave； for I see you now facing death
without dismay。〃
He was again suddenly halted by； two sharp reports。 They came from
the room directly below them。 It was no longer possible to pretend to
misinterpret their significance。
〃Prothero！〃 exclaimed Ford； 〃and his pistol！〃
They waited breathlessly for what might follow： an outcry； the sound
of a body falling； a third pistol…shot。 But throughout the house there was
silence。
〃If you really think we are in such danger；〃 declared Miss Dale； 〃we
are wasting time！〃
〃We are NOT wasting time；〃 protested Ford； 〃we are really gaining
time； for each minute Cuthbert and the police are drawing nearer； and to
move about only invites a bullet。 And； what is of more importance；〃 he
went on quickly； as though to turn her mind from the mysterious pistol…
shots； 〃should we get out of this alive； I shall already have said what under
ordinary conditions I might not have found the courage to tell you in many
months。〃 He waited as though hopeful of a reply； but Miss Dale remained
silent。 〃They say；〃 continued Ford； 〃when a man is drowning his whole
life passes in review。 We are drowning； and yet I find I can see into the
past no further than the last half…hour。 I find life began only then； when I
looked through the bars of that window and found YOU！〃
With the palm of her hand the girl struck the floor sharply。 〃This is
neither the time；〃 she exclaimed； 〃nor the place to〃
〃I did not choose the place；〃 Ford pointed out。 〃It was forced upon me
with a gun。 But the TIME is excellent。 At such a time one speaks only
what is true。〃
〃You certainly have a strange sense of humor；〃 she said； 〃but when
you are risking your life to help me； how can I be angry？〃
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〃Of course you can't；〃 Ford agreed heartily； 〃you could not be so
conventional。〃
〃But I AM conventional！〃 protested Miss Dale。 〃And I am not USED
to having young men tell me they have 'come into my life to stay'
certainly not young men who come into my life by way of a trap…door； and
without an introduction； without a name； without even a hat！ It's absurd！
It's not real！ It's a nightmare！〃
〃The whole situation is absurd！〃 Ford declared。 〃Here we are in the
heart of London； surrounded by telephones； taxicabs； policeat least； hope
we are surrounded by police and yet we are crawling around the floor on
our hands and knees dodging bullets。 I wish it were a nightmare。 But； as
it's not〃he rose to his feet〃I think I'll try〃
He was interrupted by a sharp blow upon the door and the voice of
Prothero。
〃You； navy officer！〃 he panted。 〃Come to the door！ Stand close to it so
that I needn't shout。 Come； quick！〃
Ford made no answer。 Motioning to Miss Dale to remain where she
was； he ran noiselessly to the bed； and from beneath the mattress lifted one
of the iron bars upon which it rested。 Grasping it at one end； he swung the
bar swiftly as a man tests the weight of a baseball bat。 As a weapon it
seemed to satisfy him； for he smiled。 Then once more he placed himself
with his back to the wall。 〃Do you hear me？〃 roared Prothero。
〃I hear you！〃 returned Ford。 〃If you want to talk to me； open the door
and come inside。〃
〃Listen to me；〃 called Prothero。 〃If I open the door you may act the
fool； and I will have to shoot you； and I have made up my mind to let you
live。 You will soon have this house to yourselves。 In a few moments I will
leave it； but where I am going I'll need money； and I want the bank…notes
in that blue envelope。〃 Ford swung the iron club in short half…circles。
〃Come in and get them！〃 he called。
〃Don't trifle with me！〃 roared the Jew； 〃I may change my mind。 Shove
the money through the crack under the door。〃
〃And get shot！〃 returned Ford。 〃Not bit like it！〃
〃If； in one minute；〃 shouted Prothero； 〃I don't see the money coming
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through that crack； I'll begin shooting through this door； and neither of you
will live！〃
Resting the bar in the crook of his elbow； Ford snatched the bank…notes
from the envelope； and； sticking them in his pocket； placed the empty
envelope on the floor。 Still keeping out of range； and using his iron bar as
a croupier uses his rake； he pushed the envelope across the carpet and
under the door。 When half of it had disappeared from the other side of the
door； it was snatched from view。
An instant later there was a scream of anger and on a line where Ford
would have been； had he knelt to shove the envelope under the door； three
bullets splintered through the panel。
At the same moment the girl caught him by the wrist。 Unheeding the
attack upon the door； her eyes were fixed upon the windows。 With her free
hand she pointed at the one at which Ford had first appeared。 The blind
was still raised a few inches； and they saw that the night was lit with a
strange and brilliant radiance。 The storm had passed； and from all the
houses that backed upon the one in which they were prisoners lights
blazed from every window； and in each were crowded many people； and
upon the roof…tops in silhouette from the glare of the street lamps below；
and in the yards and clinging to the walls that separated them； were
hundreds of other dark； shadowy groups changing and swaying。 And from
them rose the confused； inarticulate； terrifying murmur of a mob。 It was as
though they were on a race…track at night facing a great grandstand
peopled with an army of ghosts。 With the girl at his side； Ford sprang to
the window and threw up the blind； and as they clung to the bars； peering
into the night； the light in the room fell full upon them。 And in an instant
from the windows opposite； from the yards below； and from the house…
tops came a savage； exultant yell of welcome； a confusion of cries' orders；
entreaties； a great roar of warning。 At the sound； Ford could feel the girl at
his side tremble。
〃What does it mean？〃 she cried。
〃Cuthbert has raised the neighborhood！〃 shouted Ford jubilantly。 〃Or
else〃he cried in sudden enlightenment 〃those shots we heard。〃
The girl stopped him with a low cry of fear。 She thrust her arms
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between the bars and pointed。 In the yard below them was the sloping roof
of the kitchen。 It stretched from the house to the wall of the back yard。
Above the wall from the yard beyond rose a ladder； and； face down upon
the roof； awry
