the lost house(失踪的房子)-第7节
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responsibility has been too much for me。〃
〃You see a battle…ship？〃 inquired the Jew。
〃A phantom battle…ship；〃 Ford explained； 〃a sort OF FLYING
DUTCHMAN。 The time I saw it I was on the bridge； and I yelled and
telegraphed the engine…room。 I brought the ship to a full stop； and backed
her。 But it was dirty weather； and the error was passed over。 After that；
when I saw the thing coming I did nothing。 But each time I think it is
real。〃 Ford shivered slightly and glanced about him。 〃Some day；〃 he added
fatefully； it WILL be real； and I will NOT signal； and the ship will sink！〃
In silence； Prothero observed his visitor closely。 The young man
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seemed sincere； genuine。 His manner was direct and frank。 He looked the
part he had assumed； as one used to authority。
〃My fees are large；〃 said the Russian。
At this point； had Ford； regardless of terms； exhibited a hopeful
eagerness to at once close with him； the Jew would have shown him the
door。 But Ford was on guard； and well aware that a lieutenant in the navy
had but few guineas to throw away on medicines。 He made a movement as
though to withdraw。
〃Then I am afraid；〃 he said； 〃I must go somewhere else。〃
His reluctance apparently only partially satisfied the Jew。
Ford adopted opposite tactics。 He was never without ready money。 His
paper saw to it that in its interests he was always able at any moment to
pay for a special train across Europe； or to bribe the entire working staff of
a cable office。 From his breast…pocket he took a blue linen envelope； and
allowed the Jew to see that it was filled with twenty… pound notes。 〃I have
means outside my pay；〃 said Ford。
I would give almost any price to the man who can cure me。〃 The eyes
of the Russian flashed avariciously。
〃I will arrange the terms to suit you；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Your case
interests me。 Do you See this…mirage only at sea？〃
〃In any open place；〃 Ford assured him。 〃In a park or public square； but
of course most frequently at sea。〃
The quack waved his great hands as though brushing aside a curtain。
〃I will remove the illusion；〃 he said； 〃and give you others more pretty。〃
He smiled meaningfullyan evil； leering smile。 〃When will you come？〃
he asked。 Ford glanced about him nervously。
〃I shall stay now；〃 he said。 〃 I confess； in the streets and in my
lodgings I am frightened。 You give me confidence。 I want to stay near you。
I feel safe with you。 If you will give me writing…paper； I will send for my
things。〃
For a moment the Jew hesitated； and then motioned to a desk。 As Ford
wrote； Prothero stood near him； and the reporter knew that over his
shoulder the Jew was reading what he wrote。 Ford gave him the note；
unsealed； and asked that it be forwarded at once to his lodgings。
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〃To…morrow；〃 he said； 〃I will call up our Embassy； and give my
address to our Naval Attache。
〃I will attend to that；〃 said Prothero。
From now you are in my hands； and you can communicate with the
outside only through me。 You are to have absolute rest no books； no
letters； no papers。 And you will be fed from a spoon。 I will explain my
treatment later。 You will now go to your room； and you will remain there
until you are a well man。〃
Ford had no wish to be at once shut off from the rest of the house。 The
odor of cooking came through the hall； and seemed to offer an excuse for
delay。
〃I smell food；〃 he laughed。 〃And I'm terrifically hungry。 Can't I have a
farewell dinner before you begin feeding me from a spoon？〃
The Jew was about to refuse； but； with his guilty knowledge of what
was going forward in the house； he could not be too sure of those he
allowed to enter it。 He wanted more time to spend in studying this new
patient； and the dinner…table seemed to offer a place where he could do so
without the other suspecting he was under observation。
〃My associate and I were just about to dine；〃 he said。 〃You will wait
here until I have another place laid； and you can join us。〃
He departed； walking heavily down the hall； but almost at once Ford；
whose ears were alert for any sound； heard him returning； approaching
stealthily on tiptoe。 If by this maneuver the Jew had hoped to discover his
patient in some indiscretion； he was unsuccessful； for he found Ford
standing just where he had left him； with his back turned to the door； and
gazing with apparent interest at a picture on the wall。 The significance of
the incident was not lost upon the intruder。 It taught him he was still under
surveillance； and that he must bear himself warily。 Murmuring some
excuse for having returned； the Jew again departed； and in a few minutes
Ford heard his voice； and that of another man； engaged in low tones in
what was apparently an eager argument。
Only once was the voice of the other man raised sufficiently for Ford
to distinguish his words。 〃He is an American；〃 protested the voice； 〃that
makes it worse。〃
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Ford guessed that the speaker was Pearsall； and that against his
admittance to the house he was making earnest protest。 A door； closing
with a bang； shut off the argument； but within a few minutes it was evident
the Jew had carried his point； for he reappeared to announce that dinner
was waiting。 It was served in a room at the farther end of the hall； and at
the table； which was laid for three； Ford found a man already seated。
Prothero introduced him as 〃my associate；〃 but from his presence in the
house； and from the fact that he was an American； Ford knew that he was
Pearsall。
Pearsall was a man of fifty。 He was tall； spare； with closely shaven
face and gray hair； worn rather long。 He spoke with the accent of a
Southerner； and although to Ford he was studiously polite； he was
obviously greatly ill at ease。 He had the abrupt； inattentive manners； the
trembling fingers and quivering lips； of one who had long been a slave to
the drug habit； and who now； with difficulty； was holding himself in hand。
Throughout the dinner； speaking to him as though； interested only as
his medical advisers； the Jew； and occasionally the American； sharply
examined and cross…examined their visitor。 But they were unable to trip
him in his story； or to suggest that he was not just what he claimed to be。
When the dinner was finished； the three men； for different reasons；
were each more at his ease。 Both Pearsall and Prothero believed from the
new patient they had nothing to fear； and Ford was congratulating himself
that his presence at the house was firmly secure。
〃I think；〃 said Pearsall； 〃we should warn Mr。 Grant that there are in the
house other patients who； like himself； are suffering from nervous
disorders。 At times some silly neurotic woman becomes hysterical； and
may make an outcry or scream。 He must not think 〃
〃That's all right！〃 Ford reassured him cheerfully。 〃 I expect that。 In a
sanatorium it must be unavoidable。〃
As he spoke； as though by a signal prearranged； there came from the
upper portion of the house a scream； long； insistent。
It was the voice of a woman； raised in appeal ； in protest； shaken with
fear。 Without for an instant regarding it； the two men fastened their eyes
upon the visitor。 The hand of the Jew dropped quickly from his beard； and
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slid to the inside pocket of his coat。 With eyes apparently unseeing； Ford
noted the movement。
〃He carries a gun；〃 was his mental comment； 〃and he seems perfectly
willing to use it。〃 Aloud； he said： 〃That； I suppose is one of them？〃
Prothero nodded gravely； and turned to Pearsall。 〃Will you attend her？〃
