stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第27节
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certainly had the most to give in the way of good looks。 Dr。 Krumm was a
short； bandy…legged； sturdy young man； with long； fair hair； a tanned
complexion； light…blue eyes not quite looking the same way； spectacles；
and a general air of industrious common sense about him； if one may use
such a phrase。 There was certainly little of the lover in his manner toward
Ziska； and as little in hers toward him。 They were very good friends；
though； and he called her Ziska； while she gave him his nickname of
Fidelio； his real name being Fidele。
Now on this； the first morning of our stay in Huferschingen； all the
population had turned out at an early hour to see us start for the forest； and
as the Ober…Forster had gone away to visit his parents in Bavaria； Dr。
Krumm was appointed to superintend the operations of the day。 And when
everybody was busy renewing acquaintance with us； gathering the straying
dogs； examining guns and cartridge…belts； and generally aiding in the
profound commotion of our setting out； Dr。 Krumm was found to be
talking in a very friendly and familiar manner with our pretty Franziska。
Charlie eyed them askance。 He began to say disrespectful things of
Krumm： he thought Krumm a plain person。 And then； when the bandy…
legged doctor had got all the dogs； keepers； and beaters together； we set
off along the road； and presently plunged into the cool shade of the forest；
where the thick moss suddenly silenced our footsteps； and where there was
a moist and resinous smell in the air。
Well； the incidents of the forenoon's shooting； picturesque as they were；
and full of novelty to Tita's protege； need not be described。 At the end of
the fourth drive； when we had got on nearly to luncheon… time； it appeared
that Charlie had killed a handsome buck； and he was so pleased with this
performance that he grew friendly with Dr。 Krumm； who had； indeed；
given him the /haupt…stelle/。 But when； as we sat down to our sausages and
bread and red wine； Charlie incidentally informed our commander…in…chief
that； during one of the drives； a splendid yellow fox had come out of the
underwood and stood and stared at him for three or four seconds； the
doctor uttered a cry of despair。
〃I should have told you that；〃 he said； in English that was not quite so
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good as Ziska's； 〃if I had remembered； yes！ The English will not shoot the
foxes； but they are very bad for us； they kill the young deer。 We are glad to
shoot them； and Franziska she told me she wanted a yellow fox for the
skin to make something。〃
Charlie got very red in the face。 He /had/ missed a chance。 If he had
known that Franziska wanted a yellow fox； all the instinctive veneration
for that animal that was in him would have gone clean out； and the fate of
the animalfor Charlie was a smart shotwould have been definitely
sealed。
〃Are there many of them？〃 said he； gloomily。
〃No； not many。 But where there is one there are generally four or five。
In the next drive we may come on them； yes！ I will put you in a good
place； sir； and you must not think of letting him go away； for Franziska；
who has waited two； three weeks； and not one yellow fox not anywhere；
and it is for the variety of the skin in aaI do not know what you call it。〃
〃A rug； I suppose；〃 said Charlie。
I subsequently heard that Charlie went to his post with a fixed
determination to shoot anything of yellow colour that came near him。 His
station was next to that of Dr。 Krumm； but of course they were invisible to
each other。 The horns of the beaters sounded a warning； the gunners
cocked their guns and stood on the alert； in the perfect silence each one
waited for the first glimmer of a brown hide down the long green glades of
young fir。 Then； according to Charlie's account； by went two or three deer
like lightningall of them does。 A buck came last； but swerved just as he
came in sight； and backed and made straight for the line of beaters。 Two
more does； and then an absolute blank。 One or two shots had been heard at
a distance； either some of the more distant stations had been more
fortunate； or one or other of the beaters had tried his luck。 Suddenly there
was a shot fired close to Charlie； he knew it must have been the doctor。 In
about a minute afterward he saw some pale…yellow object slowly worming
its way through the ferns； and here； at length； he made sure he was going
to get his yellow fox。 But just as the animal came within fair distance； it
turned over； made a struggle or two； and lay still。 Charlie rushed along to
the spot： it was； indeed； a yellow fox； shot in the head； and now as dead as
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a door…nail。
What was he to do？ Let Dr。 Krumm take home this prize to Franziska；
after he had had such a chance in the afternoon？ Never！ Charlie fired a
barrel into the air； and then calmly awaited the coming up of the beaters
and the drawing together of the sportsmen。
Dr。 Krumm； being at the next station； was the first to arrive。 He found
Charlie standing by the side of the slain fox。
〃Ha！〃 he said； his spectacles fairly gleaming with delight； 〃you have
shotted him！ You have killed him！ That is very goodthat is excellent！
Now you will present the skin to Miss Franziska； if you do not wish to
take it to England。〃
〃Oh no！〃 said Charlie； with a lordly indifference。 〃I don't care about it。
Franziska may have it。〃
Charlie pulled me aside； and said； with a solemn wink：
〃Can you keep a secret？〃
〃My wife and I can keep a secret。 I am not allowed to have any for
myself。〃
〃Listen；〃 said the unabashed young man； 〃Krumm shot that fox。 Mind
you don't say a word。 I must have the skin to present to Franziska。〃
I stared at him； I had never known him guilty of a dishonest action。
But when you do get a decent young English fellow condescending to do
anything shabby； be sure it is a girl who is the cause。 I said nothing； of
course； and in the evening a trap came for us； and we drove back to
Huferschingen。
Tita clapped her hands with delight； for Charlie was a favourite of hers；
and now he was returning like a hero； with a sprig of fir in his cap to show
that he had killed a buck。
〃And here； Miss Franziska；〃 he said； quite gaily； 〃here is a yellow fox
for you。 I was told that you wanted the skin of one。〃
Franziska fairly blushed for pleasure； not that the skin of a fox was
very valuable for her； but that the compliment was so open and marked。
She came forward； in German fashion； and rather shyly shook hands with
him in token of her thanks。
When Tita was getting ready for dinner I told her about the yellow fox。
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A married man must have no secrets。
〃He is not capable of such a thing；〃 she says； with a grand air。
〃But he did it；〃 I point out。 〃What is more； he glories in it。 What did he
say when I remonstrated with him on the way home！ '/Why/；' says he； '/I
will put an end to Krumm！ I will abolish Krumm！ I will extinguish
Krumm！/' Now； madame； who is responsible for this？ Who had been
praising Franziska night and day as the sweetest； gentlest； cleverest girl in
the world； until this young man determines to have a flirtation with her
and astonish you？〃
〃A flirtation！〃 says Tita； faintly。 〃Oh no！ Oh； I never meant that。〃
〃Ask him just now； and he will tell you that women deserve no better。
They have no hearts； they are treacherous。 They have beautiful eyes； but
no conscience。 And so he means to take them as they are； and have his
measure of amusement。〃
〃Oh； I am sure he never said anything so abominably wicked；〃 cried
Tita； laying down the rose that Franziska had given her for her hair。 〃I
know he could not say such things。 But if he is so wickedif he has said
themit is not too late to interfere。 /I/ will see about it。〃
