three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第11节
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headless donkey： at least； upon a donkey who was so interested in the state
of his stomach that his head was always down there； investigating it； on
ponies； expressly born to kick up behind； on roundabouts and swings；
from fairs； in the first cabanother forgotten institution where the fare
regularly got into bed； and was tucked up with the driver。
Not to trouble you with a detailed account of all my travels in pursuit
of the ghost of Master B。； which were longer and more wonderful than
those of Sinbad the Sailor； I will confine myself to one experience from
which you may judge of many。
I was marvellously changed。 I was myself； yet not myself。 I was
conscious of something within me； which has been the same all through
my life； and which I have always recognised under all its phases and
varieties as never altering； and yet I was not the I who had gone to bed in
Master B。's room。 I had the smoothest of faces and the shortest of legs； and
I had taken another creature like myself； also with the smoothest of faces
and the shortest of legs； behind a door； and was confiding to him a
proposition of the most astounding nature。
This proposition was； that we should have a Seraglio。
The other creature assented warmly。 He had no notion of respectability；
neither had I。 It was the custom of the East； it was the way of the good
Caliph Haroun Alraschid （let me have the corrupted name again for once；
it is so scented with sweet memories！）； the usage was highly laudable； and
most worthy of imitation。 〃O； yes！ Let us；〃 said the other creature with a
jump； 〃have a Seraglio。〃
It was not because we entertained the faintest doubts of the meritorious
character of the Oriental establishment we proposed to import； that we
perceived it must be kept a secret from Miss Griffin。 It was because we
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knew Miss Griffin to be bereft of human sympathies； and incapable of
appreciating the greatness of the great Haroun。 Mystery impenetrably
shrouded from Miss Griffin then； let us entrust it to Miss Bule。
We were ten in Miss Griffin's establishment by Hampstead Ponds；
eight ladies and two gentlemen。 Miss Bule； whom I judge to have attained
the ripe age of eight or nine； took the lead in society。 I opened the subject
to her in the course of the day； and proposed that she should become the
Favourite。
Miss Bule； after struggling with the diffidence so natural to； and
charming in； her adorable sex； expressed herself as flattered by the idea；
but wished to know how it was proposed to provide for Miss Pipson？ Miss
Bulewho was understood to have vowed towards that young lady； a
friendship； halves； and no secrets； until death； on the Church Service and
Lessons complete in two volumes with case and lockMiss Bule said she
could not； as the friend of Pipson； disguise from herself； or me； that Pipson
was not one of the common。
Now； Miss Pipson； having curly hair and blue eyes （which was my
idea of anything mortal and feminine that was called Fair）； I promptly
replied that I regarded Miss Pipson in the light of a Fair Circassian。
〃And what then？〃 Miss Bule pensively asked。
I replied that she must be inveigled by a Merchant； brought to me
veiled； and purchased as a slave。
＇The other creature had already fallen into the second male place in the
State； and was set apart for Grand Vizier。 He afterwards resisted this
disposal of events； but had his hair pulled until he yielded。＇
〃Shall I not be jealous？〃 Miss Bule inquired； casting down her eyes。
〃Zobeide； no；〃 I replied； 〃you will ever be the favourite Sultana； the
first place in my heart； and on my throne； will be ever yours。〃
Miss Bule； upon that assurance； consented to propound the idea to her
seven beautiful companions。 It occurring to me； in the course of the same
day； that we knew we could trust a grinning and good… natured soul called
Tabby； who was the serving drudge of the house； and had no more figure
than one of the beds； and upon whose face there was always more or less
black…lead； I slipped into Miss Bule's hand after supper； a little note to that
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effect； dwelling on the black…lead as being in a manner deposited by the
finger of Providence； pointing Tabby out for Mesrour； the celebrated chief
of the Blacks of the Hareem。
There were difficulties in the formation of the desired institution； as
there are in all combinations。 The other creature showed himself of a low
character； and； when defeated in aspiring to the throne； pretended to have
conscientious scruples about prostrating himself before the Caliph；
wouldn't call him Commander of the Faithful； spoke of him slightingly
and inconsistently as a mere 〃chap；〃 said he； the other creature； 〃wouldn't
play〃Play！and was otherwise coarse and offensive。 This meanness of
disposition was； however； put down by the general indignation of an
united Seraglio； and I became blessed in the smiles of eight of the fairest
of the daughters of men。
The smiles could only be bestowed when Miss Griffin was looking
another way； and only then in a very wary manner； for there was a legend
among the followers of the Prophet that she saw with a little round
ornament in the middle of the pattern on the back of her shawl。 But every
day after dinner； for an hour； we were all together； and then the Favourite
and the rest of the Royal Hareem competed who should most beguile the
leisure of the Serene Haroun reposing from the cares of Statewhich were
generally； as in most affairs of State； of an arithmetical character； the
Commander of the Faithful being a fearful boggler at a sum。
On these occasions； the devoted Mesrour； chief of the Blacks of the
Hareem； was always in attendance （Miss Griffin usually ringing for that
officer； at the same time； with great vehemence）； but never acquitted
himself in a manner worthy of his historical reputation。 In the first place；
his bringing a broom into the Divan of the Caliph； even when Haroun
wore on his shoulders the red robe of anger （Miss Pipson's pelisse）； though
it might be got over for the moment； was never to be quite satisfactorily
accounted for。 In the second place； his breaking out into grinning
exclamations of 〃Lork you pretties！〃 was neither Eastern nor respectful。 In
the third place； when specially instructed to say 〃Bismillah！〃 he always
said 〃Hallelujah！〃 This officer； unlike his class； was too good…humoured
altogether； kept his mouth open far too wide； expressed approbation to an
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incongruous extent； and even onceit was on the occasion of the purchase
of the Fair Circassian for five hundred thousand purses of gold； and cheap；
tooembraced the Slave； the Favourite； and the Caliph； all round。
（Parenthetically let me say God bless Mesrour； and may there have been
sons and daughters on that tender bosom； softening many a hard day
since！）
Miss Griffin was a model of propriety； and I am at a loss to imagine
what the feelings of the virtuous woman would have been； if she had
known； when she paraded us down the Hampstead Road two and two； that
she was walking with a stately step at the head of Polygamy and
Mahomedanism。 I believe that a mysterious and terrible joy with which
the contemplation of Miss Griffin； in this unconscious state； inspired us；
and a grim sense prevalent among us that there was a dreadful power in
our knowledge of what Miss Griffin （who knew all things that could be
learnt out of book） didn't know； were the main… spring of the preservation
of our secret。 It was wonderfully kept； but was once upon the verge of
self…betrayal。 The danger and escape occurred upon a Sunday。 We were all
ten ranged in a conspicuous part of the galler
