three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第15节
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whispered to him； 〃Oblige me by counting us。〃 He looked surprised by the
request； but turned his head and counted。 〃Why；〃 says he； suddenly； 〃we
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are Thirt…； but no； it's not possible。 No。 We are twelve。〃
According to my counting that day； we were always right in detail； but
in the gross we were always one too many。 There was no appearanceno
figureto account for it； but I had now an inward foreshadowing of the
figure that was surely coming。
The Jury were housed at the London Tavern。 We all slept in one large
room on separate tables； and we were constantly in the charge and under
the eye of the officer sworn to hold us in safe…keeping。 I see no reason for
suppressing the real name of that officer。 He was intelligent； highly polite；
and obliging； and （I was glad to hear） much respected in the City。 He had
an agreeable presence； good eyes； enviable black whiskers； and a fine
sonorous voice。 His name was Mr。 Harker。
When we turned into our twelve beds at night； Mr。 Harker's bed was
drawn across the door。 On the night of the second day； not being disposed
to lie down； and seeing Mr。 Harker sitting on his bed； I went and sat beside
him； and offered him a pinch of snuff。 As Mr。 Harker's hand touched mine
in taking it from my box； a peculiar shiver crossed him； and he said； 〃Who
is this？〃
Following Mr。 Harker's eyes； and looking along the room； I saw again
the figure I expected；the second of the two men who had gone down
Piccadilly。 I rose； and advanced a few steps； then stopped； and looked
round at Mr。 Harker。 He was quite unconcerned； laughed； and said in a
pleasant way； 〃I thought for a moment we had a thirteenth juryman；
without a bed。 But I see it is the moonlight。〃
Making no revelation to Mr。 Harker； but inviting him to take a walk
with me to the end of the room； I watched what the figure did。 It stood for
a few moments by the bedside of each of my eleven brother jurymen；
close to the pillow。 It always went to the right…hand side of the bed； and
always passed out crossing the foot of the next bed。 It seemed； from the
action of the head； merely to look down pensively at each recumbent
figure。 It took no notice of me； or of my bed； which was that nearest to Mr。
Harker's。 It seemed to go out where the moonlight came in； through a high
window； as by an aerial flight of stairs。
Next morning at breakfast； it appeared that everybody present had
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dreamed of the murdered man last night； except myself and Mr。 Harker。
I now felt as convinced that the second man who had gone down
Piccadilly was the murdered man （so to speak）； as if it had been borne into
my comprehension by his immediate testimony。 But even this took place；
and in a manner for which I was not at all prepared。
On the fifth day of the trial； when the case for the prosecution was
drawing to a close； a miniature of the murdered man； missing from his
bedroom upon the discovery of the deed； and afterwards found in a hiding…
place where the Murderer had been seen digging； was put in evidence。
Having been identified by the witness under examination； it was handed
up to the Bench； and thence handed down to be inspected by the Jury。 As
an officer in a black gown was making his way with it across to me； the
figure of the second man who had gone down Piccadilly impetuously
started from the crowd； caught the miniature from the officer； and gave it
to me with his own hands； at the same time saying； in a low and hollow
tone；before I saw the miniature； which was in a locket；〃I WAS
YOUNGER THEN； AND MY FACE WAS NOT THEN DRAINED OF
BLOOD。〃 It also came between me and the brother juryman to whom I
would have given the miniature； and between him and the brother juryman
to whom he would have given it； and so passed it on through the whole of
our number； and back into my possession。 Not one of them； however；
detected this。
At table； and generally when we were shut up together in Mr。 Harker's
custody； we had from the first naturally discussed the day's proceedings a
good deal。 On that fifth day； the case for the prosecution being closed； and
we having that side of the question in a completed shape before us； our
discussion was more animated and serious。 Among our number was a
vestryman；the densest idiot I have ever seen at large；who met the
plainest evidence with the most preposterous objections； and who was
sided with by two flabby parochial parasites； all the three impanelled from
a district so delivered over to Fever that they ought to have been upon
their own trial for five hundred Murders。 When these mischievous
blockheads were at their loudest； which was towards midnight； while some
of us were already preparing for bed； I again saw the murdered man。 He
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stood grimly behind them； beckoning to me。 On my going towards them；
and striking into the conversation； he immediately retired。 This was the
beginning of a separate series of appearances； confined to that long room
in which we were confined。 Whenever a knot of my brother jurymen laid
their heads together； I saw the head of the murdered man among theirs。
Whenever their comparison of notes was going against him； he would
solemnly and irresistibly beckon to me。
It will be borne in mind that down to the production of the miniature；
on the fifth day of the trial； I had never seen the Appearance in Court。
Three changes occurred now that we entered on the case for the defence。
Two of them I will mention together； first。 The figure was now in Court
continually； and it never there addressed itself to me； but always to the
person who was speaking at the time。 For instance： the throat of the
murdered man had been cut straight across。 In the opening speech for the
defence； it was suggested that the deceased might have cut his own throat。
At that very moment； the figure； with its throat in the dreadful condition
referred to （this it had concealed before）； stood at the speaker's elbow；
motioning across and across its windpipe； now with the right hand； now
with the left； vigorously suggesting to the speaker himself the
impossibility of such a wound having been self…inflicted by either hand。
For another instance： a witness to character； a woman； deposed to the
prisoner's being the most amiable of mankind。 The figure at that instant
stood on the floor before her； looking her full in the face； and pointing out
the prisoner's evil countenance with an extended arm and an outstretched
finger。
The third change now to be added impressed me strongly as the most
marked and striking of all。 I do not theorise upon it； I accurately state it；
and there leave it。 Although the Appearance was not itself perceived by
those whom it addressed； its coming close to such persons was invariably
attended by some trepidation or disturbance on their part。 It seemed to me
as if it were prevented； by laws to which I was not amenable； from fully
revealing itself to others； and yet as if it could invisibly； dumbly； and
darkly overshadow their minds。 When the leading counsel for the defence
suggested that hypothesis of suicide； and the figure stood at the learned
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gentleman's elbow； frightfully sawing at its severed throat； it is undeniable
that the counsel faltered in his speech； lost for a few seconds the thread of
his ingenious discourse； wiped his forehead with his handkerchief； and
turned extremely pale。 When the witness to character was confronted by
the Appearance； her eyes most certainly did follow the direction of its
pointed finger； and
