the moon and sixpence(月球和六便士)-第9节
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when everything was settled he would be four or five hundred pounds out
of pocket。
〃It's lucky the furniture in the flat is in Amy's name。 She'll have that at
all events。〃
〃Did you mean it when you said she wouldn't have a bob？〃
〃Of course I did。 She's got two or three hundred pounds and the
furniture。〃
〃But how is she going to live？〃
〃God knows。〃
The affair seemed to grow more complicated； and the Colonel； with
his expletives and his indignation； confused rather than informed me。 I
was glad that； catching sight of the clock at the Army and Navy Stores； he
remembered an engagement to play cards at his club； and so left me to cut
across St。 James Park。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter X
A day or two later Mrs。 Strickland sent me round a note asking if I
could go and see her that evening after dinner。 I found her alone。 Her
black dress； simple to austerity； suggested her bereaved condition； and I
was innocently astonished that notwithstanding a real emotion she was
able to dress the part she had to play according to her notions of
seemliness。
〃You said that if I wanted you to do anything you wouldn't mind doing
it；〃 she remarked。
〃It was quite true。〃
〃Will you go over to Paris and see Charlie？〃
〃I？〃
I was taken aback。 I reflected that I had only seen him once。 I did not
know what she wanted me to do。
〃Fred is set on going。〃 Fred was Colonel MacAndrew。 〃But I'm
sure he's not the man to go。 He'll only make things worse。 I don't know
who else to ask。〃
Her voice trembled a little； and I felt a brute even to hesitate。
〃But I've not spoken ten words to your husband。 He doesn't know me。
He'll probably just tell me to go to the devil。〃
〃That wouldn't hurt you；〃 said Mrs。 Strickland； smiling。
〃What is it exactly you want me to do？〃
She did not answer directly。
〃I think it's rather an advantage that he doesn't know you。 You see； he
never really liked Fred； he thought him a fool； he didn't understand
soldiers。 Fred would fly into a passion； and there'd be a quarrel； and
things would be worse instead of better。 If you said you came on my
behalf； he couldn't refuse to listen to you。〃
〃I haven't known you very long；〃 I answered。 〃I don't see how
anyone can be expected to tackle a case like this unless he knows all the
details。 I don't want to pry into what doesn't concern me。 Why don't
you go and see him yourself？〃
〃You forget he isn't alone。〃
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The Moon and Sixpence
I held my tongue。 I saw myself calling on Charles Strickland and
sending in my card； I saw him come into the room； holding it between
finger and thumb：
〃To what do I owe this honour？〃
〃I've come to see you about your wife。〃
〃Really。 When you are a little older you will doubtless learn the
advantage of minding your own business。 If you will be so good as to
turn your head slightly to the left； you will see the door。 I wish you
good…afternoon。〃
I foresaw that it would be difficult to make my exit with dignity； and I
wished to goodness that I had not returned to London till Mrs。 Strickland
had composed her difficulties。 I stole a glance at her。 She was immersed
in thought。 Presently she looked up at me； sighed deeply； and smiled。
〃It was all so unexpected；〃 she said。 〃We'd been married seventeen
years。 I sever dreamed that Charlie was the sort of man to get infatuated
with anyone。 We always got on very well together。 Of course； I had a
great many interests that he didn't share。〃
〃Have you found out who〃 I did not quite know how to express
myself 〃who the person； who it is he's gone away with？〃
〃No。 No one seems to have an idea。 It's so strange。 Generally when
a man falls in love with someone people see them about together； lunching
or something； and her friends always come and tell the wife。 I had no
warning nothing。 His letter came like a thunderbolt。 I thought he was
perfectly happy。〃
She began to cry； poor thing； and I felt very sorry for her。 But in a little
while she grew calmer。
〃It's no good making a fool of myself；〃 she said； drying her eyes。 〃The
only thing is to decide what is the best thing to do。〃
She went on； talking somewhat at random； now of the recent past； then
of their first meeting and their marriage； but presently I began to form a
fairly coherent picture of their lives； and it seemed to me that my surmises
had not been incorrect。 Mrs。 Strickland was the daughter of an Indian
civilian； who on his retirement had settled in the depths of the country； but
it was his habit every August to take his family to Eastbourne for change
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The Moon and Sixpence
of air； and it was here； when she was twenty； that she met Charles
Strickland。 He was twenty…three。 They played together； walked on the
front together； listened together to the nigger minstrels； and she had made
up her mind to accept him a week before he proposed to her。 They lived
in London； first in Hampstead； and then； as he grew more prosperous； in
town。 Two children were born to them。
〃He always seemed very fond of them。 Even if he was tired of me； I
wonder that he had the heart to leave them。 It's all so incredible。 Even
now I can hardly believe it's true。〃
At last she showed me the letter he had written。 I was curious to see it；
but had not ventured to ask for it。
〃MY DEAR AMY；
〃CHARLES STRICKLAND。〃
〃Not a word of explanation or regret。 Don't you think it's
inhuman？〃
〃It's a very strange letter under the circumstances；〃 I replied。
〃There's only one explanation； and that is that he's not himself。 I don't
know who this woman is who's got hold of him； but she's made him into
another man。 It's evidently been going on a long time。〃
〃What makes you think that？〃
〃Fred found that out。 My husband said he went to the club three or
four nights a week to play bridge。 Fred knows one of the members； and
said something about Charles being a great bridge…player。 The man was
surprised。 He said he'd never even seen Charles in the card…room。 It's
quite clear now that when I thought Charles was at his club he was with
her。〃
I was silent for a moment。 Then I thought of the children。
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〃It must have been difficult to explain to Robert；〃 I said。
〃Oh； I never said a word to either of them。 You see； we only came up
to town the day before they had to go back to school。 I had the presence of
mind to say that their father had been called away on business。〃
It could not have been very easy to be bright and careless with that
sudden secret in her heart； nor to give her attention to all the things that
needed doing to get her children comfortably packed off。 Mrs。
Strickland's voice broke again。
〃And what is to happen to them； poor darlings？ How are we going to
live？〃
She struggled for self…control； and I saw her hands clench and
unclench spasmodically。 It was dreadfully painful。
〃Of course I'll go over to Paris if you think I
