by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第15节
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the door。 He made his way to the wharf and gazed abstractedly at the
lights reflected in the dark； tremulous； jelly… like water。 But wherever he
went he was accompanied by the absurd figure of his lodgera figure he
had hitherto laughed at or half pitied； but which now； to his bewildered
comprehension； seemed to have a fateful significance。 Here a new idea
seized him； and he hurried back to the ship； slackening his pace only when
he arrived at his own doorway。 Here he paused a moment and slowly
ascended the staircase。 When he reached the passage he coughed slightly
and paused again。 Then he pushed open the door of the darkened cabin
and called softly：
〃Rosey！〃
〃What is it； father？〃 said Rosey's voice from the little state…room on
the rightRosey's own bower。
〃Nothing！〃 said Mr。 Nott； with an affectation of languid calmness； 〃I
only wanted to know if you was comfortable。 It's an awful busy night in
town。〃
〃Yes； father。〃
〃I reckon thar's tons o' gold goin' to the States tomorrow。〃
〃Yes； father。〃
〃Pretty comfortable； eh？〃
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〃Yes； father。〃
〃Well； I'll browse round a spell； and turn in myself； soon。〃
〃Yes father。〃
Mr。 Nott took down a hanging lantern； lit it； and passed out into the
gangway。 Another lamp hung from the companion hatch to light the
tenants to the lower deck； whence he descended。 This deck was divided
fore and aft by a partitioned passage；the lofts or apartments being lighted
from the ports； and one or two by a door cut through the ship's side
communicating with an alley on either side。 This was the case with the loft
occupied by Mr。 Nott's strange lodger； which； besides a door in the
passage； had this independent communication with the alley。 Nott had
never known him to make use of the latter door； on the contrary； it was his
regular habit to issue from his apartment at three o'clock every afternoon；
dressed as he has been described； stride deliberately through the passage to
the upper deck and thence into the street； where his strange figure was a
feature of the principal promenade for two or three hours； returning as
regularly at eight o'clock to the ship and the seclusion of his loft。 Mr。 Nott
paused before the door； under the pretence of throwing the light before
him into the shadows of the forecastle； all was silent within。 He was
turning back when he was impressed by the regular recurrence of a
peculiar rustling sound which he had at first referred to the rubbing of the
wires of the swinging lantern against his clothing。 He set down the light
and listened； the sound was evidently on the other side of the partition； the
sound of some prolonged； rustling； scraping movement； with regular
intervals。 Was it due to another of Mr。 Nott's unprofitable tenantsthe rats？
No。 A bright idea flashed upon Mr。 Nott's troubled mind。 It was de
Ferrieres snoring！ He smiled grimly。 〃Wonder if Rosey'd call him a
gentleman if she heard that；〃 he chuckled to himself as he slowly made his
way back to the cabin and the small state…room opposite to his daughter's。
During the rest of the night he dreamed of being compelled to give Rosey
in marriage to his strange lodger； who added insult to the outrage by
snoring audibly through the marriage service。
Meantime； in her cradle…like nest in her nautical bower； Miss Rosey
slumbered as lightly。 Waking from a vivid dream of Venicea child's
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Veniceseen from the swelling deck of the proudly…riding Pontiac； she
was so impressed as to rise and cross on tiptoe to the little slanting
porthole。 Morning was already dawning over the flat； straggling city； but
from every counting…house and magazine the votive tapers of the feverish
worshipers of trade and mammon were still flaring fiercely。
II
The day following 〃steamer night〃 was usually stale and flat at San
Francisco。 The reaction from the feverish exaltation of the previous
twenty…four hours was seen in the listless faces and lounging feet of
promenaders； and was notable in the deserted offices and warehouses still
redolent of last night's gas； and strewn with the dead ashes of last night's
fires。
There was a brief pause before the busy life which ran its course from
〃steamer day〃 to steamer day was once more taken up。 In that interval a
few anxious speculators and investors breathed freely； some critical
situation was relieved； or some impending catastrophe momentarily
averted。 In particular； a singular stroke of good fortune that morning befell
Mr。 Nott。 He not only secured a new tenant； but； as he sagaciously
believed； introduced into the Pontiac a counteracting influence to the
subtle fascinations of de Ferrieres。
The new tenant apparently possessed a combination of business
shrewdness and brusque frankness that strongly impressed his landlord。
〃You see； Rosey；〃 said Nott； complacently describing the interview to his
daughter； 〃when I sorter intimated in a keerless kind o' way that sugar
kettles and hair dye was about played out ez securities； he just planked
down the money for two months in advance。 'There；' sez he； 'that's YOUR
SECURITYnow where's MINE？' 'I reckon I don't hitch on； pardner；' sez I；
'security what for？' ''Spose you sell the ship？' sez he； 'afore the two months
is up。 I've heard that old Sleight wants to buy her。' 'Then you gets back
your money；' sez I。 'And lose my room；' sez he； 'not much； old man。 You
sign a paper that whoever buys the ship inside o' two months hez to buy
ME ez a tenant with it； that's on the square。' So I sign the paper。 It was
mighty cute in the young feller； wasn't it？〃 he said； scanning his daughter's
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pretty puzzled face a little anxiously； 〃and don't you see ez I ain't goin' to
sell the Pontiac； it's just about ez cute in me； eh？ He's a contractor
somewhere around yer； and wants to be near his work。 So he takes the
room next to the Frenchman； that that ship captain quit for the mines； and
succeeds naterally to his chest and things。 He's might peart…lookin； that
young feller； Roseylong black moustaches； all his own color； Roseyand
he's a regular high…stepper； you bet。 I reckon he's not only been a
gentleman； but ez NOW。 Some o' them contractors are very high…toned！〃
〃I don't think we have any right to give him the captain's chest； father；〃
said Rosey； 〃there may be some private things in it。 There were some
letters and photographs in the hair…dye man's trunk that you gave the
photographer。〃
〃That's just it； Rosey；〃 returned Abner Nott with sublime
unconsciousness； 〃photographs and love letters you can't sell for cash； and
I don't mind givin' 'em away； if they kin make a feller creature happy。〃
〃But； father； have we the RIGHT to give 'em away？〃
〃They're collateral security； Rosey；〃 said her father grimly。 〃Co… la…te…
ral；〃 he continued； emphasizing each syllable by tapping the fist of one
hand in the open palm of the other。 〃Co…la…te…ral is the word the big
business sharps yer about call 'em。 You can't get round that。〃 He paused a
moment； and then； as a new idea seemed to be painfully borne in his round
eyes； continued cautiously： 〃Was that the reason why you woudn't touch
any of them dresses from the trunks of that opery gal ez skedaddled for
Sacramento？ And yet them trunks I regularly bought at auctionRoseyat
auction； on specand they didn't realize the cost of drayage。〃
A slight color mounted to Rosey's face。 〃No；
