round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第39节
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pyramids；〃 suggested Monkhouse Lee； looking down with disgust in his
eyes at the crooked； unclean talons。
〃No fear。 This fellow has been pickled in natron； and looked after in
the most approved style。 They did not serve hodsmen in that fashion。
Salt or bitumen was enough for them。 It has been calculated that this sort
of thing cost about seven hundred and thirty pounds in our money。 Our
friend was a noble at the least。 What do you make of that small
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inscription near his feet； Smith？〃
〃I told you that I know no Eastern tongue。〃
〃Ah； so you did。 It is the name of the embalmer； I take it。 A very
conscientious worker he must have been。 I wonder how many modern
works will survive four thousand years？〃
He kept on speaking lightly and rapidly； but it was evident to
Abercrombie Smith that he was still palpitating with fear。 His hands
shook； his lower lip trembled； and look where he would； his eye always
came sliding round to his gruesome companion。 Through all his fear；
however； there was a suspicion of triumph in his tone and manner。 His
eye shone； and his footstep； as he paced the room； was brisk and jaunty。
He gave the impression of a man who has gone through an ordeal； the
marks of which he still bears upon him； but which has helped him to his
end。
〃You're not going yet？〃 he cried； as Smith rose from the sofa。
At the prospect of solitude； his fears seemed to crowd back upon him；
and he stretched out a hand to detain him。
〃Yes； I must go。 I have my work to do。 You are all right now。 I
think that with your nervous system you should take up some less morbid
study。〃
〃Oh； I am not nervous as a rule； and I have unwrapped mummies
before。〃
〃You fainted last time；〃 observed Monkhouse Lee。
〃Ah； yes； so I did。 Well； I must have a nerve tonic or a course of
electricity。 You are not going； Lee？〃
〃I'll do whatever you wish； Ned。〃
〃Then I'll come down with you and have a shake… down on your sofa。
Good…night； Smith。 I am so sorry to have disturbed you with my
foolishness。〃
They shook hands； and as the medical student stumbled up the spiral
and irregular stair he heard a key turn in a door； and the steps of his two
new acquaintances as they descended to the lower floor。
In this strange way began the acquaintance between Edward
Bellingham and Abercrombie Smith； an acquaintance which the latter； at
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least； had no desire to push further。 Bellingham； however； appeared to
have taken a fancy to his rough…spoken neighbour； and made his advances
in such a way that he could hardly be repulsed without absolute brutality。
Twice he called to thank Smith for his assistance； and many times
afterwards he looked in with books； papers； and such other civilities as
two bachelor neighbours can offer each other。 He was； as Smith soon
found； a man of wide reading； with catholic tastes and an extraordinary
memory。 His manner； too； was so pleasing and suave that one came；
after a time； to overlook his repellent appearance。 For a jaded and
wearied man he was no unpleasant companion； and Smith found himself；
after a time； looking forward to his visits； and even returning them。
Clever as he undoubtedly was； however； the medical student seemed to
detect a dash of insanity in the man。 He broke out at times into a high；
inflated style of talk which was in contrast with the simplicity of his life。
〃It is a wonderful thing；〃 he cried； 〃to feel that one can command
powers of good and of evila ministering angel or a demon of
vengeance。〃 And again； of Monkhouse Lee； he said；〃Lee is a good
fellow； an honest fellow； but he is without strength or ambition。 He
would not make a fit partner for a man with a great enterprise。 He would
not make a fit partner for me。〃
At such hints and innuendoes stolid Smith； puffing solemnly at his
pipe； would simply raise his eyebrows and shake his head； with little
interjections of medical wisdom as to earlier hours and fresher air。
One habit Bellingham had developed of late which Smith knew to be a
frequent herald of a weakening mind。 He appeared to be forever talking
to himself。 At late hours of the night； when there could be no visitor with
him； Smith could still hear his voice beneath him in a low； muffled
monologue； sunk almost to a whisper； and yet very audible in the silence。
This solitary babbling annoyed and distracted the student； so that he spoke
more than once to his neighbour about it。 Bellingham； however； flushed
up at the charge； and denied curtly that he had uttered a sound； indeed； he
showed more annoyance over the matter than the occasion seemed to
demand。
Had Abercrombie Smith had any doubt as to his own ears he had not
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to go far to find corroboration。 Tom Styles； the little wrinkled man…
servant who had attended to the wants of the lodgers in the turret for a
longer time than any man's memory could carry him； was sorely put to it
over the same matter。
〃If you please； sir；〃 said he； as he tidied down the top chamber one
morning； 〃do you think Mr。 Bellingham is all right； sir？〃
〃All right； Styles？〃
〃Yes sir。 Right in his head； sir。〃
〃Why should he not be； then？〃
〃Well； I don't know； sir。 His habits has changed of late。 He's not the
same man he used to be； though I make free to say that he was never quite
one of my gentlemen； like Mr。 Hastie or yourself； sir。 He's took to talkin'
to himself something awful。 I wonder it don't disturb you。 I don't know
what to make of him； sir。〃
〃I don't know what business it is of yours； Styles。〃
〃Well； I takes an interest； Mr。 Smith。 It may be forward of me； but I
can't help it。 I feel sometimes as if I was mother and father to my young
gentlemen。 It all falls on me when things go wrong and the relations
come。 But Mr。 Bellingham； sir。 I want to know what it is that walks
about his room sometimes when he's out and when the door's locked on
the outside。〃
〃Eh！ you're talking nonsense； Styles。〃
〃Maybe so； sir； but I heard it more'n once with my own ears。〃
〃Rubbish； Styles。〃
〃Very good； sir。 You'll ring the bell if you want me。〃
Abercrombie Smith gave little heed to the gossip of the old man…
servant； but a small incident occurred a few days later which left an
unpleasant effect upon his mind； and brought the words of Styles forcibly
to his memory。
Bellingham had come up to see him late one night； and was
entertaining him with an interesting account of the rock tombs of Beni
Hassan in Upper Egypt； when Smith； whose hearing was remarkably acute；
distinctly heard the sound of a door opening on the landing below。
〃There's some fellow gone in or out of your room；〃 he remarked。
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Bellingham sprang up and stood helpless for a moment； with the
expression of a man who is half incredulous and half afraid。
〃I surely locked it。 I am almost positive that I locked it；〃 he
stammered。 〃No one could have opened it。〃
〃Why； I hear someone coming up the steps now；〃 said Smith。
Bellingham rushed out through the door； slammed it loudly behind
him； and hurried down the stairs。 About half…way down Smith
