round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第41节
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across the room。 〃He has spoiled my night's reading； and that's reason
enough； if there were no other； why I should steer clear of him in the
future。〃
For ten days the medical student confined himself so closely to his
studies that he neither saw nor heard anything of either of the men beneath
him。 At the hours when Bellingham had been accustomed to visit him；
he took care to sport his oak； and though he more than once heard a
knocking at his outer door； he resolutely refused to answer it。 One
afternoon； however； he was descending the stairs when； just as he was
passing it； Bellingham's door flew open； and young Monkhouse Lee came
out with his eyes sparkling and a dark flush of anger upon his olive cheeks。
Close at his heels followed Bellingham； his fat； unhealthy face all
quivering with malignant passion。
〃You fool！〃 he hissed。 〃You'll be sorry。〃
〃Very likely；〃 cried the other。 〃Mind what I say。 It's off！ I won't
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hear of it！〃
〃You've promised； anyhow。〃
〃Oh； I'll keep that！ I won't speak。 But I'd rather little Eva was in
her grave。 Once for all； it's off。 She'll do what I say。 We don't want to
see you again。〃
So much Smith could not avoid hearing； but he hurried on； for he had
no wish to be involved in their dispute。 There had been a serious breach
between them； that was clear enough； and Lee was going to cause the
engagement with his sister to be broken off。 Smith thought of Hastie's
comparison of the toad and the dove； and was glad to think that the matter
was at an end。 Bellingham's face when he was in a passion was not
pleasant to look upon。 He was not a man to whom an innocent girl could
be trusted for life。 As he walked； Smith wondered languidly what could
have caused the quarrel； and what the promise might be which Bellingham
had been so anxious that Monkhouse Lee should keep。
It was the day of the sculling match between Hastie and Mullins； and a
stream of men were making their way down to the banks of the Isis。 A
May sun was shining brightly； and the yellow path was barred with the
black shadows of the tall elm… trees。 On either side the grey colleges lay
back from the road； the hoary old mothers of minds looking out from their
high； mullioned windows at the tide of young life which swept so merrily
past them。 Black… clad tutors； prim officials； pale reading men； brown…
faced； straw…hatted young athletes in white sweaters or many…coloured
blazers； all were hurrying towards the blue winding river which curves
through the Oxford meadows。
Abercrombie Smith； with the intuition of an old oarsman； chose his
position at the point where he knew that the struggle； if there were a
struggle； would come。 Far off he heard the hum which announced the
start； the gathering roar of the approach； the thunder of running feet； and
the shouts of the men in the boats beneath him。 A spray of half…clad；
deep… breathing runners shot past him； and craning over their shoulders； he
saw Hastie pulling a steady thirty…six； while his opponent； with a jerky
forty； was a good boat's length behind him。 Smith gave a cheer for his
friend； and pulling out his watch； was starting off again for his chambers；
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when he felt a touch upon his shoulder； and found that young Monkhouse
Lee was beside him。
〃I saw you there；〃 he said； in a timid； deprecating way。 〃I wanted to
speak to you； if you could spare me a half…hour。 This cottage is mine。 I
share it with Harrington of King's。 Come in and have a cup of tea。〃
〃I must be back presently；〃 said Smith。 〃I am hard on the grind at
present。 But I'll come in for a few minutes with pleasure。 I wouldn't
have come out only Hastie is a friend of mine。〃
〃So he is of mine。 Hasn't he a beautiful style？ Mullins wasn't in it。
But come into the cottage。 It's a little den of a place； but it is pleasant to
work in during the summer months。〃
It was a small； square； white building； with green doors and shutters；
and a rustic trellis…work porch； standing back some fifty yards from the
river's bank。 Inside； the main room was roughly fitted up as a studydeal
table； unpainted shelves with books； and a few cheap oleographs upon the
wall。 A kettle sang upon a spirit…stove； and there were tea things upon a
tray on the table。
〃Try that chair and have a cigarette；〃 said Lee。 〃Let me pour you out
a cup of tea。 It's so good of you to come in； for I know that your time is a
good deal taken up。 I wanted to say to you that； if I were you； I should
change my rooms at once。〃
〃Eh？〃
Smith sat staring with a lighted match in one hand and his unlit
cigarette in the other。
〃Yes； it must seem very extraordinary； and the worst of it is that I
cannot give my reasons； for I am under a solemn promisea very solemn
promise。 But I may go so far as to say that I don't think Bellingham is a
very safe man to live near。 I intend to camp out here as much as I can for
a time。〃
〃Not safe！ What do you mean？〃
〃Ah； that's what I mustn't say。 But do take my advice； and move your
rooms。 We had a grand row to… day。 You must have heard us； for you
came down the stairs。〃
〃I saw that you had fallen out。〃
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〃He's a horrible chap； Smith。 That is the only word for him。 I have
had doubts about him ever since that night when he faintedyou
remember； when you came down。 I taxed him to…day； and he told me
things that made my hair rise； and wanted me to stand in with him。 I'm
not strait…laced； but I am a clergyman's son； you know； and I think there
are some things which are quite beyond the pale。 I only thank God that I
found him out before it was too late； for he was to have married into my
family。〃
〃This is all very fine； Lee；〃 said Abercrombie Smith curtly。 〃But
either you are saying a great deal too much or a great deal too little。〃
〃I give you a warning。〃
〃If there is real reason for warning； no promise can bind you。 If I see
a rascal about to blow a place up with dynamite no pledge will stand in my
way of preventing him。〃
〃Ah； but I cannot prevent him； and I can do nothing but warn you。〃
〃Without saying what you warn me against。〃
〃Against Bellingham。〃
〃But that is childish。 Why should I fear him； or any man？〃
〃I can't tell you。 I can only entreat you to change your rooms。 You
are in danger where you are。 I don't even say that Bellingham would
wish to injure you。 But it might happen； for he is a dangerous neighbour
just now。〃
〃Perhaps I know more than you think；〃 said Smith； looking keenly at
the young man's boyish； earnest face。 〃Suppose I tell you that some one
else shares Bellingham's rooms。〃
Monkhouse Lee sprang from his chair in uncontrollable excitement。
〃You know； then？〃 he gasped。
〃A woman。〃
Lee dropped back again with a groan。
〃My lips are sealed；〃 he said。 〃I must not speak。〃
〃Well； anyhow；〃 said Smith； rising； 〃it is not likely that I should allow
myself to be frightened out of rooms which suit me very nicely。 It would
be a little too feeble for me to move out all my goods and chattels because
you say that Bellingham might in some unexplained way do me an injury。
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I think that I'll just take my chance； and stay where I am； and as I see that
it's nearly five o'clock； I must ask you to excuse me。〃
