stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第24节
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inside of his shanty to the best of his means and ideas； for there was no
knowing when the only 〃she〃 would take it into her pretty； capricious head
to pay a call。 In this latter line the Scholar had a decided pull。 Education
had taught him taste； necessity； handiness； and by aid of the two he
transformed his rude dwelling into something approaching the rooms in
which he used to dawdle away the happy hours； time ago。 It was partly
drawing…room； partly curiosity…shop。 Cups； saucers； and spoons appeared
as if by magicians' call； and one blazing afternoon the news flashed round
the diamond…pits that Miss Musgrave was 〃taking afternoon tea with the
Scholar。〃 But when the Scholar saw the dismay his simple act had spread
around him； he dissipated it with a kindly laugh and a few reassuring
words。
〃Don't mind me； boys。 I was only doing the civil in a purely platonic
manner。 Miss Musgrave is nothing to me； nor am I anything to her。
Heaven forbid！ I'm too hard a bargain for any girl。 If any one of you
marries her I'll act as his best man if he asks me to； and wish him every
felicity without a thought of regret。〃
〃Bully for the Scholar！〃 yelled the delighted crowd； and Miss
Musgrave's smiles were more sought after than ever。
So things went on day after day； week after week； till Miss Musgrave
became little short of an autocratic empress。 But still she showed no signs
of taking unto herself a consort； she kept all men at a cousinly distance；
and those who felt intimate enough to address her as 〃Miss Mary〃
accounted themselves uncommonly fortunate。 Thus the little machine of
state worked perfectly harmoniously； and Big Stone Hole was as steady
and prosperous a settlement as need be。
Had these diggers refreshed their minds by looking back for historical
parallels； they might have been prepared in some degree for Miss
Musgrave's exit from among them； but as none of them indulged in such
retrospections the manner of it took the camp somewhat by surprise。
It was first discovered in this wise。 Work was over for the day。 The
Kaffirs had been searched and had returned to their kraal。 Pipes were
being lit after the evening meal； and a picturesque assembly was grouping
itself in an expectant semicircle on the sun…baked turf in front of Miss
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Musgrave's dwelling。 She was usually outside to welcome the first comers；
and her absence naturally formed the staple topic of conversation。 Digger
after digger arrived； threw himself down； and joined in the general
wonderment as to why Miss Mary wasn't there； and at last some one
hazarded a suggestion that she 〃must be asleep。〃 There was a general
epidemic of noisy coughing for a full minute； and then silence for another；
but no sound from within the hut。
〃Perhaps she's ill；〃 was the next surmise。
After the etiquette to be followed had been strictly discussed； and a
rigid course of procedure set down； the Scholar got up and knocked at the
door。 He received no answer； and so knocked againknocked several
times； in fact； and then rattled the handle vigorously； but without result。
〃Better open it；〃 said a voice。
And he did so； and after looking inside； announced：
〃She's not there。〃
At this moment Dan came up。
〃My ole mar' 's gone；〃 he said； 〃an' she ain't stampeded； neither； but
was stole。 Tote…rope's been untied； an' saddle an' bridle took as well。〃
There was uncomfortable silence； which the Scholar broke by a low；
long…drawn whistle。
〃Boys；〃 said he； 〃let's look inside the safe。〃
The three men who held the keys brought them up； the bolts were shot；
and the massive door swung back。 There was every man's little sack with
his name on it； but somehow or other the sacks looked limper than of yore。
Each one was eagerly clutched and examined； and many a groan and not a
few curses went up on the still night air as it was found that every sack
save Dan's had been relieved of the more valuable part of its contents。
So much heart…breaking labour under the burning sun thrown away for
nothing； the dreary work to commence afresh； almost from the beginning！
Had the thief been any ordinary one； the denunciation would have been
unbounded； but no one lifted his tongue very loudly against Mary
Musgrave。 Yet mounted men were despatched on the three trails to bring
back the booty if possible； and the rest moved dejectedly toward their old
club。 The greasy Jew did not attempt to conceal his exultation。 He served
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his customers with his wicked old face glowing with smiles； and when a
moment's breathing…time came he observed：
〃We all 'az hour lettle surbrizes in dis wairld； an' I most confaiss I am
asdonished myself to lairn that Mess Mosgrave is a thief〃 But here a
crashing among the glassware announced that Tommy Dartmoor had
begun shooting with his left hand； and Herr Gustave sputtered out from
behind the fingers he held before his face； 〃Ach Gott！ I say nozzing
more！〃
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GREGORIO
BY PERCY HEMINGWAY
I AT THE PARADISO
The Cafe Paradiso was full of people； for the inhabitants of Alexandria
had dined； and the opera season was over。 The seats at every table were
occupied； and the fumes of smoke from a hundred cigars partly hid the
ladies of the orchestra。 As the waiters pushed aside the swing…doors of the
buffet and staggered into the salon with whisky； absinthe； and coffee； the
click of billiard…balls was heard。 The windows facing the sea were wide
open； for the heat was intense； and the murmur of the waves mingled with
the plaintive voices of the violins。
Seated by a table at the far end of the hall； Gregorio Livadas hummed
softly an accompaniment to Suppe's 〃Poete et Paysan；〃 puffing from time
to time a cloudlet of blue smoke from his mouth。 When the music ceased
he joined in the applause； leaning back happily in his chair as the
musicians prepared to repeat the last movement。 Meanwhile his eyes
wandered idly over the faces of his neighbors。
When the last chord was struck he saw the women hurry down from
the platform and rush toward the tables where their acquaintances sat。 He
heard them demand beer and coffee； and they drank eagerly； for fiddling in
that heat was thirsty work。 He watched the weary waiters hastening from
table to table； and he heard the voices around him grow more animated
and the laughter more frequent。 One man was fastening a spray of flowers
on the ample bosom of the flautiste； while another sipped the brown lager
from the glass of the big drum； and the old wife of the conductor left her
triangle and cymbals to beg some roses from an Arab flower…girl。 Truly
the world was enjoying itself； and Gregorio smiled dreamily； for the sight
of so much gaiety pleased him。 He wished one of the women would come
and talk to him； he would have liked to chat with the fair…haired girl who
played the first violin so well。 He began to wonder why she preferred that
ugly Englishman with his red face and bald head。 He caught snatches of
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their conversation。 Bah！ how uninteresting it was！ for they could barely
understand each other。 What pleasure did she find in listening to his bad
French？ and in her native Hungarian he could not even say； 〃I love。〃 Why
had she not come to him； Gregorio Livadas； who could talk to her well and
would not mumble like an idiot and look red and uncomfortable！ Then he
saw she was drinking champagne； and he sighed。 Ah； yes； these English
were rich； and women only cared for m
