stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第30节
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wagged pretty freely。 It's not a bit of use being angry with me； because I
only know what you've told me。 Besides； I'm your friend； you know that。〃
Gregorio flushed angrily at the woman's words； but he knew quite well
it was no use replying to them； for she was speaking only the truth。 But the
knowledge that he had betrayed his secret annoyed him。 He had grown
used to the facts and could look at them easily enough； but he had not
reckoned on others also learning them。
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He determined to go out and find work； or at any rate to tramp the
streets pretending to look for something to do。 The woman became
intolerable to him； and the Penny…farthing Shop； reeking with the odour of
stale tobacco and spilled liquor； poisoned him。 He took up his hat
brusquely and stepped into the street。
Madam Marx； standing at the door； laughed at him as she called out；
〃Good…bye； Gregorio； when will you come back？〃
He did not answer； but the sound of her laughter followed him up the
street； and he kicked angrily at the stones in his path。
At last he passed by the Ras…el…Tin barracks。 He looked curiously at
the English soldiers。 Some were playing polo on the hard brown space to
the left； and from the windows of the building men leaned out； their shirt…
sleeves rolled up and their strong arms bared to the sun。 They smoked
short clay pipes； and innumerable little blue spiral clouds mounted
skyward。 Obviously the heat did not greatly inconvenience them； for they
laughed and sang and drank oceans of beer。
The sight of them annoyed Gregorio。 He looked at the pewter mugs
shining in the sunlight。 He eyed greedily the passage of one from hand to
hand； and when one man； after taking a long pull； laughed and held it
upside down to show him it was empty； he burst into an uncontrollable fit
of anger； and shook his fist impotently at the soldiers； who chaffed him
good…naturedly。 As he went along by the stables； a friendly lancer； pitying
him； probably； too； wearying of his own lonely watch； called to him； and
offered him a drink out of a stone bottle。 Gregorio drank again feverishly；
and handed the bottle back to its owner with a grin； and passed on without
a word。 The soldier watched him curiously； but said nothing。
When he reached the lighthouse Gregorio flung himself on to the
pebble…strewn sand and looked across the bay。 The blue water； calm and
unruffled as a sheet of glass； spread before him。 The shipsAustrian Lloyd
mail…boats； P。 and O。 liners； and grimy coal…hulkslay motionless against
the white side of the jetty。
The khedive's yacht was bright with bunting； and innumerable fishing…
boats near the breakwater made grateful oases in the glare whereon his
eyes might rest。 But he heeded them not。 Angrily he flung lumps of stone
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and sand into the wavelets at his feet； and pushed back his hat that his face
might feel the full heat of the sun。 Then he lit a cigarette and began to
think。
But what was the good of thinking？ The thoughts always formed
themselves into the same chain and reached the same conclusion； and ever
on the glassy surface of the Levantine sea a woman poised herself and
laughed at him。
When the sun fell behind the horizon； and the breakwater； after
dashing up one flash of gold； became a blue blur； Gregorio rose to go。 As
he walked back toward the Penny…farthing Shop he felt angry and
unsatisfied。 The whole day was wasted。 He had done nothing to relieve his
wife； nothing to pay off Amos。 Madam met him at the door； a flask of
wine in her hand。 Against his will Gregorio entered her cafe and smiled；
but his smile was sour and malevolent。
〃You want cheering； my friend；〃 said madam； laughing。
〃I have found nothing to do；〃 said Gregorio。
〃Ah！ I told you it would be hard。 There are no tourists in Alexandria
now。 And it is foolish of you to tramp the streets looking for work that you
will never find； when you have everything you can want here。〃
〃Except money； and that's everything；〃 put in Gregorio； bluntly。
〃Even money； my friend。 I have enough for two。〃
Madam Marx had played her trump card； and she watched anxiously
the effect of her words。 For a moment the man did not speak； but trifled
with his cigarette tobacco； rolling it gently between his brown fingers。
Then he said：
〃You know I am in debt now； and I want to pay off all I owe； and leave
here。〃
〃Yes； that's true； but you won't pay off your debts by tramping the
streets； and your little cafe at Benhur will be a long time building； I fancy。
Meanwhile there is money to be made at the Penny…farthing Shop。〃
〃What are your terms？〃 asked Gregorio； roughly。
The woman laughed； but did not answer。 The stars were shining； and
the kempsin that had blown all day was dead。 It was cool sitting outside
the door of the cafe under the little awning； and pleasant to watch the blue
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cigarette smoke float upward in the still air。 Gregorio sat for a while silent；
and the woman came and stood by him。 〃You know my terms；〃 she
whispered； and Gregorio smiled； took her hand； and kissed her。 At that
moment the blind of the opposite house was flung back。 Xantippe leaned
out of the window and saw them。
VI BABY AND JEW
When the Penny…farthing Shop began to fill Gregorio disappeared
quietly by the back door。 He muttered a half…unintelligible answer to the
men who were playing cards in the dim parlour through which he had to
pass； who called to him to join them。 Gaining the street； he wandered
along till he reached the bazaars； intending to waste an hour or two until
Xantippe should have left the house。 Then he determined to go back and
see the boy in whom all his hopes and ambitions were centered； who was
the unconscious cause of his villainy and degradation。
There was a large crowd in the bazaars； for a Moolid was being
celebrated。 Jugglers； snake…charmers； mountebanks； gipsies； and dancing…
girls attracted hundreds of spectators。
The old men sat in the shadows of their stalls； smoking and drinking
coffee。 They smiled gravely at the younger people； who jostled one
another good…humouredly； laughing； singing； quarrelling like children。
Across the roadway hung lamps of coloured glass and tiny red flags
stamped with a white crescent and a star。 Torches blazed at intervals；
casting a flickering glow on the excited faces of the crowd。
Gregorio watched without much interest。 He had seen a great many
fantasias since he came to Egypt； and they were no longer a novelty to him。
He was annoyed that a race of people whom he despised should be so
merry when he himself had so many troubles to worry him。 He would
have liked to go into one of the booths where the girls danced； but he had
no money； and he cursed at his stupidity in not asking the Marx woman for
some。 He no longer felt ashamed of himself； for he argued that he was the
victim of circumstances。 Still he wished Xantippe had not looked out of
the window； though of course he could easily explain things to her。 And
Xantippe was really so angry the night before； explanations were better
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postponed for a time。 〃After all；〃 he thought； 〃it really does not much
matter。 Once we get over our present difficulties we shall forget all we
have gone through。〃 This comfortable reflection had been doing duty
pretty often the last day or two； and though Gregorio did not believe it a
bit； he always felt it was a satisfactory conclusion； a
