stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第32节
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window； Gregorio widened the lips of the lattice and let in a stream of
moonbeams that rested on wife and child； illumining the dark corner。
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〃Gregorio！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Have you told me all？ Is there nothing else to tell em about our son
and the Jew？〃
Gregorio felt he must now speak； it was not possible to keep silence
longer。 He was pleased that his wife had begun the conversation； for it
seemed easier to answer questions than to frame them。 〃I have told you the
whole story。 There is no more to tell。 It was by accident I found him in the
bazaar； and that devil Amos was bending over him。 I could kill that man。〃
〃What good would that do？〃
〃Fancy if we had lost the boy！ Think of the sacrifices we have made
for him； and they would have been useless。〃
〃Have you made any sacrifices； Gregorio？〃
The question was quietly asked； but there was a ring of irony in the
sound of the voice； and Gregorio； to shun his wife's gaze； moved into the
friendly shadows。 For some minutes he did not answer。 At length； with a
nervous laugh； he replied：
〃Of course。 We have both made sacrifices； great sacrifices。〃
〃It is odd；〃 pursued Xantippe； gently； as if speaking to herself； 〃that
you should so flatter yourself。 You professed to care for me once； you only
regard me now as a slave to earn money for you。〃
〃It is for our son's sake。〃
〃Is it for our son's sake also that you sit with Madam Marx； that you
drink her wine； that you kiss her？〃
Gregorio could not answer。 He felt it were useless to try and explain；
though the reason seemed to him clear enough。
〃I am glad to have the chance；〃 continued Xantippe； 〃of talking to you；
for we may now understand each other。 I have made the greatest sacrifice；
and because it was for our son's sake I forgave you。 I wept； but； as I wept；
I said； 'It is hell for Gregorio too。' But when I looked from the window this
afternoon I knew it was not hell for you。 I knew you did not care what
became of me。 It was pleasant for you to send me away to make money
while you drank and kissed at the Penny…farthing Shop。 I came suddenly
to know that the man had spoken truth。〃
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〃What man？〃 asked Gregorio； huskily。
〃The man！ The man you bade me find。 Because money is not gathered
from the pavements。 You know that； and you sent me out to get money。
When I first came back to you I flung the gold at you； it burned my fingers；
and your eagerness for it stung。 But I did not quite hate you； though his
words had begun to chime in my ears： 'In my country such a husband
would be horsewhipped。' When you were kind I was little more than a dog
you liked to pet。 I thought that was how all women were treated。 I know
differently now。 You will earn money through me； for it is my duty to my
son； but you have earned something else。〃
〃Yes？〃 queried Gregorio。
〃My hate。 Surely you are not surprised？ I have learned what love is
these last few days； have learned what a real man is like。 I know you to be
what he called you； a cur and a coward。 I should never have learned this
but for you； and I am grateful； very grateful。 It is useless to swear and to
threaten me with your fists。 You dare not strike me； because； were you to
injure me； you would lose your money。 You have tried to degrade me； and
you have failed。 I am happier than I have ever been； and far； far wiser。
When a woman learns what a man's love is； she becomes wiser in a day
than if she had studied books for a hundred years。〃
Xantippe ceased speaking and； taking her son in her arms； closed her
eyes and fell asleep quietly； a gentle smile hovering round her lips。
Gregorio scowled at her savagely； and would have liked to strike her；
to beat out his passion on her white breast and shoulders。 But she had
spoken only the truth when she said he dare not touch her。 With impotent
oaths he sought to let off the anger that boiled in him。 He feared to think；
and every word she had uttered made him think in spite of himself。 The
events of sixty hours had destroyed what little of good there was in the
man。 Save only the idolatrous love for his child； he scarcely retained one
ennobling quality。
Little by little his anger cooled； his shame died out of him； and he
began to wonder curiously what manner of man this was whose words had
so stirred his wife。 Wondering he fell asleep； nor did he awaken till the sun
was risen。
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While eating his breakfast he inquired cunningly concerning this wise
teacher of the gospels of love and hate； but Xantippe for a time did not
answer。
〃Is he a Greek？〃
〃No。〃
〃A Frenchman？〃
〃No。〃
〃A German？〃
〃No。〃
Suddenly Gregorio felt a kind of cramp at his heart； and he had to
pause before he put the next question。 He could scarcely explain why he
hesitated； but he called to mind the Paradise cafe and the red… faced
Englishman。 He was ready enough to sacrifice his wife if by so doing
money might be gained； but he felt somehow hurt in his vanity at the idea
of this ugly； slow…witted Northerner usurping his place。 With an effort；
however； he put the question：
〃Is he an Englishman？〃
〃Yes。〃
He was seized with a tumult of anger。 He spoke volubly； talking of the
ignorance of the English； their brutality； their dull brains； their stupid pride。
Xantippe waited till he had finished speaking and then replied quietly：
〃It cannot matter to you。 It is my concern。 You have lost all rights to be
angry with me or those connected with me。〃 Gregorio refused to hear
reason； and explained how he begrudged them their wealth and fame。 〃For
these English are a dull people； and we Greeks are greatly superior。〃
〃I do not agree with you；〃 Xantippe replied。 〃I have learned what a
man is since I have known him； and I have learned to hate you。 You may
have more brainsthat I know nothing of； nor do I care。 He could not
behave as you have behaved； nor have sacrificed me as you have
sacrificed me。 Some of his money comes to you。 You want money。 Be
satisfied。〃
Gregorio felt the justice of her words； and he watched her put on her
hat and leave the room。 A minute later； looking out of the window； he saw
her link her arm in that of the Englishman of the Paradiso； and across the
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street； at the threshold of the Penny…farthing Shop； Madam Marx waved
her hand to himself and laughed。
VIII A DESOLATE HOME…COMING
Toward the evening of a day a fortnight later； Gregorio found himself
seated in Madam Marx's cafe； idly watching the passers…by。 He was
feeling happier； for that was being amassed which alone could insure
happiness to him。 Each day some golden pieces were added to the amount
saved； and the cafe at Benhur seemed almost within his grasp。 The feeling
of security from want acted as a narcotic and soothed him； so that the
things which should have troubled him scarcely interested him at all。 He
was intoxicated with the sight of gold。 When he had first seen Xantippe
and the Englishman together his anger had been violent； but when at last
the futility of his rage became certain； his aggressive passion had softened
to a smouldering discontent that hardly worried him； unless he heard some
one speak a British name。 His prosperity had destroyed the last vestiges of
shame and soothed his illogical outbursts of fury。 He was contented
enough now to sit all day with Madam Marx； and returned to his home in
the evening when Xantippe was away。 He had spoken to her only once
since she had told him she hated him。 He had strolled out of the cafe about
midday and entered his room。 Xantippe was there； talking to her child； and
quietly bade him go away。
〃It's my room as well as yours；〃 Gr
