five tales-第29节

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The　girl　answered　softly：

〃Poor　old　man；　let　um　have　his　pleasure。〃　　And；　in　the　hall；　with　the　soup　tureen　against　her　bosom；　she　hummed　above　the　steam；　and　thought　of　the　ribbons　on　her　new　chemises；　bought　out　of　the　sovereign　he　had　given　her。

And　old　Heythorp；　digesting　his　osyters；　snuffed　the　scent　of　the　hyacinths；　and　thought　of　the　St。　Germain；　his　favourite　soup。　　It　would　n't　be　first…rate；　at　this　time　of　yearshould　be　made　with　little　young　home…grown　peas。　　Paris　was　the　place　for　it。　　Ah！　　The　French　were　the　fellows　for　eating；　andlooking　things　in　the　face！　Not　hypocritesnot　ashamed　of　their　reason　or　their　senses！

The　soup　came　in。　　He　sipped　it；　bending　forward　as　far　as　he　could；　his　napkin　tucked　in　over　his　shirt…front　like　a　bib。　　He　got　the　bouquet　of　that　sherry　to　a　This　sense　of　smell　was　very　keen　to…　night；　rare　old　stuff　it　wasmore　than　a　year　since　he　had　tasted　itbut　no　one　drank　sherry　nowadays；　hadn't　the　constitution　for　it！　The　fish　came　up；　and　went　down；　and　with　the　sweetbread　he　took　his　second　glass　of　champagne。　　Always　the　best；　that　second　glassthe　stomach　well　warmed；　and　the　palate　not　yet　dulled。　　Umm！　　So　that　fellow　thought　he　had　him　beaten；　did　he？　　And　he　said　suddenly：

〃The　fur　coat　in　the　wardrobe；　I've　no　use　for　it。　　You　can　take　it　away　to…night。〃

With　tempered　gratitude　the　valet　answered：

〃Thank　you；　sir；　much　obliged；　I'm　sure。〃　　So　the　old　buffer　had　found　out　there　was　moth　in　it！

〃Have　I　worried　you　much？〃

〃No；　sir；　not　at　all；　sirthat　is；　no　more　than　reason。〃

〃Afraid　I　have。　　Very　sorrycan't　help　it。　　You'll　find　that；　when　you　get　like　me。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I've　always　admired　your　pluck；　sir。

〃Um！　　Very　good　of　you　to　say　so。〃

〃Always　think　of　you　keepin'　the　flag　flying'；　sir。〃

Old　Heythorp　bent　his　body　from　the　waist。

〃Much　obliged　to　you。〃

〃Not　at　all；　sir。　　Cook's　done　a　little　spinach　in　cream　with　the　soubees。〃

〃Ah！　　Tell　her　from　me　it's　a　capital　dinner；　so　far。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃

Alone　again；　old　Heythorp　sat　unmoving；　his　brain　just　narcotically　touched。　　〃The　flag　flyin'the　flag　flyin'！〃　　He　raised　his　glass　and　sucked。　　He　had　an　appetite　now；　and　finished　the　three　cutlets；　and　all　the　sauce　and　spinach。　　Pity！　　he　could　have　managed　a　snipe　fresh　shot！　　A　desire　to　delay；　to　lengthen　dinner；　was　strong　upon　him；　there　were　but　the　souffle'　and　the　savoury　to　come。　　He　would　have　enjoyed；　too；　someone　to　talk　to。　　He　had　always　been　fond　of　good　companybeen　good　company　himself；　or　so　they　saidnot　that　he　had　had　a　chance　of　late。　　Even　at　the　Boards　they　avoided　talking　to　him；　he　had　noticed　for　a　long　time。　　Well！　　that　wouldn't　trouble　him　againhe　had　sat　through　his　last　Board；　no　doubt。　　They　shouldn't　kick　him　off；　though；　he　wouldn't　give　them　that　pleasure　had　seen　the　beggars　hankering　after　his　chairman's　shoes　too　long。　The　souffle　was　before　him　now；　and　lifting　his　glass；　he　said：

〃Fill　up。〃

〃These　are　the　special　glasses；　sir；　only　four　to　the　bottle。〃

〃Fill　up。〃

The　servant　filled；　screwing　up　his　mouth。

Old　Heythorp　drank；　and　put　the　glass　down　empty　with　a　sigh。　　He　had　been　；faithful　to　his　principles；　finished　the　bottle　before　touching　the　sweeta　good　bottleof　a　good　brand！　　And　now　for　the　souffle！　Delicious；　flipped　down　with　the　old　sherry！　　So　that　holy　woman　was　going　to　a　ball；　was　she！　　How　deuced　funny！　　Who　would　dance　with　a　dry　stick　like　that；　all　eaten　up　with　a　piety　which　was　just　sexual　disappointment？　　Ah！　yes；　lots　of　women　like　thathad　often　noticed　'empitied　'em　too；　until　you　had　to　do　with　them　and　they　made　you　as　unhappy　as　themselves；　and　were　tyrants　into　the　bargain。　　And　he　asked：

〃What's　the　savoury？〃

〃Cheese　remmykin；　sir。〃

His　favourite。

〃I'll　have　my　port　with　itthe　'sixty…eight。〃　　The　man　stood　gazing　with　evident　stupefaction。　　He　had　not　expected　this。　　The　old　man's　face　was　very　flushed；　but　that　might　be　the　bath。　　He　said　feebly：

〃Are　you　sure　you　ought；　sir？〃

〃No；　but　I'm　going　to。〃

〃Would　you　mind　if　I　spoke　to　Miss　Heythorp；　Sir？〃

〃If　you　do；　you　can　leave　my　service。〃

〃Well；　Sir；　I　don't　accept　the　responsibility。〃

〃Who　asked　you　to？〃

〃No；　Sir。。。。〃

〃Well；　get　it；　then；　and　don't　be　an　ass。〃

〃Yes；　Sir。〃　　If　the　old　man　were　not　humoured　he　would　have　a　fit；　perhaps！

And　the　old　man　sat　quietly　staring　at　the　hyacinths。　　He　felt　happy；　his　whole　being　lined　and　warmed　and　drowsedand　there　was　more　to　come！　　What　had　the　holy　folk　to　give　you　compared　with　the　comfort　of　a　good　dinner？　　Could　they　make　you　dream；　and　see　life　rosy　for　a　little？　　No；　they　could　only　give　you　promissory　notes　which　never　would　be　cashed。　　A　man　had　nothing　but　his　pluckthey　only　tried　to　undermine　it；　and　make　him　squeal　for　help。　　He　could　see　his　precious　doctor　throwing　up　his　hands：　〃Port　after　a　bottle　of　champagneyou'll　die　of　it！〃　　And　a　very　good　death　toonone　better。　　A　sound　broke　the　silence　of　the　closed…up　room。　　Music？　His　daughter　playing　the　piano　overhead。　　Singing　too！　　What　a　trickle　of　a　voice！　　Jenny　Lind！　　The　Swedish　nightingalehe　had　never　missed　the　nights　when　she　was　singingJenny　Lind！

〃It's　very　hot；　sir。　　Shall　I　take　it　out　of　the　case？〃

Ah！　　The　ramequin！

〃Touch　of　butter；　and　the　cayenne！〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

He　ate　it　slowly；　savouring　each　mouthful；　had　never　tasted　a　better。　With　cheeseport！　　He　drank　one　glass；　and　said：

〃Help　me　to　my　chair。〃

And　settled　there　before　the　fire　with　decanter　and　glass　and　hand…　bell　on　the　little　low　table　by　his　side；　he　murmured：

〃Bring　coffee；　and　my　cigar；　in　twenty　minutes。〃

To…night　he　would　do　justice　to　his　wine；　not　smoking　till　he　had　finished。　　As　old　Horace　said：

〃Aequam　memento　rebus　in　arduis　Servare　mentem。〃

And；　raising　his　glass；　he　sipped　slowly；　spilling　a　drop　or　two；　shutting　his　eyes。

The　faint　silvery　squealing　of　the　holy　woman　in　the　room　above；　the　scent　of　hyacinths；　the　drowse　of　the　fire；　on　which　a　cedar　log　had　just　been　laid；　the　feeling　of　the　port　soaking　down　into　the　crannies　of　his　being；　made　up　a　momentary　Paradise。　　Then　the　music　stopped；　and　no　sound　rose　but　the　tiny　groans　of　the　log　trying　to　resist　the　fire。　　Dreamily　he　thought：　'Life　wears　you　outwears　you　out。　　Logs　on　a　fire！'　　And　he　filled　his　glass　again。　　That　fellow　had　been　careless；　there　were　dregs　at　the　bottom　of　the　decanter　and　he　had　got　down　to　them！　　Then；　as　the　last　drop　from　his　tilted　glass　trickled　into　the　white　hairs　on　his　chin；　he　heard　the　coffee　tray　put　down；　and　taking　his　cigar　he　put　it　to　his　ear；　rolling　it　in　his　thick　fingers。　　In　prime　condition！　　And　drawing　a　first　whiff；　he　said：

〃Open　that　bottle　of　the　old　brandy　in　the　sideboard。〃

〃Brandy；　sir？　　I　really　daren't；　sir。〃

〃Are　you　my　servant　or　not？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　but…〃

A　minute　of　silence；　then　the　man　went　hastily　to　the　sideboard；　took　out　the　bottle；　and　drew　the　cork。　　The　tide　of　crimson　in　the　old　man's　face　had　frightened　him。

〃Leave　it　there。〃

The　unfortunate　valet　placed　the　bottle　on　the　little　table。　　'I'll　have　to　tell　her；'　he　thought；　'but　if　I　take　away　the　port　decanter　and　the　glass；　it　won't　look　so　bad。'　And；　carrying　them；　he　left　the　room。

Slowly　the　old　man　drank　his　coffee；　and　the　liqueur　of　brandy。　　The　whole　gamut！　　And　watching　his　cigar…smoke　wreathing　blue　in　the　orange　glow；　he　smiled。　　The　last　night　to　call　his　soul　his　own；　the　last　night　of　his　independence。　　Send　in　his　resignations　to…morrow　not　wait　to　be　kicked　off！　　Not　give　that　fellow　a　chance

A　voice　which　seemed　to　come　from　far　off；　said：

〃Father！　　You're　drinking　brandy！　　How　can　youyou　know　it's　simple　poison　to　you！〃　　A　figure　in　white；　scarcely　actual；　loomed　up　close。　He　took　the　bottle　to　fill　up　his　liqueur　glass；　in　defiance；　but　a　hand　in　a　long　white　glove；　with　another　dangling　from　its　wrist；　pulled　it　away；　shook　it　at　him；　and　replaced　it　in　the　sideboard。　And；　just　as　when　Mr。　Ventnor　stood　there　accusing　him；　a　swelling　and　churning　in　his　throat　prevented　him　from　speech；　his　lips　moved；　but　only　a　little　froth　came　forth。

His　daughter　had　approached　again。　　She　stood　quite　close；　in　white　satin；　thin…faced；　sallow；　with　eyebrows　raised；　and　her　dark　hair　frizzedyes！　frizzedthe　holy　woman！　　With　all　his　might　he　tried　to　say：　'So　you　bully　me；　do　youyou　bully　me　to…night！'　but　only　the　word　〃so〃　and　a　sort　of　whispering　came　forth。　　He　heard　her　speaking。　　〃It's　no　good　your　getting　angry；　Father。　　After　champagneit's　wicked！〃　　Then　her　form　receded　in　a　sort　of　rustling　white　mist；　she　was　gone；　and　he　heard　the　sputtering　and　growling　of　her　taxi；　bearing　her　to　the　ball。　　So！　　She　tyrannised　and　bullied；　even　before　she　had　him　at　her　mercy；　did　she？　　She　should　see！　Anger　had　brightened　his　eyes；　the　room　came　clear　again。　　And　slowly　raising　himself　he　sounded　the　bell　twice；　for　the　girl；　not　for　that　fellow　Meller；　who　was　in　the　plot。　　As　soon　as　her　pretty　black　and　white…aproned　figure　stood　before　him；　he　said：

〃Help　me　up。〃

Twice　her　soft　pulling　was　not　enough；　and　he　sank　back。　　The　third　time　he　struggled　to　his　feet。

〃Thank　you；　that'll　do。〃　　Then；　waiting　till　sh