the make-believe man(说服者)-第6节
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of a wireless that I've just sent to the chief of police at New Bedford。〃
With great satisfaction he read it in a loud and threatening voice： 〃Two
impostors on this boat representing themselves to be Lord Ivy； my future
brother…in…law； and his secretary。 Lord Ivy himself on board。 Send
police to meet boat。 We will make charges。Henry Philip Aldrich。〃
It occurred to me that after receiving two such sensational telegrams；
and getting out of bed to meet the boat at six in the morning； the chief of
police would be in a state of mind to arrest almost anybody； and that his
choice would certainly fall on Kinney and myself。 It was ridiculous； but
it also was likely to prove extremely humiliating。 So I said； speaking to
Lord Ivy： 〃There's been a mistake all around； send for Mr。 Kinney and I
will explain it to you。〃 Lord Ivy； who was looking extremely bored；
smiled and nodded； but young Aldrich laughed ironically。
〃Mr。 Kinney is in his state…room；〃 he said； 〃with a steward guarding
the door and window。 You can explain to…morrow to the police。〃
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I rounded indignantly upon the purser。
〃Are you keeping Mr。 Kinney a prisoner in his state…room？〃 I
demanded。 〃If you are〃
〃He doesn't have to stay there；〃 protested the purser sulkily。 〃When he
found the stewards were following him he went to his cabin。〃
〃I will see him at once；〃 I said。 〃And if I catch any of your stewards
following ME； I'll drop them overboard。〃
No one tried to stop meindeed； knowing I could not escape； they
seemed pleased at my departure； and I went to my cabin。 Kinney； seated
on the edge of the berth； greeted me with a hollow groan。 His expression
was one of utter misery。 As though begging me not to be angry； he threw
out his arms appealingly。
〃How the devil！〃 he began； 〃was I to know that a little red…headed
shrimp like that was the Earl of Ivy？ And that that tall blonde girl；〃 he
added indignantly； 〃that I thought was an accomplice； is Lady Moya； his
sister？〃
〃What happened？〃 I asked。
Kinney was wearing his hat。 He took it off and hurled it to the floor。
〃It was that damned hat！〃 he cried。 〃It's a Harvard ribbon； all right；
but only men on the crew can wear it！ How was I to know THAT？ I
saw Aldrich looking at it in a puzzled way； and when he said； 'I see you are
on the crew；' I guessed what it meant； and said I was on last year's crew。
Unfortunately HE was on last year's crew！ That's what made him suspect
me； and after dinner he put me through a third degree。 I must have given
the wrong answers； for suddenly he jumped up and called me a swindler
and an impostor。 I got back by telling him he was a crook and that I was
a detective； and that I had sent a wireless to have him arrested at New
Bedford。 He challenged me to prove I was a detective； and； of course； I
couldn't； and he called up two stewards and told them to watch me while
he went after the purser。 I didn't fancy being watched； so I came here。〃
〃When did you tell him I was the Earl of Ivy？〃
Kinney ran his fingers through his hair and groaned dismally。
〃That was before the boat started；〃 he said； 〃it was only a joke。 He
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didn't seem to be interested in my conversation； so I thought I'd liven it up
a bit by saying I was a friend of Lord Ivy's。 And you happened to pass；
and I happened to remember Mrs。 Shaw saying you looked like a British
peer； so I said： 'That is my friend Lord Ivy。' I said I was your secretary；
and he seemed greatly interested； and〃 Kinney added dismally； 〃I talked
too much。 I am SO sorry；〃 he begged。 〃It's going to be awful for you！〃
His eyes suddenly lit with hope。 〃Unless；〃 he whispered。 〃we can
escape！〃
The same thought was in my mind； but the idea was absurd； and
impracticable。 I knew there was no escape。 I knew we were sentenced
at sunrise to a most humiliating and disgraceful experience。 The
newspapers would regard anything that concerned Lord Ivy as news。 In
my turn I also saw the hideous head…lines。 What would my father and
mother at Fairport think； what would my old friends there think； and； what
was of even greater importance； how would Joyce & Carboy act？ What
chance was there left me； after I had been arrested as an impostor； to
become a stenographer in the law courtsin time； a member of the bar？
But I found that what； for the moment； distressed me most was that the
lovely lady would consider me a knave or a fool。 The thought made me
exclaim with exasperation。 Had it been possible to abandon Kinney； I
would have dropped overboard and made for shore。 The night was warm
and foggy； and the short journey to land； to one who had been brought up
like a duck； meant nothing more than a wetting。 But I did not see how I
could desert Kinney。
〃Can you swim？〃 I asked
〃Of course not！〃 he answered gloomily； 〃and； besides；〃 he added； 〃our
names are on our suitcases。 We couldn't take them with us； and they'd
find out who we are。 If we could only steal a boat！〃 he exclaimed
eagerly〃one of those on the davits；〃 he urged〃we could put our
suitcases in it and then； after every one is asleep； we could lower it into the
water。〃
The smallest boat on board was certified to hold twenty…five persons；
and without waking the entire ship's company we could as easily have
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moved the chart…room。 This I pointed out。
〃Don't make objections！〃 Kinney cried petulantly。 He was rapidly
recovering his spirits。 The imminence of danger seemed to inspire him。
〃Think！〃 he commanded。 〃Think of some way by which we can get
off this boat before she reaches New Bedford。 We MUST！ We must
not be arrested！ It would be too awful！〃 He interrupted himself with an
excited exclamation。
〃I have it！〃 he whispered hoarsely： 〃I will ring in the fire…alarm！ The
crew will run to quarters。 The boats will be lowered。 We will cut one
of them adrift。 In the confusion〃
What was to happen in the confusion that his imagination had conjured
up； I was not to know。 For what actually happened was so confused that
of nothing am I quite certain。 First； from the water of the Sound； that
was lapping pleasantly against the side； I heard the voice of a man raised
in terror。 Then came a rush of feet； oaths； and yells； then a shock that
threw us to our knees； and a crunching； ripping； and tearing roar like that
made by the roof of a burning building when it plunges to the cellar。
And the next instant a large bowsprit entered our cabin window。 There
was left me just space enough to wrench the door open； and grabbing
Kinney； who was still on his knees； I dragged him into the alleyway。 He
scrambled upright and clasped his hands to his head。
〃Where's my hat？〃 he cried。
I could hear the water pouring into the lower deck and sweeping the
freight and trunks before it。 A horse in a box stall was squealing like a
human being； and many human beings were screaming and shrieking like
animals。 My first intelligent thought was of the lovely lady。 I shook
Kinney by the arm。 The uproar was so great that to make him hear I was
forced to shout。 〃Where is Lord Ivy's cabin？〃 I cried。 〃You said it's
next to his sister's。 Take me there！〃
Kinney nodded； and ran down the corridor and into an alleyway on
which opened three cabins。 The doors were ajar； and as I looked into
each I saw that the beds had not been touched； and that the cabins were
empty。 I knew then that she was still on deck。
