the island pharisees-第20节
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honour that Shelton was loath to disappoint him。 〃I come here pretty
often；〃 he went on； as they ascended a sort of alley rambling darkly
between a wall and row of houses。
〃Why？〃 asked Shelton； 〃it does n't smell too nice。〃
The young man threw up his nose and sniffed； as if eager to add any
new scent that might be about to his knowledge of life。
〃No； that's one of the reasons； you know；〃 he said； 〃one must find
out。 The darkness is jolly； too； anything might happen here。 Last
week there was a murder； there 's always the chance of one。〃
Shelton stared； but the charge of morbidness would not lie against
this fresh…cheeked stripling。
〃There's a splendid drain just here；〃 his guide resumed； 〃the people
are dying like flies of typhoid in those three houses〃； and under the
first light he turned his grave； cherubic face to indicate the
houses。 〃If we were in the East End； I could show you other places
quite as good。 There's a coffee…stall keeper in one that knows all
the thieves in London； he 's a splendid type； but；〃 he added； looking
a little anxiously at Shelton； 〃it might n't be safe for you。 With
me it's different； they 're beginning to know me。 I've nothing to
take； you see。〃
〃I'm afraid it can't be to…night；〃 said Shelton； 〃 I must get back。〃
〃Do you mind if I walk with you？ It's so jolly now the stars are
out。〃
〃Delighted；〃 said Shelton； 〃do you often go to that club？〃
His companion raised his hat； and ran his fingers through his hair。
〃They 're rather too high…class for me；〃 he said。 〃I like to go
where you can see people eatschool treats； or somewhere in the
country。 It does one good to see them eat。 They don't get enough；
you see； as a rule； to make bone； it's all used up for brain and
muscle。 There are some places in the winter where they give them
bread and cocoa； I like to go to those。〃
〃I went once；〃 said Shelton； 〃 but I felt ashamed for putting my nose
in。〃
〃Oh； they don't mind； most of them are half…dead with cold； you know。
You see splendid types； lots of dipsomaniacs 。 。 。 。 It 's useful
to me；〃 he went on as they passed a police…station； 〃to walk about at
night； one can take so much more notice。 I had a jolly night last
week in Hyde Park； a chance to study human nature there。〃
〃And do you find it interesting？〃 asked Shelton。
His companion smiled。
〃Awfully；〃 he replied； 〃I saw a fellow pick three pockets。〃
〃 What did you do？〃
〃I had a jolly talk with him。〃
Shelton thought of the little deep…eyed man； who made a point of not
encouraging sin。
〃He was one of the professionals from Notting Hill； you know； told me
his life。 Never had a chance； of course。 The most interesting part
was telling him I 'd seen him pick three pocketslike creeping into
a cave； when you can't tell what 's inside。〃
〃Well？〃
〃He showed me what he 'd gotonly fivepence halfpenny。〃
〃And what became of your friend？〃 asked Shelton。
〃Oh； went off； he had a splendidly low forehead。〃
They had reached Shelton's rooms。
〃Will you come in；〃 said the latter； 〃and have a drink？〃
The youth smiled； blushed； and shook his head。
〃No； thank you；〃 he said； 〃I have to walk to Whitechapel。 I 'm
living on porridge now； splendid stuff for making bone。 I generally
live on porridge for a week at the end of every month。 It 's the
best diet if you're hard up〃； once more blushing and smiling； he was
gone。
Shelton went upstairs and sat down on his bed。 He felt a little
miserable。 Sitting there； slowly pulling out the ends of his white
tie； disconsolate； he had a vision of Antonia with her gaze fixed
wonderingly on him。 And this wonder of hers came as a revelation
just as that morning； when； looking from his window； he had seen a
passer…by stop suddenly and scratch his leg； and it had come upon him
in a flash that that man had thoughts and feelings of his own。 He
would never know what Antonia really felt and thought。 〃Till I saw
her at the station； I did n't know how much I loved her or how little
I knew her〃； and； sighing deeply； he hurried into bed。
CHAPTER XV
POLE TO POLE
The waiting in London for July to come was daily more unbearable to
Shelton； and if it had not been for Ferrand； who still came to
breakfast； he would have deserted the Metropolis。 On June first the
latter presented himself rather later than was his custom； and
announced that； through a friend； he had heard of a position as
interpreter to an hotel at Folkestone。
〃If I had money to face the first necessities； he said； swiftly
turning over a collection of smeared papers with his yellow fingers；
as if searching for his own identity； 〃I 'd leave today。 This London
blackens my spirit。〃
〃Are you certain to get this place；〃 asked Shelton。
〃I think so；〃 the young foreigner replied； 〃I 've got some good
enough recommendations。〃
Shelton could not help a dubious glance at the papers in his hand。 A
hurt look passed on to Ferrand's curly lips beneath his nascent red
moustache。
〃You mean that to have false papers is as bad as theft。 No； no； I
shall never be a thiefI 've had too many opportunities；〃 said he；
with pride and bitterness。 〃That's not in my character。 I never do
harm to anyone。 This〃he touched the papers〃is not delicate； but
it does harm to no one。 If you have no money you must have papers；
they stand between you and starvation。 Society； has an excellent eye
for the helplessit never treads on people unless they 're really
down。〃 He looked at Shelton。
〃You 've made me what I am； amongst you；〃 he seemed to say；； 〃now put
up with me！〃
〃But there are always the workhouses；〃 Shelton remarked at last。
〃Workhouses！〃 returned Ferrand； 〃certainly there areregular
palaces： I will tell you one thing： I've never been in places so
discouraging as your workhouses； they take one's very heart out。〃
〃I always understood；〃 said Shelton coldly； 〃that our system was
better than that of other countries。〃
Ferrand leaned over in his chair； an elbow on his knee； his favourite
attitude when particularly certain of his point。
〃Well he replied； 〃it 's always permissible to think well of your own
country。 But； frankly； I've come out of those places here with
little strength and no heart at all； and I can tell you why。〃 His
lips lost their bitterness； and he became an artist expressing the
result of his experience。 〃You spend your money freely； you have
fine buildings； self…respecting officers； but you lack the spirit of
hospitality。 The reason is plain； you have a horror of the needy。
You invite usand when we come you treat us justly enough； but as if
we were numbers； criminals； beneath contemptas if we had inflicted
a personal injury on you； and when we get out again； we are naturally
degraded。〃
Shelton bit his lips。
〃How much money will you want for your ticket； and to make a start？〃
he asked。
The nervous gesture escaping Ferrand at this juncture betrayed how
far the most independent thinkers are dependent when they have no
money in their pockets。 He took the note that Shelton proffered him。
〃A thousand thanks；〃 said he； 〃 I shall never forget what you have
done for me〃； and Shelton could not help feeling that there was true
emotion behind his titter of farewell。
He stood at the window watching Ferrand start into the world again；
then looked back at his own comfortable room； with the number of
things that had accumulated somehowthe photographs of countless
friends； the old arm…chairs； the stock of coloured pipes。 Into him
restlessness had passed with the farewell clasp of the foreigner's
damp hand。 To wait about in London was unbearable。
He took his hat； and； heedless of direction； walked towards the
river。 It was a clear； bright day； with a bleak wind driving showers
before it。 During one of such Shelton found himself in Little Blank
Street。 〃I wonder how that little Frenchman that I saw is getting
on！〃 he thought。 On a fine day he would probably have passed by on
the other side； he now entered and tapped upon the wicket。
No。 3 Little Blank Street had abated nothing of its stone…flagged
dreariness； the same blowsy woman answered his inquiry。 Yes； Carolan
was always in； you could never catch him outseemed afraid to go
into the street！ To her call the little Frenchman made his
appearance as punctually as if he had been the rabbit of a conjurer。
His face was as yellow as a guinea。
〃Ah！ it's you； monsieur！〃 he said。
〃Yes；〃 said Shelton； 〃and how are you？〃
〃It 's five days since I came out of hospital；〃 muttered the little
Frenchman； tapping on his chest； 〃a crisis of this bad atmosphere。
I live here； shut up in a box； it does me harm； being from the South。
If there's anything I can do for you； monsieur； it will give me
pleasure。〃
