the yellow god-第16节

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you　must　not　overexcite　yourself；　also　when　you　are　calmer；　that　if
you　speak　to　me　like　that　again；　I　shall　go　to　the　Court　at　once；　for
I　will　not　be　sworn　at　by　you　or　by　any　other　man。　I　apologize　to　you；
Alan；　I　am　afraid　I　have　brought　you　into　strange　company。　Come；　my
dear；　we　will　go　and　order　your　dogcart；〃　and　putting　her　arm
affectionately　through　his；　she　went　with　him　from　the　room。

〃I　wonder　who　put　her　up　to　all　this？〃　gasped　Haswell；　as　the　door
closed　behind　them。　〃Some　infernal　lawyer；　I'll　be　bound。　Well；　she
has　got　the　whip　hand　of　me；　and　I　can't　face　an　investigation　in
Chancery；　especially　as　the　only　thing　against　Vernon　is　that　the
value　of　his　land　has　fallen。　But　I　swear　that　she　shall　never　marry
him　while　I　live；〃　he　ended　in　a　kind　of　shout　and　the　domed　and
painted　ceiling　echoed　back　his　words〃/while　I　live/〃　after　which
the　room　was　silent；　save　for　the　heavy　thumping　of　his　heart。



When　Alan　reached　home　that　night　after　his　ten…mile　drive　he　sent
Jeekie　to　tell　the　housekeeper　to　find　him　some　food。　In　his
mysterious　African　fashion　the　negro　had　already　collected　much
intelligence　as　to　the　events　of　the　day；　mostly　in　the　servants'
hall；　and　more　particularly　from　the　two　golf…caddies；　sons　of　one　of
the　gardeners；　who　it　seemed　instead　of　retiring　with　the　clubs；　had
taken　shelter　in　some　tall　whins　and　thence　followed　the　interview
between　Barbara　and　Sir　Robert　with　the　intensest　interest。　Reflecting
that　this　was　not　the　time　to　satisfy　his　burning　curiosity；　Jeekie
went　and　in　due　course　returned　with　some　cold　mutton　and　a　bottle　of
claret。　Then　came　his　chance；　for　Alan　could　scarcely　touch　the　mutton
and　demanded　toast　and　butter。

〃Very　inferior　chop〃that　was　his　West　African　word　for　food〃for　a
gentleman；　Major；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　white　head　sympathetically　and
pointing　to　the　mutton；〃specially　when　he　has　unexpectedly　departed
from　magnificent　eating　of　The　Court。　Why　did　you　not　wait　till　after
dinner；　Major；　before　retiring？〃

Alan　laughed　at　the　man's　inflated　English；　and　answered　in　a　more
nervous　and　colloquial　style：

〃Because　I　was　kicked　out；　Jeekie。〃

〃Ah！　I　gathered　that　kicking　was　in　the　wind；　Major。　Sir　Robert
Aylward；　Bart。；　he　also　was　kicked　out；　but　by　smaller　toe。〃

Again　Alan　laughed　and；　as　it　was　a　relief　to　talk　even　to　Jeekie；
asked　him：

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃

〃I　gathered　it　out　of　atmosphere；　Major；　from　Sir　Robert's　gentleman；
from　two　youths　who　watch　Sir　Robert　and　Miss　Barbara　talking　upon
golf　green　No。　9；　from　the　machine　driver　of　Sir　Robert　whose　eyes　he
damn　in　public；　and　last　but　not　least　from　his　own　noble
countenance。〃

〃I　see　that　you　are　observant；　Jeekie。〃

〃Observation；　Major；　it　is　art　of　life。　I　see　Miss　Barbara's　eyes　red
like　morning　sky　and　I　deduct。　I　see　you　shot　out　and　gloomy　like
evening　cloud；　and　I　deduct。　I　listen　at　door　of　Mr。　Haswell's　room；　I
hear　him　curse　and　swear　like　holy　saint　in　Book；　and　you　and　Miss
Barbara　answer　him　not　like　saint；　though　what　you　speak　I　cannot
hear；　and　I　deduct。　Jeekie　deduct　thisthat　you　make　love　to　Miss
Barbara　in　proper　gentlemanlike；　'nogamous；　Christian　fashion　such　as
your　late　Reverend　Uncle　approve；　and　Miss　Barbara；　she　make　love　to
you　with　ten　per　cent。　compound　interest；　but　old　gent　with　whistle；
he　/not/　approve；　he　say；　'Where　corresponding　cash！'　He　say　'Noble
Sir　Robert　have　much　cash　and　interested　in　identical　business。　I
prefer　Sir　Robert。　Get　out；　you　Cashless。'　Often　I　see　this　same　thing
when　boy　in　West　Africa；　very　common　wherever　sun　shine。　I　note　all
these　matters　and　I　deductthat　Jeekie's　way　and　Jeekie　seldom
wrong。〃

Alan　laughed　for　the　third　time；　until　the　tears　ran　down　his　face
indeed。

〃Jeekie；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　great　rascal〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　interrupted　Jeekie；　〃great　rascal。　Best　thing　to　be　in
this　world；　Major。　Honourable　Sir　Robert；　Bart。；　M。P。；　and　Mr。
Champers…Haswell；　D。L。；　J。P。；　they　find　that　out　long　ago　and　sit　on
top　of　tree　of　opulent　renown。　Jeekie　great　rascal　and　therefore　have
Savings　Bank　accountgo　on；　Major。〃

〃Well；　Jeekie；　because　if　you　are　a　rascal　you　are　kind…hearted　and
because　I　believe　that　you　care　for　me〃

〃Oh！　Major；〃　broke　in　Jeekie　again；　〃that　most　'utterably　true。　Honour
bright　I　love　you；　Major；　better　than　anyone　on　earth；　except　my　late
old　woman；　now　happily　dead；　gone　and　forgotten　in　best　oak　coffin；　￡4
10　without　fittings　but　polished；　and　perhaps　your　holy　uncle；
Reverend　Mr。　Austin；　also　coffined　and　departed；　who　saved　me　from
early　extinction　in　a　dark　place。　Major；　I　no　like　graves；　I　see　too
much　of　them；　and　can't　tell　what　lie　on　other　side。　Though　everyone
say　they　know；　Jeekie　not　quite　sure。　May　be　all　light　and　crowns　of
glory；　may　be　damp　black　hole　and　no　way　out。　But　this　at　least　true；
that　I　love　you　better；　yes；　better　than　Miss　Barbara；　for　love　of
woman　very　poor；　uncertain　thing；　quick　come；　quick　go。　Jeekie　find
that　outoften。　Yes；　if　need　be；　though　death　most　nasty；　if　need　be
I　say　I　die　for　you；　which　great　unpleasant　sacrifice；〃　and　Jeekie　in
the　genuine　enthusiasm　of　his　warm　heart；　throwing　himself　upon　his
knees　after　the　African　fashion；　seized　his　master's　hand　and　kissed
it。

〃Thanks；　Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　〃very　kind　of　you；　I　am　sure。　But　we
haven't　come　to　that　yet；　though　no　one　knows　what　may　happen　later
on。　Now　sit　upon　that　chair　and　take　a　little　whiskynot　too　much
for　I　am　going　to　ask　your　advice。〃

〃Major；〃　said　Jeekie；　〃I　obey；〃　and　seizing　the　whisky　bottle　in　a
casual　manner；　he　poured　out　half　a　tumbler　full；　for　Jeekie　was　fond
of　whisky。　Indeed　before　now　this　taste　had　brought　him　into　conflict
with　the　local　magistrates。

〃Put　back　three　parts　of　that；〃　said　Alan；　and　Jeekie　did　so。　〃Now；〃
he　went　on；　〃listen：　this　is　the　case；　Miss　Barbara　and　I　are〃　and
he　hesitated。

〃Oh！　I　know；　like　me　and　Mrs。　Jeekie　once；〃　said　Jeekie；　gulping　down
some　of　the　neat　whisky。　〃Go　on；　Major。〃

〃And　Sir　Robert　Aylward　is〃

〃Same　thing；　Major。　Continue。〃

〃And　Mr。　Haswell　has〃

〃Those　facts　all　ascertained；　Major；〃　said　Jeekie；　contemplating　his
glass　with　a　mournful　eye。　〃Now　come　to　the　point；　Major。〃

〃Well；　the　point　is；　Jeekie；　that　I　am　what　you　called　just　now
cashless；　and　therefore〃

〃Therefore；〃　interrupted　Jeekie　again；　〃stick　fast　in　honourable
intention　towards　Miss　Barbara　owing　to　obstinate　opposition　of　Mr。
Haswell；　legal　uncle　with　control　of　property　fomented　by　noble　Sir
Robert　who　desire　same　girl。〃

〃Quite　right；　Jeekie；　but　if　you　would　talk　a　little　less　and　let　me
talk　a　little　more；　we　might　get　on　better。〃

〃I　henceforth　silent；　Major；〃　and　lifting　his　empty　tumbler　Jeekie
looked　through　it　as　if　it　were　a　telescope；　a　hint　that　Alan　ignored。

〃Jeekie；　you　infernal　old　fool；　I　want　money。〃

〃Yes；　Major；　I　understand；　Major。　Forgive　me　for　breaking　conspiracy
of　silence；　but　if　￡500　in　Savings　Bank　any　use；　very　much　at　your
service；　Major；　also　￡20　more　extracted　last　night　from　terror　of
wealthy　Jew　who　fear　fetish。〃

〃Jeekie；　you　old　donkey；　I　don't　want　your　￡500；　I　want　a　great　deal
more；　￡50；000　or　￡500；000。　Tell　me　how　to　get　it。〃

〃City　best　place；　Major。　But　you　chuck　City；　too　much　honest　man；
great　mistake　to　be　honest　in　this　terrestrial　sphere。　Often　notice
that　in　West　Africa。〃

〃Perhaps；　Jeekie；　but　I　have　done　with　the　City。　As　you　would　say；　for
me　it　is　'wipe　out；　finish。'〃

〃Yes；　Major；　too　much　pickpocket；　too　much　dirt。　Bottom　always　drop
out　of　bucket　shop　at　last。　I　understand；　end　in　police　court　and
severe　magistrate；　or　perhaps　even　'Gentlemen　of　Jury'；　etcetera。〃

〃Well；　Jeekie；　then　what　remains？　Now　last　night　when　you　told　us　that
amazing　yarn　of　yours；　you　said　something　about　a　mountain　full　of
gold；　and　houses　full　of　gold；　among　your　people。　Jeekie；　do　you
think〃　and　he　paused；　looking　at　him。

Jeekie　rolled　his　black　eyes　round　the　room　and　in　a　fit　of
absentmindedness　helped　himself　to　some　more　whisky。

〃Do　I　think；　Major；　that　this　useless　lucre　could　be　converted　into
coin　of　gracious　King　Edward？　Not　at　all；　Major；　by　no　one；　Major；　by
no　one　whatsoever；　except　possibly　by　Major　Alan　Vernon；　D。S。O。；　and
by　one；　Jeekie；　Christian　surname　Smith。〃

〃Proceed；　Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　removing　the　whisky　bottle；　〃proceed　and
explain。〃

〃Major；　thus：　The　Asiki　tribe　care　nothing　about　all　that　gold；　it　no
good　to　them。　Dead　people　who　live　long；　long　ago；　no　one　know　when；
dig　it　up　and　store　it　there　and　make　the　great　fetish　which　they　call
Bonsa　to　keep　away　enemy　who　want　to　steal。　Also　old　custom　when　any
one　in　country　round　find　big　nugget；　or　pretty　stone；　like　ladies
wear　on　bosom；　to　bring　it　as　offering　to　Bonsa；　so　that　there　now
great　plenty　of　all　this　stuff。　But　no　one　use　it　for　anything　except
to　set　on　walls　of　house　of　Asiki；　or　to　make　basin；　stool；　table　and
pot　to　cook　with。　Once　Arab　come　there　and　I　see　the　priests　give　him
weight　in　gold　for　iron　hoe；　though　afterwards　they　murder　him；　not
for　the　gold；　but　lest　he　go　away　and　tell　their　secret。〃

〃One　might　trade　with　them　then；　Jeekie？〃

He　shook　his　wh