the lodger-第4节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Mrs。　Bunting　was　very　fond　of　these　pictures；　she　thought　they　gave　the　drawing…room　a　note　of　elegance　and　refinement。

As　she　hurriedly　turned　up　the　gas　she　was　glad；　glad　indeed；　that　she　had　summoned　up　sufficient　energy；　two　days　ago；　to　give　the　room　a　thorough　turn…out。

It　had　remained　for　a　long　time　in　the　state　in　which　it　had　been　left　by　its　last　dishonest；　dirty　occupants　when　they　had　been　scared　into　going　away　by　Bunting's　rough　threats　of　the　police。　But　now　it　was　in　apple…pie　order；　with　one　paramount　exception；　of　which　Mrs。　Bunting　was　painfully　aware。　　There　were　no　white　curtains　to　the　windows；　but　that　omission　could　soon　be　remedied　if　this　gentleman　really　took　the　lodgings。

But　what　was　this　…　？　　The　stranger　was　looking　round　him　rather　dubiously。　　〃This　is　rather　…　rather　too　grand　for　me；〃　he　said　at　last　〃I　should　like　to　see　your　other　rooms；　Mrs。　er　…　〃

〃　…　Bunting；〃　she　said　softly。　　〃Bunting；　sir。〃

And　as　she　spoke　the　dark；　heavy　load　of　care　again　came　down　and　settled　on　her　sad；　burdened　heart。　　Perhaps　she　had　been　mistaken；　after　all　…　or　rather；　she　had　not　been　mistaken　in　one　sense；　but　perhaps　this　gentleman　was　a　poor　gentleman　…　too　poor；　that　is；　to　afford　the　rent　of　more　than　one　room；　say　eight　or　ten　shillings　a　week；　eight　or　ten　shlllings　a　week　would　be　very　little　use　to　her　and　Bunting；　though　better　than　nothing　at　all。

〃Will　you　just　look　at　the　bedroom；　sir？〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃no。　　I　think　I　should　like　to　see　what　you　have　farther　up　the　house；　Mrs。　　…　；〃　and　then；　as　if　making　a　prodigious　mental　effort；　he　brought　out　her　name；　〃Bunting；〃　with　a　kind　of　gasp。

〃The　two　top　rooms　were；　of　course；　immediately　above　the　drawing…room　floor。　　But　they　looked　poor　and　mean；　owing　to　the　fact　that　they　were　bare　of　any　kind　of　ornament。　　Very　little　trouble　had　been　taken　over　their　arrangement；　in　fact；　they　bad　been　left　in　much　the　same　condition　as　that　in　which　the　Buntings　had　found　them。

For　the　matter　of　that；　it　is　difficult　to　make　a　nice；　genteel　sitting…room　out　of　an　apartment　of　which　the　principal　features　are　a　sink　and　a　big　gas　stove。　　The　gas　stove；　of　an　obsolete　pattern；　was　fed　by　a　tiresome；　shilling…in…the…slot　arrangement。　It　had　been　the　property　of　the　people　from　whom　the　Buntings　had　taken　over　the　lease　of　the　house；　who；　knowing　it　to　be　of　no　monetary　value；　had　thrown　it　in　among　the　humble　fittings　they　had　left　behind。

What　furniture　there　was　in　the　room　was　substantial　and　clean；　as　everything　belonging　to　Mrs。　Bunting　was　bound　to　be；　but　it　was　a　bare；　uncomfortable…looking　place；　and　the　landlady　now　felt　sorry　that　she　had　done　nothing　to　make　it　appear　more　attractive。

To　her　surprise；　however；　her　companion's　dark；　sensitive；　hatchet…shaped　face　became　irradiated　with　satisfaction。　　〃Capital！　Capital！〃　he　exclaimed；　for　the　first　time　putting　down　the　bag　he　held　at　his　feet；　and　rubbing　his　long；　thin　hands　together　with　a　quick；　nervous　movement。

〃This　is　just　what　I　have　been　looking　for。〃　　He　walked　with　long；　eager　strides　towards　the　gas　stove。　　〃First…rate　…　quite　first…rate！　Exactly　what　I　wanted　to　find！　　You　must　understand；　Mrs。　…　er　…　　Bunting；　that　I　am　a　man　of　science。　　I　make；　that　is；　all　sorts　of　　experiments；　and　I　often　require　the　…　ah；　well；　the　presence　of　great　heat。〃

He　shot　out　a　hand；　which　she　noticed　shook　a　little；　towards　the　stove。　　〃This；　too；　will　be　useful　…　exceedingly　useful；　to　me；〃　and　he　touched　the　edge　of　the　stone　sink　with　a　lingering；　caressing　touch。

He　threw　his　head　back　and　passed　his　hand　over　his　high；　bare　forehead；　then；　moving　towards　a　chair；　he　sat　down　…　wearily。　〃I'm　tired；〃　he　muttered　in　a　low　voice；　〃tired　…　tired！　　I've　been　walking　about　all　day；　Mrs。　Bunting；　and　I　could　find　nothing　to　sit　down　upon。　　They　do　not　put　benches　for　tired　men　in　the　London　streets。　　They　do　so　on　the　Continent。　　In　some　ways　they　are　far　more　humane　on　the　Continent　than　they　are　in　England；　Mrs。　Bunting。〃

〃Indeed；　sir；〃　she　said　civilly；　and　then；　after　a　nervous　glance；　she　asked　the　question　of　which　the　answer　would　mean　so　much　to　her；　〃Then　you　mean　to　take　my　rooms；　sir？〃

〃This　room；　certainly；〃　he　said；　looking　round。　　〃This　room　is　exactly　what　I　have　been　looking　for；　and　longing　for；　the　last　few　days；〃　and　then　hastily　he　added；　〃I　mean　this　kind　of　place　is　what　I　have　always　wanted　to　possess；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　You　would　be　surprised　if　you　knew　how　difficult　it　is　to　get　anything　of　the　sort。　　But　now　my　weary　search　has　ended；　and　that　is　a　relief　　…　a　very；　very　great　relief　to　me！〃

He　stood　up　and　looked　round　him　with　a　dreamy；　abstracted　air。　　And　then；　〃Where's　my　bag？〃　he　asked　suddenly；　and　there　came　a　note　of　sharp；　angry　fear　in　his　voice。　　He　glared　at　the　quiet　woman　standing　before　him；　and　for　a　moment　Mrs。　Bunting　felt　a　tremor　of　fright　shoot　through　her。　　It　seemed　a　pity　that　Bunting　was　so　far　away；　right　down　the　house。

But　Mrs。　Bunting　was　aware　that　eccentricity　has　always　been　a　perquisite；　as　it　were　the　special　luxury；　of　the　well…born　and　of　the　well…educated。　　Scholars；　as　she　well　knew；　are　never　quite　like　other　people；　and　her　new　lodger　was　undoubtedly　a　scholar。　　〃Surely　I　had　a　bag　when　I　came　in？〃　he　said　in　a　scared；　troubled　voice。

〃Here　it　is；　sir；〃　she　said　soothingly；　and；　stooping；　picked　it　up　and　handed　it　to　him。　　And　as　she　did　so　she　noticed　that　the　bag　was　not　at　all　heavy；　it　was　evidently　by　no　means　full。

He　took　it　eagerly　from　her。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　muttered。　〃But　there　is　something　in　that　bag　which　is　very　precious　to　me　　…　something　I　procured　with　infinite　difficulty；　and　which　I　could　never　get　again　without　running　into　great　danger；　Mrs。　Bunting。　That　must　be　the　excuse　for　my　late　agitation。〃

〃About　terms；　sir？〃　she　said　a　little　timidly；　returning　to　the　subject　which　meant　so　much；　so　very　much　to　her。

〃About　terms？〃　he　echoed。　　And　then　there　came　a　pause。　　〃My　name　is　Sleuth；〃　he　said　suddenly；　…　　〃S…l…e…u…t…h。　　Think　of　a　hound；　Mrs。　Bunting；　and　you'll　never　forget　my　name。　　I　could　provide　you　with　a　reference　…　〃　（he　gave　her　what　she　described　to　herself　as　a　funny；　sideways　look）；　〃but　I　should　prefer　you　to　dispense　with　that；　if　you　don't　mind。　　I　am　quite　willing　to　pay　you　…　we1l；　shall　we　say　a　month　in　advance？〃

A　spot　of　red　shot　into　Mrs。　Bunting's　cheeks。　　She　felt　sick　with　relief　…　nay；'with　a　joy　which　was　almost　pain。　　She　had　not　known　till　that　moment　how　hungry　she　was　…　how　eager　for…　a　good　meal。　〃That　would　be　all　right；　sir；〃　she　murmured。

〃And　what　are　you　going　to　charge　me？〃　　There　had　come　a　kindly；　almost　a　friendly　note　into　his　voice。　　〃With　attendance；　mind！　　I　shall　expect　you　to　give　me　attendance；　and　I　need　hardly　ask　if　you　can　cook；　Mrs。　Bunting？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　sir；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　a　plain　cook。　　What　would　you　say　to　twenty…five　shillings　a　week；　sir？〃　　She　looked　at　him　deprecatingly；　and　as　he　did　not　answer　she　went　on　falteringly；　〃You　see；　sir；　it　may　seem　a　good　deal；　but　you　would　have　the　best　of　attendance　and　careful　cooking　…　and　my　husband；　sir　…　he　would　be　pleased　to　valet　you。〃

〃I　shouldn't　want　anything　of　that　sort　done　for　me；〃　said　Mr。　Sleuth　hastily。　　〃I　prefer　looking　after　my　own　clothes。　　I　am　used　to　waiting　on　myself。　　But；　Mrs。　Bunting；　I　have　a　great　dislike　to　sharing　lodgings　…　〃

She　interrupted　eagerly；　〃I　could　let　you　have　the　use　of　the　two　floors　for　the　same　price　…　that　is；　until　we　get　another　lodger。　I　shouldn't　like　you　to　sleep　in　the　back　room　up　here；　sir。　　It's　such　a　poor　little　room。　　You　could　do　as　you　say；　sir　…　do　your　work　and　your　experiments　up　here；　and　then　have　your　meals　in　the　drawing…room。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said　hesitatingly；　〃that　sounds　a　good　plan。　　And　if　I　offered　you　two　pounds；　or　two　guineas？　　Might　I　then　rely　on　your　not　taking　another　lodger？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃I'd　be　very　glad　only　to　have　you　to　wait　on；　sir。〃

〃I　suppose　you　have　a　key　to　the　door　of　this　room；　Mrs。　Bunting？　I　don't　like　to　be　disturbed　while　I'm　working。〃

He　waited　a　moment；　and　then　said　again；　rather　urgently；　〃I　suppose　you　have　a　key　to　this　door；　Mrs。　Bunting？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　sir；　there's　a　key　…　a　very　nice　little　key。　　The　people　who　lived　here　before　had　a　new　kind　of　lock　put　on　to　the　door。〃　She　went　over；　and　throwing　the　door　open；　showed　him　that　a　round　disk　had　been　fitted　above　the　old　keyhole。

He　nodded　his　head；　and　then；　after　standing　silent　a　little；　as　if　absorbed　in　thought；　〃Forty…two　shillings　a　week？　　Yes；　that　will　suit　me　perfectly。　　And　I'll　begin　now　by　paying　my　first　month's　rent　in　advance。　　Now；　four　times　forty…two　shillings　is〃　…　he　jerked　his　head　back　and　stared　at　his　new　landlady；　for　the　first　time　he　smiled；　a　queer；　wry　smile　…　〃why；　just　eight　pounds　eight　shillings；　Mrs。　Bunting！〃

He　thrust　his　hand　through　into　an　inner　pocket　of　his　long　cape…like　coat　and　took　out　a　handful　of　sovereigns。　　Then　he　began　putting　these　down　in　a　row　on　the　bare　wooden　table　which　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　room。　　〃Here's　five　…　six　…　seven　…　eight　…　nine　　…　ten　pounds。　　You'd　better　keep　the　odd　change；　Mrs。　Bunting