the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第41节
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tavern of some sort。 When he reached the place； however； he saw why
his friend had suggested it as a likely lurking ground for Roger。 It would
be as impossible for any bibliophile to pass this famous second…hand
bookstore as for a woman to go by a wedding party without trying to see
the bride。 Although it was a bleak day； and a snell wind blew down the
street； the pavement counters were lined with people turning over
disordered piles of volumes。 Within； he could see a vista of white shelves；
and the many…coloured tapestry of bindings stretching far away to the rear
of the building。
He entered eagerly； and looked about。 The shop was comfortably
busy； with a number of people browsing。 They seemed normal enough
from behind； but in their eyes he detected the wild； peering glitter of the
bibliomaniac。 Here and there stood members of the staff。 Upon their
features Aubrey discerned the placid and philosophic tranquillity which he
associated with second…hand booksellers all save Mifflin。
He paced through the narrow aisles； scanning the blissful throng of
seekers。 He went down to the educational department in the basement；
up to the medical books in the gallery； even back to the sections of Drama
and Pennsylvania History in the raised quarterdeck at the rear。 There was
no trace of Roger。
At a desk under the stairway he saw a lean； studious； and kindly…
looking bibliosoph； who was poring over an immense catalogue。 An idea
struck him。
〃Have you a copy of Carlyle's Letters and Speeches of Oliver
Cromwell？〃 he asked。
The other looked up。
〃I'm afraid we haven't；〃 he said。 〃Another gentleman was in here
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asking for it just a few minutes ago。〃
〃Good God！〃 cried Aubrey。 〃Did he get it？〃
This emphasis brought no surprise to the bookseller； who was
accustomed to the oddities of edition hunters。
〃No；〃 he said。 〃We didn't have a copy。 We haven't seen one for a
long time。〃
〃Was he a little bald man with a red beard and bright blue eyes？〃 asked
Aubrey hoarsely。
〃YesMr。 Mifflin of Brooklyn。 Do you know him？〃
〃I should say I do！〃 cried Aubrey。 〃Where has he gone？ I've been
hunting him all over town； the scoundrel！〃
The bookseller； douce man； had seen too many eccentric customers to
be shocked by the vehemence of his questioner。
〃He was here a moment ago；〃 he said gently； and gazed with a mild
interest upon the excited young advertising man。 〃I daresay you'll find
him just outside； in Ludlow Street。〃
〃Where's that？〃
The tall manand I don't see why I should scruple to name him； for it
was Philip Warnerexplained that Ludlow Street was the narrow alley that
runs along one side of Leary's and elbows at right angles behind the shop。
Down the flank of the store； along this narrow little street； run shelves of
books under a penthouse。 It is here that Leary's displays its stock of
ragamuffin ten…centers queer dingy volumes that call to the hearts of
gentle questers。 Along these historic shelves many troubled spirits have
come as near happiness as they are like to get 。 。 。 for after all； happiness
（as the mathematicians might say） lies on a curve； and we approach it only
by asymptote。 。 。 。 The frequenters of this alley call themselves
whimsically The Ludlow Street Business Men's Association； and Charles
Lamb or Eugene Field would have been proud to preside at their annual
dinners； at which the members recount their happiest book…finds of the
year。
Aubrey rushed out of the shop and looked down the alley。 Half a
dozen Ludlow Street Business Men were groping among the shelves。 Then；
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
down at the far end； his small face poked into an open volume； he saw
Roger。 He approached with a rapid stride。
〃Well；〃 he said angrily； 〃here you are！〃
Roger looked up from his book good…humouredly。 Apparently； in the
zeal of his favourite pastime； he had forgotten where he was。
〃Hullo！〃 he said。 〃What are you doing in Brooklyn？ Look here；
here's a copy of Tooke's Pantheon〃
〃What's the idea？〃 cried Aubrey harshly。 〃Are you trying to kid me？
What are you and Weintraub framing up here in Philadelphia？〃
Roger's mind came back to Ludlow Street。 He looked with some
surprise at the flushed face of the young man； and put the book back in its
place on the shelf； making a mental note of its location。 His
disappointment of the morning came back to him with some irritation。
〃What are you talking about？〃 he said。 〃What the deuce business is it
of yours？〃
〃I'll make it my business；〃 said Aubrey； and shook his fist in the
bookseller's face。 〃I've been trailing you； you scoundrel； and I want to
know what kind of a game you're playing。〃
A spot of red spread on Roger's cheekbones。 In spite of his apparent
demureness he had a pugnacious spirit and a quick fist。
〃By the bones of Charles Lamb！〃 he said。 〃Young man； your
manners need mending。 If you're looking for display advertising； I'll give
you one on each eye。〃
Aubrey had expected to find a cringing culprit； and this back talk
infuriated him beyond control。
〃You damned little bolshevik；〃 he said； 〃if you were my size I'd give
you a hiding。 You tell me what you and your pro…German pals are up to
or I'll put the police on you！〃
Roger stiffened。 His beard bristled； and his blue eyes glittered。
〃You impudent dog；〃 he said quietly； 〃you come round the corner
where these people can't see us and I'll give you some private tutoring。〃
He led the way round the corner of the alley。 In this narrow channel；
between blank walls； they confronted each other。
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〃In the name of Gutenberg；〃 said Roger； calling upon his patron saint；
〃explain yourself or I'll hit you。〃
〃Who's he？〃 sneered Aubrey。 〃Another one of your Huns？〃
That instant he received a smart blow on the chin； which would have
been much harder but that Roger misgauged his footing on the uneven
cobbles； and hardly reached the face of his opponent； who topped him by
many inches。
Aubrey forgot his resolution not to hit a smaller man； and also calling
upon his patron saintsthe Associated Advertising Clubs of the World he
delivered a smashing slog which hit the bookseller in the chest and jolted
him half across the alley。
Both men were furiously angryAubrey with the accumulated
bitterness of several days' anxiety and suspicion； and Roger with the
quick…flaming indignation of a hot…tempered man unwarrantably outraged。
Aubrey had the better of the encounter in height； weight； and more than
twenty years juniority； but fortune played for the bookseller。 Aubrey's
terrific punch sent the latter staggering across the alley onto the opposite
curb。 Aubrey followed him up with a rush； intending to crush the other
with one fearful smite。 But Roger； keeping cool； now had the advantage of
position。 Standing on the curb； he had a little the better in height。 As
Aubrey leaped at him； his face grim with hatred； Roger met him with a
savage buffet on the jaw。 Aubrey's foot struck against the curb； and he
fell backward onto the stones。 His head crashed violently on the cobbles；
and the old cut on his scalp broke out afresh。 Dazed and shaken； there was；
for the moment； no more fight in him。
〃You insolent pup；〃 panted Roger； 〃do you want any more？〃 Then he
saw that Aubrey was really hurt。 With horror he observed a trickle of
blood run down the side of the young man's face。
〃Good Lord；〃 he said。 〃Maybe I've killed him！〃
In a panic he ran round the
