new burlesques(新讽刺诗)-第21节
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unimportant features its usual expression of speculative wisdom and
intense disdain； its mouth smiled； its left eyelid seemed to droop。 As the
opal tints of dawn deepened upon it； the eyelid seemed to droop lower；
closed； and quickly recovered itself twice。 You would have thought the
Sphinx had winked。
Then arose a voice like a wind on the desert；but really from the
direction of the Nile； where a hired dahabiyeh lay moored to the bank；
〃'Arry Axes！ 'Arry Axes！〃 With it came also a flapping； trailing vision
from the waterthe sacred Ibis itselfand with wings aslant drifted
mournfully away to its own creaking echo： 〃K'raksis！ K'raksis！〃 Again
arose the weird voice： 〃'Arry Axes！ Wotcher doin' of？〃 And again the
Ibis croaked its wild refrain： 〃K'raksis！ K'raksis！〃 Moonlight and the
hour wove their own mystery （for which the author is not responsible）；
and the voice was heard no more。 But when the full day sprang in glory
over the desert； it illuminated the few remaining but sufficiently large
features of the Sphinx with a burning saffron radiance！ The Sphinx had
indeed blushed！
II
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It was the full season at Cairo。 The wealth and fashion of
Bayswater； South Kensington； and even the bosky Wood of the Evangelist
had sent their latest luxury and style to flout the tombs of the past with the
ghastly flippancy of to…day。 The cheap tripper was therethe latest
example of the Darwinian theory apelike； flea and curio hunting！
Shamelessly inquisitive and always hungry； what did he know of the
Sphinx or the pyramids or the voiceand； for the matter of that； what did
they know of him？ And yet he was not half bad in comparison with the
〃swagger people；〃these people who pretend to have lungs and what not；
and instead of galloping on merry hunters through the frost and snow of
Piccadilly and Park； instead of enjoying the roaring fires of piled logs in
the evening； at the first approach of winter steal away to the Land of the
Sun； and decline to die； like honest Britons； on British soil。 And then
they know nothing of the Egyptians and are horrified at 〃bakshish；〃 which
they really ought to pay for the privilege of shocking the straight…limbed；
naked…footed Arab in his single rough garment with their baggy elephant…
legged trousers！ And they know nothing of the mystic land of the old gods；
filled with profound enigmas of the supernatural； dark secrets yet
unexplored except in this book。 Well might the great Memnon murmur
after this lapse of these thousand years； 〃They're making me tired！〃
Such was the blissful； self…satisfied ignorance of Sir Midas Pyle； or as
Lord Fitz…Fulke； with his delightful imitation of the East London accent；
called him； Sir 〃Myde His Pyle；〃 as he leaned back on his divan in the
Grand Cairo Hotel。 He was the vulgar editor and proprietor of a vulgar
London newspaper； and had brought his wife with him； who was vainly
trying to marry off his faded daughters。 There was to be a fancy…dress
ball at the hotel that night； and Lady Pyle hoped that her girls； if properly
disguised； might have a better chance。 Here； too； was Lady Fitz…Fulke；
whose mother was immortalized by Byronsixty if a day； yet still dressing
youthfullywho had sought the land of the Sphinx in the faint hope that in
the contiguity of that lady she might pass for being young。 Alaster
McFeckless； a splendid young Scotchman； already dressed as a
Florentine sailor of the fifteenth century； which enabled him to show his
magnificent calves quite as well as in his native highland dress； and who
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had added with characteristic noble pride a sporran to his costume； was
lolling on another divan。
〃Oh； those exquisite； those magnificent eyes of hers！ Eh； sirs！〃 he
murmured suddenly； as waking from a dream。
〃Oh； damn her eyes！〃 said Lord Fitz…Fulke languidly。 〃Tell you what；
old man； you're just gone on that girl！〃
〃Ha！〃 roared MeFeckless； springing to his feet； 〃ye will be using such
language of the bonniest〃
〃You will excuse me； gentlemen；〃 said Sir Midas；who hated scenes
unless he had a trusted reporter with him；〃but I think it is time for me to
go upstairs and put on my Windsor uniform； which I find exceedingly
convenient for these mixed assemblies。〃 He withdrew； caressing his
protuberant paunch with some dignity； as the two men glanced fiercely at
each other。
In another moment they might have sprung at each other's throats。 But
luckily at this instant a curtain was pushed aside as if by some waiting
listener； and a thin man entered； dressed in cap and gown；which would
have been simply academic but for his carrying in one hand behind him a
bundle of birch twigs。 It was Dr。 Haustus Pilgrim； a noted London
practitioner and specialist； dressed as 〃Ye Olde…fashioned Pedagogue。〃
He was presumably spending his holiday on the Nile in a large dahabiyeh
with a number of friends； among whom he counted the two momentary
antagonists he had just interrupted； but those who knew the doctor's far…
reaching knowledge and cryptic researches believed he had his own
scientific motives。
The two men turned quickly as he entered； the angry light faded from
their eyes； and an awed and respectful submission to the intruder took its
place。 He walked quietly toward them； put a lozenge in the mouth of one
and felt the pulse of the other； gazing critically at both。
〃We will be all right in a moment；〃 he said with professional
confidence。
〃I say！〃 said Fitz…Fulke； gazing at the doctor's costume； 〃you look
dooced smart in those togs； don'tcherknow。〃
〃They suit me；〃 said the doctor； with a playful swish of his birch twigs；
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at which the two grave men shuddered。 〃But you were speaking of
somebody's beautiful eyes。〃
〃The Princess Zut…Ski's；〃 returned McFeckless eagerly； 〃and this daft
callant said〃
〃He didn't like them；〃 put in Fitz…Fulke promptly。
〃Ha！〃 said the doctor sharply； 〃and why not； sir？〃 As Fitz…Fulke
hesitated； he added brusquely： 〃There！ Run away and play！ I've
business with this young man；〃 pointing to McFeckless。
As Fitz…Fulke escaped gladly from the room； the doctor turned to
McFeckless。 〃It won't do； my boy。 The Princess is not for you you'll
only break your heart and ruin your family over her！ That's my advice。
Chuck her！〃
〃But I cannot；〃 said McFeckless humbly。 〃Think of her weirdly
beautiful eyes。〃
〃I see；〃 said the doctor meditatively； 〃sort of makes you feel creepy？
Kind of all…overishness； eh？ That's like her。 But whom have we here？〃
He was staring at a striking figure that had just entered； closely
followed by a crowd of admiring spectators。 And； indeed； he seemed
worthy of the homage。 His magnificent form was closely attired in a
velveteen jacket and trousers； with a singular display of pearl buttons
along the seams； that were absolutely lavish in their quantity； a hat
adorned with feathers and roses completed his singularly picturesque
equipment。
〃Chevalier！〃 burst out McFeckless in breathless greeting。
〃Ah； mon ami！ What good chance？〃 returned the newcomer； rushing
to him and kissing him on both cheeks； to the British horror of Sir Midas；
who had followed。 〃Ah； but you are perfect！〃 he added； kissing his
fingers in admiration of McFeckless's Florentine dress。
〃But you？what is this ravi
