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第74节

classic mystery and detective stories-第74节

小说: classic mystery and detective stories 字数: 每页4000字

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though the pattern still looked as if it was formed out of

characters of the alphabet curiously entwined together; you found

yourself unable to fix upon any definite word; or even letter。  You

looked again and again; and the longer that you looked the more

certain became your belief that you were on the verge of discovery。

If you could approach the mysterious legend from a slightly

different point of view; or look at it from another distance; the

clew to the puzzle would be seized; and the words would stand forth

clear and legible in your sight。  But the clew never had been

discovered; and the motto; if there was one; remained unread。



For a few minutes we stood looking at the cabinet in silence; and

then Lucy gave a discontented little sigh。  〃There's another

tiresome piece of superstition;〃 she exclaimed; 〃by far the

handsomest piece of furniture in the house stuck away here in a

bedroom which is hardly ever used。  Again and again have I asked

George to let me have it moved downstairs; but he won't hear of

it。〃



〃Was it not placed here by Dame Alice herself?〃 I inquired a little

reproachfully; for I felt that Lucy was not treating the cabinet

with the respect which it really deserved。



〃Yes; so they say;〃 she answered; and the tone of light contempt in

which she spoke was now pierced by a not unnatural pride in the

romantic mysteries of her husband's family。  〃She placed it here;

and it is said; you know; that when the closed cabinet is opened;

and the mysterious motto is read; the curse will depart from the

Mervyn family。〃



〃But why don't they break it open?〃 I asked; impatiently。  〃I am

sure that I would never have remained all my life in a house with a

thing like that; and not found out in some way or another what was

inside it。〃



〃Oh; but that would be quite fatal;〃 answered she。  〃The curse can

only be removed when the cabinet is opened as Dame Alice intended

it to be; in an orthodox fashion。  If you were to force it open;

that could never happen; and the curse would therefore remain for

ever。〃



〃And what is the curse?〃 I asked; with very different feelings to

those with which I had timidly approached the same subject with

Alan。  Lucy was not a Mervyn; and not a person to inspire awe under

any circumstances。  My instincts were right again; for she turned

away with a slight shrug of her shoulders。



〃I have no idea;〃 she said。  〃George and Alan always look

portentously solemn and gloomy whenever one mentions the subject;

so I don't。  If you ask me for the truth; I believe it to be a pure

invention; devised by the Mervyns for the purpose of delicately

accounting for some of the disreputable actions of their ancestors。

For you know; Evie;〃 she added; with a little laugh; 〃the less said

about the character of the family into which your aunt and I have

married the better。〃



The remark made me angry; I don't know why; and I answered stiffly;

that as far as I was acquainted with them; I at least saw nothing

to complain of。



〃Oh; as regards the present generation; no;except for that poor;

wretched Jack;〃 acquiesced Lucy; with her usual imperturbable good…

humor。



〃And as regards the next?〃 I suggested; smiling; and already

ashamed of my little temper。



〃The next is perfect; of course;poor dear boys。〃  She sighed as

she spoke; and I wondered whether she was really as unconscious as

she generally appeared to be of the strange dissatisfaction with

which her husband seemed to regard his children。  Anyhow the

mention of them had evidently changed her mood; and almost directly

afterwards; with the remark that she must go and look after her

guests; who had all arrived by now; she left me to myself。



For some minutes I sat by the bright fire; lost in aimless;

wandering thought; which began with Dame Alice and her cabinet; and

which ended somehow with Alan's face; as I had last seen it looking

up at me in front of the hall…door。  When I had reached that point;

I roused myself to decide that I had dreamt long enough; and that

it was quite time to go down to the guests and to tea。  I

accordingly donned my best teagown; arranged my hair; and proceeded

towards the drawing…room。  My way there lay through the great

central hall。  This apartment was approached from most of the

bedrooms in the house through a large; arched doorway at one end of

it; which communicated directly with the great staircase。  My

bedroom; however; which; as I have said; lay among the private

apartments of the house; opened into a passage which led into a

broad gallery; or upper chamber; stretching right across the end of

the hall。  From this you descended by means of a small staircase in

oak; whose carved balustrade; bending round the corner of the hall;

formed one of the prettiest features of the picturesque old room。

The barrier which ran along the front of the gallery was in solid

oak; and of such a height that; unless standing close up to it; you

could neither see nor be seen by the occupants of the room below。

On approaching this gallery I heard voices in the hall。  They were

George's and Alan's; evidently in hot discussion。  As I issued from

the passage; George was speaking; and his voice had that

exasperated tone in which an angry man tries to bring to a close an

argument in which he has lost his temper。  〃For heaven's sake leave

it alone; Alan; I neither can nor will interfere。  We have enough

to bear from these cursed traditions as it is; without adding one

which has no foundation whatever to justify ita mere contemptible

piece of superstition。〃



〃No member of our family has a right to call any tradition

contemptible which is connected with that place; and you know it;〃

answered Alan; and though he spoke low; his voice trembled with

some strong emotion。  A first impulse of hesitation which I had had

I checked; feeling that as I had heard so much it was fairer to go

on; and I advanced to the top of the staircase。  Alan stood by the

fireplace facing me; but far too occupied to see me。  His last

speech had seemingly aroused George to fury; for the latter turned

on him now with savage passion。



〃Damn it all; Alan!〃 he cried; 〃can't you be quiet?  I will be

master in my own house。  Take care; I tell you; the curse may not

be quite fulfilled yet after all。〃



As George uttered these words; Alan lifted his eyes to him with a

glance of awful horror: his face turned ghastly white; his lips

trembled for a moment; and then he answered back with one half…

whispered word of supreme appeal〃George!〃  There was a long…

drawn; unutterable anguish in his tone; and his voice; though

scarcely audible; penetrated to every corner of the room; and

seemed to hang quivering in the air around one after the sound had

ceased。  Then there was a terrible stillness。  Alan stood trembling

in every limb; incapable apparently of speech or action; and George

faced him; as silent and motionless as he was。  For an instant they

remained thus; while I looked breathlessly on。  Then George; with a

muttered imprecation; turned on his heel and left the room。  Alan

followed him as he went with dull lifeless eyes; and as the door

closed he breathed deeply; with a breath that was almost a groan。



Taking my courage in both hands; I now descended the stairs; and at

the sound of my footfall he glanced up; started; and then came

rapidly to meet me。



〃Evie! you here;〃 he said; 〃I did not notice you。  How long have

you been here?〃  He was still quite white; and I noticed that he

panted for breath as he spoke。



〃Not long;〃 I answered; timidly; and rather spasmodically; 〃I only

heard a sentence or two。  You wanted George to do something about

some tradition or other;and he was angry;and he said something

about the curse。〃



While I spoke Alan kept his eyes fixed on mine; reading through

them; as I knew; into my mind。  When I had finished he turned his

gaze away satisfied; and answered very quietly; 〃Yes; that was it。〃

Then he went back to the fireplace; rested his arm against the high

mantelpiece above it; and leaning his forehead on his arm; remained

silently looking into the fire。  I could see by his bent brow and

compressed lips that he was engaged upon some earnest train of

thought or reasoning; and I stood waitingworried; puzzled;

curious; but above all things; pitiful; and oh! longing so

intensely to help him if I could。  Presently he straightened

himself a little; and addressed me more in his ordinary tone of

voice; though without looking round。  〃So I hear they have changed

your room。〃



〃Yes;〃 I answered。  And then; flushing rather; 〃Is that what you

and George have been quarreling about?〃  I received no reply; and

taking this silence for assent; I went on deprecatingly; 〃Because

you know; if it was; I think you are rather foolish; Alan。  As I

understand; two girls are said to have died in that room more than

a hundred years ago;

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