the man who was thursday-第16节

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n　Syme's　mirth　which　made　many　half…drunken　men　look　round。

〃What　yer　laughing　at；　guv'nor？〃　asked　one　wondering　labourer　from　the　docks。

〃At　myself；〃　answered　Syme；　and　went　off　again　into　the　agony　of　his　ecstatic　reaction。

〃Pull　yourself　together；〃　said　the　Professor；　〃or　you'll　get　hysterical。　Have　some　more　beer。　I'll　join　you。〃

〃You　haven't　drunk　your　milk；〃　said　Syme。

〃My　milk！〃　said　the　other；　in　tones　of　withering　and　unfathomable　contempt；　〃my　milk！　Do　you　think　I'd　look　at　the　beastly　stuff　when　I'm　out　of　sight　of　the　bloody　anarchists？　We're　all　Christians　in　this　room；　though　perhaps；〃　he　added；　glancing　around　at　the　reeling　crowd；　〃not　strict　ones。　Finish　my　milk？　Great　blazes！　yes；　I'll　finish　it　right　enough！〃　and　he　knocked　the　tumbler　off　the　table；　making　a　crash　of　glass　and　a　splash　of　silver　fluid。

Syme　was　staring　at　him　with　a　happy　curiosity。

〃I　understand　now；〃　he　cried；　〃of　course；　you're　not　an　old　man　at　all。〃

〃I　can't　take　my　face　off　here；〃　replied　Professor　de　Worms。　〃It's　rather　an　elaborate　make…up。　As　to　whether　I'm　an　old　man；　that's　not　for　me　to　say。　I　was　thirty…eight　last　birthday。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　mean；〃　said　Syme　impatiently；　〃there's　nothing　the　matter　with　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　other　dispassionately。　〃I　am　subject　to　colds。〃

Syme's　laughter　at　all　this　had　about　it　a　wild　weakness　of　relief。　He　laughed　at　the　idea　of　the　paralytic　Professor　being　really　a　young　actor　dressed　up　as　if　for　the　foot…lights。　But　he　felt　that　he　would　have　laughed　as　loudly　if　a　pepperpot　had　fallen　over。

The　false　Professor　drank　and　wiped　his　false　beard。

〃Did　you　know；〃　he　asked；　〃that　that　man　Gogol　was　one　of　us？〃

〃I？　No；　I　didn't　know　it；〃　answered　Syme　in　some　surprise。　〃But　didn't　you？〃

〃I　knew　no　more　than　the　dead；〃　replied　the　man　who　called　himself　de　Worms。　〃I　thought　the　President　was　talking　about　me；　and　I　rattled　in　my　boots。〃

〃And　I　thought　he　was　talking　about　me；〃　said　Syme；　with　his　rather　reckless　laughter。　〃I　had　my　hand　on　my　revolver　all　the　time。〃

〃So　had　I；〃　said　the　Professor　grimly；　〃so　had　Gogol　evidently。〃

Syme　struck　the　table　with　an　exclamation。

〃Why；　there　were　three　of　us　there！〃　he　cried。　〃Three　out　of　seven　is　a　fighting　number。　If　we　had　only　known　that　we　were　three！〃

The　face　of　Professor　de　Worms　darkened；　and　he　did　not　look　up。

〃We　were　three；〃　he　said。　〃If　we　had　been　three　hundred　we　could　still　have　done　nothing。〃

〃Not　if　we　were　three　hundred　against　four？〃　asked　Syme；　jeering　rather　boisterously。

〃No；〃　said　the　Professor　with　sobriety；　〃not　if　we　were　three　hundred　against　Sunday。〃

And　the　mere　name　struck　Syme　cold　and　serious；　his　laughter　had　died　in　his　heart　before　it　could　die　on　his　lips。　The　face　of　the　unforgettable　President　sprang　into　his　mind　as　startling　as　a　coloured　photograph；　and　he　remarked　this　difference　between　Sunday　and　all　his　satellites；　that　their　faces；　however　fierce　or　sinister；　became　gradually　blurred　by　memory　like　other　human　faces；　whereas　Sunday's　seemed　almost　to　grow　more　actual　during　absence；　as　if　a　man's　painted　portrait　should　slowly　come　alive。

They　were　both　silent　for　a　measure　of　moments；　and　then　Syme's　speech　came　with　a　rush；　like　the　sudden　foaming　of　champagne。

〃Professor；〃　he　cried；　〃it　is　intolerable。　Are　you　afraid　of　this　man？〃

The　Professor　lifted　his　heavy　lids；　and　gazed　at　Syme　with　large；　wide…open；　blue　eyes　of　an　almost　ethereal　honesty。

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　he　said　mildly。　〃So　are　you。〃

Syme　was　dumb　for　an　instant。　Then　he　rose　to　his　feet　erect；　like　an　insulted　man；　and　thrust　the　chair　away　from　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　indescribable；　〃you　are　right。　I　am　afraid　of　him。　Therefore　I　swear　by　God　that　I　will　seek　out　this　man　whom　I　fear　until　I　find　him；　and　strike　him　on　the　mouth。　If　heaven　were　his　throne　and　the　earth　his　footstool；　I　swear　that　I　would　pull　him　down。〃

〃How？〃　asked　the　staring　Professor。　〃Why？〃

〃Because　I　am　afraid　of　him；〃　said　Syme；　〃and　no　man　should　leave　in　the　universe　anything　of　which　he　is　afraid。〃

De　Worms　blinked　at　him　with　a　sort　of　blind　wonder。　He　made　an　effort　to　speak；　but　Syme　went　on　in　a　low　voice；　but　with　an　undercurrent　of　inhuman　exaltation

〃Who　would　condescend　to　strike　down　the　mere　things　that　he　does　not　fear？　Who　would　debase　himself　to　be　merely　brave；　like　any　common　prizefighter？　Who　would　stoop　to　be　fearlesslike　a　tree？　Fight　the　thing　that　you　fear。　You　remember　the　old　tale　of　the　English　clergyman　who　gave　the　last　rites　to　the　brigand　of　Sicily；　and　how　on　his　death…bed　the　great　robber　said；　'I　can　give　you　no　money；　but　I　can　give　you　advice　for　a　lifetime：　your　thumb　on　the　blade；　and　strike　upwards。'　So　I　say　to　you；　strike　upwards；　if　you　strike　at　the　stars。〃

The　other　looked　at　the　ceiling；　one　of　the　tricks　of　his　pose。

〃Sunday　is　a　fixed　star；〃　he　said。

〃You　shall　see　him　a　falling　star；〃　said　Syme；　and　put　on　his　hat。

The　decision　of　his　gesture　drew　the　Professor　vaguely　to　his　feet。

〃Have　you　any　idea；〃　he　asked；　with　a　sort　of　benevolent　bewilderment；　〃exactly　where　you　are　going？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Syme　shortly；　〃I　am　going　to　prevent　this　bomb　being　thrown　in　Paris。〃

〃Have　you　any　conception　how？〃　inquired　the　other。

〃No；〃　said　Syme　with　equal　decision。

〃You　remember；　of　course；〃　resumed　the　soi…disant　de　Worms；　pulling　his　beard　and　looking　out　of　the　window；　〃that　when　we　broke　up　rather　hurriedly　the　whole　arrangements　for　the　atrocity　were　left　in　the　private　hands　of　the　Marquis　and　Dr。　Bull。　The　Marquis　is　by　this　time　probably　crossing　the　Channel。　But　where　he　will　go　and　what　he　will　do　it　is　doubtful　whether　even　the　President　knows；　certainly　we　don't　know。　The　only　man　who　does　know　is　Dr。　Bull。

〃Confound　it！〃　cried　Syme。　〃And　we　don't　know　where　he　is。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　other　in　his　curious；　absent…minded　way；　〃I　know　where　he　is　myself。〃

〃Will　you　tell　me？〃　asked　Syme　with　eager　eyes。

〃I　will　take　you　there；〃　said　the　Professor；　and　took　down　his　own　hat　from　a　peg。

Syme　stood　looking　at　him　with　a　sort　of　rigid　excitement。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked　sharply。　〃Will　you　join　me？　Will　you　take　the　risk？〃

〃Young　man；〃　said　the　Professor　pleasantly；　〃I　am　amused　to　observe　that　you　think　I　am　a　coward。　As　to　that　I　will　say　only　one　word；　and　that　shall　be　entirely　in　the　manner　of　your　own　philosophical　rhetoric。　You　think　that　it　is　possible　to　pull　down　the　President。　I　know　that　it　is　impossible；　and　I　am　going　to　try　it；〃　and　opening　the　tavern　door；　which　let　in　a　blast　of　bitter　air；　they　went　out　together　into　the　dark　streets　by　the　docks。

Most　of　the　snow　was　melted　or　trampled　to　mud；　but　here　and　there　a　clot　of　it　still　showed　grey　rather　than　white　in　the　gloom。　The　small　streets　were　sloppy　and　full　of　pools；　which　reflected　the　flaming　lamps　irregularly；　and　by　accident；　like　fragments　of　some　other　and　fallen　world。　Syme　felt　almost　dazed　as　he　stepped　through　this　growing　confusion　of　lights　and　shadows；　but　his　companion　walked　on　with　a　certain　briskness；　towards　where；　at　the　end　of　the　street；　an　inch　or　two　of　the　lamplit　river　looked　like　a　bar　of　flame。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Syme　inquired。

〃Just　now；〃　answered　the　Professor；　〃I　am　going　just　round　the　corner　to　see　whether　Dr。　Bull　has　gone　to　bed。　He　is　hygienic；　and　retires　early。〃

〃Dr。　Bull！〃　exclaimed　Syme。　〃Does　he　live　round　the　corner？〃

〃No；〃　answered　his　friend。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact　he　lives　some　way　off；　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　but　we　can　tell　from　here　whether　he　has　gone　to　bed。〃

Turning　the　corner　as　he　spoke；　and　facing　the　dim　river；　flecked　with　flame；　he　pointed　with　his　stick　to　the　other　bank。　On　the　Surrey　side　at　this　point　there　ran　out　into　the　Thames；　seeming　almost　to　overhang　it；　a　bulk　and　cluster　of　those　tall　tenements；　dotted　with　lighted　windows；　and　rising　like　factory　chimneys　to　an　almost　insane　height。　Their　special　poise　and　position　made　one　block　of　buildings　especially　look　like　a　Tower　of　Babel　with　a　hundred　eyes。　Syme　had　never　seen　any　of　the　sky…scraping　buildings　in　America；　so　he　could　only　think　of　the　buildings　in　a　dream。

Even　as　he　stared；　the　highest　light　in　this　innumerably　lighted　turret　abruptly　went　out；　as　if　this　black　Argus　had　winked　at　him　with　one　of　his　innumerable　eyes。

Professor　de　Worms　swung　round　on　his　heel；　and　struck　his　stick　against　his　boot。

〃We　are　too　late；〃　he　said；　〃the　hygienic　Doctor　has　gone　to　bed。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Syme。　〃Does　he　live　over　there；　then？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　de　Worms；　〃behind　that　particular　window　which　you　can't　see。　Come　along　and　get　some　dinner。　We　must　call　on　him　tomorrow　morning。〃

Without　further　parley；　he　led　the　way　through　several　by…ways　until　they　came　out　into　the　flare　and　clamour　of　the　East　India　Dock　Road。　The　Professor；　who　seemed　to　know　his　way　about　the　neighbourhood；　proceeded　to　a　place　where　the　line　of　lighted　shops　fell　back　into　a　sort　of　abrupt　twilight　and　quiet；　in　which　an　old　white　inn；　all　out　of　repair；　stood　back　some　twenty　feet　from　the　road。

〃You　can　find　good　English　inns　left　by　accident　everywhere；　like　fossils；〃