the man who was thursday-第21节

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cial　position　quite　beyond　a　doubt；　I　propose　at　the　earliest　opportunity　to　knock　his　hat　off。　But　here　we　are　in　the　harbour。〃

They　went　on　shore　under　the　strong　sun　in　a　sort　of　daze。　Syme；　who　had　now　taken　the　lead　as　Bull　had　taken　it　in　London；　led　them　along　a　kind　of　marine　parade　until　he　came　to　some　cafes；　embowered　in　a　bulk　of　greenery　and　overlooking　the　sea。　As　he　went　before　them　his　step　was　slightly　swaggering；　and　he　swung　his　stick　like　a　sword。　He　was　making　apparently　for　the　extreme　end　of　the　line　of　cafes；　but　he　stopped　abruptly。　With　a　sharp　gesture　he　motioned　them　to　silence；　but　he　pointed　with　one　gloved　finger　to　a　cafe　table　under　a　bank　of　flowering　foliage　at　which　sat　the　Marquis　de　St。　Eustache；　his　teeth　shining　in　his　thick；　black　beard；　and　his　bold；　brown　face　shadowed　by　a　light　yellow　straw　hat　and　outlined　against　the　violet　sea。



CHAPTER　X

THE　DUEL

SYME　sat　down　at　a　cafe　table　with　his　companions；　his　blue　eyes　sparkling　like　the　bright　sea　below；　and　ordered　a　bottle　of　Saumur　with　a　pleased　impatience。　He　was　for　some　reason　in　a　condition　of　curious　hilarity。　His　spirits　were　already　unnaturally　high；　they　rose　as　the　Saumur　sank；　and　in　half　an　hour　his　talk　was　a　torrent　of　nonsense。　He　professed　to　be　making　out　a　plan　of　the　conversation　which　was　going　to　ensue　between　himself　and　the　deadly　Marquis。　He　jotted　it　down　wildly　with　a　pencil。　It　was　arranged　like　a　printed　catechism；　with　questions　and　answers；　and　was　delivered　with　an　extraordinary　rapidity　of　utterance。

〃I　shall　approach。　Before　taking　off　his　hat；　I　shall　take　off　my　own。　I　shall　say；　'The　Marquis　de　Saint　Eustache；　I　believe。'　He　will　say；　'The　celebrated　Mr。　Syme；　I　presume。'　He　will　say　in　the　most　exquisite　French；　'How　are　you？'　I　shall　reply　in　the　most　exquisite　Cockney；　'Oh；　just　the　Syme'　〃

〃Oh；　shut　it；〃　said　the　man　in　spectacles。　〃Pull　yourself　together；　and　chuck　away　that　bit　of　paper。　What　are　you　really　going　to　do？〃

〃But　it　was　a　lovely　catechism；〃　said　Syme　pathetically。　〃Do　let　me　read　it　you。　It　has　only　forty…three　questions　and　answers；　and　some　of　the　Marquis's　answers　are　wonderfully　witty。　I　like　to　be　just　to　my　enemy。〃

〃But　what's　the　good　of　it　all？〃　asked　Dr。　Bull　in　exasperation。

〃It　leads　up　to　my　challenge；　don't　you　see；〃　said　Syme；　beaming。　〃When　the　Marquis　has　given　the　thirty…ninth　reply；　which　runs〃

〃Has　it　by　any　chance　occurred　to　you；〃　asked　the　Professor；　with　a　ponderous　simplicity；　〃that　the　Marquis　may　not　say　all　the　forty…three　things　you　have　put　down　for　him？　In　that　case；　I　understand；　your　own　epigrams　may　appear　somewhat　more　forced。〃

Syme　struck　the　table　with　a　radiant　face。

〃Why；　how　true　that　is；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　never　thought　of　it。　Sir；　you　have　an　intellect　beyond　the　common。　You　will　make　a　name。〃

〃Oh；　you're　as　drunk　as　an　owl！〃　said　the　Doctor。

〃It　only　remains；〃　continued　Syme　quite　unperturbed；　〃to　adopt　some　other　method　of　breaking　the　ice　（if　I　may　so　express　it）　between　myself　and　the　man　I　wish　to　kill。　And　since　the　course　of　a　dialogue　cannot　be　predicted　by　one　of　its　parties　alone　（as　you　have　pointed　out　with　such　recondite　acumen）；　the　only　thing　to　be　done；　I　suppose；　is　for　the　one　party；　as　far　as　possible；　to　do　all　the　dialogue　by　himself。　And　so　I　will；　by　George！〃　And　he　stood　up　suddenly；　his　yellow　hair　blowing　in　the　slight　sea　breeze。

A　band　was　playing　in　a　cafe　chantant　hidden　somewhere　among　the　trees；　and　a　woman　had　just　stopped　singing。　On　Syme's　heated　head　the　bray　of　the　brass　band　seemed　like　the　jar　and　jingle　of　that　barrel…organ　in　Leicester　Square；　to　the　tune　of　which　he　had　once　stood　up　to　die。　He　looked　across　to　the　little　table　where　the　Marquis　sat。　The　man　had　two　companions　now；　solemn　Frenchmen　in　frock…coats　and　silk　hats；　one　of　them　with　the　red　rosette　of　the　Legion　of　Honour；　evidently　people　of　a　solid　social　position。　Besides　these　black；　cylindrical　costumes；　the　Marquis；　in　his　loose　straw　hat　and　light　spring　clothes；　looked　Bohemian　and　even　barbaric；　but　he　looked　the　Marquis。　Indeed；　one　might　say　that　he　looked　the　king；　with　his　animal　elegance；　his　scornful　eyes；　and　his　proud　head　lifted　against　the　purple　sea。　But　he　was　no　Christian　king；　at　any　rate；　he　was；　rather；　some　swarthy　despot；　half　Greek；　half　Asiatic；　who　in　the　days　when　slavery　seemed　natural　looked　down　on　the　Mediterranean；　on　his　galley　and　his　groaning　slaves。　Just　so；　Syme　thought；　would　the　brown…gold　face　of　such　a　tyrant　have　shown　against　the　dark　green　olives　and　the　burning　blue。

〃Are　you　going　to　address　the　meeting？〃　asked　the　Professor　peevishly；　seeing　that　Syme　still　stood　up　without　moving。

Syme　drained　his　last　glass　of　sparkling　wine。

〃I　am；〃　he　said；　pointing　across　to　the　Marquis　and　his　companions；　〃that　meeting。　That　meeting　displeases　me。　I　am　going　to　pull　that　meeting's　great　ugly；　mahogany…coloured　nose。〃

He　stepped　across　swiftly；　if　not　quite　steadily。　The　Marquis；　seeing　him；　arched　his　black　Assyrian　eyebrows　in　surprise；　but　smiled　politely。

〃You　are　Mr。　Syme；　I　think；〃　he　said。

Syme　bowed。

〃And　you　are　the　Marquis　de　Saint　Eustache；〃　he　said　gracefully。　〃Permit　me　to　pull　your　nose。〃

He　leant　over　to　do　so；　but　the　Marquis　started　backwards；　upsetting　his　chair；　and　the　two　men　in　top　hats　held　Syme　back　by　the　shoulders。

〃This　man　has　insulted　me！〃　said　Syme；　with　gestures　of　explanation。

〃Insulted　you？〃　cried　the　gentleman　with　the　red　rosette；　〃when？〃

〃Oh；　just　now；〃　said　Syme　recklessly。　〃He　insulted　my　mother。〃

〃Insulted　your　mother！〃　exclaimed　the　gentleman　incredulously。

〃Well；　anyhow；〃　said　Syme；　conceding　a　point；　〃my　aunt。〃

〃But　how　can　the　Marquis　have　insulted　your　aunt　just　now？〃　said　the　second　gentleman　with　some　legitimate　wonder。　〃He　has　been　sitting　here　all　the　time。〃

〃Ah；　it　was　what　he　said！〃　said　Syme　darkly。

〃I　said　nothing　at　all；〃　said　the　Marquis；　〃except　something　about　the　band。　I　only　said　that　I　liked　Wagner　played　well。〃

〃It　was　an　allusion　to　my　family；〃　said　Syme　firmly。　〃My　aunt　played　Wagner　badly。　It　was　a　painful　subject。　We　are　always　being　insulted　about　it。〃

〃This　seems　most　extraordinary；〃　said　the　gentleman　who　was　decore；　looking　doubtfully　at　the　Marquis。

〃Oh；　I　assure　you；〃　said　Syme　earnestly；　〃the　whole　of　your　conversation　was　simply　packed　with　sinister　allusions　to　my　aunt's　weaknesses。〃

〃This　is　nonsense！〃　said　the　second　gentleman。　〃I　for　one　have　said　nothing　for　half　an　hour　except　that　I　liked　the　singing　of　that　girl　with　black　hair。〃

〃Well；　there　you　are　again！〃　said　Syme　indignantly。　〃My　aunt's　was　red。〃

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　said　the　other；　〃that　you　are　simply　seeking　a　pretext　to　insult　the　Marquis。〃

〃By　George！〃　said　Syme；　facing　round　and　looking　at　him；　〃what　a　clever　chap　you　are！〃

The　Marquis　started　up　with　eyes　flaming　like　a　tiger's。

〃Seeking　a　quarrel　with　me！〃　he　cried。　〃Seeking　a　fight　with　me！　By　God！　there　was　never　a　man　who　had　to　seek　long。　These　gentlemen　will　perhaps　act　for　me。　There　are　still　four　hours　of　daylight。　Let　us　fight　this　evening。〃

Syme　bowed　with　a　quite　beautiful　graciousness。

〃Marquis；〃　he　said；　〃your　action　is　worthy　of　your　fame　and　blood。　Permit　me　to　consult　for　a　moment　with　the　gentlemen　in　whose　hands　I　shall　place　myself。〃

In　three　long　strides　he　rejoined　his　companions；　and　they；　who　had　seen　his　champagne…inspired　attack　and　listened　to　his　idiotic　explanations；　were　quite　startled　at　the　look　of　him。　For　now　that　he　came　back　to　them　he　was　quite　sober；　a　little　pale；　and　he　spoke　in　a　low　voice　of　passionate　practicality。

〃I　have　done　it；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃I　have　fixed　a　fight　on　the　beast。　But　look　here；　and　listen　carefully。　There　is　no　time　for　talk。　You　are　my　seconds；　and　everything　must　come　from　you。　Now　you　must　insist；　and　insist　absolutely；　on　the　duel　coming　off　after　seven　tomorrow；　so　as　to　give　me　the　chance　of　preventing　him　from　catching　the　7。45　for　Paris。　If　he　misses　that　he　misses　his　crime。　He　can't　refuse　to　meet　you　on　such　a　small　point　of　time　and　place。　But　this　is　what　he　will　do。　He　will　choose　a　field　somewhere　near　a　wayside　station；　where　he　can　pick　up　the　train。　He　is　a　very　good　swordsman；　and　he　will　trust　to　killing　me　in　time　to　catch　it。　But　I　can　fence　well　too；　and　I　think　I　can　keep　him　in　play；　at　any　rate；　until　the　train　is　lost。　Then　perhaps　he　may　kill　me　to　console　his　feelings。　You　understand？　Very　well　then；　let　me　introduce　you　to　some　charming　friends　of　mine；〃　and　leading　them　quickly　across　the　parade；　he　presented　them　to　the　Marquis's　seconds　by　two　very　aristocratic　names　of　which　they　had　not　previously　heard。

Syme　was　subject　to　spasms　of　singular　common　sense；　not　otherwise　a　part　of　his　character。　They　were　（as　he　said　of　his　impulse　about　the　spectacles）　poetic　intuitions；　and　they　sometimes　rose　to　the　exaltation　of　prophecy。

He　had　correctly　calculated　in　this　case　the　policy　of　his　opponent。　When　the　Marquis　was　informed　by　his　seconds　that　Syme　could　only　fight　in　the　morning；　he　must　fully　have　realised　that　an　obstacle　had　suddenly　arisen　between　him　and　his　bomb…throwing　business　in