the man who was thursday-第3节

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as　rigid　and　motionless　as　the　lamp…post　itself。　The　tall　hat　and　long　frock　coat　were　black；　the　face；　in　an　abrupt　shadow；　was　almost　as　dark。　Only　a　fringe　of　fiery　hair　against　the　light；　and　also　something　aggressive　in　the　attitude；　proclaimed　that　it　was　the　poet　Gregory。　He　had　something　of　the　look　of　a　masked　bravo　waiting　sword　in　hand　for　his　foe。

He　made　a　sort　of　doubtful　salute；　which　Syme　somewhat　more　formally　returned。

〃I　was　waiting　for　you；〃　said　Gregory。　〃Might　I　have　a　moment's　conversation？〃

〃Certainly。　About　what？〃　asked　Syme　in　a　sort　of　weak　wonder。

Gregory　struck　out　with　his　stick　at　the　lamp…post；　and　then　at　the　tree。　〃About　this　and　this；〃　he　cried；　〃about　order　and　anarchy。　There　is　your　precious　order；　that　lean；　iron　lamp；　ugly　and　barren；　and　there　is　anarchy；　rich；　living；　reproducing　itselfthere　is　anarchy；　splendid　in　green　and　gold。〃

〃All　the　same；〃　replied　Syme　patiently；　〃just　at　present　you　only　see　the　tree　by　the　light　of　the　lamp。　I　wonder　when　you　would　ever　see　the　lamp　by　the　light　of　the　tree。〃　Then　after　a　pause　he　said；　〃But　may　I　ask　if　you　have　been　standing　out　here　in　the　dark　only　to　resume　our　little　argument？〃

〃No；〃　cried　out　Gregory；　in　a　voice　that　rang　down　the　street；　〃I　did　not　stand　here　to　resume　our　argument；　but　to　end　it　for　ever。〃

The　silence　fell　again；　and　Syme；　though　he　understood　nothing；　listened　instinctively　for　something　serious。　Gregory　began　in　a　smooth　voice　and　with　a　rather　bewildering　smile。

〃Mr。　Syme；〃　he　said；　〃this　evening　you　succeeded　in　doing　something　rather　remarkable。　You　did　something　to　me　that　no　man　born　of　woman　has　ever　succeeded　in　doing　before。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃Now　I　remember；〃　resumed　Gregory　reflectively；　〃one　other　person　succeeded　in　doing　it。　The　captain　of　a　penny　steamer　（if　I　remember　correctly）　at　Southend。　You　have　irritated　me。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　replied　Syme　with　gravity。

〃I　am　afraid　my　fury　and　your　insult　are　too　shocking　to　be　wiped　out　even　with　an　apology；〃　said　Gregory　very　calmly。　〃No　duel　could　wipe　it　out。　If　I　struck　you　dead　I　could　not　wipe　it　out。　There　is　only　one　way　by　which　that　insult　can　be　erased；　and　that　way　I　choose。　I　am　going；　at　the　possible　sacrifice　of　my　life　and　honour；　to　prove　to　you　that　you　were　wrong　in　what　you　said。〃

〃In　what　I　said？〃

〃You　said　I　was　not　serious　about　being　an　anarchist。〃

〃There　are　degrees　of　seriousness；〃　replied　Syme。　〃I　have　never　doubted　that　you　were　perfectly　sincere　in　this　sense；　that　you　thought　what　you　said　well　worth　saying；　that　you　thought　a　paradox　might　wake　men　up　to　a　neglected　truth。〃

Gregory　stared　at　him　steadily　and　painfully。

〃And　in　no　other　sense；〃　he　asked；　〃you　think　me　serious？　You　think　me　a　flaneur　who　lets　fall　occasional　truths。　You　do　not　think　that　in　a　deeper；　a　more　deadly　sense；　I　am　serious。〃

Syme　struck　his　stick　violently　on　the　stones　of　the　road。

〃Serious！〃　he　cried。　〃Good　Lord！　is　this　street　serious？　Are　these　damned　Chinese　lanterns　serious？　Is　the　whole　caboodle　serious？　One　comes　here　and　talks　a　pack　of　bosh；　and　perhaps　some　sense　as　well；　but　I　should　think　very　little　of　a　man　who　didn't　keep　something　in　the　background　of　his　life　that　was　more　serious　than　all　this　talkingsomething　more　serious；　whether　it　was　religion　or　only　drink。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Gregory；　his　face　darkening；　〃you　shall　see　something　more　serious　than　either　drink　or　religion。〃

Syme　stood　waiting　with　his　usual　air　of　mildness　until　Gregory　again　opened　his　lips。

〃You　spoke　just　now　of　having　a　religion。　Is　it　really　true　that　you　have　one？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Syme　with　a　beaming　smile；　〃we　are　all　Catholics　now。〃

〃Then　may　I　ask　you　to　swear　by　whatever　gods　or　saints　your　religion　involves　that　you　will　not　reveal　what　I　am　now　going　to　tell　you　to　any　son　of　Adam；　and　especially　not　to　the　police？　Will　you　swear　that！　If　you　will　take　upon　yourself　this　awful　abnegations　if　you　will　consent　to　burden　your　soul　with　a　vow　that　you　should　never　make　and　a　knowledge　you　should　never　dream　about；　I　will　promise　you　in　return〃

〃You　will　promise　me　in　return？〃　inquired　Syme；　as　the　other　paused。

〃I　will　promise　you　a　very　entertaining　evening。〃　Syme　suddenly　took　off　his　hat。

〃Your　offer；〃　he　said；　〃is　far　too　idiotic　to　be　declined。　You　say　that　a　poet　is　always　an　anarchist。　I　disagree；　but　I　hope　at　least　that　he　is　always　a　sportsman。　Permit　me；　here　and　now；　to　swear　as　a　Christian；　and　promise　as　a　good　comrade　and　a　fellow…artist；　that　I　will　not　report　anything　of　this；　whatever　it　is；　to　the　police。　And　now；　in　the　name　of　Colney　Hatch；　what　is　it？〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Gregory；　with　placid　irrelevancy；　〃that　we　will　call　a　cab。〃

He　gave　two　long　whistles；　and　a　hansom　came　rattling　down　the　road。　The　two　got　into　it　in　silence。　Gregory　gave　through　the　trap　the　address　of　an　obscure　public…house　on　the　Chiswick　bank　of　the　river。　The　cab　whisked　itself　away　again；　and　in　it　these　two　fantastics　quitted　their　fantastic　town。



CHAPTER　II

THE　SECRET　OF　GABRIEL　SYME

THE　cab　pulled　up　before　a　particularly　dreary　and　greasy　beershop；　into　which　Gregory　rapidly　conducted　his　companion。　They　seated　themselves　in　a　close　and　dim　sort　of　bar…parlour；　at　a　stained　wooden　table　with　one　wooden　leg。　The　room　was　so　small　and　dark；　that　very　little　could　be　seen　of　the　attendant　who　was　summoned；　beyond　a　vague　and　dark　impression　of　something　bulky　and　bearded。

〃Will　you　take　a　little　supper？〃　asked　Gregory　politely。　〃The　pate　de　foie　gras　is　not　good　here；　but　I　can　recommend　the　game。〃

Syme　received　the　remark　with　stolidity；　imagining　it　to　be　a　joke。　Accepting　the　vein　of　humour；　he　said；　with　a　well…bred　indifference

〃Oh；　bring　me　some　lobster　mayonnaise。〃

To　his　indescribable　astonishment；　the　man　only　said　〃Certainly；　sir！〃　and　went　away　apparently　to　get　it。

〃What　will　you　drink？〃　resumed　Gregory；　with　the　same　careless　yet　apologetic　air。　〃I　shall　only　have　a　crepe　de　menthe　myself；　I　have　dined。　But　the　champagne　can　really　be　trusted。　Do　let　me　start　you　with　a　half…bottle　of　Pommery　at　least？〃

〃Thank　you！〃　said　the　motionless　Syme。　〃You　are　very　good。〃

His　further　attempts　at　conversation；　somewhat　disorganised　in　themselves；　were　cut　short　finally　as　by　a　thunderbolt　by　the　actual　appearance　of　the　lobster。　Syme　tasted　it；　and　found　it　particularly　good。　Then　he　suddenly　began　to　eat　with　great　rapidity　and　appetite。

〃Excuse　me　if　I　enjoy　myself　rather　obviously！〃　he　said　to　Gregory；　smiling。　〃I　don't　often　have　the　luck　to　have　a　dream　like　this。　It　is　new　to　me　for　a　nightmare　to　lead　to　a　lobster。　It　is　commonly　the　other　way。〃

〃You　are　not　asleep；　I　assure　you；〃　said　Gregory。　〃You　are；　on　the　contrary；　close　to　the　most　actual　and　rousing　moment　of　your　existence。　Ah；　here　comes　your　champagne！　I　admit　that　there　may　be　a　slight　disproportion；　let　us　say；　between　the　inner　arrangements　of　this　excellent　hotel　and　its　simple　and　unpretentious　exterior。　But　that　is　all　our　modesty。　We　are　the　most　modest　men　that　ever　lived　on　earth。〃

〃And　who　are　we？〃　asked　Syme；　emptying　his　champagne　glass。

〃It　is　quite　simple；〃　replied　Gregory。　〃We　are　the　serious　anarchists；　in　whom　you　do　not　believe。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Syme　shortly。　〃You　do　yourselves　well　in　drinks。〃

〃Yes；　we　are　serious　about　everything；〃　answered　Gregory。

Then　after　a　pause　he　added

〃If　in　a　few　moments　this　table　begins　to　turn　round　a　little；　don't　put　it　down　to　your　inroads　into　the　champagne。　I　don't　wish　you　to　do　yourself　an　injustice。〃

〃Well；　if　I　am　not　drunk；　I　am　mad；〃　replied　Syme　with　perfect　calm；　〃but　I　trust　I　can　behave　like　a　gentleman　in　either　condition。　May　I　smoke？〃

〃Certainly！〃　said　Gregory；　producing　a　cigar…case。　〃Try　one　of　mine。〃

Syme　took　the　cigar；　clipped　the　end　off　with　a　cigar…cutter　out　of　his　waistcoat　pocket；　put　it　in　his　mouth；　lit　it　slowly；　and　let　out　a　long　cloud　of　smoke。　It　is　not　a　little　to　his　credit　that　he　performed　these　rites　with　so　much　composure；　for　almost　before　he　had　begun　them　the　table　at　which　he　sat　had　begun　to　revolve；　first　slowly；　and　then　rapidly；　as　if　at　an　insane　seance。

〃You　must　not　mind　it；〃　said　Gregory；　〃it's　a　kind　of　screw。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　said　Syme　placidly；　〃a　kind　of　screw。　How　simple　that　is！〃

The　next　moment　the　smoke　of　his　cigar；　which　had　been　wavering　across　the　room　in　snaky　twists；　went　straight　up　as　if　from　a　factory　chimney；　and　the　two；　with　their　chairs　and　table；　shot　down　through　the　floor　as　if　the　earth　had　swallowed　them。　They　went　rattling　down　a　kind　of　roaring　chimney　as　rapidly　as　a　lift　cut　loose；　and　they　came　with　an　abrupt　bump　to　the　bottom。　But　when　Gregory　threw　open　a　pair　of　doors　and　let　in　a　red　subterranean　light；　Syme　was　still　smoking　with　one　leg　thrown　over　the　other；　and　had　not　turned　a　yellow　hair。

Gregory　led　him　down　a　low；　vaulted　passage；　at　the　end　of　which　was　the　red　light。　It　was　an　enormous　crimson　lantern；　nearly　as　big　as　a　fireplace；　fixed　over　a　small　but　heavy　iron　door。　In　the　door　there　was　a　sort　of　hatchway　or　grating；　and　on　this　Gregory　struck　five　times。　A　heavy　voice　with　a　foreign　accent　asked　him　who　h