manalive-第11节

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〃A　man　can't　be　locked　up　for　falling　in　loveat　least
I　hope　not。〃

〃No；　I　think　even　a　doctor　couldn't　make　a　disease　out　of　him。
He'd　throw　off　the　doctor　like　the　disease；　don't　you　know？
I　believe　it's　a　case　of　a　sort　of　holy　well。　　I　believe　Innocent　Smith
is　simply　innocent；　and　that　is　why　he　is　so　extraordinary。〃

It　was　Rosamund　who　spoke；　restlessly　tracing　circles　in　the　grass
with　the　point　of　her　white　shoe。

〃I　think；〃　said　Inglewood；　〃that　Smith　is　not　extraordinary　at　all。
He's　comic　just　because　he's　so　startlingly　commonplace。
Don't　you　know　what　it　is　to　be　all　one　family　circle；　with　aunts
and　uncles；　when　a　schoolboy　comes　home　for　the　holidays？
That　bag　there　on　the　cab　is　only　a　schoolboy's　hamper。
This　tree　here　in　the　garden　is　only　the　sort　of　tree　that　any
schoolboy　would　have　climbed。　　Yes；　that's　the　thing　that　has
haunted　us　all　about　him；　the　thing　we　could　never　fit　a　word　to。
Whether　he　is　my　old　schoolfellow　or　no；　at　least　he　is　all　my
old　schoolfellows。　　He　is　the　endless　bun…eating；　ball…throwing
animal　that　we　have　all　been。〃

〃That　is　only　you　absurd　boys；〃　said　Diana。　　〃I　don't　believe
any　girl　was　ever　so　silly；　and　I'm　sure　no　girl　was　ever
so　happy；　except〃　and　she　stopped。

〃I　will　tell　you　the　truth　about　Innocent　Smith；〃　said　Michael　Moon　in　a
low　voice。　　〃Dr。　Warner　has　gone　to　look　for　him　in　vain。　　He　is　not　there。
Haven't　you　noticed　that　we　never　saw　him　since　we　found　ourselves？
He　was　an　astral　baby　born　on　all　four　of　us；　he　was　only　our　own
youth　returned。　　Long　before　poor　old　Warner　had　clambered　out　of　his　cab；
the　thing　we　called　Smith　had　dissolved　into　dew　and　light　on　this　lawn。
Once　or　twice　more；　by　the　mercy　of　God；　we　may　feel　the　thing；
but　the　man　we　shall　never　see。　　In　a　spring　garden　before　breakfast
we　shall　smell　the　smell　called　Smith。　　In　the　snapping　of　brisk　twigs
in　tiny　fires　we　shall　hear　a　noise　named　Smith。　　Everything　insatiable
and　innocent　in　the　grasses　that　gobble　up　the　earth　like　at　a　bun　feast；
in　the　white　mornings　that　split　the　sky　as　a　boy　splits　up　white　firwood；
we　may　feel　for　one　instant　the　presence　of　an　impetuous　purity；
but　his　innocence　was　too　close　to　the　unconsciousness　of　inanimate　things
not　to　melt　back　at　a　mere　touch　into　the　mild　hedges　and　heavens；　he〃

He　was　interrupted　from　behind　the　house　by　a　bang　like　that　of　a　bomb。
Almost　at　the　same　instant　the　stranger　in　the　cab　sprang　out　of　it；
leaving　it　rocking　upon　the　stones　of　the　road。　　He　clutched　the　blue　railings
of　the　garden；　and　peered　eagerly　over　them　in　the　direction　of　the　noise。
He　was　a　small；　loose；　yet　alert　man；　very　thin；　with　a　face　that　seemed
made　out　of　fish　bones；　and　a　silk　hat　quite　as　rigid　and　resplendent
as　Warner's；　but　thrust　back　recklessly　on　the　hinder　part　of　his　head。

〃Murder！〃　he　shrieked；　in　a　high　and　feminine　but　very　penetrating　voice。
〃Stop　that　murderer　there！〃

Even　as　he　shrieked　a　second　shot　shook　the　lower　windows
of　the　house；　and　with　the　noise　of　it　Dr。　Herbert　Warner　came
flying　round　the　corner　like　a　leaping　rabbit。　　Yet　before
he　had　reached　the　group　a　third　discharge　had　deafened　them；
and　they　saw　with　their　own　eyes　two　spots　of　white　sky　drilled
through　the　second　of　the　unhappy　Herbert's　high　hats。
The　next　moment　the　fugitive　physician　fell　over　a　flowerpot；
and　came　down　on　all　floors；　staring　like　a　cow。　　The　hat　with
the　two　shot…holes　in　it　rolled　upon　the　gravel　path　before　him；
and　Innocent　Smith　came　round　the　corner　like　a　railway　train。
He　was　looking　twice　his　proper　sizea　giant　clad　in　green；
the　big　revolver　still　smoking　in　his　hand；　his　face　sanguine
and　in　shadow；　his　eyes　blazing　like　all　stars；　and　his　yellow
hair　standing　out　all　ways　like　Struwelpeter's。

Though　this　startling　scene　hung　but　an　instant　in　stillness；
Inglewood　had　time　to　feel　once　more　what　he　had　felt　when
he　saw　the　other　lovers　standing　on　the　lawnthe　sensation
of　a　certain　cut　and　coloured　clearness　that　belongs　rather
to　the　things　of　art　than　to　the　things　of　experience。
The　broken　flowerpot　with　its　red…hot　geraniums；　the　green
bulk　of　Smith　and　the　black　bulk　of　Warner；　the　blue…spiked
railings　behind；　clutched　by　the　stranger's　yellow　vulture
claws　and　peered　over　by　his　long　vulture　neck；　the　silk　hat
on　the　gravel；　and　the　little　cloudlet　of　smoke　floating
across　the　garden　as　innocently　as　the　puff　of　a　cigarette
all　these　seemed　unnaturally　distinct　and　definite。
They　existed；　like　symbols；　in　an　ecstasy　of　separation。
Indeed；　every　object　grew　more　and　more　particular
and　precious　because　the　whole　picture　was　breaking　up。
Things　look　so　bright　just　before　they　burst。

Long　before　his　fancies　had　begun；　let　alone　ceased；
Arthur　had　stepped　across　and　taken　one　of　Smith's　arms。
Simultaneously　the　little　stranger　had　run　up　the　steps　and　taken
the　other。　　Smith　went　into　peals　of　laughter；　and　surrendered
his　pistol　with　perfect　willingness。　　Moon　raised　the　doctor
to　his　feet；　and　then　went　and　leaned　sullenly　on　the　garden　gate。
The　girls　were　quiet　and　vigilant；　as　good　women　mostly
are　in　instants　of　catastrophe；　but　their　faces　showed　that；
somehow　or　other；　a　light　had　been　dashed　out　of　the　sky。
The　doctor　himself；　when　he　had　risen；　collected　his　hat　and　wits；
and　dusting　himself　down　with　an　air　of　great　disgust；　turned　to
them　in　brief　apology。　　He　was　very　white　with　his　recent　panic；
but　he　spoke　with　perfect　self…control。

〃You　will　excuse　us；　ladies；〃　he　said；　〃my　friend　and
Mr。　Inglewood　are　both　scientists　in　their　several　ways。
I　think　we　had　better　all　take　Mr。　Smith　indoors；　and　communicate
with　you　later。〃

And　under　the　guard　of　the　three　natural　philosophers　the　disarmed　Smith
was　led　tactfully　into　the　house；　still　roaring　with　laughter。

From　time　to　time　during　the　next　twenty　minutes　his　distant
boom　of　mirth　could　again　be　heard　through　the　half…open　window；
but　there　came　no　echo　of　the　quiet　voices　of　the　physicians。
The　girls　walked　about　the　garden　together；　rubbing　up　each　other's
spirits　as　best　they　might；　Michael　Moon　still　hung　heavily　against
the　gate。　　Somewhere　about　the　expiration　of　that　time　Dr。　Warner
came　out　of　the　house　with　a　face　less　pale　but　even　more　stern；
and　the　little　man　with　the　fish…bone　face　advanced　gravely　in　his　rear。
And　if　the　face　of　Warner　in　the　sunlight　was　that　of　a　hanging　judge；
the　face　of　the　little　man　behind　was　more　like　a　death's　head。

〃Miss　Hunt；〃　said　Dr。　Herbert　Warner；　〃I　only　wish　to　offer　you　my　warm
thanks　and　admiration。　　By　your　prompt　courage　and　wisdom　in　sending
for　us　by　wire　this　evening；　you　have　enabled　us　to　capture　and　put　out
of　mischief　one　of　the　most　cruel　and　terrible　of　the　enemies　of　humanity
a　criminal　whose　plausibility　and　pitilessness　have　never　been　before
combined　in　flesh。〃

Rosamund　looked　across　at　him　with　a　white；　blank　face　and　blinking　eyes。
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked。　　〃You　can't　mean　Mr。　Smith？〃

〃He　has　gone　by　many　other　names；〃　said　the　doctor　gravely；
〃and　not　one　he　did　not　leave　to　be　cursed　behind　him。　　That　man；
Miss　Hunt；　has　left　a　track　of　blood　and　tears　across　the　world。
Whether　he　is　mad　as　well　as　wicked；　we　are　trying；　in　the　interests
of　science；　to　discover。　　In　any　case；　we　shall　have　to　take　him
to　a　magistrate　first；　even　if　only　on　the　road　to　a　lunatic　asylum。
But　the　lunatic　asylum　in　which　he　is　confined　will　have　to　be
sealed　with　wall　within　wall；　and　ringed　with　guns　like　a　fortress；
or　he　will　break　out　again　to　bring　forth　carnage　and　darkness
on　the　earth。〃

Rosamund　looked　at　the　two　doctors；　her　face　growing　paler　and　paler。
Then　her　eyes　strayed　to　Michael；　who　was　leaning　on　the　gate；
but　he　continued　to　lean　on　it　without　moving；　with　his　face　turned
away　towards　the　darkening　road。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　V

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Allegorical　Practical　Joker


The　criminal　specialist　who　had　come　with　Dr。　Warner　was　a　somewhat　more
urbane　and　even　dapper　figure　than　he　had　appeared　when　clutching　the　railings
and　craning　his　neck　into　the　garden。　　He　even　looked　comparatively　young
when　he　took　his　hat　off；　having　fair　hair　parted　in　the　middle　and　carefully
curled　on　each　side；　and　lively　movements；　especially　of　the　hands。
He　had　a　dandified　monocle　slung　round　his　neck　by　a　broad　black　ribbon；
and　a　big　bow　tie；　as　if　a　big　American　moth　had　alighted　on　him。
His　dress　and　gestures　were　bright　enough　for　a　boy's；　it　was　only　when　you
looked　at　the　fish…bone　face　that　you　beheld　something　acrid　and　old。
His　manners　were　excellent；　though　hardly　English；　and　he　had　two
half…conscious　tricks　by　which　people　who　only　met　him　once　remembered　him。
One　was　a　trick　of　closing　his　eyes　when　he　wished　to　be　particularly　polite；
the　other　was　one　of　lifting　his　joined　thumb　and　forefinger　in　the　air　as　if
holding　a　pinch　of　snuff；　when　he　was　hesitating　or　hovering　over　a　word。
But　hose　who　were　longer　in　his　company　tended　to　forget　these　oddities
in　the　stream　of　his　quaint　and　solemn　conversation　and　really　singular　views。

〃Miss　Hunt；〃　said　Dr。　Warner；　〃this　is　Dr。　Cyrus　Pym。〃

Dr。　Cyrus　P