benito cereno-第12节
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regulated mind is not free。 Meantime the agitation of the Spaniard had a little loosened the bunting from around him； so that one broad fold swept curtain…like over the chair…arm to the floor； revealing； amid a profusion of armorial bars and ground…colours… black； blue and yellow… a closed castle in a blood…red field diagonal with a lion rampant in a white。 〃The castle and the lion；〃 exclaimed Captain Delano… 〃why； Don Benito； this is the flag of Spain you use here。 It's well it's only I； and not the King； that sees this；〃 he added with a smile； 〃but〃… turning toward the black；… 〃it's all one； I suppose； so the colours be gay；〃 which playful remark did not fail somewhat to tickle the Negro。 〃Now； master；〃 he said； readjusting the flag； and pressing the head gently further back into the crotch of the chair； 〃now master；〃 and the steel glanced nigh the throat。 Again Don Benito faintly shuddered。 〃You must not shake so； master。… See； Don Amasa； master always shakes when I shave him。 And yet master knows I never yet have drawn blood； though it's true； if master will shake so； I may some of these times。 Now； master；〃 he continued。 〃And now； Don Amasa； please go on with your talk about the gale； and all that； master can hear； and between times master can answer。〃 〃Ah yes； these gales；〃 said Captain Delano； 〃but the more I think of your voyage； Don Benito； the more I wonder； not at the gales； terrible as they must have been； but at the disastrous interval following them。 For here； by your account； have you been these two months and more getting from Cape Horn to St。 Maria； a distance which I myself； with a good wind； have sailed in a few days。 True； you had calms； and long ones； but to be becalmed for two months； that is； at least； unusual。 Why； Don Benito； had almost any other gentleman told me such a story； I should have been half disposed to a little incredulity。〃 Here an involuntary expression came over the Spaniard； similar to that just before on the deck； and whether it was the start he gave； or a sudden gawky roll of the hull in the calm； or a momentary unsteadiness of the servant's hand； however it was； just then the razor drew blood； spots of which stained the creamy lather under the throat； immediately the black barber drew back his steel； and remaining in his professional attitude； back to Captain Delano； and face to Don Benito； held up the trickling razor； saying； with a sort of half humorous sorrow； 〃See； master；… you shook so… here's Babo's first blood。〃 No sword drawn before James the First of England； no assassination in that timid King's presence； could have produced a more terrified aspect than was now presented by Don Benito。 Poor fellow； thought Captain Delano； so nervous he can't even bear the sight of barber's blood； and this unstrung； sick man； is it credible that I should have imagined he meant to spill all my blood； who can't endure the sight of one little drop of his own？ Surely； Amasa Delano； you have been beside yourself this day。 Tell it not when you get home； sappy Amasa。 Well； well； he looks like a murderer； doesn't he？ More like as if himself were to be done for。 Well； well； this day's experience shall be a good lesson。 Meantime； while these things were running through the honest seaman's mind； the servant had taken the napkin from his arm； and to Don Benito had said： 〃But answer Don Amasa； please； master； while I wipe this ugly stuff off the razor； and strop it again。〃 As he said the words； his face was turned half round； so as to be alike visible to the Spaniard and the American； and seemed by its expression to hint； that he was desirous； by getting his master to go on with the conversation； considerately to withdraw his attention from the recent annoying accident。 As if glad to snatch the offered relief； Don Benito resumed； rehearsing to Captain Delano； that not only were the calms of unusual duration； but the ship had fallen in with obstinate currents and other things he added； some of which were but repetitions of former statements； to explain how it came to pass that the passage from Cape Horn to St。 Maria had been so exceedingly long； now and then mingling with his words； incidental praises； less qualified than before； to the blacks； for their general good conduct。 These particulars were not given consecutively； the servant now and then using his razor； and so； between the intervals of shaving； the story and panegyric went on with more than usual huskiness。 To Captain Delano's imagination； now again not wholly at rest； there was something so hollow in the Spaniard's manner； with apparently some reciprocal hollowness in the servant's dusky comment of silence； that the idea flashed across him； that possibly master and man； for some unknown purpose； were acting out； both in word and deed； nay； to the very tremor of Don Benito's limbs； some juggling play before him。 Neither did the suspicion of collusion lack apparent support； from the fact of those whispered conferences before mentioned。 But then； what could be the object of enacting this play of the barber before him？ At last； regarding the notion as a whimsy； insensibly suggested； perhaps； by the theatrical aspect of Don Benito in his harlequin ensign； Captain Delano speedily banished it。 The shaving over； the servant bestirred himself with a small bottle of scented waters； pouring a few drops on the head； and then diligently rubbing； the vehemence of the exercise causing the muscles of his face to twitch rather strangely。 His next operation was with comb； scissors and brush； going round and round； smoothing a curl here； clipping an unruly whisker…hair there； giving a graceful sweep to the temple…lock； with other impromptu touches evincing the hand of a master； while； like any resigned gentleman in barber's hands； Don Benito bore all； much less uneasily； at least； than he had done the razoring； indeed； he sat so pale and rigid now； that the Negro seemed a Nubian sculptor finishing off a white statue…head。 All being over at last； the standard of Spain removed； tumbled up； and tossed back into the flag…locker； the Negro's warm breath blowing away any stray hair which might have lodged down his master's neck； collar and cravat readjusted； a speck of lint whisked off the velvet lapel； all this being done； backing off a little space； and pausing with an expression of subdued self…complacency； the servant for a moment surveyed his master； as； in toilet at least； the creature of his own tasteful hands。 Captain Delano playfully complimented him upon his achievement； at the same time congratulating Don Benito。 But neither sweet waters； nor shampooing； nor fidelity； nor sociality； delighted the Spaniard。 Seeing him relapsing into forbidding gloom； and still remaining seated； Captain Delano； thinking that his presence was undesired just then； withdrew； on pretence of seeing whether； as he had prophesied； any signs of a breeze were visible。 Walking forward to the mainmast； he stood awhile thinking over the scene； and not without some undefined misgivings； when he heard a noise near the cuddy； and turning； saw the Negro； his hand to his cheek。 Advancing； Captain Delano perceived that the cheek was bleeding。 He was about to ask the cause； when the Negro's wailing soliloquy enlightened him。 〃Ah； when will master get better from his sickness； only the sour heart that sour sickness breeds made him serve Babo so； cutting Babo with the razor； because； only by accident； Babo had given master one little scratch； and for the first time in so many a day； too。 Ah； ah； ah；〃 holding his hand to his face。 Is it possible； thought Captain Delano； was it to wreak in private his Spanish spite against this poor friend of his； that Don Benito； by his sullen manner； impelled me to withdraw？ Ah； this slavery breeds ugly passions in man！ Poor fellow！ He was about to speak in sympathy to the Negro； but with a timid reluctance he now re…entered the cuddy。 Presently master and man came forth； Don Benito leaning on his servant as if nothing had happened。 But a sort of love…quarrel； after all； thought Captain Delano。 He accosted Don Benito； and they slowly walked together。 They had gone but a few paces； when the steward…a tall； rajah…looking mulatto； orientally set off with a pagoda turban formed by three or four Madras handkerchiefs wound about his head； tier on tier… approaching with a salaam； announced lunch in the cabin。 On their way thither； the two captains were preceded by the mulatto； who； turning round as he advanced； with continual smiles and bows； ushered them in； a display of elegance which quite completed the insignificance of the small bare…headed Babo； who； as if not unconscious of inferiority； eyed askance the graceful steward。 But in part； Captain Delano imputed his jealous watchfulness to that peculiar feeling which the full…blooded African entertains for the adulterated one。 As for the steward； his manner； if not bespeaking much dignity of self…respect； yet evidenced his extreme desire to please； which is doubly meritorious； as at once Christian and Chesterfieldian。 Captain Delano observed with interest that while the complexion of the mulatto was hybrid； his physiognomy w
