太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > benito cereno >

第12节

benito cereno-第12节

小说: benito cereno 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



 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

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的