drift from two shores(漂流)-第30节
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body； how explain the circumstance of his taking off； how evade the
ubiquitous reporter and the coroner's inquest； how a suspicion might arise
that I had in some way； through negligence or for some dark purpose；
unknown to the jury； precipitated the catastrophe； all flashed before me。
Even the note； with its darkly suggestive offer of 〃good material〃 for me；
looked diabolically significant。 What might not an intelligent lawyer
make of it？
I tore it up instantly； and with feverish courtesy begged him to be
seated。
〃You don't care to feel it？〃 he asked； a little anxiously。
〃No。〃
〃Nor see it？〃
〃No。〃
He sighed； a trifle sadly； as if I had rejected the only favor he could
bestow。 I saw at once that he had been under frequent exhibition to the
doctors； and that he was； perhaps； a trifle vain of this attention。 This
perception was corroborated a moment later by his producing a copy of a
medical magazine； with a remark that on the sixth page I would find a full
statement of his case。
〃Could I serve him in any way？〃 I asked。
It appeared that I could。 If I could help him to any light employment；
something that did not require any great physical exertion or mental
excitement； he would be thankful。 But he wanted me to understand that
he was not； strictly speaking； a poor man； that some years before the
discovery of his fatal complaint he had taken out a life insurance policy
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for five thousand dollars； and that he had raked and scraped enough
together to pay it up； and that he would not leave his wife and four
children destitute。 〃You see；〃 he added； 〃if I could find some sort of light
work to do； and kinder sled along； you knowuntil〃
He stopped； awkwardly。
I have heard several noted actors thrill their audiences with a single
phrase。 I think I never was as honestly moved by any spoken word as
that 〃until；〃 or the pause that followed it。 He was evidently quite
unconscious of its effect； for as I took a seat beside him on the sofa； and
looked more closely in his waxen face； I could see that he was evidently
embarrassed； and would have explained himself further； if I had not
stopped him。
Possibly it was the dramatic idea； or possibly chance； but a few days
afterward； meeting a certain kind…hearted theatrical manager； I asked him
if he had any light employment for a man who was an invalid？ 〃Can he
walk？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Stand up for fifteen minutes？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Then I'll take
him。 He'll do for the last scene in the 'Destruction of Sennacherib'it's a
tremendous thing； you know。 We'll have two thousand people on the
stage。〃 I was a trifle alarmed at the title； and ventured to suggest
（without betraying my poor friend's secret that he could not actively
engage in the 〃Destruction of Sennacherib；〃 and that even the spectacle of
it might be too much for him。 〃Needn't see it at all；〃 said my managerial
friend； 〃put him in front； nothing to do but march in and march out； and
dodge curtain。〃
He was engaged。 I admit I was at times haunted by grave doubts as
to whether I should not have informed the manager of his physical
condition； and the possibility that he might some evening perpetrate a real
tragedy on the mimic stage； but on the first performance of 〃The
Destruction of Sennacherib；〃 which I conscientiously attended； I was
somewhat relieved。 I had often been amused with the placid way in
which the chorus in the opera invariably received the most astounding
information； and witnessed the most appalling tragedies by poison or the
block； without anything more than a vocal protest or command； always
delivered to the audience and never to the actors； but I think my poor
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friend's utter impassiveness to the wild carnage and the terrible exhibitions
of incendiarism that were going on around him transcended even that。
Dressed in a costume that seemed to be the very soul of anachronism； he
stood a little outside the proscenium； holding a spear； the other hand
pressed apparently upon the secret within his breast； calmly surveying；
with his waxen face； the gay auditorium。 I could not help thinking that
there was a certain pride visible even in his placid features； as of one who
was conscious that at any moment he might change this simulated
catastrophe into real terror。 I could not help saying this to the Doctor；
who was with me。 〃Yes；〃 he said with professional exactitude； 〃when it
happens he'll throw his arms up above his head； utter an ejaculation； and
fall forward on his face；it's a singular thing； they always fall forward on
their face；and they'll pick up the man as dead as Julius Caesar。〃
After that； I used to go night after night； with a certain hideous
fascination； but； while it will be remembered the 〃Destruction of
Sennacherib〃 had a tremendous run； it will also be remembered that not a
single life was really lost during its representation。
It was only a few weeks after this modest first appearance on the
boards of 〃The Man with an Aneurism；〃 that； happening to be at dinner
party of practical business men； I sought to interest them with the details
of the above story； delivered with such skill and pathos as I could
command。 I regret to say that； as a pathetic story； it for a moment
seemed to be a dead failure。 At last a prominent banker sitting next to me
turned to me with the awful question： 〃Why don't your friend try to realize
on his life insurance？〃 I begged his pardon； I didn't quite understand。
〃Oh； discount； sell out。 Look here（after a pause）。 Let him assign his
policy to me； it's not much of a risk； on your statement。 WellI'll give him
his five thousand dollars； clear。〃
And he did。 Under the advice of this cool…headedI think I may add
warm…heartedbanker； 〃The Man with an Aneurism〃 invested his money
in the name of and for the benefit of his wife in certain securities that paid
him a small but regular stipend。 But he still continued upon the boards of
the theatre。
By reason of some business engagements that called me away from the
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city； I did not see my friend the physician for three months afterward。
When I did I asked tidings of The Man with the Aneurism。 The Doctor's
kind face grew sad。 〃I'm afraidthat is； I don't exactly know whether I've
good news or bad。 Did you ever see his wife？〃
I never had。
〃Well； she was younger than he； and rather attractive。 One of those
doll…faced women。 You remember； he settled that life insurance policy
on her and the children： she might have waited； she didn't。 The other day
she eloped with some fellow； I don't remember his name； with the children
and the five thousand dollars。〃
〃And the shock killed him；〃 I said with poetic promptitude。
〃Nothat isnot yet； I saw him yesterday；〃 said the Doctor； with
conscientious professional precision； looking over his list of calls。
〃Well； where is the poor fellow now？〃
〃He's still at the theatre。 James； if these powders are called for； you'll
find them； here in this envelope。 Tell Mrs。 Blank I'll be there at seven
and she can give the baby this until I come。 Say there's no danger。 These
women are an awful bother！ Yes； he's at the theatre yet。 Which way are
you going？ Down town？ Why can't you step into my carriage； and I'll
give you a lift； and we'll
