condensed novels(压缩小说)-第13节
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Don't tell me that it wasn't a knocker。 I had seen it often enough； and
I ought to know。 So ought the three…o'clock beer； in dirty high…lows；
swinging himself over the railing； or executing a demoniacal jig upon the
doorstep； so ought the butcher； although butchers as a general thing are
scornful of such trifles； so ought the postman； to whom knockers of the
most extravagant description were merely human weaknesses； that were to
be pitied and used。 And so ought； for the matter of that； etc。； etc。； etc。
But then it was SUCH a knocker。 A wild； extravagant； and utterly
incomprehensible knocker。 A knocker so mysterious and suspicious that
Policeman X 37； first coming upon it； felt inclined to take it instantly in
custody； but compromised with his professional instincts by sharply and
sternly noting it with an eye that admitted of no nonsense； but confidently
expected to detect its secret yet。 An ugly knocker； a knocker with a hard；
human face； that was a type of the harder human face within。 A human
face that held between its teeth a brazen rod。 So hereafter； in the
mysterious future should be held； etc。； etc。
But if the knocker had a fierce human aspect in the glare of day； you
should have seen it at night； when it peered out of the gathering shadows
and suggested an ambushed figure； when the light of the street lamps fell
upon it； and wrought a play of sinister expression in its hard outlines；
when it seemed to wink meaningly at a shrouded figure who； as the night
fell darkly； crept up the steps and passed into the mysterious house； when
the swinging door disclosed a black passage into which the figure seemed
to lose itself and become a part of the mysterious gloom； when the night
grew boisterous and the fierce wind made furious charges at the knocker；
as if to wrench it off and carry it away in triumph。 Such a night as this。
It was a wild and pitiless wind。 A wind that had commenced life as a
gentle country zephyr； but wandering through manufacturing towns had
become demoralized； and reaching the city had plunged into extravagant
dissipation and wild excesses。 A roistering wind that indulged in
Bacchanalian shouts on the street corners； that knocked off the hats from
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the heads of helpless passengers； and then fulfilled its duties by speeding
away； like all young prodigals； to sea。
He sat alone in a gloomy library listening to the wind that roared in the
chimney。 Around him novels and story…books were strewn thickly； in his
lap he held one with its pages freshly cut； and turned the leaves wearily
until his eyes rested upon a portrait in its frontispiece。 And as the wind
howled the more fiercely； and the darkness without fell blacker； a strange
and fateful likeness to that portrait appeared above his chair and leaned
upon his shoulder。 The Haunted Man gazed at the portrait and sighed。 The
figure gazed at the portrait and sighed too。
〃Here again？〃 said the Haunted Man。
〃Here again；〃 it repeated in a low voice。
〃Another novel？〃
〃Another novel。〃
〃The old story？〃
〃The old story。〃
〃I see a child；〃 said the Haunted Man； gazing from the pages of the
book into the fire；〃a most unnatural child； a model infant。 It is
prematurely old and philosophic。 It dies in poverty to slow music。 It dies
surrounded by luxury to slow music。 It dies with an accompaniment of
golden water and rattling carts to slow music。 Previous to its decease it
makes a will； it repeats the Lord's Prayer； it kisses the 'boofer lady。' That
child〃
〃Is mine；〃 said the phantom。
〃I see a good woman； undersized。 I see several charming women； but
they are all undersized。 They are more or less imbecile and idiotic； but
always fascinating and undersized。 They wear coquettish caps and aprons。
I observe that feminine virtue is invariably below the medium height； and
that it is always simple and infantine。 These women〃
〃Are mine。〃
〃I see a haughty； proud； and wicked lady。 She is tall and queenly。 I
remark that all proud and wicked women are tall and queenly。 That
woman〃
〃Is mine；〃 said the phantom； wringing his hands。
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〃I see several things continually impending。 I observe that whenever
an accident； a murder； or death is about to happen； there is something in
the furniture； in the locality； in the atmosphere； that foreshadows and
suggests it years in advance。 I cannot say that in real life I have noticed it；…
…the perception of this surprising fact belongs〃
〃To me！〃 said the phantom。 The Haunted Man continued； in a
despairing tone：
〃I see the influence of this in the magazines and daily papers； I see
weak imitators rise up and enfeeble the world with senseless formula。 I am
getting tired of it。 It won't do； Charles！ it won't do！〃 and the Haunted Man
buried his head in his hands and groaned。 The figure looked down upon
him sternly： the portrait in the frontispiece frowned as he gazed。
〃Wretched man；〃 said the phantom； 〃and how have these things
affected you？〃
〃Once I laughed and cried； but then I was younger。 Now； I would
forget them if I could。〃
〃Have then your wish。 And take this with you； man whom I renounce。
From this day henceforth you shall live with those whom I displace。
Without forgetting me； 't will be your lot to walk through life as if we had
not met。 But first you shall survey these scenes that henceforth must be
yours。 At one to…night； prepare to meet the phantom I have raised。
Farewell！〃
The sound of its voice seemed to fade away with the dying wind； and
the Haunted Man was alone。 But the firelight flickered gayly； and the light
danced on the walls； making grotesque figures of the furniture。
〃Ha； ha！〃 said the Haunted Man； rubbing his hands gleefully； 〃now for
a whiskey punch and a cigar。〃
BOOK II。
THE SECOND PHANTOM。
One！ The stroke of the far…off bell had hardly died before the front
door closed with a reverberating clang。 Steps were heard along the passage；
the library door swung open of itself； and the Knockeryes； the Knocker
slowly strode into the room。 The Haunted Man rubbed his eyes；no！ there
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could be no mistake about it；it was the Knocker's face； mounted on a
misty； almost imperceptible body。 The brazen rod was transferred from its
mouth to its right hand； where it was held like a ghostly truncheon。
〃It's a cold evening；〃 said the Haunted Man。
〃It is；〃 said the Goblin； in a hard； metallic voice。
〃It must be pretty cold out there；〃 said the Haunted Man； with vague
politeness。 〃Do you everwill youtake some hot water and brandy？〃
〃No；〃 said the Goblin。
〃Perhaps you'd like it cold； by way of change？〃 continued the Haunted
Man； correcting himself； as he remembered the peculiar temperature with
which the Goblin was probably familiar。
〃Time flies；〃 said the Goblin coldly。 〃We have no leisure for idle talk。
Come！〃 He moved his ghostly truncheon toward the window； and laid his
hand upon the other's arm。 At his touch the body of the Haunted Man
seemed to become as thin and incorporeal as that of the Goblin himself；
and together they glided out of the window into the black and blowy night。
In the rapidity of their flight the senses of the Haunted Man seemed to
leave him。 At length they stopped suddenly。
〃What do you see？〃 asked the Goblin。
〃I see a battlemented mediaeval castle。 Gallant men in mail ride over
the drawbridge； and kiss their gauntleted fingers to fair ladies； who wave
their lily hands in return。 I see fight and fray and tournament。 I hear
roaring heralds bawling the charms of delicate women； and shamelessly
proclaiming their lovers。 Stay。 I see a Jewess abou
