太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > whirligigs >

第44节

whirligigs-第44节

小说: whirligigs 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!




rollicking angle; a shining tin helmet。  The costume was

to be instantly recognized as one of those amazing con…

ceptions to which competition has harried the inventors

of the spectacular ballet。  One of the officers bore a long

cloak upon his axm; which; doubtless; had been intended

to veil the I candid attractions of their effulgent prisoner;

but; for some reason; it had not been called into use; to

the vociferous delight of the tail of the procession。



Compelled by a sudden and vigorous movement of the

woman; the parade halted before the window by which

Lorison stood。  He saw that she was young; and; at the

first glance; was deceived by a sophistical prettiness of her

face; which waned before a more judicious scrutiny。

Her look was bold and reckless; and upon her countenance;

where yet the contours of youth survived; were the finger…

marks of old age's credentialed courier; Late Hours。



The young woman fixed her unshrinking gaze upon

Lorison; and called to him in the voice of the wronged

heroine in straits:



〃Say!  You look like a good fellow; come and put up

the bail; won't you?  I've done nothing to get pinched

for。  It's all a mistake。  See how they're treating me!

You won't be sorry; if you'll help me out of this。  Think

of your sister or your girl being dragged along the streets

this way!  I say; come along now; like a good fellow。〃



It may be that Lorison; in spite of the unconvincing

bathos of this appeal; showed a sympathetic face; for one

of the officers left the woman's side; and went over to

him。



〃It's all right; Sir;〃 he said; in a husky; confidential

tone; 〃she's the right party。  We took her after the first

act at the Green Light Theatre; on a wire from the chief

of police of Chicago。  It's only a square or two to the

station。  Her rig's pretty bad; but she refused to change

clothes  or; rather;〃 added the officer; with a smile;

〃to put on some。  I thought I'd explain matters to

you so you wouldn't think she was being imposed

upon。〃



〃What is the charge?〃  asked Lorison。



〃Grand larceny。  Diamonds。  Her husband is a

jeweller in Chicago。  She cleaned his show case of the

sparklers; and skipped with a comic…opera troupe。〃



The policeman; perceiving that the interest of the entire

group of spectators was centred upon himself and Lorison

 their conference being regarded as a possible new com…

plication  was fain to prolong the situation  which

reflected his own importance  by a little afterpiece of

philosophical comment。



〃A gentleman like you; Sir;〃 he went on affably;

〃would never notice it; but it comes in my line to observe

what an immense amount of trouble is made by that com…

bination  I mean the stage; diamonds and light…headed

women who aren't satisfied with good homes。  I tell

you; Sir; a man these days and nights wants to know what

his women folks are up to。〃



The policeman smiled a good night; and returned to

the side of his charge; who had been intently watching

Lorison's face during the conversation; no doubt for

some indication of his intention to render succour。  Now;

at the failure of the sign; and at the movement made to

continue the ignominious progress; she abandoned hope;

and addressed him thus; pointedly:



〃You damn chalk…faced quitter!  You was thinking

of giving me a hand; but you let the cop talk you out of

it the first word。  You're a dandy to tie to。  Say; if you

ever get a girl; she'll have a picnic。  Won't she work

you to the queen's taste!  Oh; my!〃  She concluded

with a taunting; shrill laugh that rasped Lorison like a

saw。  The policemen urged her forward; the delighted

train of gaping followers closed up the rear; and the

captive Amazon; accepting her fate; extended the scope

of her maledictions so that none in hearing might seem

to be slighted。



Then there came upon Lorison an overwhelming

revulsion of his perspective。  It may be that he had

been ripe for it; that the abnormal condition of mind in

which he had for so long existed was already about to

revert to its balance; however; it is certain that the events

of the last few minutes had furnished the channel; if not

the impetus; for the change。



The initial determining influence had been so small

a thing as the fact and manner of his having been

approached by the officer。  That agent had; by the style

of his accost; restored the loiterer to his former place in

society。  In an instant he had been transformed from

a somewhat rancid prowler along the fishy side streets of

gentility into an honest gentleman; with whom even so

lordly a guardian of the peace might agreeably exchange

the compliments。



This; then; first broke the spell; and set thrilling in him

a resurrected longing for the fellowship of his kind; and

the rewards of the virtuous。  To what end; he vehemently

asked himself; was this fanciful self…accusation; this

empty renunciation; this moral squeamishness through

which he had been led to abandon what was his heritage

in life; and not beyond his deserts?  Technically; he was

uncondemned; his sole guilty spot was in thought rather

than deed; and cognizance of it unshared by others。  For

what good; moral or sentimental; did he slink; retreating

like the hedgehog from his own shadow; to and fro in this

musty Bohemia that lacked even the picturesque?



But the thing that struck home and set him raging was

the part played by the Amazonian prisoner。  To the

counterpart of that astounding belligerent  identical

at least; in the way of experience  to one; by her own

confession; thus far fallen; had he; not three hours since;

been united in marriage。  How desirable and natural it

had seemed to him then; and how monstrous it seemed

now!  How the words of diamond thief number two yet

burned in his ears: 〃If you ever get a cirl; she'll have a

picnic。  What did that that this women instinc…

tively knew him for one they could hoodwink?  Still again;

there reverberated the policeman's sapient contribution

to his agony: 〃A man these days and nights wants to

know what his women folks are up to。〃  Oh; yes; he had

been a fool; he had looked at things from the wrong

standpoint。



But the wildest note in all the clamour was struck by

pain's forefinger; jealousy。  Now; at least; he felt that

keenest sting  a mounting love unworthily bestowed。

Whatever she might be; he loved her; he bore in his own

breast his doom。  A grating; comic flavour to his pre…

dicament struck him suddenly; and he laughed creakingly

as he swung down the echoing pavement。  An impetuous

desire to act; to battle with his fate; seized him。  He

stopped upon his heel; and smote his palms together

triumphantly。  His wife was  where?  But there was

a tangible link; an outlet more or less navigable; through

which his derelict ship of matrimony might yet be safely

towed  the priest!



Like all imaginative men with pliable natures; Lorison

was; when thoroughly stirred; apt to become tempest…

uous。  With a high and stubborn indignation upon him;

be retraced his steps to the intersecting street by which

he had come。  Down this he hurried to the corner where

he had parted with  an astringent grimace tinctured the

thought  his wife。  Thence still back he harked; follow…

ing through an unfamiliar district his stimulated recollec…

tions of the way they had come from that preposterous

wedding。  Many times he went abroad; and nosed his

way back to; the trail; furious。



At last; when he reached the dark; calamitous building

in which his madness had culminated; and found the

black hallway; he dashed down it; perceiving no light

or sound。  But he raised his voice; hailing loudly; reckless

of everything but that he should find the old mischief…

maker with the eyes that looked too far awav to see the

disaster he had wrought。  The door opened; and in the

stream of light Father Rogan stood; his book in hand;

with his finger marking the place。



〃Ah!〃  cried Lorison。  〃You are the man I want。  I

had a wife of you a few hours ago。  I would not trouble

you; but I neglected to note how it was done。  Will you

oblige me with the information whether the business is

beyond remedy?〃



〃Come inside;〃 said the priest;  〃there are other lodgers

in the house; who might prefer sleep to even a gratified

curiosity。〃



Lorison entered the room and took the chair offered

him。  The priest's eyes looked a courteous interrogation。



〃I must apologize again;〃 said the young man; 〃for so

soon intruding upon you with my marital infelicities;

but; as my wife has neglected to furnish me with her

address; I am deprived of the legitimate recourse of a

family row。〃



〃I am quite a plain man;〃 said Father Rogan; pleas…

antly; 〃but I do not see how I am to ask you questions。〃



〃Pardon my indirectness;〃 said Lorison; 〃I will ask

one。  In this room to…night you pronounced me to b

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的