the research magnificent-第37节

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ced　individual　in　the　corner；　disappeared；　and　the　world　without　became　eloquent。　　Presently　he　returned　and　announced　that　a　carozza　was　practicable。　　It　had　been　difficult；　but　he　had　contrived　it。　　And　he　remained　hovering　over　the　conclusion　of　their　meal；　asking　questions　about　Amanda's　mountaineering　and　expressing　incredulous　admiration。　His　bill；　which　he　presented　with　an　uneasy　flourish；　was　large　and　included　the　carozza。　He　ushered　them　out　to　the　carriage　with　civilities　and　compliments。　It　had　manifestly　been　difficult　and　contrived。　　It　was　dusty　and　blistered；　there　had　been　a　hasty　effort　to　conceal　its　recent　use　as　a　hen…roost；　the　harness　was　mended　with　string。　　The　horse　was　gaunt　and　scandalous；　a　dirty　white；　and　carried　its　head　apprehensively。　　The　driver　had　but　one　eye；　through　which　there　gleamed　a　concentrated　hatred　of　God　and　man。　〃No　wonder　he　charged　for　it　before　we　saw　it；〃　said　Benham。　〃It's　better　than　walking；〃　said　Amanda。　The　company　in　the　inn　gathered　behind　the　landlord　and　scrutinized　Amanda　and　Benham　intelligently。　　The　young　couple　got　in。　〃Avanti；〃　said　Benham；　and　Amanda　bestowed　one　last　ineradicable　memory　on　the　bowing　landlord。　Benham　did　not　speak　until　just　after　they　turned　the　first　corner；　and　then　something　portentous　happened；　considering　the　precipitous　position　of　the　road　they　were　upon。　　A　small　boy　appeared　sitting　in　the　grass　by　the　wayside；　and　at　the　sight　of　him　the　white　horse　shied　extravagantly。　　The　driver　rose　in　his　seat　ready　to　jump。　But　the　crisis　passed　without　a　smash。　　〃Cheetah！〃　cried　Amanda　suddenly。　　〃This　isn't　safe。〃　　〃Ah！〃　said　Benham；　and　began　to　act　with　the　vigour　of　one　who　has　long　accumulated　force。　　He　rose　in　his　place　and　gripped　the　one…eyed　driver　by　the　collar。　　〃ASPETTO；〃　he　said；　but　he　meant　〃Stop！〃　　The　driver　understood　that　he　meant　〃Stop；〃　and　obeyed。　Benham　wasted　no　time　in　parleying　with　the　driver。　　He　indicated　to　him　and　to　Amanda　by　a　comprehensive　gesture　that　he　had　business　with　the　landlord；　and　with　a　gleaming　appetite　upon　his　face　went　running　back　towards　the　inn。　The　landlord　was　sitting　down　to　a　little　game　of　dominoes　with　his　friends　when　Benham　reappeared　in　the　sunlight　of　the　doorway。　There　was　no　misunderstanding　Benham's　expression。　For　a　moment　the　landlord　was　disposed　to　be　defiant。　　Then　he　changed　his　mind。　　Benham's　earnest　face　was　within　a　yard　of　his　own；　and　a　threatening　forefinger　was　almost　touching　his　nose。　〃Albergo　cattivissimo；〃　said　Benham。　　〃Cattivissimo！　　Pranzo　cattivissimo　'orrido。　　Cavallo　cattivissimo；　dangerousissimo。　　Gioco　abominablissimo；　damnissimo。　　Capisce。　　Eh？〃　*

*　This　is　vile　Italian。　　It　maywith　a　certain　charity　to　Benham　be　rendered：　〃The　beastliest　inn！　　The　beastliest！　　The　beastliest；　most　awful　lunch！　　The　vilest　horse！　　Most　dangerous！　　Abominable　trick！　　Understand？〃

The　landlord　made　deprecatory　gestures。　〃YOU　understand　all　right；〃　said　Benham。　　〃Da　me　il　argento　per　il　carozzo。　　Subito？〃　*

*　〃Give　me　back　the　money　for　the　carriage。　　QUICKLY！〃

The　landlord　was　understood　to　ask　whether　the　signor　no　longer　wished　for　the　carriage。　〃SUBITO！〃　cried　Benham；　and　giving　way　to　a　long…restrained　impulse　seized　the　padrone　by　the　collar　of　his　coat　and　shook　him　vigorously。　There　were　dissuasive　noises　from　the　company；　but　no　attempt　at　rescue。　　Benham　released　his　hold。　〃Adesso！〃　said　Benham。　*

*　〃NOW！〃

The　landlord　decided　to　disgorge。　　It　was　at　any　rate　a　comfort　that　the　beautiful　lady　was　not　seeing　anything　of　this。　　And　he　could　explain　afterwards　to　his　friends　that　the　Englishman　was　clearly　a　lunatic；　deserving　pity　rather　than　punishment。　　He　made　some　sound　of　protest；　but　attempted　no　delay　in　refunding　the　money　Benham　had　prepaid。　　Outside　sounded　the　wheels　of　the　returning　carriage。　They　stopped。　　Amanda　appeared　in　the　doorway　and　discovered　Benham　dominant。　He　was　a　little　short　of　breath；　and　as　she　came　in　he　was　addressing　the　landlord　with　much　earnestness　in　the　following　compact　sentences。　〃Attendez！　　Ecco！　　Adesso　noi　andiamo　con　questa　cattivissimo　cavallo　a　Piedimulera。　　Si　noi　arrivero　in　safety；　securo　that　is；　pagaremo。　　Non　altro。　　Si　noi　abbiamo　accidento　DioDio　have　mercy　on　your　sinful　soul。　　See！　　Capisce？　　That's　all。〃　*

*　〃Now　we　will　go　with　this　beastly　horse　to　Piedimulera。　　If　we　get　there　safely　I　will　pay。　　If　we　have　an　accident；　then〃

He　turned　to　Amanda。　　〃Get　back　into　the　thing；〃　he　said。　　〃We　won't　have　these　stinking　beasts　think　we　are　afraid　of　the　job。　　I've　just　made　sure　he　won't　have　a　profit　by　it　if　we　smash　up。　　That's　all。　　I　might　have　known　what　he　was　up　to　when　he　wanted　the　money　beforehand。〃　　He　came　to　the　doorway　and　with　a　magnificent　gesture　commanded　the　perplexed　driver　to　turn　the　carriage。　While　that　was　being　done　he　discoursed　upon　his　adjacent　fellow…　creatures。　　〃A　man　who　pays　beforehand　for　anything　in　this　filthy　sort　of　life　is　a　fool。　　You　see　the　standards　of　the　beast。　　They　think　of　nothing　but　their　dirty　little　tricks　to　get　profit；　their　garlic；　their　sour　wine；　their　games　of　dominoes；　their　moments　of　lust。　　They　crawl　in　this　place　like　cockroaches　in　a　warm　corner　of　the　fireplace　until　they　die。　　Look　at　the　scabby　frontage　of　the　house。　　Look　at　the　men's　faces。　。　。　。　　Yes。　　So！　　Adequato。　Aspettate。　。　。　。　　Get　back　into　the　carriage；　Amanda。〃　〃You　know　it's　dangerous；　Cheetah。　　The　horse　is　a　shier。　　That　man　is　blind　in　one　eye。〃　〃Get　back　into　the　carriage；〃　said　Benham；　whitely　angry。　　〃I　AM　GOING　TO　DRIVE！〃　〃But！〃　Just　for　a　moment　Amanda　looked　scared。　　Then　with　a　queer　little　laugh　she　jumped　in　again。　Amanda　was　never　a　coward　when　there　was　excitement　afoot。　　〃We'll　smash！〃　she　cried；　by　no　means　woefully。　〃Get　up　beside　me；〃　said　Benham　speaking　in　English　to　the　driver　but　with　a　gesture　that　translated　him。　　Power　over　men　radiated　from　Benham　in　this　angry　mood。　　He　took　the　driver's　seat。　　The　little　driver　ascended　and　then　with　a　grim　calmness　that　brooked　no　resistance　Benham　reached　over；　took　and　fastened　the　apron　over　their　knees　to　prevent　any　repetition　of　the　jumping　out　tactics。　The　recovering　landlord　became　voluble　in　the　doorway。　〃In　Piedimulera　pagero；〃　said　Benham　over　his　shoulder　and　brought　the　whip　across　the　white　outstanding　ribs。　　〃Get　up！〃　said　Benham。　Amanda　gripped　the　sides　of　the　seat　as　the　carriage　started　into　motion。　He　laid　the　whip　on　again　with　such　vigour　that　the　horse　forgot　altogether　to　shy　at　the　urchin　that　had　scared　it　before。　〃Amanda；〃　said　Benham　leaning　back。　　〃If　we　do　happen　to　go　over　on　THAT　side；　jump　out。　　It's　all　clear　and　wide　for　you。　　This　side　won't　matter　so〃　〃MIND！〃　screamed　Amanda　and　recalled　him　to　his　duties。　　He　was　off　the　road　and　he　had　narrowly　missed　an　outstanding　chestnut　true。　〃No；　you　don't；〃　said　Benham　presently；　and　again　their　career　became　erratic　for　a　time　as　after　a　slight　struggle　he　replaced　the　apron　over　the　knees　of　the　deposed　driver。　　It　had　been　furtively　released。　　After　that　Benham　kept　an　eye　on　it　that　might　have　been　better　devoted　to　the　road。　The　road　went　down　in　a　series　of　curves　and　corners。　　Now　and　then　there　were　pacific　interludes　when　it　might　have　been　almost　any　road。　　Then；　again；　it　became　specifically　an　Italian　mountain　road。　Now　and　then　only　a　row　of　all　too　infrequent　granite　stumps　separated　them　from　a　sheer　precipice。　　Some　of　the　corners　were　miraculous；　and　once　they　had　a　wheel　in　a　ditch　for　a　time；　they　shaved　the　parapet　of　a　bridge　over　a　gorge　and　they　drove　a　cyclist　into　a　patch　of　maize；　they　narrowly　missed　a　goat　and　jumped　three　gullies；　thrice　the　horse　stumbled　and　was　jerked　up　in　time；　there　were　sickening　moments；　and　withal　they　got　down　to　Piedimulera　unbroken　and　unspilt。　　It　helped　perhaps　that　the　brake；　with　its　handle　like　a　barrel　organ；　had　been　screwed　up　before　Benham　took　control。　　And　when　they　were　fairly　on　the　level　outside　the　town　Benham　suddenly　pulled　up；　relinquished　the　driving　into　the　proper　hands　and　came　into　the　carriage　with　Amanda。　〃Safe　now；〃　he　said　compactly。　　The　driver　appeared　to　be　murmuring　prayers　very　softly　as　he　examined　the　brake。　Amanda　was　struggling　with　profound　problems。　　〃Why　didn't　you　drive　down　in　the　first　place？〃　she　asked。　　〃Without　going　back。〃　〃The　landlord　annoyed　me；〃　he　said。　　〃I　had　to　go　back。　。　。　。　　I　wish　I　had　kicked　him。　　Hairy　beast！　　If　anything　had　happened；　you　see；　he　would　have　had　his　mean　money。　　I　couldn't　bear　to　leave　him。〃　〃And　why　didn't　you　let　HIM　drive？〃　　She　indicated　the　driver　by　a　motion　of　the　head。　〃I　was　angry；〃　said　Benham。　　〃I　was　angry　at　the　whole　thing。〃　〃Still〃　〃You　see　I　think　I　did　that　because　he　might　have　jumped　off　if　I　hadn't　been　up　there　to　prevent　himI　mean　if　we　had　had　a　smash。　I　didn't　want　him　to　get　out　of　it。〃　〃But　you　too〃　〃You　see　I　was　angry。　。　。　。〃　〃It's　been　as　good　as　a　switchback；〃　said　Amanda　after　reflection。　〃But　weren't　you　a　little　careless　about　me；　Cheetah？〃　〃I　never　thought　of　you；〃　said　Benham；　and　then　as　if　he　felt　that　inadequate：　〃You　seeI　was　so　annoyed。　　It's　odd　at　times　how　annoyed　one　gets。　　Suddenly　when　that　horse　shied　I　realized　what　a　beastly　business　life　wasa