第4章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A House to Let",免费读到尾

  stationtoreporthisproceedings。Hecouldhavetakenherdirectly;buthisobjectwas,ifpossible,totraceoutthemanwhowassupposedtohavecommittedtherobbery。Thenheheardofthediscoveryofthebrooch;andconsequentlydidnotcaretoreturn。

  Norahslepttilleventhesummereveningbegantoclosein。Thenup。Someonewasatthedoor。ItwouldbeMr。Frank;andshedizzilypushedbackherruffledgreyhair,whichhadfallenoverhereyes,andstoodlookingtoseehim。Instead,therecameinMr。

  Openshawandapoliceman。

  \"ThisisNorahKennedy,\"saidMr。Openshaw。

  \"O,sir,\"saidNorah,\"Ididnottouchthebrooch;indeedIdidnot。

  O,sir,Icannotlivetobethoughtsobadlyof;\"andverysickandfaint,shesuddenlysankdownontheground。Tohersurprise,Mr。

  Openshawraisedherupverytenderly。Eventhepolicemanhelpedtolayheronthesofa;and,atMr。Openshaw\'sdesire,hewentforsomewineandsandwiches;forthepoorgauntwomanlaytherealmostasifdeadwithwearinessandexhaustion。

  \"Norah!\"saidMr。Openshaw,inhiskindestvoice,\"thebroochisfound。ItwashangingtoMrs。Chadwick\'sgown。Ibegyourpardon。

  MosttrulyIbegyourpardon,forhavingtroubledyouaboutit。Mywifeisalmostbroken-hearted。Eat,Norah,——or,stay,firstdrinkthisglassofwine,\"saidhe,liftingherhead,pouringalittledownherthroat。

  Asshedrank,sherememberedwhereshewas,andwhoshewaswaitingfor。ShesuddenlypushedMr。Openshawaway,saying,\"O,sir,youmustgo。Youmustnotstopaminute。Ifhecomesbackhewillkillyou。\"

  \"Alas,Norah!Idonotknowwho\'he\'is。Butsomeoneisgoneawaywhowillnevercomeback:someonewhoknewyou,andwhomIamafraidyoucaredfor。\"

  \"Idon\'tunderstandyou,sir,\"saidNorah,hermaster\'skindandsorrowfulmannerbewilderingheryetmorethanhiswords。ThepolicemanhadlefttheroomatMr。Openshaw\'sdesire,andtheytwowerealone。

  \"YouknowwhatImean,whenIsaysomeoneisgonewhowillnevercomeback。Imeanthatheisdead!\"

  \"Who?\"saidNorah,tremblingallover。

  \"ApoormanhasbeenfoundintheThamesthismorning,drowned。\"

  \"Didhedrownhimself?\"askedNorah,solemnly。

  \"Godonlyknows,\"repliedMr。Openshaw,inthesametone。\"Yournameandaddressatourhouse,werefoundinhispocket:that,andhispurse,weretheonlythings,thatwerefounduponhim。Iamsorrytosayit,mypoorNorah;butyouarerequiredtogoandidentifyhim。\"

  \"Towhat?\"askedNorah。

  \"Tosaywhoitis。Itisalwaysdone,inorderthatsomereasonmaybediscoveredforthesuicide——ifsuicideitwas。Imakenodoubthewasthemanwhocametoseeyouatourhouselastnight。Itisverysad,Iknow。\"Hemadepausesbetweeneachlittleclause,inordertotryandbringbackhersenses;whichhefearedwerewandering——sowildandsadwasherlook。

  \"MasterOpenshaw,\"saidshe,atlast,\"I\'veadreadfulsecrettotellyou——onlyyoumustneverbreatheittoanyone,andyouandI

  musthideitawayforever。Ithoughttohavedoneitallbymyself,butIseeIcannot。Yonpoorman——yes!thedead,drownedcreatureis,Ifear,Mr。Frank,mymistress\'sfirsthusband!\"

  Mr。Openshawsatedown,asifshot。Hedidnotspeak;but,afterawhile,hesignedtoNorahtogoon。

  \"Hecametometheothernight——when——Godbethanked——youwereallawayatRichmond。Heaskedmeifhiswifewasdeadoralive。Iwasabrute,andthoughtmoreofourallcominghomethanofhissoretrial:spokeoutsharp,andsaidshewasmarriedagain,andverycontentandhappy:Iallbutturnedhimaway:andnowheliesdeadandcold!\"

  \"Godforgiveme!\"saidMr。Openshaw。

  \"Godforgiveusall!\"saidNorah。\"Yonpoormanneedsforgivenessperhapslessthananyoneamongus。Hehadbeenamongthesavages——

  shipwrecked——Iknownotwhat——andhehadwrittenletterswhichhadneverreachedmypoormissus。\"

  \"Hesawhischild!\"

  \"Hesawher——yes!Itookhimup,togivehisthoughtsanotherstart;forIbelievedhewasgoingmadonmyhands。Icametoseekhimhere,asImorethanhalfpromised。MymindmisgavemewhenI

  heardhehadnevercomein。O,sirIitmustbehim!\"

  Mr。Openshawrangthebell。Norahwasalmosttoomuchstunnedtowonderatwhathedid。Heaskedforwritingmaterials,wrotealetter,andthensaidtoNorah:

  \"IamwritingtoAlice,tosayIshallbeunavoidablyabsentforafewdays;thatIhavefoundyou;thatyouarewell,andsendheryourlove,andwillcomehometo-morrow。YoumustgowithmetothePoliceCourt;youmustidentifythebody:Iwillpayhightokeepname;anddetailsoutofthepapers。

  \"Butwhereareyougoing,sir?\"

  Hedidnotanswerherdirectly。Thenhesaid:

  \"Norah!Imustgowithyou,andlookonthefaceofthemanwhomI

  havesoinjured,——unwittingly,itistrue;butitseemstomeasifIhadkilledhim。Iwilllayhisheadinthegrave,asifheweremyonlybrother:andhowhemusthavehatedme!IcannotgohometomywifetillallthatIcandoforhimisdone。ThenIgowithadreadfulsecretonmymind。Ishallneverspeakofitagain,afterthesedaysareover。Iknowyouwillnot,either。\"Heshookhandswithher:andtheynevernamedthesubjectagain,theonetotheother。

  NorahwenthometoAlicethenextday。Notawordwassaidonthecauseofherabruptdepartureadayortwobefore。Alicehadbeenchargedbyherhusbandinhisletternottoalludetothesupposedtheftofthebrooch;soshe,implicitlyobedienttothosewhomshelovedbothbynatureandhabit,wasentirelysilentonthesubject,onlytreatedNorahwiththemosttenderrespect,asiftomakeupforunjustsuspicion。

  NordidAliceinquireintothereasonwhyMr。Openshawhadbeenabsentduringhisuncleandaunt\'svisit,afterhehadoncesaidthatitwasunavoidable。Hecameback,graveandquiet;and,fromthattimeforth,wascuriouslychanged。Morethoughtful,andperhapslessactive;quiteasdecidedinconduct,butwithnewanddifferentrulesfortheguidanceofthatconduct。TowardsAlicehecouldhardlybemorekindthanhehadalwaysbeen;buthenowseemedtolookuponherassomeonesacredandtobetreatedwithreverence,aswellastenderness。Hethroveinbusiness,andmadealargefortune,onehalfofwhichwassettleduponher。

  Longyearsaftertheseevents,——afewmonthsafterhermotherdied,Ailsieandher\"father\"asshealwayscalledMr。Openshawdrovetoacemeteryalittlewayoutoftown,andshewascarriedtoacertainmoundbyhermaid,whowasthensentbacktothecarriage。

  Therewasahead-stone,withF。W。andadate。Thatwasall。

  Sittingbythegrave,Mr。Openshawtoldherthestory;andforthesadfateofthatpoorfatherwhomshehadneverseen,heshedtheonlytearssheeversawfallfromhiseyes。

  ***

  \"Amostinterestingstory,allthrough,\"Isaid,asJarberfoldedupthefirstofhisseriesofdiscoveriesintriumph。\"Astorythatgoesstraighttotheheart——especiallyattheend。But\"——Istopped,andlookedatTrottle。

  Trottleenteredhisprotestdirectlyintheshapeofacough。

  \"Well!\"Isaid,beginningtolosemypatience。\"Don\'tyouseethatIwantyoutospeak,andthatIdon\'twantyoutocough?\"

  \"Quiteso,ma\'am,\"saidTrottle,inastateofrespectfulobstinacywhichwouldhaveupsetthetemperofasaint。\"Relative,Ipresume,tothisstory,ma\'am?\"

  \"Yes,Yes!\"saidJarber。\"Byallmeansletushearwhatthisgoodmanhastosay。\"

  \"Well,sir,\"answeredTrottle,\"IwanttoknowwhytheHouseoverthewaydoesn\'tlet,andIdon\'texactlyseehowyourstoryanswersthequestion。That\'sallIhavetosay,sir。\"

  Ishouldhavelikedtocontradictmyopinionatedservant,atthatmoment。But,excellentasthestorywasinitself,Ifeltthathehadhitontheweakpoint,sofarasJarber\'sparticularpurposeinreadingitwasconcerned。

  \"Andthatiswhatyouhavetosay,isit?\"repeatedJarber。\"I

  enterthisroomannouncingthatIhaveaseriesofdiscoveries,andyoujumpinstantlytotheconclusionthatthefirstoftheseriesexhaustsmyresources。HaveIyourpermission,dearlady,toenlightenthisobtuseperson,ifpossible,byreadingNumberTwo?\"

  \"Myworkisbehindhand,ma\'am,\"saidTrottle,movingtothedoor,themomentIgaveJarberleavetogoon。

  \"Stopwhereyouare,\"Isaid,inmymostperemptorymanner,\"andgiveMr。Jarberhisfairopportunityofansweringyourobjectionnowyouhavemadeit。

  Trottlesatdownwiththelookofamartyr,andJarberbegantoreadwithhisbackturnedontheenemymoredecidedlythanever。

  GOINGINTOSOCIETY

  Atoneperiodofitsreverses,theHousefellintotheoccupationofaShowman。Hewasfoundregisteredasitsoccupier,ontheparishbooksofthetimewhenherentedtheHouse,andtherewasthereforenoneedofanycluetohisname。But,hehimselfwaslesseasytobefound;for,hehadledawanderinglife,andsettledpeoplehadlostsightofhim,andpeoplewhoplumedthemselvesonbeingrespectablewereshyofadmittingthattheyhadeverknownanythingofhim。Atlast,amongthemarshlandsneartheriver\'slevel,thatlieaboutDeptfordandtheneighbouringmarket-gardens,aGrizzledPersonageinvelveteen,withafacesocutupbyvarietiesofweatherthathelookedasifhehadbeentattooed,wasfoundsmokingapipeatthedoorofawoodenhouseonwheels。Thewoodenhousewaslaidupinordinaryforthewinter,nearthemouthofamuddycreek;andeverythingnearit,thefoggyriver,themistymarshes,andthesteamingmarket-gardens,smokedincompanywiththegrizzledman。Inthemidstofthissmokingparty,thefunnel-chimneyofthewoodenhouseonwheelswasnotremiss,buttookitspipewiththerestinacompanionablemanner。

  OnbeingaskedifitwerehewhohadoncerentedtheHousetoLet,GrizzledVelveteenlookedsurprised,andsaidyes。ThenhisnamewasMagsman?Thatwasit,TobyMagsman——whichlawfullychristenedRobert;butcalledintheline,fromainfant,Toby。TherewasnothingaginTobyMagsman,hebelieved?Iftherewassuspicionofsuch——mentionit!

  Therewasnosuspicionofsuch,hemightrestassured。But,someinquiriesweremakingaboutthatHouse,andwouldheobjecttosaywhyheleftit?

  Notatall;whyshouldhe?Heleftit,alongofaDwarf。

  AlongofaDwarf?

  Mr。Magsmanrepeated,deliberatelyandemphatically,AlongofaDwarf。

  MightitbecompatiblewithMr。Magsman\'sinclinationandconveniencetoenter,asafavour,intoafewparticulars?

  Mr。Magsmanenteredintothefollowingparticulars。

  Itwasalongtimeago,tobeginwith;——aforelotteriesandadealmorewasdoneawaywith。Mr。Magsmanwaslookingaboutforagoodpitch,andheseethathouse,andhesaystohimself,\"I\'llhaveyou,ifyou\'retobehad。Ifmoney\'llgetyou,I\'llhaveyou。\"

  Theneighbourscutuprough,andmadecomplaints;butMr。Magsmandon\'tknowwhattheyWOULDhavehad。Itwasalovelything。Firstofall,therewasthecanvass,representinthepicteroftheGiant,inSpanishtrunksandaruff,whowashimselfhalftheheighthofthehouse,andwasrunupwithalineandpulleytoapoleontheroof,sothathisEdwascoevalwiththeparapet。Then,therewasthecanvass,representinthepicteroftheAlbinalady,showingherwhiteairtotheArmyandNavyincorrectuniform。Then,therewasthecanvass,representinthepicteroftheWildIndianascalpinamemberofsomeforeignnation。Then,therewasthecanvass,representinthepicterofachildofaBritishPlanter,seizedbytwoBoaConstrictors——notthatWEneverhadnochild,nornoConstrictorsneither。Similarly,therewasthecanvass,representinthepicteroftheWildAssofthePrairies——notthatWEneverhadnowildasses,norwouldn\'thavehad\'ematagift。Last,therewasthecanvass,representinthepicteroftheDwarf,andlikehimtooconsiderin,withGeorgetheFourthinsuchastateofastonishmentathimasHisMajestycouldn\'twithhisutmostpolitenessandstoutnessexpress。ThefrontoftheHousewassocoveredwithcanvasses,thattherewasn\'tasparkofdaylightevervisibleonthatside。\"MAGSMAN\'SAMUSEMENTS,\"fifteenfootlongbytwofoothigh,ranoverthefrontdoorandparlourwinders。ThepassagewasaArbourofgreenbaizeandgardenstuff。Abarrel-organperformedthereunceasing。Andastorespectability,——ifthreepenceain\'trespectable,whatis?

  But,theDwarfistheprincipalarticleatpresent,andhewasworththemoney。HewaswroteupasMAJORTPSCHOFFKI,OFTHEIMPERIAL

  BULGRADERIANBRIGADE。Nobodycouldn\'tpronouncethename,anditneverwasintendedanybodyshould。Thepublicalwaysturnedit,asaregularrule,intoChopski。InthelinehewascalledChops;

  partlyonthataccount,andpartlybecausehisrealname,ifheeverhadanyrealnamewhichwasverydubious,wasStakes。

  Hewasaun-commonsmallman,hereallywas。Certainlynotsosmallashewasmadeouttobe,butwhereISyourDwarfasis?Hewasamostuncommonsmallman,withamostuncommonlargeEd;andwhathehadinsidethatEd,nobodyeverknowedbuthimself:evensupposinhimselftohaveevertookstockofit,whichitwouldhavebeenastiffjobforevenhimtodo。

  Thekindestlittlemanasnevergrowed!Spirited,butnotproud。

  WhenhetravelledwiththeSpottedBaby——thoughheknowedhimselftobeanat\'ralDwarf,andknowedtheBaby\'sspotstobeputuponhimartificial,henursedthatBabylikeamother。Youneverheerdhimgiveaill-nametoaGiant。HeDIDallowhimselftobreakoutintostronglanguagerespectintheFatLadyfromNorfolk;butthatwasanaffairofthe\'art;andwhenaman\'s\'arthasbeentrifledwithbyalady,andthepreferencegivtoaIndian,heain\'tmasterofhisactions。

  Hewasalwaysinlove,ofcourse;everyhumannat\'ralphenomenonis。

  Andhewasalwaysinlovewithalargewoman;IneverknowedtheDwarfascouldbegottoloveasmallone。Whichhelpstokeep\'emtheCuriositiestheyare。

  Onesing\'lerideahehadinthatEdofhis,whichmusthavemeantsomething,oritwouldn\'thavebeenthere。Itwasalwayshisopinionthathewasentitledtoproperty。Heneverwouldputhisnametoanything。Hehadbeentaughttowrite,bytheyoungmanwithoutarms,whogothislivingwithhistoesquiteawritingmasterHEwas,andtaughtscoresintheline,butChopswouldhavestarvedtodeath,aforehe\'dhavegainedabitofbreadbyputtinghishandtoapaper。Thisisthemorecurioustobearinmind,becauseHEhadnoproperty,norhopeofproperty,excepthishouseandasarser。WhenIsayhishouse,Imeanthebox,paintedandgotupoutsidelikeareg\'larsix-roomer,thatheusedtocreepinto,withadiamondringorquiteasgoodtolookatonhisforefinger,andringalittlebelloutofwhatthePublicbelievedtobetheDrawing-roomwinder。AndwhenIsayasarser,ImeanaChaneysarserinwhichhemadeacollectionforhimselfattheendofeveryEntertainment。Hiscueforthat,hetookfromme:\"Ladiesandgentlemen,thelittlemanwillnowwalkthreetimesroundtheCairawan,andretirebehindthecurtain。\"Whenhesaidanythingimportant,inprivatelife,hemostlywounditupwiththisformofwords,andtheywasgenerallythelastthinghesaidtomeatnightaforehewenttobed。

  HehadwhatIconsiderafinemind——apoeticmind。Hisideasrespectinhispropertynevercomeuponhimsostrongaswhenhesatuponabarrel-organandhadthehandleturned。Arterthewibrationhadrunthroughhimalittletime,hewouldscreechout,\"Toby,I

  feelmypropertycoming——grindaway!I\'mcountingmyguineasbythousands,Toby——grindaway!Toby,Ishallbeamanoffortun!I

  feeltheMintajinglinginme,Toby,andI\'mswellingoutintotheBankofEngland!\"Suchistheinfluenceofmusiconapoeticmind。

  Notthathewaspartialtoanyothermusicbutabarrel-organ;onthecontrary,hatedit。

  HehadakindofaeverlastinggrudgeaginthePublic:whichisathingyoumaynoticeinmanyphenomenonsthatgettheirlivingoutofit。Whatriledhimmostinthenaterofhisoccupationwas,thatitkephimoutofSociety。Hewascontiniwallysaying,\"Toby,myambitionis,togointoSociety。ThecurseofmypositiontowardsthePublicis,thatitkeepsmehoutofSociety。Thisdon\'tsignifytoalowbeastofaIndian;hean\'tformedforSociety。Thisdon\'tsignifytoaSpottedBaby;HEan\'tformedforSociety——Iam。\"

  NobodynevercouldmakeoutwhatChopsdonewithhismoney。Hehadagoodsalary,downonthedrumeverySaturdayasthedaycameround,besideshavingtherunofhisteeth——andhewasaWoodpeckertoeat——butallDwarfsare。Thesarserwasalittleincome,bringinghiminsomanyhalfpencethathe\'dcarry\'emforaweektogether,tiedupinapocket-handkercher。Andyetheneverhadmoney。Anditcouldn\'tbetheFatLadyfromNorfolk,aswasoncesupposed;becauseitstandstoreasonthatwhenyouhaveaanimositytowardsaIndian,whichmakesyougrindyourteethathimtohisface,andwhichcanhardlyholdyoufromGoosinghimaudiblewhenhe\'sgoingthroughhisWar-Dance——itstandstoreasonyouwouldn\'tunderthemcircumstancesdepriveyourself,tosupportthatIndianinthelapofluxury。

  Mostunexpected,themysterycomeoutonedayatEghamRaces。ThePublicwasshyofbeinpulledin,andChopswasringinhislittlebelloutofhisdrawing-roomwinder,andwassnarlintomeoverhisshoulderashekneeleddownwithhislegsoutattheback-door——forhecouldn\'tbeshovedintohishousewithoutkneelingdown,andthepremiseswouldn\'taccommodatehislegs——wassnarlin,\"Here\'sapreciousPublicforyou;whytheDevildon\'ttheytumbleup?\"whenamaninthecrowdholdsupacarrier-pigeon,andcriesout,\"Ifthere\'sanypersonhereashasgotaticket,theLottery\'sjustdrawed,andthenumberashascomeupforthegreatprizeisthree,seven,forty-two!Three,seven,forty-two!\"IwasgivinthemantotheFuriesmyself,forcallingoffthePublic\'sattention——forthePublicwillturnaway,atanytime,tolookatanythinginpreferencetothethingshowed\'em;andifyoudoubtit,get\'emtogetherforanyindiwidualpurposeonthefaceoftheearth,andsendonlytwopeopleinlate,andseeifthewholecompanyan\'tfarmoreinterestedintakinparticularnoticeofthemtwothanofyou——

  Isay,Iwasn\'tbestpleasedwiththemanforcallinout,andwasn\'tblessinhiminmyownmind,whenIseeChops\'slittlebellflyoutofwinderataoldlady,andhegetsupandkickshisboxover,exposinthewholesecret,andhecatchesholdofthecalvesofmylegsandhesaystome,\"Carrymeintothewan,Toby,andthrowapailofwaterovermeorI\'madeadman,forI\'vecomeintomyproperty!\"

  Twelvethousandoddhundredpound,wasChops\'swinnins。Hehadboughtahalf-ticketforthetwenty-fivethousandprize,andithadcomeup。Thefirstusehemadeofhisproperty,was,tooffertofighttheWildIndianforfivehundredpoundaside,himwithapoisoneddarnin-needleandtheIndianwithaclub;buttheIndianbeinginwantofbackerstothatamount,itwentnofurther。

  Arterhehadbeenmadforaweek——inastateofmind,inshort,inwhich,ifIhadlethimsitontheorganforonlytwominutes,I

  believehewouldhavebust——butwekeptheorganfromhim——Mr。Chopscomeround,andbehavedliberalandbeautifultoall。Hethensentforayoungmanheknowed,ashadawerygenteelappearanceandwasaBonnetatagaming-boothmostrespectablebroughtup,fatherhavinbeenimminentintheliverystablelinebutunfort\'nateinacommercialcrisis,throughpaintinaoldgray,ginger-bay,andsellinhimwithaPedigree,andMr。ChopssaidtothisBonnet,whosaidhisnamewasNormandy,whichitwasn\'t:

  \"Normandy,I\'magoinintoSociety。Willyougowithme?\"

  SaysNormandy:\"DoIunderstandyou,Mr。Chops,tohintimatethatthe\'oleoftheexpensesofthatmovewillbebornebyyourself?\"

  \"Correct,\"saysMr。Chops。\"AndyoushallhaveaPrincelyallowancetoo。\"

  TheBonnetliftedMr。Chopsuponachair,toshakehandswithhim,andrepliedinpoetry,withhiseyesseeminglyfulloftears:

  \"Myboatisontheshore,Andmybarkisonthesea,AndIdonotaskformore,ButI\'llGo:-alongwiththee。\"

  TheywentintoSociety,inachayandfourgrayswithsilkjackets。

  TheytooklodgingsinPallMall,London,andtheyblazedaway。

  InconsequenceofanotethatwasbroughttoBartlemyFairintheautumnofnextyearbyaservant,mostwonderfulgotupinmilk-

  whitecordsandtops,IcleanedmyselfandwenttoPallMall,oneeveningappinted。Thegentlemenwasattheirwinearterdinner,andMr。Chops\'seyeswasmorefixedinthatEdofhisthanIthoughtgoodforhim。Therewasthreeof\'emincompany,Imean,andI

  knowedthethirdwell。Whenlastmet,hehadonawhiteRomanshirt,andabishop\'smitrecoveredwithleopard-skin,andplayedtheclarionetallwrong,inabandataWildBeastShow。

  Thisgenttookonnottoknowme,andMr。Chopssaid:\"Gentlemen,thisisaoldfriendofformerdays:\"andNormandylookedatmethroughaeye-glass,andsaid,\"Magsman,gladtoseeyou!\"——whichI\'lltakemyoathhewasn\'t。Mr。Chops,togithimconvenienttothetable,hadhischaironathronemuchoftheformofGeorgetheFourth\'sinthecanvass,buthehardlyappearedtometobeKingthereinanyotherpintofview,forhistwogentlemenorderedaboutlikeEmperors。TheywasalldressedlikeMay-Day——gorgeous!——AndastoWine,theyswaminallsorts。

  Imadetheroundofthebottles,firstseparatetosayIhaddoneit,andthenmixed\'emalltogethertosayIhaddoneit,andthentriedtwoof\'emashalf-and-half,andthent\'othertwo。

  Altogether,Ipassedapleasinevenin,butwithatendencytofeelmuddled,untilIconsidereditgoodmannerstogetupandsay,\"Mr。

  Chops,thebestoffriendsmustpart,Ithankyouforthewarietyofforeigndrainsyouhavestoodso\'ansome,Ilookstowardsyouinredwine,andItakesmyleave。\"Mr。Chopsreplied,\"Ifyou\'lljusthitchmeoutofthisoveryourrightarm,Magsman,andcarrymedown-stairs,I\'llseeyouout。\"IsaidIcouldn\'tthinkofsuchathing,buthewouldhaveit,soIliftedhimoffhisthrone。HesmeltstrongofMaideary,andIcouldn\'thelpthinkingasIcarriedhimdownthatitwaslikecarryingalargebottlefullofwine,witharaytheruglystopper,agooddealoutofproportion。

  WhenIsethimonthedoor-matinthehall,hekepmeclosetohimbyholdingontomycoat-collar,andhewhispers:

  \"Iain\'t\'appy,Magsman。\"

  \"What\'sonyourmind,Mr。Chops?\"

  \"Theydon\'tusemewell。Theyan\'tgratefultome。Theyputsmeonthemantel-piecewhenIwon\'thaveinmoreChampagne-wine,andtheylocksmeinthesideboardwhenIwon\'tgiveupmyproperty。\"

  \"Getridof\'em,Mr。Chops。\"

  \"Ican\'t。We\'reinSocietytogether,andwhatwouldSocietysay?\"

  \"ComeoutofSociety!\"saysI。

  \"Ican\'t。Youdon\'tknowwhatyou\'retalkingabout。WhenyouhaveoncegoneintoSociety,youmustn\'tcomeoutofit。\"

  \"Thenifyou\'llexcusethefreedom,Mr。Chops,\"weremyremark,shakingmyheadgrave,\"Ithinkit\'sapityyoueverwentin。\"

  Mr。ChopsshookthatdeepEdofhis,toasurprisinextent,andslappedithalfadozentimeswithhishand,andwithmoreWicethanIthoughtwereinhim。Then,hesays,\"You\'reagoodfellow,butyoudon\'tunderstand。Good-night,goalong。Magsman,thelittlemanwillnowwalkthreetimesroundtheCairawan,andretirebehindthecurtain。\"ThelastIseeofhimonthatoccasionwashistryin,ontheextremestwergeofinsensibility,toclimbupthestairs,onebyone,withhishandsandknees。They\'dhavebeenmuchtoosteepforhim,ifhehadbeensober;buthewouldn\'tbehelped。

  Itwarn\'tlongafterthat,thatIreadinthenewspaperofMr。

  Chops\'sbeingpresentedatcourt。Itwasprinted,\"Itwillberecollected\"——andI\'venoticedinmylife,thatitissuretobeprintedthatitWILLberecollected,wheneveritwon\'t——\"thatMr。

  Chopsistheindividualofsmallstature,whosebrilliantsuccessinthelastStateLotteryattractedsomuchattention。\"Well,Isaystomyself,SuchisLife!Hehasbeenanddoneitinearnestatlast。HehasastonishedGeorgetheFourth!

  Onaccountofwhich,Ihadthatcanvassnew-painted,himwithabagofmoneyinhishand,apresentinittoGeorgetheFourth,andaladyinOstrichFeathersfallininlovewithhiminabag-wig,sword,andbucklescorrect。

  ItooktheHouseasisthesubjectofpresentinquiries——thoughnotthehonourofbeinacquainted——andIrunMagsman\'sAmusementsinitthirteenmonths——sometimesonething,sometimesanother,sometimesnothinparticular,butalwaysallthecanvassesoutside。Onenight,whenwehadplayedthelastcompanyout,whichwasashycompany,throughitsrainingHeavenshard,Iwastakinapipeintheonepairbackalongwiththeyoungmanwiththetoes,whichIhadtakenonforamonththoughheneverdrawed——exceptonpaper,andIheardakickinatthestreetdoor。\"Halloa!\"Isaystotheyoungman,\"what\'sup!\"Herubshiseyebrowswithhistoes,andhesays,\"I

  can\'timagine,Mr。Magsman\"——whichhenevercouldimaginenothin,andwasmonotonouscompany。

  Thenoisenotleavinoff,Ilaiddownmypipe,andItookupacandle,andIwentdownandopenedthedoor。Ilookedoutintothestreet;butnothincouldIsee,andnothinwasIawareof,untilI

  turnedroundquick,becausesomecreeturrunbetweenmylegsintothepassage。TherewasMr。Chops!

  \"Magsman,\"hesays,\"takeme,ontheoldterms,andyou\'vegotme;

  ifit\'sdone,saydone!\"

  Iwasallofamaze,butIsaid,\"Done,sir。\"

  \"Donetoyourdone,anddoubledone!\"sayshe。\"Haveyougotabitofsupperinthehouse?\"

  Bearininmindthemsparklinwarietiesofforeigndrainsaswe\'dguzzledawayatinPallMall,Iwasashamedtoofferhimcoldsassagesandgin-and-water;buthetook\'embothandtook\'emfree;

  havinachairforhistable,andsittindownatitonastool,likeholdtimes。I,allofamazeallthewhile。

  Itwasarterhehadmadeacleansweepofthesassagesbeef,andtothebestofmycalculationstwopoundandaquarter,thatthewisdomaswasinthatlittlemanbegantocomeoutofhimlikeprespiration。

  \"Magsman,\"hesays,\"lookuponme!Youseeaforeyou,OneashasbothgoneintoSocietyandcomeout。\"

  \"O!YouAREoutofit,Mr。Chops?Howdidyougetout,sir?\"

  \"SOLDOUT!\"sayshe。YouneversawthelikeofthewisdomashisEdexpressed,whenhemadeuseofthemtwowords。

  \"MyfriendMagsman,I\'llimparttoyouadiscoveryI\'vemade。It\'swallable;it\'scosttwelvethousandfivehundredpound;itmaydoyougoodinlife——Thesecretofthismatteris,thatitain\'tsomuchthatapersongoesintoSociety,asthatSocietygoesintoaperson。\"

  Notexactlykeepinupwithhismeanin,Ishookmyhead,putonadeeplook,andsaid,\"You\'rerightthere,Mr。Chops。\"

  \"Magsman,\"hesays,twitchinmebytheleg,\"Societyhasgoneintome,tothetuneofeverypennyofmyproperty。\"

点击下载App,搜索"A House to Let",免费读到尾