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！
bagman。 It is hard that a man's exterior should tally so little sometimes
with his soul。 Dirk Stroeve had the passion of Romeo in the body of Sir
Toby Belch。 He had a sweet and generous nature； and yet was always
blundering； a real feeling for what was beautiful and the capacity to create
only what was commonplace； a peculiar delicacy of sentiment and gross
manners。 He could exercise tact when dealing with the affairs of others；
but none when dealing with his own。 What a cruel practical joke old
Nature played when she flung so many contradictory elements together；
and left the man face to face with the perplexing callousness of the
universe。
119
… Page 120…
The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XXXII
I did not see Strickland for several weeks。 I was disgusted with him；
and if I had had an opportunity should have been glad to tell him so； but I
saw no object in seeking him out for the purpose。 I am a little shy of any
assumption of moral indignation； there is always in it an element of self…
satisfaction which makes it awkward to anyone who has a sense of
humour。 It requires a very lively passion to steel me to my own ridicule。
There was a sardonic sincerity in Strickland which made me sensitive to
anything that might suggest a pose。
But one evening when I was passing along the Avenue de Clichy in
front of the cafe which Strickland frequented and which I now avoided； I
ran straight into him。 He was accompanied by Blanche Stroeve； and they
were just going to Strickland's favourite corner。
〃Where the devil have you been all this time？〃 said he。 〃I thought you
must be away。〃
His cordiality was proof that he knew I had no wish to speak to him。
He was not a man with whom it was worth while wasting politeness。
〃No；〃 I said； 〃I haven't been away。〃
〃Why haven't you been here？〃
〃There are more cafes in Paris than one； at which to trifle away an idle
hour。〃
Blanche then held out her hand and bade me good…evening。 I do not
know why I had expected her to be somehow changed； she wore the same
gray dress that she wore so often； neat and becoming； and her brow was as
candid； her eyes as untroubled； as when I had been used to see her
occupied with her household duties in the studio。
〃Come and have a game of chess；〃 said Strickland。
I do not know why at the moment I could think of no excuse。 I
followed them rather sulkily to the table at which Strickland always sat；
and he called for the board and the chessmen。 They both took the situation
so much as a matter of course that I felt it absurd to do otherwise。 Mrs。
Stroeve watched the game with inscrutable face。 She was silent； but she
had always been silent。 I looked at her mouth for an expression that
120
… Page 121…
The Moon and Sixpence
could give me a clue to what she felt； I watched her eyes for some tell…tale
flash； some hint of dismay or bitterness； I scanned her brow for any
passing line that might indicate a settling emotion。 Her face was a mask
that told nothing。 Her hands lay on her lap motionless； one in the other
loosely clasped。 I knew from what I had heard that she was a woman of
violent passions； and that injurious blow that she had given Dirk； the man
who had loved her so devotedly； betrayed a sudden temper and a horrid
cruelty。 She had abandoned the safe shelter of her husband's protection
and the comfortable ease of a well…provided establishment for what she
could not but see was an extreme hazard。 It showed an eagerness for
adventure； a readiness for the hand…to…mouth； which the care she took of
her home and her love of good housewifery made not a little remarkable。
She must be a woman of complicated character； and there was something
dramatic in the contrast of that with her demure appearance。
I was excited by the encounter； and my fancy worked busily while I
sought to concentrate myself on the game I was playing。 I always tried my
best to beat Strickland； because he was a player who despised the
opponent he vanquished； his exultation in victory made defeat more
difficult to bear。 On the other hand； if he was beaten he took it with
complete good…humour。 He was a bad winner and a good loser。 Those
who think that a man betrays his character nowhere more clearly than
when he is playing a game might on this draw subtle inferences。
When he had finished I called the waiter to pay for the drinks； and left
them。 The meeting had been devoid of incident。 No word had been
said to give me anything to think about； and any surmises I might make
were unwarranted。 I was intrigued。 I could not tell how they were getting
on。 I would have given much to be a disembodied spirit so that I could see
them in the privacy of the studio and hear what they talked about。 I had
not the smallest indication on which to let my imagination work。
121
… Page 122…
The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XXXIII
Two or three days later Dirk Stroeve called on me。
〃I hear you've seen Blanche；〃 he said。
〃How on earth did you find out？〃
〃I was told by someone who saw you sitting with them。 Why didn't
you tell me？〃
〃I thought it would only pain you。〃
〃What do I care if it does？ You must know that I want to hear the
smallest thing about her。〃
I waited for him to ask me questions。
〃What does she look like？〃 he said。
〃Absolutely unchanged。〃
〃Does she seem happy？〃
I shrugged my shoulders。
〃How can I tell？ We were in a cafe； we were playing chess； I had no
opportunity to speak to her。〃
〃Oh； but couldn't you tell by her face？〃
I shook my head。 I could only repeat that by no word； by no hinted
gesture； had she given an indication of her feelings。 He must know better
than I how great were her powers of self…control。 He clasped his hands
emotionally。
〃Oh； I'm so frightened。 I know something is going to happen；
something terrible； and I can do nothing to stop it。