友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

novel notes-第39章

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!



e resemblance I had found in them to those of my superior friend Joseph。

〃He was leaning across the bar; clamouring for two of gin; when I tapped him on the shoulder。  He turned his head; and the moment he saw me; his face went livid。

〃'Mr。 Joseph Smythe; I believe;' I said with a smile。

〃'Who's Mr。 Joseph Smythe?' he answered hoarsely; 'my name's Smith; I ain't no bloomin' Smythe。  Who are you?  I don't know yer。'

〃As he spoke; my eyes rested upon a curious gold ring of Indian workmanship which he wore upon his left hand。  There was no mistaking the ring; at all events:  it had been passed round the club on more than one occasion as a unique curiosity。  His eyes followed my gaze。  He burst into tears; and pushing me before him into a quiet corner of the saloon; sat down facing me。

〃'Don't give me away; old man;' he whimpered; 'for Gawd's sake; don't let on to any of the chaps 'ere that I'm a member of that blessed old waxwork show in Saint James's:  they'd never speak to me agen。  And keep yer mug shut about Oxford; there's a good sort。  I wouldn't 'ave 'em know as 'ow I was one o' them college blokes for anythink。'

〃I sat aghast。  I had listened to hear him entreat me to keep 'Smith;' the rorty 'Arry; a secret from the acquaintances of 'Smythe;' the superior person。  Here was 'Smith' in mortal terror lest his pals should hear of his identity with the aristocratic 'Smythe;' and discard him。  His attitude puzzled me at the time; but; when I came to reflect; my wonder was at myself for having expected the opposite。

〃'I carn't 'elp it;' he went on; 'I 'ave to live two lives。  'Arf my time I'm a stuck…up prig; as orter be jolly well kicked'

〃'At which times;' I interrupted; 'I have heard you express some extremely uncomplimentary opinions concerning 'Arries。'

〃'I know;' he replied; in a voice betraying strong emotion; 'that's where it's so precious rough on me。  When I'm a toff I despises myself; 'cos I knows that underneath my sneering phiz I'm a bloomin' 'Arry。  When I'm an 'Arry; I 'ates myself 'cos I knows I'm a toff。'

〃'Can't you decide which character you prefer; and stick to it?' I asked。

〃'No;' he answered; 'I carn't。  It's a rum thing; but whichever I am; sure as fate; 'bout the end of a month I begin to get sick o' myself。'

〃'I can quite understand it;' I murmured; 'I should give way myself in a fortnight。'

〃'I've been myself; now;' he continued; without noticing my remark; 'for somethin' like ten days。  One mornin'; in 'bout three weeks' time; I shall get up in my diggins in the Mile End Road; and I shall look round the room; and at these clothes 'angin' over the bed; and at this yer concertina' (he gave it an affectionate squeeze); 'and I shall feel myself gettin' scarlet all over。  Then I shall jump out o' bed; and look at myself in the glass。  〃You howling little cad;〃 I shall say to myself; 〃I have half a mind to strangle you〃; and I shall shave myself; and put on a quiet blue serge suit and a bowler 'at; tell my landlady to keep my rooms for me till I comes back; slip out o' the 'ouse; and into the fust 'ansom I meets; and back to the Halbany。  And a month arter that; I shall come into my chambers at the Halbany; fling Voltaire and Parini into the fire; shy me 'at at the bust of good old 'Omer; slip on my blue suit agen; and back to the Mile End Road。'

〃'How do you explain your absence to both parties?' I asked。

〃'Oh; that's simple enough;' he replied。  'I just tells my 'ousekeeper at the Halbany as I'm goin' on the Continong; and my mates 'ere thinks I'm a traveller。'

〃'Nobody misses me much;' he added; pathetically; 'I hain't a partic'larly fetchin' sort o' bloke; either of me。  I'm sich an out… and…outer。  When I'm an 'Arry; I'm too much of an 'Arry; and when I'm a prig; I'm a reg'lar fust prize prig。  Seems to me as if I was two ends of a man without any middle。  If I could only mix myself up a bit more; I'd be all right。'

〃He sniffed once or twice; and then he laughed。  'Ah; well;' he said; casting aside his momentary gloom; 'it's all a game; and wot's the odds so long as yer 'appy。  'Ave a wet?'

〃I declined the wet; and left him playing sentimental airs to himself upon the concertina。

〃One afternoon; about a month later; the servant came to me with a card on which was engraved the name of 'Mr。 Joseph Smythe。'  I requested her to show him up。  He entered with his usual air of languid superciliousness; and seated himself in a graceful attitude upon the sofa。

〃'Well;' I said; as soon as the girl had closed the door behind her; 'so you've got rid of Smith?'

〃A sickly smile passed over his face。  'You have not mentioned it to any one?' he asked anxiously。

〃'Not to a soul;' I replied; 'though I confess I often feel tempted to。'

〃'I sincerely trust you never will;' he said; in a tone of alarm。 'You can have no conception of the misery the whole thing causes me。 I cannot understand it。  What possible affinity there can be between myself and that disgusting little snob passes my comprehension。  I assure you; my dear Mac; the knowledge that I was a ghoul; or a vampire; would cause me less nausea than the reflection that I am one and the same with that odious little Whitechapel bounder。  When I think of him every nerve in my body'

〃'Don't think about him any more;' I interrupted; perceiving his strongly…suppressed emotion。  'You didn't come here to talk about him; I'm sure。  Let us dismiss him。'

〃'Well;' he replied; 'in a certain roundabout way it is slightly connected with him。  That is really my excuse for inflicting the subject upon you。  You are the only man I CAN speak to about itif I shall not bore you?'

〃'Not in the least;' I said。  'I am most interested。'  As he still hesitated; I asked him point…blank what it was。

〃He appeared embarrassed。  'It is really very absurd of me;' he said; while the faintest suspicion of pink crossed his usually colourless face; 'but I feel I must talk to somebody about it。  The fact is; my dear Mac; I am in love。'

〃'Capital!' I cried; 'I'm delighted to hear it。'  (I thought it might make a man of him。)  'Do I know the lady?'

〃'I am inclined to think you must have seen her;' he replied; 'she was with me on the pier at Yarmouth that evening you met me。'

〃'Not 'Liza!' I exclaimed。

〃'That was she;' he answered; 'Miss Elizabeth Muggins。'  He dwelt lovingly upon the name。

〃'But;' I said; 'you seemedI really could not help noticing; it was so pronouncedyou seemed to positively dislike her。  Indeed; I gathered from your remark to a friend that her society was distinctly distasteful to you。'

〃'To Smith;' he corrected me。  'What judge would that howling little blackguard be of a woman's worth!  The dislike of such a man as that is a testimonial to her merit!'

〃'I may be mistaken;' I said; 'but she struck me as a bit common。'

〃'She is not; perhaps; what the world would call a lady;' he admitted; 'but then; my dear Mac; my opinion of the world is not such as to render ITS opinion of much value to me。  I and the world differ on most subjects; I am glad to say。  She is beautiful; and she is good; and she is my choice。'

〃'She's a jolly enough little girl;' I replied; 'and; I should say; affectio
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!