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！
drop it from my lips。 Then all grew misty； and the next thing I
remember was finding myself in the arms of the younger Eastern； with
the nurse and her 'cousin；' a stalwart person like a soldier； standing
in front of us。
〃'Little girl go ill；' said the elder Arab。 'We seek policeman。'
〃'You drop that child；' answered the 'cousin；' doubling his fists。
Then I grew faint again； and when I came to myself the two white…robed
men had gone。 All the way home my governess scolded me for accepting
sweets from strangers； saying that if my parents came to know of it； I
should be whipped and sent to bed。 Of course； I begged her not to tell
them； and at last she consented。 Do you know； I think you are the
first to whom I have ever mentioned the matter； of which I am sure the
governess never breathed a word； though after that； whenever we walked
in the gardens； her 'cousin' always came to look after us。 In the end
I think she married him。〃
〃You believe the sweet was drugged？〃 I asked。
She nodded。 〃There was something very strange in it。 It was a night or
two after I had tasted it that I had what just now I called my
awakening； and began to think about Africa。〃
〃Have you ever seen these men again； Miss Holmes？〃
〃No； never。〃
At this moment I heard Lady Longden say； in a severe voice：
〃My dear Luna； I am sorry to interrupt your absorbing conversation；
but we are all waiting for you。〃
So they were； for to my horror I saw that everyone was standing up
except ourselves。
Miss Holmes departed in a hurry； while Scroope whispered in my ear
with a snigger：
〃I say； Allan； if you carry on like that with his young lady； his
lordship will be growing jealous of you。〃
〃Don't be a fool；〃 I said sharply。 But there was something in his
remark； for as Lord Ragnall passed on his way to the other end of the
table； he said in a low voice and with rather a forced smile：
〃Well； Quatermain； I hope your dinner has not been as dull as mine；
although your appetite seemed so poor。〃
Then I reflected that I could not remember having eaten a thing since
the first entrée。 So overcome was I that； rejecting all Scroope's
attempts at conversation； I sat silent； drinking port and filling up
with dates； until not long afterwards we went into the drawing…room；
where I sat down as far from Miss Holmes as possible； and looked at a
book of views of Jerusalem。
While I was thus engaged； Lord Ragnall； pitying my lonely condition；
or being instigated thereto by Miss Holmes； I know not which； came up
and began to chat with me about African big…game shooting。 Also he
asked me what was my permanent address in that country。 I told him
Durban； and in my turn asked why he wanted to know。
〃Because Miss Holmes seems quite crazy about the place； and I expect I
shall be dragged out there one day；〃 he replied； quite gloomily。 It
was a prophetic remark。
At this moment our conversation was interrupted by Lady Longden； who
came to bid her future son…in…law good night。 She said that she must
go to bed； and put her feet in mustard and water as her cold was so
bad； which left me wondering whether she meant to carry out this
operation in bed。 I recommended her to take quinine； a suggestion she
acknowledged rather inconsequently by remarking in somewhat icy tones
that she supposed I sat up to all hours of the night in Africa。 I
replied that frequently I did； waiting for the sun to rise next day；
for that member of the British aristocracy irritated me。
Thus we parted； and I never saw her again。 She died many years ago；
poor soul； and I suppose is now freezing her former acquaintances in
the Shades； for I cannot imagine that she ever had a friend。 They talk
a great deal about the influences of heredity nowadays； but I don't
believe very much in them myself。 Who； for instance； could conceive
that persons so utterly different in every way as Lady Longden and her
daughter； Miss Holmes； could be mother and child？ Our bodies； no
doubt； we do inherit from our ancestors； but not our individualities。
These come from far away。
A good many of the guests went at the same time； having long distances
to drive on that cold frosty night； although it was only just ten
o'clock。 For as was usual at that period even in fashionable houses；
we had dined at seven。
CHAPTER IV
HAR？T AND MAR？T
After Lord Ragnall had seen his guests to the door in the old…
fashioned manner； he returned and asked me if I played cards； or
whether I preferred music。 I was assuring him that I hated the sight
of a card when Mr。 Savage appeared in his silent way and respectfully
inquired of his lordship whether any gentleman was staying in the
house whose Christian name was /Here…come…a…zany/。 Lord Ragnall looked
at him with a searching eye as though he suspected him of being drunk；
and then asked what he meant by such a ridiculous question。
〃I mean； my lord；〃 replied Mr。 Savage with a touch of offence in his
tone； 〃that two foreign individuals in white clothes have arrived at
the castle； stating that they wish to speak at once with a /Mr。 Here…
come…a…zany/ who is staying here。 I told them to go away as the butler
said he could make nothing of their talk； but they only sat down in
the snow and said they would wait for /Here…come…a…zany/。〃
〃Then you had better put them in the old guardroom； lock them up with
something to eat； and send the stable…boy for the policeman； who is a
zany if ever anybody was。 I expect they are after the pheasants。〃
〃Stop a bit；〃 I said； for an idea had occurred to me。 〃The message may
be meant for me； though I can't conceive who sent it。 My native name
is Macumazana； which possibly Mr。 Savage has not caught quite
correctly。 Shall I go to see these men？〃
〃I wouldn't do that in this cold； Quatermain；〃 Lord Ragnall answered。
〃Did they say what they are； Savage？〃
〃I made out that they were conjurers； my lord。 At least when I told
them to go away one of them said； 'You will go first； gentleman。'
Then； my lord； I heard a hissing sound in my coat…tail pocket and；
putting my hand into it； I found a large snake which dropped on the
ground and vanished。 It quite paralysed me； my lord； and while I stood
there wondering whether I was bitten； a mouse jumped out of the
kitchenmaid's hair。 She had been laughing at their dress； my lord；
but /now/ she's screaming in hysterics。〃
The solemn aspect of Mr。 Savage as he narrated these unholy marvels
was such that； like the kitchenmaid； we both burst into ill…timed
merriment。 Attracted by our laughter； Miss Holmes； Miss Manners； with
whom she was talking； and some of the other guests； approached and
asked what was the matter。
〃Savage here declares that there are two conjurers in the kitchen
premises； who have been producing snakes out of his pocket and mice
from the hair of one of the maids； and who want to see Mr。
Quatermain；〃 Lord Ragnall answered。