the enchanted castle-第25部分

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tennis…shoes　bear　him　to　the　station；　where；　unobserved；　he　listens
at　the　ticket　office　to　the　voice　of　That…which…was…James。　〃One
first　London；〃　it　says　and　Gerald；　waiting　till　That　and　the
Ugly…Wugly　have　strolled　on　to　the　platform；　politely　conversing
of　politics　and　the　Kaffir　market；　takes　a　third　return　to　London。
The　train　strides　in；　squeaking　and　puffing。　The　watched　take　their
seats　in　a　carriage　blue…lined。　The　watcher　springs　into　a　yellow
wooden　compartment。　A　whistle　sounds；　a　flag　is　waved。　The　train
pulls　itself　together；　strains；　jerks；　and　starts。

〃I　don't　understand；〃　says　Gerald；　alone　in　his　third…　class　carriage；
〃how　railway　trains　and　magic　can　go　on　at　the　same　time。〃　

And　yet　they　do。

Mabel　and　Kathleen；　nervously　peering　among　the　rhododendron
bushes　and　the　bracken　and　the　fancy　fir…trees；　find　six　several
heaps　of　coats；　hats；　skirts；　gloves；　golf…clubs；　hockey…　sticks；
broom…handles。　They　carry　them；　panting　and　damp；　for　the
mid…day　sun　is　pitiless；　up　the　hill　to　where　the　stone　dinosaurus
looms　immense　among　a　forest　of　larches。　The　dinosaurus　has　a
hole　in　his　stomach。　Kathleen　shows　Mabel　how　to　〃make　a　back〃
and　climbs　up　on　it　into　the　cold；　stony　inside　of　the　monster。
Mabel　hands　up　the　clothes　and　the　sticks。

〃There's　lots　of　room；〃　says　Kathleen；　〃its　tail　goes　down　into　the
ground。　It's　like　a　secret　passage。〃　

〃Suppose　something　comes　out　of　it　and　jumps　out　at　you；〃　says
Mabel；　and　Kathleen　hurriedly　descends。

The　explanations　to　Mademoiselle　promise　to　be　difficult；　but；　as
Kathleen　said　afterwards；　any　little　thing　is　enough　to　take　a
grown…up's　attention　off。　A　figure　passes　the　window　just　as　they
are　explaining　that　it　really　did　look　exactly　like　an　uncle　that　the
boys　have　gone　to　London　with。

〃Who's　that？〃　says　Mademoiselle　suddenly；　pointing；　too；　which
everyone　knows　is　not　manners。

It　is　the　bailiff　coming　back　from　the　doctor's　with　antiseptic
plaster　on　that　nasty　cut　that　took　so　long　a…bathing　this　morning。
They　tell　her　it　is　the　bailiff　at　Yalding　Towers；　and　she　says；
〃Ciel！〃　（Sky！）　and　asks　no　more　awkward　questions　about　the
boys。　Lunch　　very　late　is　a　silent　meal。　After　lunch　Mademoiselle
goes　out；　in　a　hat　with　many　pink　roses；　carrying　a　rose…lined
parasol。　The　girls；　in　dead　silence；　organize　a　dolls　tea…party；　with
real　tea。　At　the　second　cup　Kathleen　bursts　into　tears。　Mabel；　also
weeping；　embraces　her。

〃I　wish；〃　sobs　Kathleen；　〃oh；　I　do　wish　I　knew　where　the　boys
were！　It　would　be　such　a　comfort。〃　

Gerald　knew　where　the　boys　were；　and　it　was　no　comfort　to　him　at
all。　If　you　come　to　think　of　it；　he　was　the　only　person　who　could
know　where　they　were；　because　Jimmy　didn't　know　that　he　was　a
boy　and　indeed　he　wasn't　really　and　the　Ugly…Wugly　couldn't　be
expected　to　know　anything　real；　such　as　where　boys　were。　At　the
moment　when　the　second　cup　of　dolls　tea　　very　strong；　but　not
strong　enough　to　drown　care　in　　was　being　poured　out　by　the
trembling　hand　of　Kathleen；　Gerald　was　lurking　there　really　is　no
other　word　for　it　on　the　staircase　of　Aldermanbury　Buildings；　Old
Broad　Street。　On　the　floor　below　him　was　a　door　bearing　the
legend　〃MR。　U。　W。　UGLI；　Stock　and　Share　Broker　（and　at　the
Stock　Exchange）〃　and　on　the　floor　above　was　another　door；　on
which　was　the　name　of　Gerald's　little　brother；　now　grown　suddenly
rich　in　so　magic　and　tragic　a　way。　There　were　no　explaining　words
under　Jimmy's　name。　Gerald　could　not　guess　what　walk　in　life　it
was　to　which　That　（which　had　been　Jimmy）　owed　its　affluence。　He
had　seen；　when　the　door　opened　to　admit　his　brother；　a　tangle　of
clerks　and　mahogany　desks。　Evidently　That　had　a　large　business。

What　was　Gerald　to　do？　What　could　he　do？

It　is　almost　impossible；　especially　for　one　so　young　as　Gerald；　to
enter　a　large　London　office　and　explain　that　the　elderly　and
respected　head　of　it　is　not　what　he　seems；　but　is　really　your　little
brother；　who　has　been　suddenly　advanced　to　age　and　wealth　by　a
tricky　wishing　ring。　If　you　think　it's　a　possible　thing；　try　it；　that's
all。　Nor　could　he　knock　at　the　door　of　Mr。　U。　W。　Ugli；　Stock　and
Share　Broker　（and　at　the　Stock　Exchange）；　and　inform　his　clerks
that　their　chief　was　really　nothing　but　old　clothes　that　had
accidentally　come　alive；　and　by　some　magic；　which　he　couldn't
attempt　to　explain；　become　real　during　a　night　spent　at　a　really
good　hotel　which　had　no　existence。

The　situation　bristled；　as　you　see；　with　difficulties。　And　it　was　so
long　past　Gerald's　proper　dinner…time　that　his　increasing　hunger
was　rapidly　growing　to　seem　the　most　important　difficulty　of　all。　It
is　quite　possible　to　starve　to　death　on　the　staircase　of　a　London
building　if　the　people　you　are　watching　for　only　stay　long　enough
in　their　offices。　The　truth　of　this　came　home　to　Gerald　more　and
more　painfully。

A　boy　with　hair　like　a　new　front　door　mat　came　whistling　up　the
stairs。　He　had　a　dark　blue　bag　in　his　hands。

〃I'll　give　you　a　tanner　for　yourself　if　you'll　get　me　a　tanner's　worth
of　buns；〃　said　Gerald；　with　that　prompt　decision　common　to　all
great　commanders。

〃Show　us　yer　tanners；〃　the　boy　rejoined　with　at　least　equal
promptness。　Gerald　showed　them。　〃All　right；　hand　over。〃　

〃Payment　on　delivery；〃　said　Gerald；　using　words　from　the　drapers
which　he　had　never　thought　to　use。

The　boy　grinned　admiringly。

〃Knows　'is　wy　abaht；〃　he　said；　〃ain't　no　flies　on　'im。〃　

〃Not　many；〃　Gerald　owned　with　modest　pride。　〃Cut　along；　there's　a
good　chap。　I've　got　to　wait　here。　I'll　take　care　of　your　bag　if　you
like。〃　

〃Nor　yet　there　ain't　no　flies　on　me　neither；〃　remarked　the　boy；
shouldering　it。　〃I　been　up　to　the　confidence　trick　for　years　ever
since　I　was　your　age。〃　

With　this　parting　shot　he　went；　and　returned　in　due　course
bun…laden。　Gerald　gave　the　sixpence　and　took　the　buns。　When　the
boy；　a　minute　later；　emerged　from　the　door　of　Mr。　U。　W。　Ugli；
Stock　and　Share　Broker　（and　at　the　Stock　Exchange）；　Gerald
stopped　him。

〃What　sort　of　chap's　that？〃　he　asked；　pointing　the　question　with　a
jerk　of　an　explaining　thumb。

〃Awful　big　pot；〃　said　the　boy；　〃up　to　his　eyes　in　oof。　Motor　and　all
that。〃　

〃Know　anything　about　the　one　on　the　next　landing？〃

〃He's　bigger　than　what　this　one　is。　Very　old　firm　special　cellar　in
the　Bank　of　England　to　put　his　chink　in　all　in　bins　like　against　the
wall　at　the　corn…chandler　s。　Jimminy；　I　wouldn't　mind　'alf　an　hour
in　there；　and　the　doors　open　and　the　police　away　at　a　beano。　Not
much！　Neither。　You'll　bust　if　you　eat　all　them　buns。〃　

〃Have　one？〃　Gerald　responded；　and　held　out　the　bag。

〃They　say　in　our　office；〃　said　the　boy；　paying　for　the　bun
honourably　with　unasked　information；　〃as　these　two　is　all　for
cutting　each　other's　throats　oh；　only　in　the　way　of　business　been　at
it　for　years。〃　

Gerald　wildly　wondered　what　magic　and　how　much　had　been
needed　to　give　history　and　a　past　to　these　two　things　of　yesterday；
the　rich　Jimmy　and　the　Ugly…Wugly。　If　he　could　get　them　away
would　all　memory　of　them　fade　in　this　boy's　mind；　for　instance；　in
the　minds　of　all　the　people　who　did　business　with　them　in　the
City？　Would　the　mahogany…and…clerk…furnished　offices　fade　away？
Were　the　clerks　real？　Was　the　mahogany？　Was　he　himself　real？
Was　the　boy？

〃Can　you　keep　a　secret？〃　he　asked　the　other　boy。　〃Are　you　on　for　a
lark？〃

〃I　ought　to　be　getting　back　to　the　office；〃　said　the　boy。

〃Get　then！〃　said　Gerald。

〃Don't　you　get　stuffy；〃　said　the　boy。　〃I　was　just　a…going　to　say　it
didn't　matter。　I　know　how　to　make　my　nose　bleed　if　I'm　a　bit　late。〃　

Gerald　congratulated　him　on　this　accomplishment；　at　once　so
useful　and　so　graceful；　and　then　said：　〃Look　here。　I'll　give　you　five
bob　honest。〃　

〃What　for？〃　was　the　boy's　natural　question。

〃If　you'll　help　me。　〃

〃Fire　ahead。〃　

〃I'm　a　private　inquiry；〃　said　Gerald。

〃Tec？　You　don't　look　it。〃　

〃What's　the　good　of　being　one　if　you　look　it？〃　Gerald　asked
impatiently；　beginning　on　another　bun。　〃That　old　chap　on　the　floor
above　he's　wanted。〃

〃Police？〃　asked　the　boy　with　fine　carelessness。

〃No　sorrowing　relations。〃　

〃'Return　to；'〃　said　the　boy；　〃'all　forgotten　and　forgiven。'　I　see。〃　

〃And　I've　got　to　get　him　to　them；　somehow。　Now；　if　you　could　go
in　and　give　him　a　message　from　someone　who　wanted　to　meet　him
on　business　；〃

〃Hold　on！〃　said　the　boy。　〃I　know　a　trick　worth　two　of　that。　You　go
in　and　see　old　Ugli。　He'd　give　his　ears　to　have　the　old　boy　out　of
the　way　for　a　day　or　two。　They　were　saying　so　in　our　office　only
this　morning。〃　

〃Let　me　think；〃　said　Gerald；　laying　down　the　last　bun　on　his　knee
expressly　to　hold　his　head　in　his　hands。

〃Don't　you　forget　to　think　about　my　five　bob；〃　said　the　boy。

Then　there　was　a　silence　on　the　stairs；　broken　only　by　the　cough　of
a　clerk　in　That's　office；　and　the　clickety…clack　of　a　typewriter　in　the
office　of　Mr。　U。　W。　Ugli。

Then　Gerald　rose　up　and　finished　the　bun。

〃You're　right；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　chance　it。　Here's　your　five　bob。〃　

He　brushed　the　bun　crumbs　from　his　front；　cleared　his　throat；　and
knocked　at　the　door　of　Mr。　U。　W。　Ugli。　It　opened　and　he　entered。

The　door…mat　boy　lingered；　secure　in　his　power　to　account　for　his
long　absence　by　means　of　his　well…trained　nose；　and　his　waiting
was　rewarded。　He　went　down　a　few　steps；　round　the　bend　of　the
stairs；　and　heard　the　voice　of　Mr。　U。　W。　Ugli；　so　well　known　on
that　staircase　（and　on　the　Stock　Exchange）　say　in　soft；　cautious
accents：

〃Then　I'll　ask　him　to　let　me　look　at　the　ring　and　I'll　drop　it。　You
pick　it　up。　But　remember；　it's　a　pure　accident；　and　you　don't　know
me。　I　can't　have　my　name　mixed　up　in　a　thing　like　this。　You're　sure
he's　really　unhinged？〃

〃Quite；〃　said　Gerald；　〃he's　quite　mad　about　that　ring。　He'll　follow　it
anywhere。　I　know　he　will。　And　think　of　his　sorrowing　relations。〃　

〃I　do　I　do；〃　said　Mr。　Ugli　kindly；　〃that's　all　I　do　think　of；　of
course。〃　

He　went　up　the　stairs　to　the　other　office；　and　Gerald　heard　the
voice　of　That　telling　his　clerks　that　he　was　going　out　to　lunch。
Then　the　horrible　Ugly…Wugly　and　Jimmy；　hardly　less　horrible　in
the　eyes　of　Gerald；　passed　down　the　stairs　where；　in　the　dusk　of　the
lower　landing；　two　boys　were　making　them