the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第5部分
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his mind shuddered and shrank back； appalled before the sight of such
awful； unspeakable elements enthroned as it were； and triumphant in
human flesh。 Before him stretched the long dim vista of the green
causeway in the forest； as his friend had described it； he saw the swaying
leaves and the quivering shadows on the grass； he saw the sunlight and the
flowers； and far away； far in the long distance； the two figure moved
toward him。 One was Rachel； but the other？
Clarke had tried his best to disbelieve it all； but at the end of the
account； as he had written it in his book； he had placed the inscription：
ET DIABOLUS INCARNATE EST。 ET HOMO FACTUS EST。
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III
THE CITY OF RESURRECTIONS
〃Herbert！ Good God！ Is it possible？〃
〃Yes； my name's Herbert。 I think I know your face； too； but I don't
remember your name。 My memory is very queer。〃
〃Don't you recollect Villiers of Wadham？〃
〃So it is； so it is。 I beg your pardon； Villiers； I didn't think I was
begging of an old college friend。 Good…night。〃
〃My dear fellow； this haste is unnecessary。 My rooms are close by；
but we won't go there just yet。 Suppose we walk up Shaftesbury Avenue
a little way？ But how in heaven's name have you come to this pass；
Herbert？〃
〃It's a long story； Villiers； and a strange one too； but you can hear it if
you like。〃
〃Come on； then。 Take my arm； you don't seem very strong。〃
The ill…assorted pair moved slowly up Rupert Street； the one in dirty；
evil…looking rags； and the other attired in the regulation uniform of a man
about town； trim； glossy； and eminently well…to…do。 Villiers had emerged
from his restaurant after an excellent dinner of many courses； assisted by
an ingratiating little flask of Chianti； and； in that frame of mind which was
with him almost chronic； had delayed a moment by the door； peering
round in the dimly…lighted street in search of those mysterious incidents
and persons with which the streets of London teem in every quarter and
every hour。 Villiers prided himself as a practised explorer of such
obscure mazes and byways of London life； and in this unprofitable pursuit
he displayed an assiduity which was worthy of more serious employment。
Thus he stood by the lamp…post surveying the passers…by with undisguised
curiosity； and with that gravity known only to the systematic diner； had
just enunciated in his mind the formula： 〃London has been called the city
of encounters； it is more than that； it is the city of Resurrections；〃 when
these reflections were suddenly interrupted by a piteous whine at his
elbow； and a deplorable appeal for alms。 He looked around in some
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irritation； and with a sudden shock found himself confronted with the
embodied proof of his somewhat stilted fancies。 There； close beside him；
his face altered and disfigured by poverty and disgrace； his body barely
covered by greasy ill…fitting rags； stood his old friend Charles Herbert；
who had matriculated on the same day as himself； with whom he had been
merry and wise for twelve revolving terms。 Different occupations and
varying interests had interrupted the friendship； and it was six years since
Villiers had seen Herbert； and now he looked upon this wreck of a man
with grief and dismay； mingled with a certain inquisitiveness as to what
dreary chain of circumstances had dragged him down to such a doleful
pass。 Villiers felt together with compassion all the relish of the amateur
in mysteries； and congratulated himself on his leisurely speculations
outside the restaurant。
They walked on in silence for some time； and more than one passer…by
stared in astonishment at the unaccustomed spectacle of a well…dressed
man with an unmistakable beggar hanging on to his arm； and； observing
this； Villiers led the way to an obscure street in Soho。 Here he repeated
his question。
〃How on earth has it happened； Herbert？ I always understood you
would succeed to an excellent position in Dorsetshire。 Did your father
disinherit you？ Surely not？〃
〃No； Villiers； I came into all the property at my poor father's death； he
died a year after I left Oxford。 He was a very good father to me； and I
mourned his death sincerely enough。 But you know what young men are；
a few months later I came up to town and went a good deal into society。
Of course I had excellent introductions； and I managed to enjoy myself
very much in a harmless sort of way。 I played a little； certainly； but never
for heavy stakes； and the few bets I made on races brought me in money
only a few pounds； you know； but enough to pay for cigars and such petty
pleasures。 It was in my second season that the tide turned。 Of course
you have heard of my marriage？〃
〃No； I never heard anything about it。〃
〃Yes； I married； Villiers。 I met a girl； a girl of the most wonderful
and most strange beauty； at the house of some people whom I knew。 I
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cannot tell you her age； I never knew it； but； so far as I can guess； I should
think she must have been about nineteen when I made her acquaintance。
My friends had come to know her at Florence； she told them she was an
orphan； the child of an English father and an Italian mother； and she
charmed them as she charmed me。 The first time I saw her was at an
evening party。 I was standing by the door talking to a friend； when
suddenly above the hum and babble of conversation I heard a voice which
seemed to thrill to my heart。 She was singing an Italian song。 I was
introduced to her that evening； and in three months I married Helen。
Villiers； that woman； if I can call her woman； corrupted my soul。 The
night of the wedding I found myself sitting in her bedroom in the hotel；
listening to her talk。 She was sitting up in bed； and I listened to her as
she spoke in her beautiful voice； spoke of things which even now I would
not dare whisper in the blackest night； though I stood in the midst of a
wilderness。 You； Villiers； you may think you know life； and London；
and what goes on day and night in this dreadful city； for all I can say you
may have heard the talk of the vilest； but I tell you you can have no
conception of what I know； not in your most fantastic； hideous dreams can
you have imaged forth the faintest shadow of what I have heardand seen。
Yes； seen。 I have seen the incredible； such horrors that even I myself
sometimes stop in the middle of the street and ask whether it is possible
for a man to behold such things and live。 In a year； Villiers； I was a ruined
man； in body and soulin body and soul。〃
〃But your property； Herbert？ You had land in Dorset。〃
〃I sold it all； the fields and woods； the dear old houseeverything。〃
〃And the money？〃
〃She took it all from me。〃
〃And then left you？〃
〃Yes； she disappeared one night。 I don't know where she went； but I
am sure if I saw her again it would kill me。 The rest of my story is of no
interest； sordid misery； that is all。 You may think； Villiers； that I have
exaggerated and talked for effect； but I have not told you half。 I could
tell you certain things which would convince you； but you would never
know a happy day again。 You would pass the rest of your life； as I pass
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mine； a haunted man； a man who has seen hell。〃
Villiers took the unfortunate man to his rooms； and gave him a meal。
Herbert could eat little； and scarcely touched the glass of wine set before
him。 He sat moody and silent by the fire； and seemed relieved when
Villiers sent him away with a small present of money。
〃By the way； Herbert；〃 said Villiers； as they parted at the door； 〃what
was your wife's name？ You said Helen； I think？ Helen what？〃
〃The name she passed under when I met her was Helen Vaughan； but
what her real name was I can't say。 I don't think she had a name。 No；
no； not in that sense。 Only human beings have names； Villiers； I can't say
anymore。 Good…bye； yes； I will not fail to call if I see any way in which
you can help me。 Good…night。〃
The man went out into the bitter night； and Villiers returned to his
firesi
