rs.undertheandes-第1部分

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！


　THE　SWEETHEART　OF　A　KING。
　
　The　scene　was　not　exactly　new　to　me。　Moved　by　the　spirit　of　adventure；　or　by　an　access　of　ennui　which　overtakes　me　at　times；　I　had　several　times　visited　the　gaudy　establishment　of　Mercer；　on　the　fashionable　side　of　Fifth　Avenue　in　the　Fifties。　In　either　case　I　had　found　disappointment；　where　the　stake　is　a　matter　of　indifference　there　can　be　no　excitement；　and　besides；　I　had　been　always　in　luck。
　But　on　this　occasion　I　had　a　real　purpose　before　me；　though　not　an　important　one；　and　I　surrendered　my　hat　and　coat　to　the　servant　at　the　door　with　a　feeling　of　satisfaction。
　At　the　entrance　to　the　main　room　I　met　Bob　Garforth；　leaving。
　There　was　a　scowl　on　his　face　and　his　hand　trembled　as　he　held　it　forth　to　take　mine。
　〃Harry　is　inside。　What　a　rotten　hole；〃　said　he；　and　passed　on。
　I　smiled　at　his　remark…it　was　being　whispered　about　that　Garforth　had　lost　a　quarter　of　a　million　at　Mercer's　within　the　month…and　passed　inside。
　Gaudy；　I　have　said　it　was；　and　it　needs　no　other　word。　Not　in　its　elements；　but　in　their　arrangement。
　The　rugs　and　pictures　and　hangings　testified　to　the　taste　of　the　man　who　had　selected　them；　but　they　were　abominably　disposed；　and　there　were　too　many　of　them。
　The　room；　which　was　unusually　large；　held　two　or　three　leather　divans；　an　English　buffet；　and　many　easy　chairs。　A　smoking…　table；　covered；　stood　in　one　corner。
　Groups　of　men　were　gathered　about　each　of　the　three　roulette　wheels　ranged　along　the　farther　side。　Through　a　door　to　the　left　could　be　seen　the　poker　tables；　surrounded　by　grave　or　jocular　faces。　Above　the　low　buzz　of　conversation　there　sounded　the　continual　droning　voices　of　the　croupiers　as　they　called　the　winning　numbers；　and　an　occasional　exclamation　from　a　〃customer。〃
　I　made　my　way　to　the　center　wheel　and　stood　at　the　rear　of　the　crowd　surrounding　it。
　The　ball　rolled；　there　was　a　straining　of　necks　amid　an　intense　silence；　then；　as　the　little　pellet　wavered　and　finally　came　to　a　rest　in　the　hole　number　twenty…four　a　fervent　oath　of　disappointment　came　from　some　one　in　front　of　me。
　The　next　moment；　rising　on　tiptoe　to　look　over　the　intervening　shoulders；　I　found　myself　looking　into　the　white　face　of　my　younger　brother　Harry。
　〃Paul！〃　he　exclaimed；　turning　quickly　away。
　I　pushed　my　way　through　and　stood　at　his　side。　There　was　no　sound　from　the　group　of　onlookers；　it　is　not　to　be　wondered　at　if　they　hesitated　to　offend　Paul　Lamar。
　〃My　dear　boy；〃　said　I；　〃I　missed　you　at　dinner。　And　though　this　may　occupy　your　mind；　it　can　scarcely　fill　your　stomach。　Haven't　you　had　enough？〃
　Harry　looked　at　me。　His　face　was　horribly　pale　and　his　eyes　bloodshot；　they　could　not　meet　mine。
　〃For　Heaven's　sake；　Paul；　let　me　alone；〃　he　said；　hardly　above　a　whisper。　〃I　have　lost　ninety　thousand。〃
　In　spite　of　myself　I　started。　No　wonder　he　was　pale！　And　yet…　〃That's　nothing；〃　I　whispered　back。　〃But　you　are　making　a　show　of　yourself。　Just　now　you　were　swearing　like　a　sailor。　See　how　your　hand　trembles！　You　were　not　made　for　this；　Harry；　it　makes　you　forget　that　you're　a　gentleman。　They　are　laughing　at　you。　e。〃
　〃But　I　say　I　have　lost　ninety　thousand　dollars；〃　said　the　boy；　and　there　was　wildness　in　his　eye。　〃Let　me　alone；　Paul。〃
　〃I　will　repay　you。〃
　〃No。　Let　me　alone！〃
　〃Harry！〃
　〃I　say　no！〃
　His　mouth　was　drawn　tight　and　his　eyes　glared　sullenly　as　those　of　a　stubborn　child。　Clearly　it　was　impossible　to　get　him　away　without　making　a　scene；　which　was　unthinkable。　For　a　moment　I　was　at　a　plete　loss；　then　the　croupier's　voice　sounded　suddenly　in　my　ear：
　〃You　are　interrupting　us；　sir。〃
　I　silenced　him　with　a　glance　and　turned　to　my　brother；　having　decided　in　an　instant　on　the　only　possible　course。
　〃Here；　let　me　have　your　chair。　I　will　get　it　back　for　you。　e！〃
　He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　in　hesitation；　then　rose　without　a　word　and　I　took　his　place。
　The　thing　was　tiresome　enough；　but　how　could　I　have　avoided　it？　The　blood　that　rushes　to　the　head　of　the　gambler　is　certainly　not　food　for　the　intellect；　and；　besides；　I　was　forced　by　circumstances　into　an　heroic　attitude…and　nothing　is　more　distasteful　to　a　man　of　sense。　But　I　had　a　task　before　me；　if　a　man　lays　bricks　he　should　lay　them　well；　and　I　do　not　deny　that　there　was　a　stirring　of　my　pulse　as　I　sat　down。
　Is　it　possible　for　a　mind　to　directly　influence　the　movements　of　a　little　ivory　ball？　I　do　not　say　yes；　but　will　you　say　no？
　I　watched　the　ball　with　the　eye　of　an　eagle；　but　without　straining；　I　played　with　the　precision　of　a　man　with　an　unerring　system；　though　my　selections　were　really　made　quite　at　random；　and　I　handled　my　bets　with　the　sureness　and　swift　dexterity　with　which　a　chess…master　places　his　pawn　or　piece　in　position　to　demoralize　his　opponent。
　This　told　on　the　nerves　of　the　croupier。　Twice　I　corrected　a　miscalculation　of　his；　and　before　I　had　played　an　hour　his　hand　was　trembling　with　agitation。
　And　I　won。
　The　details　would　be　tiresome；　but　I　won；　and　when；　after　six　hours　of　play　without　an　instant's　rest；　I　rose　exhausted　from　my　chair　and　handed　my　brother　the　amount　he　had　lost…I　pocketed　a　few　thousands　for　myself　in　addition。　There　were　some　who　tried　to　detain　me　with　congratulations　and　expressions　of　admiration；　but　I　shook　them　off　and　led　Harry　outside　to　my　car。
　The　chauffeur；　poor　devil；　was　pletely　stiff　from　the　long　wait；　and　I　ordered　him　into　the　tonneau　and　took　the　wheel　myself。
　Partly　was　this　due　to　pity　for　the　driver；　partly　to　a　desire　to　leave　Harry　to　his　own　thoughts；　which　I　knew　must　be　somewhat　turbulent。　He　was　silent　during　the　drive；　which　was　not　long；　and　I　smiled　to　myself　in　the　darkness　of　the　early　morning　as　I　heard；　now　and　then；　an　uncontrollable　sigh　break　through　his　dry　lips。
　Of　thankfulness；　perhaps。
　I　preceded　him　up　the　stoop　and　into　the　hall　of　the　old　house　on　lower　Fifth　Avenue；　near　Tenth　Street；　that　had　been　the　home　of　our　grandfather　and　our　father　before　us。　There；　in　the　dim　light；　I　halted　and　turned；　while　Evans　approached　from　the　inner　rooms；　rubbing　eyes　heavy　with　sleep。
　Good　old　Evans！　Yet　the　faithfulness　of　such　a　servant　has　its　disadvantages。
　〃Well？〃　said　Harry　in　a　thin；　high　voice。
　The　boy's　nerves　were　stretched　tightly；　two　words　from　me　would　have　produced　an　explosion。　So　I　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder　and　sent　him　off　to　bed。　He　went　sulkily；　without　looking　round；　and　his　shoulders　drooped　like　those　of　an　old　man；　but　I　reflected　that　that　would　all　be　changed　after　a　few　hours　of　sleep。
　〃After　all；　he　is　a　Lamar；〃　I　said　to　myself　as　I　ordered　Evans　to　bring　wine　and　sandwiches　to　the　library。
　It　was　the　middle　of　the　following　afternoon　before　Harry　appeared　down…stairs。　He　had　slept　eleven　hours。　I　was　seated　in　the　library　when　I　heard　his　voice　in　the　hall：
　〃Breakfast！　Breakfast　for　five　at　once！〃
　I　smiled。　That　was　Harry's　style　of　wit。
　After　he　had　eaten　his　〃breakfast　for　five〃　he　came　in　to　see　me　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　was　determined　to　have　it　out。
　I　myself　was　in　no　mood　for　talk；　indeed；　I　scarcely　ever　am　in　such　a　mood；　unless　it　be　with　a　pretty　woman　or　a　great　sinner。
　You　may　regard　that　sentence　as　tautological　if　you　like；　I　sha'n't　quarrel　about　it。
　What　I　mean　to　say　is　that　it　was　with　a　real　effort　I　set　myself　to　the　distasteful　task　before　me；　rendered　necessary　by　the　responsibility　of　my　position　as　elder　brother　and　head　of　the　family。
　Harry　began　by　observing　with　assumed　indifference：　〃Well；　and　now　there's　the　deuce　to　pay；　I　suppose。〃
　〃As　his　representative　I　am　not　a　hard　creditor；〃　I　smiled。
　〃I　know；　I　know…〃　he　began　impetuously　and　stopped。
　I　continued：
　〃My　boy；　there　is　always　the　deuce　to　pay。　If　not　for　one　thing；　then　for　another。　So　your　observation　would　serve　for　any　other　time　as　well　as　now。　The　point　is　this：　you　are　ten　years　younger　than　I；　and　you　are　under　my　care；　and　much　as　I　dislike　to　talk；　we　must　reach　an　understanding。〃
　〃Well？〃　said　Harry；　lighting　a　cigarette　and　seating　himself　on　the　arm　of　a　chair。
　〃You　have　often　thought；〃　I　continued；　〃that　I　have　been　trying　to　interfere　with　your　freedom。　But　you　are　mistaken；　I　have　merely　been　trying　to　preserve　it…and　I　have　succeeded。〃
　〃When　our　father　and　mother　died　you　were　fifteen　years　of　age。　You　are　now　twenty…two；　and　I　take　some　credit　for　the　fact　that　those　seven　years　have　left　no　stain；　however　slight；　on　the　name　of　Lamar。〃
　〃Do　I　deserve　that？〃　cried　Harry。　〃What　have　I　done？〃
　〃Nothing　irremediable；　but　you　must　admit　that　now　and　then　I　have　been　at　no　small　pains　to…er…assist　you。　But　there；　I　don't　intend　to　speak　of　the　past；　and　to　tell　the　truth；　I　suspect　that　we　are　of　one　mind。　You　regard　me　as　more　or　less　of　an　encumbrance；　you　think　your　movements　are　hampered；　you　consider　yourself　to　be　treated　as　a　child　unjustly。
　〃Well；　for　my　part；　I　find　my　duty…for　such　I　consider　it…grows　more　irksome　every　day。　If　I　am　in　your　way；　you　are　no　less　in　mine。　To　make　it　short；　you　are　now　twenty…two　years　old；　you　chafe　at　restraint；　you　think　yourself　abundantly　able　to　manage　your　own　affairs。　Well…I　have　no　objection。〃
　Harry　stared　at　me。
　〃You　mean…〃　he　began。
　〃Exactly。〃
　〃But；　Paul…〃
　〃There　is　no　need　to　discuss　it。　For　me；　it　is　mostly　selfishness。〃
　But　he　wanted　to　talk；　and　I　humored　him。　For　two　hours　we　sat；　running　the　scale　from　business　to　sentiment；　and　I　must　confess　that　I　was　more　than　once　surprised　by　a　flash　from　Harry。
　Clearly　he　was　developing；　and　for　the　first　time　I　indulged　a　hope　that　he　might　prove　himself　fit　for　self…government。
　At　least　I　had　given　him　the　rope；　it　remained　for　time　to　discover　whether　or　not　he　would　avoid　getting　tangled　up　in　it。
　When　we　had　finished　we　understood　each　other　better；　I　think；　than　we　ever　had　before；　and　we　parted　with　the　best　of　feeling。
　Three　days　later　I　sailed　for　Europe；　leaving　Harry　in　New　York。　It　was　my　first　trip　across　in　eighteen　months；　and　I　aimed　at　pleasure。　I　spent　a　week　in　London　and　Munich；　then；　disgusted　with　the　actions　of　some　of　my　fellow　countrymen　with　whom　I　had　the　misfortune　to　be　acquainted；　I　turned　my　face　south　for　Madrid。
　There　I　had　a　friend。