stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第26节
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paid。〃
〃But we cannot pay him。 He must let us have some。 If not〃 and
Gregorio raised threatening。
His wife smiled sadly and kissed him。
〃You will not frighten Amos； my love。 When I told him the child had
been ill； he only laughed。〃
〃When was that？〃
〃Yesterday。〃
〃Then he had been here？〃
〃He came last night to ask for his money。 I told him we had none； and
he laughed and said we must get some。 He told me I might get some if I
cared to。 He said I could make； oh； so much！〃
Gregorio scowled savagely。 〃The filthy Jew！ he said that？ Never； never；
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never！〃
〃But we must get some money；〃 the woman sobbed； 〃if only for our
son's sake； Gregorio。 But not that way？〃
〃No； not that way；〃 he replied； savagely。
〃When shall you go to him？〃
〃Now。〃
And taking up his hat he rushed into the street。 He was terribly angry；
not so much at the purport of the Jew's speech as at the man who made it。
He loathed the Jews； and felt insulted when spoken to by one； it was a
terrible matter to ask this man for help； but it was intolerable that his wife
should suffer insult。 And yet the child must be fed。 Yes； she had said that；
and it was true。 They must make sacrifices for the child。
He soon reached the Jew's house； and was shown by a richly clad
servant into the room where Amos sat。 Amos was an old man； tall and
strong； with a long bushy beard； in which his fingers continually played；
and his eyes were sharp and brilliant and restless； a strange contrast to his
stately bearing and measured movements。 He rose from his cushions as
Gregorio entered； and saluted him courteously； motioning him to a seat。
Then； having resettled himself； he clapped his hands together smartly and
ordered the servant who answered the summons to bring in coffee and
pipes。
Gregorio was rather overawed at the luxury he saw around him； and he
felt the stern…looking； polite old man would be a difficult person to deal
with。 As he puffed at his tube he considered carefully what words he
should use。
For some time neither spoke； but Amos was the first to break the
silence。
〃You heard I was at your house last night； and so have come to pay
me？〃
〃Yes； I heard you were at my house and that you wanted to be paid。
You are a rich man； and I am poor。〃
〃Nay； I am not rich； they lie who say I am rich。〃
〃It is twenty pounds I owe you； is it not？〃
〃Yes； twenty pounds。 It is a large sum； and I have dealt generously
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with you。 I am now in need of it myself。〃
〃I am a poor man。〃
〃You have not the money； eh； my friend？〃
〃I have not the money。 But I will pay you if you will lend me some
more。 I shall be successful now； only twenty pounds more。〃
Amos appeared unmoved at the tremor in Gregorio's voice。 His eyes
rested coldly on the face of his client； while the unfortunate Greek
continued to speak rapidly of his troubles and hopes。 He smiled
sarcastically as Gregorio spoke of the certainty of making his fortune at
Benhur； and remained quite unmoved at the story of the sufferings of a
woman and child from hunger and want。
〃Your wife is beautiful；〃 was all he answered when Gregorio paused
for a moment。 At these words； however； he half rose from his place and
clinched his hands savagely。 But he sank back again with the
remembrance that a show of temper would not advance his cause。
〃Very beautiful；〃 he answered； chokingly； 〃would you see her starve？〃
〃She is not my wife；〃 said Amos； quietly。 Then he continued slowly；
pausing at intervals to puff out a cloud of smoke from his mouth：
〃You have owed me this money a long time。 I want it； and I will have
it。 Even in Egypt there is law。 You do not like us Jews； but the law will
protect me as long as I am rich enough to buy justice。 In three days you
will pay me this money。 I have been generous to you； now I will be
generous no longer。 If I am not paid I will take measures to recover my
loss。 You will sleep in the streets like the Arabs； my friend； but the weather
is warm。 It is early summer； so you will scarcely feel the exposure。 In
three days you will come and pay me。〃
〃But how am I to get the money？ If you would lend me only a few
pounds I would repay you all I owe。〃
〃Already you owe me more than you can pay。 You can make money。
You are married。 These Christian women are worse than the Arabs； do I
not see them as I come home in the evening from my business？ It is not
right to borrow and not repay。 I need my money。 How can I have my
coffee and my pipe unless I have money？〃
Gregorio listened with growing anger； and finally rose from his seat
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and shook his fist in the old man's face。
〃You shall be paid；〃 he shouted； 〃you shall be paid！〃
〃Anger is useless； my friend。〃
And as Gregorio left the house Amos smiled and stroked his beard。
〃Truly；〃 he thought； 〃these Christians hate us； but we have them in our
power。 It is pleasant to be hated and yet to know that it is to us they must
cringe when they are in need； and it is very pleasant to refuse。 My friend
Gregorio is not happy now that he is struggling in my grasp。〃
As for Gregorio； he wandered away toward the harbour； kicking
savagely at the refuse scattered along the pavement。 He did not know how
to set about earning the requisite sum。 It was no good applying to the
hotels or tourist agencies； for there were few visitors in the city and
dragomen were therefore not needed。
His friends were too poor to help him； and the consul was unable to do
much for him； there were so many poor Greeks who wanted help。
Meanwhile there was no food at home and no drink； even the necessaries
of life were lacking。
On arriving at his home he found his wife and child huddled in a
corner crying for food。 They ran toward him as he entered； but the hope in
their faces quickly faded at the sight of him。
〃It's no good；〃 Gregorio growled； 〃Amos refuses to advance a piastre
and says I must pay all I owe in three days。〃
〃It is impossible to sleep when one is hungry；〃 said Gregorio that night
to his wife； who lay awake； weeping； beside him。
III OF FAILURE AND A RESOLVE
Gregorio's dreams； when he did sleep； were none of the pleasantest；
and when he woke up； from time to time； he heard his wife weeping。 In
wondering what he should say to comfort her he fell asleep again； and
sleeping was worse than lying awake。 For in his dreams he saw Xantippe
and his child starving and crying for food； and he was unable to help them
in any way。 He lived over again the long day he had spent tramping the
streets of Alexandria searching for work。 He saw the few tourists still left
in the town fat and happy； he saw the porters of the hotels who had smiled
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on him pityingly and yet contemptuously； and he woke； after each
representation of the crude comedy； hot and yet cold with perspiration； to
feel the bed on which he lay shaking under the sobs of his wife。
When at last day dawned Gregorio raised himself with an oath； and
swore to find food for his family and work for himself。 The terrible debt
he owed to Amos he swore should not trouble him； laughing at his wife's
remonstrances。 With the bright daylight had come a new courage； and；
hungry as he was； he felt able not only to satisfy their hunger； but so
skilfully to arrange matters that they would never feel hungry again。 Yet is
was a terrible ordeal； that half…hour when the family should have sat down
to a table laden with food。 The poor wife cri
