stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第31节
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！
bit； he always felt it was a satisfactory conclusion； and one to be
encouraged。
Meanwhile he would not meet Xantippe。 That was a point upon which
he had definitely made up his mind。 As he strolled through the bazaars；
putting into order his vagabond thoughts； in a tall figure a few yards in
front of him he recognised Amos。 Nervous； he halted； for he had no desire
to be interviewed by the Jew； and yet no way of escape seemed possible。
Nodding affably to the proprietor； he sat down on the floor of a shop
hard by and watched Amos。 The old man was evidently interested； for he
was laughing pleasantly； and bending down to look at something on the
ground。 What it was Gregorio could not see。 A knot of people； also
laughing； surrounded the Jew。 Gregorio was curious to see what attracted
them； but fearful of being recognised by the old man。 However； after a few
moments his impatience mastered him； and he stepped up to the group。
〃What is it？〃 he asked one of the bystanders。
〃Only a baby。 It's lost； I think。〃
Gregorio pushed his way into the centre of the crowd and suddenly
became white as death。
There； seated on the ground； was his own child； laughing and talking
to himself in a queer mixture of Greek and Arabic。 Amos was bending
kindly over the youngster； giving him cakes and sweets； and making
inquiries as to the parents。
A chill fear seized on Gregorio's heart。 He could not have explained
the cause； nor did he stay and try to explain it。 Quickly he broke into the
midst of the circle and； catching up the boy in his arms； ran swiftly away。
Having reached home； he kissed the boy passionately； sent for food to
Madam Marx； and wept and laughed hysterically for an hour。 After a time
the boy slept； and Gregorio then paced up and down the room； smoking；
and puffing great clouds of smoke from his mouth； trying to calm himself。
But he could not throw off his excitement。 He imagined the awful home…
106
… Page 107…
STORIES
coming had he not been to the bazaar； and he wondered what he would
have done then。 A great joy possessed him to see his son safe； and a fierce
desire filled him to know who had taken the child away。 He longed for
Xantippe's return that he might tell her。 He forgot completely that he had
dreaded seeing her earlier this evening。 Then he began to wonder what
Amos was doing at the fantasia； and why he was so interested in the boy。
Perhaps； Amos would forgive the debt for love of the child。 The idea
pleased him； but he soon came to understand that it was untenable。 Oftener；
indeed； he shuddered as he recalled the old man's figure bent over the
infant。 A sense of danger to come overwhelmed him。 In some way he felt
that the old man and the child were to be brought together to work his；
Gregorio's； ruin。
Suddenly he heard a footstep on the stairs。 〃Thank God！〃 he cried； as
he ran to the door。
〃Xantippe！〃
But he recoiled as if shot； for as the door opened Amos entered。 The
Jew bowed politely to the Greek； but there was an unpleasant twinkle in
his eyes as he spoke。
〃You cannot offer me a seat； my friend； so I will stand。 We have met
already this evening。〃
Gregorio did not answer； but placed himself between the Jew and the
child。
〃I dare say you did not see me；〃 the old man continued； quietly； 〃for
you seemed excited。 I suppose the child is yours。 It was surely careless to
let him stray so far from home。〃
〃The child is mine。〃
〃Ah； well； it is a happy chance that you recovered him so easily。 And
now to business。〃
〃I am listening。〃
〃I have already； as of course you know； been here to see you about the
money you owe me。 I was sorry you did not see fit to pay me； because I
had to sell your furniture； and it was not worth much。〃
〃I have no money to pay you； or I would have paid you long ago。 I told
you when I went to your house that I could not pay you。〃
107
… Page 108…
STORIES
〃And yet； my friend； it is only fair that a man who borrows money
should be prepared to pay it back。〃
〃I could pay you back if you gave me time。 But you have no heart； you
Jews。 What do you care if we starve； so long as〃
〃Hush！〃 said Amos； gravely； 〃I have dealt fairly by you。 But I will let
you go free on one condition。〃
〃And that is？〃
〃That you give me the child。〃
Gregorio stood speechless with horror and rage at the window； and the
old man walked across the room to where the infant lay。
〃I have no young son； Gregorio Livadas； and I will take yours。 Not
only will I forgive you the debt； but I will give you money。 I want the
child。〃
〃By God； you shall not touch him！〃 cried Gregorio； suddenly finding
voice for his passion。
He rushed furiously at Amos； gripped him by the throat； and flung him
to the far side of the room。 Then he stood by his child with his arms folded
on his breast； his eyes flashing and his nostrils dilated。 Amos quickly
recovered himself； and； in a voice that scarcely trembled； again demanded
his money。
〃Go away；〃 shouted Gregorio； 〃if you come here again； I will kill you。
Twice now have I saved my boy from falling into your hands。〃
〃I wish only to do you a service。 You are a beggar； and I am rich
enough； ask Heaven； to look after the child。 Why should you abuse me
because I offer to release you from your debts if you will let me take the
child？〃
Gregorio answered brusquely that the Jew should not touch the boy。 〃I
will not have him made a Jew。〃
〃Then you will pay me。〃
〃I will not。 I cannot。〃
〃I shall take measures； my friend； to force you to pay me。 I have not
dealt harshly with you。 I came here to help you； and you have insulted me
and beaten me。〃
〃Because you are a dog of a Jew； and you have tried to steal my son。〃
108
… Page 109…
STORIES
A nasty look came into the Jew's eyes；a cold； cunning look；and he
was about to reply when the door opened and Xantippe entered。 She was
well dressed； and wore some ornaments of gold。 Amos turned toward her；
asking the man：
〃This is your wife？〃
But Gregorio told Xantippe rapidly the history of his adventures with
the boy； and the woman； hearing them； moved quietly to the corner where
he slept； and took him in her arms。
The Jew smiled。 〃I see；〃 he said； 〃that madam has money。 She has
taken the advice I gave you the other day。 Now I know that you can pay
me； and if you do not within two days； Gregorio Livadas； you will repent
the insults you have heaped on my head this night。〃
He walked quietly to the corner of the room； where Xantippe sat
nursing the boy； touched the child gently on the forehead with his lips； and
then went out。
For some minutes neither Xantippe nor Gregorio spoke； but the man
rubbed the infant's forehead with his finger as if to wipe out the stain of
the Jew's kiss。
VII XANTIPPE SPEAKS OUT
At last the silence； roused only by the strident buzzing of the
mosquitos； became unendurable。 Gregorio gave a preparatory cough and
opened his lips to speak； but the words refused to be born。 He was
unnerved。 The odious visitor； the wearying day； the memory of Xantippe's
face at the window； combined to make him fearful。 He watched； under his
half…closed lids； his wife crouching on the far side of the boy。 Once or
twice； as he was rubbing the youngster's forehead； his fingers touched
those of his wife as she waved off the mosquitos； but at each contact with
them he shivered and his fears increased。 He tried； vainly； to get his
thoughts straight； and lit a cigarette with apparent calmness； swaggering to
the window； but his legs did not cease to tremble； and the unsteadiness of
his gait caused Xantippe to smile as she watched him。 Resting by the
window； Gregorio widened the lips of the lattice and let in a stream
