stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第33节
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midday and entered his room。 Xantippe was there； talking to her child； and
quietly bade him go away。
〃It's my room as well as yours；〃 Gregorio had answered。
〃It is my money that pays for it；〃 was the reply。
A long conversation followed； but Xantippe met the man's coarse
anger with quiet scorn； and told him that if he stayed she would grow to
dislike her son since he was the father。
Gregorio was wise enough to control his anger then。 For he knew that
if she were really to lose her love for the boy； all his chances； and the boy's
chances； of ease and prosperity would be destroyed。 It was； of course；
ridiculous to imagine she would supply him with money then。 That she
thoroughly loathed him； and would always loathe him； was very certain。
So great； indeed； seemed her contempt for him that it was quite possible
she might come to hate his child。 So he did not attempt to remain in the
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room； but as he closed the door after him he waited a moment and listened。
He heard her heave a sigh of relief and then say to the little fellow； 〃How
like your father you grow！ My God！ I almost think I hate you for being so
like him。〃 Gregorio shuddered as he ran noiselessly downstairs。 He never
ventured to speak to her again。 He argued himself out of the disquiet into
which her words had thrown him。 He knew it was difficult for a woman to
hate her child。 The birth…pains cement a love it requires a harsh wrench to
sever。 He easily persuaded himself； as he sipped Madam Marx's coffee；
that if he kept in the background all cause for hatred would be removed。
As for her feelings toward himself； he had ceased； almost； to care。 The
money was worth the cost paid in the attainment of it； and a woman's
laugh was less sweet to him than the chink of gold and silver pieces。 On
the whole Gregorio had little reason to be troubled； only unreasoning
dislike for the Englishmanwhy could not he be of any other nation； or； if
an Englishman； any other Englishman？hurt his peace of mind。 And for
the most part his discontent only smouldered。
Madam Marx brought her coffee and sat beside him。 Her face
betokened satisfaction； and she looked at Gregorio with a possessive smile。
She had gained her desire； and asked fortune for no other gift。
〃You have not seen Xantippe since she turned you out？ Ah； well； it is
much better you should keep away。 You are welcome here； and it is foolish
to go where one is not wanted。〃
〃I've not seen her； I'm afraid to see her。〃 He spoke openly to madam
now。
〃Some women are queer。 If she had ever really loved you； she would
not have thrown you over。 I should not have complained had I been in her
place。 One cannot always choose one's lot。〃
〃It's that damned Englishman who has spoiled her。〃
〃Ah； yes； those English！ I know them。〃
〃Did I tell you what she said about the boy？〃
〃Yes； my friend。 But as long as you don't worry her； her words need
not worry you。〃
〃They don't； except sometimes at night。 I wake up and remember them；
and then I am afraid。〃
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〃Why do you hate the Englishman？ To my mind it is lucky for both of
you that this Englishman saw her。 There are not men so rich as the English；
and he is a rich Englishman。 You are lucky。〃
〃I hate him。〃
〃Because he has stolen your wife's love？〃 Madam Marx； as she put the
question； laid her fat hand upon Gregorio's shoulder and laughed
confidently。 The movement irritated him； but he never tried to resist her
now。
〃No； not quite that。 I'm used to it； and the money more than
compensates me。 But I hated the man when I first saw him in the Paradise。
There was a fiddler…woman he talked to； and he could scarcely make
himself understood。 He had money； and he gave her champagne and
flowers。 And I was starving； and the woman was beautiful。〃
Madam tapped his cheek and smiled。
〃The woman can't interest you now。 Also you have moneyhis
money。〃
〃Still I hate him。〃
〃You Greeks are like children。 Your hatred is unreasonable； there is no
cause for it。〃
〃Unreasonable and not to be reasoned away。〃 〃Well； why worry
about him？ He won't follow you to Benhur； I fancy。〃
〃It doesn't worry me generally； but when you mention him my hate
springs up again。 I forget him when I am by myself。〃
〃Forget him now。〃
And they drank coffee in silence。
Darkness came on； and the blue night mist。 Gregorio was impatient to
see his son。 He gazed intently at the door of the opposite house； little
heeding madam； who was busy with preparations for the evening's
entertainment of her customers。 Suddenly he saw a woman leave the house；
hail a passing carriage； and drive rapidly down the street toward the Place
Mehemet Ali。 Gregorio； with a cry of pleasure； rose and left the cafe。
Madam Marx followed him to the door and called a good…night to him。
Gregorio stood irresolutely in the middle of the road。 He had promised the
boy a boat； and he blamed himself for having forgotten to buy it。
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Grumbling at his forgetfulness； he hurried along the street； determined to
waste no time。 On occasions he could relinquish his lazy； slouching gait；
and he would hurry always to obey the commands of the king his son。 A
pleasant smile at the thought of the pleasure his present would cause
softened the sinister mould of his lips； and he sang softly to himself as he
moved quickly cityward。
Before he had gone many yards an oath broke in upon the music； and
he darted swiftly under the shadow of a wall； for coming forward him was
Amos the Jew。 But the old man's sharp eyes detected the victim； and；
following Gregorio into his hiding…place； Amos laid his hand upon the
Greek。
〃Why do you try to hide when we have so much to say to one
another？〃
Gregorio shook himself from the Jew's touch and professed ignorance
of the necessity for speech。
〃Come； come； my friend； the money you borrowed is still owing in
part。〃
〃But you will be paid。 We are saving money； we cannot put by all we
earnwe must live。〃
〃I will be paid now； if I am not； you are to blame for the
consequences。〃
And with a courtly salute the Jew passed on。 Now Gregorio had not
forgotten his debt； nor the Jew's threats； and he fully intended to pay what
he owed。 But of course it would take time； and the man was too impatient。
He realised he had been foolish not to pay something on account； but it
hurt him to part with gold。 He determined； however； to send Amos
something when he returned home。 So good a watch had been kept； he
never doubted the child's safety。 But it would be awkward if Amos got him
put in jail。 So he reckoned up how much he could afford to pay； and；
having bought the toy； returned eagerly home。 He ran upstairs； singing a
barcarole at the top of his voice； and rushed into the room； waving the
model ship above his head。 〃See here；〃 he cried； 〃is the ship！ I have not
forgotten it。〃 But his shout fell to a whisper。 The room was empty。
With a heartbroken sob the man fell swooning on the floor。
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IX A DISCOVERY AND A CONSPIRACY
For long he lay stretched out upon the floor in a state of half…
consciousness。 He could hear the mosquitos buzzing about his face； he
could hear； too； the sounds of life rise up from the street below； but he was
able to move neither arm nor leg； and his head seemed fastened to the
floor by immovable leaden weights。 That his son was lost was all he
understood。
How long he lay there he scarcely knew； but
