stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第3节
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gratifying letters； not only respecting the behaviour of his charge； but of
the improvement in his health。 As they drew nearer to Italy； Richard
observed one day that he should spend a day or two at Monte Carlo。
Maitland had never heard of the place or of its peculiar attractions； and
〃Master Richard〃 only told him that it was very picturesque。 The horror of
the faithful retainer may therefore be imagined when he found that it was a
gambling resort。
He could not prevent his young master frequenting the tables； and
though he kept the purse； with the exception of a few pounds； and would
certainly have stood between him and ruin； he could not prevent his
winning。 Richard had the luck； and more； that proverbially attends young
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peoplehe had the luck of the devil； his few napoleons swelling to a great
many on the very first day； and he was in the seventh heaven of happiness。
The next day and the next he won largely； immensely； in vain Maitland
threatened to write to his father； and even to leave him。
〃All right；〃 replied the reckless youth。 〃You may do as you like； even
if the governor disinherits me I can make my fortune by stopping here。
And as to leaving me； go by all means； I shall get on very well with a
French valet。〃
It was dreadful。
Richard grew happier and happier every day； as the golden flood
flowed in upon him； but also extremely hectic。 He passed the whole day at
the tables； and the want of air and exercise； and； still more； the intense
excitement which possessed him； began to have the most serious effect。
That prescription of 〃seeing the world；〃 and 〃escaping from his dull
surroundings；〃 was having a very different result from what had been
expected。 〃The paths of glory lead but to the grave〃； the young
Englishman and his luck were the talk of all Monte Carlo； and he enjoyed
his notoriety very much； but； as the poor butler plaintively observed； what
was the good of that when Master Richard was 〃killing himself〃？
How the news was received at the Court I had no means of judging；
for the squire kept a rigid silence； except that he had long conferences with
my father； and Lady Jane kept her room。 It was indeed a very sore subject。
The squire wanted to start for Monte Carlo at once； but he was singularly
insular； detested travel； and in truth was very unfit for such a 〃cutting…out
expedition〃 as was contemplated。 He waited； half out of his mind with
anxiety； but in hopes of a better report； what he hoped for was that luck
would turn； and Richard lose every shilling。
The very reverse of this； however； took place； Richard won more and
more。 He would come home to his hotel in the evening with a porter
carrying his gains。 His portmanteau was full of napoleons。 It was
characteristic of him that he never thought of banking it。 One evening he
came in with very bright eyes； but a most shrunken and cadaverous face。
〃This has been my best day of all； Johnny；〃 he said。 〃See； I have won
two thousand pounds； and you shall have a hundred of it。〃
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But Maitland refused to have anything to do with such ill…gotten gains；
for which； too； his young master was sacrificing his health； and perhaps
his life。 Stillthough this did not strike Richard till afterwardhe could
not help regarding the great heap of gold with considerable interest。 Added
to the lad's previous gains； the amount was now very large indeedmore
than five thousand pounds。
〃I should really think； Master Richard； as you had now won enough。〃
〃Enough？ Certainly not。 I have not broken the bank yet。 I mean to do
that before I've done with it； Johnny。〃
〃That will be after you've killed yourself；〃 said honest John。
〃Well； then I shall die /rich/；〃 was the reckless rejoinder。
Richard； who was too exhausted for repose； tossed and tumbled on his
bed for hours； and eventually dropped into a heavy slumber； and slept far
into the next morning。 He awoke feeling very unwell； but his chief anxiety
was lest he should miss the opening of the tables； he was always the first
to begin。 He rang his bell violently for Maitland。 There was no reply； and
when he rang again； one of the hotel servants came up。
〃Where is my man？〃 he inquired。
〃Monsieur's man…servant took monsieur's luggage to the railway…
station； he is gone by the early train to Turin。〃
〃Gone to Turin with my luggage？〃
〃Yes； with the two portmanteausvery heavy ones。〃
Richard got out of bed； and dragged his weary limbs into the dressing…
room； an inner apartment； where the portmanteaus were kept for safety。
They were both gone。
〃What train did the scoundrel go by？ Where is my watch？ Why； the
villain has taken that too！ Send for the police！ No； there is no time to be
lostsend a telegram。 Why； he has not even left me enough money to pay
a telegram！〃
All his small change was gone。 Honest John had taken everything； he
had not left his young master a single sixpence。 At this revelation of the
state of affairs； poor Richard； weakened as he was by his long excitement；
threw himself on the bed and burst into tears。 The attendant； to whom； as
usual； he had been liberal； was affected by an emotion so strange in an
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Englishman。
〃Monsieur must not fret； the thief will be caught and the money
restored。 It will be well； perhaps to tell the /maitre d'hotel/。〃
The master of the hotel appeared with a very grave face。 He was
desolated to hear of the misfortune that had befallen his young guest。
Perhaps there was not quite so much taken as had been reported。
〃I tell you it's all gone； more than five thousand pounds； and my watch
and chain； I have not half a franc in my possession。〃
〃That is unfortunate indeed；〃 said the /maitre d'hotel/； looking graver
than ever； 〃because there is my bill to settle。〃
〃Oh； hang your bill！〃 cried Richard。 〃/That/ will be all right。 I must
telegraph to my father at once。〃
〃But how is monsieur to telegraph if he has no money？〃
It was probably the first time in his life that the young fellow had ever
understood how inconvenient a thing is poverty。 What also amazed him
beyond measure was the man's manner； yesterday； and all other days； it
had been polite to obsequiousness； now it was dry almost to insolence。 It
seemed； indeed； to imply some doubt of the bona fides of his guestthat
he might not； in short； be much better than honest John himself； of whom
he was possibly the confederate； that the whole story was a trumped…up
one to account for the inability to meet his bill。 As to his having won
largely at the tables； that might be true enough； but he also might have lost
it all； and more with it； money changes hands at Monte Carlo very rapidly。
In the end； however； and not without much objection； the landlord
advanced a sufficient sum to enable Richard to telegraph home。 He also
permitted him to stay on at the hotel； stipulating； however； that he should
call for no wine； nor indulge in anything expensivea humiliating
arrangement enough； but not so much so as the terms of another proviso；
that he was never to enter the gambling saloon or go beyond the public
gardens。 Even there he was under surveillance； and it was； in short； quite
clear that he was suspected of an intention to run away without paying his
billperhaps even of joining his 〃confederate；〃 Mr。 John Maitland。
The only thing that comforted Richard was the conviction that he
should have a remittance from his father in a few hours； but nothing of the
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sort； not even a telegram； arrived。 Day after day went by； and the young
fellow was in despair； he fel
