the house of pride(傲慢之家)-第22节
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three cards and held up the kings； of course。 Not Lyte。 He was
playing optimism。 He threw the kings away； held up the three little
clubs； and drew two cards。 He never looked at them。 He looked
across at Schultz to bet； and Schultz did bet； big。 Since he himself held
three aces he knew he had Lyte； because he played Lyte for threes； and；
necessarily； they would have to be smaller threes。 Poor Schultz！ He
was perfectly correct under the premises。 His mistake was that he
thought Lyte was playing poker。 They bet back and forth for five
minutes； until Schultz's certainty began to ooze out。 And all the time
Lyte had never looked at his two cards； and Schultz knew it。 I could
see Schultz think； and revive； and splurge with his bets again。 But the
strain was too much for him。〃
〃'Hold on； Gregory；' he said at last。 'I've got you beaten from the
start。 I don't want any of your money。 I've got'〃
〃'Never mind what you've got；' Lyte interrupted。 'You don't know
what I've got。 I guess I'll take a look。'〃
〃He looked； and raised the German a hundred dollars。 Then they
went at it again； back and forth and back and forth； until Schultz
weakened and called； and laid down his three aces。 Lyte faced his five
cards。 They were all black。 He had drawn two more clubs。 Do you
know； he just about broke Schultz's nerve as a poker player。 He never
played in the same form again。 He lacked confidence after that； and
was a bit wobbly。〃
〃'But how could you do it？' I asked Lyte afterwards。 'You knew he
had you beaten when he drew two cards。 Besides； you never looked at
your own draw。'〃
〃'I didn't have to look；' was Lyte's answer。 'I knew they were two
clubs all the time。 They just had to be two clubs。 Do you think I was
going to let that big Dutchman beat me？ It was impossible that he
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should beat me。 It is not my way to be beaten。 I just have to win。
Why； I'd have been the most surprised man in this world if they hadn't
been all clubs。'〃
〃That was Lyte's way； and maybe it will help you to appreciate his
colossal optimism。 As he put it he just had to succeed； to fare well； to
prosper。 And in that same incident； as in ten thousand others； he found
his sanction。 The thing was that he did succeed； did prosper。 That
was why he was afraid of nothing。 Nothing could ever happen to him。
He knew it； because nothing had ever happened to him。 That time the
Luga was lost and he swam thirty miles； he was in the water two whole
nights and a day。 And during all that terrible stretch of time he never
lost hope once； never once doubted the outcome。 He just knew he was
going to make the land。 He told me so himself； and I know it was the
truth。
〃Well； that is the kind of a man Lyte Gregory was。 He was of a
different race from ordinary； ailing mortals。 He was a lordly being；
untouched by common ills and misfortunes。 Whatever he wanted he
got。 He won his wifeone of the Caruthers； a little beauty from a
dozen rivals。 And she settled down and made him the finest wife in the
world。 He wanted a boy。 He got it。 He wanted a girl and another
boy。 He got them。 And they were just right； without spot or blemish；
with chests like little barrels； and with all the inheritance of his own
health and strength。
〃And then it happened。 The mark of the beast was laid upon him。 I
watched it for a year。 It broke my heart。 But he did not know it； nor
did anybody else guess it except that cursed hapa…haole； Stephen Kaluna。
He knew it； but I did not know that he did。 AndyesDoc Strowbridge
knew it。 He was the federal physician； and he had developed the leper
eye。 You see； part of his business was to examine suspects and order
them to the receiving station at Honolulu。 And Stephen Kaluna had
developed the leper eye。 The disease ran strong in his family； and four
or five of his relatives were already on Molokai。
〃The trouble arose over Stephen Kaluna's sister。 When she became
suspect； and before Doc Strowbridge could get hold of her； her brother
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spirited her away to some hiding…place。 Lyte was Sheriff of Kona； and
it was his business to find her。
〃We were all over at Hilo that night； in Ned Austin's。 Stephen
Kaluna was there when we came in； by himself； in his cups； and
quarrelsome。 Lyte was laughing over some jokethat huge； happy
laugh of a giant boy。 Kaluna spat contemptuously on the floor。 Lyte
noticed； so did everybody； but he ignored the fellow。 Kaluna was
looking for trouble。 He took it as a personal grudge that Lyte was
trying to apprehend his sister。 In half a dozen ways he advertised his
displeasure at Lyte's presence； but Lyte ignored him。 I imagined Lyte
was a bit sorry for him； for the hardest duty of his office was the
apprehension of lepers。 It is not a nice thing to go in to a man's house
and tear away a father； mother； or child； who has done no wrong； and to
send such a one to perpetual banishment on Molokai。 Of course； it is
necessary as a protection to society； and Lyte； I do believe； would have
been the first to apprehend his own father did he become suspect。
〃Finally； Kaluna blurted out： 'Look here； Gregory； you think you're
going to find Kalaniweo； but you're not。'
〃Kalaniweo was his sister。 Lyte glanced at him when his name was
called； but he made no answer。 Kaluna was furious。 He was working
himself up all the time。
〃'I'll tell you one thing；' he shouted。 'You'll be on Molokai yourself
before ever you get Kalaniweo there。 I'll tell you what you are。
You've no right to be in the company of honest men。 You've made a
terrible fuss talking about your duty； haven't you？ You've sent many
lepers to Molokai； and knowing all the time you belonged there
yourself。'
〃I'd seen Lyte angry more than once； but never quite so angry as at
that moment。 Leprosy with us； you know； is not a thing to jest about。
He made one leap across the floor； dragging Kaluna out of his chair with
a clutch on his neck。 He shook him back and forth savagely； till you
could hear the half…caste's teeth rattling。
〃'What do you mean？' Lyte was demanding。 'Spit it out； man； or I'll
choke it out of you！'
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〃You know； in the West there is a certain phrase that a man must
smile while uttering。 So with us of the islands； only our phrase is
related to leprosy。 No matter what Kaluna was； he was no coward。 As
soon as Lyte eased the grip on his throat he answered：…
〃'I'll tell you what I mean。 You are a leper yourself。'
Lyte suddenly flung the half…caste sideways into a chair； letting him
down easily enough。 Then Lyte broke out into honest； hearty laughter。
