the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第9节
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himself on having successfully kept up the character of advocate of the
commonplace； and Villiers wrapped in his gloomy fancies。
〃I think I will have a cigarette；〃 he said at last； and put his hand in his
pocket to feel for the cigarette…case。
〃Ah！〃 he said； starting slightly； 〃I forgot I had something to show you。
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You remember my saying that I had found a rather curious sketch amongst
the pile of old newspapers at the house in Paul Street？ Here it is。〃
Villiers drew out a small thin parcel from his pocket。 It was covered
with brown paper； and secured with string； and the knots were
troublesome。 In spite of himself Clarke felt inquisitive； he bent forward
on his chair as Villiers painfully undid the string； and unfolded the outer
covering。 Inside was a second wrapping of tissue； and Villiers took it off
and handed the small piece of paper to Clarke without a word。
There was dead silence in the room for five minutes or more； the two
man sat so still that they could hear the ticking of the tall old…fashioned
clock that stood outside in the hall； and in the mind of one of them the
slow monotony of sound woke up a far； far memory。 He was looking
intently at the small pen…and…ink sketch of the woman's head； it had
evidently been drawn with great care； and by a true artist； for the woman's
soul looked out of the eyes； and the lips were parted with a strange smile。
Clarke gazed still at the face； it brought to his memory one summer
evening； long ago； he saw again the long lovely valley； the river winding
between the hills； the meadows and the cornfields； the dull red sun； and
the cold white mist rising from the water。 He heard a voice speaking to
him across the waves of many years； and saying 〃Clarke； Mary will see
the god Pan！〃 and then he was standing in the grim room beside the doctor；
listening to the heavy ticking of the clock； waiting and watching； watching
the figure lying on the green char beneath the lamplight。 Mary rose up；
and he looked into her eyes； and his heart grew cold within him。
〃Who is this woman？〃 he said at last。 His voice was dry and hoarse。
〃That is the woman who Herbert married。〃
Clarke looked again at the sketch； it was not Mary after all。 There
certainly was Mary's face； but there was something else； something he had
not seen on Mary's features when the white…clad girl entered the laboratory
with the doctor； nor at her terrible awakening； nor when she lay grinning
on the bed。 Whatever it was； the glance that came from those eyes； the
smile on the full lips； or the expression of the whole face； Clarke
shuddered before it at his inmost soul； and thought； unconsciously； of Dr。
Phillip's words； 〃the most vivid presentment of evil I have ever seen。〃
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He turned the paper over mechanically in his hand and glanced at the
back。
〃Good God！ Clarke； what is the matter？ You are as white as death。〃
Villiers had started wildly from his chair； as Clarke fell back with a
groan； and let the paper drop from his hands。
〃I don't feel very well； Villiers； I am subject to these attacks。 Pour me
out a little wine； thanks； that will do。 I shall feel better in a few minutes。〃
Villiers picked up the fallen sketch and turned it over as Clarke had
done。
〃You saw that？〃 he said。 〃That's how I identified it as being a portrait
of Herbert's wife； or I should say his widow。 How do you feel now？〃
〃Better； thanks； it was only a passing faintness。 I don't think I quite
catch your meaning。 What did you say enabled you to identify the
picture？〃
〃This word'Helen'was written on the back。 Didn't I tell you her
name was Helen？ Yes； Helen Vaughan。〃
Clarke groaned； there could be no shadow of doubt。
〃Now； don't you agree with me；〃 said Villiers； 〃that in the story I have
told you to…night； and in the part this woman plays in it； there are some
very strange points？〃
〃Yes； Villiers；〃 Clarke muttered； 〃it is a strange story indeed； a strange
story indeed。 You must give me time to think it over； I may be able to
help you or I may not。 Must you be going now？ Well； good…night；
Villiers； good…night。 Come and see me in the course of a week。〃
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THE GREAT GOD PAN
V
THE LETTER OF ADVICE
〃Do you know； Austin；〃 said Villiers； as the two friends were pacing
sedately along Piccadilly one pleasant morning in May； 〃do you know I
am convinced that what you told me about Paul Street and the Herberts is
a mere episode in an extraordinary history？ I may as well confess to you
that when I asked you about Herbert a few months ago I had just seen
him。〃
〃You had seen him？ Where？〃
〃He begged of me in the street one night。 He was in the most pitiable
plight； but I recognized the man； and I got him to tell me his history； or at
least the outline of it。 In brief； it amounted to thishe had been ruined by
his wife。〃
〃In what manner？〃
〃He would not tell me； he would only say that she had destroyed him；
body and soul。 The man is dead now。
〃And what has become of his wife？〃
〃Ah； that's what I should like to know； and I mean to find her sooner or
later。 I know a man named Clarke； a dry fellow； in fact a man of business；
but shrewd enough。 You understand my meaning； not shrewd in the mere
business sense of the word； but a man who really knows something about
men and life。 Well； I laid the case before him； and he was evidently
impressed。 He said it needed consideration； and asked me to come again
in the course of a week。 A few days later I received this extraordinary
letter。〃
Austin took the envelope； drew out the letter； and read it curiously。 It
ran as follows：
〃MY DEAR VILLIERS；I have thought over the matter on which you
consulted me the other night； and my advice to you is this。 Throw the
portrait into the fire； blot out the story from your mind。 Never give it
another thought； Villiers； or you will be sorry。 You will think； no doubt；
that I am in possession of some secret information； and to a certain extent
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that is the case。 But I only know a little； I am like a traveller who has
peered over an abyss； and has drawn back in terror。 What I know is
strange enough and horrible enough； but beyond my knowledge there are
depths and horrors more frightful still； more incredible than any tale told
of winter nights about the fire。 I have resolved； and nothing shall shake
that resolve； to explore no whit farther； and if you value your happiness
you will make the same determination。
〃Come and see me by all means； but we will talk on more cheerful
topics than this。〃
Austin folded the letter methodically； and returned it to Villiers。
〃It is certainly an extraordinary letter；〃 he said； 〃what does he mean by
the portrait？〃
〃Ah！ I forgot to tell you I have been to Paul Street and have made a
discovery。〃
Villiers told his story as he had told it to Clarke； and Austin listened in
silence。 He seemed puzzled。
〃How very curious that you should experience such an unpleasant
sensation in that room！〃 he said at length。 〃I hardly gather that it was a
mere matter of the imagination； a feeling of repulsion； in short。〃
〃No； it was more physical than mental。 It was as if I were inhaling at
every breath some deadly fume； which seemed to penetrate to every nerve
and bone and sinew of my body。 I felt racked from head to foot； my eyes
began to grow dim； it was like the entrance of death。〃
〃Yes； yes； very strange certainly。 Y
