stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第10节
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have found it a hard task to find Bingothere was comfort in that。
〃You know that isn't just； Lilian；〃 I observed； 〃but only tell me what
you want me to do。〃
〃Bub…bub…bring back Bingo！〃 she said。
〃Bring back Bingo！〃 I cried； in horror。 〃But suppose I /can't/ suppose
he's out of the country； ordead； what then Lilian？〃
〃I can't help it；〃 she said； 〃but I don't believe he /is/ out of the country
or dead。 And while I see you pretending to uncle that you cared awfully
about him； and going on doing nothing at all； it makes me think you're not
quitequite /sincere/！ And I couldn't possibly marry any one while I
thought that of him。 And I shall always have that feeling unless you find
Bingo！〃
It was of no use to argue with her； I knew Lilian by that time。 With her
pretty； caressing manner she united a latent obstinacy which it was
hopeless to attempt to shake。 I feared； too； that she was not quite certain as
yet whether she cared for me or not； and that this condition of hers was an
expedient to gain time。
I left her with a heavy heart。 Unless I proved my worth by bringing
back Bingo within a very short time； Travers would probably have
everything his own way。 And Bingo was dead！
However； I took heart。 I thought that perhaps if I could succeed by my
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earnest efforts in persuading Lilian that I really was doing all in my power
to recover the poodle； she might relent in time； and dispense with his
actual production。
So； partly with this object； and partly to appease the remorse which
now revived and stung me deeper than before； I undertook long and weary
pilgrimages after office hours。 I spent many pounds in advertisements； I
interviewed dogs of every size； colour； and breed； and of course I took
care to keep Lilian informed of each successive failure。 But still her heart
was not touched； she was firm。 If I went on like that； she told me； I was
certain to find Bingo one day； then； but not before； would her doubts be
set at rest。
I was walking one day through the somewhat squalid district which
lies between Bow Street and High Holborn； when I saw； in a small
theatrical costumer's window； a hand…bill stating that a black poodle had
〃followed a gentleman〃 on a certain date； and if not claimed and the finder
remunerated before a stated time would be sold to pay expenses。
I went in and got a copy of the bill to show Lilian； and； although by
that time I scarcely dared to look a poodle in the face； I thought I would go
to the address given and see the animal； simply to be able to tell Lilian I
had done so。
The gentleman whom the dog had very unaccountably followed was a
certain Mr。 William Blagg； who kept a little shop near Endell Street； and
called himself a bird…fancier； though I should scarcely have credited him
with the necessary imagination。 He was an evil…browed ruffian in a fur cap；
with a broad broken nose and little shifty red eyes； and after I had told him
what I wanted he took me through a horrible little den； stacked with piles
of wooden； wire； and wicker prisons； each quivering with restless；
twittering life； and then out into a back yard； in which were two or three
rotten old kennels and tubs。 〃That there's him；〃 he said； jerking his thumb
to the farthest tub； 〃follered me all the way 'ome from Kinsington Gardens；
/he/ did。 Kim out； will yer？〃
And out of the tub there crawled slowly； with a snuffling whimper and
a rattling of its chain； the identical dog I had slain a few evenings before！
At least； so I thought for a moment； and felt as if I had seen a spectre；
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the resemblance was so exactin size； in every detail； even to the little
clumps of hair about the hind parts； even to the lop of half an ear； this dog
might have been the /doppelganger/ of the deceased Bingo。 I suppose；
after all； one black poodle is very like any other black poodle of the same
size； but the likeness startled me。
I think it was then that the idea occurred to me that here was a
miraculous chance of securing the sweetest girl in the whole world； and at
the same time atoning for my wrong by bringing back gladness with me to
Shuturgarden。 It only needed a little boldness； one last deception； and I
could embrace truthfulness once more。
Almost unconsciously； when my guide turned round and asked； 〃Is
that there dawg yourn？〃 I said hurriedly； 〃Yes； yes； that's the dog I want；
thatthat's Bingo！〃
〃He don't seem to be a…puttin' of 'isself out about seein' you again；〃
observed Mr。 Blagg； as the poodle studied me with calm interest。
〃Oh； he's not exactly /my/ dog； you see；〃 I said； 〃he belongs to a friend
of mine！〃
He gave me a quick； furtive glance。 〃Then maybe you're mistook
about him；〃 he said； 〃and I can't run no risks。 I was a…goin' down in the
country this 'ere werry evenin' to see a party as lives at Wistaria Willa； he's
been a…hadwertisin' about a black poodle； /he/ has！〃
〃But look here；〃 I said； 〃that's /me/。〃
He gave me a curious leer。 〃No offence； you know； guv'nor；〃 he said；
〃but I should wish for some evidence as to that afore I part with a
vallyable dawg like this 'ere！〃
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃here's one of my cards； will that do for you？〃
He took it and spelled it out with a pretence of great caution； but I saw
well enough that the old schoundrel suspected that if I had lost a dog at all
it was not this particular dog。 〃Ah；〃 he said； as he put it in his pocket； 〃if I
part with him to you I must be cleared of all risks。 I can't afford to get into
trouble about no mistakes。 Unless you likes to leave him for a day or two
you must pay accordin'； you see。〃
I wanted to get the hateful business over as soon as possible。 I did not
care what I paidLilian was worth all the expense！ I said I had no doubt
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myself as to the real ownership of the animal； but I would give him any
sum in reason； and would remove the dog at once。
And so we settled it。 I paid him an extortionate sum； and came away
with a duplicate poodle； a canine counterfeit； which I hoped to pass off at
Shuturgarden as the long…lost Bingo。
I know it was wrong；it even came unpleasantly near dog…stealing；
but I was a desperate man。 I saw Lilian gradually slipping away from me； I
knew that nothing short of this could ever recall her； I was sorely tempted；
I had gone far on the same road already； it was the old story of being hung
for a sheep。 And so I fell。
Surely some who read this will be generous enough to consider the
peculiar state of the case； and mingle a little pity with their contempt。
I was dining in town that evening； and took my purchase home by a
late train； his demeanour was grave and intensely respectable； he was not
the animal to commit himself by any flagrant indiscretion； he was gentle
and tractable too； and in all respects an agreeable contrast in character to
the original。 Still； it may have been the after…dinner workings of
conscience； but I could not help fancying that I saw a certain look in the
creature's eyes； as if he were aware that he was required to connive at a
fraud； and rather resented it。
If he would only be good enough to back me up！ Fortunately； however；
he was such a perfect facsimile of the outward Bingo that the risk of
detection was really inconsiderable。
When I got him home I put Bingo's silver collar round his neck；
congratulating myself on my forethought in preserving it； and took him in
to see my mother。 She accepted him as what he seemed without the
slightest misgiving； but this； though it encouraged me to go on； was not
decisivethe spurious poodle would have to encounter the scrutiny of
those who knew every tuft on the genuine animal's body！
Nothing would have induced me to undergo such an ordeal as that of
personally restoring him to the Curries。 We gave him supper； and tied him
up on the lawn； where he howled dolefully all night
