stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第7节
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infatuated proprietors； I never could understand； but so it was； he even
engrossed the chief part of the conversation； which after any lull seemed
to veer round to him by a sort of natural law。
I had to endure a long biographical sketch of him；what a society
paper would call an 〃anecdotal photo；〃and each fresh anecdote seemed
to me to exhibit the depraved malignity of the beast in a more glaring light；
and render the doting admiration of the family more astounding than ever。
〃Did you tell Mr。 Weatherhead； Lily； about Bingo〃 （Bingo was the
poodle's preposterous name） 〃and Tacks？ No？ Oh； I /must/ tell him that；
it'll make him laugh。 Tacks is our gardener down in the village （d' ye know
Tacks？）。 Well； Tacks was up here the other day； nailing up some trellis…
work at the top of a ladder； and all the time there was Master Bingo sitting
quietly at the foot of it looking on； wouldn't leave it on any account。 Tacks
said he was quite company for him。 Well； at last； when Tacks had finished
and was coming down； what do you thing that rascal there did？ Just
sneaked quietly up behind and nipped him in both calves and ran off。 Been
looking out for that the whole time！ Ha； ha！deep that； eh？〃
I agreed； with an inward shudder； that it was very deep； thinking
privately that； if this was a specimen of Bingo's usual treatment of the
natives； it would be odd if he did not find himself deeper still before
probably /just/ beforehe died。
〃Poor； faithful old doggie！〃 murmured Mrs。 Currie； 〃he thought Tacks
was a nasty burglar； didn't he？ He wasn't going to see master robbed was
he？〃
〃Capital house…dog； sir；〃 struck in the colonel。 〃Gad； I shall never
forget how he made poor Heavisides run for it the other day！ Ever met
Heavisides of the Bombay Fusileers？ Well； Heavisides was staying here；
and the dog met him one morning as he was coming down from the bath…
room。 Didn't recognise him in 'pajamas' and a dressing…gown； of course；
and made at him。 He kept poor old Heavisides outside the landing window
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on top of the cistern for a quarter of an hour； till I had to come and raise
the siege！〃
Such were the stories of that abandoned dog's blunderheaded ferocity
to which I was forced to listen； while all the time the brute sat opposite me
on the hearth…rug； blinking at me from under his shaggy mane with his evil；
bleared eyes； and deliberating where he would have me when I rose to go。
This was the beginning of an intimacy which soon displaced all
ceremony。 It was very pleasant to go in there after dinner； even to sit with
the colonel over his claret； and hear more stories about Bingo； for
afterward I could go into the pretty drawing…room and take my tea from
Lilian's hands； and listen while she played Schubert to us in the summer
twilight。
The poodle was always in the way； to be sure； but even his ugly black
head seemed to lose some of its ugliness and ferocity when Lilian laid her
pretty hand on it。
On the whole； I think that the Currie family were well disposed toward
me； the colonel considering me as a harmless specimen of the average
eligible young man；which I certainly was；and Mrs。 Currie showing me
favour for my mother's sake； for whom she had taken a strong liking。
As for Lilian； I believed I saw that she soon suspected the state of my
feelings toward her； and was not displeased by it。 I looked forward with
some hopefulness to a day when I could declare myself with no fear of a
repulse。
But it was a serious obstacle in my path that I could not secure Bingo's
good opinion on any terms。 The family would often lament this
pathetically themselves。 〃You see；〃 Mrs。 Currie would observe in apology；
〃Bingo is a dog that does not attach himself easily to strangers〃though；
for that matter； I thought he was unpleasantly ready to attach himself to
/me/。
I did try hard to conciliate him。 I brought him propitiatory buns； which
was weak and ineffectual； as he ate them with avidity； and hated me as
bitterly as ever； for he had conceived from the first a profound contempt
for me； and a distrust which no blandishments of mine could remove。
Looking back now； I am inclined to think it was a prophetic instinct that
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warned him of what was to come upon him through my instrumentality。
Only his approbation was wanting to establish for me a firm footing
with the Curries； and perhaps determine Lilian's wavering heart in my
direction； but； though I wooed that inflexible poodle with an assiduity I
blush to remember； he remained obstinately firm。
Still； day by day； Lilian's treatment of me was more encouraging； day
by day I gained in the esteem of her uncle and aunt； I began to hope that
soon I should be able to disregard canine influence altogether。
Now there was one inconvenience about our villa （besides its flavour
of suicide） which it is necessary to mention here。 By common consent all
the cats of the neighbourhood had selected our garden for their evening
reunions。 I fancy that a tortoise…shell kitchen cat of ours must have been a
sort of leader of local feline societyI know she was 〃at home；〃 with
music and recitations； on most evenings。
My poor mother found this to interfere with her after…dinner nap； and
no wonder； for if a cohort of ghosts had been 〃shrieking and squealing；〃 as
Calpurnia puts it； in our back garden； or it had been fitted up as a creche
for a nursery of goblin infants in the agonies of teething； the noise could
not possibly have been more unearthly。
We sought for some means of getting rid of the nuisance： there was
poison； of course； but we thought it would have an invidious appearance；
and even lead to legal difficulties； if each dawn were to discover an
assortment of cats expiring in hideous convulsions in various parts of the
same garden。
Firearms too were open to objection； and would scarcely assist my
mother's slumbers； so for some time we were at a loss for a remedy。 At last；
one day； walking down the Strand； I chanced to see （in an evil hour） what
struck me as the very thing： it was an air…gun of superior construction；
displayed in a gunsmith's window。 I went in at once； purchased it； and took
it home in triumph； it would be noiseless； and would reduce the local
average of cats without scandal；one or two examples；and feline fashion
would soon migrate to a more secluded spot。
I lost no time in putting this to the proof。 That same evening I lay in
wait after dusk at the study window； protecting my mother's repose。 As
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soon as I heard the long…drawn wail； the preliminary sputter； and the wild
stampede that followed； I let fly in the direction of the sound。 I suppose I
must have something of the national sporting instinct in me； for my blood
was tingling with excitement； but the feline constitution assimilates lead
without serious inconvenience； and I began to fear that no trophy would
remain to bear witness to my marksmanship。
But all at once I made out a dark； indistinct form slinking in from
behind the bushes。 I waited till it crossed a belt of light which streamed
from the back kitchen below me； and then I took careful aim and pulled
the trigger。
This time at least I had not failed； there was a smothered yell； a rustle；
and then silence again。 I ran out with the calm pride of a successful
revenge to bring in the body of my victim； and I found underneath a laurel
no predatory tom…cat； but （as the discerning reader will no doubt have
foreseen long since） the quivering carcass of the colonel's black poodle！
I intend to set down here the exact unvarnished truth； and I confess
that at first； when I knew what I had done； I was /not/ sorry。 I was quite
innocent of any intention of doing it； but I felt no regret。 I even laughed
madman that I wasat
