按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Chapter LV
Mr。 Coutras was an old Frenchman of great stature and exceeding
bulk。 His body was shaped like a huge duck's egg； and his eyes； sharp；
blue； and good…natured； rested now and then with self…satisfaction on his
enormous paunch。 His complexion was florid and his hair white。 He
was a man to attract immediate sympathy。 He received us in a room that
might have been in a house in a provincial town in France； and the one or
two Polynesian curios had an odd look。 He took my hand in both of his …
… they were huge and gave me a hearty look； in which； however； was
great shrewdness。 When he shook hands with Capitaine Brunot he
enquired politely after 。 For some minutes
there was an exchange of courtesies and some local gossip about the island；
the prospects of copra and the vanilla crop； then we came to the object of
my visit。
I shall not tell what Dr。 Coutras related to me in his words； but in my
own； for I cannot hope to give at second hand any impression of his
vivacious delivery。 He had a deep； resonant voice； fitted to his massive
frame； and a keen sense of the dramatic。 To listen to him was； as the
phrase goes； as good as a play； and much better than most。
It appears that Dr。 Coutras had gone one day to Taravao in order to see
an old chiefess who was ill； and he gave a vivid picture of the obese old
lady； lying in a huge bed； smoking cigarettes； and surrounded by a crowd
of dark…skinned retainers。 When he had seen her he was taken into another
room and given dinner raw fish； fried bananas； and chicken ； the typical dinner of the and while he was eating
it he saw a young girl being driven away from the door in tears。 He
thought nothing of it； but when he went out to get into his trap and drive
home； he saw her again； standing a little way off； she looked at him with a
woebegone air； and tears streamed down her cheeks。 He asked someone
what was wrong with her； and was told that she had come down from the
hills to ask him to visit a white man who was sick。 They had told her that
the doctor could not be disturbed。 He called her； and himself asked what
she wanted。 She told him that Ata had sent her； she who used to be at the
205
… Page 206…
The Moon and Sixpence
Hotel de la Fleur； and that the Red One was ill。 She thrust into his hand a
crumpled piece of newspaper； and when he opened it he found in it a
hundred…franc note。
〃Who is the Red One？〃 he asked of one of the bystanders。
He was told that that was what they called the Englishman； a painter；
who lived with Ata up in the valley seven kilometres from where they
were。 He recognised Strickland by the description。 But it was
necessary to walk。 It was impossible for him to go； that was why they
had sent the girl away。
〃I confess；〃 said the doctor； turning to me； 〃that I hesitated。 I did not
relish fourteen kilometres over a bad pathway； and there was no chance
that I could get back to Papeete that night。 Besides； Strickland was not
sympathetic to me。 He was an idle； useless scoundrel； who preferred to
live with a native woman rather than work for his living like the rest of us。
； how was I to know that one day the world would come to
the conclusion that he had genius？ I asked the girl if he was not well
enough to have come down to see me。 I asked her what she thought was
the matter with him。 She would not answer。 I pressed her； angrily
perhaps； but she looked down on the ground and began to cry。 Then I
shrugged my shoulders； after all； perhaps it was my duty to go； and in a
very bad temper I bade her lead the way。〃
His temper was certainly no better when he arrived； perspiring freely
and thirsty。 Ata was on the look…out for him； and came a little way along
the path to meet him。
〃Before I see anyone give me something to drink or I shall die of
thirst；〃 he cried out。 〃