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！
friends about him at the last； bidding them talk to him； not of the
consolations of philosophy； but of love and gallantry； while the life was
ebbing away through his opened veins。 Dipping his pen once more in the
ink he wrote on the last page of his diary： 'He died a Roman death。'
Then； putting the toes of one foot into the water and finding that it was not
too hot； he threw off his dressing…gown and； taking a razor in his hand； sat
down in the bath。 With one deep cut he severed the artery in his left
wrist； then lay back and composed his mind to meditation。 The blood
oozed out； floating through the water in dissolving wreaths and spirals。
In a little while the whole bath was tinged with pink。 The colour deepened；
Sir Hercules felt himself mastered by an invincible drowsiness； he was
sinking from vague dream to dream。 Soon he was sound asleep。 There
was not much blood in his small body。〃
74
… Page 75…
CROME YELLOW
CHAPTER XIV。
For their after…luncheon coffee the party generally adjourned to the
library。 Its windows looked east； and at this hour of the day it was the
coolest place in the whole house。 It was a large room； fitted； during the
eighteenth century； with white painted shelves of an elegant design。 In
the middle of one wall a door； ingeniously upholstered with rows of
dummy books； gave access to a deep cupboard； where； among a pile of
letter…files and old newspapers； the mummy…case of an Egyptian lady；
brought back by the second Sir Ferdinando on his return from the Grand
Tour； mouldered in the darkness。 From ten yards away and at a first
glance； one might almost have mistaken this secret door for a section of
shelving filled with genuine books。 Coffee…cup in hand； Mr。 Scogan was
standing in front of the dummy book…shelf。 Between the sips he
discoursed。
〃The bottom shelf；〃 he was saying； 〃is taken up by an Encyclopaedia
in fourteen volumes。 Useful； but a little dull； as is also Caprimulge's
'Dictionary of the Finnish Language'。 The 'Biographical Dictionary'
looks more promising。 'Biography of Men who were Born Great'；
'Biography of Men who Achieved Greatness'； 'Biography of Men who had
Greatness Thrust upon Them'； and 'Biography of Men who were Never
Great at All'。 Then there are ten volumes of 'Thom's Works and
Wanderings'； while the 'Wild Goose Chase； a Novel'； by an anonymous
author； fills no less than six。 But what's this； what's this？〃 Mr。 Scogan
stood on tiptoe and peered up。 〃Seven volumes of the 'Tales of
Knockespotch'。 The 'Tales of Knockespotch'；〃 he repeated。 〃Ah； my
dear Henry；〃 he said； turning round； 〃these are your best books。 I would
willingly give all the rest of your library for them。〃
The happy possessor of a multitude of first editions； Mr。 Wimbush
could afford to smile indulgently。
〃Is it possible；〃 Mr。 Scogan went on； 〃that they possess nothing more
than a back and a title？〃 He opened the cupboard door and peeped inside；
as though he hoped to find the rest of the books behind it。 〃Phooh！〃 he
said； and shut the door again。 〃It smells of dust and mildew。 How
75
… Page 76…
CROME YELLOW
symbolical！ One comes to the great masterpieces of the past； expecting
some miraculous illumination； and one finds； on opening them； only
darkness and dust and a faint smell of decay。 After all； what is reading
but a vice； like drink or venery or any other form of excessive self…
indulgence？ One reads to tickle and amuse one's mind； one reads； above
all； to prevent oneself thinking。 Stillthe 'Tales of Knockespotch'。。。〃
He paused； and thoughtfully drummed with his fingers on the backs of
the non…existent； unattainable books。
〃But I disagree with you about reading；〃 said Mary。 〃About serious
reading； I mean。〃
〃Quite right； Mary； quite right；〃 Mr。 Scogan answered。 〃I had
forgotten there were any serious people in the room。〃
〃I like the idea of the Biographies；〃 said Denis。 〃There's room for us
all within the scheme； it's comprehensive。〃
〃Yes； the Biographies are good； the Biographies are excellent；〃 Mr
Scogan agreed。 〃I imagine them written in a very elegant Regency style…
…Brighton Pavilion in wordsperhaps by the great Dr。 Lempriere himself。
You know his classical dictionary？ Ah！〃 Mr。 Scogan raised his hand and
let it limply fall again in a gesture which implied that words failed him。
〃Read his biography of Helen； read how Jupiter； disguised as a swan； was
'enabled to avail himself of his situation' vis…a…vis to Leda。 And to think
that he may have； must have written these biographies of the Great！
What a work； Henry！ And； owing to the idiotic arrangement of your
library； it can't be read。〃
〃I prefer the 'Wild Goose Chase'；〃 said Anne。 〃A novel in six
volumesit must be restful。〃
〃Restful；〃 Mr。 Scogan repeated。 〃You've hit on the right word。 A
'Wild Goose Chase' is sound； but a bit old…fashionedpictures of clerical
life in the fifties； you know； specimens of the landed gentry； peasants for
pathos and comedy； and in the background； always the picturesque
beauties of nature soberly described。 All very good and solid； but； like
certain puddings； just a little dull。 Personally； I like much better the
notion of 'Thom's Works and Wanderings'。 The eccentric Mr。 Thom of
Thom's Hill。 Old Tom Thom； as his intimates used to call him。 He
76
… Page 77…
CROME YELLOW
spent ten years in Thibet organising the clarified butter industry on modern
European lines； and was able to retire at thirty…six with a handsome
fortune。 The rest of his life he devoted to travel and ratiocination； here is
the result。〃 Mr。 Scogan tapped the dummy books。 〃And now we come
to the 'Tales of Knockespotch'。 What a masterpiece and what a great man！
Knockespotch knew how to write fiction。 Ah； Denis； if you could only
read Knockespotch you wouldn't be writing a novel about the wearisome
development of a young man's character； you wouldn't be describing in
endless； fastidious detail； cultured life in Chelsea and Bloomsbury and
Hampstead。 You would be trying to write a readable book。 But then；
alas！ owing to the peculiar arrangement of our host's library； you never
will read Knockespotch。〃
〃Nobody could regret the fact more than I do；〃 said Denis。
〃It was Knockespotch；〃 Mr。 Scogan continued； 〃the great
Knockespotch； who delivered us from the dreary tyranny of the realistic
novel。 My life； Knockespotch said； is not so long that I can afford to
spend precious hours writing or reading descriptions of middle…class
interiors。 He said again； 'I am tired of seeing the human mind bogged in
a social plenum； I prefer to paint it in a vacuum； freely and sportively
bombinating。'〃
〃I say；〃 said Gombauld； 〃Knockespotch was a little obscure sometimes；
wasn't he？〃
〃He was；〃 Mr。 Scogan replied； 〃and with intention。 It made him
seem even profounder than he actually was。 But it was only in his
aphorisms that he was so dark and oracular。 In his Tales he was always
luminous。 Oh； those Talesthose Tales！ How shall I describe them？
Fabulous characters shoot across his pages like gaily dressed performers
on the trapeze。 There are extraordi