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！
THE SOUL OF NICHOLAS SNYDERS； OR THE MISER OF ZANDAM
By JEROME K。 JEROME
Once upon a time in Zandam； which is by the Zuider Zee； there lived a
wicked man named Nicholas Snyders。 He was mean and hard and cruel；
and loved but one thing in the world； and that was gold。 And even
that not for its own sake。 He loved the power gold gave himthe
power to tyrannize and to oppress； the power to cause suffering at his
will。 They said he had no soul； but there they were wrong。 All men
ownor； to speak more correctly； are owned bya soul； and the soul
of Nicholas Snyders was an evil soul。 He lived in the old windmill
which still is standing on the quay； with only little Christina to
wait upon him and keep house for him。 Christina was an orphan whose
parents had died in debt。 Nicholas； to Christina's everlasting
gratitude； had cleared their memoryit cost but a few hundred
florinsin consideration that Christina should work for him without
wages。 Christina formed his entire household； and only one willing
visitor ever darkened his door； the widow Toelast。 Dame Toelast was
rich and almost as great a miser as Nicholas himself。 〃Why should not
we two marry？〃 Nicholas had once croaked to the widow Toelast。
〃Together we should be masters of all Zandam。〃 Dame Toelast had
answered with a cackling laugh； but Nicholas was never in haste。
One afternoon Nicholas Snyders sat alone at his desk in the centre of
the great semi…circular room that took up half the ground floor of the
windmill； and that served him for an office； and there came a knocking
at the outer door。
〃Come in！〃 cried Nicholas Snyders。 He spoke in a tone quite kind for
Nicholas Snyders。 He felt so sure it was Jan knocking at the
doorJan Van der Voort； the young sailor； now master of his own ship；
come to demand of him the hand of little Christina。 In anticipation；
Nicholas Snyders tasted the joy of dashing Jan's hopes to the ground；
of hearing him plead； then rave； of watching the growing pallor that
would overspread Jan's handsome face as Nicholas would； point by
point； explain to him the consequences of defiancehow； firstly；
Jan's old mother should be turned out of her home； his old father put
into prison for debt； how； secondly； Jan himself should be pursued
without remorse； his ship be bought over his head before he could
complete the purchase。 The interview would afford to Nicholas Snyders
sport after his own soul。 Since Jan's return the day before； he had
been looking forward to it。 Therefore； feeling sure it was Jan； he
cried 〃Come in！〃 quite cheerily。
But it was not Jan。 It was somebody Nicholas Snyders had never set
eyes on before。 And neither； after that one visit； did Nicholas
Snyders ever set eyes upon him again。 The light was fading； and
Nicholas Snyders was not the man to light candles before they were
needed； so that he was never able to describe with any precision the
stranger's appearance。 Nicholas thought he seemed an old man； but
alert in all his movements； while his eyesthe one thing about him
Nicholas saw with any clearnesswere curiously bright and piercing。
〃Who are you？〃 asked Nicholas Snyders； taking no pains to disguise his
disappointment。
〃I am a pedlar；〃 answered the stranger。 His voice was clear and not
unmusical； with just the suspicion of roguishness behind。
〃Not wanting anything；〃 answered Nicholas Snyders drily。 〃Shut the
door and be careful of the step。〃
But instead the stranger took a chair and drew it nearer； and； himself
in shadow； looked straight into Nicholas Snyders' face and laughed。
〃Are you quite sure； Nicholas Snyders？ Are you quite sure there is
nothing you require？〃
〃Nothing；〃 growled Nicholas Snyders〃except the sight of your back。〃
The stranger bent forward； and with his long； lean hand touched
Nicholas Snyders playfully upon the knee。 〃Wouldn't you like a
soul； Nicholas Snyders？〃 he asked。
〃Think of it；〃 continued the strange pedlar； before Nicholas could
recover power of speech。 〃For forty years you have drunk the joy of
being mean and cruel。 Are you not tired of the taste； Nicholas
Snyders？ Wouldn't you like a change？ Think of it； Nicholas
Snydersthe joy of being loved； of hearing yourself blessed； instead
of cursed！ Wouldn't it be good fun； Nicholas Snydersjust by way of
a change？ If you don't like it； you can return and be yourself
again。〃
What Nicholas Snyders； recalling all things afterwards； could never
understand was why he sat there； listening in patience to the
stranger's talk； for； at the time； it seemed to him the jesting of a
wandering fool。 But something about the stranger had impressed him。
〃I have it with me；〃 continued the odd pedlar； 〃and as for price〃
The stranger made a gesture indicating dismissal of all sordid
details。 〃I look for my reward in watching the result of the
experiment。 I am something of a philosopher。 I take an interest in
these matters。 See。〃 The stranger dived between his legs and
produced from his pack a silver flask of cunning workmanship and laid
it on the table。
〃Its flavour is not unpleasant；〃 explained the stranger。 〃A little
bitter； but one does not drink it by the goblet： a wineglassful； such
as one would of old Tokay； while the mind of both is fixed on the same
thought： 'May my soul pass into him； may his pass into me！' The
operation is quite simple： the secret lies within the drug。〃 The
stranger patted the quaint flask as though it had been some little
dog。
〃You will say： 'Who will exchange souls with Nicholas Snyders？'〃 The
stranger appeared to have come prepared with an answer to all
questions。 〃My friend； you are rich； you need not fear。 It is the
possession men value the least of all they have。 Choose your soul and
drive your bargain。 I leave that to you with one word of counsel
only： you will find the young readier than the oldthe young； to
whom the world promises all things for gold。 Choose you a fine； fair；
fresh； young soul； Nicholas Snyders； and choose it quickly。 Your hair
is somewhat grey； my friend。 Taste； before you die； the joy of
living。〃
The strange pedlar laughed and； rising； closed his pack。 Nicholas
Snyders neither moved nor spoke； until with the soft clanging of the
massive door his senses returned to him。 Then； seizing the flask the
stranger had left behind him； he sprang from his chair； meaning to
fling it after him into the street。 But the flashing of the firelight
on its burnished surface stayed his hand。
〃After all； the case is of value；〃 Nicholas chuckled； and put the
flask aside and； lighting the two tall candles； buried himself again
in his green…bound ledger。 Yet still from time to time Nicholas
Snyders' eye would wander to where the silver flask remained half
hidden among dusty papers。 And later there came again a knocking at
the door； and this time it really was young Jan who entered。
Jan held out his great hand across the littered desk。
〃We parted in anger； Nicholas Snyders。 It was my fault。 You were in
the right。 I ask you to forgive me。 I was poor。 It was selfish of
me to wish the little maid to share with me my poverty。 But now I am
no longer poor。〃
〃Sit down；〃 responded Nicholas in kindly tone。 〃I have heard of it。
So now you are master and the owner of your shipyour very own。〃
〃My very own after one more voyage；〃 laughed Jan。 〃I have Burgomaster
Allart's promise。〃
〃A promise is not a performance；〃 hinted Nicholas。 〃Burgomaster
Allart is not a rich man； a higher bid might tempt him。 Another might
step in between you and become the owner。〃
Jan only laughed。 〃Why； that would be the work of an enemy； which；
God be praised； I do not think that I possess。〃
〃Lucky lad！〃 commented Nicholas； 〃so few of us are without enemies。
And your parents； Jan； will they live with you？〃
〃We wished it；〃 answered Jan； 〃both Christina and I。 But the mother
is feeble。 The old mill has grown into her life。〃
〃I can understand；〃 agreed Nicholas。 〃The old vine torn from the old
wall withers。 And your father； Jan； people will gossip。 The mill is
paying？〃
Jan shook his head。 〃It never will again； and the debts haunt him。
But all that； as I tell him； is a thing of the past。 His creditors
have agreed to look to me and wait。〃
〃All of them？〃 queried Nicholas。
〃All of them I could discover；〃 laughed Jan。
Nicholas Snyders pushed back his chair and looked at Jan with a smile
upon his wrinkled face。 〃And so you and Christina have arranged it
all？〃
〃With your consent； sir；〃 answered Jan。
〃You will wait for that？〃 asked Nicholas。
〃We should like to have it； sir。〃 Jan smiled； but the tone of his
voice fell agreeably on Nicholas Snyders' ear。 Nicholas Snyders loved
best beating the dog that； growled and showed its teeth。
〃Better not wait for that；〃 said Nicholas Snyders。 〃You might have to
wait long。〃
Jan rose； an angry flush upon his face。 〃So nothing changes you；
Nicholas Snyders。 Have it your own way； then。〃
〃You will marry her in spite of me？〃
〃In spite of you and of your friends the fiends； and of your master
the Devil！〃 flung out Jan。 For Jan had a soul that was generous and
brave a