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！
should marry a woman who can support him。〃
Gregorio did not stop to answer her； but pushed past her into the street。
The woman watched him enter the house opposite； and then returned
quietly to her work。 But there was a smile hovering round her lips as she
murmured to herself； 〃Ah； well； in time。〃
Gregorio meanwhile had run up to his room and entered it breathless
with excitement。 The first glance told him that Amos had seized all he
could； for nothing remained save a wooden bench and one or two coarse；
half…disabled cooking utensils。
Gregorio swore a little as he realised what had happened。 Then he saw
in a corner by the window his son and Ahmed。
〃She has gone；〃 said Ahmed； as Gregorio's gaze rested on him。 But she
might have gone merely to market； or to see a neighbour； for all the
imperturbable Arab face disclosed。 As soon as he had spoken the man bent
over the child； laughing softly as the youngster played with his beard。 For
the Arab； as he is miscalled； is fond of children； and there are none to
whom children take so readily as to the Egyptian fellahin。
Gregorio watched the two for a moment； and then placing his
remaining piastres in the man's hand bade him bring food and wine。 As
soon as he was left alone with his son； he flung himself down on the floor
and kissed； 〃You shall be a great man； ay； a rich man； my son。〃
He repeated the sentence over and over again； punctuating it with
kisses； while the two…year…old regarded him wonderingly； until Ahmed
returned。
When the meal was ended Gregorio took the boy in his arms and sang
99
… Page 100…
STORIES
to him softly till at last the infant slept。 Then he placed him gently on the
floor； having first made of his coat a bed； and went to the window and
flung back the shutters。 He smoked quietly as the minutes went by； waiting
impatiently for his wife to return。 It seemed to him monstrous that the boy
who was to inherit a fortune should be sleeping on the dirty floor wrapped
in an old coat； that an Arab； a mere fellah； should amuse his son and play
with him； when Greek nurses were to be hired in Alexandria had one only
the money。 Long after midnight he heard a step on the stairs； and a minute
after the door opened。 He recognised his wife's footsteps； and he rose to
meet her。 As she came into the room she looked quickly round； and seeing
her son went toward him and kissed him。 Gregorio； half afraid； stood by
the window watching her。 She let her glance rest on him a minute； then she
turned round and laid her cloak upon the floor。
〃Xantippe！〃
But she did not answer。
〃Xantippe； I have fed our son。 The good days are coming when we
shall be rich and happy。〃
But Xantippe was too busy folding out the creases of her cloak to
notice him。 The moonlight streamed on to her； and her face shone like an
angel's。 Gregorio made one step toward her； ravished； for she had never
appeared so beautiful to him。 For the moment he forgot the whole hideous
history of the last few days and the brief； horrible conversation of the night
before。 Fired with a desire to touch her； to kiss her； to whisper into her ear；
in the soft Greek speech； all the endearments and tendernesses that had
won her when he wooed her； he placed his hand upon her arm。 As if stung
by a venomous snake； the woman recoiled from his touch。 With a quick
movement she sprang back and flung at his face a handful of gold and
silver coins。
〃Take them； they're yours；〃 she cried； huskily； and retreated into the
farthest corner of the room。
With a savage curse Gregorio put his hand to his lips and wiped away
the blood； for a heavy coin had cut him。 Then he ran swiftly downstairs；
and Xantippe； as she lay down wearily beside her boy； heard a woman
laugh。
100
… Page 101…
STORIES
V XANTIPPE LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW
The Penny…farthing Shop was full of customers； and Madam Marx； the
fat woman who followed Gregorio to the bar； was for a long time busy
attending to her clients。 Some English war…ships had entered the harbour
at sunset； and many of the sailors had lost no time in seeking out their
favourite haunt。 Most of them knew Madam Marx well； as a good…natured
woman who gave them plenty to drink for their money； and secreted them
from the eyes of the police when the liquor overpowered them。
Consequently there was much laughter and shaking of hands； and many a
rough jest； which Madam Marx responded to in broken English。 Gregorio
watched the sailors gloomily。 He hated the English； for even their sailors
seemed to have plenty of money； and he recalled the rich Englishman he
had seen at the Cafe Paradiso； drinking champagne and buying flowers for
the Hungarian woman who played the fiddle。 The scene he had just left
contrasted disagreeably with the fun and jollity that surrounded him。 But
he felt unable to shake off his gloom and annoyance； and Madam Marx's
attentions irritated him。 He felt that her eyes continually rested on him；
that； however busy she might be； he was never out of her thoughts。 Every
few minutes she would come toward him with a bottle of wine and fill up
his glass； saying； 〃Come； my friend； wine is good and will drown your
troubles。〃 And though he resented her patronage； knowing he could not
pay； he nevertheless drank steadily。
Every few minutes he heard the sound of horses' hoofs on the hard
roadway； and through the windows he saw the military police pass slowly
on their rounds。
At last the strong drinks so amiably retailed by Madam Marx did their
work； and the men lay about the floor asleep and breathing heavily。 The
silence succeeding the noise startled Gregorio from his sullen humour。
Madam Marx came and sat beside him； weary as she was with her long
labours； and talked volubly。 The wine had mounted to his head； and he
answered her in rapid sentences； accompanying his words with gesture
and grimace。 What he talked about he scarcely knew； but the woman
laughed； and he took an insane delight in hearing her。 Just before daylight
101
… Page 102…
STORIES
he fell asleep； resting his head on his arms； that were spread across the
table。 Madam Marx kissed him as he slept； murmuring to herself
contentedly； 〃Ah； well； in time。〃
When Gregorio woke the sun was high in the heavens； blazing out of a
brazen sky。 Clouds of dust swept past the door from time to time； and cut
his neck and face as he stood on the threshold smoking lazily。 It was too
late to go down to the quay； for his place must have long ago been filled
by another。 He was not sorry； since he by no means desired to toil again
under the hot sun； the heavy drinking of the night had made him lethargic；
and he was so thirsty the heat nearly choked him。 He called out to a water…
carrier staggering along in the scanty shade on the opposite side of the
street； and took eagerly a draught of water。 He touched the pigskin with
his hand； and it was hot。 The water was warm and made him sick； he spat
it from his mouth hastily； and hearing a laugh behind him； turned round
and saw Madam Marx。
〃See； here is some wine； my friend； leave the water for the Arabs。〃
Gregorio gratefully seized the flagon and let the wine trickle down his
throat； while Madam Marx； with arms akimbo； stood patiently before him。
〃I must go now；〃 he said； as he handed back the half…emptied flask。
〃Why？〃
〃Because I must get some work。〃
〃It is not easy to get work in the summer。〃
〃I know； but I must get some。 I owe money to Amos。〃
〃Yes； I know。 But your wife is making money now。〃
The man scowled at her。 〃How do you know that？ Before God； I swear
that she is not。〃
〃Come； come； Gregorio。 You were drunk last night； and your tongue
wagged pretty freely。 It's not a bit of use being angry with me； because I
only know what you've told me。 B