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！
124
… Page 125…
STORIES
〃Gregorio； come back； leave her； I love you。〃
〃Is Madam Marx outside？〃 hissed Xantippe。
〃Yes。〃
〃Then go to her。 I tell you I hate you。〃 She pointed to the half… filled
box〃I was going to leave here to…night。 I will never return to you。〃
〃You were going with the Englishman？〃
〃He is a man。〃
Gregorio paused a moment； then in a suppressed voice； half choking at
the words； said：
〃Our sondo you know what has happened to him？ You shall not
leave me。〃
〃I know about our son。 I am glad to think he is away from your evil
influence。 Let me pass。〃 Xantippe moved toward the door； but Gregorio
seized her by the throat。
〃You are glad our son is killed； you helped Amos to kill him。〃
Rage and despair impelled him。 Laughing brutally； he struck her on the
breast； and； as he tottered； sent his knife deep into her heart。 For a few
seconds he stood over her exulting； and then opened the door。 Madam
Marx； white with fear； rushed into the room。 Seeing the murdered woman；
a look of triumph came into her eyes。 But it was a momentary triumph； for
she realised at once the gravity of the crime。 She had little pity or sorrow
to waste on the dead； but she was full of concern for the safety of the
murderer。
〃This is a bad night's work； Gregorio。〃
〃Is it？ She deserved death。 I am glad I killed her。 God； how peacefully
I shall sleep tonight！〃
〃This is a worse matter than the other； my friend； you must get away
from here at once。〃
〃Let us leave the corpse； I am thirsty；〃 Gregorio answered； callously。
With a last look at Xantippe dead upon the floor； the two left the room and
made fast the bolt before descending the stairs。 As they emerged from the
doorway into the street； some police rode by； and Gregorio trembled a
little as he stood watching them。
〃I want a drink； I am trembling；〃 he said； huskily； and followed
125
… Page 126…
STORIES
Madam Marx into the shop。
The sun was beginning to rise； and already signs of a new life were
stirring。 The day…workers appeared at the windows and in the streets。
〃You must get away at night； Gregorio； and keep hidden all day。〃
〃All right。 Give me some wine。 I can arrange better when my thirst is
satisfied。〃
After drinking deeply he turned and laughed。 〃It has been a busy time
since sunset。〃
Then； as if a new idea suddenly struck him； he queried cunningly；
〃There will be a reward offered？〃
〃I suppose so。〃
〃Then you will be a rich woman。〃
Madam Marx flung herself at his feet and wept bitterly。 The blow was
a cruel one indeed。 Eagerly she entreated him to retract his words。 She
reminded him of all she had done for him； of all she would still do。 A sort
of eloquence came to her as she pleaded her cause； and Gregorio； weary
with excitement； kissed her as he asked：
〃But why should you not give me up？〃
〃Because I love you。〃 Neither blood nor cruelty could stain him in
her eyes。
At last her passion spent itself； calmed and soothed by Gregorio's
caress she realised again the danger her lover ran。 Vainly were plans
discussed； no fair chance of escape seemed open。 At last Gregorio said：
〃I shall leave here to…night for Ramleh and live in the desert for a time。
If you help me we can manage easily。 When my beard is grown I can get
back here safely enough； and the matter will be forgotten。 You must
collect food and take it by train to the last station； and get the box buried
by Ahmed near the palace。 I can creep toward it at night unseen。〃
〃But I will come to you at night and bring food and drink。〃
〃No。 That would only attract attention。 You must not leave your
customers。 But the drink is the worst part of the matter。 I must have water。
Get as many ostrich…eggs as you can； and fill them with water； and seal
them。 Hide these with the food； and I will carry some of them into the
farther desert and bury them there。〃
126
… Page 127…
STORIES
〃Gregorio； if all comes right you will not be sorry you killed her？〃
〃She hated me。 I shall not be sorry。〃
And Madam Marx smiled and forgot her fears。
XII IN THE DESERT AND ON THE SEA
By the last train leaving Alexandria for Ramleh； the next evening；
Gregorio sought to escape his pursuers。 He had heard from Ahmed on the
platform； just before starting； that Xantippe's body had been discovered；
and that already the police were on his track。 He sat in a corner of a third…
class carriage closely muffled； and eyeing his neighbours suspiciously。 He
sighed with relief as the train moved out of the station and began to pass
by the sand…hills and white villas； showing ghost…like in the damp mist。
When he reached St。 Antonio he saw the lights of the casino blazing
cheerfully； and the pure clear desert air invigorated him。 Fascinated by the
glare； he strolled toward the casino and decided； in spite of the risk； to
enter。 He watched from a corner the players； and greedily coveted the
masses of gold and silver piled in pyramids behind the croupiers。 He heard
the violins playing Suppe's overture； and the remembrance came vividly to
him of the Paradiso and the fair girl with whom the Englishman talked。
The exciting events following that evening passed before hima lurid
panorama。
An hour fled quickly away； then he sought the solitude of the desert；
and； having collected into a bag as much food and as many eggs as he
could carry； he walked away over the sands。
Under the stars he dug holes wherein to bury the eggs； and marked the
spots with stones； then； wrapping himself in his cloak； lay down to sleep。
All next day he loitered idly about； shunning the gaze of every wandering
Arab。 When evening came he drew near to the palace to seek for food。 To
his horror； the box had not been refilled。 At first he hardly realised how
awful was his plight。 Then the truth dawned upon him。 Ahmed and
Madam Marx must have been arrested。 He drew near to the casino and
stood under the open windows listening。 A cold shudder ran down his back；
his face grew pale； and his lips trembled； for he heard two men discussing
the murder and the capture of his friends。 An involuntary smile lighted up
127
… Page 128…
STORIES
the gloom of his features for a moment as one remarked that the chief
offender； the woman's husband； had eluded pursuit。 Then he crept back
into the desert and waited for the dawn。
The sun rose； fiery and relentless； glittering on the waters of Aboukir；
and the cloudless heaven blazed like a prairie on fire。 At midday； when its
rays fell straight upon him； his thirst became intense； and with feverish
fingers he dug up an egg。 It was empty。 He tossed it away and dragged
himself to another hole。 The second egg was empty。 In turn he dug up all
his eggs； and all alike were empty。 Improperly sealed； scantily covered by
the sand； the water had evaporated。 A great despair seized him； he called
on God in his anguish； and the silence of the desert terrified him。 In a fit of
desolate anger he pulled off his cap； and summoned all the saints； Christ；
and God Himself； to enter it； and then trampled on it； laughing wildly。
Then he flung himself upon the sand； his head still left bare to the pitiless
sun。 He knew the end had come； but there was not any regret in his heart
for his crimes； only an impotent dismay and anger at his solitary condition。
The thirst increased every minute； and he gripped the sand with his fingers
in his agony。 His last word was an oath。
At sunset he was dead。
Two days later Madam Marx left Alexandria by train for Ramleh。
There was no evidence against her； and she had soon been released。 Her
own trouble scarcely disconcerted her； she had feared only