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！
Straudenheim； a dealer in money； a diamond merchant； or what？
Below Straudenheim； at a window on the first floor； sat his
housekeeper … far from young； but of a comely presence； suggestive
of a well…matured foot and ankle。 She was cheerily dressed； had a
fan in her hand； and wore large gold earrings and a large gold
cross。 She would have been out holiday…making （as I settled it）
but for the pestilent rain。 Strasbourg had given up holiday…making
for that once； as a bad job； because the rain was jerking in gushes
out of the old roof…spouts； and running in a brook down the middle
of the street。 The housekeeper； her arms folded on her bosom and
her fan tapping her chin； was bright and smiling at her open
window； but otherwise Straudenheim's house front was very dreary。
The housekeeper's was the only open window in it； Straudenheim kept
himself close； though it was a sultry evening when air is pleasant；
and though the rain had brought into the town that vague refreshing
smell of grass which rain does bring in the summer…time。
The dim appearance of a man at Straudenheim's shoulder； inspired me
with a misgiving that somebody had come to murder that flourishing
merchant for the wealth with which I had handsomely endowed him：
the rather； as it was an excited man； lean and long of figure； and
evidently stealthy of foot。 But； he conferred with Straudenheim
instead of doing him a mortal injury； and then they both softly
opened the other window of that room … which was immediately over
the housekeeper's … and tried to see her by looking down。 And my
opinion of Straudenheim was much lowered when I saw that eminent
citizen spit out of window； clearly with the hope of spitting on
the housekeeper。
The unconscious housekeeper fanned herself； tossed her head； and
laughed。 Though unconscious of Straudenheim； she was conscious of
somebody else … of me？ … there was nobody else。
After leaning so far out of the window； that I confidently expected
to see their heels tilt up； Straudenheim and the lean man drew
their heads in and shut the window。 Presently； the house door
secretly opened； and they slowly and spitefully crept forth into
the pouring rain。 They were coming over to me （I thought） to
demand satisfaction for my looking at the housekeeper； when they
plunged into a recess in the architecture under my window and
dragged out the puniest of little soldiers； begirt with the most
innocent of little swords。 The tall glazed head…dress of this
warrior； Straudenheim instantly knocked off； and out of it fell two
sugar…sticks； and three or four large lumps of sugar。
The warrior made no effort to recover his property or to pick up
his shako； but looked with an expression of attention at
Straudenheim when he kicked him five times； and also at the lean
man when HE kicked him five times； and again at Straudenheim when
he tore the breast of his （the warrior's） little coat open； and
shook all his ten fingers in his face； as if they were ten
thousand。 When these outrages had been committed； Straudenheim and
his man went into the house again and barred the door。 A wonderful
circumstance was； that the housekeeper who saw it all （and who
could have taken six such warriors to her buxom bosom at once）；
only fanned herself and laughed as she had laughed before； and
seemed to have no opinion about it； one way or other。
But； the chief effect of the drama was the remarkable vengeance
taken by the little warrior。 Left alone in the rain； he picked up
his shako； put it on； all wet and dirty as it was； retired into a
court； of which Straudenheim's house formed the corner； wheeled
about； and bringing his two forefingers close to the top of his
nose； rubbed them over one another； cross…wise； in derision；
defiance； and contempt of Straudenheim。 Although Straudenheim
could not possibly be supposed to be conscious of this strange
proceeding； it so inflated and comforted the little warrior's soul；
that twice he went away； and twice came back into the court to
repeat it； as though it must goad his enemy to madness。 Not only
that； but he afterwards came back with two other small warriors；
and they all three did it together。 Not only that … as I live to
tell the tale！ … but just as it was falling quite dark； the three
came back； bringing with them a huge bearded Sapper； whom they
moved； by recital of the original wrong； to go through the same
performance； with the same complete absence of all possible
knowledge of it on the part of Straudenheim。 And then they all
went away； arm in arm； singing。
I went away too； in the German chariot at sunrise； and rattled on；
day after day； like one in a sweet dream； with so many clear little
bells on the harness of the horses； that the nursery rhyme about
Banbury Cross and the venerable lady who rode in state there； was
always in my ears。 And now I came to the land of wooden houses；
innocent cakes； thin butter soup； and spotless little inn bedrooms
with a family likeness to Dairies。 And now the Swiss marksmen were
for ever rifle…shooting at marks across gorges； so exceedingly near
my ear； that I felt like a new Gesler in a Canton of Tells； and
went in highly…deserved danger of my tyrannical life。 The prizes
at these shootings； were watches； smart handkerchiefs； hats；
spoons； and （above all） tea…trays； and at these contests I came
upon a more than usually accomplished and amiable countryman of my
own； who had shot himself deaf in whole years of competition； and
had won so many tea…trays that he went about the country with his
carriage full of them； like a glorified Cheap…Jack。
In the mountain…country into which I had now travelled； a yoke of
oxen were sometimes hooked on before the post…horses； and I went
lumbering up； up； up； through mist and rain； with the roar of
falling water for change of music。 Of a sudden； mist and rain
would clear away； and I would come down into picturesque little
towns with gleaming spires and odd towers； and would stroll afoot
into market…places in steep winding streets； where a hundred women
in bodices； sold eggs and honey； butter and fruit； and suckled
their children as they sat by their clean baskets； and had such
enormous goitres （or glandular swellings in the throat） that it
became a science to know where the nurse ended and the child began。
About this time； I deserted my German chariot for the back of a
mule （in colour and consistency so very like a dusty old hair trunk
I once had at school； that I half expected to see my initials in
brass…headed nails on his backbone）； and went up a thousand rugged
ways； and looked down at a thousand woods of fir and pine； and
would on the whole have preferred my mule's keeping a little nearer
to the inside； and not usually travelling with a hoof or two over
the precipice … though much consoled by explanation that this was
to be attributed to his great sagacity； by reason of his carrying
broad loads of wood at other times； and not being clear but that I
myself belonged to that station of life； and required as much room
as they。 He brought me safely； in his own wise way； among the
passes of the Alps； and here I enjoyed a dozen climates a day；
being now （like Don Quixote on the back of the wooden horse） in the
region of wind； now in the region of fire； now in the region of
unmelting ice and snow。 Here； I passed over trembling domes of
ice； beneath which the cataract was roaring； and here was received
under arches of icicles； of unspeakable beauty； and here the sweet
air was so bracing and so light； that at halting…times I rolled in
the snow when I saw my mule do it； thinking that he must know best。
At this part of the journey we would come； at mid…day； into half an
hour's thaw： when the rough mountain inn would be found on an
island of deep mud in a sea of snow； while the baiting strings of
mules； and the carts full of casks and bales； which had been in an
Arctic condition a mile off； would steam again。 By such ways and
means； I would come to the cluster of chalets where I had to turn
out of the track to see the waterfall； and then； uttering a howl
like a young giant； on espying a traveller … in other words；
something to eat … coming up the steep； the idiot lying on the
wood…pile who sunned himself and nursed his goitre； would rouse the
woman…guide within the hut； who would stream out hastily； throwing
her child over one of her shoulders and her goitre over the other；
as she came along。 I slept at religious houses； and bleak refuges
of many kinds； on this journey； and by the stove at night heard
stories of travellers who had perished within call； in wreaths and
drifts of snow。 One night the stove within； and the cold outside；
awakened childish associations long forgotten； and I dreamed I was
in Russia … the identical serf out of a picture…book I had； before
I could read it for myself … and that I was going to be knouted by
a nobl