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！
abstraction to repose upon the public seats about the swards and open
spaces is not conceived in a mood of affable toleration。 Nevertheless
there are deserted places beyond the furthest limits of the city where
a more amiable full…face is shown。 On the eleventh day of this one's
determination to sustain himself by the exercise of his literary
style； he was journeying about sunset towards one of these spots；
subduing the grosser instincts of mankind by reviewing the wisdom of
the sublime Lao Ch'un； who decided that heat and cold； pain and
fatigue； and mental distress； have no real existence； and are
therefore amenable to logical disproof； while the cravings of hunger
and thirst are merely the superfluous attributes of a former and lower
state of existence； when a passer…by； who for some distance had been
alternately advancing before and remaining behind； matched his
footsteps into mine。
〃Whichee way walk…go； John； eh？〃 said this unfortunate being； who
appeared to be suffering from a laborious deformity of speech。 〃Allee
samee load me。 Chin…chin。〃
Filled with compassion for one who evidently found himself alone in a
strange land； in the absence of his more highly…accomplished
companion； unable to indicate his wants and requirements to those
about him； I regretfully admitted that I had not chanced to encounter
that John whose wandering footsteps he sought； and to indicate； by not
leaving him abruptly； that I maintained a sympathetic concern over his
welfare； I pointed out to him the exceptional brilliance of the
approaching night； adding that I myself was then directing a course
towards a certain spacious Heath； a few li distant in the north。
〃Sing…dance tomollow； then？〃 he said； with a condensed air of general
disappointment。 〃Chop…chop in a pay look…see show on HamHamstloh
damme！ on 'Ampstead 'Eath？ Booked up； eh； John？〃
Gradually convinced that it was becoming necessary to readjust the
significance of the incident； I replied that I had no intention of
partaking of chops or food of any variety in an erected tent； but
merely of passing the night in an intellectual seclusion。
〃Oh；〃 said the one who was walking by my side； regarding my garments
with engaging attention； and at the same time appearing to regain an
unruffled speech as though the other had been an assumed device； 〃I
understandthe Blue Sky Hotel。 Well； I've stayed there once or twice
myself。 A bit down on your uppers； eh？〃
〃Assuredly this person may perchance lay his upper parts down for a
short space of time；〃 I admitted； when I had traced out the symbolism
of the words。 〃As it is humanely written in The Books； 'Sleep and
suicide are the free refuges equally of the innocent and the guilty。'〃
〃Oh； come now； don't；〃 exclaimed the energetic person； striking
himself together by means of his two hands。 〃It's sinful to talk about
suicide the day before bank holiday。 Why； my only Somali warrior has
vamoosed with his full make…up； and the Magnetic Girl too； and I never
thought of suicideonly whether to turn my old woman into a Veiled
Beauty of the Harem or a Hairy Lama from Tibet。〃
Not absolutely grasping the emergency； yet in a spirit of inoffensive
cordiality I remarked that the alternative was insufferably
perplexing； while he continued。
〃Then I spotted you； and in a flash I got an idea that ought to take
and turn out really great if you'll come in。 Now follow this：
Missionary's tent in the wilds of Pekin。 Domestic interior by
lamp…light。 Missionary （me） reading evening paper； missionary's wife
（the missus） making tea； and between times singing to keep the small
pet goat quiet （small goat； a pillow； horsecloth； and
pocket…handkerchief）。 Breaks down singing； sobs； and says she feels a
strange all…over presentiment。 Missionary admits being a bit fluffed
himself； and lets out about a notice signed in blood that he's seen in
the city。〃
〃Carried upon a pole？〃 this person demanded； feeling that something of
a literary nature might yet be wrested into the incident。
〃On a flagstaff if you like；〃 conceded the other one magnanimously。 〃A
notice to the effect that it is the duty of every jack mother's son of
them to douse the foreign devils； man； woman； and child； and
especially the talk…book pass…hat…round men。 Also that he has had
several brick…ends heaved at him on his way back。 Then stops suddenly；
hits his upper crust； and says that it's like his blamed
fat…headedness to frighten her； while she clutches at herself three
times and faints away。〃
〃Amid the voluminous burning of blue lights？〃 suggested this person
resourcefully。
〃By rights there should be；〃 admitted the one who was devising the
representation； 〃but it will hardly run to it。 Anyway； it costs
nothing to turn the lamp downsaves a bit in fact； and gives an
effect。 Then outside； in the distance at first you understand； you
begin to work up the sound of the advancing mobrattles； shouts；
tum…tums； groans； tin plates and all that one mortal man can do with
hands； feet and mouth。〃
〃With the interspersal of an occasional cracker and the stirring notes
produced by striking a hollow wooden fish repeatedly？〃 I cried； for
let it be confessed that amid the portrayal of the scene my
imagination had taken an allotted part。
〃If you like to provide them； and don't set the bally show on fire；〃
he replied。 〃Anyhow； these two aren't supposed to notice anything even
when the row gets louder。 Then it drops and you are heard outside
talking in whispers to the otherswords of command and telling them
to keep back half…a…mo； and so on。 See？〃
〃Doubtless introducing a spoken charm and repeating the words of an
incantation against omens； treachery； and other matters。〃
〃Next a flap of the tent down on the floor is raised； and you
reconnoitre； looking your very worst and holding a knife between your
teeth and another in each hand。 Wave a hand to your followers to keep
backor come on： it makes no difference。 Then you crawl in on your
stomach； give a terrific howl； and stab me in the back。 That rolls me
under the curtain； and so lets me out。 The missus ups with the
wood…chopper and stands before the cradle； while you yell and dance
round with the knives。 That ought to be made 'the moment' of the whole
piece。 The great thing is to make enough noise。 If you can yell louder
than the talking…machine outfit on the next pitch we ought to turn
money away。 While you are at it I start a fresh row outsideshouts；
cheers； groans； words of command and a paper bag or two。 Seeing that
the game is up you make a rush at the old woman； she downs you with
the chopper； turns the lamp up full； shakes out a Union Jack over the
sleeping infant； and finally stands in her finest attitude with one
hand pointing impressively upwards and the other contemptuously
downwards just as Rule Britannia is played on the cornet outside and I
appear at the door in a general's full uniform and let down the
curtain。〃
For acting in the manner designatedas touching the noises both
inside and out； the set dance with upraised knives； the casting to
earth of himself； and being myself in turn vanquished by the aged
female； with an added compact that from time to time I should be led
by a chain and shown to the people from a raised platformwe agreed
upon a daily reward of two pieces of silver； an adequacy of food； and
a certain ambiguously…referred…to share of the gain。 It need not be
denied that with so favourable an opportunity of introducing passages
from the Classics a much less sum would have been accepted； but having
obtained this without a struggle； the one now recounting the facts
raised the opportune suggestion of an inscribed placard； in order to
fulfil the portent foreshadowed by William Greyson。
〃Oh； we'll star you； never fear；〃 assented the accommodating
personage； and having by this time reached that spot upon the Heath
where his Domestic Altar had been raised； we entered。
〃All the most distinguished actors in this country take another name；〃
he said reflectively； when he had drawn forth a parchment of
praiseworthy dimensions and ink of three colours； 〃and though I have
nothing to say against Kong Ho Tsin Cheng Quank Paik T'chun Li Yuen
Nung for quiet unostentatious dignity； it doesn't have just the grip
and shudder that we want。 Now how d