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！
CHAPTER XC
Buona sera … Rather apprehensive … The steep bank … Lovely virgin …
Hospitality … Tory minister … Custom of the country … Sneering
smile … Wandering Zigan … Gypsies' cloaks … Certain faculty … Acute
answer … Various ways … Addio … Best Hollands。
THE man in black and myself stood opposite to each other for a
minute or two in silence； I will not say that we confronted each
other that time； for the man in black； after a furtive glance； did
not look me in the face； but kept his eyes fixed apparently on the
leaves of a bunch of ground…nuts which were growing at my feet。 At
length； looking around the dingle； he exclaimed； 'Buona sera； I
hope I don't intrude。'
'You have as much right here；' said I； 'as I or my companion； but
you had no right to stand listening to our conversation。'
'I was not listening；' said the man； 'I was hesitating whether to
advance or retire； and if I heard some of your conversation； the
fault was not mine。'
'I do not see why you should have hesitated if your intentions were
good；' said I。
'I think the kind of place in which I found myself might excuse
some hesitation；' said the man in black； looking around； 'moreover；
from what I had seen of your demeanour at the public…house； I was
rather apprehensive that the reception I might experience at your
hands might be more rough than agreeable。'
'And what may have been your motive for coming to this place？' said
I。
'Per far visita a sua signoria； ecco il motivo。'
'Why do you speak to me in that gibberish；' said I； 'do you think I
understand it？'
'It is not Armenian；' said the man in black； 'but it might serve；
in a place like this； for the breathing of a little secret
communication； were any common roadster near at hand。 It would not
do at Court； it is true； being the language of singing women； and
the like； but we are not at Court … when we are； I can perhaps
summon up a little indifferent Latin； if I have anything private to
communicate to the learned Professor。'
And at the conclusion of this speech the man in black lifted up his
head； and； for some moments； looked me in the face。 The muscles of
his own seemed to be slightly convulsed； and his mouth opened in a
singular manner
'I see；' said I； 'that for some time you were standing near me and
my companion； in the mean act of listening。'
'Not at all；' said the man in black； 'I heard from the steep bank
above； that to which I have now alluded； whilst I was puzzling
myself to find the path which leads to your retreat。 I made；
indeed； nearly the compass of the whole thicket before I found it。'
'And how did you know that I was here？' I demanded。
'The landlord of the public…house； with whom I had some
conversation concerning you； informed me that he had no doubt I
should find you in this place； to which he gave me instructions not
very clear。 But； now I am here； I crave permission to remain a
little time； in order that I may hold some communion with you。'
'Well；' said I； 'since you are come； you are welcome； please to
step this way。'
Thereupon I conducted the man in black to the fireplace； where
Belle was standing； who had risen from her stool on my springing up
to go in quest of the stranger。 The man in black looked at her
with evident curiosity； then making her rather a graceful bow；
'Lovely virgin；' said he； stretching out his hand； 'allow me to
salute your fingers。'
'I am not in the habit of shaking hands with strangers；' said
Belle。
'I did not presume to request to shake hands with you；' said the
man in black； 'I merely wished to be permitted to salute with my
lips the extremity of your two forefingers。'
'I never permit anything of the kind；' said Belle； ' I do not
approve of such unmanly ways； they are only befitting those who
lurk in corners or behind trees； listening to the conversation of
people who would fain be private。'
'Do you take me for a listener then？' said the man in black。
'Ay； indeed I do；' said Belle； 'the young man may receive your
excuses； and put confidence in them； if he please； but for my part
I neither admit them nor believe them；' and thereupon flinging her
long hair back； which was hanging over her cheeks； she seated
herself on her stool。
'Come； Belle；' said I； 'I have bidden the gentleman welcome； I
beseech you； therefore； to make him welcome； he is a stranger；
where we are at home； therefore； even did we wish him away； we are
bound to treat him kindly。'
'That's not English doctrine；' said the man in black。
'I thought the English prided themselves on their hospitality；'
said I。
'They do so；' said the man in black； 'they are proud of showing
hospitality to people above them； that is； to those who do not want
it； but of the hospitality which you were now describing； and which
is Arabian； they know nothing。 No Englishman will tolerate another
in his house； from whom he does not expect advantage of some kind；
and to those from whom he does he can be civil enough。 An
Englishman thinks that； because he is in his own house； he has a
right to be boorish and brutal to any one who is disagreeable to
him； as all those are who are really in want of assistance。 Should
a hunted fugitive rush into an Englishman's house； beseeching
protection； and appealing to the master's feelings of hospitality；
the Englishman would knock him down in the passage。'
'You are too general；' said I； 'in your strictures。 Lord …； the
unpopular Tory minister； was once chased through the streets of
London by a mob； and； being in danger of his life； took shelter in
the shop of a Whig linen…draper； declaring his own unpopular name；
and appealing to the linen…draper's feelings of hospitality；
whereupon the linen…draper； utterly forgetful of all party rancour；
nobly responded to the appeal； and telling his wife to conduct his
lordship upstairs； jumped over the counter； with his ell in his
hand； and placing himself with half…a…dozen of his assistants at
the door of his boutique； manfully confronted the mob； telling them
that he would allow himself to be torn to a thousand pieces ere he
would permit them to injure a hair of his lordship's head： what do
you think of that？'
'He！ he！ he！' tittered the man in black。
'Well；' said I； 'I am afraid your own practice is not very
different from that which you have been just now describing； you
sided with the Radical in the public…house against me； as long as
you thought him the most powerful； and then turned against him when
you saw he was cowed。 What have you to say to that？'
'Oh； when one is in Rome； I mean England； one must do as they do in
England； I was merely conforming to the custom of the country； he！
he！ but I beg your pardon here； as I did in the public…house。 I
made a mistake。'
'Well；' said I； 'we will drop the matter； but pray seat yourself on
that stone； and I will sit down on the grass near you。'
The man in black； after proffering two or three excuses for
occupying what he supposed to be my seat； sat down upon the stone；
and I squatted down； gypsy…fashion； just opposite to him； Belle
sitting on her stool at a slight distance on my right。 After a
time I addressed him thus： 'Am I to reckon this a mere visit of
ceremony？ should it prove so； it will be； I believe； the first
visit of the kind ever paid me。'
'Will you permit me to ask；' said the man in black … 'the weather
is very warm；' said he； interrupting himself； and taking off his
hat。
I now observed that he was partly bald； his red hair having died
away from the fore part of his crown … his forehead was high； his
eyebrows scanty； his eyes gray and sly； with a downward tendency；
his nose was slightly aquiline； his mouth rather large … a kind of
sneering smile played continually on his lips； his complexion was
somewhat rubicund。
'A bad countenance；' said Belle； in the language of the roads；
observing that my eyes were fixed on his face。
'Does not my countenance please you； fair damsel？' said the man in
black； resuming his hat； and speaking in a peculiarly gentle voice。
'How；' said I； 'do you understand the language of the roads？'
'As little as I do Armenian；' said the man in black； 'but I
understand look and tone。'
'So do I； perhaps；' retorted Belle； 'and； to tell you the truth； I
like your tone as little as your face。'
'For shame；' said I； 'have you forgot what I was saying just now
about the duties of hospitality？ You have not yet answered my
question；' said I； addressing myself to the man； 'with respect to
your visit。'
'Will you permit me to ask who you are？'
'Do you see the place where I live？' said I。
'I do；' said the man in black； looking around。
'Do you know the name