round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第40部分
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expected it。 You remember that almost the first words he said were to
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call out upon himself as a fool。 Well； he got more hardened afterwards；
and carried the matter through without fainting。 The vitality which he
could put into it was evidently only a passing thing； for I have seen it
continually in its case as dead as this table。 He has some elaborate
process； I fancy； by which he brings the thing to pass。 Having done it； he
naturally bethought him that he might use the creature as an agent。 It has
intelligence and it has strength。 For some purpose he took Lee into his
confidence； but Lee； like a decent Christian； would have nothing to do
with such a business。 Then they had a row； and Lee vowed that he would
tell his sister of Bellingham's true character。 Bellingham's game was to
prevent him； and he nearly managed it； by setting this creature of his on
his track。 He had already tried its powers upon another manNorton
towards whom he had a grudge。 It is the merest chance that he has not
two murders upon his soul。 Then； when I taxed him with the matter； he
had the strongest reasons for wishing to get me out of the way before I
could convey my knowledge to anyone else。 He got his chance when I
went out； for he knew my habits； and where I was bound for。 I have had
a narrow shave； Peterson； and it is mere luck you didn't find me on your
doorstep in the morning。 I'm not a nervous man as a rule； and I never
thought to have the fear of death put upon me as it was to… night。〃
〃My dear boy； you take the matter too seriously；〃 said his companion。
〃Your nerves are out of order with your work； and you make too much of
it。 How could such a thing as this stride about the streets of Oxford； even
at night； without being seen？〃
〃It has been seen。 There is quite a scare in the town about an escaped
ape； as they imagine the creature to be。 It is the talk of the place。〃
〃Well； it's a striking chain of events。 And yet； my dear fellow； you
must allow that each incident in itself is capable of a more natural
explanation。〃
〃What！ even my adventure of to…night？〃
〃Certainly。 You come out with your nerves all unstrung； and your
head full of this theory of yours。 Some gaunt； half…famished tramp steals
after you； and seeing you run； is emboldened to pursue you。 Your fears
and imagination do the rest。〃
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〃It won't do； Peterson； it won't do。〃
〃And again； in the instance of your finding the mummy case empty；
and then a few moments later with an occupant； you know that it was
lamplight； that the lamp was half turned down； and that you had no special
reason to look hard at the case。 It is quite possible that you may have
overlooked the creature in the first instance。〃
〃No； no； it is out of the question。〃
〃And then Lee may have fallen into the river； and Norton been
garrotted。 It is certainly a formidable indictment that you have against
Bellingham； but if you were to place it before a police magistrate； he
would simply laugh in your face。〃
〃I know he would。 That is why I mean to take the matter into my
own hands。〃
〃Eh？〃
〃Yes； I feel that a public duty rests upon me； and； besides； I must do it
for my own safety； unless I choose to allow myself to be hunted by this
beast out of the college； and that would be a little too feeble。 I have quite
made up my mind what I shall do。 And first of all； may I use your paper
and pens for an hour？〃
〃Most certainly。 You will find all that you want upon that side table。〃
Abercrombie Smith sat down before a sheet of foolscap； and for an
hour； and then for a second hour his pen travelled swiftly over it。 Page
after page was finished and tossed aside while his friend leaned back in his
arm…chair； looking across at him with patient curiosity。 At last； with an
exclamation of satisfaction； Smith sprang to his feet； gathered his papers
up into order； and laid the last one upon Peterson's desk。
〃Kindly sign this as a witness；〃 he said。
〃A witness？ Of what？〃
〃Of my signature； and of the date。 The date is the most important。
Why； Peterson； my life might hang upon it。〃
〃My dear Smith； you are talking wildly。 Let me beg you to go to
bed。〃
〃On the contrary； I never spoke so deliberately in my life。 And I will
promise to go to bed the moment you have signed it。〃
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〃But what is it？〃
〃It is a statement of all that I have been telling you to…night。 I wish
you to witness it。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Peterson； signing his name under that of his
companion。 〃There you are！ But what is the idea？〃
〃You will kindly retain it； and produce it in case I am arrested。〃
〃Arrested？ For what？〃
〃For murder。 It is quite on the cards。 I wish to be ready for every
event。 There is only one course open to me； and I am determined to take
it。〃
〃For Heaven's sake； don't do anything rash！〃
〃Believe me； it would be far more rash to adopt any other course。 I
hope that we won't need to bother you； but it will ease my mind to know
that you have this statement of my motives。 And now I am ready to take
your advice and to go to roost； for I want to be at my best in the morning。〃
Abercrombie Smith was not an entirely pleasant man to have as an
enemy。 Slow and easytempered； he was formidable when driven to
action。 He brought to every purpose in life the same deliberate
resoluteness which had distinguished him as a scientific student。 He had
laid his studies aside for a day； but he intended that the day should not be
wasted。 Not a word did he say to his host as to his plans； but by nine
o'clock he was well on his way to Oxford。
In the High Street he stopped at Clifford's； the gun…maker's； and
bought a heavy revolver； with a box of central…fire cartridges。 Six of
them he slipped into the chambers； and half…cocking the weapon； placed it
in the pocket of his coat。 He then made his way to Hastie's rooms； where
the big oarsman was lounging over his breakfast； with the Sporting Times
propped up against the coffeepot。
〃Hullo！ What's up？〃 he asked。 〃Have some coffee？〃
〃No； thank you。 I want you to come with me； Hastie； and do what I
ask you。〃
〃Certainly； my boy。〃
〃And bring a heavy stick with you。〃
〃Hullo！〃 Hastie stared。 〃Here's a hunting…crop that would fell an ox。〃
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〃One other thing。 You have a box of amputating knives。 Give me
the longest of them。〃
〃There you are。 You seem to be fairly on the war trail。 Anything
else？〃
〃No； that will do。〃 Smith placed the knife inside his coat； and led the
way to the quadrangle。 〃We are neither of us chickens； Hastie；〃 said he。
〃I think I can do this job alone； but I take you as a precaution。 I am
going to have a little talk with Bellingham。 If I have only him to deal
with； I won't； of course； need you。 If I shout； however； up you come； and
lam out with your whip as hard as you can lick。 Do you understand？〃
〃All right。 I'll come if I hear you bellow。〃
〃Stay here； then。 It may be a little time； but don't budge until I come
down。〃
〃I'm a fixture。〃
Smith ascended the stairs； opened Bellingham's door and stepped in。
Bellingham was seated behind his table； writing。 Beside him； among his
litter of strange possessions； towered the mummy case； with its sale
number 249 still stuck upon its front； and its hideous occupant stiff and
stark within it。 Smith looked very deliberately round him； closed the
door； locked it； took the key from the inside； and then stepping across to
the fireplace； struck a match and set the fire alight。 Bellingham sat
staring； with amazement and rage upon his bloated face。
〃Well； really now； you make yourself at home；〃 he gasped。
Smith sat himself deliberately down； placing his watch upon the table；
drew out his pistol； cocked it； and laid it in his lap。 Then he took the long
amputating knife from his bosom； and threw it down in front of
Bellingham。
〃Now； then；〃 said he； 〃just get to work and cut up that mummy。〃
〃Oh； is that it？〃 said Bellingham with a sneer。
〃Yes； that is
