cwilleford.cockfighter-第16部分

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　　The　James　Boys　returned　to　the　stand；　leaving　the　door　open；　and　I　could　hear　the　heated　strings　of　their　first　number；　〃The　big　D　Rock。〃
　　〃Mr。　Mansfield…〃　I　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　Lee　Vernon's　voice；　and　got　to　my　feet　quickly　as　he　ushered　in　ahead　of　him　the　young　man　and　the　woman　who　had　been　sitting　at　his　table　out　front。　〃I　want　to　introduce　you　to　Mrs。　Bernice　Hungerford　and　Tommy　Hungerford。〃　He　turned　and　smiled　at　the　woman。　〃Mr。　Frank　Mansfield。〃
　　〃Tommy　is　my　nephew；〃　Bernice　Hungerford　said　quickly；　holding　out　her　hand。　I　shook　it　briefly；　and　then　shook　hands　with　her　nephew。　His　expression　was　studiedly　bored；　but　he　was　slightly　nervous。
　　Mrs。　Hungerford　was　a　truly　striking　woman；　now　that　I　could　see　her　under　the　bright　lights　of　the　dressing　room。　A　white　cashmere　stole　was　draped　over　her　left　arm；　and　she　clutched　a　gold…mesh　evening　bag　in　her　left　hand。　Her　burnt　sienna　eyes　never　left　my　face。　I　was　amused　by　the　scattering　of　freckles　on　her　straight　nose。　The　freckles　on　her　face　and　bare　shoulders　belied　her　age　sure　enough。
　　With　a　straight　face；　Vernon　said：　〃Mrs。　Hungerford　was　very　impressed　by　your　concert；　Mt　Mansfield。　When　I　told　her　that　you　had　studied　under　Segovia　in　Seville　for　ten　years；　she　said　she　could　tell　that　you　had　by　your　intricate　fretwork。〃
　　Bernice　Hungerford　bobbed　her　head　up　and　down　delightedly　and　shook　a　teasing　forefinger　at　me。　〃And　I　recognized　the　tone　poem；　too。〃　She　winked　and　flashed　a　bright　smile。　Her　teeth　were　small；　but　remarkably　well　matched　and　white。　〃You　see；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　she　continued；　〃I　know　a　few　things　about　music。　When　I　hear　Bach；　it　doesn't　make　any　difference　if　it's　piano　or　guitar；　I　can　recognize　the　style。　That's　what　I　told　Mr。　Vernon；　didn't　I；　Lee？〃　The　woman　turned　to　the　implacable　Lee　Vernon　who　was　covering　his　drunkenness　masterfully。　Only　the　stiffness　of　his　back　gave　him　away。
　　〃You　certainly　did；　Bernice。　But　I　had　to　tell　her；　Mr。　Mansfield。　She　thought　you　were　playing　a　Bach　fugue；　but　it　was　a　natural　mistake。　She　didn't　know　that　it　was　a　special　Albert　Schweitzer　position　written　on　a　theme　of　Bach's。　Quite　a　natural　mistake；　indeed。〃
　　〃If　we　don't　get　back　to　your　guests；　their　throats　wifi　be　dreadfully　parched；　Auntie　dear；〃　Tommy　said　lazily。　〃We've　been　gone；　you　know；　for　the　better　part　of　an　hour；　and　that's　a　long　time　just　to　refurbish　the　liquor　supply。〃　The　careless　elisions　of　his　voice　were　practiced；　it　seemed　to　me。
　　〃But　if　we　take　Mt　Mansfield　back　with　us；　we'll　be　forgiven。〃　Mrs。　Hungerford　patted　her　nephew's　arm。
　　〃I　don't　want　to　hold　you　up　any　longer；　Mrs。　Hungerford；〃　Vernon　said。　〃Why　don't　you　and　Tommy　wait　in　the　package　store。　Your　liquor　is　ready；　and　I'll　do　my　best　to　bring　Mr。　Mansfield　along　in　a　minute。　All　right？〃
　　〃But　you　will　persuade　him；　won't　you？〃　Mrs。　Hungerford　said。
　　〃I'll　certainly　try；〃　he　replied　cheerfully。
　　As　soon　as　they　had　gone；　Vernon　closed　the　door；　leaned　against　it　and　buried　his　face　in　his　arms。　His　shoulders　shook　convulsively；　and　for　a　moment　I　thought　he　was　crying。　Then　he　let　out　a　whoop　of　laughter；　turned　away　from　the　door　and　sat　down。　Recovering；　he　wiped　his　streaming　eyes　with　a　forefinger　and　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　Frank；　but　the　gag　was　too　good　to　resist。　When　she　started　that　talk　about　Bach　and　Segovia　at　the　table；　I　had　to　go　her　one　bettet　But　it's　a　break　for　you。　She　has　a　few　guests　at　her　house；　and　only　stopped　by　here　to　pick　up　some　Scotch。　I　told　her　that　she　mustn't　miss　your　performance；　and　when　you　came　out　with　that　tricky；　weird　chording　and　impressed　her　so　much；　I　thought　it　might　be　a　break　for　you。　Anyway；　the　upshot　is　that　she　wants　you　to　go　home　with　her　and　play　for　her　guests。　Should　be　worth　a　twenty…dollar　bill　to　you；　at　least。〃
　　I　shrugged　into　my　corduroy　jacket。　All　through　the　talk　about　Bach　and　Segovia　I　had　thought　they　were　attempting　some　kind　of　joke　at　my　expense；　but　apparently　Mrs。　Hungerford　actually　believed　I　had　studied　under　the　old　guitarist。　Vernon　had　gone　along　with　the　gag；　which　was　a　break　for　me；　although　I　detested　the　condescending　sonofabitch。　If　she　wanted　to　pay　me　twenty　dollars　I　would　accept　it；　play　my　three　songs；　and　then　get　out　of　her　house。　I　had　already　made　up　my　mind　not　to　return　to　the　Chez　Vernon。　A　final　concert　for　a　group　of　rich　people　who　could　afford　to　pay　for　it　and　wouldn't　miss　the　money　would　be　a　fitting　end　to　my　short；　unhappy　musical　career。
　　〃By　the　way；　Frank；〃　Vernon　said；　as　soon　as　I　was　ready　to　go；　〃don't　get　the　idea　that　I　was　trying　to　make　fun　of　you　by　falling　in　with　the　gag。　If　I'd　been　strictly　sober；　I　might　have　set　her　straight；　but　basically　I　poured　it　on　so　you　could　pick　up　a　few　extra　bucks。　No　hard　feelings？〃
　　I　ignored　his　outstretched　hand；　and　brushed　by　him；　carrying　my　instrument。　Vernon　followed　me　out　into　the　club。　As　I　stopped　at　the　stand；　to　put　the　guitar　in　the　case；　he　handed　me　a　ten…dollar　bill。
　　〃Hell；　don't　be　sore　about　it；　Frank。〃
　　There　was　a　black　silhouette　cutout　of　a　plyboard　cat　at　the　end　of　the　stand。　I　wadded　the　bill　in　my　fist　and　shoved　it　into　the　open　mouth　of　the　kitty　before　crossing　the　dance　floor　and　entering　the　inside　door　to　the　package　store。　If　Lee　Vernon　had　followed　me　into　the　package　store；　I　would　have　knocked　his　teeth　out；　even　if　he　was　drunk。　Although　I　wasn't　the　butt　of　the　joke；　I　didn't　like　to　be　patronized　by　a　man　I　considered　an　inferior。　But　Vernon　was　wise　enough　not　to　e　outside；　and　I've　never　seen　him　since。
　　
　　
　　Tommy　drove　the　Olds　and　Mrs。　Hungerford　sat　between　us　on　the　wide　front　seat。　With　the　guitar　case　between　my　legs；　my　left　leg　was　tight　against　her　right　leg；　and　I　could　feel　the　warmth　of　her　body　through　my　corduroy　trousers。
　　〃This　isn't　exactly　a　party；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　she　explained；　as　we　drove　through　the　light　traffic　of　the　after…midnight　streets。　〃We　all　attended　the　Jacksonville　Little　Theater　to　see　Liliom；　and　I　invited　the　bunch　home　for　a　cold　supper　and　a　few　drinks。　It　was　a　real　faux　pas　on　my　part。　There's　plenty　of　food；　but　I　didn't　realize　I　was　out　of　Scotch。　But　bringing　you　home　to　play　will　more　than　make　up　for　my　oversight；　I'm　sure。　Don't　you　think　so；　Tommy？〃
　　〃If　they're　still　there；〃　he　observed　dryly。
　　〃Don't　worry；〃　Mrs。　Hunferford　laughed　pleasantly；　〃I　know　my　brother！〃　She　turned　toward　me　and　put　her　hand　lightly　on　my　knee。　〃There　are　only　two　couples；　Mr。　Mansfield。　Tommy's　father　and　mother；　and　Dr。　Luke　McGuire　and　his　wife。　Not　a　very　large　audience；　I'm　afraid；　after　what　you're　accustomed　to；　is　it？〃
　　In　reply；i　spat　out　the　window。
　　〃But　I　know　you'll　find　them　appreciative　of　good　music。〃
　　A　few　minutes　later　we　turned　into　a　driveway　guarded　by　two　small　concrete　lions。　Tommy　parked　behind　a　Buick　on　the　semicircular　gravel　road　that　led　back　to　the　street。　The　two…story　house　was　of　red　brick。　Four　fluted　wooden　columns　supported　a　widow's　walk　directly　above　the　wide；　aluminum…screened　front　porch。　The　lawn　slanted　gradually　to　the　street　for　almost　a　hundred　yards；　broken　here　and　there　with　newly　planted　coconut　palms。　The　feathery　tips　of　the　young　trees　rattled　in　the　wind。　She　was　wasting　money　and　effort　attempting　to　grow　coconut　trees　as　far　north　as　Jax。　The　subtropics　start　at　Daytona　Beach；　much　farther　downstate。
　　Mrs。　Hungerford　rushed　ahead　of　us　after　we　got　out　of　the　car。　Tommy；　carrying　two　sacked　fifths　of　Scotch　under　his　left　arm　and　a　six…pack　of　soda　in　his　right　hand；　hurried　after　her。　As　I　climbed　the　porch　steps；　Mrs。　Hungerford　switched　on　the　overhead　lights　and　opened　the　front　doors。　She　held　a　finger　to　her　lips；　as　she　beckoned　me　into　the　foyer　with　her　free　hand。
　　〃Now；　you　stay　right　here　in　the　foyer；〃　Mrs。　Hungerford　whispered　excitedly；　〃so　I　can　surprise　them！〃
　　Closing　the　front　door　softly；　she　followed　her　nephew　into　the　living　room。　The　voices　greeting　them　contained　a　mixture　of　concern　over　the　prolonged　absence；　and　happiness　at　the　prospect　of　a　drink。　Above　the　sound　of　their　conversation；　the　clipped　electronic　voice　of　a　newscaster　rattled　through　his　daily　report　of　the　late　news。
　　The　foyer　was　carpeted　in　a　soft　shade　of　rose　nylon。　The　same　carpeting　climbed　the　stairway　to　the　walnutbalustraded　second　floor。　A　giant　split…leaved　philodendron　sat　in　a　white　pot　behind　the　door。　There　was　a　spindlylegged；　leather…covered　table　beneath　a　gilded　wall　mirror；　and　a　brass　dish　on　the　table　held　about　thirty　calling　cards。　Out　of　long…forgotten　habit　I　felt　a　few　of　the　cards　to　see　if　they　were　engraved。　They　were。　I　turned　my　attention　to　a　marble　cherub　mounted　on　a　square；　ebony　base。　It　was　about　three　feet　high；　and　the　well…weathered　cherub　looked　shyly　with　its　dugout　eyes　through　widespread　stubby　fingers。　A　lifted；　twisted　right　knee　hid　its　sex；　and　three　fingers　of　the　left　hand　were　missing。　I　removed　my　cowboy　hat　and　hung　it　on　the　thumb　of　the　mutilated　hand。
　　The　bored　announcer　was　clicked　off　in　midsentence；　and　Mrs。　Hungerford　came　after　me　a　moment　later。
　　〃They're　all　tickled　to　death；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　she　said　happily。　〃e　on；　they　want　to　meet　you！〃
　　In　one　corner　of　the　large　living　room；　Tommy　was　engaged　behind　a　small　bar。　Two　middle…aged　men　got　out　of　their　chairs　and　crossed　the　room　to　greet　me。　Dr。　McGuire　was　a　thick…set　man　without　a　neck；　and　his　gray　hair　was　badly　in　need　of　cutting。　Mt　Hungerford；　Sr。；　Tommy's　father；　was　an　older　edition　of　his　blond　son；　except　that　he　no　longer　had　his　hair　and　the　top　of　his　head　was　bronzed　by　the　Florida　sun。　Both　of　the　men　wore　white　dinner　jackets　and　midnight　blue　tuxedo　trousers。　I　acknowledged　the　introductions　by　nodding　my　head　and　shaking　hands。　The　two　wives　remained　seated　on　a　long；　curving　white　sofa；　and　didn't　offer　their　hands　to　be　shaken。
　　〃I　know　you're　all　eager　to　hear　Mr。　Mansfield　play；〃　Bernice　announced　to　the　room　at　large；　〃but　you'll　have　to　wait　until　he　has　a　drink　first。〃
　　Wele　news。　After　dropping　my　guitar　case　on　the　sofa　I　headed　for　the　bar。
　　〃There's　plenty　of　gin　if　you　don't　want　Scotch；〃　Tommy　suggested