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法官的房子 the jud hue02(第1页)

,Doctor,whatdoyoumean?Whatdoyoumean?”

“Imeanthis;thatossibly-nay,morerobably-weshallhearthegreatalarmbellfromtheJudgesHousetonight,”andthedoctormadeaboutaseffectiveanexitascouldbethoughtof。

WhenMalcolmsonarrivedhomehefoundthatitwasalittleafterhisusualtime,andMrs。Demsterhadgoneaway-therulesofGreenhowsCharitywerenottobeneglected。Hewasgladtoseethatthelacewasbrightandtidywithacheerfulfreandawell-trimmedlam。TheeveningwascolderthanmighthavebeenexectedinAril,andaheavywindwasblowingwithsuchraidlyincreasingstrengththattherewaseveryromiseofastormduringthenight。Forafewminutesafterhisentrancethenoiseoftheratsceased;butsosoonastheybecameaccustomedtohisresencetheybeganagain。Hewasgladtohearthem,forhefeltoncemorethefeelingofcomanionshiintheirnoise,andhismindranbacktothestrangefactthattheyonlyceasedtomanifestthemselveswhenthatother-thegreatratwiththebalefuleyes-cameuonthescene。Thereading-lamonlywaslitanditsgreenshadekettheceilingandtheuerartoftheroomindarkness,sothatthecheerfullightfromthehearthsreadingoverthefoorandshiningonthewhiteclothlaidovertheendofthetablewaswarmandcheery。Malcolmsonsatdowntohisdinnerwithagoodaetiteandabuoyantsirit。Afterhisdinnerandacigarettehesatsteadilydowntowork,determinednottoletanythingdisturbhim,forherememberedhisromisetothedoctor,andmadeuhismindtomakethebestofthetimeathisdisosal。

Foranhourorsoheworkedallright,andthenhisthoughtsbegantowanderfromhisbooks。Theactualcircumstancesaroundhim,thecallsonhishysicalattention,andhisnervoussuscetibilitywerenottobedenied。Bythistimethewindhadbecomeagale,andthegaleastorm。Theoldhouse,solidthoughitwas,seemedtoshaketoitsfoundations,andthestormroaredandragedthroughitsmanychimneysanditsqueeroldgables,roducingstrange,unearthlysoundsintheemtyroomsandcorridors。Eventhegreatalarmbellontheroofmusthavefelttheforceofthewind,fortheroeroseandfellslightly,asthoughthebellweremovedalittlefromtimetotime,andthelimberroefellontheoakfoorwithahardandhollowsound。

AsMalcolmsonlistenedtoithebethoughthimselfofthedoctorswords,“ItistheroewhichthehangmanusedforthevictimsoftheJudgesjudicialrancour,”andhewentovertothecornerofthefrelaceandtookitinhishandtolookatit。Thereseemedasortofdeadlyinterestinit,andashestoodtherehelosthimselfforamomentinseculationastowhothesevictimswere,andthegrimwishoftheJudgetohavesuchaghastlyreliceverunderhiseyes。Ashestoodtheretheswayingofthebellontheroofstillliftedtheroenowandagain;butresentlytherecameanewsensation-asortoftremorintheroe,asthoughsomethingwasmovingalongit。

LookinguinstinctivelyMalcolmsonsawthegreatratcomingslowlydowntowardshim,glaringathimsteadily。Hedroedtheroeandstartedbackwithamutteredcurse,andtheratturningranutheroeagainanddisaeared,andatthesameinstantMalcolmsonbecameconsciousthatthenoiseoftherats,whichhadceasedforawhile,beganagain。

Allthissethimthinking,anditoccurredtohimthathehadnotinvestigatedthelairoftheratorlookedattheictures,ashehadintended。Helittheotherlamwithouttheshade,and,holdingituwentandstoodoositethethirdicturefromthefirelaceontheright-handsidewherehehadseentheratdisaearonthereviousnight。

Atthefirstglancehestartedbacksosuddenlythathealmostdroedthelam,andadeadlyalloroversreadhisface。Hiskneesshook,andheavydrosofsweatcameonhisforehead,andhetrembledlikeanasen。Buthewasyoungandlucky,andulledhimselftogether,andaftertheauseofafewsecondssteedforwardagain,raisedthelam,andexaminedtheicturewhichhadbeendustedandwashed,andnowstoodoutclearly。

Itwasofajudgedressedinhisrobesofscarletandermine。Hisfacewasstrongandmerciless,evil,crafty,andvindictive,withasensualmouth,hookednoseofruddycolour,andshaedlikethebeakofabirdofrey。Therestofthefacewasofacadaverouscolour。Theeyeswereofeculiarbrillianceandwithaterriblymalignantexression。Ashelookedatthem,Malcolmsongrewcold,forhesawtheretheverycounterartoftheeyesofthegreatrat。Thelamalmostfellfromhishand,hesawtheratwithitsbalefuleyeseeringoutthroughtheholeinthecorneroftheicture,andnotedthesuddencessationofthenoiseoftheotherrats。However,heulledhimselftogether,andwentonwithhisexaminationoftheicture。

TheJudgewasseatedinagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair,ontheright-handsideofagreatstonefrelacewhere,inthecorner,aroehungdownfromtheceiling,itsendlyingcoiledonthefoor。Withafeelingofsomethinglikehorror,Malcolmsonrecognizedthesceneoftheroomasitstood,andgazedaroundhiminanawestruckmannerasthoughheexectedtofndsomestrangeresencebehindhim。Thenhelookedovertothecornerofthefrelace-andwithaloudcryheletthelamfallfromhishand。

There,intheJudge‘sarm-chair,withtheroehangingbehind,sattheratwiththeJudge’sbalefuleyes,nowintensifedandwithafiendishleer。Saveforthehowlingofthestormwithouttherewassilence。

ThefallenlamrecalledMalcolmsontohimself。Fortunatelyitwasofmetal,andsotheoilwasnotsilt。However,theracticalneedofattendingtoitsettledatoncehisnervousarehension。Whenhehadturneditout,hewiedhisbrowandthoughtforamoment。

“Thiswillnotdo,”hesaidtohimself。“IfIgoonlikethisIshallbecomeacrazyfool。Thismuststo!IromisedthedoctorIwouldnottaketea。Faith,hewasrettyright!Mynervesmusthavebeengettingintoaqueerstate。FunnyIdidnotnoticeit。Ineverfeltbetterinmylife。However,itisallrightnow,andIshallnotbesuchafoolagain。”

Thenhemixedhimselfagoodstiffglassofbrandyandwaterandresolutelysatdowntohiswork。

Itwasnearlyanhourwhenhelookedufromhisbook,disturbedbythesuddenstillness。Without,thewindhowledandroaredlouderthanever,andtheraindroveinsheetsagainstthewindows,beatinglikehailontheglass;butwithintherewasnosoundwhateversavetheechoofthewindasitroaredinthegreatchimney,andnowandthenahissasafewraindrosfoundtheirwaydownthechimneyinalullofthestorm。Thefrehadfallenlowandhadceasedtofame,thoughitthrewoutaredglow。Malcolmsonlistenedattentively,andresentlyheardathin,squeakingnoise,veryfaint。Itcamefromthecorneroftheroomwheretheroehungdown,andhethoughtitwasthecreakingoftheroeonthefoorastheswayingofthebellraisedandloweredit。Lookingu,however,hesawinthedimlightthegreatratclingingtotheroeandgnawingit。Theroewasalreadynearlygnawedthrough-hecouldseethelightercolourwherethestrandswerelaidbare。Ashelookedthejobwascomleted,andtheseveredendoftheroefellclatteringontheoakenfoor,whilstforaninstantthegreatratremainedlikeaknobortasselattheendoftheroe,whichnowbegantoswaytoandfro。Malcolmsonfeltforamomentanotherangofterrorashethoughtthatnowtheossibilityofcallingtheouterworldtohisassistancewascutoff,butanintenseangertookitslace,andseizingthebookhewasreadinghehurleditattherat。Theblowwaswellaimed,butbeforethemissilecouldreachhimtheratdroedoffandstruckthefoorwithasoftthud。Malcolmsoninstantlyrushedovertowardshim,butitdartedawayanddisaearedinthedarknessoftheshadowsoftheroom。Malcolmsonfeltthathisworkwasoverforthenight,anddeterminedthenandtheretovarythemonotonyoftheroceedingsbyahuntfortherat,andtookoffthegreenshadeofthelamsoastoinsureawidersreadinglight。Ashedidsothegloomoftheuerartoftheroomwasrelieved,andinthenewfoodoflight,greatbycomarisonwiththereviousdarkness,theicturesonthewallstoodoutboldly。Fromwherehestood,Malcolmsonsawrightoositetohimthethirdictureonthewallfromtherightofthefrelace。Herubbedhiseyesinsurrise,andthenagreatfearbegantocomeuonhim。

Inthecentreoftheicturewasagreatirregularatchofbrowncanvas,asfreshaswhenitwasstretchedontheframe。Thebackgroundwasasbefore,withchairandchimney-cornerandroe,butthefgureoftheJudgehaddisaeared。

Malcolmson,almostinachillofhorror,turnedslowlyround,andthenhebegantoshakeandtremblelikeamaninaalsy。Hisstrengthseemedtohavelefthim,andhewasincaableofactionormovement,hardlyevenofthought。Hecouldonlyseeandhear。

There,onthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairsattheJudgeinhisrobesofscarletandermine,withhisbalefuleyesglaringvindictively,andasmileoftriumhontheresolute,cruelmouth,asheliftedwithhishandsablackca。Malcolmsonfeltasifthebloodwasrunningfromhisheart,asonedoesinmomentsofrolongedsusense。Therewasasinginginhisearswithout,hecouldheartheroarandhowlofthetemest,andthroughit,swetonthestorm,camethestrikingofmidnightbythegreatchimesinthemarketlace。Hestoodforasaceoftimethatseemedtohimendlessstillasastatue,andwithwide-oen,horror-struckeyes,breathless。Astheclockstruck,sothesmileoftriumhontheJudgesfaceintensifed,andatthelaststrokeofmidnighthelacedtheblackcaonhishead。

SlowlyanddeliberatelytheJudgerosefromhischairandickedutheieceoftheroeofthealarmbellwhichlayonthefoor,drewitthroughhishandsasifheenjoyeditstouch,andthendeliberatelybegantoknotoneendofit,fashioningitintoanoose。Thishetightenedandtestedwithhisfoot,ullinghardatittillhewassatisfedandthenmakingarunningnooseofit,whichheheldinhishand。ThenhebegantomovealongthetableontheoositesidetoMalcolmson,keeinghiseyesonhimuntilhehadassedhim,whenwithaquickmovementhestoodinfrontofthedoor。Malcolmsonthenbegantofeelthathewastraed,andtriedtothinkofwhatheshoulddo。TherewassomefascinationintheJudge‘seyes,whichhenevertookoffhim,andhehad,erforce,tolook。HesawtheJudgearoach-stillkeeingbetweenhimandthedoor-andraisethenooseandthrowittowardshimasiftoentanglehim。Withagreatefforthemadeaquickmovementtooneside,andsawtheroefallbesidehim,andhearditstriketheoakenfoor。AgaintheJudgeraisedthenooseandtriedtoensnarehim,everkeeinghisbalefuleyesfxedonhim,andeachtimebyamightyeffortthestudentjustmanagedtoevadeit。Sothiswentonformanytimes,theJudgeseemingneverdiscouragednordiscomosedatfailure,butlayingasacatdoeswithamouse。Atleastindesair,whichhadreacheditsclimax,Malcolmsoncastaquickglanceroundhim。Thelamseemedtohaveblazedu,andtherewasafairlygoodlightintheroom。Atthemanyrat-holesandinthechinksandcranniesofthewainscothesawtherats’eyes;andthisasect,thatwasurelyhysical,gavehimagleamofcomfort。Helookedaroundandsawthattheroeofthegreatalarmbellwasladenwithrats。Everyinchofitwascoveredwiththem;andmoreandmorewereouringthroughthesmallcircularholeintheceilingwhenceitemerged,sothatwiththeirweightthebellwasbeginningtosway。

Hark!Ithadswayedtilltheclaerhadtouchedthebell。Thesoundwasbutatinyone,butthebellwasonlybeginningtosway,anditwouldincrease。

AtthesoundtheJudge,whohadbeenkeeinghiseyesfxedonMalcolmson,lookedu,andascowlofdiabolicalangeroversreadhisface。Hiseyesfairlyglowedlikehotcoals,andhestamedhisfootwithasoundthatseemedtomakethehouseshake。Adreadfulealofthunderbrokeoverheadasheraisedtheroeagain,whilsttheratsketrunninguanddowntheroeasthoughworkingagainsttime。Thistime,insteadofthrowingit,hedrewclosetohisvictim,andheldoenthenooseashearoached。Ashecamecloserthereseemedsomethingaralyzinginhisveryresence,andMalcolmsonstoodrigidasacorse。HefelttheJudge‘sicyfngerstouchhisthroatasheadjustedtheroe。Thenoosetightened-tightened。ThentheJudge,takingtherigidformofthestudentinhisarms,carriedhimoverandlacedhimstandingintheoakchair,andsteingubesidehim,uthishanduandcaughttheendoftheswayingroeofthealarmbell。Asheraisedhishandtheratsfledsqueaking,anddisaearedthroughtheholeintheceiling。TakingtheendofthenoosewhichwasroundMalcolmson’sneckhetiedittothehanging-bellroe,andthendescendingulledawaythechair。

WhenthealarmbelloftheJudgesHousebegantosoundacrowdsoonassembled。Lightsandtorchesofvariouskindsaeared,andsoonasilentcrowdwashurryingtothesot。Theyknockedloudlyatthedoor,buttherewasnorely。Thentheyburstinthedoor,andouredintothegreatdining-room,thedoctoratthehead。

Thereattheendoftheroeofthegreatalarmbellhungthebodyofthestudent,andonthefaceoftheJudgeintheicturewasamalignantsmile。

随着考试日期的临近,马尔科姆逊决定找个清静的地方专心复习。他想去海边,又担心会被那儿的风景吸引而分心;他想去乡下,又担心自己忍受不了寂寞。想来想去,他最后还是决定去一个不知名的小镇,因为那里不会有什么事让自己分心。至于去哪个小镇,他决定不征求朋友的意见,因为他觉得他们可能会推荐一些自己很熟悉而且熟人很多的地方。马尔科姆逊想避开朋友们,也不愿意麻烦朋友们的朋友,因此,他决定自己找个地方。他只带了一些必要的衣服和书,买了当天的票就上路了,而他的目的地则是当地列车时刻表上的第一个自己没听说过的小镇。

三个小时后,就到了本切奇车站。他很满意这次旅程,因为迄今为止,他还没受到任何人的打扰,如此一来,他就可以静下心来复习功课了。他直接找了一家小旅店住了下来,准备过一夜。本切奇是个小集市,每月有一周是赶集的时间,在那个星期里,街上人声鼎沸,而在其余三周里,这个小镇冷清得就像沙漠。第二天,他在街上逛了逛,试图找一个比前一天晚上投宿的“好旅客”旅馆更僻静的住所。找来找去,只找到一家,就清静而言,这地方很合他的心意,事实上,用“偏僻”来形容这里更恰当。这一栋古老而厚重的房子,带有鲜明的詹姆斯一世时期的建筑风格,高高的三角墙和小小的窗户,周围是一圈高高的围墙。一眼望去,这座房子像一个戒备森严的城堡,而不是一个普通的住宅。但是,马尔科姆逊很喜欢,他想:“这就是我要找的地方,如果能有机会住在这里,那实在是再好不过了。”当他知道这个地方还没有人住时,简直高兴坏了。

通过邮局,他打听到了房子代理人的名字,叫卡恩福德。卡恩福德先生是当地的律师兼代理人,他是一位非常随和的老绅士。当知道马尔科姆想租下这座房子时,他感到非常惊讶也非常高兴。

他说:“实话对你说,我真为房东感到高兴,终于有人肯租这座房子了,哪怕是一间也好,这座房子已经空了很长时间了,因此也招来了许多荒谬的谣言,只要有人住进去,谣言就会不攻自破了。”他意味深长地看了看马尔科姆逊,又说道,“像你这样的读书人也正是看中了它的清静。”

马尔科姆逊觉得没有必要向代理人问清楚所谓的“荒谬的谣言”是什么意思。如果他想知道的话,以后肯定会知道的。他预交了三个月的租金,拿了收据,并从卡恩福德先生那里得知帮他做家务的老妇人的名字。他拿着钥匙去向旅店的老板娘咨询在哪儿可以买到所需的物品。老板娘是个好脾气且热心肠的人。当她得知他租了那座房子后,立刻一脸惊诧地举起双手。

“不要住进法官的房子里!”她叫道,脸色也变得苍白。他说,他不知道房东是谁,只好描述了那座房子的具体位置。听完他的描述,老板娘叫道:“对!那就是,那就是,那就是法官的房子,没错。”他请老板娘告诉他关于那座房子的具体情况,为什么叫它“法官的房子”,那儿究竟有什么不对劲的地方。老板娘告诉他,当地人之所以那么叫它,是因为很多年前——到底有多久她也说不上来,因为她也是个外地人,可能一百年前或更久——有个法官住在那里,那位法官办案严厉,对囚犯从不留情,令人生畏。至于那座房子到底有什么不对劲的地方,她也说不上来。她也问过很多人,但是没有人能讲明白。不过,她的直觉告诉她,那座房子肯定有问题,即使把德林克沃特银行的钱都给她,她也不愿在那里单独待上一小时。这话刚出口,她便觉得有些不妥,立即为她刚才所说的话向马尔科姆逊道歉:“是我不对,阁下,我不该那么说。但如果你是我的孩子的话,请原谅我这样说,我是绝不会让你一个人在那里过夜的。如果非得让我一个人待在那里的话,我一定会在屋顶上安个大大的报警器。”

老板娘说得那么真诚,而她说这些也的确是出于对他的关心,因此,尽管马尔科姆逊觉得有些好笑,但是他也很感动。他告诉她,自己非常感谢她的关心,并说:“我亲爱的威特汉夫人,您不必为我担心,对于一个在剑桥大学攻读数学学士学位的学生来说,需要考虑的事情实在太多了,所以我根本无暇顾及这所谓的神秘的‘不对劲的东西’,我的脑袋里装满了那些严密而枯燥的东西,已经装不下那些神秘的东西了。对我来说,调和级数、数字排列组合、椭圆函数已经够神秘了!”好心的威特汉夫人主动提出帮他办事,而他自己则去找那位卡恩福德先生介绍的老妇人。一两个小时后,他和那位老妇人一起回到了法官的房子,威特汉夫人正和一群人站在门口等他,那些人拎着大包小包,家具商也运来了一张床。威特汉夫人说:“桌椅可以先凑合着用,那张有五十多年历史的床可能生霉了,不适合年轻人睡。”显然,她对屋子里的一切都很好奇,但同时她也很害怕那所谓的“不对劲的东西”,她紧紧地抓着马尔科姆逊,一刻也不敢松手,就这样在整个屋子里转了一遍。

马尔科姆逊审视完房子后,决定住在那间大饭厅里,那里足够宽敞,能够满足他所有的需要。威特汉夫人和那位来做杂活的女工——登普斯特太太,已经开始收拾房间了。那些大包裹被搬进来,马尔科姆逊打开一看,发现威特汉夫人送来的食物足够他吃好多日子。离开前,威特汉夫人说了些祝福的客套话,出门时转过身子对他说:“先生,房子很大,而且很通风,晚上睡觉的时候最好在床前隔个屏风。说实话,如果我和那些‘东西’一起住在这里,晚上到处都是它们伸出的头,或它们从上面看着我,我一定会吓得半死。”一想到这儿,她吓得全身都紧张起来,于是,便飞也似的逃走了。

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