the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第31章
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！
but a few lines of it when they perceived that it was a diary。 With a
vanity almost inconceivable to those who have not reflected upon the
criminal nature； Loge had written here the tale of his own life； for his own
reading。 He had written it in loving detail。 It was； in fact； the book in
which he looked when he wished to admire himself。
〃It is odd；〃 said Cleggett； 〃that so clever a man should write down his
own story in this way。〃
〃This book；〃 said Farnsworth； 〃would be a boon to a psychologist
interested in criminology。 You say it is odd。 But with a certain type of
criminal； it is almost usual。 The human soul is full of strange impulses。
One of the strangest is towards just this sort of record。 Cunning； and the
vanity which destroys cunning； often exist side by side。 The criminal of
a certain type almost worships himself； he is profoundly impressed with
his own cleverness。 He is a braggart； he swaggers； he defeats himself。 A
strange idiocy mingles with his cleverness。〃
〃Even people who are not criminals do just that sort of thing；〃 said
104
… Page 105…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Lady Agatha。 〃Look at Samuel Pepys。 He was one of the most timid of
beings。 And he valued his place in the world mightily。 But he wrote
down the story of his own disgrace in his diaryit had to come out of him！
And then； timid and cautious as he was； he did not destroy the book！ He
let it get out of his possession。〃
It was an evil； a monstrous personality which leered out of Logan
Black's diary。 Boastful of his own iniquity； swaggering in his wickedness；
fatuous with self…love； he recounted his deeds with gusto and with
particularity。 They did not read a quarter of this terrible autobiography at
the time； but they read enough to see the man in the process of building up
a criminal organization of his own； with ramifications of the most
surprising nature。
〃This man；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； with a shudder； 〃actually has the
ambition to be the head of nothing less than a crime trust。〃
〃It seems to be something more than an ambition；〃 said Cleggett。 〃It
seems to be almost an accomplished fact。〃
〃Ugh！〃 said Lady Agatha； with a gesture of disgust； 〃he's like a great
horrid spider spinning webs！〃
Interested in anarchy only on its practical side； as the paid dynamiter
of the inner circle of radicals； Logan Black in his diary jeered at and
mocked the cause he served。 And more than that； the man seemed to take
a perverted pleasure in attaching to himself young enthusiasts of the
radical type； eager to follow him as the disinterested leader of a group of
Reds； and then betraying them into the most sordid sort of crime。
Cleggett foundand could imagine the grimace of malevolent satisfaction
with which it had been writtenthis note：
Heinrich is about ready to leave off talking his cant of
universal brotherhood； and make a little easy money in the way I
have shown him。 It will be interesting to see what happens in
side of Heinrich when he realizes he is not an idealist； but a
criminal。 Will he stick to me on the new lay？ But those
Germans are so sentimental he may commit suicide。
105
… Page 106…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Cleggett recalled the manhandling Heinrich had received。 A little
farther along he came upon this entry： The Italian…American boy
is a find。 Jones and Giuseppe！ Puritan father； Italian motherand he
worships me！ It will be a test for my personal magnetism； the handling
of Gieseppe Jones will。 He hates a thief worse than the devil hates
holy water。 If I could make him steal for me； I would know that I could
do anything。
〃That's our young poet in the forecastle！〃 said Cleggett。 〃I wonder if
Loge still held him。〃 And then as the memory of the boy's ravings came
to him he mused： 〃Yeshe held the boy！ That is what the fellow meant
in his delirium。 Do you remember that he kept saying： 'I'm a
revolutionist； not a crook！'？ And yet he continued to obey Loge！〃
〃Is it not strange；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃that the man should take such
pride in working ruin？〃
All three were silent for a space。 And then they looked at each other
with a shiver。 The sense of the strong and sinister personality of Logan
Black struck on their spirits like a bleak wind。
Cleggett was the first to recover himself。
〃God willing；〃 he said solemnly； 〃I will bring that man to justice
personally！〃
Just then two bells struck。 It had taken them more time than they
had realized to make even a partial examination of the contents of the box。
Cleggett； when the bell sounded； looked at his watch to see what time it
washe was still a little unfamiliar with the nautical system。
〃He will go to any length to get this back into his possession；〃 said
Cleggett； as he dumped the heap of incriminating evidence back into the
box and began to nail the boards on again。
〃Any length；〃 echoed the Doctor。
Pat upon the thought came the sound of taxicabs without。 They went
on deck and saw a sinister procession rolling by。 It consisted of three
machines； and there were three men in each cab。 Loge and Pierre were in
the foremost one。 None of the company vouchsafed so much as a glance
106
… Page 107…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
in the direction of the Jasper B。 as the cabs whirled past towards Morris's。
It was undoubtedly a reinforcement of gunmen。
〃Ah！〃 said Cleggett； pointing to them。 〃The real battle is about to
begin！ They are making ready for the attack！〃
107
… Page 108…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XIV
CLEGGETT STANDS BY HIS
SHIP
Cleggett did not fear （or rather； expect； since there was very little that
Cleggett feared） an attack until well after nightfall。 Nevertheless； he
began to prepare for it at once。 He called the entire ship's company aft；
with the exception of Miss Medley； who was on duty with Giuseppe Jones。
〃My friendsfor I hope we stand in the relation of friends as well as
that of commander and crewI have every reason to expect that the enemy
will make a demonstration in force sometime during the night；〃 he said。
〃We have opposed to us the leader of a dangerous and powerful criminal
organization。 He is； in fact； the president of a crime trust。 He will stop
at nothing to compass the destruction of the Jasper B。 and all on board her。
My quarrel with him has become； in a sense； personal。 I have no right to
ask you to share my risk unless you choose to do so voluntarily。
Th
