told after supper(晚饭后的一席话)-第6章
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my brother…in…law for not believing in him at first； while others held that
the apparition was probably that of some deceased local plumber and
glazier； who would naturally take an interest in seeing a house knocked
about and spoilt。 But nobody knew anything for certain。
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INTERLUDE
We had some more punch； and then the curate told us a story。
I could not make head or tail of the curate's story； so I cannot retail it
to you。 We none of us could make head or tail of that story。 It was a
good story enough； so far as material went。 There seemed to be an
enormous amount of plot； and enough incident to have made a dozen
novels。 I never before heard a story containing so much incident； nor one
dealing with so many varied characters。
I should say that every human being our curate had ever known or met；
or heard of； was brought into that story。 There were simply hundreds of
them。 Every five seconds he would introduce into the tale a completely
fresh collection of characters accompanied by a brand new set of
incidents。
This was the sort of story it was：…
〃Well； then； my uncle went into the garden； and got his gun； but； of
course； it wasn't there； and Scroggins said he didn't believe it。〃
〃Didn't believe what？ Who's Scroggins？〃
〃Scroggins！ Oh； why he was the other man； you knowit was wife。〃
〃WHAT was his wifewhat's SHE got to do with it？〃
〃Why； that's what I'm telling you。 It was she that found the hat。 She'd
come up with her cousin to Londonher cousin was my sister… in…law； and
the other niece had married a man named Evans； and Evans； after it was
all over； had taken the box round to Mr。 Jacobs'； because Jacobs' father had
seen the man； when he was alive； and when he was dead； Joseph〃
〃Now look here； never you mind Evans and the box； what's become of
your uncle and the gun？〃
〃The gun！ What gun？〃
〃Why； the gun that your uncle used to keep in the garden； and that
wasn't there。 What did he do with it？ Did he kill any of these people
with itthese Jacobses and Evanses and Scrogginses and Josephses？
Because； if so； it was a good and useful work； and we should enjoy
hearing about it。〃
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〃Nooh nohow could he？he had been built up alive in the wall；
you know； and when Edward IV spoke to the abbot about it； my sister said
that in her then state of health she could not and would not； as it was
endangering the child's life。 So they christened it Horatio； after her own
son； who had been killed at Waterloo before he was born； and Lord Napier
himself said〃
〃Look here； do you know what you are talking about？〃 we asked him
at this point。
He said 〃No；〃 but he knew it was every word of it true； because his
aunt had seen it herself。 Whereupon we covered him over with the
tablecloth； and he went to sleep。
And then Uncle told us a story。
Uncle said his was a real story。
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THE GHOST OF THE BLUE
CHAMBER （My Uncle's Story）
〃I don't want to make you fellows nervous；〃 began my uncle in a
peculiarly impressive； not to say blood…curdling； tone of voice； 〃and if you
would rather that I did not mention it； I won't； but； as a matter of fact； this
very house； in which we are now sitting； is haunted。〃
〃You don't say that！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Coombes。
〃What's the use of your saying I don't say it when I have just said it？〃
retorted my uncle somewhat pettishly。 〃You do talk so foolishly。 I tell
you the house is haunted。 Regularly on Christmas Eve the Blue Chamber
＇they called the room next to the nursery the 'blue chamber；' at my uncle's；
most of the toilet service being of that shade＇ is haunted by the ghost of a
sinful mana man who once killed a Christmas wait with a lump of coal。〃
〃How did he do it？〃 asked Mr。 Coombes； with eager anxiousness。
〃Was it difficult？〃
〃I do not know how he did it；〃 replied my uncle； 〃he did not explain
the process。 The wait had taken up a position just inside the front gate；
and was singing a ballad。 It is presumed that； when he opened his mouth
for B flat； the lump of coal was thrown by the sinful man from one of the
windows； and that it went down the wait's throat and choked him。〃
〃You want to be a good shot； but it is certainly worth trying；〃
murmured Mr。 Coombes thoughtfully。
〃But that was not his only crime； alas！〃 added my uncle。 〃Prior to
that he had killed a solo cornet…player。〃
〃No！ Is that really a fact？〃 exclaimed Mr。 Coombes。
〃Of course it's a fact；〃 answered my uncle testily； 〃at all events； as
much a fact as you can expect to get in a case of this sort。
〃How very captious you are this evening。 The circumstantial
evidence was overwhelming。 The poor fellow； the cornet…player； had
been in the neighbourhood barely a month。 Old Mr。 Bishop； who kept
the 'Jolly Sand Boys' at the time； and from whom I had the story； said he
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had never known a more hard…working and energetic solo cornet…player。
He； the cornet…player； only knew two tunes； but Mr。 Bishop said that the
man could not have played with more vigour； or for more hours in a day； if
he had known forty。 The two tunes he did play were 〃Annie Laurie〃 and
〃Home； Sweet Home〃； and as regarded his performance of the former
melody； Mr。 Bishop said that a mere child could have told what it was
meant for。
〃This musicianthis poor； friendless artist used to come regularly and
play in this street just opposite for two hours every evening。 One evening
he was seen； evidently in response to an invitation； going into this very
house； BUT WAS NEVER SEEN COMING OUT OF IT！〃
〃Did the townsfolk try offering any reward for his recovery？〃 asked
Mr。 Coombes。
〃Not a ha'penny；〃 replied my uncle。
〃Another summer；〃 continued my uncle； 〃a German band visited here；
intendingso they announced on their arrivalto stay till the autumn。
〃On the second day from their arrival； the whole company； as fine and
healthy a body of men as one could wish to see； were invited to dinner by
this sinful man； and； after spending the whole of the next twenty…four
hours in bed； left the town a broken and dyspeptic crew； the parish doctor；
who had attended them； giving it as his opinion that it was doubtful if they
would； any of them； be fit to play an air again。〃
〃Youyou don't know the recipe； do you？〃 asked Mr。 Coombes。
〃Unfortunately I do not；〃 replied my uncle； 〃but the chief ingredient
was said to have been railway refreshment…room pork…pie。
〃I forget the man's other crimes；〃 my uncle went on； 〃I used to know
them all at one time； but my memory is not what it was。 I do n
