the works of edgar allan poe-3-第68章

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to　have　been　just　knocking　down　some　member　of　the　company　for　a
song。

Opposite　him；　and　with　her　back　to　the　door；　was　a　lady　of　no　whit
the　less　extraordinary　character。　Although　quite　as　tall　as　the
person　just　described；　she　had　no　right　to　complain　of　his　unnatural
emaciation。　She　was　evidently　in　the　last　stage　of　a　dropsy；　and　her
figure　resembled　nearly　that　of　the　huge　puncheon　of　October　beer
which　stood；　with　the　head　driven　in；　close　by　her　side；　in　a　corner
of　the　chamber。　Her　face　was　exceedingly　round；　red；　and　full；　and
the　same　peculiarity；　or　rather　want　of　peculiarity；　attached　itself
to　her　countenance；　which　I　before　mentioned　in　the　case　of　the
president　　that　is　to　say；　only　one　feature　of　her　face　was
sufficiently　distinguished　to　need　a　separate　characterization：
indeed　the　acute　Tarpaulin　immediately　observed　that　the　same　remark
might　have　applied　to　each　individual　person　of　the　party；　every　one
of　whom　seemed　to　possess　a　monopoly　of　some　particular　portion　of
physiognomy。　With　the　lady　in　question　this　portion　proved　to　be　the
mouth。　Commencing　at　the　right　ear；　it　swept　with　a　terrific　chasm　to
the　left　　the　short　pendants　which　she　wore　in　either　auricle
continually　bobbing　into　the　aperture。　She　made；　however；　every
exertion　to　keep　her　mouth　closed　and　look　dignified；　in　a　dress
consisting　of　a　newly　starched　and　ironed　shroud　coming　up　close
under　her　chin；　with　a　crimpled　ruffle　of　cambric　muslin。

At　her　right　hand　sat　a　diminutive　young　lady　whom　she　appeared　to
patronise。　This　delicate　little　creature；　in　the　trembling　of　her
wasted　fingers；　in　the　livid　hue　of　her　lips；　and　in　the　slight
hectic　spot　which　tinged　her　otherwise　leaden　complexion；　gave
evident　indications　of　a　galloping　consumption。　An　air　of　gave
extreme　haut　ton；　however；　pervaded　her　whole　appearance；　she　wore　in
a　graceful　and　degage　manner；　a　large　and　beautiful　winding…sheet　of
the　finest　India　lawn；　her　hair　hung　in　ringlets　over　her　neck；　a
soft　smile　played　about　her　mouth；　but　her　nose；　extremely　long；
thin；　sinuous；　flexible　and　pimpled；　hung　down　far　below　her　under
lip；　and　in　spite　of　the　delicate　manner　in　which　she　now　and　then
moved　it　to　one　side　or　the　other　with　her　tongue；　gave　to　her
countenance　a　somewhat　equivocal　expression。

Over　against　her；　and　upon　the　left　of　the　dropsical　lady；　was　seated
a　little　puffy；　wheezing；　and　gouty　old　man；　whose　cheeks　reposed
upon　the　shoulders　of　their　owner；　like　two　huge　bladders　of　Oporto
wine。　With　his　arms　folded；　and　with　one　bandaged　leg　deposited　upon
the　table；　he　seemed　to　think　himself　entitled　to　some　consideration。
He　evidently　prided　himself　much　upon　every　inch　of　his　personal
appearance；　but　took　more　especial　delight　in　calling　attention　to
his　gaudy…colored　surtout。　This；　to　say　the　truth；　must　have　cost　him
no　little　money；　and　was　made　to　fit　him　exceedingly　well　　being
fashioned　from　one　of　the　curiously　embroidered　silken　covers
appertaining　to　those　glorious　escutcheons　which；　in　England　and
elsewhere；　are　customarily　hung　up；　in　some　conspicuous　place；　upon
the　dwellings　of　departed　aristocracy。

Next　to　him；　and　at　the　right　hand　of　the　president；　was　a　gentleman
in　long　white　hose　and　cotton　drawers。　His　frame　shook；　in　a
ridiculous　manner；　with　a　fit　of　what　Tarpaulin　called　〃the　horrors。〃
His　jaws；　which　had　been　newly　shaved；　were　tightly　tied　up　by　a
bandage　of　muslin；　and　his　arms　being　fastened　in　a　similar　way　at
the　wrists；　I　I　prevented　him　from　helping　himself　too　freely　to　the
liquors　upon　the　table；　a　precaution　rendered　necessary；　in　the
opinion　of　Legs；　by　the　peculiarly　sottish　and　wine…bibbing　cast　of
his　visage。　A　pair　of　prodigious　ears；　nevertheless；　which　it　was　no
doubt　found　impossible　to　confine；　towered　away　into　the　atmosphere
of　the　apartment；　and　were　occasionally　pricked　up　in　a　spasm；　at　the
sound　of　the　drawing　of　a　cork。

Fronting　him；　sixthly　and　lastly；　was　situated　a　singularly
stiff…looking　personage；　who；　being　afflicted　with　paralysis；　must；
to　speak　seriously；　have　felt　very　ill　at　ease　in　his　unaccommodating
habiliments。　He　was　habited；　somewhat　uniquely；　in　a　new　and　handsome
mahogany　coffin。　Its　top　or　head…piece　pressed　upon　the　skull　of　the
wearer；　and　extended　over　it　in　the　fashion　of　a　hood；　giving　to　the
entire　face　an　air　of　indescribable　interest。　Arm…holes　had　been　cut
in　the　sides；　for　the　sake　not　more　of　elegance　than　of　convenience；
but　the　dress；　nevertheless；　prevented　its　proprietor　from　sitting　as
erect　as　his　associates；　and　as　he　lay　reclining　against　his　tressel；
at　an　angle　of　forty…five　degrees；　a　pair　of　huge　goggle　eyes　rolled
up　their　awful　whites　towards　the　celling　in　absolute　amazement　at
their　own　enormity。

Before　each　of　the　party　lay　a　portion　of　a　skull；　which　was　used　as
a　drinking　cup。　Overhead　was　suspended　a　human　skeleton；　by　means　of
a　rope　tied　round　one　of　the　legs　and　fastened　to　a　ring　in　the
ceiling。　The　other　limb；　confined　by　no　such　fetter；　stuck　off　from
the　body　at　right　angles；　causing　the　whole　loose　and　rattling　frame
to　dangle　and　twirl　about　at　the　caprice　of　every　occasional　puff　of
wind　which　found　its　way　into　the　apartment。　In　the　cranium　of　this
hideous　thing　lay　quantity　of　ignited　charcoal；　which　threw　a　fitful
but　vivid　light　over　the　entire　scene；　while　coffins；　and　other　wares
appertaining　to　the　shop　of　an　undertaker；　were　piled　high　up　around
the　room；　and　against　the　windows；　preventing　any　ray　from　escaping
into　the　street。

At　sight　of　this　extraordinary　assembly；　and　of　their　still　more
extraordinary　paraphernalia；　our　two　seamen　did　not　conduct
themselves　with　that　degree　of　decorum　which　might　have　been
expected。　Legs；　leaning　against　the　wall　near　which　he　happened　to　be
standing；　dropped　his　lower　jaw　still　lower　than　usual；　and　spread
open　his　eyes　to　their　fullest　extent：　while　Hugh　Tarpaulin；　stooping
down　so　as　to　bring　his　nose　upon　a　level　with　the　table；　and
spreading　out　a　palm　upon　either　knee；　burst　into　a　long；　loud；　and
obstreperous　roar　of　very　ill…timed　and　immoderate　laughter。

Without；　however；　taking　offence　at　behaviour　so　excessively　rude；
the　tall　president　smiled　very　graciously　upon　the　intruders　
nodded　to　them　in　a　dignified　manner　with　his　head　of　sable　plumes　
and；　arising；　took　each　by　an　arm；　and　led　him　to　a　seat　which　some
others　of　the　company　had　placed　in　the　meantime　for　his
accommodation。　Legs　to　all　this　offered　not　the　slightest　resistance；
but　sat　down　as　he　was　directed；　while　tile　gallant　Hugh；　removing
his　coffin　tressel　from　its　station　near　the　head　of　the　table；　to
the　vicinity　of　the　little　consumptive　lady　in　the　winding　sheet；
plumped　down　by　her　side　in　high　glee；　and　pouring　out　a　skull　of　red
wine；　quaffed　it　to　their　better　acquaintance。　But　at　this
presumption　the　stiff　gentleman　in　the　coffin　seemed　exceedingly
nettled；　and　serious　consequences　might　have　ensued；　had　not　the
president；　rapping　upon　the　table　with　his　truncheon；　diverted　the
attention　of　all　present　to　the　following　speech：

〃It　becomes　our　duty　upon　the　present　happy　occasion〃　

〃Avast　there！〃　interrupted　Legs；　looking　very　serious；　〃avast　there　a
bit；　I　say；　and　tell　us　who　the　devil　ye　all　are；　and　what　business
ye　have　here；　rigged　off　like　the　foul　fiends；　and　swilling　the　snug
blue　ruin　stowed　away　for　the　winter　by　my　honest　shipmate；　Will
Wimble　the　undertaker！〃

At　this　unpardonable　piece　of　ill…breeding；　all　the　original　company
half　started　to　their　feet；　and　uttered　the　same　rapid　succession　of
wild　fiendish　shrieks　which　had　before　caught　the　attention　of　the
seamen。　The　president；　however；　was　the　first　to　recover　his
composure；　and　at　length；　turning　to　Legs　with　great　dignity；
recommenced：

〃Most　willingly　will　we　gratify　any　reasonable　curiosity　on　the　part
of　guests　so　illustrious；　unbidden　though　they　be。　Know　then　that　in
these　dominions　I　am　monarch；　and　here　rule　with　undivided　empire
under　the　title　of　'King　Pest　the　First。'

〃This　apartment；　which　you　no　doubt　profanely　suppose　to　be　the　shop
of　Will　Wimble　the　undertaker　　a　man　whom　we　know　not；　and　whos