the titan-第37章

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she　called　very　sweetly：　〃Oh；　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　won't　you　come　up　to　my　room　for　a　moment？　I　have　something　I　want　to　show　you。

Rita　responded　promptly。　　She　always　felt　it　incumbent　upon　her　to　be　very　nice　to　Aileen。

〃We　have　only　a　moment　to　stay；〃　she　replied；　archly　and　sweetly；　and　coming　out　in　the　hall；　〃but　I'll　come　up。〃

Aileen　stayed　to　see　her　go　first；　then　followed　up…stairs　swiftly；　surely；　entered　after　Rita；　and　closed　the　door。　　With　a　courage　and　rage　born　of　a　purely　animal　despair；　she　turned　and　locked　it；　then　she　wheeled　swiftly；　her　eyes　lit　with　a　savage　fire；　her　cheeks　pale；　but　later　aflame；　her　hands；　her　fingers　working　in　a　strange；　unconscious　way。

〃So；〃　she　said；　looking　at　Rita；　and　coming　toward　her　quickly　and　angrily；　〃you'll　steal　my　husband；　will　you？　You'll　live　in　a　secret　apartment；　will　you？　You'll　come　here　smiling　and　lying　to　me；　will　you？　You　beast！　You　cat！　You　prostitute！　I'll　show　you　now！　You　tow…headed　beast！　I　know　you　now　for　what　you　are！　I'll　teach　you　once　for　all！　Take　that；　and　that；　and　that！〃

Suiting　action　to　word；　Aileen　had　descended　upon　her　whirlwind；　animal　fashion；　striking；　scratching；　choking；　tearing　her　visitor's　hat　from　her　head；　ripping　the　laces　from　her　neck；　beating　her　in　the　face；　and　clutching　violently　at　her　hair　and　throat　to　choke　and　mar　her　beauty　if　she　could。　　For　the　moment　she　was　really　crazy　with　rage。

By　the　suddenness　of　this　onslaught　Rita　Sohlberg　was　taken　back　completely。　　It　all　came　so　swiftly；　so　terribly；　she　scarcely　realized　what　was　happening　before　the　storm　was　upon　her。　　There　was　no　time　for　arguments；　pleas；　anything。　　Terrified；　shamed；　nonplussed；　she　went　down　quite　limply　under　this　almost　lightning　attack。　　When　Aileen　began　to　strike　her　she　attempted　in　vain　to　defend　herself；　uttering　at　the　same　time　piercing　screams　which　could　be　heard　throughout　the　house。　　She　screamed　shrilly；　strangely；　like　a　wild　dying　animal。　　On　the　instant　all　her　fine；　civilized　poise　had　deserted　her。　　From　the　sweetness　and　delicacy　of　the　reception　atmospherethe　polite　cooings；　posturings；　and　mouthings　so　charming　to　contemplate；　so　alluring　in　hershe　had　dropped　on　the　instant　to　that　native　animal　condition　that　shows　itself　in　fear。　　Her　eyes　had　a　look　of　hunted　horror；　her　lips　and　cheeks　were　pale　and　drawn。　　She　retreated　in　a　staggering；　ungraceful　way；　she　writhed　and　squirmed；　screaming　in　the　strong　clutch　of　the　irate　and　vigorous　Aileen。

Cowperwood　entered　the　hall　below　just　before　the　screams　began。　　He　had　followed　the　Sohlbergs　almost　immediately　from　his　office；　and；　chancing　to　glance　in　the　reception…room；　he　had　observed　Sohlberg　smiling；　radiant；　an　intangible　air　of　self…ingratiating；　social；　and　artistic　sycophancy　about　him；　his　long　black　frock…coat　buttoned　smoothly　around　his　body；　his　silk　hat　still　in　his　hands。

〃Awe；　how　do　you　do；　Meezter　Cowperwood；〃　he　was　beginning　to　say；　his　curly　head　shaking　in　a　friendly　manner；　〃I'm　soa　glad　to　see　you　again〃　whenbut　who　can　imitate　a　scream　of　terror？　We　have　no　words；　no　symbols　even；　for　those　essential　sounds　of　fright　and　agony。　　They　filled　the　hall；　the　library；　the　reception…room；　the　distant　kitchen　even；　and　basement　with　a　kind　of　vibrant　terror。

Cowperwood；　always　the　man　of　action　as　opposed　to　nervous　cogitation；　braced　up　on　the　instant　like　taut　wire。　　What；　for　heaven's　sake；　could　that　be？　What　a　terrible　cry！　Sohlberg　the　artist；　responding　like　a　chameleon　to　the　various　emotional　complexions　of　life；　began　to　breathe　stertorously；　to　blanch；　to　lose　control　of　himself。

〃My　God！〃　he　exclaimed；　throwing　up　his　hands；　〃that's　Rita！　She's　up…stairs　in　your　wife's　room！　Something　must　have　happened。　　Oh〃　On　the　instant　he　was　quite　beside　himself；　terrified；　shaking；　almost　useless。　　Cowperwood；　on　the　contrary；　without　a　moment's　hesitation　had　thrown　his　coat　to　the　floor；　dashed　up　the　stairs；　followed　by　Sohlberg。　　What　could　it　be？　Where　was　Aileen？　As　he　bounded　upward　a　clear　sense　of　something　untoward　came　over　him；　it　was　sickening；　terrifying。　　Scream！　Scream！　Scream！　came　the　sounds。　　〃Oh；　my　God！　don't　kill　me！　Help！　Help！〃　SCREAMthis　last　a　long；　terrified；　ear…piercing　wail。

Sohlberg　was　about　to　drop　from　heart　failure；　he　was　so　frightened。　His　face　was　an　ashen　gray。　　Cowperwood　seized　the　door…knob　vigorously　and；　finding　the　door　locked；　shook；　rattled；　and　banged　at　it。

〃Aileen！〃　he　called；　sharply。　　〃Aileen！　What's　the　matter　in　there？　Open　this　door；　Aileen！〃

〃Oh；　my　God！　Oh；　help！　help！　Oh；　mercyo…o…o…o…oh！〃　It　was　the　moaning　voice　of　Rita。

〃I'll　show　you；　you　she…devil！〃　he　heard　Aileen　calling。　　〃I'll　teach　you；　you　beast！　You　cat；　you　prostitute！　There！　there！　there！〃

〃Aileen！〃　he　called；　hoarsely。　　〃Aileen！〃　Then；　getting　no　response；　and　the　screams　continuing；　he　turned　angrily。

〃Stand　back！〃　he　exclaimed　to　Sohlberg；　who　was　moaning　helplessly。　〃Get　me　a　chair；　get　me　a　tableanything。〃　The　butler　ran　to　obey；　but　before　he　could　return　Cowperwood　had　found　an　implement。　〃Here！〃　he　said；　seizing　a　long；　thin；　heavily　carved　and　heavily　wrought　oak　chair　which　stood　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　on　the　landing。　　He　whirled　it　vigorously　over　his　head。　　Smash！　The　sound　rose　louder　than　the　screams　inside。

Smash！　The　chair　creaked　and　almost　broke；　but　the　door　did　not　give。

Smash！　The　chair　broke　and　the　door　flew　open。　　He　had　knocked　the　lock　loose　and　had　leaped　in　to　where　Aileen；　kneeling　over　Rita　on　the　floor；　was　choking　and　beating　her　into　insensibility。　Like　an　animal　he　was　upon　her。

〃Aileen；〃　he　shouted；　fiercely；　in　a　hoarse；　ugly；　guttural　voice；　〃you　fool！　You　idiotlet　go！　What　the　devil's　the　matter　with　you？　What　are　you　trying　to　do？　Have　you　lost　your　mind？you　crazy　idiot！〃

He　seized　her　strong　hands　and　ripped　them　apart。　　He　fairly　dragged　her　back；　half　twisting　and　half　throwing　her　over　his　knee；　loosing　her　clutching　hold。　　She　was　so　insanely　furious　that　she　still　struggled　and　cried；　saying：　〃Let　me　at　her！　Let　me　at　her！　I'll　teach　her！　Don't　you　try　to　hold　me；　you　dog！　I'll　show　you；　too；　you　bruteoh〃

〃Pick　up　that　woman；〃　called　Cowperwood；　firmly；　to　Sohlberg　and　the　butler；　who　had　entered。　　〃Get　her　out　of　here　quick！　My　wife　has　gone　crazy。　　Get　her　out　of　here；　I　tell　you！　This　woman　doesn't　know　what　she's　doing。　　Take　her　out　and　get　a　doctor。　　What　sort　of　a　hell's　melee　is　this；　anyway？〃

〃Oh；〃　moaned　Rita；　who　was　torn　and　fainting；　almost　unconscious　from　sheer　terror。

〃I'll　kill　her！〃　screamed　Aileen。　　〃I'll　murder　her！　I'll　murder　you　too；　you　dog！　Oh〃she　began　striking　at　him〃I'll　teach　you　how　to　run　around　with　other　women；　you　dog；　you　brute！〃

Cowperwood　merely　gripped　her　hands　and　shook　her　vigorously；　forcefully。

〃What　the　devil　has　got　into　you；　anyway；　you　fool？〃　he　said　to　her；　bitterly；　as　they　carried　Rita　out。　　〃What　are　you　trying　to　do；　anywaymurder　her？　Do　you　want　the　police　to　come　in　here？　Stop　your　screaming　and　behave　yourself；　or　I'll　shove　a　handkerchief　in　your　mouth！　Stop；　I　tell　you！　Stop！　Do　you　hear　me？　This　is　enough；　you　fool！〃　He　clapped　his　hand　over　her　mouth；　pressing　it　tight　and　forcing　her　back　against　him。　　He　shook　her　brutally；　angrily。　　He　was　very　strong。　　〃Now　will　you　stop；〃　he　insisted；　〃or　do　you　want　me　to　choke　you　quiet？　I　will；　if　you　don't。　　You're　out　of　your　mind。　　Stop；　I　tell　you！　So　this　is　the　way　you　carry　on　when　things　don't　go　to　suit　you？〃　She　was　sobbing；　struggling；　moaning；　half　screaming；　quite　beside　herself。

〃Oh；　you　crazy　fool！〃　he　said；　swinging　her　round；　and　with　an　effort　getting　out　a　handkerchief；　which　he　forced　over　her　face　and　in　her　mouth。　　〃There；〃　he　said；　relievedly；　〃now　will　you　shut　up？〃　holding　her　tight　in　an　iron　grip；　he　let　her　struggle　and　turn；　quite　ready　to　put　an　end　to　her　breathing　if　necessary。

Now　that　he　had　conquered　her；　he　continued　to　hold　her　tightly；　stooping　beside　her　on　one　knee；　listening　and　meditating。　　Hers　was　surely　a　terrible　passion。　　From　some　points　of　view　he　could　not　blame　her。　　Great　was　her　provocation；　great　her　love。　　He　knew　her　disposition　well　enough　to　have　anticipated