villa rubein and other stories-第54章
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doctor told me to make my will；〃 he said； 〃I hate a fellow who tells
you to make your will。 My appetite's good； I ate a partridge last
night。 I'm all the better for eating。 He told me to leave off
champagne！ I eat a good breakfast。 I'm not eighty。 You're the same
age； James。 You look very shaky。〃
James Forsyte said： 〃You ought to have another opinion。 Have Blank；
he's the first man now。 I had him for Emily； cost me two hundred
guineas。 He sent her to Homburg； that's the first place now。 The
Prince was thereeverybody goes there。〃
Swithin Forsyte answered： 〃I don't get any sleep at night； now I
can't get out； and I've bought a new carriagegave a pot of money
for it。 D' you ever have bronchitis？ They tell me champagne's
dangerous； it's my belief I couldn't take a better thing。〃
James Forsyte rose。
〃You ought to have another opinion。 Emily sent her love； she would
have come in； but she had to go to Niagara。 Everybody goes there；
it's the place now。 Rachel goes every morning： she overdoes it
she'll be laid up one of these days。 There's a fancy ball there to…
night； the Duke gives the prizes。〃
Swithin Forsyte said angrily： 〃I can't get things properly cooked
here； at the club I get spinach decently done。〃 The bed…clothes
jerked at the tremor of his legs。
James Forsyte replied： 〃You must have done well with Tintos； you must
have made a lot of money by them。 Your ground…rents must be falling
in； too。 You must have any amount you don't know what to do with。〃
He mouthed the words； as if his lips were watering。
Swithin Forsyte glared。 〃Money！〃 he said； 〃my doctor's bill's
enormous。〃
James Forsyte stretched out a cold； damp hand 〃Goodbye！ You ought to
have another opinion。 I can't keep the horses waiting： they're a new
pairstood me in three hundred。 You ought to take care of yourself。
I shall speak to Blank about you。 You ought to have himeverybody
says he's the first man。 Good…bye！〃
Swithin Forsyte continued to stare at the ceiling。 He thought： 'A
poor thing； James！ a selfish beggar！ Must be worth a couple of
hundred thousand！' He wheezed； meditating on life。。。。
He was ill and lonely。 For many years he had been lonely； and for
two years ill； but as he had smoked his first cigar； so he would live
his life…stoutly； to its predestined end。 Every day he was driven to
the club； sitting forward on the spring cushions of a single
brougham； his hands on his knees； swaying a little； strangely solemn。
He ascended the steps into that marble hallthe folds of his chin
wedged into the aperture of his collarwalking squarely with a
stick。 Later he would dine； eating majestically； and savouring his
food； behind a bottle of champagne set in an ice…pailhis waistcoat
defended by a napkin； his eyes rolling a little or glued in a stare
on the waiter。 Never did he suffer his head or back to droop； for it
was not distinguished so to do。
Because he was old and deaf； he spoke to no one； and no one spoke to
him。 The club gossip； an Irishman； said to each newcomer： 〃Old
Forsyte！ Look at 'um！ Must ha' had something in his life to sour
'um！〃 But Swithin had had nothing in his life to sour him。
For many days now he had lain in bed in a room exuding silver；
crimson； and electric light； smelling of opopanax and of cigars。 The
curtains were drawn； the firelight gleamed； on a table by his bed
were a jug of barley…water and the Times。 He made an attempt to
read； failed； and fell again to thinking。 His face with its square
chin； looked like a block of pale leather bedded in the pillow。 It
was lonely！ A woman in the room would have made all the difference！
Why had he never married？ He breathed hard； staring froglike at the
ceiling； a memory had come into his mind。 It was a long time ago
forty odd yearsbut it seemed like yesterday。。。。
It happened when he was thirty…eight； for the first and only time in
his life travelling on the Continent； with his twin…brother James and
a man named Traquair。 On the way from Germany to Venice； he had
found himself at the Hotel Goldene Alp at Salzburg。 It was late
August； and weather for the gods： sunshine on the walls and the
shadows of the vine…leaves； and at night； the moonlight； and again on
the walls the shadows of the vine…leaves。 Averse to the suggestions
of other people； Swithin had refused to visit the Citadel； he had
spent the day alone in the window of his bedroom； smoking a
succession of cigars； and disparaging the appearance of the passers…
by。 After dinner he was driven by boredom into the streets。 His
chest puffed out like a pigeon's； and with something of a pigeon's
cold and inquiring eye； he strutted； annoyed at the frequency of
uniforms； which seemed to him both needless and offensive。 His
spleen rose at this crowd of foreigners； who spoke an unintelligible
language； wore hair on their faces； and smoked bad tobacco。 'A queer
lot！' he thought。 The sound of music from a cafe attracted him； he
walked in； vaguely moved by a wish for the distinction of adventure；
without the trouble which adventure usually brought with it； spurred
too； perhaps； by an after…dinner demon。 The cafe was the bier…halle
of the 'Fifties； with a door at either end； and lighted by a large
wooden lantern。 On a small dais three musicians were fiddling。
Solitary men； or groups； sat at some dozen tables； and the waiters
hurried about replenishing glasses； the air was thick with smoke。
Swithin sat down。 〃Wine！〃 he said sternly。 The astonished waiter
brought him wine。 Swithin pointed to a beer glass on the table。
〃Here！〃 he said； with the same ferocity。 The waiter poured out the
wine。 'Ah！' thought Swithin； 'they can understand if they like。' A
group of officers close by were laughing； Swithin stared at them
uneasily。 A hollow cough sounded almost in his ear。 To his left a
man sat reading； with his elbows on the corners of a journal； and his
gaunt shoulders raised almost to his eyes。 He had a thin； long nose；
broadening suddenly at the nostrils； a black…brown beard； spread in a
savage fan over his chest； what was visible of the face was the
colour of old parchment。 A strange； wild； haughty…looking creature！
Swithin observed his clothes with some displeasurethey were the
clothes of a journalist or strolling actor。 And yet he was
impressed。 This was singular。 How could he be impressed by a fellow
in such clothes！ The man reached out a hand； covered with black
hairs； and took up a tumbler that contained a dark…coloured fluid。
'Brandy！' thought Swithin。 The crash of a falling chair startled
himhis neighbour had risen。 He was of immense height； and very
thin； his great beard seemed to splash away from his mouth； he was
glaring at the group of officers； and speaking。 Swithin made out two
words： 〃Hunde！ Deutsche Hunde！〃 'Hounds！ Dutch hounds！' he thought：
'Rather strong！' One of the officers had jumped up； and now drew his
sword。 The tall man swung his chair up； and brought it down with a
thud。 Everybody round started up and closed on him。 The tall man
cried out； 〃To me； Magyars！〃
Swithin grinned。 The tall man fighting such odds excited his
unwilling admiration； he had a momentary impulse to go to his
assistance。 'Only get a broken nose！' he thought； and looked for a
safe corner。 But at that moment a thrown lemon struck him on the
jaw。 He jumped out of his chair and rushed at the officers。 The
Hungarian； swinging his chair； threw him a look of gratitudeSwithin
glowed with momentary admiration of himself。 A sword blade grazed
hisarm； he felt a sudden dislike of the Hungarian。 'This is too
much；' he thought； and； catching up a chair； flung it at the wooden
lantern。 There was a crashfaces and swords vanished。 He struck a
match； and by the light of it bolted for the door。 A second later he
was in the street。
II
A voice said in English； 〃God bless you； broth
