第 6 节
作者:想聊      更新:2022-08-26 22:12      字数:9320
  est of it。〃
  〃Yes; indeed;〃 said the lady; in that subdued manner with which one comments upon a well…known accident; 〃it must have been a great shock to you to be so suddenly deprived of so large a fortune。〃
  〃Not only that; but to find that the black sheep who got it all sailed for India within a week of my uncle's death!  Lady Devine got a letter from him on the day of the funeral to say that he had taken his passage in the Hydaspes for Calcutta; and never meant to come back again!〃
  〃Sir Richard Devine left no other children?〃
  〃No; only this mysterious Dick; whom I never saw; but who must have hated me。〃
  〃Dear; dear!  These family quarrels are dreadful things。 Poor Lady Devine; to lose in one day a husband and a son!〃
  〃And the next morning to hear of the murder of her cousin! You know that we are connected with the Bellasis family。 My aunt's father married a sister of the second Lord Bellasis。〃
  〃Indeed。  That was a horrible murder。  So you think that the dreadful man you pointed out the other day did it?〃
  〃The jury seemed to think not;〃 said Mr。 Frere; with a laugh; 〃but I don't know anybody else who could have a motive for it。 However; I'll go on deck and have a smoke。〃
  〃I wonder what induced that old hunks of a shipbuilder to try to cut off his only son in favour of a cub of that sort;〃 said Surgeon Pine to Captain Vickers as the broad back of Mr。 Maurice Frere disappeared up the companion。
  〃Some boyish follies abroad; I believe; self…made men are always impatient of extravagance。  But it is hard upon Frere。  He is not a bad sort of fellow for all his roughness; and when a young man finds that an accident deprives him of a quarter of a million of money and leaves him without a sixpence beyond his commission in a marching regiment under orders for a convict settlement; he has some reason to rail against fate。〃
  〃How was it that the son came in for the money after all; then?〃
  〃Why; it seems that when old Devine returned from sending for his lawyer to alter his will; he got a fit of apoplexy; the result of his rage; I suppose; and when they opened his room door in the morning they found him dead。〃
  〃And the son's away on the sea somewhere;〃 said Mr。 Vickers 〃and knows nothing of his good fortune。  It is quite a romance。〃
  〃I am glad that Frere did not get the money;〃 said Pine; grimly sticking to his prejudice; 〃I have seldom seen a face I liked less; even among my yellow jackets yonder。〃
  〃Oh dear; Dr。  Pine!  How can you?〃 interjected Mrs。 Vickers。 〃'Pon my soul; ma'am; some of them have mixed in good society; I can tell you。  There's pickpockets and swindlers down below who have lived in the best company。〃
  〃Dreadful wretches!〃 cried Mrs。 Vickers; shaking out her skirts。 〃John; I will go on deck。〃
  At the signal; the party rose。
  〃Ecod; Pine;〃 says Captain Blunt; as the two were left alone together; 〃you and I are always putting our foot into it!〃
  〃Women are always in the way aboard ship;〃 returned Pine。
  〃Ah!  Doctor; you don't mean that; I know;〃 said a rich soft voice at his elbow。
  It was Sarah Purfoy emerging from her cabin。
  〃Here is the wench!〃 cries Blunt。  〃We are talking of your eyes; my dear。〃 〃Well; they'll bear talking about; captain; won't they?〃 asked she; turning them full upon him。
  〃By the Lord; they will!〃 says Blunt; smacking his hand on the table。 〃They're the finest eyes I've seen in my life; and they've got the reddest lips under 'm that〃
  〃Let me pass; Captain Blunt; if you please。  Thank you; doctor。〃
  And before the admiring commander could prevent her; she modestly swept out of the cuddy。
  〃She's a fine piece of goods; eh?〃 asked Blunt; watching her。 〃A spice o' the devil in her; too。〃
  Old Pine took a huge pinch of snuff。
  〃Devil!  I tell you what it is; Blunt。  I don't know where Vickers picked her up; but I'd rather trust my life with the worst of those ruffians 'tween decks; than in her keeping; if I'd done her an injury。〃
  Blunt laughed。
  〃I don't believe she'd think much of sticking a man; either!〃 he said; rising。  〃But I must go on deck; doctor。〃 Pine followed him more slowly。  〃I don't pretend to know much about women;〃 he said to himself; 〃but that girl's got a story of her own; or I'm much mistaken。  What brings her on board this ship as lady's…maid is more than I can fathom。〃 And as; sticking his pipe between his teeth; he walked down the now deserted deck to the main hatchway; and turned to watch the white figure gliding up and down the poop…deck; he saw it joined by another and a darker one; he muttered; 〃She's after no good; I'll swear。〃
  At that moment his arm was touched by a soldier in undress uniform; who had come up the hatchway。  〃What is it?〃
  The man drew himself up and saluted。
  〃If you please; doctor; one of the prisoners is taken sick; and as the dinner's over; and he's pretty bad; I ventured to disturb your honour。〃
  〃You ass!〃 says Pinewho; like many gruff men; had a good heart under his rough shell〃why didn't you tell me before?〃 and knocking the ashes out of his barely…lighted pipe; he stopped that implement with a twist of paper and followed his summoner down the hatchway。
  In the meantime the woman who was the object of the grim old fellow's suspicions was enjoying the comparative coolness of the night air。 Her mistress and her mistress's daughter had not yet come out of their cabin; and the men had not yet finished their evening's tobacco。 The awning had been removed; the stars were shining in the moonless sky; the poop guard had shifted itself to the quarter…deck; and Miss Sarah Purfoy was walking up and down the deserted poop; in close t阾e…?t阾e with no less a person than Captain Blunt himself。 She had passed and repassed him twice silently; and at the third turn the big fellow; peering into the twilight ahead somewhat uneasily; obeyed the glitter of her great eyes; and joined her。
  〃You weren't put out; my wench;〃 he asked; 〃at what I said to you below?〃
  She affected surprise。
  〃What do you mean?〃
  〃Why; at myat what Iat my rudeness; there!  For I was a bit rude; I admit。〃
  〃I?  Oh dear; no。  You were not rude。〃
  〃Glad you think so!〃 returned Phineas Blunt; a little ashamed at what looked like a confession of weakness on his part。
  〃You would have beenif I had let you。〃
  〃How do you know?〃
  〃I saw it in your face。  Do you think a woman can't see in a man's face when he's going to insult her?〃
  〃Insult you; hey!  Upon my word!〃
  〃Yes; insult me。  You're old enough to be my father; Captain Blunt; but you've no right to kiss me; unless I ask you。〃
  〃Haw; haw!〃 laughed Blunt。  〃I like that。  Ask me!  Egad; I wish you would; you black…eyed minx!〃
  〃So would other people; I have no doubt。〃 〃That soldier officer; for instance。  Hey; Miss Modesty?  I've seen him looking at you as though he'd like to try。〃
  The girl flashed at him with a quick side glance。
  〃You mean Lieutenant Frere; I suppose。  Are you jealous of him?〃
  〃Jealous!  Why; damme; the lad was only breeched the other day。  Jealous!〃
  〃I think you areand you've no need to be。  He is a stupid booby; though he is Lieutenant Frere。〃
  〃So he is。  You are right there; by the Lord。〃
  Sarah Purfoy laughed a low; full…toned laugh; whose sound made Blunt's pulse take a jump forward; and sent the blood tingling down to his fingers ends。
  〃Captain Blunt;〃 said she; 〃you're going to do a very silly thing。〃
  He came close to her and tried to take her hand。
  〃What?〃
  She answered by another question。
  〃How old are you?〃
  〃Forty…two; if you must know。〃
  〃Oh!  And you are going to fall in love with a girl of nineteen。〃
  〃Who is that?〃
  〃Myself!〃 she said; giving him her hand and smiling at him with her rich red lips。
  The mizen hid them from the man at the wheel; and the twilight of tropical stars held the main…deck。  Blunt felt the breath of this strange woman warm on his cheek; her eyes seemed to wax and wane; and the hard; small hand he held burnt like fire。
  〃I believe you are right;〃 he cried。  〃I am half in love with you already。〃
  She gazed at him with a contemptuous sinking of her heavily fringed eyelids; and withdrew her hand。
  〃Then don't get to the other half; or you'll regret it。〃
  〃Shall I?〃 asked Blunt。  〃That's my affair。  Come; you little vixen; give me that kiss you said I was going to ask you for below;〃 and he caught her in his arms。
  In an instant she had twisted herself free; and confronted him with flashing eyes。
  〃You dare!〃 she cried。  〃Kiss me by force!  Pooh!  you make love like a schoolboy。  If you can make me like you; I'll kiss you as often as you will。  If you can't; keep your distance; please。〃
  Blunt did not know whether to laugh or be angry at this rebuff。 He was conscious that he was in rather a ridiculous position; and so decided to laugh。
  〃You're a spitfire; too。  What must I do to make you like me?〃
  She made him a curtsy。
  〃That is your affair;〃 she said; and as the head of Mr。 Frere appeared above the companion; Blunt walked aft; feeling considerably bewildered; and yet not displeased。
  〃She's a fine girl; by jingo;〃 he said; cocking his cap; 〃and I'm hanged if she ain't sweet upon me。〃
  And then the old fellow began to whis