第 32 节
作者:炒作      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9322
  window;   Gregorio   widened   the   lips   of   the   lattice   and   let   in   a   stream   of
  moonbeams that rested on wife and child; illumining the dark corner。
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  〃Gregorio!〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃Have you told me all? Is there nothing else to tell em about our son
  and the Jew?〃
  Gregorio felt he must now speak; it was not possible to keep silence
  longer。   He   was   pleased   that   his   wife   had   begun   the   conversation;   for   it
  seemed easier to answer questions than to frame them。 〃I have told you the
  whole story。 There is no more to tell。 It was by accident I found him in the
  bazaar; and that devil Amos was bending over him。 I could kill that man。〃
  〃What good would that do?〃
  〃Fancy if we had lost the boy! Think of the sacrifices we have made
  for him; and they would have been useless。〃
  〃Have you made any sacrifices; Gregorio?〃
  The question was quietly asked; but there was a  ring of irony in   the
  sound of the voice; and Gregorio; to shun his wife's gaze; moved into the
  friendly shadows。 For some minutes he did not answer。 At length; with a
  nervous laugh; he replied:
  〃Of course。 We have both made sacrifices; great sacrifices。〃
  〃It is odd;〃   pursued   Xantippe;   gently;  as   if   speaking  to herself;   〃that
  you should so flatter yourself。 You professed to care for me once; you only
  regard me now as a slave to earn money for you。〃
  〃It is for our son's sake。〃
  〃Is it for our son's sake also that you sit with Madam Marx; that you
  drink her wine; that you kiss her?〃
  Gregorio could not answer。 He felt it were useless to try and explain;
  though the reason seemed to him clear enough。
  〃I am glad to have the chance;〃 continued Xantippe; 〃of talking to you;
  for we may now understand each other。 I have made the greatest sacrifice;
  and because it was for our son's sake I forgave you。 I wept; but; as I wept;
  I said; 'It is hell for Gregorio too。' But when I looked from the window this
  afternoon   I   knew  it   was not hell   for   you。  I   knew  you   did   not   care   what
  became of me。 It was pleasant for you to send me away to make money
  while you drank and kissed at the Penny…farthing Shop。 I came suddenly
  to know that the man had spoken truth。〃
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  〃What man?〃 asked Gregorio; huskily。
  〃The man! The man you bade me find。 Because money is not gathered
  from the pavements。 You know that; and you sent me out to get money。
  When I first came back to you I flung the gold at you; it burned my fingers;
  and your eagerness for it stung。 But I did not quite hate you; though his
  words   had   begun   to   chime   in   my   ears:   'In   my   country   such   a   husband
  would be horsewhipped。' When you were kind I was little more than a dog
  you liked to pet。 I thought that was how all women were treated。 I know
  differently now。 You will earn money through me; for it is my duty to my
  son; but you have earned something else。〃
  〃Yes?〃 queried Gregorio。
  〃My  hate。  Surely  you   are  not   surprised?   I have  learned   what   love  is
  these last few days; have learned what a real man is like。 I know you to be
  what he called you; a cur and a coward。 I should never have learned this
  but for you; and I am grateful; very grateful。 It is useless to swear and to
  threaten me with your fists。 You dare not strike me; because; were you to
  injure me; you would lose your money。 You have tried to degrade me; and
  you   have   failed。   I   am  happier   than   I   have   ever   been;   and   far;   far   wiser。
  When a woman learns what a man's love is; she becomes wiser in a day
  than if she had studied books for a hundred years。〃
  Xantippe ceased speaking and; taking her son in her arms; closed her
  eyes and fell asleep quietly; a gentle smile hovering round her lips。
  Gregorio scowled at her savagely; and would have liked to strike her;
  to   beat   out   his   passion   on   her   white   breast   and   shoulders。   But   she   had
  spoken only the truth when she said he dare not touch her。 With impotent
  oaths he sought to let off the anger that boiled in him。 He feared to think;
  and every word she had uttered made him think in spite of himself。 The
  events   of   sixty  hours   had destroyed   what   little of good   there   was   in   the
  man。 Save only the idolatrous love for his child; he scarcely retained one
  ennobling quality。
  Little   by   little   his   anger   cooled;   his   shame   died   out   of   him;   and   he
  began to wonder curiously what manner of man this was whose words had
  so stirred his wife。 Wondering he fell asleep; nor did he awaken till the sun
  was risen。
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  While eating his breakfast he inquired cunningly concerning this wise
  teacher of   the gospels   of love   and   hate; but   Xantippe for   a time   did   not
  answer。
  〃Is he a Greek?〃
  〃No。〃
  〃A Frenchman?〃
  〃No。〃
  〃A German?〃
  〃No。〃
  Suddenly   Gregorio   felt   a   kind   of   cramp   at   his   heart;   and   he   had   to
  pause before he put the next question。 He could scarcely explain why he
  hesitated;   but   he   called   to   mind   the   Paradise   cafe   and   the   red…  faced
  Englishman。   He   was   ready   enough   to   sacrifice   his   wife   if   by   so   doing
  money might be gained; but he felt somehow hurt in his vanity at the idea
  of   this   ugly;   slow…witted   Northerner   usurping   his   place。   With   an   effort;
  however; he put the question:
  〃Is he an Englishman?〃
  〃Yes。〃
  He was seized with a tumult of anger。 He spoke volubly; talking of the
  ignorance of the English; their brutality; their dull brains; their stupid pride。
  Xantippe waited till he had finished speaking and then replied quietly:
  〃It cannot matter to you。 It is my concern。 You have lost all rights to be
  angry   with   me   or   those   connected   with   me。〃     Gregorio   refused   to   hear
  reason; and explained how he begrudged them their wealth and fame。 〃For
  these English are a dull people; and we Greeks are greatly superior。〃
  〃I   do   not   agree   with   you;〃   Xantippe   replied。   〃I   have   learned   what   a
  man is since I have known him; and I have learned to hate you。 You may
  have   more   brainsthat   I   know   nothing   of;   nor   do   I   care。   He   could   not
  behave      as  you    have   behaved;     nor   have    sacrificed    me    as  you    have
  sacrificed   me。   Some   of   his   money   comes   to   you。   You   want   money。   Be
  satisfied。〃
  Gregorio felt the justice of her words; and he watched her put on her
  hat and leave the room。 A minute later; looking out of the window; he saw
  her link her arm in that of the Englishman of the Paradiso; and across the
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  street; at the threshold of the Penny…farthing Shop; Madam Marx   waved
  her hand to himself and laughed。
  VIII A DESOLATE HOME…COMING
  Toward the evening of a day a fortnight later; Gregorio found himself
  seated    in  Madam      Marx's    cafe;   idly  watching     the  passers…by。    He   was
  feeling   happier;   for   that   was   being   amassed   which   alone   could   insure
  happiness to him。 Each day some golden pieces were added to the amount
  saved; and the cafe at Benhur seemed almost within his grasp。 The feeling
  of   security   from   want   acted   as   a   narcotic   and   soothed   him;   so   that   the
  things which should have troubled him scarcely interested him at all。 He
  was intoxicated with the sight of gold。 When he had first seen Xantippe
  and the Englishman together his anger had been violent; but when at last
  the futility of his rage became certain; his aggressive passion had softened
  to a smouldering discontent that hardly worried him; unless he heard some
  one speak a British name。 His prosperity had destroyed the last vestiges of
  shame      and   soothed    his  illogical  outbursts    of  fury。   He   was   contented
  enough now to sit all day with Madam Marx; and returned to his home in
  the   evening   when   Xantippe   was   away。   He   had   spoken   to   her   only   once
  since she had told him she hated him。 He had strolled out of the cafe about
  midday and entered his room。 Xantippe was there; talking to her child; and
  quietly bade him go away。
  〃It's my room as well as yours;〃 Gr