第 34 节
作者:炒作      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9322
  understood。
  How long he lay there he scarcely knew; but it seemed to him weeks。
  At   last   he   heard   footsteps   on   the   stairs。   He   endeavoured   vainly   to   raise
  himself; and; though he strove to cry out; his tongue refused to frame the
  words。 Lying there; living and yet lifeless; he saw the door open and Amos
  enter。   The   old   man   hesitated   a   moment;   for   the   room   was   dark;   while
  Gregorio; who had easily recognised his visitor; lay impotent on the floor。
  Before Amos could become used to the darkness the door again opened;
  and   Madam  Marx   entered   with   a   lamp   in   her hand。 Amos   turned to   see
  who had followed him; and; in turning; his foot struck against Gregorio's
  body。 Immediately; the woman crying softly; both visitors knelt beside the
  sick man。 A fierce look blazed in Gregorio's eyes; but the strong words of
  abuse that hurried through his brain would not be said。
  〃He is very ill;〃 said Amos; 〃he has had a stroke of some sort。〃
  〃Help   me   to   carry   him   to   my   house;〃   sobbed   the   woman;   and   she
  kissed the Greek's quivering lip and pallid brow。 Then rising to her feet;
  she turned savagely on the Jew。
  〃It is your fault。 It is you who have killed him。〃
  〃Nay; madam; I had called here for my money; and I had a right to do
  so。 It has been owing for a long time。〃
  〃No; you have killed him。〃
  〃Indeed;   I   wished   him   well。   I   was   willing   to   forgive   the   debt   if   he
  would let me take the child。〃
  A horrid look of agony passed over Gregorio's face; but he remained
  silent   and   motionless。   The   watchers   saw   that   he   understood   and   that   a
  tempest of wrath and pain surged within the lifeless body。 They stooped
  down      and   carried   him   downstairs     and    across   the  road    to  the  Penny…
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  farthing Shop。 The  Jew's touch burned Gregorio   like hot embers; but   he
  could not shake himself free。 When he was laid on a bed in a room above
  the   bar;   through   the   floor   of   which   rose   discordant   sounds   of   revelry;
  Amos   left   them。   Madam   Marx   flung   herself   on   the   bed   beside   him   and
  wept。
  Two days later Gregorio sat; at sunset; by Madam Marx's side; on the
  threshold   of   the   cafe。   He   had   recovered   speech   and   use   of   limbs。   With
  wrathful eloquence he had told his companion the history of the terrible
  night; and now sat weaving plots in his maddened brain。
  Replying   to   his   assertion   that   Amos   was   responsible;   Madam   Marx
  said:
  〃Don't be too impetuous; Gregorio。 Search cunningly before you strike。
  Maybe your wife knows something。〃
  〃My wife! Not she; she is with her Englishman。 Amos has stolen the
  boy; and you know it as well as I do。 Didn't he tell you he wanted the child?
  I met him that night; and he told me if I did not pay I had only myself to
  blame for the trouble that would fall on me。〃
  〃Come;   come;   Gregorio;   cheer   up!〃   said   the   woman;   for   the   Greek;
  with head resting on his hands; was sobbing violently。
  〃I tell you; all I cared for in life is taken from me。 But I will have my
  revenge; that I tell you too。〃
  For   a   while   they   sat   silent;   looking   into   the   street。 At   last   Gregorio
  spoke:
  〃My wife has not returned since that night; has she?〃
  〃I have not seen her。〃
  〃Well; I must see her; she can leave the Englishman now。〃
  Madam Marx laughed a little; but said nothing。
  〃There is Ahmed;〃 cried Gregorio; as a blue…clad figure passed on the
  other side of the street。 He beckoned to the Arab; who came across at his
  summons。
  〃You seem troubled;〃 he said; as he looked into the Greek's face; and
  Gregorio retold the terrible story。
  〃You know nothing of all this?〃 he added; suspiciously; as his narrative
  ended。
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  〃Nothing。〃
  〃My God! it is so awful I thought all the world knew of it。 You often
  nursed and played with the boy?〃
  〃Ay; and fed him。 We Arabs love children; even Christian children; and
  I will help you if I can。〃
  〃Why   should Amos   want   the   boy?〃   asked   Madam   Marx;   as   she   put
  coffee and tobacco before the guests。
  〃Because I owe him money; and he knew the loss of my son would be
  the deadliest revenge。 He will make my son a Jew; a beastly Jew。 By God;
  he shall not; he shall not!〃
  〃We must find him and save him;〃 said the woman。
  〃He will never be a Jew。 That is not what Amos wants your son for;
  there are plenty of Jews。〃 Ahmed spoke quietly。
  〃They     sacrifice   children;〃   he   continued;     after  a  moment's     pause;
  〃surely you know that; and if you would save your boy there is not much
  time to lose。〃
  Gregorio trembled at Ahmed's words。 He wondered how he could have
  forgotten   the   common   report;   and   his   fingers   grasped   convulsively   the
  handle of his knife。
  〃Let us go to Amos;〃 he said; speaking the words with difficulty; for he
  was choking with fear for his son。
  〃Wait;〃 answered the Arab; 〃I will come again to…night and bring some
  friends with me; two men who will be glad to serve you。 We Arabs are not
  sorry   to   strike   at   the   Jews;   we   have   our   own   wrongs。   Wait   here   till   I
  come。〃
  〃But what will you do?〃 asked Madam Marx; looking anxiously on the
  man she loved; though her words were for the Arab。
  〃Gregorio will ask for his son。 If the old man refuses to restore him; or
  denies that he has taken him; then we will know the worst; and then〃
  Gregorio's   knife…blade   glittered   in   the   sunset   rays;   as   he   tested  its
  sharpness between thumb and finger。 The Arab watched with a smile。 〃We
  understand      one   another;〃    he  said。   There    was   no   need   to  finish   the
  description of his plan。 With a solemn wave of his hand he left the cafe。
  〃That man Ahmed;〃 said Madam Marx; 〃has a grudge against Amos。 It
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  dates from the bombardment; and he had waited all these years to avenge
  himself。 I believe it was the loss of his wife。〃
  〃Amos   made   her   a   Jewess;   eh?〃   And   then;   after   a   pause;   Gregorio
  added:
  〃So we can depend on Ahmed。 To…night I will win back my son or〃
  〃Or?〃 queried madam; tremblingly。
  〃Or Amos starts on his journey to hell。 God; how my fingers itch to
  slay him! The devil; the Jew devil!〃
  X AT THE HOUSE OF AMOS
  As Ahmed had advised; Gregorio settled himself patiently to await the
  summons。   Madam   would   have   liked   to   ask   him   many   questions;   and   to
  have     extracted   a   promise    from    him   not   to  risk  his   life  in  any   mad
  enterprise   his   accomplice   might   suggest。   But   though   the   Greek's   body
  seemed almost lifeless; so quietly and immovably he rested on his chair;
  there    was   a  restless   look   in  his  eyes   that   told  her   how   fiercely   and
  irrepressibly his anger burned。 She knew enough of his race to know that
  no power on earth could stop him striking for revenge。 And she trembled;
  for she knew also that directly he had begun to strike his madness would
  increase; and that only sheer physical exhaustion would stay his hand。
  Madam  Marx   was unhappy;  and   as   she   waited   on   her   customers   her
  eyes    rested   continually   on    the  Greek;    who    heeded    her   not。  Once    she
  carried some wine to him; and he drank eagerly; spilling a few drops on
  the floor   first。 〃It's   like blood;〃   he muttered;  and smiled。  Madam  hastily
  covered his mouth with her trembling fingers。
  Just   before   midnight   Ahmed   arrived   with   his   two   friends。   Gregorio
  saw   them  at   once;   and;   calling   them  to   him;  they  spoke   together in   low
  voices   for   a   few   moments。   There   was   little   need   for   words;   and   soon;
  scarcely   noticed   by   the   drinkers   and   gamblers;   they   passed   out   into   the
  street and walked slowly toward the Jew's house。 Ahmed rapidly repeated
  the plan of action。 When they reached the door they stood for a moment
  before they woke the Arab; and these words passed between them:
  〃For a wife。〃
  〃For a sister。〃
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  〃For a