登陆注册
5399800000033

第33章 VILLA RUBEIN(31)

"Ah!" he said."No doubt! But it's uncommonly like gin, Paul."Then turning to Christian, he said: "Shake hands, you two!"Christian looked from one to the other, and at last held out her hand to Herr Paul, who brushed it with his moustache, gazing after her as she left the room with a queer expression.

"My dear!" he began, "you support her in this execrable matter? You forget my position, you make me ridiculous.I have been obliged to go to bed in my own house, absolutely to go to bed, because I was in danger of becoming funny.""Look here, Paul!" Mr.Treffry said gruffly, "if any one's to bully Chris, it's I.""In that case," returned Herr Paul sarcastically, "I will go to Vienna.""You may go to the devil!" said Mr.Treffry; "and I'll tell you what--in my opinion it was low to set the police on that young chap; a low, dirty trick."Herr Paul divided his beard carefully in two, took his seat on the very edge of an arm-chair, and placing his hands on his parted knees, said:

"I have regretted it since--mais, que diable! He called me a coward--it is very hot weather!--there were drinks at the Kurhaus--I am her guardian--the affair is a very beastly one--there were more drinks--Iwas a little enfin!" He shrugged his shoulders."Adieu, my dear; Ishall be some time in Vienna; I need rest!" He rose and went to the door; then he turned, and waved his cigar."Adieu! Be good; get well! I will buy you some cigars up there." And going out, he shut the door on any possibility of answer.

Mr.Treffry lay back amongst his cushions.The clock ticked; pigeons cooed on the veranda; a door opened in the distance, and for a moment a treble voice was heard.Mr.Treffry's head drooped forward; across his face, gloomy and rugged, fell a thin line of sunlight.

The clock suddenly stopped ticking, and outside, in mysterious accord, the pigeons rose with a great fluttering of wings, and flew off'.Mr.Treffry made a startled, heavy movement.He tried to get on to his feet and reach the bell, but could not, and sat on the side of the couch with drops of sweat rolling off his forehead, and his hands clawing his chest.There was no sound at all throughout the house.He looked about him, and tried to call, but again could not.

He tried once more to reach the bell, and, failing, sat still, with a thought that made him cold.

"I'm done for," he muttered."By George! I believe I'm done for this time!" A voice behind him said:

"Can we have a look at you, sir?"

"Ah! Doctor, bear a hand, there's a good fellow."Dawney propped him against the cushions, and loosened his shirt.

Receiving no answer to his questions, he stepped alarmed towards the bell.Mr.Treffry stopped him with a sign.

"Let's hear what you make of me," he said.

When Dawney had examined him, he asked:

"Well?"

"Well," answered Dawney slowly, "there's trouble, of course."Mr.Treffry broke out with a husky whisper: "Out with it, Doctor;don't humbug me."

Dawney bent down, and took his wrist.

"I don't know how you've got into this state, sir," he said with the brusqueness of emotion."You're in a bad way.It's the old trouble;and you know what that means as well as I.All I can tell you is, I'm going to have a big fight with it.It shan't be my fault, there's my hand on that."Mr.Treffry lay with his eyes fixed on the ceiling; at last he said:

"I want to live."

"Yes--yes."

"I feel better now; don't make a fuss about it.It'll be very awkward if I die just now.Patch me up, for the sake of my niece."Dawney nodded."One minute, there are a few things I want," and he went out.

A moment later Greta stole in on tiptoe.She bent over till her hair touched Mr.Treffry's face.

"Uncle Nic!" she whispered.He opened his eyes.

"Hallo, Greta!"

"I have come to bring you my love, Uncle Nic, and to say good-bye.

Papa says that I and Scruff and Miss Naylor are going to Vienna with him; we have had to pack in half an hour; in five minutes we are going to Vienna, and it is my first visit there, Uncle Nic.""To Vienna!" Mr.Treffry repeated slowly."Don't have a guide, Greta; they're humbugs.""No, Uncle Nic," said Greta solemnly.

"Draw the curtains, old girl, let's have a look at you.Why, you're as smart as ninepence!""Yes," said Greta with a sigh, touching the buttons of her cape, "because I am going to Vienna; but I am sorry to leave you, Uncle Nic.""Are you, Greta?"

"But you will have Chris, and you are fonder of Chris than of me, Uncle Nic.""I've known her longer."

"Perhaps when you've known me as long as Chris, you shall be as fond of me.""When I've known you as long--may be."

"While I am gone, Uncle Nic, you are to get well, you are not very well, you know.""What put that into your head?"

"If you were well you would be smoking a cigar--it is just three o'clock.This kiss is for myself, this is for Scruff, and this is for Miss Naylor."She stood upright again; a tremulous, joyful gravity was in her eyes and on her lips.

"Good-bye, my dear; take care of yourselves; and don't you have a guide, they're humbugs.""No, Uncle Nic.There is the carriage! To Vienna, Uncle Nic!" The dead gold of her hair gleamed in the doorway.Mr.Treffry raised himself upon his elbow.

"Give us one more, for luck!"

Greta ran back.

"I love you very much!" she said, and kissing him, backed slowly, then, turning, flew out like a bird.

Mr.Treffry fixed his eyes on the shut door.

XXI

After many days of hot, still weather, the wind had come, and whirled the dust along the parched roads.The leaves were all astir, like tiny wings.Round Villa Rubein the pigeons cooed uneasily, all the other birds were silent.Late in the afternoon Christian came out on the veranda, reading a letter:

同类推荐
  • 过贾谊旧居

    过贾谊旧居

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 山水情尼部

    山水情尼部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 忠介烬余集

    忠介烬余集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 和韩郎中扬子津玩雪

    和韩郎中扬子津玩雪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Complete Account of the Settlement

    A Complete Account of the Settlement

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 五人墓碑记

    五人墓碑记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 行者成天

    行者成天

    三百年前,陨石坠落,带来了天外之物红宝石。住在桃花村的成天在某一天意外拿到了一张红宝石地图,于是开始寻找了寻宝之旅,最后靠红宝石的力量来改变世界。读者交流群:721841882
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 启蒙时代

    启蒙时代

    《启蒙时代》是一部描写一代人心灵成长的小说。20世纪60年代中期,“文革”狂飙突至,把生活在完全不同的世界里的青年人抛到了一处。从高级干部公寓和从市井里弄走出来的男女主人公们,带着青春的热情、敏感、躁动和迷茫,顽强而莽撞地为自己的理想和人生寻找理由。可以说,这是一部“老三届”的精神成长史,作者书写了从那个年代走过来的人从来不需要想起也永远不会忘记的一段历史。
  • 灵星志怪录

    灵星志怪录

    灵星带您领略最经典的传统志怪故事。神魔斗法,鬼狐妖魔。凡人与妖怪之间,种种错综复杂的关系。凡人、妖精、仙佛彼此分立而又环环相扣。因果循环,天理昭彰。不管怎么说,最终一定是邪不胜正。
  • 海峡两岸网络原创文学大赛入围作品选(2)散文随笔

    海峡两岸网络原创文学大赛入围作品选(2)散文随笔

    本系列图书精选“海峡两岸网络原创文学大赛”入围作品,分类集结成书。本书为第2册,收录第一届大赛12篇散文作品,包括“生死之恋”、“怀念,属于我们青春的那些事儿”、“美好记忆话情长”、“永远在路上的客家人”、“井”、“老槐树”、“叫一声嬷嬷泪双流”、“盛大的月光”、“打不死的武侠”、“满怀虔诚游祖庭”、“我的名字叫‘留守’”“汪曾祺的故乡情结”等感怀抒情散文。
  • 重生之商女司先生你好

    重生之商女司先生你好

    重活一世势必要把上一世错过的失去的都统统拿回来。话说重生这也就算了,运气也太吊炸天了吧,上古神秘空间在手,翡翠玉石一眼定乾坤,从此一路开挂到底。到底谁才是谁的救赎,当某天某个女人说她该离开了,离开这个原本她属于又不属于的世界的时候,某个傲娇的男人才意识到原来他早已喜她成痴,爱她成瘾,没了她的世界已成一片灰暗。时隔几年后的某天,天降异常,原本消失几年的女人突然出现在他面前:“司先生,我回来了”这是一篇反穿又反穿的甜文,希望大家喜欢,有什么写的不好的地方大家可以提出来,我可以多多改进,争取给大家带来更好的作品。在这里跟大家说的是我还是个新手哟,这也是我写的第一篇阅文,新手上路还请大家多多关照。
  • 唐立淇2013星座运程:射手座

    唐立淇2013星座运程:射手座

    2012年对射手来说,心情真是百味杂陈,上半年还是那么充满希望,觉得自己还有机会能够向上攀爬,所以用了更多的心力、信用、资产去拼搏,但是一进入下半年,射手就被“黑暗、郁闷”等各种状况笼罩,究竟是要硬撑到关卡过去,还是认输退出?都在考验着射手的智慧。2013年上半年,被压力笼罩的苦闷感仍持续,直到3月才会有“看清事实”的感觉,不妨趁此时拿出自信,掌握“可以独立”的契机。
  • 花开浪漫的华年·春

    花开浪漫的华年·春

    作品以诗一样的笔触,记录、描写了中国目前最大的、自农村涌向城市的漂泊人群中,一个大学毕业的知识人员的生活中的所遇、所感,抒写着其身上所承载的中华民族的美丽诗性与浪漫情怀。