按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thought you were a good agnostic。'
'Mr。 Jones；' said Somerset； 'it is in vain to argue。 I boast
myself a total disbeliever； not only in revealed religion；
but in the data； method； and conclusions of the whole of
ethics。 Well！ what matters it？ what signifies a form of
words？ I regard you as a reptile； whom I would rejoice； whom
I long； to stamp under my heel。 You would blow up others？
Well then； understand： I want； with every circumstance of
infamy and agony； to blow up you！'
'Somerset； Somerset！' said Zero； turning very pale； 'this is
wrong； this is very wrong。 You pain； you wound me；
Somerset。'
'Give me a match！' cried Somerset wildly。 'Let me set fire
to this incomparable monster！ Let me perish with him in his
fall！'
'For God's sake；' cried Zero； clutching hold of the young
man； 'for God's sake command yourself！ We stand upon the
brink； death yawns around us； a man … a stranger in this
foreign land … one whom you have called your friend … '
'Silence！' cried Somerset； 'you are no friend； no friend of
mine。 I look on you with loathing； like a toad： my flesh
creeps with physical repulsion； my soul revolts against the
sight of you。'
Zero burst into tears。 'Alas！' he sobbed； 'this snaps the
last link that bound me to humanity。 My friend disowns … he
insults me。 I am indeed accurst。'
Somerset stood for an instant staggered by this sudden change
of front。 The next moment； with a despairing gesture； he
fled from the room and from the house。 The first dash of his
escape carried him hard upon half…way to the next police…
office： but presently began to droop； and before he reached
the house of lawful intervention； he fell once more among
doubtful counsels。 Was he an agnostic？ had he a right to
act？ Away with such nonsense； and let Zero perish！ ran his
thoughts。 And then again： had he not promised； had he not
shaken hands and broken bread？ and that with open eyes？ and
if so how could he take action； and not forfeit honour？ But
honour？ what was honour？ A figment； which； in the hot
pursuit of crime； he ought to dash aside。 Ay； but crime？ A
figment； too； which his enfranchised intellect discarded。
All day； he wandered in the parks； a prey to whirling
thoughts； all night； patrolled the city； and at the peep of
day he sat down by the wayside in the neighbourhood of
Peckham and bitterly wept。 His gods had fallen。 He who had
chosen the broad； daylit； unencumbered paths of universal
scepticism； found himself still the bondslave of honour。 He
who had accepted life from a point of view as lofty as the
predatory eagle's； though with no design to prey； he who had
clearly recognised the common moral basis of war； of
commercial competition； and of crime； he who was prepared to
help the escaping murderer or to embrace the impenitent
thief； found； to the overthrow of all his logic； that he
objected to the use of dynamite。 The dawn crept among the
sleeping villas and over the smokeless fields of city； and
still the unfortunate sceptic sobbed over his fall from
consistency。
At length； he rose and took the rising sun to witness。
'There is no question as to fact；' he cried； 'right and wrong
are but figments and the shadow of a word； but for all that；
there are certain things that I cannot do； and there are
certain others that I will not stand。' Thereupon he decided
to return to make one last effort of persuasion； and； if he
could not prevail on Zero to desist from his infernal trade；
throw delicacy to the winds； give the plotter an hour's
start； and denounce him to the police。 Fast as he went；
being winged by this resolution； it was already well on in
the morning when he came in sight of the Superfluous Mansion。
Tripping down the steps； was the young lady of the various
aliases； and he was surprised to see upon her countenance the
marks of anger and concern。
'Madam；' he began； yielding to impulse and with no clear
knowledge of what he was to add。
But at the sound of his voice she seemed to experience a
shock of fear or horror； started back； lowered her veil with
a sudden movement； and fled； without turning； from the
square。
Here then； we step aside a moment from following the fortunes
of Somerset； and proceed to relate the strange and romantic
episode of THE BROWN BOX。
DESBOROUGH'S ADVENTURE： THE BROWN BOX
MR。 HARRY DESBOROUGH lodged in the fine and grave old quarter
of Bloomsbury； roared about on every side by the high tides
of London； but itself rejoicing in romantic silences and city
peace。 It was in Queen Square that he had pitched his tent；
next door to the Children's Hospital； on your left hand as
you go north： Queen Square； sacred to humane and liberal
arts； whence homes were made beautiful； where the poor were
taught； where the sparrows were plentiful and loud； and where
groups of patient little ones would hover all day long before
the hospital； if by chance they might kiss their hand or
speak a word to their sick brother at the window。
Desborough's room was on the first floor and fronted to the
square； but he enjoyed besides； a right by which he often
profited； to sit and smoke upon a terrace at the back； which
looked down upon a fine forest of back gardens； and was in
turn commanded by the windows of an empty room。
On the afternoon of a warm day； Desborough sauntered forth
upon this terrace； somewhat out of hope and heart； for he had
been now some weeks on the vain quest of situations； and
prepared for melancholy and tobacco。 Here； at least； he told
himself that he would be alone； for； like most youths； who
are neither rich； nor witty； nor successful； he rather
shunned than courted the society of other men。 Even as he
expressed the thought； his eye alighted on the window of the
room that looked upon the terrace； and to his surprise and
annoyance； he beheld it curtained with a silken hanging。 It
was like his luck； he thought； his privacy was gone； he could
no longer brood and sigh unwatched； he could no longer suffer
his discouragement to find a vent in words or soothe himself
with sentimental whistling； and in the irritation of the
moment； he struck his pipe upon the rail with unnecessary
force。 It was an old； sweet； seasoned briar…root； glossy and
dark with long employment； and justly dear to his fancy。
What； then； was his chagrin； when the head snapped from the
stem； leaped airily in space； and fell and disappeared among
the lilacs of the garden？
He threw himself savagely into the garden chair； pulled out
the story…paper which he had brought with him to read； tore
off a fragment of the last sheet； which contains only the
answers to correspondents； and set himself to roll a
cigarette。 He was no master of the art； again and again； the
paper broke between his fingers and the tobacco showered upon
the ground； and he was already on the point of angry
resignation； when the window swung slowly inward； the silken
curtain was thrust aside； and a lady； somewhat strangely
attired； stepped forth upon the terrace。
'Senorito；' said she； and there w