Many years ago, when oak-trees now past their prime were about as large as elderly gentlemen's walking-sticks, there lived in Wessex a yeoman's son, whose name was Hubert. He was about fourteen years of age, and was as remarkable for his candour and lightness of heart as for his physical courage, of which, indeed, he was a little vain.
One cold Christmas Eve his father, having no other help at hand, sent him on an important errand to a small town several miles from home. He travelled on horseback, and was detained by the business till a late hour of the evening. At last, however, it was completed; he returned to the inn, the horse was saddled, and he started on his way. His journey homeward lay through the Vale of Blackmore, a fertile but somewhat lonely district, with heavy clay roads and crooked lanes. In those days, too, a great part of it was thickly wooded.
It must have been about nine o'clock when, riding along amid the overhanging trees upon his stout-legged cob Jerry, and singing a Christmas carol, to be in harmony with the season, Hubert fancied that he heard a noise among the boughs. This recalled to his mind that the spot he was traversing bore an evil name. Men had been waylaid there. He looked at Jerry, and wished he had been of any other colour than light grey; for on this account the docile animal's form was visible even here in the dense shade. “What do I care?” he said aloud, after a few minutes of reflection. “Jerry's legs are too nimble to allow any highwayman to come near me.”
“Ha! ha! indeed,” was said in a deep voice; and the next moment a man darted from the thicket on his right hand, another man from the thicket on his left hand, and another from a tree-trunk a few yards ahead. Hubert's bridle was seized, he was pulled from his horse, and although he struck out with all his might, as a brave boy would naturally do, he was overpowered. His arms were tied behind him, his legs bound tightly together, and he was thrown into the ditch. The robbers, whose faces he could now dimly perceive to be artificially blackened, at once departed, leading off the horse.
As soon as Hubert had a little recovered himself, he found that by great exertion he was able to extricate his legs from the cord; but, in spite of every endeavour, his arms remained bound as fast as before. All, therefore, that he could do was to rise to his feet and proceed on his way with his arms behind him, and trust to chance for getting them unfastened. He knew that it would be impossible to reach home on foot that night, and in such a condition; but he walked on. Owing to the confusion which this attack caused in his brain, he lost his way and would have been inclined to lie down and rest till morning among the dead leaves had he not known the danger of sleeping without wrappers in a frost so severe. So he wandered further onwards, his arms wrung and numbed by the cord which pinioned him, and his heart aching for the loss of poor Jerry, who never had been known to kick, or bite, or show a single vicious habit. He was not a little glad when he discerned through the trees a distant light. Towards this he made his way, and presently found himself in front of a large mansion with flanking wings, gables, and towers, the battlements and chimneys showing their shapes against the stars.
All was silent; but the door stood wide open, it being from this door that the light shone which had attracted him. On entering he found himself in a vast apartment arranged as a dining-hall, and brilliantly illuminated. The walls were covered with a great deal of dark wainscoting, formed into moulded panels, carvings, closet-doors, and the usual fittings of a house of that kind. But what drew his attention most was the large table in the midst of the hall, upon which was spread a sumptuous supper, as yet untouched. Chairs were placed around, and it appeared as if something had occurred to interrupt the meal just at the time when all were ready to begin.
Even had Hubert been so inclined, he could not have eaten in his helpless state, unless by dipping his mouth into the dishes, like a pig or cow. He wished first to obtain assistance; and was about to penetrate further into the house for that purpose when he heard hasty footsteps in the porch and the words, “Be quick!” uttered in the deep voice which had reached him when he was dragged from the horse. There was only just time for him to dart under the table before three men entered the dining-hall. Peeping from beneath the hanging edges of the tablecloth, he perceived that their faces, too, were blackened, which at once removed any remaining doubts he may have felt that these were the same thieves.
“Now, then,” said the first—the man with the deep voice—“l(fā)et us hide ourselves. They will all be back again in a minute. That was a good trick to get them out of the house—eh?”
“Yes. You well imitated the cries of a man in distress,” said the second.
“Excellently,” said the third.
“But they will soon find out that it was a false alarm. Come, where shall we hide? It must be some place we can stay in for two or three hours, till all are in bed and asleep. Ah! I have it. Come this way! I have learnt that the further closet is not opened once in a twelvemonth; it will serve our purpose exactly.”
The speaker advanced into a corridor which led from the hall. Creeping a little farther forward, Hubert could discern that the closet stood at the end, facing the dining-hall. The thieves entered it, and closed the door. Hardly breathing, Hubert glided forward, to learn a little more of their intention, if possible; and, coming close, he could hear the robbers whispering about the different rooms where the jewels, plate, and other valuables of the house were kept, which they plainly meant to steal.
They had not been long in hiding when a gay chattering of ladies and gentlemen was audible on the terrace without. Hubert felt that it would not do to be caught prowling about the house, unless he wished to be taken for a robber himself; and he slipped softly back to the hall, out at the door, and stood in a dark corner of the porch, where he could see everything without being himself seen. In a moment or two a whole troop of personages came gliding past him into the house. There were an elderly gentleman and lady, eight or nine young ladies, as many young men, besides half-a-dozen men-servants and maids. The mansion had apparently been quite emptied of its occupants.
“Now, children and young people, we will resume our meal,” said the old gentleman. “What the noise could have been I cannot understand. In ever felt so certain in my life that there was a person being murdered outside my door.”
Then the ladies began saying how frightened they had been, and how they had expected an adventure, and how it had ended in nothing after all.
“Wait a while,” said Hubert to himself. “You'll have adventure enough by-and-by, ladies.”
It appeared that the young men and women were married sons and daughters of the old couple, who had come that day to spend Christmas with their parents.
The door was then closed, Hubert being left outside in the porch. He thought this a proper moment for asking their assistance; and, since he was unable to knock with his hands, began boldly to kick the door.
“Hullo! What disturbance are you making here?” said a footman who opened it; and, seizing Hubert by the shoulder, he pulled him into the dining-hall. “Here's a strange boy I have found making a noise in the porch, Sir Simon.”
Everybody turned.
“Bring him forward,” said Sir Simon, the old gentleman before mentioned. “What were you doing there, my boy?”
“Why, his arms are tied!” said one of the ladies.
“Poor fellow!” said another.
Hubert at once began to explain that he had been waylaid on his journey home, robbed of his horse, and mercilessly left in this condition by the thieves.
“Only to think of it!” exclaimed Sir Simon.
“That's a likely story,” said one of the gentleman-guests, incredulously.
“Doubtful, hey?” asked Sir Simon.
“Perhaps he's a robber himself,” suggested a lady.
“There is a curiously wild wicked look about him certainly, now that I examine him closely,” said the old mother.
Hubert blushed with shame; and, instead of continuing his story, and relating that robbers were concealed in the house, he doggedly held his tongue, and half resolved to let them find out their danger for themselves.
“Well, untie him,” said Sir Simon. “Come, since it is Christmas Eve, we'll treat him well. Here, my lad; sit down in that empty seat at the bottom of the table, and make as good a meal as you can. When you have had your fill we will listen to more particulars of your story.”
The feast then proceeded; and Hubert, now at liberty, was not at all sorry to join in. The more they ate and drank the merrier did the company become; the wine flowed freely, the logs flared up the chimney, the ladies laughed at the gentlemen's stories; in short, all went as noisily and as happily as a Christmas gathering in old times possibly could do.
Hubert, in spite of his hurt feelings at their doubts of his honesty, could not help being warmed both in mind and in body by the good cheer, the scene, and the example of hilarity set by his neighbours. At last he laughed as heartily at their stories and repartees as the old Baronet, Sir Simon, himself. When the meal was almost over one of the sons, who had drunk a little too much wine, after the manner of men in that century, said to Hubert, “Well, my boy, how are you? Can you take a pinch of snuff?” He held out one of the snuff-boxes which were then becoming common among young and old throughout the country.
“Thank you,” said Hubert, accepting a pinch.
“Tell the ladies who you are, what you are made of, and what you can do,” the young man continued, slapping Hubert upon the shoulder.
“Certainly,” said our hero, drawing himself up, and thinking it best to put a bold face on the matter. “I am a travelling magician.”
“Indeed!”
“What shall we hear next?”
“Can you call up spirits from the vasty deep, young wizard?”
“I can conjure up a tempest in a cupboard,” Hubert replied.
“Ha-ha!” said the old Baronet, pleasantly rubbing his hands.
“We must see this performance. Girls, don't go away; here's something to be seen.”
“Not dangerous, I hope?” said the old lady.
Hubert rose from the table. “Hand me your snuff-box, please,” he said to the young man who had made free with him. “And now,” he continued, “without the least noise, follow me. If any of you speak it will break the spell.”
They promised obedience. He entered the corridor, and, taking off his shoes, went on tiptoe to the closet door, the guests advancing in a silent group at a little distance behind him. Hubert next placed a stool in front of the door, and, by standing upon it, was tall enough to reach to the top. He then, just as noiselessly, poured all the snuff from the box along the upper edge of the door, and, with a few short puffs of breath, blew the snuff through the chink into the interior of the closet. He held up his finger to the assembly, that they might be silent.
“Dear me, what's that?” said the old lady, after a minute or two had elapsed.
A suppressed sneeze had come from inside the closet.
Hubert held up his finger again.
“How very singular,” whispered Sir Simon. “This is most interesting.”
Hubert took advantage of the moment to gently slide the bolt of the closet door into its place. “More snuff,” he said, calmly.
“More snuff,” said Sir Simon. Two or three gentlemen passed their boxes, and the contents were blown in at the top of the closet. Another sneeze, not quite so well suppressed as the first, was heard: then another, which seemed to say that it would not be suppressed under any circumstances whatever. At length there arose a perfect storm of sneezes.
“Excellent, excellent for one so young!” said Sir Simon. “I am much interested in this trick of throwing the voice—called, I believe, ventriloquism.”
“More snuff,” said Hubert.
“More snuff,” said Sir Simon. Sir Simon's man brought a large jar of the best scented Scotch.
Hubert once more charged the upper chink of the closet, and blew the snuff into the interior, as before. Again he charged, and again, emptying the whole contents of the jar. The tumult of sneezes became really extraordinary to listen to—there was no cessation. It was like wind, rain, and sea battling in a hurricane.
“I believe there are men inside, and that it is no trick at all!” exclaimed Sir Simon, the truth flashing on him.
“There are,” said Hubert. “They are come to rob the house; and they are the same who stole my horse.”
The sneezes changed to spasmodic groans. One of the thieves, hearing Hubert's voice, cried, “Oh! mercy! mercy! let us out of this!”
“Where's my horse?” said Hubert.
“Tied to the tree in the hollow behind Short's Gibbet. Mercy! mercy! let us out, or we shall die of suffocation!”
All the Christmas guests now perceived that this was no longer sport, but serious earnest. Guns and cudgels were procured; all the menservants were called in, and arranged in position outside the closet. At a signal Hubert withdrew the bolt, and stood on the defensive. But the three robbers, far from attacking them, were found crouching in the corner, gasping for breath. They made no resistance; and, being pinioned, were placed in an out-house till the morning.
Hubert now gave the remainder of his story to the assembled company, and was profusely thanked for the services he had rendered. Sir Simon pressed him to stay over the night, and accept the use of the best bed-room the house afforded, which had been occupied by Queen Elizabeth and King Charles successively when on their visits to this part of the country. But Hubert declined, being anxious to find his horse Jerry, and to test the truth of the robbers' statements concerning him.
Several of the guests accompanied Hubert to the spot behind the gibbet, alluded to by the thieves as where Jerry was hidden. When they reached the knoll and looked over, behold! there the horse stood, uninjured, and quite unconcerned. At sight of Hubert he neighed joyfully; and nothing could exceed Hubert's gladness at finding him. He mounted, wished his friends “Good-night!” and cantered off in the direction they pointed out as his nearest way, reaching home safely about four o'clock in the morning.
1877
許多年前,當(dāng)這些老態(tài)龍鐘的橡樹還只有年長紳士的手杖那么粗的時(shí)候,在威塞克斯住著一個(gè)自耕農(nóng)的兒子,名叫休伯特。他那時(shí)年方十四,個(gè)性坦誠直率,無憂無慮,而且很有膽量,他本人對此也頗為自得。
一個(gè)寒冷的圣誕前夕,他父親因?yàn)檎也坏綆褪?,只得打發(fā)他到離家數(shù)英里之外的小鎮(zhèn)上去辦一趟重要差事。他騎著馬去了鎮(zhèn)上,辦事耽擱了許久,直到很晚才終于辦完。他回到客棧,裝好馬鞍,立刻動(dòng)身上路?;丶业穆芬?jīng)過布萊克摩爾山谷,那里土地肥沃但人煙稀少,沿途都是難走的黏土路和彎曲的小道。那時(shí)候跟現(xiàn)在一樣,大部分的山谷都被茂密的樹林覆蓋。
當(dāng)時(shí)應(yīng)該已是晚上九點(diǎn),休伯特正騎著他壯實(shí)的矮腳馬杰里穿行在樹枝交錯(cuò)的密林中,嘴里唱著圣誕頌歌應(yīng)景。突然他覺得似乎聽到樹枝間傳來什么聲音,這讓他想起他正經(jīng)過的地點(diǎn)素有惡名:有人曾在此處被打劫。他看看杰里,真希望它的毛色是種別的顏色,因?yàn)闇\灰色讓這頭溫順的牲畜在這濃蔭暗處都十分顯眼?!芭率裁囱??”沉思了幾分鐘以后,他大聲說,“杰里的腿腳又輕又快,才不會(huì)讓攔路的強(qiáng)盜追上我?!?/p>
“嗬嗬!真的嘛!”一個(gè)低沉的聲音響起來;下一秒鐘一個(gè)男人從休伯特右邊的樹叢里竄出來,另一個(gè)男人從左邊沖過來,還有一個(gè)從他前面幾碼[1]遠(yuǎn)的一棵樹干后跳出來。他們搶走了韁繩,把休伯特拖下馬來。盡管他用盡全身力氣又踢又打,盡顯一個(gè)英勇男孩的本色,但還是被制服了。他的胳膊被反綁起來,雙腿被緊緊捆在一塊兒。強(qiáng)盜們把他扔進(jìn)了壕溝,隨即牽馬離開了,他只能隱約看到他們的臉被刻意涂黑了。
休伯特驚魂初定后,費(fèi)了很大的勁兒終于把雙腿從繩索中解救出來;但是無論怎么努力,雙臂依然被緊緊綁著無法掙脫。他只好站起身來反背著手繼續(xù)趕路,解不解得開只能看運(yùn)氣了。雖然他知道在這種情形下,光靠雙腳根本不可能在當(dāng)晚趕到家,但還是繼續(xù)前行。不過突如其來的遇襲讓他頭腦有些混亂,所以走著走著就迷了路。要不是因?yàn)樯钪谶@嚴(yán)寒霜凍的天氣不蓋鋪蓋睡著的后果實(shí)在太嚴(yán)重,他真想倒在枯葉堆里一覺睡到天亮?,F(xiàn)在他只好向前漫游,胳膊被繩索反綁到已經(jīng)麻木,心里為失去了杰里而哀痛:可憐的杰里,它從不曾踢人、咬人或表現(xiàn)出任何一點(diǎn)不端行為,現(xiàn)在卻平白被搶走了!就連看到樹叢里透出遠(yuǎn)處的燈光,也無法讓他高興起來。他朝著燈光處走去,一會(huì)兒就走到了一座大宅前,側(cè)翼、三角閣、塔樓、城垛和煙囪在星空下依稀可見。
四下里悄無聲息,但宅門卻大敞著,吸引休伯特走到這里來的燈光就是從這門內(nèi)傳來的。他走進(jìn)去,發(fā)現(xiàn)自己進(jìn)了一個(gè)巨大的房間,應(yīng)該是作宴會(huì)廳之用的,廳內(nèi)燈火通明。四面墻壁被大塊兒的暗色護(hù)墻板覆蓋,上有凹凸紋造型、雕花、壁櫥門以及這種豪宅常見的各種裝飾。最吸引他的還是大廳正中那巨大的餐桌,上面擺滿了豐盛的晚餐,尚未動(dòng)過。餐椅已圍著餐桌擺好了,看起來像是有什么突發(fā)事件導(dǎo)致正準(zhǔn)備開始的宴會(huì)突然中斷了。
休伯特雙手被縛,就算是想吃也有心無力,除非他像豬或牛一樣直接把嘴湊到盤子里去。他的第一個(gè)想法是找人幫忙。當(dāng)他正要繼續(xù)往里屋走去找人的時(shí)候,突然聽到了門廊外傳來急匆匆的腳步聲和說話聲,“快點(diǎn)!”聲音低沉,跟他被拖下馬時(shí)聽到的那個(gè)聲音一樣。他剛鉆到桌子底下,三個(gè)男人就進(jìn)了大廳。他悄悄從垂下來的桌布底下窺視,看到了他們那涂黑的臉,對于這三人是不是打劫他的那一伙人的最后一點(diǎn)懷疑也立刻煙消云散了。
“好啦,”第一個(gè)人(就是聲音低沉的那個(gè))說,“我們先躲起來。他們馬上就會(huì)回來的。我把他們引開的把戲還不錯(cuò)吧,是不是?”
“是啊,你模仿遇難的人的號叫聲模仿得很像?!钡诙€(gè)人說。
“太棒了!”第三個(gè)人說。
“但是他們很快就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)這是假警報(bào)???,我們躲哪兒呢?我們得找個(gè)能待上兩三個(gè)小時(shí)的地方,等到所有人都上床睡覺了再出來。哈!我知道了。這邊來!我聽說那里頭的櫥柜一年到頭都開不了一次,我們正好躲里面去?!?/p>
三個(gè)人走進(jìn)一條與大廳相連的走廊。休伯特往前匍匐爬了一小段,看到了走廊盡頭面朝著宴會(huì)廳有一個(gè)大櫥柜。竊賊們鉆了進(jìn)去,關(guān)上了柜門。休伯特屏住呼吸,悄悄溜過去,想看看能不能探聽到他們更多的計(jì)劃。他慢慢靠近,聽到強(qiáng)盜們在低聲討論宅子里哪個(gè)房間有珠寶,哪個(gè)房間有餐具,哪個(gè)房間有其他貴重物品,很顯然他們打算要大撈一把。
他們藏起來不久后,就聽到外面的陽臺(tái)傳來一陣女士先生們歡快的閑聊聲。休伯特心想可不能被他們發(fā)現(xiàn)自己在屋子里頭晃蕩,不然肯定會(huì)被當(dāng)成強(qiáng)盜的,于是他趕緊輕手輕腳溜回大廳,走到門外,在門廊的一個(gè)黑暗的角落站定。這樣他就能眼觀四方但又不會(huì)被發(fā)現(xiàn)。過了片刻,一大群人從他旁邊經(jīng)過,進(jìn)了房子:有一對年長的紳士和夫人、八九位年輕的女士和八九位年輕的先生,以及半打男女仆人。看來剛才宅子里的人全都出動(dòng)了。
“好啦,孩子們,年輕人,我們繼續(xù)晚宴吧!”年長的紳士說道,“剛才那聲音到底是什么,我實(shí)在不太明白。我當(dāng)時(shí)簡直確信無疑是有個(gè)人就在我家門口被謀殺了?!?/p>
接著女士們開始議論,說她們當(dāng)時(shí)是如何給嚇壞了,如何預(yù)期會(huì)有一場大冒險(xiǎn),又如何發(fā)現(xiàn)最后什么事都沒有。
“等著吧,女士們,”休伯特在心里說,“你們很快就會(huì)來一場大冒險(xiǎn)的?!?/p>
看起來這些年輕的先生和女士是這對年長夫婦的已婚的兒女,特地在這一天趕回來陪父母一起過圣誕節(jié)。
大門已經(jīng)關(guān)上了,休伯特一人留在外面門廊里。他覺得現(xiàn)在時(shí)機(jī)已到,可以找人幫忙了。既然沒法用手敲門,他便大膽地用腳踢門。
“嘿!你在這兒搗什么亂?”門房開了門,抓住休伯特的肩膀把他扯進(jìn)大廳里,報(bào)告說:“西蒙爵士,我抓到這個(gè)小子在門廊里吵吵鬧鬧。”
所有人都轉(zhuǎn)過身來。
“把他帶到前面來吧。”西蒙爵士就是上面提到的那位年長的紳士。“孩子,你在這兒做什么?”
“呀,他的胳膊被綁住了!”有一位女士驚呼。
“可憐的人!”另一位女士說。
休伯特趕緊開始解釋他在回家的路上被打劫了,馬也被搶走了,還被強(qiáng)盜們無情地丟棄,弄成現(xiàn)在這副慘狀。
“想想都好慘!”西蒙爵士感嘆道。
“說得倒像真的一樣!”一位男賓帶著懷疑的語氣說。
“你覺得很可疑?”西蒙爵士問。
“說不定他自己就是個(gè)強(qiáng)盜呢!”又有一位女士提議。
“現(xiàn)在我仔細(xì)地一看,他的面相果然是有些兇狠邪惡呀?!崩夏赣H說。
休伯特羞憤得臉都紅了,沒有再繼續(xù)說下去,告訴他們這些賊現(xiàn)在就躲在這座房子里,而是固執(zhí)地不再開口說話,心里已半打定主意等他們自己去以身涉險(xiǎn)算了。
“好了,把他的繩子解開,”西蒙爵士說,“這樣吧,今天是圣誕前夕,我們還是要好好地招待他。來吧孩子,坐到餐桌末尾的那個(gè)空位上去,想吃什么就盡情地吃吧。等你吃飽了,我們再來聽你說說詳情?!?/p>
宴會(huì)繼續(xù)進(jìn)行。休伯特現(xiàn)在雙手重獲自由,也毫不后悔自己加入了這場宴會(huì)。大家吃吃喝喝,情緒越來越高漲。酒杯不停被斟滿,壁爐里木頭熊熊燃燒,女士們聽著先生們的逸聞趣事笑得樂不可支。聚會(huì)歡樂喧鬧,正是從前的圣誕聚會(huì)該有的樣子。
雖然一開始休伯特因?yàn)樗麄儜岩勺约旱恼\實(shí)而頗為受傷,但身處熱鬧情境,聽著歡聲笑語,看著身邊人人興高采烈,他的身體和頭腦也漸漸熱和起來。到后來他聽到他們說的趣聞和他們妙語連珠的對話,也笑得跟老西蒙爵士一樣開懷。宴會(huì)快結(jié)束時(shí),西蒙爵士的一個(gè)兒子,顯然有些喝多了——當(dāng)然在那個(gè)年代對男人來說這是常態(tài)——他對休伯特說:“嘿,孩子,你還好吧?要不要來一撮鼻煙?”他遞過來一個(gè)鼻煙壺,那是當(dāng)時(shí)全國上下老老少少都很時(shí)興用的玩意兒。
“謝謝先生。”休伯特取了一撮鼻煙。
“跟我們的女士們說說,你是誰,來自何處,有些什么本事吧!”那位年輕人繼續(xù)說,邊說邊用力拍了拍休伯特的肩膀。
“好的,”我們的主人公挺直身子站起來,覺得這個(gè)時(shí)候最好做出一副信心十足的樣子,“我是一個(gè)旅行魔術(shù)師?!?/p>
“不可能吧!”
“下面還有更離奇的故事嗎?”
“小巫師,你能把魂靈從地獄深處召喚出來不?”
“我能在櫥柜里召喚出暴風(fēng)雨?!毙莶鼗卮?。
“哈哈!”老爵士開心地搓了搓手,“我們一定得看看他的表演。姑娘們別走,有好戲可看啦?!?/p>
“不會(huì)有什么危險(xiǎn)吧?”老夫人問。
休伯特離開餐桌,對剛才讓他任意取用鼻煙的年輕人說:“請把您的鼻煙壺遞給我。現(xiàn)在,請大家跟我來,可不能發(fā)出一點(diǎn)聲音。要是有任何人說話,咒語可就不靈了。”
大家都同意遵守規(guī)矩。休伯特走進(jìn)長廊,脫掉鞋子,躡手躡腳走到櫥柜跟前,其他人則保持一小段距離默默地跟在他身后。休伯特接著搬了一張凳子放到柜門前,站上去,高度正好夠得到柜頂。然后他悄無聲息地把鼻煙壺里所有的鼻煙沿著柜門上方邊緣倒了一圈,再短促地吹了幾口氣,把鼻煙從門縫吹進(jìn)櫥柜里去。他對圍觀的人群舉起手指示意,讓他們保持安靜。
“天哪,那是什么聲音?”過了一兩分鐘后,老婦人驚問道。
櫥柜里頭響起了一聲壓抑的噴嚏聲。
休伯特再次舉起手指讓他們噤聲。
“真離奇??!”西蒙爵士悄聲低語,“實(shí)在是太有意思了?!?/p>
休伯特借此機(jī)會(huì)把櫥柜的門閂輕輕地?fù)芑卦?,然后?zhèn)定地說:“再給我一些鼻煙?!?/p>
“再給他一些鼻煙?!蔽髅删羰肯铝睢扇幌壬驯菬焿剡f了過去,里面的鼻煙全被從柜門頂吹進(jìn)了柜子里。又傳來一聲噴嚏聲,這次可沒能像第一次那樣壓住。接著又是一聲,明顯地宣告著噴嚏是無論如何都壓制不住了。最后櫥柜里響起了一陣驚天動(dòng)地的噴嚏風(fēng)暴。
“了不起!這么年輕就有這樣的本事真是了不起!”西蒙爵士說,“我自己對這種隔物傳聲的把戲也很感興趣——我想這個(gè)應(yīng)該是叫腹語吧?”
“再給我一些鼻煙?!毙莶卣f。
“再給他一些鼻煙!”西蒙爵士又下令。仆人端上來一罐上好的蘇格蘭調(diào)香鼻煙。
休伯特再一次把柜門上沿堆滿鼻煙,再吹進(jìn)柜子里。如此循環(huán)往復(fù),直到把滿滿一罐子鼻煙全部傾空。柜里的噴嚏聲這會(huì)兒已經(jīng)是不絕于耳,無比壯觀。聽上去就像是狂風(fēng)呼嘯、暴雨傾盆、颶風(fēng)過境、海浪翻騰。
“我敢說柜子里是真的有人,這不是在變戲法!”西蒙爵士如夢初醒,大聲說。
“的確是有人,”休伯特說,“他們是打算來打劫這座宅子的,就是他們搶走了我的馬?!?/p>
噴嚏聲變成了斷斷續(xù)續(xù)的呻吟聲。一個(gè)賊聽出了休伯特的聲音,大喊:“?。○埫?!饒命??!放我們出去吧!”
“我的馬在哪兒?”休伯特問。
“拴在肖茨絞刑場后面洼地的樹旁了。饒命??!饒命??!放我們出去吧,我們要被憋死了??!”
現(xiàn)在所有賓客都看出來這不是玩鬧,而是真格兒的了。所有男仆都被喚來,手持火槍或短棍在櫥柜外擺好隊(duì)形嚴(yán)陣以待。休伯特打了個(gè)手勢,把門閂打開,然后站定,做好了防御的姿勢。但是三個(gè)強(qiáng)盜并沒有發(fā)起進(jìn)攻。大家發(fā)現(xiàn)他們蜷縮在櫥柜的角落里,上氣不接下氣地喘息著。他們壓根兒沒有抵抗,被捆起來扔到外屋里待到天亮。
休伯特現(xiàn)在才把他開始沒講完的故事講給眾人聽,大家都對他的慷慨相助感激不盡。西蒙爵士極力勸說他留下來過夜,住在這座宅子最好的房間里。當(dāng)年伊麗莎白女王和查爾斯國王相繼到此地巡訪時(shí)都曾在該房間下榻。休伯特謝絕了,他著急要找回他的杰里,想要趕快確認(rèn)一下強(qiáng)盜們所說的是否屬實(shí)。
于是,依著三個(gè)賊所指的杰里的藏身之處,數(shù)位男賓陪同休伯特一起去了絞刑場后面。他們來到土堆后面四下里張望,呀!他的馬果然就拴在那兒,毫發(fā)無傷,而且一副滿不在乎的模樣??吹叫莶睾笏鼩g快地嘶叫起來。休伯特找回了杰里,心里的快樂真是無以復(fù)加。他翻身上馬,和他剛認(rèn)識的朋友們道了聲“晚安”,沿著他們所指的回家最近的路騎馬慢跑離去,并在凌晨四點(diǎn)時(shí)安全抵達(dá)。
一八七七年
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[1]碼(yard),長度單位。一碼為三英尺,約零點(diǎn)九一四米。
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