eben holden-第48部分

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nto　the　sky　and　talking　of　the　fallen　moon。　It　was　late　bedtime　when　we　turned　into　Gramercy　Park。

'Come　in；'said　he　as　he　opened　an　iron　gate。

I　followed　him　up　a　marble　stairway　and　a　doddering　old　English　butler　opened　the　door　for　us。　We　entered　a　fine　hall；　its　floor　of　beautiful　parquetry　muffled　with　silken　rugs。　High　and　spacious　rooms　were　all　aglow　with　light。

He　conducted　me　to　a　large　smoking…room；　its　floor　and　walls　covered　with　trophies　of　the　hunt　…　antlers　and　the　skins　of　carnivora。　Here　he　threw　off　his　coat　and　bade　me　be　at　home　as　he　lay　down　upon　a　wicker　divan　covered　with　the　tawny　skin　of　some　wild　animal。　He　stroked　the　fur　fondly　with　his　hand。

'Hello　Jock！'he　said；　a　greeting　that　mystified　me。

'Tried　to　eat　me；'he　added；　turning　to　me。

Then　he　bared　his　great　hairy　arm　and　showed　me　a　lot　of　ugly　scars；　I　besought　him　to　tell　the　story。

'Killed　him；'he　answered。　'With　a　gun？　

'No　…　with　my　hands；'and　that　was　all　he　would　say　of　it。

He　lay　facing　a　black　curtain　that　covered　a　corner。　Now　and　then　I　heard　a　singular　sound　in　the　room　…　like　some　faint；　far；　night　cry　such　as　I　have　heard　often　in　the　deep　woods。　It　was　so　weird　I　felt　some　wonder　of　it。　Presently　I　could　tell　it　came　from　behind　the　curtain　where；　also；　I　heard　an　odd　rustle　like　that　of　wings。

I　sat　in　a　reverie；　looking　at　the　silent　man　before　me；　and　in　the　midst　of　it　he　pulled　a　cord　that　hung　near　him　and　a　bell　rang。

'Luncheon！'he　said　to　the　old　butler　who　entered　immediately。

Then　he　rose　and　showed　me　odd　things；　carved　out　of　wood；　by　his　own　hand　as　he　told　me；　and　with　a　delicate　art。　He　looked　at　one　tiny　thing　and　laid　it　aside　quickly。

'Can't　bear　to　look　at　it　now；'he　said。

'Gibbet？'I　enquired。

'Gibbet；'he　answered。

It　was　a　little　figure　bound　hand　and　foot　and　hanging　from　the　gallows　tree。

'Burn　it！'he　said；　turning　to　the　old　servant　and　putting　it　in　his　hands。　Luncheon　had　been　set　between　us；　the　while；　and　as　we　were　eating　it　the　butler　opened　a　big　couch　and　threw　snowy　sheets　of　linen　over　it　and　silken　covers　that　rustled　as　they　fell。

'You　will　sleep　there；'said　my　host　as　his　servant　laid　the　pillows；　'and　well　I　hope。　

I　thought　I　had　better　go　to　my　own　lodgings。

'Too　late　…　too　late；'said　he；　and　I；　leg…weary　and　half…asleep；　accepted　his　proffer　of　hospitality。　Then；　having　eaten；　he　left　me　and　I　got　into　bed　after　turning　the　lights　out　Something　woke　me　in　the　dark　of　the　night。　There　was　a　rustling　sound　in　the　room。　I　raised　my　head　a　bit　and　listened。　It　was　the　black　curtain　that　hung　in　the　corner。　I　imagined　somebody　striking　it　violently。　I　saw　a　white　figure　standing　near　me　in　the　darkness。　It　moved　away　as　I　looked　at　it。　A　cold　wind　was　blowing　upon　my　face。　I　lay　a　long　time　listening　and　by　and　by　I　could　hear　the　deep　voice　of　Trumbull　as　if　he　were　groaning　and　muttering　in　his　sleep。　When　it　began　to　come　light　I　saw　the　breeze　from　an　open　window　was　stirring　the　curtain　of　silk　in　the　corner。　I　got　out　of　bed　and；　peering　behind　the　curtain；　saw　only　a　great　white　owl；　caged　and　staring　out　of　wide　eyes　that　gleamed　fiery　in　the　dim　light。　I　went　to　bed　again；　sleeping　until　my　host　woke　me　in　the　late　morning。

After　breakfasting　I　went　to　the　chalet。　The　postman　had　been　there　but　he　had　brought　no　letter　from　Hope。　I　waited　about　home；　expecting　to　hear　from　her；　all　that　day；　only　to　see　it　end　in　bitter　disappointment。

Chapter　33

That　very　night；　Ilooked　in　at　the　little　shop　beneath　us　and　met　Riggs。　It　was　no　small　blessing；　just　as　I　was　entering　upon　dark　and　unknown　ways　of　life；　to　meet　this　hoary　headed　man　with　all　his　lanterns。　He　would　sell　you　anchors　and　fathoms　of　chain　and　rope　enough　to　hang　you　to　the　moon　but　his　'lights'were　the　great　attraction　of　Riggs　s。　He　had　every　kind　of　lantern　that　had　ever　swung　on　land　or　sea。　After　dark；　when　light　was　streaming　out　of　its　open　door　and　broad　window　Riggs's　looked　like　the　side　of　an　old　lantern　itself。　It　was　a　door；　low　and　wide；　for　a　time　when　men　had　big　round　bellies　and　nothing　to　do　but　fill　them　and　heads　not　too　far　above　their　business。　It　was　a　window　gone　blind　with　dust　and　cobwebs　so　it　resembled　the　dim　eye　of　age。　If　the　door　were　closed　its　big　brass　knocker　and　massive　iron　latch　invited　the　passer。　An　old　ship's　anchor　and　a　coil　of　chain　lay　beside　it。　Blocks　and　heavy　bolts；　steering　wheels；　old　brass　compasses；　coils　of　rope　and　rusty　chain　lay　on　the　floor　and　benches；　inside　the　shop。　There　were　rows　of　lanterns；　hanging　on　the　bare　beams。　And　there　was　Riggs。　He　sat　by　a　dusty　desk　and　gave　orders　in　a　sleepy；　drawling　tone　to　the　lad　who　served　him。　An　old　Dutch　lantern；　its　light　softened　with　green　glass；　sent　a　silver　bean　across　the　gloomy　upper　air　of　the　shop　that　evening。　Riggs　held　an　old　un　lantern　with　little　streams　of　light　bursting　through　its　perforated　walls。　He　was　blind；　one　would　know　it　at　a　glance。　Blindness　is　so　easy　to　be　seen。　Riggs　was　showing　it　to　a　stranger。

'Turn　down　the　lights；'he　said　and　the　boy　got　his　step…ladder　and　obeyed　him。

Then　he　held　it　aloft　in　the　dusk　and　the　little　lantern　was　like　a　castle　tower　with　many　windows　lighted；　and；　when　he　set　it　down；　there　was　a　golden　sprinkle　on　the　floor　as　if　something　had　plashed　into　a　magic　pool　of　light　there　in　the　darkness。

Riggs　lifted　the　lantern；　presently；　and　stood　swinging　it　in　his　hand。　Then　its　rays　were　sown　upon　the　darkness　falling　silently　into　every　nook　and　corner　of　the　gloomy　shop　and　breaking　into　flowing　dapples　on　the　wall。

'See　how　quick　it　is！'said　he　as　the　rays　flashed　with　the　speed　of　lightning。　'That　is　the　only　traveller　from　Heaven　that　travels　fast　enough　to　ever　get　to　earth。　

Then　came　the　words　that　had　a　mighty　fitness　for　his　tongue。

'Hail；　holy　light！　Offspring　of　Heaven　first　born。　

His　voice　rose　and　fell；　riding　the　mighty　rhythm　of　inspired　song。　As　he　stood　swinging　the　lantern；　then；　he　reminded　me　of　a　chanting　priest　behind　the　censer。　In　a　moment　he　sat　down；　and；　holding　the　lantern　between　his　knees；　opened　its　door　and　felt　the　candle。　Then　as　the　light　streamed　out　upon　his　hands；　he　rubbed　them　a　time；　silently；　as　if　washing　them　in　the　bright　flood。

'One　dollar　for　this　little　box　of　daylight；'he　said。

'Blind？'said　the　stranger　as　he　paid　him　the　money。

'No；'said　Riggs；　'only　dreaming　as　you　are。　

I　wondered　what　he　meant　by　the　words　'dreaming　as　you　are　。

'Went　to　bed　on　my　way　home　to　marry；'he　continued；　stroking　his　long　white　beard；　'and　saw　the　lights　go　out　an'went　asleep　and　it　hasn　t　come　morning　yet　…　that's　what　I　believe。　I　went　into　a　dream。　Think　I　m　here　in　a　shop　talking　but　I　m　really　in　my　bunk　on　the　good　ship　Arid　coming　home。　Dreamed　everything　since　then　…　everything　a　man　could　think　of。　Dreamed　I　came　home　and　found　Annie　dead；　dreamed　of　blindness；　of　old　age；　of　poverty；　of　eating　and　drinking　and　sleeping　and　of　many　people　who　pass　like　dim　shadows　and　speak　to　me　…　you　are　one　of　them。　And　sometimes　I　forget　I　am　dreaming　and　am　miserable；　and　then　I　remember　and　am　happy。　I　know　when　the　morning　comes　I　shall　wake