登陆注册
15330500000010

第10章

ANN.[Blankly.] Oh! [As WELLWYN strikes a match.] The samovar is lighted.[Taking up the nearly empty decanter of rum and going to the cupboard.] It's all right.He won't.

WELLWYN.We'll hope not.

[He turns back to his picture.]

ANN.[At the cupboard.] Daddy!

WELLWYN.Hi!

ANN.There were three bottles.

WELLWYN.Oh!

ANN.Well! Now there aren't any.

WELLWYN.[Abstracted.] That'll be Timson.

ANN.[With real horror.] But it's awful!

WELLWYN.It is, my dear.

ANN.In seven days.To say nothing of the stealing.

WELLWYN.[Vexed.] I blame myself-very much.Ought to have kept it locked up.

ANN.You ought to keep him locked up!

[There is heard a mild but authoritative knock.]

WELLWYN.Here's the Vicar!

ANN.What are you going to do about the rum?

WELLWYN.[Opening the door to CANON BERTLEY.] Come in, Vicar!

Happy New Year!

BERTLEY.Same to you! Ah! Ann! I've got into touch with her young husband--he's coming round.

ANN.[Still a little out of her plate.] Thank Go--Moses!

BERTLEY.[Faintly surprised.] From what I hear he's not really a bad youth.Afraid he bets on horses.The great thing, WELLWYN, with those poor fellows is to put your finger on the weak spot.

ANN.[To herself-gloomily.] That's not difficult.What would you do, Canon Bertley, with a man who's been drinking father's rum?

BERTLEY.Remove the temptation, of course.

WELLWYN.He's done that.

BERTLEY.Ah! Then-- [WELLWYN and ANN hang on his words] then Ishould--er ANN.[Abruptly.] Remove him.

BERTLEY.Before I say that, Ann, I must certainly see the individual.

WELLWYN.[Pointing to the window.] There he is!

[In the failing light TIMSON'S face is indeed to be seen pressed against the window pane.]

ANN.Daddy, I do wish you'd have thick glass put in.It's so disgusting to be spied at! [WELLWYN going quickly to the door, has opened it.] What do you want? [TIMSON enters with dignity.He is fuddled.

TIMSON.[Slowly.] Arskin' yer pardon-thought it me duty to come back-found thish yer little brishel on me.[He produces the little paint brush.]

ANN.[In a deadly voice.] Nothing else?

[TIMSON accords her a glassy stare.]

WELLWYN.[Taking the brush hastily.] That'll do, Timson, thanks!

TIMSON.As I am 'ere, can I do anything for yer?

ANN.Yes, you can sweep out that little room.[She points to the model's room.] There's a broom in there.

TIMSON.[Disagreeably surprised.] Certainly; never make bones about a little extra--never 'ave in all me life.Do it at onsh, Iwill.[He moves across to the model's room at that peculiar broad gait so perfectly adjusted to his habits.] You quite understand me --couldn't bear to 'ave anything on me that wasn't mine.

[He passes out.

ANN.Old fraud!

WELLWYN."In" and "on." Mark my words, he'll restore the--bottles.

BERTLEY.But, my dear WELLWYN, that is stealing.

WELLWYN.We all have our discrepancies, Vicar.

ANN.Daddy! Discrepancies!

WELLWYN.Well, Ann, my theory is that as regards solids Timson's an Individualist, but as regards liquids he's a Socialist...or 'vice versa', according to taste.

BERTLEY.No, no, we mustn't joke about it.[Gravely.] I do think he should be spoken to.

WELLWYN.Yes, but not by me.

BERTLEY.Surely you're the proper person.

WELLWYN.[Shaking his head.] It was my rum, Vicar.Look so personal.

[There sound a number of little tat-tat knocks.]

WELLWYN.Isn't that the Professor's knock?

[While Ann sits down to make tea, he goes to the door and opens it.There, dressed in an ulster, stands a thin, clean-shaved man, with a little hollow sucked into either cheek, who, taking off a grey squash hat, discloses a majestically bald forehead, which completely dominates all that comes below it.]

WELLWYN.Come in, Professor! So awfully good of you! You know Canon Bentley, I think?

CALWAY.Ah! How d'you do?

WELLWYN.Your opinion will be invaluable, Professor.

ANN.Tea, Professor Calway?

[They have assembled round the tea table.]

CALWAY.Thank you; no tea; milk.

WELLWYN.Rum?

[He pours rum into CALWAY's milk.]

CALWAY.A little-thanks! [Turning to ANN.] You were going to show me some one you're trying to rescue, or something, I think.

ANN.Oh! Yes.He'll be here directly--simply perfect rotter.

CALWAY.[Smiling.] Really! Ah! I think you said he was a congenital?

WELLWYN.[With great interest.] What!

ANN.[Low.] Daddy! [To CALWAY.] Yes; I--I think that's what you call him.

CALWAY.Not old?

ANN.No; and quite healthy--a vagabond.

CALWAY.[Sipping.] I see! Yes.Is it, do you think chronic unemployment with a vagrant tendency? Or would it be nearer the mark to say: Vagrancy--WELLWYN.Pure! Oh! pure! Professor.Awfully human.

CALWAY.[With a smile of knowledge.] Quite! And--er--ANN.[Breaking in.] Before he comes, there's another--BERTLEY.[Blandly.] Yes, when you came in, we were discussing what should be done with a man who drinks rum--[CALWAY pauses in the act of drinking]--that doesn't belong to him.

CALWAY.Really! Dipsomaniac?

BERTLEY.Well--perhaps you could tell us--drink certainly changing thine to mine.The Professor could see him, WELLWYN?

ANN.[Rising.] Yes, do come and look at him, Professor CALWAY.

He's in there.

[She points towards the model's room.CALWAY smiles deprecatingly.]

ANN.No, really; we needn't open the door.You can see him through the glass.He's more than half--CALWAY.Well, I hardly--

ANN.Oh! Do! Come on, Professor CALWAY! We must know what to do with him.[CALWAY rises.] You can stand on a chair.It's all science.

[She draws CALWAY to the model's room, which is lighted by a glass panel in the top of the high door.CANON BERTLEY also rises and stands watching.WELLWYN hovers, torn between respect for science and dislike of espionage.]

ANN.[Drawing up a chair.] Come on!

CALWAY.Do you seriously wish me to?

ANN.Rather! It's quite safe; he can't see you.

CALWAY.But he might come out.

[ANN puts her back against the door.CALWAY mounts the chair dubiously, and raises his head cautiously, bending it more and more downwards.]

ANN.Well?

1

WELLWYN.Yes, that's all right!

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 何处惊艳

    何处惊艳

    宁馨一个普通家庭出生的女生在一次阴差阳错中认识了叶子枫,再一次车祸中叶子枫被宁馨舍身救了,而也就是在这次车祸中宁馨失去了记忆,这一切她都不记得了。而叶子枫并不知道是谁救得自己,只隐隐约约看到了那个女生手上带的那个闪闪发光的手链……一切恢复平静之后宁馨又来到了那个贵族学校,和以前熟悉而现在陌生的同学们重新相遇了,而叶子枫也在这其中误以为黄笑然是他的救命恩人,他也正在报答这一切,而黄笑然也顺理成章的接受着这一切,但是宁馨的再次到来似乎打乱了这一切,一场精彩的故事即将上演。
  • 刀荒至尊

    刀荒至尊

    手握黑色大刀,我便是刀,刀便是我,我刀所指之处,一切皆化荒无,盘古开天,宇宙混沌,天地荒无,悟刀十年,领悟荒无,悟出荒之道,成就绝世刀法,后人唤为刀荒,一位异世的穷屌丝因为一场意外穿越到修仙世界,没有强大的家族背景,没有逆天的先天天赋,以自身坚毅大无畏的精神踏上不凡的修仙之路,成就仙道传奇
  • 易拉罐,我T死你

    易拉罐,我T死你

    这是我的处女作,请大家支持!!!臭丫头,你砸坏了我的车,还想跑。那又怎么样,不要惹我不然你这个易拉罐,我T死你!!!!!!!!
  • 八极星云

    八极星云

    心怀梦想的人们啊放飞手中的梦想和你们的梦想一起驱逐黑暗吧
  • 羽翼伴随左心脏

    羽翼伴随左心脏

    当天使还是恶魔命运掌握在你手里,你是会选择恶魔还是天使羽冰菁“我不会选择谁,我在等着他们来选我”,喜欢看的加我QQ2472267525么么扎,谢谢支持!
  • 空间简史

    空间简史

    颠覆是本书带给读者的第一感受!然后让读者在享受一切新奇的同时,不得不思考,会不会真的是这样的?是的,在我看来就是这样的~相信和我有同感的人会越来越多!我们在几乎对世界毫无了解的情况下进行日常生活~尽管已经有了“时间简史”…好了,话不多说,让我们开始体验一场颠覆…
  • 情落缘结

    情落缘结

    偶然遇见,她看见他,怀里搂着一个浓妆艳抹的女人;偶然遇见,林宛醉酒,直接吐到了他的身上,他第一次没有嫌弃一个女人;偶然遇见,擦身而过,他知道那是他此生唯一的羁绊……
  • 总裁之养了个小娇妻

    总裁之养了个小娇妻

    她的童年……他缺席八年…………她的青春……他缺席四年…………她未满十岁就被他带在身边抚养长大,情感,远远超出所谓的兄妹之情。长大后,她又被人带到了他国。当她回到他身边时,她以为他们终于能在一起了…………但是她不知道,更大的风波才刚刚掀起浪潮。她从市场回去,却被拒之门外,似乎所有人都不认识了她似的,只有她的几个朋友照顾着她…………她不停地努力,往他身边靠,他却不停地离她更远。他和另一个女人结婚那天,她穿着婚纱浑身是血走到所有人面前,“你说过,我是你的……你说过的啊………”眼前一片血色模糊,她倒在了红色地摊上……而他,只是冷冷看着这一切…………阿厉…………你当真不要我了…………
  • 仙路狂飙

    仙路狂飙

    江陵,天生精神力强大的穿越者,被当做家族弃子,入赘别家。不甘命运蹉跎,雷雨夜得到符道皇者无涯子临终符道传承,同时还有一块会吸血的石头。从此江陵踏上修行大道,纵意恩仇,逍遥长生!什么神兽妖王,什么荒古血脉,老子一道符箓镇压!看!在无尽的仙路之上,有一道身影在尽情的狂飙!
  • 斟血

    斟血

    张小千,一个有理想,没道德,有手段,没脸皮的无耻之徒,但适逢这样的乱世,注定出一个枭雄,