登陆注册
15793100000009

第9章

"What on earth can I say to her?"

"Very unpractical, I am sure," reflected Mrs.Selldon."The sort of man who lives in a world of his own, and only lays down his pen to take up a book.What subject shall I start?""What delightful weather we have been having the last few days!"observed the author."Real genuine summer weather at last." The same remark had been trembling on Mrs.Selldon's lips.She assented with great cheerfulness and alacrity; and over that invaluable topic, which is always so safe, and so congenial, and so ready to hand, they grew quite friendly, and the conversation for fully five minutes was animated.

An interval of thought followed.

"How wearisome is society!" reflected Mrs.Selldon."It is hard that we must spend so much money in giving dinners and have so much trouble for so little enjoyment.""One pays dearly for fame," reflected the author."What a confounded nuisance it is to waste all this time when there are the last proofs of 'What Caste?' to be done for the nine-o'clock post to-morrow morning! Goodness knows what time I shall get to bed to-night!"

Then Mrs.Selldon thought regretfully of the comfortable easy chair that she usually enjoyed after dinner, and the ten minutes' nap, and the congenial needle-work.And Mark Shrewsbury thought of his chambers in Pump Court, and longed for his type-writer, and his books, and his swivel chair, and his favourite meerschaum.

"I should be less afraid to talk if there were not always the horrible idea that he may take down what one says," thought Mrs.

Selldon.

"I should be less bored if she would only be her natural self,"reflected the author."And would not talk prim platitudes." (This was hard, for he had talked nothing else himself.) "Does she think she is so interesting that I am likely to study her for my next book?""Have you been abroad this summer?" inquired Mrs.Selldon, making another spasmodic attempt at conversation.

"No, I detest travelling," replied Mark Shrewsbury."When I need change I just settle down in some quiet country district for a few months--somewhere near Windsor, or Reigate, or Muddleton.There is nothing to my mind like our English scenery.""Oh, do you know Muddleton?" exclaimed Mrs.Selldon."Is it not a charming little place? I often stay in the neighbourhood with the Milton-Cleaves.""I know Milton-Cleave well," said the author."A capital fellow, quite the typical country gentleman.""Is he not?" said Mrs.Selldon, much relieved to have found this subject in common."His wife is a great friend of mine; she is full of life and energy, and does an immense amount of good.Did you say you had stayed with them?""No, but last year I took a house in that neighbourhood for a few months; a most charming little place it was, just fit for a lonely bachelor.I dare say you remember it--Ivy Cottage, on the Newton Road.""Did you stay there? Now what a curious coincidence! Only this morning I heard from Mrs.Milton-Cleave that Ivy Cottage has been taken this summer by a Mr.Sigismund Zaluski, a Polish merchant, who is doing untold harm in the neighbourhood.He is a very clever, unscrupulous man, and has managed to take in almost every one.""Why, what is he? A swindler? Or a burglar in disguise, like the HOUSE ON THE MARSH fellow?" asked the author, with a little twinkle of amusement in his face.

"Oh, much worse than that," said Mrs.Selldon, lowering her voice.

"I assure you, Mr.Shrewsbury, you would hardly credit the story if I were to tell it you, it is really stranger than fiction." Mark Shrewsbury pricked up his ears, he no longer felt bored, he began to think that, after all, there might be some compensation for this wearisome dinner-party.He was always glad to seize upon material for future plots, and somehow the notion of a mysterious Pole suddenly making his appearance in that quiet country neighbourhood and winning undeserved popularity rather took his fancy.He thought he might make something of it.However, he knew human nature too well to ask a direct question.

"I am sorry to hear that," he said, becoming all at once quite sympathetic and approachable."I don't like the thought of those simple, unsophisticated people being hoodwinked by a scoundrel.""No; is it not sad?" said Mrs.Selldon."Such pleasant, hospitable people as they are! Do you remember the Morleys?""Oh yes! There was a pretty daughter who played tennis well.""Quite so--Gertrude Morley.Well, would you believe it, this miserable fortune-hunter is actually either engaged to her or on the eve of being engaged! Poor Mrs.Milton-Cleave is so unhappy about it, for she knows, on the best authority, that Mr.Zaluski is unfit to enter a respectable house.""Perhaps he is really some escaped criminal?" suggested Mr.

Shrewsbury, tentatively.

Mrs.Selldon hesitated.Then, under the cover of the general roar of conversation, she said in a low voice:-"You have guessed quite rightly.He is one of the Nihilists who were concerned in the assassination of the late Czar.""You don't say so!" exclaimed Mark Shrewsbury, much startled."Is it possible?""Indeed, it is only too true," said Mrs.Selldon."I heard it only the other morning, and on the very best authority.Poor Gertrude Morley! My heart bleeds for her."Now I can't help observing here that this must have been the merest figure of speech, for just then there was a comfortable little glow of satisfaction about Mrs.Selldon's heart.She was so delighted to have "got on well," as she expressed it, with the literary lion, and by this time dessert was on the table, and soon the tedious ceremony would be happily over.

"But how did he escape?" asked Mark Shrewsbury, still with the thought of "copy" in his mind.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 徒步天下

    徒步天下

    八年之前的一场火拼改变了他的命运。八年之后,为了生存依然走上了不屈的道路。曾经的兄弟,是否还会回到他的身边,今后的美女是否能投入他的怀抱!这本小说有轰轰烈烈的爱情同时也有有难同当的友情还有邪恶的人性!
  • 古堡启示录

    古堡启示录

    神秘未知的森之古堡,笼罩过去,现在,未来的时空。无尽的树木掩盖之下,是怎样的神奇瑰丽;那深处迷雾当中,红色的妖艳之光又预示着什么?被莫名规则束缚着的种族们仍在无力的抗争着,三大伟人的伫立,那深邃的眼神能否看清古堡当中最莫测的存在......活着?还是死了?
  • 微笑的声音

    微笑的声音

    18年。。。长久的等到他。十几年前,那个梦是什么意思,那句话是什么意思。。。几年后,梦再次出现,抓住他。。。不然我会怎样。。。那个他,像阳光照进我黑暗的世界,逐渐向他敞开心房,并爱上了他。。。但是,并不长久的幸福。。。爱我还是她,请选择。。。他没有选,那,我离开,谢谢你给我美好幸福又残忍悲痛的青春与爱,那就,祝你幸福。。。再见我曾经爱过的你。。。
  • 最强废品王

    最强废品王

    人之身体犹如宇宙之壳,人之精神犹如宇宙之脑!世间万物皆有体,世间万物皆有魂!许坏,本是收废品的少年,横空出世,技惊秘组,硬憾无双势力,步步登天,如上青云大道,霸气镇压九重天,无上天主凌越大主宰!他是货郎,他是废品大王,那也是至高至上最强废品王!
  • 我是世界守护者

    我是世界守护者

    这是在初音穿越到主世界后和主角哈斯塔的生活,有穿越,有后宫(误),有妹子的poi!
  • 奇异运镖路

    奇异运镖路

    没有魔法,也没有斗气,有的只是矫健的身手和深厚的内功。一个镖师的旅途经历。
  • 分手之后还爱你

    分手之后还爱你

    分手后,苏子悦才发现自己竟然怀孕了,分手是因为知道那个男人不爱自己,如今又该何去何从?当她终于做出选择,多年前的秘密又在她面前慢慢展开……
  • 血月春秋

    血月春秋

    刀转千战而不败。一人一刀,书写江湖传说。错的不是你我,而是,这个天下。
  • 鲁山医侠传

    鲁山医侠传

    “萦儿,昨日你偷偷藏起来尾随爹爹进宫,也算见到了宫中景色。跟爹说说,与现在我们正在看的鲁山风光相比,哪个你更喜欢?”淳于意的大手牵着小女儿的小手,在这钟林毓秀之地,父女二人开始谈心。“当然是这里,宫里······都是高高的城墙,我只能看到一点点白云漂浮在天上。但是爹爹,你看这里,有山有水,还有所有的白云和天空我们都可以看到,我真的非常喜欢这里!”听到父亲的问话,小缇萦低着脑袋想了想,认真的看着父亲回答到。可是,他们父女二人谁都没有料到,日后竟无一人避免进入这高高的城墙之地。
  • 替身爱

    替身爱

    你放心,我不会让你白白受委屈。你放心,他们一个也不会好过。你放心,我会好好活着