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classic mystery and detective stories-第3部分
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exceedingly small if he were ever able to warm himself at; and a
corner chimney…piece like a pyramidal staircase to the ceiling for
Tom Thumb。 The papering of one side of the room had dropped down
bodily; with fragments of plaster adhering to it; and almost
blocked up the door。 It appeared that Master B。; in his spiritual
condition; always made a point of pulling the paper down。 Neither
the landlord nor Ikey could suggest why he made such a fool of
himself。
Except that the house had an immensely large rambling loft at top;
I made no other discoveries。 It was moderately well furnished; but
sparely。 Some of the furnituresay; a thirdwas as old as the
house; the rest was of various periods within the last half…
century。 I was referred to a corn…chandler in the market…place of
the county town to treat for the house。 I went that day; and I
took it for six months。
It was just the middle of October when I moved in with my maiden
sister (I venture to call her eight…and…thirty; she is so very
handsome; sensible; and engaging)。 We took with us; a deaf stable…
man; my bloodhound Turk; two women servants; and a young person
called an Odd Girl。 I have reason to record of the attendant last
enumerated; who was one of the Saint Lawrence's Union Female
Orphans; that she was a fatal mistake and a disastrous engagement。
The year was dying early; the leaves were falling fast; it was a
raw cold day when we took possession; and the gloom of the house
was most depressing。 The cook (an amiable woman; but of a weak
turn of intellect) burst into tears on beholding the kitchen; and
requested that her silver watch might be delivered over to her
sister (2 Tuppintock's Gardens; Liggs's Walk; Clapham Rise); in the
event of anything happening to her from the damp。 Streaker; the
housemaid; feigned cheerfulness; but was the greater martyr。 The
Odd Girl; who had never been in the country; alone was pleased; and
made arrangements for sowing an acorn in the garden outside the
scullery window; and rearing an oak。
We went; before dark; through all the naturalas opposed to
supernaturalmiseries incidental to our state。 Dispiriting
reports ascended (like the smoke) from the basement in volumes; and
descended from the upper rooms。 There was no rolling…pin; there
was no salamander (which failed to surprise me; for I don't know
what it is); there was nothing in the house; what there was; was
broken; the last people must have lived like pigs; what could the
meaning of the landlord be? Through these distresses; the Odd Girl
was cheerful and exemplary。 But within four hours after dark we
had got into a supernatural groove; and the Odd Girl had seen
〃Eyes;〃 and was in hysterics。
My sister and I had agreed to keep the haunting strictly to
ourselves; and my impression was; and still is; that I had not left
Ikey; when he helped to unload the cart; alone with the women; or
any one of them; for one minute。 Nevertheless; as I say; the Odd
Girl had 〃seen Eyes〃 (no other explanation could ever be drawn from
her); before nine; and by ten o'clock had had as much vinegar
applied to her as would pickle a handsome salmon。
I leave a discerning public to judge of my feelings; when; under
these untoward circumstances; at about half…past ten o'clock Master
B。's bell began to ring in a most infuriated manner; and Turk
howled until the house resounded with his lamentations!
I hope I may never again be in a state of mind so unchristian as
the mental frame in which I lived for some weeks; respecting the
memory of Master B。 Whether his bell was rung by rats; or mice; or
bats; or wind; or what other accidental vibration; or sometimes by
one cause; sometimes another; and sometimes by collusion; I don't
know; but; certain it is; that it did ring two nights out of three;
until I conceived the happy idea of twisting Master B。's neckin
other words; breaking his bell short offand silencing that young
gentleman; as to my experience and belief; for ever。
But; by that time; the Odd Girl had developed such improving powers
of catalepsy; that she had become a shining example of that very
inconvenient disorder。 She would stiffen; like a Guy Fawkes
endowed with unreason; on the most irrelevant occasions。 I would
address the servants in a lucid manner; pointing out to them that I
had painted Master B。's room and balked the paper; and taken Master
B。's bell away and balked the ringing; and if they could suppose
that that confounded boy had lived and died; to clothe himself with
no better behavior than would most unquestionably have brought him
and the sharpest particles of a birch…broom into close acquaintance
in the present imperfect state of existence; could they also
suppose a mere poor human being; such as I was; capable by those
contemptible means of counteracting and limiting the powers of the
disembodied spirits of the dead; or of any spirits?I say I would
become emphatic and cogent; not to say rather complacent; in such
an address; when it would all go for nothing by reason of the Odd
Girl's suddenly stiffening from the toes upward; and glaring among
us like a parochial petrifaction。
Streaker; the housemaid; too; had an attribute of a most
discomfiting nature。 I am unable to say whether she was of an
usually lymphatic temperament; or what else was the matter with
her; but this young woman became a mere Distillery for the
production of the largest and most transparent tears I ever met
with。 Combined with these characteristics; was a peculiar tenacity
of hold in those specimens; so that they didn't fall; but hung upon
her face and nose。 In this condition; and mildly and deplorably
shaking her head; her silence would throw me more heavily than the
Admirable Crichton could have done in a verbal disputation for a
purse of money。 Cook; likewise; always covered me with confusion
as with a garment; by neatly winding up the session with the
protest that the Ouse was wearing her out; and by meekly repeating
her last wishes regarding her silver watch。
As to our nightly life; the contagion of suspicion and fear was
among us; and there is no such contagion under the sky。 Hooded
woman? According to the accounts; we were in a perfect Convent of
hooded women。 Noises? With that contagion downstairs; I myself
have sat in the dismal parlor; listening; until I have heard so
many and such strange noises; that they would have chilled my blood
if I had not warmed it by dashing out to make discoveries。 Try
this in bed; in the dead of the night: try this at your own
comfortable fire…side; in the life of the night。 You can fill any
house with noises; if you will; until you have a noise for every
nerve in your nervous system。
I repeat; the contagion of suspicion and fear was among us; and
there is no such contagion under the sky。 The women (their noses
in a chronic state of excoriation from smelling…salts) were always
primed and loaded for a swoon; and ready to go off with hair…
triggers。 The two elder detached the Odd Girl on all expeditions
that were considered doubly hazardous; and she always established
the reputation of such adventures by coming back cataleptic。 If
Cook or Streaker went overhead after dark; we knew we should
presently hear a bump on the ceiling; and this took place so
constantly; that it was as if a fighting man were engaged to go
about the house; administering a touch of his art which I believe
is called The Auctioneer; to every domestic he met with。
It was in vain to do anything。 It was in vain to be frightened;
for the moment in one's own person; by a real owl; and then to show
the owl。 It was in vain to discover; by striking an accidental
discord on the piano; that Turk always howled at particular notes
and combinations。 It was in vain to be a Rhadamanthus with the
bells; and if an unfortunate bell rang without leave; to have it
down inexorably and silence it。 It was in vain to fire up
chimneys; let torches down the well; charge furiously into
suspected rooms and recesses。 We changed servants; and it was no
better。 The new set ran away; and a third set came; and it was no
better。 At last; our comfortable housekeeping got to be so
disorganised and wretched; that I one night dejectedly said to my
sister: 〃Patty; I begin to despair of our getting people to go on
with us here; and I think we must give this up。〃
My sister; who is a woman of immense spirit; replied; 〃No; John;
don't give it up。 Don't be beaten; John。 There is another way。〃
〃And what is that?〃 said I。
〃John;〃 returned my sister; 〃if we are not to be driven out of this
house; and that for no reason whatever; that is apparent to you or
me; we must help ourselves and take the house wholly and solely
into our own hands。〃
〃But; the servants;〃 said I。
〃Have no servants;〃 said my sister; boldly。
Like most people in my grade of life;
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