pp.thegoldencompass-第2部分

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　the　floor　and　make　myself　fortable。　I've　just　got　to　see　what　they　do。〃
　　She　had　been　crouching。　She　carefully　stood　up；　feeling　around　for　the　clothes　hangers　in　order　not　to　make　a　noise；　and　found　that　the　wardrobe　was　bigger　than　she'd　thought。　There　were　several　academic　robes　and　hoods；　some　with　fur　around　them；　most　faced　with　silk。
　　〃I　wonder　if　these　are　all　the　Master's？〃　she　whispered。　〃When　he　gets　honorary　degrees　from　other　places；　perhaps　they　give　him　fancy　robes　and　he　keeps　them　here　for　dressing…up　。　。　。　。Pan；　do　you　really　think　it's　not　poison　in　that　wine？〃
　　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　it　is；　like　you　do。　And　I　think　it's　none　of　our　business。　And　I　think　it　would　be　the　silliest　thing　you've　ever　done　in　a　lifetime　of　silly　things　to　interfere。　It's　nothing　to　do　with　us。〃
　　〃Don't　be　stupid；〃　Lyra　said。　〃I　can't　sit　in　here　and　watch　them　give　him　poison！〃
　　〃e　somewhere　else；　then。〃
　　〃You're　a　coward；　Pan。〃
　　〃Certainly　I　am。　May　I　ask　what　you　intend　to　do？　Are　you　going　to　leap　out　and　snatch　the　glass　from　his　trembling　fingers？　What　did　you　have　in　mind？〃
　　〃I　didn't　have　anything　in　mind；　and　well　you　know　it；〃　she　snapped　quietly。　〃But　now　I've　seen　what　the　Master　did；　I　haven't　got　any　choice。　You're　supposed　to　know　about　conscience；　aren't　you？　How　can　I　just　go　and　sit　in　the　library　or　somewhere　and　twiddle　my　thumbs；　knowing　what's　going　to　happen？　I　don't　intend　to　do　that；　I　promise　you。〃
　　〃This　is　what　you　wanted　all　the　time；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃You　wanted　to　hide　in　here　and　watch。　Why　didn't　I　realize　that　before？〃
　　〃All　right；　I　do；〃　she　said。　〃Everyone　knows　they　get　up　to　something　secret。　They　have　a　ritual　or　something。　And　I　just　wanted　to　know　what　it　was。〃
　　〃It's　none　of　your　business！　If　they　want　to　enjoy　their　little　secrets　you　should　just　feel　superior　and　let　them　get　on　with　it。　Hiding　and　spying　is　for　silly　children。〃
　　〃Exactly　what　I　knew　you'd　say。　Now　stop　nagging。〃
　　The　two　of　them　sat　in　silence　for　a　while；　Lyra　unfortable　on　the　hard　floor　of　the　wardrobe　and　Pantalaimon　self…righteously　twitching　his　temporary　antennae　on　one　of　the　robes。　Lyra　felt　a　mixture　of　thoughts　contending　in　her　head；　and　she　would　have　liked　nothing　better　than　to　share　them　with　her　daemon；　but　she　was　proud　too。　Perhaps　she　should　try　to　clear　them　up　without　his　help。
　　Her　main　thought　was　anxiety；　and　it　wasn't　for　herself。　She'd　been　in　trouble　often　enough　to　be　used　to　it。　This　time　she　was　anxious　about　Lord　Asriel；　and　about　what　this　all　meant。　It　wasn't　often　that　he　visited　the　college；　and　the　fact　that　this　was　a　time　of　high　political　tension　meant　that　he　hadn't　e　simply　to　eat　and　drink　and　smoke　with　a　few　old　friends。　She　knew　that　both　Lord　Asriel　and　the　Master　were　members　of　the　Cabinet　Council；　the　Prime　Minister's　special　advisory　body；　so　it　might　have　been　something　to　do　with　that；　but　meetings　of　the　Cabinet　Council　were　held　in　the　palace；　not　in　the　Retiring　Room　of　Jordan　College。　Then　there　was　the　rumor　that　had　been　keeping　the　College　servants　whispering　for　days。　It　was　said　that　the　Tartars　had　invaded　Muscovy；　and　were　surging　north　to　St。　Petersburg；　from　where　they　would　be　able　to　dominate　the　Baltic　Sea　and　eventually　overe　the　entire　west　of　Europe。　And　Lord　Asriel　had　been　in　the　far　North：　when　she'd　seen　him　last；　he　was　preparing　an　expedition　to　Lapland　。　。　。　
　　〃Pan；〃　she　whispered。
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃Do　you　think　there'll　be　a　war？〃
　　〃Not　yet。　Lord　Asriel　wouldn't　be　dining　here　if　it　was　going　to　break　out　in　the　next　week　or　so。〃
　　〃That's　what　I　thought。　But　later？〃
　　〃Shh！　Someone's　ing。〃
　　She　sat　up　and　put　her　eye　to　the　crack　of　the　door。　It　was　the　Butler；　ing　to　trim　the　lamp　as　the　Master　had　ordered　him　to。　The　mon　room　and　the　library　were　lit　by　anbar…ic　power；　but　the　Scholars　preferred　the　older；　softer　naphtha　lamps　in　the　Retiring　Room。　They　wouldn't　change　that　in　the　Master's　lifetime。
　　The　Butler　trimmed　the　wick；　and　put　another　log　on　the　fire　as　well；　and　then　listened　carefully　at　the　hall　door　before　helping　himself　to　a　handful　of　leaf　from　the　smoking　stand。　He　had　hardly　replaced　the　lid　when　the　handle　of　the　other　door　turned；　making　him　jump　nervously。　Lyra　tried　not　to　laugh。　The　Butler　hastily　stuffed　the　leaf　into　his　pocket　and　turned　to　face　the　iner。
　　〃Lord　Asriel！〃　he　said；　and　a　shiver　of　cold　surprise　ran　down　Lyra's　back。　She　couldn't　see　him　from　where　she　was；　and　she　tried　to　smother　the　urge　to　move　and　look。
　　〃Good　evening；　Wren；〃　said　Lord　Asriel。　Lyra　always　heard　that　harsh　voice　with　a　mixture　of　pleasure　and　apprehension。　〃I　arrived　too　late　to　dine。　I'll　wait　in　here。〃
　　The　Butler　looked　unfortable。　Guests　entered　the　Retiring　Room　at　the　Master's　invitation　only；　and　Lord　Asriel　knew　that；　but　the　Butler　also　saw　Lord　Asriel　looking　pointedly　at　the　bulge　in　his　pocket；　and　decided　not　to　protest。
　　〃Shall　I　let　the　Master　know　you've　arrived；　my　lord？〃
　　〃No　harm　in　that。　You　might　bring　me　some　coffee。〃
　　〃Very　good；　my　lord。〃
　　The　Butler　bowed　and　hastened　out；　his　daemon　trotting　submissively　at　his　heels。　Lyra's　uncle　moved　across　to　the　fire　and　stretched　his　arms　high　above　his　head；　yawning　like　a　lion。　He　was　wearing　traveling　clothes。　Lyra　was　reminded；　as　she　always　was　when　she　saw　him　again；　of　how　much　he　frightened　her。　There　was　no　question　now　of　creeping　out　unnoticed：　she'd　have　to　sit　tight　and　hope。
　　Lord　Asriel's　daemon；　a　snow　leopard；　stood　behind　him。
　　〃Are　you　going　to　show　the　projections　in　here？〃　she　said　quietly。
　　〃Yes。　It'll　create　less　fuss　than　moving　to　the　lecture　theater。　They'll　want　to　see　the　specimens　too；　I'll　send　for　the　Porter　in　a　minute。　This　is　a　bad　time；　Stelmaria。〃
　　〃You　should　rest。〃
　　He　stretched　out　in　one　of　the　armchairs；　so　that　Lyra　could　no　longer　see　his　face。
　　〃Yes；　yes。　I　should　also　change　my　clothes。　There's　probably　some　ancient　etiquette　that　allows　them　to　fine　me　a　dozen　bottles　for　ing　in　here　dressed　improperly。　I　should　sleep　for　three　days。　The　fact　remains　that…〃
　　There　was　a　knock；　and　the　Butler　came　in　with　a　silver　tray　bearing　a　coffeepot　and　a　cup。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　〃Thank　you；　Wren；〃　said　Lord　Asriel。　〃Is　that　the　Tokay　I　can　see　on　the　table？〃
　　〃The　Master　ordered　it　decanted　especially　for　you；　my　I　lord；〃　said　the　Butler。　〃There　are　only　three　dozen　bottles　left　I　of　the'98。〃
　　〃All　good　things　pass　away。　Leave　the　tray　here　beside　me。　Oh；　ask　the　Porter　to　send　up　the　two　cases　I　left　in　the　Lodge；　would　you？〃
　　〃Here；　my　lord？〃
　　〃Yes；　here；　man。　And　I　shall　need　a　screen　and　a　projecting　lantern；　also　here；　also　now。〃
　　The　Butler　could　hardly　prevent　himself　from　opening　his　mouth　in　surprise；　but　managed　to　suppress　the　question；　or　the　protest。
　　〃Wren；　you're　forgetting　your　place；〃　said　Lord　Asriel。　〃Don't　question　me；　just　do　as　I　tell　you。〃
　　〃Very　good；　my　lord；〃　said　the　Butler。　〃If　I　may　suggest　it；　I　should　perhaps　let　Mr。　Cawson　know　what　you're　planning；　my　lord；　or　else　he'll　be　somewhat　taken　aback；　if　you　see　what　I　mean。〃
　　〃Yes。　Tell　him；　then。〃
　　Mr。　Cawson　was　the　Steward。　There　was　an　old　and　well…established　rivalry　between　him　and　the　Butler。　The　Steward　was　the　superior；　but　the　Butler　had　more　opportunities　to　ingratiate　himself　with　the　Scholars；　and　made　full　use　of　them。　He　would　be　delighted　to　have　this　chance　of　showing　the　Steward　that　he　knew　more　about　what　was　going　on　in　the　Retiring　Room。
　　He　bowed　and　left。　Lyra　watched　as　her　uncle　poured　a　cup　of　coffee；　drained　it　at　once；　and　poured　another　before　sipping　more　slowly。　She　was　agog：　cases　of　specimens？　A　projecting　lantern？　What　did　he　have　to　show　the　Scholars　that　was　so　urgent　and　important？
　　Then　Lord　Asriel　stood　up　and　turned　away　from　the　fire。　She　saw　him　fully；　and　marveled　at　the　contrast　he　made　with　the　plump　Butler；　the　stooped　and　languid　Scholars。　Lord　Asriel　was　a　tall　man　with　powerful　shoulders；　a　fierce　dark　face；　and　eyes　that　seemed　to　flash　and　glitter　with　savage　laughter。　It　was　a　face　to　be　dominated　by；　or　to　fight：　never　a　face　to　patronize　or　pity。　All　his　movements　were　large　and　perfectly　balanced；　like　those　of　a　wild　animal；　and　when　he　appeared　in　a　room　like　this；　he　seemed　a　wild　animal　held　in　a　cage　too　small　for　it。
　　At　the　moment　his　expression　was　distant　and　preoccupied。　His　daemon　came　close　and　leaned　her　head　on　his　waist；　and　he　looked　down　at　her　unfathomably　before　turning　away　and　walking　to　the　table。　Lyra　suddenly　felt　her　stomach　lurch；　for　Lord　Asriel　had　taken　the　stopper　from　the　decanter　of　Tokay；　and　was　pouring　a　glass。
　　〃No！〃
　　The　quiet　cry　came　before　she　could　hold　it　back。　Lord　Asriel　heard　and　turned　at　once。
　　〃Who's　there？〃
　　She　couldn't　help　herself。　She　tumbled　out　of　the　wardrobe　and　scrambled　up　to　snatch　the　glass　from　his　hand。　The　wine　flew　out；　splashing　on　the　edge　of　the　table　and　the　carpet；　and　then　the　glass　fell　and　smashed。　He　seized　her　wrist　and　twisted　hard。
　　〃Lyra！　What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
　　〃Let　go　of　me　and　I'll　tell　you！〃
　　〃I'll　break