按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lack of a few thousand dollars； he must remain silent； must put
from him the best that ever came into his life； must waste the
wonderful devotion he longed to give； must starve the love that
he could never summon for any other woman。
On the thirty…first of May he went to sleep utterly and
completely miserable。 On the first of June he woke hopeless and
unrefreshed。
And then the miracle came。
Prichard； the ex…butler who valeted all the young gentlemen in
the house where Philip had taken chambers； brought him his
breakfast。 As he placed the eggs and muffins on the tables to
Philip it seemed as though Prichard had said： 〃I am sorry he is
leaving us。 The next gentleman who takes these rooms may not be
so open…handed。 He never locked up his cigars or his whiskey。 I
wish he'd give me his old dress…coat。 It fits me； except across
the shoulders。〃
Philip stared hard at Prichard； but the lips of the valet had not
moved。 In surprise and bewilderment； Philip demanded：
〃How do you know it fits？ Have you tried it on？〃
〃I wouldn't take such a liberty；〃 protested Prichard。 〃Not with
any of our gentlemen's clothes。〃
〃How did you know I was talking about clothes；〃 demanded Philip。
〃You didn't say anything about clothes； did you？〃
〃No； sir； I did not； but you asked me； sir； and I〃
〃Were you thinking of clothes？〃
〃Well； sir； you might say； in a way； that I was； answered the
valet。 〃Seeing as you're leaving； sir； and they're not over…new；
I thought 〃
〃It's mental telepathy；〃 said Philip。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 exclaimed Prichard。
〃You needn't wait；〃 said Philip。
The coincidence puzzled him； but by the time he had read the
morning papers he had forgotten about it； and it was not until he
had emerged into the street that it was forcibly recalled。 The
street was crowded with people； and as Philip stepped in among
them； It was as though every one at whom he looked began to talk
aloud。 Their lips did not move； nor did any sound issue from
between them； but； without ceasing； broken phrases of thoughts
came to him as clearly as when； in passing in a crowd； snatches
of talk are carried to the ears。 One man thought of his debts；
another of the weather； and of what disaster it might bring to
his silk hat； another planned his luncheon； another was rejoicing
over a telegram he had but that moment received。 To himself he
kept repeating the words of the telegram〃No need to come； out
of danger。〃 To Philip the message came as clearly as though he
were reading it from the folded slip of paper that the stranger
clutched in his hand。
Confused and somewhat frightened； and in order that undisturbed
he might consider what had befallen him； Philip sought refuge
from the crowded street in the hallway of a building。 His first
thought was that for some unaccountable cause his brain for the
moment was playing tricks with him； and he was inventing the
phrases he seemed to hear； that he was attributing thoughts to
others of which they were entirely innocent。 But； whatever it was
that had befallen him； he knew it was imperative that he should
at once get at the meaning of it。
The hallway in which he stood opened from Bond Street up a flight
of stairs to the studio of a fashionable photographer； and
directly in front of the hallway a young woman of charming
appearance had halted。 Her glance was troubled； her manner ill at
ease。 To herself she kept repeating： 〃Did I tell Hudson to be
here at a quarter to eleven； or a quarter past？ Will she get the
telephone message to bring the ruff？ Without the ruff it would be
absurd to be photographed。 Without her ruff Mary Queen of Scots
would look ridiculous！〃
Although the young woman had spoken not a single word； although
indeed she was biting impatiently at her lower lip； Philip had
distinguished the words clearly。 Or； if he had not distinguished
them； he surely was going mad。 It was a matter to be at once
determined； and the young woman should determine it。 He advanced
boldly to her； and raised his hat。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； 〃but I believe you are waiting for your
maid Hudson？〃
As though fearing an impertinence； the girl regarded him in
silence。
〃I only wish to make sure；〃 continued Philip； 〃that you are she
for whom I have a message。 You have an appointment； I believe； to
be photographed in fancy dress as Mary Queen of Scots？〃
〃Well？〃 assented the girl。
〃And you telephoned Hudson；〃 he continued； 〃to bring you your
muff。〃
The girl exclaimed with vexation。
〃Oh！〃 she protested； 〃I knew they'd get it wrong！ Not muff； ruff！
I want my ruff。〃
Philip felt a cold shiver creep down his spine。
〃For the love of Heaven！〃 he exclaimed in horror； 〃it's true！〃
〃What's true？〃 demanded the young woman in some alarm。
〃That I'm a mind reader；〃 declared Philip。 〃I've read your mind！
I can read everybody's mind。 I know just what you're thinking
now。 You're thinking I'm mad！〃
The actions of the young lady showed that again he was correct。
With a gasp of terror she fled past him and raced up the stairs
to the studio。 Philip made no effort to follow and to explain。
What was there to explain？ How could he explain that which； to
himself； was unbelievable？ Besides； the girl had served her
purpose。 If he could read the mind of one； he could read the
minds of all。 By some unexplainable miracle； to his ordinary
equipment of senses a sixth had been added。 As easily as； before
that morning； he could look into the face of a fellow…mortal； he
now could look into the workings of that fellow…mortal's mind。
The thought was appalling。 It was like living with one's ear to a
key…hole。 In his dismay his first idea was to seek medical
advicethe best in London。 He turned instantly in the direction
of Harley Street。 There； he determined； to the most skilled
alienist in town he would explain his strange plight。 For only as
a misfortune did the miracle appear to him。 But as he made his
way through the streets his pace slackened。
Was he wise； he asked himself； in allowing others to know he
possessed this strange power？ Would they not at once treat him as
a madman？ Might they not place him under observation； or even
deprive him of his liberty？ At the thought he came to an abrupt
halt His own definition of the miracle as a 〃power〃 had opened a
new line of speculation。 If this strange gift （already he was
beginning to consider it more leniently） were concealed from
others； could he not honorably put it to some useful purpose？
For； among the blind； the man with one eye is a god。 Was not
heamong all other men the only one able to read the minds of
all other mena god？ Turning into Bruton Street； he paced its
quiet length considering the possibilities that lay within him。
It was apparent that the gift would lead to countless
embarrassments。 If it were once known that he possessed it； would
not even his friends avoid him？ For how could any one； knowing
his most secret thought was at the mercy of another； be happy in
that other's presence？ His power would lead to his social
ostracism。 Indeed； he could see that his gift might easily become
a curse。 He decided not to act hastily； that for the present he
had best give no hint to others of his unique power。
As the idea of possessing this power became more familiar； he
regarded it with less aversion。 He began to consider to what
advantage he could place it。 He could see that； given the right
time and the right man； he might learn secrets leading to
far…reaching results。 To a statesman； to a financier； such a gift
as he possessed would make him a ruler of men。 Philip had no
desire to be a ruler of men； but he asked himself how could he
bend this gift to serve his own？ What he most wished was to marry
Helen Carey； and； to that end； to possess money。 So he must meet
men who possessed money； who were making money。 He would put
questions to them。 And with words they would give evasive
answers； but their minds would tell him the truth。
The ethics of this procedure greatly disturbed him。 Certainly it
was no better than reading other people's letters。 But； he
argued； the dishonor in knowledge so obtained would lie only in
the use he made of it。 If he used it wit