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！
His eyes fell to the pack in his hands and apparently searched it
for some particular card。
〃What was I doing？〃 he asked。
〃Dealing baccarat at the Casino des Fleurs。〃
With obvious relief he laughed。
〃Oh； yes；〃 he assented； 〃jolly place； Aix。 But I lost a pot of
money there。 I'm a rotten hand at cards。 Can't win； and can't
leave 'em alone。〃 As though for this weakness； so frankly
confessed； he begged me to excuse him； he smiled appealingly。
〃Poker； bridge； chemin de fer； I like 'em all；〃 he rattled on；
〃but they don't like me。 So I stick to solitaire。 It's dull； but
cheap。〃 He shuffled the cards clumsily。 As though making
conversation； he asked： 〃You care for cards yourself？〃
I told him truthfully I did not know the difference between a
club and a spade and had no curiosity to learn。 At this； when he
found he had been wasting time on me； I expected him to show some
sign of annoyance； even of irritation； but his disappointment
struck far deeper。 As though I had hurt him physically； he shut
his eyes； and when again he opened them I saw in them distress。
For the moment I believe of my presence he was utterly
unconscious。 His hands lay idle upon the table； like a man facing
a crisis； he stared before him。 Quite improperly； I felt sorry
for him。 In me he thought he had found a victim； and that the
loss of the few dollars he might have won should so deeply
disturb him showed his need was great。 Almost at once he
abandoned me and I went on deck。 When I returned an hour later to
the smoking…room he was deep in a game of poker。
As I passed he hailed me gayly。
〃Don't scold； now；〃 he laughed； 〃you know I can't keep away from
it。〃
From his manner those at the table might have supposed we were
friends of long and happy companionship。 I stopped behind his
chair； but he thought I had passed； and in reply to one of the
players answered： 〃Known him for years； he's set me right many a
time。 When I broke my right femur 'chasin；' he got me back in the
saddle in six weeks。 All my people swear by him。〃
One of the players smiled up at me； and Talbot turned。 But his
eyes met mine with perfect serenity。 He even held up his cards
for me to see。 〃What would you draw？〃 he asked。
His audacity so astonished me that in silence I could only stare
at him and walk on。
When on deck he met me he was not even apologetic。 Instead； as
though we were partners in crime； he chuckled delightedly。
〃Sorry；〃 he said。 〃Had to do it。 They weren't very keen at my
taking a hand； so I had to use your name。 But I'm all right now；〃
he assured me。 〃They think you vouched for me； and to…night
they're going to raise the limit。 I've convinced them I'm an easy
mark。〃
〃And I take it you are not；〃 I said stiffly。
He considered this unworthy of an answer and only smiled。 Then
the smile died； and again in his eyes I saw distress； infinite
weariness； and fear。
As though his thoughts drove him to seek protection； he came
closer。
〃I'm 'in bad；' doctor；〃 he said。 His voice was frightened；
bewildered； like that of a child。 〃I can't sleep； nerves all on
the loose。 I don't think straight。 I hear voices； and no one
around。 I hear knockings at the door； and when I open it； no one
there。 If I don't keep fit I can't work； and this trip I got to
make expenses。 You couldn't help me； could youcouldn't give me
something to keep my head straight？〃
The need of my keeping his head straight that he might the easier
rob our fellow…passengers raised a pretty question of ethics。 I
meanly dodged it。 I told him professional etiquette required I
should leave him to the ship's surgeon。
〃But I don't know HIM；〃 he protested。
Mindful of the use he had made of my name； I objected
strenuously：
〃Well； you certainly don't know me。〃
My resentment obviously puzzled him。
〃I know who you ARE；〃 he returned。 〃You and I〃With a
deprecatory gesture； as though good taste forbade him saying who
we were； he stopped。 〃But the ship's surgeon！〃 he protested；
〃he's an awful bounder！ Besides；〃 he added quite simply； 〃he's
watching me。〃
〃As a doctor；〃 I asked； 〃or watching you play cards？〃
〃Play cards；〃 the young man answered。 〃I'm afraid he was ship's
surgeon on the P。 & O。 I came home on。 There was trouble that
voyage； and I fancy he remembers me。〃
His confidences were becoming a nuisance。
〃But you mustn't tell me that；〃 I protested。 〃I can't have you
making trouble on this ship； too。 How do you know I won't go
straight from here to the captain？〃
As though the suggestion greatly entertained him； he laughed。
He made a mock obeisance。
〃I claim the seal of your profession；〃 he said。 〃Nonsense；〃 I
retorted。 〃It's a professional secret that your nerves are out of
hand； but that you are a card…sharp is NOT。 Don't mix me up with
a priest。〃
For a moment Talbot； as though fearing he had gone too far；
looked at me sharply； he bit his lower lip and frowned。
〃I got to make expenses；〃 he muttered。 〃And； besides； all card
games are games of chance； and a card…sharp is one of the
chances。 Anyway；〃 he repeated； as though disposing of all
argument； 〃I got to make expenses。〃
After dinner； when I came to the smoking…room； the poker party
sat waiting； and one of them asked if I knew where they could
find 〃my friend。〃 I should have said then that Talbot was a
steamer acquaintance only； but I hate a row； and I let the
chance pass。
〃We want to give him his revenge；〃 one of them volunteered。
〃He's losing； then？〃 I asked。
The man chuckled complacently。
〃The only loser；〃 he said。
〃I wouldn't worry；〃 I advised。 〃He'll come for his revenge。〃
That night after I had turned in he knocked at my door。 I
switched on the lights and saw him standing at the foot of my
berth。 I saw also that with difficulty he was holding himself in
hand。
〃I'm scared；〃 he stammered； 〃scared！〃
I wrote out a requisition on the surgeon for a sleeping…potion
and sent it to him by the steward； giving the man to understand I
wanted it for myself。 Uninvited； Talbot had seated himself on the
sofa。 His eyes were closed； and as though he were cold he was
shivering and hugging himself in his arms。
〃Have you been drinking？〃 I asked。
In surprise he opened his eyes。
〃I can't drink；〃 he answered simply。 〃It's nerves and worry。 I'm
tired。〃
He relaxed against the cushions； his arms fell heavily at his
sides； the fingers lay open。
〃God；〃 he whispered； 〃how tired I am！〃
In spite of his tanand certainly he had led the out…of…door
lifehis face showed white。 For the moment he looked old； worn；
finished。
〃They're crowdin' me；〃 the boy whispered。 〃They're always
crowdin' me。〃 His voice was querulous； uncomprehending； like
that of a child complaining of something beyond his experience。
〃I can't remember when they haven't been crowdin' me。 Movin' me
on； you understand？ Always movin' me on。 Moved me out of India；
then Cairo； then they closed Paris； and now they've shut me out
of London。 I opened a club there； very quiet； very exclusive；
smart neighborhood； tooa flat in Berkeley Streetroulette and
chemin de fer。 I think it was my valet sold me out； anyway； they
came in and took us all to Bow Street。 So I've plunged on this。
It's my last chance！〃
〃This trip？〃
〃No； my family in New York。 Haven't seen 'em in ten years。 They
paid me to live abroad。 I'm gambling on THEM； gambling on their
takin' me back。 I'm coming home as the Prodigal Son； tired of
filling my belly with the husks that the swine do eat； reformed
character； repentant and all that； want to follow the straight
and narrow； and they'll kill the fatted calf。〃 He laughed
sardonically。 〃Like hell they will！ They'd rather see ME killed。〃
It seemed to me； if he wished his family to believe he were
returning repentant； his course in the smoking…room would not
help to reassure them。 I suggested as much。
〃If you get into 'trouble；' as you call it；〃 I said； 〃and they
send a wireless to the police to be at the wharf； your people
would hardly〃
〃I know；〃 he interrupted； 〃but I got to chance that。 I GOT to
make enough to go on withuntil I see my family。〃
〃If they won't see you？〃 I asked。 〃What then？〃
He shrugged his shoulde