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！
who was to know？ He must carry four hundred pounds about
with him till Monday； when the neglect could be
surreptitiously repaired； and meanwhile； he was free to pass
the afternoon on the encircling divan of the billiard…room；
smoking his pipe； sipping a pint of ale； and enjoying to the
masthead the modest pleasures of admiration。
None can admire like a young man。 Of all youth's passions
and pleasures； this is the most common and least alloyed； and
every flash of Alan's black eyes； every aspect of his curly
head； every graceful reach； every easy； stand…off attitude of
waiting； ay； and down to his shirt…sleeves and wrist…links；
were seen by John through a luxurious glory。 He valued
himself by the possession of that royal friend； hugged
himself upon the thought； and swam in warm azure； his own
defects； like vanquished difficulties； becoming things on
which to plume himself。 Only when he thought of Miss
Mackenzie there fell upon his mind a shadow of regret； that
young lady was worthy of better things than plain John
Nicholson； still known among schoolmates by the derisive name
of 'Fatty'； and he felt； if he could chalk a cue； or stand at
ease； with such a careless grace as Alan； he could approach
the object of his sentiments with a less crushing sense of
inferiority。
Before they parted； Alan made a proposal that was startling
in the extreme。 He would be at Colette's that night about
twelve； he said。 Why should not John come there and get the
money？ To go to Colette's was to see life； indeed； it was
wrong； it was against the laws； it partook； in a very dingy
manner； of adventure。 Were it known； it was the sort of
exploit that disconsidered a young man for good with the more
serious classes； but gave him a standing with the riotous。
And yet Colette's was not a hell； it could not come； without
vaulting hyperbole； under the rubric of a gilded saloon； and；
if it was a sin to go there； the sin was merely local and
municipal。 Colette （whose name I do not know how to spell；
for I was never in epistolary communication with that
hospitable outlaw） was simply an unlicensed publican； who
gave suppers after eleven at night； the Edinburgh hour of
closing。 If you belonged to a club； you could get a much
better supper at the same hour； and lose not a jot in public
esteem。 But if you lacked that qualification； and were an
hungered； or inclined toward conviviality at unlawful hours；
Colette's was your only port。 You were very ill…supplied。
The company was not recruited from the Senate or the Church；
though the Bar was very well represented on the only occasion
on which I flew in the face of my country's laws； and； taking
my reputation in my hand； penetrated into that grim supper…
house。 And Colette's frequenters； thrillingly conscious of
wrong…doing and 'that two…handed engine （the policeman） at
the door；' were perhaps inclined to somewhat feverish excess。
But the place was in no sense a very bad one； and it is
somewhat strange to me； at this distance of time； how it had
acquired its dangerous repute。
In precisely the same spirit as a man may debate a project to
ascend the Matterhorn or to cross Africa； John considered
Alan's proposal； and； greatly daring； accepted it。 As he
walked home； the thoughts of this excursion out of the safe
places of life into the wild and arduous； stirred and
struggled in his imagination with the image of Miss Mackenzie
… incongruous and yet kindred thoughts； for did not each
imply unusual tightening of the pegs of resolution？ did not
each woo him forth and warn him back again into himself？
Between these two considerations； at least； he was more than
usually moved； and when he got to Randolph Crescent； he quite
forgot the four hundred pounds in the inner pocket of his
greatcoat； hung up the coat； with its rich freight； upon his
particular pin of the hatstand； and in the very action sealed
his doom。
CHAPTER II … IN WHICH JOHN REAPS THE WHIRLWIND
ABOUT half…past ten it was John's brave good fortune to offer
his arm to Miss Mackenzie； and escort her home。 The night
was chill and starry； all the way eastward the trees of the
different gardens rustled and looked black。 Up the stone
gully of Leith Walk； when they came to cross it； the breeze
made a rush and set the flames of the street…lamps quavering；
and when at last they had mounted to the Royal Terrace； where
Captain Mackenzie lived； a great salt freshness came in their
faces from the sea。 These phases of the walk remained
written on John's memory； each emphasised by the touch of
that light hand on his arm； and behind all these aspects of
the nocturnal city he saw； in his mind's…eye； a picture of
the lighted drawing…room at home where he had sat talking
with Flora； and his father； from the other end； had looked on
with a kind and ironical smile。 John had read the
significance of that smile； which might have escaped a
stranger。 Mr。 Nicholson had remarked his son's entanglement
with satisfaction； tinged by humour； and his smile； if it
still was a thought contemptuous； had implied consent。
At the captain's door the girl held out her hand； with a
certain emphasis； and John took it and kept it a little
longer； and said； 'Good…night； Flora； dear；' and was
instantly thrown into much fear by his presumption。 But she
only laughed； ran up the steps； and rang the bell； and while
she was waiting for the door to open； kept close in the
porch； and talked to him from that point as out of a
fortification。 She had a knitted shawl over her head； her
blue Highland eyes took the light from the neighbouring
street…lamp and sparkled； and when the door opened and closed
upon her； John felt cruelly alone。
He proceeded slowly back along the terrace in a tender glow；
and when he came to Greenside Church； he halted in a doubtful
mind。 Over the crown of the Calton Hill； to his left； lay
the way to Colette's； where Alan would soon be looking for
his arrival； and where he would now have no more consented to
go than he would have wilfully wallowed in a bog； the touch
of the girl's hand on his sleeve； and the kindly light in his
father's eyes； both loudly forbidding。 But right before him
was the way home； which pointed only to bed； a place of
little ease for one whose fancy was strung to the lyrical
pitch； and whose not very ardent heart was just then
tumultuously moved。 The hilltop； the cool air of the night；
the company of the great monuments； the sight of the city
under his feet； with its hills and valleys and crossing files
of lamps； drew him by all he had of the poetic； and he turned
that way； and by that quite innocent deflection； ripened the
crop of his venial errors for the sickle of destiny。
On a seat on the hill above Greenside he sat for perhaps half
an hour； looking down upon the lamps of Edinburgh； and up at
the lamps of heaven。 Wonderful were the resolves he formed；
beautiful and kindly were the vistas of future life that sped
before him。 He uttered to himself the name of Flora in so
many touching and dramatic keys； that he became at length
fairly melted with tenderness； and could have sung aloud。 At
that juncture a certain creasing in his greatcoat caught his
ear。 He put his hand into his pocket； pulled forth the
envelope that held the money； and sat stupefied。 The Calton
Hill； about this period； had an ill name of nights； and to be
sitting there with four hundred pounds that did not belong to
him was hardly wise。 He looked up。 There was a man in a
very bad hat a little on one side of him； apparently looking
at the scenery； from a little on the other a second night…
walker was drawing very quietly near。 Up jumped John。 The
envelope fell from his hands； he stooped to get it； and at
the same moment both men ran in and closed with him。
A little after； he got to his feet very sore and shaken； the
poorer by a purse wh