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！
Black
Finding himself once more in the open street； Jonathan Rugg stood
for a while in the moonlight； endeavoring to compose his mind
into somewhat of that sobriety that was habitual with him； for；
indeed； he was not a little excited by the unexpected incidents
that had just befallen him。 From this effort at composure he was
aroused by observing that a little gentleman clad all in black
had stopped at a little distance away and was looking very
intently at him。 In the brightness of the moonlight our hero
could see that the little gentleman possessed but a single eye；
and that he carried a gold…headed cane in his hand。 He had hardly
time to observe these particulars； when the other approached him
with every appearance of politeness and cordiality。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃surely I am not mistaken in recognizing in you
the supercargo of the ship SUSANNA HAYES； which arrived this
afternoon at this port？〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Jonathan； 〃thou art right； friend。 That is my
occupation； and that is whence I came。〃
〃To be sure！〃 said the little gentleman。 〃To be sure！ To be sure！
The SUSANNA HAYES； with a cargo of Indian…corn meal； and from
dear good friend Jeremiah Doolittle； of Philadelphia。 I know your
good master very wellvery well indeed。 And have you never heard
him speak of his friend Mr。 Abner Greenway； of Kingston；
Jamaica？〃
〃Why； no；〃 replied Jonathan； 〃I have no such recollection of the
name nor do I know that any such name hath ever appeared upon our
books。〃
〃To be sure！ To be sure！〃 repeated the little gentleman； briskly；
and with exceeding good…nature。 〃Indeed； my name is not likely to
have ever appeared upon his books； for I am not a business
correspondent； but one who； in times past； was his extremely
intimate friend。 There is much I would like to ask about him；
and； indeed； I was in hopes that you would have been the bearer
of a letter from him。 But I have lodgings at a little distance
from here； so that if it is not requesting too much of you maybe
you will accompany me thither； so that we may talk at our
leisure。 I would gladly accompany you to your ship instead of
urging you to come to my apartments； but I must tell you I am
possessed of a devil of a fever； so that my physician hath
forbidden me to be out of nights。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Jonathan； whom； you may have observed； was of a
very easy disposition〃indeed； I shall be very glad to accompany
thee to thy lodgings。 There is nothing I would like better than
to serve any friend of good Jeremiah Doolittle's。〃
And thereupon； and with great amity； the two walked off together；
the little one…eyed gentleman in black linking his arm
confidingly into that of Jonathan's； and tapping the pavement
continually with his cane as he trotted on at a great pace。 He
was very well acquainted with the town （of which he was a
citizen）； and so interesting was his discourse that they had gone
a considerable distance before Jonathan observed they were
entering into a quarter darker and less frequented than that
which they had quitted。 Tall brick houses stood upon either side；
between which stretched a narrow； crooked roadway； with a kennel
running down the centre。
In front of one of these housesa tall and gloomy structureour
hero's conductor stopped and； opening the door with a key；
beckoned for him to enter。 Jonathan having complied； his
new…found friend led the way up a flight of steps； against which
Jonathan's feet beat noisily in the darkness； and at length；
having ascended two stairways and having reached a landing； he
opened a door at the end of the passage and ushered Jonathan into
an apartment； unlighted； except for the Moonshine； which； coming
in through a partly open shutter； lay in a brilliant patch of
light upon the floor。
His conductor having struck a light with a flint and steel； our
hero by the illumination of a single candle presently discovered
himself to be in a bedchamber furnished with no small degree of
comfort； and even elegance； and having every appearance of a
bachelor's chamber。
〃You will pardon me；〃 said his new acquaintance； 〃if I shut these
shutters and the window； for that devilish fever of which I spoke
is of such a sort that I must keep the night air even out from my
room； or else I shall be shaking the bones out of my joints and
chattering the teeth out of my head by to…morrow morning。〃
So saying he was as good as his word； and not only drew the
shutters to； but shot the heavy iron bolt into its place。 Having
accomplished this he bade our hero to be seated； and placing
before him some exceedingly superior rum； together with some
equally excellent tobacco； they presently fell into the
friendliest discourse imaginable。 In the course of their talk；
which after awhile became exceedingly confidential； Jonathan
confided to his new friend the circumstances of the adventure
into which he had been led by the beautiful stranger； and to all
that he said concerning his adventure his interlocutor listened
with the closest and most scrupulously riveted attention。
〃Upon my word；〃 said he； when Jonathan had concluded； 〃I hope
that you may not have been made the victim of some foolish hoax。
Let me see what it is she has confided to you。〃
〃That I will；〃 replied Jonathan。 And thereupon he thrust his hand
into his breeches…pocket and brought forth the ivory ball。
No sooner did the one eye of the little gentleman in black light
upon the object than a most singular and extraordinary convulsion
appeared to seize upon him。 Had a bullet penetrated his heart he
could not have started more violently； nor have sat more rigidly
and breathlessly staring。
Mastering his emotion with the utmost difficulty as Jonathan
replaced the ball in his pocket； he drew a deep and profound
breath and wiped the palm of his hand across his forehead as
though arousing himself from a dream。
〃And you；〃 he said； of a sudden； 〃are； I understand it； a Quaker。
Do you； then； never carry a weapon； even in such a place as this；
where at any moment in the dark a Spanish knife may be stuck
betwixt your ribs？〃
〃Why； no；〃 said Jonathan； somewhat surprised that so foreign a
topic should have been so suddenly introduced into the discourse。
〃I am a man of peace and not of blood。 The people of the Society
of Friends never carry weapons； either of offence or defence。〃
As Jonathan concluded his reply the little gentleman suddenly
arose from his chair and moved briskly around to the other side
of the room。 Our hero； watching him with some surprise； beheld
him clap to the door and with a single movement shoot the bolt
and turn the key therein。 The next instant he turned to Jonathan
a visage transformed as suddenly as though he had dropped a mask
from his face。 The gossiping and polite little old bachelor was
there no longer； but in his stead a man with a countenance
convulsed with some furious and nameless passion。
〃That ball！〃 he cried； in a hoarse and raucous voice。 〃That ivory
ball！ Give it to me upon the instant！〃
As he spoke he whipped out from his bosom a long； keen Spanish
knife that in its every appearance spoke without equivocation of
the most murderous possibilities。
The malignant passions that distorted every lineament of the
countenance of the little old gentleman in black filled our hero
with such astonishment that he knew not whether he were asleep or
awake； but when he beheld the other advancing with the naked and
shining knife in his hand his reason returned to him like a
flash。 Leaping to his feet； he lost no time in putting the table
between himself and his sudden enemy。
〃Indeed； friend；〃 he cried； in a voice penetrated with
terror〃indeed； friend； thou hadst best keep thy distance from
me； for though I am a man of peace and a shunner of bloodshed； I
promise thee that I will not stand still to be murdered without
outcry or without endeavoring to defend my life！〃
〃Cry as loud as you please！〃 exclaimed the other。 〃No one is near
this place to hear you！ Cry until you are hoarse； no one in this
neighborhood will stop to ask what is the matter with you。 I tell
you I am determined to possess myself of that ivory ball； and