the fortunes of oliver horn-第32章
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lded his programme for the eveninga programme which was agreed to so rapturously that the trio before dinner was over excused themselves to their immediate neighbors and bounded upstairs； three steps at a time。 There they pulled the Walrus out of his bed and woke up McFudd； who had gone to sleep before dinner； and whom nobody had called。 Then having sent my Lord Cockburn to find Ruffle… shirt Tomlins； who by this time was paying court to Miss Euphemia in the front parlor； and having pinned a ticket to Mr。 Fog…horn Cranch's door； with instructions to meet them in the lobby the moment he returned； they all slipped on their overcoats； picked up their canes； and started for the theatre。
Six young fellows； all with red blood in their veins； steel springs under their toes and laughter in their hearts！ Six comrades； pals； good…fellows； skipping down the avenue as gay as colts and happy as boys no thought for to…day and no care for to…morrow！ Each man with a free ticket in his pocket and a show ahead of him。 No wonder the bluecoats looked after them and smiled； no wonder the old fellow with the shaky legs； waiting at the corner for one of the squad to help him over； gave a sigh as he watched McFudd； with cane in air； drilling his recruits； all five abreast。 No wonder the tired shop…girls glanced at them enviously as they swung into Broadway chanting the 〃Dead Man's Chorus；〃 with Oliver's voice sounding clear as a bell above the din of the streets。
The play was a melodrama of the old； old school。 There was a young heroine in white； and a handsome lover in top…boots and white trousers； and a cruel uncle who wanted her property。 And there was a particularly brutal villain with leery eyes； ugly mouth； with one tooth gone； and an iron jaw like a hull…dog's。 He was attired in a fur cap； brown corduroy jacket； with a blood…red handkerchief twisted about his throat； and he carried a bludgeon。 When the double…dyed villain proceeded in the third act to pound the head of the lovely maiden to a jelly at the instigation of the base uncle； concealed behind a painted tree…trunk； and the lover rushed in and tried to save her； every pair of hands except Oliver's came together in raptures of applause； assisted by a vigorous hammering of canes on the floor。
〃Pound away； Ollie；〃 whispered Simmons； 〃that's what we came for； you are spoiling all our fun。 The manager is watching us。 Pound away； I tell you。 There he is inside that box。〃
〃I won't；〃 said Oliver； in a tone of voice strangely in contrast with the joyousness of an hour before。
〃Then you won't get any more free tickets；〃 muttered Simmons in surprise。
〃I don't want them。 I don't believe in murdering people on the stage； or anywhere else。 That man's face is horrible； I'm sorry I came。〃
Simmons laughed； and； shielding his mouth with his hand； repeated Oliver's outburst to Waller； who； having first sent news of it down the line； reached over and shook Oliver's hand gravely； while he wiped a theatrical tear from his eye； while my Lord Cockburn； with feet and hands still busy； returned word to Oliver by Tomlins； 〃not to make a colossal ass of himself。〃 Oliver bore their ridicule good…naturedly； but without receding from his opinion in any way； a fact which ultimately raised him in the estimation of the group。 Only when the villain was thrown over the pasteboard cliff into a canvas sea by the gentleman in top…boots； to be devoured by sharks or cut up by pirates； or otherwise disposed of as befitted so blood…thirsty and cruel a monster； did Oliver join in the applause。
The play over； and Simmons having duly reported to the managerwho was delighted with the activity of the feet； but who advised that next time the sticks be left at homethe happy party sailed up Broadway； this time by threes and twos； swinging their canes as before； and threading their way in and out of the throngs that filled the street。
The first stop was made at the corner of Thirteenth Street by McFudd； who turned his troop abruptly to the right and marched them down a flight of steps into a cellar； where they immediately attacked a huge wash…tub filled with steamed clams； and covered with a white cloth to keep them hot。 This was the bar's free lunch。 The clams devouredsix eachand the necessary beers paid for； the whole party started to retrace their steps； when Simmons stopped to welcome a new…corner who had entered the cellar unperceived by the barkeeper； and who was bending over the wash…tub of clams； engaged in picking out the smallest of the bivalves with the end of all iron fork。 He had such a benevolent； kindly face； and was so courtly in his bearing； and spoke with so soft and gentle a voice； that Oliver； who stood next to Simmons； lingered to listen。
〃Oh； my dear Simmons；〃 cried the old gentleman； 〃we missed you to…night。 When are you coming back to us？ The orchestra is really getting to be deplorable。 Miss Gannon quite broke down in her song。 We must protest； my boy； we must protest。 I saw you in front； but you should be wielding the baton。 And is this young gentleman one of your friends？〃
〃YesMr。 Horn。 Ollie； let me introduce you to Mr。 Gilbert； the actor〃and he laid his hand on Oliver's shoulder〃dear John Gilbert； as we always call him。〃
Oliver looked up into the kindly； sweet face of the man； and a curious sensation passed over him。 Could this courtly； perfectly well…bred old gentleman； with his silver…white hair； beaming smile and gentle voice； the equal of any of his father's guests； be an actor？ Could he possibly belong to the profession which； of all others； Oliver had been taught to despise？ The astonishment of our young hero was so great that for a moment he could not speak。
Simmons thought he read Oliver's mind； and came to his rescue。
〃My friend； Mr。 Horn； did not like the play to… night； Mr。 Gilbert；〃 he said。 〃He thinks the death…scene was horrible〃and Simmons glanced smiling at the others who stood at a little distance watching the interview with great interest。
〃Dear me； dear me； you don't say so。 What was it you objected to； may I ask？〃 There was a trace of anxiety in his voice。
〃Why； the murder…scene； sir。 It seemed to me too dreadful to kill a woman in that way。 I haven't forgotten it yet；〃 and a distressed look passed over Oliver's face。 〃But then I have seen but very few plays；〃 he added〃none like that。〃
The old actor looked at him with a relieved expression。
〃Ah； yes； I see。 Yes； you're indeed right。 As you say； it is quite a dreadful scene。〃
〃Oh； then you've seen it yourself； sir；〃 said Oliver； in a relieved tone。
The old actor's eyes twinkled。 He； too； had read the young man's mindnot a difficult task when one looked down into Oliver's eyes。
〃Oh； many； many times；〃 he answered with a smile。 〃I have known it for years。 In the old days； when they would smash the poor lady's head； they used to have a pan of gravel which they would crunch with a stick to imitate the breaking of the。 bones。 It was quite realistic from the front； but that was given up long ago。 How did YOU like the business to…night； Mr。 Simmons？〃 and he turned to the musician。
〃Oh； admirable； sir。 We all thought it had never been better played or better put on；〃 and he glanced again toward his companions； who stood apart； listening breathlessly to every word that fell from the actor's lips。
〃Ah； I am glad of it。 Brougham will be so pleased and yet it shocked you； Mr。 Hornand you really think the poor lady minded it？ Dear me！ How pleased she will be when I tell her the impression it all made upon you。 She's worked so hard over the part and has been so nervous about it。 I left her only a moment agoshe and her husband wanted me to take supper with them at Riley'sthe new restaurant on University Place； you know； famous for its devilled crabs。 But I always like to come here for my clams。 Allow me a moment〃 and he bent over the steaming tub； and skewering the contents of a pair of shells with his iron fork held it out toward Oliver。
〃Let me beg of you； Mr。 Horn； to taste this clam。 I am quite sure it is a particularly savory one。 After this my dear young friend； I hope you'll have a better opinion of me。〃 And his eye twinkled。 〃I am really better than I lookindeed I amand
