beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第61章
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〃Nine schilling nine pence each；〃 he snapped； and seemed
disappointed that Mrs。 Nougat…Jones did not pursue the subject further。
He had evidently expected her to offer seven and fourpence。
The weeks sped by； and Knopfschrank came more rarely to the
restaurant in Owl Street； while his meals on those occasions became
more and more meagre。 And then came a triumphal day； when he
appeared early in the evening in a high state of elation； and ordered an
elaborate meal that scarcely stopped short of being a banquet。 The
ordinary resources of the kitchen were supplemented by an imported
dish of smoked goosebreast； a Pomeranian delicacy that was luckily
procurable at a firm of DELIKATESSEN merchants in Coventry Street；
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while a long…necked bottle of Rhine wine gave a finishing touch of
festivity and good cheer to the crowded table。
〃He has evidently sold his masterpiece；〃 whispered Sylvia Strubble
to Mrs。 Nougat…Jones； who had come in late。
〃Who has bought it？〃 she whispered back。
〃Don't know； he hasn't said anything yet； but it must be some
American。 Do you see； he has got a little American flag on the dessert
dish； and he has put pennies in the music box three times； once to play
the 'Star… spangled Banner；' then a Sousa march； and then the 'Star…
spangled Banner' again。 It must be an American millionaire； and he's
evidently got a very big price for it； he's just beaming and chuckling
with satisfaction。〃
〃We must ask him who has bought it；〃 said Mrs。 Nougat…Jones。
〃Hush！ no； don't。 Let's buy some of his sketches； quick； before we
are supposed to know that he's famous； otherwise he'll be doubling the
prices。 I am so glad he's had a success at last。 I always believed in
him； you know。〃
For the sum of ten shillings each Miss Strubble acquired the
drawings of the camel dying in Upper Berkeley Street and of the giraffes
quenching their thirst in Trafalgar Square； at the same price Mrs。
Nougat…Jones secured the study of roosting sand…grouse。 A more
ambitious picture； 〃Wolves and wapiti fighting on the steps of the
Athenaeum Club；〃 found a purchaser at fifteen shillings。
〃And now what are your plans？〃 asked a young man who
contributed occasional paragraphs to an artistic weekly。
〃I go back to Stolpmunde as soon as the ship sails；〃 said the artist；
〃and I do not return。 Never。〃
〃But your work？ Your career as painter？〃
〃Ah； there is nossing in it。 One starves。 Till to… day I have sold not
one of my sketches。 To…night you have bought a few； because I am
going away from you； but at other times； not one。〃
〃But has not some American … ？〃
〃Ah； the rich American；〃 chuckled the artist。 〃God be thanked。
He dash his car right into our herd of schwines as they were being driven
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out to the fields。 Many of our best schwines he killed； but he paid all
damages。 He paid perhaps more than they were worth； many times
more than they would have fetched in the market after a month of
fattening； but he was in a hurry to get on to Dantzig。
When one is in a hurry one must pay what one is asked。 God be
thanked for rich Americans； who are always in a hurry to get somewhere
else。 My father and mother； they have now so plenty of money； they
send me some to pay my debts and come home。 I start on Monday for
Stolpmunde and I do not come back。 Never。〃
〃But your picture； the hyaenas？〃
〃No good。 It is too big to carry to Stolpmunde。 I burn it。〃
In time he will be forgotten； but at present Knopfschrank is almost as
sore a subject as Sledonti with some of the frequenters of the Nuremberg
Restaurant； Owl Street； Soho。
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