three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第15章
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eminence； and I would bury the memory of this particular brute； if I could；
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as his body was buried； in Newgate Jail。 I purposely abstain from giving
any direct clue to the criminal's individuality。
When the murder was first discovered； no suspicion fellor I ought
rather to say； for I cannot be too precise in my facts； it was nowhere
publicly hinted that any suspicion fellon the man who was afterwards
brought to trial。 As no reference was at that time made to him in the
newspapers； it is obviously impossible that any description of him can at
that time have been given in the newspapers。 It is essential that this fact be
remembered。
Unfolding at breakfast my morning paper； containing the account of
that first discovery； I found it to be deeply interesting； and I read it with
close attention。 I read it twice； if not three times。 The discovery had been
made in a bedroom； and； when I laid down the paper； I was aware of a
flashrushflowI do not know what to call it；no word I can find is
satisfactorily descriptive；in which I seemed to see that bedroom passing
through my room； like a picture impossibly painted on a running river。
Though almost instantaneous in its passing； it was perfectly clear； so clear
that I distinctly； and with a sense of relief； observed the absence of the
dead body from the bed。
It was in no romantic place that I had this curious sensation； but in
chambers in Piccadilly； very near to the corner of St。 James's Street。 It was
entirely new to me。 I was in my easy…chair at the moment； and the
sensation was accompanied with a peculiar shiver which started the chair
from its position。 （But it is to be noted that the chair ran easily on castors。）
I went to one of the windows （there are two in the room； and the room is
on the second floor） to refresh my eyes with the moving objects down in
Piccadilly。 It was a bright autumn morning； and the street was sparkling
and cheerful。 The wind was high。 As I looked out； it brought down from
the Park a quantity of fallen leaves； which a gust took； and whirled into a
spiral pillar。 As the pillar fell and the leaves dispersed； I saw two men on
the opposite side of the way； going from West to East。 They were one
behind the other。 The foremost man often looked back over his shoulder。
The second man followed him； at a distance of some thirty paces； with his
right hand menacingly raised。 First； the singularity and steadiness of this
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threatening gesture in so public a thoroughfare attracted my attention； and
next； the more remarkable circumstance that nobody heeded it。 Both men
threaded their way among the other passengers with a smoothness hardly
consistent even with the action of walking on a pavement； and no single
creature； that I could see； gave them place； touched them； or looked after
them。 In passing before my windows； they both stared up at me。 I saw
their two faces very distinctly； and I knew that I could recognise them
anywhere。 Not that I had consciously noticed anything very remarkable in
either face； except that the man who went first had an unusually lowering
appearance； and that the face of the man who followed him was of the
colour of impure wax。
I am a bachelor； and my valet and his wife constitute my whole
establishment。 My occupation is in a certain Branch Bank； and I wish that
my duties as head of a Department were as light as they are popularly
supposed to be。 They kept me in town that autumn； when I stood in need
of change。 I was not ill； but I was not well。 My reader is to make the most
that can be reasonably made of my feeling jaded； having a depressing
sense upon me of a monotonous life； and being 〃slightly dyspeptic。〃 I am
assured by my renowned doctor that my real state of health at that time
justifies no stronger description； and I quote his own from his written
answer to my request for it。
As the circumstances of the murder； gradually unravelling； took
stronger and stronger possession of the public mind； I kept them away
from mine by knowing as little about them as was possible in the midst of
the universal excitement。 But I knew that a verdict of Wilful Murder had
been found against the suspected murderer； and that he had been
committed to Newgate for trial。 I also knew that his trial had been
postponed over one Sessions of the Central Criminal Court； on the ground
of general prejudice and want of time for the preparation of the defence。 I
may further have known； but I believe I did not； when； or about when； the
Sessions to which his trial stood postponed would come on。
My sitting…room； bedroom； and dressing…room； are all on one floor。
With the last there is no communication but through the bedroom。 True；
there is a door in it； once communicating with the staircase； but a part of
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the fitting of my bath has beenand had then been for some yearsfixed
across it。 At the same period； and as a part of the same arrangement；the
door had been nailed up and canvased over。
I was standing in my bedroom late one night； giving some directions to
my servant before he went to bed。 My face was towards the only available
door of communication with the dressing…room； and it was closed。 My
servant's back was towards that door。 While I was speaking to him； I saw it
open； and a man look in； who very earnestly and mysteriously beckoned to
me。 That man was the man who had gone second of the two along
Piccadilly； and whose face was of the colour of impure wax。
The figure； having beckoned； drew back； and closed the door。 With no
longer pause than was made by my crossing the bedroom； I opened the
dressing…room door； and looked in。 I had a lighted candle already in my
hand。 I felt no inward expectation of seeing the figure in the dressing…
room； and I did not see it there。
Conscious that my servant stood amazed； I turned round to him； and
said： 〃Derrick； could you believe that in my cool senses I fancied I saw a
〃 As I there laid my hand upon his breast； with a sudden start he trembled
violently； and said； 〃O Lord； yes； sir！ A dead man beckoning！〃
Now I do not believe that this John Derrick； my trusty and attached
servant for more than twenty years； had any impression whatever of
having seen any such figure； until I touched him。 The change in him was
so startling； when I touched him； that I fully believe he derived his
impression in some occult manner from me at that instant。
I bade John Derrick bring some brandy； and I gave him a dram； and
was glad to take one myself。 Of what had preceded that night's
phenomenon； I told him not a single word。 Reflecting on it； I was
absolutely certain that I had never seen that face before； except on
