the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第24章
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a very mysterious character after nightfall。
When Mr。 Goodchild and Mr。 Idle had first alighted at the door； and
stepped into the sombre； handsome old hall； they had been received by
half…a…dozen noiseless old men in black； all dressed exactly alike； who
glided up the stairs with the obliging landlord and waiter … but without
appearing to get into their way； or to mind whether they did or no … and
who had filed off to the right and left on the old staircase； as the guests
entered their sitting… room。 It was then broad； bright day。 But； Mr。
Goodchild had said； when their door was shut； 'Who on earth are those old
men？' And afterwards； both on going out and coming in； he had noticed
that there were no old men to be seen。
Neither； had the old men； or any one of the old men； reappeared since。
The two friends had passed a night in the house； but had seen nothing
more of the old men。 Mr。 Goodchild； in rambling about it； had looked
along passages； and glanced in at doorways； but had encountered no old
men； neither did it appear that any old men were； by any member of the
establishment； missed or expected。
Another odd circumstance impressed itself on their attention。 It was；
that the door of their sitting…room was never left untouched for a quarter of
an hour。 It was opened with hesitation； opened with confidence； opened
a little way； opened a good way； … always clapped…to again without a word
of explanation。 They were reading； they were writing； they were eating；
they were drinking； they were talking； they were dozing； the door was
always opened at an unexpected moment； and they looked towards it； and
it was clapped… to again； and nobody was to be seen。 When this had
happened fifty times or so； Mr。 Goodchild had said to his companion；
jestingly： 'I begin to think； Tom； there was something wrong with those six
old men。'
Night had come again； and they had been writing for two or three
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hours： writing； in short； a portion of the lazy notes from which these lazy
sheets are taken。 They had left off writing； and glasses were on the table
between them。 The house was closed and quiet。 Around the head of
Thomas Idle； as he lay upon his sofa； hovered light wreaths of fragrant
smoke。 The temples of Francis Goodchild； as he leaned back in his chair；
with his two hands clasped behind his head； and his legs crossed； were
similarly decorated。
They had been discussing several idle subjects of speculation； not
omitting the strange old men； and were still so occupied； when Mr。
Goodchild abruptly changed his attitude to wind up his watch。 They
were just becoming drowsy enough to be stopped in their talk by any such
slight check。 Thomas Idle； who was speaking at the moment； paused and
said； 'How goes it？'
'One；' said Goodchild。
As if he had ordered One old man； and the order were promptly
executed （truly； all orders were so； in that excellent hotel）； the door opened；
and One old man stood there。
He did not come in； but stood with the door in his hand。
'One of the six； Tom； at last！' said Mr。 Goodchild； in a surprised
whisper。 … 'Sir； your pleasure？'
'Sir； YOUR pleasure？' said the One old man。
'I didn't ring。'
'The bell did；' said the One old man。
He said BELL； in a deep； strong way； that would have expressed the
church Bell。
'I had the pleasure； I believe； of seeing you； yesterday？' said
Goodchild。
'I cannot undertake to say for certain；' was the grim reply of the One
old man。
'I think you saw me？ Did you not？'
'Saw YOU？' said the old man。 'O yes； I saw you。 But； I see many
who never see me。'
A chilled； slow； earthy； fixed old man。 A cadaverous old man of
measured speech。 An old man who seemed as unable to wink； as if his
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eyelids had been nailed to his forehead。 An old man whose eyes … two
spots of fire … had no more motion than if they had been connected with
the back of his skull by screws driven through it； and rivetted and bolted
outside； among his grey hair。
The night had turned so cold； to Mr。 Goodchild's sensations； that he
shivered。 He remarked lightly； and half apologetically； 'I think somebody
is walking over my grave。'
'No；' said the weird old man； 'there is no one there。'
Mr。 Goodchild looked at Idle； but Idle lay with his head enwreathed in
smoke。
'No one there？' said Goodchild。
'There is no one at your grave； I assure you；' said the old man。
He had come in and shut the door； and he now sat down。 He did not
bend himself to sit； as other people do； but seemed to sink bolt upright； as
if in water； until the chair stopped him。
'My friend； Mr。 Idle；' said Goodchild； extremely anxious to introduce a
third person into the conversation。
'I am；' said the old man； without looking at him； 'at Mr。 Idle's service。'
'If you are an old inhabitant of this place；' Francis Goodchild resumed。
'Yes。'
'Perhaps you can decide a point my friend and I were in doubt upon；
this morning。 They hang condemned criminals at the Castle； I believe？'
'I believe so；' said the old man。
'Are their faces turned towards that noble prospect？'
'Your face is turned；' replied the old man； 'to the Castle wall。 When you
are tied up； you see its stones expanding and contracting violently； and a
similar expansion and contraction seem to take place in your own head
and breast。 Then； there is a rush of fire and an earthquake； and the Castle
springs into the air； and you tumble down a precipice。'
His cravat appeared to trouble him。 He put his hand to his throat； and
moved his neck from side to side。 He was an old man of a swollen
character of face； and his nose was immoveably hitched up on one side； as
if by a little hook inserted in that nostril。 Mr。 Goodchild felt exceedingly
uncomfortable； and began to think the night was hot； and not cold。
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'A strong description； sir；' he observed。
'A strong sensation；' the old man rejoined。
Again； Mr。 Goodchild looked to Mr。 Thomas Idle； but Thomas lay on
his back with his face attentively turned towards the One old man； and
made no sign。 At this time Mr。 Goodchild believed that he saw threads of
fire stretch from the old man's eyes to his own； and there attach
themselves。 （Mr。 Goodchild writes the present account of his
experience； and； with the utmost solemnity； protests that he had the
strongest sensation upon him of being forced to look at the old man along
those two fiery films； from that moment。）
'I must tell it to you；' said the old man； with a ghastly and a stony stare。
'What？' asked Francis Goodchild。
'You know where it took pla
