david elginbrod-第50章
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way through obstacles of all salvage kinds； found himself in the
high road； within a quarter of a mile of the country town next to
Arnstead； removed from it about three miles。 This little town he
knew pretty well； and； beginning to feel exhausted； resolved to go
to an inn there； dry his clothes； and then walk back in the
moonlight； for he felt sure the storm would be quite over in an hour
or so。 The fatigue he now felt was proof enough in itself； that the
inward storm had； for the time； raved itself off； and nowmust it
be confessed？he wished very much for something to eat and drink。
He was soon seated by a blazing fire； with a chop and a jug of ale
before him。
CHAPTER XIV。
AN EVENING LECTURE。
The Nightmare
Shall call thee when it walks。
MIDDLETON。The Witch。
The inn to which Hugh had betaken himself； though not the first in
the town； was yet what is called a respectable house； and was
possessed of a room of considerable size； in which the farmers of
the neighbourhood were accustomed to hold their gatherings。 While
eating his dinner； Hugh learned from the conversation around
himfor he sat in the kitchen for the sake of the firethat this
room was being got ready for a lecture on Bilology； as the landlady
called it。 Bills in red and blue had been posted all over the town；
and before he had finished his dinner； the audience had begun to
arrive。 Partly from curiosity about a subject of which he knew
nothing； and partly because it still rained； and； having got nearly
dry； he did not care about a second wetting if he could help it；
Hugh resolved to make one of them。 So he stood by the fire till he
was informed that the lecturer had made his appearance； when he went
up…stairs； paid his shilling； and was admitted to one of the front
seats。 The room was tolerably lighted with gas； and a platform had
been constructed for the lecturer and his subjects。 When the place
was about half…filled； he came from another room alonea little；
thick…set； bull…necked man； with vulgar face and rusty black
clothes； and； mounting the platform； commenced his lecture； if
lecture it could be called； in which there seemed to be no order；
and scarcely any sequence。 No attempt even at a theory； showed
itself in the mass of what he called facts and scientific truths；
and he perpeturated the most awful blunders in his English。 It will
not be desired that I should give any further account of such a
lecture。 The lecturer himself seemed to depend chiefly for his
success； upon the manifestations of his art which he proceeded to
bring forward。 He called his familiar by the name of Willi…am； and
a stunted； pale…faced； dull…looking youth started up from somewhere；
and scrambled upon the platform beside his master。 Upon this
tutored slave a number of experiments was performed。 He was first
cast into whatever abnormal condition is necessary for the
operations of biology； and then compelled to make a fool of himself
by exhibiting actions the most inconsistent with his real
circumstances and necessities。 But； aware that all this was open to
the most palpable objection of collusion； the operator next invited
any of the company that pleased； to submit themselves to his
influences。 After a pause of a few moments； a stout country fellow；
florid and healthy； got up and slouched to the platform。 Certainly；
whatever might be the nature of the influence that was brought to
bear； its operative power could not； with the least probability； be
attributed to an over…activity of imagination in either of the
subjects submitted to its exercise。 In the latter； as well as in
the former case； the operator was eminently successful； and the
clown returned to his seat； looking remarkably foolish and conscious
of disgracea sufficient voucher to most present； that in this case
at least there had been no collusion。 Several others volunteered
their negative services； but with no one of them did he succeed so
well； and in one case the failure was evident。 The lecturer
pretended to account for this； in making some confused and
unintelligible remarks about the state of the weather； the
thunder…storm； electricity； &c。； of which things he evidently did
not understand the best known laws。
〃The blundering idiot！〃 growled； close to Hugh's ear； a voice with a
foreign accent。
He looked round sharply。
A tall； powerful； eminently handsome man； with a face as foreign as
his tone and accent； sat beside him。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said to Hugh； 〃I thought aloud。〃
〃I should like to know； if you wouldn't mind telling me； what you
detect of the blunderer in him。 I am quite ignorant of these
matters。〃
〃I have had many opportunities of observing them； and I see at once
that this man； though he has the natural power； is excessively
ignorant of the whole subject。〃
This was all the answer he vouchsafed to Hugh's modest inquiry。
Hugh had not yet learned that one will always fare better by
concealing than by acknowledging ignorance。 The man； whatever his
capacity； who honestly confesses even a partial ignorance； will
instantly be treated as more or less incapable； by the ordinary man
who has already gained a partial knowledge； or is capable of
assuming a knowledge which he does not possess。 But； for God's
sake！ let the honest and modest man stick to his honesty and
modesty； cost what they may。
Hugh was silent； and fixed his attention once more on what was going
on。 But presently he became aware that the foreigner was
scrutinizing him with the closest attention。 He knew this； somehow；
without having looked round； and the knowledge was accompanied with
a feeling of discomfort that caused him to make a restless movement
on his seat。 Presently he felt that the annoyance had ceased； but
not many minutes had passed； before it again commenced。 In order to
relieve himself from a feeling which he could only compare to that
which might be produced by the presence of the dead； he turned
towards his neighbour so suddenly； that it seemed for a moment to
embarrass him； his eyes being caught in the very act of devouring
the stolen indulgence。 But the stranger recovered himself instantly
with the question：
〃Will you permit me to ask of what country you are？〃
Hugh thought he made the request only for the sake of covering his
rudeness； and so merely answered：
〃Why； an Englishman； of course。〃
〃Ah！ yes； it is not necessary to be told that。 But it seems to me；
from your accent； that you are a Scotchman。〃
〃So I am。〃
〃A Highlander？〃
〃I was born in the Highlands。 But if you are very anxious to know
my pedigree； I have no reason for concealing the fact that I am； by
birth； half a Scotchman and half a Welchman。〃
The foreigner riveted his gaze； though but for the briefest moment
sufficient to justify its being called a gaze； once more upon Hugh；
and then； with a slight bow； as of acquiescence； turned towards the
lecturer。
When the lecture was over； and Hugh was walking away in the midst of
the withdrawing audience； the stranger touched him on the shoulder。
〃You said that you would like to know more of this science： will you
come to my lodging？〃 said he。
〃With pleasure；〃 Hugh answered； though the look with which he
accompanied the words； must have been one rather of surprise。
〃You are astonished that a stranger should invite you so。 Ah！ you
English always demand an introduction。 There is mine。〃
He handed Hugh a card： Herr von Funkelstein。 Hugh happened to be
provided with one in exchange。
The two walked out of the inn； along the old High Street； full of
gables and all the delightful irregularities of an old country…town；
till they came to a court； down which Herr von Funkelstein led the
way。
He let himself in with a pass…key at a low door； and then conducted
Hugh； by a stair whose narrowness was equalled by its steepness； to
a room； which； though not many yards above the level of the court；
was yet next to the roof of the low house。 Hugh could see nothing
till his conductor lighted a candle。 Then he found himself in a
rather large room with a shaky floor and a low roof。 A
chintz…curtained bed in one corner had the skin
