the make-believe man(说服者)-第6章
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believe〃 is always innocent。 I suppose that he is what is called a snob；
but with him snobbishness is not an unpleasant weakness。 In his case it
takes the form of thinking that people who have certain things he does not
possess are better than himself； and that； therefore； they must be worth
knowing； and he tries to make their acquaintance。 But he does not think
that he himself is better than any one。 His life is very bare and narrow。 In
consequence； on many things he places false values。 As； for example； his
desire to see his name in the newspapers even as an amateur detective。
So； while I was indignant I also was sorry。
〃Joe；〃 I said； 〃you're going to get yourself into an awful lot of trouble；
and though I am not in this adventure； you know if I can help you I will。〃
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He thanked me and we went to the dining…saloon。 There； at a table
near ours； we saw the lovely lady and Stumps and the American。 She
again smiled at me； but this time； so it seemed； a little doubtfully。
In the mind of the American； on the contrary； there was no doubt。 He
glared both at Kinney and myself； as though he would like to boil us in oil。
After dinner； in spite of my protests； Kinney set forth to interview him
and； as he described it； to 〃lead him on〃 to commit himself。 I feared
Kinney was much more likely to commit himself than the other； and when
I saw them seated together I watched from a distance with much anxiety。
An hour later； while I was alone； a steward told me the purser would
like to see me。 I went to his office； and found gathered there Stumps； his
American friend； the night watchman of the boat； and the purser。 As
though inviting him to speak； the purser nodded to the American。 That
gentleman addressed me in an excited and belligerent manner。
〃My name is Aldrich；〃 he said； 〃I want to know what YOUR name is？〃
I did not quite like his tone； nor did I like being summoned to the
purser's office to be questioned by a stranger。
〃Why？〃 I asked。
〃Because；〃 said Aldrich； 〃it seems you have SEVERAL names。 As
one of them belongs to THIS gentleman〃he pointed at Stumps〃he
wants to know why you are using it。〃
I looked at Stumps and he greeted me with the vague and genial smile
that was habitual to him； but on being caught in the act by Aldrich he
hurriedly frowned。
〃I have never used any name but my own；〃 I said； 〃and；〃 I added
pleasantly； 〃if I were choosing a name I wouldn't choose 'Stumps。'〃
Aldrich fairly gasped。
〃His name is not Stumps！〃 he cried indignantly。 〃He is the Earl of
Ivy！〃
He evidently expected me to be surprised at this； and I WAS surprised。
I stared at the much…advertised young Irishman with interest。
Aldrich misunderstood my silence； and in a triumphant tone； which
was far from pleasant； continued： 〃So you see；〃 he sneered； 〃when you
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chose to pass yourself off as Ivy you should have picked out another boat。〃
The thing was too absurd for me to be angry； and I demanded with
patience： 〃But why should I pass myself off as Lord Ivy？〃
〃That's what we intend to find out；〃 snapped Aldrich。 〃Anyway；
we've stopped your game for to…night； and to…morrow you can explain to
the police！ Your pal；〃 he taunted； 〃has told every one on this boat that
you are Lord Ivy； and he's told me lies enough about HIMSELF to prove
HE'S an impostor； too！〃
I saw what had happened； and that if I were to protect poor Kinney I
must not； as I felt inclined； use my fists； but my head。 I laughed with
apparent unconcern； and turned to the purser。
〃Oh； that's it； is it？〃 I cried。 〃I might have known it was Kinney； he's
always playing practical jokes on me。〃 I turned to Aldrich。 〃My friend
has been playing a joke on you； too；〃 I said。 〃He didn't know who you
were； but he saw you were an Anglomaniac； and he's been having fun with
you！〃
〃Has he？〃 roared Aldrich。 He reached down into his pocket and
pulled out a piece of paper。 〃This；〃 he cried； shaking it at me； 〃is a copy
of a wireless that I've just sent to the chief of police at New Bedford。〃
With great satisfaction he read it in a loud and threatening voice： 〃Two
impostors on this boat representing themselves to be Lord Ivy； my future
brother…in…law； and his secretary。 Lord Ivy himself on board。 Send
police to meet boat。 We will make charges。Henry Philip Aldrich。〃
It occurred to me that after receiving two such sensational telegrams；
and getting out of bed to meet the boat at six in the morning； the chief of
police would be in a state of mind to arrest almost anybody； and that his
choice would certainly fall on Kinney and myself。 It was ridiculous； but
it also was likely to prove extremely humiliating。 So I said； speaking to
Lord Ivy： 〃There's been a mistake all around； send for Mr。 Kinney and I
will explain it to you。〃 Lord Ivy； who was looking extremely bored；
smiled and nodded； but young Aldrich laughed ironically。
〃Mr。 Kinney is in his state…room；〃 he said； 〃with a steward guarding
the door and window。 You can explain to…morrow to the police。〃
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I rounded indignantly upon the purser。
〃Are you keeping Mr。 Kinney a prisoner in his state…room？〃 I
demanded。 〃If you are〃
〃He doesn't have to stay there；〃 protested the purser sulkily。 〃When he
found the stewards were following him he went to his cabin。〃
〃I will see him at once；〃 I said。 〃And if I catch any of your stewards
following ME； I'll drop them overboard。〃
No one tried to stop meindeed； knowing I could not escape； they
seemed pleased at my departure； and I went to my cabin。 Kinney； seated
on the edge of the berth； greeted me with a hollow groan。 His expression
was one of utter misery。 As though begging me not to be angry； he threw
out his arms appealingly。
〃How the devil！〃 he began； 〃was I to know that a little red…headed
shrimp like that was the Earl of Ivy？ And that that tall blonde girl；〃 he
added indignantly； 〃that I thought was an accomplice； is Lady Moya； his
sister？〃
〃What happened？〃 I asked。
Kinney was wearing his hat。 He took it off and hurled it to the floor。
〃It was that damned hat！〃 he cried。 〃It's a Harvard ribbon； all right；
but only men on the crew can wear it！ How was I to know THAT？ I
saw Aldrich looking at it in a puzzled way； and when he said； 'I see you are
on the crew；' I guessed what it meant； and said I was on last year's crew。
Unfortunately HE was on last year's crew！ That's what made him suspect
me； and after dinner he put me through a third degree。 I must have given
the wrong answers； for suddenly he jumped up and called me a swindler
an
