暗黑小说

THE LAST NIGHT（第1页）

mr。uttersonwassitbyhisfiresideoneeveningafterdinner，whenhewassurprisedtoreceiveavisitfrompoole。

"blessme，poole，whatbringsyouhere?"hecried;andthentakingasecondlookathim，"whatailsyou?"headded;"isthedoctorill?"

"mr。utterson，"saidtheman，"thereissomethingwrong。"

"takeaseat，andhereisaglassofwineforyou，"saidthelawyer。"now，takeyourtime，andtellmeplainlywhatyouwant。"

"youknowthedoctorsways，sir，"repliedpoole，"andhowheshutshimselfup。well，hesshutupagaininthecabi;andidontlikeit，sir—iwishimaydieifilikeit。mr。utterson，sir，imafraid。"

"now，mygoodman，"saidthelawyer，"beexplicit。whatareyouafraidof?"

"ivebeenafraidforaboutaweek，"returnedpoole，edlydisregardingthequestion，"andicanbearitnore。"

themansappearanceamplyboreouthiswords;hismannerwasalteredfortheworse;andexceptforthementwhenhehadfirstannouncedhisterror，hehadnotoncelookedthelawyerintheface。evennow，hesatwiththeglassofwineuntastedonhisknee，andhiseyesdirectedtoacornerofthefloor。"icanbearitnore，"herepeated。

"e，"saidthelawyer，"iseeyouhavesomegoodreason，poole;iseethereissomethingseriouslyamiss。trytotellmewhatitis。"

"ithinktheresbeenfoulplay，"saidpoole，hoarsely。

"foulplay!"criedthelawyer，agooddealfrightenedandratherinclinedtobeirritatedinconsequence。"whatfoulplay?whatdoesthemanmean?"

"idarentsay，sir，"wastheanswer;"butwillyouealongwithmeandseeforyourself?"

mr。uttersonsonlyanswerwastoriseandgethishatandgreat-coat;butheobservedwithwonderthegreatnessofthereliefthatappeareduponthebutlersface，andperhapswithnoless，thatthewinewasstil露ntastedwhenhesetitdowntofollow。

itwasawild，cold，seasonablenightofmarch，withapaleon，lyingonherbackasthoughthewindhadtiltedher，andaflyingwrackofthestdiaphanousandlawnytexture。thewindmadetalkingdifficult，andfleckedthebloodintotheface。itseemedtohavesweptthestreetsunusuallybareofpassengers，besides;formr。uttersonthoughthehadneverseenthatpartoflondonsodeserted。hecouldhavewisheditotherwise;neverinhislifehadhebeenconsciousofsosharpawishtoseeandtouchhisfellow-creatures;leashemight，therewasborneinuponhismindacrushinganticipationofcalamity。thesquare，whentheygotthere，wasallfullofwindanddust，andthethintreesinthegardenwerelashingthemselvesalongtherailing。poole，whohadkeptallthewayapaceortwoahead，nowpulledupinthemiddleofthepavement，andinspiteofthebiweather，tookoffhishatandppedhisbrowwitharedpockethandkerchief。butforallthehurryofhising，thesewerenotthedewsofexertionthathewipedaway，buttheistureofsomestranglinganguish;forhisfacewaswhiteandhisvoice，whenhespoke，harshandbroken。

"well，sir，"hesaid，"hereweare，andgodgranttherebenothingwrong。"

"amen，poole，"saidthelawyer。

thereupontheservantknockedinaveryguardedmanner;thedoorwasopenedonthechain;andavoiceaskedfromwithin，"isthatyou，poole?"

"itsallright，"saidpoole。"openthedoor。"thehall，whentheyenteredit，wasbrightlylightedup;thefirewasbuilthigh;andaboutthehearththewholeoftheservants，menandwomen，stoodhuddledtogetherlikeaflockofsheep。atthesightofmr。utterson，thehousemaidbrokeintohystericalwhimpering;andthecook，cryingout，"blessgod!itsmr。utterson，"ranforwardasiftotakehiminherarms。

"what，what?areyouallhere?"saidthelawyerpeevishly。"veryirregular，ver玉nseemly;yourmasterwouldbefarfrompleased。"

"theyreallafraid，"saidpoole。

blanksilencefollowed，nooneprotes;onlythemaidlifteduphervoiceandnowweptloudly。

"holdyourtongue!"poolesaidtoher，entthattestifiedtohisownjanglednerves;andindeed，whenthegirlhadsosuddenlyraisedthenoteofherlamentation，theyhadallstartedandturnedtowardtheinnerdoorwithfacesofdreadfulexpectation。"andnow，"continuedthebutler，addressingtheknife-boy，"reachmeacandle，andwellgetthisthroughhandsatonce。"edmr。uttersontofollowhim，andledthewaytotheback-garden。

"now，sir，"saidhe，"youeasgentlyasyoucan。iwantyoutohear，andidontwantyoutobeheard。andseehere，sir，ifbyanychancehewastoaskyouin，dontgo。"

mr。uttersonsnerves，atthisunlooked-fortermination，gaveajerkthatnearlythrewhimfromhisbalance;buthere-collectedhiscourageandfollowedthebutlerintothelaboratorybuildingandthroughthesurgicaltheatre，withits露mberofcratesandbottles，tothefootofthestair。herepooletionedhimtostandononesideandlisten;whilehehimself，setdownthecandleandmakingagreatandobviouscallonhisreso露tion，untedthestepsandknockedwithasomewhatuncertainhandontheredbaizeofthecabidoor。

"mr。utterson，sir，askingtoseeyou，"hecalled;andevenashedidso，oncereviolentlysignedtothelawyertogiveear。

avoiceansweredfromwithin:"tellhimicannotseeanyone，"itsaidplainingly。