登陆注册
5189000000008

第8章

What Happened in the Rue Maule On his arrival in Paris, Tarzan had gone directly to the apartments of his old friend, D'Arnot, where the naval lieutenant had scored him roundly for his decision to renounce the title and estates that were rightly his from his father, John Clayton, the late Lord Greystoke.

"You must be mad, my friend," said D'Arnot, "thus lightly to give up not alone wealth and position, but an opportunity to prove beyond doubt to all the world that in your veins flows the noble blood of two of England's most honored houses--instead of the blood of a savage she-ape.It is incredible that they could have believed you--Miss Porter least of all.

"Why, I never did believe it, even back in the wilds of your African jungle, when you tore the raw meat of your kills with mighty jaws, like some wild beast, and wiped your greasy hands upon your thighs.Even then, before there was the slightest proof to the contrary, I knew that you were mistaken in the belief that Kala was your mother.

"And now, with your father's diary of the terrible life led by him and your mother on that wild African shore;with the account of your birth, and, final and most convincing proof of all, your own baby finger prints upon the pages of it, it seems incredible to me that you are willing to remain a nameless, penniless vagabond.""I do not need any better name than Tarzan," replied the ape-man; "and as for remaining a penniless vagabond, Ihave no intention of so doing.In fact, the next, and let us hope the last, burden that I shall be forced to put upon your unselfish friendship will be the finding of employment for me.""Pooh, pooh!" scoffed D'Arnot."You know that I did not mean that.Have I not told you a dozen times that I have enough for twenty men, and that half of what I have is yours? And if I gave it all to you, would it represent even the tenth part of the value I place upon your friendship, my Tarzan? Would it repay the services you did me in Africa?

I do not forget, my friend, that but for you and your wondrous bravery I had died at the stake in the village of Mbonga's cannibals.Nor do I forget that to your self-sacrificing devotion I owe the fact that I recovered from the terrible wounds I received at their hands--I discovered later something of what it meant to you to remain with me in the amphitheater of apes while your heart was urging you on to the coast.

"When we finally came there, and found that Miss Porter and her party had left, I commenced to realize something of what you had done for an utter stranger.Nor am I trying to repay you with money, Tarzan.It is that just at present you need money; were it sacrifice that I might offer you it were the same--my friendship must always be yours, because our tastes are similar, and I admire you.That I cannot command, but the money I can and shall.""Well," laughed Tarzan, "we shall not quarrel over the money.

I must live, and so I must have it; but I shall be more contented with something to do.You cannot show me your friendship in a more convincing manner than to find employment for me--I shall die of inactivity in a short while.

As for my birthright--it is in good hands.Clayton is not guilty of robbing me of it.He truly believes that he is the real Lord Greystoke, and the chances are that he will make a better English lord than a man who was born and raised in an African jungle.You know that I am but half civilized even now.Let me see red in anger but for a moment, and all the instincts of the savage beast that I really am, submerge what little I possess of the milder ways of culture and refinement.

"And then again, had I declared myself I should have robbed the woman I love of the wealth and position that her marriage to Clayton will now insure to her.I could not have done that--could I, Paul?

"Nor is the matter of birth of great importance to me,"he went on, without waiting for a reply."Raised as I have been, I see no worth in man or beast that is not theirs by virtue of their own mental or physical prowess.And so Iam as happy to think of Kala as my mother as I would be to try to picture the poor, unhappy little English girl who passed away a year after she bore me.Kala was always kind to me in her fierce and savage way.I must have nursed at her hairy breast from the time that my own mother died.

She fought for me against the wild denizens of the forest, and against the savage members of our tribe, with the ferocity of real mother love.

"And I, on my part, loved her, Paul.I did not realize how much until after the cruel spear and the poisoned arrow of Mbonga's black warrior had stolen her away from me.Iwas still a child when that occurred, and I threw myself upon her dead body and wept out my anguish as a child might for his own mother.To you, my friend, she would have appeared a hideous and ugly creature, but to me she was beautiful--so gloriously does love transfigure its object.

And so I am perfectly content to remain forever the son of Kala, the she-ape.""I do not admire you the less for your loyalty," said D'Arnot, "but the time will come when you will be glad to claim your own.Remember what I say, and let us hope that it will be as easy then as it is now.You must bear in mind that Professor Porter and Mr.Philander are the only people in the world who can swear that the little skeleton found in the cabin with those of your father and mother was that of an infant anthropoid ape, and not the offspring of Lord and Lady Greystoke.That evidence is most important.

They are both old men.They may not live many years longer.

And then, did it not occur to you that once Miss Porter knew the truth she would break her engagement with Clayton?

You might easily have your title, your estates, and the woman you love, Tarzan.Had you not thought of that?"Tarzan shook his head."You do not know her," he said.

同类推荐
  • 分别功德论卷

    分别功德论卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 会真集

    会真集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 木兰堂

    木兰堂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Moon of Israel

    Moon of Israel

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 送刘山人归洞庭

    送刘山人归洞庭

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 情宿何处

    情宿何处

    程逸朗:28岁,身高185公分、阳光帅气,海归、东山少爷,从事金融业,爱好品红酒、跑步、健身。郑子言:24岁,身高168公分,肤白、大眼,自由插画师,爱好追韩剧、性格开朗。张依依:子言的同室密友,25岁,身高165公分,银行大堂经理,爱好相亲,希望自己的真名天子早日出现。何轩:逸朗的同学、死党,28岁,身高182公分,从事酒店管理、爱好品红酒、跑步、泡妞。
  • 凤盗天下:踩了帝王尾巴

    凤盗天下:踩了帝王尾巴

    她,绝色倾城,一颗赤子之心,胆小懦弱,是青翼国皇帝最宠爱的小公主,却死于兄姐的魔掌之下,随意的丢弃在乱葬岗。她,来自异世的一缕孤魂,邪恶腹黑假善良,以盗宝为乐,整人为趣,兄姐独宠的宝贝,却死于无情父亲的枪口之下。乱葬岗处,醒来的绝色女子,懦弱不在,泛着水光的大眼睛冷光乍现,尽显狡猾之色。相同的空间,相同的身份,不同的灵魂,是否演绎出不同的传奇?她大小姐的格言一:生命诚可贵,爱情价更高,若为金钱顾,两者皆可抛。格言二:人生无非是笑笑自己,整整别人。格言三:人不犯我,看我心情,人若犯我,灭他满门。【片段一】:“啪啪啪……”一连十几个巴掌清脆悦耳,某女第一天当选采女进宫,便把当朝最受宠的施贵妃打成猪头。半响后,一身龙袍,面容冷峻的男子,怀搂一猪头女子,眼神深邃,眉宇轻挑,“听说,你打了琳儿?”“……”某女神情慵懒的支着头,侧卧在躺椅上,美眸微闭,充耳不闻。“舒妍冰,朕在问你话?”男子冰冷的话语如腊月的寒冬,深不见底的黑眸闪过一丝怒气。“亲爱的皇帝陛下,你可以说她已经被我抛尸荒野了,反正她的官阶比我高。”某女瞥了眼满脸恨意的女子,无所谓的回道。“你的意思是琳儿污蔑你?”男子眼眸暗沉,脸上一片寒意。【片段二】:“怎么?你也想做本堡主的妻妾之一?”男子挑起某女的下颚,气息喷洒在她的面上,一双桃花眼波光流转,讥讽嘲弄,话语却是暧昧至极。“可惜不能如你所愿,老娘对种马没兴趣!”女子浅笑盈盈,狐狸一般,意味深长的上下打量着某自恋男。男子听罢,俊美的脸上一片晦暗,随后笑道:“欲拒还迎的手段我见多了,还没见过如此有新意诋毁本堡主的。”“是么?荣幸之至!”某女把他的话当作赞扬。“……”【片段三】:“你胆子很大嘛,竟敢独闯我玄冥教总坛?”主殿台阶的石榻上,慵懒的侧卧着一位邪魅妖娆的男子,凤眸直视着下面不请自来的某女。“呵呵……承蒙教主大人夸奖。”某女干笑连连,丝毫没有被抓包的胆怯。“是么?说说你来此的目的。”一双凤眸魅惑怏然,一丝狠戾闪过眼底。“这个,我可不可以不说实话。”某女挠挠脑袋,打着商量的说道。“可以,只要你还有命在!”“呃……”为救“父皇”,她盗遍天下,寻找几味堪称稀世珍宝的解药。本只是单纯的寻药旅程,却不想搅乱了几池春水,不知是她盗了宝,还是他们输了心?当兵临城下之时,谁又乱了谁的心?盗宝,盗财,盗国家机密,不难不盗。
  • 恶魔校草:小专属,怀里来

    恶魔校草:小专属,怀里来

    某一天,#对某人的最初映像如何?#面对这一提问,许若卿犹豫了下:“唔……可怕算吗?”“为什么这么说?”“emm……不知道,我不记得了耶。”某人的脸色逐渐转为阴沉,冷笑道:“实话?”“啊?”装傻ing~***#当时是怎么喜欢上他的?#“这个……”许若卿手指紧张地搅动着衣角双颊微微泛着粉嫩。一旁的某人不出来救场,反之一副看好戏的样子,悠闲地甩着狼尾巴~她能申请pass嘛?许若卿表示欲哭无泪!——萌动的绿芽,相交的交错线,打开了属于他们的故事……【敲黑板!注意辣注意辣~越往后越精彩哦(此条画重点)喵呜~】
  • 天选者游戏

    天选者游戏

    这是一片被‘天道’所影响着的世界。被‘天道’所选中的人,叫天选者。天选者们进入一片叫做‘大千界’的奇异世界冒险、成长、试炼。其中的佼佼者,将获得种种不可思议的力量,拥有掌控世界的能力。失败者,则一无所有,甚至是坠入深渊,无声无息的死去……——————新书启航,希望新老朋友们,能够继续支持我,谢谢!
  • 健康是三分水补七分食补

    健康是三分水补七分食补

    本书结合中医药理论和现代营养学,给出了一些科学严谨的饮食建议。饮食决定健康,吃出的来健康,喝出来的美丽。食物是最好的药,药补不如食补;好水是最佳的营养品,补水胜于补药。好水如好药,坏水似毒。营养专家:最适全自己的食物就是最有营养的食物。食物是你最好的健康之药。
  • 圭峰集

    圭峰集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你家妖孽又吃醋了

    你家妖孽又吃醋了

    隔壁新书已发《星辰下藏有你》【女扮男装】+【全本免费】她重生了,还重生在一个人人唾弃的废物身上??!!!叶瑾七有些怀疑人生了,她还是男的?谁知道,今日头条前十居然是#我家的哥哥#——听说住在家里的小哥哥,是街头卖艺的?听说住在家里的小哥哥,她的身手特别好?听说住在家里的小哥哥,可是一个游戏高手?听说住在家里的小哥哥,卖起萌来不要不要的?听说住在家里的小哥哥,居然是一个女孩子?听说住在家里的小哥哥,是异能世界的大佬?然而这些假象舆论都是真的,嗷呜~这是谁家的小哥哥,怎么这么棒呢?抱回家吧!可是家里另一位不开心了。护崽的小哥哥化身小姐姐直接发了微博#我哥哥不开心了,我也不开心了#结果明日头条是#小哥哥化成超甜小姐姐护着自家的帅哥哥——白总!#我靠,网友纷纷留言:【男友力和女友力双层max爆棚!】日常狗粮众人:请问下小哥哥,你怎么被哄走的?断片的七七一本正经:我被美色诱惑了。白总:卖萌犯规,我选择用美色。断片七七舔舔下唇:美色,很甜!众人:……[注:这本是练笔文,不喜勿喷]
  • 白岸俩闲人

    白岸俩闲人

    小脚老婆婆踮颠踮颠跑到办公室报告,说她们院门道房房顶上放出好些风筝,黄黄绿绿的,准是给敌人飞机发信号。紫云听了微微一笑,有这等事,咱看看去。紫云知道她是找碴儿,故作惊人语。小脚老婆婆是居民小组长,过去就曾汇报门道房的邻居可疑,说他平常不与院邻打交道,钻在屋里,鬼鬼祟祟,像特务。紫云暗自失笑,心说,你要能抓特务,那特务得比猪蠢。不过,屋顶放风筝,也有风趣。不妨看看去。她往脖子上系了条纱巾。对着镜子瞟了一眼,这才与小组长一前一后出了房门。进了南大门院,她一眼就看到了土房顶上的风筝,飘飞自如,无拘无束,比有人放还姿态风流。
  • 圣无动尊一字出生八大童子秘要法品

    圣无动尊一字出生八大童子秘要法品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 热情、魅力、责任:班主任工作漫谈

    热情、魅力、责任:班主任工作漫谈

    怎样增进师生关系呢?首先教师要尊重学生的人格和尊严,真正的关怀、鼓励和赞美学生,并且尽可能多地营造师生互动的机会,以增进师生的关系。马斯洛认为人有受尊重的需求,学生害怕的事情之一就是当场出丑、难堪。师生关系建立的前提之一,就是要尊重学生的尊严,并给予其下台阶的机会。关怀就是给予学生温暖。同学生对话应给予其关怀,并时时想着要鼓励学生,赞美学生。赞美要是鉴赏式赞美而非评价式赞美,也就是不对人而对事。教师对每位学生的潜力或优点要进行挖掘,多多进行强调。有些话语或行为适宜私底下进行,有些教师会和同学约定特定的时间,和学生一一单独地谈话,这样既可增加对学生的了解和认识,也增加了师生间沟通的渠道和情感。