登陆注册
5381500000011

第11章

Ten days after Mrs.Ryves's visit he paid by appointment another call on the editor of the Promiscuous.He found him in the little wainscoted Chelsea house, which had to Peter's sense the smoky brownness of an old pipebowl, surrounded with all the emblems of his office--a litter of papers, a hedge of encyclopaedias, a photographic gallery of popular contributors--and he promised at first to consume very few of the moments for which so many claims competed.It was Mr.Locket himself however who presently made the interview spacious, gave it air after discovering that poor Baron had come to tell him something more interesting than that he couldn't after all patch up his tale.Peter had begun with this, had intimated respectfully that it was a case in which both practice and principle rebelled, and then, perceiving how little Mr.Locket was affected by his audacity, had felt weak and slightly silly, left with his heroism on his hands.

He had armed himself for a struggle, but the Promiscuous didn't even protest, and there would have been nothing for him but to go away with the prospect of never coming again had he not chanced to say abruptly, irrelevantly, as he got up from his chair:

"Do you happen to be at all interested in Sir Dominick Ferrand?"Mr.Locket, who had also got up, looked over his glasses."The late Sir Dominick?""The only one; you know the family's extinct."Mr.Locket shot his young friend another sharp glance, a silent retort to the glibness of this information."Very extinct indeed.

I'm afraid the subject today would scarcely be regarded as attractive.""Are you very sure?" Baron asked.

Mr.Locket leaned forward a little, with his fingertips on his table, in the attitude of giving permission to retire."I might consider the question in a special connection." He was silent a minute, in a way that relegated poor Peter to the general; but meeting the young man's eyes again he asked: "Are you--a--thinking of proposing an article upon him?""Not exactly proposing it--because I don't yet quite see my way; but the idea rather appeals to me."Mr.Locket emitted the safe assertion that this eminent statesman had been a striking figure in his day; then he added: "Have you been studying him?""I've been dipping into him."

"I'm afraid he's scarcely a question of the hour," said Mr.Locket, shuffling papers together.

"I think I could make him one," Peter Baron declared.

Mr.Locket stared again; he was unable to repress an unattenuated "You?""I have some new material," said the young man, colouring a little.

"That often freshens up an old story."

"It buries it sometimes.It's often only another tombstone.""That depends upon what it is.However," Peter added, "the documents I speak of would be a crushing monument."Mr.Locket, hesitating, shot another glance under his glasses."Do you allude to--a--revelations?""Very curious ones."

Mr.Locket, still on his feet, had kept his body at the bowing angle;it was therefore easy for him after an instant to bend a little further and to sink into his chair with a movement of his hand toward the seat Baron had occupied.Baron resumed possession of this convenience, and the conversation took a fresh start on a basis which such an extension of privilege could render but little less humiliating to our young man.He had matured no plan of confiding his secret to Mr.Locket, and he had really come out to make him conscientiously that other announcement as to which it appeared that so much artistic agitation had been wasted.He had indeed during the past days--days of painful indecision--appealed in imagination to the editor of the Promiscuous, as he had appealed to other sources of comfort; but his scruples turned their face upon him from quarters high as well as low, and if on the one hand he had by no means made up his mind not to mention his strange knowledge, he had still more left to the determination of the moment the question of how he should introduce the subject.He was in fact too nervous to decide; he only felt that he needed for his peace of mind to communicate his discovery.He wanted an opinion, the impression of somebody else, and even in this intensely professional presence, five minutes after he had begun to tell his queer story, he felt relieved of half his burden.His story was very queer; he could take the measure of that himself as he spoke; but wouldn't this very circumstance qualify it for the Promiscuous?

"Of course the letters may be forgeries," said Mr.Locket at last.

"I've no doubt that's what many people will say.""Have they been seen by any expert?"

"No indeed; they've been seen by nobody.""Have you got any of them with you?"

"No; I felt nervous about bringing them out.""That's a pity.I should have liked the testimony of my eyes.""You may have it if you'll come to my rooms.If you don't care to do that without a further guarantee I'll copy you out some passages.""Select a few of the worst!" Mr.Locket laughed.Over Baron's distressing information he had become quite human and genial.But he added in a moment more dryly: "You know they ought to be seen by an expert.""That's exactly what I dread," said Peter.

"They'll be worth nothing to me if they're not."Peter communed with his innermost spirit."How much will they be worth to ME if they ARE?"Mr.Locket turned in his study-chair."I should require to look at them before answering that question.""I've been to the British museum--there are many of his letters there.I've obtained permission to see them, and I've compared everything carefully.I repudiate the possibility of forgery.No sign of genuineness is wanting; there are details, down to the very postmarks, that no forger could have invented.Besides, whose interest could it conceivably have been? A labor of unspeakable difficulty, and all for what advantage? There are so many letters, too--twenty-seven in all.""Lord, what an ass!" Mr.Locket exclaimed.

同类推荐
  • 阅藏知津

    阅藏知津

    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。
  • 白香集

    白香集

    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。
  • 石门集

    石门集

    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。
  • 书目答问

    书目答问

    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。
  • 法华私记缘起

    法华私记缘起

    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
  • 亲情与爱情间

    亲情与爱情间

    本书根据本人真实故事改编。这是一本唯一不是网络小说的书。
  • 就这样日益丰盈

    就这样日益丰盈

    这是茅盾文学奖获得者阿来的第一本随笔集,向读者全面展示了小说以外的阿来,展示经藏、汉、西三种文化熏染的阿来。另配有12页阿来的生活写真照片。
  • 单色旅程

    单色旅程

    不敢触及,他的忧伤。单色旅程,将爱置于颠峰。两代人的情感纠葛,商界恩怨,跌宕起伏的人生历程,浪漫唯美的爱情故事。
  • 超天大帝

    超天大帝

    重生到一介药奴身上!不料,其体内竟有九大封印,镇住他九大盖世星魂,随着修为提升,星魂步步解封,重明鸟,火麒麟,穷奇……少年是谁?身上为何有如此秘辛?
  • 第一夫人

    第一夫人

    一朝醒来,潇洒决绝的她居然穿越到了一个温柔娴淑,绝色却懦弱的乔府四小姐身上!什么?这个四小姐是因为争风吃醋而被害死的?并且是当着她们争风吃醋的男子的面!再什么?那个动手害死她的贱人还活的好好的?而那个男子居然还在微笑,如此无情!可惜,再次睁开眼,她已不是原来的她…皇帝的一句话,彻底改变了她的人生。而她,又岂是当初那唯命是从、深居简出的单纯女子?在这繁华的乱世,她要的只是一家安定,但若触碰到她的逆鳞,她还会无动于衷吗?新文推荐:《皇女》(穿越、女强)她,身体羸弱,性格怯懦,最后为心爱之人利用死于非命。她,性格张扬、强势,催眠、暗示、杀人,无所不能。爱情于她,只是游戏一场。当这样强势的她穿越到软弱的她身上……片段一:“朕后悔了,当初让你嫁给他,唯有你,才配与朕笑傲天下。月儿,跟朕走,朕许你皇后之位!”昔日连正眼都不愿看她一眼的男子,此时眼中看到的只有那淡雅如尘的女子,放下身段。女子抬眸,嘴角弯起一抹妩媚的弧度,淡然笑道:“你是看上了我哪一点?告诉我如何,我会改过来。”轻蔑不屑的话语,顿时让那龙袍加身的男子全身僵硬。片段二:望着那慵懒的躺在贵妃椅上的女子,他扬眉,一步上前,扣住她的下巴,强势道:“这一生,你永远也别想摆脱我。我生,你生;我死,你死。”美艳女子缓缓抬眸,一笑倾城,道:“可以。前提是……看你有没有那个本事!”《网游--盗情》(蓝飒的番外)网游世界:女人对初次见面的男人说的第一句话会是什么?她问:“兄台,不介意的话我当你和xx之间的小三吧?”世界上就是有这么两个性格扭曲心理变态的人——钟情于数字“三”!变态遇变态,于是,一发不可收拾——网络游戏+现实生活,黑骑士+腹黑公主的完美集合风格:温馨、诙谐搞笑推荐区:桂圆的《凰权》,超级好看的文:好友皇焱儿的大作《哥哥太坏谁之过》亲亲师父落随心大作《枭女》宝宝超级好文《绝色锋芒》《七夜宠姬》(此文已入半价书库)醉舞狂歌《难耐兽性暴君》迷糊蛋《王妃十岁》紫颖枫《绝色妖瞳》翼妖《绝色逃妾》爱心果冻《第一庶女》清甜水果糖《相公你好“野”》鈅玄《狂女食夫》鈅玄《兽妻》寇沐木《御养九妖》【占地三天推荐《独占新宠》】————————————————————————————————————
  • 深听爱情浅呼吸(全剧终)

    深听爱情浅呼吸(全剧终)

    如果哪天你在车上看见一个小偷,作为女子的你,是选择置身事外,还是上前帮忙?林敏意选择了后者,所以,以后的生命中出现了个妖女许美颜。如果晚上你见到一个醉鬼倒在路边,你是视作不见,还是将他拖回家?如果你看见一个西装革履的男人,被一群人在“欺负”,你是也当个看客,一笑了之,还是上前帮忙解围?很不幸,林敏意又都在此选择做了后者,所以,以后的生命中,都在和一个看不清楚的妖孽,纠缠不清。是否会后悔当时的“冲动”,或许,林敏意自己也不知道,那一场场如烟花灿烂落幕的人生,会不会以后自己人生中,仅有的回忆......
  • 华舞初兰

    华舞初兰

    80年前,山河沉沦,失去一切的初兰要做什么,能做什么?热血伴随着青春,战火熔炼了灵魂,儿女情长,英雄热血,且看美女特工初兰华丽蜕变!在战火纷飞中如何诠释她的爱情。
  • 终极之门

    终极之门

    《终极之门》是奇幻小说。在一个宇宙中,地球上住着4种智慧生物,精灵族、人族、矮人族各出一个战士,完成一英特殊的任务。他们须向极西而行,寻找能拯救世界的圣物。他们历经千辛万苦,闯过5道关卡,完成任务后,成为自己族人的首领,并齐心合力,让各族和平相处,过上了美好的生活。
  • 巫行天下之重现辉煌

    巫行天下之重现辉煌

    巫,诞生于华夏洪荒却湮灭于历史的长河,曾经的辉煌现已不在,人们只记得仙佛的玉皇大帝、观音如来,那里还记得刑天、后羿、祝融、夸父曾经横行天下。笔者感慨之余用虚幻的文字带各位重现‘巫’的辉煌,让我们一同见证大巫们拥有的奇功异法,一同见证大巫们将‘巫’传承于天下。
  • 名人传记丛书:柴可夫斯基

    名人传记丛书:柴可夫斯基

    名人传记丛书——柴可夫斯基——“俄罗斯音乐之魂”迷一样的波折人生:“立足课本,超越课堂”,以提高中小学生的综合素质为目的,让中小学生从课内受益到课外,是一生的良师益友。