登陆注册
5388400000002

第2章

"Pardon me. I am a simple man, and always prefer to reduce things to elemental simplicity. I raise no opposition, but I express my opinion. Nature is one thing, and art is another.""And I am not sure that I don't agree with you," said the ex-magistrate. "An occasion like this ought to be simple, to guard against the possibility of deception - if you will forgive my bluntness, Mr. Backhouse.""We shall sit in full light," replied Backhouse, "and every opportunity will be given to all to inspect the room. I shall also ask you to submit me to a personal examination."A rather embarrassed silence followed. It was broken by the arrival of two more guests, who entered together. These were Prior, the prosperous City coffee importer, and Lang, the stockjobber, well known in his own circle as an amateur prestidigitator. Backhouse was slightly acquainted with the latter. Prior, perfuming the room with the faint odour of wine and tobacco smoke, tried to introduce an atmosphere of joviality into the proceedings. Finding that no one seconded his efforts, however, he shortly subsided and fell to examining the water colours on the walls. Lang, tall, thin, and growing bald, said little, but stared at Backhouse a good deal.

Coffee, liqueurs, and cigarettes were now brought in. Everyone partook, except Lang and the medium. At the same moment, Professor Halbert was announced. He was the eminent psychologist, the author and lecturer on crime, insanity, genius, and so forth, considered in their mental aspects. His presence at such a gathering somewhat mystified the other guests, but all felt as if the object of their meeting had immediately acquired additional solemnity. He was small, meagre-looking, and mild in manner, but was probably the most stubborn-brained of all that mixed company. Completely ignoring the medium, he at once sat down beside Kent-Smith, with whom he began to exchange remarks.

At a few minutes past the appointed hour Mrs. Trent entered, unannounced. She was a woman of about twenty-eight. She had a white, demure, saintlike face, smooth black hair, and lips so crimson and full that they seemed to be bursting with blood. Her tall, graceful body was most expensively attired. Kisses were exchanged between her and Mrs. Jameson. She bowed to the rest of the assembly, and stole a half glance and a smile at Faull. The latter gave her a queer look, and Backhouse, who lost nothing, saw the concealed barbarian in the complacent gleam of his eye. She refused the refreshment that was offered her, and Faull proposed that, as everyone had now arrived, they should adjourn to the lounge hall.

Mrs. Trent held up a slender palm. "Did you, or did you not, give me carte blanche, Montague?""Of course I did," said Faull, laughing. "But what's the matter?""Perhaps I have been rather presumptuous. I don't know. I have invited a couple of friends to join us. No, no one knows them.. ..

The two most extraordinary individuals you ever saw. And mediums, Iam sure."

"It sounds very mysterious. Who are these conspirators?""At least tell us their names, you provoking girl," put in Mrs.

Jameson.

"One rejoices in the name of Maskull, and the other in that of Nightspore. That's nearly all that I know about them, so don't overwhelm me with, any more questions.""But where did you pick them up? You must have picked them up somewhere.""But this is a cross - examination. Have I sinned again convention?

I swear I will tell you not another word about them. They will be here directly, and then I will deliver them to your tender mercy.""I don't know them," said Faull, "and nobody else seems to, but, of course, we will all be very pleased to have them.... Shall we wait, or what?""I said nine, and it's past that now. It's quite possible they may not turn up after all.... Anyway, don't wait.""I would prefer to start at once," said Backhouse.

The lounge, a lofty room, forty feet long by twenty wide, had been divided for the occasion into two equal parts by a heavy brocade curtain drawn across the middle. The far end was thus concealed.

The nearer half had been converted into an auditorium by a crescent of armchairs. There was no other furniture. A large fire was burning halfway along the wall, between the chairbacks and the door. The room was brilliantly lighted by electric bracket lamps. A sumptuous carpet covered the floor.

Having settled his guests in their seats, Faull stepped up to the curtain and flung it aside. A replica, or nearly so, of the Drury Lane presentation of the temple scene in The Magic Flute was then exposed to view: the gloomy, massive architecture of the interior, the glowing sky above it in the background, and, silhouetted against the latter, the gigantic seated statue of the Pharaoh. Afantastically carved wooden couch lay before the pedestal of the statue. Near the curtain, obliquely placed to the auditorium, was a plain oak armchair, for the use of the medium.

Many of those present felt privately that the setting was quite inappropriate to the occasion and savoured rather unpleasantly of ostentation. Backhouse in particular seemed put out. The usual compliments, however, were showered on Mrs. Trent as the deviser of so remarkable a theatre. Faull invited his friends to step forward and examine the apartment as minutely as they might desire. Prior and Lang were the only ones to accept. The former wandered about among the pasteboard scenery, whistling to himself and occasionally tapping a part of it with his knuckles. Lang, who was in his element, ignored the rest of his party and commenced a patient, systematic search, on his own account, for secret apparatus. Faull and Mrs. Trent stood in a corner of the temple, talking together in low tones; while Mrs. Jameson, pretending to hold Backhouse in conversation, watched them as only a deeply interested woman knows how to watch.

Lang, to his own disgust, having failed to find anything of a suspicious nature, the medium now requested that his own clothing should be searched.

同类推荐
  • LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER

    LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER

    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。
  • 名贤集

    名贤集

    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。
  • 乙酉笔记

    乙酉笔记

    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。
  • 心意六合拳谱

    心意六合拳谱

    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。
  • 浪迹丛谈

    浪迹丛谈

    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
  • 途经华岳

    途经华岳

    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。
  • 医妃狠狂

    医妃狠狂

    (全文完结)二十二世纪的少校军医,一朝穿越成了大昭国的将军府的绝色废物小姐夜凰。废材?开什么国际玩笑!一箭取首级,一刀扫千军,一针救万人。从此,废材逆袭,素手揽风云,袖手弄乾坤。不想,却被一腹黑男人缠上。他,冷面战神,帝王之子,阴煞嗜血,邪妄冷酷,视女人为无物,却因一次救命之恩,而对她情有独钟。从此,她睡觉,他暖床;她杀人,他递刀;她救人,他煎药;妇唱夫随,霸宠一生!
  • 新零售时代的智能营销

    新零售时代的智能营销

    这是一本经管类图书。本书以新零售时代为背景,以全域营销为切入点,以全渠道营销为重心,对全域营销相关的策略和方法进行了详细的研究和深入论述,对营销从业人员具有非常重要的借鉴意义,本书可以为正在进行业务模式转型和营销模式升级的企业或个人提供一些启发。
  • 世界儿童必读经典:影响孩子一生的100个民间故事

    世界儿童必读经典:影响孩子一生的100个民间故事

    古今中外丰富多彩的故事是世界各国社会和生活的结晶,是高度艺术化的精神产品,具有永久的闪光魅力,非常集中、非常形象,是中小学生了解世界和社会的窗口,是走向世界、观摩社会的最佳捷径。这些著名故事,伴随着世界各国一代又一代的青少年茁壮成长,具有广泛而深远的影响。我们青少年只要带着有趣的欣赏的心态阅读这些美丽的故事,便非常有利于培养积极的和健康向上的心理、性格、思维和修养,便有利于了解世界各国的社会和生活,并能不断提高语言表达和社会交往的才能。
  • 祠庙陵墓对联(上)

    祠庙陵墓对联(上)

    对联,汉族传统文化之一,又称楹联或对子,是写在纸、布上或刻在竹子、木头、柱子上的对偶语句,对仗工整,平仄协调,是一字一音的中文语言独特的艺术形式;它是中国汉民族的文化瑰宝。本书介绍了一些地方的对联。
  • 大周女官

    大周女官

    这是最灿烂的年代,王朝繁荣兴盛,文明百花齐放。这是最凶险的年代,外有胡族豺狼,内有朝堂纷争。这里强者为尊,男女同朝为官,权谋博弈只为那无上权利。带有前世残缺记忆的农家女闵清,又如何应对万物为刍狗的乱世?且看各色大女子,挥斥方遒,指点江山,争无上荣光。ps:本文无男主!极少概率娶妻!非女尊!前期主种田科举,后期主仕途天下,大周女性可光明正大科举当官,婚姻平等可同性异性。
  • 冥月蔷薇

    冥月蔷薇

    蔷薇绽放,命运,就掌握在你手中。敌人变为朋友,伙伴这个词,对于她,是陌生而又温暖的存在。母亲,还是伙伴?她不知该怎么选择。直到他站在她身边,直到他们站在她身边。争夺、对立,不曾想,你就是曾经“死去”的那朵黑蔷薇……22张卡片握在手中,审判者摘下红月下的蔷薇,你该如何走下去?
  • 世界科技与发现历史纵横谈(世界历史纵横谈)

    世界科技与发现历史纵横谈(世界历史纵横谈)

    本套书用生动的文字, 再现了世界历史进程的恢弘画卷, 堪称一部贯通整个世界历史的简明百科全书, 串联起全部人类发展的瑰宝, 并以其光辉不朽的价值与流传恒久的魅力, 成就一部好读又好看的世界历史通俗读物, 具有很强的系统性、知识性和可读性, 不仅是广大读者学习世界历史知识的读物, 也是各级图书馆珍藏的版本。
  • 血溅黄昏

    血溅黄昏

    他站在黄尘滚滚的黄土高原之上,慨然赴死,在临上断头台之前留下警世诤言:“亲眼目睹这场事变的人们,请讲我的故事吧!把我的故事讲给普天下所有的人听……,我愿用我的血唤醒那些漠视人德、伦理、亲情的人们的良知,是他们铸就了一个又一个的人间悲剧……,我就要死了,但愿我的故事不要再重演…”于是演绎出了一幕幕感天动地、可歌可泣的动人故事。
  • 归兮归兮归去来兮

    归兮归兮归去来兮

    他们一开始就闹掰了,带着误会分手。之后,他赌气另娶,她被流放北境,途中还毁了容。他一直不甘心,多年后终于找到机会可以前往北境找她了,她却因突厥的入侵而下落不明。他在找寻她的过程中,逐渐解开了当年的误会,她的身世也浮出水面,可两人却越走越远,远到各自都放弃。剧透:男主是那种进一步退三步急死人不偿命的纠结忧郁男,男二是个最接地气最不正经的腹黑杀人狂,男三是个时而冷血时而热情的豪霸肌肉男,男四是个纯情可爱的混世小魔王,和女主都有一段情。究竟女主会选谁,亲们来看文吧!新书的主题围绕着情仇和初心,成长和抉择。主线虽虐,但虐虐不就习惯了……如是情仇,不若离去。如是初心,不若归来。