博炮作文网>看见死亡的双眼好看吗 > 第20章 法官的房子5（第1页）
第20章 法官的房子5（第1页）
nhehadfinishedhissuer，andliftedthetraytotheotherendofthegreatoakdining-table，hegotouthisbooksagain，utfreshwoodonthefire，trimmedhislam，andsethimselfdowntoasellofrealhardwork。Hewentonwithoutausetillaboutelevenoclock，whenheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlam，andtomakehimselfacuoftea。Hehadalwaysbeenatea-drinker，andduringhiscollegelifehadsatlateatworkandhadtakentealate。Therestwasagreatluxurytohim，andheenjoyeditwithasenseofdelicious，volutuousease。Therenewedfireleaedandsarkled，andthrewquaintshadowsthroughthegreatoldroom;andashesiedhishotteaherevelledinthesenseofisolationfromhiskind。Thenitwasthathebegantonoticeforthefirsttimewhatanoisetheratsweremaking。
"Surely，
"hethought，
"theycannothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading。Hadtheybeen，Imusthavenoticedit!
"Presently，whenthenoiseincreased，hesatisfiedhimselfthatitwasreallynew。Itwasevidentthatatfirsttheratshadbeenfrightenedattheresenceofastranger，andthelightoffireandlam;butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenowdisortingthemselvesaswastheirwont。
Howbusytheywere!Andharktothestrangenoises!Uanddownbehindtheoldwainscot，overtheceilingandunderthefloortheyraced，andgnawed，andscratched!MalcolmsonsmiledtohimselfasherecalledtomindthesayingofMrs。Demster，
"Bogiesisrats，andratsisbogies!
"Theteabegantohaveitseffectofintellectualandnervousstimulus，hesawwithjoyanotherlongsellofworktobedonebeforethenightwasast，andinthesenseofsecuritywhichitgavehim，heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtheroom。Hetookhislaminonehand，andwentallaround，wonderingthatsoquaintandbeautifulanoldhousehadbeensolongneglected。Thecarvingoftheoakontheanelsofthewainscotwasfine，andonandroundthedoorsandwindowsitwasbeautifulandofraremerit。Thereweresomeoldicturesonthewalls，buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthathecouldnotdistinguishanydetailofthem，thoughheheldhislamashighashecouldoverhishead。Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholeblockedforamomentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteringinthelight，butinaninstantitwasgone，andasqueakandascamerfollowed。Thethingthatmoststruckhim，however，wastheroeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof，whichhungdowninacorneroftheroomontheright-handsideofthefirelace。Heulleduclosetothehearthagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair，andsatdowntohislastcuoftea。Whenthiswasdonehemadeuthefire，andwentbacktohiswork，sittingatthecornerofthetable，havingthefiretohisleft。Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeireretualscamering，buthegotaccustomedtothenoiseasonedoestothetickingofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater，andhebecamesoimmersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld，excettheroblemwhichhewastryingtosolve，assedawayfromhim。
Hesuddenlylookedu，hisroblemwasstillunsolved，andtherewasintheairthatsenseofthehourbeforethedawn，whichissodreadtodoubtfullife。Thenoiseoftheratshadceased。Indeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddencessationwhichhaddisturbedhim。Thefirehadfallenlow，butstillitthrewoutadeeredglow。Ashelookedhestartedinsiteofhissangfroid。
Thereonthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefirelacesatanenormousrat，steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes。Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway，butitdidnotstir。Thenhemadethemotionofthrowingsomething。Stillitdidnotstir，butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily，anditscrueleyesshoneinthelamlightwithanaddedvindictiveness。
Malcolmsonfeltamazed，andseizingtheokerfromthehearthranatittokillit。Before，however，hecouldstrikeit，therat，withasqueakthatsoundedliketheconcentrationofhate，jumeduonthefloor，and，runningutheroeofthealarmbell，disaearedinthedarknessbeyondtherangeofthegreen-shadedlam。Instantly，strangetosay，thenoisyscameringoftheratsinthewainscotbeganagain。
BythistimeMalcolmsonsmindwasquiteofftheroblem;andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimofthearoachofmorning，hewenttobedandtoslee。
HesletsosoundthathewasnotevenwakedbyMrs。Demstercomingintomakeuhisroom。Itwasonlywhenshehadtidieduthelaceandgothisbreakfastreadyandtaedonthescreenwhichclosedinhisbedthathewoke。Hewasalittletiredstillafterhisnightshardwork，butastrongcuofteasoonfreshenedhimuand，takinghisbook，hewentoutforhismorningwalk，bringingwithhimafewsandwicheslestheshouldnotcaretoreturntilldinnertime。Hefoundaquietwalkbetweenhighelmssomewayoutsidethetown，andherehesentthegreaterartofthedaystudyinghisLalace。OnhisreturnhelookedintoseeMrs。Withamandtothankherforherkindness。Whenshesawhimcomingthroughthediamond-anedbaywindowofhersanctumshecameouttomeethimandaskedhimin。Shelookedathimsearchinglyandshookherheadasshesaid:
"Youmustnotoverdoit，sir。Youarealerthismorningthanyoushouldbe。Toolatehoursandtoohardworkonthebrainisntgoodforanyman!Buttellme，sir，howdidyouassthenight?Well，Ihoe?Butmyheart!Sir，IwasgladwhenMrs。Demstertoldmethismorningthatyouwereallrightandsleeingsoundwhenshewentin。
"
