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第25章 法官的房子10（第1页）

e，onthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairsattheJudgeinhisrobesofscarletandermine，withhisbalefuleyesglaringvindictively，andasmileoftriumhontheresolute，cruelmouth，asheliftedwithhishandsablackca。Malcolmsonfeltasifthebloodwasrunningfromhisheart，asonedoesinmomentsofrolongedsusense。Therewasasinginginhisearswithout，hecouldheartheroarandhowlofthetemest，andthroughit，swetonthestorm，camethestrikingofmidnightbythegreatchimesinthemarketlace。Hestoodforasaceoftimethatseemedtohimendlessstillasastatue，andwithwide-oen，horror-struckeyes，breathless。Astheclockstruck，sothesmileoftriumhontheJudgesfaceintensified，andatthelaststrokeofmidnighthelacedtheblackcaonhishead。

SlowlyanddeliberatelytheJudgerosefromhischairandickedutheieceoftheroeofthealarmbellwhichlayonthefloor，drewitthroughhishandsasifheenjoyeditstouch，andthendeliberatelybegantoknotoneendofit，fashioningitintoanoose。Thishetightenedandtestedwithhisfoot，ullinghardatittillhewassatisfiedandthenmakingarunningnooseofit，whichheheldinhishand。ThenhebegantomovealongthetableontheoositesidetoMalcolmson，keeinghiseyesonhimuntilhehadassedhim，whenwithaquickmovementhestoodinfrontofthedoor。Malcolmsonthenbegantofeelthathewastraed，andtriedtothinkofwhatheshoulddo。TherewassomefascinationintheJudgeseyes，whichhenevertookoffhim，andhehad，erforce，tolook。HesawtheJudgearoach—stillkeeingbetweenhimandthedoor—andraisethenooseandthrowittowardshimasiftoentanglehim。Withagreatefforthemadeaquickmovementtooneside，andsawtheroefallbesidehim，andhearditstriketheoakenfloor。AgaintheJudgeraisedthenooseandtriedtoensnarehim，everkeeinghisbalefuleyesfixedonhim，andeachtimebyamightyeffortthestudentjustmanagedtoevadeit。Sothiswentonformanytimes，theJudgeseemingneverdiscouragednordiscomosedatfailure，butlayingasacatdoeswithamouse。Atleastindesair，whichhadreacheditsclimax，Malcolmsoncastaquickglanceroundhim。Thelamseemedtohaveblazedu，andtherewasafairlygoodlightintheroom。Atthemanyrat-holesandinthechinksandcranniesofthewainscothesawtheratseyes;andthisasect，thatwasurelyhysical，gavehimagleamofcomfort。Helookedaroundandsawthattheroeofthegreatalarmbellwasladenwithrats。Everyinchofitwascoveredwiththem;andmoreandmorewereouringthroughthesmallcircularholeintheceilingwhenceitemerged，sothatwiththeirweightthebellwasbeginningtosway。

Hark!Ithadswayedtilltheclaerhadtouchedthebell。Thesoundwasbutatinyone，butthebellwasonlybeginningtosway，anditwouldincrease。

AtthesoundtheJudge，whohadbeenkeeinghiseyesfixedonMalcolmson，lookedu，andascowlofdiabolicalangeroversreadhisface。Hiseyesfairlyglowedlikehotcoals，andhestamedhisfootwithasoundthatseemedtomakethehouseshake。Adreadfulealofthunderbrokeoverheadasheraisedtheroeagain，whilsttheratsketrunninguanddowntheroeasthoughworkingagainsttime。Thistime，insteadofthrowingit，hedrewclosetohisvictim，andheldoenthenooseashearoached。Ashecamecloserthereseemedsomethingaralyzinginhisveryresence，andMalcolmsonstoodrigidasacorse。HefelttheJudgesicyfingerstouchhisthroatasheadjustedtheroe。Thenoosetightened—tightened。ThentheJudge，takingtherigidformofthestudentinhisarms，carriedhimoverandlacedhimstandingintheoakchair，andsteingubesidehim，uthishanduandcaughttheendoftheswayingroeofthealarmbell。Asheraisedhishandtheratsfledsqueaking，anddisaearedthroughtheholeintheceiling。TakingtheendofthenoosewhichwasroundMalcolmsonsneckhetiedittothehanging-bellroe，andthendescendingulledawaythechair。

WhenthealarmbelloftheJudgesHousebegantosoundacrowdsoonassembled。Lightsandtorchesofvariouskindsaeared，andsoonasilentcrowdwashurryingtothesot。Theyknockedloudlyatthedoor，buttherewasnorely。Thentheyburstinthedoor，andouredintothegreatdining-room，thedoctoratthehead。

Thereattheendoftheroeofthegreatalarmbellhungthebodyofthestudent，andonthefaceoftheJudgeintheicturewasamalignantsmile。