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法官的房子 the jud hue（第1页）

布拉姆·斯托克

BramStoker

布拉姆·斯托克（BramStoker，1847—1912），爱尔兰作家，出生于都柏林。因《德拉库拉》而享有“吸血鬼之父”的称号，由此成为吸血鬼小说的鼻祖，影响了后世几代作家。其作品被不断翻拍，成为经典电影。以其姓名命名的布拉姆·斯托克奖，是恐怖小说界的最高奖。

WhenthetimeforhisexaminationdrewnearMalcolmsonmadeuhismindtogosomewheretoreadbyhimself。Hefearedtheattractionsoftheseaside，andalsohefearedcomletelyruralisolation，forofoldheknewitsharms，andsohedeterminedtofindsomeunretentiouslittletownwheretherewouldbenothingtodistracthim。Herefrainedfromaskingsuggestionsfromanyofhisfriends，forhearguedthateachwouldrecommendsomelaceofwhichhehadknowledge，andwherehehadalreadyacquaintances。AsMalcolmsonwishedtoavoidfriendshehadnowishtoencumberhimselfwiththeattentionoffriendsfriends，andsohedeterminedtolookoutforalaceforhimself。Heackedaortmanteauwithsomeclothesandallthebooksherequired，andthentookticketforthefrstnameonthelocaltime-tablewhichhedidnotknow。

WhenattheendofthreehoursjourneyhealightedatBenchurch，hefeltsatisfedthathehadsofarobliteratedhistracksastobesureofhavingaeacefuloortunityofursuinghisstudies。Hewentstraighttotheoneinnwhichthesleeylittlelacecontained，andutuforthenight。Benchurchwasamarkettown，andonceinthreeweekswascrowdedtoexcess，butfortheremainderofthetwenty-onedaysitwasasattractiveasadesert。Malcolmsonlookedaroundthedayafterhisarrivaltotrytofndquartersmoreisolatedthanevensoquietaninnas“TheGoodTraveller”afforded。Therewasonlyonelacewhichtookhisfancy，anditcertainlysatisfedhiswildestideasregardingquiet；infact，quietwasnottheroerwordtoalytoit-desolationwastheonlytermconveyinganysuitableideaofitsisolation。Itwasanoldrambling，heavy-builthouseoftheJacobeanstyle，withheavygablesandwindows，unusuallysmall，andsethigherthanwascustomaryinsuchhouses，andwassurroundedwithahighbrickwallmassivelybuilt。Indeed，onexamination，itlookedmorelikeafortifiedhousethananordinarydwelling。ButallthesethingsleasedMalcolmson。“Here，”hethought，“istheverysotIhavebeenlookingfor，andifIcangetoortunityofusingitIshallbehay。”Hisjoywasincreasedwhenherealisedbeyonddoubtthatitwasnotatresentinhabited。

Fromtheost-officehegotthenameoftheagentwhowasrarelysurrisedatthealicationtorentaartoftheoldhouse。Mr。Carnford，thelocallawyerandagent，wasagenialoldgentleman，andfranklyconfessedhisdelightatanyonebeingwillingtoliveinthehouse。

“Totellyouthetruth，”saidhe，“Ishouldbeonlytoohay，onbehalfoftheowners，toletanyonehavethehouserentfreeforatermofyearsifonlytoaccustomtheeoleheretoseeitinhabited。Ithasbeensolongemtythatsomekindofabsurdrejudicehasgrownuaboutit，andthiscanbebestutdownbyitsoccuation-ifonly，”headdedwithaslyglanceatMalcolmson，“byascholarlikeyourself，whowantsitsquietforatime。”

Malcolmsonthoughtitneedlesstoasktheagentaboutthe“absurdrejudice”；heknewhewouldgetmoreinformation，ifheshouldrequireit，onthatsubjectfromotherquarters。Heaidhisthreemonthsrent，gotareceit，andthenameofanoldwomanwhowouldrobablyundertaketo“do”forhim，andcameawaywiththekeysinhisocket。Hethenwenttothelandladyoftheinn，whowasacheerfulandmostkindlyerson，andaskedheradviceastosuchstoresandrovisionsashewouldbelikelytorequire。Shethrewuherhandsinamazementwhenhetoldherwherehewasgoingtosettlehimself。

“NotintheJudgesHouse！”shesaid，andgrewaleasshesoke。Heexlainedthelocalityofthehouse，sayingthathedidnotknowitsname。Whenhehadfnishedsheanswered：“Aye，sureenough-sureenoughtheverylace！ItistheJudgesHousesureenough。”Heaskedhertotellhimaboutthelace，whysocalled，andwhattherewasagainstit。Shetoldhimthatitwassocalledlocallybecauseithadbeenmanyyearsbefore-howlongshecouldnotsay，asshewasherselffromanotherartofthecountry，butshethoughtitmusthavebeenahundredyearsormore-theabodeofajudgewhowasheldingreatterroronaccountofhisharshsentencesandhishostilitytorisonersatAssizes。Astowhattherewasagainstthehouse，itselfshecouldnottell。Shehadoftenasked，butnoonecouldinformher；buttherewasageneralfeelingthattherewassomething，andforherownartshewouldnottakeallthemoneyinDrinkwatersBankandstayinthehouseanhourbyherself。ThensheaologizedtoMalcolmsonforherdisturbingtalk。“Itistoobadofme，sir，andyou-andayounggentleman，too-ifyouwillardonmesayingit，goingtolivethereallalone。Ifyouweremyboy-andyou‘llexcusemeforsayingit-youwouldn’tsleethereanight，notifIhadtogotheremyselfandullthebigalarmbellthatsonthatroof！”

Thegoodcreaturewassomanifestlyinearnest，andwassokindlyinherintentions，thatMalcolmson，althoughamused，wastouched。Hetoldherkindlyhowmuchheareciatedherinterestinhim，andadded：“But，mydearMrs。Witham，indeedyouneednotbeconcernedaboutme！AmanwhoisreadingfortheMathematicalTrioshastoomuchtothinkoftobedisturbedanyanyofthesemysterioussomething，andhisworkisoftooexactandrosaicakindtoallowofhishavinganycornerinhismindformysteriesofanykind。HarmonicalProgression，PermutationsandCombinations，andElliticFunctionshavesuffcientmysteriesforme！”Mrs。Withamkindlyundertooktoseeafterhiscommissions，andhewenthimselftolookfortheoldwomanwhohadbeenrecommendedtohim。WhenhereturnedtotheJudge‘sHousewithher，afteranintervalofacouleofhours，hefoundMrs。Withamherselfwaitingwithseveralmenandboyscarryingarcels，andanuholsterer’smanwithabedinacar，forshesaid，thoughtablesandchairsmightbeallverywell，abedthathadntbeenairedformayhafftyyearswasnotroerforyoungbonestolieon。Shewasevidentlycurioustoseetheinsideofthehouse；andthoughmanifestlysoafraidofthe“something”thatattheslightestsoundsheclutchedontoMalcolmson，whomsheneverleftforamoment，wentoverthewholelace。

Afterhisexaminationofthehouse，Malcolmsondecidedtotakeuhisabodeinthegreatdining-room，whichwasbigenoughtoserveforallhisrequirements；andMrs。Witham，withtheaidofthecharwoman，Mrs。Demster，roceededtoarrangematters。Whenthehamerswerebroughtinandunacked，Malcolmsonsawthatwithmuchkindforethoughtshehadsentfromherownkitchensuffcientrovisionstolastforafewdays。Beforegoingsheexressedallsortsofkindwishes；andatthedoorturnedandsaid：“Anderhas，sir，astheroomisbiganddraughtyitmightbewelltohaveoneofthosebigscreensutroundyourbedatnight-though，truthtotell，IwoulddiemyselfifIweretobesoshutinwithallkindsof-of‘things’，thatuttheirheadsroundthesides，orovertheto，andlookonme！”Theimagewhichshehadcalleduwastoomuchforhernerves，andshefedincontinently。

Mrs。Demstersniffedinasueriormannerasthelandladydisaeared，andremarkedthatforherownartshewasntafraidofallthebogiesinthekingdom。

“Illtellyouwhatitis，sir，”shesaid；“bogiesisallkindsandsortsofthings-excetbogies！Ratsandmice，andbeetles，andcreakydoors，andlooseslates，andbrokenanes，andstiffdrawerhandles，thatstayoutwhenyouullthemandthenfalldowninthemiddleofthenight。Lookatthewainscotoftheroom！Itisold-hundredsofyearsold！Doyouthinkthere‘snoratsandbeetlesthere！Anddoyouimagine，sir，thatyouwon’tseenoneofthem?Ratsisbogies，Itellyou，andbogiesisrats；anddontyougettothinkanythingelse！”

“Mrs。Demster，”saidMalcolmsongravely，makingheraolitebow，“youknowmorethanaSeniorWrangler！Andletmesay，that，asamarkofesteemforyourindubitablesoundnessofheadandheart，Ishall，whenIgo，giveyouossessionofthishouse，andletyoustayherebyyourselfforthelasttwomonthsofmytenancy，forfourweekswillservemyurose。”

“Thankyoukindly，sir！”sheanswered，“butIcouldn‘tsleeawayfromhomeanight。IaminGreenhow’sCharity，andifIsletanightawayfrommyroomsIshouldloseallIhavegottoliveon。Therulesisverystrict；andthere‘stoomanywatchingforavacancyformetorunanyrisksinthematter。Onlyforthat，sir，I’dgladlycomehereandattendonyoualtogetherduringyourstay。”

“Mygoodwoman，”saidMalcolmsonhastily，“Ihavecomehereonurosetoobtainsolitude；andbelievemethatIamgratefultothelateGreenhowforhavingsoorganisedhisadmirablecharity-whateveritis-thatIamerforcedeniedtheoortunityofsufferingfromsuchaformoftemtation！SaintAnthonyhimselfcouldnotbemorerigidontheoint！”

Theoldwomanlaughedharshly。“Ah，youyounggentlemen，”shesaid，“youdon‘tfearfornaught；andbelikeyou’llgetallthesolitudeyouwanthere。”Shesettoworkwithhercleaning；andbynightfall，whenMalcolmsonreturnedfromhiswalk-healwayshadoneofhisbookstostudyashewalked-hefoundtheroomswetandtidied，afreburningintheoldhearth，thelamlit，andthetablesreadforsuerwithMrs。Withamsexcellentfare。“Thisiscomfort，indeed，”hesaid，asherubbedhishands。

Whenhehadfnishedhissuer，andliftedthetraytotheotherendofthegreatoakdining-table，hegotouthisbooksagain，utfreshwoodonthefre，trimmedhislam，andsethimselfdowntoasellofrealhardwork。Hewentonwithoutausetillaboutelevenoclock，whenheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlam，andtomakehimselfacuoftea。Hehadalwaysbeenatea-drinker，andduringhiscollegelifehadsatlateatworkandhadtakentealate。Therestwasagreatluxurytohim，andheenjoyeditwithasenseofdelicious，volutuousease。Therenewedfireleaedandsarkled，andthrewquaintshadowsthroughthegreatoldroom；andashesiedhishotteaherevelledinthesenseofisolationfromhiskind。Thenitwasthathebegantonoticeforthefrsttimewhatanoisetheratsweremaking。

“Surely，”hethought，“theycannothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading。Hadtheybeen，Imusthavenoticedit！”Presently，whenthenoiseincreased，hesatisfedhimselfthatitwasreallynew。Itwasevidentthatatfrsttheratshadbeenfrightenedattheresenceofastranger，andthelightoffreandlam；butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenowdisortingthemselvesaswastheirwont。

Howbusytheywere！Andharktothestrangenoises！Uanddownbehindtheoldwainscot，overtheceilingandunderthefoortheyraced，andgnawed，andscratched！MalcolmsonsmiledtohimselfasherecalledtomindthesayingofMrs。Demster，“Bogiesisrats，andratsisbogies！”Theteabegantohaveitseffectofintellectualandnervousstimulus，hesawwithjoyanotherlongsellofworktobedonebeforethenightwasast，andinthesenseofsecuritywhichitgavehim，heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtheroom。Hetookhislaminonehand，andwentallaround，wonderingthatsoquaintandbeautifulanoldhousehadbeensolongneglected。Thecarvingoftheoakontheanelsofthewainscotwasfne，andonandroundthedoorsandwindowsitwasbeautifulandofraremerit。Thereweresomeoldicturesonthewalls，buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthathecouldnotdistinguishanydetailofthem，thoughheheldhislamashighashecouldoverhishead。Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholeblockedforamomentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteringinthelight，butinaninstantitwasgone，andasqueakandascamerfollowed。Thethingthatmoststruckhim，however，wastheroeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof，whichhungdowninacorneroftheroomontheright-handsideofthefrelace。Heulleduclosetothehearthagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair，andsatdowntohislastcuoftea。Whenthiswasdonehemadeuthefre，andwentbacktohiswork，sittingatthecornerofthetable，havingthefretohisleft。Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeireretualscamering，buthegotaccustomedtothenoiseasonedoestothetickingofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater，andhebecamesoimmersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld，excettheroblemwhichhewastryingtosolve，assedawayfromhim。

Hesuddenlylookedu，hisroblemwasstillunsolved，andtherewasintheairthatsenseofthehourbeforethedawn，whichissodreadtodoubtfullife。Thenoiseoftheratshadceased。Indeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddencessationwhichhaddisturbedhim。Thefrehadfallenlow，butstillitthrewoutadeeredglow。Ashelookedhestartedinsiteofhissangfroid。

Thereonthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefrelacesatanenormousrat，steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes。Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway，butitdidnotstir。Thenhemadethemotionofthrowingsomething。Stillitdidnotstir，butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily，anditscrueleyesshoneinthelamlightwithanaddedvindictiveness。

Malcolmsonfeltamazed，andseizingtheokerfromthehearthranatittokillit。Before，however，hecouldstrikeit，therat，withasqueakthatsoundedliketheconcentrationofhate，jumeduonthefoor，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。”