W.雅各布斯

W.W.Jacobs

W.W.雅各布斯（W.W.Jacobs，1863—1943），英国小说家，生于伦敦，毕业于伯克拜克大学。他是一个多产的小说家，写过大量的讽刺小说和恐怖小说。其中最著名的恐怖小说是《猴爪》（1901），曾被多次改编为电影和剧本，斯蒂芬·金的小说《宠物公墓》深受其影响。

I

Without,thenightwascoldandwet,butinthesmallarlourofLaburnamVillatheblindsweredrawnandthefireburnedbrightly.Fatherandsonwereatchess,theformer,whoossessedideasaboutthegameinvolvingradicalchanges,uttinghiskingintosuchsharandunnecessaryerilsthatitevenrovokedcommentfromthewhite-hairedoldladyknittinglacidlybythefre.

“Harkatthewind，”saidMr.White,who,havingseenafatalmistakeafteritwastoolate,wasamiablydesirousofreventinghissonfromseeingit.

“Imlistening，”saidthelatter,grimlysurveyingtheboardashestretchedouthishand.“Check.”

“Ishouldhardlythinkthathedcometonight，”saidhisfather,withhishandoisedovertheboard.

“Mate，”reliedtheson.

“Thatstheworstoflivingsofarout，”bawledMr.White,withsuddenandunlooked-forviolence；“ofallthebeastly,slushy,out-of-the-waylacestolivein,thisistheworst.Pathway‘sabog,andtheroad’satorrent.Idon‘tknowwhateolearethinkingabout.Isuosebecauseonlytwohousesontheroadarelet,theythinkitdoesn’tmatter.”

“Nevermind,dear，”saidhiswifesoothingly；“erhasyoullwinthenextone.”

Mr.Whitelookedusharly,justintimetointercetaknowingglancebetweenmotherandson.Thewordsdiedawayonhislis,andhehidaguiltygrininhisthingreybeard.

“Thereheis，”saidHerbertWhite,asthegatebangedtoloudlyandheavyfootstescametowardthedoor.

Theoldmanrosewithhositablehaste,andoeningthedoor,washeardcondolingwiththenewarrival.Thenewarrivalalsocondoledwithhimself,sothatMrs.Whitesaid，“Tut,tut！”andcoughedgentlyasherhusbandenteredtheroom,followedbyatallburlyman,beadyofeyeandrubicundofvisage.

“Sergeant-MajorMorris，”hesaid,introducinghim.

Thesergeant-majorshookhands,andtakingtherofferedseatbythefire,watchedcontentedlywhilehishostgotoutwhiskyandtumblersandstoodasmallcoerkettleonthefre.

Atthethirdglasshiseyesgotbrighter,andhebegantotalk,thelittlefamilycircleregardingwitheagerinterestthisvisitorfromdistantarts,ashesquaredhisbroadshouldersinthechairandsokeofstrangescenesanddoughtydeeds；ofwarsandlaguesandstrangeeoles.

“Twenty-oneyearsofit，”saidMr.White,noddingathiswifeandson.“Whenhewentawayhewasasliofayouthinthewarehouse.Nowlookathim.”

“Hedontlooktohavetakenmuchharm，”saidMrs.White,olitely.

“IdliketogotoIndiamyself，”saidtheoldman，“justtolookroundabit,youknow.”

“Betterwhereyouare，”saidthesergeant-major,shakinghishead.Heutdowntheemtyglass,andsighingsoftly,shookitagain.

“Ishouldliketoseethoseoldtemlesandfakirsandjugglers，”saidtheoldman.“Whatwasthatyoustartedtellingmetheotherdayaboutamonkeysaworsomething,Morris?”

“Nothing，”saidthesoldierhastily.“Leastways,nothingworthhearing.”

“Monkeysaw?”saidMrs.Whitecuriously.

“Well,itsjustabitofwhatyoumightcallmagic,erhas，”saidthesergeant-majoroff-handedly.

Histhreelistenersleanedforwardeagerly.Thevisitorabsentmindedlyuthisemtyglasstohislisandthensetitdownagain.Hishostflleditforhim.

“Tolookat，”saidthesergeant-major,fumblinginhisocket，“itsjustanordinarylittleaw,driedtoamummy.”

Hetooksomethingoutofhisocketandrofferedit.Mrs.Whitedrewbackwithagrimace,butherson,takingit,examineditcuriously.

“Andwhatistheresecialaboutit?”inquiredMr.White,ashetookitfromhissonand,havingexaminedit,lacedituonthetable.

“Ithadasellutonitbyanoldfakir，”saidthesergeant-major，“averyholyman.Hewantedtoshowthatfateruledeoleslives,andthatthosewhointerferedwithitdidsototheirsorrow.Heutasellonitsothatthreesearatemencouldeachhavethreewishesfromit.”

Hismannerwassoimressivethathishearerswereconsciousthattheirlightlaughterjarredsomewhat.

“Well,whydontyouhavethree,sir?”saidHerbertWhitecleverly.

Thesoldierregardedhiminthewaythatmiddleageiswonttoregardresumtuousyouth.“Ihave，”hesaidquietly,andhisblotchyfacewhitened.

“Anddidyoureallyhavethethreewishesgranted?”askedMrs.White.

“Idid，”saidthesergeant-major,andhisglasstaedagainsthisstrongteeth.

“Andhasanybodyelsewished?”inquiredtheoldlady.

“Thefrstmanhadhisthreewishes,yes，”wastherely.“Idon‘tknowwhatthefrsttwowere,butthethirdwasfordeath.That’showIgottheaw.”

Histonesweresogravethatahushfelluonthegrou.

“Ifyou‘vehadyourthreewishes,it’snogoodtoyounow,then,Morris，”saidtheoldmanatlast.“Whatdoyoukeeitfor?”

Thesoldiershookhishead.“Fancy,Isuose，”hesaidslowly.

“Ifyoucouldhaveanotherthreewishes，”saidtheoldman,eyeinghimkeenly，“wouldyouhavethem?”

“Idontknow，”saidtheother.“Idontknow.”

Hetooktheaw,anddanglingitbetweenhisfrontfingerandthumb,suddenlythrewituonthefire.White,withaslightcry,stooeddownandsnatcheditoff.

“Betterletitburn，”saidthesoldiersolemnly.

“Ifyoudontwantit,Morris，”saidtheoldman，“giveittome.”

“Iwont，”saidhisfrienddoggedly.“Ithrewitonthefre.Ifyoukeeit,dontblamemeforwhathaens.Pitchitonthefreagain,likeasensibleman.”

Theothershookhisheadandexaminedhisnewossessionclosely.“Howdoyoudoit?”heinquired.

“Holdituinyourrighthandandwishaloud，”saidthesergeant-major，“butIwarnyouoftheconsequences.”

“SoundsliketheArabianNights，”saidMrs.White,assheroseandbegantosetthesuer.“Dontyouthinkyoumightwishforfourairsofhandsforme?”

Herhusbanddrewthetalismanfromhisocketandthenallthreeburstintolaughterasthesergeant-major,withalookofalarmonhisface,caughthimbythearm.

“Ifyoumustwish，”hesaidgruffly，“wishforsomethingsensible.”

Mr.Whitedroeditbackintohisocket,andlacingchairs,motionedhisfriendtothetable.Inthebusinessofsuerthetalismanwasartlyforgotten,andafterwardthethreesatlisteninginanenthralledfashiontoasecondinstalmentofthesoldiersadventuresinIndia.

“Ifthetaleaboutthemonkeyawisnotmoretruthfulthanthosehehasbeentellingus，”saidHerbert,asthedoorclosedbehindtheirguest,justintimeforhimtocatchthelasttrain，“weshantmakemuchoutofit.”

“Didyougivehimanythingforit,father?”inquiredMrs.White,regardingherhusbandclosely.

“Atrife，”saidhe,colouringslightly.“Hedidntwantit,butImadehimtakeit.Andheressedmeagaintothrowitaway.”

“Likely，”saidHerbert,withretendedhorror.“Why,we‘regoingtoberich,andfamous,andhay.Wishtobeanemeror,father,tobeginwith；thenyoucan’tbehenecked.”

Hedartedroundthetable,ursuedbythemalignedMrs.Whitearmedwithanantimacassar.

Mr.Whitetooktheawfromhisocketandeyeditdubiously.“Idon‘tknowwhattowishfor,andthat’safact，”hesaidslowly.“ItseemstomeIvegotallIwant.”

“Ifyouonlyclearedthehouse,you‘dbequitehay,wouldn’tyou?”saidHerbert,withhishandonhisshoulder.“Well,wishfortwohundredounds,then；thatlljustdoit.”

Hisfather,smilingshamefacedlyathisowncredulity,helduthetalisman,ashisson,withasolemnfacesomewhatmarredbyawinkathismother,satdownattheianoandstruckafewimressivechords.

“Iwishfortwohundredounds，”saidtheoldmandistinctly.

Afnecrashfromtheianogreetedthewords,interrutedbyashudderingcryfromtheoldman.Hiswifeandsonrantowardhim.

“Itmoved，”hecried,withaglanceofdisgustattheobjectasitlayonthefoor.“AsIwishedittwistedinmyhandslikeasnake.”

“Well,Idontseethemoney，”saidhisson,asheickedituandlaceditonthetable，“andIbetInevershall.”

“Itmusthavebeenourfancy,father，”saidhiswife,regardinghimanxiously.

Heshookhishead.“Nevermind,though；theresnoharmdone,butitgavemeashockallthesame.”

Theysatdownbythefreagainwhilethetwomenfnishedtheiries.Outside,thewindwashigherthanever,andtheoldmanstartednervouslyatthesoundofadoorbangingustairs.Asilenceunusualandderessingsettleduonallthree,whichlasteduntiltheoldcoulerosetoretireforthenight.

“Iexectyoullfndthecashtieduinabigbaginthemiddleofyourbed，”saidHerbert,ashebadethemgoodnight，“andsomethinghorriblesquattinguontoofthewardrobewatchingyouasyouocketyourill-gottengains.”

Hesataloneinthedarkness,gazingatthedyingfre,andseeingfacesinit.Thelastfacewassohorribleandsosimianthathegazedatitinamazement.Itgotsovividthat,withalittleuneasylaugh,hefeltonthetableforaglasscontainingalittlewatertothrowoverit.Hishandgrasedthemonkeysaw,andwithalittleshiverhewiedhishandonhiscoatandwentutobed.

II

InthebrightnessofthewintrysunnextmorningasitstreamedoverthebreakfasttableHerbertlaughedathisfears.Therewasanairofrosaicwholesomenessabouttheroomwhichithadlackedonthereviousnight,andthedirty,shrivelledlittleawwasitchedonthesideboardwithacarelessnesswhichbetokenednogreatbeliefinitsvirtues.

“Isuosealloldsoldiersarethesame，”saidMrsWhite.“Theideaofourlisteningtosuchnonsense！Howcouldwishesbegrantedinthesedays?Andiftheycould,howcouldtwohundredoundshurtyou,father?”

“Mightdroonhisheadfromthesky，”saidthefrivolousHerbert.

“Morrissaidthethingshaenedsonaturally，”saidhisfather，“thatyoumightifyousowishedattributeittocoincidence.”

“Well,dontbreakintothemoneybeforeIcomeback，”saidHerbert,asherosefromthetable.“I‘mafraidit’llturnyouintoamean,avariciousman,andweshallhavetodisownyou.”

Hismotherlaughed,andfollowinghimtothedoor,watchedhimdowntheroad,andreturningtothebreakfasttable,wasveryhayattheexenseofherhusband‘scredulity.Allofwhichdidnotreventherfromscurryingtothedoorattheostman’sknock,norreventherfromreferringsomewhatshortlytoretiredsergeant-majorsofbibuloushabitswhenshefoundthattheostbroughtatailorsbill.

“Herbertwillhavesomemoreofhisfunnyremarks,Iexect,whenhecomeshome，”shesaid,astheysatatdinner.

“Idaresay，”saidMr.White,ouringhimselfoutsomebeer；“butforallthat,thethingmovedinmyhand；thatIllswearto.”

“Youthoughtitdid，”saidtheoldladysoothingly.

“Isayitdid，”reliedtheother.“Therewasnothoughtaboutit；Ihadjust-Whatsthematter?”

Hiswifemadenorely.Shewaswatchingthemysteriousmovementsofamanoutside,who,eeringinanundecidedfashionatthehouse,aearedtobetryingtomakeuhismindtoenter.Inmentalconnectionwiththetwohundredounds,shenoticedthatthestrangerwaswelldressedandworeasilkhatofglossynewness.Threetimesheausedatthegate,andthenwalkedonagain.Thefourthtimehestoodwithhishanduonit,andthenwithsuddenresolutionfungitoenandwalkedutheath.Mrs.Whiteatthesamemomentlacedherhandsbehindher,andhurriedlyunfasteningthestringsofheraron,utthatusefularticleofaarelbeneaththecushionofherchair.

Shebroughtthestranger,whoseemedillatease,intotheroom.Hegazedatherfurtively,andlistenedinareoccuiedfashionastheoldladyaologizedfortheaearanceoftheroom,andherhusbandscoat,agarmentwhichheusuallyreservedforthegarden.Shethenwaitedasatientlyashersexwouldermit,forhimtobroachhisbusiness,buthewasatfrststrangelysilent.

“I-wasaskedtocall，”hesaidatlast,andstooedandickedaieceofcottonfromhistrousers.“IcomefromMawandMeggins.”

Theoldladystarted.“Isanythingthematter?”sheaskedbreathlessly.“HasanythinghaenedtoHerbert?Whatisit?Whatisit?”

Herhusbandinterosed.“There,there,mother，”hesaidhastily.“Sitdown,anddon‘tjumtoconclusions.You’venotbroughtbadnews,Imsure,sir.”andheeyedtheotherwistfully.

“Imsorry……”beganthevisitor.

“Ishehurt?”demandedthemother.

Thevisitorbowedinassent.“Badlyhurt，”hesaidquietly，“butheisnotinanyain.”

“Oh,thankGod！”saidtheoldwoman,clasingherhands.“ThankGodforthat！Thank……”

Shebrokeoffsuddenlyasthesinistermeaningoftheassurancedawneduonherandshesawtheawfulconfrmationofherfearsintheothersavertedface.Shecaughtherbreath,andturningtoherslower-wittedhusband,laidhertremblingoldhanduonhis.Therewasalongsilence.

“Hewascaughtinthemachinery，”saidthevisitoratlength,inalowvoice.

“Caughtinthemachinery，”reeatedMr.White,inadazedfashion，“yes.”

Hesatstaringblanklyoutatthewindow,andtakinghiswifeshandbetweenhisown,resseditashehadbeenwonttodointheiroldcourtingdaysnearlyfortyyearsbefore.

“Hewastheonlyonelefttous，”hesaid,turninggentlytothevisitor.“Itishard.”

Theothercoughed,andrising,walkedslowlytothewindow.“Thefirmwishedmetoconveytheirsinceresymathywithyouinyourgreatloss，”hesaid,withoutlookinground.“IbegthatyouwillunderstandIamonlytheirservantandmerelyobeyingorders.”

Therewasnorely；theoldwoman‘sfacewaswhite,hereyesstaring,andherbreathinaudible；onthehusband’sfacewasalooksuchashisfriendthesergeantmighthavecarriedintohisfrstaction.

“IwastosaythatMawandMegginsdisclaimallresonsibility，”continuedtheother.“Theyadmitnoliabilityatall,butinconsiderationofyoursonsservicestheywishtoresentyouwithacertainsumascomensation.”

Mr.Whitedroedhiswifeshand,andrisingtohisfeet,gazedwithalookofhorrorathisvisitor.Hisdrylisshaedthewords，“Howmuch?”

“Twohundredounds，”wastheanswer.

Unconsciousofhiswifesshriek,theoldmansmiledfaintly,utouthishandslikeasightlessman,anddroed,asenselesshea,tothefoor.

III

Inthehugenewcemetery,sometwomilesdistant,theoldeoleburiedtheirdead,andcamebacktoahousesteeedinshadowandsilence.Itwasalloversoquicklythatatfrsttheycouldhardlyrealizeit,andremainedinastateofexectationasthoughofsomethingelsetohaen-somethingelsewhichwastolightenthisload,tooheavyforoldheartstobear.

Butthedaysassed,andexectationgavelacetoresignation-thehoelessresignationoftheold,sometimesmiscalled,aathy.Sometimestheyhardlyexchangedaword,fornowtheyhadnothingtotalkabout,andtheirdayswerelongtoweariness.

Itwasaboutaweekafterthatthattheoldman,wakingsuddenlyinthenight,stretchedouthishandandfoundhimselfalone.Theroomwasindarkness,andthesoundofsubduedweeingcamefromthewindow.Heraisedhimselfinbedandlistened.

“Comeback，”hesaidtenderly.“Youwillbecold.”

“Itiscolderformyson，”saidtheoldwoman,andwetafresh.

Thesoundofhersobsdiedawayonhisears.Thebedwaswarm,andhiseyesheavywithslee.Hedozedftfully,andthensletuntilasuddenwildcryfromhiswifeawokehimwithastart.

“Theaw！”shecriedwildly.“Themonkeysaw！”

Hestarteduinalarm.“Where?Whereisit?Whatsthematter?”

Shecamestumblingacrosstheroomtowardhim.“Iwantit，”shesaidquietly.“Youvenotdestroyedit?”

“Itsinthearlour,onthebracket，”herelied,marvelling.“Why?”

Shecriedandlaughedtogether,andbendingover,kissedhischeek.

“Ionlyjustthoughtofit，”shesaidhysterically.“Whydidn‘tIthinkofitbefore?Whydidn’tyouthinkofit?”

“Thinkofwhat?”hequestioned.

“Theothertwowishes，”shereliedraidly.“Weveonlyhadone.”

“Wasnotthatenough?”hedemandedfercely.

“No，”shecried,triumhantly，“wellhaveonemore.Godownandgetitquickly,andwishourboyaliveagain.”

Themansatuinbedandfungthebedclothesfromhisquakinglimbs.“GoodGod,youaremad！”hecriedaghast.

“Getit，”sheanted，“getitquickly,andwish-Oh,myboy,myboy！”

Herhusbandstruckamatchandlitthecandle.“Getbacktobed，”hesaid,unsteadily.“Youdontknowwhatyouaresaying.”

“Wehadthefrstwishgranted，”saidtheoldwoman,feverishly，“whynotthesecond.”

“Acoincidence，”stammeredtheoldman.

“Goandgetitandwish，”criedtheoldwoman,quiveringwithexcitement.

Theoldmanturnedandregardedher,andhisvoiceshook.“Hehasbeendeadtendays,andbesideshe-Iwouldnottellyouelse,but-Icouldonlyrecognizehimbyhisclothing.Ifhewastooterribleforyoutoseethen,hownow?”

“Bringhimback，”criedtheoldwoman,anddraggedhimtowardthedoor.“DoyouthinkIfearthechildIhavenursed?”

Hewentdowninthedarkness,andfelthiswaytothearlour,andthentothemanteliece.Thetalismanwasinitslace,andahorriblefearthattheunsokenwishmightbringhismutilatedsonbeforehimerehecouldescaefromtheroomseizeduonhim,andhecaughthisbreathashefoundthathehadlostthedirectionofthedoor.Hisbrowcoldwithsweat,hefelthiswayroundthetable,andgroedalongthewalluntilhefoundhimselfinthesmallassagewiththeunwholesomethinginhishand.

Evenhiswifesfaceseemedchangedasheenteredtheroom.Itwaswhiteandexectant,andtohisfearsseemedtohaveanunnaturallookuonit.Hewasafraidofher.

“Wish！”shecried,inastrongvoice.

“Itisfoolishandwicked，”hefaltered.

“Wish！”reeatedhiswife.

Heraisedhishand.“Iwishmysonaliveagain.”

Thetalismanfelltothefoor,andheregardeditfearfully.Thenhesanktremblingintoachairastheoldwoman,withburningeyes,walkedtothewindowandraisedtheblind.

Hesatuntilhewaschilledwiththecold,glancingoccasionallyatthefigureoftheoldwomaneeringthroughthewindow.Thecandleend,whichhadburntbelowtherimofthechinacandlestick,wasthrowingulsatingshadowsontheceilingandwalls,until,withaflickerlargerthantherest,itexired.Theoldman,withanunseakablesenseofreliefatthefailureofthetalisman,cretbacktohisbed,andaminuteortwoafterwardtheoldwomancamesilentlyandaatheticallybesidehim.

Neithersoke,butbothlaysilentlylisteningtothetickingoftheclock.Astaircreaked,andasqueakymousescurriednoisilythroughthewall.Thedarknesswasoressive,andafterlyingforsometimescrewinguhiscourage,thehusbandtooktheboxofmatches,andstrikingone,wentdownstairsforacandle.

Atthefootofthestairsthematchwentout,andheausedtostrikeanother,andatthesamemomentaknock,soquietandstealthyastobescarcelyaudible,soundedonthefrontdoor.

Thematchesfellfromhishand.Hestoodmotionless,hisbreathsusendeduntiltheknockwasreeated.Thenheturnedandfledswiftlybacktohisroom,andclosedthedoorbehindhim.Athirdknocksoundedthroughthehouse.

“Whatsthat?”criedtheoldwoman,startingu.

“Arat，”saidtheoldman,inshakingtones-“arat.Itassedmeonthestairs.”

Hiswifesatuinbedlistening.Aloudknockresoundedthroughthehouse.

“ItsHerbert！”shescreamed.“ItsHerbert！”

Sherantothedoor,butherhusbandwasbeforeher,andcatchingherbythearm,heldhertightly.

“Whatareyougoingtodo?”hewhiseredhoarsely.

“It‘smyboy；it’sHerbert！”shecried,strugglingmechanically.“Iforgotitwastwomilesaway.Whatareyouholdingmefor?Letgo.Imustoenthedoor.”

“ForGod‘ssake,don’tletitin，”criedtheoldmantrembling.

“Youreafraidofyourownson，”shecried,struggling.“Letmego.I‘mcoming,Herbert；I’mcoming.”

Therewasanotherknock,andanother.Theoldwomanwithasuddenwrenchbrokefreeandranfromtheroom.Herhusbandfollowedtothelanding,andcalledafterheraealinglyasshehurrieddownstairs.Heheardthechainrattlebackandthebottomboltdrawnslowlyandstifflyfromthesocket.Thentheoldwomansvoice,strainedandanting.

“Thebolt，”shecriedloudly.“Comedown.Icantreachit.”

Butherhusbandwasonhishandsandkneesgroingwildlyonthefoorinsearchoftheaw.Ifhecouldonlyfnditbeforethethingoutsidegotin.Aerfectfusilladeofknocksreverberatedthroughthehouse,andheheardthescraingofachairashiswifeutitdownintheassageagainstthedoor.Heheardthecreakingoftheboltasitcameslowlyback,andatthesamemomenthefoundthemonkeysaw,andfranticallybreathedhisthirdandlastwish.

Theknockingceasedsuddenly,althoughtheechoesofitwerestillinthehouse.Heheardthechairdrawnbackandthedooroened.Acoldwindrusheduthestaircase,andalongloudwailofdisaointmentandmiseryfromhiswifegavehimcouragetorundowntoherside,andthentothegatebeyond.Thestreetlamfickeringoositeshoneonaquietanddesertedroad.

一

这是一个阴冷的夜晚，但是在拉波诺姆·维拉镇的一间拉着窗帘的小客厅里，炉火正旺，父亲和儿子正在下棋。由于父亲误将王放到一个不必要的危险境地，棋局形势逆转，就连在火炉边静静织毛衣的白发老太太也过来评论了。

“听这风声，”怀特先生说，他看着这一步错棋导致满盘皆输的形势，试图用亲昵来转移儿子的注意力，不让他发现。

“我正听着呢。”儿子说道，冷冷地看着棋盘，伸出手，“将！”

“我实在不相信他今晚会来。”父亲说着，泰然自若地手把放在棋盘上方。

“将！”儿子又说。

“住得这么偏远真是糟糕极了。”怀特先生突然出人意料地发作起来。“在所有住过的荒芜、泥泞、偏僻的地方中，这里是最糟的。院里的小路像个泥塘，而外面的大路就是一条洪流。真不知道人们是怎么想的，我看哪，因为路边只有两座房子是提供出租的了，所以他们认为没有关系吧。”

“没关系，亲爱的。”他的妻子安慰道，“或许下一盘你就会赢的。”

怀特先生猛地抬起头，恰好看到母子互递眼色。他不好意思说下去了，那稀疏的灰胡须中隐藏着心虚的笑。

“他来了。”赫伯特·怀特说道。同时，大门“砰”地一声关上了，紧跟着，有沉重的脚步走近屋门口。

老头怀特急忙殷勤地站起来，打开门，向刚到的客人表示欢迎，来人也问候了他。当一个高大结实、眼睛炯炯有神、面色红润的男子跟着她丈夫走进屋子里，怀特太太不禁发出“啧啧”声，并轻轻咳嗽着。

“军士长莫里斯。”怀特先生向家人介绍着来客。

军士长和他们握了握手，就坐到火炉边的椅子上了，满意地看着大家。这时，主人拿出了威士忌和酒杯，火炉上还有一个黄铜小水壶。

三杯酒后，莫里斯的眼睛更明亮了，他开始侃侃而谈，一家人满怀热情、兴致勃勃地注视着这位远道而来的客人。他在椅子上挺了挺宽阔的肩膀，便说起了那些奇异的景观和英勇的事迹、战争和瘟疫，还有稀奇古怪的民族。