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Beasts and Superbeasts-Part11_H.H.Munro(Saki)(1870-1916)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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have learned something from it. A very wealthy country,



I believe. No real poverty there."

He raised his voice on the word "poverty" with a



suggestion of intense feeling. Crosby saw the opening

and avoided it.



"It possesses, nevertheless, a number of highly

talented and ingenious beggars," he said; "if I had not



spoken so disparagingly of marvellous things that have

really happened I would tell you the story of Ibrahim and



the eleven camel-loads of blotting-paper. Also I have

forgotten exactly how it ended."



"My own life-story is a curious one," said the

stranger, apparently stifling all desire to hear the



history of Ibrahim; "I was not always as you see me now."

"We are supposed to undergo complete change in the



course of every seven years," said Crosby, as an

explanation of the foregoing announcement.



"I mean I was not always in such distressing

circumstances as I am at present," pursued the stranger



doggedly.

"That sounds rather rude," said Crosby stiffly,



"considering that you are at present talking to a man

reputed to be one of the most gifted conversationalists



of the Afghan border."

"I don't mean in that way," said the greybeard



hastily; "I've been very much interested in your

conversation. I was alluding to my unfortunate financial



situation. You mayn't hardly believe it, but at the

present moment I am absolutely without a farthing. Don't



see any prospect of getting any money, either, for the

next few days. I don't suppose you've ever found



yourself in such a position," he added.

"In the town of Yom," said Crosby, "which is in



Southern Afghanistan, and which also happens to be my

birthplace, there was a Chinese philosopher who used to



say that one of the three chiefest human blessings was to

be absolutely without money. I forget what the other two



were."

"Ah, I daresay," said the stranger, in a tone that



betrayed no enthusiasm for the philosopher's memory; "and

did he practise what he preached? That's the test."



"He lived happily with very little money or

resources," said Crosby.



"Then I expect he had friends who would help him

liberally whenever he was in difficulties, such as I am



in at present."

"In Yom," said Crosby, "it is not necessary to have



friends in order to obtain help. Any citizen of Yom

would help a stranger as a matter of course."



The greybeard was now genuinely interested.

The conversation had at last taken a favourable



turn.

"If someone, like me, for instance, who was in



undeserved difficulties, asked a citizen of that town you

speak of for a small loan to tide over a few days'



impecuniosity - five shillings, or perhaps a rather

larger sum - would it be given to him as a matter of



course?"

"There would be a certain preliminary," said Crosby;



"one would take him to a wine-shop and treat him to a

measure of wine, and then, after a little high-flown



conversation, one would put the desired sum in his hand

and wish him good-day. It is a roundabout way of



performing a simple transaction, but in the East all ways

are roundabout."



The listener's eyes were glittering.

"Ah," he exclaimed, with a thin sneer ringing



meaningly through his words, "I suppose you've given up

all those generous customs since you left your town.



Don't practise them now, I expect."

"No one who has lived in Yom," said Crosby






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