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New Arabian Nights-Part24_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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could he suppose that Miss Vandeleur had left anything unsaid.

Indeed, the young man was sore both in body and mind - the one was



all bruised, the other was full of smarting arrows; and he owned to

himself that Mr. Vandeleur was master of a very deadly tongue.



The thought of his bruises reminded him that he had not only come

without a hat, but that his clothes had considerably suffered in



his descent through the chestnut. At the first magazine he

purchased a cheap wideawake, and had the disorder of his toilet



summarily repaired. The keepsake, still rolled in the

handkerchief, he thrust in the meanwhile into his trousers pocket.



Not many steps beyond the shop he was conscious of a sudden shock,

a hand upon his throat, an infuriated face close to his own, and an



open mouth bawling curses in his ear. The Dictator, having found

no trace of his quarry, was returning by the other way. Francis



was a stalwart young fellow; but he was no match for his adversary

whether in strength or skill; and after a few ineffectual struggles



he resigned himself entirely to his captor.

"What do you want with me?" said he.



"We will talk of that at home," returned the Dictator grimly.

And he continued to march the young man up hill in the direction of



the house with the green blinds.

But Francis, although he no longer struggled, was only waiting an



opportunity to make a bold push for freedom. With a sudden jerk he

left the collar of his coat in the hands of Mr. Vandeleur, and once



more made off at his best speed in the direction of the Boulevards.

The tables were now turned. If the Dictator was the stronger,



Francis, in the top of his youth, was the more fleet of foot, and

he had soon effected his escape among the crowds. Relieved for a



moment, but with a growing sentiment of alarm and wonder in his

mind, be walked briskly until he debauched upon the Place de



l'Opera, lit up like day with electric lamps.

"This, at least," thought he, "should satisfy Miss Vandeleur."



And turning to his right along the Boulevards, he entered the Cafe

Americain and ordered some beer. It was both late and early for



the majority of the frequenters of the establishment. Only two or

three persons, all men, were dotted here and there at separate



tables in the hall; and Francis was too much occupied by his own

thoughts to observe their presence.



He drew the handkerchief from his pocket. The object wrapped in it

proved to be a morocco case, clasped and ornamented in gilt, which



opened by means of a spring, and disclosed to the horrified young

man a diamond of monstrous bigness and extraordinary brilliancy.



The circumstance was so inexplicable, the value of the stone was

plainly so enormous, that Francis sat staring into the open casket



without movement, without conscious thought, like a man stricken

suddenly with idiocy.



A hand was laid upon his shoulder, lightly but firmly, and a quiet

voice, which yet had in it the ring of command, uttered these words



in his ear -

"Close the casket, and compose your face."



Looking up, he beheld a man, still young, of an urbane and tranquil

presence, and dressed with rich simplicity. This personage had



risen from a neighbouring table, and, bringing his glass with him,

had taken a seat beside Francis.



"Close the casket," repeated the stranger, "and put it quietly back

into your pocket, where I feel persuaded it should never have been.



Try, if you please, to throw off your bewildered air, and act as

though I were one of your acquaintances whom you had met by chance.



So! Touch glasses with me. That is better. I fear, sir, you must

be an amateur."



And the stranger pronounced these last words with a smile of

peculiar meaning, leaned back in his seat and enjoyed a deep



inhalation of tobacco.

"For God's sake," said Francis, "tell me who you are and what this



means? Why I should obey your most unusual suggestions I am sure I

know not; but the truth is, I have fallen this evening into so many



perplexing adventures, and all I meet conduct themselves so

strangely, that I think I must either have gone mad or wandered



into another planet. Your face inspires me with confidence; you

seem wise, good, and experienced; tell me, for heaven's sake, why



you accost me in so odd a fashion?"

"All in due time," replied the stranger. "But I have the first



hand, and you must begin by telling me how the Rajah's Diamond is




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