按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
existence here in a strain of conscientious esteem； he has not hesitated to
dip his brush deeply into the inkpot。 Reverting backwards； this barbarian
enactment of not permitting those who from any cause have decided upon
spending the night in a philosophical abstraction to repose upon the public
seats about the swards and open spaces is not conceived in a mood of
affable toleration。 Nevertheless there are deserted places beyond the
furthest limits of the city where a more amiable full…face is shown。 On the
eleventh day of this one's determination to sustain himself by the exercise
of his literary style； he was journeying about sunset towards one of these
spots； subduing the grosser instincts of mankind by reviewing the wisdom
of the sublime Lao Ch'un； who decided that heat and cold； pain and fatigue；
and mental distress； have no real existence； and are therefore amenable to
logical disproof； while the cravings of hunger and thirst are merely the
superfluous attributes of a former and lower state of existence； when a
passer…by； who for some distance had been alternately advancing before
and remaining behind； matched his footsteps into mine。
〃Whichee way walk…go； John； eh？〃 said this unfortunate being； who
appeared to be suffering from a laborious deformity of speech。 〃Allee
samee load me。 Chin…chin。〃 Filled with compassion for one who evidently
found himself alone in a strange land； in the absence of his more highly…
accomplished companion； unable to indicate his wants and requirements to
those about him； I regretfully admitted that I had not chanced to encounter
that John whose wandering footsteps he sought； and to indicate； by not
leaving him abruptly； that I maintained a sympathetic concern over his
welfare； I pointed out to him the exceptional brilliance of the approaching
night； adding that I myself was then directing a course towards a certain
spacious Heath； a few li distant in the north。
〃Sing…dance tomollow； then？〃 he said； with a condensed air of general
disappointment。 〃Chop…chop in a pay look…see show on HamHamstloh
124
… Page 125…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
damme！ on 'Ampstead 'Eath？ Booked up； eh； John？〃
Gradually convinced that it was becoming necessary to readjust the
significance of the incident； I replied that I had no intention of partaking of
chops or food of any variety in an erected tent； but merely of passing the
night in an intellectual seclusion。
〃Oh；〃 said the one who was walking by my side； regarding my
garments with engaging attention； and at the same time appearing to
regain an unruffled speech as though the other had been an assumed
device； 〃I understandthe Blue Sky Hotel。 Well； I've stayed there once or
twice myself。 A bit down on your uppers； eh？〃
〃Assuredly this person may perchance lay his upper parts down for a
short space of time；〃 I admitted； when I had traced out the symbolism of
the words。 〃As it is humanely written in The Books； 'Sleep and suicide are
the free refuges equally of the innocent and the guilty。'〃
〃Oh； come now； don't；〃 exclaimed the energetic person； striking
himself together by means of his two hands。 〃It's sinful to talk about
suicide the day before bank holiday。 Why； my only Somali warrior has
vamoosed with his full make…up； and the Magnetic Girl too； and I never
thought of suicideonly whether to turn my old woman into a Veiled
Beauty of the Harem or a Hairy Lama from Tibet。〃
Not absolutely grasping the emergency； yet in a spirit of inoffensive
cordiality I remarked that the alternative was insufferably perplexing；
while he continued。
〃Then I spotted you； and in a flash I got an idea that ought to take and
turn out really great if you'll come in。 Now follow this： Missionary's tent
in the wilds of Pekin。 Domestic interior by lamp…light。 Missionary （me）
reading evening paper； missionary's wife （the missus） making tea； and
between times singing to keep the small pet goat quiet （small goat； a
pillow； horsecloth； and pocket…handkerchief）。 Breaks down singing； sobs；
and says she feels a strange all…over presentiment。 Missionary admits
being a bit fluffed himself； and lets out about a notice signed in blood that
he's seen in the city。〃
〃Carried upon a pole？〃 this person demanded； feeling that something
of a literary nature might yet be wrested into the incident。
125
… Page 126…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
〃On a flagstaff if you like；〃 conceded the other one magnanimously。
〃A notice to the effect that it is the duty of every jack mother's son of them
to douse the foreign devils； man； woman； and child； and especially the
talk…book pass…hat…round men。 Also that he has had several brick…ends
heaved at him on his way back。 Then stops suddenly； hits his upper crust；
and says that it's like his blamed fat…headedness to frighten her； while she
clutches at herself three times and faints away。〃
〃Amid the voluminous burning of blue lights？〃 suggested this person
resourcefully。
〃By rights there should be；〃 admitted the one who was devising the
representation； 〃but it will hardly run to it。 Anyway； it costs nothing to turn
the lamp downsaves a bit in fact； and gives an effect。 Then outside； in the
distance at first you understand； you begin to work up the sound of the
advancing mobrattles； shouts； tum…tums； groans； tin plates and all that
one mortal man can do with hands； feet and mouth。〃
〃With the interspersal of an occasional cracker and the stirring notes
produced by striking a hollow wooden fish repeatedly？〃 I cried； for let it
be confessed that amid the portrayal of the scene my imagination had
taken an allotted part。
〃If you like to provide them； and don't set the bally show on fire；〃 he
replied。 〃Anyhow； these two aren't supposed to notice anything even when
the row gets louder。 Then it drops and you are heard outside talking in
whispers to the otherswords of command and telling them to keep back
half…a…mo； and so on。 See？〃
〃Doubtless introducing a spoken charm and repeating the words of an
incantation against omens； treachery； and other matters。〃
〃Next a flap of the tent down on the floor is raised； and you
reconnoitre； looking your very worst and holding a knife between your
teeth and another in each hand。 Wave a hand to your followers to keep
backor come on： it makes no difference。 Then you crawl in on your
stomach； give a terrific howl； and stab me in the back。 That rolls me under
the curtain； and so lets me out。 The missus ups with the wood…chopper and
stands before the cradle； while you yell and dance round with the knives。
That ought to be made 'the moment' of the whole piece。 The great thing is
126
… Page 127…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
to make enough noise。 If you can yell louder than the talking…machine
outfit on the next pitch we ought to turn money away。 While you are at it I
start a fresh row outsideshouts； cheers； groans； words of command and a
paper bag or two。 Seeing that the game is up you make a rush at the old
woman； she downs you with the chopper； turns the lamp up full； shakes
out a Union Jack over the sleeping infant； and finally stands in her finest
attitude with one hand pointing impressively upwards and the other
contemptuously downwards just as Rule Britannia is played on the cornet
outside and I appear at the door in a general's full uniform and let down
the curtain。〃
For acting in the manner designatedas touching the noises both
inside and out； the set dance with upraised knives； the casting to earth of
himself； and being myself in turn vanquished by the aged female； with an
added compact that from time to time I should be led by a chain and
shown to the people from a raised p