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1、【英文读物】Ralph Raymonds HeirCHAPTER I. THE MYSTERIOUS CUSTOMER. A man of middle age, muffled up in an overcoat, got out of a Third Avenue car, just opposite a small drug shop. Quickly glancing up and down the street with a furtive look, as if he wished to avoid recognition from any passerby who might k
2、now him, he entered the shop. It was a small shop, not more than twelve feet wide by eighteen deep. The only person in attendance was a young man approaching thirty years of age, his eyes and hair very light, and his features small and insignificant. He was the druggists clerk, working on a small sa
3、lary of ten dollars a week, and his name was James Cromwell. He came forward as the person first named entered the shop. How can I serve you, sir? he inquired in a respectful voice. The person addressed drew from his pocket a piece of paper on which a name was inscribed. I want that, he said; do you
4、 happen to have it? The shopmans face was tinged with a slight color as he read the name inscribed on the paper. You are aware, I suppose, that this is a subtle poison? he said, interrogatively. Yes, said the other, in a tone of outward composure, so I understand from the friend who desired me to pr
5、ocure it for him. Have you it, or shall I have to go elsewhere? Yes; we happen to have it by the merest chance, although it is rather a rare drug in the materia medica. I will get it for you at once. The customers face assumed an air of satisfaction as the clerk spoke, and he sat down on a stool in
6、front of the counter. James Cromwell quickly placed a small parcel in his hands, and the customer, drawing out a pocketbook, which appeared to be well-filled, paid for his purchase. Pg 3 He then walked out of the shop, and to the corner of the street, where he waited for an uptown car. As he left th
7、e shop, a ragged boy of ten, with a sharp, weazened face entered. I want an ounce of carmels, he said. Wait a minute; do you want to earn a quarter? demanded the shopman, abruptly. I reckon I do, answered the urchin. Then you must follow the gentleman who just went out of the shop: find out where he
8、 lives, and what his name is. Come out, and I will point him out to you. Just outside of the door, James Cromwell cast his eyes up the street and saw his late customer in the act of jumping on board a Fourth Avenue car. There he is, he said, hastily pointing him out to the boy. You will have to ride
9、, too. Can you catch that car? Ive got no money, said the boy. Heres a quarter. Now run. But Im to have a quarter besides? Yes, yes. Make haste. The boy ran forward, and succeeded in overtaking the car and clambering on board. Look here, young chap, said the conductor,Pg 4 suspiciously, have you got
10、 any money to pay your fare? Yes, I have, said the boy. Dont you be afraid, old hoss. Show your money, then. The boy produced the quarter which had just been given him. Youre richer than I supposed, said the conductor. Heres your change. The boy put back the twenty-two cents remaining in the pocket
11、of his ragged pants, and began to look about him for the passenger whom he was required to track. The latter was seated on the left hand side, four seats from the door. I wonder why Im to foller him about, said the boy to himself. Maybe hes run off without paying his bill. Anyway, its nothing to me
12、as long as I earn a quarter. Itll pay me into the Old Bowery to-night. And the boy began to indulge in pleasing anticipations of the enjoyment he would receive from witnessing the great spectacle of the Avenger of Blood, which was having a successful run at the favorite theatre with boys of his clas
13、s. Before proceeding, I may mention that the boy referred to was known as Hake, a name whosePg 5 derivation I have been unable to learn. He had been a street vagrant for half his life, and was precocious in his knowledge of metropolitan life in its lowest phases. If the gentleman whom he was employe
14、d to watch noticed the ragged boy, he hadnt the remotest suspicion that there was the least connection between them, or that his being there had anything to do with his own presence in the car. He took out a paper from his pocket and began to read. I wonder how far Ive got to go, thought Hake. If it
15、s far Ill have to ride back, and thatll take three cents more. He reflected, however, that nineteen cents would remain, and he would besides have the quarter which had been promised him. I can go to the theatre, and get a bully dinner, besides, he reflected, complacently. The car rapidly proceeded u
16、ptown, passing union Square and the Everett House at the corner of Seventeenth Street. Two blocks farther, and the passenger first introduced rose from his seat. Next corner, he said to the conductor. The latter pulled the strap and the car stopped. Pg 6 The gentleman got out, and turned westward up
17、 Twenty-ninth Street. Hake scrambled out also, and followed him up the street. He crossed Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and did not pause till he had reached a handsome house between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Before this time he had thrown open the coat in which he had been muffled, for the weathe
18、r was not inclement, appearing to feel that there was now no further need of concealment. He ascended the steps of the house, and rang the bell. The door was opened directly by a servant, and he entered. Scarcely had the door closed when Hake also ascended the steps and looked at the door-plate. The
19、 name was there, but unfortunately for Hake, he had not received even an elementary education, and could not read. This was rather inconvenient, as it stood in the way of his obtaining the information he desired. Looking about him, he saw a schoolboy of his own age passing. Look here, he said, whats
20、 that name up there on that door? Cant you read? Pg 7 I left my spectacles at home, said Hake, and I cant read without em. Its Paul Morton, then, if you want to know, said the boy, curtly. Paul Morton, repeated Hake to himself. All right! But he was not quite sure whether he had not been deceived. S
21、o he went to the basement door, and rang. Whats wanted? said the servant, curtly. Does Paul Morton live here? asked Hake. You might say Mr. Paul Morton while youre about it, said the servant. Yes, he lives here, and what do you want with him? I was sent here, said Hake with no particular regard for
22、truth, by a man as said Mr. Morton was a good man, and would give me some clothes. Then you wont get them here, said the girl, and the door was slammed in the boys face. Ive found out his name now, said Hake, sure, and he repeated it over to himself until he was certain he could remember it. He retr
23、aced his steps to Fourth Avenue, and jumped on board a returning car, and was ere long landed at the druggists shop. Pg 8 Well, said James Cromwell, looking up, did you do as I told you? Yes, said Hake. What did you find out? His name is Paul Morton. Where does he live? At No. West Twenty-ninth Stre
24、et. What sort of house is it? A nice one. Are you sure you made no mistake? Yes, its all right. I want my quarter. Here it is. The boy took the money and scrambled off, well content with the results of his expedition; his mind intent upon the play he was to see in the evening. Paul Morton! mused the
25、 clerk, thoughtfully. I must put that name down. The knowledge may come in use some day. I hope some time or other I shall not be starving on ten dollars a week. It may be that my rise in the world will come through this same Paul Morton. Who can tell?CHAPTER II. THE HOUSE IN TWENTY-NINTH STREET. Th
26、e house in Twenty-ninth Street was a solid and substantial one which could only be occupied by a man of wealth. It was handsomely furnished, and all the appointments were such as to confirm the impression that its occupant was, to say the least, in easy circumstances financially. But it happens ofte
27、ntimes that outward impressions are very far from correct. It was a fact that Paul Morton, who had lived here for ten years, was on the verge of ruin, and knew very well that unless some help should come he would be compelled to leave his fine residence and sink into poverty and obscurity. He was a
28、downtown merchant, but lured by the hope of large gains, had indulged in outside speculations which had sapped the springs of his prosperity and brought him face to face with ruin. Just at this juncture, on reaching home one day, jaded and anxious, he found that a guest had arrived whom they had not
29、 seen for years. RalphPg 10 Raymond was his cousin, and of about the same age as himself. As boys they had been sworn friends and comrades, and each had promised the other that if he died first without family ties, he would leave to the survivor his entire property, whatever it might amount to. When
30、 they became young men, Paul Morton remained in New York, but Ralph went, after a few years, to China, where he had spent his subsequent life with brief intervals, as a successful merchant. Paul Morton heard from time to time of his success, and that he had accumulated a fortune, and the thought occ
31、urred to him, for earlier generous feelings had been swallowed up in the greed of gain, If he only dies first, I shall be greatly the gainer. When he met his friend, he found him greatly changed. He was thin, sallow, and to outward appearance hadnt long to live. You find me greatly changed, Paul, do
32、 you not? said Ralph Raymond. Yes, you are changed, of course, for I have not seen you for twenty years, was the reply. But I am looking very ill, am I not? You are not looking well; but perhaps it is the change of climate. Pg 11 It is something more than that, said Ralph, shaking his head. Old frie
33、nd, I feel that I have not many months to live. I have within my frame the seeds of a fatal disease, which I cannot much longer stave off. I feel its insidious approaches, and I know that my weakened vital powers cannot much longer resist them. I have one favor to ask. What is it? May I spend the sh
34、ort remainder of my life in your house? I shrink from going among strangers. It will be a great relief to me if I can feel that I am in the house of my old friend when the solemn messenger arrives. Surely, said Paul Morton, I hope you are mistaken in your gloomy prognostications; but, however that m
35、ay be, you shall be welcome here so long as it pleases you to stay. Thank you; I was sure you would consent. As to my being mistaken, that is hardly possible. This time next year I shall not be numbered among the living. Looking at his thin face and attenuated frame, Paul Morton felt that his words
36、were probably correct, and his heart glowed with exultation as he felt that Ralph Raymond was without family ties,Pg 12 and that at his death, which would soon happen, in all probability his large fortune, one hundred thousand dollars at least, would become his. This would relieve him of all his emb
37、arrassments, give him a firm financial standing. Shortly after Ralph Raymond was confined to his bed by sickness. The physician who was called spoke ambiguously. He might die suddenly, or he might linger for a year. Days and weeks passed, and still he remained in about the same condition, so that th
38、e last seemed likely to be the correct prediction. In the meanwhile, Paul Mortons affairs had become more and more embarrassed. He had plunged into speculations from which he did not see the way out. He perceived his mistake, but too late. Nothing was left but for him to float with the tide, and be
39、borne where it might carry him. He did not doubt that at the death of his guest, his large property would be his. Indeed, a casual remark of Ralph Raymonds had confirmed him in the impression. As time wore on, and his pecuniary difficulties increased, he began to long for his friends death. A few mo
40、nths more or less of life would bePg 13 of little importance to him, he thought, while to me it is of incalculable importance to come into his estate as soon as possible. The more he thought of it the more frequently the suggestion was forced upon him that his friends early death was most desirable.
41、 At length, as he was in a book store on Nassau Street one day, he picked up an old medical work, in which there was one division which treated of poisons. One was mentioned, of a subtle character, whose agency was difficult of detection. It did not accomplish its purpose at once, but required some
42、days. Paul Morton bought this book, and when he reached home he locked it up securely in a drawer accessible only to himself. We have now brought up the story to the point where the first chapter commences. The poison which he sought in the small shop on the Bowery was the same whose effects he had
43、seen described in the volume he had purchased in Nassau Street. He had an object in going to an obscure shop, as he would be less likely to be known, and such a purchase would be very apt to attract notice. But it was only by chance that he succeeded. In most shops of such humble Pg 14pretensions su
44、ch an article would not be found, but it so happened that some had been ordered by a chemist a year before, and the druggist, thinking it possible he might have a call for it, had ordered some to keep in his stock. When Paul Morton reached home, he went up to his friends chamber. Ralph Raymond was l
45、ying stretched out upon the bed, looking quite sick; but not so sick as at times during his illness. How do you feel, Ralph? said his false friend, bending over him. I am feeling more comfortable to-day, Paul, he said. Perhaps you will recover yet. No, I have no expectation of that; but I may be spa
46、red longer than I supposed possible. I certainly hope so, said Paul Morton; but there was a false ring in his voice, though the sick man, who had no doubt of his sincere friendship, was far enough from detecting this. I know you do, said Ralph. What medicines are you taking now? inquired Paul Morton
47、. There is a bottle of cordial; I take a wineglass of it once an hour. Pg 15 Paul Morton took up the bottle and gazed at it thoughtfully. Is your nurse attentive? he asked. Yes, I have no fault to find with her. Where is she now? She just went down to prepare my dinner. When did you take your cordial last? About an hour since. Then it is time to take it again. Yes, I suppose so; but I presume a few minutes later will make no difference. It is better to be reg