第49章 带家具出租的房间4（第1页）

第49章带家具出租的房间（4）

Araversedtheroomlikeahou，skimmingthewalls，gtheersofthebulgingmattingonhishandsandknees，rummagiables，thesandhangings，thedruintheer，foravisiblesigoperceivethatshewastherebeside，around，against，within，abovehim，gtohim，wooinghim，ghimsopoignantlythroughthefievenhisgrosseronesbeisantoftheheansweredloudly，"Yes，dear!"andturned，wild-eyed，togazeonvacy，forheotyetdisanddloveachedarmsinthee。Oh，God!wheodour，andsinhaveodourshadavoicetocall?Thushegroped。

Heburrowedincreviders，andfounddcigarettes。Thesehepassedi。Butondinafoldofthemattingahalf-smokeddthishegrouhhisheelwithagreeoath。Hesiftedtheroomfromendtoend。Hefnoblesmallreait;butofherwhomhesought，andwhomayhavelodgedthere，aseemedtohoverthere，hefoundnotrace。

Aofthehousekeeper。

Heraedroomdownstairsandtoadoorthatshowedacrackoflight。Shecameouttohiskheredhisextasbesthecould。

"Willyoutellme，madam，"hebesoughther，"whooccupiedtheroomIhavebeforeIcame?"

"Yes，sir。Itellyouagain。TrowlsandMooney，asIsaid。MissB'rettaSprowlsitwasires，butMissisMooneyshewas。Myhouseiswell-knowability。Themarriagecertifig，framed，ona;

"Whatkindofaladyrowls—inlooks，Imean?"

"Why，black-haired，sir，short，andstout，withaicalface。TheyleftaweekagoTuesday。"

"Aheyoccupiedit?"

"Why，therewasasilemahedrayingbusiowingmeaweek。BeforehimwasMissisdhertwo，thatstayedfourmonths;andbawasoldMr。Doyle，whosesonspaidforhim。Hekepttheroomsixmonths。Thatgoesbackayear，sir，andfurtherIdonotremember。"

&hankedheraohisroom。Theroomwasdead。Theessehadvivifieditwasgoheperfumeofmigehaddeparted。Initsplacewastheold，staleodourofmouldyhousefurmosphereinste。

Theebbingofhishopedrainedhisfaith。Hesatstaringattheyellow，singinggaslight。Soohebedaearthesheetsintostrips。Withthebladeofhiskhemtightlyintoeverycrevidwindowsanddoor。Whenallwassnugaurhelight，turhegasfullonagainandlaidhimselfgratefullyuponthebed。

ItwasMrs。McCool'snighttogowiththeforbeer。SoshefetdsatwithMrs。Purdyihosesubterraswherehousekeepersfatherandthewormdiethseldom。

"Iremythirdfloor，back，thisevening，"saidMrs。Purdy，acrossafine。"Ayoungmantookit。Hewentuptobedtwo。"

"Now，didye，Mrs。Purdy，ma'am?"saidMrs。McCool，withiion。"Youdobeawonderforrentin'roomsofthatkind。Aellhim，then?"sheahuskywhisper，ladenwithmystery。

"Rooms，"saidMrs。Purdy，inherfurriestto;arefurorent。Ididnottellhim，Mrs。McCool。"

&quhtyeare，ma'am;thisbyrentingroomsealive。Yehavetheralesenseforbusiness，ma'am。Therebemanypeoplewillrayjitingofaroomiftheybetouldasuicidehasbeenafterdyingi。"

"Asyousay，wehastobemaking，"remarkedMrs。Purdy。

"Yis，ma'am;that'strue。ThatjustohisdayIhelpedyelayoutthethirdfloor，back。Aprettyslipofashewastobekillihegas—aswatelittlefaceshehad，Mrs。Purdy，ma'am。"

"She'da-beendsome，asyousay，"saidMrs。Purdy，assentingbutcritical，"butforthatmoleshehada-growieyebrow。Dofillupyain，Mrs。McCool。"