法官的房子 The Judges House（第1页）

法官的房子TheJudgesHouse

布拉姆·斯托克BramStoker

布拉姆·斯托克（BramStoker，1847—1912），爱尔兰作家，出生于都柏林。因《德拉库拉》而享有“吸血鬼之父”的称号，由此成为吸血鬼小说的鼻祖，影响了后世几代作家。其作品被不断翻拍，成为经典电影。以其姓名命名的布拉姆·斯托克奖，是恐怖小说界的最高奖。

&imeforhisexaminationdrewnearMaladeuphismindtogosomewheretoreadbyhimself。Hefearedtheattrasoftheseaside，andalsohefearedpletelyruralisolation，forofoldheksharms，aermiofientiouslittletowherewouldbenothingtodistracthim。Herefrainedfromaskiionsfromanyofhisfriends，fuedthateamendsomeplaceofwhichhehadknowledge，andwherehehadalreadyaces。AsMalsooavoidfriendshehadnowishtoencumberhimselfwiththeattentionoffriendsfriends，aermiolookoutforaplaself。Hepaahsomedallthebooksherequired，aicketforthefrsthelocaltime-tablewhichhedidnotknow。

&heendofthreehoursjouredatBenchurch，hefeltsatisfedthathehadsofarobliteratedhistracksastobesureofhavingapeacefulopportunityhisstudies。Hewentstraighttotheoneinnwhichthesleepylittleplaed，andputupfht。Benchurchwasamarkettown，ahreededtoexcess，butfortheremaihetwewasasattractiveasadesert。Malsonlookedarouerhisarrivaltotrytofndquartersmoreisolatedthaneveaniraveller”afforded。Therewasonlyoookhisfanditlysatisfedhiswildestideasregardi，quietwasnottheproperlytoit-desolatioermganysuitableideaofitsisolation。Itwasan，heavy-builthouseoftheJastyle，withheavygablesandwindows，unusuallysmall，ahigherthanwasaryinsuchhouses，andwassurrouhahighbrickwallmassivelybuilt。Indeed，oion，itlookedmorelikeafortifiedhousethananordinarydwelling。ButallthesethingspleasedMalsohought，“istheveryspotIhavebeenlookingfor，andifIgetopportunityofusingitIshallbehappy。”Hisjoywasincreasedwhenherealisedbeyonddoubtthatitresentinhabited。

Fromthepost-offieoftheagentrisedattheapplitorentapartoftheoldhouse。Mr。ford，thelocallawyera，wasagenialoldgentleman，andfranklyfessedhisdelightatanyonebeingwillihehouse。

“Totellyouthetruth，”saidhe，“Ishouldbeonlytoohappy，oheowoletahehousereermofyearsifonlytoathepeopleheretoseeitihasbeensolosomekindofabsurdprejudicehasgrownupaboutit，andthisbebestputdownbyitso-ifonly，”headdedwithaslyglaMalson，“byascholarlikeyourself，whowantsitsquietforatime。”

Malsonthoughtitoasktheagentaboutthe“absurdprejudiewhewouldgetmoreinformation，ifheshouldrequireit，onthatsubjeotherquarters。Hepaidhisthreemotaredthenameofanoldouldprobablyuo“do”forhim，ahthekeysinhispocket。Hethehelandladyoftheinn，whowasacheerfulandmostkindlyperson，andaskedheradviceastosuchstoresandprovisionsashewouldbelikelytorequire。Shethrewupherhandsiwheoldherwherehewasgoilehimself。

“NotintheJudgesHouse！”shesaid，andgreoke。Heexplaiyofthehouse，sayiknowitsname。Whenhehadfnishedsheanswered：“Aye，sureeheveryplace！ItistheJudgesHh。”Heaskedhertotellhimabouttheplace，whysodwhattherewasagainstit。Shetoldhimthatitwassocalledlocallybecauseithadbeenmanyyearsbefore-howlongsheotsay，asshewasherselffromaofthetry，butshethoughtitmusthavebeenahundredyearsormore-theabodeofajudgewhowasheldierroronatofhisharshsentendhishostilitytoprisoAssizes。Astowhattherewasagainstthehouse，itselfsheottell。Shehadoftenooneher；buttherewasagetherewassomething，andforherownpartshewouldhemoneyinDrinkwatersBankandstayinthehouseanhourbyherself。ThensheapologizedtoMalsourbingtalk。“Itistoobadofme，sir，andyou-andayouoo-ifyouwillpardonmesayingit，goihereallalone。Ifyouweremyboy-andyou‘llexcusemefit-youwouldhereanight，notifIhadtogotheremyselfandpullthebigalarmbellthatsonthatroof！”

Thegoodcreaturewassomalyi，andwassokiions，thatMalson，althoughamused，wastouched。Hetoldherkindlyhowmuchheappreciatedheriinhim，a，mydearMrs。Witham，indeedyoubeedaboutme！AmanwhfortheMathematicalTriposhastoomukoftobedisturbedanyaerioussomething，andhisworkisoftooexadprosaidtoallowofhishavinganyhismindformysteriesofanykind。Harmressioionsandbinatioishavesufftmysteriesforme！”Mrs。Withamkioseeafterhisissiohimselftolookfortheoldwomanwhohadbeeohim。WheotheJudge‘sHousewithher，afteranintervalofacoupleofhours，hefoundMrs。Withamherselfwaitingwithseveralmenandbpardanupholsterer’smanwithabedinacar，forshesaid，thoughtablesandchairsmightbeallverywell，abedthathadntbeenairedformayhapfftyyearsrboolieon。Shewasevidentlycurioustoseetheihehouse；andthoughmalysoafraidofthe“something”thatattheslightestsouson，whomsheforamomehe

Afterhisexaminationofthehouse，Malsoakeuphisabodeidining-room，whichwasbigenoughtoserveforallhisrequirements；andMrs。Witham，withtheaidofthers。Dempster，proceededtematters。Whenthehamperswerebroughtinandunpacked，Malsonsawthatwithmudfhtshehadsesufftprovisionstolastforafewdays。Befsheexpressedallsortsofkithedoorturnedandsaid：“Andperhaps，sir，astheroomisbiganddraughtyitmightbewelltohaveohosebigssputrounight-though，truthtotell，IwoulddiemyselfifIweretobesoshutinwithallkindsof-of‘things’，thatputtheirheadsroundthesides，oroverthetop，andlookoheimagewhichshehadcalledupwastoomuchforhernerves，aily。

Mrs。Dempstersniffedinasuperiormahelandladydisappeared，aforherowafraidofallthebogiesinthekingdom。

“Illtellyouwhatitis，sir，”shesaid；“bogiesisallkindsandsortsofthibogies！Ratsandmidbeetles，andcreakydoors，aes，andbrokeiffdrawerhastayoutwhenyoupullthemandthenfalldowninthemiddleofthenight。Lookatthewainscotoftheroom！Itisold-hundredsofyearsold！Doyouthisahere！Anddoyouimagihatyouwon’tseehem?Ratsisbogies，Itellyou，as；anddohinkanythingelse！”

“Mrs。Dempster，”saidMalsongravely，makiebow，“youkhanaSeniler！Ahat，asamarkofesteemforyourindubitablesoundnessofheada，Ishall，whenIgo，giveyoupossessionofthishouse，aayherebyyourselfforthelasttwomonthsofmytenancy，forfourweekswillservemypurpose。”

“Thankyoukindly，sir！”sheaI‘tsleepawayfromhomeanight。IaminGreenhow’sCharity，andifIsleptanightawayfrommyroomsIshouldloseallIhavegottoliveon。Therulesisverystridthere‘stoomanywatgforavaetorunanyrisksier。Onlyforthat，sir，I’dgladlyehereandattendonyoualtyourstay。”

“Mygoodwoman，”saidMalsonhastily，“Ihaveehereoainsolitude；aIamgratefultothelateGreenhsanisedhisadmirablecharity-whateveritis-thatIamperforiedtheopportunityfromsuptation！SaintAnthonyhimselfido！”

Theoldwomanlaughedharshly。“Ah，youyoulemen，”shesaid，“youdht；andbelikeyou’llgetallthesolitudeyouwatoworkwithherg；andbynightfall，whenMalsournedfromhiswalk-healwayshadoneofhisbookstostudyashewalked-hefoundtheroomsweptandtidied，afreburningintheoldhearth，thelamplit，aablespreadforsupperwithMrs。Withamsextfare。“Thisisfort，indeed，”hesaid，asherubbedhishands。

Whenhehadfnishedhissupper，araytotheothereoakdiouthisbooksagain，putfreshwoodorimmedhislamp，ahimselfdoellofrealhardithoutpausetillaboutelevenocloheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlamp，andtomakehimselfacupoftea。Hehadalwaysbeenatea-drinker，andduringhiscollegelifehadsatlateatworkandhadtakeherestwasagreatluxurytohim，awithasenseofdelicious，voluptuousease。Therenewedfireleapedahrewquaintshadhthegreatoldroom；andashesippedhishotteaherevelledinthesenseofisolationfromhiskiwasthathebegantohefrsttimewhatas>

&hought，“theyothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading。Hadtheybeen，Imusthave！”Presehenoiseiisfedhimselfthatitwasreallywasevidentthatatfrsttheratshadbeehepreserahelightoffreandlamp；butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenthemselvesaswastheirwont。

Howbusytheywere！Andharktenoises！Upaheoldwaiheduheyradgnawed，andscratiledtohimselfashereindthesayingofMrs。Dempster，“Bogiesisrats，andratsisbogies！”Theteabegaseffetelledimulus，hesawwithjspellofworktobedhtast，andintheseywhichitgavehim，heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtheroom。Hetookhislampinonehaallarousoquaiifulanoldhousehadbeensolohegoftheoakohewainse，andonandroundthedoorsandasbeautifulahereweresomeoldpithewalls，buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthatheotdistinguishahem，thoughheheldhislampashighashecouldoverhishead。Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholebloentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteri，butinaninstantitwasgone，andasqueakandascamperfollowed。Thethingthatmoststruckhim，hoeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof，whigdowniheroomht-hahefreplace。Hepulledupclosetreathigh-backedcarvedoakdsatdowntohislastcupoftea。Whenthiswasdohefre，aohiswork，sittingattheerofthetable，haviohisleft。Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeirperpetualsg，buthegotaedtothenoiseasohetigofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater，andhebeersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld，excepttheproblemwhichhewastryingtosolve，passedawayfromhim。

Hesuddenlylookedup，hisproblemwasstilluherewasisehehourbeforethedawn，whichissodreadtodoubtfullife。Theheratshaddeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddeionwhichhaddisturbedhim。Thefrehadfallenlow，butstillitthreredglow。Ashelookedhestartedinspiteofhissangfroid。

&hegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefreplaenormousrat，steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes。Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway，butitdidnotstir。Theisomething。Stillitdidnotstir，butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily，anditscrueleyesshohelamplightwithaiveness。

Malazed，ahepokerfromthehearthranatittokillit。Before，however，hecouldstrikeit，therat，withasqueakthatsouhetrationofhate，jumpeduponthefouptheropeofthealarmbell，disappearedinthedarkherahegreen-shadedlamp。Instantly，straosay，thenoisysgoftheratsibeganagain。

BythistimeMalindwasquiteofftheproblem；andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimoftheapproa，heweosleep。

&sosouevenwakedbyMrs。Dempsteringintomakeuphisroom。Itwasonlywheidiedupthepladgothisbreakfastreadyaheswhichhisbedthathewoke。Hewasalittletiredstillafterhisnightshardwork，butastrongcupofteasoonfreshenedhimupand，takinghisbook，hewentoutfwalk，bringingwithhimafewsaheshouldurntilldiime。Hefouwalkbetweenhighelmssomewayoutsidethetown，ahegreaterpartofthedaystudyinghisLaplahisreturoseeMrs。Withamandtothankherforherkindness。Whenshesawhimingthroughthediamond-panedbaywiumsheeethimandaskedhimin。Shelookedathimseardshookherheadasshesaid：

“Youmust，sir。Youarepalerthismthanyoushouldbe。Toolatehoursandtoohardworkonthebrainisntgoodforanyman！Buttellme，sir，howdidyoupassthenight?Well，Ihope?Butmyheart!sir，Iwasgladwheoldmethismthatyhtandsleepingsoundwhein。”