百万英镑 英文

TheMillionPoundNoteWhenIwastwenty-sevenyearsold,Iwasamining-broker'sclerkinSanFrancisco,andanexpertinallthedetailsofstocktraffic.Iwasaloneintheworld,andhadnothingtodependuponbutmywitsandacleanreputation;buttheseweresettingmyfeetintheroadtoeventualfortune,andIwascontentwiththeprospect.Mytimewasmyownaftertheafternoonboard,Saturdays,andIwasaccustomedtoputitinonalittlesail-boatonthebay.OnedayIventuredtoofar,andwascarriedouttosea.Justatnightfall,whenhopewasaboutgone,IwaspickedupbyasmallbrigwhichwasboundforLondon.Itwasalongandstormyvoyage,andtheymademeworkmypassagewithoutpay,asacommonsailor.WhenIsteppedashoreinLondonmyclotheswereraggedandshabby,andIhadonlyadollarinmypocket.Thismoneyfedandshelteredmetwenty-fourhours.Duringthenexttwenty-fourIwentwithoutfoodandshelter.Aboutteno'clockonthefollowingmorning,seedyandhungry,IwasdraggingmyselfalongPortlandPlace,whenachildthatwaspassing,towedbyanurse-maid,tossedalusciousbigpear—minusonebite—intothegutter.Istopped,ofcourse,andfastenedmydesiringeyeonthatmuddytreasure.Mymouthwateredforit,mystomachcravedit,mywholebeingbeggedforit.ButeverytimeImadeamovetogetitsomepassingeyedetectedmypurpose,andofcourseIstraightenedupthen,andlookedindifferent,andpretendedthatIhadn'tbeenthinkingaboutthepearatall.Thissamethingkepthappeningandhappening,andIcouldn'tgetthepear.Iwasjustgettingdesperateenoughtobravealltheshame,andtoseizeit,whenawindowbehindmewasraised,andagentlemanspokeoutofit,saying:"Stepinhere,please."Iwasadmittedbyagorgeousflunkey,andshownintoasumptuousroomwhereacoupleofelderlygentlemenweresitting.Theysentawaytheservant,andmademesitdown.Theyhadjustfinishedtheirbreakfast,andthesightoftheremainsofitalmostoverpoweredme.Icouldhardlykeepmywitstogetherinthepresenceofthatfood,butasIwasnotaskedtosampleit,IhadtobearmytroubleasbestIcould.Now,somethinghadbeenhappeningtherealittlebefore,whichIdidnotknowanythingaboutuntilagoodmanydaysafterwards,butIwilltellyouaboutitnow.Thosetwooldbrothershadbeenhavingaprettyhotargumentacoupleofdaysbefore,andhadendedbyagreeingtodecideitbyabet,whichistheEnglishwayofsettlingeverything.YouwillrememberthattheBankofEnglandonceissuedtwonotesofamillionpoundseach,tobeusedforaspecialpurposeconnectedwithsomepublictransactionwithaforeigncountry.Forsomereasonorotheronlyoneofthesehadbeenusedandcanceled;theotherstilllayinthevaultsoftheBank.Well,thebrothers,chattingalong,happenedtogettowonderingwhatmightbethefateofaperfectlyhonestandintelligentstrangerwhoshouldbeturnedadriftinLondonwithoutafriend,andwithnomoneybutthatmillion-poundbank-note,andnowaytoaccountforhisbeinginpossessionofit.BrotherAsaidhewouldstarvetodeath;BrotherBsaidhewouldn't.BrotherAsaidhecouldn'tofferitatabankoranywhereelse,becausehewouldbearrestedonthespot.SotheywentondisputingtillBrotherBsaidhewouldbettwentythousandpoundsthatthemanwouldlivethirtydays,anyway,onthatmillion,andkeepoutofjail,too.BrotherAtookhimup.BrotherBwentdowntotheBankandboughtthatnote.JustlikeanEnglishman,yousee;plucktothebackbone.Thenhedictatedaletter,whichoneofhisclerkswroteoutinabeautifulroundhand,andthenthetwobrotherssatatthewindowawholedaywatchingfortherightmantogiveitto.Iwouldhavepickedupthepearnowandeatenitbeforealltheworld,butitwasgone;soIhadlostthatbythisunluckybusiness,andthethoughtofitdidnotsoftenmyfeelingtowardsthosemen.AssoonasIwasoutofsightofthathouseIopenedmyenvelope,andsawthatitcontainedmoney!Myopinionofthosepeoplechanged,Icantellyou!Ilostnotamoment,butshovednoteandmoneyintomyvestpocket,andbrokeforthenearestcheapeatinghouse.Well,howIdideat!WhenatlastIcouldn'tholdanymore,Itookoutmymoneyandunfoldedit,tookoneglimpseandnearlyfainted.Fivemillionsofdollars!Why,itmademyheadswim.ImusthavesattherestunnedandblinkingatthenoteasmuchasaminutebeforeIcamerightlytomyselfagain.ThefirstthingInoticed,then,wasthelandlord.Hiseyewasonthenote,andhewaspetrified.Hewasworshiping,withallhisbodyandsoul,buthelookedasifhecouldn'tstirhandorfoot.Itookmycueinamoment,anddidtheonlyrationalthingtherewastodo.Ireachedthenotetowardshim,andsaid,carelessly:"Givemethechange,please."Thenhewasrestoredtohisnormalcondition,andmadeathousandapologiesfornotbeingabletobreakthebill,andIcouldn'tgethimtotouchit.Hewantedtolookatit,andkeeponlookingatit;hecouldn'tseemtogetenoughofittoquenchthethirstofhiseye,butheshrankfromtouchingitasifithadbeensomethingtoosacredforpoorcommonclaytohandle.Isaid:"Iamsorryifitisaninconvenience,butImustinsist.Pleasechangeit;Ihaven'tanythingelse."Buthesaidthatwasn'tanymatter;hewasquitewillingtoletthetriflestandovertillanothertime.IsaidImightnotbeinhisneighborhoodagainforagoodwhile;buthesaiditwasofnoconsequence,hecouldwait,and,moreover,IcouldhaveanythingIwanted,anytimeIchose,andlettheaccountrunaslongasIpleased.Hesaidhehopedhewasn'tafraidtotrustasrichagentlemanasIwas,merelybecauseIwasofamerrydisposition,andchosetoplaylarksonthepublicinthematterofdress.Bythistimeanothercustomerwasentering,andthelandlordhintedtometoputthemonsteroutofsight;thenhebowedmeallthewaytothedoor,andIstartedstraightforthathouseandthosebrothers,tocorrectthemistakewhichhadbeenmadebeforethepoliceshouldhuntmeup,andhelpmedoit.Iwasprettynervous;infact,prettybadlyfrightened,though,ofcourse,Iwasnowayinfault;butIknewmenwellenoughtoknowthatwhentheyfindthey'vegivenatrampamillion-poundbillwhentheythoughtitwasaone-pounder,theyareinafranticrageagainsthiminsteadofquarrelingwiththeirownnear-sightedness,astheyought.AsIapproachedthehousemyexcitementbegantoabate,forallwasquietthere,whichmademefeelprettysuretheblunderwasnotdiscoveredyet.Irang.Thesameservantappeared.Iaskedforthosegentlemen."Theyaregone."Thisinthelofty,coldwayofthatfellow'stribe."Gone?Gonewhere?""Onajourney.""Butwhereabouts?""TotheContinent,Ithink.""TheContinent?""Yes,sir.""Whichway—bywhatroute?""Ican'tsay,sir."Maybethosemenmeanmewell,maybetheymeanmeill;nowaytodecidethat—letitgo.They'vegotagame,orascheme,oranexperiment,ofsomekindonhand;nowaytodeterminewhatitis—letitgo.There'sabetonme;nowaytofindoutwhatitis—letitgo.Thatdisposesoftheindeterminablequantities;theremainderofthematteristangible,solid,andmaybeclassedandlabeledwithcertainty.IfIasktheBankofEnglandtoplacethisbilltothecreditofthemanitbelongsto,they'lldoit,fortheyknowhim,althoughIdon't;buttheywillaskmehowIcameinpossessionofit,andifItellthetruth,they'llputmeintheasylum,naturally,andaliewilllandmeinjail.ThesameresultwouldfollowifItriedtobankthebillanywhereortoborrowmoneyonit.Ihavegottocarrythisimmenseburdenarounduntilthosemencomeback,whetherIwanttoornot.Itisuselesstome,asuselessasahandfulofashes,andyetImusttakecareofit,andwatchoverit,whileIbegmyliving.Icouldn'tgiveitaway,ifIshouldtry,forneitherhonestcitizennorhighwaymanwouldacceptitormeddlewithitforanything.Thosebrothersaresafe.EvenifIlosetheirbill,orburnit,theyarestillsafe,becausetheycanstoppayment,andtheBankwillmakethemwhole;butmeantimeI'vegottodoamonth'ssufferingwithoutwagesorprofit—unlessIhelpwinthatbet,whateveritmaybe,andgetthatsituationthatIampromised.Ishouldliketogetthat;menoftheirsorthavesituationsintheirgiftthatareworthhaving.Igottothinkingagooddealaboutthatsituation.Myhopesbegantorisehigh.Withoutdoubtthesalarywouldbelarge.Itwouldbegininamonth;afterthatIshouldbeallright.PrettysoonIwasfeelingfirst-rate.BythistimeIwastrampingthestreetsagain.Thesightofatailor-shopgavemeasharplongingtoshedmyrags,andtoclothemyselfdecentlyoncemore.CouldIaffordit?No;Ihadnothingintheworldbutamillionpounds.SoIforcedmyselftogoonby.ButsoonIwasdriftingbackagain.Thetemptationpersecutedmecruelly.Imusthavepassedthatshopbackandforthsixtimesduringthatmanfulstruggle.AtlastIgavein;Ihadto.Iaskediftheyhadamisfitsuitthathadbeenthrownontheirhands.ThefellowIspoketonoddedhisheadtowardsanotherfellow,andgavemenoanswer.Iwenttotheindicatedfellow,andheindicatedanotherfellowwithhishead,andnowords.Iwenttohim,andhesaid:"Tendtoyoupresently."Iwaitedtillhewasdonewithwhathewasat,thenhetookmeintoabackroom,andoverhauledapileofrejectedsuits,andselectedtherattiestoneforme.Iputiton.Itdidn'tfit,andwasn'tinanywayattractive,butitwasnew,andIwasanxioustohaveit;soIdidn'tfindanyfault,butsaid,withsomediffidence:"Itwouldbeanaccommodationtomeifyoucouldwaitsomedaysforthemoney.Ihaven'tanysmallchangeaboutme."Thefellowworkedupamostsarcasticexpressionofcountenance,andsaid:"Oh,youhaven't?Well,ofcourse,Ididn'texpectit.I'donlyexpectgentlemenlikeyoutocarrylargechange."Iwasnettled,andsaid:"Myfriend,youshouldn'tjudgeastrangeralwaysbytheclotheshewears.Iamquiteabletopayforthissuit;Isimplydidn'twishtoputyoutothetroubleofchangingalargenote."Theproprietortookalook,gavealow,eloquentwhistle,thenmadeadiveforthepileofrejectedclothing,andbegantosnatchitthiswayandthat,talkingallthetimeexcitedly,andasiftohimself:"Sellaneccentricmillionairesuchanunspeakablesuitasthat!Tod'safool—abornfool.Alwaysdoingsomethinglikethis.Driveseverymillionaireawayfromthisplace,becausehecan'ttellamillionairefromatramp,andnevercould.Ah,here'sthethingIamafter.Pleasegetthosethingsoff,sir,andthrowtheminthefire.Domethefavortoputonthisshirtandthissuit;it'sjustthething,theverything—plain,rich,modest,andjustducallynobby;madetoorderforaforeignprince—youmayknowhim,sir,hisSereneHighnesstheHospodarofHalifax;hadtoleaveitwithusandtakeamourning-suitbecausehismotherwasgoingtodie—whichshedidn't.Butthat'sallright;wecan'talwayshavethingsthewaywe—thatis,thewaythey—there!trousersallright,theyfityoutoacharm,sir;nowthewaistcoat;aha,rightagain!nowthecoat—lord!Lookatthat,now!Perfect—thewholething!Ineversawsuchatriumphinallmyexperience."Iexpressedmysatisfaction."Quiteright,sir,quiteright;it'lldoforamakeshift,I'mboundtosay.Butwaittillyouseewhatwe'llgetupforyouonyourownmeasure.Come,Tod,bookandpen;getatit.Lengthofleg,32"—andsoon.BeforeIcouldgetinawordhehadmeasuredme,andwasgivingordersfordress-suits,morningsuits,shirts,andallsortsofthings.WhenIgotachanceIsaid:"But,mydearsir,Ican'tgivetheseorders,unlessyoucanwaitindefinitely,orchangethebill.""Indefinitely!It'saweakword,sir,aweakword.Eternally—that'stheword,sir.Tod,rushthesethingsthrough,andsendthemtothegentleman'saddresswithoutanywasteoftime.Lettheminorcustomerswait.Setdownthegentleman'saddressand—""I'mchangingmyquarters.Iwilldropinandleavethenewaddress.""Quiteright,sir,quiteright.Onemoment—letmeshowyouout,sir.There—goodday,sir,goodday."Well,don'tyouseewhatwasboundtohappen?IdriftednaturallyintobuyingwhateverIwanted,andaskingforchange.WithinaweekIwassumptuouslyequippedwithallneedfulcomfortsandluxuries,andwashousedinanexpensiveprivatehotelinHanoverSquare.Itookmydinnersthere,butforbreakfastIstuckbyHarris'shumblefeedinghouse,whereIhadgotmyfirstmealonmymillion-poundbill.IwasthemakingofHarris.Thefacthadgoneallabroadthattheforeigncrankwhocarriedmillion-poundbillsinhisvestpocketwasthepatronsaintoftheplace.Thatwasenough.Frombeingapoor,struggling,littlehand-to-mouthenterprise,ithadbecomecelebrated,andovercrowdedwithcustomers.Harriswassogratefulthatheforcedloansuponme,andwouldnotbedenied;andso,pauperasIwas,Ihadmoneytospend,andwaslivingliketherichandthegreat.Ijudgedthattherewasgoingtobeacrashbyandby,butIwasinnowandmustswimacrossordrown.Youseetherewasjustthatelementofimpendingdisastertogiveaseriousside,asoberside,yes,atragicside,toastateofthingswhichwouldotherwisehavebeenpurelyridiculous.Inthenight,inthedark,thetragedypartwasalwaystothefront,andalwayswarning,alwaysthreatening;andsoImoanedandtossed,andsleepwashardtofind.Butinthecheerfuldaylightthetragedyelementfadedoutanddisappeared,andIwalkedonair,andwashappytogiddiness,tointoxication,youmaysay.Youknow,Ievenkeptmyoldsuitofrags,andeverynowandthenappearedinthem,soastohavetheoldpleasureofbuyingtrifles,andbeinginsulted,andthenshootingthescofferdeadwiththemillion-poundbill.ButIcouldn'tkeepthatup.TheillustratedpapersmadetheoutfitsofamiliarthatwhenIwentoutinitIwasatoncerecognizedandfollowedbyacrowd,andifIattemptedapurchasethemanwouldoffermehiswholeshoponcreditbeforeIcouldpullmynoteonhim.AboutthetenthdayofmyfameIwenttofulfilmydutytomyflagbypayingmyrespectstotheAmericanminister.Hereceivedmewiththeenthusiasmproperinmycase,upbraidedmeforbeingsotardyinmyduty,andsaidthattherewasonlyonewaytogethisforgiveness,andthatwastotaketheseatathisdinner-partythatnightmadevacantbytheillnessofoneofhisguests.IsaidIwould,andwegottotalking.Itturnedoutthatheandmyfatherhadbeenschoolmatesinboyhood,Yalestudentstogetherlater,andalwayswarmfriendsuptomyfather'sdeath.SothenherequiredmetoputinathishousealltheoddtimeImighthavetospare,andIwasverywilling,ofcourse.Infact,Iwasmorethanwilling;Iwasglad.Whenthecrashshouldcome,hemightsomehowbeabletosavemefromtotaldestruction;Ididn'tknowhow,buthemightthinkofaway,maybe.Icouldn'tventuretounbosommyselftohimatthislatedate,athingwhichIwouldhavebeenquicktodointhebeginningofthisawfulcareerofmineinLondon.No,Icouldn'tventureitnow;Iwasintoodeep;thatis,toodeepformetoberiskingrevelationstosonewafriend,thoughnotclearbeyondmydepth,asIlookedatit.Because,yousee,withallmyborrowing,Iwascarefullykeepingwithinmymeans—Imeanwithinmysalary.Ofcourse,Icouldn'tknowwhatmysalarywasgoingtobe,butIhadagoodenoughbasisforanestimateinthefact,thatifIwonthebetIwastohavechoiceofanysituationinthatricholdgentleman'sgiftprovidedIwascompetent—andIshouldcertainlyprovecompetent;Ihadn'tanydoubtaboutthat.Andastothebet,Iwasn'tworryingaboutthat;Ihadalwaysbeenlucky.Nowmyestimateofthesalarywassixhundredtoathousandayear;say,sixhundredforthefirstyear,andsoonupyearbyyear,tillIstrucktheupperfigurebyprovedmerit.AtpresentIwasonlyindebtformyfirstyear'ssalary.Everybodyhadbeentryingtolendmemoney,butIhadfoughtoffthemostofthemononepretextoranother;sothisindebtednessrepresentedonly￡300borrowedmoney,theother￡300representedmykeepandmypurchases.Ibelievedmysecondyear'ssalarywouldcarrymethroughtherestofthemonthifIwentonbeingcautiousandeconomical,andIintendedtolooksharplyoutforthat.Mymonthended,myemployerbackfromhisjourney,Ishouldbeallrightoncemore,forIshouldatoncedividethetwoyears'salaryamongmycreditorsbyassignment,andgetrightdowntomywork.Itwasalovelydinner-partyoffourteen.TheDukeandDuchessofShoreditch,andtheirdaughtertheLadyAnne-Grace-Eleanor-Celeste-and-so-forth-and-so-forth-de-Bohun,theEarlandCountessofNewgate,ViscountCheapside,LordandLadyBlatherskite,someuntitledpeopleofbothsexes,theministerandhiswifeanddaughter,andhisdaughter'svisitingfriend,anEnglishgirloftwenty-two,namedPortiaLangham,whomIfellinlovewithintwominutes,andshewithme—Icouldseeitwithoutglasses.Therewasstillanotherguest,anAmerican—butIamalittleaheadofmystory.Whilethepeoplewerestillinthedrawing-room,whettingupfordinner,andcoldlyinspectingthelatecomers,theservantannounced:"Oh,justanaccident.It'salongstory—aromance,abodymaysay.I'lltellyouallaboutit,butnotnow.""When?""Theendofthismonth.""That'smorethanafortnightyet.It'stoomuchofastrainonaperson'scuriosity.Makeitaweek.""Ican't.You'llknowwhy,byandby.Buthow'sthetradegettingalong?"Hischeerfulnessvanishedlikeabreath,andhesaidwithasigh:"Youwereatrueprophet,Hal,atrueprophet.IwishIhadn'tcome.Idon'twanttotalkaboutit.""Butyoumust.Youmustcomeandstopwithmeto-night,whenweleavehere,andtellmeallaboutit.""Oh,mayI?Areyouinearnest?"andthewatershowedinhiseyes."Yes;Iwanttohearthewholestory,everyword.""I'msograteful!Justtofindahumaninterestoncemore,insomevoiceandinsomeeye,inmeandaffairsofmine,afterwhatI'vebeenthroughhere—lord!Icouldgodownonmykneesforit!"Hegrippedmyhandhard,andbracedup,andwasallrightandlivelyafterthatforthedinner—whichdidn'tcomeoff.No;theusualthinghappened,thethingthatisalwayshappeningunderthatviciousandaggravatingEnglishsystem—thematterofprecedencecouldn'tbesettled,andsotherewasnodinner.Englishmenalwayseatdinnerbeforetheygoouttodinner,becausetheyknowtheriskstheyarerunning;butnobodyeverwarnsthestranger,andsohewalksplacidlyintotrap.Ofcourse,nobodywashurtthistime,becausewehadallbeentodinner,noneofusbeingnovicesexceptingHastings,andhehavingbeeninformedbytheministeratthetimethatheinvitedhimthatindeferencetotheEnglishcustomhehadnotprovidedanydinner.Everybodytookaladyandprocessioneddowntothedining-room,becauseitisusualtogothroughthemotions;buttherethedisputebegan.TheDukeofShoreditchwantedtotakeprecedence,andsitattheheadofthetable,holdingthatheoutrankedaministerwhorepresentedmerelyanationandnotamonarch;butIstoodformyrights,andrefusedtoyield.InthegossipcolumnIrankedalldukesnotroyal,andsaidso,andclaimedprecedenceofthisone.Itcouldn'tbesettled,ofcourse,struggleaswemightanddid,hefinally(andinjudiciously)tryingtoplaybirthandantiquity,andI"seeing"hisConquerorand"raising"himwithAdam,whosedirectposterityIwas,asshownbymyname,whilehewasofacollateralbranch,asshownbyhis,andbyhisrecentNormanorigin;soweallprocessionedbacktothedrawing-roomagainandhadaperpendicularlunch—plateofsardinesandastrawberry,andyougroupyourselfandstandupandeatit.Herethereligionofprecedenceisnotsostrenuous;thetwopersonsofhighestrankchuckupashilling,theonethatwinshasfirstgoathisstrawberry,andthelosergetstheshilling.Thenexttwochuckup,thenthenexttwo,andsoon.Afterrefreshment,tableswerebrought,andweallplayedcribbage,sixpenceagame.TheEnglishneverplayanygameforamusement.Iftheycan'tmakesomethingorlosesomething—theydon'tcarewhich—theywon'tplay.Wehadalovelytime;certainlytwoofushad,MissLanghamandI.IwassobewitchedwithherthatIcouldn'tcountmyhandsiftheywentaboveadoublesequence;andwhenIstruckhomeIneverdiscoveredit,andstarteduptheoutsiderowagain,andwouldhavelostthegameeverytime,onlythegirldidthesame,shebeinginjustmycondition,yousee;andconsequentlyneitherofusevergotout,orcaredtowonderwhywedidn't;weonlyjustknewwewerehappy,anddidn'twishtoknowanythingelse,anddidn'twanttobeinterrupted.AndItoldher—Idid,indeed—toldherIlovedher;andshe—well,sheblushedtillherhairturnedred,butshelikedit;shesaidshedid.Oh,therewasneversuchanevening!EverytimeIpeggedIputonapostscript;everytimeshepeggedsheacknowledgedreceiptofit,countingthehandsthesame.Why,Icouldn'tevensay"Twoforhisheels"withoutadding,"My,howsweetyoudolook!"andshewouldsay,"Fifteentwo,fifteenfour,fifteensix,andapairareeight,andeightaresixteen—doyouthinkso?"—peepingoutaslantfromunderherlashes,youknow,sosweetandcunning.Oh,itwasjusttoo-too!"Portia,dear,wouldyoumindgoingwithmethatday,whenIconfrontthoseoldgentlemen?"Sheshrankalittle,butsaid:"N-o;ifmybeingwithyouwouldhelpheartenyou.But—woulditbequiteproper,doyouthink?""No,Idon'tknowthatitwould—infact,I'mafraiditwouldn't;but,yousee,there'ssomuchdependentuponitthat—""ThenI'llgoanyway,properorimproper,"shesaid,withabeautifulandgenerousenthusiasm."Oh,IshallbesohappytothinkI'mhelping!""Helping,dear?Why,you'llbedoingitall.You'resobeautifulandsolovelyandsowinning,thatwithyouthereIcanpileoursalaryuptillIbreakthosegoodoldfellows,andthey'llneverhavethehearttostruggle."Sho!Youshouldhaveseentherichbloodmount,andherhappyeyesshine!"Youwickedflatterer!Thereisn'tawordoftruthinwhatyousay,butstillI'llgowithyou.Maybeitwillteachyounottoexpectotherpeopletolookwithyoureyes."Weremydoubtsdissipated?Wasmyconfidencerestored?Youmayjudgebythisfact:privatelyIraisedmysalarytotwelvehundredthefirstyearonthespot.ButIdidn'ttellher;Isaveditforasurprise.AllthewayhomeIwasintheclouds,Hastingstalking,Inothearingaword.WhenheandIenteredmyparlor,hebroughtmetomyselfwithhisferventappreciationsofmymanifoldcomfortsandluxuries.&quo