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！
blinking meanwhile； and making inarticulate sounds of gustative
content。 He had not yet given any sign of noticing the guineas； but
in seating himself he had laid his broad right hand on them； and
unconsciously kept it in that position； absorbed in the sensations
of his palate。 If he could only be kept so occupied with the
lozenges as not to see the guineas before David could manage to
cover them！ That was David's best hope of safety； for Jacob knew
his mother's guineas； it had been part of their common experience as
boys to be allowed to look at these handsome coins； and rattle them
in their box on high days and holidays； and among all Jacob's narrow
experiences as to money； this was likely to be the most memorable。
〃Here； Jacob；〃 said David； in an insinuating tone； handing the box
to him； 〃I'll give 'em all to you。 Run！make haste！else
somebody'll come and take 'em。〃
David； not having studied the psychology of idiots； was not aware
that they are not to be wrought upon by imaginative fears。 Jacob
took the box with his left hand； but saw no necessity for running
away。 Was ever a promising young man wishing to lay the foundation
of his fortune by appropriating his mother's guineas obstructed by
such a day…mare as this？ But the moment must come when Jacob would
move his right hand to draw off the lid of the tin box； and then
David would sweep the guineas into the hole with the utmost address
and swiftness； and immediately seat himself upon them。 Ah； no！
It's of no use to have foresight when you are dealing with an idiot：
he is not to be calculated upon。 Jacob's right hand was given to
vague clutching and throwing； it suddenly clutched the guineas as if
they had been so many pebbles； and was raised in an attitude which
promised to scatter them like seed over a distant bramble； when；
from some prompting or otherprobably of an unwonted sensationit
paused； descended to Jacob's knee； and opened slowly under the
inspection of Jacob's dull eyes。 David began to pray again； but
immediately desistedanother resource having occurred to him。
〃Mother！ zinnies！〃 exclaimed the innocent Jacob。 Then； looking at
David； he said； interrogatively； 〃Box？〃
〃Hush！ hush！〃 said David； summoning all his ingenuity in this severe
strait。 〃See； Jacob！〃 He took the tin box from his brother's hand；
and emptied it of the lozenges； returning half of them to Jacob； but
secretly keeping the rest in his own hand。 Then he held out the
empty box； and said； 〃Here's the box； Jacob！ The box for the
guineas！〃 gently sweeping them from Jacob's palm into the box。
This procedure was not objectionable to Jacob； on the contrary； the
guineas clinked so pleasantly as they fell； that he wished for a
repetition of the sound； and seizing the box； began to rattle it
very gleefully。 David； seizing the opportunity； deposited his
reserve of lozenges in the ground and hastily swept some earth over
them。 〃Look； Jacob！〃 he said； at last。 Jacob paused from his
clinking； and looked into the hole； while David began to scratch
away the earth； as if in doubtful expectation。 When the lozenges
were laid bare； he took them out one by one； and gave them to Jacob。
〃Hush！〃 he said； in a loud whisper； 〃Tell nobodyall for Jacob
hushshsh！ Put guineas in the holethey'll come out like this！〃
To make the lesson more complete； he took a guinea； and lowering it
into the hole； said； 〃Put in SO。〃 Then； as he took the last lozenge
out； he said； 〃Come out SO；〃 and put the lozenge into Jacob's
hospitable mouth。
Jacob turned his head on one side； looked first at his brother and
then at the hole； like a reflective monkey； and； finally； laid the
box of guineas in the hole with much decision。 David made haste to
add every one of the stray coins； put on the lid； and covered it
well with earth； saying in his meet coaxing tone …
〃Take 'm out to…morrow； Jacob； all for Jacob！ Hushshsh！〃
Jacob； to whom this once indifferent brother had all at once become
a sort of sweet…tasted fetish； stroked David's best coat with his
adhesive fingers； and then hugged him with an accompaniment of that
mingled chuckling and gurgling by which he was accustomed to express
the milder passions。 But if he had chosen to bite a small morsel
out of his beneficent brother's cheek； David would have been obliged
to bear it。
And here I must pause； to point out to you the short…sightedness of
human contrivance。 This ingenious young man； Mr。 David Faux；
thought he had achieved a triumph of cunning when he had associated
himself in his brother's rudimentary mind with the flavour of yellow
lozenges。 But he had yet to learn that it is a dreadful thing to
make an idiot fond of you； when you yourself are not of an
affectionate disposition： especially an idiot with a pitchfork
obviously a difficult friend to shake off by rough usage。
It may seem to you rather a blundering contrivance for a clever
young man to bury the guineas。 But； if everything had turned out as
David had calculated； you would have seen that his plan was worthy
of his talents。 The guineas would have lain safely in the earth
while the theft was discovered； and David； with the calm of
conscious innocence； would have lingered at home； reluctant to say
good…bye to his dear mother while she was in grief about her
guineas； till at length； on the eve of his departure； he would have
disinterred them in the strictest privacy； and carried them on his
own person without inconvenience。 But David； you perceive； had
reckoned without his host； or； to speak more precisely； without his
idiot brotheran item of so uncertain and fluctuating a character；
that I doubt whether he would not have puzzled the astute heroes of
M。 de Balzac； whose foresight is so remarkably at home in the
future。
It was clear to David now that he had only one alternative before
him： he must either renounce the guineas； by quietly putting them
back in his mother's drawer （a course not unattended with
difficulty）； or he must leave more than a suspicion behind him； by
departing early the next morning without giving notice； and with the
guineas in his pocket。 For if he gave notice that he was going； his
mother； he knew； would insist on fetching from her box of guineas
the three she had always promised him as his share； indeed； in his
original plan； he had counted on this as a means by which the theft
would be discovered under circumstances that would themselves speak
for his innocence； but now； as I need hardly explain； that well…
combined plan was completely frustrated。 Even if David could have
bribed Jacob with perpetual lozenges； an idiot's secrecy is itself
betrayal。 He dared not even go to tea at Mr。 Lunn's； for in that
case he would have lost sight of Jacob； who； in his impatience for
the crop of lozenges； might scratch up the box again while he was
absent； and carry it homedepriving him at once of reputation and
guineas。 No！ he must think