With a catch in his breath, Edgar withdrew from the window. He was terribly shaken. Never had he been so near to discovering the riddle. Excitement, adventure, murder, betrayal, these had been no more than tales a boy reads of in books, dream events, unreal, unattainable. Now, of a sudden, he felt that this awful world of risk and enterprise had roped him in, had made of him a participant. He was alarmed and pleased at so unexpected an initiation.
“I wonder what kind of a man this is who has come into our lives....Can he really be a murderer? If not, why does he want to lure my mother into dark and lonely places?”
Something terrible seemed impending, and yet the boy did not know what steps to take in order to avert the evil. Of one thing he was certain: To-morrow he would write or wire to his father. But might not that be too late? Who could tell what would happen this very night? Mother had not come up to her room; she must still be with that wretch....
Between one door and the other of their rooms, which were in suite, was a small lobby. Here Edgar ensconced himself, determined not to miss his chance of hearing whatever happened in the corridor. At length he heard their steps. He strained every nerve to catch what they were saying and doing.
How slow they were—just as though they were climbing a mountain, not in the least as if they were making for their rooms, tired, after a pleasant evening together. They were constantly stopping and whispering. The boy trembled with mental torment. He would have given almost anything to hear what they were saying. Still, he knew they were coming his way. But, oh, how slowly! Now he could hear the baron pleading. Now his mother’s voice saying: “No. Not to-night. No.”
Edgar shivered. Every step that brought them nearer him caused him fresh agony. Then he heard the detested voice pleading:
“Please, please. Don’t say no. You’ve been so adorable the whole evening....”
And his mother, frightened, on the defensive, answering:
“I dare not. No, really, not to-night. I beg you, let me go.”
Again Edgar wondered what the baron wanted her to do and why his mother was so alarmed. Now they came to a standstill opposite the door behind which the child was lurking. He could hear them so clearly that they might have been in the same room with him.
“Come along, Mathilde, do! Please, please.”
His mother sighed; her protests became weaker. Hullo! What was happening? Frau Blumental did not enter her room, she passed along the passage. What did this mean? Why were they no longer talking together? Was it possible that the wretch had gagged her and was now in the act of throttling her?
Maddened with alarm, the child opened the door only a crack, but through this he could see what was going on. The baron had his arm round his mother’s waist and was cajoling her into acquiescence. She seemed to be nothing loath. Arrived at Sternfeldt’s door they stopped.
“Now he’s going to commit the crime,” thought the boy, his head filled with reminiscences of penny dreadful stories.
Banging the door behind him, he stampeded down the passage and butted in upon the lovers. His mother drew abruptly aside, alarmed by the sudden onslaught. Then she dropped as if in a faint, and was caught in the baron’s arms. At the same time, the baron became aware of two small fists pummelling his face, bashing his lips against his teeth, and nails scratching him like a cat’s claws. The alarmed woman quickly took to her heels, while the man hit back at his assailant before grasping who it was.
Edgar was only too conscious of the fact that his puny strength could not hold out against the vigorous onslaught of a man in the prime of life. Nevertheless he determined to do his best, and at least to show the intensity of his hatred. He banged away with all his might, his lips set firm, his teeth clenched. By now the baron had recognized the spy, and gave the lad a generous drubbing. He was furious at having his holiday ruined by this tiresome young monkey. Edgar suffered without uttering a sound. The struggle continued for several minutes in the dimly lighted passage until Sternfeldt, growing aware how ludicrous was this encounter between a man and a child, tried to seize Edgar by the nape and hold the boy at arm’s length. Feeling that he would be overpowered by the man’s superior strength and longer reach, the youngster turned savagely and clenched his teeth in Sternfeldt’s right hand. A low growl issued from the baron’s throat he relaxed his grip, and before he could recover his presence of mind Edgar was back in his own room and had bolted the door.
No one had been aware of this midnight affray. All were asleep. Everything was as still and silent as the tomb. Otto wiped the blood from his hand with a handkerchief. He peered uneasily into the dark recesses of the corridor. Not a soul to be seen! And yet, up there, was there not a light, flickering in the draught and a low, mocking laugh?
埃德加喘着粗气从窗户旁退了回来,恐怖在摇撼着他。在他的生活里还从没有这样接近过这样充满神秘莫测的东西。书本中那个激动不安的世界,紧张冒险的世界,充满凶杀和欺骗的世界,他原以为只能在童话中,在梦幻的后面,是不真实的,不可企及的。可现在他就像突然陷进了这个充满恐怖的世界之中,一经同它直接接触,他的整个身心就剧烈地震颤不已。这个男人,这个神秘的人,这个突然闯进她平静生活的男人究竟是谁?他光是一个杀人犯吗?为什么老是找偏僻的地方,要把他母亲拉往暗处?看来是要发生可怕的事了。他不知道该怎么办。明天他要给爸爸写信或发电报,这是肯定的。可是这坏事,这可怕的事,这谜一样的事会不会现在就发生,今天晚上就发生呢?他母亲还没有回到自己的房间,她还同那个可恨的陌生人在一起呢。
在内层门和外层门之间有可以轻易开启的暗门,里面有一个狭窄的空间,比一个衣柜大不了多少。他紧贴着身体挤进这巴掌大的暗处,以便窥视他们的脚步。他决意不让他俩有瞬间的机会单独在一起。现在是午夜时分,过道上空荡荡,只有唯一的一盏灯亮着,光线微弱黯淡。
他感到这几分钟的时间长得可怕——终于,他听到向楼上走来的轻微的脚步声。他全神贯注地谛听着。这不是像要回到自己房间去的那种疾步行走,而是一种拖沓、犹豫、非常缓慢的脚步,像是在攀登一条崎岖难行的陡峭山路似的。这中间老是一再的耳语和走走停停。埃德加激动得浑身发抖。他俩走到头了?怎么他还和她在一起?耳语声听不见,脚步声尽管还是迟疑不决,但越来越近了。现在他突然听到了男爵那可怕的声音,他嘶哑地轻轻地在说什么,可埃德加听不懂,随之是他母亲立即表示异议:“不,今天不!不!”
埃德加在发抖,他俩走近了,他什么都可以听清楚了。他们走向他的每一步,尽管是那么轻,仍使他的心胸感到痛苦。那种声音他感到极为可憎,这该死的家伙的声音里充满了贪婪,是多么令人厌恶!
“您不要这样残忍。您今天晚上多美啊!”
另一个声音说:“不,我不应当,我不能够,您放开我。”
在他母亲的声音里流露出那么多的恐怖,使孩子大吃一惊。他还要她什么呢?为什么害怕呢?他俩越来越近了,大概现在已经到了他的门前。他浑身颤抖,现在他就站在他俩的身后,近在咫尺,只有一层薄布挡着。现在连他们的呼吸声都能听到了。
“您来吧,玛蒂尔德,您来吧!”他又听到母亲的喘气声,声音越来越脆弱,抗拒的力量瘫痪了。
这是怎么了?他俩又走到黑暗中去了。他母亲没有回自己的房间,竟是过门而不入!他要把她拖到哪儿去?她为什么不再说话了?难道他往她嘴里塞了团布?把她的喉咙卡住了?
这个想法使他狂怒了。他用颤抖的手把门开了一半。现在他看到他俩在昏暗的过道上,男爵用胳膊搂着他母亲的腰,领着她轻轻走去,看来她已经不再抗拒了。现在他在自己的房门前停住了。“他要把她弄走?”孩子惊慌起来,“现在他要下手作恶了。”
他猛地冲了出去,把门一关就向二人奔去。当他母亲看到突然有什么东西向她扑来时,她叫了起来,吓瘫了。男爵费了好大的劲才把她扶住。可就在这一刹那,他觉得一个软弱的小拳头打在自己脸上,打得他的嘴唇狠狠地碰在牙齿上,他周身像被猫抓了一样。他把那个受惊的女人放开,她立即疾步逃之夭夭。在他还不知道是谁打他之前,就胡乱地招架,用拳头回击起来。
孩子虽是个弱者,但他毫不屈服。早就渴望的时刻终于来到了,他可以把被出卖的爱,积聚起的仇恨一股脑儿激烈地发泄出来。他用自己的两只小拳头乱捶一气,紧咬嘴唇,怒火中烧,像发了疯一样。男爵现在也认出是他来了,他对这个密探满腔仇恨,几天来这孩子一直在触他的霉头,破坏他的好事,他狠狠地回击,不管打在什么地方。埃德加喘着粗气,但他毫不放松,也不呼救。午夜时分,他俩在过道上默默地、咬牙切齿地搏斗了一分钟之久,男爵才慢慢意识到他同一个尚未发育成熟的孩子打架是多么可笑。他紧紧抓住了他,想把他甩开。孩子这时感到身不由己,知道一会儿就要输了,就将挨打,暴怒中他朝着那只想来卡他脖子的手就咬。被咬的人下意识地发出一声低沉的叫喊,松了手,孩子就利用这一瞬间逃回自己的房里,把门闩上。
这场午夜的战斗只持续了一分钟。周围没有任何人听到。一切都寂静无声,仿佛都在沉睡。男爵用手帕擦了擦流血的手,不安地窥视着昏暗的四周。没有人窃听,只有顶棚上一盏电灯在不安地闪烁,他觉得这盏灯也在嘲弄他。