76²ÊƱÍøÕý¹æÂð:Ïà¹ØÈí¼þ È«ÇòÆ»¹ûºÍÕ¼±È£¬Æ»¹ûºÍapp²»¼æÈÝ£¬ÓÆÀÖÆåÅư棬µØ²ú´ó¸»ÎÌ ÖÐÎÄ£¬¿ìÀÖÕ¨½ð»¨ÏÂÔØ°æÏÂÔØÊÖ»ú°æ£¬ÊÖ»úµ±»ÊµÛµÄÓÎÏ·ÏÂÔØ£¬ºÚ»ê3¶¯Ì¬±ÚÖ½

�»¥¤Ù¥¥¥í¥«µÕ"Not on your life," roared the Doctor. "At the worst I shall bore you with my many-times-told jests."Àζí¥Å"No," I replied, although it was a thing I would have said Ned Ferry would not do, "no, no, it is she who has served both you and herself cruelly wrong. Captain, I believe that when Miss Harper has talked it over with her she will see her mistake as we all see it, and will call you back."¥¤Ä¡ä

�¤¤ª¤ÜᥥThe unfortunate Doctor was trying hard to substitute a genuine interest in the Clockwork man for a feeling of panic, but he was not very successful. "You seem to me," he added, rather lamely, "so very theoretical."¥¥±¤¥¥In a parlor under the room where Charlotte lay they made a bed for Ferry and one for me, and here, lapped in luxury and distinction, I promptly fell asleep, and when I reopened my eyes it was again afternoon. In the other bed Ferry was slumbering, and quite across the room, beside a closed door, sat Cécile and Camille. The latter tiptoed to me. Her whispers were as soft as breathing, and when I answered or questioned, her ear sank as near as you would put a rose to smell it. "The Lieutenant, sleeping? yes, this hour past; surgeons surprised and more hopeful. Miss Estelle? in another room with other wounded. Her aunt? upstairs with Charlotte, who was--oh--getting on, getting on." That made me anxious.¥¥É¥ä¤¤¤Ò

�d¥¥¥Ü¤¤¥[Pg 128]¤¤¥¥¥¤¤¥ºò"Even if he's a myth," interrupted Gregg, "he is still worth investigating. What annoys me is your positive antagonism to the idea that he might be possible. You seem to want to go out of your way to prove me in the wrong. I may add, that once a man has ceased to believe in the impossible he is damned."²°æ¬¤½°

"It was not until the fifty-ninth century," continued the Clockwork man, speaking with a just perceptible click, "that man became a conjurer in real life. We have here an instance of the complete turning over of human ideas. Ancient man conjured for amusement; modern man conjures as a matter of course. Since the[Pg 99] invention of the clock and all that its action implies, including the discovery of at least three new dimensions, or fields of action, man's simplest act of an utilitarian nature may be regarded as a sort of conjuring trick. Certainly our forefathers, if they could see us as we are now constituted, would regard them as such—"¾¥·"Anyway, it's the fashion," the other growled hoarsely. "I ought to know because I used to be one of them before the accursed drink--but that is another story. Ever heard of the Countess Lalage?"¤¥Ï¥»¤å¤ìã楥"Yes, I started with a shaking chill. I'm afraid, every minute, I'll go out of my head. Oh, Smith, Oliver's alive! He's alive, he's alive, and I've come to save his poor wife from a fate worse than death!"Ĥ¥ß¤ï

�ë¥ð¤¥¥¥"It's very hard," the Curate complained, "that my infirmity should have prevented me from seeing more. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak."¤Ã¦¤ÎË·¡ØÉØÖò�¤¤¡¥¤Î­Á

"What did she say," demanded the Doctor, irritably.¥¥¥¤ÂÇShe joined in his mirth. A little later it was before she had the last word.Ë¥©Ú쥥©"Gawd, it's spirits—that's what it is."¥¥¤¤â¤®

"No, no! I know all and you know only half; I have seen the absolute--"¥¤ô¥É¡�¤¤c¾×¤"Then take my parole! I give it! you have it! I'll take the chances."¤¤Æòο

�°¤á¥¥¥Ýµ�Ô¥¥¤Arthur heard a slight noise somewhere round the back of the cottage. "Someone coming," he warned.Ç椤¤¤¥Ì

�ÓÐÁ¡"Yes," softly exclaimed Camille, "but, oh, aunt Martha, with such courage in those eyes!"îï¤î¤¤¤ÌcÛ"So frightfully interesting," the Curate managed to interpose, "but I really cannot spare the time." He had reverted now to the alcoholic diagnosis.ë×ö¥¤»¥¥¥Â

At first it did not occur to the constable that the noise proceeded from the figure. He craned his head forward, expecting every moment to see a motor bicycle come along. The noise stopped abruptly, and he decided that the machine must have gone up a side street. Then he stepped out of his retreat and tapped the Clockwork man on the shoulder[Pg 88] The latter was quite motionless now and merely leaning against the lamp-post.ɨ¥Þ¥á�Ûö¤¹Í¤"Well, well, it's what I said," the doctor went on, swallowing quickly, "someone has—someone has—"¤³¤¥Ó¤