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В борьбе за власть есть первые; есть вторые; и есть 6ыдло (из канала BS "Без Слёз").
- Вторые всегда стремятся стать первыми. Но ресурсы власти – у п...
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The Man Who Laughs
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He saw the police, and at the head of the police the justice. A fresh and rude shock.
But a short time ago, the wapentake, now the justice of the quorum. He seemed to have been cast from one to the other, as ships by some reefs of which we have read in old stories.
The justice of the quorum made him a sign to enter the tavern. Ursus obeyed.
Govicum, who had just got up, and who was sweeping the room, stopped his work, got into a corner behind the tables, put down his broom, and held his breath. He plunged his fingers into his hair, and scratched his head, a symptom which indicated attention to what was about to occur.
The justice of the quorum sat down on a form, before a table. Barkilphedro took a chair. Ursus and Master Nicless remained standing. The police officers, left outside, grouped themselves in front of the closed door.
The justice of the quorum fixed his eye, full of the law, upon Ursus. He said, —
"You have a wolf."
Ursus answered, —
"Not exactly."
"You have a wolf," continued the justice, emphasizing "wolf" with a decided accent.
Ursus answered, —
"You see – "
And he was silent.
"A misdemeanour!" replied the justice.
Ursus hazarded an excuse, —
"He is my servant."
The justice placed his hand flat on the table, with his fingers spread out, which is a very fine gesture of authority.
"Merry-andrew! to-morrow, by this hour, you and your wolf must have left England. If not, the wolf will be seized, carried to the register office, and killed."
Ursus thought, "More murder!" but he breathed not a syllable, and was satisfied with trembling in every limb.
"You hear?" said the justice.
Ursus nodded.
The justice persisted, —
"Killed."
There was silence.
"Strangled, or drowned."
The justice of the quorum watched Ursus.
"And yourself in prison."
Ursus murmured, —
"Your worship!"
"Be off before to-morrow morning; if not, such is the order."
"Your worship!"
"What?"
"Must we leave England, he and I?"
"Yes."
"To-day?"
"To-day."
"What is to be done?"
Master Nicless was happy. The magistrate, whom he had feared, had come to his aid. The police had acted as auxiliary to him, Nicless. They had delivered him from "such people." The means he had sought were brought to him. Ursus, whom he wanted to get rid of, was being driven away by the police, a superior authority. Nothing to object to. He was delighted. He interrupted, —
"Your honour, that man – "
He pointed to Ursus with his finger.
"That man wants to know how he is to leave England to-day. Nothing can be easier. There are night and day at anchor on the Thames, both on this and on the other side of London Bridge, vessels that sail to the Continent. They go from England to Denmark, to Holland, to Spain; not to France, on account of the war, but everywhere else. To-night several ships will sail, about one o'clock in the morning, which is the hour of high tide, and, amongst others, the Vograat of Rotterdam."
The justice of the quorum made a movement of his shoulder towards Ursus.
"Be it so. Leave by the first ship – by the Vograat."
"Your worship," said Ursus.
"Well?"
"Your worship, if I had, as formerly, only my little box on wheels, it might be done. A boat would contain that; but – "
"But what?"
"But now I have got the Green Box, which is a great caravan drawn by two horses, and however wide the ship might be, we could not get it into her."
"What is that to me?" said the justice. "The wolf will be killed."
Ursus shuddered, as if he were grasped by a hand of ice.
But a short time ago, the wapentake, now the justice of the quorum. He seemed to have been cast from one to the other, as ships by some reefs of which we have read in old stories.
The justice of the quorum made him a sign to enter the tavern. Ursus obeyed.
Govicum, who had just got up, and who was sweeping the room, stopped his work, got into a corner behind the tables, put down his broom, and held his breath. He plunged his fingers into his hair, and scratched his head, a symptom which indicated attention to what was about to occur.
The justice of the quorum sat down on a form, before a table. Barkilphedro took a chair. Ursus and Master Nicless remained standing. The police officers, left outside, grouped themselves in front of the closed door.
The justice of the quorum fixed his eye, full of the law, upon Ursus. He said, —
"You have a wolf."
Ursus answered, —
"Not exactly."
"You have a wolf," continued the justice, emphasizing "wolf" with a decided accent.
Ursus answered, —
"You see – "
And he was silent.
"A misdemeanour!" replied the justice.
Ursus hazarded an excuse, —
"He is my servant."
The justice placed his hand flat on the table, with his fingers spread out, which is a very fine gesture of authority.
"Merry-andrew! to-morrow, by this hour, you and your wolf must have left England. If not, the wolf will be seized, carried to the register office, and killed."
Ursus thought, "More murder!" but he breathed not a syllable, and was satisfied with trembling in every limb.
"You hear?" said the justice.
Ursus nodded.
The justice persisted, —
"Killed."
There was silence.
"Strangled, or drowned."
The justice of the quorum watched Ursus.
"And yourself in prison."
Ursus murmured, —
"Your worship!"
"Be off before to-morrow morning; if not, such is the order."
"Your worship!"
"What?"
"Must we leave England, he and I?"
"Yes."
"To-day?"
"To-day."
"What is to be done?"
Master Nicless was happy. The magistrate, whom he had feared, had come to his aid. The police had acted as auxiliary to him, Nicless. They had delivered him from "such people." The means he had sought were brought to him. Ursus, whom he wanted to get rid of, was being driven away by the police, a superior authority. Nothing to object to. He was delighted. He interrupted, —
"Your honour, that man – "
He pointed to Ursus with his finger.
"That man wants to know how he is to leave England to-day. Nothing can be easier. There are night and day at anchor on the Thames, both on this and on the other side of London Bridge, vessels that sail to the Continent. They go from England to Denmark, to Holland, to Spain; not to France, on account of the war, but everywhere else. To-night several ships will sail, about one o'clock in the morning, which is the hour of high tide, and, amongst others, the Vograat of Rotterdam."
The justice of the quorum made a movement of his shoulder towards Ursus.
"Be it so. Leave by the first ship – by the Vograat."
"Your worship," said Ursus.
"Well?"
"Your worship, if I had, as formerly, only my little box on wheels, it might be done. A boat would contain that; but – "
"But what?"
"But now I have got the Green Box, which is a great caravan drawn by two horses, and however wide the ship might be, we could not get it into her."
"What is that to me?" said the justice. "The wolf will be killed."
Ursus shuddered, as if he were grasped by a hand of ice.
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Последний отзыв
В борьбе за власть есть первые; есть вторые; и есть 6ыдло (из канала BS "Без Слёз").
- Вторые всегда стремятся стать первыми. Но ресурсы власти – у п...
Далее