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lavengro-第91部分

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suddenly awoke in dreadful perplexity as to how I should dispose of 

it。



About nine o'clock next morning I set off to the house of the 

Armenian; I had never called upon him so early before; and 

certainly never with a heart beating with so much eagerness; but 

the situation of my affairs had become very critical; and I thought 

that I ought to lose no time in informing the Armenian that I was 

at length perfectly willing either to translate the Haik Esop under 

his superintendence; or to accept a seat at the desk opposite to 

the Moldavian clerk; and acquire the secrets of Armenian commerce。  

With a quick step I entered the counting…room; where; 

notwithstanding the earliness of the hour; I found the clerk; 

busied as usual at his desk。



He had always appeared to me a singular being; this same Moldavian 

clerk。  A person of fewer words could scarcely be conceived:  

provided his master were at home; he would; on my inquiring; nod 

his head; and; provided he were not; he would invariably reply with 

the monosyllable No; delivered in a strange guttural tone。  On the 

present occasion; being full of eagerness and impatience; I was 

about to pass by him to the apartment above; without my usual 

inquiry; when he lifted his head from the ledger in which he was 

writing; and; laying down his pen; motioned to me with his 

forefinger; as if to arrest my progress; whereupon I stopped; and; 

with a palpitating heart; demanded whether the master of the house 

was at home。  The Moldavian clerk replied with his usual guttural; 

and; opening his desk; ensconced his head therein。



'It does not much matter;' said I; 'I suppose I shall find him at 

home after 'Change; it does not much matter; I can return。'



I was turning away with the intention of leaving the room; at this 

moment; however; the head of the Moldavian clerk became visible; 

and I observed a letter in his hand; which he had inserted in the 

desk at the same time with his head; this he extended towards me; 

making at the same time a sidelong motion with his head; as much as 

to say that it contained something which interested me。



I took the letter; and the Moldavian clerk forthwith resumed his 

occupation。  The back of the letter bore my name; written in 

Armenian characters; with a trembling hand I broke the seal; and; 

unfolding the letter; I beheld several lines also written in the 

letters of Mesroub; the Cadmus of the Armenians。



I stared at the lines; and at first could not make out a syllable 

of their meaning; at last; however; by continued staring; I 

discovered that; though the letters were Armenian; the words were 

English; in about ten minutes I had contrived to decipher the sense 

of the letter; it ran somewhat in this style:…





'MY DEAR FRIEND … The words which you uttered in our last 

conversation have made a profound impression upon me; I have 

thought them over day and night; and have come to the conclusion 

that it is my bounden duty to attack the Persians。  When these 

lines are delivered to you; I shall be on the route to Ararat。  A 

mercantile speculation will be to the world the ostensible motive 

of my journey; and it is singular enough that one which offers 

considerable prospect of advantage has just presented itself on the 

confines of Persia。  Think not; however; that motives of lucre 

would have been sufficiently powerful to tempt me to the East at 

the present moment。  I may speculate; it is true; but I should 

scarcely have undertaken the journey but for your pungent words 

inciting me to attack the Persians。  Doubt not that I will attack 

them on the first opportunity。  I thank you heartily for putting me 

in mind of my duty。  I have hitherto; to use your own words; been 

too fond of money…getting; like all my countrymen。  I am much 

indebted to you; farewell! and may every prosperity await you。'





For some time after I had deciphered the epistle; I stood as if 

rooted to the floor。  I felt stunned … my last hope was gone; 

presently a feeling arose in my mind … a feeling of self…reproach。  

Whom had I to blame but myself for the departure of the Armenian?  

Would he have ever thought of attacking the Persians had I not put 

the idea into his head? he had told me in his epistle that he was 

indebted to me for the idea。  But for that; he might at the present 

moment have been in London; increasing his fortune by his usual 

methods; and I might be commencing under his auspices the 

translation of the Haik Esop; with the promise; no doubt; of a 

considerable remuneration for my trouble; or I might be taking a 

seat opposite the Moldavian clerk; and imbibing the first rudiments 

of doing business after the Armenian fashion; with the comfortable 

hope of realising; in a short time; a fortune of three or four 

hundred thousand pounds; but the Armenian was now gone; and 

farewell to the fine hopes I had founded upon him the day before。  

What was I to do?  I looked wildly around; till my eyes rested on 

the Moldavian clerk; who was writing away in his ledger with 

particular vehemence。  Not knowing well what to do or to say; I 

thought I might as well ask the Moldavian clerk when the Armenian 

had departed; and when he thought that he would return。  It is true 

it mattered little to me when he departed; seeing that he was gone; 

and it was evident that he would not be back soon; but I knew not 

what to do; and in pure helplessness thought I might as well ask; 

so I went up to the Moldavian clerk; and asked him when the 

Armenian had departed; and whether he had been gone two days or 

three。  Whereupon the Moldavian clerk; looking up from his ledger; 

made certain signs; which I could by no means understand。  I stood 

astonished; but; presently recovering myself; inquired when he 

considered it probable that the master would return; and whether he 

thought it would be two months or … my tongue faltered … two years; 

whereupon the Moldavian clerk made more signs than before; and yet 

more unintelligible; as I persisted; however; he flung down his 

pen; and; putting his thumb into his mouth; moved it rapidly; 

causing the nail to sound against the lower jaw; whereupon I saw 

that he was dumb; and hurried away; for I had always entertained a 

horror of dumb people; having once heard my another say; when I was 

a child; that dumb people were half demoniacs; or little better。







CHAPTER LII







Kind of stupor … Peace of God … Divine hand … Farewell; child … The 

fair … Massive edifice … Battered tars … Lost! lost! … Good…day; 

gentlemen。



LEAVING the house of the Armenian; I strolled about for some time; 

almost mechanically my feet conducted me to London Bridge; to the 

booth in which stood the stall of the old apple…woman; the sound of 

her voice aroused me; as I sat in a kind of stupor on the stone 

bench beside her; she was inquiring what was the matter with me。



At first; I believe; I a
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