the monster men-第9部分

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〃Virginia；〃　he　said　in　a　very　low　voice；　〃it　is　your　father's　intention　to　wed　you　to　one　of　his　creatures。〃

The　girl　broke　from　him　with　an　angry　cry。

〃It　is　not　true！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃It　is　not　true。　Oh；　Dr。　von　Horn　how　could　you　tell　me　such　a　cruel　and　terrible　untruth。〃

〃As　God　is　my　judge；　Virginia；〃　and　the　man　reverently　uncovered　as　he　spoke；　〃it　is　the　truth。　　Your　father　told　me　it　in　so　many　words　when　I　asked　his　permission　to　pay　court　to　you　myselfyou　are　to　marry　Number　Thirteen　when　his　education　is　complete。〃

〃I　shall　die　first！〃　she　cried。

〃Why　not　accept　me　instead？〃　suggested　the　man。

For　a　moment　Virginia　looked　straight　into　his　eyes　as　though　to　read　his　inmost　soul。

〃Let　me　have　time　to　consider　it；　Doctor；〃　she　replied。　〃I　do　not　know　that　I　care　for　you　in　that　way　at　all。〃

〃Think　of　Number　Thirteen；〃　he　suggested。　　〃It　should　not　be　difficult　to　decide。〃

〃I　could　not　marry　you　simply　to　escape　a　worse　fate；〃　replied　the　girl。　　〃I　am　not　that　cowardlybut　let　me　think　it　over。　　There　can　be　no　immediate　danger；　I　am　sure。〃

〃One　can　never　tell；〃　replied　von　Horn；　〃what　strange；　new　vagaries　may　enter　a　crazed　mind　to　dictate　this　moment's　action　or　the　next。〃

〃Where　could　we　wed？〃　asked　Virginia。

〃The　Ithaca　would　bear　us　to　Singapore；　and　when　we　returned　you　would　be　under　my　legal　protection　and　safe。〃

〃I　shall　think　about　it　from　every　angle；〃　she　answered　sadly；　〃and　now　good　night；　my　dear　friend；〃　and　with　a　wan　smile　she　entered　her　quarters。

For　the　next　month　Professor　Maxon　was　busy　educating　Number　Thirteen。　　He　found　the　young　man　intelligent　far　beyond　his　most　sanguine　hopes；　so　that　the　progress　made　was　little　short　of　uncanny。

Von　Horn　during　this　time　continued　to　urge　upon　Virginia　the　necessity　for　a　prompt　and　favorable　decision　in　the　matter　of　his　proposal；　but　when　it　came　time　to　face　the　issue　squarely　the　girl　found　it　impossible　to　accede　to　his　requestshe　thought　that　she　loved　him；　but　somehow　she　dared　not　say　the　word　that　would　make　her　his　for　life。

Bududreen；　the　Malay　mate　was　equally　harassed　by　conflicting　desires；　though　of　a　different　nature；　　or　he　had　his　eye　upon　the　main　chance　that　was　represented　to　him　by　the　great　chest；　and　also　upon　the　lesser　reward　which　awaited　him　upon　delivery　of　the　girl　to　Rajah　Muda　Saffir。　　The　fact　that　he　could　find　no　safe　means　for　accomplishing　both　these　ends　simultaneously　was　all　that　had　protected　either　from　his　machinations。

The　presence　of　the　uncanny　creatures　of　the　court　of　mystery　had　become　known　to　the　Malay　and　he　used　this　knowledge　as　an　argument　to　foment　discord　and　mutiny　in　the　ignorant　and　superstitious　crew　under　his　command。　　By　boring　a　hole　in　the　partition　wall　separating　their　campong　from　the　inner　one　he　had　disclosed　to　the　horrified　view　of　his　men　the　fearsome　brutes　harbored　so　close　to　them。　　The　mate；　of　course；　had　no　suspicion　of　the　true　origin　of　these　monsters；　but　his　knowledge　of　the　fact　that　they　had　not　been　upon　the　island　when　the　Ithaca　arrived　and　that　it　would　have　been　impossible　for　them　to　have　landed　and　reached　the　camp　without　having　been　seen　by　himself　or　some　member　of　his　company；　was　sufficient　evidence　to　warrant　him　in　attributing　their　presence　to　some　supernatural　and　malignant　power。

This　explanation　the　crew　embraced　willingly；　and　with　it　Bududreen's　suggestion　that　Professor　Maxon　had　power　to　transform　them　all　into　similar　atrocities。　The　ball　once　started　gained　size　and　momentum　as　it　progressed。　　The　professor's　ofttimes　strange　expression　was　attributed　to　an　evil　eye；　and　every　ailment　suffered　by　any　member　of　the　crew　was　blamed　upon　their　employer's　Satanic　influence。　　There　was　but　one　escape　from　the　horrors　of　such　a　cursethe　death　of　its　author；　and　when　Bududreen　discovered　that　they　had　reached　this　point；　and　were　even　discussing　the　method　of　procedure；　he　added　all　that　was　needed　to　the　dangerously　smouldering　embers　of　bloody　mutiny　by　explaining　that　should　anything　happen　to　the　white　men　he　would　become　sole　owner　of　their　belongings；　including　the　heavy　chest；　and　that　the　reward　of　each　member　of　the　crew　would　be　generous。

Von　Horn　was　really　the　only　stumbling　block　in　Bududreen's　path。　　With　the　natural　cowardice　of　the　Malay　he　feared　this　masterful　American　who　never　moved　without　a　brace　of　guns　slung　about　his　hips；　and　it　was　at　just　this　psychological　moment　that　the　doctor　played　into　the　hands　of　his　subordinate；　much　to　the　latter's　inward　elation。

Von　Horn　had　finally　despaired　of　winning　Virginia　by　peaceful　court；　and　had　about　decided　to　resort　to　force　when　he　was　precipitately　confirmed　in　his　decision　by　a　conversation　with　the　girl's　father。

He　and　the　professor　were　talking　in　the　workshop　of　the　remarkable　progress　of　Number　Thirteen　toward　a　complete　mastery　of　English　and　the　ways　and　manners　of　society；　in　which　von　Horn　had　been　assisting　his　employer　to　train　the　young　giant。　　The　breach　between　the　latter　and　von　Horn　had　been　patched　over　by　Professor　Maxon's　explanations　to　Number　Thirteen　as　soon　as　the　young　man　was　able　to　comprehendin　the　meantime　it　had　been　necessary　to　keep　von　Horn　out　of　the　workshop　except　when　the　giant　was　confined　in　his　own　room　off　the　larger　one。

Von　Horn　had　been　particularly　anxious；　for　the　furtherance　of　certain　plans　he　had　in　mind；　to　effect　a　reconciliation　with　Number　Thirteen；　to　reach　a　basis　of　friendship　with　the　young　man；　and　had　left　no　stone　unturned　to　accomplish　this　result。　　To　this　end　he　had　spent　considerable　time　with　Number　Thirteen；　coaching　him　in　English　and　in　the　ethics　of　human　association。

〃He　is　progressing　splendidly；　Doctor；〃　Professor　Maxon　had　said。　　〃It　will　be　but　a　matter　of　a　day　or　so　when　I　can　introduce　him　to　Virginia；　but　we　must　be　careful　that　she　has　no　inkling　of　his　origin　until　mutual　affection　has　gained　a　sure　foothold　between　them。〃

〃And　if　that　should　not　occur？〃　questioned　von　Horn。

〃I　should　prefer　that　they　mated　voluntarily；〃　replied　the　professor；　the　strange　gleam　leaping　to　his　eyes　at　the　suggestion　of　possible　antagonism　to　his　cherished　plan；　〃but　if　not；　then　they　shall　be　compelled　by　the　force　of　my　authoritythey　both　belong　to　me；　body　and　soul。〃

〃You　will　wait　for　the　final　consummation　of　your　desires　until　you　return　with　them　to　civilization；　I　presume；〃　said　von　Horn。

〃And　why？〃　returned　the　professor。　　〃I　can　wed　them　here　myselfit　would　be　the　surer　wayyes；　that　is　what　I　shall　do。〃

It　was　this　determination　on　the　part　of　Professor　Maxon　that　decided　von　Horn　to　act　at　once。　　Further；　it　lent　a　reasonable　justification　for　his　purposed　act。

Shortly　after　their　talk　the　older　man　left　the　workshop；　and　von　Horn　took　the　opportunity　to　inaugurate　the　second　move　of　his　campaign。　　Number　Thirteen　was　sitting　near　a　window　which　let　upon　the　inner　court；　busy　with　the　rudiments　of　written　English。　　Von　Horn　approached　him。

〃You　are　getting　along　nicely；　Jack；〃　he　said　kindly；　looking　over　the　other's　shoulder　and　using　the　name　which　had　been　adopted　at　his　suggestion　to　lend　a　more　human　tone　to　their　relations　with　the　nameless　man。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　other；　looking　up　with　a　smile。　〃Professor　Maxon　says　that　in　another　day　or　two　I　may　come　and　live　in　his　own　house；　and　again　meet　his　beautiful　daughter。　　It　seems　almost　too　good　to　be　true　that　I　shall　actually　live　under　the　same　roof　with　her　and　see　her　every　daysit　at　the　same　table　with　herand　walk　with　her　among　the　beautiful　trees　and　flowers　that　witnessed　our　first　meeting。　　I　wonder　if　she　will　remember　me。　　I　wonder　if　she　will　be　as　glad　to　see　me　again　as　I　shall　be　to　see　her。〃

〃Jack；〃　said　von　Horn；　sadly；　〃I　am　afraid　there　is　a　terrible　and　disappointing　awakening　for　you。　It　grieves　me　that　it　should　be　so；　but　it　seems　only　fair　to　tell　you；　what　Professor　Maxon　either　does　not　know　or　has　forgotten；　that　his　daughter　will　not　look　with　pleasure　upon　you　when　she　learns　your　origin。

〃You　are　not　as　other　men。　　You　are　but　the　accident　of　a　laboratory　experiment。　　You　have　no　soul；　and　the　soul　is　all　that　raises　man　above　the　beasts。　　Jack；　poor　boy；　you　are　not　a　human　beingyou　are　not　even　a　beast。　　The　world；　and　Miss　Maxon　is　of　the　world；　will　look　upon　you　as　a　terrible　creature　to　be　shunned　a　horrible　monstrosity　far　lower　in　the　scale　of　creation　than　the　lowest　order　of　brutes。

〃Look；〃　and　the　man　pointed　through　the　window　toward　the　group　of　hideous　things　that　wandered　aimlessly　about　the　court　of　mystery。　　〃You　are　of　the　same　breed　as　those；　you　differ　from　them　only　in　the　symmetry　of　your　face　and　features；　and　the　superior　development　of　your　brain。　　There　is　no　place　in　the　world　for　them；　nor　for　you。

〃I　am　sorry　that　it　is　so。　　I　am　sorry　that　I　should　have　to　be　the　one　to　tell　you；　but　it　is　better　that　you　know　it　now　from　a　friend　than　that　you　meet　the　bitter　truth　when　you　least　expected　it；　and　possibly　from　the　lips　of　one　like　Miss　Maxon　for　whom　you　might　have　formed　a　hopeless　affection。〃

As　von　Horn　spoke　the　expression　on　the　young　man's　face　became　more　and　more　hopeless；　and　when　he　had　ceased　he　dropped　his　head　into　his　open　palms；　sitting　quiet　and　motionless　as　a　carven　statue。　　No　sob　shook　his　great　frame；　there　was　no　outward　indication　of　the　terrible　grief　that　racked　him　inwardlyonly　in　the　pose　was　utter　dejection　and　hopelessness。

The　older　man　could　not　repress　a　cold　smileit　had　had　more　effect　than　he　had　hoped。

〃Don't　take　it　too　hard；　my　boy；〃　he　continued。　〃The　world　is　wide。　　It　would　be　easy　to　find　a　thousand　places　where　your　antecedents　would　be　neither　known　nor　questioned。　　You　might　be　very　happy　elsewhere　and　there　a　hundred　thousand　girls　as　beautiful　and　sweet　as　Virginia　Maxonremember　that　you　have　never　seen　another；　so　you　can　scarcely　judge。〃

〃Why　did　he　ever　bring　me　into　the　world？〃　exclaimed　the　young　man　suddenly。　　〃It　was　wickedwicked　terribly　cruel　and　wicked。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；〃　said　von　Horn　quickly；　seeing　another　possibility　that　would　make　his　future　plans　immeasurably　easier。　　〃It　was　wicked；　and　it　is　still　more　wicked　to　continue　the