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第20章 法官的房子5（第1页）

nhehadfinishedhissuer，andliftedthetraytotheotherendofthegreatoakdining-table，hegotouthisbooksagain，utfreshwoodonthefire，trimmedhislam，andsethimselfdowntoasellofrealhardwork。Hewentonwithoutausetillaboutelevenoclock，whenheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlam，andtomakehimselfacuoftea。Hehadalwaysbeenatea-drinker，andduringhiscollegelifehadsatlateatworkandhadtakentealate。Therestwasagreatluxurytohim，andheenjoyeditwithasenseofdelicious，volutuousease。Therenewedfireleaedandsarkled，andthrewquaintshadowsthroughthegreatoldroom;andashesiedhishotteaherevelledinthesenseofisolationfromhiskind。Thenitwasthathebegantonoticeforthefirsttimewhatanoisetheratsweremaking。

"Surely，

"hethought，

"theycannothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading。Hadtheybeen，Imusthavenoticedit!

"Presently，whenthenoiseincreased，hesatisfiedhimselfthatitwasreallynew。Itwasevidentthatatfirsttheratshadbeenfrightenedattheresenceofastranger，andthelightoffireandlam;butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenowdisortingthemselvesaswastheirwont。

Howbusytheywere!Andharktothestrangenoises!Uanddownbehindtheoldwainscot，overtheceilingandunderthefloortheyraced，andgnawed，andscratched!MalcolmsonsmiledtohimselfasherecalledtomindthesayingofMrs。Demster，

"Bogiesisrats，andratsisbogies!

"Theteabegantohaveitseffectofintellectualandnervousstimulus，hesawwithjoyanotherlongsellofworktobedonebeforethenightwasast，andinthesenseofsecuritywhichitgavehim，heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtheroom。Hetookhislaminonehand，andwentallaround，wonderingthatsoquaintandbeautifulanoldhousehadbeensolongneglected。Thecarvingoftheoakontheanelsofthewainscotwasfine，andonandroundthedoorsandwindowsitwasbeautifulandofraremerit。Thereweresomeoldicturesonthewalls，buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthathecouldnotdistinguishanydetailofthem，thoughheheldhislamashighashecouldoverhishead。Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholeblockedforamomentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteringinthelight，butinaninstantitwasgone，andasqueakandascamerfollowed。Thethingthatmoststruckhim，however，wastheroeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof，whichhungdowninacorneroftheroomontheright-handsideofthefirelace。Heulleduclosetothehearthagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair，andsatdowntohislastcuoftea。Whenthiswasdonehemadeuthefire，andwentbacktohiswork，sittingatthecornerofthetable，havingthefiretohisleft。Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeireretualscamering，buthegotaccustomedtothenoiseasonedoestothetickingofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater，andhebecamesoimmersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld，excettheroblemwhichhewastryingtosolve，assedawayfromhim。

Hesuddenlylookedu，hisroblemwasstillunsolved，andtherewasintheairthatsenseofthehourbeforethedawn，whichissodreadtodoubtfullife。Thenoiseoftheratshadceased。Indeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddencessationwhichhaddisturbedhim。Thefirehadfallenlow，butstillitthrewoutadeeredglow。Ashelookedhestartedinsiteofhissangfroid。

Thereonthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefirelacesatanenormousrat，steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes。Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway，butitdidnotstir。Thenhemadethemotionofthrowingsomething。Stillitdidnotstir，butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily，anditscrueleyesshoneinthelamlightwithanaddedvindictiveness。

Malcolmsonfeltamazed，andseizingtheokerfromthehearthranatittokillit。Before，however，hecouldstrikeit，therat，withasqueakthatsoundedliketheconcentrationofhate，jumeduonthefloor，and，runningutheroeofthealarmbell，disaearedinthedarknessbeyondtherangeofthegreen-shadedlam。Instantly，strangetosay，thenoisyscameringoftheratsinthewainscotbeganagain。

BythistimeMalcolmsonsmindwasquiteofftheroblem;andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimofthearoachofmorning，hewenttobedandtoslee。

HesletsosoundthathewasnotevenwakedbyMrs。Demstercomingintomakeuhisroom。Itwasonlywhenshehadtidieduthelaceandgothisbreakfastreadyandtaedonthescreenwhichclosedinhisbedthathewoke。Hewasalittletiredstillafterhisnightshardwork，butastrongcuofteasoonfreshenedhimuand，takinghisbook，hewentoutforhismorningwalk，bringingwithhimafewsandwicheslestheshouldnotcaretoreturntilldinnertime。Hefoundaquietwalkbetweenhighelmssomewayoutsidethetown，andherehesentthegreaterartofthedaystudyinghisLalace。OnhisreturnhelookedintoseeMrs。Withamandtothankherforherkindness。Whenshesawhimcomingthroughthediamond-anedbaywindowofhersanctumshecameouttomeethimandaskedhimin。Shelookedathimsearchinglyandshookherheadasshesaid:

"Youmustnotoverdoit，sir。Youarealerthismorningthanyoushouldbe。Toolatehoursandtoohardworkonthebrainisntgoodforanyman!Buttellme，sir，howdidyouassthenight?Well，Ihoe?Butmyheart!Sir，IwasgladwhenMrs。Demstertoldmethismorningthatyouwereallrightandsleeingsoundwhenshewentin。

"