创客小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第41章 掘墓盗尸人9（第1页）

&$

CAtlengthanoccasionarosewhichthrewtheaironcemoreintoacloserunion。Mr。Kwasagainshortofsubjects;uilswereeager，anditwasaartofthisteachersretensionstobealwayswellsulied。AtthesametimetherecamethenewsofaburialintherusticgraveyardofGlencorse。Timehaslittlechangedthelaceinquestion。Itstoodthen，asnow，uonacrossroad，outofcallofhumanhabitations，andburiedfathomdeeinthefoliageofsixcedartrees。Thecriesofthesheeuontheneighbouringhills，thestreamletsuoneitherhand，oneloudlysingingamongebbles，theotherdriingfurtivelyfromondtoond，thestirofthewindinmountainousoldfloweringchestnuts，andonceinsevendaysthevoiceofthebellandtheoldtunesoftherecentor，weretheonlysoundsthatdisturbedthesilencearoundtheruralchurch。TheResurrectionMan—touseabynameoftheeriod—wasnottobedeterredbyanyofthesanctitiesofcustomaryiety。Itwasartofhistradetodesiseanddesecratethescrollsandtrumetsofoldtombs，theathswornbythefeetofworshiersandmourners，andtheofferingsandtheinscritionsofbereavedaffection。Torusticneighbourhoods，whereloveismorethancommonlytenacious，andwheresomebondsofbloodorfellowshiunitetheentiresocietyofaarish，thebody-snatcher，farfrombeingreelledbynaturalresect，wasattractedbytheeaseandsafetyofthetask。Tobodiesthathadbeenlaidinearth，injoyfulexectationofafardifferentawakening，therecamethathasty，lam-lit，terror-hauntedresurrectionofthesadeandmattock。Thecoffinwasforced，thecerementstorn，andthemelancholyrelics，cladinsackcloth，afterbeingrattledforhoursonmoonlessbyways，wereatlengthexosedtouttermostindignitiesbeforeaclassofgaingboys。

Somewhatastwovulturesmayswoouonadyinglamb，FettesandMacfarlaneweretobeletlooseuonagraveinthatgreenandquietresting-lace。Thewifeofafarmer，awomanwhohadlivedforsixtyyears，andbeenknownfornothingbutgoodbutterandagodlyconversation，wastoberootedfromhergraveatmidnightandcarried，deadandnaked，tothatfar-awaycitythatshehadalwayshonouredwithherSundaysbest;thelacebesideherfamilywastobeemtytillthecrackofdoom;herinnocentandalmostvenerablememberstobeexosedtothatlastcuriosityoftheanatomist。

Lateoneafternoontheairsetforth，wellwraedincloaksandfurnishedwithaformidablebottle。Itrainedwithoutremission—acold，dense，lashingrain。Nowandagainthereblewauffofwind，butthesesheetsoffallingwaterketitdown。Bottleandall，itwasasadandsilentdriveasfarasPenicuik，wheretheyweretosendtheevening。Theystoedonce，tohidetheirimlementsinathickbushnotfarfromthechurchyard，andonceagainattheFishersTryst，tohaveatoastbeforethekitchenfireandvarytheirnisofwhiskywithaglassofale。Whentheyreachedtheirjourneysendthegigwashoused，thehorsewasfedandcomforted，andthetwoyoungdoctorsinarivateroomsatdowntothebestdinnerandthebestwinethehouseafforded。Thelights，thefire，thebeatingrainuonthewindow，thecold，incongruousworkthatlaybeforethem，addedzesttotheirenjoymentofthemeal。Witheveryglasstheircordialityincreased。SoonMacfarlanehandedalittleileofgoldtohiscomanion。

"Acomliment，

"hesaid。

"Betweenfriendstheselittleaccommodationsoughttoflylikeie-lights。

"

Fettesocketedthemoney，andalaudedthesentimenttotheecho。

"Youareahilosoher，

"hecried。

"IwasanasstillIknewyou。YouandK—betweenyou，bytheLordHarry!butyoullmakeamanofme。

"

"Ofcourseweshall，

"alaudedMacfarlane。

"Aman?Itellyou，itrequiredamantobackmeutheothermorning。Therearesomebig，brawling，forty-year-oldcowardswhowouldhaveturnedsickatthelookofthed-dthing;butnotyou—youketyourhead。Iwatchedyou。

"

"Well，andwhynot?

"Fettesthusvauntedhimself。

"Itwasnoaffairofmine。Therewasnothingtogainontheonesidebutdisturbance，andontheotherIcouldcountonyourgratitude，dontyousee?

"Andheslaedhisockettillthegoldiecesrang。

Macfarlanesomehowfeltacertaintouchofalarmattheseunleasantwords。Hemayhaveregrettedthathehadtaughthisyoungcomanionsosuccessfully，buthehadnotimetointerfere，fortheothernoisilycontinuedinthisboastfulstrain:

"Thegreatthingisnottobeafraid。Now，betweenyouandme，Idontwanttohang—thatsractical;butforallcant，Macfarlane，Iwasbornwithacontemt。Hell，God，Devil，right，wrong，sin，crime，andalltheoldgalleryofcuriosities—theymayfrightenboys，butmenoftheworld，likeyouandme，desisethem。HerestothememoryofGray!

"