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Two Boxes of Gold (I)

    Herbert Blamyre was trusted one day with the urgent task of carrying two boxes of gold from London to Naples. On the way he came to know Levison and Major Baxter. Who were the two men? Was Herbert able to fulfill the task? Please read the following story for the answers.

    My name is Herbert Blamyre. I live with my wife, Minnie, in a little house to the south of London. We had only been married for a month, and had returned from a holiday in Ireland. I was a junior partner in a bank in Lombard Street, and had four more days of holiday left. Minnie and I were sitting in the garden, when the maid brought the telegram which was to start my adventures.

    The telegram was from my partner, Mr. Schwarzmoor. It said, "We want you to start for Italy at once on important business. No delay. Be at office by 6.30. Start from London Bridge by 9.15, and catch Dover night boat."

    "Herbert, dear, you won't go, you mustn't go," said Minnie. "Please, don't go!"

    "I must, my dear," I said. "The Bank has no one to send but me. I shall not be gone for long. I must start in ten minutes, and catch the next train."

    Mr. Schwarzmoor met me when at last I reached the bank. "I hope your wife is well," he said. "I am sorry to have to ask you to miss some of your holiday, but there was nothing I could do about it. We need you to take some gold to Naples. Here it is," and he pointed to two large boxes. "The boxes are made of iron, but we have covered them with leather, so that they look like samples. They are fastened with letter-locks, and contain a quarter of a million pounds in gold. You must take the money to Pagliavicini and Rossi, No. 172 Toledo, Naples. The king of Naples expects that there will be a war, and he needs the money to buy guns. The names that open the locks are ‘Masinisa', for the one with the white star on the cover, and ‘Cotopaxo' for the one with the black star. You must not forget these two words. Open the boxes at Lyons to make sure all is well. Talk to no one. Do not make any friends on the way."

    "I shall pretend to be a traveling salesman," I said.

  "Please be careful, Blamyre. You have a dangerous journey ahead of you. Do you have a gun?"

    I opened my coat, and showed a special belt with a gun in it.

    "Good," said Mr. Schwarzmoor. "I hope you do not need to use it. You will stop in Paris tomorrow. I have some letters for you to give to Lefebre and Desjeans, and you will go on to Marseilles by the night train. You catch the boat on Friday. We will send you a telegram at Marseilles. Are the letters for Paris ready, Mr. Hargrave?"

    "Yes, sir, nearly ready. Mr. Wilkins is working on them now."

    I reached Dover before midnight, and at once got four porters to carry my chests down the stone steps leading to the Calais boat. The first was taken safely onto the boat, but while the second was being carried down, one of the men slipped. He would have fallen into the water, but he was caught by a large man who, with his wife, was just in front of me.

    "Steady, my man," he said. "Why, what have you got there?"

  "Don't know, sir," replied the porter. "I only know it's heavy enough to break a man's back."

    "These steps cause a lot of trouble when bringing down heavy goods," said a voice behind me. "I see, from your luggage, that we may be in the same business."

    I looked round as we stepped on board. The man who had spoken to me was tall and thin. He had a rather large nose, and a long thin face. He wore an overcoat which was too small for him, a flowered waistcoat, tight trousers, a high shirt collar and a stiff neckcloth.

    I replied that I was a traveling salesman, and that I thought we might be going to have a rough journey across to France.

    "Yes, a very dirty night," he said. "I advise you to find your bed at once. The boat, I see, is very crowded."

    I went straight to my bed, and lay down for an hour. At the end of that time I got up and looked around me. At one of the small tables sat six of the passengers, among them the two I had already met. They were talking and drinking, and I went over to join them. The large man was a Major Baxter, who had been in India for some years. The other was a Mr. Levison.

    "It's getting very hot down here," said the Major. "Why don't we three go up on deck and get some fresh air? My wife is always ill on these crossings. We won't see her again until the boat stops."

    When we got on deck, I saw, to my great surprise, four other boxes exactly like mine. I could hardly believe my eyes, but there they were, leather covers, letter-locks and all.

    "Those are mine, sir," said Mr. Levison. "I am traveling for the House of Mackintosh. Those cases contain waterproof overcoats, the best make in the world. We have used these cases for many years. It is sometimes difficult, this accidental resemblance of luggage. It sometimes leads to mistakes. However, I would think your goods are much heavier than mine. What do you carry? Gas pipes, railway chairs, knives or something else made of iron?"

    I did not reply.

    "Sir, I think you will do very well," said Levison. "Trade secrets should not be discussed in public. Don't you think so, Major?"

    "You're right, sir," replied the Major. "One cannot be too careful."

    "There's the Calais light," cried someone at that moment, and soon we were getting ready to leave the boat.

    I thought no more about my traveling companions. We parted at Paris. I went my way and they went their way. The Major was going to visit Dromont, near Lyons. From there he would go to Marseilles, then on to Alexandria. Mr. Levison was also going to Marseilles, like myself and the Major, but not by my train. He had too much to do in Paris first.

    I had delivered my letters in Paris and was on my way back to my hotel with Mr. Lefebre, a great friend of mine. It was about six o'clock and we were crossing the road, when a carriage passed us. In it was Mr. Levison, and his four boxes were by his side. I waved to him, but he did not seem to notice me. In the same street we met the Major and his wife, on their way to the railway station.

    "Terrible city, this," said the Major. "It smells so of onions. I'd like to wash it out house by house. Julia, this is my pleasant traveling companion of last night." They went on their way.

    At midnight, I was standing at the station watching my luggage being put onto the train. A cab drew up and an Englishman got out. He asked the driver, in excellent French, for change for a five-franc piece. It was Levison, but I saw no more of him, for the crowd just then pushed me forward.

    I found a seat in a carriage with two other people. They were so wrapped up in their coats that I could not see what they were like at all. 

    Once the train had started, I fell asleep and dreamed of my dear wife, and our home. Then I began to worry, for I dreamed I had forgotten the words which would open the letter locks. I tried hard to remember, but it was no good. Then I was in the bank at No. 172 Toledo, Naples, being ordered to give the words, or be put to death by a row of soldiers. I must give the words, or tell where I had hidden the boxes, for I seemed to have hidden them for some reason. At that moment an earthquake shook the city, a flood of fire rolled past beneath the window. I cried out, "Please God, show me the words," and then I woke up.

"Dromont, Dromont. Ten minutes to Dromont,”" called the guard.

    At Dromont I went to a restaurant and asked for a cup of coffee. Suddenly three or four noisy young Englishmen came hurrying in, with a quiet, elderly traveling salesman. It was Levison again. They led him along, and called for champagne.

    "Yes, yes," the leader said. "You must have some, old man. We have won three games, you know. You will be able to get your own back before we get to Lyons."

    Levison talked cheerfully about the last game of cards and drank the wine. In a few minutes the young men had drunk their champagne, and gone out to smoke. In another moment Levison caught my eye.

    "Why, good gracious," he said. "Well, I am glad to see you. Now, my dear sir, you must have some champagne with me." He called to the waiter, "Another bottle of champagne, if you please." Then, turning to me he said, " I hope to join you before we get to Lyons. I am tired of the noise of those youngsters. Besides, I cannot afford to lose too much money."

    The waiter brought the bottle of champagne. Levison took the bottle at once.

    "No," he said, " I never allow anyone to open wine for me." He turned his back on me to remove the cork. He had taken it off, and was filling my glass, when up dashed a man to shake hands with me. He was in such a hurry that he knocked into Mr. Levison and the bottle of champagne was broken.

    It was the Major, hot, as usual, and very eager to talk to us.

    "Oh, I am so sorry. Let me order another bottle. How are you gentlemen? How lucky to meet you again! Julia's with the luggage. We can have a good time here. More champagne here. What's ‘bottle' in French? Such an annoying thing has happened. Those friends of Julia's had gone off on holiday. They'd forgotten we were coming. Very bad, very bad. Ah, there's the bell. We'll all go in the same carriage."

    Levison looked rather angry. "I shall not see you, for a station or two," he said. "I must join those boys, and see if I can win back some of my money. Good-bye, Major Baxter. Good-bye, Mr. Blamyre."

    I found the Major quite pleasant to talk to. He was full of stories about his days in India, always interrupted by his fussy, good-natured, managing wife.

    Soon the train stopped at Charmont, and in came Levison. "No more heavy losing for me," he said. "But if you and the Major and Mrs. Baxter would care for a game at a shilling a point, then I'm willing to play."

    We agreed. We cut for partners. I and Mrs. Baxter against the Major and Levison. We won nearly every game. Levison played too carefully, and the Major talked and laughed and always forgot which cards had been played.

    Still, it helped to pass the time. When we had played for long enough we began to talk. Levison started to tell us about his business.

    "I have at last discovered something for which the makers of waterproof clothing have been searching for years," he said. "That is, how to let out the heated air of the body, and yet at the same time to keep out the rain. When I get back to London, I shall offer this secret to the Mackintosh firm for ten thousand pounds. If they refuse the offer, I shall at once open a shop in Paris. I shall call the new material Magentosh, and make a lot of money out of it."

    "Very clever," said the Major.

    Mr. Levison then turned the conversation to the subject of letter-locks. "I always use the letter-lock myself," he said. "My two words are Turlurette and Papagayo. Who would guess them? It would take a very clever thief several hours to work out even one of them. Do you find the letter-lock safe, sir?" he asked, turning to me.

    I replied that I did and asked what time our train was due at Lyons.

    "We are due at Lyons at 4.30," said the Major. "It is now five to four. I don't know why, but I have a feeling that something will happen before we get there. I am always unlucky when traveling. How fast we are traveling! See how the carriage rocks. I am sure we shall have a breakdown before we get to Marseilles."

    I began to feel afraid, but did not show it. Could the Major be planning to do something against me?

    "Nonsense, Major, be quiet. That's the way you always spoil a journey," said his wife.

    Then Levison began to talk about his early life. He had been working for a place that made neckcloths. He talked on and on.

    Then the train slowed down, moved on, slowed again and stopped.

    The Major put his head out of the window, and shouted to a passing guard. "Where are we?"

    "Thirty-two kilometres from Lyons. This is Fort Rouge, sir."

    "What is the matter? Anything the matter?"

    An English voice answered from the next window. "A wheel broken, they tell us. We shall have to wait two hours and take all the luggage off onto another van."

    "Good heavens," I cried.

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课文一

两箱黄金(Ⅰ)

    有一天，赫伯特·布兰爱尔接到紧急命令，要他将两箱黄金从伦敦运到那不勒斯。途中，他认识了利维森和伯斯特少校。这两个人是谁？赫伯特能不能完成使命？请阅读下面的故事。

    我的名字叫赫伯特·布兰爱尔，是伦巴第街一家银行的小股东。一个月前，我和美妮喜结良缘，并双双到爱尔兰度蜜月。假期结束前四天，我们回到我们在伦敦南部的小屋。有一天，我和美妮正在花园里闲坐时，女佣送来一封电报。紧接着，我就开始了一连串的探险。

    电报是我的合伙人斯瓦茨莫尔先生打来的，内容是：“我们要你马上动身前往意大利接洽一宗重要的生意，不能拖延。请在6:30到办公室来，并在9:15分从伦敦桥出发，赶前往多佛的夜班船。”

    “赫伯特，亲爱的，你不要去。求你，别去了，”美妮央求着说。

    “亲爱的，我不能不去。银行里除了我之外，没有合适的人好派。我不会去很久的。我得在十分钟之内出发，赶下一班火车。”

    我好不容易到了银行，斯瓦茨莫尔先生正在那里等我。他一见到我就说：“您太太还好吧。非常抱歉，不能让你好好享受假期，这实在没办法。我们需要你把这些黄金带到那不勒斯去。”他指着两个大箱子对我说：“这些箱子是铁制的。我们在外面包了皮革，这样，别人会以为这只是两个样品箱。两个箱子都装了密码锁。里面有价值25万镑的黄金。你必须把这些黄金带到柏莱米西尼与罗斯银行，它在那不勒斯，托莱多街，172。那不勒斯国王认为可能会爆发战争，所以急需这笔钱购买枪械。你必须牢牢记住，外皮印有一颗白颜色星星的那个铁箱的密码是“玛西尼沙”，另外那个印着黑色星星的是“科杜帕索”。到里昂后把箱子打开，看看一切是否完好。记住，一路上不要跟别人交谈，也不要结交任何朋友。”

    “我会假扮成一个旅行推销员，”我说。

    “布兰爱尔，摆在你面前的是一次艰险的旅程，你千万要小心。身上带枪了吗？”

    我解开衣扣，露出那条特制的枪带，我的左轮手枪就插在上面。

    斯瓦茨莫尔先生点点头，说道：“很好。不过我希望你一路上用不上它。明天你先在巴黎上岸，我有些信件请你转交给里弗柏尔和狄金斯，然后你再继续搭夜班的火车到马赛去，这样你就能赶上星期五的那班船。到时我们会发电报到马赛跟你联系。哈克雷弗先生，巴黎的信件准备好了吗？”　

    “快要好了，威尔金斯先生正在准备。”

    我在午夜之前抵达多佛。船一靠岸，我就雇了四个挑夫，帮我把箱子从石级上扛下来，放到一艘去加莱的船上。第一个箱子很顺利地搬上去了，但是，挑夫们搬第二个箱子时，其中一个人突然滑了一下，眼看就要落进水里。这时，我前面一位带着太太的大个子男人扶住了他。

    “兄弟，稳一点！怎么了?”他对那个挑夫说。

    “我也不知道是怎么回事，只觉得这个箱子实在太重，我的背都快压断了。”

    这时，我背后突然有人开口说：“每次搬运重物，这些石级总要添不少麻烦。从你这些行李看，我猜我们应该是同行。”

    我一面走上岸，一面回头望去，发现刚才跟我讲话的是个又高又瘦的男子。他瘦长的脸，大大的鼻子，身上的大衣显得过于瘦小，穿着碎花背心，紧身长裤，高领衬衫，打着硬邦邦的领巾。

    我告诉他，我是个旅行推销员，又说这次横跨海峡的法国之行可能会不太顺利。

    “是啊，今晚天气可够糟的，”他回答说：“我劝你还是快点找到床位。这艘船实在太拥挤了。”

    我直接上了床，躺了一个钟头，然后起身四处看了一下。只见一张小桌旁坐着六个乘客，当中有两个我已经碰过面了。他们一面聊天一面喝酒，我便走过去加入他们的谈话。那个高大的男人是伯斯特少校，曾经在印度住过几年，另外一个是利维森先生。

    “这里越来越闷了，”那位少校提议道：“我们三个干嘛不到甲板上，呼吸一下新鲜空气呢？我太太总晕船，所以船靠岸前她不会过来的。”

    我们来到甲板上。我吃惊地看到，有四个箱子摆在那儿，和我的铁箱一模一样。我几乎不敢相信自己的眼睛，但它们的的确确就摆在那儿：皮革箱面，密码锁，还有其他的一切，简直象极了。

    “先生，这些箱子都是我的，”利维森先生对我说，“我要到麦琴都索公司去。箱子里装的是世界上最好的防水大衣。这些箱子我已经用了很多年了。偶而会遇到外形相似的，那就很麻烦。有时甚至还会拿错呢！不过，我相信你的箱子应该比我的重得多。里面装的到底是什么？煤气管，火车座椅，刀，还是其他铁制的东西？”

    我没有回答他。

    利维森又说：“先生，我相信你的生意一定会做得很好。商业机密本来就不适合在公共场合讨论。少校，你说是吗？”
　

    “不错，”那位少校回答说，“小心没大错。”

    这时有人喊道：“你们看，加莱港的灯光！”于是，大家开始忙着做下船的准备。

    我没再去考虑我的旅伴。我们在巴黎分手，各走各的路。那位少校要到里昂附近的德罗芒去，再从那儿前往马赛，最后再去亚历山大。利维森先生象我和少校一样，也要到马赛去。但是他在巴黎还有很多事情要办，所以不会和我们一起上火车。

    在巴黎送完信后，我就和一个好朋友，里弗柏尔，一起回酒店。当时大约是傍晚六点左右。我和里弗柏尔正要穿过马路时，一辆马车刚好从我们面前经过，车里坐的是利维森先生，他那四个铁箱也放在他的旁边。我向他招招手，可他好象没有看见我。在同一条街上，我们又遇到了少校和他的太太。他们正要到火车站去。

    少校一开口就说：“这个城市简直糟透了，到处都是洋葱味，我真恨不得一家家去把这个味道弄掉。朱丽雅，这位是我昨晚刚认识的旅伴。”然后，他们就继续上路了。

    午夜时分。我站在车站，看着我的行李被搬上火车。这时一辆马车驶过来，从车上走出一位英国人，他用流利的法语请司机找换一张五法郎的钞票。我仔细一看，原来是利维森先生。可是，熙来攘往的人群把我挤得站不住脚，一转眼他就不见了。

    我在一个车厢里找到了座位，那里还有两个乘客。他们都用厚厚的大衣把自己裹住，所以我无法清楚地看到他们的长相。

    火车一开动，我就昏昏入睡，睡梦中我看见我太太和我们的家。然后我梦见自己把那些密码给忘了。我努力回想密码，但总是想不起来，这真让我忧心忡忡。接着我又梦见那不勒斯托利多街172的那家银行。我在那儿，必须说出箱子的密码，不然就会被一整排的军人枪毙。我一定得告诉他们箱子的密码，或者藏箱子的地方，因为我好象为了某些原因把箱子藏了起来。正在这时，城市里突然发生了地震。一片大火从窗口涌进来，我惊惶地大喊：“老天爷，请你告诉我那些密码吧！”然后我就惊醒了。

    “德罗芒！德罗芒！还有十分钟就到德罗芒了！”列车警卫高声喊道。

    到了德罗芒后，我先到一家餐馆要了杯咖啡。突然，三、四个年轻的英国人吵吵闹闹进了餐馆，领着一个上了年纪的、沉静的旅行推销员。我惊奇地发现，这个人原来又是利维森。他们向侍者要香槟喝。
“是的，是的，”为首的人说，“老人家，你应该多喝一点。要知道，我们已经赢了三场。你一定能在我们到里昂之前把钱赢回去。”

    利维森一面喝着酒，一面兴高采烈地谈着最后那场牌局。一会儿，那些年轻人喝完香槟，都出去抽烟了。这时，利维森才发现了我。

    “天哪，是你！”他说道：“我很高兴见到你。我亲爱的朋友，你一定得陪我喝点香槟。”他对侍者喊道：“请再给我拿瓶香槟。”然后又对我说：“我希望到里昂之前能和你在一起。我很讨厌那群吵闹的年轻人，而且也输不起那么多钱。”
　

    这时，侍者已经把香槟送了过来，利维森马上把那瓶酒接过去。

    “不，”他说：“我向来不喜欢别人替我开酒瓶。”说着便转过身去，背对着我，把瓶塞弄开了。他正在给我倒酒，突然，一个人匆匆忙忙跑过来和我握手。这个人来势太猛，竟撞着了利维森先生，而且那瓶香槟也被碰碎了。

    来者不是别人，正是那位素来热情的少校。他急切地和我们攀谈起来。

    “啊！真抱歉，让我再叫一瓶吧！朋友，你好吗？我真幸运，又遇到了你。朱丽雅正在看管着那些行李，我们可以在这儿好好谈一谈。再多叫几瓶香槟吧！‘瓶子'法语怎么讲？我老是遇到这些令人烦恼的事，朱丽雅的朋友忘了我们要来，都渡假去了，真倒霉！真倒霉！啊！铃声。我们一起坐马车到车站去吧！”

    利维森非常恼火。他气呼呼地说：“这一两站我不会来找你们。我还得回去找那群年轻人，看看能不能赢回点儿钱。再见，柏斯德少校。再见，布兰爱尔先生。”

    我发现与少校聊天是件非常愉快的事。他告诉了我许多他早年在印度的故事。不过他的话常常被他身边那位谨慎、贤慧、但又爱管事的太太打断。

    很快，火车来到了夏尔芒，利维森出现了。他对我说：“还好，这次没输多少。不过，如果你、少校还有少校太太愿意玩一局一分一先令的话，我愿意奉陪。”
　

    我们都表示同意，并且分了伙儿。我和少校太太一组，少校和利维森一组。我们这组几乎每次都赢。利维森打牌太谨慎，少校则又说又笑，时常忘记自己打过什么牌。

    不过，打牌总能帮人打发时间。我们玩了很久，然后又开始聊天。利维森谈起他的生意。

    “那些防水服装制造商多年来一直在寻找的东西，总算被我发现了。”他说：“那就是怎样在排出人体热气的同时，又能将雨水隔绝。我一回到伦敦，就要把这个秘密一万块钱卖给麦金都索防水服公司。如果他们不答应，我就自己在巴黎开厂，将这种新布料称为麦根都索，用它来赚笔大钱。”





    “你真能干！”少校赞道。

    接着，利维森先生又把话题转到密码锁上。他说：“我一般都自己编密码。我的密码是‘特勒莱特’和‘巴巴加尤’。谁会猜得到呢？就算是一个聪明的贼，花上好几个钟头的时间，也顶多能弄开一个锁。你觉得我这个密码锁安全吗？”他朝我问道。

    我点了点头，并向众人询问火车到达里昂的时间。

    “我们会在四点三十分抵达里昂。”少校说，“现在是三点五十五分。不知道为什么，我总是觉得我们到那儿之前会有什么事发生。我每次旅行都很倒霉。看！火车开得真快呀！车厢颠得这么厉害，我敢肯定不等到马赛，火车就会发生故障。”
　

    我开始感到害怕，但又不敢表露出来。我心里想：难道那位少校存心和我过不去？
    “真是胡说。安静一点好吗，少校？你总是这样破坏别人旅行的兴致，”他的太太责备地说。

    接着，利维森又讲起他早年的生活，说他曾在一个制造领巾的地方工作过，接着又谈了许多其他的事情。

    火车开始减速，突然又向前开动，然后又慢下来，最后终于停住不动了。

    少校把头探出窗外，正好一个列车警卫在此经过。少校朝他喊道：“我们现在在哪里？”
    “卢哲堡，先生！离里昂还有32公里。”
    “到底发生了什么事？”
    有人用英语从隔壁的窗口回答道：“他们说一只车轮坏了，叫我们在这里等两个小时。所有的行李都要搬到另一个行李车厢上去。”

“我的天啊！”我失声喊道。

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Text 2

Two Boxes of Gold (Ⅱ)

    Levison put his head out of the window. "It's true," he said, drawing it in again. "Two hours' delay at least," the man says. "It's very annoying, but these things happen. We'll have some coffee and another game of cards. We must each look at our own luggage, or, if Mr Blamyre will go and order supper, I will see to it all. But goodness me, what is that shining out there by the station lamps? Hey, you sir, guard, what is happening at the station?"

    "Those are soldiers, sir," replied the guard. "They happened to be at the station on their way to Chalons. The station-master has sent them to watch the luggage-van, and to see to the changing over of the luggage. No passenger is to go near it, because there are special government stores in the train."

    Levison spat on the ground, and said something under his breath. I supposed he was angry with the French railways.

  "I say, sir," said the Major, "have you ever seen such clumsy carts?" and he pointed out of the window. I looked and saw two country carts, each with four strong horses, that were standing under a hedge close to the station.
    Levison and I tried to get near our luggage, but the soldiers refused to let us get too close. I watched my chests lifted into the new luggage van. I saw no sign of government stores, and I told the Major so.
    "Oh, they're clever," he replied, "very clever. It may be the empress's jewels, only a tiny packet, perhaps, but still not difficult to steal on a night such as this."

    Just then there was a loud, high whistle, as if a signal had been given. The horses in the two carts started off at a gallop and were soon out of sight.

    Three hours later we reached Lyons and changed trains for Marseilles.

    "I shall have a sleep, gentlemen," said the Major. "I suppose the next thing will be the boat breaking down."

    "Major, do please be quiet," said his wife.

    I fell asleep at last, but again my dreams were bad. I imagined I was in a city where there were narrow, dark streets. I was being watched from behind curtained windows. Four men on horses came riding down the street. They were waving swords, and were coming towards me. I dreamed I had only one hope of safety, and that was to repeat the words of my letter-locks. Already the horses were on top of me. I cried out with great difficulty, "Cotopaxo. Cotopaxo." A rough shake woke me. It was the Major.

    "You're talking in your sleep," he said. "Why do you talk in your sleep? It's a dangerous habit."

    "What was I talking about?" I asked.

    "Some foreign nonsense," replied the Major.

    "Greek, I think," said Levison, "but I can't be sure."

    We reached Marseilles. I was so happy to see the white houses and the almond trees. I should feel safer when I was on the ship, and my treasure with me. I had noticed that on that long journey from Lyons I had been watched. I had never fallen asleep without waking to find either the Major, or his wife, or Levison looking at me.

    We agreed to keep together, and stood by our luggage trying to decide which hotel to stay at.

    "Hotel Imperial is the best," said the Major. But the Hotel Imperial was full.

    "Oh, no," said the Major. "The boat will be the next thing to fail."

    And it was. There had been an accident with the boiler, and it would not leave until half an hour after midnight.

    "Where shall we go?" I asked. "Our journey seems very unlucky so far. Let's have dinner together. I must send a message first, but then I'm free until half past eleven."

    "I will take you to a small, but very good hotel down by the harbour,”" said Levison. "The Foreigners' Hotel."

    "It's not a very good place," said the Major, who knew it well.

    "Sir," said Mr. Levison, "it is under new management, or I would not have suggested it to you."

    "I'm sorry," said the Major, "I did not know that."

    We entered the hotel, and found it was rather bare and not too clean.

    "I shall go and wash, and then take a walk while you go and send your messages," said the Major. "You go and see to the rooms, Julia."

    "I am going to try and get to the shops before they shut," said Levison. There were only two double-bedded rooms left.

    "That will do," said Levison, quickly. "My friend is going on the boat tonight. He will not be sleeping here. His luggage can be put in my room, and he can take the key, in case he comes in first."

    "Then now we are all right," said the Major. "So far, so good."

    When I got to the telegraph office, I found a telegram waiting for me from London. To my surprise and horror it contained only these words.

  "You are in great danger. Do not wait a moment on shore. There is a plot against you. Go to the police and ask for a guard."

    It must be the Major. I was in his hands. That friendly manner of his was all a trick. Even now he might be carrying off the chests. I sent a message back.

    "Safe at Marseilles. All right up to this."

    I ran back to the hotel, which was in a dirty street by the harbour. As I turned the corner into the street, a man came out of a doorway and took my arm. It was one of the men from the hotel. He said hurriedly in French, "Quick, quick, sir. Major Baxter wants to see you at once in the dining-room. There is no time to lose."

    I ran to the hotel, and hurried into the dining-room. There was the Major, walking up and down in great excitement. His wife was looking out of the window. The Major ran up and took my hand.

    "I am a police officer, and my name is Arnott,”" he said. "That man Levison is a well-known thief. He is, at this moment, opening one of your chests. You must help me to catch him. I knew what he was going to do, but I wanted to catch him in the act. Have you got a gun, Mr. Blamyre, in case he puts up a fight? I have a strong stick."

    "I have left my gun in the bedroom," I said.

    "That's bad. Never mind, he may not think of it. You must rush at the door at the same moment as I do. These foreign locks are never any good. It's No. 15. Quietly now."

    We came to the door. We listened a moment. We could hear the sound of money clinking in a bag. Then Levison laughed over the word he had heard me say in my sleep. "Cotopaxo, ha, ha."

    The Major gave the word and we both rushed at the door. It shook, broke and opened. Levison, with a revolver in his hand, stood over the open box, ankle deep in gold. He had already filled a huge belt that was round his waist, and a bag that hung at his side. Another bag, half full, lay at his feet. He did not say one word. There were ropes at the window, as if he had been lowering, or preparing to lower bags into the side street. He gave a whistle, and some vehicle could be heard driving away fast.

    "Give yourself up. I know you," cried the Major. "Give up, I've got you now."

    Levison's only reply was to fire the gun. Luckily for us, nothing happened. I had forgotten to load it.

Levison threw it at the Major in anger, quickly opened the window and jumped out.

    I went out after him, shouting for help. Arnott stayed to guard the money.

    A moment more and a wild crowd of soldiers, sailors and other men were following Levison. In the half dark (the lamps were just being lit) we raced after him. Hundreds of blows were aimed at him, hundreds of hands stretched out to catch him. He got away from one, knocked another down and jumped over a third. We had almost caught him, when suddenly his foot caught on something and he fell head first into the harbour. There was a shout as he splashed and disappeared into the dark water. I ran down the nearest steps and waited while the police took a boat and dragged with hooks for the body.

    "They are clever, these old thieves. I remember this man here at Toulon. I knew his face in a moment. He has dived under the ships and got into some boat and hidden himself. You'll never see him again," said an old gray-haired policeman who had taken me into the boat.

    "Yes, we shall, for here he is," cried a second, bending down and lifting a body out of the water by the hair.

    "Oh, he was a clever one," said a man from a boat behind us. It was Arnott. "Just came to see how you were getting on, sir. Don't worry about the money. Julia's watching it. I often said that man would be caught some day. He nearly had you, Mr. Blamyre. He'd have cut your throat while you were asleep, rather than miss the money. But I was on his track. He didn't know me. Well, his name is off the books now. That's one good thing. Come, my friends, bring that body to land. We must strip him of the money he has upon him. It at least did one good thing while he had it. It sent him to the bottom of the harbour."

    Arnott told me everything when we returned to the hotel. On the night I had started my journey, he had received orders from the London head office to follow me, and watch Levison. He had not had time to tell my partners. The driver of our train had been paid to make the engine break down at Fort Rouge, where Levison's men were waiting with the carts. They planned to carry off the luggage in the darkness . This plan failed, because Arnott had sent a message from Paris for soldiers to be sent to the station. The champagne he had spilt had been drugged. Levison, defeated the first time, had tried other ways. My unlucky talk in my sleep had given him the power of opening one of the chests. The breakdown of the boat, which was quite accidental (as far as we could tell), gave him a last chance.

    That night, thanks to Arnott, I left Marseilles with not one single piece of money lost. The rest of my journey was good. Our bank has done well ever since, and so have Minnie and I.

(1,840 words)          TOP

课文二

两箱黄金(Ⅱ)

    利维森把头探出窗外，然后又缩回来，对我们说道：“是真的，那个人说至少要耽搁两小时。真烦死人了，老是发生这种事情。我们不如接着喝咖啡、玩牌吧！只是，大家必须小心看管自己的行李。要不这样吧，布兰爱尔去买点宵夜，我来替他看管行李。咦！我的天啊！站台里电灯旁边那些发亮的东西是什么呀？喂，警卫先生，车站发生了什么事？”

    “先生，那些是军人呀，”警卫回答说。“他们要到沙隆去，刚好路过这里。车站主管要他们去行李车那儿，监视那些行李转车。任何乘客都不准走近，因为车上有政府专用物资。”

　

    利维森重重地吐了一口唾液并低声说了些什么。我猜他是在埋怨法国的铁路服务。

    “我说，先生，你有没有见过这么笨重的货车？”少校指着窗外问利维森，我也跟着向窗外一望，发现火车站的围栏下有两辆乡村货车，分别由四匹强壮的马拉着。

    利维森和我都试着接近自己的行李，可是守卫的士兵不准我们走得太近。我望着自己的箱子被移到新的行李车厢上，但却始终没有看见政府物资，我把这个发现告诉了少校。

    “啊，他们聪明，他们真聪明！那可能是女王的珠宝，也许只是一小袋，但是碰到这样一个晚上，还是很容易被偷走的。”少校回答说。
    正在这时，传来响亮的口哨声，就好像在发送什么信号。那四匹马应声起步，疾驰而去，一会儿功夫就消失了踪影。 

    三个小时后，我们终于到了里昂，并换乘了另一列火车前往马赛。

    “各位先生，我想好好睡一会儿，”少校对我们说：“我猜接下来该船坏了。”

    “少校，你就少说点儿话，好吗？”他的太太又责备道。

    过了良久，我也睡着了。我又做恶梦了。我梦见自己来到一个城市，那里的街道既狭窄又阴暗，而且有人躲在窗帘后监视我。接着，又有四个人骑着马，挥着剑，朝我奔来。我只有一线脱险的希望，那就是告诉他们密码。忽然，那些马都踩在我身上，我艰难地大喊道：“科杜帕索，科杜帕索。”这时，有人使劲儿把我摇醒。我睁开双眼一看，原来是少校。



    他对我说：“你在说梦话。为什么要讲梦话，那是很危险的。”

    “我讲了些什么？”我问。
    “你胡扯了一些外国话。”少校答道。
    “好象是希腊语，但是我不敢肯定。”利维森说。

    我们终于到了马赛。看到那些洁白的房屋和一棵棵杏树时，我心里十分高兴。接下来我会带着两箱宝贝坐船，继续我的旅程。这应该安全点了。我意识到，从里昂开始，一路上我一直被监视着。没有一次我睡醒后没发现少校、或少校太太、或利维森在盯着我的。

    我们约定住在一起，所以大家都站在自己的行李旁，商量着要下榻哪家酒店。

    “帝国酒店是设备最好的，”少校首先提议。但是，很不巧，帝国酒店已经住满了。
    “唉，真倒霉！”少校说：“我相信，等一下乘船时，也非出问题不可。”
    他说得没错。由于蒸汽机出了故障，那艘船必须等到午夜后半小时才能起航。
    “我们到哪里去呢？”我问道：“我们的旅途好象一直都很不顺。大家一起去吃晚餐吧！我先去发一个电报，然后一直到十一点半我都没什么事。”
    “我带你们到码头附近一家酒店吧！店不大，但住起来很舒服，”利维森说：“它叫‘外宾酒店'。”
    “那并不是一个很好的地方，”少校说，因为他很熟悉那家酒店。
    “先生，” 利维森说，“那儿已经换老板了，否则我也不会介绍你们去。”

    “对不起，我还不知道这件事，”少校抱歉地说。
    我们到了那家酒店，才发现它不但很简陋，而且环境也不卫生。

    少校对我说：“你去打电报吧。我想利用这段时间洗个澡，然后再散散步。”然后他对他太太说道：“朱丽雅，你先去看看房间。”

    “我想赶快到商店转转。迟了，商店就关门了。”利维森说。很不巧，酒店只剩下了两间双人房。

    “没关系，”利维森抢着说，“反正，我的这位朋友今晚就要上船。他不在这儿睡。行李可以放在我房里，他可能回来得早，所以钥匙给他好了。”

    “总算安定下来了，”少校说：“到现在为止，一切还不错。”

    我来到电报局时，一封从英国打来的电报已经在那里等着我了。字不多，却使我深感意外和恐惧：

    “你现在非常危险，别再在岸上逗留。有人要谋害你。快让警方给你派一个保镖。”

    一定是那位少校。我已经落在了他的手中。想不到他那些友善的表现都不过是一种骗术。说不定，他现在正拿着我的箱子逃跑呢。我连忙发了一个电报回英国：
    “安全抵达马赛，至今一切顺利。”

    我赶快跑回码头边陋巷里的那家酒店。我刚转过街角，就从一个门口跑出一个人来，一把抓住了我的手臂。他是酒店里的一个工作人员。他用法语紧张地对我说：“快！快！伯斯特少校要你马上到他房里去，一分钟也不能耽搁。”
　

    我跑进酒店，一口气冲进卧房，只见少校正紧张地在房里来回踱步，他的妻子则站在窗口张望。他一看到我，就抓住我的手说道：“我是一个警官，叫阿诺。那个利维森是个名偷，他现在正在打开你的箱子。你必须帮我捉住他。我一直都知道他要做什么，不过我想在案发现场捉住他。布兰爱尔先生，你有枪吗？我们必须提防他垂死挣扎。我自己有一根棍子。”

    “我把枪留在卧室里了。”我说。

    “真糟糕！不过没关系，他可能也想不到这么多。现在你必须和我同时冲进那扇门。这些外国锁从来不那么管用。他住15号。小心，别发出声音。”

    我们来到15号门外，仔细听了一下。我们听到钱币落在袋子里的声音。接着又听到利维森大笑着说那个从我梦里听去的词：“科杜帕索，哈哈！哈哈！”

    少校一声令下，我们两人同时向那扇门撞去。门摇了摇，然后就被撞开了。只见利维森站在敞开的箱子旁，足踝深埋在钱堆里，手里还握着一只左轮手枪。他的腰间多了一条很粗的腰带，还挂着一个装满了黄金的口袋，另外还有半袋黄金堆在他脚边。他一言不发。窗口悬垂着几根绳子，看起来他正从这里把黄金送到下面的小路上，或者准备这么干。他吹了一下口哨，我们马上听到了车辆飞驰而去的声音。

    “快投降，我认识你，”少校喝道，“快投降吧，你现在已经被逮捕了。”

    利维森的唯一回答是手中的枪。幸运的是，我们都没受伤，因为我忘了在枪里装上子弹。
    利维森生气地把手枪掷向少校，然后飞快地打开窗子，跳了下去。
    我也跳了下去，并大声呼救。阿诺则留在房里，守着那些钱。

    不一会儿，一大群士兵、水手和其他人都来追利维森。街灯刚刚亮起来，天色半明半暗。我们在后面追赶着他，许多拳头朝他打去，无数的手伸出去要捉住他。他从一个人手中逃出去，撞倒第二个，然后又从第三个身上跳过去。我们就要捉住他的时侯，他却突然被什么东西绊了一下，大头朝下栽进了港口里。他大叫了一声，就消失在漆黑的水中。我跑到最底下的石阶上，在那儿等着结果。与此同时，警察们上了一只小船，用钩子打捞着。

    “这些老贼真狡猾！我在土伦这儿见过他。一看到那张脸，我就记起他是谁了。他一定是从轮船底下潜了过去，现在正藏在哪个小船上呢。你是找不到他了。”说这话的是一个满头灰发的老警官。他把我带到了那艘打捞船上。

    “找得到！看，他在这儿！”另一个警察一面喊一面弯下身去，揪着头发把一个尸体拖出了水面。

    “啊，这可是个狡猾的贼。”我们背后的一艘船上有人这样说道。我转头一看，原来是阿诺。“先生，我只是来看看事情怎么样了。你不必为那些钱担心，朱丽雅在那儿看着呢。我早就说过，这个人总有一天会被逮捕的。布兰爱尔先生，他差点得手了。只要能得到这笔钱，他甚至可以在你睡着时干掉你。不过，他始终都没发现我在跟着他。现在，他的名字总算可以从通辑名单上删掉了，这实在是个好消息。来，兄弟们，把尸体拖到岸上去，然后把他身上的钱解下来。这些钱总算在他身上做了件好事——让他沉到了水底下。”　

    回到旅店后，阿诺把经过从头至尾告诉了我。原来，第一个晚上我从伦敦出发时，他就接到伦敦总部要他跟踪我并监视利维森的任务。可是他始终没有机会把这个消息告诉我的合伙人。此外，利维森还收买了火车司机，要他在卢哲堡故意停下火车，因为他的同伴们正驾着马车在那里等着。他们本来计划在黑暗中把行李搬走，可这个计划却失败了，因为阿诺早已写信给巴黎当局，要他们派军队到车站把守。另外，那瓶被阿诺打翻的香槟也被暗中下了毒。失败后，利维森又多次企图下手。我在睡梦中不幸泄漏的密码使他有办法打开其中一个箱子，而那艘船不能按时出航——据我们猜，这纯粹是场意外——则给他制造了最后一次机会。

    我于当天晚上离开了马赛。多亏了阿诺的一路保护，黄金丝毫无损。接下来的旅程轻松愉快。自此，银行业务兴隆，我和美妮也一直过着幸福的生活。

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