關燈 巨大 直達底部
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第5部分

as a joke concerning him; which I may have originated; that if he was in the city of Norwich and anyone wished to discover his whereabouts; all they needed to do was to stand in the market…place for a while to listen。 Here is a tale of that voice。

My youngest brother Arthur; now Major Haggard; had been lunching with him at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall; and after luncheon bade him farewell on the steps of the club and went his way; to Egypt; I believe。 Presently he heard a roar of “Arthur! Arthur!” and not wishing to attract attention to himself; quickened his steps。 It was the very worst thing that he could do; for the roars redoubled。 Arthur began to run; people began to stare。 Somebody cried “Stop thief!” Arthur; now followed by a crowd in which a policeman had joined; ran harder till he was brought to a stop by the sentry at Marlborough House。 Then he surrendered and was escorted by the crowd back to the Oxford and Cambridge Club。 As he approached; my father bellowed out:

“Don’t forget to give my love to your mother。”

Then amidst shouts of laughter he vanished into the club; and Arthur departed to catch the train to Bradenham; en route for Egypt。

My father was a typical squire of the old sort; a kind of Sir Roger de Coverley。 He reigned at Bradenham like a king; blowing everybody up and making rows innumerable。 Yet I do not think there was a more popular man in the county of Norfolk。 Even the servants; whom he rated in a fashion that no servant would put up with nowadays; were fond of him。 He could send back the soup with a request to the cook to drink it all herself; or some other infuriating message。 He could pull at the bells until feet of connecting wire hung limply down the wall; and announce when whoever it was he wante