Chapter 7 decision moment
Some people know they're not likable, but Hugh Lochier wasn't one of those self-aware people.We've all seen these types of people—in a meeting, even with restraint, their high-pitched voice pierces through the crowd; when they make an opinion, they poke you in the chest; , the final word - I guess you, like me, envy and hate these kinds of people.Hate because no one likes to be yelled at or poked in the chest. Jealousy is because everyone wants to be able to say what they want, feel good about themselves, don't care what other people think, and poke their chests.
For me, thanks to my job, I have to show up every day in a place where chaos is the norm, and the only constant is wearing my hair in a funny hairstyle specially designed for civil servants.This makes it increasingly difficult for me to make normal judgments.Hugh once noticed that I possessed extraordinary leadership skills.He said that I was different and outstanding in the unit.I didn't enjoy it, but - and here I curse them again - I have to say, he has a right to say so.
All that aside, and the fact that Hugh was actually my brother-in-law--and when you think about it a little you'll see how delicate that relationship is--I liked him very much, as did everyone who knew him.He was a tall, well-built, handsome gentleman with clear blue eyes in a rosy face.He is straightforward and outgoing, no matter what topic you bring up, he will understand immediately.His generosity cannot be refused by you, but it is a rare kind of generosity. He will make you feel that accepting his kindness is an expression of love and affection.
I wouldn't say he has a great sense of humor, but sometimes a modest sense of humor is enough.Hugh was such a man.He also has a grumpy side, which is manifested in his merciless and complete neglect of you when he realizes that you may need his help in some way, but did not come to him.In other words, ten minutes after you meet Hugh, if he likes you, you'd better ask him something he can fulfill.Almost a month after their wedding, my sister Elizabeth told him how much I wanted the Copley painting that hung in his private gallery at his hilltop house.Today, I can still vividly recall my surprise when the painting was delivered.The painting was wrapped in a cardboard box, and a gift card written by him was pasted on the outside. Such a behemoth suddenly broke into my humble home.I had a hard time getting it back and I ended up with "this painting is worth even more than the whole building I live in" and "and it doesn't look pretty on my wall at all" debate.I'm sure he thinks I'm lying, but Hugh doesn't need so much to judge a man.
There is no doubt that it is the two hundred years of history of the Hilltop Villa and the Rochier family that shaped Xio into this shape.The first generation of Rochier people built this villa overlooking the river on the top of the mountain. They worked hard and the family quickly prospered; the descendants who were equally successful continued to invest a lot, full of passion, and gradually established a relationship between the villa on the top of the mountain and the outside world. Build an unattainable wall.To be honest, Hugh was more like a gentleman living in the eighteenth century who suddenly found himself in the twentieth century and had to adapt as best he could.
Basically, it can be said that the hilltop villa is a replica of the prestigious but unoccupied villa next to it.The exterior wall of the villa is of rough stone structure, and the large stones have a unique elegance. The vast lawn stretching to the riverside has been carefully cared for all year round, like a bright green carpet, which magically glows with the breeze.On the other side of the house was the garden and grove, in which the stables and ancillary cottages were hidden.Through the grove is the narrow path leading to the town.The path is also a token of courtesy and friendliness to be shared by those who live in the great houses along the path.It can be said responsibly that Hugh must be the one who threw the least gravel on the road among the surrounding residents.
Hugh was obsessed with the Hilltop House and spent almost his entire life there; he never went out unless something dire had to happen;If you're not careful, you could unknowingly follow him home, and you'll never be able to leave the house again, watching precious hours pass week by week.I admit that since my sister brought Hugh home, I've spent more time at the hilltop than in my own apartment.
For a while I wondered what it was that made Elizabeth decide to get married.Because before meeting Hugh she was as frivolous and insatiable as pretty girls usually are.When I asked her that directly, she said, "It's wonderful, dear. Just as I imagined it would be when I first saw him."
I later learned that their first meeting was at an art exhibition of some ultra-modern art.She was absorbed in studying a dazzling exhibit when she became aware of a tall, handsome man staring at her.Then—to quote herself—she tried not to embarrass him, until he suddenly asked, "Do you like this thing?"
This abrupt question was obviously far beyond her expectations, but she had to answer it. "I don't know," she said weakly, "Should I like it?"
"No," said the stranger, "this thing is meaningless. Come with me, and I'll show you something worth seeing."
"So," Elizabeth said to me, "I clung to his feet like a puppy, and he led me uphill and downhill, telling me what was good and what was bad. His voice It was high-pitched and pleasing to the ear, and the crowds watched us everywhere we walked. Can you imagine that, dear?"
"Yes," I said, "of course." I pictured myself as Hugh in that situation, and I knew right away that nothing could shake his steely self-confidence.
"Oh," continued Elizabeth, "I must admit that I hesitated at first, but it didn't take long for me to see that he really understood and didn't just talk about it, and that he was terribly sincere. Before I knew it, I'm already eager to know his style, including everything. The rest of the world is always caught up in all kinds of chores and don't know how to make decisions - what to eat for dinner, how to get work done, who to vote for — but Hugh always knows what to do. It's the 'not knowing' that creates the so-called nervousness, the complicated crap with laymen, doesn't it? I decide to take Hugh, thank God, and leave the laymen behind Give it to a psychiatrist."
So here we are.In this Eden of perfect lawns, there are no bad neuroses and complications, and even looking out to the sea, there is not a trace of a snake in sight.All was well until the day Raymond broke in.
Hugh, Elizabeth, and I walked the lawn that day, sluggish and numb in the hot August sun, too tired to engage in polite small talk.Lying on the lawn, with a soft linen hat over my face, I listened to the summer bustle around me and enjoyed the ultimate pleasure.
The breeze swept over the poplar trees not far away, making a low, rhythmic rustling sound; the oars cut through the water below, and there was the sound of water droplets; The mournful jingle.The sheep were Hugh's favourite, and he had always thought that nothing complemented a lawn quite like a flock of sheep roaming on it.Therefore, every summer, five or six fat, lazy ewes would appear on the lawn, which not only satisfied Hugh's wish, but also added a bit of pleasant pastoral style to the lawn.
The first thing that made me realize something was wrong was the flock of sheep—the bells suddenly rang out, mixed with bleating sounds, as if they were suddenly attacked by a pack of wolves.Then I heard Hugh shout angrily, "Damn it!" I opened my eyes and saw something more discordant than a pack of wolves - a black poodle!Trimmed in a comical way and wearing a fake red collar, he looked like a smug clown chasing sheep like crazy.Obviously, the poodle had no malice to harm the lambs, and probably just regarded them as interesting playmates it had finally found.But it was also obvious that this group of panicked ewes didn't understand the meaning. If this went on, the poodle didn't have enough fun, and the sheep would all flee into the river.
At this moment, I had a panoramic view of Hugh's every move.At this time, he had jumped over the low wall and stood among the sheep, and was driving the sheep away from the river, and at the same time shouting instructions at the dog with a bad brain.
"Get down, man!" he yelled, "Get down!" and after a while, as if ordering his hounds, he ordered sternly: "Go away!"
I think a man like him should have done more cleverly, seeing that the poodle ignored all instructions, he should pick up a stick or a stone and frighten it.The poodle, still barking excitedly, rushed to the flock, while Hugh began chasing the mad dog in vain.At this time, a voice came from the poplar forest on the edge of the lawn, and the poodle seemed to freeze suddenly, motionless.
"Sit down!" The command sounded breathless, "Sit down!"
The owner of the voice finally emerged, a short, well-groomed man trotting across the lawn.Xio stood still, his face looked ugly.
Elizabeth took my arm and said in a low voice, "Let's go too, Huo doesn't like being played with."
We got there just in time for Hugh to lose his temper. "Anyone," he said, "if they can't handle their own animals, they shouldn't have them at all."
The man looked polite and listened carefully.The face was handsome, thin and shrewd, with some fine wrinkles around the eyes.But he couldn't hide what was in his eyes, it was a trace of ridicule.His eyes gleamed mockingly like opened lenses.It was a detail that a man like Hugh couldn't have noticed, but it was there, and I found myself immediately drawn to the gleam and liked it.Also attracting attention is the man's face, which always gives people a sense of familiarity, with a raised forehead and some thin gray hair. While Hugh was furious over there, I was trying to dig deep into my memory, but unfortunately I still couldn't find it. can find the answer.Ultimately, Hugh's reprimand concludes with dog-taming, and he's clearly trying to get himself into a forgiving attitude.
"Since no damage was done—" he said.
The strange man nodded solemnly. "Nevertheless, it's not a good idea to talk to new neighbors like this—"
Hugh was visibly taken aback. "Neighbor?" His tone was almost rude. "You live nearby?"
The man waved his hand towards the poplar grove. "Just on the other side of the woods."
"Dianzhuang?" In Xio's eyes, Daienzhuang is as sacred as the hilltop villa. He once told me that whenever he had the opportunity, he would buy it immediately without hesitation.There wasn't much confusion in his tone, though. "That's impossible!" he asserted.
"That's right," the man confirmed Hugh's guess, "Dane Zhuang. I performed at a party held here several years ago, and I have always hoped to have the opportunity to be its owner."
The word "act" gave me a clue - and the faint accent hidden in the standard British pronunciation, he must have grown up in Marseilles - that he was already a legend long before I was born.
"You're Charles, aren't you?" I said. "Charles Raymond."
"I prefer to be called Raymond." He smiled, disdainful of his little fame, "I'm very happy that you recognize me."
But he doesn't look happy.The Great Magician Raymond.The great Raymond should be recognized wherever he goes.His pair of magical hands once overshadowed the father of magic, and his escape technique even surpassed Houdini. There is no need for such a Raymond to be so humble.
At first, he performed the repertoire of most professional magicians in a decent manner; later, his escape technique skills gradually came to the fore, which everyone must know by now.Hermetically sealed lead coffins sunk a foot into the ice; welded steel body suits; the basement of the Bank of England; delicate rope loops that bind the legs and constrict the throat so that the slightest movement of the legs can cause a choking wound around the neck. The rope was pulled tighter - none of this could trap Raymond.And when he was in the limelight, he suddenly disappeared from the public's sight, and his name has since become a thing of the past.
I asked him why he did it, and he shrugged.
"A man works only for money or love, why continue when he is rich enough and no longer loves his work?"
"But to give up such a brilliant career—" I demurred.
"It's enough to think that this house is here waiting for me."
"You mean," said Elizabeth, "that you have never thought of living anywhere but here?"
"Never considered anywhere else—not once in all these years." He put up a finger, put his nose against his nose, and winked at us, "Of course, I never hid this thought, so when Danezhuang sold At that time, I was the first and only one who came to the door."
"It seems that you are really someone who won't give up an idea easily." Xio's voice was harsh.
Raymond laughed and said: "Idea? In fact, I was fascinated by it. I have been to many places in the past few years, but no matter how beautiful and comfortable the places I have been, in my heart, they are not as good as the edge of the woods." The house I lived in was surrounded by mountains and rivers. One day, I said to myself, when the journey is over, I will come here and cultivate my heart like Candide.”
He absently patted the poodle's head, looked around contentedly, and said, "And now, here I am."
he came.Indeed, it did not take long for the effect of his presence on Hilltop to be felt.Moreover, since the hilltop villa is completely the projection of Hugh, it can also be said that Hugh is undergoing obvious changes.He grew restless and with an unprecedented, almost defiant confidence.The gentle good nature is still there of course - like the pride, it's part of him - it's just been a little harder to show it lately.He reminded me of the imaginary enemy I conceived out of thin air, and the best way is to live in peace with it.
Obviously, Raymond is that imaginary enemy, and he sometimes seems to enjoy this role.For Hugh, the solution to this situation should have been very simple, staying in his own house and cultivating his heart, gluing photo albums, or doing whatever retirement should do.It was clear, though, that Raymond also found it difficult.He always picks strange times to visit the villa on the top of the hill, and Hugh is the same. He goes to Dane Manor when he has nothing to do, stays for a long time, and talks about topics that both of them hate.
What both of them have to understand is that their personalities are deeply at odds.The simplest and at the same time the most reasonable solution is to stay away from each other.But they are like positive and negative poles that attract each other. When the contradictions are so strong that they are in the same room, you can see the exciting sparks.
Whatever the subject, they quarreled violently: Hugh armed with mighty confidence, while Raymond briskly swung his longsword, trying to find cracks in his enemy's armor.Not being able to take advantage of it must have made Raymond very depressed. Similarly, like all paranoids who like to delve into the motives and reasons, Hugh's single-minded approach in disregard of principles is bound to make Raymond angry.
He frankly told Xio his dissatisfaction. "You look like you lived in the Middle Ages," he said, "but the most important thing men have learned from everything since then is that nothing is so simple that it can't be solved with a snap of the fingers." .I really hope that one day you will be caught in a real dilemma and face an unsolvable problem, so that you will be enlightened. That moment will teach you more than your own imaginary silver bullet.”
And Hugh's grim response only made the situation worse. "It seems to me that a man who has enough intelligence and courage and knows how to use them could never put himself in this dilemma."
This passage may be a prelude to the troubles that follow, or it may be because Raymond is extremely innocent and reasonable.In conclusion, whatever the cause, the consequences are dangerous and inevitable.
It all started at noon one day when Raymond gave us a detailed description of one of his plans.He who had already moved into Danenzhuang realized that the house was too big and majestic. “It’s like a museum,” he describes it. “I feel like a ghost in it, lost in endless corridors.”
The garden also needs some work.Majestic as those old trees were, in Raymond's words, there were just too many of them. "It's no exaggeration," he said, "there are so many trees that I can't see the river, and I've come to see the running water."
He's going to make a drastic change.Both sides of the house were to be demolished, and a group of trees were cut down to leave a wide open space leading to the river, so that the whole place would be completely new.It would no longer look like a museum, but the perfect home he had dreamed of for years.
At first, Hugh just slumped in his chair listlessly.However, as Raymond vividly described the appearance of Dane Village after the reconstruction bit by bit, Hugh slowly sat up straight, his posture was as stiff as a cavalryman sitting on a horse.He pursed his lips tightly, his face flushed red, and he clenched and loosened his hands regularly, maintaining a rigid frequency.Unless a miracle happened at this time, a complete emotional outburst was inevitable, but the miracle did not happen.I could see from Elizabeth's expression that she, too, had a premonition of what was going to happen, but was just as helpless as I was.When Raymond happily painted the last stroke of the ideal picture and asked triumphantly, "Okay, that's it, what do you think?", Xio couldn't control it anymore.
He leaned forward thoughtfully and said, "Do you really want to know my opinion?"
"Okay, Hugh," Elizabeth warned in time, "please, Hugh—"
Hugh ignored them.
"Do you really want to know?" he pressed.
Raymond frowned. "certainly."
"Then I'll tell you," Hugh said, before taking a deep breath, "I think only a deviant bastard could conceive of the atrocities you speak of. I think you're the kind of person who takes pleasure in destroying classics .You would turn the whole world upside down if you could."
"What did you say?" Raymond asked back, now pale and angry, "I think you confuse change with destruction. You have to understand that I don't want to destroy anything, I just want to make some necessary repairs .”
"Necessary?" Hugh laughed. "Uprooting a tree that's been standing there for centuries? Taking down part of a rock-solid house? I call that an act of vandalism."
"I don't understand, broaden your horizons, fix it—"
"I have no intention of arguing with you," interrupted Hugh, "I tell you frankly that you have no right to destroy that property!"
At this moment, both of them stood up, and stood facing each other aggressively.It was only my belief that Hugh was unlikely to resort to violence, and the fact that Raymond was calm enough not to lose control suddenly, that kept me from panicking so much.This tense moment was miraculously fleeting.Raymond pouted suddenly as if amused, and looked at Xio politely.
"I see," he said, "I was too stupid to understand. The property, when I said it was like a museum, I was right, and I was just a caretaker. Keeper of history , or rather, the custodian of the ruins."
He smiled and shook his head. "But I'm afraid I'm not a good fit for the role. I've left the glory in the past, really, I value the present more. So I'll implement my plan and hopefully it won't affect our friendship."
I still remember the next day when I left and came back to the city to spend that hot long week at my desk thinking in my head: Raymond will take care of this and nothing more will happen It's messed up.So when I got a call from Elizabeth over the weekend, I wasn't prepared for it.
Terrible, she said.The matter originated from the debate about Dane Zhuang, but now it has developed to a very bad point.She asked me if I could come to Hilltop the next day, which was fine of course.She said she had a plan that would fix the problem, and that all it took was for me to go and be her back.Since I'm one of the few people who Hugh listens to, she's on me.
"What am I to do?" I asked, and I didn't like the idea of it. "As for Hugh taking my advice, don't you think you're exaggerating a little, Elizabeth? I don't see that he meant me to give him advice."
"If this hurts you—"
"Not that," I retorted, "I just don't want to get involved in it. Hugh can handle her own business."
"Perhaps too capable."
"What's the meaning?"
"Oh, I can't explain it on the phone," she lamented, "and I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. If you've got the slightest brother-sister bond left, take the morning train tomorrow, dear." Here. Believe me, it's very dire."
I went over on an early train and was in bad shape.My imagination can magnify a small incident into a worldwide disaster, and when I arrived at the villa, everything was ready.
However, at least on the surface, all is calm.Hugh welcomed me warmly, and Elizabeth was very happy, and we shared a lunch and chatted cordially for a long time, without mentioning a word about Raymond or Dane Chong.I didn't mention the phone call from Elizabeth, but the anger in me only built up until I was alone with her.
"Now," I said, "I'd like to hear your explanation. What am I here for? I don't see anything wrong so far, and I need you to give me a good explanation of that call and what happened next. thing."
"No problem." She said calmly. "You'll find out. Come with me."
She led me across the garden, past the stables and the outbuildings.When she was almost on the path beyond the poplar grove, she suddenly said, "Did you notice anything strange when you came by car?"
"No."
"I suppose so. The driveway is too far from here, but now you have a chance to see it for yourself."
I saw.A chair was placed abruptly in the middle of the path, and a strong man was sitting on it, quietly reading a magazine.I recognized the strong man at a glance. He was one of Hugh's grooms.He looks like he's been sitting here for a long time, and intends to stay longer.I figured out what he was doing in a split second, but Elizabeth didn't give me a chance to use my deductive skills.Seeing us approaching, the burly man stood up and grinned at us.
"William," said Elizabeth, "will you tell my brother what Mr. Lochier has ordered you to do?"
"Of course," said the brawny man with a pleasant smile, "Mr. Lochier told us that someone must sit here at all times and order any truck to stop if it sees any trucks going to Dane Village with construction tools or anything like that. , U-turn immediately. We just tell the drivers that this is private land and they are trespassing. If they dare to lift a finger, we will directly call the police. That's all."
"Did a truck come by?" Elizabeth asked the question for me.
The strong man looked surprised. "What's the matter, Mrs. Lochier? Don't you know," he said, "there were several cars that came the first day, but then they disappeared. It's no big deal." He explained to me, "No driver wants to talk to Trespassing comes together."
I smacked my forehead hard as we left the trail. "Unbelievable!" I said, "Hugh knows he can't do this. This road is the only way to Dane Village. It has been used as a public property for so many years. Besides, there is no such thing as a private land on the road!"
Elizabeth nodded. "Raymond said the same thing to Hugh a few days ago. He came running aggressively, and the two of them almost had a quarrel. When Raymond said he was going to take Hugh to court, Hugh replied that he would like to spend his life. It was all about this lawsuit. But it wasn't the worst. At the end Raymond said, 'You know, violence just begets violence.' I've been worrying about this every minute since. The outbreak of war. See? That man in the middle of the road is an open provocation, scaring me to death."
I can understand, and the more I think about it, the more dangerous it becomes.
"But I have a plan," said Elizabeth eagerly, "and that's why I insisted on calling you. I'm going to have a dinner tonight, a small informal dinner. Sit down and have a quiet chat." .There's you, Dr. Venant—Hugh is very fond of you both—and," she hesitated, "Raymond."
"No!" I said. "Will he come?"
"I visited him yesterday and had a long talk with him. I said all I could say - neighbors should sit down and seek understanding, and brotherhood and all - oh, it does sound too sentimental, a bit Disgusting, but it worked. He said he would come."
I have a hunch. "Does Hugh know about this?"
"Dinner? Yes."
"I mean Raymond will come to this."
"No, he doesn't know." She shot back defiantly when she saw me looking at her seriously, "something had to be done, so I did, that's all! Better sit around and wait for God knows what happens?"
I couldn't be sure of Hugh's attitude until we were all sitting around the dinner table in the evening.When Raymond entered, Hugh was obviously taken aback, but he only glanced at Elizabeth meaningfully, subtly hiding his inner feelings.He introduces each other politely, participates in the chat with energy, and plays the role of host throughout.
Ironically, it was Dr. Venant's presence that derailed Elizabeth's plans and even sparked a catastrophe.He was a surgeon of great repute, stocky, gray-haired, with a violent nature that suited him well.Regardless of his social status, in front of Raymond, Dr. Venant was like a student meeting his mentor, and after a while the two became intimate.
The veil of being a good host begins to slip when Hugh discovers that Raymond is the center of attention at the dinner party and he is not.At the same time, the fatal flaw in Elizabeth's plan is also faintly revealed.At this time, the guests were discussing the topic of dog training enthusiastically, and made jokes about "a fox pretends to be a tiger", but Hugh didn't participate.Add to that the fact that he had always regarded the doctor as his closest friend, and I sensed unmistakably that jealousy of friendship.The most valuable friendship is violated by the person you don't like the most in the world! ——In short, just imagining that I am in Hugh's position and watching Raymond on the opposite side talking happily and talking like no one else, I feel that something is not good.
Opportunity arose when Raymond was delving into the various tools used to escape the magic.Too many to count, he said, and just about anything that comes handy can be a tool.Wire, sheet metal, even a scrap of paper—he's used them all.
"But out of so many things," he said suddenly, "there's only one thing I'd risk my life on. It's a strange thing that it can't be seen, and it can't be held in the hand—in fact, many people don't even have the ability to do it." stuff. But I use it the most and never miss it."
The doctor leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "That is--?"
"It's the knowledge of man, my friend. Or the knowledge of human nature. It's as vital to me as the scalpel in your hand."
"Oh?" Xio said, his voice was so sharp that everyone's eyes turned to him instantly, "You talk about the little tricks in your hands like psychology."
"Perhaps." I saw Raymond observing and weighing Hugh. "Actually, there is no big secret in it. My profession - I prefer to call it art - is just an art of misleading, I am one of many practitioners."
"As far as I know, there aren't many escape masters left today," the doctor commented.
"That's right," said Raymond, "but you should notice that I prefer to mislead. There are countless escape masters and magicians who practice the most unique techniques, but those who are trapped in the prison of politics, or advertisers, What's the salesman going to do?" He resumed his habitual gesture—putting up a finger to rub the wing of his nose, and blinking, "I think, I'm afraid they all use my art in their own field."
The doctor smiled and said, "Since you didn't mention the medical field, I'll take the initiative to agree." He continued, "But I still want to know how to apply the understanding of human beings to your professional field?"
"Well," said Raymond, "you have to judge a man carefully. If you can spot a weakness in him, you can make a false hypothesis and he'll accept it without question. Once he's convinced that False assumptions, the rest is simple. Next, the other party will only see what the magician wants him to see, or vote for a designated politician, or listen to advertisements to buy goods." He shrugged, " That's what happened."
"Really?" said Hugh, "and what do you do if you meet someone smart enough to ignore your assumptions at all? How do you continue your game? Or go ahead and sell the comb." To the monk?"
"That's not what you said, Hugh." The doctor said, "This gentleman is expressing his point of view, and you don't need to criticize."
"Perhaps you're right," said Hugh, still keeping his eyes on Raymond. "I find he has a lot of interesting little ideas, and I wonder if he'd like to put them into practice."
Raymond picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth lightly, then carefully placed the napkin in front of him. "In short," said Raymond, turning to Hugh, "you want me to show off my art briefly."
"Not really," Hugh said. "I don't want to see silly tricks like changing cigarettes or making rabbits out of hats. I want to see really good ones."
"Fantastic," Raymond repeated echoing.He looked around the house, then turned to Hugh, pointing to the huge oak door that separated the living room from the dining room - we were on the other side of the door until dinner began.
"That door isn't locked, is it?"
"Well," Xio replied, "it's not locked, that door has been unlocked."
"But there should be a key?"
Hugh took out the key ring, and after some effort finally picked out a heavy old-fashioned key. "Of course, the same one you use in the pantry." He was involuntarily intrigued.
"Great. No, don't give it to me, give it to the doctor. I suppose you trust the doctor's character, don't you?"
"Yes," Hugh said coldly, "I believe him."
"Very well. Now, doctor, would you please go over and lock that door."
Hearing this, the doctor walked to the door with firm steps, put the key in the lock, and turned it around.The click of the latch broke the silence of the room, and it sounded extraordinarily loud.After finishing this, the doctor returned to the table with the key, and Raymond added: "You have to make sure that the key never leaves your hand, and you can't lose it anyway." He warned.
"Now," said Raymond, "is the last step, and I go to the door, and run my napkin across the lock --" the napkin symbolically brushes the keyhole, " -- click, the door opens !"
The doctor went over, grabbed the doorknob, turned it in disbelief, and watched in horror as the door swung open silently.
"Oh, that's shocking!" he said.
"How did you do that?" Elizabeth laughed. "The hypothetical scenario was established so easily."
Only Hugh responded to this with heartfelt anger. "Yes," he demanded, "how did you do it? What did you do?"
"Me?" Raymond asked reproachfully, smiling at us and clearly enjoying it. "You did all of this. I just used a little knowledge of human character to force you to do the same." I do what I say."
I said, "I can guess a little bit. The door was tampered with beforehand. The doctor didn't lock the door when he thought he locked it. In fact, he opened the door. Is this the correct answer?"
Raymond nodded. "Exactly. That door was locked in advance. I locked it myself, because I thought about it a little bit beforehand, and I guess there will be some small challenges tonight. I just need to be the last one to come in and use this." He held up a Hand, let's look at the metal sheet in the palm of the hand, "an ordinary skeleton key, but it is enough for an old-fashioned door lock with simple construction."
Asked for a moment, Raymond's expression was serious, but he regained clarity immediately. “是我们的主人提出这项虚假假设的，但他的门是锁着的。他一向自信满满，以至于根本没考虑去验证一下这么明显的事。医生也一样，充满自信，因此掉入了同样的陷阱。结果就正如你们所见，我只冒了一点儿险，就把不可能变成了可能。”
“我同意你说的。”医生心有不甘地说，“尽管我不得不承认我有责任。”说完，他顺手把钥匙扔到桌子的另一边，休一动未动，任凭钥匙落在面前。“行了，休，不管你喜不喜欢，都必须承认这个男人证明了他的观点。”
“是吗？”休轻声问道。这时他的脸上浮现出一丝笑意，很显然正有什么念头在他的脑海里转来转去。
“哦，行了，伙计，”医生有点儿不耐烦，“你也看到了，你自己很清楚。”
“没错，亲爱的。”伊丽莎白也附和道。
我想她一定是突然发现良机，可以将对话引至她的目标——一次和平的聚会。但我真想告诉她，她选择这时真是大错特错。休的眼神里有一种我不喜欢的意味——一种不常出现在他身上的暖昧表情。一般情况下，当他真的怒不可遏时，会如暴风雨般彻底爆发，而当电闪雷鸣都过去以后，他会真诚地道歉。但此时他的情绪稍有不同，隐约可见的麻木感让我提高了警惕。
他一只胳膊绕在椅背上，另一只搭着桌子，半坐半靠着，眼睛死死地盯着雷蒙德。“我可能算少数派，”他说道，“但我必须抱歉地说，你的小把戏让我很失望。倒不是因为不够聪明——好吧，我承认——只是……这仅仅能证明你是个不错的锁匠。”
“呦，酸葡萄忍不住了。”医生揶揄道。
休摇了摇头。“不，我只是觉得，对于手里拿着钥匙的人来说，能打开一把锁并没有什么稀奇的。基于我们这位朋友的名声，我想他应该拿出些更厉害的。”
雷蒙德做了个鬼脸，说道：“我该在表演之前就事先提醒大家，节目可能会很无聊，并提前为此道歉。”
“哦。如果只是一场表演，我不会埋怨什么的。不过，作为一项测试——”
“一项测试？”
“没错，有些与众不同。直说了吧，一扇没有锁也没有钥匙能做手脚的门。虽然用指尖轻轻一碰就能打开，但事实上你永远也不可能打开它。你觉得怎么样？”
雷蒙德眯起眼睛，若有所思，似乎正在想象那样一个场景。“听起来非常有趣，”最终他说道，“再详细说说。”
“不。”休说道。他声音里急不可待的情绪让我意识到，他正等着说出这句话，“我能做得比说的更好，我带你去看。”
他突然鲁莽地站了起来，我们也跟着起身——除了伊丽莎白。当我问她要不要一起去时，她摇了摇头，绝望地看着我们离开了屋子。
休点亮手电筒时我才发现，我们已经身处地下室。我之前从来没到过这里。有几次，我曾下来帮忙挑选红酒，但现在我们已经走过酒窖，来到更里面的一间光线昏暗的长条形密室里。踩在粗糙岩石上的脚步声响亮而刺耳，四周的墙壁上布满水渍，将温暖的夜晚隔离在外。我能感受到屋内湿冷的气息已沁入胸腔，不禁起了一身鸡皮疙瘩。当听到医生颤抖而空洞的声音说着“这里就是亚特兰蒂斯之墓”时，我知道并非只有我有这种感觉，并因此稍微松了一口气。
我们站在这间密室的最里面，对于眼前所见，我能做出的最好的描述就是：在最里面的墙角有一个石头柜子，一直从地面至屋顶。差不多四英尺宽，高不到八英尺，此时门开着，能看到里面是一团冷漠的漆黑。休把手伸进黑暗中，将一扇沉重的木门关好。
“就是这个，”他突然说道，“结实的原木，四英寸厚，与门框严丝合缝，坚不可摧。这东西存在一百年了，没有锁，没有门闩。两边各有一个轴承环作为门把手。”他轻轻推了一下，门就悄无声息地滑开了，“看见没？内部合叶咬合得十分完美，让它像根羽毛一样轻盈。”
“可是，这是干什么用的？”我问道，“做这么个东西必然有原因。”
休发出短促的笑声。“确实。很久以前，若有哪个仆人犯了错误——我认为随意谈论洛奇耶家族祖先的错误也不为过——就会被关进这里反省。由于里面的空气最多只能维持几个小时，因此被关在里面的人即便没有悔意，也会马上驯服。”
“那这扇门呢？”医生小心翼翼地发问，“这扇给人留下深刻印象的门，刚才你一碰就打开了，就能提供足够的空气，要如何防止仆人自己把它打开？”
“你们看。”休说着举起手电筒照进这间小牢房，我们全都围在他身后向内窥探。手电光照亮里面的石柜，聚焦在一小段沉甸甸的金属链上，链子末端挂在比头顶稍高一点的U形环上。
“我明白了。”雷蒙德说道，这是自从我们离开餐厅他第一次开口说话。“真是巧妙啊！若有人背靠墙壁、面朝门站在里面，这个U形环就差不多卡在他的脖子位置，由于它很结实，可以用锤子调整到正好卡着人的脖子。门关上后，他就要在这个无形的拷问台上挣扎几个小时，这期间他会不断努力用脚去够门上的链子，不过肯定够不到。如果他能侥幸成功，就能摆脱金属颈环，但还是要等待有人从外面把门打开。”
“我的天，”医生说道，“你的话让我感觉自己就在里面。”
雷蒙德虚弱地笑了笑。“我曾经经历过许多类似的情况，相信我，现实总比最差的想象还要糟糕那么一点。恐惧和惊慌都是在所难免的，心脏疯狂地跳动，仿佛要从胸腔里跳出来了，同时在呼吸的空当，全身就已被冷汗浸湿了。这时，就需要你控制住自己，消除一切软弱，记住至今为止学到的所有本领。否则——！”他举起手在脖子上画了一道，“在这类装置里不幸丧生的牺牲者极其常见，”他悲伤地总结道，“既然缺乏自救所必需的勇气和能力，他就只能等死了。”
“但你从未失手。”休道。
“我没道理失手。”
“你的意思是，”藏在声音背后的迫切之情正蠢蠢欲动，比之前还要强烈，“若你是两百年前处于同等境地的人，就一定能打开这扇门？”
挑战的意味太明显了，不容忽视。雷蒙德在回答之前一言不发地站了好长时间，表情由于沉思而有些变形。
“是的，”他说，“当然不会太简单——越简单的机关实际上越难处理——但确实可以解决。”
“你觉得需要多少时间？”
“最多一个小时。”
休费了好大的劲终于绕到这一点上了，此时他慢悠悠、极其享受地问出这个问题。“想打个赌吗？”
“打住，等一下，”医生插嘴道，“这个游戏我从一开始就不太喜欢。”
“我建议游戏暂停，咱们去喝一杯，”我也加入道，“说笑归说笑，咱们最终都会死于肺炎，而今天发生在这里的一切不过是一个玩笑。”
但休和雷蒙德都没听进去半个字，互相凝视着彼此——休焦急又兴奋地等待着回答，雷蒙德正深思熟虑——直到雷蒙德开口问：“你想赌什么？”
“这样，如果你输了，就在一个月内从戴恩庄搬出去，并且把它卖给我。”
“那如果我赢了呢？”
让休接受这个假设可不简单，但最终他还是说了出来。“那就是我出局。如果你不想买下山顶别墅，我会把它卖给第一个出价的买家。”
任何一位了解休的人听到从他嘴里说出这番话，都觉得不可思议，一时之间都不知该说些什么。最先反应过来的是医生。
“这不是你一个人说了算的事，休，”他提醒道，“你已经结婚了，必须考虑到伊丽莎白的感受。”
“赌不赌？”休问雷蒙德，“想进去试试吗？”
“在回答你的问题之前，我想先声明一件事。”雷蒙德顿了一下，接着慢慢地说道，“在谈及我退休的原因时，我恐怕给你们留下了错误的印象——全因为那虚伪的骄傲——因为无聊，对此失去兴趣。但其实这并不是全部，事实上，几年前我被迫去看了一次医生，医生听了听我的心脏，从那之后我的心脏就突然变成这世上最重要的东西。我告诉你这些是因为，作为一种解决邻里矛盾的方法，你提出的挑战新颖而有趣，我被深深地吸引了，但我必须考虑我的身体因素。”
“前一秒种你还健健康康的。”休的声音十分刺耳。
“可能没有你希望的那么健康，我的朋友。”
“换句话说，”休挖苦道，“因为这里没有好用的搭档，口袋里没有能帮你逃脱的钥匙，你没法让别人相信什么根本不存在的东西！这么一来，你该认输了吧。”
雷蒙德加强了语气。“你说的这些我都无法认同。解决这个问题所需的工具我都带着，相信我，它们足够了。”
休大笑起来，笑声传入我们身后的走廊，分散为细小的回声。我认定，就是这个声音——露骨的轻蔑，随着笑声在我们四周的墙与墙之间回荡——将雷蒙德推入那间牢房。
休挥舞着沉重的短柄大锤，将U形环锁紧雷蒙德的脖子，每一击都下手极重，且没有停下的意思，直到U形环末端都抵到了墙上。休停止敲打时，我看到手表表盘上的数字闪着的镭光，是雷蒙德在黑暗中看表。
“现在是十一点，”他冷静地说道，“午夜之前我将打开门，不管用什么方法。这是条件，而诸位绅士是证人。”
接着门就关上了，踱步也开始了。
我们三个踱来踱去，像在研究石头地板上可能存在的几何图形。医生步速急躁，透着不耐烦，我则追随着休紧张的大步子。愚蠢地、毫无意义地来回走着，踩着彼此的影子，靠数过去了多少秒估算时间，却又都不好意思第一个看表。
一开始，小牢房里还不断传出拨来拨去的金属摩擦声，以及细碎的脚步声。每隔一段时间，摆弄金属链的叮当声便清晰可闻，然后是一段长时间的寂静，接着又是同样的声音。声音再次消失时，我再也抑制不住自己了。我举起手腕，借着头顶灯泡发出的昏黄光线看了看表，沮丧地发现只过去了二十分钟。
自我开了先河，我们都不再犹豫，不断查看手表，虽说没什么用，但至少没那么难熬。我无意中看到医生正动作轻巧地给手表上发条，一小圈一小圈转着，没过几分钟，我又看到他在上发条，不过马上沮丧地垂下手，想起才刚上过发条。休则一直把表举在眼前，好像如此专心地看表能拉动指针，让慢悠悠的时间过得快一点似的。
三十分钟过去了。四十。四十五。
我记得当我再一次看向手表，发现还有不到十五分钟时，我很怀疑自己能不能挨过这短短的十五分钟。周围的寒冷气息已经深深侵入我的身体，我甚至觉得有些疼。因此当我看到休的脸上汗涔涔的，汗珠汇集在一起滚落脸颊时，我非常震惊。
就在我不可思议地盯着休时，事情发生了。痛苦的哀号穿透紧闭的牢房和石墙，仿佛从很远方的地方传来，其中的意思更是吓得我们浑身颤抖。
“医生！”哀号声叫道，“空气！”
是雷蒙德的声音，但经过厚厚的墙壁，变得又尖又细。那声音清楚无误地传达出纯粹的恐惧，哀求的话语更加深了恐惧的程度。
“空气！”哀号变为尖叫。即便尾音拖得很长，却还是像泡沫破碎、溶解于空气中一般消失了。
只剩下寂静。
我们一起冲到门边，不过休动作最快，他背靠着门，挡在中间。一只手高举着刚才为雷蒙德固定颈环时用的大锤。
“站着别动！”他大叫道，“不准靠近，我警告你们！”
休所表现出的愤怒，加上武器的威慑力，把我和医生吓得不敢轻举妄动。
“休，”医生恳求道，“我知道你在想什么，但现在请你忘掉那些吧，赌局结束了，打开这扇门是你应尽的责任。我向你保证。”
“是吗？你还记得胜负的条件吗，医生？他要把门在一个小时内打开——不管用什么方法！明白了吗？他在玩弄你们，假装自己快死了，这样你们就会把门打开，帮他赢下这场赌局。但这是我和他之间的赌局，与你们无关，我说话算话！”
我仔细观察他说话的方式，发现除了声音因紧张而颤抖以外，他把自己控制得非常好，这无疑使整件事更加糟糕了。
“你怎么知道他是假装的？”我质询道，“他刚说他患有心脏病，每次面对这类状况都必须同恐慌斗争，并能感受到心脏的压力。你有什么权利拿他的性命打赌？”
“该死的，难道你没发现，在我说打赌之前他从没提过心脏病吗？你没看出来这正是他设下的陷阱，就像刚才他进餐厅前特意锁上了门一样吗！但这一次，没人帮他出来——没人！”
“听我说，”医生的声音干脆得像鞭子挥过，“你承不承认有那么一丝可能，被关在里面的男人会死，或者说已经快死了？”
“确实有可能——什么事都有可能。”
“我不是在和你分析事情的可能性！我告诉你，如果这个男人正身处险境，那么每一秒对他来说都生死攸关，而你这么做是在浪费他获救的机会。而如果这件事最终演变为一起诉讼案，上帝啊，我一定会坐在证人席，指证是你杀了他！这是你所希望的吗？”
休垂下头，但仍紧紧地高举着锤子。我能听见粗重的呼吸声，当他再次抬起头，脸色已变得苍白而憔悴。每一道惨白的汗渍都透露出不知该如何抉择的痛苦。
这一刻，我突然明白那天雷蒙德对休说的话——只有身处真正的两难境地才能获得启示。一个人只有在不得不深入地审视自己时，才能获得启示，从而真正地了解自己。而休，终于到了这一步。
在这间阴暗的地下室里，伴随着越来越响亮的冷酷的求助声，我们等着他作出抉择。
Notes:
Notes: