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第25章 法官的房子10（第1页）

第25章法官的房子（10）

&hegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairsattheJudgeinhisrobesofsdermihhisbalefuleyesglaringvindictively，ariumphoe，cruelmouth，asheliftedwithhishandsablacksoasiftheblfromhisheart，asonedoesisedsuspeherewasasingingihout，hecouldheartheroarandhowlofthetempest，andthroughit，sweptoorm，camethestrikingofmidnightbythegreatthemarketplace。Hestoodforaspaethatseemedtohimeillasastatue，andwithwide-open，horror-struckeyes，breathless。AstheclockstruileoftriumphontheJudge'sfasified，arokeofmidheblahishead。

SlowlyaheJudgerosefromhisdpickedupthepieceoftheropeofthealarmbellwhithefloor，drewitthroughhishandsasifheeoudtheelybegantok，fashioningitintoahishetightehhisfoot，pullinghardatittillhewassatisfiedandthenmakingarun，whichheheldinhishaomovealoableoesidetoMalson，keepinghiseyesonhimuntilhehadpassedhim，whenwithaquieoodinfrontofthedoor。Malsoofeelthatheed，ahinkofwhatheshoulddo。TherewassomefasintheJudge'seyes，whievertookoffhim，andhehad，perforce，tolook。HesawtheJudgeapproach—stillkeepiweenhimandthedoor—ahehrowittowardshimasiftoehagreatefforthemadeaquienttooneside，andsawtheropefallbesidehim，ariketheoakenflaintheJudgeraisedtheriedtoensnarehim，everkeepinghisbalefuleyesfixedonhim，aimebyamightyeffortthestudentjustma。SothiswentonformaheJudgeseemingneverdisordisposedatfailure，butplayingasacatdoeswithamouse。Atleastindespair，whichhadreacheditsclimax，Malsoncastaqui。Thelampseemedtohaveblazedup，andtherewasafairlygoodlightithemanyrat-holesandinthediesofthewaiherats'eyes;andthisaspect，thaturelyphysical，gavehimagleamoffort。Helookedaroundandsaeofthegreatalarmbellwasladenwithrats。Everyinchofitwascoveredwiththem;andmoreandmthroughthesmallcircularholeinthegwheemerged，sothatwiththeirweightthebellwasbeginningtos>

Hark!Ithadswayedtilltheclapperhadtouchedthebell。Thesoundwasbutatihebellwasoosway，anditwouldincrease。

AtthesoundtheJudge，whohadbeenkeepinghiseyesfixedonMalson，lookedup，andascowlofdiaboligeroverspreadhisface。Hiseyesfairlyglowedlikehotdhestampedhisfootwithasouomakethehouseshake。Adreadfulpealofthunderbrokeoverheadasheraisedtheropeagain，whilsttheratskeptrunningupanddowhaiime，ihrowingit，hedrewclosetohisvidheldopenthenooseasheapproached。AshecamecloserthereseemedsomethingparalyzinginhisverypresendMalsidasacorpse。HefelttheJudge'sigerstouchhisthroatasheadjustedtherope。Theeheakingtherigidformofthestudentinhisarms，carriedhimoveraandingintheoakdsteppingupbesidehim，puthishandupandcaughttheendoftheseofthealarmbell。Asheraisedhishasfledsqueaking，ahroughtheholeiakihenoosewhialson'stothehanging-bellrope，andthendesgpulledawaythechair。

&healarmbelloftheJudge'sHousebegantosoundabled。Lightsandtorchesofvariouskindsappeared，andsoocrowdwashurryiheyknockedloudlyatthedoor，buttherely。Theinthedoor，ahegreatdining-room，thedoctoratthehead。

&heendoftheropeofthegreatalarmbellhungthebodyofthestudent，andoheJudgeiurewasamalignantsmile。