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The Night Horseman by Max Brand, CHAPTER XVIII. DOCTOR BYRNE ANALYSES

CHAPTER XVIII. DOCTOR BYRNE ANALYSES

In the room which had been assigned to his use Doctor Randall Byrne sat down to an unfinished letter and began to write.

"Dinner has interrupted me, my dear Loughburne. I have dined opposite Miss Cumberland—only the two of us at a great table—with a wide silence around us—and the Chinese cook padding to and fro from the kitchen. Have I told you of that room? No, I believe that I have made no more than casual mention of my environment here, for reasons which are patent. But to-night I wished that you might look in upon the scene. Along the walls hang a rope with which Mr. Cumberland won a roping and tieing contest in his youth—a feat upon which he prides himself highly; at another place hang the six-shooters of a notorious desperado, taken from his dead body; there is the sombrero of a Mexican guerilla chief beside the picture of a prize bull, and an oil painting of Mr. Cumberland at middle age adjoins an immense calendar on which is portrayed the head of a girl in bright colours—a creature with amazing quantities of straw-coloured hair. The table itself is of such size that it is said all the guests at a round-up—a festival of note in these barbaric regions—can be easily seated around it. On one side of this table I sat—and on the other side sat the girl, as far away as if an entire room had separated us.

"Before going down to the meal I had laid aside my glasses, for I have observed that spectacles, though often beneficial to the sight, are not always equally commendable in the opinion of women; and it should assuredly be one's endeavour to become agreeable to those about us. "Be it noted at this point, my dear Loughburne, that I have observed peculiar properties in the eyes of Miss Cumberland. Those of all other humans and animals that have fallen under my observance were remarkable only for their use in seeing, whereas the eyes of Miss Cumberland seem peculiarly designed to be seen . This quality I attribute to the following properties of the said eyes. First, they are in size well beyond the ordinary. Secondly, they are of a colour restful to behold. It is, indeed, the colour of the deep, blue evening sky into which one may stare for an incalculable distance.

"As I have said, then, I noted a glow in these eyes, though they were so immediately lowered that I could not be sure. I felt, however, an extraordinary warmth beneath my collar, the suffusion of blood passing swiftly towards my forehead. I inquired if she had smiled and for what reason; whereat she immediately assured me that she had not, and smiled while making the assurance.

"I was now possessed of an unusual agitation, augmented by the manner in which Miss Cumberland looked at me out of twinkling but not unkindly eyes. What could have caused this perturbation I leave to your scientific keenness in analysis.

"I discovered an amazing desire to sing, which indecorous impulse I, of course, immediately inhibited and transferred the energy into conversation. "'The weather,' said I. 'has been uncommonly delightful to-day.' "I observed that Miss Cumberland greeted this sentence with another smile. "Presently she remarked: 'It has seemed a bit windy to me.' "I recalled that it is polite to agree with ladies and instantly subjoined with the greatest presence of mind: 'Quite right! A most abominably stormy day!' "At this I was astonished to be greeted by another burst of laughter, even more pronounced than the others. "'Doctor Byrne,' she said, 'you are absolutely unique.' "'It is a point,' I said earnestly, 'which I shall immediately set about to change.' "At this she raised both hands in a gesture of protest, so that I could observe her eyes shining behind the slender, brown fingers—observe, Loughburne, that white skin is falsely considered a thing of beauty in women—and she remarked, still laughing: 'Indeed, you must not change!' "I replied with an adroit change of front: 'Certainly not.' "For some mysterious reason the girl was again convulsed and broke off her laughter to cry in a voice of music which still tingles through me: 'Doctor Byrne, you are delightful!' "I should gladly have heard her say more upon this point, but it being one which I could not gracefully dispute with her, and being unwilling that she should lapse into one of her usual silences, I ventured to change the subject from myself to her. "'Miss Cumberland,' I said, 'I remark with much pleasure that the anxiety which has recently depressed you seems now in some measure lessened. I presume Mr. Daniels will be successful in his journey, though what the return of Mr. Daniels accompanied by Mr. Barry can accomplish, is, I confess, beyond my computation. Yet you are happier in the prospect of Mr. Barry's return?' "I asked this question with a falling heart, though I remain ignorant of the cause to which I can attribute my sudden depression. Still more mysterious was the delight which I felt when the girl shook her head slowly and answered: 'Even if he comes, it will mean nothing.' "I said: 'Then let us intercept him and send him back!' "She cried out, as if I had hurt her: 'No, no, no!' and twisted her fingers together in pain. She added at once: 'What of poor Dad?' "'Your father,' I confessed, 'had for the moment slipped my mind.' "It seemed to me, however, that it was not wholly on her father's account that she was grieved. She wished Mr. Barry to return, and yet she dreaded his coming. It was most mysterious. However, I had started Miss Cumberland thinking. She stopped eating and began to stare before her. Presently she said: 'It is strange that we don't hear from Buck. What can have held him so long?' "I regretted extremely that I had introduced the topic and cast about in my mind for another, but could not find one. I then expressed regret that I had revived her worries, but received in reply a smile in which there was no life: the very colour had died out from her cheeks. And she sat during the rest of the meal without speaking a word.

"Afterwards I went in with her to see Mr. Cumberland. His condition was not materially changed. The marvel of it grows upon me more and more. It is a freak which defies medical science. There lies a man at the point of dissolution. His body has died of old age, and yet the life principle remains. He does not eat—at least, the nourishment he takes is wholely negligible. But he still has energy. To be sure, he rarely moves about and his body remains practically inert. But we must never forget that the mind is a muscle and calls for continual rebuilding. And the mind of Mr. Cumberland is never inactive. It works ceaselessly. It will not permit him to sleep. For three days, now, as far as I can tell, he has not closed his eyes. It might be assumed that he is in a state of trance, but by a series of careful experiments, I have ascertained that he is constantly thinking in the most vigourous fashion.

"What does it mean? There is in the man a flame-like quality; something is burning in him every instant. But on what does the flame feed? I know that material cannot be created and that energy means dissolution of matter: but why does not the life of Joseph Cumberland dissolve?

"The subject possesses me. I dare not ponder it too steadily or my brain begins to whirl. I make no progress towards any reasonable solution. I only feel that I am living in the presence of an astounding mystery.

"Strange thoughts possess me. What is the fire that burns but does not consume Joe Cumberland? What is the thing in the wandering Dan Barry which Kate Cumberland fears and yet waits for? Why was it that Daniels trembled with dread when he started out to find a man who, by his own profession, he holds to be his best friend?

"You see how the mystery assumes shape? It is before me. It is in my hand. And yet I cannot grasp its elements.

"The story of a man, a horse, and a dog. What is the story?

"To-day I wandered about the great corrals and came to one which was bounded by a fence of extraordinary height. It was a small corral, but all the posts were of great size, and the rails were as large as ordinary posts. I inquired what strange beasts could be kept in such a pen, and the man-of-all-work of whom I asked replied: 'That's Satan's corral.' "I guessed at some odd story. 'The devil?' I cried, 'Do they fence the devil in a corral?' "'Oh, ay,' said the fellow, 'he's a devil, right enough. If we'd let him run with the other hosses he'd have cut 'em to ribbons. That's what kind of a devil he is!' "A story of a man, a horse, and a dog. I think I have seen the great chain which bound the dog. Was that the place where they kept the horse?

"And, if so, what bonds are used for the man? And what sort of man can he be? One of gigantic size, no doubt, to mate his horse and his dog. A fierce and intractable nature, for otherwise Kate Cumberland could not dread him. And yet a man of singular values, for all this place seems to wait for his return. I catch the fire of expectancy. It eats into my flesh. Dreams haunt me night and day. What will be the end?

"Now I am going down to see Mr. Cumberland again. I know what I shall see—the flickering of the fire behind his eyes. The lightning glances, the gentle, rare voice, the wasted face; and by him will be Kate Cumberland; and they both will seem to be listening, listening—for what?

"No more to-night. But, Loughburne, you should be here; I feel that the like of this has never been upon the earth.

"Byrne."

CHAPTER XVIII. DOCTOR BYRNE ANALYSES CAPÍTULO XVIII. DOUTOR BYRNE ANÁLISE ГЛАВА XVIII. ДОКТОР БАЙРН АНАЛИЗИРУЕТ

In the room which had been assigned to his use Doctor Randall Byrne sat down to an unfinished letter and began to write.

"Dinner has interrupted me, my dear Loughburne. "O jantar me interrompeu, meu caro Loughburne. I have dined opposite Miss Cumberland—only the two of us at a great table—with a wide silence around us—and the Chinese cook padding to and fro from the kitchen. Jantei em frente à srta. Cumberland - apenas nós duas em uma grande mesa - com um grande silêncio ao nosso redor - e o cozinheiro chinês andando de um lado para o outro da cozinha. Have I told you of that room? Já te falei desse quarto? No, I believe that I have made no more than casual mention of my environment here, for reasons which are patent. Não, creio que não fiz mais do que uma menção casual ao meu ambiente aqui, por razões que são patentes. But to-night I wished that you might look in upon the scene. Along the walls hang a rope with which Mr. Cumberland won a roping and tieing contest in his youth—a feat upon which he prides himself highly; at another place hang the six-shooters of a notorious desperado, taken from his dead body; there is the sombrero of a Mexican guerilla chief beside the picture of a prize bull, and an oil painting of Mr. Cumberland at middle age adjoins an immense calendar on which is portrayed the head of a girl in bright colours—a creature with amazing quantities of straw-coloured hair. Ao longo das paredes está pendurada uma corda com a qual o Sr. Cumberland ganhou um concurso de amarrar e amarrar em sua juventude - um feito do qual ele se orgulha muito; em outro lugar estão pendurados os seis revólveres de um notório desesperado, retirados de seu cadáver; há o sombreiro de um chefe de guerrilha mexicano ao lado da imagem de um touro premiado, e uma pintura a óleo do Sr. de cabelos cor de palha. The table itself is of such size that it is said all the guests at a round-up—a festival of note in these barbaric regions—can be easily seated around it. A mesa em si é de tal tamanho que se diz que todos os convidados em uma rodada - um festival de nota nessas regiões bárbaras - podem se sentar facilmente ao redor dela. On one side of this table I sat—and on the other side sat the girl, as far away as if an entire room had separated us.

"Before going down to the meal I had laid aside my glasses, for I have observed that spectacles, though often beneficial to the sight, are not always equally commendable in the opinion of women; and it should assuredly be one's endeavour to become agreeable to those about us. "Antes de descer para a refeição, eu havia deixado meus óculos de lado, pois observei que os óculos, embora muitas vezes benéficos para a visão, nem sempre são igualmente louváveis na opinião das mulheres; e certamente deve ser um esforço para se tornar agradável para as mulheres aqueles sobre nós. "Be it noted at this point, my dear Loughburne, that I have observed peculiar properties in the eyes of Miss Cumberland. "A esta altura, meu caro Loughburne, observei que observei propriedades peculiares nos olhos de Miss Cumberland. Those of all other humans and animals that have fallen under my observance were remarkable only for their use in seeing, whereas the eyes of Miss Cumberland seem peculiarly designed to be seen . Aqueles de todos os outros humanos e animais que caíram sob minha observância eram notáveis apenas por seu uso na visão, enquanto os olhos da srta. Cumberland parecem peculiarmente projetados para serem vistos. This quality I attribute to the following properties of the said eyes. Esta qualidade eu atribuo às seguintes propriedades dos ditos olhos. First, they are in size well beyond the ordinary. Primeiro, eles estão em tamanho muito além do comum. Secondly, they are of a colour restful to behold. Em segundo lugar, eles são de uma cor repousante de se ver. It is, indeed, the colour of the deep, blue evening sky into which one may stare for an incalculable distance.

"As I have said, then, I noted a glow in these eyes, though they were so immediately lowered that I could not be sure. "Como eu disse, notei um brilho nesses olhos, embora eles estivessem tão imediatamente abaixados que não pude ter certeza. I felt, however, an extraordinary warmth beneath my collar, the suffusion of blood passing swiftly towards my forehead. Senti, no entanto, um calor extraordinário sob o colarinho, o fluxo de sangue correndo rapidamente para minha testa. I inquired if she had smiled and for what reason; whereat she immediately assured me that she had not, and smiled while making the assurance. Perguntei se ela havia sorrido e por que motivo; ao que ela imediatamente me assegurou que não, e sorriu ao fazer a garantia.

"I was now possessed of an unusual agitation, augmented by the manner in which Miss Cumberland looked at me out of twinkling but not unkindly eyes. "Eu estava agora possuído de uma agitação incomum, aumentada pela maneira como Miss Cumberland me olhava com olhos brilhantes, mas não desagradáveis. What could have caused this perturbation I leave to your scientific keenness in analysis. O que poderia ter causado essa perturbação, deixo para sua agudeza científica na análise.

"I discovered an amazing desire to sing, which indecorous impulse I, of course, immediately inhibited and transferred the energy into conversation. "Descobri um desejo incrível de cantar, impulso indecoroso que, claro, inibi imediatamente e transferi a energia para a conversa. "'The weather,' said I. 'has been uncommonly delightful to-day.' 'tem sido extraordinariamente delicioso hoje.' "I observed that Miss Cumberland greeted this sentence with another smile. "Observei que a senhorita Cumberland cumprimentou essa frase com outro sorriso. "Presently she remarked: 'It has seemed a bit windy to me.' "Atualmente ela comentou: 'Pareceu um pouco ventoso para mim.' "I recalled that it is polite to agree with ladies and instantly subjoined with the greatest presence of mind: 'Quite right! "Lembrei-me de que é educado concordar com as damas e imediatamente submeti com a maior presença de espírito: 'Muito bem! A most abominably stormy day!' "At this I was astonished to be greeted by another burst of laughter, even more pronounced than the others. "Com isso, fiquei surpreso ao ser saudado por outra gargalhada, ainda mais pronunciada do que as outras. "'Doctor Byrne,' she said, 'you are absolutely unique.' "'It is a point,' I said earnestly, 'which I shall immediately set about to change.' “'É um ponto', eu disse com sinceridade, 'que vou começar a mudar imediatamente.' "At this she raised both hands in a gesture of protest, so that I could observe her eyes shining behind the slender, brown fingers—observe, Loughburne, that white skin is falsely considered a thing of beauty in women—and she remarked, still laughing: 'Indeed, you must not change!' "Nisso ela levantou as duas mãos em um gesto de protesto, para que eu pudesse observar seus olhos brilhando por trás dos dedos finos e castanhos - observe, Loughburne, que a pele branca é falsamente considerada uma coisa bela nas mulheres - e ela comentou, ainda rindo: 'Na verdade, você não deve mudar!' "I replied with an adroit change of front: 'Certainly not.' "Respondi com uma hábil mudança de fachada: 'Claro que não'. "For some mysterious reason the girl was again convulsed and broke off her laughter to cry in a voice of music which still tingles through me: 'Doctor Byrne, you are delightful!' "Por algum motivo misterioso, a garota foi novamente convulsionada e interrompeu o riso para gritar com uma voz de música que ainda vibra através de mim: 'Doutor Byrne, você é encantador!' "I should gladly have heard her say more upon this point, but it being one which I could not gracefully dispute with her, and being unwilling that she should lapse into one of her usual silences, I ventured to change the subject from myself to her. "Eu deveria ter ouvido ela dizer mais sobre esse ponto com prazer, mas sendo um assunto que eu não poderia discutir graciosamente com ela, e não querendo que ela caísse em um de seus silêncios habituais, aventurei-me a mudar o assunto de mim para ela. . "'Miss Cumberland,' I said, 'I remark with much pleasure that the anxiety which has recently depressed you seems now in some measure lessened. "'Senhorita Cumberland', eu disse, 'observo com muito prazer que a ansiedade que recentemente a deprimiu parece agora em certa medida diminuída. I presume Mr. Daniels will be successful in his journey, though what the return of Mr. Daniels accompanied by Mr. Barry can accomplish, is, I confess, beyond my computation. Presumo que o Sr. Daniels terá sucesso em sua jornada, embora o que o retorno do Sr. Daniels acompanhado pelo Sr. Barry possa realizar está, confesso, além do meu cálculo. Yet you are happier in the prospect of Mr. Barry's return?' No entanto, você está mais feliz com a perspectiva do retorno do Sr. Barry? "I asked this question with a falling heart, though I remain ignorant of the cause to which I can attribute my sudden depression. "Fiz essa pergunta com o coração desanimado, embora continue ignorando a causa à qual posso atribuir minha súbita depressão. Still more mysterious was the delight which I felt when the girl shook her head slowly and answered: 'Even if he comes, it will mean nothing.' Ainda mais misterioso foi o deleite que senti quando a menina balançou a cabeça lentamente e respondeu: "Mesmo que ele venha, não significará nada." "I said: 'Then let us intercept him and send him back!' "Eu disse: 'Então vamos interceptá-lo e mandá-lo de volta!' "She cried out, as if I had hurt her: 'No, no, no!' and twisted her fingers together in pain. e torceu os dedos de dor. She added at once: 'What of poor Dad?' Ela acrescentou imediatamente: "E o pobre papai?" "'Your father,' I confessed, 'had for the moment slipped my mind.' “'Seu pai', confessei, 'desapareceu-me no momento'. "It seemed to me, however, that it was not wholly on her father's account that she was grieved. "Pareceu-me, no entanto, que não era totalmente por causa de seu pai que ela estava triste. She wished Mr. Barry to return, and yet she dreaded his coming. Ela desejava que o Sr. Barry voltasse, e ainda assim ela temia sua vinda. It was most mysterious. However, I had started Miss Cumberland thinking. No entanto, eu tinha começado a pensar em Miss Cumberland. She stopped eating and began to stare before her. Ela parou de comer e começou a olhar para ela. Presently she said: 'It is strange that we don't hear from Buck. Logo ela disse: “É estranho que não tenhamos notícias de Buck. What can have held him so long?' O que pode tê-lo segurado por tanto tempo? "I regretted extremely that I had introduced the topic and cast about in my mind for another, but could not find one. "Lamento muito ter introduzido o assunto e pensado em outro, mas não consegui encontrar um. I then expressed regret that I had revived her worries, but received in reply a smile in which there was no life: the very colour had died out from her cheeks. Então lamentei ter reavivado suas preocupações, mas recebi como resposta um sorriso no qual não havia vida: a própria cor havia desaparecido de suas bochechas. And she sat during the rest of the meal without speaking a word.

"Afterwards I went in with her to see Mr. Cumberland. "Depois, fui com ela ver o Sr. Cumberland. His condition was not materially changed. Sua condição não foi alterada materialmente. The marvel of it grows upon me more and more. A maravilha disso cresce em mim cada vez mais. It is a freak which defies medical science. É uma aberração que desafia a ciência médica. There lies a man at the point of dissolution. Ali jaz um homem no ponto de dissolução. His body has died of old age, and yet the life principle remains. Seu corpo morreu de velhice, mas o princípio vital permanece. He does not eat—at least, the nourishment he takes is wholely negligible. Ele não come — pelo menos, o alimento que ele ingere é totalmente insignificante. But he still has energy. To be sure, he rarely moves about and his body remains practically inert. Para ter certeza, ele raramente se move e seu corpo permanece praticamente inerte. But we must never forget that the mind is a muscle and calls for continual rebuilding. Mas nunca devemos esquecer que a mente é um músculo e exige reconstrução contínua. And the mind of Mr. Cumberland is never inactive. It works ceaselessly. Funciona sem parar. It will not permit him to sleep. For three days, now, as far as I can tell, he has not closed his eyes. It might be assumed that he is in a state of trance, but by a series of careful experiments, I have ascertained that he is constantly thinking in the most vigourous fashion. Pode-se supor que ele esteja em estado de transe, mas por uma série de experimentos cuidadosos, verifiquei que ele está constantemente pensando da maneira mais vigorosa.

"What does it mean? There is in the man a flame-like quality; something is burning in him every instant. But on what does the flame feed? Mas de que se alimenta a chama? I know that material cannot be created and that energy means dissolution of matter: but why does not the life of Joseph Cumberland dissolve? Eu sei que a matéria não pode ser criada e que a energia significa a dissolução da matéria: mas por que a vida de Joseph Cumberland não se dissolve?

"The subject possesses me. "O sujeito me possui. I dare not ponder it too steadily or my brain begins to whirl. Não ouso ponderar com muita firmeza ou meu cérebro começa a girar. I make no progress towards any reasonable solution. Não faço progressos em direção a qualquer solução razoável. I only feel that I am living in the presence of an astounding mystery. Só sinto que estou vivendo na presença de um mistério assombroso.

"Strange thoughts possess me. What is the fire that burns but does not consume Joe Cumberland? Qual é o fogo que queima, mas não consome Joe Cumberland? What is the thing in the wandering Dan Barry which Kate Cumberland fears and yet waits for? Qual é a coisa no errante Dan Barry que Kate Cumberland teme e ainda espera? Why was it that Daniels trembled with dread when he started out to find a man who, by his own profession, he holds to be his best friend? Por que Daniels tremeu de pavor quando começou a procurar um homem que, por profissão, considera seu melhor amigo?

"You see how the mystery assumes shape? "Você vê como o mistério assume forma? It is before me. It is in my hand. And yet I cannot grasp its elements.

"The story of a man, a horse, and a dog. What is the story?

"To-day I wandered about the great corrals and came to one which was bounded by a fence of extraordinary height. "Hoje perambulei pelos grandes currais e cheguei a um que era delimitado por uma cerca de altura extraordinária. It was a small corral, but all the posts were of great size, and the rails were as large as ordinary posts. Era um curral pequeno, mas todos os postes eram de grande tamanho, e os trilhos eram tão grandes quanto postes comuns. I inquired what strange beasts could be kept in such a pen, and the man-of-all-work of whom I asked replied: 'That's Satan's corral.' Perguntei que bichos estranhos poderiam ser mantidos em tal curral, e o homem-de-toda-obra a quem perguntei respondeu: 'Aquele é o curral de Satanás.' "I guessed at some odd story. "Adivinhei uma história estranha. 'The devil?' I cried, 'Do they fence the devil in a corral?' Eu gritei: 'Eles cercam o diabo em um curral?' "'Oh, ay,' said the fellow, 'he's a devil, right enough. "'Oh, sim', disse o sujeito, 'ele é um demônio, com certeza. If we'd let him run with the other hosses he'd have cut 'em to ribbons. Se o deixássemos correr com as outras mangueiras, ele as teria cortado em tiras. That's what kind of a devil he is!' "A story of a man, a horse, and a dog. I think I have seen the great chain which bound the dog. Acho que vi a grande corrente que prendia o cachorro. Was that the place where they kept the horse?

"And, if so, what bonds are used for the man? "E, em caso afirmativo, que títulos são usados para o homem? And what sort of man can he be? One of gigantic size, no doubt, to mate his horse and his dog. Um de tamanho gigantesco, sem dúvida, para acasalar seu cavalo e seu cachorro. A fierce and intractable nature, for otherwise Kate Cumberland could not dread him. Uma natureza feroz e intratável, caso contrário Kate Cumberland não poderia temê-lo. And yet a man of singular values, for all this place seems to wait for his return. I catch the fire of expectancy. Eu pego o fogo da expectativa. It eats into my flesh. Ele come em minha carne. Dreams haunt me night and day. Sonhos me assombram noite e dia. What will be the end?

"Now I am going down to see Mr. Cumberland again. I know what I shall see—the flickering of the fire behind his eyes. Eu sei o que vou ver – o brilho do fogo atrás de seus olhos. The lightning glances, the gentle, rare voice, the wasted face; and by him will be Kate Cumberland; and they both will seem to be listening, listening—for what? Os olhares relâmpagos, a voz suave e rara, o rosto esgotado; e por ele será Kate Cumberland; e ambos parecerão estar ouvindo, ouvindo — para quê?

"No more to-night. "Não mais esta noite. But, Loughburne, you should be here; I feel that the like of this has never been upon the earth. Mas, Loughburne, você deveria estar aqui; Eu sinto que algo assim nunca esteve na terra.

"Byrne."