第39章法官的房子（1）
TheJudge'sHouse
布拉姆·斯托克BramStoker
布拉姆·斯托克（BramStoker，1847—1912），爱尔兰作家，出生于都柏林。因《德拉库拉》而享有“吸血鬼之父”的称号，由此成为吸血鬼小说的鼻祖，影响了后世几代作家。其作品被不断翻拍，成为经典电影。以其姓名命名的布拉姆·斯托克奖，是恐怖小说界的最高奖。
&imeforhisexaminationdrewnearMaladeuphismindtogosomewheretoreadbyhimself。Hefearedtheattrasoftheseaside，andalsohefearedpletelyruralisolation，forofoldheksharms，aermiofientiouslittletowherewouldbenothingtodistracthim。Herefrainedfromaskiionsfromanyofhisfriends，fuedthateamendsomeplaceofwhichhehadknowledge，andwherehehadalreadyaces。AsMalsooavoidfriendshehadnowishtoencumberhimselfwiththeattentionoffriends'friends，aermiolookoutforaplaself。Hepaahsomedallthebooksherequired，aicketforthefirsthelocaltime-tablewhichhedidnotknow。
&heendofthreehours'jouredatBenchurch，hefeltsatisfiedthathehadsofarobliteratedhistracksastobesureofhavingapeacefulopportunityhisstudies。Hewentstraighttotheoneinnwhichthesleepylittleplaed，andputupfht。Benchurchwasamarkettown，ahreededtoexcess，butfortheremaihetwewasasattractiveasadesert。Malsonlookedarouerhisarrivaltotrytofindquartersmoreisolatedthaneveaninnas"TheGoodTraveller"afforded。Therewasonlyoookhisfanditlysatisfiedhiswildestideasregardi；infact，quietwasnottheproperlytoit—desolatioermganysuitableideaofitsisolation。Itwasan，heavy-builthouseoftheJastyle，withheavygablesandwindows，unusuallysmall，ahigherthanwasaryinsuchhouses，andwassurrouhahighbrickwallmassivelybuilt。Indeed，oion，itlookedmorelikeafortifiedhousethananordinarydwelling。ButallthesethingspleasedMalson。"Here，"hethought，"istheveryspotIhavebeenlookingfor，andifIgetopportunityofusingitIshallbehappy。"Hisjoywasincreasedwhenherealisedbeyonddoubtthatitresentinhabited。
Fromthepost-offieoftheagentrisedattheapplitorentapartoftheoldhouse。Mr。ford，thelocallawyera，wasagenialoldgentleman，andfranklyfessedhisdelightatanyonebeingwillihehouse。
"Totellyouthetruth，"saidhe，"Ishouldbeonlytoohappy，oheowoletahehousereermofyearsifonlytoathepeopleheretoseeitihasbeensolosomekindofabsurdprejudicehasgrownupaboutit，andthisbebestputdownbyitso—ifonly，"headdedwithaslyglaMalson，"byascholarlikeyourself，whowantsitsquietforatime。"
Malsonthoughtitoasktheagentaboutthe"absurdprejudice"；heknewhewouldgetmoreinformation，ifheshouldrequireit，onthatsubjeotherquarters。Hepaidhisthreemonths&#otaredthenameofanoldouldprobablyu;do"forhim，ahthekeysinhispocket。Hethehelandladyoftheinn，whowasacheerfulandmostkindlyperson，andaskedheradviceastosuchstoresandprovisionsashewouldbelikelytorequire。Shethrewupherhandsiwheoldherwherehewasgoilehimself。
"NotintheJudge'sHouse！"shesaid，andgreoke。Heexplaiyofthehouse，sayiknowitsname。Whenhehadfinishedshea;Aye，sureeheveryplace！ItistheJudge'sHh。"Heaskedhertotellhimabouttheplace，whysodwhattherewasagainstit。Shetoldhimthatitwassocalledlocallybecauseithadbeenmanyyearsbefore—howlongsheotsay，asshewasherselffromaofthetry，butshethoughtitmusthavebeenahundredyearsormore—theabodeofajudgewhowasheldierroronatofhisharshsentendhishostilitytoprisoAssizes。Astowhattherewasagainstthehouse，itselfsheottell。Shehadoftenooneher；buttherewasagetherewassomething，andforherownpartshewouldhemoneyinDrinkwater'sBankandstayinthehouseanhourbyherself。ThensheapologizedtoMalsourbingtalk。"Itistoobadofme，sir，andyou—andayouoo—ifyouwillpardonmesayingit，goihereallalone。Ifyouweremyboy—andyou'llexcusemefit—youwouldn'tsleepthereanight，notifIhadtogotheremyselfandpullthebigalarmbellthat'sonthatroof！"