第49章带家具出租的房间（4）
Araversedtheroomlikeahou，skimmingthewalls，gtheersofthebulgingmattingonhishandsandknees，rummagiables，thesandhangings，thedruintheer，foravisiblesigoperceivethatshewastherebeside，around，against，within，abovehim，gtohim，wooinghim，ghimsopoignantlythroughthefievenhisgrosseronesbeisantoftheheansweredloudly，"Yes，dear!"andturned，wild-eyed，togazeonvacy，forheotyetdisanddloveachedarmsinthee。Oh，God!wheodour，andsinhaveodourshadavoicetocall?Thushegroped。
Heburrowedincreviders，andfounddcigarettes。Thesehepassedi。Butondinafoldofthemattingahalf-smokeddthishegrouhhisheelwithagreeoath。Hesiftedtheroomfromendtoend。Hefnoblesmallreait;butofherwhomhesought，andwhomayhavelodgedthere，aseemedtohoverthere，hefoundnotrace。
Aofthehousekeeper。
Heraedroomdownstairsandtoadoorthatshowedacrackoflight。Shecameouttohiskheredhisextasbesthecould。
"Willyoutellme，madam，"hebesoughther，"whooccupiedtheroomIhavebeforeIcame?"
"Yes，sir。Itellyouagain。TrowlsandMooney，asIsaid。MissB'rettaSprowlsitwasires，butMissisMooneyshewas。Myhouseiswell-knowability。Themarriagecertifig，framed，ona;
"Whatkindofaladyrowls—inlooks，Imean?"
"Why，black-haired，sir，short，andstout，withaicalface。TheyleftaweekagoTuesday。"
"Aheyoccupiedit?"
"Why，therewasasilemahedrayingbusiowingmeaweek。BeforehimwasMissisdhertwo，thatstayedfourmonths;andbawasoldMr。Doyle，whosesonspaidforhim。Hekepttheroomsixmonths。Thatgoesbackayear，sir，andfurtherIdonotremember。"
&hankedheraohisroom。Theroomwasdead。Theessehadvivifieditwasgoheperfumeofmigehaddeparted。Initsplacewastheold，staleodourofmouldyhousefurmosphereinste。
Theebbingofhishopedrainedhisfaith。Hesatstaringattheyellow，singinggaslight。Soohebedaearthesheetsintostrips。Withthebladeofhiskhemtightlyintoeverycrevidwindowsanddoor。Whenallwassnugaurhelight，turhegasfullonagainandlaidhimselfgratefullyuponthebed。
ItwasMrs。McCool'snighttogowiththeforbeer。SoshefetdsatwithMrs。Purdyihosesubterraswherehousekeepersfatherandthewormdiethseldom。
"Iremythirdfloor，back，thisevening，"saidMrs。Purdy，acrossafine。"Ayoungmantookit。Hewentuptobedtwo。"
"Now，didye，Mrs。Purdy，ma'am?"saidMrs。McCool，withiion。"Youdobeawonderforrentin'roomsofthatkind。Aellhim，then?"sheahuskywhisper，ladenwithmystery。
"Rooms，"saidMrs。Purdy，inherfurriestto;arefurorent。Ididnottellhim，Mrs。McCool。"
&quhtyeare，ma'am;thisbyrentingroomsealive。Yehavetheralesenseforbusiness，ma'am。Therebemanypeoplewillrayjitingofaroomiftheybetouldasuicidehasbeenafterdyingi。"
"Asyousay，wehastobemaking，"remarkedMrs。Purdy。
"Yis，ma'am;that'strue。ThatjustohisdayIhelpedyelayoutthethirdfloor，back。Aprettyslipofashewastobekillihegas—aswatelittlefaceshehad，Mrs。Purdy，ma'am。"
"She'da-beendsome，asyousay，"saidMrs。Purdy，assentingbutcritical，"butforthatmoleshehada-growieyebrow。Dofillupyain，Mrs。McCool。"