The Moon And Sixpence 53.5

CapitaineBrunot turned to me with a gentle smile, and there was a wonderful look in hisdark, kind eyes.

"He did mean injustice, for I too know what it is to have dreams. I have my visions too.In my way I also am an artist. "

We were allsilent for a while, and Tiare fished out of her capacious pocket a handful ofcigarettes. She handed one to each of us, and we all three smoked. At last shesaid:

"Since cemonsieur is interested in Strickland, why do you not take him to see Dr.Coutras? He can tell him something about his illness and death. "

"Volontiers, " said the Captain, looking at me.

I thanked him,and he looked at his watch.

"It ispast six o'clock. We should find him at home if you care to come now. "

I got upwithout further ado, and we walked along the road that led to the doctor'shouse. He lived out of the town, but the Hotel de la Fleur was on the edge ofit, and we were quickly in the country. The broad road was shaded bypepper-trees, and on each side were the plantations, cocoa-nut and vanilla. Thepirate birds were screeching among the leaves of the palms. We came to a stonebridge over a shallow river, and we stopped for a few minutes to see the nativeboys bathing. They chased one another with shrill cries and laughter, and theirbodies, brown and wet, gleamed in the sunlight.

布吕诺船长转过头来对我微微一笑，他的一双和蔼的黑眼睛里闪着奇妙的光辉。

“他这样说对我可太不公平了，因为我也知道什么叫怀着梦想。我自己就也有幻想。从某一方面讲，我自己也是个艺术家。”

半天我们都没有说话。蒂阿瑞从她的大口袋里拿出一把香烟来，递给我们每人一支。我们三个人都抽起烟来。最后她开口说：

“既然这位先生②对思特里克兰德有兴趣，你为什么不带他去见一见库特拉斯医生啊？他可以告诉他一些事，思特里克兰德怎样生病，怎样死的，等等。”

②原文为法语。

“我很愿意③。”船长看着我说。

③原文为法语。

我谢了谢他。他看了看手表。

“现在已经六点多钟了。如果你肯同我走一趟，我想这时候他是在家的。”

我二话没说，马上站了起来；我俩立刻向医生家里走去。库特拉斯住在城外，而鲜花旅馆是在城市边缘上，所以没有几步路，我们就已经走到郊野上了。路很宽，一路上遮覆着胡椒树的浓荫。路两旁都是椰子和香子兰种植园。一种当地人叫海盗鸟的小鸟在棕榈树的叶子里吱吱喳喳地叫着。我们在路上经过一条浅溪，上面有一座石桥；我们在桥上站了一会儿，看着本地人的孩子在水里嬉戏。他们笑着、喊着，在水里互相追逐，棕色的小身体滴着水珠，在阳光下闪闪发光。