福尔摩斯第三部 福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第9章Part14

福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第9章Part14  

"Yes
it is
Ted Baldwin
" said McGinty
with a wicked stare. "Is it you that would dispute it?"
"You would throw over one that has stood by you this five years in favour of a man that you never saw before in your life? You're not Bodymaster for life
Jack McGinty
and by God! when next it es to a vote--"
The Councillor sprang at him like a tiger. His hand closed round the other's neck
and he hurled him back across one of the barrels. In his mad fury he would have squeezed the life out of him if McMurdo had not interfered.
"Easy
Councillor! For heaven's sake
go easy!" he cried
as he dragged him back.
McGinty released his hold
and Baldwin
cowed and shaken gasping for breath
and shivering in every limb
as one who has looked over the very edge of death
sat up on the barrel over which he had been hurled.
"You've been asking for it this many a day
Ted Baldwin--now you've got it!" cried McGinty
his huge chest rising and falling. "Maybe you think if I was voted down from Bodymaster you would find yourself in my shoes. It's for the lodge to say that. But so long as I am the chief I'll have no man lift his voice against me or my rulings."
"I have nothing against you
" mumbled Baldwin
feeling his throat.
"Well
then
" cried the other
relapsing in a moment into a bluff joviality
"we are all good friends again and there's an end of the matter."
He took a bottle of champagne down from the shelf and isted out the cork.
"See now
" he continued
as he filled three high glasses. "Let us drink the quarrelling toast of the lodge. After that
as you know
there can be no bad blood beeen us. Now
then the left hand on the apple of my throat. I say to you
Ted Baldwin
what is the offense
sir?"
"The clouds are heavy
" answered Baldwin
"But they will forever brighten."
"And this I swear!"
The men drank their glasses
and the same ceremony was performed beeen Baldwin and McMurdo.