第11章TheFurnishedRoom

第11章thefurnishedroom

restless,shifting,fugaciousastimeitselfisacertainvastbulkofthepopulationoftheredbrickdistrictofthelowerwestside.homeless,theyhaveahundredhomes.theyflitfromfurnishedroomtofurnishedroom,transientsforever—transientsinabode,transientsinheartandmind.theysing"home,sweethome"inragtime;theycarrytheirlaresetpenatesinabandbox;theirvineisentwinedaboutapicturehat;arubberplantistheirfigtree.

hencethehousesofthisdistrict,havinghadathousanddwellers,shouldhaveathousandtalestotell,mostlydullones,nodoubt;butitwouldbestrangeiftherecouldnotbefoundaghostortwointhewakeofallthesevagrantguests.

oneeveningafterdarkayoungmanprowledamongthesecrumblingredmansions,ringingtheirbells.atthetwelfthherestedhisleanhand-ageuponthestepandwipedthedustfromhishatbandandforehead.thebellsoundedfaintandfarawayinsomeremote,hollowdepths.

tothedoorofthis,thetwelfthhousewhosebellhehadrung,cameahousekeeperwhomadehimthinkofanunwholesome,surfeitedwormthathadeatenitsnuttoahollowshellandnowsoughttofillthevacancywithediblelodgers.

heaskediftherewasaroomtolet.

"comein,"saidthehousekeeper.hervoicecamefromherthroat;herthroatseemedlinedwithfur."ihavethethirdfloorback,vacantsinceaweekback.shouldyouwishtolookatit?"

theyoungmanfollowedherupthestairs.afaintlightfromnoparticularsourcemitigatedtheshadowsofthehalls.theytrodnoiselesslyuponastaircarpetthatitsownloomwouldhaveforsworn.itseemedtohavebecomevegetable;tohavedegeneratedinthatrank,suulessairtolushlichenorspreadingmossthatgrewinpatchestothestaircaseandwasviscidunderthefootlikeorganicmatter,ateachturnofthestairswerevacantnichesinthewall.perhapsplantshadoncebeensetwithinthem.ifsotbeyhaddiedinthatfoulandtaintedair.itmaybethatstatuesofthesaintshadstoodthere,butitwasnotdifficulttoconceivethatimpsanddevilshadedthemforthinthedarknessanddowntotheunholydepthsofsontefurnishedpitbelow.

"thisistheroom,"saidthehousekeeper,fromherfurrythroat."it'saniceroom.itain'toftenvacant.ihadsomemostelegantpeopleinitlastsummer—notroubleatall,andpaidinadvancetotheminute.thewater'sattheendofthehall.sprowlsandmooneykeptitthreemonths.theydoneavaudevillesketch.missb'rettasprowls—youmayhaveheardofher—oh,thatwasjustthestagenames—rightthereoverthedresseriswherethemarriagecertificatehung,framed.thegasishere,andyouseethereisplentyofclosetroom.it'saroomeverybodylikesitneverstaysidlelong."

"doyouhavemanytheatricalpeopleroominghere"askedtheyoungman.

"theycomesandgoes.agoodproportionofmylodgersisconnectedwiththetheatres.yes,sir,thisisthetheatricaldistrict.actorpeopleneverstayslonganywhere.igetmyshare.yes,theycomesandtheygoes."

heengagedtheroom,payingforaweekinadvance.hewastired,hesaid,andwouldtakepossessionatonce.hecountedoutthemoney.theroomhadbeenmadeready,shesaid,eventotowelsandwater.asthehousekeepermovedawayheput,forthethousandthtime,thequestionthathecarriedattheendofhistongue.

"ayounggirl—missvashner—misseloisevashner—doyouremembersuchaoneamongyourlodgers?shewouldbesingingonthestage,mostlikely.afairgirl,ofmediumheightandslender,withreddish,goldhairandadarkmolenearherlefteyebrow."

"no,idon'trememberthename.thestagepeoplehasnamestheychangeasoftenastheirrooms.theycomesandtheygoes.no,idon'tcallthatonetomind."

no.alwaysno.fivemonthsofceaselessinterrogationandtheinev-itablenegative.somuchtimespentbydayinquestioningmanagers,agents,schoolsandchoruses;bynightamongtheaudiencesoftheatresfromall-starcastsdowntomusichallssolowthathedreadedtofindwhathemosthopedfor.hewhohadlovedherbesthadtriedtofredher.hewassurethatsinceherdisappearancefromhomethisgreat,water-girtcityheldhersomewhere,butitwaslikeamonstrousquicksand,shiftingitsparticlesconstantly,withnofoundation,itsuppergranulesoftodayburiedtomorrowinoozeandslime.

thefurnishedroomreceiveditslatestguestwithafirstglowofpseudo-hospitality,ahectic,ard,perfunctorywelcomelikethespecioussmileofademirep.thesophisticalcomfortcameinreflectedgleamsfromthedecayedfurniture,theedbrocadeupholsteryofacouchandtwochairs,afootwidecheappierglassbetweenthetwowindows,fromoneortwogiltpictureframesandabrassbedsteadinacorner.

theguestreclined,inert,uponachair,whiletheroom,confusedinspeechasthoughitwereanaparunentinbabel,triedtodiscoursetohimofitsdiver'stenantry.

apolychromaficruglikesomebrilliant-floweredrectangular,tropicalisletlaysurroundedbyabillowyseaofsoiledmatting.uponthegay-paperedwallwerethosepicturesthatpursuethehomelessonefromhousetohouse—thehuguenotlovers,thefirstquarrel,theweddingbreakfast,psycheatthefountain.themantel'schastelysevereoutlinewasingloriouslyveiledbehindsomepertdraperydrawnrakishlyaskewlikethesashesoftheamazonianballet.uponitwassomedesolateflotsamcastasidebytheroom'smaroonedwhenaluckysailhadbornethemtoafreshport—atriflingvaseortwo,picturesofactresses,amedicinebottle,somestraycardsoutofadeck.

onebyone,asthecharactersofacryptographbecomeexplicit,thelittlesignsleftbythefurnishedroom'sprocessionofguestsdevelopedasignificance.thethreadbarespaceintheruginfrontofthedressertoldthatlovelywomanhadmarchedinthethrong.tinyfingerprintsonthewallspokeoflittleprisonerstryingtofeeltheirwaytosunandair.asplatteredstain,rayingliketheshadowofaburstingbomb,witnessedwhereahurledglassorbottlehadsplinteredwithitscontentsagainstthewall.acrossthepierglasshadbeenscrawledwithadiamondineringlettersthename"marie".itseemedthattheessionofdwellersinthefurnishedroomhadturnedinfury—perhapstemptedbeyondforbearaneebyitsgarishcoldness—andwreakeduponittheirpassions.thefurniturewaschippedandbruised;thecouch,distortedbyburstingsprings,seemedahorriblemonsterthathadbeenslainduringthestressofsomegrotesqueconvulsion.somemorepotentupheavalhadclovenagreatslicefromthemarblemantel.eachplankinthefloorowneditsparticularcantandshriekasfromaseparateandindividualagony.itseemedincrediblethatallthismaliceandinjuryhadbeenwroughtupontheroombythosewhohadcalleditforatimetheirhome;andyetitmayhavebeenthecheatedhomeinstinctsurvivingblindly,theresentfulrageatfalsehouseholdgodsthathadkindledtheirwrath.ahutthatisourownwecansweepandadornandcherish.

theyoungtenantinthechairallowedthesethoughtstofile,soft-shod,throughhismind,whiletheredriftedintotheroomfurnishedsoundsandfurnishedscenes.heheardinoneroomatitteringandincontinent,slacklaughter;inothersthemonologueofascold,therattlingofdice,alullaby,andonecryingdully;abovehimabanjotinkledwithspirit.doorsbangedsomewhere;theelevatedtrainsroaredintermittently;acatyowledmiserablyuponabackfence.andhebreathedthebreathofthehouse—adanksavorratherthanasmell—acold,mustyeffluviumasfromundergroundvaultsmingledwiththereekingexhalationsoflinoleumandmildewedandrottenwoodwork.

then,suddenly,asherestedthere,theroomwasfilledwiththestrong,sweetodorofmignonette.itcameasuponasinglebuffetofwindwithsuchsurenessandfragranceandemphasisthatitalmostseemedalivingvisitant.andthemancriedaloud:"what,dear?"asifhehadbeencalled,andsprangupandfacedabout.therichodorclungtohimandwrappedhimaround.hereachedouthisarmsforit,allhissensesforthetimeconfusedandcommingled.howcouldonebeperemptorilycalledbyanodor?surelyitmusthavebeenasound.but,wasitnotthesoundthathadtouched,thathadcaressedhim?

"shehasbeeninthisroom,"hecried,andhesprangtowrestfromitatoken,forheknewhewouldrecognizethesmallestthingthathadbelongedtoherorthatshehadtouched.thisenvelopingscentofmignonette,theodorthatshehadlovedandmadeherown—whencecameit?

theroomhadbeenbutcarelesslysetinorder.scatteredupontheflimsydresserscarfwerehalfadozenhairpins—thosediscreet,indistinguishablefriendsofwomankind,feminineofgender,infiniteofmoodanduncommunicativeoftense.theseheignored,consciousoftheirtriumphantlackofidentity.ransackingthedrawersofthedresserhecameuponadiscarded,tiny,edhandkerchief.hepressedittohisface.itwasracyandinsolentwithheliotrope;hehurledittothefloor.inanotherdrawerhefoundoddbuttons,atheatreprogramme,apawnbroker'scard,twolostmarshmallows,abookonthedivinationofdreams.inthelastwasawoman'sblacksatinhairbow,whichhaltedhim,poisedbetweeniceandfire.buttheblacksatinhairbowalsoisfemininity'sdemure,impersonal,commonornament,andtellsnotales.

andthenhetraversedtheroomlikeahoundonthescent,skimmingthewalls,consideringthecornersofthebulgingmattingonhishandsandknees,rummagingmantelandtables,thecurtainsandhangings,thedrunkencabinetinthecorner,foravisiblesign,unabletoperceivethatshewastherebeside,around,against,within,abovehim,clingingtohim,wooinghim,callinghimsopoignantlythroughthefinersensesthatevenhisgrosseronesbecamecognizantofthecall.onceagainheansweredloudly:"yes,dear!"andturned,wild-eyed,togazeonvacancy,forhecouldnotyetdiscernformandcolorandloveandoutstretchedarmsintheodorofmignonette.oh,god!whencethatodor,andsincewhenhaveodorshadavoicetocall?thushegroped.

heburrowedincrevicesandcorners,andfoundcorksandcigarettes.thesehepassedinpassivecontempt.butoncehefoundinafoldofthemattingahalf-smokedcigar,andthishegroundbeneathhisheelwithagreenandtrenchantoath.hesiftedtheroomfromendtoend.hefounddrearyandignoblesmallrecordsofmanyaperipatetictenant;butofherwhomhesought,andwhomayhavelodgedthere,andwhosespiritseemedtohoverthere,hefoundnotrace.

andthenhethoughtofthehousekeeper.

heranfromthehauntedroomdownstairsandtoadoorthatshowedacrackoflight.shecameouttohisknock,hesmotheredhisexcitementasbesthecould.

"willyoutellme,madam,"hebesoughther,"whooccupiedtheroomihavebeforeicame?"

"yes,sir.icantellyouagain.'twassprowlsandmooney,asisaid.missb'rettasprowlsitwasinthetheatres,butmissismooneyshewas.myhouseiswellknownforrespectability.themarriagecertificatehung,framed,onanailover—"

"whatkindofaladywasmisssprowls—inlooks,imean?"

"why,black-haired,sir,short,andstout,withacomicalface.theyleftaweekagotuesday."

"andbeforetheyoccupiedit?"

"why,therewasasinglegentlemanconnectedwiththedrayingbusiness.heleftowingmeaweek.beforehimwasmissiscrowderandhertwochildren,thatstayedfourmonths;andbackofthemwasoldmr.doyle,whosesonspaidforhim.hekepttheroomsixmonths.thatgoesbackayear,sir,andfurtheridonotremember."

hethankedherandcreptbacktohisroom.theroomwasdead.theessencethathadvivifieditwasgone.theperfumeofmignonettehaddeparted.initsplacewastheold,staleodorofmouldyhousefurniture,ofatmosphereinstorage.

theebbingofhishopedrainedhisfaith,hesatstaringattheyellow,singinggaslight.soonhewalkedtothebedandbegantotearthesheetsintostrips.withthebladeofhisknifehedrovethemtightlyintoeverycrevicearoundwindowsanddoor.whenallwassnugandtautheturnedoutthelight,turnedthegasfullonagainandlaidhimselfgratefullyuponthebed.

itwasmrs.mccool'snighttogowiththecanforbeer.soshefetcheditandsatwithmrs.purdyinoneofthosesubterraneanretreatswherehouse-keepersforegatherandthewormdiethseldom.

"irentedoutmythirdfloor,back,thisevening,"saidmrs.purdy,acrossafinecircleoffoam."ayoungmantookit.hewentuptobedtwohoursago.

"now,didye,mrs.purdy,ma'am?"saidmrs.mccool,withintenseadmiration."youdobeawonderforrentin'roomsofthatkind.anddidyetellhim,then?"sheconcludedinahuskywhisper,ladenwithmystery.

"rooms,"saidmrs.purdy,inherfurriesttones,"arefurnishedfortorent.ididnottellhim,mrs.mccool."

"'tisrightyeare,ma'am;'tisbyrentingroomswekapealive.yehavetheralesenseforbusiness,ma'am.therebemanypeoplewillrayjicttherentin'ofaroomiftheybetouldasuicidehasbeenafterdyin'inthebedofit."

"asyousay,wehasourlivingtobemaking,"remarkedmrs.purdy.

"yis,ma'am;'tistrue.'tisjustonewakeagothisdayihelpedyelayoutthethirdfloor'back.aprettyslipofacolleenshewastobekillin'herselfwidthegas—aswatelittlefaceshehad,mrs.purdy,ma'am."

"she'da-beencalledhandsome,asyousay,"saidmrs.purdy,assentingbutcritical,"butforthatmoleshehada-growin'byherlefteyebrow.dofillupyourglassagain,mrs.mccool."