The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Chapter 32

Chapter 25

Within 2 minutes, the news spread throughout the town. People came running from all directions, and some of them were still putting on their clothes while running.In a short time we were surrounded by people, and the footsteps of the crowd following us sounded like the sound of soldiers advancing.The doors, windows and yards of every house are full of people, and people keep asking:

"Did they come?"

Some of those around us answered:
"Yes, it's them."

When we got to the Wilkes' house, the street in front of the house was packed, and all three girls were standing in front of the door.Mary?Jane did have red hair, but that didn't matter, she was simply beautiful, and her face and eyes lit up with joy when her uncle and uncle came.The king stretches out his arms, Mary?Jane jumped up and hugged him, and the girl with the bunny mouth jumped at the Duke.They finally meet!Seeing them happily meeting each other, everyone was so happy to shed tears, especially those women couldn't help it.

Then the king gave the duke a little push--so I could see--and he looked round and saw a coffin in a corner on two chairs, and he and the duke put their arms around each other's shoulders , covered his eyes with the other hand, walked over with heavy steps, everyone made way for them, people made a "shh" sound, all the talking and laughing stopped, the men took off their hats and bowed their heads , so quiet that you can even hear a needle drop on the ground.They went up to the coffin, looked into it, and at once burst into sobs so loud they might have been heard in Orleans.Then, they put their arms around each other's necks, put their chins on each other's shoulders, and cried for three or four minutes without stopping.I've never seen two men cry so hard.You know, everyone was crying just as hard, and wetting the floor of the house, and I've never seen anything like it in my life.Later, one of them walked to one side of the coffin and the other to the other, and they both knelt down, leaning their foreheads on the coffin, and pretended to pray silently.The way they looked made everyone miserable, and people whimpered at first, and then they couldn't help it anymore, and they broke into wailing, which no one had ever seen before.The poor girls also burst into tears.Almost every woman walked up to the girls solemnly, kissed their foreheads, put her hands on their heads, turned her face back, and let the tears run down her face, and finally walked away, sobbing, to let the other women Also come here again.I've never seen anything so disgusting.

Then the king got up, walked a few steps forward, and began to speak with a feigned sob.He wept and sniffled as he spoke, saying that he and his poor brother had come from four thousand miles away, and it was so sad that they could not see him before he died, but in the sympathy and sacredness of everyone In my tears, this kind of sadness adds a touch of sweetness and becomes sacred.He said that it would be too weak and cold for him to express his gratitude to everyone at such a time, so he and his brother thanked everyone from the bottom of their hearts.He also pretended to say a lot of nonsense, which made me sick, so I said "Amen" and closed my mouth.After speaking, he burst into tears again.

As soon as he had finished speaking, a hymn was sung outside the crowd, and everyone let go of their throats and sang along, and it made people feel warm in the heart, just like the feeling of church.The singing is really good, especially after I heard such a lie, listening to this singing makes me feel more refreshed. This singing is so honest and beautiful.

Then the king's jaws moved again, and he said that he and his nieces were very much looking forward to having the best friends of the family come and dine with them this evening, and help with the funeral of the dead man.He said his brother was lying there dead, and if he could talk he knew which ones he would have called, for his brother mentioned them so often in his letters, so he would have these gentlemen too— Reverend Hobson, Lott?Deacon Howe, Ben?Lark, Abner?Shackleford, Levi?Bell, Dr. Robinson, their wives, and the Widow Bartley.

Reverend Hobson and Dr. Robinson are off to work across town together, I mean, the doctor is off to send a sick man to the underworld, and the Reverend is off to show him the right way.Attorney Bell went to Louisville on business.But the others were there, and they came and shook the king's hand, and thanked him, and talked to him, and then they came and shook the duke's hand, and said nothing, and smiled and nodded Stop, like a group of fools, he made many inexplicable gestures with his hands, muttering "gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu", like a doll who can't speak.

The king went on and on, asking about everyone in the town, even about every dog, about their names, about all the little things that had happened in the town, sometimes about the Georges, sometimes about Peter , he always said, Peter mentioned these things in his letters.But it was plain lies, and he got it all from that foolish young man who took our boat.Later, Mary?Jane brought the letter his father had left when he died, and the King took it and read it aloud, weeping as he read it.The letter mentioned leaving the house and $3000 in gold to the three girls, and another $3000 in gold, a thriving tannery, and other houses and land worth about $7000 to Harvey and William.The letter mentioned where the 6000 yuan in cash was hidden in the basement.The two scammers said that they should go down and take out the money, and deal with it in a fair and reasonable manner.They told me to take a candle and go down with them.We went into the basement and closed the door.When they found the bag, they dumped the contents on the ground, and what a charming sight it was--full gold coins shining brightly!God, the king's eyes are so bright that sparks are coming out!He slapped the Duke on the shoulder and said:

"Oh, that's bloody good! What's like that? Oh, no, nothing! I say Bridge, it beats our 'Royal Beast,' doesn't it?"

The duke also said it was true.They grabbed the gold coins and let them fall from their fingers to the ground with a crisp, jingling sound.King said:

"Don't talk nonsense. Bridge, we are now going to pretend to be the brother of the deceased, representing the heir of his family abroad. This is the result of trusting in God's will. This is really the best way. I tried every Doorway, nothing is better than this way.”

Anyone else would be satisfied with this pile of gold coins and believe in its number, but these two want to count.They counted the money and found that 410 and five yuan were missing.The king said:
"This damned fellow! Where did he put the 410 five dollars?"

They were busy with it for a while, rummaging around, trying to find the money.Then the duke said:

"He was very ill at the time, and it's probably a mistake—I guess that's the case. It's better not to mention it, and we don't care about the lack of money."

"Oh, nonsense. Yes, of course we don't care about the money. Of course I don't care about the two of them--but I'm thinking about the discrepancy. We've got to make things fair, It is upright, and we must do it in front of everyone. We have to carry out this bag of money and count it clearly in front of everyone, and then everyone will not doubt it. But you have to understand, since the dead man said in the letter that it was 6000 yuan, we just can not……"

"Come," said the duke, "let us make up for the lack." And with that, he took gold coins out of his pocket.

"Duke, that's a marvelous idea—you're full of ideas," said the King. "Our 'Royal Strange Beast' has helped a lot again." As he spoke, he also took out gold coins from his pocket and piled them together.

They almost emptied their pockets, and finally got together a full 6000 yuan.

"I say," began the duke, "I have another idea. Let's go up and count the money, and then give it to the girls."

"My God, duke, let me give you a hug! Who could come up with such a brilliant idea! What a clever brain you are. Oh, it's a very clever plan, and it can't go wrong. They want It’s up to them to be suspicious, and this will surely reassure them.”

After we came up, people gathered around the table, and the king counted the money and piled it up in piles, every 300 yuan piled up into piles-twenty piles neatly.People were so envious that they licked their lips with their tongues.Then they put all the money in the bag, and I saw the king put on his air again, and get ready to speak.He said:

"Friends, there lies my poor brother, who was very generous to those who mourned him behind him. He was also very generous to the children of the dead parents whom he loved deeply and took care of. We all know him , he would have been more generous to his dear brother William and me, had it not been for fear of wronging them. Wouldn't it be so? There is no question, I think. Well, at such a time, if we prevent him from doing so What kind of brother is that? If we rob—yes, we rob—of these poor boys’ money, what kind of uncle is that? I know William—I believe I know him—I’ll Ask him." He turned and made various gestures to the duke; the duke looked at him dumbfounded, and at last, pretending to understand him suddenly, he threw himself upon the king, grunting with delight. Stop, hugged the king ten times before letting go.Then the king said: "I know it will be so, and it will show everybody what he thinks. Come, Mary? Jane, Susan, Joanna, take the money--all of it. This is lying The old man over there left it for you, even though he is dead, he will definitely be happy."

Mary?Jane walked towards him, and Susan and Rabbit Mouth walked towards the Duke, and they hugged and hugged, making out such affection as I have never seen before.They gathered around them again, shook hands with the two swindlers, and murmured:
"What kind hearts you have! . . . how wonderful . . . where can such a fine man be found!" Then they began to talk about the dead man, and they all said that he was a good man, and that his death was a great loss ,etc.After a while, a big man came in through the crowd, and he watched with a stern face, and stood there listening without saying a word, and no one spoke to him, because the king had not finished speaking, and everyone are listening.In the middle of a passage from the king:

"...they were all very dear friends of the deceased. So they are invited to be guests tonight, but tomorrow we wish to invite all of them—all of them; for he respected everyone and loved everyone. His funeral Everyone is invited to attend."

He just babbled on and on, as if he liked to hear himself, and every once in a while, he would repeat some "funeral" until the duke couldn't listen anymore, on a piece of paper Write "Funeral, you old fool," and fold up the slip of paper, cooing, and pass it over someone's head.The king unfolded it, looked at it, put it in his coat pocket, and said:

"Poor William! In spite of his handicap, he knows that he wants me to invite all of you to the funeral, and wants me to tell you all are welcome. But he needn't worry, that's what I'm inviting you for." .”

Then he went on talking nonsense leisurely, talking about his "funeral" as before.On the third occasion, he explained:
"I used the word 'funeral', it's not an ordinary word, 'funeral' is an ordinary word, but I used 'funeral' because it was the right word, 'funeral' is no longer used in England. Now we use the word 'funeral' in the UK. Li is a colloquial word, which is not solemn. 'Yi' means a ceremony. In ancient times, it was held in the open air, and everyone can come. So 'funeral' is A funeral attended by everyone."

(End of this chapter)