The Chaser, by John Collier Alan Au

The Chaser, by John Collier

Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs in the neighborhood of Pell Street, and peered about for a long time on the dime landing before he found the name he wanted written obscurely on one of the doors.

He pushed open this door, as he had been told to do, and found himself in a tiny room, which contained no furniture but a plain kitchen table, a rocking-chair, and an ordinary chair. On one of the dirty buff-colored walls were a couple of shelves, containing in all perhaps a dozen bottles and jars.

An old man sat in the rocking-chair, reading a newspaper. Alan, without a word, handed him the card he had been given. "Sit down, Mr. Austen," said the old man very politely. "I am glad to make your acquaintance."

"Is it true," asked Alan, "that you have a certain mixture that has-er-quite extraordinary effects?"

"My dear sir," replied the old man, "my stock in trade is not very large-I don't deal in laxatives and teething mixtures-but such as it is, it is varied. I think nothing I sell has effects which could be precisely described as ordinary."

"Well, the fact is. . ." began Alan.

"Here, for example, "interrupted the old man, reaching for a bottle from the shelf. "Here is a liquid as colorless as water, almost tasteless, quite imperceptible in coffee, wine, or any other beverage. It is also quite imperceptible to any known method of autopsy."

"Do you mean it is a poison?" cried Alan, very much horrified.

"Call it a glove-cleaner if you like," said the old man indifferently. "Maybe it will clean gloves. I have never tried. One might call it a life-cleaner. Lives need cleaning sometimes."

"I want nothing of that sort," said Alan.

"Probably it is just as well," said the old man. "Do you know the price of this? For one teaspoonful, which is sufficient, I ask five thousand dollars. Never less. Not a penny less."

"I hope all your mixtures are not as expensive," said Alan apprehensively.

"Oh dear, no," said the old man. "It would be no good charging that sort of price for a love potion, for example. Young people who need a love potion very seldom have five thousand dollars. Otherwise they would not need a love potion."

"I am glad to hear that," said Alan.

"I look at it like this," said the old man. "Please a customer with one article, and he will come back when he needs another. Even if it is more costly. He will save up for it, if necessary."

"So," said Alan, "you really do sell love potions?"

"If I did not sell love potions," said the old man, reaching for another bottle, "I should not have mentioned the other matter to you. It is only when one is in a position to oblige that one can afford to be so confidential."

"And these potions," said Alan. "They are not just-just-er-"

"Oh, no," said the old man. "Their effects are permanent, and extend far beyond the mere casual impulse. But they include it. Oh, yes they include it. Bountifully, insistently. Everlastingly."

"Dear me!" said Alan, attempting a look of scientific detachment. "How very interesting!"

"But consider the spiritual side," said the old man.

"I do, indeed," said Alan.

"For indifference," said the old man, they substitute devotion. For scorn, adoration. Give one tiny measure of this to the young lady-its flavour is imperceptible in orange juice, soup, or cocktails-and however gay and giddy she is, she will change altogether. She will want nothing but solitude and you."

"I can hardly believe it," said Alan. "She is so fond of parties."

"She will not like them any more," said the old man. "She will be afraid of the pretty girls you may meet."

"She will actually be jealous?" cried Alan in a rapture. "Of me?"

"Yes, she will want to be everything to you."

"She is, already. Only she doesn't care about it."

"She will, when she has taken this. She will care intensely. You will be her sole interest in life."

"Wonderful!" cried Alan.

"She will want to know all you do," said the old man. "All that has happened to you during the day. Every word of it. She will want to know what you are thinking about, why you smile suddenly, why your are looking sad."

"That is love!" cried Alan.

"Yes," said the old man. "How carefully she will look after you! She will never allow you to be tired, to sit in a draught, to neglect your food. If you are an hour late, she will be terrified. She will think you are killed, or that some siren has caught you."

"I can hardly imagine Diana like that!" cried Alan, overwhelmed with joy.

"You will not have to use your imagination," said the old man. "And, by the way, since there are always sirens, if by any chance you should, later on, slip a little, you need not worry. She will forgive you, in the end. She will be terribly hurt, of course, but she will forgive you-in the end."

"That will not happen," said Alan fervently.

"Of course not," said the old man. "But, if it did, you need not worry. She would never divorce you. Oh, no! And, of course, she will never give you the least, the very least, grounds for-uneasiness."

"And how much," said Alan, "is this wonderful mixture?"

"It is not as dear," said the old man, "as the glove-cleaner, or life-cleaner, as I sometimes call it. No. That is five thousand dollars, never a penny less. One has to be older than you are, to indulge in that sort of thing. One has to save up for it."

"But the love potion?" said Alan.

"Oh, that," said the old man, opening the drawer in the kitchen table, and taking out a tiny, rather dirty-looking phial. "That is just a dollar."

"I can't tell you how grateful I am," said Alan, watching him fill it.

"I like to oblige," said the old man. "Then customers come back, later in life, when they are better off, and want more expensive things. Here you are. You will find it very effective."

"Thank you again," said Alan. "Good-bye."

"Au revoir," said the man.

ผลลัพธ์ (จีน) 1:

追逐者、由约翰・科利尔アラン。ダイム着陆之前他发现他想要的名字不明显在一扇门上写、。哭了 5 5千美元。否则他们将不需要爱情药水」。アラン。アラン。」他们只是不 -只是- -哦- 。アラン 5 アラン。「再见」。那人说 "再见」。

ผลลัพธ์ (จีน) 2:

追赶者，由约翰·科利尔艾伦·奥斯丁，紧张得像一只小猫，迎上了一定的黑暗和摇摇欲坠的楼梯佩尔街附近，凝视约了很久的角钱降落前，他发现他想要写隐晦的名字其中一个门。他推开这扇门，因为他被告知这样做，发现自己在一个小房间，其中载有没有家具，但一个普通的厨房的桌子，一个摇椅，和一个普通的椅子。在肮脏的浅黄色的墙壁之一是夫妻货架，包含在所有的或许还有一堆瓶瓶罐罐。一位老人坐在摇椅，读报纸。艾伦，一言不发，递给他，他被赋予了卡。“请坐，奥斯汀先生，”老人说很有礼貌。“我很高兴认识你。”“ 这是真的，”问阿兰，“那你有一定的混合物已经-ER-很了不起的影响呢？”“ 我亲爱的先生，”老人答道，“我的股票贸易是不是非常大，我没有在泻药和磨合处理混合物，但是这样的，因为它是，它是变化的。我觉得没有什么我卖了它可以准确地描述为普通的效果。“” 嗯，事实是。“。开始艾伦。“ 说到这里，例如，”打断了老人，伸手从货架上一瓶。“这是一种液体，无色的水，几乎无味，咖啡相当不易察觉，葡萄酒或其他饮料，这也是相当不易察觉到的尸检任何已知的方法。”“ 你的意思是毒药？” 哭了阿兰，非常震惊。“ 说它是手套，清洁剂，如果你喜欢，说：”老人淡然。“也许这将干净的手套。我从来没有尝试过。有人可能会叫它生命清洁。生活需要清洗的时候。”“我想没有什么样的，”艾伦说，“ 也许这是一样好，”说老男人。“你知不知道这个价格是多少？对于一茶匙，这已经足够了，我问五千块钱，从来没有少，一分钱也不能少。”“ 我希望所有的混合物都没有那么贵，”阿兰说悬念。“ 哦，亲爱的，不，“老人说。“这不会有什么好指责的排序价格为爱情魔药，例如，年轻人谁需要爱情魔药很少有五千块钱。否则，他们就不需要爱情魔药。”“ 我很高兴地听到， ，“艾伦说，” 我看它这个样子，“老人说。“请一文一个客户，他会回来的时候，他需要另外，即使是比较昂贵的。他会存起来吧，如果有必要的。”“ 所以，”阿兰说，“你真的卖爱情药水？“” 如果我不卖爱情药水，“老人说，伸手去拿另一瓶，”我不应该提到的其他事情给你。只有当一个人在一个位置，以迫使人们可以负担得起如此机密的。“” 这些药水，“艾伦说。“他们是不是刚刚刚刚ER-”“ 哦，不，”老人说。“他们的影响是永久性的，远远超出了单纯的偶然冲动。但他们有它。哦， ​​是的，他们包括它。厚恩，坚持不懈，永恒地。”“ 亲爱的我！” 阿兰说，试图科学支队一起来看看。“如何非常有趣！”“ 但是，考虑到精神的一面，”老人说，“ 我这样做，的确，”阿兰说。“ 对于冷漠，”老人说，他们替代奉献。对于轻蔑，崇拜。举这一个小小的措施的小姐，其味不知不觉中橙汁，汤，或鸡尾酒，但与男同性恋和头晕她，她会完全改变。她会想什么，但孤独和你。“” 我简直不能相信，“阿兰说，”她是那么喜欢派对。“” 她不会喜欢他们了，“老人说，”她会害怕的漂亮女孩，你可能会遇到。“” 她实际上是吃醋吗？“在狂喜哭了艾伦。”我想到什么？“” 是的，她会想你的一切。“” 她是，已经。只是，她不关心了。“” 她会的，当她采取了这一点。她会在乎激烈。你会是她生命中唯一的兴趣。“” 太好了！“哭艾伦。” 她 ​​会想知道你要做的，“老人说。”所有的白天也发生在你身上。它的每一个字。她会想知道你在想什么，为什么你的笑容突然，为什么你正在寻找伤心。“” 那就是爱！“哭艾伦。” 是的，“老人说。”她 ​​将如何精心照顾你！她永远不会让你累了，坐在一个草案，忽视你的食物。如果你是晚了一个小时，她会吓坏了。她会认为你杀了，或者说有些警报已经引起了你。“” 我很难想象戴安娜那样的！“哭了艾伦，此番与喜悦。” 你不会有使用你的想象力，“老人说。”而且，顺便说一下，因为总是有警报器，如果任何机会，你应该，以后，稍有闪失，你不用担心。她会原谅你的，到底。她将可怕的伤害，当然，但她会原谅你的，到底是。“” 那不会发生，“阿兰说热切。” 当然不是，“老人说，”但是，如果它这样做，你不用担心。她永远不会和你离婚。不好了！而且，当然，她也永远不可能给你最少的，最起码，理由-不安。“” 多少钱，“阿兰说，”这是奇妙的混合？“” 这不是因为亲爱的，说：“老男人，“作为手套清洁剂，或生命清洁剂，因为我有时会调用它。号也就是五千块钱，从来没有一分钱少。一个人必须比你大，沉迷于那种事情。一个人救了它。“” 可是爱情药？“艾伦说，” 哦，那，“老人说，开在厨房的桌子的抽屉，取出一个微小的，比较脏的前瞻性小瓶。 “这只是一块钱。”“ 我不能告诉你我有多么感激，”阿兰说，看着他填了。“ 我喜欢成人之美，”老人说。“然后客户回来了，以后的生活，当他们富裕了，想更贵的东西。给你。你会发现它非常有效的。“” 再次感谢你，“艾伦说，”再见。“” 再见，“那人说。

ผลลัพธ์ (จีน) 3:

追击者，由约翰科利尔艾伦奥斯丁，紧张得像只小猫，就一定在黑暗和摇摇欲坠的佩尔街附近的楼梯上，凝视了很久的硬币上登陆之前，他发现他想写的不在一扇门上的名字。他推开这门，如他所说的做，发现自己在一个狭小的房间里，



里面没有家具，但一个普通的厨房桌子，一把椅子，一把普通的椅子。在一个肮脏的浅黄色的墙壁上，一对夫妇的架子上，包含在所有也许十几瓶和罐。艾伦，没有一个字，递给他一张牌，他得到了。”坐下，奥斯丁先生，“老先生很有礼貌地说。“我很高兴认识你。”这是真的，“艾伦说，”你有一个混合的混合，有相当惊人的效果吗？“我亲爱的先生，”老人回答说，“我的股票交易是不是很large-i不买卖泻药和出牙混合物，但尽管如此，它是多种多样的。我认为我所卖的东西都有可能被精确地描述为普通的东西，

事实是。“开始艾伦，”在这里，例如，“打断了老人，伸手从架子上的瓶子。”这里是一种无色无味的液体，在咖啡、葡萄酒或其他饮料中都是不易察觉的。对任何已知的尸检方法也有相当的不易察觉。”艾伦喊道，非常震惊。“如果你喜欢叫它手套清洁剂，”老人淡淡地说。”也许它会干净的手套。我从未尝试过。人们可以称它为生活清洁剂。生活需要清理，“”，“，”我希望这一点，“艾伦说。”你知道这个价格吗？一茶匙，这是足够的，我问了五千美元。从未少。一分钱也不能少。” ”我希望你所有的混合物是不贵的，”艾伦说悬念。“哦，不，”老人说。”这将是没有良好的收费，价格为一个爱情药水，例如。需要爱情的年轻人很少有五千美元。“否则，他们就不需要爱情了。”我很高兴听到这一点，“艾伦说。”，



“老人说。”请一位顾客用一篇文章，当他需要另一篇文章的时候，他会回来的。即使它更昂贵。他会救了它，如果必要的话。” “所以，”艾伦说，“你真的卖春药？” “如果我不卖春药，”老人说，到达另一个瓶子，“我不应该提到的其他事你。



只有当人能够迫使一个可以承受得起如此的信任。” ”这些药水，“艾伦说。”他们不只是嗯-“-”，“”哦，不，“老人说。”它们的效果是永久性的，远远超出了仅仅是一时的冲动。但它们包括。哦，是的，他们包括。丰富，坚持。你。” “哎呀！”艾伦说，



尝试科学的超然。”多么有趣啊！”“但是考虑到精神方面，”老人说，“我真的，”艾伦说，“为了不关心，”老人说，他们用代用品。对蔑视，崇拜。给年轻女士一个很小的措施，它的味道是不易察觉的橙汁，汤，或鸡尾酒，但是同性恋和头晕，她是，她将完全改变。“她只想要孤独和你，”艾伦说，“我简直不敢相信。”“她是那么喜欢聚会，”他说，“她不会再喜欢他们了。”她会害怕你可能会遇到的漂亮女孩。”艾伦狂喜。”我的？”“是的，她会想做所有的事。”。只有她不在乎，她会这样，当她已经采取了。她会强烈地关心。你会成为她一生中唯一的兴趣。”艾伦喊道，“她会想知道你所做的一切，”老人说。在白天发生的一切。每一个词。她会想知道你在想什么，为什么你会微笑，为什么你的悲伤！艾伦说，“是的，”老人说。她多么细心地照顾你！她永远不会让你累了，坐在一口，而忽略了你的食物。如果你晚了一个小时，她会很害怕。她会认为你是被杀死的，或者是一些汽笛已经抓住了你。”艾伦高兴地说，“你不必用你的想象力，“老人说。”而且，顺便说一句，因为总是有警报器，如果有机会你应该，后来，滑一点，你不需要担心。她会原谅你的，最后。她会很受伤，当然，但最后她还是会原谅你。” ”不会发生，“艾伦大声说。“当然不是，”老人说。”但是，如果它没有，你不必担心。



她永远不会和你离婚。哦，不！并且，当然，她不会给你至少，至少，有理由不安。” “多少钱，”艾伦说，“这是美妙的混合物？”“这不是因为亲爱的，”老人说，“作为手套的清洁剂，或生活清洁，因为我有时也称之为。不。那是五千块钱，一分钱也没少。你要比你大一岁，

沉溺于那种事。一个人必须为它存起来。”艾伦说。

”哦，，，”老人说，在厨房的桌子上，打开抽屉，拿出一个小小的，脏脏的瓶子。”“那只是一块钱。”我不能告诉你我是多么的感激，“艾伦说，看着他填了。”老人说。然后顾客回来，在生活中，当他们更好的起飞，并希望更昂贵的东西。给你你会发现它非常有效，“”，“谢谢你，”艾伦说。再见。”

“再见，”那人说。