登陆注册
37816600000033

第33章 NARRATIVE OF THE SPIRITED OLD LADY(6)

I could remain no longer passive. Persuaded that something deadly was afoot, I crossed the roadway and drew near the area railings. There was no one below; the man must therefore have entered the house, with what purpose I dreaded to imagine. I have at no part of my career lacked courage; and now, finding the area gate was merely laid to, I pushed it gently open and descended the stairs. The kitchen door of the house, like the area gate, was closed but not fastened.

It flashed upon me that the criminal was thus preparing his escape; and the thought, as it confirmed the worst of my suspicions, lent me new resolve. I entered the house; and being now quite reckless of my life, I shut and locked the door.

From the dining-room above I could hear the pleasant tones of a voice in easy conversation. On the ground floor all was not only profoundly silent, but the darkness seemed to weigh upon my eyes. Here, then, I stood for some time, having thrust myself uncalled into the utmost peril, and being destitute of any power to help or interfere. Nor will I deny that fear had begun already to assail me, when I became aware, all at once and as though by some immediate but silent incandescence, of a certain glimmering of light upon the passage floor. Towards this I groped my way with infinite precaution; and having come at length as far as the angle of the corridor, beheld the door of the butler's pantry standing just ajar and a narrow thread of brightness falling from the chink. Creeping still closer, I put my eye to the aperture.

The man sat within upon a chair, listening, I could see, with the most rapt attention. On a table before him he had laid a watch, a pair of steel revolvers, and a bull's-eye lantern.

For one second many contradictory theories and projects whirled together in my head; the next, I had slammed the door and turned the key upon the malefactor. Surprised at my own decision, I stood and panted, leaning on the wall. From within the pantry not a sound was to be heard; the man, whatever he was, had accepted his fate without a struggle, and now, as I hugged myself to fancy, sat frozen with terror and looking for the worst to follow. I promised myself that he should not be disappointed; and the better to complete my task, I turned to ascend the stairs.

The situation, as I groped my way to the first floor, appealed to me suddenly by my strong sense of humour. Here was I, the owner of the house, burglariously present in its walls; and there, in the dining-room, were two gentlemen, unknown to me, seated complacently at supper, and only saved by my promptitude from some surprising or deadly interruption. It were strange if I could not manage to extract the matter of amusement from so unusual a situation.

Behind this dining-room, there is a small apartment intended for a library. It was to this that I cautiously groped my way; and you will see how fortune had exactly served me. The weather, I have said, was sultry; in order to ventilate the dining-room and yet preserve the uninhabited appearance of the mansion to the front, the window of the library had been widely opened, and the door of communication between the two apartments left ajar. To this interval I now applied my eye.

Wax tapers, set in silver candlesticks, shed their chastened brightness on the damask of the tablecloth and the remains of a cold collation of the rarest delicacy. The two gentlemen had finished supper, and were now trifling with cigars and maraschino; while in a silver spirit lamp, coffee of the most captivating fragrance was preparing in the fashion of the East. The elder of the two, he who had first arrived, was placed directly facing me; the other was set on his left hand. Both, like the man in the butler's pantry, seemed to be intently listening; and on the face of the second I thought I could perceive the marks of fear. Oddly enough, however, when they came to speak, the parts were found to be reversed.

'I assure you,' said the elder gentleman, 'I not only heard the slamming of a door, but the sound of very guarded footsteps.'

'Your highness was certainly deceived,' replied the other.

'I am endowed with the acutest hearing, and I can swear that not a mouse has rustled.' Yet the pallor and contraction of his features were in total discord with the tenor of his words.

His highness (whom, of course, I readily divined to be Prince Florizel) looked at his companion for the least fraction of a second; and though nothing shook the easy quiet of his attitude, I could see that he was far from being duped. 'It is well,' said he; 'let us dismiss the topic. And now, sir, that I have very freely explained the sentiments by which I am directed, let me ask you, according to your promise, to imitate my frankness.'

'I have heard you,' replied the other, 'with great interest.'

'With singular patience,' said the prince politely.

'Ay, your highness, and with unlooked-for sympathy,' returned the young man. 'I know not how to tell the change that has befallen me. You have, I must suppose, a charm, to which even your enemies are subject.' He looked at the clock on the mantelpiece and visibly blanched. 'So late!' he cried.

'Your highness - God knows I am now speaking from the heart - before it be too late, leave this house!'

The prince glanced once more at his companion, and then very deliberately shook the ash from his cigar. 'That is a strange remark,' said he; 'and A PROPOS DE BOTTES, I never continue a cigar when once the ash is fallen; the spell breaks, the soul of the flavour flies away, and there remains but the dead body of tobacco; and I make it a rule to throw away that husk and choose another.' He suited the action to the words.

'Do not trifle with my appeal,' resumed the young man, in tones that trembled with emotion. 'It is made at the price of my honour and to the peril of my life. Go - go now! lose not a moment; and if you have any kindness for a young man, miserably deceived indeed, but not devoid of better sentiments, look not behind you as you leave.'

同类推荐
  • 谴非

    谴非

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大方广十轮经

    大方广十轮经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 新编雷峰塔奇传

    新编雷峰塔奇传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 自在王菩萨经

    自在王菩萨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六十种曲玉镜台记

    六十种曲玉镜台记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 难言无罪

    难言无罪

    每个人都有太多的难言未说,也许是善意,也许是恐惧,也许是嫌麻烦。有人是不懂人情世故,努力变成一个正常人;有人是做了一次错事,便自我禁锢。有人是因为光环,无法自由肆意;有人是因为太爱追光,便学会自我约束。有人是嫌麻烦;有人是心中有光,世人皆醉他独醒。
  • 女巫绝对拯救任务

    女巫绝对拯救任务

    神马!樱帝学院招收了一位魔力值只有50的‘天才’?什么丧尸、僵尸都是渣渣,把你们塞回去再说。啥玩意突然出现了丧尸真是吓死宝宝了!“云云最腻害了。”欠揍的桃花眼竟然不慌,一边砍丧尸一边搂着云云大美女。丧尸杀不完,小怪兽就要发飙了!
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 在我的世界里如何长命百岁

    在我的世界里如何长命百岁

    如果某一天你穿越到我的世界的极限模式你会做什么?——当然是尽力活下去啦!——得过且过吧,我就是这么随性的人。——······啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊!——???这本书就是讲述一个我的世界忠实玩家在魂穿到我的世界的极限模式的世界里努力生存下来的故事。(有点绕口)
  • 源来最美时光是和你相遇

    源来最美时光是和你相遇

    心动是脸颊红红的不期而遇心动是她不经意间与他的眉眼相望她与他最早是年幼时的邂逅再遇已遥遥不及久别重逢后的他们是形同陌路分道扬镳还是重点旧情一发入迷……
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 极品全能女婿

    极品全能女婿

    意外之下,继承了高人的琴棋书画茶、山医命相卜以及武道传承,从此屌丝逆袭。且看一名入赘富商家族的废婿,如何一步步创造辉煌。时人不识凌云木,直待凌云始道高。
  • 边伯贤之曾经的你去了哪里

    边伯贤之曾经的你去了哪里

    “白白,我终于找到你了,你为什么就不肯跟我相认呢?难道你忘了我么?”若希“为什么那个女孩那么熟悉?好像在哪里见过她。”伯贤“伯贤,你到底经历过什么?为什么会把以前的记忆忘掉,你到底是装的还是故意的?还是你真的忘了?”艺兴或许,你我只是无缘,有缘,老天怎么会让你忘记我,为什么,从小到大,我只喜欢你一个人呢?-----by张若希为什么每当看到这个女孩,总会在脑海闪过一个画面,但一回想,就消失了,你到底是谁?-----by边伯贤
  • 西域第一都护(全集)

    西域第一都护(全集)

    小说主要讲述了西汉西域第一任都护郑吉,凭借自己的骁勇善战与聪明才智护送公主迦罗回大宛的英雄救美的传奇故事。大汉边军军侯郑吉奉命护送大宛公主归国,遭遇匈奴骑兵劫杀,袍泽尽没。他孤身一人保护公主杀出重围,诛狼群、搏神熊、斩水怪,一把吞雪刀,万里天山行,名扬西域。归国途中,计斩马贼蓝胡子,解危须城之倒悬,威震大漠。后逢长安乱,拔刀诛暴逆,一鸣惊人。南道诸国叛汉,郑吉临危受命,出使西域——夺扜弥,取于阗,袭龟兹,摧锋于正锐,挽狂澜于极危,大破诸国之兵,扬汉威于塞外,为后来他纵横西域,镇抚诸国,成为西域第一都护奠定了基础。
  • 神明又在催更

    神明又在催更

    魂穿异世,文莱因为一本书爆火,并且传到了一位神明那里。在神明找到她,并和她说了自己的想法后。文莱爆炸了。文.专职挖坑不填坑.底下万千读者也不管.鸽子精本精.莱:天要亡她!!!