登陆注册
38567400000131

第131章 CHAPTER IV(10)

Four low narrow walls confined me. The top was also covered, and in it was practised a small grated Door: Through this was admitted the little air which circulated in this miserable place. A faint glimmering of light which streamed through the Bars, permitted me to distinguish the surrounding horrors. I was opprest by a noisome suffocating smell; and perceiving that the grated door was unfastened, I thought that I might possibly effect my escape. As I raised myself with this design, my hand rested upon something soft: I grasped it, and advanced it towards the light. Almighty God! What was my disgust, my consternation! In spite of its putridity, and the worms which preyed upon it, I perceived a corrupted human head, and recognised the features of a Nun who had died some months before!

I threw it from me, and sank almost lifeless upon my Bier.

When my strength returned, this circumstance, and the consciousness of being surrounded by the loathsome and mouldering Bodies of my Companions, increased my desire to escape from my fearful prison. I again moved towards the light. The grated door was within my reach: I lifted it without difficulty;Probably it had been left unclosed to facilitate my quitting the dungeon. Aiding myself by the irregularity of the Walls some of whose stones projected beyond the rest, I contrived to ascend them, and drag myself out of my prison. I now found Myself in a Vault tolerably spacious. Several Tombs, similar in appearance to that whence I had just escaped, were ranged along the sides in order, and seemed to be considerably sunk within the earth. Asepulchral Lamp was suspended from the roof by an iron chain, and shed a gloomy light through the dungeon. Emblems of Death were seen on every side: Skulls, shoulder-blades, thigh-bones, and other leavings of Mortality were scattered upon the dewy ground.

Each Tomb was ornamented with a large Crucifix, and in one corner stood a wooden Statue of St. Clare. To these objects I at first paid no attention: A Door, the only outlet from the Vault, had attracted my eyes. I hastened towards it, having wrapped my winding-sheet closely round me. I pushed against the door, and to my inexpressible terror found that it was fastened on the outside.

I guessed immediately that the Prioress, mistaking the nature of the liquor which She had compelled me to drink, instead of poison had administered a strong Opiate. From this I concluded that being to all appearance dead I had received the rites of burial;and that deprived of the power of ****** my existence known, it would be my fate to expire of hunger. This idea penetrated me with horror, not merely for my own sake, but that of the innocent Creature, who still lived within my bosom. I again endeavoured to open the door, but it resisted all my efforts. I stretched my voice to the extent of its compass, and shrieked for aid: I was remote from the hearing of every one: No friendly voice replied to mine. A profound and melancholy silence prevailed through the Vault, and I despaired of liberty. My long abstinence from food now began to torment me. The tortures which hunger inflicted on me, were the most painful and insupportable: Yet they seemed to increase with every hour which past over my head. Sometimes Ithrew myself upon the ground, and rolled upon it wild and desperate: Sometimes starting up, I returned to the door, again strove to force it open, and repeated my fruitless cries for succour. Often was I on the point of striking my temple against the sharp corner of some Monument, dashing out my brains, and thus terminating my woes at once; But still the remembrance of my Baby vanquished my resolution: I trembled at a deed which equally endangered my Child's existence and my own. Then would Ivent my anguish in loud exclamations and passionate complaints;and then again my strength failing me, silent and hopeless Iwould sit me down upon the base of St. Clare's Statue, fold my arms, and abandon myself to sullen despair. Thus passed several wretched hours. Death advanced towards me with rapid strides, and I expected that every succeeding moment would be that of my dissolution. Suddenly a neighbouring Tomb caught my eye: ABasket stood upon it, which till then I had not observed. Istarted from my seat: I made towards it as swiftly as my exhausted frame would permit. How eagerly did I seize the Basket, on finding it to contain a loaf of coarse bread and a small bottle of water.

I threw myself with avidity upon these humble aliments. They had to all appearance been placed in the Vault for several days; The bread was hard, and the water tainted; Yet never did I taste food to me so delicious. When the cravings of appetite were satisfied, I busied myself with conjectures upon this new circumstance: I debated whether the Basket had been placed there with a view to my necessity. Hope answered my doubts in the affirmative. Yet who could guess me to be in need of such assistance? If my existence was known, why was I detained in this gloomy Vault? If I was kept a Prisoner, what meant the ceremony of committing me to the Tomb? Or if I was doomed to perish with hunger, to whose pity was I indebted for provisions placed within my reach? A Friend would not have kept my dreadful punishment a secret; Neither did it seem probable that an Enemy would have taken pains to supply me with the means of existence.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 农家辣妻的小相公

    农家辣妻的小相公

    没错,她的人生就是追求赚钱的痛快花钱的爽,哪怕是现在一贫如洗,到处是坑货的亲戚,她也能用敏锐的市场眼光和现代的经营策略,走出一条康庄大道,只是这个弱不禁风的男人为什么总要和自己走在一条道上?
  • 重回故乡当神帝

    重回故乡当神帝

    苏家年轻一辈神话遭人暗算被推下悬崖,却意外来到修仙世界当日耻辱深入骨髓,六年后再度回归,却发现自己的故乡居然开启了修真,科技飞速发展一身无敌修为的他,却在穿越时空之时身体分崩离析,只留下一抹元魂,但是却意外获得了另一个身体,还有自己的修为不知道究竟到了什么境界,随手捏爆一个星球都不是什么难事,这究竟是怎么一回事?苏凰玖:嘿嘿,管他呢,我无敌,我随意,我要让这天再也遮不住我的眼,我要这地再也埋不了我的心。哼~当日陷害我之人,我要一步步摧毁你们,虽说这些人都是可以随手灭掉的蝼蚁,但这就没有意思了,不是吗?”看一代神话回乡的“平静”之路“放心,我是不会随意杀人的,除非我忍不住”某苏一脸坏笑道
  • 令雪霖铃

    令雪霖铃

    一个强大的女司机,以其超人的车技纵横都市,游手好闲的富二代,高冷男生大明星,绝世暖男,皆对其倾心。美救英雄来彰显她的巾帼之风,看夏令雪最终又当如何寻找真爱。
  • 我和霸总先婚后爱

    我和霸总先婚后爱

    【据说两座冰山摩擦太久了也会起火哟!】江湖人称玉面阎罗俏二爷,冰封战神厉璟琛,颜值杀人,断情绝爱,冷漠无情……确切的说是,已经找不到形容词来形容他的冷。然而,就是这样的冷面二爷,在二十八岁这一年,把他的傲娇小冷妻娶进了门。从那以后,厉二爷冰封战神的人设彻底崩塌了,他宠妻无度,腹黑护短,还爱作死,狗粮糖果漫天飞舞。吃瓜群众表示:我可以拒绝吃糖吗?
  • 觉醒双煞

    觉醒双煞

    一尊天外飞来的神像,打破了以往的平静,世界发生了巨大的变化。各种组织都随着兴起,故事就这样发生了。
  • 缈愿

    缈愿

    她生于乱世,死于乱世,于天地,不过是沧海一粟,她的生命很久,久到连她自己都不清楚了,她因愿而生,亦因愿而灭,她有执念,执念让她沉沦,自她存在的那天起,便注定了一世孤独。他是她的愿,是她永远无法企及的幻想,他不过是她漫长生命中的匆匆过客,存在与否,谁都说了不算,在他仅有的生命中,陪她度过,没有谁对谁错,命运早已注定了彼此的错过。感谢创世书评团提供论坛书评支持!
  • 英雄联盟之不灭王座

    英雄联盟之不灭王座

    他在中路的时候是中路杀神,哪里有战斗就有他的身影!他去打野的时候是最强打野,敌人的野区成了他的养猪场!他在上路的时候是上单王,无论是谁,给他时间发育,分分钟一挑五!别让他辅助,他辅助的时候,比adc还猛!更不要让他玩adc,因为,那将会是你的噩梦!拳头公司首席设计师惊呼:英雄联盟仿佛是为他一个人设计的游戏一样!无数玩家也在怀疑:我和他玩的到底是不是同一个游戏?新人新书,求收藏求推荐,【不灭王座】一群:275515963期待各位加入他是丁浩,这是属于他的王座!
  • 枕上暖婚:老公,宠妻如命!

    枕上暖婚:老公,宠妻如命!

    男人一出场就要带她回家领证,顺便还让属下汇报财产。男人财大气粗,颜值爆表,关键还偏私护短,宠她入魔。 她骂了白莲花,撕了绿茶婊,被骂:“素质差,真粗暴。” 他回:“我教的!”她喝酒逛夜店,抽烟打麻将,被骂:“没修养,无家教。”他回:“我准的!”她大闹宴会场,戏耍几百人,被骂:“太跋扈,好泼辣。”他回:“我宠的!”男人将她拥入怀中:“代价是,每天跟我做四件事。”她问:“哪四件啊?” 他笑:“一日三餐。”
  • 我是大玄者系统

    我是大玄者系统

    一名十五岁的少年,突然莫名穿越到了天玄大陆。
  • 花晚路远遇见你

    花晚路远遇见你

    文案一:明明是青梅竹马的戏份,女主却要被人拐跑啦?奚医生也不是吃素哒!白飘飘,我不允许你去相亲白飘飘,你搬到我家里住~~文案二:奚铭迟vs付澈然比他小一岁比他大一岁高一年级第一高二年级第一比他认识飘飘时间长比他跟飘飘~讨厌成双成对喜欢成双成对喜欢对白飘飘发脾气喜欢给白飘飘讲道理实力派行动派晚他一届的校草早他一届的校草文案三那时的花开得很晚那时的路漫漫遥远我遇见了你在最初的原点