anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第96节

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　　　His　hair　was　still　thick　and　his　forehead　smooth　as　it　had　been　so　long　ago。　And　when　he　smiled；　his　mouth　seemed　that　of　the　young　man　I　remembered。
　　　〃Marius；　what　a　wonder　it　is　to　see　you；〃　he　cried。　〃Why　did　you　never　write　to　me　again？　〃
　　　〃Raymond；　I've　e。　I　can't　account　for　time　and　what　it　means　to　us。　I've　e；　and　I'm　here；　and　I'm　glad　to　be　with　you。〃
　　　He　stopped；　turning　from　right　to　left　suddenly　and　then　he　cocked　his　head。　He　seemed　as　agile　and　quick　as　he　had　ever　been。　He　was　listening。
　　　〃They're　all　aware　that　you're　here；〃　he　said；　〃but　don't　worry。　They　won't　dare　to　e　into　this　room。　They're　far　too　disciplined　for　that。　They　know　I　will　not　permit　it。〃
　　　I　listened　for　a　moment；　and　I　confirmed　what　he　had　said。　Mortals　throughout　the　immense　sprawling　castle　had　sensed　my　presence。　There　were　mind　readers　among　these　mortals。　Others　seemed　to　possess　some　keen　hearing。
　　　But　I　distinguished　no　supernatural　presence　here。　I　caught　no　inkling　of　the　〃infidel〃　he　had　described　in　his　letter。
　　　And　I　caught　no　menace　from　anyone　either。　Nevertheless；　I　marked　the　nearby　window；　and　noting　that　it　was　heavily　barred　though　otherwise　open　to　the　night；　wondered　if　I　could　easily　break　through　it。　I　thought　that　I　could。　I　felt　no　fear。　In　fact；　I　felt　no　fear　of　this　Talamasca　because　it　seemed　to　feel　no　fear　of　me　and　had　admitted　me　so　guilelessly。
　　　〃e；　sit　down　with　me；　Marius；〃　Raymond　said。　He　drew　me　near　to　an　immense　fireplace。　I　tried　not　to　gaze　with　concern　at　his　thin　palsied　hands；　or　his　thin　shoulders。　I　thanked　the　gods　that　I　had　e　tonight；　and　that　he　was　still　here　to　greet　me。
　　　He　called　out　to　the　sleepy　boy　who　remained　still　at　the　door。
　　　〃Edgar；　build　the　fire　and　light　it；　please。　Marius；　you　will　forgive　me；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　very　cold。　Do　you　mind　it？　I　understand　what　happened　to　you。〃
　　　〃No；　not　at　all；　Raymond；〃　I　said。　〃I　can't　fear　fire　forever　on　that　account。　Not　only　am　I　healed　now；　I'm　stronger　than　ever　I　was　before。　It's　quite　a　mystery。　And　you；　how　old　are　you？　Tell　me；
　　　　Raymond。　I　can't　guess　it。〃
　　　〃Eighty　years；　Marius；〃　he　said。　He　smiled。　〃You　don't　know　how　I've　dreamed　of　your　ing。　I　had　so　much　more　to　tell　you。　I　didn't　dare　to　write　it　in　a　letter。〃
　　　〃And　rightly　so；〃　I　said；　〃for　the　letter　was　read；　and　who　knows　what　might　have　happened？　As　it　was；　the　priest　who　received　it　for　me　could　not　make　much　of　it。　I　understand　everything；　however。〃
　　　He　motioned　to　the　door。　Two　young　men　at　once　entered　the　room；　and　I　made　them　out　to　be　the　simple　sort　rather　like　the　busy　Edgar　who　was　piling　up　the　oak　in　the　fireplace。　There　were　richly　carved　stone　gargoyles　above　the　fire。　I　rather　liked　them。
　　　〃Two　chairs；〃　said　Raymond　to　the　boys。　〃We'll　talk　together。　I'll　tell　you　all　lean。〃
　　　〃Why　are　you　so　generous　to　me；　Raymond？〃　I　asked。　I　wanted　so　to　fort　him；　to　stop　his　agitation。　But　as　he　smiled　at　me；　as　if　to　reassure　me；　as　he　put　his　hand　gently　on　my　arm；　and　urged　me　towards　the　two　wooden　chairs　which　the　boys　had　brought　to　the　hearth；　I　saw　that　he　did　not　need　my　fort。
　　　〃I'm　only　very　excited；　my　old　friend；〃　he　said。　〃You　mustn't　be　concerned　for　me。　Here；　sit　down。　Is　this　fortable　enough　for　you？〃
　　　The　chairs　were　as　heavily　carved　as　every　bit　of　ornament　in　the　room；　and　the　arms　were　the　paws　of　lions。　I　found　them　beautiful　as　well　as　fortable。　I　looked　about　myself　at　the　many　bookshelves；　and　mused　as　I　have　often　done　on　how　all　libraries　subdue　me　and　seduce　me。　I　thought　of　books　burnt　and　books　lost。
　　　May　this　be　a　safe　place　for　books；　I　thought；　this　Talamasca。
　　　〃I　have　been　decades　in　a　stone　room；〃　I　said　in　a　muted　voice。　〃I　am　quite　fortable。　Will　you　send　the　boys　away　now？〃
　　　〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；　only　let　them　bring　me　some　warm　wine；〃　he　replied。　〃I　need　it。〃
　　　〃Please；　how　could　I　be　so　inconsiderate？〃　I　replied。
　　　We　were　now　facing　each　other；　and　the　fire　had　begun　with　a　riot　of　deep　good　fragrance　ing　from　the　burning　oak；　and　a　warmth　that　I　even　enjoyed；　I　had　to　admit　it。
　　　One　of　the　boys　had　brought　Raymond　a　red　velvet　dressing　gown；　and　once　he　was　clothed　in　this；　and　settled　in　his　chair；　he　did　not　seem　so　fragile。　His　face　was　radiant　after　all；　his　cheeks　actually　rosy；　and　I　could　easily　see　the　young　man　in　him　that　I　had　once　known。
　　　〃My　friend；　should　anything　e　between　us；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　give　you　to　know　that　she　still　travels　in　her　old　way；　rapidly　through　many　European　cities。　Never　to　England；　for　I　don't　think　they　want　to　cross　the　water；　though　no　doubt　they　can；　contrary　to　folklore。〃
　　　I　laughed。　〃Is　that　the　folklore？　That　we　can't　cross　water？　It's　nonsense；〃　I　said。　I　would　have　said　more；　but　I　wondered　if　it　were　wise。
　　　He　apparently　took　no　note　of　my　hesitation。　He　plunged　on：
　　　〃She　has　for　the　last　few　decades　traveled　under　the　name　of　the　Marquis　a　De　Malvrier；　and　her　panion　the　Marquis　of　the　same　name；　though　it　is　she　who　goes　to　Court　more　often　than　he　does。　They're　seen　in　Russia；　in　Bavaria；　in　Saxony…in　countries　in　which　old　ceremony　is　honored；　seeming　from　time　to　time　to　need　the　courtly　balls　and　the　immense　Roman　church　ceremonies。　But　understand；　I　have　gleaned　my　account　of　this　from　many　different　reports。　I'm　sure　of　nothing。〃
　　　The　warm　wine　was　being　set　upon　a　small　stand　beside　him。　He　took　the　cup　in　his　hands。　His　hands　were　shaking。　He　drank　from　the　wine。
　　　〃But　how　do　such　reports　e　to　you？〃　I　asked。　I　was　fascinated。　There　was　no　doubt　he　was　telling　me　the　truth。　As　for　the　rest　of　the　house；　I　could　hear　its　many　inhabitants　all　around　us；　waiting　in　silence　it　seemed　for　some　kind　of　summons。
　　　〃Forget　them；〃　he　said。　〃What　can　they　learn　from　this　audience？〃　he　asked。　〃They　are　all　faithful　members。　To　answer　your　questions；　we　go　out　sometimes　in　the　guise　of　priests　seeking　information　about　those　whom　we　call　vampires。　We　inquire　as　to　mysterious　deaths。　And　so　we　gather　information　which　is　meaningful　to　us　when　it　may　not　be　meaningful　to　others。〃
　　　〃Ah；　of　course。　And　you　take　note　of　the　name　when　it　is　mentioned　in　Russia　or　Saxony　or　Bavaria。〃
　　　〃Exactly。　I　tell　you　it　is　De　Malvrier。　They　have　a　liking　for　it。　And　I　shall　tell　you　something　else。〃
　　　〃Please；　you　must。〃
　　　〃Several　times　we　have　found　upon　the　wall　of　a　church　inscribed　the　name；　Pandora。〃
　　　〃Ah；　she's　done　this；〃　I　said；　desperately　trying　to　conceal　my　emotion。
　　　〃She　wants　to　be　discovered　by　me。〃　I　paused。　〃This　is　painful　for　me；〃　I　said。　〃I　wonder　if　the　one　who　travels　with　her　even　knows　her　by　that　name。　Ah；　this　is　painful；　but　why　do　you　assist　me？〃
　　　〃By　my　very　life；　I　don't　know；〃　he　said；　〃except　somehow　I　believe　in　you。〃
　　　〃What　do　you　mean　believe；　believe　that　I'm　a　wonder？　That　I'm　a　demon？　Believe　what；　Raymond；　tell　me？　Oh；　never　mind；　it　doesn't　matter；　does　it？　We　do　things　because　our　hearts　impel　us。〃
　　　〃Marius；　my　friend；〃　he　said；　leaning　forward　and　touching　my　knee　with　his　right　hand；　〃long　ago　in　Venice　when　I　spied　upon　you；　you　know　that　I　spoke　to　you　with　the　purity　of　my　mind。　I　read　your　thoughts　also。　I　knew　that　you　slew　only　those　who　were　the　degraded　killers　of　their　own　sisters　or　brothers。〃　　
　　　
　　　〃That's　true；　Raymond；　and　it　was　that　way　with　Pandora。　But　is　it　now？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　think　so；〃　he　said；　〃for　every　ghastly　crime　imputed　to　the　vampires　whom　these　creatures　may　in　fact　be　is　connected　to　one　who　was　known　to　be　guilty　of　many　murders。　So　you　see　it's　not　difficult　for　me　to　help　you。〃
　　　〃Ah；　so　she　is　true　to　our　vow；〃　I　whispered。　〃I　didn't　think　so；　not　when　I　heard　of　her　harsh　panion。〃
　　　I　looked　intently　at　Raymond；　seeing　with　every　passing　moment　more　of　the　young　man　I　had　once　known　so　briefly。　It　was　saddening　to　me。　It　was　dreadful。　And　the　more　I　felt　it；　the　more　I　tried　to　conceal　it。
　　　What　was　my　suffering　to　this；　the　slow　triumph　of　old　age？　Nothing。
　　　〃Where　was　she　seen　last？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃On　that　point；〃　he　said；　〃allow　me　to　give　you　my　interpretation　of　her　behavior。　She　and　her　panion　follow　a　pattern　in　their　roamings。　They　go　in　rude　circles；　returning　over　and　over　again　to　one　city。　Once　they　have　been　some　time　in　that　city　they　begin　their　circles　once　more　until　they　have　gone　as　far　afield　as　Russia。　The　central　city　of　which　I　speak　is　Dresden。〃
　　　〃Dresden！〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　know　the　place。　I've　never　been　there。〃
　　　〃Oh；　it　cannot　rival　your　gorgeous　Italian　cities。　It　cannot　equal　Paris　or　London。　But　it　is　the　capital　of　Saxony　and　it　lies　on　the　Elbe　River。　It　has　been　much　adorned　by　the　various　Dukes　who　have　ruled　there。　And　invariably；　I　say　invariably；　these　creatures…Pandora　and　her　panion…return　to　Dresden。　It　may　not　be　for　twenty　years；　but　they　e　back　to　Dresden。〃
　　　I　fell　silent　in　my　excitement。　Was　this　some　pattern　meant　for　me　to　interpret？　Was　this　pattern　meant　for　me　to　discover？　Was　it　like　a　great　round　spiderweb　meant　sooner　or　later　to　ensnare　me？
　　　Why　else　would　Pandora　and　her　panion　follow　such　a　life？　I　couldn't　imagine　it。　But　how　did　I　dare　to　think　Pandora　even　remembered　me。　She　had　writt