david elginbrod-第59节

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glance　which　Euphra　succeeded　at　last；　as　she　left　the　room；　in
sending　through　his　eyes　to　his　heart。

Hugh　sat　down　to　the　table　again；　with　a　quieter　tongue；　but　a
busier　brain。　　He　drank　still；　without　thinking　of　the　consequences。
A　strong　will　kept　him　from　showing　any　signs　of　intoxication；　but
he　was　certainly　nearer　to　that　state　than　he　had　ever　been　in　his
life　before。

The　Bohemian　started　the　new　subject　which　generally　follows　the
ladies'　departure。

〃How　long　is　it　since　Arnstead　was　first　said　to　be　haunted；　Mr。
Arnold？〃

〃Haunted！　　Herr　von　Funkelstein？　　I　am　at　a　loss　to　understand　you；〃
replied　Mr。　Arnold；　who　resented　any　such　allusion；　being　subversive
of　the　honour　of　his　house；　almost　as　much　as　if　it　had　been
depreciative　of　his　own。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Arnold。　　I　thought　it　was　an　open　subject　of
remark。〃

〃So　it　is；〃　said　Hugh；　〃every　one　knows　that。〃

Mr。　Arnold　was　struck　dumb　with　indignation。　　Before　he　had
recovered　himself　sufficiently　to　know　what　to　say；　the　conversation
between　the　other　two　had　assumed　a　form　to　which　his　late
experiences　inclined　him　to　listen　with　some　degree　of　interest。
But；　his　pride　sternly　forbidding　him　to　join　in　it；　he　sat　sipping
his　wine　in　careless　sublimity。

〃You　have　seen　it　yourself；　then？〃　said　the　Bohemian。

〃I　did　not　say　that；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃But　I　heard　one　of　the　maids
say　oncewhen〃

He　paused。

This　hesitation　of　his　witnessed　against　him　afterwards；　in　Mr。
Arnold's　judgment。　　But　he　took　no　notice　now。Hugh　ended　tamely
enough：

〃Why；　it　is　commonly　reported　amongst　the　servants。〃

〃With　a　blue　light？Such　as　we　saw　that　night　from　the　library
window；　I　suppose。〃

〃I　did　not　say　that；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃Besides；　it　was　nothing　of　the
sort　you　saw　from　the　library。　　It　was　only　the　moon。　　But〃

He　paused　again。　　Von　Funkelstein　saw　the　condition　he　was　in；　and
pressed　him。

〃You　know　something　more；　Mr。　Sutherland。〃

Hugh　hesitated　again；　but　only　for　a　moment。

〃Well；　then；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　seen　the　spectre　myself；　walking　in
her　white　grave…clothes；　in　the　Ghost's　Avenueha！　ha！〃

Funkelstein　looked　anxious。

〃Were　you　frightened？〃　said　he。

〃Frightened！〃　repeated　Hugh；　in　a　tone　of　the　greatest　contempt。　〃I
am　of　Don　Juan's　opinion　with　regard　to　such　gentry。〃

〃What　is　that？〃

　　　　　〃'That　soul　and　body；　on　the　whole；
　　　　　　　Are　odds　against　a　disembodied　soul。'〃

〃Bravo！〃　cried　the　count。　〃You　despise　all　these　tales　about　Lady
Euphrasia；　wandering　about　the　house　with　a　death…candle　in　her
hand；　looking　everywhere　about　as　if　she　had　lost　something；　and
couldn't　find　it？〃

〃Pooh！　pooh！　　I　wish　I　could　meet　her！〃

〃Then　you　don't　believe　a　word　of　it？〃

〃I　don't　say　that。　　There　would　be　less　of　courage　than　boasting　in
talking　so；　if　I　did　not　believe　a　word　of　it。〃

〃Then　you　do　believe　it？〃

But　Hugh　was　too　much　of　a　Scotchman　to　give　a　hasty　opinion；　or
rather　a　direct　answereven　when　half…tipsy；　especially　when　such
was　evidently　desired。　　He　only　shook　and　nodded　his　head　at　the
same　moment。

〃Do　you　really　mean　you　would　meet　her　if　you　could？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Then；　if　all　tales　are　true；　you　may；　without　much　difficulty。　　For
the　coachman　told　me　only　to…day；　that　you　may　see　her　light　in　the
window　of　that　room　almost　any　night；　towards　midnight。　　He　told　me；
too　（for　I　made　quite　a　friend　of　him　to…day；　on　purpose　to　hear　his
tales）；　that　one　of　the　maids；　who　left　the　other　day；　told　the
groomand　he　told　the　coachmanthat　she　had　once　heard　talking；
and；　peeping　through　the　key…hole　of　a　door　that　led　into　that　part
of　the　old　house；　saw　a　figure；　dressed　exactly　like　the　picture　of
Lady　Euphrasia；　wandering　up　and　down；　wringing　her　hands　and
beating　her　breast；　as　if　she　were　in　terrible　trouble。　　She　had　a
light　in　her　hand　which　burned　awfully　blue；　and　her　face　was　the
face　of　a　corpse；　with　pale…green　spots。〃

〃You　think　to　frighten　me；　Funkelstein；　and　make　me　tremble　at　what
I　said　a　minute　ago。　　Instead　of　repeating　that。　　I　say　now：　I　will
sleep　in　Lady　Euphrasia's　room　this　night；　if　you　like。〃

〃I　lay　you　a　hundred　guineas　you　won't！〃　cried　the　Bohemian。

〃Done！〃　said　Hugh；　offering　him　his　hand。　　Funkelstein　took　it；　and
so　the　bet　was　committed　to　the　decision　of　courage。

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　interposed　Mr。　Arnold　at　last；　〃you　might　have
left　a　corner　for　me　somewhere。　　Without　my　permission　you　will
hardly　settle　your　wager。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Arnold；〃　said　Funkelstein。　〃We　got　rather
excited　over　it；　and　forgot　our　manners。　　But　I　am　quite　willing　to
give　it　up；　if　Mr。　Sutherland　will。〃

〃Not　I；〃　said　Hugh；〃that　is；　of　course；　if　Mr。　Arnold　has　no
objection。〃

〃Of　course　not。　　My　house；　ghost　and　all；　is　at　your　service；
gentlemen；〃　responded　Mr。　Arnold；　rising。

They　went　to　the　drawing…room。　　Mr。　Arnold；　strange　to　say；　was　in　a
good　humour。　　He　walked　up　to　Mrs。　Elton；　and　said：

〃These　wicked　men　have　been　betting；　Mrs。　Elton。〃

〃I　am　surprised　they　should　be　so　silly；〃　said　she；　with　a　smile；
taking　it　as　a　joke。

〃What　have　they　been　betting　about？〃　said　Euphra；　coming　up　to　her
uncle。

〃Herr　von　Funkelstein　has　laid　a　hundred　guineas　that　Mr。　Sutherland
will　not　sleep　in　Lady　Euphrasia's　room　to…night。〃

Euphra　turned　pale。

〃By　sleep　I　suppose　you　mean　spend　the　night？〃　said　Hugh　to
Funkelstein。　〃I　cannot　be　certain　of　sleeping；　you　know。〃

〃Of　course；　I　mean　that；〃　answered　the　other；　and；　turning　to
Euphrasia；　continued：

〃I　must　say　I　consider　it　rather　courageous　of　him　to　dare　the
spectre　as　he　does；　for　he　cannot　say　he　disbelieves　in　her。　　But
come　and　sing　me　one　of　the　old　songs；〃　he　added；　in　an　under　tone。

Euphra　allowed　him　to　lead　her　to　the　piano；　but　instead　of　singing
a　song　to　him；　she　played　some　noisy　music；　through　which　he　and　she
contrived　to　talk　for　some　time；　without　being　overheard；　after
which　he　left　the　room。　　Euphra　then　looked　round　to　Hugh；　and
begged　him　with　her　eyes　to　come　to　her。　　He　could　not　resist；
burning　with　jealousy　as　he　was。

〃Are　you　sure　you　have　nerve　enough　for　this；　Hugh？〃　she　said；　still
playing。

〃I　have　had　nerve　enough　to　sit　still　and　look　at　you　for　the　last
half　hour；〃　answered　Hugh；　rudely。

She　turned　pale；　and　glanced　up　at　him　with　a　troubled　look。　　Then；
without　responding　to　his　answer；　said：

〃I　daresay　the　count　is　not　over…anxious　to　hold　you　to　your　bet。〃

〃Pray　intercede　for　me　with　the　count；　madam；〃　answered　Hugh；
sarcastically。　〃He　would　not　wish　the　young　fool　to　be　frightened；　I
daresay。　　But　perhaps　he　wishes　to　have　an　interview　with　the　ghost
himself；　and　grudges　me　the　privilege。〃

She　turned　deadly　pale　this　time；　and　gave　him　one　terrified　glance；
but　made　no　other　reply　to　his　words。　　Still　she　played　on。

〃You　will　arm　yourself？〃

〃Against　a　ghost？　　Yes；　with　a　stout　heart。〃

〃But　don't　forget　the　secret　door　through　which　we　came　that　night；
Hugh。　I　distrust　the　count。〃

The　last　words　were　spoken　in　a　whisper；　emphasized　into　almost　a
hiss。

〃Tell　him　I　shall　be　armed。　　I　tell　you　I　shall　meet　him
bare…handed。　　Betray　me　if　you　like。〃

Hugh　had　taken　his　revenge；　and　now　came　the　reaction。　　He　gazed　at
Euphra；　but　instead　of　the　injured　look；　which　was　the　best　he　could
hope　to　see；　an　expression　of　〃pity　and　ruth〃　grew　slowly　in　her
face；　making　it　more　lovely　than　ever　in　his　eyes。　　At　last　she
seemed　on　the　point　of　bursting　into　tears；　and；　suddenly　changing
the　music；　she　began　playing　a　dead…march。　　She　kept　her　eyes　on　the
keys。　　Once　more；　only；　she　glanced　round；　to　see　whether　Hugh　was
still　by　her　side；　and　he　saw　that　her　face　was　pale　as　death；　and
wet　with　silent　tears。　　He　had　never　seen　her　weep　before。　　He　would
have　fallen　at　her　feet；　had　he　been　alone　with　her。　　To　hide　his
feelings；　he　left　the　room；　and　then　the　house。

He　wandered　into　the　Ghost's　Walk；　and；　finding　himself　there；
walked　up　and　down　in　it。　　This　was　certainly　throwing　the　lady　a
bold　challenge；　seeing　he　was　going　to　spend　the　night　in　her　room。

The　excitement　into　which　jealousy　had　thrown　him；　had　been　suddenly
checked　by　the　sight　of　Euphra's　tears。　　The　reaction；　too；　after
his　partial　intoxication；　had　already　begun　to　set　in；　to　be
accounted　for　partly　by　the　fact　that　its　source　had　been　chiefly
champagne；　and　partly　by　the　other　fact；　that　he　had　bound　himself
in　honour；　to　dare　a　spectre　in　her　own　favourite　haunt。

On　the　other　hand；　the　sight　of　Euphra's　emotion　had　given　him　a　far
better　courage　than　jealousy　or　wine　could　afford。　　Yet；　after　ten
minutes　passed　in　the　shadows　of　the　Ghost's　Walk；　he　would　not　have
taken　the　bet　at　ten　times　its　amount。

But　to　lose　it　now　would　have　been　a　serious　affair　for　him；　the
disgrace　of　failure　unconsidered。　　If　he　could　have　lost　a　hundred
guineas；　it　would　have　been　comparatively　a　slight　matter；　but　to
lose　a　bet；　and　be　utterly　unable　to　pay　it；　would　be
disgracefulno　better　than　positive　cheating。　　He　had　not　thought
of　this　at　the　time。　　Nor；　even　now；　was　it　more　than　a　passing
thought；　for　he　had　not　the　smallest　desire　to　recede。　　The　ambition
of　proving　hi