joan of naples-第12节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


capital；　who　had　succumbed　to　torpor　in　the　enervating　softness　of　the　day。　　The　whole　town　was　waking　from　a　long　siesta；　breathing　freely　after　a　sleepy　interval：　the　Molo　was　covered　with　a　crowd　of　eager　people　dressed　out　in　the　brightest　colours；　the　many　cries　of　a　festival；　joyous　songs；　love　ditties　sounded　from　all　quarters　of　the　vast　amphitheatre；　which　is　one　of　the　chief　marvels　of　creation：　they　came　to　the　ears　of　Joan；　and　she　listened　as　she　bent　over　her　work；　absorbed　in　deep　thought。　　Suddenly；　when　she　seemed　most　busily　occupied；　the　indefinable　feeling　of　someone　near　at　hand；　and　the　touch　of　something　on　her　shoulder；　made　her　start：　she　turned　as　though　waked　from　a　dream　by　contact　with　a　serpent；　and　perceived　her　husband；　magnificently　dressed；　carelessly　leaning　against　the　back　of　her　chair。　　For　a　long　time　past　the　prince　had　not　come　to　his　wife　in　this　familiar　fashion；　and　to　the　queen　the　pretence　of　affection　and　careless　behaviour　augured　ill。　　Andre　did　not　appear　to　notice　the　look　of　hatred　and　terror　that　had　escaped　Joan　in　spite　of　herself；　and　assuming　the　best　expression　of　gentleness　as　that　his　straight　hard　features　could　contrive　to　put　on　in　such　circumstances　as　these；　he　smilingly　asked

〃Why　are　you　making　this　pretty　cord；　dear　dutiful　wife？〃

〃To　hang　you　with；　my　lord；〃　replied　the　queen；　with　a　smile。

Andre　shrugged　his　shoulders；　seeing　in　the　threat　so　incredibly　rash　nothing　more　than　a　pleasantry　in　rather　bad　taste。　　But　when　he　saw　that　Joan　resumed　her　work；　he　tried　to　renew　the　conversation。

〃I　admit；〃　he　said；　in　a　perfectly　calm　voice；　〃that　my　question　is　quite　unnecessary：　from　your　eagerness　to　finish　this　handsome　piece　of　work；　I　ought　to　suspect　that　it　is　destined　for　some　fine　knight　of　yours　whom　you　propose　to　send　on　a　dangerous　enterprise　wearing　your　colours。　　If　so；　my　fair　queen；　I　claim　to　receive　my　orders　from　your　lips：　appoint　the　time　and　place　for　the　trial；　and　I　am　sure　beforehand　of　carrying　off　a　prize　that　I　shall　dispute　with　all　your　adorers。〃

〃That　is　not　so　certain；〃　said　Joan；　〃if　you　are　as　valiant　in　war　as　in　love。〃　　And　she　cast　on　her　husband　a　look　at　once　seductive　and　scornful；　beneath　which　the　young　man　blushed　up　to　his　eyes。

〃I　hope；〃　said　Andre；　repressing　his　feelings；〃I　hope　soon　to　give　you　such　proofs　of　my　affection　that　you　will　never　doubt　it　again。〃

〃And　what　makes　you　fancy　that；　my　lord？〃

〃I　would　tell　you；　if　you　would　listen　seriously。〃

〃I　am　listening。〃

〃Well；　it　is　a　dream　I　had　last　night　that　gives　me　such　confidence　in　the　future。〃

〃A　dream！　　You　surely　ought　to　explain　that。〃

〃I　dreamed　that　there　was　a　grand　fete　in　the　town：　an　immense　crowd　filled　the　streets　like　an　overflowing　torrent；　and　the　heavens　were　ringing　with　their　shouts　of　joy；　the　gloomy　granite　facades　were　hidden　by　hangings　of　silk　and　festoons　of　flowers；　the　churches　were　decorated　as　though　for　some　grand　ceremony。　　I　was　riding　side　by　side　with　you。〃　　Joan　made　a　haughty　movement：　〃Forgive　me；　madam；　it　was　only　a　dream：　I　was　on　your　right；　riding　a　fine　white　horse；　magnificently　caparisoned；　and　the　chief…justice　of　the　kingdom　carried　before　me　a　flag　unfolded　in　sign　of　honour。　　After　riding　in　triumph　through　the　main　thoroughfares　of　the　city；　we　arrived；　to　the　sound　of　trumpets　and　clarions；　at　the　royal　church　of　Saint　Clara；　where　your　grandfather　and　my　uncle　are　buried；　and　there；　before　the　high　altar；　the　pope's　ambassador　laid　your　hand　in　mine　and　pronounced　a　long　discourse；　and　then　on　our　two　heads　in　turn　placed　the　crown　of　Jerusalem　and　Sicily；　after　which　the　nobles　and　the　people　shouted　in　one　voice；　'Long　live　the　King　and　Queen　of　Naples！'　　And　I；　wishing　to　perpetuate　the　memory　of　so　glorious　a　day；　proceeded　to　create　knights　among　the　most　zealous　in　our　court。〃

〃And　do　you　not　remember　the　names　of　the　chosen　persons　whom　you　judged　worthy　of　your　royal　favours？〃

〃Assuredly；　madam：　Bertrand；　Count　of　Artois　〃

〃Enough；　my　lord；　I　excuse　you　from　naming　the　rest：　I　always　supposed　you　were　loyal　and　generous；　but　you　give　me　fresh　proof　of　it　by　showing　favour　to　men　whom　I　most　honour　and　trust。　　I　cannot　tell　if　your　wishes　are　likely　soon　to　be　realised；　but　in　any　case　feel　sure　of　my　perpetual　gratitude。〃

Joan's　voice　did　not　betray　the　slightest　emotion；　her　look　had　became　kind；　and　the　sweetest　smile　was　on　her　lips。　　But　in　her　heart　Andre's　death　was　from　that　moment　decided　upon。　　The　prince；　too　much　preoccupied　with　his　own　projects　of　vengeance；　and　too　confident　in　his　all…powerful　talisman　and　his　personal　valour；　had　no　suspicion　that　his　plans　could　be　anticipated。　　He　conversed　a　long　time　with　his　wife　in　a　chatting；　friendly　way；　trying　to　spy　out　her　secret；　and　exposing　his　own　by　his　interrupted　phrases　and　mysterious　reserves。　　When　he　fancied　that　every　cloud　of　former　resentment；　even　the　lightest；　had　disappeared　from　Joan's　brow；　he　begged　her　to　go　with　her　suite　on　a　magnificent　hunting　expedition　that　he　was　organising　for　the　20th　of　August；　adding　that　such　a　kindness　on　her　part　would　be　for　him　a　sure　pledge　of　their　reconciliation　and　complete　forgetfulness　of　the　past。　　Joan　promised　with　a　charming　grace；　and　the　prince　retired　fully　satisfied　with　the　interview；　carrying　with　him　the　conviction　that　he　had　only　to　threaten　to　strike　a　blow　at　the　queen's　favourite　to　ensure　her　obedience；　perhaps　even　her　love。

But　on　the　eve　of　the　20th　of　August　a　strange　and　terrible　scene　was　being　enacted　in　the　basement　storey　of　one　of　the　lateral　towers　of　Castel　Nuovo。　　Charles　of　Durazzo；　who　had　never　ceased　to　brood　secretly　over　his　infernal　plans；　had　been　informed　by　the　notary　whom　he　had　charged　to　spy　upon　the　conspirators；　that　on　that　particular　evening　they　were　about　to　hold　a　decisive　meeting；　and　therefore；　wrapped　in　a　black　cloak；　he　glided　into　the　underground　corridor　and　hid　himself　behind　a　pillar；　there　to　await　the　issue　of　the　conference。　　After　two　dreadful　hours　of　suspense；　every　second　marked　out　by　the　beating　of　his　heart；　Charles　fancied　he　heard　the　sound　of　a　door　very　carefully　opened；　the　feeble　ray　of　a　lantern　in　the　vault　scarcely　served　to　dispel　the　darkness；　but　a　man　coining　away　from　the　wall　approached　him　walking　like　a　living　statue。　Charles　gave　a　slight　cough；　the　sign　agreed　upon。　　The　man　put　out　hid　light　and　hid　away　the　dagger　he　had　drawn　in　case　of　a　surprise。

〃Is　it　you；　Master　Nicholas？〃　asked　the　duke　in　a　low　voice。

〃It　is　I；　my　lord。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃They　have　just　fixed　the　prince's　death　for　tomorrow；　on　his　way　to　the　hunt。〃

〃Did　you　recognise　every　conspirator？〃

〃Every　one；　though　their　faces　were　masked；　when　they　gave　their　vote　for　death；　I　knew　them　by　their　voices。〃

〃Could　you　point　out　to　me　who　they　are？〃

〃Yes；　this　very　minute；　they　are　going　to　pass　along　at　the　end　of　this　corridor。　　And　see；　here　is　Tommaso　Pace　walking　in　front　of　them　to　light　their　way。〃

Indeed；　a　tall　spectral　figure；　black　from　head　to　foot；　his　face　carefully　hidden　under　a　velvet　mask；　walked　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　lamp　in　hand；　and　stopped　at　the　first　step　of　a　staircase　which　led　to　the　upper　floors。　　The　conspirators　advanced　slowly；　two　by　two；　like　a　procession　of　ghosts；　appeared　for　one　moment　in　the　circle　of　light　made　by　the　torch；　and　again　disappeared　into　shadow。

〃See；　there　are　Charles　and　Bertrand　of　'Artois；〃　said　the　notary；　〃　there　are　the　Counts　of　Terlizzi　and　Catanzaro；　the　grand　admiral　and　grand　seneschal；　Godfrey　of　Marsan；　Count　of　Squillace；　and　Robert　of　Cabane；　Count　of　Eboli；　the　two　women　talking　in　a　low　voice　with　the　eager　gesticulations　are　Catherine　of　Tarentum；　Empress　of　Constantinople；　and　Philippa　the　Catanese；　the　queen's　governess　and　chief　lady；　there　is　Dona　Cancha；　chamberwoman　and　confidante　of　Joan；　and　there　is　the　Countess　of　Morcone。〃

The　notary　stopped　on　beholding　a　shadow　alone；　its　head　bowed；　with　arms　hanging　loosely；　choking　back　her　sobs　beneath　a　hood　of　black。

〃Who　is　the　woman　who　seems　to　drag　herself　so　painfully　along　in　their　train？〃　asked　the　duke；　pressing　his　companion's　arm。

That　woman；〃　said　the　notary；　〃is　the　queen。〃　　〃Ah；　now　I　see；〃　thought　Charles；　breathing　freely；　with　the　same　sort　of　satisfaction　that　Satan　no　doubt　feels　when　a　long　coveted　soul　falls　at　length　into　his　power。

〃And　now；　my　lord；〃　continued　Master　Nicholas；　when　all　had　returned　once　more　into　silence　and　darkness；　〃if　you　have　bidden　me　spy　on　these　conspirators　with　a　view　to　saving　the　young　prince　you　are　protecting　with　love　and　vigilance；　you　must　hurry　forward；　for　to…　morrow　maybe　it　will　be　too　late。〃

〃Follow　me；〃　cried　the　duke　imperiously；　〃it　is　time　you　should　know　my　real　intention；　and　then　carry　out　my　orders　with　scrupulous　exactness。〃

With　these　words　he　drew　him　aside　to　a　place　opposite　to　where　the　conspirators　had　just　disappeared。　　The　notary　mechanically　followed　through　a　labyrinth　of　dark　corridors　and　secret　staircases；　quite　at　a　loss　how　to　account　for　the　sudden　change　that　had　come　over　his　mastercrossing　one　of　the　ante…chambers　in　the　castle；　they