westward ho-第90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！



〃You　are　going　to　certain　death；　Frank。〃

〃Did　I　not　entreat；〃　answered　he；　very　quietly；　〃to　go　alone？〃

Amyas　had　half　a　mind　to　compel　him　to　return：　but　he　feared　Frank's　obstinacy；　and　feared；　too；　the　shame　of　returning　on　board　without　having　done　anything；　so　they　went　up　through　the　wicket…　gate；　along　a　smooth　turf　walk；　into　what　seemed　a　pleasure…garden；　formed　by　the　hand　of　man；　or　rather　of　woman。　　For　by　the　light；　not　only　of　the　moon；　but　of　the　innumerable　fireflies；　which　flitted　to　and　fro　across　the　sward　like　fiery　imps　sent　to　light　the　brothers　on　their　way；　they　could　see　that　the　bushes　on　either　side；　and　the　trees　above　their　heads；　were　decked　with　flowers　of　such　strangeness　and　beauty；　that；　as　Frank　once　said　of　Barbados；　even　the　gardens　of　Wilton　were　a　desert　in　comparison。〃　　All　around　were　orange　and　lemon　trees　（probably　the　only　addition　which　man　had　made　to　Nature's　prodigality）；　the　fruit　of　which；　in　that　strange　colored　light　of　the　fireflies；　flashed　in　their　eyes　like　balls　of　burnished　gold　and　emerald；　while　great　white　tassels　swinging　from　every　tree　in　the　breeze　which　swept　down　the　glade；　tossed　in　their　faces　a　fragrant　snow　of　blossoms；　and　glittering　drops　of　perfumed　dew。

〃What　a　paradise！〃　said　Amyas　to　Frank；　〃with　the　serpent　in　it；　as　of　old。　　Look！〃

And　as　he　spoke；　there　dropped　slowly　down　from　a　bough；　right　before　them；　what　seemed　a　living　chain　of　gold；　ruby；　and　sapphire。　　Both　stopped；　and　another　glance　showed　the　small　head　and　bright　eyes　of　a　snake；　hissing　and　glaring　full　in　their　faces。

〃See！〃　said　Frank。　　〃And　he　comes；　as　of　old；　in　the　likeness　of　an　angel　of　light。　　Do　not　strike　it。　　There　are　worse　devils　to　be　fought　with　to…night　than　that　poor　beast。〃　　And　stepping　aside；　they　passed　the　snake　safely；　and　arrived　in　front　of　the　house。

It　was；　as　I　have　said；　a　long　low　house；　with　balconies　along　the　upper　story；　and　the　under　part　mostly　open　to　the　wind。　　The　light　was　still　burning　in　the　window。

〃Whither　now？〃　said　Amyas；　in　a　tone　of　desperate　resignation。

〃Thither！　　Where　else　on　earth？〃　and　Frank　pointed　to　the　light；　trembling　from　head　to　foot；　and　pushed　on。

〃For　Heaven's　sake！　　Look　at　the　negroes　on　the　barbecue！〃

It　was　indeed　time　to　stop；　for　on　the　barbecue；　or　terrace　of　white　plaster；　which　ran　all　round　the　front；　lay　sleeping　full　twenty　black　figures。

〃What　will　you　do　now？　　You　must　step　over　them　to　gain　an　entrance。〃

〃Wait　here；　and　I　will　go　up　gently　towards　the　window。　　She　may　see　me。　　She　will　see　me　as　I　step　into　the　moonlight。　　At　least　I　know　an　air　by　which　she　will　recognize　me；　if　I　do　but　hum　a　stave。〃

〃Why；　you　do　not　even　know　that　that　light　is　hers！Down；　for　your　life！〃

And　Amyas　dragged　him　down　into　the　bushes　on　his　left　hand；　for　one　of　the　negroes；　wakening　suddenly　with　a　cry；　had　sat　up；　and　began　crossing　himself　four　or　five　times；　in　fear　of　〃Duppy；〃　and　mumbling　various　charms；　ayes；　or　what　not。

The　light　above　was　extinguished　instantly。

〃Did　you　see　her？〃　whispered　Frank。

〃No。〃

〃I　didthe　shadow　of　the　face；　and　the　neck！　　Can　I　be　mistaken？〃　And　then；　covering　his　face　with　his　hands；　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃Misery！　misery！　　So　near　and　yet　impossible？〃

〃Would　it　be　the　less　impossible　were　you　face　to　face？　　Let　us　go　back。　　We　cannot　go　up　without　detection；　even　if　our　going　were　of　use。　　Come　back；　for　God's　sake；　ere　all　is　lost！　　If　you　have　seen　her；　as　you　say；　you　know　at　least　that　she　is　alive；　and　safe　in　his　house〃

〃As　his　mistress？　or　as　his　wife？　　Do　I　know　that　yet；　Amyas；　and　can　I　depart　until　I　know？〃　　There　was　a　few　minutes'　silence；　and　then　Amyas；　making　one　last　attempt　to　awaken　Frank　to　the　absurdity　of　the　whole　thing；　and　to　laugh　him；　if　possible；　out　of　it；　as　argument　had　no　effect

〃My　dear　fellow；　I　am　very　hungry　and　sleepy；　and　this　bush　is　very　prickly；　and　my　boots　are　full　of　ants〃

〃So　are　mine。Look！〃　and　Frank　caught　Amyas's　arm；　and　clenched　it　tight。

For　round　the　farther　corner　of　the　house　a　dark　cloaked　figure　stole　gently；　turning　a　look　now　and　then　upon　the　sleeping　negroes；　and　came　on　right　toward　them。

〃Did　I　not　tell　you　she　would　come？〃　whispered　Frank；　in　a　triumphant　tone。

Amyas　was　quite　bewildered；　and　to　his　mind　the　apparition　seemed　magical；　and　Frank　prophetic；　for　as　the　figure　came　nearer；　incredulous　as　he　tried　to　be；　there　was　no　denying　that　the　shape　and　the　walk　were　exactly　those　of　her；　to　find　whom　they　had　crossed　the　Atlantic。　　True；　the　figure　was　somewhat　taller；　but　then；　〃she　must　be　grown　since　I　saw　her；〃　thought　Amyas；　and　his　heart　for　the　moment　beat　as　fiercely　as　Frank's。

But　what　was　that　behind　her？　　Her　shadow　against　the　white　wall　of　the　house。　　Not　so。　　Another　figure；　cloaked　likewise；　but　taller　far；　was　following　on　her　steps。　　It　was　a　man's。　　They　could　see　that　he　wore　a　broad　sombrero。　　It　could　not　be　Don　Guzman；　for　he　was　at　sea。　　Who　then？　　Here　was　a　mystery；　perhaps　a　tragedy。　　And　both　brothers　held　their　breaths；　while　Amyas　felt　whether　his　sword　was　loose　in　the　sheath。

The　Rose　（if　indeed　it　was　she）　was　within　ten　yards　of　them；　when　she　perceived　that　she　was　followed。　　She　gave　a　little　shriek。　The　cavalier　sprang　forward；　lifted　his　hat　courteously；　and　joined　her；　bowing　low。　　The　moonlight　was　full　upon　his　face。

〃It　is　Eustace；　our　cousin！　　How　came　he　here；　in　the　name　of　all　the　fiends？〃

〃Eustace！　　Then　that　is　she；　after　all！〃　said　Frank；　forgetting　everything　else　in　her。

And　now　flashed　across　Amyas　all　that　had　passed　between　him　and　Eustace　in　the　moorland　inn；　and　Parracombe's　story；　too；　of　the　suspicious　gipsy。　　Eustace　had　been　beforehand　with　them；　and　warned　Don　Guzman！　　All　was　explained　now：　but　how　had　he　got　hither？

〃The　devil；　his　master；　sent　him　hither　on　a　broomstick；　I　suppose：　or　what　matter　how？　　Here　he　is；　and　here　we　are；　worse　luck！〃　And；　setting　his　teeth；　Amyas　awaited　the　end。

The　two　came　on；　talking　earnestly；　and　walking　at　a　slow　pace；　so　that　the　brothers　could　hear　every　word。

〃What　shall　we　do　now？〃　said　Frank。　　〃We　have　no　right　to　be　eavesdroppers。〃

〃But　we　must　be；　right　or　none。〃　　And　Amyas　held　him　down　firmly　by　the　arm。

〃But　whither　are　you　going；　then；　my　dear　madam？〃　they　heard　Eustace　say　in　a　wheedling　tone。　　〃Can　you　wonder　if　such　strange　conduct　should　cause　at　least　sorrow　to　your　admirable　and　faithful　husband？〃

〃Husband！〃　whispered　Frank　faintly　to　Amyas。　　〃Thank　God；　thank　God！　　I　am　content。　　Let　us　go。〃

But　to　go　was　impossible；　for；　as　fate　would　have　it；　the　two　had　stopped　just　opposite　them。

〃The　inestimable　Senor　Don　Guzman〃　began　Eustace　again。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　praising　him　to　me　in　this　fulsome　way；　sir？　Do　you　suppose　that　I　do　not　know　his　virtues　better　than　you？〃

〃If　you　do；　madam〃　（this　was　spoken　in　a　harder　tone）；　〃it　were　wise　for　you　to　try　them　less　severely；　than　by　wandering　down　towards　the　beach　on　the　very　night　that　you　know　his　most　deadly　enemies　are　lying　in　wait　to　slay　him；　plunder　his　house；　and　most　probably　to　carry　you　off　from　him。〃

〃Carry　me　off？　　I　will　die　first！〃

〃Who　can　prove　that　to　him？　　Appearances　are　at　least　against　you。〃

〃My　love　to　him；　and　his　trust　for　me；　sir！〃

〃His　trust？　　Have　you　forgotten；　madam；　what　passed　last　week；　and　why　he　sailed　yesterday？〃

The　only　answer　was　a　burst　of　tears。　　Eustace　stood　watching　her　with　a　terrible　eye；　but　they　could　see　his　face　writhing　in　the　moonlight。

〃Oh！〃　sobbed　she　at　last。　　〃And　if　I　have　been　imprudent；　was　it　not　natural　to　wish　to　look　once　more　upon　an　English　ship？　　Are　you　not　English　as　well　as　I？　　Have　you　no　longing　recollections　of　the　dear　old　land　at　home？〃

Eustace　was　silent；　but　his　face　worked　more　fiercely　than　ever。

〃How　can　he　ever　know　it？〃

〃Why　should　he　not　know　it？〃

〃Ah！〃　she　burst　out　passionately；　〃why　not；　indeed；　while　you　are　here？　　You；　sir；　the　tempter；　you　the　eavesdropper；　you　the　sunderer　of　loving　hearts！　　You；　serpent；　who　found　our　home　a　paradise；　and　see　it　now　a　hell！〃

〃Do　you　dare　to　accuse　me　thus；　madam；　without　a　shadow　of　evidence？〃

〃Dare？　　I　dare　anything；　for　I　know　all！　　I　have　watched　you；　sir；　and　I　have　borne　with　you　too　long。〃

〃Me；　madam；　whose　only　sin　towards　you；　as　you　should　know　by　now；　is　to　have　loved　you　too　well？　　Rose！　Rose！　have　you　not　blighted　my　life　for　mebroken　my　heart？　　And　how　have　I　repaid　you？　　How　but　by　sacrificing　myself　to　seek　you　over　land　and　sea；　that　I　might　complete　your　conversion　to　the　bosom　of　that　Church　where　a　Virgin　Mother　stands　stretching　forth　soft　arms　to　embrace　her　wandering　daughter；　and　cries　to　you　all　day　long；　'Come　unto　me；　ye　that　are　weary　and　heavy　laden；　and　I　will　give　you　rest！'　　And　this　is　my　reward！〃

〃Depart　with　your　Virgin　Mother；　sir；　and　tempt　me　no　more！　　You　have　asked　me　what　I　dare；　and　I　dare　this；　upon　my　own　ground；　and　in　my　own　garden；　I；　Donna　Rosa　de　Soto；　to　bid　you　leave　this　place　now　and　forever；　after　having　insulted　me　by　talking　of　your　love；　and　tempted　me　to　give　up　that　faith　which　my　husband　promised　me　he　would　respect　and　protect。　　Go；