the black robe-第69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！
accompanied at intervals by the muffled thump of fanatic
worshipers penitentially beating their breasts。 On a sudden the
organ ceased； the self…inflicted blows of the penitents were
heard no more。 In the breathless silence that followed； a man
robed in black mounted the black platform； and faced the
congregation。 His hair had become prematurely gray； his face was
of the ghastly paleness of the great crucifix at his side。 The
light of the candle； falling on him as he slowly turned his head；
cast shadows into the hollows of his cheeks； and glittered in his
gleaming eyes。 In tones low and trembling at first； he stated the
subject of his address。 A week since； two noteworthy persons had
died in Rome on the same day。 One of them was a woman of
exemplary piety； whose funeral obsequies had been celebrated in
that church。 The other was a criminal charged with homicide under
provocation； who had died in prison； refusing the services of the
priestimpenitent to the last。 The sermon followed the spirit of
the absolved woman to its eternal reward in heaven； and described
the meeting with dear ones who had gone before； in terms so
devout and so touching that the women near us； and even some of
the men； burst into tears。 Far different was the effect produced
when the preacher； filled with the same overpowering sincerity of
belief which had inspired his description of the joys of heaven；
traced the downward progress of the lost man； from his impenitent
death…bed to his doom in hell。 The dreadful superstition of
everlasting torment became doubly dreadful in the priest's
fervent words。 He described the retributive voices of the mother
and the brother of the murdered man ringing incessantly in the
ears of the homicide。 〃I； who speak to you； hear the voices；〃 he
cried。 〃Assassin！ assassin！ where are you？ I see himI see the
assassin hurled into his place in the sleepless ranks of the
damnedI see him； dripping with the flames that burn forever；
writhing under the torments that are without respite and without
end。〃 The climax of this terrible effort of imagination was
reached when he fell on his knees and prayed with sobs and cries
of entreatyprayed； pointing to the crucifix at his sidethat
he and all who heard him might die the death of penitent sinners；
absolved in the divinely atoning name of Christ。 The hysterical
shrieks of women rang through the church。 I could endure it no
longer。 I hurried into the street； and breathed again freely；
when I looked up at the cloudless beauty of the night sky； bright
with the peaceful radiance of the stars。
And this man was Romayne！ I had last met with him among his
delightful works of art； an enthusiast in literature； the
hospitable master of a house filled with comforts and luxuries to
its remotest corner。 And now I had seen what Rome had made of
him。
〃Yes；〃 said my companion； 〃the Ancient Church not only finds out
the men who can best serve it； but develops qualities in those
men of which they have been themselves unconscious。 The advance
which Roman Catholic Christianity has been； and is still； making
has its intelligible reason。 Thanks to the great Reformation； the
papal scandals of past centuries have been atoned for by the
exemplary lives of servants of the Church； in high places and low
places alike。 If a new Luther arose among us； where would he now
find abuses sufficiently wicked and widely spread to shock the
sense of decency in Christendom？ He would find them nowhereand
he would probably return to the respectable shelter of the Roman
sheepfold。〃
I listened； without making any remark。 To tell the truth； I was
thinking of Stella。
March 6。I have been to Civita Vecchia； to give a little
farewell entertainment to the officers and crew before they take
the yacht back to England。
In a few words I said at parting； I mentioned that it was my
purpose to make an offer for the purchase of the vessel； and that
my guests should hear from me again on the subject。 This
announcement was received with enthusiasm。 I really like my
crewand I don't think it is vain in me to believe that they
return the feeling； from the sailing…master to the cabin…boy。 My
future life； after all that has passed； is likely to be a roving
life； unlessNo！ I may think sometimes of that happier prospect；
but I had better not put my thoughts into w ords。 I have a fine
vessel； I have plenty of money； and I like the sea。 There are
three good reasons for buying the yacht。
Returning to Rome in the evening； I found waiting for me a letter
from Stella。
She writes （immediately on the receipt of my telegram） to make a
similar request to the request addressed to me by her mother。 Now
that I am at Rome； she too wants to hear news of a Jesuit priest。
He is absent on a foreign mission； and his name is Penrose。 〃You
shall hear what obligations I owe to his kindness；〃 she writes；
〃when we meet。 In the meantime； I will only say that he is the
exact opposite of Father Benwell； and that I should be the most
ungrateful of women if I did not feel the truest interest in his
welfare。〃
This is strange； and； to my mind； not satisfactory。 Who is
Penrose？ and what has he done to deserve such strong expressions
of gratitude？ If anybody had told me that Stella could make a
friend of a Jesuit； I am afraid I should have returned a rude
answer。 Well； I must wait for further enlightenment； and apply to
the landlord's nephew once more。
March 7。There is small prospect； I fear； of my being able to
appreciate the merits of Mr。 Penrose by personal experience。 He
is thousands of miles away from Europe； and he is in a situation
of peril； which makes the chance of his safe return doubtful in
the last degree。
The Mission to which he is attached was originally destined to
find its field of work in Central America。 Rumors of more
fighting to come； in that revolutionary part of the world；
reached Rome before the missionaries had sailed from the port of
Leghorn。 Under these discouraging circumstances； the priestly
authorities changed the destination of the Mission to the
territory of Arizona； bordering on New Mexico； and recently
purchased by the United States。 Here； in the valley of Santa
Cruz； the Jesuits had first attempted the conversion of the
Indian tribes two hundred years since； and had failed。 Their
mission…house and chapel are now a heap of ruins； and the
ferocious Apache Indians keep the fertile valley a solitude by
the mere terror of their name。 To this ill…omened place Penrose
and his companions have made their daring pilgrimage； and they
are now risking their lives in the attempt to open the hearts of
these bloodthirsty savages to the influence of Christianity。
Nothing has been yet heard of them。 At the best； no trustworthy
news is expected for months to come。
What will Stella say to this？ Anyhow； I begin to understand her
interest in Penrose now。 He is one of a company of heroes。 I am
already anxious to hear more of him。
To…morrow will be a memorable day in my calendar。 To…morrow I
leave Rome for St。 Germain。
If any further information is to be gained for Mrs。 Eyrecourt and
her daughter； I have made the necessary arrangements for
receiving it。 The banker has promised to write to me； if there is
a change in Romayne's life and prospects。 And my landlord will
take care that I hear of it； in the event of news reaching Rome
from the Mission at Arizona。
Sixth Extract。
St。 Germain； March 14。I arrived yesterday。 Between the fatigue
of the journey and the pleasurable agitation caused by seeing
Stella again； I was unfit to make the customary entry in my diary
when I retired for the night。
She is more irresistibly beautiful than ever。 Her figure （a
little too slender as I remember it） has filled out。 Her lovely
face has lost its haggard； careworn look； her complexion has
recovered its delicacy； I see again in her eyes the pure serenity
of expression which first fascinated me； years since。 It may be
due to the consoling influence of the childassisted； perhaps；
by the lapse of time and the peaceful life which she now
leadsbut this at least is certain； such a change for the better
I never could have imagined as the change I find in Stella after
a year's absence。
As for the baby； he is a bright； go
