donal grant-第61节

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warnin'；　ye'll　be　wi'　me　whan　I　gang？　It　may　be　a　comfort　to
mysel'I　dinna　kennane　can　tell　'at　hasna　dee'd　aforenor　even
than；　for　deiths　are　sae　different！doobtless　Lazarus's　twa　deiths
war　far　frae　alike！but　it'll　be　a　great　comfort　to　DooryI'm
clear　upo'　that。　She　winna　fin'　hersel'　sae　lanesome　like；　losin'
sicht　o'　her　auld　man；　gien　the　freen'　o'　his　hert　be　aside　her　whan
he　gangs。〃

〃Please　God；　I'll　be　at　yer　comman'；〃　said　Donal。

〃Noo　cry　upo'　Doory；　for　I　wudna　see　less　o'　her　nor　I　may。　It　may
be　years　'afore　I　get　a　sicht　o'　her　lo'in'　face　again！　But　the　same
Lord　's　in　her　an'　i'　me；　an'　we　canna　far　be　sun'ert；　hooever　lang
the　time　'afore　we　meet　again。〃

Donal　called　Doory；　and　took　his　leave。




CHAPTER　XLVII。

MORVEN　HOUSE

Opposite　Morven　House　was　a　building　which　had　at　one　time　been　the
stables　to　it；　but　was　now　part　of　a　brewery；　a　high　wall　shut　it
off　from　the　street；　it　was　dinner…time　with　the　humbler　people　of
the　town；　and　there　was　not　a　soul　visible；　when　Donal　put　the　key
in　the　lock　of　the　front　door；　opened　it；　and　went　in：　he　had　timed
his　entrance　so；　desiring　to　avoid　idle　curiosity；　and　bring　no
gathering　feet　about　the　house。　Almost　on　tiptoe　he　entered　the
lofty　hall；　high　above　the　first　story。　The　dust　lay　thick　on　a
large　marble　tablebut　what　was　that？a　streak　across　it；　brushed
sharply　through　the　middle　of　the　dust！　It　was　strange！　But　he　would
not　wait　to　speculate　on　the　agent！　The　room　to　which　the　earl　had
directed　him　was　on　the　first　floor；　and　he　ascended　to　it　at
onceby　the　great　oak　staircase　which　went　up　the　sides　of　the
hall。

The　house　had　not　been　dismantled；　although　things　had　at　different
times　been　taken　from　it；　and　when　Donal　opened　a　leaf　of　shutter；
he　saw　tables　and　chairs　and　cabinets　inlaid　with　silver　and　ivory。
The　room　looked　stately；　but　everything　was　deep　in　dust；　carpets
and　curtains　were　thick　with　the　deserted　sepulchres　of　moths；　and
the　air　somehow　suggested　a　tomb：　Donal　thought　of　the　tombs　of　the
kings　of　Egypt　before　ravaging　conquerors　broke　into　them；　when　they
were　yet　full　of　all　such　gorgeous　furniture　as　great　kings　desired；
against　the　time　when　the　souls　should　return　to　reanimate　the
bodies　so　carefully　spiced　and　stored　to　welcome　them；　and　the　great
kings　would　be　themselves　again；　with　the　added　wisdom　of　the　dead
and　judged。　Conscious　of　a　curious　timidity；　feeling　a　kind　of
awesomeness　about　every　form　in　the　room；　he　stepped　softly　to　the
bureau；　applied　its　key；　and　following　carefully　the　directions　the
earl　had　given　him；　for　the　lock　was　Italian；　with　more　than　one
quip　and　crank　and　wanton　wile　about　it；　succeeded　in　opening　it。　He
had　no　difficulty　in　finding　its　secret　place；　nor　the　packet
concealed　in　it；　but　just　as　he　laid　his　hands　on　it；　he　was　aware
of　a　swift　passage　along　the　floor　without；　past　the　door　of　the
room；　and　apparently　up　the　next　stair。　There　was　nothing　he　could
distinguish　as　footsteps；　or　as　the　rustle　of　a　dress；　it　seemed　as
if　he　had　heard　but　a　disembodied　motion！　He　darted　to　the　door；
which　he　had　by　habit　closed　behind　him；　and　opened　it　noiselessly。
The　stairs　above　as　below　were　covered　with　thick　carpet：　any　light
human　foot　might　pass　without　a　sound；　only　haste　would　murmur　the
secret　to　the　troubled　air。

He　turned；　replaced　the　packet；　and　closed　the　bureau。　If　there　was
any　one　in　the　house；　he　must　know　it；　and　who　could　tell　what　might
follow！　It　was　the　merest　ghost　of　a　sound　he　had　heard；　but　he　must
go　after　it！　Some　intruder　might　be　using　the　earl's　house　for　his
own　purposes！

Going　softly　up；　he　paused　at　the　top　of　the　second　stair；　and
looked　around　him。　An　iron…clenched　door　stood　nearly　opposite　the
head　of　it；　and　at　the　farther　end　of　a　long　passage；　on　whose　sides
were　several　closed　doors；　was　one　partly　open。　From　that　direction
came　the　sound　of　a　little　movement；　and　then　of　low　voicesone
surely　that　of　a　woman！　It　flashed　upon　him　that　this　must　be　the
trysting…place　of　Eppy　and　Forgue。　Fearing　discovery　before　he
should　have　gathered　his　wits；　he　stepped　quietly　across　the　passage
to　the　door　opposite；　opened　it；　not　without　a　little　noise；　and
went　in。

It　was　a　strange…looking　chamber　he　had　enteredthat；　doubtless；
once　occupied　by　the　ogreThe　Reid　Etin。　Even　in　the　bewilderment
of　the　moment；　the　tale　he　had　just　heard　was　so　present　to　him　that
he　cast　his　eyes　around；　and　noted　several　things　to　confirm　the
conclusion。　But　the　next　instant　came　from　below　what　sounded　like　a
thundering　knock　at　the　street　doora　single　knock；　loud　and
fiercepossibly　a　mere　runaway's　knock。　The　start　it　gave　Donal　set
his　heart　shaking　in　his　bosom。

Almost　with　it　came　a　little　cry；　and　the　sound　of　a　door　pulled
open。　Then　he　heard　a　hurried；　yet　carefully　soft　step；　which　went
down　the　stair。

〃Now　is　my　time！〃　said　Donal　to　himself。　〃She　is　alone！〃

He　came　out；　and　went　along　the　passage。　The　door　at　the　end　of　it
was　open；　and　Eppy　stood　in　it。　She　saw　him　coming；　and　gazed　with
widespread　eyes　of　terror；　as　if　it　were　The　Reid　Etin
himselfwaked；　and　coming　to　devour　her。　As　he　came；　her　blue　eyes
opened　wider；　and　seemed　to　fix　in　their　orbits；　just　as　her　name
was　on　his　lips；　she　dropped　with　a　sharp　moan。　He　caught　her　up；
and　hurried　with　her　down　the　stair。

As　he　reached　the　first　floor；　he　heard　the　sound　of　swift　ascending
steps；　and　the　next　moment　was　face　to　face　with　Forgue。　The　youth
started　back；　and　for　a　moment　stood　staring。　His　enemy　had　found
him！　But　rage　restored　to　him　his　self…possession。

〃Put　her　down；　you　scoundrel！〃　he　said。

〃She　can't　stand；〃　Donal　answered。

〃You've　killed　her；　you　damned　spy！〃

〃Then　I　have　been　more　kind　than　you！〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　her？〃

〃Take　her　home　to　her　dying　grandfather。〃

〃You've　hurt　her；　you　devil！　I　know　you　have！〃

〃She　is　only　frightened。　She　is　coming　to　herself。　I　feel　her
waking！〃

〃You　shall　feel　me　presently！〃　cried　Forgue。　〃Put　her　down；　I　say。〃

Neither　of　them　spoke　loud；　for　dread　of　neighbours。

Eppy　began　to　writhe　in　Donal's　arms。　Forgue　laid　hold　of　her；　and
Donal　was　compelled　to　put　her　down。　She　threw　herself　into　the　arms
of　her　lover；　and　was　on　the　point　of　fainting　again。

〃Get　out　of　the　house！〃　said　Forgue　to　Donal。

〃I　am　here　on　your　father's　business！〃　returned　Donal。

〃A　spy　and　informer！〃

〃He　sent　me　to　fetch　him　some　papers。〃

〃It　is　a　lie！〃　said　Forgue；　〃I　see　it　in　your　face！〃

〃So　long　as　I　speak　the　truth；〃　rejoined　Donal；　〃it　matters　little
that　you　should　think　me　a　liar。　But；　my　lord；　you　must　allow　me　to
take　Eppy　home。〃

〃A　likely　thing！〃　answered　Forgue；　drawing　Eppy　closer；　and　looking
at　him　with　contempt。

〃Give　up　the　girl；〃　said　Donal　sternly；　〃or　I　will　raise　the　town；
and　have　a　crowd　about　the　house　in　three　minutes。〃

〃You　are　the　devil！〃　cried　Forgue。　〃There！　take　herwith　the
consequences！　If　you　had　let　us　alone；　I　would　have　done　my
part。Leave　us　now；　and　I'll　promise　to　marry　her。　If　you　don't；
you　will　have　the　blame　of　what　may　happennot　I。〃

〃But　you　will；　dearest？〃　said　Eppy　in　a　tone　terrified　and
beseeching。

Gladly　she　would　have　had　Donal　hear　him　say　he　would。

Forgue　pushed　her　from　him。　She　burst　into　tears。　He　took　her　in　his
arms　again；　and　soothed　her　like　a　child；　assuring　her　he　meant
nothing　by　what　he　had　said。

〃You　are　my　own！〃　he　went　on；　〃you　know　you　are；　whatever　our
enemies　may　drive　us　to！　Nothing　can　part　us。　Go　with　him；　my
darling；　for　the　present。　The　time　will　come　when　we　shall　laugh　at
them　all。　If　it　were　not　for　your　sake；　and　the　scandal　of　the
thing；　I　would　send　the　rascal　to　the　bottom　of　the　stair。　But　it　is
better　to　be　patient。〃

Sobbing　bitterly；　Eppy　went　with　Donal。　Forgue　stood　shaking　with
impotent　rage。

When　they　reached　the　street；　Donal　turned　to　lock　the　door。　Eppy
darted　from　him；　and　ran　down　the　close；　thinking　to　go　in　again　by
the　side　door。　But　it　was　locked；　and　Donal　was　with　her　in　a
moment。

〃You　go　home　alone；　Eppy；〃　he　said；　〃it　will　be　just　as　well　I
should　not　go　with　you。　I　must　see　lord　Forgue　out　of　the　house。〃

〃Eh；　ye　winna　hurt　him！〃　pleaded　Eppy。

〃Not　if　I　can　help　it。　I　don't　want　to　hurt　him。　You　go　home。　It
will　be　better　for　him　as　well　as　you。〃

She　went　slowly　away；　weeping；　but　trying　to　keep　what　show　of　calm
she　could。　Donal　waited　a　minute　or　two；　went　back　to　the　front
door；　entered；　and　hastening　to　the　side　door　took　the　key　from　the
lock。　Then　returning　to　the　hall；　he　cried　from　the　bottom　of　the
stair；

〃My　lord；　I　have　both　the　keys；　the　side　door　is　locked；　I　am　about
to　lock　the　front　door；　and　I　do　not　want　to　shut　you　in。　Pray；　come
down。〃

Forgue　came　leaping　down　the　stair；　and　threw　himself　upon　Donal　in
a　fierce　attempt　after　the　key　in　his　hand。　The　sudden　assault
staggered　him；　and　he　fell　on　the　floor　with　Forgue　above　him；　who
sought　to　wrest　the　key　from　him。　But　Donal　was　much　the　stronger；
he　threw　his　assailant　off　him；　and　for　a　moment　was　tempted　to　give
him　a　good　thrashing。　From　this　the　thought　of　Eppy　helped　to
restrain　him；　and