donal grant-第91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！


CHAPTER　LXXIII。

IN　THE　NIGHT。

When　he　reached　the　town；　he　rode　into　the　yard　of　the　Morven　Arms；
and　having　found　a　sleepy　ostler；　gave　up　his　mare：　he　would　be
better　without　her　at　the　castle！whither　he　was　setting　out　to
walk　when　the　landlord　appeared。

〃We　didna　luik　to　see　you；　sir；　at　this　time！〃　he　said。

〃Why　not？〃　returned　Donal。

〃We　thoucht　ye　was　awa'　for　the　simmer；　seein'　ye　tuik　the　yoong
gentleman　wi'　ye；　an'　the　yerl　himsel'　followt！〃

〃Where　is　he　gone？〃　asked　Donal。

〃Oh！　dinna　ye　ken；　sir？　hae　na　ye　h'ard？〃

〃Not　a　word。〃

〃That's　verra　strange；　sir！There's　a　clean　clearance　at　the
castel。　First　gaed　my　lord　Forgue；　an'　syne　my　lord　himsel'　an'　my
lady；　an'　syne　gaed　the　hoosekeeperher　mither　was　deein'；　they
said。　I'm　thinkin'　there　maun　be　a　weddin'　to　the　fore。　There　was
some　word　o'　fittin'　up　the　auld　hoose　i'　the　toon；　'cause　lord
Forgue　didna　care　aboot　bein'　at　the　castel　ony　langer。　It's　strange
ye　haena　h'ard；　sir！〃

Donal　stood　absorbed　in　awful　hearing。　Surely　some　letter　must　have
miscarried！　The　sure　and　firm…set　earth　seemed　giving　way　under　his
feet。

〃I　will　run　up　to　the　castle；　and　hear　all　about　it；〃　he　said。　〃Look
after　my　mare；　will　you？〃

〃But　I'm　tellin'　ye；　sir；　ye'll　fin'　naebody　there！〃　said　the　man。
〃They're　a'　gane　frae　the　hoose　ony　gait。　There's　no　a　sowl　aboot
that　but　deif　Betty　Lobban；　wha　wadna　hear　the　angel　wi'　the　last
trump。　Mair　by　token；　she's　that　feart　for　robbers　she　gangs　til　her
bed　the　minute　it　begins　to　grow　dark；　an'　sticks　her　heid　'aneth
the　bed…claesno　'at　that　maks　her　ony　deifer！〃

〃Then　you　think　there　is　no　use　in　going　up？〃

〃Not　the　smallest；〃　answered　the　inn…keeper。

〃Get　me　some　supper　then。　I　will　take　a　look　at　my　mare。〃

He　went　and　saw　that　she　was　attended　tothen　set　off　for　the
castle　as　fast　as　his　legs　would　carry　him。　There　was　foul　play
beyond　a　doubt！of　what　sort　he　could　not　tell！　If　the　man's　report
was　correct；　he　would　go　straight　to　the　police！　Then　first　he
remembered；　in　addition　to　the　other　reported　absences；　that　before
he　left　with　Davie；　the　factor　and　his　sister　had　gone　together　for
a　holiday：　had　this　been　contrived？

He　mounted　the　hill　and　drew　near　the　castle。　A　terrible　gloom　fell
upon　him：　there　was　not　a　light　in　the　sullen　pile！　It　was　darksome
even　to　terror！　He　went　to　the　main　entrance；　and　rang　the　great
bell　as　loud　as　he　could　ring　it；　but　there　was　no　answer　to　the
summons；　which　echoed　and　yelled　horribly；　as　if　the　house　were
actually　empty。　He　rang　again；　and　again　came　the　horrible　yelling
echo；　but　no　more　answer　than　if　it　had　been　a　mausoleum。　He　had
been　told　what　to　expect；　yet　his　heart　sank　within　him。　Once　more
he　rang　and　waited；　but　there　was　no　sound　of　hearing。　The　place
grew　terrible　to　him。　But　his　mother　had　sent　him　there；　and　into　it
he　must　go！　He　must　at　least　learn　whether　it　was　indeed　abandoned！
There　was　false　play！　he　kept　repeating　to　himself；　but　what　was　it？
where　and　how　was　it　to　be　met？

As　to　getting　into　the　house　there　was　no　difficulty。　He　had　but　to
climb　two　walls　to　get　to　the　door　of　Baliol's　tower；　and　the　key　of
that　he　always　carried。　If　he　had　not　had　it；　he　would　yet　soon　have
got　in；　he　knew　the　place　better　than　any　one　else　about　it。　Happily
he　had　left　the　door　locked　when　he　went　away；　else　probably　they
would　have　secured　it　otherwise。　He　entered　softly；　and；　with　a
strange　feeling　of　dread；　went　winding　up　the　stair　to　his
roomslowly；　because　he　did　not　yet　know　at　all　what　he　was　to　do。
If　there　were　no　false　play；　surely　at　least　Mrs。　Brookes　would　have
written　to　tell　him　they　were　going！　If　only　he　could　learn　where
she　was！　Before　he　reached　the　top　he　found　himself　very　weary。　He
staggered　in；　and　fell　on　his　bed　in　the　dark。

But　he　could　not　rest。　The　air　seemed　stifling。　The　storm　had
lulled；　but　the　atmosphere　was　full　of　thunder。　He　got　up　and　opened
the　window。　A　little　breath　came　in　and　revived　him；　then　came　a
little　wind；　and　in　the　wind　the　moan　of　its　harp。　It　woke　many
memories。　There　again　was　the　lightning！　The　thunder　broke　with　a
great　bellowing　roar　among　the　roofs　and　chimneys。　It　was　to　his
mind！　He　went　out　on　the　roof；　and　mechanically　took　his　way　toward
the　nest　of　the　music。　At　the　base　of　the　chimneys　he　sat　down；　and
stared　into　the　darkness。　The　lightning　came；　he　saw　the　sea　lie
watching　like　a　perfect　peace　to　take　up　drift　souls；　and　the　land
bordering　it　like　a　waste　of　dread；　then　the　darkness　swallowed
both；　and　the　thunder　came　so　loud　that　it　not　only　deafened　but
seemed　to　blind　him　beyond　the　darkness；　that　his　brain　turned　to　a
lump　of　clay。　Then　came　a　silence；　and　the　silence　was　like　a　deeper
deafness。　But　from　the　deafness　burst　and　trickled　a　faint　doubtful
stream：　could　it　be　a　voice；　calling；　calling；　from　a　great
distance？　Was　he　the　fool　of　weariness　and　excitement；　or　did　he
actually　hear　his　own　name？　Whose　voice　could　it　be　but　lady
Arctura's；　calling　to　him　from　the　spirit　world！　They　had　killed
her；　and　she　was　calling　to　let　him　know　she　was　in　the　land　of
liberty！　With　that　came　another　flash　and　another　roar　of
thunderand　there　was　the　voice　again：　〃Mr。　Grant！　Mr。　Grant！　come；
come！　You　promised！〃　Did　he　actually　hear　the　words？　They　sounded　so
far　away　that　it　seemed　as　if　he　ought　not　to　hear　them。　But　could
the　voice　be　from　the　spirit…land？　Would　she　claim　his　promise
thence；　tempting　him　thither？　She　would　not！　And　she　knew　he　would
not　go　before　his　hour；　if　all　the　spirits　on　the　other　side　were
calling　him。　But　he　had　heard　of　voices　from　far　away；　while　those
who　called　were　yet　in　the　body！　If　she　would　but　say　whither；　he
would　follow　her　that　moment！　Once　more　it　came；　but　very　faint；　he
could　not　tell　what　it　said。　A　wail　of　the　ghost…music　followed
close。God　in　heaven！　could　she　be　down　in　the　chapel？　He　sprang　to
his　feet。　With　superhuman　energy　he　leapt　up　and　caught　the　edge　of
the　cleft；　drew　himself　up　till　his　mouth　reached　it；　and　cried
aloud；　〃Lady　Arctura！〃

There　came　no　answer。

〃I　am　stupid　as　death！〃　he　said　to　himself：　〃I　have　let　her　call　me
in　vain！〃

〃I　am　coming！〃　he　cried　again；　revived　with　sudden　joy。　He　dropped
on　the　roof；　and　sped　down　the　stair　to　the　door　that　opened　on　the
second　floor。　All　was　dark　as　underground；　but　he　knew　the　way　so
well　he　needed　but　a　little　guidance　from　his　hands。　He　hurried　to
lady　Arctura's　chamber；　and　the　spot　where　the　press　stood；　ready
with　one　shove　to　send　it　yards　out　of　his　way。　There　was　no　press
there！nothing　but　a　smooth；　cold；　damp　wall！　His　heart　sank　within
him。　Was　he　in　a　terrible　dream？　No；　no！　he　had　but　made　a
mistakehad　trusted　too　much　to　his　knowledge　of　the　house；　and　was
not　where　he　thought　he　was！　He　struck　a　light。　Alas！　alas！　he　was
where　he　had　intended！　It　was　her　room！　There　was　the　wardrobe；　but
nearer　the　door！　Where　it　had　stood　was　no　recess！nothing　but　a
great　patch　of　fresh　plaster！　It　was　no　dream；　but　a　true　horror！

Instinctively　clutching　his　skene　dhu；　he　darted　to　the　great　stair。
It　must　have　been　the　voice　of　Arctura　he　had　heard！　She　was　walled
up　in　the　chapel！

Down　the　stair；　with　swift　noiseless　foot　he　sped；　and　stopped　at
the　door　of　the　half…way　room。　It　was　locked！

There　was　but　one　way　left！　To　the　foot　of　the　stair　he　shot。　Good
heavens！　if　that　way　also　should　have　been　known　to　the　earl！　He
crept　through　the　little　door　underneath　the　stair；　feeling　with　his
hands　ere　his　body　was　through：　the　arch　was　open！　In　an　instant　he
was　in　the　crypt。

But　now　to　get　up　through　the　opening　into　the　passage
abovestopped　with　a　heavy　slab！　He　sprang　at　the　steep　slope　of
the　window…sill；　but　there　was　no　hold；　and　as　often　as　he　sprang　he
slipped　down　again。　He　tried　and　tried　until　he　was　worn　out　and
almost　in　despair。　She　might　be　dying！　he　was　close　to　her！　he　could
not　reach　her！　He　stood　still　for　a　moment　to　think。　To　his　mind
came　the　word；　〃He　that　believeth　shall　not　make　haste。〃　He　thought
with　himself；　〃God　cannot　help　men　with　wisdom　when　their　minds　are
in　too　great　a　tumult　to　hear　what　he　says！〃　He　tried　to　lift　up　his
heart　and　make　a　silence　in　his　soul。

As　he　stood　he　seemed　to　see；　through　the　dark；　the　gloomy　place　as
it　first　appeared　when　he　threw　in　the　lighted　letter。　All　at　once
he　started　from　his　quiescence；　dropped　on　his　hands　and　knees；　and
crawled　until　he　found　the　flat　stone　like　a　gravestone。　Out　came
his　knife；　and　he　dug　away　the　earth　at　one　end；　until　he　could　get
both　hands　under　it。　Then　he　heaved　it　from　the　floor；　and　shifting
it　along；　got　it　under　the　opening　in　the　wall。




CHAPTER　LXXIV。

A　MORAL　FUNGUS。

Spiritual　insanity；　cupidity；　cruelty；　and　possibly　immediate
demoniacal　temptation　had　long　been　working　in　and　on　a　mind　that
had　now　ceased　almost　to　distinguish　between　the　real　and　the
unreal。　Every　man　who　bends　the　energies　of　an　immortal　spirit　to
further　the　ends　and　objects　of　his　lower　being；　fails　so　to
distinguish；　but　with　the　earl　the　blindness　had　wrought　outward　as
well　as　inwardly；　so　that　he　was　even　unable；　during　considerable
portion