classic mystery and detective stories-第40节

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represented　beautifully　tortured；　writhing　and　howling；　and

〃Mahomet！　Mahomet！〃　issuing　out　of　their　mouths；　as　they　called　on

him　in　their　burning　agonies；you　could　almost　hear　them　scream。

At　the　upper　end　of　the　room；　under　a　splendid　estrade；　over　which

was　an　image　of　the　blessed　Virgin；　sat　Donna　Isabella　de　Cardoza；

mother　to　the　bride；　and　near　her　Donna　Ines；　the　bride；　on　rich

almohadas；　the　bridegroom　sat　opposite　to　her；　and　though　they

never　spoke　to　each　other；　their　eyes；　slowly　raised；　but　suddenly

withdrawn　（those　eyes　that　blushed）；　told　to　each　other　the

delicious　secret　of　their　happiness。　　Don　Pedro　de　Cardoza　had

assembled　a　large　party　in　honor　of　his　daughter's　nuptials；　among

them　was　an　Englishman　of　the　name　of　MELMOTH；　a　traveler；　no　one

knew　who　had　brought　him　there。　　He　sat　silent　like　the　rest；　while

the　iced　waters　and　the　sugared　wafers　were　presented　to　the

company。　　The　night　was　intensely　hot；　and　the　moon　glowed　like　a

sun　over　the　ruins　of　Saguntum；　the　embroidered　blinds　flapped

heavily；　as　if　the　wind　made　an　effort　to　raise　them　in　vain；　and

then　desisted。



（Another　defect　in　the　manuscript　occurred　here；　but　it　was　soon

supplied。）



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The　company　were　dispersed　through　various　alleys　of　the　garden；

the　bridegroom　and　bride　wandered　through　one　where　the　delicious

perfume　of　the　orange　trees　mingled　itself　with　that　of　the　myrtles

in　blow。　　On　their　return　to　the　ball；　both　of　them　asked；　Had　the

company　heard　the　exquisite　sounds　that　floated　through　the　garden

just　before　they　quitted　it？　　No　one　had　heard　them。　　They

expressed　their　surprise。　　The　Englishman　had　never　quitted　the

hall；　it　was　said　he　smiled　with　a　most　particular　and

extraordinary　expression　as　the　remark　was　made。　　His　silence　had

been　noticed　before；　but　it　was　ascribed　to　his　ignorance　of　the

Spanish　language；　an　ignorance　that　Spaniards　are　not　anxious

either　to　expose　or　remove　by　speaking　to　a　stranger。　　The　subject

of　the　music　was　not　again　reverted　to　till　the　guests　were　seated

at　supper；　when　Donna　Ines　and　her　young　husband；　exchanging　a

smile　of　delighted　surprise；　exclaimed　they　heard　the　same

delicious　sounds　floating　round　them。　　The　guests　listened；　but　no

one　else　could　hear　it；everyone　felt　there　was　something

extraordinary　in　this。　　Hush！　was　uttered　by　every　voice　almost　at

the　same　moment。　　A　dead　silence　followed；you　would　think；　from

their　intent　looks；　that　they　listened　with　their　very　eyes。　　This

deep　silence；　contrasted　with　the　splendor　of　the　feast；　and　the

light　effused　from　torches　held　by　the　domestics；　produced　a

singular　effect；it　seemed　for　some　moments　like　an　assembly　of

the　dead。　　The　silence　was　interrupted；　though　the　cause　of　wonder

had　not　ceased；　by　the　entrance　of　Father　Olavida；　the　Confessor　of

Donna　Isabella；　who　had　been　called　away　previous　to　the　feast；　to

administer　extreme　unction　to　a　dying　man　in　the　neighborhood。　　He

was　a　priest　of　uncommon　sanctity；　beloved　in　the　family；　and

respected　in　the　neighborhood；　where　he　had　displayed　uncommon

taste　and　talents　for　exorcism；in　fact；　this　was　the　good

Father's　forte；　and　he　piqued　himself　on　it　accordingly。　　The　devil

never　fell　into　worse　hands　than　Father　Olavida's；　for　when　he　was

so　contumacious　as　to　resist　Latin；　and　even　the　first　verses　of

the　Gospel　of　St。　John　in　Greek；　which　the　good　Father　never　had

recourse　to　but　in　cases　of　extreme　stubbornness　and　difficulty；

（here　Stanton　recollected　the　English　story　of　the　Boy　of　Bilson；

and　blushed　even　in　Spain　for　his　countrymen）；then　he　always

applied　to　the　Inquisition；　and　if　the　devils　were　ever　so

obstinate　before；　they　were　always　seen　to　fly　out　of　the

possessed；　just　as；　in　the　midst　of　their　cries　（no　doubt　of

blasphemy）；　they　were　tied　to　the　stake。　　Some　held　out　even　till

the　flames　surrounded　them；　but　even　the　most　stubborn　must　have

been　dislodged　when　the　operation　was　over；　for　the　devil　himself

could　no　longer　tenant　a　crisp　and　glutinous　lump　of　cinders。　　Thus

Father　Olavida's　fame　spread　far　and　wide；　and　the　Cardoza　family

had　made　uncommon　interest　to　procure　him　for　a　Confessor；　and

happily　succeeded。　　The　ceremony　he　had　just　been　performing　had

cast　a　shade　over　the　good　Father's　countenance；　but　it　dispersed

as　he　mingled　among　the　guests；　and　was　introduced　to　them。　　Room

was　soon　made　for　him；　and　he　happened　accidentally　to　be　seated

opposite　the　Englishman。　　As　the　wine　was　presented　to　him；　Father

Olavida　（who；　as　I　observed；　was　a　man　of　singular　sanctity）

prepared　to　utter　a　short　internal　prayer。　　He　hesitated；

trembled；desisted；　and；　putting　down　the　wine；　wiped　the　drops

from　his　forehead　with　the　sleeve　of　his　habit。　　Donna　Isabella

gave　a　sign　to　a　domestic；　and　other　wine　of　a　higher　quality　was

offered　to　him。　　His　lips　moved；　as　if　in　the　effort　to　pronounce　a

benediction　on　it　and　the　company；　but　the　effort　again　failed；　and

the　change　in　his　countenance　was　so　extraordinary；　that　it　was

perceived　by　all　the　guests。　　He　felt　the　sensation　that　his

extraordinary　appearance　excited；　and　attempted　to　remove　it　by

again　endeavoring　to　lift　the　cup　to　his　lips。　　So　strong　was　the

anxiety　with　which　the　company　watched　him；　that　the　only　sound

heard　in　that　spacious　and　crowded　hall　was　the　rustling　of　his

habit　as　he　attempted　to　lift　the　cup　to　his　lips　once　morein

vain。　　The　guests　sat　in　astonished　silence。　　Father　Olavida　alone

remained　standing；　but　at　that　moment　the　Englishman　rose；　and

appeared　determined　to　fix　Olavida's　regards　by　a　gaze　like　that　of

fascination。　　Olavida　rocked；　reeled；　grasped　the　arm　of　a　page；

and　at　last；　closing　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　as　if　to　escape　the

horrible　fascination　of　that　unearthly　glare　（the　Englishman's　eyes

were　observed　by　all　the　guests；　from　the　moment　of　his　entrance；

to　effuse　a　most　fearful　and　preternatural　luster）；　exclaimed；　〃Who

is　among　us？Who？I　cannot　utter　a　blessing　while　he　is　here。　　I

cannot　feel　one。　　Where　he　treads；　the　earth　is　parched！Where　he

breathes；　the　air　is　fire！Where　he　feeds；　the　food　is　poison！

Where　he　turns　his　glance　is　lightning！WHO　IS　AMONG　US？WHO？〃

repeated　the　priest　in　the　agony　of　adjuration；　while　his　cowl

fallen　back；　his　few　thin　hairs　around　the　scalp　instinct　and　alive

with　terrible　emotion；　his　outspread　arms　protruded　from　the

sleeves　of　his　habit；　and　extended　toward　the　awful　stranger；

suggested　the　idea　of　an　inspired　being　in　the　dreadful　rapture　of

prophetic　denunciation。　　He　stoodstill　stood；　and　the　Englishman

stood　calmly　opposite　to　him。　　There　was　an　agitated　irregularity

in　the　attitudes　of　those　around　them；　which　contrasted　strongly

the　fixed　and　stern　postures　of　those　two；　who　remained　gazing

silently　at　each　other。　　〃Who　knows　him？〃　exclaimed　Olavida；

starting　apparently　from　a　trance；　〃who　knows　him？　who　brought　him

here？〃



The　guests　severally　disclaimed　all　knowledge　of　the　Englishman；

and　each　asked　the　other　in　whispers；　〃who　HAD　brought　him　there？〃

Father　Olavida　then　pointed　his　arm　to　each　of　the　company；　and

asked　each　individually；　〃Do　you　know　him？〃　　No！　no！　no！〃　was

uttered　with　vehement　emphasis　by　every　individual。　　〃But　I　know

him；〃　said　Olavida；　〃by　these　cold　drops！〃　and　he　wiped　them　off；

〃by　these　convulsed　joints！〃　and　he　attempted　to　sign　the　cross；

but　could　not。　　He　raised　his　voice；　and　evidently　speaking　with

increased　difficulty；〃By　this　bread　and　wine；　which　the　faithful

receive　as　the　body　and　blood　of　Christ；　but　which　HIS　presence

converts　into　matter　as　viperous　as　the　suicide　foam　of　the　dying

Judas；by　all　theseI　know　him；　and　command　him　to　be　gone！He

ishe　is〃　and　he　bent　forward　as　he　spoke；　and　gazed　on　the

Englishman　with　an　expression　which　the　mixture　of　rage；　hatred；

and　fear　rendered　terrible。　　All　the　guests　rose　at　these　words；

the　whole　company　now　presented　two　singular　groups；　that　of　the

amazed　guests　all　collected　together；　and　repeating；　〃Who；　what　is

he？〃　and　that　of　the　Englishman；　who　stood　unmoved；　and　Olavida；

who　dropped　dead　in　the　attitude　of　pointing　to　him。



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The　body　was　removed　into　another　room；　and　the　departure　of　the

Englishman　was　not　noticed　till　the　company　returned　to　the　hall。

They　sat　late　together；　conversing　on　this　extraordinary

circumstance；　and　finally　agreed　to　remain　in　the　house；　lest　the

evil　spirit　（for　they　believed　the　Englishman　no　better）　should

take　certain　liberties　with　the　corse　by　no　means　agreeable　to　a

Catholic；　particularly　as　he　had　manifestly　died　without　the

benefit　of　the　last　sacraments。　　Just　as　this　laudable　resolution

was　formed；　they　were　roused　by　cries　of　horror　and　agony　from　the

bridal　chamber；　where　the　young　pair　had　retired。



They　hurried　to　the　door；　but　the　father　was　first。　　They　burst　it

open