登陆注册
5230900000033

第33章 NARRATIVE OF THE SPIRITED OLD LADY(6)

I could remain no longer passive. Persuaded that something deadly was afoot, I crossed the roadway and drew near the area railings. There was no one below; the man must therefore have entered the house, with what purpose I dreaded to imagine. I have at no part of my career lacked courage; and now, finding the area gate was merely laid to, I pushed it gently open and descended the stairs. The kitchen door of the house, like the area gate, was closed but not fastened.

It flashed upon me that the criminal was thus preparing his escape; and the thought, as it confirmed the worst of my suspicions, lent me new resolve. I entered the house; and being now quite reckless of my life, I shut and locked the door.

From the dining-room above I could hear the pleasant tones of a voice in easy conversation. On the ground floor all was not only profoundly silent, but the darkness seemed to weigh upon my eyes. Here, then, I stood for some time, having thrust myself uncalled into the utmost peril, and being destitute of any power to help or interfere. Nor will I deny that fear had begun already to assail me, when I became aware, all at once and as though by some immediate but silent incandescence, of a certain glimmering of light upon the passage floor. Towards this I groped my way with infinite precaution; and having come at length as far as the angle of the corridor, beheld the door of the butler's pantry standing just ajar and a narrow thread of brightness falling from the chink. Creeping still closer, I put my eye to the aperture.

The man sat within upon a chair, listening, I could see, with the most rapt attention. On a table before him he had laid a watch, a pair of steel revolvers, and a bull's-eye lantern.

For one second many contradictory theories and projects whirled together in my head; the next, I had slammed the door and turned the key upon the malefactor. Surprised at my own decision, I stood and panted, leaning on the wall. From within the pantry not a sound was to be heard; the man, whatever he was, had accepted his fate without a struggle, and now, as I hugged myself to fancy, sat frozen with terror and looking for the worst to follow. I promised myself that he should not be disappointed; and the better to complete my task, I turned to ascend the stairs.

The situation, as I groped my way to the first floor, appealed to me suddenly by my strong sense of humour. Here was I, the owner of the house, burglariously present in its walls; and there, in the dining-room, were two gentlemen, unknown to me, seated complacently at supper, and only saved by my promptitude from some surprising or deadly interruption. It were strange if I could not manage to extract the matter of amusement from so unusual a situation.

Behind this dining-room, there is a small apartment intended for a library. It was to this that I cautiously groped my way; and you will see how fortune had exactly served me. The weather, I have said, was sultry; in order to ventilate the dining-room and yet preserve the uninhabited appearance of the mansion to the front, the window of the library had been widely opened, and the door of communication between the two apartments left ajar. To this interval I now applied my eye.

Wax tapers, set in silver candlesticks, shed their chastened brightness on the damask of the tablecloth and the remains of a cold collation of the rarest delicacy. The two gentlemen had finished supper, and were now trifling with cigars and maraschino; while in a silver spirit lamp, coffee of the most captivating fragrance was preparing in the fashion of the East. The elder of the two, he who had first arrived, was placed directly facing me; the other was set on his left hand. Both, like the man in the butler's pantry, seemed to be intently listening; and on the face of the second I thought I could perceive the marks of fear. Oddly enough, however, when they came to speak, the parts were found to be reversed.

'I assure you,' said the elder gentleman, 'I not only heard the slamming of a door, but the sound of very guarded footsteps.'

'Your highness was certainly deceived,' replied the other.

'I am endowed with the acutest hearing, and I can swear that not a mouse has rustled.' Yet the pallor and contraction of his features were in total discord with the tenor of his words.

His highness (whom, of course, I readily divined to be Prince Florizel) looked at his companion for the least fraction of a second; and though nothing shook the easy quiet of his attitude, I could see that he was far from being duped. 'It is well,' said he; 'let us dismiss the topic. And now, sir, that I have very freely explained the sentiments by which I am directed, let me ask you, according to your promise, to imitate my frankness.'

'I have heard you,' replied the other, 'with great interest.'

'With singular patience,' said the prince politely.

'Ay, your highness, and with unlooked-for sympathy,' returned the young man. 'I know not how to tell the change that has befallen me. You have, I must suppose, a charm, to which even your enemies are subject.' He looked at the clock on the mantelpiece and visibly blanched. 'So late!' he cried.

'Your highness - God knows I am now speaking from the heart - before it be too late, leave this house!'

The prince glanced once more at his companion, and then very deliberately shook the ash from his cigar. 'That is a strange remark,' said he; 'and A PROPOS DE BOTTES, I never continue a cigar when once the ash is fallen; the spell breaks, the soul of the flavour flies away, and there remains but the dead body of tobacco; and I make it a rule to throw away that husk and choose another.' He suited the action to the words.

'Do not trifle with my appeal,' resumed the young man, in tones that trembled with emotion. 'It is made at the price of my honour and to the peril of my life. Go - go now! lose not a moment; and if you have any kindness for a young man, miserably deceived indeed, but not devoid of better sentiments, look not behind you as you leave.'

同类推荐
  • 太清金液神丹经

    太清金液神丹经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 产鉴

    产鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Captivity and Restoration

    Captivity and Restoration

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉箓资度宿启仪

    玉箓资度宿启仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Doll's House

    A Doll's House

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 老子想尔注

    老子想尔注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 世界经典童话故事全集:公主千金的故事

    世界经典童话故事全集:公主千金的故事

    本套丛书包括《国王皇后的故事》、《王子少年的故事》、《公主千金的故事》、《官员商人的故事》、《庶民百姓的故事》、《能工巧匠的故事》、《女人儿童的故事》、《魔鬼妖怪的故事》、《动物植物的故事》和《生灵怪象的故事》等10册童话故事,其中包括安徒生、格林、豪夫和王尔德的作品,也包括了世界各国许多民间童话故事, 很具有代表性和普遍性。相信这套《世界经典童话故事全集》丛书,能够启迪儿童的心灵、陶冶儿童的情操、培养儿童的情趣、丰富儿童的知识、发展儿童的智力,成为广大父母和少年儿童们的良好读物和收藏品。
  • 文化符号:武术

    文化符号:武术

    武术是中国传统文化的代表与缩影,是一种很有特色的中国传统文化符号。本书从文化符号的视角来审视武术,以解说中国文化的方式来解说武术。希望本书所讲的武术,能让大家实实在在地感受到中国文化的气息与魅力。
  • 东海侠影

    东海侠影

    明朝万历十六年春,东瀛倭寇得悉戚继光将军谢世,以小野知秋为首的倭贼,立即抢占了钱塘江入海口的大洋山岛。“……东瀛倭寇雌伏二十年后,此次卷土重来,必定更加凶残。半个月前,小野知秋带人袭击了苏州‘惊雷堂’,抢走了大量的火器炸药。‘惊雷堂’的镇堂之宝‘大地惊雷’,全部落入了倭寇的手中……”一位六十出头的老者,眼里精光四射,颔下一部花白胡子微微颤动着。老者话未落定,“潮韵山庄”庄主许啸天霍地站了起来:“东瀛倭寇屡犯我东南沿海,视人命如草芥,人神共愤。我辈学武,崇尚‘侠义’二字,岂能让外邦强盗恣意横行。
  • 八卦掌传奇

    八卦掌传奇

    董海川少年嗜武成癖,青年浪迹天涯,在九华山拜碧霞道长为师,并与吕飞燕结下不解之缘。这个吕飞燕是飞剑斩雍正的侠女吕四娘的后代,反清的壮志使这个年轻貌美、武艺高强的侠女与董海川一见钟情,心有灵犀一点通。十四年后董海川下山,历尽磨难。后来太平天国垂危,天王洪秀全泪请董海川进京刺杀咸丰皇帝。董海川为了反清大业,毅然斩断与吕飞燕的姻缘,慨然受命,阉割进京,栖身王府,寻机接近咸丰皇帝,以求谋杀。董海川自阉后先后在四爷府、肃王府任护卫总管,在圆明园皇会比武中,力挫群雄,冠绝一时。恰恰此时,太平天国失败,洪秀全自尽。董海川壮志难酬,抑郁而终。吕飞燕在万念俱灰之中凄然遁入峨眉山削发为尼。
  • 大龄皇后:斗垮小皇帝

    大龄皇后:斗垮小皇帝

    盈脉语,中宇国一名小财主世家的女儿,外表美丽,但不算最上乘,个性怯懦脆弱,逆来顺受。十六岁时,在自己深爱的男人的阴谋安排下,嫁给当时年仅四岁的小皇帝做皇后。十二年的默默忍耐与死忠苦恋换不来在他心中的一席之位,却因一时沉默不语而激怒了他,被其一巴掌甩死。再次睁开眸,慧黠淡定,成熟世故,她已然不是原来的她。◇……◇……◇……◇……◇……◇现代十四岁少女奥黛丽,为守护弟弟和妈妈扛起家计而早熟世故,一场意外令她魂穿异世,附身在二十八岁的色衰皇后的身体上。不同的灵魂演绎不一样的人生!女人并非只有依附男人才能活下去,坚强独立的大龄衰后并不衰,不稀罕你所施舍的虚情假意,也没有无聊到陪你玩什么反转游戏——诸如“不择手段地让你爱上我,然后再狠狠抛弃甩之,将你的尊严踩踏殆尽”这样的事情,她没兴趣!她很懒,她的时间只会留给她所珍视的人和事,其他一切皆是过眼浮云!当然,她非圣母,心胸亦不大度,犯她者,即便小到口舌之争,亦会睚眦必报反驳踏踩回去……这样一段天赐的异世人生,她会活得精彩纷呈!人生乃是由男人和女人来演绎的,下面便是此文出现的几大美男,只提名字,至于他们身上所发生的事儿,亲们请看文。为毛特意拉出来亮相,乃们懂的……◆阴鸷俊美腹黑的王爷——尚流隆烨◆漂亮清冷一身病寒却意外精明睿智的小皇帝——尚流云澈◆狂野阳刚至情至深的蓝眸王子——金卓阳◆恣意潇洒畅快人生无所不能的游侠——凌柏◆美如谪仙的外表却意外出言火爆粗鲁的神医——鬼幕◆纯真可爱如樱花般美丽却有腹黑嫌疑的弱智太子——南莲光◆妖孽一般媚骨天生冷魅俊邪的宰相之子——那奇枫◆气宇轩昂霸气劲美的明君帝王——祈傲安……依旧省略N多美男……注:①此文女主坚强果敢,但无上天入地的绝技异能,主要是人格魅力和心路历程;此文男主强大腹黑。②此文无血腥屠杀,有也尽量一笔带过,想要血淋淋的视觉刺激的亲请绕道。③此文多温馨,多笑料。④此文是小说,有不到之处,请亲们见谅。推荐竹子新文《“草包”王妃》推荐竹子的完结V文——【生出个吸血鬼宝贝】【穿越女尊之纯倾天下】【丑女丑丑】推荐好友的文——【—十三妃—】·金步摇——【家有冰山夫】·风悠雪【签下一窝美妖男】·淡小然
  • 一生三会:会说话、会做事、会为人

    一生三会:会说话、会做事、会为人

    会说话、会做事、会为人,是现代人不可不学的三大本领,是立足于世的关键资本,没有这三种智慧,你将永远到不了高层次的人生。本书阐述了练就卓越口才的途径与技巧,帮助读者轻松掌握各个领域的说话艺术;阐述了种种做事的方法与手段,帮助读者掌握做事的艺术,迅速提高做事能力;揭示了独到的为人方法和规律,让人们在为人处世的过程中,讲究策略与变通,从而灵活机智地应对人情世故。本书作为一本为人处世的经典指南,最全面、最系统地向读者讲述了说话、做事和为人这三方面的人生智慧,帮助你轻松到达更高的人生层面。
  • 中药储存与养护

    中药储存与养护

    本书是高等职业教育中药制药技术、中药专业的一门专业必修课程。以中药储存与养护为工作过程,主要内容包括中药药品储存与养护的基本知识、药品验收、日常养护及出库,常见中药保管养护技术及质量检验等。本书的任务是使学生具备从事药品保管等工作所必需的药品养护基本知识和基本技能,通过讲授和实践,使学生掌握药品储存与养护的基础知识,学会药品验收、养护及出库的基本技能,为学生今后学习相关专业知识和职业技能、增强继续学习和适应职业变化的能力奠定坚实基础。本书可作为高职高专中药制药、中药专业教材,也适用于中职中药、中药制药专业学习用书,还可作为相关人员学习中药储存与养护相关知识和技能的参考用书。
  • 谜失国度

    谜失国度

    神话虚无缥缈,传说无迹可寻,华夏千、万年的漫长岁月,掩埋了多少神秘?由今看古,一步步踏进未知领域,或许,真相即将被揭露……围绕一个谜一样的古国展开的故事,轻微的玄幻元素,剧情比较轻松!
  • 乌石山志

    乌石山志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。