登陆注册
5426900000094

第94章

ELIZA AND ULRICH

Schroepfel, the faithful servant, had taken Ulrich von Hohenberg, in obedience to Anthony Wallner's order, back to the small room where he had passed the last eight days as a prisoner. Since he had him again in his custody, no additional precautions were necessary, for Schroepfel knew that he could rely on his own vigilance, and that the prisoner surely would never escape from him. Hence, he loosened the cords with which he had been tied, and removed the handkerchief with which he had been gagged.

"If it affords you pleasure," said Schroepfel, "you may use your mouth and inveigh against Lizzie Wallner, who has saved your life to-day a second time, and whom you rewarded like a genuine Bavarian, that is to say, with black ingratitude and treachery. But I advise you not to abuse her loud enough for me to hear you outside, for Iam not a patient as Lizzie, and I shall never permit you to abuse and treat so contemptuously the noblest and best girl in the whole country. She acted toward you to-day as a good Christian and a brave girl, for you insulted her, and she not only forgave you, but protected you and saved your life. And now, sir, abuse her if you cannot help it; but I tell you once more, do not speak too loud lest I should hear you."And Schroepfel turned with a last threatening glance and left the room. Outside he sat down on the cane-settee which, for the past eight days, had been his seat by day and his couch by night; and he pressed his eye to the middle hole which he had bored in the door.

He could distinctly see and watch the captain through it. Ulrich had sunk down on a chair and leaned his head on his hand; he lifted his sombre eyes to heaven, and there was a strange expression of emotion and grief upon his face. But he seemed not to intend availing himself of the permission which Schroepfel had given him to abuse Lizzie Wallner, for his lips were firmly compressed, and not a sound fell from them. Or could Schroepfel, perhaps, not hear him, because the men down in the bar-room were laughing and shouting so merrily, and speaking so loudly and enthusiastically of the Tyrol, and drinking the health of the emperor and the Archduke John, who had again taken possession of the country and solemnly proclaimed that he would restore the ancient and liberal constitution of the Tyrolese?

"How merry they are down-stairs!" growled Schroepfel. "I might be there to; I have amply deserved to have a little exercise and pleasure. Instead of that I must site here with a dry mouth; and if this goes on much longer, I shall surely grow fast to my settee. And all that for the sake of the mean, perfidious Bavarian, who is utterly dishonest, and who treated our beautiful, noble Lizzie in so infamous a manner! Well, if I were in the girl's place, I would not take the perfidious wretch who has denied her twice already. Oh, how merry they are down-stairs! No one thinks of me and gives me a drop of wine that I may likewise drink to the welfare of the fatherland."But Schroepfel was mistaken for once, for quick footsteps ascended the staircase at this moment, and now appeared the lovely head of Eliza Wallner above the railing, then her whole form, and a second afterward she stood in the passage close before Schroepfel. In her hands she held a plate with a large piece of the fine cake which her mother herself had baked, and a large glass of excellent red wine.

"There, good, faithful Schroepfel," she said in her gentle voice, nodding to him pleasantly, and handing the plate to him, "eat and drink, and let me in the mean time go and see your prisoner.""What do you want of him?" asked Schroepfel, moodily.

"I want to see him about our wedding to-morrow," said Eliza calmly;"and you know father has given me permission to go to him and speak with him.""Yes, he did, and I cannot prevent you from entering, which I would do otherwise," growled Schroepfel. "Go in, then, but do not stay too long; and if he should abuse you again, pray call me, and I will assist you.""Thank you, dear Schroepfel," said Eliza, "but pray admit me now."Schroepfel withdrew his settee from the door and allowed Eliza to open it, and, entering to the prisoner, closed it again behind her.

Ulrich von Hohenberg still sat, as Schroepfel had seen him, at the table, leaning his head on his hand; only he had now covered his eyes with his hands, and long sighs issued from his breast. He seemed not to know that the door had opened and some one had entered, or rather perhaps he thought it was only Schroepfel, and he did not wish to take any notice of him.

Eliza Wallner stood leaning against the wall, and gazed at him a long time with a wondrous expression of love and grief; for a moment she laid her hand on her bosom, as if to stifle the cry which her lips were already about to utter; then she cast a beseeching glance toward heaven, and, as if strengthened by this mute invocation, she stepped forward.

"Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg!" she said, in her sweet, melodious voice.

He gave a start, dropped his hand from his face, and jumped up.

"Eliza Wallner!" he said, breathlessly and in great confusion.

She only nodded her head, and fixed her clear, piercing eyes with a proud, reproachful expression on his face; he dropped his eyes before her gaze. On seeing this, Eliza smiled, and, crossing the room with a rapid step, went to the window.

"Come here, sir, and look at that. What do you see yonder?"Ulrich stepped to her and looked out. "I see the mountains and the summits of the glaciers," he said; "and in the direction in which you are pointing your finger, I see also my uncle's castle.""Do you see also the balcony, Ulrich von Hohenberg?" she asked, somewhat sarcastically.

"I do," he replied, almost timidly.

She looked at him with the proud and lofty air of a queen.

"When we met last and spoke with each other, we stood on yonder balcony," added Eliza. "Do you remember what we said at the time, sir?""Eliza," he murmured--

同类推荐
  • The White People

    The White People

    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。
  • 耳新

    耳新

    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。
  • 送人归觐河中

    送人归觐河中

    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。
  • Renascence and Other Poems

    Renascence and Other Poems

    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。
  • 上清六甲祈祷秘法

    上清六甲祈祷秘法

    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
  • 心尖独宠:总裁情深不浅

    心尖独宠:总裁情深不浅

    一张结婚证书,把他们捆绑在一起。人前,他是高高在上的总裁,但是却给了她极致的荣宠。但当她纯粹的爱上,却是要离开的时候……三年后,她再次归来,命运使然,两人再次纠缠在一起。云南潇摸摸嘴唇:“差强人意,如果用你来抵三十万,真不知道我俩是谁吃亏。”“谁说我会让自己来抵债了?我根本没有同意!”她气呼呼的:“你放心,三十万我肯定会还给你的!”
  • 别过来我身后有大佬

    别过来我身后有大佬

    天资纵横的王不凡,遇上了从天而降的神秘人张怒。原本以为对方是从蛮荒落后地区而来,没想到却被一再刷新三观。一个修行天才在傍上一位脾气超好的大佬之后如何愉快在诸天万界作威作福?当然的是,怎么作死怎么来!反正出了事,身后的大佬都会一巴掌团灭了对方。每次被人追杀的时候,王不凡只能善意的提醒对方:“别过来,我身后有大佬。”
  • 我已经忘了爱过你

    我已经忘了爱过你

    本书收录了青年作家多多的经典短篇小说。繁忙的都市生活,封闭独立的自我,时常让我们忘记了如何表达爱,向爱的人倾诉内心的情感。作者借助文字,通过不同人的视角去讲述发生在都市生活中你、我、他的爱情故事。
  • 故梦(下)

    故梦(下)

    这部小说从上个世纪初,主人公降生于北京的一个显赫的皇亲国戚写起,一直写到这个世纪初,主人公的独生女儿在祖居之地创作积累祖孙三代心愿的巨著为止,整整一个世纪的风起云涌,通过陆氏家族的悲欢离合而得以文学再现。其写作风格,与林佩芬的历史小说一脉相承:大气、细腻,只不过历史小说呈现的是大气中有细腻,而《故梦》则是细腻中见大气。
  • 好口才让你如鱼得水

    好口才让你如鱼得水

    口才是金,它能让你如鱼得水,助你迈向成功。本书从实际出发,对做人办事所需要的口才知识做了完备详尽的介绍。
  • 如何说客户才会听,怎么听客户才会说(大全集)

    如何说客户才会听,怎么听客户才会说(大全集)

    推销并不只是把产品和服务售卖给客户那么简单,它背后的旨意也并非只是获得佣金那么浅显。推销意味着全面革新自我、不断挑战着生命的极限,它为所有进取的人提供了这样一种机会:只要你不断付出,你就能够走向成功,而这种成功没有上限,你的心有多大,你的舞台便会有多大,如果你确实进取有道,你或许可以成为百万富翁、千万富翁。 陈荣赋、尹培培编著的《如何说客户才会听,怎么听客户才会说大全集》从说与听两个方面告诉你如何成为一名优秀的推销员。
  • 李嘉诚60年经商的黄金法则

    李嘉诚60年经商的黄金法则

    华人第一富商60年商战不败的经商哲学!精确解读“超人”的经商理念,深刻剖析“商神”的管理模式。李嘉诚走过的每一步都是他在商海中用心探索,大胆实践的结果,值得有志于在商场上大展宏图的人细细品味,学习领悟它的经商经验,处事风格,做人魅力……
  • 甩不掉的尴尬

    甩不掉的尴尬

    《甩不掉的尴尬》分为两大部分,第一部分包括二十一篇主题各异的随笔文章。第二部分则主要记录了有关香烟的一切。
  • 妾室心计

    妾室心计

    断腿后秦王才知道他那个三棍子打不出一句话的侍妾是天下第一谋士的女儿,一个罪臣之女居然胆大包天要把他当刀使,还不知天高地厚的要帮他登上皇位。倒要看看她有几分本事。
  • 理念的力量:什么决定中国的未来

    理念的力量:什么决定中国的未来

    本书涵盖了著名经济学家张维迎近年来所主张、研究主要观念,书中论点涉及市场、法治、改革、未来发展等重要领域,列出了作者长期思考的影响社会的二十四个重大理念。本书没有专业的经济学术语,而是用简单形象的类比说明经济现象,解决实际问题,是中国改革最前沿的一流经济学家为普通读者撰写的经济学读物,也是获取正确的经济观念、理解中国经济和世界格局的第一手资料。张维迎教授在八十年代即提出价格双轨制并长期坚持自由市场理论,对中国社会改革和社会观念的影响有目共睹,他的许多观点和预言已被事实所证明,他在本书中所提出的极具预见性的理念,相信也会为我们如何改变现实、面对未来提供重要的参考。