章节正文
"Your Majesty's ordinance as to duelling is receiving our best attention,"
he assured me.
If the best attention involved his presence in Zenda, I determined at once
to dispense with it.
"Is that what brings you to Zenda, Prefect?" I asked.
"Why no, sire; I am here because I desired to oblige the British Ambassador."
"What's the British Ambassador doing dans cette galere?"
said I, carelessly.
"A young countryman of his, sire--a man of some position--is missing.
His friends have not heard from him for two months, and there is reason
to believe that he was last seen in Zenda."
Flavia was paying little attention. I dared not look at Sapt.
"What reason?"
"A friend of his in Paris--a certain M. Featherly--has given us
information which makes it possible that he came here, and the
officials of the railway recollect his name on some luggage."
"What was his name?"
"Rassendyll, sire," he answered; and I saw that the name meant
nothing to him. But, glancing at Flavia, he lowered his voice,
as he went on: "It is thought that he may have followed a lady here.
Has your Majesty heard of a certain Madame de Mauban?"
"Why, yes," said I, my eye involuntarily travelling towards the Castle.
"She arrived in Ruritania about the same time as this Rassendyll."
I caught the Prefect's glance; he was regarding me with enquiry
writ large on his face.
"Sapt," said I, "I must speak a word to the Prefect.
Will you ride on a few paces with the princess?"
And I added to the Prefect: "Come, sir, what do you mean?"
He drew close to me, and I bent in the saddle.
"If he were in love with the lady?" he whispered. "Nothing has
been heard of him for two months;" and this time it was the eye
of the Prefect which travelled towards the Castle.
"Yes, the lady is there," I said quietly. "But I don't suppose
Mr. Rassendyll--is that the name?--is."
"The duke," he whispered, "does not like rivals, sire."
"You're right there," said I, with all sincerity.
"But surely you hint at a very grave charge?"
He spread his hands out in apology. I whispered in his ear:
"This is a grave matter. Go back to Strelsau--"
"But, sire, if I have a clue here?"
"Go back to Strelsau," I repeated. "Tell the Ambassador that
you have a clue, but that you must be left alone for a week or two.
Meanwhile, I'll charge myself with looking into the matter."
"The Ambassador is very pressing, sir."
"You must quiet him. Come, sir; you see that if your suspicions
are correct, it is an affair in which we must move with caution.
We can have no scandal. Mind you return tonight."
He promised to obey me, and I rode on to rejoin my companions,
a little easier in my mind. Enquiries after me must be stopped
at all hazards for a week or two; and this clever official
had come surprisingly near the truth. His impression might
be useful some day, but if he acted on it now it might mean
the worse to the King. Heartily did I curse George Featherly
for not holding his tongue.
"Well," asked Flavia, "have you finished your business?"
"Most satisfactorily," said I. "Come, shall we turn round?
We are almost trenching on my brother's territory."
We were, in fact, at the extreme end of the town, just where
the hills begin to mount towards the Castle. We cast our eyes
up, admiring the massive beauty of the old walls, and we saw a
cortege winding slowly down the hill. On it came.
"Let us go back," said Sapt.
"I should like to stay," said Flavia; and I reined my horse beside hers.
We could distinguish the approaching party now. There came first
two mounted servants in black uniforms, relieved only by a silver badge.
These were followed by a car drawn by four horses: on it, under a heavy pall,
lay a coffin; behind it rode a man in plain black clothes, carrying his hat
in his hand. Sapt uncovered, and we stood waiting, Flavia keeping by me
and laying her hand on my arm.
"It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel, I expect,"
she said.
I beckoned to a groom.
"Ride and ask whom they escort," I ordered.
He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass on to the gentleman
who rode behind.
"It's Rupert of Hentzau," whispered Sapt.
Rupert it was, and directly afterwards, waving to the procession
to stand still, Rupert trotted up to me. He was in a frock-coat,
tightly buttoned, and trousers. He wore an aspect of sadness,
and he bowed with profound respect. Yet suddenly he smiled,
and I smiled too, for old Sapt's hand lay in his left breast-pocket,
and Rupert and I both guessed what lay in the hand inside the pocket.
"Your Majesty asks whom we escort," said Rupert. "It is my
dear friend, Albert of Lauengram."
"Sir," said I, "no one regrets the unfortunate affair more than I.
My ordinance, which I mean to have obeyed, is witness to it."
"Poor fellow!, said Flavia softly, and I saw Rupert's eyes flash
at her. Whereat I grew red; for, if I had my way, Rupert Hentzau
should not have defiled her by so much as a glance. Yet he did it
and dared to let admiration be seen in his look.
"Your Majesty's words are gracious," he said. "I grieve for my friend.
Yet, sire, others must soon lie as he lies now."
"It is a thing we all do well to remember, my lord," I rejoined.
"Even kings, sire," said Rupert, in a moralizing tone;
and old Sapt swore softly by my side.
"It is true," said I. "How fares my brother, my lord?"
"He is better, sire."
"I am rejoiced."
"He hopes soon to leave for Strelsau, when his health is secured."
"He is only convalescent then?"
"There remain one or two small troubles," answered the insolent fellow,
in the mildest tone in the world.
"Express my earnest hope," said Flavia, "that they may soon cease
to trouble him."
"Your Royal Highness's wish is, humbly, my own," said Rupert,
with a bold glance that brought a blush to Flavia's cheek.
I bowed; and Rupert, bowing lower, backed his horse and signed
to his party to proceed. With a sudden impulse, I rode after him.
He turned swiftly, fearing that, even in the presence of the dead
and before a lady's eyes, I meant him mischief.
"You fought as a brave man the other night," I said.
"Come, you are young, sir. If you will deliver your prisoner
alive to me, you shall come to no hurt."
He looked at me with a mocking smile; but suddenly he rode nearer to me.
"I'm unarmed," he said; "and our old Sapt there could
pick me off in a minute."
"I'm not afraid," said I.
"No, curse you!" he answered. "Look here, I made you
a proposal from the duke once."
"I'll hear nothing from Black Michael," said I.
"Then hear one from me." He lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Attack the Castle boldly. Let Sapt and Tarlenheim lead."
"Go on," said I.
"Arrange the time with me."
"I have such confidence in you, my lord!"
"Tut! I'm talking business now. Sapt there and Fritz
will fall; Black Michael will fall--"
"What!"
"--Black Michael will fall, like the dog he is; the prisoner,
as you call him, will go by "Jacob's Ladder"--ah, you know that!--
to hell! Two men will be left--I, Rupert Hentzau, and you,
the King of Ruritania."
He paused, and then, in a voice that quivered with eagerness, added:
"Isn't that a hand to play?--a throne and your princess!
And for me, say a competence and your Majesty's gratitude."
"Surely," I exclaimed, "while you're above ground, hell wants its master!"
"Well, think it over," he said. "And, look you, it would take more
than a scruple or two to keep me from yonder girl," and his evil eye
flashed again at her I loved.
"Get out of my reach!" said I; and yet in a moment I began
to laugh for the very audacity of it.
"Would you turn against your master?" I asked.
He swore at Michael for being what the offspring of a legal,
though morganatic, union should not be called, and said to me
in an almost confidential and apparently friendly tone:
"He gets in my way, you know. He's a jealous brute! Faith,
I nearly stuck a knife into him last night; he came most
cursedly mal a propos!"
My temper was well under control now; I was learning something.
"A lady?" I asked negligently.
"Ay, and a beauty," he nodded. "But you've seen her."
"Ah! was it at a tea-party, when some of your friends got on
the wrong side of the table?"
"What can you expect of fools like Detchard and De Gautet?
I wish I'd been there."
"And the duke interferes?"
"Well," said Rupert meditatively, "that's hardly a fair way
of putting it, perhaps. I want to interfere."
"And she prefers the duke?"
"Ay, the silly creature! Ah, well, you think about my plan," and,
with a bow, he pricked his horse and trotted after the body of his friend.
I went back to Flavia and Sapt, pondering on the strangeness of the man.
Wicked men I have known in plenty, but Rupert Hentzau remains unique
in my experience. And if there be another anywhere, let him be caught
and hanged out of hand. So say I!
"He's very handsome, isn't he?" said Flavia.
Well, of course, she didn't know him as I did; yet I was put out,
for I thought his bold glances would have made her angry.
But my dear Flavia was a woman, and so--she was not put out.
On the contrary, she thought young Rupert very handsome--as,
beyond question, the ruffian was.
"And how sad he looked at his friend's death!" said she.
"He'll have better reason to be sad at his own,"
observed Sapt, with a grim smile.
As for me, I grew sulky; unreasonable it was perhaps,
for what better business had I to look at her with love
than had even Rupert's lustful eyes? And sulky I remained till,
as evening fell and we rode up to Tarlenheim, Sapt having fallen
behind in case anyone should be following us, Flavia, riding close
beside me, said softly, with a little half-ashamed laugh:
"Unless you smile, Rudolf, I cry. Why are you angry?"
"It was something that fellow said to me," said I,
but I was smiling as we reached the door and dismounted.
There a servant handed me a note: it was unaddressed.
"Is it for me?" I asked.
"Yes, sire; a boy brought it."
I tore it open:
Johann carries this for me. I warned you once. In the name of God,
and if you are a man, rescue me from this den of murderers!--A. de M.
I handed it to Sapt; but all that the tough old soul said in reply
to this piteous appeal was:
"Whose fault brought her there?"
Nevertheless, not being faultless myself, I took leave to pity
Antoinette de Mauban.
CHAPTER 16
A Desperate Plan
As I had riddenpublicly in Zenda, and had talked there with
Rupert Hentzau, of course all pretence of illness was at an end.
I marked the effect on the garrison of Zenda: they ceased to be
seen abroad; and any of my men who went near the Castle reported
that the utmostvigilance prevailed there. Touched as I was by
he assured me.
If the best attention involved his presence in Zenda, I determined at once
to dispense with it.
"Is that what brings you to Zenda, Prefect?" I asked.
"Why no, sire; I am here because I desired to oblige the British Ambassador."
"What's the British Ambassador doing dans cette galere?"
said I, carelessly.
"A young countryman of his, sire--a man of some position--is missing.
His friends have not heard from him for two months, and there is reason
to believe that he was last seen in Zenda."
Flavia was paying little attention. I dared not look at Sapt.
"What reason?"
"A friend of his in Paris--a certain M. Featherly--has given us
information which makes it possible that he came here, and the
officials of the railway recollect his name on some luggage."
"What was his name?"
"Rassendyll, sire," he answered; and I saw that the name meant
nothing to him. But, glancing at Flavia, he lowered his voice,
as he went on: "It is thought that he may have followed a lady here.
Has your Majesty heard of a certain Madame de Mauban?"
"Why, yes," said I, my eye involuntarily travelling towards the Castle.
"She arrived in Ruritania about the same time as this Rassendyll."
I caught the Prefect's glance; he was regarding me with enquiry
writ large on his face.
"Sapt," said I, "I must speak a word to the Prefect.
Will you ride on a few paces with the princess?"
And I added to the Prefect: "Come, sir, what do you mean?"
He drew close to me, and I bent in the saddle.
"If he were in love with the lady?" he whispered. "Nothing has
been heard of him for two months;" and this time it was the eye
of the Prefect which travelled towards the Castle.
"Yes, the lady is there," I said quietly. "But I don't suppose
Mr. Rassendyll--is that the name?--is."
"The duke," he whispered, "does not like rivals, sire."
"You're right there," said I, with all sincerity.
"But surely you hint at a very grave charge?"
He spread his hands out in apology. I whispered in his ear:
"This is a grave matter. Go back to Strelsau--"
"But, sire, if I have a clue here?"
"Go back to Strelsau," I repeated. "Tell the Ambassador that
you have a clue, but that you must be left alone for a week or two.
Meanwhile, I'll charge myself with looking into the matter."
"The Ambassador is very pressing, sir."
"You must quiet him. Come, sir; you see that if your suspicions
are correct, it is an affair in which we must move with caution.
We can have no scandal. Mind you return tonight."
He promised to obey me, and I rode on to rejoin my companions,
a little easier in my mind. Enquiries after me must be stopped
at all hazards for a week or two; and this clever official
had come surprisingly near the truth. His impression might
be useful some day, but if he acted on it now it might mean
the worse to the King. Heartily did I curse George Featherly
for not holding his tongue.
"Well," asked Flavia, "have you finished your business?"
"Most satisfactorily," said I. "Come, shall we turn round?
We are almost trenching on my brother's territory."
We were, in fact, at the extreme end of the town, just where
the hills begin to mount towards the Castle. We cast our eyes
up, admiring the massive beauty of the old walls, and we saw a
cortege winding slowly down the hill. On it came.
"Let us go back," said Sapt.
"I should like to stay," said Flavia; and I reined my horse beside hers.
We could distinguish the approaching party now. There came first
two mounted servants in black uniforms, relieved only by a silver badge.
These were followed by a car drawn by four horses: on it, under a heavy pall,
lay a coffin; behind it rode a man in plain black clothes, carrying his hat
in his hand. Sapt uncovered, and we stood waiting, Flavia keeping by me
and laying her hand on my arm.
"It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel, I expect,"
she said.
I beckoned to a groom.
"Ride and ask whom they escort," I ordered.
He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass on to the gentleman
who rode behind.
"It's Rupert of Hentzau," whispered Sapt.
Rupert it was, and directly afterwards, waving to the procession
to stand still, Rupert trotted up to me. He was in a frock-coat,
tightly buttoned, and trousers. He wore an aspect of sadness,
and he bowed with profound respect. Yet suddenly he smiled,
and I smiled too, for old Sapt's hand lay in his left breast-pocket,
and Rupert and I both guessed what lay in the hand inside the pocket.
"Your Majesty asks whom we escort," said Rupert. "It is my
dear friend, Albert of Lauengram."
"Sir," said I, "no one regrets the unfortunate affair more than I.
My ordinance, which I mean to have obeyed, is witness to it."
"Poor fellow!, said Flavia softly, and I saw Rupert's eyes flash
at her. Whereat I grew red; for, if I had my way, Rupert Hentzau
should not have defiled her by so much as a glance. Yet he did it
and dared to let admiration be seen in his look.
"Your Majesty's words are gracious," he said. "I grieve for my friend.
Yet, sire, others must soon lie as he lies now."
"It is a thing we all do well to remember, my lord," I rejoined.
"Even kings, sire," said Rupert, in a moralizing tone;
and old Sapt swore softly by my side.
"It is true," said I. "How fares my brother, my lord?"
"He is better, sire."
"I am rejoiced."
"He hopes soon to leave for Strelsau, when his health is secured."
"He is only convalescent then?"
"There remain one or two small troubles," answered the insolent fellow,
in the mildest tone in the world.
"Express my earnest hope," said Flavia, "that they may soon cease
to trouble him."
"Your Royal Highness's wish is, humbly, my own," said Rupert,
with a bold glance that brought a blush to Flavia's cheek.
I bowed; and Rupert, bowing lower, backed his horse and signed
to his party to proceed. With a sudden impulse, I rode after him.
He turned swiftly, fearing that, even in the presence of the dead
and before a lady's eyes, I meant him mischief.
"You fought as a brave man the other night," I said.
"Come, you are young, sir. If you will deliver your prisoner
alive to me, you shall come to no hurt."
He looked at me with a mocking smile; but suddenly he rode nearer to me.
"I'm unarmed," he said; "and our old Sapt there could
pick me off in a minute."
"I'm not afraid," said I.
"No, curse you!" he answered. "Look here, I made you
a proposal from the duke once."
"I'll hear nothing from Black Michael," said I.
"Then hear one from me." He lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Attack the Castle boldly. Let Sapt and Tarlenheim lead."
"Go on," said I.
"Arrange the time with me."
"I have such confidence in you, my lord!"
"Tut! I'm talking business now. Sapt there and Fritz
will fall; Black Michael will fall--"
"What!"
"--Black Michael will fall, like the dog he is; the prisoner,
as you call him, will go by "Jacob's Ladder"--ah, you know that!--
to hell! Two men will be left--I, Rupert Hentzau, and you,
the King of Ruritania."
He paused, and then, in a voice that quivered with eagerness, added:
"Isn't that a hand to play?--a throne and your princess!
And for me, say a competence and your Majesty's gratitude."
"Surely," I exclaimed, "while you're above ground, hell wants its master!"
"Well, think it over," he said. "And, look you, it would take more
than a scruple or two to keep me from yonder girl," and his evil eye
flashed again at her I loved.
"Get out of my reach!" said I; and yet in a moment I began
to laugh for the very audacity of it.
"Would you turn against your master?" I asked.
He swore at Michael for being what the offspring of a legal,
though morganatic, union should not be called, and said to me
in an almost confidential and apparently friendly tone:
"He gets in my way, you know. He's a jealous brute! Faith,
I nearly stuck a knife into him last night; he came most
cursedly mal a propos!"
My temper was well under control now; I was learning something.
"A lady?" I asked negligently.
"Ay, and a beauty," he nodded. "But you've seen her."
"Ah! was it at a tea-party, when some of your friends got on
the wrong side of the table?"
"What can you expect of fools like Detchard and De Gautet?
I wish I'd been there."
"And the duke interferes?"
"Well," said Rupert meditatively, "that's hardly a fair way
of putting it, perhaps. I want to interfere."
"And she prefers the duke?"
"Ay, the silly creature! Ah, well, you think about my plan," and,
with a bow, he pricked his horse and trotted after the body of his friend.
I went back to Flavia and Sapt, pondering on the strangeness of the man.
Wicked men I have known in plenty, but Rupert Hentzau remains unique
in my experience. And if there be another anywhere, let him be caught
and hanged out of hand. So say I!
"He's very handsome, isn't he?" said Flavia.
Well, of course, she didn't know him as I did; yet I was put out,
for I thought his bold glances would have made her angry.
But my dear Flavia was a woman, and so--she was not put out.
On the contrary, she thought young Rupert very handsome--as,
beyond question, the ruffian was.
"And how sad he looked at his friend's death!" said she.
"He'll have better reason to be sad at his own,"
observed Sapt, with a grim smile.
As for me, I grew sulky; unreasonable it was perhaps,
for what better business had I to look at her with love
than had even Rupert's lustful eyes? And sulky I remained till,
as evening fell and we rode up to Tarlenheim, Sapt having fallen
behind in case anyone should be following us, Flavia, riding close
beside me, said softly, with a little half-ashamed laugh:
"Unless you smile, Rudolf, I cry. Why are you angry?"
"It was something that fellow said to me," said I,
but I was smiling as we reached the door and dismounted.
There a servant handed me a note: it was unaddressed.
"Is it for me?" I asked.
"Yes, sire; a boy brought it."
I tore it open:
Johann carries this for me. I warned you once. In the name of God,
and if you are a man, rescue me from this den of murderers!--A. de M.
I handed it to Sapt; but all that the tough old soul said in reply
to this piteous appeal was:
"Whose fault brought her there?"
Nevertheless, not being faultless myself, I took leave to pity
Antoinette de Mauban.
CHAPTER 16
A Desperate Plan
As I had riddenpublicly in Zenda, and had talked there with
Rupert Hentzau, of course all pretence of illness was at an end.
I marked the effect on the garrison of Zenda: they ceased to be
seen abroad; and any of my men who went near the Castle reported
that the utmostvigilance prevailed there. Touched as I was by
- oblige [ə´blaidʒ]
vt.责成；迫使；使感激 (初中英语单词) - ambassador [æm´bæsədə] n.大使 (初中英语单词)
- majesty [´mædʒisti] n.壮丽；崇高；尊严 (初中英语单词)
- charge [tʃɑ:dʒ] v.收费；冲锋 n.费用 (初中英语单词)
- impression [im´preʃən] n.印刷；印象；效果 (初中英语单词)
- extreme [ik´stri:m] a.尽头的 n.极端 (初中英语单词)
- distinguish [di´stiŋgwiʃ] v.区分；识别；立功 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- trousers [´trauzəz] n.裤子，长裤 (初中英语单词)
- aspect [´æspekt] n.面貌；神色；方向 (初中英语单词)
- unfortunate [ʌn´fɔ:tʃunit] a.不幸的，运气差的 (初中英语单词)
- witness [´witnis] n.见证人 vt.目击 (初中英语单词)
- softly [´sɔftli] ad.软化地；柔和地 (初中英语单词)
- admiration [,ædmə´reiʃən] n.赞赏，钦佩 (初中英语单词)
- grieve [gri:v] v.&n.(使)悲痛；哀悼 (初中英语单词)
- earnest [´ə:nist] a.认真的 n.认真；诚恳 (初中英语单词)
- impulse [´impʌls] n.推动(力)；冲动；刺激 (初中英语单词)
- swiftly [´swiftli] ad.迅速地，敏捷地 (初中英语单词)
- jealous [´dʒeləs] a.妒忌的 (初中英语单词)
- temper [´tempə] n.韧度 v.锻炼；调和 (初中英语单词)
- learning [´lə:niŋ] n.学习；学问；知识 (初中英语单词)
- anywhere [´eniweə] ad.无论何处；任何地方 (初中英语单词)
- contrary [´kɔntrəri] a.相反的 n.相反 (初中英语单词)
- rescue [´reskju:] vt.&n.救援；挽救 (初中英语单词)
- desperate [´despərit] a.拼死的；绝望的 (初中英语单词)
- illness [´ilnis] n.生病，不健康，疾病 (初中英语单词)
- abroad [ə´brɔ:d] ad.海外；到处；广泛 (初中英语单词)
- utmost [´ʌtməust] a.最大的 n.极端 (初中英语单词)
- countryman [´kʌntrimən] n.同胞(乡)，乡下人 (高中英语单词)
- regarding [ri´gɑ:diŋ] prep.关于 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- scandal [´skændl] n.丑闻；耻辱；流言蜚语 (高中英语单词)
- heartily [´hɑ:tili] ad.衷心地；亲切地 (高中英语单词)
- massive [´mæsiv] a.厚实的；魁伟的 (高中英语单词)
- coffin [´kɔfin] n.棺材，柩 (高中英语单词)
- profound [prə´faund] a.深奥的；渊博的 (高中英语单词)
- boldly [´bəuldli] ad.大胆地；醒目地 (高中英语单词)
- eagerness [´i:gənis] n.渴望；热忱 (高中英语单词)
- throne [θrəun] n.宝座；王位 (高中英语单词)
- apparently [ə´pærəntli] ad.显然，表面上地 (高中英语单词)
- appeal [ə´pi:l] vi.&n.请求；呼吁；上诉 (高中英语单词)
- pretence [pri´tens] n.假装；托词；无理要求 (高中英语单词)
- garrison [´gærisən] n.警备队 vt.驻防 (高中英语单词)
- ordinance [´ɔ:dinəns] n.法令；条令；条例 (英语四级单词)
- dispense [di´spens] v.分配；施与；执行 (英语四级单词)
- recollect [rekə´lekt] v.重新集合；恢复 (英语四级单词)
- apology [ə´pɔlədʒi] n.道歉(的话)；辩解 (英语四级单词)
- rejoin [ri:´dʒɔin] v.再参加；重聚；回答 (英语四级单词)
- whereat [weər´æt] ad.对于...；在这里 (英语四级单词)
- humbly [´hʌmbli] ad.恭顺地，谦卑地 (英语四级单词)
- audacity [ɔ:´dæsiti] n.大胆；卤莽；无礼 (英语四级单词)
- confidential [,kɔnfi´denʃəl] a.极受信任的；心腹的 (英语四级单词)
- unreasonable [ʌn´ri:zənəbl] a.不合理的；荒唐的 (英语四级单词)
- ridden [´ridn] ride 的过去分词 (英语四级单词)
- assured [ə´ʃuəd] a.确实的 n.被保险人 (英语六级单词)
- involuntarily [in´vɔləntərili] ad.不 自觉地 (英语六级单词)
- surprisingly [sə´praiziŋli] ad.惊人地；意外地 (英语六级单词)
- holding [´həuldiŋ] n.保持，固定，存储 (英语六级单词)
- insolent [´insələnt] a.傲慢的；无礼的 (英语六级单词)
- scruple [´skru:pəl] n.&v.犹豫；顾忌 (英语六级单词)
- ruffian [´rʌfiən] n.流氓 a.残暴的 (英语六级单词)
- faultless [´fɔ:ltləs] a.无过失的；完美的 (英语六级单词)
- publicly [´pʌblikli] ad.公然；公众所有地 (英语六级单词)
- vigilance [´vidʒiləns] n.警惕，警戒 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
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