酷兔英语

章节正文
文章总共2页
The profligate had been scared away by the sight of the `plague



spot' on the neck of the unfortunate lady.

The husband entered and found his way to his wife's chamber.



Instantaneous explanations ensued. `He told me you were false--

that you loved another--and had abandoned me,' exclaimed the



frantic wife.

`He lied!' shouted Disbrowe, in a voice of uncontrollable fury.



`It is true that, in a moment of frenzy, I was tempted to set

you--yes, _YOU_, Margaret--against all I had lost at play, and



was compelled to yield up the key of my house to the winner. But

I have never been faithless to you--never.'



`Faithless or not,' replied his wife bitterly, `it is plain you

value me less than play, or you would not have acted thus.'



`Reproach me not, Margaret,' replied Disbrowe. `I would give

worlds to undo what I have done.'



`Who shall guard me against the recurrence of such conduct?' said

Mrs Disbrowe, coldly. `But you have not yet informed me how I



was saved!'

Disbrowe averted his head.



`What mean you?' she cried, seizing his arm. `What has happened?

Do not keep me in suspense? Were you my preserver?'



`Your preserver was the plague,' rejoined Disbrowe, mournfully.

The unfortunate lady then, for the first time, perceived that she



was attacked by the pestilence, and a long and dreadful pause

ensued, broken only by exclamations of anguish from both.



`Disbrowe!' cried Margaret at length, raising herself in bed,

`you have deeply, irrecoverably injured me. But promise me one



thing.'

`I swear to do whatever you may desire,' he replied.



`I know not, after what I have heard, whether you have courage

for the deed,' she continued. `But I would have you kill this



man.'

`I will do it,' replied Disbrowe.



`Nothing but his blood can wipe out the wrong he has done me,'

she rejoined. `Challenge him to a duel--a mortal duel. If he



survives, by my soul, I will give myself to him.'

`Margaret!' exclaimed Disbrowe.



`I swear it,' she rejoined,' and you know my passionate

nature too well to doubt I will keep my word.'



`But you have the plague!'

`What does that matter? I may recover.'



`Not so,' muttered Disbrowe. `If I fall, I will take care you do

not recover. . . . I will fight him to-morrow,' he added aloud.



About noon on the following day Disbrowe proceeded to the Smyrna

Coffee-house, where, as he expected, he found Parravicin and his



companions. The knightinstantlyadvanced towards him, and

laying aside for the moment his reckless air, inquired, with a



look of commiseration, after his wife.

`She is better,' replied Disbrowe, fiercely. `I am come to



settle accounts with you.'

`I thought they were settled long ago,' returned Parravicin,



instantly resuming his wonted manner. `But I am glad to find you

consider the debt unpaid.'



Disbrowe lifted the cane he held in his hand, and struck the

knight with it forcibly on the shoulder. `Be that my answer,' he



said.

`I will have your life first, and your wife afterwards,' replied



Parravicin fiercely.

`You shall have her if you slay me, but not otherwise,'



retorted Disbrowe. `It must be a mortal duel.'

`It must,' replied Parravicin. `I will not spare you this time.



I shall instantly proceed to the west side of Hyde Park, beneath

the trees. I shall expect you there. On my return I shall call



on your wife.'

`I pray you do so, sir,' replied Disbrowe, disdainfully.



Both then quitted the Coffee-house, Parravicin attended by his

companions, and Disbrowe accompanied by a military friend, whom



he accidentally encountered. Each party taking a coach, they

soon reached the ground, a retired spot completely screened from



observation by trees. The preliminaries were soon arranged, for

neither would admit of delay. The conflict then commenced with



great fury on both sides; but Parravicin, in spite of his

passion, observed far more caution than his antagonist; and



takingadvantage of an unguardedmovement, occasioned by the




文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文