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The Castle of Otranto-Part3_Horace Walpole(1717-1797)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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flight, and you will fall a victim to his resentment."

"I value not my life," said the stranger, "and it will be some comfort



to lose it in trying to deliver you from his tyranny."

"Generous youth," said Isabella, "how shall I ever requite - "



As she uttered those words, a ray of moonshine, streaming through a

cranny of the ruin above, shone directly on the lock they sought.



"Oh! transport!" said Isabella; "here is the trap-door!" and, taking

out the key, she touched the spring, which, starting aside, discovered



an iron ring. "Lift up the door," said the Princess.

The stranger obeyed, and beneath appeared some stone steps descending



into a vault totally dark.

"We must go down here," said Isabella. "Follow me; dark and dismal as



it is, we cannot miss our way; it leads directly to the church of St.

Nicholas. But, perhaps," added the Princess modestly, "you have no



reason to leave the castle, nor have I farther occasion for your

service; in a few minutes I shall be safe from Manfred's rage - only



let me know to whom I am so much obliged."

"I will never quit you," said the stranger eagerly, "until I have



placed you in safety - nor think me, Princess, more generous than I

am; though you are my principal care - "



The stranger was interrupted by a sudden noise of voices that seemed

approaching, and they soon distinguished these words -



"Talk not to me of necromancers; I tell you she must be in the castle;

I will find her in spite of enchantment."



"Oh, heavens!" cried Isabella; "it is the voice of Manfred! Make

haste, or we are ruined! and shut the trap-door after you."



Saying this, she descended the steps precipitately; and as the

stranger hastened to follow her, he let the door slip out of his



hands: it fell, and the spring closed over it. He tried in vain to

open it, not having observed Isabella's method of touching the spring;



nor had he many moments to make an essay. The noise of the falling

door had been heard by Manfred, who, directed by the sound, hastened



thither, attended by his servants with torches.

"It must be Isabella," cried Manfred, before he entered the vault.



"She is escaping by the subterraneous passage, but she cannot have got

far."



What was the astonishment of the Prince when, instead of Isabella, the

light of the torches discovered to him the young peasant whom he



thought confined under the fatal helmet!

"Traitor!" said Manfred; "how camest thou here? I thought thee in



durance above in the court."

"I am no traitor," replied the young man boldly, "nor am I answerable



for your thoughts."

"Presumptuous villain!" cried Manfred; "dost thou provoke my wrath?



Tell me, how hast thou escaped from above? Thou hast corrupted thy

guards, and their lives shall answer it."



"My poverty," said the peasantcalmly, "will disculpate them: though

the ministers of a tyrant's wrath, to thee they are faithful, and but



too willing to execute the orders which you unjustly imposed upon

them."



"Art thou so hardy as to dare my vengeance?" said the Prince; "but

tortures shall force the truth from thee. Tell me; I will know thy



accomplices."

"There was my accomplice!" said the youth, smiling, and pointing to



the roof.

Manfred ordered the torches to be held up, and perceived that one of



the cheeks of the enchanted casque had forced its way through the

pavement of the court, as his servants had let it fall over the



peasant, and had broken through into the vault, leaving a gap, through

which the peasant had pressed himself some minutes before he was found



by Isabella.

"Was that the way by which thou didst descend?" said Manfred.



"It was," said the youth.

"But what noise was that," said Manfred, "which I heard as I entered



the cloister?"

"A door clapped," said the peasant; "I heard it as well as you."



"What door?" said Manfred hastily.

"I am not acquainted with your castle," said the peasant; "this is the






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