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New Arabian Nights-Part23_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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if he were to bring ruin on the author of his days? For the first

time he became conscious of his own position as a spy. To wait



inactive at such a juncture and with such a conflict of sentiments

in his bosom was to suffer the most acute torture; he clung to the



bars of the shutters, his heart beat fast and with irregularity,

and he felt a strong sweat break forth upon his body.



Several minutes passed.

He seemed to perceive the conversation die away and grow less and



less in vivacity and volume; but still no sign of any alarming or

even notable event.



Suddenly the ring of a glass breaking was followed by a faint and

dull sound, as of a person who should have fallen forward with his



head upon the table. At the same moment a piercingscream rose

from the garden.



"What have you done?" cried Miss Vandeleur. "He is dead!"

The Dictator replied in a violentwhisper, so strong and sibilant



that every word was audible to the watcher at the window.

"Silence!' said Mr. Vandeleur; "the man is as well as I am. Take



him by the heels whilst I carry him by the shoulders."

Francis heard Miss Vandeleur break forth into a passion of tears.



"Do you hear what I say?" resumed the Dictator, in the same tones.

"Or do you wish to quarrel with me? I give you your choice, Miss



Vandeleur."

There was another pause, and the Dictator spoke again.



"Take that man by the heels," he said. "I must have him brought

into the house. If I were a little younger, I could help myself



against the world. But now that years and dangers are upon me and

my hands are weakened, I must turn to you for aid."



"It is a crime," replied the girl.

"I am your father," said Mr. Vandeleur.



This appeal seemed to produce its effect. A scuffling noise

followed upon the gravel, a chair was overset, and then Francis saw



the father and daughter stagger across the walk and disappear under

the verandah, bearing the inanimate body of Mr. Rolles embraced



about the knees and shoulders. The young clergyman was limp and

pallid, and his head rolled upon his shoulders at every step.



Was he alive or dead? Francis, in spite of the Dictator's

declaration, inclined to the latter view. A great crime had been



committed; a great calamity had fallen upon the inhabitants of the

house with the green blinds. To his surprise, Francis found all



horror for the deed swallowed up in sorrow for a girl and an old

man whom he judged to be in the height of peril. A tide of



generous feeling swept into his heart; he, too, would help his

father against man and mankind, against fate and justice; and



casting open the shutters he closed his eyes and threw himself with

out-stretched arms into the foliage of the chestnut.



Branch after branch slipped from his grasp or broke under his

weight; then he caught a stalwart bough under his armpit, and hung



suspended for a second; and then he let himself drop and fell

heavily against the table. A cry of alarm from the house warned



him that his entrance had not been effected unobserved. He

recovered himself with a stagger, and in three bounds crossed the



intervening space and stood before the door in the verandah.

In a small apartment, carpeted with matting and surrounded by



glazed cabinets full of rare and costly curios, Mr. Vandeleur was

stooping over the body of Mr. Rolles. He raised himself as Francis



entered, and there was an instantaneous passage of hands. It was

the business of a second; as fast as an eye can wink the thing was



done; the young man had not the time to be sure, but it seemed to

him as if the Dictator had taken something from the curate's



breast, looked at it for the least fraction of time as it lay in

his hand, and then suddenly and swiftly passed it to his daughter.



All this was over while Francis had still one foot upon the

threshold, and the other raised in air. The next instant he was on



his knees to Mr. Vandeleur.

"Father!" he cried. "Let me too help you. I will do what you wish



and ask no questions; I will obey you with my life; treat me as a

son, and you will find I have a son's devotion."






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