So strangely changed was Erna from the maiden6 who had welcomed Albrecht to Rittenberg that she could not even understand a feeling so nice, but only felt with a secret irritation7 that contempt which any mortal feels for a prejudice which he has outgrown9; and nothing appears more foolish and contemptible10 than a scruple11 that has been outlived. Albrecht and Erna had changed each other, but the impetus12 in each case had been so strong that both were carried beyond the point where their tastes and desires came together. It was as if two stars had attracted each other, and then shot past the place where they met, parting again from the stress of the very force which had drawn13 them toward one another. Every day they seemed to have less in common. The glories of the spiritual drew Albrecht as strongly and as irresistibly14 as the delights of the senses attracted Erna, to whom all this was a new world. They had passed each other, and now they were parting more and yet more widely.
However little he understood the cause of this, Count Stephen was keenly aware of the fact that Albrecht and Erna were not fully15 in harmony, and he neglected no effort which might increase the breach16 between husband and wife. He had set himself to win the love of his cousin, and it was an important part of his game to nourish the growing lack of sympathy between Von Waldstein and the countess. Nor was the count without a deal of cleverness in the way he set to work to accomplish his purpose. He said nothing directly; he made no move openly; but with a thousand insidious17 words which in themselves meant little but which together were a mighty power for evil, he nourished the sparks of discontent in Erna's mind, and continually kept her attention fixed18 upon the fact that her husband was more engrossed19 in his studies with the priest than with her wishes and her beauty. He surrounded her with a dangerous and seductive atmosphere of devotion and of passionate20 admiration21, furnishing her conscience with a ready excuse, should it take alarm, by claiming the right to admire her in virtue22 of his cousinship.
How much of this Albrecht saw or knew, Von Rittenberg could not divine. Sometimes he had an uncomfortable feeling that the baron was better aware than appeared of what was going on, but as Albrecht gave no sign he consoled himself with the belief that his host was too deeply absorbed in his pious23 studies to heed24 whether one made love to Erna or not.
It was not many days after the stag-hunt that Herr von Zimmern suddenly appeared at the castle. Whence he came no one knew, but as they sat at breakfast in the hall he entered, and with no more greeting than if he had parted from them all on the evening before, he took his place at the board and ate with the rest.
Count Stephen regarded him closely. There was something in the manner of this man which attracted his attention, and it had seemed to him that a shadow crossed the brow of the master of the castle when the new-comer appeared. Von Rittenberg instinctively25 felt that here might be an ally. He understood that Von Zimmern had been a retainer of the baron, and it seemed to him natural enough to suppose that the man might be in possession of secrets concerning the former life of Albrecht which, discreetly26 poured into the ear of Erna, would aid him in his dishonorable wooing.
He greeted Von Zimmern with warmth, recalling their meeting at Mayence, and expressing pleasure at seeing him again. The cunning eyes of Herr Frederich twinkled upon him as he spoke27, and Stephen felt that here was a man to understand him, and more than before was he sure that in Albrecht's former tutor he should find one to assist him in his schemes. He watched for what speech should be between the baron and the other, and as they left the hall, he saw the master of the castle lay his hand upon the man's shoulder. Hastily the count approached them, and while he seemed intent upon searching in his pouch28 for something which he wanted, he contrived29 to overhear what was said between them.
"Herr Frederich," Albrecht said, his voice so even that the listener could not determine whether he spoke in approval or in disapprobation, "we had not thought to see thee again at Rittenberg. When I set thee at liberty, it was to rejoin thy family."
"My family, gracious Sir," the other replied in a voice as passionless as Albrecht's own, "my family I found not. Only their graves were left to tell that they had ever been."
The hand of the baron dropped from the shoulder of the cripple, and an expression of pain contracted his features. He stood an instant in silence, and then with an evident struggle he held out his hand.
"Regret cannot change the past," he said; "but for the future—"
He seemed suddenly to become conscious that the count was so near him, and broke off in his speech, going hastily out of the hall. Nor did it escape the notice of Count Stephen that Von Zimmern looked after him with an expression of hatred30 so intense that his whole face was transformed by it into the likeness31 of a demon32.
The coming of Herr Frederich to Rittenberg seemed to increase the gayety that already reigned33 there. He devoted34 himself to devising fresh amusements; and although Count Stephen suspected that his jollity was but feigning35, he was the merriest of them all, and provoked them constantly to laughter and to jesting.
"Body of Saint Fridolin!" cried Lady Adelaide, when one night he had made them all shout with laughter over the merry tales which he told as they sat around the fire in the hall, "thou art a mad wag. One can see that no care or sorrow ever trouble thine heart."
And Count Stephen saw how Albrecht regarded the story-teller from where he sat somewhat in the shadow, sighing as if he were aware that under this gayety there were both pain and bitterness.
From day to day as the time went on, Count Stephen discovered that without his having asked aid from Herr von Zimmern, the latter was working for him. There was nothing open, and nothing which by itself might not have been the result of accident. It was only that Herr Frederich would engage Albrecht in conversation or lead him away that Count Stephen might be left alone with Erna; or again he would remark casually36 that he had seen the countess sitting by herself, and that her husband was with Father Christopher; hints which enabled Von Rittenberg to be with his cousin almost constantly, and much of the time without witnesses.
As warmly as he dared, the count pressed his suit. He was too determined37 to win to risk a rash declaration in words of the passion which really consumed him. He was a man so accustomed to succeed in such a quest as this that the difficulty of the present endeavor increased his ardor38 an hundred-fold. The looks, half of reproof39 and half of invitation, which Erna gave him, the beauty in which she glowed yet more richly every day, incited40 him to a madness which was fast reaching a point beyond his control. He trembled as he approached his cousin, and he felt that she was aware of his passion; and yet, though he saw her cast down her eyes when he came and follow him with longing41 looks when he went, he dared not speak. He was too well aware that when he spoke he put all to the test, and that he must lose or gain upon a single cast. He knew his cousin well enough, and the Von Rittenberg blood, to feel sure that if she did not listen with yielding favor to his suit, she would no longer tolerate his presence at the castle; and he feared to put into word that which he yet told her by look and mien42 a hundred times each day.
He was not without some fear, too, of Albrecht. Count Stephen was a brave man, but the baron was one of whom the bravest could not think lightly, and when it came to a question of wronging him through his wife, the count was well persuaded that if this thing were ever discovered, it would be no easy matter to hold against the wronged husband. Just now Albrecht was greatly engaged in looking after the state of his thralls43 and churls, and seeing that they were properly housed for the coming winter; a business in which he had been encouraged by Father Christopher, but which the guest declared should be the affair of the steward44 and not of the lord of the castle. Also Albrecht set himself to bringing peace among the dependants45 of Rittenberg, and so far as might be justice between man and man, and friendliness46. He was evidently none the less attached to his wife, but every day was Count Stephen more confident that Erna found herself less in sympathy with her husband and more nearly drawn to him.
One morning Erna found her cousin sitting alone by the great window of the hall, and came toward him with a smiling and mischievous47 face.
"Now," she said, "thou shalt see something wicked. I have only half looked at it myself, and I doubt it would be wise that I look further; but thou art not one, I trow, who will wince48 lightly."
"The wickedness which thou shalt tempt8 me into," he answered, "I will gladly bear the penalty of, at least, fair Cousin. What wickedness can be hidden in that roll of satin?"
"Thou shalt see," she answered, unrolling the embroidered49 cover, and bringing to light a parchment scroll50. "It has been put away this many a day, and I only now bethought me of it."
"If it is written wickedness," the count observed, languidly regarding it, "it is likely to do me small harm. I have never bothered my head to learn their clerkly nonsense."
"This is in signs that one may understand if he cannot read," Erna replied, putting into his hand the parchment.
It was the scroll of Ovid which for years she had kept hidden away because of the worldliness of its pictures. The count regarded the images wherewith some gross clerk had decorated the works of the heathen poet, and the smile upon his broad lips deepened into a laugh. He was surprised that Erna should have shown him a parchment so marked, and he looked up from one of the pictures to see if she were really aware what she had given him. She intercepted51 his glance, and smiling bent52 forward to see what the picture might be at which he looked. As her eyes fell upon it a crimson53 flush covered her face, and she caught the parchment from his hands.
"Let me have it," she exclaimed. "I did not know it was like that. I should have examined it before I showed it to thee. I only thought it might amuse thee."
As she spoke she turned quickly, hearing footsteps behind her. Albrecht and Herr von Zimmern had come together into the hall, and were witness of her confusion.
"Herr Frederich has a plan for repairing the southern tower which he wishes to tell to thee," Albrecht said to his wife, apparently54 without noting her excitement.
He stood there so calm, so noble in his bearing and his appearance, that even Count Stephen, for the moment deeply concerned lest the scroll of Ovid should fall into the husband's hands, could not but admire him. He did not look at the guest, and in his manner toward his wife there was nothing to denote that he suspected that aught was wrong.
"But perhaps," the voice of Herr von Zimmern suggested, "this is not the time to talk of such matters. Perhaps we interrupt something. That scroll may be of importance."
He spoke with a careful appearance of humility55; yet the count, watching him with attention which was quickened by irritation, detected a gleam of malice56 in his eye, and from that moment suspected the friendship of the cripple.
"The scroll is naught57 of importance," Erna replied haughtily58; and for that time no more was said of the scroll of Ovid.
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1
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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outgrown
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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14
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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17
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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18
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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20
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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21
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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22
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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23
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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24
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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27
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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28
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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29
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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30
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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31
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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32
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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33
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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34
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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39
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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40
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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42
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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43
thralls
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| n.奴隶( thrall的名词复数 )；奴役；奴隶制；奴隶般受支配的人 | |
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44
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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45
dependants
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| 受赡养者，受扶养的家属( dependant的名词复数 ) | |
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46
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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47
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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48
wince
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| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
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49
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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50
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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51
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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52
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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53
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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54
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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55
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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56
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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57
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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58
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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