She sat on the governor’s left. All the brightness, the soft piquancy6, which Iberville knew, had returned; and he wondered—fortunate to know that wonder so young—at her varying moods. She talked little, and most with the governor; but her presence seemed pervasive7, the aura in her veins8 flowed from her eye and made an atmosphere that lighted even the scarred and rather sulky faces of two officers of His Majesty9 near. They had served with Nicholls in Spain, but not having eaten King Louis’s bread, eyed all Frenchmen askance, and were not needlessly courteous10 to Iberville, whose achievements they could scarce appreciate, having done no Indian fighting.
Iberville sat at the governor’s end, Gering at the other. It was noticed by Iberville that Gering’s eyes were much on Jessica, and in the spirit of rivalry11, the legitimate12 growth of race and habit, he began to speak to her with the air of easy but deliberate playfulness which marked their first meeting.
Presently she spoke13 across the table to him, after Colonel Nicholls had pledged him heartily14 over wine. The tone was a half whisper as of awe15, in reality a pretty mockery. “Tell me,” she said, “what is the bravest and greatest thing you ever did?”
“Jessica, Jessica!” said the governor in reproof16. An old Dutch burgher laughed into his hand, and His Majesty’s officers cocked their ears, for the whisper was more arresting than any loud talk. Iberville coloured, but the flush passed quickly and left him unembarrassed. He was not hurt, not even piqued17, for he felt well used to her dainty raillery. But he saw that Gering’s eyes were on him, and the lull18 that fell as by a common instinct—for all could not have heard the question—gave him a thrill of timidity. But, smiling, he said drily across the table, his voice quiet and clear: “My bravest and greatest thing was to answer an English lady’s wit in English.”
A murmur19 of applause ran round, and Jessica laughed and clapped her hands. For the first time in his life Gering had a pang20 of jealousy21 and envy. Only that afternoon he had spent a happy hour with Jessica in the governor’s garden, and he had then made an advance upon the simple relations of their life in Boston. She had met him without self-consciousness, persisting in her old ways, and showing only when she left him, and then for a breath, that she saw his new attitude. Now the eyes of the two men met, and Gering’s dark face flushed and his brow lowered. Perhaps no one saw but Iberville, but he, seeing, felt a sudden desire to play upon the other’s weakness. He was too good a sportsman to show temper in a game; he had suddenly come to the knowledge that love, too, is a game, and needs playing. By this time the dinner was drawing to its close and now a singular thing happened. As Jessica, with demure22 amusement, listened to the talk that followed Iberville’s sally, she chanced to lift her eyes to a window. She started, changed colour, and gave a little cry. The governor’s hand covered hers at once as he followed her look. It was a summer’s night and the curtained windows were partly open. Iberville noted23 that Jessica’s face wore the self-same shadow as in the afternoon when she had seen the stranger with Radisson.
“What was it, my dear?” said the governor.
She did not answer, but pressed his hand nervously24. “A spy, I believe,” said Iberville, in a low voice. “Yes, yes,” said Jessica in a half whisper; “a man looked in at the window; a face that I have seen—but I can’t remember when.”
The governor went to the window and drew the curtains. There was nothing to see. He ordered Morris, who stood behind his chair, to have the ground searched and to bring in any straggler. Already both the officers were on their way to the door, and at this point it opened and let in a soldier. He said that as he and his comrade were returning from their duty with Radisson they saw a man lurking25 in the grounds and seized him. He had made no resistance, and was now under guard in the ante-room. The governor apologised to his guests, but the dinner could not be ended formally now, so the ladies rose and retired26. Jessica, making a mighty27 effort to recover herself, succeeded so well that ere she went she was able to reproach herself for her alarm; the more so because the governor’s sister showed her such consideration as would be given a frightened child—and she had begun to feel something more.
The ladies gone, the governor drew his guests about him and ordered in the prisoner. Morris spoke up, saying that the man had begged an interview with the governor that afternoon, but, being told that his excellency was engaged, had said another hour would do. This man was the prisoner. He came in under guard, but he bore himself quietly enough and made a low bow to the governor. He was not an ill-favoured fellow. His eye was steely cold, but his face was hearty28 and round, and remarkably29 free from viciousness. He had a cheerful air and an alert freedom of manner, which suggested good-fellowship and honest enterprise.
Where his left hand had been was an iron hook, but not obtrusively30 in view, nor did it give any marked grimness to his appearance. Indeed, the effect was almost comical when he lifted it and scratched his head and then rubbed his chin with it; it made him look part bumpkin and part sailor. He bore the scrutiny31 of the company very well, and presently bowed again to the governor as one who waited the expression of that officer’s goodwill32 and pleasure.
“Now, fellow,” said the colonel, “think yourself lucky my soldiers here did not shoot you without shrift. You chance upon good-natured times. When a spying stranger comes dangling33 about these windows, my men are given to adorning34 the nearest tree with him. Out with the truth now. Who and what are you, and why are you here?”
The fellow bowed. “I am the captain of a little trading schooner35, the Nell Gwynn, which anchors in the roadstead till I have laid some private business before your excellency and can get on to the Spanish Indies.”
“Business—private business! Then what in the name of all that’s infernal,” quoth Nicholls, “brought your sneaking36 face to yon window to fright my lady-guests?” The memory of Jessica’s alarm came hotly to his mind. “By Heaven,” he said, “I have a will to see you lifted, for means to better manners.”
The man stood very quiet, now and again, however, raising the hook to stroke his chin. He showed no fear, but Iberville, with his habit of observation, caught in his eyes, shining superficially with a sailor’s open honesty, a strange ulterior look. “My business,” so he answered Nicholls, “is for your excellency’s ears.” He bowed again.
“Have done with scraping. Now, I tell you what, my gentle spy, if your business hath not concern, I’ll stretch you by your fingers there to our public gallows37, and my fellows shall fill you with small shot as full as a pod of peas.”
The governor rose and went into another room, followed by this strange visitor and the two soldiers. There he told the guard to wait at the door, which entered into the ante-room. Then he unlocked a drawer and took out of it a pair of pistols. These he laid on the table (for he knew the times), noting the while that the seaman38 watched him with a pensive39, deprecating grin.
“Well, sir,” he said sharply (for he was something nettled), “out with your business, and your name in preface.”
“My name is Edward Bucklaw, and I have come to your excellency because I know there is no braver and more enterprising gentleman in the world.” He paused. “So much for preamble40; now for the discourse41.”
“By your excellency’s leave. I am a poor man. I have only my little craft and a handful of seamen42 picked up at odd prices. But there’s gold and silver enough I know of, owned by no man, to make cargo43 and ballast for the Nell Gwynn, or another twice her size.”
“Gold and silver,” said the governor, cocking his ear and eyeing his visitor up and down. Colonel Nicholls had an acquisitive instinct; he was interested. “Well, well, gold and silver,” he continued, “to fill the Nell Gwynn and another! And what concern is that of mine? Let your words come plain off your tongue; I have no time for foolery.”
“‘Tis no foolery on my tongue, sir, as you may please to see.”
He drew a paper from his pocket and shook it out as he came a little nearer, speaking all the while. His voice had gone low, running to a soft kind of chuckle44, and his eyes were snapping with fire, which Iberville alone had seen was false. “I have come to make your excellency’s fortune, if you will stand by with a good, stout45 ship and a handful of men to see me through.”
The governor shrugged46 his shoulders. “Babble47,” he said, “all babble and bubble. But go on.”
“Babble, your honour! Every word of it is worth a pint48 of guineas; and this is the pith of it. Far down West Indies way, some twenty-five, maybe, or thirty years ago, there was a plate ship wrecked49 upon a reef. I got it from a Spaniard, who had been sworn upon oath to keep it secret by priests who knew. The priests were killed and after a time the Spaniard died also, but not until he had given me the ways whereby I should get at what makes a man’s heart rap in his weasand.”
“Let me see your chart,” said the governor.
A half-hour later he rose, went to the door, and sent a soldier for the two king’s officers. As he did so, Bucklaw eyed the room doors, windows, fireplaces, with a grim, stealthy smile trailing across his face. Then suddenly the good creature was his old good self again—the comfortable shrewdness, the buoyant devil-may-care, the hook stroking the chin pensively50. And the king’s officers came in, and soon all four were busy with the map.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
envoy
|
|
| n.使节，使者，代表，公使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
suffused
|
|
| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
piquancy
|
|
| n.辛辣，辣味，痛快 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
pervasive
|
|
| adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
courteous
|
|
| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
rivalry
|
|
| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
legitimate
|
|
| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
reproof
|
|
| n.斥责，责备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
piqued
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
lull
|
|
| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
pang
|
|
| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
demure
|
|
| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
obtrusively
|
|
| adv.冒失地，莽撞地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
goodwill
|
|
| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
dangling
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
adorning
|
|
| 修饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
schooner
|
|
| n.纵帆船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
sneaking
|
|
| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
gallows
|
|
| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
pensive
|
|
| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
preamble
|
|
| n.前言；序文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
discourse
|
|
| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
seamen
|
|
| n.海员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
babble
|
|
| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
pint
|
|
| n.品脱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
wrecked
|
|
| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
pensively
|
|
| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |