For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
The Bohemian, more slender, was much younger, and seemed hardy4 and resolute5.
Peyrou was much annoyed by this visit. He wished to watch the manoeuvres of the suspicious chebec; the presence of the Bohemian constrained6 him.
“What do you want?” said the watchman, rudely.
“Nothing; I came to see the sun go down in the sea.”
“It is a beautiful sight, but it can be seen elsewhere.”
As he said these words, the watchman entered his cell, took two pistols, placed one in his girdle, loaded the other, took it in his hand, and came out.
By that time the chebec could be distinguished7 by the naked eye.
The Bohemian, seeing Peyrou armed, could not repress a movement of surprise, almost of vexation, but he said to him, in a bantering8 tone, as he pointed9 to the pistol:
“You carry there a strange telescope, watchman!”
“The other is good to watch your enemy when he is far off; this one serves my purpose when he is near.”
“Of what enemy are you speaking, watchman?”
“Of you.”
“Of me?”
“Of you.”
After exchanging these words, the men were silent for some time.
“You are mistaken. I am the guest of Raimond V., Baron10 des Anbiez,” said the Bohemian, with emphasis.
“Is the venomous scorpion11, too, the guest of the house he inhabits?” replied Peyrou, looking steadily12 in his eyes.
The eyes of the vagabond kindled13, and, by a muscular contraction14 of his cheeks, Peyrou saw that he was gnashing his teeth; nevertheless, he replied to Peyrou, with affected15 calmness:
“I do not deserve your reproaches, watchman. Raimond V. took pily on a poor wanderer, and offered me the hospitality of his roof—”
“And to prove your gratitude16 to him, you wish to bring sorrow and ruin upon that roof.”
“I?”
“Yes, you,—you are in communication with that chebec down there, beating about the horizon.”
The Bohemian looked at the vessel17 with the most indifferent air in the world, and replied:
“On my life, I have never set foot on a ship; as to the communication which you suppose I have with that boat, that you call a chebec, I believe,—I doubt if my voice or my signal could reach it.”
The watchman threw a penetrating18 glance on the Bohemian, and said to him:
“You have never set foot on the deck of a ship?”
“Never, except on those boats on the Rhone, for I was born in Languedoc, on the highway; my father and mother belonged to a band of Bohemians which came from Spain, and the only recollection that I have of my childhood is the refrain so often sung in our wandering clan19:
“‘Cuando me pario Mi madre la gitana.’
“That is all I know of my birth,—all the family papers I have, watchman.”
“The Bohemians of Spain speak Arabic also,” said Peyrou, observing the vagabond attentively20.
“They say so. I know no other language than the one I speak,—very badly, as you see.”
“The sun is setting behind those great clouds down there; for one who is fond of that sight you seem to be quite indifferent to it,” answered the watchman, with an ironical21 air. “No doubt the chebec interests you more.”
“To-morrow evening I can see the sun set; to-day I would rather spend my time in guessing your riddles22, watchman.”
During this conversation, the syndic of the overseers had not lost sight of the vessel, which continued to beat about, evidently waiting for a signal.
Although the appearance of this vessel was suspicious, Peyrou hesitated to give the alarm on the coast by kindling23 the fire. To set the whole seashore in excitement unnecessarily was a dangerous precedent24, because some other time, in case of real danger, the signal might be taken for a false alarm.
While the watchman was absorbed in these reflections, the Bohemian looked around him uneasily; he was trying to discover some traces of the eagle, as from the rock where he had been squatting25, he had seen Brilliant alight in this direction.
For a moment he thought of getting rid of Peyrou, but he soon renounced26 this idea. The watchman, strong and well-armed, was on his guard.
Peyrou, notwithstanding the anger that the presence of the vagabond inspired in him, feared to see him descend27 again to the castle of Maison-Forte, as Raimond V. did not suspect this wretch28. Besides, seeing his wicked designs discovered, the villain29 might attempt some diabolical30 scheme before he left the country.
However, it was impossible to abandon his sentry-box under such serious circumstances, in order to warn the baron. Night was approaching, and the Bohemian was still there.
Happily, the moon was almost full; in spite of the densely31 piled clouds, her light was bright enough to reveal all the manoeuvres of the chebec.
The Bohemian, his arms crossed on his breast, surveyed Peyrou, with imperturbable32 coolness.
“You see the sun has set,” said this old seaman33, “the night will be cold; you had better return to Maison-Forte.”
“I intend to spend the night here,” replied the vagabond.
The watchman, made furious by the remark, rose, and walking up to the Bohemian with a threatening air, said:
“And by Our Lady, I swear that you shall descend to the beach this instant!”
“And suppose I do not wish to go.”
“I will kill you.”
The Bohemian shrugged34 his shoulders.
“You will not kill me, watchman, and I will remain.”
Peyrou raised his pistol, and exclaimed: “Take care!”
“Would you kill a defenceless man, who has never done you any harm? I defy you,” said the vagabond, without moving from the spot.
The watchman dropped his arm; he revolted at the thought of murder. He replaced his pistol in his belt, and walked back and forth35 in violent agitation36. He found himself in a singular position,—he could not rid himself of this persistent37 villain by fear or force; he must then resolve to pass the night on guard.
He resigned himself to this last alternative, hoping that next day some one might appear, and he would be able to rid himself of the Bohemian.
“Very well, let it be,” said he, with a forced smile. “Although I have not invited you to be my companion, we will pass the night by the side of each other.”
“And you will not repent38 it, watchman. I am not a sailor, but I have a telescope. If the chebec annoys you, I will assist you in watching it.”
After some moments of silence, the watchman seated himself on a piece of the rock.
The wind, increasing in violence, blew with irresistible39 force. Great clouds from time to time veiled the pale disc of the moon, and the door of the sentry-box, left open, was flapping with a loud noise.
“If you wish to be of some use,” said Peyrou, “take that end of the rope there on the ground, and fasten the door of my cell, because the wind will continue to rise.” The Bohemian looked at the watchman with an astonished air, and hesitated to obey for a moment.
“You wish to shut me up in there. You are cunning, watchman.”
Peyrou bit his lips, and replied:
“Fasten that door on the outside, I tell you, or I will take you for a bad fellow.”
The Bohemian, seeing nothing disagreeable in satisfying the watchman, picked up the rope, passed it through a ring screwed to the door, and tied it to a cramp-iron fixed40 in the wall.
The watchman, seated, was attentively watching the movements of his companion. When the knot was tied, Peyrou approached it, and said, after examining it a moment:
“As sure as God is in heaven, you are a sailor!”
“I, watchman?”
“And you have served on board those corsairs from Barbary.”
“Never! Never!”
“I tell you that one who has not sailed with the pirates of Algiers or Tunis cannot have the habit of making that triple knot that you have just made. Only pirates fasten tie anchor to the ring in that manner!”
The Bohemian now, in his turn, bit his lips until they bled, but, regaining41 his self-possession, he said:
“Come now, you have a sharp eye; you are both right and wrong, my lord watchman, this knot was taught me by one of our people, who joined us in Languedoc, after having been made a slave on a corsair from Algiers.”
Losing all patience, and furious at the villain’s impudence42, the watchman cried:
“I tell you that you are lying. You came here to prepare some villainous scheme. Look at this!”
And the watchman held up the little satchel The Bohemian, struck with amazement43, uttered a curse in Arabic in spite of himself.
If the watchman had felt the least doubt concerning the character of the Bohemian, this last exclamation44, which had so often met his ears in his combats with the pirates, would have sufficed to prove the truth of his suspicions.
The eyes of the Bohemian flashed with rage.
“I see all,” said he, “the eagle came here to devour45 the pigeon! From the beach I saw her alight in these rocks. That satchel or your life!” cried the villain, drawing a dagger46 from his doublet, and rushing upon the watchman. The pistol on Peyrou’s breast recalled the fact to him that his enemy was more formidably armed than himself.
Stamping his foot with rage, the vagabond cried:
“Eblis (Eblis is the Arabic for devil) is with him!”
“I was sure of it, you are a pirate. That chebec is waiting for your instructions, or your signal to approach the coast or retire from it. Your rage is great to see all your wicked designs discovered, you villain!” said the watchman.
“Eblis touched me with his invisible wingt so that I was about to forget the only means of repairing everything,” suddenly cried the Bohemian.
With one joyous47 bound he disappeared from the astonished eyes of the watchman, and hastily descended48 the precipitous road which led to the shore.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
satchel
|
|
| n.(皮或帆布的)书包 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
hardy
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
resolute
|
|
| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
constrained
|
|
| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
bantering
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
baron
|
|
| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
scorpion
|
|
| n.蝎子，心黑的人，蝎子鞭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
kindled
|
|
| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
contraction
|
|
| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
penetrating
|
|
| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
clan
|
|
| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ironical
|
|
| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
riddles
|
|
| n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
kindling
|
|
| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
precedent
|
|
| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
squatting
|
|
| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
renounced
|
|
| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
diabolical
|
|
| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
densely
|
|
| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
imperturbable
|
|
| adj.镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
persistent
|
|
| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
repent
|
|
| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
regaining
|
|
| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
impudence
|
|
| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
devour
|
|
| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |