"What!" I cried in deep astonishment13. "Sir Philip Lang!"
He bared his teeth. "The world will think so," he snarled14. "But in reality—but there, you shall judge. This afternoon without giving me notice the fool came to this house, forced his way into the sick room and had a long private conversation with May Ottley. I do not know to what conclusion[Pg 264] he came, but she must have persuaded him of her sanity15, for he ordered Elise to take her out for a walk; and if it had not been that Elise refused to obey him pending16 my arrival there would have been a pretty kettle of fish for me to fry. However, he won't trouble me again."
"Like an artist," said Belleville. "I stole upon him while he sat in his private sitting-room18 at supper and, standing19 opposite to him unseen, I reached out and poured some aconite into his wine. He was dead inside a quarter hour, and I took care that he made no outcry. The verdict should be suicide, I think. Don't you?"
With that he got up and left me.
That night while I slept he dosed me with chloroform, and while I was senseless he drew over my clothes a suit of rubber overalls20. He also did whatever was necessary to render me invisible, and he gagged me with a piece of steel thrust under my tongue and secured around my throat and neck with fine wire that bit deep in the flesh. I awoke groaning21 with agony to find that I was stretched out on the naked framework of an iron bed.
Belleville stood over me grasping Miss Ottley by the hand. When I saw her I stopped groaning as if by instinct. I knew at once that she did not see anything except the bed. She looked well, but tragically22 sorrowful and wild. She was staring as it were through me.
[Pg 265]
"You see nothing," said Belleville's hollow voice, "but his spirit lies there for all that. It is in my power and cannot escape without I set it free. You know my price. It is for you to rule his fate, through me if so you wish.
"What!" he continued, "do you not believe—well, then, look now!"
Of a sudden he flashed a blue lighted lanthorn into my face and he did something else which sent a thousand stinging currents of electric anguish24 quivering along my nerves. I uttered a shriek25, but the gag stifled26 it to a hissing27 wail28, and then I fell to breathing groans29. Hell can have no worse torments30 than that villain31 had devised for my undoing32. Had my mouth been unfettered I should have besought33 the woman I adored for death at any price for rest of pain. As it was I prayed her with my eyes—and she saw and took a message.
On instant the blue light faded out and a blessed heaven of diminished torture gave me peace.
Belleville took from his breast a naked dagger35 which he put into the girl's hand. "Strike, then!" he said, "Strike here," and he put his finger on my breast.
The devil proposed to make his innocent victim a murderess. I saw his purpose, and with every atom of my strength I groaned36. It was the only warning I could send.
[Pg 266]
But I had played right into Belleville's hands.
"'Tis only a spirit—and it's the only way," he protested warmly.
Miss Ottley swung around suddenly and drove the dagger at his heart, but he had been expecting it. He caught her wrist and laughed. Then all my anguish recommenced. In the midst of it, made desperate, the girl leaned right across the bed and struck. The blade glanced down upon a rib1 and deeply pierced my side. Providence39, surely, had directed the blow. She withdrew the dagger, then screamed aloud to see it dripping with blood. Belleville caught her in his arms and bore her roughly back. He bent40 her body on a table until she was as helpless as a dove, then took the blade and drew the horrid41 thing across her lips; so they were carmined with my blood.
"By this and this you'll remember you are mine," he said, and kissed her lips till his were bloody42, too. Then the two stared deep into each other's eyes.
"I've killed his body; you, his soul," said Belleville. "We're well mated, you and I. There—I've no longer any fear you'll hurt yourself. You'll be henceforth too much afraid of him to die."
He let her go, and stood away from her. She swayed erect43, then came forward till she stood beside me. I held my very breath for fear that she would hear. I don't know why.
[Pg 267]
"It is all a trick—a cruel, devilish trick. There's nothing there!" said the girl, her bosom44 heaving as she spoke45.
But she took him at his word. Her hands went out and, guided by a dark blotch47 which, as afterwards I learned she saw, she put them on my wound and drew them swiftly back ensanguined. Then horror settled on her like a black cloud on a mountain top. She turned about with one loud gasping48 sigh and sank down in a lifeless heap at Belleville's feet.
Soon afterwards I swooned, too, from pain and loss of blood. When I awoke my wound was neatly49 bandaged, and I was once more seated in my chair.
Belleville sat opposite smoking a cigar. He was dressed very smartly in a frock suit and a tall hat was set jauntily50 on his brow. He wore a geranium in his buttonhole. His face was wreathed in smiles. A bottle of champagne51 was set before him on a table and he sipped52 at a glass with an air of triumphant53 good-humour.
I found that I could speak; my gag had been removed.
He started, then pressed forward with his glass. "Where the devil is your mouth?" he said.
He could not see me, that was plain.
"Here!" said I. "Water."
[Pg 268]
"It is my wedding morn—and you shall toast me in wine or go thirsting," he rapped out.
Then he found my lips and I drank life into my veins55. I have never tasted draught56 one-half so glorious.
"I was married less than an hour ago," he said, "at a registrar's office. She's no longer Miss Ottley, Pinsent."
I was silent.
"Do you hear me, man?" he demanded.
"I hear," I answered.
He nodded his head and smiled. "I suppose you are wondering why you're still alive, eh?"
"You'll die when I die," I muttered wearily. "You are afraid to kill me, that is why."
"Bosh!" he flashed back. "I have a better reason far. To-morrow she will be my wife indeed—a maid no longer—Pinsent. It was worth keeping you alive to gloat on that."
"Oh! I see."
"But you don't see everything, Pinsent. She insists upon seeing your body to-day in order to be sure that you are dead."
"Ah!"
"She still has a lingering doubt that I have tricked her, and she has sworn on the cross that unless I produce your corpse57 for her inspection58 she will take her own life rather than—you can guess what, Pinsent."
"Yes—I can guess."
[Pg 269]
"So you see the time draws nigh for you to die."
"God only knows."
The villain frowned. "But before you go you must do something for me."
"And that?"
"You must write her a letter telling her that your only hope of soul resurrection and salvation59 lies in her obeying me. She now considers me a dangerous magician, but I want her to regard me as a sort of deity60."
"I will not do it, Belleville. You ought to know me better by this."
"I think you will," said he. "That is if you really care for her. You see it will save her a lot of—let's call it inconvenience. With such a weapon as your message I can rule her kindly61. But rule her in any case I shall. If you deny me I'll gag you this moment so you can't make a sound, then I'll bring her here and beat her as I would a dog. How will you like that?"
"I'll write the letter," I said huskily.
A few minutes later the thing was done, and I had signed my name to the atrocious expressions of his demand. To transcribe62 them I am too ashamed.
"What now?" I asked.
"The last scene in the last act," said he, as he put the letter in his pocket. "I may tell you that I intend always to keep your body by me—for[Pg 270] her to look at—if she ever shows a mind to mutiny."
"In spirits?" I questioned.
"The embalming63 oil of the princes of old Egypt. I found the receipt in Ptahmes' tomb," he answered. "I propose to convert you into a mummy."
With that he took off his hat and coat, rolled up his sleeves and put on a huge oil-skin apron64. "I'll not kill you till the last moment necessary," he observed. "In fact, you'll be half-mummy before you die; I have a curiosity to discover if the process of substitution is painful. I rather think it must be."
He moved over as he spoke to the sarcophagus and began to shift the objects that sealed up the mouth. It took him some minutes to do so, and as he put down the couch, last of all, one of the castors crashed upon his toe. He cursed the misfortune like a madman and danced about the floor on one foot like a dervish, winding65 up by striking me brutally66 with closed fist on the lips. That gave him back his self-control.
"I'll teach you to laugh at me," he growled67. Then he returned to his work and stooping over the great coffin68 he hauled out the lifeless mummy that had rested there so long. For an instant I glimpsed the strange dead features of the dust of Ptahmes which so strikingly resembled the effigy69 carven on the lid of the sarcophagus and also the Arab who had twice in Egypt attempted to[Pg 271] destroy me. Then Belleville carelessly threw the thing upon the couch; and traversed the room to where stood three glass jars filled with a dark viscous70 fluid. One by one he rolled these on end across the floor till all three stood beside the coffin. Afterwards he disappeared behind my chair, returning soon, his head covered with a long breathing mask. I watched him—one may guess with what passionate71 attention. He unscrewed the stopper of the nearest jar, seized the thing bodily in his arms and poured out the contents into the sarcophagus. A curious cloud-like steam arose that hazed72 the prospect73, but soon it dissipated. The air was filled with the perfume I had first smelt74 in the cave temple of the Hill of Rakh. But it was not altogether overpowering. It made my pulses throb75 and brought a great rush of blood to my head and hands and feet much as would the scent76 of amyl nitrate. But it did not take away my senses. Belleville, protected by his mask, was in no way affected77. He quickly unstoppered the second jar, and added its contents to the first. Then he turned and approached me, taking off his helmet as he came. The action apprised78 me that the wonderful perfume had almost died away. There was now a healthy and stimulating79 odour in the room that resembled boiling tar23. Evidently the two jars had contained different chemicals. A loud, seething80, bubbling sound was plainly to be heard; it came from the sarcophagus.
[Pg 272]
Belleville sat down and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. "We must give the stuff ten minutes to mix," he said and, taking out his watch, he glanced at the time. "It's twenty past eleven," he remarked. "You'll begin to mummify at the half hour precisely81, Pinsent, so if you are a religious man you'd best compose your soul in prayer."
I am not ashamed to say that I followed his advice. I closed my eyes and asked the Omnipotent82 for remission of my sins. And since it seemed to me that my hour had come, I resolutely83 put aside my detestation of the monster who designed to murder me, and I even asked for his forgiveness, too. Then a great, deep, splendid peace mantled84 over me, and for the first time in my life I truly realised the littleness of man's existence and the majesty85 of resignation. It was almost worth while to go through all I had been compelled to endure to experience at the end that mood of grand, calm dignity. I felt almost sublimely86 detached from my surroundings. I opened my eyes at last and said with perfect calm:
"I am ready, Belleville."
He stood up and stretched out his arms, yawning widely. Then of a sudden everything was dark.
"What in Hell——?" shouted Belleville. I heard him rush forward cursing angrily, then he stumbled and fell headlong to the floor amidst a crash of glass. In the same instant unseen hands fumbled87 over me. My bonds suddenly relaxed and[Pg 273] I was free. I stood up, stiff but quivering in every nerve. There followed a rasping sound, a match flickered88 into light, and I saw Belleville rising from the ruins of a broken jar. He held the lucifer above his head, and it showed standing at an angle between us the tall frame of the Arab of the cave temple at Rakh.
Belleville ripped out an oath. There came a blinding flash of light and the deafening89 report of a revolver. I staggered from the chair to the wall and leaned against it, helpless as a babe. The echoes were still thundering in rolling waves of brain-dazing sound from wall to wall when the pitch blackness of the room was again relieved by the glare of electricity. Belleville had succeeded in turning on the lights. He stood by the door peering all about him. For a moment I thought all was up. I was free, certainly, but my muscles were so cramped90 and tautened that I could hardly move a finger. I was not fit to contend against a breath of wind, let alone a burly ruffian like the Doctor. But the next instant I remembered I was still invisible. I could not see my own hand held before me, and I had immediate10 proof that he was unable to perceive me.
"Where are you, Pinsent? are you hurt?" he cried.
I did not answer, but, following his glance, I looked at the couch and there I saw what utterly91 astounded92 me. The mummy of Ptahmes lay upon[Pg 274] the couch in exactly the same attitude as when Belleville had flung it there aside from the sarcophagus. Who, then, or what, had set me free? I examined the apartment eagerly, but saw nothing living save Belleville, who with cocked revolver thrust out before him now stepped forward cautiously into the room, waving his arms about him as he walked, and muttering, as he walked, through clenched93 teeth a string of angry blasphemies94.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
rib
|
|
| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
morose
|
|
| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
insomnia
|
|
| n.失眠，失眠症 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
stupor
|
|
| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
reposed
|
|
| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
implements
|
|
| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
blisters
|
|
| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
acridly
|
|
| adj.辛辣的；刺鼻的；（性格、态度、言词等）刻薄的；尖刻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
sanity
|
|
| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
pending
|
|
| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
sitting-room
|
|
| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
overalls
|
|
| n.（复）工装裤；长罩衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
groaning
|
|
| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
tragically
|
|
| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
tar
|
|
| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
stifled
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
hissing
|
|
| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
groans
|
|
| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
torments
|
|
| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
undoing
|
|
| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
besought
|
|
| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
sobbed
|
|
| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
implore
|
|
| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
wailed
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
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： |
|
|
|
|
46
hyena
|
|
| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
blotch
|
|
| n.大斑点；红斑点；v.使沾上污渍，弄脏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
jauntily
|
|
| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
champagne
|
|
| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
sipped
|
|
| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
implored
|
|
| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
salvation
|
|
| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
deity
|
|
| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
transcribe
|
|
| v.抄写，誉写；改编(乐曲)；复制，转录 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
embalming
|
|
| v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的现在分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
brutally
|
|
| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
coffin
|
|
| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
effigy
|
|
| n.肖像 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
viscous
|
|
| adj.粘滞的，粘性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
passionate
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
hazed
|
|
| v.（使）笼罩在薄雾中( haze的过去式和过去分词 )；戏弄，欺凌（新生等，有时作为加入美国大学生联谊会的条件） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
smelt
|
|
| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
throb
|
|
| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
apprised
|
|
| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
stimulating
|
|
| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
seething
|
|
| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
omnipotent
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
resolutely
|
|
| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
mantled
|
|
| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
sublimely
|
|
| 高尚地，卓越地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
fumbled
|
|
| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
flickered
|
|
| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
cramped
|
|
| a.狭窄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
astounded
|
|
| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
blasphemies
|
|
| n.对上帝的亵渎，亵渎的言词[行为]( blasphemy的名词复数 )；侮慢的言词（或行为） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |