It was still lighted up dimly; a ray fell across the path at some little distance in front of me, evidently from one of the side windows. Neither the place, although it was romantic enough, nor the light particularly interested me. But as I went round towards the opposite side of the clearing, I was arrested by a curious sight.
The stream of light which I have spoken of became suddenly interrupted, then diffused6 and broken up, then it swept from side to side. I stopped and watched [Pg 12]it for a few seconds, then my eye followed the movement to its cause.
Just outside the window, half blocking the light and dispersing7 it, was a man’s head. The body I could not see, as it was naturally in the deep shadow. But the face! It was peering into the chapel eagerly, its expression, illuminated8 into strong relief by the light which streamed upon it from the little window, was one I can hardly describe, but shall never forget. Perhaps I can best give an idea of it by likening it to the look of hungry ferocious9 expectation in the eyes of a tiger which has got to within striking distance of its quarry10. The sight was so extraordinary that I must have stood for several seconds hardly drawing my breath, and looking at it half fascinated. Then something told me it would be better to walk on, taking no further notice. After all, I had a perfect right as a guest to be in the wood, and——. In the dark shadow of a buttress11 near the window there was a quick movement, but quite independent of the peering man. Next instant a form crossed the band of light; another man had come out of the darkness and accosted12 me.
His first words were rough and brusque. “What are you doing here?” Then, noticing his mistake, and concluding probably by my appearance that I was a gentleman, and one of the royal guests, he abruptly13 changed his tone and manner.
“Pardon! You are waiting here for some one, mein Herr, or wish to return to the palace?”
“I was taking the liberty of smoking a cigar,” I answered, as politely as I felt inclined.
“Here? In the wood?” The question was put sharply, with a certain stern incredulity and insistence14 strangely at variance15 with the man’s look. I scarcely knew whether to resent or laugh at it.
“Not till this minute,” I replied, deeming it easiest [Pg 13]to be straightforward16 in that land of ceremonies and red tape. “I have been smoking outside the wood, and took this path back to the palace. Why? Is it forbidden?”
“Under certain circumstances. You have not been to this spot till this moment, you say?”
“No.”
“You were not here just now; three, four minutes ago?”
“I am not used to have my word doubted, sir,” I returned, getting a little out of patience.
“Pardon.” He changed his tone again, reverting19 to its first bluffness20. “You are English. I may ask your name?”
I told him, adding, “I presume you have a right to ask it?”
“Pardon,” he said again, but his manner was still offensive. “You have been here alone?”
“No. I have been smoking with three friends who hold official positions here. They have gone in.”
“Pardon, sir,”—he spoke2 in English now—“we are obliged to be circumspect21 here; you in England may not comprehend our necessity. Excuse me if I ask a few questions, in no spirit of idle curiosity, I assure you.”
I nodded and waited.
“Those gentlemen, your friends they left you here in the wood?”
“On the path outside it.”
“You have not been in this wood before now to-night?”
“No.”
“You have seen your friends since you parted from them down there?”
“No.”
[Pg 14]
“No? Why did you walk this way?”
“Really, sir,” I answered, getting somewhat exasperated22, “I don’t know why I should submit to this cross-examination.”
He laughed, showing a set of cruel teeth. “Because you are an Englishman it is incomprehensible. May one inquire without offence your object in walking this way when the path to the palace is outside the wood?”
“If you must know, I took this path by mistake. I trust I have not transgressed23 any rule of your Court etiquette——”
“Oh, no, no, no,” he broke in. “You say you did not speak with your friends again?”
“No. Is there any offence in that?”
“That I cannot tell. All depends on the subject of conversation. Let me see, Herren Szalay, Von Lindheim, and D’Urban; not so?”
“Yes. Is there anything more you wish to know?”
“At present, nothing. I thank you. Let me offer you my apologies and a piece of advice.”
“Yes?”
“Be careful of your words. You are not in England here. Our master, the Herr Chancellor25, has no—patience with chatterers. Good-night. That is your way.”
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收听单词发音
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1
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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2
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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3
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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5
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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6
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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7
dispersing
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| adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式 | |
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8
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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9
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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10
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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11
buttress
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| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
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12
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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13
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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14
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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15
variance
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| n.矛盾，不同 | |
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16
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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17
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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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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19
reverting
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| 恢复( revert的现在分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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20
bluffness
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| 率直，坦率，直峭 | |
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21
circumspect
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| adj.慎重的，谨慎的 | |
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22
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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23
transgressed
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| v.超越( transgress的过去式和过去分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
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24
bantering
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| 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 | |
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25
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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