Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles. Dick chose one of them at random1, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel2 roof. The top of the arched ceiling rose like a whale’s back in the dim glimmer3 of the lamp. Here and there were spyholes, concealed4, on the other side, by the carving5 of the cornice; and looking down through one of these, Dick saw the paved floor of the chapel—the altar, with its burning tapers—and stretched before it on the steps, the figure of Sir Oliver praying with uplifted hands.
At the other end, they descended7 a few steps. The passage grew narrower; the wall upon one hand was now of wood; the noise of people talking, and a faint flickering8 of lights, came through the interstices; and presently they came to a round hole about the size of a man’s eye, and Dick, looking down through it, beheld9 the interior of the hall, and some half a dozen men sitting, in their jacks10, about the table, drinking deep and demolishing12 a venison pie. These were certainly some of the late arrivals.
“Here is no help,” said Dick. “Let us try back.”
“Nay,” said Joanna; “maybe the passage goeth farther.”
And she pushed on. But a few yards farther the passage ended at the top of a short flight of steps; and it became plain that, as long as the soldiers occupied the hall, escape was impossible upon that side.
They retraced13 their steps with all imaginable speed, and set forward to explore the other branch. It was exceedingly narrow, scarce wide enough for a large man; and it led them continually up and down by little break-neck stairs, until even Dick had lost all notion of his whereabouts.
At length it grew both narrower and lower; the stairs continued to descend6; the walls on either hand became damp and slimy to the touch; and far in front of them they heard the squeaking15 and scuttling16 of the rats.
“We must be in the dungeons,” Dick remarked.
“Nay, but an outlet there must be!” Dick answered. Presently, sure enough, they came to a sharp angle, and then the passage ended in a flight of steps. On the top of that there was a solid flag of stone by way of trap, and to this they both set their backs. It was immovable. “Some one holdeth it,” suggested Joanna.
“Not so,” said Dick; “for were a man strong as ten, he must still yield a little. But this resisteth like dead rock. There is a weight upon the trap. Here is no issue; and, by my sooth, good Jack11, we are here as fairly prisoners as though the gyves were on our ankle bones. Sit ye then down, and let us talk. After a while we shall return, when perchance they shall be less carefully upon their guard; and, who knoweth? we may break out and stand a chance. But, in my poor opinion, we are as good as shent.”
“Dick!” she cried, “alas the day that ever ye should have seen me! For like a most unhappy and unthankful maid, it is I have led you hither.”
“What cheer!” returned Dick. “It was all written, and that which is written, willy nilly, cometh still to pass. But tell me a little what manner of a maid ye are, and how ye came into Sir Daniel’s hands; that will do better than to bemoan18 yourself, whether for your sake or mine.”
“I am an orphan19, like yourself, of father and mother,” said Joanna; “and for my great misfortune, Dick, and hitherto for yours, I am a rich marriage. My Lord Foxham had me to ward14; yet it appears Sir Daniel bought the marriage of me from the king, and a right dear price he paid for it. So here was I, poor babe, with two great and rich men fighting which should marry me, and I still at nurse! Well, then the world changed, and there was a new chancellor20, and Sir Daniel bought the warding21 of me over the Lord Foxham’s head. And then the world changed again, and Lord Foxham bought my marriage over Sir Daniel’s; and from then to now it went on ill betwixt the two of them. But still Lord Foxham kept me in his hands, and was a good lord to me. And at last I was to be married—or sold, if ye like it better. Five hundred pounds Lord Foxham was to get for me. Hamley was the groom’s name, and to-morrow, Dick, of all days in the year, was I to be betrothed22. Had it not come to Sir Daniel, I had been wedded23, sure—and never seen thee, Dick—dear Dick!”
And here she took his hand, and kissed it, with the prettiest grace; and Dick drew her hand to him and did the like.
“Well,” she went on, “Sir Daniel took me unawares in the garden, and made me dress in these men’s clothes, which is a deadly sin for a woman; and, besides, they fit me not. He rode with me to Kettley, as ye saw, telling me I was to marry you; but I, in my heart, made sure I would marry Hamley in his teeth.”
“Ay!” cried Dick, “and so ye loved this Hamley!”
“Nay,” replied Joanna, “not I. I did but hate Sir Daniel. And then, Dick, ye helped me, and ye were right kind, and very bold, and my heart turned towards you in mine own despite; and now, if we can in any way compass it, I would marry you with right goodwill24. And if, by cruel destiny, it may not be, still ye’ll be dear to me. While my heart beats, it’ll be true to you.”
“And I,” said Dick, “that never cared a straw for any manner of woman until now, I took to you when I thought ye were a boy. I had a pity to you, and knew not why. When I would have belted you, the hand failed me. But when ye owned ye were a maid, Jack—for still I will call you Jack—I made sure ye were the maid for me. Hark!” he said, breaking off—“one cometh.”
And indeed a heavy tread was now audible in the echoing passage, and the rats again fled in armies.
Dick reconnoitred his position. The sudden turn gave him a post of vantage. He could thus shoot in safety from the cover of the wall. But it was plain the light was too near him, and, running some way forward, he set down the lamp in the middle of the passage, and then returned to watch.
Presently, at the far end of the passage, Bennet hove in sight. He seemed to be alone, and he carried in his hand a burning torch, which made him the better mark.
“Stand, Bennet!” cried Dick. “Another step, and y’ are dead.”
“So here ye are,” returned Hatch, peering forward into the darkness. “I see you not. Aha! y’ ’ave done wisely, Dick; y’ ’ave put your lamp before you. By my sooth, but, though it was done to shoot my own knave25 body, I do rejoice to see ye profit of my lessons! And now, what make ye? what seek ye here? Why would ye shoot upon an old, kind friend? And have ye the young gentlewoman there?”
“Nay, Bennet, it is I should question and you answer,” replied Dick. “Why am I in this jeopardy26 of my life? Why do men come privily27 to slay28 me in my bed? Why am I now fleeing in mine own guardian’s strong house, and from the friends that I have lived among and never injured?”
“Master Dick, Master Dick,” said Bennet, “what told I you? Y’ are brave, but the most uncrafty lad that I can think upon!”
“Well,” returned Dick, “I see ye know all, and that I am doomed29 indeed. It is well. Here, where I am, I stay. Let Sir Daniel get me out if he be able!”
Hatch was silent for a space.
“Hark ye,” he began, “return to Sir Daniel, to tell him where ye are, and how posted; for, in truth, it was to that end he sent me. But you, if ye are no fool, had best be gone ere I return.”
“Begone!” repeated Dick. “I would be gone already, an’ I wist how. I cannot move the trap.”
“Put me your hand into the corner, and see what ye find there,” replied Bennet. “Throgmorton’s rope is still in the brown chamber30. Fare ye well.”
Dick instantly returned for his lamp, and proceeded to act upon the hint. At one corner of the trap there was a deep cavity in the wall. Pushing his arm into the aperture32, Dick found an iron bar, which he thrust vigorously upwards33. There followed a snapping noise, and the slab34 of stone instantly started in its bed.
They were free of the passage. A little exercise of strength easily raised the trap; and they came forth35 into a vaulted36 chamber, opening on one hand upon the court, where one or two fellows, with bare arms, were rubbing down the horses of the last arrivals. A torch or two, each stuck in an iron ring against the wall, changefully lit up the scene.
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1
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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3
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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4
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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5
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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6
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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7
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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8
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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9
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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10
jacks
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| n.抓子游戏；千斤顶( jack的名词复数 )；（电）插孔；[电子学]插座；放弃 | |
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11
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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12
demolishing
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| v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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13
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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14
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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15
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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16
scuttling
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| n.船底穿孔，打开通海阀（沉船用）v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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17
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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18
bemoan
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| v.悲叹，哀泣，痛哭；惋惜，不满于 | |
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19
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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20
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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21
warding
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| 监护，守护（ward的现在分词形式） | |
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22
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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23
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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25
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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26
jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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28
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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29
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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30
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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31
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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32
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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33
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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34
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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35
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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36
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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