I had no words to answer him. In all my speculations1 as to the result of Madam Izabel’s terrible deed, the fate of the records and the mysterious opening of the vault2 without its key, I never had conceived the idea that Dom Miguel might have escaped his doom3. And to find him here, not only alive, but apparently4 in good health and still busy with the affairs of the Revolution, conveyed so vivid a shock to my nerves that I could but dumbly stare into my old friend’s kind eyes and try to imagine that I beheld5 a reality and not the vision of a disordered brain.
Bastro assisted me by laughing loudly and giving me a hearty6 slap across the shoulders.
240“Wake up, Senhor Harcliffe!” said he; “and hereafter have more faith in Providence7 and the luck that follows in the wake of true patriotism8. We could ill afford to lose our chief at this juncture9.”
“But how did it happen?” I gasped10, still filled with wonder. “What earthly power could have opened that awful vault when its key was miles and miles away?”
“The earthly power was wielded11 by a very ordinary little woman,” said Dom Miguel, with his old gentle smile. “When you rode away from the house on that terrible morning Lesba came and unlocked my prison, setting me free.”
“But how?” I demanded, still blindly groping for the truth.
“By means of a duplicate key that she had constantly carried in her bosom12.”
I drew a long breath.
“Did you know of this key, sir?” I asked, after a pause, which my companions courteously13 forbore to interrupt.
“I did not even suspect its existence,” replied Dom Miguel. “But it seems that Francisco Paola, with his usual thoughtfulness, 241took an impression in wax of my ring, without my knowledge, and had an exact duplicate prepared. I think he foresaw that an emergency might arise when another key might be required; but it would not do to let any one know of his action, for the mere14 knowledge that such a duplicate existed would render us all suspicious and uneasy. So he kept the matter secret even from me, and gave the ring into the keeping of his sister, who was his only confidante, and whom he had requested me to accept as an inmate15 of my household, under the plea that I am her legal guardian16. This was done in order to have her always at hand in case the interests of the conspiracy17 demanded immediate18 use of the duplicate key. That Francisco trusted her more fully19 than he has any other living person is obvious; and that she was worthy20 of such trust the girl has fully proved.”
“Then you were released at once?” I asked; “and you suffered little from your confinement21?”
“My anguish22 was more mental than of a bodily nature,” Dom Miguel answered, 242sadly; “but I was free to meet Paola when he arrived at my house, and to assist him and Lesba in removing the contents of the vault to a safer place.”
“But why, knowing that his sister held a duplicate key, did the Minister send me in chase of the ring Madam Izabel had stolen?” I demanded.
“Because it was necessary to keep the matter from the Emperor until the records had been removed,” explained de Pintra. “Indeed, Francisco was on his way to us that morning to insist upon our abandoning the vault, after having given us warning, as you will remember, the night before, that the clever hiding-place of our treasure and papers was no longer a secret.”
“I remember that he himself revealed the secret to the Emperor,” I remarked, dryly.
“And acted wisely in doing so, I have no doubt,” retorted Bastro, who still stood beside us. “But come, gentlemen, breakfast must be ready, and I have a vigorous appetite. Be good enough to join me.”
He led the way to an inner room, and 243de Pintra and I followed, his arm in mine.
It seemed to me, now that I regarded him more attentively23, that my old friend was less erect24 than formerly25, that there were new and deep furrows26 upon his gentle face, and that his eyes had grown dim and sunken. But that the old, dauntless spirit remained I never doubted.
As we entered the breakfast-room I saw a form standing27 at the window—the form of a little man clothed neatly28 in black. He turned to greet us with pale, expressionless features and drooping29 eyelids30.
It was Captain Mazanovitch.
“Good morning, Senhor Harcliffe,” he said, in his soft voice; and I wondered how he had recognized me without seeming to open his eyes. “And what news does our noble Captain Bastro bring of the Revolution?” he continued, with a slight note of interest in his voice that betrayed his eagerness.
While we breakfasted Bastro related the events of the morning, and told how the news he had received of the activity of the 244Uruguayan guards, in connection with the impossibility of learning from Rio what Fonseca had accomplished31, had induced him to disband his men.
“But can you again assemble them, if you should wish to?” inquired Dom Miguel.
“Easily,” answered our host; but he did not explain how.
While he and Dom Miguel discussed the fortunes of the Revolution I made bold to ask Captain Mazanovitch how he came to be in this isolated32 spot.
“I was warned by the Minister of Police to leave Rio,” answered the detective; “for it appears my—my friend Valcour would have been suspicious had not Paola promised to arrest me with the others. I have been here since yesterday.”
“Your friend Valcour is a most persistent33 foe34 to the Cause,” said I, thoughtfully. “It would have pleased you to watch him struggle with Paola for the mastery, while the Emperor was by. Ah, how Paola and Valcour hate each other!”
Mazanovitch turned his passionless face toward me, and it seemed as though a faint 245smile flickered35 for an instant around his mouth. But he made no answer.
After breakfast Pedro was sent back to Cuyaba for news, being instructed to await there the repairing of the telegraph wires, and to communicate with us as soon as he had word from Rio.
The man had no sooner disappeared in the forest than, as we stood in the roadway looking after him, a far-off patter of horses’ feet was distinctly heard approaching from the north.
Silently we stood, gazing toward the curve in the road while the hoof-beats grew louder and louder, till suddenly two horses swept around the edge of the forest and bore down upon us.
Then to the surprise of all we recognized the riders to be Francisco Paola and his sister Lesba, and they rode the same horses which the evening before had been attached to the carriage that had brought me from de Pintra’s.
As they dashed up both brother and sister sprang from the panting animals, and the former said, hurriedly:
246“Quick, comrades! Into the house and barricade36 the doors. The Uruguayans are upon us!”
True enough; now that their own horses had come to a halt we plainly heard the galloping37 of the troop of pursuers. With a single impulse we ran to the house and entered, when my first task was to assist Bastro in placing the shutters38 over the windows and securing them with stout39 bars.
The doors were likewise fastened and barred, and then Mazanovitch brought us an armful of rifles and an ample supply of ammunition40.
“Do you think it wise to resist?” asked de Pintra, filling with cartridges41 the magazine of a rifle.
A blow upon the door prevented an answer.
“Open, in the name of the Emperor!” cried an imperious voice.
“That is my gallant42 friend Captain de Souza,” said Lesba, with a little laugh.
I looked at the strange girl curiously43. She had seated herself upon a large chest, 247and with her hands clasped about one knee was watching us load our weapons with as much calmness as if no crisis of our fate was impending44.
“Be kind to him, Lesba,” remarked Paola, tucking a revolver underneath45 his arm while he rolled and lighted a cigarette. “Think of his grief at being separated from you.”
She laughed again, with real enjoyment46, and shook the tangled47 locks of hair from her eyes.
“Perhaps if I accept his attentions he will marry me, and I shall escape,” she rejoined, lightly.
“Open, I command you!” came the voice from without.
“Really,” said Lesba, looking upon us brightly, “it was too funny for anything. Twice this morning the brave captain nearly succeeded in capturing me. He might have shot me with ease, but called out that he could not bear to injure the woman he loved!”
“Does he indeed love you, Lesba?” asked de Pintra, gently.
248“So he says, Uncle. But it must have been a sudden inspiration, for I never saw him until yesterday.”
“Nevertheless, I am glad to learn of this,” resumed Dom Miguel; “for there is no disguising the fact that they outnumber us and are better armed, and it is good to know that whatever happens to us, you will be protected.”
“Whatever happens to you will happen to me,” declared the girl, springing to her feet. “Give me a gun, Uncle!”
Now came another summons from de Souza.
“Listen!” he called; “the house is surrounded and you cannot escape us. Therefore it will be well for you to surrender and rely upon the Emperor’s mercy.”
“I fear we may not rely on that with any security,” drawled Paola, who had approached the door. “Pray tell us, my good de Souza, what are your orders respecting us?”
“To arrest you at all hazards,” returned the captain, sternly.
“And then?” persisted the Minister, 249leaning against the door and leisurely48 puffing49 his cigarette.
But another voice was now heard—Valcour’s—crying:
“Open at once, or we will batter50 down the door.”
Before any could reply Mazanovitch pushed Paola aside and placed his lips to the keyhole.
“Hear me, Valcour,” he said, in a soft yet penetrating51 tone, “we are able to defend ourselves until assistance arrives. But rather than that blood should be shed without necessity, we will surrender ourselves if we have your assurance of safe convoy52 to Rio.”
For a moment there was silence. Then, “How came you here?” demanded the spy, in accents that betrayed his agitation53.
“That matters little,” returned Mazanovitch. “Have we your assurance of safety?”
We heard the voices of Valcour and de Souza in angry dispute; then the captain shouted: “Stand aside!” and there came a furious blow upon the door that shattered the panels.
250Bastro raised his rifle and fired. A cry answered the shot, but instantly a second crash followed. The bars were torn from their sockets54, the splintered door fell inward, and before we could recover from the surprise we were looking into the muzzles55 of a score of carbines leveled upon us.
“Very well,” said Paola, tossing the end of his cigarette through the open doorway56. “We are prisoners of war. Peste! my dear Captain; how energetic your soldiers are!”
A moment later we were disarmed57, and then, to our surprise, de Souza ordered our feet and our hands to be securely bound. Only Lesba escaped this indignity58, for the captain confined her in a small room adjoining our own and placed a guard at the door.
During this time Valcour stood by, sullen59 and scowling60, his hands clinched61 nervously62 and his lips curling with scorn.
“You might gag us, my cautious one,” said Paola, addressing the officer, who had planted himself, stern and silent, in the center of the room while his orders were being executed.
251“So I will, Senhor Paola; but in another fashion,” was the grim reply.
He drew a paper from his breast and continued, “I will read to you my orders from his Majesty63, the Emperor Dom Pedro of Brazil, dispatched from the station at Cuyaba as he was departing for his capital to quell64 the insurrection.”
He paused and slowly unfolded the paper, while every eye—save that, perhaps, of Mazanovitch—was fixed65 upon him with intent gaze.
“‘You are instructed to promptly66 arrest the traitor67 Francisco Paola, together with his sister, Lesba Paola, and whatever revolutionists you may be able to take, and to execute them one and all without formal trial on the same day that they are captured, as enemies of the Empire and treasonable conspirators68 plotting the downfall of the Government.’”
The captain paused a moment, impressively, and refolded the document.
“It is signed by his Majesty’s own hand, and sealed with the royal seal,” he said.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
speculations
|
|
| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
beheld
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
patriotism
|
|
| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
juncture
|
|
| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
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： |
|
|
|
|
11
wielded
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
courteously
|
|
| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
inmate
|
|
| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
guardian
|
|
| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
conspiracy
|
|
| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
confinement
|
|
| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
furrows
|
|
| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
eyelids
|
|
| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
isolated
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
persistent
|
|
| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
flickered
|
|
| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
barricade
|
|
| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
shutters
|
|
| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
cartridges
|
|
| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
tangled
|
|
| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
leisurely
|
|
| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
puffing
|
|
| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
batter
|
|
| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
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： |
|
|
|
|
52
convoy
|
|
| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
sockets
|
|
| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
muzzles
|
|
| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
disarmed
|
|
| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
indignity
|
|
| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
scowling
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
clinched
|
|
| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
quell
|
|
| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
conspirators
|
|
| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |