“Her eyes, my Paul, have opened at the last instant, and she has chosen exile with thee! Even so would Prudence4 have done. And seeing how thou, my comrade, lovest her, I am ready to believe she may be almost such another as Prudence. Wherefore she is here, quod erat demonstrandum!”
Even as he spoke5, a soldier came down the ladder and stood before us.
“I am bidden to say,” said he, “that Mademoiselle de Lamourie desires to see Captain de Mer and Captain Grande on deck; and I am ordered by Lieutenant6 Shafto to fetch you at once.”
261With such haste as was possible—it is not easy when handcuffed to climb ladders—we made our way on deck, and straight came Yvonne running to meet us, both small hands outstretched. Her eyes sank into mine for just one heart-beat—and that look said, “I love you.” Then her guarded face grew maidenly7 impartial8.
“My friends! My dear friends!” she cried; but stopped as if she had been struck. Our hands had not gone forth9 to meet hers. Her eyes fell upon our fetters10. She turned slowly toward Captain Eliphalet and Lieutenant Shafto, who had followed close behind her. Flame gathered in her eyes, and a dark flush of indignation went over her face. She pointed11 at our handcuffs.
“This to my friends—in my presence!” she cried. “Of a truth your courtesy is tempered, gentlemen!”
With an angry exclamation12 Captain Eliphalet sprang forward to remove the offending irons; but the exquisite13 lieutenant was too quick for him. At a sign the guard who had brought us slipped them off, and stood holding them behind his back, while his officer was left free to make apologies.
These were abundant, and of such a tone as to leave no doubt of their sincerity14. Moreover, by his manner, he included Marc and myself in his expressions of regret, which proved sound policy 262on his part, and went far to win his pardon from Yvonne.
“Believe me, mademoiselle,” he concluded, “it was never for one moment intended that these gentlemen, your friends, officers in the French army, and therefore, though my enemies, yet honoured members of my own profession, should thus obtrude15 upon your gentle eyes those chains, with which not their fault, but the chances of our profession have for a season embarrassed them.”
This was so apt and so elegant a conclusion that Captain Eliphalet felt himself urged to some great things, if he would not be quite eclipsed in his guest’s entrancing eyes.
“Indeed, mademoiselle,” he made haste to say, “as these gentlemen are your friends and kinsmen16, and you have dared so splendidly for their sake, they may say good-by to the irons for the rest of the voyage, if they will but give their word of honour that they will in no way use their liberty to the detriment17 of my duties and responsibilities, nor to free any of the other prisoners.
He turned to us with a very hearty18 air. Yvonne looked radiant with satisfaction. Lieutenant Shafto’s face dropped—for he doubtless thought our continued freedom would much limit his privileges with Yvonne. But I spoke up at once, forestalling19 Marc.
“I need hardly assure you, Monsieur le Capitaine, 263that we do from our hearts appreciate your most generous courtesy. But beyond the few hours of freedom which we dare hope you may grant us each day, for the priceless solace20 of our fair kinswoman’s company, we cannot in conscience accept a favour that would too enviably distinguish us from our fellows.”
Captain Eliphalet looked unaffectedly astonished. Yvonne looked hurt and disappointed for a moment; then her face changed, and I saw that her swift brain was drawing intricate inferences from this strange rejection21 of parole—to which Marc had assented22 in a word. As for the elegant Mr. Shafto, however, he was frankly23 delighted.
“Right soldierly said, gentlemen!” he exclaimed. “A good officer stands by his men. I am honoured in meeting you!” and with a very precise civility he shook hands with us in turn.
“But it is very cold here, is it not?” cried Yvonne, with a little shiver, pulling her cloak close. “Let me invite you all to my cabin.”
This invitation she gave with a flying radiance of look at Captain Eliphalet, wherewith he stood a millionfold rewarded.
In the cabin I was not greatly astonished, though more than greatly pleased, to find Mother Pêche. The undisguised triumph in her eyes said, “Didn’t I tell you?”—and in involuntary response to the challenge I thrust my hand into my breast and felt 264the little deerskin pouch24 containing the tress of hair and the mystic stone. She smiled at the gesture.
I pressed the dear old witch’s hand, and said in a low voice:
“In all my life to come I cannot thank you enough. But isn’t it wonderful? I’m in fear each moment of waking, and to find it a dream.”
“She is a dream, Master Paul!” said the old dame25. “And see how all men dream when they look upon her!”
With a jealous pang26 I realized the truth of what she said; and thereupon I made haste to Yvonne’s side, where I saw Marc, Shafto, and Captain Eliphalet all hanging devoutly27 upon her words. I was but a dull addition to the sprightly28 circle, for I was wondering how I should manage to get a word with her.
Had I but known her better I need not have wondered. Presently she broke off in the midst of a sparkling tirade29, laid her hand upon my arm, and said:
“Will you pardon me, gentlemen, but I have a brief word awaiting the ear of Captain Grande,” and calmly she walked me off to the cabin door.
“I presumed, perhaps too hastily, that you still wanted me, dear,” was what she said.
I dared not look straight at her, for I knew that if I did so my face would be a flaunting30 proclamation 265of my worship. I could but say, in a voice that strove for steadiness:
“Beloved, beloved! have you done all this for me?”
A happy mirth came into her voice as she answered:
“No, Paul, not quite all for you! I had to think a little of a certain good man, madly bent31 on marrying a woman who would, alas32! (I know it too well) have made him a most unpleasant wife. George Anderson will never know what I saved him from. But you may, Paul! Aren’t you a little bit afraid?”
I am well aware that in this supreme33 moment I betrayed no originality34 whatever. I could only repeat myself, in expressions which I need not set down. Trite35 as they were, however, she forgave them.
“We have so much to talk about, dear,” she said, “but not now. We must go back to the others; and I must take your cousin Marc aside as I have done with you, so that this won’t look too strange. Does he like me—approve of me?” she asked anxiously.
“Second only to his little Puritan he loves you,” said I. “He knows everything.”
Then, just as we turned back to the others, I whispered in her ear:
“Be prepared for events to-night!”
266She gave me a startled look, understanding at once. Then indeed, as now, whatever is in my mind she is apt to read as if it were an open book.
“So soon? Oh, be careful for my sake!”
I could give no answer, for by this, the cabin being small, we were quite returned from our privacy.
For perhaps two hours Yvonne entertained us, not only conversing36 herself with a gracious wit that struck but to illumine, never to wound, but calling forth a responsive alertness in her cavaliers. Captain Eliphalet began to wonder at his own readiness of repartee37 and compliment. Lieutenant Shafto forgot the perfect propriety38 of his ruffles39, engrossed40 for once in another than himself. Even my imperturbable41 Marc yielded in some measure to the resistless bewilderment, and played the gallant42 with a quaint43, fatherly air that pleasured me. I, only, was the silent one. I could but listen, intoxicated44, speaking when I could not escape it, and my ears averse45 to all words but those coming from her lips.
By and by—I was vexed46 that his discretion47 should bring the moment so soon—Marc made his adieux, insisting against much protest that he desired to keep his welcome unworn for the morrow. I could do naught48 save follow his example; but as I withdrew, Yvonne’s eyes held me so that 267my feet in going moved like lead. The broad-bearded captain and the impeccable lieutenant most civilly accompanied us to the door of our prison.
“This situation, gentlemen,” said Marc, with a smile of careless amusement, “which your courtesy does so sweeten for us, is certainly not without the relish49 of strangeness.”
“It shall be made as little strange as lies in our power to make it, sir,” replied Captain Eliphalet heartily50; and we parted with all expressions of esteem51; not till their backs were turned upon us did we extend our wrists for the irons, which the discreet52 guard had kept hidden under the flap of his great-coat.
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1
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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4
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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5
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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6
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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7
maidenly
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| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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8
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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9
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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11
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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14
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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15
obtrude
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| v.闯入；侵入；打扰 | |
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16
kinsmen
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| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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18
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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19
forestalling
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的现在分词 ) | |
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20
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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22
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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24
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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25
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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29
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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30
flaunting
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| adj.招摇的，扬扬得意的，夸耀的v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的现在分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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31
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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32
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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33
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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originality
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| n.创造力，独创性；新颖 | |
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trite
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| adj.陈腐的 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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37
repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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38
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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39
ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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40
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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41
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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42
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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43
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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44
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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45
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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46
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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47
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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48
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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49
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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50
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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51
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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52
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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