“Idiot,” he chuckled1, “to intrude2 on a doting3 couple. There might have been kisses, who knows?”
“But why did she not recognize you sooner?”
“Because I happen to have a figure that is not unlike her swain’s, I suppose. As to my voice, have I not heard many times the squeak4 of the noble Conti, and am I not a mimic5 on occasions?”
“But surely I do not resemble the other noble Conti?”
“In that bulging6 robe, with that beard and mask, you might be equally an angel of light or the very devil himself. I am glad you had wit enough not to speak.”
“And now?” I asked impatiently.
“After we have slipped the bolt of that little gate in the garden wall over there, we will make our way up the tower and hide until the guests have gone. We dare not trust ourselves in the 254palace again after our escapade. That gate opens on the side street. We shall be glad to avail ourselves of it later.”
We were about to leave the arbor7 when a Punchinello strolled down the garden path, a poodle at his heels. He was humming a French song, his hands thrust deep into his pockets. He passed by a pergola of grapevines without once turning in our direction. Recognizing the dog, I guessed the identity of the clown. It was the man who had been tampering8 with Pietro’s honesty a night or two before. His presence at the palace was alarming, but I said no word to St. Hilary of my fears. Spies or no spies, I was going to find that casket to-night!
When the garden was again deserted9 I drew the bolts of the gate, then followed St. Hilary up the steps of the tower. All the guests were at supper, and we met no one.
At the summit of the tower the sides were wide open to the sky. A low parapet ran around the sides. The roof rose to an apex10 some ten or twelve feet above. Two broad timbers, just out of reach, stretched across the roof. Rusty11 rings were still embedded12 in them. In former days this had been a bell-tower. I pointed13 out the timbers to St. Hilary.
“There is our hiding-place if any one comes. 255Could you reach those beams if I gave you a back?”
He did not answer. He was looking down the dark stairway. He rose and leaped on the parapet.
“It is time to make the attempt. People are coming up the stairs.”
In five seconds we were lying side by side.
“Whatever happens, you must not betray yourself. If you do, remember, you betray me, and you promised to stand by me, no matter what happened.”
I nodded; then, peering over, I saw my mask lying on the bench where I had thrown it down. I pointed it out to St. Hilary.
“Shall I risk jumping down for it?”
“No, no. There is no logical clue between a mask on a bench and two gentlemen playing eavesdroppers a few feet above.”
There was a rustle14 of silk; a faint sigh of a woman catching15 her breath; then a ripple16 of light laughter.
“We are not the first, duke, to enjoy this wonderful view,” cried a clear voice.
I leaned recklessly over. Jacqueline was holding my mask toward Duke da Sestos. And they were alone.
I had just given my promise to St. Hilary, 256but I had not reckoned on this. To leap down now would mean that I must betray him; to remain, that I must listen. I was in an agony of indecision. Again I hesitated, and again I was to pay a bitter penalty.
“Oh, it is worth the climb,” cried Jacqueline enthusiastically. “That blaze of lights is the Piazza17 San Marco, of course. And the long line to the north?”
“Are the lights of the Riva,” answered the moody18 voice of the duke.
His tone frightened me. I felt that he was regarding her with burning glances. Jacqueline must have noticed it had she not been enraptured19 with the fairy scene before her.
“The little splashes of light here and there are the campos, of course. But the Grand Canal! I never dreamed of anything so wonderful. Look, it has just one broad band of moonlight across its gloom. How fearfully tragic20 it must look on a cloudy night! But now, it is beautiful. And the tiny flickers21 of dancing light from the lanterns on the gondolas23 make the effect magical. Is it any wonder that, after all, one is a slave to the beauty of this Venice? Perhaps,” she added dreamily, “one might have more ignoble24 dreams and ambitions than to live always in the midst of this beauty. I believe 257there is nothing on earth so beautiful as this scene.”
“There is yourself,” a hoarse25 voice broke in on her revery. “There is yourself, and to-night you are more beautiful and exquisite26 than the very citadels27 of Paradise.”
I trembled. It was to come, then, this declaration of love; and I must listen. It was now too late to descend28. I could only pray that they would soon go. To my joy, this time Jacqueline did recognize the danger of her lingering.
“And below, what a mass of gondolas! How little did I think that I should ever go to a ball in a gondola22! I can not thank you enough for bringing me here. But my aunt is waiting at the next landing. She will be wondering.”
“No,” broke in the duke’s hoarse voice, “she will not.”
“And why not, please?” demanded Jacqueline.
“I have told Mrs. Gordon that I must see you alone. You have avoided me all the evening–all the day–ever since Mr. Hume insulted me by denying that I had found the casket. And now that I have my opportunity it shall not escape me.”
“If my aunt has given you permission to detain me here against my will, she has gone beyond 258her right. That she is not waiting for me makes it still more necessary to descend.”
“You must not go. You will not be so cruel. You shall not go. You shall not go, by heaven until you have told mo why you refuse to listen to me!”
“Do you think that my regard for you will grow stronger because you detain me here against my will?” Jacqueline asked indignantly.
“My glorious one, you are beautiful when you are angry,” he cried passionately29. “I do not forget that you are only a nun30 for the hour. Beneath those funereal31 robes beats a heart of passion and fire like mine. Like mine, do you hear? It is time you were wooed and won.”
“I hardly understand you, Duke da Sestos.”
Even now there was no fear in her voice.
“Oh, you understand, my white dove,” he continued in a tone that made my blood boil. “You understand perfectly32. Even in America, I suppose, young girls do not climb towers alone at night without first of all counting the cost.”
I had heard quite enough. St. Hilary and his casket might go to the devil. I gathered up my cumbersome33 robes. St. Hilary, his black eyes glowing into mine a few feet away, made a fierce but cautious gesture to lie still If I did so it was not because of St. Hilary, but consideration 259for my own dignity. Jacqueline would never forgive me if I appeared now, I thought. And by his next words the duke seemed to have come to his senses at last.
“Heavens,” he cried despairingly, “I am mad! I have angered you. Forgive me. Say that you forgive me. You shall go when you have said that.”
“If I forgive you,” answered Jacqueline in a cold voice, “it is because I have failed to understand you.”
“But tell me, before we go, why have you promised only to deny? I have been patient. I have endured all. But now, to-night, under this soft moonlight, under these burning stars, with Venice, the Queen of Loves, to listen, I tell you that I love you. Pledge your love to me–here–to-night.”
“I insist that you let me go.”
“In one moment. Tell me why you refuse to keep your word? Is it because that Mr. Hume made me ridiculous before you? If he had not interfered34, you would have loved me. I would have made you love me.”
“Really, Duke da Sestos, to be quite exact, you should say if you had not interfered.”
“But when once you know what I know, when I have told you that he is a thief––”
260“Thief!” cried my dear Jacqueline with scorn.
“Is he not a thief who breaks into your rooms, who binds35 you hand and foot, who steals from you––”
“You dare say that he has done that?” cried Jacqueline, lingering in spite of herself.
“I dare say to his face that he has done just that,” replied the duke hotly. “He has done more than that. He has stolen your heart from me, and for that I shall never forgive him. Never. But I shall yet win you. You are mine. Give me my reward. I implore36 you. I command you. You are in my power. One kiss, and you shall go. I swear it. No, no, you shall not escape me.”
She screamed. I lifted myself on my elbow to leap down. It was impossible to stay there longer. My robe caught on a nail. While I struggled to free myself the duke saw me, and as I alighted he struck me a violent blow.
He flung himself upon me and pinioned37 my arms. I struggled furiously, but he had me at a disadvantage. I was down. The moonlight fell on my face. He recognized me.
“Bah, it is our American friend; it is your Mr. Hume,” he cried, with a contempt that was too careless for indignation. There was almost 261a note of good-nature in his contempt, as if I were a loathsome38 but amusing species of reptile39.
I rose panting to my feet. Hell itself can have no greater torment40 than I suffered then.
“Eavesdropper!” cried the duke, regarding me cynically42.
Jacqueline looked at me in horror. “You were listening? And you made no effort to help me?”
The words were not spoken in reproach. It was as if she had uttered a simple truth that was convincing, hopelessly convincing.
I was silent. I could say nothing without betraying St. Hilary.
“Is every one low and despicable? Is there no honor in any one? You–my aunt–” she groped her way toward the stairs.
For the third time the duke and I looked into each others eyes. He was smiling still in his amused, cynical41 way, but thoughtfully, too.
“So,” he said at last, “you really were listening? Or had you other motives43?”
“No,” I said, quite truthfully. “You know perfectly well that I was not listening.”
“I thought so. I am so sorry that I have disturbed Mr. Hume. And now to-night, I suppose, it is useless to keep an eye on him longer. 262There will be no adventures to-night, I am afraid.”
There was a note of real regret in his voice. Had he really known that I was here, or was he lying as usual? In any case, if I could convince him that for to-night, at least, I should make no further attempt to find the casket, he would leave St. Hilary in peace.
“You have beaten me to-night, it is true, but there are other nights. Remember that there are yet five days.”
We descended44 the tower. I walked deliberately45 through the palace. The duke pretended not to watch me, but I knew that I should be followed. It was some minutes before my gondola came; for the last of the guests were leaving. I went at once to my rooms. I lighted the gas and exchanged the mummery in which I was clad for a suit of tweeds. Then, with an ulster and golf-cap for St. Hilary, I turned out the gas, made my way out into the garden at the rear, and in ten minutes had pushed open the little gate in the garden wall.
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1
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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doting
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| adj.溺爱的，宠爱的 | |
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squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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arbor
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| n.凉亭；树木 | |
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tampering
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| v.窜改( tamper的现在分词 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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apex
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| n.顶点，最高点 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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enraptured
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| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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flickers
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| 电影制片业； （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的名词复数 ) | |
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gondola
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| n.威尼斯的平底轻舟；飞船的吊船 | |
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gondolas
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| n.狭长小船( gondola的名词复数 )；货架（一般指商店，例如化妆品店）；吊船工作台 | |
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ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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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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citadels
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| n.城堡，堡垒( citadel的名词复数 ) | |
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28
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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nun
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| n.修女，尼姑 | |
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funereal
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| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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cumbersome
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| adj.笨重的，不便携带的 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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binds
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| v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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40
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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41
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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42
cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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43
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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44
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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45
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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