The time was spent in playing whist and ecarte, games at which Frederick, who was an exceedingly wealthy man, could afford to lose in such a cool manner as to attract the admiration5 of his fellow-travelers. So agreeable did they find their new acquaintance, that they prevailed upon him [Pg 151] to accompany them to Canada, instead of going straight to New York, as had been originally his intention.
In due time they arrived at Ottawa, having spent a few days en route at Salt Lake City, Omaha, and Chicago.
During the two weeks which they spent in the Canadian capital, they were most hospitably6 entertained by various persons of high birth and breeding in that city. They were also included among the guests at the ball given by the governor-general at Rideau Hall, where the man who, as “Prado,” was some years later to suffer an ignominious7 death at the hands of M. Deibler (the Paris executioner) had the honor of dancing with the illustrious personage who at that time graced the vice-regal mansion8 with her presence.
At the conclusion of their visit to Ottawa, the three young men started for Niagara Falls, which they were anxious to see, and on arriving there, took up their residence at one of the principal hotels on the Canadian side of the cataract9.
The day after their arrival was spent in visiting the Cave of the Winds, and other sights of the place. That same evening, after dinner, Frederick, leaving his two friends playing billiards10 at the hotel, lighted a cigar, and strolled down toward the Falls. As he was walking along the edge of the precipitous bank of the mighty11 torrent12, he suddenly heard footsteps advancing toward him from the opposite direction. Raising his eyes to see who the stranger might be, he recognized, to his horror, in the bright moonlight, the last person on earth whom he wished to meet—the husband of Nina, Mr. Van der Beck.
Frederick hoped that Nina's husband would fail to recognize him, and pulling his hat down over his eyes quickened his pace for the purpose of preventing the latter from obtaining a glimpse of his features. His onward13 course, however, was brought to a sudden stop by Mr. Van der Beck, who, courteously14 raising his hat, requested him to give [Pg 152] him a light for his cigar. As the two men stood face to face, the moon, which for a moment past had been obscured by a fleeting15 cloud, suddenly shone forth16 again, casting its bright rays full on Frederick's face.
With a hoarse17 cry, the old man started back when he recognized the man who had so grievously wronged him. His face assumed a terrible expression; his eyes glittered fiercely, and, trembling with suppressed fury from head to foot, he seemed for a moment unable to speak.
The situation was truly an awful one for both.
In striking contrast with the violent passions which surged in the breasts of both the husband and lover of the ill-fated Nina Van der Beck was the deep calm and loveliness of the scene around them. Not a breath of wind stirred the lofty branches of the trees. The moon was sailing majestically18 across the dark heavens, shedding a light so bright and pure that every blade of grass, every pebble19 in the path was distinguishable in the silvery sheen. Many feet beneath them, they could hear the mighty rush of waters as they sped on their tumultuous course between their rocky banks, and from a short distance off came the dull and unceasing roar of the great Niagara Falls.
At length Mr. Van der Beck broke the silence and exclaimed in a dry, hollow voice:
“I have caught you at last, Frederick Gavard. My hour has come! God help you, for I have much to avenge20.”
Frederick, who had by this time regained21 all his habitual22 composure, contemptuously shrugged24 his shoulders and replied with a sneer25:
“This is rather melodramatic, Mr. Van der Beck. May I inquire how you propose to take your revenge? I can make some allowance for your feelings. I quite realize that the role of a betrayed husband has its drawbacks, but——”
“Silence! How dare you add insult to the bitter injury you have done to me. Have you no atom of feeling left? [Pg 153] When you think of the unhappy woman you have ruined—of the friend you have betrayed—dishonored—robbed—yes, robbed, not only of his wife, but of his fortune! Do you suppose that I shall allow you to escape unpunished?—you who have shattered my life and killed the woman I loved so passionately26.”
With these words Mr. Van der Beck took a step toward Frederick and raised his hand in a threatening manner.
“Stay, you old fool! You do not know what you are talking about. You had best not tempt23 me too far. I am not in a mood to be trifled with,” retorted the young man, defiantly27.
“Neither am I!” exclaimed the infuriated Mr. Van der Beck. “You have in your possession still a part of my fortune. I will have you arrested as a robber and a thief if I do not kill you before then, as the destroyer of my happiness. But whatever happens you shall not escape me.”
Frederick uttered a short mocking laugh.
“I have followed you half across the world,” continued Mr. Van der Beck, “and I swear by Heaven that I will put a stop to your shameless career and hinder you from doing any further harm.”
The old man looked so awful in his anger that Frederick involuntarily recoiled28. They were now standing29 on the edge of the path and within a few feet of the brink30 of the yawning abyss beneath him. Mr. Van der Beck violently grasped the young man by the shoulder, exclaiming:
“Come with me. It is of no use to resist. I am armed; and, though I am but a feeble old man compared to you, you will have to follow me.”
Saying this, he pulled a revolver from his breast-pocket and leveled it at Frederick's breast.
A fiendish expression swept over the young man's features. With one swift blow of his arm he dashed the weapon from Mr. Van der Beck's hand, and, seizing him in [Pg 154] his iron grasp, he pushed him toward the precipice31. There was a short struggle, during which the moon was once again obscured by a fleecy cloud. Twice a cry for help rang through the still night air; twice the two men, struggling frantically32, almost rolled together over the brink. But at last, putting forth all his strength, Frederick actually lifted his adversary33 by the waist from the ground and with one mighty effort hurled34 him into the surging waters below. There was a crash of falling stones, an agonized35 cry, which was heard even above the roar of the cataract, and a splash.
FREDERICK HURLS36 MR. VAN DER BECK OVER THE FALLS.
Then all was silent again.
In the woods an owl37 hooted38 twice dismally39, and a dog in the distance uttered that peculiar40 howl which is only heard when the Angel of Death passes through the air.
When the moon shone forth again Frederick might have been seen picking up the revolver which had belonged to Mr. Van der Beck from the ground. After hesitating for a minute he flung it into the river. Then, having arranged as best he could the disorder41 of his dress occasioned by the struggle, he turned on his heels and walked back slowly to the hotel, muttering to himself as he went:
“It was his own fault. What need had he to cross my path? However, it is best so. Dead men tell no tales.”
When Frederick re-entered the billiard-room at the hotel his friends noticed that he was very pale. He called for a glass of brandy, and when it was brought drained it at one gulp42.
“My dear boy,” exclaimed one of the young Englishmen, “what the duse is the matter with you? Have you seen a ghost? How ill you look!”
“Oh, there is nothing much the matter with me,” replied Frederick. “I suppose I have caught a chill; it is fearfully damp about here.”
[Pg 155]
“You should have remained with us. We have had a stunning43 game.”
“Well, I am glad, all the same, that I went. The view of the falls by moonlight is well worth seeing. Yes,” added Frederick, abstractedly, “on the whole, I am glad I went.”
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1
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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2
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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3
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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4
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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5
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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6
hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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7
ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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8
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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9
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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10
billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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11
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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12
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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13
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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14
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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15
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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16
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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17
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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18
majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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19
pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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20
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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21
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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22
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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23
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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24
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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25
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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26
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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27
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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28
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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29
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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30
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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31
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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32
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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33
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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34
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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35
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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36
hurls
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的第三人称单数 )；大声叫骂 | |
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37
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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38
hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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40
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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41
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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42
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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43
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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