Her friend ventured one or two remarks about the folly4 of her promise and the absurdity5 of keeping it; but these so distressed6 Aneth, and had so little visible influence upon her decision, that Mrs. Everingham abandoned the topic and turned the conversation into more cheerful channels. When she mentioned Gerald Winston she noticed that Aneth’s cheeks flamed scarlet7 and then turned deathly white; so here was another subject to be avoided, if she did not wish to make the girl’s position unbearable8. Indeed, those last days of association with Gerald had taught Aneth the full extent of her martyrdom, and now she began to realize that she was losing all that might have rendered her life’s happiness complete, had it not been for the advent9 of Kāra and his terrible threat to destroy the family honor and send her loving grandfather to prison.{218}
Early in the evening Mrs. Everingham kissed her friend and returned to her own room across the corridor, there to complete her simple preparations for the proposed voyage.
Meantime Winston had been busy with Lord Roane. The young man was fortunately a prime favorite with Aneth’s grandsire, and he listened attentively10 to Gerald’s explanation of a plot to rescue his darling grandchild from the slough11 of despondency into which she had fallen.
“Mrs. Everingham is confident a Nile voyage would do much to cheer her up and keep her from dwelling12 upon her troubles,” he suggested. “What do you think of the idea, sir?”
“Capital,” said Roane—“if Aneth can be induced to consent. I asked her to run over to Helwan the other day, for a few weeks’ change of scene; but she declared she would not listen to such a proposal.”
“That is our difficulty,” acknowledged Winston, speaking in a confidential13 tone. “She has told Mrs. Everingham she would not leave Cairo, but we think her decision is based upon the fear that you would be unable to accompany her; so we have decided14 to engage in a little conspiracy15, for the morbid16 condition into which she has fallen has made us all anxious. Is there any reason, my lord, why you should not leave Cairo for a month or so?”
“None whatever, if my going will benefit Aneth in any way.”{219}
“Very good! Now, here is our plan. I have fitted my private dahabeah for a cruise. Mrs. Everingham will go along to chaperone your granddaughter, and you will join us to complete her happiness and keep her contented17. Only one thing stands in our way—the young lady’s refusal to embark18. That barrier will be surmounted19 by Mrs. Everingham, who is a woman of experience and who loves Aneth as well as if she were her own daughter. So this evening you and I will get aboard quietly, without declaring our intentions to anyone, and rely upon Mrs. Everingham’s promise to join us with Aneth at nine o’clock. Do not ask me, sir, how she will succeed in overcoming your granddaughter’s scruples20 against leaving Cairo. We will trust to woman’s wit. When the party is embarked21, we go up the Nile, to find roses for your grandchild’s pale cheeks and have a jolly good time as well.”
Roane accepted the program with enthusiasm. He himself was in a dreadfully nervous state, expecting hourly to be accused of a crime the proof of which would separate him forever from Aneth. To get away from Cairo just now, without Kāra’s knowing where he had gone, would be to gain a few weeks’ respite23. Eagerly he availed himself of the opportunity.
Winston knew there was no danger of the old man’s betraying their plans, but he could not divine what Kāra’s next move might be, and resolved to take no chances; so he clung fast to Roane until he had put him and his light luggage aboard the dahabeah, whereupon{220} he sent a messenger to apprise24 Mrs. Everingham of his success.
So far, all had gone well; but Mrs. Everingham’s anxiety grew as the hour of nine approached. Lord Roane had sent word to Aneth that he would be out for dinner and might not return to the hotel until late that night; so the girl, glad of this fortunate chance, had her dinner served in her own room, and the Arab servant, being intercepted25 by Mrs. Everingham, declared that she ate little and wept continually, as if overcome by some hopeless sorrow.
All depended now upon the faithfulness of Tadros the dragoman, and Mrs. Everingham, finding nothing more for her woman’s ingenuity26 to devise, entered a carriage at half past-eight o’clock and was driven quietly to the embankment. Within sight of the three red lights Winston had displayed, she halted her vehicle to await the arrival of the dragoman.
Tadros, meantime, being fully22 instructed by Kāra as to the conduct of his mission, drove in the Egyptian’s private carriage to the hotel. The coachman had been instructed to obey the dragoman’s orders implicitly27, so he suspected nothing when Tadros, having alighted at the Savoy, commanded him to drive to the citadel28 and remain in the shadow of the mosque29 until midnight.
The dragoman then hired another carriage that was driven by a sleepy and stupid-looking Arab, after which he immediately entered the hotel and went directly to Aneth’s room.{221}
She opened the door in person, having dismissed all her attendants.
“It is nine o’clock, miss,” announced Tadros, as he entered.
The girl clasped her hands with a gesture and look of terror.
“Where is—is—Prince Kāra?” she asked, vaguely30.
“At his villa31, awaiting, with the bridal party, your arrival. You must understand that the wedding is to be very quietly conducted, yet strictly32 in accordance with the requirements of the Christian33 faith. My master desires me to say that every consideration and courtesy shall be shown you, his highest ambition in the future being to promote your happiness.”
She shuddered34.
“Is that all he said?”
“Except that his promises to you shall be faithfully kept, and Lord Roane’s comfort and safety carefully provided for.”
“Let us go,” she said, hastily. “I am ready.”
“Any luggage, miss?” he asked.
She pointed35 to a small traveling-case that stood beside her, and Tadros stooped and picked it up.
With a frightened glance around her, she placed a note directed to Lord Roane upon the table and then hurriedly left the room, leaving the door unlocked.
The dragoman escorted her to the side entrance, reserved for ladies, and they were fortunate in finding it almost deserted36 at that moment. Aneth entered the{222} carriage quickly, as if fearful of being interrupted in her escape, and Tadros closed the door and took his seat beside the driver.
“To the opera house,” he said, for the benefit of the few loungers who stood upon the pavement.
After driving a couple of blocks, he made the Arab driver stop in front of a tobacco shop, and sent him in to purchase some cigarettes. The moment the fellow disappeared, Tadros started the horse and applied37 the whip, and the carriage had whirled swiftly around the comer before the wondering Arab returned to the street, to find his equipage and his passengers missing.
Aneth, as soon as she had leaned back against the cushions, had fallen into a sort of stupor38. Her weary brain refused to think or to speculate upon the doubtful fate to which she was rushing. She felt the carriage bumping over the crossings and saw vaguely the lights flash by; but she noted39 neither the direction in which they were proceeding40 nor the length of their journey. Across the Nile bridge the horses abated41 their speed; but then through the darker lanes of the west embankment they dashed along at a wild pace, that might have frightened the girl, had she been capable of realizing the actual conditions.
Suddenly, with a jolt42 that almost threw her into the opposite seat, the carriage halted. She looked out of the window and saw three dim red lights burning, and beyond these the glint of a stray moonbeam upon the river.{223}
When Tadros came to assist her in alighting, she saw Mrs. Everingham standing43 behind him.
“Where am I?” asked the girl, wildly.
“Hush, dear,” said her friend, taking her in her arms to kiss her tenderly. “Am I not welcome at your wedding?”
“But why are we here?” asked Aneth, pleadingly. “Why are we at the river, and where is Prince Kāra?”
“Come and let me surprise you,” answered Mrs. Everingham, soothingly44, leading the young girl, who was still half dazed and thoroughly45 mystified, aboard the dahabeah and into the brightly lighted little cabin. There sat Lord Roane and Gerald Winston.
Aneth stared, and then, looking wildly around, she gave a plaintive46 cry and threw herself into her grandfather’s arms.
“I don’t understand!” she wailed47, sobbing48 hysterically49. “What does it all mean? Why are you here, and where is Prince Kāra?”
Roane was puzzled by her speech, as well as distressed by her agitation50.
“Prince Kāra!” he repeated. “Confound it, Aneth, you don’t want that rascally51 nigger, do you?”
“No, no!” she replied; “but he wants me, and I have promised; I must go to him. Why am I here? What have you done?”
By this time the dragoman had tied his horses to a palm and come aboard, just as Hassan drew in the gangplank and Abdallah started the wheezy engine. Tadros{224} stood in the cabin doorway52 and listened intently to Aneth’s protests.
“See here, miss,” he exclaimed, with assumed sternness, “you are in my charge, for I am Prince Kāra’s dragoman, and you have promised to obey me. Is it not so?”
She turned to look at him.
“Are you obeying Prince Kāra’s orders?” she demanded.
“To be sure! He wished to surprise you. He says he merely intended to test your honesty, being interested in knowing whether an English girl would keep her promises. But he does not desire to make you unhappy. He is a prince, and generous; therefore, he releases you from your compact, and you are free from this time forth53 to do exactly as you please.”
She was white and trembling now.
“But my grandfather—” she began, eagerly.
Tadros cut her short.
“He also is safe, in proof of which you see him at your side. You need have no fears in the future that—”
He stopped abruptly54, for the overwrought nerves of the girl could not withstand this sudden revulsion of fate. Gerald caught her swaying form and carried her to her berth55, where Mrs. Everingham tended her lovingly and applied restoratives to relieve her faintness.
As for Lord Roane, he swore loudly and glared upon the dragoman.
“What cursed nonsense is this?” he cried.{225}
Tadros smiled, and Gerald came up and seized the dragoman by both hands, pressing them warmly.
“Thank you, my man!” said he. “You are a loyal ally, and I shall not forget how you have lied to save us from an embarrassing position.” Then he turned to Lord Roane. “If there is anything your lordship does not understand,” he said, “I will gladly endeavor to explain it. Prince Kāra has been playing a deep game, with you and Aneth as pawns56; but I think we have him checkmated at last.”
The old nobleman did not reply at once. Any questioning on his part would necessarily be a very delicate matter. He turned his eyes thoughtfully toward the shore, where the lights of Cairo were slowly disappearing from their view.
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1
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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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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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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apprise
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| vt.通知，告知 | |
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intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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mosque
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| n.清真寺 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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41
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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42
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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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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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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45
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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47
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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50
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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51
rascally
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| adj. 无赖的，恶棍的 adv. 无赖地，卑鄙地 | |
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52
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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53
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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55
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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56
pawns
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| n.（国际象棋中的）兵( pawn的名词复数 )；卒；被人利用的人；小卒v.典当，抵押( pawn的第三人称单数 )；以（某事物）担保 | |
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