Amongst these conspirators were two negroes named Sam and Tom, who were the ringleaders in the affair; but though they and their friends regarded Richard as a tyrant6, and hated him as such, they found that he was very strongly guarded by a large majority of devoted7 adherents8, and that their chances of making an attack upon him were small.
The Earl's chief supporter and most trusted official was his own private secretary, a Creole named Renato, who served his leader with a whole-hearted devotion, loving him as his dearest and most honoured friend; but, though Richard returned his Secretary's affection, and was sincerely grateful for his devotion, he had avoided him of late, and had seemed to shrink from their customary intercourse9.
The reason for this was the fact that Richard had unfortunately conceived a deep and over-mastering passion for Renato's beautiful young wife, Adelia; and though torn with remorse10 for the wrong he thus did to his friend, he yet could not conquer the love that had grown up in his heart. In spite of the fact that he had refrained from declaring his passion, he had not succeeded in hiding it from the fair Adelia, who soon as ardently11 returned it, although she also felt deep remorse at the circumstance; and the unfortunate pair were thus wretchedly situated12 at the time of the Puritan conspiracy13.
On the night of the reception, Richard was too much occupied by his tender thoughts of Adelia to notice that many of his avowed14 foes16 were actually present in his own house; and in spite of the whispered warnings of the devoted Renato, he continued to regard the strained political position as exaggerated, and merely scoffed17 at the idea of serious trouble.
During the meeting, a petition was presented to the Governor for the transporting of an old negress named Ulrica, who was reported to be a sorceress and dealer18 in the black art; and, utterly19 regardless of his own personal danger, Richard laughingly declared that before the witch was driven away he would himself consult her on the morrow under a disguise, and urge her to predict the fate in store for him.
The negro conspirators overheard this arrangement; and, hurrying away, they proceeded to gather their party together to plan the assassination20 of the Governor at the abode21 of the sorceress, since he would probably be unattended.
In spite of Renato's eager entreaty22 for him to abandon such a mad scheme of playing into the hands of his enemies, Richard still determined23 to carry it out; and on the morrow, in the disguise of a sailor, attended only by his faithful page, Edgar, and a few followers24, he proceeded to the hut of Ulrica.
Here, surrounded by the usual weird25 appurtenances of a dealer in magic and sorcery, he found the old hag, who was already granting audiences to certain superstitious26 folk who had come to have their fortunes told.
As the disguised Earl hung back a while in the gloom of the smoky hut, he observed a veiled lady approach the so-called witch, and ask in a low tone for a potion to cure a guilty love; and to his surprise he recognised the soft voice as that of his beloved Adelia, and was filled with joy to thus learn for certain that she returned his passion, even though she sought a remedy to destroy it. In reply the hag bade her cull27 at midnight a certain herb, which grew only in a desolate28 spot outside the city, where murderers were hanged; and as Adelia hurried away, after declaring her intention to seek the herb that very night, her listening lover vowed15 in his heart that he would follow her thither29, in order to protect her from harm.
It was now Richard's turn to have his fortune told; and to the alarm of his attendants, Ulrica, with dramatic intensity30, declared that he would shortly meet his death by violence, and that the fatal blow would be struck by the person who should next take his hand. Laughing at the prediction, Richard held out his hand to his friends in turn, who, however, all drew back superstitiously31; but when Renato presently appeared on the scene, in order to draw his master away before his disguise should be penetrated32 by his enemies, the Earl deliberately34 seized his hand in defiance35 of the witch's words, well knowing that his secretary was devoted to him.
Late that evening, as midnight approached, Adelia, in fear and trembling, yet firmly resolved in her purpose, made her way with hurried steps to the murderers' gibbet outside the city boundary; and in this wild and lonely spot, which was shunned36 by all as haunted, she sought the magic herb with which she hoped to quench37 a love she knew to be disloyal to her husband; and here she was closely followed by Richard, who, as she suddenly uttered an exclamation38 of terror at the sound of his footsteps, hurried to her side and revealed himself to her. Then, as the moonlight showed him the relief and joy in her face at his greeting, he could no longer retain control of his long-repressed feelings, and, folding her passionately39 in his arms, he declared his love for her; and Adelia, though still announcing her resolve to banish41 him from her heart, could not but admit that she returned his love.
This brief moment of supreme42 happiness was soon rudely interrupted; for angry shouts and approaching flashing lights showed that some disturbance2 was afoot. The terrified Adelia just had time to drop a heavy veil over her face, when her husband, Renato, dashed up to Richard and eagerly besought43 him to return with all haste to the palace, declaring that the negro conspirators, Tom and Sam, had tracked him to this spot, and were now approaching quickly with a party of adherents to assassinate44 him.
At first Richard flatly refused to make his escape, fearing for the fate of the hapless Adelia; but upon Renato promising45 to escort the lady back to the city, he agreed to fly from the certain danger that threatened him, binding46 his friend, however, to a solemn promise not to attempt to penetrate33 the secret of his charge's identity.
Renato, not having the slightest suspicion as to who the veiled lady might be, and anxious only for his revered47 chief's safety, gave the required promise; whereupon Richard dashed away into the darkness, and reached the palace in safety.
When he had gone Renato took the trembling Adelia by the hand, and hurried her away also; but the pair were quickly spied by the approaching conspirators, who rushed forward to capture them with cries of triumph, believing that they had secured the prize they sought. When, however, they discovered that instead of the tyrant Governor it was Renato they had seized, they were filled with angry disappointment; and upon their indulging in coarse jests and taunts48 at the expense of the veiled lady, the secretary, eager to defend his master's sweetheart, drew his sword and furiously defied the howling mob.
At this, Adelia, afraid for her husband's life, hurried to his side, entreating49 him not to anger the people; and, in her agitation50, her veil became disarranged, so that her identity was revealed to all.
When Renato thus saw that it was his own beloved wife he had surprised in the company of the Governor, whom he consequently supposed to be her accepted lover, he was almost stunned51 with the shock of the discovery; and in his rage and despairing grief, he could scarcely refrain from killing52 Adelia, as she now fell on her knees before him. However, her piteous entreaties53 to be at least permitted to bid farewell to her little child, and her passionate40 declaration of innocence54, restrained him for the moment; and sternly bidding her return home with him, he resolved to take vengeance55 upon the Governor, for whom the love and devotion he had borne was now turned to hate.
With this purpose in view, he quickly pacified56 the angry conspirators by declaring that he intended to join their ranks; and during the succeeding days he held secret interviews with them, in order to arrange a successful opportunity for the assassination of the Governor.
Meanwhile, Adelia was plunged57 in the deepest despair, fearing that her husband's jealous anger would lead him to some desperate deed; and full of anxiety for the safety of the man she loved, she endeavoured to learn all she could of the plot which she guessed was being hatched against his life.
One day, on suddenly entering a room in which Renato was consulting with the negroes, Sam and Tom, she was coldly commanded by her husband to draw one piece of folded paper from three which had been placed in a vase; for the three conspirators, having now arranged to assassinate the Governor at a splendid masked ball he was to give in a day or two, had determined to draw lots as to who should deliver the fatal blow.
Adelia, fearing to disobey her husband's command, drew forth5 a paper from the vase; and, horrified58 by Renato's exultant59 tone as he announced that it bore his name, she hurried away to her chamber60, full of terrifying thoughts. She now felt assured that her husband intended to kill Richard; and suspecting that he hoped to accomplish his fell purpose on the night of the masked ball, she determined, though in no mood for festivity, to attend the function, in order that she might seek an opportunity to warn her lover.
In spite of the deep passion he had conceived for Adelia, Richard had never intended that his love should injure her in any way, and after a mighty61 struggle with himself, he had determined that they should be parted, from each other; and to this end he made arrangements for the appointment of Renato to a high official position in England. He therefore caused the necessary document making the appointment to be duly drawn62 up; and on the night of the masked ball he carried it with him, intending to hand it to Renato during the evening.
His friends, knowing that the conspirators had been actively63 engaged of late, endeavoured to persuade him not to attend the ball; but Richard, ever careless of danger, laughed at their fears as usual, and donning a black domino and mask, boldly mingled with the merry dancers.
Renato, attired64 in the conspirators' chosen colours of azure65 and scarlet66, also mingled with the dazzling throng67, seeking for the Governor; but not knowing his disguise, he was getting impatient of the delay in his plans, when he happened to meet the giddy young page, Edgar, from whom he gained the information he sought.
Meanwhile, Adelia, masked and enveloped68 in a white domino, also sought for Richard; and at last, to her joy, she heard his voice, and recognised him, in spite of his mask and black domino. Quickly making herself known to him, she eagerly besought her lover to leave the ball-room at once, declaring to him her suspicions of the danger that threatened him; but Richard, still careless of his own safety, would not hurry away, but, instead, proceeded to tell her of the plans he had made for their safety from temptation by the appointment in England he had arranged for her husband. He then took a tender farewell of her, resolving not to see her again; but even as he still held her by the hand, Renato, having at last tracked him, dashed forward in a passion of jealousy69, and stabbed him to the heart.
As Richard fell back dying, he painfully drew forth the document making the new appointment, and held it towards Renato; and then, as the horrified guests gathered round, with his last gasping70 breath he declared that Adelia was entirely71 innocent and pure, and that in his love for her he had never designed her hurt nor aimed at her peace.
With these words he expired; and Renato, now filled with agonising remorse, realised too late that in his jealous frenzy72 he had slain73 a man, who, so far from being base, had faithfully respected the honour of his friend under a terrible temptation.
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1
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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14
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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cull
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| v.拣选；剔除；n.拣出的东西；剔除 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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superstitiously
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| 被邪教所支配 | |
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32
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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34
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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36
shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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38
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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39
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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40
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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41
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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42
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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43
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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44
assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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45
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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46
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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47
revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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49
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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50
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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51
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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52
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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53
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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54
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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55
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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56
pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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57
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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58
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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60
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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62
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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64
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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66
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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70
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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71
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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72
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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73
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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