Rudolph’s phrase, however, was not quite accurate, for Prince Carlo of Rexania, far from being disorderly, had become convinced, after thoroughly investigating his environment and weighing the possibility of escape, that his only hope lay in a diplomatic concession6, for the time being, to his captors’ wishes. It was not lack of courage and daring that had caused him to reach this conclusion. He possessed7 not only a bold heart but a clear head. But he fully8 realized that at the present stage of the game his opponents held all the trumps9. Examining his belongings10, after his luggage had reached his room, he found that all his money had been taken from him. Even the loose change that he had carried with him on the night of his[60] capture had been removed from his pockets while he slept.
Just how far he had been carried from New York he did not know. He realized clearly enough, however, that, without money and unacquainted with the customs of the country, he would be in a most embarrassing position even if he could elude11 his vigilant12 guards and escape to the city. He had sworn to his father to preserve his incognito13, and to keep from Rexanian consular14 and diplomatic agents the knowledge of his absence from his native land. Prince Carlo was at heart a loyal reactionist, and, having pledged his royal word to his royal father, it never occurred to him that circumstances might arise that would make the breaking of his promise justifiable15. He possessed a kingly regard for truth that was absurdly quixotic, and which hampered16 him in dealing17 with men who had had considerable experience in American politics.
Shortly after three o’clock on the afternoon that found Ludovics too loquacious18 and a newspaper reporter quite worthy19 of his profession, the balcony jutting20 out from Prince Carlo’s sleeping apartments and overlooking the Sound served as a stage for a one-act melodrama21 that might find its place, perhaps as a curtain-raiser to a tragedy.
Kings there have been who sought the New World as an asylum22 from the dangers that surrounded them at home. Crowned heads in Europe have bowed in sorrow over events that have taken place on this side of the Atlantic. Wherever monarchs23 rule, the very name of America sends a shudder[61] through the palace that shakes the throne itself. But never before, in the strange, weird24 history of human progress, had a captive king gazed at the blue waters of Long Island Sound and listened to the burning words of those who denied his divine right to rule.
“It is well,” said Posadowski, glancing kindly25 at Prince Carlo, who was seated in an old-fashioned easy-chair, around which the arch-conspirator and his colleagues, Posnovitch, Rukacs, and Rudolph, had grouped themselves, “it is well that we should come to an understanding as quickly as possible. And, before we go a step farther, let me reiterate26 and emphasize what I have told you once before, that there is not one of us here who does not feel kindly toward you as a man. We are determined27 that no harm shall befall your person. But we are bound, also, by another oath. You must know by this time what it is. We have sworn that you, Prince Carlo, shall never mount the throne of Rexania.”
The youth, whose clear-cut face was pale and drawn28, gazed musingly29 at the blue waters that grew gloriously cerulean as the autumnal sun crept westward30. Brushing the black curling locks back from his troubled brow, he seemed to invoke31 the God of his fathers to give him strength in his hour of trial.
“What would you have me do?” he asked, firmly. “State clearly your wishes.”
Posadowski’s face was almost benignant, as his eyes rested sorrowfully on the disturbed countenance32 of the prince.
“I regret to tell you, Prince Carlo, that[62] your father is very dangerously ill,” said the arch-conspirator, gently.
The young man sprang up from his seat in dismay.
“My God!” he cried, “can you find the heart to lie to me at such a time as this? My father, the king, is not ill. You are deceiving me, for some purpose I cannot grasp.”
Posadowski drew himself up to his full height and gazed at the prince with wounded dignity.
“I do not lie to you, Prince Carlo,” he said firmly, in a low voice. “I received a cable despatch33 in cipher34 direct from the palace this morning.”
Prince Carlo had sunk back into his chair, and was glancing feverishly35 from one Rexanian to another, seemingly in the hope that one of them would come to his aid and give the lie to Posadowski. But there was that in the faces and manner of the men surrounding him that slowly but surely impressed him with the conviction that he was not again a victim of subterfuge—that what Posadowski had told him was indeed the truth.
The youth’s hand trembled and his cheeks burned as he felt the tears welling from his eyes. Recovering himself instantly, he gazed earnestly at Posadowski, as though he would read the man’s very soul.
“Do you mean to tell me that you are in communication with the palace at Rexopolis?”
“I am,” answered the arch-conspirator, simply. “I have been for some years past.”
[63]
The prince forgot for a moment that he was anything but a son, soon to be fatherless, a son who had not been too loyal or obedient at the end.
“There is no hope, Prince Carlo, unless a famous specialist from Paris can perform a miracle. To-morrow I shall know what this man has done for the king.”
A sob37 broke from the overburdened heart of the youth, and tears of honest sympathy filled the eyes of his countrymen. Suddenly Prince Carlo sprang up, his face ghastly in its pallor and his eyes aglow38 with the fervor39 of his hope.
“You will let me go to him? My countrymen, for the love of God, for the love you bore your fathers, let me go to him! I must—I must see him before he dies.”
Posadowski’s lips trembled and his voice faltered40, as he said, “We cannot let you go, Prince Carlo unless—unless——” His voice failed him.
“Unless what?” whispered the prince eagerly.
A dazed look settled on the youth’s face for an instant.
“Do you mean to tell me,” he asked, hoarsely42, “that you would take my word for such a thing as that?”
A murmur43 born of suppressed excitement, perhaps of protest, broke from the conspirators, but Posadowski raised his hand for silence.
“We would take your word, Prince Carlo.[64] There is not a Rexanian in all the world who would not.”
The youth’s face twitched44 with the effort he made to suppress the emotion of mingled45 astonishment46 and gratitude47 that filled his soul.
“And yet,” he cried, “you would take from me my throne, deny my right to lead the people I love, who love me! What madness blinds your eyes? Would you bring ruin on the land you pretend to cherish? Think you that there is in Rexania a republican leader whose word you would accept as you would take mine? But I am too deeply grieved at the news you give me to argue with you now. Plain as your inconsistency is to my eyes, this is not the time to point it out to you. Please leave me for a while. I must think—think—think. Wait just one moment. Do not leave me with a false hope in your heart. Though my father—God be with him!—were dying a thousand deaths, I would not, could not, blindly sacrifice the trust that falls to my care to gratify your will, and gain my worthless freedom. Better for me, better for you, better for Rexania, that I sink beneath the waters of yonder sun-kissed sea than go hence a false and recreant48 prince, damned for all time as a traitor49, a coward, a renegade. Leave me to my sorrow and my tears. Go, and may the God that loves our fatherland speak to your hard hearts and lead you from the error of your ways. Go!”
Silently the four conspirators turned and left Prince Carlo to his lonely grief. Their faces were pale with the conflicting emotions that tried their souls. The[65] gigantic Posnovitch trembled, as if with cold.
“He’s grand,” he muttered, as the quartette reached the lower hall. “He’s every inch a king.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
unprecedented
|
|
| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
urchins
|
|
| n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 )；淘气鬼；猬；海胆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
conspirators
|
|
| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
concession
|
|
| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
trumps
|
|
| abbr.trumpets 喇叭；小号；喇叭形状的东西；喇叭筒v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去式 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
belongings
|
|
| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
elude
|
|
| v.躲避，困惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
vigilant
|
|
| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
incognito
|
|
| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
consular
|
|
| a.领事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
justifiable
|
|
| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
hampered
|
|
| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
dealing
|
|
| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
loquacious
|
|
| adj.多嘴的，饶舌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
jutting
|
|
| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
melodrama
|
|
| n.音乐剧；情节剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
asylum
|
|
| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
monarchs
|
|
| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
reiterate
|
|
| v.重申，反复地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
musingly
|
|
| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
30
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
invoke
|
|
| v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
despatch
|
|
| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
cipher
|
|
| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
feverishly
|
|
| adv. 兴奋地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
implored
|
|
| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
aglow
|
|
| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
fervor
|
|
| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
abdicate
|
|
| v.让位，辞职，放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
recreant
|
|
| n.懦夫；adj.胆怯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |