As O'Connor approached the outer door through which he was to pass to certain and speedy death, it were not easy to describe or analyze2 his sensations; every object he beheld3 in the brief glance he cast around him as he passed along the hall appeared invested with a strangely sharp and vivid intensity4 of distinctness, and had in its aspect something indefinably spectral5 and ghastly—like things beheld under the terrific spell of a waking nightmare. His tremendous situation seemed to him something unreal, incredible; he walked in an appalling6 dream; in vain he strove to fix his thoughts myriads7 and myriads of scenes and incidents, never remembered since childhood's days, now with strange distinctness and wild rapidity whirled through his brain. The hall-door stood half open, and the fellow who led the way had almost reached it, when it was on a sudden thrown wide, and a figure, muffled8 in a cloak, confronted the funeral procession.
The foremost man raised the ponderous9 weapon which he carried, and held it poised10 in the air, ready to shiver the head of the intruder should he venture to advance—the two guards who held O'Connor halted at the same time.
"How's this, Cormack!" said the stranger. "Do you lift your weapon against the life of a friend?—rub your eyes and waken—how is it you cannot know me?—you've been drinking, sirrah."
At the sound of the speaker's voice the man at once lowered his hatchet11 and withdrew, a little sulkily, like a rebuked12 mastiff.
"What means all this?" continued he in the cloak, looking searchingly at the party in the rear; "whom have we got here?—where made you this prisoner? So, so—this must be looked to. How were you about to deal with him, fellow?" he added, addressing himself to him whom he had first encountered.
"And how may that have been?" interrogated14 the gentleman in the cloak.
"End him," replied he, sulkily.
"Has he been before the council in the great parlour?" inquired the stranger.
"Yes, captain—long enough, too," replied the fellow.
"And they have ordered this execution?" added the newly arrived.
"Yes, sir—who else? Come on, boys—bring him out, will you? Time is running short," he added, addressing his comrades, and himself approaching the door.
"Re-conduct the prisoner to the council-board," said the stranger, in a tone of command.
Without a moment's hesitation15 they obeyed the order; and O'Connor, followed by the muffled figure of the stranger, for the second time entered the apartment where his relentless16 judges sate17.
The new-comer strode up the room to the table at which the self-styled council were seated.
"God save you, gentlemen," said he, "and prosper18 the good work ye have taken in hand;" and thus speaking, he removed and cast upon the table his hat and cloak, thereby19 revealing the square-built form and harsh features of O'Hanlon.
O'Connor no sooner recognized the traits of his mysterious acquaintance, than he felt a hope which thrilled with a strange agony of his heart—a hope—almost a conviction—that he should escape; and unaccountable though it may appear, in this hope he felt more unmanned and agitated20 than he had done but a few moments before, in the apparent certainty of immediate21 and inevitable22 destruction.
The salutation of O'Hanlon was warmly, almost enthusiastically, returned, and after this interchange of friendly greeting, and a few brief questions and answers touching23 comparatively indifferent matters, he glanced toward O'Connor, and said,—
"I've so far presumed upon my favour with you, gentlemen, as to stay your orders in respect of that young gentleman, whom, it would appear, you have judged worthy24 of death. Death is a matter whose importance I've never very much insisted upon—that you know—at least, several among you, gentlemen, well know it, for you have seen me deal it somewhat unsparingly when the cause required it; but I profess25 I do not care in cool blood to take life upon insufficient26 reason. Life is lightly taken; but once gone, who can restore it? Therefore, I think it very meet that patient consideration should be had of all cases, when such deliberation is possible and convenient, before proceeding27 to the last irrevocable extremity28. Pray you inform me upon what charges does this youth stand convicted, that his life should be forfeit29?"
"It is briefly30 told," replied the priest. "On my way hither I encountered him; we rode and conversed32 together; and conjecturing33 that he travelled on the same errand as myself, I talked to him more freely than in all discretion34 I ought to have done. I discovered my mistake, and at Chapelizod I turned and left him, telling him with threats not to follow me; yet scarcely had I been here ten minutes, when this gentleman is found lurking35 near the house—and about to enter it. He is seized, bound, brought in here, and witnesses our assembly and proceedings36. Under these suspicious circumstances, and with the knowledge of our meeting and its objects, were it wise to let him go? Surely not so—but the veriest madness."
"Young man," said O'Hanlon, turning to O'Connor, "what say you to this?"
"No more than what I already told these gentlemen—simply, that taking the upper level to avoid the sloughs37 by the river side, I became in the darkness entangled38 in the dense39 woods which cover these grounds, and at length, after groping my way through the trees as best I might, arrived by the merest chance at this place, and without the slightest knowledge, or even suspicion, either that I was following the course taken by that gentleman, or intruding40 myself upon any secret councils. I have no more to say—this is the simple truth."
"Well, gentlemen," said O'Hanlon, "you hear the prisoner's defence. What think you?"
"We have decided41 already, and he has now produced nothing new in his favour. I see no reason why we should alter our decision," replied the priest.
"You would, then, put him to death?" inquired he.
"Assuredly," replied the priest, calmly.
"But this shall not be, gentlemen; he shall not die. You shall slay42 me first," replied O'Hanlon. "I know this youth; and every word he has spoken I believe. He is the son of one who risked his life a hundred times, and lost all for the sake of the king and his country—one who, throughout the desperate and fruitless struggles of Irish loyalty43, was in the field my constant comrade, and a braver and a better one none ever need desire. The son of such a man shall not perish by our hands; and for the risk of his talking elsewhere of this night's adventure, I will be his surety, with my life, that he mentions it to no one, and nowhere."
A silence of some seconds followed this unexpected declaration.
"Be it so, then," said the priest; "for my part, I offer no resistance."
"So say I," added the person who sat with the papers by him at the extremity of the board. "On you, however, Captain O'Hanlon, rest the whole responsibility of this act."
"On me alone. Were there the possibility of treason in that youth, I would myself perish ere I should move a hand to save him," replied O'Hanlon. "I gladly take upon myself the whole accountability, and all the consequences of the act."
"Your life and liberty are yours, sir," said the priest, addressing O'Connor; "see that you abuse neither to our prejudice. Unbind and let the prisoner go."
"Stay," said O'Hanlon. "Mr. O'Connor, I have one request to make."
"It is granted ere it is made. What can I return you in exchange for my life?" replied O'Connor.
"I wish to speak with you to-night," continued O'Hanlon, "on matters which concern you nearly. You will remain here—you can have a chamber. Farewell for the present. Conduct Mr. O'Connor to my apartment," he added, addressing the attendants, who were employed in loosening the strained cords which bound his hands; and with this direction, O'Hanlon mingled44 with the group at the hearth45, and began to converse31 with them in a low voice.
O'Connor followed his guide through a narrow, damp-stained corridor, with tiled flooring, and up a broad staircase, with heavy oaken balustrades, and steps whose planks46 seemed worn by the tread of centuries; and then along another passage, more cheerless still than the first—several of the narrow windows, by which in the daytime it was lighted, had now lost every vestige47 of glass, and even of the wooden framework in which it had been fixed48, and gave free admission to the fitful night-wind, as well as to the straggling boughs49 of ivy50 which mantled51 the old walls and clustered shelteringly about the ruined casements52. Screening the candle which he carried behind the flap of his coat, to prevent its being extinguished by the gusts53 which somewhat rudely swept the narrow passage, the man led O'Connor to a chamber, which they both entered. It was not quite so cheerless as the desolate54 condition of the approach to it might have warranted one in expecting; a wood-fire, which had been recently replenished55, blazed and crackled briskly upon the hearth, and shed an uncertain but cheerful glow through the recesses56 of the chamber. It was a spacious57 apartment, hung with stamped leather, in many places stained and rotted by the damp, and here and there hanging in rags from the wall, and exposing the bare, mildewed58 plaster beneath. The furniture was scanty59, and in keeping with the place—old, dark, and crazy; and a wretched bed, with very spare covering, was, as it seemed, temporarily strewn upon the floor, near the hearth. The man placed the candle upon a small table, black with age, and patched and crutched60 up like a battered61 pensioner62, and flinging some more wood upon the fire, turned and left the room in silence.
Alone, his first employment was to review again and again the strange events of that night; his next was to conjecture63 the nature of O'Hanlon's promised communication. Baffled in these latter speculations64, he applied65 himself to examine the old chamber in which he sat, and to endeavour to trace the half-obliterated pattern of the tattered66 hangings. These occupations, along with sundry67 speculations just as idle, touching the original of a grim old portrait, faded and torn, which hung over the fireplace, filled up the tedious hours which preceded his expected interview with his preserver.
At length the weary interval68 elapsed, and the anxiously expected moment arrived. The door opened, and O'Hanlon entered. He approached the young man, who advanced to meet him, and extending his hand, grasped that of O'Connor with a warm and friendly pressure.
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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3
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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6
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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7
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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8
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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12
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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14
interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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15
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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18
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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19
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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23
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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24
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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26
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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29
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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30
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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31
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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32
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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33
conjecturing
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| v. & n. 推测，臆测 | |
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34
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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37
sloughs
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| n.沼泽( slough的名词复数 )；苦难的深渊；难以改变的不良心情；斯劳(Slough)v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的第三人称单数 )；舍弃；除掉；摒弃 | |
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38
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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40
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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41
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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42
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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43
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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44
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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45
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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46
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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47
vestige
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| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
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48
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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49
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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50
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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51
mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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52
casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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53
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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54
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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55
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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56
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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57
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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58
mildewed
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| adj.发了霉的，陈腐的，长了霉花的v.（使）发霉，（使）长霉( mildew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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60
crutched
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| 用拐杖支持的，有丁字形柄的，有支柱的 | |
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61
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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62
pensioner
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| n.领养老金的人 | |
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63
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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64
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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65
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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66
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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67
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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68
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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