The hall door was opened to the summons of the two gentlemen by no less a personage than Nicholas Blarden himself, who, having carefully locked it again, handed the key to his accomplice1, Gordon Chancey.
"Here, take it, Gordy, boy," exclaimed he, "I make you porter for the term of the honeymoon2. Keep the gates well, old boy, and never let the keys out of your pocket unless I tell you. And so," continued he, treating the Reverend Ebenezer Shycock to a stare which took in his whole person, "you have caught the doctor and landed him fairly. Doctor—what's your name? no matter—it's a delightful3 turn-up for a sinner like me to have the heavenly consolation4 of your pious5 company. Follow me in here; I dare say your reverence6 would not object to a short interview with the brandy flask7, or something of the kind—even saints must wet their whistles now and again."
So saying, Blarden led the way into the parlour.
"Here, guzzle8 away, old gentleman, there's plenty of the stuff here," said Blarden, "only beware how you make a beast of yourself. You mustn't tie up your red rag, do you mind? We'll want you to stand and read; and if you just keep senses enough for that, you may do whatever you like with the rest."
The clergyman nodded, and with a single sweep of his grey eyes, took in the contents of the whole table. His shaking hand quickly grasped the neck of the brandy flask, and he filled out and quaffed9 a comforting bumper10.
"Now, take it easy, do, or, by Jove, you'll not keep till evening," said Blarden. "Chancey, have an eye on the parson, for his mind's so intent on heaven that he may possibly forget where he is and what he's doing. After dinner, Ashwoode and I have to go into town—some matters that must be wound up before the evening's entertainment begins—we'll be out, however, at eight o'clock or so. And mind this," he continued, gripping the barrister's shoulder in his hand with an energizing11 pressure, and speaking into his ear to secure attention, "you know that little room upstairs wherein we had the bit of chat with my lady love—the—the boudoir, I think they call it—now, mind me well—when the dusk comes on, do you and his reverence there take your pipes and your brandy, or whatever else you're amusing yourselves with at the time, and sit in that same room together, so that not a mouse can cross the floor unknown to you. Don't forget this, for we can't be too sharp. Do you hear me, old Lucifer?"
"Never fear, never fear," rejoined Mr. Chancey. "The Reverend Ebenezer and I will spend the evening there—and, indeed, I declare to God, it's a very neat little room, so it is, for a quiet pipe and a pot of sack."
"Well, that's a point settled," rejoined Blarden. "And do you mind me, don't let that beastly old sot knock himself up before we come home. Do you hear me, old scarecrow," he continued, poking12 the reverend doctor somewhere about the region of the abdomen13 with the hilt of his sword, which he was adjusting at his side, and addressing himself to that gentleman, "if I find you drunk when I return this evening, I'll make it your last bout—I'll tap the brandy, old tickle14 pitcher15, and stave the cask, and send you to seek your fortune in the other world. Mind my words—I'm not given to joking when I have real business on hand; and faith, you'll find me as ready to do as to promise."
So saying, he left the room.
"A rum cove16, that, upon my little word," said the Reverend Ebenezer Shycock, filling out another bumper of his beloved cordial. "Take the bottle away at once; lock it up, my fellow-worm, lock it up, or I'll be at it again. Lock it up while I have this glass in my hand, or I must have another, and that might be—might, I say—possibly might—but d——n it, no, it can't—I will have one more." And so saying, with desperate resolution, he quaffed what he had already in his hand and filled out another.
Chancey did not wait till he had repeated his mandate17, but quietly removed the seductive flask and placed it beyond the reach and the sight of his clerical friend, who, feeling himself a little pleasant, sat down before the hearth18, and in a voice whose tone nearly resembled that of a raven19 labouring under an affection of the chest, he chaunted through his nose, with many significant winks20 and grimaces21, a ditty at that time in high acceptance among the votaries22 of vice23 and license24, and whose words were such as even the 'Old St. Columbkill' would hardly have tolerated. This performance over—which, by the way, Chancey relished25 in his own quiet way with intense enjoyment—the reverend gentleman, composed himself for a doze26 for several hours, from which he aroused himself to eat and to drink a little more.
Thus pleasantly the day wore on, until at length the sun descended27 in glory behind the far-off blue hills, and the pale twilight28 began to herald29 the approach of night.
That day Mary Ashwoode appeared to have lost all energy of thought and feeling; she lay pale and silent upon her bed, seeming scarcely conscious even of the presence of her faithful attendant. From the moment of her yesterday's interview with Blarden, and the meeting with her brother, she had been thus despairing and stupefied. Flora30 Guy sat in the window, sometimes watching the pale face of the wretched lady, and at others looking out upon the old woodlands and the great avenue, darkened among its double rows of huge old limes. As the day wore on she suddenly exclaimed,—
"Oh, my lady, here's a gentleman coming with Mr. Chancey up the avenue, I see them between the trees, and the coach driving away."
"Can it—can it be?" exclaimed Mary, starting wildly up in the bed—"is it he?"
"It's a little stout31 gentleman, with a red pimply32 face—they're talking under the window now, my lady; he has a band on, and a black gown across his arm—as sure as daylight, my lady—he is—blessed hour; he is a parson."
Mary Ashwoode did not speak, but the momentary34 flash of hope faded from her face, and was succeeded by a paleness so deadly that lips and cheeks looked bloodless as the marble lineaments of a statue; in dull and silent despair she sank again where she had lain before.
"Don't fear them, my lady," said the poor girl, placing herself by the bedside where, more like a corpse35 than a living being, her hapless mistress lay; "I will not leave you, and though they may threaten, they dare not hurt you—don't fear them, my lady."
The blanched36 cheeks and evident excitement of the honest maiden37, however, too clearly belied38 her words of encouragement.
Twice or thrice the girl, in the course of the day, locking the door of her mistress's chamber39, according to the orders of Nicholas Blarden and his confederates, but less in obedience40 to them than for the sake of her security, ran downstairs to learn whatever could be gathered from the servants of the intended movements of the conspirators41; each time, as she descended the stairs, the parlour bell was rung, and a servant encountered her before she had well reached the hall; and Mr. Chancey, too, with his hands in his pockets, and his cunning eyes glittering suspiciously through their half-closed lids, would meet and question her before she passed: were ever sentinels more vigilant—was ever surveillance more jealous and complete?
During these excursions she picked up whatever was to be learned of the intentions of those in whose power her young mistress now helplessly and despairingly lay.
"Sir Henry Ashwoode and Mr. Blarden is gone to town together, my lady," said the maid, in a whisper, for she felt the vigilance of Chancey and his creatures might pursue her even to the chamber where she stood; "they'll not be out till about eight o'clock, my lady, at the soonest, maybe not till near nine or ten; at any rate it will be dark long before they come, and God knows what may turn up before then—don't lose heart, my lady—don't give up."
In vain, entirely42 in vain, however, were the words of hope and courage spoken; they fell cold and dead upon the palsied senses and stricken heart of despairing terror. Mary Ashwoode scarcely understood, and seemed not even to have heard them.
As the evening approached the poor girl made another exploring ramble43, in the almost desperate speculation44 that she might possibly hit upon something which might suggest even a hint of some mode of escape. Having encountered Chancey and one of the serving men, as usual, and passed her examination, she crossed the large old hall, and without any definite pre-determination, entered Sir Henry's study, where he and Blarden had been sitting, and carelessly thrown upon the table a large key. For a moment she could scarcely believe her eyes, and her heart bounded high with hope as she grasped it quickly and rolled it in her apron—"Could it be the key of one of the doors through which alone liberty was to be regained45?" With a deliberate step, which strangely belied her restless anxiety, she passed the door within which Chancey was sitting, and ascended46 to the young lady's chamber.
"My lady, is this it?" exclaimed she, almost breathless with excitement, and holding the key before the lady's face.
Mary Ashwoode with a momentary eagerness glanced at it.
"No, no," said she, faintly, "I know all the keys of the outer doors; it was I who brought them to my father every night; but this is none of them—no, no, no, no." There was a dulness and apathy47 upon the young lady, and a seeming insensibility to everything—to hope, to danger—to all, in short, which had intensely interested every faculty48 of mind and feeling but the day before—which frightened and dismayed her humble49 friend.
"Don't, my lady—don't give up—oh, sure you won't lose heart entirely; see if I won't think of something—never mind, if I don't think of some way or another yet."
The red discoloured tints50 of evening were now fading from the landscape, and rapidly giving place to the dim twilight—the harbinger of a night of dangers, terrors, and adventures; and as the poor maiden sat by the young lady's side, with a heart full of dark and ominous51 foreboding, she heard the door of the outer chamber—the little boudoir which we have often had occasion to mention—opened, and two persons entered it.
"They are here—they are come. Oh, God! they are here," exclaimed Mary Ashwoode, clasping her small hand in terror round the girl's wrist.
"The door's locked, my lady," said the girl, scarcely less terrified than her mistress; "they can't come in without letting us know first.' So saying, she ran to the door and peeped through the keyhole, to reconnoitre the party, and then stepping on tip-toe to the young lady, who, more dead than alive, was sitting by the bed-side, she said in a whisper,—
"Who do you think it is, ma'am? blessed hour! my lady, who should it be but that lawyer gentleman—that Mr. Chancey, and the old parson—they are settling themselves at the table."
Mr. Gordon Chancey and the Reverend Ebenezer Shycock were determined52 to make themselves comfortable in their new quarters. Accordingly they heaped wood and turf upon the expiring fire, and compelled the servant to ply33 the kitchen bellows53, until the hearth crackled and roared again; then drawing the table to the fire-side—a pretty little work-table of poor Mary's—now covered with brandy-flasks, pieces of tobacco, pipes, and the other apparatus54 of their coarse debauch—the two worthies55, illuminated56 by a pair of ponderous57 wax-candles, and by the blaze of a fire, and having drawn58 the curtains, sat themselves down and commenced their jolly vigils.
Chancey possessed59 the rare faculty of preserving his characteristic cunning throughout every phase and stage of intoxication60 short of absolute insensibility; on the present occasion, however, he was resolved not to put this convenient accomplishment61 to the test. The goodwill62 of Nicholas Blarden was too lucrative63 a possession to be lightly parted with, and he could not afford to hazard it by too free an indulgence upon the present important occasion; he therefore conducted his assaults upon the bottle with a very laudable abstemiousness64. Not so, however, his clerical companion; he, too, had, in connection with his convivial65 frailties66, a compensating67 gift of his own; he possessed, in an eminent68 degree, the power of recovering his intellects upon short notice from the influence of brandy, and of descending69 almost at a single bound from the loftiest altitude of drunken inspiration to the dull insipid70 level of ordinary sobriety; all he asked was fifteen minutes to bring himself to. He used to say with becoming pride—"If I could have done it in ten, I'd have been a bishop71 by this time; but dis aliter visum; I had not time one forenoon; being wapper-eyed, I was five minutes short of my allowance to get right, consequently officiated oddly—fell on my back on the way out, and couldn't get up; but what signifies it? I'm better off, as matters stand, ten to one; so here goes, my fellow-sinner, to it again; one brimmer more."
The reverend doctor, therefore, was much less cautious than his companion, and soon began to exhibit very unequivocal symptoms of a declension in his intellectual and physical energies, and a more than corresponding elevation72 in his hilarious73 spirits.
"I say," said Chancey, "my good man, you'd better stop; you have too much in as it is; they'll be here before half-an-hour, and if Mr. Blarden finds you this way, I declare to God I think he'll crack your neck down the staircase."
"Well, dearly beloved," said the clerical gentleman, "I believe you are right; I'll bring myself to. I am a little heavy-eyed or so; all I ask for is a towel and cold water." So saying, with many a screw of the lips, and many a hiccough, he made an effort to rise, but tumbled back—with an expression of the most heavenly benevolence74—into his chair, knocking his head with an audible sound upon the back of it, and at the same time overturning one of the candles.
"Pull the bell, dearly beloved," said he, with a smile and a hiccough—"a basin of water and a towel."
"Devil broil75 you, for a drunken beast," said Chancey, seriously alarmed at the condition of the couple-beggar; "he'll never be fit for his work to-night."
"Fifteen minutes, neither more nor less," hiccoughed the divine, with the same celestial76 smile—"towel, basin of cold water, and fifteen minutes."
Chancey did procure77 the cold water and a napkin, which, being laid before the clergyman, he proceeded with much deliberation, while various expressions of stupendous solemnity and beaming benevolence flitted in beautiful alternations across his expressive78 countenance79, to prepare them for use. He doffed80 his wig81, and first bathing his head, face, and temples completely in the cool liquid, saturated82 the towel likewise therein, and wound it round his shorn head in the fashion of a Turkish turban; having accomplished83 which feat84, he leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and became, to all intents and purposes, for the time being, stone dead.
Leaving his reverend companion undisturbed to the operation of his own hydropathic treatment, Gordon Chancey drew his seat near to the fire, and filling his pipe anew with tobacco, leaned back in the chair, crossed his legs, and more than half closing his eyes, prepared himself luxuriously85 for what he called "a raal elegant draw of particular pigtail."
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1
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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6
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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7
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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guzzle
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| v.狂饮，暴食 | |
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quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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10
bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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energizing
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| v.给予…精力，能量( energize的现在分词 )；使通电 | |
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12
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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13
abdomen
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| n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分) | |
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tickle
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| v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒 | |
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15
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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16
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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votaries
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| n.信徒( votary的名词复数 )；追随者；（天主教）修士；修女 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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relished
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| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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26
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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pimply
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| adj.肿泡的；有疙瘩的；多粉刺的；有丘疹的 | |
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ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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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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42
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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43
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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45
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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46
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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48
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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49
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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50
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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51
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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52
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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53
bellows
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| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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54
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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55
worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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56
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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57
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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58
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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60
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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61
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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62
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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63
lucrative
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| adj.赚钱的，可获利的 | |
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abstemiousness
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| n.适中，有节制 | |
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convivial
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| adj.狂欢的，欢乐的 | |
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66
frailties
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| n.脆弱( frailty的名词复数 )；虚弱；（性格或行为上的）弱点；缺点 | |
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compensating
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| 补偿，补助，修正 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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broil
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| v.烤，烧，争吵，怒骂；n.烤，烧，争吵，怒骂 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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