I Talk with a TempterRuritania is not England, or the quarrel between Duke Michael andmyself could not have gone on, with the extraordinary incidents whichmarked it, without more public notice being directed to it. Duels2 werefrequent among all the upper classes, and private quarrels between greatmen kept the old habit of spreading to their friends and dependents.
Nevertheless, after the affray which I have just related, such reports beganto circulate that I felt it necessary to be on my guard. The death of thegentlemen involved could not be hidden from their relatives. I issued astern order, declaring that duelling had attained3 unprecedented4 licence (theChancellor drew up the document for me, and very well he did it), andforbidding it save in the gravest cases. I sent a public and stately apologyto Michael, and he returned a deferential5 and courteous6 reply to me; forour one point of union was--and it underlay7 all our differences andinduced an unwilling8 harmony between our actions--that we could neitherof us afford to throw our cards on the table. He, as well as I, was a "play-actor', and, hating one another, we combined to dupe public opinion.
Unfortunately, however, the necessity for concealment9 involved thenecessity of delay: the King might die in his prison, or even be spirited offsomewhere else; it could not be helped. For a little while I was compelledto observe a truce10, and my only consolation11 was that Flavia most warmlyapproved of my edict against duelling, and, when I expressed delight athaving won her favour, prayed me, if her favour were any motive12 to me, toprohibit the practice altogether.
"Wait till we are married," said I, smiling.
Not the least peculiar13 result of the truce and of the secrecy14 whichdictated it was that the town of Zenda became in the day-time --I wouldnot have trusted far to its protection by night-- a sort of neutral zone,where both parties could safely go; and I, riding down one day with Flaviaand Sapt, had an encounter with an acquaintance, which presented aludicrous side, but was at the same time embarrassing. As I rode along, I met a dignified15 looking person driving in a two-horsed carriage. Hestopped his horses, got out, and approached me, bowing low. I recognizedthe Head of the Strelsau Police.
"Your Majesty16's ordinance17 as to duelling is receiving our bestattention," he assured me.
If the best attention involved his presence in Zenda, I determined18 atonce to dispense19 with it.
"Is that what brings you to Zenda, Prefect?" I asked.
"Why no, sire; I am here because I desired to oblige the BritishAmbassador.""What's the British Ambassador doing dans cette galere?" said I,carelessly.
"A young countryman of his, sire--a man of some position--is missing.
His friends have not heard from him for two months, and there is reason tobelieve that he was last seen in Zenda."Flavia was paying little attention. I dared not look at Sapt.
"What reason?""A friend of his in Paris--a certain M. Featherly--has given usinformation which makes it possible that he came here, and the officials ofthe railway recollect20 his name on some luggage.""What was his name?""Rassendyll, sire," he answered; and I saw that the name meantnothing to him. But, glancing at Flavia, he lowered his voice, as he wenton: "It is thought that he may have followed a lady here. Has your Majestyheard of a certain Madame de Mauban?""Why, yes," said I, my eye involuntarily travelling towards the Castle.
"She arrived in Ruritania about the same time as this Rassendyll."I caught the Prefect's glance; he was regarding me with enquiry writlarge on his face.
"Sapt," said I, "I must speak a word to the Prefect. Will you ride on afew paces with the princess?" And I added to the Prefect: "Come, sir, whatdo you mean?"He drew close to me, and I bent21 in the saddle.
"If he were in love with the lady?" he whispered. "Nothing has been heard of him for two months;" and this time it was the eye of the Prefectwhich travelled towards the Castle.
"Yes, the lady is there," I said quietly. "But I don't suppose Mr.
Rassendyll--is that the name?--is.""The duke," he whispered, "does not like rivals, sire.""You're right there," said I, with all sincerity22. "But surely you hint at avery grave charge?"He spread his hands out in apology. I whispered in his ear:
"This is a grave matter. Go back to Strelsau--""But, sire, if I have a clue here?""Go back to Strelsau," I repeated. "Tell the Ambassador that you havea clue, but that you must be left alone for a week or two. Meanwhile, I'llcharge myself with looking into the matter.""The Ambassador is very pressing, sir.""You must quiet him. Come, sir; you see that if your suspicions arecorrect, it is an affair in which we must move with caution. We can haveno scandal. Mind you return tonight."He promised to obey me, and I rode on to rejoin my companions, alittle easier in my mind. Enquiries after me must be stopped at all hazardsfor a week or two; and this clever official had come surprisingly near thetruth. His impression might be useful some day, but if he acted on it now itmight mean the worse to the King. Heartily23 did I curse George Featherlyfor not holding his tongue.
"Well," asked Flavia, "have you finished your business?""Most satisfactorily," said I. "Come, shall we turn round? We arealmost trenching on my brother's territory."We were, in fact, at the extreme end of the town, just where the hillsbegin to mount towards the Castle. We cast our eyes up, admiring themassive beauty of the old walls, and we saw a cortege winding24 slowlydown the hill. On it came.
"Let us go back," said Sapt.
"I should like to stay," said Flavia; and I reined25 my horse beside hers.
We could distinguish the approaching party now. There came first twomounted servants in black uniforms, relieved only by a silver badge.
These were followed by a car drawn26 by four horses: on it, under a heavypall, lay a coffin27; behind it rode a man in plain black clothes, carrying hishat in his hand. Sapt uncovered, and we stood waiting, Flavia keeping byme and laying her hand on my arm.
"It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel, I expect," she said.
"Ride and ask whom they escort," I ordered.
He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass on to the gentlemanwho rode behind.
"It's Rupert of Hentzau," whispered Sapt.
Rupert it was, and directly afterwards, waving to the procession tostand still, Rupert trotted30 up to me. He was in a frock-coat, tightlybuttoned, and trousers. He wore an aspect of sadness, and he bowed withprofound respect. Yet suddenly he smiled, and I smiled too, for old Sapt'shand lay in his left breast-pocket, and Rupert and I both guessed what layin the hand inside the pocket.
"Your Majesty asks whom we escort," said Rupert. "It is my dearfriend, Albert of Lauengram.""Sir," said I, "no one regrets the unfortunate affair more than I. Myordinance, which I mean to have obeyed, is witness to it.""Poor fellow!, said Flavia softly, and I saw Rupert's eyes flash at her.
Whereat I grew red; for, if I had my way, Rupert Hentzau should not havedefiled her by so much as a glance. Yet he did it and dared to letadmiration be seen in his look.
"Your Majesty's words are gracious," he said. "I grieve for my friend.
Yet, sire, others must soon lie as he lies now.""It is a thing we all do well to remember, my lord," I rejoined.
"Even kings, sire," said Rupert, in a moralizing tone; and old Saptswore softly by my side.
"It is true," said I. "How fares my brother, my lord?""He is better, sire.""I am rejoiced.""He hopes soon to leave for Strelsau, when his health is secured.""He is only convalescent then?""There remain one or two small troubles," answered the insolentfellow, in the mildest tone in the world.
"Express my earnest hope," said Flavia, "that they may soon cease totrouble him.""Your Royal Highness's wish is, humbly31, my own," said Rupert, with abold glance that brought a blush to Flavia's cheek.
I bowed; and Rupert, bowing lower, backed his horse and signed to hisparty to proceed. With a sudden impulse, I rode after him. He turnedswiftly, fearing that, even in the presence of the dead and before a lady'seyes, I meant him mischief32.
"You fought as a brave man the other night," I said. "Come, you areyoung, sir. If you will deliver your prisoner alive to me, you shall come tono hurt."He looked at me with a mocking smile; but suddenly he rode nearer tome.
"I'm unarmed," he said; "and our old Sapt there could pick me off in aminute.""I'm not afraid," said I.
"No, curse you!" he answered. "Look here, I made you a proposalfrom the duke once.""I'll hear nothing from Black Michael," said I.
"Then hear one from me." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Attackthe Castle boldly. Let Sapt and Tarlenheim lead.""Go on," said I.
"Arrange the time with me.""I have such confidence in you, my lord!""Tut! I'm talking business now. Sapt there and Fritz will fall; BlackMichael will fall--""What!""--Black Michael will fall, like the dog he is; the prisoner, as you callhim, will go by "Jacob's Ladder"--ah, you know that!-- to hell! Two menwill be left--I, Rupert Hentzau, and you, the King of Ruritania."He paused, and then, in a voice that quivered with eagerness, added:
"Isn't that a hand to play?--a throne and your princess! And for me, say a competence33 and your Majesty's gratitude34.""Surely," I exclaimed, "while you're above ground, hell wants itsmaster!""Well, think it over," he said. "And, look you, it would take more thana scruple35 or two to keep me from yonder girl," and his evil eye flashedagain at her I loved.
"Get out of my reach!" said I; and yet in a moment I began to laugh forthe very audacity36 of it.
"Would you turn against your master?" I asked.
He swore at Michael for being what the offspring of a legal, thoughmorganatic, union should not be called, and said to me in an almostconfidential and apparently37 friendly tone:
"He gets in my way, you know. He's a jealous brute38! Faith, I nearlystuck a knife into him last night; he came most cursedly mal a propos!"My temper was well under control now; I was learning something.
"A lady?" I asked negligently39.
"Ay, and a beauty," he nodded. "But you've seen her.""Ah! was it at a tea-party, when some of your friends got on the wrongside of the table?""What can you expect of fools like Detchard and De Gautet? I wish I'dbeen there.""And the duke interferes41?""Well," said Rupert meditatively42, "that's hardly a fair way of putting it,perhaps. I want to interfere40.""And she prefers the duke?""Ay, the silly creature! Ah, well, you think about my plan," and, with abow, he pricked43 his horse and trotted after the body of his friend.
I went back to Flavia and Sapt, pondering on the strangeness of theman. Wicked men I have known in plenty, but Rupert Hentzau remainsunique in my experience. And if there be another anywhere, let him becaught and hanged out of hand. So say I!
"He's very handsome, isn't he?" said Flavia.
Well, of course, she didn't know him as I did; yet I was put out, for Ithought his bold glances would have made her angry. But my dear Flavia was a woman, and so--she was not put out. On the contrary, she thoughtyoung Rupert very handsome--as, beyond question, the ruffian was.
"And how sad he looked at his friend's death!" said she.
"He'll have better reason to be sad at his own," observed Sapt, with agrim smile.
As for me, I grew sulky; unreasonable44 it was perhaps, for what betterbusiness had I to look at her with love than had even Rupert's lustful45 eyes?
And sulky I remained till, as evening fell and we rode up to Tarlenheim,Sapt having fallen behind in case anyone should be following us, Flavia,riding close beside me, said softly, with a little half-ashamed laugh:
"Unless you smile, Rudolf, I cry. Why are you angry?""It was something that fellow said to me," said I, but I was smiling aswe reached the door and dismounted.
There a servant handed me a note: it was unaddressed.
"Is it for me?" I asked.
"Yes, sire; a boy brought it."I tore it open:
Johann carries this for me. I warned you once. In the name of God,and if you are a man, rescue me from this den1 of murderers!--A. de M.
I handed it to Sapt; but all that the tough old soul said in reply to thispiteous appeal was:
"Whose fault brought her there?"Nevertheless, not being faultless myself, I took leave to pity Antoinettede Mauban.
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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underlay
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| v.位于或存在于（某物）之下( underlie的过去式 )；构成…的基础（或起因），引起n.衬垫物 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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ordinance
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| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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competence
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| n.能力，胜任，称职 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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negligently
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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interferes
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| vi. 妨碍，冲突，干涉 | |
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meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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43
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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45
lustful
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| a.贪婪的；渴望的 | |
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