the castle of otranto-第17部分

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The　grace　and　fervour　with　which　Theodore　uttered　these　words　　interested　every　person　present　in　his　favour。　　Even　Manfred　was　　touched　…　yet　still　possessed　with　his　resemblance　to　Alfonso；　his　　admiration　was　dashed　with　secret　horror。

〃Rise；〃　said　he；　〃thy　life　is　not　my　present　purpose。　　But　tell　me　thy　　history；　and　how　thou　camest　connected　with　this　old　traitor　here。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　said　Jerome　eagerly。

〃Peace！　impostor！〃　said　Manfred；　〃I　will　not　have　him　prompted。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　said　Theodore；　〃I　want　no　assistance；　my　story　is　very　　brief。　　I　was　carried　at　five　years　of　age　to　Algiers　with　my　mother；　　who　had　been　taken　by　corsairs　from　the　coast　of　Sicily。　　She　died　of　　grief　in　less　than　a　twelvemonth；〃　the　tears　gushed　from　Jerome's　　eyes；　on　whose　countenance　a　thousand　anxious　passions　stood　　expressed。　　〃Before　she　died；〃　continued　Theodore；　〃she　bound　a　　writing　about　my　arm　under　my　garments；　which　told　me　I　was　the　son　of　　the　Count　Falconara。〃

〃It　is　most　true；〃　said　Jerome；　〃I　am　that　wretched　father。〃

〃Again　I　enjoin　thee　silence；〃　said　Manfred：　　〃proceed。〃

〃I　remained　in　slavery；〃　said　Theodore；　〃until　within　these　two　years；　　when　attending　on　my　master　in　his　cruises；　I　was　delivered　by　a　　Christian　vessel；　which　overpowered　the　pirate；　and　discovering　myself　　to　the　captain；　he　generously　put　me　on　shore　in　Sicily；　but　alas！　　instead　of　finding　a　father；　I　learned　that　his　estate；　which　was　　situated　on　the　coast；　had；　during　his　absence；　been　laid　waste　by　the　　Rover　who　had　carried　my　mother　and　me　into　captivity：　　that　his　　castle　had　been　burnt　to　the　ground；　and　that　my　father　on　his　return　　had　sold　what　remained；　and　was　retired　into　religion　in　the　kingdom　　of　Naples；　but　where　no　man　could　inform　me。　　Destitute　and　　friendless；　hopeless　almost　of　attaining　the　transport　of　a　parent's　　embrace；　I　took　the　first　opportunity　of　setting　sail　for　Naples；　from　　whence；　within　these　six　days；　I　wandered　into　this　province；　still　　supporting　myself　by　the　labour　of　my　hands；　nor　until　yester…morn　did　　I　believe　that　heaven　had　reserved　any　lot　for　me　but　peace　of　mind　　and　contented　poverty。　　This；　my　Lord；　is　Theodore's　story。　　I　am　　blessed　beyond　my　hope　in　finding　a　father；　I　am　unfortunate　beyond　my　　desert　in　having　incurred　your　Highness's　displeasure。〃

He　ceased。　　A　murmur　of　approbation　gently　arose　from　the　audience。

〃This　is　not　all；〃　said　Frederic；　〃I　am　bound　in　honour　to　add　what　he　　suppresses。　　Though　he　is　modest；　I　must　be　generous；　he　is　one　of　the　　bravest　youths　on　Christian　ground。　　He　is　warm　too；　and　from　the　　short　knowledge　I　have　of　him；　I　will　pledge　myself　for　his　veracity：　　　if　what　he　reports　of　himself　were　not　true；　he　would　not　utter　it　…　　and　for　me；　youth；　I　honour　a　frankness　which　becomes　thy　birth；　but　　now；　and　thou　didst　offend　me：　　yet　the　noble　blood　which　flows　in　thy　　veins；　may　well　be　allowed　to　boil　out；　when　it　has　so　recently　traced　　itself　to　its　source。　　Come；　my　Lord；〃　（turning　to　Manfred）；　〃if　I　can　　pardon　him；　surely　you　may；　it　is　not　the　youth's　fault；　if　you　took　　him　for　a　spectre。〃

This　bitter　taunt　galled　the　soul　of　Manfred。

〃If　beings　from　another　world；〃　replied　he　haughtily；　〃have　power　to　　impress　my　mind　with　awe；　it　is　more　than　living　man　can　do；　nor　could　　a　stripling's　arm。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　interrupted　Hippolita；　〃your　guest　has　occasion　for　repose：　　　shall　we　not　leave　him　to　his　rest？〃　　Saying　this；　and　taking　Manfred　　by　the　hand；　she　took　leave　of　Frederic；　and　led　the　company　forth。

The　Prince；　not　sorry　to　quit　a　conversation　which　recalled　to　mind　　the　discovery　he　had　made　of　his　most　secret　sensations；　suffered　　himself　to　be　conducted　to　his　own　apartment；　after　permitting　　Theodore；　though　under　engagement　to　return　to　the　castle　on　the　　morrow　（a　condition　the　young　man　gladly　accepted）；　to　retire　with　his　　father　to　the　convent。　　Matilda　and　Isabella　were　too　much　occupied　　with　their　own　reflections；　and　too　little　content　with　each　other；　to　　wish　for　farther　converse　that　night。　　They　separated　each　to　her　　chamber；　with　more　expressions　of　ceremony　and　fewer　of　affection　thou　　had　passed　between　them　since　their　childhood。

If　they　parted　with　small　cordiality；　they　did　but　meet　with　greater　　impatience；　as　soon　as　the　sun　was　risen。　　Their　minds　were　in　a　　situation　that　excluded　sleep；　and　each　recollected　a　thousand　　questions　which　she　wished　she　had　put　to　the　other　overnight。　　　Matilda　reflected　that　Isabella　had　been　twice　delivered　by　Theodore　　in　very　critical　situations；　which　she　could　not　believe　accidental。　　　His　eyes；　it　was　true；　had　been　fixed　on　her　in　Frederic's　chamber；　　but　that　might　have　been　to　disguise　his　passion　for　Isabella　from　the　　fathers　of　both。　　It　were　better　to　clear　this　up。　　She　wished　to　know　　the　truth；　lest　she　should　wrong　her　friend　by　entertaining　a　passion　　for　Isabella's　lover。　　Thus　jealousy　prompted；　and　at　the　same　time　　borrowed　an　excuse　from　friendship　to　justify　its　curiosity。

Isabella；　not　less　restless；　had　better　foundation　for　her　suspicions。　　　Both　Theodore's　tongue　and　eyes　had　told　her　his　heart　was　engaged；　it　　was　true　…　yet；　perhaps；　Matilda　might　not　correspond　to　his　passion；　　she　had　ever　appeared　insensible　to　love：　　all　her　thoughts　were　set　　on　heaven。

〃Why　did　I　dissuade　her？〃　said　Isabella　to　herself；　〃I　am　punished　for　　my　generosity；　but　when　did　they　meet？　where？　　It　cannot　be；　I　have　　deceived　myself；　perhaps　last　night　was　the　first　time　they　ever　　beheld　each　other；　it　must　be　some　other　object　that　has　prepossessed　　his　affections　…　if　it　is；　I　am　not　so　unhappy　as　I　thought；　if　it　is　　not　my　friend　Matilda　…　how！　　Can　I　stoop　to　wish　for　the　affection　of　　a　man；　who　rudely　and　unnecessarily　acquainted　me　with　his　　indifference？　and　that　at　the　very　moment　in　which　common　courtesy　　demanded　at　least　expressions　of　civility。　　I　will　go　to　my　dear　　Matilda；　who　will　confirm　me　in　this　becoming　pride。　　Man　is　false　…　I　　will　advise　with　her　on　taking　the　veil：　　she　will　rejoice　to　find　me　　in　this　disposition；　and　I　will　acquaint　her　that　I　no　longer　oppose　　her　inclination　for　the　cloister。〃

In　this　frame　of　mind；　and　determined　to　open　her　heart　entirely　to　　Matilda；　she　went　to　that　Princess's　chamber；　whom　she　found　already　　dressed；　and　leaning　pensively　on　her　arm。　　This　attitude；　so　　correspondent　to　what　she　felt　herself；　revived　Isabella's　suspicions；　　and　destroyed　the　confidence　she　had　purposed　to　place　in　her　friend。　　　They　blushed　at　meeting；　and　were　too　much　novices　to　disguise　their　　sensations　with　address。　　After　some　unmeaning　questions　and　replies；　　Matilda　demanded　of　Isabella　the　cause　of　her　flight？　　The　latter；　who　　had　almost　forgotten　Manfred's　passion；　so　entirely　was　she　occupied　　by　her　own；　concluding　that　Matilda　referred　to　her　last　escape　from　　the　convent；　which　had　occasioned　the　events　of　the　preceding　evening；　　replied　…

〃Martelli　brought　word　to　the　convent　that　your　mother　was　dead。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Matilda；　interrupting　her；　〃Bianca　has　explained　that　　mistake　to　me：　　on　seeing　me　faint；　she　cried　out；　'The　Princess　is　　dead！'　and　Martelli；　who　had　come　for　the　usual　dole　to　the　castle　…　〃

〃And　what　made　you　faint？〃　said　Isabella；　indifferent　to　the　rest。　　　Matilda　blushed　and　stammered　…

〃My　father　…　he　was　sitting　in　judgment　on　a　criminal　…　〃

〃What　criminal？〃　said　Isabella　eagerly。

〃A　young　man；〃　said　Matilda；　〃I　believe　…　〃

〃I　think　it　was　that　young　man　that　…　〃

〃What；　Theodore？〃　said　Isabella。

〃Yes；〃　answered　she；　〃I　never　saw　him　before；　I　do　not　know　how　he　had　　offended　my　father；　but　as　he　has　been　of　service　to　you；　I　am　glad　my　　Lord　has　pardoned　him。〃

〃Served　me！〃　replied　Isabella；　〃do　you　term　it　serving　me；　to　wound　my　　father；　and　almost　occasion　his　death？　　Though　it　is　but　since　　yesterday　that　I　am　blessed　with　knowing　a　parent；　I　hope　Matilda　does　　not　think　I　am　such　a　stranger　to　filial　tenderness　as　not　to　resent　　the　boldness　of　that　audacious　youth；　and　that　it　is　impossible　for　me　　ever　to　feel　any　affection　for　one　who　dared　to　lift　his　arm　against　　the　author　of　my　being。　　No；　Matilda；　my　heart　abhors　him；　and　if　you　　still　retain　the　friendship　for　me　that　you　have　vowed　from　your　　infancy；　you　will　detest　a　man　who　has　been　on　the　point　of　making　me　　miserable　for　ever。〃

Matilda　held　down　her　head　and　replied：　　〃I　hope　my　dearest　Isabella　　does　not　doubt　her　Matilda's　friendship：　　I　never　beheld　that　youth　　until　yesterday；　he　is　almost　a　stranger　to　me：　　but　as　the　surgeons　　have　pronounced　your　father　out　of　danger；　you　ought　not　to　harbour　　uncharitable　resentment　against　one；　who　I　am　persuaded　did　not　know　　the　Marquis　was　related　to　you。〃

〃You　plead　his　cause　very　pathetically；〃　said　Isabella；　〃considering　　he　is　so　much　a　stranger　to　you！　　I　am　mistaken；　or　he　returns　your　　charity。〃

〃What　mean　you？〃　said　Matilda。

〃Nothing；〃　said　Isabella；　repenting　that　she　had　given　Matilda　a　hint　　of　Theodore's　inclination　for　her。　　Then　changing　the　discourse；　she　　asked　Matilda　what　occasioned　Manfred　to　take　Theodore　for　a　spectre？

〃Bless　me；〃　said　Matilda；　〃did　not　you　observe　his　extreme　resemblance　　to