the castle of otranto-第4部分

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of　the　principal　　staircase。　　There　she　stopped；　not　knowing　whither　to　direct　her　　steps；　nor　how　to　escape　from　the　impetuosity　of　the　Prince。　　The　　gates　of　the　castle；　she　knew；　were　locked；　and　guards　placed　in　the　　court。　　Should　she；　as　her　heart　prompted　her；　go　and　prepare　　Hippolita　for　the　cruel　destiny　that　awaited　her；　she　did　not　doubt　　but　Manfred　would　seek　her　there；　and　that　his　violence　would　incite　　him　to　double　the　injury　he　meditated；　without　leaving　room　for　them　　to　avoid　the　impetuosity　of　his　passions。　　Delay　might　give　him　time　　to　reflect　on　the　horrid　measures　he　had　conceived；　or　produce　some　　circumstance　in　her　favour；　if　she　could　…　for　that　night；　at　least　…　　avoid　his　odious　purpose。　　Yet　where　conceal　herself？　　How　avoid　the　　pursuit　he　would　infallibly　make　throughout　the　castle？

As　these　thoughts　passed　rapidly　through　her　mind；　she　recollected　a　　subterraneous　passage　which　led　from　the　vaults　of　the　castle　to　the　　church　of　St。　Nicholas。　　Could　she　reach　the　altar　before　she　was　　overtaken；　she　knew　even　Manfred's　violence　would　not　dare　to　profane　　the　sacredness　of　the　place；　and　she　determined；　if　no　other　means　of　　deliverance　offered；　to　shut　herself　up　for　ever　among　the　holy　　virgins　whose　convent　was　contiguous　to　the　cathedral。　　In　this　　resolution；　she　seized　a　lamp　that　burned　at　the　foot　of　the　　staircase；　and　hurried　towards　the　secret　passage。

The　lower　part　of　the　castle　was　hollowed　into　several　intricate　　cloisters；　and　it　was　not　easy　for　one　under　so　much　anxiety　to　find　　the　door　that　opened　into　the　cavern。　　An　awful　silence　reigned　　throughout　those　subterraneous　regions；　except　now　and　then　some　　blasts　of　wind　that　shook　the　doors　she　had　passed；　and　which；　grating　　on　the　rusty　hinges；　were　re…echoed　through　that　long　labyrinth　of　　darkness。　　Every　murmur　struck　her　with　new　terror；　yet　more　she　　dreaded　to　hear　the　wrathful　voice　of　Manfred　urging　his　domestics　to　　pursue　her。

She　trod　as　softly　as　impatience　would　give　her　leave；　yet　frequently　　stopped　and　listened　to　hear　if　she　was　followed。　　In　one　of　those　　moments　she　thought　she　heard　a　sigh。　　She　shuddered；　and　recoiled　a　　few　paces。　　In　a　moment　she　thought　she　heard　the　step　of　some　person。　　　Her　blood　curdled；　she　concluded　it　was　Manfred。　　Every　suggestion　　that　horror　could　inspire　rushed　into　her　mind。　　She　condemned　her　　rash　flight；　which　had　thus　exposed　her　to　his　rage　in　a　place　where　　her　cries　were　not　likely　to　draw　anybody　to　her　assistance。　　Yet　the　　sound　seemed　not　to　come　from　behind。　　If　Manfred　knew　where　she　was；　　he　must　have　followed　her。　　She　was　still　in　one　of　the　cloisters；　and　　the　steps　she　had　heard　were　too　distinct　to　proceed　from　the　way　she　　had　come。　　Cheered　with　this　reflection；　and　hoping　to　find　a　friend　　in　whoever　was　not　the　Prince；　she　was　going　to　advance；　when　a　door　　that　stood　ajar；　at　some　distance　to　the　left；　was　opened　gently：　　but　　ere　her　lamp；　which　she　held　up；　could　discover　who　opened　it；　the　　person　retreated　precipitately　on　seeing　the　light。

Isabella；　whom　every　incident　was　sufficient　to　dismay；　hesitated　　whether　she　should　proceed。　　Her　dread　of　Manfred　soon　outweighed　　every　other　terror。　　The　very　circumstance　of　the　person　avoiding　her　　gave　her　a　sort　of　courage。　　It　could　only　be；　she　thought；　some　　domestic　belonging　to　the　castle。　　Her　gentleness　had　never　raised　her　　an　enemy；　and　conscious　innocence　made　her　hope　that；　unless　sent　by　　the　Prince's　order　to　seek　her；　his　servants　would　rather　assist　than　　prevent　her　flight。　　Fortifying　herself　with　these　reflections；　and　　believing　by　what　she　could　observe　that　she　was　near　the　mouth　of　the　　subterraneous　cavern；　she　approached　the　door　that　had　been　opened；　　but　a　sudden　gust　of　wind　that　met　her　at　the　door　extinguished　her　　lamp；　and　left　her　in　total　darkness。

Words　cannot　paint　the　horror　of　the　Princess's　situation。　　Alone　in　　so　dismal　a　place；　her　mind　imprinted　with　all　the　terrible　events　of　　the　day；　hopeless　of　escaping；　expecting　every　moment　the　arrival　of　　Manfred；　and　far　from　tranquil　on　knowing　she　was　within　reach　of　　somebody；　she　knew　not　whom；　who　for　some　cause　seemed　concealed　　thereabouts；　all　these　thoughts　crowded　on　her　distracted　mind；　and　　she　was　ready　to　sink　under　her　apprehensions。　　She　addressed　herself　　to　every　saint　in　heaven；　and　inwardly　implored　their　assistance。　　For　　a　considerable　time　she　remained　in　an　agony　of　despair。

At　last；　as　softly　as　was　possible；　she　felt　for　the　door；　and　having　　found　it；　entered　trembling　into　the　vault　from　whence　she　had　heard　　the　sigh　and　steps。　　It　gave　her　a　kind　of　momentary　joy　to　perceive　　an　imperfect　ray　of　clouded　moonshine　gleam　from　the　roof　of　the　　vault；　which　seemed　to　be　fallen　in；　and　from　whence　hung　a　fragment　　of　earth　or　building；　she　could　not　distinguish　which；　that　appeared　　to　have　been　crushed　inwards。　　She　advanced　eagerly　towards　this　　chasm；　when　she　discerned　a　human　form　standing　close　against　the　　wall。

She　shrieked；　believing　it　the　ghost　of　her　betrothed　Conrad。　　The　　figure；　advancing；　said；　in　a　submissive　voice　…

〃Be　not　alarmed；　Lady；　I　will　not　injure　you。〃

Isabella；　a　little　encouraged　by　the　words　and　tone　of　voice　of　the　　stranger；　and　recollecting　that　this　must　be　the　person　who　had　opened　　the　door；　recovered　her　spirits　enough　to　reply　…

〃Sir；　whoever　you　are；　take　pity　on　a　wretched　Princess；　standing　on　　the　brink　of　destruction。　　Assist　me　to　escape　from　this　fatal　castle；　　or　in　a　few　moments　I　may　be　made　miserable　for　ever。〃

〃Alas！〃　said　the　stranger；　〃what　can　I　do　to　assist　you？　　I　will　die　　in　your　defence；　but　I　am　unacquainted　with　the　castle；　and　want　…　〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Isabella；　hastily　interrupting　him；　〃help　me　but　to　find　a　　trap…door　that　must　be　hereabout；　and　it　is　the　greatest　service　you　　can　do　me；　for　I　have　not　a　minute　to　lose。〃

Saying　a　these　words；　she　felt　about　on　the　pavement；　and　directed　the　　stranger　to　search　likewise；　for　a　smooth　piece　of　brass　enclosed　in　　one　of　the　stones。

〃That；〃　said　she；　〃is　the　lock；　which　opens　with　a　spring；　of　which　I　　know　the　secret。　　If　we　can　find　that；　I　may　escape　…　if　not；　alas！　　courteous　stranger；　I　fear　I　shall　have　involved　you　in　my　　misfortunes：　　Manfred　will　suspect　you　for　the　accomplice　of　my　　flight；　and　you　will　fall　a　victim　to　his　resentment。〃

〃I　value　not　my　life；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃and　it　will　be　some　comfort　　to　lose　it　in　trying　to　deliver　you　from　his　tyranny。〃

〃Generous　youth；〃　said　Isabella；　〃how　shall　I　ever　requite　…　〃

As　she　uttered　those　words；　a　ray　of　moonshine；　streaming　through　a　　cranny　of　the　ruin　above；　shone　directly　on　the　lock　they　sought。

〃Oh！　transport！〃　said　Isabella；　〃here　is　the　trap…door！〃　and；　taking　　out　the　key；　she　touched　the　spring；　which；　starting　aside；　discovered　　an　iron　ring。　　〃Lift　up　the　door；〃　said　the　Princess。

The　stranger　obeyed；　and　beneath　appeared　some　stone　steps　descending　　into　a　vault　totally　dark。

〃We　must　go　down　here；〃　said　Isabella。　　〃Follow　me；　dark　and　dismal　as　　it　is；　we　cannot　miss　our　way；　it　leads　directly　to　the　church　of　St。　　Nicholas。　　But；　perhaps；〃　added　the　Princess　modestly；　〃you　have　no　　reason　to　leave　the　castle；　nor　have　I　farther　occasion　for　your　　service；　in　a　few　minutes　I　shall　be　safe　from　Manfred's　rage　…　only　　let　me　know　to　whom　I　am　so　much　obliged。〃

〃I　will　never　quit　you；〃　said　the　stranger　eagerly；　〃until　I　have　　placed　you　in　safety　…　nor　think　me；　Princess；　more　generous　than　I　　am；　though　you　are　my　principal　care　…　〃

The　stranger　was　interrupted　by　a　sudden　noise　of　voices　that　seemed　　approaching；　and　they　soon　distinguished　these　words　…

〃Talk　not　to　me　of　necromancers；　I　tell　you　she　must　be　in　the　castle；　　I　will　find　her　in　spite　of　enchantment。〃

〃Oh；　heavens！〃　cried　Isabella；　〃it　is　the　voice　of　Manfred！　　Make　　haste；　or　we　are　ruined！　and　shut　the　trap…door　after　you。〃

Saying　this；　she　descended　the　steps　precipitately；　and　as　the　　stranger　hastened　to　follow　her；　he　let　the　door　slip　out　of　his　　hands：　　it　fell；　and　the　spring　closed　over　it。　　He　tried　in　vain　to　　open　it；　not　having　observed　Isabella's　method　of　touching　the　spring；　　nor　had　he　many　moments　to　make　an　essay。　　The　noise　of　the　falling　　door　had　been　heard　by　Manfred；　who；　directed　by　the　sound；　hastened　　thither；　attended　by　his　servants　with　torches。

〃It　must　be　Isabella；〃　cried　Manfred；　before　he　entered　the　vault。　　　〃She　is　escaping　by　the　subterraneous　passage；　but　she　cannot　have　got　　far。〃

What　was　the　astonishment　of　the　Prince　when；　instead　of　Isabella；　the　　light　of　the　torches　discovered　to　him　the　young　peasant　whom　he　　thought　confined　under　the　fatal　helmet！

〃Traitor！〃　said　Manfred；　〃how　camest　thou　here？　　I　thought　thee　in　　durance　above　in　the　court。〃

〃I　am　no　traitor；〃　replied　the　young　man　boldly；　〃nor　am　I　answerable　　for　your　thoughts。〃

〃Presumptuous　villain！〃　cried　Manfred；　〃dost　thou　provoke　my　wrath？　　　Tell　me；　how　hast　thou　escaped　from　above？　　Thou　hast　corrupted　thy　　guards；　and　their　lives　shall　answer　it。〃

〃My　poverty；〃　said　the　peasant　calmly；　〃will　disculpate　them：　　though　　the　ministers　of　a　tyrant's　wrath；