the castle of otranto-第5部分

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〃My　poverty；〃　said　the　peasant　calmly；　〃will　disculpate　them：　　though　　the　ministers　of　a　tyrant's　wrath；　to　thee　they　are　faithful；　and　but　　too　willing　to　execute　the　orders　which　you　unjustly　imposed　upon　　them。〃

〃Art　thou　so　hardy　as　to　dare　my　vengeance？〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but　　tortures　shall　force　the　truth　from　thee。　　Tell　me；　I　will　know　thy　　accomplices。〃

〃There　was　my　accomplice！〃　said　the　youth；　smiling；　and　pointing　to　　the　roof。

Manfred　ordered　the　torches　to　be　held　up；　and　perceived　that　one　of　　the　cheeks　of　the　enchanted　casque　had　forced　its　way　through　the　　pavement　of　the　court；　as　his　servants　had　let　it　fall　over　the　　peasant；　and　had　broken　through　into　the　vault；　leaving　a　gap；　through　　which　the　peasant　had　pressed　himself　some　minutes　before　he　was　found　　by　Isabella。

〃Was　that　the　way　by　which　thou　didst　descend？〃　said　Manfred。

〃It　was；〃　said　the　youth。

〃But　what　noise　was　that；〃　said　Manfred；　〃which　I　heard　as　I　entered　　the　cloister？〃

〃A　door　clapped；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃I　heard　it　as　well　as　you。〃

〃What　door？〃　said　Manfred　hastily。

〃I　am　not　acquainted　with　your　castle；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃this　is　the　　first　time　I　ever　entered　it；　and　this　vault　the　only　part　of　it　　within　which　I　ever　was。〃

〃But　I　tell　thee；〃　said　Manfred　（wishing　to　find　out　if　the　youth　had　　discovered　the　trap…door）；　〃it　was　this　way　I　heard　the　noise。　　My　　servants　heard　it　too。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　interrupted　one　of　them　officiously；　〃to　be　sure　it　was　the　　trap…door；　and　he　was　going　to　make　his　escape。〃

〃Peace；　blockhead！〃　said　the　Prince　angrily；　〃if　he　was　going　to　　escape；　how　should　he　come　on　this　side？　　I　will　know　from　his　own　　mouth　what　noise　it　was　I　heard。　　Tell　me　truly；　thy　life　depends　on　　thy　veracity。〃

〃My　veracity　is　dearer　to　me　than　my　life；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃nor　　would　I　purchase　the　one　by　forfeiting　the　other。〃

〃Indeed；　young　philosopher！〃　said　Manfred　contemptuously；　〃tell　me；　　then；　what　was　the　noise　I　heard？〃

〃Ask　me　what　I　can　answer；〃　said　he；　〃and　put　me　to　death　instantly　if　　I　tell　you　a　lie。〃

Manfred；　growing　impatient　at　the　steady　valour　and　indifference　of　　the　youth；　cried　…

〃Well；　then；　thou　man　of　truth；　answer！　　Was　it　the　fall　of　the　trap…　door　that　I　heard？〃

〃It　was；〃　said　the　youth。

〃It　was！〃　said　the　Prince；　〃and　how　didst　thou　come　to　know　there　was　　a　trap…door　here？〃

〃I　saw　the　plate　of　brass　by　a　gleam　of　moonshine；〃　replied　he。

〃But　what　told　thee　it　was　a　lock？〃　said　Manfred。　　〃How　didst　thou　　discover　the　secret　of　opening　it？〃

〃Providence；　that　delivered　me　from　the　helmet；　was　able　to　direct　me　　to　the　spring　of　a　lock；〃　said　he。

〃Providence　should　have　gone　a　little　farther；　and　have　placed　thee　　out　of　the　reach　of　my　resentment；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃When　Providence　　had　taught　thee　to　open　the　lock；　it　abandoned　thee　for　a　fool；　who　　did　not　know　how　to　make　use　of　its　favours。　　Why　didst　thou　not　　pursue　the　path　pointed　out　for　thy　escape？　　Why　didst　thou　shut　the　　trap…door　before　thou　hadst　descended　the　steps？〃

〃I　might　ask　you；　my　Lord；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃how　I；　totally　　unacquainted　with　your　castle；　was　to　know　that　those　steps　led　to　any　　outlet？　but　I　scorn　to　evade　your　questions。　　Wherever　those　steps　　lead　to；　perhaps　I　should　have　explored　the　way　…　I　could　not　be　in　a　　worse　situation　than　I　was。　　But　the　truth　is；　I　let　the　trap…door　　fall：　　your　immediate　arrival　followed。　　I　had　given　the　alarm　…　what　　imported　it　to　me　whether　I　was　seized　a　minute　sooner　or　a　minute　　later？〃

〃Thou　art　a　resolute　villain　for　thy　years；〃　said　Manfred；　〃yet　on　　reflection　I　suspect　thou　dost　but　trifle　with　me。　　Thou　hast　not　yet　　told　me　how　thou　didst　open　the　lock。〃

〃That　I　will　show　you；　my　Lord；〃　said　the　peasant；　and；　taking　up　a　　fragment　of　stone　that　had　fallen　from　above；　he　laid　himself　on　the　　trap…door；　and　began　to　beat　on　the　piece　of　brass　that　covered　it；　　meaning　to　gain　time　for　the　escape　of　the　Princess。　　This　presence　of　　mind；　joined　to　the　frankness　of　the　youth；　staggered　Manfred。　　He　　even　felt　a　disposition　towards　pardoning　one　who　had　been　guilty　of　　no　crime。　　Manfred　was　not　one　of　those　savage　tyrants　who　wanton　in　　cruelty　unprovoked。　　The　circumstances　of　his　fortune　had　given　an　　asperity　to　his　temper；　which　was　naturally　humane；　and　his　virtues　　were　always　ready　to　operate；　when　his　passions　did　not　obscure　his　　reason。

While　the　Prince　was　in　this　suspense；　a　confused　noise　of　voices　　echoed　through　the　distant　vaults。　　As　the　sound　approached；　he　　distinguished　the　clamours　of　some　of　his　domestics；　whom　he　had　　dispersed　through　the　castle　in　search　of　Isabella；　calling　out　…

〃Where　is　my　Lord？　where　is　the　Prince？〃

〃Here　I　am；〃　said　Manfred；　as　they　came　nearer；　〃have　you　found　the　　Princess？〃

The　first　that　arrived；　replied；　〃Oh；　my　Lord！　　I　am　glad　we　have　　found　you。〃

〃Found　me！〃　said　Manfred；　〃have　you　found　the　Princess？〃

〃We　thought　we　had；　my　Lord；〃　said　the　fellow；　looking　terrified；　〃but　　…　〃

〃But；　what？〃　cried　the　Prince；　〃has　she　escaped？〃

〃Jaquez　and　I；　my　Lord　…　〃

〃Yes；　I　and　Diego；〃　interrupted　the　second；　who　came　up　in　still　　greater　consternation。

〃Speak　one　of　you　at　a　time；〃　said　Manfred；　〃I　ask　you；　where　is　the　　Princess？〃

〃We　do　not　know；〃　said　they　both　together；　〃but　we　are　frightened　out　　of　our　wits。〃

〃So　I　think；　blockheads；〃　said　Manfred；　〃what　is　it　has　scared　you　　thus？〃

〃Oh！　my　Lord；〃　said　Jaquez；　〃Diego　has　seen　such　a　sight！　your　　Highness　would　not　believe　our　eyes。〃

〃What　new　absurdity　is　this？〃　cried　Manfred；　〃give　me　a　direct　answer；　　or；　by　Heaven　…　〃

〃Why；　my　Lord；　if　it　please　your　Highness　to　hear　me；〃　said　the　poor　　fellow；　〃Diego　and　I　…　〃

〃Yes；　I　and　Jaquez　…　〃　cried　his　comrade。

〃Did　not　I　forbid　you　to　speak　both　at　a　time？〃　said　the　Prince：　　　〃you；　Jaquez；　answer；　for　the　other　fool　seems　more　distracted　than　　thou　art；　what　is　the　matter？〃

〃My　gracious　Lord；〃　said　Jaquez；　〃if　it　please　your　Highness　to　hear　　me；　Diego　and　I；　according　to　your　Highness's　orders；　went　to　search　　for　the　young　Lady；　but　being　comprehensive　that　we　might　meet　the　　ghost　of　my　young　Lord；　your　Highness's　son；　God　rest　his　soul；　as　he　　has　not　received　Christian　burial　…　〃

〃Sot！〃　cried　Manfred　in　a　rage；　〃is　it　only　a　ghost；　then；　that　thou　　hast　seen？〃

〃Oh！　worse！　worse！　my　Lord；〃　cried　Diego：　　〃I　had　rather　have　seen　ten　　whole　ghosts。〃

〃Grant　me　patience！〃　said　Manfred；　〃these　blockheads　distract　me。　　Out　　of　my　sight；　Diego！　and　thou；　Jaquez；　tell　me　in　one　word；　art　thou　　sober？　art　thou　raving？　thou　wast　wont　to　have　some　sense：　　has　the　　other　sot　frightened　himself　and　thee　too？　　Speak；　what　is　it　he　　fancies　he　has　seen？〃

〃Why；　my　Lord；〃　replied　Jaquez；　trembling；　〃I　was　going　to　tell　your　　Highness；　that　since　the　calamitous　misfortune　of　my　young　Lord；　God　　rest　his　precious　soul！　not　one　of　us　your　Highness's　faithful　　servants　…　indeed　we　are；　my　Lord；　though　poor　men　…　I　say；　not　one　of　　us　has　dared　to　set　a　foot　about　the　castle；　but　two　together：　　so　　Diego　and　I；　thinking　that　my　young　Lady　might　be　in　the　great　　gallery；　went　up　there　to　look　for　her；　and　tell　her　your　Highness　　wanted　something　to　impart　to　her。〃

〃O　blundering　fools！〃　cried　Manfred；　〃and　in　the　meantime；　she　has　　made　her　escape；　because　you　were　afraid　of　goblins！　…　Why；　thou　　knave！　she　left　me　in　the　gallery；　I　came　from　thence　myself。〃

〃For　all　that；　she　may　be　there　still　for　aught　I　know；〃　said　Jaquez；　　〃but　the　devil　shall　have　me　before　I　seek　her　there　again　…　poor　　Diego！　　I　do　not　believe　he　will　ever　recover　it。〃

〃Recover　what？〃　said　Manfred；　〃am　I　never　to　learn　what　it　is　has　　terrified　these　rascals？　…　but　I　lose　my　time；　follow　me；　slave；　I　　will　see　if　she　is　in　the　gallery。〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake；　my　dear；　good　Lord；〃　cried　Jaquez；　〃do　not　go　to　　the　gallery。　　Satan　himself　I　believe　is　in　the　chamber　next　to　the　　gallery。〃

Manfred；　who　hitherto　had　treated　the　terror　of　his　servants　as　an　　idle　panic；　was　struck　at　this　new　circumstance。　　He　recollected　the　　apparition　of　the　portrait；　and　the　sudden　closing　of　the　door　at　the　　end　of　the　gallery。　　His　voice　faltered；　and　he　asked　with　disorder　…

〃What　is　in　the　great　chamber？〃

〃My　Lord；〃　said　Jaquez；　〃when　Diego　and　I　came　into　the　gallery；　he　　went　first；　for　he　said　he　had　more　courage　than　I。　　So　when　we　came　　into　the　gallery　we　found　nobody。　　We　looked　under　every　bench　and　　stool；　and　still　we　found　nobody。〃

〃Were　all　the　pictures　in　their　places？〃　said　Manfred。

〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　answered　Jaquez；　〃but　we　did　not　think　of　looking　　behind　them。〃

〃Well；　well！〃　said　Manfred；　〃proceed。〃

〃When　we　came　to　the　door　of　the　great　chamber；〃　continued　Jaquez；　〃we　　found　it　shut。〃

〃And　could　not　you　open　it？〃　said　Manfred。

〃Oh！　yes；　my　Lord；　would　to　Heaven　we　had　not！〃　replied　he　…　〃nay；　it　　was　not　I　neither；　it　was　Diego：　　he　was　grown　foolhardy；　and　would　go　　on；　though　I　advised　him　not　…　if　ever　I　open　a　door　that　is　shut　　again　…　〃

〃Trifle　not；〃　said　Manfred；　shuddering；　〃but　tell　me　what　you　saw　in　　the　great　chamber　on　opening　the　door。〃

〃I！　my　Lord！〃　said　Jaquez；　〃I　was　behind　Dieg