第29章

Isaiditwasunusuallyfarnorthtofindoneofhiscompatriots； atwhichheshruggedhisshoulders，andrepliedthatamanwouldgoanywheretofindwork。WhatworkhecouldhopetofindatGradenWester，Iwastotallyunabletoconceive；andtheincidentstrucksounpleasantlyuponmymind，thatIaskedthelandlord，whilehewascountingmesomechange，whetherhehadeverbeforeseenanItalianinthevillage。HesaidhehadonceseensomeNorwegians，whohadbeenshipwreckedontheothersideofGradenNessandrescuedbythelifeboatfromCauldhaven。 “No！“saidI；“butanItalian，likethemanwhohasjusthadbreadandcheese。“ “What？“criedhe，“yonblack-avisedfellowwi’theteeth？WasheanI-talian？Weel，yon’sthefirstthateverIsaw，an’Idaresayhe’sliketobethelast。“ Evenashewasspeaking，Iraisedmyeyes，and，castingaglanceintothestreet，beheldthreemeninearnestconversationtogether，andnotthirtyyardsaway。Oneofthemwasmyrecentcompanioninthetavernparlor；theothertwo，bytheirhandsomesallowfeaturesandsofthats，shouldevidentlybelongtothesamerace。Acrowdofvillagechildrenstoodaroundthem，gesticulatingandtalkinggibberishinimitation。Thetriolookedsingularlyforeigntothebleakdirtystreetinwhichtheywerestandingandthedarkgrayheaventhatoverspreadthem；andIconfessmyincredulityreceivedatthatmomentashockfromwhichitneverrecovered。ImightreasonwithmyselfasIpleased，butIcouldnotarguedowntheeffectofwhatIhadseen，andIbegantoshareintheItalianterror。 ItwasalreadydrawingtowardthecloseofthedaybeforeIhadreturnedthenewspaperstothemanse，andgotwellforwardontothelinksonmywayhome。Ishallneverforgetthatwalk。Itgrewverycoldandboisterous；thewindsungintheshortgrassaboutmyfeet；thinrainshowerscamerunningonthegusts；andanimmensemountainrangeofcloudsbegantoariseoutofthebosomofthesea。Itwouldbehardtoimagineamoredismalevening；andwhetheritwasfromtheseexternalinfluences，orbecausemynerveswerealreadyaffectedbywhatIhadheardandseen，mythoughtswereasgloomyastheweather。 TheupperwindowsofthepavilioncommandedaconsiderablespreadoflinksinthedirectionofGradenWester。Toavoidobservation，itwasnecessarytohugthebeachuntilIhadgainedcoverfromthehighersandhillsonthelittleheadland，whenImightstrikeacross，throughthehollows，forthemarginofthewood。Thesunwasaboutsetting；thetidewaslow，andallthequicksandsuncovered；andIwasmovingalong，lostinunpleasantthought，whenIwassuddenlythunderstrucktoperceivetheprintsofhumanfeet。 Theyranparalleltomyowncourse，butlowdownuponthebeach，insteadofalongtheborderoftheturf；and，whenIexaminedthem，Isawatonce，bythesizeandcoarsenessoftheimpression，thatitwasastrangertomeandtothoseofthepavilionwhohadrecentlypassedthatway。Notonlyso；butfromtherecklessnessofthecoursewhichhehadfollowed，steeringneartothemostformidableportionsofthesand，hewasevidentlyastrangertothecountryandtotheill-reputeofGradenbeach。 StepbystepIfollowedtheprints；until，aquarterofamilefarther，IbeheldthemdieawayintothesoutheasternboundaryofGradenFloe。There，whoeverhewas，themiserablemanhadperished。Oneortwogulls，whohad，perhaps，seenhimdisappear，wheeledoverhissepulcherwiththeirusualmelancholypiping。Thesunhadbrokenthroughthecloudsbyalasteffort，andcoloredthewidelevelofquicksandswithaduskypurple。Istoodforsometimegazingatthespot，chilledanddisheartenedbymyownreflections，andwithastrongandcommandingconsciousnessofdeath。Irememberwonderinghowlongthetragedyhadtaken，andwhetherhisscreamshadbeenaudibleatthepavilion。Andthen，makingastrongresolution，Iwasabouttotearmyselfaway，whenagustfiercerthanusualfelluponthisquarterofthebeach，andI saw，nowwhirlinghighinair，nowskimminglightlyacrossthesurfaceofthesands，asoft，black，felthat，somewhatconicalinshape，suchasIhadremarkedalreadyontheheadsoftheItalians。 Ibelieve，butIamnotsure，thatIutteredacry。Thewindwasdrivingthehatshoreward，andIranroundtheborderofthefloetobereadyagainstitsarrival。Thegustfell，droppingthehatforawhileuponthequicksand，andthen，oncemorefreshening，landeditafewyardsfromwhereIstood。Iseizeditwiththeinterestyoumayimagine。Ithadseensomeservice；indeed，itwasrustierthaneitherofthoseIhadseenthatdayuponthestreet。 Theliningwasred，stampedwiththenameofthemaker，whichI haveforgotten，andthatoftheplaceofmanufacture，Venedig。 This(itisnotyetforgotten)wasthenamegivenbytheAustrianstothebeautifulcityofVenice，then，andforlongafter，apartoftheirdominions。 Theshockwascomplete。IsawimaginaryItaliansuponeveryside； andforthefirst，and，Imaysay，forthelasttimeinmyexperience，becameoverpoweredbywhatiscalledapanicterror。I knewnothing，thatis，tobeafraidof，andyetIadmitthatIwasheartilyafraid；anditwaswithsensiblereluctancethatI returnedtomyexposedandsolitarycampintheSea-Wood。 ThereIeatsomecoldporridgewhichhadbeenleftoverfromthenightbefore，forIwasdisinclinedtomakeafire；and，feelingstrengthenedandreassured，dismissedallthesefancifulterrorsfrommymind，andlaydowntosleepwithcomposure。 HowlongImayhavesleptitisimpossibleformetoguess；butI wasawakenedatlastbyasudden，blindingflashoflightintomyface。Itwokemelikeablow。InaninstantIwasuponmyknees。 Butthelighthadgoneassuddenlyasitcame。Thedarknesswasintense。And，asitwasblowinggreatgunsfromthesea，andpouringwithrain，thenoisesofthestormeffectuallyconcealedallothers。 Itwas，Idaresay，halfaminutebeforeIregainedmyself- possession。Butfortwocircumstances，IshouldhavethoughtIhadbeenawakenedbysomenewandvividformofnightmare。First，theflapofmytent，whichIhadshutcarefullywhenIretired，wasnowunfastened；and，second，Icouldstillperceive，withasharpnessthatexcludedanytheoryofhallucination，thesmellofhotmetalandofburningoil。Theconclusionwasobvious。Ihadbeenawakenedbysomeoneflashingabull’s-eyelanterninmyface。Ithadbeenbutaflash，andaway。Hehadseenmyface，andthengone。Iaskedmyselftheobjectofsostrangeaproceeding，andtheanswercamepat。Theman，whoeverhewas，hadthoughttorecognizeme，andhehadnot。Therewasanotherquestionunresolved；andtothis，Imaysay，Ifearedtogiveananswer；ifhehadrecognizedme，whatwouldhehavedone？ Myfearswereimmediatelydivertedfrommyself，forIsawthatI hadbeenvisitedinamistake；andIbecamepersuadedthatsomedreadfuldangerthreatenedthepavilion。Itrequiredsomenervetoissueforthintotheblackandintricatethicketwhichsurroundedandoverhungtheden；butIgropedmywaytothelinks，drenchedwithrain，beatenuponanddeafenedbythegusts，andfearingateverysteptolaymyhanduponsomelurkingadversary。ThedarknesswassocompletethatImighthavebeensurroundedbyanarmyandyetnonethewiser，andtheuproarofthegalesoloudthatmyhearingwasasuselessasmysight。 Fortherestofthatnight，whichseemedinterminablylong，I patrolledthevicinityofthepavilion，withoutseeingalivingcreatureorhearinganynoisebuttheconcertofthewind，thesea，andtherain。Alightintheupperstoryfilteredthroughacrannyoftheshutter，andkeptmecompanytilltheapproachofdawn。 V Withthefirstpeepofday，Iretiredfromtheopentomyoldlairamongthesandhills，theretoawaitthecomingofmywife。Themorningwasgray，wild，andmelancholy；thewindmoderatedbeforesunrise，andthenwentabout，andblewinpuffsfromtheshore；theseabegantogodown，buttherainstillfellwithoutmercy。Overallthewildernessoflinkstherewasnotacreaturetobeseen。 YetIfeltsuretheneighborhoodwasalivewithskulkingfoes。ThelightthathadbeensosuddenlyandsurprisinglyflasheduponmyfaceasIlaysleeping，andthehatthathadbeenblownashorebythewindfromoverGradenFloe，weretwospeakingsignalsoftheperilthatenvironedClaraandthepartyinthepavilion。 Itwas，perhaps，half-pastseven，ornearereight，beforeIsawthedooropen，andthatdearfigurecometowardmeintherain。Iwaswaitingforheronthebeachbeforeshehadcrossedthesandhills。 “Ihavehadsuchtroubletocome！“shecried。“Theydidnotwishmetogowalkingintherain。“ “Clara，“Isaid，“youarenotfrightened！“ “No，“saidshe，withasimplicitythatfilledmyheartwithconfidence。Formywifewasthebravestaswellasthebestofwomen；inmyexperience，Ihavenotfoundthetwogoalwaystogether，butwithhertheydid；andshecombinedtheextremeoffortitudewiththemostendearingandbeautifulvirtues。 Itoldherwhathadhappened；and，thoughhercheekgrewvisiblypaler，sheretainedperfectcontroloverhersenses。 “YouseenowthatIamsafe，“saidI，inconclusion。“Theydonotmeantoharmme；for，hadtheychosen，Iwasadeadmanlastnight。“ Shelaidherhanduponmyarm。 “AndIhadnopresentiment！“shecried。 Heraccentthrilledmewithdelight。Iputmyarmabouther，andstrainedhertomyside；and，beforeeitherofuswasaware，herhandswereonmyshouldersandmylipsuponhermouth。Yetuptothatmomentnowordoflovehadpassedbetweenus。TothisdayI rememberthetouchofhercheek，whichwaswetandcoldwiththerain；andmanyatimesince，whenshehasbeenwashingherface，I havekisseditagainforthesakeofthatmorningonthebeach。 Nowthatsheistakenfromme，andIfinishmypilgrimagealone，I recallouroldlovingkindnessesandthedeephonestyandaffectionwhichunitedus，andmypresentlossseemsbutatrifleincomparison。 Wemayhavethusstoodforsomeseconds——fortimepassesquicklywithlovers——beforewewerestartledbyapealoflaughtercloseathand。Itwasnotnaturalmirth，butseemedtobeaffectedinordertoconcealanangrierfeeling。Webothturned，thoughIstillkeptmyleftarmaboutClara’swaist；nordidsheseektowithdrawherself；andthere，afewpacesoffuponthebeach，stoodNorthmour，hisheadlowered，hishandsbehindhisback，hisnostrilswhitewithpassion。 “Ah！Cassilis！“hesaid，asIdisclosedmyface。 “Thatsame，“saidI；forIwasnotatallputabout。 “Andso，MissHuddlestone，“hecontinuedslowlybutsavagely，“thisishowyoukeepyourfaithtoyourfatherandtome？Thisisthevalueyousetuponyourfather’slife？Andyouaresoinfatuatedwiththisyounggentlemanthatyoumustbraveruin，anddecency，andcommonhumancaution——“ “MissHuddlestone——“Iwasbeginningtointerrupthim，whenhe，inhisturn，cutinbrutally—— “Youholdyourtongue，“saidhe；“Iamspeakingtothatgirl。“ “Thatgirl，asyoucallher，ismywife，“saidI；andmywifeonlyleanedalittlenearer，sothatIknewshehadaffirmedmywords。 “Yourwhat？“hecried。“Youlie！“ “Northmour，“Isaid，“weallknowyouhaveabadtemper，andIamthelastmantobeirritatedbywords。Forallthat，Iproposethatyouspeaklower，forIamconvincedthatwearenotalone。“ Helookedroundhim，anditwasplainmyremarkhadinsomedegreesoberedhispassion。“Whatdoyoumean？“heasked。 Ionlysaidoneword:“Italians。“ Hesworearoundoath，andlookedatus，fromonetotheother。 “Mr。CassilisknowsallthatIknow，“saidmywife。 “WhatIwanttoknow，“hebrokeout，“iswherethedevilMr。 Cassiliscomesfrom，andwhatthedevilMr。Cassilisisdoinghere。 Yousayyouaremarried；thatIdonotbelieve。Ifyouwere，GradenFloewouldsoondivorceyou；fourminutesandahalf，Cassilis。Ikeepmyprivatecemeteryformyfriends。“ “Ittooksomewhatlonger，“saidI，“forthatItalian。“ Helookedatmeforamomenthalfdaunted，andthen，almostcivilly，askedmetotellmystory。“Youhavetoomuchtheadvantageofme，Cassilis，“headded。Icompliedofcourse；andhelistened，withseveralejaculations，whileItoldhimhowIhadcometoGraden:thatitwasIwhomhehadtriedtomurderonthenightoflanding；andwhatIhadsubsequentlyseenandheardoftheItalians。 “Well，“saidhe，whenIhaddone，“itishereatlast；thereisnomistakeaboutthat。Andwhat，mayIask，doyouproposetodo？“ “Iproposetostaywithyouandlendahand，“saidI。 “Youareabraveman，“hereturned，withapeculiarintonation。 “Iamnotafraid，“saidI。 “Andso，“hecontinued，“Iamtounderstandthatyoutwoaremarried？Andyoustanduptoitbeforemyface，MissHuddlestone？“ “Wearenotyetmarried，“saidClara；“butweshallbeassoonaswecan。“ “Bravo！“criedNorthmour。“Andthebargain？D——nit，you’renotafool，youngwoman；Imaycallaspadeaspadewithyou。Howaboutthebargain？YouknowaswellasIdowhatyourfather’slifedependsupon。Ihaveonlytoputmyhandsundermycoattailsandwalkaway，andhisthroatwouldbecutbeforetheevening。“