第32章

Huddlestone’swascertainlynoordinarycharacter；hehadreadandobservedforhimself；hisgiftsweresound；and，thoughIcouldneverhavelearnedtolovetheman，Ibegantounderstandhissuccessinbusiness，andthegreatrespectinwhichhehadbeenheldbeforehisfailure。Hehad，aboveall，thetalentofsociety； andthoughIneverheardhimspeakbutonthisoneandmostunfavorableoccasion，IsethimdownamongthemostbrilliantconversationalistsIevermet。 Hewasrelatingwithgreatgusto，andseeminglynofeelingofshame，themaneuversofascoundrellycommissionmerchantwhomhehadknownandstudiedinhisyouth，andwewerealllisteningwithanoddmixtureofmirthandembarrassment，whenourlittlepartywasbroughtabruptlytoanendinthemoststartlingmanner。 AnoiselikethatofawetfingeronthewindowpaneinterruptedMr。Huddlestone’stale；andinaninstantwewereallfouraswhiteaspaper，andsattongue-tiedandmotionlessroundthetable。 “Asnail，“Isaidatlast；forIhadheardthattheseanimalsmakeanoisesomewhatsimilarincharacter。 “Snailbed——d！“saidNorthmour。“Hush！“ Thesamesoundwasrepeatedtwiceatregularintervals；andthenaformidablevoiceshoutedthroughtheshutterstheItalianword，“Traditore！“ Mr。Huddlestonethrewhisheadintheair；hiseyelidsquivered； nextmomenthefellinsensiblebelowthetable。NorthmourandI hadeachruntothearmoryandseizedagun。Clarawasonherfeetwithherhandatherthroat。 Sowestoodwaiting，forwethoughtthehourofattackwascertainlycome；butsecondpassedaftersecond，andallbutthesurfremainedsilentintheneighborhoodofthepavilion。 “Quick，“saidNorthmour；“upstairswithhimbeforetheycome。“ Somehoworother，byhookandcrook，andbetweenthethreeofus，wegotBernardHuddlestonebundledupstairsandlaiduponthebedinMyUncle’sRoom。Duringthewholeprocess，whichwasroughenough，hegavenosignofconsciousness，andheremained，aswehadthrownhim，withoutchangingthepositionofafinger。Hisdaughteropenedhisshirtandbegantowethisheadandbosom； whileNorthmourandIrantothewindow。Theweathercontinuedclear；themoon，whichwasnowaboutfull，hadrisenandshedaveryclearlightuponthelinks；yet，strainoureyesaswemight，wecoulddistinguishnothingmoving。Afewdarkspots，moreorless，ontheunevenexpansewerenottobeidentified；theymightbecrouchingmen，theymightbeshadows；itwasimpossibletobesure。 “ThankGod，“saidNorthmour，“Aggieisnotcomingto-night。“ Aggiewasthenameoftheoldnurse；hehadnotthoughtofheruntilnow；butthatheshouldthinkofheratallwasatraitthatsurprisedmeintheman。 Wewereagainreducedtowaiting。Northmourwenttothefireplaceandspreadhishandsbeforetheredembers，asifhewerecold。I followedhimmechanicallywithmyeyes，andinsodoingturnedmybackuponthewindow。Atthatmomentaveryfaintreportwasaudiblefromwithout，andaballshiveredapaneofglass，andburieditselfintheshuttertwoinchesfrommyhead。IheardClarascream；andthoughIwhippedinstantlyoutofrangeandintoacorner，shewasthere，sotospeak，beforeme，beseechingtoknowifIwerehurt。IfeltthatIcouldstandtobeshotateverydayandalldaylong，withsuchremarksofsolicitudeforareward；andIcontinuedtoreassureher，withthetenderestcaressesandincompleteforgetfulnessofoursituation，tillthevoiceofNorthmourrecalledmetomyself。 “Anairgun，“hesaid。“Theywishtomakenonoise。“ IputClaraaside，andlookedathim。Hewasstandingwithhisbacktothefireandhishandsclaspedbehindhim；andIknewbytheblacklookonhisface，thatpassionwasboilingwithin。Ihadseenjustsuchalookbeforeheattackedme，thatMarchnight，intheadjoiningchamber；and，thoughIcouldmakeeveryallowanceforhisanger，IconfessItrembledfortheconsequences。Hegazedstraightbeforehim；buthecouldseeuswiththetailofhiseye，andhistemperkeptrisinglikeagaleofwind。Withregularbattleawaitingusoutside，thisprospectofaninternecinestrifewithinthewallsbegantodauntme。 Suddenly，asIwasthuscloselywatchinghisexpressionandpreparedagainsttheworst，Isawachange，aflash，alookofrelief，uponhisface。Hetookupthelampwhichstoodbesidehimonthetable，andturnedtouswithanairofsomeexcitement。 “Thereisonepointthatwemustknow，“saidhe。“Aretheygoingtobutcherthelotofus，oronlyHuddlestone？Didtheytakeyouforhim，orfireatyouforyourownbeauxyeux？“ “Theytookmeforhim，forcertain，“Ireplied。“Iamnearastall，andmyheadisfair。“ “Iamgoingtomakesure，“returnedNorthmour；andhesteppeduptothewindow，holdingthelampabovehishead，andstoodthere，quietlyaffrontingdeath，forhalfaminute。 Clarasoughttorushforwardandpullhimfromtheplaceofdanger； butIhadthepardonableselfishnesstoholdherbackbyforce。 “Yes，“saidNorthmour，turningcoollyfromthewindow，“it’sonlyHuddlestonetheywant。“ “Oh，Mr。Northmour！“criedClara；butfoundnomoretoadd；thetemerityshehadjustwitnessedseemingbeyondthereachofwords。 He，onhispart，lookedatme，cockinghishead，withafireoftriumphinhiseyes；andIunderstoodatoncethathehadthushazardedhislife，merelytoattractClara’snotice，anddeposemefrommypositionastheheroofthehour。Hesnappedhisfingers。 “Thefireisonlybeginning，“saidhe。“Whentheywarmuptotheirwork，theywon’tbesoparticular。“ Avoicewasnowheardhailingusfromtheentrance。Fromthewindowwecouldseethefigureofamaninthemoonlight；hestoodmotionless，hisfaceupliftedtoours，andaragofsomethingwhiteonhisextendedarm；andaswelookedrightdownuponhim，thoughhewasagoodmanyyardsdistantonthelinks，wecouldseethemoonlightglitteronhiseyes。 Heopenedhislipsagain，andspokeforsomeminutesonend，inakeysoloudthathemighthavebeenheardineverycornerofthepavilion，andasfarawayasthebordersofthewood。Itwasthesamevoicethathadalreadyshouted，“Traditore！“throughtheshuttersofthedining-room；thistimeitmadeacompleteandclearstatement。Ifthetraitor“Oddlestone“weregivenup，allothersshouldbespared；ifnot，nooneshouldescapetotellthetale。 “Well，Huddlestone，whatdoyousaytothat？“askedNorthmour，turningtothebed。 Uptothatmomentthebankerhadgivennosignoflife，andI，atleast，hadsupposedhimtobestilllyinginafaint；butherepliedatonce，andinsuchtonesasIhaveneverheardelsewhere，savefromadeliriouspatient，adjuredandbesoughtusnottodeserthim。Itwasthemosthideousandabjectperformancethatmyimaginationcanconceive。 “Enough，“criedNorthmour；andthenhethrewopenthewindow，leanedoutintothenight，andinatoneofexultation，andwithatotalforgetfulnessofwhatwasduetothepresenceofalady，pouredoutupontheambassadorastringofthemostabominableraillerybothinEnglishandItalian，andbadehimbegonewherehehadcomefrom。IbelievethatnothingsodelightedNorthmouratthatmomentasthethoughtthatwemustallinfalliblyperishbeforethenightwasout。 Meantime，theItalianputhisflagoftruceintohispocket，anddisappeared，ataleisurelypace，amongthesandhills。 “Theymakehonorablewar，“saidNorthmour。“Theyareallgentlemenandsoldiers。Forthecreditofthething，Iwishwecouldchangesides——youandI，Frank，andyou，too，missy，mydarling——andleavethatbeingonthebedtosomeoneelse。Tut！Don’tlookshocked！ Weareallgoingposttowhattheycalleternity，andmayaswellbeaboveboardwhilethere’stime。AsfarasIamconcerned，ifI couldfirststrangleHuddlestoneandthengetClarainmyarms，I coulddiewithsomeprideandsatisfaction。Andasitis，byGod，I’llhaveakiss！“ BeforeIcoulddoanythingtointerfere，hehadrudelyembracedandrepeatedlykissedtheresistinggirl。NextmomentIhadpulledhimawaywithfury，andflunghimheavilyagainstthewall。Helaughedloudandlong，andIfearedhiswitshadgivenwayunderthestrain；foreveninthebestofdayshehadbeenasparingandaquietlaugher。 “Now，Frank，“saidhe，whenhismirthwassomewhatappeased，“it’syourturn。Here’smyhand。Good-bye，farewell！“Then，seeingmestandrigidandindignant，andholdingClaratomyside——“Man！“hebrokeout，“areyouangry？Didyouthinkweweregoingtodiewithalltheairsandgracesofsociety？Itookakiss；I’mgladIdidit；andnowyoucantakeanotherifyoulike，andsquareaccounts。“ IturnedfromhimwithafeelingofcontemptwhichIdidnotseektodissemble。 “Asyouplease，“saidhe。“You’vebeenapriginlife；aprigyou’lldie。“ Andwiththathesatdowninachair，arifleoverhisknee，andamusedhimselfwithsnappingthelock；butIcouldseethathisebullitionoflightspirits(theonlyoneIeverknewhimtodisplay)hadalreadycometoanend，andwassucceededbyasullen，scowlinghumor。 Allthistimeourassailantsmighthavebeenenteringthehouse，andwebeennonethewiser；wehadintruthalmostforgottenthedangerthatsoimminentlyoverhungourdays。ButjustthenMr。 Huddlestoneutteredacry，andleapedfromthebed。 Iaskedhimwhatwaswrong。 “Fire！“hecried。“Theyhavesetthehouseonfire！“ Northmourwasonhisfeetinaninstant，andheandIranthroughthedoorofcommunicationwiththestudy。Theroomwasilluminatedbyaredandangrylight。Almostatthemomentofourentrance，atowerofflamearoseinfrontofthewindow，and，withatinglingreport，apanefellinwardonthecarpet。Theyhadsetfiretothelean-toouthouse，whereNorthmourusedtonursehisnegatives。 “Hotwork，“saidNorthmour。“Letustryinyouroldroom。“ Weranthitherinabreath，threwupthecasement，andlookedforth。Alongthewholebackwallofthepavilionpilesoffuelhadbeenarrangedandkindled；anditisprobabletheyhadbeendrenchedwithmineraloil，for，inspiteofthemorning’srain，theyallburnedbravely。Thefirehadtakenafirmholdalreadyontheouthouse，whichblazedhigherandhighereverymoment；thebackdoorwasinthecenterofared-hotbonfire；theeaveswecouldsee，aswelookedupward，werealreadysmoldering，fortheroofoverhung，andwassupportedbyconsiderablebeamsofwood。Atthesametime，hot，pungent，andchokingvolumesofsmokebegantofillthehouse。Therewasnotahumanbeingtobeseentorightorleft。 “Ah，well！“saidNorthmour，“here’stheend，thankGod！“ AndwereturnedtoMyUncle’sRoom。Mr。Huddlestonewasputtingonhisboots，stillviolentlytrembling，butwithanairofdeterminationsuchasIhadnothithertoobserved。Clarastoodclosebyhim，withhercloakinbothhandsreadytothrowabouthershoulders，andastrangelookinhereyes，asifshewerehalfhopeful，halfdoubtfulofherfather。 “Well，boysandgirls，“saidNorthmour，“howaboutasally？Theovenisheating；itisnotgoodtostayhereandbebaked；and，formypart，Iwanttocometomyhandswiththem，andbedone。“ “There’snothingelseleft，“Ireplied。 AndbothClaraandMr。Huddlestone，thoughwithaverydifferentintonation，added，“Nothing。“ Aswewentdownstairstheheatwasexcessive，andtheroaringofthefirefilledourears；andwehadscarcereachedthepassagebeforethestairswindowfellin，abranchofflameshotbrandishingthroughtheaperture，andtheinteriorofthepavilionbecamelightedupwiththatdreadfulandfluctuatingglare。Atthesamemomentweheardthefallofsomethingheavyandinelasticintheupperstory。Thewholepavilion，itwasplain，hadgonealightlikeaboxofmatches，andnownotonlyflamedskyhightolandandsea，butthreatenedwitheverymomenttocrumbleandfallinaboutourears。 NorthmourandIcockedourrevolvers。Mr。Huddlestone，whohadalreadyrefusedafirearm，putusbehindhimwithamannerofcommand。 “LetClaraopenthedoor，“saidhe。“So，iftheyfireavolley，shewillbeprotected。Andinthemeantimestandbehindme。Iamthescapegoat；mysinshavefoundmeout。“ Iheardhim，asIstoodbreathlessbyhisshoulder，withmypistolready，patteringoffprayersinatremulous，rapidwhisper；and，I confess，horridasthethoughtmayseem，Idespisedhimforthinkingofsupplicationsinamomentsocriticalandthrilling。 Inthemeantime，Clara，whowasdeadwhitebutstillpossessedherfaculties，haddisplacedthebarricadefromthefrontdoor。 Anothermoment，andshehadpulleditopen。Firelightandmoonlightilluminatedthelinkswithconfusedandchangefulluster，andfarawayagainsttheskywecouldseealongtrailofglowingsmoke。 Mr。Huddlestone，filledforthemomentwithastrengthgreaterthanhisown，struckNorthmourandmyselfaback-handerinthechest； andwhilewewerethusforthemomentincapacitatedfromaction，liftinghisarmsabovehisheadlikeoneabouttodive，heranstraightforwardoutofthepavilion。 “HereamI！“hecried——“Huddlestone！Killme，andsparetheothers！“ Hissuddenappearancedaunted，Isuppose，ourhiddenenemies；forNorthmourandIhadtimetorecover，toseizeClarabetweenus，onebyeacharm，andtorushforthtohisassistance，ereanythingfurtherhadtakenplace。Butscarcehadwepassedthethresholdwhentherecamenearadozenreportsandflashesfromeverydirectionamongthehollowsofthelinks。Mr。Huddlestonestaggered，utteredaweirdandfreezingcry，threwuphisarmsoverhishead，andfellbackwardontheturf。 “Traditore！Traditore！“criedtheinvisibleavengers。 Andjustthenapartoftheroofofthepavilionfellin，sorapidwastheprogressofthefire。Aloud，vague，andhorriblenoiseaccompaniedthecollapse，andavastvolumeofflamewentsoaringuptoheaven。Itmusthavebeenvisibleatthatmomentfromtwentymilesoutatsea，fromtheshoreatGradenWester，andfarinlandfromthepeakofGraystiel，themosteasternsummitoftheCaulderHills。BernardHuddlestone，althoughGodknowswhatwerehisobsequies，hadafinepyreatthemomentofhisdeath。