the ruby of kishmoor-第4章

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then；　think　that　I　have　time　to　chatter　with　you　while　two
villains　are　lying　in　wait　for　me；　perhaps　at　the　very　door？
Blame　your　own　self　for　your　death！〃　　And；　gnashing　his　teeth　with
an　indescribable　menace；　and　resting　his　hand　upon　the　table；　he
vaulted　with　incredible　agility　clean　across　it　and　upon　our
hero；　who；　entirely　unprepared　for　such　an　extraordinary　attack；
was　flung　back　against　the　wall；　with　an　arm　as　strong　as　steel
clutching　his　throat　and　a　knife　flashing　in　his　very　eyes　with
dreadful　portent　of　instant　death。

With　an　instinct　to　preserve　his　life；　he　caught　his　assailant　by
the　wrist；　and；　bending　it　away　from　himself；　set　every　fibre　of
his　body　in　a　superhuman　effort　to　guard　and　protect　himself。　　The
other；　though　so　much　older　and　smaller；　seemed　to　be　composed
entirely　of　fibres　of　steel；　and；　in　his　murderous　endeavors；　put
forth　a　strength　so　extraordinary　that　for　a　moment　our　hero　felt
his　heart　melt　within　him　with　terror　for　his　life。　　The　spittal
appeared　to　dry　up　within　his　mouth；　and　his　hair　to　creep　and
rise　upon　his　head。　　With　a　vehement　cry　of　despair　and　anguish；
he　put　forth　one　stupendous　effort　for　defence；　and；　clapping　his
heel　behind　the　other's　leg；　and　throwing　his　whole　weight
forward；　he　fairly　tripped　his　antagonist　backward　as　he　stood。
Together　they　fell　upon　the　floor；　locked　in　the　most　desperate
embrace；　and　overturning　a　chair　with　a　prodigious　clatter　in
their　descentour　hero　upon　the　top　and　the　little　gentleman　in
black　beneath　him。

As　they　struck　the　floor　the　little　man　in　black　emitted　a　most
piercing　and　terrible　scream；　and　instantly　relaxing　his　efforts
of　attack；　fell　to　beating　the　floor　with　the　back　of　his　hands
and　drubbing　with　his　heels　upon　the　rug　in　which　he　had　become
entangled。

Our　hero　leaped　to　his　feet；　and　with　dilating　eyes　and　expanding
brain　and　swimming　sight　stared　down　upon　the　other　like　one
turned　to　a　stone。

He　beheld　instantly　what　had　occurred；　and　that　he　had；　without
so　intending；　killed　a　fellow…man。　　The　knife；　turned　away　from
his　own　person；　had　in　their　fall　been　plunged　into　the　bosom　of
the　other；　and　he　now　lay　quivering　in　the　last　throes　of　death。
As　Jonathan　gazed　he　beheld　a　thin　red　stream　trickle　out　from
the　parted　and　grinning　lips；　he　beheld　the　eyes　turn　inward；　he
beheld　the　eyelids　contract；　he　beheld　the　figure　stretch　itself；
he　beheld　it　become　still　in　death。




IV。　The　Momentous　Adventure　with　the　Stranger　with　the　Silver
Ear…rings



So　our　hero　stood　stunned　and　bedazed；　gazing　down　upon　his
victim；　like　a　man　turned　into　a　stone。　　His　brain　appeared　to　him
to　expand　like　a　bubble；　the　blood　surged　and　bummed　in　his　ears
with　every　gigantic　beat　of　his　heart；　his　vision　swam；　and　his
trembling　hands　were　bedewed　with　a　cold　and　repugnant　sweat。　　The
dead　figure　upon　the　floor　at　his　feet　gazed　at　him　with　a　wide；
glassy　stare；　and　in　the　confusion　of　his　mind　it　appeared　to
Jonathan　that　he　was；　indeed；　a　murderer。

What　monstrous　thing　was　this　that　had　befallen　him　who；　but　a
moment　before；　had　been　so　entirely　innocent　of　the　guilt　of
blood？　　What　was　he　now　to　do　in　such　an　extremity　as　this；　with
his　victim　lying　dead　at　his　feet；　a　poniard　in　his　heart？　　Who
would　believe　him　to　be　guiltless　of　crime　with　such　a　dreadful
evidence　as　this　presented　against　him？　　How　was　he；　a　stranger　in
a　foreign　land；　to　totally　defend　himself　against　an　accusing　of
mistaken　justice？　　At　these　thoughts　a　developed　terror　gripped　at
his　vitals　and　a　sweat　as　cold　as　ice　bedewed　his　entire　body。
No；　he　must　tarry　for　no　explanation　or　defense！　　He　must
immediately　fly　from　this　terrible　place；　or　else；　should　he　be
discovered；　his　doom　would　certainly　be　sealed！

At　that　moment；　and　in　the　very　extremity　of　his　apprehensions；
there　fell　of　a　sudden　a　knock　upon　the　door；　sounding　so　loud
and　so　startling　upon　the　silence　of　the　room　that　every
shattered　nerve　in　our　hero's　frame　tingled　and　thrilled　in
answer　to　it。　　He　stood　petrified；　scarcely　so　much　as　daring　to
breathe；　and　then；　observing　that　his　mouth　was　agape；　he
moistened　his　dry　and　parching　lips；　and　drew　his　jaws　together
with　a　snap。

Again　there　fell　the　same　loud；　insistent　knock　upon　the　panel；
followed　by　the　imperative　words：　〃Open　within！〃

The　wretched　Jonathan　flung　about　him　a　glance　at　once　of　terror
and　of　despair；　but　there　was　for　him　no　possible　escape。　　He　was
shut　tight　in　the　room　with　his　dead　victim；　like　a　rat　in　a
trap。　　Nothing　remained　for　him　but　to　obey　the　summons　from
without。　　Indeed；　in　the　very　extremity　of　his　distraction；　he
possessed　reason　enough　to　perceive　that　the　longer　he　delayed
opening　the　door　the　less　innocent　he　might　hope　to　appear　in　the
eyes　of　whoever　stood　without。

With　the　uncertain　and　spasmodic　movements　of　an　ill…constructed
automaton；　he　crossed　the　room；　and　stepping　very　carefully　over
the　prostrate　body　upon　the　floor；　and　with　a　hesitating
reluctance　that　he　could　in　no　degree　master；　he　unlocked；
unbolted；　and　opened　the　door。

The　figure　that　outlined　itself　in　the　light　of　the　candle；
against　the　blackness　of　the　passageway　without　was　of　such　a
singular　and　foreign　aspect　as　to　fit　extremely　well　into　the
extraordinary　tragedy　of　which　Jonathan　was　at　once　the　victim
and　the　cause。

It　was　that　of　a　lean；　tall　man　with　a　thin；　yellow　countenance；
embellished　with　a　long；　black　mustache；　and　having　a　pair　of
forbidding；　deeply　set；　and　extremely　restless　black　eyes。　　A
crimson　handkerchief　beneath　a　lace　cocked　hat　was　tied　tightly
around　the　head；　and　a　pair　of　silver　earrings；　which　caught　the
light　of　the　candle；　gleamed　and　twinkled　against　the　inky
darkness　of　the　passageway　beyond。

This　extraordinary　being；　without　favoring　our　hero　with　any　word
of　apology　for　his　intrusion；　immediately　thrust　himself　forward
into　the　room；　and　stretching　his　long；　lean；　bird…like　neck　so
as　to　direct　his　gaze　over　the　intervening　table；　fixed　a　gaping
and　concentrated　stare　upon　the　figure　lying　still　and　motionless
in　the　centre　of　the　room。

〃Vat　you　do　dare；〃　said　he；　with　a　guttural　and　foreign　accent；
and　thereupon；　without　waiting　for　a　reply；　came　forward　and
knelt　down　beside　the　dead　man。　　After　thrusting　his　hand　into　the
silent　and　shrunken　bosom；　he　presently　looked　up　and　fixed　his
penetrating　eyes　upon　our　hero's　countenance；　who；　benumbed　and
bedazed　with　his　despair；　still　stood　like　one　enchained　in　the
bonds　of　a　nightmare。　　〃He　vas　dead！〃　said　the　stranger；　and
Jonathan　nodded　his　head　in　reply。

〃Vy　you　keel　ze　man？〃　inquired　his　interlocutor。

〃Indeed；〃　cried　Jonathan；　finding　a　voice　at　last；　but　one　so
hoarse　that　he　could　hardly　recognize　it　for　his　own；　〃I　know　not
what　to　make　of　the　affair！　　But；　indeed；　I　do　assure　thee；
friend；　that　I　am　entirely　innocent　of　what　thou　seest。〃

The　stranger　still　kept　his　piercing　gaze　fixed　upon　our　hero's
countenance；　and　Jonathan；　feeling　that　something　further　was
demanded　of　him；　continued：　〃I　am；　indeed；　a　victim　of　a　most
extravagant　and　extraordinary　adventure。　　This　evening；　coming　an
entire　stranger　to　this　country；　I　was　introduced　into　the　house
of　a　beautiful　female；　who　bestowed　upon　me　a　charge　that
appeared　to　me　to　be　at　once　insignificant　and　absurd。　　Behold
this　little　ivory　ball；〃　said　he；　drawing　the　globe　from　his
pocket；　and　displaying　it　between　his　thumb　and　finger。　　〃It　is
this　that　appears　to　have　brought　all　this　disaster　upon　me；　for；
coming　from　the　house　of　the　young　woman；　the　man　whom　thou　now
beholdest　lying　dead　upon　the　floor　induced　me　to　come　to　this
place。　　Having　inveigled　me　hither；　he　demanded　of　me　to　give　him
at　once　this　insignificant　trifle。　　Upon　my　refusing　to　do　so；　he
assaulted　me　with　every　appearance　of　a　mad　and　furious
inclination　to　deprive　me　of　my　life！〃

At　the　sight　of　the　ivory　ball　the　stranger　quickly　arose　from
his　kneeling　posture　and　fixed　upon　our　hero　a　gaze　the　most
extraordinary　that　he　had　ever　encountered。　　His　eyes　dilated　like
those　of　a　cat；　the　breath　expelled　itself　from　his　bosom　in　so
deep　and　profound　an　expiration　that　it　appeared　as　though　it
might　never　return　again。　　Nor　was　it　until　Jonathan　had　replaced
the　ball　in　his　pocket　that　he　appeared　to　awaken　from　the　trance
that　the　sight　of　the　object　had　sent　him　into。　　But　no　sooner　had
the　cause　of　this　strange　demeanor　disappeared　into　our　hero's
breeches…pocket　than　he　arose　as　with　an　electric　shock。　　In　an
instant　he　became　transformed　as　by　the　touch　of　magic。　　A　sudden
and　baleful　light　flamed　into　his　eyes；　his　face　grew　as　red　as
blood；　and　he　clapped　his　hand　to　his　pocket　with　a　sudden　and
violent　motion。　　〃Ze　ball！〃　he　cried；　in　a　hoarse　and　strident
voice。　　〃Ze　ball！　　Give　me　ze　ball！〃　　And　upon　the　next　instant　our
hero　beheld　the　round　and　shining　nozzle　of　a　pistol　pointed
directly　against　his　forehead。

For　a　moment　he　stood　as　though　transfixed；　then　in　the　mortal
peril　that　faced　him；　he　uttered　a　roar　that　sounded　in　his　own
ears　like　the　outcry　of　a　wild　beast；　and　thereupon　flung　himself
bodily　upon　the　other　with　the　violence　and　the　fury　of　a　madman。

The　stranger　drew　the　trigger；　and　the　powder　flashed　in　the　pan。
He　dropped　the　weapon；　clattering；　and　in　an　instant　tried　to
draw　another　from　his　other　pocket。　　Before　he　could　direct　his
aim；　however；　our　hero　had　caught　him　by　both　wrists；　and；
bending　his　hand　backward；　prevented　the　chance　of　any　shot　from
taking　immediate　effect　upon　his　person。　　Then　followed　a　struggle
of　extraordinary　ferocity　and　frenzythe　stranger　endeavoring　to
free　his　hand；　and　Jonathan　striving　with　all　the　energy　of
despair　to　prevent　him　from　effecting　his　murderous　purpose。

In　the　struggle　our　hero　became　thrust　against　the　edge　of　the
table。　　He　felt　as　though　his　back　were　breaking；　and　became
conscious　that　in　such　a　situation　he　could　hope　to　defend
himself　only　a　few　moments　longer。　　The　stranger's　face　was
pressed　close　to　his　own。　　His　hot　breath；　strong　with　the　odor　of
garlic；　fanned　our　hero's　cheek；　while　his　lips；　distended　into　a
ferocious　and　ferine　grin；　displayed　his　sharp　teeth　shining　in
the　candlelight。

〃Give　me　ze　ball！〃　he　said；　in　a　harsh　and　furious　whisper。

At　the　moment　there　rang　in　Jonathan's　ears　the　sudden　and
astounding　detonation　of　a　pistol…shot；　and　for　a　moment　he
wondered　whether　he　had　received　a　mortal　wound　without　being
aware　of　it。　　Then　suddenly　he　beheld　an　extraordinary　and
dreadful　transformation　take　place　in　the　countenance　thrust　so
close　to　his　own；　the　eyes　winked　several　times　with　incredible
rapidity；　and　then　rolled　upward　and　inward；　the　jaws　gaped　into
a　dreadful　and　cavernous　yawn；　the　pistol　fell　with　a　clatter　to
the　floor；　and　the　next　moment　the　muscles；　so　rigid　but　an
instant　before；　relaxed　into　a　limp　and　listless　flaccidity。　　The
joints　collapsed；　and　the　entire　man　fell　into　an
indistinguishable　heap　upon　and　across　the　dead　figure　stretched
out　upon　the　floor；　while　at　the　same　time　a　pungent　and　blinding
cloud　of　gunpowder　smoke　filled　the　apartment。　　For　a　few　moments
the　hands　t