the purcell papers-2-第7章

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endeavoured　again；　but　fruitlessly；　to

awaken　my　cousin。　It　was　not　sleep；　it

was　torpor；　lethargy；　death。　I　knelt　down

and　prayed　with　an　agony　of　earnestness；

and　then　seating　myself　upon　the　bed；　I

awaited　my　fate　with　a　kind　of　terrible

tranquillity。



I　heard　a　faint　clanking　sound　from　the

narrow　court　which　I　have　already

mentioned；　as　if　caused　by　the　scraping　of

some　iron　instrument　against　stones　or

rubbish。　I　at　first　determined　not　to

disturb　the　calmness　which　I　now　felt；　by

uselessly　watching　the　proceedings　of　those

who　sought　my　life；　but　as　the　sounds

continued；　the　horrible　curiosity　which　I

felt　overcame　every　other　emotion；　and　I

determined；　at　all　hazards；　to　gratify　it。

I　therefore　crawled　upon　my　knees　to

the　window；　so　as　to　let　the　smallest

portion　of　my　head　appear　above　the

sill。



The　moon　was　shining　with　an　uncertain

radiance　upon　the　antique　grey　buildings；

and　obliquely　upon　the　narrow　court

beneath；　one　side　of　which　was　therefore

clearly　illuminated；　while　the　other　was

lost　in　obscurity；　the　sharp　outlines　of　the

old　gables；　with　their　nodding　clusters　of

ivy；　being　at　first　alone　visible。



Whoever　or　whatever　occasioned　the

noise　which　had　excited　my　curiosity；　was

concealed　under　the　shadow　of　the　dark

side　of　the　quadrangle。　I　placed　my　hand

over　my　eyes　to　shade　them　from　the

moonlight；　which　was　so　bright　as　to　be

almost　dazzling；　and；　peering　into　the

darkness；　I　first　dimly；　but　afterwards　gradually；

almost　with　full　distinctness；　beheld　the

form　of　a　man　engaged　in　digging　what

appeared　to　be　a　rude　hole　close　under　the

wall。　Some　implements；　probably　a　shovel

and　pickaxe；　lay　beside　him；　and　to　these

he　every　now　and　then　applied　himself　as

the　nature　of　the　ground　required。　He

pursued　his　task　rapidly；　and　with　as　little

noise　as　possible。



'So；'　thought　I；　as；　shovelful　after　shovel…

ful；　the　dislodged　rubbish　mounted　into　a

heap；　'they　are　digging　the　grave　in　which；

before　two　hours　pass；　I　must　lie；　a　cold；

mangled　corpse。　I　am　THEIRSI　cannot

escape。'



I　felt　as　if　my　reason　was　leaving　me。

I　started　to　my　feet；　and　in　mere　despair　I

applied　myself　again　to　each　of　the　two

doors　alternately。　I　strained　every　nerve

and　sinew；　but　I　might　as　well　have

attempted；　with　my　single　strength；　to　force

the　building　itself　from　its　foundation。　I

threw　myself　madly　upon　the　ground；　and

clasped　my　hands　over　my　eyes　as　if　to

shut　out　the　horrible　images　which　crowded

upon　me。



The　paroxysm　passed　away。　I　prayed

once　more；　with　the　bitter；　agonised　fervour

of　one　who　feels　that　the　hour　of　death　is

present　and　inevitable。　When　I　arose；　I

went　once　more　to　the　window　and　looked

out；　just　in　time　to　see　a　shadowy　figure

glide　stealthily　along　the　wall。　The　task

was　finished。　The　catastrophe　of　the

tragedy　must　soon　be　accomplished。



I　determined　now　to　defend　my　life　to

the　last；　and　that　I　might　be　able　to　do

so　with　some　effect；　I　searched　the　room

for　something　which　might　serve　as　a

weapon；　but　either　through　accident；　or

from　an　anticipation　of　such　a　possibility；

everything　which　might　have　been　made

available　for　such　a　purpose　had　been　carefully

removed。　I　must　then　die　tamely

and　without　an　effort　to　defend　myself。



A　thought　suddenly　struck　memight

it　not　be　possible　to　escape　through　the

door；　which　the　assassin　must　open　in

order　to　enter　the　room？　I　resolved　to

make　the　attempt。　I　felt　assured　that　the

door　through　which　ingress　to　the　room

would　be　effected；　was　that　which　opened

upon　the　lobby。　It　was　the　more　direct

way；　besides　being；　for　obvious　reasons；

less　liable　to　interruption　than　the　other。

I　resolved；　then；　to　place　myself　behind　a

projection　of　the　wall；　whose　shadow　would

serve　fully　to　conceal　me；　and　when　the

door　should　be　opened；　and　before　they

should　have　discovered　the　identity　of　the

occupant　of　the　bed；　to　creep　noiselessly

from　the　room；　and　then　to　trust　to

Providence　for　escape。



In　order　to　facilitate　this　scheme；　I

removed　all　the　lumber　which　I　had　heaped

against　the　door；　and　I　had　nearly　completed

my　arrangements；　when　I　perceived

the　room　suddenly　darkened　by　the　close

approach　of　some　shadowy　object　to　the

window。　On　turning　my　eyes　in　that

direction；　I　observed　at　the　top　of　the

casement；　as　if　suspended　from　above；　first

the　feet；　then　the　legs；　then　the　body；　and

at　length　the　whole　figure　of　a　man　present

himself。　It　was　Edward　Tn。



He　appeared　to　be　guiding　his　descent

so　as　to　bring　his　feet　upon　the　centre　of

the　stone　block　which　occupied　the　lower

part　of　the　window；　and；　having　secured

his　footing　upon　this；　he　kneeled　down　and

began　to　gaze　into　the　room。　As　the

moon　was　gleaming　into　the　chamber；　and

the　bed…curtains　were　drawn；　he　was　able

to　distinguish　the　bed　itself　and　its

contents。　He　appeared　satisfied　with　his

scrutiny；　for　he　looked　up　and　made　a　sign

with　his　hand；　upon　which　the　rope　by

which　his　descent　had　been　effected　was

slackened　from　above；　and　he　proceeded　to

disengage　it　from　his　waist；　this　accom…

plished；　he　applied　his　hands　to　the

window…frame；　which　must　have　been

ingeniously　contrived　for　the　purpose；　for；

with　apparently　no　resistance；　the　whole

frame；　containing　casement　and　all；　slipped

from　its　position　in　the　wall；　and　was　by

him　lowered　into　the　room。



The　cold　night　wind　waved　the　bed…

curtains；　and　he　paused　for　a　momentall

was　still　againand　he　stepped　in　upon

the　floor　of　the　room。　He　held　in　his

hand　what　appeared　to　be　a　steel　instrument；

shaped　something　like　a　hammer；

but　larger　and　sharper　at　the　extremities。

This　he　held　rather　behind　him；　while；　with

three　long；　tip…toe　strides；　he　brought

himself　to　the　bedside。



I　felt　that　the　discovery　must　now　be

made；　and　held　my　breath　in　momentary

expectation　of　the　execration　in　which　he

would　vent　his　surprise　and　disappointment。

I　closed　my　eyesthere　was　a

pause；　but　it　was　a　short　one。　I　heard

two　dull　blows；　given　in　rapid　succession：

a　quivering　sigh；　and　the　long…drawn；

heavy　breathing　of　the　sleeper　was　for

ever　suspended。　I　unclosed　my　eyes；　and

saw　the　murderer　fling　the　quilt　across　the

head　of　his　victim：　he　then；　with　the

instrument　of　death　still　in　his　hand；

proceeded　to　the　lobby…door；　upon　which　he

tapped　sharply　twice　or　thrice。　A　quick

step　was　then　heard　approaching；　and　a

voice　whispered　something　from　without。

Edward　answered；　with　a　kind　of　chuckle；

'Her　ladyship　is　past　complaining；　unlock

the　door；　in　the　devil's　name；　unless　you're

afraid　to　come　in；　and　help　me　to　lift　the

body　out　of　the　window。'



The　key　was　turned　in　the　lockthe

door　openedand　my　uncle　entered　the

room。



I　have　told　you　already　that　I　had

placed　myself　under　the　shade　of　a

projection　of　the　wall；　close　to　the　door。　I　had

instinctively　shrunk　down；　cowering

towards　the　ground　on　the　entrance　of

Edward　through　the　window。　When　my

uncle　entered　the　room　he　and　his　son

both　stood　so　very　close　to　me　that　his

hand　was　every　moment　upon　the　point　of

touching　my　face。　I　held　my　breath；　and

remained　motionless　as　death。



'You　had　no　interruption　from　the　next

room？'　said　my　uncle。



'No；'　was　the　brief　reply。



'Secure　the　jewels；　Ned；　the　French

harpy　must　not　lay　her　claws　upon　them。

You're　a　steady　hand；　by　G！　not

much　bloodeh？'



'Not　twenty　drops；'　replied　his　son；

'and　those　on　the　quilt。'



'I'm　glad　it's　over；'　whispered　my　uncle

again。　'We　must　lift　thethe　THING

through　the　window；　and　lay　the　rubbish

over　it。'



They　then　turned　to　the　bedside；　and；

winding　the　bed…clothes　round　the　body；

carried　it　between　them　slowly　to　the

window；　and；　exchanging　a　few　brief　words

with　some　one　below；　they　shoved　it　over

the　window…sill；　and　I　heard　it　fall　heavily

on　the　ground　underneath。



'I'll　take　the　jewels；'　said　my　uncle；

'there　are　two　caskets　in　the　lower

drawer。'



He　proceeded；　with　an　accuracy　which；

had　I　been　more　at　ease；　would　have

furnished　me　with　matter　of　astonishment；　to

lay　his　hand　upon　the　very　spot　where　my

jewels　lay；　and　having　possessed　himself

of　them；　he　called　to　his　son：



'Is　the　rope　made　fast　above？'



'I'm　not　a　foolto　be　sure　it　is；'

replied　he。



They　then　lowered　themselves　from　the

window。　I　now　rose　lightly　and　cautiously；

scarcely　daring　to　breathe；　from　my　place

of　concealment；　and　was　creeping　towards

the　door；　when　I　heard　my　cousin's　voice；

in　a　sharp　whisper；　exclaim：　'Scramble　up

again！　Gd　dn　you；　you've　forgot　to

lock　the　room…door！'　and　I　perceived；　by

the　straining　of　the　rope　which　hung　from

above；　that　the　mandate　was　instantly

obeyed。



Not　a　second　was　to　be　lost。　I　passed

through　the　door；　which　was　only　closed；

and　moved　as　rapidly　as　I　could；　consistently

with　stillness；　along　the　lobby。

Before　I　had　gone　many　yards；　I　heard

the　door　through　which　I　had　just　passed

double…locked　on　the　inside。　I　glided

down　the　stairs　in　terror；　lest；　at　every

corner；　I　should　meet　the　murderer　or　one

of　his　accomplices。



I　reached　the　hall；　and　listened　for　a

moment　to　ascertain　whether　all　was　silent

around；　no　sound　was　audible。　The　parlour

windows　opened　on　the　park；　and　through

one　of　them　I　might；　I　thought；　easily

effect　my　escape。　Accordingly；　I　hastily

entered；　but；　to　my　consternation；　a

candle　was　burning　in　the　room；　and　by

its　light　I　saw　a　figure　seated　at　the

dinner…table；　upon　which　lay　glasses；

bottles；　and　the　other　accompaniments　of

a　drinking…party。　Two　or　three　chairs

were　placed　about　the　table　irregularly；　as

if　hastily　abandoned　by　their　occupants。



A　single　glance　satisfied　me　that　the

figure　was　that　of　my　French　attendant。

She　was　fast　asleep；　having　probably

drank　deeply。　There　was　something

malignant　and　ghastly　in　the　calmness　of

this　bad　woman's　features；　dimly　illuminated

as　they　were　by　the　flickering　blaze

of　the　candle。　A　knife　lay　upon　the　table；

and　the　terrible　thought　struck　me

'Should　I　kill　this　sleeping　accomplice　in

the　guilt　of　the　murderer；　and　thus　secure

my　retreat？'



Nothing　could　be　easierit　was　but　to

draw　the　blade　across　her　throatthe

work　of　a　second。　An　instant's　pause；

however；　corrected　me。　'No；'　thought　I；

'the　God　who　has　conducted　me　thus　far

through　the　valley　of　the　shadow　of　death；

will　not　abandon　me　now。　I　will　fall　into

their　hands；　or　I　will　escape　hence；　but　it

shall　be　free　from　the　stain　of　blood。　His

will　be　done。'



I　felt　a　confidence　arising　from　this

reflection；　an　assurance　of　protection　which

I　cannot　describe。　There　was　no　other

means　of　escape；　so　I　advanced；　with　a

firm　step　and　collec