the queen of hearts-第30章

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The　sight　of　horror　that　met　my　eyes　the　instant　I　looked　through
the　hole　is　as　present　to　my　memory　now　as　if　I　had　beheld　it
yesterday。　I　can　hardly　write　of　it　at　this　distance　of　time
without　a　thrill　of　the　old　terror　running　through　me　again　to
the　heart。

The　first　impression　conveyed　to　me；　as　I　looked　in；　was　of　a
long；　recumbent　object；　tinged　with　a　lightish　blue　color　all
over；　extended　on　trestles；　and　bearing　a　certain　hideous；
half…formed　resemblance　to　the　human　face　and　figure。　I　looked
again；　and　felt　certain　of　it。　There　were　the　prominences　of　the
forehead；　nose；　and　chin；　dimly　shown　as　under　a　veilthere；　the
round　outline　of　the　chest　and　the　hollow　below　itthere；　the
points　of　the　knees；　and　the　stiff；　ghastly；　upturned　feet。　I
looked　again；　yet　more　attentively。　My　eyes　got　accustomed　to　the
dim　light　streaming　in　through　the　broken　roof；　and　I　satisfied
myself；　judging　by　the　great　length　of　the　body　from　head　to
foot；　that　I　was　looking　at　the　corpse　of　a　mana　corpse　that
had　apparently　once　had　a　sheet　spread　over　it；　and　that　had　lain
rotting　on　the　trestles　under　the　open　sky　long　enough　for　the
linen　to　take　the　livid；　light…blue　tinge　of　mildew　and　decay
which　now　covered　it。

How　long　I　remained　with　my　eyes　fixed　on　that　dread　sight　of
death；　on　that　tombless；　terrible　wreck　of　humanity；　poisoning
the　still　air；　and　seeming　even　to　stain　the　faint　descending
light　that　disclosed　it；　I　know　not。　I　remember　a　dull；　distant
sound　among　the　trees；　as　if　the　breeze　were　risingthe　slow
creeping　on　of　the　sound　to　near　the　place　where　I　stoodthe
noiseless　whirling　fall　of　a　dead　leaf　on　the　corpse　below　me；
through　the　gap　in　the　outhouse　roofand　the　effect　of　awakening
my　energies；　of　relaxing　the　heavy　strain　on　my　mind；　which　even
the　slight　change　wrought　in　the　scene　I　beheld　by　the　falling
leaf　produced　in　me　immediately。　I　descended　to　the　ground；　and；
sitting　down　on　the　heap　of　stones；　wiped　away　the　thick
perspiration　which　covered　my　face；　and　which　I　now　became　aware
of　for　the　first　time。　It　was　something　more　than　the　hideous
spectacle　unexpectedly　offered　to　my　eyes　which　had　shaken　my
nerves　as　I　felt　that　they　were　shaken　now。　Monkton's　prediction
that；　if　we　succeeded　in　discovering　his　uncle's　body；　we　should
find　it　unburied；　recurred　to　me　the　instant　I　saw　the　trestles
and　their　ghastly　burden。　I　felt　assured　on　the　instant　that　I
had　found　the　dead　manthe　old　prophecy　recurred　to　my　memorya
strange　yearning　sorrow；　a　vague　foreboding　of　ill；　an
inexplicable　terror；　as　I　thought　of　the　poor　lad　who　was
awaiting　my　return　in　the　distant　town；　struck　through　me　with　a
chill　of　superstitious　dread；　robbed　me　of　my　judgment　and
resolution；　and　left　me　when　I　had　at　last　recovered　myself；　weak
and　dizzy；　as　if　I　had　just　suffered　under　some　pang　of
overpowering　physical　pain。

I　hastened　round　to　the　convent　gate　and　rang　impatiently　at　the
bellwaited　a　little　while　and　rang　againthen　heard　footsteps。

In　the　middle　of　the　gate；　just　opposite　my　face；　there　was　a
small　sliding　panel；　not　more　than　a　few　inches　long；　this　was
presently　pushed　aside　from　within。　I　saw；　through　a　bit　of　iron
grating；　two　dull；　light　gray　eyes　staring　vacantly　at　me；　and
heard　a　feeble　husky　voice　saying：

〃What　may　you　please　to　want？'

〃I　am　a　traveler〃　I　began。

〃We　live　in　a　miserable　place。　We　have　nothing　to　show　travelers
here。〃

〃I　don't　come　to　see　anything。　I　have　an　important　question　to
ask；　which　I　believe　some　one　in　this　convent　will　be　able　to
answer。　If　you　are　not　willing　to　let　me　in；　at　least　come　out
and　speak　to　me　here。〃

〃Are　you　alone？〃

〃Quite　alone。〃

〃Are　there　no　women　with　you？〃

〃None。〃

The　gate　was　slowly　unbarred；　and　an　old　Capuchin；　very　infirm；
very　suspicious；　and　very　dirty；　stood　before　me。　I　was　far　too
excited　and　impatient　to　waste　any　time　in　prefatory　phrases；　so；
telling　the　monk　at　once　how　I　had　looked　through　the　hole　in　the
outhouse；　and　what　I　had　seen　inside；　I　asked　him；　in　plain
terms；　who　the　man　had　been　whose　corpse　I　had　beheld；　and　why
the　body　was　left　unburied？

The　old　Capuchin　listened　to　me　with　watery　eyes　that　twinkled
suspiciously。　He　had　a　battered　tin　snuff…box　in　his　hand；　and
his　finger　and　thumb　slowly　chased　a　few　scattered　grains　of
snuff　round　and　round　the　inside　of　the　box　all　the　time　I　was
speaking。　When　I　had　done；　he　shook　his　head　and　said：　〃That　was
certainly　an　ugly　sight　in　their　outhouse；　one　of　the　ugliest
sights；　he　felt　sure；　that　ever　I　had　seen　in　all　my　life！〃

〃I　don't　want　to　talk　of　the　sight；〃　I　rejoined；　impatiently；　〃I
want　to　know　who　the　man　was；　how　he　died；　and　why　he　is　not
decently　buried。　Can　you　tell　me？〃

The　monk's　finger　and　thumb　having　captured　three　or　four　grains
of　snuff　at　last；　he　slowly　drew　them　into　his　nostrils；　holding
the　box　open　under　his　nose　the　while；　to　prevent　the　possibility
of　wasting　even　one　grain；　sniffed　once　or　twice
luxuriouslyclosed　the　boxthen　looked　at　me　again　with　his
eyes　watering　and　twinkling　more　suspiciously　than　before。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　monk；　〃that's　an　ugly　sight　in　our　outhousea
very　ugly　sight；　certainly！〃

I　never　had　more　difficulty　in　keeping　my　temper　in　my　life　than
at　that　moment。　I　succeeded；　however；　in　repressing　a　very
disrespectful　expression　on　the　subject　of　monks　in　general；
which　was　on　the　tip　of　my　tongue；　and　made　another　attempt　to
conquer　the　old　man's　exasperating　reserve。　Fortunately　for　my
chances　of　succeeding　with　him；　I　was　a　snuff…taker　myself；　and　I
had　a　box　full　of　excellent　English　snuff　in　my　pocket；　which　I
now　produced　as　a　bribe。　It　was　my　last　resource。

〃I　thought　your　box　seemed　empty　just　now；〃　said　I；　〃will　you　try
a　pinch　out　of　mine？〃

The　offer　was　accepted　with　an　almost　youthful　alacrity　of
gesture。　The　Capuchin　took　the　largest　pinch　I　ever　saw　held
between　any　man's　finger　and　thumbinhaled　it　slowly　without
spilling　a　single　grainhalf　closed　his　eyesand；　wagging　his
head　gently；　patted　me　paternally　on　the　back。

〃Oh；　my　son；〃　said　the　monk；　〃what　delectable　snuff！　Oh；　my　son
and　amiable　traveler；　give　the　spiritual　father　who　loves　you　yet
another　tiny；　tiny　pinch！〃

〃Let　me　fill　your　box　for　you。　I　shall　have　plenty　left　for
myself。〃

The　battered　tin　snuff…box　was　given　to　me　before　I　had　done
speaking；　the　paternal　hand　patted　my　back　more　approvingly　than
ever；　the　feeble；　husky　voice　grew　glib　and　eloquent　in　my
praise。　I　had　evidently　found　out　the　weak　side　of　the　old
Capuchin；　and；　on　returning　him　his　box；　I　took　instan　t
advantage　of　the　discovery。

〃Excuse　my　troubling　you　on　the　subject　again；〃　I　said；　〃but　I
have　particular　reasons　for　wanting　to　hear　all　that　you　can　tell
me　in　explanation　of　that　horrible　sight　in　the　outhouse。〃

〃Come　in；〃　answered　the　monk。

He　drew　me　inside　the　gate；　closed　it；　and　then　leading　the　way
across　a　grass…grown　courtyard；　looking　out　on　a　weedy
kitchen…garden；　showed　me　into　a　long　room　with　a　low　ceiling；　a
dirty　dresser；　a　few　rudely…carved　stall　seats；　and　one　or　two
grim；　mildewed　pictures　for　ornaments。　This　was　the　sacristy。

〃There's　nobody　here；　and　it's　nice　and　cool；〃　said　the　old
Capuchin。　It　was　so　damp　that　I　actually　shivered。　〃Would　you
like　to　see　the　church？〃　said　the　monk；　〃a　jewel　of　a　church；　if
we　could　keep　it　in　repair；　but　we　can't。　Ah！　malediction　and
misery；　we　are　too　poor　to　keep　our　church　in　repair！〃

Here　he　shook　his　head　and　began　fumbling　with　a　large　bunch　of
keys。

〃Never　mind　the　church　now；〃　said　I。　〃Can　you；　or　can　you　not；
tell　me　what　I　want　to　know？〃

〃Everything；　from　beginning　to　endabsolutely　everything。　Why；　I
answered　the　gate…bellI　always　answer　the　gate…bell　here；〃　said
the　Capuchin。

〃What；　in　Heaven's　name；　has　the　gate…bell　to　do　with　the
unburied　corpse　in　your　house？〃

〃Listen；　son　of　mine；　and　you　shall　know。　Some　time　agosome
monthsah！　me；　I'm　old；　I've　lost　my　memory；　I　don't　know　how
many　monthsah！　miserable　me；　what　a　very　old；　old　monk　I　am！〃
Here　he　comforted　himself　with　another　pinch　of　snuff。

〃Never　mind　the　exact　time；〃　said　I。　〃I　don't　care　about　that。〃

〃Good；〃　said　the　Capuchin。　〃Now　I　can　go　on。　Well；　let　us　say　it
is　some　months　agowe　in　this　convent　are　all　at
breakfastwretched；　wretched　breakfasts；　son　of　mine；　in　this
convent！we　are　at　breakfast；　and　we　hear　_bang！　bang！_　twice
over。　'Guns；'　says　I。　'What　are　they　shooting　for？'　says　Brother
Jeremy。　'Game；'　says　Brother　Vincent。　'Aha！　game；'　says　Brother
Jeremy。　'If　I　hear　more；　I　shall　send　out　and　discover　what　it
means；'　says　the　father　superior。　We　hear　no　more；　and　we　go　on
with　our　wretched　breakfasts。〃

〃Where　did　the　report　of　firearms　come　from？〃　I　inquired。

〃From　down　belowbeyond　the　big　trees　at　the　back　of　the
convent；　where　there's　some　clear　groundnice　ground；　if　it
wasn't　for　the　pools　and　puddles。　But；　ah！　misery；　how　damp　we
are　in　these　parts！　how　very；　very　damp！〃

〃Well；　what　happened　after　the　report　of　firearms？〃

〃You　shall　hear。　We　are　still　at　breakfast；　all　silentfor　what
have　we　to　talk　about　here？　What　have　we　but　our　devotions；　our
kitchen…garden；　and　our　wretched；　wretched　bits　of　breakfasts　and
dinners？　I　say　we　are　all　silent；　when　there　comes　suddenly　such
a　ring　at　the　bell　as　never　was　heard　beforea　very　devil　of　a
ringa　ring　that　caught　us　all　with　our　bitsour　wretched；
wretched　bits！in　our　mouths；　and　stopped　us　before　we　could
swallow　them。　'Go；　brother　of　mine；'　says　the　father　superior　to
me；　'go；　it　is　your　dutygo　to　the　gate。'　I　am　bravea　very
lion　of　a　Capuchin。　I　slip　out　on　tiptoeI　waitI　listenI
pull　back　our　little　shutter　in　the　gateI　wait；　I　listen
againI　peep　through　the　holenothing；　absolutely　nothing　that
I　can　see。　I　am　braveI　am　not　to　be　daunted。　What　do　I　do　next？
I　open　the　gate。　Ah！　sacred　Mother　of　Heaven；　what　do　I　behold
lying　all　along　our　threshold？　A　mandead！a　big　man；　bigger
than　you；　bigger　than　me；　bigger　than　anybody　in　this
conventbuttoned　up　tight　in　a　fine　coat；　with　black　eyes；
staring；　staring　up　at　the　sky；　and　blood　soaking　through　and
through　the　front　of　his　shirt。　What　do　I　do？　I　scream　onceI
scream　twiceand　run　back　to　the　father　superior！〃

All　the　particulars　of　the　fatal　duel　which　I　had　gleaned　from
the　French　newspaper　in　Monkton's　room　at　Naples　recurred　vividly
to　my　memory。　The　suspicion　that　I　had　felt　when

I　looked　into　the　outhouse　became　a　certainty　as　I　listened　to
the　old　monk's　last　words。

〃So　far　I　understand；〃　said　I。　〃The　corpse　I　have　just　seen　in
the　outhouse　is　the　corpse　of　the　man　whom　you　found　dead　outside
your　gate。　Now　tell　me　why　you　have　not　given　the　remains　decent
burial。〃

〃Waitwaitwait；〃　answered　the　Capuchin。　〃The　father　superior
hears　me　scream　and　comes　out；　we　all　run　together　to　the　gate；
we　lift　up　the　big　man　and　look　at　him　close。　Dead！　dead　as　this
（smacking　the　dresser　with　his　hand）。　We　look　again；　and　see　a
bit　of　paper　pinned　to　the　collar　of　his　coat。　Aha！　son　of　mine；
you　start　at　that。　I　thought　I　should　make　you　start　at　last。〃

I　had　started；　indeed。　That　paper　was　doubtless　the　leaf
mentione