第 19 节
作者:旅游巴士      更新:2021-02-18 23:25      字数:9321
  all those shameless faces that stare at me as if I were in the pillory。 I am pilloried before you all; and I find the experience sufficiently bitter。 And when I think that that man whom I hate; hate; hate; breathes the air that I breathe; it stifles me! If I could fly away like those birds; if I could only be gone from this place for even a day!〃
  〃I would beg leave to take you home; to Weyanoke;〃 I said after a pause; 〃but I cannot go and leave the field to him。〃
  〃And I cannot go;〃 she answered。 〃I must watch for that ship and that King's command that my Lord Carnal thinks potent enough to make me his wife。 King's commands are strong; but a woman's will is stronger。 At the last I shall know what to do。 But now why may I not take Angela and cross that strip of sand and go into the woods on the other side? They are so fair and strange; … all red and yellow; … and they look very still and peaceful。 I could walk in them; or lie down under the trees and forget awhile; and they are not at all far away。〃 She looked at me eagerly。
  〃You could not go alone;〃 I told her。 〃There would be danger in that。 But to…morrow; if you  choose; I and Master Sparrow and Diccon will take you there。 A day in the woods is pleasant enough; and will do none of us harm。 Then you may wander as you please; fill your arms with colored leaves; and forget the world。 We will watch that no harm comes nigh you; but otherwise you shall not be disturbed。〃
  She broke into delighted laughter。 Of all women the most steadfast of soul; her outward moods were as variable as a child's。 〃Agreed!〃 she cried。 〃You and the minister and Diccon Demon shall lay your muskets across your knees; and Angela shall witch you into stone with her old; mad; heathen charms。 And then … and then … I will gather more gold than had King Midas; I will dance with the hamadryads; I will find out Oberon and make Titania jealous!〃
  〃I do not doubt that you could do so;〃 I said; as she sprang to her feet; childishly eager and radiantly beautiful。
  I rose to go in with her; for it was supper time; but in a moment changed my mind; and resumed my seat on the bank of turf。 〃Do you go in;〃 I said。 〃There's a snake near by; in those bushes below the bank。 I'll kill the creature; and then I'll come to supper。〃
  When she was gone; I walked to where; ten feet away; the bank dipped to a clump of reeds and willows planted in the mud on the brink of the river。 Dropping on my knees I leaned over; and; grasping a man by the collar; lifted him from the slime where he belonged to the bank beside me。
  It was my Lord Carnal's Italian doctor that I had so fished up。 I had seen him before; and had found in his very small; mean figure clad all in black; and  his narrow face with malignant eyes; and thin white lips drawn tightly over gleaming teeth; something infinitely repulsive; sickening to the sight as are certain reptiles to the touch。
  〃There are no simples or herbs of grace to be found amongst reeds and half…drowned willows;〃 I said。 〃What did so learned a doctor look for in so unlikely a place?〃
  He shrugged his shoulders and made play with his clawlike hands; as if he understood me not。 It was a lie; for I knew that he and the English tongue were sufficiently acquainted。 I told him as much; and he shot at me a most venomous glance; but continued to shrug; gesticulate; and jabber in Italian。 At last I saw nothing better to do than to take him; still by the collar; to the edge of the garden next the churchyard; and with the toe of my boot to send him tumbling among the graves。 I watched him pick himself up; set his attire to rights; and go away in the gathering dusk; winding in and out among the graves; and then I went in to supper; and told Mistress Percy that the snake was dead。
  CHAPTER X  IN WHICH I RECEIVE A WARNING AND REPOSE A TRUST
  SHORTLY before daybreak I was wakened by a voice beneath my window。 〃Captain Percy;〃 it cried; 〃the Governor wishes you at his house!〃 and was gone。
  I dressed and left the house; disturbing no one。 Hurrying through the chill dawn; I reached the square not much behind the rapid footsteps of the watch who had wakened me。 About the Governor's door were horses; saddled and bridled; with grooms at their heads; men and beasts gray and indistinct; wrapped in the fog。 I went up the steps and into the hall; and knocked at the door of the Governor's great room。 It opened; and I entered to find Sir George; with Master Pory; Rolfe; West; and others of the Council gathered about the great centre table and talking eagerly。 The Governor was but half dressed; West and Rolfe were in jack boots and coats of mail。 A man; breathless with hard riding; spattered with swamp mud and torn by briers; stood; cap in hand; staring from one to the other。
  〃In good time; Captain Percy!〃 cried the Governor。 〃Yesterday you called the profound peace with the Indians; of which some of us boasted; the lull before the storm。 Faith; it looks to…day as though you were in the right; after all!〃
  〃What 's the matter; sir?〃 I asked; advancing to the table。
  〃Matter enough!〃 he answered。 〃This man has come; post haste; from the plantations above Paspahegh。 Three days ago; Morgan; the trader; was decoyed into the woods by that Paspahegh fool and bully; Nemattanow; whom they call Jack of the Feather; and there murdered。 Yesterday; out of sheer bravado; the Indian turned up at Morgan's house; and Morgan's men shot him down。 They buried the dog; and thought no more of it。 Three hours ago; Chanco the Christian went to the commander and warned him that the Paspaheghs were in a ferment; and that the warriors were painting themselves black。 The commander sent off at once to me; and I see naught better to do than to dispatch you with a dozen men to bring them to their senses。 But there 's to be no harrying nor battle。 A show of force is all that 's needed; … I'll stake my head upon it。 Let them see that we are not to be taken unawares; but give them fair words。 That they may be the sooner placated I send with you Master Rolfe; … they'll listen to him。 See that the black paint is covered with red; give them some beads and a knife or two; then come home。 If you like not the look of things; find out where Opechancanough is; and I'll send him an embassy。 He loves us well; and will put down any disaffection。〃
  〃There's no doubt that he loves us;〃 I said dryly。 〃He loves us as a cat loves the mouse that it plays with。 If we are to start at once; sir; I'll go get my horse。〃
  〃Then meet us at the neck of land;〃 said Rolfe。
  I nodded; and left the room。 As I descended the steps into the growing light outside; I found Master Pory at my side。
  〃I kept late hours last night;〃 he remarked; with a  portentous yawn。 〃Now that this business is settled; I'll go back to bed。〃
  I walked on in silence。
  〃I am in your black books;〃 he continued; with his sly; merry; sidelong glance。 〃You think that I was overcareful of the ground; that morning behind the church; and so unfortunately delayed matters until the Governor happened by and brought things to another guess conclusion。〃
  〃I think that you warned the Governor;〃 I said bluntly。
  He shook with laughter。 〃Warned him? Of course I warned him。 Youth would never have seen that molehill and fairy ring and projecting root; but wisdom cometh with gray hairs; my son。 D' ye not think I'll have the King's thanks?〃
  〃Doubtless;〃 I answered。 〃An the price contents you; I do not know why I should quarrel with it。〃
  By this we were halfway down the street; and we now came upon the guest house。 A window above us was unshuttered; and in the room within a light still burned。 Suddenly it was extinguished。 A man's face looked down upon us for a moment; then drew back; a skeleton hand was put out softly and slowly; and the shutter drawn to。 Hand and face belonged to the man I had sent tumbling among the graves the evening before。
  〃The Italian doctor;〃 said Master Pory。
  There was something peculiar in his tone。 I glanced at him; but his broad red face and twinkling eyes told me nothing。 〃The Italian doctor;〃 he repeated。 〃If I had a friend in Captain Percy's predicament; I should bid him beware of the Italian doctor。〃
  〃Your friend would be obliged for the warning;〃 I replied。
  We walked a little further。 〃And I think;〃 he said; 〃that I should inform this purely hypothetical friend of mine that the Italian and his patron had their heads mighty close together; last night。〃
  〃Last night?〃
  〃Ay; last night。 I went to drink with my lord; and so broke up their t?te………t?te。  My lord was boisterous in his cups and not oversecret。 He dropped some hints〃 … He broke off to indulge in one of his endless silent laughs。 〃I don't know why I tell you this; Captain Percy。 I am on the other side; you know; … quite on the other side。 But now I bethink me; I am only telling you what I should tell you were I upon your side。 There's no harm in that; I hope; no disloyalty to my Lord Carnal's interests which happen to be my interests?〃
  I made no answer。 I gave him credit both for his ignorance of the very hornbook of honor and for his large share of the milk of human kindness。
  〃My lord grows restive;〃 he said; when we had gone a little further。 〃The Francis and John; c