the ruby of kishmoor-第2章

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incredible　degree；　so　that　what　with　this　deformity；　emphasized
by　the　pouting　of　her　prodigious　and　shapeless　lips；　and　the
rolling　of　a　pair　of　eyes　as　yellow　as　saffron；　Jonathan　Rugg
thought　that　he　had　never　beheld　a　figure　at　once　so
extraordinary　and　so　repulsive。

It　occurred　to　our　hero　that　here；　maybe；　was　to　overtake　him
such　an　adventure　as　that　which　he　had　just　a　moment　before　been
desiring　so　ardently。　　Nor　was　he　mistaken；　for　the　negress；　first
looking　this　way　and　then　that；　with　an　extremely　wary　and
cunning　expression；　and　apparently　having　satisfied　herself　that
the　street；　for　the　moment；　was　pretty　empty　of　passers；　beckoned
to　him　to　draw　nearer。　　When　he　had　approached　close　enough　to　her
she　caught　him　by　the　sleeve；　and；　instantly　drawing　him　into　the
garden　beyond；　shut　and　bolted　the　gate　with　a　quickness　and　a
silence　suggestive　of　the　most　extravagant　secrecy。

At　the　same　moment　a　huge　negro　suddenly　appeared　from　the　shadow
of　the　gatepost；　and　so　placed　himself　between　Jonathan　and　the
gate　that　any　attempt　to　escape　would　inevitably　have　entailed　a
conflict；　upon　our　hero's　part；　with　the　sable　and　giant
guardian。

Says　the　negress；　looking　very　intently　at　our　hero：　〃Be　you
afeard；　Buckra？〃

〃Why；　no；〃　quothed　Jonathan；　〃for　to　tell　thee　the　truth；　friend；
though　I　am　a　man　of　peace；　being　of　that　religious　order　known
as　the　Society　of　Friends；　I　am　not　so　weak　in　person　nor　so
timid　in　disposition　as　to　warrant　me　in　being　afraid　of　any　one。
Indeed；　were　I　of　a　mind　to　escape；　I　might；　without　boasting；
declare　my　belief　that　I　should　be　able　to　push　my　way　past　even
a　better　man　than　thy　large　friend　who　stands　so　threateningly　in
front　of　yonder　gate。〃

At　these　words　the　negress　broke　into　so　prodigious　a　grin　that；
in　the　moonlight；　it　appeared　as　though　the　whole　lower　part　of
her　face　had　been　transformed　into　shining　teeth。　　〃You　be　a　brave
Buckra；〃　says　she；　in　her　gibbering　English。　　〃You　come　wid
Melina；　and　Melina　take　you　to　pretty　lady；　who　want　you　to　eat
supper　wid　her。〃

Thereupon；　and　allowing　our　hero　no　opportunity　to　decline　this
extraordinary　invitation；　even　had　he　been　of　a　mind　to　do　so；
she　took　him　by　the　hand；　and　led　him　toward　the　large　and
imposing　house　which　commanded　the　garden。　　〃Indeed；〃　says
Jonathan　to　himself；　as　he　followed　his　sable　guidehimself
followed　in　turn　by　the　gigantic　negro〃indeed；　I　am　like　to
have　my　fill　of　adventure；　if　anything　is　to　be　judged　from　such
a　beginning　as　this。〃

Nor　did　the　interior　sumptuousness　of　the　mansion　at　all　belie
the　imposing　character　of　its　exterior；　for；　entering　by　way　of
an　illuminated　veranda；　and　so　coming　into　a　brilliantly　lighted
hallway　beyond；　Jonathan　beheld　himself　to　be　surrounded　by　such
a　wealth　of　exquisite　and　well…appointed　tastefulness　as　it　had
never　before　been　his　good…fortune　to　behold。

Candles　of　clarified　wax　sparkled　like　stars　in　chandeliers　of
crystal。　　These　in　turn；　catching　the　illumination；　glittered　in
prismatic　fragments　with　all　the　varied　colors　of　the　rainbow；　so
that　a　mellow　yet　brilliant　radiance　filled　the　entire　apartment。
Polished　mirrors　of　a　spotless　clearness；　framed　in　golden　frames
and　built　into　the　walls；　reflected　the　waxed　floors；　the　rich
Oriental　carpets；　and　the　sumptuous　paintings　that　hung　against
the　ivory…tinted　paneling；　so　that　in　appearance　the　beauties　of
the　apartment　were　continued　in　bewildering　vistas　upon　every
side　toward　which　the　beholder　directed　his　gaze。

Bidding　our　hero　to　be　seated；　which　he　did　with　no　small　degree
of　embarrassment　and　constraint；　and　upon　the　extreme　edge　of　the
gilt　and　satin…covered　chair；　the　negress　who　had　been　his
conductor　left　him　for　the　time　being　to　his　own　contemplation。

Almost　before　he　had　an　opportunity　to　compose　himself　into
anything　more　than　a　part　of　his　ordinary　sedateness　of　demeanor；
the　silken　curtains　at　the　doorway　at　the　other　end　of　the
apartment　were　suddenly　divided；　and　Jonathan　beheld　before　him　a
female　figure　displaying　the　most　exquisite　contour　of　mould　and
of　proportion。　　She　was　clad　entirely　in　white；　and　was　enveloped
from　head　to　foot　in　the　folds　of　a　veil　of　delicate　silver
gauze；　which；　though　hiding　her　countenance　from　recognition；
nevertheless　permitted　sufficient　of　her　beauties　to　be　discerned
to　suggest　the　extreme　elegance　and　loveliness　of　her　lineaments。
Advancing　toward　our　hero；　and　extending　to　him　a　tapering　hand
as　white　as　alabaster；　the　fingers　encircled　with　a　multitude　of
jewelled　rings；　she　addressed　him　thus：

〃Sir；〃　she　said；　speaking　in　accents　of　the　most　silvery　and
musical　cadence；　〃you　are　no　doubt　vastly　surprised　to　find
yourself　thus　unexpectedly；　and　almost　as　by　violence；　introduced
into　the　house　of　one　who　is　such　an　entire　stranger　to　you　as
myself。　　But　though　I　am　unknown　to　you；　I　must　inform　you　that　I
am　better　acquainted　with　my　visitor；　for　my　agents　have　been
observing　you　ever　since　you　landed　this　afternoon　at　the　dock；
and　they　have　followed　you　ever　since；　until　a　little　while　ago；
when　you　stopped　immediately　opposite　my　garden　gate。　　These
agents　have　observed　you　with　a　closeness　of　scrutiny　of　which
you　are　doubtless　entirely　unaware。　　They　have　even　informed　me
that；　owing　doubtless　to　your　extreme　interest　in　your　new
surroundings；　you　have　not　as　yet　supped。　　Knowing　this；　and　that
you　must　now　be　enjoying　a　very　hearty　appetite；　I　have　to　ask
you　if　you　will　do　me　the　extreme　favor　of　sitting　at　table　with
me　at　a　repast　which　you　will　doubtless　be　surprised　to　learn　has
been　hastily　prepared　entirely　in　your　honor。〃

So　saying；　and　giving　Jonathan　no　time　for　reply；　she　offered　him
her　hand；　and　with　the　most　polite　insistence　conducted　him　into
an　exquisitely　appointed　dining　room　adjoining。

Here　stood　a　table　covered　with　a　snow…white　cloth；　and
embellished　with　silver　and　crystal　ornaments　of　every
description。　　Having　seated　herself　and　having　indicated　to
Jonathan　to　take　the　chair　opposite　to　her；　the　two　were
presently　served　with　a　repast　such　as　our　hero　had　not　thought
could　have　existed　out　of　the　pages　of　certain　extraordinary
Oriental　tales　which　one　time　had　fallen　to　his　lot　to　read。

This　supper　（which　in　itself　might　successfully　have　tempted　the
taste　of　a　Sybarite）　was　further　enhanced　by　several　wines　and
cordials　which；　filling　the　room　with　the　aroma　of　the　sunlit
grapes　from　which　they　had　been　expressed；　stimulated　the
appetite；　which　without　them　needed　no　such　spur。　　The　lady；　who
ate　but　sparingly　herself；　possessed　herself　with　patience　until
Jonathan's　hunger　had　been　appeased。　　When；　however；　she　beheld
that　he　weakened　in　his　attacks　upon　the　dessert　of　sweets　with
which　the　banquet　was　concluded；　she　addressed　him　upon　the
business　which　was　evidently　entirely　occupying　her　mind。

〃Sir；〃　said　she；　〃you　are　doubtless　aware　that　every　one；　whether
man　or　woman；　is　possessed　of　an　enemy。　　In　my　own　case　I　must
inform　you　that　I　have　no　less　than　three　who；　to　compass　their
ends；　would　gladly　sacrifice　my　life　itself　to　their　purposes。　　At
no　time　am　I　safe　from　their　machinations；　nor　have　I　any　one；〃
cried　she；　exhibiting　a　great　emotion；　〃to　whom　I　may　turn　in　my
need。　　It　was　this　that　led　me　to　hope　to　find　in　you　a　friend　in
my　perils；　for；　having　observed　through　my　agents　that　you　are
not　only　honest　in　disposition　and　strong　in　person；　but　that　you
are　possessed　of　a　considerable　degree　of　energy　and
determination；　I　am　most　desirous　of　imposing　upon　your
good…nature　a　trust　of　which　you　cannot　for　a　moment　suspect　the
magnitude。　　Tell　me；　are　you　willing　to　assist　a　poor；　defenceless
female　in　her　hour　of　trial？〃

〃Indeed；　friend；〃　quoth　Jonathan；　with　more　vivacity　than　he
usually　exhibited；　with　a　lenity　to　which　he　had　heretofore　in
his　lifetime　been　a　strangerbeing　warmed　into　such　a　spirit；
doubtless；　by　the　generous　wines　of　which　he　had
partaken〃indeed；　friend；　if　I　could　but　see　thy　face　it　would
doubtless　make　my　decision　in　such　a　matter　the　more　favorable；
since　I　am　inclined　to　think　from　the　little　I　can　behold　of　it；
that　thy　appearance　must　be　extremely　comely　to　the　eye。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　the　lady；　exhibiting　some　amusement　at　this
unexpected　sally；　〃I　am；　you　must　know；　as　God　made　me。　　Sometime；
perhaps；　I　may　be　very　glad　to　satisfy　your　curiosity；　and
exhibit　to　you　my　poor　countenance　such　as　it　is。　　But　now〃and
here　she　reverted　to　her　more　serious　mood〃I　must　again　put　it
to　you：　are　you　willing　to　help　an　unprotected　woman　in　a　period
of　very　great　danger　to　herself？　　Should　you　decline　the
assistance　which　I　solicit；　my　slaves　shall　conduct　you　to　the
gate　through　which　you　entered；　and　suffer　you　to　depart　in
peace。　　Should　you；　upon　the　other　hand；　accept　the　trust；　you　are
to　receive　no　reward　therefor；　except　the　gratitude　of　one　who
thus　appeals　to　you　in　her　helplessness。〃

For　a　few　moments　Jonathan　fell　silent；　for　here；　indeed；　was　he
entering　into　an　adventure　which　infinitely　surpassed　any
anticipation　that　he　could　have　formed。　　He　was；　besides；　of　a
cautious　nature；　and　was　entirely　disinclined　to　embark　into　any
affair　so　obscure　and　tangled　as　that　in　which　he　now　found
himself　becoming　involved。

〃Friend；〃　said　he；　at　last；　〃I　may　tell　thee　that　thy　story　has
so　far　moved　me　as　to　give　me　every　inclination　to　help　thee　in
thy　difficulties；　but　I　must　also　inform　thee　that　I　am　a　man　of
caution；　having　never　before　entered　into　any　business　of　this
sort。　　Therefore；　before　giving　any　promise　that　may　bind　my
future　actions；　I　must；　in　common　wisdom；　demand　to　know　what　are
the　conditions　that　thou　hast　in　mind　to　impose　upon　me。〃

〃Indeed；　sir；〃　cried　the　lady；　with　great　vivacity　and　with　more
cheerful　accentsas　though　her　mind　had　been　relieved　of　a
burden　of　fear　that　her　companion　might　at　once　have　declined
even　a　consideration　of　her　request〃indeed；　sir；　you　will　find
that　the　trust　which　I　would　impose　upon　you　is　in　appearance　no
such　great　matter　as　my　words　may　have　led　you　to　suppose。

〃You　must　know　that　I　am　possessed　of　a　little　trinket　which；　in
the　hands　of　any　one　who；　like　yourself；　is　a　stranger　in　these
parts；　would　possess　no　significance；　but　which　while　in　my
keeping　is　fraught　with　infinite　menace　to　me。〃

Hereupon；　and　having　so　spoken；　she　clapped　her　hands；　and　an
attendant　immediately　entered；　disclosing　the　person　of　the　same
negress　who　had　first　introduced　Jonathan　into　the　strange
adventure　in　which　he　now　found　himself　involved。　　This　creature；
who　appeared　still　more　deformed　and　repulsive　in　the　brilliantly
lighted　room　than　she　had　in　the　moonlight；　carried　in　her　hands
a　white　napkin；　which　she　handed　to　her　mistress。　　This　being
opened；　disclosed　a　small　ivory　ball　of　about　the　bigness　of　a
lime。　　Nodding　to　the　negress　to　withdraw；　the　lady　handed　him　the
ivory　ball；　and　Jonathan　took　it　with　no　small　degree　of
curiosity　and　examined　it　carefully。　　It　appeared　to　be　of　an
exceeding　antiquity；　and　of　so　deep　a　yellow　as　to　be　almost
brown　in　color。　　It　was　covered　over　with　strange　figures　and
characters　of　an　Oriental　so