david elginbrod-第48章

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it。〃

〃Look　at　it；　thenall　over　the　gold。　　What　at　first　looks　only　like
chasing；　is；　I　do　believe；　words。　　The　character　looks　to　me　like
German。　　I　wish　I　could　read　it。　　I　am　but　a　poor　German　scholar。
Do　look　at　it；　please；　dear　Miss　Cameron。〃

Euphra　glanced　slightly　at　it　without　touching　it；　and　said：

〃I　am　sure　I　could　make　nothing　of　it。But；〃　she　added；　as　if
struck　by　a　sudden　thought；　〃as　Lady　Emily　seems　interested　in
itsuppose　we　send　for　Mr。　Sutherland。　　I　have　no　doubt　he　will　be
able　to　decipher　it。〃

She　rose　as　if　she　would　go　for　him　herself；　but；　apparently　on
second　thoughts；　went　to　the　bell　and　rang　it。

〃Oh！　do　not　trouble　yourself；〃　interposed　Lady　Emily；　in　a　tone　that
showed　she　would　like　it　notwithstanding。

〃No　trouble　at　all；〃　answered　Euphra　and　her　uncle　in　a　breath。

〃Jacob；〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；　〃take　my　compliments　to　Mr。　Sutherland；
and　ask　him　to　step　this　way。〃

The　man　went；　and　Hugh　came。

〃There's　a　puzzle　for　you；　Mr。　Sutherland；〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；　as　he
entered。　〃Decipher　that　inscription；　and　gain　the　favour　of　Lady
Emily　for　ever。〃

As　he　spoke　he　put　the　ring　in　Hugh's　hand。　　Hugh　recognized　it　at
once。

〃Ah！　this　is　Lady　Euphrasia's　wonderful　ring；〃　said　he。

Euphra　cast　on　him　one　of　her　sudden　glances。

〃What　do　you　know　about　it？〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；　hastily。

Euphra　flashed　at　him　once　more；　covertly。

〃I　only　know　that　this　is　the　ring　in　her　portrait。　　Any　one　may　see
that　it　is　a　very　wonderful　ring　indeed；　by　only　looking　at　it；〃
answered　Hugh；　smiling。

〃I　hope　it　is　not　too　wonderful　for　you　to　get　at　the　mystery　of　it；
though；　Mr。　Sutherland？〃　said　Lady　Emily。

〃Lady　Emily　is　dying　to　understand　the　inscription；〃　said　Euphrasia。

By　this　time　Hugh　was　turning　it　round　and　round；　trying　to　get　a
beginning　to　the　legend。　　But　in　this　he　met　with　a　difficulty。　　The
fact　was；　that　the　initial　letter　of　the　inscription　could　only　be
found　by　looking　into　the　crystal　held　close　to　the　eye。　　The　words
seemed　not　altogether　unknown　to　him；　though　the　characters　were　a
little　strange；　and　the　words　themselves　were　undivided。　　The　dinner
bell　rang。

〃Dear　me！　how　the　time　goes　in　your　room；　Lady　Emily！〃　said　Mr。
Arnold；　who　was　never　known　to　keep　dinner　waiting　a　moment。　〃Will
you　venture　to　go　down　with　us　to…day？〃

〃I　fear　I　must　not　to…day。　　To…morrow；　I　hope。　　But　do　put　up　these
beauties　before　you　go。　　I　dare　not　touch　them　without　you；　and　it
is　so　much　more　pleasure　seeing　them；　when　I　have　you　to　tell　me
about　them。〃

〃Well；　throw　them　in；〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；　pretending　an　indifference
he　did　not　feel。　〃The　reality　of　dinner　must　not　be　postponed　to　the
fancy　of　jewels。〃

All　this　time　Hugh　had　stood　poring　over　the　ring　at　the　window；
whither　he　had　taken　it　for　better　light；　as　the　shadows　were
falling。　　Euphra　busied　herself　replacing　everything　in　the　box。
When　all　were　in；　she　hastily　shut　the　lid。

〃Well；　Mr。　Sutherland？〃　said　Mr。　Arnold。

〃I　seem　on　the　point　of　making　it　out；　Mr。　Arnold；　but　I　certainly
have　not　succeeded　yet。〃

〃Confess　yourself　vanquished；　then；　and　come　to　dinner。〃

〃I　am　very　unwilling　to　give　in；　for　I　feel　convinced　that　if　I　had
leisure　to　copy　the　inscription　as　far　as　I　can　read　it；　I　should；
with　the　help　of　my　dictionary；　soon　supply　the　rest。　　I　am　very
unwilling；　as　well；　to　lose　a　chance　of　the　favour　of　Lady　Emily。〃

〃Yes；　do　read　it；　if　you　can。　　I　too　am　dying　to　hear　it；〃　said
Euphra。

〃Will　you　trust　me　with　it；　Mr。　Arnold？　　I　will　take　the　greatest
care　of　it。〃

〃Oh；　certainly！〃　replied　Mr。　Arnoldwith　a　little　hesitation　in　his
tone；　however；　of　which　Hugh　was　too　eager　to　take　any　notice。

He　carried　it　to　his　room　immediately；　and　laid　it　beside　his
manuscript　verses；　in　the　hiding…place　of　the　old　escritoire。　　He
was　in　the　drawing…room　a　moment　after。

There　he　found　Euphra　and　the　Bohemian　alone。Von　Funkelstein　had；
in　an　incredibly　short　space　of　time；　established　himself　as
Hausfreund；　and　came　and　went　as　he　pleased。They　looked　as　if　they
had　been　interrupted　in　a　hurried　and　earnest　conversationtheir
faces　were　so　impassive。　　Yet　Euphra's　wore　a　considerably
heightened　coloura　more　articulate　indication。　　She　could　school
her　features；　but　not　her　complexion。




CHAPTER　XXIII。

THE　WAGER。

　　　　　He。。。stakes　this　ring；
And　would　so；　had　it　been　a　carbuncle
Of　Ph渂us'　wheel；　and　might　so　safely；　had　it
Been　all　the　worth　of　his　car。

Cymbeline。


Hugh；　of　course；　had　an　immediate　attack　of　jealousy。　　Wishing　to
show　it　in　one　quarter；　and　hide　it　in　every　other；　he　carefully
abstained　from　looking　once　in　the　direction　of　Euphra；　while；
throughout　the　dinner；　he　spoke　to　every　one　else　as　often　as　there
was　the　smallest　pretext　for　doing　so。　　To　enable　himself　to　keep
this　up；　he　drank　wine　freely。　　As　he　was　in　general　very　moderate；
by　the　time　the　ladies　rose；　it　had　begun　to　affect　his　brain。　　It
was　not　half　so　potent；　however；　in　its　influences；　as　the　parting
glance　which　Euphra　succeeded　at　last；　as　she　left　the　room；　in
sending　through　his　eyes　to　his　heart。

Hugh　sat　down　to　the　table　again；　with　a　quieter　tongue；　but　a
busier　brain。　　He　drank　still；　without　thinking　of　the　consequences。
A　strong　will　kept　him　from　showing　any　signs　of　intoxication；　but
he　was　certainly　nearer　to　that　state　than　he　had　ever　been　in　his
life　before。

The　Bohemian　started　the　new　subject　which　generally　follows　the
ladies'　departure。

〃How　long　is　it　since　Arnstead　was　first　said　to　be　haunted；　Mr。
Arnold？〃

〃Haunted！　　Herr　von　Funkelstein？　　I　am　at　a　loss　to　understand　you；〃
replied　Mr。　Arnold；　who　resented　any　such　allusion；　being　subversive
of　the　honour　of　his　house；　almost　as　much　as　if　it　had　been
depreciative　of　his　own。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Arnold。　　I　thought　it　was　an　open　subject　of
remark。〃

〃So　it　is；〃　said　Hugh；　〃every　one　knows　that。〃

Mr。　Arnold　was　struck　dumb　with　indignation。　　Before　he　had
recovered　himself　sufficiently　to　know　what　to　say；　the　conversation
between　the　other　two　had　assumed　a　form　to　which　his　late
experiences　inclined　him　to　listen　with　some　degree　of　interest。
But；　his　pride　sternly　forbidding　him　to　join　in　it；　he　sat　sipping
his　wine　in　careless　sublimity。

〃You　have　seen　it　yourself；　then？〃　said　the　Bohemian。

〃I　did　not　say　that；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃But　I　heard　one　of　the　maids
say　oncewhen〃

He　paused。

This　hesitation　of　his　witnessed　against　him　afterwards；　in　Mr。
Arnold's　judgment。　　But　he　took　no　notice　now。Hugh　ended　tamely
enough：

〃Why；　it　is　commonly　reported　amongst　the　servants。〃

〃With　a　blue　light？Such　as　we　saw　that　night　from　the　library
window；　I　suppose。〃

〃I　did　not　say　that；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃Besides；　it　was　nothing　of　the
sort　you　saw　from　the　library。　　It　was　only　the　moon。　　But〃

He　paused　again。　　Von　Funkelstein　saw　the　condition　he　was　in；　and
pressed　him。

〃You　know　something　more；　Mr。　Sutherland。〃

Hugh　hesitated　again；　but　only　for　a　moment。

〃Well；　then；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　seen　the　spectre　myself；　walking　in
her　white　grave…clothes；　in　the　Ghost's　Avenueha！　ha！〃

Funkelstein　looked　anxious。

〃Were　you　frightened？〃　said　he。

〃Frightened！〃　repeated　Hugh；　in　a　tone　of　the　greatest　contempt。　〃I
am　of　Don　Juan's　opinion　with　regard　to　such　gentry。〃

〃What　is　that？〃

　　　　　〃'That　soul　and　body；　on　the　whole；
　　　　　　　Are　odds　against　a　disembodied　soul。'〃

〃Bravo！〃　cried　the　count。　〃You　despise　all　these　tales　about　Lady
Euphrasia；　wandering　about　the　house　with　a　death…candle　in　her
hand；　looking　everywhere　about　as　if　she　had　lost　something；　and
couldn't　find　it？〃

〃Pooh！　pooh！　　I　wish　I　could　meet　her！〃

〃Then　you　don't　believe　a　word　of　it？〃

〃I　don't　say　that。　　There　would　be　less　of　courage　than　boasting　in
talking　so；　if　I　did　not　believe　a　word　of　it。〃

〃Then　you　do　believe　it？〃

But　Hugh　was　too　much　of　a　Scotchman　to　give　a　hasty　opinion；　or
rather　a　direct　answereven　when　half…tipsy；　especially　when　such
was　evidently　desired。　　He　only　shook　and　nodded　his　head　at　the
same　moment。

〃Do　you　really　mean　you　would　meet　her　if　you　could？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Then；　if　all　tales　are　true；　you　may；　without　much　difficulty。　　For
the　coachman　told　me　only　to…day；　that　you　may　see　her　light　in　the
window　of　that　room　almost　any　night；　towards　midnight。　　He　told　me；
too　（for　I　made　quite　a　friend　of　him　to…day；　on　purpose　to　hear　his
tales）；　that　one　of　the　maids；　who　left　the　other　day；　told　the
groomand　he　told　the　coachmanthat　she　had　once　heard　talking；
and；　peeping　through　the　key…hole　of　a　door　that　led　into　that　part
of　the　old　house；　saw　a　figure；　dressed　exactly　like　the　picture　of
Lady　Euphrasia；　wandering　up　and　down；　wringing　her　hands　and
beating　her　breast；　as　if　she　were　in　terrible　trouble。　　She　had　a
light　in　her　hand　which　burned　awfully　blue；　and　her　face　was　the
face　of　a　corpse；　with　pale…green　spots。〃

〃You　think　to　frighten　me；　Funkelstein；　and　make　me　tremble　at　what
I　said　a　minute　ago。　　Instead　of　repeating　that。　　I　say　now：　I　will
sleep　in　Lady　Euphrasia's　room　this　night；　if　you　like。〃

〃I　lay　you　a　hundred　guineas　you　won't！〃　cried　the　Bohemian。

〃Done！〃　said　Hugh；　offering　him　his　hand。　　Funkelstein　took　it；　and
so　the　bet　was　committed　to　the　decision　of　courage。

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　interposed　Mr。　Arnold　at　last；　〃you　might　have
left　a　corner　for　me　somewhere。　　Without　my　permission　you　will
hardly　settle　your　wager。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Arnold；〃　said　Funkelstein。　〃We　got　rather
excited　over　it；　and　forgot　our　manners。　　But　I　am　quite　willing　to
give　it　up；　if　Mr。　Sutherland　will。〃

〃Not　I；〃　said　Hugh；〃that　is；　of　course；　if　Mr。　Arnold　has　no
objection。〃

〃Of　course　not。　　My　house；　ghost　and　all；　is　at　your　service；
gentlemen；〃　responded　Mr。　Arnold；　rising。

They　went　to　the　drawing…room。　　Mr。　Arnold；　strange　to　say；　was　in　a
good　humour。　　He　walked　up　to　Mrs。　Elton；　and　said：

〃These　wicked　men　have　been　betting；　Mrs。　Elton。〃

〃I　am　surprised　they　should　be　so　silly；〃　said　she；　with　a　smile；
taking　it　as　a　joke。

〃What　have　they　been　betting　about？〃　said　Euphra；　coming　up　to　her
uncle。

〃Herr　von　Funkelstein　has　laid　a　hundred　guineas　that　Mr。　Sutherland
will　not　sleep　in　Lady　Euphrasia's　room　to…night。〃

Euphra　turned　pale。

〃By　sleep　I　suppose　you　mean　spend　the　night？〃　said　Hugh　to
Funkelstein。　〃I　cannot　be　certain　of　sleeping；　you　know。〃

〃Of　course；　I　mean　that；〃　answered　the　other；　and；　turning　to
Euphrasia；　continued：

〃I　must　say　I　consider　it　rather　courageous　of　him　to　dare　the
spectre　as　he　does；　for　he　cannot　say　he　disbelieves　in　her。　　But
come　and　sing　me　one　of　the　old　songs；〃　he　added；　in　an　under　tone。

Euphra　allowed　him　to　lead　her　to　the　piano；　but　instead　of　singing
a　song　to　him；　she　played　some　noisy　music；　through　which　he　and　she
contrived　to　talk　for　some　time；　without　being　overheard；　after
which　he　left　the　room。　　Euphra　then　looked　round　to　Hugh；　and
begged　him　with　her　eyes　to　come　to　her。　　He　could　not　resist；
burning　with　jealousy　as　he　was。

〃Are　you　sure　you　have　nerve　enough　for　this；　Hugh？〃　she　said；　still
playing。

〃I　have　had　nerve　enou