the crystal stopper-第22章

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　　But　twice　those　stones　gave　way　and　he　slipped；　and　twice　he　firmly　believed　that　all　was　lost。　　Finding　a　deeper　hollow；　he　took　a　rest。　　He　was　worn　out；　felt　quite　ready　to　throw　up　the　enterprise；　asked　himself　if　it　was　really　worth　while　for　him　to　expose　himself　to　such　danger：

〃I　say！〃　he　thought。　　〃Seems　to　me　you're　showing　the　white　feather；　Lupin；　old　boy。　　Throw　up　the　enterprise？　　Then　Daubrecq　will　babble　his　secret；　the　marquis　will　possess　himself　of　the　list；　Lupin　will　return　empty…handed；　and　Gilbert。。。　〃　　　The　long　rope　which　he　had　fastened　round　his　waist　caused　him　needless　inconvenience　and　fatigue。　　He　fixed　one　of　the　ends　to　the　strap　of　his　trousers　and　let　the　rope　uncoil　all　the　way　down　the　ascent；　so　that　he　could　use　it；　on　returning；　as　a　hand…rail。

Then　he　once　more　clutched　at　the　rough　surface　of　the　cliff　and　continued　the　climb；　with　bruised　nails　and　bleeding　fingers。　　At　every　moment　he　expected　the　inevitable　fall。　　And　what　discouraged　him　most　was　to　hear　the　murmur　of　voices　rising　from　the　boat；　murmur　so　distinct　that　it　seemed　as　though　he　were　not　increasing　the　distance　between　his　companions　and　himself。

And　he　remembered　the　Sire　de　Tancarville；　alone；　he　too；　amid　the　darkness；　who　must　have　shivered　at　the　noise　of　the　stones　which　he　loosened　and　sent　bounding　down　the　cliff。　　How　the　least　sound　reverberated　through　the　silence！　　If　one　of　Daubrecq's　guards　was　peering　into　the　gloom　from　the　Lovers'　Tower；　it　meant　a　shot。。。　　and　death。

And　he　climbed。。。　he　climbed。。。　He　had　climbed　so　long　that　he　ended　by　imagining　that　the　goal　was　passed。　　Beyond　a　doubt；　he　had　slanted　unawares　to　the　right　or　left　and　he　would　finish　at　the　patrol…path。　　What　a　stupid　upshot！　　And　what　other　upshot　could　there　be　to　an　attempt　which　the　swift　force　of　events　had　not　allowed　him　to　study　and　prepare？

Madly；　he　redoubled　his　efforts；　raised　himself　by　a　number　of　yards；　slipped；　recovered　the　lost　ground；　clutched　a　bunch　of　roots　that　came　loose　in　his　hand；　slipped　once　more　and　was　abandoning　the　game　in　despair　when；　suddenly；　stiffening　himself　and　contracting　his　whole　frame；　his　muscles　and　his　will；　he　stopped　still：　a　sound　of　voices　seemed　to　issue　from　the　very　rock　which　he　was　grasping。

He　listened。　　It　came　from　the　right。　　Turning　his　head；　he　thought　that　he　saw　a　ray　of　light　penetrating　the　darkness　of　space。　　By　what　effort　of　energy；　by　what　imperceptible　movements　he　succeeded　in　dragging　himse1f　to　the　spot　he　was　never　able　exactly　to　realize。　　But　suddenly　he　found　himself　on　the　ledge　of　a　fairly　wide　opening；　at　least　three　yards　deep；　which　dug　into　the　wall　of　the　cliff　like　a　　passage；　while　its　other　end；　much　narrower；　was　closed　by　three　bars。

Lupin　crawled　along。　　His　head　reached　the　bars。And　he　saw。。。　


　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VIII

THE　LOVERS'　TOWER


The　torture…chamber　showed　beneath　him。　　It　was　a　large；　irregular　room；　divided　into　unequal　portions　by　the　four　wide；　massive　pillars　that　supported　its　arched　roof。　　A　smell　of　damp　and　mildew　came　from　its　walls　and　from　its　flags　moistened　by　the　water　that　trickled　from　without。　　Its　appearance　at　any　time　must　have　been　gruesome。　　But；　at　that　moment；　with　the　tall　figures　of　Sebastiani　and　his　sons；　with　the　slanting　gleams　of　light　that　fell　between　the　pillars；　with　the　vision　of　the　captive　chained　down　upon　the　truckle…bed；　it　assumed　a　sinister　and　barbarous　aspect。

Daubrecq　was　in　the　front　part　of　the　room；　four　or　five　yards　down　from　the　window　at　which　Lupin　lurked。　　In　addition　to　the　ancient　chains　that　had　been　used　to　fasten　him　to　his　bed　and　to　fasten　the　bed　to　an　iron　hook　in　the　wall；　his　wrists　and　ankles　were　girt　with　leather　thongs；　and　an　ingenious　arrangement　caused　his　least　movement　to　set　in　motion　a　bell　hung　to　the　nearest　pillar。

A　lamp　placed　on　a　stool　lit　him　full　in　the　face。

The　Marquis　d'Albufex　was　standing　beside　him。　　Lupin　could　see　his　pale　features；　his　grizzled　moustache；　his　long；　lean　form　as　he　looked　at　his　prisoner　with　an　expression　of　content　and　of　gratified　hatred。

A　few　minutes　passed　in　profound　silence。　　Then　the　marquis　gave　an　order：


〃Light　those　three　candles；　Sebastiani；　so　that　I　can　see　him　better。〃

And；　when　the　three　candles　were　lit　and　he　had　taken　a　long　look　at　Daubrecq；　he　stooped　over　him　and　said；　almost　gently：

〃I　can't　say　what　will　be　the　end　of　you　and　me。　　But　at　any　rate　I　shall　have　had　some　deuced　happy　moments　in　this　room。　　You　have　done　me　so　much　harm；　Daubrecq！　　The　tears　you　have　made　me　shed！　　Yes；　real　tears；　real　sobs　of　despair。。。　　The　money　you　have　robbed　me　of！　　A　fortune！。。。　　And　my　terror　at　the　thought　that　you　might　give　me　away！　You　had　but　to　utter　my　name　to　complete　my　ruin　and　bring　about　my　disgrace！。。。　Oh；　you　villain！。。。　　　　'

Daubrecq　did　not　budge。　　He　had　been　deprived　of　his　black　glasses；　but　still　kept　his　spectacles；　which　reflected　the　light　from　the　candles。　He　had　lost　a　good　deal　of　flesh；　and　the　bones　stood　out　above　his　sunken　cheeks。

〃Come　along；〃　said　d'Albufex。　　〃The　time　has　come　to　act。　　It　seems　that　there　are　rogues　prowling　about　the　neighbourhood。　　Heaven　forbid　that　they　are　here　on　your　account　and　try　to　release　you；　for　that　would　mean　your　immediate　death；　as　you　know。。。　　Is　the　trapdoor　still　in　working　order；　Sebastiani？〃

Sebastiani　came　Dearer；　knelt　on　one　knee　and　lifted　and　turned　a　ring；　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　which　Lupin　had　not　noticed。　　One　of　the　flagstones　moved　on　a　pivot；　disclosing　a　black　hole。

〃You　see；〃　the　marquis　continued；　〃everything　is　provided　for；　and　I　have　all　that　I　want　at　hand；　including　dungeons：　bottomless　dungeons；　says　the　legend　of　the　castle。　　So　there　is　nothing　to　hope　for；　no　help　of　any　kind。　　Will　you　speak？〃

Daubrecq　did　not　reply；　and　he　went　on：

〃This　is　the　fourth　time　that　I　am　questioning　you；　Daubrecq。　　It　is　the　fourth　time　that　I　have　troubled　to　ask　you　for　the　document　which　you　possess；　in　order　that　I　may　escape　your　blackmailing　proceedings。　　It　is　the　fourth　time　and　the　last。　　Will　you　speak？〃

The　same　silence　as　before。　　D'Albufex　made　a　sign　to　Sebastiani。　　The　huntsman　stepped　forward；　followed　by　two　of　his　sons。　　One　of　them　held　a　stick　in　his　hand。

〃Go　ahead；〃　said　d'Albufex；　after　waiting　a　few　seconds。

Sebastiani　slackened　the　thongs　that　bound　Dauwrists　and　inserted　and　fixed　the　stick　between　the　thongs。

Shall　I　turn；　monsieur　le　marquis？〃

A　further　silence。　　The　marquis　waited。　　Seeing　that　Daubrecq　did　not　flinch；　he　whispered：

〃Can't　you　speak？　　Why　expose　yourself　to　physical　suffering？〃

No　reply。

〃Turn　away；　Sebastiani。〃

Sebastiani　made　the　stick　turn　a　complete　circle。　　The　thongs　stretched　and　tightened。　　Daubrecq　gave　a　groan。

〃You　won't　speak？　　Still；　you　know　that　I　won't　give　way；　that　I　can't　give　way；　that　I　hold　you　and　that；　if　necessary；　I　shall　torture　you　till　you　die　of　it。　　You　won't　speak？　　You　won't？。。。　　Sebastiani；　once　more。〃

The　huntsman　obeyed。　　Daubrecq　gave　a　violent　start　of　pain　and　fell　back　on　his　bed　with　a　rattle　in　his　throat。

〃You　fool！〃　cried　the　marquis；　shaking　with　rage。　　〃Why　don't　you　speak？　What；　haven't　you　had　enough　of　that　list？　　Surely　it's　somebody　else's　turn！　Come；　speak。。。　　Where　is　it？　　One　word。　　One　word　only。。。　　and　we　will　leave　you　in　peace。。。　　And；　to…morrow；　when　I　have　the　list；　you　shall　be　free。　　Free；　do　you　understand？　　But；　in　Heaven's　name；　speak！。。。　　Oh；　the　brute！　　Sebastiani；　one　more　turn。〃

Sebastiani　made　a　fresh　effort。　　The　bones　cracked。

〃Help！　Help！〃　cried　Daubrecq；　in　a　hoarse　voice；　vainly　struggling　to　release　himself。　　And；　in　a　spluttering　whisper；　〃Mercy。。。　mercy。〃

It　was　a　dreadful　sight。。。　The　faces　of　the　three　sons　were　horror…struck。　Lupin　shuddered；　sick　at　heart；　and　realized　that　he　himself　could　never　have　accomplished　that　abominable　thing。　　He　listened　for　the　words　that　were　bound　to　come。　　He　must　learn　the　truth。　　Daubrecq's　secret　was　about　to　be　expressed　in　syllables；　in　words　wrung　from　him　by　pain。　And　Lupin　began　to　think　of　his　retreat；　of　the　car　which　was　waiting　for　him；　of　the　wild　rush　to　Paris；　of　the　victory　at　hand。

〃Speak；〃　whispered　d'Albufex。　　〃Speak　and　it　will　be　over。〃

〃Yes。。。　yes。。。　〃　gasped　Daubrecq。

〃Well。。。　？〃

〃Later。。。　to…morrow。。。　〃

〃Oh；　you're　mad！。。。　What　are　you　talking　about：　to…morrow？。。。　Sebastiani；　another　turn！〃

〃No；　no！〃　yelled　Daubrecq。　　〃Stop！〃

〃Speak！〃

〃Well；　then。。。　　the　paper。。。　I　have　hidden　the　paper。。。　〃

But　his　pain　was　too　great。　　He　raised　his　head　with　a　last　effort；　uttered　incoherent　words；　succeeded　in　twice　saying；　〃Marie。。。　Marie。。。〃　and　fell　back；　exhausted　and　lifeless。

〃Let　go　at　once！〃　said　d'Albufex　to　Sebastiani。　　〃Hang　it　all；　can　we　have　overdone　it？〃

But　a　rapid　examination　showed　him　that　Daubrecq　had　only　fainted。　Thereupon；　he　himself；　worn　out　with　the　excitement；　dropped　on　the　foot　of　the　bed　and；　wiping　the　beads　of　perspiration　from　his　forehead；　stammered：

〃Oh；　what　a　dirty　business！〃

〃Perhaps　that's　enough　for　to…day；〃　said　the　huntsman；　whose　rough　face　betrayed　a　certain　emotion。　　〃We　might　try　again　to…morrow　or　the　next　day。。。　〃

The　marquis　was　silent。　　One　of　the　sons　handed　him　a　flask　of　brandy。　He　poured　out　half　a　glass　and　drank　it　down　at　a　draught：

〃To…morrow？〃　he　said。　　〃No。　　Here　and　now。　　One　little　effort　more。　　At　the　stage　which　he　has　reached；　it　won't　be　difficult。〃　　And；　taking　the　huntsman　aside；　〃Did　you　hear　what　he　said？　　What　did　he　mean　by　that　word；　'Marie'？　　He　repeated　it　twice。〃

〃Yes；　twice；〃　said　the　huntsman。　　〃Perhaps　he　entrusted　the　document　to　a　person　called　Marie。〃

〃Not　he！〃　protested　d'Albufex。　　〃He　never　entrusts　anything　to　anybody。　It　means　something　different。〃

〃But　what；　monsieur　le　marquis？〃

〃We'll　soon　find　out；　I'll　answer　for　it。〃

At　that　moment；　Daubrecq　drew　a　long　breath　and　stirred　on　his　couch。

D'Albufex；　who　had　now　recovered　all　his　composure　and　who　did　not　take　his　eyes　off　the　enemy；　went　up　to　him　and　said：

〃You　see；　Daubrecq；　it's　madness　to　resist。。。　　　Once　you're　beaten；　there's　nothing　for　it　but　to　submit　to　your　conqueror；　instead　of　allowing　yourself　to　be　tortured　like　an　idiot。。。　　Come；　be　sensible。〃

He　turned　to　Sebastiani：

〃Tighten　the　rope。。。　let　him　feel　it　a　little　that　will　wake　him　up。。。　　　He's　shamming　death。。。　　Sebastiani　took　hold　of　the　stick　again　and　turned　until　the　cord　touched　the　swollen　flesh。　　Daubrecq　gave　a　start。

〃That'll　do；　Sebastiani；〃　said　the　marquis。　　〃Our　friend　seems　favourably　disposed　and　understands　the　need　for　coming　to　terms。　　That's　so；　Daubrecq；　is　it　not？　　You　prefer　to　have　done　with　it？　　And　you're　quite　right！〃

The　two　men　were　leaning　over　the　sufferer；　Sebastiani　with　his　hand　on　the　stick；　d'Albufex　holding　the　lamp　so　as　to　throw　the　light　on　Daubrecq's　face：　〃His　　　lips　are　moving。。。　　he's　going　to　speak。　　Loosen　the　rope　a　little；　Sebastiani：　I　don't　want　our　friend　to　be　hurt。。。　　No；　tighten　it：　I　believe　our　friend　is　hesitating。。。　One　turn　more。。。　stop！　。。。　　That's　done　it！　　Oh；　my　dear　Daubrecq；　if　you　can't　speak　plainer　than　that；　it's　no　us