condensed novels(压缩小说)-第20章
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last sentence between his teeth； and a gloomy frown descended over his
calm brow。
I affected to turn over the tradesman's bills that lay on the table； for；
like all of the Heavystone race； Guy seldom paid cash； and said：
〃You remind me of the time when Leonidas〃
〃O； bother Leonidas and your classical allusions。 Come！〃
We descended to dinner。
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CHAPTER III。
〃He carries weight； he rides a race； 'Tis for a thousand pound。〃
〃There is Flora Billingsgate； the greatest coquette and hardest rider in
the country；〃 said my companion； Ralph Mortmain； as we stood upon
Dingleby Common before the meet。
I looked up and beheld Guy Heavystone bending haughtily over the
saddle； as he addressed a beautiful brunette。 She was indeed a splendidly
groomed and high…spirited woman。 We were near enough to overhear the
following conversation； which any high…toned reader will recognize as the
common and natural expression of the higher classes。
〃When Diana takes the field the chase is not wholly confined to
objects ferae naturae；〃 said Guy； darting a significant glance at his
companion。 Flora did not shrink either from the glance or the meaning
implied in the sarcasm。
〃If I were looking for an Endymion； now〃 she said archly； as she
playfully cantered over a few hounds and leaped a five…barred gate。
Guy whispered a few words； inaudible to the rest of the party； and；
curvetting slightly； cleverly cleared two of the huntsmen in a flying leap；
galloped up the front steps of the mansion； and dashing at full speed
through the hall leaped through the drawing… room window and rejoined
me； languidly； on the lawn。
〃Be careful of Flora Billingsgate；〃 he said to me； in low stern tones；
while his pitiless eye shot a baleful fire。 〃Gardez vous！〃
〃Gnothi seauton；〃 I replied calmly； not wishing to appear to be behind
him in perception or verbal felicity。
Guy started off in high spirits。 He was well carried。 He and the first
whip； a ten…stone man； were head and head at the last fence； while the
hounds were rolling over their fox a hundred yards farther in the open。
But an unexpected circumstance occurred。 Coming back； his chestnut
mare refused a ten…foot wall。 She reared and fell backward。 Again he led
her up to it lightly； again she refused； falling heavily from the coping。 Guy
started to his feet。 The old pitiless fire shone in his eyes； the old stern look
settled around his mouth。 Seizing the mare by the tail and mane he threw
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her over the wall。 She landed twenty feet on the other side； erect and
trembling。 Lightly leaping the same obstacle himself； he remounted her。
She did not refuse the wall the next time。
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CHAPTER IV。
〃He holds him by his glittering eye。〃
Guy was in the North of Ireland； cock…shooting。 So Ralph Mortmain
told me； and also that the match between Mary Brandagee and Guy had
been broken off by Flora Billingsgate。 〃I don't like those Billingsgates；〃
said Ralph； 〃they're a bad stock。 Her father； Smithfield de Billingsgate；
had an unpleasant way of turning up the knave from the bottom of the
pack。 But nous verrons； let us go and see Guy。〃
The next morning we started for Fin…ma…Coul's Crossing。 When I
reached the shooting…box； where Guy was entertaining a select company
of friends； Flora Billingsgate greeted me with a saucy smile。
Guy was even squarer and sterner than ever。 His gusts of passion were
more frequent； and it was with difficulty that he could keep an able…bodied
servant in his family。 His present retainers were more or less maimed from
exposure to the fury of their master。 There was a strange cynicism； a
cutting sarcasm in his address； piercing through his polished manner。 I
thought of Timon； etc。； etc。
One evening； we were sitting over our Chambertin； after a hard day's
work； and Guy was listlessly turning over some letters； when suddenly he
uttered a cry。 Did you ever hear the trumpeting of a wounded elephant？ It
was like that。
I looked at him with consternation。 He was glancing at a letter which
he held at arm's length； and snorting； as it were； at it as he gazed。 The
lower part of his face was stern； but not as rigid as usual。 He was slowly
grinding between his teeth the fragments of the glass he had just been
drinking from。 Suddenly he seized one of his servants； and； forcing the
wretch upon his knees； exclaimed； with the roar of a tiger：
〃Dog！ why was this kept from me？〃
〃Why； please； sir； Miss Flora said as how it was a reconciliation from
Miss Brandagee； and it was to be kept from you where you would not be
likely to see it；andand〃
〃Speak； dog！ and you〃
〃I put it among your bills； sir！〃
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With a groan； like distant thunder； Guy fell swooning to the floor。
He soon recovered； for the next moment a servant came rushing into
the room with the information that a number of the ingenuous peasantry of
the neighborhood were about to indulge that evening in the national
pastime of burning a farm…house and shooting a landlord。 Guy smiled a
fearful smile； without； however； altering his stern and pitiless expression。
〃Let them come；〃 he said calmly； 〃I feel like entertaining company。〃
We barricaded the doors and windows； and then chose our arms from
the armory。 Guy's choice was a singular one： it was a landing net with a
long handle； and a sharp cavalry sabre。
We were not destined to remain long in ignorance of its use。 A howl
was heard from without； and a party of fifty or sixty armed men
precipitated themselves against the door。
Suddenly the window opened。 With the rapidity of lightning； Guy
Heavystone cast the net over the head of the ringleader； ejaculated
〃Habet！〃 and with a back stroke of his cavalry sabre severed the member
from its trunk； and； drawing the net back again； cast the gory head upon
the floor； saying quietly：
〃One。〃
Again the net was cast； the steel flashed； the net was withdrawn； and
an ominous 〃Two！〃 accompanied the head as it rolled on the floor。
〃Do you remember what Pliny says of the gladiator？〃 said Guy； calmly
wiping his sabre。 〃How graphic is that passage commencing 'Inter nos；
etc。'〃 The sport continued until the heads of twenty desperadoes had been
gathered in。 The rest seemed inclined to disperse。 Guy incautiously
showed himself at the door； a ringing shot was heard； and he staggered
back； pierced through the heart。 Grasping the door…post in the last
unconscious throes of his mighty frame； the whole side of the house
yielded to that earthquake tremor； and we had barely time to escape before
t
