the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第12章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Mon Dieu！〃 cried the voice； in a tone of agony。 〃Oh； mon Dieu！ mon
Dieu！〃 Then there was a dry sob in the darkness； and all was still once
more。
It thrilled me with horror； that terrible voice； but it thrilled me also
with hope； for it was the voice of a Frenchman。
〃Who is there？〃 I asked。
There was a groaning； but no reply。
〃Is that you； Monsieur Hubert？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 sighed the voice； so low that I could hardly hear it。
〃Water； water； for Heaven's sake； water！〃
I advanced in the direction of the sound； but only to come in contact
with the wall。 Again I heard a groan； but this time there could be no
doubt that it was above my head。 I put up my hands； but they felt only
empty air。
〃Where are you？〃 I cried。
〃Here！ Here！〃 whispered the strange； tremulous voice。
I stretched my hand along the wall and I came upon a man's naked foot。
It was as high as my face； and yet； so far as I could feel； it had nothing to
support it。 I staggered back in amazement。 Then I took a tinder… box
from my pocket and struck a light。 At the first flash a man seemed to be
floating in the air in front of me； and I dropped the box in my amazement。
Again with tremulous fingers I struck the flint against the steel； and this
time I lit not only the tinder but the wax taper。 I held it up； and if my
amazement was lessened my horror was increased by that which it
revealed。
The man had been nailed to the wall as a weasel is nailed to the door
35
… Page 36…
THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
of a barn。 Huge spikes had been driven through his hands and his feet。
The poor wretch was in his last agony； his head sunk upon his shoulder
and his blackened tongue protruding from his lips。 He was dying as
much from thirst as from his wounds； and these inhuman wretches had
placed a beaker of wine upon the table in front of him to add a fresh pang
to his tortures。
I raised it to his lips。 He had still strength enough to swallow； and the
light came back a little to his dim eyes。
〃Are you a Frenchman？〃 he whispered。
〃Yes。 They have sent me to learn what had befallen you。〃
〃They discovered me。 They have killed me for it。
But before I die let me tell you what I know。 A little more of that
wine； please！ Quick！ Quick！ I am very near the end。 My strength is
going。 Listen to me！
The powder is stored in the Mother Superior's room。
The wall is pierced； and the end of the train is in Sister Angela's cell；
next the chapel。 All was ready two days ago。 But they discovered a
letter and they tortured me。〃
〃Good heavens！ have you been hanging here for two days？〃
〃It seems like two years。 Comrade； I have served France； have I not？
Then do one little service for me。
Stab me to the heart； dear friend！ I implore you； I entreat you； to put
an end to my sufferings。〃
The man was indeed in a hopeless plight； and the kindest action would
have been that for which he begged。
And yet I could not in cold blood drive my knife into his body；
although I knew how I should have prayed for such a mercy had I been in
his place。 But a sudden thought crossed my mind。 In my pocket I held
that which would give an instant and a painless death。 It was my own
safeguard against torture； and yet this poor soul was in very pressing need
of it； and he had deserved well of France。 I took out my phial and
emptied it into the cup of wine。 I was in the act of handing it to him
when I heard a sudden clash of arms outside the door。
In an instant I put out my light and slipped behind the window…curtains。
36
… Page 37…
THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
Next moment the door was flung open and two Spaniards strode into the
room； fierce； swarthy men in the dress of citizens； but with muskets slung
over their shoulders。 I looked through the chink in the curtains in an
agony of fear lest they had come upon my traces； but it was evident that
their visit was simply in order to feast their eyes upon my unfortunate
compatriot。
One of them held the lantern which he carried up in front of the dying
man； and both of them burst into a shout of mocking laughter。 Then the
eyes of the man with the lantern fell upon the flagon of wine upon the
table。 He picked it up； held it； with a devilish grin； to the lips of Hubert；
and then； as the poor wretch involuntarily inclined his head forward to
reach it； he snatched it back and took a long gulp himself。 At the same
instant he uttered a loud cry； clutched wildly at his own throat； and fell
stone…dead upon the floor。 His comrade stared at him in horror and
amazement。 Then； overcome by his own superstitious fears； he gave a
yell of terror and rushed madly from the room。 I heard his feet clattering
wildly on the cobble…stones until the sound died away in the distance。
The lantern had been left burning upon the table； and by its light I saw；
as I came out from behind my curtain； that the unfortunate Hubert's head
had fallen forward upon his chest and that he also was dead。 That motion
to reach the wine with his lips had been his last。 A clock ticked loudly in
the house； but otherwise all was absolutely still。 On the wall hung the
twisted form of the Frenchman； on the floor lay the motionless body of the
Spaniard； all dimly lit by the horn lantern。 For the first time in my life a
frantic spasm of terror came over me。 I had seen ten thousand men in
every conceivable degree of mutilation stretched upon the ground； but the
sight had never affected me like those two silent figures who were my
companions in that shadowy room。 I rushed into the street as the
Spaniard had done； eager only to leave that house of gloom behind me；
and I had run as far as the cathedral before my wits came back to me。
There I stopped； panting； in the shadow； and； my hand pressed to my
side； I tried to collect my scattered senses and to plan out what I should do。
As I stood there； breathless； the great brass bells roared twice above my
head。 It was two o'clock。 Four was the hour when the storming…party
37
… Page 38…
THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
would be in its place。 I had still two hours in which to act。
The cathedral was brilliantly lit within； and a number of people were
passing in and out； so I entered； thinking that I was less likely to be
accosted there； and that I might have quiet to form my plans。 It was
certainly a singular sight； for the place had been turned into an hospital； a
refuge； and a store…house。 One aisle was crammed with provisions；
another was littered with sick and wounded； while in the centre a great
number of helpless people had taken up their abode； and h
