the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第3章
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many hundred leagues beyond her borders。 To her greatness I would
dedicate my life。 I placed my hand upon my heart as I swore it； and at
that instant the gondolier fell upon me from behind。
When I say that he fell upon me I do not mean merely that he attacked
me； but that he really did tumble upon me with all his weight。 The
fellow stands behind you and above you as he rows； so that you can
neither see him nor can you in any way guard against such an assault。
One moment I had sat with my mind filled with sublime resolutions；
the next I was flattened out upon the bottom of the boat； the breath dashed
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out of my body； and this monster pinning me down。 I felt the fierce pants
of his hot breath upon the back of my neck。 In an instant he had torn
away my sword； had slipped a sack over my head； and had tied a rope
firmly round the outside of it。
There I was at the bottom of the gondola as helpless as a trussed fowl。
I could not shout； I could not move； I was a mere bundle。 An instant later
I heard once more the swishing of the water and the creaking of the oar。
This fellow had done his work and had resumed his journey as quietly
and unconcernedly as if he were accustomed to clap a sack over a colonel
of Hussars every day of the week。
I cannot tell you the humiliation and also the fury which filled my
mind as I lay there like a helpless sheep being carried to the butcher's。 I；
Etienne Gerard； the champion of the six brigades of light cavalry and the
first swordsman of the Grand Army； to be overpowered by a single
unarmed man in such a fashion！ Yet I lay quiet； for there is a time to
resist and there is a time to save one's strength。 I had felt the fellow's
grip upon my arms； and I knew that I would be a child in his hands。 I
waited quietly； therefore； with a heart which burned with rage； until my
opportunity should come。
How long I lay there at the bottom of the boat I can not tell； but it
seemed to me to be a long time； and always there were the hiss of the
waters and the steady creaking of the oar。 Several times we turned
corners； for I heard the long； sad cry which these gondoliers give when
they wish to warn their fellows that they are coming。 At last； after a
considerable journey； I felt the side of the boat scrape up against a landing…
place。 The fellow knocked three times with his oar upon wood； and in
answer to his summons I heard the rasping of bars and the turning of keys。
A great door creaked back upon its hinges。
〃Have you got him？〃 asked a voice； in Italian。
My monster gave a laugh and kicked the sack in which I lay。
〃Here he is；〃 said he。
〃They are waiting。〃 He added something which I could not
understand。
〃Take him； then；〃 said my captor。 He raised me in his arms； ascended
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some steps； and I was thrown down upon a hard floor。 A moment later
the bars creaked and the key whined once more。 I was a prisoner inside a
house。
From the voices and the steps there seemed now to be several people
round me。 I understand Italian a great deal better than I speak it； and I
could make out very well what they were saying。
〃You have not killed him； Matteo？〃
〃What matter if I have？〃
〃My faith； you will have to answer for it to the tribunal。〃
〃They will kill him； will they not？〃
〃Yes； but it is not for you or me to take it out of their hands。〃
〃Tut！ I have not killed him。 Dead men do not bite； and his cursed
teeth met in my thumb as I pulled the sack over his head。〃
〃He lies very quiet。〃
〃Tumble him out and you will find that he is lively enough。〃
The cord which bound me was undone and the sack drawn from over
my head。 With my eyes closed I lay motionless upon the floor。
〃By the saints； Matteo； I tell you that you have broken his neck。〃
〃Not I。 He has only fainted。 The better for him if he never came
out of it again。〃
I felt a hand within my tunic。
〃Matteo is right；〃 said a voice。 〃His heart beats like a hammer。 Let
him lie and he will soon find his senses。〃
I waited for a minute or so and then I ventured to take a stealthy peep
from between my lashes。 At first I could see nothing； for I had been so
long in darkness and it was but a dim light in which I found myself。
Soon； however； I made out that a high and vaulted ceiling covered with
painted gods and goddesses was arching over my head。 This was no
mean den of cut…throats into which I had been carried； but it must be the
hall of some Venetian palace。 Then； without movement； very slowly and
stealthily I had a peep at the men who surrounded me。 There was the
gondolier； a swart； hard…faced； murderous ruffian； and beside him were
three other men； one of them a little； twisted fellow with an air of authority
and several keys in his hand； the other two tall young servants in a smart
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livery。 As I listened to their talk I saw that the small man was the
steward of the house； and that the others were under his orders。
There were four of them； then； but the little steward might be left out
of the reckoning。 Had I a weapon I should have smiled at such odds as
those。 But； hand to hand； I was no match for the one even without three
others to aid him。 Cunning； then； not force； must be my aid。 I wished
to look round for some mode of escape； and in doing so I gave an almost
imperceptible movement of my head。 Slight as it was it did not escape
my guardians。
〃Come； wake up； wake up！〃 cried the steward。
〃Get on your feet； little Frenchman；〃 growled the gondolier。 〃Get up；
I say；〃 and for the second time he spurned me with his foot。
Never in the world was a command obeyed so promptly as that one。
In an instant I had bounded to my feet and rushed as hard as I could to the
back of the hall。 They were after me as I have seen the English hounds
follow a fox； but there was a long passage down which I tore。
It turned to the left and again to the left； and then I found myself back
in the hall once more。 They were almost within touch of me and there
was no time for thought。 I turned toward the staircase； but two men were
coming down it。 I dodged back and tried the door through which I had
been brought； but it was fastened with great bars and I could not loosen
them。 The gondolier was on me with his knife； but I met him with a kick
on the body which stretched him on his back。 His dagger flew with a
clatter across the marble floor。 I had no time to seize it； for there were
half a dozen of them now clutching at me。 As I rushed through them the
little steward thr
