a laodicean-第44章
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retired to his room； where he composed some passionate verses；
which he wrote with his blood； and after directing them to her
ran himself through the body with his sword。 Too late the
lady's heart was touched by his devotion； she was ever after a
melancholy woman； and wore his portrait despite her husband's
prohibition。 'This；' continued De Stancy； leading them
through the doorway into the hall where the coats of mail were
arranged along the wall； and stopping opposite a suit which
bore some resemblance to that of the portrait； 'this is his
armour； as you will perceive by comparing it with the picture；
and this is the sword with which he did the rash deed。'
'What unreasonable devotion！' said Paula practically。 'It was
too romantic of him。 She was not worthy of such a sacrifice。'
'He also is one whom they say you resemble a little in
feature； I think；' said Charlotte。
'Do they？' replied De Stancy。 'I wonder if it's true。' He
set down the candles； and asking the girls to withdraw for a
moment； was inside the upper part of the suit of armour in
incredibly quick time。 Going then and placing himself in
front of a low…hanging painting near the original； so as to be
enclosed by the frame while covering the figure； arranging the
sword as in the one above； and setting the light that it might
fall in the right direction； he recalled them； when he put the
question； 'Is the resemblance strong？'
He looked so much like a man of bygone times that neither of
them replied； but remained curiously gazing at him。 His
modern and comparatively sallow complexion； as seen through
the open visor； lent an ethereal ideality to his appearance
which the time…stained countenance of the original warrior
totally lacked。
At last Paula spoke； so stilly that she seemed a statue
enunciating： 'Are the verses known that he wrote with his
blood？'
'O yes； they have been carefully preserved。' Captain De
Stancy； with true wooer's instinct； had committed some of them
to memory that morning from the printed copy to be found in
every well…ordered library。 'I fear I don't remember them
all；' he said； 'but they begin in this way：
〃From one that dyeth in his discontent；
Dear Faire； receive this greeting to thee sent；
And still as oft as it is read by thee；
Then with some deep sad sigh remember mee！
O 'twas my fortune's error to vow dutie；
To one that bears defiance in her beautie！
Sweete poyson； pretious wooe； infectious jewell
Such is a Ladie that is faire and cruell。
How well could I with ayre； camelion…like；
Live happie； and still gazeing on thy cheeke；
In which； forsaken man； methink I see
How goodlie love doth threaten cares to mee。
Why dost thou frowne thus on a kneelinge soule；
Whose faults in love thou may'st as well controule？
In lovebut O； that word； that word I feare
Is hateful still both to thy hart and eare！
。 。 。 。 。
Ladie； in breefe； my fate doth now intend
The period of my daies to have an end：
Waste not on me thy pittie； pretious Faire：
Rest you in much content； I； in despaire！〃'
A solemn silence followed the close of the recital； which De
Stancy improved by turning the point of the sword to his
breast； resting the pommel upon the floor； and saying：
'After writing that we may picture him turning this same sword
in this same way； and falling on it thus。' He inclined his
body forward as he spoke。
'Don't； Captain De Stancy； please don't！' cried Paula
involuntarily。
'No； don't show us any further； William！' said his sister。
'It is too tragic。'
De Stancy put away the sword； himself rather excitednot；
however； by his own recital； but by the direct gaze of Paula
at him。
This Protean quality of De Stancy's； by means of which he
could assume the shape and situation of almost any ancestor at
will； had impressed her； and he perceived it with a throb of
fervour。 But it had done no more than impress her； for though
in delivering the lines he had so fixed his look upon her as
to suggest； to any maiden practised in the game of the eyes； a
present significance in the words； the idea of any such
arriere…pensee had by no means commended itself to her soul。
At this time a messenger from Markton barracks arrived at the
castle and wished to speak to Captain De Stancy in the hall。
Begging the two ladies to excuse him for a moment； he went
out。
While De Stancy was talking in the twilight to the messenger
at one end of the apartment； some other arrival was shown in
by the side door； and in making his way after the conference
across the hall to the room he had previously quitted； De
Stancy encountered the new…comer。 There was just enough light
to reveal the countenance to be Dare's； he bore a portfolio
under his arm； and had begun to wear a moustache； in case the
chief constable should meet him anywhere in his rambles； and
be struck by his resemblance to the man in the studio。
'What the devil are you doing here？' said Captain De Stancy；
in tones he had never used before to the young man。
Dare started back in surprise； and naturally so。 De Stancy；
having adopted a new system of living； and relinquished the
meagre diet and enervating waters of his past years； was
rapidly recovering tone。 His voice was firmer； his cheeks
were less pallid； and above all he was authoritative towards
his present companion； whose ingenuity in vamping up a being
for his ambitious experiments seemed about to be rewarded；
like Frankenstein's； by his discomfiture at the hands of his
own creature。
'What the devil are you doing here； I say？' repeated De
Stancy。
'You can talk to me like that； after my working so hard to get
you on in life； and make a rising man of you！' expostulated
Dare； as one who felt himself no longer the leader in this
enterprise。
'But；' said the captain less harshly； 'if you let them
discover any relations between us here； you will ruin the
fairest prospects man ever had！'
'O； I like that； captainwhen you owe all of it to me！'
'That's too cool； Will。'
'No； what I say is true。 However； let that go。 So now you
are here on a call； but how are you going to get here often
enough to win her before the other man comes back？ If you
don't see her every daytwice； three times a dayyou will
not capture her in the time。'
'I must think of that；' said De Stancy。
'There is only one way of being constantly here： you must
come to copy the pictures or furniture； something in the way
he did。'
'I'll think of it；' muttered De Stancy hastily； as he heard
the voices of the ladies； whom he hastened to join as they
were appearing at the other end of the room。 His countenance
was gloomy as he recrossed the hall； for Dare's words on the
shortness of his opportunities had impressed him。 Almost at
once he uttered a hope to Paula that he might have further
chance of studying； and if possible of copying； some of the
ancestral faces with which the building abounded。
Meanwhile Dare had come forward with his portfolio； which
proved to be full of photographs。 While Paula and Charlotte
were examining them he said to De Stancy； as a stranger：
'Excuse my interruption； sir； but if you should think of
copying any of the portraits； as you were stating just now to
the ladies； my patent photographic process is at your service；
and is； I believe； the only one which would be effectual in
the dim indoor lights。'
'It is just what I was thinking of；' said De Stancy； now so
far cooled down from his irritation as to be quite ready to
accept Dare's adroitly suggested scheme。
On application to Paula she immediately gave De Stancy
permission to photograph to any extent； and told Dare he might
bring his instruments as soon as Captain De Stancy required
them。
'Don't stare at her in such a brazen way！' whispered the
latter to the young man； when Paula had withdrawn a few steps。
'Say； 〃I shall highly value the privilege of assisting Captain
De Stancy in such a work。〃'
Dare obeyed； and before leaving De Stancy arranged to begin
performing on his venerated
