the notch on the ax and on being found out-第43章
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miserable petty local passions into one awful feeling of fear for
the Power who caused it； and compassion for those who were exposed
to it。But Stanton felt there was something more than national
bigotry in the exclamations of the old woman； there was a peculiar
and personal horror of the English。And he was right； but this did
not diminish the eagerness of his。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
The house was handsome and spacious； but the melancholy appearance
of desertion 。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
The benches were by the wall； but there were none to sit there；
the tables were spread in what had been the hall； but it seemed as
if none had gathered round them for many years；the clock struck
audibly； there was no voice of mirth or of occupation to drown its
sound； time told his awful lesson to silence alone；the hearths
were black with fuel long since consumed；the family portraits
looked as if they were the only tenants of the mansion； they seemed
to say； from their moldering frames； 〃there are none to gaze on
us；〃 and the echo of the steps of Stanton and his feeble guide； was
the only sound audible between the peals of thunder that rolled
still awfully； but more distantly；every peal like the exhausted
murmurs of a spent heart。 As they passed on； a shriek was heard。
Stanton paused； and fearful images of the dangers to which
travelers on the Continent are exposed in deserted and remote
habitations； came into his mind。 〃Don't heed it；〃 said the old
woman； lighting him on with a miserable lamp；〃it is only he。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
The old woman having now satisfied herself； by ocular
demonstration； that her English guest； even if he was the devil；
had neither horn； hoof； nor tail； that he could bear the sign of
the cross without changing his form； and that； when he spoke； not a
puff of sulphur came out of his mouth； began to take courage； and
at length commenced her story； which； weary and comfortless as
Stanton was； 。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
Every obstacle was now removed； parents and relations at last gave
up all opposition； and the young pair were united。 Never was there
a lovelier；they seemed like angels who had only anticipated by a
few years their celestial and eternal union。 The marriage was
solemnized with much pomp； and a few days after there was a feast
in that very wainscoted chamber which you paused to remark was so
gloomy。 It was that night hung with rich tapestry； representing
the exploits of the Cid； particularly that of his burning a few
Moors who refused to renounce their accursed religion。 They were
represented beautifully tortured； writhing and howling； and
〃Mahomet！ Mahomet！〃 issuing out of their mouths； as they called on
him in their burning agonies；you could almost hear them scream。
At the upper end of the room； under a splendid estrade； over which
was an image of the blessed Virgin； sat Donna Isabella de Cardoza；
mother to the bride； and near her Donna Ines； the bride； on rich
almohadas； the bridegroom sat opposite to her； and though they
never spoke to each other； their eyes； slowly raised； but suddenly
withdrawn （those eyes that blushed）； told to each other the
delicious secret of their happiness。 Don Pedro de Cardoza had
assembled a large party in honor of his daughter's nuptials； among
them was an Englishman of the name of MELMOTH； a traveler； no one
knew who had brought him there。 He sat silent like the rest； while
the iced waters and the sugared wafers were presented to the
company。 The night was intensely hot； and the moon glowed like a
sun over the ruins of Saguntum； the embroidered blinds flapped
heavily； as if the wind made an effort to raise them in vain； and
then desisted。
（Another defect in the manuscript occurred here； but it was soon
supplied。）
。 。 。 。 。
The company were dispersed through various alleys of the garden；
the bridegroom and bride wandered through one where the delicious
perfume of the orange trees mingled itself with that of the myrtles
in blow。 On their return to the ball； both of them asked； Had the
company heard the exquisite sounds that floated through the garden
just before they quitted it？ No one had heard them。 They
expressed their surprise。 The Englishman had never quitted the
hall； it was said he smiled with a most particular and
extraordinary expression as the remark was made。 His silence had
been noticed before； but it was ascribed to his ignorance of the
Spanish language； an ignorance that Spaniards are not anxious
either to expose or remove by speaking to a stranger。 The subject
of the music was not again reverted to till the guests were seated
at supper； when Donna Ines and her young husband； exchanging a
smile of delighted surprise； exclaimed they heard the same
delicious sounds floating round them。 The guests listened； but no
one else could hear it；everyone felt there was something
extraordinary in this。 Hush！ was uttered by every voice almost at
the same moment。 A dead silence followed；you would think； from
their intent looks； that they listened with their very eyes。 This
deep silence； contrasted with the splendor of the feast； and the
light effused from torches held by the domestics； produced a
singular effect；it seemed for some moments like an assembly of
the dead。 The silence was interrupted； though the cause of wonder
had not ceased； by the entrance of Father Olavida； the Confessor of
Donna Isabella； who had been called away previous to the feast； to
administer extreme unction to a dying man in the neighborhood。 He
was a priest of uncommon sanctity； beloved in the family； and
respected in the neighborhood； where he had displayed uncommon
taste and talents for exorcism；in fact； this was the good
Father's forte； and he piqued himself on it accordingly。 The devil
never fell into worse hands than Father Olavida's； for when he was
so contumacious as to resist Latin； and even the first verses of
the Gospel of St。 John in Greek； which the good Father never had
recourse to but in cases of extreme stubbornness and difficulty；
（here Stanton recollected the English story of the Boy of Bilson；
and blushed even in Spain for his countrymen）；then he always
applied to the Inquisition； and if the devils were ever so
obstinate before； they were always seen to fly out of the
possessed； just as； in the midst of their cries （no doubt of
blasphemy）； they were tied to the stake。 Some held out even till
the flames surrounded them； but even the most stubborn must have
been dislodged when the operation was over； for the devil himself
could no longer tenant a crisp and glutinous lump of cinders。 Thus
Father Olavida's fame spread far and wide； and the Cardoza family
had made uncommon interest to procure him for a Confessor； and
happily succeeded。 The ceremony he had just been performing had
cast a shade over the good Father's countenance； but it dispersed
as he mingled among the guests； and was introduced to them。 Room
was soon made for him； and he happened accidentally to be seated
opposite the Englishman。 As the wine was presented to him； Father
Olavida （who； as I observed； was a man of singular sanctity）
prepared to utter a short internal prayer。 He hesitated；
trembled；desisted； and； putting down the wine； wiped the drops
from his forehead with the sleeve of his habit。 Donna Isabella
gave a sign to a domestic； and other wine of a higher quality was
offered to him。 His lips moved； as if in the effort to pronounce a
benediction on it and the company； but the effort again failed； and
the change in his countenance was so extraordinary； that it was
perceived by all the guests。 He felt the sensation that his
extraordinary appearance excited； and attempted to remove it by
again endeavoring to lift the cup to his lips。 So strong was the
anxiety with which the company watched him； that the only sound
heard in that spacious and crowded hall was the rustling of his
habit as he attempted to lift the cup to his lips once morein
vain。 The guests sat in astonished silence。 Father Olavida al
