to have and to hold-第31章
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〃We give you thanks； sir；〃 I said。
〃As you know；〃 he went on； 〃I have written to the Company； humbly petitioning that I be graciously relieved from a most thankless task； to wit； the governorship of Virginia。 My health faileth； and I am； moreover； under my Lord Warwick's displeasure。 He waxeth ever stronger in the Company； and if I put not myself out； he will do it for me。 If I be relieved at once； and one of the Council appointed in my place； I shall go home to look after certain of my interests there。 Then shall I be but a private gentleman； and if I can serve you； Ralph Percy； I shall be blithe to do so； but now； you understand〃 …
〃I understand； and thank you； Sir George；〃 I said。 〃May I ask one question？〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Will you obey to the letter the instructions the Company sends？〃
〃To the letter；〃 he answered。 〃I am its sworn officer。〃
〃One thing more；〃 I went on： 〃the parole I gave you； sir； that morning behind the church； is mine own again when you shall have read those letters and know the King's will。 I am free from that bond； at least。〃
He looked at me with a frown。 〃Make not bad worse； Captain Percy；〃 he said sternly。
I laughed。 〃It is my aim to make bad better； Sir George。 I see through the window that the Due Return hath come to anchor； I will no longer trespass on your Honor's time。〃 I bowed myself out； leaving him still with the frown upon his face； staring at the fire。
Without； the world was bathed in the glow of a magnificent sunset。 Clouds； dark purple and dark crimson； reared themselves in the west to dizzy heights； and hung threateningly over the darkening land beneath。 In the east loomed more pallid masses； and from the bastions of the east to the bastions of the west went hurrying； wind…driven cloudless； dark in the east； red in the west。 There was a high wind； and the river； where it was not reddened by the sunset； was lividly green。 〃A storm； too！〃 I muttered。
As I passed the guest house； there came to me from within a burst of loud and vaunting laughter and a boisterous drinking catch sung by many voices； and I knew that my lord drank； and gave others to drink； to the orders which the Due Return should bring。 The minister's house was in darkness。 In the great room I struck a light and fired the fresh torches； and found I was not its sole occupant。 On the hearth； the ashes of the dead fire touching her skirts； sat Mistress Jocelyn Percy； her arms resting upon a low stool； and her head pillowed upon them。 Her face was not hidden： it was cold and pure and still； like carven marble。 I stood and gazed at her a moment； then； as she did not offer to move； I brought wood to the fire and made the forlorn room bright again。
〃Where is Rolfe？〃 I asked at last。
〃He would have stayed；〃 she answered； 〃but I made him go。 I wished to be alone。〃 She rose； and going to the window leaned her forehead against the bars； and looked out upon the wild sky and the hurrying river。 〃I would I were alone；〃 she said in a low voice and with a catch of her breath。 As she stood there in the twilight by the window； I knew that she was weeping； though her pride strove to keep that knowledge from me。 My heart ached for her； and I knew not how to comfort her。 At last she turned。 A pasty and stoup of wine were upon the table。
〃You are tired and shaken；〃 I said； 〃and you may need all your strength。 Come； eat and drink。〃
〃For to…morrow we die；〃 she added； and broke into tremulous laughter。 Her lashes were still wet； but her pride and daring had returned。 She drank the wine I poured for her； and we spoke of indifferent things； … of the game that afternoon； of the Indian Nantauquas； of the wild night that clouds and wind portended。 Supper over； I called Angela to bear her company； and I myself went out into the night； and down the street toward the guest house。
CHAPTER XVIII IN WHICH WE GO OUT INTO THE NIGHT
THE guest house was aflame with lights。 As I neared it； there was borne to my ears a burst of drunken shouts accompanied by a volley of musketry。 My lord was pursuing with a vengeance our senseless fashion of wasting in drinking bouts powder that would have been better spent against the Indians。 The noise increased。 The door was flung open； and there issued a tide of drawers and servants headed by mine host himself； and followed by a hail of such minor breakables as the house contained and by Olympian laughter。
I made my way past the indignant host and his staff； and standing upon the threshold looked at the riot within。 The long room was thick with the smoke of tobacco and the smoke of powder； through which the many torches burned yellow。 Upon the great table wine had been spilt； and dripped to swell a red pool upon the floor。 Underneath the table； still grasping his empty tankard； lay the first of my lord's guests to fall； an up…river Burgess with white hair。 The rest of the company were fast reeling to a like fate。 Young Hamor had a fiddle； and； one foot upon a settle； the other upon the table； drew across it a fast and furious bow。 Master Pory； arrived at the maudlin stage； alternately sang a slow and melancholy ditty and wiped the tears from his eyes with elaborate care。 Master Edward Sharpless； now in a high voice； now in an undistinguishable murmur； argued some imaginary case。 Peaceable Sherwood was drunk； and Giles Allen； and Pettiplace Clause。 Captain John Martin； sitting with outstretched legs； called now for a fresh tankard； which he emptied at a gulp； now for his pistols； which； as fast as my lord's servants brought them to him new primed； he discharged at the ceiling。 The loud wind rattled doors and windows； and made the flame of the torches stream sideways。 The music grew madder and madder； the shots more frequent； the drunken voices thicker and louder。
The master of the feast carried his wine better than did his guests； or had drunk less； but his spirit too was quite without bounds。 A color burned in his cheeks； a wicked light in his eyes； he laughed to himself。 In the gray smoke cloud he saw me not； or saw me only as one of the many who thronged the doorway and stared at the revel within。 He raised his silver cup with a slow and wavering hand。 〃Drink； you dogs！〃 he chanted。 〃Drink to the Santa Teresa！ Drink to to…morrow night！ Drink to a proud lady within my arms and an enemy in my power！〃
The wine that had made him mad had maddened those others； also。 In that hour they were dead to honor。 With shameless laughter and as little spilling as might be； they raised their tankards as my lord raised his。 A stone thrown by some one behind me struck the cup from my lord's hand； sending it clattering to the floor and dashing him with the red wine。 Master Pory roared with drunken laughter。 〃Cup and lip missed that time！〃 he cried。
The man who had thrown the stone was Jeremy Sparrow。 For one instant I saw his great figure； and the wrathful face beneath his shock of grizzled hair； the next he had made his way through the crowd of gaping menials and was gone。
My lord stared foolishly at the stains upon his hands； at the fallen goblet and the stone beside it。 〃Cogged dice；〃 he said thickly； 〃or I had not lost that throw！ I'll drink that toast by myself to…morrow night； when the ship does n't rock like this d … d floor； and the sea has no stones to throw。 More wine； Giles！ To my Lord High Admiral； gentlemen！ To his Grace of Buckingham！ May he shortly howl in hell； and looking back to Whitehall see me upon the King's bosom！ The King 's a good king； gentlemen！ He gave me this ruby。 D' ye know what I had of him last year？ I〃 …
I turned and left the door and the house。 I could not thrust a fight upon a drunken man。
Ten yards away； suddenly and without any warning of his approach； I found beside me the Indian Nantauquas。 〃I have been to the woods to hunt；〃 he said； in the slow musical English Rolfe had taught him。 〃I knew where a panther lodged； and to…day I laid a snare； and took him in it。 I brought him to my brother's house； and caged him there。 When I have tamed him； I shall give him to the beautiful lady。〃
He expected no answer； and I gave him none。 There are times when an Indian is the best company in the world。
Just before we reached the market place we had t
