to have and to hold-第34章
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Those whom my lord's whistle had brought were now upon the very edge of the wharf。 The marshal's voice called upon us in the name of the King to return。 Finding that we vouchsafed no answer； he pulled out a pistol and fired； the ball going through my hat； then whipped out its fellow and fired again。 Mistress Percy； whose behavior had been that of an angel； stirred in her seat。 I did not know until the day broke that the ball had grazed her arm； drenching her sleeve with blood。
〃It is time we were away；〃 I said； with a laugh。 〃If your reverence will keep your hand upon the tiller and your eye upon the gentleman whom you have made our traveling companion； I'll put up the sail。〃
I was on my way to the foremast； when the boom lying prone before me rose。 Slowly and majestically the sail ascended； tapering upward； silvered by the moon； … the great white pinion which should bear us we knew not whither。 I stopped short in my tracks； Mistress Percy drew a sobbing breath； and the minister gasped with admiration。 We all three stared as though the white cloth had veritably been a monster wing endowed with life。
〃Sails don't rise of themselves！〃 I exclaimed； and was at the mast before the words were out of my lips。 Crouched behind it was a man。 I should have known him even without the aid of the moon。 Often enough； God knows； I had seen him crouched like this beside me； ourselves in ambush awaiting some unwary foe； brute or human； or ourselves in hiding； holding our breath lest it should betray us。 The minister who had been a player； the rival who would have poisoned me； the servant who would have stabbed me； the wife who was wife in name only； … mine were strange shipmates。
He rose to his feet and stood there against the mast； in the old half…submissive； half…defiant attitude； with his head thrown back in the old way。
〃If you order me； sir； I will swim ashore；〃 he said； half sullenly； half … I know not how。
〃You would never reach the shore；〃 I replied。 〃And you know that I will never order you again。 Stay here if you please； or come aft if you please。〃
I went back and took the tiller from Sparrow。 We were now in mid…river； and the swollen stream and the strong wind bore us on with them like a leaf before the gale。 We left behind the lights and the clamor； the dark town and the silent fort； the weary Due Return and the shipping about the lower wharf。 Before us loomed the Santa Teresa； we passed so close beneath her huge black sides that we heard the wind whistling through her rigging。 When she； too； was gone； the river lay bare before us； silver when the moon shone； of an inky blackness when it was obscured by one of the many flying clouds。
My wife wrapped her mantle closer about her； and； leaning back in her seat in the stern beside me； raised her face to the wild and solemn heavens。 Diccon sat apart in the bow and held his tongue。 The minister bent over； and； lifting the man that lay in the bottom of the boat； laid him at full length upon the thwart before us。 The moonlight streamed down upon the prostrate figure。 I think it could never have shone upon a more handsome or a more wicked man。 He lay there in his splendid dress and dark beauty； Endymion…like； beneath the moon。 The King's ward turned her eyes upon him； kept them there a moment； then glanced away； and looked at him no more。
〃There's a parlous lump upon his forehead where it struck the thwart；〃 said the minister； 〃but the life's yet in him。 He'll shame honest men for many a day to come。 Your Platonists； who from a goodly outside argue as fair a soul； could never have been acquainted with this gentleman。〃
The subject of his discourse moaned and stirred。 The minister raised one of the hanging hands and felt for the pulse。 〃Faint enough；〃 he went on。 〃A little more and the King might have waited for his minion forever and a day。 It would have been the better for us； who have now； indeed； a strange fish upon our hands； but I am glad I killed him not。〃
I tossed him a flask。 〃It's good aqua vit‘； and the flask is honest。 Give him to drink of it。〃
He forced the liquor between my lord's teeth； then dashed water in his face。 Another minute and the King's favorite sat up and looked around him。 Dazed as yet； he stared； with no comprehension in his eyes； at the clouds； the sail； the rushing water； the dark figures about him。 〃Nicolo！〃 he cried sharply。
〃He's not here； my lord；〃 I said。
At the sound of my voice he sprang to his feet。
〃I should advise your lordship to sit still；〃 I said。 〃The wind is very boisterous； and we are not under bare poles。 If you exert yourself； you may capsize the boat。〃
He sat down mechanically； and put his hand to his forehead。 I watched him curiously。 It was the strangest trick that fortune had played him。
His hand dropped at last； and he straightened himself； with a long breath。 〃Who threw me into the boat？〃 he demanded。
〃The honor was mine；〃 declared the minister。
The King's minion lacked not the courage of the body； nor； when passionate action had brought him naught； a certain reserve force of philosophy。 He now did the best thing he could have done； … burst into a roar of laughter。 〃Zooks！〃 he cried。 〃It's as good a comedy as ever I saw！ How's the play to end； captain？ Are we to go off laughing； or is the end to be bloody after all？ For instance； is there murder to be done？〃 He looked at me boldly； one hand on his hip； the other twirling his mustaches。
〃We are not all murderers； my lord；〃 I told him。 〃For the present you are in no danger other than that which is common to us all。〃
He looked at the clouds piling behind us； thicker and thicker； higher and higher； at the bending mast； at the black water swirling now and again over the gunwales。 〃It's enough；〃 he muttered。
I beckoned to Diccon； and putting the tiller into his hands went forward to reef the sail。 When it was done and I was back in my place； my lord spoke again。
〃Where are we going； captain？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃If you leave that sail up much longer； you will land us at the bottom of the river。〃
〃There are worse places；〃 I replied。
He left his seat； and moved； though with caution； to one nearer Mistress Percy。 〃Are cold and storm and peril sweeter to you； lady； than warmth and safety； and a love that would guard you from； not run you into； danger？〃 he said in a whisper。 〃Do you not wish this boat the Santa Teresa； these rude boards the velvet cushions of her state cabin； this darkness her many lights； this cold her warmth； with the night shut out and love shut in？〃
His audacity； if it angered me； yet made me laugh。 Not so with the King's ward。 She shrank from him until she pressed against the tiller。 Our flight； the pursuing feet； the struggle at the wharf； her wounded arm of which she had not told； the terror of the white sail rising as if by magic； the vision of the man she hated lying as one dead before her in the moonlight； the cold； the hurry of the night； … small wonder if her spirit failed her for some time。 I felt her hand touch mine where it rested upon the tiller。 〃Captain Percy；〃 she murmured； with a little sobbing breath。
I leaned across the tiller and addressed the favorite。 〃My lord；〃 I said； 〃courtesy to prisoners is one thing； and freedom from restraint and license of tongue is another。 Here at the stern the boat is somewhat heavily freighted。 Your lordship will oblige me if you will go forward where there is room enough and to spare。〃
His black brows drew together。 〃And what if I refuse； sir？〃 he demanded haughtily。
〃I have rope here；〃 I answered； 〃and to aid me the gentleman who once before to…night； and in despite of your struggles； lifted you in his arms like an infant。 We will tie you hand and foot； and lay you in the bottom of the boat。 If you make too much trouble； there is always the river。 My lord； you are not now at Whitehall。 You are with desperate men； outlaws who have no king； and so fear no king's minions。 Will you go free； or will you go bound？ Go you shall； one way or the other。〃
He looked at me with rage and hatred in his face。 Then； with a laugh that was not good to hear and a shrug of the shoulders； he went forward to bear Diccon company in the bow。
CHAPTER XX IN
