joan of naples-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Madam；　he　is　no　more。〃

Joan　uttered　a　cry；　as　though　the　noble　old　man　had　been　slain　before　her　eyes：　she　respected　him　as　a　father；　then；　sinking　back；　she　remained　profoundly　silent。

〃How　did　they　kill　him？〃　she　asked　at　last；　fixing　her　great　eyes　in　terror　on　the　count。

〃Yesterday　evening；　as　he　left　this　castle；　on　the　way　to　his　own　home；　a　man　suddenly　sprang　out　upon　him　before　the　Porta　Petruccia：　it　was　one　of　Andre's　favourites；　Conrad　of　Gottis　chosen　no　doubt　because　he　had　a　grievance　against　the　incorruptible　magistrate　on　account　of　some　sentence　passed　against　him；　and　the　murder　would　therefore　be　put　down　to　motives　of　private　revenge。　　The　cowardly　wretch　gave　a　sign　to　two　or　three　companions；　who　surrounded　the　victim　and　robbed　him　of　all　means　of　escape。　　The　poor　old　man　looked　fixedly；at　his　assassin；　and　asked　him　what　he　wanted。　'I　want　you　to　lose　your　life　at　my　hands；　as　I　lost　my　case　at　yours！'　cried　the　murderer；　and　leaving　him　no　time　to　answer；　he　ran　him　through　with　his　sword。　　Then　the　rest　fell　upon　the　poor　man；　who　did　not　even　try　to　call　for　help；　and　his　body　was　riddled　with　wounds　and　horribly　mutilated；　and　then　left　bathed　in　its　blood。〃

〃Terrible！〃　murmured　the　queen；　covering　her　face。

〃It　was　only　their　first　effort：　the　proscription　lists　are　already　full：　Andre　must　needs　have　blood　to　celebrate　his　accession　to　the　throne　of　Naples。　　And　do　you　know；　Joan；　whose　name　stands　first　in　the　doomed　list？〃

〃Whose？〃　cried　the　queen；　shuddering　from　head　to　foot。

〃Mine；〃　said　the　count　calmly。

〃Yours！〃　cried　Joan；　drawing　herself　up　to　her　full　height；　〃are　you　to　be　killed　next！　　Oh；　be　careful；　Andre；　you　have　pronounced　your　own　death…sentence。　　Long　have　I　turned　aside　the　dagger　pointing　to　your　breast；　but　you　put　an　end　to　all　my　patience。　　Woe　to　you；　Prince　of　Hungary！　the　blood　which　you　have　spilt　shall　fall　on　your　own　head。〃

As　she　spoke　she　had　lost　her　pallor：　her　lovely　face　was　fired　with　revenge；　her　eyes　flashed　lightning。　　This　child　of　sixteen　was　terrible　to　behold：　she　pressed　her　lover's　hand　with　convulsive　tenderness；　and　clung　to　him　as　if　she　would　screen　him　with　her　own　body。

〃Your　anger　is　awakened　too　late；〃　said　he　gently　and　sadly；　for　at　this　moment　Joan　seemed　so　lovely　that　he　could　reproach　her　with　nothing。　　〃You　'do　not　know　that　his　mother　has　left　him　a　talisman　preserving　him　from　sword　and　poison？〃

〃He　will　die；〃　said　Joan　firmly：　the　smile　that　lighted　up　her　face　was　so　unnatural　that　the　count　was　dismayed；　and　dropped　his　eyes。

The　next　day　the　young　Queen　of　Naples；　lovelier；　more　smiling　than　ever；　sitting　carelessly　in　a　graceful　attitude　beside　a　window　which　looked　out　on　the　magnificent　view　of　the　bay；　was　busy　weaving　a　cord　of　silk　and　gold。　　The　sun　had　run　nearly　two…thirds　of　his　fiery　course；　and　was　gradually　sinking　his　rays　in　the　clear　blue　waters　where　Posilippo's　head　is　reflected　with　its　green　and　flowery　crown。　　A　warm；　balmy　breeze　that　had　passed　over　the　orange　trees　of　Sorrento　and　Amalfi　felt　deliciously　refreshing　to　the　inhabitants　of　the　capital；　who　had　succumbed　to　torpor　in　the　enervating　softness　of　the　day。　　The　whole　town　was　waking　from　a　long　siesta；　breathing　freely　after　a　sleepy　interval：　the　Molo　was　covered　with　a　crowd　of　eager　people　dressed　out　in　the　brightest　colours；　the　many　cries　of　a　festival；　joyous　songs；　love　ditties　sounded　from　all　quarters　of　the　vast　amphitheatre；　which　is　one　of　the　chief　marvels　of　creation：　they　came　to　the　ears　of　Joan；　and　she　listened　as　she　bent　over　her　work；　absorbed　in　deep　thought。　　Suddenly；　when　she　seemed　most　busily　occupied；　the　indefinable　feeling　of　someone　near　at　hand；　and　the　touch　of　something　on　her　shoulder；　made　her　start：　she　turned　as　though　waked　from　a　dream　by　contact　with　a　serpent；　and　perceived　her　husband；　magnificently　dressed；　carelessly　leaning　against　the　back　of　her　chair。　　For　a　long　time　past　the　prince　had　not　come　to　his　wife　in　this　familiar　fashion；　and　to　the　queen　the　pretence　of　affection　and　careless　behaviour　augured　ill。　　Andre　did　not　appear　to　notice　the　look　of　hatred　and　terror　that　had　escaped　Joan　in　spite　of　herself；　and　assuming　the　best　expression　of　gentleness　as　that　his　straight　hard　features　could　contrive　to　put　on　in　such　circumstances　as　these；　he　smilingly　asked

〃Why　are　you　making　this　pretty　cord；　dear　dutiful　wife？〃

〃To　hang　you　with；　my　lord；〃　replied　the　queen；　with　a　smile。

Andre　shrugged　his　shoulders；　seeing　in　the　threat　so　incredibly　rash　nothing　more　than　a　pleasantry　in　rather　bad　taste。　　But　when　he　saw　that　Joan　resumed　her　work；　he　tried　to　renew　the　conversation。

〃I　admit；〃　he　said；　in　a　perfectly　calm　voice；　〃that　my　question　is　quite　unnecessary：　from　your　eagerness　to　finish　this　handsome　piece　of　work；　I　ought　to　suspect　that　it　is　destined　for　some　fine　knight　of　yours　whom　you　propose　to　send　on　a　dangerous　enterprise　wearing　your　colours。　　If　so；　my　fair　queen；　I　claim　to　receive　my　orders　from　your　lips：　appoint　the　time　and　place　for　the　trial；　and　I　am　sure　beforehand　of　carrying　off　a　prize　that　I　shall　dispute　with　all　your　adorers。〃

〃That　is　not　so　certain；〃　said　Joan；　〃if　you　are　as　valiant　in　war　as　in　love。〃　　And　she　cast　on　her　husband　a　look　at　once　seductive　and　scornful；　beneath　which　the　young　man　blushed　up　to　his　eyes。

〃I　hope；〃　said　Andre；　repressing　his　feelings；〃I　hope　soon　to　give　you　such　proofs　of　my　affection　that　you　will　never　doubt　it　again。〃

〃And　what　makes　you　fancy　that；　my　lord？〃

〃I　would　tell　you；　if　you　would　listen　seriously。〃

〃I　am　listening。〃

〃Well；　it　is　a　dream　I　had　last　night　that　gives　me　such　confidence　in　the　future。〃

〃A　dream！　　You　surely　ought　to　explain　that。〃

〃I　dreamed　that　there　was　a　grand　fete　in　the　town：　an　immense　crowd　filled　the　streets　like　an　overflowing　torrent；　and　the　heavens　were　ringing　with　their　shouts　of　joy；　the　gloomy　granite　facades　were　hidden　by　hangings　of　silk　and　festoons　of　flowers；　the　churches　were　decorated　as　though　for　some　grand　ceremony。　　I　was　riding　side　by　side　with　you。〃　　Joan　made　a　haughty　movement：　〃Forgive　me；　madam；　it　was　only　a　dream：　I　was　on　your　right；　riding　a　fine　white　horse；　magnificently　caparisoned；　and　the　chief…justice　of　the　kingdom　carried　before　me　a　flag　unfolded　in　sign　of　honour。　　After　riding　in　triumph　through　the　main　thoroughfares　of　the　city；　we　arrived；　to　the　sound　of　trumpets　and　clarions；　at　the　royal　church　of　Saint　Clara；　where　your　grandfather　and　my　uncle　are　buried；　and　there；　before　the　high　altar；　the　pope's　ambassador　laid　your　hand　in　mine　and　pronounced　a　long　discourse；　and　then　on　our　two　heads　in　turn　placed　the　crown　of　Jerusalem　and　Sicily；　after　which　the　nobles　and　the　people　shouted　in　one　voice；　'Long　live　the　King　and　Queen　of　Naples！'　　And　I；　wishing　to　perpetuate　the　memory　of　so　glorious　a　day；　proceeded　to　create　knights　among　the　most　zealous　in　our　court。〃

〃And　do　you　not　remember　the　names　of　the　chosen　persons　whom　you　judged　worthy　of　your　royal　favours？〃

〃Assuredly；　madam：　Bertrand；　Count　of　Artois　〃

〃Enough；　my　lord；　I　excuse　you　from　naming　the　rest：　I　always　supposed　you　were　loyal　and　generous；　but　you　give　me　fresh　proof　of　it　by　showing　favour　to　men　whom　I　most　honour　and　trust。　　I　cannot　tell　if　your　wishes　are　likely　soon　to　be　realised；　but　in　any　case　feel　sure　of　my　perpetual　gratitude。〃

Joan's　voice　did　not　betray　the　slightest　emotion；　her　look　had　became　kind；　and　the　sweetest　smile　was　on　her　lips。　　But　in　her　heart　Andre's　death　was　from　that　moment　decided　upon。　　The　prince；　too　much　preoccupied　with　his　own　projects　of　vengeance；　and　too　confident　in　his　all…powerful　talisman　and　his　personal　valour；　had　no　suspicion　that　his　plans　could　be　anticipated。　　He　conversed　a　long　time　with　his　wife　in　a　chatting；　friendly　way；　trying　to　spy　out　her　secret；　and　exposing　his　own　by　his　interrupted　phrases　and　mysterious　reserves。　　When　he　fancied　that　every　cloud　of　former　resentment；　even　the　lightest；　had　disappeared　from　Joan's　brow；　he　begged　her　to　go　with　her　suite　on　a　magnificent　hunting　expedition　that　he　was　organising　for　t