登陆注册
15688100000034

第34章 CHAPTER III(6)

At that moment a thousand confused ideas passed before my imagination. The Robbers who infested the Wood, Marguerite's exclamation respecting her Children, the arms and appearance of the two young Men, and the various Anecdotes which I had heard related, respecting the secret correspondence which frequently exists between Banditti and Postillions, all these circumstances flashed upon my mind, and inspired me with doubt and apprehension. I ruminated on the most probable means of ascertaining the truth of my conjectures. Suddenly I was aware of Someone below pacing hastily backwards and forwards. Every thing now appeared to me an object of suspicion. With precaution I drew near the window, which, as the room had been long shut up, was left open in spite of the cold. I ventured to look out. The beams of the Moon permitted me to distinguish a Man, whom I had no difficulty to recognize for my Host. I watched his movements.

He walked swiftly, then stopped, and seemed to listen: He stamped upon the ground, and beat his stomach with his arms as if to guard himself from the inclemency of the season. At the least noise, if a voice was heard in the lower part of the House, if a Bat flitted past him, or the wind rattled amidst the leafless boughs, He started, and looked round with anxiety.

'Plague take him!' said He at length with impatience; 'What can He be about!'

He spoke in a low voice; but as He was just below my window, Ihad no difficulty to distinguish his words.

I now heard the steps of one approaching. Baptiste went towards the sound; He joined a man, whom his low stature and the Horn suspended from his neck, declared to be no other than my faithful Claude, whom I had supposed to be already on his way to Strasbourg. Expecting their discourse to throw some light upon my situation, I hastened to put myself in a condition to hear it with safety. For this purpose I extinguished the candle, which stood upon a table near the Bed: The flame of the fire was not strong enough to betray me, and I immediately resumed my place at the window.

The objects of my curiosity had stationed themselves directly under it. I suppose that during my momentary absence the Wood-man had been blaming Claude for tardiness, since when Ireturned to the window, the latter was endeavouring to excuse his fault.

'However,' added He, 'my diligence at present shall make up for my past delay.'

'On that condition,' answered Baptiste, 'I shall readily forgive you. But in truth as you share equally with us in our prizes, your own interest will make you use all possible diligence.

'Twould be a shame to let such a noble booty escape us! You say, that this Spaniard is rich?'

'His Servant boasted at the Inn, that the effects in his Chaise were worth above two thousand Pistoles.'

Oh! how I cursed Stephano's imprudent vanity!

'And I have been told,' continued the Postillion, 'that this Baroness carries about her a casket of jewels of immense value.'

'May be so, but I had rather She had stayed away. The Spaniard was a secure prey. The Boys and myself could easily have mastered him and his Servant, and then the two thousand Pistoles would have been shared between us four. Now we must let in the Band for a share, and perhaps the whole Covey may escape us.

Should our Friends have betaken themselves to their different posts before you reach the Cavern, all will be lost. The Lady's Attendants are too numerous for us to overpower them: Unless our Associates arrive in time, we must needs let these Travellers set out tomorrow without damage or hurt.'

' 'Tis plaguy unlucky that my Comrades who drove the Coach should be those unacquainted with our Confederacy! But never fear, Friend Baptiste. An hour will bring me to the Cavern; It is now but ten o'clock, and by twelve you may expect the arrival of the Band. By the bye, take care of your Wife: You know how strong is her repugnance to our mode of life, and She may find means to give information to the Lady's Servants of our design.'

'Oh! I am secure of her silence; She is too much afraid of me, and fond of her children, to dare to betray my secret. Besides, Jacques and Robert keep a strict eye over her, and She is not permitted to set a foot out of the Cottage. The Servants are safely lodged in the Barn; I shall endeavour to keep all quiet till the arrival of our Friends. Were I assured of your finding them, the Strangers should be dispatched this instant; But as it is possible for you to miss the Banditti, I am fearful of being summoned to produce them by their Domestics in the Morning.'

'And suppose either of the Travellers should discover your design?'

'Then we must poignard those in our power, and take our chance about mastering the rest. However, to avoid running such a risque, hasten to the Cavern: The Banditti never leave it before eleven, and if you use diligence, you may reach it in time to stop them.'

'Tell Robert that I have taken his Horse: My own has broken his bridle, and escaped into the Wood. What is the watch-word?'

'The reward of Courage.'

' 'Tis sufficient. I hasten to the Cavern.'

'And I to rejoin my Guests, lest my absence should create suspicion. Farewell, and be diligent.'

These worthy Associates now separated: The One bent his course towards the Stable, while the Other returned to the House.

You may judge, what must have been my feelings during this conversation, of which I lost not a single syllable. I dared not trust myself to my reflections, nor did any means present itself to escape the dangers which threatened me. Resistance, I knew to be vain; I was unarmed, and a single Man against Three: However, I resolved at least to sell my life as dearly as I could.

同类推荐
  • 明伦汇编交谊典盟誓部

    明伦汇编交谊典盟誓部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 蓝涧集

    蓝涧集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 百喻经

    百喻经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 霜厓词录

    霜厓词录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 杂纂之广杂纂

    杂纂之广杂纂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 未来之笙

    未来之笙

    这是一个真实到虚幻的古事他很善良,但世界却没有给他应有的善待有天,一个恶魔开始引导他他该相信吗?或者说,他有能力选择吗?(我给你讲,中间若是有感觉不适,或者情节影响你的世界观,概不负责!!!)
  • 龙舌兰之吻

    龙舌兰之吻

    小说叙述四起扑朔迷离的国际犯罪案件,悬疑、嫌犯、动机、线索、困境等等抽丝剥茧,张弛有度,惊心动魄。小说围绕一个资历尚浅年轻的女侦探AFF与警局职业刑侦人员相互倾轧、搅局,节外生枝,生死未卜,到最后彼此和解、携手合作,剥开凶案种种谜团,一举剿灭犯罪集团。她:“你抓我一次不够,还要三次、四次,抓上瘾了不是?!”他:“你骗我一次不够,还要我伤身伤心,欺我诚心不是?!”她:“那……你还敢爱我不?”他:“我对你其实只有一个要求!”她:“说!”他:“我们下次约会,能不能不要去搅合命案。我只想好好看着你。”
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 独宠吾妻

    独宠吾妻

    仙界的一个神仙,只是因为月老惩罚落入凡间,还成为了一个乞丐,他以为是自己作者一个南柯梦,直到遇到她,她以为他是乞丐集团的骗子,误会开始了,误会的背后其实隐藏着月老的红线,乞丐也有桃花运。
  • TFBOYS普普通通的遇见

    TFBOYS普普通通的遇见

    TFBOYS三人在一个契机下遇见了三位看似普普通通但却身世显赫的女孩,他们六人之间会擦出怎么样的火花又会发生怎样的事情呢?敬请期待~(注:本小说内容纯属虚构,切勿上升到真人;如若小说内容和人物姓名有所雷同,纯属巧合!)
  • 老子为人处世智慧全集

    老子为人处世智慧全集

    老子的智慧,是他对人性本质深刻剖析的结果,是经过时代战乱、社会动荡、人事纷争和生命无常等诸多因素积淀而成。因为他最早提出“以退为进、以守为攻”的“阴”谋策略,所以被后世学者称为“月亮下的智者”。但是,老子的为人处世智慧也不是一味退避,其实他提倡的是更大的进攻,如:“将欲取之(刚),必先予之(柔)”;“他认为最高明和最有效的方法就是“不争”,舍己从人,不强出头,退一步海阔天空,不作正面冲突,伪装示弱,弃近谋远,这才是真正的深谋远虑。因为它超越了有限、暂时和表面的成功,取得的是更加博大、高超、长远和实质性的利益。不争表现出一种品性,美好和谐,最得人心,却又得到了最大的实惠。
  • 永恋

    永恋

    女主雪柠从18岁开始,就开始做一个有关一个白发男子梦,可每当雪柠从梦中醒来,却只记的有个白发的男人,其他的都不记得了......偶然的一次机会雪柠遇见了一个白发男子:“咦?你......我好像见过你......”(希望大家可以点进来看看,小冷万分感谢,拜托拜托了,跪求!)
  • 年轻人成功必读的论语

    年轻人成功必读的论语

    《论语》是中国古代儒家的一部重要经典,它从孝敬之道、智慧之道、学习之道、诚信之道、治世之道、忠恕之道、仁爱之道等七个方面阐述了《论语》中所蕴藏的智慧及其对现代生活的启示。
  • 欺凌九天

    欺凌九天

    前世命绝天陨上,血溅苍穹巅。转世重生,看我斩苍穹,碎乾坤,霸现世,独掌生死权,欺世凌九天!
  • 呆萌少女

    呆萌少女

    “吃葡萄不吐葡萄皮,不吃葡萄倒吐葡萄皮。”“什么吃葡萄吐葡萄的,我吃葡萄从来都吐皮,不吃葡萄吐什么皮,吐西瓜皮啊。”“哈哈哈哈哈。。。”“少女,我建议你好吃药了”。。。。