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 cried at last； 'and who the devil are you？'
I was already on the floor beside the dying man。 I had； of
course； no idea with what drug he had attempted his life； and
I was forced to try him with a variety of antidotes。 Here
were both oil and vinegar； for the prince had done the young
man the honour of compounding for him one of his celebrated
salads； and of each of these I administered from a quarter to
half a pint； with no apparent efficacy。 I next plied him
with the hot coffee； of which there may have been near upon a
quart。
'Have you no milk？' I inquired。
'I fear； madam； that milk has been omitted；' returned the
prince。
'Salt； then；' said I； 'salt is a revulsive。 Pass the salt。'
'And possibly the mustard？' asked his highness； as he offered
me the contents of the various salt…cellars poured together
on a plate。
'Ah；' cried I； 'the thought is excellent！ Mix me about half
a pint of mustard； drinkably dilute。'
Whether it was the salt or the mustard； or the mere
combination of so many subversive agents； as soon as the last
had been poured over his throat； the young sufferer obtained
relief。
'There！' I exclaimed； with natural triumph； 'I have saved a
life！'
'And yet； madam；' returned the prince； 'your mercy may be
cruelty disguised。 Where the honour is lost； it is； at
least； superfluous to prolong the life。'
'If you had led a life as changeable as mine； your highness；'
I replied； 'you would hold a very different opinion。 For my
part； and after whatever extremity of misfortune or disgrace；
I should still count to…morrow worth a trial。'
'You speak as a lady； madam；' said the prince； 'and for such
you speak the truth。 But to men there is permitted such a
field of license； and the good behaviour asked of them is at
once so easy and so little； that to fail in that is to fall
beyond the reach of pardon。 But will you suffer me to repeat
a question； put to you at first； I am afraid； with some
defect of courtesy； and to ask you once more； who you are and
how I have the honour of your company？'
'I am the proprietor of the house in which we stand；' said I。
'And still I am at fault；' returned the prince。
But at that moment the timepiece on the mantel…shelf began to
strike the hour of twelve； and the young man； raising himself
upon one elbow； with an expression of despair and horror that
I have never seen excelled； cried lamentably； 'Midnight！ oh；
just God！' We stood frozen to our places； while the tingling
hammer of the timepiece measured the remaining strokes； nor
had we yet stirred； so tragic had been the tones of the young
man； when the various bells of London began in turn to
declare the hour。 The timepiece was inaudible beyond the
walls of the chamber where we stood； but the second pulsation
of Big Ben had scarcely throbbed into the night； before a
sharp detonation rang about the house。 The prince sprang for
the door by which I had entered； but quick as he was； I yet
contrived to intercept him。
'Are you armed？' I cried。
'No； madam；' replied he。 'You remind me appositely； I will
take the poker。'
'The man below；' said I； 'has two revolvers。 Would you
confront him at such odds？'
He paused； as though staggered in his purpose。
'And yet； madam；' said he； 'we cannot continue to remain in
ignorance of what has passed。'
'No！' cried I。 'And who proposes it？ I am as curious as
yourself； but let us rather send for the police； or； if your
highness dreads a scandal； for some of your own servants。'
'Nay； madam；' he replied； smiling； 'for so brave a lady； you
surprise me。 Would you have me； then； send others where I
fear to go myself？'
'You are perfectly right；' said I； 'and I was entirely wrong。
Go； in God's name； and I will hold the candle！'
Together； therefore； we descended to the lower story； he
carrying the poker； I the light； and together we approached
and opened the door of the butler's pantry。 In some sort； I
believe； I was prepared for the spectacle that met our eyes；
I was prepared； that is； to find the villain dead； but the
rude details of such a violent suicide I was unable to
endure。 The prince； unshaken by horror as he had remained
unshaken by alarm； assisted me with the most respectful
gallantry to regain the dining…room。
There we found our patient； still； indeed； deadly pale； but
vastly recovered and already seated on a chair。 He held out
both his hands with a most pitiful gesture of interrogation。
'He is dead；' said the prince。
'Alas！' cried the young man； 'and it should be I！ What do I
do； thus lingering on the stage I have disgraced； while he；
my sure comrade； blameworthy indeed for much； but yet the
soul of fidelity； has judged and slain himself for an
involuntary fault？ Ah； sir；' said he； 'and you too； madam；
without whose cruel help I should be now beyond the reach of
my accusing conscience； you behold in me the victim equally
of my own faults and virtues。 I was born a hater of
injustice； from my most tender years my blood boiled against
heaven when I beheld the sick； and against men when I
witnessed the sorrows of the poor； the pauper's crust stuck
in my throat when I sat down to eat my dainties； and the
cripple child has set me weeping。 What was there in that but
what was noble？ and yet observe to what a fall these thoughts
have led me！ Year after year this passion for the lost
besieged me closer。 What hope was there in kings？ what hope
in these well…feathered classes that now roll in money？ I
had observed the course of history； I knew the burgess； our
ruler of to…day； to be base； cowardly； and dull； I saw him；
in every age； combine to pull down that which was immediately
above and to prey upon those that were below； his dulness； I
knew； would ultimately bring about his ruin； I knew his days
were numbered； and yet how was I to wait？ how was I to let
the poor child shiver in the rain？ The better days； indeed；
were coming； but the child would die before that。 Alas； your
highness； in surely no ungenerous impatience I enrolled
myself among the enemies of this unjust and doomed society；
in surely no unnatural desire to keep the fires of my
philanthropy alight； I bound myself by an irrevocable oath。
'That oath is all my history。 To give freedom to posterity I
had forsworn my own。 I must attend upon every signal； and
soon my father complained of my irregular hours and turned me
from his house。 I was engaged in betrothal to an honest
girl； from her also I had to part； for she was too shrewd to
credit my inventions and too innocent to be entrusted with
the truth。 Behold me； then； alone with conspirators！ Alas！
as the years went on； my illusions left me。 Surrounded as I
was by the fervent disciples and apologists of revolution； I
beheld them daily advance in confidence and desperation； I
beheld myself； upon the other hand； and with an almost equal
regularity； decline in faith。 I had sacrificed all to
further that cause in which I still believed； and daily I
began to grow in doubts if we were advancing it indeed。
Horri