redgauntlet-第91节

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ancholy　look；　lofty　demeanour；　and　commanding　tone　of　my　near　relative。　　He　held　more　communication　with　me　on　the　journey；　however；　than　consisted　with　his　taciturn　demeanour　in　general；　and　seemed　anxious　to　ascertain　my　tone　of　character；　and　particularly　in　point　of　courage。　　Now；　though　I　am　a　tamed　Redgauntlet；　yet　I　have　still　so　much　of　our　family　spirit　as　enables　me　to　be　as　composed　in　danger　as　most　of　my　sex；　and　upon　two　occasions　in　the　course　of　our　journeya　threatened　attack　by　banditti；　and　the　overturn　of　our　carriage　I　had　the　fortune　so　to　conduct　myself；　as　to　convey　to　my　uncle　a　very　favourable　idea　of　my　intrepidity。　　Probably　this　encouraged　him　to　put　in　execution　the　singular　scheme　which　he　had　in　agitation。

'Ere　we　reached　London　we　changed　our　means　of　conveyance；　and　altered　the　route　by　which　we　approached　the　city；　more　than　once；　then；　like　a　hare　which　doubles　repeatedly　at　some　distance　from　the　seat　she　means　to　occupy；　and　at　last　leaps　into　her　form　from　a　distance　so　great　as　she　can　clear　by　a　spring；　we　made　a　forced　march；　and　landed　in　private　and　obscure　lodgings　in　a　little　old　street　in　Westminster；　not　far　from　the　Cloisters。

'On　the　morning　of　the　day　on　which　we　arrived　my　uncle　went　abroad；　and　did　not　return　for　some　hours。　　Meantime　I　had　no　other　amusement　than　to　listen　to　the　tumult　of　noises　which　succeeded　each　other；　or　reigned　in　confusion　together　during　the　whole　morning。　　Paris　I　had　thought　the　most　noisy　capital　in　the　world；　but　Paris　seemed　midnight　silence　compared　to　London。　Cannon　thundered　near　and　at　a　distancedrums；　trumpets；　and　military　music　of　every　kind；　rolled；　flourished；　and　pierced　the　clouds；　almost　without　intermission。　　To　fill　up　the　concert；　bells　pealed　incessantly　from　a　hundred　steeples。　　The　acclamations　of　an　immense　multitude　were　heard　from　time　to　time；　like　the　roaring　of　a　mighty　ocean；　and　all　this　without　my　being　able　to　glean　the　least　idea　of　what　was　going　on；　for　the　windows　of　our　apartment　looked　upon　a　waste　backyard；　which　seemed　totally　deserted。　　My　curiosity　became　extreme；　for　I　was　satisfied；　at　length；　that　it　must　be　some　festival　of　the　highest　order　which　called　forth　these　incessant　sounds。

'My　uncle　at　length　returned；　and　with　him　a　man　of　an　exterior　singularly　unprepossessing。　　I　need　not　describe　him　to　you；　for　do　not　look　roundhe　rides　behind　us　at　this　moment。'

'That　respectable　person；　Mr。　Cristal　Nixon；　I　suppose？'　　said　Darsie。

'The　same；'　answered　Lilias；　'make　no　gesture；　that　may　intimate　we　are　speaking　of　him。'

Darsie　signified　that　he　understood　her；　and　she　pursued　her　relation。

'They　were　both　in　full　dress；　and　my　uncle；　taking　a　bundle　from　Nixon；　said　to　me；　〃Lilias；　I　am　come　to　carry　you　to　see　a　grand　ceremonyput　on　as　hastily　as　you　can　the　dress　you　will　find　in　that　parcel；　and　prepare　to　attend　me。〃　　I　found　a　female　dress；　splendid　and　elegant；　but　somewhat　bordering　upon　the　antique　fashion。　　It　might　be　that　of　England；　I　thought；　and　I　went　to　my　apartment　full　of　curiosity；　and　dressed　myself　with　all　speed。

'My　uncle　surveyed　me　with　attention〃She　may　pass　for　one　of　the　flower…girls；〃　he　said　to　Nixon；　who　only　answered　with　a　nod。

'We　left　the　house　together；　and　such　was　their　knowledge　of　the　lanes；　courts；　and　bypaths；　that　though　there　was　the　roar　of　a　multitude　in　the　broad　streets；　those　which　we　traversed　were　silent　and　deserted；　and　the　strollers　whom　we　met；　tired　of　gazing　upon　gayer　figures；　scarcely　honoured　us　with　a　passing　look；　although；　at　any　other　time；　we　should；　among　these　vulgar　suburbs；　have　attracted　a　troublesome　share　of　observation。　　We　crossed　at　length　a　broad　street；　where　many　soldiers　were　on　guard；　while　others；　exhausted　with　previous　duty；　were　eating；　drinking；　smoking；　and　sleeping　beside　their　piled　arms。

'〃One　day；　Nixon；〃　whispered　my　uncle；　〃we　will　make　these　redcoated　gentry　stand　to　their　muskets　more　watchfully。〃

'〃Or　it　will　be　the　worse　for　them；〃　answered　his　attendant；　in　a　voice　as　unpleasant　as　his　physiognomy。

'Unquestioned　and　unchallenged　by　any　one；　we　crossed　among　the　guards；　and　Nixon　tapped　thrice　at　a　small　postern　door　in　a　huge　ancient　building；　which　was　straight　before　us。　　It　opened；　and　we　entered　without　my　perceiving　by　whom　we　were　admitted。　　A　few　dark　and　narrow　passages　at　length　conveyed　us　into　an　immense　Gothic　hall；　the　magnificence　of　which　baffles　my　powers　of　description。

'It　was　illuminated　by　ten　thousand　wax　lights；　whose　splendour　at　first　dazzled　my　eyes；　coming　as　we　did　from　these　dark　and　secret　avenues。　　But　when　my　sight　began　to　become　steady；　how　shall　I　describe　what　I　beheld？　　Beneath　were　huge　ranges　of　tables；　occupied　by　princes　and　nobles　in　their　robes　of　state　high　officers　of　the　crown；　wearing　their　dresses　and　badges　of　authorityreverend　prelates　and　judges；　the　sages　of　the　church　and　law；　in　their　more　sombre；　yet　not　less　awful　robeswith　others　whose　antique　and　striking　costume　announced　their　importance；　though　I　could　not　even　guess　who　they　might　be。　　But　at　length　the　truth　burst　on　me　at　onceit　was；　and　the　murmurs　around　confirmed　it；　the　Coronation　Feast。　　At　a　table　above　the　rest；　and　extending　across　the　upper　end　of　the　hall；　sat　enthroned　the　youthful　sovereign　himself；　surrounded　by　the　princes　of　the　blood；　and　other　dignitaries；　and　receiving　the　suit　and　homage　of　his　subjects。　　Heralds　and　pursuivants；　blazing　in　their　fantastic　yet　splendid　armorial　habits；　and　pages　of　honour；　gorgeously　arrayed　in　the　garb　of　other　days；　waited　upon　the　princely　banqueters。　　In　the　galleries　with　which　this　spacious　hall　was　surrounded；　shone　all；　and　more　than　all；　that　my　poor　imagination　could　conceive；　of　what　was　brilliant　in　riches；　or　captivating　in　beauty。　　Countless　rows　of　ladies；　whose　diamonds；　jewels；　and　splendid　attire　were　their　least　powerful　charms；　looked　down　from　their　lofty　seats　on　the　rich　scene　beneath；　themselves　forming　a　show　as　dazzling　and　as　beautiful　as　that　of　which　they　were　spectators。　　Under　these　galleries；　and　behind　the　banqueting　tables；　were　a　multitude　of　gentlemen；　dressed　as　if　to　attend　a　court；　but　whose　garb；　although　rich　enough　to　have　adorned　a　royal　drawing　room；　could　not　distinguish　them　in　such　a　high　scene　as　this。　　Amongst　these　we　wandered　for　a　few　minutes；　undistinguished　and　unregarded。　　I　saw　several　young　persons　dressed　as　I　was；　so　was　under　no　embarrassment　from　the　singularity　of　my　habit；　and　only　rejoiced；　as　I　hung　on　my　uncle's　arm；　at　the　magical　splendour　of　such　a　scene；　and　at　his　goodness　for　procuring　me　the　pleasure　of　beholding　it。

'By　and　by；　I　perceived　that　my　uncle　had　acquaintances　among　those　who　were　under　the　galleries；　and　seemed；　like　ourselves；　to　be　mere　spectators　of　the　solemnity。　　They　recognized　each　other　with　a　single　word；　sometimes　only　with　a　grip　of　the　hand…　exchanged　some　private　signs；　doubtlessand　gradually　formed　a　little　group；　in　the　centre　of　which　we　were　placed。

'〃Is　it　not　a　grand　sight；　Lilias？〃　　said　my　uncle。　　〃All　the　noble；　and　all　the　wise；　and　all　the　wealthy　of　Britain；　are　there　assembled。〃

'〃It　is　indeed；〃　said　I；　〃all　that　my　mind　could　have　fancied　of　regal　power　and　splendour。〃

'〃Girl；〃　he　whispered；and　my　uncle　can　make　his　whispers　as　terribly　emphatic　as　his　thundering　voice　or　his　blighting　look　〃all　that　is　noble　and　worthy　in　this　fair　land　are　there　assembledbut　it　is　to　bend　like　slaves　and　sycophants　before　the　throne　of　a　new　usurper。〃

'I　looked　at　him；　and　the　dark　hereditary　frown　of　our　unhappy　ancestor　was　black　upon　his　brow。

'〃For　God's　sake；〃　I　whispered；　〃consider　where　we　are。〃

'〃Fear　nothing；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　surrounded　by　friends。〃　　As　he　proceeded；　his　strong　and　muscular　frame　shook　with　suppressed　agitation。　　〃See；〃　he　said；　〃yonder　bends　Norfolk；　renegade　to　his　Catholic。faith；　there　stoops　the　Bishop　of　；　traitor　to　the　Church　of　England；　and；shame　of　shames！　　yonder　the　gigantic　form　of　Errol　bows　his　head　before　the　grandson　of　his　father's　murderer！　　But　a　sign　shall　be　seen　this　night　amongst　them　MENE；　MENE；　TEKEL；　UPHARSIN；　shall　be　read　on　these　walls；　as　distinctly　as　the　spectral　handwriting　made　them　visible　on　those　of　Belshazzar！〃

'〃For　God's　sake；〃　said　I；　dreadfully　alarmed；　〃it　is　impossible　you　can　meditate　violence　in　such　a　presence！〃

'〃None　is　intended；　fool；〃　he　answered；　〃nor　can　the　slightest　mischance　happen；　provided　you　will　rally　your　boasted　courage；　and　obey　my　directions。　　But　do　it　coolly　and　quickly；　for　there　are　a　hundred　lives　at　stake。〃

'〃Alas！　　whatcan　I　do？〃　　I　asked　in　the　utmost　terror。

'〃Only　be　prompt　to　execute　my　bidding；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　but　to　lift　a　gloveHere；　hold　this　in　your　handthrow　the　train　of　your　dress　over　it；　be　firm；　composed；　and　readyor；　at　all　events；　I　step　forward　myself。〃

'〃If　there　is　no　violence　designed；〃　I　said；　taking；　mechanically；　the　iron　glove　he　put　into　my　hand。

'〃I　could　not　conceive　his　meaning；　but；　in　the　excited　state　of　mind　in　which　I　beheld　him；　I　was　convinced　that　disobedience　on　my　part　would　lead　to　some　wild　explosion。　　I　felt；　from　the　emergency　of　the　occasion；　a