condensed novels(压缩小说)-第8节
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was mounting the eighth； when an orderly rode up hastily； touched his cap；
and； handing me a despatch； galloped rapidly away。
I opened it hurriedly and read：
〃LET PICTON ADVANCE IMMEDIATELY ON THE RIGHT。〃
I saw it all at a glance。 I had been mistaken for a general officer。 But
what was to be done？ Picton's division was two miles away； only
accessible through a heavy cross fire of artillery and musketry。 But my
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mind was made up。
In an instant I was engaged with an entire squadron of cavalry； who
endeavored to surround me。 Cutting my way through them； I advanced
boldly upon a battery and sabred the gunners before they could bring their
pieces to bear。 Looking around； I saw that I had in fact penetrated the
French centre。 Before I was well aware of the locality； I was hailed by a
sharp voice in French；
〃Come here； sir！〃
I obeyed； and advanced to the side of a little man in a cocked hat。
〃Has Grouchy come？〃
〃Not yet； sire；〃 I replied；for it was the Emperor。
〃Ha！〃 he said suddenly； bending his piercing eyes on my uniform； 〃a
prisoner？〃
〃No； sire；〃 I said； proudly。
〃A spy？〃
I placed my hand upon my sword； but a gesture from the Emperor
bade me forbear。
〃You are a brave man；〃 he said。
I took my snuff…box from my pocket； and； taking a pinch； replied by
handing it； with a bow； to the Emperor。
His quick eye caught the cipher on the lid。 〃What！ a D'Enville？ Ha！
this accounts for the purity of your accent。 Any relation to Roderick
d'Enville？〃
〃My father； sire。〃
〃He was my school…fellow at the Ecole Polytechnique。 Embrace me！〃
And the Emperor fell upon my neck in the presence of his entire staff。
Then； recovering himself； he gently placed in my hand his own
magnificent snuff…box； in exchange for mine； and hanging upon my breast
the cross of the Legion of Honor which he took from his own； he bade one
of his Marshals conduct me back to my regiment。
I was so intoxicated with the honor of which I had been the recipient；
that on reaching our lines I uttered a shout of joy and put spurs to my
horse。 The intelligent animal seemed to sympathize with my feelings； and
fairly flew over the ground。 On a rising eminence a few yards before me
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stood a gray…haired officer； surrounded by his staff。 I don't know what
possessed me； but putting spurs to my horse； I rode at him boldly； and with
one bound cleared him； horse and all。 A shout of indignation arose from
the assembled staff。 I wheeled suddenly； with the intention of apologizing；
but my mare misunderstood me； and； again dashing forward； once more
vaulted over the head of the officer； this time unfortunately uncovering
him by a vicious kick of her hoof。 〃Seize him！〃 roared the entire army。 I
was seized。 As the soldiers led me away； I asked the name of the gray…
haired officer。 〃Thatwhy； that's the DUKE OF WELLINGTON！〃
I fainted。
* * * * * *
For six months I had brain…fever。 During my illness ten grapeshot were
extracted from my body which I had unconsciously received during the
battle。 When I opened my eyes I met the sweet glance of a Sister of
Charity。
〃Blanche！〃 I stammered feebly。
〃The same；〃 she replied。
〃You here？〃
〃Yes； dear； but hush！ It's a long story。 You see； dear Terence； your
grandfather married my great…aunt's sister； and your father again married
my grandmother's niece； who； dying without a will； was； according to the
French law〃
〃But I do not comprehend；〃 I said。
〃Of course not；〃 said Blanche； with her old sweet smile； 〃you've had
brain…fever； so go to sleep。〃
I understood； however； that Blanche loved me； and I am now； dear
reader； Sir Terence Sackville； K。 C。 B。； and Lady Blanche is Lady
Sackville。
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SELINA SEDILIA。
BY MISS M。 E。 BDDN AND MRS。 HNY W
D。
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CHAPTER I。
The sun was setting over Sloperton Grange； and reddened the
window of the lonely chamber in the western tower； supposed to be
haunted by Sir Edward Sedilia； the founder of the Grange。 In the dreamy
distance arose the gilded mausoleum of Lady Felicia Sedilia； who haunted
that portion of Sedilia Manor； known as 〃Stiff…uns Acre。〃 A little to the left
of the Grange might have been seen a mouldering ruin； known as 〃Guy's
Keep；〃 haunted by the spirit of Sir Guy Sedilia； who was found； one
morning； crushed by one of the fallen battlements。 Yet； as the setting sun
gilded these objects； a beautiful and almost holy calm seemed diffused
about the Grange。
The Lady Selina sat by an oriel window； overlooking the park。 The sun
sank gently in the bosom of the German Ocean； and yet the lady did not
lift her beautiful head from the finely curved arm and diminutive hand
which supported it。 When darkness finally shrouded the landscape she
started； for the sound of horse…hoofs clattered over the stones of the
avenue。 She had scarcely risen before an aristocratic young man fell on his
knees before her。
〃My Selina！〃
〃Edgardo！ You here？〃
〃Yes； dearest。〃
〃Andyouyouhaveseen nothing？〃 said the lady in an agitated
voice and nervous manner； turning her face aside to conceal her emotion。
〃Nothingthat is nothing of any account；〃 said Edgardo。 〃I passed the
ghost of your aunt in the park； noticed the spectre of your uncle in the
ruined keep； and observed the familiar features of the spirit of your great…
grandfather at his usual post。 But nothing beyond these trifles； my Selina。
Nothing more； love； absolutely nothing。〃
The young man turned his dark liquid orbs fondly upon the ingenuous
face of his betrothed。
〃My own Edgardo！and you still love me？ You still would marry me
in spite of this dark mystery which surrounds me？ In spite of the fatal
history of my race？ In spite of the ominous predictions of my aged nurse？〃
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〃I would； Selina〃； and the young man passed his arm around her
yielding waist。 The two lovers gazed at each other's faces in unspeakable
bliss。 Suddenly Selina started。
〃Leave me； Edgardo！ leave me！ A mysterious somethinga fatal
misgivinga dark ambiguityan equivocal mistrust oppresses me。 I would
be alone！〃
The young man arose； and cast a loving glance on the lady。 〃Then we
will be married on the seventeenth。〃
〃The seventeenth；〃 repeated Selina； with a mysterious shudder。
They embraced and parted。 As the clatter of hoofs in the court… yard
died away； the Lady Selina sank into the chair she had just quitted。
〃The seventeenth；〃 she repeated slowly； with the same fateful shudder。
〃Ah！what if he should know that I have another husband living？ Dare I
reveal to him that I have two legitimate and three natural children？ Dare I
repeat to him the history of my youth？ Dare I confess that at the age of
seven I poisoned my sister； by putting verdigris in her cream…tarts；that I
threw my cousin from a swing at the age of twelve？ That the lady's…maid
who incurred the displeasure of my girlhood now lies at the bottom of the
horse… pond？ No！ no！ he is too pure；too good；too innocent； to hear such
improper conversation！〃 and her whole body writhed as she rocked to and
fro in a paroxysm of grief。
But she was soon calm。 Rising to her feet； she opened a secret panel in
the wall； and revealed a slow…match ready for lighting。
〃This match；〃 said the Lady Selina； 〃is connected with a mine beneath
the western tower； where
