登陆注册
5251700000051

第51章 WHO KNOWS?(2)

In the distance, I perceived the somber mass of my garden, and, Iknow not why, was seized with a feeling of uneasiness at the idea of going inside. I slackened my pace, and walked very softly, the thick cluster of trees having the appearance of a tomb in which my house was buried.

I opened my outer gate and entered the long avenue of sycamores which ran in the direction of the house, arranged vault-wise like a high tunnel, traversing opaque masses, and winding round the turf lawns, on which baskets of flowers, in the pale darkness, could be indistinctly discerned.

While approaching the house, I was seized by a strange feeling. Icould hear nothing, I stood still. Through the trees there was not even a breath of air stirring. "What is the matter with me?"I said to myself. For ten years I had entered and re-entered in the same way, without ever experiencing the least inquietude. Inever had any fear at nights. The sight of a man, a marauder, or a thief would have thrown me into a fit of anger, and I would have rushed at him without any hesitation. Moreover, I was armed--I had my revolver. But I did not touch it, for I was anxious to resist that feeling of dread with which I was seized.

What was it? Was it a presentiment--that mysterious presentiment which takes hold of the senses of men who have witnessed something which, to them, is inexplicable? Perhaps? Who knows?

In proportion as I advanced, I felt my skin quiver more and more, and when I was close to the wall, near the outhouses of my large residence, I felt that it would be necessary for me to wait a few minutes before opening the door and going inside. I sat down, then, on a bench, under the windows of my drawing-room. I rested there, a little disturbed, with my head leaning against the wall, my eyes wide open, under the shade of the foliage. For the first few minutes, I did not observe anything unusual around me; I had a humming noise in my ears, but that has happened often to me.

Sometimes it seemed to me that I heard trains passing, that Iheard clocks striking, that I heard a multitude on the march.

Very soon, those humming noises became more distinct, more concentrated, more determinable, I was deceiving myself. It was not the ordinary tingling of my arteries which transmitted to my ears these rumbling sounds, but it was a very distinct, though confused, noise which came, without any doubt whatever, from the interior of my house. Through the walls I distinguished this continued noise,--I should rather say agitation than noise,--an indistinct moving about of a pile of things, as if people were tossing about, displacing, and carrying away surreptitiously all my furniture.

I doubted, however, for some considerable time yet, the evidence of my ears. But having placed my ear against one of the outhouses, the better to discover what this strange disturbance was, inside my house, I became convinced, certain, that something was taking place in my residence which was altogether abnormal and incomprehensible. I had no fear, but I was--how shall Iexpress it--paralyzed by astonishment. I did not draw my revolver, knowing very well that there was no need of my doing so.

I listened a long time, but could come to no resolution, my mind being quite clear, though in myself I was naturally anxious. Igot up and waited, listening always to the noise, which gradually increased, and at intervals grew very loud, and which seemed to become an impatient, angry disturbance, a mysterious commotion.

Then, suddenly, ashamed of my timidity, I seized my bunch of keys. I selected the one I wanted, guided it into the lock, turned it twice, and pushing the door with all my might, sent it banging against the partition.

The collision sounded like the report of a gun, and there responded to that explosive noise, from roof to basement of my residence, a formidable tumult. It was so sudden, so terrible, so deafening, that I recoiled a few steps, and though I knew it to be wholly useless, I pulled my revolver out of its case.

I continued to listen for some time longer. I could distinguish now an extraordinary pattering upon the steps of my grand staircase, on the waxed floors, on the carpets, not of boots, or of naked feet, but of iron and wooden crutches, which resounded like cymbals. Then I suddenly discerned, on the threshold of my door, an armchair, my large reading easy-chair, which set off waddling. It went away through my garden. Others followed it, those of my drawing-room, then my sofas, dragging themselves along like crocodiles on their short paws; then all my chairs, bounding like goats, and the little foot-stools, hopping like rabbits.

Oh! what a sensation! I slunk back into a clump of bushes where Iremained crouched up, watching, meanwhile, my furniture defile past--for everything walked away, the one behind the other, briskly or slowly, according to its weight or size. My piano, my grand piano, bounded past with the gallop of a horse and a murmur of music in its sides; the smaller articles slid along the gravel like snails, my brushes, crystal, cups and saucers, which glistened in the moonlight. I saw my writing desk appear, a rare curiosity of the last century, which contained all the letters Ihad ever received, all the history of my heart, an old history from which I have suffered so much! Besides, there were inside of it a great many cherished photographs.

Suddenly--I no longer had any fear--I threw myself on it, seized it as one would seize a thief, as one would seize a wife about to run away; but it pursued its irresistible course, and despite my efforts and despite my anger, I could not even retard its pace.

As I was resisting in desperation that insuperable force, I was thrown to the ground. It then rolled me over, trailed me along the gravel, and the rest of my furniture, which followed it, began to march over me, tramping on my legs and injuring them.

When I loosed my hold, other articles had passed over my body, just as a charge of cavalry does over the body of a dismounted soldier.

同类推荐
  • 林泉随笔

    林泉随笔

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 梅花草堂笔谈

    梅花草堂笔谈

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说文殊悔过经

    佛说文殊悔过经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 女丹合编选注

    女丹合编选注

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 师子奋迅菩萨所问经

    师子奋迅菩萨所问经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 四教仪集注节义

    四教仪集注节义

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 冥寥子游

    冥寥子游

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 守望曲肱青春

    守望曲肱青春

    【校园里,你也许为那个风度翩翩的少年所痴迷;也许你被那“衣带渐宽终不悔,为伊消得人憔悴”的女主而垂涎三尺……】正值花季雨季——内心懵懂且有悸动,对那个懵懂的他俏皮地躲在了身后,故事开始了:从京城归来的官二代、阔少“一骑红尘妃子笑”的方笑天入境了,他风度翩翩,貌若潘安,你怎能不留恋;与其同入眼帘的肖浪寒酸的外表,却挡不住她的那份“天生丽质难自弃”的美;女主兰子出现了,“千秋无佳人,悦目有佳人!倾国倾城貌,经验天下人”……初见:方笑天心动了。再现:一张书桌两对目,情感何方现?校园帷幕拉开了……雪域情怀再素佳人兰子美“婀娜少女羞,岁月无忧愁”,书信往来无白丁,感情生生处……结尾:高等学府里请在何方,值得你去探究……
  • 孩子一定要知道的50个世界科学奇迹

    孩子一定要知道的50个世界科学奇迹

    本书从古今中外遴选了50个科学发明与科学发现,比如古代中国的火药、指南针的发明,工业革命时期蒸汽机、内燃机的发明,现代疫苗、克隆、杂交技术的发现……虽然,我们不能回到科学发明与科学发现的那个时代感受奇迹的魅力,但却可以感受这些科学奇迹带给人类的变化,从而创造出更多的、更精彩的科学奇迹。
  • 畸零女人

    畸零女人

    在维多利亚时期的英国,女性比男性多出一百多万。这些“剩女”无法进入婚姻,为了自己的社会角色与道德处境努力抗争。此书以不同社会阶层的女性生活为代表,真实地描绘了维多利亚晚期的情景,反映了早期的女权运动。
  • 恋你成瘾

    恋你成瘾

    林执遇上颜习语的那一刻起,就知道这个女人是自己想要的,所以不惜用尽一切手段得到她。颜习语不知道林执究竟看上她哪一点了,她改还不行吗?她想尽一切方法避开他,却还是逃不开他的手掌心。
  • 金刚寿命陀罗尼经

    金刚寿命陀罗尼经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 现代交通(世界科技百科)

    现代交通(世界科技百科)

    本套青少年科普知识读物综合了中外最新科技的研究成果,具有很强的科学性、知识性、前沿性、可读性和系统性,是青少年了解科技、增长知识、开阔视野、提高素质、激发探索和启迪智慧的良好科谱读物,也是各级图书馆珍藏的最佳版本。
  • 永历四年

    永历四年

    永历四年九月,清军为彻底击败盘踞于舟山群岛的鲁监国系统明军,先期围剿与其势同犄角的四明山反清武装。是役,清军在击溃当地明军主力后进行了血腥的洗山的行动。自此之后,一度由于满清的民族压迫而人口激增的四明山地区再也无力组织起大规模的反清武装,而四明山的陷落也直接导致了一年后的舟山之战中鲁监国系统明军的孤立无援,以及浙江反清大局的彻底败坏。永历四年七月,穿越者陈文意外的出现在此地,在这片抗倭名将戚继光曾经护翼过的土地上以重建戚家军的名义重新开启几十年前被强行打断的中国军事近代化之路。自此之后,挽狂澜于既倒,扶大厦于将倾,驱除鞑虏,恢复中华,拯救斯民,重建华夏文明!书友群:519264778
  • 清梦之境

    清梦之境

    做一位普爱众生的女侠?对不起,没兴趣!清梦之境被毁,现实世界被祸乱,与我有何干?被人算计,遭人利用又如何?我只想成为考古学家,找到父母下落!谁知梦中捡到一只小奶狐身份竟然还不低。某狐:“你帮本尊解除封印拿回妖力,本尊帮你复习功课,怎么样?”某女:啥?妖尊也会史、地、政?我一定是遇到了一只假妖狐!“女人你敢摸本尊?”某只狐狸冷着脸。“摸你又如何?信不信我还敢把你那啥了!反正这只是个梦!”某女脸皮厚到极点。梦?某狐狸嘴角扬起坏笑,那本尊就让你知道这究竟是不是做梦。