登陆注册
5371300000116

第116章

Meanwhile Arbaces had already gained the triclinium, where Sallust, with his favorite freedman, sat late at supper.

'What! Arbaces! and at this hour!--Accept this cup.'

'Nay, gentle Sallust; it is on business, not pleasure, that I venture to disturb thee. How doth thy charge?--they say in the town that he has recovered sense.'

'Alas! and truly,' replied the good-natured but thoughtless Sallust, wiping the tear from his eyes; 'but so shattered are his nerves and frame that Iscarcely recognize the brilliant and gay carouser I was wont to know. Yet, strange to say, he cannot account for the cause of the sudden frenzy that seized him--he retains but a dim consciousness of what hath passed; and, despite thy witness, wise Egyptian, solemnly upholds his innocence of the death of Apaecides.'

'Sallust,' said Arbaces, gravely, 'there is much in thy friend's case that merits a peculiar indulgence; and could we learn from his lips the confession and the cause of his crime, much might be yet hoped from the mercy of the senate; for the senate, thou knowest, hath the power either to mitigate or to sharpen the law. Therefore it is that I have conferred with the highest authority of the city, and obtained his permission to hold a private conference this night with the Athenian. Tomorrow, thou knowest, the trial comes on.'

'Well,' said Sallust, 'thou wilt be worthy of thy Eastern name and fame if thou canst learn aught from him; but thou mayst try. Poor Glaucus!--and he had such an excellent appetite! He eats nothing now!'

The benevolent epicure was moved sensibly at this thought. He sighed, and ordered his slaves to refill his cup.

'Night wanes,' said the Egyptian; 'suffer me to see thy ward now.'

Sallust nodded assent, and led the way to a small chamber, guarded without by two dozing slaves. The door opened; at the request of Arbaces, Sallust withdrew--the Egyptian was alone with Glaucus.

One of those tall and graceful candelabra common to that day, supporting a single lamp, burned beside the narrow bed. Its rays fell palely over the face of the Athenian, and Arbaces was moved to see how sensibly that countenance had changed. The rich color was gone, the cheek was sunk, the lips were convulsed and pallid; fierce had been the struggle between reason and madness, life and death. The youth, the strength of Glaucus had conquered; but the freshness of blood and soul--the life of life--its glory and its zest, were gone for ever.

The Egyptian seated himself quietly beside the bed; Glaucus still lay mute and unconscious of his presence. At length, after a considerable pause, Arbaces thus spoke:

'Glaucus, we have been enemies. I come to thee alone and in the dead of night--thy friend, perhaps thy saviour.'

As the steed starts from the path of the tiger, Glaucus sprang up breathless--alarmed, panting at the abrupt voice, the sudden apparition of his foe. Their eyes met, and neither, for some moments, had power to withdraw his gaze. The flush went and came over the face of the Athenian, and the bronzed cheek of the Egyptian grew a shade more pale. At length, with an inward groan, Glaucus turned away, drew his hand across his brow, sunk back, and muttered:

'Am I still dreaming?'

'No, Glaucus thou art awake. By this right hand and my father's head, thou seest one who may save thy life. Hark! I know what thou hast done, but Iknow also its excuse, of which thou thyself art ignorant. Thou hast committed murder, it is true--a sacrilegious murder--frown not--start not--these eyes saw it. But I can save thee--I can prove how thou wert bereaved of sense, and made not a free-thinking and free-acting man. But in order to save thee, thou must confess thy crime. Sign but this paper, acknowledging thy hand in the death of Apaecides, and thou shalt avoid the fatal urn.'

'What words are these?--Murder and Apaecides!--Did I not see him stretched on the ground bleeding and a corpse? and wouldst thou persuade me that I did the deed? Man, thou liest! Away!'

同类推荐
  • 碑传选集续

    碑传选集续

    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。
  • 杭州志

    杭州志

    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。
  • 后渠杂识

    后渠杂识

    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。
  • The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

    The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

    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。
  • 重阳注五篇灵文

    重阳注五篇灵文

    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
  • 朕心爱的丑姑娘,请多指教

    朕心爱的丑姑娘,请多指教

    未婚夫从千尊万贵的太子爷变成了半死不活的瘫子,豪门贵女气性大直接抹脖儿死了,剩下破相了的倒霉丫鬟被摁着头坐上了花轿。“你是瘫子,我是丑女,咱俩半斤对八两,谁都别嫌弃谁。”初见之时,她虚张声势、一派趾高气昂。“余生还请你指教。”经年之后,昔日半死不活的瘫子款款向她走来,亲手给她戴上了凤冠。“咋、咋指教?”平日上蹿下跳的丑丫头,难得一副小媳妇儿模样。“这样指教……”他一脸柔情满溢,手指却邪恶地解开了她的琵琶扣。某日,刚下早朝的万岁爷直冲后宫,满宫上下一片哗然:这是要出大事儿啊!寝宫内:九五天子一把撩开床帏……
  • 还是地球人狠

    还是地球人狠

    注意!注意!前方是地球人大型装13现场,外星人慎入,否则后果自负,勿谓言之不预也!
  • 自此岁寒雪满头

    自此岁寒雪满头

    自此岁寒雪满头,不遇君来不见花开她是西辰五皇子楚离楼的谋士,也是罪臣之女。虽是女子,她也想要搏一搏。凭借着她的谋划,她帮助原本并不受宠的五皇子一步一步越来越接近那至尊之位。可是现在,她却也有些后悔了……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 被淘空的村庄

    被淘空的村庄

    《被淘空的村庄》,这部二十多万字的散文集,字里行间弥漫着浓郁的南方工业生活气息,有着厚重的乡土情怀,工业生活气息来源于作者在南方多年的漂泊经历,乡土情怀并不是传统意义上对乡村田园牧歌式生活的赞歌和怀旧,而是深入到当下乡村生活的内部,对工业时代下快速城镇化过程中,乡村精神肌理和生存境况的剖析。
  • 道即逍遥

    道即逍遥

    一首《长生歌》,一段长生路。问道问本心,求道求逍遥。修道尽头,唯求逍遥尔!
  • 倚楼听雨待君归

    倚楼听雨待君归

    父亲战死,兄长被诬陷,皇后之位被废,仿佛一夕之间,她的整个天都塌了下来。看着当初对她说过弱水三千只取一瓢的男子抱着别的女人在她面前恩爱有加,她只求与他,再也不见!
  • 重回明朝当暴君

    重回明朝当暴君

    新书(江阳王)已发布对时空猎人来说,保持充沛的精力是他们工作最重要的部分,他们会跨越不同的时空去“打猎”,没有什么东西能够束缚他们,他们可以行动自如的想去哪里就去哪里,但真正的时空猎人并不多。具体的说,只有不到十个。他们是如何得道和修炼的已经无从可考,他们喜欢驾驭别人的命运,他们喜欢故弄玄虚,把人从一个时代拖入另外一个时代。他们以上帝的视角,俯视这个世界,给小人物安排一个身份,安排一个时代,让他在这个时代成长、生活、历练…白少阳就是他们被选中的其中一个人物,命运究竟掌握在自己手里?还是别人手里?穿越以后,白少阳明白了一个道理,秘密只能自己知道…新书(江阳王)已发布
  • 邪刃药仙

    邪刃药仙

    一座山,一个古老的山洞,一位老者的遗骨,一方魔兽的镇守,到底是何人能有如此能耐?
  • 校草大人,放学别走!

    校草大人,放学别走!

    青木中学最近发生了一件大事,假小子程南悠对新转来的大帅比顾北航告白了。程南悠慢条斯理地倚在教室门口,对满脸淡漠的顾北航说道:“校草大人,放学别走,我有场恋爱找你谈谈。”青木中学的女生们一夜之间失恋了,纷纷表示:大神你不应该喜欢女孩子的嘛……遇到顾北航之前,程南悠的生活是逃课旷课打篮球。遇到顾北航之后,程南悠的生活就是好好学习天天向上,追顾北航。一句话概括:这是一个欢脱逗比又霸气的假小子遇到高冷禁欲又腹黑的校草大人一见钟情、再见情深的故事,也是一个救赎与被救赎的青春暖萌爱情故事。
  • 你在为谁敬业、忠诚、负责

    你在为谁敬业、忠诚、负责

    世界500强企业优秀员工强烈推荐;不甘平庸、追求卓越者的修炼宝典。你现在是如老黄牛般任劳任怨、勤勤恳恳;还是如蚂蚁般,终日忙忙碌碌,无暇看路;还是如罗宾汉般离群索居,我行我素……无论是哪一种,都请翻开本书吧,阅读此书将让你工作面貌焕然一新,迅速走向成功。