登陆注册
5382400000032

第32章 CHAPTER VIII. THE TEMPER OF BORIS THE HOUND(3)

looked round once at a sound, and found that James, anxious about us, had stolen along the passage and joined us. Sapt took no notice of him, nor of anything save the words that dropped in irregular utterance from the stricken man's lips. Here is the story, a strange instance of the turning of a great event on a small cause.

The king had eaten a little supper, and, having gone to his bedroom, had stretched himself on the bed and fallen asleep without undressing. Herbert was clearing the dining-table and performing similar duties, when suddenly (thus he told it) he found a man standing beside him. He did not know (he was new to the king's service) who the unexpected visitor was, but he was of middle height, dark, handsome, and "looked a gentleman all over."

He was dressed in a shooting-tunic, and a revolver was thrust through the belt of it. One hand rested on the belt, while the other held a small square box.

"Tell the king I am here. He expects me," said the stranger.

Herbert, alarmed at the suddenness and silence of the stranger's approach, and guiltily conscious of having left the door unbolted, drew back. He was unarmed, but, being a stout fellow, was prepared to defend his master as best he could.

Rupert--beyond doubt it was Rupert--laughed lightly, saying again, "Man, he expects me. Go and tell him," and sat himself on the table, swinging his leg. Herbert, influenced by the visitor's air of command, began to retreat towards the bedroom, keeping his face towards Rupert.

"If the king asks more, tell him I have the packet and the letter," said Rupert. The man bowed and passed into the bedroom.

The king was asleep; when roused he seemed to know nothing of letter or packet, and to expect no visitor. Herbert's ready fears revived; he whispered that the stranger carried a revolver.

Whatever the king's faults might be--and God forbid that I should speak hardly of him whom fate used so hardly--he was no coward.

He sprang from his bed; at the same moment the great boar-hound uncoiled himself and came from beneath, yawning and fawning. But in an instant the beast caught the scent of a stranger: his ears pricked and he gave a low growl, as he looked up in his master's face. Then Rupert of Hentzau, weary perhaps of waiting, perhaps only doubtful whether his message would be properly delivered, appeared in the doorway.

The king was unarmed, and Herbert in no better plight; their hunting weapons were in the adjoining room, and Rupert seemed to bar the way. I have said that the king was no coward, yet I

think, that the sight of Rupert, bringing back the memory of his torments in the dungeon, half cowed him; for he shrank back crying, "You!" The hound, in subtle understanding of his master's movement, growled angrily.

"You expected me, sire?" said Rupert with a bow; but he smiled. I

know that the sight of the king's alarm pleased him. To inspire terror was his delight, and it does not come to every man to strike fear into the heart of a king and an Elphberg. It had come more than once to Rupert of Hentzau.

"No," muttered the king. Then, recovering his composure a little, he said angrily, "How dare you come here?"

"You didn't expect me?" cried Rupert, and in an instant the thought of a trap seemed to flash across his alert mind. He drew the revolver halfway from his belt, probably in a scarcely conscious movement, born of the desire to assure himself of its presence. With a cry of alarm Herbert flung himself before the king, who sank back on the bed. Rupert, puzzled, vexed, yet half-amused (for he smiled still, the man said), took a step forward, crying out something about Rischenheim--what, Herbert could not tell us.

"Keep back," exclaimed the king. "Keep back."

Rupert paused; then, as though with a sudden thought, he held up the box that was in his left hand, saying:

'"Well, look at this sire, and we'll talk afterwards," and he stretched out his hand with the box in it.

Now the king stood on a razor's edge, for the king whispered to Herbert, "What is it? Go and take it."

But Herbert hesitated, fearing to leave the king, whom his body now protected as though with a shield. Rupert's impatience overcame him: if there were a trap, every moment's delay doubled his danger. With a scornful laugh he exclaimed, "Catch it, then, if you're afraid to come for it," and he flung the packet to Herbert or the king, or which of them might chance to catch it.

This insolence had a strange result. In an instant, with a fierce growl and a mighty bound, Boris was at the stranger's throat.

同类推荐
  • 慎大览

    慎大览

    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。
  • 佛说大方广善巧方便经

    佛说大方广善巧方便经

    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。
  • 太上玄都妙本清静身心经

    太上玄都妙本清静身心经

    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。
  • 读书说

    读书说

    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。
  • 后村诗话

    后村诗话

    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
  • 保德州志

    保德州志

    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。
  • 亿万男神的100度沸腾爱

    亿万男神的100度沸腾爱

    初见,他是高高在上的亿万男神,惊鸿一暼冷漠无情,再见,他却缠住她不放,“顾景琛,做鬼,我也不会喜欢你。”顾景琛笑了笑,“傻瓜,和我在一起,不用做鬼。”“滚--!”某女发飙,只是,某男锲而不舍,甘之如饴。
  • 佛顶放无垢光明入普门观察一切如来心陀罗尼经

    佛顶放无垢光明入普门观察一切如来心陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 星源战士

    星源战士

    公元3588年,地球遭遇安瓦星人入侵,人类文明几乎灭亡,幸存下来的人类乘坐着“天月”号宇宙飞船逃离地球,前往宇宙寻找新的居住地,重新发展文明,以便日后想办法夺回地球,期间还得提防安瓦星人的舰队。
  • 魏晋南北朝骈文史论

    魏晋南北朝骈文史论

    《魏晋南北朝骈文史论》以时间为顺序,研究了魏晋南北朝时期的骈文。全书共分七章,内容包括:汉末到魏——骈文的继续酝酿;西晋——国家观念的弱化及骈散的杂陈;东晋——文坛的凄凉、凋落与变异;刘宋——骈文的成熟;萧齐——骈文的转向与要素的完备;梁朝——骈文的繁盛;陈到隋——繁盛中的变异。
  • 书穿:男主不按剧本来

    书穿:男主不按剧本来

    养个徒儿竟然养出了一个老公。落芸表示心塞塞。还有你们二位大佬,既然都是穿越的,不如我们凑一起斗地主吧!1v1主甜
  • 怪玩宠物店:水边的阿多尼斯

    怪玩宠物店:水边的阿多尼斯

    喵哆哆编著的《怪玩宠物店水边的阿多尼斯》是魅力优品系列之一,《怪玩宠物店水边的阿多尼斯》讲述了:能让天才美少年画家露出笑容的神秘礼物,竟然是破烂的布偶熊娃娃,外婆留下的陈旧薰衣草戒指,为什么会被古怪又神秘的宠物店老板收藏,倒霉又贫穷的柳美奈为了偿还五十万债务,惨遭传说中的神秘占卜师骗钱,又被卷入纠结的四角恋。更悲惨的是她竟然知道了一件被隐藏了十多年的豪门秘密,有可能会被狠狠地报复。天啊,难道宇宙聪明无敌、天真可爱的美少女柳美奈只能眼睁睁地等待噩运降临吗.
  • 爱恨流年,最美好的自己给你

    爱恨流年,最美好的自己给你

    周安诺的人生始终磕磕碰碰。她的“闺蜜”郑婉婉对她百般欺骗利用,害她失去扭转人生的机会。她喜欢的男人韩追,喜欢的却是郑婉婉。雷雨交加的夜晚,她在街头痛哭,雨幕里出现一个英俊的男人——上官岭将她带走。他们互相许诺,他助她追回自己的爱情,她为他找从韩追那儿找回一样神秘物品。周安诺脱胎换骨成为绝色美女,高调进入C市三大整形医院之首的月美医院,一步步接近着总经理韩追和韩追的未婚妻郑婉婉,也进入了整形的世界……却又在这个过程里看尽人们对欲望的追求,对容貌的渴盼,对爱情的向往。终于她放下了虚荣、仇恨,找回了曾经因为苦苦追求美貌和爱情而迷失的自己。
  • 一本书玩转欧洲顶级景点(英汉对照)

    一本书玩转欧洲顶级景点(英汉对照)

    到欧洲旅游就是要看“宫保鸡丁”,“宫”指的是皇宫,“保”是堡的谐音,城堡。“鸡”是“基”的谐音,基督教堂;“丁”是从“厅”字取出来的,即市政厅,也即欧洲美丽的特色城市风景。
  • 游城南记

    游城南记

    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。