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the castle of otranto-第17章

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The grace and fervour with which Theodore uttered these words  interested every person present in his favour。  Even Manfred was  touched … yet still possessed with his resemblance to Alfonso; his  admiration was dashed with secret horror。

〃Rise;〃 said he; 〃thy life is not my present purpose。  But tell me thy  history; and how thou camest connected with this old traitor here。〃

〃My Lord;〃 said Jerome eagerly。

〃Peace! impostor!〃 said Manfred; 〃I will not have him prompted。〃

〃My Lord;〃 said Theodore; 〃I want no assistance; my story is very  brief。  I was carried at five years of age to Algiers with my mother;  who had been taken by corsairs from the coast of Sicily。  She died of  grief in less than a twelvemonth;〃 the tears gushed from Jerome's  eyes; on whose countenance a thousand anxious passions stood  expressed。  〃Before she died;〃 continued Theodore; 〃she bound a  writing about my arm under my garments; which told me I was the son of  the Count Falconara。〃

〃It is most true;〃 said Jerome; 〃I am that wretched father。〃

〃Again I enjoin thee silence;〃 said Manfred:  〃proceed。〃

〃I remained in slavery;〃 said Theodore; 〃until within these two years;  when attending on my master in his cruises; I was delivered by a  Christian vessel; which overpowered the pirate; and discovering myself  to the captain; he generously put me on shore in Sicily; but alas!  instead of finding a father; I learned that his estate; which was  situated on the coast; had; during his absence; been laid waste by the  Rover who had carried my mother and me into captivity:  that his  castle had been burnt to the ground; and that my father on his return  had sold what remained; and was retired into religion in the kingdom  of Naples; but where no man could inform me。  Destitute and  friendless; hopeless almost of attaining the transport of a parent's  embrace; I took the first opportunity of setting sail for Naples; from  whence; within these six days; I wandered into this province; still  supporting myself by the labour of my hands; nor until yester…morn did  I believe that heaven had reserved any lot for me but peace of mind  and contented poverty。  This; my Lord; is Theodore's story。  I am  blessed beyond my hope in finding a father; I am unfortunate beyond my  desert in having incurred your Highness's displeasure。〃

He ceased。  A murmur of approbation gently arose from the audience。

〃This is not all;〃 said Frederic; 〃I am bound in honour to add what he  suppresses。  Though he is modest; I must be generous; he is one of the  bravest youths on Christian ground。  He is warm too; and from the  short knowledge I have of him; I will pledge myself for his veracity:   if what he reports of himself were not true; he would not utter it …  and for me; youth; I honour a frankness which becomes thy birth; but  now; and thou didst offend me:  yet the noble blood which flows in thy  veins; may well be allowed to boil out; when it has so recently traced  itself to its source。  Come; my Lord;〃 (turning to Manfred); 〃if I can  pardon him; surely you may; it is not the youth's fault; if you took  him for a spectre。〃

This bitter taunt galled the soul of Manfred。

〃If beings from another world;〃 replied he haughtily; 〃have power to  impress my mind with awe; it is more than living man can do; nor could  a stripling's arm。〃

〃My Lord;〃 interrupted Hippolita; 〃your guest has occasion for repose:   shall we not leave him to his rest?〃  Saying this; and taking Manfred  by the hand; she took leave of Frederic; and led the company forth。

The Prince; not sorry to quit a conversation which recalled to mind  the discovery he had made of his most secret sensations; suffered  himself to be conducted to his own apartment; after permitting  Theodore; though under engagement to return to the castle on the  morrow (a condition the young man gladly accepted); to retire with his  father to the convent。  Matilda and Isabella were too much occupied  with their own reflections; and too little content with each other; to  wish for farther converse that night。  They separated each to her  chamber; with more expressions of ceremony and fewer of affection thou  had passed between them since their childhood。

If they parted with small cordiality; they did but meet with greater  impatience; as soon as the sun was risen。  Their minds were in a  situation that excluded sleep; and each recollected a thousand  questions which she wished she had put to the other overnight。   Matilda reflected that Isabella had been twice delivered by Theodore  in very critical situations; which she could not believe accidental。   His eyes; it was true; had been fixed on her in Frederic's chamber;  but that might have been to disguise his passion for Isabella from the  fathers of both。  It were better to clear this up。  She wished to know  the truth; lest she should wrong her friend by entertaining a passion  for Isabella's lover。  Thus jealousy prompted; and at the same time  borrowed an excuse from friendship to justify its curiosity。

Isabella; not less restless; had better foundation for her suspicions。   Both Theodore's tongue and eyes had told her his heart was engaged; it  was true … yet; perhaps; Matilda might not correspond to his passion;  she had ever appeared insensible to love:  all her thoughts were set  on heaven。

〃Why did I dissuade her?〃 said Isabella to herself; 〃I am punished for  my generosity; but when did they meet? where?  It cannot be; I have  deceived myself; perhaps last night was the first time they ever  beheld each other; it must be some other object that has prepossessed  his affections … if it is; I am not so unhappy as I thought; if it is  not my friend Matilda … how!  Can I stoop to wish for the affection of  a man; who rudely and unnecessarily acquainted me with his  indifference? and that at the very moment in which common courtesy  demanded at least expressions of civility。  I will go to my dear  Matilda; who will confirm me in this becoming pride。  Man is false … I  will advise with her on taking the veil:  she will rejoice to find me  in this disposition; and I will acquaint her that I no longer oppose  her inclination for the cloister。〃

In this frame of mind; and determined to open her heart entirely to  Matilda; she went to that Princess's chamber; whom she found already  dressed; and leaning pensively on her arm。  This attitude; so  correspondent to what she felt herself; revived Isabella's suspicions;  and destroyed the confidence she had purposed to place in her friend。   They blushed at meeting; and were too much novices to disguise their  sensations with address。  After some unmeaning questions and replies;  Matilda demanded of Isabella the cause of her flight?  The latter; who  had almost forgotten Manfred's passion; so entirely was she occupied  by her own; concluding that Matilda referred to her last escape from  the convent; which had occasioned the events of the preceding evening;  replied …

〃Martelli brought word to the convent that your mother was dead。〃

〃Oh!〃 said Matilda; interrupting her; 〃Bianca has explained that  mistake to me:  on seeing me faint; she cried out; 'The Princess is  dead!' and Martelli; who had come for the usual dole to the castle … 〃

〃And what made you faint?〃 said Isabella; indifferent to the rest。   Matilda blushed and stammered …

〃My father … he was sitting in judgment on a criminal … 〃

〃What criminal?〃 said Isabella eagerly。

〃A young man;〃 said Matilda; 〃I believe … 〃

〃I think it was that young man that … 〃

〃What; Theodore?〃 said Isabella。

〃Yes;〃 answered she; 〃I never saw him before; I do not know how he had  offended my father; but as he has been of service to you; I am glad my  Lord has pardoned him。〃

〃Served me!〃 replied Isabella; 〃do you term it serving me; to wound my  father; and almost occasion his death?  Though it is but since  yesterday that I am blessed with knowing a parent; I hope Matilda does  not think I am such a stranger to filial tenderness as not to resent  the boldness of that audacious youth; and that it is impossible for me  ever to feel any affection for one who dared to lift his arm against  the author of my being。  No; Matilda; my heart abhors him; and if you  still retain the friendship for me that you have vowed from your  infancy; you will detest a man who has been on the point of making me  miserable for ever。〃

Matilda held down her head and replied:  〃I hope my dearest Isabella  does not doubt her Matilda's friendship:  I never beheld that youth  until yesterday; he is almost a stranger to me:  but as the surgeons  have pronounced your father out of danger; you ought not to harbour  uncharitable resentment against one; who I am persuaded did not know  the Marquis was related to you。〃

〃You plead his cause very pathetically;〃 said Isabella; 〃considering  he is so much a stranger to you!  I am mistaken; or he returns your  charity。〃

〃What mean you?〃 said Matilda。

〃Nothing;〃 said Isabella; repenting that she had given Matilda a hint  of Theodore's inclination for her。  Then changing the discourse; she  asked Matilda what occasioned Manfred to take Theodore for a spectre?

〃Bless me;〃 said Matilda; 〃did not you observe his extreme resemblance  to 
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