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the castle of otranto-第4章

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of the principal  staircase。  There she stopped; not knowing whither to direct her  steps; nor how to escape from the impetuosity of the Prince。  The  gates of the castle; she knew; were locked; and guards placed in the  court。  Should she; as her heart prompted her; go and prepare  Hippolita for the cruel destiny that awaited her; she did not doubt  but Manfred would seek her there; and that his violence would incite  him to double the injury he meditated; without leaving room for them  to avoid the impetuosity of his passions。  Delay might give him time  to reflect on the horrid measures he had conceived; or produce some  circumstance in her favour; if she could … for that night; at least …  avoid his odious purpose。  Yet where conceal herself?  How avoid the  pursuit he would infallibly make throughout the castle?

As these thoughts passed rapidly through her mind; she recollected a  subterraneous passage which led from the vaults of the castle to the  church of St。 Nicholas。  Could she reach the altar before she was  overtaken; she knew even Manfred's violence would not dare to profane  the sacredness of the place; and she determined; if no other means of  deliverance offered; to shut herself up for ever among the holy  virgins whose convent was contiguous to the cathedral。  In this  resolution; she seized a lamp that burned at the foot of the  staircase; and hurried towards the secret passage。

The lower part of the castle was hollowed into several intricate  cloisters; and it was not easy for one under so much anxiety to find  the door that opened into the cavern。  An awful silence reigned  throughout those subterraneous regions; except now and then some  blasts of wind that shook the doors she had passed; and which; grating  on the rusty hinges; were re…echoed through that long labyrinth of  darkness。  Every murmur struck her with new terror; yet more she  dreaded to hear the wrathful voice of Manfred urging his domestics to  pursue her。

She trod as softly as impatience would give her leave; yet frequently  stopped and listened to hear if she was followed。  In one of those  moments she thought she heard a sigh。  She shuddered; and recoiled a  few paces。  In a moment she thought she heard the step of some person。   Her blood curdled; she concluded it was Manfred。  Every suggestion  that horror could inspire rushed into her mind。  She condemned her  rash flight; which had thus exposed her to his rage in a place where  her cries were not likely to draw anybody to her assistance。  Yet the  sound seemed not to come from behind。  If Manfred knew where she was;  he must have followed her。  She was still in one of the cloisters; and  the steps she had heard were too distinct to proceed from the way she  had come。  Cheered with this reflection; and hoping to find a friend  in whoever was not the Prince; she was going to advance; when a door  that stood ajar; at some distance to the left; was opened gently:  but  ere her lamp; which she held up; could discover who opened it; the  person retreated precipitately on seeing the light。

Isabella; whom every incident was sufficient to dismay; hesitated  whether she should proceed。  Her dread of Manfred soon outweighed  every other terror。  The very circumstance of the person avoiding her  gave her a sort of courage。  It could only be; she thought; some  domestic belonging to the castle。  Her gentleness had never raised her  an enemy; and conscious innocence made her hope that; unless sent by  the Prince's order to seek her; his servants would rather assist than  prevent her flight。  Fortifying herself with these reflections; and  believing by what she could observe that she was near the mouth of the  subterraneous cavern; she approached the door that had been opened;  but a sudden gust of wind that met her at the door extinguished her  lamp; and left her in total darkness。

Words cannot paint the horror of the Princess's situation。  Alone in  so dismal a place; her mind imprinted with all the terrible events of  the day; hopeless of escaping; expecting every moment the arrival of  Manfred; and far from tranquil on knowing she was within reach of  somebody; she knew not whom; who for some cause seemed concealed  thereabouts; all these thoughts crowded on her distracted mind; and  she was ready to sink under her apprehensions。  She addressed herself  to every saint in heaven; and inwardly implored their assistance。  For  a considerable time she remained in an agony of despair。

At last; as softly as was possible; she felt for the door; and having  found it; entered trembling into the vault from whence she had heard  the sigh and steps。  It gave her a kind of momentary joy to perceive  an imperfect ray of clouded moonshine gleam from the roof of the  vault; which seemed to be fallen in; and from whence hung a fragment  of earth or building; she could not distinguish which; that appeared  to have been crushed inwards。  She advanced eagerly towards this  chasm; when she discerned a human form standing close against the  wall。

She shrieked; believing it the ghost of her betrothed Conrad。  The  figure; advancing; said; in a submissive voice …

〃Be not alarmed; Lady; I will not injure you。〃

Isabella; a little encouraged by the words and tone of voice of the  stranger; and recollecting that this must be the person who had opened  the door; recovered her spirits enough to reply …

〃Sir; whoever you are; take pity on a wretched Princess; standing on  the brink of destruction。  Assist me to escape from this fatal castle;  or in a few moments I may be made miserable for ever。〃

〃Alas!〃 said the stranger; 〃what can I do to assist you?  I will die  in your defence; but I am unacquainted with the castle; and want … 〃

〃Oh!〃 said Isabella; hastily interrupting him; 〃help me but to find a  trap…door that must be hereabout; and it is the greatest service you  can do me; for I have not a minute to lose。〃

Saying a these words; she felt about on the pavement; and directed the  stranger to search likewise; for a smooth piece of brass enclosed in  one of the stones。

〃That;〃 said she; 〃is the lock; which opens with a spring; of which I  know the secret。  If we can find that; I may escape … if not; alas!  courteous stranger; I fear I shall have involved you in my  misfortunes:  Manfred will suspect you for the accomplice of my  flight; and you will fall a victim to his resentment。〃

〃I value not my life;〃 said the stranger; 〃and it will be some comfort  to lose it in trying to deliver you from his tyranny。〃

〃Generous youth;〃 said Isabella; 〃how shall I ever requite … 〃

As she uttered those words; a ray of moonshine; streaming through a  cranny of the ruin above; shone directly on the lock they sought。

〃Oh! transport!〃 said Isabella; 〃here is the trap…door!〃 and; taking  out the key; she touched the spring; which; starting aside; discovered  an iron ring。  〃Lift up the door;〃 said the Princess。

The stranger obeyed; and beneath appeared some stone steps descending  into a vault totally dark。

〃We must go down here;〃 said Isabella。  〃Follow me; dark and dismal as  it is; we cannot miss our way; it leads directly to the church of St。  Nicholas。  But; perhaps;〃 added the Princess modestly; 〃you have no  reason to leave the castle; nor have I farther occasion for your  service; in a few minutes I shall be safe from Manfred's rage … only  let me know to whom I am so much obliged。〃

〃I will never quit you;〃 said the stranger eagerly; 〃until I have  placed you in safety … nor think me; Princess; more generous than I  am; though you are my principal care … 〃

The stranger was interrupted by a sudden noise of voices that seemed  approaching; and they soon distinguished these words …

〃Talk not to me of necromancers; I tell you she must be in the castle;  I will find her in spite of enchantment。〃

〃Oh; heavens!〃 cried Isabella; 〃it is the voice of Manfred!  Make  haste; or we are ruined! and shut the trap…door after you。〃

Saying this; she descended the steps precipitately; and as the  stranger hastened to follow her; he let the door slip out of his  hands:  it fell; and the spring closed over it。  He tried in vain to  open it; not having observed Isabella's method of touching the spring;  nor had he many moments to make an essay。  The noise of the falling  door had been heard by Manfred; who; directed by the sound; hastened  thither; attended by his servants with torches。

〃It must be Isabella;〃 cried Manfred; before he entered the vault。   〃She is escaping by the subterraneous passage; but she cannot have got  far。〃

What was the astonishment of the Prince when; instead of Isabella; the  light of the torches discovered to him the young peasant whom he  thought confined under the fatal helmet!

〃Traitor!〃 said Manfred; 〃how camest thou here?  I thought thee in  durance above in the court。〃

〃I am no traitor;〃 replied the young man boldly; 〃nor am I answerable  for your thoughts。〃

〃Presumptuous villain!〃 cried Manfred; 〃dost thou provoke my wrath?   Tell me; how hast thou escaped from above?  Thou hast corrupted thy  guards; and their lives shall answer it。〃

〃My poverty;〃 said the peasant calmly; 〃will disculpate them:  though  the ministers of a tyrant's wrath; 
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