the ruby of kishmoor-第7部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


pounding　upon　the　gate。

At　length；　in　answer　to　the　sound　of　his　vehement　blows；　the
little　wicket　was　opened　and　a　pair　of　eyes　appeared　thereat。　　The
next　instant　the　gate　was　cast　ajar　very　hastily；　and　the
pock…pitted　negress　appeared。　　She　caught　him　by　the　sleeve　of　his
coat　and　drew　him　quickly　into　the　garden。　　〃Buckra；　Buckra！〃　she
cried。　　〃What　you　doing？　　You　wake　de　whole　town！〃　　Then；　observing
his　dripping　garments：　〃You　been　in　de　water。　　You　catch　de　fever
and　shake　till　you　die。〃

〃Thy　mistress！〃　cried　Jonathan；　almost　sobbing　in　the　excess　of
his　emotion；　〃take　me　to　her　upon　the　instant；　or　I　cannot　answer
for　my　not　going　entirely　mad！〃

When　our　hero　was　again　introduced　to　the　lady；　he　found　her　clad
in　a　loose　and　an　elegant　negligee；　infinitely　becoming　to　her
graceful　figure；　and　still　covered　with　the　veil　of　silver　gauze
that　had　before　enveloped　her。

〃Friend；〃　he　cried；　vehemently；　approaching　her　and　holding　out
toward　her　the　little　ivory　ball；　〃take　again　this　which　thou
gavest　me！　　It　has　brought　death　to　three　men；　and　I　know　not　what
terrible　fate　may　befall　me　if　I　keep　it　longer　in　my　possession。

〃What　is　it　you　say？〃　cried　she；　in　a　piercing　voice。　　〃Did　you
say　it　hath　caused　the　death　of　three　men？　　Quick！　　Tell　me　what
has　happened；　for　I　feel　somehow　a　presage　that　you　bring　me　news
of　safety　and　release　from　all　my　dangers。〃

〃I　know　not　what　thou　meanest！〃　cried　Jonathan；　still　panting
with　agitation。　　〃But　this　I　do　know：　that　when　I　went　away　from
thee　I　departed　an　innocent　man；　and　now　I　come　back　to　thee
burdened　with　the　weight　of　three　lives；　which；　though　innocent　I
have　been　instrumental　in　taking。〃

〃Explain！〃　　exclaimed　the　lady；　tapping　the　floor　with　her　foot。
〃Explain！　explain！　explain！〃

〃That　I　will；〃　cried　Jonathan；　〃and　as　soon　as　I　am　able！　　When
I　left　thee　and　went　out　into　the　street　I　was　accosted　by　a
little　gentleman　clad　in　black。〃

〃Indeed！〃　cried　the　lady；　〃and　had　he　but　one　eye；　and　did　he
carry　a　gold…headed　cane？〃

〃Exactly；〃　said　Jonathan；　〃and　he　claimed　acquaintance　with
friend　Jeremiah　Doolittle。〃

〃He　never　knew　him！〃　cried　the　lady；　vehemently；　〃and　I　must　tell
you　that　he　was　a　villain　named　Hunt；　who　at　one　time　was　the
intimate　consort　of　the　pirate　Keitt。　　He　it　was　who　plunged　a
deadly　knife　into　his　captain's　bosom；　and　so　murdered　him　in
this　very　house。　　He　himself　or　his　agents；　must　have　been
watching　my　gate　when　you　went　forth。〃

〃I　know　not　how　that　may　be；〃　said　Jonathan；　〃but　he　took　me　to
his　apartment；　and　there；　obtaining　a　knowledge　of　the　trust　thou
didst　burden　me　with；　he　demanded　it　of　me；　and　upon　my　refusing
to　deliver　it　to　him　he　presently　fell　to　attacking　me　with　a
dagger。　　In　my　efforts　to　protect　my　life　I　inadvertently　caused
him　to　plunge　the　knife　into　his　own　bosom　and　to　kill　himself。〃

〃And　what　then？〃　　cried　the　lady；　who　appeared　well…nigh
distracted　with　her　emotions。

〃Then；〃　said　Jonathan；　〃there　came　a　strange　mana
foreignerwho　upon　his　part　assaulted　me　with　a　pistol；　with
every　intention　of　murdering　me　and　thus　obtaining　possession　of
that　same　little　trifle。〃

And　did　he；〃　exclaimed　the　lady；　〃have　long；　black　mustachios；
and　did　he　have　silver　ear…rings　in　his　ears？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jonathan；　〃he　did。〃

〃That；〃　cried　the　lady；　could　have　been　none　other　than　Captain
Keitt's　Portuguese　sailing…master；　who　must　have　been　spying　upon
Hunt！　　Tell　me　what　happened　next！〃

〃He　would　have　taken　my　life；〃　said　Jonathan；　〃but　in　the
struggle　that　followed　he　shot　himself　accidentally　with　his　own
pistol；　and　died　at　my　very　feet。　　I　do　not　know　what　would　have
happened　to　me　if　a　sea…captain　had　not　come　and　proffered　his
assistance。〃

〃A　sea…captain！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃and　had　he　a　flat　face　and　a
broken　nose？〃

〃Indeed　he　had；〃　replied　Jonathan。

〃That；〃　said　the　lady；　〃must　have　been　Captain　Keitt's　pirate
partnerCaptain　Willitts；　of　The　Bloody　Hand。　　He　was　doubtless
spying　upon　the　Portuguese。〃

〃He　induced　me；〃　said　Jonathan；　〃to　carry　the　two　bodies　down　to
the　wharf。　　Having　inveigled　me　therewhere；　I　suppose；　he
thought　no　one　could　interferehe　assaulted　me；　and　endeavored
to　take　the　ivory　ball　away　from　me。　　In　my　efforts　to　escape　we
both　fell　into　the　water；　and　he；　striking　his　head　upon　the　edge
of　the　wharf；　was　first　stunned　and　then　drowned。〃

〃Thank　God！〃　cried　the　lady；　with　a　transport　of　fervor；　and
clasping　her　jewelled　hands　together。　　〃At　last　I　am　free　of　those
who　have　heretofore　persecuted　me　and　threatened　my　very　life
itself！　　You　have　asked　to　behold　my　face；　I　will　now　show　it　to
you！　　Heretofore　I　have　been　obliged　to　keep　it　concealed　lest；
recognizing　me；　my　enemies　should　have　slain　me。〃　　As　she　spoke
she　drew　aside　her　veil；　and　disclosed　to　the　vision　of　our　hero
a　countenance　of　the　most　extraordinary　and　striking　beauty。　　Her
luminous　eyes　were　like　those　of　a　Jawa；　and　set　beneath
exquisitely　arched　and　pencilled　brows。　　Her　forehead　was　like
lustrous　ivory　and　her　lips　like　rose…leaves。　　Her　hair；　which　was
as　soft　as　the　finest　silk；　was　fastened　up　in　masses　of
ravishing　abundance。　　〃I　am；〃　said　she；　〃the　daughter　of　that
unfortunate　Captain　Keitt；　who；　though　weak　and　a　pirate；　was　not
so　wicked；　I　would　have　you　know；　as　he　has　been　painted。　　He
would；　doubtless；　have　been　an　honest　man　had　he　not　been　led
astray　by　the　villain　Hunt；　who　so　nearly　compassed　your　own
destruction。　　He　returned　to　this　island　before　his　death；　and
made　me　the　sole　heir　of　all　that　great　fortune　which　he　had
gatheredperhaps　not　by　the　most　honest　meansin　the　waters　of
the　Indian　Ocean。　　But　the　greatest　treasure　of　all　that　fortune
bequeathed　to　me　was　a　single　jewel　which　you　yourself　have　just
now　defended　with　a　courage　and　a　fidelity　that　I　cannot
sufficiently　extol。　　It　is　that　priceless　gem　known　as　the　Ruby　of
Kishmoor。　　I　will　show　it　to　you。〃　　Hereupon　she　took　the　little
ivory　ball　in　her　hand；　and；　with　a　turn　of　her　beautiful　wrists；
unscrewed　a　lid　so　nicely　and　cunningly　adjusted　that　no　eye
could　have　detected　where　it　was　joined　to　the　parent　globe。
Within　was　a　fleece　of　raw　silk　containing　an　object　which　she
presently　displayed　before　the　astonished　gaze　of　our　hero。　　It
was　a　red　stone　of　about　the　bigness　of　a　plover's　egg；　and　which
glowed　and　flamed　with　such　an　exquisite　and　ruddy　brilliancy　as
to　dazzle　even　Jonathan's　inexperienced　eyes。　　Indeed；　he　did　not
need　to　be　informed　of　the　priceless　value　of　the　treasure；　which
he　beheld　in　the　rosy　palm　extended　toward　him。　　How　long　he　gazed
at　this　extraordinary　jewel　he　knew　not；　but　he　was　aroused　from
his　contemplation　by　the　sound　of　the　lady's　voice　addressing
him。　　〃The　three　villains；〃　said　she；　〃who　have　this　day　met　their
deserts　in　a　violent　and　bloody　death；　had　by　an　accident
obtained　knowledge　that　this　jewel　was　in　my　possession。　　Since
then　my　life　has　hung　upon　a　thread；　and　every　step　that　I　have
taken　has　been　watched　by　these　enemies；　the　most　cruel　and
relentless　that　it　was　ever　the　lot　of　any　unfortunate　to
possess。　　From　the　mortal　dangers　of　their　machinations　you　have
saved　me；　exhibiting　a　courage　and　a　determination　that　cannot　be
sufficiently　applauded。　　In　this　you　have　earned　my　deepest
admiration　and　regard。　　I　would　rather；〃　she　cried；　〃intrust　my
life　and　my　happiness　to　you　than　into　the　keeping　of　any　man
whom　I　have　ever　known！　　I　cannot　hope　to　reward　you　in　such　a　way
as　to　recompense　you　for　the　perils　into　which　my　necessities
have　thrust　you；　but　yet〃and　here　she　hesitated；　as　though
seeking　for　words　in　which　to　express　herself〃but　yet　if　you
are　willing　to　accept　of　this　jewel；　and　all　of　the　fortune　that
belongs　to　me；　together　with　the　person　of　poor　Evaline　Keitt
herself；　not　only　the　stone　and　the　wealth；　but　the　woman　also；
are　yours　to　dispose　of　as　you　see　fit！〃

Our　hero　was　so　struck　aback　at　this　unexpected　turn　that　he　knew
not　upon　the　instant　what　reply　to　make。　　〃Friend；〃　said　he；　at
last；　〃I　thank　thee　extremely　for　thy　offer；　and；　though　I　would
not　be　ungracious；　it　is　yet　borne　in　upon　me　to　testify　to　thee
that　as　to　the　stone　itself　and　the　fortuneof　which　thou
speakest；　and　of　which　I　very　well　know　the　historyI　have　no
inclination　to　receive　either　the　one　or　the　other；　both　the
fruits　of　theft；　rapine；　and　murder。　　The　jewel　I　have　myself
beheld　three　times　stained；　as　it　were；　with　the　blood　of　my
fellow…man；　so　that　it　now　has　so　little　value　in　my　sight　that　I
would　not　give　a　peppercorn　to　possess　it。　　Indeed；　there　is　no
inducement　in　the　world　that　could　persuade　me　to　accept　it；　or
even　to　take　it　again　into　my　hand。　　As　to　the　rest　of　thy
generous　offer；　I　have　only　to　say　that　I　am；　four　months　hence；
to　be　married　to　a　very　comely　young　woman　of　Kensington；　in
Pennsylvania；　by　name　Martha　Dobbs；　and　therefore　I　am　not　at　all
at　liberty　to　consider　my　inclinations　in　any　other　direction。〃

Having　so　delivered　himself；　Jonathan　bowed　with　such　ease　as　his
stiff　and　awkward　joints　might　command；　and　thereupon　withdrew
from　the　presence　of　the　charmer；　who；　with　cheeks　suffused　with
blushes　and　with　eyes　averted；　made　no　endeavor　to　detain　him。

So　ended　the　only　adventure　of　moment　that　ever　happened　to　him
in　all　his　life。　　For　thereafter　he　contented　himself　with　such
excitement　as　his　mercantile　profession　and　his　extremely
peaceful　existence　might　afford。




Epilogue



In　conclusion　it　may　be　said　that　when　the　worthy　Jonathan　Rugg
was　married　to　Martha　Dobbs；　upon　the　following　June；　some
mysterious　friend　presented　to　the　bride　a　rope　of　pearls　of　such
considerable　value　that　when　they　were　realized　into　money　our
hero　was　enabled　to　enter　into　partnership　with　his　former　patron
the　worthy　Jeremiah　Doolittle；　and　that；　having　made　such　a
beginning；　he　by…and…by　arose　to　become；　in　his　day；　one　of　the
leading　merchants　of　his　native　town　of　Philadelphia。







End