the castle of otranto-第4部分

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　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；　to　thee　they　are　faithful；　and　but　　too　willing　to　execute　the　orders　which　you　unjustly　imposed　upon　　them。〃

〃Art　thou　so　hardy　as　to　dare　my　vengeance？〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but　　tortures　shall　force　the　truth　from　thee。　　Tell　me；　I　will　know　thy　　accomplices。〃

〃There　was　my　accomplice！〃　said　the　youth；　smiling；　and　pointing　to　　the　roof。

Manfred　ordered　the　torches　to　be　held　up；　and　perceived　that　one　of　　the　cheeks　of　the　enchanted　casque　had　forced　its　way　through　the　　pavement　of　the　court；　as　his　servants　had　let　it　fall　over　the　　peasant；　and　had　broken　through　into　the　vault；　leaving　a　gap；　through　　which　the　peasant　had　pressed　himself　some　minutes　before　he　was　found　　by　Isabella。

〃Was　that　the　way　by　which　thou　didst　descend？〃　said　Manfred。

〃It　was；〃　said　the　youth。

〃But　what　noise　was　that；〃　said　Manfred；　〃which　I　heard　as　I　entered　　the　cloister？〃

〃A　door　clapped；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃I　heard　it　as　well　as　you。〃

〃What　door？〃　said　Manfred　hastily。

〃I　am　not　acquainted　with　your　castle；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃this　is　the　　first　time　I　ever　entered　it；　and　this　vault　the　only　part　of　it　　within　which　I　ever　was。〃

〃But　I　tell　thee；〃　said　Manfred　（wishing　to　find　out　if　the　youth　had　　discovered　the　trap…door）；　〃it　was　this　way　I　heard　the　noise。　　My　　servants　heard　it　too。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　interrupted　one　of　them　officiously；　〃to　be　sure　it　was　the　　trap…door；　and　he　was　going　to　make　his　escape。〃

〃Peace；　blockhead！〃　said　the　Prince　angrily；　〃if　he　was　going　to　　escape；　how　should　he　come　on　this　side？　　I　will　know　from　his　own　　mouth　what　noise　it　was　I　heard。　　Tell　me　truly；　thy　life　depends　on　　thy　veracity。〃

〃My　veracity　is　dearer　to　me　than　my　life；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃nor　　would　I　purchase　the　one　by　forfeiting　the　other。〃

〃Indeed；　young　philosopher！〃　said　Manfred　contemptuously；　〃tell　me；　　then；　what　was　the　noise　I　heard？〃

〃Ask　me　what　I　can　answer；〃　said　he；　〃and　put　me　to　death　instantly　if　　I　tell　you　a　lie。〃

Manfred；　growing　impatient　at　the　steady　valour　and　indifference　of　　the　youth；　cried　…

〃Well；　then；　thou　man　of　truth；　answer！　　Was　it　the　fall　of　the　trap…　door　that　I　heard？〃

〃It　was；〃　said　the　youth。

〃It　was！〃　said　the　Prince；　〃and　how　didst　thou　come　to　know　there　was　　a　trap…door　here？〃

〃I　saw　the　plate　of　brass　by　a　gleam　of　moonshine；〃　replied　he。

〃But　what　told　thee　it　was　a　lock？〃　said　Manfred。　　〃How　didst　thou　　discover　the　secret　of　opening　it？〃

〃Providence；　that　delivered　me　from　the　helmet；　was　able　to　direct　me　　to　the　spring　of　a　lock；〃　said　he。

〃Providence　should　have　gone　a　little　farther；　and　have　placed　thee　　out　of　the　reach　of　my　resentment；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃When　Providence　　had　taught　thee　to　open　the　lock；　it　abandoned　thee　for　a　fool；　who　　did　not　know　how　to　make　use　of　its　favours。　　Why　didst　thou　not　　pursue　the　path　pointed　out　for　thy　escape？　　Why　didst　thou　shut　the　　trap…door　before　thou　hadst　descended　the　steps？〃

〃I　might　ask　you；　my　Lord；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃how　I；　totally　　unacquainted　with　your　castle；　was　to　know　that　those　steps　led　to　any　　outlet？　but　I　scorn　to　evade　your　questions。　　Wherever　those　steps　　lead　to；　perhaps　I　should　have　explored　the　way　…　I　could　not　be　in　a　　worse　situation　than　I　was。　　But　the　truth　is；　I　let　the　trap…door　　fall：　　your　immediate　arrival　followed。　　I　had　given　the　alarm　…　what　　imported　it　to　me　whether　I　was　seized　a　minute　sooner　or　a　minute　　later？〃

〃Thou　art　a　resolute　villain　for　thy　years；〃　said　Manfred；　〃yet　on　　reflection　I　suspect　thou　dost　but　trifle　with　me。　　Thou　hast　not　yet　　told　me　how　thou　didst　open　the　lock。〃

〃That　I　will　show　you；　my　Lord；〃　said　the　peasant；　and；　taking　up　a　　fragment　of　stone　that　had　fallen　from　above；　he　laid　himself　on　the　　trap…door；　and　began　to　beat　on　the　piece　of　brass　that　covered　it；　　meaning　to　gain　time　for　the　escape　of　the　Princess。　　This　presence　of　　mind；　joined　to　the　frankness　of　the　youth；　staggered　Manfred。　　He　　even　felt　a　disposition　towards　pardoning　one　who　had　been　guilty　of　　no　crime。　　Manfred