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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
elsewhere； are customarily hung up； in some conspicuous place； upon
the dwellings of departed aristocracy。
Next to him； and at the right hand of the president； was a gentleman
in long white hose and cotton drawers。 His frame shook； in a
ridiculous manner； with a fit of what Tarpaulin called 〃the horrors。〃
His jaws； which had been newly shaved； were tightly tied up by a
bandage of muslin； and his arms being fastened in a similar way at
the wrists； I I prevented him from helping himself too freely to the
liquors upon the table； a precaution rendered necessary； in the
opinion of Legs； by the peculiarly sottish and wine…bibbing cast of
his visage。 A pair of prodigious ears； nevertheless； which it was no
doubt found impossible to confine； towered away into the atmosphere
of the apartment； and were occasionally pricked up in a spasm； at the
sound of the drawing of a cork。
Fronting him； sixthly and lastly； was situated a singularly
stiff…looking personage； who； being afflicted with paralysis； must；
to speak seriously； have felt very ill at ease in his unaccommodating
habiliments。 He was habited； somewhat uniquely； in a new and handsome
mahogany coffin。 Its top or head…piece pressed upon the skull of the
wearer； and extended over it in the fashion of a hood； giving to the
entire face an air of indescribable interest。 Arm…holes had been cut
in the sides； for the sake not more of elegance than of convenience；
but the dress； nevertheless； prevented its proprietor from sitting as
erect as his associates； and as he lay reclining against his tressel；
at an angle of forty…five degrees； a pair of huge goggle eyes rolled
up their awful whites towards the celling in absolute amazement at
their own enormity。
Before each of the party lay a portion of a skull； which was used as
a drinking cup。 Overhead was suspended a human skeleton； by means of
a rope tied round one of the legs and fastened to a ring in the
ceiling。 The other limb； confined by no such fetter； stuck off from
the body at right angles； causing the whole loose and rattling frame
to dangle and twirl about at the caprice of every occasional puff of
wind which found its way into the apartment。 In the cranium of this
hideous thing lay quantity of ignited charcoal； which threw a fitful
but vivid light over the entire scene； while coffins； and other wares
appertaining to the shop of an undertaker； were piled high up around
the room； and against the windows； preventing any ray from escaping
into the street。
At sight of this extraordinary assembly； and of their still more
extraordinary paraphernalia； our two seamen did not conduct
themselves with that degree of decorum which might have been
expected。 Legs； leaning against the wall near which he happened to be
standing； dropped his lower jaw still lower than usual； and spread
open his eyes to their fullest extent： while Hugh Tarpaulin； stooping
down so as to bring his nose upon a level with the table； and
spreading out a palm upon either knee； burst into a long； loud； and
obstreperous roar of very ill…timed and immoderate laughter。
Without； however； taking offence at behaviour so excessively rude；
the tall president smiled very graciously upon the intruders
nodded to them in a dignified manner with his head of sable plumes
and； arising； took each by an arm； and led him to a seat which some
others of the company had placed in the meantime for his
accommodation。 Legs to all this offered not the slightest resistance；
but sat down as he was directed； while tile gallant Hugh； removing
his coffin tressel from its station near the head of the table； to
the vicinity of the little consumptive lady in the winding sheet；
plumped down by her side in high glee； and pouring out a skull of red
wine； quaffed it to their better acquaintance。 But at this
presumption the stiff gentleman in the coffin seemed exceedingly
nettled； and serious consequences might have ensued； had not the
president； rapping upon the table with his truncheon； diverted the
attention of all present to the following speech：
〃It becomes our duty upon the present happy occasion〃
〃Avast there！〃 interrupted Legs； looking very serious； 〃avast there a
bit； I say； and tell us who the devil ye all are； and what business
ye have here； rigged off like the foul fiends； and swilling the snug
blue ruin stowed away for the winter by my honest shipmate； Will
Wimble the undertaker！〃
At this unpardonable piece of ill…breeding； all the original company
half started to their feet； and uttered the same rapid succession of
wild fiendish shrieks which had before caught the attention of the
seamen。 The president； however； was the first to recover his
composure； and at length； turning to Legs with great dignity；
recommenced：
〃Most willingly will we gratify any reasonable curiosity on the part
of guests so illustrious； unbidden though they be。 Know then that in
these dominions I am monarch； and here rule with undivided empire
under the title of 'King Pest the First。'
〃This apartment； which you no doubt profanely suppose to be the shop
of Will Wimble the undertaker a man whom we know not； and whose
plebeian appellation has never before this night thwarted our royal
ears this apartment； I say； is the Dais…Chamber of our Palace；
devoted to the councils of our kingdom； and to other sacred and lofty
purposes。
〃The noble lady who sits opposite is Queen Pest； our Serene Consort。
The other exalted personages whom you behold are all of our family；
and wear the insignia of the blood royal under the respective titles
of 'His Grace the Arch Duke Pest…Iferous' 'His Grace the Duke
Pest…Ilential' 'His Grace the Duke Tem…Pest' and 'Her Serene
Highness the Arch Duchess Ana…Pest。'
〃As regards；〃 continued he； 〃your demand of the business upon which
we sit here in council； we might be pardoned for replying that it
concerns； and concerns alone； our own private and regal interest； and
is in no manner important to any other than ourself。 But in
consideration of those rights to which as guests and strangers you
may feel yourselves entitled； we will furthermore explain that we are
here this night； prepared by deep research and accurate
investigation； to examine； analyze； and thoroughly determine the
indefinable spirit the incomprehensible qualities and nature of
those inestimable treasures of the palate； the wines； ales； and
liqueurs of this goodly metropolis： by so doing to advance not more
our own designs than the true welfare of that unearthly sovereign
whose reign is over us all； whose dominions are unlimited； and whose
name is 'Death。'
〃Whose name is Davy Jones！〃 ejaculated Tarpaulin； helping the lady by
his side to a skull of liqueur； and pouring out a second for himself。
〃Profane varlet！〃 said the president； now turning his attention to
the worthy Hugh； 〃profane and execrable wretch！ we have said； that
in consideration of those rights which； even in thy filthy person； we
feel no inclination to violate； we have condescended to make reply to
thy rude and unseasonable inquiries。 We nevertheless； for your
unhallowed intrusion upon our councils； believe it our duty to mulct
thee and thy co