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！
the proud towers of Kenilworth； and went his way to seek a
humbler and safer place of refuge。
Lawrence and Lambourne gazed a little while after Wayland； and
then turned to go back to their tower； when the former thus
addressed his companion： 〃Never credit me； Master Lambourne； if
I can guess why thou hast driven this poor caitiff from the
Castle； just when he was to bear a part in the show that was
beginning； and all this about a wench；〃
〃Ah； Lawrence；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃thou art thinking of Black
Joan Jugges of Slingdon； and hast sympathy with human frailty。
But； corragio； most noble Duke of the Dungeon and Lord of Limbo；
for thou art as dark in this matter as thine own dominions of
Little…ease。 My most reverend Signior of the Low Countries of
Kenilworth； know that our most notable master； Richard Varney；
would give as much to have a hole in this same Tressilian's coat；
as would make us some fifty midnight carousals； with the full
leave of bidding the steward go snick up； if he came to startle
us too soon from our goblets。〃
〃Nay； an that be the case； thou hast right；〃 said Lawrence
Staples； the upper…warder； or； in common phrase； the first
jailer； of Kenilworth Castle； and of the Liberty and Honour
belonging thereto。 〃But how will you manage when you are absent
at the Queen's entrance； Master Lambourne； for methinks thou must
attend thy master there？〃
〃Why thou； mine honest prince of prisons； must keep ward in my
absence。 Let Tressilian enter if he will； but see thou let no
one come out。 If the damsel herself would make a break； as 'tis
not unlike she may； scare her back with rough words； she is but a
paltry player's wench after all。〃
〃Nay for that matter；〃 said Lawrence； 〃I might shut the iron
wicket upon her that stands without the double door； and so force
per force she will be bound to her answer without more trouble。〃
〃Then Tressilian will not get access to her；〃 said Lambourne；
reflecting a moment。 〃But 'tis no matter； she will be detected
in his chamber； and that is all one。 But confess； thou old
bat's…eyed dungeon…keeper； that you fear to keep awake by
yourself in that Mervyn's Tower of thine？〃
〃Why； as to fear； Master Lambourne；〃 said the fellow； 〃I mind it
not the turning of a key； but strange things have been heard and
seen in that tower。 You must have heard； for as short time as
you have been in Kenilworth； that it is haunted by the spirit of
Arthur ap Mervyn； a wild chief taken by fierce Lord Mortimer when
he was one of the Lords Marchers of Wales； and murdered； as they
say； in that same tower which bears his name。〃
〃Oh； I have heard the tale five hundred times；〃 said Lambourne；
〃and how the ghost is always most vociferous when they boil leeks
and stirabout； or fry toasted cheese； in the culinary regions。
Santo Diavolo； man； hold thy tongue； I know all about it！〃
〃Ay； but thou dost not； though；〃 said the turnkey； 〃 for as wise
as thou wouldst make thyself。 Ah； it is an awful thing to murder
a prisoner in his ward！you that may have given a man a stab in
a dark street know nothing of it。 To give a mutinous fellow a
knock on the head with the keys； and bid him be quiet； that's
what I call keeping order in the ward； but to draw weapon and
slay him； as was done to this Welsh lord； THAT raises you a ghost
that will render your prison…house untenantable by any decent
captive for some hundred years。 And I have that regard for my
prisoners； poor things； that I have put good squires and men of
worship； that have taken a ride on the highway； or slandered my
Lord of Leicester； or the like； fifty feet under ground； rather
than I would put them into that upper chamber yonder that they
call Mervyn's Bower。 Indeed； by good Saint Peter of the Fetters；
I marvel my noble lord； or Master Varney； could think of lodging
guests there； and if this Master Tressilian could get any one to
keep him company； and in especial a pretty wench； why； truly； I
think he was in the right on't。〃
〃I tell thee；〃 said Lambourne； leading the way into the turnkey's
apartment； 〃thou art an ass。 Go bolt the wicket on the stair；
and trouble not thy noddle about ghosts。 Give me the wine stoup；
man； I am somewhat heated with chafing with yonder rascal。〃
While Lambourne drew a long draught from a pitcher of claret；
which he made use of without any cup； the warder went on；
vindicating his own belief in the supernatural。
〃Thou hast been few hours in this Castle； and hast been for the
whole space so drunk； Lambourne； that thou art deaf； dumb； and
blind。 But we should hear less of your bragging were you to pass
a night with us at full moon； for then the ghost is busiest； and
more especially when a rattling wind sets in from the north…west；
with some sprinkling of rain； and now and then a growl of
thunder。 Body o' me； what crackings and clashings； what
groanings and what howlings； will there be at such times in
Mervyn's Bower； right as it were over our heads； till the matter
of two quarts of distilled waters has not been enough to keep my
lads and me in some heart！〃
〃Pshaw； man！〃 replied Lambourne； on whom his last draught；
joined to repeated visitations of the pitcher upon former
occasions； began to make some innovation； 〃thou speakest thou
knowest not what about spirits。 No one knows justly what to say
about them； and； in short； least said may in that matter be
soonest amended。 Some men believe in one thing； some in another
it is all matter of fancy。 I have known them of all sorts； my
dear Lawrence Lock…the…door； and sensible men too。 There's a
great lordwe'll pass his name； Lawrencehe believes in the
stars and the moon； the planets and their courses； and so forth；
and that they twinkle exclusively for his benefit； when in sober；
or rather in drunken truth； Lawrence； they are only shining to
keep honest fellows like me out of the kennel。 Well； sir； let
his humour pass； he is great enough to indulge it。 Then； look
ye； there is anothera very learned man； I promise you； and can
vent Greek and Hebrew as fast as I can Thieves' Latin he has an
humour of sympathies and antipathiesof changing lead into gold；
and the like； why； via； let that pass too； and let him pay those
in transmigrated coin who are fools enough to let it be current
with them。 Then here comest thou thyself； another great man；
though neither learned nor noble； yet full six feet high； and
thou； like a purblind mole； must needs believe in ghosts and
goblins； and such like。 Now； there is； besides； a great man
that is； a great little man； or a little great man； my dear
Lawrenceand his name begins with V； and what believes he？ Why；
nothing； honest Lawrencenothing in earth； heaven； or hell； and
for my part； if I believe there is a devil； it is only because I
think there must be some one to catch our aforesaid friend by the
back 'when soul and body sever；' as the ballad says； for your
antecedent will have a consequentRARO ANTECEDENTEM； as Doctor
Bircham was wont to say。 But this is Greek to you now； honest
Lawrence； and in sooth learning is dry work。 Hand me the pitcher
once more。〃
〃In faith； if you drink more； Michael；〃 said the warder； 〃you
w