登陆注册
15459400000018

第18章 CHAPTER V(2)

Freeman gazed at it for a moment in silence. It mystified him, and then irritated him. When one is bent heart and soul upon an important enterprise, any interruption is an annoyance. Perhaps there was in the young American's nature just enough remains of belief in witches and hobgoblins to make him feel warranted in resorting to extreme measures. At any rate, he lifted his revolver, and fired.

It was a long shot for a revolver: nevertheless it took effect. The luminous object disappeared with a faint explosive sound, followed by a shout unmistakably human.

The long stems of the wild mustard swayed and parted, and out sprang a figure, which ran straight towards the two young men.

Hereupon, Don Miguel, hissing out an appeal to the Virgin and the saints, turned and fled.

Meanwhile, the mysterious figure continued its onward career; and Freeman once more levelled his weapon,--when a voice, which gave him such a start of surprise as well-nigh caused him to pull the trigger for sheer lack of self-command, called out, "Why, you abominable young villain! What the mischief do you mean?

Do you want to be hanged?"

"Professor Meschines!" faltered Freeman.

It was indeed that worthy personage, and he was on fire with wrath. He held in one hand a shattered lantern mounted on the end of a pole, and in the other a long- handled net of gauze, such as entomologists use to catch moths withal. Under his left arm was slung a brown japanned case, in which he presumably deposited the spoils of his skill. Freeman's shot had not only smashed and extinguished the lantern which served as bait for the game, but had also given the professor a disagreeable reminder that the tenure of human life is as precarious as that of the silly moth which allows itself to be lured to destruction by shining promises of bliss.

"Upon my soul, professor, I am very sorry," said Freeman. "You have no idea how formidable you looked; and you could hardly expect me to imagine that you would be abroad at such an hour----"

"And why not, I should like to know?" shouted the professor, towering with indignation. "Was I doing anything to be ashamed of? And what are you doing here, pray, with loaded revolvers in your hands?

--Hallo! who's this?" he exclaimed, as Don Miguel advanced doubtfully out of the gloom. "Senor de Mendoza, as I'm a sinner! and armed, too! Well, really!

Are you two out on a murdering expedition?

--Oho!" he went on, in a changed tone, glancing keenly from one to another:

"methinks I see the bottom of this mystery.

You have ridden forth, like the champions of romance, to do doughty deeds upon each other!--Is it not so, Don Miguel?" he demanded, turning his fierce spectacles suddenly on that young man.

Don Miguel, ignoring a secret gesture from Freeman, admitted that he had been on the point of expunging the latter from this mortal sphere.

The professor chuckled sarcastically. "I see! Blood! Wounded honor! The code!

--But, by the way, I don't see your seconds!

Where are your seconds?"

"My dear sir," said Freeman, "I assure you it's all a mistake. We just happened to meet at the gen--er--happened to meet, and were riding home together----"

"Now, listen to me, Harvey," the professor interrupted, holding up an expository finger. "You have known me since some ten years, I think; and I have known you.

You were a clever boy in your studies; but it was your foible to fancy yourself cleverer than you were. Acting under that delusion, you pitted yourself against me on one or two occasions; and I leave it to your candid recollection whether you or I had the best of the encounter. You call yourself a man, now; but I make bold to say that the-- discrepancy, let us call it--between you and me remains as conspicuous as ever it was. I see through you, sir, much more clearly than, by this light, I can see you. I am fond of you, Harvey; but I feel nothing but contempt for your present attitude. In the first place, conscious as you are of your skill with that weapon, you know that this affair--even had seconds been present--would have been, not a duel, but an assassination. You acted like a coward!--I say it, sir, like a coward!-- and I hope you may live to be as much ashamed of yourself as I am now ashamed for you. Secondly, your conduct, considered in its relations to--to certain persons whom I will not name, is that of a boor and a blackguard. Suppose you had accomplished the cowardly murder--the cowardly murder, I said, sir--that you were bent upon to-night. Do you think that would be a grateful and acceptable return for the courtesy and confidence that have been shown you in that house?--a house, sir, to which I myself introduced you, under the mistaken belief that you were a gentleman, or, at least, could feign gentlemanly behavior!

But I won't--my feelings won't allow me to enlarge further upon this point. But allow me to add, in the third place, that you have shown yourself a purblind donkey. Actually, you haven't sense enough to know the difference between those who pull with you and those who pull against you. Now, I happen to know--to know, do you hear?--that had you succeeded in what you were just about to attempt, you would have removed your surest ally,--the surest, because his interests prompt him to favor yours. You pick out the one man who was doing his best to clear the obstacle out of your path, and what do you do?--Thank him?--Not you! You plot to kill him! But even had he been, as you in your stupidity imagined, your rival, do you think the course you adopted would have promoted your advantage? Let me tell you, sir, that you don't know the kind of people you are dealing with. You would never have been permitted to cross their threshold again. And you may take my word for it, if ever you venture to recur to any such folly, I will see to it that you receive your deserts.--Well, I think we understand each other, now?"

同类推荐
  • 薛仁贵征辽事略

    薛仁贵征辽事略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 晋中兴书

    晋中兴书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 顾华玉集

    顾华玉集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北魏僧惠生使西域记

    北魏僧惠生使西域记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 玄灵转经晚朝行道仪

    玄灵转经晚朝行道仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 我们的许诺已微凉

    我们的许诺已微凉

    人生如梦终不过一场空,爱情再美终不过沧海桑田他是她仰望的星,她是他无意的赌注她努力改变,他努力伪装直到遍体鳞伤才看清自己的心爱情的齿轮摩擦出的火花是升温还是毁灭年少轻狂的他们怎样面对他们的爱情
  • 寻骨谋

    寻骨谋

    闻名于云泽大陆的佣兵学院迎来中央大陆的特级任务,来自中央大陆的神秘听语者带领着佣兵学院的顶尖学生踏上寻骨之途,来自远古神族的神骨,却封印着一段遗留万年的情谋。他曾经是上古魔剑,一心修行却懂不情,止步于剑灵。她曾是魔界大公主,一心抵抗仙界,奈何得不到魔神。她与他曾琴瑟和鸣,却最终落得魂飞魄散。他寻遍四界、涤荡六合,洗劫八荒只为维系她的魂魄刻骨画魂,寻骨画卷,待你执笔。
  • 倾心日记:恋上腹黑男

    倾心日记:恋上腹黑男

    一场雨的邂逅,与他相遇。他救了她,在高中相遇,“我救了你,你说,该怎么报答我。”某恶魔将她逼至墙角。“请你自重,顾同学。”某女翻白眼从缝隙钻了出去,正当逃跑,恶魔反手抓住俯身钳住了她的唇,“你……”
  • 秦陨

    秦陨

    先秦诸子儒家、道家、法家、兵家、阴阳家、墨家、名家、纵横家、杂家、农家、小说家、战国七雄秦、楚、韩、赵、魏、韩、齐这是一个英雄辈出、百家争鸣的时代主角穿越到这个风起云涌的时代,见证不一样的战国亦或者这就是历史的真相呢
  • 恶魔公主的法则

    恶魔公主的法则

    来自修罗界的修罗公主黑瞳月,拥有物殊灵力的高中生成思危,腹黑男高中生修杰,再加一个搞怪的吸血鬼杰克.故事故事在不停的发生着^^喜欢轻松的读者可以从修罗之章开始哦!后面轻松而精彩,不过死亡之镜是故事组成粉重要的一部份,关乎女主角的秘密
  • 重生之庶女为妻

    重生之庶女为妻

    赵晴岚,万安侯府的庶小姐。意外重生,回到定亲那一年。既然老天怜惜,那她将不会重蹈覆辙。毓亲王府世子?奴家高攀不起!后娘压迫?恶奴欺负?那就让他们哪来滚哪!我的生活我做主!“岚儿,我来下聘了。”等等,墨大哥,你这是神马意思!本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 圣刃神话

    圣刃神话

    开天起,辟地初,九重天,十为神。千千泪,花憔悴。巫妖人鬼仙,演绎不朽神话。
  • 朱庭簆

    朱庭簆

    她穿越前是个炮灰命,穿越后是个奔波命,前命后命皆不由自己。她误食昆仑仙果,未婚生子,姻起时缘却断,一点‘朱庭簆’,与神结契约。她靠着文、武、蒙、骗,竟也混了个腰缠万贯风生水起。都说“有因必有果”此前因为她种,后果要她收。寻子路漫漫其修远兮,拼几个伙伴来帮忙。收集齐五枚佛果子,带回昆仑,去了朱庭簆,去往极乐永生国。本故事为穿越命苦乐观傻姑娘,与昆仑之神结下契约,额上点了朱庭簆。为了找她无意间带到世间的五个佛果子,遇到夫家,遇到本家,遇到王爷,又遇到各色权贵,互相纠缠,欺骗的有趣故事。轻松,诙谐,幽默,浪漫,有爱。
  • 傲世魔妃夫君哪里逃

    傲世魔妃夫君哪里逃

    一场大火,生生地毁了她的幸福,心伤成殇,闭门一年,再次出现,就搅了新皇的登基大典!她辛辛苦苦打下的江山,怎容他人觊觎?一场刺杀,让她死去的心一点点鲜活起来,黑夜中默默守护她的那双眼睛,是谁?那致命如毒药般却让她迷恋的熟似故人的雪兰清香,又在何方?一场宫宴,相逢对面,那颗沉寂已久的心再次跳动,只是摘下面具,却是残破陌生的容颜,他说,“太后娘娘,您认错人了!”只是,是否认错,只有擦家而过后胸腔之中蔓延的如潮水般席卷而来的苦涩微凉在无言地抗拒着他的无情。。。奈何,无情,亦是因为深情!
  • 梦境中的现实生活

    梦境中的现实生活

    梦境,是每个人都经历过的;有美好的、恐怖的、忧伤的、幸福的。下面讲述的就是我的一个梦,记忆非常清晰,我想用语言描述下这个清晰的梦境。虽然我没有很好的文笔,但是还是想与你们分享。用我那平淡无奇的叙述来阐述这个真实的梦。生活不管好与坏,波折还是平淡,幸福还是痛苦,每个人心中都有着无数的梦。有的人梦想成为科学家,有的人梦想成为有钱人,变成高富帅、白富美。有的人梦想能变成明星。有的人梦想能成为一名教师。云梦中,因为是梦中的人物,所以才起了这么个名字。