chapter 61_科学怪人_免费在线阅读收听下载

-chapter 61-

Chapter 23

It was eight o’clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the

shore, enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn and

contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured

in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines.

The wind, which had fallen in the south, now rose with great violence

in the west. The moon had reached her summit in the heavens and was

beginning to descend; the clouds swept across it swifter than the

flight of the vulture and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the

scene of the busy heavens, rendered still busier by the restless waves

that were beginning to rise. Suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended.

I had been calm during the day, but so soon as night obscured the

shapes of objects, a thousand fears arose in my mind. I was anxious

and watchful, while my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in

my bosom; every sound terrified me, but I resolved that I would sell my

life dearly and not shrink from the conflict until my own life or that

of my adversary was extinguished.

Elh observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence,

but there was something in my glance which communicated terror to her, and

trembling, she asked, “What is it that agitates you, my dear Victor?

What is it you fear?”

“Oh! Peace, peace, my love,” replied I; “this night, and

all will be safe; but this night is dreadful, very dreadful.”

I passed an hour in this state of mind, when suddenly I reflected how

fearful the combat which I momentarily expected would be to my wife,

and I earnestly entreated her to retire, resolving not to join her

until I had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy.

She left me, and I continued some time walking up and down the passages

of the house and inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat to

my adversary. But I discovered no trace of him and was beginning to

conjecture that some fortunate chance had intervened to prevent the

execution of his menaces when suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful

scream. It came from the room into which Elh had retired. As I

heard it, the whole truth rushed into my mind, my arms dropped, the

motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended; I could feel the blood

trickling in my veins and tingling in the extremities of my limbs. This

state lasted but for an instant; the scream was repeated, and I rushed

into the room.

Great God! Why did I not then expire! Why am I here to relate the

destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth? She was

there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down

and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair. Everywhere I

turn I see the same figure—her bloodless arms and relaxed form flung

by the murderer on its bridal bier. Could I behold this and live? Alas!

Life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated. For a moment

only did I lose recollection; I fell senseless on the ground.

When I recovered I found myself surrounded by the people of the inn; their

countenances expressed a breathless terror, but the horror of others

appeared only as a mockery, a shadow of the feelings that oppressed me. I

escaped from them to the room where lay the body of Elh, my love, my

wife, so lately living, so dear, so worthy. She had been moved from the

posture in which I had first beheld her, and now, as she lay, her head upon

her arm and a handkerchief thrown across her face and neck, I might have

supposed her asleep. I rushed towards her and embraced her with ardour, but

the deadly languor and coldness of the limbs told me that what I now held

in my arms had ceased to be the Elh whom I had loved and cherished.

The murderous mark of the fiend’s grasp was on her neck, and the

breath had ceased to issue from her lips.

While I still hung over her in the agony of despair, I happened to look up.

The windows of the room had before been darkened, and I felt a kind of

panic on seeing the pale yellow light of the moon illuminate the chamber.

The shutters had been thrown back, and with a sensation of horror not to be

described, I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred.

A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer, as with his

fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife. I rushed towards

the window, and drawing a pistol from my bosom, fired; but he eluded me,

leaped from his station, and running with the swiftness of lightning,

plunged into the lake.

The report of the pistol brought a crowd into the room. I pointed to

the spot where he had disappeared, and we followed the track with

boats; nets were cast, but in vain. After passing several hours, we

returned hopeless, most of my companions believing it to have been a

form conjured up by my fancy. After having landed, they proceeded to

search the country, parties going in different directions among the

woods and vines.

I attempted to accompany them and proceeded a short distance from the

house, but my head whirled round, my steps were like those of a drunken

man, I fell at last in a state of utter exhaustion; a film covered my

eyes, and my skin was parched with the heat of fever. In this state I

was carried back and placed on a bed, hardly conscious of what had

happened; my eyes wandered round the room as if to seek something that

I had lost.

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