the twins of table mountain-第21部分

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way　up　his　thighs。　　In　place　of　his　former　high　silk　hat；　there　lay
upon　the　ground　beside　him　the　awful　thing　he　had　just　taken　off；
a　mass　of　thickened　felt；　flap；　feather；　and　buckle　that　weighed　at
least　a　stone。

A　single　terrible　idea　now　took　possession　of　him。　　He　had　been
〃sold；〃　〃taken　in；〃　〃done　for。〃　　He　saw　it　all。　　In　a　state　of
intoxication　he　had　lost　his　way；　had　been　dragged　into　some　vile
den；　stripped　of　his　clothes　and　valuables；　and　turned　adrift　upon
the　quiet　town　in　this　shameless　masquerade。　　How　should　he　keep
his　appointment？　how　inform　the　police　of　this　outrage　upon　a
stranger　and　an　American　citizen？　how　establish　his　identity？　　Had
they　spared　his　papers？　　He　felt　feverishly　in　his　breast。　　Ah！
his　watch？　　Yes；　a　watchheavy；　jewelled；　enamelledand；　by　all
that　was　ridiculous；　FIVE　OTHERS！　　He　ran　his　hands　into　his
capacious　trunk　hose。　　What　was　this？　　Brooches；　chains；　finger…
rings；one　large　episcopal　one；ear…rings；　and　a　handful　of
battered　gold　and　silver　coins。　　His　papers；　his　memorandums；　his
passportall　proofs　of　his　identitywere　gone！　　In　their　place
was　the　unmistakable　omnium　gatherum　of　an　accomplished　knight　of
the　road。　　Not　only　was　his　personality；　but　his　character；　gone
forever。

It　was　a　part　of　Mr。　Clinch's　singular　experience　that　this　last
stroke　of　ill　fortune　seemed　to　revive　in　him　something　of　the
brutal　instinct　he　had　felt　a　moment　before。　　He　turned　eagerly
about　with　the　intention　of　calling　some　onethe　first　person　he
metto　account。　　But　the　house　that　he　had　just　quitted　was　gone。
The　wall！　　Ah；　there　it　was；　no　longer　purposeless；　intrusive；　and
ivy…clad；　but　part　of　the　buttress　of　another　massive　wall　that
rose　into　battlements　above　him。　　Mr。　Clinch　turned　again
hopelessly　toward　Sammtstadt。　　There　was　the　fringe　of　poplars　on
the　Rhine；　there　were　the　outlying　fields　lit　by　the　same　meridian
sun；　but　the　characteristic　chimneys　of　Sammtstadt　were　gone。　　Mr。
Clinch　was　hopelessly　lost。

The　sound　of　a　horn　breaking　the　stillness　recalled　his　senses。　　He
now　for　the　first　time　perceived　that　a　little　distance　below　him；
partly　hidden　in　the　trees；　was　a　queer；　tower…shaped　structure
with　chains　and　pulleys；　that　in　some　strange　way　recalled　his
boyish　reading。　　A　drawbridge　and　portcullis！　　And　on　the
battlement　a　figure　in　a　masquerading　dress　as　absurd　as　his　own；
flourishing　a　banner　and　trumpet；　and　trying　to　attract　his
attention。

〃Was　wollen　Sie？〃

〃I　want　to　see　the　proprietor；〃　said　Mr。　Clinch；　choking　back　his
rage。

There　was　a　pause；　and　the　figure　turned　apparently　to　consult　with
some　one　behind　the　battlements。　　After　a　moment　he　reappeared；　and
in　a　perfunctory　monotone；　with　an　occasional　breathing　spell　on
the　trumpet；　began；

〃You　do　give　warranty　as　a　good　knight　and　true；　as　well　as　by　the
bones　of　the　blessed　St。　Ursula；　that　you　bear　no　ill　will；　secret
enmity；　wicked　misprise　or　conspiracy；　against　the　body　of　our
noble　lord　and　master　Von　Kolnsche？　　And　you　bring　with　you　no
ambush；　siege；　or　surprise　of　retainers；　neither　secret　warrant　nor
lettres　de　cachet；　nor　carry　on　your　knightly　person　poisoned
dagger；　magic　ring；　witch…powder；　nor　enchanted　bullet；　and　that
you　have　entered　into　no　unhallowed　alliance　with　the　Prince　of
Darkness；　gnomes；　hexies；　dragons；　Undines；　Loreleis；　nor　the
like？〃

〃Come　down　out　of　that；　you　dd　old　fool！〃　roared　Mr。　Clinch；
now　perfectly　beside　himself　with　rage；〃come　down；　and　let　me
in！〃

As　Mr。　Clinch　shouted　out　the　last　words；　confused　cries　of
recognition　and　welcome；　not　unmixed　with　some　consternation；　rose
from　the　battlements：　〃Ach　Gott！〃　〃Mutter　Gottit　is　he！　　It　is
Jann；　Der　Wanderer。　　It　is　himself。〃　　The　chains　rattled；　the
ponderous　drawbridge　creaked　and　dropped；　and　across　it　a　medley　of
motley　figures　rushed　pellmell。　　But；　foremost　among　them；　the　very
maiden　whom　he　had　left　not　ten　minutes　before　flew　into　his　arms；
and　with　a　cry　of　joyful　greeting　sank　upon　his　breast。　　Mr。　Clinch
looked　down　upon　the　fair　head　and　long　braids。　　It　certainly　was
the　same　maiden；　his　cruel　enchantress；　but　where　did　she　get　those
absurd　garments？

〃Willkommen；〃　said　a　stout　figure；　advancing　with　some　authority；
and　seizing　his　disengaged　hand；　〃where　hast　thou　been　so　long？〃

Mr。　Clinch；　by　no　means　placated；　coldly　dropped　the　extended　hand。
It　was　NOT　the　proprietor　he　had　known。　　But　there　was　a　singular
resemblance　in　his　face　to　some　one　of　Mr。　Clinch's　own　kin；　but
who；　he　could　not　remember。　　〃May　I　take　the　liberty　of　asking　your
name？〃　he　asked　coldly。

The　figure　grinned。　　〃Surely；　but；　if　thou　standest　upon　punctilio；
it　is　for　ME　to　ask　thine；　most　noble　Freiherr；〃　said　he；　winking
upon　his　retainers。　　〃Whom　have　I　the　honor　of　entertaining？〃

〃My　name　is　Clinch；James　Clinch　of　Chicago；　Ill。〃

A　shout　of　laughter　followed。　　In　the　midst　of　his　rage　and
mortification　Mr。　Clinch　fancied　he　saw　a　shade　of　pain　and
annoyance　flit　across　the　face　of　the　maiden。　　He　was　puzzled；　but
pressed　her　hand；　in　spite　of　his　late　experiences；　reassuringly。
She　made　a　gesture　of　silence　to　him；　and　then　slipped　away　in　the
crowd。

〃Schames　K'l'n'sche　von　Schekargo；〃　mimicked　the　figure；　to　the
unspeakable　delight　of　his　retainers。　　〃So！　　THAT　is　the　latest
French　style。　　Holy　St。　Ursula！　　Hark　ye；　nephew！　　I　am　not　a
travelled　man。　　Since　the　Crusades　we　simple　Rhine　gentlemen　have
staid　at　home。　　But　I　call　myself　Kolnsche　of　Koln；　at　your
service。〃

〃Very　likely　you　are　right；〃　said　Mr。　Clinch　hotly；　disregarding
the　caution　of　his　fair　companion；　〃but；　whoever　YOU　are；　I　am　a
stranger　entitled　to　protection。　　I　have　been　robbed。〃

If　Mr。　Clinch　had　uttered　an　exquisite　joke　instead　of　a　very　angry
statement；　it　could　not　have　been　more　hilariously　received。　　He
paused；　grew　confused；　and　then　went　on　hesitatingly；

〃In　place　of　my　papers　and　credentials　I　find　only　these。〃　　And　he
produced　the　jewelry　from　his　pockets。

Another　shout　of　laughter　and　clapping　of　hands　followed　this
second　speech；　and　the　baron；　with　a　wink　at　his　retainers；
prolonged　the　general　mirth　by　saying；　〃By　the　way；　nephew；　there
is　little　doubt　but　there　has　been　robberysomewhere。〃

〃It　was　done；〃　continued　Mr。　Clinch；　hurrying　to　make　an　end　of　his
explanation；　〃while　I　was　inadvertently　overcome　with　liquor；
drugged　liquor。〃

The　laughter　here　was　so　uproarious　that　the　baron；　albeit　with
tears　of　laughter　in　his　own　eyes；　made　a　peremptory　gesture　of
silence。　　The　gesture　was　peculiar　to　the　baron；　efficacious　and
simple。　　It　consisted　merely　in　knocking　down　the　nearest　laugher。
Having　thus　restored　tranquillity；　he　strode　forward；　and　took　Mr。
Clinch　by　the　hand。　　〃By　St。　Adolph；　I　did　doubt　thee　a　moment　ago；
nephew；　but　this　last　frank　confession　of　thine　shows　me　I　did　thee
wrong。　　Willkommen　zu　Hause；　Jann；　drunk　or　sober；　willcommen　zu
Cracowen。〃

More　and　more　mystified；　but　convinced　of　the　folly　of　any　further
explanation；　Mr。　Clinch　took　the　extended　hand　of　his　alleged
uncle；　and　permitted　himself　to　be　led　into　the　castle。　　They
passed　into　a　large　banqueting…hall　adorned　with　armor　and
implements　of　the　chase。　　Mr。　Clinch　could　not　help　noticing；　that；
although　the　appointments　were　liberal　and　picturesque；　the
ventilation　was　bad；　and　the　smoke　from　the　huge　chimney　made　the
air　murky。　　The　oaken　tables；　massive　in　carving　and　rich　in　color；
were　unmistakably　greasy；　and　Mr。　Clinch　slipped　on　a　piece　of　meat
that　one　of　the　dozen　half…wild　dogs　who　were　occupying　the　room
was　tearing　on　the　floor。　　The　dog；　yelping；　ran　between　the　legs
of　a　retainer；　precipitating　him　upon　the　baron；　who　instantly；
with　the　〃equal　foot〃　of　fate；　kicked　him　and　the　dog　into　a
corner。

〃And　whence　came　you　last？〃　asked　the　baron；　disregarding　the
little　contretemps；　and　throwing　himself　heavily　on　an　oaken
settle；　while　he　pushed　a　queer；　uncomfortable…looking　stool；　with
legs　like　a　Siamese…twin…connected　double　X；　towards　his　companion。

Mr。　Clinch；　who　had　quite　given　himself　up　to　fate；　answered
mechanically；

〃Paris。〃

The　baron　winked　his　eye　with　unutterable；　elderly　wickedness。
〃Ach　Gott！　it　is　nothing　to　what　it　was　when　I　was　your　age。　　Ah！
there　was　Manon；Sieur　Manon　we　used　to　call　her。　　I　suppose　she's
getting　old　now。　　How　goes　on　the　feud　between　the　students　and　the
citizens？　　Eh？　　Did　you　go　to　the　bal　in　la　Cite？〃

Mr。　Clinch　stopped　the　flow　of　those　Justice…Shallow…like
reminiscences　by　an　uneasy　exclamation。　　He　was　thinking　of　the
maiden　who　had　disappeared　so　suddenly。　　The　baron　misinterpreted
his　nervousness。　　〃What　ho；　within　there！Max；　Wolfgang；lazy
rascals！　　Bring　some　wine。〃

At　the　baleful　word　Mr。　Clinch　started　to　his　feet。　　〃Not　for　me！
Bring　me　none　of　your　body…and…soul…destroying　poison！　　I've　enough
of　it！〃

The　baron　stared。　　The　servitors　stared　also。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Mr。　Clinch；　recalling　himself　slowly；
〃but　I　fear　that　Rhine　wine　does　not　agree　with　me。〃

The　baron　grinned。　　Perceiving；　however；　that　the　three　servitors
grinned　also；　he　kicked　two　of　them　into　obscurity；　and　felled　the
third　to　the　floor　with　his　fist。　　〃Hark　ye；　nephew；〃　he　said；
turning　to　the　astonished　Clinch；　〃give　over　this　nonsense！　　By　the
mitre　of　Bishop　Hatto；　thou　art　as　big　a　fool　as　he！〃

〃Hatto；〃　repeated　Clinch　mechanically。　　〃What！　he　of　the　Mouse
Tower？〃

〃Ay；　of　the　Mouse　Tower！〃　sneered　the　baron。　　〃I　see　you　know　the
story。〃

〃Why　am　I　like　him？〃　asked　Mr。　Clinch　in　amazement。

The　baron　grinned。　　〃HE　punished　the　Rhenish　wine　as　thou　dost；
without　judgment。　　He　had〃

〃The　jim…jams；〃　said　Mr。　Clinch　mechanically　again。

The　baron　frowned。　　〃I　know　not　what　gibberish　thou　sayest　by　'jim…
jams'；　but　he　had；　like　thee；　the　wildest　fantasies　and　imaginings；
saw　snakes；　toads；　rats；　in　his　boots；　but　principally　rats；　said
they　pursued　him；　came　to　his　room；　his　bedach　Gott！〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Mr。　Clinch；　with　a　sudden　return　to　his　firmer　self　and
his　native　inquiring　habits；　〃then　THAT　is　the　fact　about　Bishop
Hatto　of　the　story？〃

〃His　enemies　made　it　the　subject　of　a　vile　slander　of　an　old　friend