100本英文原著the prisoner of zenda曾達(dá)的囚徒

1、The Prisoner of ZendaThe Prisoner of ZendaAnthony Hope1The Prisoner of ZendaCHAPTER 1The Rassendylls-With a Word on the Elphbergs"I wonder when in the world you're going to do anything, Rudolf?" said my brother's wife."My dear Rose," I answered, laying down my egg-spoon,

2、"why in the world should I do anything? My position is a comfortable one. I have an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one's income is ever quitesufficient, you know), I enjoy an enviable social position: I am brother toLord Burlesdon, and brother-in-law to that charBehold, it is eno

3、ugh!"lady, his countess."You are nine-and-twenty," she observed, "and you've done nothing but-""Knock about? It is true. Our family doesn't need to do things."This remark of mine rather annoyed Rose, for everybody knows (and therefore there can be no harm i

4、n referring to the fact) that, pretty and accomplished as she herself is, her family is hardly of the same standing as the Rassendylls. Besides her attractions, she possessed a large fortune, and my brother Robert was wise enough not to mind about her ancestry.Ancestry is, in fact, a matter concerni

5、ng which the next observation ofRose's has some t."Good families are generally worse than any others," she said. Upon this I stroked my hair: I knew quite well what she meant. "I'm so glad Robert's is black!" she cried.At this moment Robert (who rises at seven and wor

6、ks before breakfast) came in. He glanced at his wife: her cheek was slightly flushed; he patted it caressingly."What's the matter, my dear?" he asked."She objects to my doing nothing and having red hair," said I, in an injured tone."Oh! of course he can't help his ha

7、ir," admitted Rose."It generally crops out once in a generation," said my brother. "So does the nose. Rudolf has got them both."2The Prisoner of Zenda"I wish they didn't crop out," said Rose, still flushed."I rather like them myself," said I, and, ris

8、ing, I bowed to the portrait of Countess Amelia.My brother's wife uttered an exction of impatience."I wish you'd take that picture away, Robert," said she. "My dear!" he cried."Good heavens!" I added."Then it might be forgotten," she continued."Ha

9、rdly-with Rudolf about," said Robert, shaking his head. "Why should it be forgotten?" I asked."Rudolf!" exclaimed my brother's wife, blushing very prettily.I laughed, and went on with my egg. At least I had shelved the question of what (if anything) I ought to do. And, b

10、y way of closing the discussion-and also, I must admit, of exasperating my strict little sister-in- law a trifle more-I observed:"I rather like being an Elphberg myself."When Ia story, I skip the explanations; yet the moment I begin towrite one, I find that I must have an explanation. For

11、it is manifest that Imust explain why my sister-in-law was vexed with my nose and hair, andwhy I ventured to call myself an Elphberg. For eminent as, I must,the Rassendylls have been for many generations, yet participation in their blood of course does not, at first sight, justify the boast of a con

12、nection with the grander stock of the Elphbergs or a claim to be one of that Royal House. For what relationship is there between Ruritania and Burlesdon, between the Palace at Strelsau or the Castle of Zenda and Number 305 Park Lane, W.?Well then-and I must premise that I am going, perforce, to rake

13、 up the very scandal which my dear Lady Burlesdon wishes forgotten-in the year 1733, George II sitting then on the throne, peace reigning for the moment, and the King and the Prince of Wales being not yet at loggerheads, there came on a visit to the English Court a certain prince, who was afterwards

14、 known to history as Rudolf the Third of Ruritania. The prince was a tall, handsome young fellow, marked (maybe marred, it is not for me to say) bya somewhat unusually long, sharp and straight nose, and a mass of dark-3The Prisoner of Zendared hair-in fact, the nose and the hair which have stamped t

15、he Elphbergstime out of mind. He stayed some months in England, whee was mostcourteously received; yet, in the end, he left rather under a cloud. For he fought a duel (it was considered highly well bred of him to waive all question of his rank) with a nobleman, well known in the society of the day,

16、not only for his own merits, but as the husband of a very beautiful wife. In that duel Prince Rudolf received a severe wound, and, recovering therefrom, was adroitly smuggled off by the Ruritanian ambassador, who had found him a pretty handful. The nobleman was not wounded in the duel; but the morni

17、ng being raw and damp on the occasion of the meeting, he contracted a severe chill, and, failing to throw it off, he died some six months after the departure of Prince Rudolf, without having found leisure to adjust his relations with his wife-who, after another two months, bore an heir to the title

18、and estates of the family of Burlesdon. This lady was the Countess Amelia, whose picture my sister-in-law wished to remove from the drawing-room in Park Lane; and her husband was James, fifth Earl of Burlesdon and twenty-second Baron Rassendyll, both in the peerage of England, and a Knight of the Ga

19、rter. As for Rudolf, he went back to Ruritania, married a wife, and ascended the throne, whereon his progeny in the direct line have sat from then till this very hour-with one short interval. And, finally, if you walk through the picture galleries at Burlesdon, among the fifty portraits or so of the

20、 last century and a half,you will find five or six, including that of the sixth earl, distinguished bylong, sharp, straight noses and a quty of dark-red hair; these five or sixhave also blue eyes, whereas among the Rassendylls dark eyes are the commoner.That is the explanation, and I am glad to have

21、 finished it: theblemishes on honourable lineage aelicate subject, and certainly thisheredity we hear so much about is the finest scandalmonger in the world; it laughs at discretion, and writes strange entries between the lines of the "Peerages".It will be observed that my sister-in-law, w

22、ith a want of logic that must have been peculiar to herself (since we are no longer allowed to lay it tothe charge of her sex), treated my complexion almost as an offence for4The Prisoner of Zendawhich I was responsible, hastening to assume from that external signinward qualities of which Imy entire

23、 innocence; and this unjustinference she sought to buttress by pointing to the uselessness of the life Ihad led. Well, be that as it may, I had picked up a good deal of pleasure and a good deal of knowledge. I had been to a German school and aGerman university, and spoke German asily and perfectly a

24、s English;I was thoroughly at home in French; I had a smattering of Italian and enough Spanish to swear by. I was, I believe, a strong, though hardly fineswordsman and a good shot. I could ride anything that had a back to sit on;and my head was as cool a one as you could find, for all its flacover.I

25、f you say that I ought to have spent my time in useful labour, I am out of Court and have nothing to say, save that my parents had no business to leave me two thousand pounds a year and a roving disposition."The difference between you and Robert," said my sister-in-law, who often (bless he

26、r!) speaks on a platform, and oftener still as if she were on one, "is that he recognizes the duties of his position, and you see the opportunities of yours.""To a man of spirit, my dear Rose," I answered, "opportunities are duties.""Nonsense!" said she, tossi

27、ng her head; and after a moment she went on: "Now, here's Sir Jacob Borrodaile offering you exactly what you might be equal to.""A thousand thanks!" I murmured."He's to have an Embassy in six months, and Robert says he is sure that he'll take you as an attache. D

28、o take it, Rudolf- to please me."Now, when my sister-in-law puts the matter in that way, wrinkling herpretty brows, twisting her little hands, and growing wistful in the eyes, allonof an idle scamp like myself, for whom she has no naturalresponsibility, I am visited with compunction. Moreover,

29、I thought it possible that I could pass the time in the position suggested with some tolerable amusement. Therefore I said:"My dear sister, if in six months' time no unforeseen obstacle has arisen, and Sir Jacob invites me, hang me if I don't go with Sir Jacob!""Oh, Rudolf, ho

30、w good of you! I am glad!"5The Prisoner of Zenda"Where's he going to?""He doesn't know yet; but it's sure to be a good Embassy.""Madame," said I, "for your sake I'll go, if it's no more than a beggarlyLegation. When I do a thing, I don'

31、tby halves."My promise, then, was given; but six months are six months, and seeman eterand, inasmuch as they stretched between me and myprospective industry (I suppose attaches are industrious; but I know not, for I never became attache to Sir Jacob or anybody else), I cast about for some desir

32、able mode of spending them. And it occurred to me suddenly that I would visit Ruritania. It may seem strange that I had never visited that country yet; but my father (in spite of a sneaking fondness for theElphbergs, which led him to give me, his second son, the famous Elphbergname of Rudolf) had al

33、ways beese from my going, and, since hisdeath, my brother, prompted by Rose, had accepted the family tradition which taught that a wide berth was to be given to that country. But the moment Ruritania had come into my head I was eaten up with a curiosity to see it. After all, red hair and long noses

34、are not confined to the House of Elphberg, and the old story seemed a preposterously insufficient reason for debarring myself from acquaintance with a highly interesting and important kingdom, one which had played no small part in European history, and might do the like again under the sway of a you

35、ng andvigorous ruler, such as the new King was rumoured to be. Mydetermination was clinched bying in The Times that Rudolf the Fifthwas to be crowned at Strelsau in the course of the next three weeks, andthat great magnificence was to mark the occasion. At once Iup mymind to be present, and began my

36、 preparations. But, inasmuch as it hasnever been my practice to furnish my relatives with an itinerary of myjourneys and in this case Iipated opposition to my wishes, I gave outthat I was going for a ramble in the Tyrol- an old haunt of mine-andpropitiated Rose's wrath by declaring that I intend

37、ed to study the politicaland social problems of the interesting communeighbourhood.which dwells in that"Perhaps," I hinteddarkly, "there may be anoutcome oftheexpedition."6The Prisoner of Zenda"What do you mean?" she asked."Well,"said I carelessly, "there

38、 seems a gap that might be filled by an exhaustive work on-""Oh! will you write a book?" she cried, clapwould be splendid, wouldn't it, Robert?"her hands. "That"It's the best of introductions to political life nowadays," observed mybrother, who has, by the

39、way, introduced himself in this manner severaltimes over. Burlesdon onent Theories and Modern Facts and TheUltimate Outcome, by a Politicaleminence., are both works of recognized"I believe you are right, Bob, my boy," said I."Now promise you'll," said Rose earnestly."No,

40、 I won't promise; but if I find enough material, I will." "That's fair enough," said Robert."Oh, material doesn't matter!" she said, pouting.But this time she could get no more than a qualified promise out of me. To tell the t, I would have wagered a handsome sum

41、 that the story ofmy expedition that summer would stain no paper and spoil not a singlepen. And that shows how little we know what the futuolds; for here Iam, fulfilling my qualified promise, and writing, as I never thought to write, a book-though it will hardly serve as an introduction to political

42、 life, and has not a jot to do with the Tyrol.Neither would it, I fear, please Lady Burlesdon, if I were to submit itto her critical eye-a step which I have no intention of taking.7The Prisoner of ZendaCHAPTER 2Concerning the Colour of Men's HairIt was aof my Uncle William's that no man shou

43、ld passthrough Paris without spending four-and-twenty hours there. My uncle spoke out of a ripe experience of the world, and I honoured his advice by putting up for a day and a night at "The Continental" on my way to-the Tyrol. I called on George Featherly at the Embassy, and we had a bit

44、of dinner together at Durand's, and afterwards dropped in to the Opera; and after that we had a little supper, and after that we called on Bertram Bertrand, a versifier of some repute and Paris correspondent to The Critic. He had a very comfortable suite of rooms, and we found some pleasant fell

45、ows smoking and talking. It struck me, however, that Bertram himselfwas absent and in low spirits, and when everybody except ourselves hadgone, I rallied him on his mopre. He fenced with me for awhile, but at last, flinging himself on a sofa, he exclaimed:"Very well; have it your own way. I am

46、in love-infernally in love!" "Oh, you'll write the better poetry," said I, by way of consolation.He ruffled his hair with his hand and smoked furiously. GeorgeFeatherly, standing with his back to the mantelpiece, sd unkindly."If it's the old affair," said he, "y

47、ou may as well throw it up, Bert. She's leaving Paris tomorrow.""I know that," snapped Bertram."Not that it would make any difference if she stayed," pursued the relentless George. "She flies higher than the paper trade, my boy!""Hang her!" said Bertr

48、am."It would make it more interesting for me," I ventured to observe, "if I knew who you were talking about.""Antoinette Mauban," said George. "De Mauban," growled Bertram."Oho!" said I, passing by the question of the de'. "You don't mea

49、n to say, Bert-?""Can't you let me alone?"8The Prisoner of Zenda"Where's she going to?" I asked, for the lady was something of acelebrity.George jingled his money, sanswered pleasantly:d cruelly at poor Bertram, and"Nobody knows. By the way, Bert, I met a great

50、man at her house the other night-at least, about a month ago. Did you ever meet him-the Duke of Strelsau?""Yes, I did," growled Bertram."An extremely accomplished man, I thought him."It was not hard to see that George's references to the duke were intended to aggravate p

51、oor Bertram's sufferings, so that I drew the inference that the duke had distinguished Madame de Mauban by his attentions. She was a widow, rich, handsome, and, according to repute,ambitious. It was quite possible that she, as George put it, was flying ashigh as aage who was everything he could

52、be, short of enjoyingstrictly royal rank: for the duke was the son of the late King of Ruritania by a second and morganatic marriage, and half-brother to the new King. He had been his father's favourite, and it had occasioned some unfavourable comment when he had been created a duke, with a titl

53、e derived from no less a city than the capital itself. His mother had been of good, but not exalted, birth."He's not in Paris now, is he?" I asked."Oh no! He's gone back to be present at the King's coronation; a ceremony which, I should say, he'll not enjoy much. But,

54、Bert, old man, don't despair! He won't marry the fair Antoinette- at least, not unless another plan comes to nothing. Still perhaps she-" He paused and added, with a laugh: "Royal attentions a ard to resist-you know that, don't you, Rudolf?""Confound you!" said I

55、; and rising, I left the hapless Bertram in George's hands and went home to bed.The next day George Featherly went with me to the station, where I took a ticket for Dresden."Going to see the pictures?" asked George, with a grin.George is an inveterate gossip, and had I told him that I

56、was off to9The Prisoner of ZendaRuritania, the news would have been in London in three days and in Park Lane in a week. I was, therefore, about to return an evasive answer, when he saved my conscience by leaving me suddenly and darting across the platform. Following him with my eyes, I saw him lift

57、his hat and accost a graceful, fashionably dressed woman who had just appeared from the booking-office. She was, perhaps, a year or two over thirty, tall, dark, andof rather full figure. As George talked, I saw her glance at me, and myvawas hurt by the thought that, muffled in a fur coat and a neck-

58、wrapper (for it was a chilly April day) and wearing a soft travelling hatpulled down to my ears, I must be looking very far from my best. A moment later, George rejoined me."You've got a chartravelling companion," he said. "That's poorBert Bertrand's goddess, Antoinette de

59、 Mauban, and, like you, she's going to Dresden-also, no doubt, to see the pictures. It's very queer, though, that she doesn't at present desire the honour of your acquaintance.""I didn't ask to be introduced," I observed, a little annoyed."Well, I offered to bring

60、 you to her; but she said, "Another time." Never mind, old fellow, perhaps there'll be a smash, and you'll have a chance of rescuing her and cutting out the Duke of Strelsau!"No smash, however, happened, either to me or to Madame de Mauban. I can speak for her as confidently a

61、s for myself; for when, after a night's rest in Dresden, I continued my journey, she got into the same train. Understanding that she wished to be let alone, I avoided her carefully, but I saw that she went the same way as I did to the very end of my journey, and I took opportunities of having a good look at her, when I could do so unobserved.As soon as we reached the Ruritanian frontier (where the old officer who presided over the Custom House favoured me with