Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

Miss Delassaux was so glad to escape from the throng, that she hurried on board the boat, without perceiving she was followed by her aunt. Her plan had been to rid herself, by this manœuvre, of Lady Deborah, who had appeared to watch her very closely during the early part of the evening, and she was so provoked to find herself defeated, that her anger knew no bounds. She went so far, indeed, as to order the rowers to return to the shore, with the intention of relanding her aunt, when happening to reflect that she could not do so, without subjecting herself to the chance of being overwhelmed by a swarm of applications for permission to get on board, and remembering that it was absolutely necessary to keep the boat with her, to prevent being followed, she reluctantly and angrily permitted the boatmen to pursue their

course.

They had no sooner ascended the steps of the immense floating body, than a discharge of guns took place, and it was almost instantaneously illuminated by a glare of light, that exhibited every part of it minutely. It was, in fact, a huge raft, covered by a light superstructure of wood, very naturally shaped and painted to represent a

VOL. III.

rocky islet. It was covered over with evergreens and flowers, happily disposed, and several small trees were placed on it, in so picturesque and natural a manner, as to appear growing from its crevices and inequalities. These had an incalculable number of lamps hanging amongst their leaves, which being lighted all at once by some unknown and ingenious contrivance, had produced the magical effect of its sudden illumination.

On a prominent part of an artificial rock at one end, sat Miss Delassaux and the Count; and as neither of them seemed disposed to make room enough to accommodate her, Lady Deborah was compelled to take her place lower down, near their feet, and close to the mouth of a cavity communicating with the hollow interior of the machine. This was made to represent the entrance to a cavern, the dark mouth of which produced a powerful effect, when contrasted with the full glare of the lamps.

The unwieldy pile was towed slowly along by people in boats, and then made to perform various evolutions, within a short distance of the shore, amidst loud shouts of applause from the gay multitude. From time to time, very bril

liant and beautiful fireworks were displayed from the summit of a pigmy mountain, that rose from the end of the islet opposite to where Miss Delassaux sat; and, after these had been continued at intervals for a considerable time, a grand artificial explosion, followed by a magnificent jet of flame, burst from the summit of the peak, whence the fire-works had been discharged. This very superb feu d'artifice was intended to represent a volcano. It illuminated the whole surface of the sheet of water, and even the trees on its banks, and lighted up the dense phalanx of faces on the shore. Reiterated acclamations were excited by it. By means of fresh supplies of various combustibles, administered by people concealed below, it produced an imitation of all those various changes in the eruption, exhibited by nature in the real vol

cano.

Whilst the men, who managed the fire-works, were all employed, and out of sight, the trio were suddenly alarmed by the appearance of a figure from the dark mouth of the cavern. It was a tall and majestic man, habited in a green and yellow Moorish dress, its sweeping drapery giving an imposing effect to his height. In his hand he held

a long white wand, and his face was partly covered by a ghastly bearded mask, leaving his dark and piercing eyes fully disclosed, and giving to the rest of his visage the cold and pallid hue of death. The figure stood motionless for a few minutes, the blue light falling strong upon his face; the eyes of the party were fastened on it with astonishment, not unmingled with horror, and even apprehension. Fixed as a statue, his head erect, his arm extended, and the end of his rod resting upon the ground, it seemed as if a corpse had left the grave to place itself before them.

There was something so appalling in this ap parition, that, although the plan of the amusements of the night fully authorized every species of disguise, it was some time before any of them could command sufficient recollection to question it. At last, Miss Delassaux assuming a language and tone suitable to the humour of the evening and the occasion:

"Whence come ye, reader of the stars?" said she," for so thy looks and habit would proclaim thee; deign to answer us-whence come ye?”

"From the tomb!" uttered the figure in a deep sepulchral voice, to which the mask gave

additional solemnity by the immobility of its lips. "Unfold thy name and purpose," said Miss Delassaux, in a more tremulous voice.

"Abulcassim the Magician, who, after having descended to the world below, to dive into the secrets of the grave, now comes to warn thee of thy folly!" said the spectre in the same solemn tone and immoveable manner.

"Go on then, good master," said Miss Delassaux, endeavouring to hide her alarm, but at the same time edging herself nearer to the Count; "but let not your admonitions exceed the gentle licence of this night of revelry."

"I come not to flatter, Lady; there be enough here to minister to your diseased appetite by hailing your approach with honeyed words, but only that their envenomed stings may the more certainly pierce thee. If dread warning from the grave can awaken virtue and wisdom in thy bosom, my errand is to rouse thee!"

"Surely," said the Count, with a foreign accent," surely you do not mean to be so rude as to accuse this beautiful and all-accomplished lady of a want of either of these qualities? The licence of the evening goes not to such a point; and”.

« AnteriorContinuar »