登陆注册
14924500000101

第101章 In the Alcove.(4)

He was aware from the sounds that the two had entered the alcove, and, prompted by a desire to know what manner of man he might next have to contend with, he slightly parted the heavy folds that hid the two from his view and looking out saw them sitting on the couch with their arms about each other, the girl with the same expressionless smile upon her face that she had vouchsafed him. He found he could so arrange the hangings that a very narrow slit between two of them permitted him to watch the actions of those in the alcove without revealing himself or increasing his liability of detec-tion.

He saw the girl lavishing her kisses upon the newcomer, a much younger man than he whom Smith-Oldwick had dis-patched. Presently the girl disengaged herself from the em-brace of her lover as though struck by a sudden memory.

Her brows puckered as in labored thought and then with a startled expression, she threw a glance backward toward the hidden niche where the Englishman stood, after which she whispered rapidly to her companion, occasionally jerking her head in the direction of the niche and on several occasions making a move with one hand and forefinger, which Smith-Oldwick could not mistake as other than an attempt to de-scribe his pistol and its use.

It was evident then to him that she was betraying him, and without further loss of time he turned his back toward the hangings and commenced a rapid examination of his hiding place. In the alcove the man and the girl whispered, and then cautiously and with great stealth, the man rose and drew his curved saber. On tiptoe he approached the hangings, the girl creeping at his side. Neither spoke now, nor was there any sound in the room as the girl sprang forward and with outstretched arm and pointing finger indicated a point upon the curtain at the height of a man's breast. Then she stepped to one side, and her companion, raising his blade to a hori-zontal position, lunged suddenly forward and with the full weight of his body and his right arm, drove the sharp point through the hangings and into the niche behind for its full length.

Bertha Kircher, finding her struggles futile and realizing that she must conserve her strength for some chance oppor-tunity of escape, desisted from her efforts to break from the grasp of Prince Metak as the fellow fled with her through the dimly lighted corridors of the palace. Through many cham-bers the prince fled, bearing his prize. It was evident to the girl that, though her captor was the king's son, he was not above capture and punishment for his deeds, as otherwise he would not have shown such evident anxiety to escape with her, as well as from the results of his act.

From the fact that he was constantly turning affrighted eyes behind them, and glancing suspiciously into every nook and corner that they passed, she guessed that the prince's punishment might be both speedy and terrible were he caught.

She knew from their route that they must have doubled back several times although she had quite lost all sense of direction; but she did not know that the prince was as equally confused as she, and that really he was running in an aimless, erratic manner, hoping that he might stumble eventually upon a place of refuge.

Nor is it to be wondered at that this offspring of maniacs should have difficulty in orienting himself in the winding mazes of a palace designed by maniacs for a maniac king.

Now a corridor turned gradually and almost imperceptibly in a new direction, again one doubled back upon and crossed itself; here the floor rose gradually to the level of another story, or again there might be a spiral stairway down which the mad prince rushed dizzily with his burden. Upon what floor they were or in what part of the palace even Metak had no idea until, halting abruptly at a closed door, he pushed it open to step into a brilliantly lighted chamber filled with warriors, at one end of which sat the king upon a great throne; beside this, to the girl's surprise, she saw another throne where was seated a huge lioness, recalling to her the words of Xanila which, at the time, had made no impression on her: "But he had many other queens, nor were they all human."At sight of Metak and the girl, the king rose from his throne and started across the chamber, all semblance of royalty vanishing in the maniac's uncontrollable passion. And as he came he shrieked orders and commands at the top of his voice.

No sooner had Metak so unwarily opened the door to this hornets' nest than he immediately withdrew and, turning, fled again in a new direction. But now a hundred men were close upon his heels, laughing, shrieking, and possibly cursing. He dodged hither and thither, distancing them for several minutes until, at the bottom of a long runway that inclined steeply downward from a higher level, he burst into a subterranean apartment lighted by many flares.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 追彩虹的稻草人

    追彩虹的稻草人

    一场不见硝烟的商战让古老的柳镇失去了往日的宁静,令人想不到的是,这场暗战竟然发生在曾经的两个恋人、现在已是两家大型童装企业——稻草人掌舵人柳笛和跳蛋龙总经理何天龙之间,故事由此展开,爱恨情仇跌宕起伏,小镇的变革暗潮涌动。在创业的路上,一群80后、90年后年轻人,不停地织梦、造梦和圆梦……春妮、杜兰、安雅三个小姐妹和外来打工者李少阳、范海洋、罗华之间的情感纠葛,剪不断理还乱……
  • The Secret Places of the Heart

    The Secret Places of the Heart

    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。
  • 老骥琐谈

    老骥琐谈

    仲冬时节,良金同志送来他的书稿——《老骥琐谈》。书稿收集了作者四十篇散文随笔。其中有赞赏故乡的风土人情,有异地他乡的旅行札记,有现实生活中的人生感悟。读罢掩卷之后,犹如一汪清泉,润泽着心田。
  • 我来问长生

    我来问长生

    朝闻道,夕死可矣!我自尘世来,我来问长生————这是一个凡人自武侠世界起步,追寻长生与真理的故事
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 邪神本纪

    邪神本纪

    拥有强大邪神力量的人对于普通人来说只能是怪物,怪物只能被怪物所打败,为了更好的活着只能选择变成怪物,拥有力量才能掌控自己。
  • 破晓曙光

    破晓曙光

    当一切尘埃落定,当黎明来临之时,当古堡玫瑰枯萎,当滕蔓爬满坟墓,当午夜不再落魄,破晓,即将开始。
  • 错投妖胎

    错投妖胎

    李心远使出了吃奶的劲才把眼睛睁开,眼前的情况把他吓了一跳,因为他此时正是在吃奶,而旁边一起吃奶的还有一群小猪。李心远本是合体期的高手,为了师门的复兴冒险修炼导致元婴爆裂而亡。来到地府投胎又遇到十殿阎罗争权地府大乱,一片混乱之中李心远误投了畜生道,开始了他以妖修炼的第二生。
  • 凤浴九天

    凤浴九天

    她?一个清冷的腹黑现代世界ON.1的杀手南宫黎冰(代号邪尊)一觉醒来发现自己传越了。貌似还是一个刚出生的小娃娃!不管怎样,上一世,我未能有亲情,这一世,我必要守护好。不管是谁!若要伤他们!便要你好看!她是南宫家上上下下的小公主。灵术、炼器、炼丹、召唤兽?这还不简单??银色长发––毒小仙,墨蓝色长发––南宫黎冰?这不都是我吗?(心中吐槽:银紫环真好用耶!可以变成前世的发色!嘿嘿,这些家伙真笨!)
  • 仙游世界

    仙游世界

    听说这个世界有仙人来过………………世界万物本无灵,仙游一念万物生。凡尘寻觅永恒路,道生一路醉乾坤。听说这个世界光有一身强大的修为还不行………哦?那还要有什么?锻造装备会不会?合成灵宠会不会?锻造装备?别说了,合成太难,强化更难,赋予自然属性坑死人!合成灵宠?拜托,这个不是我们这样种穷人能玩得起的!