按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her mistress's armchair
〃The light！〃 cried she； 〃madam； the light！〃
At the same time she raised the queen； and with arm outstretched from
the window； she showed her the beacon； the eternal symbol of hope；
relighted in the midst of this dark night on Kinross hill： there was
no mistake possible； not a star was shining in the sky。
〃Lord God； I give Thee thanks；〃 said the queen； falling on her knees
and raising her arms to heaven with a gesture of gratitude： 〃Douglas
has escaped； and my friends still keep watch。〃
Then； after a fervent prayer； which restored to her a little
strength； the queen re…entered her room； and； tired out by her varied
successive emotions； she slept an uneasy； agitated sleep； over which
the indefatigable Mary Seyton kept watch till daybreak。
As William Douglas had said； from this time forward the queen was a
prisoner indeed； and permission to go down into the garden was no
longer granted but under the surveillance of two soldiers； but this
annoyance seemed to her so unbearable that she preferred to give up
the recreation； which； surrounded with such conditions； became a
torture。 So she shut herself up in her apartments； finding a certain
bitter and haughty pleasure in the very excess of her misfortune。
CHAPTER VII
A week after the events we have related； as nine o'clock in the
evening had just sounded from the castle bell； and the queen and Mary
Seyton were sitting at a table where they were working at their
tapestry； a stone thrown from the courtyard passed through the window
bars； broke a pane of glass； and fell into the room。 The queen's
first idea was to believe it accidental or an insult； but Mary
Seyton； turning round； noticed that the stone was wrapped up in a
paper： she immediately picked it up。 The paper was a letter from
George Douglas； conceived in these terms：
〃You have commanded me to live； madam： I have obeyed； and your
Majesty has been able to tell； from the Kinross light； that your
servants continue to watch over you。 However； not to raise
suspicion； the soldiers collected for that fatal night dispersed at
dawn； and will not gather again till a fresh attempt makes their
presence necessary。 But； alas！ to renew this attempt now； when your
Majesty's gaolers are on their guard； would be your ruin。 Let them
take every precaution； then； madam； let them sleep in security； while
we； we； in our devotion； shall go on watching。
〃Patience and courage！〃
〃Brave and loyal heart！〃 cried Mary； 〃more constantly devoted to
misfortune than others are to prosperity！ Yes； I shall have patience
and courage； and so long as that light shines I shall still believe
in liberty。〃
This letter restored to the queen all her former courage： she had
means of communication with George through Little Douglas； for no
doubt it was he who had thrown that stone。 She hastened； in her
turn； to write a letter to George； in which she both charged him to
express her gratitude to all the lords who had signed the
protestation； and begged them； in the name of the fidelity they had
sworn to her； not to cool in their devotion； promising them； for her
part； to await the result with that patience and courage they asked
of her。
The queen was not mistaken： next day； as she was at her window；
Little Douglas came to play at the foot of the tower； and； without
raising his head； stopped just beneath her to dig a trap to catch
birds。 The queen looked to see if she were observed； and assured
that that part of the courtyard was deserted。 she let fail the stone
wrapped in her letter： at first she feared to have made a serious
error； for Little Douglas did not even turn at the noise； and it was
only after a moment； during which the prisoner's heart was torn with
frightful anxiety； that indifferently； and as if he were looking for
something else； the child laid his hand on the stone； and without
hurrying； without raising his head； without indeed giving any sign of
intelligence to her who had thrown it； he put the letter in his
pocket； finishing the work he had begun with the greatest calm； and
showing the queen； by this coolness beyond his years； what reliance
she could place in him。
》From that moment the queen regained fresh hope； but days； weeks；
months passed without bringing any change in her situation： winter
came； the prisoner saw snow spread over the plains and mountains； and
the lake afforded her； if she had only been able to pass the door； a
firm road to gain the other bank； but no letter came during all this
time to bring her the consoling news that they were busy about her
deliverance； the faithful light alone announced to her every evening
that a friend was keeping watch。
Soon nature awoke from her death…sleep： some forward sun…rays broke
through the clouds of this sombre sky of Scotland； the snow melted；
the lake broke its ice…crust； the first buds opened； the green turf
reappeared； everything came out of its prison at the joyous approach
of spring； and it was a great grief to Mary to see that she alone was
condemned to an eternal winter。
At last； one evening； she thought she observed in the motions of the
light that something fresh was happening： she had so often questioned
this poor flickering star； and she had so often let it count her
heart…beats more than twenty times； that to spare herself the pain of
disappointment； for a long time she had no longer interrogated it；
however； she resolved to make one last attempt； and； almost hopeless；
she put her light near the window； and immediately took it away；
still； faithful to the signal； the other disappeared at the same
moment； and reappeared at the eleventh heart…beat of the queen。 At
the same time； by a strange coincidence； a stone passing through the
window fell at Mary Seyton's feet。 It was； like the first； wrapped
in a letter from George： the queen took it from her companion's
hands； opened it； and read：
〃The moment draws near； your adherents are assembled； summon all your
courage。〃
〃To…morrow； at eleven o'clock in the evening； drop a cord from your
window； and draw up the packet that will be fastened to it。〃
There remained in the queen's apartments the rope over and above what
had served for the ladder taken away by the guards the evening of the
frustrated escape： next day； at the appointed hour； the two prisoners
shut up the lamp in the bedroom； so that no light should betray them；
and Mary Seyton； approaching the window； let down the cord。 After a
minute； she felt from its movements that something was being attached
to it。 Mary Seyton pulled； and a rather bulky parcel appeared at the
bars； which it could not pass on account of its size。 Then the queen
came to her companion's aid。 The parcel was untied； and its
contents； separately； got through easily。 The two prisoners carried
them into the bedroom； and； barricaded within； commenced an
inventory。 There were two co