下载辰思小说免费APP
PresentlyIheardthelatchmove,slow,slow:Ilookedup,andseeingthedoorhalf—open,roseandslidsoftlyin。Behinditstood,notthewomanIhadbefriended,butthemuffledwomanofthedesert。Withoutawordsheledmeafewstepstoanemptystone—pavedchamber,andpointedtoarugonthefloor。Iwrappedmyselfinit,andoncemorelaydown。Sheshutthedooroftheroom,andIheardtheouterdooropenandcloseagain。Therewasnolightsavewhatcamefromthemoonlitair。
AsIlaysleepless,Ibegantohearastifledmoaning。Itwentonforagoodwhile,andthencamethecryofachild,followedbyaterribleshriek。Isprangupanddartedintothepassage:fromanotherdoorinitcamethewhiteleopardesswithanew—bornbabyinhermouth,carryingitlikeacubofherown。Ithrewmyselfuponher,andcompelledhertodroptheinfant,whichfellonthestoneslabswithapiteouswail。
Atthecryappearedthemuffledwoman。Shesteppedoverus,thebeastandmyself,wherewelaystrugglinginthenarrowpassage,tookupthechild,andcarrieditaway。Returning,sheliftedmeofftheanimal,openedthedoor,andpushedmegentlyout。Atmyheelsfollowedtheleopardess。
"Shetoohasfailedme！"thoughtI;"——givenmeuptothebeasttobesettledwithatherleisure！Butweshallhaveatussleforit！"
Irandownthestair,fearingshewouldspringonmyback,butshefollowedmequietly。AtthefootIturnedtolayholdofher,butshesprangovermyhead;andwhenagainIturnedtofaceher,shewascrouchingatmyfeet！Istoopedandstrokedherlovelywhiteskin;sherespondedbylickingmybarefeetwithherharddrytongue。
ThenIpattedandfondledher,awelloftendernessoverflowinginmyheart:shemightbetreacheroustoo,butifIturnedfromeveryshowoflovelestitshouldbefeigned,howwasIevertofindthereallovewhichmustbesomewhereineveryworld？
Istoodup;sherose,andstoodbesideme。
Abulkyobjectfellwithaheavysquelchinthemiddleofthestreet,afewyardsfromus。Irantoit,andfoundapulpymass,withjustformenoughlefttoshowitthebodyofawoman。Itmusthavebeenthrownfromsomeneighbouringwindow！Ilookedaroundme:theShadowwaswalkingalongtheothersideoftheway,withthewhiteleopardessagainathisheel！
Ifollowedandgaineduponthem,urginginmyheartfortheleopardessthatprobablyshewasnotafreeagent。WhenIgotnearthem,however,sheturnedandflewatmewithsuchahideoussnarl,thatinstinctivelyIdrewback:instantlysheresumedherplacebehindtheShadow。AgainIdrewnear;againsheflewatme,hereyesflaminglikeliveemeralds。OncemoreImadetheexperiment:shesnappedatmelikeadog,andbitme。Myheartgaveway,andI
utteredacry;whereuponthecreaturelookedroundwithaglancethatplainlymeant——"WhyWOULDyoumakemedoit？"
Iturnedawayangrywithmyself:IhadbeenlosingmytimeeversinceIenteredtheplace！nightasitwasIwouldgostraighttothepalace！FromthesquareIhadseenit——highabovetheheartofthecity,compassedwithmanydefences,moreafortressthanapalace！
ButIfounditsfortifications,likethoseofthecity,muchneglected,andpartlyruinous。Forcenturies,clearly,theyhadbeenofnoaccount！Ithadgreatandstronggates,withsomethinglikeadrawbridgetothemoverarockychasm;buttheystoodopen,anditwashardtobelievethatwaterhadeveroccupiedthehollowbeforethem。Allwassostillthatsleepseemedtointerpenetratethestructure,causingtheverymoonlighttolookdiscordantlyawake。
Imusteitherenterlikeathief,orbreakasilencethatrenderedfrightfulthemerethoughtofasound！
LikeanoutcastdogIwaswalkingaboutthewalls,whenIcametoalittlerecesswithastonebench:Itookrefugeinitfromthewind,laydown,andinspiteofthecoldfellfastasleep。
Iwaswakenedbysomethingleapinguponme,andlickingmyfacewiththeroughtongueofafelineanimal。"Itisthewhiteleopardess！"
Ithought。"Sheiscometosuckmyblood！——andwhyshouldshenothaveit？——itwouldcostmemoretodefendthantoyieldit！"SoI
laystill,expectingashootofpain。Butthepangdidnotarrive;
apleasantwarmthinsteadbegantodiffuseitselfthroughme。
Stretchedatmyback,shelayasclosetomeasshecouldlie,theheatofherbodyslowlypenetratingmine,andherbreath,whichhadnothingofthewildbeastinit,swathingmyheadandfaceinagenialatmosphere。Afullconvictionthatherintentiontowardmewasgood,gainedpossessionofme。Iturnedlikeasleepyboy,threwmyarmoverher,andsankintoprofoundunconsciousness。
WhenIbegantocometomyself,IfanciedIlaywarmandsoftinmyownbed。"IsitpossibleIamathome？"Ithought。Thewell—knownscentsofthegardenseemedtocomecrowdingin。Irubbedmyeyes,andlookedout:Ilayonabarestone,intheheartofahatefulcity！
Isprangfromthebench。HadIindeedhadaleopardessformybedfellow,orhadIbutdreamedit？Shehadbutjustleftme,forthewarmthofherbodywaswithmeyet！
Ilefttherecesswithanewhope,asstrongasitwasshapeless。
Onethingonlywascleartome:Imustfindtheprincess！SurelyIhadsomepowerwithher,ifnotoverher！HadInotsavedherlife,andhadshenotprolongeditattheexpenseofmyvitality？
Thereflectiongavemecouragetoencounterher,beshewhatshemight。
CHAPTERXXV
THEPRINCESS
Makingacircuitofthecastle,Icameagaintotheopengates,crossedtheravine—likemoat,andfoundmyselfinapavedcourt,plantedatregularintervalswithtoweringtreeslikepoplars。Inthecentrewasonetallerthantherest,whosebranches,nearthetop,spreadalittleandgaveitsomeresemblancetoapalm。BetweentheirgreatstemsIgotglimpsesofthepalace,whichwasofastylestrangetome,butsuggestedIndianorigin。Itwaslongandlow,withloftytowersatthecorners,andonehugedomeinthemiddle,risingfromtherooftohalftheheightofthetowers。Themainentrancewasinthecentreofthefront——alowarchthatseemedhalfanellipse。Noonewasvisible,thedoorsstoodwideopen,andIwentunchallengedintoalargehall,intheformofalongishellipse。Towardonesidestoodacage,inwhichcouched,itsheadonitspaws,ahugeleopardess,chainedbyasteelcollar,withitsmouthmuzzledanditspawsmuffled。Itwaswhitewithdarkovalspots,andlaystaringoutofwide—openeyes,withcanoe—shapedpupils,andgreatgreenirids。Itappearedtowatchme,butnotaneyeball,notafoot,notawhiskermoved,anditstailstretchedoutbehinditrigidasanironbar。Icouldnottellwhetheritwasalivethingornot。
>Fromthisvestibuletwolowpassagesled;Itookoneofthem,andfounditbranchintomany,allnarrowandirregular。Ataspotwherewasscarceroomfortwotopass,apageranagainstme。Hestartedbackinterror,buthavingscannedme,gatheredimpudence,puffedhimselfout,andaskedmybusiness。
"Toseetheprincess,"Ianswered。
"Alikelything！"hereturned。"Ihavenotseenherhighnessthismorningmyself！"
Icaughthimbythebackoftheneck,shookhim,andsaid,"Takemetoheratonce,orIwilldragyouwithmetillIfindher。Sheshallknowhowherservantsreceivehervisitors。"
Hegavealookatme,andbegantopulllikeablindman\'sdog,leadingmethustoalargekitchen,whereweremanyservants,feeblybusy,andhardlyawake。Iexpectedthemtofalluponmeanddrivemeout,buttheystaredinstead,withwideeyes——notatme,butatsomethingbehindme,andgrewmoreghastlyastheystared。I
turnedmyhead,andsawthewhiteleopardess,regardingtheminawaythatmighthavefearedstouterhearts。
Presently,however,oneofthem,seeing,Isuppose,thatattackwasnotimminent,begantorecoverhimself;Iturnedtohim,andlettheboygo。
"Takemetotheprincess,"Isaid。
"Shehasnotyetleftherroom,yourlordship,"hereplied。
"LetherknowthatIamhere,waitingaudienceofher。"
"Willyourlordshippleasetogivemeyourname？"
"Tellherthatonewhoknowsthewhiteleechdesirestoseeher。"
"ShewillkillmeifItakesuchamessage:Imustnot。Idarenot。"
"Yourefuse？"
Hecastaglanceatmyattendant,andwent。
Theotherscontinuedstaring——toomuchafraidofhertotaketheireyesoffher。Iturnedtothegracefulcreature,whereshestood,hermuzzledroppedtomyheel,whiteasmilk,awarmsplendourinthegloomyplace,andstoopedandpattedher。Shelookedupatme;
themeremovementofherheadwasenoughtoscattertheminalldirections。Sheroseonherhindlegs,andputherpawsonmyshoulders;Ithrewmyarmsroundher。Sheprickedherears,brokefromme,andwasoutofsightinamoment。
ThemanIhadsenttotheprincessentered。
"Pleasetocomethisway,mylord,"hesaid。
Myheartgaveathrob,asifbracingitselftotheencounter。I
followedhimthroughmanypassages,andwasatlastshownintoaroomsolargeandsodarkthatitswallswereinvisible。Asinglespotonthefloorreflectedalittlelight,butaroundthatspotallwasblack。Ilookedup,andsawatagreatheightanovalapertureintheroof,ontheperipheryofwhichappearedthejointsbetweenblocksofblackmarble。Thelightonthefloorshowedclosefittingslabsofthesamematerial。Ifoundafterwardthattheellipticalwallaswellwasofblackmarble,absorbingthelittlelightthatreachedit。Theroofwasthelonghalfofanellipsoid,andtheopeninginitwasoveroneofthefocioftheellipseofthefloor。IfanciedIcaughtsightofreddishlines,butwhenIwouldhaveexaminedthem,theyweregone。
Allatonce,aradiantformstoodinthecentreofthedarkness,flashingasplendouroneveryside。Overarobeofsoftwhite,herhairstreamedinacataract,blackasthemarbleonwhichitfell。
Hereyeswerealuminousblackness;herarmsandfeetlikewarmivory。Shegreetedmewiththeinnocentsmileofagirl——andinface,figure,andmotionseemedbutnowtohavesteppedoverthethresholdofwomanhood。"Alas,"thoughtI,"illdidIreckonmydanger！CanthisbethewomanIrescued——shewhostruckme,scornedme,leftme？"Istoodgazingatheroutofthedarkness;shestoodgazingintoit,asifsearchingforme。
Shedisappeared。"Shewillnotacknowledgeme！"Ithought。Butthenextinstanthereyesflashedoutofthedarkstraightintomine。Shehaddescriedmeandcometome！
"Youhavefoundmeatlast！"shesaid,layingherhandonmyshoulder。"Iknewyouwould！"
Myframequiveredwithconflictingconsciousnesses,toanalysewhichIhadnopower。Iwassimultaneouslyattractedandrepelled:
eachsensationseemedeither。
"Youshiver！"shesaid。"Thisplaceiscoldforyou！Come。"
Istoodsilent:shehadstruckmedumbwithbeauty;sheheldmedumbwithsweetness。
Takingmebythehand,shedrewmetothespotoflight,andagainflasheduponme。Aninstantshestoodthere。
"YouhavegrownbrownsincelastIsawyou,"shesaid。
"ThisisalmostthefirstroofIhavebeenundersinceyouleftme,"
Ireplied。
"Whosewastheother？"sherejoined。
"Idonotknowthewoman\'sname。"
"Iwouldgladlylearnit！Theinstinctofhospitalityisnotstronginmypeople！"
Shetookmeagainbythehand,andledmethroughthedarknessmanystepstoacurtainofblack。Beyonditwasawhitestair,upwhichsheconductedmetoabeautifulchamber。
"Howyoumustmissthehotflowingriver！"shesaid。"Butthereisabathinthecornerwithnowhiteleechesinit！Atthefootofyourcouchyouwillfindagarment。Whenyoucomedown,Ishallbeintheroomtoyourleftatthefootofthestair。"
Istoodassheleftme,accusingmypresumption:howwasItotreatthislovelywomanasathingofevil,whobehavedtomelikeasister？——Whencethemarvellouschangeinher？Sheleftmewithablow;shereceivedmealmostwithanembrace！Shehadreviledme;shesaidsheknewIwouldfollowandfindher！Didsheknowmydoubtsconcerningher——howmuchIshouldwantexplained？COULDsheexplainall？CouldIbelieveherifshedid？Astoherhospitality,Ihadsurelyearnedandmightacceptthat——atleastuntilIcametoadefinitejudgmentconcerningher！
CouldsuchbeautyasIsaw,andsuchwickednessasIsuspected,existinthesameperson？Iftheycould,HOWwasitpossible？Unabletoanswertheformerquestion,Imustletthelatterwait！
Clearascrystal,thewaterinthegreatwhitebathsentasparklingflashfromthecornerwhereitlaysunkinthemarblefloor,andseemedtoinvitemetoitsembrace。Exceptthehotstream,twodraughtsinthecottageoftheveiledwoman,andthepoolsinthetrackofthewoundedleopardess,Ihadnotseenwatersinceleavinghome:itlookedathingcelestial。Iplungedin。
Immediatelymybrainwasfilledwithanodourstrangeanddelicate,whichyetIdidnotaltogetherlike。Itmademedoubttheprincessafresh:hadshemedicatedit？hadsheenchantedit？wassheinanywayworkingonmeunlawfully？Andhowwastherewaterinthepalace,andnotadropinthecity？Irememberedthecrushedpawoftheleopardess,andsprangfromthebath。
WhathadIbeenbathingin？AgainIsawthefleeingmother,againIheardthehowl,againIsawthelimpingbeast。Butwhatmatterwhenceitflowed？wasnotthewatersweet？Wasitnotverywaterthepitcher—plantsecretedfromitsheart,andstoredforthewearytraveller？Watercamefromheaven:whatmatteredthewellwhereitgathered,orthespringwhenceitburst？ButIdidnotre—enterthebath。
Iputontherobeofwhitewool,embroideredontheneckandhem,thatlayreadyforme,andwentdownthestairtotheroomwhithermyhostesshaddirectedme。Itwasround,allofalabaster,andwithoutasinglewindow:thelightcamethrougheverywhere,asoft,pearlyshimmerratherthanshine。Vagueshadowyformswentflittingaboutoverthewallsandlowdome,likelooserain—cloudsoveragrey—bluesky。
Theprincessstoodwaitingme,inarobeembroideredwithargentineringsanddiscs,rectanglesandlozenges,closetogether——asilvermail。Itfellunbrokenfromherneckandhidherfeet,butitslongopensleevesleftherarmsbare。
Intheroomwasatableofivory,bearingcakesandfruit,anivoryjugofmilk,acrystaljugofwineofapalerose—colour,andawhiteloaf。
"Herewedonotkilltoeat,"shesaid;"butIthinkyouwilllikewhatIcangiveyou。"
ItoldherIcoulddesirenothingbetterthanwhatIsaw。Sheseatedherselfonacouchbythetable,andmademeasigntositbyher。
Shepouredmeoutabowlfulofmilk,and,handingmetheloaf,beggedmetobreakfromitsuchapieceasIliked。Thenshefilledfromthewine—jugtwosilvergobletsofgrotesquelygracefulworkmanship。
"Youhaveneverdrunkwinelikethis！"shesaid。
Idrank,andwondered:everyflowerofHyblaandHymettusmusthavesentitsghosttoswellthesoulofthatwine！
"Andnowthatyouwillbeabletolisten,"shewenton,"ImustdowhatIcantomakemyselfintelligibletoyou。Ournatures,however,aresodifferent,thatthismaynotbeeasy。Menandwomenlivebuttodie;we,thatissuchasI——wearebutafew——livetoliveon。Oldageistoyouahorror;tomeitisadeardesire:theolderwegrow,thenearerwearetoourperfection。Yourperfectionisapoorthing,comessoon,andlastsbutalittlewhile;oursisaceaselessripening。Iamnotyetripe,andhavelivedthousandsofyouryears——howmany,Inevercaredtonote。Theeverlastingwillnotbemeasured。
"Manylovershavesoughtme;Ihavelovednoneofthem:theysoughtbuttoenslaveme;theysoughtmebutasthemenofmycityseekgemsofprice。——Whenyoufoundme,Ifoundaman！Iputyoutothetest;youstoodit;yourlovewasgenuine！——Itwas,however,farfromideal——farfromsuchloveasIwouldhave。Youlovedmetruly,butnotwithtruelove。Pityhas,butisnotlove。Whatwomanofanyworldwouldreturnloveforpity？Suchloveasyourswasthen,ishatefultome。Iknewthat,ifyousawmeasIam,youwouldloveme——liketherestofthem——tohaveandtohold:Iwouldnoneofthateither！Iwouldbeotherwiseloved！Iwouldhavealovethatoutlivedhopelessness,outmeasuredindifference,hate,scorn！
ThereforedidIputoncruelty,despite,ingratitude。WhenIleftyou,Ihadshownmyselfsuchasyoucouldatleastnolongerfollowfrompity:Iwasnolongerinneedofyou！Butyoumustsatisfymydesireorsetmefree——proveyourselfpricelessorworthless！
Tosatisfythehungerofmylove,youmustfollowme,lookingfornothing,notgratitude,notevenpityinreturn！——followandfindme,andbecontentwithmerestpresence,withscantestforbearance！——
I,notyou,havefailed;Iyieldthecontest。"
Shelookedatmetenderly,andhidherfaceinherhands。ButI
hadcaughtaflashandasparklebehindthetenderness,anddidnotbelieveher。Shelaidherselfouttosecureandenslaveme;
sheonlyfascinatedme！
"Beautifulprincess,"Isaid,"letmeunderstandhowyoucametobefoundinsuchevilplight。"
"TherearethingsIcannotexplain,"shereplied,"untilyouhavebecomecapableofunderstandingthem——whichcanonlybewhenloveisgrownperfect。Therearemanythingssohiddenfromyouthatyoucannotevenwishtoknowthem;butanyquestionyoucanput,I
caninsomemeasureanswer。
"Ihadsetouttovisitapartofmydominionsoccupiedbyasavagedwarf—people,strongandfierce,enemiestolawandorder,opposedtoeverykindofprogress——anevilrace。Iwentalone,fearingnothing,unawareoftheleastnecessityforprecaution。Ididnotknowthatuponthehotstreambesidewhichyoufoundme,acertainwoman,bynomeanssopowerfulasmyself,notbeingimmortal,hadcastwhatyoucallaspell——whichismerelythesettinginmotionofaforceasnaturalasanyother,butoperatingprimarilyinaregionbeyondthekenofthemortalwhomakesuseoftheforce。
"Isetoutonmyjourney,reachedthestream,boundedacrossit,————"
Ashadowofembarrassmentdarkenedhercheek:Iunderstoodit,butshowednosign。Checkedforthemerestmoment,shewenton:
"——youknowwhatastepitisinparts！——Butintheveryact,anindescribablecoldinvadedme。Irecognisedatoncethenatureoftheassault,andknewitcouldaffectmebuttemporarily。BysheerforceofwillIdraggedmyselftothewood——norknewanythingmoreuntilIsawyouasleep,andthehorriblewormatyourneck。Icreptout,draggedthemonsterfromyou,andlaidmylipstothewound。
Youbegantowake;Iburiedmyselfamongtheleaves。"
Sherose,hereyesflashingasneverhumaneyesflashed,andthrewherarmshighoverherhead。
"Whatyouhavemademeisyours！"shecried。"Iwillrepayyouasneveryetdidwoman！Mypower,mybeauty,myloveareyourown:
takethem。"
Shedroptkneelingbesideme,laidherarmsacrossmyknees,andlookedupinmyface。
ThenfirstInotedonherlefthandalargeclumsyglove。Inmymind\'seyeIsawhairandclawsunderit,butIknewitwasahandshuthard——perhapsbadlybruised。Iglancedattheother:itwaslovelyashandcouldbe,andIfeltthat,ifIdidlessthanloatheher,Ishouldloveher。Nottodallywithusurpingemotions,I
turnedmyeyesaside。
Shestartedtoherfeet。Isatmotionless,lookingdown。
"Tomeshemaybetrue！"saidmyvanity。ForamomentIwastemptedtolovealie。
Anodour,ratherthanthegentlestofairypulses,wasfanningme。
Iglancedup。Shestooderectbeforeme,wavingherlovelyarmsinseeminglymysticfashion。
Afrightfulroarmademyheartreboundagainstthewallsofitscage。Thealabastertrembledasifitwouldshakeintoshivers。
Theprincessshudderedvisibly。
"Mywinewastoostrongforyou！"shesaid,inaquaveringvoice;
"Ioughtnottohaveletyoutakeafulldraught！Goandsleepnow,andwhenyouwakeaskmewhatyouplease。——Iwillgowithyou:come。"
Assheprecededmeupthestair,——
"Idonotwonderthatroarstartledyou！"shesaid。"Itstartledme,Iconfess:foramomentIfearedshehadescaped。Butthatisimpossible。"
Theroarseemedtome,however——Icouldnottellwhy——tocomefromtheWHITEleopardess,andtobemeantforme,nottheprincess。
Withasmilesheleftmeatthedoorofmyroom,butassheturnedIreadanxietyonherbeautifulface。
CHAPTERXXVI
ABATTLEROYAL
Ithrewmyselfonthebed,andbegantoturnoverinmymindthetaleshehadtoldme。Shehadforgottenherself,and,byasingleincautiousword,removedoneperplexityastotheconditioninwhichIfoundherintheforest！TheleopardessBOUNDEDover;theprincesslayprostrateonthebank:therunningstreamhaddissolvedherself—enchantment！HerownaccountoftheobjectofherjourneyrevealedthedangeroftheLittleOnesthenimminent:Ihadsavedthelifeoftheironefearfulenemy！
IhadbutreachedthisconclusionwhenIfellasleep。Thelovelywinemaynothavebeenquiteinnocent。
WhenIopenedmyeyes,itwasnight。Alamp,suspendedfromtheceiling,castaclear,althoughsoftlightthroughthechamber。A
deliciouslanguorinfoldedme。Iseemedfloating,farfromland,uponthebosomofatwilightsea。Existencewasinitselfpleasure。
Ihadnopain。SurelyIwasdying！
Nopain！——ah,whatashootofmortalpainwasthat！whatasickeningsting！Itwentrightthroughmyheart！Again！Thatwassharpnessitself！——andsosickening！Icouldnotmovemyhandtolayitonmyheart;somethingkeptitdown！
Thepainwasdyingaway,butmywholebodyseemedparalysed。Someevilthingwasuponme！——somethinghateful！Iwouldhavestruggled,butcouldnotreachastruggle。Mywillagonised,butinvain,toassertitself。Idesisted,andlaypassive。ThenIbecameawareofasofthandonmyface,pressingmyheadintothepillow,andofaheavyweightlyingacrossme。
Ibegantobreathemorefreely;theweightwasgonefrommychest;
Iopenedmyeyes。
Theprincesswasstandingabovemeonthebed,lookingoutintotheroom,withtheairofonewhodreamed。Hergreateyeswereclearandcalm。Hermouthworealookofsatisfiedpassion;shewipedfromitastreakofred。
Shecaughtmygaze,bentdown,andstruckmeontheeyeswiththehandkerchiefinherhand:itwaslikedrawingtheedgeofaknifeacrossthem,andforamomentortwoIwasblind。
Iheardadullheavysound,asofalargesoft—footedanimalalightingfromalittlejump。Iopenedmyeyes,andsawthegreatswingofalongtailasitdisappearedthroughthehalf—opendoorway。
Isprangafterit。
Thecreaturehadvanishedquite。Ishotdownthestair,andintothehallofalabaster。Themoonwashigh,andtheplaceliketheinsideofafaint,sun—blanchedmoon。Theprincesswasnotthere。
Imustfindher:inherpresenceImightprotectmyself;outofitIcouldnot！Iwasatameanimalforhertofeedupon;ahumanfountainforathirstdemoniac！Sheshowedmefavourthemoreeasilytouseme！Mywakingeyesdidnotfearher,buttheywouldclose,andshewouldcome！Notseeingher,Ifelthereverywhere,forshemightbeanywhere——mightevennowbewaitingmeinsomesecretcavernofsleep！OnlywithmyeyesuponhercouldIfeelsafefromher！
Outsidethealabasterhallitwaspitch—dark,andIhadtogropemywayalongwithhandsandfeet。AtlastIfeltacurtain,putitaside,andenteredtheblackhall。ThereIfoundagreatsilentassembly。HowitwasvisibleIneithersawnorcouldimagine,forthewalls,thefloor,theroof,wereshroudedinwhatseemedaninfiniteblackness,blackerthantheblackestofmoonless,starlessnights;yetmyeyescouldseparate,althoughvaguely,notafewoftheindividualsinthemassinterpenetratedanddivided,aswellassurrounded,bythedarkness。Itseemedasifmyeyeswouldnevercomequitetothemselves。Ipressedtheirballsandlookedandlookedagain,butwhatIsawwouldnotgrowdistinct。Blacknessmingledwithform,silenceandundefinedmotionpossessedthewidespace。Allwasadim,confuseddance,filledwithrecurrentglimpsesofshapesnotunknowntome。Nowappearedawoman,withgloriouseyeslookingoutofaskull;nowanarmedfigureonaskeletonhorse;
nowonenowanotherofthehideousburrowingphantasms。Icouldtracenoorderandlittlerelationintheminglingandcrossingcurrentsandeddies。IfIseemedtocatchtheshapeandrhythmofadance,itwasbuttoseeitbreak,andconfusionprevail。Withtheshiftingcoloursoftheseeminglymoresolidshapes,mingledamultitudeofshadows,independentapparentlyoforiginals,eachmovingafteritsownfreeshadow—will。Ilookedeverywherefortheprincess,butthroughoutthewildlychangingkaleidoscopicscene,couldnotseehernordiscoverindicationofherpresence。Wherewasshe？Whatmightshenotbedoing？NoonetooktheleastnoticeofmeasIwanderedhitherandthitherseekingher。Atlengthlosinghope,Iturnedawaytolookelsewhere。Findingthewall,andkeepingtoitwithmyhand,foreventhenIcouldnotseeit,Icame,gropingalong,toacurtainedopeningintothevestibule。
Dimlymoonlighted,thecageoftheleopardesswasthearenaofwhatseemedadesperatealthoughsilentstruggle。Twovastlydifferingforms,humanandbestial,withentangledconfusionofminglingbodiesandlimbs,writhedandwrestledinclosestembrace。IthadlastedbutaninstantwhenIsawtheleopardessoutofthecage,walkingquietlytotheopendoor。AsIhastenedafterherIthrewaglancebehindme:therewastheleopardessinthecage,couchingmotionlessaswhenIsawherfirst。
Themoon,half—wayupthesky,wasshiningroundandclear;thebodilessshadowIhadseenthenightbefore,waswalkingthroughthetreestowardthegate;andafterhimwenttheleopardess,swinginghertail。Ifollowed,alittlewayoff,assilentlyasthey,andneitherofthemoncelookedround。Throughtheopengatewewentdowntothecity,lyingquietasthemoonshineuponit。Thefaceofthemoonwasverystill,anditsstillnesslookedlikethatofexpectation。
TheShadowtookhiswaystraighttothestairatthetopofwhichIhadlainthenightbefore。Withoutapausehewentup,andtheleopardessfollowed。Iquickenedmypace,but,amomentafter,heardacryofhorror。Thencamethefallofsomethingsoftandheavybetweenmeandthestair,andatmyfeetlayabody,frightfullyblackenedandcrushed,butstillrecognisableasthatofthewomanwhohadledmehomeandshutmeout。AsIstoodpetrified,thespottedleopardesscameboundingdownthestairwithababyinhermouth。Idartedtoseizeherereshecouldturnatthefoot;butthatinstant,frombehindme,thewhiteleopardess,likeagreatbarofglowingsilver,shotthroughthemoonlight,andhadherbytheneck。Shedroppedthechild;Icaughtitup,andstoodtowatchthebattlebetweenthem。
