Varney the Vampire. James Malcolm Rymer

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ steps necessary, and both keep the secret from each other; but so it was, and, after some internal swearing, he determined upon challenging Varney in person.

      "I'd send Jack Pringle, but the swab would settle the matter as shortly as if a youngster was making an entry in a log, and heard the boatswain's whistle summoning the hands to a mess, and feared he would lose his grog.

      "D—n my quarters! but Sir Francis Varney, as he styles himself, sha'n't make any way against old Admiral Bell. He's as tough as a hawser, and just the sort of blade for a vampyre to come athwart. I'll pitch him end-long, and make a plank of him afore long. Cus my windpipe! what a long, lanky swab he is, with teeth fit to unpick a splice; but let me alone, I'll see if I can't make a hull of his carcass, vampyre or no vampyre.

      "My nevy, Charles Holland, can't be allowed to cut away without nobody's leave or licence. No, no; I'll not stand that anyhow. 'Never desert a messmate in the time of need,' is the first maxim of a seaman, and I ain't the one as 'll do so."

      Thus self-communing, the old admiral marched along until he came to Sir Francis Varney's house, at the gate of which he gave the bell what he called a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, that set it ringing with a fury, the like of which had never certainly been heard by the household.

      A minute or two scarcely elapsed before the domestics hurried to answer so urgent a summons; and when the gate was opened, the servant who answered it inquired his business.

      "What's that to you, snob? Is your master, Sir Francis Varney, in? because, if he be, let him know old Admiral Bell wants to speak to him. D'ye hear?"

      "Yes, sir," replied the servant, who had paused a few moments to examine the individual who gave this odd kind of address.

      In another minute word was brought to him that Sir Francis Varney would be very happy to see Admiral Bell.

      "Ay, ay," he muttered; "just as the devil likes to meet with holy water, or as I like any water save salt water."

      He was speedily introduced to Sir Francis Varney, who was seated in the same posture as he had been left by Henry Bannerworth not many minutes before.

      "Admiral Bell," said Sir Francis, rising, and bowing to that individual in the most polite, calm, and dignified manner imaginable, "permit me to express the honour I feel at this unexpected visit."

      "None of your gammon."

      "Will you be seated. Allow me to offer you such refreshments as this poor house affords."

      "D—n all this! You know, Sir Francis, I don't want none o' this palaver. It's for all the world like a Frenchman, when you are going to give him a broadside; he makes grimaces, throws dust in your eyes, and tries to stab you in the back. Oh, no! none of that for me."

      "I should say not, Admiral Bell. I should not like it myself, and I dare say you are a man of too much experience not to perceive when you are or are not imposed upon."

      "Well, what is that to you? D—n me, I didn't come here to talk to you about myself."

      "Then may I presume upon your courtesy so far as to beg that you will enlighten me upon the object of your visit!"

      "Yes; in pretty quick time. Just tell me where you have stowed away my nephew, Charles Holland?"

      "Really, I—"

      "Hold your slack, will you, and hear me out; if he's living, let him out, and I'll say no more about it; that's liberal, you know; it ain't terms everybody would offer you."

      "I must, in truth, admit they are not; and, moreover, they quite surprise even me, and I have learned not to be surprised at almost anything."

      "Well, will you give him up alive? but, hark ye, you mustn't have made very queer fish of him, do ye see?"

      "I hear you," said Sir Francis, with a bland smile, passing one hand gently over the other, and showing his front teeth in a peculiar manner; "but I really cannot comprehend all this; but I may say, generally, that Mr. Holland is no acquaintance of mine, and I have no sort of knowledge where he may be."

      "That won't do for me," said the admiral, positively, shaking his head.

      "I am particularly sorry, Admiral Bell, that it will not, seeing that I have nothing else to say."

      "I see how it is; you've put him out of the way, and I'm d——d if you shan't bring him to life, whole and sound, or I'll know the reason why."

      "With that I have already furnished you, Admiral Bell," quietly rejoined Varney; "anything more on that head is out of my power, though my willingness to oblige a person of such consideration as yourself, is very great; but, permit me to add, this is a very strange and odd communication from one gentleman to another. You have lost a relative, who has, very probably, taken some offence, or some notion into his head, of which nobody but himself knows anything, and you come to one yet more unlikely to know anything of him, than even yourself.

      "Gammon again, now, Sir Francis Varney, or Blarney."

      "Varney, if you please, Admiral Bell; I was christened Varney."

      "Christened, eh?"

      "Yes, christened—were you not christened? If not, I dare say you understand the ceremony well enough."

      "I should think I did; but, as for christening, a—"

      "Go on, sir."

      "A vampyre! why I should as soon think of reading the burial service of a pig."

      "Very possible; but what has all this to do with your visit to me?"

      "This much, you lubber. Now, d—n my carcass from head to stern, if I don't call you out."

      "Well, Admiral Bell," slid Varney, mildly, "in that case, I suppose I must come out; but why do you insist that I have any knowledge of your nephew, Mr. Charles Holland?"

      "You were to have fought a duel with him, and now he's gone."

      "I am here," said Varney.

      "Ay," said the admiral, "that's as plain as a purser's shirt upon a handspike; but that's the very reason why my nevey ain't here, and that's all about it."

      "And that's marvellous little, so far as the sense is concerned," said Varney, without the movement of a muscle.

      "It is said that people of your class don't like fighting mortal men; now you have disposed of him, lest he should dispose of you."

      "That is explicit, but it is to no purpose, since the gentleman in question hasn't placed himself at my disposal."

      "Then, d——e, I will; fish, flesh, or fowl, I don't care; all's one to Admiral Bell. Come fair or fowl, I'm a tar for all men; a seaman ever ready to face a foe, so here goes, you lubberly moon manufactured calf."

      "I hear, admiral, but it is scarcely civil, to say the least of it; however, as you are somewhat eccentric, and do not, I dare say, mean all your words imply, I am quite willing СКАЧАТЬ