Auriol; or, The Elixir of Life
Page 23
CHAPTER V
NEW PERPLEXITIES
For several hours deep sleep, occasioned by some potent medicaments, hadbound up the senses of Auriol. On awaking, he found himself within acell, the walls, the floor, and the ceiling of which were of solid stonemasonry. In the midst of this chamber, and supporting the ponderousroof, stood a massive granite pillar, the capital of which wasgrotesquely ornamented with death's-heads and cross-bones, and againstthis pillar leaned Auriol, with his left arm chained by heavy links ofiron to a ring in the adjoining wall. Beside him stood a pitcher ofwater, and near him lay an antique-looking book, bound in black vellum.The dungeon in which he was confined was circular in form, with a covedroof, sustained by the pillar before mentioned, and was approached by asteep flight of steps rising from a doorway, placed some six feet belowthe level of the chamber, and surmounted by a pointed arch. A stream oflight, descending from a narrow aperture in the roof, fell upon hiswasted and haggard features. His dark-brown hair hung about his face inelf-locks, his beard was untrimmed, and a fixed and stony glare likethat of insanity sat in his eye. He was seated on the ground--neitherbench nor stool being allowed him--with his hand supporting his chin.His gaze was fixed upon vacancy--if that can he called vacancy which tohim was filled with vivid images. His garb was not that of modern times,but consisted of a doublet and hose of rich material, wrought in thefashion of Elizabeth's days.
After remaining for some time in this musing attitude, Auriol opened theold tome before him, and began to turn over its leaves. It was full ofmagical disquisitions and mysterious characters, and he found inscribedon one of its earlier pages a name which instantly riveted hisattention. Having vainly sought some explanation of this name in theafter contents of the book, he laid it aside, and became lost inmeditation. His reverie ended, he heaved a deep sigh, and turned againto the open volume lying before him, and in doing so his eye rested forthe first time on his habiliments. On beholding them he started, andheld out his arm to examine his sleeve more narrowly. Satisfied that hewas not deceived, he arose and examined himself from head to foot. Hefound himself, as has been stated, attired in the garb of a gentleman ofElizabeth's time.
"What can this mean?" he cried. "Have I endured a long and troubleddream, during which I have fancied myself living through more than twocenturies? O Heaven, that it may be so! Oh that the fearful crimes Isuppose I have committed have only been enacted in a dream! Oh that myvictims are imaginary! Oh that Ebba should only prove a lovely phantomof the night! And yet, I could almost wish the rest were real--so thatshe might exist. I cannot bear to think that she is nothing more than avision. But it must be so--I have been dreaming--and what a dream it hasbeen!--what strange glimpses it has afforded me into futurity! MethoughtI lived in the reigns of many sovereigns--beheld one of them carried tothe block--saw revolutions convulse the kingdom--old dynasties shakendown, and new ones spring up. Fashions seem to me to have so changed,that I had clean forgotten the old ones; while my fellow-men scarcelyappeared the same as heretofore. Can I be the same myself? Is this thedress I once wore? Let me seek for some proof."
And thrusting his hand into his doublet, he drew forth some tablets, andhastily examined them. They bore his name, and contained some writing,and he exclaimed aloud with joy, "This is proof enough--I have beendreaming all this while."
"The scheme works to a miracle," muttered a personage stationed at thefoot of the steps springing from the doorway, and who, though concealedfrom view himself, was watching the prisoner with a malignant andexulting gaze.
"And yet, why am I here?" pursued Auriol, looking around. "Ah! I see howit is," he added, with a shudder; "I have been mad--perhaps am madstill. That will account for the strange delusion under which I havelaboured."
"I will act upon that hint," muttered the listener.
"Of what use is memory," continued Auriol musingly, "if things that arenot, seem as if they were? If joys and sorrows which we have neverendured are stamped upon the brain--if visions of scenes, and faces andevents which we have never witnessed, never known, haunt us, as if theyhad once been familiar? But I am mad--mad!"
The listener laughed to himself.
"How else, if I were not mad, could I have believed that I had swallowedthe fabled elixir vitae? And yet, is it a fable? for I am puzzled still.Methinks I am old--old--old--though I feel young, and look young. Allthis is madness. Yet how clear and distinct it seems! I can call to mindevents in Charles the Second's time. Ha!--who told me of Charles theSecond? How know I there was such a king? The reigning sovereign shouldbe James, and yet I fancy it is George the Fourth. Oh! I am mad--cleanmad!"
There was another pause, during which the listener indulged in asuppressed fit of laughter.
"Would I could look forth from this dungeon," pursued Auriol, againbreaking silence, "and satisfy myself of the truth or falsehood of mydoubts by a view of the external world, for I am so perplexed in mind,that if I were not distracted already, they would be enough to drive meso. What dismal, terrible fancies have possessed me, and weigh upon mestill--the compact with Rougemont--ha!"
"Now it comes," cried the listener.
"Oh, that I could shake off the conviction that this were not so--thatmy soul, though heavily laden, might still be saved! Oh, that I dared tohope this!"
"I must interrupt him if he pursues this strain," said the listener.
Rougemont's device to perplex Auriol.]
"Whether my crimes are real or imaginary--whether I snatched the cup ofimmortality from my grandsire's dying lips--whether I signed a compactwith the Fiend, and delivered him a victim on each tenth year--I cannotnow know; but if it is so, I deeply, bitterly regret them, and wouldexpiate my offences by a life of penance."
At this moment Rougemont, attired in a dress similar to that of theprisoner, marched up the steps, and cried, "What ho, Auriol!--AuriolDarcy!"
"Who speaks?" demanded Auriol. "Ah! is it you, Fiend?"
"What, you are still in your old fancies," rejoined Rougemont. "Ithought the draught I gave you last night would have amended you."
"Tell me who and what I am," cried Auriol, stupefied with astonishment;"in what age I am living; and whether I am in my right mind or not?"
"For the first, you are called Auriol Darcy," replied Rougemont; "forthe second, you are living in the reign of his most Catholic MajestyJames I. of England, and Sixth of Scotland; and for the third, I trustyou will soon recover your reason."
"Amazement!" cried Auriol, striking his brow with his clenched hand."Then I _am_ mad."
"It's plain your reason is returning, since you are conscious of yourcondition," replied Rougemont; "but calm yourself, you have been subjectto raging frenzies."
"And I have been shut up here for safety?" demanded Auriol.
"Precisely," observed the other.
"And you are----"
"Your keeper," replied Rougemont.
"My God! what a brain mine must be!" cried Auriol. "Answer me onequestion--Is there such a person as Ebba Thorneycroft?"
"You have often raved about her," replied Rougemont. "But she is a merecreature of the imagination."
Auriol groaned, and sank against the wall.
"Since you have become so reasonable, you shall again go forth into theworld," said Rougemont; "but the first essay must be made at night, forfear of attracting observation. I will come to you again a few hourshence. Farewell for the present."
And casting a sinister glance at his captive, he turned upon his heel,descended the steps, and quitted the cell.