ben-hur-第74部分
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Ben…Hur paused in the shade of the portico to admire its tracery and finish； and the purity of its marble； then he passed on into the palace。 Ample folding…doors stood open to receive him。 The passage into which he first entered was high； but somewhat narrow； red tiling formed the floor； and the walls were tinted to correspond。 Yet this plainness was a warning of something beautiful to come。
He moved on slowly； all his faculties in repose。 Presently he would be in the presence of Iras； she was waiting for him； waiting with song and story and badinage； sparkling； fanciful； capriciouswith smiles which glorified her glance； and glances which lent voluptuous suggestion to her whisper。 She had sent for him the evening of the boat…ride on the lake in the Orchard of Palms； she had sent for him now； and he was going to her in the beautiful palace of Idernee。 He was happy and dreamful rather than thoughtless。
The passage brought him to a closed door； in front of which he paused； and； as he did so； the broad leaves began to open of themselves； without creak or sound of lock or latch； or touch of foot or finger。 The singularity was lost in the view that broke upon him。
Standing in the shade of the dull passage； and looking through the doorway； he beheld the atrium of a Roman house； roomy and rich to a fabulous degree of magnificence。
How large the chamber was cannot be stated； because of the deceit there is in exact proportions； its depth was vista…like； something never to be said of an equal interior。 When he stopped to make survey； and looked down upon the floor； he was standing upon the breast of a Leda； represented as caressing a swan； and； looking farther； he saw the whole floor was similarly laid in mosaic pictures of mythological subjects。 And there were stools and chairs； each a separate design； and a work of art exquisitely composed； and tables much carven； and here and there couches which were invitations of themselves。 The articles of furniture； which stood out from the walls； were duplicated on the floor distinctly as if they floated unrippled water； even the panelling of the walls； the figures upon them in painting and bas…relief； and the fresco of the ceiling were reflected on the floor。 The ceiling curved up towards the centre； where there was an opening through which the sunlight poured without hindrance； and the sky； ever so blue； seemed in hand…reach； the impluvium under the opening was guarded by bronzed rails； the gilded pillars supporting the roof at the edges of the opening shone like flame where the sun struck them； and their reflections beneath seemed to stretch to infinite depth。 And there were candelabra quaint and curious； and statuary and vases； the whole making an interior that would have befitted well the house on the Palatine Hill which Cicero bought of Crassus； or that other； yet more famous for extravagance； the Tusculan villa of Scaurus。
Still in his dreamful mood； Ben…Hur sauntered about； charmed by all he beheld； and waiting。 He did not mind a little delay； when Iras was ready； she would come or send a servant。 In every well…regulated Roman house the atrium was the reception chamber for visitors。
Twice； thrice； he made the round。 As often he stood under the opening in the roof； and pondered the sky and its azure depth； then； leaning against a pillar； he studied the distribution of light and shade； and its effects； here a veil diminishing objects； there a brilliance exaggerating others； yet nobody came。 Time； or rather the passage of time； began at length to impress itself upon him； and he wondered why Iras stayed so long。 Again he traced out the figures upon the floor； but not with the satisfaction the first inspection gave him。 He paused often to listen： directly impatience blew a little fevered breath upon his spirit； next time it blew stronger and hotter； and at last he woke to a consciousness of the silence which held the house in thrall； and the thought of it made him uneasy and distrustful。 Still he put the feeling off with a smile and a promise。 〃Oh； she is giving the last touch to her eyelids； or she is arranging a chaplet for me； she will come presently； more beautiful of the delay！〃 He sat down then to admire a candelabruma bronze plinth on rollers； filigree on the sides and edges； the post at one end； and on the end opposite it an altar and a female celebrant； the lamp…rests swinging by delicate chains from the extremities of drooping palm…branches； altogether a wonder in its way。 But the silence would obtrude itself： he listened even as he looked at the pretty objecthe listened； but there was not a sound； the palace was still as a tomb。
There might be a mistake。 No； the messenger had come from the Egyptian； and this was the palace of Idernee。 Then he remembered how mysteriously the door had opened so soundlessly； so of itself。 He would see！
He went to the same door。 Though he walked ever so lightly the sound of his stepping was loud and harsh； and he shrank from it。 He was getting nervous。 The cumbrous Roman lock resisted his first effort to raise it； and the secondthe blood chilled in his cheekshe wrenched with all his might： in vainthe door was not even shaken。 A sense of danger seized him； and for a moment he stood irresolute。
Who in Antioch had the motive to do him harm？
Messala！
And this palace of Idernee？ He had seen Egypt in the vestibule； Athens in the snowy portico； but here； in the atrium； was Rome； everything about him betrayed Roman ownership。 True； the site was on the great thoroughfare of the city； a very public place in which to do him violence； but for that reason it was more accordant with the audacious genius of his enemy。 The atrium underwent a change； with all its elegance and beauty； it was no more than a trap。 Apprehension always paints in black。
The idea irritated Ben…Hur。
There were many doors on the right and left of the atrium； leading； doubtless； to sleeping…chambers； he tried them； but they were all firmly fastened。 Knocking might bring response。 Ashamed to make outcry； he betook himself to a couch； and； lying down； tried to reflect。
All too plainly he was a prisoner； but for what purpose？ and by whom？
If the work were Messala's！ He sat up； looked about； and smiled defiantly。 There were weapons in every table。 But birds had been starved in golden cages； not so would hethe couches would serve him as battering…rams； and he was strong； and there was such increase of might in rage and despair！
Messala himself could not come。 He would never walk again； he was a cripple like Simonides； still he could move others。 And where were there not others to be moved by him？ Ben…Hur arose； and tried the doors again。 Once he called out； the room echoed so that he was startled。 With such calmness as he could assume； he made up his mind to wait a time before attempting to break a way out。
In such a situation the mind has its ebb and flow of disquiet； with intervals of peace between。 At lengthhow long； though； he could not have saidhe came to the conclusion that the affair was an accident or mistake。 The palace certainly belonged to somebody； it must have care and keeping： and the keeper would come； the evening or the night would bring him。 Patience！
So concluding； he waited。
Half an hour passeda much longer period to Ben…Hurwhen the door which had admitted him opened and closed noiselessly as before； and without attracting his attention。
The moment of the occurrence he was sitting at the farther end of the room。 A footstep startled him。
〃At last she has come！〃 he thought； with a throb of relief and pleasure； and arose。
The step was heavy； and accompanied with the gride and clang of coarse sandals。 The gilded pillars were between him and the door； he advanced quietly； and leaned against one of them。 Presently he heard voicesthe voices of menone of them rough and guttural。 What was said he could not understand； as the language was not of the East or South of Europe。
After a general survey of the room； the strangers crossed to their left； and were brought into Ben…Hur's viewtwo men； one very stout； both tall； and both in short tunics。 They had not the air of masters of the house or domestics。 Everything they saw appeared wonderful to them； everything they stopped to examine they touched。 They were vulgarians。 The atrium seemed profaned by their presence。 At the same time； their leisurely manner and the assurance with which they proceeded pointed to some right or business； if business； with whom？
With much jargon they sauntered this way and that； all the time gradually approaching the pillar by which Ben…Hur was standing。 Off a little way； where a slanted gleam of the sun fell with a glare upon the mosaic of the floor； there was a statue which attracted their notice。 In examining it； they stopped in the light。
The mystery surrounding his own presence in the palace tended； as we have seen； to make Ben…Hur nervous； so now； when in the tall stout stranger he recognized the Northman whom he had known in Rome； and seen crowned only the day before in the Circus as the winning pugilist； when he saw the man's face； scarred with the wounds of many battles； and imbruted by ferocious passions； when he surveyed the fellow's naked limbs； very marvels of exercise and training； and his shoulders of Herculean breadth； a thought of personal danger started a chill along every vein。 A sure instinct warned him that the opportunity for murder was too perfect to have come by chance； and here now were the myrmidons； and their business was with him。 He turned an anxious eye upon the Northman's comradeyoung； black…eyed； black…haired； and altogether Jewish in appearance； he observed； also； that both the men were in costume exactly such as professionals of their class were in the habit of wearing in the arena。 Putting the several circumstances together； Ben…Hur could not be longer in doubt： he had been lured into the palace with design。 Out of reach of aid； in this splendid privacy； he was to die！
At a loss what to do； he gazed from man to man； while there was enacted within him that miracle of mind by which life is passed before us in awful detail； to be looked at by ourselves as if it were another's； and from the evolvement； from a hidden depth； ca
