CHAPTER VI
DOCTOR LAMB AGAIN
Night came, and the cell grew profoundly dark. Auriol became impatientfor the appearance of his keeper, but hour after hour passed and he didnot arrive. Worn out, at length, with doubt and bewilderingspeculations, the miserable captive was beset with the desire to put anend to his torments by suicide, and he determined to execute his fellpurpose without delay. An evil chance seemed also to befriend him, forscarcely was the idea formed, than his foot encountered something on theground, the rattling of which attracted his attention, and stooping totake it up, he grasped the bare blade of a knife.
"This will, at all events, solve my doubts," he cried aloud. "I willsheathe this weapon in my heart, and, if I am mortal, my woes will beended."
As he spoke, he placed the point to his breast with the full intent tostrike, but before he could inflict the slightest wound, his arm wasforcibly arrested.
"Would you destroy yourself, madman?" roared a voice. "I thought yourviolence was abated, and that you might go forth in safety. But I findyou are worse than ever."
Auriol uttered a groan and let the knife fall to the ground. Thenew-comer kicked it to a distance with his foot.
"You shall be removed to another chamber," he pursued, "where you can bemore strictly watched."
"Take me forth--oh! take me forth," cried Auriol. "It was a mere impulseof desperation, which I now repent."
"I dare not trust you. You will commit some act of insane fury, forwhich I myself shall have to bear the blame. When I yielded to yourentreaties on a former occasion, and took you forth, I narrowlyprevented you from doing all we met a mischief."
"I have no recollection of any such circumstance," returned Auriolmournfully. "But it may be true, nevertheless. And if so, it only provesthe lamentable condition to which I am reduced--memory and reason gone!"
"Ay, both gone," cried the other, with an irrepressible chuckle.
"Ha!" exclaimed Auriol, starting. "I am not so mad but I recognise inyou the Evil Being who tempted me. I am not so oblivious as to forgetour terrible interviews."
"What, you are in your lunes again!" cried Rougemont fiercely. "Nay,then I must call my assistants, and bind you."
"Let me be--let me be!" implored Auriol, "and I will offend you no more.Whatever thoughts may arise within me, I will not give utterance tothem. Only take me forth."
"I came for that purpose," said Rougemont; "but I repeat, I dare not.You are not sufficiently master of yourself."
"Try me," said Auriol.
"Well," rejoined the other, "I will see what I can do to calm you."
So saying, he disappeared for a few moments, and then returning with atorch, placed it on the ground, and producing a phial, handed it to thecaptive.
"Drink!" he said.
Without a moment's hesitation Auriol complied.
"It seems to me rather a stimulant than a soothing potion," he remarked,after emptying the phial.
"You are in no condition to judge," rejoined the other.
And he proceeded to unfasten Auriol's chain.
"Now then, come with me," he said, "and do not make any attempt atevasion, or you will rue it."
Like one in a dream, Auriol followed his conductor down the flight ofstone steps leading from the dungeon, and along a narrow passage. As heproceeded, he thought he heard stealthy footsteps behind him; but henever turned his head, to see whether he was really followed. In thisway they reached a short steep staircase, and mounting it, entered avault, in which Rougemont paused, and placed the torch he had broughtwith him upon the floor. Its lurid glimmer partially illumined thechamber, and showed that it was built of stone. Rude benches of antiqueform were set about the vault, and motioning Auriol to be seated uponone of them, Rougemont sounded a silver whistle. The summons was shortlyafterwards answered by the dwarf, in whose attire a new change hadtaken place. He was now clothed in a jerkin of grey serge, fashionedlike the garments worn by the common people in Elizabeth's reign, andwore a trencher-cap on his head. Auriol watched him as he timidlyadvanced towards Rougemont, and had an indistinct recollection of havingseen him before; but could not call to mind how or where.
"Is your master a-bed?" demanded Rougemont.
"A-bed! Good lack, sir!" exclaimed the dwarf, "little of sleep knowsDoctor Lamb. He will toil at the furnace till the stars have set."
"Doctor Lamb!" repeated Auriol. "Surely I have heard that name before?"
"Very likely," replied Rougemont, "for it is the name borne by yournearest kinsman."
"How is the poor young gentleman?" asked the dwarf, glancingcommiseratingly at Auriol. "My master often makes inquiries after hisgrandson, and grieves that the state of his mind should render itnecessary to confine him."
"His grandson! I--Doctor Lamb's grandson!" cried Auriol.
"In sooth are you, young sir," returned the dwarf. "Were you in yourreason, you would be aware that my master's name is the same as yourown--Darcy--Reginald Darcy. He assumes the name of Doctor Lamb to deludethe multitude. He told you as much yourself, sweet sir, if your poorwits would enable you to recollect it."
"Am I in a dream, good fellow, tell me that?" cried Auriol, lost inamazement.
"Alack, no, sir," replied the dwarf; "to my thinking, you are wideawake. But you know, sir," he added, touching his forehead, "you havebeen a little wrong here, and your memory and reason are not of theclearest."
"Where does my grandsire dwell?" asked Auriol.
"Why here, sir," replied the dwarf; "and for the matter of locality, thehouse is situated on the south end of London Bridge."
"_On_ the bridge--did you say _on_ the bridge, friend?" cried Auriol.
"Ay, _on_ the bridge--where else should it be? You would not have yourgrandsire live under the river?" rejoined the dwarf; "though, for oughtI know, some of these vaults may go under it. They are damp enough."
Auriol was lost in reflection, and did not observe a sign that passedbetween the dwarf and Rougemont.
"Will it disturb Doctor Lamb if his grandson goes up to him?" said thelatter, after a brief pause.
"My master does not like to be interrupted in his operations, as youknow, sir," replied the dwarf, "and seldom suffers any one, exceptmyself, to enter his laboratory; but I will make so bold as to introduceMaster Auriol, if he desires it."
"You will confer the greatest favour on me by doing so," cried Auriol,rising.
"Sit down--sit down!" said Rougemont authoritatively. "You cannot go uptill the doctor has been apprised. Remain here, while Flapdragon and Iascertain his wishes." So saying, he quitted the chamber by a fartheroutlet with the dwarf.
During the short time that Auriol was left alone, he found it vain toattempt to settle his thoughts, or to convince himself that he was notlabouring under some strange delusion.
He was aroused at length by the dwarf, who returned alone.
"Your grandsire will see you," said the mannikin.
"One word before we go," cried Auriol, seizing his arm.
"Saints! how you frighten me!" exclaimed the dwarf. "You must keepcomposed, or I dare not take you to my master."
"Pardon me," replied Auriol; "I meant not to alarm you. Where is theperson who brought me hither?"
"What, your keeper?" said the dwarf. "Oh, he is within call. He willcome to you anon. Now follow me."
And taking up the torch, he led the way out of the chamber. Mounting aspiral staircase, apparently within a turret, they came to a door, whichbeing opened by Flapdragon, disclosed a scene that well-nigh stupefiedAuriol.
It was the laboratory precisely as he had seen it above two centuriesago. The floor was strewn with alchemical implements--the table wascovered with mystic parchments inscribed with cabalistic characters--thefurnace stood in the corner--crucibles and cucurbites decorated thechimney-board--the sphere and brazen lamp hung from the ceiling--theskeletons grinned from behind the chimney-corner--all was there as hehad seen it before! There also was Doctor Lamb, in his loose gown ofsable silk, with a
square black cap upon his venerable head, and hissnowy beard streaming to his girdle.
The old man's gaze was fixed upon a crucible placed upon the furnace,and he was occupied in working the bellows. He moved his head as Auriolentered the chamber, and the features became visible. It was a facenever to be forgotten.
"Come in, grandson," said the old man kindly. "Come in, and close thedoor after you. The draught affects the furnace--my Athanor, as weadepts term it. So you are better, your keeper tells me--much better."
"Are you indeed living?" cried Auriol, rushing wildly towards him, andattempting to take his hand.
"Off--off!" cried the old man, drawing back as if alarmed. "You disturbmy operations. Keep him calm, Flapdragon, or take him hence. He may dome a mischief."
"I have no such intention, sir," said Auriol; "indeed I have not. I onlywish to be assured that you are my aged relative."
"To be sure he is, young sir," interposed the dwarf. "Why should youdoubt it?"
"O sir," cried Auriol, throwing himself at the old man's feet, "pity meif I am mad; but offer me some explanation, which may tend to restore meto my senses. My reason seems gone, yet I appear capable of receivingimpressions from external objects. I see you, and appear to know you. Isee this chamber--these alchemical implements--that furnace--thesedifferent objects--and I appear to recognise them. Am I deceived, or isthis real?"
"You are not deceived, my son," replied the old man. "You have been inthis room before, and you have seen me before. It would be useless toexplain to you now how you have suffered from fever, and what visionsyour delirium has produced. When you are perfectly restored, we willtalk the matter over."
And, as he said this, he began to blow the fire anew, and watched withgreat apparent interest the changing colours of the liquid in thecucurbite placed on the furnace.
Auriol looked at him earnestly, but could not catch another glance, sointently was the old man occupied. At length he ventured to break thesilence.
"I should feel perfectly convinced, if I might look forth from thatwindow," he said.
"Convinced of what?" rejoined the old man somewhat sharply.
"That I am what I seem," replied Auriol.
"Look forth, then," said the old man. "But do not disturb me by idletalk. There is the rosy colour in the projection for which I have beenso long waiting."
Auriol then walked to the window and gazed through the tinted panes. Itwas very dark, and objects could only be imperfectly distinguished.Still he fancied he could detect the gleam of the river beneath him, andwhat seemed a long line of houses on the bridge. He also fancied hediscerned other buildings, with the high roofs, the gables, and theother architectural peculiarities of the structures of Elizabeth'stime. He persuaded himself, also, that he could distinguish through thegloom the venerable Gothic pile of Saint Paul's Cathedral on the otherside of the water, and, as if to satisfy him that he was right, a deepsolemn bell tolled forth the hour of two. After a while he returned fromthe window, and said to his supposed grandsire, "I am satisfied. I havelived centuries in a few nights."
Auriol; or, The Elixir of Life Page 24