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こうして低地の辺境にたどり着いた彼は、日が暮れる頃にラインブルグの近くにある村へ到着したが、そこは30年戦争で見る影もない有様だった。
リエージュからの輸送隊で満杯だと、宿屋の主人は断ってきた。隣の村に行けば宿がある、とも。…フランシスの身なりからして、浮浪者と間違われても仕方ないが。
Having thus attained the frontiers of the Low-Countries, he arrived at sun-set in a village situated near Rheinburg; but since entirely destroyed in the thirty years’ war. A caravan of carriers from Liege filled the inn so entirely, that the landlord told Francis he could not give him a lodging; adding, that at the adjoining village he would find accommodations.—Possibly he was actuated to this refusal by Francis’s appearance, who certainly in point of garb might well be mistaken for a vagabond.
家主の方では、運び屋を襲いに来た盗賊団の一味が、様子を探りに来たのではないかと恐れたのであった。そうとは知らないフランシスは憐れ、疲労困憊というのに財布を仕舞い、残酷で無愛想な家主に対して歯ぎしり呪いを撒き散らしつつ発たざるを得ず。ようやく大家は、この貧しい見知らぬ男を思いやる気になったか、宿屋の戸口からフランシスの背に声をかけた。
「若者よ、聞け。ここで夜を明かすつもりなら、丘の上に見えるあの城に泊まらせてあげよう。あそこは無人だから、一人でいることを恐れないのであれば、部屋はたくさんある。ほら、そこの鍵だ。」
The landlord took him for a spy to a band of thieves, sent probably to rob the carriers: so that poor Francis, spite of his extreme lassitude, was compelled with his wallet at his back to proceed on his road; and having at his departure muttered through his teeth some bitter maledictions against the cruel and unfeeling landlord, the latter appeared touched with compassion for the poor stranger, and from the door of the inn called after him: “Young man; a word with you! If you resolve on passing the night here, I will procure you a lodging in that castle you now see on the hill; there you will have rooms in abundance, provided you are not afraid of being alone, for it is uninhabited. See, here are the keys belonging to it.”
フランシスは喜んで大家の提案を受け入れ、大袈裟なまでに礼を述べた。
Francis joyfully accepted the landlord’s proposition, and thanked him for it as if it had been an act of great charity.
「どこで夜を過ごそうが構わない、休めて食事を摂れるなら」
ところが家主は陰険な男で、フランシスが自分に吐いた悪口に仕返ししようと、よく幽霊が出るという城に送り込み、とっちめてやろうと企てたのである。
“It is to me a matter of little moment where I pass the night, provided I am at my ease, and have something to eat.” But the landlord was an ill-tempered fellow; and wishing to revenge the invectives Francis had poured forth against him, he sent him to the castle in order that he might be tormented by the spirits which were said to frequent it.
この城は険しい岩の上にあり、村とは街道と小さな小川で隔てられているだけであった。城主の狩猟拠点として利用されていたため、その美しい景観から、手入れが行き届き、調度品も充実していた。
しかし、夜が訪れるとすぐに、出没する幻影や幽霊を嫌い、家主はそこを離れていた。日中はそのようなものは見えず、すべてが平穏であったのだが。
This castle was situated on a steep rock, and was only separated from the village by the high-road and a little rivulet. Its delightful prospects caused it to be kept in good repair, and to be well furnished, as its owner made use of it as a hunting-seat: but no sooner did night come on than he quitted it, in order to avoid the apparitions and ghosts which haunted it; but during the day nothing of the sort was visible, and all was tranquil.
すっかり暗くなってから、ランタンを手にしたフランシスは、城のほうに進んでいった。家主も同行し、食料を入れた小さな籠、ワイン1本（試飲済みとのこと）を携え、加えて夜のための蝋燭2本に点火用の小蝋燭2個。フランシスは、これほど多くのものを必要とするとは思っておらず、また、代金を支払わなければならないのではと心配になり、なぜこれほど多くのものを持ってきたのかと尋ねた。
When it was quite dark, Francis with a lantern in his hand proceeded towards the castle. The landlord accompanied him, and carried a little basket of provisions, to which he had added a bottle of wine (which he said would stand the test), as well as two candles and two wax-tapers for the night. Francis, not thinking he should require so many things, and being apprehensive he should have to pay for them, asked why they were all brought.
「ランタンの明かりがあれば」と彼は言った、
「寝床に入るまで、これで十分です。起きた頃にはもう日が昇っているでしょう、かなり疲れている事ですし」
“The light from my lantern,” said he, “will suffice me till the time of my getting into bed; and ere I shall get out of it, the sun will have risen, for I am quite worn out with fatigue.”
「隠し事は無しだ、」と大家は答えた。「最近の報せによると、この城には悪霊が取り憑いているそうだからな。しかし、そんなことで怖がるには及ばない。儂が近くに住んでいる訳だし、万が一、何か異常が起こったなら、君は儂を呼び出してよい。供の者と共に、どのような援助でも提供しよう。我が家では一晩中誰かが騒いでいるし、夜番に立つ者もある。
儂は30年間この場所に住んでいるが、不安になるようなものは見たことがない。実際、この城で夜中に聞こえる音は、穀物庫を走り回る猫やイタチばかりと考えても差し支えないだろう。
儂はただ、必要な場合に備えて、明かりを絶やさない手段を用意したまで。それに加えて、この蝋燭は聖なるもので、城内に悪霊がいたとしても、その光が間違いなく追い払ってくれるであろう。」
“I will not endeavour to conceal from you,” replied the landlord, “that according to the current reports this castle is haunted by evil spirits: but do not let that frighten you; you see I live sufficiently near, that, in case any thing extraordinary should happen to you, I can hear you call, and shall be in readiness with my people to render you any assistance. At my house there is somebody stirring all night, and there is also some one constantly on the watch. I have lived on this spot for thirty years, and cannot say that I have ever seen any thing to alarm me: indeed, I believe that you may with safety attribute any noises you hear during the night in this castle, to cats and weazels, with which the granaries are overrun. I have only provided you with the means of keeping up a light in case of need, for, at best, night is but a gloomy season; and, in addition, these candles are consecrated, and their light will undoubtedly keep off any evil spirits, should there be such in the castle.”
大家が言った、この城で幽霊を見たことがないというのは事実である。ただ彼には、日没後に足を踏み入れる勇気がなかったまでの話。そして今、勇敢に語ってみせたところで、この悪党は、どんなことがあっても入ろうとはしなかっただろう。
扉を開けた彼は、籠をフランシスに渡し、曲がるべき道を示し、おやすみなさいと言った。
フランシスは、幽霊の話はきっとでたらめなのだろうと納得し、嬉々として入っていった。
そういえば、騎士ブロンコストに先入観を持たないよう諭されたのだった。しかし残念なことに、その勇敢な城主が別れ際に勧めたことは忘れてしまっていた。
The landlord spoke only the truth, when he said he had not seen any ghosts in the castle; for he never had the courage to set his foot within its doors after dark; and though he now spoke so courageously, the rogue would not have ventured on any account to enter. After having opened the door, he gave the basket into Francis’s hand, pointed out the way he was to turn, and wished him good night: while the latter, fully satisfied that the story of the ghosts must be fabulous, gaily entered. He recollected all that had been told him to the prejudice of the chevalier Bronkhorst, but unfortunately forgot what that brave Castellan had recommended to him at parting.
家主の指示に従い、階段を上っていくと、とある扉にたどり着き、持っていた鍵で徐ろに開けた。この回廊は大きな広間に通じていて、そこから高価な調度品を揃えた居室が連なっていた。それをすべて検めた結果、夜を過ごすために、他よりも幾分か賑やかなように見える1つを選んだ。その窓は大通りに面しており、宿の前を通るすべての物音がはっきりと聞こえる。
彼は2本のろうそくを灯し、布を広げ、とても美味しく頂き、こうしている間は完全に安らいだ気分だった。
食事をしている間は、霊のことを考えたり心配したりすることはなかったのだが、食卓から立ち上がった途端、何か恐怖に似た強い戦慄に囚われた。
Conformably to the landlord’s instructions, he went up stairs and came to a door, which the key in his possession soon unlocked: it opened into a long dark gallery, where his very steps re-echoed; this gallery led to a large hall, from which issued a suite of apartments furnished in a costly manner: he surveyed them all; and made choice of one in which to pass the night, that appeared rather more lively than the rest. The windows looked to the high-road, and every thing that passed in front of the inn could be distinctly heard from them. He lighted two candles, spread the cloth, ate very heartily, and felt completely at his ease so long as he was thus employed; for while eating, no thought or apprehension of spirits molested him; but he no sooner arose from table, than he began to feel a sensation strongly resembling fear.
そこで防犯のため鍵をかけ、閂をかけ、窓から外を見たが、何も見えない。宿の前も街道も何事もないが、大家が言うのとは裏腹に、明かりの一つも認められない。
この静寂を破るのは、夜警の角笛の音だけであった。
In order to render himself secure, he locked the door, drew the bolts, and looked out from each window; but nothing was to be seen. Every thing along the high-road and in front of the inn was tranquil, where, contrary to the landlord’s assertions, not a single light was discernible. The sound of the horn belonging to the night-guard was the only thing that interrupted the silence which universally prevailed.
フランシスは窓を閉め、もう一度部屋を見渡し、ろうそくの火を消すと、ベッドに身を投げた。しかし、非常に疲れていたにもかかわらず、彼は思ったほどすぐに眠ることができなかった。旅の暑さからのぼせたのか、若干の動悸が収まらず、助けとなる睡眠が来るまで、なかなか寝付けずに居た。
1時間ばかりも眠ったろうか、ふと目を覚まし、血の気の多い人には如何にも有りそうな恐慌状態で立ち上がった。この思いつきが不安をある程度和らげ、彼は注意深く耳を傾けたが、真夜中を告げる時計の音以外何も聞こえなかった。
もう一度だけ耳を澄ましてみてから、横になり、再び眠りにつこうとしたとき、遠くでドアの蝶番が軋み、重い音で閉まるのを聞いた気がした。
一瞬、幽霊が近づいてきたのかと、少なからず恐怖を感じたが、すぐにただの風だろうと自分に言い聞かせる。
しかし、どうやらこの慰めは長くは持たないらしい。ますます近くに近づいてきたその音は、まるで鎖が鳴る音や、大きな鍵の束が鳴る音に似ていた。
Francis closed the windows, once again looked round the room, and after snuffing the candles that they might burn the better, he threw himself on the bed, which he found good and comfortable: but although greatly fatigued, he could not get to sleep so soon as he had hoped. A slight palpitation of the heart, which he attributed to the agitation produced by the heat of his journey, kept him awake for a considerable time, till at length sleep came to his aid. After having as he imagined been asleep somewhat about an hour, he awoke and started up in a state of horror possibly not unusual to a person whose blood is overheated: this idea in some degree allayed his apprehensions; and he listened attentively, but could hear nothing excepting the clock, which struck the hour of midnight. Again he listened for an instant; and turning on his side, he was just going off to sleep again, when he fancied he heard a distant door grinding on its hinges, and then shut with a heavy noise. In an instant the idea of the ghost approaching caused him no little fear: but he speedily got the better of his alarm, by fancying it was only the wind; however, he could not comfort himself long with this idea, for the sound approached nearer and nearer, and resembled the noise made by the clanking of chains, or the rattling of a large bunch of keys.
