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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3346.txt b/3346.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..64d60bc --- /dev/null +++ b/3346.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4465 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wandering Jew, Book VIII., by Eugene Sue + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wandering Jew, Book VIII. + +Author: Eugene Sue + +Release Date: October 25, 2004 [EBook #3346] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERING JEW, BOOK VIII. *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger and Pat Castevens + + + + + +THE WANDERING JEW + +By Eugene Sue + + + +BOOK VIII. + + + +PART THIRD.--THE REDEMPTION. + + +I. The Wandering Jew's Chastisement +II. The Descendants of the Wandering Jew +III. The Attack +IV. The Wolves and the Devourers +V. The Return +VI. The Go-Between +VII. Another Secret +VIII. The Confession +IX. Love +X. The Execution +XI. The Champs-Elysees +XII. Behind the Scenes +XIII. Up with the Curtain +XIV. Death + + + +PART THIRD.--THE REDEMPTION. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE WANDERING JEW'S CHASTISEMENT. + +'Tis night--the moon is brightly shining, the brilliant stars are +sparkling in a sky of melancholy calmness, the shrill whistlings of a +northerly wind--cold, bleak, and evil-bearing--are increasing: winding +about, and bursting into violent blasts, with their harsh and hissing +gusts, they are sweeping the heights of Montmartre. A man is standing on +the very summit of the hill; his lengthened shadow, thrown out by the +moon's pale beams, darkens the rocky ground in the distance. The +traveller is surveying the huge city lying at his feet--the City of +Paris--from whose profundities are cast up its towers, cupolas, domes, +and steeples, in the bluish moisture of the horizon; while from the very +centre of this sea of stones is rising a luminous vapor, reddening the +starry azure of the sky above. It is the distant light of a myriad lamps +which at night, the season for pleasure, is illuminating the noisy +capital. + +"No!" said the traveller, "it will not be. The Lord surely will not +suffer it. Twice is quite enough. Five centuries ago, the avenging hand +of the Almighty drove me hither from the depths of Asia. A solitary +wanderer, I left in my track more mourning, despair, disaster, and death, +than the innumerable armies of a hundred devastating conquerors could +have produced. I then entered this city, and it was decimated. Two +centuries ago that inexorable hand which led me through the world again +conducted me here; and on that occasion, as on the previous one, that +scourge, which at intervals the Almighty binds to my footsteps, ravaged +this city, attacking first my brethren, already wearied by wretchedness +and toil. My brethren! through me--the laborer of Jerusalem, cursed by +the Lord, who in my person cursed the race of laborers--a race always +suffering, always disinherited, always slaves, who like me, go on, on, +on, without rest or intermission, without recompense, or hope; until at +length, women, men, children, and old men, die under their iron yoke of +self-murder, that others in their turn then take up, borne from age to +age on their willing but aching shoulders. And here again, for the third +time, in the course of five centuries, I have arrived at the summit of +one of the hills which overlooks the city; and perhaps I bring again with +me terror, desolation, and death. And this unhappy city, intoxicated in a +whirl of joys, and nocturnal revelries, knows nothing about it--oh! it +knows not that I am at its very gate. But no! no! my presence will not be +a source of fresh calamity to it. The Lord, in His unsearchable wisdom, +has brought me hither across France, making me avoid on my route all but +the humblest villages, so that no increase of the funeral knell has, +marked my journey. And then, moreover, the spectre has left me--that +spectre, livid and green, with its deep bloodshot eyes. When I touched +the soil of France, its moist and icy hand abandoned mine--it +disappeared. And yet I feel the atmosphere of death surrounding me still. +There is no cessation; the biting gusts of this sinister wind, which +envelop me in their breath, seem by their envenomed breath to propagate +the scourge. Doubtless the anger of the Lord is appeased. Maybe, my +presence here is meant only as a threat, intending to bring those to +their senses whom it ought to intimidate. It must be so; for were it +otherwise, it would, on the contrary, strike a loud-sounding blow of +greater terror, casting at once dread and death into the very heart of +the country, into the bosom of this immense city. Oh, no! no! the Lord +will have mercy; He will not condemn me to this new affliction. Alas! in +this city my brethren are more numerous and more wretched than in any +other. And must I bring death to them? No! the Lord will have mercy; for, +alas! the seven descendants of my sister are at last all united in this +city. And must I bring death to them? Death! instead of that immediate +assistance they stand so much in need of? For that woman who, like +myself, wanders from one end of the world into the other, has gone now on +her everlasting journey, after having confounded their enemies' plots. In +vain did she foretell that great evils still threatened those who are +akin to me through my sister's blood. The unseen hand by which I am led, +drives that woman away from me, even as though it were a whirlwind that +swept her on. In vain she entreated and implored at the moment she was +leaving those who are so dear to me.--At least, 0 Lord, permit me to stay +until I shall have finished my task! Onward! A few days, for mercy's +sake, only a few days! Onward! I leave these whom I am protecting on the +very brink of an abyss! Onward! Onward!! And the wandering star is +launched afresh on its perpetual course. But her voice traversed through +space, calling me to the assistance of my own! When her voice reached me +I felt that the offspring of my sister were still exposed to fearful +dangers: those dangers are still increasing. Oh, say, say, Lord! shall +the descendants of my sister escape those woes which for so many +centuries have oppressed my race? Wilt Thou pardon me in them? Wilt Thou +punish me in them? Oh! lead them, that they may obey the last wishes of +their ancestor. Guide them, that they may join their charitable hearts, +their powerful strength, their best wisdom, and their immense wealth, and +work together for the future happiness of mankind, thereby, perhaps, +enabled to ransom me from my eternal penalties. Let those divine words of +the Son of Man, 'Love ye one another!' be their only aim; and by the +assistance of their all-powerful words, let them contend against and +vanquish those false priests who have trampled on the precepts of love, +of peace, and hope commanded by the Saviour, setting up in their stead +the precepts of hatred, violence, and despair. Those false shepherds, +supported ay the powerful and wealthy of the world, who in all times have +been their accomplices, instead of asking here below a little happiness +for my brethren, who have been suffering and groaning for centuries, dare +to utter, in Thy name, O Lord! that the poor must always be doomed to the +tortures of this world, and that it is criminal in Thine eyes that they +should either wish for or hope a mitigation of their sufferings on earth, +because the happiness of the few and the wretchedness of nearly all +mankind is Thine almighty will. Blasphemies! is it not the contrary of +these homicidal words that is more worthy of the name of Divine will? +Hear, me, O Lord! for mercy's sake. Snatch from their enemies the +descendants of my sister, from the artisan up to the king's son. Do not +permit them to crush the germ of a mighty and fruitful association, +which, perhaps, under Thy protection, may take its place among the +records of the happiness of mankind. Suffer me, O Lord! to unite those +whom they are endeavoring to divide--to defend those whom they are +attacking. Suffer me to bring hope to those from whom hope has fled, to +give courage to those who are weak, to uphold those whom evil threatens, +and to sustain those who would persevere in well-doing. And then, +perhaps, their struggles, their devotedness, their virtues, this miseries +might expiate my sin. Yes, mine--misfortune, misfortune alone, made me +unjust and wicked. O Lord! since Thine almighty hand hath brought me +hither, for some end unknown to me, disarm Thyself, I implore Thee, of +Thine anger, and let not me be the instrument of Thy vengeance! There is +enough of mourning in the earth these two years past--Thy creatures have +fallen by millions in my footsteps. The world is decimated. A veil of +mourning extends from one end of the globe to the other. I have traveled +from Asia even to the Frozen Pole, and death has followed in my wake. +Dost Thou not hear, O Lord! the universal wailings that mount up to Thee? +Have mercy upon all, and upon me. One day, grant me but a single day, +that I may collect the descendants of my sister together, and save them!" +And uttering these words, the wanderer fell upon his knees, and raised +his hands to heaven in a suppliant attitude. + +Suddenly, the wind howled with redoubled violence; its sharp whistlings +changed to a tempest. The Wanderer trembled, and exclaimed in a voice of +terror, "O Lord! the blast of death is howling in its rage. It appears as +though a whirlwind were lifting me up. Lord, wilt Thou not, then, hear my +prayer? The spectre! O! do I behold the spectre? Yes, there it is; its +cadaverous countenance is agitated by convulsive throes, its red eyes are +rolling in their orbits. Begone! begone! Oh! its hand--its icy hand has +seized on mine! Mercy, Lord, have mercy! 'Onward!' Oh, Lord! this +scourge, this terrible avenging scourge! Must I, then, again carry it +into this city, must my poor wretched brethren be the first to fall under +it--though already so miserable? Mercy, mercy! 'Onward!' And the +descendants of my sister--oh, pray, have mercy, mercy! 'Onward!' O Lord, +have pity on me! I can no longer keep my footing on the ground, the +spectre is dragging me over the brow of the hill; my course is as rapid +as the death-bearing wind that whistles in my track; I already approach +the walls of the city. Oh, mercy, Lord, mercy on the descendants of my +sister--spare them! do not compel me to be their executioner, and let +them triumph over their enemies. Onward, onward! The ground is fleeing +from under me; I am already at the city gate; oh, yet, Lord, yet there is +time; oh, have mercy on this slumbering city, that it may not even now +awaken with the lamentations of terror, of despair and death! O Lord, I +touch the threshold of the gate; verily Thou willest it so then. 'Tis +done--Paris! the scourge is in thy bosom! oh, cursed, cursed evermore am +I. Onward! on! on!"[34] + +[34] In 1346, the celebrated Black Death ravaged the earth, presenting the +same symptoms as the cholera, and the same inexplicable phenomena as to +its progress and the results in its route. In 1660 a similar epidemic +decimated the world. It is well known that when the cholera first broke +out in Paris, it had taken a wide and unaccountable leap; and, also +memorable, a north-east wind prevailed during its utmost fierceness. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE DESCENDANTS OF THE WANDERING JEW. + +That lonely wayfarer whom we have heard so plaintively urging to be +relieved of his gigantic burden of misery, spoke of "his sister's +descendants" being of all ranks, from the working man to the king's son. +They were seven in number, who had, in the year 1832, been led to Paris, +directly or indirectly, by a bronze medal which distinguished them from +others, bearing these words:-VICTIM of L. C. D. J. Pray for me! +-----PARIS, February the 13th, 1682. + +IN PARIS, Rue St. Francois, No. 3, In a century and a half you will be. +February the 13th, 1832. -----PRAY FOR ME! + +The son of the King of Mundi had lost his father and his domains in India +by the irresistible march of the English, and was but in title Prince +Djalma. Spite of attempts to make his departure from the East delayed +until after the period when he could have obeyed his medal's command, he +had reached France by the second month of 1832. Nevertheless, the results +of shipwreck had detained him from Paris till after that date. A second +possessor of this token had remained unaware of its existence, only +discovered by accident. But an enemy who sought to thwart the union of +these seven members, had shut her up in a mad-house, from which she was +released only after that day. Not alone was she in imprisonment. An old +Bonapartist, General Simon, Marshal of France, and Duke de Ligny, had +left a wife in Russian exile, while he (unable to follow Napoleon to St. +Helena) continued to fight the English in India by means of Prince +Djalma's Sepoys, whom he drilled. On the latter's defeat, he had meant to +accompany his young friend to Europe, induced the more by finding that +the latter's mother, a Frenchwoman, had left him such another bronze +medal as he knew his wife to have had. + +Unhappily, his wife had perished in Siberia, without his knowing it, any +more than he did, that she had left twin daughters, Rose and Blanche. +Fortunately for them, one who had served their father in the Grenadiers +of the Guard. Francis Baudoin, nicknamed Dagobert, undertook to fulfil +the dying mother's wishes, inspired by the medal. Saving a check at +Leipsic, where one Morok the lion-tamer's panther had escaped from its +cage and killed Dagobert's horse, and a subsequent imprisonment (which +the Wandering Jew's succoring hand had terminated) the soldier and his +orphan charges had reached Paris in safety and in time. But there, a +renewal of the foe's attempt had gained its end. By skillful devices, +Dagobert and his son Agricola were drawn out of the way while Rose and +Blanche Simon were decoyed into a nunnery, under the eyes of Dagobert's +wife. But she had been bound against interfering by the influence of the +Jesuit confessional. The fourth was M. Hardy, a manufacturer, and the +fifth, Jacques Rennepont, a drunken scamp of a workman, who were more +easily fended off, the latter in a sponging house, the former by a +friend's lure. Adrienne de Cardoville, daughter of the Count of +Rennepont, who had also been Duke of Cardoville, was the lady who had +been unwarrantably placed in the lunatic asylum. The fifth, unaware of +the medal, was Gabriel, a youth, who had been brought up, though a +foundling, in Dagobert's family, as a brother to Agricola. He had entered +holy orders, and more, was a Jesuit, in name though not in heart. Unlike +the others, his return from abroad had been smoothed. He had signed away +all his future prospects, for the benefit of the order of Loyola, and, +moreover, executed a more complete deed of transfer on the day, the 13th +of February, 1832, when he, alone of the heirs, stood in the room of the +house, No. 3, Rue St. Francois, claiming what was a vast surprise for the +Jesuits, who, a hundred and fifty years before, had discovered that Count +Marius de Rennepont had secreted a considerable amount of his wealth, all +of which had been confiscated to them, in those painful days of +dragoonings, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. They had +bargained for some thirty or forty millions of francs to be theirs, by +educating Gabriel into resigning his inheritance to them, but it was two +hundred and twelve millions which the Jesuit representatives (Father +d'Aigrigny and his secretary, Rodin) were amazed to hear their nursling +placed in possession of. They had the treasure in their hands, in fact, +when a woman of strangely sad beauty had mysteriously entered the room +where the will had been read, and laid a paper before the notary. It was +a codicil, duly drawn up and signed, deferring the carrying out of the +testament until the first day of June the same year. The Jesuits fled +from the house, in rage and intense disappointment. Father d'Aigrigny was +so stupor-stricken at the defeat, that he bade his secretary at once +write off to Rome that the Rennepont inheritance had escaped them, and +hopes to seize it again were utterly at an end. Upon this, Rodin had +revolted, and shown that he had authority to command where he had, so +far, most humbly obeyed. Many such spies hang about their superior's +heels, with full powers to become the governor in turn, at a moment's +notice. Thenceforward, he, Rodin, had taken the business into his own +hands. He had let Rose and Blanche Simon out of the convent into their +father's arms. He had gone in person to release Adrienne de Cardoville +from the asylum. More, having led her to sigh for Prince Djalma, he +prompted the latter to burn for her. + +He let not M. Hardy escape. A friend whom the latter treated as a +brother, had been shown up to him as a mere spy of the Jesuits; the woman +whom he adored, a wedded woman, alas! who had loved him in spite of her +vows, had been betrayed. Her mother had compelled her to hide her shame +in America, and, as she had often said--"Much as you are endeared to me, +I cannot waver between you and my mother!" so she had obeyed, without one +farewell word to him. Confess, Rodin was a more dextrous man than his +late master! In the pages that ensue farther proofs of his superiority in +baseness and satanic heartlessness will not be wanting. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ATTACK. + +On M. Hardy's learning from the confidential go-between of the lovers, +that his mistress had been taken away by her mother, he turned from Rodin +and dashed away in a post carriage. At the same moment, as loud as the +rattle of the wheels, there arose the shouts of a band of workmen and +rioters, hired by the Jesuit's emissaries, coming to attack Hardy's +operatives. An old grudge long existing between them and a rival +manufacturer's--Baron Tripeaud--laborers, fanned the flames. When M. +Hardy had left the factory, Rodin, who was not prepared for this sudden +departure, returned slowly to his hackney-coach; but he stopped suddenly, +and started with pleasure and surprise, when he saw, at some distance, +Marshall Simon and his father advancing towards one of the wings of the +Common Dwelling-house; for an accidental circumstance had so far delayed +the interview of the father and son. + +"Very well!" said Rodin. "Better and better! Now, only let my man have +found out and persuaded little Rose-Pompon!" + +And Rodin hastened towards his hackney-coach. At this moment, the wind, +which continued to rise, brought to the ear of the Jesuit the war song of +the approaching Wolves. + +The workman was in the garden. The marshal said to him, in a voice of +such deep emotion that the old man started; "Father, I am very unhappy." + +A painful expression, until then concealed, suddenly darkened the +countenance of the marshal. + +"You unhappy?" cried father Simon, anxiously, as he pressed nearer to the +marshal. + +"For some days, my daughters have appeared constrained in manner, and +lost in thought. During the first moments of our re-union, they were mad +with joy and happiness. Suddenly, all has changed; they are becoming more +and more sad. Yesterday, I detected tears in their eyes; then deeply +moved, I clasped them in my arms, and implored them to tell me the cause +of their sorrow. Without answering, they threw themselves on my neck, and +covered my face with their tears." + +"It is strange. To what do you attribute this alteration?" + +"Sometimes, I think I have not sufficiently concealed from them the grief +occasioned me by the loss of their mother, and they are perhaps miserable +that they do not suffice for my happiness. And yet (inexplicable as it +is) they seem not only to understand, but to share my sorrow. Yesterday, +Blanche said to me: 'How much happier still should we be, if our mother +were with us!--'" + +"Sharing your sorrow, they cannot reproach you with it. There must be +some other cause for their grief." + +"Yes," said the marshal, looking fixedly at his father; "yes--but to +penetrate this secret--it would be necessary not to leave them." + +"What do you mean?" + +"First learn, father, what are the duties which would keep me here; then +you shall know those which may take me away from you, from my daughters, +and from my other child." + +"What other child?" + +"The son of my old friend, the Indian Prince." + +"Djalma? Is there anything the matter with him?" + +"Father, he frightens me. I told you, father, of his mad and unhappy +passion for Mdlle. de Cardoville." + +"Does that frighten you, my son?" said the old man, looking at the +marshal with surprise. "Djalma is only eighteen, and, at that age, one +love drives away another." + +"You have no idea of the ravages which the passion has already made in +the ardent, indomitable boy; sometimes, fits of savage ferocity follow +the most painful dejection. Yesterday, I came suddenly upon him; his eyes +were bloodshot, his features contracted with rage; yielding to an impulse +of mad furry, he was piercing with his poinard a cushion of red cloth, +whilst he exclaimed, panting for breath, 'Ha blood!--I will have blood!' +'Unhappy boy!' I said to him, 'what means this insane passion?' 'I'm +killing the man!' replied he, in a hollow and savage voice: it is thus he +designates his supposed rival." + +"There is indeed something terrible," said the old man, "in such a +passion, in such a heart." + +"At other times," resumed the marshal, "it is against Mdlle. de +Cardoville that his rage bursts forth; and at others, against himself. I +have been obliged to remove his weapons, for a man who came with him from +Java, and who appears much attached to him, has informed me that he +suspected him of entertaining some thoughts of suicide." + +"Unfortunate boy!" + +"Well, father," said Marshal Simon, with profound bitterness; "it is at +the moment when my daughters and my adopted son require all my +solicitude, that I am perhaps on the eve of quitting them." + +"Of quitting them?" + +"Yes, to fulfil a still more sacred duty than that imposed by friendship +or family," said the marshal, in so grave and solemn a tone, that his +father exclaimed, with deep emotion: "What can this duty be?" + +"Father," said the marshal, after remaining a moment in thoughtful +silence, "who made me what I am? Who gave me the ducal title, and the +marshal's baton?" + +"Napoleon." + +"For you, the stern republican, I know that he lost all his value, when +from the first citizen of a Republic he became an emperor. + +"I cursed his weakness," said Father Simon, sadly; "the demi-god sank +into a man." + +"But for me, father--for me, the soldier, who have always fought beside +him, or under his eye--for me, whom he raised from the lowest rank in the +army to the highest--for me, whom he loaded with benefits and marks of +affection--for me, he was more than a hero, he was a friend--and there +was as much gratitude as admiration in my idolatry for him. When he was +exiled, I would fain have shared his exile; they refused me that favor; +then I conspired, then I drew my sword against those who had robbed his +son of the crown which France had given him." + +"And, in your position, you did well, Pierre; without sharing your +admiration, I understood your gratitude. The projects of exile, the +conspiracies--I approved them all--you know it." + +"Well, then, that disinherited child, in whose name I conspired seventeen +years ago, is now of an age to wield his father's sword." + +"Napoleon II!" exclaimed the old man, looking at his son with surprise +and extreme anxiety; "the king of Rome!" + +"King? no; he is no longer king. Napoleon? no; he is no longer Napoleon. +They have given him some Austrian name, because the other frightened +them. Everything frightens them. Do you know what they are doing with the +son of the Emperor?" resumed the marshal, with painful excitement. "They +are torturing him--killing him by inches!" + +"Who told you this?" + +"Somebody who knows, whose words are but too true. Yes; the son of the +Emperor struggles with all his strength against a premature death. With +his eyes turned towards France, he waits--he waits--and no one comes--no +one--out of all the men that his father made as great as they once were +little, not one thinks of that crowned child, whom they are stifling, +till he dies." + +"But you think of him?" + +"Yes; but I had first to learn--oh! there is no doubt of it, for I have +not derived all my information from the same source--I had first to learn +the cruel fate of this youth, to whom I also swore allegiance; for one +day, as I have told you, the Emperor, proud and loving father as he was, +showed him to me in his cradle, and said: 'My old friend, you will be to +the son what you have been to the father; who loves us, loves our +France.'" + +"Yes, I know it. Many times you have repeated those words to me, and, +like yourself, I have been moved by them." + +"Well, father! suppose, informed of the sufferings of the son of the +Emperor, I had seen--with the positive certainty that I was not +deceived--a letter from a person of high rank in the court of Vienna, +offering to a man that was still faithful to the Emperor's memory, the +means of communicating with the king of Rome, and perhaps of saving him +from his tormentors--" + +"What next?" said the workman, looking fixedly at his son. "Suppose +Napoleon II. once at liberty--" + +"What next?" exclaimed the marshal. Then he added, in a suppressed voice: +"Do you think, father, that France is insensible to the humiliations she +endures? Do you think that the memory of the Emperor is extinct? No, no; +it is, above all, in the days of our country's degredation, that she +whispers that sacred name. How would it be, then, were that name to rise +glorious on the frontier, reviving in his son? Do you not think that the +heart of all France would beat for him?" + +"This implies a conspiracy--against the present government--with Napoleon +II. for a watchword," said the workman. "This is very serious." + +"I told you, father, that I was very unhappy; judge if it be not so," +cried the marshal. "Not only I ask myself, if I ought to abandon my +children and you, to run the risk of so daring an enterprise, but I ask +myself if I am not bound to the present government, which, in +acknowledging my rank and title, if it bestowed no favor, at least did me +an act of justice. How shall I decide?--abandon all that I love, or +remain insensible to the tortures of Emperor--of that Emperor to the son +of the whom I owe everything--to whom I have sworn fidelity, both to +himself and child? Shall I lose this only opportunity, perhaps, of saving +him, or shall I conspire in his favor? Tell me, if I exaggerate what I +owe to the memory of the Emperor? Decide for me, father! During a whole +sleepless night, I strove to discover, in the midst of this chaos, the +line prescribed by honor; but I only wandered from indecision to +indecision. You alone, father--you alone, I repeat, can direct me." + +After remaining for some moments in deep thought, the old man was about +to answer, when some person, running across the little garden, opened the +door hastily, and entered the room in which were the marshal and his +father. It was Olivier, the young workman, who had been able to effect +his escape from the village in which the Wolves had assembled. + +"M. Simon! M. Simon!" cried he, pale, and panting for breath. "They are +here--close at hand. They have come to attack the factory." + +"Who?" cried the old man, rising hastily. + +"The Wolves, quarrymen, and stone-cutters, joined on the road by a crowd +of people from the neighborhood, and vagabonds from town. Do you not hear +them? They are shouting, 'Death to the Devourers!'" + +The clamor was indeed approaching, and grew more and more distinct. + +"It is the same noise that I heard just now," said the marshal, rising in +his turn. + +"There are more than two hundred of them, M. Simon," said Olivier; "they +are armed with clubs and stones, and unfortunately the greater part of +our workmen are in Paris. We are not above forty here in all; the women +and children are already flying to their chambers, screaming for terror. +Do you not hear them?" + +The ceiling shook beneath the tread of many hasty feet. + +"Will this attack be a serious one?" said the marshal to his father, who +appeared more and more dejected. + +"Very serious," said the old man; "there is nothing more fierce than +these combats between different unions; and everything has been done +lately to excite the people of the neighborhood against the factory." + +"If you are so inferior in number," said the marshal, "you must begin by +barricading all the doors--and then--" + +He was unable to conclude. A burst of ferocious cries shook the windows +of the room, and seemed so near and loud, that the marshal, his father, +and the young workman, rushed out into the little garden, which was +bounded on one side by a wall that separated it from the fields. Suddenly +whilst the shouts redoubled in violence, a shower of large stones, +intended to break the windows of the house, smashed some of the panes on +the first story, struck against the wall, and fell into the garden, all +around the marshal and his father. By a fatal chance, one of these large +stones struck the old man on the head. He staggered, bent forward, and +fell bleeding into the arms of Marshal Simon, just as arose from without, +with increased fury, the savage cries of, "Death to the Devourers!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE WOLVES AND THE DEVOURERS. + +It was a frightful thing to view the approach of the lawless crowd, whose +first act of hostility had been so fatal to Marshal Simon's father. One +wing of the Common Dwelling-house, which joined the garden-wall on that +side, was next to the fields. It was there that the Wolves began their +attack. The precipitation of their march, the halt they had made at two +public-houses on the road, their ardent impatience for the approaching +struggle, had inflamed these men to a high pitch of savage excitement. +Having discharged their first shower of stones, most of the assailants +stooped down to look for more ammunition. Some of them, to do so with +greater ease, held their bludgeons between their teeth; others had placed +them against the wall; here and there, groups had formed tumultuously +round the principal leaders of the band; the most neatly dressed of these +men wore frocks, with caps, whilst others were almost in rags, for, as we +have already said, many of the hangers-on at the barriers, and people +without any profession, had joined the troop of the Wolves, whether +welcome or not. Some hideous women, with tattered garments, who always +seem to follow in the track of such people, accompanied them on this +occasion, and, by their cries and fury, inflamed still more the general +excitement. One of them, tall, robust, with purple complexion, blood shot +eyes, and toothless jaws, had a handkerchief over her head, from beneath +which escaped her yellow, frowsy hair. Over her ragged gown, she wore an +old plaid shawl, crossed over her bosom, and tied behind her back. This +hag seemed possessed with a demon. She had tucked up her half-torn +sleeves; in one hand she brandished a stick, in the other she grasped a +huge stone; her companions called her Ciboule (scullion). + +This horrible hag exclaimed, in a hoarse voice: "I'll bite the women of +the factory; I'll make them bleed." + +The ferocious words were received with applause by her companions, and +with savage cries of "Ciboule forever!" which excited her to frenzy. + +Amongst the other leaders, was a small, dry pale man, with the face of a +ferret, and a black beard all round the chin; he wore a scarlet Greek +cap, and beneath his long blouse, perfectly new, appeared a pair of neat +cloth trousers, strapped over thin boots. This man was evidently of a +different condition of life from that of the other persons in the troop; +it was he, in particular, who ascribed the most irritating and insulting +language to the workmen of the factory, with regard to the inhabitants of +the neighborhood. He howled a great deal, but he carried neither stick +nor stone. A full-faced, fresh-colored man, with a formidable bass voice, +like a chorister's, asked him: "Will you not have a shot at those impious +dogs, who might bring down the Cholera on the country, as the curate told +us?" + +"I will have a better shot than you," said the little man, with a +singular, sinister smile. + +"And with what, I'd like to see?" + +"Probably, with this," said the little man, stooping to pick up a large +stone; but, as he bent, a well-filled though light bag, which he appeared +to carry under his blouse, fell to the ground. + +"Look, you are losing both bag and baggage," said the other; "it does not +seem very heavy." + +"They are samples of wool," answered the man with the ferret's face, as +he hastily picked up the bag, and replaced it under his blouse; then he +added: "Attention! the big blaster is going to speak." + +And, in fact, he who exercised the most complete ascendency over this +irritated crowd was the terrible quarryman. His gigantic form towered so +much above the multitude, that his great head, bound in its ragged +handkerchief, and his Herculean shoulders, covered with a fallow goat +skin, were always visible above the level of that dark and swarming +crowd, only relieved here and there by a few women's caps, like so many +white points. Seeing to what a degree of exasperation the minds of the +crowd had reached, the small number of honest, but misguided workmen, who +had allowed themselves to be drawn into this dangerous enterprise, under +the pretext of a quarrel between rival unions, now fearing for the +consequences of the struggle, tried, but too late, to abandon the main +body. Pressed close, and as it were, girt in with the more hostile +groups, dreading to pass for cowards, or to expose themselves to the bad +treatment of the majority, they were forced to wait for a more favorable +moment to effect their escape. To the savage cheers, which had +accompanied the first discharge of stones, succeeded a deep silence +commanded by the stentorian voice of the quarryman. + +"The Wolves have howled," he exclaimed; "let us wait and see how the +Devourers will answer, and when they will begin the fight." + +"We must draw them out of their factory, and fight them on neutral +ground," said the little man with the ferret's face, who appeared to be +the thieves' advocate; "otherwise there would be trespass." + +"What do we care about trespass?" cried the horrible hag, Ciboule; "in or +out, I will tear the chits of the factory." + +"Yes, yes," cried other hideous creatures, as ragged as Ciboule herself; +"we must not leave all to the men." + +"We must have our fun, too!" + +"The women of the factory say that all the women of the neighborhood are +drunken drabs," cried the little man with the ferret's face. + +"Good! we'll pay them for it." + +"The women shall have their share." + +"That's our business." + +"They like to sing in their Common House," cried Ciboule; "we will make +them sing the wrong side of their mouths, in the key of 'Oh, dear me!'" + +This pleasantry was received with shouts, hootings, and furious stamping +of feet, to which the stentorian voice of the quarryman put a term by +roaring: "Silence!" + +"Silence! silence!" repeated the crowd. "Hear the blaster!" + +"If the Devourers are cowards enough not to dare to show themselves, +after a second volley of stones, there is a door down there which we can +break open, and we will soon hunt them from their holes." + +"It would be better to draw them out, so that none might remain in the +factory," said the little old man with the ferret's face, who appeared to +have some secret motive. + +"A man fights where he can," cried the quarryman, in a voice of thunder; +"all, right, if we can but once catch hold. We could fight on a sloping +roof, or on the top of a wall--couldn't we, my Wolves?" + +"Yes, yes!" cried the crowd, still more excited by those savage words; +"if they don't come out, we will break in." + +"We will see their fine palace!" + +"The pagans haven't even a chapel," said the bass voice. "The curate has +damned them all!" + +"Why should they have a palace, and we nothing but dog-kennels?" + +"Hardy's workmen say that kennels are good enough for such as you." said +the little man with the ferret's face. + +"Yes, yes! they said so." + +"We'll break all their traps." + +"We'll pull down their bazaar." + +"We'll throw the house out of the windows." + +"When we have made the mealy-mouthed chits sing," cried Ciboule, "we will +make them dance to the clatter of stones on their heads." + +"Come, my Wolves! attention!" cried the quarryman, still in the same +stentorian voice; "one more volley, and if the Devourers do not come out, +down with the door!" + +This proposition was received with cheers of savage ardor, and the +quarryman, whose voice rose above the tumult, cried with all the strength +of his herculean lungs: "Attention, my Wolves. Make ready! all together. +Now, are you ready?" + +"Yes, yes--all ready!" + +"Then, present!--fire!" And, for the second time, a shower of enormous +stones poured upon that side of the Common Dwelling-house which was +turned towards the fields. A part of these projectiles broke such of the +windows as had been spared by the first volley. To the sharp smashing and +cracking of glass were joined the ferocious cries uttered in chorus by +this formidable mob, drunk with its own excesses: "Death to the +Devourers!" + +Soon these outcries became perfectly frantic, when, through the broken +windows, the assailants perceived women running in terror, some with +children in their arms, and others raising their hands to heaven, calling +aloud for help; whilst a few, bolder than the rest, leaned out of the +windows, and tried to fasten the outside blinds. + +"There come the ants out of their holes!" cried Ciboule, stooping to pick +up a stone. "We must have a fling at them for luck!" The stone, hurled by +the steady, masculine hand of the virago, went straight to its mark, and +struck an unfortunate woman who was trying to close one of the shutters. + +"Hit in the white!" cried the hideous creature. + +"Well done, Ciboule!--you've rapped her coker-nut!" cried a voice. + +"Ciboule forever!" + +"Come out, you Devourers, if you dare!" + +"They have said a hundred times, that the neighbors were too cowardly +even to come and look at their house," squealed the little man with the +ferret's face. + +"And now they show the white feather!" + +"If they will not come out," cried the quarryman, in voice of thunder, +"let us smoke them out!" + +"Yes, yes!" + +"Let's break open the door!" + +"We are sure to find them!" + +"Come on! come on!" + +The crowd, with the quarryman at their head, and Ciboule not far from +him, brandishing a stick, advanced tumultously towards one of the great +doors. The ground shook beneath the rapid tread of the mob, which had now +ceased shouting; but the confused, and, as it were, subterraneous noise, +sounded even more ominous than those savage outcries. The Wolves soon +arrived opposite the massive oaken door. At the moment the blaster raised +a sledgehammer, the door opened suddenly. Some of the most determined of +the assailants were about to rush in at this entrance; but the quarryman +stepped back, extending his arm as if to moderate their ardor and impose +silence. Then his followers gathered round him. + +The half-open door discovered a party of workmen, unfortunately by no +means numerous, but with countenances full of resolution. They had armed +themselves hastily with forks, iron bars, and clubs. Agricola, who was +their leader, held in his hand a heavy sledge-hammer. The young workman +was very pale; but the fire of his eye, his menacing look, and the +intrepid assurance of his bearing, showed that his father's blood boiled +in his veins, and that in such a struggle he might become fear-inspiring. +Yet he succeeded in restraining himself, and challenged the quarryman, in +a firm voice: "What do you want?" + +"A fight!" thundered the blaster. + +"Yes, yes! a fight!" repeated the crowd. + +"Silence, my Wolves!" cried the quarryman, as he turned round, and +stretched forth his large hand towards the multitude. Then addressing +Agricola, he said: "The Wolves have come to ask for a fight." + +"With whom?" + +"With the Devourers." + +"There are no Devourers here," replied Agricola; "we are only peaceable +workmen. So begone." + +"Well! here are the Wolves, that will eat your quiet workmen." + +"The Wolves will eat no one here," said Agricola, looking full at the +quarryman, who approached him with a threatening air; "they can only +frighten little children." + +"Oh! you think so," said the quarryman, with a savage sneer. Then raising +his weapon, he shook it in Agricola's face, exclaiming: "Is that any +laughing matter? + +"Is that?" answered Agricola, with a rapid movement, parrying the stone +sledge with his own hammer. + +"Iron against iron--hammer against hammer--that suits me," said the +quarryman. + +"It does not matter what suits you," answered Agricola, hardly able to +restrain himself. "You have broken our windows, frightened our women, and +wounded--perhaps killed--the oldest workman in the factory, who at this +moment lies bleeding in the arms of his son." Here Agricola's voice +trembled in spite of himself. "It is, I think, enough." + +"No; the Wolves are hungry for more," answered the blaster; "you must +come out (cowards that you are!), and fight us on the plain." + +"Yes! yes! battle!--let them come out!" cried the crowd, howling, +hissing, waving their sticks and pushing further into the small space +which separated them from the door. + +"We will have no battle," answered Agricola: "we will not leave our home; +but if you have the misfortune to pass this," said Agricola, throwing his +cap upon the threshold, and setting his foot on it with an intrepid air, +"if you pass this, you attack us in our own house, and you will be +answerable for all that may happen." + +"There or elsewhere we will have the fight! the Wolves must eat the +Devourers. Now for the attack!" cried the fierce quarryman, raising his +hammer to strike Agricola. + +But the latter, throwing himself on one side by a sudden leap, avoided +the blow, and struck with his hammer full at the chest of the quarryman, +who staggered for a moment, but instantly recovering his legs, rushed +furiously on Agricola, crying: "Follow me, Wolves!" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RETURN. + +As soon as the combat had begun between Agricola and the blaster, the +general fight became terrible, ardent, implacable. A flood of assailants, +following the quarryman's steps, rushed into the house with irresistible +fury; others, unable to force their way through this dreadful crowd, +where the more impetuous squeezed, stifled, and crushed these who were +less so, went round in another direction, broke through some lattice +work, and thus placed the people of the factory, as it were, between two +fires. Some resisted courageously; others, seeing Ciboule, followed by +some of her horrible companions, and by several of the most ill-looking +ruffians, hastily enter that part of the Common-Dwelling house in which +the women had taken refuge, hurried in pursuit of this band; but some of +the hag's companions, having faced about, and vigorously defended the +entrance of the staircase against the workmen, Ciboule, with three or +four like herself, and about the same number of no less ignoble men, +rushed through the rooms, with the intention of robbing or destroying all +that came in their way. A door, which at first resisted their efforts, +was soon broken through; Ciboule rushed into the apartment with a stick +in her hand, her hair dishevelled, furious, and, as it were, maddened +with the noise and tumult. A beautiful young girl (it was Angela), who +appeared anxious to defend the entrance to a second chamber, threw +herself on her knees, pale and supplicating, and raising her clasped +hands, exclaimed: "Do not hurt my mother!" + +"I'll serve you out first, and your mother afterwards," replied the +horrible woman, throwing herself on the poor girl, and endeavoring to +tear her face with her nails, whilst the rest of the ruffianly band broke +the glass and the clock with their sticks, and possessed themselves of +some articles of wearing apparel. + +Angela, struggling with Ciboule, uttered loud cries of distress, and +still attempted to guard the room in which her mother had taken refuge; +whilst the latter, leaning from the window, called Agricola to their +assistance. The smith was now engaged with the huge blaster. In a close +struggle, their hammers had become useless, and with bloodshot eyes and +clinched teeth, chest to chest, and limbs twined together like two +serpents, they made the most violent efforts to overthrow each other. +Agricola, bent forward, held under his right arm the left leg of the +quarryman, which he had seized in parrying a violent kick; but such was +the Herculean strength of the leader of the Wolves, that he remained firm +as a tower, though resting only on one leg. With the hand that was still +free (for the other was gripped by Agricola as in a vise), he endeavored +with violent blows to break the jaws of the smith, who, leaning his head +forward, pressed his forehead hard against the breast of his adversary. + +"The Wolf will break the Devourer's teeth, and he shall devour no more," +said the quarryman. + +"You are no true Wolf," answered the smith, redoubling his efforts; "the +true Wolves are honest fellows, and do not come ten against one." + +"True or false, I will break your teeth." + +"And I your paw," said the smith, giving so violent a wrench to the leg +of the quarryman, that the latter uttered a cry of acute pain, and, with +the rage of a wild beast, butting suddenly forward with his head, +succeeded in biting Agricola in the side of the neck. + +The pang of this bite forced Agricola to make a movement, which enabled +the quarryman to disengage his leg. Then, with a superhuman effort, he +threw himself with his whole weight on Agricola, and brought him to the +ground, falling himself upon him. + +At this juncture, Angela's mother, leaning from one of the windows of the +Common Dwelling-house, exclaimed in a heart-rending voice: "Help, +Agricola!--they are killing my child!" + +"Let me go--and on, my honor--I will fight you tomorrow, or when you +will," said Agricola, panting for breath. + +"No warmed-up food for me; I eat all hot," answered the quarryman, +seizing the smith by the throat, whilst he tried to place one of his +knees upon his chest. + +"Help!--they are killing my child!" cried Angela's mother, in a voice of +despair. + +"Mercy! I ask mercy! Let me go!"' said Agricola, making the most violent +efforts to escape. + +"I am too hungry," answered the quarryman. + +Exasperated by the terror which Angela's danger occasioned him, Agricola +redoubled his efforts, when the quarryman suddenly felt his thigh seized +by the sharp teeth of a dog, and at the same instant received from a +vigorous hand three or four heavy blows with a stick upon his head. He +relaxed his grasp, and fell stunned upon his hand and knee, whilst he +mechanically raised his other arm to parry the blows, which ceased as +soon as Agricola was delivered. + +"Father, you have saved me!" cried the smith, springing up. "If only I am +in time to rescue Angela!" + +"Run!--never mind me!" answered Dagobert; and Agricola rushed into the +house. + +Dogabert, accompanied by Spoil-sport, had come, as we have already said, +to bring Marshal Simon's daughters to their grandfather. Arriving in the +midst of the tumult, the soldier had collected a few workmen to defend +the entrance of the chamber, to which the marshal's father had been +carried in a dying state. It was from this post that the soldier had seen +Agricola's danger. Soon after, the rush of the conflict separated +Dagobert from the quarryman, who remained for some moments insensible. +Arrived in two bounds at the Common Dwelling-house, Agricola succeeded in +forcing his way through the men who defended the staircase, and rushed +into the corridor that led to Angela's chamber. At the moment he reached +it, the unfortunate girl was mechanically guarding her face with both +hands against Ciboule, who, furious as the hyena over its prey, was +trying to scratch and disfigure her. + +To spring upon the horrible hag, seize her by her yellow hair with +irresistible hand, drag her backwards, and then with one cuff, stretch +her full length upon the ground, was for Agricola an achievement as rapid +as thought. Furious with rage, Ciboule rose again almost instantly; but +at this moment, several workmen, who had followed close upon Agricola, +were able to attack with advantage, and whilst the smith lifted the +fainting form of Angela, and carried her into the next room, Ciboule and +her band were driven from that part of the house. + +After the first fire of the assault, the small number of real Wolves, +who, as Agricola said, were in the main honest fellows, but had the +weakness to let themselves be drawn into this enterprise, under the +pretext of a quarrel between rival unions, seeing the excesses committed +by the rabble who accompanied them, turned suddenly round, and ranged +themselves on the side of the Devourers. + +"There are no longer here either Wolves or Devourers," said one of the +most determined Wolves to Olivier, with whom he had been fighting roughly +and fairly; "there are none here but honest workmen, who must unite to +drive out a set of scoundrels, that have come only to break and pillage." + +"Yes," added another; "it was against our will that they began by +breaking your windows." + +"The big blaster did it all," said another; "the true Wolves wash their +hands of him. We shall soon settle his account." + +"We may fight every day--but we ought to esteem each other."[35] + +This defection of a portion of the assailants (unfortunately but a small +portion) gave new spirit to the workmen of the factory, and all together, +Wolves and Devourers, though very inferior in number, opposed themselves +to the band of vagabonds, who were proceeding to new excesses. Some of +these wretches, still further excited by the little man with the ferret's +face, a secret emissary of Baron Tripeaud, now rushed in a mass towards +the workshops of M. Hardy. Then began a lamentable devastation. These +people, seized with the mania of destruction, broke without remorse +machines of the greatest value, and most delicate construction; half +manufactured articles were pitilessly destroyed; a savage emulation +seemed to inspire these barbarians, and those workshops, so lately the +model of order and well-regulated economy, were soon nothing but a wreck; +the courts were strewed with fragments of all kinds of wares, which were +thrown from the windows with ferocious outcries, or savage bursts of +laughter. Then, still thanks to the incitements of the little man with +the ferret's face, the books of M. Hardy, archives of commercial +industry, so indispensable to the trader, were scattered to the wind, +torn, trampled under foot, in a sort of infernal dance, composed of all +that was most impure in this assembly of low, filthy, and ragged men and +women, who held each other by the hand, and whirled round and round with +horrible clamor. Strange and painful contrasts! At the height of the +stunning noise of these horrid deeds of tumult and devastation, a scene +of imposing and mournful calm was taking place in the chamber of Marshal +Simon's father, the door of which was guarded by a few devoted men. The +old workman was stretched on his bed, with a bandage across his blood +stained white hair. His countenance was livid, his breathing oppressed, +his look fixed and glazed. + +Marshal Simon, standing at the head of the bed, bending over his father, +watched in despairing anguish the least sign of consciousness on the part +of the dying man, near whom was a physician, with his finger on the +failing pulse. Rose and Blanche, brought hither by Dagobert, were +kneeling beside the bed, their hands clasped, and their eyes bathed in +tears; a little further, half hidden in the shadows of the room, for the +hours had passed quickly, and the night was at hand, stood Dagobert +himself, with his arms crossed upon his breast, and his features +painfully contracted. A profound and solemn silence reigned in this +chamber, only interrupted by the broken sobs of Rose and Blanche, or by +Father Simon's hard breathing. The eyes of the marshal were dry, gloomy, +and full of fire. He only withdrew them from his father's face, to +interrogate the physician by a look. There are strange coincidences in +life. That physician was Dr. Baleinier. The asylum of the doctor being +close to the barrier that was nearest to the factory, and his fame being +widely spread in the neighborhood, they had run to fetch him on the first +call for medical assistance. + +Suddenly, Dr. Baleinier made a movement; the marshal, who had not taken +his eyes off him, exclaimed: "Is there any hope?" + +"At least, my lord duke, the pulse revives a little." + +"He is saved!" said the marshal. + +"Do not cherish false hopes, my lord duke," answered the doctor, gravely: +"the pulse revives, owing to the powerful applications to the feet, but I +know not what will be the issue of the crisis." + +"Father! father! do you hear me?" cried the marshal, seeing the old man +slightly move his head, and feebly raise his eyelids. He soon opened his +eyes, and this time their intelligence had returned. + +"Father! you live--you know me!" cried the marshal, giddy with joy and +hope. + +"Pierre! are you there?" said the old man, in a weak voice. "Your +hand--give--it--" and he made a feeble movement. + +"Here, father!" cried the marshal, as he pressed the hands of the old man +in his own. + +Then, yielding to an impulse of delight, he bent over his father, covered +his hands, face, and hair with kisses, and repeated: "He lives! kind +heaven, he lives! he is saved!" + +At this instant, the noise of the struggle which had recommenced between +the rabble, the Wolves, and the Devourers, reached the ears of the dying +man. + +"That noise! that noise!" said he: "they are fighting." + +"It is growing less, I think," said the marshal, in order not to agitate +his father. + +"Pierre," said the old man, in a weak and broken voice, "I have not long +to live." + +"Father--" + +"Let me speak, child; if I can but tell you all." + +"Sir," said Baleinier piously to the old workman, "heaven may perhaps +work a miracle in your favor; show yourself grateful, and allow a +priest--" + +"A priest! Thank you, sir--I have my son," said the old man; "in his +arms, I will render up my soul--which has always been true and honest." + +"You die?" exclaimed the marshal; "no! no!" + +"Pierre," said the old man, in a voice which, firm at first, gradually +grew fainter, "just now--you ask my advice in a very serious matter. I +think, that the wish to tell you of your duty--has recalled me--for a +moment--to life--for I should die miserable--if I thought you in a road +unworthy of yourself and me. Listen to me, my son--my noble son--at this +last hour, a father cannot deceive himself. You have a great duty to +perform---under pain--of not acting like a man of honor--under pain of +neglecting my last will. You ought, without hesitation--" + +Here the voice failed the old man. When he had pronounced the last +sentence, he became quite unintelligible. The only words that Marshal +Simon could distinguish, were these: "Napoleon II.--oath--dishonor--my +son!" + +Then the old workman again moved his lips mechanically--and all was over. +At the moment he expired, the night was quite come, and terrible shouts +were heard from without, of "Fire! Fire!" The conflagration had broken +out in one of the workshops, filled with inflammable stuff, into which +had glided the little man with the ferret's face. At the same time, the +roll of drums was heard in the distance, announcing the arrival of a +detachment of troops from town. + +During an hour, in spite of every effort, the fire had been spreading +through the factory. The night is clear, cold, starlight; the wind blows +keenly from the north, with a moaning sound. A man, walking across the +fields, where the rising ground conceals the fire from him, advances with +slow and unsteady steps. It is M. Hardy. He had chosen to return home on +foot, across the country, hoping that a walk would calm the fever in his +blood--an icy fever, more like the chill of death. He had not been +deceived. His adored mistress--the noble woman, with whom he might have +found refuge from the consequences of the fearful deception which had +just been revealed to him--had quitted France. He could have no doubt of +it. Margaret was gone to America. Her mother had exacted from her, in +expiation of her fault, that she should not even write to him one word of +farewell--to him, for whom she had sacrificed her duty as a wife. +Margaret had obeyed. + +Besides, she had often said to him: "Between my mother and you, I should +not hesitate." + +She had not hesitated. There was therefore no hope, not the slightest; +even if an ocean had not separated him from Margaret, he knew enough of +her blind submission to her mother, to be certain that all relations +between them were broken off forever. It is well. He will no longer +reckon upon this heart--his last refuge. The two roots of his life have +been torn up and broken, with the same blow, the same day, almost at the +same moment. What then remains for thee, poor sensitive plant, as thy +tender mother used to call thee? What remains to console thee for the +loss of this last love--this last friendship, so infamously crushed? Oh! +there remains for thee that one corner of the earth, created after the +image of thy mind that little colony, so peaceful and flourishing, where, +thanks to thee, labor brings with it joy and recompense. These worthy +artisans, whom thou hast made happy, good, and grateful, will not fail +thee. That also is a great and holy affection; let it be thy shelter in +the midst of this frightful wreck of all thy most sacred convictions! The +calm of that cheerful and pleasant retreat, the sight of the unequalled +happiness of thy dependents, will soothe thy poor, suffering soul, which +now seems to live only for suffering. Come! you will soon reach the top +of the hill, from which you can see afar, in the plain below, that +paradise of workmen, of which you are the presiding divinity. + +M. Hardy had reached the summit of the hill. At that moment the +conflagration, repressed for a short time, burst forth with redoubled +fury from the Common Dwelling-house, which it had now reached. A bright +streak, at first white, then red, then copper-colored, illuminated the +distant horizon. M. Hardy looked at it with a sort of incredulous, almost +idiotic stupor. Suddenly, an immense column of flame shot up in the thick +of a cloud of smoke, accompanied by a shower of sparks, and streamed +towards the sky, casting a bright reflection over all the country, even +to M. Hardy's feet. The violence of the north wind, driving the flames in +waves before it, soon brought to the ears of M. Hardy the hurried +clanging of the alarm-bell of the burning factory. + +[35] We wish it to be understood, that the necessities of our story alone +have made the Wolves the assailants. While endeavoring to paint the evils +arising the abuse of the spirit of association, we do not wish to ascribe +a character of savage hostility to one sect rather than to the other to +the Wolves more than to the Devourers. The Wolves, a club of united +stone-cutters, are generally industrious, intelligent workmen, whose +situation is the more worthy of interest, as not only their labors, +conducted with mathematical precision, are of the rudest and most +wearisome kind, but they are likewise out of work during three or four +months of the year, their profession being, unfortunately, one of those +which winter condemns to a forced cessation. A number of Wolves, in order +to perfect themselves in their trade, attend every evening a course of +linear geometry, applied to the cutting of stone, analogous to that given +by M. Agricole Perdignier, for the benefit of carpenters. Several working +stone-cutters sent an architectural model in plaster to the last +exhibition. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE GO-BETWEEN. + +A few days have elapsed since the conflagration of M. Hardy's factory. +The following scene takes place in the Rue Clovis, in the house where +Rodin had lodged, and which was still inhabited by Rose-Pompon, who, +without the least scruple, availed herself of the household arrangements +of her friend Philemon. It was about noon, and Rose-Pompon, alone in the +chamber of the student, who was still absent, was breakfasting very gayly +by the fireside; but how singular a breakfast! what a queer fire! how +strange an apartment! + +Imagine a large room, lighted by two windows without curtains--for as +they looked on empty space, the lodger had fear of being overlooked. One +side of this apartment served as a wardrobe, for there was suspended +Rose-Pompon's flashy costume of debardeur, not far from the boat-man's +jacket of Philemon, with his large trousers of coarse, gray stuff, +covered with pitch (shiver my timbers!), just as if this intrepid mariner +had bunked in the forecastle of a frigate, during a voyage round the +globe. A gown of Rose Pompon's hung gracefully over a pair of pantaloons, +the legs of which seemed to come from beneath the petticoat. On the +lowest of several book-shelves, very dusty and neglected, by the side of +three old boots (wherefore three boots?) and a number of empty bottles, +stood a skull, a scientific and friendly souvenir, left to Philemon by +one of his comrades, a medical student. With a species of pleasantry, +very much to the taste of the student-world, a clay pipe with a very +black bowl was placed between the magnificently white teeth of this +skull; moreover, its shining top was half hidden beneath an old hat, set +knowingly on one side, and adorned with faded flowers and ribbons. When +Philemon was drunk, he used to contemplate this bony emblem of mortality, +and break out into the most poetical monologues, with regard to this +philosophical contrast between death and the mad pleasures of life. Two +or three plaster casts, with their noses and chins more or less injured, +were fastened to the wall, and bore witness to the temporary curiosity +which Philemon had felt with regard to phrenological science, from the +patient and serious study of which he had drawn the following logical +conclusion:--That, having to an alarming extent the bump of getting into +debt, he ought to resign himself to the fatality of this organization, +and accept the inconvenience of creditors as a vital necessity. On the +chimney-piece, stood uninjured, in all its majesty, the magnificent +rowing-club drinking-glass, a china teapot without a spout, and an +inkstand of black wood, the glass mouth of which was covered by a coat of +greenish and mossy mould. From time to time, the silence of this retreat +was interrupted by the cooing of pigeons, which Rose-Pompon had +established with cordial hospitality in the little study. Chilly as a +quail, Rose-Pompon crept close to the fire, and at the same time seemed +to enjoy the warmth of a bright ray of sunshine, which enveloped her in +its golden light. This droll little creature was dressed in the oddest +costume, which, however, displayed to advantage the freshness of her +piquant and pretty countenance, crowned with its fine, fair hair, always +neatly combed and arranged the first thing in the morning. By way of +dressing-gown, Rose-Pompon had ingeniously drawn over her linen, the +ample scarlet flannel shirt which belonged to Philemon's official garb in +the rowing-club; the collar, open and turned down, displayed the +whiteness of the young girl's under garment, as also of her neck and +shoulders, on whose firm and polished surface the scarlet shirt seemed to +cast a rosy light. The grisette's fresh and dimpled arms half protruded +from the large, turned-up sleeves; and her charming legs were also half +visible, crossed one over the other, and clothed in neat white stockings, +and boots. A black silk cravat formed the girdle which fastened the shirt +round the wasp-like waist of Rose-Pompon, just above those hips, worthy +of the enthusiasm of a modern Phidias, and which gave to this style of +dress a grace very original. + +We have said, that the breakfast of Rose-Pompon was singular. You shall +judge. On a little table placed before her, was a wash-hand-basin, into +which she had recently plunged her fresh face, bathing it in pure water. +From the bottom of this basin, now transformed into a salad-bowl, Rose +Pompon took with the tips of her fingers large green leaves, dripping +with vinegar, and crunched them between her tiny white teeth, whose +enamel was too hard to allow them to be set on edge. Her drink was a +glass of water and syrup of gooseberries, which she stirred with a wooden +mustard-spoon. Finally, as an extra dish, she had a dozen olives in one +of those blue glass trinket-dishes sold for twenty-five sous. Her dessert +was composed of nuts, which she prepared to roast on a red-hot shovel. +That Rose-Pompon, with such an unaccountable savage choice of food, +should retain a freshness of complexion worthy of her name, is one of +those miracles, which reveal the mighty power of youth and health. When +she had eaten her salad, Rose-Pompon was about to begin upon her olives, +when a low knock was heard at the door, which was modestly bolted on the +inside. + +"Who is there?" said Rose-Pompon. + +"A friend--the oldest of the old," replied a sonorous, jovial voice. "Why +do you lock yourself in?" + +"What! is it you, Ninny Moulin?" + +"Yes, my beloved pupil. Open quickly. Time presses." + +"Open to you? Oh, I dare say!--that would be pretty, the figure I am!" + +"I believe you! what does it matter what figure you are? It would be very +pretty, thou rosiest of all the roses with which Cupid ever adorned his +quiver!" + +"Go and preach fasting and morality in your journal, fat apostle!" said +Rose--Pompon, as she restored the scarlet shirt to its place, with +Philemon's other garments. + +"I say! are we to talk much longer through the door, for the greater +edification of our neighbors?" cried Ninny Moulin. "I have something of +importance to tell you--something that will astonish you--" + +"Give me time to put on my gown, great plague that you are!" + +"If it is because of my modesty, do not think of it. I am not over nice. +I should like you very well as you are!" + +"Only to think that such a monster is the favorite of all the +churchgoers!" said Rose-Pompon, opening the door as she finished +fastening her dress. + +"So! you have at last returned to the dovecot, you stray girl!" said +Ninny Moulin, folding his arms, and looking at Rose-Pompon with comic +seriousness. "And where may you have been, I pray? For three days the +naughty little bird has left its nest." + +"True; I only returned home last night. You must have called during my +absence?" + +"I came, every day, and even twice a day, young lady, for I have very +serious matters to communicate." + +"Very serious matters? Then we shall have a good laugh at them." + +"Not at all--they are really serious," said Ninny Moulin, seating +himself. "But, first of all, what did you do during the three days that +you left your conjugal and Philemonic home? I must know all about it, +before I tell you more." + +"Will you have some olives?" said Rose-Pompon, as she nibbled one of them +herself. + +"Is that your answer?--I understand!--Unfortunate Philemon!" + +"There is no unfortunate Philemon in the case, slanderer. Clara had a +death in her house, and, for the first few days after the funeral she was +afraid to sleep alone." + +"I thought Clara sufficiently provided against such fears." + +"There you are deceived, you great viper! I was obliged to go and keep +the poor girl company." + +At this assertion, the religious pamphleteer hummed a tune, with an +incredulous and mocking air. + +"You think I have played Philemon tricks?" cried Rose-Pompon, cracking a +nut with the indignation of injured innocence. + +"I do not say tricks; but one little rose-colored trick." + +"I tell you, that it was not for my pleasure I went out. On the +contrary--for, during my absence, poor Cephyse disappeared." + +"Yes, Mother Arsene told me that the Bacchanal-Queen was gone on a +journey. But when I talk of Philemon, you talk of Cephyse; we don't +progress." + +"May I be eaten by the black panther that they are showing at the Porte +Saint-Martin if I do not tell you the truth. And, talking of that, you +must get tickets to take me to see those animals, my little Ninny Moulin! +They tell me there never were such darling wild beasts." + +"Now really, are you mad?" + +"Why so?" + +"That I should guide your youth, like a venerable patriarch, through the +dangers of the Storm-blown Tulip, all well and good--I ran no risk of +meeting my pastors and masters; but were I to take you to a Lent +Spectacle (since there are only beasts to be seen), I might just run +against my sacristans--and how pretty I should look with you on my arm!" + +"You can put on a false nose, and straps to your trousers, my big Ninny; +they will never know you." + +"We must not think of false noses, but of what I have to tell you, since +you assure me that you have no intrigue in hand." + +"I swear it!" said Rose-Pompon, solemnly, extending her left hand +horizontally, whilst with her right she put a nut into her mouth. Then +she added, with surprise, as she looked at the outside coat of Ninny +Moulin, "Goodness gracious! what full pockets you have got! What is there +in them?" + +"Something that concerns you, Rose-Pompon," said Dumoulin, gravely. + +"Me?" + +"Rose-Pompon!" said Ninny Moulin, suddenly, with a majestic air; "will +you have a carriage? Will you inhabit a charming apartment, instead of +living in this dreadful hole? Will you be dressed like a duchess?" + +"Now for some more nonsense! Come, will you eat the olives? If not, I +shall eat them all up. There is only one left." + +Without answering this gastronomic offer, Ninny Moulin felt in one of his +pockets, and drew from it a case containing a very pretty bracelet, which +he held up sparkling before the eyes of the young girl. + +"Oh! what a sumptuous bracelet!" cried she, clapping her hands. "A +green-eyed serpent biting his tail--the emblem of my love for Philemon." + +"Do not talk of Philemon; it annoys me," said Ninny Moulin, as he clasped +the bracelet round the wrist of Rose-Pompon, who allowed him to do it, +laughing all the while like mad, and saying to him, "So you've been +employed to make a purchase, big apostle, and wish to see the effect of +it. Well! it is charming!" + +"Rose-Pompon," resumed Ninny Moulin, "would you like to have a servant, a +box at the Opera, and a thousand francs a month for your pin-money?" + +"Always the same nonsense. Get along!" said the young girl, as she held +up the bracelet to the light, still continuing to eat her nuts. "Why +always the same farce, and no change of bills?" + +Ninny Moulin again plunged his hand into his pocket, and this time drew +forth an elegant chain, which he hung round Rose-Pompon's neck. + +"Oh! what a beautiful chain!" cried the young girl, as she looked by +turns at the sparkling ornament and the religious writer. "If you chose +that also, you have a very good taste. But am I not a good natured girl +to be your dummy, just to show off your jewels?" + +"Rose-Pompon," returned Ninny Moulin, with a still more majestic air, +"these trifles are nothing to what you may obtain, if you will but follow +the advice of your old friend." + +Rose began to look at Dumoulin with surprise, and said to him, "What does +all this mean, Ninny Moulin? Explain yourself; what advice have you to +give?" + +Dumoulin did not answer, but replunging his hand into his inexhaustible +pocket, he fished up a parcel, which he carefully unfolded, and in which +was a magnificent mantilla of black lace. Rose-Pompon started up, full of +new admiration, and Dumoulin threw the rich mantilla over the young +girl's shoulders. + +"It is superb! I have never seen anything like it! What patterns! what +work!" said Rose-Pompon, as she examined all with simple and perfectly +disinterested curiosity. Then she added, "Your pocket is like a shop; +where did you get all these pretty things?" Then, bursting into a fit of +laughter, which brought the blood to her cheeks, she exclaimed, "Oh, I +have it! These are the wedding-presents for Madame de la Sainte-Colombe. +I congratulate you; they are very choice." + +"And where do you suppose I should find money to buy these wonders?" said +Ninny Moulin. "I repeat to you, all this is yours if you will but listen +to me!" + +"How is this?" said Rose-Pompon, with the utmost amazement; "is what you +tell me in downright earnest?" + +"In downright earnest." + +"This offer to make me a great lady?" + +"The jewels might convince you of the reality of my offers." + +"And you propose all this to me for some one else, my poor Ninny Moulin?" + +"One moment," said the religious writer, with a comical air of modesty, +"you must know me well enough, my beloved pupil, to feel certain that I +should be incapable of inducing you to commit an improper action. I +respect myself too much for that--leaving out the consideration that it +would be unfair to Philemon, who confided to me the guardianship of your +virtue." + +"Then, Ninny Moulin," said Rose-Pompon, more and more astonished, "on my +word of honor, I can make nothing of it. + +"Yet, 'tis all very simple, and I--" + +"Oh! I've found it," cried Rose-Pompon, interrupting Ninny Moulin; "it is +some gentleman who offers me his hand, his heart, and all the rest of it. +Could you not tell me that directly?" + +"A marriage? oh, laws, yes!" said Dumoulin, shrugging his shoulders. + +"What! is it not a marriage?" said Rose-Pompon, again much surprised. + +"No." + +"And the offers you make me are honest ones, my big apostle?" + +"They could not be more so." Here Dumoulin spoke the truth. + +"I shall not have to be unfaithful to Philemon?" + +"No." + +"Or faithful to any one else?" + +"No." + +Rose-Pompon looked confounded. Then she rattled on: "Come, do not let us +have any joking! I am not foolish enough to imagine that I am to live +just like a duchess, just for nothing. What, therefore, must I give in +return?" + +"Nothing at all." + +"Nothing?" + +"Not even that," said Ninny Moulin, biting his nail-tip. + +"But what am I to do, then?" + +"Dress yourself as handsomely as possible, take your ease, amuse +yourself, ride about in a carriage. You see, it is not very fatiguing +--and you will, moreover, help to do a good action." + +"What! by living like a duchess?" + +"Yes! so make up your mind. Do not ask me for any more details, for I +cannot give them to you. For the rest, you will not be detained against +your will. Just try the life I propose to you. If it suits you, go on +with it; if not, return to your Philemonic household." + +"In fact--" + +"Only try it. What can you risk?" + +"Nothing; but I can hardly believe that all you say is true. And then," +added she, with hesitation, "I do not know if I ought--" + +Ninny Moulin went to the window, opened it, and said to Rose-Pompon, who +ran up to it, "Look there! before the door of the house." + +"What a pretty carriage! How comfortable a body'd be inside of it!" + +"That carriage is yours. It is waiting for you." + +"Waiting for me!" exclaimed Rose-Pompon; "am I to decide as short as +that?" + +"Or not at all." + +"To-day?" + +"On the instant." + +"But where will they take me?" + +"How should I know?" + +"You do not know where they will take me?" + +"Not I,"--and Dumoulin still spoke the truth--"the coachman has his +orders." + +"Do you know all this is very funny, Ninny Moulin?" + +"I believe you. If it were not funny, where would be the pleasure?" + +"You are right." + +"Then you accept the offer? That is well. I am delighted both for you and +myself." + +"For yourself?" + +"Yes; because, in accepting, you render me a great service." + +"You? How so?" + +"It matters little, as long as I feel obliged to you." + +"True." + +"Come, then; let us set out!" + +"Bah! after all, they cannot eat me," said Rose-Pompon, resolutely. + +With a skip and a jump, she went to fetch a rose-colored cap, and, going +up to a broken looking-glass, placed the cap very much cocked on one side +on her bands of light hair. This left uncovered her snowy neck, with the +silky roots of the hair behind, and gave to her pretty face a very +mischievous, not to say licentious expression. + +"My cloak!" said she to Ninny Moulin, who seemed to be relieved from a +considerable amount of uneasiness, since she had accepted his offer. + +"Fie! a cloak will not do," answered her companion, feeling once more in +his pocket and drawing out a fine Cashmere shawl, which he threw over +Rose-Pompon's shoulders. + +"A Cashmere!" cried the young girl, trembling with pleasure and joyous +surprise. Then she added, with an air of heroism: "It is settled! I will +run the gauntlet." And with a light step she descended the stairs, +followed by Ninny Moulin. + +The worthy greengrocer was at her post. "Good-morning, mademoiselle; you +are early to-day," said she to the young girl. + +"Yes, Mother Arsene; there is my key." + +"Thank you, mademoiselle." + +"Oh! now I think of it," said Rose Pompon, suddenly, in a whisper, as she +turned towards Ninny Moulin, and withdrew further from the portress, +"what is to became of Philemon?" + +"Philemon?" + +"If he should arrive--" + +"Oh! the devil!" said Ninny Moulin, scratching his ear. + +"Yes; if Philemon should arrive, what will they say to him? for I may be +a long time absent." + +"Three or four months, I suppose." + +"Not more?" + +"I should think not." + +"Oh! very good!" said Rose-Pompon. Then, turning towards the greengrocer, +she said to her, after a moment's reflection: "Mother Arsene, if Philemon +should come home, you will tell him I have gone out--on business." + +"Yes, mademoiselle." + +"And that he must not forget to feed my pigeons, which are in his study." + +"Yes, mademoiselle." + +"Good-bye, Mother Arsene." + +"Good-bye, mademoiselle." And Rose-Pompon entered the carriage in +triumph, along with Ninny Moulin. + +"The devil take me if I know what is to come of all this," said Jacques +Dumoulin to himself, as the carriage drove rapidly down the Rue Clovis. +"I have repaired my error--and now I laugh at the rest." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ANOTHER SECRET. + +The following scene took place a few days after the abduction of Rose +Pompon by Ninny Moulin. Mdlle. de Cardoville was seated in a dreamy mood, +in her cabinet, which was hung with green silk, and furnished with an +ebony library, ornamented with large bronze caryatides. By some +significant signs, one could perceive that Mdlle. de Cardoville had +sought in the fine airs some relief from sad and serious thoughts. Near +an open piano, was a harp, placed before a music-stand. A little further, +on a table covered with boxes of oil and water-color, were several +brilliant sketches. Most of them represented Asiatic scenes, lighted by +the fires of an oriental sun. Faithful to her fancy of dressing herself +at home in a picturesque style, Mademoiselle de Cardoville resembled that +day one of those proud portraits of Velasquez, with stern and noble +aspect. Her gown was of black moire, with wide swelling petticoat, long +waist, and sleeve slashed with rose-colored satin, fastened together with +jet bugles. A very stiff, Spanish ruff reached almost to her chin, and +was secured round her neck by a broad rose-colored ribbon. This frill, +slightly heaving, sloped down as far as the graceful swell of the +rose-colored stomacher, laced with strings of jet beads, and terminating +in a point at the waist. It is impossible to express how well this black +garment, with its ample and shining folds, relieved with rose-color and +brilliant jet, skin, harmonized with the shining whiteness of Adrienne's +and the golden flood of her beautiful hair, whose long, silky ringlets +descended to her bosom. + +The young lady was in a half-recumbent posture, with her elbow resting on +a couch covered with green silk. The back of this piece of furniture, +which was pretty high towards the fireplace, sloped down insensibly +towards the foot. A sort of light, semicircular trellis-work, in gilded +bronze, raised about five feet from the ground, covered with flowering +plants (the admirable passiflores quadrangulatoe, planted in a deep ebony +box, from the centre of which rose the trellis-work), surrounded this +couch with a sort of screen of foliage enamelled with large flowers, +green without, purple within, and as brilliant as those flowers of +porcelain, which we receive from Saxony. A sweet, faint perfume, like a +faint mixture of jasmine with violet, rose from the cup of these +admirable passiflores. Strange enough, a large quantity of new books +(Adrienne having bought them since the last two or three days) and quite +fresh-cut, were scattered around her on the couch, and on a little table; +whilst other larger volumes, amongst which were several atlases full of +engravings, were piled on the sumptuous fur, which formed the carpet +beneath the divan. Stranger still, these books, though of different +forms, and by different authors, alt treated of the same subject. The +posture of Adrienne revealed a sort of melancholy dejection. Her cheeks +were pale; a light blue circle surrounded her large, black eyes, now +half-closed, and gave to them an expression of profound grief. Many +causes contributed to this sorrow--amongst others, the disappearance of +Mother Bunch. Without absolutely believing the perfidious insinuations of +Rodin, who gave her to understand that, in the fear of being unmasked by +him, the hunchback had not dared to remain in the house, Adrienne felt a +cruel sinking of the heart, when she thought how this young girl, in whom +she had had so much confidence, had fled from her almost sisterly +hospitality, without even uttering a word of gratitude; for care had been +taken not to show her the few lines written by the poor needlewoman to +her benefactress, just before her departure. + +She had only been told of the note of five hundred francs found on her +desk; and this last inexplicable circumstance had contributed to awaken +cruel suspicions in the breast of Mdlle. de Cardoville. She already felt +the fatal effects of that mistrust of everything and everybody, which +Rodin had recommended to her; and this sentiment of suspicion and reserve +had the more tendency to become powerful, that, for the first time in her +life, Mdlle. de Cardoville, until then a stranger to all deception, had a +secret to conceal--a secret, which was equally her happiness, her shame, +and her torment. Half-recumbent on her divan, pensive and depressed, +Adrienne pursued, with a mind often absent, one of her newly purchased +books. Suddenly, she uttered an exclamation of surprise; the hand which +held the book trembled like a leaf, and from that moment she appeared to +read with passionate attention and devouring curiosity. Soon, her eyes +sparkled with enthusiasm, her smile assumed ineffable sweetness, and she +seemed at once proud, happy, delighted--but, as she turned over the last +page, her countenance expressed disappointment and chagrin. Then she +recommenced this reading, which had occasioned her such sweet emotion, +and this time she read with the most deliberate slowness, going over each +page twice, and spelling, as it were, every line, every word. From time +to time, she paused, and in a pensive mood, with her forehead leaning on +her fair hand, she seemed to reflect, in a deep reverie, on the passages +she had read with such tender and religious love. Arriving at a passage +which so affected her, that a tear started in her eye, she suddenly +turned the volume, to see on the cover the name of the author. For a few +seconds, she contemplated this name with a singular expression of +gratitude, and could not forbear raising to her rosy lips the page on +which it was printed. After reading many times over the lines with which +she had been so much struck, forgetting, no doubt, the letter in the +spirit, she began to reflect so deeply, that the book glided from her +hand, and fell upon the carpet. During the course of this reverie, the +eyes of the young girl rested, at first mechanically, upon an admirable +bas-relief, placed on an ebony stand, near one of the windows. This +magnificent bronze, recently cast after a plaster copy from the antique, +represented the triumph of the Indian Bacchus. Never, perhaps, had +Grecian art attained such rare perfection. The youthful conqueror, half +clad in a lion's skin, which displayed his juvenile grace and charming +purity of form shone with divine beauty. Standing up in a car, drawn by +two tigers, with an air at once gentle and proud, he leaned with one hand +upon a thyrsus, and with the other guided his savage steeds in tranquil +majesty. By this rare mixture of grace, vigor, and serenity, it was easy +to recognize the hero who had waged such desperate combats with men and +with monsters of the forest. Thanks to the brownish tone of the figure, +the light, falling from one side of the sculpture, admirably displayed +the form of the youthful god, which, carved in relievo, and thus +illumined, shone like a magnificent statue of pale gold upon the dark +fretted background of the bronze. + +When Adrienne's look first rested on this rare assemblage of divine +perfections, her countenance was calm and thoughtful. But this +contemplation, at first mechanical, became gradually more and more +attentive and conscious, and the young lady, rising suddenly from her +seat, slowly approached the bas-relief, as if yielding to the invincible +attraction of an extraordinary resemblance. Then a slight blush appeared +on the cheeks of Mdlle. de Cardoville, stole across her face, and spread +rapidly to her neck and forehead. She approached still closer, threw +round a hasty glance, as if half-ashamed, or as if she had feared to be +surprised in a blamable action, and twice stretched forth her hand, +trembling with emotion, to touch with the tips of her charming fingers +the bronze forehead of the Indian Bacchus. And twice she stopped short, +with a kind of modest hesitation. At last, the temptation became too +strong for her. She yielded to it; and her alabaster finger, after +delicately caressing the features of pale gold, was pressed more boldly +for an instant on the pure and noble brow of the youthful god. At this +pressure, though so slight, Adrienne seemed to feel a sort of electric +shock; she trembled in every limb, her eyes languished, and, after +swimming for an instant in their humid and brilliant crystal, were +raised, half-closed, to heaven. Then her head was thrown a little way +back, her knees bent insensibly, her rosy lips were half opened, as if to +give a passage to her heated breath, for her bosom heaved violently, as +thought youth and life had accelerated the pulsations of her heart, and +made her blood boil in her veins. Finally, the burning cheeks of Adrienne +betrayed a species of ecstasy, timid and passionate, chaste and sensual, +the expression of which was ineffably touching. + +An affecting spectacle indeed is that of a young maiden, whose modest +brow flushes with the first fires of a secret passion. Does not the +Creator of all things animate the body as well as the soul, with a spark +of divine energy? Should He not be religiously glorified in the intellect +as in the senses, with which He has so paternally endowed His creatures? +They are impious blasphemers who seek to stifle the celestial senses, +instead of guiding and harmonizing them in their divine flight. Suddenly, +Mdlle. de Cardoville started, raised her head, opened her eyes as if +awakening from a dream, withdrew abruptly from the sculptures, and walked +several times up and down the room in an agitated manner, pressing her +burning hands to her forehead. Then, falling, as it were, exhausted on +her seat, her tears flowed in abundance. The most bitter grief was +visible in her features, which revealed the fatal struggle that was +passing within her. By degrees, her tears ceased. To this crisis of +painful dejection succeeded a species of violent scorn and indignation +against herself, which were expressed by these words that escaped her: +"For the first time in my life, I feel weak and cowardly. Oh yes! +cowardly--very cowardly!" + +The sound of a door opening and closing, roused Mdlle. de Cardoville from +her bitter reflections. Georgette entered the room, and said to her +mistress: "Madame, can you receive the Count de Montbron?" + +Adrienne, too well-bred to exhibit before her women the sort of +impatience occasioned by this unseasonable visit, said to Georgette: "You +told M. de Montbron that I was at home?" + +"Yes, Madame." + +"Then beg him to walk in." Though Mdlle. de Cardoville felt at that +moment much vexed at the arrival of Montbron, let us hasten to say, that +she entertained for him an almost filial affection, and a profound +esteem, though, by a not unfrequent contrast, she almost always differed +from him in opinion. Hence arose, when Mdlle. de Cardoville had nothing +to disturb her mind, the most gay and animated discussions, in which M. +de Montbron, notwithstanding his mocking and sceptical humor, his long +experience, his rare knowledge of men and things, his fashionable +training, in a word, had not always the advantage, and even acknowledged +his defeat gayly enough. Thus, to give an idea of the differences of the +count and Adrienne, before, as he would say laughingly, he had made +himself her accomplice, he had always opposed (from other motives than +those alleged by Madame de Saint-Dizier) Adrienne's wish to live alone +and in her own way; whilst Rodin, on the contrary, by investing the young +girl's resolve on this subject with an ideal grandeur of intention, had +acquired a species of influence over her. M. de Montbron, now upwards of +sixty years of age, had been a most prominent character during the +Directory, Consulate, and the Empire. His prodigal style of living, his +wit, his gayety, his duels, his amours, and his losses at play, had given +him a leading influence in the best society of his day; while his +character, his kind-heartedness, and liberality, secured him the lasting +friendship of nearly all his female friends. At the time we now present +him to the reader, he was still a great gambler; and, moreover, a very +lucky gambler. He had, as we have stated, a very lordly style; his +manners were decided, but polished and lively; his habits were such as +belong to the higher classes of society, though he could be excessively +sharp towards people whom he did not like. He was tall and thin, and his +slim figure gave him an almost youthful appearance; his forehead was +high, and a little bald; his hair was gray and short, his countenance +long, his nose aquiline, his eyes blue and piercing, and his teeth white, +and still very good. + +"The Count de Montbron," said Georgette, opening the door. The count +entered, and hastened to kiss Adrienne's hand, with a sort of paternal +familiarity. + +"Come!" said M. de Montbron to himself; "let us try to discover the truth +I am in search of, that we may escape a great misfortune." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CONFESSION. + +Mdlle. de Cardoville, not wishing to betray the cause of the violent +feelings which agitated her, received M. de Montbron with a feigned and +forced gayety. On the other hand, notwithstanding his tact and knowledge +of the world, the count was much embarrassed how to enter upon the +subject on which he wished to confer with Adrienne, and he resolved to +feel his way, before seriously commencing the conversation. After looking +at the young lady for some seconds, M. de Montbron shook his head, and +said, with a sigh of regret: "My dear child, I am not pleased." + +"Some affair of the heart, or of hearts, my dear count?" returned +Adrienne, smiling. + +"Of the heart," said M. de Montbron. + +"What! you, so great a player, think more of a woman's whim than a throw +of the dice?" + +"I have a heavy heart, and you are the cause of it, my dear child." + +"M. de Montbron, you will make me very proud," said Adrienne, with a +smile. + +"You would be wrong, for I tell you plainly, my trouble is caused by your +neglect of your beauty. Yes, your countenance is pale, dejected, +sorrowful; you have been low-spirited for the last few days; you have +something on your mind, I am sure of it." + +"My dear M. de Montbron, you have so much penetration, that you may be +allowed to fall for once, as now. I am not sad, I have nothing on my +mind, and--I am about to utter a very silly piece of impertinence--I have +never thought myself so pretty." + +"On the contrary, nothing could be more modest than such an assertion. +Who told you that falsehood? a woman?" + +"No; it was my heart, and it spoke the truth," answered Adrienne, with a +slight degree of emotion. "Understand it, if you can," she added. + +"Do you mean that you are proud of the alteration in your features, +because you are proud of the sufferings of your heart?" said M. de +Montbron, looking at Adrienne with attention. "Be it so; I am then right. +You have some sorrow. I persist in it," added the count, speaking with a +tone of real feeling, "because it is painful to me." + +"Be satisfied; I am as happy as possible--for every instant I take +delight in repeating, how, at my age, I am free--absolutely free!" + +"Yes; free to torment yourself, free to be miserable." + +"Come, come, my dear count!" said Adrienne, "you are recommencing our old +quarrel. I still find in you the ally of my aunt and the Abbe +d'Aigrigny." + +"Yes; as the republicans are the allies of the legitimists--to destroy +each other in their turn. Talking of your abominable aunt, they say that +she holds a sort of council at her house these last few days, a regular +mitred conspiracy. She is certainly in a good way." + +"Why not? Formerly, she would have wished to be Goddess of Reason, now, +we shall perhaps see her canonized. She has already performed the first +part of the life of Mary Magdalen." + +"You can never speak worse of her than she deserves, my dear child. +Still, though for quite opposite reasons, I agreed with her on the +subject of your wish to reside alone." + +"I know it." + +"Yes; and because I wished to see you a thousand times freer than you +really are, I advised you--" + +"To marry." + +"No doubt; you would have had your dear liberty, with its consequences, +only, instead of Mdlle. de Cardoville, we should have called you Madame +Somebody, having found an excellent husband to be responsible for your +independence." + +"And who would have been responsible for this ridiculous husband? And who +would bear a mocked and degraded name? I, perhaps?" said Adrienne, with +animation. "No, no, my dear count, good or ill, I will answer for my own +actions; to my name shall attach the reputation, which I alone have +formed. I am as incapable of basely dishonoring a name which is not mine, +as of continually bearing it myself, if it were not held in, esteem. And, +as one can only answer for one's own actions, I prefer to keep my name." + +"You are the only person in the world that has such ideas." + +"Why?" said Adrienne, laughing. "Because it appears to me horrible, to +see a poor girl lost and buried in some ugly and selfish man, and become, +as they say seriously, the better half of the monster--yes! a fresh and +blooming rose to become part of a frightful thistle!--Come, my dear +count; confess there is something odious in this conjugal +metempsychosis," added Adrienne, with a burst of laughter. + +The forced and somewhat feverish gayety of Adrienne contrasted painfully +with her pale and suffering countenance; it was so easy to see that she +strove to stifle with laughter some deep sorrow, that M. de Montbron was +much affected by it; but, dissembling his emotion, he appeared to reflect +a moment, and took up mechanically one of the new, fresh-cut books, by +which Adrienne was surrounded. After casting a careless glance at this +volume, he continued, still dissembling his feelings: "Come, my dear +madcap: this is another folly. Suppose I were twenty years old, and that +you did me the honor to marry me--you would be called Lady de Montbron, I +imagine?" + +"Perhaps." + +"How perhaps? Would you not bear my name, if you married me?" + +"My dear count," said Adrienne, with a smile, "do not let us pursue this +hypothesis, which can only leave us--regrets." + +Suddenly, M. de Montbron started, and looked at Mdlle, de Cardoville with +an expression of surprise. For some moments, whilst talking to Adrienne, +he had mechanically--taken up two or three of the volumes scattered over +the couch, and had glanced at their titles in the same careless manner. +The first was the "Modern History of India." The second, "Travels in +India." The third, "Letters on India." Much surprised, M. de Montbron had +continued his investigation, and found that the fourth volume continued +this Indian nomenclature, being "Rambles in India." The fifth was, +"Recollections of Hindostan." The sixth, "Notes of a Traveller in the +East Indies." + +Hence the astonishment, which, for many serious reasons, M. de Montbron +had no longer been able to conceal, and which his looks betrayed to +Adrienne. The latter, having completely forgotten the presence of the +accusing volumes by which she was surrounded, yielded to a movement of +involuntary confusion, and blushed slightly; but, her firm and resolute +character again coming to her aid, she looked full at M. de Montbron, and +said to him: "Well, my dear count! what surprises you?" + +Instead of answering, M. de Montbron appeared still more absorbed in +thought, and contemplating the young girl, he could not forbear saying to +himself: "No, no--it is impossible--and yet--" + +"It would, perhaps, be indiscreet in me to listen to your soliloquy, my +dear count," said Adrienne. + +"Excuse me, my dear child; but what I see surprises me so much--" + +"And pray what do you see?" + +"The traces of so great and novel an interest in all that relates to +India," said M. de Montbron, laying a slight stress on his words, and +fixing a piercing look upon the young girl. + +"Well!" said Adrienne, stoutly. + +"Well! I seek the cause of this sudden passion--" + +"Geographical?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville, interrupting M. de Montbron: +"you may find this taste somewhat serious for my age my dear count--but +one must find occupation for leisure hours--and then, having a cousin, +who is both an Indian and a prince, I should like to know something of +the fortunate country from which I derive this savage relationship." + +These last words were pronounced with a bitterness that was not lost on +M. de Montbron: watching Adrienne attentively, he observed: "Meseems, you +speak of the prince with some harshness." + +"No; I speak of him with indifference." + +"Yet he deserves a very different feeling." + +"On the part of some other person, perhaps," replied Adrienne, dryly. + +"He is so unhappy!" said M, de Montbron, in a tone of sincere pity. "When +I saw him the other day, he made my heart ache." + +"What have I to do with it?" exclaimed Adrienne, with an accent of +painful and almost angry impatience. + +"I should have thought that his cruel torments at least deserved your +pity," answered the count gravely. + +"Pity--from me!" cried Adrienne, with an air of offended pride. Then +restraining herself, she added coldly: "You are jesting, M. de Montbron. +It is not in sober seriousness that you ask me to take interest in the +amorous torments of your prince." + +There was so much cold disdain in these last words of Adrienne, her pale +and agitated countenance betrayed such haughty bitterness, that M. de +Montbron said, sorrowfully: "It is then true; I have not been deceived. +I, who thought, from our old and constant friendship, that I had some +claim to your confidence have known nothing of it--while you told all to +another. It is painful, very painful to me." + +"I do not understand you, M. de Montbron." + +"Well then, since I must speak plainly," cried the count, "there is, I +see, no hope for this unhappy boy--you love another." + +As Adrienne started--"Oh! you cannot deny it," resumed the count; "your +paleness and melancholy for the last few days, your implacable +indifference to the prince--all prove to me that you are in love." + +Hurt by the manner in which the count spoke of the sentiment he +attributed to her, Mdlle. de Cardoville answered with dignified +stateliness: "You must know, M. de Montbron, that a secret discovered is +not a confidence. Your language surprises me. + +"Oh, my dear friend, if I use the poor privilege of experience--if I +guess that you are in love--if I tell you so, and even go so far as to +reproach you with it--it is because the life or death of this poor prince +is concerned; and I feel for him as if he were my son, for it is +impossible to know him without taking the warmest interest in him." + +"It would be singular," returned Adrienne, with redoubled coldness, and +still more bitter irony, "if my love--admitting I were in love--could +have any such strange influence on Prince Djalma. What can it matter to +him?" added she, with almost agonizing disdain. + +"What can it matter to him? Now really, my dear friend, permit me to tell +you, that it is you who are jesting cruelly. What! this unfortunate youth +loves you with all the blind ardor of a first love--twice has attempted +to terminate by suicide the horrible tortures of his passion--and you +think it strange that your love for another should be with him a question +of life or death!" + +"He loves me then?" cried the young girl, with an accent impossible to +describe. + +"He loves you to madness, I tell you; I have seen it." + +Adrienne seemed overcome with amazement. From pale, she became crimson; +as the redness disappeared, her lips grew white, and trembled. Her +emotion was so strong, that she remained for some moments unable to +speak, and pressed her hand to her heart, as if to moderate its +pulsations. + +M. de Montbron, almost frightened at the sudden change in Adrienne's +countenance, hastily approached her, exclaiming: "Good heaven, my poor +child! what is the matter?" + +Instead of answering, Adrienne waved her hand to him, in sign that he +should not be alarmed; and, in fact, the count was speedily +tranquillized, for the beautiful face, which had so lately been +contracted with pain, irony, and scorn, seemed now expressive of the +sweetest and most ineffable emotions; Adrienne appeared to luxuriate in +delight, and to fear losing the least particle of it; then, as reflection +told her, that she was, perhaps, the dupe of illusion or falsehood, she +exclaimed suddenly, with anguish, addressing herself to M. de Montbron: +"But is what you tell me true?" + +"What I tell you!" + +"Yes--that Prince Djalma--" + +"Loves you to madness?--Alas! it is only too true." + +"No, no," cried Adrienne, with a charming expression of simplicity; "that +could never be too true." + +"What do you say?" cried the count. + +"But that woman?" asked Adrienne, as if the word scorched her lips. + +"What woman?" + +"She who has been the cause of all these painful struggles." + +"That woman--why, who should it be but you?" + +"What, I? Oh! tell me, was it I?" + +"On my word of honor. I trust my experience. I have never seen so ardent +and sincere a passion." + +"Oh! is it really so? Has he never had any other love?" + +"Never." + +"Yet I was told so." + +"By whom?" + +"M. Rodin." + +"That Djalma--" + +"Had fallen violently in love, two days after I saw him." + +"M. Rodin told you that!" cried M. de Montbron, as if struck with a +sudden idea. "Why, it is he who told Djalma that you were in love with +some one else." + +"I!" + +"And this it was which occasioned the poor youth's dreadful despair." + +"It was this which occasioned my despair." + +"You love him, then, just as he loves you!" exclaimed M. de Montbron, +transported with joy. + +"Love him!" said Mdlle. de Cardoville. A discreet knock at the door +interrupted Adrienne. + +"One of your servants, no doubt. Be calm," said the count. + +"Come in," said Adrienne, in an agitated voice. + +"What is it?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville. Florine entered the room. + +"M. Rodin has just been here. Fearing to disturb mademoiselle, he would +not come in; but he will return in half an hour. Will mademoiselle +receive him?" + +"Yes, yes," said the count to Florine; "even if I am still here, show him +in by all means. Is not that your opinion?" asked M. de Montbron of +Adrienne. + +"Quite so," answered the young girl; and a flash of indignation darted +from her eyes, as she thought of Rodin's perfidy. + +"Oho! the old knave!" said M. de Montbron, "I always had my doubts of +that crooked neck!" Florine withdrew, leaving the count with her +mistress. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +LOVE. + +Mdlle. de Cardoville was transfigured. For the first time her beauty +shone forth in all its lustre. Until now overshadowed by indifference, or +darkened by grief, she appeared suddenly illumined by a brilliant ray of +sunshine. The slight irritation caused by Rodin's perfidy passed like an +imperceptible shade from her brow. What cared she now for falsehood and +perfidy? Had they not failed? And, for the future, what human power could +interpose between her and Djalma, so sure of each other? Who would dare +to cross the path of those two things, resolute and strong with the +irresistible power of youth, love, and liberty? Who would dare to follow +them into that blazing sphere, whither they went, so beautiful and happy, +to blend together in their inextinguishable love, protected by the proof +armor of their own happiness? Hardly had Florine left the room, when +Adrienne approached M. de Montbron with a rapid step. She seemed to have +become taller; and to watch her advancing, light, radiant, and +triumphant, one might have fancied her a goddess walking upon clouds. + +"When shall I see him?" was her first word to M. de Montbron. + +"Well--say to-morrow; he must be prepared for so much happiness; in so +ardent a nature, such sudden, unexpected joy might be terrible." + +Adrienne remained pensive for a moment, and then said rapidly: "To +morrow--yes--not before to-morrow. I have a superstition of the heart." + +"What is it?" + +"You shall know. HE LOVES ME--that word says all, contains all, +comprehends all, is all--and yet I have a thousand questions to ask with +regard to him--but I will ask none before to-morrow, because, by a +mysterious fatality, to-morrow is with me a sacred anniversary. It will +be an age till then; but happily, I can wait. Look here!" + +Beckoning M. de Montbron, she led him to the Indian Bacchus. "How much it +is like him!" said she to the count. + +"Indeed," exclaimed the latter, "it is strange!" + +"Strange?" returned Adrienne, with a smile of gentle pride; "strange, +that a hero, a demi-god, an ideal of beauty, should resemble Djalma?" + +"How you love him!" said M. de Montbron, deeply touched, and almost +dazzled by the felicity which beamed from the countenance of Adrienne. + +"I must have suffered a good deal, do you not think so?" said she, after +a moment's silence. + +"If I had not made up my mind to come here to-day, almost in despair, +what would have happened?" + +"I cannot tell; I should perhaps have died, for I am wounded mortally +here"--she pressed her hand to her heart. "But what might have been death +to me, will now be life." + +"It was horrible," said the count, shuddering. "Such a passion, buried in +your own breast, proud as you are--" + +"Yes, proud--but not self-conceited. When I learned his love for another, +and that the impression which I fancied I had made on him at our first +interview had been immediately effaced, I renounced all hope, without +being able to renounce my love. Instead of shunning his image, I +surrounded myself with all that could remind me of him. In default of +happiness, there is a bitter pleasure in suffering through what we love." + +"I can now understand your Indian library." + +Instead of answering the count, Adrienne took from the stand one of the +freshly-cut volumes, and, bringing it to M. de Montbron, said to him, +with a smile and a celestial expression of joy and happiness: "I was +wrong--I am vain. Just read this--aloud, if you please. I tell you that I +can wait for to-morrow." Presenting the book to the count, she pointed +out one passage with the tip of her charming finger. Then she sank down +upon the couch, and, in an attitude of deep attention, with her body bent +forward, her hands crossed upon the cushion, her chin resting upon her +hands, her large eyes fixed with a sort of adoration on the Indian +Bacchus, that was just opposite to her, she appeared by this impassioned +contemplation to prepare herself to listen to M. de Montbron. + +The latter, much astonished, began to read, after again looking at +Adrienne, who said to him, in her most coaxing voice, "Very slowly, I beg +of you." + +M. de Montbron then read the following passage from the journal of a +traveller in India: "'When I was at Bombay, in 1829, I constantly heard +amongst the English there, of a young hero, the son of--'" + +The count having paused a second, by reason of the barbarous spelling of +the name of Djalma's father, Adrienne immediately said to him, in her +soft voice: "The son of Kadja-sing." + +"What a memory!" said the count, with a smile. And he resumed: "'A young +hero, the son of Kadja-sing, king of Mundi. On his return from a distant +and sanguinary expedition amongst the mountains against this Indian king, +Colonel Drake was filled with enthusiasm for this son of Kadja-sing, +known as Djalma. Hardly beyond the age of childhood, this young prince +has in the course of this implacable war given proofs of such chivalrous +intrepidity, and of so noble a character, that his father has been +surnamed the Father of the Generous.'" + +"That is a touching custom," said the count. "To recompense the father, +as it were, by giving him a surname in honor of his son, is a great idea. +But how strange you should have met with this book!" added the count, in +surprise. "I can understand; there is matter here to inflame the coolest +head." + +"Oh! you will see, you will see," said Adrienne. + +The count continued to read: "'Colonel Drake, one of the bravest and best +officers of the English army, said yesterday, in my presence, that having +been dangerously wounded, and taken prisoner by Prince Djalma, after an +energetic resistance, he had been conveyed to the camp established in the +village of--" + +Here there was the same hesitation on the part of the count, on seeing a +still more barbarous name than the first; so, not wishing to try the +adventure, he paused, and said to Adrienne, "Now really, I give this up." + +"And yet it is so easy!" replied Adrienne; and she pronounced with +inexpressible softness, a name in itself soft, "The village of +Shumshabad." + +"You appear to have an infallible process for remembering geographical +names," said the count, continuing: "'Once arrived at the camp, Colonel +Drake received the kindest hospitality, and Prince Djalma treated him +with the respect of a son. It was there that the colonel became +acquainted with some facts, which carried to the highest pitch his +enthusiasm for prince Djalma. I heard him relate the two following. + +"'In one of the battles, the prince was accompanied by a young Indian of +about twelve years of age, whom he loved tenderly, and who served him as +a page, following him on horseback to carry his spare weapons. This child +was idolized by its mother; just as they set out on the expedition, she +had entrusted her son to Prince Djalma's care, saying, with a stoicism +worthy of antiquity, "Let him be your brother." "He shall be my brother," +had replied the prince. In the height of a disastrous defeat, the child +is severely wounded, and his horse killed; the prince, at peril of his +life, notwithstanding the perception of a forced retreat, disengages him, +and places him on the croup of his own horse; they are pursued; a +musket-ball strikes their steed, who is just able to reach a jungle, in +the midst of which, after some vain efforts, he falls exhausted. The +child is unable to walk, but the prince carries him in his arms, and +hides with him in the thickest part of the jungle. The English arrive, +and begin their search; but the two victims escape. After a night and a +day of marches, counter-marches, stratagems, fatigues, unheard-of perils, +the prince, still, carrying the child, one of whose legs is broken, +arrives at his father's camp, and says, with the utmost simplicity, "I +had promised his mother that I would act a brother's part by him--and I +have done so."' + +"That is admirable!" cried the count. + +"Go on--pray go on!" said Adrienne, drying a tear, without removing her +eyes from the bas-relief, which she continued to contemplate with growing +adoration. + +The count continued: "'Another time, Prince Djalma, followed by two black +slaves, went, before sunrise, to a very wild spot, to seize a couple of +tiger cubs only a few days old. The den had been previously discovered. +The two old tigers were still abroad. One of the blacks entered the den +by a narrow aperture; the other, aided by Djalma, cut down a tolerably +large tree, to prepare a trap for one of the old tigers. On the side of +the aperture, the cavern was exceedingly steep. The prince mounted to the +top of it with agility, to set his trap, with the aid of the other black. +Suddenly, a dreadful roar was heard; and, in a few bounds, the tigress, +returning from the chase, reached the opening of the den. The black who +was laying the trap with the prince had his skull fractured by her bite; +the tree, falling across the entrance, prevented the female from +penetrating the cavern, and at the same time stopped the exit of the +black who had seized the cubs. + +"'About twenty feet higher, upon a ledge of rock, the prince lay flat on +the ground, looking down upon this frightful spectacle. The tigress, +rendered furious by the cries of her little ones, gnawed the hands of the +black, who, from the interior of the den, strove to support the trunk of +the tree, his only rampart, whilst he uttered the most lamentable +outcries.' + +"It is horrible!" said the count. + +"Oh! go on! pray go on!" exclaimed Adrienne, with excitement; "you will +see what can be achieved by the heroism of goodness." + +The count pursued: "'Suddenly the prince seized his dagger between his +teeth, fastened his sash to a block of stone, took his axe in one hand, +and with the other slid down this substitute for a rope; falling a few +steps from the wild beast, he sprang upon her, and, swift as lightning, +dealt her two mortal strokes, just as the black, losing his strength, was +about to drop the trunk of the tree, sure to have been torn to pieces.'" + +"And you are astonished at his resemblance with the demi-god, to whom +fable itself ascribes no more generous devotion!" cried the young lady, +with still increasing excitement. + +"I am astonished no longer, I only admire," said the count, in a voice of +emotion; "and, at these two noble instances of heroism, my heart beats +with enthusiasm, as if I were still twenty." + +"And the noble heart of this traveller beat like yours at the recital," +said Adrienne; "you will see." + +"'What renders so admirable the intrepidity of the prince, is, that, +according to the principle of Indian castes, the life of a slave is of no +importance; thus a king's son, risking his life for the safety of a poor +creature, so generally despised, obeyed an heroic and truly Christian +instinct of charity, until then unheard of in this country." + +"'Two such actions,' said Colonel Drake, with good reason, 'are +sufficient to paint the man; it is with a feeling of profound respect +and admiration, therefore, that I, an obscure traveller, have written the +name of Prince Djalma in my book; and at the same time, I have +experienced a kind of sorrow, when I have asked myself what would be the +future fate of this prince, buried in the depths of a savage country, +always devastated by war. However humble may be the homage that I pay to +this character, worthy of the heroic age, his name will at least be +repeated with generous enthusiasm by all those who have hearts that beat +in sympathy with what is great and noble.'" + +"And just now, when I read those simple and touching lines," resumed +Adrienne, "I could not forbear pressing my lips to the name of the +traveller." + +"Yes; he is such as I thought him," cried the count, with still more +emotion, as he returned the book to Adrienne, who rose, with a grave and +touching air, and said to him: "It was thus I wished you to know him, +that you might understand my adoration; for this courage, this heroic +goodness, I had guessed beforehand, when I was an involuntary listener to +his conversation. From that moment, I knew him to be generous as +intrepid, tender and sensitive as energetic and resolute; and when I saw +him so marvellously beautiful--so different, in the noble character of +his countenance, and even in the style of his garments, from all I had +hitherto met with--when I saw the impression that I made upon him, and +which I perhaps felt still more violently--I knew that my whole life was +bound up with his love." + +"And now, what are your plans?" + +"Divine, radiant as my heart. When he learns his happiness, I wish that +Djalma should feel dazzled as I do, so as to prevent my gazing on my sun; +for I repeat, that until tomorrow will be a century to me. Yes, it is +strange! I should have thought that after such a discovery, I should feel +the want of being left alone, plunged in an ocean of delicious dreams. +But no! from this time till to-morrow--I dread solitude--I feel a kind of +feverish impatience--uneasy--ardent--Oh! where is the beneficent fairy, +that, touching me with her wand, will lull me into slumber till +to-morrow!" + +"I will be that beneficent fairy," said the count, smiling. + +"You?" + +"Yes, I." + +"And how so?" + +"The power of my wand is this: I will relieve you from a portion of your +thoughts by making them materially visible." + +"Pray explain yourself." + +"And my plan will have another advantage for you. Listen to me; you are +so happy now that you can hear anything. Your odious aunt, and her +equally odious friends, are spreading the report that your residence with +Dr. Baleinier--" + +"Was rendered necessary by the derangement of my mind," said Adrienne, +with a smile; "I expected that." + +"It is stupid enough; but, as your resolution to live alone makes many +envious of you, and many hostile, you must feel that there will be no +want of persons ready to believe the most absurd calumny possible." + +"I hope as much. To pass for mad in the eyes of fools is very +flattering." + +"Yes; but to prove to fools that they are fools, and that in the face of +all Paris, is much more amusing. Now, people begin to talk of your +absence; you have given up your daily rides; for some time my niece has +appeared alone in our box at the Opera; you wish to kill the time till +to-morrow--well! here is an excellent opportunity. It is two o'clock; at +halfpast three, my niece will come in the carriage; the weather is +splendid; there is sure to be a crowd in the Bois de Boulogne. You can +take a delightful ride, and be seen by everybody. Then, as the air and +movement will have calmed your fever of happiness, I will commence my +magic this evening, and take you to India." + +"To India?" + +"Into the midst of one of those wild forests, in which roar the lion, the +panther, and the tiger. We will have this heroic combat, which so moved +you just now, under our own eyes, in all its terrible reality." + +"Really, my dear count, you must be joking." + +"Not at all; I promise to show you real wild beasts, formidable tenants +of the country of our demigod--growling tigers--roaring lions--do you not +think that will be better than books?" + +"But how?" + +"Come! I must give you the secret of my supernatural power. On returning +from your ride, you shall dine with my niece, and we will go together to +a very curious spectacle now exhibiting at the Porte-Saint-Martin +Theatre. A most extraordinary lion-tamer there shows you a number of wild +beasts, in a state of nature, in the midst of a forest (here only +commences the illusion), and has fierce combats with them all--tigers, +lions, and panthers. All Paris is crowding to these representations, and +all Paris will see you there, more charming than ever." + +"I accept your offer," said Adrienne, with childish delight. "Yes, you +are right. I feel a strange pleasure in beholding these ferocious +monsters, who will remind me of those that my demi-god so heroically +overcame. I accept also, because, for the first time in my life, I am +anxious to be admired--even by everybody. I accept finally because--" +Here Mdlle. de Cardoville was interrupted by a low knock at the door, and +by the entrance of Florine, who announced M. Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE EXECUTION. + +Rodin entered. A rapid glance at Mdlle. de Cardoville and M. de Montbron +told him at once that he was in a dilemma. In fact, nothing could be less +encouraging than the faces of Adrienne and the count. The latter, when he +disliked people, exhibited his antipathy, as we have already said, by an +impertinently aggressive manner, which had before now occasioned a good +number of duels. At sight of Rodin, his countenance at once assumed a +harsh and insolent expression; resting his elbow on the chimney-piece, +and conversing with Adrienne, he looked disdainfully over his shoulder, +without taking the least notice of the Jesuit's low bow. On the other +hand, at sight of this man, Mdlle. de Cardoville almost felt surprise, +that she should experience no movement of anger or hatred. The brilliant +flame which burned in her heart, purified it from every vindictive +sentiment. She smiled, on the contrary; for, glancing with gentle pride +at the Indian Bacchus, and then at herself, she asked herself what two +beings, so young, and fair, and free, and loving, could have to fear from +this old, sordid man, with his ignoble and base countenance, now +advancing towards her with the writhing of a reptile. In a word, far from +feeling anger or aversion with regard to Rodin, the young lady seemed +full of the spirit of mocking gayety, and her large eyes, already lighted +up with happiness, now sparkled with irony and mischief. Rodin felt +himself ill at ease. People of his stamp greatly prefer violent to +mocking enemies. They can encounter bursts of rage--sometimes by falling +on their knees, weeping, groaning, and beating their breasts--sometimes +by turning on their adversary, armed and implacable. But they are easily +disconcerted by biting raillery; and thus it was with Rodin. He saw that +between Adrienne de Cardoville and M. de Montbron, he was about to be +placed in what is vulgarly termed a "regular fix." + +The count opened the fire; still glancing over his shoulder, he said to +Rodin: "Ah! you are here, my benevolent gentleman!" + +"Pray, sir, draw a little nearer," said Adrienne, with a mocking smile. +"Best of friends and model of philosophers--as well as declared enemy of +all fraud and falsehood--I have to pay you a thousand compliments." + +"I accent anything from you, my dear young lady, even though undeserved," +said the Jesuit, trying to smile, and thus exposing his vile yellow +teeth; "but may I be informed how I have earned these compliments?" + +"Your penetration, sir, which is rare--" replied Adrienne. + +"And your veracity, sir," said the count, "which is perhaps no less +rare--" + +"In what have I exhibited my penetration, my dear young lady?" said +Rodin, coldly. "In what my veracity?" added he, turning towards M. de +Montbron. + +"In what, sir?" said Adrienne. "Why, you have guessed a secret surrounded +by difficulties and mystery. In a word, you have known how to read the +depths of a woman's heart." + +"I, my dear young lady?" + +"You, sir! rejoice at it, for your penetration has had the most fortunate +results." + +"And your veracity has worked wonders," added the count. + +"It is pleasant to do good, even without knowing it," said Rodin, still +acting on the defensive, and throwing side glances by turns on the count +and Adrienne; "but will you inform me what it is that deserves this +praise--" + +"Gratitude obliges me to inform you of it," said Adrienne, maliciously; +"you have discovered, and told Prince Djalma, that I was passionately in +love. Well! I admire your penetration; it was true." + +"You have also discovered, and told this lady, that Prince Djalma was +passionately in love," resumed the count. "Well! I admire your +penetration, my dear sir; it was true." + +Rodin looked confused, and at a loss for a reply. + +"The person that I loved so passionately," said Adrienne, "was the +prince." + +"The person that the prince loved so passionately," resumed the count, +"was this lady." + +These revelations, so sudden and alarming, almost stunned Rodin; he +remained mute and terrified, thinking of the future. + +"Do you understand now, sir, the extent of our gratitude towards you?" +resumed Adrienne, in a still more mocking tone. "Thanks to your sagacity, +thanks to the touching interest you take in us, the prince and I are +indebted to you for the knowledge of our mutual sentiments." + +The Jesuit had now gradually recovered his presence of mind, and his +apparent calmness greatly irritated M. de Montbron, who, but for +Adrienne's presence, would have assumed another tone than jests. + +"There is some mistake," said Rodin, "in what you have done me the honor +to tell me, my dear young lady. I have never in my life spoken of the +sentiments, however worthy and respectable, that you may entertain for +Prince Djalma--" + +"That is true," replied Adrienne; "with scrupulous and exquisite +discretion, whenever you spoke to me of the deep love felt by Prince +Djalma, you carried your reserve and delicacy so far as to inform me that +it was not I whom he loved." + +"And the same scruple induced you to tell the prince that Mdlle. de +Cardoville loved some one passionately--but that he was not the person," +added the count. + +"Sir," answered Rodin, dryly, "I need hardly tell you that I have no +desire to mix myself up with amorous intrigues." + +"Come! this is either pride or modesty," said the count, insolently. "For +your own interest, pray do not advance such things; for, if we took you +at your word, and it became known, it might injure some of the nice +little trades that you carry on." + +"There is one at least," said Rodin, drawing himself up as proudly as M. +de Montbron, "whose rude apprenticeship I shall owe to you. It is the +wearisome one of listening to your discourse." + +"I tell you what, my good sir!" replied the count, disdainfully: "you +force me to remind you that there are more ways than one of chastising +impudent rogues." + +"My dear count!" said Adrienne to M. de Montbron, with an air of +reproach. + +With perfect coolness, Rodin replied: "I do not exactly see, sir, first, +what courage is shown by threatening a poor old man like myself, and, +secondly--" + +"M. Rodin," said the count, interrupting the Jesuit, "first, a poor old +man like you, who does evil under the shelter of the age he dishonors, is +both cowardly and wicked, and deserves a double chastisement; secondly, +with regard to this question of age, I am not aware that gamekeepers and +policemen bow down respectfully to the gray coats of old wolves, and the +gray hairs of old thieves. What do you think, my good sir?" + +Still impassible, Rodin raised his flabby eyelids, fixed for hardly a +second his little reptile eye upon the count, and darted at him one of +his rapid, cold, and piercing glances--and then the livid eyelid again +covered the dull eye of that corpse-like face. + +"Not having the disadvantage of being an old wolf, and still less an old +thief," said Rodin, quietly, "you will permit me, sir, to take no account +of the pursuit of hunters and police. As for the reproaches made me, I +have a very simple method of answering--I do not say of justifying +myself--I never justify myself--" + +"You don't say!" said the count. + +"Never," resumed Rodin coolly; "my acts are sufficient for that. I will +then simply answer that seeing the deep, violent, almost fearful +impression made by this lady on the prince--" + +"Let this assurance which you give me of the prince's love," said +Adrienne interrupting Rodin with an enchanting smile, "absolve you of all +the evil you wished to do me. The sight of our happiness be your only +punishment!" + +"It may be that I need neither absolution nor punishment, for, as I have +already had the honor to observe to the count, my dear young lady, the +future will justify my acts. Yes; it was my duty to tell the prince that +you loved another than himself, and to tell you that he loved another +than yourself--all in your mutual interest. That my attachment for you +may have misled me, is possible--I am not infallible; but, after my past +conduct towards you, my dear young lady, I have, perhaps, some right to +be astonished at seeing myself thus treated. This is not a complaint. If +I never justify myself, I never complain either." + +"Now really, there is something heroic in all this, my good sir," said +the count. "You do not condescend to complain or justify yourself, with +regard to the evil you have done." + +"The evil I have done?" said Rodin, looking fixedly at the count. "Are we +playing at enigmas?" + +"What, sir!" cried the count, with indignation: "is it nothing, by your +falsehoods, to have plunged the prince into so frightful a state of +despair, that he has twice attempted his life? Is it nothing, by similar +falsehoods, to have induced this lady to believe so cruel and complete an +error, that but for the resolution I have to-day taken, it might have led +to the most fatal consequences?" + +"And will you do me the honor to tell me, sir, what interest I could have +in all this despair and error, admitting even that I had wished to +produce them?" + +"Some great interest no doubt," said the count, bluntly; "the more +dangerous that it is concealed. You are one of those, I see, to whom the +woes of others are pleasure and profit." + +"That is really too much, sir," said Rodin, bowing; "I should be quite +contented with the profit." + +"Your impudent coolness will not deceive me; this is a serious matter," +said the count. "It is impossible that so perfidious a piece of roguery +can be an isolated act. Who knows but this may still be one of the fruits +of Madame de Saint-Dizier's hatred for Mdlle. de Cardoville?" + +Adrienne had listened to the preceding discussion with deep attention. +Suddenly she started, as if struck by a sudden revelation. + +After a moment's silence, she said to Rodin, without anger, without +bitterness, but with an expression of gentle and serene calmness: "We are +told, sir, that happy love works miracles. I should be tempted to believe +it; for, after some minutes' reflection, and when I recall certain +circumstances, your conduct appears to me in quite a new light." + +"And what may this new perspective be, my dear young lady?" + +"That you may see it from my point of view, sir, allow me to remind you +of a few facts. That sewing-girl was generously devoted to me; she had +given me unquestionable proofs of her attachment. Her mind was equal to +her noble heart; but she had an invincible dislike to you. All on a +sudden she disappears mysteriously from my house, and you do your best to +cast upon her odious suspicions. M. de Montbron has a paternal affection +for me; but, as I must confess, little sympathy for you; and you have +always tried to produce a coldness between us. Finally, Prince Djalma has +a deep affection for me, and you employ the most perfidious treachery to +kill that sentiment within him. For what end do you act thus? I do not +know; but certainly with some hostile design." + +"It appears to me, madame," said Rodin, severely, "that you have +forgotten services performed." + +"I do not deny, sir, that you took me from the house of Dr. Baleinier; +but, a few days sooner or later, I must infallibly have been released by +M. de Montbron." + +"You are right, my dear child," said the count; "it may be that your +enemies wished to claim the merit of what must necessarily have happened +through the exertions of your friends." + +"You are drowning, and I save you--it is all a mistake to feel grateful," +said Rodin, bitterly; "some one else would no doubt have saved you a +little later." + +"The comparison is wanting in exactness," said Adrienne, with a smile; "a +lunatic asylum is not a river, and though, from what I see, I think you +quite capable of diving, you have had no occasion to swim on this +occasion. You merely opened a door for me, which would have opened of +itself a little later." + +"Very good, my dear child!" said the count, laughing heartily at +Adrienne's reply. + +"I know, sir, that your care did not extend to me only. The daughters of +Marshal Simon were brought back by you; but we may imagine that the claim +of the Duke de Ligny to the possession of his daughters would not have +been in vain. You returned to an old soldier his imperial cross, which he +held to be a sacred relic; it is a very touching incident. Finally, you +unmasked the Abbe d'Aigrigny and Dr. Baleinier: but I had already made up +my mind to unmask then. However, all this proves that you are a very +clever man--" + +"Oh, madame!" said Rodin, humbly. + +"Full of resources and invention--" + +"Oh, madame!" + +"It is not my fault if, in our long interview at Dr. Baleinier's, you +betrayed that superiority of mind which struck me so forcibly, and which +seems to embarrass you so much at present. What would you have, +sir?--great minds like yours find it difficult to maintain their +incognito. Yet, as by different ways--oh! very different," added the +young lady, maliciously, "we are tending to the same end (still keeping +in view our conversation at Dr. Baleinier's), I wish, for the sake of our +future communion, as you call it, to give you a piece of advice, and +speak frankly to you." + +Rodin had listened to Mdlle. de Cardoville with apparent impassibility, +holding his hat under his arm, and twirling his thumbs, whilst his hands +were crossed upon his waistcoat. The only external mark of the intense +agitation into which he was thrown by the calm words of Adrienne, was +that the livid eyelids of the Jesuit, which had been hypocritically +closed, became gradually red, as the blood flowed into them. +Nevertheless, he answered Mdlle. de Cardoville in a firm voice, and with +a low bow: "Good advice and frankness are always excellent things." + +"You see, sir," resumed Adrienne, with some excitement, "happy love +bestows such penetration, such energy, such courage, as enables one to +laugh at perils, to detect stratagems, and to defy hatred. Believe me, +the divine light which surrounds two loving hearts will be sufficient to +disperse all darkness, and reveal every snare. You see, in India--excuse +my weakness, but I like to talk of India," added the young girl, with a +smile of indescribable grace and meaning--"in India, when travellers +sleep at night, they kindle great fires round their ajoupa (excuse this +touch of local coloring), and far as extends the luminous circle, it puts +to flight by its mere brilliancy, all the impure and venomous reptiles +that shun the day and live only in darkness." + +"The meaning of this comparison has quite escaped me," said Rodin, +continuing to twirl his thumbs, and half raising his eyelids, which were +getting redder and redder. + +"I will speak more plainly," said Adrienne, with a smile. "Suppose, sir, +that the last is a service which you have rendered me and the prince--for +you only proceed by way of services--that, I acknowledge, is novel and +ingenious." + +"Bravo, my dear child!" said the count, joyfully. "The execution will be +complete." + +"Oh! this is meant for an execution?" said Rodin, still impassible. + +"No, sir," answered Adrienne, with a smile; "it is a simple conversation +between a poor young girl and an old philosopher, the friend of humanity. +Suppose, then, that these frequent services that you have rendered to me +and mine have suddenly opened my eyes; or, rather," added the young girl, +in a serious tone, "suppose that heaven, who gives to the mother the +instinct to defend her child, has given me, along with happiness, the +instinct to preserve my happiness, and that a vague presentiment, by +throwing light on a thousand circumstances until now obscure, has +suddenly revealed to me that, instead of being the friend, you are +perhaps, the most dangerous enemy of myself and family." + +"So we pass from the execution to suppositions," said Rodin, still +immovable. + +"And from suppositions, sir, if you must have it, to certainty," resumed +Adrienne, with dignified firmness; "yes, now I believe that I was for +awhile your dupe, and I tell you, without hate, without anger, but with +regret--that it is painful to see a man of your sense and intelligence +stoop to such machinations, and, after having recourse to so many +diabolical manoeuvres, finish at last by being ridiculous; for, believe +me, there is nothing more ridiculous for a man like you, than to be +vanquished by a young girl, who has no weapon, no defence, no instructor, +but her love. In a word, sir, I look upon you from to-day as an +implacable and dangerous enemy; for I half perceive your aim, without +guessing by what means you will seek to accomplish it, No doubt your +future means will be worthy of the past. Well! in spite of all this, I do +not fear you. From tomorrow, my family will be informed of everything, +and an active, intelligent, resolute union will keep us all upon our +guard, for it doubtless concerns this enormous inheritance, of which they +wish to deprive us. Now, what connection can there be between the wrongs +I reproach you with and the pecuniary end proposed? I do not at all +know--but you have told me yourself that our enemies are so dangerously +skillful, and their craft so far-reaching, that we must expect all, be +prepared for all. I will remember the lesson. I have promised you +frankness, sir, and now I suppose you have it." + +"It would be an imprudent frankness if I were your enemy," said Rodin, +still impassible; "but you also promised me some advice, my dear young +lady." + +"My advice will be short; do not attempt to continue the struggle, +because, you see, there is something stronger than you and yours--it is a +woman's resolve, defending her happiness." + +Adrienne pronounced these last words with so sovereign a confidence; her +beautiful countenance shone, as is it were, with such intrepid joy, that +Rodin, notwithstanding his phlegmatic audacity, was for a moment +frightened. Yet he did not appear in the least disconcerted; and, after a +moment's silence, he resumed, with an air of almost contemptuous +compassion: "My dear young lady, we may perhaps never meet again; it is +probable. Only remember one thing, which I now repeat to you: I never +justify myself. The future will provide for that. Notwithstanding which, +my dear young lady, I am your humble servant;" and he made her a low bow. + +"Count, I beg to salute you most respectfully," he added, bowing still +more humbly to M. de Montbron; and he went out. + +Hardly had Rodin left the room than Adrienne ran to her desk, and writing +a few hasty lines, sealed the note, and said to M. de Montbron: "I shall +not see the prince before to-morrow--as much from superstition of the +heart as because it is necessary for my plans that this interview should +be attended with some little solemnity. You shall know all; but I write +to him on the instant, for, with an enemy like M. Rodin, one must be +prepared for all." + +"You are right, my dear child; quick! the letter." Adrienne gave it to +him. + +"I tell him enough," said she, "to calm his grief; and not enough to +deprive me of the delicious happiness of the surprise I reserve for to +morrow." + +"All this has as much sense as heart in it: I will hasten to the prince's +abode, to deliver your letter. I shall not see him, for I could not +answer for myself. But come! our proposed drive, our evening's amusement, +are still to hold good." + +"Certainly. I have more need than ever to divert my thoughts till to +morrow. I feel, too, that the fresh air will do me good, for this +interview with M. Rodin has warmed me a little." + +"The old wretch! but we will talk further of him. I will hasten to the +prince's and return with Madame de Morinval, to fetch you to the Champs +Elysees." + +The Count de Montbron withdrew precipitately, as joyful at his departure +as he had been sad on his arrival. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES + +It was about two hours after the interview of Rodin with Mdlle. de +Cardoville. Numerous loungers, attracted to the Champs-Elysees by the +serenity of a fine spring day (it was towards the end of the month of +March) stopped to admire a very handsome equipage. A bright-blue open +carriage, with white-and-blue wheels, drawn by four superb horses, of +cream color, with black manes, and harness glittering with silver +ornaments, mounted by two boy postilions of equal size, with black velvet +caps, light-blue cassimere jackets with white collars, buckskin breeches, +and top-boots; two tall, powdered footmen, also in light-blue livery, +with white collars and facings, being seated in the rumble behind. + +No equipage could have been turned out in better style. The horses, full +of blood, spirit, and vigor, were skillfully managed by the postilions, +and stepped with singular regularity, gracefully keeping time in their +movements, champing their bits covered with foam, and ever and anon +shaking their cockades of blue and white silk, with long floating ends, +and a bright rose blooming in the midst. + +A man on horseback, dressed with elegant simplicity, keeping at the other +side of the avenue, contemplated with proud satisfaction this equipage +which he had, as it were, created. It was M. de Bonneville--Adrienne's +equerry, as M. de Montbron called him--for the carriage belonged to that +young lady. A change had taken place in the plan for this magic day's +amusement. M. de Montbron had not been able to deliver Mdlle. de +Cardoville's note to Prince Djalma. Faringhea had told him that the +prince had gone that morning into the country with Marshal Simon, and +would not be back before evening. The letter should be given him on his +arrival. Completely satisfied as to Djalma, knowing that he could find +these few lines, which, without informing him of the happiness that +awaited him, would at least give him some idea of it, Adrienne had +followed the advice of M. de Montbron, and gone to the drive in her own +carriage, to show all the world that she had quite made up her mind, in +spite of the perfidious reports circulated by the Princess de Saint +Dizier, to keep to her resolution of living by herself in her own way. +Adrienne wore a small white bonnet, with a fall of blonde, which well +became her rosy face and golden hair; her high dress of garnet-colored +velvet was almost hidden beneath a large green cashmere shawl. The young +Marchioness de Morinval, who was also very pretty and elegant, was seated +at her right. M. de Montbron occupied the front seat of the carriage. + +Those who know the Parisian world, or rather, that imperceptible fraction +of the world of Paris which goes every fine, sunny day to the Champs +Elysees, to see and be seen, will understand that the presence of Mdlle. +de Cardoville on that brilliant promenade was an extraordinary and +interesting event. + +The world (as it is called) could hardly believe its eyes, on seeing this +lady of eighteen, possessed of princely wealth, and belonging to the +highest nobility, thus prove to every one, by this appearance in public, +that she was living completely free and independent, contrary to all +custom and received notions of propriety. This kind of emancipation +appeared something monstrous, and people were almost astonished that the +graceful and dignified bearing of the young lady should belie so +completely the calumnies circulated by Madame de Saint-Dizier and her +friends, with regard to the pretended madness of her niece. Many beaux, +profiting by their acquaintance with the Marchioness de Morinval or M. de +Montbron, came by turns to pay their respects, and rode for a few minutes +by the side of the carriage, so as to have an opportunity of seeing, +admiring, and perhaps hearing, Mdlle. de Cardoville; she surpassed their +expectations, by talking with her usual grace and spirit. Then surprise +and enthusiasm knew no bounds. What had at first been blamed as an almost +insane caprice, was now voted a charming originality, and it only +depended on Mdlle. de Cardoville herself, to be declared from that day +the queen of elegance and fashion. The young lady understood very well +the impression she had made; she felt proud and happy, for she thought of +Djalma; when she compared him to all these men of fashion, her happiness +was the more increased. And, verily, these young men, most of whom had +never quitted Paris, or had ventured at most as far as Naples or Baden, +looked insignificant enough by the side of Djalma, who, at his age, had +so many times commanded and combated in bloody wars, and whose reputation +far courage and generosity, mentioned by travellers with admiration, had +already reached from India to Paris. And then, how could these charming +exquisites, with their small hats, their scanty frock-coats, and their +huge cravats, compare with the Indian prince, whose graceful and manly +beauty was still heightened by the splendor of a costume, at once so rich +and so picturesque? + +On this happy day, all was joy and love for Adrienne. The sun, setting in +a splendidly serene sky, flooded the promenade with its golden light. The +air was warm. Carriages and horsemen passed and repassed in rapid +succession; a light breeze played with the scarfs of the women, and the +plumes in their bonnets; all around was noise, movement, sunshine. +Adrienne, leaning back in her carriage, amused herself with watching this +busy scene, sparkling with Parisian luxury; but, in the vortex of this +brilliant chaos, she saw in thought the mild, melancholy countenance of +Djalma--when suddenly something fell into her lap, and she started. It +was a bunch of half-faded violets. At the same instant she heard a +child's voice following the carriage, and saying: "For the love of +heaven, my good lady, one little sou!" Adrienne turned her head, and saw +a poor little girl, pale and wan, with mild, sorrowful features, scarcely +covered with rags, holding out her hand, and raising her eyes in +supplication. Though the striking contrast of extreme misery, side by +side with extreme luxury, is so common, that it no longer excites +attention, Adrienne was deeply affected by it. She thought of Mother +Bunch, now, perhaps, the victim of frightful destitution. + +"Ah! at least," thought the young lady, "let not this day be one of +happiness for me alone!" + +She leaned from the carriage-window, and said to the poor child: "Have +you a mother, my dear?" + +"No, my lady, I have neither father nor mother." + +"Who takes care of you?" + +"No one, my lady. They give me nosegays to sell, and I must bring home +money--or they beat me." + +"Poor little thing!" + +"A sou, my good lady--a sou, for the love of heaven!" said the child, +continuing to follow the carriage, which was then moving slowly. + +"My dear count," said Adrienne, smiling, and addressing M. de Montbron, +"you are, unfortunately, no novice at an elopement. Please to stretch +forth your arms, take up that child with both hands, and lift her into +the carriage. We can hide her between Lady de Morinval and myself; and we +can drive away before any one perceives this audacious abduction." + +"What!" said the count, in surprise. "You wish--" + +"Yes; I beg you to do it." + +"What a folly!" + +"Yesterday, you might, perhaps, have treated this caprice as a folly; but +to-day," said Adrienne, laying great stress upon the word, and glancing +at M. de Montbron with a significant air, "to-day, you should understand +that it is almost a duty." + +"Yes, I understand you, good and noble heart!" said the count, with +emotion; while Lady de Morinval, who knew nothing of Mdlle. de +Cardoville's love for Djalma, looked with as much surprise as curiosity +at the count and the young lady. + +M. de Montbron, leaning from the carriage, stretched out his arms towards +the child, and said to her: "Give me your hands, little girl." + +Though much astonished, the child obeyed mechanically, and held out both +her little arms; then the count took her by the wrists, and lifted her +lightly from the ground, which he did the more easily, as the carnage was +very low, and its progress by no means rapid. More stupefied than +frightened, the child said not a word. Adrienne and Lady de Morinval made +room for her to crouch down between them, and the little girl was soon +hidden beneath the shawls of the two young women. All this was executed +so quickly, that it was hardly perceived by a few persons passing in the +side-avenues. + +"Now, my dear count," said Adrienne, radiant with pleasure, "let us make +off at once with our prey." + +M. de Montbron half rose, and called to the postilions. "Home!" and the +four horses started at once into a rapid and regular trot. + +"This day of happiness now seems consecrated, and my luxury is excused," +thought Adrienne; "till I can again meet with that poor Mother Bunch, and +from this day I will make every exertion to find her out, her place will +at least not be quite empty." + +There are often strange coincidences in life. At the moment when this +thought of the hunchback crossed the mind of Adrienne, a crowd had +collected in one of the side-avenues, and other persons soon ran to join +the group. + +"Look, uncle!" said Lady de Morinval; "how many people are assembled +yonder. What can it be? Shall we stop, and send to inquire?" + +"I am sorry, my dear, but your curiosity cannot be satisfied," said the +count, drawing out his watch; "it will soon be six o'clock, and the +exhibition of the wild beasts begin at eight. We shall only just have +time to go home and dine. Is not that your opinion, my dear child?" said +he to Adrienne. + +"And yours, Julia?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville to the marchioness. + +"Oh, certainly!" answered her friend. + +"I am the less inclined to delay," resumed the count, "as when I have +taken you to the Porte-Saint-Martin, I shall be obliged to go for half +an-hour to my club, to ballot for Lord Campbell, whom I propose." + +"Then, Adrienne and I will be left alone at the play, uncle?" + +"Your husband will go with you, I suppose." + +"True, dear uncle; but do not quite leave us, because of that." + +"Be sure I shall not: for I am curious as you are to see these terrible +animals, and the famous Morok, the incomparable lion-tamer." + +A few minutes after, Mdlle. de Cardoville's carriage had left the Champs +Elysees, carrying with it the little girl, and directing its course +towards the Rue d'Anjou. As the brilliant equipage disappeared from the +scene, the crowd, of which we before have spoken, greatly increased about +one of the large trees in the Champs-Elysees, and expressions of pity +were heard here and there amongst the groups. A lounger approached a +young man on the skirts of the crowd, and said to him: "What is the +matter, sir?" + +"I hear it is a poor young girl, a hunchback, that has fallen from +exhaustion." + +"A hunchback! is that all? There will always be enough hunchbacks," said +the lounger, brutally, with a coarse laugh. + +"Hunchback or not, if she dies of hunger," answered the young man, +scarcely able to restrain his indignation, "it will be no less sad--and +there is really nothing to laugh at, sir." + +"Die of hunger! pooh!" said the lounger, shrugging his shoulders. "It is +only lazy scoundrels, that will not work, who die of hunger. And it +serves them right." + +"I wager, sir, there is one death you will never die of," cried the young +man, incensed at the cruel insolence of the lounger. + +"What do you mean?" answered the other, haughtily. + +"I mean, sir, that your heart is not likely to kill you." + +"Sir!" cried the lounger in an angry tone. + +"Well! what, sir?" replied the young man, looking full in his face. + +"Nothing," said the lounger, turning abruptly on his heel, and grumbling +as he sauntered towards an orange-colored cabriolet, on which was +emblazoned an enormous coat-of-arms, surmounted by a baron's crest. A +servant in green livery, ridiculously laced with gold, was standing +beside the horse, and did not perceive his master. + +"Are you catching flies, fool?" said the latter, pushing him with his +cane. The servant turned round in confusion. "Sir," said he. + +"Will you never learn to call me Monsieur le Baron, rascal?" cried his +master, in a rage--"Open the door directly!" + +The lounger was Baron Tripeaud, the manufacturing baron the stock-jobber. +The poor hunchback was Mother Bunch, who had, indeed fallen with hunger +and fatigue, whilst on her way to Mdlle. de Cardoville's. The unfortunate +creature had found courage to brave the shame of the ridicule she so much +feared, by returning to that house from which she was a voluntary exile; +but this time, it was not for herself, but for her sister Cephyse--the +Bacchanal Queen, who had returned to Paris the previous day, and whom +Mother Bunch now sought, through the means of Adrienne, to rescue from a +most dreadful fate. + +Two hours after these different scenes, an enormous crowd pressed round +the doors of the Porte-Saint-Martin, to witness the exercises of Morok, +who was about to perform a mock combat with the famous black panther of +Java, named Death. Adrienne, accompanied by Lord and Lady de Morinval, +now stepped from a carriage at the entrance of the theatre. They were to +be joined in the course of the evening by M. de Montbron, whom they had +dropped, in passing, at his club. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. +BEHIND THE SCENES. + +The large theatre of the Porte-Saint-Martin was crowded by an impatient +multitude. All Paris had hurried with eager and burning curiosity to +Morok's exhibition. It is quite unnecessary to say that the lion-tamer +had completely abandoned his small taste in religious baubles, which he +had so successfully carried on at the White Falcon Inn at Leipsic. There +were, moreover, numerous tokens by which the surprising effects of +Morok's sudden conversion had been blazoned in the most extraordinary +pictures: the antiquated baubles in which he had formerly dealt would +have found no sale in Paris. Morok had nearly finished dressing himself, +in one of the actor's rooms, which had been lent to him. Over a coat of +mail, with cuishes and brassarts, he wore an ample pair of red trousers, +fastened round his ankles by broad rings of gilt brass. His long caftan +of black cloth, embroidered with scarlet and gold, was bound round his +waist and wrist by other large rings of gilt metal. This sombre costume +imparted to him an aspect still more ferocious. His thick and red-haired +beard fell in large quantities down to his chest, and a long piece of +white muslin was folded round his red head. A devout missionary in +Germany and an actor in Paris, Morok knew as well as his employers, the +Jesuits, how to accommodate himself to circumstances. + +Seated in one corner of the room, and contemplating with a sort of stupid +admiration, was Jacques Rennepont, better known as "Sleepinbuff" (from +the likelihood that he would end his days in rags, or his present +antipathy to great care in dress). Since the day Hardy's factory had been +destroyed by fire, Jacques had not quitted Morok, passing the nights in +excesses, which had no baneful effects on the iron constitution of the +lion-tamer. On the other's features, on the contrary, a great alteration +was perceptible; his hollow cheeks, marble pallor, his eyes, by turns +dull and heavy, or gleaming with lurid fire, betrayed the ravages of +debauchery, his parched lips were almost constantly curled by a bitter +and sardonic smile. His spirit, once gay and sanguine, still struggled +against the besotting influence of habitual intoxication. Unfitted for +labor, no longer able to forego gross pleasures, Jacques sought to drown +in wine a few virtuous impulses which he still possessed, and had sunk so +low as to accept without shame the large dole of sensual gratification +proffered him by Morok, who paid all the expenses of their orgies, but +never gave him money, in order that he might be completely dependent on +him. After gazing at Morok for some time in amazement, Jacques said to +him, in a familiar tone: "Well, yours is a famous trade; you may boast +that, at this moment, there are not two men like you in the whole world +That's flattering. It's a pity you don't stick to this fine trade." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, how is the conspiracy going on, in whose honor you make me keep it +up all day and all night?" + +"It is working, but the time is not yet come; that is why I wish to have +you always at hand, till the great day. Do you complain?" + +"Hang it, no!" said Jacques. "What could I do? Burnt up with brandy as I +am, if I wanted to work, I've no longer the strength to do so. I have +not, like you, a head of marble, and a body of iron; but as for fuddling +myself with gunpowder, instead of anything else, that'll do for me; I'm +only fit for that work now--and then, it will drive away thought." + +"Oh what kind?" + +"You know that when I do think, I think only of one thing," said Jacques, +gloomily. + +"The Bacchanal queen?--still?" said Morok, in a disdainful tone. + +"Still! rather: when I shall think of her no longer, I shall be dead--or +stupefied. Fiend!" + +"You were never better or more intelligent, you fool!" replied Morok, +fastening his turban. The conversation was here interrupted. Morok's +aider entered hastily. + +The gigantic form of this Hercules had increased in width. He was habited +like Alcides; his enormous limbs, furrowed with veins as thick as +whipcord, were covered with a close-fitting flesh-colored garment, to +which a pair of red drawers formed a strong contrast. + +"Why do you rush in like a storm, Goliath?" said Morok. + +"There's a pretty storm in the house; they are beginning to get +impatient, and are calling out like madmen. But if that were all!" + +"Well, what else?" + +"Death will not be able to play this evening." + +Morok turned quickly around. He seemed uneasy. "Why so?" he exclaimed. + +"I have just seen her! she's crouching at the bottom of her cage; her +ears lie so close to her head, she looks as if they had been cut off. You +know what that means." + +"Is that all?" said Morok, turning to the glass to complete his head +dress. + +"It's quite enough; she's in one of her tearing fits. Since that night in +Germany, when she ripped up that old hack of a white horse, I've not seen +her look so savage! her eyes shine like burning candles." + +"Then she must have her fine collar on," said Morok, quietly. + +"Her fine collar?" + +"Yes; her spring-collar." + +"And I must be lady's-maid," said the giant. "A nice toilet to attend +to!" + +"Hold your tongue!" + +"That's not all--" continued Goliath, hesitating. + +"What more?" + +"I might as well tell you at once." + +"Will you speak?" + +"Well! he is here." + +"Who, you stupid brute?" + +"The Englishman!" + +Morok started; his arms fell powerless by his side. Jacques was struck +with the lion-tamer's paleness and troubled countenance. + +"The Englishman!--you have seen him?" cried Morok, addressing Goliath. +"You are quite sure?" + +"Quite sure. I was looking through the peep-hole in the curtain; I saw +him in one of the stage-boxes--he wishes to see things close; he's easy +to recognize, with his pointed forehead, big nose, and goggle eyes." + +Morok shuddered again; usually fierce and unmoved, he appeared to be more +and more agitated, and so alarmed, that Jacques said to him: "Who is this +Englishman?" + +"He has followed me from Strasburg, where he fell in with me," said +Morok, with visible dejection. "He travelled with his own horses, by +short stages, as I did; stopping where I stopped, so as never to miss one +of my exhibitions. But two days before I arrived at Paris, he left me--I +thought I was rid of him," said Morok, with a sigh. + +"Rid of him!--how you talk!" replied Jacques, surprised; "such a good +customer, such an admirer!" + +"Aye!" said Morok, becoming more and more agitated; "this wretch has +wagered an enormous sum, that I will be devoured in his presence, during +one of my performances: he hopes to win his wager--that is why he follows +me about." + +Sleepinbuff found the John Bull's idea so amusingly eccentric, that, for +the first time since a very long period, he burst into a peal of hearty +laughter. Morok, pale with rage, rushed towards him with so menacing an +air, that Goliath was obliged to interpose. + +"Come, come," said Jacques, "don't be angry; if it is serious, I will not +laugh any more." + +Morok was appeased, and said to Sleepinbuff in a hoarse voice: "Do you +think me a coward?" + +"No, by heaven!" + +"Well! And yet this Englishman, with his grotesque face, frightens me +more than any tiger or my panther!" + +"You say so, and I believe it," replied Jacques; "but I cannot understand +why the presence of this man should alarm you." + +"But consider, you dull knave!" cried Morok, "that, obliged to watch +incessantly the least movement of the ferocious beast, whom I keep in +subjection by my action and my looks, there is something terrible in +knowing that two eyes are there--always there--fixed--waiting till the +least absence of mind shall expose me to be torn in pieces by the +animals." + +"Now, I understand," said Jacques, shuddering in his turn. "It is +terrible." + +"Yes; for once there, though I may not see this cursed Englishman, I +fancy I have his two round eyes, fixed and wide open, always before me. +My tiger Cain once nearly mutilated my arm, when my attention was drawn +away by this Englishman, whom the devil take! Blood and thunder!" cried +Morok: "this man will be fatal to me." And Morok paced the room in great +agitation. + +"Besides, Death lays her ears close to her skull," said Goliath, +brutally. "If you persist--mind, I tell you--the Englishman will win his +wager this evening." + +"Go away, you brute!--don't vex my head with your confounded +predictions," cried Morok: "go and prepare Death's collar." + +"Well, every one to his taste; you wish the panther to taste you," said +the giant, stalking heavily away, after this joke. + +"But if you feel these fears," said Jacques, "why do you not say that the +panther is ill?" + +Morok shrugged his shoulders, and replied with a sort of feverish +ferocity, "Have you ever heard of the fierce pleasure of the gamester, +who stakes his honor, his life, upon a card? Well! I too--in these daily +exhibitions where my life is at stake--find a wild, fierce pleasure in +braving death, before a crowded assembly, shuddering and terrified at my +audacity. Yes, even in the fear with which this Englishman inspires me, I +find, in spite of myself, a terrible excitement, which I abhor, and which +yet subjugates me." + +At this moment, the stage-manager entered the room, and interrupted the +beast-tamer. "May we give the signal, M. Morok?" said the stage-manager. +"The overture will not last above ten minutes." + +"I am ready," said Morok. + +"The police-inspector has just now given orders, that the double chain of +the panther, and the iron ring riveted to the floor of the stage, at the +end of the cavern in the foreground, shall be again examined; and +everything has been reported quite secure." + +"Yes--secure--except for me," murmured the beast-tamer. + +"So, M. Morok, the signal may be given?" + +"The signal may--be given," replied Morok. And the manager went out. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +UP WITH THE CURTAIN. + +The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture +began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it. The +interior of the theatre offered a very animated view. With the exception +of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other +to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied. A great number of +very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange +wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes. The stalls were crowded by +most of the young men who; in the morning, had walked their horses on the +Champs-Elysees. The observations which passed from one stall to another, +will give some idea of their conversation. + +"Do you know, my dear boy, there would not be so crowded or fashionable +an audience to witness Racine's Athalia?" + +"Undoubtedly. What is the beggarly howling of an actor, compared to the +roaring of the lion?" + +"I cannot understand how the authorities permit this Morok to fasten his +panther with a chain to an iron ring in the corner of the stage. If the +chain were to break?" + +"Talking of broken chains--there's little Mme. de Blinville, who is no +tigress. Do you see her in the second tier, opposite?" + +"It becomes her very well to have broken, as you say, the marriage chain; +she looks very well this season." + +"Oh! there is the beautiful Duchess de Saint-Prix; all the world is here +to-night--I don't speak of ourselves." + +"It is a regular opera night--what a festive scene!" + +"Well, after all, people do well to amuse themselves, perhaps it will not +be for long." + +"Why so?" + +"Suppose the cholera were to come to Paris?" + +"Oh! nonsense!" + +"Do you believe in the cholera?" + +"To be sure I do! He's coming from the North, with his walking-stick +under his arm." + +"The devil take him on the road! don't let us see his green visage here." + +"They say he's at London." + +"A pleasant journey to him." + +"Come, let us talk of something else; it may be a weakness, if you +please, but I call this a dull subject." + +"I believe you." + +"Oh! gentlemen--I am not mistaken--no--it is she!" + +"Who, then?" + +"Mdlle. de Cardoville! She is coming into the stage-box with Morinval and +his wife. It is a complete resuscitation: this morning on the +Champs-Elysees; in the evening here." + +"Faith, you are right! It is Mdlle. de Cardoville." + +"Good heaven! how lovely she is!" + +"Lend me your eyeglass." + +"Well, what do you think of her?" + +"Exquisite--dazzling." + +"And in addition to her beauty, an inexhaustible flow of wit, three +hundred thousand francs a year, high birth, eighteen years of age, +and--free as air." + +"Yes, that is to say, that, provided it pleased her, I might be to +morrow--or even to-day--the happiest of men." + +"It is enough to turn one's brain." + +"I am told that her mansion, Rue d'Anjou, is like an enchanted palace; a +great deal is said about a bath-room and bedroom, worthy of the Arabian +Nights." + +"And free as air--I come back to that." + +"Ah! if I were in her place!" + +"My levity would be quite shocking." + +"Oh! gentlemen, what a happy man will he be who is loved first!" + +"You think, then, that she will have many lovers?" + +"Being as free as air--" + +"All the boxes are full, except the stage-box opposite to that in which +Mdlle. de Cardoville is seated. Happy the occupiers of that box!" + +"Did you see the English ambassador's lady in the dress circle?" + +"And the Princess d'Alvimar--what an enormous bouquet!" + +"I should like to know the name--of that nosegay." + +"Oh!--it's Germigny." + +"How flattering for the lions and tigers, to attract so fashionable an +audience." + +"Do you notice, gentlemen, how all the women are eye-glassing Mdlle. de +Cardoville?" + +"She makes a sensation." + +"She is right to show herself; they gave her out as mad." + +"Oh! gentlemen, what a capital phiz!" + +"Where--where?" + +"There--in the omnibus-box beneath Mdlle. de Cardoville's." + +"It's a Nuremburg nutcracker." + +"An ourang-outang!" + +"Did you ever see such round, staring eyes?" + +"And the nose!" + +"And the forehead!" + +"It's a caricature." + +"Order, order! the curtain rises." + +And, in fact, the curtain rose. Some explanation is necessary for the +clear understanding of what follows. In the lower stage-box, to the left +of the audience, were several persons, who had been referred to by the +young men in the stalls. The omnibus-box was occupied by the Englishman, +the eccentric and portentous bettor, whose presence inspired Morok with +so much dread. + +It would require Hoffman's rare and fantastic genius to describe worthily +that countenance, at once grotesque and frightful, as it stood out from +the dark background of the box. This Englishman was about fifty years +old; his forehead was quite bald, and of a conical shape; beneath this +forehead, surmounted by eyebrows like parenthesis marks, glittered large, +green eyes, remarkably round and staring, and set very close to a hooked +nose, extremely sharp and prominent; a chin like that on the old +fashioned nutcrackers was half-hidden in a broad and ample white cravat, +as stiffly-starched as the round-cornered shirt-collar, which nearly +touched his ears. The face was exceedingly thin and bony, and yet the +complexion was high-colored, approaching to purple, which made the bright +green of the pupils, and the white of the other part of the eyes, still +more conspicuous. The mouth, which was very wide, sometimes whistled +inaudibly the tune of a Scotch jig (always the same tune), sometimes was +slightly curled with a sardonic smite. The Englishman was dressed with +extreme care; his blue coat, with brass buttons, displayed his spotless +waistcoat, snowy, white as his ample cravat; his shirt was fastened with +two magnificent ruby studs, and his patrician hands were carefully kid +gloved. + +To any one who knew the eccentric and cruel desire which attracted this +man to every representation, his grotesque face became almost terrific, +instead of exciting ridicule; and it was easy to understand the dread +experience by Morok at sight of those great, staring round eyes, which +appeared to watch for the death of the lion-tamer (what a horrible +death!) with unshaken confidence. Above the dark box of the Englishman, +affording a graceful contrast, were seated the Morinvals and Mdlle. de +Cardoville. The latter was placed nearest the stage. Her head was +uncovered, and she wore a dress of sky-blue China crepe, ornamented at +the bosom with a brooch of the finest Oriental pearls--nothing more; yet +Adrienne, thus attired, was charming. She held in her hand an enormous +bouquet, composed of the rarest flowers of India: the stephanotis and the +gardenia mingled the dead white of their blossoms with the purple +hibiscus and Java amaryllis. + +Madame de Morinval, seated on the opposite side of the box, was dressed +with equal taste and simplicity; Morinval, a fair and very handsome young +man, of elegant appearance, was behind the two ladies. M. de Montbron was +expected to arrive every moment. The reader will please to recollect that +the stage-box to the right of the audience, opposite Adrienne's, had +remained till then quite empty. The stage represented one of the gigantic +forests of India. In the background, tall exotic trees rose in spiral or +spreading forms, among rugged masses of perpendicular rocks, with here +and there glimpses of a tropical sky. The side-scenes formed tufts of +trees, interspersed with rocks; and at the side which was immediately +beneath Adrienne's box appeared the irregular opening of a deep and +gloomy cavern, round which were heaped huge blocks of granite, as if +thrown together by some convulsion of nature. This scenery, full of a +wild and savage grandeur, was wonderfully "built up," so as to make the +illusion as complete as possible; the footlights were lowered, and being +covered with a purple shade, threw over this landscape a subdued reddish +light, which increased the gloomy and startling effect of the whole. +Adrienne, leaning forward from the box, with cheeks slightly flushed, +sparkling eyes, and throbbing heart, sought to trace in this scene the +solitary forest described by the traveller who had eulogized Djalma's +generosity and courage, when he threw himself upon a ferocious tigress to +save the life of a poor black slave. Chance coincided wonderfully indeed +with her recollections. Absorbed in the contemplation of the scenery and +the thoughts it awakened in her heart, she paid no attention to what was +passing in the house. And yet something calculated to excite curiosity +was taking place in the opposite stage-box. + +The door of this box opened. A man about forty years of age, of a yellow +complexion, entered; he was clothed after the East Indian fashion, in a +long robe of orange silk, bound round the waist with a green sash, and he +wore a small white turban. He placed two chairs at the front of the box; +and, having glanced round the house for a moment, he started, his black +eyes sparkled, and he went out quickly. That man was Faringhea. His +apparition caused surprise and curiosity in the theatre; the majority of +the spectators not having, like Adrienne, a thousand reasons for being +absorbed in the contemplation of a picturesque set scene. The public +attention was still more excited when they saw the box which Faringhea +had just left, entered by a youth of rare beauty, also dressed Oriental +fashion, in a long robe of white Cashmere with flowing sleeves, with a +scarlet turban striped with gold on his head, and a sash to correspond, +in which was stuck a long dagger, glittering with precious stones. This +young man was Prince Djalma. For an instant he remained standing at the +door, and cast a look of indifference upon the immense theatre, crowded +with people; then, stepping forward with a majestic and tranquil air, the +prince seated himself negligently on one of the chairs, and, turning his +head in a few moments towards the entrance, appeared surprised at not +seeing some person whom he doubtless expected. This person appeared at +length; the boxkeeper had been assisting her to take off her cloak. She +was a charming, fair-haired girl, attired with more show than taste, in a +dress of white silk, with broad cherry-colored stripes, made ultra +fashionably low, and with short sleeves; a large bow of cherry-colored +ribbon was placed on each side of her light hair, and set off the +prettiest, sprightliest, most wilful little face in the world. + +It was Rose-Pompon. Her pretty arms were partly covered by long white +gloves, and ridiculously loaded with bracelets: in her hand she carried +an enormous bouquet of roses. + +Far from imitating the calm demeanor of Djalma, Rose-Pompon skipped into +the box, moved the chairs about noisily, and fidgeted on her seat for +some time, to display her fine dress; then, without being in the least +intimidated by the presence of the brilliant assembly, she, with a little +coquettish air, held her bouquet towards Djalma, that he might smell it, +and appeared finally to establish herself on her seat. Faringhea came in, +shut the door of the box, and seated himself behind the prince. Adrienne, +still completely absorbed in the contemplation of the Indian forest, and +in her own sweet thoughts, had not observed the newcomers. As she was +turning her head completely towards the stage, and Djalma could not, for +the moment, see even her profile, he, on his side, had not recognized +Mdlle. de Cardoville. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DEATH. + +The pantomime opening, by which was introduced the combat of Morok with +the black panther, was so unmeaning, that the majority of the audience +paid no attention to it, reserving all their interest for the scene in +which the lion-tamer was to make his appearance. + +This indifference of the public explains the curiosity excited in the +theatre by the arrival of Faringhea and Djalma--a curiosity which +expressed itself (as at this day, when uncommon foreigners appear in +public) by a slight murmur and general movement amongst the crowd. The +sprightly, pretty face of Rose-Pompon, always charming, in spite of her +singularly staring dress, in style so ridiculous for such a theatre, and +her light and familiar manner towards the handsome Indian who accompanied +her, increased and animated the general surprise; for, at this moment, +Rose-Pompon, yielding without reserve to a movement of teasing coquetry, +had held up, as we have already stated, her large bunch of roses to +Djalma. But the prince, at sight of the landscape which reminded him of +his country, instead of appearing sensible to this pretty, provocation, +remained for some minutes as in a dream, with his eyes fixed upon the +stage. Then Rose-Pompon began to beat time on the front of the box with +her bouquet, whilst the somewhat too visible movement of her pretty +shoulders showed that this devoted dancer was thinking of fast-life +dances, as the orchestra struck up a more lively strain. + +Placed directly opposite the box in which Faringhea, Djalma, and Rose +Pompon had just taken their seats, Lady Morinval soon perceived the +arrival of these two personages, and particularly the eccentric +coquetries of Rose-Pompon. Immediately, the young marchioness, leaning +over towards Mdlle. de Cardoville, who was still absorbed in memories +ineffable, said to her, laughing: "My dear, the most amusing part of the +performance is not upon the stage. Look just opposite." + +"Just opposite?" repeated Adrienne, mechanically: and, turning towards +Lady Morinval with an air of surprise, she glanced in the direction +pointed out. + +She looked--what did she see?--Djalma seated by the side of a young +woman, who was familiarly offering to his sense of smell the perfume of +her bouquet. Amazed, struck almost literally to the heart, as by an +electric shock, swift, sharp, and painful, Adrienne became deadly pale. +From instinct, she shut her eyes for a second, in order not to see--as +men try to ward off the dagger, which, having once dealt the blow, +threatens to strike again. Then suddenly, to this feeling of grief +succeeded a reflection, terrible both to her love and to her wounded +pride. + +"Djalma is present with this woman, though he must have received my +letter," she said to herself,--"wherein he was informed of the happiness +that awaited him." + +At the idea of so cruel an insult, a blush of shame and indignation +displaced Adrienne's paleness, who overwhelmed by this sad reality, said +to herself: "Rodin did not deceive me." + +We abandon all idea of picturing the lightning-like rapidity of certain +emotions which in a moment may torture--may kill you in the space of a +minute. Thus Adrienne was precipitated from the most radiant happiness to +the lowest depths of an abyss of the most heart-rending grief, in less +than a second; for a second had hardly elapsed before she replied to Lady +Morinval: "What is there, then, so curious, opposite to us, my dear +Julia?" + +This evasive question gave Adrienne time to recover her self-possession. +Fortunately, thanks to the thick folds of hair which almost entirely +concealed her cheeks, the rapid and sudden changes from pallor to blush +escaped the notice of Lady Morinval, who gayly replied: "What, my dear, +do you not perceive those East Indians, who have just entered the box +immediately opposite to ours? There, just before us!" + +"Yes, I see them; but what then?" replied Adrienne, in a firm tone. + +"And don't you observe anything remarkable?" said the marchioness. + +"Don't be too hard, ladies," laughingly interposed the marquis; "we ought +to allow the poor foreigners some little indulgence. They are ignorant of +our manners and customs; were it not for that, they would never appear in +the face of all Paris in such dubious company." + +"Indeed," said Adrienne, with a bitter smile, "their simplicity is +touching; we must pity them." + +"And, unfortunately, the girl is charming, spite of her low dress and +bare arms," said the marchioness; "she cannot be more than sixteen or +seventeen at most. Look at her, my dear Adrienne; what a pity!" + +"It is one of your charitable days, my dear Julia," answered Adrienne; +"we are to pity the Indians, to pity this creature, and--pray, whom else +are we to pity?" + +"We will not pity that handsome Indian, in his red-and-gold turban," said +the marquis, laughing, "for, if this goes on, the girl with the cherry +colored ribbons will be giving him a kiss. See how she leans towards her +sultan." + +"They are very amusing," said the marchioness, sharing the hilarity of +her husband, and looking at Rose-Pompom through her glass; then she +resumed, in about a minute, addressing herself to Adrienne: "I am quite +certain of one thing. Notwithstanding her giddy airs, that girl is very +fond of her Indian. I just saw a look that expresses a great deal." + +"Why so much penetration, my dear Julia?" said Adrienne, mildly; "what +interest have we to read the heart of that girl?" + +"Why, if she loves her sultan, she is quite in the right," said the +marquis, looking through his opera-glass in turn; "for, in my whole life, +I never saw a more handsome fellow than that Indian. I can only catch his +side-face, but the profile is pure and fine as an antique cameo. Do you +not think so?" added the marquis, leaning towards Adrienne. "Of course, +it is only as a matter of art, that I permit myself to ask you the +question." + +"As a work of art," answered Adrienne, "it is certainly very fine." + +"But see!" said the marchioness; "how impertinent the little creature +is!--She is actually staring at us." + +"Well!" said the marquis; "and she is actually laying her hand quite +unceremoniously on her sultan's shoulder, to make him share, no doubt, in +her admiration of you ladies." + +In fact, Djalma, until now occupied with the contemplation of the scene +which reminded him of his country, had remained insensible to the +enticements of Rose-Pompon, and had not yet perceived Adrienne. + +"Well, now!" said Rose-Pompon, bustling herself about in front of the +box, and continuing to stare at Mdlle. de Cardoville, for it was she, and +not the marchioness, who now drew her attention; "that is something quite +out of the common way--a pretty woman, with red hair; but such sweet red, +it must be owned. Look, Prince Charming!" + +And so saying, she tapped Djalma lightly on the shoulder; he started at +these words, turned round, and for the first time perceived Mdlle. de +Cardoville. + +Though he had been almost prepared for this meeting, the prince was so +violently affected by it, that he was about involuntarily to rise, in a +state of the utmost confusion; but he felt the iron hand of Faringhea +laid heavily on his shoulder, and heard him whisper in Hindostanee: +"Courage! and by to-morrow she will be at your feet." + +As Djalma still struggled to rise, the half-caste added to restrain him: +"Just now, she grew pale and red with jealousy. No weakness, or all is +lost!" + +"So! there you are again, talking your dreadful gibberish," said Rose +Pompon, turning round towards Faringhea. "First of all, it is not polite; +and then the language is so odd, that one might suppose you were cracking +nuts." + +"I spoke of you to my master," said the half-caste; "he is preparing a +surprise for you." + +"A surprise? oh! that is different. Only make haste--do you hear, Prince +Charming!" added she, looking tenderly at Djalma. + +"My heart is breaking," said Djalma, in a hollow voice to Faringhea, +still using the language of India. + +"But to-morrow it will bound with joy and love," answered the half-caste. +"It is only by disdain that you can conquer a proud woman. To-morrow, I +tell you, she will be trembling, confused, supplicating, at your feet!" + +"To-morrow, she will hate me like death!" replied the prince, mournfully. + +"Yes, were she now to see you weak and cowardly. It is now too late to +draw back; look full at her, take the nosegay from this girl, and raise +it to your lips. Instantly, you will see yonder woman, proud as she is, +grow pale and red, as just now. Then will you believe me?" + +Reduced by despair to make almost any attempt, and fascinated, in spite +of himself, by the diabolical hints of Faringhea, Djalma looked for a +second full at Mdlle. de Cardoville; then, with a trembling hand he took +the bouquet from Rose-Pompon, and, again looking at Adrienne, pressed it +to his lips. + +Upon this insolent bravado, Mdlle. de Cardoville could not restrain so +sudden and visible a pang, that the prince was struck by it. + +"She is yours," said the half-caste, to him. "Did you see, my lord, how +she trembled with jealousy?--Only have courage! and she is yours. She +will soon prefer you to that handsome young man behind her--for it is he +whom she has hitherto fancied herself in love with." + +As if the half-caste had guessed the movement of rage and hatred, which +this revelation would excite in the heart of the prince, he hastily +added: "Calmness and disdain! Is it not his turn now to hate you?" + +The prince restrained himself, and drew his hand across his forehead +which glowed with anger. + +"There now! what are you telling him, that vexes him so?" said Rose +Pompon to Faringhea, with pouting lip. Then, addressing Djalma, she +continued: "Come, Prince Charming, as they say in the fairy-tale, give me +back my flowers." + +As she took it again, she added: "You have kissed it, and I could almost +eat it." Then, with a sigh, and a passionate glance at Djalma, she said +softly to herself: "That monster Ninny Moulin did not deceive me. All +this is quite proper; I have not even that to reproach myself with." And +with her little white teeth, she bit at a rosy nail of her right hand, +from which she had just drawn the glove. + +It is hardly necessary to say, that Adrienne's letter had not been +delivered to the prince, and that he had not gone to pass the day in the +country with Marshal Simon. During the three days in which Montbron had +not seen Djalma, Faringhea had persuaded him, that, by affecting another +passion, he would bring Mdlle. de Cardoville to terms. With regard to +Djalma's presence at the theatre, Rodin had learned from her maid, +Florine, that her mistress was to go in the evening to the Porte-Saint +Martin. Before Djalma had recognized her, Adrienne, who felt her strength +failing her, was on the point of quitting the theatre; the man, whom she +had hitherto placed so high, whom she had regarded as a hero and a +demi-god and whom she had imagined plunged in such dreadful despair, +that, led by the most tender pity, she had written to him with simple +frankness, that a sweet hope might calm his grief--replied to a generous +mark of sincerity and love, by making himself a ridiculous spectacle with +a creature unworthy of him. What incurable wounds for Adrienne's pride! +It mattered little, whether Djalma knew or not, that she would be a +spectator of the indignity. But when she saw herself recognized by the +prince, when he carried the insult so far as to look full at her, and, at +the same time, raise to his lips the creature's bouquet who accompanied +him, Adrienne was seized with noble indignation, and felt sufficient +courage to remain: instead of closing her eyes to evidence, she found a +sort of barbarous pleasure in assisting at the agony and death of her +pure and divine love. With head erect, proud and flashing eye, flushed +cheek, and curling lip, she looked in her turn at the prince with +disdainful steadiness. It was with a sardonic smile that she said to the +marchioness, who, like many others of the spectators was occupied with +what was passing in the stage-box: "This revolting exhibition of savage +manners is at least in accordance with the rest of the performance." + +"Certainly," said the marchioness; "and my dear uncle will have lost, +perhaps, the most amusing part." + +"Montbron?" said Adrienne, hastily, with hardly repressed bitterness; +"yes, he will regret not having seen all. I am impatient for his arrival. +Is it not to him that I am indebted for his charming evening?" + +Perhaps Madame de Morinval would have remarked the expression of bitter +irony, that Adrienne could not altogether dissemble, if suddenly a hoarse +and prolonged roar had net attracted her attention, as well as that of +the rest of the audience, who had hitherto been quite indifferent to the +scenes intended for an introduction to the appearance of Morok. Every eye +was now turned instinctively towards the cavern situated to the left of +the stage, just below Mdlle. de Cardoville's box; a thrill of curiosity +ran through the house. A second roar, deeper and more sonorous, and +apparently expressive of more irritation than the first, now rose from +the cave, the mouth of which was half-hidden by artificial brambles, made +so as to be easily put on one side. At this sound, the Englishman stood +up in his little box, leaned half over the front, and began to rub his +hands with great energy; then, remaining perfectly motionless, he fixed +his large, green, glittering eyes on the mouth of the cavern. + +At these ferocious howlings, Djalma also had started, notwithstanding the +frenzy of love, hate, and jealousy, to which he was a prey. The sight of +this forest, and the roarings of the panther, filled him with deep +emotion, for they recalled the remembrance of his country, and of those +great hunts which, like war, have their own terrible excitement. Had he +suddenly heard the horns and gongs of his father's army sounding to the +charge, he could not have been transported with more savage ardor. And +now deep growls, like distant thunder, almost drowned the roar of the +panther. The lion and tiger, Judas and Cain answered her from their dens +at the back of the stage. On this frightful concert, with which his ears +had been familiar in the midst of the solitudes of India, when he lay +encamped, for the purposes of the chase or of war, Djalma's blood boiled +in his veins. His eyes sparkled with a wild ardor. Leaning a little +forward, with both hands pressed on the front of the box, his whole body +trembled with a convulsive shudder. The audience, the theatre, Adrienne +herself no longer existed for him; he was in a forest of his own lands, +tracking the tiger. + +Then there mingled with his beauty so intrepid and ferocious an +expression, that Rose-Pompon looked at him with a sort of terror and +passionate admiration. For the first time in her life, perhaps, her +pretty blue eyes, generally so gay and mischievous; expressed a serious +emotion. She could not explain what she felt; but her heart seemed +frightened, and beat violently, as though some calamity were at hand. + +Yielding to a movement of involuntary fear, she seized Djalma by the arm, +and said to him: "Do not stare so into that cavern; you frighten me." + +Djalma did not hear what she said. + +"Here he is! here he is!" murmured the crowd, almost with one voice, as +Morok appeared at the back of the stage. + +Dressed as we have described, Morok now carried in addition a bow and a +long quiver full of arrows. He slowly descended the line of painted +rocks, which came sloping down towards the centre of the stage. From time +to time, he stopped as if to listen, and appeared to advance with +caution. Looking from one side to the other, his eyes involuntarily +encountered the large, green eyes of the Englishman, whose box was close +to the cavern. Instantly the lion-tamer's countenance was contracted in +so frightful a manner, that Lady Morinval, who was examining him closely +with the aid of an excellent glass, said hastily to Adrienne: "My dear, +the man is afraid. Some misfortune will happen." + +"How can accidents happen," said Adrienne, with a sardonic smile, "in the +midst of this brilliant crowd, so well dressed and full of animation! +Misfortunes here, this evening! why, dear Julia, you do not think it. It +is in darkness and solitude that misfortunes come--never in the midst of +a joyous crowd, and in all this blaze of light." + +"Good gracious, Adrienne! take care!" cried the marchioness, unable to +repress an exclamation of alarm, and seizing her arm, as if to draw her +closer; "do you not see it?" And with a trembling hand, she pointed to +the cavern's mouth. Adrienne hastily bent forward, and looked in that +direction. "Take care, do not lean so forward!" exclaimed Lady Morinval. + +"Your terrors are nonsensical, my dear," said the marquis to his wife. +"The panther is securely chained; and even were it to break its chains +(which is impossible), we are here beyond its reach." + +A long murmur of trembling curiosity here ran through the house, and +every eye was intently fixed on the cavern. From amongst the artificial +brambles, which she abruptly pushed aside with her broad chest, the black +panther suddenly appeared. Twice she stretched forth her flat head, +illumined by yellow, flaming eyes; then, half-opening her blood-red jaws, +she uttered another roar, and exhibited two rows of formidable fangs. A +double iron chain, and a collar also of iron, painted black, blended with +the ebon shades of her hide, and with the darkness of the cavern. The +illusion was complete, and the terrible animal seemed to be at liberty in +her den. + +"Ladies," said the marquis, suddenly, "look at those Indians. Their +emotion makes them superb!" + +In fact, the sight of the panther had raised the wild ardor of Djalma to +its utmost pitch. His eyes sparkled in their pearly orbits like two black +diamonds; his upper lip was curled convulsively with an expression of +animal ferocity, as if he were in a violent paroxysm of rage. + +Faringhea, now leaning on the front of the box, was also greatly excited, +by reason of a strange coincidence. "That black panther of so rare a +breed," thought he, "which I see here at Paris, upon the stage, must be +the very one that the Malay"--the Thug who had tatooed Djalma at Java +during his sleep--"took quite young from his den, and sold to a European +captain. Bowanee's power is everywhere!" added the Thug, in his +sanguinary superstition. + +"Do you not think," resumed the marquis, addressing Adrienne, "that those +Indians are really splendid in their present attitude?" + +"Perhaps they may have seen such a hunt in their own country," said +Adrienne, as if she would recall and brave the most cruel remembrances. + +"Adrienne," said the marchioness, suddenly, in an agitated voice, "the +lion-tamer has now come nearer--is not his countenance fearful to look +at?--I tell you he is afraid." + +"In truth," observed the marquis, this time very seriously, "he is +dreadfully pale, and seems to grow worse every minute, the nearer he +approaches this side. It is said that, were he to lose his presence of +mind for a single moment, he would run the greatest danger." + +"O! it would be horrible!" cried the marchioness, addressing Adrienne, +"if he were wounded--there--under our eyes!" + +"Every wound does not kill," replied her friend, with an accent of such +cold indifference, that the marchioness looked at her with surprise, and +said to her: "My dear girl, what you say there is cruel!" + +"It is the air of the place that acts on me," answered Adrienne, with an +icy smile. + +"Look! look! the lion-tamer is about to shoot his arrow at the panther," +said the marquis, suddenly. "No doubt, he will next perform the hand to +hand grapple." + +Morok was at this moment in front of the stage, but he had yet to +traverse its entire breadth to reach the cavern's mouth. He stopped an +instant, adjusted an arrow to the string, knelt down behind a mass of +rock, took deliberate aim--and then the arrow hissed across the stage, +and was lost in the depths of the cavern, into which the panther had +retired, after showing for a moment her threatening head to the audience. +Hardly had the arrow disappeared, than Death, purposely irritated by +Goliath (who was invisible) sent forth a howl of rage, as if she had been +really wounded. Morok's actions became so expressive, he evinced so +naturally his joy at having hit the wild beast, that a tempest of +applause burst from every quarter of the house. Then, throwing away his +bow, he drew a dagger from his girdle, took it between his teeth, and +began to crawl forward on hands and knees, as though he meant to surprise +the wounded panther in his den. To render the illusion perfect, Death, +again excited by Goliath, who struck him with an iron bar, sent forth +frightful howlings from the depths of the cavern. + +The gloomy aspect of the forest, only half-lighted with a reddish glare, +was so effective--the howlings of the panther were so furious--the +gestures, attitude, and countenance of Morok were so expressive of +terror, that the audience, attentive and trembling, now maintained a +profound silence. Every one held his breath, and a kind of shudder came +over the spectators, as though they expected some horrible event. What +gave such a fearful air of truth to the pantomime of Morok, was that, as +he approached the cavern step by step, he approached also the +Englishman's box. In spite of himself, the lion-tamer, fascinated by +terror, could not take his eyes from the large green eyes of this man, +and it seemed as if every one of the abrupt movements which he made in +crawling along, was produced by a species of magnetic attraction, caused +by the fixed gaze of the fatal wagerer. Therefore, the nearer Morok +approached, the more ghastly and livid he became. At sight of this +pantomime, which was no longer acting, but the real expression of intense +fear, the deep and trembling silence which had reigned in the theatre was +once more interrupted by acclamations, with which were mingled the +roarings of the panther, and the distant growls of the lion and tiger. + +The Englishman leaned almost out of his box, with a frightful sardonic +smile on his lip, and with his large eyes still fixed, panted for breath. +The perspiration ran down his bald red forehead, as if he had really +expended an incredible amount of magnetic power in attracting Morok, whom +he now saw close to the cavern entrance. The moment was decisive. +Crouching down with his dagger in his hand, following with eye and +gesture Death's every movement, who, roaring furiously, and opening wide +her enormous jaws, seemed determined to guard the entrance of her den, +Morok waited for the moment to rush upon her. There is such fascination +in danger, that Adrienne shared, in spite of herself, the feeling of +painful curiosity, mixed with terror, that thrilled through all the +spectators. Leaning forward like the marchioness, and gazing upon this +scene of fearful interest, the lady still held mechanically in her hand +the Indian bouquet preserved since the morning. Suddenly, Morok raised a +wild shout, as he rushed towards Death, who answered this exclamation by +a dreadful roar, and threw herself upon her master with so much fury, +that Adrienne, in alarm, believing the man lost, drew herself back, and +covered her fact with her hands. Her flowers slipped from her grasp, and, +falling upon the stage, rolled into the cavern in which Morok was +struggling with the panther. + +Quick as lightning, supple and agile as a tiger, yielding to the +intoxication of his love, and to the wild ardor excited in him by the +roaring of the panther, Djalma sprang at one bound upon the stage, drew +his dagger, and rushed into the cavern to recover Adrienne's nosegay. At +that instant, Morok, being wounded, uttered a dreadful cry for help; the +panther, rendered still more furious at sight of Djalma, make the most +desperate efforts to break her chain. Unable to succeed in doing so, she +rose upon her hind legs, in order to seize Djalma, then within reach of +her sharp claws. It was only by bending down his head, throwing himself +on his knees, and twice plunging his dagger into her belly with the +rapidity of lightning, that Djalma escaped certain death. The panther +gave a howl, and fell with her whole weight upon the prince. For a +second, during which lasted her terrible agony, nothing was seen but a +confused and convulsive mass of black limbs, and white garments stained +with blood--and then Djalma rose, pale, bleeding, for he was wounded--and +standing erect, his eye flashing with savage pride, his foot on the body +of the panther, he held in his hand Adrienne's bouquet, and cast towards +her a glance which told the intensity of his love. Then only did Adrienne +feel her strength fail her--for only superhuman courage had enabled her +to watch all the terrible incidents of the struggle. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wandering Jew, Book VIII., by Eugene Sue + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERING JEW, BOOK VIII. *** + +***** This file should be named 3346.txt or 3346.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/4/3346/ + +Produced by David Widger and Pat Castevens + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> +and Pat Castevens <patcat@ctnet.net> + + + + + +The Wandering Jew + +by Eugene Sue + + + + +BOOK VIII. + +by Eugene Sue + + + +PART THIRD.--THE REDEMPTION. + +I. The Wandering Jew's Chastisement +II. The Descendants of the Wandering Jew +III. The Attack +IV. The Wolves and the Devourers +V. The Return +VI. The Go-Between +VII. Another Secret +VIII. The Confession +IX. Love +X. The Execution +XI. The Champs-Elysees +XII. Behind the Scenes +XIII. Up with the Curtain +XIV. Death + + + + +PART THIRD.--THE REDEMPTION. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE WANDERING JEW'S CHASTISEMENT. + +'Tis night--the moon is brightly shining, the brilliant stars are +sparkling in a sky of melancholy calmness, the shrill whistlings of a +northerly wind--cold, bleak, and evil-bearing--are increasing: winding +about, and bursting into violent blasts, with their harsh and hissing +gusts, they are sweeping the heights of Montmartre. A man is standing on +the very summit of the hill; his lengthened shadow, thrown out by the +moon's pale beams, darkens the rocky ground in the distance. The +traveller is surveying the huge city lying at his feet--the City of +Paris--from whose profundities are cast up its towers, cupolas, domes, +and steeples, in the bluish moisture of the horizon; while from the very +centre of this sea of stones is rising a luminous vapor, reddening the +starry azure of the sky above. It is the distant light of a myriad lamps +which at night, the season for pleasure, is illuminating the noisy +capital. + +"No!" said the traveller, "it will not be. The Lord surely will not +suffer it. Twice is quite enough. Five centuries ago, the avenging hand +of the Almighty drove me hither from the depths of Asia. A solitary +wanderer, I left in my track more mourning, despair, disaster, and death, +than the innumerable armies of a hundred devastating conquerors could +have produced. I then entered this city, and it was decimated. Two +centuries ago that inexorable hand which led me through the world again +conducted me here; and on that occasion, as on the previous one, that +scourge, which at intervals the Almighty binds to my footsteps, ravaged +this city, attacking first my brethren, already wearied by wretchedness +and toil. My brethren! through me--the laborer of Jerusalem, cursed by +the Lord, who in my person cursed the race of laborers--a race always +suffering, always disinherited, always slaves, who like me, go on, on, +on, without rest or intermission, without recompense, or hope; until at +length, women, men, children, and old men, die under their iron yoke of +self-murder, that others in their turn then take up, borne from age to +age on their willing but aching shoulders. And here again, for the third +time, in the course of five centuries, I have arrived at the summit of +one of the hills which overlooks the city; and perhaps I bring again with +me terror, desolation, and death. And this unhappy city, intoxicated in +a whirl of joys, and nocturnal revelries, knows nothing about it--oh! it +knows not that I am at its very gate. But no! no! my presence will not +be a source of fresh calamity to it. The Lord, in His unsearchable +wisdom, has brought me hither across France, making me avoid on my route +all but the humblest villages, so that no increase of the funeral knell +has, marked my journey. And then, moreover, the spectre has left me-- +that spectre, livid and green, with its deep bloodshot eyes. When I +touched the soil of France, its moist and icy hand abandoned mine--it +disappeared. And yet I feel the atmosphere of death surrounding me +still. There is no cessation; the biting gusts of this sinister wind, +which envelop me in their breath, seem by their envenomed breath to +propagate the scourge. Doubtless the anger of the Lord is appeased. +Maybe, my presence here is meant only as a threat, intending to bring +those to their senses whom it ought to intimidate. It must be so; for +were it otherwise, it would, on the contrary, strike a loud-sounding blow +of greater terror, casting at once dread and death into the very heart of +the country, into the bosom of this immense city. Oh, no! no! the Lord +will have mercy; He will not condemn me to this new affliction. Alas! in +this city my brethren are more numerous and more wretched than in any +other. And must I bring death to them? No! the Lord will have mercy; +for, alas! the seven descendants of my sister are at last all united in +this city. And must I bring death to them? Death! instead of that +immediate assistance they stand so much in need of? For that woman who, +like myself, wanders from one end of the world into the other, has gone +now on her everlasting journey, after having confounded their enemies' +plots. In vain did she foretell that great evils still threatened those +who are akin to me through my sister's blood. The unseen hand by which I +am led, drives that woman away from me, even as though it were a +whirlwind that swept her on. In vain she entreated and implored at the +moment she was leaving those who are so dear to me.--At least, 0 Lord, +permit me to stay until I shall have finished my task! Onward! A few +days, for mercy's sake, only a few days! Onward! I leave these whom I +am protecting on the very brink of an abyss! Onward! Onward!! And the +wandering star is launched afresh on its perpetual course. But her voice +traversed through space, calling me to the assistance of my own! When +her voice reached me I felt that the offspring of my sister were still +exposed to fearful dangers: those dangers are still increasing. Oh, say, +say, Lord! shall the descendants of my sister escape those woes which for +so many centuries have oppressed my race? Wilt Thou pardon me in them? +Wilt Thou punish me in them? Oh! lead them, that they may obey the last +wishes of their ancestor. Guide them, that they may join their +charitable hearts, their powerful strength, their best wisdom, and their +immense wealth, and work together for the future happiness of mankind, +thereby, perhaps, enabled to ransom me from my eternal penalties. Let +those divine words of the Son of Man, "Love ye one another!" be their +only aim; and by the assistance of their all-powerful words, let them +contend against and vanquish those false priests who have trampled on the +precepts of love, of peace, and hope commanded by the Saviour, setting up +in their stead the precepts of hatred, violence, and despair. Those +false shepherds, supported ay the powerful and wealthy of the world, who +in all times have been their accomplices, instead of asking here below a +little happiness for my brethren, who have been suffering and groaning +for centuries, dare to utter, in Thy name, O Lord! that the poor must +always be doomed to the tortures of this world, and that it is criminal +in Thine eyes that they should either wish for or hope a mitigation of +their sufferings on earth, because the happiness of the few and the +wretchedness of nearly all mankind is Thine almighty will. Blasphemies! +is it not the contrary of these homicidal words that is more worthy of +the name of Divine will? Hear, me, O Lord! for mercy's sake. Snatch +from their enemies the descendants of my sister, from the artisan up to +the king's son. Do not permit them to crush the germ of a mighty and +fruitful association, which, perhaps, under Thy protection, may take its +place among the records of the happiness of mankind. Suffer me, O Lord! +to unite those whom they are endeavoring to divide--to defend those whom +they are attacking. Suffer me to bring hope to those from whom hope has +fled, to give courage to those who are weak, to uphold those whom evil +threatens, and to sustain those who would persevere in well-doing. And +then, perhaps, their struggles, their devotedness, their virtues, this +miseries might expiate my sin. Yes, mine--misfortune, misfortune alone, +made me unjust and wicked. O Lord! since Thine almighty hand hath +brought me hither, for some end unknown to me, disarm Thyself, I implore +Thee, of Thine anger, and let not me be the instrument of Thy vengeance! +There is enough of mourning in the earth these two years past--Thy +creatures have fallen by millions in my footsteps. The world is +decimated. A veil of mourning extends from one end of the globe to the +other. I have traveled from Asia even to the Frozen Pole, and death has +followed in my wake. Dost Thou not hear, O Lord! the universal wailings +that mount up to Thee? Have mercy upon all, and upon me. One day, grant +me but a single day, that I may collect the descendants of my sister +together, and save them!" And uttering these words, the wanderer fell +upon his knees, and raised his hands to heaven in a suppliant attitude. + +Suddenly, the wind howled with redoubled violence; its sharp whistlings +changed to a tempest. The Wanderer trembled, and exclaimed in a voice of +terror, "O Lord! the blast of death is howling in its rage. It appears +as though a whirlwind were lifting me up. Lord, wilt Thou not, then, +hear my prayer? The spectre! O! do I behold the spectre? Yes, there it +is; its cadaverous countenance is agitated by convulsive throes, its red +eyes are rolling in their orbits. Begone! begone! Oh! its hand--its icy +hand has seized on mine! Mercy, Lord, have mercy! 'Onward!' Oh, Lord! +this scourge, this terrible avenging scourge! Must I, then, again carry +it into this city, must my poor wretched brethren be the first to fall +under it--though already so miserable? Mercy, mercy! 'Onward!' And the +descendants of my sister --oh, pray, have mercy, mercy! 'Onward!' O +Lord, have pity on me! I can no longer keep my footing on the ground, +the spectre is dragging me over the brow of the hill; my course is as +rapid as the death-bearing wind that whistles in my track; I already +approach the walls of the city. Oh, mercy, Lord, mercy on the +descendants of my sister--spare them! do not compel me to be their +executioner, and let them triumph over their enemies. Onward, onward! +The ground is fleeing from under me; I am already at the city gate; oh, +yet, Lord, yet there is time; oh, have mercy on this slumbering city, +that it may not even now awaken with the lamentations of terror, of +despair and death! O Lord, I touch the threshold of the gate; verily +Thou willest it so then. 'Tis done--Paris! the scourge is in thy bosom! +oh, cursed, cursed evermore am I. Onward! on! on!"[34] + +[34] In 1346, the celebrated Black Death ravaged the earth, presenting +the same symptoms as the cholera, and the same inexplicable phenomena as +to its progress and the results in its route. In 1660 a similar epidemic +decimated the world. It is well known that when the cholera first broke +out in Paris, it had taken a wide and unaccountable leap; and, also +memorable, a north-east wind prevailed during its utmost fierceness. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE DESCENDANTS OF THE WANDERING JEW. + +That lonely wayfarer whom we have heard so plaintively urging to be +relieved of his gigantic burden of misery, spoke of "his sister's +descendants" being of all ranks, from the working man to the king's son. +They were seven in number, who had, in the year 1832, been led to Paris, +directly or indirectly, by a bronze medal which distinguished them from +others, bearing these words:-- + +VICTIM +of +L. C. D. J. +Pray for me! +_____ +PARIS, +February the 13th, 1682. + +IN PARIS, +Rue St. Francois, No. 3, +In a century and a half +you will be. +February the 13th, 1832. +_____ +PRAY FOR ME! + +The son of the King of Mundi had lost his father and his domains in India +by the irresistible march of the English, and was but in title Prince +Djalma. Spite of attempts to make his departure from the East delayed +until after the period when he could have obeyed his medal's command, he +had reached France by the second month of 1832. Nevertheless, the +results of shipwreck had detained him from Paris till after that date. A +second possessor of this token had remained unaware of its existence, +only discovered by accident. But an enemy who sought to thwart the union +of these seven members, had shut her up in a mad-house, from which she +was released only after that day. Not alone was she in imprisonment. An +old Bonapartist, General Simon, Marshal of France, and Duke de Ligny, had +left a wife in Russian exile, while he (unable to follow Napoleon to St. +Helena) continued to fight the English in India by means of Prince +Djalma's Sepoys, whom he drilled. On the latter's defeat, he had meant +to accompany his young friend to Europe, induced the more by finding that +the latter's mother, a Frenchwoman, had left him such another bronze +medal as he knew his wife to have had. + +Unhappily, his wife had perished in Siberia, without his knowing it, any +more than he did, that she had left twin daughters, Rose and Blanche. +Fortunately for them, one who had served their father in the Grenadiers +of the Guard. Francis Baudoin, nicknamed Dagobert, undertook to fulfil +the dying mother's wishes, inspired by the medal. Saving a check at +Leipsic, where one Morok the lion-tamer's panther had escaped from its +cage and killed Dagobert's horse, and a subsequent imprisonment (which +the Wandering Jew's succoring hand had terminated) the soldier and his +orphan charges had reached Paris in safety and in time. But there, a +renewal of the foe's attempt had gained its end. By skillful devices, +Dagobert and his son Agricola were drawn out of the way while Rose and +Blanche Simon were decoyed into a nunnery, under the eyes of Dagobert's +wife. But she had been bound against interfering by the influence of the +Jesuit confessional. The fourth was M. Hardy, a manufacturer, and the +fifth, Jacques Rennepont, a drunken scamp of a workman, who were more +easily fended off, the latter in a sponging house, the former by a +friend's lure. Adrienne de Cardoville, daughter of the Count of +Rennepont, who had also been Duke of Cardoville, was the lady who had +been unwarrantably placed in the lunatic asylum. The fifth, unaware of +the medal, was Gabriel, a youth, who had been brought up, though a +foundling, in Dagobert's family, as a brother to Agricola. He had +entered holy orders, and more, was a Jesuit, in name though not in heart. +Unlike the others, his return from abroad had been smoothed. He had +signed away all his future prospects, for the benefit of the order of +Loyola, and, moreover, executed a more complete deed of transfer on the +day, the 13th of February, 1832, when he, alone of the heirs, stood in +the room of the house, No. 3, Rue St. Francois, claiming what was a vast +surprise for the Jesuits, who, a hundred and fifty years before, had +discovered that Count Marius de Rennepont had secreted a considerable +amount of his wealth, all of which had been confiscated to them, in those +painful days of dragoonings, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. +They had bargained for some thirty or forty millions of francs to be +theirs, by educating Gabriel into resigning his inheritance to them, but +it was two hundred and twelve millions which the Jesuit representatives +(Father d'Aigrigny and his secretary, Rodin) were amazed to hear their +nursling placed in possession of. They had the treasure in their hands, +in fact, when a woman of strangely sad beauty had mysteriously entered +the room where the will had been read, and laid a paper before the +notary. It was a codicil, duly drawn up and signed, deferring the +carrying out of the testament until the first day of June the same year. +The Jesuits fled from the house, in rage and intense disappointment. +Father d'Aigrigny was so stupor-stricken at the defeat, that he bade his +secretary at once write off to Rome that the Rennepont inheritance had +escaped them, and hopes to seize it again were utterly at an end. Upon +this, Rodin had revolted, and shown that he had authority to command +where he had, so far, most humbly obeyed. Many such spies hang about +their superior's heels, with full powers to become the governor in turn, +at a moment's notice. Thenceforward, he, Rodin, had taken the business +into his own hands. He had let Rose and Blanche Simon out of the convent +into their father's arms. He had gone in person to release Adrienne de +Cardoville from the asylum. More, having led her to sigh for Prince +Djalma, he prompted the latter to burn for her. + +He let not M. Hardy escape. A friend whom the latter treated as a +brother, had been shown up to him as a mere spy of the Jesuits; the woman +whom he adored, a wedded woman, alas! who had loved him in spite of her +vows, had been betrayed. Her mother had compelled her to hide her shame +in America, and, as she had often said--"Much as you are endeared to me, +I cannot waver between you and my mother!" so she had obeyed, without one +farewell word to him. Confess, Rodin was a more dextrous man than his +late master! In the pages that ensue farther proofs of his superiority +in baseness and satanic heartlessness will not be wanting. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ATTACK. + +On M. Hardy's learning from the confidential go-between of the lovers, +that his mistress had been taken away by her mother, he turned from Rodin +and dashed away in a post carriage. At the same moment, as loud as the +rattle of the wheels, there arose the shouts of a band of workmen and +rioters, hired by the Jesuit's emissaries, coming to attack Hardy's +operatives. An old grudge long existing between them and a rival +manufacturer's--Baron Tripeaud--laborers, fanned the flames. When M. +Hardy had left the factory, Rodin, who was not prepared for this sudden +departure, returned slowly to his hackney-coach; but he stopped suddenly, +and started with pleasure and surprise, when he saw, at some distance, +Marshall Simon and his father advancing towards one of the wings of the +Common Dwelling-house; for an accidental circumstance had so far delayed +the interview of the father and son. + +"Very well!" said Rodin. "Better and better! Now, only let my man have +found out and persuaded little Rose-Pompon!" + +And Rodin hastened towards his hackney-coach. At this moment, the wind, +which continued to rise, brought to the ear of the Jesuit the war song of +the approaching Wolves. + +The workman was in the garden. The marshal said to him, in a voice of +such deep emotion that the old man started; "Father, I am very unhappy." + +A painful expression, until then concealed, suddenly darkened the +countenance of the marshal. + +"You unhappy?" cried father Simon, anxiously, as he pressed nearer to the +marshal. + +"For some days, my daughters have appeared constrained in manner, and +lost in thought. During the first moments of our re-union, they were mad +with joy and happiness. Suddenly, all has changed; they are becoming +more and more sad. Yesterday, I detected tears in their eyes; then +deeply moved, I clasped them in my arms, and implored them to tell me the +cause of their sorrow. Without answering, they threw themselves on my +neck, and covered my face with their tears." + +"It is strange. To what do you attribute this alteration?" + +"Sometimes, I think I have not sufficiently concealed from them the grief +occasioned me by the loss of their mother, and they are perhaps miserable +that they do not suffice for my happiness. And yet (inexplicable as it +is) they seem not only to understand, but to share my sorrow. Yesterday, +Blanche said to me: `How much happier still should we be, if our mother +were with us!--'" + +"Sharing your sorrow, they cannot reproach you with it. There must be +some other cause for their grief." + +"Yes," said the marshal, looking fixedly at his father; "yes--but to +penetrate this secret--it would be necessary not to leave them." + +"What do you mean?" + +"First learn, father, what are the duties which would keep me here; then +you shall know those which may take me away from you, from my daughters, +and from my other child." + +"What other child?" + +"The son of my old friend, the Indian Prince." + +"Djalma? Is there anything the matter with him?" + +"Father, he frightens me. I told you, father, of his mad and unhappy +passion for Mdlle. de Cardoville." + +"Does that frighten you, my son?" said the old man, looking at the +marshal with surprise. "Djalma is only eighteen, and, at that age, one +love drives away another." + +"You have no idea of the ravages which the passion has already made in +the ardent, indomitable boy; sometimes, fits of savage ferocity follow +the most painful dejection. Yesterday, I came suddenly upon him; his +eyes were bloodshot, his features contracted with rage; yielding to an +impulse of mad furry, he was piercing with his poinard a cushion of red +cloth, whilst he exclaimed, panting for breath, 'Ha blood!--I will have +blood!' `Unhappy boy!' I said to him, `what means this insane passion?' +`I'm killing the man!' replied he, in a hollow and savage voice: it is +thus he designates his supposed rival." + +"There is indeed something terrible," said the old man, "in such a +passion, in such a heart." + +"At other times," resumed the marshal, "it is against Mdlle. de +Cardoville that his rage bursts forth; and at others, against himself. I +have been obliged to remove his weapons, for a man who came with him from +Java, and who appears much attached to him, has informed me that he +suspected him of entertaining some thoughts of suicide." + +"Unfortunate boy!" + +"Well, father," said Marshal Simon, with profound bitterness; "it is at +the moment when my daughters and my adopted son require all my +solicitude, that I am perhaps on the eve of quitting them." + +"Of quitting them?" + +"Yes, to fulfil a still more sacred duty than that imposed by friendship +or family," said the marshal, in so grave and solemn a tone, that his +father exclaimed, with deep emotion: "What can this duty be?" + +"Father," said the marshal, after remaining a moment in thoughtful +silence, "who made me what I am? Who gave me the ducal title, and the +marshal's baton?" + +"Napoleon." + +"For you, the stern republican, I know that he lost all his value, when +from the first citizen of a Republic he became an emperor. + +"I cursed his weakness," said Father Simon, sadly; "the demi-god sank +into a man." + +"But for me, father--for me, the soldier, who have always fought beside +him, or under his eye--for me, whom he raised from the lowest rank in the +army to the highest--for me, whom he loaded with benefits and marks of +affection--for me, he was more than a hero, he was a friend--and there +was as much gratitude as admiration in my idolatry for him. When he was +exiled, I would fain have shared his exile; they refused me that favor; +then I conspired, then I drew my sword against those who had robbed his +son of the crown which France had given him." + +"And, in your position, you did well, Pierre; without sharing your +admiration, I understood your gratitude. The projects of exile, the +conspiracies--I approved them all--you know it." + +"Well, then, that disinherited child, in whose name I conspired seventeen +years ago, is now of an age to wield his father's sword." + +"Napoleon II!" exclaimed the old man, looking at his son with surprise +and extreme anxiety; "the king of Rome!" + +"King? no; he is no longer king. Napoleon? no; he is no longer Napoleon. +They have given him some Austrian name, because the other frightened +them. Everything frightens them. Do you know what they are doing with +the son of the Emperor?" resumed the marshal, with painful excitement. +"They are torturing him--killing him by inches!" + +"Who told you this?" + +"Somebody who knows, whose words are but too true. Yes; the son of the +Emperor struggles with all his strength against a premature death. With +his eyes turned towards France, he waits--he waits--and no one comes--no +one--out of all the men that his father made as great as they once were +little, not one thinks of that crowned child, whom they are stifling, +till he dies." + +"But you think of him?" + +"Yes; but I had first to learn--oh! there is no doubt of it, for I have +not derived all my information from the same source --I had first to +learn the cruel fate of this youth, to whom I also swore allegiance; for +one day, as I have told you, the Emperor, proud and loving father as he +was, showed him to me in his cradle, and said: `My old friend, you will +be to the son what you have been to the father; who loves us, loves our +France.'" + +"Yes, I know it. Many times you have repeated those words to me, and, +like yourself, I have been moved by them." + +"Well, father! suppose, informed of the sufferings of the son of the +Emperor, I had seen--with the positive certainty that I was not deceived- +-a letter from a person of high rank in the court of Vienna, offering to +a man that was still faithful to the Emperor's memory, the means of +communicating with the king of Rome, and perhaps of saving him from his +tormentors--" + +"What next?" said the workman, looking fixedly at his son. "Suppose +Napoleon II. once at liberty--" + +"What next?" exclaimed the marshal. Then he added, in a suppressed +voice: "Do you think, father, that France is insensible to the +humiliations she endures? Do you think that the memory of the Emperor is +extinct? No, no; it is, above all, in the days of our country's +degredation, that she whispers that sacred name. How would it be, then, +were that name to rise glorious on the frontier, reviving in his son? Do +you not think that the heart of all France would beat for him?" + +"This implies a conspiracy--against the present government--with Napoleon +II. for a watchword," said the workman. "This is very serious." + +"I told you, father, that I was very unhappy; judge if it be not so," +cried the marshal. "Not only I ask myself, if I ought to abandon my +children and you, to run the risk of so daring an enterprise, but I ask +myself if I am not bound to the present government, which, in +acknowledging my rank and title, if it bestowed no favor, at least did me +an act of justice. How shall I decide?--abandon all that I love, or +remain insensible to the tortures of Emperor--of that Emperor to the son +of the whom I owe everything--to whom I have sworn fidelity, both to +himself and child? Shall I lose this only opportunity, perhaps, of +saving him, or shall I conspire in his favor? Tell me, if I exaggerate +what I owe to the memory of the Emperor? Decide for me, father! During +a whole sleepless night, I strove to discover, in the midst of this +chaos, the line prescribed by honor; but I only wandered from indecision +to indecision. You alone, father--you alone, I repeat, can direct me." + +After remaining for some moments in deep thought, the old man was about +to answer, when some person, running across the little garden, opened the +door hastily, and entered the room in which were the marshal and his +father. It was Olivier, the young workman, who had been able to effect +his escape from the village in which the Wolves had assembled. + +"M. Simon! M. Simon!" cried he, pale, and panting for breath. "They are +here--close at hand. They have come to attack the factory." + +"Who?" cried the old man, rising hastily. + +"The Wolves, quarrymen, and stone-cutters, joined on the road by a crowd +of people from the neighborhood, and vagabonds from town. Do you not +hear them? They are shouting, `Death to the Devourers!'" + +The clamor was indeed approaching, and grew more and more distinct. + +"It is the same noise that I heard just now," said the marshal, rising in +his turn. + +"There are more than two hundred of them, M. Simon," said Olivier; "they +are armed with clubs and stones, and unfortunately the greater part of +our workmen are in Paris. We are not above forty here in all; the women +and children are already flying to their chambers, screaming for terror. +Do you not hear them?" + +The ceiling shook beneath the tread of many hasty feet. + +"Will this attack be a serious one?" said the marshal to his father, who +appeared more and more dejected. + +"Very serious," said the old man; "there is nothing more fierce than +these combats between different unions; and everything has been done +lately to excite the people of the neighborhood against the factory." + +"If you are so inferior in number," said the marshal, "you must begin by +barricading all the doors--and then--" + +He was unable to conclude. A burst of ferocious cries shook the windows +of the room, and seemed so near and loud, that the marshal, his father, +and the young workman, rushed out into the little garden, which was +bounded on one side by a wall that separated it from the fields. +Suddenly whilst the shouts redoubled in violence, a shower of large +stones, intended to break the windows of the house, smashed some of the +panes on the first story, struck against the wall, and fell into the +garden, all around the marshal and his father. By a fatal chance, one of +these large stones struck the old man on the head. He staggered, bent +forward, and fell bleeding into the arms of Marshal Simon, just as arose +from without, with increased fury, the savage cries of, "Death to the +Devourers!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE WOLVES AND THE DEVOURERS. + +It was a frightful thing to view the approach of the lawless crowd, whose +first act of hostility had been so fatal to Marshal Simon's father. One +wing of the Common Dwelling-house, which joined the garden-wall on that +side, was next to the fields. It was there that the Wolves began their +attack. The precipitation of their march, the halt they had made at two +public-houses on the road, their ardent impatience for the approaching +struggle, had inflamed these men to a high pitch of savage excitement. +Having discharged their first shower of stones, most of the assailants +stooped down to look for more ammunition. Some of them, to do so with +greater ease, held their bludgeons between their teeth; others had placed +them against the wall; here and there, groups had formed tumultuously +round the principal leaders of the band; the most neatly dressed of these +men wore frocks, with caps, whilst others were almost in rags, for, as we +have already said, many of the hangers-on at the barriers, and people +without any profession, had joined the troop of the Wolves, whether +welcome or not. Some hideous women, with tattered garments, who always +seem to follow in the track of such people, accompanied them on this +occasion, and, by their cries and fury, inflamed still more the general +excitement. One of them, tall, robust, with purple complexion, blood- +shot eyes, and toothless jaws, had a handkerchief over her head, from +beneath which escaped her yellow, frowsy hair. Over her ragged gown, she +wore an old plaid shawl, crossed over her bosom, and tied behind her +back. This hag seemed possessed with a demon. She had tucked up her +half-torn sleeves; in one hand she brandished a stick, in the other she +grasped a huge stone; her companions called her Ciboule (scullion). + +This horrible hag exclaimed, in a hoarse voice: "I'll bite the women of +the factory; I'll make them bleed." + +The ferocious words were received with applause by her companions, and +with savage cries of "Ciboule forever!" which excited her to frenzy. + +Amongst the other leaders, was a small, dry pale man, with the face of a +ferret, and a black beard all round the chin; he wore a scarlet Greek +cap, and beneath his long blouse, perfectly new, appeared a pair of neat +cloth trousers, strapped over thin boots. This man was evidently of a +different condition of life from that of the other persons in the troop; +it was he, in particular, who ascribed the most irritating and insulting +language to the workmen of the factory, with regard to the inhabitants of +the neighborhood. He howled a great deal, but he carried neither stick +nor stone. A full-faced, fresh-colored man, with a formidable bass +voice, like a chorister's, asked him: "Will you not have a shot at those +impious dogs, who might bring down the Cholera on the country, as the +curate told us?" + +"I will have a better shot than you," said the little man, with a +singular, sinister smile. + +"And with what, I'd like to see?" + +"Probably, with this," said the little man, stooping to pick up a large +stone; but, as he bent, a well-filled though light bag, which he appeared +to carry under his blouse, fell to the ground. + +"Look, you are losing both bag and baggage," said the other; "it does not +seem very heavy." + +"They are samples of wool," answered the man with the ferret's face, as +he hastily picked up the bag, and replaced it under his blouse; then he +added: "Attention! the big blaster is going to speak." + +And, in fact, he who exercised the most complete ascendency over this +irritated crowd was the terrible quarryman. His gigantic form towered so +much above the multitude, that his great head, bound in its ragged +handkerchief, and his Herculean shoulders, covered with a fallow goat- +skin, were always visible above the level of that dark and swarming +crowd, only relieved here and there by a few women's caps, like so many +white points. Seeing to what a degree of exasperation the minds of the +crowd had reached, the small number of honest, but misguided workmen, who +had allowed themselves to be drawn into this dangerous enterprise, under +the pretext of a quarrel between rival unions, now fearing for the +consequences of the struggle, tried, but too late, to abandon the main +body. Pressed close, and as it were, girt in with the more hostile +groups, dreading to pass for cowards, or to expose themselves to the bad +treatment of the majority, they were forced to wait for a more favorable +moment to effect their escape. To the savage cheers, which had +accompanied the first discharge of stones, succeeded a deep silence +commanded by the stentorian voice of the quarryman. + +"The Wolves have howled," he exclaimed; "let us wait and see how the +Devourers will answer, and when they will begin the fight." + +"We must draw them out of their factory, and fight them on neutral +ground," said the little man with the ferret's face, who appeared to be +the thieves' advocate; "otherwise there would be trespass." + +"What do we care about trespass?" cried the horrible hag, Ciboule; "in or +out, I will tear the chits of the factory." + +"Yes, yes," cried other hideous creatures, as ragged as Ciboule herself; +"we must not leave all to the men." + +"We must have our fun, too!" + +"The women of the factory say that all the women of the neighborhood are +drunken drabs," cried the little man with the ferret's face. + +"Good! we'll pay them for it." + +"The women shall have their share." + +"That's our business." + +"They like to sing in their Common House," cried Ciboule; "we will make +them sing the wrong side of their mouths, in the key of `Oh, dear me!'" + +This pleasantry was received with shouts, hootings, and furious stamping +of feet, to which the stentorian voice of the quarryman put a term by +roaring: "Silence!" + +"Silence! silence!" repeated the crowd. "Hear the blaster!" + +"If the Devourers are cowards enough not to dare to show themselves, +after a second volley of stones, there is a door down there which we can +break open, and we will soon hunt them from their holes." + +"It would be better to draw them out, so that none might remain in the +factory," said the little old man with the ferret's face, who appeared to +have some secret motive. + +"A man fights where he can," cried the quarryman, in a voice of thunder; +"all, right, if we can but once catch hold. We could fight on a sloping +roof, or on the top of a wall--couldn't we, my Wolves?" + +"Yes, yes!" cried the crowd, still more excited by those savage words; +"if they don't come out, we will break in." + +"We will see their fine palace!" + +"The pagans haven't even a chapel," said the bass voice. "The curate has +damned them all!" + +"Why should they have a palace, and we nothing but dog-kennels?" + +"Hardy's workmen say that kennels are good enough for such as you." said +the little man with the ferret's face. + +"Yes, yes! they said so." + +"We'll break all their traps." + +"We'll pull down their bazaar." + +"We'll throw the house out of the windows." + +"When we have made the mealy-mouthed chits sing," cried Ciboule, "we will +make them dance to the clatter of stones on their heads." + +"Come, my Wolves! attention!" cried the quarryman, still in the same +stentorian voice; "one more volley, and if the Devourers do not come out, +down with the door!" + +This proposition was received with cheers of savage ardor, and the +quarryman, whose voice rose above the tumult, cried with all the strength +of his herculean lungs: "Attention, my Wolves. Make ready! all together. +Now, are you ready?" + +"Yes, yes--all ready!" + +"Then, present!--fire!" And, for the second time, a shower of enormous +stones poured upon that side of the Common Dwelling-house which was +turned towards the fields. A part of these projectiles broke such of the +windows as had been spared by the first volley. To the sharp smashing +and cracking of glass were joined the ferocious cries uttered in chorus +by this formidable mob, drunk with its own excesses: "Death to the +Devourers!" + +Soon these outcries became perfectly frantic, when, through the broken +windows, the assailants perceived women running in terror, some with +children in their arms, and others raising their hands to heaven, calling +aloud for help; whilst a few, bolder than the rest, leaned out of the +windows, and tried to fasten the outside blinds. + +"There come the ants out of their holes!" cried Ciboule, stooping to pick +up a stone. "We must have a fling at them for luck!" The stone, hurled +by the steady, masculine hand of the virago, went straight to its mark, +and struck an unfortunate woman who was trying to close one of the +shutters. + +"Hit in the white!" cried the hideous creature. + +"Well done, Ciboule!--you've rapped her coker-nut!" cried a voice. + +"Ciboule forever!" + +"Come out, you Devourers, if you dare!" + +"They have said a hundred times, that the neighbors were too cowardly +even to come and look at their house," squealed the little man with the +ferret's face. + +"And now they show the white feather!" + +"If they will not come out," cried the quarryman, in voice of thunder, +"let us smoke them out!" + +"Yes, yes!" + +"Let's break open the door!" + +"We are sure to find them!" + +"Come on! come on!" + +The crowd, with the quarryman at their head, and Ciboule not far from +him, brandishing a stick, advanced tumultously towards one of the great +doors. The ground shook beneath the rapid tread of the mob, which had +now ceased shouting; but the confused, and, as it were, subterraneous +noise, sounded even more ominous than those savage outcries. The Wolves +soon arrived opposite the massive oaken door. At the moment the blaster +raised a sledgehammer, the door opened suddenly. Some of the most +determined of the assailants were about to rush in at this entrance; but +the quarryman stepped back, extending his arm as if to moderate their +ardor and impose silence. Then his followers gathered round him. + +The half-open door discovered a party of workmen, unfortunately by no +means numerous, but with countenances full of resolution. They had armed +themselves hastily with forks, iron bars, and clubs. Agricola, who was +their leader, held in his hand a heavy sledge-hammer. The young workman +was very pale; but the fire of his eye, his menacing look, and the +intrepid assurance of his bearing, showed that his father's blood boiled +in his veins, and that in such a struggle he might become fear-inspiring. +Yet he succeeded in restraining himself, and challenged the quarryman, in +a firm voice: "What do you want?" + +"A fight!" thundered the blaster. + +"Yes, yes! a fight!" repeated the crowd. + +"Silence, my Wolves!" cried the quarryman, as he turned round, and +stretched forth his large hand towards the multitude. Then addressing +Agricola, he said: "The Wolves have come to ask for a fight." + +"With whom?" + +"With the Devourers." + +"There are no Devourers here," replied Agricola; "we are only peaceable +workmen. So begone." + +"Well! here are the Wolves, that will eat your quiet workmen." + +"The Wolves will eat no one here," said Agricola, looking full at the +quarryman, who approached him with a threatening air; "they can only +frighten little children." + +"Oh! you think so," said the quarryman, with a savage sneer. Then +raising his weapon, he shook it in Agricola's face, exclaiming: "Is that +any laughing matter? + +"Is that?" answered Agricola, with a rapid movement, parrying the stone- +sledge with his own hammer. + +"Iron against iron--hammer against hammer--that suits me," said the +quarryman. + +"It does not matter what suits you," answered Agricola, hardly able to +restrain himself. "You have broken our windows, frightened our women, +and wounded--perhaps killed--the oldest workman in the factory, who at +this moment lies bleeding in the arms of his son." Here Agricola's voice +trembled in spite of himself. "It is, I think, enough," + +"No; the Wolves are hungry for more," answered the blaster; "you must +come out (cowards that you are!), and fight us on the plain." + +"Yes! yes! battle!--let them come out!" cried the crowd, howling, +hissing, waving their sticks and pushing further into the small space +which separated them from the door. + +"We will have no battle," answered Agricola: "we will not leave our home; +but if you have the misfortune to pass this," said Agricola, throwing his +cap upon the threshold, and setting his foot on it with an intrepid air, +"if you pass this, you attack us in our own house, and you will be +answerable for all that may happen." + +"There or elsewhere we will have the fight! the Wolves must eat the +Devourers. Now for the attack!" cried the fierce quarryman, raising his +hammer to strike Agricola. + +But the latter, throwing himself on one side by a sudden leap, avoided +the blow, and struck with his hammer full at the chest of the quarryman, +who staggered for a moment, but instantly recovering his legs, rushed +furiously on Agricola, crying: "Follow me, Wolves!" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RETURN. + +As soon as the combat had begun between Agricola and the blaster, the +general fight became terrible, ardent, implacable. A flood of +assailants, following the quarryman's steps, rushed into the house with +irresistible fury; others, unable to force their way through this +dreadful crowd, where the more impetuous squeezed, stifled, and crushed +these who were less so, went round in another direction, broke through +some lattice work, and thus placed the people of the factory, as it were, +between two fires. Some resisted courageously; others, seeing Ciboule, +followed by some of her horrible companions, and by several of the most +ill-looking ruffians, hastily enter that part of the Common-Dwelling- +house in which the women had taken refuge, hurried in pursuit of this +band; but some of the hag's companions, having faced about, and +vigorously defended the entrance of the staircase against the workmen, +Ciboule, with three or four like herself, and about the same number of no +less ignoble men, rushed through the rooms, with the intention of robbing +or destroying all that came in their way. A door, which at first +resisted their efforts, was soon broken through; Ciboule rushed into the +apartment with a stick in her hand, her hair dishevelled, furious, and, +as it were, maddened with the noise and tumult. A beautiful young girl +(it was Angela), who appeared anxious to defend the entrance to a second +chamber, threw herself on her knees, pale and supplicating, and raising +her clasped hands, exclaimed: "Do not hurt my mother!" + +"I'll serve you out first, and your mother afterwards," replied the +horrible woman, throwing herself on the poor girl, and endeavoring to +tear her face with her nails, whilst the rest of the ruffianly band broke +the glass and the clock with their sticks, and possessed themselves of +some articles of wearing apparel. + +Angela, struggling with Ciboule, uttered loud cries of distress, and +still attempted to guard the room in which her mother had taken refuge; +whilst the latter, leaning from the window, called Agricola to their +assistance. The smith was now engaged with the huge blaster. In a close +struggle, their hammers had become useless, and with bloodshot eyes and +clinched teeth, chest to chest, and limbs twined together like two +serpents, they made the most violent efforts to overthrow each other. +Agricola, bent forward, held under his right arm the left leg of the +quarryman, which he had seized in parrying a violent kick; but such was +the Herculean strength of the leader of the Wolves, that he remained firm +as a tower, though resting only on one leg. With the hand that was still +free (for the other was gripped by Agricola as in a vise), he endeavored +with violent blows to break the jaws of the smith, who, leaning his head +forward, pressed his forehead hard against the breast of his adversary. + +"The Wolf will break the Devourer's teeth, and he shall devour no more," +said the quarryman. + +"You are no true Wolf," answered the smith, redoubling his efforts; "the +true Wolves are honest fellows, and do not come ten against one." + +"True or false, I will break your teeth." + +"And I your paw," said the smith, giving so violent a wrench to the leg +of the quarryman, that the latter uttered a cry of acute pain, and, with +the rage of a wild beast, butting suddenly forward with his head, +succeeded in biting Agricola in the side of the neck. + +The pang of this bite forced Agricola to make a movement, which enabled +the quarryman to disengage his leg. Then, with a superhuman effort, he +threw himself with his whole weight on Agricola, and brought him to the +ground, falling himself upon him. + +At this juncture, Angela's mother, leaning from one of the windows of the +Common Dwelling-house, exclaimed in a heart-rending voice: "Help, +Agricola!--they are killing my child!" + +"Let me go--and on, my honor--I will fight you tomorrow, or when you +will," said Agricola, panting for breath. + +"No warmed-up food for me; I eat all hot," answered the quarryman, +seizing the smith by the throat, whilst he tried to place one of his +knees upon his chest. + +"Help!--they are killing my child!" cried Angela's mother, in a voice of +despair. + +"Mercy! I ask mercy! Let me go!"' said Agricola, making the most +violent efforts to escape. + +"I am too hungry," answered the quarryman. + +Exasperated by the terror which Angela's danger occasioned him, Agricola +redoubled his efforts, when the quarryman suddenly felt his thigh seized +by the sharp teeth of a dog, and at the same instant received from a +vigorous hand three or four heavy blows with a stick upon his head. He +relaxed his grasp, and fell stunned upon his hand and knee, whilst he +mechanically raised his other arm to parry the blows, which ceased as +soon as Agricola was delivered. + +"Father, you have saved me!" cried the smith, springing up. "If only I +am in time to rescue Angela!" + +"Run!--never mind me!" answered Dagobert; and Agricola rushed into the +house. + +Dogabert, accompanied by Spoil-sport, had come, as we have already said, +to bring Marshal Simon's daughters to their grandfather. Arriving in the +midst of the tumult, the soldier had collected a few workmen to defend +the entrance of the chamber, to which the marshal's father had been +carried in a dying state. It was from this post that the soldier had +seen Agricola's danger. Soon after, the rush of the conflict separated +Dagobert from the quarryman, who remained for some moments insensible. +Arrived in two bounds at the Common Dwelling-house, Agricola succeeded in +forcing his way through the men who defended the staircase, and rushed +into the corridor that led to Angela's chamber. At the moment he reached +it, the unfortunate girl was mechanically guarding her face with both +hands against Ciboule, who, furious as the hyena over its prey, was +trying to scratch and disfigure her. + +To spring upon the horrible hag, seize her by her yellow hair with +irresistible hand, drag her backwards, and then with one cuff, stretch +her full length upon the ground, was for Agricola an achievement as rapid +as thought. Furious with rage, Ciboule rose again almost instantly; but +at this moment, several workmen, who had followed close upon Agricola, +were able to attack with advantage, and whilst the smith lifted the +fainting form of Angela, and carried her into the next room, Ciboule and +her band were driven from that part of the house. + +After the first fire of the assault, the small number of real Wolves, +who, as Agricola said, were in the main honest fellows, but had the +weakness to let themselves be drawn into this enterprise, under the +pretext of a quarrel between rival unions, seeing the excesses committed +by the rabble who accompanied them, turned suddenly round, and ranged +themselves on the side of the Devourers. + +"There are no longer here either Wolves or Devourers," said one of the +most determined Wolves to Olivier, with whom he had been fighting roughly +and fairly; "there are none here but honest workmen, who must unite to +drive out a set of scoundrels, that have come only to break and pillage." + +"Yes," added another; "it was against our will that they began by +breaking your windows." + +"The big blaster did it all," said another; "the true Wolves wash their +hands of him. We shall soon settle his account." + +"We may fight every day--but we ought to esteem each other."[35] + +This defection of a portion of the assailants (unfortunately but a small +portion) gave new spirit to the workmen of the factory, and all together, +Wolves and Devourers, though very inferior in number, opposed themselves +to the band of vagabonds, who were proceeding to new excesses. Some of +these wretches, still further excited by the little man with the ferret's +face, a secret emissary of Baron Tripeaud, now rushed in a mass towards +the workshops of M. Hardy. Then began a lamentable devastation. These +people, seized with the mania of destruction, broke without remorse +machines of the greatest value, and most delicate construction; half- +manufactured articles were pitilessly destroyed; a savage emulation +seemed to inspire these barbarians, and those workshops, so lately the +model of order and well-regulated economy, were soon nothing but a wreck; +the courts were strewed with fragments of all kinds of wares, which were +thrown from the windows with ferocious outcries, or savage bursts of +laughter. Then, still thanks to the incitements of the little man with +the ferret's face, the books of M. Hardy, archives of commercial +industry, so indispensable to the trader, were scattered to the wind, +torn, trampled under foot, in a sort of infernal dance, composed of all +that was most impure in this assembly of low, filthy, and ragged men and +women, who held each other by the hand, and whirled round and round with +horrible clamor. Strange and painful contrasts! At the height of the +stunning noise of these horrid deeds of tumult and devastation, a scene +of imposing and mournful calm was taking place in the chamber of Marshal +Simon's father, the door of which was guarded by a few devoted men. The +old workman was stretched on his bed, with a bandage across his blood- +stained white hair. His countenance was livid, his breathing oppressed, +his look fixed and glazed. + +Marshal Simon, standing at the head of the bed, bending over his father, +watched in despairing anguish the least sign of consciousness on the part +of the dying man, near whom was a physician, with his finger on the +failing pulse. Rose and Blanche, brought hither by Dagobert, were +kneeling beside the bed, their hands clasped, and their eyes bathed in +tears; a little further, half hidden in the shadows of the room, for the +hours had passed quickly, and the night was at hand, stood Dagobert +himself, with his arms crossed upon his breast, and his features +painfully contracted. A profound and solemn silence reigned in this +chamber, only interrupted by the broken sobs of Rose and Blanche, or by +Father Simon's hard breathing. The eyes of the marshal were dry, gloomy, +and full of fire. He only withdrew them from his father's face, to +interrogate the physician by a look. There are strange coincidences in +life. That physician was Dr. Baleinier. The asylum of the doctor being +close to the barrier that was nearest to the factory, and his fame being +widely spread in the neighborhood, they had run to fetch him on the first +call for medical assistance. + +Suddenly, Dr. Baleinier made a movement; the marshal, who had not taken +his eyes off him, exclaimed: "Is there any hope?" + +"At least, my lord duke, the pulse revives a little." + +"He is saved!" said the marshal. + +"Do not cherish false hopes, my lord duke," answered the doctor, gravely: +"the pulse revives, owing to the powerful applications to the feet, but I +know not what will be the issue of the crisis." + +"Father! father! do you hear me?" cried the marshal, seeing the old man +slightly move his head, and feebly raise his eyelids. He soon opened his +eyes, and this time their intelligence had returned. + +"Father! you live--you know me!" cried the marshal, giddy with joy and +hope. + +"Pierre! are you there?" said the old man, in a weak voice. "Your hand-- +give--it--" and he made a feeble movement. + +"Here, father!" cried the marshal, as he pressed the hands of the old man +in his own. + +Then, yielding to an impulse of delight, he bent over his father, covered +his hands, face, and hair with kisses, and repeated: "He lives! kind +heaven, he lives! he is saved!" + +At this instant, the noise of the struggle which had recommenced between +the rabble, the Wolves, and the Devourers, reached the ears of the dying +man. + +"That noise! that noise!" said he: "they are fighting." + +"It is growing less, I think," said the marshal, in order not to agitate +his father. + +"Pierre," said the old man, in a weak and broken voice, "I have not long +to live." + +"Father--" + +"Let me speak, child; if I can but tell you all." + +"Sir," said Baleinier piously to the old workman, "heaven may perhaps +work a miracle in your favor; show yourself grateful, and allow a priest--" + +"A priest! Thank you, sir--I have my son," said the old man; "in his +arms, I will render up my soul--which has always been true and honest." + +"You die?" exclaimed the marshal; "no! no!" + +"Pierre," said the old man, in a voice which, firm at first, gradually +grew fainter, "just now--you ask my advice in a very serious matter. I +think, that the wish to tell you of your duty--has recalled me--for a +moment--to life--for I should die miserable--if I thought you in a road +unworthy of yourself and me. Listen to me, my son--my noble son--at this +last hour, a father cannot deceive himself. You have a great duty to +perform---under pain--of not acting like a man of honor--under pain of +neglecting my last will. You ought, without hesitation--" + +Here the voice failed the old man. When he had pronounced the last +sentence, he became quite unintelligible. The only words that Marshal +Simon could distinguish, were these: "Napoleon II.--oath--dishonor--my +son!" + +Then the old workman again moved his lips mechanically --and all was +over. At the moment he expired, the night was quite come, and terrible +shouts were heard from without, of "Fire! Fire!" The conflagration had +broken out in one of the workshops, filled with inflammable stuff, into +which had glided the little man with the ferret's face. At the same +time, the roll of drums was heard in the distance, announcing the arrival +of a detachment of troops from town. + +During an hour, in spite of every effort, the fire had been spreading +through the factory. The night is clear, cold, starlight; the wind blows +keenly from the north, with a moaning sound. A man, walking across the +fields, where the rising ground conceals the fire from him, advances with +slow and unsteady steps. It is M. Hardy. He had chosen to return home +on foot, across the country, hoping that a walk would calm the fever in +his blood--an icy fever, more like the chill of death. He had not been +deceived. His adored mistress--the noble woman, with whom he might have +found refuge from the consequences of the fearful deception which had +just been revealed to him--had quitted France. He could have no doubt of +it. Margaret was gone to America. Her mother had exacted from her, in +expiation of her fault, that she should not even write to him one word of +farewell--to him, for whom she had sacrificed her duty as a wife. +Margaret had obeyed. + +Besides, she had often said to him: "Between my mother and you, I should +not hesitate." + +She had not hesitated. There was therefore no hope, not the slightest; +even if an ocean had not separated him from Margaret, he knew enough of +her blind submission to her mother, to be certain that all relations +between them were broken off forever. It is well. He will no longer +reckon upon this heart--his last refuge. The two roots of his life have +been torn up and broken, with the same blow, the same day, almost at the +same moment. What then remains for thee, poor sensitive plant, as thy +tender mother used to call thee? What remains to console thee for the +loss of this last love--this last friendship, so infamously crushed? Oh! +there remains for thee that one corner of the earth, created after the +image of thy mind that little colony, so peaceful and flourishing, where, +thanks to thee, labor brings with it joy and recompense. These worthy +artisans, whom thou hast made happy, good, and grateful, will not fail +thee. That also is a great and holy affection; let it be thy shelter in +the midst of this frightful wreck of all thy most sacred convictions! +The calm of that cheerful and pleasant retreat, the sight of the +unequalled happiness of thy dependents, will soothe thy poor, suffering +soul, which now seems to live only for suffering. Come! you will soon +reach the top of the hill, from which you can see afar, in the plain +below, that paradise of workmen, of which you are the presiding divinity. + +M. Hardy had reached the summit of the hill. At that moment the +conflagration, repressed for a short time, burst forth with redoubled +fury from the Common Dwelling-house, which it had now reached. A bright +streak, at first white, then red, then copper-colored, illuminated the +distant horizon. M. Hardy looked at it with a sort of incredulous, +almost idiotic stupor. Suddenly, an immense column of flame shot up in +the thick of a cloud of smoke, accompanied by a shower of sparks, and +streamed towards the sky, casting a bright reflection over all the +country, even to M. Hardy's feet. The violence of the north wind, +driving the flames in waves before it, soon brought to the ears of M. +Hardy the hurried clanging of the alarm-bell of the burning factory. + +[35] We wish it to be understood, that the necessities of our story alone +have made the Wolves the assailants. While endeavoring to paint the +evils arising the abuse of the spirit of association, we do not wish to +ascribe a character of savage hostility to one sect rather than to the +other to the Wolves more than to the Devourers. The Wolves, a club of +united stone-cutters, are generally industrious, intelligent workmen, +whose situation is the more worthy of interest, as not only their labors, +conducted with mathematical precision, are of the rudest and most +wearisome kind, but they are likewise out of work during three or four +months of the year, their profession being, unfortunately, one of those +which winter condemns to a forced cessation. A number of Wolves, in +order to perfect themselves in their trade, attend every evening a course +of linear geometry, applied to the cutting of stone, analogous to that +given by M. Agricole Perdignier, for the benefit of carpenters. Several +working stone-cutters sent an architectural model in plaster to the last +exhibition. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE GO-BETWEEN. + +A few days have elapsed since the conflagration of M. Hardy's factory. +The following scene takes place in the Rue Clovis, in the house where +Rodin had lodged, and which was still inhabited by Rose-Pompon, who, +without the least scruple, availed herself of the household arrangements +of her friend Philemon. It was about noon, and Rose-Pompon, alone in the +chamber of the student, who was still absent, was breakfasting very gayly +by the fireside; but how singular a breakfast! what a queer fire! how +strange an apartment! + +Imagine a large room, lighted by two windows without curtains--for as +they looked on empty space, the lodger had fear of being overlooked. One +side of this apartment served as a wardrobe, for there was suspended +Rose-Pompon's flashy costume of debardeur, not far from the boat-man's +jacket of Philemon, with his large trousers of coarse, gray stuff, +covered with pitch (shiver my timbers!), just as if this intrepid mariner +had bunked in the forecastle of a frigate, during a voyage round the +globe. A gown of Rose Pompon's hung gracefully over a pair of +pantaloons, the legs of which seemed to come from beneath the petticoat. +On the lowest of several book-shelves, very dusty and neglected, by the +side of three old boots (wherefore three boots?) and a number of empty +bottles, stood a skull, a scientific and friendly souvenir, left to +Philemon by one of his comrades, a medical student. With a species of +pleasantry, very much to the taste of the student-world, a clay pipe with +a very black bowl was placed between the magnificently white teeth of +this skull; moreover, its shining top was half hidden beneath an old hat, +set knowingly on one side, and adorned with faded flowers and ribbons. +When Philemon was drunk, he used to contemplate this bony emblem of +mortality, and break out into the most poetical monologues, with regard +to this philosophical contrast between death and the mad pleasures of +life. Two or three plaster casts, with their noses and chins more or +less injured, were fastened to the wall, and bore witness to the +temporary curiosity which Philemon had felt with regard to phrenological +science, from the patient and serious study of which he had drawn the +following logical conclusion:--That, having to an alarming extent the +bump of getting into debt, he ought to resign himself to the fatality of +this organization, and accept the inconvenience of creditors as a vital +necessity. On the chimney-piece, stood uninjured, in all its majesty, +the magnificent rowing-club drinking-glass, a china teapot without a +spout, and an inkstand of black wood, the glass mouth of which was +covered by a coat of greenish and mossy mould. From time to time, the +silence of this retreat was interrupted by the cooing of pigeons, which +Rose-Pompon had established with cordial hospitality in the little study. +Chilly as a quail, Rose-Pompon crept close to the fire, and at the same +time seemed to enjoy the warmth of a bright ray of sunshine, which +enveloped her in its golden light. This droll little creature was +dressed in the oddest costume, which, however, displayed to advantage the +freshness of her piquant and pretty countenance, crowned with its fine, +fair hair, always neatly combed and arranged the first thing in the +morning. By way of dressing-gown, Rose-Pompon had ingeniously drawn over +her linen, the ample scarlet flannel shirt which belonged to Philemon's +official garb in the rowing-club; the collar, open and turned down, +displayed the whiteness of the young girl's under garment, as also of her +neck and shoulders, on whose firm and polished surface the scarlet shirt +seemed to cast a rosy light. The grisette's fresh and dimpled arms half +protruded from the large, turned-up sleeves; and her charming legs were +also half visible, crossed one over the other, and clothed in neat white +stockings, and boots. A black silk cravat formed the girdle which +fastened the shirt round the wasp-like waist of Rose-Pompon, just above +those hips, worthy of the enthusiasm of a modern Phidias, and which gave +to this style of dress a grace very original. + +We have said, that the breakfast of Rose-Pompon was singular. You shall +judge. On a little table placed before her, was a wash-hand-basin, into +which she had recently plunged her fresh face, bathing it in pure water. +From the bottom of this basin, now transformed into a salad-bowl, Rose- +Pompon took with the tips of her fingers large green leaves, dripping +with vinegar, and crunched them between her tiny white teeth, whose +enamel was too hard to allow them to be set on edge. Her drink was a +glass of water and syrup of gooseberries, which she stirred with a wooden +mustard-spoon. Finally, as an extra dish, she had a dozen olives in one +of those blue glass trinket-dishes sold for twenty-five sous. Her +dessert was composed of nuts, which she prepared to roast on a red-hot +shovel. That Rose-Pompon, with such an unaccountable savage choice of +food, should retain a freshness of complexion worthy of her name, is one +of those miracles, which reveal the mighty power of youth and health. +When she had eaten her salad, Rose-Pompon was about to begin upon her +olives, when a low knock was heard at the door, which was modestly bolted +on the inside. + +"Who is there?"said Rose-Pompon. + +"A friend--the oldest of the old," replied a sonorous, jovial voice. +"Why do you lock yourself in?" + +"What! is it you, Ninny Moulin?" + +"Yes, my beloved pupil. Open quickly. Time presses." + +"Open to you? Oh, I dare say!--that would be pretty, the figure I am!" + +"I believe you! what does it matter what figure you are? It would be +very pretty, thou rosiest of all the roses with which Cupid ever adorned +his quiver!" + +"Go and preach fasting and morality in your journal, fat apostle!" said +Rose--Pompon, as she restored the scarlet shirt to its place, with +Philemon's other garments. + +"I say! are we to talk much longer through the door, for the greater +edification of our neighbors?" cried Ninny Moulin. "I have something of +importance to tell you--something that will astonish you--" + +"Give me time to put on my gown, great plague that you are!" + +"If it is because of my modesty, do not think of it. I am not over nice. +I should like you very well as you are!" + +"Only to think that such a monster is the favorite of all the +churchgoers!" said Rose-Pompon, opening the door as she finished +fastening her dress. + +"So! you have at last returned to the dovecot, you stray girl!" said +Ninny Moulin, folding his arms, and looking at Rose-Pompon with comic +seriousness. "And where may you have been, I pray? For three days the +naughty little bird has left its nest." + +"True; I only returned home last night. You must have called during my +absence?" + +"I came, every day, and even twice a day, young lady, for I have very +serious matters to communicate." + +"Very serious matters? Then we shall have a good laugh at them." + +"Not at all--they are really serious," said Ninny Moulin, seating +himself. "But, first of all, what did you do during the three days that +you left your conjugal and Philemonic home? I must know all about it, +before I tell you more." + +"Will you have some olives?" said Rose-Pompon, as she nibbled one of them +herself. + +"Is that your answer?--I understand!--Unfortunate Philemon!" + +"There is no unfortunate Philemon in the case, slanderer. Clara had a +death in her house, and, for the first few days after the funeral she was +afraid to sleep alone." + +"I thought Clara sufficiently provided against such fears." + +"There you are deceived, you great viper! I was obliged to go and keep +the poor girl company." + +At this assertion, the religious pamphleteer hummed a tune, with an +incredulous and mocking air. + +"You think I have played Philemon tricks?" cried Rose-Pompon, cracking a +nut with the indignation of injured innocence. + +"I do not say tricks; but one little rose-colored trick." + +"I tell you, that it was not for my pleasure I went out. On the +contrary--for, during my absence, poor Cephyse disappeared." + +Yes, Mother Arsene told me that the Bacchanal-Queen was gone on a +journey. But when I talk of Philemon, you talk of Cephyse; we don't +progress." + +"May I be eaten by the black panther that they are showing at the Porte- +Saint-Martin if I do not tell you the truth. And, talking of that, you +must get tickets to take me to see those animals, my little Ninny Moulin! +They tell me there never were such darling wild beasts." + +"Now really, are you mad?" + +"Why so?" + +"That I should guide your youth, like a venerable patriarch, through the +dangers of the Storm-blown Tulip, all well and good--I ran no risk of +meeting my pastors and masters; but were I to take you to a Lent- +Spectacle (since there are only beasts to be seen), I might just run +against my sacristans--and how pretty I should look with you on my arm!" + +"You can put on a false nose, and straps to your trousers, my big Ninny; +they will never know you." + +"We must not think of false noses, but of what I have to tell you, since +you assure me that you have no intrigue in hand." + +"I swear it!" said Rose-Pompon, solemnly, extending her left hand +horizontally, whilst with her right she put a nut into her mouth. Then +she added, with surprise, as she looked at the outside coat of Ninny +Moulin, "Goodness gracious! what full pockets you have got! What is +there in them?" + +"Something that concerns you, Rose-Pompon," said Dumoulin, gravely. + +"Me?" + +"Rose-Pompon!" said Ninny Moulin, suddenly, with a majestic air; "will +you have a carriage? Will you inhabit a charming apartment, instead of +living in this dreadful hole? Will you be dressed like a duchess?" + +"Now for some more nonsense! Come, will you eat the olives? If not, I +shall eat them all up. There is only one left." + +Without answering this gastronomic offer, Ninny Moulin felt in one of his +pockets, and drew from it a case containing a very pretty bracelet, which +he held up sparkling before the eyes of the young girl. + +"Oh! what a sumptuous bracelet!" cried she, clapping her hands. "A +green-eyed serpent biting his tail--the emblem of my love for Philemon." + +"Do not talk of Philemon; it annoys me," said Ninny Moulin, as he clasped +the bracelet round the wrist of Rose-Pompon, who allowed him to do it, +laughing all the while like mad, and saying to him, "So you've been +employed to make a purchase, big apostle, and wish to see the effect of +it. Well! it is charming!" + +"Rose-Pompon," resumed Ninny Moulin, "would you like to have a servant, a +box at the Opera, and a thousand francs a month for your pin-money?" + +"Always the same nonsense. Get along!" said the young girl, as she held +up the bracelet to the light, still continuing to eat her nuts. "Why +always the same farce, and no change of bills?" + +Ninny Moulin again plunged his hand into his pocket, and this time drew +forth an elegant chain, which he hung round Rose-Pompon's neck. + +"Oh! what a beautiful chain!" cried the young girl, as she looked by +turns at the sparkling ornament and the religious writer. "If you chose +that also, you have a very good taste. But am I not a good natured girl +to be your dummy, just to show off your jewels?" + +"Rose-Pompon," returned Ninny Moulin, with a still more majestic air, +"these trifles are nothing to what you may obtain, if you will but follow +the advice of your old friend." + +Rose began to look at Dumoulin with surprise, and said to him, "What does +all this mean, Ninny Moulin? Explain yourself; what advice have you to +give?" + +Dumoulin did not answer, but replunging his hand into his inexhaustible +pocket, he fished up a parcel, which he carefully unfolded, and in which +was a magnificent mantilla of black lace. Rose-Pompon started up, full +of new admiration, and Dumoulin threw the rich mantilla over the young +girl's shoulders. + +"It is superb! I have never seen anything like it! What patterns! what +work!" said Rose-Pompon, as she examined all with simple and perfectly +disinterested curiosity. Then she added, "Your pocket is like a shop; +where did you get all these pretty things?" Then, bursting into a fit of +laughter, which brought the blood to her cheeks, she exclaimed, "Oh, I +have it! These are the wedding-presents for Madame de la Sainte-Colombe. +I congratulate you; they are very choice." + +"And where do you suppose I should find money to buy these wonders?" +said Ninny Moulin. "I repeat to you, all this is yours if you will but +listen to me!" + +"How is this?" said Rose-Pompon, with the utmost amazement; "is what you +tell me in downright earnest?" + +"In downright earnest." + +"This offer to make me a great lady?" + +"The jewels might convince you of the reality of my offers." + +"And you propose all this to me for some one else, my poor Ninny Moulin?" + +"One moment, said the religious writer, with a comical air of modesty, +"you must know me well enough, my beloved pupil, to feel certain that I +should be incapable of inducing you to commit an improper action. I +respect myself too much for that--leaving out the consideration that it +would be unfair to Philemon, who confided to me the guardianship of your +virtue." + +"Then, Ninny Moulin," said Rose-Pompon, more and more astonished, "on my +word of honor, I can make nothing of it. + +"Yet, 'tis all very simple, and I--" + +'Oh! I've found it," cried Rose-Pompon, interrupting Ninny Moulin; "it +is some gentleman who offers me his hand, his heart, and all the rest of +it. Could you not tell me that directly?" + +"A marriage? oh, laws, yes!" said Dumoulin, shrugging his shoulders. + +"What! is it not a marriage?" said Rose-Pompon, again much surprised. + +"No." + +"And the offers you make me are honest ones, my big apostle?" + +"They could not be more so." Here Dumoulin spoke the truth. + +"I shall not have to be unfaithful to Philemon?" + +"No." + +"Or faithful to any one else?" +"No." + +Rose-Pompon looked confounded. Then she rattled on: "Come, do not let +us have any joking! I am not foolish enough to imagine that I am to live +just like a duchess, just for nothing. What, therefore, must I give in +return?" + +"Nothing at all." + +"Nothing?" + +"Not even that," said Ninny Moulin, biting his nail-tip. + +"But what am I to do, then?" + +"Dress yourself as handsomely as possible, take your ease, amuse +yourself, ride about in a carriage. You see, it is not very fatiguing-- +and you will, moreover, help to do a good action." + +"What! by living like a duchess?" + +"Yes! so make up your mind. Do not ask me for any more details, for I +cannot give them to you. For the rest, you will not be detained against +your will. Just try the life I propose to you. If it suits you, go on +with it; if not, return to your Philemonic household." + +"In fact--" + +"Only try it. What can you risk?" + +"Nothing; but I can hardly believe that all you say is true. And then," +added she, with hesitation, "I do not know if I ought--" + +Ninny Moulin went to the window, opened it, and said to Rose-Pompon, who +ran up to it, "Look there! before the door of the house." + +"What a pretty carriage! How comfortable a body'd be inside of it!" + +"That carriage is yours. It is waiting for you." + +"Waiting for me!" exclaimed Rose-Pompon; "am I to decide as short as +that?" + +"Or not at all." + +"To-day?" + +"On the instant." + +"But where will they take me?" + +"How should I know?" + +"You do not know where they will take me?" + +"Not I,"--and Dumoulin still spoke the truth--"the coachman has his +orders." + +"Do you know all this is very funny, Ninny Moulin?" + +"I believe you. If it were not funny, where would be the pleasure?" + +"You are right." + +"Then you accept the offer? That is well. I am delighted both for you +and myself." + +"For yourself?" + +"Yes; because, in accepting, you render me a great service." + +"You? How so?" + +"It matters little, as long as I feel obliged to you." + +"True." + +"Come, then; let us set out!" + +"Bah! after all, they cannot eat me," said Rose-Pompon, resolutely. + +With a skip and a jump, she went to fetch a rose-colored cap, and, going +up to a broken looking-glass, placed the cap very much cocked on one side +on her bands of light hair. This left uncovered her snowy neck, with the +silky roots of the hair behind, and gave to her pretty face a very +mischievous, not to say licentious expression. + +"My cloak!" said she to Ninny Moulin, who seemed to be relieved from a +considerable amount of uneasiness, since she had accepted his offer. + +"Fie! a cloak will not do," answered her companion, feeling once more in +his pocket and drawing out a fine Cashmere shawl, which he threw over +Rose-Pompon's shoulders. + +"A Cashmere!" cried the young girl, trembling with pleasure and joyous +surprise. Then she added, with an air of heroism: "It is settled! I +will run the gauntlet." And with a light step she descended the stairs, +followed by Ninny Moulin. + +The worthy greengrocer was at her post. "Good-morning, mademoiselle; you +are early to-day," said she to the young girl. + +"Yes, Mother Arsene; there is my key." + +"Thank you, mademoiselle." + +"Oh! now I think of it," said Rose Pompon, suddenly, in a whisper, as she +turned towards Ninny Moulin, and withdrew further from the portress, +"what is to became of Philemon?" + +"Philemon?" + +"If he should arrive--" + +"Oh! the devil!" said Ninny Moulin, scratching his ear. + +"Yes; if Philemon should arrive, what will they say to him? for I may be +a long time absent." + +"Three or four months, I suppose." + +"Not more?" + +"I should think not." + +"Oh! very good!" said Rose-Pompon. Then, turning towards the +greengrocer, she said to her, after a moment's reflection: "Mother +Arsene, if Philemon should come home, you will tell him I have gone out-- +on business." + +"Yes, mademoiselle." + +"And that he must not forget to feed my pigeons, which are in his study." + +"Yes, mademoiselle." + +"Good-bye, Mother Arsene." + +"Good-bye, mademoiselle." And Rose-Pompon entered the carriage in +triumph, along with Ninny Moulin. + +"The devil take me if I know what is to come of all this," said Jacques +Dumoulin to himself, as the carriage drove rapidly down the Rue Clovis. +"I have repaired my error--and now I laugh at the rest." + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ANOTHER SECRET. + +The following scene took place a few days after the abduction of Rose- +Pompon by Ninny Moulin. Mdlle. de Cardoville was seated in a dreamy +mood, in her cabinet, which was hung with green silk, and furnished with +an ebony library, ornamented with large bronze caryatides. By some +significant signs, one could perceive that Mdlle. de Cardoville had +sought in the fine airs some relief from sad and serious thoughts. Near +an open piano, was a harp, placed before a music-stand. A little +further, on a table covered with boxes of oil and water-color, were +several brilliant sketches. Most of them represented Asiatic scenes, +lighted by the fires of an oriental sun. Faithful to her fancy of +dressing herself at home in a picturesque style, Mademoiselle de +Cardoville resembled that day one of those proud portraits of Velasquez, +with stern and noble aspect. Her gown was of black moire, with wide- +swelling petticoat, long waist, and sleeve slashed with rose-colored +satin, fastened together with jet bugles. A very stiff, Spanish ruff +reached almost to her chin, and was secured round her neck by a broad +rose-colored ribbon. This frill, slightly heaving, sloped down as far as +the graceful swell of the rose-colored stomacher, laced with strings of +jet beads, and terminating in a point at the waist. It is impossible to +express how well this black garment, with its ample and shining folds, +relieved with rose-color and brilliant jet, skin, harmonized with the +shining whiteness of Adrienne's and the golden flood of her beautiful +hair, whose long, silky ringlets descended to her bosom. + +The young lady was in a half-recumbent posture, with her elbow resting on +a couch covered with green silk. The back of this piece of furniture, +which was pretty high towards the fireplace, sloped down insensibly +towards the foot. A sort of light, semicircular trellis-work, in gilded +bronze, raised about five feet from the ground, covered with flowering +plants (the admirable passiflores quadrangulatoe, planted in a deep ebony +box, from the centre of which rose the trellis-work), surrounded this +couch with a sort of screen of foliage enamelled with large flowers, +green without, purple within, and as brilliant as those flowers of +porcelain, which we receive from Saxony. A sweet, faint perfume, like a +faint mixture of jasmine with violet, rose from the cup of these +admirable passiflores. Strange enough, a large quantity of new books +(Adrienne having bought them since the last two or three days) and quite +fresh-cut, were scattered around her on the couch, and on a little table; +whilst other larger volumes, amongst which were several atlases full of +engravings, were piled on the sumptuous fur, which formed the carpet +beneath the divan. Stranger still, these books, though of different +forms, and by different authors, alt treated of the same subject. The +posture of Adrienne revealed a sort of melancholy dejection. Her cheeks +were pale; a light blue circle surrounded her large, black eyes, now +half-closed, and gave to them an expression of profound grief. Many +causes contributed to this sorrow--amongst others, the disappearance of +Mother Bunch. Without absolutely believing the perfidious insinuations +of Rodin, who gave her to understand that, in the fear of being unmasked +by him, the hunchback had not dared to remain in the house, Adrienne felt +a cruel sinking of the heart, when she thought how this young girl, in +whom she had had so much confidence, had fled from her almost sisterly +hospitality, without even uttering a word of gratitude; for care had been +taken not to show her the few lines written by the poor needlewoman to +her benefactress, just before her departure. + +She had only been told of the note of five hundred francs found on her +desk; and this last inexplicable circumstance had contributed to awaken +cruel suspicions in the breast of Mdlle. de Cardoville. She already felt +the fatal effects of that mistrust of everything and everybody, which +Rodin had recommended to her; and this sentiment of suspicion and reserve +had the more tendency to become powerful, that, for the first time in her +life, Mdlle. de Cardoville, until then a stranger to all deception, had a +secret to conceal--a secret, which was equally her happiness, her shame, +and her torment. Half-recumbent on her divan, pensive and depressed, +Adrienne pursued, with a mind often absent, one of her newly purchased +books. Suddenly, she uttered an exclamation of surprise; the hand which +held the book trembled like a leaf, and from that moment she appeared to +read with passionate attention and devouring curiosity. Soon, her eyes +sparkled with enthusiasm, her smile assumed ineffable sweetness, and she +seemed at once proud, happy, delighted--but, as she turned over the last +page, her countenance expressed disappointment and chagrin. Then she +recommenced this reading, which had occasioned her such sweet emotion, +and this time she read with the most deliberate slowness, going over each +page twice, and spelling, as it were, every line, every word. From time +to time, she paused, and in a pensive mood, with her forehead leaning on +her fair hand, she seemed to reflect, in a deep reverie, on the passages +she had read with such tender and religious love. Arriving at a passage +which so affected her, that a tear started in her eye, she suddenly +turned the volume, to see on the cover the name of the author. For a few +seconds, she contemplated this name with a singular expression of +gratitude, and could not forbear raising to her rosy lips the page on +which it was printed. After reading many times over the lines with which +she had been so much struck, forgetting, no doubt, the letter in the +spirit, she began to reflect so deeply, that the book glided from her +hand, and fell upon the carpet. During the course of this reverie, the +eyes of the young girl rested, at first mechanically, upon an admirable +bas-relief, placed on an ebony stand, near one of the windows. This +magnificent bronze, recently cast after a plaster copy from the antique, +represented the triumph of the Indian Bacchus. Never, perhaps, had +Grecian art attained such rare perfection. The youthful conqueror, half- +clad in a lion's skin, which displayed his juvenile grace and charming +purity of form shone with divine beauty. Standing up in a car, drawn by +two tigers, with an air at once gentle and proud, he leaned with one hand +upon a thyrsus, and with the other guided his savage steeds in tranquil +majesty. By this rare mixture of grace, vigor, and serenity, it was easy +to recognize the hero who had waged such desperate combats with men and +with monsters of the forest. Thanks to the brownish tone of the figure, +the light, falling from one side of the sculpture, admirably displayed +the form of the youthful god, which, carved in relievo, and thus +illumined, shone like a magnificent statue of pale gold upon the dark +fretted background of the bronze. + +When Adrienne's look first rested on this rare assemblage of divine +perfections, her countenance was calm and thoughtful. But this +contemplation, at first mechanical, became gradually more and more +attentive and conscious, and the young lady, rising suddenly from her +seat, slowly approached the bas-relief, as if yielding to the invincible +attraction of an extraordinary resemblance. Then a slight blush appeared +on the cheeks of Mdlle. de Cardoville, stole across her face, and spread +rapidly to her neck and forehead. She approached still closer, threw +round a hasty glance, as if half-ashamed, or as if she had feared to be +surprised in a blamable action, and twice stretched forth her hand, +trembling with emotion, to touch with the tips of her charming fingers +the bronze forehead of the Indian Bacchus. And twice she stopped short, +with a kind of modest hesitation. At last, the temptation became too +strong for her. She yielded to it; and her alabaster finger, after +delicately caressing the features of pale gold, was pressed more boldly +for an instant on the pure and noble brow of the youthful god. At this +pressure, though so slight, Adrienne seemed to feel a sort of electric +shock; she trembled in every limb, her eyes languished, and, after +swimming for an instant in their humid and brilliant crystal, were +raised, half-closed, to heaven. Then her head was thrown a little way +back, her knees bent insensibly, her rosy lips were half opened, as if to +give a passage to her heated breath, for her bosom heaved violently, as +thought youth and life had accelerated the pulsations of her heart, and +made her blood boil in her veins. Finally, the burning cheeks of +Adrienne betrayed a species of ecstasy, timid and passionate, chaste and +sensual, the expression of which was ineffably touching. + +An affecting spectacle indeed is that of a young maiden, whose modest +brow flushes with the first fires of a secret passion. Does not the +Creator of all things animate the body as well as the soul, with a spark +of divine energy? Should He not be religiously glorified in the +intellect as in the senses, with which He has so paternally endowed His +creatures? They are impious blasphemers who seek to stifle the celestial +senses, instead of guiding and harmonizing them in their divine flight. +Suddenly, Mdlle. de Cardoville started, raised her head, opened her eyes +as if awakening from a dream, withdrew abruptly from the sculptures, and +walked several times up and down the room in an agitated manner, pressing +her burning hands to her forehead. Then, falling, as it were, exhausted +on her seat, her tears flowed in abundance. The most bitter grief was +visible in her features, which revealed the fatal struggle that was +passing within her. By degrees, her tears ceased. To this crisis of +painful dejection succeeded a species of violent scorn and indignation +against herself, which were expressed by these words that escaped her: +"For the first time in my life, I feel weak and cowardly. Oh yes! +cowardly--very cowardly!" + +The sound of a door opening and closing, roused Mdlle. de Cardoville from +her bitter reflections. Georgette entered the room, and said to her +mistress: "Madame, can you receive the Count de Montbron?" + +Adrienne, too well-bred to exhibit before her women the sort of +impatience occasioned by this unseasonable visit, said to Georgette: "You +told M. de Montbron that I was at home?" + +"Yes, Madame." + +"Then beg him to walk in." Though Mdlle. de Cardoville felt at that +moment much vexed at the arrival of Montbron, let us hasten to say, that +she entertained for him an almost filial affection, and a profound +esteem, though, by a not unfrequent contrast, she almost always differed +from him in opinion. Hence arose, when Mdlle. de Cardoville had nothing +to disturb her mind, the most gay and animated discussions, in which M. +de Montbron, notwithstanding his mocking and sceptical humor, his long +experience, his rare knowledge of men and things, his fashionable +training, in a word, had not always the advantage, and even acknowledged +his defeat gayly enough. Thus, to give an idea of the differences of the +count and Adrienne, before, as he would say laughingly, he had made +himself her accomplice, he had always opposed (from other motives than +those alleged by Madame de Saint-Dizier) Adrienne's wish to live alone +and in her own way; whilst Rodin, on the contrary, by investing the young +girl's resolve on this subject with an ideal grandeur of intention, had +acquired a species of influence over her. M. de Montbron, now upwards of +sixty years of age, had been a most prominent character during the +Directory, Consulate, and the Empire. His prodigal style of living, his +wit, his gayety, his duels, his amours, and his losses at play, had given +him a leading influence in the best society of his day; while his +character, his kind-heartedness, and liberality, secured him the lasting +friendship of nearly all his female friends. At the time we now present +him to the reader, he was still a great gambler; and, moreover, a very +lucky gambler. He had, as we have stated, a very lordly style; his +manners were decided, but polished and lively; his habits were such as +belong to the higher classes of society, though he could be excessively +sharp towards people whom he did not like. He was tall and thin, and his +slim figure gave him an almost youthful appearance; his forehead was +high, and a little bald; his hair was gray and short, his countenance +long, his nose aquiline, his eyes blue and piercing, and his teeth white, +and still very good. + +"The Count de Montbron," said Georgette, opening the door. The count +entered, and hastened to kiss Adrienne's hand, with a sort of paternal +familiarity. + +"Come!" said M. de Montbron to himself; "let us try to discover the truth +I am in search of, that we may escape a great misfortune." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CONFESSION. + +Mdlle. de Cardoville, not wishing to betray the cause of the violent +feelings which agitated her, received M. de Montbron with a feigned and +forced gayety. On the other hand, notwithstanding his tact and knowledge +of the world, the count was much embarrassed how to enter upon the +subject on which he wished to confer with Adrienne, and he resolved to +feel his way, before seriously commencing the conversation. After +looking at the young lady for some seconds, M. de Montbron shook his +head, and said, with a sigh of regret: "My dear child, I am not pleased." + +"Some affair of the heart, or of hearts, my dear count?" returned +Adrienne, smiling. + +"Of the heart," said M. de Montbron. + +"What! you, so great a player, think more of a woman's whim than a throw +of the dice?" + +"I have a heavy heart, and you are the cause of it, my dear child." + +"M. de Montbron, you will make me very proud," said Adrienne, with a +smile. + +"You would be wrong, for I tell you plainly, my trouble is caused by your +neglect of your beauty. Yes, your countenance is pale, dejected, +sorrowful; you have been low-spirited for the last few days; you have +something on your mind, I am sure of it." + +"My dear M. de Montbron, you have so much penetration, that you may be +allowed to fall for once, as now. I am not sad, I have nothing on my +mind, and--I am about to utter a very silly piece of impertinence--I have +never thought myself so pretty." + +"On the contrary, nothing could be more modest than such an assertion. +Who told you that falsehood? a woman?" + +"No; it was my heart, and it spoke the truth," answered Adrienne, with a +slight degree of emotion. "Understand it, if you can," she added. + +"Do you mean that you are proud of the alteration in your features, +because you are proud of the sufferings of your heart?" said M. de +Montbron, looking at Adrienne with attention. "Be it so; I am then +right. You have some sorrow. I persist in it," added the count, +speaking with a tone of real feeling, "because it is painful to me." + +"Be satisfied; I am as happy as possible--for every instant I take +delight in repeating, how, at my age, I am free--absolutely free!" + +"Yes; free to torment yourself, free to be miserable." + +"Come, come, my dear count!" said Adrienne, "you are recommencing our old +quarrel. I still find in you the ally of my aunt and the Abbe +d'Aigrigny." + +"Yes; as the republicans are the allies of the legitimists--to destroy +each other in their turn. Talking of your abominable aunt, they say that +she holds a sort of council at her house these last few days, a regular +mitred conspiracy. She is certainly in a good way." + +"Why not? Formerly, she would have wished to be Goddess of Reason, now, +we shall perhaps see her canonized. She has already performed the first +part of the life of Mary Magdalen." + +"You can never speak worse of her than she deserves, my dear child. +Still, though for quite opposite reasons, I agreed with her on the +subject of your wish to reside alone." + +"I know it." + +"Yes; and because I wished to see you a thousand times freer than you +really are, I advised you--" + +"To marry." + +"No doubt; you would have had your dear liberty, with its consequences, +only, instead of Mdlle. de Cardoville, we should have called you Madame +Somebody, having found an excellent husband to be responsible for your +independence." + +"And who would have been responsible for this ridiculous husband? And +who would bear a mocked and degraded name? I, perhaps?" said Adrienne, +with animation. "No, no, my dear count, good or ill, I will answer for +my own actions; to my name shall attach the reputation, which I alone +have formed. I am as incapable of basely dishonoring a name which is not +mine, as of continually bearing it myself, if it were not held in, +esteem. And, as one can only answer for one's own actions, I prefer to +keep my name." + +"You are the only person in the world that has such ideas." + +"Why?" said Adrienne, laughing. "Because it appears to me horrible, to +see a poor girl lost and buried in some ugly and selfish man, and become, +as they say seriously, the better half of the monster--yes! a fresh and +blooming rose to become part of a frightful thistle!--Come, my dear +count; confess there is something odious in this conjugal +metempsychosis," added Adrienne, with a burst of laughter. + +The forced and somewhat feverish gayety of Adrienne contrasted painfully +with her pale and suffering countenance; it was so easy to see that she +strove to stifle with laughter some deep sorrow, that M. de Montbron was +much affected by it; but, dissembling his emotion, he appeared to reflect +a moment, and took up mechanically one of the new, fresh-cut books, by +which Adrienne was surrounded. After casting a careless glance at this +volume, he continued, still dissembling his feelings: "Come, my dear +madcap: this is another folly. Suppose I were twenty years old, and that +you did me the honor to marry me--you would be called Lady de Montbron, I +imagine?" + +"Perhaps." + +"How perhaps? Would you not bear my name, if you married me?" + +"My dear count," said Adrienne, with a smile, "do not let us pursue this +hypothesis, which can only leave us--regrets." + +Suddenly, M. de Montbron started, and looked at Mdlle, de Cardoville with +an expression of surprise. For some moments, whilst talking to Adrienne, +he had mechanically--taken up two or three of the volumes scattered over +the couch, and had glanced at their titles in the same careless manner. +The first was the "Modern History of India." The second, "Travels in +India." The third, "Letters on India." Much surprised, M. de Montbron +had continued his investigation, and found that the fourth volume +continued this Indian nomenclature, being "Rambles in India." The fifth +was, "Recollections of Hindostan." The sixth, "Notes of a Traveller in +the East Indies." + +Hence the astonishment, which, for many serious reasons, M. de Montbron +had no longer been able to conceal, and which his looks betrayed to +Adrienne. The latter, having completely forgotten the presence of the +accusing volumes by which she was surrounded, yielded to a movement of +involuntary confusion, and blushed slightly; but, her firm and resolute +character again coming to her aid, she looked full at M. de Montbron, and +said to him: "Well, my dear count! what surprises you?" + +Instead of answering, M. de Montbron appeared still more absorbed in +thought, and contemplating the young girl, he could not forbear saying to +himself: "No, no--it is impossible--and yet--" + +"It would, perhaps, be indiscreet in me to listen to your soliloquy, my +dear count," said Adrienne. + +"Excuse me, my dear child; but what I see surprises me so much--" + +"And pray what do you see?" + +"The traces of so great and novel an interest in all that relates to +India," said M. de Montbron, laying a slight stress on his words, and +fixing a piercing look upon the young girl. + +"Well!" said Adrienne, stoutly. + +"Well! I seek the cause of this sudden passion--" + +"Geographical?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville, interrupting M. de Montbron: +"you may find this taste somewhat serious for my age my dear count--but +one must find occupation for leisure hours--and then, having a cousin, +who is both an Indian and a prince, I should like to know something of +the fortunate country from which I derive this savage relationship." + +These last words were pronounced with a bitterness that was not lost on +M. de Montbron: watching Adrienne attentively, he observed: "Meseems, you +speak of the prince with some harshness." + +"No; I speak of him with indifference." + +"Yet he deserves a very different feeling." + +"On the part of some other person, perhaps," replied Adrienne, dryly. + +"He is so unhappy!" said M, de Montbron, in a tone of sincere pity. +"When I saw him the other day, he made my heart ache." + +"What have I to do with it?" exclaimed Adrienne, with an accent of +painful and almost angry impatience. + +"I should have thought that his cruel torments at least deserved your +pity," answered the count gravely. + +"Pity--from me!" cried Adrienne, with an air of offended pride. Then +restraining herself, she added coldly: "You are jesting, M. de Montbron. +It is not in sober seriousness that you ask me to take interest in the +amorous torments of your prince." + +There was so much cold disdain in these last words of Adrienne, her pale +and agitated countenance betrayed such haughty bitterness, that M. de +Montbron said, sorrowfully: "It is then true; I have not been deceived. +I, who thought, from our old and constant friendship, that I had some +claim to your confidence have known nothing of it--while you told all to +another. It is painful, very painful to me." + +"I do not understand you, M. de Montbron." + +"Well then, since I must speak plainly," cried the count, "there is, I +see, no hope for this unhappy boy--you love another." + +As Adrienne started--"Oh! you cannot deny it," resumed the count; "your +paleness and melancholy for the last few days, your implacable +indifference to the prince--all prove to me that you are in love." + +Hurt by the manner in which the count spoke of the sentiment he +attributed to her, Mdlle. de Cardoville answered with dignified +stateliness: "You must know, M. de Montbron, that a secret discovered is +not a confidence. Your language surprises me. + +"Oh, my dear friend, if I use the poor privilege of experience--if I +guess that you are in love--if I tell you so, and even go so far as to +reproach you with it--it is because the life or death of this poor prince +is concerned; and I feel for him as if he were my son, for it is +impossible to know him without taking the warmest interest in him." + +"It would be singular," returned Adrienne, with redoubled coldness, and +still more bitter irony, "if my love--admitting I were in love--could +have any such strange influence on Prince Djalma. What can it matter to +him?" added she, with almost agonizing disdain. + +"What can it matter to him? Now really, my dear friend, permit me to +tell you, that it is you who are jesting cruelly. What! this unfortunate +youth loves you with all the blind ardor of a first love--twice has +attempted to terminate by suicide the horrible tortures of his passion-- +and you think it strange that your love for another should be with him a +question of life or death!" + +"He loves me then?" cried the young girl, with an accent impossible to +describe. + +He loves you to madness, I tell you; I have seen it." + +Adrienne seemed overcome with amazement. From pale, she became crimson; +as the redness disappeared, her lips grew white, and trembled. Her +emotion was so strong, that she remained for some moments unable to +speak, and pressed her hand to her heart, as if to moderate its +pulsations. + +M. de Montbron, almost frightened at the sudden change in Adrienne's +countenance, hastily approached her, exclaiming: "Good heaven, my poor +child! what is the matter?" + +Instead of answering, Adrienne waved her hand to him, in sign that he +should not be alarmed; and, in fact, the count was speedily +tranquillized, for the beautiful face, which had so lately been +contracted with pain, irony, and scorn, seemed now expressive of the +sweetest and most ineffable emotions; Adrienne appeared to luxuriate in +delight, and to fear losing the least particle of it; then, as reflection +told her, that she was, perhaps, the dupe of illusion or falsehood, she +exclaimed suddenly, with anguish, addressing herself to M. de Montbron: +"But is what you tell me true?" + +"What I tell you!" + +"Yes--that Prince Djalma--" + +"Loves you to madness?--Alas! it is only too true." + +"No, no," cried Adrienne, with a charming expression of simplicity; "that +could never be too true." + +"What do you say?" cried the count. + +"But that woman?" asked Adrienne, as if the word scorched her lips. + +"What woman?" + +"She who has been the cause of all these painful struggles." + +"That woman--why, who should it be but you?" + +"What, I? Oh! tell me, was it I?" + +"On my word of honor. I trust my experience. I have never seen so +ardent and sincere a passion." + +"Oh! is it really so? Has he never had any other love?" + +"Never." + +"Yet I was told so." + +"By whom?" + +"M. Rodin." + +"That Djalma--" + +"Had fallen violently in love, two days after I saw him." + +"M. Rodin told you that!" cried M. de Montbron, as if struck with a +sudden idea. "Why, it is he who told Djalma that you were in love with +some one else." + +"I!" + +"And this it was which occasioned the poor youth's dreadful despair." + +"It was this which occasioned my despair." + +"You love him, then, just as he loves you!" exclaimed M. de Montbron, +transported with joy. + +"Love him!" said Mdlle. de Cardoville. A discreet knock at the door +interrupted Adrienne. + +"One of your servants, no doubt. Be calm," said the count. + +"Come in," said Adrienne, in an agitated voice. + +"What is it?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville. Florine entered the room. + +"M. Rodin has just been here. Fearing to disturb mademoiselle, he would +not come in; but he will return in half an hour. Will mademoiselle +receive him?" + +"Yes, yes," said the count to Florine; "even if I am still here, show him +in by all means. Is not that your opinion?" asked M. de Montbron of +Adrienne. + +"Quite so," answered the young girl; and a flash of indignation darted +from her eyes, as she thought of Rodin's perfidy. + +"Oho! the old knave!" said M. de Montbron, "I always had my doubts of +that crooked neck!" Florine withdrew, leaving the count with her +mistress. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +LOVE. + +Mdlle. de Cardoville was transfigured. For the first time her beauty +shone forth in all its lustre. Until now overshadowed by indifference, +or darkened by grief, she appeared suddenly illumined by a brilliant ray +of sunshine. The slight irritation caused by Rodin's perfidy passed like +an imperceptible shade from her brow. What cared she now for falsehood +and perfidy? Had they not failed? And, for the future, what human power +could interpose between her and Djalma, so sure of each other? Who would +dare to cross the path of those two things, resolute and strong with the +irresistible power of youth, love, and liberty? Who would dare to follow +them into that blazing sphere, whither they went, so beautiful and happy, +to blend together in their inextinguishable love, protected by the proof- +armor of their own happiness? Hardly had Florine left the room, when +Adrienne approached M. de Montbron with a rapid step. She seemed to have +become taller; and to watch her advancing, light, radiant, and +triumphant, one might have fancied her a goddess walking upon clouds. + +"When shall I see him?" was her first word to M. de Montbron. + +"Well--say to-morrow; he must be prepared for so much happiness; in so +ardent a nature, such sudden, unexpected joy might be terrible. + +Adrienne remained pensive for a moment, and then said rapidly: "To- +morrow--yes--not before to-morrow. I have a superstition of the heart." + +"What is it?" + +"You shall know. HE LOVES ME--that word says all, contains all, +comprehends all, is all--and yet I have a thousand questions to ask with +regard to him--but I will ask none before to-morrow, because, by a +mysterious fatality, to-morrow is with me a sacred anniversary. It will +be an age till then; but happily, I can wait. Look here!" + +Beckoning M. de Montbron, she led him to the Indian Bacchus. "How much +it is like him!" said she to the count. + +"Indeed," exclaimed the latter, "it is strange!" + +"Strange?" returned Adrienne, with a smile of gentle pride; "strange, +that a hero, a demi-god, an ideal of beauty, should resemble Djalma?" + +"How you love him!" said M. de Montbron, deeply touched, and almost +dazzled by the felicity which beamed from the countenance of Adrienne. + +"I must have suffered a good deal, do you not think so?" said she, after +a moment's silence. + +"If I had not made up my mind to come here to-day, almost in despair, +what would have happened?" + +"I cannot tell; I should perhaps have died, for I am wounded mortally +here"--she pressed her hand to her heart. "But what might have been +death to me, will now be life." + +"It was horrible," said the count, shuddering. "Such a passion, buried +in your own breast, proud as you are--" + +"Yes, proud--but not self-conceited. When I learned his love for +another, and that the impression which I fancied I had made on him at our +first interview had been immediately effaced, I renounced all hope, +without being able to renounce my love. Instead of shunning his image, I +surrounded myself with all that could remind me of him. In default of +happiness, there is a bitter pleasure in suffering through what we love." + +"I can now understand your Indian library." + +Instead of answering the count, Adrienne took from the stand one of the +freshly-cut volumes, and, bringing it to M. de Montbron, said to him, +with a smile and a celestial expression of joy and happiness: "I was +wrong--I am vain. Just read this--aloud, if you please. I tell you that +I can wait for to-morrow." Presenting the book to the count, she pointed +out one passage with the tip of her charming finger. Then she sank down +upon the couch, and, in an attitude of deep attention, with her body bent +forward, her hands crossed upon the cushion, her chin resting upon her +hands, her large eyes fixed with a sort of adoration on the Indian +Bacchus, that was just opposite to her, she appeared by this impassioned +contemplation to prepare herself to listen to M. de Montbron. + +The latter, much astonished, began to read, after again looking at +Adrienne, who said to him, in her most coaxing voice, "Very slowly, I beg +of you. + +M. de Montbron then read the following passage from the journal of a +traveller in India: "`When I was at Bombay, in 1829, I constantly heard +amongst the English there, of a young hero, the son of--'" + +The count having paused a second, by reason of the barbarous spelling of +the name of Djalma's father, Adrienne immediately said to him, in her +soft voice: "The son of Kadja-sing." + +"What a memory!" said the count, with a smile. And he resumed: "`A young +hero, the son of Kadja-sing, king of Mundi. On his return from a distant +and sanguinary expedition amongst the mountains against this Indian king, +Colonel Drake was filled with enthusiasm for this son of Kadja-sing, +known as Djalma. Hardly beyond the age of childhood, this young prince +has in the course of this implacable war given proofs of such chivalrous +intrepidity, and of so noble a character, that his father has been +surnamed the Father of the Generous.'" + +"That is a touching custom," said the count. "To recompense the father, +as it were, by giving him a surname in honor of his son, is a great idea. +But how strange you should have met with this book!" added the count, in +surprise. "I can understand; there is matter here to inflame the coolest +head." + +"Oh! you will see, you will see," said Adrienne. + +The count continued to read: "`Colonel Drake, one of the bravest and best +officers of the English army, said yesterday, in my presence, that having +been dangerously wounded, and taken prisoner by Prince Djalma, after an +energetic resistance, he had been conveyed to the camp established in the +village of--" + +Here there was the same hesitation on the part of the count, on seeing a +still more barbarous name than the first; so, not wishing to try the +adventure, he paused, and said to Adrienne, "Now really, I give this up." + +"And yet it is so easy!" replied Adrienne; and she pronounced with +inexpressible softness, a name in itself soft, "The village of +Shumshabad." + +"You appear to have an infallible process for remembering geographical +names," said the count, continuing: "`Once arrived at the camp, Colonel +Drake received the kindest hospitality, and Prince Djalma treated him +with the respect of a son. It was there that the colonel became +acquainted with some facts, which carried to the highest pitch his +enthusiasm for prince Djalma. I heard him relate the two following. + +"`In one of the battles, the prince was accompanied by a young Indian of +about twelve years of age, whom he loved tenderly, and who served him as +a page, following him on horseback to carry his spare weapons. This +child was idolized by its mother; just as they set out on the expedition, +she had entrusted her son to Prince Djalma's care, saying, with a +stoicism worthy of antiquity, "Let him be your brother." "He shall be my +brother," had replied the prince. In the height of a disastrous defeat, +the child is severely wounded, and his horse killed; the prince, at peril +of his life, notwithstanding the perception of a forced retreat, +disengages him, and places him on the croup of his own horse; they are +pursued; a musket-ball strikes their steed, who is just able to reach a +jungle, in the midst of which, after some vain efforts, he falls +exhausted. The child is unable to walk, but the prince carries him in +his arms, and hides with him in the thickest part of the jungle. The +English arrive, and begin their search; but the two victims escape. +After a night and a day of marches, counter-marches, stratagems, +fatigues, unheard-of perils, the prince, still, carrying the child, one +of whose legs is broken, arrives at his father's camp, and says, with the +utmost simplicity, "I had promised his mother that I would act a +brother's part by him--and I have done so."' + +"That is admirable!" cried the count. + +"Go on--pray go on!" said Adrienne, drying a tear, without removing her +eyes from the bas-relief, which she continued to contemplate with growing +adoration. + +The count continued: "`Another time, Prince Djalma, followed by two black +slaves, went, before sunrise, to a very wild spot, to seize a couple of +tiger cubs only a few days old. The den had been previously discovered. +The two old tigers were still abroad. One of the blacks entered the den +by a narrow aperture; the other, aided by Djalma, cut down a tolerably +large tree, to prepare a trap for one of the old tigers. On the side of +the aperture, the cavern was exceedingly steep. The prince mounted to +the top of it with agility, to set his trap, with the aid of the other +black. Suddenly, a dreadful roar was heard; and, in a few bounds, the +tigress, returning from the chase, reached the opening of the den. The +black who was laying the trap with the prince had his skull fractured by +her bite; the tree, falling across the entrance, prevented the female +from penetrating the cavern, and at the same time stopped the exit of the +black who had seized the cubs. + +"`About twenty feet higher, upon a ledge of rock, the prince lay flat on +the ground, looking down upon this frightful spectacle. The tigress, +rendered furious by the cries of her little ones, gnawed the hands of the +black, who, from the interior of the den, strove to support the trunk of +the tree, his only rampart, whilst he uttered the most lamentable +outcries.' + +"It is horrible!" said the count. + +"Oh! go on! pray go on!" exclaimed Adrienne, with excitement; "you will +see what can be achieved by the heroism of goodness." + +The count pursued: "`Suddenly the prince seized his dagger between his +teeth, fastened his sash to a block of stone, took his axe in one hand, +and with the other slid down this substitute for a rope; falling a few +steps from the wild beast, he sprang upon her, and, swift as lightning, +dealt her two mortal strokes, just as the black, losing his strength, was +about to drop the trunk of the tree, sure to have been torn to pieces.'" + +"And you are astonished at his resemblance with the demi-god, to whom +fable itself ascribes no more generous devotion!" cried the young lady, +with still increasing excitement. + +"I am astonished no longer,I only admire," said the count, in a voice of +emotion; "and, at these two noble instances of heroism, my heart beats +with enthusiasm, as if I were still twenty." + +"And the, noble heart of this traveller beat like yours at the recital," +said Adrienne; "you will see." + +"`What renders so admirable the intrepidity of the prince, is, that, +according to the principle of Indian castes, the life of a slave is of no +importance; thus a king's son, risking his life for the safety of a poor +creature, so generally despised, obeyed an heroic and truly Christian +instinct of charity, until then unheard of in this country." + +"`Two such actions," said Colonel Drake, with good reason, "are +sufficient to paint the man;" it is with a feeling of profound respect +and admiration, therefore, that I, an obscure traveller, have written the +name of Prince Djalma in my book; and at the same time, I have +experienced a kind of sorrow, when I have asked myself what would be the +future fate of this prince, buried in the depths of a savage country, +always devastated by war. However humble may be the homage that I pay to +this character, worthy of the heroic age, his name will at least be +repeated with generous enthusiasm by all those who have hearts that beat +in sympathy with what is great and noble.'" + +"And just now, when I read those simple and touching lines," resumed +Adrienne, I could not forbear pressing my lips to the name of the +traveller." + +"Yes; he is such as I thought him," cried the count, with still more +emotion, as he returned the book to Adrienne, who rose, with a grave and +touching air, and said to him: "It was thus I wished you to know him, +that you might understand my adoration; for this courage, this heroic +goodness, I had guessed beforehand, when I was an involuntary listener to +his conversation. From that moment, I knew him to be generous as +intrepid, tender and sensitive as energetic and resolute; and when I saw +him so marvellously beautiful--so different, in the noble character of +his countenance, and even in the style of his garments, from all I had +hitherto met with--when I saw the impression that I made upon him, and +which I perhaps felt still more violently--I knew that my whole life was +bound up with his love." + +"And now, what are your plans?" + +"Divine, radiant as my heart. When he learns his happiness, I wish that +Djalma should feel dazzled as I do, so as to prevent my gazing on my sun; +for I repeat, that until tomorrow will be a century to me. Yes, it is +strange! I should have thought that after such a discovery, I should +feel the want of being left alone, plunged in an ocean of delicious +dreams. But no! from this time till to-morrow--I dread solitude--I feel +a kind of feverish impatience--uneasy--ardent--Oh! where is the +beneficent fairy, that, touching me with her wand, will lull me into +slumber till to-morrow!" + +"I will be that beneficent fairy," said the count, smiling. + +"You?" + +"Yes, I." + +"And how so?" + +"The power of my wand is this: I will relieve you from a portion of your +thoughts by making them materially visible." + +"Pray explain yourself." + +"And my plan will have another advantage for you. Listen to me; you are +so happy now that you can hear anything. Your odious aunt, and her +equally odious friends, are spreading the report that your residence with +Dr. Baleinier--" + +"Was rendered necessary by the derangement of my mind," said Adrienne, +with a smile; "I expected that." + +"It is stupid enough; but, as your resolution to live alone makes many +envious of you, and many hostile, you must feel that there will be no +want of persons ready to believe the most absurd calumny possible." + +"I hope as much. To pass for mad in the eyes of fools is very +flattering." + +"Yes; but to prove to fools that they are fools, and that in the face of +all Paris, is much more amusing. Now, people begin to talk of your +absence; you have given up your daily rides; for some time my niece has +appeared alone in our box at the Opera; you wish to kill the time till +to-morrow--well! here is an excellent opportunity. It is two o'clock; at +halfpast three, my niece will come in the carriage; the weather is +splendid; there is sure to be a crowd in the Bois de Boulogne. You can +take a delightful ride, and be seen by everybody. Then, as the air and +movement will have calmed your fever of happiness, I will commence my +magic this evening, and take you to India." + +"To India?" + +"Into the midst of one of those wild forests, in which roar the lion, the +panther, and the tiger. We will have this heroic combat, which so moved +you just now, under our own eyes, in all its terrible reality." + +"Really, my dear count, you must be joking." + +"Not at all; I promise to show you real wild beasts, formidable tenants +of the country of our demigod--growling tigers--roaring lions--do you not +think that will be better than books?" + +"But how?" + +"Come! I must give you the secret of my supernatural power. On returning +from your ride, you shall dine with my niece, and we will go together to +a very curious spectacle now exhibiting at the Porte-Saint-Martin +Theatre. A most extraordinary lion-tamer there shows you a number of +wild beasts, in a state of nature, in the midst of a forest (here only +commences the illusion), and has fierce combats with them all--tigers, +lions, and panthers. All Paris is crowding to these representations, and +all Paris will see you there, more charming than ever." + +"I accept your offer," said Adrienne, with childish delight. "Yes, you +are right. I feel a strange pleasure in beholding these ferocious +monsters, who will remind me of those that my demi-god so heroically +overcame. I accept also, because, for the first time in my life, I am +anxious to be admired --even by everybody. I accept finally because--" +Here Mdlle. de Cardoville was interrupted by a low knock at the door, and +by the entrance of Florine, who announced M. Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE EXECUTION. + +Rodin entered. A rapid glance at Mdlle. de Cardoville and M. de Montbron +told him at once that he was in a dilemma. In fact, nothing could be +less encouraging than the faces of Adrienne and the count. The latter, +when he disliked people, exhibited his antipathy, as we have already +said, by an impertinently aggressive manner, which had before now +occasioned a good number of duels. At sight of Rodin, his countenance at +once assumed a harsh and insolent expression; resting his elbow on the +chimney-piece, and conversing with Adrienne, he looked disdainfully over +his shoulder, without taking the least notice of the Jesuit's low bow. +On the other hand, at sight of this man, Mdlle. de Cardoville almost felt +surprise, that she should experience no movement of anger or hatred. The +brilliant flame which burned in her heart, purified it from every +vindictive sentiment. She smiled, on the contrary; for, glancing with +gentle pride at the Indian Bacchus, and then at herself, she asked +herself what two beings, so young, and fair, and free, and loving, could +have to fear from this old, sordid man, with his ignoble and base +countenance, now advancing towards her with the writhing of a reptile. +In a word, far from feeling anger or aversion with regard to Rodin, the +young lady seemed full of the spirit of mocking gayety, and her large +eyes, already lighted up with happiness, now sparkled with irony and +mischief. Rodin felt himself ill at ease. People of his stamp greatly +prefer violent to mocking enemies. They can encounter bursts of rage-- +sometimes by falling on their knees, weeping, groaning, and beating their +breasts--sometimes by turning on their adversary, armed and implacable. +But they are easily disconcerted by biting raillery; and thus it was with +Rodin. He saw that between Adrienne de Cardoville and M. de Montbron, he +was about to be placed in what is vulgarly termed a "regular fix." + +The count opened the fire; still glancing over his shoulder, he said to +Rodin: `Ah! you are here, my benevolent gentleman!" + +"Pray, sir, draw a little nearer," said Adrienne, with a mocking smile. +"Best of friends and model of philosophers--as well as declared enemy of +all fraud and falsehood--I have to pay you a thousand compliments." + +"I accent anything from you, my dear young lady, even though undeserved," +said the Jesuit, trying to smile, and thus exposing his vile yellow +teeth; "but may I be informed how I have earned these compliments?" + +"Your penetration, sir, which is rare--" replied Adrienne. + +"And your veracity, sir," said the count, "which is perhaps no less rare--" + +"In what have I exhibited my penetration, my dear young lady?" said +Rodin, coldly. "In what my veracity?" added he, turning towards M. de +Montbron. + +"In what, sir?" said Adrienne. "Why, you have guessed a secret +surrounded by difficulties and mystery. In a word, you have known how to +read the depths of a woman's heart." + +"I, my dear young lady?" + +"You, sir! rejoice at it, for your penetration has had the most fortunate +results." + +"And your veracity has worked wonders," added the count. + +"It is pleasant to do good, even without knowing it," said Rodin, still +acting on the defensive, and throwing side glances by turns on the count +and Adrienne; "but will you inform me what it is that deserves this +praise--" + +"Gratitude obliges me to inform you of it," said Adrienne, maliciously; +"you have discovered, and told Prince Djalma, that I was passionately in +love. Well! I admire your penetration; it was true." + +"You have also discovered, and told this lady, that Prince Djalma was +passionately in love," resumed the count. "Well! I admire your +penetration, my dear sir; it was true." + +Rodin looked confused, and at a loss for a reply. + +"The person that I loved so passionately," said Adrienne, "was the +prince." + +"The person that the prince loved so passionately," resumed the count, +"was this lady." + +These revelations, so sudden and alarming, almost stunned Rodin; he +remained mute and terrified, thinking of the future. + +"Do you understand now, sir, the extent of our gratitude towards you?" +resumed Adrienne, in a still more mocking tone. "Thanks to your +sagacity, thanks to the touching interest you take in us, the prince and +I are indebted to you for the knowledge of our mutual sentiments." + +The Jesuit had now gradually recovered his presence of mind, and his +apparent calmness greatly irritated M. de Montbron, who, but for +Adrienne's presence, would have assumed another tone than jests. + +"There is some mistake," said Rodin, "in what you have done me the honor +to tell me, my dear young lady. I have never in my life spoken of the +sentiments, however worthy and respectable, that you may entertain for +Prince Djalma--" + +"That is true," replied Adrienne; "with scrupulous and exquisite +discretion, whenever you spoke to me of the deep love felt by Prince +Djalma, you carried your reserve and delicacy so far as to inform me that +it was not I whom he loved." + +"And the same scruple induced you to tell the prince that Mdlle. de +Cardoville loved some one passionately--but that he was not the person," +added the count. + +"Sir," answered Rodin, dryly, "I need hardly tell you that I have no +desire to mix myself up with amorous intrigues." + +"Come! this is either pride or modesty," said the count, insolently. +"For your own interest, pray do not advance such things; for, if we took +you at your word, and it became known, it might injure some of the nice +little trades that you carry on." + +"There is one at least," said Rodin, drawing himself up as proudly as +M. de Montbron, "whose rude apprenticeship I shall owe to you. It is the +wearisome one of listening to your discourse." + +"I tell you what, my good sir!" replied the count, disdainfully: "you +force me to remind you that there are more ways than one of chastising +impudent rogues." + +"My dear count!" said Adrienne to M. de Montbron, with an air of +reproach. + +With perfect coolness, Rodin replied: "I do not exactly see, sir, first, +what courage is shown by threatening a poor old man like myself, and, +secondly--" + +"M. Rodin," said the count, interrupting the Jesuit, "first, a poor old +man like you, who does evil under the shelter of the age he dishonors, +is both cowardly and wicked, and deserves a double chastisement; +secondly, with regard to this question of age, I am not aware that +gamekeepers and policemen bow down respectfully to the gray coats of old +wolves, and the gray hairs of old thieves. What do you think, my good +sir?" + +Still impassible, Rodin raised his flabby eyelids, fixed for hardly a +second his little reptile eye upon the count, and darted at him one of +his rapid, cold, and piercing glances--and then the livid eyelid again +covered the dull eye of that corpse-like face. + +"Not having the disadvantage of being an old wolf, and still less an old +thief," said Rodin, quietly, "you will permit me, sir, to take no account +of the pursuit of hunters and police. As for the reproaches made me, I +have a very simple method of answering--I do not say of justifying +myself--I never justify myself--" + +"You don't say!" said the count. + +"Never," resumed Rodin coolly; "my acts are sufficient for that. I will +then simply answer that seeing the deep, violent, almost fearful +impression made by this lady on the prince--" + +"Let this assurance which you give me of the prince's love," said +Adrienne interrupting Rodin with an enchanting smile, "absolve you of all +the evil you wished to do me. The sight of our happiness be your only +punishment!" + +"It may be that I need neither absolution nor punishment, for, as I have +already had the honor to observe to the count, my dear young lady, the +future will justify my acts. Yes; it was my duty to tell the prince that +you loved another than himself, and to tell you that he loved another +than yourself--all in your mutual interest. That my attachment for you +may have misled me, is possible--I am not infallible; but, after my past +conduct towards you, my dear young lady, I have, perhaps, some right to +be astonished at seeing myself thus treated. This is not a complaint. +If I never justify myself, I never complain either." + +"Now really, there is something heroic in all this, my good sir," said +the count. "You do not condescend to complain or justify yourself, with +regard to the evil you have done." + +"The evil I have done?" said Rodin, looking fixedly at the count. "Are +we playing at enigmas?" + +"What, sir!" cried the count, with indignation: "is it nothing, by your +falsehoods, to have plunged the prince into so frightful a state of +despair, that he has twice attempted his life? Is it nothing, by similar +falsehoods, to have induced this lady to believe so cruel and complete an +error, that but for the resolution I have to-day taken, it might have led +to the most fatal consequences?" + +"And will you do me the honor to tell me, sir, what interest I could have +in all this despair and error, admitting even that I had wished to +produce them?" + +"Some great interest no doubt," said the count, bluntly; "the more +dangerous that it is concealed. You are one of those, I see, to whom the +woes of others are pleasure and profit." + +"That is really too much, sir," said Rodin, bowing; "I should be quite +contented with the profit." + +"Your impudent coolness will not deceive me; this is a serious matter," +said the count. "It is impossible that so perfidious a piece of roguery +can be an isolated act. Who knows but this may still be one of the +fruits of Madame de Saint-Dizier's hatred for Mdlle. de Cardoville?" + +Adrienne had listened to the preceding discussion with deep attention. +Suddenly she started, as if struck by a sudden revelation. + +After a moment's silence, she said to Rodin, without anger, without +bitterness, but with an expression of gentle and serene calmness: "We are +told, sir, that happy love works miracles. I should be tempted to +believe it; for, after some minutes' reflection, and when I recall +certain circumstances, your conduct appears to me in quite a new light." + +"And what may this new perspective be, my dear young lady?" + +"That you may see it from my point of view, sir, allow me to remind you +of a few facts. That sewing-girl was generously devoted to me; she had +given me unquestionable proofs of her attachment. Her mind was equal to +her noble heart; but she had an invincible dislike to you. All on a +sudden she disappears mysteriously from my house, and you do your best to +cast upon her odious suspicions. M. de Montbron has a paternal affection +for me; but, as I must confess, little sympathy for you; and you have +always tried to produce a coldness between us. Finally, Prince Djalma +has a deep affection for me, and you employ the most perfidious treachery +to kill that sentiment within him. For what end do you act thus? I do +not know; but certainly with some hostile design." + +"It appears to me, madame," said Rodin, severely, "that you have +forgotten services performed." + +"I do not deny, sir, that you took me from the house of Dr. Baleinier; +but, a few days sooner or later, I must infallibly have been released by +M. de Montbron." + +"You are right, my dear child," said the count; "it may be that your +enemies wished to claim the merit of what must necessarily have happened +through the exertions of your friends." + +"You are drowning, and I save you--it is all a mistake to feel grateful," +said Rodin, bitterly; "some one else would no doubt have saved you a +little later." + +"The comparison is wanting in exactness," said Adrienne, with a smile; "a +lunatic asylum is not a river, and though, from what I see, I think you +quite capable of diving, you have had no occasion to swim on this +occasion. You merely opened a door for me, which would have opened of +itself a little later." + +"Very good, my dear child!" said the count, laughing heartily at +Adrienne's reply. + +"I know, sir, that your care did not extend to me only. The daughters of +Marshal Simon were brought back by you; but we may imagine that the claim +of the Duke de Ligny to the possession of his daughters would not have +been in vain. You returned to an old soldier his imperial cross, which +he held to be a sacred relic; it is a very touching incident. Finally, +you unmasked the Abbe d'Aigrigny and Dr. Baleinier: but I had already +made up my mind to unmask then. However, all this proves that you are a +very clever man--" + +"Oh, madame!" said Rodin, humbly. + +"Full of resources and invention--" + +"Oh, madame!" + +"It is not my fault if, in our long interview at Dr. Baleinier's, you +betrayed that superiority of mind which struck me so forcibly, and which +seems to embarrass you so much at present. What would you have, sir?-- +great minds like yours find it difficult to maintain their incognito. +Yet, as by different ways--oh! very different," added the young lady, +maliciously, "we are tending to the same end (still keeping in view our +conversation at Dr. Baleinier's), I wish, for the sake of our future +communion, as you call it, to give you a piece of advice, and speak +frankly to you." + +Rodin had listened to Mdlle. de Cardoville with apparent impassibility, +holding his hat under his arm, and twirling his thumbs, whilst his hands +were crossed upon his waistcoat. The only external mark of the intense +agitation into which he was thrown by the calm words of Adrienne, was +that the livid eyelids of the Jesuit, which had been hypocritically +closed, became gradually red, as the blood flowed into them. +Nevertheless, he answered Mdlle. de Cardoville in a firm voice, and with +a low bow: "Good advice and frankness are always excellent things." + +"You see, sir," resumed Adrienne, with some excitement, "happy love +bestows such penetration, such energy, such courage, as enables one to +laugh at perils, to detect stratagems, and to defy hatred. Believe me, +the divine light which surrounds two loving hearts will be sufficient to +disperse all darkness, and reveal every snare. You see, in India--excuse +my weakness, but I like to talk of India," added the young girl, with a +smile of indescribable grace and meaning--"in India, when travellers +sleep at night, they kindle great fires round their ajoupa (excuse this +touch of local coloring), and far as extends the luminous circle, it puts +to flight by its mere brilliancy, all the impure and venomous reptiles +that shun the day and live only in darkness." + +"The meaning of this comparison has quite escaped me," said Rodin, +continuing to twirl his thumbs, and half raising his eyelids, which were +getting redder and redder. + +"I will speak more plainly," said Adrienne, with a smile. "Suppose, sir, +that the last is a service which you have rendered me and the prince--for +you only proceed by way of services--that, I acknowledge, is novel and +ingenious." + +"Bravo, my dear child!" said the count, joyfully. "The execution will be +complete." + +"Oh! this is meant for an execution?" said Rodin, still impassible. + +"No, sir," answered Adrienne, with a smile; "it is a simple conversation +between a poor young girl and an old philosopher, the friend of humanity. +Suppose, then, that these frequent services that you have rendered to me +and mine have suddenly opened my eyes; or, rather," added the young girl, +in a serious tone, "suppose that heaven, who gives to the mother the +instinct to defend her child, has given me, along with happiness, the +instinct to preserve my happiness, and that a vague presentiment, by +throwing light on a thousand circumstances until now obscure, has +suddenly revealed to me that, instead of being the friend, you are +perhaps, the most dangerous enemy of myself and family." + +"So we pass from the execution to suppositions," said Rodin, still +immovable. + +"And from suppositions, sir, if you must have it, to certainty," resumed +Adrienne, with dignified firmness; "yes, now I believe that I was for +awhile your dupe, and I tell you, without hate, without anger, but with +regret--that it is painful to see a man of your sense and intelligence +stoop to such machinations, and, after having recourse to so many +diabolical manoeuvres, finish at last by being ridiculous; for, believe +me, there is nothing more ridiculous for a man like you, than to be +vanquished by a young girl, who has no weapon, no defence, no instructor, +but her love. In a word, sir, I look upon you from to-day as an +implacable and dangerous enemy; for I half perceive your aim, without +guessing by what means you will seek to accomplish it, No doubt your +future means will be worthy of the past. Well! in spite of all this, I +do not fear you. From tomorrow, my family will be informed of +everything, and an active, intelligent, resolute union will keep us all +upon our guard, for it doubtless concerns this enormous inheritance, of +which they wish to deprive us. Now, what connection can there be between +the wrongs I reproach you with and the pecuniary end proposed? I do not +at all know--but you have told me yourself that our enemies are so +dangerously skillful, and their craft so far-reaching, that we must +expect all, be prepared for all. I will remember the lesson. I have +promised you frankness, sir, and now I suppose you have it." + +"It would be an imprudent frankness if I were your enemy," said Rodin, +still impassible; "but you also promised me some advice, my dear young +lady." + +"My advice will be short; do not attempt to continue the struggle, +because, you see, there is something stronger than you and yours--it is a +woman's resolve, defending her happiness." + +Adrienne pronounced these last words with so sovereign a confidence; her +beautiful countenance shone, as is it were, with such intrepid joy, that +Rodin, notwithstanding his phlegmatic audacity, was for a moment +frightened. Yet he did not appear in the least disconcerted; and, after +a moment's silence, he resumed, with an air of almost contemptuous +compassion: "My dear young lady, we may perhaps never meet again; it is +probable. Only remember one thing, which I now repeat to you: I never +justify myself. The future will provide for that. Notwithstanding +which, my dear young lady, I am your humble servant;" and he made her a +low bow. + +"Count, I beg to salute you most respectfully," he added, bowing still +more humbly to M. de Montbron; and he went out. + +Hardly had Rodin left the room than Adrienne ran to her desk, and writing +a few hasty lines, sealed the note, and said to M. de Montbron : "I shall +not see the prince before to-morrow--as much from superstition of the +heart as because it is necessary for my plans that this interview should +be attended with some little solemnity. You shall know all; but I write +to him on the instant, for, with an enemy like M. Rodin, one must be +prepared for all." + +"You are right, my dear child; quick! the letter." Adrienne gave it to +him. + +"I tell him enough," said she, "to calm his grief; and not enough to +deprive me of the delicious happiness of the surprise I reserve for to- +morrow." + +"All this has as much sense as heart in it: I will hasten to the prince's +abode, to deliver your letter. I shall not see him, for I could not +answer for myself. But come! our proposed drive, our evening's +amusement, are still to hold good." + +"Certainly. I have more need than ever to divert my thoughts till to- +morrow. I feel, too, that the fresh air will do me good, for this +interview with M. Rodin has warmed me a little." + +"The old wretch! but we will talk further of him. I will hasten to the +prince's and return with Madame de Morinval, to fetch you to the Champs- +Elysees." + +The Count de Montbron withdrew precipitately, as joyful at his departure +as he had been sad on his arrival. + + + + +CHAPTER XT. + +THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES + +It was about two hours after the interview of Rodin with Mdlle. de +Cardoville. Numerous loungers, attracted to the Champs-Elysees by the +serenity of a fine spring day (it was towards the end of the month of +March) stopped to admire a very handsome equipage. A bright-blue open +carriage, with white-and-blue wheels, drawn by four superb horses, of +cream color, with black manes, and harness glittering with silver +ornaments, mounted by two boy postilions of equal size, with black velvet +caps, light-blue cassimere jackets with white collars, buckskin breeches, +and top-boots; two tall, powdered footmen, also in light-blue livery, +with white collars and facings, being seated in the rumble behind. + +No equipage could have been turned out in better style. The horses, full +of blood, spirit, and vigor, were skillfully managed by the postilions, +and stepped with singular regularity, gracefully keeping time in their +movements, champing their bits covered with foam, and ever and anon +shaking their cockades of blue and white silk, with long floating ends, +and a bright rose blooming in the midst. + +A man on horseback, dressed with elegant simplicity, keeping at the other +side of the avenue, contemplated with proud satisfaction this equipage +which he had, as it were, created. It was M. de Bonneville--Adrienne's +equerry, as M. de Montbron called him--for the carriage belonged to that +young lady. A change had taken place in the plan for this magic day's +amusement. M. de Montbron had not been able to deliver Mdlle. de +Cardoville's note to Prince Djalma. Faringhea had told him that the +prince had gone that morning into the country with Marshal Simon, and +would not be back before evening. The letter should be given him on his +arrival. Completely satisfied as to Djalma, knowing that he could find +these few lines, which, without informing him of the happiness that +awaited him, would at least give him some idea of it, Adrienne had +followed the advice of M. de Montbron, and gone to the drive in her own +carriage, to show all the world that she had quite made up her mind, in +spite of the perfidious reports circulated by the Princess de Saint- +Dizier, to keep to her resolution of living by herself in her own way. +Adrienne wore a small white bonnet, with a fall of blonde, which well +became her rosy face and golden hair; her high dress of garnet-colored +velvet was almost hidden beneath a large green cashmere shawl. The young +Marchioness de Morinval, who was also very pretty and elegant, was seated +at her right. M. de Montbron occupied the front seat of the carriage. + +Those who know the Parisian world, or rather, that imperceptible fraction +of the world of Paris which goes every fine, sunny day to the Champs- +Elysees, to see and be seen, will understand that the presence of Mdlle. +de Cardoville on that brilliant promenade was an extraordinary and +interesting event. + +The world (as it is called) could hardly believe its eyes, on seeing this +lady of eighteen, possessed of princely wealth, and belonging to the +highest nobility, thus prove to every one, by this appearance in public, +that she was living completely free and independent, contrary to all +custom and received notions of propriety. This kind of emancipation +appeared something monstrous, and people were almost astonished that the +graceful and dignified bearing of the young lady should belie so +completely the calumnies circulated by Madame de Saint-Dizier and her +friends, with regard to the pretended madness of her niece. Many beaux, +profiting by their acquaintance with the Marchioness de Morinval or M. de +Montbron, came by turns to pay their respects, and rode for a few minutes +by the side of the carriage, so as to have an opportunity of seeing, +admiring, and perhaps hearing, Mdlle. de Cardoville; she surpassed their +expectations, by talking with her usual grace and spirit. Then surprise +and enthusiasm knew no bounds. What had at first been blamed as an +almost insane caprice, was now voted a charming originality, and it only +depended on Mdlle. de Cardoville herself, to be declared from that day +the queen of elegance and fashion. The young lady understood very well +the impression she had made; she felt proud and happy, for she thought of +Djalma; when she compared him to all these men of fashion, her happiness +was the more increased. And, verily, these young men, most of whom had +never quitted Paris, or had ventured at most as far as Naples or Baden, +looked insignificant enough by the side of Djalma, who, at his age, had +so many times commanded and combated in bloody wars, and whose reputation +far courage and generosity, mentioned by travellers with admiration, had +already reached from India to Paris. And then, how could these charming +exquisites, with their small hats, their scanty frock-coats, and their +huge cravats, compare with the Indian prince, whose graceful and manly +beauty was still heightened by the splendor of a costume, at once so rich +and so picturesque? + +On this happy day, all was joy and love for Adrienne. The sun, setting +in a splendidly serene sky, flooded the promenade with its golden light. +The air was warm. Carriages and horsemen passed and repassed in rapid +succession; a light breeze played with the scarfs of the women, and the +plumes in their bonnets; all around was noise, movement, sunshine. +Adrienne, leaning back in her carriage, amused herself with watching this +busy scene, sparkling with Parisian luxury; but, in the vortex of this +brilliant chaos, she saw in thought the mild, melancholy countenance of +Djalma--when suddenly something fell into her lap, and she started. It +was a bunch of half-faded violets. At the same instant she heard a +child's voice following the carriage, and saying: "For the love of +heaven, my good lady, one little sou!" Adrienne turned her head, and saw +a poor little girl, pale and wan, with mild, sorrowful features, scarcely +covered with rags, holding out her hand, and raising her eyes in +supplication. Though the striking contrast of extreme misery, side by +side with extreme luxury, is so common, that it no longer excites +attention, Adrienne was deeply affected by it. She thought of Mother +Bunch, now, perhaps, the victim of frightful destitution. + +"Ah! at least," thought the young lady, "let not this day be one of +happiness for me alone!" + +She leaned from the carriage-window, and said to the poor child: "Have +you a mother, my dear?" + +"No, my lady, I have neither father nor mother." + +"Who takes care of you?" + +"No one, my lady. They give me nosegays to sell, and I must bring home +money--or they beat me." + +"Poor little thing!" + +"A sou, my good lady--a sou, for the love of heaven!" said the child, +continuing to follow the carriage, which was then moving slowly. + +"My dear count," said Adrienne, smiling, and addressing M. de Montbron, +"you are, unfortunately, no novice at an elopement. Please to stretch +forth your arms, take up that child with both hands, and lift her into +the carriage. We can hide her between Lady de Morinval and myself; and +we can drive away before any one perceives this audacious abduction." + +"What!" said the count, in surprise. "You wish--" + +"Yes; I beg you to do it." + +"What a folly!" + +"Yesterday, you might, perhaps, have treated this caprice as a folly; but +to-day," said Adrienne, laying great stress upon the word, and glancing +at M. de Montbron with a significant air, "to-day, you should understand +that it is almost a duty." + +"Yes, I understand you, good and noble heart!" said the count, with +emotion; while Lady de Morinval, who knew nothing of Mdlle. de +Cardoville's love for Djalma, looked with as much surprise as curiosity +at the count and the young lady. + +M. de Montbron, leaning from the carriage, stretched out his arms towards +the child, and said to her: "Give me your hands, little girl." + +Though much astonished, the child obeyed mechanically, and held out both +her little arms; then the count took her by the wrists, and lifted her +lightly from the ground, which he did the more easily, as the carnage was +very low, and its progress by no means rapid. More stupefied than +frightened, the child said not a word. Adrienne and Lady de Morinval +made room for her to crouch down between them, and the little girl was +soon hidden beneath the shawls of the two young women. All this was +executed so quickly, that it was hardly perceived by a few persons +passing in the side-avenues. + +"Now, my dear count," said Adrienne, radiant with pleasure, "let us make +off at once with our prey." + +M. de Montbron half rose, and called to the postilions. "Home!" and the +four horses started at once into a rapid and regular trot. + +"This day of happiness now seems consecrated, and my luxury is excused," +thought Adrienne; "till I can again meet with that poor Mother Bunch, and +from this day I will make every exertion to find her out, her place will +at least not be quite empty." + +There are often strange coincidences in life. At the moment when this +thought of the hunchback crossed the mind of Adrienne, a crowd had +collected in one of the side-avenues, and other persons soon ran to join +the group. + +"Look, uncle!" said Lady de Morinval; "how many people are assembled +yonder. What can it be? Shall we stop, and send to inquire?" + +"I am sorry, my dear, but your curiosity cannot be satisfied," said the +count, drawing out his watch; "it will soon be six o'clock, and the +exhibition of the wild beasts begin at eight. We shall only just have +time to go home and dine. Is not that your opinion, my dear child?" said +he to Adrienne. + +"And yours, Julia?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville to the marchioness. + +"Oh, certainly!" answered her friend. + +"I am the less inclined to delay," resumed the count, "as when I have +taken you to the Porte-Saint-Martin, I shall be obliged to go for half- +an-hour to my club, to ballot for Lord Campbell, whom I propose." + +"Then, Adrienne and I will be left alone at the play, uncle?" + +"Your husband will go with you, I suppose." + +"True, dear uncle; but do not quite leave us, because of that." + +"Be sure I shall not: for I am curious as you are to see these terrible +animals, and the famous Morok, the incomparable lion-tamer." + +A few minutes after, Mdlle. de Cardoville's carriage had left the Champs- +Elysees, carrying with it the little girl, and directing its course +towards the Rue d'Anjou. As the brilliant equipage disappeared from the +scene, the crowd, of which we before have spoken, greatly increased about +one of the large trees in the Champs-Elysees, and expressions of pity +were heard here and there amongst the groups. A lounger approached a +young man on the skirts of the crowd, and said to him: "What is the +matter, sir?" + +"I hear it is a poor young girl, a hunchback, that has fallen from +exhaustion." + +"A hunchback! is that all? There will always be enough hunchbacks," said +the lounger, brutally, with a coarse laugh. + +"Hunchback or not, if she dies of hunger," answered the young man, +scarcely able to restrain his indignation, "it will be no less sad--and +there is really nothing to laugh at, sir." + +"Die of hunger! pooh!" said the lounger, shrugging his shoulders. "It is +only lazy scoundrels, that will not work, who die of hunger. And it +serves them right." + +"I wager, sir, there is one death you will never die of," cried the young +man, incensed at the cruel insolence of the lounger. + +"What do you mean?" answered the other, haughtily. + +"I mean, sir, that your heart is not likely to kill you." + +"Sir!" cried the lounger in an angry tone. + +"Well! what, sir?" replied the young man, looking full in his face. + +"Nothing," said the lounger, turning abruptly on his heel, and grumbling +as he sauntered towards an orange-colored cabriolet, on which was +emblazoned an enormous coat-of-arms, surmounted by a baron's crest. A +servant in green livery, ridiculously laced with gold, was standing +beside the horse, and did not perceive his master. + +"Are you catching flies, fool?" said the latter, pushing him with his +cane. The servant turned round in confusion. "Sir," said he. + +"Will you never learn to call me Monsieur le Baron, rascal?" cried his +master, in a rage--"Open the door directly!" + +The lounger was Baron Tripeaud, the manufacturing baron the stock-jobber. +The poor hunchback was Mother Bunch, who had, indeed fallen with hunger +and fatigue, whilst on her way to Mdlle. de Cardoville's. The +unfortunate creature had found courage to brave the shame of the ridicule +she so much feared, by returning to that house from which she was a +voluntary exile; but this time, it was not for herself, but for her +sister Cephyse--the Bacchanal Queen, who had returned to Paris the +previous day, and whom Mother Bunch now sought, through the means of +Adrienne, to rescue from a most dreadful fate. + +Two hours after these different scenes, an enormous crowd pressed round +the doors of the Porte-Saint-Martin, to witness the exercises of Morok, +who was about to perform a mock combat with the famous black panther of +Java, named Death. Adrienne, accompanied by Lord and Lady de Morinval, +now stepped from a carriage at the entrance of the theatre. They were to +be joined in the course of the evening by M. de Montbron, whom they had +dropped, in passing, at his club. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +BEHIND THE SCENES. + +The large theatre of the Porte-Saint-Martin was crowded by an impatient +multitude. All Paris had hurried with eager and burning curiosity to +Morok's exhibition. It is quite unnecessary to say that the lion-tamer +had completely abandoned his small taste in religious baubles, which he +had so successfully carried on at the White Falcon Inn at Leipsic. There +were, moreover, numerous tokens by which the surprising effects of +Morok's sudden conversion had been blazoned in the most extraordinary +pictures: the antiquated baubles in which he had formerly dealt would +have found no sale in Paris. Morok had nearly finished dressing himself, +in one of the actor's rooms, which had been lent to him. Over a coat of +mail, with cuishes and brassarts, he wore an ample pair of red trousers, +fastened round his ankles by broad rings of gilt brass. His long caftan +of black cloth, embroidered with scarlet and gold, was bound round his +waist and wrist by other large rings of gilt metal. This sombre costume +imparted to him an aspect still more ferocious. His thick and red-haired +beard fell in large quantities down to his chest, and a long piece of +white muslin was folded round his red head. A devout missionary in +Germany and an actor in Paris, Morok knew as well as his employers, the +Jesuits, how to accommodate himself to circumstances. + +Seated in one corner of the room, and contemplating with a sort of stupid +admiration, was Jacques Rennepont, better known as "Sleepinbuff" (from +the likelihood that he would end his days in rags, or his present +antipathy to great care in dress). Since the day Hardy's factory had +been destroyed by fire, Jacques had not quitted Morok, passing the nights +in excesses, which had no baneful effects on the iron constitution of the +lion-tamer. On the other's features, on the contrary, a great alteration +was perceptible; his hollow cheeks, marble pallor, his eyes, by turns +dull and heavy, or gleaming with lurid fire, betrayed the ravages of +debauchery, his parched lips were almost constantly curled by a bitter +and sardonic smile. His spirit, once gay and sanguine, still struggled +against the besotting influence of habitual intoxication. Unfitted for +labor, no longer able to forego gross pleasures, Jacques sought to drown +in wine a few virtuous impulses which he still possessed, and had sunk so +low as to accept without shame the large dole of sensual gratification +proffered him by Morok, who paid all the expenses of their orgies, but +never gave him money, in order that he might be completely dependent on +him. After gazing at Morok for some time in amazement, Jacques said to +him, in a familiar tone: "Well, yours is a famous trade; you may boast +that, at this moment, there are not two men like you in the whole world +That's flattering. It's a pity you don't stick to this fine trade." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, how is the conspiracy going on, in whose honor you make me keep it +up all day and all night?" + +"It is working, but the time is not yet come; that is why I wish to have +you always at hand, till the great day. Do you complain?" + +"Hang it, no!" said Jacques. "What could I do? Burnt up with brandy as +I am, if I wanted to work, I've no longer the strength to do so. I have +not, like you, a head of marble, and a body of iron; but as for fuddling +myself with gunpowder, instead of anything else, that'll do for me; I'm +only fit for that work now--and then, it will drive away thought." + +"Oh what kind?" + +"You know that when I do think, I think only of one thing," said Jacques, +gloomily. + +"The Bacchanal queen?--still?" said Morok, in a disdainful tone. + +"Still! rather: when I shall think of her no longer, I shall be dead--or +stupefied. Fiend!" + +"You were never better or more intelligent, you fool!" replied Morok, +fastening his turban. The conversation was here interrupted. Morok's +aider entered hastily. + +The gigantic form of this Hercules had increased in width. He was +habited like Alcides; his enormous limbs, furrowed with veins as thick as +whipcord, were covered with a close-fitting flesh-colored garment, to +which a pair of red drawers formed a strong contrast. + +"Why do you rush in like a storm, Goliath?" said Morok. + +"There's a pretty storm in the house; they are beginning to get +impatient, and are calling out like madmen. But if that were all!" + +"Well, what else?" + +"Death will not be able to play this evening." + +Morok turned quickly around. He seemed uneasy. "Why so?" he exclaimed. + +"I have just seen her! she's crouching at the bottom of her cage; her +ears lie so close to her head, she looks as if they had been cut off. +You know what that means." + +"Is that all?" said Morok, turning to the glass to complete his head- +dress. + +"It's quite enough; she's in one of her tearing fits. Since that night +in Germany, when she ripped up that old hack of a white horse, I've not +seen her look so savage! her eyes shine like burning candles." + +"Then she must have her fine collar on," said Morok, quietly. + +"Her fine collar?" + +"Yes; her spring-collar." + +"And I must be lady's-maid," said the giant. "A nice toilet to attend +to!" + +"Hold your tongue!" + +"That's not all--" continued Goliath, hesitating. + +"What more?" + +"I might as well tell you at once." + +"Will you speak?" + +"Well! he is here." + +"Who, you stupid brute?" + +"The Englishman!" + +Morok started; his arms fell powerless by his side. Jacques was struck +with the lion-tamer's paleness and troubled countenance. + +"The Englishman!--you have seen him?" cried Morok, addressing Goliath. +"You are quite sure?" + +"Quite sure. I was looking through the peep-hole in the curtain; I saw +him in one of the stage-boxes--he wishes to see things close; he's easy +to recognize, with his pointed forehead, big nose, and goggle eyes." + +Morok shuddered again; usually fierce and unmoved, he appeared to be more +and more agitated, and so alarmed, that Jacques said to him: "Who is this +Englishman?" + +"He has followed me from Strasburg, where he fell in with me," said +Morok, with visible dejection. "He travelled with his own horses, by +short stages, as I did; stopping where I stopped, so as never to miss one +of my exhibitions. But two days before I arrived at Paris, he left me--I +thought I was rid of him," said Morok, with a sigh. + +"Rid of him!--how you talk!" replied Jacques, surprised; "such a good +customer, such an admirer!" + +"Aye!" said Morok, becoming more and more agitated; "this wretch has +wagered an enormous sum, that I will be devoured in his presence, during +one of my performances: he hopes to win his wager--that is why he +follows me about." + +Sleepinbuff found the John Bull's idea so amusingly eccentric, that, for +the first time since a very long period, he burst into a peal of hearty +laughter. Morok, pale with rage, rushed towards him with so menacing an +air, that Goliath was obliged to interpose. + +"Come, come," said Jacques, don't be angry; if it is serious, I will not +laugh any more." + +Morok was appeased, and said to Sleepinbuff in a hoarse voice: "Do you +think me a coward?" + +"No, by heaven!" + +"Well! And yet this Englishman, with his grotesque face, frightens me +more than any tiger or my panther!" + +"You say so, and I believe it," replied Jacques; "but I cannot understand +why the presence of this man should alarm you." + +"But consider, you dull knave!" cried Morok, "that, obliged to watch +incessantly the least movement of the ferocious beast, whom I keep in +subjection by my action and my looks, there is something terrible in +knowing that two eyes are there--always there--fixed--waiting till the +least absence of mind shall expose me to be torn in pieces by the +animals." + +"Now, I understand," said Jacques, shuddering in his turn. "It is +terrible." + +"Yes; for once there, though I may not see this cursed Englishman, I +fancy I have his two round eyes, fixed and wide open, always before me. +My tiger Cain once nearly mutilated my arm, when my attention was drawn +away by this Englishman, whom the devil take! Blood and thunder!" cried +Morok: "this man will be fatal to me." And Morok paced the room in great +agitation. + +"Besides, Death lays her ears close to her skull," said Goliath, +brutally. "If you persist--mind, I tell you--the Englishman will win his +wager this evening." + +"Go away, you brute!--don't vex my head with your confounded +predictions," cried Morok: "go and prepare Death's collar." + +"Well, every one to his taste; you wish the panther to taste you," said +the giant, stalking heavily away, after this joke. + +"But if you feel these fears," said Jacques, "why do you not say that the +panther is ill?" + +Morok shrugged his shoulders, and replied with a sort of feverish +ferocity, "Have you ever heard of the fierce pleasure of the gamester, +who stakes his honor, his life, upon a card? Well! I too--in these +daily exhibitions where my life is at stake--find a wild, fierce pleasure +in braving death, before a crowded assembly, shuddering and terrified at +my audacity. Yes, even in the fear with which this Englishman inspires +me, I find, in spite of myself, a terrible excitement, which I abhor, and +which yet subjugates me." + +At this moment, the stage-manager entered the room, and interrupted the +beast-tamer. "May we give the signal, M. Morok?" said the stage-manager. +"The overture will not last above ten minutes." + +"I am ready," said Morok. + +"The police-inspector has just now given orders, that the double chain of +the panther, and the iron ring riveted to the floor of the stage, at the +end of the cavern in the foreground, shall be again examined; and +everything has been reported quite secure." + +"Yes--secure--except for me," murmured the beast-tamer. + +"So, M. Morok, the signal may be given?" + +"The signal may--be given," replied Morok. And the manager went out. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +UP WITH THE CURTAIN. + +The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture +began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it. The +interior of the theatre offered a very animated view. With the exception +of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other +to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied. A great number of +very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange +wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes. The stalls were crowded by +most of the young men who; in the morning, had walked their horses on the +Champs-Elysees. The observations which passed from one stall to another, +will give some idea of their conversation. + +"Do you know, my dear boy, there would not be so crowded or fashionable +an audience to witness Racine's Athalia?" + +"Undoubtedly. What is the beggarly howling of an actor, compared to the +roaring of the lion?" + +"I cannot understand how the authorities permit this Morok to fasten his +panther with a chain to an iron ring in the corner of the stage. If the +chain were to break?" + +"Talking of broken chains--there's little Mme. de Blinville, who is no +tigress. Do you see her in the second tier, opposite?" + +"It becomes her very well to have broken, as you say, the marriage chain; +she looks very well this season." + +"Oh! there is the beautiful Duchess de Saint-Prix; all the world is here +to-night--I don't speak of ourselves." + +"It is a regular opera night--what a festive scene!" + +"Well, after all, people do well to amuse themselves, perhaps it will not +be for long." + +"Why so?" + +"Suppose the cholera were to come to Paris?" + +"Oh! nonsense!" + +"Do you believe in the cholera?" + +"To be sure I do! He's coming from the North, with his walking-stick +under his arm." + +"The devil take him on the road! don't let us see his green visage here." + +"They say he's at London." + +"A pleasant journey to him." + +"Come, let us talk of something else; it may be a weakness, if you +please, but I call this a dull subject." + +"I believe you." + +"Oh! gentlemen--I am not mistaken--no--it is she!" + +"Who, then?" + +"Mdlle. de Cardoville! She is coming into the stage-box with Morinval +and his wife. It is a complete resuscitation: this morning on the +Champs-Elysees; in the evening here." + +"Faith, you are right! It is Mdlle. de Cardoville." + +"Good heaven! how lovely she is!" + +"Lend me your eyeglass." + +"Well, what do you think of her?" + +"Exquisite--dazzling." + +"And in addition to her beauty, an inexhaustible flow of wit, three +hundred thousand francs a year, high birth, eighteen years of age, and-- +free as air." + +"Yes, that is to say, that, provided it pleased her, I might be to- +morrow--or even to-day--the happiest of men." + +"It is enough to turn one's brain." + +"I am told that her mansion, Rue d'Anjou, is like an enchanted palace; a +great deal is said about a bath-room and bedroom, worthy of the Arabian +Nights." + +"And free as air--I come back to that." + +"Ah! if I were in her place!" + +"My levity would be quite shocking." + +"Oh! gentlemen, what a happy man will he be who is loved first!" + +"You think, then, that she will have many lovers?" + +"Being as free as air--" + +"All the boxes are full, except the stage-box opposite to that in which +Mdlle. de Cardoville is seated. Happy the occupiers of that box!" + +"Did you see the English ambassador's lady in the dress circle?" + +"And the Princess d'Alvimar--what an enormous bouquet!" + +"I should like to know the name--of that nosegay." + +"Oh!--it's Germigny." + +"How flattering for the lions and tigers, to attract so fashionable an +audience." + +"Do you notice, gentlemen, how all the women are eye-glassing Mdlle. de +Cardoville?" + +"She makes a sensation." + +"She is right to show herself; they gave her out as mad." + +"Oh! gentlemen, what a capital phiz!" + +"Where--where?" + +"There--in the omnibus-box beneath Mdlle. de Cardoville's." + +"It's a Nuremburg nutcracker." + +"An ourang-outang!" + +"Did you ever see such round, staring eyes?" + +"And the nose!" + +"And the forehead!" + +"It's a caricature." + +"Order, order! the curtain rises." + +And, in fact, the curtain rose. Some explanation is necessary for the +clear understanding of what follows. In the lower stage-box, to the left +of the audience, were several persons, who had been referred to by the +young men in the stalls. The omnibus-box was occupied by the Englishman, +the eccentric and portentous bettor, whose presence inspired Morok with +so much dread. + +It would require Hoffman's rare and fantastic genius to describe worthily +that countenance, at once grotesque and frightful, as it stood out from +the dark background of the box. This Englishman was about fifty years +old; his forehead was quite bald, and of a conical shape; beneath this +forehead, surmounted by eyebrows like parenthesis marks, glittered large, +green eyes, remarkably round and staring, and set very close to a hooked +nose, extremely sharp and prominent; a chin like that on the old- +fashioned nutcrackers was half-hidden in a broad and ample white cravat, +as stiffly-starched as the round-cornered shirt-collar, which nearly +touched his ears. The face was exceedingly thin and bony, and yet the +complexion was high-colored, approaching to purple, which made the bright +green of the pupils, and the white of the other part of the eyes, still +more conspicuous. The mouth, which was very wide, sometimes whistled +inaudibly the tune of a Scotch jig (always the same tune), sometimes was +slightly curled with a sardonic smite. The Englishman was dressed with +extreme care; his blue coat, with brass buttons, displayed his spotless +waistcoat, snowy, white as his ample cravat; his shirt was fastened with +two magnificent ruby studs, and his patrician hands were carefully kid- +gloved. + +To any one who knew the eccentric and cruel desire which attracted this +man to every representation, his grotesque face became almost terrific, +instead of exciting ridicule; and it was easy to understand the dread +experience by Morok at sight of those great, staring round eyes, which +appeared to watch for the death of the lion-tamer (what a horrible +death!) with unshaken confidence. Above the dark box of the Englishman, +affording a graceful contrast, were seated the Morinvals and Mdlle. de +Cardoville. The latter was placed nearest the stage. Her head was +uncovered, and she wore a dress of sky-blue China crepe, ornamented at +the bosom with a brooch of the finest Oriental pearls--nothing more; yet +Adrienne, thus attired, was charming. She held in her hand an enormous +bouquet, composed of the rarest flowers of India: the stephanotis and the +gardenia mingled the dead white of their blossoms with the purple +hibiscus and Java amaryllis. + +Madame de Morinval, seated on the opposite side of the box, was dressed +with equal taste and simplicity; Morinval, a fair and very handsome young +man, of elegant appearance, was behind the two ladies. M. de Montbron +was expected to arrive every moment. The reader will please to recollect +that the stage-box to the right of the audience, opposite Adrienne's, had +remained till then quite empty. The stage represented one of the +gigantic forests of India. In the background, tall exotic trees rose in +spiral or spreading forms, among rugged masses of perpendicular rocks, +with here and there glimpses of a tropical sky. The side-scenes formed +tufts of trees, interspersed with rocks; and at the side which was +immediately beneath Adrienne's box appeared the irregular opening of a +deep and gloomy cavern, round which were heaped huge blocks of granite, +as if thrown together by some convulsion of nature. This scenery, full +of a wild and savage grandeur, was wonderfully "built up," so as to make +the illusion as complete as possible; the footlights were lowered, and +being covered with a purple shade, threw over this landscape a subdued +reddish light, which increased the gloomy and startling effect of the +whole. Adrienne, leaning forward from the box, with cheeks slightly +flushed, sparkling eyes, and throbbing heart, sought to trace in this +scene the solitary forest described by the traveller who had eulogized +Djalma's generosity and courage, when he threw himself upon a ferocious +tigress to save the life of a poor black slave. Chance coincided +wonderfully indeed with her recollections. Absorbed in the contemplation +of the scenery and the thoughts it awakened in her heart, she paid no +attention to what was passing in the house. And yet something calculated +to excite curiosity was taking place in the opposite stage-box. + +The door of this box opened. A man about forty years of age, of a yellow +complexion, entered; he was clothed after the East Indian fashion, in a +long robe of orange silk, bound round the waist with a green sash, and he +wore a small white turban. He placed two chairs at the front of the box; +and, having glanced round the house for a moment, he started, his black +eyes sparkled, and he went out quickly. That man was Faringhea. His +apparition caused surprise and curiosity in the theatre; the majority of +the spectators not having, like Adrienne, a thousand reasons for being +absorbed in the contemplation of a picturesque set scene. The public +attention was still more excited when they saw the box which Faringhea +had just left, entered by a youth of rare beauty, also dressed Oriental +fashion, in a long robe of white Cashmere with flowing sleeves, with a +scarlet turban striped with gold on his head, and a sash to correspond, +in which was stuck a long dagger, glittering with precious stones. This +young man was Prince Djalma. For an instant he remained standing at the +door, and cast a look of indifference upon the immense theatre, crowded +with people; then, stepping forward with a majestic and tranquil air, the +prince seated himself negligently on one of the chairs, and, turning his +head in a few moments towards the entrance, appeared surprised at not +seeing some person whom he doubtless expected. This person appeared at +length; the boxkeeper had been assisting her to take off her cloak. She +was a charming, fair-haired girl, attired with more show than taste, in a +dress of white silk, with broad cherry-colored stripes, made ultra- +fashionably low, and with short sleeves; a large bow of cherry-colored +ribbon was placed on each side of her light hair, and set off the +prettiest, sprightliest, most wilful little face in the world. + +It was Rose-Pompon. Her pretty arms were partly covered by long white +gloves, and ridiculously loaded with bracelets: in her hand she carried +an enormous bouquet of roses. + +Far from imitating the calm demeanor of Djalma, Rose-Pompon skipped into +the box, moved the chairs about noisily, and fidgeted on her seat for +some time, to display her fine dress; then, without being in the least +intimidated by the presence of the brilliant assembly, she, with a little +coquettish air, held her bouquet towards Djalma, that he might smell it, +and appeared finally to establish herself on her seat. Faringhea came +in, shut the door of the box, and seated himself behind the prince. +Adrienne, still completely absorbed in the contemplation of the Indian +forest, and in her own sweet thoughts, had not observed the newcomers. +As she was turning her head completely towards the stage, and Djalma +could not, for the moment, see even her profile, he, on his side, had not +recognized Mdlle. de Cardoville. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DEATH. + +The pantomime opening, by which was introduced the combat of Morok with +the black panther, was so unmeaning, that the majority of the audience +paid no attention to it, reserving all their interest for the scene in +which the lion-tamer was to make his appearance. + +This indifference of the public explains the curiosity excited in the +theatre by the arrival of Faringhea and Djalma--a curiosity which +expressed itself (as at this day, when uncommon foreigners appear in +public) by a slight murmur and general movement amongst the crowd. The +sprightly, pretty face of Rose-Pompon, always charming, in spite of her +singularly staring dress, in style so ridiculous for such a theatre, and +her light and familiar manner towards the handsome Indian who accompanied +her, increased and animated the general surprise; for, at this moment, +Rose-Pompon, yielding without reserve to a movement of teasing coquetry, +had held up, as we have already stated, her large bunch of roses to +Djalma. But the prince, at sight of the landscape which reminded him of +his country, instead of appearing sensible to this pretty, provocation, +remained for some minutes as in a dream, with his eyes fixed upon the +stage. Then Rose-Pompon began to beat time on the front of the box with +her bouquet, whilst the somewhat too visible movement of her pretty +shoulders showed that this devoted dancer was thinking of fast-life +dances, as the orchestra struck up a more lively strain. + +Placed directly opposite the box in which Faringhea, Djalma, and Rose- +Pompon had just taken their seats, Lady Morinval soon perceived the +arrival of these two personages, and particularly the eccentric +coquetries of Rose-Pompon. Immediately, the young marchioness, leaning +over towards Mdlle. de Cardoville, who was still absorbed in memories +ineffable, said to her, laughing: "My dear, the most amusing part of the +performance is not upon the stage. Look just opposite." + +"Just opposite?" repeated Adrienne, mechanically: and, turning towards +Lady Morinval with an air of surprise, she glanced in the direction +pointed out. + +She looked--what did she see?--Djalma seated by the side of a young +woman, who was familiarly offering to his sense of smell the perfume of +her bouquet. Amazed, struck almost literally to the heart, as by an +electric shock, swift, sharp, and painful, Adrienne became deadly pale. +From instinct, she shut her eyes for a second, in order not to see--as +men try to ward off the dagger, which, having once dealt the blow, +threatens to strike again. Then suddenly, to this feeling of grief +succeeded a reflection, terrible both to her love and to her wounded +pride. + +"Djalma is present with this woman, though he must have received my +letter," she said to herself,--"wherein he was informed of the happiness +that awaited him." + +At the idea of so cruel an insult, a blush of shame and indignation +displaced Adrienne's paleness, who overwhelmed by this sad reality, said +to herself: "Rodin did not deceive me." + +We abandon all idea of picturing the lightning-like rapidity of certain +emotions which in a moment may torture--may kill you in the space of a +minute. Thus Adrienne was precipitated from the most radiant happiness +to the lowest depths of an abyss of the most heart-rending grief, in less +than a second; for a second had hardly elapsed before she replied to Lady +Morinval: "What is there, then, so curious, opposite to us, my dear +Julia?" + +This evasive question gave Adrienne time to recover her self-possession. +Fortunately, thanks to the thick folds of hair which almost entirely +concealed her cheeks, the rapid and sudden changes from pallor to blush +escaped the notice of Lady Morinval, who gayly replied: "What, my dear, +do you not perceive those East Indians, who have just entered the box +immediately opposite to ours? There, just before us!" + +"Yes, I see them; but what then?" replied Adrienne, in a firm tone. + +"And don't you observe anything remarkable?" said the marchioness. + +"Don't be too hard, ladies," laughingly interposed the marquis; "we ought +to allow the poor foreigners some little indulgence. They are ignorant +of our manners and customs; were it not for that, they would never appear +in the face of all Paris in such dubious company." + +"Indeed," said Adrienne, with a bitter smile, "their simplicity is +touching; we must pity them." + +"And, unfortunately, the girl is charming, spite of her low dress and +bare arms," said the marchioness; "she cannot be more than sixteen or +seventeen at most. Look at her, my dear Adrienne; what a pity!" + +"It is one of your charitable days, my dear Julia," answered Adrienne; +"we are to pity the Indians, to pity this creature, and--pray, whom else +are we to pity?" + +"We will not pity that handsome Indian, in his red-and-gold turban," said +the marquis, laughing, "for, if this goes on, the girl with the cherry- +colored ribbons will be giving him a kiss. See how she leans towards her +sultan." + +"They are very amusing," said the marchioness, sharing the hilarity of +her husband, and looking at Rose-Pompom through her glass; then she +resumed, in about a minute, addressing herself to Adrienne: "I am quite +certain of one thing. Notwithstanding her giddy airs, that girl is very +fond of her Indian. I just saw a look that expresses a great deal." + +"Why so much penetration, my dear Julia?" said Adrienne, mildly; "what +interest have we to read the heart of that girl?" + +"Why, if she loves her sultan, she is quite in the right," said the +marquis, looking through his opera-glass in turn; "for, in my whole life, +I never saw a more handsome fellow than that Indian. I can only catch +his side-face, but the profile is pure and fine as an antique cameo. Do +you not think so?" added the marquis, leaning towards Adrienne. "Of +course, it is only as a matter of art, that I permit myself to ask you +the question." + +"As a work of art," answered Adrienne, "it is certainly very fine." + +"But see!" said the marchioness; "how impertinent the little creature +is!--She is actually staring at us." + +"Well!" said the marquis; "and she is actually laying her hand quite +unceremoniously on her sultan's shoulder, to make him share, no doubt, in +her admiration of you ladies." + +In fact, Djalma, until now occupied with the contemplation of the scene +which reminded him of his country, had remained insensible to the +enticements of Rose-Pompon, and had not yet perceived Adrienne. + +"Well, now!" said Rose-Pompon, bustling herself about in front of the +box, and continuing to stare at Mdlle. de Cardoville, for it was she, and +not the marchioness, who now drew her attention; "that is something quite +out of the common way--a pretty woman, with red hair; but such sweet red, +it must be owned. Look, Prince Charming!" + +And so saying, she tapped Djalma lightly on the shoulder; he started at +these words, turned round, and for the first time perceived Mdlle. de +Cardoville. + +Though he had been almost prepared for this meeting, the prince was so +violently affected by it, that he was about involuntarily to rise, in a +state of the utmost confusion; but he felt the iron hand of Faringhea +laid heavily on his shoulder, and heard him whisper in Hindostanee: +"Courage! and by to-morrow she will be at your feet." + +As Djalma still struggled to rise, the half-caste added to restrain him: +"Just now, she grew pale and red with jealousy. No weakness, or all is +lost!" + +"So! there you are again, talking your dreadful gibberish," said Rose- +Pompon, turning round towards Faringhea. "First of all, it is not +polite; and then the language is so odd, that one might suppose you were +cracking nuts." + +"I spoke of you to my master," said the half-caste; "he is preparing a +surprise for you." + +"A surprise? oh! that is different. Only make haste--do you hear, Prince +Charming!" added she, looking tenderly at Djalma. + +"My heart is breaking," said Djalma, in a hollow voice to Faringhea, +still using the language of India. + +"But to-morrow it will bound with joy and love," answered the half-caste. +"It is only by disdain that you can conquer a proud woman. To-morrow, I +tell you, she will be trembling, confused, supplicating, at your feet!" + +"To-morrow, she will hate me like death!" replied the prince, mournfully. + +"Yes, were she now to see you weak and cowardly. It is now too late to +draw back; look full at her, take the nosegay from this girl, and raise +it to your lips. Instantly, you will see yonder woman, proud as she is, +grow pale and red, as just now. Then will you believe me?" + +Reduced by despair to make almost any attempt, and fascinated, in spite +of himself, by the diabolical hints of Faringhea, Djalma looked for a +second full at Mdlle. de Cardoville; then, with a trembling hand he took +the bouquet from Rose-Pompon, and, again looking at Adrienne, pressed it +to his lips. + +Upon this insolent bravado, Mdlle. de Cardoville could not restrain so +sudden and visible a pang, that the prince was struck by it. + +"She is yours," said the half-caste, to him. "Did you see, my lord, how +she trembled with jealousy?--Only have courage! and she is yours. She +will soon prefer you to that handsome young man behind her--for it is he +whom she has hitherto fancied herself in love with." + +As if the half-caste had guessed the movement of rage and hatred, which +this revelation would excite in the heart of the prince, he hastily +added: "Calmness and disdain! Is it not his turn now to hate you?" + +The prince restrained himself, and drew his hand across his forehead +which glowed with anger. + +"There now! what are you telling him, that vexes him so?" said Rose- +Pompon to Faringhea, with pouting lip. Then, addressing Djalma, she +continued: "Come, Prince Charming, as they say in the fairy-tale, give me +back my flowers." + +As she took it again, she added: "You have kissed it, and I could almost +eat it." Then, with a sigh, and a passionate glance at Djalma, she said +softly to herself: "That monster Ninny Moulin did not deceive me. All +this is quite proper; I have not even that to reproach myself with." And +with her little white teeth, she bit at a rosy nail of her right hand, +from which she had just drawn the glove. + +It is hardly necessary to say, that Adrienne's letter had not been +delivered to the prince, and that he had not gone to pass the day in the +country with Marshal Simon. During the three days in which Montbron had +not seen Djalma, Faringhea had persuaded him, that, by affecting another +passion, he would bring Mdlle. de Cardoville to terms. With regard to +Djalma's presence at the theatre, Rodin had learned from her maid, +Florine, that her mistress was to go in the evening to the Porte-Saint- +Martin. Before Djalma had recognized her, Adrienne, who felt her +strength failing her, was on the point of quitting the theatre; the man, +whom she had hitherto placed so high, whom she had regarded as a hero and +a demi-god and whom she had imagined plunged in such dreadful despair, +that, led by the most tender pity, she had written to him with simple +frankness, that a sweet hope might calm his grief--replied to a generous +mark of sincerity and love, by making himself a ridiculous spectacle with +a creature unworthy of him. What incurable wounds for Adrienne's pride! +It mattered little, whether Djalma knew or not, that she would be a +spectator of the indignity. But when she saw herself recognized by the +prince, when he carried the insult so far as to look full at her, and, at +the same time, raise to his lips the creature's bouquet who accompanied +him, Adrienne was seized with noble indignation, and felt sufficient +courage to remain: instead of closing her eyes to evidence, she found a +sort of barbarous pleasure in assisting at the agony and death of her +pure and divine love. With head erect, proud and flashing eye, flushed +cheek, and curling lip, she looked in her turn at the prince with +disdainful steadiness. It was with a sardonic smile that she said to the +marchioness, who, like many others of the spectators was occupied with +what was passing in the stage-box: "This revolting exhibition of savage +manners is at least in accordance with the rest of the performance." + +"Certainly," said the marchioness; "and my dear uncle will have lost, +perhaps, the most amusing part." + +"Montbron?" said Adrienne, hastily, with hardly repressed bitterness; +"yes, he will regret not having seen all. I am impatient for his +arrival. Is it not to him that I am indebted for his charming evening?" + +Perhaps Madame de Morinval would have remarked the expression of bitter +irony, that Adrienne could not altogether dissemble, if suddenly a hoarse +and prolonged roar had net attracted her attention, as well as that of +the rest of the audience, who had hitherto been quite indifferent to the +scenes intended for an introduction to the appearance of Morok. Every +eye was now turned instinctively towards the cavern situated to the left +of the stage, just below Mdlle. de Cardoville's box; a thrill of +curiosity ran through the house. A second roar, deeper and more +sonorous, and apparently expressive of more irritation than the first, +now rose from the cave, the mouth of which was half-hidden by artificial +brambles, made so as to be easily put on one side. At this sound, the +Englishman stood up in his little box, leaned half over the front, and +began to rub his hands with great energy; then, remaining perfectly +motionless, he fixed his large, green, glittering eyes on the mouth of +the cavern. + +At these ferocious howlings, Djalma also had started, notwithstanding the +frenzy of love, hate, and jealousy, to which he was a prey. The sight of +this forest, and the roarings of the panther, filled him with deep +emotion, for they recalled the remembrance of his country, and of those +great hunts which, like war, have their own terrible excitement. Had he +suddenly heard the horns and gongs of his father's army sounding to the +charge, he could not have been transported with more savage ardor. And +now deep growls, like distant thunder, almost drowned the roar of the +panther. The lion and tiger, Judas and Cain answered her from their dens +at the back of the stage. On this frightful concert, with which his ears +had been familiar in the midst of the solitudes of India, when he lay +encamped, for the purposes of the chase or of war, Djalma's blood boiled +in his veins. His eyes sparkled with a wild ardor. Leaning a little +forward, with both hands pressed on the front of the box, his whole body +trembled with a convulsive shudder. The audience, the theatre, Adrienne +herself no longer existed for him; he was in a forest of his own lands, +tracking the tiger. + +Then there mingled with his beauty so intrepid and ferocious an +expression, that Rose-Pompon looked at him with a sort of terror and +passionate admiration. For the first time in her life, perhaps, her +pretty blue eyes, generally so gay and mischievous; expressed a serious +emotion. She could not explain what she felt; but her heart seemed +frightened, and beat violently, as though some calamity were at hand. + +Yielding to a movement of involuntary fear, she seized Djalma by the arm, +and said to him: "Do not stare so into that cavern; you frighten me." + +Djalma did not hear what she said. + +"Here he is! here he is!" murmured the crowd, almost with one voice, as +Morok appeared at the back of the stage. + +Dressed as we have described, Morok now carried in addition a bow and a +long quiver full of arrows. He slowly descended the line of painted +rocks, which came sloping down towards the centre of the stage. From +time to time, he stopped as if to listen, and appeared to advance with +caution. Looking from one side to the other, his eyes involuntarily +encountered the large, green eyes of the Englishman, whose box was close +to the cavern. Instantly the lion-tamer's countenance was contracted in +so frightful a manner, that Lady Morinval, who was examining him closely +with the aid of an excellent glass, said hastily to Adrienne: "My dear, +the man is afraid. Some misfortune will happen." + +"How can accidents happen," said Adrienne, with a sardonic smile, "in the +midst of this brilliant crowd, so well dressed and full of animation! +Misfortunes here, this evening! why, dear Julia, you do not think it. It +is in darkness and solitude that misfortunes come--never in the midst of +a joyous crowd, and in all this blaze of light." + +"Good gracious, Adrienne! take care!" cried the marchioness, unable to +repress an exclamation of alarm, and seizing her arm, as if to draw her +closer; "do you not see it?" And with a trembling hand, she pointed to +the cavern's mouth. Adrienne hastily bent forward, and looked in that +direction. "Take care, do not lean so forward!" exclaimed Lady Morinval. + +"Your terrors are nonsensical, my dear," said the marquis to his wife. +"The panther is securely chained; and even were it to break its chains +(which is impossible), we are here beyond its reach." + +A long murmur of trembling curiosity here ran through the house, and +every eye was intently fixed on the cavern. From amongst the artificial +brambles, which she abruptly pushed aside with her broad chest, the black +panther suddenly appeared. Twice she stretched forth her flat head, +illumined by yellow, flaming eyes; then, half-opening her blood-red jaws, +she uttered another roar, and exhibited two rows of formidable fangs. A +double iron chain, and a collar also of iron, painted black, blended with +the ebon shades of her hide, and with the darkness of the cavern. The +illusion was complete, and the terrible animal seemed to be at liberty in +her den. + +"Ladies," said the marquis, suddenly, "look at those Indians. Their +emotion makes them superb!" + +In fact, the sight of the panther had raised the wild ardor of Djalma to +its utmost pitch. His eyes sparkled in their pearly orbits like two +black diamonds; his upper lip was curled convulsively with an expression +of animal ferocity, as if he were in a violent paroxysm of rage. + +Faringhea, now leaning on the front of the box, was also greatly excited, +by reason of a strange coincidence."That black panther of so rare a +breed," thought he, "which I see here at Paris, upon the stage, must be +the very one that the Malay"--the Thug who had tatooed Djalma at Java +during his sleep--"took quite young from his den, and sold to a European +captain. Bowanee's power is everywhere!" added the Thug, in his +sanguinary superstition. + +"Do you not think," resumed the marquis, addressing Adrienne, "that those +Indians are really splendid in their present attitude?" + +"Perhaps they may have seen such a hunt in their own country," said +Adrienne, as if she would recall and brave the most cruel remembrances. + +"Adrienne," said the marchioness, suddenly, in an agitated voice, "the +lion-tamer has now come nearer--is not his countenance fearful to look +at?--I tell you he is afraid." + +"In truth," observed the marquis, this time very seriously, "he is +dreadfully pale, and seems to grow worse every minute, the nearer he +approaches this side. It is said that, were he to lose his presence of +mind for a single moment, he would run the greatest danger." + +"O! it would be horrible!" cried the marchioness, addressing Adrienne, +"if he were wounded--there--under our eyes!" + +"Every wound does not kill," replied her friend, with an accent of such +cold indifference, that the marchioness looked at her with surprise, and +said to her: "My dear girl, what you say there is cruel!" + +"It is the air of the place that acts on me," answered Adrienne, with an +icy smile. + +"Look! look! the lion-tamer is about to shoot his arrow at the panther," +said the marquis, suddenly. "No doubt, he will next perform the hand to +hand grapple." + +Morok was at this moment in front of the stage, but he had yet to +traverse its entire breadth to reach the cavern's mouth. He stopped an +instant, adjusted an arrow to the string, knelt down behind a mass of +rock, took deliberate aim--and then the arrow hissed across the stage, +and was lost in the depths of the cavern, into which the panther had +retired, after showing for a moment her threatening head to the audience. +Hardly had the arrow disappeared, than Death, purposely irritated by +Goliath (who was invisible) sent forth a howl of rage, as if she had been +really wounded. Morok's actions became so expressive, he evinced so +naturally his joy at having hit the wild beast, that a tempest of +applause burst from every quarter of the house. Then, throwing away his +bow, he drew a dagger from his girdle, took it between his teeth, and +began to crawl forward on hands and knees, as though he meant to surprise +the wounded panther in his den. To render the illusion perfect, Death, +again excited by Goliath, who struck him with an iron bar, sent forth +frightful howlings from the depths of the cavern. + +The gloomy aspect of the forest, only half-lighted with a reddish glare, +was so effective--the howlings of the panther were so furious--the +gestures, attitude, and countenance of Morok were so expressive of +terror, that the audience, attentive and trembling, now maintained a +profound silence. Every one held his breath, and a kind of shudder came +over the spectators, as though they expected some horrible event. What +gave such a fearful air of truth to the pantomime of Morok, was that, as +he approached the cavern step by step, he approached also the +Englishman's box. In spite of himself, the lion-tamer, fascinated by +terror, could not take his eyes from the large green eyes of this man, +and it seemed as if every one of the abrupt movements which he made in +crawling along, was produced by a species of magnetic attraction, caused +by the fixed gaze of the fatal wagerer. Therefore, the nearer Morok +approached, the more ghastly and livid he became. At sight of this +pantomime, which was no longer acting, but the real expression of intense +fear, the deep and trembling silence which had reigned in the theatre was +once more interrupted by acclamations, with which were mingled the +roarings of the panther, and the distant growls of the lion and tiger. + +The Englishman leaned almost out of his box, with a frightful sardonic +smile on his lip, and with his large eyes still fixed, panted for breath. +The perspiration ran down his bald red forehead, as if he had really +expended an incredible amount of magnetic power in attracting Morok, whom +he now saw close to the cavern entrance. The moment was decisive. +Crouching down with his dagger in his hand, following with eye and +gesture Death's every movement, who, roaring furiously, and opening wide +her enormous jaws, seemed determined to guard the entrance of her den, +Morok waited for the moment to rush upon her. There is such fascination +in danger, that Adrienne shared, in spite of herself, the feeling of +painful curiosity, mixed with terror, that thrilled through all the +spectators. Leaning forward like the marchioness, and gazing upon this +scene of fearful interest, the lady still held mechanically in her hand +the Indian bouquet preserved since the morning. Suddenly, Morok raised a +wild shout, as he rushed towards Death, who answered this exclamation by +a dreadful roar, and threw herself upon her master with so much fury, +that Adrienne, in alarm, believing the man lost, drew herself back, and +covered her fact with her hands. Her flowers slipped from her grasp, +and, falling upon the stage, rolled into the cavern in which Morok was +struggling with the panther. + +Quick as lightning, supple and agile as a tiger, yielding to the +intoxication of his love, and to the wild ardor excited in him by the +roaring of the panther, Djalma sprang at one bound upon the stage, drew +his dagger, and rushed into the cavern to recover Adrienne's nosegay. At +that instant, Morok, being wounded, uttered a dreadful cry for help; the +panther, rendered still more furious at sight of Djalma, make the most +desperate efforts to break her chain. Unable to succeed in doing so, she +rose upon her hind legs, in order to seize Djalma, then within reach of +her sharp claws. It was only by bending down his head, throwing himself +on his knees, and twice plunging his dagger into her belly with the +rapidity of lightning, that Djalma escaped certain death. The panther +gave a howl, and fell with her whole weight upon the prince. For a +second, during which lasted her terrible agony, nothing was seen but a +confused and convulsive mass of black limbs, and white garments stained +with blood--and then Djalma rose, pale, bleeding, for he was wounded--and +standing erect, his eye flashing with savage pride, his foot on the body +of the panther, he held in his hand Adrienne's bouquet, and cast towards +her a glance which told the intensity of his love. Then only did +Adrienne feel her strength fail her--for only superhuman courage had +enabled her to watch all the terrible incidents of the struggle. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Wandering Jew, V8, by Eugene Sue + diff --git a/old/es08v10.zip b/old/es08v10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9022ec8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/es08v10.zip diff --git a/old/es08v11.txt b/old/es08v11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..23499b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/es08v11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4471 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Wandering Jew v8, by Eugene Sue +#8 in our series by Eugene Sue + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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Death + + + + +PART THIRD.--THE REDEMPTION. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE WANDERING JEW'S CHASTISEMENT. + +'Tis night--the moon is brightly shining, the brilliant stars are +sparkling in a sky of melancholy calmness, the shrill whistlings of a +northerly wind--cold, bleak, and evil-bearing--are increasing: winding +about, and bursting into violent blasts, with their harsh and hissing +gusts, they are sweeping the heights of Montmartre. A man is standing on +the very summit of the hill; his lengthened shadow, thrown out by the +moon's pale beams, darkens the rocky ground in the distance. The +traveller is surveying the huge city lying at his feet--the City of +Paris--from whose profundities are cast up its towers, cupolas, domes, +and steeples, in the bluish moisture of the horizon; while from the very +centre of this sea of stones is rising a luminous vapor, reddening the +starry azure of the sky above. It is the distant light of a myriad lamps +which at night, the season for pleasure, is illuminating the noisy +capital. + +"No!" said the traveller, "it will not be. The Lord surely will not +suffer it. Twice is quite enough. Five centuries ago, the avenging hand +of the Almighty drove me hither from the depths of Asia. A solitary +wanderer, I left in my track more mourning, despair, disaster, and death, +than the innumerable armies of a hundred devastating conquerors could +have produced. I then entered this city, and it was decimated. Two +centuries ago that inexorable hand which led me through the world again +conducted me here; and on that occasion, as on the previous one, that +scourge, which at intervals the Almighty binds to my footsteps, ravaged +this city, attacking first my brethren, already wearied by wretchedness +and toil. My brethren! through me--the laborer of Jerusalem, cursed by +the Lord, who in my person cursed the race of laborers--a race always +suffering, always disinherited, always slaves, who like me, go on, on, +on, without rest or intermission, without recompense, or hope; until at +length, women, men, children, and old men, die under their iron yoke of +self-murder, that others in their turn then take up, borne from age to +age on their willing but aching shoulders. And here again, for the third +time, in the course of five centuries, I have arrived at the summit of +one of the hills which overlooks the city; and perhaps I bring again with +me terror, desolation, and death. And this unhappy city, intoxicated in +a whirl of joys, and nocturnal revelries, knows nothing about it--oh! it +knows not that I am at its very gate. But no! no! my presence will not +be a source of fresh calamity to it. The Lord, in His unsearchable +wisdom, has brought me hither across France, making me avoid on my route +all but the humblest villages, so that no increase of the funeral knell +has, marked my journey. And then, moreover, the spectre has left me-- +that spectre, livid and green, with its deep bloodshot eyes. When I +touched the soil of France, its moist and icy hand abandoned mine--it +disappeared. And yet I feel the atmosphere of death surrounding me +still. There is no cessation; the biting gusts of this sinister wind, +which envelop me in their breath, seem by their envenomed breath to +propagate the scourge. Doubtless the anger of the Lord is appeased. +Maybe, my presence here is meant only as a threat, intending to bring +those to their senses whom it ought to intimidate. It must be so; for +were it otherwise, it would, on the contrary, strike a loud-sounding blow +of greater terror, casting at once dread and death into the very heart of +the country, into the bosom of this immense city. Oh, no! no! the Lord +will have mercy; He will not condemn me to this new affliction. Alas! in +this city my brethren are more numerous and more wretched than in any +other. And must I bring death to them? No! the Lord will have mercy; +for, alas! the seven descendants of my sister are at last all united in +this city. And must I bring death to them? Death! instead of that +immediate assistance they stand so much in need of? For that woman who, +like myself, wanders from one end of the world into the other, has gone +now on her everlasting journey, after having confounded their enemies' +plots. In vain did she foretell that great evils still threatened those +who are akin to me through my sister's blood. The unseen hand by which I +am led, drives that woman away from me, even as though it were a +whirlwind that swept her on. In vain she entreated and implored at the +moment she was leaving those who are so dear to me.--At least, 0 Lord, +permit me to stay until I shall have finished my task! Onward! A few +days, for mercy's sake, only a few days! Onward! I leave these whom I +am protecting on the very brink of an abyss! Onward! Onward!! And the +wandering star is launched afresh on its perpetual course. But her voice +traversed through space, calling me to the assistance of my own! When +her voice reached me I felt that the offspring of my sister were still +exposed to fearful dangers: those dangers are still increasing. Oh, say, +say, Lord! shall the descendants of my sister escape those woes which for +so many centuries have oppressed my race? Wilt Thou pardon me in them? +Wilt Thou punish me in them? Oh! lead them, that they may obey the last +wishes of their ancestor. Guide them, that they may join their +charitable hearts, their powerful strength, their best wisdom, and their +immense wealth, and work together for the future happiness of mankind, +thereby, perhaps, enabled to ransom me from my eternal penalties. Let +those divine words of the Son of Man, "Love ye one another!" be their +only aim; and by the assistance of their all-powerful words, let them +contend against and vanquish those false priests who have trampled on the +precepts of love, of peace, and hope commanded by the Saviour, setting up +in their stead the precepts of hatred, violence, and despair. Those +false shepherds, supported ay the powerful and wealthy of the world, who +in all times have been their accomplices, instead of asking here below a +little happiness for my brethren, who have been suffering and groaning +for centuries, dare to utter, in Thy name, O Lord! that the poor must +always be doomed to the tortures of this world, and that it is criminal +in Thine eyes that they should either wish for or hope a mitigation of +their sufferings on earth, because the happiness of the few and the +wretchedness of nearly all mankind is Thine almighty will. Blasphemies! +is it not the contrary of these homicidal words that is more worthy of +the name of Divine will? Hear, me, O Lord! for mercy's sake. Snatch +from their enemies the descendants of my sister, from the artisan up to +the king's son. Do not permit them to crush the germ of a mighty and +fruitful association, which, perhaps, under Thy protection, may take its +place among the records of the happiness of mankind. Suffer me, O Lord! +to unite those whom they are endeavoring to divide--to defend those whom +they are attacking. Suffer me to bring hope to those from whom hope has +fled, to give courage to those who are weak, to uphold those whom evil +threatens, and to sustain those who would persevere in well-doing. And +then, perhaps, their struggles, their devotedness, their virtues, this +miseries might expiate my sin. Yes, mine--misfortune, misfortune alone, +made me unjust and wicked. O Lord! since Thine almighty hand hath +brought me hither, for some end unknown to me, disarm Thyself, I implore +Thee, of Thine anger, and let not me be the instrument of Thy vengeance! +There is enough of mourning in the earth these two years past--Thy +creatures have fallen by millions in my footsteps. The world is +decimated. A veil of mourning extends from one end of the globe to the +other. I have traveled from Asia even to the Frozen Pole, and death has +followed in my wake. Dost Thou not hear, O Lord! the universal wailings +that mount up to Thee? Have mercy upon all, and upon me. One day, grant +me but a single day, that I may collect the descendants of my sister +together, and save them!" And uttering these words, the wanderer fell +upon his knees, and raised his hands to heaven in a suppliant attitude. + +Suddenly, the wind howled with redoubled violence; its sharp whistlings +changed to a tempest. The Wanderer trembled, and exclaimed in a voice of +terror, "O Lord! the blast of death is howling in its rage. It appears +as though a whirlwind were lifting me up. Lord, wilt Thou not, then, +hear my prayer? The spectre! O! do I behold the spectre? Yes, there it +is; its cadaverous countenance is agitated by convulsive throes, its red +eyes are rolling in their orbits. Begone! begone! Oh! its hand--its icy +hand has seized on mine! Mercy, Lord, have mercy! 'Onward!' Oh, Lord! +this scourge, this terrible avenging scourge! Must I, then, again carry +it into this city, must my poor wretched brethren be the first to fall +under it--though already so miserable? Mercy, mercy! 'Onward!' And the +descendants of my sister--oh, pray, have mercy, mercy! 'Onward!' O +Lord, have pity on me! I can no longer keep my footing on the ground, +the spectre is dragging me over the brow of the hill; my course is as +rapid as the death-bearing wind that whistles in my track; I already +approach the walls of the city. Oh, mercy, Lord, mercy on the +descendants of my sister--spare them! do not compel me to be their +executioner, and let them triumph over their enemies. Onward, onward! +The ground is fleeing from under me; I am already at the city gate; oh, +yet, Lord, yet there is time; oh, have mercy on this slumbering city, +that it may not even now awaken with the lamentations of terror, of +despair and death! O Lord, I touch the threshold of the gate; verily +Thou willest it so then. 'Tis done--Paris! the scourge is in thy bosom! +oh, cursed, cursed evermore am I. Onward! on! on!"[34] + +[34] In 1346, the celebrated Black Death ravaged the earth, presenting +the same symptoms as the cholera, and the same inexplicable phenomena as +to its progress and the results in its route. In 1660 a similar epidemic +decimated the world. It is well known that when the cholera first broke +out in Paris, it had taken a wide and unaccountable leap; and, also +memorable, a north-east wind prevailed during its utmost fierceness. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE DESCENDANTS OF THE WANDERING JEW. + +That lonely wayfarer whom we have heard so plaintively urging to be +relieved of his gigantic burden of misery, spoke of "his sister's +descendants" being of all ranks, from the working man to the king's son. +They were seven in number, who had, in the year 1832, been led to Paris, +directly or indirectly, by a bronze medal which distinguished them from +others, bearing these words:-- + +VICTIM +of +L. C. D. J. +Pray for me! +----- +PARIS, +February the 13th, 1682. + +IN PARIS, +Rue St. Francois, No. 3, +In a century and a half +you will be. +February the 13th, 1832. +----- +PRAY FOR ME! + +The son of the King of Mundi had lost his father and his domains in India +by the irresistible march of the English, and was but in title Prince +Djalma. Spite of attempts to make his departure from the East delayed +until after the period when he could have obeyed his medal's command, he +had reached France by the second month of 1832. Nevertheless, the +results of shipwreck had detained him from Paris till after that date. A +second possessor of this token had remained unaware of its existence, +only discovered by accident. But an enemy who sought to thwart the union +of these seven members, had shut her up in a mad-house, from which she +was released only after that day. Not alone was she in imprisonment. An +old Bonapartist, General Simon, Marshal of France, and Duke de Ligny, had +left a wife in Russian exile, while he (unable to follow Napoleon to St. +Helena) continued to fight the English in India by means of Prince +Djalma's Sepoys, whom he drilled. On the latter's defeat, he had meant +to accompany his young friend to Europe, induced the more by finding that +the latter's mother, a Frenchwoman, had left him such another bronze +medal as he knew his wife to have had. + +Unhappily, his wife had perished in Siberia, without his knowing it, any +more than he did, that she had left twin daughters, Rose and Blanche. +Fortunately for them, one who had served their father in the Grenadiers +of the Guard. Francis Baudoin, nicknamed Dagobert, undertook to fulfil +the dying mother's wishes, inspired by the medal. Saving a check at +Leipsic, where one Morok the lion-tamer's panther had escaped from its +cage and killed Dagobert's horse, and a subsequent imprisonment (which +the Wandering Jew's succoring hand had terminated) the soldier and his +orphan charges had reached Paris in safety and in time. But there, a +renewal of the foe's attempt had gained its end. By skillful devices, +Dagobert and his son Agricola were drawn out of the way while Rose and +Blanche Simon were decoyed into a nunnery, under the eyes of Dagobert's +wife. But she had been bound against interfering by the influence of the +Jesuit confessional. The fourth was M. Hardy, a manufacturer, and the +fifth, Jacques Rennepont, a drunken scamp of a workman, who were more +easily fended off, the latter in a sponging house, the former by a +friend's lure. Adrienne de Cardoville, daughter of the Count of +Rennepont, who had also been Duke of Cardoville, was the lady who had +been unwarrantably placed in the lunatic asylum. The fifth, unaware of +the medal, was Gabriel, a youth, who had been brought up, though a +foundling, in Dagobert's family, as a brother to Agricola. He had +entered holy orders, and more, was a Jesuit, in name though not in heart. +Unlike the others, his return from abroad had been smoothed. He had +signed away all his future prospects, for the benefit of the order of +Loyola, and, moreover, executed a more complete deed of transfer on the +day, the 13th of February, 1832, when he, alone of the heirs, stood in +the room of the house, No. 3, Rue St. Francois, claiming what was a vast +surprise for the Jesuits, who, a hundred and fifty years before, had +discovered that Count Marius de Rennepont had secreted a considerable +amount of his wealth, all of which had been confiscated to them, in those +painful days of dragoonings, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. +They had bargained for some thirty or forty millions of francs to be +theirs, by educating Gabriel into resigning his inheritance to them, but +it was two hundred and twelve millions which the Jesuit representatives +(Father d'Aigrigny and his secretary, Rodin) were amazed to hear their +nursling placed in possession of. They had the treasure in their hands, +in fact, when a woman of strangely sad beauty had mysteriously entered +the room where the will had been read, and laid a paper before the +notary. It was a codicil, duly drawn up and signed, deferring the +carrying out of the testament until the first day of June the same year. +The Jesuits fled from the house, in rage and intense disappointment. +Father d'Aigrigny was so stupor-stricken at the defeat, that he bade his +secretary at once write off to Rome that the Rennepont inheritance had +escaped them, and hopes to seize it again were utterly at an end. Upon +this, Rodin had revolted, and shown that he had authority to command +where he had, so far, most humbly obeyed. Many such spies hang about +their superior's heels, with full powers to become the governor in turn, +at a moment's notice. Thenceforward, he, Rodin, had taken the business +into his own hands. He had let Rose and Blanche Simon out of the convent +into their father's arms. He had gone in person to release Adrienne de +Cardoville from the asylum. More, having led her to sigh for Prince +Djalma, he prompted the latter to burn for her. + +He let not M. Hardy escape. A friend whom the latter treated as a +brother, had been shown up to him as a mere spy of the Jesuits; the woman +whom he adored, a wedded woman, alas! who had loved him in spite of her +vows, had been betrayed. Her mother had compelled her to hide her shame +in America, and, as she had often said--"Much as you are endeared to me, +I cannot waver between you and my mother!" so she had obeyed, without one +farewell word to him. Confess, Rodin was a more dextrous man than his +late master! In the pages that ensue farther proofs of his superiority +in baseness and satanic heartlessness will not be wanting. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ATTACK. + +On M. Hardy's learning from the confidential go-between of the lovers, +that his mistress had been taken away by her mother, he turned from Rodin +and dashed away in a post carriage. At the same moment, as loud as the +rattle of the wheels, there arose the shouts of a band of workmen and +rioters, hired by the Jesuit's emissaries, coming to attack Hardy's +operatives. An old grudge long existing between them and a rival +manufacturer's--Baron Tripeaud--laborers, fanned the flames. When M. +Hardy had left the factory, Rodin, who was not prepared for this sudden +departure, returned slowly to his hackney-coach; but he stopped suddenly, +and started with pleasure and surprise, when he saw, at some distance, +Marshall Simon and his father advancing towards one of the wings of the +Common Dwelling-house; for an accidental circumstance had so far delayed +the interview of the father and son. + +"Very well!" said Rodin. "Better and better! Now, only let my man have +found out and persuaded little Rose-Pompon!" + +And Rodin hastened towards his hackney-coach. At this moment, the wind, +which continued to rise, brought to the ear of the Jesuit the war song of +the approaching Wolves. + +The workman was in the garden. The marshal said to him, in a voice of +such deep emotion that the old man started; "Father, I am very unhappy." + +A painful expression, until then concealed, suddenly darkened the +countenance of the marshal. + +"You unhappy?" cried father Simon, anxiously, as he pressed nearer to the +marshal. + +"For some days, my daughters have appeared constrained in manner, and +lost in thought. During the first moments of our re-union, they were mad +with joy and happiness. Suddenly, all has changed; they are becoming +more and more sad. Yesterday, I detected tears in their eyes; then +deeply moved, I clasped them in my arms, and implored them to tell me the +cause of their sorrow. Without answering, they threw themselves on my +neck, and covered my face with their tears." + +"It is strange. To what do you attribute this alteration?" + +"Sometimes, I think I have not sufficiently concealed from them the grief +occasioned me by the loss of their mother, and they are perhaps miserable +that they do not suffice for my happiness. And yet (inexplicable as it +is) they seem not only to understand, but to share my sorrow. Yesterday, +Blanche said to me: 'How much happier still should we be, if our mother +were with us!--'" + +"Sharing your sorrow, they cannot reproach you with it. There must be +some other cause for their grief." + +"Yes," said the marshal, looking fixedly at his father; "yes--but to +penetrate this secret--it would be necessary not to leave them." + +"What do you mean?" + +"First learn, father, what are the duties which would keep me here; then +you shall know those which may take me away from you, from my daughters, +and from my other child." + +"What other child?" + +"The son of my old friend, the Indian Prince." + +"Djalma? Is there anything the matter with him?" + +"Father, he frightens me. I told you, father, of his mad and unhappy +passion for Mdlle. de Cardoville." + +"Does that frighten you, my son?" said the old man, looking at the +marshal with surprise. "Djalma is only eighteen, and, at that age, one +love drives away another." + +"You have no idea of the ravages which the passion has already made in +the ardent, indomitable boy; sometimes, fits of savage ferocity follow +the most painful dejection. Yesterday, I came suddenly upon him; his +eyes were bloodshot, his features contracted with rage; yielding to an +impulse of mad furry, he was piercing with his poinard a cushion of red +cloth, whilst he exclaimed, panting for breath, 'Ha blood!--I will have +blood!' 'Unhappy boy!' I said to him, 'what means this insane passion?' +'I'm killing the man!' replied he, in a hollow and savage voice: it is +thus he designates his supposed rival." + +"There is indeed something terrible," said the old man, "in such a +passion, in such a heart." + +"At other times," resumed the marshal, "it is against Mdlle. de +Cardoville that his rage bursts forth; and at others, against himself. I +have been obliged to remove his weapons, for a man who came with him from +Java, and who appears much attached to him, has informed me that he +suspected him of entertaining some thoughts of suicide." + +"Unfortunate boy!" + +"Well, father," said Marshal Simon, with profound bitterness; "it is at +the moment when my daughters and my adopted son require all my +solicitude, that I am perhaps on the eve of quitting them." + +"Of quitting them?" + +"Yes, to fulfil a still more sacred duty than that imposed by friendship +or family," said the marshal, in so grave and solemn a tone, that his +father exclaimed, with deep emotion: "What can this duty be?" + +"Father," said the marshal, after remaining a moment in thoughtful +silence, "who made me what I am? Who gave me the ducal title, and the +marshal's baton?" + +"Napoleon." + +"For you, the stern republican, I know that he lost all his value, when +from the first citizen of a Republic he became an emperor. + +"I cursed his weakness," said Father Simon, sadly; "the demi-god sank +into a man." + +"But for me, father--for me, the soldier, who have always fought beside +him, or under his eye--for me, whom he raised from the lowest rank in the +army to the highest--for me, whom he loaded with benefits and marks of +affection--for me, he was more than a hero, he was a friend--and there +was as much gratitude as admiration in my idolatry for him. When he was +exiled, I would fain have shared his exile; they refused me that favor; +then I conspired, then I drew my sword against those who had robbed his +son of the crown which France had given him." + +"And, in your position, you did well, Pierre; without sharing your +admiration, I understood your gratitude. The projects of exile, the +conspiracies--I approved them all--you know it." + +"Well, then, that disinherited child, in whose name I conspired seventeen +years ago, is now of an age to wield his father's sword." + +"Napoleon II!" exclaimed the old man, looking at his son with surprise +and extreme anxiety; "the king of Rome!" + +"King? no; he is no longer king. Napoleon? no; he is no longer Napoleon. +They have given him some Austrian name, because the other frightened +them. Everything frightens them. Do you know what they are doing with +the son of the Emperor?" resumed the marshal, with painful excitement. +"They are torturing him--killing him by inches!" + +"Who told you this?" + +"Somebody who knows, whose words are but too true. Yes; the son of the +Emperor struggles with all his strength against a premature death. With +his eyes turned towards France, he waits--he waits--and no one comes--no +one--out of all the men that his father made as great as they once were +little, not one thinks of that crowned child, whom they are stifling, +till he dies." + +"But you think of him?" + +"Yes; but I had first to learn--oh! there is no doubt of it, for I have +not derived all my information from the same source--I had first to +learn the cruel fate of this youth, to whom I also swore allegiance; for +one day, as I have told you, the Emperor, proud and loving father as he +was, showed him to me in his cradle, and said: 'My old friend, you will +be to the son what you have been to the father; who loves us, loves our +France.'" + +"Yes, I know it. Many times you have repeated those words to me, and, +like yourself, I have been moved by them." + +"Well, father! suppose, informed of the sufferings of the son of the +Emperor, I had seen--with the positive certainty that I was not deceived- +-a letter from a person of high rank in the court of Vienna, offering to +a man that was still faithful to the Emperor's memory, the means of +communicating with the king of Rome, and perhaps of saving him from his +tormentors--" + +"What next?" said the workman, looking fixedly at his son. "Suppose +Napoleon II. once at liberty--" + +"What next?" exclaimed the marshal. Then he added, in a suppressed +voice: "Do you think, father, that France is insensible to the +humiliations she endures? Do you think that the memory of the Emperor is +extinct? No, no; it is, above all, in the days of our country's +degredation, that she whispers that sacred name. How would it be, then, +were that name to rise glorious on the frontier, reviving in his son? Do +you not think that the heart of all France would beat for him?" + +"This implies a conspiracy--against the present government--with Napoleon +II. for a watchword," said the workman. "This is very serious." + +"I told you, father, that I was very unhappy; judge if it be not so," +cried the marshal. "Not only I ask myself, if I ought to abandon my +children and you, to run the risk of so daring an enterprise, but I ask +myself if I am not bound to the present government, which, in +acknowledging my rank and title, if it bestowed no favor, at least did me +an act of justice. How shall I decide?--abandon all that I love, or +remain insensible to the tortures of Emperor--of that Emperor to the son +of the whom I owe everything--to whom I have sworn fidelity, both to +himself and child? Shall I lose this only opportunity, perhaps, of +saving him, or shall I conspire in his favor? Tell me, if I exaggerate +what I owe to the memory of the Emperor? Decide for me, father! During +a whole sleepless night, I strove to discover, in the midst of this +chaos, the line prescribed by honor; but I only wandered from indecision +to indecision. You alone, father--you alone, I repeat, can direct me." + +After remaining for some moments in deep thought, the old man was about +to answer, when some person, running across the little garden, opened the +door hastily, and entered the room in which were the marshal and his +father. It was Olivier, the young workman, who had been able to effect +his escape from the village in which the Wolves had assembled. + +"M. Simon! M. Simon!" cried he, pale, and panting for breath. "They are +here--close at hand. They have come to attack the factory." + +"Who?" cried the old man, rising hastily. + +"The Wolves, quarrymen, and stone-cutters, joined on the road by a crowd +of people from the neighborhood, and vagabonds from town. Do you not +hear them? They are shouting, 'Death to the Devourers!'" + +The clamor was indeed approaching, and grew more and more distinct. + +"It is the same noise that I heard just now," said the marshal, rising in +his turn. + +"There are more than two hundred of them, M. Simon," said Olivier; "they +are armed with clubs and stones, and unfortunately the greater part of +our workmen are in Paris. We are not above forty here in all; the women +and children are already flying to their chambers, screaming for terror. +Do you not hear them?" + +The ceiling shook beneath the tread of many hasty feet. + +"Will this attack be a serious one?" said the marshal to his father, who +appeared more and more dejected. + +"Very serious," said the old man; "there is nothing more fierce than +these combats between different unions; and everything has been done +lately to excite the people of the neighborhood against the factory." + +"If you are so inferior in number," said the marshal, "you must begin by +barricading all the doors--and then--" + +He was unable to conclude. A burst of ferocious cries shook the windows +of the room, and seemed so near and loud, that the marshal, his father, +and the young workman, rushed out into the little garden, which was +bounded on one side by a wall that separated it from the fields. +Suddenly whilst the shouts redoubled in violence, a shower of large +stones, intended to break the windows of the house, smashed some of the +panes on the first story, struck against the wall, and fell into the +garden, all around the marshal and his father. By a fatal chance, one of +these large stones struck the old man on the head. He staggered, bent +forward, and fell bleeding into the arms of Marshal Simon, just as arose +from without, with increased fury, the savage cries of, "Death to the +Devourers!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE WOLVES AND THE DEVOURERS. + +It was a frightful thing to view the approach of the lawless crowd, whose +first act of hostility had been so fatal to Marshal Simon's father. One +wing of the Common Dwelling-house, which joined the garden-wall on that +side, was next to the fields. It was there that the Wolves began their +attack. The precipitation of their march, the halt they had made at two +public-houses on the road, their ardent impatience for the approaching +struggle, had inflamed these men to a high pitch of savage excitement. +Having discharged their first shower of stones, most of the assailants +stooped down to look for more ammunition. Some of them, to do so with +greater ease, held their bludgeons between their teeth; others had placed +them against the wall; here and there, groups had formed tumultuously +round the principal leaders of the band; the most neatly dressed of these +men wore frocks, with caps, whilst others were almost in rags, for, as we +have already said, many of the hangers-on at the barriers, and people +without any profession, had joined the troop of the Wolves, whether +welcome or not. Some hideous women, with tattered garments, who always +seem to follow in the track of such people, accompanied them on this +occasion, and, by their cries and fury, inflamed still more the general +excitement. One of them, tall, robust, with purple complexion, blood- +shot eyes, and toothless jaws, had a handkerchief over her head, from +beneath which escaped her yellow, frowsy hair. Over her ragged gown, she +wore an old plaid shawl, crossed over her bosom, and tied behind her +back. This hag seemed possessed with a demon. She had tucked up her +half-torn sleeves; in one hand she brandished a stick, in the other she +grasped a huge stone; her companions called her Ciboule (scullion). + +This horrible hag exclaimed, in a hoarse voice: "I'll bite the women of +the factory; I'll make them bleed." + +The ferocious words were received with applause by her companions, and +with savage cries of "Ciboule forever!" which excited her to frenzy. + +Amongst the other leaders, was a small, dry pale man, with the face of a +ferret, and a black beard all round the chin; he wore a scarlet Greek +cap, and beneath his long blouse, perfectly new, appeared a pair of neat +cloth trousers, strapped over thin boots. This man was evidently of a +different condition of life from that of the other persons in the troop; +it was he, in particular, who ascribed the most irritating and insulting +language to the workmen of the factory, with regard to the inhabitants of +the neighborhood. He howled a great deal, but he carried neither stick +nor stone. A full-faced, fresh-colored man, with a formidable bass +voice, like a chorister's, asked him: "Will you not have a shot at those +impious dogs, who might bring down the Cholera on the country, as the +curate told us?" + +"I will have a better shot than you," said the little man, with a +singular, sinister smile. + +"And with what, I'd like to see?" + +"Probably, with this," said the little man, stooping to pick up a large +stone; but, as he bent, a well-filled though light bag, which he appeared +to carry under his blouse, fell to the ground. + +"Look, you are losing both bag and baggage," said the other; "it does not +seem very heavy." + +"They are samples of wool," answered the man with the ferret's face, as +he hastily picked up the bag, and replaced it under his blouse; then he +added: "Attention! the big blaster is going to speak." + +And, in fact, he who exercised the most complete ascendency over this +irritated crowd was the terrible quarryman. His gigantic form towered so +much above the multitude, that his great head, bound in its ragged +handkerchief, and his Herculean shoulders, covered with a fallow goat- +skin, were always visible above the level of that dark and swarming +crowd, only relieved here and there by a few women's caps, like so many +white points. Seeing to what a degree of exasperation the minds of the +crowd had reached, the small number of honest, but misguided workmen, who +had allowed themselves to be drawn into this dangerous enterprise, under +the pretext of a quarrel between rival unions, now fearing for the +consequences of the struggle, tried, but too late, to abandon the main +body. Pressed close, and as it were, girt in with the more hostile +groups, dreading to pass for cowards, or to expose themselves to the bad +treatment of the majority, they were forced to wait for a more favorable +moment to effect their escape. To the savage cheers, which had +accompanied the first discharge of stones, succeeded a deep silence +commanded by the stentorian voice of the quarryman. + +"The Wolves have howled," he exclaimed; "let us wait and see how the +Devourers will answer, and when they will begin the fight." + +"We must draw them out of their factory, and fight them on neutral +ground," said the little man with the ferret's face, who appeared to be +the thieves' advocate; "otherwise there would be trespass." + +"What do we care about trespass?" cried the horrible hag, Ciboule; "in or +out, I will tear the chits of the factory." + +"Yes, yes," cried other hideous creatures, as ragged as Ciboule herself; +"we must not leave all to the men." + +"We must have our fun, too!" + +"The women of the factory say that all the women of the neighborhood are +drunken drabs," cried the little man with the ferret's face. + +"Good! we'll pay them for it." + +"The women shall have their share." + +"That's our business." + +"They like to sing in their Common House," cried Ciboule; "we will make +them sing the wrong side of their mouths, in the key of 'Oh, dear me!'" + +This pleasantry was received with shouts, hootings, and furious stamping +of feet, to which the stentorian voice of the quarryman put a term by +roaring: "Silence!" + +"Silence! silence!" repeated the crowd. "Hear the blaster!" + +"If the Devourers are cowards enough not to dare to show themselves, +after a second volley of stones, there is a door down there which we can +break open, and we will soon hunt them from their holes." + +"It would be better to draw them out, so that none might remain in the +factory," said the little old man with the ferret's face, who appeared to +have some secret motive. + +"A man fights where he can," cried the quarryman, in a voice of thunder; +"all, right, if we can but once catch hold. We could fight on a sloping +roof, or on the top of a wall--couldn't we, my Wolves?" + +"Yes, yes!" cried the crowd, still more excited by those savage words; +"if they don't come out, we will break in." + +"We will see their fine palace!" + +"The pagans haven't even a chapel," said the bass voice. "The curate has +damned them all!" + +"Why should they have a palace, and we nothing but dog-kennels?" + +"Hardy's workmen say that kennels are good enough for such as you." said +the little man with the ferret's face. + +"Yes, yes! they said so." + +"We'll break all their traps." + +"We'll pull down their bazaar." + +"We'll throw the house out of the windows." + +"When we have made the mealy-mouthed chits sing," cried Ciboule, "we will +make them dance to the clatter of stones on their heads." + +"Come, my Wolves! attention!" cried the quarryman, still in the same +stentorian voice; "one more volley, and if the Devourers do not come out, +down with the door!" + +This proposition was received with cheers of savage ardor, and the +quarryman, whose voice rose above the tumult, cried with all the strength +of his herculean lungs: "Attention, my Wolves. Make ready! all together. +Now, are you ready?" + +"Yes, yes--all ready!" + +"Then, present!--fire!" And, for the second time, a shower of enormous +stones poured upon that side of the Common Dwelling-house which was +turned towards the fields. A part of these projectiles broke such of the +windows as had been spared by the first volley. To the sharp smashing +and cracking of glass were joined the ferocious cries uttered in chorus +by this formidable mob, drunk with its own excesses: "Death to the +Devourers!" + +Soon these outcries became perfectly frantic, when, through the broken +windows, the assailants perceived women running in terror, some with +children in their arms, and others raising their hands to heaven, calling +aloud for help; whilst a few, bolder than the rest, leaned out of the +windows, and tried to fasten the outside blinds. + +"There come the ants out of their holes!" cried Ciboule, stooping to pick +up a stone. "We must have a fling at them for luck!" The stone, hurled +by the steady, masculine hand of the virago, went straight to its mark, +and struck an unfortunate woman who was trying to close one of the +shutters. + +"Hit in the white!" cried the hideous creature. + +"Well done, Ciboule!--you've rapped her coker-nut!" cried a voice. + +"Ciboule forever!" + +"Come out, you Devourers, if you dare!" + +"They have said a hundred times, that the neighbors were too cowardly +even to come and look at their house," squealed the little man with the +ferret's face. + +"And now they show the white feather!" + +"If they will not come out," cried the quarryman, in voice of thunder, +"let us smoke them out!" + +"Yes, yes!" + +"Let's break open the door!" + +"We are sure to find them!" + +"Come on! come on!" + +The crowd, with the quarryman at their head, and Ciboule not far from +him, brandishing a stick, advanced tumultously towards one of the great +doors. The ground shook beneath the rapid tread of the mob, which had +now ceased shouting; but the confused, and, as it were, subterraneous +noise, sounded even more ominous than those savage outcries. The Wolves +soon arrived opposite the massive oaken door. At the moment the blaster +raised a sledgehammer, the door opened suddenly. Some of the most +determined of the assailants were about to rush in at this entrance; but +the quarryman stepped back, extending his arm as if to moderate their +ardor and impose silence. Then his followers gathered round him. + +The half-open door discovered a party of workmen, unfortunately by no +means numerous, but with countenances full of resolution. They had armed +themselves hastily with forks, iron bars, and clubs. Agricola, who was +their leader, held in his hand a heavy sledge-hammer. The young workman +was very pale; but the fire of his eye, his menacing look, and the +intrepid assurance of his bearing, showed that his father's blood boiled +in his veins, and that in such a struggle he might become fear-inspiring. +Yet he succeeded in restraining himself, and challenged the quarryman, in +a firm voice: "What do you want?" + +"A fight!" thundered the blaster. + +"Yes, yes! a fight!" repeated the crowd. + +"Silence, my Wolves!" cried the quarryman, as he turned round, and +stretched forth his large hand towards the multitude. Then addressing +Agricola, he said: "The Wolves have come to ask for a fight." + +"With whom?" + +"With the Devourers." + +"There are no Devourers here," replied Agricola; "we are only peaceable +workmen. So begone." + +"Well! here are the Wolves, that will eat your quiet workmen." + +"The Wolves will eat no one here," said Agricola, looking full at the +quarryman, who approached him with a threatening air; "they can only +frighten little children." + +"Oh! you think so," said the quarryman, with a savage sneer. Then +raising his weapon, he shook it in Agricola's face, exclaiming: "Is that +any laughing matter? + +"Is that?" answered Agricola, with a rapid movement, parrying the stone- +sledge with his own hammer. + +"Iron against iron--hammer against hammer--that suits me," said the +quarryman. + +"It does not matter what suits you," answered Agricola, hardly able to +restrain himself. "You have broken our windows, frightened our women, +and wounded--perhaps killed--the oldest workman in the factory, who at +this moment lies bleeding in the arms of his son." Here Agricola's voice +trembled in spite of himself. "It is, I think, enough," + +"No; the Wolves are hungry for more," answered the blaster; "you must +come out (cowards that you are!), and fight us on the plain." + +"Yes! yes! battle!--let them come out!" cried the crowd, howling, +hissing, waving their sticks and pushing further into the small space +which separated them from the door. + +"We will have no battle," answered Agricola: "we will not leave our home; +but if you have the misfortune to pass this," said Agricola, throwing his +cap upon the threshold, and setting his foot on it with an intrepid air, +"if you pass this, you attack us in our own house, and you will be +answerable for all that may happen." + +"There or elsewhere we will have the fight! the Wolves must eat the +Devourers. Now for the attack!" cried the fierce quarryman, raising his +hammer to strike Agricola. + +But the latter, throwing himself on one side by a sudden leap, avoided +the blow, and struck with his hammer full at the chest of the quarryman, +who staggered for a moment, but instantly recovering his legs, rushed +furiously on Agricola, crying: "Follow me, Wolves!" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RETURN. + +As soon as the combat had begun between Agricola and the blaster, the +general fight became terrible, ardent, implacable. A flood of +assailants, following the quarryman's steps, rushed into the house with +irresistible fury; others, unable to force their way through this +dreadful crowd, where the more impetuous squeezed, stifled, and crushed +these who were less so, went round in another direction, broke through +some lattice work, and thus placed the people of the factory, as it were, +between two fires. Some resisted courageously; others, seeing Ciboule, +followed by some of her horrible companions, and by several of the most +ill-looking ruffians, hastily enter that part of the Common-Dwelling- +house in which the women had taken refuge, hurried in pursuit of this +band; but some of the hag's companions, having faced about, and +vigorously defended the entrance of the staircase against the workmen, +Ciboule, with three or four like herself, and about the same number of no +less ignoble men, rushed through the rooms, with the intention of robbing +or destroying all that came in their way. A door, which at first +resisted their efforts, was soon broken through; Ciboule rushed into the +apartment with a stick in her hand, her hair dishevelled, furious, and, +as it were, maddened with the noise and tumult. A beautiful young girl +(it was Angela), who appeared anxious to defend the entrance to a second +chamber, threw herself on her knees, pale and supplicating, and raising +her clasped hands, exclaimed: "Do not hurt my mother!" + +"I'll serve you out first, and your mother afterwards," replied the +horrible woman, throwing herself on the poor girl, and endeavoring to +tear her face with her nails, whilst the rest of the ruffianly band broke +the glass and the clock with their sticks, and possessed themselves of +some articles of wearing apparel. + +Angela, struggling with Ciboule, uttered loud cries of distress, and +still attempted to guard the room in which her mother had taken refuge; +whilst the latter, leaning from the window, called Agricola to their +assistance. The smith was now engaged with the huge blaster. In a close +struggle, their hammers had become useless, and with bloodshot eyes and +clinched teeth, chest to chest, and limbs twined together like two +serpents, they made the most violent efforts to overthrow each other. +Agricola, bent forward, held under his right arm the left leg of the +quarryman, which he had seized in parrying a violent kick; but such was +the Herculean strength of the leader of the Wolves, that he remained firm +as a tower, though resting only on one leg. With the hand that was still +free (for the other was gripped by Agricola as in a vise), he endeavored +with violent blows to break the jaws of the smith, who, leaning his head +forward, pressed his forehead hard against the breast of his adversary. + +"The Wolf will break the Devourer's teeth, and he shall devour no more," +said the quarryman. + +"You are no true Wolf," answered the smith, redoubling his efforts; "the +true Wolves are honest fellows, and do not come ten against one." + +"True or false, I will break your teeth." + +"And I your paw," said the smith, giving so violent a wrench to the leg +of the quarryman, that the latter uttered a cry of acute pain, and, with +the rage of a wild beast, butting suddenly forward with his head, +succeeded in biting Agricola in the side of the neck. + +The pang of this bite forced Agricola to make a movement, which enabled +the quarryman to disengage his leg. Then, with a superhuman effort, he +threw himself with his whole weight on Agricola, and brought him to the +ground, falling himself upon him. + +At this juncture, Angela's mother, leaning from one of the windows of the +Common Dwelling-house, exclaimed in a heart-rending voice: "Help, +Agricola!--they are killing my child!" + +"Let me go--and on, my honor--I will fight you tomorrow, or when you +will," said Agricola, panting for breath. + +"No warmed-up food for me; I eat all hot," answered the quarryman, +seizing the smith by the throat, whilst he tried to place one of his +knees upon his chest. + +"Help!--they are killing my child!" cried Angela's mother, in a voice of +despair. + +"Mercy! I ask mercy! Let me go!"' said Agricola, making the most +violent efforts to escape. + +"I am too hungry," answered the quarryman. + +Exasperated by the terror which Angela's danger occasioned him, Agricola +redoubled his efforts, when the quarryman suddenly felt his thigh seized +by the sharp teeth of a dog, and at the same instant received from a +vigorous hand three or four heavy blows with a stick upon his head. He +relaxed his grasp, and fell stunned upon his hand and knee, whilst he +mechanically raised his other arm to parry the blows, which ceased as +soon as Agricola was delivered. + +"Father, you have saved me!" cried the smith, springing up. "If only I +am in time to rescue Angela!" + +"Run!--never mind me!" answered Dagobert; and Agricola rushed into the +house. + +Dogabert, accompanied by Spoil-sport, had come, as we have already said, +to bring Marshal Simon's daughters to their grandfather. Arriving in the +midst of the tumult, the soldier had collected a few workmen to defend +the entrance of the chamber, to which the marshal's father had been +carried in a dying state. It was from this post that the soldier had +seen Agricola's danger. Soon after, the rush of the conflict separated +Dagobert from the quarryman, who remained for some moments insensible. +Arrived in two bounds at the Common Dwelling-house, Agricola succeeded in +forcing his way through the men who defended the staircase, and rushed +into the corridor that led to Angela's chamber. At the moment he reached +it, the unfortunate girl was mechanically guarding her face with both +hands against Ciboule, who, furious as the hyena over its prey, was +trying to scratch and disfigure her. + +To spring upon the horrible hag, seize her by her yellow hair with +irresistible hand, drag her backwards, and then with one cuff, stretch +her full length upon the ground, was for Agricola an achievement as rapid +as thought. Furious with rage, Ciboule rose again almost instantly; but +at this moment, several workmen, who had followed close upon Agricola, +were able to attack with advantage, and whilst the smith lifted the +fainting form of Angela, and carried her into the next room, Ciboule and +her band were driven from that part of the house. + +After the first fire of the assault, the small number of real Wolves, +who, as Agricola said, were in the main honest fellows, but had the +weakness to let themselves be drawn into this enterprise, under the +pretext of a quarrel between rival unions, seeing the excesses committed +by the rabble who accompanied them, turned suddenly round, and ranged +themselves on the side of the Devourers. + +"There are no longer here either Wolves or Devourers," said one of the +most determined Wolves to Olivier, with whom he had been fighting roughly +and fairly; "there are none here but honest workmen, who must unite to +drive out a set of scoundrels, that have come only to break and pillage." + +"Yes," added another; "it was against our will that they began by +breaking your windows." + +"The big blaster did it all," said another; "the true Wolves wash their +hands of him. We shall soon settle his account." + +"We may fight every day--but we ought to esteem each other."[35] + +This defection of a portion of the assailants (unfortunately but a small +portion) gave new spirit to the workmen of the factory, and all together, +Wolves and Devourers, though very inferior in number, opposed themselves +to the band of vagabonds, who were proceeding to new excesses. Some of +these wretches, still further excited by the little man with the ferret's +face, a secret emissary of Baron Tripeaud, now rushed in a mass towards +the workshops of M. Hardy. Then began a lamentable devastation. These +people, seized with the mania of destruction, broke without remorse +machines of the greatest value, and most delicate construction; half- +manufactured articles were pitilessly destroyed; a savage emulation +seemed to inspire these barbarians, and those workshops, so lately the +model of order and well-regulated economy, were soon nothing but a wreck; +the courts were strewed with fragments of all kinds of wares, which were +thrown from the windows with ferocious outcries, or savage bursts of +laughter. Then, still thanks to the incitements of the little man with +the ferret's face, the books of M. Hardy, archives of commercial +industry, so indispensable to the trader, were scattered to the wind, +torn, trampled under foot, in a sort of infernal dance, composed of all +that was most impure in this assembly of low, filthy, and ragged men and +women, who held each other by the hand, and whirled round and round with +horrible clamor. Strange and painful contrasts! At the height of the +stunning noise of these horrid deeds of tumult and devastation, a scene +of imposing and mournful calm was taking place in the chamber of Marshal +Simon's father, the door of which was guarded by a few devoted men. The +old workman was stretched on his bed, with a bandage across his blood- +stained white hair. His countenance was livid, his breathing oppressed, +his look fixed and glazed. + +Marshal Simon, standing at the head of the bed, bending over his father, +watched in despairing anguish the least sign of consciousness on the part +of the dying man, near whom was a physician, with his finger on the +failing pulse. Rose and Blanche, brought hither by Dagobert, were +kneeling beside the bed, their hands clasped, and their eyes bathed in +tears; a little further, half hidden in the shadows of the room, for the +hours had passed quickly, and the night was at hand, stood Dagobert +himself, with his arms crossed upon his breast, and his features +painfully contracted. A profound and solemn silence reigned in this +chamber, only interrupted by the broken sobs of Rose and Blanche, or by +Father Simon's hard breathing. The eyes of the marshal were dry, gloomy, +and full of fire. He only withdrew them from his father's face, to +interrogate the physician by a look. There are strange coincidences in +life. That physician was Dr. Baleinier. The asylum of the doctor being +close to the barrier that was nearest to the factory, and his fame being +widely spread in the neighborhood, they had run to fetch him on the first +call for medical assistance. + +Suddenly, Dr. Baleinier made a movement; the marshal, who had not taken +his eyes off him, exclaimed: "Is there any hope?" + +"At least, my lord duke, the pulse revives a little." + +"He is saved!" said the marshal. + +"Do not cherish false hopes, my lord duke," answered the doctor, gravely: +"the pulse revives, owing to the powerful applications to the feet, but I +know not what will be the issue of the crisis." + +"Father! father! do you hear me?" cried the marshal, seeing the old man +slightly move his head, and feebly raise his eyelids. He soon opened his +eyes, and this time their intelligence had returned. + +"Father! you live--you know me!" cried the marshal, giddy with joy and +hope. + +"Pierre! are you there?" said the old man, in a weak voice. "Your hand-- +give--it--" and he made a feeble movement. + +"Here, father!" cried the marshal, as he pressed the hands of the old man +in his own. + +Then, yielding to an impulse of delight, he bent over his father, covered +his hands, face, and hair with kisses, and repeated: "He lives! kind +heaven, he lives! he is saved!" + +At this instant, the noise of the struggle which had recommenced between +the rabble, the Wolves, and the Devourers, reached the ears of the dying +man. + +"That noise! that noise!" said he: "they are fighting." + +"It is growing less, I think," said the marshal, in order not to agitate +his father. + +"Pierre," said the old man, in a weak and broken voice, "I have not long +to live." + +"Father--" + +"Let me speak, child; if I can but tell you all." + +"Sir," said Baleinier piously to the old workman, "heaven may perhaps +work a miracle in your favor; show yourself grateful, and allow a priest--" + +"A priest! Thank you, sir--I have my son," said the old man; "in his +arms, I will render up my soul--which has always been true and honest." + +"You die?" exclaimed the marshal; "no! no!" + +"Pierre," said the old man, in a voice which, firm at first, gradually +grew fainter, "just now--you ask my advice in a very serious matter. I +think, that the wish to tell you of your duty--has recalled me--for a +moment--to life--for I should die miserable--if I thought you in a road +unworthy of yourself and me. Listen to me, my son--my noble son--at this +last hour, a father cannot deceive himself. You have a great duty to +perform---under pain--of not acting like a man of honor--under pain of +neglecting my last will. You ought, without hesitation--" + +Here the voice failed the old man. When he had pronounced the last +sentence, he became quite unintelligible. The only words that Marshal +Simon could distinguish, were these: "Napoleon II.--oath--dishonor--my +son!" + +Then the old workman again moved his lips mechanically--and all was +over. At the moment he expired, the night was quite come, and terrible +shouts were heard from without, of "Fire! Fire!" The conflagration had +broken out in one of the workshops, filled with inflammable stuff, into +which had glided the little man with the ferret's face. At the same +time, the roll of drums was heard in the distance, announcing the arrival +of a detachment of troops from town. + +During an hour, in spite of every effort, the fire had been spreading +through the factory. The night is clear, cold, starlight; the wind blows +keenly from the north, with a moaning sound. A man, walking across the +fields, where the rising ground conceals the fire from him, advances with +slow and unsteady steps. It is M. Hardy. He had chosen to return home +on foot, across the country, hoping that a walk would calm the fever in +his blood--an icy fever, more like the chill of death. He had not been +deceived. His adored mistress--the noble woman, with whom he might have +found refuge from the consequences of the fearful deception which had +just been revealed to him--had quitted France. He could have no doubt of +it. Margaret was gone to America. Her mother had exacted from her, in +expiation of her fault, that she should not even write to him one word of +farewell--to him, for whom she had sacrificed her duty as a wife. +Margaret had obeyed. + +Besides, she had often said to him: "Between my mother and you, I should +not hesitate." + +She had not hesitated. There was therefore no hope, not the slightest; +even if an ocean had not separated him from Margaret, he knew enough of +her blind submission to her mother, to be certain that all relations +between them were broken off forever. It is well. He will no longer +reckon upon this heart--his last refuge. The two roots of his life have +been torn up and broken, with the same blow, the same day, almost at the +same moment. What then remains for thee, poor sensitive plant, as thy +tender mother used to call thee? What remains to console thee for the +loss of this last love--this last friendship, so infamously crushed? Oh! +there remains for thee that one corner of the earth, created after the +image of thy mind that little colony, so peaceful and flourishing, where, +thanks to thee, labor brings with it joy and recompense. These worthy +artisans, whom thou hast made happy, good, and grateful, will not fail +thee. That also is a great and holy affection; let it be thy shelter in +the midst of this frightful wreck of all thy most sacred convictions! +The calm of that cheerful and pleasant retreat, the sight of the +unequalled happiness of thy dependents, will soothe thy poor, suffering +soul, which now seems to live only for suffering. Come! you will soon +reach the top of the hill, from which you can see afar, in the plain +below, that paradise of workmen, of which you are the presiding divinity. + +M. Hardy had reached the summit of the hill. At that moment the +conflagration, repressed for a short time, burst forth with redoubled +fury from the Common Dwelling-house, which it had now reached. A bright +streak, at first white, then red, then copper-colored, illuminated the +distant horizon. M. Hardy looked at it with a sort of incredulous, +almost idiotic stupor. Suddenly, an immense column of flame shot up in +the thick of a cloud of smoke, accompanied by a shower of sparks, and +streamed towards the sky, casting a bright reflection over all the +country, even to M. Hardy's feet. The violence of the north wind, +driving the flames in waves before it, soon brought to the ears of M. +Hardy the hurried clanging of the alarm-bell of the burning factory. + +[35] We wish it to be understood, that the necessities of our story alone +have made the Wolves the assailants. While endeavoring to paint the +evils arising the abuse of the spirit of association, we do not wish to +ascribe a character of savage hostility to one sect rather than to the +other to the Wolves more than to the Devourers. The Wolves, a club of +united stone-cutters, are generally industrious, intelligent workmen, +whose situation is the more worthy of interest, as not only their labors, +conducted with mathematical precision, are of the rudest and most +wearisome kind, but they are likewise out of work during three or four +months of the year, their profession being, unfortunately, one of those +which winter condemns to a forced cessation. A number of Wolves, in +order to perfect themselves in their trade, attend every evening a course +of linear geometry, applied to the cutting of stone, analogous to that +given by M. Agricole Perdignier, for the benefit of carpenters. Several +working stone-cutters sent an architectural model in plaster to the last +exhibition. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE GO-BETWEEN. + +A few days have elapsed since the conflagration of M. Hardy's factory. +The following scene takes place in the Rue Clovis, in the house where +Rodin had lodged, and which was still inhabited by Rose-Pompon, who, +without the least scruple, availed herself of the household arrangements +of her friend Philemon. It was about noon, and Rose-Pompon, alone in the +chamber of the student, who was still absent, was breakfasting very gayly +by the fireside; but how singular a breakfast! what a queer fire! how +strange an apartment! + +Imagine a large room, lighted by two windows without curtains--for as +they looked on empty space, the lodger had fear of being overlooked. One +side of this apartment served as a wardrobe, for there was suspended +Rose-Pompon's flashy costume of debardeur, not far from the boat-man's +jacket of Philemon, with his large trousers of coarse, gray stuff, +covered with pitch (shiver my timbers!), just as if this intrepid mariner +had bunked in the forecastle of a frigate, during a voyage round the +globe. A gown of Rose Pompon's hung gracefully over a pair of +pantaloons, the legs of which seemed to come from beneath the petticoat. +On the lowest of several book-shelves, very dusty and neglected, by the +side of three old boots (wherefore three boots?) and a number of empty +bottles, stood a skull, a scientific and friendly souvenir, left to +Philemon by one of his comrades, a medical student. With a species of +pleasantry, very much to the taste of the student-world, a clay pipe with +a very black bowl was placed between the magnificently white teeth of +this skull; moreover, its shining top was half hidden beneath an old hat, +set knowingly on one side, and adorned with faded flowers and ribbons. +When Philemon was drunk, he used to contemplate this bony emblem of +mortality, and break out into the most poetical monologues, with regard +to this philosophical contrast between death and the mad pleasures of +life. Two or three plaster casts, with their noses and chins more or +less injured, were fastened to the wall, and bore witness to the +temporary curiosity which Philemon had felt with regard to phrenological +science, from the patient and serious study of which he had drawn the +following logical conclusion:--That, having to an alarming extent the +bump of getting into debt, he ought to resign himself to the fatality of +this organization, and accept the inconvenience of creditors as a vital +necessity. On the chimney-piece, stood uninjured, in all its majesty, +the magnificent rowing-club drinking-glass, a china teapot without a +spout, and an inkstand of black wood, the glass mouth of which was +covered by a coat of greenish and mossy mould. From time to time, the +silence of this retreat was interrupted by the cooing of pigeons, which +Rose-Pompon had established with cordial hospitality in the little study. +Chilly as a quail, Rose-Pompon crept close to the fire, and at the same +time seemed to enjoy the warmth of a bright ray of sunshine, which +enveloped her in its golden light. This droll little creature was +dressed in the oddest costume, which, however, displayed to advantage the +freshness of her piquant and pretty countenance, crowned with its fine, +fair hair, always neatly combed and arranged the first thing in the +morning. By way of dressing-gown, Rose-Pompon had ingeniously drawn over +her linen, the ample scarlet flannel shirt which belonged to Philemon's +official garb in the rowing-club; the collar, open and turned down, +displayed the whiteness of the young girl's under garment, as also of her +neck and shoulders, on whose firm and polished surface the scarlet shirt +seemed to cast a rosy light. The grisette's fresh and dimpled arms half +protruded from the large, turned-up sleeves; and her charming legs were +also half visible, crossed one over the other, and clothed in neat white +stockings, and boots. A black silk cravat formed the girdle which +fastened the shirt round the wasp-like waist of Rose-Pompon, just above +those hips, worthy of the enthusiasm of a modern Phidias, and which gave +to this style of dress a grace very original. + +We have said, that the breakfast of Rose-Pompon was singular. You shall +judge. On a little table placed before her, was a wash-hand-basin, into +which she had recently plunged her fresh face, bathing it in pure water. +From the bottom of this basin, now transformed into a salad-bowl, Rose- +Pompon took with the tips of her fingers large green leaves, dripping +with vinegar, and crunched them between her tiny white teeth, whose +enamel was too hard to allow them to be set on edge. Her drink was a +glass of water and syrup of gooseberries, which she stirred with a wooden +mustard-spoon. Finally, as an extra dish, she had a dozen olives in one +of those blue glass trinket-dishes sold for twenty-five sous. Her +dessert was composed of nuts, which she prepared to roast on a red-hot +shovel. That Rose-Pompon, with such an unaccountable savage choice of +food, should retain a freshness of complexion worthy of her name, is one +of those miracles, which reveal the mighty power of youth and health. +When she had eaten her salad, Rose-Pompon was about to begin upon her +olives, when a low knock was heard at the door, which was modestly bolted +on the inside. + +"Who is there?" said Rose-Pompon. + +"A friend--the oldest of the old," replied a sonorous, jovial voice. +"Why do you lock yourself in?" + +"What! is it you, Ninny Moulin?" + +"Yes, my beloved pupil. Open quickly. Time presses." + +"Open to you? Oh, I dare say!--that would be pretty, the figure I am!" + +"I believe you! what does it matter what figure you are? It would be +very pretty, thou rosiest of all the roses with which Cupid ever adorned +his quiver!" + +"Go and preach fasting and morality in your journal, fat apostle!" said +Rose--Pompon, as she restored the scarlet shirt to its place, with +Philemon's other garments. + +"I say! are we to talk much longer through the door, for the greater +edification of our neighbors?" cried Ninny Moulin. "I have something of +importance to tell you--something that will astonish you--" + +"Give me time to put on my gown, great plague that you are!" + +"If it is because of my modesty, do not think of it. I am not over nice. +I should like you very well as you are!" + +"Only to think that such a monster is the favorite of all the +churchgoers!" said Rose-Pompon, opening the door as she finished +fastening her dress. + +"So! you have at last returned to the dovecot, you stray girl!" said +Ninny Moulin, folding his arms, and looking at Rose-Pompon with comic +seriousness. "And where may you have been, I pray? For three days the +naughty little bird has left its nest." + +"True; I only returned home last night. You must have called during my +absence?" + +"I came, every day, and even twice a day, young lady, for I have very +serious matters to communicate." + +"Very serious matters? Then we shall have a good laugh at them." + +"Not at all--they are really serious," said Ninny Moulin, seating +himself. "But, first of all, what did you do during the three days that +you left your conjugal and Philemonic home? I must know all about it, +before I tell you more." + +"Will you have some olives?" said Rose-Pompon, as she nibbled one of them +herself. + +"Is that your answer?--I understand!--Unfortunate Philemon!" + +"There is no unfortunate Philemon in the case, slanderer. Clara had a +death in her house, and, for the first few days after the funeral she was +afraid to sleep alone." + +"I thought Clara sufficiently provided against such fears." + +"There you are deceived, you great viper! I was obliged to go and keep +the poor girl company." + +At this assertion, the religious pamphleteer hummed a tune, with an +incredulous and mocking air. + +"You think I have played Philemon tricks?" cried Rose-Pompon, cracking a +nut with the indignation of injured innocence. + +"I do not say tricks; but one little rose-colored trick." + +"I tell you, that it was not for my pleasure I went out. On the +contrary--for, during my absence, poor Cephyse disappeared." + +Yes, Mother Arsene told me that the Bacchanal-Queen was gone on a +journey. But when I talk of Philemon, you talk of Cephyse; we don't +progress." + +"May I be eaten by the black panther that they are showing at the Porte- +Saint-Martin if I do not tell you the truth. And, talking of that, you +must get tickets to take me to see those animals, my little Ninny Moulin! +They tell me there never were such darling wild beasts." + +"Now really, are you mad?" + +"Why so?" + +"That I should guide your youth, like a venerable patriarch, through the +dangers of the Storm-blown Tulip, all well and good--I ran no risk of +meeting my pastors and masters; but were I to take you to a Lent- +Spectacle (since there are only beasts to be seen), I might just run +against my sacristans--and how pretty I should look with you on my arm!" + +"You can put on a false nose, and straps to your trousers, my big Ninny; +they will never know you." + +"We must not think of false noses, but of what I have to tell you, since +you assure me that you have no intrigue in hand." + +"I swear it!" said Rose-Pompon, solemnly, extending her left hand +horizontally, whilst with her right she put a nut into her mouth. Then +she added, with surprise, as she looked at the outside coat of Ninny +Moulin, "Goodness gracious! what full pockets you have got! What is +there in them?" + +"Something that concerns you, Rose-Pompon," said Dumoulin, gravely. + +"Me?" + +"Rose-Pompon!" said Ninny Moulin, suddenly, with a majestic air; "will +you have a carriage? Will you inhabit a charming apartment, instead of +living in this dreadful hole? Will you be dressed like a duchess?" + +"Now for some more nonsense! Come, will you eat the olives? If not, I +shall eat them all up. There is only one left." + +Without answering this gastronomic offer, Ninny Moulin felt in one of his +pockets, and drew from it a case containing a very pretty bracelet, which +he held up sparkling before the eyes of the young girl. + +"Oh! what a sumptuous bracelet!" cried she, clapping her hands. "A +green-eyed serpent biting his tail--the emblem of my love for Philemon." + +"Do not talk of Philemon; it annoys me," said Ninny Moulin, as he clasped +the bracelet round the wrist of Rose-Pompon, who allowed him to do it, +laughing all the while like mad, and saying to him, "So you've been +employed to make a purchase, big apostle, and wish to see the effect of +it. Well! it is charming!" + +"Rose-Pompon," resumed Ninny Moulin, "would you like to have a servant, a +box at the Opera, and a thousand francs a month for your pin-money?" + +"Always the same nonsense. Get along!" said the young girl, as she held +up the bracelet to the light, still continuing to eat her nuts. "Why +always the same farce, and no change of bills?" + +Ninny Moulin again plunged his hand into his pocket, and this time drew +forth an elegant chain, which he hung round Rose-Pompon's neck. + +"Oh! what a beautiful chain!" cried the young girl, as she looked by +turns at the sparkling ornament and the religious writer. "If you chose +that also, you have a very good taste. But am I not a good natured girl +to be your dummy, just to show off your jewels?" + +"Rose-Pompon," returned Ninny Moulin, with a still more majestic air, +"these trifles are nothing to what you may obtain, if you will but follow +the advice of your old friend." + +Rose began to look at Dumoulin with surprise, and said to him, "What does +all this mean, Ninny Moulin? Explain yourself; what advice have you to +give?" + +Dumoulin did not answer, but replunging his hand into his inexhaustible +pocket, he fished up a parcel, which he carefully unfolded, and in which +was a magnificent mantilla of black lace. Rose-Pompon started up, full +of new admiration, and Dumoulin threw the rich mantilla over the young +girl's shoulders. + +"It is superb! I have never seen anything like it! What patterns! what +work!" said Rose-Pompon, as she examined all with simple and perfectly +disinterested curiosity. Then she added, "Your pocket is like a shop; +where did you get all these pretty things?" Then, bursting into a fit of +laughter, which brought the blood to her cheeks, she exclaimed, "Oh, I +have it! These are the wedding-presents for Madame de la Sainte-Colombe. +I congratulate you; they are very choice." + +"And where do you suppose I should find money to buy these wonders?" +said Ninny Moulin. "I repeat to you, all this is yours if you will but +listen to me!" + +"How is this?" said Rose-Pompon, with the utmost amazement; "is what you +tell me in downright earnest?" + +"In downright earnest." + +"This offer to make me a great lady?" + +"The jewels might convince you of the reality of my offers." + +"And you propose all this to me for some one else, my poor Ninny Moulin?" + +"One moment, said the religious writer, with a comical air of modesty, +"you must know me well enough, my beloved pupil, to feel certain that I +should be incapable of inducing you to commit an improper action. I +respect myself too much for that--leaving out the consideration that it +would be unfair to Philemon, who confided to me the guardianship of your +virtue." + +"Then, Ninny Moulin," said Rose-Pompon, more and more astonished, "on my +word of honor, I can make nothing of it. + +"Yet, 'tis all very simple, and I--" + +'Oh! I've found it," cried Rose-Pompon, interrupting Ninny Moulin; "it +is some gentleman who offers me his hand, his heart, and all the rest of +it. Could you not tell me that directly?" + +"A marriage? oh, laws, yes!" said Dumoulin, shrugging his shoulders. + +"What! is it not a marriage?" said Rose-Pompon, again much surprised. + +"No." + +"And the offers you make me are honest ones, my big apostle?" + +"They could not be more so." Here Dumoulin spoke the truth. + +"I shall not have to be unfaithful to Philemon?" + +"No." + +"Or faithful to any one else?" +"No." + +Rose-Pompon looked confounded. Then she rattled on: "Come, do not let +us have any joking! I am not foolish enough to imagine that I am to live +just like a duchess, just for nothing. What, therefore, must I give in +return?" + +"Nothing at all." + +"Nothing?" + +"Not even that," said Ninny Moulin, biting his nail-tip. + +"But what am I to do, then?" + +"Dress yourself as handsomely as possible, take your ease, amuse +yourself, ride about in a carriage. You see, it is not very fatiguing-- +and you will, moreover, help to do a good action." + +"What! by living like a duchess?" + +"Yes! so make up your mind. Do not ask me for any more details, for I +cannot give them to you. For the rest, you will not be detained against +your will. Just try the life I propose to you. If it suits you, go on +with it; if not, return to your Philemonic household." + +"In fact--" + +"Only try it. What can you risk?" + +"Nothing; but I can hardly believe that all you say is true. And then," +added she, with hesitation, "I do not know if I ought--" + +Ninny Moulin went to the window, opened it, and said to Rose-Pompon, who +ran up to it, "Look there! before the door of the house." + +"What a pretty carriage! How comfortable a body'd be inside of it!" + +"That carriage is yours. It is waiting for you." + +"Waiting for me!" exclaimed Rose-Pompon; "am I to decide as short as +that?" + +"Or not at all." + +"To-day?" + +"On the instant." + +"But where will they take me?" + +"How should I know?" + +"You do not know where they will take me?" + +"Not I,"--and Dumoulin still spoke the truth--"the coachman has his +orders." + +"Do you know all this is very funny, Ninny Moulin?" + +"I believe you. If it were not funny, where would be the pleasure?" + +"You are right." + +"Then you accept the offer? That is well. I am delighted both for you +and myself." + +"For yourself?" + +"Yes; because, in accepting, you render me a great service." + +"You? How so?" + +"It matters little, as long as I feel obliged to you." + +"True." + +"Come, then; let us set out!" + +"Bah! after all, they cannot eat me," said Rose-Pompon, resolutely. + +With a skip and a jump, she went to fetch a rose-colored cap, and, going +up to a broken looking-glass, placed the cap very much cocked on one side +on her bands of light hair. This left uncovered her snowy neck, with the +silky roots of the hair behind, and gave to her pretty face a very +mischievous, not to say licentious expression. + +"My cloak!" said she to Ninny Moulin, who seemed to be relieved from a +considerable amount of uneasiness, since she had accepted his offer. + +"Fie! a cloak will not do," answered her companion, feeling once more in +his pocket and drawing out a fine Cashmere shawl, which he threw over +Rose-Pompon's shoulders. + +"A Cashmere!" cried the young girl, trembling with pleasure and joyous +surprise. Then she added, with an air of heroism: "It is settled! I +will run the gauntlet." And with a light step she descended the stairs, +followed by Ninny Moulin. + +The worthy greengrocer was at her post. "Good-morning, mademoiselle; you +are early to-day," said she to the young girl. + +"Yes, Mother Arsene; there is my key." + +"Thank you, mademoiselle." + +"Oh! now I think of it," said Rose Pompon, suddenly, in a whisper, as she +turned towards Ninny Moulin, and withdrew further from the portress, +"what is to became of Philemon?" + +"Philemon?" + +"If he should arrive--" + +"Oh! the devil!" said Ninny Moulin, scratching his ear. + +"Yes; if Philemon should arrive, what will they say to him? for I may be +a long time absent." + +"Three or four months, I suppose." + +"Not more?" + +"I should think not." + +"Oh! very good!" said Rose-Pompon. Then, turning towards the +greengrocer, she said to her, after a moment's reflection: "Mother +Arsene, if Philemon should come home, you will tell him I have gone out-- +on business." + +"Yes, mademoiselle." + +"And that he must not forget to feed my pigeons, which are in his study." + +"Yes, mademoiselle." + +"Good-bye, Mother Arsene." + +"Good-bye, mademoiselle." And Rose-Pompon entered the carriage in +triumph, along with Ninny Moulin. + +"The devil take me if I know what is to come of all this," said Jacques +Dumoulin to himself, as the carriage drove rapidly down the Rue Clovis. +"I have repaired my error--and now I laugh at the rest." + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ANOTHER SECRET. + +The following scene took place a few days after the abduction of Rose- +Pompon by Ninny Moulin. Mdlle. de Cardoville was seated in a dreamy +mood, in her cabinet, which was hung with green silk, and furnished with +an ebony library, ornamented with large bronze caryatides. By some +significant signs, one could perceive that Mdlle. de Cardoville had +sought in the fine airs some relief from sad and serious thoughts. Near +an open piano, was a harp, placed before a music-stand. A little +further, on a table covered with boxes of oil and water-color, were +several brilliant sketches. Most of them represented Asiatic scenes, +lighted by the fires of an oriental sun. Faithful to her fancy of +dressing herself at home in a picturesque style, Mademoiselle de +Cardoville resembled that day one of those proud portraits of Velasquez, +with stern and noble aspect. Her gown was of black moire, with wide- +swelling petticoat, long waist, and sleeve slashed with rose-colored +satin, fastened together with jet bugles. A very stiff, Spanish ruff +reached almost to her chin, and was secured round her neck by a broad +rose-colored ribbon. This frill, slightly heaving, sloped down as far as +the graceful swell of the rose-colored stomacher, laced with strings of +jet beads, and terminating in a point at the waist. It is impossible to +express how well this black garment, with its ample and shining folds, +relieved with rose-color and brilliant jet, skin, harmonized with the +shining whiteness of Adrienne's and the golden flood of her beautiful +hair, whose long, silky ringlets descended to her bosom. + +The young lady was in a half-recumbent posture, with her elbow resting on +a couch covered with green silk. The back of this piece of furniture, +which was pretty high towards the fireplace, sloped down insensibly +towards the foot. A sort of light, semicircular trellis-work, in gilded +bronze, raised about five feet from the ground, covered with flowering +plants (the admirable passiflores quadrangulatoe, planted in a deep ebony +box, from the centre of which rose the trellis-work), surrounded this +couch with a sort of screen of foliage enamelled with large flowers, +green without, purple within, and as brilliant as those flowers of +porcelain, which we receive from Saxony. A sweet, faint perfume, like a +faint mixture of jasmine with violet, rose from the cup of these +admirable passiflores. Strange enough, a large quantity of new books +(Adrienne having bought them since the last two or three days) and quite +fresh-cut, were scattered around her on the couch, and on a little table; +whilst other larger volumes, amongst which were several atlases full of +engravings, were piled on the sumptuous fur, which formed the carpet +beneath the divan. Stranger still, these books, though of different +forms, and by different authors, alt treated of the same subject. The +posture of Adrienne revealed a sort of melancholy dejection. Her cheeks +were pale; a light blue circle surrounded her large, black eyes, now +half-closed, and gave to them an expression of profound grief. Many +causes contributed to this sorrow--amongst others, the disappearance of +Mother Bunch. Without absolutely believing the perfidious insinuations +of Rodin, who gave her to understand that, in the fear of being unmasked +by him, the hunchback had not dared to remain in the house, Adrienne felt +a cruel sinking of the heart, when she thought how this young girl, in +whom she had had so much confidence, had fled from her almost sisterly +hospitality, without even uttering a word of gratitude; for care had been +taken not to show her the few lines written by the poor needlewoman to +her benefactress, just before her departure. + +She had only been told of the note of five hundred francs found on her +desk; and this last inexplicable circumstance had contributed to awaken +cruel suspicions in the breast of Mdlle. de Cardoville. She already felt +the fatal effects of that mistrust of everything and everybody, which +Rodin had recommended to her; and this sentiment of suspicion and reserve +had the more tendency to become powerful, that, for the first time in her +life, Mdlle. de Cardoville, until then a stranger to all deception, had a +secret to conceal--a secret, which was equally her happiness, her shame, +and her torment. Half-recumbent on her divan, pensive and depressed, +Adrienne pursued, with a mind often absent, one of her newly purchased +books. Suddenly, she uttered an exclamation of surprise; the hand which +held the book trembled like a leaf, and from that moment she appeared to +read with passionate attention and devouring curiosity. Soon, her eyes +sparkled with enthusiasm, her smile assumed ineffable sweetness, and she +seemed at once proud, happy, delighted--but, as she turned over the last +page, her countenance expressed disappointment and chagrin. Then she +recommenced this reading, which had occasioned her such sweet emotion, +and this time she read with the most deliberate slowness, going over each +page twice, and spelling, as it were, every line, every word. From time +to time, she paused, and in a pensive mood, with her forehead leaning on +her fair hand, she seemed to reflect, in a deep reverie, on the passages +she had read with such tender and religious love. Arriving at a passage +which so affected her, that a tear started in her eye, she suddenly +turned the volume, to see on the cover the name of the author. For a few +seconds, she contemplated this name with a singular expression of +gratitude, and could not forbear raising to her rosy lips the page on +which it was printed. After reading many times over the lines with which +she had been so much struck, forgetting, no doubt, the letter in the +spirit, she began to reflect so deeply, that the book glided from her +hand, and fell upon the carpet. During the course of this reverie, the +eyes of the young girl rested, at first mechanically, upon an admirable +bas-relief, placed on an ebony stand, near one of the windows. This +magnificent bronze, recently cast after a plaster copy from the antique, +represented the triumph of the Indian Bacchus. Never, perhaps, had +Grecian art attained such rare perfection. The youthful conqueror, half- +clad in a lion's skin, which displayed his juvenile grace and charming +purity of form shone with divine beauty. Standing up in a car, drawn by +two tigers, with an air at once gentle and proud, he leaned with one hand +upon a thyrsus, and with the other guided his savage steeds in tranquil +majesty. By this rare mixture of grace, vigor, and serenity, it was easy +to recognize the hero who had waged such desperate combats with men and +with monsters of the forest. Thanks to the brownish tone of the figure, +the light, falling from one side of the sculpture, admirably displayed +the form of the youthful god, which, carved in relievo, and thus +illumined, shone like a magnificent statue of pale gold upon the dark +fretted background of the bronze. + +When Adrienne's look first rested on this rare assemblage of divine +perfections, her countenance was calm and thoughtful. But this +contemplation, at first mechanical, became gradually more and more +attentive and conscious, and the young lady, rising suddenly from her +seat, slowly approached the bas-relief, as if yielding to the invincible +attraction of an extraordinary resemblance. Then a slight blush appeared +on the cheeks of Mdlle. de Cardoville, stole across her face, and spread +rapidly to her neck and forehead. She approached still closer, threw +round a hasty glance, as if half-ashamed, or as if she had feared to be +surprised in a blamable action, and twice stretched forth her hand, +trembling with emotion, to touch with the tips of her charming fingers +the bronze forehead of the Indian Bacchus. And twice she stopped short, +with a kind of modest hesitation. At last, the temptation became too +strong for her. She yielded to it; and her alabaster finger, after +delicately caressing the features of pale gold, was pressed more boldly +for an instant on the pure and noble brow of the youthful god. At this +pressure, though so slight, Adrienne seemed to feel a sort of electric +shock; she trembled in every limb, her eyes languished, and, after +swimming for an instant in their humid and brilliant crystal, were +raised, half-closed, to heaven. Then her head was thrown a little way +back, her knees bent insensibly, her rosy lips were half opened, as if to +give a passage to her heated breath, for her bosom heaved violently, as +thought youth and life had accelerated the pulsations of her heart, and +made her blood boil in her veins. Finally, the burning cheeks of +Adrienne betrayed a species of ecstasy, timid and passionate, chaste and +sensual, the expression of which was ineffably touching. + +An affecting spectacle indeed is that of a young maiden, whose modest +brow flushes with the first fires of a secret passion. Does not the +Creator of all things animate the body as well as the soul, with a spark +of divine energy? Should He not be religiously glorified in the +intellect as in the senses, with which He has so paternally endowed His +creatures? They are impious blasphemers who seek to stifle the celestial +senses, instead of guiding and harmonizing them in their divine flight. +Suddenly, Mdlle. de Cardoville started, raised her head, opened her eyes +as if awakening from a dream, withdrew abruptly from the sculptures, and +walked several times up and down the room in an agitated manner, pressing +her burning hands to her forehead. Then, falling, as it were, exhausted +on her seat, her tears flowed in abundance. The most bitter grief was +visible in her features, which revealed the fatal struggle that was +passing within her. By degrees, her tears ceased. To this crisis of +painful dejection succeeded a species of violent scorn and indignation +against herself, which were expressed by these words that escaped her: +"For the first time in my life, I feel weak and cowardly. Oh yes! +cowardly--very cowardly!" + +The sound of a door opening and closing, roused Mdlle. de Cardoville from +her bitter reflections. Georgette entered the room, and said to her +mistress: "Madame, can you receive the Count de Montbron?" + +Adrienne, too well-bred to exhibit before her women the sort of +impatience occasioned by this unseasonable visit, said to Georgette: "You +told M. de Montbron that I was at home?" + +"Yes, Madame." + +"Then beg him to walk in." Though Mdlle. de Cardoville felt at that +moment much vexed at the arrival of Montbron, let us hasten to say, that +she entertained for him an almost filial affection, and a profound +esteem, though, by a not unfrequent contrast, she almost always differed +from him in opinion. Hence arose, when Mdlle. de Cardoville had nothing +to disturb her mind, the most gay and animated discussions, in which M. +de Montbron, notwithstanding his mocking and sceptical humor, his long +experience, his rare knowledge of men and things, his fashionable +training, in a word, had not always the advantage, and even acknowledged +his defeat gayly enough. Thus, to give an idea of the differences of the +count and Adrienne, before, as he would say laughingly, he had made +himself her accomplice, he had always opposed (from other motives than +those alleged by Madame de Saint-Dizier) Adrienne's wish to live alone +and in her own way; whilst Rodin, on the contrary, by investing the young +girl's resolve on this subject with an ideal grandeur of intention, had +acquired a species of influence over her. M. de Montbron, now upwards of +sixty years of age, had been a most prominent character during the +Directory, Consulate, and the Empire. His prodigal style of living, his +wit, his gayety, his duels, his amours, and his losses at play, had given +him a leading influence in the best society of his day; while his +character, his kind-heartedness, and liberality, secured him the lasting +friendship of nearly all his female friends. At the time we now present +him to the reader, he was still a great gambler; and, moreover, a very +lucky gambler. He had, as we have stated, a very lordly style; his +manners were decided, but polished and lively; his habits were such as +belong to the higher classes of society, though he could be excessively +sharp towards people whom he did not like. He was tall and thin, and his +slim figure gave him an almost youthful appearance; his forehead was +high, and a little bald; his hair was gray and short, his countenance +long, his nose aquiline, his eyes blue and piercing, and his teeth white, +and still very good. + +"The Count de Montbron," said Georgette, opening the door. The count +entered, and hastened to kiss Adrienne's hand, with a sort of paternal +familiarity. + +"Come!" said M. de Montbron to himself; "let us try to discover the truth +I am in search of, that we may escape a great misfortune." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CONFESSION. + +Mdlle. de Cardoville, not wishing to betray the cause of the violent +feelings which agitated her, received M. de Montbron with a feigned and +forced gayety. On the other hand, notwithstanding his tact and knowledge +of the world, the count was much embarrassed how to enter upon the +subject on which he wished to confer with Adrienne, and he resolved to +feel his way, before seriously commencing the conversation. After +looking at the young lady for some seconds, M. de Montbron shook his +head, and said, with a sigh of regret: "My dear child, I am not pleased." + +"Some affair of the heart, or of hearts, my dear count?" returned +Adrienne, smiling. + +"Of the heart," said M. de Montbron. + +"What! you, so great a player, think more of a woman's whim than a throw +of the dice?" + +"I have a heavy heart, and you are the cause of it, my dear child." + +"M. de Montbron, you will make me very proud," said Adrienne, with a +smile. + +"You would be wrong, for I tell you plainly, my trouble is caused by your +neglect of your beauty. Yes, your countenance is pale, dejected, +sorrowful; you have been low-spirited for the last few days; you have +something on your mind, I am sure of it." + +"My dear M. de Montbron, you have so much penetration, that you may be +allowed to fall for once, as now. I am not sad, I have nothing on my +mind, and--I am about to utter a very silly piece of impertinence--I have +never thought myself so pretty." + +"On the contrary, nothing could be more modest than such an assertion. +Who told you that falsehood? a woman?" + +"No; it was my heart, and it spoke the truth," answered Adrienne, with a +slight degree of emotion. "Understand it, if you can," she added. + +"Do you mean that you are proud of the alteration in your features, +because you are proud of the sufferings of your heart?" said M. de +Montbron, looking at Adrienne with attention. "Be it so; I am then +right. You have some sorrow. I persist in it," added the count, +speaking with a tone of real feeling, "because it is painful to me." + +"Be satisfied; I am as happy as possible--for every instant I take +delight in repeating, how, at my age, I am free--absolutely free!" + +"Yes; free to torment yourself, free to be miserable." + +"Come, come, my dear count!" said Adrienne, "you are recommencing our old +quarrel. I still find in you the ally of my aunt and the Abbe +d'Aigrigny." + +"Yes; as the republicans are the allies of the legitimists--to destroy +each other in their turn. Talking of your abominable aunt, they say that +she holds a sort of council at her house these last few days, a regular +mitred conspiracy. She is certainly in a good way." + +"Why not? Formerly, she would have wished to be Goddess of Reason, now, +we shall perhaps see her canonized. She has already performed the first +part of the life of Mary Magdalen." + +"You can never speak worse of her than she deserves, my dear child. +Still, though for quite opposite reasons, I agreed with her on the +subject of your wish to reside alone." + +"I know it." + +"Yes; and because I wished to see you a thousand times freer than you +really are, I advised you--" + +"To marry." + +"No doubt; you would have had your dear liberty, with its consequences, +only, instead of Mdlle. de Cardoville, we should have called you Madame +Somebody, having found an excellent husband to be responsible for your +independence." + +"And who would have been responsible for this ridiculous husband? And +who would bear a mocked and degraded name? I, perhaps?" said Adrienne, +with animation. "No, no, my dear count, good or ill, I will answer for +my own actions; to my name shall attach the reputation, which I alone +have formed. I am as incapable of basely dishonoring a name which is not +mine, as of continually bearing it myself, if it were not held in, +esteem. And, as one can only answer for one's own actions, I prefer to +keep my name." + +"You are the only person in the world that has such ideas." + +"Why?" said Adrienne, laughing. "Because it appears to me horrible, to +see a poor girl lost and buried in some ugly and selfish man, and become, +as they say seriously, the better half of the monster--yes! a fresh and +blooming rose to become part of a frightful thistle!--Come, my dear +count; confess there is something odious in this conjugal +metempsychosis," added Adrienne, with a burst of laughter. + +The forced and somewhat feverish gayety of Adrienne contrasted painfully +with her pale and suffering countenance; it was so easy to see that she +strove to stifle with laughter some deep sorrow, that M. de Montbron was +much affected by it; but, dissembling his emotion, he appeared to reflect +a moment, and took up mechanically one of the new, fresh-cut books, by +which Adrienne was surrounded. After casting a careless glance at this +volume, he continued, still dissembling his feelings: "Come, my dear +madcap: this is another folly. Suppose I were twenty years old, and that +you did me the honor to marry me--you would be called Lady de Montbron, I +imagine?" + +"Perhaps." + +"How perhaps? Would you not bear my name, if you married me?" + +"My dear count," said Adrienne, with a smile, "do not let us pursue this +hypothesis, which can only leave us--regrets." + +Suddenly, M. de Montbron started, and looked at Mdlle, de Cardoville with +an expression of surprise. For some moments, whilst talking to Adrienne, +he had mechanically--taken up two or three of the volumes scattered over +the couch, and had glanced at their titles in the same careless manner. +The first was the "Modern History of India." The second, "Travels in +India." The third, "Letters on India." Much surprised, M. de Montbron +had continued his investigation, and found that the fourth volume +continued this Indian nomenclature, being "Rambles in India." The fifth +was, "Recollections of Hindostan." The sixth, "Notes of a Traveller in +the East Indies." + +Hence the astonishment, which, for many serious reasons, M. de Montbron +had no longer been able to conceal, and which his looks betrayed to +Adrienne. The latter, having completely forgotten the presence of the +accusing volumes by which she was surrounded, yielded to a movement of +involuntary confusion, and blushed slightly; but, her firm and resolute +character again coming to her aid, she looked full at M. de Montbron, and +said to him: "Well, my dear count! what surprises you?" + +Instead of answering, M. de Montbron appeared still more absorbed in +thought, and contemplating the young girl, he could not forbear saying to +himself: "No, no--it is impossible--and yet--" + +"It would, perhaps, be indiscreet in me to listen to your soliloquy, my +dear count," said Adrienne. + +"Excuse me, my dear child; but what I see surprises me so much--" + +"And pray what do you see?" + +"The traces of so great and novel an interest in all that relates to +India," said M. de Montbron, laying a slight stress on his words, and +fixing a piercing look upon the young girl. + +"Well!" said Adrienne, stoutly. + +"Well! I seek the cause of this sudden passion--" + +"Geographical?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville, interrupting M. de Montbron: +"you may find this taste somewhat serious for my age my dear count--but +one must find occupation for leisure hours--and then, having a cousin, +who is both an Indian and a prince, I should like to know something of +the fortunate country from which I derive this savage relationship." + +These last words were pronounced with a bitterness that was not lost on +M. de Montbron: watching Adrienne attentively, he observed: "Meseems, you +speak of the prince with some harshness." + +"No; I speak of him with indifference." + +"Yet he deserves a very different feeling." + +"On the part of some other person, perhaps," replied Adrienne, dryly. + +"He is so unhappy!" said M, de Montbron, in a tone of sincere pity. +"When I saw him the other day, he made my heart ache." + +"What have I to do with it?" exclaimed Adrienne, with an accent of +painful and almost angry impatience. + +"I should have thought that his cruel torments at least deserved your +pity," answered the count gravely. + +"Pity--from me!" cried Adrienne, with an air of offended pride. Then +restraining herself, she added coldly: "You are jesting, M. de Montbron. +It is not in sober seriousness that you ask me to take interest in the +amorous torments of your prince." + +There was so much cold disdain in these last words of Adrienne, her pale +and agitated countenance betrayed such haughty bitterness, that M. de +Montbron said, sorrowfully: "It is then true; I have not been deceived. +I, who thought, from our old and constant friendship, that I had some +claim to your confidence have known nothing of it--while you told all to +another. It is painful, very painful to me." + +"I do not understand you, M. de Montbron." + +"Well then, since I must speak plainly," cried the count, "there is, I +see, no hope for this unhappy boy--you love another." + +As Adrienne started--"Oh! you cannot deny it," resumed the count; "your +paleness and melancholy for the last few days, your implacable +indifference to the prince--all prove to me that you are in love." + +Hurt by the manner in which the count spoke of the sentiment he +attributed to her, Mdlle. de Cardoville answered with dignified +stateliness: "You must know, M. de Montbron, that a secret discovered is +not a confidence. Your language surprises me. + +"Oh, my dear friend, if I use the poor privilege of experience--if I +guess that you are in love--if I tell you so, and even go so far as to +reproach you with it--it is because the life or death of this poor prince +is concerned; and I feel for him as if he were my son, for it is +impossible to know him without taking the warmest interest in him." + +"It would be singular," returned Adrienne, with redoubled coldness, and +still more bitter irony, "if my love--admitting I were in love--could +have any such strange influence on Prince Djalma. What can it matter to +him?" added she, with almost agonizing disdain. + +"What can it matter to him? Now really, my dear friend, permit me to +tell you, that it is you who are jesting cruelly. What! this unfortunate +youth loves you with all the blind ardor of a first love--twice has +attempted to terminate by suicide the horrible tortures of his passion-- +and you think it strange that your love for another should be with him a +question of life or death!" + +"He loves me then?" cried the young girl, with an accent impossible to +describe. + +"He loves you to madness, I tell you; I have seen it." + +Adrienne seemed overcome with amazement. From pale, she became crimson; +as the redness disappeared, her lips grew white, and trembled. Her +emotion was so strong, that she remained for some moments unable to +speak, and pressed her hand to her heart, as if to moderate its +pulsations. + +M. de Montbron, almost frightened at the sudden change in Adrienne's +countenance, hastily approached her, exclaiming: "Good heaven, my poor +child! what is the matter?" + +Instead of answering, Adrienne waved her hand to him, in sign that he +should not be alarmed; and, in fact, the count was speedily +tranquillized, for the beautiful face, which had so lately been +contracted with pain, irony, and scorn, seemed now expressive of the +sweetest and most ineffable emotions; Adrienne appeared to luxuriate in +delight, and to fear losing the least particle of it; then, as reflection +told her, that she was, perhaps, the dupe of illusion or falsehood, she +exclaimed suddenly, with anguish, addressing herself to M. de Montbron: +"But is what you tell me true?" + +"What I tell you!" + +"Yes--that Prince Djalma--" + +"Loves you to madness?--Alas! it is only too true." + +"No, no," cried Adrienne, with a charming expression of simplicity; "that +could never be too true." + +"What do you say?" cried the count. + +"But that woman?" asked Adrienne, as if the word scorched her lips. + +"What woman?" + +"She who has been the cause of all these painful struggles." + +"That woman--why, who should it be but you?" + +"What, I? Oh! tell me, was it I?" + +"On my word of honor. I trust my experience. I have never seen so +ardent and sincere a passion." + +"Oh! is it really so? Has he never had any other love?" + +"Never." + +"Yet I was told so." + +"By whom?" + +"M. Rodin." + +"That Djalma--" + +"Had fallen violently in love, two days after I saw him." + +"M. Rodin told you that!" cried M. de Montbron, as if struck with a +sudden idea. "Why, it is he who told Djalma that you were in love with +some one else." + +"I!" + +"And this it was which occasioned the poor youth's dreadful despair." + +"It was this which occasioned my despair." + +"You love him, then, just as he loves you!" exclaimed M. de Montbron, +transported with joy. + +"Love him!" said Mdlle. de Cardoville. A discreet knock at the door +interrupted Adrienne. + +"One of your servants, no doubt. Be calm," said the count. + +"Come in," said Adrienne, in an agitated voice. + +"What is it?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville. Florine entered the room. + +"M. Rodin has just been here. Fearing to disturb mademoiselle, he would +not come in; but he will return in half an hour. Will mademoiselle +receive him?" + +"Yes, yes," said the count to Florine; "even if I am still here, show him +in by all means. Is not that your opinion?" asked M. de Montbron of +Adrienne. + +"Quite so," answered the young girl; and a flash of indignation darted +from her eyes, as she thought of Rodin's perfidy. + +"Oho! the old knave!" said M. de Montbron, "I always had my doubts of +that crooked neck!" Florine withdrew, leaving the count with her +mistress. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +LOVE. + +Mdlle. de Cardoville was transfigured. For the first time her beauty +shone forth in all its lustre. Until now overshadowed by indifference, +or darkened by grief, she appeared suddenly illumined by a brilliant ray +of sunshine. The slight irritation caused by Rodin's perfidy passed like +an imperceptible shade from her brow. What cared she now for falsehood +and perfidy? Had they not failed? And, for the future, what human power +could interpose between her and Djalma, so sure of each other? Who would +dare to cross the path of those two things, resolute and strong with the +irresistible power of youth, love, and liberty? Who would dare to follow +them into that blazing sphere, whither they went, so beautiful and happy, +to blend together in their inextinguishable love, protected by the proof- +armor of their own happiness? Hardly had Florine left the room, when +Adrienne approached M. de Montbron with a rapid step. She seemed to have +become taller; and to watch her advancing, light, radiant, and +triumphant, one might have fancied her a goddess walking upon clouds. + +"When shall I see him?" was her first word to M. de Montbron. + +"Well--say to-morrow; he must be prepared for so much happiness; in so +ardent a nature, such sudden, unexpected joy might be terrible." + +Adrienne remained pensive for a moment, and then said rapidly: "To- +morrow--yes--not before to-morrow. I have a superstition of the heart." + +"What is it?" + +"You shall know. HE LOVES ME--that word says all, contains all, +comprehends all, is all--and yet I have a thousand questions to ask with +regard to him--but I will ask none before to-morrow, because, by a +mysterious fatality, to-morrow is with me a sacred anniversary. It will +be an age till then; but happily, I can wait. Look here!" + +Beckoning M. de Montbron, she led him to the Indian Bacchus. "How much +it is like him!" said she to the count. + +"Indeed," exclaimed the latter, "it is strange!" + +"Strange?" returned Adrienne, with a smile of gentle pride; "strange, +that a hero, a demi-god, an ideal of beauty, should resemble Djalma?" + +"How you love him!" said M. de Montbron, deeply touched, and almost +dazzled by the felicity which beamed from the countenance of Adrienne. + +"I must have suffered a good deal, do you not think so?" said she, after +a moment's silence. + +"If I had not made up my mind to come here to-day, almost in despair, +what would have happened?" + +"I cannot tell; I should perhaps have died, for I am wounded mortally +here"--she pressed her hand to her heart. "But what might have been +death to me, will now be life." + +"It was horrible," said the count, shuddering. "Such a passion, buried +in your own breast, proud as you are--" + +"Yes, proud--but not self-conceited. When I learned his love for +another, and that the impression which I fancied I had made on him at our +first interview had been immediately effaced, I renounced all hope, +without being able to renounce my love. Instead of shunning his image, I +surrounded myself with all that could remind me of him. In default of +happiness, there is a bitter pleasure in suffering through what we love." + +"I can now understand your Indian library." + +Instead of answering the count, Adrienne took from the stand one of the +freshly-cut volumes, and, bringing it to M. de Montbron, said to him, +with a smile and a celestial expression of joy and happiness: "I was +wrong--I am vain. Just read this--aloud, if you please. I tell you that +I can wait for to-morrow." Presenting the book to the count, she pointed +out one passage with the tip of her charming finger. Then she sank down +upon the couch, and, in an attitude of deep attention, with her body bent +forward, her hands crossed upon the cushion, her chin resting upon her +hands, her large eyes fixed with a sort of adoration on the Indian +Bacchus, that was just opposite to her, she appeared by this impassioned +contemplation to prepare herself to listen to M. de Montbron. + +The latter, much astonished, began to read, after again looking at +Adrienne, who said to him, in her most coaxing voice, "Very slowly, I beg +of you." + +M. de Montbron then read the following passage from the journal of a +traveller in India: "'When I was at Bombay, in 1829, I constantly heard +amongst the English there, of a young hero, the son of--'" + +The count having paused a second, by reason of the barbarous spelling of +the name of Djalma's father, Adrienne immediately said to him, in her +soft voice: "The son of Kadja-sing." + +"What a memory!" said the count, with a smile. And he resumed: "'A young +hero, the son of Kadja-sing, king of Mundi. On his return from a distant +and sanguinary expedition amongst the mountains against this Indian king, +Colonel Drake was filled with enthusiasm for this son of Kadja-sing, +known as Djalma. Hardly beyond the age of childhood, this young prince +has in the course of this implacable war given proofs of such chivalrous +intrepidity, and of so noble a character, that his father has been +surnamed the Father of the Generous.'" + +"That is a touching custom," said the count. "To recompense the father, +as it were, by giving him a surname in honor of his son, is a great idea. +But how strange you should have met with this book!" added the count, in +surprise. "I can understand; there is matter here to inflame the coolest +head." + +"Oh! you will see, you will see," said Adrienne. + +The count continued to read: "'Colonel Drake, one of the bravest and best +officers of the English army, said yesterday, in my presence, that having +been dangerously wounded, and taken prisoner by Prince Djalma, after an +energetic resistance, he had been conveyed to the camp established in the +village of--" + +Here there was the same hesitation on the part of the count, on seeing a +still more barbarous name than the first; so, not wishing to try the +adventure, he paused, and said to Adrienne, "Now really, I give this up." + +"And yet it is so easy!" replied Adrienne; and she pronounced with +inexpressible softness, a name in itself soft, "The village of +Shumshabad." + +"You appear to have an infallible process for remembering geographical +names," said the count, continuing: "'Once arrived at the camp, Colonel +Drake received the kindest hospitality, and Prince Djalma treated him +with the respect of a son. It was there that the colonel became +acquainted with some facts, which carried to the highest pitch his +enthusiasm for prince Djalma. I heard him relate the two following. + +"'In one of the battles, the prince was accompanied by a young Indian of +about twelve years of age, whom he loved tenderly, and who served him as +a page, following him on horseback to carry his spare weapons. This +child was idolized by its mother; just as they set out on the expedition, +she had entrusted her son to Prince Djalma's care, saying, with a +stoicism worthy of antiquity, "Let him be your brother." "He shall be my +brother," had replied the prince. In the height of a disastrous defeat, +the child is severely wounded, and his horse killed; the prince, at peril +of his life, notwithstanding the perception of a forced retreat, +disengages him, and places him on the croup of his own horse; they are +pursued; a musket-ball strikes their steed, who is just able to reach a +jungle, in the midst of which, after some vain efforts, he falls +exhausted. The child is unable to walk, but the prince carries him in +his arms, and hides with him in the thickest part of the jungle. The +English arrive, and begin their search; but the two victims escape. +After a night and a day of marches, counter-marches, stratagems, +fatigues, unheard-of perils, the prince, still, carrying the child, one +of whose legs is broken, arrives at his father's camp, and says, with the +utmost simplicity, "I had promised his mother that I would act a +brother's part by him--and I have done so."' + +"That is admirable!" cried the count. + +"Go on--pray go on!" said Adrienne, drying a tear, without removing her +eyes from the bas-relief, which she continued to contemplate with growing +adoration. + +The count continued: "'Another time, Prince Djalma, followed by two black +slaves, went, before sunrise, to a very wild spot, to seize a couple of +tiger cubs only a few days old. The den had been previously discovered. +The two old tigers were still abroad. One of the blacks entered the den +by a narrow aperture; the other, aided by Djalma, cut down a tolerably +large tree, to prepare a trap for one of the old tigers. On the side of +the aperture, the cavern was exceedingly steep. The prince mounted to +the top of it with agility, to set his trap, with the aid of the other +black. Suddenly, a dreadful roar was heard; and, in a few bounds, the +tigress, returning from the chase, reached the opening of the den. The +black who was laying the trap with the prince had his skull fractured by +her bite; the tree, falling across the entrance, prevented the female +from penetrating the cavern, and at the same time stopped the exit of the +black who had seized the cubs. + +"'About twenty feet higher, upon a ledge of rock, the prince lay flat on +the ground, looking down upon this frightful spectacle. The tigress, +rendered furious by the cries of her little ones, gnawed the hands of the +black, who, from the interior of the den, strove to support the trunk of +the tree, his only rampart, whilst he uttered the most lamentable +outcries.' + +"It is horrible!" said the count. + +"Oh! go on! pray go on!" exclaimed Adrienne, with excitement; "you will +see what can be achieved by the heroism of goodness." + +The count pursued: "'Suddenly the prince seized his dagger between his +teeth, fastened his sash to a block of stone, took his axe in one hand, +and with the other slid down this substitute for a rope; falling a few +steps from the wild beast, he sprang upon her, and, swift as lightning, +dealt her two mortal strokes, just as the black, losing his strength, was +about to drop the trunk of the tree, sure to have been torn to pieces.'" + +"And you are astonished at his resemblance with the demi-god, to whom +fable itself ascribes no more generous devotion!" cried the young lady, +with still increasing excitement. + +"I am astonished no longer, I only admire," said the count, in a voice of +emotion; "and, at these two noble instances of heroism, my heart beats +with enthusiasm, as if I were still twenty." + +"And the, noble heart of this traveller beat like yours at the recital," +said Adrienne; "you will see." + +"'What renders so admirable the intrepidity of the prince, is, that, +according to the principle of Indian castes, the life of a slave is of no +importance; thus a king's son, risking his life for the safety of a poor +creature, so generally despised, obeyed an heroic and truly Christian +instinct of charity, until then unheard of in this country." + +"'Two such actions," said Colonel Drake, with good reason, "are +sufficient to paint the man;" it is with a feeling of profound respect +and admiration, therefore, that I, an obscure traveller, have written the +name of Prince Djalma in my book; and at the same time, I have +experienced a kind of sorrow, when I have asked myself what would be the +future fate of this prince, buried in the depths of a savage country, +always devastated by war. However humble may be the homage that I pay to +this character, worthy of the heroic age, his name will at least be +repeated with generous enthusiasm by all those who have hearts that beat +in sympathy with what is great and noble.'" + +"And just now, when I read those simple and touching lines," resumed +Adrienne, I could not forbear pressing my lips to the name of the +traveller." + +"Yes; he is such as I thought him," cried the count, with still more +emotion, as he returned the book to Adrienne, who rose, with a grave and +touching air, and said to him: "It was thus I wished you to know him, +that you might understand my adoration; for this courage, this heroic +goodness, I had guessed beforehand, when I was an involuntary listener to +his conversation. From that moment, I knew him to be generous as +intrepid, tender and sensitive as energetic and resolute; and when I saw +him so marvellously beautiful--so different, in the noble character of +his countenance, and even in the style of his garments, from all I had +hitherto met with--when I saw the impression that I made upon him, and +which I perhaps felt still more violently--I knew that my whole life was +bound up with his love." + +"And now, what are your plans?" + +"Divine, radiant as my heart. When he learns his happiness, I wish that +Djalma should feel dazzled as I do, so as to prevent my gazing on my sun; +for I repeat, that until tomorrow will be a century to me. Yes, it is +strange! I should have thought that after such a discovery, I should +feel the want of being left alone, plunged in an ocean of delicious +dreams. But no! from this time till to-morrow--I dread solitude--I feel +a kind of feverish impatience--uneasy--ardent--Oh! where is the +beneficent fairy, that, touching me with her wand, will lull me into +slumber till to-morrow!" + +"I will be that beneficent fairy," said the count, smiling. + +"You?" + +"Yes, I." + +"And how so?" + +"The power of my wand is this: I will relieve you from a portion of your +thoughts by making them materially visible." + +"Pray explain yourself." + +"And my plan will have another advantage for you. Listen to me; you are +so happy now that you can hear anything. Your odious aunt, and her +equally odious friends, are spreading the report that your residence with +Dr. Baleinier--" + +"Was rendered necessary by the derangement of my mind," said Adrienne, +with a smile; "I expected that." + +"It is stupid enough; but, as your resolution to live alone makes many +envious of you, and many hostile, you must feel that there will be no +want of persons ready to believe the most absurd calumny possible." + +"I hope as much. To pass for mad in the eyes of fools is very +flattering." + +"Yes; but to prove to fools that they are fools, and that in the face of +all Paris, is much more amusing. Now, people begin to talk of your +absence; you have given up your daily rides; for some time my niece has +appeared alone in our box at the Opera; you wish to kill the time till +to-morrow--well! here is an excellent opportunity. It is two o'clock; at +halfpast three, my niece will come in the carriage; the weather is +splendid; there is sure to be a crowd in the Bois de Boulogne. You can +take a delightful ride, and be seen by everybody. Then, as the air and +movement will have calmed your fever of happiness, I will commence my +magic this evening, and take you to India." + +"To India?" + +"Into the midst of one of those wild forests, in which roar the lion, the +panther, and the tiger. We will have this heroic combat, which so moved +you just now, under our own eyes, in all its terrible reality." + +"Really, my dear count, you must be joking." + +"Not at all; I promise to show you real wild beasts, formidable tenants +of the country of our demigod--growling tigers--roaring lions--do you not +think that will be better than books?" + +"But how?" + +"Come! I must give you the secret of my supernatural power. On returning +from your ride, you shall dine with my niece, and we will go together to +a very curious spectacle now exhibiting at the Porte-Saint-Martin +Theatre. A most extraordinary lion-tamer there shows you a number of +wild beasts, in a state of nature, in the midst of a forest (here only +commences the illusion), and has fierce combats with them all--tigers, +lions, and panthers. All Paris is crowding to these representations, and +all Paris will see you there, more charming than ever." + +"I accept your offer," said Adrienne, with childish delight. "Yes, you +are right. I feel a strange pleasure in beholding these ferocious +monsters, who will remind me of those that my demi-god so heroically +overcame. I accept also, because, for the first time in my life, I am +anxious to be admired--even by everybody. I accept finally because--" +Here Mdlle. de Cardoville was interrupted by a low knock at the door, and +by the entrance of Florine, who announced M. Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE EXECUTION. + +Rodin entered. A rapid glance at Mdlle. de Cardoville and M. de Montbron +told him at once that he was in a dilemma. In fact, nothing could be +less encouraging than the faces of Adrienne and the count. The latter, +when he disliked people, exhibited his antipathy, as we have already +said, by an impertinently aggressive manner, which had before now +occasioned a good number of duels. At sight of Rodin, his countenance at +once assumed a harsh and insolent expression; resting his elbow on the +chimney-piece, and conversing with Adrienne, he looked disdainfully over +his shoulder, without taking the least notice of the Jesuit's low bow. +On the other hand, at sight of this man, Mdlle. de Cardoville almost felt +surprise, that she should experience no movement of anger or hatred. The +brilliant flame which burned in her heart, purified it from every +vindictive sentiment. She smiled, on the contrary; for, glancing with +gentle pride at the Indian Bacchus, and then at herself, she asked +herself what two beings, so young, and fair, and free, and loving, could +have to fear from this old, sordid man, with his ignoble and base +countenance, now advancing towards her with the writhing of a reptile. +In a word, far from feeling anger or aversion with regard to Rodin, the +young lady seemed full of the spirit of mocking gayety, and her large +eyes, already lighted up with happiness, now sparkled with irony and +mischief. Rodin felt himself ill at ease. People of his stamp greatly +prefer violent to mocking enemies. They can encounter bursts of rage-- +sometimes by falling on their knees, weeping, groaning, and beating their +breasts--sometimes by turning on their adversary, armed and implacable. +But they are easily disconcerted by biting raillery; and thus it was with +Rodin. He saw that between Adrienne de Cardoville and M. de Montbron, he +was about to be placed in what is vulgarly termed a "regular fix." + +The count opened the fire; still glancing over his shoulder, he said to +Rodin: 'Ah! you are here, my benevolent gentleman!" + +"Pray, sir, draw a little nearer," said Adrienne, with a mocking smile. +"Best of friends and model of philosophers--as well as declared enemy of +all fraud and falsehood--I have to pay you a thousand compliments." + +"I accent anything from you, my dear young lady, even though undeserved," +said the Jesuit, trying to smile, and thus exposing his vile yellow +teeth; "but may I be informed how I have earned these compliments?" + +"Your penetration, sir, which is rare--" replied Adrienne. + +"And your veracity, sir," said the count, "which is perhaps no less rare--" + +"In what have I exhibited my penetration, my dear young lady?" said +Rodin, coldly. "In what my veracity?" added he, turning towards M. de +Montbron. + +"In what, sir?" said Adrienne. "Why, you have guessed a secret +surrounded by difficulties and mystery. In a word, you have known how to +read the depths of a woman's heart." + +"I, my dear young lady?" + +"You, sir! rejoice at it, for your penetration has had the most fortunate +results." + +"And your veracity has worked wonders," added the count. + +"It is pleasant to do good, even without knowing it," said Rodin, still +acting on the defensive, and throwing side glances by turns on the count +and Adrienne; "but will you inform me what it is that deserves this +praise--" + +"Gratitude obliges me to inform you of it," said Adrienne, maliciously; +"you have discovered, and told Prince Djalma, that I was passionately in +love. Well! I admire your penetration; it was true." + +"You have also discovered, and told this lady, that Prince Djalma was +passionately in love," resumed the count. "Well! I admire your +penetration, my dear sir; it was true." + +Rodin looked confused, and at a loss for a reply. + +"The person that I loved so passionately," said Adrienne, "was the +prince." + +"The person that the prince loved so passionately," resumed the count, +"was this lady." + +These revelations, so sudden and alarming, almost stunned Rodin; he +remained mute and terrified, thinking of the future. + +"Do you understand now, sir, the extent of our gratitude towards you?" +resumed Adrienne, in a still more mocking tone. "Thanks to your +sagacity, thanks to the touching interest you take in us, the prince and +I are indebted to you for the knowledge of our mutual sentiments." + +The Jesuit had now gradually recovered his presence of mind, and his +apparent calmness greatly irritated M. de Montbron, who, but for +Adrienne's presence, would have assumed another tone than jests. + +"There is some mistake," said Rodin, "in what you have done me the honor +to tell me, my dear young lady. I have never in my life spoken of the +sentiments, however worthy and respectable, that you may entertain for +Prince Djalma--" + +"That is true," replied Adrienne; "with scrupulous and exquisite +discretion, whenever you spoke to me of the deep love felt by Prince +Djalma, you carried your reserve and delicacy so far as to inform me that +it was not I whom he loved." + +"And the same scruple induced you to tell the prince that Mdlle. de +Cardoville loved some one passionately--but that he was not the person," +added the count. + +"Sir," answered Rodin, dryly, "I need hardly tell you that I have no +desire to mix myself up with amorous intrigues." + +"Come! this is either pride or modesty," said the count, insolently. +"For your own interest, pray do not advance such things; for, if we took +you at your word, and it became known, it might injure some of the nice +little trades that you carry on." + +"There is one at least," said Rodin, drawing himself up as proudly as +M. de Montbron, "whose rude apprenticeship I shall owe to you. It is the +wearisome one of listening to your discourse." + +"I tell you what, my good sir!" replied the count, disdainfully: "you +force me to remind you that there are more ways than one of chastising +impudent rogues." + +"My dear count!" said Adrienne to M. de Montbron, with an air of +reproach. + +With perfect coolness, Rodin replied: "I do not exactly see, sir, first, +what courage is shown by threatening a poor old man like myself, and, +secondly--" + +"M. Rodin," said the count, interrupting the Jesuit, "first, a poor old +man like you, who does evil under the shelter of the age he dishonors, +is both cowardly and wicked, and deserves a double chastisement; +secondly, with regard to this question of age, I am not aware that +gamekeepers and policemen bow down respectfully to the gray coats of old +wolves, and the gray hairs of old thieves. What do you think, my good +sir?" + +Still impassible, Rodin raised his flabby eyelids, fixed for hardly a +second his little reptile eye upon the count, and darted at him one of +his rapid, cold, and piercing glances--and then the livid eyelid again +covered the dull eye of that corpse-like face. + +"Not having the disadvantage of being an old wolf, and still less an old +thief," said Rodin, quietly, "you will permit me, sir, to take no account +of the pursuit of hunters and police. As for the reproaches made me, I +have a very simple method of answering--I do not say of justifying +myself--I never justify myself--" + +"You don't say!" said the count. + +"Never," resumed Rodin coolly; "my acts are sufficient for that. I will +then simply answer that seeing the deep, violent, almost fearful +impression made by this lady on the prince--" + +"Let this assurance which you give me of the prince's love," said +Adrienne interrupting Rodin with an enchanting smile, "absolve you of all +the evil you wished to do me. The sight of our happiness be your only +punishment!" + +"It may be that I need neither absolution nor punishment, for, as I have +already had the honor to observe to the count, my dear young lady, the +future will justify my acts. Yes; it was my duty to tell the prince that +you loved another than himself, and to tell you that he loved another +than yourself--all in your mutual interest. That my attachment for you +may have misled me, is possible--I am not infallible; but, after my past +conduct towards you, my dear young lady, I have, perhaps, some right to +be astonished at seeing myself thus treated. This is not a complaint. +If I never justify myself, I never complain either." + +"Now really, there is something heroic in all this, my good sir," said +the count. "You do not condescend to complain or justify yourself, with +regard to the evil you have done." + +"The evil I have done?" said Rodin, looking fixedly at the count. "Are +we playing at enigmas?" + +"What, sir!" cried the count, with indignation: "is it nothing, by your +falsehoods, to have plunged the prince into so frightful a state of +despair, that he has twice attempted his life? Is it nothing, by similar +falsehoods, to have induced this lady to believe so cruel and complete an +error, that but for the resolution I have to-day taken, it might have led +to the most fatal consequences?" + +"And will you do me the honor to tell me, sir, what interest I could have +in all this despair and error, admitting even that I had wished to +produce them?" + +"Some great interest no doubt," said the count, bluntly; "the more +dangerous that it is concealed. You are one of those, I see, to whom the +woes of others are pleasure and profit." + +"That is really too much, sir," said Rodin, bowing; "I should be quite +contented with the profit." + +"Your impudent coolness will not deceive me; this is a serious matter," +said the count. "It is impossible that so perfidious a piece of roguery +can be an isolated act. Who knows but this may still be one of the +fruits of Madame de Saint-Dizier's hatred for Mdlle. de Cardoville?" + +Adrienne had listened to the preceding discussion with deep attention. +Suddenly she started, as if struck by a sudden revelation. + +After a moment's silence, she said to Rodin, without anger, without +bitterness, but with an expression of gentle and serene calmness: "We are +told, sir, that happy love works miracles. I should be tempted to +believe it; for, after some minutes' reflection, and when I recall +certain circumstances, your conduct appears to me in quite a new light." + +"And what may this new perspective be, my dear young lady?" + +"That you may see it from my point of view, sir, allow me to remind you +of a few facts. That sewing-girl was generously devoted to me; she had +given me unquestionable proofs of her attachment. Her mind was equal to +her noble heart; but she had an invincible dislike to you. All on a +sudden she disappears mysteriously from my house, and you do your best to +cast upon her odious suspicions. M. de Montbron has a paternal affection +for me; but, as I must confess, little sympathy for you; and you have +always tried to produce a coldness between us. Finally, Prince Djalma +has a deep affection for me, and you employ the most perfidious treachery +to kill that sentiment within him. For what end do you act thus? I do +not know; but certainly with some hostile design." + +"It appears to me, madame," said Rodin, severely, "that you have +forgotten services performed." + +"I do not deny, sir, that you took me from the house of Dr. Baleinier; +but, a few days sooner or later, I must infallibly have been released by +M. de Montbron." + +"You are right, my dear child," said the count; "it may be that your +enemies wished to claim the merit of what must necessarily have happened +through the exertions of your friends." + +"You are drowning, and I save you--it is all a mistake to feel grateful," +said Rodin, bitterly; "some one else would no doubt have saved you a +little later." + +"The comparison is wanting in exactness," said Adrienne, with a smile; "a +lunatic asylum is not a river, and though, from what I see, I think you +quite capable of diving, you have had no occasion to swim on this +occasion. You merely opened a door for me, which would have opened of +itself a little later." + +"Very good, my dear child!" said the count, laughing heartily at +Adrienne's reply. + +"I know, sir, that your care did not extend to me only. The daughters of +Marshal Simon were brought back by you; but we may imagine that the claim +of the Duke de Ligny to the possession of his daughters would not have +been in vain. You returned to an old soldier his imperial cross, which +he held to be a sacred relic; it is a very touching incident. Finally, +you unmasked the Abbe d'Aigrigny and Dr. Baleinier: but I had already +made up my mind to unmask then. However, all this proves that you are a +very clever man--" + +"Oh, madame!" said Rodin, humbly. + +"Full of resources and invention--" + +"Oh, madame!" + +"It is not my fault if, in our long interview at Dr. Baleinier's, you +betrayed that superiority of mind which struck me so forcibly, and which +seems to embarrass you so much at present. What would you have, sir?-- +great minds like yours find it difficult to maintain their incognito. +Yet, as by different ways--oh! very different," added the young lady, +maliciously, "we are tending to the same end (still keeping in view our +conversation at Dr. Baleinier's), I wish, for the sake of our future +communion, as you call it, to give you a piece of advice, and speak +frankly to you." + +Rodin had listened to Mdlle. de Cardoville with apparent impassibility, +holding his hat under his arm, and twirling his thumbs, whilst his hands +were crossed upon his waistcoat. The only external mark of the intense +agitation into which he was thrown by the calm words of Adrienne, was +that the livid eyelids of the Jesuit, which had been hypocritically +closed, became gradually red, as the blood flowed into them. +Nevertheless, he answered Mdlle. de Cardoville in a firm voice, and with +a low bow: "Good advice and frankness are always excellent things." + +"You see, sir," resumed Adrienne, with some excitement, "happy love +bestows such penetration, such energy, such courage, as enables one to +laugh at perils, to detect stratagems, and to defy hatred. Believe me, +the divine light which surrounds two loving hearts will be sufficient to +disperse all darkness, and reveal every snare. You see, in India--excuse +my weakness, but I like to talk of India," added the young girl, with a +smile of indescribable grace and meaning--"in India, when travellers +sleep at night, they kindle great fires round their ajoupa (excuse this +touch of local coloring), and far as extends the luminous circle, it puts +to flight by its mere brilliancy, all the impure and venomous reptiles +that shun the day and live only in darkness." + +"The meaning of this comparison has quite escaped me," said Rodin, +continuing to twirl his thumbs, and half raising his eyelids, which were +getting redder and redder. + +"I will speak more plainly," said Adrienne, with a smile. "Suppose, sir, +that the last is a service which you have rendered me and the prince--for +you only proceed by way of services--that, I acknowledge, is novel and +ingenious." + +"Bravo, my dear child!" said the count, joyfully. "The execution will be +complete." + +"Oh! this is meant for an execution?" said Rodin, still impassible. + +"No, sir," answered Adrienne, with a smile; "it is a simple conversation +between a poor young girl and an old philosopher, the friend of humanity. +Suppose, then, that these frequent services that you have rendered to me +and mine have suddenly opened my eyes; or, rather," added the young girl, +in a serious tone, "suppose that heaven, who gives to the mother the +instinct to defend her child, has given me, along with happiness, the +instinct to preserve my happiness, and that a vague presentiment, by +throwing light on a thousand circumstances until now obscure, has +suddenly revealed to me that, instead of being the friend, you are +perhaps, the most dangerous enemy of myself and family." + +"So we pass from the execution to suppositions," said Rodin, still +immovable. + +"And from suppositions, sir, if you must have it, to certainty," resumed +Adrienne, with dignified firmness; "yes, now I believe that I was for +awhile your dupe, and I tell you, without hate, without anger, but with +regret--that it is painful to see a man of your sense and intelligence +stoop to such machinations, and, after having recourse to so many +diabolical manoeuvres, finish at last by being ridiculous; for, believe +me, there is nothing more ridiculous for a man like you, than to be +vanquished by a young girl, who has no weapon, no defence, no instructor, +but her love. In a word, sir, I look upon you from to-day as an +implacable and dangerous enemy; for I half perceive your aim, without +guessing by what means you will seek to accomplish it, No doubt your +future means will be worthy of the past. Well! in spite of all this, I +do not fear you. From tomorrow, my family will be informed of +everything, and an active, intelligent, resolute union will keep us all +upon our guard, for it doubtless concerns this enormous inheritance, of +which they wish to deprive us. Now, what connection can there be between +the wrongs I reproach you with and the pecuniary end proposed? I do not +at all know--but you have told me yourself that our enemies are so +dangerously skillful, and their craft so far-reaching, that we must +expect all, be prepared for all. I will remember the lesson. I have +promised you frankness, sir, and now I suppose you have it." + +"It would be an imprudent frankness if I were your enemy," said Rodin, +still impassible; "but you also promised me some advice, my dear young +lady." + +"My advice will be short; do not attempt to continue the struggle, +because, you see, there is something stronger than you and yours--it is a +woman's resolve, defending her happiness." + +Adrienne pronounced these last words with so sovereign a confidence; her +beautiful countenance shone, as is it were, with such intrepid joy, that +Rodin, notwithstanding his phlegmatic audacity, was for a moment +frightened. Yet he did not appear in the least disconcerted; and, after +a moment's silence, he resumed, with an air of almost contemptuous +compassion: "My dear young lady, we may perhaps never meet again; it is +probable. Only remember one thing, which I now repeat to you: I never +justify myself. The future will provide for that. Notwithstanding +which, my dear young lady, I am your humble servant;" and he made her a +low bow. + +"Count, I beg to salute you most respectfully," he added, bowing still +more humbly to M. de Montbron; and he went out. + +Hardly had Rodin left the room than Adrienne ran to her desk, and writing +a few hasty lines, sealed the note, and said to M. de Montbron: "I shall +not see the prince before to-morrow--as much from superstition of the +heart as because it is necessary for my plans that this interview should +be attended with some little solemnity. You shall know all; but I write +to him on the instant, for, with an enemy like M. Rodin, one must be +prepared for all." + +"You are right, my dear child; quick! the letter." Adrienne gave it to +him. + +"I tell him enough," said she, "to calm his grief; and not enough to +deprive me of the delicious happiness of the surprise I reserve for to- +morrow." + +"All this has as much sense as heart in it: I will hasten to the prince's +abode, to deliver your letter. I shall not see him, for I could not +answer for myself. But come! our proposed drive, our evening's +amusement, are still to hold good." + +"Certainly. I have more need than ever to divert my thoughts till to- +morrow. I feel, too, that the fresh air will do me good, for this +interview with M. Rodin has warmed me a little." + +"The old wretch! but we will talk further of him. I will hasten to the +prince's and return with Madame de Morinval, to fetch you to the Champs- +Elysees." + +The Count de Montbron withdrew precipitately, as joyful at his departure +as he had been sad on his arrival. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES + +It was about two hours after the interview of Rodin with Mdlle. de +Cardoville. Numerous loungers, attracted to the Champs-Elysees by the +serenity of a fine spring day (it was towards the end of the month of +March) stopped to admire a very handsome equipage. A bright-blue open +carriage, with white-and-blue wheels, drawn by four superb horses, of +cream color, with black manes, and harness glittering with silver +ornaments, mounted by two boy postilions of equal size, with black velvet +caps, light-blue cassimere jackets with white collars, buckskin breeches, +and top-boots; two tall, powdered footmen, also in light-blue livery, +with white collars and facings, being seated in the rumble behind. + +No equipage could have been turned out in better style. The horses, full +of blood, spirit, and vigor, were skillfully managed by the postilions, +and stepped with singular regularity, gracefully keeping time in their +movements, champing their bits covered with foam, and ever and anon +shaking their cockades of blue and white silk, with long floating ends, +and a bright rose blooming in the midst. + +A man on horseback, dressed with elegant simplicity, keeping at the other +side of the avenue, contemplated with proud satisfaction this equipage +which he had, as it were, created. It was M. de Bonneville--Adrienne's +equerry, as M. de Montbron called him--for the carriage belonged to that +young lady. A change had taken place in the plan for this magic day's +amusement. M. de Montbron had not been able to deliver Mdlle. de +Cardoville's note to Prince Djalma. Faringhea had told him that the +prince had gone that morning into the country with Marshal Simon, and +would not be back before evening. The letter should be given him on his +arrival. Completely satisfied as to Djalma, knowing that he could find +these few lines, which, without informing him of the happiness that +awaited him, would at least give him some idea of it, Adrienne had +followed the advice of M. de Montbron, and gone to the drive in her own +carriage, to show all the world that she had quite made up her mind, in +spite of the perfidious reports circulated by the Princess de Saint- +Dizier, to keep to her resolution of living by herself in her own way. +Adrienne wore a small white bonnet, with a fall of blonde, which well +became her rosy face and golden hair; her high dress of garnet-colored +velvet was almost hidden beneath a large green cashmere shawl. The young +Marchioness de Morinval, who was also very pretty and elegant, was seated +at her right. M. de Montbron occupied the front seat of the carriage. + +Those who know the Parisian world, or rather, that imperceptible fraction +of the world of Paris which goes every fine, sunny day to the Champs- +Elysees, to see and be seen, will understand that the presence of Mdlle. +de Cardoville on that brilliant promenade was an extraordinary and +interesting event. + +The world (as it is called) could hardly believe its eyes, on seeing this +lady of eighteen, possessed of princely wealth, and belonging to the +highest nobility, thus prove to every one, by this appearance in public, +that she was living completely free and independent, contrary to all +custom and received notions of propriety. This kind of emancipation +appeared something monstrous, and people were almost astonished that the +graceful and dignified bearing of the young lady should belie so +completely the calumnies circulated by Madame de Saint-Dizier and her +friends, with regard to the pretended madness of her niece. Many beaux, +profiting by their acquaintance with the Marchioness de Morinval or M. de +Montbron, came by turns to pay their respects, and rode for a few minutes +by the side of the carriage, so as to have an opportunity of seeing, +admiring, and perhaps hearing, Mdlle. de Cardoville; she surpassed their +expectations, by talking with her usual grace and spirit. Then surprise +and enthusiasm knew no bounds. What had at first been blamed as an +almost insane caprice, was now voted a charming originality, and it only +depended on Mdlle. de Cardoville herself, to be declared from that day +the queen of elegance and fashion. The young lady understood very well +the impression she had made; she felt proud and happy, for she thought of +Djalma; when she compared him to all these men of fashion, her happiness +was the more increased. And, verily, these young men, most of whom had +never quitted Paris, or had ventured at most as far as Naples or Baden, +looked insignificant enough by the side of Djalma, who, at his age, had +so many times commanded and combated in bloody wars, and whose reputation +far courage and generosity, mentioned by travellers with admiration, had +already reached from India to Paris. And then, how could these charming +exquisites, with their small hats, their scanty frock-coats, and their +huge cravats, compare with the Indian prince, whose graceful and manly +beauty was still heightened by the splendor of a costume, at once so rich +and so picturesque? + +On this happy day, all was joy and love for Adrienne. The sun, setting +in a splendidly serene sky, flooded the promenade with its golden light. +The air was warm. Carriages and horsemen passed and repassed in rapid +succession; a light breeze played with the scarfs of the women, and the +plumes in their bonnets; all around was noise, movement, sunshine. +Adrienne, leaning back in her carriage, amused herself with watching this +busy scene, sparkling with Parisian luxury; but, in the vortex of this +brilliant chaos, she saw in thought the mild, melancholy countenance of +Djalma--when suddenly something fell into her lap, and she started. It +was a bunch of half-faded violets. At the same instant she heard a +child's voice following the carriage, and saying: "For the love of +heaven, my good lady, one little sou!" Adrienne turned her head, and saw +a poor little girl, pale and wan, with mild, sorrowful features, scarcely +covered with rags, holding out her hand, and raising her eyes in +supplication. Though the striking contrast of extreme misery, side by +side with extreme luxury, is so common, that it no longer excites +attention, Adrienne was deeply affected by it. She thought of Mother +Bunch, now, perhaps, the victim of frightful destitution. + +"Ah! at least," thought the young lady, "let not this day be one of +happiness for me alone!" + +She leaned from the carriage-window, and said to the poor child: "Have +you a mother, my dear?" + +"No, my lady, I have neither father nor mother." + +"Who takes care of you?" + +"No one, my lady. They give me nosegays to sell, and I must bring home +money--or they beat me." + +"Poor little thing!" + +"A sou, my good lady--a sou, for the love of heaven!" said the child, +continuing to follow the carriage, which was then moving slowly. + +"My dear count," said Adrienne, smiling, and addressing M. de Montbron, +"you are, unfortunately, no novice at an elopement. Please to stretch +forth your arms, take up that child with both hands, and lift her into +the carriage. We can hide her between Lady de Morinval and myself; and +we can drive away before any one perceives this audacious abduction." + +"What!" said the count, in surprise. "You wish--" + +"Yes; I beg you to do it." + +"What a folly!" + +"Yesterday, you might, perhaps, have treated this caprice as a folly; but +to-day," said Adrienne, laying great stress upon the word, and glancing +at M. de Montbron with a significant air, "to-day, you should understand +that it is almost a duty." + +"Yes, I understand you, good and noble heart!" said the count, with +emotion; while Lady de Morinval, who knew nothing of Mdlle. de +Cardoville's love for Djalma, looked with as much surprise as curiosity +at the count and the young lady. + +M. de Montbron, leaning from the carriage, stretched out his arms towards +the child, and said to her: "Give me your hands, little girl." + +Though much astonished, the child obeyed mechanically, and held out both +her little arms; then the count took her by the wrists, and lifted her +lightly from the ground, which he did the more easily, as the carnage was +very low, and its progress by no means rapid. More stupefied than +frightened, the child said not a word. Adrienne and Lady de Morinval +made room for her to crouch down between them, and the little girl was +soon hidden beneath the shawls of the two young women. All this was +executed so quickly, that it was hardly perceived by a few persons +passing in the side-avenues. + +"Now, my dear count," said Adrienne, radiant with pleasure, "let us make +off at once with our prey." + +M. de Montbron half rose, and called to the postilions. "Home!" and the +four horses started at once into a rapid and regular trot. + +"This day of happiness now seems consecrated, and my luxury is excused," +thought Adrienne; "till I can again meet with that poor Mother Bunch, and +from this day I will make every exertion to find her out, her place will +at least not be quite empty." + +There are often strange coincidences in life. At the moment when this +thought of the hunchback crossed the mind of Adrienne, a crowd had +collected in one of the side-avenues, and other persons soon ran to join +the group. + +"Look, uncle!" said Lady de Morinval; "how many people are assembled +yonder. What can it be? Shall we stop, and send to inquire?" + +"I am sorry, my dear, but your curiosity cannot be satisfied," said the +count, drawing out his watch; "it will soon be six o'clock, and the +exhibition of the wild beasts begin at eight. We shall only just have +time to go home and dine. Is not that your opinion, my dear child?" said +he to Adrienne. + +"And yours, Julia?" said Mdlle. de Cardoville to the marchioness. + +"Oh, certainly!" answered her friend. + +"I am the less inclined to delay," resumed the count, "as when I have +taken you to the Porte-Saint-Martin, I shall be obliged to go for half- +an-hour to my club, to ballot for Lord Campbell, whom I propose." + +"Then, Adrienne and I will be left alone at the play, uncle?" + +"Your husband will go with you, I suppose." + +"True, dear uncle; but do not quite leave us, because of that." + +"Be sure I shall not: for I am curious as you are to see these terrible +animals, and the famous Morok, the incomparable lion-tamer." + +A few minutes after, Mdlle. de Cardoville's carriage had left the Champs- +Elysees, carrying with it the little girl, and directing its course +towards the Rue d'Anjou. As the brilliant equipage disappeared from the +scene, the crowd, of which we before have spoken, greatly increased about +one of the large trees in the Champs-Elysees, and expressions of pity +were heard here and there amongst the groups. A lounger approached a +young man on the skirts of the crowd, and said to him: "What is the +matter, sir?" + +"I hear it is a poor young girl, a hunchback, that has fallen from +exhaustion." + +"A hunchback! is that all? There will always be enough hunchbacks," said +the lounger, brutally, with a coarse laugh. + +"Hunchback or not, if she dies of hunger," answered the young man, +scarcely able to restrain his indignation, "it will be no less sad--and +there is really nothing to laugh at, sir." + +"Die of hunger! pooh!" said the lounger, shrugging his shoulders. "It is +only lazy scoundrels, that will not work, who die of hunger. And it +serves them right." + +"I wager, sir, there is one death you will never die of," cried the young +man, incensed at the cruel insolence of the lounger. + +"What do you mean?" answered the other, haughtily. + +"I mean, sir, that your heart is not likely to kill you." + +"Sir!" cried the lounger in an angry tone. + +"Well! what, sir?" replied the young man, looking full in his face. + +"Nothing," said the lounger, turning abruptly on his heel, and grumbling +as he sauntered towards an orange-colored cabriolet, on which was +emblazoned an enormous coat-of-arms, surmounted by a baron's crest. A +servant in green livery, ridiculously laced with gold, was standing +beside the horse, and did not perceive his master. + +"Are you catching flies, fool?" said the latter, pushing him with his +cane. The servant turned round in confusion. "Sir," said he. + +"Will you never learn to call me Monsieur le Baron, rascal?" cried his +master, in a rage--"Open the door directly!" + +The lounger was Baron Tripeaud, the manufacturing baron the stock-jobber. +The poor hunchback was Mother Bunch, who had, indeed fallen with hunger +and fatigue, whilst on her way to Mdlle. de Cardoville's. The +unfortunate creature had found courage to brave the shame of the ridicule +she so much feared, by returning to that house from which she was a +voluntary exile; but this time, it was not for herself, but for her +sister Cephyse--the Bacchanal Queen, who had returned to Paris the +previous day, and whom Mother Bunch now sought, through the means of +Adrienne, to rescue from a most dreadful fate. + +Two hours after these different scenes, an enormous crowd pressed round +the doors of the Porte-Saint-Martin, to witness the exercises of Morok, +who was about to perform a mock combat with the famous black panther of +Java, named Death. Adrienne, accompanied by Lord and Lady de Morinval, +now stepped from a carriage at the entrance of the theatre. They were to +be joined in the course of the evening by M. de Montbron, whom they had +dropped, in passing, at his club. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +BEHIND THE SCENES. + +The large theatre of the Porte-Saint-Martin was crowded by an impatient +multitude. All Paris had hurried with eager and burning curiosity to +Morok's exhibition. It is quite unnecessary to say that the lion-tamer +had completely abandoned his small taste in religious baubles, which he +had so successfully carried on at the White Falcon Inn at Leipsic. There +were, moreover, numerous tokens by which the surprising effects of +Morok's sudden conversion had been blazoned in the most extraordinary +pictures: the antiquated baubles in which he had formerly dealt would +have found no sale in Paris. Morok had nearly finished dressing himself, +in one of the actor's rooms, which had been lent to him. Over a coat of +mail, with cuishes and brassarts, he wore an ample pair of red trousers, +fastened round his ankles by broad rings of gilt brass. His long caftan +of black cloth, embroidered with scarlet and gold, was bound round his +waist and wrist by other large rings of gilt metal. This sombre costume +imparted to him an aspect still more ferocious. His thick and red-haired +beard fell in large quantities down to his chest, and a long piece of +white muslin was folded round his red head. A devout missionary in +Germany and an actor in Paris, Morok knew as well as his employers, the +Jesuits, how to accommodate himself to circumstances. + +Seated in one corner of the room, and contemplating with a sort of stupid +admiration, was Jacques Rennepont, better known as "Sleepinbuff" (from +the likelihood that he would end his days in rags, or his present +antipathy to great care in dress). Since the day Hardy's factory had +been destroyed by fire, Jacques had not quitted Morok, passing the nights +in excesses, which had no baneful effects on the iron constitution of the +lion-tamer. On the other's features, on the contrary, a great alteration +was perceptible; his hollow cheeks, marble pallor, his eyes, by turns +dull and heavy, or gleaming with lurid fire, betrayed the ravages of +debauchery, his parched lips were almost constantly curled by a bitter +and sardonic smile. His spirit, once gay and sanguine, still struggled +against the besotting influence of habitual intoxication. Unfitted for +labor, no longer able to forego gross pleasures, Jacques sought to drown +in wine a few virtuous impulses which he still possessed, and had sunk so +low as to accept without shame the large dole of sensual gratification +proffered him by Morok, who paid all the expenses of their orgies, but +never gave him money, in order that he might be completely dependent on +him. After gazing at Morok for some time in amazement, Jacques said to +him, in a familiar tone: "Well, yours is a famous trade; you may boast +that, at this moment, there are not two men like you in the whole world +That's flattering. It's a pity you don't stick to this fine trade." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, how is the conspiracy going on, in whose honor you make me keep it +up all day and all night?" + +"It is working, but the time is not yet come; that is why I wish to have +you always at hand, till the great day. Do you complain?" + +"Hang it, no!" said Jacques. "What could I do? Burnt up with brandy as +I am, if I wanted to work, I've no longer the strength to do so. I have +not, like you, a head of marble, and a body of iron; but as for fuddling +myself with gunpowder, instead of anything else, that'll do for me; I'm +only fit for that work now--and then, it will drive away thought." + +"Oh what kind?" + +"You know that when I do think, I think only of one thing," said Jacques, +gloomily. + +"The Bacchanal queen?--still?" said Morok, in a disdainful tone. + +"Still! rather: when I shall think of her no longer, I shall be dead--or +stupefied. Fiend!" + +"You were never better or more intelligent, you fool!" replied Morok, +fastening his turban. The conversation was here interrupted. Morok's +aider entered hastily. + +The gigantic form of this Hercules had increased in width. He was +habited like Alcides; his enormous limbs, furrowed with veins as thick as +whipcord, were covered with a close-fitting flesh-colored garment, to +which a pair of red drawers formed a strong contrast. + +"Why do you rush in like a storm, Goliath?" said Morok. + +"There's a pretty storm in the house; they are beginning to get +impatient, and are calling out like madmen. But if that were all!" + +"Well, what else?" + +"Death will not be able to play this evening." + +Morok turned quickly around. He seemed uneasy. "Why so?" he exclaimed. + +"I have just seen her! she's crouching at the bottom of her cage; her +ears lie so close to her head, she looks as if they had been cut off. +You know what that means." + +"Is that all?" said Morok, turning to the glass to complete his head- +dress. + +"It's quite enough; she's in one of her tearing fits. Since that night +in Germany, when she ripped up that old hack of a white horse, I've not +seen her look so savage! her eyes shine like burning candles." + +"Then she must have her fine collar on," said Morok, quietly. + +"Her fine collar?" + +"Yes; her spring-collar." + +"And I must be lady's-maid," said the giant. "A nice toilet to attend +to!" + +"Hold your tongue!" + +"That's not all--" continued Goliath, hesitating. + +"What more?" + +"I might as well tell you at once." + +"Will you speak?" + +"Well! he is here." + +"Who, you stupid brute?" + +"The Englishman!" + +Morok started; his arms fell powerless by his side. Jacques was struck +with the lion-tamer's paleness and troubled countenance. + +"The Englishman!--you have seen him?" cried Morok, addressing Goliath. +"You are quite sure?" + +"Quite sure. I was looking through the peep-hole in the curtain; I saw +him in one of the stage-boxes--he wishes to see things close; he's easy +to recognize, with his pointed forehead, big nose, and goggle eyes." + +Morok shuddered again; usually fierce and unmoved, he appeared to be more +and more agitated, and so alarmed, that Jacques said to him: "Who is this +Englishman?" + +"He has followed me from Strasburg, where he fell in with me," said +Morok, with visible dejection. "He travelled with his own horses, by +short stages, as I did; stopping where I stopped, so as never to miss one +of my exhibitions. But two days before I arrived at Paris, he left me--I +thought I was rid of him," said Morok, with a sigh. + +"Rid of him!--how you talk!" replied Jacques, surprised; "such a good +customer, such an admirer!" + +"Aye!" said Morok, becoming more and more agitated; "this wretch has +wagered an enormous sum, that I will be devoured in his presence, during +one of my performances: he hopes to win his wager--that is why he +follows me about." + +Sleepinbuff found the John Bull's idea so amusingly eccentric, that, for +the first time since a very long period, he burst into a peal of hearty +laughter. Morok, pale with rage, rushed towards him with so menacing an +air, that Goliath was obliged to interpose. + +"Come, come," said Jacques, "don't be angry; if it is serious, I will not +laugh any more." + +Morok was appeased, and said to Sleepinbuff in a hoarse voice: "Do you +think me a coward?" + +"No, by heaven!" + +"Well! And yet this Englishman, with his grotesque face, frightens me +more than any tiger or my panther!" + +"You say so, and I believe it," replied Jacques; "but I cannot understand +why the presence of this man should alarm you." + +"But consider, you dull knave!" cried Morok, "that, obliged to watch +incessantly the least movement of the ferocious beast, whom I keep in +subjection by my action and my looks, there is something terrible in +knowing that two eyes are there--always there--fixed--waiting till the +least absence of mind shall expose me to be torn in pieces by the +animals." + +"Now, I understand," said Jacques, shuddering in his turn. "It is +terrible." + +"Yes; for once there, though I may not see this cursed Englishman, I +fancy I have his two round eyes, fixed and wide open, always before me. +My tiger Cain once nearly mutilated my arm, when my attention was drawn +away by this Englishman, whom the devil take! Blood and thunder!" cried +Morok: "this man will be fatal to me." And Morok paced the room in great +agitation. + +"Besides, Death lays her ears close to her skull," said Goliath, +brutally. "If you persist--mind, I tell you--the Englishman will win his +wager this evening." + +"Go away, you brute!--don't vex my head with your confounded +predictions," cried Morok: "go and prepare Death's collar." + +"Well, every one to his taste; you wish the panther to taste you," said +the giant, stalking heavily away, after this joke. + +"But if you feel these fears," said Jacques, "why do you not say that the +panther is ill?" + +Morok shrugged his shoulders, and replied with a sort of feverish +ferocity, "Have you ever heard of the fierce pleasure of the gamester, +who stakes his honor, his life, upon a card? Well! I too--in these +daily exhibitions where my life is at stake--find a wild, fierce pleasure +in braving death, before a crowded assembly, shuddering and terrified at +my audacity. Yes, even in the fear with which this Englishman inspires +me, I find, in spite of myself, a terrible excitement, which I abhor, and +which yet subjugates me." + +At this moment, the stage-manager entered the room, and interrupted the +beast-tamer. "May we give the signal, M. Morok?" said the stage-manager. +"The overture will not last above ten minutes." + +"I am ready," said Morok. + +"The police-inspector has just now given orders, that the double chain of +the panther, and the iron ring riveted to the floor of the stage, at the +end of the cavern in the foreground, shall be again examined; and +everything has been reported quite secure." + +"Yes--secure--except for me," murmured the beast-tamer. + +"So, M. Morok, the signal may be given?" + +"The signal may--be given," replied Morok. And the manager went out. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +UP WITH THE CURTAIN. + +The usual bell sounded with solemnity behind the scenes the overture +began, and, to say the truth, but little attention was paid to it. The +interior of the theatre offered a very animated view. With the exception +of two stage-boxes even with the dress circle, one to the left, the other +to the right of the audience, every seat was occupied. A great number of +very fashionable ladies, attracted, as is always the case, by the strange +wildness of the spectacle, filled the boxes. The stalls were crowded by +most of the young men who; in the morning, had walked their horses on the +Champs-Elysees. The observations which passed from one stall to another, +will give some idea of their conversation. + +"Do you know, my dear boy, there would not be so crowded or fashionable +an audience to witness Racine's Athalia?" + +"Undoubtedly. What is the beggarly howling of an actor, compared to the +roaring of the lion?" + +"I cannot understand how the authorities permit this Morok to fasten his +panther with a chain to an iron ring in the corner of the stage. If the +chain were to break?" + +"Talking of broken chains--there's little Mme. de Blinville, who is no +tigress. Do you see her in the second tier, opposite?" + +"It becomes her very well to have broken, as you say, the marriage chain; +she looks very well this season." + +"Oh! there is the beautiful Duchess de Saint-Prix; all the world is here +to-night--I don't speak of ourselves." + +"It is a regular opera night--what a festive scene!" + +"Well, after all, people do well to amuse themselves, perhaps it will not +be for long." + +"Why so?" + +"Suppose the cholera were to come to Paris?" + +"Oh! nonsense!" + +"Do you believe in the cholera?" + +"To be sure I do! He's coming from the North, with his walking-stick +under his arm." + +"The devil take him on the road! don't let us see his green visage here." + +"They say he's at London." + +"A pleasant journey to him." + +"Come, let us talk of something else; it may be a weakness, if you +please, but I call this a dull subject." + +"I believe you." + +"Oh! gentlemen--I am not mistaken--no--it is she!" + +"Who, then?" + +"Mdlle. de Cardoville! She is coming into the stage-box with Morinval +and his wife. It is a complete resuscitation: this morning on the +Champs-Elysees; in the evening here." + +"Faith, you are right! It is Mdlle. de Cardoville." + +"Good heaven! how lovely she is!" + +"Lend me your eyeglass." + +"Well, what do you think of her?" + +"Exquisite--dazzling." + +"And in addition to her beauty, an inexhaustible flow of wit, three +hundred thousand francs a year, high birth, eighteen years of age, and-- +free as air." + +"Yes, that is to say, that, provided it pleased her, I might be to- +morrow--or even to-day--the happiest of men." + +"It is enough to turn one's brain." + +"I am told that her mansion, Rue d'Anjou, is like an enchanted palace; a +great deal is said about a bath-room and bedroom, worthy of the Arabian +Nights." + +"And free as air--I come back to that." + +"Ah! if I were in her place!" + +"My levity would be quite shocking." + +"Oh! gentlemen, what a happy man will he be who is loved first!" + +"You think, then, that she will have many lovers?" + +"Being as free as air--" + +"All the boxes are full, except the stage-box opposite to that in which +Mdlle. de Cardoville is seated. Happy the occupiers of that box!" + +"Did you see the English ambassador's lady in the dress circle?" + +"And the Princess d'Alvimar--what an enormous bouquet!" + +"I should like to know the name--of that nosegay." + +"Oh!--it's Germigny." + +"How flattering for the lions and tigers, to attract so fashionable an +audience." + +"Do you notice, gentlemen, how all the women are eye-glassing Mdlle. de +Cardoville?" + +"She makes a sensation." + +"She is right to show herself; they gave her out as mad." + +"Oh! gentlemen, what a capital phiz!" + +"Where--where?" + +"There--in the omnibus-box beneath Mdlle. de Cardoville's." + +"It's a Nuremburg nutcracker." + +"An ourang-outang!" + +"Did you ever see such round, staring eyes?" + +"And the nose!" + +"And the forehead!" + +"It's a caricature." + +"Order, order! the curtain rises." + +And, in fact, the curtain rose. Some explanation is necessary for the +clear understanding of what follows. In the lower stage-box, to the left +of the audience, were several persons, who had been referred to by the +young men in the stalls. The omnibus-box was occupied by the Englishman, +the eccentric and portentous bettor, whose presence inspired Morok with +so much dread. + +It would require Hoffman's rare and fantastic genius to describe worthily +that countenance, at once grotesque and frightful, as it stood out from +the dark background of the box. This Englishman was about fifty years +old; his forehead was quite bald, and of a conical shape; beneath this +forehead, surmounted by eyebrows like parenthesis marks, glittered large, +green eyes, remarkably round and staring, and set very close to a hooked +nose, extremely sharp and prominent; a chin like that on the old- +fashioned nutcrackers was half-hidden in a broad and ample white cravat, +as stiffly-starched as the round-cornered shirt-collar, which nearly +touched his ears. The face was exceedingly thin and bony, and yet the +complexion was high-colored, approaching to purple, which made the bright +green of the pupils, and the white of the other part of the eyes, still +more conspicuous. The mouth, which was very wide, sometimes whistled +inaudibly the tune of a Scotch jig (always the same tune), sometimes was +slightly curled with a sardonic smite. The Englishman was dressed with +extreme care; his blue coat, with brass buttons, displayed his spotless +waistcoat, snowy, white as his ample cravat; his shirt was fastened with +two magnificent ruby studs, and his patrician hands were carefully kid- +gloved. + +To any one who knew the eccentric and cruel desire which attracted this +man to every representation, his grotesque face became almost terrific, +instead of exciting ridicule; and it was easy to understand the dread +experience by Morok at sight of those great, staring round eyes, which +appeared to watch for the death of the lion-tamer (what a horrible +death!) with unshaken confidence. Above the dark box of the Englishman, +affording a graceful contrast, were seated the Morinvals and Mdlle. de +Cardoville. The latter was placed nearest the stage. Her head was +uncovered, and she wore a dress of sky-blue China crepe, ornamented at +the bosom with a brooch of the finest Oriental pearls--nothing more; yet +Adrienne, thus attired, was charming. She held in her hand an enormous +bouquet, composed of the rarest flowers of India: the stephanotis and the +gardenia mingled the dead white of their blossoms with the purple +hibiscus and Java amaryllis. + +Madame de Morinval, seated on the opposite side of the box, was dressed +with equal taste and simplicity; Morinval, a fair and very handsome young +man, of elegant appearance, was behind the two ladies. M. de Montbron +was expected to arrive every moment. The reader will please to recollect +that the stage-box to the right of the audience, opposite Adrienne's, had +remained till then quite empty. The stage represented one of the +gigantic forests of India. In the background, tall exotic trees rose in +spiral or spreading forms, among rugged masses of perpendicular rocks, +with here and there glimpses of a tropical sky. The side-scenes formed +tufts of trees, interspersed with rocks; and at the side which was +immediately beneath Adrienne's box appeared the irregular opening of a +deep and gloomy cavern, round which were heaped huge blocks of granite, +as if thrown together by some convulsion of nature. This scenery, full +of a wild and savage grandeur, was wonderfully "built up," so as to make +the illusion as complete as possible; the footlights were lowered, and +being covered with a purple shade, threw over this landscape a subdued +reddish light, which increased the gloomy and startling effect of the +whole. Adrienne, leaning forward from the box, with cheeks slightly +flushed, sparkling eyes, and throbbing heart, sought to trace in this +scene the solitary forest described by the traveller who had eulogized +Djalma's generosity and courage, when he threw himself upon a ferocious +tigress to save the life of a poor black slave. Chance coincided +wonderfully indeed with her recollections. Absorbed in the contemplation +of the scenery and the thoughts it awakened in her heart, she paid no +attention to what was passing in the house. And yet something calculated +to excite curiosity was taking place in the opposite stage-box. + +The door of this box opened. A man about forty years of age, of a yellow +complexion, entered; he was clothed after the East Indian fashion, in a +long robe of orange silk, bound round the waist with a green sash, and he +wore a small white turban. He placed two chairs at the front of the box; +and, having glanced round the house for a moment, he started, his black +eyes sparkled, and he went out quickly. That man was Faringhea. His +apparition caused surprise and curiosity in the theatre; the majority of +the spectators not having, like Adrienne, a thousand reasons for being +absorbed in the contemplation of a picturesque set scene. The public +attention was still more excited when they saw the box which Faringhea +had just left, entered by a youth of rare beauty, also dressed Oriental +fashion, in a long robe of white Cashmere with flowing sleeves, with a +scarlet turban striped with gold on his head, and a sash to correspond, +in which was stuck a long dagger, glittering with precious stones. This +young man was Prince Djalma. For an instant he remained standing at the +door, and cast a look of indifference upon the immense theatre, crowded +with people; then, stepping forward with a majestic and tranquil air, the +prince seated himself negligently on one of the chairs, and, turning his +head in a few moments towards the entrance, appeared surprised at not +seeing some person whom he doubtless expected. This person appeared at +length; the boxkeeper had been assisting her to take off her cloak. She +was a charming, fair-haired girl, attired with more show than taste, in a +dress of white silk, with broad cherry-colored stripes, made ultra- +fashionably low, and with short sleeves; a large bow of cherry-colored +ribbon was placed on each side of her light hair, and set off the +prettiest, sprightliest, most wilful little face in the world. + +It was Rose-Pompon. Her pretty arms were partly covered by long white +gloves, and ridiculously loaded with bracelets: in her hand she carried +an enormous bouquet of roses. + +Far from imitating the calm demeanor of Djalma, Rose-Pompon skipped into +the box, moved the chairs about noisily, and fidgeted on her seat for +some time, to display her fine dress; then, without being in the least +intimidated by the presence of the brilliant assembly, she, with a little +coquettish air, held her bouquet towards Djalma, that he might smell it, +and appeared finally to establish herself on her seat. Faringhea came +in, shut the door of the box, and seated himself behind the prince. +Adrienne, still completely absorbed in the contemplation of the Indian +forest, and in her own sweet thoughts, had not observed the newcomers. +As she was turning her head completely towards the stage, and Djalma +could not, for the moment, see even her profile, he, on his side, had not +recognized Mdlle. de Cardoville. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DEATH. + +The pantomime opening, by which was introduced the combat of Morok with +the black panther, was so unmeaning, that the majority of the audience +paid no attention to it, reserving all their interest for the scene in +which the lion-tamer was to make his appearance. + +This indifference of the public explains the curiosity excited in the +theatre by the arrival of Faringhea and Djalma--a curiosity which +expressed itself (as at this day, when uncommon foreigners appear in +public) by a slight murmur and general movement amongst the crowd. The +sprightly, pretty face of Rose-Pompon, always charming, in spite of her +singularly staring dress, in style so ridiculous for such a theatre, and +her light and familiar manner towards the handsome Indian who accompanied +her, increased and animated the general surprise; for, at this moment, +Rose-Pompon, yielding without reserve to a movement of teasing coquetry, +had held up, as we have already stated, her large bunch of roses to +Djalma. But the prince, at sight of the landscape which reminded him of +his country, instead of appearing sensible to this pretty, provocation, +remained for some minutes as in a dream, with his eyes fixed upon the +stage. Then Rose-Pompon began to beat time on the front of the box with +her bouquet, whilst the somewhat too visible movement of her pretty +shoulders showed that this devoted dancer was thinking of fast-life +dances, as the orchestra struck up a more lively strain. + +Placed directly opposite the box in which Faringhea, Djalma, and Rose- +Pompon had just taken their seats, Lady Morinval soon perceived the +arrival of these two personages, and particularly the eccentric +coquetries of Rose-Pompon. Immediately, the young marchioness, leaning +over towards Mdlle. de Cardoville, who was still absorbed in memories +ineffable, said to her, laughing: "My dear, the most amusing part of the +performance is not upon the stage. Look just opposite." + +"Just opposite?" repeated Adrienne, mechanically: and, turning towards +Lady Morinval with an air of surprise, she glanced in the direction +pointed out. + +She looked--what did she see?--Djalma seated by the side of a young +woman, who was familiarly offering to his sense of smell the perfume of +her bouquet. Amazed, struck almost literally to the heart, as by an +electric shock, swift, sharp, and painful, Adrienne became deadly pale. +From instinct, she shut her eyes for a second, in order not to see--as +men try to ward off the dagger, which, having once dealt the blow, +threatens to strike again. Then suddenly, to this feeling of grief +succeeded a reflection, terrible both to her love and to her wounded +pride. + +"Djalma is present with this woman, though he must have received my +letter," she said to herself,--"wherein he was informed of the happiness +that awaited him." + +At the idea of so cruel an insult, a blush of shame and indignation +displaced Adrienne's paleness, who overwhelmed by this sad reality, said +to herself: "Rodin did not deceive me." + +We abandon all idea of picturing the lightning-like rapidity of certain +emotions which in a moment may torture--may kill you in the space of a +minute. Thus Adrienne was precipitated from the most radiant happiness +to the lowest depths of an abyss of the most heart-rending grief, in less +than a second; for a second had hardly elapsed before she replied to Lady +Morinval: "What is there, then, so curious, opposite to us, my dear +Julia?" + +This evasive question gave Adrienne time to recover her self-possession. +Fortunately, thanks to the thick folds of hair which almost entirely +concealed her cheeks, the rapid and sudden changes from pallor to blush +escaped the notice of Lady Morinval, who gayly replied: "What, my dear, +do you not perceive those East Indians, who have just entered the box +immediately opposite to ours? There, just before us!" + +"Yes, I see them; but what then?" replied Adrienne, in a firm tone. + +"And don't you observe anything remarkable?" said the marchioness. + +"Don't be too hard, ladies," laughingly interposed the marquis; "we ought +to allow the poor foreigners some little indulgence. They are ignorant +of our manners and customs; were it not for that, they would never appear +in the face of all Paris in such dubious company." + +"Indeed," said Adrienne, with a bitter smile, "their simplicity is +touching; we must pity them." + +"And, unfortunately, the girl is charming, spite of her low dress and +bare arms," said the marchioness; "she cannot be more than sixteen or +seventeen at most. Look at her, my dear Adrienne; what a pity!" + +"It is one of your charitable days, my dear Julia," answered Adrienne; +"we are to pity the Indians, to pity this creature, and--pray, whom else +are we to pity?" + +"We will not pity that handsome Indian, in his red-and-gold turban," said +the marquis, laughing, "for, if this goes on, the girl with the cherry- +colored ribbons will be giving him a kiss. See how she leans towards her +sultan." + +"They are very amusing," said the marchioness, sharing the hilarity of +her husband, and looking at Rose-Pompom through her glass; then she +resumed, in about a minute, addressing herself to Adrienne: "I am quite +certain of one thing. Notwithstanding her giddy airs, that girl is very +fond of her Indian. I just saw a look that expresses a great deal." + +"Why so much penetration, my dear Julia?" said Adrienne, mildly; "what +interest have we to read the heart of that girl?" + +"Why, if she loves her sultan, she is quite in the right," said the +marquis, looking through his opera-glass in turn; "for, in my whole life, +I never saw a more handsome fellow than that Indian. I can only catch +his side-face, but the profile is pure and fine as an antique cameo. Do +you not think so?" added the marquis, leaning towards Adrienne. "Of +course, it is only as a matter of art, that I permit myself to ask you +the question." + +"As a work of art," answered Adrienne, "it is certainly very fine." + +"But see!" said the marchioness; "how impertinent the little creature +is!--She is actually staring at us." + +"Well!" said the marquis; "and she is actually laying her hand quite +unceremoniously on her sultan's shoulder, to make him share, no doubt, in +her admiration of you ladies." + +In fact, Djalma, until now occupied with the contemplation of the scene +which reminded him of his country, had remained insensible to the +enticements of Rose-Pompon, and had not yet perceived Adrienne. + +"Well, now!" said Rose-Pompon, bustling herself about in front of the +box, and continuing to stare at Mdlle. de Cardoville, for it was she, and +not the marchioness, who now drew her attention; "that is something quite +out of the common way--a pretty woman, with red hair; but such sweet red, +it must be owned. Look, Prince Charming!" + +And so saying, she tapped Djalma lightly on the shoulder; he started at +these words, turned round, and for the first time perceived Mdlle. de +Cardoville. + +Though he had been almost prepared for this meeting, the prince was so +violently affected by it, that he was about involuntarily to rise, in a +state of the utmost confusion; but he felt the iron hand of Faringhea +laid heavily on his shoulder, and heard him whisper in Hindostanee: +"Courage! and by to-morrow she will be at your feet." + +As Djalma still struggled to rise, the half-caste added to restrain him: +"Just now, she grew pale and red with jealousy. No weakness, or all is +lost!" + +"So! there you are again, talking your dreadful gibberish," said Rose- +Pompon, turning round towards Faringhea. "First of all, it is not +polite; and then the language is so odd, that one might suppose you were +cracking nuts." + +"I spoke of you to my master," said the half-caste; "he is preparing a +surprise for you." + +"A surprise? oh! that is different. Only make haste--do you hear, Prince +Charming!" added she, looking tenderly at Djalma. + +"My heart is breaking," said Djalma, in a hollow voice to Faringhea, +still using the language of India. + +"But to-morrow it will bound with joy and love," answered the half-caste. +"It is only by disdain that you can conquer a proud woman. To-morrow, I +tell you, she will be trembling, confused, supplicating, at your feet!" + +"To-morrow, she will hate me like death!" replied the prince, mournfully. + +"Yes, were she now to see you weak and cowardly. It is now too late to +draw back; look full at her, take the nosegay from this girl, and raise +it to your lips. Instantly, you will see yonder woman, proud as she is, +grow pale and red, as just now. Then will you believe me?" + +Reduced by despair to make almost any attempt, and fascinated, in spite +of himself, by the diabolical hints of Faringhea, Djalma looked for a +second full at Mdlle. de Cardoville; then, with a trembling hand he took +the bouquet from Rose-Pompon, and, again looking at Adrienne, pressed it +to his lips. + +Upon this insolent bravado, Mdlle. de Cardoville could not restrain so +sudden and visible a pang, that the prince was struck by it. + +"She is yours," said the half-caste, to him. "Did you see, my lord, how +she trembled with jealousy?--Only have courage! and she is yours. She +will soon prefer you to that handsome young man behind her--for it is he +whom she has hitherto fancied herself in love with." + +As if the half-caste had guessed the movement of rage and hatred, which +this revelation would excite in the heart of the prince, he hastily +added: "Calmness and disdain! Is it not his turn now to hate you?" + +The prince restrained himself, and drew his hand across his forehead +which glowed with anger. + +"There now! what are you telling him, that vexes him so?" said Rose- +Pompon to Faringhea, with pouting lip. Then, addressing Djalma, she +continued: "Come, Prince Charming, as they say in the fairy-tale, give me +back my flowers." + +As she took it again, she added: "You have kissed it, and I could almost +eat it." Then, with a sigh, and a passionate glance at Djalma, she said +softly to herself: "That monster Ninny Moulin did not deceive me. All +this is quite proper; I have not even that to reproach myself with." And +with her little white teeth, she bit at a rosy nail of her right hand, +from which she had just drawn the glove. + +It is hardly necessary to say, that Adrienne's letter had not been +delivered to the prince, and that he had not gone to pass the day in the +country with Marshal Simon. During the three days in which Montbron had +not seen Djalma, Faringhea had persuaded him, that, by affecting another +passion, he would bring Mdlle. de Cardoville to terms. With regard to +Djalma's presence at the theatre, Rodin had learned from her maid, +Florine, that her mistress was to go in the evening to the Porte-Saint- +Martin. Before Djalma had recognized her, Adrienne, who felt her +strength failing her, was on the point of quitting the theatre; the man, +whom she had hitherto placed so high, whom she had regarded as a hero and +a demi-god and whom she had imagined plunged in such dreadful despair, +that, led by the most tender pity, she had written to him with simple +frankness, that a sweet hope might calm his grief--replied to a generous +mark of sincerity and love, by making himself a ridiculous spectacle with +a creature unworthy of him. What incurable wounds for Adrienne's pride! +It mattered little, whether Djalma knew or not, that she would be a +spectator of the indignity. But when she saw herself recognized by the +prince, when he carried the insult so far as to look full at her, and, at +the same time, raise to his lips the creature's bouquet who accompanied +him, Adrienne was seized with noble indignation, and felt sufficient +courage to remain: instead of closing her eyes to evidence, she found a +sort of barbarous pleasure in assisting at the agony and death of her +pure and divine love. With head erect, proud and flashing eye, flushed +cheek, and curling lip, she looked in her turn at the prince with +disdainful steadiness. It was with a sardonic smile that she said to the +marchioness, who, like many others of the spectators was occupied with +what was passing in the stage-box: "This revolting exhibition of savage +manners is at least in accordance with the rest of the performance." + +"Certainly," said the marchioness; "and my dear uncle will have lost, +perhaps, the most amusing part." + +"Montbron?" said Adrienne, hastily, with hardly repressed bitterness; +"yes, he will regret not having seen all. I am impatient for his +arrival. Is it not to him that I am indebted for his charming evening?" + +Perhaps Madame de Morinval would have remarked the expression of bitter +irony, that Adrienne could not altogether dissemble, if suddenly a hoarse +and prolonged roar had net attracted her attention, as well as that of +the rest of the audience, who had hitherto been quite indifferent to the +scenes intended for an introduction to the appearance of Morok. Every +eye was now turned instinctively towards the cavern situated to the left +of the stage, just below Mdlle. de Cardoville's box; a thrill of +curiosity ran through the house. A second roar, deeper and more +sonorous, and apparently expressive of more irritation than the first, +now rose from the cave, the mouth of which was half-hidden by artificial +brambles, made so as to be easily put on one side. At this sound, the +Englishman stood up in his little box, leaned half over the front, and +began to rub his hands with great energy; then, remaining perfectly +motionless, he fixed his large, green, glittering eyes on the mouth of +the cavern. + +At these ferocious howlings, Djalma also had started, notwithstanding the +frenzy of love, hate, and jealousy, to which he was a prey. The sight of +this forest, and the roarings of the panther, filled him with deep +emotion, for they recalled the remembrance of his country, and of those +great hunts which, like war, have their own terrible excitement. Had he +suddenly heard the horns and gongs of his father's army sounding to the +charge, he could not have been transported with more savage ardor. And +now deep growls, like distant thunder, almost drowned the roar of the +panther. The lion and tiger, Judas and Cain answered her from their dens +at the back of the stage. On this frightful concert, with which his ears +had been familiar in the midst of the solitudes of India, when he lay +encamped, for the purposes of the chase or of war, Djalma's blood boiled +in his veins. His eyes sparkled with a wild ardor. Leaning a little +forward, with both hands pressed on the front of the box, his whole body +trembled with a convulsive shudder. The audience, the theatre, Adrienne +herself no longer existed for him; he was in a forest of his own lands, +tracking the tiger. + +Then there mingled with his beauty so intrepid and ferocious an +expression, that Rose-Pompon looked at him with a sort of terror and +passionate admiration. For the first time in her life, perhaps, her +pretty blue eyes, generally so gay and mischievous; expressed a serious +emotion. She could not explain what she felt; but her heart seemed +frightened, and beat violently, as though some calamity were at hand. + +Yielding to a movement of involuntary fear, she seized Djalma by the arm, +and said to him: "Do not stare so into that cavern; you frighten me." + +Djalma did not hear what she said. + +"Here he is! here he is!" murmured the crowd, almost with one voice, as +Morok appeared at the back of the stage. + +Dressed as we have described, Morok now carried in addition a bow and a +long quiver full of arrows. He slowly descended the line of painted +rocks, which came sloping down towards the centre of the stage. From +time to time, he stopped as if to listen, and appeared to advance with +caution. Looking from one side to the other, his eyes involuntarily +encountered the large, green eyes of the Englishman, whose box was close +to the cavern. Instantly the lion-tamer's countenance was contracted in +so frightful a manner, that Lady Morinval, who was examining him closely +with the aid of an excellent glass, said hastily to Adrienne: "My dear, +the man is afraid. Some misfortune will happen." + +"How can accidents happen," said Adrienne, with a sardonic smile, "in the +midst of this brilliant crowd, so well dressed and full of animation! +Misfortunes here, this evening! why, dear Julia, you do not think it. It +is in darkness and solitude that misfortunes come--never in the midst of +a joyous crowd, and in all this blaze of light." + +"Good gracious, Adrienne! take care!" cried the marchioness, unable to +repress an exclamation of alarm, and seizing her arm, as if to draw her +closer; "do you not see it?" And with a trembling hand, she pointed to +the cavern's mouth. Adrienne hastily bent forward, and looked in that +direction. "Take care, do not lean so forward!" exclaimed Lady Morinval. + +"Your terrors are nonsensical, my dear," said the marquis to his wife. +"The panther is securely chained; and even were it to break its chains +(which is impossible), we are here beyond its reach." + +A long murmur of trembling curiosity here ran through the house, and +every eye was intently fixed on the cavern. From amongst the artificial +brambles, which she abruptly pushed aside with her broad chest, the black +panther suddenly appeared. Twice she stretched forth her flat head, +illumined by yellow, flaming eyes; then, half-opening her blood-red jaws, +she uttered another roar, and exhibited two rows of formidable fangs. A +double iron chain, and a collar also of iron, painted black, blended with +the ebon shades of her hide, and with the darkness of the cavern. The +illusion was complete, and the terrible animal seemed to be at liberty in +her den. + +"Ladies," said the marquis, suddenly, "look at those Indians. Their +emotion makes them superb!" + +In fact, the sight of the panther had raised the wild ardor of Djalma to +its utmost pitch. His eyes sparkled in their pearly orbits like two +black diamonds; his upper lip was curled convulsively with an expression +of animal ferocity, as if he were in a violent paroxysm of rage. + +Faringhea, now leaning on the front of the box, was also greatly excited, +by reason of a strange coincidence. "That black panther of so rare a +breed," thought he, "which I see here at Paris, upon the stage, must be +the very one that the Malay"--the Thug who had tatooed Djalma at Java +during his sleep--"took quite young from his den, and sold to a European +captain. Bowanee's power is everywhere!" added the Thug, in his +sanguinary superstition. + +"Do you not think," resumed the marquis, addressing Adrienne, "that those +Indians are really splendid in their present attitude?" + +"Perhaps they may have seen such a hunt in their own country," said +Adrienne, as if she would recall and brave the most cruel remembrances. + +"Adrienne," said the marchioness, suddenly, in an agitated voice, "the +lion-tamer has now come nearer--is not his countenance fearful to look +at?--I tell you he is afraid." + +"In truth," observed the marquis, this time very seriously, "he is +dreadfully pale, and seems to grow worse every minute, the nearer he +approaches this side. It is said that, were he to lose his presence of +mind for a single moment, he would run the greatest danger." + +"O! it would be horrible!" cried the marchioness, addressing Adrienne, +"if he were wounded--there--under our eyes!" + +"Every wound does not kill," replied her friend, with an accent of such +cold indifference, that the marchioness looked at her with surprise, and +said to her: "My dear girl, what you say there is cruel!" + +"It is the air of the place that acts on me," answered Adrienne, with an +icy smile. + +"Look! look! the lion-tamer is about to shoot his arrow at the panther," +said the marquis, suddenly. "No doubt, he will next perform the hand to +hand grapple." + +Morok was at this moment in front of the stage, but he had yet to +traverse its entire breadth to reach the cavern's mouth. He stopped an +instant, adjusted an arrow to the string, knelt down behind a mass of +rock, took deliberate aim--and then the arrow hissed across the stage, +and was lost in the depths of the cavern, into which the panther had +retired, after showing for a moment her threatening head to the audience. +Hardly had the arrow disappeared, than Death, purposely irritated by +Goliath (who was invisible) sent forth a howl of rage, as if she had been +really wounded. Morok's actions became so expressive, he evinced so +naturally his joy at having hit the wild beast, that a tempest of +applause burst from every quarter of the house. Then, throwing away his +bow, he drew a dagger from his girdle, took it between his teeth, and +began to crawl forward on hands and knees, as though he meant to surprise +the wounded panther in his den. To render the illusion perfect, Death, +again excited by Goliath, who struck him with an iron bar, sent forth +frightful howlings from the depths of the cavern. + +The gloomy aspect of the forest, only half-lighted with a reddish glare, +was so effective--the howlings of the panther were so furious--the +gestures, attitude, and countenance of Morok were so expressive of +terror, that the audience, attentive and trembling, now maintained a +profound silence. Every one held his breath, and a kind of shudder came +over the spectators, as though they expected some horrible event. What +gave such a fearful air of truth to the pantomime of Morok, was that, as +he approached the cavern step by step, he approached also the +Englishman's box. In spite of himself, the lion-tamer, fascinated by +terror, could not take his eyes from the large green eyes of this man, +and it seemed as if every one of the abrupt movements which he made in +crawling along, was produced by a species of magnetic attraction, caused +by the fixed gaze of the fatal wagerer. Therefore, the nearer Morok +approached, the more ghastly and livid he became. At sight of this +pantomime, which was no longer acting, but the real expression of intense +fear, the deep and trembling silence which had reigned in the theatre was +once more interrupted by acclamations, with which were mingled the +roarings of the panther, and the distant growls of the lion and tiger. + +The Englishman leaned almost out of his box, with a frightful sardonic +smile on his lip, and with his large eyes still fixed, panted for breath. +The perspiration ran down his bald red forehead, as if he had really +expended an incredible amount of magnetic power in attracting Morok, whom +he now saw close to the cavern entrance. The moment was decisive. +Crouching down with his dagger in his hand, following with eye and +gesture Death's every movement, who, roaring furiously, and opening wide +her enormous jaws, seemed determined to guard the entrance of her den, +Morok waited for the moment to rush upon her. There is such fascination +in danger, that Adrienne shared, in spite of herself, the feeling of +painful curiosity, mixed with terror, that thrilled through all the +spectators. Leaning forward like the marchioness, and gazing upon this +scene of fearful interest, the lady still held mechanically in her hand +the Indian bouquet preserved since the morning. Suddenly, Morok raised a +wild shout, as he rushed towards Death, who answered this exclamation by +a dreadful roar, and threw herself upon her master with so much fury, +that Adrienne, in alarm, believing the man lost, drew herself back, and +covered her fact with her hands. Her flowers slipped from her grasp, +and, falling upon the stage, rolled into the cavern in which Morok was +struggling with the panther. + +Quick as lightning, supple and agile as a tiger, yielding to the +intoxication of his love, and to the wild ardor excited in him by the +roaring of the panther, Djalma sprang at one bound upon the stage, drew +his dagger, and rushed into the cavern to recover Adrienne's nosegay. At +that instant, Morok, being wounded, uttered a dreadful cry for help; the +panther, rendered still more furious at sight of Djalma, make the most +desperate efforts to break her chain. Unable to succeed in doing so, she +rose upon her hind legs, in order to seize Djalma, then within reach of +her sharp claws. It was only by bending down his head, throwing himself +on his knees, and twice plunging his dagger into her belly with the +rapidity of lightning, that Djalma escaped certain death. The panther +gave a howl, and fell with her whole weight upon the prince. For a +second, during which lasted her terrible agony, nothing was seen but a +confused and convulsive mass of black limbs, and white garments stained +with blood--and then Djalma rose, pale, bleeding, for he was wounded--and +standing erect, his eye flashing with savage pride, his foot on the body +of the panther, he held in his hand Adrienne's bouquet, and cast towards +her a glance which told the intensity of his love. Then only did +Adrienne feel her strength fail her--for only superhuman courage had +enabled her to watch all the terrible incidents of the struggle. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Wandering Jew, v8 +by Eugene Sue + diff --git a/old/es08v11.zip b/old/es08v11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0e11c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/es08v11.zip |