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This was a custom which had been adopted by the +Baroness for the suppers which were given by her husband at the close of +his hunting parties; she dispensed with appearing at table on those days; +perhaps she was too fastidious to preside at these lengthy seances of +which the ruses of the hare, the death of the stag, and the feats of the +hounds, formed the principal topics of conversation. It is probable that +this conduct was duly appreciated by those who participated in those +rather boisterous repasts, and that they felt a certain gratitude, in +spite of the regrets they manifested on account of Madame's absence. + +Among the guests was Marillac, whose sparkling eye, and cheeks even more +rosy than usual, made him conspicuous. Seated between a fat notary and +another boon companion, who were almost as drunk as he Marillac emptied +glass after glass, red wine after the white, the white after the red, +with noisy laughter, and jests of all kinds by way of accompaniment. His +head became every moment more and more excited by the libations destined +to refresh his throat, and his neighbors, without his perceiving the +conspiracy, thought it would be good fun to put a Parisian dandy under +the table. However, he was not the only one who was gliding over the +slippery precipice that leads to the attractive abyss of drunkenness. +The majority of the guests shared his imprudent abandon and progressive +exaltation. A bacchic emulation reigned, which threatened to end in +scenes bordering upon a debauch. + +Among these highly colored cheeks, under which the wine seemed to +circulate with the blood, these eyes shining with a dull, fictitious +light, all this disorderly pantomime so contrary to the quiet habit of +the gesticulators, two faces contrasted strangely with the careless mirth +of the others. The Baron fulfilled his duties as master of the house +with a sort of nervous excitement which might pass for genuine merriment +in the eyes of those of his guests who were in no condition to study his +countenance; but a quiet observer would soon have discerned that these +violent efforts at good-humor and bantering concealed some terrible +suffering. From time to time, in the midst of a sentence or a laugh, he +would suddenly stop, the muscles of his face would twitch as if the +spring which set them in motion had broken; his expression became sombre +and savage; he sank back in his chair motionless, a stranger to all that +surrounded him, and gave himself up to some mysterious thought against +which resistance seemed powerless. Suddenly he appeared to wake from +some perplexing dream, and by another powerful effort aroused himself and +joined in the conversation with sharp, cutting speeches; he encouraged +the noisy humor of his guests, inciting them to drunkenness by setting +the example himself; then the same mysterious thought would cross his +face anew, and he would fall back into the tortures of a revery which +must have been horrible, to judge by the expression of his face. + +Among his guests, one only, who was seated almost opposite Bergenheim, +seemed to be in the secret of his thoughts and to study the symptoms with +deep attention. Gerfaut, for it was he, showed an interest in this +examination which reacted on his own countenance, for he was paler than +ever. + +"When I saw that the hare was reaching the upper road," said one of the +guests, a handsome old man about sixty years of age, with gray hair and +rosy cheeks, "I ran toward the new clearing to wait for its return. I +felt perfectly sure, notary, that he would pass through your hands safe +and sound." + +"Now, notary," said Marillac, from the other end of the table, "defend +yourself; one, two, three, ready!" + +"Monsieur de Camier," replied the hunter whose skill had been questioned, +"I do not pretend to have your skill. I never have shot as large game as +you did at your last hunt." + +This reply was an allusion to a little misadventure which had happened to +the first speaker, who, on account of nearsightedness, had shot a cow, +taking it for a buck. The laugh, which had been at the notary's expense +first, now turned against his adversary. + +"How many pairs of boots did you get out of your game?" asked one. + +"Gentlemen, let us return to our conversation," said a young man, whose +precise face aspired to an austere and imposing air. "Up to this time, +we can form only very vague conjectures as to the road that Lambernier +took to escape. This, allow me to say, is more important than the +notary's hare or Monsieur de Carrier's cow." + +At these words, Bergenheim, who had taken no part in the conversation, +straightened up in his chair. + +"A glass of Sauterne," said he, suddenly, to one of his neighbors. + +Gerfaut looked at him stealthily for a moment, and then lowered his eyes, +as if he feared his glance might be noticed. + +"The public prosecutor scents a culprit, and there is no fear he will +drop the trail," said the notary. + +"The case will doubtless come up at the next session of the Assizes." + +M. de Carrier put his glass, which was half filled, upon the table, +angrily exclaiming: + +"The devil take the jury! I am called to the next session, and I will +wager my head that I shall be drawn. How agreeable that will be! To +leave my home and business in the middle of winter and spend a fortnight +with a lot of fellows whom I do not know from Adam! That is one of the +agreeable things supplied by constitutional government. The French have +to be judged by their peers! Of what use is it to pay for judges if we, +land-owners, are obliged to do their work. The old parliaments, against +which so much has been said, were a thousand times better than all this +bedlam let loose in a court of assizes." + +Marillac, who during this speech was amusing himself with singing his low +"G" while peeling an apple, interrupted his song, to the great relief of +a hound who lay at his feet, and whose nerves seemed to be singularly +affected by the strain. + +"Monsieur de Carrier," said he, "you are a large landowner, an eligible +citizen and a Carlist; you fast on Fridays, go to mass in your parish, +and occasionally kill cows for bucks; I esteem and respect you; but allow +me to say that you have just uttered an old, antediluvian platitude." + +"Gentlemen," said the public prosecutor, punctuating each word with his +first finger, "I have the greatest respect for the old parliaments, those +worthy models of our modern magistracy, those incorruptible defenders of +national freedom, but my veneration is none the less great for the +institutions emanating from our wise constitution, and it prevents me +from adopting an exclusive opinion. However, without pretending to +proclaim in too absolute a manner the superiority of the old system over +the new, I am in a certain sense of Monsieur de Carrier's opinion. In my +position, I am better able than any other person to study the advantages +and disadvantages of a jury, and I am forced to admit that if the +advantages are real, the disadvantages are none the less indisputable. +One of the great vices of juries consists in the habit that a great +number of its members have of calling for material proofs in order to +form their opinions. They must almost see the wounds of the victim +before agreeing on a verdict. As to Lambernier, I hope that they will +not contest the existence of the main evidence: the victim's still +bleeding thigh." + +"Tra-de-ri-di-ra," exclaimed the artist, striking alternately with his +knife a glass and a bottle, as if he were playing a triangle. "I must +say that you choose madly gay subjects for conversation. We are truly a +joyous crowd; look at Bergenheim opposite us; he looks like Macbeth in +the presence of Banquo's ghost; here is my friend Gerfaut drinking water +with a profoundly solemn air. Good gracious, gentlemen! enough of this +foolish talk! Let them cut this Lambernier's throat and put an end to +the subject! The theatre for dramatic music, the church for sacred! + + Le vin, le jeu; les belles, + Voila mes seuls amours." + +A general protestation rose from the whole table at this verse, which was +roared out in a lugubrious voice. Noisy shouts, rapping of knives upon +tumblers and bottles, and exclamations of all kinds called the orator to +order. + +"Monsieur Marillac," exclaimed the public prosecutor, in a joking tone, +"it seems to me that you have wandered from the subject." + +The artist looked at him with an astonished air. + +"Had I anything in particular to say to you?" he asked; "if so, I will +sustain my point. Only do me the kindness to tell me what it was about." + +"It was on the subject of this man Lambernier," whispered the notary to +him, as he poured out a glass of wine. "Courage! you improvise better +than Berryer! If you exert yourself, the public prosecutor will be +beaten in no time." + +Marillac thanked his neighbor with a smile and a nod of the head, which +signified: "Trust me." He then emptied his glass with the recklessness +that had characterized his drinking for some time, but, strangely enough, +the libation, instead of putting the finishing stroke to his drunkenness, +gave his mind, for the time being, a sort of lucidity. + +"The accusation," he continued, with the coolness of an old lawyer, +"rests upon two grounds: first, the presence without cause of the accused +upon the spot where the crime was committed; second, the nature of the +weapon used.--Two simple but peremptory replies will make the scaffold +which has been erected upon this double supposition fall to the ground. +First, Lambernier had a rendezvous at this place, and at the exact hour +when this crime with which he is accused took place; this will be proved +by a witness, and will be established by evidence in a most indisputable +manner. His presence will thus be explained without its being +interpreted in any way against him. Second, the public prosecutor has +admitted that the carrying of a weapon which Lambernier may have been in +the habit of using in his regular trade could not be used as an argument +against him, and for that same reason could not be used as an argument in +favor of premeditation; now, this is precisely the case in question. +This weapon was neither a sword, bayonet, nor stiletto, nothing that the +fertile imagination of the public prosecutor could imagine; it was a +simple tool used by the accused in his profession, the presence of which +in his pocket is as easily understood as that of a snuff-box in the +pocket of my neighbor, the notary, who takes twenty pinches of snuff a +minute. Gentlemen, this weapon was a pair of carpenter's compasses." + +"A compass!" exclaimed several voices at once. + +"A compass!" exclaimed the Baron, gazing fixedly at the artist. Then he +carried his hand to his pocket, and suddenly withdrew it, as he felt the +workman's compass there, where it had been ever since the scene upon the +rocks. + +"An iron compass," repeated the artist, "about ten inches long, more or +less, the legs of it being closed." + +"Will you explain yourself, Monsieur?" excitedly exclaimed the public +prosecutor, "for it really seems as if you had witnessed the crime. In +that case you will be called out as a witness for the defence. Justice +is impartial, gentlemen. Justice has not two pairs of scales." + +"To the devil with justice! You must have come from Timbuctoo to use +such old-fashioned metaphors." + +"Make your deposition, witness; I require you to make your deposition," +said the magistrate, whose increasing drunkenness appeared as dignified +and solemn as the artist was noisy. + +"I have nothing to state; I saw nothing." + +Here the Baron drew a long breath, as if these words were a relief. + +"But I saw something!" said Gerfaut to himself, as he gazed at the +Baron's face, upon which anxiety was depicted. + +"I reason by hypothesis and supposition," continued the artist. "I had a +little altercation with Lambernier a few days ago, and, but for my good +poniard, he would have put an end to me as he did to this fellow to-day." + +He then related his meeting with Lambernier, but the consideration due +Mademoiselle Gobillot's honor imposed numberless circumlocutions and +concealments which ended by making his story rather unintelligible to his +auditors, and in the midst of it his head became so muddled that he was +completely put out. + +"Basta!" he exclaimed, in conclusion, as he dropped heavily into his +chair. "Not another word for the 'whole empire. Give me something to +drink! Notary, you are the only man here who has any regard for me. One +thing is certain about this matter--I am in ten louis by this rascal's +adventure." + +These words struck the Baron forcibly, as they brought to his mind what +the carpenter had said to him when he gave him the letter. + +"Ten louis!" said he, suddenly, looking at Marillac as if he wished to +look into his very heart. + +"Two hundred francs, if you like it better. A genuine bargain. But we +have talked enough, 'mio caro'; you deceive yourselves if you think you +are going to make me blab. No, indeed! I am not the one to allow myself +to become entangled. I am now as mute and silent as the grave." + +Bergenheim insisted no longer, but, leaning against the back of his +chair, he let his head fall upon his breast. He remained for some time +buried in thought and vainly trying to connect the obscure words he had +just heard with Lambernier's incomplete revelations. With the exception +of Gerfaut, who did not lose one of his host's movements, the guests, +more or less absorbed by their own sensations, paid no attention to the +strange attitude of the master of the house, or, like Monsieur de +Camier, attributed it to the influence of wine. The conversation +continued its noisy course, interrupted every few moments by the +startling vagaries of some guest more animatedly excited than the rest, +for, at the end of a repast where sobriety has not reigned, each one is +disposed to impose upon others the despotism of his own intoxication, and +the idle talk of his peculiar hallucinations. Marillac bore away the +prize among the talking contingent, thanks to the vigor of his lungs and +the originality of his words, which sometimes forced the attention of his +adversaries. Finally he remained master of the field, and flashed +volleys of his drunken eloquence to the right and left. + +"It is a pity," he exclaimed, in the midst of his triumph, as he glanced +disdainfully up and down the table, "it really is a pity, gentlemen, to +listen to your conversation. One could imagine nothing more commonplace- +prosaic or bourgeois. Would it not please you to indulge in a discussion +of a little higher order? + +Let us join hands, and talk of poetry and art. I am thirsting for an +artistic conversation; I am thirsting for wit and intelligence." + +"You must drink if you are thirsty," said the notary, filling his glass +to the brim. + +The artist emptied it at one draught, and continued in a languishing +voice as he gazed with a loving look at his fat neighbor. + +"I will begin our artistic conversation: 'Knowest thou the land where the +orange-flower blooms?'" + +"It is warmer than ours," replied the notary, who was not familiar with +Mignon's song; and, beginning to laugh maliciously, he gave a wink at his +neighbors as if to say: + +"I have settled him now." + +Marillac leaned toward him with the meekness of a lamb that presents his +head to the butcher, and sympathetically pressed his hands. + +"O poet!" he continued, "do you not feel, as I do at the twilight hour +and in the eventide, a vague desire for a sunny, perfumed, southern life? +Will you not bid adieu to this sterile country and sail away to a land +where the blue sky is reflected in the blue sea? Venice! the Rialto, +the Bridge of Sighs, Saint Mark! Rome! the Coliseum and Saint Peter-- +But I know Italy by heart; let us go instead to Constantinople. I am +thirsting for sultanas and houris; I am thirsting--" + +"Good gracious! why do you not drink if you are thirsty?" + +"Gladly. I never say no to that. I scorn love in a nightcap; I adore +danger. Danger is life to me. + +I dote on silken ladders as long as Jacob's, on citadels worth scaling; +on moonlight evenings, bearded husbands, and all that sort of thing--I +would love a bed composed of five hundred poniards; you understand me, +poet--" + +"I beg of you, do not make him drink any more," said Gerfaut to the +notary. + +"You are right not to wish to drink any more, Octave, I was about to +advise you not to. You have already drunk to excess to-day, and I am +afraid that it will make you ill; your health is so weak--you are not +a strong man like me. Fancy, gentlemen, Monsieur le Vicomte de Gerfaut, +a native of Gascony, a roue by profession, a star of the first magnitude +in literature, is afflicted by nature with a stomach which has nothing +in common with that of an ostrich; he has need to use the greatest care. +So we have him drink seltzer-water principally, and feed him on the white +meat of the chicken. Besides, we keep this precious phenomenon rolled up +between two wool blankets and over a kettle of boiling water. He is a +great poet; I myself am a very great poet." + +"And I also, I hope," said the notary. + +"Gentlemen, formerly there were poets who wrote only in verse; nowadays +they revel in prose. There are some even who are neither prose nor verse +writers, who have never confided their secret to anybody, and who +selfishly keep their poetry to themselves. It is a very simple thing to +be a poet, provided you feel the indescribable intoxication of the soul, +and understand the inexpressible afflatus that bubbles over in your large +brain, and your noble heart throbs under your left breast--" + +"He is as drunk as a fool," said M. de Camier, loud enough for him to +hear. + +"Old man," said he, "you are the one who is drunk. Besides the word +drunk is not civil; if you had said intoxicated I should not have +objected." + +Loud shouts of laughter burst forth from the party. He threw a +threatening glance around him, as if he were seeking some one upon whom +to vent his anger, and, placing his hand upon his hip, assumed the pose +of a bully. + +"Softly, my good fellows!" said he, "if any of you pretend that I am +drunk, I declare to him that he lies, and I call him a misantrophe, a +vagabond, an academician!" he concluded, with a loud burst of laughter; +for he thought that the jesters would be crushed by this last heavy +weapon. + +"By Jove! your friend is hilariously drunk," said the notary to Gerfaut; +"while here is Bergenheim, who has not taken very much wine, and yet +looks as if he were assisting at a funeral. I thought he was more +substantial than this." + +Marillac's voice burst out more loudly than ever, and Octave's reply was +not heard. + +"It is simply astounding. They are all as drunk as fools, and yet they +pretend that it is I who am drunk. Very well! I defy you all; who among +you wishes to argue with me? Will you discuss art, literature, politics, +medicine, music, philosophy, archiology, jurisprudence, magnetism--" + +"Jurisprudence!" exclaimed the thick voice of the public prosecutor, who +was aroused from his stupor by this magic word; "let us talk +jurisprudence." + +"Would you like," said Marillac, without stopping at this interruption, +"that I should improvise a discourse upon the death penalty or upon +temperance? Would you like me to tell you a story?" + +"A story, yes, a story!" they all exclaimed in unison. + +"Speak out, then; order what story you like; it will cost you nothing," +replied the artist, rubbing his hands with a radiant air. "Would you +like a tale from the Middle Ages? a fairy, an eastern, a comical, or a +private story? I warn you that the latter style is less old-fashioned +than the others." + +"Let us have it, then, by all means," said all the drunken voices. + +"Very well. Now would you like it to be laid in Spain, Arabia, or +France?" + +"France!" exclaimed the prosecutor. + +"I am French, you are French, he is French. You shall have a French +story." + +Marillac leaned his forehead upon his hands, and his elbows upon the +table, as if to gather his scattered ideas. After a few moments' +reflection, he raised his head and looked first at Gerfaut, then at +Bergenheim, with a peculiar smile. + +"It would be very original," said he, in a low voice as if replying to +his own thoughts. + +"The story!" exclaimed one of the party, more impatient than the rest. + +"Here it is," replied the artist. "You all know, gentlemen, how +difficult it always is to choose a title. In order not to make you wait, +I have chosen one which is already well known. My story is to be called +'The husband, the wife, and the lover.' We are not all single men here, +and a wise proverb says that one must never speak--" + +In spite of his muddled brain, the artist did not finish his quotation. +A remnant of common-sense made him realize that he was treading upon +dangerous ground and was upon the point of committing an unpardonable +indiscretion. Fortunately, the Baron had paid no attention to his words; +but Gerfaut was frightened at his friend's jabbering, and threw him a +glance of the most threatening advice to be prudent. Marillac vaguely +understood his mistake, and was half intimidated by this glance; he +leaned before the notary and said to him, in a voice which he tried to +make confidential, but which could be heard from one end of the table to +the other: + +"Be calm, Octave, I will tell it in obscure words and in such a way that +he will not see anything in it. It is a scene for a drama that I have in +my mind." + +"You will make some grotesque blunder, if you go on drinking and +talking," replied Gerfaut, in an anxious voice. "Hold your tongue, or +else come away from the table with me." + +"When I tell you that I will use obscure words," replied the artist; +"what do you take me for? I swear to you that I will gloss it over in +such a way that nobody will suspect anything." + +"The story! the story!" exclaimed several, who were amused by the +incoherent chattering of the artist. + +"Here it is," said the latter, sitting upright in his char,; and paying +no heed to his friend's warnings. "The scene takes place in a little +court in Germany--Eh!" said he, looking at Gerfaut and maliciously +winking his eye--"do you not think that is glossed over?" + +"Not in a German court, you said it was to be a French story," said the +public prosecutor, disposed to play the critic toward the orator who had +reduced him to silence. + +"Well, it is a French story, but the scene is laid in Germany," he +replied, coolly." Do you desire to teach me my profession? Understand +that nothing is more elastic than a German court; the story-teller can +introduce there whoever he likes; I may bring in the Shah of Persia and +the Emperor of China if I care to. However, if you prefer the court of +Italy, it is the same thing to me." + +This conciliating proposal remained without response. Marillac continued +raising his eyes in such a way that nothing but the whites could be seen, +and as if he were searching for his words in the ceiling. + +"The Princess Borinski was walking slowly in the mysterious alley on the +borders of the foaming torrent " + +"Borinski! she is a Pole, then?" interrupted M. de Camier. + +"Oh! go to the devil, old man! Do not interrupt me," exclaimed the +artist, impatiently. + +"That is right. Silence now." + +"You have the floor," said several voices at once. + +"--She was pale, and she heaved convulsive sighs and wrung her soft, warm +hands, and a white pearl rolled from her dark lashes, and--" + +"Why do you begin all your phrases with 'and?'" asked the public +prosecutor, with the captiousness of an inexorable critic. + +"Because it is biblical and unaffected. Now let me alone," replied +Marillac, with superb disdain. "You are a police-officer; I am an +artist; what is there in common between you and me? I will continue: +And he saw this pensive, weeping woman pass in the distance, and he said +to the Prince: 'Borinski, a bit of root in which my foot caught has hurt +my limb, will you suffer me to return to the palace? And the Prince +Borinski said to him, 'Shall my men carry you in a palanquin?' and the +cunning Octave replied--" + +"Your story has not even common-sense and you are a terrible bore," +interrupted Gerfaut brusquely. "Gentlemen, are we going to sit at the +table all night?" + +He arose, but nobody followed his example. Bergenheim, who for the last +few minutes had lent an attentive ear to the artist's story, gazed +alternately at the two friends with an observing eye. + +"Let him talk," said the young magistrate, with an ironical smile. +"I like the palanquin in the court of Germany. That is probably what +novelists call local color. O Racine, poor, deserted Racine!" + +Marillac was not intimidated this time by Gerfaut's withering glance, +but, with the obstinacy of drunkenness, continued in a more or less +stammering voice: + +"I swore that I would gloss it over; you annoy me. I committed an error, +gentlemen, in calling the lover in this story Octave. It is as clear as +day that his name is Boleslas, Boleslas Matalowski. There is no more +connection between him and my friend Octave than there is between my +other friend Bergenheim and the prince Kolinski--Woginski--what the devil +has become of my Prince's name? A good reward to whoever will tell me +his name!" + +"It is wrong to take advantage of his condition and make him talk any +more," said Gerfaut. "I beg of you, Marillac, hold your tongue and come +with me," said he, lowering his voice as he leaned toward the headstrong +story-teller and took him by the arm, trying to make him rise. This +attempt only irritated Marillac; he seized hold of the edge of the table +and clung to it with all his might, screaming: + +"No! a thousand times no! I will finish my story. President, allow me +to speak. Ah! ha! you wish to prevent me from speaking because you know +that I tell a story better than you, and that I make an impression upon +my audience. You never have been able to catch my chic. Jealous! +Envious! I know you, serpent!" + +"I beg of you, if you ever cared for me, listen!" replied Octave, who, +as he bent over his friend, noticed the Baron's attentive look. + +"No, I say no!" shouted the artist again, and he added to this word one +of the ugliest-sounding oaths in the French language. He arose, and +pushing Octave aside, leaned upon the table, bursting into a loud laugh. +"Poets all," said he, "be reassured and rejoice. You shall have your +story, in spite of those envious serpents. But first give me something +to drink, for my throat is like a box of matches. No wine," he added, as +he saw the notary armed with a bottle. "This devilish wine has made me +thirsty instead of refreshing me; besides, I am going to be as sober as a +judge." + +Gerfaut, with the desperation of a man who sees that he is about to be +ruined, seized him again by the arm and tried to fascinate him by his +steady gaze. But he obtained no response to this mute and threatening +supplication except a stupid smile and these stammering words: + +"Give me something to drink, Boleslas--Marinski-Graboski--I believe that +Satan has lighted his heating apparatus within my stomach." + +The persons seated near the two friends heard an angry hiss from +Gerfaut's lips. He suddenly leaned over, and taking, from among several +bottles, a little carafe he filled Marillac's glass to the brim. + +"Thanks," said the latter, trying to stand erect upon his legs; "you are +an angel. Rest easy, your love affairs will run no risk. I will gloss +it all over--To your health, gentlemen!" + +He emptied the glass and put it upon the table; he then smiled and waved +his hand at his auditors with true royal courtesy; but his mouth remained +half open as if his lips were petrified, his eyes grew large and assumed +a haggard expression; the hand he had stretched out fell to his side; a +second more, and he reeled and fell from his chair as if he had had a +stroke of apoplexy. + +Gerfaut, whose eyes had not left him, watched these different symptoms +with unutterable anxiety; but in spite of his fright, he drew a sigh of +relief when he saw Marillac mute and speechless. + +"It is singular," observed the notary, as he aided in removing his +neighbor from the table, "that glass of water had more effect upon him +than four or five bottles of wine." + +"Georges," said Gerfaut to one of the servants, in an agitated voice, " +open his bed and help me carry him to it; Monsieur de Bergenheim, I +suppose there is a chemist near here, if I should need any medicine." + +The greater part of the guests arose at this unexpected incident, and +some of them hastened to Marillac's side, as he remained motionless in +his chair. The repeated bathing of his temples with cold water and the +holding of salts to his nose were not able to bring him to consciousness. + +Instead of going to his aid with the others, Bergenheim profited by the +general confusion to lean over the table. He plunged his finger into the +artist's glass, in which a part of the water remained, and then touched +his tongue. Only the notary noticed this movement. Thinking this rather +strange, he seized the glass in his turn and swallowed the few drops that +it contained. + +"Heavens!" he exclaimed, in a low voice, to Bergenheim, "I am not +surprised that the bumper asphyxiated him on the spot. Do you know, +Baron, if this Monsieur de Gerfaut had taken anything but water during +the evening, I should say that he was the drunker of the two; or that, if +they were not such good friends, he wished to poison him in order to stop +his talk. Did you notice that he did not seem pleased to hear this +story?" + +"Ah! you, too!" exclaimed the Baron angrily, "everybody will know it." + +"To take a carafe of kirsch for clear water," continued the notary, +without paying any attention to the Baron's agitation. "The devil! +the safe thing to do is to give him an emetic at once; this poor fellow +has enough prussic acid in his stomach to poison a cow." + +"Who is talking of prussic acid and poisoning?" exclaimed the public +prosecutor, running with an unsteady step from one extremity of the table +to the other, "who has been poisoned? I am the public prosecutor, I am +the only one here who has any power to start an investigation. Have they +had an autopsy? Where did they find it? Buried in the fields or the +woods, or floating on the river?" + +"You lie! there is no dead body in the river!" exclaimed Bergenheim, in +a thundering voice, as he seized the magistrate by the collar in a +bewildered way. + +The magistrate was incapable of making the least resistance when held by +such a vigorous hand and he received two or three shakings. Suddenly the +Baron stopped, and struck his forehead with a gesture common to persons +who feel that their reason has given way under a paroxysm of rage. + +"I am crazy," said he, with much emotion. "Monsieur," he added, "I am +very sorry. We really have all taken too much wine. I beg your pardon, +gentlemen. I will leave you a moment--I need some fresh air." + +He hurriedly left the room, almost running against the persons who were +carrying Marillac to his room. The public prosecutor, whose ideas had +been somewhat mixed before, was now completely muddled by this unheard-of +attack upon his dignity, and fell back exhausted in his chair. + +"All poor drinkers!" said the notary to Monsieur de Carrier who was left +alone with him, for the prosecutor, half suffocated with indignation and +intoxication, could no longer be counted as one of them. "Here they are, +all drunk, from just a few glasses of wine." + +The notary shook his head with a mysterious air. + +"These things, though, are plain enough to me," said he at last; "first, +this Monsieur Marillac has not a very strong head and tells pretty +tedious stories when drunk; then his friend has a way of taking kirsch +for water which I can understand only in extreme cases; but the Baron is +the one who astonished me most. Did you notice how he shook our friend +who has just fallen on the floor? As to the Baron pretending that he was +drunk and thus excusing himself, I do not believe one word of it; he +drank nothing but water. There were times this evening when he appeared +very strange indeed! There is some deviltry underneath all this; +Monsieur de Carrier, rest assured there is some deviltry underneath it +all." + +"I am the public prosecutor--they can not remove the body without me," +stammered the weak voice of the magistrate, who, after trying in vain to +recover his equilibrium, lay flat upon the floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A STRATAGEM + +Instead of joining the persons who were carrying Marillac away, Christian +went into the garden after leaving the dining-room, in quest of the fresh +air which he gave as an excuse for leaving his guests. In fact, he felt +oppressed almost to suffocation by the emotions he had undergone during +the last few hours. The dissimulation which prudence made a necessity +and honor a duty had aggravated the suffering by protracted concealment. + +For some time Christian walked rapidly among the paths and trees in the +park. Bathing his burning brow in the cool night air, he sought to calm +the secret agitation and the boiling blood that were raging within him, +in the midst of which his reason struggled and fought like a ship about +to be wrecked. He used all his strength to recover his self-possession, +so as to be able to master the perils and troubles which surrounded him +with a calm if not indifferent eye; in one word, to regain that control +over himself that he had lost several times during the supper. +His efforts were not in vain. He contemplated his situation without +weakness, exaggeration, or anger, as if it concerned another. Two facts +rose foremost before him, one accomplished, the other uncertain. On one +side, murder, on the other, adultery. No human power could remedy the +first or prevent its consequences; he accepted it, then, but turn his +mind away from it he must, in the presence of this greater disaster. +So far, only presumptions existed against Clemence--grave ones, to be +sure, if one added Lambernier's revelations to Marillac's strangely +indiscreet remarks. It was his first duty to himself, as well as to +her, to know the whole truth; if innocent, he would beg her forgiveness; +if guilty, he had a chastisement to inflict. + +"It is an abyss," thought he, "and I may find as much blood as mud at the +bottom of it. No matter, I will descend to its very depths." + +When he returned to the chateau, his face had resumed its usual calm +expression. The most observing person would hardly have noticed any +change in his looks. The dining-room had been abandoned at last. The +victorious and the vanquished had retired to their rooms. First of all, +he went up to the artist's apartment, so that no singularity in his +conduct should attract attention, for, as master of the house, a visit to +one of his guests who had fallen dead, or nearly so, at his own table was +a positive duty. The attentions lavished upon Marillac by his friend had +removed the danger which might have resulted from his imprudent excesses +in drinking, and the sort of poisoning with which he had crowned the +whole. He lay upon his bed in the same position in which he had first +been placed, and was sleeping that heavy, painful sleep which serves as +an expiation for bacchic excesses. Gerfaut was seated a few steps from +him, at a table, writing; he seemed prepared to sit up all night, and to +fulfill, with the devotion of a friend, the duties of a nurse. + +Octave arose at sight of the Baron, his face having resumed its habitual +reserved expression. The two men greeted each other with equal +composure. + +"Is he sleeping?" asked Christian. + +"But a few minutes only," replied the latter; "he is all right now, and I +hope," Octave added, smilingly, "that this will serve as a lesson to you, +and that hereafter you will put some limits to your princely hospitality. +Your table is a regular ambush." + +"Do not throw stones at me, I pray," replied the Baron, with an +appearance of equal good-humor. "If your friend wants to ask an +explanation of anybody it is of you, for you took some kirsch of 1765 for +water." + +"I really believe that I was the drunker of the two," interrupted Octave, +with a vivacity which concealed a certain embarrassment; "we must have +terribly scandalized Monsieur de Camier, who has but a poor opinion of +Parisian heads and stomachs." + +After looking for a moment at the sleeping artist, Christian approached +the table where Gerfaut was seated, and threw a glance over the latter's +writing. + +"You are still at work, I see?" said he, as his eyes rested upon the +paper. + +"Just now I am following the modest trade of copyist. These are some +verses which Mademoiselle de Corandeuil asked me for--" + +"Will you do me a favor? I am going to her room now; give me these +verses to hand to her. Since the misfortune that befell Constance, she +has been terribly angry with me, and I shall not be sorry to have some +reason for going to her room." + +Octave finished the two or three lines which remained to be copied, and +handed the sheet to Bergenheim. The latter looked at it attentively, +then carefully folded it and put it in his pocket. + +"I thank you, Monsieur," said he, "I will leave you to your friendly +duties." + +There was something so solemn in the calm accent of these words, and the +polite bow which accompanied them, that Gerfaut felt chilled, though not +alarmed, for he did not understand. + +When he reached his room, Bergenheim opened the paper which Gerfaut had +just given him and compared it with the letter he had received from +Lambernier. The suspicions which a separate examination had aroused were +confirmed upon comparing the two letters; no doubt was possible; the +letter and the poetry were written by the same hand! + +After a few moments' reflection, Christian went to his wife's room. + +Clemence was seated in an armchair, near the fireplace, indulging in a +revery. Although her lover was not there, she was still under the charm +of this consuming as well as intellectual passion, which responded to the +yearnings of her heart, the delicacy of her tastes, and the activity of +her imagination. At this moment, she was happy to live; there was not a +sad thought that these words, "He loves me!" could not efface. + +The noise of the opening door aroused her from her meditation. Madame de +Bergenheim turned her head with a look of vexation, but instead of the +servant whom she was ready to reprimand, she saw her husband. The +expression of impatience imprinted upon her face gave way to one of +fright. She arose with a movement she could not repress, as if she had +seen a stranger, and stood leaning against the mantel in a constrained +attitude. Nothing in Christian's manner justified, however, the fear the +sight of him seemed to cause his wife. He advanced with a tranquil air, +and a smile that he had forced upon his lips. + +With the presence of mind with which all women seem to be gifted, +Clemence fell back into her chair, and, assuming a languid, suffering +tone, mixed with an appearance of reproach, she said: + +"I am glad to see you for a moment in order to scold you; you have not +shown your usual consideration to-night. Did you not think that the +noise from the dining-room might reach as far as here?" + +"Has it troubled you?" asked Christian, looking at her attentively. + +"Unless one had a head of cast-iron--It seems that these gentlemen have +abused the liberty permitted in the country. From what Justine tells me, +things have taken place which would have been more appropriate at the +Femme-sans-Tete." + +"Are you suffering very much?" + +"A frightful neuralgia--I only wish I could sleep." + +"I was wrong not to have thought of this. You will forgive me, will you +not?" + +Bergenheim leaned over the chair, passed his arm around the young woman's +shoulders, and pressed his lips to her forehead. For the first time in +his life, he was playing a part upon the marital stage, and he watched +with the closest attention the slightest expression of his wife's face. +He noticed that she shivered, and that her forehead which he had lightly +touched was as cold as marble. + +He arose and took several turns about the room, avoiding even a glance at +her, for the aversion which she had just shown toward her husband seemed +to him positive proof of the very thing he dreaded, and he feared he +should not be able to contain himself. + +"What is the matter with you?" she asked, as she noticed his agitation. + +These words brought the Baron to his senses, and he returned to her side, +replying in a careless tone: + +"I am annoyed for a very simple cause; it concerns your aunt." + +"I know. She is furious against you on account of the double misfortune +to her dog and coachman. You will admit that, as far as Constance is +concerned, you are guilty." + +"She is not content with being furious; she threatens a complete rupture. +Here, read this." + +He handed her a large letter, folded lengthwise and sealed with the +Corandeuil crest. + +Madame de Bergenheim took the letter and read its contents aloud: + + "After the unheard-of and unqualifiable events of this day, the + resolution which I have formed will doubtless not surprise you in + the least, Monsieur. You will understand that I can not and will + not remain longer in a house where the lives of my servants and + other creatures which are dear to me may be exposed to the most + deplorable, wilful injury. I have seen for some time, although I + have tried to close my eyes to the light of truth, the plots that + were hatched daily against all who wore the Corandeuil livery. I + supposed that I should not be obliged to put an end to this highly + unpleasant matter myself, but that you would undertake this charge. + It seems, however, that respect and regard for women do not form + part of a gentleman's duties nowadays. I shall therefore be obliged + to make up myself for the absence of such attentions, and watch over + the safety of the persons and other creatures that belong to me. I + shall leave for Paris tomorrow. I hope that Constance's condition + will permit her to endure the journey, but Baptiste's wound is too + serious for me to dare to expose him. I am compelled, although with + deep regret, to leave him here until he is able to travel, trusting + him to the kind mercies of my niece. + + "Receive, Monsieur, with my adieux, my thanks for your courteous + hospitality. + + "YOLANDE DE CORANDEUIL." + +"Your aunt abuses the privileges of being foolish," said the Baron, when +his wife had finished reading the letter; "she deserts the battlefield +and leaves behind her wounded." + +"But I saw her, not two hours ago, and, although she was very angry, she +did not say one word of this departure." + +"Jean handed me this letter but a moment ago, clad in full livery, and +with the importance of an ambassador who demands his passports. You must +go and talk with her, dear, and use all your eloquence to make her change +her mind." + +"I will go at once," said Clemence, rising. + +"You know that your aunt is rather obstinate when she takes a notion into +her head. If she persists in this, tell her, in order to decide her to +remain, that I am obliged to go to Epinal with Monsieur de Carrier +tomorrow morning, on account of the sale of some wood-land, and that I +shall be absent three days at least. You understand that it will be +difficult for your aunt to leave you alone during my absence, on account +of these gentlemen." + +"Certainly, that could not be," said she, quickly. + +"I do not see, as far as I am concerned, anything improper about it," +said the Baron, trying to smile; "but we must obey the proprieties. +You are too young and too pretty a mistress of the house to pass for a +chaperon, and Aline, instead of being a help, would be one inconvenience +the more. So your aunt must stay here until my return." + +"And by that time Constance and Baptiste will be both cured and her anger +will have passed away. You did not tell me about this trip to Epinal nor +the selling of the woodland." + +"Go to your aunt's room before she retires to bed," replied Bergenheim, +without paying any attention to this remark, and seating himself in the +armchair; "I will wait for you here. We leave to-morrow morning early, +and I wish to know tonight what to depend upon." + +As soon as Madame de Bergenheim had left the room, Christian arose and +ran, rather than walked, to the space between the two windows, and sought +the button in the woodwork of which Lambernier had told him. He soon +found it, and upon his first pressure the spring worked and the panel +flew open. The casket was upon the shelf; he took it and carefully +examined the letters which it contained. The greater part of them +resembled in form the one that he possessed; some of them were in +envelopes directed to Madame de Bergenheim and bore Gerfaut's crest. +There was no doubt about the identity of the handwriting; if the Baron +had had any, these proofs were enough. After glancing rapidly over a few +of the notes, he replaced them in the casket and returned the latter to +the shelf where he had found it. He then carefully closed the little +door and reseated himself beside the fireplace. + +When Clemence returned, her husband seemed absorbed in reading one of the +books which he had found upon her table, while he mechanically played +with a little bronze cup that his wife used to drop her rings in when she +removed them. + +"I have won my case," said the Baroness, in a gay tone; "my aunt saw +clearly the logic of the reasons which I gave her, and she defers her +departure until your return." + +Christian made no reply. + +"That means that she will not go at all, for her anger will have time to +cool off in three days; at heart she is really kind!--How long is it +since you have known English?" she asked, as she noticed that her +husband's attention seemed to be fixed upon a volume of Lord Byron's +poems. + +Bergenheim threw the book on the table, raised his head and gazed calmly +at his wife. In spite of all his efforts, his face had assumed an +expression which would have frightened her if she had noticed it, but her +eyes were fastened upon the cup which he was twisting in his hand as if +it were made of clay. + +"Mon Dieu! Christian, what is the matter with you? What are you doing to +my poor cup?" she asked, with surprise mingled with a little of that +fright which is so prompt to be aroused if one feels not above reproach. + +He arose and put the misshapen bronze upon the table. + +"I do not know what ails me to-night," said he, "my nerves are unstrung. +I will leave you, for I need rest myself. I shall start to-morrow +morning before you are up, and I shall return Wednesday." + +"Not any later, I hope," she said, with that soft, sweet voice, from +which, in such circumstances, very few women have the loyalty to abstain. + +He went out without replying, for he feared he might be no longer master +of himself; he felt, when offered this hypocritical, almost criminal, +caress, as if he would like to end it all by killing her on the spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE CRISIS + +Twenty-four hours had passed. The Baron had departed early in the +morning, and so had all his guests, with the exception of Gerfaut and the +artist. The day passed slowly and tediously. Aline had been vexed, +somewhat estranged from her sister-in-law since their conversation in the +little parlor. Mademoiselle de Corandeuil was entirely occupied in +restoring her poodle to health. + +Marillac, who had been drinking tea ever since rising, dared not present +his face, which showed the effects of his debauch of the night before, +to the mistress of the house, whose exacting and aristocratic austerity +he very much feared. He pretended to be ill, in order to delay the +moment when he should be forced to make his appearance. Madame de +Bergenheim did not leave her aunt, and thus avoided being alone with +Octave--who, on account of these different complications, might have +spent a continual tete-a-tete with her had she been so inclined. +Christian's absence, instead of being a signal of deliverance for the +lovers, seemed to have created a new misunderstanding, for Clemence felt +that it would be a mean action to abuse the liberty her husband's +departure gave her. She was thus very reserved during the day, when she +felt that there were more facilities for yielding, but, in the evening, +when alone in her apartment, this fictitious prudery disappeared. She +spent the entire evening lying upon the divan in the little boudoir, +dreaming of Octave, talking to him as if he could reply, putting into +practice again that capitulation of conscience which permits our mind to +wander on the brink of guilt, provided actions are strictly correct. + +After a while this exaltation fell by degrees. When struggling +earnestly, she had regarded Octave as an enemy; but, since she had gone +to him as one passes over to the enemy, and, in her heart, had taken part +with the lover against the husband, her courage failed her as she thought +of this, and she fell, weak, guilty, and vanquished before the combat. + +When she had played with her passion, she had given Christian little +thought; she had felt it childish to bring her husband into an amusement +that she believed perfectly harmless; then, when she wished to break her +plaything, and found it made of iron and turning more and more into a +tyrannical yoke, she called to her aid the conjugal divinities, but in +too faint a voice to be heard. Now the situation had changed again. +Christian was no longer the insignificant ally that the virtuous wife had +condemned, through self-conceit, to ignorant neutrality; he was the +husband, in the hostile and fearful acceptation of the word. This man +whom she had wronged would always have law on his side. + +Religion sometimes takes pity on a wayward wife, but society is always +ready to condemn her. She was his own, fastened to him by indissoluble +bonds. He had marked her with his name like a thing of his own; he held +the threads of her life in his hands; he was the dispenser of her +fortune, the judge of her actions, and the master of their fireside. +She had no dignity except through him. If he should withdraw his support +for a single day, she would fall from her position without any human +power being able to rescue her. Society closes its doors to the outcast +wife, and adds to the husband's sentence another penalty still more +scathing. + +Having now fallen from the sphere of illusion to that of reality, +Madame de Bergenheim was wounded at every step. A bitter feeling of +discouragement overwhelmed her, as she thought of the impossibility of +happiness to which a deplorable fatality condemned her. Marriage and +love struggled for existence, both powerless to conquer, and qualified +only to cause each other's death. Marriage made love a crime; love made +marriage a torture. She could only choose between two abysses: shame in +her love, despair in her virtue. + +The hours passed rapidly in these sad and gloomy meditations; the clock +marked the hour of midnight. Madame de Bergenheim thought it time to try +to sleep; but, instead of ringing for her maid, she decided to go to the +library herself and get a book, thinking that perhaps it might aid her in +going to sleep. As she opened the door leading into the closet adjoining +her parlor, she saw by the light of the candle which she held in her hand +something which shone like a precious stone lying upon the floor. At +first she thought it might be one of her rings, but as she stooped to +pick it up she saw her error. It was a ruby pin mounted in enamelled +gold. She recognized it, at the very first glance, as belonging to M. de +Gerfaut. + +She picked up the pin and returned to the parlor. She exhausted in +imagination a thousand conjectures in order to explain the presence of +this object in such a place. Octave must have entered it or he could not +have left this sign of his presence; it meant that he could enter her +room at his will; what he had done once, he could certainly do again! +The terror which this thought gave her dissipated like a dash of cold +water all her former intoxicating thoughts; for, like the majority of +women, she had more courage in theory than in action. A moment before, +she had invoked Octave's image and seated it lovingly by her side. + +When she believed this realization possible, all she thought of was to +prevent it. She was sure that her lover never had entered the closet +through the parlor, as he never had been in this part of the house +farther than the little drawing-room. Suddenly a thought of the little +corridor door struck her; she remembered that this door was not usually +locked because the one from the library was always closed; she knew that +Octave had a key to the latter, and she readily understood how he had +reached her apartment. Mustering up all her courage through excessive +fear, she returned to the closet, hurried down the stairs, and pushed the +bolt. She then returned to the parlor and fell upon the divan, +completely exhausted by her expedition. + +Little by little her emotion passed away. Her fright appeared childish +to her, as soon as she believed herself sheltered from danger; she +promised herself to give Octave a good scolding the next morning; then +she renounced this little pleasure, when she remembered that it would +force her to admit the discovery of the pin, and of course to return it +to him, for she had resolved to keep it. She had always had a particular +fancy for this pin, but she would never have dared to ask him for it, +and besides, it was the fact that Octave usually wore it that made it +of infinite value to her. The desire to appropriate it was irresistible, +since chance had thrown it into her hands. She tied a black satin ribbon +about her white neck, and pinned it with the precious ruby. After +kissing it as devotedly as if it were a relic, she ran to her mirror to +judge of the effect of the theft. + +"How pretty, and how I love it!" said she; "but how can I wear it so +that he will not see it?" + +Before she could solve this problem, she heard a slight noise, which +petrified her as she stood before her glass. + +"It is he!" she thought; after standing for a moment half stunned, she +dragged herself as far as the stairs, and leaning over, listened with +fear and trembling. At first she could hear nothing but the beating of +her heart; then she heard the other noise again, and more distinctly. +Somebody was turning the handle of the door, trying to open it. The +unexpected obstacle of the bolt doubtless exasperated the would-be +visitor, for the door was shaken and pushed with a violence which +threatened to break the lock or push down the door. + +Madame de Bergenheim's first thought was to run into her chamber and lock +the door behind her;--the second showed her the danger that might result +if the slightest noise should reach other ears. Not a moment was to be +lost in hesitation. The young woman quickly descended the stairs and +drew the bolt. The door opened softly and closed with the same +precaution. The lamp from the parlor threw a feeble light upon the upper +steps of the staircase, but the lower ones were in complete darkness. It +was with her heart rather than her eyes that she recognized Octave; he +could distinguish Madame de Bergenheim only in an indistinct way by her +white dress, which was faintly outlined in the darkness; she stood before +him silent and trembling with emotion, for she had not yet thought of a +speech that would send him away. + +He also felt the embarrassment usual in any one guilty of so foolhardy an +action. He had expected to surprise Clemence, and he found her upon her +guard; the thought of the disloyal part he was playing at this moment +made the blood mount to his cheeks and took away, for the time being, his +ordinary assurance. He sought in vain for a speech which might first +justify him and then conquer her. He had recourse to a method often +employed in the absence of eloquence. He fell on his knees before the +young woman and seized her hands; it seemed as if the violence of his +emotions rendered him incapable of expressing himself except by silent +adoration. As she felt his hands touch hers, Clemence drew back and said +in a low voice: + +"You disgust me!" + +"Disgust!" he repeated, drawing himself up to his full height. + +"Yes, and that is not enough," she continued, indignantly, "I ought to +say scorn instead of disgust. You deceived me when you said you loved +me--you infamously deceived me!" + +"But I adore you!" he exclaimed, with vehemence; "what proof do you wish +of my love?" + +"Go! go away at once! A proof, did you say? I will accept only one: +go, I order it, do you understand?" + +Instead of obeying her, he seized her in his arms in spite of her +resistance. + +"Anything but that," he said; "order me to kill myself at your feet, I +will do it, but I will not go." + +She tried for a moment to disengage herself, but although she used all +her strength, she was unable to do so. + +"Oh, you are without pity," she said, feebly, "but I abhor you; rather, a +thousand times rather, kill me!" + +Gerfaut was almost frightened by the agonized accent in which she spoke +these words; he released her, but as he removed his arms, she reeled and +he was obliged to support her. + +"Why do you persecute me, then?" she murmured, as she fell in a faint +upon her lover's breast. + +He picked her up in his arms and mounted the narrow stairs with +difficulty. Carrying her into the parlor, he placed her upon the divan. +She had completely lost consciousness; one would have believed her dead +from the pallor of her face, were, it not for a slight trembling which +agitated her form every few seconds and announced a nervous attack. The +most expert of lady's maids could not have removed the little ribbon from +her neck, which seemed to trouble her respiration, more adroitly than did +Octave. In spite of his anxiety, he could not repress a smile as he +recognized the pin which he hardly expected to find upon Clemence's neck, +considering the hostile way in which she had greeted him. He knelt +before her and bathed her temples with cold water, making her also inhale +some salts which he found upon the toilet table in the next room. Little +by little, these attentions produced an effect; the nervous convulsion +became less frequent and a slight flush suffused her pale cheeks. She +opened her eyes and then closed them, as if the light troubled them; +then, extending her arms, she passed them about Octave's neck as he +leaned over her; she remained thus for some time, breathing quietly and +to all appearances sleeping. Suddenly she said: + +"You will give me your pin, will you not?" + +"Is not all that I have yours?" he replied, in a low tone. + +"Mine!" she continued, in a feebly loving voice; "tell me again that you +belong to me, to me alone, Octave!" + +"You do not send me away any longer, then? you like me to be near you?" +he said, with a happy smile, as he kissed the young woman's brow. + +"Oh! stay, I beg of you! stay with me forever!" + +She folded her arms more tightly around him, as if she feared he might +leave her. Suddenly she sat up, opened her eyes, and gazed about her in +silent astonishment. + +"What has happened?" said she, "and how is it that you are here? Ah! +this is dreadful indeed; you have cruelly punished me for my weakness." + +This sudden severity after her delicious abandon, changed Octave's +pleasure into angry vexation. + +"You are the one," he replied, "who are cruel! Why allow me so much +bliss, if you intended to take it away from me so soon? Since you love +me only in your dreams, I beg of you to go to sleep again and never +awaken. I will stay near you. Your words were so sweet, but a moment +ago, and now you deny them!" + +"What did I say?" she asked, with hesitation, a deep blush suffusing. +her face and neck. + +These symptoms, which he considered a bad augury, increased Octave's +irritation. He arose and said in a bitter tone: + +"Fear nothing! I will not abuse the words which have escaped you, +however flattering or charming they may have been; they told me that you +loved me. I do not believe it any longer; you are agitated, I can see; +but it is from fear and not love." + +Clemence drew herself up upon the divan, crossed her arms over her breast +and gazed at him for a few moments in silence. + +"Do you believe these two sentiments incompatible?" she asked at last; +"you are the only one whom I fear. Others would not complain." + +There was such irresistible charm in her voice and glance that Gerfaut's +ill-humor melted away like ice in the sun's rays. He fell upon his knees +before the divan, and tried to pass her arms about his neck as before; +but instead of lending herself to this project, she attempted to rise. + +"I am so happy at your feet," he said, gently preventing her. "Everybody +else can sit beside you; I only have the right to kneel. Do not take +this right away from me." + +Madame de Bergenheim extricated one of her hands, and, raising her finger +with a threatening gesture, she said: + +"Think a little less of your rights, and more of your duties. I advise +you to obey me and to profit by my kindness, which allows you to sit by +my side for a moment. Think that I might be more severe, and that if I +treated you as you merited--if I told you to go away, would you obey me?" + +Gerfaut hesitated a moment and looked at her supplicatingly. + +"I would obey," said he; "but would you have the courage to order it?" + +"I allow you to remain until just half past twelve," said she, as she +glanced at the clock, which she could see through the half-open door. +Gerfaut followed her glance, and saw that she accorded him only a quarter +of an hour: but he was too clever to make any observation. He knew that +the second quarter of an hour is always less difficult to obtain than the +first. + +"I am sure," said she, "that you have thought me capricious to-day; you +must pardon me, it is a family fault. You know the saying: 'Caprice de +Corandeuil?" + +"I wish it to be said: Amour de Gerfaut," said he, tenderly. + +"You are right to be amiable and say pleasant things to me, for I need +them badly to-night. I am sad and weary; the darkest visions come before +my mind. I think it is the storm which makes me feel so. How doleful +this thunder is! It seems to me like an omen of misfortune." + +"It is only the fancy of your vivid imagination. If you exerted the same +will to be happy that you do to imagine troubles, our life would be +perfect. What matters the storm? and even if you do see an omen in it, +what is there so very terrible? Clouds are vapor, thunder is a sound, +both are equally ephemeral; only the blue sky, which they can obscure but +for a moment, is eternal." + +"Did you not hear something just now?" asked Madame de Bergenheim, as +she gave a sudden start and listened eagerly. + +"Nothing. What did you think it was?" + +"I feared it might be Justine who had taken it into her head to come down +stairs; she is so tiresome in her attentions--" + +She arose and went to look in her chamber, which she carefully locked; a +moment later, she returned and seated herself again upon the divan. + +"Justine is sleeping by this time," said Octave; "I should not have +ventured if I had not seen that her light was out." + +Clemence took his hand and placed it over her heart. + +"Now," said she, "when I tell you that I am frightened, will you believe +me?" + +"Poor dear!" he exclaimed, as he felt her heart throbbing violently. + +"You are the one who causes me these palpitations for the slightest +thing. I know that we do not run any danger, that everybody is in his +own room by this time, and yet, somehow, I feel terribly frightened. +There are women, so they say, who get used to this torture, and end by +being guilty and tranquil at the same time. It is an unworthy thought, +but I'll confess that, sometimes, when I suffer so, I wish I were like +them. But it is impossible; I was not made for wrong-doing. You can not +understand this, you are a man; you love boldly, you indulge in every +thought that seems sweet to you without being troubled by remorse. And +then, when you suffer, your anguish at least belongs to you, nobody has +any right to ask you what is the matter. But I, my tears even are not my +own; I have often shed them on your account--I must hide them, for he has +a right to ask: 'Why do you weep?' And what can I reply?" + +She turned away her head to conceal the tears which she could not +restrain; he saw them, and, leaning over her, he kissed them away. + +"Your tears are mine!" he exclaimed, passionately; "but do not distress +me by telling me that our love makes you unhappy." + +"Unhappy! oh, yes! very unhappy! and yet I would not change this +sorrow for the richest joys of others. This unhappiness is my treasure! +To be loved by you! To think that there was a time when our love might +have been legitimate! What fatality weighs upon us, Octave? Why did we +know each other too late? I often dream a beautiful dream--a dream of +freedom." + +"You are free if you love me--It is the rain against the windows," said +he, seeing Madame de Bergenheim anxiously listening again. They kept +silent for a moment, but could hear nothing except the monotonous +whistling of the storm. + +"To be loved by you and not to blush!" said she, as she gazed at him +lovingly. "To be together always, without fearing that a stroke of +lightning might separate us! to give you my heart and still be worthy to +pray! it would be one of those heavenly delights that one grasps only in +dreams--" + +"Oh! dream when I shall be far from you; but, when I am at your feet, +when our hearts beat only for each other, do not evoke, lest you destroy +our present happiness, that which is beyond our power. Do you think +there are bonds which can more strongly unite us? Am I not yours? And +you, yourself, who speak of the gift of your heart, have you not given it +to me entirely?" + +"Oh! yes, entirely! And it is but right, since I owe it to you. I did +not understand life until the day I received it from your eyes; since +that minute I have lived, and I can die. I love you! I fail to find +words to tell you one-tenth of what my heart contains, but I love you--" + +He received her in his arms, where she took refuge so as to conceal her +face after these words. She remained thus for an instant, then arose +with a start, seized Octave's hands and pressed them in a convulsive +manner, saying in a voice as weak as a dying woman's: + +"I am lost!" + +He instinctively followed Clemence's gaze, which was fastened upon the +glass door. An almost imperceptible movement of the muslin curtain was +evident. At the same moment, there was a slight noise, a step upon the +carpet, the turning of the handle of the door, and it was silently opened +as if by a ghost. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE AGREEMENT + +Madame de Bergenheim tried to rise, but her strength failed her, she fell +on her knees, and then dropped at her lover's feet. The latter leaped +from the divan with out trying to assist her, stepped over the body +stretched before him, and drew his poniard out of his pocket. + +Christian stood upon the threshold of the door silent and motionless. + +There was a moment of terrible silence. Only the eyes of the two men +spoke; those of the husband were fixed, dull, and implacable; those of +the lover sparkled with the audacity of despair. After a moment of +mutual fascination, the Baron made a movement as if to enter. + +"One step more and you are a dead man!" exclaimed Gerfaut, in a low +voice, as he clutched the handle of his poniard. + +Christian extended his hand, replying to this threat only by a look; but +such an imperative one that the thrust of a lance would not have been as +fearful to the lover. Octave put his poniard in its sheath, ashamed of +his emotion in the presence of such calm, and imitated his enemy's +scornful attitude. + +"Come, Monsieur," said the latter, in a low voice, as he took a step +backward. + +Instead of following his example, Gerfaut cast a glance upon Clemence. +She had fallen in such a dead faint that he sought in vain for her +breath. He leaned over her, with an irresistible feeling of pity and +love; but just as he was about to take her in his arms and place her upon +the divan, Bergenheim's hand stopped him. If there is a being on earth +to whom one owes regard and respect, it is the one whom our own wrong has +rendered our enemy. Octave arose, and said, in a grave, resigned voice: + +"I am at your orders, Monsieur." + +Christian pointed to the door, as if to invite him to pass out first, +thus preserving, with his extraordinary composure, the politeness which a +good education makes an indelible habit, but which at this moment was +more frightful to behold than the most furious outburst of temper. +Gerfaut glanced at Clemence again, and said, as he pointed to her: + +"Shall you leave her without any aid in this condition? It is cruel." + +"It is not from cruelty, but out of pity," replied the Baron, coldly; +"she will awake only too soon." + +Octave's heart was intensely oppressed, but he managed to conceal his +emotion. He hesitated no longer and stepped out. The husband followed, +without giving a glance at the poor woman whose own words had condemned +her so inexorably. And so she was left alone in this pretty boudoir as +if in a tomb. + +The two men descended the stairs leading from the little closet. At the +library door they found themselves in absolute obscurity; Christian +opened a dark-lantern and its faint light guided their steps. They +traversed, in silence, the picture-gallery, the vestibule, and then +mounted the main staircase. They reached the Baron's apartment without +meeting anybody or betraying themselves by the slightest sound. With the +same outward self-possession which had characterized his whole conduct, +Christian, after carefully closing the doors, lighted a candelabra filled +with candles which was upon the mantel, and then turned to his companion, +who was far less composed than he. + +Gerfaut had suffered tortures since leaving the little parlor. A feeling +of regret and deepest pity, at the thought of the inevitable catastrophe +which must follow, had softened his heart. He saw in the most odious of +colors the selfishness of his love. Clemence's last glance as she fell +fainting at his feet--a forgiving and a loving glance--was like a dagger +in his heart. He had ruined her! the woman he loved! the queen of his +life! the angel he adored! This idea was like hell to him. He was +almost unable to control his emotion, dizzy as he was on the brink of the +abyss opened by his hand, into which he had precipitated what he counted +as the dearest part of his own self. + +Bergenheim stood, cold and sombre, like a northern sky, opposite this +pale-faced man, upon whose countenance a thousand passionate emotions +were depicted like clouds on a stormy day. + +When Bergenheim's eyes met Octave's, they were so full of vengeance and +hatred that the latter trembled as if he had come in contact with a wild +beast. The lover actually realized the inferiority of his attitude in +the presence of this enraged husband. A feeling of self-pride and +indignation came to his aid. He put aside remorse and regrets until +later; these sad expiations were forbidden him now; another duty lay +before him. There is only one reparation possible for certain offences. +The course once open, one must go to its very end; pardon is to be found +only upon the tomb of the offended. + +Octave knew he had to submit to this necessity. He stifled all scruples +which might have weakened his firmness, and resumed his habitual +disdainful look. His eyes returned his enemy's glance of deadly hatred, +and he began the conversation like a man who is accustomed to master the +events of his life and forbids any one to shape them for him. + +"Before any explanations take place between us," he said, "I have to +declare to you, upon my honor, that there is only one guilty person in +this affair, and that I am the one. The slightest reproach addressed to +Madame de Bergenheim would be a most unjust outrage and a most deplorable +error on your part. I introduced myself into her apartment without her +knowledge and without having been authorized in any way to do so. I had +just entered it when you arrived. Necessity obliges me to admit a love +that is an outrage to you; I am ready to repair this outrage by any +satisfaction you may demand; but in putting myself at your discretion, +I earnestly insist upon exculpating Madame de Bergenheim from all that +can in any way affect her virtue or her reputation." + +"As to her reputation," said Christian, "I will watch over that; as to +her virtue--" + +He did not finish, but his face assumed an expression of incredulous +irony. + +"I swear to you, Monsieur," said Octave, with increasing emotion, +"that she is above all seduction and should be sheltered from all insult; +I swear to you--What oath can I take that you will believe? I swear +that Madame de Bergenheim never has betrayed any of her duties toward +you; that I never have received the slightest encouragement from her; +that she is as innocent of my folly as the angels in heaven." + +Christian shook his head with a scornful smile. + +"This day will be the undying remorse of my life if you will not believe +me," said Gerfaut, with almost uncontrolled vehemence; "I tell you, +Monsieur, she is innocent; innocent! do you understand me? I was led +astray by my passion. I wished to profit by your absence. You know that +I have a key to the library; I used it without her suspecting it. Would +to God that you could have been a witness to our tete-a-tete! you could +then have not one doubt left. Can one prevent a man from entering a +lady's room, when he has succeeded in finding the way to it in spite of +her wishes? I repeat it, she--" + +"Enough, Monsieur," replied the Baron coldly. "You are doing as I should +do in your place; but this discussion is out of place; let this woman +exculpate herself. There should be no mention of her between us now." + +"When I protest that upon my honor--" + +"Monsieur, under such conditions, a false oath is not dishonorable. +I have been a bachelor myself, and I know that anything is allowable +against a husband. Let us drop this, I beg of you, and return to facts. +I consider that I have been insulted by you, and you must give me +satisfaction for this insult." + +Octave made a sign of acquiescence. + +"One of us must die," replied Bergenheim, leaning his elbow negligently +upon the mantel. The lover bowed his head a second time. + +"I have offended you," said he; "you have the right to choose the +reparation due you." + +"There is only one possible, Monsieur. Blood alone can wipe away the +disgrace; you know it as well as I. You have dishonored my home, you owe +me your life for that. If Fate favors you, you will be rid of me, and I +shall be wronged in every way. There are arrangements to be made, and we +shall settle them at once, if you are willing." + +He pushed an armchair toward Gerfaut, and took another himself. + +They seated themselves beside a desk which stood in the middle of the +room, and, with an equal appearance of sang-froid and polite haughtiness, +they discussed this murderous combat. + +"It is not necessary for me to say to you," said Octave, "that I accept +in advance whatever you may decide upon; the weapons, place, and +seconds--" + +"Listen to me, then," interrupted Bergenheim; "you just now spoke in +favor of this woman in a way that made me think you did not wish her +ruined in the eyes of the world; so I trust you will accept the +proposition I am about to make to you. An ordinary duel would arouse +suspicion and inevitably lead to a discovery of the truth; people would +seek for some plausible motive for the encounter, whatever story we might +tell our seconds. You know that there is but one motive which will be +found acceptable by society for a duel between a young man who had been +received as a guest of this house and the husband. In whatever way this +duel may terminate, this woman's honor would remain on the ground with +the dead, and that is what I wish to avoid, since she bears my name." + +"Will you explain to me what your plan is?" asked Octave, who could not +understand what his adversary had in mind. + +"You know, Monsieur," Bergenheim continued, in his calm voice, "that I +had a perfect right to kill you a moment ago; I did not do so for two +reasons: first, a gentleman should use his sword and not a poniard, +and then your dead body would have embarrassed me." + +"The river is close by!" interrupted Gerfaut, with a strange smile. + +Christian looked at him fixedly for a moment, and then replied in a +slightly changed tone: + +"Instead of availing myself of my right, I intend to risk my life against +yours. The danger is the same for myself, who never have insulted you, +as for you, who have offered me the deadliest insult that one man can +offer another. I am willing to spill my blood, but not to soil my +honor." + +"If it is a duel without seconds that you desire, you have my consent; +I have perfect confidence in your loyalty, and I hope you can say the +same for mine." + +Christian bowed his head slightly and continued: + +"It is more than a duel without seconds, for the whole affair must be so +contrived as to be looked upon as an accident; it is the only way to +prevent the outbreak and scandal I dread so much. Now here is my +proposition: You know that a wild-boar hunt is to take place to-morrow in +the Mares woods. When we station ourselves we shall be placed together +at a spot I know of, where we shall be out of the sight of the other +hunters. When the boar crosses the enclosure we will fire at a signal +agreed upon. In this way, the denouement, whatever it may be, will be +looked upon as one of those accidents which so frequently happen in +shooting-parties." + +"I am a dead man," thought Gerfaut, as he saw that the gun would be the +weapon chosen by his adversary, and recalled his wonderful skill, of +which he had had many and various proofs. But instead of showing the +slightest hesitation, his countenance grew still more arrogant. + +"This kind of combat seems to me very wisely planned," said he; +"I accept, for I desire as much as you that this affair should remain +an eternal secret." + +"Since we are to have no seconds," continued Bergenheim, "let us arrange +everything so that nothing can betray us; it is inconceivable how the +most trifling circumstances often turn out crushing evidence. I think +that I have foreseen everything. If you find that I have forgotten any +detail, please remind me of it. The place I speak of is a narrow, well- +shaded path. The ground is perfectly level; it lies from north to south, +so that at eight o'clock in the morning the sun will be on that side; +there will be no advantage in position. There is an old elm on the +borders of the wood; at fifty steps' distance in the pathway, lies the +trunk of an oak which has been felled this year. These are the two +places where we will station ourselves, if you consent to it. Is it the +proper distance?" + +"Near or farther, it matters little. Breast to breast, if you like." + +"Nearer would be imprudent. However, fifty steps with the gun is less +than fifteen with a pistol. This point is settled. We will remain with +heads covered, although this is not the custom. A ball might strike the +head where the cap would be, and if this should happen it would arouse +suspicion, as people do not hunt bareheaded. It only remains to decide +who shall fire first," continued Christian. + +"You, of course; you are the offended one." + +"You do not admit the full offence to have been committed, and, since +this is in doubt, and I can not be judge and jury together, we shall +consult chance." + +"I declare to you that I will not fire first," interrupted Gerfaut. + +"Remember that it is a mortal duel, and such scruples are foolish. Let +us agree that whoever has the first shot, shall place himself upon the +border of the woods and await the signal, which the other will give when +the boar crosses the enclosure." + +He took a gold piece from his purse and threw it in the air. + +"Heads!" said the lover, ready to acquiesce to the least of his +adversary's conditions. + +"Fate is for you," said Christian, looking at the coin with marked +indifference; "but, remember, if at the signal given by me you do not +fire, or only fire in the air, I shall use my right to shoot--You know +that I rarely miss my aim." + +These preliminaries ended, the Baron took two guns from his closet, +loaded them, taking particular care to show that they were of equal +length and the same calibre. He then locked them up in the closet and +offered Gerfaut the key. + +"I would not do you this injustice," said the latter. + +"This precaution is hardly necessary, since, tomorrow, you will take your +choice of those weapons. Now that everything is arranged," continued the +Baron, in a graver tone, "I have one request to make of you, and I think +you are too loyal to refuse it. Swear to me that whatever may be the +result, you will keep all this a profound secret. My honor is now in +your hands; speaking as a gentleman to a gentleman, I ask you to respect +it." + +"If I have the sad privilege of surviving you," replied Gerfaut, no less +solemnly, "I swear to you to keep the secret inviolate. But, supposing a +contrary event, I also have a request to make to you. What are your +intentions regarding Madame de Bergenheim?" + +Christian gazed at his adversary a moment, with a searching glance which +seemed to read his innermost thoughts. + +"My intentions?" said he at last, in a displeased, surprised tone; "this +is a very strange question; I do not recognize your right to ask it." + +"My right is certainly strange," said the lover, with a bitter smile; +"but whatever it may be, I shall make use of it. I have destroyed this +woman's happiness forever; if I can not repair this fault, at least I +ought to mitigate the effect as much as lies in my power. Will you reply +to me--if I die tomorrow, what will be her fate?" + +Bergenheim kept silent, his sombre eyes lowered to the floor. + +"Listen to me, Monsieur," continued Gerfaut, with great emotion; "when I +said to you, 'She is not guilty,' you did not believe me, and I despair +of ever persuading you, for I know well what your suspicions must be. +However, these are the last words addressed to you that will leave my +mouth, and you know that one has to believe a dying man's statement. If +tomorrow you avenge yourself, I earnestly beg of you, let this reparation +suffice. All my pride is gone, you see, since I beg this of you upon my +bended knees. Be humane toward her; spare her, Monsieur. It is not +pardon which I ask you to grant her--it is pity for her unsullied +innocence. Treat her kindly--honorably. Do not make her too wretched." + +He stopped, for his voice failed him, and his eyes filled with tears. + +"I know what I ought to do," replied the Baron, in as harsh a tone as +Gerfaut's had been tender; "I am her husband, and I do not recognize +anybody's right, yours least of all, to interpose between us." + +"I can foresee the fate which you have in reserve for her," replied the +lover, indignantly; "you will not murder her, for that would be too +imprudent; what would become of your vaunted honor then? But you will +slowly kill her; you will make her die a new death every day, in order to +satisfy a blind vengeance. You are a man to meditate over each new +torture as calmly as you have regulated every detail of our duel." + +Bergenheim, instead of replying, lighted a candle as if to put an end to +this discussion. + +"Until to-morrow, Monsieur," said he, with a cold air. + +"One moment!" exclaimed Gerfaut, as he arose; "you refuse to give me one +word which will assure me of the fate of the woman whose life I have +ruined?" + +"I have nothing to say." + +"Very well, then; I will protect her, and I will do it in spite of you +and against you." + +"Not another word," interrupted the Baron, sternly. + +Octave leaned over the table between them and looked at him for a moment, +then said in a terrible voice: + +"You killed Lambernier!" + +Christian bounded backward as if he had been struck. + +"I was a witness of that murder," continued Gerfaut, slowly, as he +emphasized each word; "I will write my deposition and give it to a man +of whom I am as sure as of myself. If I die to-morrow, I will leave him +a mission which no effort on your part will prevent him from fulfilling. +He shall watch over your slightest actions with inexorable vigilance; +he will be Madame de Bergenheim's protector, if you forget that your +first duty is to protect her. The day upon which you abuse your position +with her, the day when she shall call out despairingly, 'Help me!' that +day shall my deposition be placed in the hands of the public prosecutor +at Nancy. He will believe its contents; of that you may be certain. +Besides, the river is an indiscreet tomb; before long it will give up the +body you have confided to it. You will be tried and condemned. You know +the punishment for murder! It is hard labor for life." + +Bergenheim darted toward the mantel at these words and seized a hunting- +knife which hung there. Octave, as he saw him ready to strike, crossed +his arms upon his breast, and said, coldly: + +"Remember that my body might embarrass you; one corpse is enough." + +The Baron threw the weapon on the floor with such force that he broke it +in two. + +"But it was you," he said, in a trembling voice, "you were Lambernier's +assassin. I--He knew this infamous secret, and his death was involuntary +on my part." + +"The intention is of little account. The deed is the question. There is +not a jury that would not condemn you, and that is what I wish, for such +a sentence would bring a legal separation between you and your wife and +give her her liberty." + +"You are not speaking seriously," said Christian, turning pale; "you, +a gentleman, would not denounce me! And, besides, would not my being +sentenced injure the woman in whom you take so much interest?" + +"I know all that," Gerfaut replied; "I too cling to the honor of my name, +and yet I expose it. I have plenty of enemies who will be glad enough to +outrage my memory. Public opinion will condemn me, for they will see +only the action, and that is odious. There is one thing, however, more +precious and necessary to me than the world's opinion, and that is peace +for every day, the right to live; and that is the reason why, happiness +having forsaken me, I am going to bequeath it to the one whom fate has +put in your power, but whom I shall not leave to your mercy." + +"I am her husband," Bergenheim replied, angrily. + +"Yes, you are her husband; so the law is on your side. You have only to +call upon society for its aid; it will come but too gladly at your call +and help you crush a defenceless woman. And I, who love her as you have +never known how to love her, I can do nothing for her! Living, I must +keep silent and bow before your will; but dead, your absurd laws no +longer exist for me; dead, I can place myself between you and her, and I +will do it. Since, in order to aid her, I have no choice of arms, I will +not recoil from the one weapon which presents itself. Yes, if in order +to save her from your vengeance, I am obliged to resort to the shame of a +denunciation, I swear to you here, I will turn informer. I will sully my +name with this stain; I will pick up this stone from the mud, and I will +crush your head with it." + +"These are a coward's words!" exclaimed Christian, as he fell back in +his chair. + +Gerfaut looked at him with a calm, stony glance, while replying: + +"No insults, please! One of us will not be living to-morrow. Remember +what I tell you: if I fall in this duel, it will be to your interest to +have this matter stop then and there. I submit to death myself; but I +exact liberty for her--liberty, with peace and respect. Think it over, +Monsieur; at the first outrage, I shall arise from my tomb to prevent a +second, and dig a trench between you and her which never can be crossed\ +--the penitentiary!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A FRIEND'S ADVICE + +After she came out of her faint, Madame de Bergenheim remained for a long +time in a dazed condition, and did not realize, save in a confused +manner, her real position. She saw vaguely, at her first glance, the +curtains of the bed upon which she lay, and thought that she had awakened +from an ordinary sleep. Little by little, her thoughts became clearer, +and she saw that she was fully dressed, also that her room seemed +brighter than it usually was with only her night-lamp lighted. She +noticed between the half-open curtains a gigantic form reflected almost +to the ceiling opposite her bed. She sat up and distinctly saw a man +sitting in the corner by the fireplace. Frozen with terror, she fell +back upon her pillow as she recognized her husband. Then she remembered +everything, even the slightest details of the scene in the small parlor. +She felt ready to faint again when she heard Christian's steps upon the +carpet, although he walked with great precaution. + +The Baron looked at her a moment, and then, opening the bed-curtains, he +said: + +"You can not pass the night thus, it is nearly three o'clock. You must +go to bed as usual." + +Clemence shivered at these words, whose accent, however, was not hard. +She obeyed mechanically; but she had hardly risen when she was obliged to +recline upon the bed, for her trembling limbs would not support her. + +"Do not be afraid of me," said Bergenheim, drawing back a few steps; "my +presence should not frighten you. I only wish that people should know +that I have passed the night in your chamber, for it is possible that my +return may arouse suspicion. You know that our love is only a comedy +played for the benefit of our servants." + +There was such affected lightness in these remarks that the young woman +was cut to the very quick. She had expected an explosion of anger, but +not this calm contempt. Her revolted pride gave her courage. + +"I do not deserve to be treated thus," said she; "do not condemn me +without a hearing." + +"I ask nothing of you," replied Christian, who seated himself again +beside the mantel; "undress yourself, and go to sleep if it is possible +for you to do so. It is not necessary for Justine to make any comments +tomorrow about your day clothes not having been removed." + +Instead of obeying him, she went toward him and tried to remain standing +in order to speak to him, but her emotion was so intense that it took +away her strength and she was obliged to sit down. + +"You treat me too cruelly, Christian," said she, when she had succeeded +to recover her voice. "I am not guilty; at least, not so much as you +think I am--" said she, drooping her head. + +He looked at her attentively for a moment, and then replied, in a voice +which did not betray the slightest emotion: + +"You must know that my greatest desire is to be persuaded of this by you. +I know that too often appearances are deceitful; perhaps you will be able +to explain to me what took place last evening; I am still inclined to +believe your word. Swear to me that you do not love Monsieur de +Gerfaut." + +"I swear it!" said she, in a weak voice, and without raising her eyes. + +He went to the bed and took down a little silver crucifix which was +hanging above it. + +"Swear it to me upon this crucifix," said he, presenting it to his wife. + +She tried in vain to raise her hand, which seemed fastened to the arm of +her chair. + +"I swear it!" she stammered a second time, while her face became as pale +as death. + +A savage laugh escaped Christian's lips. He put the crucifix in its +place again without saying a word, then he opened the secret panel and, +taking out the casket, placed it upon the table before his wife. She +made a movement as if to seize it, but her courage failed her. + +"You have perjured yourself to your husband and to God!" said Bergenheim +slowly. "Do you know what kind of woman you are?" + +Clemence remained for some time powerless to reply; her respiration was +so painful that each breath seemed like suffocation; her head, after +rolling about on the back of the chair, fell upon her breast, like a +blade of grass broken and bruised by the rain. + +"If you have read those letters," she murmured, when she had strength +enough to speak, "you must know that I am not as unworthy as you think. +I am very guilty--but I still have a right to be forgiven." + +Christian, at this moment, had he been gifted with the intelligence which +fathoms the mysteries of the heart, might have renewed the bonds which +were so near being broken; he could at least have stopped Clemence upon a +dangerous path and saved her from a most irreparable fall. But his +nature was too unrefined for him to see the degrees which separate +weakness from vice, and the intoxication of a loving heart from the +depravity of a corrupt character. With the obstinacy of narrow-minded +people, he had been looking at the whole thing in its worst light, and +for several hours already he had decided upon his wife's guilt in his own +mind; this served now as a foundation for his stern conduct. His +features remained perfectly impassive as he listened to Clemence's words +of justification, which she uttered in a weak, broken voice. + +"I know that I merit your hatred-but if you could know how much I suffer, +you would surely forgive me--You left me in Paris very young, +inexperienced; I ought to have fought against this feeling better than I +did, but I used up in this struggle all the strength that I had--You can +see how pale and changed I have become within the past year. I have aged +several years in those few months; I am not yet what you call a--a lost +woman. He ought to have told you that--" + +"Oh, he has! of course he has," replied Christian with bitter irony. +"Oh, you have in him a loyal cavalier!" + +"You do not believe me, then! you do not believe me!" she continued, +wringing her hands in despair; "but read these letters, the last ones. +See whether one writes like this to a woman who is entirely lost--" + +She tried to take the package which her husband held; instead of giving +the letters to her, he lighted them at the candle and then threw them +into the fireplace. Clemence uttered a cry and darted forward to save +them, but Christian's iron hand seized her and pushed her back into her +chair. + +"I understand how much you care for this correspondence," said he, in a +more excited tone, "but you are more loving than prudent. Let me destroy +one witness which accuses you. Do you know that I have already killed a +man on account of these letters?" + +"Killed!" exclaimed Madame de Bergenheim, whom this word drove almost to +madness, for she could not understand its real meaning and applied it to +her lover. "Well, then, kill me too, for I lied when I said that I +repented. I do not repent! I am guilty! I deceived you! I love him +and I abhor you; I love him! kill me!" + +She fell upon her knees before him and dragged herself along the floor, +striking her head upon it as if she wished to break it. Christian raised +her and seated her in the chair, in spite of her resistance. She +struggled in her husband's arms, and the only words which she uttered +were: "I love him! kill me! I love him! kill me!" + +Her grief was so intense that Bergenheim really pitied her. + +"You did not understand me," he said, "he is not the man I killed." + +She became motionless, dumb. He left her then, from a feeling of +compassion, and returned to his seat. They remained for some time seated +in this way, one on each side of the fireplace; he, with his head leaning +against the mantel; she, crouched in her chair with her face concealed +behind her hands; only the striking of the clock interrupted this silence +and lulled their gloomy thoughts with its monotonous vibrations. + +A sharp, quick sound against one of the windows interrupted this sad +scene. Clemence arose suddenly as if she had received a galvanic shock; +her frightened eyes met her husband's. He made an imperious gesture with +his hand as if to order silence, and both listened attentively and +anxiously. + +The same noise was heard a second time. A rattling against the blinds +was followed by a dry, metallic sound, evidently caused by the contact of +some body against the window. + +"It is some signal," said Christian in a low voice, as he looked at his +wife. "You probably know what it means." + +"I do not, I swear to you," replied Clemence, her heart throbbing with a +new emotion. + +"I will tell you, then; he is there and he has something to say to you. +Rise and open the window." + +"Open the window?" said she, with a frightened look. + +"Do what I tell you. Do you wish him to pass the night under your +window, so that the servants may see him?" + +At this command, spoken in a severe tone, she arose. Noticing that their +shadows might be seen from the outside when the curtains were drawn, +Bergenheim changed the candles to another place. Clemence walked slowly +toward the window; she had hardly opened it, when a purse fell upon the +floor. + +"Close it now," said the Baron. While his wife was quietly obeying, he +picked up the purse, and opening it, took the following note from it: + + "I have ruined you--you for whom I would gladly have died! But of + what use are regrets and despair now? And my blood will not wipe + away your tears. Our position is so frightful that I tremble so + speak of it. I ought to tell you the truth, however, horrible as it + may be. Do not curse me, Clemence; do not impute to me this + fatality, which obliges me thus to torture you. In a few hours I + shall have expiated the wrongs of my love, or you yourself may be + free. Free! pardon me for using this word; I know it is an odious + one to you, but I am too troubled to find another. Whatever + happens, I am about to put within your reach the only aid which it + is possible for me to offer you; it will at least give you a choice + of unhappiness. If you never see me again, to live with him will be + a torture beyond your strength, perhaps, for you love me. I do not + know how to express my thoughts, and I dare not offer you advice or + entreat you. All that I feel is the necessity of telling you that + my whole life belongs to you, that I am yours until death; but I + hardly dare have the courage to lay at your feet the offering of a + destiny already so sad, and which may soon be stained with blood. + A fatal necessity sometimes imposes actions which public opinion + condemns, but the heart excuses, for it alone understands them. + Do not be angry at what you are about to read; never did words like + these come out of a more desolate heart. During the whole day a + post-chaise will wait for you at the rear of the Montigny plateau; + a fire lighted upon the rock which you can see from your room will + notify you of its presence. In a short time it can reach the Rhine. + A person devoted to you will accompany you to Munich, to the house + of one of my relatives, whose character and position will assure you + sufficient protection from all tyranny. There, at least, you will + be permitted to weep. That is all that I can do for you. My heart + is broken when I think of the powerlessness of my love. They say + that when one crushes the scorpion which has wounded him, he is + cured; even my death will not repair the wrong that I have done you; + it will only be one grief the more. Can you understand how + desperate is the feeling which I experience now? For months past, + to be loved by you has been the sole desire of my heart, and now I + must repent ever having attained it. Out of pity for you, I ought + to wish that you did love me with a love as perishable as my life, + so that a remembrance of me would leave you in peace. All this is + so sad that I have not the courage to continue. Adieu, Clemence! + Once more, one last time, I must say: I love you! and yet, I dare + not. I feel unworthy to speak to you thus, for my love has become a + disastrous gift. Did I not ruin you? The only word that seems to + be permissible is the one that even a murderer dares to address to + his God: pardon me!" + + +After reading this, the Baron passed the letter to his wife without +saying a word, and resumed his sombre attitude. + +"You see what he asks of you?" he said, after a rather long pause, as he +observed the dazed way in which Madame de Bergenheim's eyes wandered over +this letter. + +"My head is bewildered," she replied, "I do not understand what he says-- +Why does he speak of death?" + +Christian's lips curled disdainfully as he answered: + +"It does not concern you; one does not kill women." + +"They need it not to die," replied Clemence, who gazed at her husband +with wild, haggard eyes. + +"Then you are going to fight?" she added, after a moment's pause. + +"Really, have you divined as much?" he replied, with an ironical smile; +"it is a wonderful thing how quick is your intelligence! You have spoken +the truth. You see, each of us has his part to play. The wife deceives +her husband; the husband fights with the lover, and the lover in order to +close the comedy in a suitable manner--proposes to run away with the +wife, for that is the meaning of his letter, notwithstanding all his +oratorical precautions." + +"You are going to fight!" she exclaimed, with the energy of despair. +"You are going to fight! And for me--unworthy and miserable creature +that I am! What have you done? And is he not free to love? I alone am +the guilty one, I alone have offended you, and I alone deserve +punishment. Do with me what you will; shut me up in a convent or a cell; +bring me poison, I will drink it." + +The Baron burst into sardonic laughter. + +"So you are afraid that I shall kill, him?" said he, gazing at her +intently, with his arms crossed upon his breast. + +"I fear for you, for us all. Do you think that I can live after causing +blood to be shed? If there must be a victim, take me--or, at least, +begin with me. Have pity! tell me that you will not fight." + +"But think--there is an even chance that you may be set free!" said he. + +"Spare me!" she murmured, shivering with horror. + +"It is a pity that blood must be shed, is it not?" said Bergenheim, in a +mocking tone; "adultery would be pleasant but for that. I am sure that +you think me coarse and brutal to look upon your honor as a serious +thing, when you do not do so yourself." + +"I entreat you!" + +"I am the one who has to entreat you. This astonishes you, does it not? +--While I live, I shall protect your reputation in spite of yourself; but +if I die, try to guard it yourself. Content yourself with having +betrayed me; do not outrage my memory. I am glad now that we have no +children, for I should fear for them, and should feel obliged to deprive +you of their care as much as lay in my power. That is one trouble the +less. But as you bear my name, and I can not take it away from you, +I beg of you do not drag it in the mire when I shall not be here to wash +it for you." + +The young woman fell back upon her seat as if every fibre in her body had +been successively torn to pieces. + +"You crush me to the earth!" she said, feebly. + +"This revolts you," continued the husband, who seemed to choose the most +cutting thrust; "you are young; this is your first error, you are not +made for such adventures. But rest assured, one becomes accustomed to +everything. A lover always knows how to find the most beautiful phrases +with which to console a widow and vanquish her repugnances." + +"You are killing me," she murmured, falling back almost unconscious in +her chair. + +Christian leaned over her, and, taking her by the arm, said in a low +tone: + +"Remember, if I die and he asks you to follow him, you will be an +infamous creature if you obey him. He is a man to glory in you; that is +easy enough to see. He is a man who would drag you after him--" + +"Oh! have pity--I shall die--" + +Clemence closed her eyes and her lips twitched convulsively. + + +The first rays of the morning sun fell upon another scene in the opposite +wing of the chateau. Marillac was quietly sleeping the sleep of the just +when he was suddenly awakened by a shaking that nearly threw him out of +his bed. + +"Go to the devil!" he said, angrily, when he succeeded in half opening +his heavy eyes, and recognized Gerfaut standing beside his bed. + +"Get up!" said the latter, taking him by the arm to give more force to +his command. + +The artist covered himself with the clothes up to his chin. + +"Are you walking in your sleep or insane?" asked Marillac, "or do you +want me to go to work?" he added, as he saw that his friend had some +papers in his hand. "You know very well I never have any ideas when +fasting, and that I am stupid until noon." + +"Get up at once!" said Gerfaut, "I must have a talk with you." + +There was something so serious and urgent in Gerfaut's accent as he said +these words, that the artist got up at once and hurriedly dressed +himself. + +"What is the matter?" he asked, as he put on his dressing-gown, "you +look as if the affairs of the nation rested upon you." + +"Put on your coat and boots," said Octave, "you must go to +La Fauconnerie. They are used to seeing you go out early in +the morning for your appointments with Reine, and therefore--" + +"It is to this shepherdess you would send me!" interrupted the artist, +as he began to undress himself; "in that case I will go to bed again. +Enough of that!" + +"I am to fight with Bergenheim at nine o'clock!" said Gerfaut, in a low +voice. + +"Stupendous!" exclaimed Marillac, as he jumped back a few steps, and +then stood as motionless as a statue. Without wasting any time in +unnecessary explanations, his friend gave him a brief account of the +night's events. + +"Now," said he, "I need you; can I count upon your friendship?" + +"In life and in death!" exclaimed Marillac, and he pressed his hand with +the emotion that the bravest of men feel at the approach of a danger +which threatens one who is dear to them. + +"Here," said Gerfaut, as he handed him the papers in his hand, "is a +letter for you in which you will find my instructions in full; they will +serve you as a guide, according to circumstances. This sealed paper will +be deposited by you in the office of the public prosecutor at Nancy, +under certain circumstances which my note explains. Finally, this is my +will. I have no very near relative; I have made you my heir. + +"Listen to me! I do not know a more honest man than you, that is the +reason why I select you. First, this legacy is a trust. I speak to you +now in case of events which probably will never happen, but which I ought +to prepare for. I do not know what effect this may have upon Clemence's +fate; her aunt, who is very austere, may quarrel with her and deprive her +of her rights; her personal fortune is not very large, I believe, and I +know nothing about her marriage settlement. She may thus be entirely at +her husband's mercy, and that is what I will not allow. My fortune is +therefore a trust that you will hold to be placed at her disposal at any +time. I hope that she loves me enough not to refuse this service of me." + +"Well and good!" said Marillac; "I will admit that the thought of +inheriting from you choked me like a noose around my neck." + +"I beg of you to accept for yourself my copyrights as author. You can +not refuse that," said Gerfaut, with a half smile; "this legacy belongs +to the domain of art. To whom should I leave it if not to you, my +Patroclus, my faithful collaborator?" + +The artist took several agitated turns about his room. + +"To think," he exclaimed, "that I was the one who saved this Bergenheim's +life! If he kills you, I shall never forgive myself. And yet, I told +you this would end in some tragic manner." + +"What business had he there? Is it not so? What can I say? We were +seeking for a drama; here it is. I am not anxious on my own account, but +on hers. Unhappy woman! A duel is a stone that might fall upon a man's +head twenty times a day; it is sufficient for a simpleton if you stare at +him, or for an awkward fellow if you tread upon his toes; but on her +account--poor angel!--I can not think of it. I need the fullest command +of my head and my heart. But it is growing lighter; there is not a +moment to lose. Go to the stable; saddle a horse yourself, if there is +no servant up; go, as I said, to La Fauconnerie; I have often seen a +post-chaise in the tavern courtyard; order it to wait all day at the back +of the Montigny plateau. You will find everything explained in detail in +the note which I have given you. Here is my purse; I need no money." + +Marillac put the purse in his pocket and the papers in his memorandum- +book; he then buttoned up his redingote and put on his travelling cap. +His countenance showed a state of exaltation which belied, for the time +being, the pacific theories he had expounded a few days before. + +"You can depend upon me as upon yourself," said he with energy. +"If this poor woman calls for my aid, I promise you that I will serve her +faithfully. I will take her wherever she wishes; to China, if she asks +it, and in spite of the whole police force. If Bergenheim kills you and +then follows her up, there will be another duel." + +As he said these words, he took his stiletto and a pair of pistols from +the mantel and put them in his pocket, after examining the edge of the +one and the caps of the others. + +"Adieu!" said Gerfaut. + +"Adieu!" said the artist, whose extreme agitation contrasted strongly +with his friend's calm. "Rest easy! I will look after her--and I will +publish a complete edition--But what an idea--to accept a duel as +irregular as this! Have you ever seen him use a gun? He had no right to +exact this." + +"Hurry! you must leave before the servants are up." + +"Kiss me, my poor fellow!" said Marillac, with tears in his eyes; "it is +not very manly I know, but I can not help it--Oh! these women! I adore +them, of course; but just now I am like Nero, I wish that they all had +but one head. It is for these little, worthless dolls that we kill each +other!" + +"You can curse them on your way," said Gerfaut, who was impatient to see +him leave. + +"Oh, good gracious, yes! They can flatter themselves this moment that +they all inspire me with a deadly hatred." + +"Do not make any noise," said his friend, as he carefully opened the +door. + +Marillac pressed his hand for the last time, and went out. When he +reached the end of the corridor, he stopped a moment, then went back. + +"Above all things," said he, as he passed his head through the half-open +door, "no foolish proceedings. Remember that it is necessary that one of +you should fall, and that if you fail; he will not. Take your time--aim +--and fire at him as you would at a rabbit." + +After this last piece of advice, he went away; ten minutes after he had +left, Gerfaut saw him riding out of the courtyard as fast as Beverley's +four legs would carry him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE WILD BOAR + +The most radiant sun that ever gilded a beautiful September day had +arisen upon the castle. The whole valley was as fresh and laughing as +a young girl who had just left her bath. The rocks seemed to have a band +of silver surrounding them; the woods a mantle of green draped over their +shoulders. + +There was an unusual excitement in the courtyard of the chateau. The +servants were coming and going, the dogs were starting a concert of +irregular barks, and the horses were jumping about, sharing their +instinctive presentiment and trying to break away from the bridles which +held them. + +The Baron, seated in his saddle with his usual military attitude, and a +cigar in his mouth, went from one to another, speaking in a joking tone +which prevented anybody from suspecting his secret thoughts. Gerfaut had +imposed upon his countenance that impassible serenity which guards the +heart's inner secrets, but had not succeeded so well. His affectation of +gayety betrayed continual restraint; the smile which he forced upon his +lips left the rest of his face cold, and never removed the wrinkle +between his brows. An incident, perhaps sadly longed for, but unhoped +for, increased this gloomy, melancholy expression. Just as the cavalcade +passed before the English garden, which separated the sycamore walk from +the wing of the chateau occupied by Madame de Bergenheim, Octave +slackened the pace of his horse and lingered behind the rest of his +companions; his eyes closely examined each of the windows; the blinds of +her sleeping-room were only half closed; behind the panes he saw the +curtains move and then separate. A pale face appeared for a moment +between the blue folds, like an angel who peeps through the sky to gaze +upon the earth. Gerfaut raised himself on his stirrups so as to drink in +this apparition as long as possible, but he dared not make one gesture of +adieu. As he was still endeavoring to obtain one more glance, he saw +that the Baron was at his side. + +"Play your role better," said he to him; "we are surrounded by spies. De +Camier has already made an observation about your preoccupied demeanor." + +"You are right," said Octave; "and you join example to advice. I admire +your coolness, but I despair of equalling it." + +"You must mingle with my guests and talk with them," Christian replied. + +He started off at a trot; Gerfaut followed his example, stifling a sigh +as he darted a last glance toward the chateau. They soon rejoined the +cart which carried several of the hunters, and which Monsieur de Camier +drove with the assurance of a professional coachman. + +There was a moment's silence, broken only by the trot of the horses and +the sound of the wheels upon the level ground. + +"What the devil ails your dogs?" exclaimed Monsieur de Camier suddenly, +as he turned to the Baron, who was riding behind him. "There they are +all making for the river." Just at this moment the dogs, who could be +seen in the distance, hurried to the water-side, in spite of all that +their leader could do to prevent them. They almost disappeared behind +the willows that bordered the river, and one could hear them barking +furiously; their barks sounded like rage mingled with terror. + +"It is some duck that they have scented," observed the prosecutor. + +"They wouldn't bark like that," said Monsieur de Camier, with the +sagacity of a professional hunter; "if it were a wolf, they could not +make a greater uproar. Is it by chance some wild boar who is taking a +bath, in order to receive us more ceremoniously?" + +He gave the horses a vigorous blow from the whip, and they all rapidly +approached the spot where a scene was taking place which excited to the +highest pitch everybody's curiosity. Before they reached the spot, the +keeper, who had run after the dogs to call them together, came out of a +thicket, waving his hat to stop the hunters, exclaiming: + +"A body! a body!" + +"A body! a drowned man!" he exclaimed, when the vehicle stopped. + +This time it was the public prosecutor who arose and jumped from the cart +with the agility of a deer. + +"A drowned man!" said he. "In the name of the law, let nobody touch the +body. Call back the dogs." + +As he said these words he hastened to the spot which the servant pointed +out to him. Everybody dismounted and followed him. Octave and +Bergenheim had exchanged strange glances when they heard the servant's +words. + +It was, as the servant had announced, the battered body of a man, thrown +by the current against the trunk of the tree, and there caught between +two branches of the willow as if in a vise. + +"It is the carpenter!" exclaimed Monsieur de Camier as he parted the +foliage, which had prevented the head from being seen until then, for he +recognized the workman's livid, swollen features. "It is that poor devil +of a Lambernier, is it not, Bergenheim?" + +"It is true!" stammered Christian, who, in spite of his boldness, could +not help turning away his eyes. + +"The carpenter!--drowned!--this is frightful!--I never should have +recognized him--how disfigured he is!" exclaimed the others, as they +pressed forward to gaze at this horrible spectacle. + +"This is a sad way to escape justice," observed the notary, in a +philosophical tone. + +The Baron seized this opening with avidity. + +"He must have crossed the river to escape," said he, "and in his haste he +made a misstep and fell." + +The public prosecutor shook his head with an air of doubt. + +"That is not probable," said he; "I know the place. If he tried to cross +the river a little above or a little below the rock--it doesn't matter +which--the current would have carried him into the little bay above the +rock and not here. It is evident that he must have drowned himself or +been drowned farther down. I say, been drowned, for you can see that he +has a wound upon the left side of his forehead, as if he had received a +violent blow, or his head had, hit against a hard substance. Now, if he +had been drowned accidentally while crossing the river, he would not have +been wounded in this manner." + +This remark silenced the Baron; and while the others exhausted +conjectures to explain the way in which this tragic event had taken +place, he stood motionless, with his eyes fastened upon the river and +avoiding a glance at the dead body. During this time the public +prosecutor had taken from his pocket some paper and a pen, which he +usually carried with him. + +"Gentlemen," said he, seating himself upon the trunk of a tree opposite +the drowned man, "two of you will do me the favor to act as witnesses +while I draw up my official report. If any of you have a statement to +make in regard to this affair, I beg of him to remain here, so that I may +receive his deposition." + +Nobody stirred, but Gerfaut threw such a penetrating glance at the Baron +that the latter turned away his eyes. + +"Gentlemen," continued the magistrate, "I do not wish any of you to +renounce the sport on account of this untoward incident. There is +nothing attractive about this spectacle, and I assure you that if my duty +did not keep me here, I should be the first to withdraw. Baron, I beg of +you to send me two men and a stretcher in order to have the body carried +away; I will have it taken to one of your farms, so as not to frighten +the ladies." + +"The prosecutor is right," said Christian, whom these words delivered +from a terrible anxiety. + +After a deliberation, presided over by Monsieur de Camier, the +'tragueurs' and the dogs left in silence to surround the thickets where +the animal had been found to be hidden. At the same time the hunters +turned their steps in the opposite direction in order to take their +positions. They soon reached the ditch alongside of which they were to +place themselves. From time to time, as they advanced, one of them left +the party and remained mute and motionless like a sentinel at his post. +This manoeuvre gradually reduced their numbers, and at last there were +only three remaining. + +"You remain here, Camier," said the Baron, when they were about sixty +steps from the last position. + +That gentleman, who knew the ground, was hardly flattered by this +proposition. + +"By Jove!" said he, "you are on your own grounds; you ought at least to +do the honors of your woods and let us choose our own positions. I think +you wish to place yourself upon the outskirts, because it is always about +that region that the animal first appears; but there will be two of us, +for I shall go also." + +This determination annoyed Christian considerably, since it threatened to +ruin the plan so prudently laid out. + +"I am going to put our friend Gerfaut at this post," said he, whispering +to the refractory hunter; "I shall be very much pleased if he has an +opportunity to fire. What difference does one boar more or less make to +an old hunter like you?" + +"Well and good; just as you like," retorted Monsieur de Carrier, striking +the ground with the butt-end of his gun, and beginning to whistle in +order to cool off his anger. + +When the adversaries found themselves side by side and alone, +Bergenheim's countenance changed suddenly; the smiling look he had +assumed, in order to convince the old hunter of his cheerful disposition, +gave place to deep gravity. + +"You remember our agreement," he said, as they walked along; "I feel sure +that the boar will come in our direction. At the moment when I call out, +'Take care!' I shall expect you to fire; if, at the end of twenty +seconds, you have not done so, I warn you that I shall fire myself." + +"Very well, Monsieur," said Gerfaut, looking at him fixedly; "you also +doubtless remember my words; the discovery of this body will give them +still more weight. The public prosecutor has already begun his +preliminary proceedings; remember that it depends on me how they shall be +completed. The deposition which I spoke to you about is in the hands of +a safe person, who is fully instructed to make use of it if necessary." + +"Marillac, I suppose," said Christian, in an evil tone; "he is your +confidant. It is a fatal secret that you have confided to him, Monsieur. +If I survive today, I shall have to secure his silence. May all this +blood, past, present, and future, be on your head!" + +Deeply affected by this reproach, the Vicomte bowed his head in silence. + +"Here is my place," said the Baron, stopping before the trunk of an old +oak, "and there is the elm where you are to station yourself." + +Gerfaut stopped, and said, in a trembling voice: + +"Monsieur, one of us will not leave these woods alive. In the presence +of death, one tells the truth. I hope for your peace of mind, and my +own, that you will believe my last words. I swear to you, upon my honor +and by all that is sacred, that Madame de Bergenheim is innocent." + +He bowed, and withdrew from Christian without waiting for a response. + +Bergenheim and Gerfaut were out of sight of the others, and stood at +their posts with eyes fastened upon each other. The ditch was wide +enough to prevent the branches of the trees from troubling them; at the +distance of sixty feet, which separated them, each could see his +adversary standing motionless, framed by the green foliage. Suddenly, +barking was heard in the distance, partially drowned by the firing of a +gun. A few seconds later, two feeble reports were heard, followed by an +imprecation from Monsieur de Camier, whose caps flashed in the pan. The +Baron, who had just leaned forward that he might see better through the +thicket, raised his hand to warn Octave to hold himself in readiness. +He then placed himself in position. An extreme indecision marked +Gerfaut's attitude. After raising his gun, he dropped it to the ground +with a despondent gesture, as if his resolution to fire had suddenly +abandoned him; the pallor of death could not be more terrible than that +which overspread his features. The howling of the dogs and shouts of the +hunters increased. Suddenly another sound was heard. Low, deep growls, +followed by the crackling of branches, came from the woods opposite our +adversaries. The whole thicket seemed to tremble as if agitated by a +storm. + +"Take care!" exclaimed Bergenheim, in a firm voice. + +At the same moment an enormous head appeared, and the report of a gun was +heard. When Gerfaut looked through the smoke caused by his gun, at the +farther end of the ditch, nothing was to be seen but the foliage. + +The boar, after crossing the clearing, vanished like a flash, leaving +behind him a trail of broken branches--and Bergenheim lay behind the +trunk of the old oak, upon which large drops of blood had already fallen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +BERGENHEIM'S REVENGE + +On the same morning the drawing-room of the Bergenheim castle was the +theatre of a quiet home scene very much like the one we described at the +beginning of this story. Mademoiselle de Corandeuil was seated in her +armchair reading the periodicals which had just arrived; Aline was +practising upon the piano, and her sister-in-law was seated before one of +the windows embroidering. By the calm attitude of these three ladies, +and the interest they seemed to show in their several occupations, one +would have supposed that they were all equally peaceful at heart. Madame +de Bergenheim, upon rising, had resumed her usual habits; she managed to +find the proper words to reply when spoken to, her dejection did not +differ from her usual melancholy enough for it to become the subject of +remark. A rather bright color in her cheeks heightened her beauty; her +eyes never had sparkled with more brilliancy; but if a hand had been +placed upon her forehead, one would have soon discovered by its burning +the secret of all this unwonted color. In fact, in the midst of this +sumptuous room, surrounded by her friends, and bending over her +embroidery with most exquisite grace, Madame de Bergenheim was slowly +dying. A wasting fever was circulating like poison through her veins. +She felt that an unheard-of sorrow was hanging over her head, and that no +effort of hers could prevent it. + +At this very moment, either the man she belonged to or the one she loved +was about to die; whatever her widowhood might be, she felt that her +mourning would be brief; young, beautiful, surrounded by all the +privileges of rank and fortune, life was closing around her, and left but +one pathway open, which was full of blood; she would have to bathe her +feet in it in order to pass through. + +"What is that smoke above the Montigny rock?" Aline exclaimed with +surprise; "it looks as if there were a fire in the woods." + +Madame de Bergenheim raised her eyes, shivered from head to foot as she +saw the stream of smoke which stood out against the horizon, and then let +her head droop upon her breast. Mademoiselle de Corandeuil stopped her +reading as she heard Aline's remark, and turned slowly to look out of the +window. + +"That's some of the shepherds' work," said she; "they have built a fire +in the bushes at the risk of setting fire to the whole woods. Really, I +do not know what to think of your husband, Clemence; he takes everybody +away to the hunt with him, and does not leave a soul here to prevent his +dwelling from being devastated." + +Clemence made no reply, and her sister-in-law, who expected she would say +something to keep the conversation alive, returned and seated herself at +the piano with a pouting air. + +"Thanks, that will do for to-day!" exclaimed the old lady at the first +notes; "you have split our heads long enough. You would do better to +study your history of France." + +Aline closed the piano angrily; but instead of obeying this last piece of +advice, she remained seated upon the stool with the sulky air of a pupil +in disgrace. A deep silence reigned. Madame de Bergenheim had dropped +her embroidery without noticing it. From time to time she trembled as if +a chill passed over her, her eyes were raised to watch the smoke +ascending above the rock, or else she seemed to listen to some imaginary +sound. + +"Truly," said Mademoiselle de Corandeuil, as she laid her journal down in +her lap, "good morals have made great progress since the July revolution. +Yesterday a woman twenty years of age ran away to Montpelier with her +lover; to-day, here is another, in Lyons, who poisons her husband and +kills herself afterward. If I were superstitious, I should say that the +world was coming to an end. What do you think of such atrocious doings, +my dear?" + +Clemence raised her head with an effort, and answered, in a gloomy voice: + +"You must pardon her, since she is dead." + +"You are very indulgent," replied the old aunt; "such creatures ought to +be burned alive, like the Brinvilliers." + +"They often speak in the papers of husbands who kill their wives, but not +so often of wives killing their husbands," said Aline, with the partisan +feeling natural to the fair sex. + +"It is not proper that you should talk of such horrid things," said the +old lady, in a severe tone; "behold the fruits of all the morals of the +age! It is the effect of all the disgusting stuff that is acted nowadays +upon the stage and written in novels. When one thinks of the fine +education that is given youth at the present time, it is enough to make +one tremble for the future!" + +"Mon Dieu! Mademoiselle, you may be sure that I shall never kill my +husband," replied the young girl, to whom this remark seemed particularly +addressed. + +A stifled groan, which Madame de Bergenheim could not suppress, attracted +the attention of the two ladies. + +"What is the matter with you?" asked Mademoiselle de Corandeuil, +noticing for the first time her niece's dejected air and the frightened +expression in her eyes. + +"Nothing," murmured the latter; "I think it is the heat of the room." + +Aline hastily opened a window, then went and took her sister-in-law's +hands in her own. + +"You have a fever," said she; "your hands burn and your forehead also; I +did not dare tell you, but your beautiful color--" + +A frightful cry which Madame de Bergenheim uttered made the young girl +draw back in fright. + +"Clemence! Clemence!" exclaimed Mademoiselle de Corandeuil, who thought +that her niece had gone insane. + +"Did you not hear?" she cried, with an accent of terror impossible to +describe. She darted suddenly toward the drawing-room door; but, instead +of opening it, she leaned against it with arms crossed. Then she ran two +or three times around the room in a sort of frenzy, and ended by falling +upon her knees before the sofa and burying her head in its cushions. + +This scene bewildered the two women. While Mademoiselle de Corandeuil +tried to raise Clemence, Aline, still more frightened, ran out of the +room to call for aid. A rumor which had just begun to arise in the +courtyard was distinctly heard when the door was thrown open. A moment +more, and a piercing shriek was heard, and the young girl rushed into the +parlor; throwing herself on her knees beside her sister-in-law she +pressed her to her breast with convulsive energy. + +As she felt herself seized in this fashion, Clemence raised her head and, +placing her hands upon Aline's shoulders, she pushed her backward and +gazed at her with eyes that seemed to devour her. + +"Which? which?" she asked, in a harsh voice. + +"My brother--covered with blood!" stammered Aline. + +Madame de Bergenheim pushed her aside and threw herself upon the sofa. +Her first feeling was a horrible joy at not hearing the name of Octave; +but she tried to smother her hysterical utterances by pressing her mouth +against the cushion upon which her face was leaning. + +A noise of voices was heard in the vestibule; the greatest confusion +seemed to reign among the people outside. At last, several men entered +the drawing room; at their head was Monsieur de Camier, whose ruddy face +had lost all its color. + +"Do not be frightened, ladies," said he, in a trembling voice; "do not be +frightened. It is only a slight accident, without any danger. Monsieur +de Bergenheim was wounded in the hunt," he continued, addressing +Mademoiselle de Corandeuil. + +At last, the folding-doors were thrown open, and two servants appeared, +bearing the Baron upon a mattress. + +When the servants had deposited their burden in front of one of the +windows, Aline threw herself upon her brother's body, uttering +heartrending cries. Madame de Bergenheim did not stir; she lay upon the +sofa with eyes and ears buried in the cushions, and seemed deaf and blind +to all that surrounded her. Mademoiselle de Corandeuil was the only one +who preserved her presence of mind. Controlling her emotion, she leaned +over the Baron and sought for some sign of life. + +"Is he dead?" she asked, in a low voice, of Monsieur de Camier. + +"No, Mademoiselle," replied the latter, in a tone which announced that he +had little hope. + +"Has a physician been sent for?" + +"To Remiremont, Epinal, everywhere." + +At this moment Aline uttered a cry of joy. Bergenheim had just stirred, +brought to life, perhaps, by the pressure of his sister's arms. He +opened his eyes and, closed them several times; at last his energy +triumphed over his sufferings; he sat up on his improvised cot and, +leaning upon his left elbow, he glanced around the room. + +"My wife!" said he, in a weak voice. + +Madame de Bergenheim arose and forced her way through the group that +surrounded the mattress, and silently took her place beside her husband. +Her features had changed so terribly within a few moments that a murmur +of pity ran through the group of men that filled the room. + +"Take my sister away," said Christian, disengaging his hand from the +young girl, who was covering it with kisses and tears. + +"My brother! I can not leave my brother!" exclaimed Aline, as she was +dragged away rather than led to her room. + +"Leave me for a moment," continued the Baron; "I wish to speak to my +wife." + +Mademoiselle de Corandeuil gave Monsieur de Gamier a questioning glance, +as if to ask if it were best to grant this request. + +"We can do nothing before the doctors arrive," said the latter, in a low +voice, "and perhaps it would be imprudent to oppose him." + +Mademoiselle de Corandeuil recognized the correctness of this +observation, and left the room, asking the others to follow her. During +this time, Madame de Bergenheim remained motionless in her place, +apparently insensible to all that surrounded her. The noise of the +closing door aroused her from her stupor. She looked around the room as +if she were seeking the others; her eyes, which were opened with the +fixed look of a somnambulist, did not change their expression when they +fell upon her husband. + +"Come nearer," said he, "I have not strength enough to speak loud." + +She obeyed mechanically. When she saw the large red stain which had +soaked Christian's right sleeve, she closed her eyes, threw back her +head, and her features contracted with a horrified expression. + +"You women are wonderfully fastidious," said the Baron, as he noticed +this movement; "you delight in causing a murder, but the slightest +scratch frightens you. Pass over to the left side; you will not see so +much blood-besides, it is the side where the heart is." + +There was something terrible in the irony of the voice in which he spoke +at this moment. Clemence fell upon her knees beside him and took his +hand, crying + +"Pardon! pardon!" + +The dying man took away his hand, raised his wife's head, and, looking at +her a few moments attentively, he said at last: + +"Your eyes are very dry. No tears! What! not one tear when you see me +thus!" + +"I can not weep," replied she; "I shall die!" + +"It is very humiliating for me to be so poorly regretted, and it does you +little honor--try to shed a few tears, Madame--it will be remarked--a +widow who does not weep!" + +"A widow--never!" she said, with energy. + +"It would be convenient if they sold tears as they sell crape, would it +not? Ah! only you women have a real talent for that--all women know how +to weep." + +"You will not die, Christian--oh! tell me that you will not die--and +that you will forgive me." + +"Your lover has killed me," said Bergenheim, slowly; "I have a bullet in +my chest--I feel it--I am the one who is to die--in less than an hour I +shall be a corpse--don't you see how hard it is already for me to talk?" + +In reality his voice was becoming weaker and weaker. His breath grew +shorter with each word; a wheezing sound within his chest indicated the +extent of the lesion and the continued extravasation of blood. + +"Mercy! pardon!" exclaimed the unhappy woman, prostrating herself upon +the floor. + +"More air--open the windows--" said the Baron, as he fell back upon the +mattress, exhausted by the efforts he had just made to talk. + +Madame de Bergenheim obeyed his order with the precision of an automaton. +A fresh, pure breeze entered the room; when the curtains were raised, +floods of light illuminated the floor, and the old portraits, suddenly +lighted up, looked like ghosts who had left their graves to witness the +death agonies of the last of their descendants. Christian, refreshed by +the air which swept over his face, sat up again. He gazed with a +melancholy eye at the radiant sun and the green woods which lay stretched +out in front of the chateau. + +"I lost my father on such a day as this," said he, as if talking to +himself--"all our family die during the beautiful weather--ah! do you +see that smoke over the Montigny rock?" he exclaimed, suddenly. + +After opening the windows, Clemence stepped out upon the balcony. +Leaning upon the balustrade, she gazed at the deep, rapid river which +flowed at her feet. Her husband's voice calling her aroused her from +this gloomy contemplation. When she returned to Christian, his eyes were +flaming, a flush like that of fever had overspread his cheeks, and a +writhing, furious indignation was depicted upon his face. "Were you +looking at that smoke?" said he, angrily; "it is your lover's signal; +he is there--he is waiting to take you away--and I, your husband, forbid +you to go--you must not leave me--your place is here--close by me." + +"Close by you," she repeated, not understanding what he said. + +"Wait at least until I am dead," he continued, while his eyes flashed +more and more--"let my body get cold--when you are a widow you can do as +you like--you will be free--and even then--I forbid it--I order you to +wear mourning for me--above all, try to weep--" + +"Strike me with a knife! At least I should bleed," said she, bending +toward him and tearing open her dress to lay bare her bosom. + +He seized her by the arm, and, exerting all his wasting strength to reach +her, he said, in a voice whose harshness was changed almost into +supplication: + +"Clemence, do not dishonor me by giving yourself to him when I am dead-- +I would curse you if I thought that you would do that." + +"Oh! do not curse me!" she exclaimed; "do not drive me mad. Do you not +know that I am about to die?" + +"There are women who do not see their husband's blood upon their lover's +hands--but I would curse you--" + +He dropped Clemence's arm and fell back upon the mattress with a sob. +His eyes closed, and some unintelligible words died on his lips, which +were covered with a bloody froth. He was dying. + +Madame de Bergenheim, crouched down upon the floor, heard him repeating +in his expiring voice: + +"I would curse you--I would curse you!" + +She remained motionless for some time, her eyes fastened upon the dying +man before her with a look of stupefied curiosity. Then she arose and +went to the mirror; she gazed at herself for a moment as if obeying the +whim of an insane woman, pushing aside, in order to see herself better, +the hair which covered her forehead. Suddenly a flash of reason came to +her; she uttered a horrible cry as she saw some blood upon her face; she +looked at herself from head to foot; her dress was stained with it; she +wrung her hands in horror, and felt that they were wet. Her husband's +blood was everywhere. Then, her brain filled with the fire of raving +madness, she rushed out upon the balcony, and Bergenheim, before his last +breath escaped him, heard the noise of her body as it fell into the +river. + +Several days later, the Sentinelle des Vosges contained the following +paragraph, written with the official sorrow found in all death-notices at +thirty sous per line + +"A frightful event, which has just thrown two of our best families into +mourning, has caused the greatest consternation throughout the Remiremont +district. Monsieur le Baron de Bergenheim, one of the richest land- +owners in our province, was killed by accident at a wild-boar hunt on his +own domains. It was by the hand of one of his best friends, Monsieur de +Gerfaut, well known by, his important literary work, which has given its +author a worldwide reputation, that he received his death-blow. Nothing +could equal the grief of the involuntary cause of this catastrophe. +Madame de Bergenheim, upon learning of this tragic accident, was unable +to survive the death of her adored husband, and drowned herself in her +despair. Thus the same grave received this couple, still in the bloom of +life, to whom their great mutual affection seemed to promise a most happy +future." + +Twenty-eight months later the Parisian journals, in their turn, inserted, +with but slight variations, the following article: + +"Nothing could give any idea of the enthusiasm manifested at the Theatre- +Francais last evening, at the first representation of Monsieur de +Gerfaut's new drama. Never has this writer, whose silence literature has +deplored for too long a time, distinguished himself so highly. His early +departure for the East is announced. Let us hope that this voyage will +turn to the advantage of art, and that the beautiful and sunny countries +of Asia will be a mine for new inspirations for this celebrated poet, who +has taken, in such a glorious manner, his place at the heal of our +literature." + +Bergenheim's last wish had been realized; his honor was secure; nobody +outraged by even an incredulous smile the purity of Clemence's winding- +sheet; and the world did not refuse to their double grave the commonplace +consideration that had surrounded their lives. + +Clemence's death did not destroy the future of the man who loved her so +passionately, but the mourning he wears for her, to this day, is of the +kind that is never put aside. And, as the poet's heart was always +reflected in his works, the world took part in this mourning without +being initiated into its mystery. When the bitter cup of memory +overflowed in them, they believed it to be a new vein which had opened in +the writer's brain. Octave received, every day, congratulations upon +this sadly exquisite tone of his lyre, whose vibrations surpassed in +supreme intensity the sighs of Rene or Obermann's Reveries. Nobody knew +that those sad pages were written under the inspiration of the most +mournful of visions, and that this dark and melancholy tinge, which was +taken for a caprice of the imagination, had its source in blood and in +the spasms of a broken heart. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Attractive abyss of drunkenness +Obstinacy of drunkenness + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of Gerfaut, v4 +by Charles de Bernard + diff --git a/3984.zip b/3984.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..94c4718 --- /dev/null +++ b/3984.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b187ad --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #3984 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3984) |