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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41881 ***
+
+THE
+CORSICAN BROTHERS
+
+A NOVEL
+
+BY
+ALEXANDRE DUMAS
+
+TRANSLATED BY HENRY FRITH
+
+LONDON
+GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS
+BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL
+NEW YORK: 416, BROOME STREET
+1880
+
+
+LONDON:
+PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDER,
+MILFORD LANE, STRAND, W.C.
+
+
+TO
+HENRY IRVING
+THE LATEST REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TWIN BROTHERS
+THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED BY
+THE TRANSLATOR
+
+
+
+THE
+CORSICAN BROTHERS.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+IN the beginning of March, 1841, I was travelling in Corsica.
+
+Nothing is more picturesque and more easy to accomplish than a journey
+in Corsica. You can embark at Toulon, in twenty hours you will be in
+Ajaccio, and then in twenty-four hours more you are at Bastia.
+
+Once there you can hire or purchase a horse. If you wish to hire a
+horse you can do so for five francs a-day; if you purchase one you can
+have a good animal for one hundred and fifty francs. And don't sneer
+at the moderate price, for the horse hired or purchased will perform
+as great feats as the famous Gascon horse which leaped over the Pont
+Neuf, which neither Prospero nor Nautilus, the heroes of Chantilly and
+the Champ de Mars could do. He will traverse roads which Balmat
+himself could not cross without _crampons,_ and will go over bridges
+upon which Auriol would need a balancing pole.
+
+As for the traveller, all he has to do is to give the horse his head
+and let him go as he pleases; he does not mind the danger. We may add
+that with this horse, which can go anywhere, the traveller can
+accomplish his fifteen leagues a day without stopping to bait.
+
+From time to time, while the tourist may be halting to examine some
+ancient castle, built by some old baron or legendary hero, or to
+sketch a tower built ages ago by the Genoese, the horse will be
+contented to graze by the road side, or to pluck the mosses from the
+rocks in the vicinity.
+
+As to lodging for the night, it is still more simple in Corsica. The
+traveller having arrived at a village, passes down through the
+principal street, and making his own choice of the house wherein he
+will rest, he knocks at the door. An instant after, the master or
+mistress will appear upon the threshold, invite the traveller to
+dismount; offer him a share of the family supper and the whole of his
+own bed, and next morning, when seeing him safely resume his journey,
+will thank him for the preference he has accorded to his house.
+
+As for remuneration, such a thing is never hinted at. The master would
+regard it as an insult if the subject were broached. If, however, the
+servant happen to be a young girl, one may fitly offer her a coloured
+handkerchief, with which she can make up a picturesque coiffure for a
+fête day. If the domestic be a male he will gladly accept a poignard,
+with which he can kill his enemy, should he meet him.
+
+There is one thing more to remark, and that is, as sometimes happens,
+the servants of the house are relatives of the owner, and the former
+being in reduced circumstances, offer their services to the latter in
+consideration of board and lodging and a few piastres per month.
+
+And it must not be supposed that the masters are not well served by
+their cousins to the fifteenth and sixteenth degree, because the
+contrary is the case, and the custom is not thought anything of.
+Corsica is a French Department certainly, but Corsica is very far from
+being France.
+
+As for robbers, one never hears of them, yet there are bandits in
+abundance; but these gentlemen must in no wise be confounded one with
+another.
+
+So go without fear to Ajaccio, to Bastia, with a purse full of money
+hanging to your saddle-bow, and you may traverse the whole island
+without a shadow of danger, but do not go from Oceana to Levaco, if
+you happen to have an enemy who has declared the Vendetta against you,
+for I would not answer for your safety during that short journey of
+six miles.
+
+Well, then, I was in Corsica, as I have said, at the beginning of the
+month of March, and I was alone; Jadin having remained at Rome.
+
+I had come across from Elba, had disembarked at Bastia, and there had
+purchased a horse at the above-mentioned price.
+
+I had visited Corte and Ajaccio, and just then I was traversing the
+province of Sartène.
+
+On the particular day of which I am about to speak I was riding from
+Sartène to Sullacaro.
+
+The day's journey was short, perhaps a dozen leagues, in consequence
+of detours, and on account of my being obliged to climb the slopes of
+the mountain chain, which, like a backbone, runs through the island. I
+had a guide with me, for fear I should lose my way in the maquis.
+
+It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when we arrived at the
+summit of the hill, which at the same time overlooks Olmeto and
+Sullacaro. There we stopped a moment to look about us.
+
+"Where would your Excellency wish to stay the night?" asked the guide.
+
+I looked down upon the village, the streets of which appeared almost
+deserted. Only a few women were visible, and they walked quickly
+along, and frequently looked cautiously around them.
+
+As in virtue of the rules of Corsican hospitality, to which I have
+already referred, it was open to me to choose for my resting place any
+one of the hundred or hundred and twenty houses of which the village
+was composed, I therefore carried my eyes from house to house till
+they lighted upon one which promised comfortable quarters. It was a
+square mansion, built in a fortified sort of style and machicolated in
+front of the windows and above the door.
+
+This was the first time I had seen these domestic fortifications; but
+I may mention that the province of Sartène is the classic ground of
+the Vendetta.
+
+"Ah, good!" said my guide, as he followed the direction of my
+hand--"that is the house of Madame Savilia de Franchi. Go on, go on,
+Signor, you have not made a bad choice, and I can see you do not want
+for experience in these matters."
+
+I should note here that in this 86th department of France Italian is
+universally spoken.
+
+"But," I said, "may it not be inconvenient if I demand hospitality
+from a lady, for if I understand you rightly, this house belongs to a
+lady."
+
+"No doubt," he replied, with an air of astonishment; "but what
+inconvenience does your lordship think you will cause?"
+
+"If the lady be young," I replied, moved by a feeling of
+propriety--or, perhaps, let us say, of Parisian self-respect--"a night
+passed under her roof might compromise her."
+
+"Compromise her!" repeated the guide, endeavouring to probe the
+meaning of the word I had rendered in Italian with all the emphasis
+which one would hazard a word in a strange tongue.
+
+"Yes, of course," I replied, beginning to feel impatient; "the lady is
+a widow, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes, Excellency."
+
+"Well, then, will she receive a young man into her house?"
+
+In 1841 I was thirty-six years old, or thereabouts, and was entitled
+to call myself young.
+
+"Will she receive a young man!" exclaimed the guide; "why, what
+difference can it make whether you are young or old?"
+
+I saw that I should get no information out of him by this mode of
+interrogation, so I resumed--
+
+"How old is Madame Savilia?"
+
+"Forty, or nearly so."
+
+"Ah," I said, replying more to my thoughts than to my guide, "all the
+better. She has children, no doubt?"
+
+"Yes, two sons--fine young men both."
+
+"Shall I see them?"
+
+"You will see one of them--he lives at home."
+
+"Where is the other, then?"
+
+"He lives in Paris."
+
+"How old are these sons?"
+
+"Twenty-one."
+
+"What, both?"
+
+"Yes, they are twins."
+
+"What professions do they follow?"
+
+"The one in Paris is studying law."
+
+"And the other?"
+
+"The other is a Corsican."
+
+"Indeed!" was my reply to this characteristic answer, made in the most
+matter-of-fact tone. "Well, now, let us push on for the house of
+Madame Savilia de Franchi."
+
+We accordingly resumed our journey, and entered the village about ten
+minutes afterwards.
+
+I now remarked what I had not noticed from the hill, namely, that
+every house was fortified similarly to Madame Savilia's. Not so
+completely, perhaps, for that the poverty of the inhabitants could not
+attain to, but purely and simply with oaken planks, by which the
+windows were protected, loop-holes only being left for rifle barrels;
+some apertures were simply bricked up.
+
+I asked my guide what he called these loop-holes, and he said they
+were known as _archères_--a reply which convinced me that they were
+used anterior to the invention of firearms.
+
+As we advanced through the streets we were able the more fully to
+comprehend the profound character of the solitude and sadness of the
+place.
+
+Many houses appeared to have sustained a siege, and the marks of the
+bullets dotted the walls.
+
+From time to time as we proceeded we caught sight of a curious eye
+flashing upon us from an embrasure; but it was impossible to
+distinguish whether the spectator were a man or a woman.
+
+We at length reached the house which I had indicated to my guide, and
+which was evidently the most considerable in the village.
+
+As we approached it more nearly, one thing struck me, and that was,
+fortified to all outward appearance as it was, it was not so in
+reality, for there were neither oaken planks, bricks, nor loop-holes,
+but simple squares of glass, protected at night by wooden shutters.
+
+It is true that the shutters showed holes which could only have been
+made by the passage of a bullet; but they were of old date, and could
+not have been made within the previous ten years.
+
+Scarcely had my guide knocked, when the door was opened, not
+hesitatingly, nor in a timid manner, but widely, and a valet, or
+rather I should say a man appeared.
+
+It is the livery that makes the valet, and the individual who then
+opened the door to us wore a velvet waistcoat, trowsers of the same
+material, and leather gaiters. The breeches were fastened at the waist
+by a parti-coloured silk sash, from the folds of which protruded the
+handle of a Spanish knife.
+
+"My friend," I said, "is it indiscreet of me, who knows nobody in
+Sullacaro, to ask hospitality of your mistress?"
+
+"Certainly not, your Excellency," he replied; "the stranger does
+honour to the house before which he stops." "Maria," he continued,
+turning to a servant, who was standing behind him, "will you inform
+Madame Savilia that a French traveller seeks hospitality?"
+
+As he finished speaking he came down the eight rough ladder-like steps
+which led to the entrance door, and took the bridle of my horse.
+
+I dismounted.
+
+"Your Excellency need have no further concern," he said; "all your
+luggage will be taken to your room."
+
+I profited by this gracious invitation to idleness--one of the most
+agreeable which can be extended to a traveller.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+I SLOWLY ascended the steps and entered the house, and at a corner of
+the corridor I found myself face to face with a tall lady dressed in
+black.
+
+I understood at once that this lady of thirty-eight or forty years of
+age, and still beautiful, was the mistress of the house.
+
+"Madame," said I, bowing deeply, "I am afraid you will think me
+intrusive, but the custom of the country may be my excuse, and your
+servant's invitation my authority to enter."
+
+"You are welcome to the mother," replied Madame de Franchi, "and you
+will almost immediately be welcomed by the son. From this moment, sir,
+the house belongs to you; use it as if it were your own."
+
+"I come but to beg hospitality for one night, madame," I answered;
+"to-morrow morning, at daybreak, I will take my departure."
+
+"You are free to do as you please, sir; but I hope that you will
+change your mind, and that we shall have the honour of your company
+for a longer period."
+
+I bowed again, and Madame continued--
+
+"Maria, show this gentleman to my son Louis' chamber; light the fire
+at once, and carry up some hot water. You will excuse me," she said,
+turning again to me as the servant departed, "but I always fancy that
+the first wants of a tired traveller are warm water and a fire. Will
+you please to follow my maid, sir; and you need have no hesitation in
+asking her for anything you may require. We shall sup in an hour, and
+my son, who will be home by that time, will have the honour to wait
+upon you."
+
+"I trust you will excuse my travelling dress, madame."
+
+"Yes, sir," she replied smiling; "but on condition that you, on your
+part, will excuse the rusticity of your reception."
+
+I bowed my thanks, and followed the servant upstairs.
+
+The room was situated on the first floor, and looked out towards the
+rear of the house, upon a pretty and extensive garden, well planted
+with various trees, and watered by a charming little stream, which
+fell into the Tavaro.
+
+At the further end the prospect was bounded by a hedge, so thick as to
+appear like a wall. As is the case in almost all Italian houses, the
+walls of the rooms were white-washed and frescoed.
+
+I understood immediately that Madame de Franchi had given me this, her
+absent son's chamber, because it was the most comfortable one in the
+house.
+
+While Maria was lighting the fire and fetching the hot water, I took
+it into my head to make an inventory of the room, and try to arrive at
+an estimation of the character of its usual occupant by those means.
+
+I immediately put this idea into execution, and beginning with the
+left hand, I took mental notes of the various objects by which I was
+surrounded.
+
+The furniture all appeared to be modern, a circumstance which in that
+part of the island, where civilization had not then taken deep root,
+appeared to indicate no inconsiderable degree of luxury. It was
+composed of an iron bedstead and bedding, a sofa, four arm-chairs, six
+other occasional chairs, a wardrobe, half book case and half bureau,
+all of mahogany, from the first cabinet maker in Ajaccio.
+
+The sofas and chairs were covered with chintz, and curtains of similar
+material fell before the windows, and hung round the bed.
+
+I had got so far with my inventory when Maria left the room, and I was
+enabled to push my investigation a little closer.
+
+I opened the book-case, and found within a collection of the works of
+our greatest poets. I noticed Corneille, Racine, Molière, La Fontaine,
+Ronsard, Victor Hugo, and Lamartine.
+
+Our moralists--Montaigne, Pascal, Labruyère.
+
+Our historians--Mezeray, Chateaubriand, Augustin Thierry.
+
+Our philosophers--Cuvier, Beudant, Elie de Beaumont.
+
+Besides these there were several volumes of romances and other books,
+amongst which I recognized, with a certain pride, my own "Impression
+of Travel."
+
+The keys were in the drawer of the bureau. I opened one of them.
+
+Here I found fragments of a history of Corsica, a work upon the best
+means of abolishing the Vendetta, some French verses, and some Italian
+sonnets, all in manuscript. This was more than I expected, and I had
+the presumption to conclude that I need not seek much farther to form
+my opinion of the character of Monsieur Louis de Franchi.
+
+He appeared to be a quiet, studious young man, a partizan of the
+French reformers, and then I understood why he had gone to Paris to
+become an advocate.
+
+There was, without doubt, a great future for him in this course. I
+made all these reflections as I was dressing. My toilette, as I had
+hinted to Madame de Franchi, although not wanting in a certain
+picturesqueness, demanded that some allowance should be made for it.
+
+It was composed of a vest of black velvet, open at seams of the
+sleeves, so as to keep me cooler during the heat of the day, and
+slashed _à l'Espagnole,_ permitting a silken chemise to appear
+underneath. My legs were encased in velvet breeches to the knee, and
+thence protected by Spanish gaiters, embroidered in Spanish silk. A
+felt hat, warranted to take any shape, but particularly that of a
+sombrero, completed my costume.
+
+I recommend this dress to all travellers as being the most convenient
+I am acquainted with, and I was in the act of dressing, when the same
+man who had introduced me appeared at the door.
+
+He came to announce that his young master, Monsieur Lucien de Franchi,
+had that instant arrived, and who desired to pay his respects to me if
+I were ready to receive him.
+
+I replied that I was at the disposal of Monsieur Lucien de Franchi if
+he would do me the honour to come up.
+
+An instant afterwards I heard a rapid step approaching my room, and
+almost immediately afterwards I was face to face with my host.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+HE was, as my guide had told me, a young man of about twenty-one years
+of age, with black hair and eyes, his face browned by the sun, rather
+under than over the average height, but remarkably well-proportioned.
+
+In his haste to welcome me he had come up, just as he was, in his
+riding-costume, which was composed of a redingote of green cloth, to
+which a cartridge-pouch gave a somewhat military air, grey pantaloons
+with leather let in on the inner side of the legs, boots and spurs.
+His head-dress was a cap similar to those worn by our Chasseurs
+d'Afrique.
+
+From either side of his pouch there hung a gourd and a pistol, and he
+carried an English carbine in addition.
+
+Notwithstanding the youthful appearance of my host, whose upper lip
+was as yet scarcely shaded by a moustache, he wore an air of
+independence and resolution, which struck me very forcibly.
+
+Here was a man fitted for strife, and accustomed to live in the midst
+of danger, but without despising it, grave because he was solitary,
+calm because he was strong.
+
+With a single glance he took me all in, my luggage, my arms, the dress
+I had just taken off, and that which I had just donned.
+
+His glance was as rapid and as sure as that of a man whose very life
+may depend upon a hasty survey of his surroundings.
+
+"I trust you will excuse me if I disturb you," he said; "but I come
+with good intentions. I wish to see if you require anything. I am
+always somewhat uneasy when any of you gentlemen from the continent
+pay us a visit, for we are still so uncivilized, we Corsicans, that it
+is really with fear and trembling that we exercise, particularly to
+Frenchmen, our own hospitality, which will, I fear, soon be the only
+thing that will remain to us."
+
+"You have no reason to fear," I replied; "it would be difficult to say
+what more a traveller can require beyond what Madame de Franchi has
+supplied. Besides," I continued, glancing round the apartment, "I must
+confess I do not perceive any of the want of civilization you speak of
+so frankly, and were it not for the charming prospect from those
+windows, I should fancy myself in an apartment in the Chaussee
+d'Antin."
+
+"Yes," returned the young man, "it is rather a mania with my poor
+brother Louis; he is so fond of living _à la Française;_ but I very
+much doubt whether, when he leaves Paris, the poor attempt at
+civilization here will appear to him sufficient on his return home as
+it formerly did."
+
+"Has your brother been long away from Corsica?" I inquired.
+
+"For the last ten months."
+
+"You expect him back soon?"
+
+"Oh, not for three or four years."
+
+"That is a very long separation for two brothers, who probably were
+never parted before."
+
+"Yes, and particularly if they love each other as we do."
+
+"No doubt he will come to see you before he finishes his studies?"
+
+"Probably; he has promised us so much, at least."
+
+"In any case, nothing need prevent you from paying him a visit?"
+
+"No, I never leave Corsica."
+
+There was in his tone, as he made this reply, that love of country
+which astonishes the rest of the universe.
+
+I smiled.
+
+"It appears strange to you," he said, smiling in his turn, "when I
+tell you that I do not wish to leave a miserable country like ours;
+but you must know that I am as much a growth of the island as the oak
+or the laurel; the air I breathe must be impregnated with the odours
+of the sea and of the mountains. I must have torrents to cross, rocks
+to scale, forests to explore. I must have space; liberty is necessary
+to me, and if you were to take me to live in a town I believe I should
+die."
+
+"But how is it there is such a great difference between you and your
+brother in this respect?"
+
+"And you would add with so great a physical resemblance, if you knew
+him."
+
+"Are you, then, so very much alike?"
+
+"So much so, that when we were children our parents were obliged to
+sew a distinguishing mark upon our clothes."
+
+"And as you grew up?" I suggested.
+
+"As we grew up our habits caused a very slight change in our
+appearance, that is all. Always in a study, poring over books and
+drawings, my brother grew somewhat pale, while I, being always in the
+open air, became bronzed, as you see."
+
+"I hope," I said, "that you will permit me to judge of this
+resemblance, and if you have any commission for Monsieur Louis, you
+will charge me with it."
+
+"Yes, certainly, with great pleasure, if you will be so kind. Now,
+will you excuse me? I see you are more advanced in your toilet than I,
+and supper will be ready in a quarter of an hour."
+
+"You surely need not trouble to change on my account."
+
+"You must not reproach me with this, for you have yourself set me the
+example; but, in any case, I am now in a riding dress, and must change
+it for a mountaineer's costume, as, after supper, I have to make an
+excursion in which boots and spurs would only serve to hinder me."
+
+"You are going out after supper, then?" I asked.
+
+"Yes," he replied, "to a rendezvous."
+
+I smiled.
+
+"Ah, not in the sense you understand it--this is a matter of
+business."
+
+"Do you think me so presumptuous as to believe I have a right to your
+conscience?"
+
+"Why not? One should live so as to be able to proclaim what one has
+done. I never had a mistress, and I never shall have one. If my
+brother should marry, and have children, it is probable that I shall
+never take a wife. If, on the contrary, he does not marry, perhaps I
+shall, so as to prevent our race from becoming extinct. Did I not tell
+you," he added, laughing, "that I am a regular savage, and had come
+into the world a hundred years too late? But I continue to chatter
+here like a crow, and I shall not be ready by the time supper is on
+the table."
+
+"But cannot we continue the conversation?" I said. "Your chamber, I
+believe, is opposite, and we can talk through the open doors."
+
+"We can do better than that; you can come into my room while I dress.
+You are a judge of arms, I fancy. Well, then, you shall look at mine.
+There are some there which are valuable--from an historical point of
+view, I mean."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE suggestion quite accorded with my inclination to compare the
+chambers of the brothers, and I did not hesitate to adopt it. I
+followed my host, who, opening the door, paused in front of me to show
+me the way.
+
+This time I found myself in a regular arsenal. All the furniture was
+of the fifteenth or sixteenth century--the carved and canopied
+bedstead, supported by great posts, was draped with green damask _à
+fleur d'or;_ the window curtains were of the same material. The walls
+were covered with Spanish leather, and in the open spaces were
+sustained trophies of Gothic and modern arms.
+
+There was no mistaking the tastes of the occupant of this room: they
+were as warlike as those of his brother were peaceable.
+
+"Look here," he said, passing into an inner room, "here you are in
+three centuries at once--see! I will dress while you amuse yourself,
+for I must make haste or supper will be announced."
+
+"Which are the historic arms of which you spoke amongst all these
+swords, arquebuses, and poignards?" I asked.
+
+"There are three. Let us take them in order. If you look by the head
+of my bed you will find a poignard with a very large hilt--the pommel
+forms a seal."
+
+"Yes, I have it."
+
+"That is the dagger of Sampietro."
+
+"The famous Sampietro, the assassin of Vanina?"
+
+"The assassin! No, the avenger."
+
+"It is the same thing, I fancy."
+
+"To the rest of the world, perhaps--not in Corsica."
+
+"And is the dagger authentic?"
+
+"Look for yourself. It carries the arms of Sampietro--only the
+fleur-de-lis of France is missing. You know that Sampietro was not
+authorized to wear the lily until after the siege of Perpignan."
+
+"No, I was not aware of that fact. And how did you become possessed of
+this poignard?"
+
+"Oh! it has been in our family for three hundred years. It was given
+to a Napoleon de Franchi by Sampietro himself."
+
+"Do you remember on what occasion?"
+
+"Yes. Sampietro and my ancestor fell into an ambuscade of Genoese, and
+defended themselves like lions. Sampietro's helmet was knocked off,
+and a Genoese on horseback was about to kill Sampietro with his mace
+when my ancestor plunged his dagger into a joint in his enemy's
+armour. The rider feeling himself wounded spurred his horse, carrying
+away in his flight the dagger so firmly embedded in his armour that he
+was unable to withdraw it, and as my ancestor very much regretted the
+loss of his favourite weapon Sampietro gave him his own. Napoleon took
+great care of it, for it is of Spanish workmanship, as you see, and
+will penetrate two five-franc pieces one on top of another."
+
+"May I make the attempt?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+Placing the coins upon the floor, I struck a sharp blow with the
+dagger. Lucien had not deceived me.
+
+When I withdrew the poignard I found both pieces pierced through and
+through, fixed upon the point of the dagger.
+
+"This is indeed the dagger of Sampietro," I said. "But what astonishes
+me is that being possessed of such a weapon he should have employed
+the cord to kill his wife."
+
+"He did not possess it at that time," replied Lucien; "he had given it
+to my ancestor."
+
+"Ah! true!"
+
+"Sampietro was more than sixty years old when he hastened from
+Constantinople to Aix to teach that lesson to the world, viz., that
+women should not meddle in state affairs."
+
+I bowed in assent, and replaced the poignard.
+
+"Now," said I to Lucien, who all this time had been dressing, "let us
+pass on from Sampietro to some one else."
+
+"You see those two portraits close together?"
+
+"Yes, Paoli and Napoleon."
+
+"Well, near the portrait of Paoli is a sword."
+
+"Precisely so."
+
+"That is his sword."
+
+"Paoli's sword? And is it as authentic as the poignard of Sampietro?"
+
+"Yes, at least as authentic; though he did not give it to one of my
+male ancestors, but to one of the ladies."
+
+"To one of your female ancestors?"
+
+"Yes. Perhaps you have heard people speak of this woman, who in the
+war of independence presented herself at the Tower of Sullacaro,
+accompanied by a young man?"
+
+"No, tell me the story."
+
+"Oh, it is a very short one."
+
+"So much the worse."
+
+"Well, you see, we have not much time to talk now."
+
+"I am all attention."
+
+"Well, this woman and this young man presented themselves before the
+Tower of Sullacaro and requested to speak with Paoli; but as he was
+engaged writing, he declined to admit them; and then, as the woman
+insisted, the two sentinels repulsed her, when Paoli, who had heard
+the noise, opened the door and inquired the cause."
+
+"'It is I,' said the woman; 'I wish to speak to you.'
+
+"'What have you to say to me?'
+
+"'I have come to tell you that I have two sons. I heard yesterday that
+one had been killed for defending his country, and I have come twenty
+leagues to bring you the other!!!'"
+
+"You are relating an incident of Sparta," I said.
+
+"Yes, it does appear very like it."
+
+"And who was this woman?"
+
+"She was my ancestress."
+
+"Paoli took off his sword and gave it to her.
+
+"'Take it,' he said, 'I like time to make my excuses to woman.'"
+
+"She was worthy of both--is it not so?"
+
+"And now this sabre?"
+
+"That is the one Buonaparte carried at the battle of the Pyramids."
+
+"No doubt it came into your family in the same manner as the poignard
+and the sword."
+
+"Entirely. After the battle Buonaparte gave the order to my
+grandfather, who was an officer in the Guides, to charge with fifty
+men a number of Mamelukes who were at bay around a wounded chieftain.
+My grandfather dispersed the Mamelukes and took the chief back a
+prisoner to the First Consul. But when he wished to sheath his sword
+he found the blade had been so bent in his encounter with the
+Mamelukes that it would not go into the scabbard. My grandfather
+therefore threw sabre and sheath away as useless, and, seeing this,
+Buonaparte gave him his own."
+
+"But," I said, "in your place I would rather have had my grandfather's
+sabre, all bent as it was, instead of that of the general's, which was
+in good condition."
+
+"Look before you and you will find it. The First Consul had it
+recovered, and caused that large diamond to be inserted in the hilt.
+He then sent it to my family with the inscription which you can read
+on the blade."
+
+I advanced between the windows, where, hanging half-drawn from its
+scabbard, which it could not fully enter, I perceived the sabre bent
+and hacked, bearing the simple inscription--
+
+"Battle of the Pyramids, 21st of July, 1798."
+
+At that moment the servant came to announce that supper was served.
+
+"Very well, Griffo," replied the young man; "tell my mother that we
+are coming down."
+
+As he spoke he came forth from the inner room, dressed, as he said,
+like a mountaineer; that is to say, with a round velvet coat,
+trowsers, and gaiters; of his other costume he had only retained his
+pouch.
+
+He found me occupied in examing two carbines hanging opposite each
+other, and both inscribed--
+
+"21st September, 1819: 11 A.M."
+
+"Are these carbines also historical?" I asked.
+
+"Yes," he answered. "For us, at least, they bear a historical
+significance. One was my father's--"
+
+He hesitated.
+
+"And the other," I suggested.
+
+"And the other," he said, laughing, "is my mother's. But let us go
+downstairs; my mother will be awaiting us."
+
+Then passing in front of me to show me the way he courteously signed
+to me to follow him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+I MUST confess that as I descended to the supper-room I could not help
+thinking of Lucien's last remark, "The other is my mother's carbine;"
+and this circumstance compelled me to regard Madame de Franchi more
+closely than I had hitherto done.
+
+When her son entered the _salle à manger,_ he respectfully kissed her
+hand, and she received this homage with queenly dignity.
+
+"I am afraid that we have kept you waiting, mother," said Lucien; "I
+must ask your pardon."
+
+"In any case, that would be my fault, madame," I said, bowing to her.
+"Monsieur Lucien has been telling me and pointing out many curious
+things, and by my reiterated questions I have delayed him."
+
+"Rest assured," she said, "I have not been kept waiting; I have but
+this moment come downstairs. But," she continued, addressing Lucien,
+"I was rather anxious to ask you what news there was of Louis."
+
+"Your son has been ill, madame?" I asked.
+
+"Lucien is afraid so," she said.
+
+"Have you received a letter from your brother?" I inquired.
+
+"No," he replied, "and that is the very thing that makes me uneasy."
+
+"But, then, how can you possibly tell that he is out of sorts?"
+
+"Because during the last few days I have been suffering myself."
+
+"I hope you will excuse my continual questions; but, really, your
+answer does not make matters any clearer."
+
+"Well, you know that we are twins, don't you?"
+
+"Yes, my guide told me as much."
+
+"Were you also informed that when we came into the world we were
+joined together?"
+
+"No; I was ignorant of that circumstance."
+
+"Well, then, it was a fact, and we were obliged to be cut asunder. So
+that, you see, however distant we may be, we have ever the same body,
+so that any impression, physical or moral, which one may receive is
+immediately reflected in the other. During the last few days I felt
+_triste,_ morose, dull, and without any predisposing cause, so far as
+I am aware. I have experienced terrible pains in the region of the
+heart, and palpitations, so it is evident to me that my brother is
+suffering some great grief."
+
+I looked with astonishment at this young man, who affirmed such a
+strange thing without the slightest fear of contradiction, and his
+mother also appeared to entertain the same conviction as he did.
+
+Madame de Franchi smiled sadly, and said, "The absent are in the hands
+of God, the great point is that you are certain that he is alive."
+
+"Yes," replied Lucien, calmly, "for if he were dead I should have seen
+him."
+
+"And you would have told me, would you not, my son?"
+
+"Oh, of course, mother, at once."
+
+"I am satisfied. Excuse me, monsieur," she continued, turning to me,
+"I trust you will pardon my maternal anxiety. Not only are Louis and
+Lucien my sons, but they are the last of their race. Will you please
+take the chair at my right hand? Lucien, sit here."
+
+She indicated to the young man the vacant place at her left hand.
+
+We seated ourselves at the extremity of a long table, at the opposite
+end of which were laid six other covers, destined for those who in
+Corsica are called the family; that is to say, the people who in large
+establishments occupy a position between the master and the servants.
+
+The table was abundantly supplied with good cheer. But I confess that
+although at the moment blessed with a very good appetite, I contented
+myself with eating and drinking as it were mechanically, for my senses
+were not in any way attracted by the pleasures of the table. For,
+indeed, it appeared to me that I had entered into a strange world when
+I came into that house, and that I was now living in a dream.
+
+Who could this woman be who was accustomed to carry a carbine like a
+soldier?
+
+What sort of person could this brother be, who felt the same grief
+that his brother experienced at a distance of three hundred leagues?
+
+What sort of mother could this be who made her son declare that if he
+saw the spirit of his dead brother he would tell her at once?
+
+These were the questions that perplexed me, and it will be readily
+understood they gave me ample food for thought.
+
+However, feeling that continual silence was not polite, I made an
+effort to collect my ideas. I looked up.
+
+The mother and son at the same instant perceived that I wished to
+enter into conversation.
+
+"So," said Lucien to me, as if he were continuing his remarks, "so you
+made up your mind to come to Corsica?"
+
+"Yes, as you see, I had for a long time had a desire to do so, and at
+last I have accomplished it."
+
+"_Ma foi!_ you have done well not to delay your visit; for with the
+successive encroachments of French tastes and manners those who come
+to look for Corsica in a few years will not find it."
+
+"However," I replied, "if the ancient national spirit retires before
+civilization and takes refuge in any corner of the island, it
+certainly will be in the province of Sartène, and in the valley of the
+Tavaro."
+
+"Do you think so, really?" said the young man, smiling.
+
+"Yes, and it appears to me that here at the present moment there is a
+beautiful and noble tablet of ancient Corsican manners."
+
+"Yes, and nevertheless, even here, between my mother and myself, in
+the face of four hundred years of reminiscences of this old fortified
+mansion, the French spirit has come to seek out my brother--has
+carried him away to Paris, when he will return to us a lawyer. He will
+live in Ajaccio instead of dwelling in his ancestral home. He will
+plead--if he possess the talent--he may be nominated _procureur du
+roi_ perhaps; then he will pursue the poor devils who have 'taken a
+skin,' as they say here. He will confound the assassin with the
+avenger--as you yourself have done already. He will demand, in the
+name of the law, the heads of those who had done what their fathers
+would have considered themselves dishonoured _not_ to have done. He
+will substitute the judgment of men for the justice of God; and in the
+evening, when he shall have claimed a head for the scaffold, he will
+believe that he has performed his duty, and has brought his stone as a
+tribute to the temple of Civilization, as our préfect says. Oh! mon
+Dieu! mon Dieu!"
+
+The young man raised his eyes to heaven, as Hannibal is reported to
+have done after the battle of Zama.
+
+"But," I replied, "you must confess that it is the will of God to
+equalize these things, since in making your brother a proselyte of the
+new order He has kept you here as a representative of the old manners
+and customs."
+
+"Yes; but what is there to prove that my brother will not follow the
+example of his uncle instead of following mine? And even I myself may
+be about to do something unworthy of a de Franchi."
+
+"You!" I exclaimed, with astonishment.
+
+"Yes, I. Do you wish me to tell you why you have come into this
+province of Sartène?" [See "Transcriber's Note."]
+
+"Yes, tell me."
+
+"You have come here to satisfy your curiosity as a man of the world,
+an artist, or a poet. I do not know what you are, nor do I ask; you
+can tell us when you leave, if you wish; if not, you need not inform
+us; you are perfectly free to do as you like. Well, you have come in
+the hope of seeing some village Vendetta, of being introduced to some
+original bandit, such as Mr. Merimée has described in 'Columba.'"
+
+"Well, it appears to me that I have not made such a bad choice, for if
+my eyes do not deceive me, your house is the only one in the village
+that is not fortified."
+
+"That only proves I have degenerated, as I have said. My father, my
+grandfather, and my ancestors for many generations have always taken
+one side or the other in the disputes which in the last ten years have
+divided the village. And do you know what I have become in the midst
+of musket shots and stabs? Well, I am the arbitrator. You have come
+into the province of Sartène to see bandits; is not that the fact? So
+come with me this evening and I will show you one."
+
+"What! will you really allow me to go with you this evening?"
+
+"Certainly, if it will amuse you. It entirely depends upon yourself."
+
+"I accept, then, with much pleasure."
+
+"Our guest is fatigued," said Madame de Franchi, looking meaningly at
+her son, as if she felt ashamed Corsica had so far degenerated.
+
+"No, mother, no, he had better come; and when in some Parisian _salon_
+people talk of the terrible Vendettas, of the implacable Corsican
+bandits who strike terror into the hearts of children in Bastia and
+Ajaccio, he will be able to tell them how things actually are."
+
+"But what is the great motive for this feud, which, as I understand,
+is now by your intercession to be for ever extinguished?"
+
+"Oh," replied Lucien, "in a quarrel it is not the motive that matters,
+it is the result. If a fly causes a man's death the man is none the
+less dead because a fly caused it."
+
+I saw that he hesitated to tell me the cause of this terrible war,
+which for the last ten years had desolated the village of Sullacaro.
+
+But, as may be imagined, the more he attempted to conceal it the more
+anxious I was to discover it.
+
+"But," said I, "this quarrel must have a motive; is that motive a
+secret?"
+
+"Good gracious, no! The mischief arose between the Orlandi and the
+Colona."
+
+"On what occasion?"
+
+"Well, a fowl escaped from the farm yard of the Orlandi and flew into
+that of the Colona.
+
+"The Orlandi attempted to get back the hen, the Colona declared it
+belonged to them. The Orlandi then threatened to bring the Colona
+before the judge and make them declare on oath it was theirs. And then
+the old woman in whose house the hen had taken refuge wrung its neck,
+and threw the dead fowl into her neighbour's face, saying--
+
+"'Well, then, if it belongs to you, eat it.'
+
+"Then one of the Orlandi picked up the fowl by the feet, and attempted
+to beat the person who had thrown it in his sister's face; but just as
+he was about to do so, one of the Colona appeared, who, unfortunately,
+carried a loaded gun, and he immediately sent a bullet through the
+Orlandi's heart."
+
+"And how many lives have been sacrificed since?"
+
+"Nine people have been killed altogether."
+
+"And all for a miserable hen not worth twelve sous?"
+
+"Yes, but as I said just now, it is not the cause, but the effect that
+we have to look at."
+
+"Since there were nine people killed, then, there might easily be a
+dozen."
+
+"Yes, very likely there would be if they had not appointed me as
+arbitrator."
+
+"At the intercession of one of the two families no doubt?"
+
+"Oh! dear no, at my brother's request, who heard of the matter at the
+Chancellor's house. I asked him what on earth they had to do in Paris
+with the affairs of an out-of-the-way little village in Corsica; but
+it seems the préfect mentioned it when he wrote to Paris, and said
+that if I were to say a word the whole thing would finish like a
+farce, by a marriage and a public recitation; so my brother took the
+hint, and replied he would answer for me. What could I do?" added the
+young man, throwing back his head proudly; "it shall never be said
+that a de Franchi passed his word for his brother, and that his
+brother did not fulfil the engagement."
+
+"And so you have arranged everything?"
+
+"I am afraid so."
+
+"And we shall see the chief of one of these two parties this evening,
+no doubt?"
+
+"Just so; last night I saw the other."
+
+"Are we going to see an Orlandi or a Colona?"
+
+"An Orlandi."
+
+"Is it far from here?"
+
+"In the ruins of the Castle of Vicentello d'Istria."
+
+"Ah! yes--they told me those ruins were close by."
+
+"Yes, they are about a league from here."
+
+"So in three-quarters of an hour we shall be there?"
+
+"Yes, in about that time."
+
+"Lucien," said Madame de Franchi, "remember you speak for yourself.
+For a mountaineer as you are it is scarcely three-quarters of an hour
+distance, but recollect that our guest may not be able to proceed so
+quickly."
+
+"That is true; we had better allow ourselves an hour and a half at
+least."
+
+"In that case you have no time to lose," said Madame de Franchi, as
+she glanced at the clock.
+
+"Mother," said Lucien as he rose, "you will excuse our leaving you,
+will you not?"
+
+She extended her hand to him, and the young man kissed it with the
+same respect as he had previously done.
+
+Then turning to me, Lucien said--
+
+"If you prefer to finish your supper quietly, and to smoke your cigar
+afterwards----"
+
+"No, no!" I cried; "hang it, you have promised me a bandit, and I must
+have one."
+
+"Well, then, let us take our guns and be off."
+
+I bowed respectfully to Madame de Franchi, and we left the room,
+preceded by Griffo, who carried a light.
+
+Our preparations did not occupy us very long.
+
+I clasped a travelling belt round my waist, from which was suspended a
+sort of hunting-knife, and in the folds of which I carried powder and
+ball.
+
+Lucien soon re-appeared with his cartridge case, and carrying a
+double-barrelled Manton, and a sort of peaked cap, woven for him by
+some Penelope of Sullacaro.
+
+"Shall I go with your Excellency?" asked Griffo.
+
+"No, it will be useless," replied Lucien; "but you may as well loose
+Diamond, as we might put up a pheasant, and the moon is so clear we
+should be able to shoot as well as in daylight."
+
+An instant afterwards a great spaniel bounded out, and jumped joyously
+around its master.
+
+We had not gone many paces from the house when Lucien turned round and
+said--
+
+"By-the-by, Griffo, tell them if they hear any shots on the mountain
+that it is we who have fired them."
+
+"Very well, your Excellency."
+
+"If we did not take some such precautions," said Lucien, "they would
+think that hostilities had recommenced, and we should soon hear our
+shots echoing in the streets of Sullacaro. A little farther on you
+will see a footpath to the right that will lead us directly up the
+mountain."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+ALTHOUGH it was only the beginning of the month of March the weather
+was beautiful, and we should have said that it was hot, had it not
+been for a refreshing breeze which carried with it a savour of the
+sea.
+
+The moon was rising brilliantly behind Mount Cagna, and the cascades
+of light were falling upon the southern slope which separates Corsica
+into two parts, and in a measure forms two different nations, which
+are always at war, or at least, detest one another heartily.
+
+As we mounted we could see the gorge in which the Tavaro was buried in
+profound darkness, impossible to penetrate, but we could view the calm
+Mediterranean, like a vast steel mirror extending into the horizon.
+
+There are certain noises one hears only at night, for during the day
+they are overcome by other sounds, or it may be they awake only with
+the darkness, and these produced not upon Lucien, who was familiar
+with them, but upon me, who was a stranger to them, curious sensations
+of surprise, and awoke in me a powerful interest in all that I saw.
+
+When we reached the place where the path united with another--one
+going up the mountain direct, and the other to the right, Lucien
+turned to me and said--
+
+"Are you anything of a mountaineer?"
+
+"Yes, a little, as far as walking goes."
+
+"You are likely to get giddy, then."
+
+"I am afraid so. The precipice has an irresistible attraction for me."
+
+"Then we had better take this foot-path where there are no precipices,
+but merely rough walking."
+
+"I am quite equal to that."
+
+"Very well, then, we have three-quarters of an hour's walk before us."
+
+"Let us take the path."
+
+Lucien then went first, and crossed through a little oak wood, into
+which I followed him.
+
+Diamond trotted fifty or sixty paces away, beating right and left, and
+occasionally coming back to us, wagging his tail as much as to inform
+us that we might trust to him and continue our route in safety.
+
+I saw that as some people like to possess a horse, equally for riding
+or driving, so Diamond had apparently been trained to hunt the biped
+or the quadruped, the bandit or the boar. I did not wish to appear
+altogether strange to Corsican manners, so I said as much to Lucien.
+
+"You are mistaken," he replied; "Diamond is very useful in hunting men
+or animals, but he never chases bandits. It is the triple red of the
+gendarmes, the voltigeur, and the volunteer that he hunts."
+
+"Then I suppose Diamond is a bandit's dog?"
+
+"He is. He belongs to an Orlandi, to whom I sometimes used to send him
+into the country with bread, powder, bullets, or whatever he required.
+He was shot by a Colona, and the next day the dog came to me, for
+being accustomed to come to the house, he looked upon me as a friend."
+
+"But," I said, "I fancied I saw another dog at your house."
+
+"Yes, that is Brucso, he possesses the same qualities as Diamond, only
+he came to me from a Colona who was killed by an Orlandi, and so when
+I pay a visit to a Colona I take Brucso, but when I have business with
+an Orlandi I take Diamond. If I were to make a mistake and loose them
+both together they would kill each other. So," continued Lucien, with
+a bitter smile, "men can make it up, and will receive the sacrament
+together; the dogs will never eat from the same platter."
+
+"Well," I said, laughing; "here are two regular Corsican dogs, but it
+seems to me that Diamond, like all other modest creatures, has gone
+out of earshot while we are speaking of him. I am afraid he has missed
+us."
+
+"Oh, do not be alarmed," said Lucien, "I know where he is."
+
+"May I inquire where?"
+
+"He is at the Mucchio."
+
+I was about to hazard another question, even at the risk of tiring my
+companion, when a long howl was heard, so lamentable, so sad, and so
+prolonged, that I shivered and stopped.
+
+"What can that be?" I said.
+
+"Nothing, it is only Diamond crying."
+
+"What is he crying for?"
+
+"His master. Do you not know that dogs do not forget those they have
+loved?"
+
+"Ah, I understand," I said, as another prolonged howl rose through the
+night.
+
+"Yes," I continued, "his master was shot, you say, and I suppose we
+are approaching the place where he was killed?"
+
+"Just so, and Diamond has left us to go to Mucchio."
+
+"That is where the man's tomb is?"
+
+"Yes, that is to say, the monument which passers-by have raised to his
+memory, in the form of a cairn; so it follows that the tomb of the
+victim gradually grows larger, a symbol of the increasing vengeance of
+his relations."
+
+Another long howl from Diamond's throat made me shudder again, though
+I was perfectly well aware of the cause of the noise.
+
+At the next turn of the path we came upon the wayside tomb or cairn. A
+heap of stones formed a pyramid of four or five feet in height.
+
+At the foot of this strange monument Diamond was lying with extended
+neck and open mouth. Lucien picked up a stone, and taking off his cap
+approached the mucchio.
+
+I did the same, following his example closely.
+
+When he had come close to the pyramid he broke a branch from a young
+oak and threw, first, the stone and then the branch upon the heap. He
+rapidly made the sign of the cross.
+
+I imitated him exactly, and we resumed our route in silence, but
+Diamond remained behind.
+
+About ten minutes afterwards we heard another dismal howling, and then
+almost immediately Diamond passed us, head and tail drooping, to a
+point about a hundred paces in front, when he suddenly resumed his
+hunting.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+WE still kept advancing steadily, but, as Lucien had warned me, the
+path became rougher and more difficult.
+
+I slung my gun over my shoulder, for I perceived that I should soon
+need both hands to assist me. As for my friend, he continued to press
+forward with the same easy gait, and did not appear to be at all
+inconvenienced by the difficult nature of the ground.
+
+After some minutes' climbing over rocks, aided by bushes and roots, we
+reached a species of platform surmounted by some ruined walls. These
+ruins were those of the Castle of Vicentello d'Istria, our
+destination.
+
+In about five minutes we had climbed up to the last terrace, Lucien in
+advance, and as he extended his hand to assist me he said:--
+
+"Well done, well done; you have not climbed badly for a Parisian."
+
+"Supposing that the Parisian you have assisted has already had some
+little experience in mountain scrambling?"
+
+"Ah, true!" said Lucien, laughing. "Have you not a mountain near Paris
+called Montmartre?"
+
+"Yes, but there are others beside Montmartre which I have ascended.
+For instance, the Rigi, the Faulhorn, the Gemmi, Vesuvius, Stromboli
+and Etna."
+
+"Indeed! Now I suppose you will despise me because I have never done
+more than surmount Monte Rotundo! Well, here we are! Four centuries
+ago my ancestors would have opened the portal to you and bade you
+welcome to the castle. Now their descendants can only show you the
+place where the door used to be, and say to you, 'Welcome to the
+ruins!'"
+
+"I suppose the chateau has been in possession of your family since the
+death of Vicentello d'Istria?" I said, taking up the conversation at
+the point at which we had dropped it previously.
+
+"No, but before his birth. It was the last dwelling-place of our
+famous ancestress Savilia, the widow of Lucien de Franchi."
+
+"Is there not some terrible history connected with this woman?"
+
+"Yes; were it daylight I could now show you from this spot the ruins
+of the Castle of Valle. There lived the lord of Guidice, who was as
+much hated as she (Savilia) was beloved, as ugly as she was beautiful.
+He became enamoured of her, and as she did not quickly respond to his
+desires, he gave her to understand that if she did not accept him in a
+given time he would come and carry her off by force. Savilia made
+pretence of consenting, and invited Guidice to come to dinner at the
+castle. Guidice was overcome with joy at this, and forgetting that the
+invitation had only been extorted by menace, accepted it, and came
+attended only by a few body servants. The gate was closed behind them,
+and in a few minutes Guidice was a prisoner, and cast into a dungeon,
+yonder."
+
+I passed on in the direction indicated, and found myself in a species
+of square court.
+
+The moonlight streamed through the apertures time had made in the once
+solid walls, and threw dark and well-defined shadows upon the ground.
+All other portions of the ruins remained in the deep shade of the
+overhanging walls round about.
+
+Lucien looked at his watch.
+
+"Ah! we are twenty minutes too soon," he exclaimed. "Let us sit down;
+you are very likely tired."
+
+We sat down; indeed, we extended ourselves at full length upon the
+grassy sward, in a position facing the great breach in the wall.
+
+"But," said I to my companion, "it seems to me that you have not
+finished the story you began just now."
+
+"No," replied Lucien. "Every morning and every evening Savilia came
+down to the dungeon in which Giudice was confined, and then separated
+from him only by a grating, she would undress herself, and expose
+herself naked to him, a captive.'
+
+"'Giudice,' she would say, 'how do you expect that such an ugly man as
+you are can ever hope to possess all this?'
+
+"This trial lasted for three months, and was repeated twice a day. But
+at the end of that period, thanks to a waiting woman whom he had
+bribed, Guidice was enabled to escape. He soon returned with all his
+men, who were much more numerous than those Savilia could assemble,
+and took the castle by assault, and having first possessed himself of
+Savilia, he subsequently exposed her naked in an iron cage at the
+cross roads in the Bocca di Cilaccia, offering, himself, the key to
+any passer by who might be tempted to enter. After three days of this
+public prostitution Savilia died."
+
+"Well," I said, "it seems to me that your ancestors had a very pretty
+idea of revenging themselves, and that in finishing off their enemies
+with dagger or gunshot their descendants have in a manner
+degenerated!"
+
+"Without mentioning that the day may come when we shall not kill them
+at all!" replied Lucien. "But it has not come to that yet. The two
+sons of Savilia," he continued, "who were at Ajaccio with their uncle,
+were true Corsicans, and continued to make war against the sons of
+Guidice. This war lasted for four hundred years, and only finished, as
+you saw, by the dates upon the carbines of my parents, on the 21st
+September, 1819, at eleven o'clock A.M."
+
+"Oh, yes, I remember the inscription; but I had not time to inquire
+its meaning, as just then we were summoned to supper."
+
+"Well, this is the explanation: Of the family of Guidice there
+remained, in 1819, only two brothers. Of the de Franchi family there
+remained only my father, who had married his cousin. Three months
+after that the Guidice determined to exterminate us with one stroke.
+One of the brothers concealed himself on the road to Olmedo to await
+my father's coming home to Sartène--while the other, taking advantage
+of his absence, determined to attack our house. This plan was carried
+out, but with a different result to what had been anticipated. My
+father, being warned of the plot, was on his guard; my mother, who had
+also got a hint of the affair, assembled the shepherds, &c., so that
+when the attack was made the intended victims were prepared for it--my
+father on the mountains, my mother in the mansion. The consequence was
+that the two Guidici fell, one shot by my father, the other by my
+mother. On seeing his foe fall, my father drew out his watch and saw
+it was eleven o'clock. When my mother shot her assailant she turned to
+the timepiece and noticed that it was also eleven o'clock. The whole
+thing had taken place exactly at the same moment. There were no more
+Guidici left, the family was extinct, and our victorious family is now
+left in peace; and considering we carried on a war for four hundred
+years, we didn't want to meddle with it any more. My father had the
+dates engraved upon the carbines, and hung the pieces up on each side
+of the clock, as you saw. Seven months later my mother gave birth to
+twins, of whom one is your very humble servant, the Corsican Lucien;
+the other, the philanthropist, Louis, his brother."
+
+As he ceased speaking, I noticed a shadow of a man accompanied by a
+dog projected in the doorway.
+
+The shadows were those of the bandit Orlandi and his friend Diamond.
+
+At that moment the village clock of Sullacaro was heard striking nine
+with measured strokes.
+
+Evidently the Orlandi was of Louis XV.'s opinion, that punctuality is
+the politeness of kings!
+
+It would have been impossible to have been more exact than was that
+king of the mountain, with whom Lucien had appointed a meeting at nine
+o'clock.
+
+We both rose from our reclining posture when we saw the bandit
+approaching.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+"YOU are not alone, Monsieur Lucien," said the bandit.
+
+"Do not let that disturb you, Orlandi. This gentleman is a friend of
+mine, who has heard me speak of you, and wished to pay you a visit. I
+could not think of refusing him that pleasure."
+
+"Monsieur is welcome to the country," said the bandit, bowing as he
+advanced towards us.
+
+I returned his salute with the most punctilious politeness.
+
+"You must have been waiting here some time," continued Orlandi.
+
+"Yes, about twenty minutes."
+
+"Quite so. I heard Diamond howling at Mucchio, and he has been with me
+quite a quarter of an hour since then; he is a good and faithful dog,
+is he not, Monsieur Lucien?"
+
+"Yes, indeed he is, Orlandi," replied Lucien, as he patted the animal.
+
+"But," said I, "since you knew that Monsieur Lucien was here, why did
+you not come sooner?"
+
+"Because our appointment was for nine o'clock," said the bandit, "and
+it is just as unpunctual to be a quarter of an hour too soon as to
+arrive a quarter of an hour too late."
+
+"That is meant for a hit at me, Orlandi," said Lucien, laughing.
+
+"No, sir; you no doubt have your reasons; besides you have a
+companion, and it is likely on his account you may have started
+earlier, for I know your punctual habits, Monsieur Lucien, and I know
+also that you have been good enough to put yourself to inconvenience
+on my account frequently."
+
+"Oh, do not say anything about that, Orlandi; this will probably be
+the last time."
+
+"Have we not some few words to exchange upon that subject, Monsieur
+Lucien," said the bandit.
+
+"Yes, if you will have the goodness to follow me."
+
+"I am at your orders."
+
+Lucien turned towards me, and said:
+
+"Will you excuse me a moment?"
+
+"Of course;" I replied.
+
+The men then went away together, and ascending the breach through
+which Orlandi had appeared halted at the top of it, their figures
+standing out in strong relief in the moonlight.
+
+Then I was able to take more particular note of this Orlandi. He was a
+tall man, who had fashioned his beard in exactly the same manner as
+young de Franchi, and was clothed like him; but his dress showed
+traces of more frequent contact with the bushes through which he was
+obliged to fly, and of the earth upon which he was obliged to lie,
+than did those of Lucien.
+
+I could not hear what the men were talking about, and had I heard it I
+could not have understood it, as they spoke in the Corsican dialect.
+
+But I was enabled to perceive by their gestures that the bandit was
+refuting with some heat a series of arguments which the young man was
+setting forth with an impartiality that did him honour.
+
+At length the gestures of the Orlandi became less frequent and more
+energetic. His voice became subdued, and he at last bowed his head and
+held out his hand to the young man.
+
+I concluded the conference was now over, and the men descended
+together towards me.
+
+"My dear, sir," said Lucien, "Orlandi wishes to shake you by the hand,
+and to thank you."
+
+"And for what?" I said.
+
+"For being so good as to be one of his sponsors. I have answered for
+you!"
+
+"If you have answered for me I will readily accept, without even
+asking what is in question."
+
+I extended my hand to the bandit, who did me the honour to touch it
+with the tips of his fingers.
+
+"You will now be able to tell my brother that all has been arranged
+according to his wishes," said Lucien, "and that you have signed the
+contract."
+
+"Is there, then, a marriage about to take place?"
+
+"No, not yet; but perhaps there may be shortly."
+
+A disdainful smile passed over the bandit's face as he replied,
+
+"We have made peace, Monsieur Lucien, because you wished it; but
+marriage is not included in the compact."
+
+"No," replied Lucien, "it is only written in the future amongst the
+probabilities; but let us talk of something else. Did you not hear
+anything while I was talking with Orlandi?" he said, turning to me.
+
+"Of what you were saying, do you mean?"
+
+"No, but what you might have thought was a pheasant close by?"
+
+"Well, I fancied I did hear a bird crow, but I thought I must have
+been mistaken!"
+
+"No, you were not mistaken, there is a cock perched in the great
+chestnut tree you saw about a hundred paces from here. I heard him
+just now as I was passing."
+
+"Well, then," said Lucien, "we must eat him tomorrow."
+
+"He would have already been laid low," said Orlandi, "if I had not
+thought that in the village they would believe I was shooting at
+something besides a pheasant."
+
+"I have provided against that," said Lucien. "By-the-by," he added,
+turning to me and throwing on his shoulder the gun he had already
+unslung, "the shot by courtesy belongs to you."
+
+"One moment," I said. "I am not so sure of my aim as you, and I will
+be quite content to do my part in eating the bird. So do you fire."
+
+"I suppose you are not so used to shooting at night as we are,"
+replied Lucien, "and you would probably fire too low. But if you have
+nothing particular to do to-morrow you can come and take your
+revenge."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+WE left the ruins on the side opposite to that on which we had
+entered, Lucien going first.
+
+As soon as we had got into the brushwood a pheasant once more loudly
+announced his presence.
+
+He was about eighty paces from us, roosting in the branches of the
+chestnut tree, the approach to which was prevented on all sides by the
+undergrowth.
+
+"I do not quite see how you are going to get him," I said to Lucien;
+"it does not appear a very easy shot."
+
+"No," he replied; "but if I could just see him, I would fire from
+here."
+
+"You do not mean to say that your gun will kill a pheasant at eighty
+yards?"
+
+"Not with shot," he replied; "it will with a bullet."
+
+"Ah! that is a different thing altogether. I did not know you were
+loaded with ball. You were right to undertake the shot."
+
+"Would you like to see the pheasant?" asked Orlandi.
+
+"Yes," said Lucien, "I confess that I should."
+
+"Wait a moment, then;" and Orlandi began to imitate the clucking of
+the hen pheasant.
+
+Then, without our being able to see the bird, we perceived a movement
+in the leaves of the chestnut-tree. The pheasant was evidently
+mounting branch by branch as he replied to the call of the hen
+imitated by Orlandi.
+
+At length he arrived at the end of a branch, and was quite visible in
+the moonlight.
+
+Orlandi ceased, and the pheasant remained motionless.
+
+At the same moment Lucien levelled his gun, and, with a quick aim,
+fired.
+
+The pheasant fell like a stone.
+
+"Fetch it!" said Lucien to Diamond.
+
+The dog rushed into the brushwood, and soon returned with the bird,
+pierced by the bullet, in his mouth.
+
+"That is a good shot," I said. "I congratulate you upon it,
+particularly with a fowling-piece."
+
+"Oh," said Lucien, "I do not deserve your praise, for one barrel is
+rifled, and carries a ball like a carbine."
+
+"Never mind, such a shot with a carbine deserves honourable mention."
+
+"Bah!" said Orlandi; "why, with a carbine, Monsieur Lucien could hit a
+five-franc piece at three hundred paces."
+
+"And can you shoot with a pistol as well as with a gun?"
+
+"Yes," said Lucien, "very nearly. At twenty-five paces I can always
+divide six balls out of twelve on the blade of a knife."
+
+I took off my hat and saluted the speaker, saying,
+
+"Is your brother an equally good shot?"
+
+"My brother?" he replied. "Poor Louis! he has never handled gun nor
+pistol in his life. My great fear is that he will get mixed up in some
+affair in Paris, and, brave as he undoubtedly is, he will be killed to
+sustain the honour of the country."
+
+Lucien, as he spoke, thrust the pheasant into the great pocket of his
+velveteen coat.
+
+"Now," he said, "my dear Orlandi, till to-morrow farewell."
+
+"Till to-morrow, Monsieur Lucien?"
+
+"I count upon your punctuality. At ten o'clock your friends and
+relatives will be at the end of the street. On the opposite side
+Colona, with his friends, will be likewise present, and we shall be on
+the steps of the church."
+
+"That is agreed, Monsieur Lucien. Many thanks for your trouble; and to
+you, monsieur," he added, turning to me, "I am obliged for the honour
+you have done me."
+
+After this exchange of compliments we separated, Orlandi disappearing
+in the brushwood, while we took our way back to the village.
+
+As for Diamond, he was puzzled which to follow, and he stood looking
+right and left at the Orlandi and ourselves alternately. After
+hesitating for about five minutes, he did us the honour to accompany
+Lucien and me.
+
+I must confess that while I had been scaling the ruined walls I had
+had my misgivings as to how I should descend, for the descent is
+usually more difficult, under such circumstances, than the ascent.
+
+But I was glad to see that Lucien, apparently divining my thoughts,
+took another route home. This road, also, was advantageous in another
+respect, for it was not so rough, and conversation was easier.
+
+At length, finding the path quite smooth, I continued my questions to
+my companion, in accordance with my usual custom, and said--
+
+"Now peace is made, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes, and as you see, it has not been concluded without some trouble.
+I have been obliged to represent all the advances as having been made
+by the Colona; for, you see, they have had five men killed, while the
+Orlandi have lost but four. The former consented to the arrangement
+yesterday, and the latter to-day. The upshot of it all is that the
+Colona have agreed to hand over a live hen to the Orlandi, a
+concession which will prove them in the wrong. This last consideration
+has settled the matter."
+
+"And to-morrow this touching reconciliation will be effected?"
+
+"Yes, to-morrow, at ten o'clock. You are still unfortunate; you hoped
+to see a Vendetta?"
+
+The young man smiled bitterly as he continued--"But this is a finer
+thing than a Vendetta! isn't it? For four hundred years, in Corsica,
+they have been talking of nothing else. Now you will see a
+reconciliation. I assure you it is a much rarer sight than a
+Vendetta!"
+
+I could not help laughing.
+
+"There, you see, you are laughing at us," he said. "And you are right,
+after all. We are really a very droll people."
+
+"No," I replied, "I was laughing at another strange thing, and that
+is, to see that you are annoyed with yourself because you have
+succeeded so well in bringing about a reconciliation."
+
+"Ah!" he replied. "If you had understood what we said you would have
+admired my eloquence. But come back in ten years' time, and you will
+find us all speaking French."
+
+"You would make a first-rate pleader."
+
+"No, no--I am a referee--an arbitrator. What the deuce do you expect?
+Must not an arbitrator reconcile opposing factions? They might
+nominate me the arbiter between Heaven and Hell, that I might teach
+them to be reconciled, although, in my own heart, I should feel that I
+was a fool for my pains."
+
+I perceived that this conversation was only irritating to my new
+acquaintance, so I let it drop, and as he did not attempt to resume
+it, we proceeded in silence, and did not speak again until we had
+reached his house.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+GRIFFO was in attendance when we arrived, and before his master said a
+word the servant had taken the pheasant from Lucien's pocket. The
+valet had heard and had understood the object of the shot.
+
+Madame de Franchi had not yet retired to rest, although she had gone
+upstairs, and she had left a message with Griffo to request her son to
+go into her room before she went to bed.
+
+The young man first inquiring whether I was in want of anything, and
+on my reply in the negative, begged to be excused, to wait upon his
+mother.
+
+Of course I acknowledged the politeness, and leaving him, went up to
+my own room.
+
+I entered it with a certain feeling of self congratulation. I was
+pleased that I had divined the character of Louis, as I had found out
+Lucien's.
+
+I undressed deliberately, and having taken down a volume of Victor
+Hugo's works, I lay down and enjoyed myself thoroughly with _Les
+Orientales._
+
+For the hundredth time I came upon _Le Feu du ciel,_ and re-read it
+once more. I was fully occupied thus, when I fancied I heard a step
+upon the staircase, which stopped at my door. I suspected that my host
+had paused outside, wishing to bid me good-night, but scarcely liking
+to venture in for fear I should be asleep; so I cried out "Come in,"
+and put my book upon the table.
+
+In fact, as I spoke the door opened, and Lucien appeared.
+
+"I trust you will excuse me," he said; "but it seems to me that I have
+been somewhat rude this evening, and I did not like to retire without
+making my excuses to you. So I have come to make the _amende
+honorable_--and as I daresay you have a number of questions to ask I
+am quite at your disposal."
+
+"A thousand thanks," I replied; "but, thanks to your good nature, I am
+already well informed upon most topics concerning which I desired
+information, and there only remains one question, which I have made up
+my mind _not_ to ask."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because it would appear too impertinent. However, if you remain here
+I confess I cannot answer for myself. I give you fair warning!"
+
+"Well, then, go on. Curiosity unsatisfied is an uncomfortable
+companion, and awakens all kinds of suppositions; and two, at least,
+out of every three guesses concerning a fact are sure to be quite wide
+of the mark, and more likely to prejudice the object than to arrive at
+the truth concerning it."
+
+"Well, you may rest easy. My worst suspicions concerning you lead me
+to regard you as a sorcerer!"
+
+The young man laughed loudly.
+
+"The devil! You have inoculated me with some of your curiosity: tell
+me why, I entreat you--speak out!"
+
+"Well, then, you have had the kindness to clear up many things which
+were before obscure to me; but one thing you did not touch upon. You
+have shown me your beautiful weapons, which I should like to examine
+again before my departure."
+
+"Granted. That's one reason."
+
+"You have explained to me the inscriptions upon the carbines."
+
+"That's another reason."
+
+"You have made it clear to me that, thanks to the phenomenon of your
+birth, you always experience--although far away from him, the same
+sensations that agitate your brother, and no doubt he feels equally
+your troubles."
+
+"That is a third reason for your belief in my sorcery!"
+
+"Yes, but Madame de Franchi, when referring to the sadness you lately
+have experienced, and which leads you to think that some misfortune
+threatens your brother, asked you if you were sure he were not dead,
+and you replied 'No, for then I should have seen him.'"
+
+"Yes, I remember I did say so."
+
+"Well, then, if such an explanation may be entrusted to a stranger,
+will you explain to me how this could happen?"
+
+The young man's face had assumed a very grave expression as I was
+speaking, and I hesitated to pronounce the last words.
+
+He was silent for a moment after I ceased to speak, and I said--
+
+"I am afraid that I have been too indiscreet; pray forget that I spoke
+on the subject at all."
+
+"No," he replied, quietly; "no, but you are a man of the world, and as
+such inclined to be somewhat incredulous. So, you see, I am rather
+afraid you will treat as a superstition an old family tradition which
+has been handed down for centuries."
+
+"Listen," I said. "I can declare one thing, and that is that no one is
+more easily convinced than I am on all questions of legendary or
+traditionary lore--and I am always ready to give credence to things
+regarded as impossible!"
+
+"So you believe in ghosts?"
+
+"Do you wish to hear me tell how I saw one?"
+
+"Yes, that will encourage me."
+
+"My father died in 1807, when I was three and a-half years old. When
+the doctor announced his speedy death I was sent away to the house of
+an old cousin in the country.
+
+"She had made up a bed for me opposite her own, to which I was sent at
+the usual time, and, notwithstanding the trouble hanging over me, I
+feel fast asleep.
+
+"I was suddenly awakened by three violent blows upon the door of the
+chamber; I got out of bed and walked across the floor to open it.
+
+"'Where are you going?' asked my cousin.
+
+"She had herself been awakened by the noise, but could not overcome
+her terror, knowing very well that as the front door was fastened no
+one would be likely to come to the room in which we were sleeping.
+
+"'I am going to open the door to my father, who has come to bid me
+adieu,' I replied.
+
+"It was then she jumped out of bed and insisted upon my lying down
+again. I cried for a long time and very bitterly, saying, 'Papa is at
+the door, and I want to see papa again before he goes away for ever.'"
+
+"And has the apparition ever returned since?" asked Lucien.
+
+"No, although I have often called upon it; but, perhaps, Providence
+permitted to the innocence and purity of the child what it declines to
+accord to the sinfulness of the man."
+
+"Well, then," said Lucien smiling, "in our family we are more
+fortunate than you."
+
+"Then you are enabled to see your deceased parents?"
+
+"Yes, always when any great event is about to happen or has been
+accomplished."
+
+"And to what do you attribute this privilege?"
+
+"I will tell you the tradition that has been handed down. You remember
+that I told you that Savilia died leaving two sons."
+
+"Yes, I recollect."
+
+"Well, these children grew up concentrating on each other the
+affection they would have bestowed on other relatives had any been
+alive. They swore nothing should separate them, not even death, and
+after some incantation or other they wrote with their blood on two
+pieces of parchment, which they exchanged, the reciprocal oath that
+whichever died first should appear to the other at the moment of his
+own death, and, subsequently, at every important epoch of his
+brother's life. Three months afterwards one of the two brothers was
+killed in an ambuscade at the moment when the survivor was sealing a
+letter addressed to him. Just as he was pressing the signet upon the
+burning wax he heard a sigh behind him, and, turning round, perceived
+his brother standing behind him, and touching his shoulder, although
+he felt no pressure from the hand. Then, by a mechanical movement, he
+held out the letter that was destined for his brother, the spirit took
+the letter and disappeared. On the night before the survivor's death,
+the ghost appeared again.
+
+"There is no doubt that the brothers not only made this engagement for
+themselves, but it applies also to their descendants, for spirits have
+appeared not only at the moment of the death of those who had passed
+away, but also on the eve of any great event in their lives."
+
+"And have you never seen any apparition?"
+
+"No; but like my father, who, during the night preceding his death,
+was warned by his father that he was about to die, so I presume my
+brother and I inherit the privilege of our ancestors, not having done
+anything to forfeit it."
+
+"And is this privilege accorded to the males of the family only?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That is strange."
+
+"It is as I say."
+
+I looked at the young man as he was speaking to me. He was cool, calm,
+and grave, and I could not help repeating with Hamlet--
+
+    "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
+     Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
+
+In Paris I should have thought that this young man was hoaxing me; but
+here in Corsica, in a little unknown village, one must look upon him
+either as a foolish person endeavouring to deceive one for his own
+purposes, or as a privileged being amongst other men.
+
+"And now," he said, after a long silence, "are you satisfied?"
+
+"Yes, thank you," I answered. "I appreciate your confidence, and will
+promise to keep your secret."
+
+"Oh, goodness," he said, laughing, "there is no secret in the
+matter--the first peasant you meet would tell you all I have told you;
+I only hope that in Paris my brother has not boasted of this
+privilege, which would only cause men to laugh, and would frighten the
+ladies."
+
+So saying, he bade me good-night, and retired to his room.
+
+Although fatigued, I was not able to sleep for some time, and when I
+did at last sleep I was restless.
+
+I appeared to see in a confused manner in my dreams all the people
+with whom I had come in contact that day. It was only when day broke
+that I fell into a sound sleep, and was awakened by the striking of a
+clock, close to my bed, apparently.
+
+I rang the bell, without rising, for my lazy predecessor had provided
+a bell-rope close at hand, the only one probably in the village.
+
+Griffo immediately appeared, carrying some warm water; I saw that this
+valet had been well drilled.
+
+Lucien, he said, had twice inquired whether I was awake, and had told
+him that if I did not ring before half-past nine he would call me.
+
+It was now twenty-five minutes past nine, so it would not be long
+before he came.
+
+He soon made his appearance, dressed very elegantly in French style,
+with a black frock coat and white trowsers.
+
+He noticed that I looked at him with some surprise.
+
+"I hope you are admiring my dress," he said; "another proof that I am
+becoming civilized."
+
+"Yes, indeed," I replied, "and I confess I am considerably astonished
+to find that you possess such a tailor in Ajaccio. I shall look quite
+the country bumpkin beside you."
+
+"I assure you my dress is quite Parisian, my dear friend. You see my
+brother and I being exactly the same height, he for a joke sent me a
+regular outfit, which I only wear on grand occasions, to receive the
+prefect, for instance, or when the commandant makes his departmental
+inspection; or, better still, when I receive a guest like yourself,
+and when that pleasure is combined with such important business as we
+are about to accomplish to-day."
+
+There was in this young man's manner of speaking a polished irony, and
+good-nature withal, which at once set people at their ease, and never
+passed the bounds of perfect politeness.
+
+I simply bowed in reply, while he carefully inducted his hands into a
+pair of kid gloves of Paris manufacture.
+
+As now attired, he looked a thorough Parisian.
+
+All this time I was dressing rapidly.
+
+A quarter to ten struck.
+
+"Come along," said Lucien, "if you wish to see the play. I think it is
+time we took our seats, unless, indeed, you would rather have
+breakfast first, which appears to me only reasonable."
+
+"Thank you, I seldom eat before eleven or twelve, so I am ready to
+face both operations."
+
+"Come along, then."
+
+I took up my hat and followed him upstairs.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau
+usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look
+over the square.
+
+This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but
+curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was
+composed of women and children under twelve.
+
+On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled
+with a tri-coloured sash. This was the mayor.
+
+Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
+This was the notary, and the written paper under his hand was the act
+of reconciliation.
+
+I took my place beside the table with the sponsors of the Orlandi. On
+the other sida were the sponsors of the Colona faction. Lucien stood
+behind the notary so as to show that he acted for both.
+
+In the choir of the church one could perceive the priests ready to
+solemnize the mass.
+
+The clock struck ten.
+
+At that moment a shiver pervaded the crowd and all eyes were turned
+towards the end of the street, if one could so call the unequal
+interval between the houses.
+
+Immediately on the mountain side appeared the Orlandi, and in the
+direction of the river was the Colona, each followed by his partisans,
+but as had been arranged neither party carried arms.
+
+The two chiefs presented a very vivid contrast.
+
+Orlandi, as I said, was tall, brown, agile and thin.
+
+Colona, on the other hand, was short, stoutish, and vigorous; he had
+red hair and beard, both of which wore short and curly.
+
+Both men carried olive branches, the symbol of peace, which was the
+idea of the worthy mayor.
+
+But besides this olive branch, the Colona held a white fowl by the
+feet; this bird was destined to replace that which had given rise to
+the quarrel, and the fowl was alive.
+
+This last was a point that had long been discussed, and had very
+nearly upset the whole arrangement. The Colona looked upon it as a
+double humiliation to have to render back a living fowl for the one
+which his aunt had thrown dead in the face of the cousin of the
+Orlandi.
+
+However, by force of reasoning, Lucien had persuaded the Colona to
+provide the fowl, as he had managed to induce the Orlandi to accept
+it.
+
+When the two rivals appeared, the bells, which until now had been
+silent, broke forth into a merry peal.
+
+When they caught sight of each other both Orlandi and his brother made
+a similar movement of repulsion, but, nevertheless, they both
+continued their way.
+
+Just opposite the church door they stopped, a few paces only dividing
+them.
+
+If three days previously these men had caught sight of each other
+within a hundred paces, one of the two certainly would have remained
+on the field.
+
+For about five minutes there was a profound silence, a silence which,
+notwithstanding the peaceful nature of the ceremony, was anything but
+pacific.
+
+Then at length the mayor spoke.
+
+"Well, Colona," he said, "do you not know that you have to speak
+first?"
+
+Colona made an effort and muttered some words in the Corsican patois.
+
+I fancied I understood him to say that he regretted having been in
+Vendetta with his good neighbour Orlandi, and that he offered in
+reparation the white hen which he held in his hand.
+
+Orlandi waited until his adversary had finished speaking, and replied
+in some words which I took to be a promise that he would forget
+everything but the solemn reconciliation that had that day taken place
+in the presence of Monsieur Lucien and the notary.
+
+After that the rivals preserved a dogged silence.
+
+"Now, gentlemen," said the mayor, "you have only got to shake hands."
+
+By a simultaneous movement the rivals clasped their hands behind their
+backs.
+
+The mayor descended from his elevated seat, and seizing the hand of
+Colona sought for the hand of the Orlandi, and having possessed
+himself of both he, with some effort, which he endeavoured to conceal
+with a smile, succeeded in joining the two hands.
+
+The notary seized the moment, while the mayor held the two hands
+together, to stand up and read the deed declaring the feud to be at an
+end. The document was as follows:--
+
+"In the presence of us, Giuseppe Antonia Sarrola, Notary Royal of
+Sullacaro in the Province of Sartène.
+
+"In the grand place of the village opposite the church, in the
+presence of the mayor, the sponsors, and all the population.
+
+"Between Gaetano Orso Orlandi, called Orlandini.
+
+"And Marco Vincenzio Colona, called Schioppone.
+
+"It is solemnly ratified as follows:--
+
+"From this day, 4th of March, 1841, the Vendetta declared between the
+families shall cease.
+
+"From the same period they shall live together as good neighbours and
+friends, as their relatives did before the unhappy disunion which has
+so long alienated their families.
+
+"In witness whereof they have signed these presents under the portico
+of the village church, with Monsieur Polo Arbori, mayor of the
+commune, Monsieur Lucien de Franchi, arbitrator, the sponsors of the
+two contracting parties, and ourselves the Notary.
+
+"Sullacaro, 4th of March, 1841."
+
+I note with admiration that the mayor had very prudently omitted all
+mention of the hen which had put the Colona in such a bad position
+with the Orlandi.
+
+So the face of the Colona got brighter in proportion as the figure of
+the Orlandi clouded; the latter looked at the hen which he was holding
+in his hand as if he had a great idea to throw it in the face of the
+Colona. But a glance from Lucien de Franchi checked this intention in
+the bud.
+
+The mayor saw that he had no time to lose; he stepped back, holding
+the hands of the rivals, and without loosing them for a moment.
+
+Then, in order to anticipate any discussion at the moment of
+signature, in view of each considering it a concession to sign before
+the other, he took the pen and wrote his own name first, and thus
+converting the shame into an honour, passed the pen to Orlandi, who
+took it, signed, and passed it to Lucien, who in his turn handed it to
+Colona, who made a cross.
+
+At that moment the Te Deum was chanted as if for a victory.
+
+We all signed afterwards, without distinction of rank or title, as the
+nobility of France a hundred years before had signed the protestation
+against Monsieur le Due du Maine.
+
+Then the heroes of the day entered the church, and knelt in the places
+appointed for them.
+
+I saw that from this moment Lucien appeared perfectly at ease. All had
+been finished satisfactorily: the reconciliation had taken place not
+only before man but before Heaven.
+
+The service terminated without any incident worth recording; and when
+it was over, Orlandi and Colona passed out with the same ceremony as
+before.
+
+At the church door, at the instance of the mayor, they once again
+shook hands; and then each one, attended by his friends and relatives,
+made his way to his house, which for three years he had not entered.
+
+Lucien and myself went back to Madame de Franchi's house, where dinner
+awaited us.
+
+It is not difficult to perceive by the attentions I received that
+Lucien had read my name over my shoulder when I was signing the paper,
+and the name was not altogether unknown to him.
+
+In the morning I had announced to Lucien my intention to depart after
+dinner. I was urgently recalled to Paris by the rehearsals of "Un
+Mariage sous Louis XV.," and notwithstanding the importunities of
+mother and son, I persisted in adhering to my first determination.
+
+Lucien then asked permission to take advantage of my offer, and to
+take a letter to his brother; and Madame Franchi made me promise that
+I would hand this letter myself to her son.
+
+There was really no trouble in the matter, for Louis de Franchi, like
+a true Parisian as he was, lived at No. 7, Rue du Helder.
+
+I asked permission to see Lucien's room once again, and he himself
+conducted me thither, explaining everything to me.
+
+"You know," he said, "if anything strikes you I hope you will take it,
+it is yours."
+
+I unhooked a small poignard hanging in an obscure corner, as if to
+show that it had no value attached to it; and as I had seen Lucien
+notice with some curiosity my hunting-belt and its appurtenances, I
+begged him to accept it, and he had the good taste to take it without
+being pressed.
+
+At that moment Griffo appeared to tell me that the horse was saddled
+and the guide waiting.
+
+I put aside the little present I had intended to give to Griffo, which
+consisted of a hunting-knife and two pistols attached to it, the
+barrels of which were hidden in the hilt.
+
+I never saw anybody so delighted as he was at this present.
+
+I descended, and found Madame de Franchi at the bottom of the
+staircase, where she was waiting to bid me good-bye, in the same place
+where she had bade me welcome. I kissed her hand, feeling great
+respect for such a simple-minded and yet so dignified a woman.
+
+Lucien accompanied me to the door.
+
+"On any other day," he said, "I would saddle my horse, and ride with
+you beyond the mountain, but to-day I dare not quit Sullacaro for fear
+that one or other of the newly-made friends might commit some folly."
+
+"You are quite right," I said; "and for my own part, I am very glad to
+have assisted at a ceremony so new to Corsica."
+
+"Yes," he said, "you may well congratulate yourself, for you have
+to-day witnessed a thing which is enough to make our ancestors turn in
+their graves."
+
+"I understand--their word was sufficient; they did not need a notary
+to reconcile them, I suppose?"
+
+"They were never reconciled at all."
+
+He then shook me by the hand.
+
+"Have you no message for your brother?" I said.
+
+"Yes, certainly, if it will not incommode you to deliver it."
+
+"Well, then, let us embrace. I can only deliver that which I am able
+to receive." [See "Transcriber's Note."]
+
+So we embraced each other.
+
+"We shall see you again some day?" I said.
+
+"Yes, if you come to Corsica."
+
+"No, but won't you come to Paris?"
+
+"I shall never go there," replied Lucien.
+
+"In any case, you will find my card on the mantelpiece in your
+brother's room--do not forget the address."
+
+"I will promise you that should any event call me to the Continent you
+shall have my first visit."
+
+"Very well, that is agreed."
+
+We shook hands once again and parted; but I noticed, so long as he
+could see me, he followed me with his eyes.
+
+All was quiet in the village, although, of course, there was the usual
+agitation which follows the completion of a great public act; and as I
+went along the street I sought my friend Orlandi, who had never
+addressed a word to me, nor even thanked me; and so I passed the last
+house in the village, and entered the open country without having seen
+any one like him.
+
+I thought he had entirely forgotten me, and under the circumstances I
+quite excused him, but before I got very far out of the village I
+perceived a man stride from the underwood, and place himself in the
+middle of the road. I recognized him at once as the man who in my
+great regard for appearances, and in my impatience, I had accused of
+ingratitude.
+
+He was dressed in the same costume as he had appeared in the previous
+evening in the ruins of Vicentello.
+
+When I was about twenty paces distant from him he took off his hat;
+while I spurred my horse so as not to keep Orlandi waiting.
+
+"Monsieur," he said, "I did not wish you to quit Sullacaro without
+accepting my thanks for the kindness you have shown to a poor peasant
+like myself, and as in the village I had not the heart, and could not
+command the language, to thank you, I waited for you here."
+
+"I am obliged to you," I said; "but it was not necessary to take any
+trouble about it, and all the honour has been mine."
+
+"And after all, monsieur," continued the bandit, "the habit of four
+years is not easily overcome. The mountain air is strong at first,
+almost suffocating--but now when I go to sleep in a house I should be
+afraid the roof would fall upon me."
+
+"But surely," I said, "you will now resume your former habits. I
+understand you have a house, a field, and a vineyard."
+
+"Yes, but my sister looks after the house; but the Lucquois are there
+to work in the field, and to raise the grapes. We Corsicans do not
+work."
+
+"What do you do, then?"
+
+"We overlook the labourers. We walk about with a gun upon our
+shoulders."
+
+"Well, my dear Monsieur Orlandi," I said, extending my hand, "I wish
+you good luck; but recollect that my honour as well as your own will
+be compromised if you fire at anything but game or wild animals. You
+must never on any account draw a trigger on the Colona family."
+
+"Ah! your Excellency," he replied, with an expression of countenance
+which I never remarked except amongst the natives of Normandy, "that
+hen they gave us was a very thin one."
+
+And without another word he disappeared in the brushwood.
+
+I continued my journey thinking that it was very likely that the
+meagre fowl would be the cause of another rupture between the Orlandi
+and the Colona.
+
+That evening I slept at Albitucia, next day I reached Ajaccio.
+
+Eight days afterwards I was in Paris.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE day I arrived in Paris I called upon M. Louis de Franchi. He was
+not at home.
+
+I left my card, with an intimation that I had just returned from
+Sullacaro, and that I was the bearer of a letter from M. Lucien, his
+brother. I inquired when he would be at home, as I had undertaken to
+deliver the letter with my own hand.
+
+To conduct me to his master's study, where I wished to write a note,
+the valet led me through the dining-room and the _salon._
+
+I looked around me as I proceeded with a curiosity which will be
+understood, and I recognized the influence of the same taste which I
+had already perceived at Sullacaro; only the taste was here set off by
+true Parisian elegance. M. Louis de Franchi certainly appeared to have
+a very charming lodging for a bachelor.
+
+Next morning, about eleven o'clock, my servant announced M. Louis de
+Franchi. I told the man to offer my visitor the papers and to say that
+I would wait on him as soon as I was dressed.
+
+In five minutes I presented myself.
+
+M. Louis do Franchi who was, no doubt from a sense of courtesy,
+reading a tale I had contributed to _La Presse,_ raised his head as
+the door opened, and I entered.
+
+I stood perfectly astounded at the resemblance between the two
+brothers. He rose.
+
+"Monsieur," he said, "I could scarcely credit my good fortune when I
+read your note yesterday on my return home. I have pictured you twenty
+times so as to assure myself that it was in accord with your
+portraits, and at last I, this morning, determined to present myself
+at your house without considering the hour, and I fear I have been too
+early."
+
+"I hope you will excuse me if I do not at once acknowledge your
+kindness in suitable terms, but may I inquire whether I have the
+honour to address M. Louis or M. Lucien de Franchi?"
+
+"Are you serious? Yes, the resemblance is certainly wonderful, and
+when I was last at Sullacaro nearly every one mistook one of us for
+the other, yet, if he has not abjured the Corsican dress, you have
+seen him in a costume, which would make a considerable difference in
+our appearance."
+
+"And justly so," I replied; "but as chance would have it, he was, when
+I left, dressed exactly as you are now, except that he wore white
+trowsers, so that I was not able to separate your presence from his
+memory with the difference in dress of which you speak, but," I
+continued, taking the letter from my pocket-book, "I can quite
+understand you are anxious to have news from home, so pray read this
+which I would have left at your house yesterday had I not promised
+Madame de Franchi to give it to you myself."
+
+"They were all quite well when you left, I hope?"
+
+"Yes, but somewhat anxious."
+
+"On my account?"
+
+"Yes; but read that letter, I beg of you."
+
+"If you will excuse me."
+
+So Monsieur Franchi read the letter while I made some cigarettes. I
+watched him as his eyes travelled rapidly over the paper, and I heard
+him murmur, "Dear Lucien, Darling Mother----yes----yes----I
+understand."
+
+I had not yet recovered from the surprise the strange resemblance
+between the brothers had caused me, but now I noticed what Lucien had
+told me, that Louis was paler, and spoke French better than he did.
+
+"Well," I said when he had finished reading the letter, and had
+lighted the cigarette, "You see, as I told you, that they are anxious
+about you, and I am glad that their fears are unfounded."
+
+"Well, no," he said gravely, "not altogether; I have not been ill, it
+is true, but I have been out of sorts, and my indisposition has been
+augmented by this feeling that my brother is suffering with me."
+
+"Monsieur Lucien has already told me as much, and had I been sceptical
+I should now have been quite sure that what he said was a fact. I
+should require no further proof than I now have. So you, yourself, are
+convinced, monsieur, that your brother's health depends to a certain
+extent on your own."
+
+"Yes, perfectly so."
+
+"Then," I continued, "as your answer will doubly interest me, may I
+ask, not from mere curiosity, if this indisposition of which you speak
+is likely soon to pass away?"
+
+"Oh, you know, monsieur, that the greatest griefs give way to time,
+and that my heart, even if seared, will heal. Meantime, however, pray
+accept my thanks once more, and permit me to call on you occasionally
+to have a chat about Sullacaro."
+
+"With the greatest pleasure," I replied; "but why not now continue our
+conversation, which is equally agreeable to both of us. My servant is
+about to announce breakfast. Will you do me the honour to join me, and
+we can talk at our ease?"
+
+"I regret that it is impossible; I have an appointment with the
+Chancellor at twelve o'clock, and you will understand that such a
+young advocate as I am cannot afford to stay away."
+
+"Ah, it is probably only about that Orlandi and Colona affair, as you,
+no doubt, are aware, and I can re-assure you on that point, for I
+myself signed the contract as sponsor for this Orlandi."
+
+"Yes, my brother said as much."
+
+"But," he added, looking at his watch, "it is nearly twelve o'clock; I
+must go and inform the Chancellor that my brother has redeemed my
+word."
+
+"Ah, yes, most religiously, I can answer for that."
+
+"Dear Lucien, I knew quite well, though our sentiments do not agree on
+this point, that he would do it for me."
+
+"Yes, and I assure you it cost him something to comply."
+
+"We will speak of all this later, for you can well understand how
+pleasant it is for me to re-visit with your assistance my mother, my
+brother, and our home surroundings, so if you will tell me when you
+are disengaged----"
+
+"That will be somewhat difficult; for this next few days I shall be
+very busy, but will you tell me where I am likely to find you."
+
+"Listen," he said, "to-morrow is Mi-Careme, is it not?"
+
+"To-morrow?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Are you going to the Opera Ball?"
+
+"Yes and No. Yes, if you will meet me there. No, if I have no object
+in going."
+
+"I must go, I am obliged to be there."
+
+"Ah, yes," I said laughing, "I understand, as you said just now, time
+heals up the greatest griefs, and your seared heart must be healed."
+
+"You are under a misapprehension, for I shall probably sustain new
+tortures by going."
+
+"Then do not go."
+
+"But what is one to do in this world? We cannot always do what we
+want; I am dragged thither by fate in spite of myself. I know I had
+better not go, and nevertheless I shall go."
+
+"Well, then, to-morrow, at the Opera."
+
+"Yes, agreed."
+
+"At what time?"
+
+"Half-past twelve midnight, if that will suit you."
+
+"And whereabouts?"
+
+"In the _foyer_--at one, I will be in front of the clock."
+
+"That is understood."
+
+We then shook hands and he left the house quickly. It was on the
+stroke of twelve.
+
+As for me, I occupied myself all the afternoon and all the next day in
+those employments as a man is obliged to undertake on his return from
+a lengthened tour.
+
+At half-past twelve o'clock at night I was at the rendezvous.
+
+Louis had been waiting some time--he had been following a mask which
+he thought he recognized, but the lady had been lost in the crowd, and
+he had not been able to rejoin her.
+
+I wished to speak of Corsica, but Louis was too absent to follow out
+such a grave subject of conversation. His eyes were constantly fixed
+on the clock, and suddenly he rushed away from my side, exclaiming:
+
+"Ah, there is my bouquet of violets."
+
+He pushed through the crowd to join a woman who, evidently with a
+purpose, was holding a large bouquet of violets in her hand.
+
+There were bouquets of every species in the foyer, and I myself was
+soon accosted by a bouquet of camellias, which congratulated me upon
+my safe return to Paris.
+
+To the camellias succeeded a bouquet of rose-pompons.
+
+To these succeeded a bouquet of heliotrope.
+
+In fact I was engaged with my fifteenth bouquet when I encountered
+D----.
+
+"Ah, is it you, _mon cher?_" he cried. "Welcome back; you have
+returned just in time. I have a little supper party this
+evening--so-and-so and so-and-so--and we shall count upon you."
+
+"A thousand thanks, my dear fellow; but though I am strongly tempted
+to accept your invitation, I can't. I am engaged to somebody."
+
+"Yes; but everyone else will bring somebody also," said D----. "It is
+quite understood that there are to be six water-bottles, whose destiny
+it is to refresh bouquets."
+
+"Ah, you are mistaken. I shall have no bouquet to put in a
+water-bottle; I am with a friend."
+
+"Well, you know the proverb, 'Friends of our friends.'"
+
+"It is a young gentleman whom you do not know."
+
+"Well, then, we will make his acquaintance."
+
+"I will tell him of his good fortune."
+
+"Yes, and if he decline, bring him by force."
+
+"I will do what I can, I promise you. At what time?"
+
+"Three o'clock; but as supper will remain on table till six you have
+ample margin."
+
+"Very well."
+
+A bouquet of myosotis, which perhaps had heard the latter portion of
+our conversation, then took D----'s arm and walked on with him.
+
+Shortly afterwards I met Louis, who had by this time got rid of his
+violets.
+
+As the lady who honoured me with her attention just then was a trifle
+dull, I despatched her to one of my friends, and took Louis' arm.
+
+"Well," I said, "have you learnt what you wanted to know?"
+
+"Oh, yes! You know that at a masked ball people talk of the very
+things they ought to leave you in ignorance of."
+
+"My poor friend," I said, "pardon me for thus addressing you; but it
+appears to me that I know you since I have known your brother. Look
+here--you are unhappy, are not you? Now what is it?"
+
+"Oh, my goodness! Nothing worth talking about."
+
+I saw that he did not wish to speak on the subject, so I said no more.
+
+We took two or three turns in silence.--I was quite indifferent, for I
+expected nobody, but he was anxiously examining every domino that
+passed.
+
+At length I said, "Do you know what you might do to-night?"
+
+He started like a man suddenly aroused.
+
+"I! No. I beg your pardon; what did you say?"
+
+"I was about to propose a distraction which it seems to me you need."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Come to supper with a friend of mine, with me."
+
+"Oh, no--I am not in a festive humour."
+
+"Bah! They will talk nothing but nonsense, and that will amuse you."
+
+"Well--but I am not invited!"
+
+"You mistake--for you are."
+
+"It is very kind on your part--but 'pon my word I am not worthy of--"
+
+Just then we crossed D----. He seemed very much engaged with his
+bouquet of myosotis. Nevertheless he saw me.
+
+"Well," he said, "is it settled? Three o'clock."
+
+"Less settled than ever," I replied--"I cannot join you."
+
+"Go to the Devil, then!"
+
+And with this pious ejaculation he continued his course.
+
+"Who is that gentleman?" inquired Louis.
+
+"That is D----, one of my friends; a very cheerful youth, though he is
+the manager of one of our most respectable papers."
+
+"Monsieur D----!" exclaimed Louis. "Do you know _him?_"
+
+"Certainly. I have known him for some years."
+
+"And is he the person with whom you are invited to sup this evening?"
+
+"Yes, the same."
+
+"Then it was to his house you intended to take me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then that alters the case. I accept, and with very great pleasure."
+
+"All right. That settles the question."
+
+"Perhaps, after all, I ought not to go," muttered Louis, smiling
+sadly. "But you remember what I said yesterday about my destiny. Here
+is the proof. I should have done better not to have come here this
+evening."
+
+At this moment we again encountered D----. "My dear fellow," I said,
+"I have changed my mind!"
+
+"And you will join us?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Bravo! But I ought to mention one thing."
+
+"That is?"
+
+"That whoever sups with us to-night, sups with us again to-morrow
+evening."
+
+"By what law of society is that?"
+
+"By the laws of the wager made with Chateau Renaud."
+
+I felt Louis' arm quiver as it rested on mine--I turned round; but
+though his face was deadly pale, it was impassable.
+
+"What is the wager?" I inquired.
+
+"Oh, it would occupy too much time to repeat here, and, besides, some
+one interested might overhear, and it might thus be lost."
+
+"What wonderful discretion you possess! At three, then."
+
+"At three!"
+
+Once more we separated, and as I glanced at the clock I saw it then
+was thirty-five minutes past two.
+
+"Do you know this M. de Chateau Renaud?" asked Louis, who vainly
+attempted to command his voice, and to conceal his emotion.
+
+"Only by sight. I have met him occasionally in society."
+
+"Then he is not a friend of yours?"
+
+"Not even an acquaintance."
+
+"Ah, so much the better," replied Louis.
+
+"Why so?"
+
+"For no particular reason."
+
+"But do you know him?"
+
+"Indirectly."
+
+Notwithstanding this evasive answer, it was easy to perceive that
+between Louis and Chateau Renaud there existed one of those mysterious
+bonds which could only be forged by a woman. An instinctive feeling
+assured me that it would be best for all if he and I returned home
+quietly.
+
+"Will you take my advice, Monsieur de Franchi," I said.
+
+"About what? tell me!"
+
+"Do not go to supper at D----'s house."
+
+"Why not? Does he not expect us. Have you not told him that you will
+bring a friend?"
+
+"Yes, but that is not the point."
+
+"What is the point then?"
+
+"I am sure you had better not go, that is all!"
+
+"But surely you have some reason to give for your change of opinion;
+just now you were insisting on my presence at D----'s against my
+will."
+
+"I did not then know that we should meet Chateau Renaud."
+
+"But that is all the better. I believe he is a very pleasant
+companion, and I shall be glad to make his acquaintance."
+
+"Very well," I replied--"so be it. Shall we go now?"
+
+We accordingly went downstairs for our paletots.
+
+D---- lived within a short distance of the opera house, the morning
+was very fine, and I hoped that the open air would enliven my
+companion. So I proposed that we should walk, and this he agreed to.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+WE found many of my friends assembled--habitués of the opera lobbies
+and of the greenroom, and, as I had expected, a few unmasked
+"bouquets" anxious for the time to come when the water-bottles would
+be used--supper time!
+
+I introduced Louis to several friends, and it is needless to say that
+he was politely received and welcomed.
+
+Ten minutes after our arrival D---- entered, accompanied by his
+bouquet of myosotis, who unmasked herself with a freedom and precision
+which argued a long acquaintance with these sort of parties.
+
+I introduced Louis to D----.
+
+"Now," said B----, "if all the presentations have been made, I suggest
+that we present ourselves at table."
+
+"All the presentations are made, but all the guests have not arrived,"
+replied D----.
+
+"Who is expected then?"
+
+"Chateau Renaud is still wanting to complete the party."
+
+"Ah, just so. By-the-by, was there not some bet?"
+
+"Yes. We laid a wager of a supper for twelve, that he would not bring
+a certain lady here to-night."
+
+"And who is the lady," asked the bouquet of myosotis, "who is so very
+shy as to be made the subject of a bet?"
+
+I looked at Louis de Franchi. He was outwardly composed, but pale as a
+corpse.
+
+"Faith, I don't know that there is any great harm in telling you her
+name, especially as none of you know her I think. She is Madame----"
+
+Louis placed his hand upon D----'s arm.
+
+"Monsieur," he said; "will you grant me a favour? As a new
+acquaintance I venture to ask it!"
+
+"What is it, monsieur?"
+
+"Do not name the lady who is expected with M. de Chateau Renaud, you
+know she is a married woman!"
+
+"Oh yes, but her husband is at Smyrna, in the East Indies, in Mexico,
+or some such place. When a husband lives so far away it is nearly the
+same as having no husband at all."
+
+"Her husband will return in a few days. I know him. He is a gallant
+fellow. I would wish, if possible, to spare him the chagrin of
+learning on his return that his wife had made one at this
+supper-party."
+
+"Excuse me, monsieur," said D----, "I was not aware that you are
+acquainted with the lady, and I did not think she was married. But
+since you know her and her husband----"
+
+"I do know them."
+
+"Then we must exercise greater discretion. Ladies and gentlemen,
+whether Chateau Renaud comes or not--whether he wins or loses his bet,
+I must beg of you all to keep this adventure secret."
+
+We all promised, not because our moral senses were offended, but
+because we were hungry and wished to begin our supper.
+
+"Thank you, monsieur," said Louis to D----, holding out his hand to
+him. "I assure you you are acting like a thorough gentleman in this
+matter."
+
+We then passed into the supper-room, and each one took his allotted
+place. Two chairs were vacant, those reserved for Chateau Renaud and
+his expected companion.
+
+The servant was about to remove them.
+
+"No," said the master, "let them remain; Chateau Renaud has got until
+four o'clock to decide his wager. At four o'clock if he is not here he
+will have lost."
+
+I could not keep my eyes from Louis de Franchi; I saw him watching the
+timepiece anxiously. It was then 3.40 A.M.
+
+"Is that clock right?" asked Louis.
+
+"That is not my concern," said D----, laughing. "I set it by Chateau
+Renaud's watch, so that there may be no mistake."
+
+"Well, gentlemen," said the bouquet of myosotis, "it seems we cannot
+talk of anything but Chateau Renaud and his unknown fair one. We are
+getting horribly 'slow,' I think."
+
+"You are quite right, my dear," replied V----. "There are so many
+women of whom we can speak, and who are only waiting to be spoken
+to----"
+
+"Let us drink their health," cried D----.
+
+So we did, and then the champagne went round briskly; every guest had
+a bottle at his or her elbow.
+
+I noticed that Louis scarcely tasted his wine; "Drink, man!" I
+whispered: "don't you see that she will not come?"
+
+"It still wants a quarter to four," said he; "at four o'clock, even
+though I shall be late in commencing, I promise you I will overtake
+some of you."
+
+"Oh, very well!" I replied.
+
+While we had been exchanging these few words in a low tone, the
+conversation had become general around the table. Occasionally D----
+and Louis glanced at the clock, which ticked regularly on without any
+care for the impatience of the two men who were so intent upon its
+movements.
+
+At five minutes to four I looked at Louis.
+
+"To your health," I said.
+
+He took his glass, smiled, and raised it to his lips. He had drunk
+about half its contents when a ring was heard at the front door.
+
+I did not think it possible that Louis could become any paler than he
+was, but I saw my mistake then.
+
+"'Tis he," he muttered.
+
+"Yes, but perhaps he may have come alone," I replied.
+
+"We shall see in a moment."
+
+The sound of the bell had attracted everybody's attention, and the
+most profound silence suddenly succeeded the buzz of conversation
+which had till then prevailed.
+
+Then the sound of talking was heard in the anteroom.
+
+D---- rose and opened the door.
+
+"I can recognize her voice," said Louis, as he grasped my arm with a
+vice-like grip.
+
+"We shall see! wait! be a man!" I answered. "It must be evident that
+if she has thus come to supper with a man, of her own will, to the
+house of a stranger, she is not worthy your sympathy."
+
+"I beg, madam, that you will enter," said D----'s voice in the outer
+room. "We are all friends here I assure you."
+
+"Yes, come in, my dear Emily," said M. de Chateau Renaud, "you need
+not take off your mask if you do not wish to do so."
+
+"The wretch," muttered Louis.
+
+At that moment a lady entered, dragged in rather than assisted by
+D----, who fancied he was doing the honours, and by Chateau Renaud.
+
+"Three minutes to four," said Chateau Renaud to D----, in a low voice.
+
+"Quite right, my dear fellow, you have won."
+
+"Not yet, monsieur," said the young unknown addressing Chateau Renaud,
+and drawing herself up to her full height. "I can now understand your
+persistence. You laid a wager that I would sup here. Is that so?"
+
+Chateau Renaud was silent. Then addressing D----, she continued.
+
+"Since this man cannot answer, will you, monsieur, reply. Did not M.
+de Chateau Renaud wager that he would bring me here to supper
+to-night?"
+
+"I will not hide from you, madame, that he flattered us with that
+hope," replied D----.
+
+"Well, then, M. de Chateau Renaud has lost, for I was quite unaware he
+was bringing me here. I believed we were to sup at the house of a
+friend of my own. So it appears to me that M. de Chateau Renaud has
+not won his wager."
+
+"But now you are here, my dear Emily, you may as well remain; won't
+you? See, we have a good company and some pleasant young ladies too!"
+
+"Now that I am here," replied the unknown, "I will thank the gentleman
+who appears to be the master of the house for the courtesy with which
+he has treated me. But as, unfortunately, I cannot accept his polite
+invitation I will beg M. Louis de Franchi to see me home."
+
+Louis with a bound placed himself between the speaker and Chateau
+Renaud.
+
+"I beg to observe, madam," said the latter between his shut teeth,
+"that I brought you hither and consequently I am the proper person to
+conduct you home."
+
+"Gentlemen," said the unknown, "you are five, I put myself into your
+honourable care. I trust you will defend me from the violence of M. de
+Chateau Renaud!"
+
+Chateau Renaud made a movement. We all rose at once.
+
+"Very good, madame," he said. "You are at liberty. I know with whom I
+have to reckon."
+
+"If you refer to me, sir," replied Louis de Franchi with an air of
+hauteur impossible to describe, "you will find me all day to-morrow at
+the Rue du Helder, No. 7."
+
+"Very well, monsieur. Perhaps I shall not have the pleasure to call
+upon you myself, but I hope that two friends of mine may be as
+cordially received in my place."
+
+"That was all that was necessary," said Louis, shrugging his shoulders
+disdainfully. "A challenge before a lady! Come, madame," he continued,
+offering his arm. "Believe me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart
+for the honour you do me."
+
+And then they left the room, amidst the most profound silence.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, so it seems I have lost," said Chateau Renaud, when
+the door closed. "That's all settled! To-morrow evening all of you sup
+with me at the Frères Provençaux."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+THE next day, or rather the same day, at ten o'clock, I called upon M.
+Louis de Franchi.
+
+As I was ascending the staircase, I met two young men coming down. One
+was evidently a civilian, the other wore the Legion of Honour, and
+though in _mufti_ I could see he was an officer.
+
+I had, no doubt, that these gentlemen had just been with M. de
+Franchi, and I watched them downstairs. Then I continued my way to
+Louis' apartments and rang the bell.
+
+The servant opened the door. His master was in his study.
+
+When the man announced me, Louis, who was writing, looked up and
+exclaimed--
+
+"Ah, welcome! I was just writing to you. I am very glad to see you.
+Joseph, I am not at home to any one."
+
+The servant went out and left us alone.
+
+"Didn't you meet two gentlemen upon the stairs?" asked Louis, as he
+placed a chair.
+
+"Yes, one of them was decorated."
+
+"The same."
+
+"I fancied they had called upon you."
+
+"You are quite right."
+
+"Did they come on behalf of M. de Chateau Renaud?"
+
+"They are his seconds."
+
+"Ah! so he has taken this matter seriously it seems."
+
+"He could scarcely do otherwise," replied Louis.
+
+"So they came to----."
+
+"To request me to name two friends who would confer with them; I
+thought of you."
+
+"I am really honoured by your kindness. But I cannot go alone."
+
+"I have also written to ask an old friend, the Baron Giordano
+Martelli, to breakfast here. He will come at eleven. We will breakfast
+together, and at twelve, perhaps, you will be kind enough to go and
+see these gentlemen who have promised to remain at home until three
+o'clock. Here are their names and addresses."
+
+Louis handed me two cards as he spoke.
+
+One card represented the Baron René de Chateaugrand, the other M.
+Adrien de Boissy.
+
+The former lived in the Rue de la Paix, No. 12.
+
+The latter, who I now saw, belonged to the army, was a lieutenant of
+Chasseurs d'Afrique, and lived in the Rue de Lille, No. 29.
+
+I turned the cards over and over in my fingers.
+
+"Well, what embarrasses you?" asked Louis.
+
+"I should like to be told frankly if you look upon this as a serious
+matter. You know we must mould our conduct upon that."
+
+"Indeed, I do consider it a very serious matter. You heard me place
+myself at M. de Chateau Renaud's disposal, he has sent to me. I must
+now go with the current."
+
+"Yes, of course, but after all----"
+
+"Go on," said Louis, smilingly.
+
+"After all," I continued, "we must know what you are going to fight
+for. We cannot put two men up to cut and slash each other without
+having some ground for the encounter."
+
+"Very well, let me tell you in as few words as possible, the head and
+front of the offending.
+
+"When I first arrived in Paris I was introduced by a friend of mine, a
+captain in the navy, to his wife. She was young and beautiful. She
+made a deep impression upon me, and as I was really afraid I might end
+by falling in love with her, I very rarely went to my friend's house,
+although frequently pressed to do so.
+
+"My friend was rather piqued at my absence, and at last I frankly told
+him the truth, that his wife being so charming I was rather afraid to
+go to his house. He laughed, shook hands with me, and asked me, even
+pressed me, to dine with him that same evening.
+
+"'My dear Louis,' said he, after dinner. 'In a few weeks I shall sail
+for Mexico. I may be absent three months, perhaps six--or longer. We
+sailors sometimes know when we shall sail, but never when we may
+return. To you, I commend Emily during my absence. Emily, I beg of you
+to look upon M. Louis de Franchi as a brother.'
+
+"The lady gave me her hand in token of agreement. I was stupefied! I
+did not know what to say, and I daresay I appeared very stupid to my
+future sister.
+
+"Three weeks after this my friend sailed.
+
+"During those three weeks he insisted that I should dine at least once
+a week with them _en famille._
+
+"Emily's mother then came to live with her. I need scarcely say that
+her husband's confidence was not abused, and though I loved her dearly
+I regarded her simply as a sister.
+
+"Six months elapsed.
+
+"Emily's mother still remained with her, but when he went away, her
+husband had entreated her to receive as usual. There was nothing my
+poor friend had a greater horror of than to appear as a jealous
+husband. He adored Emily and had every confidence in her.
+
+"So Emily continued to receive, and they were very friendly
+receptions. But her mother's presence silenced all scandal or cause
+for it, and no one could say a word against her reputation.
+
+"At the end of three months or so M. de Chateau Renaud appeared.
+
+"You believe in presentiments, I daresay. When I first saw that man I
+disliked him and would not speak to him. I hated him.
+
+"But why I disliked him I cannot tell you. I did!
+
+"Most likely because I saw that even at his first appearance Emily
+seemed inclined to like him, and he evidently admired her. Perhaps I
+am mistaken, but, as at the bottom of my heart I had never ceased to
+love Emily, I suspect I was jealous.
+
+"So on the next occasion I did not lose sight of M. de Chateau Renaud.
+Perhaps he noticed my looks and it seemed to me that he was chatting
+in undertones to Emily and holding me up to ridicule.
+
+"Had I yielded to my feelings I would have challenged him that
+evening, but I reflected that such conduct would be absurd, and
+restrained myself.
+
+"Every Wednesday thenceforth was a greater trial than the last.
+
+"M. de Chateau Renaud is quite a man of the world, a dandy--a lion--I
+know how superior he is to me in many respects. But it seems to me
+that Emily values him more highly than he deserves.
+
+"Soon I found out that I was not the only one who remarked her
+preference for M. de Chateau Renaud, and this preference increased to
+such an extent and became so obvious that one day Giordano, who like
+me was an habitué of the house, spoke to me about it.
+
+"From that moment my resolution was taken. I determined to speak to
+Emily on the subject, convinced that she was only acting thoughtlessly
+and I had but to call her attention to the matter to have it remedied.
+
+"But to my great astonishment she took my remonstrances in joke,
+pretended that I was mad, and that those who agreed with me were as
+stupid as I was.
+
+"However, I insisted.
+
+"Emily only replied, that she would leave to my own decision as to
+whether a man in love was not necessarily a prejudiced judge.
+
+"I remained perfectly stupefied; her husband must have told her
+everything.
+
+"Now you will understand that under these circumstances, and being an
+unhappy and jealous lover, and only making myself objectionable to the
+lady, I ceased to visit at the house.
+
+"But although I did not go to her parties I did not the less hear the
+gossip that was afloat, nor was I the less unhappy, for these reports
+were assuming a tangible shape.
+
+"I resolved therefore to write to her, and beg her in the strongest
+language of which I was capable, for her own and her husband's sake,
+to be careful. She never answered my letter.
+
+"Some time afterwards I heard it publicly stated that Emily was
+actually the mistress of Chateau Renaud. What I suffered I cannot
+express.
+
+"It was then my poor brother became conscious of my grief.
+
+"Then, after about a fortnight, you came back to Paris. The very day
+you called upon me I received an anonymous letter from a lady unknown
+appointing a meeting at the Opera Ball.
+
+"This woman said that she had certain information to convey to me
+respecting a lady friend of mine, whose Christian name only she would
+mention.
+
+"The name was Emily.
+
+"My correspondent said I should recognize her by her carrying a
+bouquet of violets.
+
+"I told you at the time that I did not wish to go to the ball, but I
+repeat I was hurried thither by fate.
+
+"I went as you know. I found my domino at the place at the hour
+indicated. She confirmed what I had already heard respecting Chateau
+Renaud and Emily, and if I wished proof, she would give it me, for
+Chateau Renaud had made a bet that he would take his new mistress to
+supper at M. D----'s house that evening.
+
+"Chance revealed to me that you knew M. D----, you suggested that I
+should accompany you. I accepted, you know the rest."
+
+"Now, what more could I do but await and accept the proposals that
+were made to me?"
+
+"But," I said, at length, as a sensation of fear crossed my mind, "I
+am afraid I heard your brother say that you had never handled a sword
+or a pistol."
+
+"That is quite true!"
+
+"Then you are absolutely at the mercy of your adversary!"
+
+"I cannot help it. I am in the hands of Providence."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+AS Louis was speaking, the servant announced the Baron Giordano
+Martelli.
+
+He was a young Corsican from Sartène. He had served in the 11th
+Regiment, in which his gallantry had secured him promotion at the age
+of twenty-three.
+
+"Well," he said, after having bowed to me, "so things have come to a
+crisis, and no doubt you will soon have a visit from the seconds of
+Monsieur de Chateau Renaud."
+
+"They have been here already."
+
+"I suppose they have left their names and addresses?"
+
+"Here are their cards."
+
+"Good."
+
+"Well, your servant has just told me that breakfast is waiting.
+Suppose we sit down, and after breakfast we can return their visit."
+
+We entered the _salle à manger,_ and put aside all business for the
+present.
+
+During the meal Louis questioned me closely concerning my journey in
+Corsica, and I told him all the incidents with which the reader is
+acquainted. He made me repeat, over and over again, all that his
+mother and brother had said. He was quite touched, knowing the true
+Corsican instincts of Lucien, with the care he had taken to
+reconcile the Orlandi and the Colona.
+
+The clock struck twelve.
+
+"I do not wish to hurry you, gentlemen," said Louis, "but I think you
+should return the visit of those gentlemen. It will not do to put
+ourselves in the wrong."
+
+"Oh, you may be quite easy on that point," I said, "we have plenty of
+time before us."
+
+"No matter," said the Baron Giordano, "Louis is right."
+
+"Now," said I, "we must know whether you prefer to fight with sword or
+pistol?"
+
+"Ah," he replied, "it is all the same to me; I know as little about
+one as the other. Besides, Monsieur de Chateau Renaud will save me all
+trouble in choosing; he looks upon himself, no doubt, as the offended
+party, and as such will retain the choice of weapons."
+
+"However, the offence is doubtful, you only offered your arm, as you
+were asked to do."
+
+"My opinion is," said Louis, "that all discussion should tend towards
+a peaceable arrangement of this matter. My tastes are not warlike, as
+you know. Far from being a duellist, this is the first affair of the
+kind I have had, and just for this very reason I wish to come well out
+of it."
+
+"That is very easy to say, my friend, but you have to play for your
+life, and you leave to us and before your family the responsibility of
+the result."
+
+"Ah, as to that you may make your mind quite easy, I know my mother
+and brother well enough; they would only ask whether I had conducted
+myself as a brave man, and if you replied in the affirmative they
+would be satisfied."
+
+"But, hang it, we must know which arm you prefer."
+
+"Well, if they propose pistols, accept them at once."
+
+"That is my advice, also," said the Baron.
+
+"Very well, then, the pistol be it," I replied, "since that is the
+advice of both of you, but the pistol is a horrible weapon."
+
+"Have I time to learn to fence between this and to-morrow?"
+
+"No, unless, perhaps, you studied Grissier, and then you might learn
+enough to defend yourself."
+
+Louis smiled.
+
+"Believe me," said he, "that what will happen tomorrow is already
+written on high, and whatever we may do we cannot alter that."
+
+We then shook hands with him and went downstairs.
+
+Our first visit was naturally to the nearer of the two gentlemen who
+had called on behalf of our adversary.
+
+We, therefore, visited Monsieur René de Chateaugrand, who lived, as we
+have said, at 12, Rue de la Paix.
+
+Any other visitors were forbidden while we were calling, and we were
+at once introduced to his presence.
+
+We found Monsieur de Chateaugrand a perfect man of the world--he would
+not for one moment give us the trouble of calling upon Monsieur de
+Boissy--he sent his own servant for him.
+
+While we were waiting his appearance, we spoke of everything but the
+subject which had brought us thither, and in about ten minutes
+Monsieur de Boissy arrived.
+
+The two gentlemen did not advance any pretensions to the choice of
+arms, the sword or pistol was equally familiar to M. de Chateau
+Renaud. They were quite willing to leave the selection to M. de
+Franchi, or to toss up. A louis was thrown into the air, face for
+sword, reverse for pistols. The coin came down reverse.
+
+So it was decided. The combat was arranged to take place next morning
+at nine o'clock, in the wood of Vincennes, where the adversaries would
+be placed at twenty paces, and after the third signal given by
+clapping the hands they were to fire.
+
+We returned to convey this decision to Louis de Franchi.
+
+On my return home the same evening, I found the cards of MM. de
+Chateaugrand and de Boissy.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+AT eight o'clock that evening I called upon M. Louis de Franchi, to
+inquire whether he had anything to confide to me. But he begged me to
+wait till next morning, saying:
+
+"The night will bring counsel with it."
+
+Next morning, therefore, instead of calling at eight, which would have
+given us plenty of time to go to the meeting, I called at half-past
+seven.
+
+Louis was already writing in his study.
+
+He looked up as I entered, and I noticed how very pale he was.
+
+"Excuse me," he said, "I am writing to my mother. You will find the
+morning papers there; if you can amuse yourself with them you will see
+a charming feuilleton by M. Mèry in the _Presse._"
+
+I took the paper thus indicated, and contrasted the livid pallor of
+the speaker with his calm and sweet voice.
+
+I endeavoured to read, but I could not fix my attention, the letters
+brought no meaning with them.
+
+In about five minutes Louis said,
+
+"There, I have finished." And he rang for his valet.
+
+"Joseph," said he, "I am at home to no one, not even to the Baron
+Giordano. If he calls, ask him to wait in the _salon._ I wish to be
+alone with this gentlemen for ten minutes."
+
+The valet shut the door and disappeared.
+
+"Now, my dear Alexander, listen. Giordano is a Corsican, and has
+Corsican ideas. I cannot, therefore, confide all I desire to him. I
+will ask him to keep the secret, that's all. But as regards yourself,
+I wish you, if you will permit me, to request that you will promise to
+observe my instructions."
+
+"Certainly. Is not that the duty of a second?"
+
+"A duty more real than you imagine, for you can save our family a
+second misfortune if you will."
+
+"A second misfortune!" I exclaimed.
+
+"Wait. Read this letter."
+
+I took the letter addressed to Madame de Franchi, and read as follows,
+with growing astonishment:--
+
+"MY DEAREST MOTHER,--
+
+"If I did not know that you possessed Spartan fortitude allied with
+Christian submission, I would have used means to prepare you for the
+blow in store for you--for when you receive this letter you will have
+but one son!
+
+"Lucien, my dear brother, love our mother for _both_ in future.
+
+"For some time I have been suffering from brain fever. I paid no
+attention to the premonitory symptoms--the doctor came too late.
+Darling mother, there is no hope for me now. I cannot be saved but by
+a miracle, and what right have I to suppose that Providence will work
+a miracle on my behalf?
+
+"I am writing to you in a lucid interval. If I die, this letter will
+be posted immediately after my death; for in the selfishness of my
+love for you I wish that you should know that I am dead without
+regretting anything in the world except your tenderness and my
+brother's.
+
+"Adieu, mother!
+
+"Do not weep for me. It is the soul that lives, not the body, and when
+the latter perishes the former will still live and love you.
+
+"Adieu, Lucien! Never leave our mother; and remember that she has you
+only to look to now.
+
+  "Your Son,
+    "Your Brother,
+      "LOUIS DE FRANCHI."
+
+When I had finished the letter I turned to the writer and said--
+
+"Well, and what does this mean?"
+
+"Do you not understand?" he said.
+
+"No!"
+
+"I am going to be shot at ten minutes past nine."
+
+"You are going to be shot?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You are mad! Why, what has put such an idea into your head?"
+
+"I am not mad, my dear friend. I have been warned--that's all."
+
+"Warned! By whom?"
+
+"My brother has already told you, I think, that the male members of
+our family enjoy a singular privilege?"
+
+"True," I replied, shuddering, in spite of myself. "He spoke to me
+about apparitions."
+
+"Quite so. Well, then, my father appeared to me last night. That is
+why you find me so pallid. The sight of the dead pales the living!"
+
+I gazed at him with astonishment, not unmixed with terror.
+
+"You saw your father last night, you say?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And he spoke to you?"
+
+"He announced my death!"
+
+"Oh, it was some terrible dream!"
+
+"It was a terrible _reality._"
+
+"You were asleep, my friend."
+
+"I was wide awake. Do you not believe that a father can appear to his
+son?"
+
+I hung my head, for at the bottom of my heart I _did_ believe in the
+possibility.
+
+"What passed between you?" I asked.
+
+"It is a very simple and very natural story. I was reading, expecting
+my father--for I knew if any danger threatened that he would appear to
+me--and at midnight the lamp burnt low, the door opened slowly, and my
+father appeared."
+
+"In what form?" I asked.
+
+"Just as if he were alive--dressed in his usual manner--only he was
+very pale, and his eyes were without expression."
+
+"Good heavens!" I ejaculated.
+
+"He slowly approached my bed. I raised myself with my elbow, and said,
+'You are welcome, father.'
+
+"He came close, and regarded me fixedly, and it then appeared to me as
+if some sort of paternal solicitude was expressed in his face."
+
+"Go on," I said; "this is terrible!"
+
+"Then his lips moved, and, though I could hear no sound, I seemed to
+hear his words distinctly, though distant as an echo."
+
+"What did he say?"
+
+"'Think of God, my son!'
+
+"'I shall be killed in this duel, then?' I asked.
+
+"I saw the tears roll down the pallid visage of the spectre.
+
+"'And at what hour?'
+
+"He pointed towards the timepiece. I followed the direction of his
+finger. The clock showed ten minutes past nine.
+
+"'So be it, my father,' I said; 'God's will be done. I leave my
+mother, but I rejoin you.'
+
+"Then a faint smile passed over his face, he waved me a sign of
+farewell and glided away.
+
+"The door opened as he advanced towards it, and when he had
+disappeared it shut of its own accord."
+
+This recital was so simply and so naturally told, that it was evident
+to me the event had occurred just as de Franchi had related it, or he
+was the victim of an illusion, which he had believed to be real in
+consequence of the pre-occupation of his mind, and was therefore all
+the more terrible.
+
+I wiped the perspiration from my forehead.
+
+"Now," continued Louis; "you know my brother, don't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What do you think he will do when he learns that I have been killed
+in a duel?"
+
+"He will leave Sullacaro at once to challenge the man who has killed
+you."
+
+"Just so, and if he is killed in his turn, my mother will be thrice a
+widow; widowed by the loss of her husband, widowed by the loss of her
+two sons."
+
+"Ah! I understand. This is fearful!"
+
+"Well, this must be avoided, and that is why I have written this
+letter. Believing that I have died from brain fever my brother will
+not seek to avenge me, and my mother will be the more easily consoled,
+knowing it was the will of God, and that I did not fall by the hand of
+man. At least----"
+
+"At least what?" I repeated.
+
+"Oh, nothing," replied Louis. "I hope that will not come to pass."
+
+I saw that he was referring to some personal fear, and I did not
+insist farther.
+
+At this moment the door opened, and the Baron de Giordano entered.
+
+"My dear de Franchi," he said, "I respect your privacy more than
+anything, but it is past eight, and the meeting is appointed for nine;
+we have quite a league and a half to drive, and we should start at
+once."
+
+"I am ready, my dear fellow," said Louis. "I have told my friend here
+all I had to say to him."
+
+He put his finger on his lips as our eyes met.
+
+"For you, my friend," he continued, turning to the table and taking up
+a sealed letter, "there is this; if anything should happen to me read
+this letter, and I pray you to carry out my request contained in it."
+
+"To the very letter," replied the Baron.
+
+"You were to provide the arms," said Louis.
+
+"Yes," I replied, "but just as I was coming away I found that one of
+the dogs did not bark properly, so we shall be obliged to get a case
+of pistols from Devisme."
+
+Louis looked at me, smiled, and held out his hand. He knew quite well
+that I did not wish to see him killed with my pistols.
+
+"Have you a carriage?" he asked; "if not I will send Joseph for one."
+
+"My coupé is here," said the Baron, "and can carry three at a pinch;
+besides, my horses will take us more quickly than a _fiacre._"
+
+"Let us go," said Louis.
+
+We went downstairs. Joseph was waiting at the door.
+
+"Shall I accompany you, sir?" he said.
+
+"No, Joseph," replied his master, "I shall not require your services
+to-day."
+
+Then, stepping back a pace and pressing a roll of gold into the man's
+hand, he said, "Take this, and if at any time I have appeared brusque
+to you, pardon my ill-humour."
+
+"Oh, monsieur!" said Joseph, with tears in his eyes, "what is the
+meaning of this?"
+
+"Chut!" said Louis, and he sprang into the carriage.
+
+"He is a good servant," he murmured, "and if either of you can ever be
+of use to him I shall be obliged."
+
+"Is he about to leave you?" said the Baron.
+
+"No," said Louis, smiling; "I am leaving him, that is all!"
+
+We stopped at Devismes just long enough to secure a case of pistols,
+powder and bullets, and then resumed our way at a brisk trot.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+WE reached Vincennes at five minutes to nine.
+
+Another carriage, that of Chateau Renaud, arrived at the same time.
+
+We proceeded into the wood by different paths. Our carriages were to
+await us in the broad avenue. A few minutes later we met at the
+rendezvous.
+
+"Gentlemen," said Louis, "recollect that no arrangement is possible
+now."
+
+"Nevertheless----," I said
+
+"Oh, my dear sir," he replied, "after what I have told you, you should
+be the last person to think that any reconciliation is possible."
+
+I bowed before this absolute will, which for me was supreme.
+
+We left Louis near the carriages, and advanced towards M. de Boissy
+and M. de Chateaugrand.
+
+The Baron de Giordano carried the case of pistols.
+
+The seconds exchanged salutes.
+
+"Gentlemen," said the Baron, "under these circumstances the shortest
+compliments are the best, for we may be interrupted any moment. We
+were requested to provide weapons--here they are. Examine them if you
+please. We have just procured them from the gunsmith, and we give you
+our word of honour that M. Louis de Franchi has not even seen them."
+
+"Such an assurance is unnecessary, gentlemen," replied Chateaugrand,
+"we know with whom we have to deal," and taking one pistol, while M.
+de Boissy took the other, the seconds examined the bore.
+
+"These are ordinary pistols, and have never been used," said the
+Baron; "now the question is, how shall the principals fire."
+
+"My advice," said M. de Boissy, "is that they should fire just as they
+are accustomed to do, together."
+
+"Very well," said the Baron Giordano, "then all chances are
+equalized."
+
+"Will you advise M. de Franchi, then, and we will tell M. de Chateau
+Renaud, monsieur."
+
+"Now that is settled, will you have the goodness to load the pistols?"
+
+Each one took a pistol, measured carefully the charges of powder, took
+two bullets at hazard, and rammed them home.
+
+While the weapons were being loaded, I approached Louis, who received
+me with a smile.
+
+"You won't forget what I asked you?" he said, "and you will obtain
+from Giordano a promise that he will say nothing to my mother, or even
+to my brother. Will you take care, also, that this affair does not get
+into the papers, or, if it does, that no names are mentioned."
+
+"You are still of opinion, then, this duel will prove fatal to you?" I
+said.
+
+"I am more than ever convinced of it," he replied, "but you will do me
+this justice at least, that I met death like a true Corsican."
+
+"My dear de Franchi, your calmness is so astounding that it gives me
+hopes that you yourself are not convinced on this point."
+
+Louis took out his watch.
+
+"I have but seven minutes to live," he said; "here is my watch, keep
+it, I beg of you, in remembrance of me." I took the watch, and shook
+my friend's hand.
+
+"In eight minutes I hope to restore it to you," I said.
+
+"Don't speak of that," he replied. "See, here are the others."
+
+"Gentlemen," said the Viscount de Chateaugrand, "a little distance
+from here, on the right, is an open space where I had a little
+practice of my own last year; shall we proceed thither--we shall be
+less liable to interruption."
+
+"If you will lead the way," said the Baron Giordano, "we will follow."
+
+The Viscount preceded us to the spot indicated. It was about thirty
+paces distant, at the bottom of a gentle slope surrounded on all sides
+by a screen of brushwood, and seemed fitted by nature as the theatre
+of such an event as was about to take place.
+
+"M. Martelli," said the Viscount, "will you measure the distance by
+me?" The Baron assented, and thus side by side he and M. de
+Chateaugrand measured twenty ordinary paces.
+
+I was then left for a few seconds alone with M. de Franchi.
+
+"_Apropos,_" he said, "you will find my will on the table where I was
+writing when you came in this morning."
+
+"Good," I replied, "you may rest quite easy on that score."
+
+"When you are ready, gentlemen," said the Viscount de Chateaugrand.
+
+"I am here," replied Louis. "Adieu, dear friend! thank you for all the
+trouble you have taken for me, without counting all you will have to
+do for me later on." I pressed his hand. It was cold, but perfectly
+steady.
+
+"Now," I said, "forget the apparition of last night, and aim your
+best."
+
+"You remember de Freyschutz?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, you know, then, that every bullet has its billet. Adieu!"
+
+He met the Baron Giordano, who handed him the pistol; he took it, and,
+without looking at it, went and placed himself at the spot marked by
+the handkerchief.
+
+M. de Chateau Renaud had already taken up his position.
+
+There was a moment of mournful silence, during which the young men
+saluted their seconds, then their adversary's seconds, and finally
+each other.
+
+M. de Chateau Renaud appeared perfectly accustomed to these affairs,
+and was smiling like a man sure of success; perhaps, also, he was
+aware that Louis de Franchi never had fired a pistol in his life.
+
+Louis was calm and collected, his fine head looked almost like a
+marble bust.
+
+"Well, gentlemen," said Chateau Renaud, "you see we are waiting."
+
+Louis gave me one last glance, and smiling, raised his eyes to heaven.
+
+"Now, gentlemen, make ready," said Chateaugrand. Then, striking his
+hands one against the other, he cried--
+
+"One! Two! Three!"
+
+The two shots made but one detonation.
+
+An instant afterwards I saw Louis de Franchi turn round twice and then
+fall upon one knee.
+
+M. de Chateau Renaud remained upright. The lappel of his coat had been
+shot through.
+
+I rushed towards Louis de Franchi.
+
+"You are wounded?" I said.
+
+He attempted to reply, but in vain. A red froth appeared upon his
+lips.
+
+At the same moment he let fall his pistol, and pressed his hand
+against his right side.
+
+On looking closely, we perceived a tiny hole not large enough for the
+point of a little finger.
+
+I begged the Baron to hasten to the barracks, and bring the surgeon of
+the regiment.
+
+But de Franchi collected all his strength, and stopping Giordano,
+signed that all assistance would be useless. This exertion caused him
+to fall on both knees.
+
+M. de Chateau Renaud kept at a distance, but his seconds now
+approached the wounded man.
+
+Meanwhile, we had opened his coat and torn away his waistcoat and
+shirt.
+
+The ball had entered the right side, below the sixth rib, and had come
+out a little above the left hip.
+
+At each breath the wounded man drew, the blood welled out. It was
+evident he was mortally hurt.
+
+"M. de Franchi," said the Viscount de Chateaugrand, "we regret
+extremely the issue of this sad affair. We trust you bear no malice
+against M. de Chateau Renaud."
+
+"Yes, yes," murmured the wounded man, "I forgive him."
+
+Then turning towards me with an effort he said,
+
+"Remember your promise!"
+
+"I swear to you I will do all you wish."
+
+"And now," he said, smiling, "look at the watch!"
+
+He breathed a long sigh, and fell back. That sigh was his last.
+
+I looked at the watch, it was exactly ten minutes past nine.
+
+I turned to Louis de Franchi--he was dead.
+
+We took back the body to the Rue de Helder, and while the Baron went
+to make the usual declaration to the Commissary of Police, I went
+upstairs with Joseph.
+
+The poor lad was weeping bitterly.
+
+As I entered, my eyes unconsciously turned towards the timepiece; it
+marked ten minutes past nine.
+
+No doubt he had forgotten to wind it, and it had stopped at that hour.
+
+The Baron Giordano returned almost immediately with the officers, who
+put the seals on the property.
+
+The Baron wished to advise the relatives and friends of the affair,
+but I begged him, before he did so, to read the letter that Louis had
+handed to him before we set out that morning.
+
+The letter contained his request that the cause of his death should be
+concealed from his brother, and that his funeral should be as quiet as
+possible.
+
+The Baron Giordano charged himself with these details, and I sought
+MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand, to request their silence respecting
+the unhappy affair, and to induce Chateau Renaud to leave Paris for a
+time, without mentioning my reason for this last suggestion.
+
+They promised me to do all they could to meet my views, and as I
+walked to Chateau Renaud's house I posted the letter to Madame de
+Franchi, informing her that her son had died of brain fever.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+CONTRARY to custom, the duel was very little talked about; even the
+papers were silent on the subject.
+
+A few intimate friends followed the body to Père la Chaise. Chateau
+Renaud refused to quit Paris, although pressed to do so.
+
+At one time I thought of following Louis' letter to Corsica with one
+from myself, but although my intentions were good, the misleading
+statements I should have to make were so repugnant to me that I did
+not do so. Besides, I was quite convinced that Louis himself had fully
+weighed before he had decided upon his course of action.
+
+So at the risk of being thought indifferent, or even ungrateful, I
+kept silence, and I was sure that the Baron Giordano had done as much.
+
+Five days after the duel, at about eleven o'clock in the evening, I
+was seated by my table in a rather melancholy frame of mind, when my
+servant entered and shutting the door quickly behind him said, in an
+agitated whisper, that M. de Franchi desired to speak with me.
+
+I looked at him steadily; he was quite pale.
+
+"Whom did you say, Victor?" I asked.
+
+"Oh, monsieur, in truth I hardly know myself."
+
+"What M. de Franchi wishes to speak to me?"
+
+"Monsieur's friend. The gentleman who was here two or three times."
+
+"You are mad, my good man. Do you not know that I had the misfortune
+to lose my friend five days ago?"
+
+"Yes, sir; and that is the reason I am so upset. He rang, I was in the
+ante-chamber, and opened the door, but recoiled at his appearance.
+However, he entered, and asked if you were at home. I replied that you
+were, and then he said, 'Go and announce M. de Franchi, who wishes to
+speak with your master,' and so I came."
+
+"You are stupid, Victor, the ante-chamber is not properly lighted. You
+were asleep, no doubt, and did not hear correctly. Go, and ask the
+gentleman his name."
+
+"It would be useless, sir. I swear to you I am not deceived. I heard
+him, and saw him, distinctly."
+
+"Then go and show him in."
+
+Victor turned tremblingly to the door, opened it, and then standing
+still in the room, said--
+
+"Will monsieur be kind enough to come in?"
+
+I immediately heard the footsteps of my visitor crossing the
+ante-chamber, and sure enough, at the door there appeared M. de
+Franchi.
+
+I confess that I was terrified, and took a step backwards as he
+approached.
+
+"I trust you will excuse my appearance so late," said my visitor; "I
+only arrived ten minutes ago, and you will understand that I could not
+wait till tomorrow without seeing you."
+
+"Oh, my dear Lucien," I exclaimed, advancing quickly, and embracing
+him. "Then it is really you." And, in spite of myself, tears really
+came into my eyes.
+
+"Yes," he said, "it is I."
+
+I made a calculation of the time that had elapsed, and could scarcely
+imagine that he had received the letter--it could hardly have reached
+Ajaccio yet.
+
+"Good Heavens! then you do not know what has happened?" I exclaimed.
+
+"I know all," was his reply.
+
+"Victor," I said, turning towards my servant, who was still rather
+embarrassed, "leave us, and return in a quarter of an hour with some
+supper. You will have something to eat, and will sleep here of
+course."
+
+"With great pleasure," he replied. "I have eaten nothing since we left
+Auxerre. Then, as to lodgings, as nobody knew me in the Rue de Helder,
+or rather," he added, with a sad smile, "as everybody recognized me
+there, they declined to let me in, so I left the whole house in a
+state of alarm."
+
+"In fact, my dear Lucien, your resemblance to Louis is so very
+striking that even I myself was just now taken aback."
+
+"How," exclaimed Victor, who had not yet ventured to leave us. "Is
+monsieur the brother----"
+
+"Yes," I replied, "go and get supper."
+
+Victor went out, and we found ourselves alone.
+
+I took Lucien by the hand, and leading him to an easy chair seated
+myself near him.
+
+"I suppose (I began) you were on your way to Paris when the fatal news
+met you?"
+
+"No, I was at Sullacaro!"
+
+"Impossible! Why your brother's letter could not have reached you."
+
+"You forget the ballad of _Burger,_ my dear Alexander--_the dead
+travel fast!_"
+
+I shuddered! "I do not understand," I said.
+
+"Have you forgotten what I told you about the apparitions familiar to
+our family?"
+
+"Do you mean to say that you have _seen_ your dead brother?"--
+"Yes."--"When?"
+
+"On the night of the 16th inst."
+
+"And he told you everything?"--"All!"
+
+"That he was dead?"
+
+"He told me that he had been killed. The dead never lie!"
+
+"And he said in what way?"
+
+"In a duel."
+
+"By whom?"
+
+"By M. de Chateau Renaud."
+
+"Oh no, Lucien, that cannot be," I exclaimed, "you have obtained your
+information in some other way."
+
+"Do you think I am likely to joke at such a time?"
+
+"I beg your pardon. But truly what you tell me is so strange, and
+everything that relates to you and your brother so out of ordinary
+nature, that----"
+
+"That you hesitate to believe it. Well, I can understand the feeling.
+But wait. My brother was hit here," he continued, as he opened his
+shirt and showed me the blue mark of the bullet on his flesh, "he was
+wounded above the sixth rib on the right side--do you believe that?"
+
+"As a matter of fact," I replied, "that is the very spot where he was
+hit."
+
+"And the bullet went out here," continued Lucien, putting his finger
+just above his left hip.
+
+"It is miraculous," I exclaimed.
+
+"And now," he went on, "do you wish me to tell you the time he died?"
+
+"Tell me!"
+
+"At ten minutes past nine."
+
+"That will do, Lucien;" I said, "but I lose myself in questions. Give
+me a connected narrative of the events. I should prefer it."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+LUCIEN settled himself comfortably in his arm-chair and looking at me
+fixedly, resumed:--
+
+"It is very simple. The day my brother was killed I was riding very
+early, and went out to visit the shepherds, when soon after I had
+looked at my watch and replaced it in my pocket, I received a blow in
+the side, so violent that I fainted. When I recovered I found myself
+lying on the ground in the arms of the Orlandini, who was bathing my
+face with water. My horse was close by.
+
+"'Well,' said Orlandini, 'what has happened?'
+
+"'I know no more about it than you do. Did you not hear a gun fired?'
+
+"'No.'
+
+"'It appears to me that I have received a ball in the side,' and I put
+my hand upon the place where I felt pain.
+
+"'In the first place,' replied he 'there has been no shot fired, and
+besides, there is no mark of a bullet on your clothes.'
+
+"'Then,' I replied, 'it must be my brother who is killed.'
+
+"'Ah, indeed,' he replied, 'that is a different thing.' I opened my
+coat and I found a mark, only at first it was quite red and not blue
+as I showed you just now.
+
+"For an instant I was tempted to return to Sullacaro, feeling so upset
+both mentally and bodily, but I thought of my mother, who did not
+expect me before supper time, and I should be obliged to give her a
+reason for my return, and I had no reason to give.
+
+"On the other hand, I did not wish to announce my brother's death to
+her until I was absolutely certain of it. So I continued my way, and
+returned home about six o'clock in the evening.
+
+"My poor mother received me as usual. She evidently had no suspicion
+that anything was wrong.
+
+"Immediately after supper, I went upstairs, and as I passed through
+the corridor the wind blew my candle out.
+
+"I was going downstairs to get a light when, passing my brother's
+room, I noticed a gleam within.
+
+"I thought that Griffo had been there and left a lamp burning.
+
+"I pushed open the door; I saw a taper burning near my brother's bed,
+and on the bed my brother lay extended, naked and bleeding.
+
+"I remained for an instant, I confess, motionless with terror, then I
+approached.
+
+"I touched the body, he was already dead.
+
+"He had received a ball through the body, which had struck in the same
+place where I had felt the blow, and some drops of blood were still
+falling from the wound.
+
+"It was evident to me that my brother had been shot.
+
+"I fell on my knees, and leaning my head against the bed, I prayed
+fervently.
+
+"When I opened my eyes again the room was in total darkness, the taper
+had been extinguished, the vision had disappeared.
+
+"I felt all over the bed, it was empty.
+
+"Now I believe I am as brave as most people, but when I tottered out
+of that room I declare to you my hair was standing on end and the
+perspiration pouring from my forehead.
+
+"I went downstairs for another candle. My mother noticed me, and
+uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+"'What is the matter with you,' she said, 'and why are you so pale?'
+
+"'There is nothing the matter,' I replied, as I returned upstairs.
+
+"This time the candle was not extinguished. I looked into my brother's
+room; it was empty.
+
+"The taper had completely disappeared, nor was there any trace of the
+body on the bed.
+
+"On the ground was my first candle, which I now relighted.
+
+"Notwithstanding this absence of proof, I had seen enough to be
+convinced that at ten minutes past nine that morning my brother had
+been killed. I went to bed in a very agitated frame of mind.
+
+"As you may imagine, I did not sleep very well, but at length fatigue
+conquered my agitation and I got a little rest.
+
+"Then all the circumstances came before me in the form of a dream. I
+saw the scene as it had passed. I saw the man who had killed him. I
+heard his name. He is called M. de Chateau Renaud."
+
+"Alas! that is all too true," I replied; "but what have you come to
+Paris for?"
+
+"I have come to kill the man who has killed my brother."
+
+"To kill him?"
+
+"Oh, you may rest assured, not in the Corsican fashion from behind a
+wall or through a hedge, but in the French manner, with white gloves
+on, a frilled shirt, and white cuffs."
+
+"And does Madame de Franchi know you have come to Paris with this
+intention?"
+
+"She does."
+
+"And she has let you come?"
+
+"She kissed me, and said, 'Go.' My mother is a true Corsican."
+
+"And so you came."
+
+"Here I am."
+
+"But your brother would not wish to be avenged were he alive."
+
+"Well, then," replied Lucien, smiling bitterly, "he must have changed
+his mind since he died."
+
+At this moment the valet entered, carrying the supper tray.
+
+Lucien ate like a man without a care in the world.
+
+After supper I showed him to his room. He thanked me, shook me by the
+hand, and wished me good-night.
+
+Next morning he came into my room as soon as the servant told him I
+was up.
+
+"Will you accompany me to Vincennes?" he said. "If you are engaged I
+will go alone."
+
+"Alone!" I replied. "How will you be able to find the spot?"
+
+"Oh, I shall easily recognize it. Do you not remember that I saw it in
+my dream?"
+
+I was curious to know how far he was correct in this. "Very well," I
+said, "I will go with you."
+
+"Get ready, then, while I write to Giordano. You will let Victor take
+the note for me, will you not?"
+
+"He is at your disposal."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Ten minutes afterwards the letter was despatched. I then sent for a
+cabriolet and we drove to Vincennes.
+
+When we reached the cross-paths Lucien said, "We are not far off now,
+I think."
+
+"No; twenty paces further on we shall be at the spot where we entered
+the forest."
+
+"Here we are," said the young man, as he stopped the carriage.
+
+It was, indeed, the very spot!
+
+Lucien entered the wood without the least hesitation, and as if he had
+known the place for years. He walked straight to the dell, and when
+there turned to the eastward, and then advancing he stopped at the
+place where his brother had fallen: stooping down he perceived the
+grass wore the red tinge of blood.
+
+"This is the place," he said.
+
+Then he lightly kissed the spot where his brother had lain.
+
+Rising with flashing eyes he paced the dell to the spot whence Chateau
+Renaud had fired.
+
+"This is where he stood," he said, stamping his foot, "and here he
+shall lie to-morrow."
+
+"How!" I exclaimed. "To-morrow!"
+
+"Yes, unless he is a coward. For to-morrow he shall give me my
+revenge."
+
+"But, my dear Lucien," I said, "the custom in France is, as you are
+aware, that a duel cannot take place without a certain reason. Chateau
+Renaud called out your brother who had provoked him, but he has had
+nothing to do with you."
+
+"Ah, really! So Chateau Renaud had the right to quarrel with my
+brother because he offered his arm to a woman whom Chateau Renaud had
+scandalously deceived, and according to you he had the right to
+challenge my brother. M. de Chateau Renaud killed my brother, who had
+never handled a pistol: he shot him with the same sense of security
+that a man would shoot a hare; and yet you say I have no right to
+challenge Chateau Renaud. Nonsense!"
+
+I bowed without speaking.
+
+"Besides," he continued, "you have nothing to do with it. You may be
+quite easy. I wrote to Giordano this morning, and when we return to
+Paris all will have been arranged. Do you think that M. de Chateau
+Renaud will refuse?"
+
+"M. de Chateau Renaud has unfortunately a reputation for courage which
+may serve to remove any doubt you may entertain on that score."
+
+"All the better," said Lucien. "Let us go to breakfast."
+
+We returned to the road, and entering the cabriolet, I told the man to
+drive to the Rue Rivoli.
+
+"No," said Lucien, "you shall breakfast with me. Coachman, the _Café
+de Paris;_ is not that the place where my brother usually dined?"
+
+"I believe so," I replied.
+
+"Well, that is where I requested Giordano to meet us."
+
+"To the Café de Paris, then."
+
+In half an hour we were set down at the restaurant.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+LUCIEN'S appearance created quite a sensation in consequence of his
+remarkable likeness to his brother.
+
+The news of Louis' death had gone abroad--not, perhaps, in all its
+details, but it was known, and Lucien's appearance astonished many.
+
+I requested a private room, saying that we were expecting the Baron
+Giordano, and we got a room at the end.
+
+Lucien began to read the papers carelessly, as if he were oblivious of
+everything.
+
+While we were seated at breakfast Giordano arrived.
+
+The two young men had not met for four or five years, nevertheless, a
+firm clasp of the hand was the only demonstration they permitted
+themselves.
+
+"Well, everything is settled," he said.
+
+"Then M. de Chateau Renaud has accepted?"
+
+"Yes, on condition, however, that after he has fought you he shall be
+left in peace."
+
+"Oh, he may be quite easy; I am the last of the de Franchi. Have you
+seen him, or his seconds?"
+
+"I saw him; he will notify MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand. The
+weapons, the hour and the place will be the same."
+
+"Capital, sit down and have some breakfast."
+
+The Baron seated himself, and we spoke on indifferent topics.
+
+After breakfast Lucien begged us to introduce him to the Commissioner
+of Police, who had sealed up his brother's property, and to the
+proprietors of the house at which his brother had lived, for he wished
+to sleep that night, the last night that separated him from his
+vengeance, in Louis' room.
+
+All these arrangements took up time, so it was not till five o'clock
+that Lucien entered his brother's apartment. Respecting his grief, we
+left him there alone.
+
+We had arranged to meet him again next morning at eight o'clock, and
+he begged me to bring the same pistols, and to buy them if they were
+for sale.
+
+I went to Devismes and purchased the weapons. Next morning, at eight
+o'clock I was with Lucien.
+
+When I entered, he was seated writing at the same table, where his
+brother had sat writing. He smiled when he saw me, but he was very
+pale.
+
+"Good morning," he said, "I am writing to my mother."
+
+"I hope you will be able to write her a less doleful letter than poor
+Louis wrote eight days ago."
+
+"I have told her that she may rest happy, for her son is avenged."
+
+"How are you able to speak with such certainty?"
+
+"Did not my brother announce to you his own approaching death? Well,
+then, I announce to you the death of M. de Chateau Renaud."
+
+He rose as he spoke, and touching me on the temple, said--
+
+"There, that's where I shall put my bullet."
+
+"And yourself?"
+
+"I shall not be touched."
+
+"But, at least, wait for the issue of the duel, before you send your
+letter."
+
+"It would be perfectly useless."
+
+He rang, the servant appeared.
+
+"Joseph," said he, "take this letter to the post."
+
+"But have you seen your dead brother?"
+
+"Yes," he answered.
+
+It is a very strange thing the occurrence of these two duels so close
+together, and in each of which one of the two combatants was doomed.
+While we were talking the Baron Giordano arrived. It was eight
+o'clock, so we started.
+
+Lucien was very anxious to arrive first, so we were on the field ten
+minutes before the hour.
+
+Our adversaries arrived at nine o'clock punctually. They came on
+horseback, followed by a groom also on horseback.
+
+M. de Chateau Renaud had his hand in the breast of his coat. I at
+first thought he was carrying his arm in a sling.
+
+The gentlemen dismounted twenty paces from us, and gave their bridles
+to the groom.
+
+Monsieur de Chateau Renaud remained apart, but looked steadfastly at
+Lucien, and I thought he became paler. He turned aside and amused
+himself knocking off the little flowers with his riding whip.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, here we are!" said MM. de Chateaugrand and de
+Boissy, "but you know our conditions. This duel is to be the last, and
+no matter what the issue may be, M. de Chateau Renaud shall not have
+to answer to any one for the double result."
+
+"That is understood," we replied. Then Lucien bowed assent.
+
+"You have the weapons, gentlemen?" said the Viscount.
+
+"Here are the same pistols."
+
+"And they are unknown to M. de Franchi?"
+
+"Less known to him than to M. de Chateau Renaud who has already used
+them once. M. de Franchi has not even seen them."
+
+"That is sufficient, gentlemen. Come, Chateau Renaud!"
+
+We immediately entered the wood, and each one felt, as he revisited
+the fatal spot, that a tragedy more terrible still was about to be
+enacted.
+
+We soon arrived in the little dell.
+
+M. de Chateau Renaud, thanks to his great self-command, appeared quite
+calm, but those who had seen both encounters could appreciate the
+difference.
+
+From time to time he glanced under his lids at Lucien, and his furtive
+looks denoted a disquietude approaching to fear.
+
+Perhaps it was the great resemblance between the brothers that struck
+him, and he thought he saw in Lucien the avenging shade of Louis.
+
+While they were loading the pistols I saw him draw his hand from the
+breast of his coat. The fingers were enveloped in a handkerchief as if
+to prevent their twitching.
+
+Lucien waited calmly, like a man who was sure of his vengeance.
+
+Without being told, Lucien walked to the place his brother had
+occupied, which compelled Chateau Renaud to take up his position as
+before.
+
+Lucien received his weapon with a joyous smile.
+
+When Chateau Renaud took his pistol he became deadly pale. Then he
+passed his hand between his cravat and his neck as if he were
+suffocating.
+
+No one can conceive with what feelings of terror I regarded this young
+man, handsome, rich, and elegant, who but yesterday believed he had
+many years still before him, and who to-day, with the sweat on his
+brow and agony at his heart, felt he was condemned.
+
+"Are you ready, gentlemen?" asked M. de Chateaugrand.
+
+"Yes," replied Lucien.
+
+M. de Chateau Renaud made a sign in the affirmative.
+
+As for me I was obliged to turn away, not daring to look upon the
+scene.
+
+I heard the two successive clappings of the hands, and at the third
+the simultaneous reports of the pistols. I turned round.
+
+Chateau Renaud was lying on the ground, stark dead; he had not uttered
+a sound nor made a movement.
+
+I approached the body, impelled by that invincible curiosity which
+compels one to see the end of a catastrophe.
+
+The bullet had entered the dead man's temple, at the very spot that
+Lucien had indicated to me previously.
+
+I ran to him, he was calm and motionless, but seeing me coming towards
+him he let fall the pistol, and threw himself into my arms.
+
+"Ah, my brother, my poor brother!" he cried as he burst into a passion
+of sobs.
+
+These were the first tears that the young man had shed.
+
+__________
+
+Woodfall & Kinder, Printers, Milford Lane, Strand, London, W.C.
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note
+
+This transcription is based on images scanned by Google from a copy in
+the Bodleian Library:
+
+dbooks.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/books/PDFs/590318888.pdf
+
+The scanned images (without the original cover image) are also
+available through Google:
+
+books.google.com/books?id=g7gNAAAAQAAJ
+
+Variant spellings such as "trowsers" and "examing" have been retained,
+and in general, inconsistencies of punctuation and italicization were
+also not changed. However, when the punctuation seemed problematic, a
+copy of the French text was consulted, and in a few cases the
+punctuation was changed as noted below. The copy consulted, which was
+printed in Paris in 1874 by Michel Lévy frères, is posted by the
+Internet Archive:
+
+archive.org/details/lesfrrescorses01dumagoog
+
+The following changes were noted:
+
+- p. 20: "Yes," he repled, "to a rendezvous."--Changed "repled" to
+"replied".
+
+- p. 23: "Do you rembember on what occasion?"--Changed "rembember" to
+"remember".
+
+- p. 32: Two lines of dialogue ("Yes, I." and "Do you wish me to tell
+you why you have come into this province of Sartène?") have been
+combined into one line. The French text, which does not have a line
+break, reads: "Eh! mon Dieu, oui, moi. Voulez-vous que je vous dise ce
+que vous êtes venu chercher dans la province de Sartène?"
+
+- p. 33: ...you can tell us when you leave, if you wish, if not, you
+need not inform us...--Changed comma after "wish" to a semicolon in
+keeping with the French text.
+
+- p. 34: "...The mischief arose between the Orlandi and the
+Colona.--Added a closing double quotation mark.
+
+- p. 34: ...and flew into that of the Colona."--Deleted closing
+quotation mark because character continues speaking in the next
+paragraph.
+
+- p. 35: "...one of these two parties this evening; no
+doubt?"--Changed semicolon to a comma in keeping with French text.
+
+- p. 44: '"Giudice,' she would say, 'how do you expect...--Reversed
+order of quotation marks at beginning of sentence.
+
+- p. 71: "Well, then," said he, "let us embrace. I can only deliver
+that which I am able to receive."--The quoted dialogue appears to be
+spoken by the narrator even though the translation ascribes it to
+Lucien. The French text reads: "Eh bien, alors, embrassons-nous; je ne
+puis rendre que ce que j'aurai reçu." The dialogue tag "said he" and
+the punctuation marks used to set off the dialogue tag have been
+deleted so that the translation more accurately reflects the French
+text.
+
+- p. 76: "Then" I continued...--Inserted a comma after "Then".
+
+- p. 78: "Well."--Changed period to a question mark in keeping with
+the French text.
+
+- p. 78: "At what time."--Changed period to a question mark in keeping
+with the French text.
+
+- p. 84: "What is the point then."--Changed period to a question mark
+in keeping with the French text.
+
+- p. 84: "But surely you have some reason to give for your change of
+opinion? just now you were insisting..."--Changed question mark to a
+semicolon in keeping with French text.
+
+- p. 84: "I did not then know that we should meet Chateau
+Renaud,"--Changed comma to a period.
+
+- p. 87: ...replied V----. There are so...--Inserted an opening double
+quotation mark before "There".
+
+- p. 94: "M. de Cahteau Renaud is quite a man of the world...--Changed
+"Cahteau" to "Chateau".
+
+- p. 96: "...you had never handled a sword or a pistol.--Added a
+closing quotation mark.
+
+- p. 97: We entered the _Salle à manger,_ and put aside...--Changed
+_Salle_ to all lower case to be consistent with elsewhere in the text.
+
+- p. 99: "Well, if they propose pistols, accept them at
+once?"--Changed question mark to a period in keeping with French text.
+
+- p. 104: ...and said, 'You are welcome, father.'"--Deleted closing
+quotation mark because character continues speaking in the next
+paragraph.
+
+- p. 106: "Just so," and if he is killed in his turn...--Deleted
+closing double quotation mark after "so,".
+
+- p. 107: ...so we shall be obliged to get a case of pistols from
+Devisme.--Added closing quotation mark to end of sentence.
+
+- p. 120: ...nor was there any trace of the body on the bed,--Changed
+comma at end of sentence to a period.
+
+- p. 121: Lucien eat like a man...--Changed "eat" to "ate".
+
+- p. 124: The two young men had not met for four or five years,
+nevertheless, a firm clasp...--Changed comma after "years" to a
+semicolon in keeping with French text.
+
+- p. 125: "And yourself."--Changed period to a question mark in
+keeping with French text.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Corsican Brothers, by Alexandre Dumas
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41881 ***