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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Farewell + +Author: Honore de Balzac + +Release Date: March 28, 2009 [EBook #5873] +Last Updated: November 22, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAREWELL *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny, John Bickers, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + FAREWELL + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Honore De Balzac + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated by Ellen Marriage + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + DEDICATION<br /><br /> To Prince Friedrich von Schwarzenberg + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + FAREWELL + </h2> + <p> + “Come, Deputy of the Centre, come along! We shall have to mend our pace if + we mean to sit down to dinner when every one else does, and that’s a fact! + Hurry up! Jump, Marquis! That’s it! Well done! You are bounding over the + furrows just like a stag!” + </p> + <p> + These words were uttered by a sportsman seated much at his ease on the + outskirts of the Foret de l’Isle-Adam; he had just finished a Havana + cigar, which he had smoked while he waited for his companion, who had + evidently been straying about for some time among the forest undergrowth. + Four panting dogs by the speaker’s side likewise watched the progress of + the personage for whose benefit the remarks were made. To make their + sarcastic import fully clear, it should be added that the second sportsman + was both short and stout; his ample girth indicated a truly magisterial + corpulence, and in consequence his progress across the furrows was by no + means easy. He was striding over a vast field of stubble; the dried + corn-stalks underfoot added not a little to the difficulties of his + passage, and to add to his discomforts, the genial influence of the sun + that slanted into his eyes brought great drops of perspiration into his + face. The uppermost thought in his mind being a strong desire to keep his + balance, he lurched to and fro like a coach jolted over an atrocious road. + </p> + <p> + It was one of those September days of almost tropical heat that finishes + the work of summer and ripens the grapes. Such heat forebodes a coming + storm; and though as yet there were wide patches of blue between the dark + rain-clouds low down on the horizon, pale golden masses were rising and + scattering with ominous swiftness from west to east, and drawing a shadowy + veil across the sky. The wind was still, save in the upper regions of the + air, so that the weight of the atmosphere seemed to compress the steamy + heat of the earth into the forest glades. The tall forest trees shut out + every breath of air so completely that the little valley across which the + sportsman was making his way was as hot as a furnace; the silent forest + seemed parched with the fiery heat. Birds and insects were mute; the + topmost twigs of the trees swayed with scarcely perceptible motion. Any + one who retains some recollection of the summer of 1819 must surely + compassionate the plight of the hapless supporter of the ministry who + toiled and sweated over the stubble to rejoin his satirical comrade. That + gentleman, as he smoked his cigar, had arrived, by a process of + calculation based on the altitude of the sun, to the conclusion that it + must be about five o’clock. + </p> + <p> + “Where the devil are we?” asked the stout sportsman. He wiped his brow as + he spoke, and propped himself against a tree in the field opposite his + companion, feeling quite unequal to clearing the broad ditch that lay + between them. + </p> + <p> + “And you ask that question of <i>me</i>!” retorted the other, laughing + from his bed of tall brown grasses on the top of the bank. He flung the + end of his cigar into the ditch, exclaiming, “I swear by Saint Hubert that + no one shall catch me risking myself again in a country that I don’t know + with a magistrate, even if, like you, my dear d’Albon, he happens to be an + old schoolfellow.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Philip, have you really forgotten your own language? You surely must + have left your wits behind you in Siberia,” said the stouter of the two, + with a glance half-comic, half-pathetic at the guide-post distant about a + hundred paces from them. + </p> + <p> + “I understand,” replied the one addressed as Philip. He snatched up his + rifle, suddenly sprang to his feet, made but one jump of it into the + field, and rushed off to the guide-post. “This way, d’Albon, here you are! + left about!” he shouted, gesticulating in the direction of the highroad. “<i>To + Baillet and l’Isle-Adam!</i>” he went on; “so if we go along here, we + shall be sure to come upon the cross-road to Cassan.” + </p> + <p> + “Quite right, Colonel,” said M. d’Albon, putting the cap with which he had + been fanning himself back on his head. + </p> + <p> + “Then <i>forward</i>! highly respected Councillor,” returned Colonel + Philip, whistling to the dogs, that seemed already to obey him rather than + the magistrate their owner. + </p> + <p> + “Are you aware, my lord Marquis, that two leagues yet remain before us?” + inquired the malicious soldier. “That village down yonder must be + Baillet.” + </p> + <p> + “Great heavens!” cried the Marquis d’Albon. “Go on to Cassan by all means, + if you like; but if you do, you will go alone. I prefer to wait here, + storm or no storm; you can send a horse for me from the chateau. You have + been making game of me, Sucy. We were to have a nice day’s sport by + ourselves; we were not to go very far from Cassan, and go over ground that + I knew. Pooh! instead of a day’s fun, you have kept me running like a + greyhound since four o’clock this morning, and nothing but a cup or two of + milk by way of breakfast. Oh! if ever you find yourself in a court of law, + I will take care that the day goes against you if you were in the right a + hundred times over.” + </p> + <p> + The dejected sportsman sat himself down on one of the stumps at the foot + of the guide-post, disencumbered himself of his rifle and empty game-bag, + and heaved a prolonged sigh. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, France, behold thy Deputies!” laughed Colonel de Sucy. “Poor old + d’Albon; if you had spent six months at the other end of Siberia as I + did...” + </p> + <p> + He broke off, and his eyes sought the sky, as if the story of his troubles + was a secret between himself and God. + </p> + <p> + “Come, march!” he added. “If you once sit down, it is all over with you.” + </p> + <p> + “I can’t help it, Philip! It is such an old habit in a magistrate! I am + dead beat, upon my honor. If I had only bagged one hare though!” + </p> + <p> + Two men more different are seldom seen together. The civilian, a man of + forty-two, seemed scarcely more than thirty; while the soldier, at thirty + years of age, looked to be forty at the least. Both wore the red rosette + that proclaimed them to be officers of the Legion of Honor. A few locks of + hair, mingled white and black, like a magpie’s wing, had strayed from + beneath the Colonel’s cap; while thick, fair curls clustered about the + magistrate’s temples. The Colonel was tall, spare, dried up, but muscular; + the lines in his pale face told a tale of vehement passions or of terrible + sorrows; but his comrade’s jolly countenance beamed with health, and would + have done credit to an Epicurean. Both men were deeply sunburnt. Their + high gaiters of brown leather carried souvenirs of every ditch and swamp + that they crossed that day. + </p> + <p> + “Come, come,” cried M. de Sucy, “forward! One short hour’s march, and we + shall be at Cassan with a good dinner before us.” + </p> + <p> + “You never were in love, that is positive,” returned the Councillor, with + a comically piteous expression. “You are as inexorable as Article 304 of + the Penal Code!” + </p> + <p> + Philip de Sucy shuddered violently. Deep lines appeared in his broad + forehead, his face was overcast like the sky above them; but though his + features seemed to contract with the pain of an intolerably bitter memory, + no tears came to his eyes. Like all men of strong character, he possessed + the power of forcing his emotions down into some inner depth, and, + perhaps, like many reserved natures, he shrank from laying bare a wound + too deep for any words of human speech, and winced at the thought of + ridicule from those who do not care to understand. M. d’Albon was one of + those who are keenly sensitive by nature to the distress of others, who + feel at once the pain they have unwillingly given by some blunder. He + respected his friend’s mood, rose to his feet, forgot his weariness, and + followed in silence, thoroughly annoyed with himself for having touched on + a wound that seemed not yet healed. + </p> + <p> + “Some day I will tell you my story,” Philip said at last, wringing his + friend’s hand, while he acknowledged his dumb repentance with a + heart-rending glance. “To-day I cannot.” + </p> + <p> + They walked on in silence. As the Colonel’s distress passed off the + Councillor’s fatigue returned. Instinctively, or rather urged by + weariness, his eyes explored the depths of the forest around them; he + looked high and low among the trees, and gazed along the avenues, hoping + to discover some dwelling where he might ask for hospitality. They reached + a place where several roads met; and the Councillor, fancying that he saw + a thin film of smoke rising through the trees, made a stand and looked + sharply about him. He caught a glimpse of the dark green branches of some + firs among the other forest trees, and finally, “A house! a house!” he + shouted. No sailor could have raised a cry of “Land ahead!” more joyfully + than he. + </p> + <p> + He plunged at once into undergrowth, somewhat of the thickest; and the + Colonel, who had fallen into deep musings, followed him unheedingly. + </p> + <p> + “I would rather have an omelette here and home-made bread, and a chair to + sit down in, than go further for a sofa, truffles, and Bordeaux wine at + Cassan.” + </p> + <p> + This outburst of enthusiasm on the Councillor’s part was caused by the + sight of the whitened wall of a house in the distance, standing out in + strong contrast against the brown masses of knotted tree-trunks in the + forest. + </p> + <p> + “Aha! This used to be a priory, I should say,” the Marquis d’Albon cried + once more, as they stood before a grim old gateway. Through the grating + they could see the house itself standing in the midst of some considerable + extent of park land; from the style of the architecture it appeared to + have been a monastery once upon a time. + </p> + <p> + “Those knowing rascals of monks knew how to choose a site!” + </p> + <p> + This last exclamation was caused by the magistrate’s amazement at the + romantic hermitage before his eyes. The house had been built on a spot + half-way up the hillside on the slope below the village of Nerville, which + crowned the summit. A huge circle of great oak-trees, hundreds of years + old, guarded the solitary place from intrusion. There appeared to be about + forty acres of the park. The main building of the monastery faced the + south, and stood in a space of green meadow, picturesquely intersected by + several tiny clear streams, and by larger sheets of water so disposed as + to have a natural effect. Shapely trees with contrasting foliage grew here + and there. Grottos had been ingeniously contrived; and broad terraced + walks, now in ruin, though the steps were broken and the balustrades eaten + through with rust, gave to this sylvan Thebaid a certain character of its + own. The art of man and the picturesqueness of nature had wrought together + to produce a charming effect. Human passions surely could not cross that + boundary of tall oak-trees which shut out the sounds of the outer world, + and screened the fierce heat of the sun from this forest sanctuary. + </p> + <p> + “What neglect!” said M. d’Albon to himself, after the first sense of + delight in the melancholy aspect of the ruins in the landscape, which + seemed blighted by a curse. + </p> + <p> + It was like some haunted spot, shunned of men. The twisted ivy stems + clambered everywhere, hiding everything away beneath a luxuriant green + mantle. Moss and lichens, brown and gray, yellow and red, covered the + trees with fantastic patches of color, grew upon the benches in the + garden, overran the roof and the walls of the house. The window-sashes + were weather-worn and warped with age, the balconies were dropping to + pieces, the terraces in ruins. Here and there the folding shutters hung by + a single hinge. The crazy doors would have given way at the first attempt + to force an entrance. + </p> + <p> + Out in the orchard the neglected fruit-trees were running to wood, the + rambling branches bore no fruit save the glistening mistletoe berries, and + tall plants were growing in the garden walks. All this forlornness shed a + charm across the picture that wrought on the spectator’s mind with an + influence like that of some enchanting poem, filling his soul with dreamy + fancies. A poet must have lingered there in deep and melancholy musings, + marveling at the harmony of this wilderness, where decay had a certain + grace of its own. + </p> + <p> + In a moment a few gleams of sunlight struggled through a rift in the + clouds, and a shower of colored light fell over the wild garden. The brown + tiles of the roof glowed in the light, the mosses took bright hues, + strange shadows played over the grass beneath the trees; the dead autumn + tints grew vivid, bright unexpected contrasts were evoked by the light, + every leaf stood out sharply in the clear, thin air. Then all at once the + sunlight died away, and the landscape that seemed to have spoken grew + silent and gloomy again, or rather, it took gray soft tones like the + tenderest hues of autumn dusk. + </p> + <p> + “It is the palace of the Sleeping Beauty,” the Councillor said to himself + (he had already begun to look at the place from the point of view of an + owner of property). “Whom can the place belong to, I wonder. He must be a + great fool not to live on such a charming little estate!” + </p> + <p> + Just at that moment, a woman sprang out from under a walnut tree on the + right-hand side of the gateway, and passed before the Councillor as + noiselessly and swiftly as the shadow of a cloud. This apparition struck + him dumb with amazement. + </p> + <p> + “Hallo, d’Albon, what is the matter?” asked the Colonel. + </p> + <p> + “I am rubbing my eyes to find out whether I am awake or asleep,” answered + the magistrate, whose countenance was pressed against the grating in the + hope of catching a second glimpse of the ghost. + </p> + <p> + “In all probability she is under that fig-tree,” he went on, indicating, + for Philip’s benefit, some branches that over-topped the wall on the + left-hand side of the gateway. + </p> + <p> + “She? Who?” + </p> + <p> + “Eh! how should I know?” answered M. d’Albon. “A strange-looking woman + sprang up there under my very eyes just now,” he added, in a low voice; + “she looked to me more like a ghost than a living being. She was so + slender, light and shadowy that she might be transparent. Her face was as + white as milk, her hair, her eyes, and her dress were black. She gave me a + glance as she flitted by. I am not easily frightened, but that cold stony + stare of hers froze the blood in my veins.” + </p> + <p> + “Was she pretty?” inquired Philip. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know. I saw nothing but those eyes in her head.” + </p> + <p> + “The devil take dinner at Cassan!” exclaimed the Colonel; “let us stay + here. I am as eager as a boy to see the inside of this queer place. The + window-sashes are painted red, do you see? There is a red line round the + panels of the doors and the edges of the shutters. It might be the devil’s + own dwelling; perhaps he took it over when the monks went out. Now, then, + let us give chase to the black and white lady; come along!” cried Philip, + with forced gaiety. + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely finished speaking when the two sportsmen heard a cry as if + some bird had been taken in a snare. They listened. There was a sound like + the murmur of rippling water, as something forced its way through the + bushes; but diligently as they lent their ears, there was no footfall on + the path, the earth kept the secret of the mysterious woman’s passage, if + indeed she had moved from her hiding-place. + </p> + <p> + “This is very strange!” cried Philip. + </p> + <p> + Following the wall of the path, the two friends reached before long a + forest road leading to the village of Chauvry; they went along this track + in the direction of the highway to Paris, and reached another large + gateway. Through the railings they had a complete view of the facade of + the mysterious house. From this point of view, the dilapidation was still + more apparent. Huge cracks had riven the walls of the main body of the + house built round three sides of a square. Evidently the place was allowed + to fall to ruin; there were holes in the roof, broken slates and tiles lay + about below. Fallen fruit from the orchard trees was left to rot on the + ground; a cow was grazing over the bowling-green and trampling the flowers + in the garden beds; a goat browsed on the green grapes and young + vine-shoots on the trellis. + </p> + <p> + “It is all of a piece,” remarked the Colonel. “The neglect is in a fashion + systematic.” He laid his hand on the chain of the bell-pull, but the bell + had lost its clapper. The two friends heard no sound save the peculiar + grating creak of the rusty spring. A little door in the wall beside the + gateway, though ruinous, held good against all their efforts to force it + open. + </p> + <p> + “Oho! all this is growing very interesting,” Philip said to his companion. + </p> + <p> + “If I were not a magistrate,” returned M. d’Albon, “I should think that + the woman in black is a witch.” + </p> + <p> + The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the cow came up to the + railings and held out her warm damp nose, as if she were glad of human + society. Then a woman, if so indescribable a being could be called a + woman, sprang up from the bushes, and pulled at the cord about the cow’s + neck. From beneath the crimson handkerchief about the woman’s head, fair + matted hair escaped, something as tow hangs about a spindle. She wore no + kerchief at the throat. A coarse black-and-gray striped woolen petticoat, + too short by several inches, left her legs bare. She might have belonged + to some tribe of Redskins in Fenimore Cooper’s novels; for her neck, arms, + and ankles looked as if they had been painted brick-red. There was no + spark of intelligence in her featureless face; her pale, bluish eyes + looked out dull and expressionless from beneath the eyebrows with one or + two straggling white hairs on them. Her teeth were prominent and uneven, + but white as a dog’s. + </p> + <p> + “Hallo, good woman,” called M. de Sucy. + </p> + <p> + She came slowly up to the railing, and stared at the two sportsmen with a + contorted smile painful to see. + </p> + <p> + “Where are we? What is the name of the house yonder? Whom does it belong + to? Who are you? Do you come from hereabouts?” + </p> + <p> + To these questions, and to a host of others poured out in succession upon + her by the two friends, she made no answer save gurgling sounds in the + throat, more like animal sounds than anything uttered by a human voice. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t you see that she is deaf and dumb?” said M. d’Albon. + </p> + <p> + “<i>Minorites</i>!” the peasant woman said at last. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! she is right. The house looks as though it might once have been a + Minorite convent,” he went on. + </p> + <p> + Again they plied the peasant woman with questions, but, like a wayward + child, she colored up, fidgeted with her sabot, twisted the rope by which + she held the cow that had fallen to grazing again, stared at the + sportsmen, and scrutinized every article of clothing upon them; she + gibbered, grunted, and clucked, but no articulate word did she utter. + </p> + <p> + “Your name?” asked Philip, fixing her with his eyes as if he were trying + to bewitch the woman. + </p> + <p> + “Genevieve,” she answered, with an empty laugh. + </p> + <p> + “The cow is the most intelligent creature we have seen so far,” exclaimed + the magistrate. “I shall fire a shot, that ought to bring somebody out.” + </p> + <p> + D’Albon had just taken up his rifle when the Colonel put out a hand to + stop him, and pointed out the mysterious woman who had aroused such lively + curiosity in them. She seemed to be absorbed in deep thought, as she went + along a green alley some little distance away, so slowly that the friends + had time to take a good look at her. She wore a threadbare black satin + gown, her long hair curled thickly over her forehead, and fell like a + shawl about her shoulders below her waist. Doubtless she was accustomed to + the dishevelment of her locks, for she seldom put back the hair on either + side of her brows; but when she did so, she shook her head with a sudden + jerk that had not to be repeated to shake away the thick veil from her + eyes or forehead. In everything that she did, moreover, there was a + wonderful certainty in the working of the mechanism, an unerring swiftness + and precision, like that of an animal, well-nigh marvelous in a woman. + </p> + <p> + The two sportsmen were amazed to see her spring up into an apple-tree and + cling to a bough lightly as a bird. She snatched at the fruit, ate it, and + dropped to the ground with the same supple grace that charms us in a + squirrel. The elasticity of her limbs took all appearance of awkwardness + or effort from her movements. She played about upon the grass, rolling in + it as a young child might have done; then, on a sudden, she lay still and + stretched out her feet and hands, with the languid natural grace of a + kitten dozing in the sun. + </p> + <p> + There was a threatening growl of thunder far away, and at this she started + up on all fours and listened, like a dog who hears a strange footstep. One + result of this strange attitude was to separate her thick black hair into + two masses, that fell away on either side of her face and left her + shoulders bare; the two witnesses of this singular scene wondered at the + whiteness of the skin that shone like a meadow daisy, and at the neck that + indicated the perfection of the rest of her form. + </p> + <p> + A wailing cry broke from her; she rose to her feet, and stood upright. + Every successive movement was made so lightly, so gracefully, so easily, + that she seemed to be no human being, but one of Ossian’s maids of the + mist. She went across the grass to one of the pools of water, deftly shook + off her shoe, and seemed to enjoy dipping her foot, white as marble, in + the spring; doubtless it pleased her to make the circling ripples, and + watch them glitter like gems. She knelt down by the brink, and played + there like a child, dabbling her long tresses in the water, and flinging + them loose again to see the water drip from the ends, like a string of + pearls in the sunless light. + </p> + <p> + “She is mad!” cried the Councillor. + </p> + <p> + A hoarse cry rang through the air; it came from Genevieve, and seemed to + be meant for the mysterious woman. She rose to her feet in a moment, + flinging back the hair from her face, and then the Colonel and d’Albon + could see her features distinctly. As soon as she saw the two friends she + bounded to the railings with the swiftness of a fawn. + </p> + <p> + “<i>Farewell</i>!” she said in low, musical tones, but they could not + discover the least trace of feeling, the least idea in the sweet sounds + that they had awaited impatiently. + </p> + <p> + M. d’Albon admired the long lashes, the thick, dark eyebrows, the dazzling + fairness of skin untinged by any trace of red. Only the delicate blue + veins contrasted with that uniform whiteness. + </p> + <p> + But when the Marquis turned to communicate his surprise at the sight of so + strange an apparition, he saw the Colonel stretched on the grass like one + dead. M. d’Albon fired his gun into the air, shouted for help, and tried + to raise his friend. At the sound of the shot, the strange lady, who had + stood motionless by the gate, fled away, crying out like a wounded wild + creature, circling round and round in the meadow, with every sign of + unspeakable terror. + </p> + <p> + M. d’Albon heard a carriage rolling along the road to l’Isle-Adam, and + waved his handkerchief to implore help. The carriage immediately came + towards the Minorite convent, and M. d’Albon recognized neighbors, M. and + Mme. de Grandville, who hastened to alight and put their carriage at his + disposal. Colonel de Sucy inhaled the salts which Mme. de Grandville + happened to have with her; he opened his eyes, looked towards the + mysterious figure that still fled wailing through the meadow, and a faint + cry of horror broke from him; he closed his eyes again, with a dumb + gesture of entreaty to his friends to take him away from this scene. M. + and Mme. de Grandville begged the Councillor to make use of their + carriage, adding very obligingly that they themselves would walk. + </p> + <p> + “Who can the lady be?” inquired the magistrate, looking towards the + strange figure. + </p> + <p> + “People think that she comes from Moulins,” answered M. de Grandville. + “She is a Comtesse de Vandieres; she is said to be mad; but as she has + only been here for two months, I cannot vouch for the truth of all this + hearsay talk.” + </p> + <p> + M. d’Albon thanked M. and Mme. de Grandville, and they set out for Cassan. + </p> + <p> + “It is she!” cried Philip, coming to himself. + </p> + <p> + “She? who?” asked d’Albon. + </p> + <p> + “Stephanie.... Ah! dead and yet living still; still alive, but her mind is + gone! I thought the sight would kill me.” + </p> + <p> + The prudent magistrate, recognizing the gravity of the crisis through + which his friend was passing, refrained from asking questions or exciting + him further, and grew impatient of the length of the way to the chateau, + for the change wrought in the Colonel’s face alarmed him. He feared lest + the Countess’ terrible disease had communicated itself to Philip’s brain. + When they reached the avenue at l’Isle-Adam, d’Albon sent the servant for + the local doctor, so that the Colonel had scarcely been laid in bed before + the surgeon was beside him. + </p> + <p> + “If Monsieur le Colonel had not been fasting, the shock must have killed + him,” pronounced the leech. “He was over-tired, and that saved him,” and + with a few directions as to the patient’s treatment, he went to prepare a + composing draught himself. M. de Sucy was better the next morning, but the + doctor had insisted on sitting up all night with him. + </p> + <p> + “I confess, Monsieur le Marquis,” the surgeon said, “that I feared for the + brain. M. de Sucy has had some very violent shock; he is a man of strong + passions, but, with his temperament, the first shock decides everything. + He will very likely be out of danger to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + The doctor was perfectly right. The next day the patient was allowed to + see his friend. + </p> + <p> + “I want you to do something for me, dear d’Albon,” Philip said, grasping + his friend’s hand. “Hasten at once to the Minorite convent, find out + everything about the lady whom we saw there, and come back as soon as you + can; I shall count the minutes till I see you again.” + </p> + <p> + M. d’Albon called for his horse, and galloped over to the old monastery. + When he reached the gateway he found some one standing there, a tall, + spare man with a kindly face, who answered in the affirmative when he was + asked if he lived in the ruined house. M. d’Albon explained his errand. + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, it must have been you, sir, who fired that unlucky shot! You + all but killed my poor invalid.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh! I fired into the air!” + </p> + <p> + “If you had actually hit Madame la Comtesse, you would have done less harm + to her.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, then, we can neither of us complain, for the sight of the + Countess all but killed my friend, M. de Sucy.” + </p> + <p> + “The Baron de Sucy, is it possible?” cried the doctor, clasping his hands. + “Has he been in Russia? was he in the Beresina?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” answered d’Albon. “He was taken prisoner by the Cossacks and sent + to Siberia. He has not been back in this country a twelvemonth.” + </p> + <p> + “Come in, monsieur,” said the other, and he led the way to a drawing-room + on the ground-floor. Everything in the room showed signs of capricious + destruction. + </p> + <p> + Valuable china jars lay in fragments on either side of a clock beneath a + glass shade, which had escaped. The silk hangings about the windows were + torn to rags, while the muslin curtains were untouched. + </p> + <p> + “You see about you the havoc wrought by a charming being to whom I have + dedicated my life. She is my niece; and though medical science is + powerless in her case, I hope to restore her to reason, though the method + which I am trying is, unluckily, only possible to the wealthy.” + </p> + <p> + Then, like all who live much alone and daily bear the burden of a heavy + trouble, he fell to talk with the magistrate. This is the story that he + told, set in order, and with the many digressions made by both teller and + hearer omitted. + </p> + <p> + When, at nine o’clock at night, on the 28th of November 1812, Marshal + Victor abandoned the heights of Studzianka, which he had held through the + day, he left a thousand men behind with instructions to protect, till the + last possible moment, the two pontoon bridges over the Beresina that still + held good. This rear guard was to save if possible an appalling number of + stragglers, so numbed with the cold, that they obstinately refused to + leave the baggage-wagons. The heroism of the generous band was doomed to + fail; for, unluckily, the men who poured down to the eastern bank of the + Beresina found carriages, caissons, and all kinds of property which the + Army had been forced to abandon during its passage on the 27th and 28th + days of November. The poor, half-frozen wretches, sunk almost to the level + of brutes, finding such unhoped-for riches, bivouacked in the deserted + space, laid hands on the military stores, improvised huts out of the + material, lighted fires with anything that would burn, cut up the + carcasses of the horses for food, tore out the linings of the carriages, + wrapped themselves in them, and lay down to sleep instead of crossing the + Beresina in peace under cover of night—the Beresina that even then + had proved, by incredible fatality, so disastrous to the Army. Such apathy + on the part of the poor fellows can only be understood by those who + remember tramping across those vast deserts of snow, with nothing to + quench their thirst but snow, snow for their bed, snow as far as the + horizon on every side, and no food but snow, a little frozen beetroot, + horseflesh, or a handful of meal. + </p> + <p> + The miserable creatures were dropping down, overcome by hunger, thirst, + weariness, and sleep, when they reached the shores of the Beresina and + found fuel and fire and victuals, countless wagons and tents, a whole + improvised town, in short. The whole village of Studzianka had been + removed piecemeal from the heights of the plain, and the very perils and + miseries of this dangerous and doleful habitation smiled invitingly to the + wayfarers, who beheld no prospect beyond it but the awful Russian deserts. + A huge hospice, in short, was erected for twenty hours of existence. Only + one thought—the thought of rest—appealed to men weary of life + or rejoicing in unlooked-for comfort. + </p> + <p> + They lay right in the line of fire from the cannon of the Russian left; + but to that vast mass of human creatures, a patch upon the snow, sometimes + dark, sometimes breaking into flame, the indefatigable grapeshot was but + one discomfort the more. For them it was only a storm, and they paid the + less attention to the bolts that fell among them because there were none + to strike down there save dying men, the wounded, or perhaps the dead. + Stragglers came up in little bands at every moment. These walking corpses + instantly separated, and wandered begging from fire to fire; and meeting, + for the most part, with refusals, banded themselves together again, and + took by force what they could not otherwise obtain. They were deaf to the + voices of their officers prophesying death on the morrow, and spent the + energy required to cross the swamp in building shelters for the night and + preparing a meal that often proved fatal. The coming death no longer + seemed an evil, for it gave them an hour of slumber before it came. Hunger + and thirst and cold—these were evils, but not death. + </p> + <p> + At last wood and fuel and canvas and shelters failed, and hideous brawls + began between destitute late comers and the rich already in possession of + a lodging. The weaker were driven away, until a few last fugitives before + the Russian advance were obliged to make their bed in the snow, and lay + down to rise no more. + </p> + <p> + Little by little the mass of half-dead humanity became so dense, so deaf, + so torpid,—or perhaps it should be said so happy—that Marshal + Victor, their heroic defender against twenty thousand Russians under + Wittgenstein, was actually compelled to cut his way by force through this + forest of men, so as to cross the Beresina with the five thousand heroes + whom he was leading to the Emperor. The miserable creatures preferred to + be trampled and crushed to death rather than stir from their places, and + died without a sound, smiling at the dead ashes of their fires, forgetful + of France. + </p> + <p> + Not before ten o’clock that night did the Duc de Belluno reach the other + side of the river. Before committing his men to the pontoon bridges that + led to Zembin, he left the fate of the rearguard at Studzianka in Eble’s + hands, and to Eble the survivors of the calamities of the Beresina owed + their lives. + </p> + <p> + About midnight, the great General, followed by a courageous officer, came + out of his little hut by the bridge, and gazed at the spectacle of this + camp between the bank of the Beresina and the Borizof road to Studzianka. + The thunder of the Russian cannonade had ceased. Here and there faces that + had nothing human about them were lighted up by countless fires that + seemed to grow pale in the glare of the snowfields, and to give no light. + Nearly thirty thousand wretches, belonging to every nation that Napoleon + had hurled upon Russia, lay there hazarding their lives with the + indifference of brute beasts. + </p> + <p> + “We have all these to save,” the General said to his subordinate. + “To-morrow morning the Russians will be in Studzianka. The moment they + come up we shall have to set fire to the bridge; so pluck up heart, my + boy! Make your way out and up yonder through them, and tell General + Fournier that he has barely time to evacuate his post and cut his way + through to the bridge. As soon as you have seen him set out, follow him + down, take some able-bodied men, and set fire to the tents, wagons, + caissons, carriages, anything and everything, without pity, and drive + these fellows on to the bridge. Compel everything that walks on two legs + to take refuge on the other bank. We must set fire to the camp; it is our + last resource. If Berthier had let me burn those d——d wagons + sooner, no lives need have been lost in the river except my poor + pontooners, my fifty heroes, who saved the Army, and will be forgotten.” + </p> + <p> + The General passed his hand over his forehead and said no more. He felt + that Poland would be his tomb, and foresaw that afterwards no voice would + be raised to speak for the noble fellows who had plunged into the stream—into + the waters of the Beresina!—to drive in the piles for the bridges. + And, indeed, only one of them is living now, or, to be more accurate, + starving, utterly forgotten in a country village![*] The brave officer had + scarcely gone a hundred paces towards Studzianka, when General Eble roused + some of his patient pontooners, and began his work of mercy by setting + fire to the camp on the side nearest the bridge, so compelling the + sleepers to rise and cross the Beresina. Meanwhile the young aide-de-camp, + not without difficulty, reached the one wooden house yet left standing in + Studzianka. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + [*] This story can be found in <i>The Country Parson</i>.—eBook + preparers. +</pre> + <p> + “So the box is pretty full, is it, messmate?” he said to a man whom he + found outside. + </p> + <p> + “You will be a knowing fellow if you manage to get inside,” the officer + returned, without turning round or stopping his occupation of hacking at + the woodwork of the house with his sabre. + </p> + <p> + “Philip, is that you?” cried the aide-de-camp, recognizing the voice of + one of his friends. + </p> + <p> + “Yes. Aha! is it you, old fellow?” returned M. de Sucy, looking round at + the aide-de-camp, who like himself was not more than twenty-three years + old. “I fancied you were on the other side of this confounded river. Do + you come to bring us sweetmeats for dessert? You will get a warm welcome,” + he added, as he tore away a strip of bark from the wood and gave it to his + horse by way of fodder. + </p> + <p> + “I am looking for your commandant. General Eble has sent me to tell him to + file off to Zembin. You have only just time to cut your way through that + mass of dead men; as soon as you get through, I am going to set fire to + the place to make them move—” + </p> + <p> + “You almost make me feel warm! Your news has put me in a fever; I have two + friends to bring through. Ah! but for those marmots, I should have been + dead before now, old fellow. On their account I am taking care of my horse + instead of eating him. But have you a crust about you, for pity’s sake? It + is thirty hours since I have stowed any victuals. I have been fighting + like a madman to keep up a little warmth in my body and what courage I + have left.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Philip! I have nothing—not a scrap!—But is your General + in there?” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t attempt to go in. The barn is full of our wounded. Go up a bit + higher, and you will see a sort of pig-sty to the right—that is + where the General is. Good-bye, my dear fellow. If ever we meet again in a + quadrille in a ballroom in Paris—” + </p> + <p> + He did not finish the sentence, for the treachery of the northeast wind + that whistled about them froze Major Philip’s lips, and the aide-de-camp + kept moving for fear of being frost-bitten. Silence soon prevailed, + scarcely broken by the groans of the wounded in the barn, or the stifled + sounds made by M. de Sucy’s horse crunching on the frozen bark with + famished eagerness. Philip thrust his sabre into the sheath, caught at the + bridle of the precious animal that he had managed to keep for so long, and + drew her away from the miserable fodder that she was bolting with apparent + relish. + </p> + <p> + “Come along, Bichette! come along! It lies with you now, my beauty, to + save Stephanie’s life. There, wait a little longer, and they will let us + lie down and die, no doubt;” and Philip, wrapped in a pelisse, to which + doubtless he owed his life and energies, began to run, stamping his feet + on the frozen snow to keep them warm. He was scarce five hundred paces + away before he saw a great fire blazing on the spot where he had left his + carriage that morning with an old soldier to guard it. A dreadful + misgiving seized upon him. Many a man under the influence of a powerful + feeling during the Retreat summoned up energy for his friend’s sake when + he would not have exerted himself to save his own life; so it was with + Philip. He soon neared a hollow, where he had left a carriage sheltered + from the cannonade, a carriage that held a young woman, his playmate in + childhood, dearer to him than any one else on earth. + </p> + <p> + Some thirty stragglers were sitting round a tremendous blaze, which they + kept up with logs of wood, planks wrenched from the floors of the + caissons, and wheels, and panels from carriage bodies. These had been, + doubtless, among the last to join the sea of fires, huts, and human faces + that filled the great furrow in the land between Studzianka and the fatal + river, a restless living sea of almost imperceptibly moving figures, that + sent up a smothered hum of sound blended with frightful shrieks. It seemed + that hunger and despair had driven these forlorn creatures to take + forcible possession of the carriage, for the old General and his young + wife, whom they had found warmly wrapped in pelisses and traveling cloaks, + were now crouching on the earth beside the fire, and one of the carriage + doors was broken. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the group of stragglers round the fire heard the footfall of + the Major’s horse, a frenzied yell of hunger went up from them. “A horse!” + they cried. “A horse!” + </p> + <p> + All the voices went up as one voice. + </p> + <p> + “Back! back! Look out!” shouted two or three of them, leveling their + muskets at the animal. + </p> + <p> + “I will pitch you neck and crop into your fire, you blackguards!” cried + Philip, springing in front of the mare. “There are dead horses lying up + yonder; go and look for them!” + </p> + <p> + “What a rum customer the officer is!—Once, twice, will you get out + of the way?” returned a giant grenadier. “You won’t? All right then, just + as you please.” + </p> + <p> + A woman’s shriek rang out above the report. Luckily, none of the bullets + hit Philip; but poor Bichette lay in the agony of death. Three of the men + came up and put an end to her with thrusts of the bayonet. + </p> + <p> + “Cannibals! leave me the rug and my pistols,” cried Philip in desperation. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! the pistols if you like; but as for the rug, there is a fellow yonder + who has had nothing to wet his whistle these two days, and is shivering in + his coat of cobwebs, and that’s our General.” + </p> + <p> + Philips looked up and saw a man with worn-out shoes and a dozen rents in + his trousers; the only covering for his head was a ragged foraging cap, + white with rime. He said no more after that, but snatched up his pistols. + </p> + <p> + Five of the men dragged the mare to the fire, and began to cut up the + carcass as dexterously as any journeymen butchers in Paris. The scraps of + meat were distributed and flung upon the coals, and the whole process was + magically swift. Philip went over to the woman who had given the cry of + terror when she recognized his danger, and sat down by her side. She sat + motionless upon a cushion taken from the carriage, warming herself at the + blaze; she said no word, and gazed at him without a smile. He saw beside + her the soldier whom he had left mounting guard over the carriage; the + poor fellow had been wounded; he had been overpowered by numbers, and + forced to surrender to the stragglers who had set upon him, and, like a + dog who defends his master’s dinner till the last moment, he had taken his + share of the spoil, and had made a sort of cloak for himself out of a + sheet. At that particular moment he was busy toasting a piece of + horseflesh, and in his face the major saw a gleeful anticipation of the + coming feast. + </p> + <p> + The Comte de Vandieres, who seemed to have grown quite childish in the + last few days, sat on a cushion close to his wife, and stared into the + fire. He was only just beginning to shake off his torpor under the + influence of the warmth. He had been no more affected by Philip’s arrival + and danger than by the fight and subsequent pillaging of his traveling + carriage. + </p> + <p> + At first Sucy caught the young Countess’ hand in his, trying to express + his affection for her, and the pain that it gave him to see her reduced + like this to the last extremity of misery; but he said nothing as he sat + by her side on the thawing heap of snow, he gave himself up to the + pleasure of the sensation of warmth, forgetful of danger, forgetful of all + things else in the world. In spite of himself his face expanded with an + almost fatuous expression of satisfaction, and he waited impatiently till + the scrap of horseflesh that had fallen to his soldier’s share should be + cooked. The smell of charred flesh stimulated his hunger. Hunger clamored + within and silenced his heart, his courage, and his love. He coolly looked + round on the results of the spoliation of his carriage. Not a man seated + round the fire but had shared the booty, the rugs, cushions, pelisses, + dresses,—articles of clothing that belonged to the Count and + Countess or to himself. Philip turned to see if anything worth taking was + left in the berline. He saw by the light of the flames, gold, and + diamonds, and silver lying scattered about; no one had cared to + appropriate the least particle. There was something hideous in the silence + among those human creatures round the fire; none of them spoke, none of + them stirred, save to do such things as each considered necessary for his + own comfort. + </p> + <p> + It was a grotesque misery. The men’s faces were wrapped and disfigured + with the cold, and plastered over with a layer of mud; you could see the + thickness of the mask by the channel traced down their cheeks by the tears + that ran from their eyes, and their long slovenly-kept beards added to the + hideousness of their appearance. Some were wrapped round in women’s + shawls, others in horse-cloths, dirty blankets, rags stiffened with + melting hoar-frost; here and there a man wore a boot on one foot and a + shoe on the other, in fact, there was not one of them but wore some + ludicrously odd costume. But the men themselves with such matter for jest + about them were gloomy and taciturn. + </p> + <p> + The silence was unbroken save by the crackling of the wood, the roaring of + the flames, the far-off hum of the camp, and the sound of sabres hacking + at the carcass of the mare. Some of the hungriest of the men were still + cutting tidbits for themselves. A few miserable creatures, more weary than + the others, slept outright; and if they happened to roll into the fire, no + one pulled them back. With cut-and-dried logic their fellows argued that + if they were not dead, a scorching ought to be sufficient warning to quit + and seek out more comfortable quarters. If the poor wretch woke to find + himself on fire, he was burned to death, and nobody pitied him. Here and + there the men exchanged glances, as if to excuse their indifference by the + carelessness of the rest; the thing happened twice under the Countess’ + eyes, and she uttered no sound. When all the scraps of horseflesh had been + broiled upon the coals, they were devoured with a ravenous greediness that + would have been disgusting in wild beasts. + </p> + <p> + “And now we have seen thirty infantrymen on one horse for the first time + in our lives!” cried the grenadier who had shot the mare, the one solitary + joke that sustained the Frenchmen’s reputation for wit. + </p> + <p> + Before long the poor fellows huddled themselves up in their clothes, and + lay down on planks of timber, on anything but the bare snow, and slept—heedless + of the morrow. Major de Sucy having warmed himself and satisfied his + hunger, fought in vain against the drowsiness that weighed upon his eyes. + During this brief struggle he gazed at the sleeping girl who had turned + her face to the fire, so that he could see her closed eyelids and part of + her forehead. She was wrapped round in a furred pelisse and a coarse + horseman’s cloak, her head lay on a blood-stained cushion; a tall + astrakhan cap tied over her head by a handkerchief knotted under the chin + protected her face as much as possible from the cold, and she had tucked + up her feet in the cloak. As she lay curled up in this fashion, she bore + no likeness to any creature. + </p> + <p> + Was this the lowest of camp-followers? Was this the charming woman, the + pride of her lover’s heart, the queen of many a Parisian ballroom? Alas! + even for the eyes of this most devoted friend, there was no discernible + trace of womanhood in that bundle of rags and linen, and the cold was + mightier than the love in a woman’s heart. + </p> + <p> + Then for the major the husband and wife came to be like two distant dots + seen through the thick veil that the most irresistible kind of slumber + spread over his eyes. It all seemed to be part of a dream—the + leaping flames, the recumbent figures, the awful cold that lay in wait for + them three paces away from the warmth of the fire that glowed for a little + while. One thought that could not be stifled haunted Philip—“If I go + to sleep, we shall all die; I will not sleep,” he said to himself. + </p> + <p> + He slept. After an hour’s slumber M. de Sucy was awakened by a hideous + uproar and the sound of an explosion. The remembrance of his duty, of the + danger of his beloved, rushed upon his mind with a sudden shock. He + uttered a cry like the growl of a wild beast. He and his servant stood + upright above the rest. They saw a sea of fire in the darkness, and + against it moving masses of human figures. Flames were devouring the huts + and tents. Despairing shrieks and yelling cries reached their ears; they + saw thousands upon thousands of wild and desperate faces; and through this + inferno a column of soldiers was cutting its way to the bridge, between + the two hedges of dead bodies. + </p> + <p> + “Our rearguard is in full retreat,” cried the major. “There is no hope + left!” + </p> + <p> + “I have spared your traveling carriage, Philip,” said a friendly voice. + </p> + <p> + Sucy turned and saw the young aide-de-camp by the light of the flames. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it is all over with us,” he answered. “They have eaten my horse. And + how am I to make this sleepy general and his wife stir a step?” + </p> + <p> + “Take a brand, Philip, and threaten them.” + </p> + <p> + “Threaten the Countess?...” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye,” cried the aide-de-camp; “I have only just time to get across + that unlucky river, and go I must, there is my mother in France!... What a + night! This herd of wretches would rather lie here in the snow, and most + of them would sooner be burned alive than get up.... It is four o’clock, + Philip! In two hours the Russians will begin to move, and you will see the + Beresina covered with corpses a second time, I can tell you. You haven’t a + horse, and you cannot carry the Countess, so come along with me,” he went + on, taking his friend by the arm. + </p> + <p> + “My dear fellow, how am I to leave Stephanie?” + </p> + <p> + Major de Sucy grasped the Countess, set her on her feet, and shook her + roughly; he was in despair. He compelled her to wake, and she stared at + him with dull fixed eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Stephanie, we must go, or we shall die here!” + </p> + <p> + For all answer, the Countess tried to sink down again and sleep on the + earth. The aide-de-camp snatched a brand from the fire and shook it in her + face. + </p> + <p> + “We must save her in spite of herself,” cried Philip, and he carried her + in his arms to the carriage. He came back to entreat his friend to help + him, and the two young men took the old general and put him beside his + wife, without knowing whether he were alive or dead. The major rolled the + men over as they crouched on the earth, took away the plundered clothing, + and heaped it upon the husband and wife, then he flung some of the broiled + fragments of horseflesh into a corner of the carriage. + </p> + <p> + “Now, what do you mean to do?” asked the aide-de-camp. + </p> + <p> + “Drag them along!” answered Sucy. + </p> + <p> + “You are mad!” + </p> + <p> + “You are right!” exclaimed Philip, folding his arms on his breast. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a desperate plan occurred to him. + </p> + <p> + “Look you here!” he said, grasping his sentinel by the unwounded arm. “I + leave her in your care for one hour. Bear in mind that you must die sooner + than let any one, no matter whom, come near the carriage!” + </p> + <p> + The major seized a handful of the lady’s diamonds, drew his sabre, and + violently battered those who seemed to him to be the bravest among the + sleepers. By this means he succeeded in rousing the gigantic grenadier and + a couple of men whose rank and regiment were undiscoverable. + </p> + <p> + “It is all up with us!” he cried. + </p> + <p> + “Of course it is,” returned the grenadier; “but that is all one to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well then, if die you must, isn’t it better to sell your life for a + pretty woman, and stand a chance of going back to France again?” + </p> + <p> + “I would rather go to sleep,” said one of the men, dropping down into the + snow; “and if you worry me again, major, I shall stick my toasting-iron + into your body.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it all about, sir?” asked the grenadier. “The man’s drunk. He is + a Parisian, and likes to lie in the lap of luxury.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have these, good fellow,” said the major, holding out a riviere + of diamonds, “if you will follow me and fight like a madman. The Russians + are not ten minutes away; they have horses; we will march up to the + nearest battery and carry off two stout ones.” + </p> + <p> + “How about the sentinels, major?” + </p> + <p> + “One of us three—” he began; then he turned from the soldier and + looked at the aide-de-camp.—“You are coming, aren’t you, Hippolyte?” + </p> + <p> + Hippolyte nodded assent. + </p> + <p> + “One of us,” the major went on, “will look after the sentry. Besides, + perhaps those blessed Russians are also fast asleep.” + </p> + <p> + “All right, major; you are a good sort! But will you take me in your + carriage?” asked the grenadier. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, if you don’t leave your bones up yonder.—If I come to grief, + promise me, you two, that you will do everything in your power to save the + Countess.” + </p> + <p> + “All right,” said the grenadier. + </p> + <p> + They set out for the Russian lines, taking the direction of the batteries + that had so cruelly raked the mass of miserable creatures huddled together + by the river bank. A few minutes later the hoofs of two galloping horses + rang on the frozen snow, and the awakened battery fired a volley that + passed over the heads of the sleepers; the hoof-beats rattled so fast on + the iron ground that they sounded like the hammering in a smithy. The + generous aide-de-camp had fallen; the stalwart grenadier had come off safe + and sound; and Philip himself received a bayonet thrust in the shoulder + while defending his friend. Notwithstanding his wound, he clung to his + horse’s mane, and gripped him with his knees so tightly that the animal + was held as in a vise. + </p> + <p> + “God be praised!” cried the major, when he saw his soldier still on the + spot, and the carriage standing where he had left it. + </p> + <p> + “If you do the right thing by me, sir, you will get me the cross for this. + We have treated them to a sword dance to a pretty tune from the rifle, + eh?” + </p> + <p> + “We have done nothing yet! Let us put the horses in. Take hold of these + cords.” + </p> + <p> + “They are not long enough.” + </p> + <p> + “All right, grenadier, just go and overhaul those fellows sleeping there; + take their shawls, sheets, anything—” + </p> + <p> + “I say! the rascal is dead,” cried the grenadier, as he plundered the + first man who came to hand. “Why, they are all dead! how queer!” + </p> + <p> + “All of them?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, every one. It looks as though the horseflesh <i>a la neige</i> was + indigestible.” + </p> + <p> + Philip shuddered at the words. The night had grown twice as cold as + before. + </p> + <p> + “Great heaven! to lose her when I have saved her life a score of times + already.” + </p> + <p> + He shook the Countess, “Stephanie! Stephanie!” he cried. + </p> + <p> + She opened her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “We are saved, madame!” + </p> + <p> + “Saved!” she echoed, and fell back again. + </p> + <p> + The horses were harnessed after a fashion at last. The major held his + sabre in his unwounded hand, took the reins in the other, saw to his + pistols, and sprang on one of the horses, while the grenadier mounted the + other. The old sentinel had been pushed into the carriage, and lay across + the knees of the general and the Countess; his feet were frozen. Urged on + by blows from the flat of the sabre, the horses dragged the carriage at a + mad gallop down to the plain, where endless difficulties awaited them. + Before long it became almost impossible to advance without crushing + sleeping men, women, and even children at every step, all of whom declined + to stir when the grenadier awakened them. In vain M. de Sucy looked for + the track that the rearguard had cut through this dense crowd of human + beings; there was no more sign of their passage than the wake of a ship in + the sea. The horses could only move at a foot-pace, and were stopped most + frequently by soldiers, who threatened to kill them. + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to get there?” asked the grenadier. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, if it costs every drop of blood in my body! if it costs the whole + world!” the major answered. + </p> + <p> + “Forward, then!... You can’t have the omelette without breaking eggs.” And + the grenadier of the Garde urged on the horses over the prostrate bodies, + and upset the bivouacs; the blood-stained wheels ploughing that field of + faces left a double furrow of dead. But in justice it should be said that + he never ceased to thunder out his warning cry, “Carrion! look out!” + </p> + <p> + “Poor wretches!” exclaimed the major. + </p> + <p> + “Bah! That way, or the cold, or the cannon!” said the grenadier, goading + on the horses with the point of his sword. + </p> + <p> + Then came the catastrophe, which must have happened sooner but for + miraculous good fortune; the carriage was overturned, and all further + progress was stopped at once. + </p> + <p> + “I expected as much!” exclaimed the imperturbable grenadier. “Oho! he is + dead!” he added, looking at his comrade. + </p> + <p> + “Poor Laurent!” said the major. + </p> + <p> + “Laurent! Wasn’t he in the Fifth Chasseurs?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “My own cousin.—Pshaw! this beastly life is not so pleasant that one + need be sorry for him as things go.” + </p> + <p> + But all this time the carriage lay overturned, and the horses were only + released after great and irreparable loss of time. The shock had been so + violent that the Countess had been awakened by it, and the subsequent + commotion aroused her from her stupor. She shook off the rugs and rose. + </p> + <p> + “Where are we, Philip?” she asked in musical tones, as she looked about + her. + </p> + <p> + “About five hundred paces from the bridge. We are just about to cross the + Beresina. When we are on the other side, Stephanie, I will not tease you + any more; I will let you go to sleep; we shall be in safety, we can go on + to Wilna in peace. God grant that you may never know what your life has + cost!” + </p> + <p> + “You are wounded!” + </p> + <p> + “A mere trifle.” + </p> + <p> + The hour of doom had come. The Russian cannon announced the day. The + Russians were in possession of Studzianka, and thence were raking the + plain with grapeshot; and by the first dim light of the dawn the major saw + two columns moving and forming above the heights. Then a cry of horror + went up from the crowd, and in a moment every one sprang to his feet. Each + instinctively felt his danger, and all made a rush for the bridge, surging + towards it like a wave. + </p> + <p> + Then the Russians came down upon them, swift as a conflagration. Men, + women, children, and horses all crowded towards the river. Luckily for the + major and the Countess, they were still at some distance from the bank. + General Eble had just set fire to the bridge on the other side; but in + spite of all the warnings given to those who rushed towards the chance of + salvation, not one among them could or would draw back. The overladen + bridge gave way, and not only so, the impetus of the frantic living wave + towards that fatal bank was such that a dense crowd of human beings was + thrust into the water as if by an avalanche. The sound of a single human + cry could not be distinguished; there was a dull crash as if an enormous + stone had fallen into the water—and the Beresina was covered with + corpses. + </p> + <p> + The violent recoil of those in front, striving to escape this death, + brought them into hideous collision with those behind then, who were + pressing towards the bank, and many were suffocated and crushed. The Comte + and Comtesse de Vandieres owed their lives to the carriage. The horses + that had trampled and crushed so many dying men were crushed and trampled + to death in their turn by the human maelstrom which eddied from the bank. + Sheer physical strength saved the major and the grenadier. They killed + others in self-defence. That wild sea of human faces and living bodies, + surging to and fro as by one impulse, left the bank of the Beresina clear + for a few moments. The multitude had hurled themselves back on the plain. + Some few men sprang down from the banks of the river, not so much with any + hope of reaching the opposite shore, which for them meant France, as from + dread of the wastes of Siberia. For some bold spirits despair became a + panoply. An officer leaped from hummock to hummock of ice, and reached the + other shore; one of the soldiers scrambled over miraculously on the piles + of dead bodies and drift ice. But the immense multitude left behind saw at + last that the Russians would not slaughter twenty thousand unarmed men, + too numb with the cold to attempt to resist them, and each awaited his + fate with dreadful apathy. By this time the major and his grenadier, the + old general and his wife, were left to themselves not very far from the + place where the bridge had been. All four stood dry-eyed and silent among + the heaps of dead. A few able-bodied men and one or two officers, who had + recovered all their energy at this crisis, gathered about them. The group + was sufficiently large; there were about fifty men all told. A couple of + hundred paces from them stood the wreck of the artillery bridge, which had + broken down the day before; the major saw this, and “Let us make a raft!” + he cried. + </p> + <p> + The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the whole group hurried to + the ruins of the bridge. A crowd of men began to pick up iron clamps and + to hunt for planks and ropes—for all the materials for a raft, in + short. A score of armed men and officers, under command of the major, + stood on guard to protect the workers from any desperate attempt on the + part of the multitude if they should guess their design. The longing for + freedom, which inspires prisoners to accomplish impossibilities, cannot be + compared with the hope which lent energy at that moment to these forlorn + Frenchmen. + </p> + <p> + “The Russians are upon us! Here are the Russians!” the guard shouted to + the workers. + </p> + <p> + The timbers creaked, the raft grew larger, stronger, and more substantial. + Generals, colonels, and common soldiers all alike bent beneath the weight + of wagon-wheels, chains, coils of rope, and planks of timber; it was a + modern realization of the building of Noah’s ark. The young Countess, + sitting by her husband’s side, looked on, regretful that she could do + nothing to aide the workers, though she helped to knot the lengths of rope + together. + </p> + <p> + At last the raft was finished. Forty men launched it out into the river, + while ten of the soldiers held the ropes that must keep it moored to the + shore. The moment that they saw their handiwork floating on the Beresina, + they sprang down onto it from the bank with callous selfishness. The + major, dreading the frenzy of the first rush, held back Stephanie and the + general; but a shudder ran through him when he saw the landing place black + with people, and men crowding down like playgoers into the pit of a + theatre. + </p> + <p> + “It was I who thought of the raft, you savages!” he cried. “I have saved + your lives, and you will not make room for me!” + </p> + <p> + A confused murmur was the only answer. The men at the edge took up stout + poles, trust them against the bank with all their might, so as to shove + the raft out and gain an impetus at its starting upon a journey across a + sea of floating ice and dead bodies towards the other shore. + </p> + <p> + “<i>Tonnerre de Dieu</i>! I will knock some of you off into the water if + you don’t make room for the major and his two companions,” shouted the + grenadier. He raised his sabre threateningly, delayed the departure, and + made the men stand closer together, in spite of threatening yells. + </p> + <p> + “I shall fall in!... I shall go overboard!...” his fellows shouted. + </p> + <p> + “Let us start! Put off!” + </p> + <p> + The major gazed with tearless eyes at the woman he loved; an impulse of + sublime resignation raised her eyes to heaven. + </p> + <p> + “To die with you!” she said. + </p> + <p> + In the situation of the folk upon the raft there was a certain comic + element. They might utter hideous yells, but not one of them dared to + oppose the grenadier, for they were packed together so tightly that if one + man were knocked down, the whole raft might capsize. At this delicate + crisis, a captain tried to rid himself of one of his neighbors; the man + saw the hostile intention of his officer, collared him, and pitched him + overboard. “Aha! The duck has a mind to drink. ... Over with you!—There + is room for two now!” he shouted. “Quick, major! throw your little woman + over, and come! Never mind that old dotard! he will drop off to-morrow!” + </p> + <p> + “Be quick!” cried a voice, made up of a hundred voices. + </p> + <p> + “Come, major! Those fellows are making a fuss, and well they may.” + </p> + <p> + The Comte de Vandieres flung off his ragged blankets, and stood before + them in his general’s uniform. + </p> + <p> + “Let us save the Count,” said Philip. + </p> + <p> + Stephanie grasped his hand tightly in hers, flung her arms about, and + clasped him close in an agonized embrace. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell!” she said. + </p> + <p> + Then each knew the other’s thoughts. The Comte de Vandieres recovered his + energies and presence of mind sufficiently to jump on to the raft, whither + Stephanie followed him after one last look at Philip. + </p> + <p> + “Major, won’t you take my place? I do not care a straw for life; I have + neither a wife, nor child, nor mother belonging to me—” + </p> + <p> + “I give them into your charge,” cried the major, indicating the Count and + his wife. + </p> + <p> + “Be easy; I will take as much care of them as of the apple of my eye.” + </p> + <p> + Philip stood stock-still on the bank. The raft sped so violently towards + the opposite shore that it ran aground with a violent shock to all on + board. The Count, standing on the very edge, was shaken into the stream; + and as he fell, a mass of ice swept by and struck off his head, and sent + it flying like a ball. + </p> + <p> + “Hey! major!” shouted the grenadier. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell!” a woman’s voice called aloud. + </p> + <p> + An icy shiver ran through Philip de Sucy, and he dropped down where he + stood, overcome with cold and sorrow and weariness. + </p> + <p> + “My poor niece went out of her mind,” the doctor added after a brief + pause. “Ah! monsieur,” he went on, grasping M. d’Albon’s hand, “what a + fearful life for a poor little thing, so young, so delicate! An unheard-of + misfortune separated her from that grenadier of the Garde (Fleuriot by + name), and for two years she was dragged on after the army, the + laughing-stock of a rabble of outcasts. She went barefoot, I heard, + ill-clad, neglected, and starved for months at a time; sometimes confined + to a hospital, sometimes living like a hunted animal. God alone knows all + the misery which she endured, and yet she lives. She was shut up in a + madhouse in a little German town, while her relations, believing her to be + dead, were dividing her property here in France. + </p> + <p> + “In 1816 the grenadier Fleuriot recognized her in an inn in Strasbourg. + She had just managed to escape from captivity. Some peasants told him that + the Countess had lived for a whole month in a forest, and how that they + had tracked her and tried to catch her without success. + </p> + <p> + “I was at that time not many leagues from Strasbourg; and hearing the talk + about the girl in the wood, I wished to verify the strange facts that had + given rise to absurd stories. What was my feeling when I beheld the + Countess? Fleuriot told me all that he knew of the piteous story. I took + the poor fellow with my niece into Auvergne, and there I had the + misfortune to lose him. He had some ascendancy over Mme. de Vandieres. He + alone succeeded in persuading her to wear clothes; and in those days her + one word of human speech—<i>Farewell</i>—she seldom uttered. + Fleuriot set himself to the task of awakening certain associations; but + there he failed completely; he drew that one sorrowful word from her a + little more frequently, that was all. But the old grenadier could amuse + her, and devoted himself to playing with her, and through him I hoped; but—” + here Stephanie’s uncle broke off. After a moment he went on again. + </p> + <p> + “Here she has found another creature with whom she seems to have an + understanding—an idiot peasant girl, who once, in spite of her + plainness and imbecility, fell in love with a mason. The mason thought of + marrying her because she had a little bit of land, and for a whole year + poor Genevieve was the happiest of living creatures. She dressed in her + best, and danced on Sundays with Dallot; she understood love; there was + room for love in her heart and brain. But Dallot thought better of it. He + found another girl who had all her senses and rather more land than + Genevieve, and he forsook Genevieve for her. Then the poor thing lost the + little intelligence that love had developed in her; she can do nothing now + but cut grass and look after the cattle. My niece and the poor girl are in + some sort bound to each other by the invisible chain of their common + destiny, and by their madness due to the same cause. Just come here a + moment; look!” and Stephanie’s uncle led the Marquis d’Albon to the + window. + </p> + <p> + There, in fact, the magistrate beheld the pretty Countess sitting on the + ground at Genevieve’s knee, while the peasant girl was wholly absorbed in + combing out Stephanie’s long, black hair with a huge comb. The Countess + submitted herself to this, uttering low smothered cries that expressed her + enjoyment of the sensation of physical comfort. A shudder ran through M. + d’Albon as he saw her attitude of languid abandonment, the animal + supineness that revealed an utter lack of intelligence. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! Philip, Philip!” he cried, “past troubles are as nothing. Is it quite + hopeless?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + The doctor raised his eyes to heaven. + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, monsieur,” said M. d’Albon, pressing the old man’s hand. “My + friend is expecting me; you will see him here before long.” + </p> + <p> + “Then it is Stephanie herself?” cried Sucy when the Marquis had spoken the + first few words. “Ah! until now I did not feel sure!” he added. Tears + filled the dark eyes that were wont to wear a stern expression. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; she is the Comtesse de Vandieres,” his friend replied. + </p> + <p> + The colonel started up, and hurriedly began to dress. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Philip!” cried the horrified magistrate. “Are you going mad?” + </p> + <p> + “I am quite well now,” said the colonel simply. “This news has soothed all + my bitterest grief; what pain could hurt me while I think of Stephanie? I + am going over to the Minorite convent, to see her and speak to her, to + restore her to health again. She is free; ah, surely, surely, happiness + will smile on us, or there is no Providence above. How can you think she + could hear my voice, poor Stephanie, and not recover her reason?” + </p> + <p> + “She has seen you once already, and she did not recognize you,” the + magistrate answered gently, trying to suggest some wholesome fears to this + friend, whose hopes were visibly too high. + </p> + <p> + The colonel shuddered, but he began to smile again, with a slight + involuntary gesture of incredulity. Nobody ventured to oppose his plans, + and a few hours later he had taken up his abode in the old priory, to be + near the doctor and the Comtesse de Vandieres. + </p> + <p> + “Where is she?” he cried at once. + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” answered M. Fanjat, Stephanie’s uncle. “She is sleeping. Stay; + here she is.” + </p> + <p> + Philip saw the poor distraught sleeper crouching on a stone bench in the + sun. Her thick hair, straggling over her face, screened it from the glare + and heat; her arms dropped languidly to the earth; she lay at ease as + gracefully as a fawn, her feet tucked up beneath her; her bosom rose and + fell with her even breathing; there was the same transparent whiteness as + of porcelain in her skin and complexion that we so often admire in + children’s faces. Genevieve sat there motionless, holding a spray that + Stephanie doubtless had brought down from the top of one of the tallest + poplars; the idiot girl was waving the green branch above her, driving + away the flies from her sleeping companion, and gently fanning her. + </p> + <p> + She stared at M. Fanjat and the colonel as they came up; then, like a dumb + animal that recognizes its master, she slowly turned her face towards the + countess, and watched over her as before, showing not the slightest sign + of intelligence or of astonishment. The air was scorching. The glittering + particles of the stone bench shone like sparks of fire; the meadow sent up + the quivering vapors that hover above the grass and gleam like golden dust + when they catch the light, but Genevieve did not seem to feel the raging + heat. + </p> + <p> + The colonel wrung M. Fanjat’s hands; the tears that gathered in the + soldier’s eyes stole down his cheeks, and fell on the grass at Stephanie’s + feet. + </p> + <p> + “Sir,” said her uncle, “for these two years my heart has been broken + daily. Before very long you will be as I am; if you do not weep, you will + not feel your anguish the less.” + </p> + <p> + “You have taken care of her!” said the colonel, and jealousy no less than + gratitude could be read in his eyes. + </p> + <p> + The two men understood one another. They grasped each other by the hand + again, and stood motionless, gazing in admiration at the serenity that + slumber had brought into the lovely face before them. Stephanie heaved a + sigh from time to time, and this sigh, that had all the appearance of + sensibility, made the unhappy colonel tremble with gladness. + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” M. Fanjat said gently, “do not deceive yourself, monsieur; as you + see her now, she is in full possession of such reason as she has.” + </p> + <p> + Those who have sat for whole hours absorbed in the delight of watching + over the slumber of some tenderly-beloved one, whose waking eyes will + smile for them, will doubtless understand the bliss and anguish that shook + the colonel. For him this slumber was an illusion, the waking must be a + kind of death, the most dreadful of all deaths. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a kid frisked in two or three bounds towards the bench and + snuffed at Stephanie. The sound awakened her; she sprang lightly to her + feet without scaring away the capricious creature; but as soon as she saw + Philip she fled, followed by her four-footed playmate, to a thicket of + elder-trees; then she uttered a little cry like the note of a startled + wild bird, the same sound that the colonel had heard once before near the + grating, when the Countess appeared to M. d’Albon for the first time. At + length she climbed into a laburnum-tree, ensconced herself in the feathery + greenery, and peered out at the <i>strange man</i> with as much interest + as the most inquisitive nightingale in the forest. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, farewell, farewell,” she said, but the soul sent no trace of + expression of feeling through the words, spoken with the careless + intonation of a bird’s notes. + </p> + <p> + “She does not know me!” the colonel exclaimed in despair. “Stephanie! Here + is Philip, your Philip!... Philip!” and the poor soldier went towards the + laburnum-tree; but when he stood three paces away, the Countess eyed him + almost defiantly, though there was timidity in her eyes; then at a bound + she sprang from the laburnum to an acacia, and thence to a spruce-fir, + swinging from bough to bough with marvelous dexterity. + </p> + <p> + “Do not follow her,” said M. Fanjat, addressing the colonel. “You would + arouse a feeling of aversion in her which might become insurmountable; I + will help you to make her acquaintance and to tame her. Sit down on the + bench. If you pay no heed whatever to her, poor child, it will not be long + before you will see her come nearer by degrees to look at you.” + </p> + <p> + “That <i>she</i> should not know me; that she should fly from me!” the + colonel repeated, sitting down on a rustic bench and leaning his back + against a tree that overshadowed it. + </p> + <p> + He bowed his head. The doctor remained silent. Before very long the + Countess stole softly down from her high refuge in the spruce-fir, + flitting like a will-o’-the-wisp; for as the wind stirred the boughs, she + lent herself at times to the swaying movements of the trees. At each + branch she stopped and peered at the stranger; but as she saw him sitting + motionless, she at length jumped down to the grass, stood a while, and + came slowly across the meadow. When she took up her position by a tree + about ten paces from the bench, M. Fanjat spoke to the colonel in a low + voice. + </p> + <p> + “Feel in my pocket for some lumps of sugar,” he said, “and let her see + them, she will come; I willingly give up to you the pleasure of giving her + sweetmeats. She is passionately fond of sugar, and by that means you will + accustom her to come to you and to know you.” + </p> + <p> + “She never cared for sweet things when she was a woman,” Philip answered + sadly. + </p> + <p> + When he held out the lump of sugar between his thumb and finger, and shook + it, Stephanie uttered the wild note again, and sprang quickly towards him; + then she stopped short, there was a conflict between longing for the sweet + morsel and instinctive fear of him; she looked at the sugar, turned her + head away, and looked again like an unfortunate dog forbidden to touch + some scrap of food, while his master slowly recites the greater part of + the alphabet until he reaches the letter that gives permission. At length + the animal appetite conquered fear; Stephanie rushed to Philip, held out a + dainty brown hand to pounce upon the coveted morsel, touched her lover’s + fingers, snatched the piece of sugar, and vanished with it into a thicket. + This painful scene was too much for the colonel; he burst into tears, and + took refuge in the drawing-room. + </p> + <p> + “Then has love less courage than affection?” M. Fanjat asked him. “I have + hope, Monsieur le Baron. My poor niece was once in a far more pitiable + state than at present.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it possible?” cried Philip. + </p> + <p> + “She would not wear clothes,” answered the doctor. + </p> + <p> + The colonel shuddered, and his face grew pale. To the doctor’s mind this + pallor was an unhealthy symptom; he went over to him and felt his pulse. + M. de Sucy was in a high fever; by dint of persuasion, he succeeded in + putting the patient in bed, and gave him a few drops of laudanum to gain + repose and sleep. + </p> + <p> + The Baron de Sucy spent nearly a week, in a constant struggle with a + deadly anguish, and before long he had no tears left to shed. He was often + well-nigh heartbroken; he could not grow accustomed to the sight of the + Countess’ madness; but he made terms for himself, as it were, in this + cruel position, and sought alleviations in his pain. His heroism was + boundless. He found courage to overcome Stephanie’s wild shyness by + choosing sweetmeats for her, and devoted all his thoughts to this, + bringing these dainties, and following up the little victories that he set + himself to gain over Stephanie’s instincts (the last gleam of intelligence + in her), until he succeeded to some extent—she grew <i>tamer</i> + than ever before. Every morning the colonel went into the park; and if, + after a long search for the Countess, he could not discover the tree in + which she was rocking herself gently, nor the nook where she lay crouching + at play with some bird, nor the roof where she had perched herself, he + would whistle the well-known air <i>Partant pour la Syrie</i>, which + recalled old memories of their love, and Stephanie would run towards him + lightly as a fawn. She saw the colonel so often that she was no longer + afraid of him; before very long she would sit on his knee with her thin, + lithe arms about him. And while thus they sat as lovers love to do, Philip + doled out sweetmeats one by one to the eager Countess. When they were all + finished, the fancy often took Stephanie to search through her lover’s + pockets with a monkey’s quick instinctive dexterity, till she had assured + herself that there was nothing left, and then she gazed at Philip with + vacant eyes; there was no thought, no gratitude in their clear depths. + Then she would play with him. She tried to take off his boots to see his + foot; she tore his gloves to shreds, and put on his hat; and she would let + him pass his hands through her hair, and take her in his arms, and submit + passively to his passionate kisses, and at last, if he shed tears, she + would gaze silently at him. + </p> + <p> + She quite understood the signal when he whistled <i>Partant pour la Syrie</i>, + but he could never succeed in inducing her to pronounce her own name—<i>Stephanie</i>. + Philip persevered in his heart-rending task, sustained by a hope that + never left him. If on some bright autumn morning he saw her sitting + quietly on a bench under a poplar tree, grown brown now as the season + wore, the unhappy lover would lie at her feet and gaze into her eyes as + long as she would let him gaze, hoping that some spark of intelligence + might gleam from them. At times he lent himself to an illusion; he would + imagine that he saw the hard, changeless light in them falter, that there + was a new life and softness in them, and he would cry, “Stephanie! oh, + Stephanie! you hear me, you see me, do you not?” + </p> + <p> + But for her the sound of his voice was like any other sound, the stirring + of the wind in the trees, or the lowing of the cow on which she scrambled; + and the colonel wrung his hands in a despair that lost none of its + bitterness; nay, time and these vain efforts only added to his anguish. + </p> + <p> + One evening, under the quiet sky, in the midst of the silence and peace of + the forest hermitage, M. Fanjat saw from a distance that the Baron was + busy loading a pistol, and knew that the lover had given up all hope. The + blood surged to the old doctor’s heart; and if he overcame the dizzy + sensation that seized on him, it was because he would rather see his niece + live with a disordered brain than lose her for ever. He hurried to the + place. + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing?” he cried. + </p> + <p> + “That is for me,” the colonel answered, pointing to a loaded pistol on the + bench, “and this is for her!” he added, as he rammed down the wad into the + pistol that he held in his hands. + </p> + <p> + The Countess lay stretched out on the ground, playing with the balls. + </p> + <p> + “Then you do not know that last night, as she slept, she murmured + ‘Philip?’” said the doctor quietly, dissembling his alarm. + </p> + <p> + “She called my name?” cried the Baron, letting his weapon fall. Stephanie + picked it up, but he snatched it out of her hands, caught the other pistol + from the bench, and fled. + </p> + <p> + “Poor little one!” exclaimed the doctor, rejoicing that his stratagem had + succeeded so well. He held her tightly to his heart as he went on. “He + would have killed you, selfish that he is! He wants you to die because he + is unhappy. He cannot learn to love you for your own sake, little one! We + forgive him, do we not? He is senseless; you are only mad. Never mind; God + alone shall take you to Himself. We look upon you as unhappy because you + no longer share our miseries, fools that we are!... Why, she is happy,” he + said, taking her on his knee; “nothing troubles her; she lives like the + birds, like the deer—” + </p> + <p> + Stephanie sprang upon a young blackbird that was hopping about, caught it + with a little shriek of glee, twisted its neck, looked at the dead bird, + and dropped it at the foot of a tree without giving it another thought. + </p> + <p> + The next morning at daybreak the colonel went out into the garden to look + for Stephanie; hope was very strong in him. He did not see her, and + whistled; and when she came, he took her arm, and for the first time they + walked together along an alley beneath the trees, while the fresh morning + wind shook down the dead leaves about them. The colonel sat down, and + Stephanie, of her own accord, lit upon his knee. Philip trembled with + gladness. + </p> + <p> + “Love!” he cried, covering her hands with passionate kisses, “I am + Philip...” + </p> + <p> + She looked curiously at him. + </p> + <p> + “Come close,” he added, as he held her tightly. “Do you feel the beating + of my heart? It has beat for you, for you only. I love you always. Philip + is not dead. He is here. You are sitting on his knee. You are my + Stephanie, I am your Philip.” + </p> + <p> + “Farewell!” she said, “farewell!” + </p> + <p> + The colonel shivered. He thought that some vibration of his highly wrought + feeling had surely reached his beloved; that the heart-rending cry, drawn + from him by hope, the utmost effort of a love that must last for ever, of + passion in its ecstasy, striving to reach the soul of the woman he loved, + must awaken her. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Stephanie! we shall be happy yet!” + </p> + <p> + A cry of satisfaction broke from her, a dim light of intelligence gleamed + in her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “She knows me!... Stephanie!...” + </p> + <p> + The colonel felt his heart swell, and tears gathered under his eyelids. + But all at once the Countess held up a bit of sugar for him to see; she + had discovered it by searching diligently for it while he spoke. What he + had mistaken for a human thought was a degree of reason required for a + monkey’s mischievous trick! + </p> + <p> + Philip fainted. M. Fanjat found the Countess sitting on his prostrate + body. She was nibbling her bit of sugar, giving expression to her + enjoyment by little grimaces and gestures that would have been thought + clever in a woman in full possession of her senses if she tried to mimic + her paroquet or her cat. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, my friend!” cried Philip, when he came to himself. “This is like + death every moment of the day! I love her too much! I could bear anything + if only through her madness she had kept some little trace of womanhood. + But, day after day, to see her like a wild animal, not even a sense of + modesty left, to see her—” + </p> + <p> + “So you must have a theatrical madness, must you!” said the doctor + sharply, “and your prejudices are stronger than your lover’s devotion? + What, monsieur! I resign to you the sad pleasure of giving my niece her + food, and the enjoyment of her playtime; I have kept for myself nothing + but the most burdensome cares. I watch over her while you are asleep, I—Go, + monsieur, and give up the task. Leave this dreary hermitage; I can live + with my little darling; I understand her disease; I study her movements; I + know her secrets. Some day you shall thank me.” + </p> + <p> + The colonel left the Minorite convent, that he was destined to see only + once again. The doctor was alarmed by the effect that his words made upon + his guest; his niece’s lover became as dear to him as his niece. If either + of them deserved to be pitied, that one was certainly Philip; did he not + bear alone the burden of an appalling sorrow? + </p> + <p> + The doctor made inquiries, and learned that the hapless colonel had + retired to a country house of his near Saint-Germain. A dream had + suggested to him a plan for restoring the Countess to reason, and the + doctor did not know that he was spending the rest of the autumn in + carrying out a vast scheme. A small stream ran through his park, and in + winter time flooded a low-lying land, something like the plain on the + eastern side of the Beresina. The village of Satout, on the slope of a + ridge above it, bounded the horizon of a picture of desolation, something + as Studzianka lay on the heights that shut in the swamp of the Beresina. + The colonel set laborers to work to make a channel to resemble the greedy + river that had swallowed up the treasures of France and Napoleon’s army. + By the help of his memories, Philip reconstructed on his own lands the + bank where General Eble had built his bridges. He drove in piles, and then + set fire to them, so as to reproduce the charred and blackened balks of + timber that on either side of the river told the stragglers that their + retreat to France had been cut off. He had materials collected like the + fragments out of which his comrades in misfortune had made the raft; his + park was laid waste to complete the illusion on which his last hopes were + founded. He ordered ragged uniforms and clothing for several hundred + peasants. Huts and bivouacs and batteries were raised and burned down. In + short, he omitted no device that could reproduce that most hideous of all + scenes. He succeeded. When, in the earliest days of December, snow covered + the earth with a thick white mantle, it seemed to him that he saw the + Beresina itself. The mimic Russia was so startlingly real, that several of + his old comrades recognized the scene of their past sufferings. M. de Sucy + kept the secret of the drama to be enacted with this tragical background, + but it was looked upon as a mad freak in several circles of society in + Paris. + </p> + <p> + In the early days of the month of January 1820, the colonel drove over to + the Forest of l’Isle-Adam in a carriage like the one in which M. and Mme. + de Vandieres had driven from Moscow to Studzianka. The horses closely + resembled that other pair that he had risked his life to bring from the + Russian lines. He himself wore the grotesque and soiled clothes, + accoutrements, and cap that he had worn on the 29th of November 1812. He + had even allowed his hair and beard to grow, and neglected his appearance, + that no detail might be lacking to recall the scene in all its horror. + </p> + <p> + “I guessed what you meant to do,” cried M. Fanjat, when he saw the colonel + dismount. “If you mean your plan to succeed, do not let her see you in + that carriage. This evening I will give my niece a little laudanum, and + while she sleeps, we will dress her in such clothes as she wore at + Studzianka, and put her in your traveling-carriage. I will follow you in a + berline.” + </p> + <p> + Soon after two o’clock in the morning, the young Countess was lifted into + the carriage, laid on the cushions, and wrapped in a coarse blanket. A few + peasants held torches while this strange elopement was arranged. + </p> + <p> + A sudden cry rang through the silence of night, and Philip and the doctor, + turning, saw Genevieve. She had come out half-dressed from the low room + where she slept. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, farewell; it is all over, farewell!” she called, crying + bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Genevieve, what is it?” asked M. Fanjat. + </p> + <p> + Genevieve shook her head despairingly, raised her arm to heaven, looked at + the carriage, uttered a long snarling sound, and with evident signs of + profound terror, slunk in again. + </p> + <p> + “‘Tis a good omen,” cried the colonel. “The girl is sorry to lose her + companion. Very likely she sees that Stephanie is about to recover her + reason.” + </p> + <p> + “God grant it may be so!” answered M. Fanjat, who seemed to be affected by + this incident. Since insanity had interested him, he had known several + cases in which a spirit of prophecy and the gift of second sight had been + accorded to a disordered brain—two faculties which many travelers + tell us are also found among savage tribes. + </p> + <p> + So it happened that, as the colonel had foreseen and arranged, Stephanie + traveled across the mimic Beresina about nine o’clock in the morning, and + was awakened by an explosion of rockets about a hundred paces from the + scene of action. It was a signal. Hundreds of peasants raised a terrible + clamor, like the despairing shouts that startled the Russians when twenty + thousand stragglers learned that by their own fault they were delivered + over to death or to slavery. + </p> + <p> + When the Countess heard the report and the cries that followed, she sprang + out of the carriage, and rushed in frenzied anguish over the snow-covered + plain; she saw the burned bivouacs and the fatal raft about to be launched + on a frozen Beresina. She saw Major Philip brandishing his sabre among the + crowd. The cry that broke from Mme. de Vandieres made the blood run cold + in the veins of all who heard it. She stood face to face with the colonel, + who watched her with a beating heart. At first she stared blankly at the + strange scene about her, then she reflected. For an instant, brief as a + lightning flash, there was the same quick gaze and total lack of + comprehension that we see in the bright eyes of a bird; then she passed + her hand across her forehead with the intelligent expression of a thinking + being; she looked round on the memories that had taken substantial form, + into the past life that had been transported into her present; she turned + her face to Philip—and saw him! An awed silence fell upon the crowd. + The colonel breathed hard, but dared not speak; tears filled the doctor’s + eyes. A faint color overspread Stephanie’s beautiful face, deepening + slowly, till at last she glowed like a girl radiant with youth. Still the + bright flush grew. Life and joy, kindled within her at the blaze of + intelligence, swept through her like leaping flames. A convulsive tremor + ran from her feet to her heart. But all these tokens, which flashed on the + sight in a moment, gathered and gained consistence, as it were, when + Stephanie’s eyes gleamed with heavenly radiance, the light of a soul + within. She lived, she thought! She shuddered—was it with fear? God + Himself unloosed a second time the tongue that had been bound by death, + and set His fire anew in the extinguished soul. The electric torrent of + the human will vivified the body whence it had so long been absent. + </p> + <p> + “Stephanie!” the colonel cried. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! it is Philip!” said the poor Countess. + </p> + <p> + She fled to the trembling arms held out towards her, and the embrace of + the two lovers frightened those who beheld it. Stephanie burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the tears ceased to flow; she lay in his arms a dead weight, as + if stricken by a thunderbolt, and said faintly: + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, Philip!... I love you.... farewell!” + </p> + <p> + “She is dead!” cried the colonel, unclasping his arms. + </p> + <p> + The old doctor received the lifeless body of his niece in his arms as a + young man might have done; he carried her to a stack of wood and set her + down. He looked at her face, and laid a feeble hand, tremulous with + agitation, upon her heart—it beat no longer. + </p> + <p> + “Can it really be so?” he said, looking from the colonel, who stood there + motionless, to Stephanie’s face. Death had invested it with a radiant + beauty, a transient aureole, the pledge, it may be, of a glorious life to + come. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, she is dead.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, but that smile!” cried Philip; “only see that smile. Is it possible?” + </p> + <p> + “She has grown cold already,” answered M. Fanjat. + </p> + <p> + M. de Sucy made a few strides to tear himself from the sight; then he + stopped, and whistled the air that the mad Stephanie had understood; and + when he saw that she did not rise and hasten to him, he walked away, + staggering like a drunken man, still whistling, but he did not turn again. + </p> + <p> + In society General de Sucy is looked upon as very agreeable, and above all + things, as very lively and amusing. Not very long ago a lady complimented + him upon his good humor and equable temper. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! madame,” he answered, “I pay very dearly for my merriment in the + evening if I am alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, you are never alone, I suppose.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” he answered, smiling. + </p> + <p> + If a keen observer of human nature could have seen the look that Sucy’s + face wore at that moment, he would, without doubt, have shuddered. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you not marry?” the lady asked (she had several daughters of her + own at a boarding-school). “You are wealthy; you belong to an old and + noble house; you are clever; you have a future before you; everything + smiles upon you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he answered; “one smile is killing me—” + </p> + <p> + On the morrow the lady heard with amazement that M. de Sucy had shot + himself through the head that night. + </p> + <p> + The fashionable world discussed the extraordinary news in divers ways, and + each had a theory to account for it; play, love, ambition, irregularities + in private life, according to the taste of the speaker, explained the last + act of the tragedy begun in 1812. Two men alone, a magistrate and an old + doctor, knew that Monsieur le Comte de Sucy was one of those souls unhappy + in the strength God gives to them to enable them to triumph daily in a + ghastly struggle with a mysterious horror. If for a minute God withdraws + His sustaining hand, they succumb. + </p> + <p> + PARIS, March 1830. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Farewell, by Honore de Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAREWELL *** + +***** This file should be named 5873-h.htm or 5873-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/8/7/5873/ + +Produced by Dagny, and John Bickers, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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