"You are welcome.You here,great God!Truly these walls ought to be surprised to see you.Yes,hear me,deaf old walls:the man you see there upon the threshold is my father!Ah,tell me,would you not have divined it by the tenderness in his face,by that smile full of goodness playing about his lips?"And then she added:
"Unnatural father,do you remember yet that you once had a daughter?Search well,you will find her,perhaps,at the bottom of your memory.Very well!this daughter whom you killed,has just left her coffin,and he who resuscitated her is the man before you."Then more excitedly still:"Oh,how I love him,this divine man!and in loving him,obedient daughter that I am,what have Idone but execute your will?for was it not you yourself who one day threw me at his feet?I have remained there."At these words,exhausted by the excess of her emotion,her strength deserted her.She uttered a cry,closed her eyes,and sank down.Gilbert,however,had already sprang towards her;he raised her in his arms and laid her inanimate form in an armchair;then placing himself before her,made a rampart of his body.When he turned his eyes upon the Count again,he could not repress a shudder,for he fancied he saw the somnambulist.The features of Kostia Petrovitch were distorted,his eyes bloodshot,and his fixed and burning pupils seemed almost starting from their sockets.He bent down slowly and picked up the knife,after which he remained some time motionless without giving any signs of life except by passing his tongue several times over his lips,as if to assuage the thirst for blood which consumed him.At last he advanced,his head erect,his arm holding the knife suspended in the air,ready to strike.As he drew near,Gilbert recovered all his composure,and in a clear,strong voice,cried out:
"Count Leminof,control yourself,or you will lose your reason."And as the frightful phantom still advanced,he quickly uncovered his breast,and exclaimed in a still louder voice:
"Count Kostia,strike,here is my heart,but your blows will not reach me,--the specter of Morlof is between us."At these words the Count uttered a cry like a fallow deer,followed by a long and plaintive sigh.A terrible internal struggle followed;his brow contracted;the convulsive movements which agitated his body,and the flakes of foam which stood upon his lips,testified to the violence of the effort he was making.
Reason at length returned;his arms fell and the knife dropped,the muscles of his face relaxed,and his features by degrees resumed their natural expression.Then turning in the direction of the alcove,he called out:
"Ivan,come and take care of your young mistress,she has fainted."Ivan appeared.Who could describe the look which he threw upon Gilbert?Meanwhile the Count had reentered the alcove;but returned immediately with a candle,which he lighted quietly,and then,with an easy gesture,said to Gilbert:
"My dear sir,it seems to me we are in the way here.Be good enough to leave with me by the staircase;for please God,you do not return by the roof.If an accident should happen to you,the Byzantines and I would be inconsolable!"Gilbert was so constituted,that at this moment M.Leminof inspired him more with pity than anger.He obeyed,and preceding him a few steps,crossed the alcove and the vestibule and descended the stairs.When at the entrance of the corridor,he turned,and placing his back against the wall,said sadly:
"I have a few words to say to you!"
The Count,stopping upon the last step,leaned nonchalantly over the balustrade and answered,smiling:
"Speak,I am ready to hear you;you know it always gives me pleasure to talk with you.""I beg you,sir,"said Gilbert,"to pardon your daughter the bitterness of her language.She spoke in delirium.I swear to you that at the bottom of her heart,she respects you,and that you have only to wish it to have her love you as a father."M.Leminof answered only by a shrug of the shoulders,which signified--"What matters it to me?""I am bound to say further,"resumed Gilbert,"that your anger ought to fall upon me alone.It was I who sought this child,who hated me;and I constrained her to receive me.I pressed my attentions upon her and had no peace or rest until I had gained her affection."The Count shrugged his shoulders again,as much as to say:"Ibelieve you,but how does that change the situation?""As for me,"continued Gilbert,"I assure you,upon my honor,that it was only yesterday I drew from your daughter her secret."The Count answered:
"I believe you readily;but tell me,if you please,is it true that you now love this little girl as she loves you?"Gilbert reflected a moment;then considering only the dignity and interests of Stephane,he replied:
"Yes,I love her with a pure,deep love."A sarcastic joy appeared upon the Count's face.
"Admirable!"said he;"that is all I wish to know.We have nothing more to say."Gilbert raised his head:"One word more,sir!"he exclaimed."I do not leave you until you have sworn to me that you will not touch a hair of your daughter's head,and that you will not revenge yourself upon her for my well-meant imprudence.""Peste!"said the Count,laughing,"you are taking great airs;but I owe you some gratitude,inasmuch as your coolness has saved me from committing a crime which would have been a great folly,for only fools avenge themselves with the knife.So I shall grant you even more than you ask.Hereafter,my daughter shall have no cause to complain of me,and I will interest myself paternally in her happiness.It displeases her to be under Ivan's charge;he shall be only her humble servant.I intend that she shall be as free as air,and all of her caprices will be sacred to me.I will begin by restoring her horse,if he is not already sold.I will do more:Iwill permit her to resume the garments of her sex.But for these favors I exact two conditions:first,that you shall remain here at least six months;second,that you will try neither to see,speak,nor write to my doll,without my consent."Gilbert breathed a deep sigh.
"I swear it,on my honor!"replied he.
"Enough!Enough!"resumed M.Leminof,"I have your promise,and Ibelieve in it as I do in the Gospels."
When the Count reentered his study,Doctor Vladimir,who was patiently awaiting him,examined him from head to foot,as if seeking to discover upon his garments or his hands some stain of blood,then controlling his emotion:
"Well,"said he coolly,"how did the affair terminate?""Very well,"said the Count,throwing himself in a chair."I have not killed anyone.This young man's reason restored mine."Vladimir Paulitch turned pale.
"So,"said he,with a forced smile,"this audacious seducer gets off with a rating.""You haven't common sense,Vladimir Paulitch!What are you saying about seduction?Gilberts are an enigma to you.They are not born under the same planets as Doctors Vladimir and Counts Leminof.
There is a mixture in them of the humanitarian,the knight-errant,the gray sister,and the St.Vincent de Paul,added to all which,our philanthropist has a passion for puppets,and from the time of his arrival he has forewarned me that he intended to make them play.He must have wanted,I think,to give himself a representation of some sacramental act,of some mystery play of the middle ages.The piece began well.The principal personages were faith,hope,and charity.Unfortunately,love got into the party,and the mystery was transformed into a drama of cloak and sword.Iam sorry for him;these things always end badly.""You are mistaken,Count Kostia!"replied Vladimir ironically;"they often end with a wedding."
"Vladimir Paulitch!"exclaimed the Count,stamping his foot,"you have the faculty of exasperating me.Today you spent an hour in kindling the fire of vengeance in my soul.You hate this young man.I believe,on my honor,that you are jealous of him.You are afraid,perhaps,that I may put him in my will in place of the little shepherd of Ukraine?Think of it as you please,my dear doctor;it is certain that if I had had the awkwardness to kill this admirable companion of my studies,I should lament him now in tears of blood,for I know not why,but he is dear to me in spite of all.But who loves well,chastises well,and I cannot help pitying him in thinking of all the sufferings which I shall make him undergo.Now go to bed,doctor.To-morrow morning you will go on your nimble feet,three leagues from here,on the other side of the mountain,to a little inn,which I will direct you how to find.
I will follow on horseback.I need exercise and diversion.We will meet there and dine together.At dessert we will talk physiology,and you will exert yourself to entertain me.""But what are you thinking of?"exclaimed Vladimir,surprised to the last degree."Will you permit these two lovers--""Oh!you have but a dull mind,in spite of your wisdom,"interrupted the Count."In matters of vengeance,you only know the calicoes and cottons.Mine I prefer to weave of silk and threads of gold."On returning to his room,Vladimir Paulitch said to himself:
"These two men are too rational.The piece moves too slowly.Imust hasten the denouement."
XVIII
Early in the morning Ivan entered Gilbert's room.The face of the poor serf was distressing to see.His eyes were red and swollen,and his features bloated.The bloody marks of his nails were visible on his face;forehead and cheeks were furrowed with them.
He informed Gilbert that towards noon Count Kostia would go out with Vladimir Paulitch and would be absent the rest of the day.
"He left me here to watch you and to render an account to him upon his return of all I should see and hear.I am not ugly;--but after what has passed,you would be foolish to expect the least favor from me.My eyes,ears,and tongue will do their duty.You must know,too,that the barine is in a very gloomy mood to-day.His lips are white,and he frequently passes his left hand over his forehead,a sure sign that a storm is raging within.""My dear Ivan,"answered Gilbert,"I also shall be absent all day;so you see your task of watching will be easy."Ivan breathed a sigh of relief.It seemed as if a mountain had been taken from his breast.
"I see with pleasure,"said he,"that you repent of your sin,and that you promise to be wiser in the future;ah,if my young master would only listen to reason,like you.""Your young master,as you call him,will be as rational as myself.
But do me the favor to tell me--"
"Oh!don't be alarmed;his fainting fit was not long.I had hardly got to him,when he opened his eyes and asked me if you were still alive.On hearing my answer he exclaimed:'Ah!my God!how happy Iam!He lives and loves me!'Then he tried to rise,but was so weak that he fell back.I carried him to his bed and he said to me:'Ivan,for four nights I have not closed my eyes,'and at these words he smiled and fell asleep,smiling,and he is asleep yet.""In order to be wise,Stephane must be occupied.She must work with her mind and her hands.Here,take this little white flower,"added he,handing him the one he had plucked the day before;"ask her,for me,to paint it in her herbarium to-day."And as Ivan examined the plant with an air of distrust,he added:
"Go,and fear nothing.I've not hidden a note in it.I am a man of honor,my dear Ivan,and never break my word."Ivan hid the flower in one of his sleeves and went out muttering to himself:
"How is all this going to end?Ah!may the Holy Trinity look down in pity upon this house.We are all lost!"Gilbert went out.Leaving upon his right the plateau and its close thickets,he gained the main road and followed the bank of the Rhine for a long distance.A thousand thoughts crowded in confusion through his mind;but he always came to the same conclusion:
"I will save this child,or lose my life in the attempt."As the sun began to sink towards the horizon,he returned to the castle.He went in search of Father Alexis and found him in the chapel.The good father had learned from Ivan what had happened the night before.He reproached Gilbert severely,but nevertheless,after hearing his explanations,softened considerably,and in a tone of grumbling indulgence,repeated the old proverb,"Everyone to his trade.""Oxen,"added he,"are born to draw the plow,birds to fly,bees to make honey,Gilberts to read and make great books,and Father Alexis to edify and console his fellow-creatures.You have encroached upon my prerogatives.
You wanted to walk in my shoes.And what has been the result of your efforts?The spoiling of my task!Have you not observed how much better this child has been for the last two months,how much more tranquil,gentle,and resigned?I had preached so well to her,that she at last listened to reason.And you must come to put in her head a silly love which will cost both of you many tears."Upon which,seizing him rudely by the arm,he continued:
"And what need had we of your assistance,the good God and I?Have you forgotten?Open your eyes and look!To-day,my child,even to-day I have put the finishing touch to my great work."Then he pointed his finger to two long rows of sallow faces,surmounted by golden halos,which two lamps suspended from the ceiling illuminated with a mysterious light.Like a general enumerating his troops,he said:
"Look at these graybeards.That is Isaac,this Jeremiah,and this Ezekiel.On the other side are the holy warrior martyrs.Then St.
Procopius,there St.Theodore,who burnt the temple of Cybele.His torch may yet be relighted.And these archangels,do you think their arms will be forever nerveless and their swords always asleep in their scabbards?"Then,falling upon his knees,he prayed aloud:
"And thou,holy mother of God,suffer thy unworthy servant to summon thee to keep thy promise.Let thy august power at last be made manifest.At the sight of thy frowning brows let there be accomplished a mystery of terror and tears in hardened hearts.Let the neck of the proud be broken,and let his haughty head,bent down by the breath of thy lips,as by the wind of a tempest,bow to the very earth and its hair sweep the dust of this pavement."Just then they heard a voice calling:
"Father Alexis,Father Alexis,where are you?"The priest turned pale and trembled.He tried in vain to rise,his knees seemed nailed to the ground.
"Ah!my child,did you not hear a divine voice answer me?"But helping him to his feet,Gilbert said with a sad smile:
"There is nothing divine in that voice.It has a strongly-marked Provencal accent,and if I am not mistaken,it belongs to Jasmin the cook,who is there in the court with a lantern in his hand,and is calling you.""Perhaps you are right,"answered the good father,shaking his head and passing his hand over his forehead,which was bathed in perspiration."Let us see what this good Jasmin wants.Perhaps he brings my dinner.I had notified him,however,that I proposed to fast to-day."Jasmin no sooner saw them come out of the chapel than he ran towards them and said to the priest:
"I don't know,father,what has happened to Ivan,but when I went into his room to carry him his dinner,I found him stretched on his bed.I called him and shook him,but couldn't wake him up."A shudder ran through Gilbert's whole body.Seizing the lantern from Jasmin he darted off on a run;in two seconds he was with Ivan.Jasmin had told the truth;the serf slept heavily and profoundly.By dint of pulling him by the arm,Gilbert succeeded in making him open his eyes;but he soon closed them again,turned towards the wall,and slept on.
"Someone must have given him a narcotic,"said Gilbert,whispering to Father Alexis who had just joined him.
And addressing Jasmin,who had followed the priest.
"Has anyone been here this afternoon?"
"I ask your pardon,"said the cook."Doctor Vladimir returned from his walk at about five o'clock.This surprised me very much,as Count Kostia told me before he left,that M.Stephane would dine here alone to-day.""The doctor is at the table then,now."
"Pardon,pardon!He didn't wish any dinner.He told me in a joking way,that he would shortly go to a grand dinner in the other world.""But where is he then?In his study?"
"Two hours afterwards,he went out with M.Stephane.""Which way did they go?"cried Gilbert,shaking him violently by the arm.
"Ah!pardon,sir,take care,you'll put my arm out of joint,"answered the huge Provencal.
"Jasmin,my good Jasmin,answer me:which way did they go?""Ah!I remember now,they took the road to the woods."Gilbert darted off instantly.Father Alexis cried after him in vain:
"Wait for me,my child,I will accompany you.I am a man of good judgment."As if carried by the wind,Gilbert was already in the woods.His head bare,pale,out of breath,he ran at the top of his speed.Night had come,and the moon began to silver over the foliage which quivered at every breath of wind.Gilbert was blind to the moon's brightness,deaf to the sighing of the wind.He heard nothing but the diminishing sound of steps in the distance,he saw nothing but a cloud of blood which floated before his eyes and indicated the path;the sole thought which shed any light upon his mind,filled with gloomiest apprehensions,was this:
"I did not understand this man!It was an offensive alliance which he proposed to me yesterday.I refused to avenge him:he is going to revenge himself,and a Russian serf seeking vengeance is capable of anything."On he ran with unabated speed,and would have run to the end of the world if,in an elbow of the road,some steps before him,he had not suddenly perceived Stephane.Standing in the moonlight erect and motionless,Gilbert stopped,held out his arms,and uttered a cry.She trembled,turned,and running to him,cried:
"Gilbert,do you love me?"
He answered only by pressing her to his heart;and then perceiving Doctor Vladimir,who was sitting on the edge of a ditch,his head in his hands,he stammered:
"This man here with you!"
"I do not know,"said she in a trembling voice,"whether he is a mad man or a villain;but it is certain that he is going to die,for he has poisoned himself.""What have you to say?"said Gilbert,looking wildly at the dejected face of the doctor,upon which the moon was shining full.
"Explain I beg of you."
"What do I know?"said she;"I think I have been dreaming since yesterday evening.It seems to me,however,that this man came to my room for me.He had taken the precaution to drug Ivan.I was dying with melancholy.He persuaded me that you,my Gilbert,were waiting for me in one of the paths of this forest,to fly with me to a distant country.'Let us go,let us go,'I cried;but on the way I began to think,I grew suspicious,and at this turning of the road I said to my gloomy companion:'Bring my Gilbert to me here;Iwill go no further.'Then he looked at me with frightful eyes,and I believe said to me:'What is your Gilbert to me?Follow me or you die;'and then he fumbled in his bosom as if to find a concealed weapon;but if I am not mistaken,I looked at him steadily,and crossing my arms,said to him:'Kill me,but you shall not make me take another step.'"Vladimir raised his head.
"How deceptive resemblances are,"said he in a hollow voice."Ionce knew a woman who had the same contour of face,and one evening,by the sole power of my eye,I compelled her to fall at my feet,crying:'Vladimir Paulitch,do with me what you will.'But your young friend has a soul made of different stuff.You can believe me if you wish,sir;but the fact is that her charming face suddenly struck me with an involuntary respect.It seemed to me that her head was adorned with a royal diadem.Her eyes glowed with a noble pride;anger dilated her nostrils,and while a scornful smile flitted over her lips,her whole face expressed the innocence of a soul as pure as the rays of the moon shining upon us.At this sight I thought of the woman of whom I spoke to you yesterday,and I felt a sensation of horror at the crime I had premeditated,and I,Doctor Vladimir,I prostrated myself at the feet of this child,saying to her:'Forgive me,I am a wretch;'
after which I swallowed a strong dose of poison of my own composition,whose antidote I do not know,and in two hours I shall be no more."Gilbert looked steadily at him.
"Ah!great God,"thought he,"it was not the life but the honor of Stephane which was in danger!But the promised miracle has been wrought,only this is not the one which Father Alexis expected,since it has been the work of the God of nature."Stephane approached him,and taking his hands murmured:
"Gilbert,Gilbert,let us fly--let us fly together!There is yet time!"But he only muttered:
"I see through it all!"Then turning to Vladimir he said in a tone of authority,"Follow me,sir!It is right that Count Kostia should receive your last breath."Vladimir reflected for a moment,then rising,said:
"You are right.I must see him again before I die;but give me your arm,for the poison begins to work and my legs are very weak."They began to walk,Stephane preceding them a few steps.At intervals,Vladimir would exclaim:
"To die--to breathe no more--no more to see the sun--no more to remember--to forget all!"And then he added,"One thing disturbs my happiness.I am not sufficiently revenged!"At last his voice died upon his lips and his legs failed him.
Gilbert was obliged to carry him on his shoulders,and was nearly giving out under the burden when he saw Father Alexis coming towards them breathless.He gave him no time to recover breath,but cried:
"Take this man by the feet.I will support his shoulders.
Forward!my good father,forward!We have no time to lose."Father Alexis hastened to comply with Gilbert's request,and they continued on their way with bowed heads and in gloomy silence.
Stephane alone,with her cap drawn over her eyes,occasionally uttered disconnected words and alternately cast a furtive glance at Gilbert,or gazed sadly at the moon.Arriving at the castle,they crossed the court and ascended the stairs without meeting anyone;but entering the vestibule of the first story,in which all the lamps were lighted,they heard a noise of steps in the corridor which led to the square tower.
"M.Leminof has returned,"said Gilbert,trembling."Father Alexis,carry this man to his room.I will go and speak to the Count,and will bring him to you in a moment."Then taking Stephane by the arm,he whispered to her:
"In the name of Heaven,keep out of the way.Go down on the terrace and conceal yourself.Your father must not see you until he has heard me.""Do you think I am afraid,then?"she replied,and escaping from him,darted off in the direction of the corridor.
Meanwhile Father Alexis had entered the room of Vladimir Paulitch,whom he sustained with difficulty in his trembling arms.At the moment he laid him upon his bed,a voice,which reached even to them,uttered these terrible words:
"Ah!this is braving me too much!Let her die!"Then a sharp cry pierced the air,followed by the dull noise of a body falling heavily upon the floor.
Father Alexis looked at Vladimir with horror."The mother was not enough,"cried he,"thou hast just killed the daughter!"And he sprang out of the room distracted.
Vladimir sat up.An atrocious joy gleamed in his face;and recovering the use of his speech,he murmured,"My vengeance is complete!"But at these words a groan escaped him--the poison began to burn his vitals.Nevertheless he forgot his sufferings when he saw the Count appear,followed by the priest,and holding in his hand a sword,which he threw in the corner.
"Count Kostia,"cried the dying man,"what have you done with your daughter?""I have killed her,"answered he sternly,questioning him with his eyes.
Vladimir remained silent a moment.
"My good master,"resumed he,"do you remember that Pauline whom Iloved?Do you also remember having seen me crouched at your feet crying,'Mercy!Mercy!for her and for me'?My good master,have you forgotten that corner of the street where you said to me one day:'This woman is charming;but if your marriage is not broken off before evening,to-morrow she will learn from me who you are'?
That day,Count Kostia Petrovitch,you had a happy and smiling air.
Say,Kostia Petrovitch,do you recollect it?"The Count answered only by a disdainful smile.
"Oh!most simple and most credulous of men,"continued Vladimir,"how could you think that I would empty the cup of sorrow and of shame to the very dregs,and not revenge myself upon him who smiled as he made me drink it.""Six months later,you saved my life,"said the Count,slightly shrugging his shoulders.