ferragus-第19章

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a　mother；　the　delicacy　of　an　angel！　All　the　woman　was　in　her　answer。

The　silence　lasted　long。　Jules；　thinking　her　asleep；　went　to　question
Josephine　as　to　her　mistress's　condition。

〃Madame　came　home　half…dead；　monsieur。　We　sent　at　once　for　Monsieur
Haudry。〃

〃Did　he　come？　What　did　he　say？〃

〃He　said　nothing；　monsieur。　He　did　not　seem　satisfied；　gave　orders
that　no　one　should　go　near　madame　except　the　nurse；　and　said　he　should
come　back　this　evening。〃

Jules　returned　softly　to　his　wife's　room　and　sat　down　in　a　chair
before　the　bed。　There　he　remained；　motionless；　with　his　eyes　fixed　on
those　of　Clemence。　When　she　raised　her　eyelids　she　saw　him；　and
through　those　lids　passed　a　tender　glance；　full　of　passionate　love；
free　from　reproach　and　bitterness；a　look　which　fell　like　a　flame　of
fire　upon　the　heart　of　that　husband；　nobly　absolved　and　forever　loved
by　the　being　whom　he　had　killed。　The　presentiment　of　death　struck　both
their　minds　with　equal　force。　Their　looks　were　blended　in　one　anguish；
as　their　hearts　had　long　been　blended　in　one　love；　felt　equally　by
both；　and　shared　equally。　No　questions　were　uttered；　a　horrible
certainty　was　there；in　the　wife　an　absolute　generosity；　in　the
husband　an　awful　remorse；　then；　in　both　souls　the　same　vision　of　the
end；　the　same　conviction　of　fatality。

There　came　a　moment　when；　thinking　his　wife　asleep；　Jules　kissed　her
softly　on　the　forehead；　then　after　long　contemplation　of　that
cherished　face；　he　said：

〃Oh　God！　leave　me　this　angel　still　a　little　while　that　I　may　blot　out
my　wrong　by　love　and　adoration。　As　a　daughter；　she　is　sublime；　as　a
wife；　what　word　can　express　her？〃

Clemence　raised　her　eyes；　they　were　full　of　tears。

〃You　pain　me；〃　she　said；　in　a　feeble　voice。

It　was　getting　late；　Doctor　Haudry　came；　and　requested　the　husband　to
withdraw　during　his　visit。　When　the　doctor　left　the　sick…room　Jules
asked　him　no　question；　one　gesture　was　enough。

〃Call　in　consultation　any　physician　in　whom　you　place　confidence；　I
may　be　wrong。〃

〃Doctor；　tell　me　the　truth。　I　am　a　man；　and　I　can　bear　it。　Besides；　I
have　the　deepest　interest　in　knowing　it；　I　have　certain　affairs　to
settle。〃

〃Madame　Jules　is　dying；〃　said　the　physician。　〃There　is　some　moral
malady　which　has　made　great　progress；　and　it　has　complicated　her
physical　condition；　which　was　already　dangerous；　and　made　still　more
so　by　her　great　imprudence。　To　walk　about　barefooted　at　night！　to　go
out　when　I　forbade　it！　on　foot　yesterday　in　the　rain；　to…day　in　a
carriage！　She　must　have　meant　to　kill　herself。　But　still；　my　judgment
is　not　final；　she　has　youth；　and　a　most　amazing　nervous　strength。　It
may　be　best　to　risk　all　to　win　all　by　employing　some　violent　reagent。
But　I　will　not　take　upon　myself　to　order　it；　nor　will　I　advise　it；　in
consultation　I　shall　oppose　it。〃

Jules　returned　to　his　wife。　For　eleven　days　and　eleven　nights　he
remained　beside　her　bed；　taking　no　sleep　during　the　day　when　he　laid
his　head　upon　the　foot　of　the　bed。　No　man　ever　pushed　the　jealousy　of
care　and　the　craving　for　devotion　to　such　an　extreme　as　he。　He　could
not　endure　that　the　slightest　service　should　be　done　by　others　for　his
wife。　There　were　days　of　uncertainty；　false　hopes；　now　a　little
better；　then　a　crisis；in　short；　all　the　horrible　mutations　of　death
as　it　wavers；　hesitates；　and　finally　strikes。　Madame　Jules　always
found　strength　to　smile　at　her　husband。　She　pitied　him；　knowing　that
soon　he　would　be　alone。　It　was　a　double　death；that　of　life；　that　of
love；　but　life　grew　feebler；　and　love　grew　mightier。　One　frightful
night　there　was；　when　Clemence　passed　through　that　delirium　which
precedes　the　death　of　youth。　She　talked　of　her　happy　love；　she　talked
of　her　father；　she　related　her　mother's　revelations　on　her　death…bed；
and　the　obligations　that　mother　had　laid　upon　her。　She　struggled；　not
for　life；　but　for　her　love　which　she　could　not　leave。

〃Grant；　O　God！〃　she　said；　〃that　he　may　not　know　I　want　him　to　die　with
me。〃

Jules；　unable　to　bear　the　scene；　was　at　that　moment　in　the　adjoining
room；　and　did　not　hear　the　prayer；　which　he　would　doubtless　have
fulfilled。

When　this　crisis　was　over；　Madame　Jules　recovered　some　strength。　The
next　day　she　was　beautiful　and　tranquil；　hope　seemed　to　come　to　her；
she　adorned　herself；　as　the　dying　often　do。　Then　she　asked　to　be　alone
all　day；　and　sent　away　her　husband　with　one　of　those　entreaties　made
so　earnestly　that　they　are　granted　as　we　grant　the　prayer　of　a　little
child。

Jules；　indeed；　had　need　of　this　day。　He　went　to　Monsieur　de　Maulincour
to　demand　the　satisfaction　agreed　upon　between　them。　It　was　not
without　great　difficulty　that　he　succeeded　in　reaching　the　presence　of
the　author　of　these　misfortunes；　but　the　vidame；　when　he　learned　that
the　visit　related　to　an　affair　of　honor；　obeyed　the　precepts　of　his
whole　life；　and　himself　took　Jules　into　the　baron's　chamber。

Monsieur　Desmarets　looked　about　him　in　search　of　his　antagonist。

〃Yes！　that　is　really　he；〃　said　the　vidame；　motioning　to　a　man　who　was
sitting　in　an　arm…chair　beside　the　fire。

〃Who　is　it？　Jules？〃　said　the　dying　man　in　a　broken　voice。

Auguste　had　lost　the　only　faculty　that　makes　us　livememory。　Jules
Desmarets　recoiled　with　horror　at　this　sight。　He　could　not　even
recognize　the　elegant　young　man　in　that　thing　withoutas　Bossuet
saida　name　in　any　language。　It　was；　in　truth；　a　corpse　with　whitened
hair；　its　bones　scarce　covered　with　a　wrinkled；　blighted；　withered
skin；a　corpse　with　white　eyes　motionless；　mouth　hideously　gaping；
like　those　of　idiots　or　vicious　men　killed　by　excesses。　No　trace　of
intelligence　remained　upon　that　brow；　nor　in　any　feature；　nor　was
there　in　that　flabby　flesh　either　color　or　the　faintest　appearance　of
circulating　blood。　Here　was　a　shrunken；　withered　creature　brought　to
the　state　of　those　monsters　we　see　preserved　in　museums；　floating　in
alchohol。　Jules　fancied　that　he　saw　above　that　face　the　terrible　head
of　Ferragus；　and　his　own　anger　was　silenced　by　such　a　vengeance。　The
husband　found　pity　in　his　heart　for　the　vacant　wreck　of　what　was　once
a　man。

〃The　duel　has　taken　place；〃　said　the　vidame。

〃But　he　has　killed　many；〃　answered　Jules；　sorrowfully。

〃And　many　dear　ones；〃　added　the　old　man。　〃His　grandmother　is　dying；
and　I　shall　follow　her　soon　into　the　grave。〃

On　the　morrow　of　this　day；　Madame　Jules　grew　worse　from　hour　to　hour。
She　used　a　moment's　strength　to　take　a　letter　from　beneath　her　pillow；
and　gave　it　eagerly　to　her　husband　with　a　sign　that　was　easy　to
understand；she　wished　to　give　him；　in　a　kiss；　her　last　breath。　He
took　it；　and　she　died。　Jules　fell　half…dead　himself　and　was　taken　to
his　brother's　house。　There；　as　he　deplored　in　tears　his　absence　of　the
day　before；　his　brother　told　him　that　this　separation　was　eagerly
desired　by　Clemence；　who　wished　to　spare　him　the　sight　of　the
religious　paraphernalia；　so　terrible　to　tender　imaginations；　which　the
Church　displays　when　conferring　the　last　sacraments　upon　the　dying。

〃You　could　not　have　borne　it；〃　said　his　brother。　〃I　could　hardly　bear
the　sight　myself；　and　all　the　servants　wept。　Clemence　was　like　a
saint。　She　gathered　strength　to　bid　us　all　good…bye；　and　that　voice；
heard　for　the　last　time；　rent　our　hearts。　When　she　asked　pardon　for
the　pain　she　might　unwillingly　have　caused　her　servants；　there　were
cries　and　sobs　and〃

〃Enough！　enough！〃　said　Jules。

He　wanted　to　be　alone；　that　he　might　read　the　last　words　of　the　woman
whom　all　had　loved；　and　who　had　passed　away　like　a　flower。

　　〃My　beloved；　this　is　my　last　will。　Why　should　we　not　make　wills
　　for　the　treasures　of　our　hearts；　as　for　our　worldly　property？　Was
　　not　my　love　my　property；　my　all？　I　mean　here　to　dispose　of　my
　　love：　it　was　the　only　fortune　of　your　Clemence；　and　it　is　all　that
　　she　can　leave　you　in　dying。　Jules；　you　love　me　still；　and　I　die
　　happy。　The　doctors　may　explain　my　death　as　they　think　best；　I
　　alone　know　the　true　cause。　I　shall　tell　it　to　you；　whatever　pain
　　it　may　cause　you。　I　cannot　carry　with　me；　in　a　heart　all　yours；　a
　　secret　which　you　do　not　share；　although　I　die　the　victim　of　an
　　enforced　silence。

　　〃Jules；　I　was　nurtured　and　brought　up　in　the　deepest　solitude；　far
　　from　the　vices　and　the　falsehoods　of　the　world；　by　the　loving
　　woman　whom　you　knew。　Society　did　justice　to　her　conventional
　　charm；　for　that　is　what　pleases　society；　but　I　knew　secretly　her
　　precious　soul；　I　could　cherish　the　mother　who　made　my　childhood　a
　　joy　without　bitterness；　and　I　knew　why　I　cherished　her。　Was　not
　　that　to　love　doubly？　Yes；　I　loved　her；　I　feared　her；　I　respected
　　her；　yet　nothing　oppressed　my　heart；　neither　fear　nor　respect。　I
　　was　all　in　all　to　her；　she　was　all　in　all　to　me。　For　nineteen
　　happy　years；　without　a　care；　my　soul；　solitary　amid　the　world
　　which　muttered　round　me；　reflected　only　her　pure　image；　my　heart
　　beat　for　her　and　through　her。　I　was　scrupulously　pious；　I　found
　　pleasure　in　being　innocent　before　God。　My　mother　cultivated　all
　　noble　and　self…respecting　sentiments　in　me。　Ah！　it　gives　me
　　happiness　to　tell　you；　Jules；　that　I　now　know　I　was　indeed　a　young
　　girl；　and　that　I　came　to　you　virgin　in　heart。

　　〃When　I　left　that　absolute　solitude；　when；　for　the　first　time；　I
　　braided　my　hair　and　crowned　it　with　almond　blossoms；　when　I　added；
　　with　delight；　a　few　satin　knots　to　my　white　dress；　thinking　of　the
　　world　I　was　to　see；　and　which　I　was　curious　to　seeJules；　that
　　innocent　and　modest　coquetry　was　done　for　you！　Yes；　as　I　entered
　　the　world；　I　saw　/you/　first　of　all。　Your　face；　I　remarked　it；　it
　　stood　out　from　the　rest；　your　person　pleased　me；　your　voice；　your
　　manners　all　inspired　me　with　pleasant　presentiments。　When　you　came
　　up；　when　you　spoke　to　me；　the　color　on　your　forehead；　the　tremble
　　in　your　voice；that　moment　gave　me　memories　with　which　I　throb　as
　　I　now　write　to　you；　as　I　now；　for　the　last　time；　think　of　them。
　　Our　love　was　at　first　the　keenest　of　sympathies；　but　it　was　soon
　　discovered　by　each　of　us　and　then；　as　speedily；　shared；　just　as；
　　in　after　times；　we　have　both　equally　felt　and　shared　innumerable
　　happinesses。　From　that　moment　my　mother　was　only　second　in　my
　　heart。　Next；　I　was　yours；　all　yours。　There　is　my　life；　and　all　my
　　life；　dear　husband。

　　〃And　here　is　what　remains　for　me　to　tell　you。　One　evening；　a　few
　　days　before　my　mother's　death；　she　revealed　to　me　the　secret　of
　　her　life；not　without　burning　tears。　I　have　loved　you　better
　　since　the　day　I　learned　from　the　priest　as　he　absolved　my　mother
　　that　there　are　passions　condemned　by　the　world　and　by　the　Church。
　　But　surely　God　will　not　be　severe　when　they　are　the　sins　of　souls
　　as　tender　as　that　of　my　mother；　only；　that　dear　woman　could　never
　　bring　herself　to　repent。　She　loved　much；　Jules；　she　was　all　love。
　　So　I　have　prayed　daily　for　her；　but　never　judged　her。

　　〃That　night　I　learned　the　cause　of　her　deep　maternal　tenderness；
　　then　I　also　learned　that　there　was　in　Paris　a　man　whose　life　and
　　whose　love　centred　on　me；　that　your　fortune　was　his　doing；　and
　　that　he　loved　you。　I　learned　also　that　he　was　exiled　from　society
　　and　bore　a　tarnished　name；　but　that　he　was　more　unhappy　for　me；