nisida-第5章

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〃or；　by　my　father's　death；　I　will　cure　you；　once　for　all；　of　your
scruples。〃　　And　he　turned　on　his　heel　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　is
certain　that　people　will　be　very　careful　not　to　disobey　his　orders。

The　unhappy　Trespolo　fulfilled　his　master's　injunctions　punctually。
With　him　fear　was　the　guiding　principle。　　That　evening　the
fisherman's　supper　table　was　hopelessly　dull；　and　the　sham　pilgrim
tried　in　vain　to　enliven　it　by　factitious　cheerfulness。　　Nisida　was
preoccupied　by　her　lover's　departure；　and　Solomon；　sharing
unconsciously　in　his　daughter's　grief；　swallowed　but　a　drop　or　two　of
wine；　to　avoid　resisting　the　repeated　urgency　of　his　guest。　　Gabriel
had　set　out　in　the　morning　for　Sorrento　and　was　not　to　return　for　two
or　three　days；　his　absence　tended　to　increase　the　old　man's
melancholy。　　As　soon　as　Trespolo　had　retired；　the　fisherman　yielded
to　his　fatigue。　　Nisida；　with　her　arms　hanging　by　her　sides；　her　head
heavy　and　her　heart　oppressed　by　a　sad　presentiment；　had　scarcely
strength　to　go　up　to　her　room；　and　after　having　mechanically　trimmed
the　lamp；　sank　on　her　bed　as　pale　and　stiff　as　a　corpse。

The　storm　was　breaking　out　with　violence；　one　of　those　terrible
storms　seen　only　in　the　South；　when　the　congregated　clouds；　parting
suddenly；　shed　torrents　of　rain　and　of　hail；　and　threaten　another
deluge。　　The　roar　of　the　thunder　drew　nearer　and　was　like　the　noise
of　a　cannonade。　　The　gulf；　lately　so　calm　and　smooth　that　the　island
was　reflected　as　in　a　mirror；　had　suddenly　darkened；　the　furiously
leaping　waves　flung　themselves　together　like　wild　horses；　the　island
quaked；　shaken　by　terrible　shocks。　　Even　the　boldest　fishermen　had
drawn　their　boats　ashore；　and；　shut　within　their　cabins；　encouraged
as　best　they　could　their　frightened　wives　and　children。

Amid　the　deep　darkness　that　overspread　the　sea　Nisida's　lamp　could　be
seen　gleaming　clear　and　limpid；　as　it　burned　before　the　Madonna。　　Two
boats；　without　rudders；　sails；　or　oars；　tossed　by　the　waves；　beaten
by　the　winds；　were　whirling　above　the　abyss；　two　men　were　in　these
two　boats；　their　muscles　tense；　their　breasts　bare；　their　hair
flying。　　They　gazed　haughtily　on　the　sea；　and　braved　the　tempest。

〃Once　more；　I　beg　you；〃　cried　one　of　these　men；　〃fear　not　for　me；
Gabriel；　I　promise　you　that　with　my　two　broken　oars　and　a　little
perseverance　I　shall　get　to　Torre　before　daybreak。〃

〃You　are　mad；　Bastiano；　we　have　not　been　able　ever　since　the　morning
to　get　near　Vico；　and　have　been　obliged　to　keep　tacking　about；　your
skill　and　strength　have　been　able　to　do　nothing　against　this
frightful　hurricane　which　has　driven　us　back　to　this　point。〃

〃It　is　the　first　time　you　have　ever　refused　to　go　with　me；〃　remarked
the　young　man。

〃Well；　yes；　my　dear　Bastiano；　I　do　not　know　how　it　is；　but　to…night　I
feel　drawn　to　the　island　by　an　irresistible　power。　　The　winds　have
been　unchained　to　bring　me　back　to　it　in　spite　of　myself；　and　I　will
own　to　you；　even　though　it　should　make　me　seem　like　a　madman　in　your
eyes；　that　this　simple　and　ordinary　event　appears　to　me　like　an　order
from　heaven。　　Do　you　see　that　lamp　shining　over　there？〃

〃I　know　it；〃　answered　Bastiano；　suppressing　a　sigh。

〃It　was　lighted　before　the　Virgin　one　the　day　when　my　sister　was
born；　and　for　eighteen　year　it　has　never　ceased　to　burn；　night　and
day。　　It　was　my　mother's　vow。　　You　do　not　know；　my　dear　Bastiano；　you
cannot　know　how　many　torturing　thoughts　that　vow　recalls　to　me。　　My
poor　mother　called　me　to　her　deathbed　and　told　me　a　frightful　tale；　a
horrible　secret；　which　weighs　on　my　soul　like　a　cloak　of　lead；　and　of
which　I　can　only　relieve　myself　by　confiding　it　to　a　friend。　　When
her　painful　story　was　ended　she　asked　to　see　and　to　embrace　my
sister；　who　was　just　born；　then　with　her　trembling　hand；　already
chilled　by　the　approach　of　death；　she　desired　to　light　the　lamp
herself。　　'Remember；'　these　were　her　last　words；　'remember；　Gabriel；
that　your　sister　is　vowed　to　the　Madonna。　　As　long　as　this　light
shines　before　the　blessed　image　of　the　Virgin；　your　sister　will　be　in
no　danger。'　　You　can　understand　now　why；　at　night；　when　we　are
crossing　the　gulf；　my　eyes　are　always　fixed　on　that　lamp。　　I　have　a
belief　that　nothing　could　shake；　which　is　that　on　the　day　that　light
goes　out　my　sister's　soul　will　have　taken　flight　to　heaven。〃

〃Well；〃　cried　Bastiano　in　an　abrupt　tone　that　betrayed　the　emotion　of
his　heart；　〃if　you　prefer　to　stay；　I　will　go　alone。〃

〃Farewell；〃　said　Gabriel；　without　turning　aside　his　eyes　from　the
window　towards　which　he　felt　himself　drawn　by　a　fascination　for　which
he　could　not　account。　　Bastiano　disappeared；　and　Nisida's　brother；
assisted　by　the　waves；　was　drawing　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　shore；
when；　at　all　once；　he　uttered　a　terrible　cry　which　sounded　above　the
noise　of　the　tempest。

The　star　had　just　been　extinguished；　the　lamp　had　been　blown　out。

〃My　sister　is　dead！〃　cried　Gabriel　and；　leaping　into　the　sea；　he
cleft　the　waves　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning。

The　storm　had　redoubled　its　intensity；　long　lines　of　lightning；
rending　the　sides　of　the　clouds；　bathed　everything　in　their　tawny　and
intermittent　light。　　The　fisherman　perceived　a　ladder　leaning　against
the　front　of　his　home；　seized　it　with　a　convulsive　hand；　and　in　three
bounds　flung　himself　into　the　room。　　The　prince　felt　himself
strangely　moved　on　making　his　way　into　this　pure　and　silent　retreat。
The　calm　and　gentle　gaze　of　the　Virgin　who　seemed　to　be　protecting
the　rest　of　the　sleeping　girl；　that　perfume　of　innocence　shed　around
the　maidenly　couch；　that　lamp；　open…eyed　amid　the　shadows；　like　a
soul　in　prayer；　had　inspired　the　seducer　with　an　unknown　distress。
Irritated　by　what　he　called　an　absurd　cowardice；　he　had　extinguished
the　obtrusive　light；　and　was　advancing　towards　the　bed；　and
addressing　unspoken　reproaches　to　himself；　when　Gabriel　swooped　upon
him　with　a　wounded　tiger's　fierce　gnashing　of　the　teeth。

Brancaleone；　by　a　bold　and　rapid　movement　that　showed　no　common
degree　of　skill　and　bravery；　while　struggling　in　the　grasp　of　his
powerful　adversary；　drew　forth　in　his　right　hand　a　long　dagger　with　a
fine　barbed　blade。　　Gabriel　smiled　scornfully；　snatched　the　weapon
from　him；　and　even　as　he　stooped　to　break　it　across　his　knee；　gave
the　prince　a　furious　blow　with　his　head　that　made　him　stagger　and
sent　him　rolling　on　the　floor；　three　paces　away；　then；　leaning　over
his　poor　sister　and　gazing　on　her　with　hungry　eyes；　by　the　passing
gleam　of　a　flash；　〃Dead！〃　he　repeated；　wringing　his　arms　in　despair；
〃dead！〃

In　the　fearful　paroxysm　that　compressed　his　throat　he　could　find　no
other　words　to　assuage　his　rage　or　to　pour　forth　his　woe。　　His　hair；
which　the　storm　had　flattened；　rose　on　his　head；　the　marrow　of　his
bones　was　chilled；　and　he　felt　his　tears　rush　back　upon　his　heart。
It　was　a　terrible　moment；　he　forgot　that　the　murderer　still　lived。

The　prince；　however；　whose　admirable　composure　did　not　for　a　moment
desert　him；　had　risen；　bruised　and　bleeding。　　Pale　and　trembling　with
rage；　he　sought　everywhere　for　a　weapon　with　which　to　avenge　himself。
Gabriel　returned　towards　him　gloomier　and　more　ominous　than　ever；　and
grasping　his　neck　with　an　iron　hand；　dragged　him　into　the　room　where
the　old　man　was　sleeping。

〃Father！　　father！　　father！〃　he　cried　in　a　piercing　voice；　〃here　is
the　Bastard　who　Has　just　murdered　Nisida！〃

The　old　man；　who　had　drunk　but　a　few　drops　of　the　narcotic　potion；
was　awakened　by　this　cry　which　echoed　through　his　soul；　he　arose　as
though　moved　by　a　spring；　flung　off　his　coverings；　and　with　that
promptitude　of　action　that　God　has　bestowed　upon　mothers　in　moments
of　danger；　event　up　to　his　daughter's　room；　found　a　light；　knelt　on
the　edge　of　the　bed；　and　began　to　test　his　child's　pulse　and　watch
her　breathing　with　mortal　anxiety。

All！　this　had　passed　in　less　time　than　we　have　taken　in　telling　it。
Brancaleone　by　an　unheard…of　effort　had　freed　himself　from　the　hands
of　the　young　fisherman；　and　suddenly　resuming　his　princely　pride；
said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃You　shall　not　kill　me　without　listening　to
me。〃

Gabriel　would　have　overwhelmed　him　with　Bitter　reproaches；　but；
unable　to　utter　a　single　word；　he　burst　into　tears。

〃Your　sifter　is　not　dead；〃　said　the　prince；　with　cold　dignity；　〃she
is　merely　asleep。　　You　can　assure　yourself　of　it；　and　meanwhile　I
undertake；　upon　my　Honour；　not　to　move　a　single　step　away。〃

These　words　were　pronounced　with　such　an　accent　of　truth　that　the
fisherman　was　struck　by　them。　　An　unexpected　gleam　of　hope　suddenly
dawned　in　his　thoughts；　he　cast　upon　the　stranger　a　glance　of　hate
and　distrust；　and　muttered　in　a　muffled　voice；　〃Do　not　flatter
yourself；　in　any　case；　that　you　will　be　able　to　escape　me。〃

Then　he　went　up　to　his　sister's　room；　and　approaching　the　old　man；
asked　tremblingly；　〃Well；　father？〃

Solomon　thrust　him　gently　aside　with　the　solicitude　of　a　mother
removing　some　buzzing　insect　from　her　child's　cradle；　and；　making　a
sign　to　enjoin　silence；　added　in　a　low　voice；　〃She　is　neither　dead
nor　poisoned。　　Some　philtre　has　been　given　to　her　for　a　bad　purpose。
Her　breathing　is　even；　and　she　cannot　fail　to　recover　from　her
lethargy。〃

Gabriel；　reassured　about　Nisida's　life；　returned　silently　to　the
ground　floor　where　he　had　left　the　seducer。　　His　manner　was　grave　and
gloomy；　he　was　coming　now　not　to　rend　the　murderer　of　his　sister　with
his　hands；　but　to　elucidate　a　treacherous　and　infamous　mystery；　and
to　avenge　his　honour　which　had　been　basely　attacked。　　He　opened　wide
the　double　entrance　door　that　admitted　daylight　to　the　apartment　in
which；　on　the　few　nights　that　he　spent　at　home；　he　was　accustomed　to
sleep　with　his　father。　　The　rain　had　just　stopped；　a　ray　of　moonlight
pierced　the　clouds；　and　all　at　once　made　its　way　into　the　room。　　The
fisherman　adjusted　his　dripping　garments；　walked　towards　the
stranger；　who　awaited　him　without　stirring；　and　after　having　gazed
upon　him　haughtily；　said；　〃Now　you　are　going　to　explain　your　presence
in　our　house。〃

〃I　confess；〃　said　the　prince；　in　an　easy　tone　and　with　the　most
insolent　assurance；　〃that　appearances　are　against　me。　　It　is　the　fate
of　lovers　to　be　treated　as　thieves。　　But　although　I　have　not　the
advantage　of　being　known　to　you；　I　am　betrothed　to　the　fair　Nisida
with　your　father's　approval；　of　course。　　Now；　as　I　have　the
misfortune　to　possess　very　hardhearted　parents；　they　have　had　the
cruelty　to　refuse　me　their　consent。　　Love　led　me　astray；　and　I　was
about　to　be　guilty　of　a　fault　for　which　a　young　man　like　you　ought　to
have　some　indulgence。　　Furthermore；　it　was　nothing　but　a　mere　attempt
at　an　abduction；　with　the　best　intentions　in　the　world；　I　swear；　and
I　am　ready　to　atone　for　everything　if　you　will　agree　to　give　me　your
hand　and　call　me　your　brother。〃

〃I　will　agree　to　call　you　a　coward　and　a　betrayer！〃　replied　Gabriel；
whose　face　had　begun　to　glow；　as　he　heard　his　sister　spoken　of　with
such　impudent　levity。　　〃If　it　is　thus　that　insults　are　avenged　in
towns；　we　fishers　have　a　different　plan。　　Ah！　so　you　flattered
yourself　with　the　thought　of　bringing　desolation　aid　disgrace　into
our　home；　and　of　paying　infamous　assassins　to　come　and　share　an　old
man's　bread　so　as