nisida-第6章

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our　home；　and　of　paying　infamous　assassins　to　come　and　share　an　old
man's　bread　so　as　to　poison　his　daughter；　of　stealing　by　night；　like
a　brigand；　armed　with　a　dagger；　into　my　sister's　room；　and　of　being
let　off　by　marrying　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　kingdom！〃

The　prince　made　a　movement。

〃Listen；〃　continued　Gabriel：　〃I　could　break　you　as　I　broke　your
dagger　just　now；　but　I　have　pity　on　you。　　I　see　that　you　can　do
nothing　with　your　hands；　neither　defend　yourself　nor　work。　　Go；　I
begin　to　understand；　you　are　a　braggart；　my　fine　sir；　your　poverty　is
usurped；　you　have　decked　yourself　in　these　poor　clothes；　but　you　are
unworthy　of　them。〃

He　suffered　a　glance　of　crushing　contempt　to　fall　upon　the　prince；
then　going　to　a　cupboard　hidden　in　the　wall；　he　drew　out　a　rifle　and
an　axe。

〃Here；〃　said　he；　〃are　all　the　weapons　in　the　house；　choose。〃

A　flash　of　joy　illuminated　the　countenance　of　the　prince；　who　had
hitherto　suppressed　his　rage。　　He　seized　the　rifle　eagerly；　drew
three　steps　backward；　and　drawing　himself　up　to　his　full　height；
said；　〃You　would　have　done　better　to　lend　me　this　weapon　at　the
beginning；　for　then　I　would　have　been　spared　from　witnessing　your
silly　vapourings　and　frantic　convulsions。　　Thanks；　young…man；　one　of
my　servants　will　bring　you　back　your　gun。　　Farewell。〃

And　he　threw　him　his　purse；　which　fell　heavily　at　the　fisherman's
feet。

〃I　lent　you　that　rifle　to　fight　with　me；〃　cried　Gabriel；　whom
surprise　had　rooted　to　the　spot。

〃Move　aside；　my　lad；　you　are　out　of　your　senses；〃　said　the　prince；
taking　a　step　towards　the　door。

〃So　you　refuse　to　defend　yourself？〃　asked　Gabriel　in　a　determined
voice。

〃I　have　told　you　already　that　I　cannot　fight　with　you。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　such　is　the　will　of　God；　because　you　were　born　to　crawl　and
I　to　trample　you　under　my　feet；　because　all　the　blood　that　I　could
shed　in　this　island　would　not　purchase　one　drop　of　my　blood；　because
a　thousand　lives　of　wretches　like　you　are　not　equal　to　one　hour　of
mine；　because　you　will　kneel　at　my　name　that　I；　am　now　going　to
utter；　because；　in　short；　you　are　but　a　poor　fisherman　and　my　name　is
Prince　of　Brancaleone。〃

At　this　dreaded　name；　which　the　young　nobleman　flung；　like　a
thunderbolt；　at　his　head；　the　fisherman　bounded　like　a　lion。　　He　drew
a　deep　breath；　as　though　he　had　lifted　a　weight　that　had　long　rested
on　his　heart。

〃Ah！〃　he　cried；　〃you　have　given　yourself　into　my　hands；　my　lord！
Between　the　poor　fisherman　and　the　all…powerful　prince　there　is　a
debt　of　blood。　　You　shall　pay　for　yourself　and　for　your　father。　　We
are　going　to　settle　our　accounts；　your　excellency；〃　he　added；　rising
his　axe　over　the　head　of　the　prince；　who　was　aiming　at　him。　　〃Oh！
you　were　in　too　great　haste　to　choose：　the　rifle　is　not　loaded。〃　　The
prince　turned　pale。

〃Between　our　two　families；〃　Gabriel　continued；　〃there　exists　a
horrible　secret　which　my　mother　confided　to　me　on　the　brink　of　the
grave；　of　which　my　father　himself　is　unaware；　and　that　no　man　in　the
world　must　learn。　　You　are　different；　you　are　going　to　die。〃

He　dragged　him　into　the　space　outside　the　house。

〃Do　you　know　why　my　sister；　whom　you　wished　to　dishonour；　was　vowed
to　the　Madonna？　　Because　your　father；　like　you；　wished　to　dishonour
my　mother。　　In　your　accursed　house　there　is　a　tradition　of　infamy。
You　do　not　know　what　slow　and　terrible　torments　my　poor　mother
endured…torments　that　broke　her　strength　and　caused　her　to　die　in
early　youth；　and　that　her　angelic　soul　dared　confide　to　none　but　her
son　in　that　supreme　hour　and　in　order　to　bid　me　watch　over　my
sister。〃

The　fisherman　wiped　away　a　burning　tear。　　〃One　day；　before　we　were
born；　a　fine　lady；　richly　dressed；　landed　in　our　island　from　a
splendid　boat；　she　asked　to　see　my　mother；　who　was　as　young　and
beautiful　as　my　Nisida　is　to…day。　　She　could　not　cease　from　admiring
her；　she　blamed　the　blindness　of　fate　which　had　buried　this　lovely
jewel　in　the　bosom　of　an　obscure　island；　she　showered　praises；
caresses；　and　gifts　upon　my　mother；　and　after　many　indirect　speeches；
finally　asked　her　parents　for　her；　that　she　might　make　her　her　lady…
in…waiting。　　The　poor　people；　foreseeing　in　the　protection　of　so
great　a　lady　a　brilliant　future　for　their　daughter；　were　weak　enough
to　yield。　　That　lady　was　your　mother；　and　do　you　know　why　she　came
thus　to　seek　that　poor　innocent　maiden？　　Because　your　mother　had　a
lover；　and　because　she　wished　to　make　sure；　in　this　infamous　manner；
of　the　prince's　indulgence。〃

〃Silence；　wretch！〃

〃Oh；　your　excellency　will　hear　me　out。　　At　the　beginning；　my　poor
mother　found　herself　surrounded　by　the　tenderest　care：　the　princess
could　not　be　parted　from　her　for　a　moment；　the　most　flattering　words；
the　finest　clothes；　the　richest　ornaments　were　hers；　the　servants
paid　her　as　much　respect　as　though　she　were　a　daughter　of　the　house。
When　her　parents　went　to　see　her　and　to　inquire　whether　she　did　not
at　all　regret　having　left　them；　they　found　her　so　lovely　and　so
happy；　that　they　blessed　the　princess　as　a　good　angel　sent　them　from
God。　　Then　the　prince　conceived　a　remarkable　affection　for　my　mother；
little　by　little　his　manners　became　more　familiar　and　affectionate。
At　last　the　princess　went　away　for　a　few　days；　regretting　that　she
could　not　take　with　her　her　dear　child；　as　she　called　her。　　Then　the
prince's　brutality　knew　no　further　barriers；　he　no　longer　concealed
his　shameful　plans　of　seduction；　he　spread　before　the　poor　girl's
eyes　pearl　necklaces　and　caskets　of　diamonds；　he　passed　from　the　most
glowing　passion　to　the　blackest　fury；　from　the　humblest　prayers　to
the　most　horrible　threats。　　The　poor　child　was　shut　up　in　a　cellar
where　there　was　hardly　a　gleam　of　daylight；　and　every　morning　a
frightful　gaoler　came　and　threw　her　a　bit　of　black　bread；　repeating
with　oaths　that　it　only　depended　upon　herself　to　alter　all　this　by
becoming　the　prince's　mistress。　　This　cruelty　continued　for　two
years。　　The　princess　had　gone　on　a　long　journey；　and　my　mother's　poor
parents　believed　that　their　daughter　was　still　happy　with　her
protectress。　　On　her　return；　having；　no　doubt　fresh　sins　for　which
she　needed　forgiveness；　she　took　my　mother　from　her　dungeon；　assumed
the　liveliest　indignation　at　this　horrible　treatment；　about　which　she
appeared　to　have　known　nothing；　wiped　her　tears；　and　by　an　abominable
refinement　of　perfidy　received　the　thanks　of　the　victim　whom　she　was
about　to　sacrifice。

One　eveningI　have　just　finished；　my　lordthe　princess　chose　to　sup
alone　with　her　lady…in…waiting：　the　rarest　fruits；　the　most　exquisite
dishes；　and　the　most　delicate　wines　were　served　to　my　poor　mother；
whose　prolonged　privations　had　injured　her　health　and　weakened　her
reason；　she　gave　way　to　a　morbid　gaiety。　　Diabolical　philtres　were
poured　into　her　cup；　that　is　another　tradition　in　your　family。　　My
mother　felt　uplifted；　her　eyes　shone　with　feverish　brilliance；　her
cheeks　were　on　fire。　　Then　the　prince　came　inoh！　your　excellency
will　see　that　God　protects　the　poor。　　My　darling　mother；　like　a
frightened　dove；　sheltered　herself　in　the　bosom　of　the　princess；　who
pushed　her　away；　laughing。　　The　poor　distraught　girl；　trembling；
weeping；　knelt　down　in　the　midst　of　that　infamous　room。　　It　was　St。
Anne's　Day；　all　at　once　the　house　shook；　the　walls　cracked；　cries　of
distress　rang　out　in　the　streets。　　My　mother　was　saved。　　It　was　the
earthquake　that　destroyed　half　Naples。　　You　know　all　about　it；　my
lord；　since　your　old　palace　is　no　longer　habitable。〃

〃What　are　you　driving　at？　〃　cried　Brancaleone　in　terrible　agitation。

〃Oh；　I　merely　wish　to　persuade　you　that　you　must　fight　with　me；〃
answered　the　fisherman　coldly；　as　he　offered　him　a　cartridge。　　〃And
now；〃　he　added；　in　an　excited　tone；　〃say　your　prayers；　my　lord；　for　I
warn　you；　you　will　die　by　my　hand；　justice　must　be　done。〃

The　prince　carefully　examined　the　powder　and　shot；　made　sure　that　his
rifle　was　in　good　condition；　loaded　it；　and；　eager　to　make　an　end；
took　aim　at　the　fisherman；　but；　either　because　he　had　been　so　much
disturbed　by　his　opponent's　terrible　tale；　or；　because　the　grass　was
wet　from　the　storm；　at　the　moment　when　he　put　forward　his　left　foot
to　steady　his　shot；　he　slipped；　lost　his　balance　and　fell　on　one
knee。　　He　fired　into　the　air。

〃That　does　not　count；　my　lord；〃　cried　Gabriel　instantly；　and　handed
him　a　second　charge。

At　the　noise　of　the　report　Solomon　had　appeared　at　the　window；　and；
understanding　what　was　going　on；　had　lifted　his　hands　to　heaven；　in
order　to　address　to　God　a　dumb　and　fervent　prayer。　　Eligi　uttered　a
frightful　inprecation；　and　hastily　reloaded　his　rifle；　but；　struck　by
the　calm　confidence　of　the　young　man；　who　stood　motionless　before
him；　and　by　the　old　man；　who；　impassive　and　undisturbed；　seemed　to　be
conjuring　God　in　the　name　of　a　father's　authority；　disconcerted　by
his　fall；　his　knees　shaking　and　his　arm　jarred；　he　felt　the　chills　of
death　running　in　his　veins。　　Attempting；　nevertheless；　to　master　his
emotion；　he　took　aim　a　second　time；　the　bullet　whistled　by　the
fisherman's　ear　and　buried　itself　in　the　stem　of　a　poplar。

The　prince；　with　the　energy　of　despair；　seized　the　barrel　of　his
weapon　in　both　hands；　but　Gabriel　was　coming　forward　with　his　axe；　a
terrible　foe；　and　his　first　stroke　carried　away　the　butt　of　the
rifle。　　He　was　still　hesitating；　however；　to　kill　a　defenceless　man；
when　two　armed　servants　appeared　at　the　end　of　the　pathway。　　Gabriel
did　not　see　them　coming；　but　at　the　moment　when　they　would　have
seized　him　by　the　shoulders；　Solomon　uttered　a　cry　and　rushed　to　his
son's　assistance。

〃Help；　Numa！　help；　Bonaroux！　　Death　to　the　ruffians！　　They　want　to
murder　me。〃

〃You　lie；　Prince　of　Brancaleone！〃　cried　Gabriel；　and　with　one　blow　of
the　axe　he　cleft　his　skull。

The　two　bravoes　who　were　coming　to　their　master's　assistance；　when
they　saw　him　fall；　took　flight；　Solomon　and　his　son　went　up　to
Nisida's　room。　　The　young　girl　had　just　shaken　off　her　heavy　slumber；
a　slight　perspiration　moistened　her　brow；　and　she　opened　her　eyes
slowly　to　the　dawning　day。

〃Why　are　you　looking　at　me　in　that　way；　father？〃　she　said；　her　mind
still　wandering　a　littler　and　she　passed　her　hand　over　her　forehead。

The　old　man　embraced　her　tenderly。

〃You　have　just　passed　through　a　great　danger；　my　poor　Nisida；〃　said
he；　〃arise；　and　let　us　give　thanks　to　the　Madonna。〃

Then　all　three；　kneeling　before　the　sacred　image　of　the　Virgin；　began
to　recite　litanies。　　But　at　that　very　instant　a　noise　of　arms　sounded
in　the　enclosure；　the　house　was　surrounded　by　soldiers；　and　a
lieutenant　of　gendarmes；　seizing　Gabriel；　said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃In
the　name　of　the　law；　I　arrest　you　for　the　murder　that　you　have　just
committed　upon　the　person　of　his　excellency　and　illustrious　lordship；
the　Prince　of　Brancaleone。〃

Nisida；　struck　by　these　words；　remained　pale　and　motionless　like　a
marble　statue　kneeling　on　a　tomb；　Gabriel　was　already　preparing　to
make　an　unreasoning　resistance；　when　a　gesture　from　his　father
stopped　him。

〃Signor　tenente；〃　said　the　old　man；　addressing　himself　to　the
officer；　〃my　son　killed　the　prince　in　lawful　defence；　for　the　latter
had　scaled　our　house　and　made　his　way　in　at　nig