the notch on the ax and on being found out-第44章

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spied　the　shuddering　wretch　in　his　cell。　　She　described　the　street；
the　gate；　the　convent；　the　very　dress　which　he　wore；　and　which　you
saw　to…day。

〃And　now　THIS　is　what　happened。　　In　his　chamber　in　the　Rue　St。
Honore；　at　Paris；　sat　a　man　ALONEa　man　who　has　been　maligned；　a
man　who　has　been　called　a　knave　and　charlatan；　a　man　who　has　been
persecuted　even　to　the　death；　it　is　said；　in　Roman　Inquisitions；
forsooth；　and　elsewhere。　　Ha！　ha！　　A　man　who　has　a　mighty　will。

〃And　looking　toward　the　Jacobins　Convent　（of　which；　from　his
chamber；　he　could　see　the　spires　and　trees）；　this　man　WILLED。　　And
it　was　not　yet　dawn。　　And　he　willed；　and　one　who　was　lying　in　his
cell　in　the　convent　of　Jacobins；　awake　and　shuddering　with　terror
for　a　crime　which　he　had　committed；　fell　asleep。

〃But　though　he　was　asleep　his　eyes　were　open。

〃And　after　tossing　and　writhing；　and　clinging　to　the　pallet；　and
saying　'No；　I　will　not　go；'　he　rose　up　and　donned　his　clothesa
gray　coat；　a　vest　of　white　pique；　black　satin　small…clothes；　ribbed
silk　stockings；　and　a　white　stock　with　a　steel　buckle；　and　he
arranged　his　hair；　and　he　tied　his　queue；　all　the　while　being　in
that　strange　somnolence　which　walks；　which　moves；　which　FLIES
sometimes；　which　sees；　which　is　indifferent　to　pain；　which　OBEYS。
And　he　put　on　his　hat；　and　he　went　forth　from　his　cell：　and　though
the　dawn　was　not　yet；　he　trod　the　corridors　as　seeing　them。　　And　he
passed　into　the　cloister；　and　then　into　the　garden　where　lie　the
ancient　dead。　　And　he　came　to　the　wicket；　which　Brother　Jerome　was
opening　just　at　the　dawning。　　And　the　crowd　was　already　waiting
with　their　cans　and　bowls　to　receive　the　alms　of　the　good　brethren。

〃And　he　passed　through　the　crowd　and　went　on　his　way；　and　the　few
people　then　abroad　who　marked　him；　said；　'Tiens！　　How　very　odd　he
looks！　　He　looks　like　a　man　walking　in　his　sleep！'　　This　was　said
by　various　persons：

〃By　milk　women；　with　their　cans　and　carts；　coming　into　the　town。

〃By　roysterers　who　had　been　drinking　at　the　taverns　of　the　Barrier；
for　it　was　Mid…Lent。

〃By　the　sergeants　of　the　watch；　who　eyed　him　sternly　as　he　passed
near　their　halberds。

〃But　he　passed　on　unmoved　by　their　halberds；

〃Unmoved　by　the　cries　of　the　roysterers；

〃By　the　market　women　coming　with　their　milk　and　eggs。

〃He　walked　through　the　Rue　St。　Honore；　I　say：

〃By　the　Rue　Rambuteau；

〃By　the　Rue　St。　Antoine；

〃By　the　King's　Chateau　of　the　Bastille；

〃By　the　Faubourg　St。　Antoine。

〃And　he　came　to　No。　29　in　the　Rue　Picpusa　house　which　then　stood
between　a　court　and　garden

〃That　is；　there　was　a　building　of　one　story；　with　a　great　coach
door。

〃Then　there　was　a　court；　around　which　were　stables；　coach…houses；
offices。

〃Then　there　was　a　housea　two…storied　house；　with　a　perron　in
front。

〃Behind　the　house　was　a　gardena　garden　of　two　hundred　and　fifty
French　feet　in　length。

〃And　as　one　hundred　feet　of　France　equal　one　hundred　and　six　feet
of　England；　this　garden；　my　friend；　equaled　exactly　two　hundred　and
sixty…five　feet　of　British　measure。

〃In　the　center　of　the　garden　was　a　fountain　and　a　statueor；　to
speak　more　correctly；　two　statues。　　One　was　recumbent；a　man。
Over　him；　saber　in　hand；　stood　a　Woman。

〃The　man　was　Olofernes。　　The　woman　was　Judith。　　From　the　head；　from
the　trunk；　the　water　gushed。　　It　was　the　taste　of　the　doctor：was
it　not　a　droll　of　taste？

〃At　the　end　of　the　garden　was　the　doctor's　cabinet　of　study。　　My
faith；　a　singular　cabinet；　and　singular　pictures！

〃Decapitation　of　Charles　Premier　at　Vitehall。

〃Decapitation　of　Montrose　at　Edimbourg。

〃Decapitation　of　Cinq　Mars。　　When　I　tell　you　that　he　was　a　man　of
taste；　charming！

〃Through　this　garden；　by　these　statues；　up　these　stairs；　went　the
pale　figure　of　him　who；　the　porter　said；　knew　the　way　of　the　house。
He　did。　　Turning　neither　right　nor　left；　he　seemed　to　walk　THROUGH
the　statues；　the　obstacles；　the　flower　beds；　the　stairs；　the　door；
the　tables；　the　chairs。

〃In　the　corner　of　the　room　was　THAT　INSTRUMENT；　which　Guillotin　had
just　invented　and　perfected。　　One　day　he　was　to　lay　his　own　head
under　his　own　ax。　　Peace　be　to　his　name！　　With　him　I　deal　not！

〃In　a　frame　of　mahogany；　neatly　worked；　was　a　board　with　a　half
circle　in　it；　over　which　another　board　fitted。　　Above　was　a　heavy
ax；　which　fellyou　know　how。　　It　was　held　up　by　a　rope；　and　when
this　rope　was　untied；　or　cut；　the　steel　fell。

〃To　the　story　which　I　now　have　to　relate；　you　may　give　credence；　or
not；　as　you　will。　　The　sleeping　man　went　up　to　that　instrument。

〃He　laid　his　head　in　it；　asleep。〃

〃Asleep？〃

〃He　then　took　a　little　penknife　out　of　the　pocket　of　his　white
dimity　waistcoat。

〃He　cut　the　rope　asleep。

〃The　ax　descended　on　the　head　of　the　traitor　and　villain。　　The
notch　in　it　was　made　by　the　steel　buckle　of　his　stock；　which　was
cut　through。

〃A　strange　legend　has　got　abroad　that　after　the　deed　was　done；　the
figure　rose；　took　the　head　from　the　basket；　walked　forth　through
the　garden；　and　by　the　screaming　porters　at　the　gate；　and　went　and
laid　itself　down　at　the　Morgue。　　But　for　this　I　will　not　vouch。
Only　of　this　be　sure。　　'There　are　more　things　in　heaven　and　earth；
Horatio；　than　are　dreamed　of　in　your　philosophy。'　　More　and　more
the　light　peeps　through　the　chinks。　　Soon；　amidst　music　ravishing；
the　curtain　will　rise；　and　the　glorious　scene　be　displayed。　　Adieu！
Remember　me。　　Ha！　'tis　dawn；〃　Pinto　said。　　And　he　was　gone。

I　am　ashamed　to　say　that　my　first　movement　was　to　clutch　the　check
which　he　had　left　with　me；　and　which　I　was　determined　to　present
the　very　moment　the　bank　opened。　　I　know　the　importance　of　these
things；　and　that　men　change　their　mind　sometimes。　　I　sprang　through
the　streets　to　the　great　banking　house　of　Manasseh　in　Duke　Street。
It　seemed　to　me　as　if　I　actually　flew　as　I　walked。　　As　the　clock
struck　ten　I　was　at　the　counter　and　laid　down　my　check。

The　gentleman　who　received　it；　who　was　one　of　the　Hebrew
persuasion；　as　were　the　other　two　hundred　clerks　of　the
establishment；　having　looked　at　the　draft　with　terror　in　his
countenance；　then　looked　at　me；　then　called　to　himself　two　of　his
fellow　clerks；　and　queer　it　was　to　see　all　their　aquiline　beaks
over　the　paper。

〃Come；　come！〃　said　I；　〃don't　keep　me　here　all　day。　　Hand　me　over
the　money；　short；　if　you　please！〃　for　I　was；　you　see；　a　little
alarmed；　and　so　determined　to　assume　some　extra　bluster。

〃Will　you　have　the　kindness　to　step　into　the　parlor　to　the
partners？〃　the　clerk　said；　and　I　followed　him。

〃What；　AGAIN？〃　shrieked　a　bald…headed；　red…whiskered　gentleman；
whom　I　knew　to　be　Mr。　Manasseh。　　〃Mr。　Salathiel；　this　is　too　bad！
Leave　me　with　this　gentleman；　S。〃　　And　the　clerk　disappeared。

〃Sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　know　how　you　came　by　this：　the　Count　de　Pinto
gave　it　you。　　It　is　too　bad！　　I　honor　my　parents；　I　honor　THEIR
parents；　I　honor　their　bills！　　But　this　one　of　grandma's　is　too
badit　is；　upon　my　word；　now！　　She've　been　dead　these　five…and…
thirty　years。　　And　this　last　four　months　she　has　left　her　burial
place　and　took　to　drawing　on　our　'ouse！　　It's　too　bad；　grandma；　it
is　too　bad！〃　and　he　appealed　to　me；　and　tears　actually　trickled
down　his　nose。

〃Is　it　the　Countess　Sidonia's　check　or　not？〃　I　asked；　haughtily。

〃But；　I　tell　you；　she's　dead！　　It's　a　shame！it's　a　shame！it　is；
grandmamma！〃　and　he　cried；　and　wiped　his　great　nose　in　his　yellow
pocket　handkerchief。　　〃Look　yearwill　you　take　pounds　instead　of
guineas？　　She's　dead；　I　tell　you！　　It's　no　go！　　Take　the　pounds
one　tausend　pound！ten　nice；　neat；　crisp　hundred…pound　notes；　and
go　away　vid　you；　do！〃

〃I　will　have　my　bond；　sir；　or　nothing；〃　I　said；　and　I　put　on　an
attitude　of　resolution　which　I　confess　surprised　even　myself。

〃Wery　veil；〃　he　shrieked；　with　many　oaths；　〃then　you　shall　have
notingha；　ha；　ha！noting　but　a　policeman！　　Mr。　Abednego；　call　a
policeman！　　Take　that；　you　humbug　and　impostor！〃　and　here　with　an
abundance　of　frightful　language　which　I　dare　not　repeat；　the
wealthy　banker　abused　and　defied　me。

Au　bout　du　compte；　what　was　I　to　do；　if　a　banker　did　not　choose　to
honor　a　check　drawn　by　his　dead　grandmother？　　I　began　to　wish　I　had
my　snuff…box　back。　　I　began　to　think　I　was　a　fool　for　changing　that
little　old…fashioned　gold　for
this　slip　of　strange　paper。

Meanwhile　the　banker　had　passed　from　his　fit　of　anger　to　a　paroxysm
of　despair。　　He　seemed　to　be　addressing　some　person　invisible；　but
in　the　room：　〃Look　here；　ma'am；　you've　really　been　coming　it　too
strong。　　A　hundred　thousand　in　six　months；　and　now　a　thousand　more！
The　'ouse　can't　stand　it；　it　WON'T　stand　it；　I　say！　　What？　　Oh！
mercy；　mercy！

As　he　uttered　these　words；　A　HAND　fluttered　over　the　table　in　the
air！　　It　was　a　female　hand：　that　which　I　had　seen　the　night　before。
That　female　hand　took　a　pen　from　the　green　baize　table；　dipped　it
in　a　silver　inkstand；　and　wrote　on　a　quarter　of　a　sheet　of　foolscap
on　the　blotting　book；　〃How　about　the　diamond　robbery？　　If　you　do
not　pay；　I　will　tell　him　where　they　are。〃

What　diamonds？　what　robbery？　what　was　this　mystery？　　That　will
never　be　ascertained；　for　the　wretched　man's　demeanor　instantly
changed。　　〃Certainly；　sir；oh；　certainly；〃　he　said；　forcing　a
grin。　　〃How　will　you　have　the　money；　sir？　　All　right；　Mr。　Abednego。
This　way　out。〃

〃I　hope　I　shall　often　see　you　again；〃　I　said；　on　which　I　own　poor
Manasseh　gave　a　dreadful　grin；　and　shot　back　into　his　parlor。

I　ran　home；　clutching　the　ten　delicious；　crisp　hundred　pounds；　and
the　dear　little　fifty　which　made　up　the　account。　　I　flew　through
the　streets　again。　　I　got　to　my　chambers。　　I　bolted　the　outer
doors。　　I　sank　back　in　my　great　chair；　and　slept。　。　。　。

My　first　thing　on　waking　was　to　feel　for　my　money。　　Perdition！
Where　was　I？　　Ha！on　the　table　before　me　was　my　grandmother's
snuff…box；　and　by　its　side　one　of　those　awfulthose　admirable
sensation　novels；　which　I　had　been　reading；　and　which　are　full　of
delicious　wonder。

But　that　the　guillotine　is　still　to　be　seen　at　Mr。　Gale's；　No。　47；
High　Holborn；　I　give　you　MY　HONOR。　　I　suppose　I　was　dreaming　about
it。　　I　don't　know。　　What　is　dreaming？　　What　is　life？　　Why　shouldn't
I　sleep　on　the　ceiling？and　am　I　sitting　on　it　now；　or　on　the
floor？　　I　am　puzzled。　　But　enough。　　If　the　fashion　for　sensation
novels　goes　on；　I　tell　you　I　will　write　one　in　fifty　volumes。　　For
the　present；　DIXI。　　But　between　ourselves；　this　Pinto；　who　fought
at　the　Colosseum；　who　was　nearly　being　roasted　by　the　Inquisition；
and　sang　duets　at　Holyrood；　I　am　rather　sorry　to　lose　him　after
three　little　bits　of　Roundabout　Papers。　　Et　vous？



Bourgonef


I

AT　A　TABLE　D'HOTE


At　the　close　of　February；　1848；　I　was　in　Nuremberg。　　My　original
intention　had　been　to　pass　a　couple　of　days　there　on　my　way　to
Munich；　that　being；　I　thought；　as　much　time　as　could　reasonably　be
spared　for　so　small　a　city；　beckoned　as　my　footsteps　were　to　the
Bavarian　Athens；　of　whose　glories　of　ancient　art　and　German
Renaissance　I　had　formed　expectations　the　most　exaggerated
expectations　fatal　to　any　perfect　enjoyment；　and　certain　to　be
disappointed；　however　great　the　actual　merit　of　Munich　might　be。
But　after　two　days　at　Nuremberg　I　was　so　deeply　interested　in　it