the muse of the department-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　an　entertainment　given　to　the　newly　conquered　city　by　the　French
army。　In　spite　of　the　splendor　of　the　affair；　the　Spaniards　were　not
very　cheerful；　their　ladies　hardly　danced　at　all；　and　most　of　the
company　sat　down　to　cards。　The　gardens　of　the　Duke's　palace　were　so
brilliantly　illuminated；　that　the　ladies　could　walk　about　in　as
perfect　safety　as　in　broad　daylight。　The　fete　was　of　imperial
magnificence。　Nothing　was　grudged　to　give　the　Spaniards　a　high　idea　of
the　Emperor；　if　they　were　to　measure　him　by　the　standard　of　his
officers。

〃In　an　arbor　near　the　house；　between　one　and　two　in　the　morning；　a
party　of　French　officers　were　discussing　the　chances　of　war；　and　the
not　too　hopeful　outlook　prognosticated　by　the　conduct　of　the　Spaniards
present　at　that　grand　ball。

〃　'I　can　only　tell　you；'　said　the　surgeon…major　of　the　company　of
which　I　was　paymaster；　'I　applied　formally　to　Prince　Murat　only
yesterday　to　be　recalled。　Without　being　afraid　exactly　of　leaving　my
bones　in　the　Peninsula；　I　would　rather　dress　the　wounds　made　by　our
worthy　neighbors　the　Germans。　Their　weapons　do　not　run　quite　so　deep
into　the　body　as　these　Castilian　daggers。　Besides；　a　certain　dread　of
Spain　is；　with　me；　a　sort　of　superstition。　From　my　earliest　youth　I
have　read　Spanish　books；　and　a　heap　of　gloomy　romances　and　tales　of
adventures　in　this　country　have　given　me　a　serious　prejudice　against
its　manners　and　customs。

〃　'Well；　now；　since　my　arrival　in　Madrid；　I　have　already　been；　not
indeed　the　hero；　but　the　accomplice　of　a　dangerous　intrigue；　as　dark
and　mysterious　as　any　romance　by　Lady　（Mrs。）　Radcliffe。　I　am　apt　to
attend　to　my　presentiments；　and　I　am　off　to…morrow。　Murat　will　not
refuse　me　leave；　for；　thanks　to　our　varied　services；　we　always　have
influential　friends。'

〃　'Since　you　mean　to　cut　your　stick；　tell　us　what's　up；'　said　an　old
Republican　colonel；　who　cared　not　a　rap　for　Imperial　gentility　and
choice　language。

〃The　surgeon…major　looked　about　him　cautiously；　as　if　to　make　sure　who
were　his　audience；　and　being　satisfied　that　no　Spaniard　was　within
hearing；　he　said：

〃　'We　are　none　but　Frenchmenthen；　with　pleasure；　Colonel　Hulot。
About　six　days　since；　I　was　quietly　going　home；　at　about　eleven　at
night；　after　leaving　General　Montcornet；　whose　hotel　is　but　a　few
yards　from　mine。　We　had　come　away　together　from　the　Quartermaster…
General's；　where　we　had　played　rather　high　at　/bouillotte/。　Suddenly；
at　the　corner　of　a　narrow　high…street；　two　strangers；　or　rather；　two
demons；　rushed　upon　me　and　flung　a　large　cloak　round　my　head　and　arms。
I　yelled　out；　as　you　may　suppose；　like　a　dog　that　is　thrashed；　but　the
cloth　smothered　my　voice；　and　I　was　lifted　into　a　chaise　with
dexterous　rapidity。　When　my　two　companions　released　me　from　the　cloak；
I　heard　these　dreadful　words　spoken　by　a　woman；　in　bad　French：

〃　'　〃If　you　cry　out；　or　if　you　attempt　to　escape；　if　you　make　the　very
least　suspicious　demonstration；　the　gentleman　opposite　to　you　will
stab　you　without　hesitation。　So　you　had　better　keep　quiet。Now；　I
will　tell　you　why　you　have　been　carried　off。　If　you　will　take　the
trouble　to　put　your　hand　out　in　this　direction；　you　will　find　your
case　of　instruments　lying　between　us；　we　sent　a　messenger　for　them　to
your　rooms；　in　your　name。　You　will　need　them。　We　are　taking　you　to　a
house　that　you　may　save　the　honor　of　a　lady　who　is　about　to　give　birth
to　a　child　that　she　wishes　to　place　in　this　gentleman's　keeping
without　her　husband's　knowledge。　Though　monsieur　rarely　leaves　his
wife；　with　whom　he　is　still　passionately　in　love；　watching　over　her
with　all　the　vigilance　of　Spanish　jealousy；　she　had　succeeded　in
concealing　her　condition；　he　believes　her　to　be　ill。　You　must　bring
the　child　into　the　world。　The　dangers　of　this　enterprise　do　not
concern　us：　only；　you　must　obey　us；　otherwise　the　lover；　who　is
sitting　opposite　to　you　in　this　carriage；　and　who　does　not　understand
a　word　of　French；　will　kill　you　on　the　least　rash　movement。〃

〃　'　〃And　who　are　you？〃　I　asked；　feeling　for　the　speaker's　hand；　for
her　arm　was　inside　the　sleeve　of　a　soldier's　uniform。

〃　'　〃I　am　my　lady's　waiting…woman；〃　said　she；　〃and　ready　to　reward　you
with　my　own　person　if　you　show　yourself　gallant　and　helpful　in　our
necessities。〃

〃　'　〃Gladly；〃　said　I；　seeing　that　I　was　inevitably　started　on　a
perilous　adventure。

〃　'Under　favor　of　the　darkness；　I　felt　whether　the　person　and　figure
of　the　girl　were　in　keeping　with　the　idea　I　had　formed　of　her　from　her
tone　of　voice。　The　good　soul　had；　no　doubt；　made　up　her　mind　from　the
first　to　accept　all　the　chances　of　this　strange　act　of　kidnapping；　for
she　kept　silence　very　obligingly；　and　the　coach　had　not　been　more　than
ten　minutes　on　the　way　when　she　accepted　and　returned　a　very
satisfactory　kiss。　The　lover；　who　sat　opposite　to　me；　took　no　offence
at　an　occasional　quite　involuntary　kick；　as　he　did　not　understand
French；　I　conclude　he　paid　no　heed　to　them。

〃　'　〃I　can　be　your　mistress　on　one　condition　only；〃　said　the　woman；　in
reply　to　the　nonsense　I　poured　into　her　ear；　carried　away　by　the
fervor　of　an　improvised　passion；　to　which　everything　was　unpropitious。

〃　'　〃And　what　is　it？〃

〃　'　〃That　you　will　never　attempt　to　find　out　whose　servant　I　am。　If　I
am　to　go　to　you；　it　must　be　at　night；　and　you　must　receive　me　in　the
dark。〃

〃　'　〃Very　good；〃　said　I。

〃　'We　had　got　as　far　as　this；　when　the　carriage　drew　up　under　a　garden
wall。

〃　'　〃You　must　allow　me　to　bandage　your　eyes；〃　said　the　maid。　〃You　can
lean　on　my　arm；　and　I　will　lead　you。〃

〃　'She　tied　a　handkerchief　over　my　eyes；　fastening　it　in　a　tight　knot
at　the　back　of　my　head。　I　heard　the　sound　of　a　key　being　cautiously
fitted　to　the　lock　of　a　little　side　door　by　the　speechless　lover　who
had　sat　opposite　to　me。　In　a　moment　the　waiting…woman；　whose　shape　was
slender；　and　who　walked　with　an　elegant　jauntiness'/meneho/；　as　they
call　it；〃　Monsieur　Gravier　explained　in　a　superior　tone；　〃a　word　which
describes　the　swing　which　women　contrive　to　give　a　certain　part　of
their　dress　that　shall　be　nameless。'The　waiting…woman'it　is　the
surgeon…major　who　is　speaking；〃　the　narrator　went　on〃　'led　me　along
the　gravel　walks　of　a　large　garden；　till　at　a　certain　spot　she
stopped。　From　the　louder　sound　of　our　footsteps；　I　concluded　that　we
were　close　to　the　house。　〃Now　silence！〃　said　she　in　a　whisper；　〃and
mind　what　you　are　about。　Do　not　overlook　any　of　my　signals；　I　cannot
speak　without　terrible　danger　for　both　of　us；　and　at　this　moment　your
life　is　of　the　first　importance。〃　Then　she　added：　〃My　mistress　is　in　a
room　on　the　ground　floor。　To　get　into　it　we　must　pass　through　her
husband's　room　and　close　to　his　bed。　Do　not　cough；　walk　softly；　and
follow　me　closely；　so　as　not　to　knock　against　the　furniture　or　tread
anywhere　but　on　the　carpets　I　laid　down。〃

〃　'Here　the　lover　gave　an　impatient　growl；　as　a　man　annoyed　by　so　much
delay。

〃　'The　woman　said　no　more；　I　heard　a　door　open；　I　felt　the　warm　air　of
the　house；　and　we　stole　in　like　thieves。　Presently　the　girl's　light
hand　removed　the　bandage。　I　found　myself　in　a　lofty　and　spacious　room；
badly　lighted　by　a　smoky　lamp。　The　window　was　open；　but　the　jealous
husband　had　fitted　it　with　iron　bars。　I　was　in　the　bottom　of　a　sack；
as　it　were。

〃　'On　the　ground　a　woman　was　lying　on　a　mat；　her　head　was　covered　with
a　muslin　veil；　but　I　could　see　her　eyes　through　it　full　of　tears　and
flashing　with　the　brightness　of　stars；　she　held　a　handkerchief　in　her
mouth；　biting　it　so　hard　that　her　teeth　were　set　in　it：　I　never　saw
finer　limbs；　but　her　body　was　writhing　with　pain　like　a　harp…string
thrown　on　the　fire。　The　poor　creature　had　made　a　sort　of　struts　of　her
legs　by　setting　her　feet　against　a　chest　of　drawers；　and　with　both
hands　she　held　on　to　the　bar　of　a　chair；　her　arms　outstretched；　with
every　vein　painfully　swelled。　She　might　have　been　a　criminal
undergoing　torture。　But　she　did　not　utter　a　cry；　there　was　not　a
sound；　all　three　speechless　and　motionless。　The　husband　snored　with
reassuring　regularity。　I　wanted　to　study　the　waiting…woman's　face；　but
she　had　put　on　a　mask；　which　she　had　removed；　no　doubt；　during　our
drive；　and　I　could　see　nothing　but　a　pair　of　black　eyes　and　a
pleasingly　rounded　figure。

〃　'The　lover　threw　some　towels　over　his　mistress'　legs　and　folded　the
muslin　veil　double　over　her　face。　As　soon　as　I　had　examined　the　lady
with　care；　I　perceived　from　certain　symptoms　which　I　had　noted　once
before　on　a　very　sad　occasion　in　my　life；　that　the　infant　was　dead。　I
turned　to　the　maid　in　order　to　tell　her　this。　Instantly　the　suspicious
stranger　drew　his　dagger；　but　I　had　time　to　explain　the　matter　to　the
woman；　who　explained　in　a　word　or　two　to　him　in　a　low　voice。　On
hearing　my　opinion；　a　quick；　slight　shudder　ran　through　him　from　head
to　foot　like　a　lightning　flash；　I　fancied　I　could　see　him　turn　pale
under　his　black　velvet　mask。

〃　'The　waiting…woman　took　advantage　of　a　moment　when　he　was　bending　in
despair　over　the　dying　woman；　who　had　turned　blue；　to　point　to　some
glasses　of　lemonade　standing　on　a　table；　at　the　same　time　shaking　her
head　negatively。　I　understood　that　I　was　not　to　drink　anything　in
spite　of　the　dreadful　thirst　that　parched　my　throat。　The　lover　was
thirsty　too；　he　took　an　empty　glass；　poured　out　some　fresh　lemonade；
and　drank　it　off。

〃　'At　this　moment　the　lady　had　a　violent　attack　of　pain；　which　showed
me　that　now　was　the　time　to　operate。　I　summoned　all　my　courage；　and　in
about　an　hour　had　succeeded　in　delivering　her　of　the　child；　cutting　it
up　to　extract　it。　The　Spaniard　no　longer　thought　of　poisoning　me；
understanding　that　I　had　saved　the　mother's　life。　Large　tears　fell　on
his　cloak。　The　woman　uttered　no　sound；　but　she　trembled　like　a　hunted
animal；　and　was　bathed　in　sweat。

〃　'At　one　horribly　critical　moment　she　pointed　in　the　direction　of　her
husband's　room；　he　had　turned　in　his　sleep；　and　she　alone　had　heard
the　rustle　of　the　sheets；　the　creaking　of　the　bed　or　of　the　curtain。
We　all　paused；　and　the　lover　and　the　waiting…woman；　through　the
eyeholes　of　their　masks；　gave　each　other　a　look　that　said；　〃If　he
wakes；　shall　we　kill　him？〃

〃　'At　that　instant　I　put　out　my　hand　to　take　the　glass　of　lemonade　the
Spaniard　had　drunk　of。　He；　thinking　that　I　was　about　to　take　one　of
the　full　glasses；　sprang　forward　like　a　cat；　and　laid　his　long　dagger
over　the　two　poisoned　goblets；　leaving　me　his　own；　and　signing　to　me
to　drink　what　was　left。　So　much　was　conveyed　by　this　quick　action；　and
it　was　so　full　of　good　feeling；　that　I　forgave　him　his　atrocious
schemes　for　killing　me；　and　thus　burying　every　trace　of　this　event。

〃　'After　two　hours　of　care　and　alarms；　the　maid　and　I　put　her　mistress
to　bed。　The　lover；　forced　into　so　perilous　an　adventure；　had；　to
provide　means　in　case　of　having　to　fly；　a　packet　of　diamonds　stuck　to
paper；　these　he　put　into　my　pocket　without　my　knowing　it；　and　I　may
add　parenthetically；　that　as　I　was　ignorant　of　the　Spaniard's
magnificent　gift；　my　servant　stole　the　jewels　the　day　after；　and　went
off　with　a　perfect　fortune。

〃　'I　whispered　my　instructions　to　the　waiting…woman　as　to　the　further
care　of　her　patient；　and　wanted　to　be　gone。　The　maid　remained　with　her