Long before the present century, the dread4 of premature5 interment—excited by traditions of persons accidentally buried alive—was a widely-spread feeling among the people of Germany. In other cities besides Frankfort, the municipal authorities devised laws, the object of which was to make this frightful6 catastrophe7 impossible. In the early part of the present century, these laws were re-enacted and revised by the City of Frankfort. The Deadhouse was attached to the cemetery, with a double purpose. First, to afford a decent resting-place for the corpse8, when death occurred among the crowded residences of the poorer class of the population. Secondly9, to provide as perfect a safeguard as possible against the chances of premature burial. The use of the Deadhouse (strictly confined to the Christian10 portion of the inhabitants) was left to the free choice of surviving relatives or representatives—excepting only those cases in which a doctor's certificate justified11 the magistrate12 in pronouncing an absolute decision. Even in the event of valid13 objections to the Deadhouse as a last resting-place on the way to the grave, the doctor in attendance on the deceased person was subjected to certain restrictions14 in issuing his certificate. He was allowed to certify15 the death informally, for the purpose of facilitating the funeral arrangements. But he was absolutely forbidden to give his written authority for the burial, before the expiration16 of three nights from the time of the death; and he was further bound to certify that the signs of decomposition17 had actually begun to show themselves. Have these multiplied precautions, patiently applied18 in many German cities, through a long lapse19 of years, ever yet detected a case in which Death has failed to complete its unintelligible20 work? Let the answer be found in the cells of the dead. Pass, with the mourners, through the iron gates—hear and see!
On the evening of the third, as the time approached for the arrival of the hearse, the melancholy21 stillness in the house was only broken by Mr. Keller's servants, below-stairs. Collecting together in one room, they talked confidentially22, in low voices. An instinctive23 horror of silence, in moments of domestic distress24, is, in all civilized25 nations, one of the marked characteristics of their class.
"In ten minutes," said Joseph, "the men from the cemetery will be here to take her away. It will be no easy matter to carry her downstairs on the couch."
"Why is she not put in her coffin26, like other dead people?" the housemaid asked.
"Because the crazy creature she brought with her from London is allowed to have his own way in the house," Joseph answered irritably27. "If I had been brought to the door drunk last night, I should have been sent away this morning. If I had been mad enough to screech28 out, 'She isn't dead; not one of you shall put her in a coffin!'—I should have richly deserved a place in the town asylum29, and I should have got my deserts. Nothing of the sort for Master Jack30. Mr. Keller only tells him to be quiet, and looks distressed31. The doctor takes him away, and speaks to him in another room—and actually comes back converted to Jack's opinion!"
"You don't mean to tell us," exclaimed the cook, "that the doctor said she wasn't dead?"
"Of course not. It was he who first found out that she was dead—I only mean that he let Jack have his own way. He asked me for a foot rule, and he measured the little couch in the bedroom. 'It's no longer than the coffin' (he says); 'and I see no objection to the body being laid on it, till the time comes for the burial.' Those were his own words; and when the nurse objected to it, what do you think he said?—'Hold your tongue! A couch is a pleasanter thing all the world over than a coffin.'"
"Blasphemous32!" said the cook—"that's what I call it."
"Ah, well, well!" the housemaid remarked, "couch or coffin, she looks beautiful, poor soul, in her black velvet33 robe, with the winter flowers in her pretty white hands. Who got the flowers? Madame Fontaine, do you think?"
"Bah! Madame Fontaine, indeed! Little Crazybrains went out (instead of eating the good dinner I cooked for him), and got the flowers. He wouldn't let anybody put them into her hands but himself—at least, so the nurse said. Has anybody seen Madame Housekeeper34? Was she downstairs at dinner to-day, Joseph?"
"Not she! You mark my words," said Joseph, "there's some very serious reason for her keeping her room, on pretense35 of being ill."
"Can you give any guess what it is?"
"You shall judge for yourself," Joseph answered. "Did I tell you what happened yesterday evening, before Jack was brought home by the nurse's brother? I answered a ring at the door-bell—and there was Mr. Fritz in a towering passion, with Miss Minna on his arm looking ready to drop with fatigue36. They rang for some wine; and I heard what he said to his father. It seems that Madame Fontaine had gone out walking in the dark and the cold (and her daughter with her), without rhyme or reason. Mr. Fritz met them, and insisted on taking Miss Minna home. Her mother didn't seem to care what he said or did. She went on walking by herself, as hard as she could lay her feet to the ground. And what do you suppose her excuse was? Her nerves were out of order! Mr. Fritz's notion is that there is something weighing on her mind. An hour afterwards she came back to the house—and I found reason to agree with Mr. Fritz."
"Tell us all about it, Joseph! What did she do?"
"You shall hear. It happened, just after I had seen crazy Jack safe in his bed. When I heard the bell, I was on my way downstairs, with a certain bottle in my hand. One of you saw the nurse's brother give it to me, I think? How he and Crazybrains came into possession of it, mind you, is more than I know."
"It looked just like the big medicine-bottle that cured Mr. Keller," said the cook.
"It was the bottle; and, what is more, it smelt37 of wine, instead of medicine, and it was empty. Well, I opened the door to Madame Housekeeper, with the bottle in my hand. The instant she set eyes on it, she snatched it away from me. She looked—I give you my word of honor, she looked as if she could have cut my throat. "You wretch38!"—nice language to use to a respectable servant, eh?—"You wretch" (she says), "how did you come by this?" I made her a low bow. I said, "Civility costs nothing, ma'am; and sometimes buys a great deal" (severe, eh?). I told her exactly what had happened, and exactly what Schwartz had said. And then I ended with another hard hit. "The next time anything of yours is put into my hands," I said, "I shall leave it to take care of itself." I don't know whether she heard me; she was holding the bottle up to the light. When she saw it was empty—well! I can't tell you, of course, what was passing in her mind. But this I can swear; she shivered and shuddered39 as if she had got a fit of the ague; and pale as she was when I let her into the house, I do assure you she turned paler still. I thought I should have to take her upstairs next. My good creatures, she's made of iron! Upstairs she went. I followed her as far as the first landing, and saw Mr. Keller waiting—to tell her the news of Mrs. Wagner's death, I suppose. What passed between them I can't say. Mr. Fritz tells me she has never left her room since; and his father has not even sent a message to know how she is. What do you think of that?"
"I think Mr. Fritz was mistaken, when he told you she had never left her room," said the housemaid. "I am next to certain I heard her whispering, early this morning, with crazy Jack. Do you think she will follow the hearse to the Deadhouse, with Mr. Keller and the doctor?"
"Hush40!" said Joseph. As he spoke41, the heavy wheels of the hearse were heard in the street. He led the way to the top of the kitchen stairs. "Wait here," he whispered, "while I answer the door—and you will see."
Upstairs, in the drawing-room, Fritz and Minna were alone. Madame Fontaine's door, closed to everyone, was a closed door even to her daughter.
Fritz had refused to let Minna ask a second time to be let in. "It will soon be your husband's privilege, my darling, to take care of you and comfort you," he said. "At this dreadful time, there must be no separation between you and me."
His arm was round her; her head rested on his shoulder. She looked up at him timidly.
"Are you not going with them to the cemetery?" she asked.
"I am going to stay with you, Minna."
"You were angry yesterday, Fritz, when you met me with my mother. Don't think the worse of her, because she is ill and troubled in her mind. You will make allowances for her as I do—won't you?"
"My sweet girl, there is nothing I won't do to please you! Kiss me, Minna. Again! again!"
On the higher floor of the house, Mr. Keller and the doctor were waiting in the chamber42 of death.
Jack kept his silent watch by the side of the couch, on which the one human creature who had befriended him lay hushed in the last earthly repose43. Still, from time to time, he whispered to himself the sad senseless words, "No, no, no—not dead, Mistress! Not dead yet!"
There was a soft knock at the door. The doctor opened it. Madame Fontaine stood before him. She spoke in dull monotonous44 tones—standing45 in the doorway46; refusing, when she was invited by a gesture, to enter the room.
"The hearse has stopped at the door," she said. "The men wish to ask you if they can come in."
It was Joseph's duty to make this announcement. Her motive47 for forestalling48 him showed itself dimly in her eyes. They were not on Mr. Keller; not on the doctor; not on the couch. From the moment when the door had been opened to her, she fixed49 her steady look on Jack. It never moved until the bearers of the dead hid him from her when they entered the room.
The procession passed out. Jack, at Mr. Keller's command, followed last. Standing back at the doorway, Madame Fontaine caught him by the arm as he came out.
"You were half asleep this morning," she whispered. "You are not half asleep now. How did you get the blue-glass bottle? I insist on knowing."
"I won't tell you!"
Madame Fontaine altered her tone.
"Will you tell me who emptied the bottle? I have always been kind to you—it isn't much to ask. Who emptied it?"
His variable temper changed; he lifted his head proudly. Absolutely sure of his mistress's recovery, he now claimed the merit that was his due.
"I emptied it!"
"How did you empty it?" she asked faintly. "Did you throw away what was in it? Did you give it to anybody?"
He seized her in his turn—and dragged her to the railing of the corridor. "Look there!" he cried, pointing to the bearers, slowly carrying their burden down the stairs. "Do you see her, resting on her little sofa till she recovers? I gave it to her!"
He left her, and descended50 the stairs. She staggered back against the wall of the corridor. Her sight seemed to be affected51. She groped for the stair-rail, and held by it. The air was wafted52 up through the open street-door. It helped her to rally her energies. She went down steadily53, step by step, to the first landing—paused, and went down again. Arrived in the hall, she advanced to Mr. Keller, and spoke to him.
"Are you going to see the body laid in the Deadhouse?"
"Yes."
"Is there any objection to my seeing it too?"
"The authorities have no objection to admitting friends of the deceased person," Mr. Keller answered. He looked at her searchingly, and added, "Do you go as a friend?"
It was rashly said; and he knew it. The magistrates54 had decided55 that the first inquiries56 should be conducted with the greatest secrecy57. For that day, at least, the inmates58 of the house were to enjoy their usual liberty of action (under private superintendence), so that no suspicion might be excited in the mind of the guilty person. Conscious of having trifled with the serious necessity of keeping a guard over his tongue, Mr. Keller waited anxiously for Madame Fontaine's reply.
Not a word fell from her lips. There was a slight hardening of her face, and no more. In ominous59 silence, she turned about and ascended60 the stairs again.
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1
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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4
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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5
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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6
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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7
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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8
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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9
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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10
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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11
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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12
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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13
valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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14
restrictions
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| 约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则） | |
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15
certify
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| vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给 | |
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16
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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17
decomposition
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| n. 分解, 腐烂, 崩溃 | |
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18
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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19
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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20
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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21
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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22
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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23
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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24
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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25
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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26
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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27
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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28
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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29
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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30
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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31
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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32
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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33
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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34
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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35
pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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36
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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37
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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38
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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39
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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40
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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41
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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42
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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43
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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44
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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45
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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46
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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47
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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48
forestalling
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的现在分词 ) | |
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49
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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50
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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51
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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52
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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54
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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55
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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56
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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57
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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58
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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59
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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60
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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