Peyrou was sad; the last words of the Baron4 des Anbiez on the subject of the commander had awakened5 the most painful memories.
But as he ascended7 the steep fortifications of the promontory8, his heart expanded. Too much accustomed to solitude9 to find enjoyment10 in the society of men, the watchman was happy only when he was on the summit of his rock, where he listened in sweet meditation11 to the distant roaring of the sea and the terrible bursts of the tempest.
Nothing is more absolute, nothing is more imperious, than the habit of isolation12, especially among those who find inexhaustible resources in their own power of observation or in the varied13 extravagance of their own imagination.
It was with a profound feeling of satisfaction that the watchman set foot upon the esplanade of Cape l’Aigle.
He approached his sentry-box, and there found the worthy14 Luquin fast asleep.
Peyrou’s first act was to scan the horizon with an anxious look, then to examine it with the aid of his telescope. Happily, he saw nothing suspicious, and his countenance15 took on rather a cheerful than a severe expression, when, roughly shaking the captain of The Holy Terror to the Moors16, he called to him, in a loud voice:
“Wake up, wake up! the pirates!”
Luquin made a bound and stood on his feet, rubbing his eyes.
“Ah, well, my boy,” said the watchman, “so your great activity has fallen asleep. To hear you talk, one would think a doree or a mullet could not have made a leap in the sea without you knowing it. Ah, young man, young man, the old Proven?al proverb, Proun paillou, prou gran,—Much straw, little grain.”
Luquin looked at the watchman with a bewildered expression, and was hardly able to collect his faculties17; finally, reeling like a drunken man, he said, stretching his arms: “It is true, Master Peyrou, I slept like a cabin-boy on the watch, but I did keep my eyes open with all my strength.”
“That is the reason, my boy, sleep got into them so easily. But I am here now, and you can go down into the city. There will be more than one bottle of wine emptied without your help at the tavern18 of the Golden Anchor.”,
Luquin had not entirely19 come to himself, and he stood staring at the watchman with a stupid air.
Peyrou, no doubt, trying to wake the captain entirely from his condition of torpor20, added: “Come, come now, Stephanette, your betrothed21, will be engaged to dance with Terzarol, the pilot, or with the patron Bernard, and you will not have her hand once the whole day long.”
These words produced a magic effect on the captain; he straightened himself on his long legs, shook himself, tried to keep his equilibrium22, and, finally stamping on the ground several times, said to the watchman:
“Listen, Master Peyrou, if I were not sure of having swallowed only one glass of sauve-chrétien with that devil of a Bohemian, to make peace with him, because Stephanette wanted me to do it,—a base weakness for which I cannot forgive myself,—I should certainly think I was drunk,” said the captain.
“That is strange, you drank only one glass of sauve-chrétien with the Bohemian, and you are overcome by it?”
“Only one glass, and that only half full, because what you drink with a miscreant23 like him tastes very bitter.” “Is this Bohemian always at Maison-Forte, pray?” asked Peyrou, with a thoughtful and serious air.
“Always, Master Peyrou, for everybody there dotes on him, from monseigneur to Abbé Mascarolus. He is in high favour with the women, from Mlle. Reine to old Dulceline, without speaking of Stephanette, who gave him a flame-coloured ribbon—flame-coloured ribbons, indeed!” exclaimed Luquin, with indignation. “It is a ribbon woven by the rope-maker that this wretch25 needs! But what can you do? All the women have their heads turned. And why? Because this vagabond strums, good and bad together, in some sort of fashion, an old guitar, so hoarse26 that it sounds like the pulleys of my tartan, when they hoist27 the big sail.”
“Did not the Bohemian arrive at Maison-Forte the day Raimond V. had the recorder chased by a bull?” “Yes, Master Peyrou, it was on that fatal day that this stray dog set foot in Maison-Forte.”
“That is strange!” said the watchman, talking to himself. “Then I was mistaken.”
“Ah, Master Peyrou, I am often seized with a desire to conduct this vagabond out to the cove28 beach, and exchange pistol-shots with him until either he or I come to our death.”
“Come, come, Luquin, you are foolish, jealousy29 makes you wild, and you are wrong. Stephanette is a good and honest girl, I can tell you. As to this vagabond—”
Then interrupting himself, as if he wished to keep what he was about to say secret from Luquin, he added: “Come, come, my boy, do not lose your time with a poor old man, while your young and pretty betrothed is waiting for you. Do not neglect her; be with her often, and marry her as soon as possible. There is another Proven?al proverb: A boueno taire bouen labourraire,—A good labourer for good soil.”
“Wait, Master Peyrou, you put balm in my blood,” said the captain. “You are almost as good as a sorcerer. Everybody respects you and loves you; you take Stephanette’s part, so she must deserve it.”
“By Our Lady, she deserves it without a doubt. Did she not come before your departure for Nice, and ask me if you could undertake the voyage with safety?”
“That is true, Master Peyrou, and thanks to you and your cabalistic papers that I put on my bullets, and to your oil of Syrakoe, not less magical, with which I rubbed my muskets30 and cannon31, I gave a hot chase to a corsair that came near, indiscreetly near, the Terror to the Moors and the vessels32 she was escorting. Ah, you are a great man, Master Peyrou.”
“And those who heed34 my counsels are wise and sensible,” replied the watchman, smiling. “Now the wise never allow their betrothed to grow weary of waiting.”
After having thanked the watchman again, Luquin Trinquetaille decided35 to profit by the advice given with regard to Stephanette, and went in all haste to Maison-Forte.
Finding himself alone, Peyrou breathed a sigh of content, as if he felt again that he was master of his little kingdom.
Although he received those who came to consult him with kindly36 courtesy, he saw them depart with a secret pleasure.
He entered his little cell and sighed deeply after having contemplated37 for some time the costly38 piece of ebony furniture which always seemed to awaken6 painful memories in his mind; then, as night came on, he wrapped himself in his thick hood39 and coat.
Thus well protected from the north wind which was blowing, Peyrou lit his pipe, and surveyed with sadness the immense horizon which was spread out before him.
As we have said, the house of Maison-Forte could be distinctly seen from the western side of the summit of Cape l’Aigle.
It was about three o’clock, and the watchman thought he saw a ship in the distance. He took up his telescope, and for a long time followed the uncertain point with his eyes, until it became more and more distinct.
He soon recognised a heavy merchant vessel33 whose aspect presented nothing of menace.
Following the manoeuvres and progress of this vessel with the aid of his telescope, he unconsciously turned it upon the imposing41 mass of Maison-Forte, the home of Raimond V., and on one part of the beach which was absolutely bare, at the point where it touched the rocks upon which the castle stood. He soon distinguished42 Reine des Anbiez mounted on her nag43 and followed by Master Laramée. The young girl was going, doubtless, in advance of the baron into the road.
Several huge rocks intervened, cutting off the view from the beach, and Peyrou lost sight of Mlle. Anbiez.
Just at this moment the watchman was startled by a loud noise; he felt the air above him in commotion44, and suddenly his eagle fell at his feet. She had come, no doubt, to demand her accustomed food, as her hoarse and impatient cries testified.
The watchman sat caressing45 the bird abstractedly, when a new incident awakened his interest.
His sight was so penetrating46 that, in watching the spot on the coast where Mlle, des Anbiez would be likely to appear, he distinguished a man who seemed to be cautiously hiding himself in the hollow of the rock.
Turning his telescope at once on this man, he recognised the Bohemian.
To his great astonishment47, he saw him draw from a bag a white pigeon, and attach to its neck a small sack, into which he slipped a letter.
Evidently the Bohemian thought himself protected from all observation, as, owing to the form and elevation48 of the rock where he was squatting49, it was impossible for him to be seen either from the coast or from Maison-Forte.
Only from the prodigious50 height of Cape l’Aigle, which commanded the entire shore of the bay, could Master Peyrou have discovered the Bohemian.
After having looked anxiously from one side to the other, as if he feared he might be seen in spite of his precautions, the vagabond again secured the little sack around the neck of the pigeon, and then let it fly.
Evidently the intelligent bird knew the direction it was to take.
Once set at liberty, it did not hesitate, but rose almost perpendicularly51 above the Bohemian, then flew rapidly toward the east. As quick as thought, Peyrou took his eagle and tried to make her perceive the pigeon, which already appeared no larger than a white speck52 in space.
For a few seconds the eagle did not seem to see the bird; then, suddenly uttering a hoarse cry, she violently spread her broad wings, and started in pursuit of the Bohemian’s emissary.
Either the unfortunate pigeon was warned by the instinct of danger which threatened it, or it heard the discordant53 cries of its enemy, for it redoubled its swiftness, and flew with the rapidity of an arrow.
Once it endeavoured to rise above the eagle, hoping perhaps to escape its pursuer by disappearing in the low, dark clouds which veiled the horizon; but the eagle, with one swoop54 of her powerful wings, mounted to such a height, that the pigeon, unable to cope with its adversary55, rapidly fell within a few feet of the surface of the sea, grazing the top of the highest waves.
Brilliant still followed her victim in this new manoeuvre40.
The watchman was divided between the desire to see the end of the struggle between the eagle and the pigeon, and the curiosity to watch the countenance of the Bohemian.
Thanks to his telescope, he saw the Bohemian in a state of extraordinary excitement as he followed with intense anxiety the diverse chances of destruction or safety left to his messenger.
Finally, the pigeon attempted one last effort; realising, no doubt, that its destination was too far to be reached, it tried to return and come back to the coast, and thus escape its terrible enemy.
Unfortunately, its strength failed; its flight became heavy, and, approaching too near the waves, it was swept by foam56 and water.
The eagle availed herself of the moment when the pigeon was painfully resuming its embarrassed flight to fall upon it with the rapidity of a thunderbolt. She seized the pigeon in her strong claws, rose swiftly in the direction of the promontory, and came with her prey57 to take refuge in her eyrie, on a rock not far from the watchman’s sentry-box.
Peyrou rose quickly to take the pigeon from her; he could not succeed. The natural ferocity of Brilliant was in the ascendency; she bristled58 her feathers, uttered sharp and fierce cries, and showed herself disposed to defend her prey with her life.
Peyrou feared to offend her, lest she might fly away and hide in some inaccessible59 rock; he allowed her to devour60 the pigeon in peace, having observed that the little sack tied around the neck of the bird consisted of two silver plates fastened by a small chain of the same material.
He did not, after that discovery, fear the destruction of the letter which he knew was enclosed therein.
While the eagle was devouring61 the Bohemian’s messenger in peace, Peyrou returned to the door of his cell, took up his telescope, and vainly examined the rocks on the coast, in order to discover the Bohemian; he had disappeared.
While he was occupied with this new investigation62, the watchman saw on the shore the carriage of Raimond V. The baron had mounted Laramée’s horse, and was riding by the side of Reine, and doubtless accompanied her to Maison-Forte.
Thinking the eagle had finished her feast, the watchman directed his steps to her eyrie.
Brilliant was no longer there, but among the bones and feathers of the pigeon he saw the little sack, opened it, and found there a letter of a few lines written in Arabic.
Unfortunately, Peyrou was not acquainted with that language. Only, in his frequent campaigns against the Barbary pirates, he had noticed in the letters of marque of the corsairs the word Reis, which means captain, and which always followed the name of the commander of the vessels.
In the letter which he had just captured, he found the word Reis three times.
He thought the Bohemian was possibly the secret emissary of some Barbary pirate, whose ship, ambuscaded in one of the deserted63 bays along the coast, was waiting for some signal to land her soldiers. The Bohemian probably had left this ship in order to come to Maison-Forte, bringing his pigeons with him, and it is well known with what intelligence these birds return to the places they are accustomed to inhabit.
As he raised his head to obtain another view of the horizon, the watchman saw in the distance, on the azure64 line which separated the sky from the sea, certain triangular65 sails of unusual height, which seemed to him suspicious. He turned his telescope on them; a second examination confirmed him in the idea that the chebec in sight belonged to some pirate.
For some time he followed the manoeuvres of the vessel.
Instead of advancing to the coast, the chebec seemed to run along broadside, and to beat about, in spite of the increasing violence of the wind, as if it were waiting for a guide or signal.
The watchman was trying to connect in his thought the sending of the pigeon with the appearance of this vessel of bad omen24, when a light noise made him raise his head.
The Bohemian stood before him.
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1
condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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2
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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5
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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6
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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7
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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10
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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12
isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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13
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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15
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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16
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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17
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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18
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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torpor
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| n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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28
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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30
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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31
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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32
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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33
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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34
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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35
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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36
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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37
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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38
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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39
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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40
manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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41
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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42
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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43
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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44
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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46
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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47
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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48
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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49
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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50
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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51
perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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52
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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53
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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54
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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55
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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56
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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57
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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58
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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59
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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60
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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61
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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62
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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63
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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64
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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