The great clock in the hall of Maison-Forte had just struck nine. Captain Trinquetaille was walking softly on tiptoe through the gallery where the Christmas ceremonies had taken place, directing his steps toward the apartment of Mlle. des Anbiez. He knocked at the little door of the oratory2. Stephanette soon came out of the door.
“Ah, well, Luquin,” said the young girl, anxiously,
“how has he passed the night?”
“Badly, Stephanette, very badly; the abbé says there is no hope for him.”
“Poor child!” said the young girl, “and how is M. Commander?”
“Always in the same state, seated at the youth’s bedside like a statue; he never moves or speaks or sees or hears. Father Elzear says if M. Commander could only weep, he might be saved, if not—”
“Well?”
“If not, he fears his head,” and Luquin made a gesture indicating the alarm felt for the commander’s mind.
“Ah, my God, if that misfortune should be added to all the others!”
“And how is Mlle. Reine?” asked Luquin.
“Always suffering. The sad ceremony of the baptism yesterday affected3 her so deeply! Monseigneur wished her to be with him sponsor to this poor young pagan whom they called Erebus, so that he can die a Christian4. My God! at his age never to have been baptised! Fortunately, Father Elzear has given him the sacrament! Ah, poor young man, he will bear the Christian names that monseigneur and mademoiselle have given him only until this evening.”
“And how is monseigneur?” asked Luquin.
“Oh, as to monseigneur, he would be on his feet and with the commander if we would listen to him. Abbé Mascarolus says an ordinary man would have been killed by such a wound, and that monseigneur must have a head as hard as iron to have resisted that heavy club. Thank God, he who gave that blow will not give any more.”
“Speaking of that, Stephanette, you know they have not been able to find the body of Pog-Reis under the ruins of the abbey?”
“He was only an infidel, but, oh, to die without burial!” said Stephanette, with a shudder5. “How was he buried under the ruins?”
“This is what M. Honorat told me, and he ought to know. The moment the unfortunate young man fell, wounded by the commander, Pog-Reis, as they called him, seized M. Honorat, so as to prevent his separating the two combatants. Suddenly, as you know, the thunderbolt burst in the middle of the bay It struck the Red Galleon6; her powder took fire, and she was blown up, and carried with her the other galley, already seriously damaged by the culverin of Master Laramée. Not a pirate escaped. The waves of the bay were so high and so powerful that the best swimmer would have been drowned a thousand times over.”
“But, Pog-Reis?” asked Stephanette.
“The explosion was so tremendous that the earth trembled. M. Honorat told me this: ‘The pirate, startled, then left me. I ran to the commander, who had already been thrown on the body of his son. He was embracing him, as he sobbed7. At the time of the explosion Pog-Reis was standing8 on the ruins. Those old walls, shaken by the commotion9 and violence of the wind, suddenly fell and crushed him beneath their weight’ This morning, some fishermen coming from the bay said the stones were so enormous that they could not be moved, and so they had given up all hope of finding the body of the brigand10.”
“My God! my God! What a disaster, Luquin, and how it proves that Heaven is just See, the two galleys11 of these brigands12 were struck and not one escaped! And Pog-Reis crushed under the ruins of the abbey!”
“No doubt, no doubt, Stephanette, Heaven has done much; but it has not done all, there remains13 yet another account to settle.”
“What do you mean?”
“When we heard this explosion at sea, and when we set sail for Maison-Forte, and a little faster, too, than I wished, for the tempest was driving my polacre over the waves like a feather in the air, you see—”
“That is true, Luquin, we thought we were lost What weather! what waves! we thought we had escaped one danger only to fall into another.”
“Yes, yes. Ah, well, what was it passed within range of my cannon14 during the hurricane?”
“How do I know? I was too much frightened and too much occupied with my mistress to see what was happening around us.”
“Indeed, Stephanette! Ah, well, it was the chebec of that cursed Bohemian whom hell leaves on this earth I know not why. Yes, it was his chebec that was near us. He had, by chance, anchored his ship so far from the galleys that he did not feel the explosion. Two hours after, when he had brought M. Commander, M. Honorat, and that poor young man on board the galley, taking advantage of the commander’s forgetfulness, who neglected to have him hanged, he had the audacity15 to set sail again, and it was he we saw pass us, returning, no doubt, to the south, where he will be drowned or burned if the good God wishes to finish the example he has already given us in destroying the two galleys of these infidels. That is what I wish may happen to him.”
“Come, come, Luquin, you are so enraged16 against this wretch17; do not think of him any more. Yet it was he who brought on board the black galley Mlle. Reine, me, my companions, the prisoners, the recorder Isnard and his clerk, who were among the captives, and who never ceased to call him our deliverer. So do have a little pity on your neighbour—”
“My neighbour! that miserable18 vagabond! My neighbour! the neighbour of Satan! That is what he is!”
“Ah, how wicked you are in your hatred19!”
“Come, now, that is pretty good!” cried Luquin, in a fury, “that is the way you defend him now! You can do no more than regret him. Besides, he said, really, that you would regret him, and perhaps he was not wrong!” “Indeed, if you begin your jealousy20 again, you will make me regret him.”
“Regret him—him! you dare—”
“Without doubt; for at least, one time in his ship, he left me to weep and grieve in peace, and—”
“But that was not what he said. H’m—h’m—the honeyed words of this insolent21 prattler22 were quite capable of making you forget your grief for a time, no doubt.”
Stephanette, indignant, was about to reply to her betrothed23, when the whistle of Mlle, des Anbiez called her to that lady’s apartment.
She entered, after having thrown an angry glance at Luquin.
The captain was in the way of repenting24 of his suspicions when the majordomo Laramée, coming precipitately25 out of the chamber26 of Raimond V., said:
“Here you are, Luquin, come quick and help me to carry monseigneur to the commander. He is too weak to walk; we will carry him in his armchair.”
Luquin followed Laramée, and entered the baron27’s chamber. The old gentleman was still very pale, a wide black bandage wrapped his head, but he had partly recovered his vivacity28 and his energy. Abbé Mascarolus was with him.
“You say, then, abbé, that this poor young man is about to die, and he wishes to speak to me?”
“Yes, monseigneur.”
“And how is my brother Pierre?”
“In the same state, monseigneur.”
“Quick, quick, Laramée, throw a mantle29 over my shoulders, and I will walk on your legs and the legs of this boy, for my own will not support me yet.” Luquin took the armchair on one side, and Laramée took the other, and they transported the baron into the large chamber where Erebus was lying. At the door of this chamber they found Peyrou, the watchman, who anxiously awaited news from his old captain.
The face of Erebus already gave signs of approaching death. His features, once so clear, so beautiful, so serene30, were painfully contorted. He was pale with the pallor of the dying. His eyes shone with a brilliancy all the more intense because it was so soon to be eclipsed in death. His wound was mortal, and no place was left for hope.
Pierre des Anbiez, wearing the same clothes he wore on the day of the fatal encounter, was seated on the foot of his son’s bed, absolutely motionless, his head bowed on his breast, his hands on his knees, his gaze fixed31 upon the floor; since the day before he had kept this position.
Father Elzear, seated by the pillow of Erebus, leaned over him, lifted the poor young man’s heavy head, and pressed it tenderly to his breast.
Raimond V. made his bearers place him near the bed. Luquin and Laramée retired32.
“God will forgive me, will he not, good priest?” said Erebus, in a feeble voice, to Father Elzear. “He will have pity on my ignorance, and look only at my zeal33. Alas34! I have known the true faith but two-days.”
“Hope, hope in his infinite compassion35, my child, you are a Christian now. Two days of repentance36 and faith will atone37 for many sins. It is the fervour and not the length of the repentance which touches the Lord.”
“Oh, I would die with one hope more, if my father could forgive me also,” said Erebus, bitterly. Then he cried, in a frenzy38, “Oh, a curse on Pog-Reis! Oh, why did he make me believe, as he showed me these portraits, that my father had been the murderer of my mother and of my family? Oh, how he excited all my bad passions! Alas! I believed him, because he who had always been so cruel wept, yes, he wept, as he pressed me to his heart and asked my forgiveness for all the evil he had done me. Then, seeing this implacable man weep as he embraced me, I believed him. I hoped the combat would be fatal to me. I knew Reine des Anbiez would be returned in safety to her father, hence I was able to die. And you—you—her father, will you forgive me, too?” added Erebus, addressing Raimond V.
“Poor child, did you not save my life in the rocks of Ollioules? Although my daughter was in your power, did you not respect her and defend her? And are you not the son of my brother, after all? the son of a guilty love, of course, but, Manjour! you are of the family.” “Raimond—Raimond!” said Father Elzear to his brother, softly, in a tone of reproach.
“But, my father, my father does not hear me,” said Erebus. “I will die without his saying to me, ‘My son!’” cried the unhappy youth, in a failing voice, and then with a sadden movement he sat up, threw his arms around the neck of Pierre des Anbiez, and letting his heavy head fall on the paternal39 bosom40, he cried, “My father, my father! Oh, hear me!”
This despairing, expiring cry, in which Erebes seemed to have concentrated all that remained of his strength, at last reached the depth of the heart of Pierre, des Anbiez.
The commander slowly raised his head, looked around him, then fixed his eyes on Erebus, who still hung around his neck. Then, pressing his son’s head in his two hands, he kissed his forehead reverently41 and tenderly. Placing his son’s head softly on the pillow, he said, in a low voice, with a strange smile, and an accent full of kindness: “My child, you have called me, I heard your voice in the midst of darkness. I have come; now I return to it Farewell, sleep—sleep for ever, my child.”
And he spread a cloth on the face of Erebus as is done for the dead.
“My brother!” cried Father Elzear, quickly removing the cloth and looking at the commander in astonishment42.
The latter did not seem to hear him; he fell back into a sort of lethargy from which he seemed unable to recover.
Erebus grew weaker and weaker, and said to Raimond V.:
“One last favour before I die.”
“Speak, speak, my child, I grant it already.”
“I would like to see your daughter once more, she who gave me a Christian name. She too, alas! must forgive me.”
“Reine, your cousin, your godmother? I consent to it with all my heart Elzear, my brother, will you go and tell her?”
“Your moments are numbered, you must think on God, my son,” said Father Elzear to Erebus.
“For pity’s sake, let me see her, or I shall die in despair,” said Erebus in such a heart-broken voice that Father Elzear went in search of Reine.
Raimond V. took both hands of his nephew in his own. Already they were cold.
“She does not come,” said Erebus, “and yet I must—”
His voice grew weaker, he could not continue.
Reine entered, accompanied by Father Elzear.
Erebus raised himself on his elbow; with his right hand he had the strength to break a little chain of gold he wore around his neck. He handed it to Reine, showing her, with a faint smile, the little enamelled dove that he had fastened to it, formerly43 taken from Reine in the rocks of Ollioules, and said to her:
“I return it to you. Will you forgive me?”
“I will always wear this chain in memory of the day you saved the life of my father,” replied Reine, full of emotion.
“You will wear it always?” said Erebus.
“Always!” replied Reine, bursting into tears.
“Ah, now I can die!” said Erebus.
A last ray seemed to illumine his face, as death slowly approached.
“Brother,” said Father Elzear, in an austere44 voice, as he rose, “this child is about to die.”
Raimond V. understood that the last moments of Erebus belonged to God. He embraced his nephew, called Luquin and Laramée to cany him, and went out with Reine.
The commander remained silent and motionless, seated on the bed of his dying son.
Raimond V. sent Peyrou to him, hoping the watchman’s presence might perhaps recall him to himself.
The watchman, approaching Pierre des Anbiez, said to him, “M. Commander, come.”
Whether the voice of Peyrou, which he had not heard for so long a time, impressed him all the more, or whether he obeyed an inexplicable45 instinct, the commander rose and followed the watchman, alas! without casting a look upon his son.
Father Elzear alone remained with the young man.
A quarter of an hour after, Erebus was no more.
Erebus was buried in the cemetery46 of La Ciotat. The black and gray monks47 of La Ciotat followed his funeral procession. When the service was over, they dispersed48.
One penitent49 only remained long at the grave.
It was very strange. He had taken no part in the chants or the ceremonies of the church, he had not sprinkled holy water on the coffin50.
This penitent remained until night.
Then with slow steps he travelled to a stream where he found a boat in which he embarked51. That false penitent was Hadji. He had left his chebec and had landed, braving every peril52 in order to come and render homage53 to the memory of the unfortunate youth, whom he had, nevertheless, done so much to destroy. From that time no more was heard of the Bohemian.
Pierre des Anbiez, until the end of his days, remained in a state which was one neither of reason, nor insanity54. He was never heard to utter a word, although he continued to live at Maison-Forte. He never replied to a question, but every morning went to sit by the grave of his son, and there he remained until the evening, absorbed in profound meditation55. Peyrou never left him, but the commander never seemed to recognise his presence.
Father Elzear, after some months’ sojourn56 at Maison-Forte, began again his adventurous57 life as the ransomer of captives, and led that life until old age permitted him to travel no longer.
Reine did not marry Honorat de Berrol. She remained faithful to the sad memory of Erebus. Some years after, the chevalier married, and Reine was the best of friends to him and to his wife.
Raimond V., healed of his wounds, rode Mistraon a long time.
Cardinal58 Richelieu, informed of the courageous59 conduct of the baron at the time of the descent of the pirates, shut his eyes to the misdemeanours of the old malcontent60 in his dealings with the recorder Isnard.
A short time after, the Marshal of Vitry was sent to the Bastille, in consequence of his quarrel with the Archbishop of Bordeaux.
Raimond V. felt that he was avenged61, and, as much out of gratitude62 to the cardinal as for his sense of right, he ever after took a very venial63 part in rebellions.
The worthy64 Luquin Trinquetaille married Stephanette, and although he had a blind confidence in his wife, which she deserved in every respect, he always regretted not having been able to drown the Bohemian.
Master Laramée died in the service of the baron.
The venerable Abbé Mascarolus continued to give wonderful recipes to Dame65 Dulceline, who made many Christmas cradles, which fortunately were not attended by such disastrous66 happenings as marred67 the Christmas festivity of 1632.
THE END.
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1
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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galleon
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| n.大帆船 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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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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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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brigand
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| n.土匪，强盗 | |
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galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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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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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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prattler
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| n.空谈者 | |
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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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repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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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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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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43
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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46
cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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47
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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48
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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49
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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50
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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51
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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52
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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54
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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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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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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60
malcontent
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| n.不满者，不平者；adj.抱不平的，不满的 | |
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61
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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venial
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| adj.可宽恕的；轻微的 | |
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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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65
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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66
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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