What had passed in the salon4? By what persuasive5 words had Schneider induced her to give such sudden consent? For the boy did not doubt from his host's tone of assurance that the girl had consented. Had she asked the private interview for the purpose of offering herself to him? In that case filial love must have been supreme6 to[Pg 50] have induced the pure lily, the perfumed rose, to unite herself with this prickly holly7, this coarse thistle; and it seemed to Charles that, were he her father, he would rather die a hundred deaths than buy back his life at the price of his daughter's happiness.
Even as this was the first time that he had realized a woman's beauty, so it was the first time that he appreciated the abyss which ugliness can create between two people of opposite sexes. And just how ugly Euloge was, Charles now perceived for the first time. It was, moreover, an ugliness which nothing could efface8! an ugliness in which was blended with the moral the fetid hideousness9 of one of those faces which, while still young, have been sealed with the seal of hypocrisy10.
Charles, absorbed in his own reflections, had turned toward the door through which the young girl had disappeared, like a heliotrope11 toward the setting sun. He seemed, with open mouth and nostrils12 dilated13, to be absorbing the perfumed atoms which had floated round her as she passed. The nervous sensations of youth had been awakened14 in him, and as, in April, the chest expands to inhale15 the first breeze of spring, so his heart dilated with the first breath of love. It was not yet day, only the dawn; it was not yet love, but the herald16 which announced it.
He was about to rise and follow the magnetic current he knew not whither, as young and agitated17 hearts are wont18 to do, when Schneider rang. The sound made him start and fall from the heights to which he was ascending19.
The old woman appeared.
"Are there any of my hussars at hand?" asked Schneider.
"Two," replied the woman.
"Let one of them go on horseback, and fetch Master Nicholas at once," said he.
The old woman closed the door without a question, which showed that she knew who was meant.
[Pg 51]
Charles did not understand it; but it was evident that, like the toast following Mademoiselle de Brumpt's departure, this order was connected with the same event. It was also evident that the three other guests knew who Master Nicholas was, since they, who were so free to talk with Schneider, asked no questions. Charles would have asked his neighbor Monnet, but he dared not, for fear that Schneider would overhear the question and answer himself.
There was a short silence, during which a certain restraint seemed to have fallen upon the party; the expectation of coffee—that pleasant beverage20 of dessert—and even its arrival, had not the power to draw aside so much as a corner of the sombre veil in which this order of Schneider's seemed to have enveloped21 them.
Ten minutes passed thus. At the end of that time they heard three blows struck in a peculiar22 fashion.
The guests started; Edelmann buttoned up his coat, which had been for a minute half open; Young coughed, and Monnet turned as pale as his own shirt.
"It is he," said Euloge, frowning, and speaking in a preoccupied23 voice that to Charles seemed strangely altered.
The door opened, and the old woman announced: "The citizen Nicholas!"
Then she stood aside to allow the new-comer to pass, taking care as she did so that he should not touch her.
A small man, thin, pale, and grave, entered. He was dressed like any one else, and yet, without apparent reason for it, there was something in his appearance, his figure, and his whole air that impressed the beholder24 as strange and weird25.
Edelmann, Young and Monnet drew back their chairs. Euloge alone moved his forward.
The little man took two steps into the room, bowed to Euloge without paying any attention to the others, and then remained standing26, with his eyes fixed27 on the chief.
"We start to-morrow at nine o'clock," said Euloge.
"For what place?"
[Pg 52]
"Plobsheim."
"Do we stop there?"
"For two days."
"How many assistants?"
"Two. Is your machine in order?"
The little man smiled, and shrugged28 his shoulders, as if to say: "What a question!" Then he asked aloud: "Shall I meet you at the Kehl gate, or shall I come for you?"
"Come for me."
The little man turned as if to go out.
"Wait," said Schneider; "you are not going away without drinking to the health of the Republic?"
The little man accepted with a bow. Schneider rang, and the old woman came in.
"A glass for citizen Nicholas," he said.
Schneider took the first bottle that came to hand, and inclined it gently over the glass in order not to disturb the wine; a few red drops fell into the glass.
"I don't drink red wine," said the little man.
"True," answered Schneider; then he added, with a laugh, "Are you still nervous, citizen Nicholas?"
"Yes."
"Here," said he, holding it out, "guillotine me that, citizen!" And he began to laugh; Edelmann, Young, and Monnet endeavored to follow his example, but in vain.
The little man preserved his gravity. He took the bottle, drew a straight, long pointed31 knife from his belt, and ran it around the neck of the bottle several times; then he struck it a sharp blow just below the opening. The froth leaped out as blood leaps from a severed32 head, but Schneider was ready and caught the wine in his glass.
The little man poured for every one; but there was only enough for five glasses instead of six. Charles' glass re[Pg 53]mained empty, and Charles took good care not to call attention to the fact.
Edelmann, Young, Monnet and Schneider clinked glasses with the little man. Whether by accident or intention, Schneider's glass was broken by the shock.
All five exclaimed: "Long live the Republic!"
But only four drank the health; Schneider's glass was empty. A few drops of wine remained in the bottle. He seized it feverishly33, and carried it quickly to his mouth. But he put it down even more quickly. The sharp edges of the broken glass had cut his lips through to the teeth. An oath fell from his bleeding lips, and he crushed the bottle with his foot.
"Shall I still come to-morrow at the same hour?" asked Master Nicholas, quietly.
"Yes, and go to the devil!" said Schneider, pressing his handkerchief to his mouth.
Master Nicholas bowed and withdrew.
Schneider, very pale and almost fainting at sight of his own blood, which flowed profusely34, had fallen back in his chair. Edelmann and Young went to his assistance. Charles held Monnet back by his coat-tail.
"Who is Master Nicholas?" he asked, shivering with emotion at the strange scene which had just taken place.
"Don't you know him?" asked Monnet.
"How should I know him? I have only been in Strasbourg since yesterday."
Monnet did not reply, but put his hand to his neck.
"I don't understand," said Charles.
"Don't you know that he is the executioner?" asked Monnet, lowering his voice.
Charles started. "But the machinery—that is—"
"Exactly."
"And what is he going to do with the guillotine at Plobsheim?"
"He told you; he is going to be married!"
Charles pressed Monnet's cold, damp hand and darted[Pg 54] out of the room. As though through a blood-red fog he had caught a glimpse of the truth.
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1
personalities
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| n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
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constriction
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| 压缩； 紧压的感觉； 束紧； 压缩物 | |
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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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salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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efface
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| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
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hideousness
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hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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heliotrope
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| n.天芥菜；淡紫色 | |
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12
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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13
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
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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inhale
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| v.吸入(气体等)，吸(烟) | |
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herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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24
beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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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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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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28
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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32
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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