joan of naples-第12章

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；　the　queen　seeing　in　Bertrand　her　husband's　executioner；　and　he　in　her　the　cause　of　his　crime；　possibly　of　his　speedy　punishment。　　Bertrand's　looks　were　disordered；　his　cheeks　hollow；　his　eyes　encircled　with　black　rings；　his　mouth　horribly　distorted；　his　arm　and　forefinger　extended　towards　his　accomplice；　he　seemed　to　behold　a　frightful　vision　rising　before　him。　　The　same　cord　he　had　used　when　he　strangled　Andre；　he　now　saw　round　the　queen's　neck；　so　tight　that　it　made　its　way　into　her　flesh：　an　invisible　force；　a　Satanic　impulse；　urged　him　to　strangle　with　his　own　hands　the　woman　he　had　loved　so　dearly；　had　at　one　time　adored　on　his　knees。　　The　count　rushed　out　of　the　room　with　gestures　of　desperation；　muttering　incoherent　words；　and　as　he　shewed　plain　signs　of　mental　aberration；　his　father；　Charles　of　Artois；　took　him　away；　and　they　went　that　same　evening　to　their　palace　of　St。　Agatha；　and　there　prepared　a　defence　in　case　they　should　be　attacked。

But　Joan's　punishment；　which　was　destined　to　be　slow　as　well　as　dreadful；　to　last　thirty…seven　years　andend　in　a　ghastly　death；　was　now　only　beginning。　　All　the　wretched　beings　who　were　stained　with　Andre's　death　came　in　turn　to　her　to　demand　the　price　of　blood。　　The　Catanese　and　her　son；　who　held　in　their　hands　not　only　the　queen's　honour　but　her　life；　now　became　doubly　greedy　and　exacting。　　Dona　Cancha　no　longer　put　any　bridle　on　her　licentiousness；　and　the　Empress　of　Constantinople　ordered　her　niece　to　marry　her　eldest　son；　Robert；　Prince　of　Tarentum。　　Joan；　consumed　by　remorse；　full　of　indignation　and　shame　at　the　arrogant　conduct　of　her　subjects；　dared　scarcely　lift　her　head；　and　stooped　to　entreaties；　only　stipulating　for　a　few　days'　delay　before　giving　her　answer：　the　empress　consented；　on　condition　that　her　son　should　come　to　reside　at　Castel　Nuovo；　with　permission　to　see　the　queen　once　a　day。　　Joan　bowed　her　head　in　silence；　and　Robert　of　Tarentum　was　installed　at　the　castle。

Charles　of　Durazzo；　who　by　the　death　of　Andre　had　practically　become　the　head　of　the　family；　and；　would；　by　the　terms　of　his　grandfather's　will；　inherit　the　kingdom　by　right　of　his　wife　Marie　in　the　case　of　Joan's　dying　without　lawful　issue；　sent　to　the　queen　two　commands：　first；　that　she　should　not　dream　of　contracting　a　new　marriage　without　first　consulting　him　in　the　choice　of　a　husband；　secondly；　that　she　should　invest　him　at　once　with　the　title　of　Duke　of　Calabria。　　To　compel　his　cousin　to　make　these　two　concessions；　he　added　that　if　she　should　be　so　ill　advised　as　to　refuse　either　of　them；　he　should　hand　over　to　justice　the　proofs　of　the　crime　and　the　names　of　the　murderers。　　Joan；　bending　beneath　the　weight　of　this　new　difficulty；　could　think　of　no　way　to　avoid　it；　but　Catherine；　who　alone　was　stout　enough　to　fight　this　nephew　of　hers；　insisted　that　they　must　strike　at　the　Duke　of　Durazzo　in　his　ambition　and　hopes；　and　tell　him；　to　begin　withwhat　was　the　factthat　the　queen　was　pregnant。　　If；　in　spite　of　this　news；　he　persisted　in　his　plans；　she　would　find　some　means　or　other；　she　said；　of　causing　trouble　and　discord　in　her　nephew's　family；　and　wounding　him　in　his　most　intimate　affections　or　closest　interests；　by　publicly　dishonouring　him　through　his　wife　or　his　mother。

Charles　smiled　coldly　when　his　aunt　came　to　tell　him　from　the　queen　that　she　was　about　to　bring　into　the　world　an　infant；　Andre's　posthumous　child。　　What　importance　could　a　babe　yet　unborn　possibly　haveas　a　fact；　it　lived　only　a　few　monthsin　the　eyes　of　a　man　who　with　such　admirable　coolness　got　rid　of　people　who　stood　in　his　wary；　and　that　moreover　by　the　hand　of　his　own　enemies？　　He　told　the　empress　that　the　happy　news　she　had　condescended　to　bring　him　in　person；　far　from　diminishing　his　kindness　towards　his　cousin；　inspired　him　rather　with　more　interest　and　goodwill；　that　consequently　he　reiterated　his　suggestion；　and　renewed　his　promise　not　to　seek　vengeance　for　his　dear　Andre；　since　in　a　certain　sense　the　crime　was　not　complete　should　a　child　be　destined　to　survive；　but　in　case　of　a　refusal　he　declared　himself　inexorable。　　He　cleverly　gave　Catherine　to　understand　that；　as　she　had　some　interest　herself　in　the　prince's　death；　she　ought　for　her　own　sake　to　persuade　the　queen　to　stop　legal　proceedings。

The　empress　seemed　to　be　deeply　impressed　by　her　nephew's　threatening　attitude；　and　promised　to　do　her　best　to　persuade　the　queen　to　grant　all　he　asked；　on　condition；　however；　that　Charles　should　allow　the　necessary　time　for　carrying　through　so　delicate　a　business。　　But　Catherine　profited　by　this　delay　to　think　out　her　own　plan　of　revenge；　and　ensure　the　means　of　certain　success。　　After　starting　several　projects　eagerly　and　then　regretfully　abandoning　them；　she　fixed　upon　an　infernal　and　unheard…of　scheme；　which　the　mind　would　refuse　to　believe　but　for　the　unanimous　testimony　of　historians。　Poor　Agnes　of　Duras；　Charles's　mother；　had　for　some　few　days　been　suffering　with　an　inexplicable　weariness；　a　slow　painful　malady　with　which　her　son's　restlessness　and　violence　may　have　had　not　a　little　to　do。　　The　empress　resolved　that　the　first　effect　of　her　hatred　was　to　fall　upon　this　unhappy　mother。　　She　summoned　the　Count　of　Terlizzi　and　Dona　Cancha；　his　mistress；　who　by　the　queen's　orders　had　been　attending　Agnes　since　her　illness　began。　　Catherine　suggested　to　the　young　chamberwoman；　who　was　at　that　time　with　child；　that　she　should　deceive　the　doctor　by　representing　that　certain　signs　of　her　own　condition　really　belonged　to　the　sick　woman；　so　that　he；　deceived　by　the　false　indications；　should　be　compelled　to　admit　to　Charles　of　Durazzo　that　his　mother　was　guilty　and　dishonoured。　　The　Count　of　Terlizzi；　who　ever　since　he　had　taken　part　in　the　regicide　trembled　in　fear　of　discovery；　had　nothing　to　oppose　to　the　empress's　desire；　and　Dona　Cancha；　whose　head　was　as　light　as　her　heart　was　corrupt；　seized　with　a　foolish　gaiety　on　any　chance　of　taking　her　revenge　on　the　prudery　of　the　only　princess　of　the　blood　who　led　a　pure　life　at　a　court　that　was　renowned　for　its　depravity。　　Once　assured　that　her　accomplices　would　be　prudent　and　obedient；　Catherine　began　to　spread　abroad　certain　vague　and　dubious　but　terribly　serious　rumours；　only　needing　proof；　and　soon　after　the　cruel　accusation　was　started　it　was　repeated　again　and　again　in　confidence；　until　it　reached　the　ears　of　Charles。

At　this　amazing　revelation　the　duke　was　seized　with　a　fit　of　trembling。　　He　sent　instantly　for　the　doctor；　and　asked　imperiously　what　was　the　cause　of　his　mother's　malady。　　The　doctor　turned　pale　and　stammered；　but　when　Charles　grew　threatening　he　admitted　that　he　had　certain　grounds　for　suspecting　that　the　duchess　was　enceinte；　but　as　he　might　easily　have　been　deceived　the　first　time；　he　would　make　a　second　investigation　before　pronouncing　his　opinion　in　so　serious　a　matter。　　The　next　day；　as　the　doctor　came　out　of　the　bedroom；　the　duke　met　him；　and　interrogating　him　with　an　agonised　gesture；　could　only　judge　by　the　silence　that　his　fears　were　too　well　confirmed。　But　the　doctor；　with　excess　of　caution；　declared　that　he　would　make　a　third　trial。　　Condemned　criminals　can　suffer　no　worse　than　Charles　in　the　long　hours　that　passed　before　that　fatal　moment　when　he　learned　that　his　mother　was　indeed　guilty。　　On　the　third　day　the　doctor　stated　on　his　soul　and　conscience　that　Agnes　of　Durazzo　was　pregnant。

〃Very　good；〃　said　Charles；　dismissing　the　doctor　with　no　sign　of　emotion。

That　evening　the　duchess　took　a　medicine　ordered　by　the　doctor；　and　when；　half　an　hour　later；　she　was　assailed　with　violent　pains；　the　duke　was　warned　that　perhaps　other　physicians　ought　to　be　consulted；　as　the　prescription　of　the　ordinary　doctor；　instead　of　bringing　about　an　improvement　in　her　state；　had　only　made　her　worse。

Charles　slowly　went　up　to　the　duchess's　room；　and　sending　away　all　the　people　who　were　standing　round　her　bed；　on　the　pretext　that　they　were　clumsy　and　made　his　mother　worse；　he　shut　the　door；　and　they　were　alone。　　The　poor　Agnes；　forgetting　her　internal　agony　when　she　saw　her　son；　pressed　his　hand　tenderly　and　smiled　through　her　tears。

Charles；　pale　beneath　his　bronzed　complexion；　his　forehead　moist　with　a　cold　sweat；　and　his　eyes　horribly　dilated；　bent　over　the　sick　woman　and　asked　her　gloomily

〃Are　you　a　little　better；　mother？〃

〃Ah；　I　am　in　pain；　in　frightful　pain；　my　poor　Charles。　　I　feel　as　though　I　have　molten　lead　in　my　veins。　　O　my　son；　call　your　brothers；　so　that　I　may　give　you　all　my　blessing　for　the　last　time；　for　I　cannot　hold　out　long　against　this　pain。　　I　am　burning。　　Mercy！　　Call　a　doctor：　I　know　I　have　been　poisoned。〃

Charles　did　not　stir　from　the　bedside。

〃Water！〃　cried　the　dying　woman　in　a　broken　voice；〃　water！　　A　doctor；　a　confessor！　　My　childrenI　want　my　children！〃

And　as　the　duke　paid　no　heed；　but　stood　moodily　silent；　the　poor　mother；　prostrated　by　pain；　fancied　that　grief　had　robbed　her　son　of　all　power　of　speech　or　movement；　and　so；　by　a　desperate　effort；　sat　up；　and　seizing　him　by　the　arm；　cried　with　all　the　strength　she　could　muster

〃Charles；　my　son；　what　is　it？　　My　poor　boy；　courage；　it　is　nothing；　I　hope。　　But　quick；　call　for　help；　call　a　doctor。　　Ah；　you　have　no　idea　of　what　I　suffer。〃

〃Your　doctor；〃　said　Charles　slowly　and　coldly；　each　word　piercing　his　mother's　heart　like　a　dagger；〃your　doctor　cannot　come。〃

〃Oh　why？〃　asked　Agnes；　stupefied。

〃Because　no　one　ought　to　live　who　knows　the　secret　of　our　shame。〃

〃Unhappy　man！〃　she　cried；　overwhelmed　with；　pain　and　terror；　〃you　have　murdered　him！　　Perhaps　you　have　poisoned　your　mother　too！　Charles；　Charles；　have　mercy　on　your　own　soul！〃

〃It　is　your　doing；〃　said　Charles；　without　show　of　emotion：　〃you　have　driven　me　into　crime　and　despair；　you　have　caused　my　dishonour　in　this　world　and　my　damnation　in　the　next。〃

〃What　are　you　saying？　　My　own　Charles；　have　mercy！　　Do　not　let　me　die　in　this　horrible　uncertainty；　what　fatal　delusion　is　blinding　you？　Speak；　my　son；　speak：　I　am　not　feeling　the　poison　now。　　What　have　I　done？　　Of　what　have　I　been　accused？〃

She　looked　with　haggard　eyes　at　her　son：　her　maternal　love　still　struggled　against　the　awful　thought　of　matricide；　at　last；　seeing　that　Charles　remained　speechless　in　spite　of　her　entreaties；　she　repeated；　with　a　piercing　cry

〃Speak；　in　God's　name；　speak　before　I　die！〃

〃Mother；　you　are　with　child。〃

〃What！〃　cried　Agnes；　with　a　loud　cry；　which　broke　her　very　heart。　〃O　God；　forgive　him！　　Charles；　your　mother　forgives　and　blesses　you　in　death。〃

Charles　fell　upon　her　neck；　desperately　crying　for　help：　he　would　now　have　gladly　saved　her　at　the　cost　of　his　life；　but　it　was　too　late。　He　uttered　one　cry　that　came　from　his　heart；　and　was　found　stretched　out　upon　his　mother's　corpse。

Strange　comments　were　made　at　the　court　on　the　death　of　the　Duchess　of　Durazzo　and　her　doctor's　disappearance；　but　there　was　no　doubt　at　all　that　grief　and　gloom　were　furrowing　wrinkles　on　Charles's　brow；　which　was　already　sad　enough。　　Catherine　alone　knew　the　terrible　cause　of　her　nephew's　depression；　for　to　her　it　was　very　plain　that　the　duke　at　one　blow　had　killed　his　mother　and　her　physician。　　But　she　had　never　expected　a　reaction　so　sudden　and　violent　in　a　man　who　shrank　before　no　crime。　　She　had　thought　Charles　capable　of　everyt