a woman of thirty-第27章

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〃Towards　the　barrier？　No。〃

〃Have　you　opened　the　door　to　any　one？〃

〃Now；　am　I　in　the　habit　of　answering　the　door　myself〃

〃I　ask　your　pardon；　General；　but　just　now　it　seems　to　me　that〃

〃Really！〃　cried　the　Marquis　wrathfully。　〃Have　you　a　mind　to　try　joking　with　me？　What　right　have　you？〃

〃None　at　all；　none　at　all；　my　lord；〃　cried　the　corporal；　hastily　putting　in　a　soft　answer。　〃You　will　excuse　our　zeal。　We　know；　of　course；　that　a　peer　of　France　is　not　likely　to　harbor　a　murderer　at　this　time　of　night；　but　as　we　want　any　information　we　can　get〃

〃A　murderer！〃　cried　the　General。　〃Who　can　have　been〃

〃M。　le　Baron　de　Mauny　has　just　been　murdered。　It　was　a　blow　from　an　axe；　and　we　are　in　hot　pursuit　of　the　criminal。　We　know　for　certain　that　he　is　somewhere　in　this　neighborhood；　and　we　shall　hunt　him　down。　By　your　leave；　General；〃　and　the　man　swung　himself　into　the　saddle　as　he　spoke。　It　was　well　that　he　did　so；　for　a　corporal　of　gendarmerie　trained　to　alert　observation　and　quick　surmise　would　have　had　his　suspicions　at　once　if　he　had　caught　sight　of　the　General's　face。　Everything　that　passed　through　the　soldier's　mind　was　faithfully　revealed　in　his　frank　countenance。

〃Is　it　known　who　the　murderer　is？〃　asked　he。

〃No；〃　said　the　other；　now　in　the　saddle。　〃He　left　the　bureau　full　of　banknotes　and　gold　untouched。〃

〃It　was　revenge；　then；〃　said　the　Marquis。

〃On　an　old　man？　pshaw！　No；　no；　the　fellow　hadn't　time　to　take　it；　that　was　all；〃　and　the　corporal　galloped　after　his　comrades；　who　were　almost　out　of　sight　by　this　time。

For　a　few　minutes　the　General　stood；　a　victim　to　perplexities　which　need　no　explanation；　but　in　a　moment　he　heard　the　servants　returning　home；　their　voices　were　raised　in　some　sort　of　dispute　at　the　cross…　roads　of　Montreuil。　When　they　came　in；　he　gave　vent　to　his　feelings　in　an　explosion　of　rage；　his　wrath　fell　upon　them　like　a　thunderbolt；　and　all　the　echoes　of　the　house　trembled　at　the　sound　of　his　voice。　In　the　midst　of　the　storm　his　own　man；　the　boldest　and　cleverest　of　the　party；　brought　out　an　excuse；　they　had　been　stopped；　he　said；　by　the　gendarmerie　at　the　gate　of　Montreuil；　a　murder　had　been　committed；　and　the　police　were　in　pursuit。　In　a　moment　the　General's　anger　vanished；　he　said　not　another　word；　then；　bethinking　himself　of　his　own　singular　position；　drily　ordered　them　all　off　to　bed　at　once；　and　left　them　amazed　at　his　readiness　to　accept　their　fellow　servant's　lying　excuse。

While　these　incidents　took　place　in　the　yard；　an　apparently　trifling　occurrence　had　changed　the　relative　positions　of　three　characters　in　this　story。　The　Marquis　had　scarcely　left　the　room　before　his　wife　looked　first　towards　the　key　on　the　mantel…shelf；　and　then　at　Helene；　and；　after　some　wavering；　bent　towards　her　daughter　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃Helene　your　father　has　left　the　key　on　the　chimney…piece。〃

The　girl　looked　up　in　surprise　and　glanced　timidly　at　her　mother。　The　Marquise's　eyes　sparkled　with　curiosity。

〃Well；　mamma？〃　she　said；　and　her　voice　had　a　troubled　ring。

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　is　going　on　upstairs。　If　there　is　anybody　up　there；　he　has　not　stirred　yet。　Just　go　up〃

〃/I/？〃　cried　the　girl；　with　something　like　horror　in　her　tones。

〃Are　you　afraid？〃

〃No；　mamma；　but　I　thought　I　heard　a　man's　footsteps。〃

〃If　I　could　go　myself；　I　should　not　have　asked　you　to　go；　Helene；〃　said　her　mother　with　cold　dignity。　〃If　your　father　were　to　come　back　and　did　not　see　me；　he　would　go　to　look　for　me　perhaps；　but　he　would　not　notice　your　absence。〃

〃Madame；　if　you　bid　me　go；　I　will　go；〃　said　Helene；　〃but　I　shall　lose　my　father's　good　opinion〃

〃What　is　this！〃　cried　the　Marquise　in　a　sarcastic　tone。　〃But　since　you　take　a　thing　that　was　said　in　joke　in　earnest；　I　now　/order/　you　to　go　upstairs　and　see　who　is　in　the　room　above。　Here　is　the　key；　child。　When　your　father　told　you　to　say　nothing　about　this　thing　that　happened；　he　did　not　forbid　you　to　go　up　to　the　room。　Go　at　onceand　learn　that　a　daughter　ought　never　to　judge　her　mother。〃

The　last　words　were　spoken　with　all　the　severity　of　a　justly　offended　mother。　The　Marquise　took　the　key　and　handed　it　to　Helene；　who　rose　without　a　word　and　left　the　room。

〃My　mother　can　always　easily　obtain　her　pardon；〃　thought　the　girl；　〃but　as　for　me；　my　father　will　never　think　the　same　of　me　again。　Does　she　mean　to　rob　me　of　his　tenderness？　Does　she　want　to　turn　me　out　of　his　house？〃

These　were　the　thoughts　that　set　her　imagination　in　a　sudden　ferment；　as　she　went　down　the　dark　passage　to　the　mysterious　door　at　the　end。　When　she　stood　before　it；　her　mental　confusion　grew　to　a　fateful　pitch。　Feelings　hitherto　forced　down　into　inner　depths　crowded　up　at　the　summons　of　these　confused　thoughts。　Perhaps　hitherto　she　had　never　believed　that　a　happy　life　lay　before　her；　but　now；　in　this　awful　moment；　her　despair　was　complete。　She　shook　convulsively　as　she　set　the　key　in　the　lock；　so　great　indeed　was　her　agitation；　that　she　stopped　for　a　moment　and　laid　her　hand　on　her　heart；　as　if　to　still　the　heavy　throbs　that　sounded　in　her　ears。　Then　she　opened　the　door。

The　creaking　of　the　hinges　sounded　doubtless　in　vain　on　the　murderer's　ears。　Acute　as　were　his　powers　of　hearing；　he　stood　as　if　lost　in　thought；　and　so　motionless　that　he　might　have　been　glued　to　the　wall　against　which　he　leaned。　In　the　circle　of　semi…opaque　darkness；　dimly　lit　by　the　bull's…eye　lantern；　he　looked　like　the　shadowy　figure　of　some　dead　knight；　standing　for　ever　in　his　shadowy　mortuary　niche　in　the　gloom　of　some　Gothic　chapel。　Drops　of　cold　sweat　trickled　over　the　broad；　sallow　forehead。　An　incredible　fearlessness　looked　out　from　every　tense　feature。　His　eyes　of　fire　were　fixed　and　tearless；　he　seemed　to　be　watching　some　struggle　in　the　darkness　beyond　him。　Stormy　thoughts　passed　swiftly　across　a　face　whose　firm　decision　spoke　of　a　character　of　no　common　order。　His　whole　person；　bearing；　and　frame　bore　out　the　impression　of　a　tameless　spirit。　The　man　looked　power　and　strength　personified；　he　stood　facing　the　darkness　as　if　it　were　the　visible　image　of　his　own　future。

These　physical　characteristics　had　made　no　impression　upon　the　General；　familiar　as　he　was　with　the　powerful　faces　of　the　group　of　giants　gathered　about　Napoleon；　speculative　curiosity；　moreover；　as　to　the　why　and　wherefore　of　the　apparition　had　completely　filled　his　mind；　but　Helene；　with　feminine　sensitiveness　to　surface　impressions；　was　struck　by　the　blended　chaos　of　light　and　darkness；　grandeur　and　passion；　suggesting　a　likeness　between　this　stranger　and　Lucifer　recovering　from　his　fall。　Suddenly　the　storm　apparent　in　his　face　was　stilled　as　if　by　magic；　and　the　indefinable　power　to　sway　which　the　stranger　exercised　upon　others；　and　perhaps　unconsciously　and　as　by　reflex　action　upon　himself；　spread　its　influence　about　him　with　the　progressive　swiftness　of　a　flood。　A　torrent　of　thought　rolled　away　from　his　brow　as　his　face　resumed　its　ordinary　expression。　Perhaps　it　was　the　strangeness　of　this　meeting；　or　perhaps　it　was　the　mystery　into　which　she　had　penetrated；　that　held　the　young　girl　spellbound　in　the　doorway；　so　that　she　could　look　at　a　face　pleasant　to　behold　and　full　of　interest。　For　some　moments　she　stood　in　the　magical　silence；　a　trouble　had　come　upon　her　never　known　before　in　her　young　life。　Perhaps　some　exclamation　broke　from　Helene；　perhaps　she　moved　unconsciously；　or　it　may　be　that　the　hunted　criminal　returned　of　his　own　accord　from　the　world　of　ideas　to　the　material　world；　and　heard　some　one　breathing　in　the　room；　however　it　was；　he　turned　his　head　towards　his　host's　daughter；　and　saw　dimly　in　the　shadow　a　noble　face　and　queenly　form；　which　he　must　have　taken　for　an　angel's；　so　motionless　she　stood；　so　vague　and　like　a　spirit。

〃Monsieur　。　。　。〃　a　trembling　voice　cried。

The　murderer　trembled。

〃A　woman！〃　he　cried　under　his　breath。　〃Is　it　possible？　Go；〃　he　cried；　〃I　deny　that　any　one　has　a　right　to　pity；　to　absolve；　or　condemn　me。　I　must　live　alone。　Go；　my　child；〃　he　added；　with　an　imperious　gesture；　〃I　should　ill　requite　the　service　done　me　by　the　master　of　the　house　if　I　were　to　allow　a　single　creature　under　his　roof　to　breathe　the　same　air　with　me。　I　must　submit　to　be　judged　by　the　laws　of　the　world。〃

The　last　words　were　uttered　in　a　lower　voice。　Even　as　he　realized　with　a　profound　intuition　all　the　manifold　misery　awakened　by　that　melancholy　thought；　the　glance　that　he　gave　Helene　had　something　of　the　power　of　the　serpent；　stirring　a　whole　dormant　world　in　the　mind　of　the　strange　girl　before　him。　To　her　that　glance　was　like　a　light　revealing　unknown　lands。　She　was　stricken　with　strange　trouble；　helpless；　quelled　by　a　magnetic　power　exerted　unconsciously。　Trembling　and　ashamed；　she　went　out　and　returned　to　the　salon。　She　had　scarcely　entered　the　room　before　her　father　came　back；　so　that　she　had　not　time　to　say　a　word　to　her　mother。

The　General　was　wholly　absorbed　in　thought。　He　folded　his　arms；　and　paced　silently　to　and　fro　between　the　windows　which　looked　out　upon　the　street　and　the　second　row　which　gave　upon　the　garden。　His　wife　lay　the　sleeping　Abel　on　her　knee；　and　little　Moina　lay　in　untroubled　slumber　in　the　low　chair；　like　a　bird　in　its　nest。　Her　older　sister　stared　into　the　fire；　a　skein　of　silk　in　one　hand；　a　needle　in　the　other。

Deep　silence　prevailed；　broken　only　by　lagging　footsteps　on　the　stairs；　as　one　by　one　the　servants　crept　away　to　bed；　there　was　an　occasional　burst　of　stifled　laughter；　a　last　echo　of　the　wedding　festivity；　or　doors　were　opened　as　they　still　talked　among　themselves；　then　shut。　A　smothered　sound　came　now　and　again　from　the　bedrooms；　a　chair　fell；　the　old　coachman　coughed　feebly；　then　all　was　silent。

In　a　little　while　the　dark　majesty　with　which　sleeping　earth　is　invested　at　midnight　brought　all　things　under　its　sway。　No　lights　shone　but　the　light　of　the　stars。　The　frost　gripped　the　ground。　There　was　not　a　sound　of　a　voice；　nor　a　living　creature　stirring。　The　crackling　of　the　fire　only　seemed　to　make　the　depth　of　the　silence　more　fully　felt。

The　church　clock　of　Montreuil　had　just　struck　one；　when　an　almost　inaudible　sound　of　a　light　footstep　came　from　the　second　flight　of　stairs。　The　Marquis　and　his　daughter；　both　believing　that　M。　de　Mauny's　murderer　was　a　prisoner　above；　thought　that　one　of　the　maids　had　come　down；　and　no　one　was　at　all　surprised　to　hear　the　door　open　in　the　ante…chamber。　Quite　suddenly　the　murderer　appeared　in　their　midst。　The　Marquis　himself　was　sunk　in　deep　musings；　the　mother　and　daughter　were　silent；　the　one　from　keen　curiosity；　the　other　from　sheer　astonishment；　so　that　the　visitor　was　almost　half…way　across　the　room　when　he　spoke　to　the　General。

〃Sir；　the　two　hours　are　almost　over；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　that　was　strangely　calm　and　musical。

〃/You　here/！〃　cried　the　General。　〃By　what　means？〃　and　he　gave　wife　and　daughter　a　formidable　questioning　glance。　Helene　grew　red　as　fire。

〃You！〃　he　went　on；　in　a　tone　filled　with　horror。　〃/You/　among　us！　A　murderer　covered　with　blood！　You　are　a　blot　on　this　picture！　Go；　go　out！〃　he　added　in　a　burst　of　rage。

At　that　word　〃murderer；〃　the　Marquise　cried　out；　as　for　Helene；　it　seemed　to　mark　an　epoch　in　her　life；　there　was　not　a　trace　of　surprise　in　her　face。　She　looked　as　if　she　had