a woman of thirty-第32章

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〃There　was　that　crime　of　his；〃　muttered　the　General　to　himself。

〃But　how　if　that　crime　was　a　virtue？〃　she　asked；　with　cold　dignity。　〃How　if　man's　justice　had　failed　to　avenge　a　great　wrong？〃

〃But　a　private　revenge！〃　exclaimed　her　father。

〃But　what　is　hell；〃　she　cried；　〃but　a　revenge　through　all　eternity　for　the　wrong　done　in　a　little　day？〃

〃Ah！　you　are　lost！　He　has　bewitched　and　perverted　you。　You　are　talking　wildly。〃

〃Stay　with　us　one　day；　father；　and　if　you　will　but　listen　to　him；　and　see　him；　you　will　love　him。〃

〃Helene；　France　lies　only　a　few　leagues　away；〃　he　said　gravely。

Helene　trembled；　then　she　went　to　the　porthole　and　pointed　to　the　savannas　of　green　water　spreading　far　and　wide。

〃There　lies　my　country；〃　she　said；　tapping　the　carpet　with　her　foot。

〃But　are　you　not　coming　with　me　to　see　your　mother　and　your　sister　and　brothers？〃

〃Oh！　yes；〃　she　cried；　with　tears　in　her　voice；　〃if　/he/　is　willing；　if　he　will　come　with　me。〃

〃So；〃　the　General　said　sternly；　〃you　have　neither　country　nor　kin　now；　Helene？〃

〃I　am　his　wife；〃　she　answered　proudly；　and　there　was　something　very　noble　in　her　tone。　〃This　is　the　first　happiness　in　seven　years　that　has　not　come　to　me　through　him；〃　she　saidthen；　as　she　caught　her　father's　hand　and　kissed　it〃and　this　is　the　first　word　of　reproach　that　I　have　heard。〃

〃And　your　conscience？〃

〃My　conscience；　he　is　my　conscience！〃　she　cried；　trembling　from　head　to　foot。　〃Here　he　is！　Even　in　the　thick　of　a　fight　I　can　tell　his　footstep　among　all　the　others　on　deck；〃　she　cried。

A　sudden　crimson　flushed　her　cheeks　and　glowed　in　her　features；　her　eyes　lighted　up；　her　complexion　changed　to　velvet　whiteness；　there　was　joy　and　love　in　every　fibre；　in　the　blue　veins；　in　the　unconscious　trembling　of　her　whole　frame。　That　quiver　of　the　sensitive　plant　softened　the　General。

It　was　as　she　had　said。　The　captain　came　in；　sat　down　in　an　easy…　chair；　took　up　his　oldest　boy；　and　began　to　play　with　him。　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　for　the　General's　deep　musing　had　grown　vague　and　dreamy；　and　the　daintily　furnished　cabin　and　the　playing　children　seemed　like　a　nest　of　halcyons；　floating　on　the　waves；　between　sky　and　sea；　safe　in　the　protection　of　this　man　who　steered　his　way　amid　the　perils　of　war　and　tempest；　as　other　heads　of　household　guide　those　in　their　care　among　the　hazards　of　common　life。　He　gazed　admiringly　at　Helenea　dreamlike　vision　of　some　sea　goddess；　gracious　in　her　loveliness；　rich　in　happiness；　all　the　treasures　about　her　grown　poor　in　comparison　with　the　wealth　of　her　nature；　paling　before　the　brightness　of　her　eyes；　the　indefinable　romance　expressed　in　her　and　her　surroundings。

The　strangeness　of　the　situation　took　the　General　by　surprise；　the　ideas　of　ordinary　life　were　thrown　into　confusion　by　this　lofty　passion　and　reasoning。　Chill　and　narrow　social　conventions　faded　away　before　this　picture。　All　these　things　the　old　soldier　felt；　and　saw　no　less　how　impossible　it　was　that　his　daughter　should　give　up　so　wide　a　life；　a　life　so　variously　rich；　filled　to　the　full　with　such　passionate　love。　And　Helene　had　tasted　danger　without　shrinking；　how　could　she　return　to　the　pretty　stage；　the　superficial　circumscribed　life　of　society？

It　was　the　captain　who　broke　the　silence　at　last。

〃Am　I　in　the　way？〃　he　asked；　looking　at　his　wife。

〃No；〃　said　the　General；　answering　for　her。　〃Helene　has　told　me　all。　I　see　that　she　is　lost　to　us〃

〃No；〃　the　captain　put　in　quickly；　〃in　a　few　years'　time　the　statute　of　limitations　will　allow　me　to　go　back　to　France。　When　the　conscience　is　clear；　and　a　man　has　broken　the　law　in　obedience　to〃　he　stopped　short；　as　if　scorning　to　justify　himself。

〃How　can　you　commit　new　murders；　such　as　I　have　seen　with　my　own　eyes；　without　remorse？〃

〃We　had　no　provisions；〃　the　privateer　captain　retorted　calmly。

〃But　if　you　had　set　the　men　ashore〃

〃They　would　have　given　the　alarm　and　sent　a　man…of…war　after　us；　and　we　should　never　have　seen　Chili　again。〃

〃Before　France　would　have　given　warning　to　the　Spanish　admiralty〃　began　the　General。

〃But　France　might　take　it　amiss　that　a　man；　with　a　warrant　still　out　against　him；　should　seize　a　brig　chartered　by　Bordeaux　merchants。　And　for　that　matter；　have　you　never　fired　a　shot　or　so　too　many　in　battle？〃

The　General　shrank　under　the　other's　eyes。　He　said　no　more；　and　his　daughter　looked　at　him　half　sadly；　half　triumphant。

〃General；〃　the　privateer　continued；　in　a　deep　voice；　〃I　have　made　it　a　rule　to　abstract　nothing　from　booty。　But　even　so；　my　share　will　be　beyond　a　doubt　far　larger　than　your　fortune。　Permit　me　to　return　it　to　you　in　another　form〃

He　drew　a　pile　of　banknotes　from　the　piano；　and　without　counting　the　packets　handed　a　million　of　francs　to　the　Marquis。

〃You　can　understand；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　cannot　spend　my　time　in　watching　vessels　pass　by　to　Bordeaux。　So　unless　the　dangers　of　this　Bohemian　life　of　ours　have　some　attraction　for　you；　unless　you　care　to　see　South　America　and　the　nights　of　the　tropics；　and　a　bit　of　fighting　now　and　again　for　the　pleasure　of　helping　to　win　a　triumph　for　a　young　nation；　or　for　the　name　of　Simon　Bolivar；　we　must　part。　The　long　boat　manned　with　a　trustworthy　crew　is　ready　for　you。　And　now　let　us　hope　that　our　third　meeting　will　be　completely　happy。〃

〃Victor；〃　said　Helene　in　a　dissatisfied　tone；　〃I　should　like　to　see　a　little　more　of　my　father。〃

〃Ten　minutes　more　or　less　may　bring　up　a　French　frigate。　However；　so　be　it；　we　shall　have　a　little　fun。　The　men　find　things　dull。〃

〃Oh；　father；　go！〃　cried　Helene；　〃and　take　these　keepsakes　from　me　to　my　sister　and　brothers　andmother；〃　she　added。　She　caught　up　a　handful　of　jewels　and　precious　stones；　folded　them　in　an　Indian　shawl；　and　timidly　held　it　out。

〃But　what　shall　I　say　to　them　from　you？〃　asked　he。　Her　hesitation　on　the　word　〃mother〃　seemed　to　have　struck　him。

〃Oh！　can　you　doubt　me？　I　pray　for　their　happiness　every　day。〃

〃Helene；〃　he　began；　as　he　watched　her　closely；　〃how　if　we　should　not　meet　again？　Shall　I　never　know　why　you　left　us？〃

〃That　secret　is　not　mine；〃　she　answered　gravely。　〃Even　if　I　had　the　right　to　tell　it；　perhaps　I　should　not。　For　ten　years　I　was　more　miserable　than　words　can　say〃

She　broke　off；　and　gave　her　father　the　presents　for　her　family。　The　General　had　acquired　tolerably　easy　views　as　to　booty　in　the　course　of　a　soldier's　career；　so　he　took　Helene's　gifts　and　comforted　himself　with　the　reflection　that　the　Parisian　captain　was　sure　to　wage　war　against　the　Spaniards　as　an　honorable　man；　under　the　influence　of　Helene's　pure　and　high…minded　nature。　His　passion　for　courage　carried　all　before　it。　It　was　ridiculous；　he　thought；　to　be　squeamish　in　the　matter；　so　he　shook　hands　cordially　with　his　captor；　and　kissed　Helene；　his　only　daughter；　with　a　soldier's　expansiveness；　letting　fall　a　tear　on　the　face　with　the　proud；　strong　look　that　once　he　had　loved　to　see。　〃The　Parisian；〃　deeply　moved；　brought　the　children　for　his　blessing。　The　parting　was　over；　the　last　good…bye　was　a　long　farewell　look；　with　something　of　tender　regret　on　either　side。



A　strange　sight　to　seaward　met　the　General's　eyes。　The　/Saint…　Ferdinand/　was　blazing　like　a　huge　bonfire。　The　men　told　off　to　sink　the　Spanish　brig　had　found　a　cargo　of　rum　on　board；　and　as　the　/Othello/　was　already　amply　supplied；　had　lighted　a　floating　bowl　of　punch　on　the　high　seas；　by　way　of　a　joke；　a　pleasantry　pardonable　enough　in　sailors；　who　hail　any　chance　excitement　as　a　relief　from　the　apparent　monotony　of　life　at　sea。　As　the　General　went　over　the　side　into　the　long…boat　of　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/；　manned　by　six　vigorous　rowers；　he　could　not　help　looking　at　the　burning　vessel；　as　well　as　at　the　daughter　who　stood　by　her　husband's　side　on　the　stern　of　the　/Othello/。　He　saw　Helene's　white　dress　flutter　like　one　more　sail　in　the　breeze；　he　saw　the　tall；　noble　figure　against　a　background　of　sea；　queenly　still　even　in　the　presence　of　Ocean；　and　so　many　memories　crowded　up　in　his　mind；　that；　with　a　soldier's　recklessness　of　life；　he　forgot　that　he　was　being　borne　over　the　grave　of　the　brave　Gomez。

A　vast　column　of　smoke　rising　spread　like　a　brown　cloud；　pierced　here　and　there　by　fantastic　shafts　of　sunlight。　It　was　a　second　sky；　a　murky　dome　reflecting　the　glow　of　the　fire　as　if　the　under　surface　had　been　burnished；　but　above　it　soared　the　unchanging　blue　of　the　firmament；　a　thousand　times　fairer　for　the　short…lived　contrast。　The　strange　hues　of　the　smoke　cloud；　black　and　red；　tawny　and　pale　by　turns；　blurred　and　blending　into　each　other；　shrouded　the　burning　vessel　as　it　flared；　crackled　and　groaned；　the　hissing　tongues　of　flame　licked　up　the　rigging；　and　flashed　across　the　hull；　like　a　rumor　of　riot　flashing　along　the　streets　of　a　city。　The　burning　rum　sent　up　blue　flitting　lights。　Some　sea　god　might　have　been　stirring　the　furious　liquor　as　a　student　stirs　the　joyous　flames　of　punch　in　an　orgy。　But　in　the　overpowering　sunlight；　jealous　of　the　insolent　blaze；　the　colors　were　scarcely　visible；　and　the　smoke　was　but　a　film　fluttering　like　a　thin　scarf　in　the　noonday　torrent　of　light　and　heat。

The　/Othello/　made　the　most　of　the　little　wind　she　could　gain　to　fly　on　her　new　course。　Swaying　first　to　one　side；　then　to　the　other；　like　a　stag　beetle　on　the　wing；　the　fair　vessel　beat　to　windward　on　her　zigzag　flight　to　the　south。　Sometimes　she　was　hidden　from　sight　by　the　straight　column　of　smoke　that　flung　fantastic　shadows　across　the　water；　then　gracefully　she　shot　out　clear　of　it；　and　Helene；　catching　sight　of　her　father；　waved　her　handkerchief　for　yet　one　more　farewell　greeting。

A　few　more　minutes；　and　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/　went　down　with　a　bubbling　turmoil；　at　once　effaced　by　the　ocean。　Nothing　of　all　that　had　been　was　left　but　a　smoke　cloud　hanging　in　the　breeze。　The　/Othello/　was　far　away；　the　long…boat　had　almost　reached　land；　the　cloud　came　between　the　frail　skiff　and　the　brig；　and　it　was　through　a　break　in　the　swaying　smoke　that　the　General　caught　the　last　glimpse　of　Helene。　A　prophetic　vision！　Her　dress　and　her　white　handkerchief　stood　out　against　the　murky　background。　Then　the　brig　was　not　even　visible　between　the　green　water　and　the　blue　sky；　and　Helene　was　nothing　but　an　imperceptible　speck；　a　faint　graceful　line；　an　angel　in　heaven；　a　mental　image；　a　memory。

The　Marquis　had　retrieved　his　fortunes；　when　he　died；　worn　out　with　toil。　A　few　months　after　his　death；　in　1833；　the　Marquise　was　obliged　to　take　Moina　to　a　watering…place　in　the　Pyrenees；　for　the　capricious　child　had　a　wish　to　see　the　beautiful　mountain　scenery。　They　left　the　baths；　and　the　following　tragical　incident　occurred　on　their　way　home。

〃Dear　me；　mother；〃　said　Moina；　〃it　was　very　foolish　of　us　not　to　stay　among　the　mountains　a　few　days　longer。　It　was　much　nicer　there。　Did　you　hear　that　horrid　child　moaning　all　night；　and　that　wretched　woman；　gabbling　away　in　patois　no　doubt；　for　I　could　not　understand　a　single　word　she　said。　What　kind　of　people　can　they　have　put　in　the　next　room　to　ours？　This　is　one　of　the　horridest　nights　I　have　ever　spent　in　my　life。〃

〃I　heard　nothing；〃　said　the　Marquise；　〃but　I　will　see　the　landlady；　darling；　and　engage　the　next　room；　and　then　we　shall　have　the　whole　suite　of　rooms　to　ourselves；　and　there　will　be　no　m