st. ives-第40章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
idea。 Where could I be safer? they argued; and what was to become
of them without the darling of the prison? Well; it was soon shown
how safe I was! The dreadful day of the massacre came; the prison
was overrun; none paid attention to me; not even the last of my
〃pretty mammas;〃 for she had met another fate。 I was wandering
distracted; when I was found by some one in the interests of
Monsieur de Culemberg。 I understand he was sent on purpose; I
believe; in order to reach the interior of the prison; he had set
his hand to nameless barbarities: such was the price paid for my
worthless; whimpering little life! He gave me his hand; it was
wet; and mine was reddened; he led me unresisting。 I remember but
the one circumstance of my flight … it was my last view of my last
pretty mamma。 Shall I describe it to you?' I asked the Count; with
a sudden fierceness。
'Avoid unpleasant details;' observed my great…uncle gently。
At these words a sudden peace fell upon me。 I had been angry with
the man before; I had not sought to spare him; and now; in a
moment; I saw that there was nothing to spare。 Whether from
natural heartlessness or extreme old age; the soul was not at home;
and my benefactor; who had kept the fire lit in my room for a month
past … my only relative except Alain; whom I knew already to be a
hired spy … had trodden out the last sparks of hope and interest。
'Certainly;' said I; 'and; indeed; the day for them is nearly over。
I was taken to Monsieur de Culemberg's; … I presume; sir; that you
know the Abbe de Culemberg?'
He indicated assent without opening his eyes。
'He was a very brave and a very learned man … '
'And a very holy one;' said my uncle civilly。
'And a very holy one; as you observe;' I continued。 'He did an
infinity of good; and through all the Terror kept himself from the
guillotine。 He brought me up; and gave me such education as I
have。 It was in his house in the country at Dammarie; near Melun;
that I made the acquaintance of your agent; Mr。 Vicary; who lay
there in hiding; only to fall a victim at the last to a gang of
CHAUFFEURS。'
'That poor Mr。 Vicary!' observed my uncle。 'He had been many times
in my interests to France; and this was his first failure。 QUEL
CHARMANT HOMME; N'EST…CE PAS?'
'Infinitely so;' said I。 'But I would not willingly detain you any
further with a story; the details of which it must naturally be
more or less unpleasant for you to hear。 Suffice it that; by M。 de
Culemberg's own advice; I said farewell at eighteen to that kind
preceptor and his books; and entered the service of France; and
have since then carried arms in such a manner as not to disgrace my
family。'
'You narrate well; VOUS AVES LA VOIX CHAUDE;' said my uncle;
turning on his pillows as if to study me。 'I have a very good
account of you by Monsieur de Mauseant; whom you helped in Spain。
And you had some education from the Abbe de Culemberg; a man of a
good house? Yes; you will do very well。 You have a good manner
and a handsome person; which hurts nothing。 We are all handsome in
the family; even I myself; I have had my successes; the memories of
which still charm me。 It is my intention; my nephew; to make of
you my heir。 I am not very well content with my other nephew;
Monsieur le Vicomte: he has not been respectful; which is the
flattery due to age。 And there are other matters。'
I was half tempted to throw back in his face that inheritance so
coldly offered。 At the same time I had to consider that he was an
old man; and; after all; my relation; and that I was a poor one; in
considerable straits; with a hope at heart which that inheritance
might yet enable me to realise。 Nor could I forget that; however
icy his manners; he had behaved to me from the first with the
extreme of liberality and … I was about to write; kindness; but the
word; in that connection; would not come。 I really owed the man
some measure of gratitude; which it would be an ill manner to repay
if I were to insult him on his deathbed。
'Your will; monsieur; must ever be my rule;' said I; bowing。
'You have wit; MONSIEUR MON NEVEU;' said he; 'the best wit … the
wit of silence。 Many might have deafened me with their gratitude。
Gratitude!' he repeated; with a peculiar intonation; and lay and
smiled to himself。 'But to approach what is more important。 As a
prisoner of war; will it be possible for you to be served heir to
English estates? I have no idea: long as I have dwelt in England;
I have never studied what they call their laws。 On the other hand;
how if Romaine should come too late? I have two pieces of business
to be transacted … to die; and to make my will; and; however
desirous I may be to serve you; I cannot postpone the first in
favour of the second beyond a very few hours。'
'Well; sir; I must then contrive to be doing as I did before;' said
I。
'Not so;' said the Count。 'I have an alternative。 I have just
drawn my balance at my banker's; a considerable sum; and I am now
to place it in your hands。 It will be so much for you and so much
less … ' he paused; and smiled with an air of malignity that
surprised me。 'But it is necessary it should be done before
witnesses。 MONSIEUR LE VICOMTE is of a particular disposition; and
an unwitnessed donation may very easily be twisted into a theft。'
He touched a bell; which was answered by a man having the
appearance of a confidential valet。 To him he gave a key。
'Bring me the despatch…box that came yesterday; La Ferriere;' said
he。 'You will at the same time present my compliments to Dr。
Hunter and M。 l'Abbe; and request them to step for a few moments to
my room。'
The despatch…box proved to be rather a bulky piece of baggage;
covered with Russia leather。 Before the doctor and an excellent
old smiling priest it was passed over into my hands with a very
clear statement of the disposer's wishes; immediately after which;
though the witnesses remained behind to draw up and sign a joint
note of the transaction; Monsieur de Keroual dismissed me to my own
room; La Ferriere following with the invaluable box。
At my chamber door I took it from him with thanks; and entered
alone。 Everything had been already disposed for the night; the
curtains drawn and the fire trimmed; and Rowley was still busy with
my bedclothes。 He turned round as I entered with a look of welcome
that did my heart good。 Indeed; I had never a much greater need of
human sympathy; however trivial; than at that moment when I held a
fortune in my arms。 In my uncle's room I had breathed the very
atmosphere of disenchantment。 He had gorged my pockets; he had
starved every dignified or affectionate sentiment of a man。 I had
received so chilling an impression of age and experience that the
mere look of youth drew me to confide in Rowley: he was only a boy;
his heart must beat yet; he must still retain some innocence and
natural feelings; he could blurt out follies with his mouth; he was
not a machine to utter perfect speech! At the same time; I was
beginning to outgrow the painful impressions of my interview; my
spirits were beginning to revive; and at the jolly; empty looks of
Mr。 Rowley; as he ran forward to relieve me of the box; St。 Ives
became himself again。
'Now; Rowley; don't be in a hurry;' said I。 'This is a momentous
juncture。 Man and boy; you have been in my service about three
hours。 You must already have observed that I am a gentleman of a
somewhat morose disposition; and there is nothing that I more
dislike than the smallest appearance of familiarity。 Mr。 Pole or
Mr。 Powl; probably in the spirit of prophecy; warned you against
this danger。'
'Yes; Mr。 Anne;' said Rowley blankly。
'Now there has just arisen one of those rare cases; in which I am
willi