burlesques-第14章
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On the third day； however； as the sun was declining over the
Vosges； and the shadows were lengthening over the plain where the
warrior had obtained such triumphs；after having overcome two
hundred and thirteen knights of different nations； including the
fiery Dunois； the intrepid Walter Manny； the spotless Bayard； and
the undaunted Dugueselin； as the conqueror sat still erect on his
charger； and the multitudes doubted whether ever another champion
could be found to face him； three blasts of a trumpet were heard；
faint at first； but at every moment ringing more clearly； until a
knight in pink armor rode into the lists with his visor down； and
riding a tremendous dun charger； which he managed to the admiration
of all present。
The heralds asked him his name and quality。
〃Call me；〃 said he； in a hollow voice； 〃the Jilted Knight。〃 What
was it made the Lady of Barbazure tremble at his accents。
The knight refused to tell his name and qualities； but the
companion who rode with him； the young and noble Philibert de
Coquelicot； who was known and respected universally through the
neighborhood； gave a warranty for the birth and noble degree of the
Jilted Knightand Raoul de Barbazure； yelling hoarsely for a two…
hundred…and…fourteenth lance； shook the huge weapon in the air as
though it were a reed； and prepared to encounter the intruder。
According to the wont of chivalry； and to keep the point of the
spear from harm； the top of the unknown knight's lance was shielded
with a bung； which the warrior removed； and galloping up to
Barbazure's pavilion； over which his shield hung； touched that
noble cognizance with the sharpened steel。 A thrill of excitement
ran through the assembly at this daring challenge to a combat a
l'outrance。 〃Hast thou confessed； Sir Knight？〃 roared the
Barbazure； 〃take thy ground； and look to thyself； for by heaven
thy last hour is come！〃 〃Poor youth； poor youth！〃 sighed the
spectators； 〃he has called down his own fate。〃 The next minute the
signal was given； and as the simoom across the desert； the cataract
down the rock； the shell from the howitzer； each warrior rushed
from his goal。
。 。 。 。 。 。
〃Thou wilt not slay so good a champion？〃 said the Grand Duke； as at
the end of that terrific combat the knight in rose armor stood over
his prostrate foe； whose helmet had rolled off when he was at
length unhorsed； and whose bloodshot eyes glared unutterable hate
and ferocity on his conqueror。
〃Take thy life；〃 said he who had styled himself the Jilted Knight；
〃thou hast taken all that was dear to me。〃 And the sun setting；
and no other warrior appearing to do battle against him； he was
proclaimed the conqueror； and rode up to the duchess's balcony to
receive the gold chain which was the reward of the victor。 He
raised his visor as the smiling princess guerdoned himraised it；
and gave ONE sad look towards the Lady Fatima at her side！
〃Romane de Clos…Vougeot！〃 shrieked she； and fainted。 The Baron of
Barbazure heard the name as he writhed on the ground with his
wound； and by his slighted honor； by his broken ribs； by his roused
fury； he swore revenge； and the Lady Fatima； who had come to the
tourney as a queen； returned to her castle as a prisoner。
（As it is impossible to give the whole of this remarkable novel；
let it suffice to say briefly here； that in about a volume and a
half； in which the descriptions of scenery； the account of the
agonies of the baroness； kept on bread and water in her dungeon；
and the general tone of morality； are all excellently worked out；
the Baron de Barbazure resolves upon putting his wife to death by
the hands of the public executioner。）
。 。 。 。 。 。
Two minutes before the clock struck noon； the savage baron was on
the platform to inspect the preparation for the frightful ceremony
of mid…day。
The block was laid forththe hideous minister of vengeance； masked
and in black； with the flaming glaive in his hand； was ready。 The
baron tried the edge of the blade with his finger； and asked the
dreadful swordsman if his hand was sure？ A nod was the reply of
the man of blood。 The weeping garrison and domestics shuddered and
shrank from him。 There was not one there but loved and pitied the
gentle lady。
Pale； pale as a stone； she was brought from her dungeon。 To all
her lord's savage interrogatories； her reply had been； 〃I am
innocent。〃 To his threats of death； her answer was； 〃You are my
lord； my life is in your hands； to take or to give。〃 How few are
the wives； in our day； who show such angelic meekness！ It touched
all hearts around her； save that of the implacable Barbazure！ Even
the Lady Blanche； （Fatima's cousin）； whom he had promised to marry
upon his faithless wife's demise； besought for her kinswoman's
life； and a divorce； but Barbazure had vowed her death。
〃Is there no pity； sir？〃 asked the chaplain who had attended her。
〃No pity？〃 echoed the weeping serving…maid。
〃Did I not aye say I would die for my lord？〃 said the gentle lady；
and placed herself at the block。
Sir Raoul de Barbazure seized up the long ringlets of her raven
hair。 〃Now！〃 shouted he to the executioner； with a stamp of his
foot〃Now strike！〃
The man （who knew his trade） advanced at once； and poised himself
to deliver his blow： and making his flashing sword sing in the air；
with one irresistible； rapid stroke； it sheared clean off the head
of the furious； the bloodthirsty； the implacable Baron de Barbazure！
Thus he fell a victim to his own jealousy： and the agitation of the
Lady Fatima may be imagined； when the executioner； flinging off his
mask； knelt gracefully at her feet； and revealed to her the well…
known features of Romane de Clos…Vougeot。
LORDS AND LIVERIES。
BY THE AUTHORESS OF 〃DUKES AND DEJEUNERS；〃 〃HEARTS AND DIAMONDS；〃
〃MARCHIONESSES AND MILLINERS；〃 ETC。 ETC。
I。
〃CORBLEU！ What a lovely creature that was in the Fitzbattleaxe box
to…night；〃 said one of a group of young dandies who were leaning
over the velvet…cushioned balconies of the 〃Coventry Club；〃 smoking
their full…flavored Cubas （from Hudson's） after the opera。
Everybody stared at such an exclamation of enthusiasm from the lips
of the young Earl of Bagnigge； who was never heard to admire
anything except a coulis de dindonneau a la St。 Menehould； or a
supreme de cochon en torticolis a la Piffarde； such as Champollion；
the chef of the 〃Traveller's；〃 only knows how to dress； or the
bouquet of a flask of Medoc； of Carbonell's best quality； or a
goutte of Marasquin； from the cellars of Briggs and Hobson。
Alured de Pentonville； eighteenth Earl of Bagnigge； Viscount Paon
of Islington； Baron Pancras； Kingscross； and a Baronet； was； like
too many of our young men of ton； utterly blase； although only in
his twenty…fourth year。 Blest； luckily； with a mother of excellent
principles （who had imbued his young mind with that Morality which
is so superior to all the vain pomps of the world！） it had not been
always the young earl's lot to wear the coronet for which he now in
sooth cared so little。 His father； a captain of Britain's navy；
struck down by the side of the gallant Collingwood in the Bay of
Fundy； left little but his sword and spotless name to his young；
lovely； and inconsolable widow； who passed the first years of her
mourning in educating her child in an elegant though small cottage
in one of the romantic marine villages of beautiful Devonshire。
Her child！ What a gush of consolation filled the widow's heart as
she pressed him to it！ How faithfully did she instil into his
young bosom those principles which had been the pole…star of the
existence of his gallant father！
In this secluded retreat； rank and wealth almost boundless found
the widow and her boy。 The seventeenth Earlgallan
