the muse of the department-第18章
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her arm was inside the sleeve of a soldier's uniform。
〃 ' 〃I am my lady's waiting…woman；〃 said she； 〃and ready to reward you
with my own person if you show yourself gallant and helpful in our
necessities。〃
〃 ' 〃Gladly；〃 said I； seeing that I was inevitably started on a
perilous adventure。
〃 'Under favor of the darkness； I felt whether the person and figure
of the girl were in keeping with the idea I had formed of her from her
tone of voice。 The good soul had； no doubt； made up her mind from the
first to accept all the chances of this strange act of kidnapping； for
she kept silence very obligingly； and the coach had not been more than
ten minutes on the way when she accepted and returned a very
satisfactory kiss。 The lover； who sat opposite to me； took no offence
at an occasional quite involuntary kick； as he did not understand
French； I conclude he paid no heed to them。
〃 ' 〃I can be your mistress on one condition only；〃 said the woman； in
reply to the nonsense I poured into her ear； carried away by the
fervor of an improvised passion； to which everything was unpropitious。
〃 ' 〃And what is it？〃
〃 ' 〃That you will never attempt to find out whose servant I am。 If I
am to go to you； it must be at night； and you must receive me in the
dark。〃
〃 ' 〃Very good；〃 said I。
〃 'We had got as far as this； when the carriage drew up under a garden
wall。
〃 ' 〃You must allow me to bandage your eyes；〃 said the maid。 〃You can
lean on my arm； and I will lead you。〃
〃 'She tied a handkerchief over my eyes； fastening it in a tight knot
at the back of my head。 I heard the sound of a key being cautiously
fitted to the lock of a little side door by the speechless lover who
had sat opposite to me。 In a moment the waiting…woman； whose shape was
slender； and who walked with an elegant jauntiness'/meneho/； as they
call it；〃 Monsieur Gravier explained in a superior tone； 〃a word which
describes the swing which women contrive to give a certain part of
their dress that shall be nameless。'The waiting…woman'it is the
surgeon…major who is speaking；〃 the narrator went on〃 'led me along
the gravel walks of a large garden； till at a certain spot she
stopped。 From the louder sound of our footsteps； I concluded that we
were close to the house。 〃Now silence！〃 said she in a whisper； 〃and
mind what you are about。 Do not overlook any of my signals； I cannot
speak without terrible danger for both of us； and at this moment your
life is of the first importance。〃 Then she added： 〃My mistress is in a
room on the ground floor。 To get into it we must pass through her
husband's room and close to his bed。 Do not cough； walk softly； and
follow me closely； so as not to knock against the furniture or tread
anywhere but on the carpets I laid down。〃
〃 'Here the lover gave an impatient growl； as a man annoyed by so much
delay。
〃 'The woman said no more； I heard a door open； I felt the warm air of
the house； and we stole in like thieves。 Presently the girl's light
hand removed the bandage。 I found myself in a lofty and spacious room；
badly lighted by a smoky lamp。 The window was open； but the jealous
husband had fitted it with iron bars。 I was in the bottom of a sack；
as it were。
〃 'On the ground a woman was lying on a mat； her head was covered with
a muslin veil； but I could see her eyes through it full of tears and
flashing with the brightness of stars； she held a handkerchief in her
mouth； biting it so hard that her teeth were set in it： I never saw
finer limbs； but her body was writhing with pain like a harp…string
thrown on the fire。 The poor creature had made a sort of struts of her
legs by setting her feet against a chest of drawers； and with both
hands she held on to the bar of a chair； her arms outstretched； with
every vein painfully swelled。 She might have been a criminal
undergoing torture。 But she did not utter a cry； there was not a
sound； all three speechless and motionless。 The husband snored with
reassuring regularity。 I wanted to study the waiting…woman's face； but
she had put on a mask； which she had removed； no doubt； during our
drive； and I could see nothing but a pair of black eyes and a
pleasingly rounded figure。
〃 'The lover threw some towels over his mistress' legs and folded the
muslin veil double over her face。 As soon as I had examined the lady
with care； I perceived from certain symptoms which I had noted once
before on a very sad occasion in my life； that the infant was dead。 I
turned to the maid in order to tell her this。 Instantly the suspicious
stranger drew his dagger； but I had time to explain the matter to the
woman； who explained in a word or two to him in a low voice。 On
hearing my opinion； a quick； slight shudder ran through him from head
to foot like a lightning flash； I fancied I could see him turn pale
under his black velvet mask。
〃 'The waiting…woman took advantage of a moment when he was bending in
despair over the dying woman； who had turned blue； to point to some
glasses of lemonade standing on a table； at the same time shaking her
head negatively。 I understood that I was not to drink anything in
spite of the dreadful thirst that parched my throat。 The lover was
thirsty too； he took an empty glass； poured out some fresh lemonade；
and drank it off。
〃 'At this moment the lady had a violent attack of pain； which showed
me that now was the time to operate。 I summoned all my courage； and in
about an hour had succeeded in delivering her of the child； cutting it
up to extract it。 The Spaniard no longer thought of poisoning me；
understanding that I had saved the mother's life。 Large tears fell on
his cloak。 The woman uttered no sound； but she trembled like a hunted
animal； and was bathed in sweat。
〃 'At one horribly critical moment she pointed in the direction of her
husband's room； he had turned in his sleep； and she alone had heard
the rustle of the sheets； the creaking of the bed or of the curtain。
We all paused； and the lover and the waiting…woman； through the
eyeholes of their masks； gave each other a look that said； 〃If he
wakes； shall we kill him？〃
〃 'At that instant I put out my hand to take the glass of lemonade the
Spaniard had drunk of。 He； thinking that I was about to take one of
the full glasses； sprang forward like a cat； and laid his long dagger
over the two poisoned goblets； leaving me his own； and signing to me
to drink what was left。 So much was conveyed by this quick action； and
it was so full of good feeling； that I forgave him his atrocious
schemes for killing me； and thus burying every trace of this event。
〃 'After two hours of care and alarms； the maid and I put her mistress
to bed。 The lover； forced into so perilous an adventure； had； to
provide means in case of having to fly； a packet of diamonds stuck to
paper； these he put into my pocket without my knowing it； and I may
add parenthetically； that as I was ignorant of the Spaniard's
magnificent gift； my servant stole the jewels the day after； and went
off with a perfect fortune。
〃 'I whispered my instructions to the waiting…woman as to the further
care of her patient； and wanted to be gone。 The maid remained with her
mistress； which was not very reassuring； but I was on my guard。 The
lover made a bundle of the dead infant and the blood…stained clothes；
tying it up tightly； and hiding it under his cloak； he passed his hand
over my eyes as if to bid me to see nothing； and signed to me to take
hold of the skirt of his coat。 He went first out of the room； and I
followed； not without a parting glance at my lady of an hour。 She；
seeing the Spaniard had gone out； snatched off her mask and showed me
an exquisite face。
〃 'When I found myself in the garden； in the open air； I confess that
I breathed as if a heavy load had been lifted from my breast。 I
followed my guide at a respectful distance； watching his least
movement with keen attention。 Having reached the little door； he took
my hand and pressed a seal to my lips； set in a ring which I had seen
him wearing on a finger of his left hand； and I gave him to understand
that this significant sign would be obeyed。 In the street two horses
were waiting； we each mounted one。 My
