the village rector-第62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！
soul。
〃If it is really so；〃 he said； 〃as your confessor； I order you to
receive him； to be kind and affectionate to him； to quit that garment
of wrath； and forgive him as God will forgive you。 Can there still be
the remains of passion of a soul I believed to be purified。 Burn this
last incense on the altar of your penitence； or else your repentance
is a lie。〃
〃There was still that effort to makeand it is made；〃 she answered；
wiping her eyes。 〃The devil lurked in that last fold of my heart； and
God； no doubt； put into Monsieur de Grandville's mind the thought that
brings him here。 Ah！ how many times must God strike me？〃 she cried。
She stopped； as if to say a mental prayer； then she returned to Madame
Sauviat and said in a low voice：
〃My dear mother； be kind and gentle to Monsieur de Grandville。〃
The old woman clasped her hands with a feverish shudder。
〃There is no longer any hope；〃 she said； seizing the rector's hand。
The carriage； announced by the postilion's whip； was now coming up the
last slope； the gates were opened； it entered the courtyard； and the
travellers came at once to the terrace。 They were the illustrious
Archbishop Dutheil； who was on his way to consecrate Monseigneur
Gabriel de Rastignac； the /procureur…general/； Monsieur de Grandville；
Monsieur Grossetete； Monsieur Roubaud； and one of the most celebrated
physicians in Paris； Horace Bianchon。
〃You are very welcome；〃 said Veronique； advancing toward them；〃you
particularly；〃 she added； offering her hand to Monsieur de Grandville；
who took it and pressed it。
〃I counted on the intervention of Monseigneur and on that of my friend
Monsieur Grossetete to obtain for me a favorable reception；〃 said the
/procureur…general/。 〃It would have been a life…long regret to me if I
did not see you again。〃
〃I thank those who brought you here；〃 replied Veronique； looking at
the Comte de Grandville for the first time in fifteen years。 〃I have
felt averse to you for a very long time； but I now recognize the
injustice of my feelings； and you shall know why； if you can stay till
the day after to…morrow at Montegnac。〃 Then turning to Horace Bianchon
and bowing to him； she added： 〃Monsieur will no doubt confirm my
apprehensions。 God must have sent you； Monseigneur；〃 she said； turning
to the archbishop。 〃In memory of our old friendship you will not
refuse to assist me in my last moments。 By whose mercy is it that I
have about me all the beings who have loved and supported me in life？〃
As she said the word /loved/ she turned with a gracious look to
Monsieur de Grandville； who was touched to tears by this mark of
feeling。 Silence fell for a few moments on every one。 The doctors
wondered by what occult power this woman could still keep her feet；
suffering as she must have suffered。 The other three men were so
shocked at the ravages disease had suddenly made in her that they
communicated their thoughts by their eyes only。
〃Allow me；〃 she said； with her accustomed grace； 〃to leave you now
with these gentlemen； the matter is urgent。〃
She bowed to her guests； gave an arm to each of the doctors； and
walked toward the chateau feebly and slowly； with a difficulty which
told only too plainly of the coming catastrophe。
〃Monsieur Bonnet；〃 said the archbishop； looking at the rector； 〃you
have accomplished a miracle。〃
〃Not I； but God； Monseigneur；〃 he replied。
〃They said she was dying；〃 said Monsieur Grossetete； 〃but she is dead；
there is nothing left of her but spirit。〃
〃A soul；〃 said Gerard。
〃And yet she is still the same；〃 cried the /procureur…general/。
〃A stoic after the manner of the Porch philosophers；〃 said the tutor。
They walked in silence the whole length of the balustrade； looking at
the landscape still red with the declining light。
〃To me who saw this scene thirteen years ago；〃 said the archbishop；
pointing to the fertile plain； the valley； and the mountains of
Montegnac； 〃this miracle is as extraordinary as that we have just
witnessed。 But how comes it that you allow Madame Graslin to walk
about？ She ought to be in her bed。〃
〃She was there；〃 said Madame Sauviat； 〃for ten days she did not leave
it； but to…day she insisted on getting up to take a last look at the
landscape。〃
〃I can understand that she wanted to bid farewell to her great
creation；〃 said Monsieur de Grandville； 〃but she risked expiring on
this terrace。〃
〃Monsieur Roubaud told us not to thwart her；〃 said Madame Sauviat。
〃What a stupendous work！ what a miracle has been accomplished！〃 said
the archbishop； whose eyes were roving over the scene before him。 〃She
has literally sown the desert！ But we know； monsieur；〃 he added；
turning to Gerard； 〃that your scientific knowledge and your labors
have a large share in it。〃
〃They have been only the workmen；〃 replied the mayor。 〃Yes； the hands
only； she has been the thought。〃
Madame Sauviat here left the group； to hear； if possible； the decision
of the doctors。
〃We need some heroism ourselves；〃 said Monsieur de Grandville to the
rector and the archbishop； 〃to enable us to witness this death。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Monsieur Grossetete； who overheard him； 〃but we ought to
do much for such a friend。〃
After several turns up and down the terrace； these persons； full of
solemn thoughts； saw two farmers approaching them； sent as a
deputation from the village； where the inhabitants were in a state of
painful anxiety to know the sentence pronounced by the physician from
Paris。
〃They are still consulting； and as yet we know nothing； my friends；〃
said the archbishop。
As he spoke； Monsieur Roubaud appeared coming toward them； and they
all hurried to meet him。
〃Well？〃 said the mayor。
〃She cannot live forty…eight hours longer；〃 replied Monsieur Roubaud。
〃During my absence the disease has fully developed； Monsieur Bianchon
does not understand how it was possible for her to have walked。 Such
phenomenal exhibitions of strength are always caused by great mental
exaltation。 So； gentlemen；〃 said the doctor to the priests； 〃she
belongs to you now； science is useless； and my illustrious fellow…
physician thinks you have barely time enough for your last offices。〃
〃Let us go now and say the prayers for the forty hours；〃 said the
rector to his parishioners； turning to leave the terrace。 〃His Grace
will doubtless administer the last sacraments。〃
The archbishop bowed his head； he could not speak； his eyes were full
of tears。 Every one sat down； or leaned against the balustrade；
absorbed in his own thought。 The church bells presently sent forth a
few sad calls； and then the whole population were seen hurrying toward
the porch。 The gleam of the lighted tapers shone through the trees in
Monsieur Bonnet's garden； the chants resounded。 No color was left in
the landscape but the dull red hue of the dusk； even the birds had
hushed their songs； the tree…frog alone sent forth its long； clear；
melancholy note。
〃I will go and do my duty；〃 said the archbishop； turning away with a
slow step like a man overcome with emotion。
The consultation had taken place in the great salon of the chateau。
This vast room communicated with a state bedchamber； furnished in red
damask； in which Graslin had displayed a certain opulent magnificence。
Veronique had not entered it six times in fourteen years； the grand
apartments were quite useless to her； and she never received her
friends there。 But now the effort she had made to accomplish her last
obligation； and to overcome her last repugnance had exhausted her
strength； and she was wholly unable to mount the stairs to her own
rooms。
When the illustrious physician had taken the patient's hand and felt
her pulse he looked at Monsieur Roubaud and made him a sign； then
together they lifted her and carried her into the chamber。 Aline
hastily opened the doors。 Like all state beds the one in this room had
no sheets； and the two doctors laid Madame Graslin on the damask
coverlet。 Roubaud opened the windows； pushed back the outer blinds；
and called。 The servants and Madame Sauviat went in。 The tapers in the
candelabra were lighted。
〃It is ordained；〃 said the dying woman； smiling； 〃that my death shall
be what that
