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diff --git a/41881-8.txt b/41881-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4938e6b..0000000 --- a/41881-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5007 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Corsican Brothers, by Alexandre Dumas - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Corsican Brothers - -Author: Alexandre Dumas - -Translator: Henry Frith - -Release Date: January 20, 2013 [EBook #41881] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CORSICAN BROTHERS *** - - - - -Produced by Paul Haxo from page images generously made -available by Google and the Bodleian Library. - - - - - -THE -CORSICAN BROTHERS - -A NOVEL - -BY -ALEXANDRE DUMAS - -TRANSLATED BY HENRY FRITH - -LONDON -GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS -BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL -NEW YORK: 416, BROOME STREET -1880 - - -LONDON: -PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDER, -MILFORD LANE, STRAND, W.C. - - -TO -HENRY IRVING -THE LATEST REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TWIN BROTHERS -THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED BY -THE TRANSLATOR - - - -THE -CORSICAN BROTHERS. - -CHAPTER I. - -IN the beginning of March, 1841, I was travelling in Corsica. - -Nothing is more picturesque and more easy to accomplish than a journey -in Corsica. You can embark at Toulon, in twenty hours you will be in -Ajaccio, and then in twenty-four hours more you are at Bastia. - -Once there you can hire or purchase a horse. If you wish to hire a -horse you can do so for five francs a-day; if you purchase one you can -have a good animal for one hundred and fifty francs. And don't sneer -at the moderate price, for the horse hired or purchased will perform -as great feats as the famous Gascon horse which leaped over the Pont -Neuf, which neither Prospero nor Nautilus, the heroes of Chantilly and -the Champ de Mars could do. He will traverse roads which Balmat -himself could not cross without _crampons,_ and will go over bridges -upon which Auriol would need a balancing pole. - -As for the traveller, all he has to do is to give the horse his head -and let him go as he pleases; he does not mind the danger. We may add -that with this horse, which can go anywhere, the traveller can -accomplish his fifteen leagues a day without stopping to bait. - -From time to time, while the tourist may be halting to examine some -ancient castle, built by some old baron or legendary hero, or to -sketch a tower built ages ago by the Genoese, the horse will be -contented to graze by the road side, or to pluck the mosses from the -rocks in the vicinity. - -As to lodging for the night, it is still more simple in Corsica. The -traveller having arrived at a village, passes down through the -principal street, and making his own choice of the house wherein he -will rest, he knocks at the door. An instant after, the master or -mistress will appear upon the threshold, invite the traveller to -dismount; offer him a share of the family supper and the whole of his -own bed, and next morning, when seeing him safely resume his journey, -will thank him for the preference he has accorded to his house. - -As for remuneration, such a thing is never hinted at. The master would -regard it as an insult if the subject were broached. If, however, the -servant happen to be a young girl, one may fitly offer her a coloured -handkerchief, with which she can make up a picturesque coiffure for a -fête day. If the domestic be a male he will gladly accept a poignard, -with which he can kill his enemy, should he meet him. - -There is one thing more to remark, and that is, as sometimes happens, -the servants of the house are relatives of the owner, and the former -being in reduced circumstances, offer their services to the latter in -consideration of board and lodging and a few piastres per month. - -And it must not be supposed that the masters are not well served by -their cousins to the fifteenth and sixteenth degree, because the -contrary is the case, and the custom is not thought anything of. -Corsica is a French Department certainly, but Corsica is very far from -being France. - -As for robbers, one never hears of them, yet there are bandits in -abundance; but these gentlemen must in no wise be confounded one with -another. - -So go without fear to Ajaccio, to Bastia, with a purse full of money -hanging to your saddle-bow, and you may traverse the whole island -without a shadow of danger, but do not go from Oceana to Levaco, if -you happen to have an enemy who has declared the Vendetta against you, -for I would not answer for your safety during that short journey of -six miles. - -Well, then, I was in Corsica, as I have said, at the beginning of the -month of March, and I was alone; Jadin having remained at Rome. - -I had come across from Elba, had disembarked at Bastia, and there had -purchased a horse at the above-mentioned price. - -I had visited Corte and Ajaccio, and just then I was traversing the -province of Sartène. - -On the particular day of which I am about to speak I was riding from -Sartène to Sullacaro. - -The day's journey was short, perhaps a dozen leagues, in consequence -of detours, and on account of my being obliged to climb the slopes of -the mountain chain, which, like a backbone, runs through the island. I -had a guide with me, for fear I should lose my way in the maquis. - -It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when we arrived at the -summit of the hill, which at the same time overlooks Olmeto and -Sullacaro. There we stopped a moment to look about us. - -"Where would your Excellency wish to stay the night?" asked the guide. - -I looked down upon the village, the streets of which appeared almost -deserted. Only a few women were visible, and they walked quickly -along, and frequently looked cautiously around them. - -As in virtue of the rules of Corsican hospitality, to which I have -already referred, it was open to me to choose for my resting place any -one of the hundred or hundred and twenty houses of which the village -was composed, I therefore carried my eyes from house to house till -they lighted upon one which promised comfortable quarters. It was a -square mansion, built in a fortified sort of style and machicolated in -front of the windows and above the door. - -This was the first time I had seen these domestic fortifications; but -I may mention that the province of Sartène is the classic ground of -the Vendetta. - -"Ah, good!" said my guide, as he followed the direction of my -hand--"that is the house of Madame Savilia de Franchi. Go on, go on, -Signor, you have not made a bad choice, and I can see you do not want -for experience in these matters." - -I should note here that in this 86th department of France Italian is -universally spoken. - -"But," I said, "may it not be inconvenient if I demand hospitality -from a lady, for if I understand you rightly, this house belongs to a -lady." - -"No doubt," he replied, with an air of astonishment; "but what -inconvenience does your lordship think you will cause?" - -"If the lady be young," I replied, moved by a feeling of -propriety--or, perhaps, let us say, of Parisian self-respect--"a night -passed under her roof might compromise her." - -"Compromise her!" repeated the guide, endeavouring to probe the -meaning of the word I had rendered in Italian with all the emphasis -which one would hazard a word in a strange tongue. - -"Yes, of course," I replied, beginning to feel impatient; "the lady is -a widow, I suppose?" - -"Yes, Excellency." - -"Well, then, will she receive a young man into her house?" - -In 1841 I was thirty-six years old, or thereabouts, and was entitled -to call myself young. - -"Will she receive a young man!" exclaimed the guide; "why, what -difference can it make whether you are young or old?" - -I saw that I should get no information out of him by this mode of -interrogation, so I resumed-- - -"How old is Madame Savilia?" - -"Forty, or nearly so." - -"Ah," I said, replying more to my thoughts than to my guide, "all the -better. She has children, no doubt?" - -"Yes, two sons--fine young men both." - -"Shall I see them?" - -"You will see one of them--he lives at home." - -"Where is the other, then?" - -"He lives in Paris." - -"How old are these sons?" - -"Twenty-one." - -"What, both?" - -"Yes, they are twins." - -"What professions do they follow?" - -"The one in Paris is studying law." - -"And the other?" - -"The other is a Corsican." - -"Indeed!" was my reply to this characteristic answer, made in the most -matter-of-fact tone. "Well, now, let us push on for the house of -Madame Savilia de Franchi." - -We accordingly resumed our journey, and entered the village about ten -minutes afterwards. - -I now remarked what I had not noticed from the hill, namely, that -every house was fortified similarly to Madame Savilia's. Not so -completely, perhaps, for that the poverty of the inhabitants could not -attain to, but purely and simply with oaken planks, by which the -windows were protected, loop-holes only being left for rifle barrels; -some apertures were simply bricked up. - -I asked my guide what he called these loop-holes, and he said they -were known as _archères_--a reply which convinced me that they were -used anterior to the invention of firearms. - -As we advanced through the streets we were able the more fully to -comprehend the profound character of the solitude and sadness of the -place. - -Many houses appeared to have sustained a siege, and the marks of the -bullets dotted the walls. - -From time to time as we proceeded we caught sight of a curious eye -flashing upon us from an embrasure; but it was impossible to -distinguish whether the spectator were a man or a woman. - -We at length reached the house which I had indicated to my guide, and -which was evidently the most considerable in the village. - -As we approached it more nearly, one thing struck me, and that was, -fortified to all outward appearance as it was, it was not so in -reality, for there were neither oaken planks, bricks, nor loop-holes, -but simple squares of glass, protected at night by wooden shutters. - -It is true that the shutters showed holes which could only have been -made by the passage of a bullet; but they were of old date, and could -not have been made within the previous ten years. - -Scarcely had my guide knocked, when the door was opened, not -hesitatingly, nor in a timid manner, but widely, and a valet, or -rather I should say a man appeared. - -It is the livery that makes the valet, and the individual who then -opened the door to us wore a velvet waistcoat, trowsers of the same -material, and leather gaiters. The breeches were fastened at the waist -by a parti-coloured silk sash, from the folds of which protruded the -handle of a Spanish knife. - -"My friend," I said, "is it indiscreet of me, who knows nobody in -Sullacaro, to ask hospitality of your mistress?" - -"Certainly not, your Excellency," he replied; "the stranger does -honour to the house before which he stops." "Maria," he continued, -turning to a servant, who was standing behind him, "will you inform -Madame Savilia that a French traveller seeks hospitality?" - -As he finished speaking he came down the eight rough ladder-like steps -which led to the entrance door, and took the bridle of my horse. - -I dismounted. - -"Your Excellency need have no further concern," he said; "all your -luggage will be taken to your room." - -I profited by this gracious invitation to idleness--one of the most -agreeable which can be extended to a traveller. - - - -CHAPTER II. - -I SLOWLY ascended the steps and entered the house, and at a corner of -the corridor I found myself face to face with a tall lady dressed in -black. - -I understood at once that this lady of thirty-eight or forty years of -age, and still beautiful, was the mistress of the house. - -"Madame," said I, bowing deeply, "I am afraid you will think me -intrusive, but the custom of the country may be my excuse, and your -servant's invitation my authority to enter." - -"You are welcome to the mother," replied Madame de Franchi, "and you -will almost immediately be welcomed by the son. From this moment, sir, -the house belongs to you; use it as if it were your own." - -"I come but to beg hospitality for one night, madame," I answered; -"to-morrow morning, at daybreak, I will take my departure." - -"You are free to do as you please, sir; but I hope that you will -change your mind, and that we shall have the honour of your company -for a longer period." - -I bowed again, and Madame continued-- - -"Maria, show this gentleman to my son Louis' chamber; light the fire -at once, and carry up some hot water. You will excuse me," she said, -turning again to me as the servant departed, "but I always fancy that -the first wants of a tired traveller are warm water and a fire. Will -you please to follow my maid, sir; and you need have no hesitation in -asking her for anything you may require. We shall sup in an hour, and -my son, who will be home by that time, will have the honour to wait -upon you." - -"I trust you will excuse my travelling dress, madame." - -"Yes, sir," she replied smiling; "but on condition that you, on your -part, will excuse the rusticity of your reception." - -I bowed my thanks, and followed the servant upstairs. - -The room was situated on the first floor, and looked out towards the -rear of the house, upon a pretty and extensive garden, well planted -with various trees, and watered by a charming little stream, which -fell into the Tavaro. - -At the further end the prospect was bounded by a hedge, so thick as to -appear like a wall. As is the case in almost all Italian houses, the -walls of the rooms were white-washed and frescoed. - -I understood immediately that Madame de Franchi had given me this, her -absent son's chamber, because it was the most comfortable one in the -house. - -While Maria was lighting the fire and fetching the hot water, I took -it into my head to make an inventory of the room, and try to arrive at -an estimation of the character of its usual occupant by those means. - -I immediately put this idea into execution, and beginning with the -left hand, I took mental notes of the various objects by which I was -surrounded. - -The furniture all appeared to be modern, a circumstance which in that -part of the island, where civilization had not then taken deep root, -appeared to indicate no inconsiderable degree of luxury. It was -composed of an iron bedstead and bedding, a sofa, four arm-chairs, six -other occasional chairs, a wardrobe, half book case and half bureau, -all of mahogany, from the first cabinet maker in Ajaccio. - -The sofas and chairs were covered with chintz, and curtains of similar -material fell before the windows, and hung round the bed. - -I had got so far with my inventory when Maria left the room, and I was -enabled to push my investigation a little closer. - -I opened the book-case, and found within a collection of the works of -our greatest poets. I noticed Corneille, Racine, Molière, La Fontaine, -Ronsard, Victor Hugo, and Lamartine. - -Our moralists--Montaigne, Pascal, Labruyère. - -Our historians--Mezeray, Chateaubriand, Augustin Thierry. - -Our philosophers--Cuvier, Beudant, Elie de Beaumont. - -Besides these there were several volumes of romances and other books, -amongst which I recognized, with a certain pride, my own "Impression -of Travel." - -The keys were in the drawer of the bureau. I opened one of them. - -Here I found fragments of a history of Corsica, a work upon the best -means of abolishing the Vendetta, some French verses, and some Italian -sonnets, all in manuscript. This was more than I expected, and I had -the presumption to conclude that I need not seek much farther to form -my opinion of the character of Monsieur Louis de Franchi. - -He appeared to be a quiet, studious young man, a partizan of the -French reformers, and then I understood why he had gone to Paris to -become an advocate. - -There was, without doubt, a great future for him in this course. I -made all these reflections as I was dressing. My toilette, as I had -hinted to Madame de Franchi, although not wanting in a certain -picturesqueness, demanded that some allowance should be made for it. - -It was composed of a vest of black velvet, open at seams of the -sleeves, so as to keep me cooler during the heat of the day, and -slashed _à l'Espagnole,_ permitting a silken chemise to appear -underneath. My legs were encased in velvet breeches to the knee, and -thence protected by Spanish gaiters, embroidered in Spanish silk. A -felt hat, warranted to take any shape, but particularly that of a -sombrero, completed my costume. - -I recommend this dress to all travellers as being the most convenient -I am acquainted with, and I was in the act of dressing, when the same -man who had introduced me appeared at the door. - -He came to announce that his young master, Monsieur Lucien de Franchi, -had that instant arrived, and who desired to pay his respects to me if -I were ready to receive him. - -I replied that I was at the disposal of Monsieur Lucien de Franchi if -he would do me the honour to come up. - -An instant afterwards I heard a rapid step approaching my room, and -almost immediately afterwards I was face to face with my host. - - - -CHAPTER III. - -HE was, as my guide had told me, a young man of about twenty-one years -of age, with black hair and eyes, his face browned by the sun, rather -under than over the average height, but remarkably well-proportioned. - -In his haste to welcome me he had come up, just as he was, in his -riding-costume, which was composed of a redingote of green cloth, to -which a cartridge-pouch gave a somewhat military air, grey pantaloons -with leather let in on the inner side of the legs, boots and spurs. -His head-dress was a cap similar to those worn by our Chasseurs -d'Afrique. - -From either side of his pouch there hung a gourd and a pistol, and he -carried an English carbine in addition. - -Notwithstanding the youthful appearance of my host, whose upper lip -was as yet scarcely shaded by a moustache, he wore an air of -independence and resolution, which struck me very forcibly. - -Here was a man fitted for strife, and accustomed to live in the midst -of danger, but without despising it, grave because he was solitary, -calm because he was strong. - -With a single glance he took me all in, my luggage, my arms, the dress -I had just taken off, and that which I had just donned. - -His glance was as rapid and as sure as that of a man whose very life -may depend upon a hasty survey of his surroundings. - -"I trust you will excuse me if I disturb you," he said; "but I come -with good intentions. I wish to see if you require anything. I am -always somewhat uneasy when any of you gentlemen from the continent -pay us a visit, for we are still so uncivilized, we Corsicans, that it -is really with fear and trembling that we exercise, particularly to -Frenchmen, our own hospitality, which will, I fear, soon be the only -thing that will remain to us." - -"You have no reason to fear," I replied; "it would be difficult to say -what more a traveller can require beyond what Madame de Franchi has -supplied. Besides," I continued, glancing round the apartment, "I must -confess I do not perceive any of the want of civilization you speak of -so frankly, and were it not for the charming prospect from those -windows, I should fancy myself in an apartment in the Chaussee -d'Antin." - -"Yes," returned the young man, "it is rather a mania with my poor -brother Louis; he is so fond of living _à la Française;_ but I very -much doubt whether, when he leaves Paris, the poor attempt at -civilization here will appear to him sufficient on his return home as -it formerly did." - -"Has your brother been long away from Corsica?" I inquired. - -"For the last ten months." - -"You expect him back soon?" - -"Oh, not for three or four years." - -"That is a very long separation for two brothers, who probably were -never parted before." - -"Yes, and particularly if they love each other as we do." - -"No doubt he will come to see you before he finishes his studies?" - -"Probably; he has promised us so much, at least." - -"In any case, nothing need prevent you from paying him a visit?" - -"No, I never leave Corsica." - -There was in his tone, as he made this reply, that love of country -which astonishes the rest of the universe. - -I smiled. - -"It appears strange to you," he said, smiling in his turn, "when I -tell you that I do not wish to leave a miserable country like ours; -but you must know that I am as much a growth of the island as the oak -or the laurel; the air I breathe must be impregnated with the odours -of the sea and of the mountains. I must have torrents to cross, rocks -to scale, forests to explore. I must have space; liberty is necessary -to me, and if you were to take me to live in a town I believe I should -die." - -"But how is it there is such a great difference between you and your -brother in this respect?" - -"And you would add with so great a physical resemblance, if you knew -him." - -"Are you, then, so very much alike?" - -"So much so, that when we were children our parents were obliged to -sew a distinguishing mark upon our clothes." - -"And as you grew up?" I suggested. - -"As we grew up our habits caused a very slight change in our -appearance, that is all. Always in a study, poring over books and -drawings, my brother grew somewhat pale, while I, being always in the -open air, became bronzed, as you see." - -"I hope," I said, "that you will permit me to judge of this -resemblance, and if you have any commission for Monsieur Louis, you -will charge me with it." - -"Yes, certainly, with great pleasure, if you will be so kind. Now, -will you excuse me? I see you are more advanced in your toilet than I, -and supper will be ready in a quarter of an hour." - -"You surely need not trouble to change on my account." - -"You must not reproach me with this, for you have yourself set me the -example; but, in any case, I am now in a riding dress, and must change -it for a mountaineer's costume, as, after supper, I have to make an -excursion in which boots and spurs would only serve to hinder me." - -"You are going out after supper, then?" I asked. - -"Yes," he replied, "to a rendezvous." - -I smiled. - -"Ah, not in the sense you understand it--this is a matter of -business." - -"Do you think me so presumptuous as to believe I have a right to your -conscience?" - -"Why not? One should live so as to be able to proclaim what one has -done. I never had a mistress, and I never shall have one. If my -brother should marry, and have children, it is probable that I shall -never take a wife. If, on the contrary, he does not marry, perhaps I -shall, so as to prevent our race from becoming extinct. Did I not tell -you," he added, laughing, "that I am a regular savage, and had come -into the world a hundred years too late? But I continue to chatter -here like a crow, and I shall not be ready by the time supper is on -the table." - -"But cannot we continue the conversation?" I said. "Your chamber, I -believe, is opposite, and we can talk through the open doors." - -"We can do better than that; you can come into my room while I dress. -You are a judge of arms, I fancy. Well, then, you shall look at mine. -There are some there which are valuable--from an historical point of -view, I mean." - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE suggestion quite accorded with my inclination to compare the -chambers of the brothers, and I did not hesitate to adopt it. I -followed my host, who, opening the door, paused in front of me to show -me the way. - -This time I found myself in a regular arsenal. All the furniture was -of the fifteenth or sixteenth century--the carved and canopied -bedstead, supported by great posts, was draped with green damask _à -fleur d'or;_ the window curtains were of the same material. The walls -were covered with Spanish leather, and in the open spaces were -sustained trophies of Gothic and modern arms. - -There was no mistaking the tastes of the occupant of this room: they -were as warlike as those of his brother were peaceable. - -"Look here," he said, passing into an inner room, "here you are in -three centuries at once--see! I will dress while you amuse yourself, -for I must make haste or supper will be announced." - -"Which are the historic arms of which you spoke amongst all these -swords, arquebuses, and poignards?" I asked. - -"There are three. Let us take them in order. If you look by the head -of my bed you will find a poignard with a very large hilt--the pommel -forms a seal." - -"Yes, I have it." - -"That is the dagger of Sampietro." - -"The famous Sampietro, the assassin of Vanina?" - -"The assassin! No, the avenger." - -"It is the same thing, I fancy." - -"To the rest of the world, perhaps--not in Corsica." - -"And is the dagger authentic?" - -"Look for yourself. It carries the arms of Sampietro--only the -fleur-de-lis of France is missing. You know that Sampietro was not -authorized to wear the lily until after the siege of Perpignan." - -"No, I was not aware of that fact. And how did you become possessed of -this poignard?" - -"Oh! it has been in our family for three hundred years. It was given -to a Napoleon de Franchi by Sampietro himself." - -"Do you remember on what occasion?" - -"Yes. Sampietro and my ancestor fell into an ambuscade of Genoese, and -defended themselves like lions. Sampietro's helmet was knocked off, -and a Genoese on horseback was about to kill Sampietro with his mace -when my ancestor plunged his dagger into a joint in his enemy's -armour. The rider feeling himself wounded spurred his horse, carrying -away in his flight the dagger so firmly embedded in his armour that he -was unable to withdraw it, and as my ancestor very much regretted the -loss of his favourite weapon Sampietro gave him his own. Napoleon took -great care of it, for it is of Spanish workmanship, as you see, and -will penetrate two five-franc pieces one on top of another." - -"May I make the attempt?" - -"Certainly." - -Placing the coins upon the floor, I struck a sharp blow with the -dagger. Lucien had not deceived me. - -When I withdrew the poignard I found both pieces pierced through and -through, fixed upon the point of the dagger. - -"This is indeed the dagger of Sampietro," I said. "But what astonishes -me is that being possessed of such a weapon he should have employed -the cord to kill his wife." - -"He did not possess it at that time," replied Lucien; "he had given it -to my ancestor." - -"Ah! true!" - -"Sampietro was more than sixty years old when he hastened from -Constantinople to Aix to teach that lesson to the world, viz., that -women should not meddle in state affairs." - -I bowed in assent, and replaced the poignard. - -"Now," said I to Lucien, who all this time had been dressing, "let us -pass on from Sampietro to some one else." - -"You see those two portraits close together?" - -"Yes, Paoli and Napoleon." - -"Well, near the portrait of Paoli is a sword." - -"Precisely so." - -"That is his sword." - -"Paoli's sword? And is it as authentic as the poignard of Sampietro?" - -"Yes, at least as authentic; though he did not give it to one of my -male ancestors, but to one of the ladies." - -"To one of your female ancestors?" - -"Yes. Perhaps you have heard people speak of this woman, who in the -war of independence presented herself at the Tower of Sullacaro, -accompanied by a young man?" - -"No, tell me the story." - -"Oh, it is a very short one." - -"So much the worse." - -"Well, you see, we have not much time to talk now." - -"I am all attention." - -"Well, this woman and this young man presented themselves before the -Tower of Sullacaro and requested to speak with Paoli; but as he was -engaged writing, he declined to admit them; and then, as the woman -insisted, the two sentinels repulsed her, when Paoli, who had heard -the noise, opened the door and inquired the cause." - -"'It is I,' said the woman; 'I wish to speak to you.' - -"'What have you to say to me?' - -"'I have come to tell you that I have two sons. I heard yesterday that -one had been killed for defending his country, and I have come twenty -leagues to bring you the other!!!'" - -"You are relating an incident of Sparta," I said. - -"Yes, it does appear very like it." - -"And who was this woman?" - -"She was my ancestress." - -"Paoli took off his sword and gave it to her. - -"'Take it,' he said, 'I like time to make my excuses to woman.'" - -"She was worthy of both--is it not so?" - -"And now this sabre?" - -"That is the one Buonaparte carried at the battle of the Pyramids." - -"No doubt it came into your family in the same manner as the poignard -and the sword." - -"Entirely. After the battle Buonaparte gave the order to my -grandfather, who was an officer in the Guides, to charge with fifty -men a number of Mamelukes who were at bay around a wounded chieftain. -My grandfather dispersed the Mamelukes and took the chief back a -prisoner to the First Consul. But when he wished to sheath his sword -he found the blade had been so bent in his encounter with the -Mamelukes that it would not go into the scabbard. My grandfather -therefore threw sabre and sheath away as useless, and, seeing this, -Buonaparte gave him his own." - -"But," I said, "in your place I would rather have had my grandfather's -sabre, all bent as it was, instead of that of the general's, which was -in good condition." - -"Look before you and you will find it. The First Consul had it -recovered, and caused that large diamond to be inserted in the hilt. -He then sent it to my family with the inscription which you can read -on the blade." - -I advanced between the windows, where, hanging half-drawn from its -scabbard, which it could not fully enter, I perceived the sabre bent -and hacked, bearing the simple inscription-- - -"Battle of the Pyramids, 21st of July, 1798." - -At that moment the servant came to announce that supper was served. - -"Very well, Griffo," replied the young man; "tell my mother that we -are coming down." - -As he spoke he came forth from the inner room, dressed, as he said, -like a mountaineer; that is to say, with a round velvet coat, -trowsers, and gaiters; of his other costume he had only retained his -pouch. - -He found me occupied in examing two carbines hanging opposite each -other, and both inscribed-- - -"21st September, 1819: 11 A.M." - -"Are these carbines also historical?" I asked. - -"Yes," he answered. "For us, at least, they bear a historical -significance. One was my father's--" - -He hesitated. - -"And the other," I suggested. - -"And the other," he said, laughing, "is my mother's. But let us go -downstairs; my mother will be awaiting us." - -Then passing in front of me to show me the way he courteously signed -to me to follow him. - - - -CHAPTER V. - -I MUST confess that as I descended to the supper-room I could not help -thinking of Lucien's last remark, "The other is my mother's carbine;" -and this circumstance compelled me to regard Madame de Franchi more -closely than I had hitherto done. - -When her son entered the _salle à manger,_ he respectfully kissed her -hand, and she received this homage with queenly dignity. - -"I am afraid that we have kept you waiting, mother," said Lucien; "I -must ask your pardon." - -"In any case, that would be my fault, madame," I said, bowing to her. -"Monsieur Lucien has been telling me and pointing out many curious -things, and by my reiterated questions I have delayed him." - -"Rest assured," she said, "I have not been kept waiting; I have but -this moment come downstairs. But," she continued, addressing Lucien, -"I was rather anxious to ask you what news there was of Louis." - -"Your son has been ill, madame?" I asked. - -"Lucien is afraid so," she said. - -"Have you received a letter from your brother?" I inquired. - -"No," he replied, "and that is the very thing that makes me uneasy." - -"But, then, how can you possibly tell that he is out of sorts?" - -"Because during the last few days I have been suffering myself." - -"I hope you will excuse my continual questions; but, really, your -answer does not make matters any clearer." - -"Well, you know that we are twins, don't you?" - -"Yes, my guide told me as much." - -"Were you also informed that when we came into the world we were -joined together?" - -"No; I was ignorant of that circumstance." - -"Well, then, it was a fact, and we were obliged to be cut asunder. So -that, you see, however distant we may be, we have ever the same body, -so that any impression, physical or moral, which one may receive is -immediately reflected in the other. During the last few days I felt -_triste,_ morose, dull, and without any predisposing cause, so far as -I am aware. I have experienced terrible pains in the region of the -heart, and palpitations, so it is evident to me that my brother is -suffering some great grief." - -I looked with astonishment at this young man, who affirmed such a -strange thing without the slightest fear of contradiction, and his -mother also appeared to entertain the same conviction as he did. - -Madame de Franchi smiled sadly, and said, "The absent are in the hands -of God, the great point is that you are certain that he is alive." - -"Yes," replied Lucien, calmly, "for if he were dead I should have seen -him." - -"And you would have told me, would you not, my son?" - -"Oh, of course, mother, at once." - -"I am satisfied. Excuse me, monsieur," she continued, turning to me, -"I trust you will pardon my maternal anxiety. Not only are Louis and -Lucien my sons, but they are the last of their race. Will you please -take the chair at my right hand? Lucien, sit here." - -She indicated to the young man the vacant place at her left hand. - -We seated ourselves at the extremity of a long table, at the opposite -end of which were laid six other covers, destined for those who in -Corsica are called the family; that is to say, the people who in large -establishments occupy a position between the master and the servants. - -The table was abundantly supplied with good cheer. But I confess that -although at the moment blessed with a very good appetite, I contented -myself with eating and drinking as it were mechanically, for my senses -were not in any way attracted by the pleasures of the table. For, -indeed, it appeared to me that I had entered into a strange world when -I came into that house, and that I was now living in a dream. - -Who could this woman be who was accustomed to carry a carbine like a -soldier? - -What sort of person could this brother be, who felt the same grief -that his brother experienced at a distance of three hundred leagues? - -What sort of mother could this be who made her son declare that if he -saw the spirit of his dead brother he would tell her at once? - -These were the questions that perplexed me, and it will be readily -understood they gave me ample food for thought. - -However, feeling that continual silence was not polite, I made an -effort to collect my ideas. I looked up. - -The mother and son at the same instant perceived that I wished to -enter into conversation. - -"So," said Lucien to me, as if he were continuing his remarks, "so you -made up your mind to come to Corsica?" - -"Yes, as you see, I had for a long time had a desire to do so, and at -last I have accomplished it." - -"_Ma foi!_ you have done well not to delay your visit; for with the -successive encroachments of French tastes and manners those who come -to look for Corsica in a few years will not find it." - -"However," I replied, "if the ancient national spirit retires before -civilization and takes refuge in any corner of the island, it -certainly will be in the province of Sartène, and in the valley of the -Tavaro." - -"Do you think so, really?" said the young man, smiling. - -"Yes, and it appears to me that here at the present moment there is a -beautiful and noble tablet of ancient Corsican manners." - -"Yes, and nevertheless, even here, between my mother and myself, in -the face of four hundred years of reminiscences of this old fortified -mansion, the French spirit has come to seek out my brother--has -carried him away to Paris, when he will return to us a lawyer. He will -live in Ajaccio instead of dwelling in his ancestral home. He will -plead--if he possess the talent--he may be nominated _procureur du -roi_ perhaps; then he will pursue the poor devils who have 'taken a -skin,' as they say here. He will confound the assassin with the -avenger--as you yourself have done already. He will demand, in the -name of the law, the heads of those who had done what their fathers -would have considered themselves dishonoured _not_ to have done. He -will substitute the judgment of men for the justice of God; and in the -evening, when he shall have claimed a head for the scaffold, he will -believe that he has performed his duty, and has brought his stone as a -tribute to the temple of Civilization, as our préfect says. Oh! mon -Dieu! mon Dieu!" - -The young man raised his eyes to heaven, as Hannibal is reported to -have done after the battle of Zama. - -"But," I replied, "you must confess that it is the will of God to -equalize these things, since in making your brother a proselyte of the -new order He has kept you here as a representative of the old manners -and customs." - -"Yes; but what is there to prove that my brother will not follow the -example of his uncle instead of following mine? And even I myself may -be about to do something unworthy of a de Franchi." - -"You!" I exclaimed, with astonishment. - -"Yes, I. Do you wish me to tell you why you have come into this -province of Sartène?" [See "Transcriber's Note."] - -"Yes, tell me." - -"You have come here to satisfy your curiosity as a man of the world, -an artist, or a poet. I do not know what you are, nor do I ask; you -can tell us when you leave, if you wish; if not, you need not inform -us; you are perfectly free to do as you like. Well, you have come in -the hope of seeing some village Vendetta, of being introduced to some -original bandit, such as Mr. Merimée has described in 'Columba.'" - -"Well, it appears to me that I have not made such a bad choice, for if -my eyes do not deceive me, your house is the only one in the village -that is not fortified." - -"That only proves I have degenerated, as I have said. My father, my -grandfather, and my ancestors for many generations have always taken -one side or the other in the disputes which in the last ten years have -divided the village. And do you know what I have become in the midst -of musket shots and stabs? Well, I am the arbitrator. You have come -into the province of Sartène to see bandits; is not that the fact? So -come with me this evening and I will show you one." - -"What! will you really allow me to go with you this evening?" - -"Certainly, if it will amuse you. It entirely depends upon yourself." - -"I accept, then, with much pleasure." - -"Our guest is fatigued," said Madame de Franchi, looking meaningly at -her son, as if she felt ashamed Corsica had so far degenerated. - -"No, mother, no, he had better come; and when in some Parisian _salon_ -people talk of the terrible Vendettas, of the implacable Corsican -bandits who strike terror into the hearts of children in Bastia and -Ajaccio, he will be able to tell them how things actually are." - -"But what is the great motive for this feud, which, as I understand, -is now by your intercession to be for ever extinguished?" - -"Oh," replied Lucien, "in a quarrel it is not the motive that matters, -it is the result. If a fly causes a man's death the man is none the -less dead because a fly caused it." - -I saw that he hesitated to tell me the cause of this terrible war, -which for the last ten years had desolated the village of Sullacaro. - -But, as may be imagined, the more he attempted to conceal it the more -anxious I was to discover it. - -"But," said I, "this quarrel must have a motive; is that motive a -secret?" - -"Good gracious, no! The mischief arose between the Orlandi and the -Colona." - -"On what occasion?" - -"Well, a fowl escaped from the farm yard of the Orlandi and flew into -that of the Colona. - -"The Orlandi attempted to get back the hen, the Colona declared it -belonged to them. The Orlandi then threatened to bring the Colona -before the judge and make them declare on oath it was theirs. And then -the old woman in whose house the hen had taken refuge wrung its neck, -and threw the dead fowl into her neighbour's face, saying-- - -"'Well, then, if it belongs to you, eat it.' - -"Then one of the Orlandi picked up the fowl by the feet, and attempted -to beat the person who had thrown it in his sister's face; but just as -he was about to do so, one of the Colona appeared, who, unfortunately, -carried a loaded gun, and he immediately sent a bullet through the -Orlandi's heart." - -"And how many lives have been sacrificed since?" - -"Nine people have been killed altogether." - -"And all for a miserable hen not worth twelve sous?" - -"Yes, but as I said just now, it is not the cause, but the effect that -we have to look at." - -"Since there were nine people killed, then, there might easily be a -dozen." - -"Yes, very likely there would be if they had not appointed me as -arbitrator." - -"At the intercession of one of the two families no doubt?" - -"Oh! dear no, at my brother's request, who heard of the matter at the -Chancellor's house. I asked him what on earth they had to do in Paris -with the affairs of an out-of-the-way little village in Corsica; but -it seems the préfect mentioned it when he wrote to Paris, and said -that if I were to say a word the whole thing would finish like a -farce, by a marriage and a public recitation; so my brother took the -hint, and replied he would answer for me. What could I do?" added the -young man, throwing back his head proudly; "it shall never be said -that a de Franchi passed his word for his brother, and that his -brother did not fulfil the engagement." - -"And so you have arranged everything?" - -"I am afraid so." - -"And we shall see the chief of one of these two parties this evening, -no doubt?" - -"Just so; last night I saw the other." - -"Are we going to see an Orlandi or a Colona?" - -"An Orlandi." - -"Is it far from here?" - -"In the ruins of the Castle of Vicentello d'Istria." - -"Ah! yes--they told me those ruins were close by." - -"Yes, they are about a league from here." - -"So in three-quarters of an hour we shall be there?" - -"Yes, in about that time." - -"Lucien," said Madame de Franchi, "remember you speak for yourself. -For a mountaineer as you are it is scarcely three-quarters of an hour -distance, but recollect that our guest may not be able to proceed so -quickly." - -"That is true; we had better allow ourselves an hour and a half at -least." - -"In that case you have no time to lose," said Madame de Franchi, as -she glanced at the clock. - -"Mother," said Lucien as he rose, "you will excuse our leaving you, -will you not?" - -She extended her hand to him, and the young man kissed it with the -same respect as he had previously done. - -Then turning to me, Lucien said-- - -"If you prefer to finish your supper quietly, and to smoke your cigar -afterwards----" - -"No, no!" I cried; "hang it, you have promised me a bandit, and I must -have one." - -"Well, then, let us take our guns and be off." - -I bowed respectfully to Madame de Franchi, and we left the room, -preceded by Griffo, who carried a light. - -Our preparations did not occupy us very long. - -I clasped a travelling belt round my waist, from which was suspended a -sort of hunting-knife, and in the folds of which I carried powder and -ball. - -Lucien soon re-appeared with his cartridge case, and carrying a -double-barrelled Manton, and a sort of peaked cap, woven for him by -some Penelope of Sullacaro. - -"Shall I go with your Excellency?" asked Griffo. - -"No, it will be useless," replied Lucien; "but you may as well loose -Diamond, as we might put up a pheasant, and the moon is so clear we -should be able to shoot as well as in daylight." - -An instant afterwards a great spaniel bounded out, and jumped joyously -around its master. - -We had not gone many paces from the house when Lucien turned round and -said-- - -"By-the-by, Griffo, tell them if they hear any shots on the mountain -that it is we who have fired them." - -"Very well, your Excellency." - -"If we did not take some such precautions," said Lucien, "they would -think that hostilities had recommenced, and we should soon hear our -shots echoing in the streets of Sullacaro. A little farther on you -will see a footpath to the right that will lead us directly up the -mountain." - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -ALTHOUGH it was only the beginning of the month of March the weather -was beautiful, and we should have said that it was hot, had it not -been for a refreshing breeze which carried with it a savour of the -sea. - -The moon was rising brilliantly behind Mount Cagna, and the cascades -of light were falling upon the southern slope which separates Corsica -into two parts, and in a measure forms two different nations, which -are always at war, or at least, detest one another heartily. - -As we mounted we could see the gorge in which the Tavaro was buried in -profound darkness, impossible to penetrate, but we could view the calm -Mediterranean, like a vast steel mirror extending into the horizon. - -There are certain noises one hears only at night, for during the day -they are overcome by other sounds, or it may be they awake only with -the darkness, and these produced not upon Lucien, who was familiar -with them, but upon me, who was a stranger to them, curious sensations -of surprise, and awoke in me a powerful interest in all that I saw. - -When we reached the place where the path united with another--one -going up the mountain direct, and the other to the right, Lucien -turned to me and said-- - -"Are you anything of a mountaineer?" - -"Yes, a little, as far as walking goes." - -"You are likely to get giddy, then." - -"I am afraid so. The precipice has an irresistible attraction for me." - -"Then we had better take this foot-path where there are no precipices, -but merely rough walking." - -"I am quite equal to that." - -"Very well, then, we have three-quarters of an hour's walk before us." - -"Let us take the path." - -Lucien then went first, and crossed through a little oak wood, into -which I followed him. - -Diamond trotted fifty or sixty paces away, beating right and left, and -occasionally coming back to us, wagging his tail as much as to inform -us that we might trust to him and continue our route in safety. - -I saw that as some people like to possess a horse, equally for riding -or driving, so Diamond had apparently been trained to hunt the biped -or the quadruped, the bandit or the boar. I did not wish to appear -altogether strange to Corsican manners, so I said as much to Lucien. - -"You are mistaken," he replied; "Diamond is very useful in hunting men -or animals, but he never chases bandits. It is the triple red of the -gendarmes, the voltigeur, and the volunteer that he hunts." - -"Then I suppose Diamond is a bandit's dog?" - -"He is. He belongs to an Orlandi, to whom I sometimes used to send him -into the country with bread, powder, bullets, or whatever he required. -He was shot by a Colona, and the next day the dog came to me, for -being accustomed to come to the house, he looked upon me as a friend." - -"But," I said, "I fancied I saw another dog at your house." - -"Yes, that is Brucso, he possesses the same qualities as Diamond, only -he came to me from a Colona who was killed by an Orlandi, and so when -I pay a visit to a Colona I take Brucso, but when I have business with -an Orlandi I take Diamond. If I were to make a mistake and loose them -both together they would kill each other. So," continued Lucien, with -a bitter smile, "men can make it up, and will receive the sacrament -together; the dogs will never eat from the same platter." - -"Well," I said, laughing; "here are two regular Corsican dogs, but it -seems to me that Diamond, like all other modest creatures, has gone -out of earshot while we are speaking of him. I am afraid he has missed -us." - -"Oh, do not be alarmed," said Lucien, "I know where he is." - -"May I inquire where?" - -"He is at the Mucchio." - -I was about to hazard another question, even at the risk of tiring my -companion, when a long howl was heard, so lamentable, so sad, and so -prolonged, that I shivered and stopped. - -"What can that be?" I said. - -"Nothing, it is only Diamond crying." - -"What is he crying for?" - -"His master. Do you not know that dogs do not forget those they have -loved?" - -"Ah, I understand," I said, as another prolonged howl rose through the -night. - -"Yes," I continued, "his master was shot, you say, and I suppose we -are approaching the place where he was killed?" - -"Just so, and Diamond has left us to go to Mucchio." - -"That is where the man's tomb is?" - -"Yes, that is to say, the monument which passers-by have raised to his -memory, in the form of a cairn; so it follows that the tomb of the -victim gradually grows larger, a symbol of the increasing vengeance of -his relations." - -Another long howl from Diamond's throat made me shudder again, though -I was perfectly well aware of the cause of the noise. - -At the next turn of the path we came upon the wayside tomb or cairn. A -heap of stones formed a pyramid of four or five feet in height. - -At the foot of this strange monument Diamond was lying with extended -neck and open mouth. Lucien picked up a stone, and taking off his cap -approached the mucchio. - -I did the same, following his example closely. - -When he had come close to the pyramid he broke a branch from a young -oak and threw, first, the stone and then the branch upon the heap. He -rapidly made the sign of the cross. - -I imitated him exactly, and we resumed our route in silence, but -Diamond remained behind. - -About ten minutes afterwards we heard another dismal howling, and then -almost immediately Diamond passed us, head and tail drooping, to a -point about a hundred paces in front, when he suddenly resumed his -hunting. - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -WE still kept advancing steadily, but, as Lucien had warned me, the -path became rougher and more difficult. - -I slung my gun over my shoulder, for I perceived that I should soon -need both hands to assist me. As for my friend, he continued to press -forward with the same easy gait, and did not appear to be at all -inconvenienced by the difficult nature of the ground. - -After some minutes' climbing over rocks, aided by bushes and roots, we -reached a species of platform surmounted by some ruined walls. These -ruins were those of the Castle of Vicentello d'Istria, our -destination. - -In about five minutes we had climbed up to the last terrace, Lucien in -advance, and as he extended his hand to assist me he said:-- - -"Well done, well done; you have not climbed badly for a Parisian." - -"Supposing that the Parisian you have assisted has already had some -little experience in mountain scrambling?" - -"Ah, true!" said Lucien, laughing. "Have you not a mountain near Paris -called Montmartre?" - -"Yes, but there are others beside Montmartre which I have ascended. -For instance, the Rigi, the Faulhorn, the Gemmi, Vesuvius, Stromboli -and Etna." - -"Indeed! Now I suppose you will despise me because I have never done -more than surmount Monte Rotundo! Well, here we are! Four centuries -ago my ancestors would have opened the portal to you and bade you -welcome to the castle. Now their descendants can only show you the -place where the door used to be, and say to you, 'Welcome to the -ruins!'" - -"I suppose the chateau has been in possession of your family since the -death of Vicentello d'Istria?" I said, taking up the conversation at -the point at which we had dropped it previously. - -"No, but before his birth. It was the last dwelling-place of our -famous ancestress Savilia, the widow of Lucien de Franchi." - -"Is there not some terrible history connected with this woman?" - -"Yes; were it daylight I could now show you from this spot the ruins -of the Castle of Valle. There lived the lord of Guidice, who was as -much hated as she (Savilia) was beloved, as ugly as she was beautiful. -He became enamoured of her, and as she did not quickly respond to his -desires, he gave her to understand that if she did not accept him in a -given time he would come and carry her off by force. Savilia made -pretence of consenting, and invited Guidice to come to dinner at the -castle. Guidice was overcome with joy at this, and forgetting that the -invitation had only been extorted by menace, accepted it, and came -attended only by a few body servants. The gate was closed behind them, -and in a few minutes Guidice was a prisoner, and cast into a dungeon, -yonder." - -I passed on in the direction indicated, and found myself in a species -of square court. - -The moonlight streamed through the apertures time had made in the once -solid walls, and threw dark and well-defined shadows upon the ground. -All other portions of the ruins remained in the deep shade of the -overhanging walls round about. - -Lucien looked at his watch. - -"Ah! we are twenty minutes too soon," he exclaimed. "Let us sit down; -you are very likely tired." - -We sat down; indeed, we extended ourselves at full length upon the -grassy sward, in a position facing the great breach in the wall. - -"But," said I to my companion, "it seems to me that you have not -finished the story you began just now." - -"No," replied Lucien. "Every morning and every evening Savilia came -down to the dungeon in which Giudice was confined, and then separated -from him only by a grating, she would undress herself, and expose -herself naked to him, a captive.' - -"'Giudice,' she would say, 'how do you expect that such an ugly man as -you are can ever hope to possess all this?' - -"This trial lasted for three months, and was repeated twice a day. But -at the end of that period, thanks to a waiting woman whom he had -bribed, Guidice was enabled to escape. He soon returned with all his -men, who were much more numerous than those Savilia could assemble, -and took the castle by assault, and having first possessed himself of -Savilia, he subsequently exposed her naked in an iron cage at the -cross roads in the Bocca di Cilaccia, offering, himself, the key to -any passer by who might be tempted to enter. After three days of this -public prostitution Savilia died." - -"Well," I said, "it seems to me that your ancestors had a very pretty -idea of revenging themselves, and that in finishing off their enemies -with dagger or gunshot their descendants have in a manner -degenerated!" - -"Without mentioning that the day may come when we shall not kill them -at all!" replied Lucien. "But it has not come to that yet. The two -sons of Savilia," he continued, "who were at Ajaccio with their uncle, -were true Corsicans, and continued to make war against the sons of -Guidice. This war lasted for four hundred years, and only finished, as -you saw, by the dates upon the carbines of my parents, on the 21st -September, 1819, at eleven o'clock A.M." - -"Oh, yes, I remember the inscription; but I had not time to inquire -its meaning, as just then we were summoned to supper." - -"Well, this is the explanation: Of the family of Guidice there -remained, in 1819, only two brothers. Of the de Franchi family there -remained only my father, who had married his cousin. Three months -after that the Guidice determined to exterminate us with one stroke. -One of the brothers concealed himself on the road to Olmedo to await -my father's coming home to Sartène--while the other, taking advantage -of his absence, determined to attack our house. This plan was carried -out, but with a different result to what had been anticipated. My -father, being warned of the plot, was on his guard; my mother, who had -also got a hint of the affair, assembled the shepherds, &c., so that -when the attack was made the intended victims were prepared for it--my -father on the mountains, my mother in the mansion. The consequence was -that the two Guidici fell, one shot by my father, the other by my -mother. On seeing his foe fall, my father drew out his watch and saw -it was eleven o'clock. When my mother shot her assailant she turned to -the timepiece and noticed that it was also eleven o'clock. The whole -thing had taken place exactly at the same moment. There were no more -Guidici left, the family was extinct, and our victorious family is now -left in peace; and considering we carried on a war for four hundred -years, we didn't want to meddle with it any more. My father had the -dates engraved upon the carbines, and hung the pieces up on each side -of the clock, as you saw. Seven months later my mother gave birth to -twins, of whom one is your very humble servant, the Corsican Lucien; -the other, the philanthropist, Louis, his brother." - -As he ceased speaking, I noticed a shadow of a man accompanied by a -dog projected in the doorway. - -The shadows were those of the bandit Orlandi and his friend Diamond. - -At that moment the village clock of Sullacaro was heard striking nine -with measured strokes. - -Evidently the Orlandi was of Louis XV.'s opinion, that punctuality is -the politeness of kings! - -It would have been impossible to have been more exact than was that -king of the mountain, with whom Lucien had appointed a meeting at nine -o'clock. - -We both rose from our reclining posture when we saw the bandit -approaching. - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -"YOU are not alone, Monsieur Lucien," said the bandit. - -"Do not let that disturb you, Orlandi. This gentleman is a friend of -mine, who has heard me speak of you, and wished to pay you a visit. I -could not think of refusing him that pleasure." - -"Monsieur is welcome to the country," said the bandit, bowing as he -advanced towards us. - -I returned his salute with the most punctilious politeness. - -"You must have been waiting here some time," continued Orlandi. - -"Yes, about twenty minutes." - -"Quite so. I heard Diamond howling at Mucchio, and he has been with me -quite a quarter of an hour since then; he is a good and faithful dog, -is he not, Monsieur Lucien?" - -"Yes, indeed he is, Orlandi," replied Lucien, as he patted the animal. - -"But," said I, "since you knew that Monsieur Lucien was here, why did -you not come sooner?" - -"Because our appointment was for nine o'clock," said the bandit, "and -it is just as unpunctual to be a quarter of an hour too soon as to -arrive a quarter of an hour too late." - -"That is meant for a hit at me, Orlandi," said Lucien, laughing. - -"No, sir; you no doubt have your reasons; besides you have a -companion, and it is likely on his account you may have started -earlier, for I know your punctual habits, Monsieur Lucien, and I know -also that you have been good enough to put yourself to inconvenience -on my account frequently." - -"Oh, do not say anything about that, Orlandi; this will probably be -the last time." - -"Have we not some few words to exchange upon that subject, Monsieur -Lucien," said the bandit. - -"Yes, if you will have the goodness to follow me." - -"I am at your orders." - -Lucien turned towards me, and said: - -"Will you excuse me a moment?" - -"Of course;" I replied. - -The men then went away together, and ascending the breach through -which Orlandi had appeared halted at the top of it, their figures -standing out in strong relief in the moonlight. - -Then I was able to take more particular note of this Orlandi. He was a -tall man, who had fashioned his beard in exactly the same manner as -young de Franchi, and was clothed like him; but his dress showed -traces of more frequent contact with the bushes through which he was -obliged to fly, and of the earth upon which he was obliged to lie, -than did those of Lucien. - -I could not hear what the men were talking about, and had I heard it I -could not have understood it, as they spoke in the Corsican dialect. - -But I was enabled to perceive by their gestures that the bandit was -refuting with some heat a series of arguments which the young man was -setting forth with an impartiality that did him honour. - -At length the gestures of the Orlandi became less frequent and more -energetic. His voice became subdued, and he at last bowed his head and -held out his hand to the young man. - -I concluded the conference was now over, and the men descended -together towards me. - -"My dear, sir," said Lucien, "Orlandi wishes to shake you by the hand, -and to thank you." - -"And for what?" I said. - -"For being so good as to be one of his sponsors. I have answered for -you!" - -"If you have answered for me I will readily accept, without even -asking what is in question." - -I extended my hand to the bandit, who did me the honour to touch it -with the tips of his fingers. - -"You will now be able to tell my brother that all has been arranged -according to his wishes," said Lucien, "and that you have signed the -contract." - -"Is there, then, a marriage about to take place?" - -"No, not yet; but perhaps there may be shortly." - -A disdainful smile passed over the bandit's face as he replied, - -"We have made peace, Monsieur Lucien, because you wished it; but -marriage is not included in the compact." - -"No," replied Lucien, "it is only written in the future amongst the -probabilities; but let us talk of something else. Did you not hear -anything while I was talking with Orlandi?" he said, turning to me. - -"Of what you were saying, do you mean?" - -"No, but what you might have thought was a pheasant close by?" - -"Well, I fancied I did hear a bird crow, but I thought I must have -been mistaken!" - -"No, you were not mistaken, there is a cock perched in the great -chestnut tree you saw about a hundred paces from here. I heard him -just now as I was passing." - -"Well, then," said Lucien, "we must eat him tomorrow." - -"He would have already been laid low," said Orlandi, "if I had not -thought that in the village they would believe I was shooting at -something besides a pheasant." - -"I have provided against that," said Lucien. "By-the-by," he added, -turning to me and throwing on his shoulder the gun he had already -unslung, "the shot by courtesy belongs to you." - -"One moment," I said. "I am not so sure of my aim as you, and I will -be quite content to do my part in eating the bird. So do you fire." - -"I suppose you are not so used to shooting at night as we are," -replied Lucien, "and you would probably fire too low. But if you have -nothing particular to do to-morrow you can come and take your -revenge." - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -WE left the ruins on the side opposite to that on which we had -entered, Lucien going first. - -As soon as we had got into the brushwood a pheasant once more loudly -announced his presence. - -He was about eighty paces from us, roosting in the branches of the -chestnut tree, the approach to which was prevented on all sides by the -undergrowth. - -"I do not quite see how you are going to get him," I said to Lucien; -"it does not appear a very easy shot." - -"No," he replied; "but if I could just see him, I would fire from -here." - -"You do not mean to say that your gun will kill a pheasant at eighty -yards?" - -"Not with shot," he replied; "it will with a bullet." - -"Ah! that is a different thing altogether. I did not know you were -loaded with ball. You were right to undertake the shot." - -"Would you like to see the pheasant?" asked Orlandi. - -"Yes," said Lucien, "I confess that I should." - -"Wait a moment, then;" and Orlandi began to imitate the clucking of -the hen pheasant. - -Then, without our being able to see the bird, we perceived a movement -in the leaves of the chestnut-tree. The pheasant was evidently -mounting branch by branch as he replied to the call of the hen -imitated by Orlandi. - -At length he arrived at the end of a branch, and was quite visible in -the moonlight. - -Orlandi ceased, and the pheasant remained motionless. - -At the same moment Lucien levelled his gun, and, with a quick aim, -fired. - -The pheasant fell like a stone. - -"Fetch it!" said Lucien to Diamond. - -The dog rushed into the brushwood, and soon returned with the bird, -pierced by the bullet, in his mouth. - -"That is a good shot," I said. "I congratulate you upon it, -particularly with a fowling-piece." - -"Oh," said Lucien, "I do not deserve your praise, for one barrel is -rifled, and carries a ball like a carbine." - -"Never mind, such a shot with a carbine deserves honourable mention." - -"Bah!" said Orlandi; "why, with a carbine, Monsieur Lucien could hit a -five-franc piece at three hundred paces." - -"And can you shoot with a pistol as well as with a gun?" - -"Yes," said Lucien, "very nearly. At twenty-five paces I can always -divide six balls out of twelve on the blade of a knife." - -I took off my hat and saluted the speaker, saying, - -"Is your brother an equally good shot?" - -"My brother?" he replied. "Poor Louis! he has never handled gun nor -pistol in his life. My great fear is that he will get mixed up in some -affair in Paris, and, brave as he undoubtedly is, he will be killed to -sustain the honour of the country." - -Lucien, as he spoke, thrust the pheasant into the great pocket of his -velveteen coat. - -"Now," he said, "my dear Orlandi, till to-morrow farewell." - -"Till to-morrow, Monsieur Lucien?" - -"I count upon your punctuality. At ten o'clock your friends and -relatives will be at the end of the street. On the opposite side -Colona, with his friends, will be likewise present, and we shall be on -the steps of the church." - -"That is agreed, Monsieur Lucien. Many thanks for your trouble; and to -you, monsieur," he added, turning to me, "I am obliged for the honour -you have done me." - -After this exchange of compliments we separated, Orlandi disappearing -in the brushwood, while we took our way back to the village. - -As for Diamond, he was puzzled which to follow, and he stood looking -right and left at the Orlandi and ourselves alternately. After -hesitating for about five minutes, he did us the honour to accompany -Lucien and me. - -I must confess that while I had been scaling the ruined walls I had -had my misgivings as to how I should descend, for the descent is -usually more difficult, under such circumstances, than the ascent. - -But I was glad to see that Lucien, apparently divining my thoughts, -took another route home. This road, also, was advantageous in another -respect, for it was not so rough, and conversation was easier. - -At length, finding the path quite smooth, I continued my questions to -my companion, in accordance with my usual custom, and said-- - -"Now peace is made, I suppose?" - -"Yes, and as you see, it has not been concluded without some trouble. -I have been obliged to represent all the advances as having been made -by the Colona; for, you see, they have had five men killed, while the -Orlandi have lost but four. The former consented to the arrangement -yesterday, and the latter to-day. The upshot of it all is that the -Colona have agreed to hand over a live hen to the Orlandi, a -concession which will prove them in the wrong. This last consideration -has settled the matter." - -"And to-morrow this touching reconciliation will be effected?" - -"Yes, to-morrow, at ten o'clock. You are still unfortunate; you hoped -to see a Vendetta?" - -The young man smiled bitterly as he continued--"But this is a finer -thing than a Vendetta! isn't it? For four hundred years, in Corsica, -they have been talking of nothing else. Now you will see a -reconciliation. I assure you it is a much rarer sight than a -Vendetta!" - -I could not help laughing. - -"There, you see, you are laughing at us," he said. "And you are right, -after all. We are really a very droll people." - -"No," I replied, "I was laughing at another strange thing, and that -is, to see that you are annoyed with yourself because you have -succeeded so well in bringing about a reconciliation." - -"Ah!" he replied. "If you had understood what we said you would have -admired my eloquence. But come back in ten years' time, and you will -find us all speaking French." - -"You would make a first-rate pleader." - -"No, no--I am a referee--an arbitrator. What the deuce do you expect? -Must not an arbitrator reconcile opposing factions? They might -nominate me the arbiter between Heaven and Hell, that I might teach -them to be reconciled, although, in my own heart, I should feel that I -was a fool for my pains." - -I perceived that this conversation was only irritating to my new -acquaintance, so I let it drop, and as he did not attempt to resume -it, we proceeded in silence, and did not speak again until we had -reached his house. - - - -CHAPTER X. - -GRIFFO was in attendance when we arrived, and before his master said a -word the servant had taken the pheasant from Lucien's pocket. The -valet had heard and had understood the object of the shot. - -Madame de Franchi had not yet retired to rest, although she had gone -upstairs, and she had left a message with Griffo to request her son to -go into her room before she went to bed. - -The young man first inquiring whether I was in want of anything, and -on my reply in the negative, begged to be excused, to wait upon his -mother. - -Of course I acknowledged the politeness, and leaving him, went up to -my own room. - -I entered it with a certain feeling of self congratulation. I was -pleased that I had divined the character of Louis, as I had found out -Lucien's. - -I undressed deliberately, and having taken down a volume of Victor -Hugo's works, I lay down and enjoyed myself thoroughly with _Les -Orientales._ - -For the hundredth time I came upon _Le Feu du ciel,_ and re-read it -once more. I was fully occupied thus, when I fancied I heard a step -upon the staircase, which stopped at my door. I suspected that my host -had paused outside, wishing to bid me good-night, but scarcely liking -to venture in for fear I should be asleep; so I cried out "Come in," -and put my book upon the table. - -In fact, as I spoke the door opened, and Lucien appeared. - -"I trust you will excuse me," he said; "but it seems to me that I have -been somewhat rude this evening, and I did not like to retire without -making my excuses to you. So I have come to make the _amende -honorable_--and as I daresay you have a number of questions to ask I -am quite at your disposal." - -"A thousand thanks," I replied; "but, thanks to your good nature, I am -already well informed upon most topics concerning which I desired -information, and there only remains one question, which I have made up -my mind _not_ to ask." - -"Why?" - -"Because it would appear too impertinent. However, if you remain here -I confess I cannot answer for myself. I give you fair warning!" - -"Well, then, go on. Curiosity unsatisfied is an uncomfortable -companion, and awakens all kinds of suppositions; and two, at least, -out of every three guesses concerning a fact are sure to be quite wide -of the mark, and more likely to prejudice the object than to arrive at -the truth concerning it." - -"Well, you may rest easy. My worst suspicions concerning you lead me -to regard you as a sorcerer!" - -The young man laughed loudly. - -"The devil! You have inoculated me with some of your curiosity: tell -me why, I entreat you--speak out!" - -"Well, then, you have had the kindness to clear up many things which -were before obscure to me; but one thing you did not touch upon. You -have shown me your beautiful weapons, which I should like to examine -again before my departure." - -"Granted. That's one reason." - -"You have explained to me the inscriptions upon the carbines." - -"That's another reason." - -"You have made it clear to me that, thanks to the phenomenon of your -birth, you always experience--although far away from him, the same -sensations that agitate your brother, and no doubt he feels equally -your troubles." - -"That is a third reason for your belief in my sorcery!" - -"Yes, but Madame de Franchi, when referring to the sadness you lately -have experienced, and which leads you to think that some misfortune -threatens your brother, asked you if you were sure he were not dead, -and you replied 'No, for then I should have seen him.'" - -"Yes, I remember I did say so." - -"Well, then, if such an explanation may be entrusted to a stranger, -will you explain to me how this could happen?" - -The young man's face had assumed a very grave expression as I was -speaking, and I hesitated to pronounce the last words. - -He was silent for a moment after I ceased to speak, and I said-- - -"I am afraid that I have been too indiscreet; pray forget that I spoke -on the subject at all." - -"No," he replied, quietly; "no, but you are a man of the world, and as -such inclined to be somewhat incredulous. So, you see, I am rather -afraid you will treat as a superstition an old family tradition which -has been handed down for centuries." - -"Listen," I said. "I can declare one thing, and that is that no one is -more easily convinced than I am on all questions of legendary or -traditionary lore--and I am always ready to give credence to things -regarded as impossible!" - -"So you believe in ghosts?" - -"Do you wish to hear me tell how I saw one?" - -"Yes, that will encourage me." - -"My father died in 1807, when I was three and a-half years old. When -the doctor announced his speedy death I was sent away to the house of -an old cousin in the country. - -"She had made up a bed for me opposite her own, to which I was sent at -the usual time, and, notwithstanding the trouble hanging over me, I -feel fast asleep. - -"I was suddenly awakened by three violent blows upon the door of the -chamber; I got out of bed and walked across the floor to open it. - -"'Where are you going?' asked my cousin. - -"She had herself been awakened by the noise, but could not overcome -her terror, knowing very well that as the front door was fastened no -one would be likely to come to the room in which we were sleeping. - -"'I am going to open the door to my father, who has come to bid me -adieu,' I replied. - -"It was then she jumped out of bed and insisted upon my lying down -again. I cried for a long time and very bitterly, saying, 'Papa is at -the door, and I want to see papa again before he goes away for ever.'" - -"And has the apparition ever returned since?" asked Lucien. - -"No, although I have often called upon it; but, perhaps, Providence -permitted to the innocence and purity of the child what it declines to -accord to the sinfulness of the man." - -"Well, then," said Lucien smiling, "in our family we are more -fortunate than you." - -"Then you are enabled to see your deceased parents?" - -"Yes, always when any great event is about to happen or has been -accomplished." - -"And to what do you attribute this privilege?" - -"I will tell you the tradition that has been handed down. You remember -that I told you that Savilia died leaving two sons." - -"Yes, I recollect." - -"Well, these children grew up concentrating on each other the -affection they would have bestowed on other relatives had any been -alive. They swore nothing should separate them, not even death, and -after some incantation or other they wrote with their blood on two -pieces of parchment, which they exchanged, the reciprocal oath that -whichever died first should appear to the other at the moment of his -own death, and, subsequently, at every important epoch of his -brother's life. Three months afterwards one of the two brothers was -killed in an ambuscade at the moment when the survivor was sealing a -letter addressed to him. Just as he was pressing the signet upon the -burning wax he heard a sigh behind him, and, turning round, perceived -his brother standing behind him, and touching his shoulder, although -he felt no pressure from the hand. Then, by a mechanical movement, he -held out the letter that was destined for his brother, the spirit took -the letter and disappeared. On the night before the survivor's death, -the ghost appeared again. - -"There is no doubt that the brothers not only made this engagement for -themselves, but it applies also to their descendants, for spirits have -appeared not only at the moment of the death of those who had passed -away, but also on the eve of any great event in their lives." - -"And have you never seen any apparition?" - -"No; but like my father, who, during the night preceding his death, -was warned by his father that he was about to die, so I presume my -brother and I inherit the privilege of our ancestors, not having done -anything to forfeit it." - -"And is this privilege accorded to the males of the family only?" - -"Yes." - -"That is strange." - -"It is as I say." - -I looked at the young man as he was speaking to me. He was cool, calm, -and grave, and I could not help repeating with Hamlet-- - - "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, - Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - -In Paris I should have thought that this young man was hoaxing me; but -here in Corsica, in a little unknown village, one must look upon him -either as a foolish person endeavouring to deceive one for his own -purposes, or as a privileged being amongst other men. - -"And now," he said, after a long silence, "are you satisfied?" - -"Yes, thank you," I answered. "I appreciate your confidence, and will -promise to keep your secret." - -"Oh, goodness," he said, laughing, "there is no secret in the -matter--the first peasant you meet would tell you all I have told you; -I only hope that in Paris my brother has not boasted of this -privilege, which would only cause men to laugh, and would frighten the -ladies." - -So saying, he bade me good-night, and retired to his room. - -Although fatigued, I was not able to sleep for some time, and when I -did at last sleep I was restless. - -I appeared to see in a confused manner in my dreams all the people -with whom I had come in contact that day. It was only when day broke -that I fell into a sound sleep, and was awakened by the striking of a -clock, close to my bed, apparently. - -I rang the bell, without rising, for my lazy predecessor had provided -a bell-rope close at hand, the only one probably in the village. - -Griffo immediately appeared, carrying some warm water; I saw that this -valet had been well drilled. - -Lucien, he said, had twice inquired whether I was awake, and had told -him that if I did not ring before half-past nine he would call me. - -It was now twenty-five minutes past nine, so it would not be long -before he came. - -He soon made his appearance, dressed very elegantly in French style, -with a black frock coat and white trowsers. - -He noticed that I looked at him with some surprise. - -"I hope you are admiring my dress," he said; "another proof that I am -becoming civilized." - -"Yes, indeed," I replied, "and I confess I am considerably astonished -to find that you possess such a tailor in Ajaccio. I shall look quite -the country bumpkin beside you." - -"I assure you my dress is quite Parisian, my dear friend. You see my -brother and I being exactly the same height, he for a joke sent me a -regular outfit, which I only wear on grand occasions, to receive the -prefect, for instance, or when the commandant makes his departmental -inspection; or, better still, when I receive a guest like yourself, -and when that pleasure is combined with such important business as we -are about to accomplish to-day." - -There was in this young man's manner of speaking a polished irony, and -good-nature withal, which at once set people at their ease, and never -passed the bounds of perfect politeness. - -I simply bowed in reply, while he carefully inducted his hands into a -pair of kid gloves of Paris manufacture. - -As now attired, he looked a thorough Parisian. - -All this time I was dressing rapidly. - -A quarter to ten struck. - -"Come along," said Lucien, "if you wish to see the play. I think it is -time we took our seats, unless, indeed, you would rather have -breakfast first, which appears to me only reasonable." - -"Thank you, I seldom eat before eleven or twelve, so I am ready to -face both operations." - -"Come along, then." - -I took up my hat and followed him upstairs. - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau -usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look -over the square. - -This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but -curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was -composed of women and children under twelve. - -On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled -with a tri-coloured sash. This was the mayor. - -Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table. -This was the notary, and the written paper under his hand was the act -of reconciliation. - -I took my place beside the table with the sponsors of the Orlandi. On -the other sida were the sponsors of the Colona faction. Lucien stood -behind the notary so as to show that he acted for both. - -In the choir of the church one could perceive the priests ready to -solemnize the mass. - -The clock struck ten. - -At that moment a shiver pervaded the crowd and all eyes were turned -towards the end of the street, if one could so call the unequal -interval between the houses. - -Immediately on the mountain side appeared the Orlandi, and in the -direction of the river was the Colona, each followed by his partisans, -but as had been arranged neither party carried arms. - -The two chiefs presented a very vivid contrast. - -Orlandi, as I said, was tall, brown, agile and thin. - -Colona, on the other hand, was short, stoutish, and vigorous; he had -red hair and beard, both of which wore short and curly. - -Both men carried olive branches, the symbol of peace, which was the -idea of the worthy mayor. - -But besides this olive branch, the Colona held a white fowl by the -feet; this bird was destined to replace that which had given rise to -the quarrel, and the fowl was alive. - -This last was a point that had long been discussed, and had very -nearly upset the whole arrangement. The Colona looked upon it as a -double humiliation to have to render back a living fowl for the one -which his aunt had thrown dead in the face of the cousin of the -Orlandi. - -However, by force of reasoning, Lucien had persuaded the Colona to -provide the fowl, as he had managed to induce the Orlandi to accept -it. - -When the two rivals appeared, the bells, which until now had been -silent, broke forth into a merry peal. - -When they caught sight of each other both Orlandi and his brother made -a similar movement of repulsion, but, nevertheless, they both -continued their way. - -Just opposite the church door they stopped, a few paces only dividing -them. - -If three days previously these men had caught sight of each other -within a hundred paces, one of the two certainly would have remained -on the field. - -For about five minutes there was a profound silence, a silence which, -notwithstanding the peaceful nature of the ceremony, was anything but -pacific. - -Then at length the mayor spoke. - -"Well, Colona," he said, "do you not know that you have to speak -first?" - -Colona made an effort and muttered some words in the Corsican patois. - -I fancied I understood him to say that he regretted having been in -Vendetta with his good neighbour Orlandi, and that he offered in -reparation the white hen which he held in his hand. - -Orlandi waited until his adversary had finished speaking, and replied -in some words which I took to be a promise that he would forget -everything but the solemn reconciliation that had that day taken place -in the presence of Monsieur Lucien and the notary. - -After that the rivals preserved a dogged silence. - -"Now, gentlemen," said the mayor, "you have only got to shake hands." - -By a simultaneous movement the rivals clasped their hands behind their -backs. - -The mayor descended from his elevated seat, and seizing the hand of -Colona sought for the hand of the Orlandi, and having possessed -himself of both he, with some effort, which he endeavoured to conceal -with a smile, succeeded in joining the two hands. - -The notary seized the moment, while the mayor held the two hands -together, to stand up and read the deed declaring the feud to be at an -end. The document was as follows:-- - -"In the presence of us, Giuseppe Antonia Sarrola, Notary Royal of -Sullacaro in the Province of Sartène. - -"In the grand place of the village opposite the church, in the -presence of the mayor, the sponsors, and all the population. - -"Between Gaetano Orso Orlandi, called Orlandini. - -"And Marco Vincenzio Colona, called Schioppone. - -"It is solemnly ratified as follows:-- - -"From this day, 4th of March, 1841, the Vendetta declared between the -families shall cease. - -"From the same period they shall live together as good neighbours and -friends, as their relatives did before the unhappy disunion which has -so long alienated their families. - -"In witness whereof they have signed these presents under the portico -of the village church, with Monsieur Polo Arbori, mayor of the -commune, Monsieur Lucien de Franchi, arbitrator, the sponsors of the -two contracting parties, and ourselves the Notary. - -"Sullacaro, 4th of March, 1841." - -I note with admiration that the mayor had very prudently omitted all -mention of the hen which had put the Colona in such a bad position -with the Orlandi. - -So the face of the Colona got brighter in proportion as the figure of -the Orlandi clouded; the latter looked at the hen which he was holding -in his hand as if he had a great idea to throw it in the face of the -Colona. But a glance from Lucien de Franchi checked this intention in -the bud. - -The mayor saw that he had no time to lose; he stepped back, holding -the hands of the rivals, and without loosing them for a moment. - -Then, in order to anticipate any discussion at the moment of -signature, in view of each considering it a concession to sign before -the other, he took the pen and wrote his own name first, and thus -converting the shame into an honour, passed the pen to Orlandi, who -took it, signed, and passed it to Lucien, who in his turn handed it to -Colona, who made a cross. - -At that moment the Te Deum was chanted as if for a victory. - -We all signed afterwards, without distinction of rank or title, as the -nobility of France a hundred years before had signed the protestation -against Monsieur le Due du Maine. - -Then the heroes of the day entered the church, and knelt in the places -appointed for them. - -I saw that from this moment Lucien appeared perfectly at ease. All had -been finished satisfactorily: the reconciliation had taken place not -only before man but before Heaven. - -The service terminated without any incident worth recording; and when -it was over, Orlandi and Colona passed out with the same ceremony as -before. - -At the church door, at the instance of the mayor, they once again -shook hands; and then each one, attended by his friends and relatives, -made his way to his house, which for three years he had not entered. - -Lucien and myself went back to Madame de Franchi's house, where dinner -awaited us. - -It is not difficult to perceive by the attentions I received that -Lucien had read my name over my shoulder when I was signing the paper, -and the name was not altogether unknown to him. - -In the morning I had announced to Lucien my intention to depart after -dinner. I was urgently recalled to Paris by the rehearsals of "Un -Mariage sous Louis XV.," and notwithstanding the importunities of -mother and son, I persisted in adhering to my first determination. - -Lucien then asked permission to take advantage of my offer, and to -take a letter to his brother; and Madame Franchi made me promise that -I would hand this letter myself to her son. - -There was really no trouble in the matter, for Louis de Franchi, like -a true Parisian as he was, lived at No. 7, Rue du Helder. - -I asked permission to see Lucien's room once again, and he himself -conducted me thither, explaining everything to me. - -"You know," he said, "if anything strikes you I hope you will take it, -it is yours." - -I unhooked a small poignard hanging in an obscure corner, as if to -show that it had no value attached to it; and as I had seen Lucien -notice with some curiosity my hunting-belt and its appurtenances, I -begged him to accept it, and he had the good taste to take it without -being pressed. - -At that moment Griffo appeared to tell me that the horse was saddled -and the guide waiting. - -I put aside the little present I had intended to give to Griffo, which -consisted of a hunting-knife and two pistols attached to it, the -barrels of which were hidden in the hilt. - -I never saw anybody so delighted as he was at this present. - -I descended, and found Madame de Franchi at the bottom of the -staircase, where she was waiting to bid me good-bye, in the same place -where she had bade me welcome. I kissed her hand, feeling great -respect for such a simple-minded and yet so dignified a woman. - -Lucien accompanied me to the door. - -"On any other day," he said, "I would saddle my horse, and ride with -you beyond the mountain, but to-day I dare not quit Sullacaro for fear -that one or other of the newly-made friends might commit some folly." - -"You are quite right," I said; "and for my own part, I am very glad to -have assisted at a ceremony so new to Corsica." - -"Yes," he said, "you may well congratulate yourself, for you have -to-day witnessed a thing which is enough to make our ancestors turn in -their graves." - -"I understand--their word was sufficient; they did not need a notary -to reconcile them, I suppose?" - -"They were never reconciled at all." - -He then shook me by the hand. - -"Have you no message for your brother?" I said. - -"Yes, certainly, if it will not incommode you to deliver it." - -"Well, then, let us embrace. I can only deliver that which I am able -to receive." [See "Transcriber's Note."] - -So we embraced each other. - -"We shall see you again some day?" I said. - -"Yes, if you come to Corsica." - -"No, but won't you come to Paris?" - -"I shall never go there," replied Lucien. - -"In any case, you will find my card on the mantelpiece in your -brother's room--do not forget the address." - -"I will promise you that should any event call me to the Continent you -shall have my first visit." - -"Very well, that is agreed." - -We shook hands once again and parted; but I noticed, so long as he -could see me, he followed me with his eyes. - -All was quiet in the village, although, of course, there was the usual -agitation which follows the completion of a great public act; and as I -went along the street I sought my friend Orlandi, who had never -addressed a word to me, nor even thanked me; and so I passed the last -house in the village, and entered the open country without having seen -any one like him. - -I thought he had entirely forgotten me, and under the circumstances I -quite excused him, but before I got very far out of the village I -perceived a man stride from the underwood, and place himself in the -middle of the road. I recognized him at once as the man who in my -great regard for appearances, and in my impatience, I had accused of -ingratitude. - -He was dressed in the same costume as he had appeared in the previous -evening in the ruins of Vicentello. - -When I was about twenty paces distant from him he took off his hat; -while I spurred my horse so as not to keep Orlandi waiting. - -"Monsieur," he said, "I did not wish you to quit Sullacaro without -accepting my thanks for the kindness you have shown to a poor peasant -like myself, and as in the village I had not the heart, and could not -command the language, to thank you, I waited for you here." - -"I am obliged to you," I said; "but it was not necessary to take any -trouble about it, and all the honour has been mine." - -"And after all, monsieur," continued the bandit, "the habit of four -years is not easily overcome. The mountain air is strong at first, -almost suffocating--but now when I go to sleep in a house I should be -afraid the roof would fall upon me." - -"But surely," I said, "you will now resume your former habits. I -understand you have a house, a field, and a vineyard." - -"Yes, but my sister looks after the house; but the Lucquois are there -to work in the field, and to raise the grapes. We Corsicans do not -work." - -"What do you do, then?" - -"We overlook the labourers. We walk about with a gun upon our -shoulders." - -"Well, my dear Monsieur Orlandi," I said, extending my hand, "I wish -you good luck; but recollect that my honour as well as your own will -be compromised if you fire at anything but game or wild animals. You -must never on any account draw a trigger on the Colona family." - -"Ah! your Excellency," he replied, with an expression of countenance -which I never remarked except amongst the natives of Normandy, "that -hen they gave us was a very thin one." - -And without another word he disappeared in the brushwood. - -I continued my journey thinking that it was very likely that the -meagre fowl would be the cause of another rupture between the Orlandi -and the Colona. - -That evening I slept at Albitucia, next day I reached Ajaccio. - -Eight days afterwards I was in Paris. - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -THE day I arrived in Paris I called upon M. Louis de Franchi. He was -not at home. - -I left my card, with an intimation that I had just returned from -Sullacaro, and that I was the bearer of a letter from M. Lucien, his -brother. I inquired when he would be at home, as I had undertaken to -deliver the letter with my own hand. - -To conduct me to his master's study, where I wished to write a note, -the valet led me through the dining-room and the _salon._ - -I looked around me as I proceeded with a curiosity which will be -understood, and I recognized the influence of the same taste which I -had already perceived at Sullacaro; only the taste was here set off by -true Parisian elegance. M. Louis de Franchi certainly appeared to have -a very charming lodging for a bachelor. - -Next morning, about eleven o'clock, my servant announced M. Louis de -Franchi. I told the man to offer my visitor the papers and to say that -I would wait on him as soon as I was dressed. - -In five minutes I presented myself. - -M. Louis do Franchi who was, no doubt from a sense of courtesy, -reading a tale I had contributed to _La Presse,_ raised his head as -the door opened, and I entered. - -I stood perfectly astounded at the resemblance between the two -brothers. He rose. - -"Monsieur," he said, "I could scarcely credit my good fortune when I -read your note yesterday on my return home. I have pictured you twenty -times so as to assure myself that it was in accord with your -portraits, and at last I, this morning, determined to present myself -at your house without considering the hour, and I fear I have been too -early." - -"I hope you will excuse me if I do not at once acknowledge your -kindness in suitable terms, but may I inquire whether I have the -honour to address M. Louis or M. Lucien de Franchi?" - -"Are you serious? Yes, the resemblance is certainly wonderful, and -when I was last at Sullacaro nearly every one mistook one of us for -the other, yet, if he has not abjured the Corsican dress, you have -seen him in a costume, which would make a considerable difference in -our appearance." - -"And justly so," I replied; "but as chance would have it, he was, when -I left, dressed exactly as you are now, except that he wore white -trowsers, so that I was not able to separate your presence from his -memory with the difference in dress of which you speak, but," I -continued, taking the letter from my pocket-book, "I can quite -understand you are anxious to have news from home, so pray read this -which I would have left at your house yesterday had I not promised -Madame de Franchi to give it to you myself." - -"They were all quite well when you left, I hope?" - -"Yes, but somewhat anxious." - -"On my account?" - -"Yes; but read that letter, I beg of you." - -"If you will excuse me." - -So Monsieur Franchi read the letter while I made some cigarettes. I -watched him as his eyes travelled rapidly over the paper, and I heard -him murmur, "Dear Lucien, Darling Mother----yes----yes----I -understand." - -I had not yet recovered from the surprise the strange resemblance -between the brothers had caused me, but now I noticed what Lucien had -told me, that Louis was paler, and spoke French better than he did. - -"Well," I said when he had finished reading the letter, and had -lighted the cigarette, "You see, as I told you, that they are anxious -about you, and I am glad that their fears are unfounded." - -"Well, no," he said gravely, "not altogether; I have not been ill, it -is true, but I have been out of sorts, and my indisposition has been -augmented by this feeling that my brother is suffering with me." - -"Monsieur Lucien has already told me as much, and had I been sceptical -I should now have been quite sure that what he said was a fact. I -should require no further proof than I now have. So you, yourself, are -convinced, monsieur, that your brother's health depends to a certain -extent on your own." - -"Yes, perfectly so." - -"Then," I continued, "as your answer will doubly interest me, may I -ask, not from mere curiosity, if this indisposition of which you speak -is likely soon to pass away?" - -"Oh, you know, monsieur, that the greatest griefs give way to time, -and that my heart, even if seared, will heal. Meantime, however, pray -accept my thanks once more, and permit me to call on you occasionally -to have a chat about Sullacaro." - -"With the greatest pleasure," I replied; "but why not now continue our -conversation, which is equally agreeable to both of us. My servant is -about to announce breakfast. Will you do me the honour to join me, and -we can talk at our ease?" - -"I regret that it is impossible; I have an appointment with the -Chancellor at twelve o'clock, and you will understand that such a -young advocate as I am cannot afford to stay away." - -"Ah, it is probably only about that Orlandi and Colona affair, as you, -no doubt, are aware, and I can re-assure you on that point, for I -myself signed the contract as sponsor for this Orlandi." - -"Yes, my brother said as much." - -"But," he added, looking at his watch, "it is nearly twelve o'clock; I -must go and inform the Chancellor that my brother has redeemed my -word." - -"Ah, yes, most religiously, I can answer for that." - -"Dear Lucien, I knew quite well, though our sentiments do not agree on -this point, that he would do it for me." - -"Yes, and I assure you it cost him something to comply." - -"We will speak of all this later, for you can well understand how -pleasant it is for me to re-visit with your assistance my mother, my -brother, and our home surroundings, so if you will tell me when you -are disengaged----" - -"That will be somewhat difficult; for this next few days I shall be -very busy, but will you tell me where I am likely to find you." - -"Listen," he said, "to-morrow is Mi-Careme, is it not?" - -"To-morrow?" - -"Yes." - -"Well?" - -"Are you going to the Opera Ball?" - -"Yes and No. Yes, if you will meet me there. No, if I have no object -in going." - -"I must go, I am obliged to be there." - -"Ah, yes," I said laughing, "I understand, as you said just now, time -heals up the greatest griefs, and your seared heart must be healed." - -"You are under a misapprehension, for I shall probably sustain new -tortures by going." - -"Then do not go." - -"But what is one to do in this world? We cannot always do what we -want; I am dragged thither by fate in spite of myself. I know I had -better not go, and nevertheless I shall go." - -"Well, then, to-morrow, at the Opera." - -"Yes, agreed." - -"At what time?" - -"Half-past twelve midnight, if that will suit you." - -"And whereabouts?" - -"In the _foyer_--at one, I will be in front of the clock." - -"That is understood." - -We then shook hands and he left the house quickly. It was on the -stroke of twelve. - -As for me, I occupied myself all the afternoon and all the next day in -those employments as a man is obliged to undertake on his return from -a lengthened tour. - -At half-past twelve o'clock at night I was at the rendezvous. - -Louis had been waiting some time--he had been following a mask which -he thought he recognized, but the lady had been lost in the crowd, and -he had not been able to rejoin her. - -I wished to speak of Corsica, but Louis was too absent to follow out -such a grave subject of conversation. His eyes were constantly fixed -on the clock, and suddenly he rushed away from my side, exclaiming: - -"Ah, there is my bouquet of violets." - -He pushed through the crowd to join a woman who, evidently with a -purpose, was holding a large bouquet of violets in her hand. - -There were bouquets of every species in the foyer, and I myself was -soon accosted by a bouquet of camellias, which congratulated me upon -my safe return to Paris. - -To the camellias succeeded a bouquet of rose-pompons. - -To these succeeded a bouquet of heliotrope. - -In fact I was engaged with my fifteenth bouquet when I encountered -D----. - -"Ah, is it you, _mon cher?_" he cried. "Welcome back; you have -returned just in time. I have a little supper party this -evening--so-and-so and so-and-so--and we shall count upon you." - -"A thousand thanks, my dear fellow; but though I am strongly tempted -to accept your invitation, I can't. I am engaged to somebody." - -"Yes; but everyone else will bring somebody also," said D----. "It is -quite understood that there are to be six water-bottles, whose destiny -it is to refresh bouquets." - -"Ah, you are mistaken. I shall have no bouquet to put in a -water-bottle; I am with a friend." - -"Well, you know the proverb, 'Friends of our friends.'" - -"It is a young gentleman whom you do not know." - -"Well, then, we will make his acquaintance." - -"I will tell him of his good fortune." - -"Yes, and if he decline, bring him by force." - -"I will do what I can, I promise you. At what time?" - -"Three o'clock; but as supper will remain on table till six you have -ample margin." - -"Very well." - -A bouquet of myosotis, which perhaps had heard the latter portion of -our conversation, then took D----'s arm and walked on with him. - -Shortly afterwards I met Louis, who had by this time got rid of his -violets. - -As the lady who honoured me with her attention just then was a trifle -dull, I despatched her to one of my friends, and took Louis' arm. - -"Well," I said, "have you learnt what you wanted to know?" - -"Oh, yes! You know that at a masked ball people talk of the very -things they ought to leave you in ignorance of." - -"My poor friend," I said, "pardon me for thus addressing you; but it -appears to me that I know you since I have known your brother. Look -here--you are unhappy, are not you? Now what is it?" - -"Oh, my goodness! Nothing worth talking about." - -I saw that he did not wish to speak on the subject, so I said no more. - -We took two or three turns in silence.--I was quite indifferent, for I -expected nobody, but he was anxiously examining every domino that -passed. - -At length I said, "Do you know what you might do to-night?" - -He started like a man suddenly aroused. - -"I! No. I beg your pardon; what did you say?" - -"I was about to propose a distraction which it seems to me you need." - -"What is it?" - -"Come to supper with a friend of mine, with me." - -"Oh, no--I am not in a festive humour." - -"Bah! They will talk nothing but nonsense, and that will amuse you." - -"Well--but I am not invited!" - -"You mistake--for you are." - -"It is very kind on your part--but 'pon my word I am not worthy of--" - -Just then we crossed D----. He seemed very much engaged with his -bouquet of myosotis. Nevertheless he saw me. - -"Well," he said, "is it settled? Three o'clock." - -"Less settled than ever," I replied--"I cannot join you." - -"Go to the Devil, then!" - -And with this pious ejaculation he continued his course. - -"Who is that gentleman?" inquired Louis. - -"That is D----, one of my friends; a very cheerful youth, though he is -the manager of one of our most respectable papers." - -"Monsieur D----!" exclaimed Louis. "Do you know _him?_" - -"Certainly. I have known him for some years." - -"And is he the person with whom you are invited to sup this evening?" - -"Yes, the same." - -"Then it was to his house you intended to take me?" - -"Yes." - -"Then that alters the case. I accept, and with very great pleasure." - -"All right. That settles the question." - -"Perhaps, after all, I ought not to go," muttered Louis, smiling -sadly. "But you remember what I said yesterday about my destiny. Here -is the proof. I should have done better not to have come here this -evening." - -At this moment we again encountered D----. "My dear fellow," I said, -"I have changed my mind!" - -"And you will join us?" - -"Yes." - -"Bravo! But I ought to mention one thing." - -"That is?" - -"That whoever sups with us to-night, sups with us again to-morrow -evening." - -"By what law of society is that?" - -"By the laws of the wager made with Chateau Renaud." - -I felt Louis' arm quiver as it rested on mine--I turned round; but -though his face was deadly pale, it was impassable. - -"What is the wager?" I inquired. - -"Oh, it would occupy too much time to repeat here, and, besides, some -one interested might overhear, and it might thus be lost." - -"What wonderful discretion you possess! At three, then." - -"At three!" - -Once more we separated, and as I glanced at the clock I saw it then -was thirty-five minutes past two. - -"Do you know this M. de Chateau Renaud?" asked Louis, who vainly -attempted to command his voice, and to conceal his emotion. - -"Only by sight. I have met him occasionally in society." - -"Then he is not a friend of yours?" - -"Not even an acquaintance." - -"Ah, so much the better," replied Louis. - -"Why so?" - -"For no particular reason." - -"But do you know him?" - -"Indirectly." - -Notwithstanding this evasive answer, it was easy to perceive that -between Louis and Chateau Renaud there existed one of those mysterious -bonds which could only be forged by a woman. An instinctive feeling -assured me that it would be best for all if he and I returned home -quietly. - -"Will you take my advice, Monsieur de Franchi," I said. - -"About what? tell me!" - -"Do not go to supper at D----'s house." - -"Why not? Does he not expect us. Have you not told him that you will -bring a friend?" - -"Yes, but that is not the point." - -"What is the point then?" - -"I am sure you had better not go, that is all!" - -"But surely you have some reason to give for your change of opinion; -just now you were insisting on my presence at D----'s against my -will." - -"I did not then know that we should meet Chateau Renaud." - -"But that is all the better. I believe he is a very pleasant -companion, and I shall be glad to make his acquaintance." - -"Very well," I replied--"so be it. Shall we go now?" - -We accordingly went downstairs for our paletots. - -D---- lived within a short distance of the opera house, the morning -was very fine, and I hoped that the open air would enliven my -companion. So I proposed that we should walk, and this he agreed to. - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -WE found many of my friends assembled--habitués of the opera lobbies -and of the greenroom, and, as I had expected, a few unmasked -"bouquets" anxious for the time to come when the water-bottles would -be used--supper time! - -I introduced Louis to several friends, and it is needless to say that -he was politely received and welcomed. - -Ten minutes after our arrival D---- entered, accompanied by his -bouquet of myosotis, who unmasked herself with a freedom and precision -which argued a long acquaintance with these sort of parties. - -I introduced Louis to D----. - -"Now," said B----, "if all the presentations have been made, I suggest -that we present ourselves at table." - -"All the presentations are made, but all the guests have not arrived," -replied D----. - -"Who is expected then?" - -"Chateau Renaud is still wanting to complete the party." - -"Ah, just so. By-the-by, was there not some bet?" - -"Yes. We laid a wager of a supper for twelve, that he would not bring -a certain lady here to-night." - -"And who is the lady," asked the bouquet of myosotis, "who is so very -shy as to be made the subject of a bet?" - -I looked at Louis de Franchi. He was outwardly composed, but pale as a -corpse. - -"Faith, I don't know that there is any great harm in telling you her -name, especially as none of you know her I think. She is Madame----" - -Louis placed his hand upon D----'s arm. - -"Monsieur," he said; "will you grant me a favour? As a new -acquaintance I venture to ask it!" - -"What is it, monsieur?" - -"Do not name the lady who is expected with M. de Chateau Renaud, you -know she is a married woman!" - -"Oh yes, but her husband is at Smyrna, in the East Indies, in Mexico, -or some such place. When a husband lives so far away it is nearly the -same as having no husband at all." - -"Her husband will return in a few days. I know him. He is a gallant -fellow. I would wish, if possible, to spare him the chagrin of -learning on his return that his wife had made one at this -supper-party." - -"Excuse me, monsieur," said D----, "I was not aware that you are -acquainted with the lady, and I did not think she was married. But -since you know her and her husband----" - -"I do know them." - -"Then we must exercise greater discretion. Ladies and gentlemen, -whether Chateau Renaud comes or not--whether he wins or loses his bet, -I must beg of you all to keep this adventure secret." - -We all promised, not because our moral senses were offended, but -because we were hungry and wished to begin our supper. - -"Thank you, monsieur," said Louis to D----, holding out his hand to -him. "I assure you you are acting like a thorough gentleman in this -matter." - -We then passed into the supper-room, and each one took his allotted -place. Two chairs were vacant, those reserved for Chateau Renaud and -his expected companion. - -The servant was about to remove them. - -"No," said the master, "let them remain; Chateau Renaud has got until -four o'clock to decide his wager. At four o'clock if he is not here he -will have lost." - -I could not keep my eyes from Louis de Franchi; I saw him watching the -timepiece anxiously. It was then 3.40 A.M. - -"Is that clock right?" asked Louis. - -"That is not my concern," said D----, laughing. "I set it by Chateau -Renaud's watch, so that there may be no mistake." - -"Well, gentlemen," said the bouquet of myosotis, "it seems we cannot -talk of anything but Chateau Renaud and his unknown fair one. We are -getting horribly 'slow,' I think." - -"You are quite right, my dear," replied V----. "There are so many -women of whom we can speak, and who are only waiting to be spoken -to----" - -"Let us drink their health," cried D----. - -So we did, and then the champagne went round briskly; every guest had -a bottle at his or her elbow. - -I noticed that Louis scarcely tasted his wine; "Drink, man!" I -whispered: "don't you see that she will not come?" - -"It still wants a quarter to four," said he; "at four o'clock, even -though I shall be late in commencing, I promise you I will overtake -some of you." - -"Oh, very well!" I replied. - -While we had been exchanging these few words in a low tone, the -conversation had become general around the table. Occasionally D---- -and Louis glanced at the clock, which ticked regularly on without any -care for the impatience of the two men who were so intent upon its -movements. - -At five minutes to four I looked at Louis. - -"To your health," I said. - -He took his glass, smiled, and raised it to his lips. He had drunk -about half its contents when a ring was heard at the front door. - -I did not think it possible that Louis could become any paler than he -was, but I saw my mistake then. - -"'Tis he," he muttered. - -"Yes, but perhaps he may have come alone," I replied. - -"We shall see in a moment." - -The sound of the bell had attracted everybody's attention, and the -most profound silence suddenly succeeded the buzz of conversation -which had till then prevailed. - -Then the sound of talking was heard in the anteroom. - -D---- rose and opened the door. - -"I can recognize her voice," said Louis, as he grasped my arm with a -vice-like grip. - -"We shall see! wait! be a man!" I answered. "It must be evident that -if she has thus come to supper with a man, of her own will, to the -house of a stranger, she is not worthy your sympathy." - -"I beg, madam, that you will enter," said D----'s voice in the outer -room. "We are all friends here I assure you." - -"Yes, come in, my dear Emily," said M. de Chateau Renaud, "you need -not take off your mask if you do not wish to do so." - -"The wretch," muttered Louis. - -At that moment a lady entered, dragged in rather than assisted by -D----, who fancied he was doing the honours, and by Chateau Renaud. - -"Three minutes to four," said Chateau Renaud to D----, in a low voice. - -"Quite right, my dear fellow, you have won." - -"Not yet, monsieur," said the young unknown addressing Chateau Renaud, -and drawing herself up to her full height. "I can now understand your -persistence. You laid a wager that I would sup here. Is that so?" - -Chateau Renaud was silent. Then addressing D----, she continued. - -"Since this man cannot answer, will you, monsieur, reply. Did not M. -de Chateau Renaud wager that he would bring me here to supper -to-night?" - -"I will not hide from you, madame, that he flattered us with that -hope," replied D----. - -"Well, then, M. de Chateau Renaud has lost, for I was quite unaware he -was bringing me here. I believed we were to sup at the house of a -friend of my own. So it appears to me that M. de Chateau Renaud has -not won his wager." - -"But now you are here, my dear Emily, you may as well remain; won't -you? See, we have a good company and some pleasant young ladies too!" - -"Now that I am here," replied the unknown, "I will thank the gentleman -who appears to be the master of the house for the courtesy with which -he has treated me. But as, unfortunately, I cannot accept his polite -invitation I will beg M. Louis de Franchi to see me home." - -Louis with a bound placed himself between the speaker and Chateau -Renaud. - -"I beg to observe, madam," said the latter between his shut teeth, -"that I brought you hither and consequently I am the proper person to -conduct you home." - -"Gentlemen," said the unknown, "you are five, I put myself into your -honourable care. I trust you will defend me from the violence of M. de -Chateau Renaud!" - -Chateau Renaud made a movement. We all rose at once. - -"Very good, madame," he said. "You are at liberty. I know with whom I -have to reckon." - -"If you refer to me, sir," replied Louis de Franchi with an air of -hauteur impossible to describe, "you will find me all day to-morrow at -the Rue du Helder, No. 7." - -"Very well, monsieur. Perhaps I shall not have the pleasure to call -upon you myself, but I hope that two friends of mine may be as -cordially received in my place." - -"That was all that was necessary," said Louis, shrugging his shoulders -disdainfully. "A challenge before a lady! Come, madame," he continued, -offering his arm. "Believe me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart -for the honour you do me." - -And then they left the room, amidst the most profound silence. - -"Well, gentlemen, so it seems I have lost," said Chateau Renaud, when -the door closed. "That's all settled! To-morrow evening all of you sup -with me at the Frères Provençaux." - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE next day, or rather the same day, at ten o'clock, I called upon M. -Louis de Franchi. - -As I was ascending the staircase, I met two young men coming down. One -was evidently a civilian, the other wore the Legion of Honour, and -though in _mufti_ I could see he was an officer. - -I had, no doubt, that these gentlemen had just been with M. de -Franchi, and I watched them downstairs. Then I continued my way to -Louis' apartments and rang the bell. - -The servant opened the door. His master was in his study. - -When the man announced me, Louis, who was writing, looked up and -exclaimed-- - -"Ah, welcome! I was just writing to you. I am very glad to see you. -Joseph, I am not at home to any one." - -The servant went out and left us alone. - -"Didn't you meet two gentlemen upon the stairs?" asked Louis, as he -placed a chair. - -"Yes, one of them was decorated." - -"The same." - -"I fancied they had called upon you." - -"You are quite right." - -"Did they come on behalf of M. de Chateau Renaud?" - -"They are his seconds." - -"Ah! so he has taken this matter seriously it seems." - -"He could scarcely do otherwise," replied Louis. - -"So they came to----." - -"To request me to name two friends who would confer with them; I -thought of you." - -"I am really honoured by your kindness. But I cannot go alone." - -"I have also written to ask an old friend, the Baron Giordano -Martelli, to breakfast here. He will come at eleven. We will breakfast -together, and at twelve, perhaps, you will be kind enough to go and -see these gentlemen who have promised to remain at home until three -o'clock. Here are their names and addresses." - -Louis handed me two cards as he spoke. - -One card represented the Baron René de Chateaugrand, the other M. -Adrien de Boissy. - -The former lived in the Rue de la Paix, No. 12. - -The latter, who I now saw, belonged to the army, was a lieutenant of -Chasseurs d'Afrique, and lived in the Rue de Lille, No. 29. - -I turned the cards over and over in my fingers. - -"Well, what embarrasses you?" asked Louis. - -"I should like to be told frankly if you look upon this as a serious -matter. You know we must mould our conduct upon that." - -"Indeed, I do consider it a very serious matter. You heard me place -myself at M. de Chateau Renaud's disposal, he has sent to me. I must -now go with the current." - -"Yes, of course, but after all----" - -"Go on," said Louis, smilingly. - -"After all," I continued, "we must know what you are going to fight -for. We cannot put two men up to cut and slash each other without -having some ground for the encounter." - -"Very well, let me tell you in as few words as possible, the head and -front of the offending. - -"When I first arrived in Paris I was introduced by a friend of mine, a -captain in the navy, to his wife. She was young and beautiful. She -made a deep impression upon me, and as I was really afraid I might end -by falling in love with her, I very rarely went to my friend's house, -although frequently pressed to do so. - -"My friend was rather piqued at my absence, and at last I frankly told -him the truth, that his wife being so charming I was rather afraid to -go to his house. He laughed, shook hands with me, and asked me, even -pressed me, to dine with him that same evening. - -"'My dear Louis,' said he, after dinner. 'In a few weeks I shall sail -for Mexico. I may be absent three months, perhaps six--or longer. We -sailors sometimes know when we shall sail, but never when we may -return. To you, I commend Emily during my absence. Emily, I beg of you -to look upon M. Louis de Franchi as a brother.' - -"The lady gave me her hand in token of agreement. I was stupefied! I -did not know what to say, and I daresay I appeared very stupid to my -future sister. - -"Three weeks after this my friend sailed. - -"During those three weeks he insisted that I should dine at least once -a week with them _en famille._ - -"Emily's mother then came to live with her. I need scarcely say that -her husband's confidence was not abused, and though I loved her dearly -I regarded her simply as a sister. - -"Six months elapsed. - -"Emily's mother still remained with her, but when he went away, her -husband had entreated her to receive as usual. There was nothing my -poor friend had a greater horror of than to appear as a jealous -husband. He adored Emily and had every confidence in her. - -"So Emily continued to receive, and they were very friendly -receptions. But her mother's presence silenced all scandal or cause -for it, and no one could say a word against her reputation. - -"At the end of three months or so M. de Chateau Renaud appeared. - -"You believe in presentiments, I daresay. When I first saw that man I -disliked him and would not speak to him. I hated him. - -"But why I disliked him I cannot tell you. I did! - -"Most likely because I saw that even at his first appearance Emily -seemed inclined to like him, and he evidently admired her. Perhaps I -am mistaken, but, as at the bottom of my heart I had never ceased to -love Emily, I suspect I was jealous. - -"So on the next occasion I did not lose sight of M. de Chateau Renaud. -Perhaps he noticed my looks and it seemed to me that he was chatting -in undertones to Emily and holding me up to ridicule. - -"Had I yielded to my feelings I would have challenged him that -evening, but I reflected that such conduct would be absurd, and -restrained myself. - -"Every Wednesday thenceforth was a greater trial than the last. - -"M. de Chateau Renaud is quite a man of the world, a dandy--a lion--I -know how superior he is to me in many respects. But it seems to me -that Emily values him more highly than he deserves. - -"Soon I found out that I was not the only one who remarked her -preference for M. de Chateau Renaud, and this preference increased to -such an extent and became so obvious that one day Giordano, who like -me was an habitué of the house, spoke to me about it. - -"From that moment my resolution was taken. I determined to speak to -Emily on the subject, convinced that she was only acting thoughtlessly -and I had but to call her attention to the matter to have it remedied. - -"But to my great astonishment she took my remonstrances in joke, -pretended that I was mad, and that those who agreed with me were as -stupid as I was. - -"However, I insisted. - -"Emily only replied, that she would leave to my own decision as to -whether a man in love was not necessarily a prejudiced judge. - -"I remained perfectly stupefied; her husband must have told her -everything. - -"Now you will understand that under these circumstances, and being an -unhappy and jealous lover, and only making myself objectionable to the -lady, I ceased to visit at the house. - -"But although I did not go to her parties I did not the less hear the -gossip that was afloat, nor was I the less unhappy, for these reports -were assuming a tangible shape. - -"I resolved therefore to write to her, and beg her in the strongest -language of which I was capable, for her own and her husband's sake, -to be careful. She never answered my letter. - -"Some time afterwards I heard it publicly stated that Emily was -actually the mistress of Chateau Renaud. What I suffered I cannot -express. - -"It was then my poor brother became conscious of my grief. - -"Then, after about a fortnight, you came back to Paris. The very day -you called upon me I received an anonymous letter from a lady unknown -appointing a meeting at the Opera Ball. - -"This woman said that she had certain information to convey to me -respecting a lady friend of mine, whose Christian name only she would -mention. - -"The name was Emily. - -"My correspondent said I should recognize her by her carrying a -bouquet of violets. - -"I told you at the time that I did not wish to go to the ball, but I -repeat I was hurried thither by fate. - -"I went as you know. I found my domino at the place at the hour -indicated. She confirmed what I had already heard respecting Chateau -Renaud and Emily, and if I wished proof, she would give it me, for -Chateau Renaud had made a bet that he would take his new mistress to -supper at M. D----'s house that evening. - -"Chance revealed to me that you knew M. D----, you suggested that I -should accompany you. I accepted, you know the rest." - -"Now, what more could I do but await and accept the proposals that -were made to me?" - -"But," I said, at length, as a sensation of fear crossed my mind, "I -am afraid I heard your brother say that you had never handled a sword -or a pistol." - -"That is quite true!" - -"Then you are absolutely at the mercy of your adversary!" - -"I cannot help it. I am in the hands of Providence." - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -AS Louis was speaking, the servant announced the Baron Giordano -Martelli. - -He was a young Corsican from Sartène. He had served in the 11th -Regiment, in which his gallantry had secured him promotion at the age -of twenty-three. - -"Well," he said, after having bowed to me, "so things have come to a -crisis, and no doubt you will soon have a visit from the seconds of -Monsieur de Chateau Renaud." - -"They have been here already." - -"I suppose they have left their names and addresses?" - -"Here are their cards." - -"Good." - -"Well, your servant has just told me that breakfast is waiting. -Suppose we sit down, and after breakfast we can return their visit." - -We entered the _salle à manger,_ and put aside all business for the -present. - -During the meal Louis questioned me closely concerning my journey in -Corsica, and I told him all the incidents with which the reader is -acquainted. He made me repeat, over and over again, all that his -mother and brother had said. He was quite touched, knowing the true -Corsican instincts of Lucien, with the care he had taken to -reconcile the Orlandi and the Colona. - -The clock struck twelve. - -"I do not wish to hurry you, gentlemen," said Louis, "but I think you -should return the visit of those gentlemen. It will not do to put -ourselves in the wrong." - -"Oh, you may be quite easy on that point," I said, "we have plenty of -time before us." - -"No matter," said the Baron Giordano, "Louis is right." - -"Now," said I, "we must know whether you prefer to fight with sword or -pistol?" - -"Ah," he replied, "it is all the same to me; I know as little about -one as the other. Besides, Monsieur de Chateau Renaud will save me all -trouble in choosing; he looks upon himself, no doubt, as the offended -party, and as such will retain the choice of weapons." - -"However, the offence is doubtful, you only offered your arm, as you -were asked to do." - -"My opinion is," said Louis, "that all discussion should tend towards -a peaceable arrangement of this matter. My tastes are not warlike, as -you know. Far from being a duellist, this is the first affair of the -kind I have had, and just for this very reason I wish to come well out -of it." - -"That is very easy to say, my friend, but you have to play for your -life, and you leave to us and before your family the responsibility of -the result." - -"Ah, as to that you may make your mind quite easy, I know my mother -and brother well enough; they would only ask whether I had conducted -myself as a brave man, and if you replied in the affirmative they -would be satisfied." - -"But, hang it, we must know which arm you prefer." - -"Well, if they propose pistols, accept them at once." - -"That is my advice, also," said the Baron. - -"Very well, then, the pistol be it," I replied, "since that is the -advice of both of you, but the pistol is a horrible weapon." - -"Have I time to learn to fence between this and to-morrow?" - -"No, unless, perhaps, you studied Grissier, and then you might learn -enough to defend yourself." - -Louis smiled. - -"Believe me," said he, "that what will happen tomorrow is already -written on high, and whatever we may do we cannot alter that." - -We then shook hands with him and went downstairs. - -Our first visit was naturally to the nearer of the two gentlemen who -had called on behalf of our adversary. - -We, therefore, visited Monsieur René de Chateaugrand, who lived, as we -have said, at 12, Rue de la Paix. - -Any other visitors were forbidden while we were calling, and we were -at once introduced to his presence. - -We found Monsieur de Chateaugrand a perfect man of the world--he would -not for one moment give us the trouble of calling upon Monsieur de -Boissy--he sent his own servant for him. - -While we were waiting his appearance, we spoke of everything but the -subject which had brought us thither, and in about ten minutes -Monsieur de Boissy arrived. - -The two gentlemen did not advance any pretensions to the choice of -arms, the sword or pistol was equally familiar to M. de Chateau -Renaud. They were quite willing to leave the selection to M. de -Franchi, or to toss up. A louis was thrown into the air, face for -sword, reverse for pistols. The coin came down reverse. - -So it was decided. The combat was arranged to take place next morning -at nine o'clock, in the wood of Vincennes, where the adversaries would -be placed at twenty paces, and after the third signal given by -clapping the hands they were to fire. - -We returned to convey this decision to Louis de Franchi. - -On my return home the same evening, I found the cards of MM. de -Chateaugrand and de Boissy. - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -AT eight o'clock that evening I called upon M. Louis de Franchi, to -inquire whether he had anything to confide to me. But he begged me to -wait till next morning, saying: - -"The night will bring counsel with it." - -Next morning, therefore, instead of calling at eight, which would have -given us plenty of time to go to the meeting, I called at half-past -seven. - -Louis was already writing in his study. - -He looked up as I entered, and I noticed how very pale he was. - -"Excuse me," he said, "I am writing to my mother. You will find the -morning papers there; if you can amuse yourself with them you will see -a charming feuilleton by M. Mèry in the _Presse._" - -I took the paper thus indicated, and contrasted the livid pallor of -the speaker with his calm and sweet voice. - -I endeavoured to read, but I could not fix my attention, the letters -brought no meaning with them. - -In about five minutes Louis said, - -"There, I have finished." And he rang for his valet. - -"Joseph," said he, "I am at home to no one, not even to the Baron -Giordano. If he calls, ask him to wait in the _salon._ I wish to be -alone with this gentlemen for ten minutes." - -The valet shut the door and disappeared. - -"Now, my dear Alexander, listen. Giordano is a Corsican, and has -Corsican ideas. I cannot, therefore, confide all I desire to him. I -will ask him to keep the secret, that's all. But as regards yourself, -I wish you, if you will permit me, to request that you will promise to -observe my instructions." - -"Certainly. Is not that the duty of a second?" - -"A duty more real than you imagine, for you can save our family a -second misfortune if you will." - -"A second misfortune!" I exclaimed. - -"Wait. Read this letter." - -I took the letter addressed to Madame de Franchi, and read as follows, -with growing astonishment:-- - -"MY DEAREST MOTHER,-- - -"If I did not know that you possessed Spartan fortitude allied with -Christian submission, I would have used means to prepare you for the -blow in store for you--for when you receive this letter you will have -but one son! - -"Lucien, my dear brother, love our mother for _both_ in future. - -"For some time I have been suffering from brain fever. I paid no -attention to the premonitory symptoms--the doctor came too late. -Darling mother, there is no hope for me now. I cannot be saved but by -a miracle, and what right have I to suppose that Providence will work -a miracle on my behalf? - -"I am writing to you in a lucid interval. If I die, this letter will -be posted immediately after my death; for in the selfishness of my -love for you I wish that you should know that I am dead without -regretting anything in the world except your tenderness and my -brother's. - -"Adieu, mother! - -"Do not weep for me. It is the soul that lives, not the body, and when -the latter perishes the former will still live and love you. - -"Adieu, Lucien! Never leave our mother; and remember that she has you -only to look to now. - - "Your Son, - "Your Brother, - "LOUIS DE FRANCHI." - -When I had finished the letter I turned to the writer and said-- - -"Well, and what does this mean?" - -"Do you not understand?" he said. - -"No!" - -"I am going to be shot at ten minutes past nine." - -"You are going to be shot?" - -"Yes." - -"You are mad! Why, what has put such an idea into your head?" - -"I am not mad, my dear friend. I have been warned--that's all." - -"Warned! By whom?" - -"My brother has already told you, I think, that the male members of -our family enjoy a singular privilege?" - -"True," I replied, shuddering, in spite of myself. "He spoke to me -about apparitions." - -"Quite so. Well, then, my father appeared to me last night. That is -why you find me so pallid. The sight of the dead pales the living!" - -I gazed at him with astonishment, not unmixed with terror. - -"You saw your father last night, you say?" - -"Yes." - -"And he spoke to you?" - -"He announced my death!" - -"Oh, it was some terrible dream!" - -"It was a terrible _reality._" - -"You were asleep, my friend." - -"I was wide awake. Do you not believe that a father can appear to his -son?" - -I hung my head, for at the bottom of my heart I _did_ believe in the -possibility. - -"What passed between you?" I asked. - -"It is a very simple and very natural story. I was reading, expecting -my father--for I knew if any danger threatened that he would appear to -me--and at midnight the lamp burnt low, the door opened slowly, and my -father appeared." - -"In what form?" I asked. - -"Just as if he were alive--dressed in his usual manner--only he was -very pale, and his eyes were without expression." - -"Good heavens!" I ejaculated. - -"He slowly approached my bed. I raised myself with my elbow, and said, -'You are welcome, father.' - -"He came close, and regarded me fixedly, and it then appeared to me as -if some sort of paternal solicitude was expressed in his face." - -"Go on," I said; "this is terrible!" - -"Then his lips moved, and, though I could hear no sound, I seemed to -hear his words distinctly, though distant as an echo." - -"What did he say?" - -"'Think of God, my son!' - -"'I shall be killed in this duel, then?' I asked. - -"I saw the tears roll down the pallid visage of the spectre. - -"'And at what hour?' - -"He pointed towards the timepiece. I followed the direction of his -finger. The clock showed ten minutes past nine. - -"'So be it, my father,' I said; 'God's will be done. I leave my -mother, but I rejoin you.' - -"Then a faint smile passed over his face, he waved me a sign of -farewell and glided away. - -"The door opened as he advanced towards it, and when he had -disappeared it shut of its own accord." - -This recital was so simply and so naturally told, that it was evident -to me the event had occurred just as de Franchi had related it, or he -was the victim of an illusion, which he had believed to be real in -consequence of the pre-occupation of his mind, and was therefore all -the more terrible. - -I wiped the perspiration from my forehead. - -"Now," continued Louis; "you know my brother, don't you?" - -"Yes." - -"What do you think he will do when he learns that I have been killed -in a duel?" - -"He will leave Sullacaro at once to challenge the man who has killed -you." - -"Just so, and if he is killed in his turn, my mother will be thrice a -widow; widowed by the loss of her husband, widowed by the loss of her -two sons." - -"Ah! I understand. This is fearful!" - -"Well, this must be avoided, and that is why I have written this -letter. Believing that I have died from brain fever my brother will -not seek to avenge me, and my mother will be the more easily consoled, -knowing it was the will of God, and that I did not fall by the hand of -man. At least----" - -"At least what?" I repeated. - -"Oh, nothing," replied Louis. "I hope that will not come to pass." - -I saw that he was referring to some personal fear, and I did not -insist farther. - -At this moment the door opened, and the Baron de Giordano entered. - -"My dear de Franchi," he said, "I respect your privacy more than -anything, but it is past eight, and the meeting is appointed for nine; -we have quite a league and a half to drive, and we should start at -once." - -"I am ready, my dear fellow," said Louis. "I have told my friend here -all I had to say to him." - -He put his finger on his lips as our eyes met. - -"For you, my friend," he continued, turning to the table and taking up -a sealed letter, "there is this; if anything should happen to me read -this letter, and I pray you to carry out my request contained in it." - -"To the very letter," replied the Baron. - -"You were to provide the arms," said Louis. - -"Yes," I replied, "but just as I was coming away I found that one of -the dogs did not bark properly, so we shall be obliged to get a case -of pistols from Devisme." - -Louis looked at me, smiled, and held out his hand. He knew quite well -that I did not wish to see him killed with my pistols. - -"Have you a carriage?" he asked; "if not I will send Joseph for one." - -"My coupé is here," said the Baron, "and can carry three at a pinch; -besides, my horses will take us more quickly than a _fiacre._" - -"Let us go," said Louis. - -We went downstairs. Joseph was waiting at the door. - -"Shall I accompany you, sir?" he said. - -"No, Joseph," replied his master, "I shall not require your services -to-day." - -Then, stepping back a pace and pressing a roll of gold into the man's -hand, he said, "Take this, and if at any time I have appeared brusque -to you, pardon my ill-humour." - -"Oh, monsieur!" said Joseph, with tears in his eyes, "what is the -meaning of this?" - -"Chut!" said Louis, and he sprang into the carriage. - -"He is a good servant," he murmured, "and if either of you can ever be -of use to him I shall be obliged." - -"Is he about to leave you?" said the Baron. - -"No," said Louis, smiling; "I am leaving him, that is all!" - -We stopped at Devismes just long enough to secure a case of pistols, -powder and bullets, and then resumed our way at a brisk trot. - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -WE reached Vincennes at five minutes to nine. - -Another carriage, that of Chateau Renaud, arrived at the same time. - -We proceeded into the wood by different paths. Our carriages were to -await us in the broad avenue. A few minutes later we met at the -rendezvous. - -"Gentlemen," said Louis, "recollect that no arrangement is possible -now." - -"Nevertheless----," I said - -"Oh, my dear sir," he replied, "after what I have told you, you should -be the last person to think that any reconciliation is possible." - -I bowed before this absolute will, which for me was supreme. - -We left Louis near the carriages, and advanced towards M. de Boissy -and M. de Chateaugrand. - -The Baron de Giordano carried the case of pistols. - -The seconds exchanged salutes. - -"Gentlemen," said the Baron, "under these circumstances the shortest -compliments are the best, for we may be interrupted any moment. We -were requested to provide weapons--here they are. Examine them if you -please. We have just procured them from the gunsmith, and we give you -our word of honour that M. Louis de Franchi has not even seen them." - -"Such an assurance is unnecessary, gentlemen," replied Chateaugrand, -"we know with whom we have to deal," and taking one pistol, while M. -de Boissy took the other, the seconds examined the bore. - -"These are ordinary pistols, and have never been used," said the -Baron; "now the question is, how shall the principals fire." - -"My advice," said M. de Boissy, "is that they should fire just as they -are accustomed to do, together." - -"Very well," said the Baron Giordano, "then all chances are -equalized." - -"Will you advise M. de Franchi, then, and we will tell M. de Chateau -Renaud, monsieur." - -"Now that is settled, will you have the goodness to load the pistols?" - -Each one took a pistol, measured carefully the charges of powder, took -two bullets at hazard, and rammed them home. - -While the weapons were being loaded, I approached Louis, who received -me with a smile. - -"You won't forget what I asked you?" he said, "and you will obtain -from Giordano a promise that he will say nothing to my mother, or even -to my brother. Will you take care, also, that this affair does not get -into the papers, or, if it does, that no names are mentioned." - -"You are still of opinion, then, this duel will prove fatal to you?" I -said. - -"I am more than ever convinced of it," he replied, "but you will do me -this justice at least, that I met death like a true Corsican." - -"My dear de Franchi, your calmness is so astounding that it gives me -hopes that you yourself are not convinced on this point." - -Louis took out his watch. - -"I have but seven minutes to live," he said; "here is my watch, keep -it, I beg of you, in remembrance of me." I took the watch, and shook -my friend's hand. - -"In eight minutes I hope to restore it to you," I said. - -"Don't speak of that," he replied. "See, here are the others." - -"Gentlemen," said the Viscount de Chateaugrand, "a little distance -from here, on the right, is an open space where I had a little -practice of my own last year; shall we proceed thither--we shall be -less liable to interruption." - -"If you will lead the way," said the Baron Giordano, "we will follow." - -The Viscount preceded us to the spot indicated. It was about thirty -paces distant, at the bottom of a gentle slope surrounded on all sides -by a screen of brushwood, and seemed fitted by nature as the theatre -of such an event as was about to take place. - -"M. Martelli," said the Viscount, "will you measure the distance by -me?" The Baron assented, and thus side by side he and M. de -Chateaugrand measured twenty ordinary paces. - -I was then left for a few seconds alone with M. de Franchi. - -"_Apropos,_" he said, "you will find my will on the table where I was -writing when you came in this morning." - -"Good," I replied, "you may rest quite easy on that score." - -"When you are ready, gentlemen," said the Viscount de Chateaugrand. - -"I am here," replied Louis. "Adieu, dear friend! thank you for all the -trouble you have taken for me, without counting all you will have to -do for me later on." I pressed his hand. It was cold, but perfectly -steady. - -"Now," I said, "forget the apparition of last night, and aim your -best." - -"You remember de Freyschutz?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, you know, then, that every bullet has its billet. Adieu!" - -He met the Baron Giordano, who handed him the pistol; he took it, and, -without looking at it, went and placed himself at the spot marked by -the handkerchief. - -M. de Chateau Renaud had already taken up his position. - -There was a moment of mournful silence, during which the young men -saluted their seconds, then their adversary's seconds, and finally -each other. - -M. de Chateau Renaud appeared perfectly accustomed to these affairs, -and was smiling like a man sure of success; perhaps, also, he was -aware that Louis de Franchi never had fired a pistol in his life. - -Louis was calm and collected, his fine head looked almost like a -marble bust. - -"Well, gentlemen," said Chateau Renaud, "you see we are waiting." - -Louis gave me one last glance, and smiling, raised his eyes to heaven. - -"Now, gentlemen, make ready," said Chateaugrand. Then, striking his -hands one against the other, he cried-- - -"One! Two! Three!" - -The two shots made but one detonation. - -An instant afterwards I saw Louis de Franchi turn round twice and then -fall upon one knee. - -M. de Chateau Renaud remained upright. The lappel of his coat had been -shot through. - -I rushed towards Louis de Franchi. - -"You are wounded?" I said. - -He attempted to reply, but in vain. A red froth appeared upon his -lips. - -At the same moment he let fall his pistol, and pressed his hand -against his right side. - -On looking closely, we perceived a tiny hole not large enough for the -point of a little finger. - -I begged the Baron to hasten to the barracks, and bring the surgeon of -the regiment. - -But de Franchi collected all his strength, and stopping Giordano, -signed that all assistance would be useless. This exertion caused him -to fall on both knees. - -M. de Chateau Renaud kept at a distance, but his seconds now -approached the wounded man. - -Meanwhile, we had opened his coat and torn away his waistcoat and -shirt. - -The ball had entered the right side, below the sixth rib, and had come -out a little above the left hip. - -At each breath the wounded man drew, the blood welled out. It was -evident he was mortally hurt. - -"M. de Franchi," said the Viscount de Chateaugrand, "we regret -extremely the issue of this sad affair. We trust you bear no malice -against M. de Chateau Renaud." - -"Yes, yes," murmured the wounded man, "I forgive him." - -Then turning towards me with an effort he said, - -"Remember your promise!" - -"I swear to you I will do all you wish." - -"And now," he said, smiling, "look at the watch!" - -He breathed a long sigh, and fell back. That sigh was his last. - -I looked at the watch, it was exactly ten minutes past nine. - -I turned to Louis de Franchi--he was dead. - -We took back the body to the Rue de Helder, and while the Baron went -to make the usual declaration to the Commissary of Police, I went -upstairs with Joseph. - -The poor lad was weeping bitterly. - -As I entered, my eyes unconsciously turned towards the timepiece; it -marked ten minutes past nine. - -No doubt he had forgotten to wind it, and it had stopped at that hour. - -The Baron Giordano returned almost immediately with the officers, who -put the seals on the property. - -The Baron wished to advise the relatives and friends of the affair, -but I begged him, before he did so, to read the letter that Louis had -handed to him before we set out that morning. - -The letter contained his request that the cause of his death should be -concealed from his brother, and that his funeral should be as quiet as -possible. - -The Baron Giordano charged himself with these details, and I sought -MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand, to request their silence respecting -the unhappy affair, and to induce Chateau Renaud to leave Paris for a -time, without mentioning my reason for this last suggestion. - -They promised me to do all they could to meet my views, and as I -walked to Chateau Renaud's house I posted the letter to Madame de -Franchi, informing her that her son had died of brain fever. - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -CONTRARY to custom, the duel was very little talked about; even the -papers were silent on the subject. - -A few intimate friends followed the body to Père la Chaise. Chateau -Renaud refused to quit Paris, although pressed to do so. - -At one time I thought of following Louis' letter to Corsica with one -from myself, but although my intentions were good, the misleading -statements I should have to make were so repugnant to me that I did -not do so. Besides, I was quite convinced that Louis himself had fully -weighed before he had decided upon his course of action. - -So at the risk of being thought indifferent, or even ungrateful, I -kept silence, and I was sure that the Baron Giordano had done as much. - -Five days after the duel, at about eleven o'clock in the evening, I -was seated by my table in a rather melancholy frame of mind, when my -servant entered and shutting the door quickly behind him said, in an -agitated whisper, that M. de Franchi desired to speak with me. - -I looked at him steadily; he was quite pale. - -"Whom did you say, Victor?" I asked. - -"Oh, monsieur, in truth I hardly know myself." - -"What M. de Franchi wishes to speak to me?" - -"Monsieur's friend. The gentleman who was here two or three times." - -"You are mad, my good man. Do you not know that I had the misfortune -to lose my friend five days ago?" - -"Yes, sir; and that is the reason I am so upset. He rang, I was in the -ante-chamber, and opened the door, but recoiled at his appearance. -However, he entered, and asked if you were at home. I replied that you -were, and then he said, 'Go and announce M. de Franchi, who wishes to -speak with your master,' and so I came." - -"You are stupid, Victor, the ante-chamber is not properly lighted. You -were asleep, no doubt, and did not hear correctly. Go, and ask the -gentleman his name." - -"It would be useless, sir. I swear to you I am not deceived. I heard -him, and saw him, distinctly." - -"Then go and show him in." - -Victor turned tremblingly to the door, opened it, and then standing -still in the room, said-- - -"Will monsieur be kind enough to come in?" - -I immediately heard the footsteps of my visitor crossing the -ante-chamber, and sure enough, at the door there appeared M. de -Franchi. - -I confess that I was terrified, and took a step backwards as he -approached. - -"I trust you will excuse my appearance so late," said my visitor; "I -only arrived ten minutes ago, and you will understand that I could not -wait till tomorrow without seeing you." - -"Oh, my dear Lucien," I exclaimed, advancing quickly, and embracing -him. "Then it is really you." And, in spite of myself, tears really -came into my eyes. - -"Yes," he said, "it is I." - -I made a calculation of the time that had elapsed, and could scarcely -imagine that he had received the letter--it could hardly have reached -Ajaccio yet. - -"Good Heavens! then you do not know what has happened?" I exclaimed. - -"I know all," was his reply. - -"Victor," I said, turning towards my servant, who was still rather -embarrassed, "leave us, and return in a quarter of an hour with some -supper. You will have something to eat, and will sleep here of -course." - -"With great pleasure," he replied. "I have eaten nothing since we left -Auxerre. Then, as to lodgings, as nobody knew me in the Rue de Helder, -or rather," he added, with a sad smile, "as everybody recognized me -there, they declined to let me in, so I left the whole house in a -state of alarm." - -"In fact, my dear Lucien, your resemblance to Louis is so very -striking that even I myself was just now taken aback." - -"How," exclaimed Victor, who had not yet ventured to leave us. "Is -monsieur the brother----" - -"Yes," I replied, "go and get supper." - -Victor went out, and we found ourselves alone. - -I took Lucien by the hand, and leading him to an easy chair seated -myself near him. - -"I suppose (I began) you were on your way to Paris when the fatal news -met you?" - -"No, I was at Sullacaro!" - -"Impossible! Why your brother's letter could not have reached you." - -"You forget the ballad of _Burger,_ my dear Alexander--_the dead -travel fast!_" - -I shuddered! "I do not understand," I said. - -"Have you forgotten what I told you about the apparitions familiar to -our family?" - -"Do you mean to say that you have _seen_ your dead brother?"-- -"Yes."--"When?" - -"On the night of the 16th inst." - -"And he told you everything?"--"All!" - -"That he was dead?" - -"He told me that he had been killed. The dead never lie!" - -"And he said in what way?" - -"In a duel." - -"By whom?" - -"By M. de Chateau Renaud." - -"Oh no, Lucien, that cannot be," I exclaimed, "you have obtained your -information in some other way." - -"Do you think I am likely to joke at such a time?" - -"I beg your pardon. But truly what you tell me is so strange, and -everything that relates to you and your brother so out of ordinary -nature, that----" - -"That you hesitate to believe it. Well, I can understand the feeling. -But wait. My brother was hit here," he continued, as he opened his -shirt and showed me the blue mark of the bullet on his flesh, "he was -wounded above the sixth rib on the right side--do you believe that?" - -"As a matter of fact," I replied, "that is the very spot where he was -hit." - -"And the bullet went out here," continued Lucien, putting his finger -just above his left hip. - -"It is miraculous," I exclaimed. - -"And now," he went on, "do you wish me to tell you the time he died?" - -"Tell me!" - -"At ten minutes past nine." - -"That will do, Lucien;" I said, "but I lose myself in questions. Give -me a connected narrative of the events. I should prefer it." - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -LUCIEN settled himself comfortably in his arm-chair and looking at me -fixedly, resumed:-- - -"It is very simple. The day my brother was killed I was riding very -early, and went out to visit the shepherds, when soon after I had -looked at my watch and replaced it in my pocket, I received a blow in -the side, so violent that I fainted. When I recovered I found myself -lying on the ground in the arms of the Orlandini, who was bathing my -face with water. My horse was close by. - -"'Well,' said Orlandini, 'what has happened?' - -"'I know no more about it than you do. Did you not hear a gun fired?' - -"'No.' - -"'It appears to me that I have received a ball in the side,' and I put -my hand upon the place where I felt pain. - -"'In the first place,' replied he 'there has been no shot fired, and -besides, there is no mark of a bullet on your clothes.' - -"'Then,' I replied, 'it must be my brother who is killed.' - -"'Ah, indeed,' he replied, 'that is a different thing.' I opened my -coat and I found a mark, only at first it was quite red and not blue -as I showed you just now. - -"For an instant I was tempted to return to Sullacaro, feeling so upset -both mentally and bodily, but I thought of my mother, who did not -expect me before supper time, and I should be obliged to give her a -reason for my return, and I had no reason to give. - -"On the other hand, I did not wish to announce my brother's death to -her until I was absolutely certain of it. So I continued my way, and -returned home about six o'clock in the evening. - -"My poor mother received me as usual. She evidently had no suspicion -that anything was wrong. - -"Immediately after supper, I went upstairs, and as I passed through -the corridor the wind blew my candle out. - -"I was going downstairs to get a light when, passing my brother's -room, I noticed a gleam within. - -"I thought that Griffo had been there and left a lamp burning. - -"I pushed open the door; I saw a taper burning near my brother's bed, -and on the bed my brother lay extended, naked and bleeding. - -"I remained for an instant, I confess, motionless with terror, then I -approached. - -"I touched the body, he was already dead. - -"He had received a ball through the body, which had struck in the same -place where I had felt the blow, and some drops of blood were still -falling from the wound. - -"It was evident to me that my brother had been shot. - -"I fell on my knees, and leaning my head against the bed, I prayed -fervently. - -"When I opened my eyes again the room was in total darkness, the taper -had been extinguished, the vision had disappeared. - -"I felt all over the bed, it was empty. - -"Now I believe I am as brave as most people, but when I tottered out -of that room I declare to you my hair was standing on end and the -perspiration pouring from my forehead. - -"I went downstairs for another candle. My mother noticed me, and -uttered a cry of surprise. - -"'What is the matter with you,' she said, 'and why are you so pale?' - -"'There is nothing the matter,' I replied, as I returned upstairs. - -"This time the candle was not extinguished. I looked into my brother's -room; it was empty. - -"The taper had completely disappeared, nor was there any trace of the -body on the bed. - -"On the ground was my first candle, which I now relighted. - -"Notwithstanding this absence of proof, I had seen enough to be -convinced that at ten minutes past nine that morning my brother had -been killed. I went to bed in a very agitated frame of mind. - -"As you may imagine, I did not sleep very well, but at length fatigue -conquered my agitation and I got a little rest. - -"Then all the circumstances came before me in the form of a dream. I -saw the scene as it had passed. I saw the man who had killed him. I -heard his name. He is called M. de Chateau Renaud." - -"Alas! that is all too true," I replied; "but what have you come to -Paris for?" - -"I have come to kill the man who has killed my brother." - -"To kill him?" - -"Oh, you may rest assured, not in the Corsican fashion from behind a -wall or through a hedge, but in the French manner, with white gloves -on, a frilled shirt, and white cuffs." - -"And does Madame de Franchi know you have come to Paris with this -intention?" - -"She does." - -"And she has let you come?" - -"She kissed me, and said, 'Go.' My mother is a true Corsican." - -"And so you came." - -"Here I am." - -"But your brother would not wish to be avenged were he alive." - -"Well, then," replied Lucien, smiling bitterly, "he must have changed -his mind since he died." - -At this moment the valet entered, carrying the supper tray. - -Lucien ate like a man without a care in the world. - -After supper I showed him to his room. He thanked me, shook me by the -hand, and wished me good-night. - -Next morning he came into my room as soon as the servant told him I -was up. - -"Will you accompany me to Vincennes?" he said. "If you are engaged I -will go alone." - -"Alone!" I replied. "How will you be able to find the spot?" - -"Oh, I shall easily recognize it. Do you not remember that I saw it in -my dream?" - -I was curious to know how far he was correct in this. "Very well," I -said, "I will go with you." - -"Get ready, then, while I write to Giordano. You will let Victor take -the note for me, will you not?" - -"He is at your disposal." - -"Thank you." - -Ten minutes afterwards the letter was despatched. I then sent for a -cabriolet and we drove to Vincennes. - -When we reached the cross-paths Lucien said, "We are not far off now, -I think." - -"No; twenty paces further on we shall be at the spot where we entered -the forest." - -"Here we are," said the young man, as he stopped the carriage. - -It was, indeed, the very spot! - -Lucien entered the wood without the least hesitation, and as if he had -known the place for years. He walked straight to the dell, and when -there turned to the eastward, and then advancing he stopped at the -place where his brother had fallen: stooping down he perceived the -grass wore the red tinge of blood. - -"This is the place," he said. - -Then he lightly kissed the spot where his brother had lain. - -Rising with flashing eyes he paced the dell to the spot whence Chateau -Renaud had fired. - -"This is where he stood," he said, stamping his foot, "and here he -shall lie to-morrow." - -"How!" I exclaimed. "To-morrow!" - -"Yes, unless he is a coward. For to-morrow he shall give me my -revenge." - -"But, my dear Lucien," I said, "the custom in France is, as you are -aware, that a duel cannot take place without a certain reason. Chateau -Renaud called out your brother who had provoked him, but he has had -nothing to do with you." - -"Ah, really! So Chateau Renaud had the right to quarrel with my -brother because he offered his arm to a woman whom Chateau Renaud had -scandalously deceived, and according to you he had the right to -challenge my brother. M. de Chateau Renaud killed my brother, who had -never handled a pistol: he shot him with the same sense of security -that a man would shoot a hare; and yet you say I have no right to -challenge Chateau Renaud. Nonsense!" - -I bowed without speaking. - -"Besides," he continued, "you have nothing to do with it. You may be -quite easy. I wrote to Giordano this morning, and when we return to -Paris all will have been arranged. Do you think that M. de Chateau -Renaud will refuse?" - -"M. de Chateau Renaud has unfortunately a reputation for courage which -may serve to remove any doubt you may entertain on that score." - -"All the better," said Lucien. "Let us go to breakfast." - -We returned to the road, and entering the cabriolet, I told the man to -drive to the Rue Rivoli. - -"No," said Lucien, "you shall breakfast with me. Coachman, the _Café -de Paris;_ is not that the place where my brother usually dined?" - -"I believe so," I replied. - -"Well, that is where I requested Giordano to meet us." - -"To the Café de Paris, then." - -In half an hour we were set down at the restaurant. - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -LUCIEN'S appearance created quite a sensation in consequence of his -remarkable likeness to his brother. - -The news of Louis' death had gone abroad--not, perhaps, in all its -details, but it was known, and Lucien's appearance astonished many. - -I requested a private room, saying that we were expecting the Baron -Giordano, and we got a room at the end. - -Lucien began to read the papers carelessly, as if he were oblivious of -everything. - -While we were seated at breakfast Giordano arrived. - -The two young men had not met for four or five years, nevertheless, a -firm clasp of the hand was the only demonstration they permitted -themselves. - -"Well, everything is settled," he said. - -"Then M. de Chateau Renaud has accepted?" - -"Yes, on condition, however, that after he has fought you he shall be -left in peace." - -"Oh, he may be quite easy; I am the last of the de Franchi. Have you -seen him, or his seconds?" - -"I saw him; he will notify MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand. The -weapons, the hour and the place will be the same." - -"Capital, sit down and have some breakfast." - -The Baron seated himself, and we spoke on indifferent topics. - -After breakfast Lucien begged us to introduce him to the Commissioner -of Police, who had sealed up his brother's property, and to the -proprietors of the house at which his brother had lived, for he wished -to sleep that night, the last night that separated him from his -vengeance, in Louis' room. - -All these arrangements took up time, so it was not till five o'clock -that Lucien entered his brother's apartment. Respecting his grief, we -left him there alone. - -We had arranged to meet him again next morning at eight o'clock, and -he begged me to bring the same pistols, and to buy them if they were -for sale. - -I went to Devismes and purchased the weapons. Next morning, at eight -o'clock I was with Lucien. - -When I entered, he was seated writing at the same table, where his -brother had sat writing. He smiled when he saw me, but he was very -pale. - -"Good morning," he said, "I am writing to my mother." - -"I hope you will be able to write her a less doleful letter than poor -Louis wrote eight days ago." - -"I have told her that she may rest happy, for her son is avenged." - -"How are you able to speak with such certainty?" - -"Did not my brother announce to you his own approaching death? Well, -then, I announce to you the death of M. de Chateau Renaud." - -He rose as he spoke, and touching me on the temple, said-- - -"There, that's where I shall put my bullet." - -"And yourself?" - -"I shall not be touched." - -"But, at least, wait for the issue of the duel, before you send your -letter." - -"It would be perfectly useless." - -He rang, the servant appeared. - -"Joseph," said he, "take this letter to the post." - -"But have you seen your dead brother?" - -"Yes," he answered. - -It is a very strange thing the occurrence of these two duels so close -together, and in each of which one of the two combatants was doomed. -While we were talking the Baron Giordano arrived. It was eight -o'clock, so we started. - -Lucien was very anxious to arrive first, so we were on the field ten -minutes before the hour. - -Our adversaries arrived at nine o'clock punctually. They came on -horseback, followed by a groom also on horseback. - -M. de Chateau Renaud had his hand in the breast of his coat. I at -first thought he was carrying his arm in a sling. - -The gentlemen dismounted twenty paces from us, and gave their bridles -to the groom. - -Monsieur de Chateau Renaud remained apart, but looked steadfastly at -Lucien, and I thought he became paler. He turned aside and amused -himself knocking off the little flowers with his riding whip. - -"Well, gentlemen, here we are!" said MM. de Chateaugrand and de -Boissy, "but you know our conditions. This duel is to be the last, and -no matter what the issue may be, M. de Chateau Renaud shall not have -to answer to any one for the double result." - -"That is understood," we replied. Then Lucien bowed assent. - -"You have the weapons, gentlemen?" said the Viscount. - -"Here are the same pistols." - -"And they are unknown to M. de Franchi?" - -"Less known to him than to M. de Chateau Renaud who has already used -them once. M. de Franchi has not even seen them." - -"That is sufficient, gentlemen. Come, Chateau Renaud!" - -We immediately entered the wood, and each one felt, as he revisited -the fatal spot, that a tragedy more terrible still was about to be -enacted. - -We soon arrived in the little dell. - -M. de Chateau Renaud, thanks to his great self-command, appeared quite -calm, but those who had seen both encounters could appreciate the -difference. - -From time to time he glanced under his lids at Lucien, and his furtive -looks denoted a disquietude approaching to fear. - -Perhaps it was the great resemblance between the brothers that struck -him, and he thought he saw in Lucien the avenging shade of Louis. - -While they were loading the pistols I saw him draw his hand from the -breast of his coat. The fingers were enveloped in a handkerchief as if -to prevent their twitching. - -Lucien waited calmly, like a man who was sure of his vengeance. - -Without being told, Lucien walked to the place his brother had -occupied, which compelled Chateau Renaud to take up his position as -before. - -Lucien received his weapon with a joyous smile. - -When Chateau Renaud took his pistol he became deadly pale. Then he -passed his hand between his cravat and his neck as if he were -suffocating. - -No one can conceive with what feelings of terror I regarded this young -man, handsome, rich, and elegant, who but yesterday believed he had -many years still before him, and who to-day, with the sweat on his -brow and agony at his heart, felt he was condemned. - -"Are you ready, gentlemen?" asked M. de Chateaugrand. - -"Yes," replied Lucien. - -M. de Chateau Renaud made a sign in the affirmative. - -As for me I was obliged to turn away, not daring to look upon the -scene. - -I heard the two successive clappings of the hands, and at the third -the simultaneous reports of the pistols. I turned round. - -Chateau Renaud was lying on the ground, stark dead; he had not uttered -a sound nor made a movement. - -I approached the body, impelled by that invincible curiosity which -compels one to see the end of a catastrophe. - -The bullet had entered the dead man's temple, at the very spot that -Lucien had indicated to me previously. - -I ran to him, he was calm and motionless, but seeing me coming towards -him he let fall the pistol, and threw himself into my arms. - -"Ah, my brother, my poor brother!" he cried as he burst into a passion -of sobs. - -These were the first tears that the young man had shed. - -__________ - -Woodfall & Kinder, Printers, Milford Lane, Strand, London, W.C. - - - -Transcriber's Note - -This transcription is based on images scanned by Google from a copy in -the Bodleian Library: - -dbooks.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/books/PDFs/590318888.pdf - -The scanned images (without the original cover image) are also -available through Google: - -books.google.com/books?id=g7gNAAAAQAAJ - -Variant spellings such as "trowsers" and "examing" have been retained, -and in general, inconsistencies of punctuation and italicization were -also not changed. However, when the punctuation seemed problematic, a -copy of the French text was consulted, and in a few cases the -punctuation was changed as noted below. The copy consulted, which was -printed in Paris in 1874 by Michel Lévy frères, is posted by the -Internet Archive: - -archive.org/details/lesfrrescorses01dumagoog - -The following changes were noted: - -- p. 20: "Yes," he repled, "to a rendezvous."--Changed "repled" to -"replied". - -- p. 23: "Do you rembember on what occasion?"--Changed "rembember" to -"remember". - -- p. 32: Two lines of dialogue ("Yes, I." and "Do you wish me to tell -you why you have come into this province of Sartène?") have been -combined into one line. The French text, which does not have a line -break, reads: "Eh! mon Dieu, oui, moi. Voulez-vous que je vous dise ce -que vous êtes venu chercher dans la province de Sartène?" - -- p. 33: ...you can tell us when you leave, if you wish, if not, you -need not inform us...--Changed comma after "wish" to a semicolon in -keeping with the French text. - -- p. 34: "...The mischief arose between the Orlandi and the -Colona.--Added a closing double quotation mark. - -- p. 34: ...and flew into that of the Colona."--Deleted closing -quotation mark because character continues speaking in the next -paragraph. - -- p. 35: "...one of these two parties this evening; no -doubt?"--Changed semicolon to a comma in keeping with French text. - -- p. 44: '"Giudice,' she would say, 'how do you expect...--Reversed -order of quotation marks at beginning of sentence. - -- p. 71: "Well, then," said he, "let us embrace. I can only deliver -that which I am able to receive."--The quoted dialogue appears to be -spoken by the narrator even though the translation ascribes it to -Lucien. The French text reads: "Eh bien, alors, embrassons-nous; je ne -puis rendre que ce que j'aurai reçu." The dialogue tag "said he" and -the punctuation marks used to set off the dialogue tag have been -deleted so that the translation more accurately reflects the French -text. - -- p. 76: "Then" I continued...--Inserted a comma after "Then". - -- p. 78: "Well."--Changed period to a question mark in keeping with -the French text. - -- p. 78: "At what time."--Changed period to a question mark in keeping -with the French text. - -- p. 84: "What is the point then."--Changed period to a question mark -in keeping with the French text. - -- p. 84: "But surely you have some reason to give for your change of -opinion? just now you were insisting..."--Changed question mark to a -semicolon in keeping with French text. - -- p. 84: "I did not then know that we should meet Chateau -Renaud,"--Changed comma to a period. - -- p. 87: ...replied V----. There are so...--Inserted an opening double -quotation mark before "There". - -- p. 94: "M. de Cahteau Renaud is quite a man of the world...--Changed -"Cahteau" to "Chateau". - -- p. 96: "...you had never handled a sword or a pistol.--Added a -closing quotation mark. - -- p. 97: We entered the _Salle à manger,_ and put aside...--Changed -_Salle_ to all lower case to be consistent with elsewhere in the text. - -- p. 99: "Well, if they propose pistols, accept them at -once?"--Changed question mark to a period in keeping with French text. - -- p. 104: ...and said, 'You are welcome, father.'"--Deleted closing -quotation mark because character continues speaking in the next -paragraph. - -- p. 106: "Just so," and if he is killed in his turn...--Deleted -closing double quotation mark after "so,". - -- p. 107: ...so we shall be obliged to get a case of pistols from -Devisme.--Added closing quotation mark to end of sentence. - -- p. 120: ...nor was there any trace of the body on the bed,--Changed -comma at end of sentence to a period. - -- p. 121: Lucien eat like a man...--Changed "eat" to "ate". - -- p. 124: The two young men had not met for four or five years, -nevertheless, a firm clasp...--Changed comma after "years" to a -semicolon in keeping with French text. - -- p. 125: "And yourself."--Changed period to a question mark in -keeping with French text. - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Corsican Brothers, by Alexandre Dumas - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CORSICAN BROTHERS *** - -***** This file should be named 41881-8.txt or 41881-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/8/8/41881/ - -Produced by Paul Haxo from page images generously made -available by Google and the Bodleian Library. - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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