beatrix-第43部分

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visible　in　Calyste。　With　that　lucidity　of　mind　which　nature　gives　to
the　dying；　he　trembled　at　the　thought　that　his　race　was　about　to
perish。　He　said　no　word；　but　he　clasped　his　hands　and　prayed　to　God　as
he　sat　in　his　chair；　from　which　his　weakness　now　prevented　him　from
rising。　The　father's　face　was　turned　toward　the　bed　where　the　son　lay；
and　he　looked　at　him　almost　incessantly。　At　the　least　motion　Calyste
made；　a　singular　commotion　stirred　within　him；　as　if　the　flame　of　his
own　life　were　flickering。　The　baroness　no　longer　left　the　room　where
Zephirine　sat　knitting　in　the　chimney…corner　in　horrible　uneasiness。
Demands　were　made　upon　the　old　woman　for　wood；　father　and　son　both
suffering　from　the　cold；　and　for　supplies　and　provisions；　so　that；
finally；　not　being　agile　enough　to　supply　these　wants；　she　had　given
her　precious　keys　to　Mariotte。　But　she　insisted　on　knowing　everything；
she　questioned　Mariotte　and　her　sister…in…law　incessantly；　asking　in　a
low　voice　to　be　told；　over　and　over　again；　the　state　of　her　brother
and　nephew。　One　night；　when　father　and　son　were　dozing；　Mademoiselle
de　Pen…Hoel　told　her　that　she　must　resign　herself　to　the　death　of　her
brother；　whose　pallid　face　was　now　the　color　of　wax。　The　old　woman
dropped　her　knitting；　fumbled　in　her　pocket　for　a　while；　and　at　length
drew　out　an　old　chaplet　of　black　wood；　on　which　she　began　to　pray　with
a　fervor　which　gave　to　her　old　and　withered　face　a　splendor　so
vigorous　that　the　other　old　woman　imitated　her　friend；　and　then　all
present；　on　a　sign　from　the　rector；　joining　in　the　spiritual　uplifting
of　Mademoiselle　de　Guenic。

〃Alas！　I　prayed　to　God；〃　said　the　baroness；　remembering　her　prayer
after　reading　the　fatal　letter　written　by　Calyste；　〃and　he　did　not
hear　me。〃

〃Perhaps　it　would　be　well；〃　said　the　rector；　〃if　we　begged
Mademoiselle　des　Touches　to　come　and　see　Calyste。〃

〃She！〃　cried　old　Zephirine；　〃the　author　of　all　our　misery！　she　who　has
turned　him　from　his　family；　who　has　taken　him　from　us；　led　him　to　read
impious　books；　taught　him　an　heretical　language！　Let　her　be　accursed；
and　may　God　never　pardon　her！　She　has　destroyed　the　du　Guenics！〃

〃She　may　perhaps　restore　them；〃　said　the　rector；　in　a　gentle　voice。
〃Mademoiselle　des　Touches　is　a　saintly　woman；　I　am　her　surety　for
that。　She　has　none　but　good　intentions　to　Calyste。　May　she　only　be
enabled　to　carry　them　out。〃

〃Let　me　know　the　day　when　she　sets　foot　in　this　house；　that　I　may　get
out　of　it；〃　cried　the　old　woman　passionately。　〃She　has　killed　both
father　and　son。　Do　you　think　I　don't　hear　death　in　Calyste's　voice？　he
is　so　feeble　now　that　he　has　barely　strength　to　whisper。〃

It　was　at　this　moment　that　the　three　doctors　arrived。　They　plied
Calyste　with　questions；　but　as　for　his　father；　the　examination　was
short；　they　were　surprised　that　he　still　lived　on。　The　Guerande　doctor
calmly　told　the　baroness　that　as　to　Calyste；　it　would　probably　be　best
to　take　him　to　Paris　and　consult　the　most　experienced　physicians；　for
it　would　cost　over　a　hundred　/louis/　to　bring　one　down。

〃People　die　of　something；　but　not　of　love；〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…
Hoel。

〃Alas！　whatever　be　the　cause；　Calyste　is　dying；〃　said　the　baroness。　〃I
see　all　the　symptoms　of　consumption；　that　most　horrible　disease　of　my
country；　about　him。〃

〃Calyste　dying！〃　said　the　baron；　opening　his　eyes；　from　which　rolled
two　large　tears　which　slowly　made　their　way；　delayed　by　wrinkles；
along　his　cheeks；the　only　tears　he　had　probably　ever　shed　in　his
life。　Suddenly　he　rose　to　his　feet；　walked　the　few　steps　to　his　son's
bedside；　took　his　hand；　and　looked　earnestly　at　him。

〃What　is　it　you　want；　father？〃　said　Calyste。

〃That　you　should　live！〃　cried　the　baron。

〃I　cannot　live　without　Beatrix；〃　replied　Calyste。

The　old　man　dropped　into　a　chair。

〃Oh！　where　could　we　get　a　hundred　/louis/　to　bring　doctors　from　Paris？
There　is　still　time；〃　cried　the　baroness。

〃A　hundred　/louis！/〃　cried　Zephirine；　〃will　that　save　him？〃

Without　waiting　for　her　sister…in…law's　reply；　the　old　maid　ran　her
hands　through　the　placket…holes　of　her　gown；　unfastened　the　petticoat
beneath　it；　which　gave　forth　a　heavy　sound　as　it　dropped　to　the　floor。
She　knew　so　well　the　places　where　she　had　sewn　in　her　/louis/　that　she
now　ripped　them　out　with　the　rapidity　of　magic。　The　gold　pieces　rang
as　they　fell；　one　by　one；　into　her　lap。　The　old　Pen…Hoel　gazed　at　this
performance　in　stupefied　amazement。

〃But　they'll　see　you！〃　she　whispered　in　her　friend's　ear。

〃Thirty…seven；〃　answered　Zephirine；　continuing　to　count。

〃Every　one　will　know　how　much　you　have。〃

〃Forty…two。〃

〃Double　/louis！/　all　new！　How　did　you　get　them；　you　who　can't　see
clearly？〃

〃I　felt　them。　Here's　one　hundred　and　four　/louis/；〃　cried　Zephirine。
〃Is　that　enough？〃

〃What　is　all　this？〃　asked　the　Chevalier　du　Halga；　who　now　came　in；
unable　to　understand　the　attitude　of　his　old　blind　friend；　holding　out
her　petticoat　which　was　full　of　gold　coins。

Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel　explained。

〃I　knew　it；〃　said　the　chevalier；　〃and　I　have　come　to　bring　a　hundred
and　forty　/louis/　which　I　have　been　holding　at　Calyste's　disposition；
as　he　knows　very　well。〃

The　chevalier　drew　the　/rouleaux/　from　his　pocket　and　showed　them。
Mariotte；　seeing　such　wealth；　sent　Gasselin　to　lock　the　doors。

〃Gold　will　not　give　him　health；〃　said　the　baroness；　weeping。

〃But　it　can　take　him　to　Paris；　where　he　can　find　her。　Come；　Calyste。〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　Calyste；　springing　up；　〃I　will　go。〃

〃He　will　live；〃　said　the　baron；　in　a　shaking　voice；　〃and　I　can　die
send　for　the　rector！〃

The　words　cast　terror　on　all　present。　Calyste；　seeing　the　mortal
paleness　on　his　father's　face；　for　the　old　man　was　exhausted　by　the
cruel　emotions　of　the　scene；　came　to　his　father's　side。　The　rector；
after　hearing　the　report　of　the　doctors；　had　gone　to　Mademoiselle　des
Touches；　intending　to　bring　her　back　with　him　to　Calyste；　for　in
proportion　as　the　worthy　man　had　formerly　detested　her；　he　now　admired
her；　and　protected　her　as　a　shepherd　protects　the　most　precious　of　his
flock。

When　the　news　of　the　baron's　approaching　end　became　known　in　Guerande；
a　crowd　gathered　in　the　street　and　lane；　the　peasants；　the
/paludiers/；　and　the　servants　knelt　in　the　court…yard　while　the　rector
administered　the　last　sacraments　to　the　old　Breton　warrior。　The　whole
town　was　agitated　by　the　news　that　the　father　was　dying　beside　his
half…dying　son。　The　probable　extinction　of　this　old　Breton　race　was
felt　to　be　a　public　calamity。

The　solemn　ceremony　affected　Calyste　deeply。　His　filial　sorrow
silenced　for　a　moment　the　anguish　of　his　love。　During　the　last　hour　of
the　glorious　old　defender　of　the　monarchy；　he　knelt　beside　him；
watching　the　coming　on　of　death。　The　old　man　died　in　his　chair　in
presence　of　the　assembled　family。

〃I　die　faithful　to　God　and　his　religion；〃　he　said。　〃My　God！　as　the
reward　of　my　efforts　grant　that　Calyste　may　live！〃

〃I　shall　live；　father；　and　I　will　obey　you；〃　said　the　young　man。

〃If　you　wish　to　make　my　death　as　happy　as　Fanny　has　made　my　life；
swear　to　me　to　marry。〃

〃I　promise　it；　father。〃

It　was　a　touching　sight　to　see　Calyste；　or　rather　his　shadow；　leaning
on　the　arm　of　the　old　Chevalier　du　Halgaa　spectre　leading　a　shade
and　following　the　baron's　coffin　as　chief　mourner。　The　church　and　the
little　square　were　crowded　with　the　country　people　coming　in　to　the
funeral　from　a　circuit　of　thirty　miles。

But　the　baroness　and　Zephirine　soon　saw　that；　in　spite　of　his
intention　to　obey　his　father's　wishes；　Calyste　was　falling　back　into　a
condition　of　fatal　stupor。　On　the　day　when　the　family　put　on　their
mourning；　the　baroness　took　her　son　to　a　bench　in　the　garden　and
questioned　him　closely。　Calyste　answered　gently　and　submissively；　but
his　answers　only　proved　to　her　the　despair　of　his　soul。

〃Mother；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　no　life　in　me。　What　I　eat　does　not　feed
me；　the　air　that　enters　my　lungs　does　not　refresh　me；　the　sun　feels
cold；　it　seems　to　you　to　light　that　front　of　the　house；　and　show　you
the　old　carvings　bathed　in　its　beams；　but　to　me　it　is　all　a　blur；　a
mist。　If　Beatrix　were　here；　it　would　be　dazzling。　There　is　but　one
only　thing　left　in　this　world　that　keeps　its　shape　and　color　to　my
eyes；this　flower；　this　foliage；〃　he　added；　drawing　from　his　breast
the　withered　bunch　the　marquise　had　given　him　at　Croisic。

The　baroness　dared　not　say　more。　Her　son's　answer　seemed　to　her　more
indicative　of　madness　than　his　silence　of　grief。　She　saw　no　hope；　no
light　in　the　darkness　that　surrounded　them。

The　baron's　last　hours　and　death　had　prevented　the　rector　from
bringing　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　to　Calyste；　as　he　seemed　bent　on
doing；　for　reasons　which　he　did　not　reveal。　But　on　this　day；　while
mother　and　son　still　sat　on　the　garden　bench；　Calyste　quivered　all
over　on　perceiving　Felicite　through　the　opposite　windows　of　the　court…
yard　and　garden。　She　reminded　him　of　Beatrix；　and　his　life　revived。　It
was　therefore　to　Camille　that　the　poor　stricken　mother　owed　the　first
motion　of　joy　that　lightened　her　mourning。

〃Well；　Calyste；〃　said　Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　when　they　met；　〃I　want
you　to　go　to　Paris　with　me。　We　will　find　Beatrix；〃　she　added　in　a　low
voice。

The　pale；　thin　face　of　the　youth　flushed　red；　and　a　smile　brightened
his　features。

〃Let　us　go；〃　he　said。

〃We　shall　save　him；〃　said　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　to　the　mother；　who
pressed　her　hands　and　wept　for　joy。

A　week　after　the　baron's　funeral；　Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　the
Baronne　du　Guenic　and　Calyste　started　for　Paris；　leaving　the　household
in　charge　of　old　Zephirine。



XVII

A　DEATH：　A　MARRIAGE

Felicite's　tender　love　was　preparing　for　Calyste　a　prosperous　future。
Being　allied　to　the　family　of　Grandlieu；　the　ducal　branch　of　which　was
ending　in　five　daughters　for　lack　of　a　male　heir；　she　had　written　to
the　Duchesse　de　Grandlieu；　describing　Calyste　and　giving　his　history；
and　also　stating　certain　intentions　of　her　own；　which　were　as　follows：
She　had　lately　sold　her　house　in　the　rue　du　Mont…Blanc；　for　which　a
party　of　speculators　had　given　her　two　millions　five　hundred　thousand
francs。　Her　man　of　business　had　since　purchased　for　her　a　charming　n