the muse of the department-第15部分

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she　had　put　on　a　mask；　which　she　had　removed；　no　doubt；　during　our
drive；　and　I　could　see　nothing　but　a　pair　of　black　eyes　and　a
pleasingly　rounded　figure。

〃　'The　lover　threw　some　towels　over　his　mistress'　legs　and　folded　the
muslin　veil　double　over　her　face。　As　soon　as　I　had　examined　the　lady
with　care；　I　perceived　from　certain　symptoms　which　I　had　noted　once
before　on　a　very　sad　occasion　in　my　life；　that　the　infant　was　dead。　I
turned　to　the　maid　in　order　to　tell　her　this。　Instantly　the　suspicious
stranger　drew　his　dagger；　but　I　had　time　to　explain　the　matter　to　the
woman；　who　explained　in　a　word　or　two　to　him　in　a　low　voice。　On
hearing　my　opinion；　a　quick；　slight　shudder　ran　through　him　from　head
to　foot　like　a　lightning　flash；　I　fancied　I　could　see　him　turn　pale
under　his　black　velvet　mask。

〃　'The　waiting…woman　took　advantage　of　a　moment　when　he　was　bending　in
despair　over　the　dying　woman；　who　had　turned　blue；　to　point　to　some
glasses　of　lemonade　standing　on　a　table；　at　the　same　time　shaking　her
head　negatively。　I　understood　that　I　was　not　to　drink　anything　in
spite　of　the　dreadful　thirst　that　parched　my　throat。　The　lover　was
thirsty　too；　he　took　an　empty　glass；　poured　out　some　fresh　lemonade；
and　drank　it　off。

〃　'At　this　moment　the　lady　had　a　violent　attack　of　pain；　which　showed
me　that　now　was　the　time　to　operate。　I　summoned　all　my　courage；　and　in
about　an　hour　had　succeeded　in　delivering　her　of　the　child；　cutting　it
up　to　extract　it。　The　Spaniard　no　longer　thought　of　poisoning　me；
understanding　that　I　had　saved　the　mother's　life。　Large　tears　fell　on
his　cloak。　The　woman　uttered　no　sound；　but　she　trembled　like　a　hunted
animal；　and　was　bathed　in　sweat。

〃　'At　one　horribly　critical　moment　she　pointed　in　the　direction　of　her
husband's　room；　he　had　turned　in　his　sleep；　and　she　alone　had　heard
the　rustle　of　the　sheets；　the　creaking　of　the　bed　or　of　the　curtain。
We　all　paused；　and　the　lover　and　the　waiting…woman；　through　the
eyeholes　of　their　masks；　gave　each　other　a　look　that　said；　〃If　he
wakes；　shall　we　kill　him？〃

〃　'At　that　instant　I　put　out　my　hand　to　take　the　glass　of　lemonade　the
Spaniard　had　drunk　of。　He；　thinking　that　I　was　about　to　take　one　of
the　full　glasses；　sprang　forward　like　a　cat；　and　laid　his　long　dagger
over　the　two　poisoned　goblets；　leaving　me　his　own；　and　signing　to　me
to　drink　what　was　left。　So　much　was　conveyed　by　this　quick　action；　and
it　was　so　full　of　good　feeling；　that　I　forgave　him　his　atrocious
schemes　for　killing　me；　and　thus　burying　every　trace　of　this　event。

〃　'After　two　hours　of　care　and　alarms；　the　maid　and　I　put　her　mistress
to　bed。　The　lover；　forced　into　so　perilous　an　adventure；　had；　to
provide　means　in　case　of　having　to　fly；　a　packet　of　diamonds　stuck　to
paper；　these　he　put　into　my　pocket　without　my　knowing　it；　and　I　may
add　parenthetically；　that　as　I　was　ignorant　of　the　Spaniard's
magnificent　gift；　my　servant　stole　the　jewels　the　day　after；　and　went
off　with　a　perfect　fortune。

〃　'I　whispered　my　instructions　to　the　waiting…woman　as　to　the　further
care　of　her　patient；　and　wanted　to　be　gone。　The　maid　remained　with　her
mistress；　which　was　not　very　reassuring；　but　I　was　on　my　guard。　The
lover　made　a　bundle　of　the　dead　infant　and　the　blood…stained　clothes；
tying　it　up　tightly；　and　hiding　it　under　his　cloak；　he　passed　his　hand
over　my　eyes　as　if　to　bid　me　to　see　nothing；　and　signed　to　me　to　take
hold　of　the　skirt　of　his　coat。　He　went　first　out　of　the　room；　and　I
followed；　not　without　a　parting　glance　at　my　lady　of　an　hour。　She；
seeing　the　Spaniard　had　gone　out；　snatched　off　her　mask　and　showed　me
an　exquisite　face。

〃　'When　I　found　myself　in　the　garden；　in　the　open　air；　I　confess　that
I　breathed　as　if　a　heavy　load　had　been　lifted　from　my　breast。　I
followed　my　guide　at　a　respectful　distance；　watching　his　least
movement　with　keen　attention。　Having　reached　the　little　door；　he　took
my　hand　and　pressed　a　seal　to　my　lips；　set　in　a　ring　which　I　had　seen
him　wearing　on　a　finger　of　his　left　hand；　and　I　gave　him　to　understand
that　this　significant　sign　would　be　obeyed。　In　the　street　two　horses
were　waiting；　we　each　mounted　one。　My　Spaniard　took　my　bridle；　held
his　own　between　his　teeth；　for　his　right　hand　held　the　bloodstained
bundle；　and　we　went　off　at　lightning　speed。

〃　'I　could　not　see　the　smallest　object　by　which　to　retrace　the　road　we
came　by。　At　dawn　I　found　myself　close　by　my　own　door；　and　the　Spaniard
fled　towards　the　Atocha　gate。'

〃　'And　you　saw　nothing　which　could　lead　you　to　suspect　who　the　woman
was　whom　you　had　attended？'　the　Colonel　asked　of　the　surgeon。

〃　'One　thing　only；'　he　replied。　'When　I　turned　the　unknown　lady　over；
I　happened　to　remark　a　mole　on　her　arm；　about　half…way　down；　as　big　as
a　lentil；　and　surrounded　with　brown　hairs。'At　this　instant　the　rash
speaker　turned　pale。　All　our　eyes；　that　had　been　fixed　on　his；
followed　his　glance；　and　we　saw　a　Spaniard；　whose　glittering　eyes
shone　through　a　clump　of　orange…trees。　On　finding　himself　the　object
of　our　attention；　the　man　vanished　with　the　swiftness　of　a　sylph。　A
young　captain　rushed　in　pursuit。

〃　'By　Heaven！'　cried　the　surgeon；　'that　basilisk　stare　has　chilled　me
through；　my　friends。　I　can　hear　bells　ringing　in　my　ears！　I　may　take
leave　of　you；　you　will　bury　me　here！'

〃　'What　a　fool　you　are！'　exclaimed　Colonel　Hulot。　'Falcon　is　on　the
track　of　the　Spaniard　who　was　listening；　and　he　will　call　him　to
account。'

〃　'Well；'　cried　one　and　another；　seeing　the　captain　return　quite　out
of　breath。

〃　'The　devil's　in　it；'　said　Falcon；　'the　man　went　through　a　wall；　I
believe！　As　I　do　not　suppose　that　he　is　a　wizard；　I　fancy　he　must
belong　to　the　house！　He　knows　every　corner　and　turning；　and　easily
escaped。'

〃　'I　am　done　for；'　said　the　surgeon；　in　a　gloomy　voice。

〃　'Come；　come；　keep　calm；　Bega；'　said　I　（his　name　was　Bega）；　'we　will
sit　on　watch　with　you　till　you　leave。　We　will　not　leave　you　this
evening。'

〃In　point　of　fact；　three　young　officers　who　had　been　losing　at　play
went　home　with　the　surgeon　to　his　lodgings；　and　one　of　us　offered　to
stay　with　him。

〃Within　two　days　Bega　had　obtained　his　recall　to　France；　he　made
arrangements　to　travel　with　a　lady　to　whom　Murat　had　given　a　strong
escort；　and　had　just　finished　dinner　with　a　party　of　friends；　when　his
servant　came　to　say　that　a　young　lady　wished　to　speak　to　him。　The
surgeon　and　the　three　officers　went　down　suspecting　mischief。　The
stranger　could　only　say；　'Be　on　your　guard'　when　she　dropped　down
dead。　It　was　the　waiting…woman；　who；　finding　she　had　been　poisoned；
had　hoped　to　arrive　in　time　to　warn　her　lover。

〃　'Devil　take　it！'　cried　Captain　Falcon；　'that　is　what　I　call　love！　No
woman　on　earth　but　a　Spaniard　can　run　about　with　a　dose　of　poison　in
her　inside！'

〃Bega　remained　strangely　pensive。　To　drown　the　dark　presentiments　that
haunted　him；　he　sat　down　to　table　again；　and　with　his　companions　drank
immoderately。　The　whole　party　went　early　to　bed；　half　drunk。

〃In　the　middle　of　the　night　the　hapless　Bega　was　aroused　by　the　sharp
rattle　of　the　curtain　rings　pulled　violently　along　the　rods。　He　sat　up
in　bed；　in　the　mechanical　trepidation　which　we　all　feel　on　waking　with
such　a　start。　He　saw　standing　before　him　a　Spaniard　wrapped　in　a
cloak；　who　fixed　on　him　the　same　burning　gaze　that　he　had　seen　through
the　bushes。

〃Bega　shouted　out；　'Help；　help；　come　at　once；　friends！'　But　the
Spaniard　answered　his　cry　of　distress　with　a　bitter　laugh。'Opium
grows　for　all！'　said　he。

〃Having　thus　pronounced　sentence　as　it　were；　the　stranger　pointed　to
the　three　other　men　sleeping　soundly；　took　from　under　his　cloak　the
arm　of　a　woman；　freshly　amputated；　and　held　it　out　to　Bega；　pointing
to　a　mole　like　that　he　had　so　rashly　described。　'Is　it　the　same？'　he
asked。　By　the　light　of　the　lantern　the　man　had　set　on　the　bed；　Bega
recognized　the　arm；　and　his　speechless　amazement　was　answer　enough。

〃Without　waiting　for　further　information；　the　lady's　husband　stabbed
him　to　the　heart。〃

〃You　must　tell　that　to　the　marines！〃　said　Lousteau。　〃It　needs　their
robust　faith　to　swallow　it！　Can　you　tell　me　which　told　the　tale；　the
dead　man　or　the　Spaniard？〃

〃Monsieur；〃　replied　the　Receiver…General；　〃I　nursed　poor　Bega；　who
died　five　days　after　in　dreadful　suffering。That　is　not　the　end。

〃At　the　time　of　the　expedition　sent　out　to　restore　Ferdinand　VII。　I
was　appointed　to　a　place　in　Spain；　but；　happily　for　me；　I　got　no
further　than　Tours　when　I　was　promised　the　post　of　Receiver　here　at
Sancerre。　On　the　eve　of　setting　out　I　was　at　a　ball　at　Madame　de
Listomere's；　where　we　were　to　meet　several　Spaniards　of　high　rank。　On
rising　from　the　card…table；　I　saw　a　Spanish　grandee；　an　/afrancesado/
in　exile；　who　had　been　about　a　fortnight　in　Touraine。　He　had　arrived
very　late　at　this　ballhis　first　appearance　in　societyaccompanied
by　his　wife；　whose　right　arm　was　perfectly　motionless。　Everybody　made
way　in　silence　for　this　couple；　whom　we　all　watched　with　some
excitement。　Imagine　a　picture　by　Murillo　come　to　life。　Under　black　and
hollow　brows　the　man's　eyes　were　like　a　fixed　blaze；　his　face　looked
dried　up；　his　bald　skull　was　red；　and　his　frame　was　a　terror　to
behold；　he　was　so　emaciated。　His　wifeno；　you　cannot　imagine　her。　Her
figure　had　the　supple　swing　for　which　the　Spaniards　created　the　word
/meneho/；　though　pale；　she　was　still　beautiful；　her　complexion　was
dazzlingly　faira　rare　thing　in　a　Spaniard；　and　her　gaze；　full　of　the
Spanish　sun；　fell　on　you　like　a　stream　of　melted　lead。

〃　'Madame；'　said　I　to　her；　towards　the　end　of　the　evening；　'what
occurrence　led　to　the　loss　of　your　arm？'

〃　'I　lost　it　in　the　war　of　independence；'　said　she。〃

〃Spain　is　a　strange　country；〃　said　Madame　de　la　Baudraye。　〃It　still
shows　traces　of　Arab　manners。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　the　journalist；　laughing；　〃the　mania　for　cutting　off　arms
is　an　old　one　there。　It　turns　up　every　now　and　then　like　some　of　our
newspaper　hoaxes；　for　the　subject　has　given　plots　for　plays　on　the
Spanish　stage　so　early　as　1570〃

〃Then　do　you　think　me　capable　of　inventing　such　a　story？〃　said
Monsieur　Gravier；　nettled　by　Lousteau's　impertinent　tone。

〃Quite　incapable　of　such　a　thing；〃　said　the　journalist　with　gra