Part 9 (1/2)
”My resolution is taken; I have consecrated myself to G.o.d.”
So much firmness in so frail a being astonished me. She stood there like the sculptured Madonna in Hugh's Tower,--fragile, calm, impa.s.sive.
The eyes of the Count glowed with feverish brightness. I endeavored to prevail upon the Countess, as best I could by signs, to give him a grain of hope, that his growing agitation might be calmed; but she did not appear to see me.
”So,” he cried in a voice choked with emotion, ”you will see your father peris.h.!.+ A single word would save his life,--a word from your lips,--and you will not p.r.o.nounce it.”
”Life is not within the gift of man, but of G.o.d alone,” she murmured; ”a word from me could be of no avail.”
”These are nothing but pious maxims,” cried the Count bitterly, ”to ease your conscience in refusing to do your duty! Has not G.o.d commanded, 'Honor thy father and thy mother'?”
”I do honor you, my father,” she replied gently; ”but it is my duty not to marry.”
I could hear the Count grind his teeth. He lay for a few moments, apparently calm, then he suddenly sprang up.
”Out of my sight!” he screamed; ”your presence is hideous to me!”
Then turning to me:
”Doctor,” he cried with a savage smile, ”have you a poison about you,--a poison that slays with the quickness of a lightning flash? It is only merciful to give it to me! Ah, G.o.d! If you knew how I suffer!”
His features worked convulsively; he became livid. Odile had risen and moved towards the door.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”'STAY!' HE HOWLED, 'I HAVE NOT CURSED YOU YET.'”]
”Stay!” he howled; ”I have not cursed you yet!”
Up to this point, I had restrained myself, not daring to interfere between the father and his child; but I could endure it no longer.
”Monsieur,” I exclaimed; ”in the name of your own health, in the name of reason, calm yourself! Your life depends upon it!”
”What matters my life? What matters the future? Oh, if I were only done with it all!”
His excitement increased with every moment. I feared lest, crazed with pa.s.sion, he might spring from the bed and destroy his own child. She, still calm, but with cheeks as pale as his, fell on her knees before the threshold. At this moment, I succeeded in getting the Count to swallow a few drops of laudanum. He fell back with a long sigh, and soon his irregular breathing gave way to deep and leaden slumber.
Odile arose, and her old governess, who had remained silent throughout, left the room with her. Sperver and I watched them as they slowly withdrew. There was a calm grandeur in the step of the Countess that bespoke a consciousness of duty fulfilled.
When she had disappeared in the shadows of the corridor, Gideon turned to me: ”Well, Gaston,” he said gravely; ”what do you think of this?”
I bowed my head without replying. The unaccountable firmness of the young woman dumbfounded me.
”Come Gaston!” exclaimed Sperver indignantly, ”let's get a breath of fresh air! I'm strangling here!” and he pulled me out of the chamber.
”That is the happiness of high-born people!” he exclaimed, as we stepped into the hall. ”What is the use of being master of Nideck, with its fine Castle, forests, and game-preserves, and all else, if your own daughter can blight your life,--even cause your death, perhaps, by a nod of her head or a mincing refusal to obey your will? It would be a thousand times better to come into the world the son of a humble woodcutter, and live in the quiet accomplishment of your labor. Come down to my den, and we will drink a gla.s.s and have a pipe. I know nothing better to put care to flight than a good stiff gla.s.s.”
It was then about nine o'clock. The sky, so clear at daybreak, had become overcast; the north wind was whirling the flakes against the window-panes, and I could hardly distinguish the peaks of the neighboring mountains. We were descending the staircase which led to the main courtyard, when, at a turn of the corridor, we came face to face with Tobias Offenloch. The worthy majordomo was puffing like a porpoise.
”Hullo!” said Gideon; ”where are you going in such a hurry?”
”To tell the Countess that the Baron Zimmer begs the privilege of paying his respects to her before quitting the Castle.”
”Baron Zimmer?”