Volume II Part 113 (1/2)
”Stay, my lord; I see with pain the increasing sway which these regrets, as fruitless as cruel, have upon your mind.”
After a pause, Rudolph said to Murphy: ”I can now make a confession to you, my old friend. I love--yes, I love pa.s.sionately a woman worthy of the most n.o.ble and devoted affection. Ah! it is since my heart is opened anew to all the delights of love, since I am predisposed to tender emotions, that I feel more vividly the loss of my daughter.”
”Nothing can be plainer, my lord; and, pardon the comparison, but, in the same manner as certain men are joyous and benevolent in their intoxication, you are good and generous in your love.”
”Yet my hatred of the wicked is also become deep; my aversion to Sarah increases, doubtless with my grief for the death of my child. I imagine that this bad mother has neglected her; that her ambitious hopes once ruined by my marriage, the countess, in her selfish egotism, has abandoned our child to mercenary hands, and that my daughter perhaps died from want of care. It is also my fault; I did not then know the extent of the sacred duties of paternity. When the true character of Sarah was suddenly revealed to me, I should have at once taken my daughter from her, to watch over her with love and solicitude. I ought to have foreseen that the countess could never be more than an unnatural mother. It is my fault, my fault!”
”Grief causes your highness to err. Could you, after such a fatal event had happened, defer for one day the long journey imposed on you--as--”
”As an expiation! You are right, my friend,” said Rudolph, sorrowfully.
”Have you heard anything from the countess since my departure, my lord?”
”No: since her infamous accusations, which twice came near proving the ruin of Madame d'Harville, I have no news of her. Her presence here annoys me; it seems that my evil spirit is near me, that some new misfortune threatens me.”
”Patience, your highness, patience. Happily, Germany is interdicted for her, and Germany expects us.”
”Yes; we will soon depart. At least, during my short stay at Paris I shall have accomplished a sacred duty: I shall have made some steps more in the worthy path which an august and merciful will pointed out to me for my redemption. As soon as the son of Madame George shall be restored to her arms, innocent and free; as soon as Jacques Ferrand shall be convicted and punished for his crimes; as soon as I shall be a.s.sured of the future comforts of all the honest and industrious creatures who, by their resignation, their courage, and their probity, have deserved my interest, we will return to Germany--my journey will not have been fruitless.”
”Above all, if you succeed in unmasking that abominable Jacques Ferrand, the corner-stone of so many crimes.”
”Although the end justifies the means, and scruples should have no weight as regards this scoundrel, sometimes I regret having employed Cecily in this just and avenging reparation.”
”She ought to arrive soon.”
”She has arrived.”
”Cecily?”
”Yes; I did not wish to see her. De Graun has given her very detailed instructions; she has promised to conform to them.”
”Will she keep this promise?”
”Everything seems to promise it--the hope of a mitigation of her punishment, and the fear of being sent immediately back to Germany; for De Graun has her well watched; at the slightest misstep he will demand her of the government.”
”It is just. She has arrived like an escaped convict: when they know what crimes caused her perpetual imprisonment, they would give her up at once.”
”Besides, De Graun was almost alarmed at the sagacity with which Cecily comprehended, or rather, guessed the part, inflaming and yet platonic, she was to play at the notary's.
”But can she be introduced to him as early as you wish, through Mrs.
Pipelet? People of the species of Jacques Ferrand are so suspicious.”
”I had, with reason, counted on the appearance of Cecily to combat and conquer this suspicion.”
”Has he already seen her?”
”Yesterday. From the account given by Mrs. Pipelet, I do not doubt but that he was fascinated by the Creole; he took her at once into his service.”
”Come, my lord, our game is won.”
”I hope so; a ferocious cupidity and a savage thirst have led the executioner of Louise Morel to the most frightful misdeeds. It is in them that he will find the punishment of his crimes. A punishment which will not be barren for his victims; for you see the aim of all the efforts of the Creole.”