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SA .L A MAN D E R •

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EUGENE SUE,

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TRANSLA·TOR'8 PREF4Cl.

IN taying beftmJ the pubHc uotber wOrk ., .... he, .... r _ BDglish dl"88l,it will be, perhapa, dMirable to.y a r.w warda ..... the work itselF in my own person. It cannot, of COU'l'8e, ~ expected that a translator Mould either ,OaiD• «rift with, or be au.weraDle for, all the ~DI of the author, whole thougbts he transposes into a language other than~ whaniD they were first embodied. Suoh an expeotadoo would be alike unreuanable, and impoaible to be realized; (or so variously are the minda of -'I men OODItituted, that it i.t rare to find-two thinkers, even of those aareeing in their general view of any subject, who will not differ irreconcilably on fifty matters or lubordi. nate detail. Much more is thii likely to be the oase, where points are iIlvolYeCI01 subtle moI:ality and metaphysical researob_'" is in some IIDrt the &aot with regard to the Salamander. It will' be seen, that, ,in his preface to this work, Mr. Sue, in reply to some attacks, previously made, on the alleged immorality of his writiDp. eaters upon a long and elaborate defence, on grounds which it is wmeces• eary here to anticipate, farther than to say, that although his arguments' are very specious, some of them appear to me to be 'exaggerated in .. preesion, and others not altogether sati~factory. In my opinion, that which constitutes the moral or immoral tendeDOy of any book dealing with scenes of vice and pasaion, is not the narrative, 80t the plot, not the fictitious story o( the hero' or heroine, but tha tone and spirit of the delineation. Thus it would be, in my opinion, a poor defance for a work, describing in. seductive and (ascinating language licentious. ness and vice--drawing the most glowing pictures of the 801\eat ain-to _y that the hero, lapped in bliss, and cradled in voluptuouan8ll, duriDg three or four octavo volu~es, is killed in the last paragraph.

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While it would be a very absurd accusation against another, to show that a character who has been depicted as hideous and hateful, through the prevalence of sin-whom we loathe as we read-is rewarded in the end by the mistaken, or corrupt, admiration of the world. The truth is, Ithink, that all depends on the manner in which the vice is delineated, arid~he si~ described'; nOt 'in the rate of the·'ftOOtiousper.

BODages,whom no reader supposes to have & real existence. That book which paints vice alluringly, which aims at exciting passions by warm and luseious description, which makes the sinner charming, which leads (the r__ r ato" with him in willing and well. pleased society, which,makes. you sympathize with the pleasures,.and .regret the sufferings of a corrupt and wicked character-is itself corrupt=-wtcked-c-dangerous, . and demoralizing.

-When;' on.the other hand, the plan of the work is 80 managed that the reader is revolted by the sin, hates the vicious character, and feels all his sympathies excited in behalf of virtue; all his interest elicited by the good per~onages of the tale-that book is good per se, and its effect upon any mind cannot be other than good.likewise. Judged by the application of this test, t~e Salamander is, unquestiona• bly, a book of moral tendency; andJt does not, in my opinion, signify one iota whether the moral characters of the tale are the sufferers, and the guilty the successful parties :-Because, no attempt is made to palliate or justify the guilt, nor any to depreciate the virtue; becau e the bad personage is described, throughout, as positively hateful and disgusting through the very excess of his wickedness; and, because, though in the end, he is made to receive the adulation of a corrupt society, we ar clearly given to understand that the judgment is unjust, and the society corrupt; so that the judgment of the reader is in no wise affected thereby, nor his mind in any danger of demoralization. I do not"however, agree with Mr. Sue, in the idea that the work is more moral, because of the termination ;-though Iam afraid Icannot but admit that-it i more probable; for it can hardly be denied that the world, although it may frown upon crime, does, for the most part, smile on wealthy and polished vice; and, however largely it may talk of its love for virtue, does not extend consideration to humble and unostentatious merit.

Digitized by Google Ta.ANSL.ATOa'S PREFACE. v 1think that the book would have been more agreeable, had the villain been made by the artist to undergo some shameful and unusual penalty; although it may be said in reply, that the impression of disgust and dis. like is left on the reader's mind the more strongly, from the very fact that he goes unpunished=-thia being, Ipresume, the result at which Mr. Sue bas aimed in the treatment or the story. There are~ perhaps, one or two seenee neither very probable nor very pleasing;' but sa much are they connected with the interest or the aarra. tive, so thoroughly are they interwoven in the tissue of the tale, that it would not have been' possible to remove or alter them, even had Ideemed it the duty of a translator to deviate intentional(y from the meaning of the author. Theae passages are, however, redeemed so nobly by the beauti. ful reflections which succeed to and arise from them; and so strikingly centrasted by the exquisite delineation of paternal affection, of pure and angelic love, and devotion the most touching and sublime, that they are, perhaps, necessary to the plan of the work i~lf. In the Salamander will be found, perhaps, the first germs of the author'. opinion and theory with regard to the puniahment and suppression of crime, and the encouragement and promotion of virtue, which have become so widely spread, and generally known, through the Mylteri81 of Paris. H. appears to have been desirous in this, and some othera of hia earlier talea, of oalling the attention of the public to the very inadequate puniahment• or, perhaps, I should rather say, the total absence of any punishment• either from the judicial tribunal, or the reprobation of society at large, for crimes of a peculiar order. And thence, Ipresume, it was hia object, having aroused indignant feelings by the exhibition of rich and courtly scoundrels, pampered, and fawned upon, and honored; while poor and homely virtue goes unfriended and unoared for; to s_uggestthoughts tend. ing to the regeneration and remodelling of society, on purer and more moral principle!•.

How far he maj have succeeded in this, it is not now my object to COD. sider; but merely to show, that books written with such an intention, although they may present some startling pictures of depravity, oannot be looked upon, with any justice, as dangerous and demoralizing. As a work of fiotion, the Salamander has little similarity either to Matilda or the Mysteries; to neither of whioh, except in talent, can_it 1» well ooznpared, 10 cWlerent are the style ana the subject. •

Digitized by Google T .. A NIL A If 0 • ' S PilE F A C.,E• Pull &l incident, of highly wrouaht and rapid intereet ; abo\lUd~ in magnificent and poetical description, it cannot, I think, fail to enterta.iJI, even if it do aot greatly instruct, every reader. With one more observation, I shall now commit the traQJ}.pon to~he mercies of the world. That observation, is merely this-For the seamanship, the working .ef tbe oorvette, and other matters. connected with navigation, the auth,or i8 alone re~poll.lible; for though jn some poi,n~ I ~or. than suspect ~~ ,4tlI• _nee oC erron, I have n_otthoughi myself justified in deviating f~eril the l~t~r of the work before me, and have contented myself with render- Jill every nautical 'term quite accurately from the originel. . HENRY WILLIA.M HEI.BBltT.

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Itt bad 80 other proornf'the illUDl.t8rialitrof •• lIOul, tilltduap1l oItlle1ritW,.Dd tha oppNI- .ofGt. 'YirtaOu, fatil..world,.u...... JVQtaW paeplVII ffoID dpabUDf.-~UIl"" J:ailf. _..

PARle, Jallaary 15, 18.

IN aU li~rary oompositioD8,according to my opinion, there should be two well markecl di\'isions., FiNt,' tlle dramatic, the inventive, the picturesque and the __ ~rip,tiye, which might be called the body of the work, or its meterialdisieion. -Th~n, to follow out the same comparison, its moral and philosophical' beariDr, which would be the soW, the intellect 9f the work, or, to speak otherwise, tta .•piritual division. Thus, the body of the book will be liable rightfully, and without any restriction, to criticism, beeauae the author will understand his position as a writer, in itt !,ullest extent. But he may~8.iI it seems to me, defend the question of his morality inhis work. . . ,Iinsist on this, distinction, bec&use I have been accused of having, up to thi. tlnle, systematically painted virtue as 'U'II.S'I.ICCe.sful, vice as triumpka1it. ' , . Here is my answer: " I have always been convinced, that there is a very difJerent mode 0( reasoning to be followed from that of dramas and romances, wherein the decisions of'diVfu. justice are, for the most, anticipated, and every character paid liberally, here Dt• ,low, a.ccording 1;0. the nature of his works. A mode which renders useless 'the .. or the fe&l8 of eternal joy or sorrow, promised' to men after death, by balan• cing the &CC01l;Dtofthe virtuous and 1he vicious upon earth :-by parodying, in thi, .world, a heaven and a. hell, peopled according to the will, the one of God, die other of the devil . But it seems to me, that there is in this a. profanation of that high Christian i~ which considered this life as a trial, as an enigma, to which God alone .~ the 'po',Verofpromising an exact solution.' I Now, this idea of a just remuneration is, itself alone, the whole Christian I religion. ' ~I J,ut ypu falsify this. perfectly divine idea, the moment you lower it, by endea.. yoring to ~t it to your poor standard of humanity; for.the deduction which you draw froUlit, in this application, is belied'by the facts of every day and every ltour; JJ1 tlle present and by the past; by all examples, whether of public or of private life. c~ ~ of .1opM tow&l'dthe head of the social body, you direct your • attention to its feet only; l;le~8e you 8~tize by the name of criminal, only tPe q~ ...... iD, who,killi.l either for vengeance '01' subsistence; to whom if fa JjW'~ ·~t,.~ner or ~r, the 'police ~d,~ e~~utioner wi1J I,e a ~ ~M1d Ut~J-lgd. . - ..~•

Digitized by Google VlD .And beoauee, when .arreating a man in broad daylight, hetJmeared with. blood, and the knife in hit hand, you cast him on tfte scaffold, YOll fa.ncy that you haft proved & truth; you go about and proclaim, as a moral and consolatory fact,.tlI&t erime is punished in this world. . This is a bitter jest, a cruel lie, and a Tery immoral paradox. It is a mockery and a lie, because there are other crimes, much more deeply criminal, much more numerous than: thtise, which' yet neTer lead to the aea.flbId

u & conclusion! > For these last, on the contrary, there is a life of IUXllryand honor, praiBes anti decorations; the respect of men, the gratification of extravagance and pride, dis- IiDpitlJhed reputatiOD8, names' which resound to far posterity. . But for them, too, there is a mighty punishment--mighty as eternity itself-but after death. For they blaspheme the justice of the Lord, who say that h. strikee' the guilty here below. And if it be objected to me in reply, that the picture of guilt in misery, and T~ in bliss, Js moral=-I mnet answer, DO! And that to my understanding, of aD paradoxes, the most false, the most immoral, the most disgustingly selfish, i8 that which says: A ~jit is never thrown away. A benefit is never thrown away ! Yes! a benefit is often' thrown away~be• lieve it-it must be so-moreover, it is of easy comprehension. Coasider ingrat• itude 88 the. only crucible in which the highest virtues, the mostnoble devotions, CI.Jl be tried and purified. .Be deceiveda hundred times-persist and do good the hundred and first-and I will hold you a man virtuous, for virtue's sake, ancJ charitable for charity's; but if you reckori upon gratitude, you are a inere calcu• lator, an usurer. For there can be nothing more abject than this laying out of a ,virtuous action as an annuity, and, as it were, at interest. It is to convert a good action into a ~yital invest'l'Mtlt. Thus, if ungrateful men should ever become rare, the type of the race ought to be carefully preserved, on the consideration of their moral utility, as' the touch• atell88 of true qualities ;-for there is a very curious book yet to be written on the DeCessity of vices. Show me, then, :first of all, not utopian fancies, not dreams, but the truth, but .the whole truth, but those truths which are current in noble 'drawing-rooms, ill high otllces. Show me vice, such as it is, lovely, bold, happy, insolent, gay, vo• lup~ous; using its own life, and the life of others, to the Tery end; living old and honored, and descending into a rich .and noble mausoleum, to the: sound of the organ, of funereal strains, of benedictions and of sobs ;-for it leaves behind' an in- heritance of almost royal splendor. . Silow me, thereafter, virtlte shame-faced, deformed, be~ging its bread, humili• ated, misrepresented, pale, emaciated, dying of hunger on its infected MraW, and cast into its pit, unwept and unregretted ;-for virtue never leaves inheritances of almost royal splendor, Then will a deep and mighty lesson spring from the contrast; then" the most sceptical and hardened of mankind will have a tear forvirtue, so interesting in it. .orrowS-a. feeling of contempt and hatred for crime, 80 insolent in its happiness. Then, everything will not appear to be concluded upon earth; then, incredulity will be, perhaps, led to the conelusion, that 80 much sublime self-denial cannot .leep in the same allllihilation with 80 much crime, and that the solution of theee two existences must be found elsewhere than in this world. " But if you punish vice barbarously-if you enthrone virtue every JDOIiIent-if' ·youfill Satan's plue with the attomey-generaI, people wlll ask, " What is the ue d. heaveD or hen. DQW1 the account of every one is balaaced- here!) AIMI~WIaO

Digitized by Google l' " ••••• 0.. a bow.! perbape, in-the fnd"tlleJ will bep tD pity tlae villaia, at the ..... of the virtuous. Paint life, thent under theee eolO1'l, aDd J01I may be aeeuead of etrippiDg it of it. eDdwltment, but not of immorality; for, above all. your picture will be true, &Dd from the truth a lesson of morality may always be deduCed. ,The questiou, therefore, DOW stands thus: whether the truth may be told 1 And -thiM is, Itbink"the moment for attacking that worn.out vulgarism, which has pined almost the power of a principle- That eHf'!J tf'VIA is not ,goo4 M be apoken. Ye~ yes! every truth is good to be epoken, in an age that bout. i'_Uof beiIw ~tly politi", proeaioaJ, aDd mattIeJ'.oof-fact-inan era wherein, above all, ~ He the truth. Oh l this is the time no longer for simple beliefs, for virtuous convic.; tiona, for consolatory illUliou-DOW that our century has become, in conaequeuce of the 18iacy which the eighteeath century bequeathed to it, cold, bare, withered, and. arid. It is now, that we have applied to our own lOCiety that old and powerful .yplbol of the tree cf 1motDleJge-that we -have du, about that tree, till we have reached. ita deepest and bitterest roots. Therefore, we know! therefore, it i. by worda no lonpr we are governed ! What siiDify, now, monarchy and religion'l...... crOl8a.nd c;rown'l We have weighed all tbeee things in our hands-we have turned them into every point of view, 88 a child examines the machinery,of a toy which frifbtena it t aDdthen, when we have found out their aecret, we have broken them all, &nd .. id," NothingneH, and oompueion!" Now, we have truly looked into U. bot• tom 9f all thUJp: therefore we say aloud and boldly, that this is no longer the• time for symbols. Therefore as much is it worth our while to listen to worn-ou.t courtesans, talkinr' of modesty, as to listen to ourselves complaining that our illusions &re &ttaclteci-our illusions! Heaven and e&rth! 0UJ'8! And yet while men ,talk th11l;theyaccue us, children of the nineteenth century, of being sullen, and 1DOI'OBe; of striving to destroy the enchantment of the age. . Destroy the enchantment of the age ! What mockery! Moreover, is it OU fault, if we are what the eighteenth century has made us 'I if we have learned to .pell in Voltaira and Dupuis '1 and if we have touehed with, our fingers the di~ peful springs of all those'systems of government, which have succeeded ODe ~ the other within leas time than half a century '1 b it our fault, if the art of printing, gunpowder, and Lutheranism, having COD• tinuaUy, since the fourteenth century, undermined in eeeret the foudatiou of the. JIOCial edifice, the explosion bas oceurred so near to 111; that w.e have been,-well nigh overwhelmed by its ruins 1 .-itour fault--()1Jl8, whoveptate &JDODg the ruiDs of a aociety entirely subverted ~ and who are striving to build up for ourselves mean edifices of a day from the fragments of those mighty ruins, even as the modern Greeks construct their hutl &em the mUll-ad the m1ltilated Jell08 of-the Parthenon? ' Is it our fauk, if we doubt the future '1 if even IODl8 of us, atheists in politice,. do. the existenee of It better state of thinp, regantiDg, mare,than ever we hav. done',before, the nbliine dream of tIle·l'P...edifi.cationofthe body IOCial,oDa dia .. , ent'basis, as a magnifioent Utopia, which will remain an Utopia still,'10 far_ our century is' concerned '1 . :r0!' in truth, is it coneeivable that we, with our faith extinguished, our ])Ower of belief destroyed, our souls hackneyed, our 'civilisation effete, our ailiislmUa most abject-that we should r&pDerate O1UII8lv.l That a society..on the :very point of perishing, should organize a new society !--should revivify ~! ,

Digitized by Google It is, I think, miatakin, death (or~life;'the oonvUllilivesmiles and idiotic mirth of aD oW JqID in the apnies oi death, for the &eft rrierrinient o{an'Infant' rejoicing' On the threshold of existence. ' , Talk of our ~ ! As if it were BOt necessary to maaure the soil before it caD beconie rich! As i.f the revolutioD!, the invasions, and the chaos of the lower empire, were not needed' to form the compost wherein the genn of Christian aociety ahould be ripened! Moreover, has nol a past hi8toriail said, that eivil~• Doll IIeloaged first to Asia, then to Africa, to Europe then; and that' it is to ~ .t};lat she mast now belong? . Beeauae it is in America only, that anything can be founded-for from that rich ad virgin JIOil, ploughed by a. Dew and hardy people, there is arising, there' is growing great, a young, vivacious, and pui88ant f!OOiety,which ",ill impose itself as • mimelB to the world, and last many an age. Jlecauae tbat society will be incorrupt of the two leprosies, which have gnawed iatD the Yitals of allstate&, ancient or m.odern-slavery and proletariani8m ! Perhaps, moreover, an extreme civilization wears out society, even as cultiva• tion puehed .to the utmost, wears out the soil; and wears it out to such a degree, that the earth must lie fallow, and repose itself in barrenness and uncultivation for long ye&l'8. But I have anived at a. pitch whence it appears to be impossible to descend, but by an abrupt transition, or 18 employ the consequences of considerations 80 am• bitious in justifying the moral intention of a frivolous Romance. I am &bout,then. to retum to the starting point of this long and tedious digreBBion. I think that I have made it apparent, that the miiery of the virtuous on earth. ie' .. appareDt, 80 thoroughly proved and recognized, that happiness in heaven is o&red to them as a. compensation therefor. While the happiness of the wicked here below; is 80 distinctly proved also, that they are repaid for this happiness by aD eternity of torture. Admitted then, that the facts are true-above everythiDg-clearly true : Now, the question remains to be answered, .'bether, in this our era, a moral bearing drawn entirely from the truth, a bearing which, above everything, aiDls at 'being true, can be,produced without danger, without tear of causing dimr.c1umtmBnL I ahall reply to,this, that, if your society is 8.t the very point of di880lution, there GILD be no more harm in endeavoring to show it this truth, than there would be iD _yiDg to a man condemned to death, "Thou shalt die t" I shall reply. moreover, that the symptoms of this social dissolution. are, as I think, ill the -.me sort written in our manners, in our literature, in our arts, in eur laWI, in our government r-and that, as the cadaverous face of a dying man ccmtaina more collYinciDg proofs of his approaching end, than all the consuitali0D8 lD tile world j so, by ita very state and alpeCt, society proves more, tbm all tlte Doob that could or can be imagined, whether in the way of theory or,of aampIe.

'!'be few words which I have yet to say..relate Deither to the intMtioo, nor to . die fenD of tbie book, but 801alyto tile particular mbject which it embraces • .'In eadea.voriag to,iJltroduee the tim, tbat.whioh may be ealJed IWltical 1...... , intoour Janrlage, I have been compeUed to touch upon all the tliYieioDa of this .ubject. Not for the purpose of saying, " Thill is miBe," bllt oaly for tbat of planting a signal on every' discovered shore, in order to dtaw thither the __ tWa fII t1MJ8e who follow me, and to give them the ID8&II8 of diggiag ~ • "'r~ where I"perhaps, h&v.eonly 1'1Ul upoll a ahoal. ft.1lrIt part of my tuk is tDeo aceompliabed.

Digitizedby Goog Ie I haft endeavONd, in Kemok, flo preeeBt in stJoDg J8lief the prototype ct ~ "MiA . r-b~e Gitmw, of the smuggler• In Alar Gull, of the .laver- In the 8alMnander, of the man-of-war'sman. U events and the time permitted me, it would have been my object to make these men, the principaltypes of whom we welllmow as I believe,moveand ut in the midst of historical occurrences. Sueh would be the Maritime H'IStof'y,of . which I have alreadyspoken,* and which should inelude the whole French marine, from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, in a series of historica11'01l'l&Dcee, some of which are already begun. I ought also to declare, that inselecting from a separate and special clUB of men, the character which is, as it were, the hinge of the whole plot-the Marituis de Longetour-I have been actuated neither by a spirit of aspersion nor of .en• geance, which is always m. the worst possibletaste; but that I have made use of an idea.offeredto me by historyand by facts. To declare,moreover,that if I have chosen a type from that class, it. is because events, previous to the epochof my tale, had been such, that in 1815 it was in that class only that -such a character could have been found; and that by such a character onlycould I displayin salient relief,what I.esteemthe noblestof all kinds of courage-the courageof self..denial -and that the more admirable,because remainingobscure and unknown: More• over, this sort of courage being especiallycharacteristic of our marine,I conceive myselfjustified, particularlywhen supported by fact, in sacrificing one maD in order to displayvividlyall the sublimityof that devotion,the existenoe of which our Davy has provedby examples 80 numerous and noble. And I insist the more on this declaration,becausethere would be neither couragenor justice in attaeking a class which no longer possesses that in11.uellceinthe state~which raised all France against it, and which has been seferely punished for its politicalerrors, or its politicalforesight. EUGENE SUE.

Digitized by Google THE SALAMANDER

BOOK I. •

CHAPTER I. cWltomerelooked 10vain behind the counter 1'D 1'ODACCOKIST'SsHOP. for the long good.humored face of the shop. keeper. To all the questions which were B, di6reat met.DI we IelLchthe J&JDe end. put to him, the clerk, Fran~oil, replied with a MOICT.&.lGIfI:. mysterious air, going only to increase the .iCvenher minut.elt motiona went u well general curiosity. Now it was--" If you only A. thole of the belt time-pieee of H&I'I'Uon. take the snuff, which my master shall sell you BYROte-DOII""-. henceforth, you will but rarely sneeze,' And THo. was in Pam, in 1815, a tobacco. again, when another beardless soldier aakt;d n~l's Ihop, with very extensive custom, nearly him loudly for cigars, and stronger than the in the middle of the ~ de GrtmlfMftt; from last; he replied sarcastically-" If my mas. without was to be seen a large cylinder of tin, ter were here, it is with your hand to containing a lamp continually kept alight; an your hat you would approach him, instead immense boxwood snuff-box,and overhead a of banging upon the counter with your great sign four-foot square, representing the deter. sabre, which wouldnot hurt a child-banging, mined snuff.taker, who, with his thumb and I say, upon my counter, like a blacksmith on fore-finger raised to the level of his dilated his anvil !"-Ilnd a hundred other similar DOStrils,wasrapturously inhaling the odorifer, speeches, In a word, every one was astonish. OWJ powder. ed at the disappearance of M.Formon, whose Hither it was that a crowd of Germans, patience and good-humor were generally ap, RUlSians,Prusaians, Bavarians, and English, preciated. The absence of the shopkeeper desirous 'of enlivening, by any means, the would, however, have aurprised them less, had leisure moments of the guard-houSe,crowded they known the extraordinary scene which to M. Formon, who retailed to them innocent was passing in the small, simple, and modeet entertainment, in the shape of quids, snuff, room, immediately in the rear of the shop, oc· or cigars. cupied by M.Formon. It was a lovely evening in July, the air was Now, this worthy man was coming and warm, the sky clear-but the atmospherewas going, hurrying about the middle of his nar, loaded with the thick dust which surged up row parlor; now drawing ncar the window from the feet of the horses; brilliant equi, and looking timidly out of it; now returning pages were eroesing and re-croasing in all to sit down and consult his watch, with an directiolls ; and the particolored plumes,which uneasy and disquiet manner. waved above the foreign shakos, were min. M. Formon was about fifty yeare old, tall, gled with the white veils and scarfs in which and emaciated; thick gray hair concealed hi8 all the women were arrayed at that time. The low and receding forehead; his grayish green boulevards were enamelled, if I may use eye, his retiring chin, his mouth placed far such a term, with a crowd of cockades of the below his short and flattened nose, gave to brightest and moat varied .colors-without his face a remarkable expression of simpli. counting the rich dolmans of the Coesacks of city. the guard, the picturesque costume of the "Elizabeth," said he, stopping before a Scottish Highlanders, and the dark aspect of woman of some forty years of age, who, bend. the black hU8Blll8of Brunswick, with their ing over a little table, was writing very death's heads and cross.bones, which caused rapidly; " Elizabeth, what do you think of the the splendor of the other gorgeoWluniforms, delay 1-almost eight hours, and no news. aU glittering with embroidery and lace, to Perhaps my cousin may have been deceived ; sbow forth with yet more advantage. I should not be very sorry for it, either." On this particular evening, the shop of M. Elizabeth made a violent gesture of impa, Fonnon.was by no means deserted; but the tience, and throwing the pen abruptly down-

Digitized by Google 14 "Deefi"ed, deceiyed !--you wiIIh it, doubt.. ed the dying hand of my father! wherein I Ie.1" kissed tb.egray hairs of my mother, who pau. II Come, come-do not be angry-that does ed away in the utterance of these, worda : you more harm than it does me-you know it : Albert, thou wilt be happy; for thou art a 'Verywell." good son.' Poor mother! so charitable; 10 . "Angry," she cried-her little cat-like eyes kind to the unhappy! they cast your ashflBto IIparkling from beneath the long lace of her I the winds! they desecrated and tore down mob.cap-" angI'Y, indeed; pave 1 not a,' your altar ! they razed our old chateau, 80 full rieht to be so? Is ifnot in spite of your re. of,domestic recollections !--" aiatance, that I have endeavored to restore you I Here' the good man broke off abruptly, reo to a creditable position in society ?-that I , mained for a moment absorbed in his own have attempted to tear you from this miser'llhoughts, and then continued, drawing hia able counter, at which you would pBBSyour hand rapidly across his brow: "Bah! bah! life without a blush, selling Virginia or mac. Iall this has passed, and is forgotten: 80, let cohoy ,', Ius talk of it no more, I pray you. I have con.. n. Ml dear wife, maccoboy, is infinite. tracted, as you know,' Elizabeth, new tastes, ly superior to Virginia; so, if you please, new habits, Now, obscurity suits both my S&y-' selling without a blush, maccoboy or age and my character. I Dever was ambi, &'c.'--" tious, Suffer me, then, to die here, quietly, "What abject baseness !---a-.:eyou not and at peace. Give up the effortswhich you uhamed of the disgrace of your low tastes 7" have made. You know, better than anyone, " No indeed, no! I get on extremely well in how painful a position you are placing me, thus. I am up to everything that is going if you succeed in obtaining for me that situa, on in this querter-e-and I am popular enough tion which you have asked in my name, in it. For, to be just, I do no harm to any though very much againstmy·wishes." , one, and I perform services to people when. " I think you are a moat extraordinary per. ever I am able, I have my little quiet habits, son," said his wife, in a tone of concentrated my coffee and milk in the morning-in the passion. "Do you suppose it was for you evening my game ofdominos, and my bottle of alone, that I have brought into play all the beer-no cares to distressme, and my account powerful inftuences which the restorationhas current showing a sufficient profit to pro. given back to us 1 No, truly; you are not serve me from anxiety for the future. Upon worth the trouble: it is for our name !" my word! if this be not happiness, I do not "Our name! our name!" said the shop. know where I should look for it?-and as yet keeper, with a slight shade of impatience in I have not taken into account my excellent, . his manner ;-" our name! you may as well my perfect wife!" .added the good shop. Iaay my name; and if I willinglyrenounce my keeper, endeavoring to play the agreeable. Itide, you may as well renounce it, too; for, The impatience of his perfect wife now in fact-s-you, who are so proud of it-.-" passed all bounds. Springing up from her " Well! finish your speech, monsieur; fin. chair impetuously, she seized her husband by ish your speech, by all means." the arm, and almost dragged him to tbe "Well, then, I do Dot .. ,. it to, make you farther end of the room. Then, drawing angry, since you are the wife of my heart• aside a light piece of gauze, she discov- Iof my choice; but, after all,yourfather was-a ered the portrait of a naval officer, clad fringe.maker, a dra'er, in the roe fJIIZ Oun." in the costume of the last century. Above Although the last part of this sentenee was the picture, set in the mouldingsof the frame, pronounced alm.oat Unintelligiblybf the shop• sparkled a rich escutcheon with an aznre star keeper, I know not what might haft occurred, on a field gules, supported by two lions with to judge from the Hahtning thiltOflashedfrom reeurvous tails, and ornamented by the coro, the eyes of Elizabeth; if Fran90is had not in. net of a marquis. terrupted this dangerou dialogue. . Ie Look there !"said she, pushing the wretch. " Madam! madam!" said he, as he entar. ed Formon so violently, that he fell on his ed," here is a packet, which a gen d'anne knees on the sofa; "look there! see that, has just broughL" And with theee words. and die of shame-thinking of what you are, he handed to his mistress a voluminous offi. and what you should be!" cial dispatch, fastened with three seals. ' The shopkeeper sighed as his eyes fell on " Give it me, and begone !" said Elizaoetb, the ancient picture, shook his head sorrow- with an imperious 'Voice; then she tore the fully, wiped away _a tear, and said in a re- envelop ''iolently open, while ber husband proachful tone: . J watched ber with the anxiety of a criminal " What! again that portrait 7 Hea'Vp.DS ! awaiting his sentence. . Elizabeth, what cruelty to awaken such re- "Bravo!" she exclaimed, in rapture, when collections everlastingly! All this has passed I she had read it; "they did not deceive me ; away, and can never more return-no more they have kept their word." Then coming to. than can the hope of seeing again our estatee ward her husband-e-" M. Farmon, Marquis of,~ngetour, whereon I paseed my:youth 80 I~e Longetour, we are at liberty to ~e our happily. Beloved old castle, wherein 1presa· t!tle." I ... s :, ,. -" • I, ~.•I.. l HJ ., f'

Digitized by Google 'AIN't TaOPIZ.

fC Our tide !"said the marquil, between his agllinat that flood of resplendent lustre witll .. th.' ' which you deluge the horizoa, Arise,· and " Thanks to the powerful protection of our cover with a veil ef'purple light the highland. family!" of Corsica, and gild the sluggish waters wliich "Our family !" again sighed the shop• bathe the Gulf of Frejus, keeper. And lo! already have thy rays dispersed " Thanks to our family, the rank of captain the cool and quivering vaporswhich flit along of a frigate is granted to you; for the time the surface' of the sea, to dart toward thee• which you have spent in emigration, and at toward thee, sweet sun, who pourest on us your ignoble counter, is reckoned to you, as the warmth, and the voluptuousness of Italy! if it had been passed in actual service. More• As lovely is Provence as Italy. Behold yon• ..ver, you are appointed to the command of a der those verdant masses, covered with snowy corvette, and are charged with an important flowers, tipped with gold, shedding abroad miasion! Read--" perfumes so delicious, Behold those white The marquis stood, stupefied and astonish• houses, with their red.tiled roofs. Behold ed ; but, after a time, he exclaimed: those calcined and volcanic plains! Would

'f{ Come, come, EIizabeth-a corvette-s-a you not think it was a Tuscan village? and corvette for me-for, ine, who even before yet it is Hyeres, the fertile Hyeres, which reo , the revolution, made but a single passa~e joices to Beeits lovely orange.groves, and its from Rochefort to Bayonne? Oh! this is too superb bastions, reflected in the azure waters absurd! May the devil take you; you are the of the Mediterranean. maddeat woman I ever heard of," cried the Oh ~ our sweet Provencal girls, who res• marquis, at last exasperated; "but I refuse train their luxuriant tresses within the sinten the command !" he added, casting the dispatch meshes of their green head.nets ; who bind upon the table. down their glowing sunny bosoms within their " You,refuse !" the marchioaess replied, in strait-laced black corsets, with red borders• a low savage whisper, letting her husband feel oh ! our Provencal girls are better far than the points of her sharp nails; "you refuse," the Italian damsels of the Arno. she repeated; "no, no-I rather think not ;" Our sweet Provencal girls have also their and still holding the arm of her husband, hard nightly dances by the margins of the sea; their griped in her dry and bony hand, she smiled lively, animated, and amorous dances. By upon him with an expression truly demonia, night also, when the moon silvers the myrtle cal. And poor Formon, overpowered by his groves, the perfumed breeze sinks sometime. long habit of submission, and by the terror into silence, in order, as it would seem, to with which his wife inspired him, murmured, permit the sound ofburning kisses to be heard, in a low voice: of tender shudderings intermingled by soft "Come, come, Elizabeth-I accept it." silences-silences given up to dreams of the '- " It is well. Now sign this letter of thanks, tenderest passions. prepared beforehand, by the minister." But now, the sun, sinking plumb down " So, Elizabeth, you insist on it, positively. over the dark roofs of Saint Tropez, costs Coneider well th8.t--" broad and massive shadows from the rocks of " Sign!" quartz, of porphyry, and of granite, which in. "I am ruined!" he cried, with a mournful close the Gulf of Grimaud, in the lowest tone, as he cast down the pen. bight of which lies that small seaport. . All the prismatic angles of those many col• " Now," .said the marchioness, " we shall ored rocks are lighted up in turn; their rifts resume a rank which we ought never to have and crevices crystallized with granactites and qui""d. "Come, marquis--" staurides, sparkle, blaze, glitter in reflections " Adieu! adieu! the happiest hours of my of every color, rose-tinted, blue, and green, life!" said the ex.shopkeeper, sadly, as he and pearly. And then, the Bandis so much .fellowed the atepeof his wife. mixed with quartz and mica, tbat the shore One month after this occurrence, the Mar• appears to be sprinkled with silver dust, and ,quia de Longetour set off for Toulon, to take it shows like an argent frame,to the clear and hiI command. . golden waves which roll into the bay. And thus it was, that M. Forman sold no Ancient and peaceful port of Saint"Tropez ! vmore quids or cigars. native place of a gallant admiral, of the brave and noble Suffren, there now remain of vour antique splendors, but two turrets, reddened CHAPTER II. by the burning sun, rifted and ruined; but adorned by crowns of the evergreen ivy-by SAINT TROPEZ. garlands of the blue-flowering convolvulus. , You wish to fiy, and fear Vertigo. Is it we who How many times have the accursed Sara• .ban throw. ounelv.at your hea.d-or youyounelt at cens, defying the protection of the counts of : IRIJI t' , GOZTSJI:-,.jilz",t. Provence, run in their piratical galleys to the . AllISJ-aJiee, fair sun of Proven~; arise. veryfoot of the mole-their galleys which they !f~,~r ~lba,ehows i~U'. cu~ clearly blue aouaht to load with thoae young Proven9al

Di9itize~ by Googlc'" girls, ever sought out 80 elledy in the alave tiah--eo light, 10ready, 10delicate in her form, marts of Tunis, and of Smyrna! 80 square in her yarda, 89 lofty in her mut8. Poor young girls of Saint Tropez! for you Lively, lively as a fish, obedient to her helm •. there is no more hope of being torn fromyour quick at going about in a narrow basin! If weeping families, carried oft"by lome eursed she was covered with sails even to her royals ! pirate, and landed, palpitating between fear supple and active, bending her lofty masts, as and curiosity, beneath the rich porticoes of flexible as reeds, she skimmed the waves with some Emir's palace! No more hepe of ex• the rapidity of a gull. changing your mud-built cottages, your mats And she was not only a ship for show and of rushes, and your salt sea-water, for perfu• fleetness;-no! by Heavens! no !scarce could med baths beneath umbrageous' sycamores, the wind unfurl the long foldaof a hostile ftna. tapestries of Cachsmire, and shady cupolas ere she spoke loud and long,fearful to be heard, ,littering with bright Morescopaintings. Dear and to be felt afar! girls! I can conceive your innocent regrets! Did I not say, too, that her name was ex• -at least, in the olden time you had the ex• pressive? Expressive, ay! Oh! that you citernent of expecting the season of abduc, could have seen that proud corvette, in 1813, tions-for there is always something whereun, thundering, furious, dishevelled, with her run• til to look forward, even in a descent of pirates. ning rigging fluttering in the wind, bounding, And thou, also, thou art worthy to be pitied, as if intoxicated, in the midst of the light• poor little port of Saint Tropez !-For now ning which spouted from her thirty earrcnades come no moreof thosegay and dashing barques of brass. with scarlet pennons, to water on thy deserted From those torrents of flame, from that lava shores. No! sometimes it is a heavy mer. of grape and round shot which she vomited. chant vessel, or a lean mystic; and if, by from her batteries, you would have thought chance a raking schooner, with ber waist low her the crater of a volcano in eruption, or a and narrow as a wasp's, heaves to under the lake of fire,of which she was the real Sala• shelter of its mole - the whole town is in mander. commotion; and-by the holy crown of the Oh! that you could have seen her, vicioua Virgin !-it was in commotion,I swear to you, as she was, laying hold of an English frigate, on the 15th of June; for the ship which was with her fire.grapplings, all red-hot and en• beating into the roads, WIl8 neither a tartane, kindled, so fierce and well-sustained were her with latine sails-nor a both, with its two jibs broadsides. as light and fluttering as a woman's 'kerchief In this terrific contest she proved herself' -nora dogger. with its huge topsail-nor a well worthy of her name ; engaged with the mulerte, with its seven sails shaped as trian, frigate, she gave her last fire so close that the ,Ies-nor a Venetian gondola, of white and gunners of the two vessels struck at one an. gold, with its purple curtains-nor a hoy, other with their rammers, snatched the hand• '\ spreading out its two vast yard.arma, wide as spikes from each other, and exchanged stab. the wings of leviathan-nor a paduan, proud and cuts from deck to deck. of his sails, chequered like a ehess.board. Three times the grapplings broke, three It was, in a word, neither a .prahau.plary times she laid the Englishman aboard, des• of Maca88ar-nor a balour of the isles of Sun. perate and intrepid 118 herself. da-s-nor a piahap of Magellan-nor a gros, Then the corvette was in flames-Bames bois of the Antilles-nor an English yncht• crossing, darting lengthwise, twisting hither nor a catamaran-nor a great-hoy- nor a and thither, leaping along the rigging, whist. palm-nor a praam-nor a biscayan-nor a ling among the sails,· embracing the masts barceza of Cadiz-nor a mulet-nor a balan• with their burning ringlets. Fire! fire! yet nu celie-nor a chelingue-nor a champan-nor one thought of it on board, they thought but a houari-s-nor a (hnga-nor a prague-nor a of sinking the Englishman. Moreover, there eague-s-ncr a yawl-nor-In a word, it was was no danger of explosion-there was not -it wu-the SAL.uuNDEK. left a grain of powder in the magazine. It will be easily understood how that should be. after a battle sf seven hours, where one voL. ley waits not for the other. CHAPTER III. Noble Salamander! the fire was devourin&' THE SALAMANDER. her to her very vitals, and the sea tossed her Victoria nulla est, to and fro, and stll she blazed, saving her laat Quam qUI! eonfessos animo quoque subigut hostes, volley, as a prodigal saves his last piece of ('''L.A.UDIU de .e:do cmuulatu Hcmorii. gold, waiting an opportunity to annihilate the ROfue! how mo.ny devila ~~~~~~_I;[~CD. Englishman. At last! at last! the enemy shows her stem, TlfESALAMANTlER!beautiful name! exprcs• the Salamander roars with glee; her cannon tlive,clegnnt,coquettish-as elegant as coquet- thunder, her iron falls like rain ;-hurrah ! sunk! hurrah! sunk! no Englishman upon • The greater part of these aN loeal and natioaal the ocean! Hurrah! a whole train of corpse• Mme. of vessell of varioul rigs. for which there an DO cOmllpoDdiD: terma ill our laDiuap· doated and j08tled in the w . 1 001,~ch tha Digitized by ogle TUB SALAMANDEIl. 17 fricate'made as she wall sinking; fragments But those planks, scarred a~d splint~red; 0{ ri,gine-broken spara-and all was over. those cannon, dinted by the balls; that deck, Oh! hOVachangedwert thou, my brave and black with the blood which had soaked into noble Salamander. • it-all this had a voice-a strong and puis• She no longer held herself insoleahy erect aant voice" which told one of the glorious with her masts; she displayed no longer her tales of our naval warfare. By heaven! those rigging smooth and accurately ordered as the who had passed through that baptism of fire, hair of a lovely woman; no longer her splen• who remained atone of that ancient crew, did battery, all glittering and bright; her paint• knew well, I assure you, how to initiate th, mae of a thousand colors,which ran over her novices. ~p, crossing and interwining, one with the Therefore, the Restoration found the Sala. other, and rolled out into glorious arabesques. mander repaired, haughty, dashing, and pre• No! she was no more so ! pared to fight. All burned and mangled, pierced by the Oh! she well knew, that insolent one, that ppe. reddened with blood, blackened with she hnd within her sides a hundred and twenty powder, smoking, low in the water, she re, gallant sailors; and, among others, nineteen gaiJ\ed her port, that gallant sloop, with her of the old crew, who were known on board tri-colored ensign all ill tatters, but nailed to as the" fire-eaters ;" add to these a hundred her stern; for her masts--alas! of her masts, marines of the' ex-Imperial Guard, and you there stood no more in her, than in a pen, will have an idea of the picked company toon-and her rigging lay torn and broken that manned that sprightly 'barque. , over her wales-torn up by a thousand explo• You must have seen, in order to conceive, sions, by a thousand bullets. those fine, sun-burned, weather-beaten, scar• And yet this neglectful and disordered state red, swarthy faces-those iron heads-those became her better than her most coquettish Herculean shoulders--those child-like hearts, trim. intrepid, reckless, daring, yet benevolent So you see sometimes at a ball, a wild and and kindly. lively girl, with bright eyes, and a skin of vel• Yet these devils of marines, altaeugh they vet softness and carnation hues; a drapery of knew that Bonaparte loved not the navy-al• transparent gauze is arranged minutely about though they had seen the disastrous campaign her pretty figure; her perfumed ringlets are of Moscow, in which they, too, had played dispoeed symmetrically in long and lustrous their part-had yet seen him share his bread, masses; YOIl could count every fold in her his garments with hiasoldiers ; and they loved collar; her belt and scarf are accurately fas• him, because they found in him, what they tened ; and then all is joy and delirium within felt within themselves, courage and goodness. her-the joy and deliriumof e.childwhosmiles, Now, in 1815, when they learned all that anrllaugbs aloud, carried away by the bound• had passed at Rochefort, and the fine and no, ' ing waltz. ble offer of the brave commander, Collet, and This gayety, this symmetry of dress was the embarkation of the emperor on board the pleasing, I admit; and yet, oh! I find much Bellerophon, they wept tears of rage, and be. less elegance, many more eharms in that came fierce, sullen, and r;loomy. tumbled belt, in that falling scarf, in that die Then, when they learned the bloody re• shevelled hair; oh l many more charms in a actions of the south, they murmured. Some slight paleness, in a soft sadness, in that Ian• quarrels occurred between them and the in. guishing and dim glance. Oh! many more habitants of Toulon; and, in order to avoid charmsin that exquisite disorder,which proves, farther strife, the corvette was ultimately or• in a word, that the Salamander was a thou• dered round to await the moment of her de. sand times more picturesque, more poetical, parture in the port of Saint Tropez .. more fascinating after the battle. And thus, the twenty men, who alone re, Poor dear corvette! she left the anchorage, guns run her mained, although wounded, in a state to work no more, as of old, with her out, her, carried her with love and veneration ioto rigging taut, fiery, impatient, hoisting upon the roads of Toulon to be repaired. It was, her loftiest mast her glorious fiag, as if in to• _iadeed, a task of conscience to repair a vessel ken of defiance. in such a state; from the knee at the head No, no, by" heaven ! she went forth lad, "-tothe tiller, she was but one wound, but one and, as it were, ashamed, almost without ar. h~e; • tillery, for she was armed en flute. But abe had made herseJf,as tt were, a men. They had emasculated her, the wretches' ument-s-but she was still the Salamander. There remained to her now her name alone, But, unless he was as cewardly as a spy, which still made the .English shudder; there anyone must have become brave by setting remained to her alone her crew of .1 fire. hie foot only on board the Salamander; for, eaters," and the marines of the ex-Imperial hi would smell there, I know not what per. Guard, mournful and sad, as she was herself. fume of pitch and w, what pleasant scent of Now thia dark and discousolate vessel, old burnt-powder, wlUcbcaused tho heart to which lies at anchor all alone in the port of MIt Do},1,. iaiat Tropez, it is she-it iIthe So.1amander. Digitized by Google 18 THR IALA.M:A_NDRR.. upon whieb the IUD ia gl~ with his fil1!t der, now remaining of the old 11atF,'" aIld ray.. here he drew a deep sigh ; "and the crfI"t which I have never.quitted for eleven yeale. areasking me daily for the arrc. of pay due tQ thellj: Could you not write to Toulon oil CHAPTER IV. the su!ject 1" . ." 'My dear lieutenant, your wishes are anti. PETER RUET. cipated; I have received the money and the Y CMl are 11 seamp! let us talk of IOmething elle. orders, and to-day I propose to pay the IiiDce we are talkm" I have a question on my Iips, people." DIDIi:ROT. " Ah! you are a good fellow, purser ; and The pin gf one man is the 1081ofM:~~~NIi:. my fellows will be merry at hearing thW. Poor fellows! at leest, they ought to pay AI 800n as the sun appeared above the ho• them-they have earned it well; and since nsen, they beat the call to the standard, and they banish us--" hoisted the flag. Noble and holy custom!- "Excuse me, lieutenant; they do not ban• 11there not something grand, something poet• ish us; but this crew seems to me a little-" ical in tbe association of the sun which rises, " A little what 1" . and the ell8igu which runs up, saluted by the " No, no, I do n't say that-but it might fint fires ef the day 1 be imagined that--" Then the note of a whistle reechoed long, " Imagined that what 1" ahrill, querulous; and the aailO1'8 came up, one " No, no; you do n't understand me; but by one, barefooted, with swabs, holy.stones, they seem to me to regret an order of thiDaa and .. nd, and began to polish, rub, and which exists no longer; and they are in tlut cleuae the deck of the corvette', which was wrong." very loon as smooth and as white as marble. " Let us break off there, purser. Ten me, An officer, wrapped up in a larie pea-jacket, did you see my son go ashore 1" and wearing a cap fringed with gold lace, came " Who 1 M. Paul?" upon deck, and sat down near the taffrail. " Yes, yes; my son." As he came thither, he took off his cap, " No, my dear lieutenant; Ithought he waa and the sun lighted up a fine, SUD.burned face, on board-is he not 1" with strongly marked features. He appeared " No; and his absence annoys me, for he to be about forty; and his lineaments, without is ashore without leave. Ishall punish him, being handsome, expressed a character of both as a father and an officer." frankness and of courage which pleased on " But are you very sure, at least--" the very fil8t acquaintance. But at this mo. "Quite sure!" replied the officer, impa. .ment, his gestures of ill-concealed impatience tiently: "bloc\thead !" he thought, within shewed that he was not in his ordinary state himself"; "as if a father would suffer lueh a of mind. Now he walked to and fro with thing to remain in doubt." hasty steps, now he sat down, and still he ut• "But," replied the purser, "here eemes tered. in a low-voice, these words, often re· M. de Merval, who may, perhaps, be able to peated: "Confounded boy !-what a devil of tell you more about it." a boy!" " It is enough, monsieur; I do not want to A new person soon appeared upon the deck. admit everyone on board to JDY confidence." He was a little, fat, heavy man, with dull fair The new comer was a young ensign-fair. halT, who wore a pair of green spectacles haired, good-humored, elegant, good-looking ; on his long nose, a flat cap, and a gray frock. and, although it was still very earl" his uni• "Good morning to our dear lieutenant," form was buttoned up, with the most accu, aid the little fat man. 'rate attention: his new epaulettes sparkled U Ah! good day, purser,". replied the offl, in the sun; and a handsome dirk, with a hilt eer, in an abstracted tone; and persons, even of mother.of.pellli. hung by a silken cord, the least observant of physiognomies, could with golden swivels. When he took oft' hia have read on his noble and expressive face glazed hat to salute the lieutenant, it discov• that he wu not particularly delightedat seeing ered a head of fair hair, long and curled, and the purser: nevertheless, the conversation dressed carefully, which might have been a ".nt on. lady's pride. " It is a very lovely morning, lieotenant; a U BOlD do you do 1" said he, laughina'. te IUn that is positively dazzling." the officer. • " Yee, indeed, it is very fine !" " Very well, my dear Merval. But why the After a pause of a few moments, the lieu. devil do you alw!lYs com. np to me, talkiDa tenant broke the silence: "Purser," said he, English? It is a language, do you see, young .. I am the 801egfficcron board the Salaman. man, which I do not like." - " My good lieutenant, that ie an old war .. The c...... n..1IiN of the French navy wall not ex· .. tly timilar to our purser, bllt w. have DO word that ...The ataff'-a.t "';_Of""'yOf a Preach 1rWl-oE-wv, Cln _,... the oftl~ .. ntlU1,-M wu ent!JeIJa civil compriled the captain, the )ieU1eIWlII, the ...... ~_ . -... . eretvt, 11UPoD, aDd .p1aill. Digitized by Google 'l'XIt STAPP • 19 .' prejudice-bah!. bBah!you are inthe wrong : "Come nearer," lIlid the lieutenlnt. thank God! I hal', seen a good deal of them, The tall figure drew one step nearer. ~d I caq_ aeeUlelyou that they are devilish '" Nearer still." lJOod peoi51e." \ He came so close as to touch the lieutenlln*' "And famous sailors--famous sailOf8o!" who spoke to him for a moment, in his ear. • i~ the purser; "lIailom to buy and sell us; yel5, indeed !". . La Joie made an expressive motion with hi. head, said not a word; but sent forth a long The lieutenant cast a contemptuous glance and modulated whistle, which, in the nautical upon him, and made no reply; though he turn, tongue, signifies, "On board the crew of the ed very red in the face. captain's barge." " Yes, my dear purser; on that head you do them justice-that is to say, we do them Five minutes afterward, neither more not justice," said the ensign. The lieutenant had less, the twelve men who composed the crew withdrawn a little suddenly, after the stupid of that beat were upstanding in their place.. expression of the purser. with their oars raised, to larboard of the cor• "I can hold out no longer; I must send vette. uhore: ah! my 80n! my son!" he cried. Boatswain La Joie stepped into it, seated Then turning to one of the steersmen, he add. himself in the larboard etern.sheeta of the ed, "Can Boatswain La Joie." barge, after having respectfully raised the Five minutes afterward, a tall ftgure was cushion covers of blue cloth, adorned with Men to appear, to raise itself, to grow gradu, jkUTS de lie, and again whistled. The oars ·ally larger, out of the main hatch. Then this fell instantly, and cut the waves; they made &aure advanced to within two steps of the but one sound in the rowloeks-c-not Oliedrop lieutenant, took oft' his' woollen cap, took his of water was splashed inboard. Again he long Bilverwhistle and brought it near his whistled, and the oars swept the water with lipa, which appeared ready to glue themselves one single movemeat-s-with one lingle ca. upon it, and stood waiting. dence--one harmony; such that you would It wu La Joie, the boatswain, one of the have sUPP08edthose twelve oars to be puCin old Salamanders-a fire.eater-e-ohl a true fira. motion by one single machine. "ter. It is impoeaible to conceive anything Then La Joie, who wal at the tiller, put the more sullen, mere morose, repulsive, ugly, helm straight upon the landing.steps of the than that figure-tawny, dry, bony, bald, an- port, and very soon diuppeared bshind the pial, emaciated. . mole.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I. heard but that o{platel,and knives and forb. The doctor interrupted it. TO STAPF. " Tell me, Peter," said he, "ill it known . We .wallow, opeDmouthed,the lie which latters when our new commander will arrive 1 Oh! .. aDd drink, drop by drop, the truth whieh is bitter to we must have a rough customer to manage •• palau. DlDRROT. this ship's crew. They are stanch it is true, OuT act10Dl are Jike blank rh)'mes to be filJed up, but as troublesome as the devil. They love to which every one cd refer to anrihing he pleases. go ashore i they have passed through fire and W. ourllt onlyto be utonil'hedat still poueaaing ,Ueapacity to be utonithed. water; they are devils incarnate, but stout and LA RoCBEFOUCALT-.II(Il:ti1ll8. brave, who must be ruled, as ),ou rule litem, with a bar of iron. Yet if I can understand TUE steward having announced that break. it, may I be hanged: for they would all suf• .rut was ready, the purser, the lieutenant, and fer themselves to be cut to pieces for you. In 1IIe ensign went down into the cabin, where a word, I hope they will choose for our com• .t.bey found the surgeon already at table; a mander, one of those stern old sea-doga, hard man of fifty, with a fresh color, active, with and inflexible; inflexibly rigid in matters of 1bick, curly, grizzled hair. service, but kind and agreeable when off duty• ." May the devil rock you to sleep, Peter," And, do you know this commander, tell me, , Uld the Burgeon to the lieutenant; "here has Peter? Do you know whence he comes. or ,,"akfast been waiting an hour-it will be what is his name 1" cold, and our Proven~al cook will swear it "I have heard his name," answered the wu no fault of his." lieutenant, carelessly; "he is the baron, the " Here we are, here we are--good doctor marquis; or the Count of Longetour-c-the --calm yourself;" said the lieutenant, taking marquis I believe, but in truth Iget confoun• . 1M teat of honor a.t the upper end of the ded with their damned dtle8, which are jUlt ,~~.. - as absurd a. if one were to lay, 'sir knighC . 1aJ'or. few mOlDen. no lO~d wu to be the topmast,' or, • yourladyship the ma.lDlail'

Digitized by Google 20 THE SALAMANDER.. . ' But I beg your pardon, Marva]," said the lieu. can be done with these lads, when you know tenant, oflering his hand cordially to the en. how to manage them. But I am contented• sign; .. I forgot that you were-a count, 1 they know the Salamander, and" they will believe 1" send us a real sea.wolf." The expression of armoynnce which had "But, by the way," replied the doctor, leaD~ obscured the countenance of the en8i~n pass. iog over the table, and tracing lozenges on the ed IIway; he pressed the hand of Peter cor. bottom of the plate with his knife ; Ie and yoti, diully, and answered, " 1 am ship's ensign of Merval, where have you served 1 are you a the Salamander, and proud to be under the pupil of the schools of Toulon, or of Brest 1" orders of so gallant a man as you, lieutenant." "Monsieur," said the ensign, "my family " Mouaieur is, in truth, a count ;" replied has never left the service of its legitimate the purser, " 1 have his name upon the ship's sovereign, and I followed my family." muster roll, Egbert, Theodore, Vincent, Beau. " Ah! you have served in the English fleet! mair, count-yes, by the Lord !-Count de Young man, that was not well done," said the Merval-count is the title, certainly." doctor, shaking his head. "Well, well! purser;" said the ensign, " Monsieur! monsieur !" said the 8nsiln, • blushing, " 1know my own name!" growing pale with anger. u yes l monsieur; but you are a count• " I say that it was not well done," CGBtin· that i8 a fine title-I should like to be a ued the doctor, persisting still in his lozenget. count! should not you, doctor?" This incident aroused Peter', attention, " Hold your tongue, purser," said the sur. who seemed to be completely abstracted by geon; "you are as stupid as 8. goose !" his own thoughts. " IIa! how is that 1" said the little man, " How now! mesBieurs--" turning 118 red aa a pippin. " Monsieur has insulted me," said the im. .. I said, as stupid as a goose ;" replied the petuous young man. doctor imperturbebly, looking him straight in " Merval! Merval!" cried the lieutenant. the eve. ..1tell you tbat it was not honorable to " Come, come; you must not get angry," serve under the English flag !-that is all." said the lieutenant, smiling; "you know, pur. " You shall give me satisfaction; and that ser, the doctor has his frank way of talking; immediately!" Mid the ensign, rising from 1 have known him these three-and-twenty the table. years, and you will not change him now." " Oh! oh ! oh l" said the doctor, without " No! by the Lord! no !" Raidthe surgeon, leaving off' his lozenge.making-" oh! it is II such as you see me now, young mac, 1 told twenty.five years that old Gamier has been Admiral *"'uu that he had behaved himself at sea, and it is not a child that will frighten like a poltroon in the presence of ths enemy, him. Young man, from Trafalgar down. and (hat by his cowardice, he had caused lots ward, Ihave ssen many actions; I have been of noble fellov....s to be cut to pieces! and' 1 wounded five times, that i, what gained me knew it, unhappily, but too well; forwounded my bit of red ribbon. My good friend Peter myself, I dressed them, nursed them, ampu, here can tell you, that I am not afraid to dreas . tated them, a8if they had been my 0!Vnshild• a wounded soldier under the hottest fire. But reno So you see, purser, that I may well tell I do not fight for such wretched things as this. you that you are as stupid as a goose, since I Besides, do you see 1 I consider my life as have told an admiral that he was a poltroon." the property of these poor sailors, of whom I •. " Enough said-enough said, doctor;" reo have taken care these eleven years. They plied Peter, taking pity on the purser, who are my children, mine! They have all con• seemed to be sitting on hot coals, fidence in me, they always find old Gamier "Come, come, purser," the doctor began ready when they are in pain. 1 do not be. again, " 1did not mean to annoy you, at least. long to myself any longer-just a£.k~em if I Shake that ! You will do-you will de. One do. But look you, 1did not mean to offend campaign together, and you will Beethat old you--shake that!" and he thrust his hand Garnier is a good sailor, but that he must let forward-" only you have sailed under the out whatsoever he has bothering him at his English flag-in my opinion you were in the heart. What I said to you just now, do you wrong, that was not honorable, that is all !" ace, was destined to be spoken." cc Mcrval," said the lieutenant, "I entreat "And this new commander, has h. fought you-I command you, to listen to me." lome gallant actions 7" asked the ensign. By dint of arguments, whether good or bad, II Upon my word," said Peter, "I never they tranquillized the ensign, who, full of good. heard of them-Longetour !-do you know qualities, was loyal, brave, and bore no mal. that name, doctor? Longetour 1" ice. He was the first to offer his hand to the II No more than I know the fish of which dsctor. . this is the tail, Do you, Merval 1" asked the "J told you what I thought," replid he. dcctor of the ensign. shaking his hand cordially: Ie now we may .. 1 kn sw nothing about him, either." sail together for a hundred years, do you see 'l "It would be a pity, too, to put such a crew and Ishall never open my mouth on the ..... DI this out of order; there is ·80 lIluch that jeet. But the thiDg bad :-.be laid."[ Digitized by oog e l

T •• 'II I J) •• I P II .A If • 21 On. of the ahip boytJ entered, and address. in this world orin the next 1 Poor child! hi! ed the lieutenant: idea was to live in her life-to die in her "The barge is close aboard, lieutenant. death !-and then, after death, their two souls M. Paul is on board." to be made angels in the infinite joys of heav• "At lastI" said the lieutenant. "Desire en! That was his dream. M. Paul to go to my state.rodm.;.;_a.odorder Noble dream! Holy and artless trust of the crew out of the boat." And Peter Huet, that young heart! It was that his tender rec, setting the example to the rest, rose from the ollcctions of his mother had purifiedhis love! table. , It was that this religious memory wall blent "You will not forget our men's pay," said with all his vows, the moment he began to he to the purser, think of that woman, whom he should one " I will begin at noon, lieutenant. You day love. It was that he believed it to be as can give notice of it, if you will." a holy duty to lavish upon her all that deep .. That is sufficient,' said Peter Huet, and and touching love, which his kind mother had he ascended to the quarter.deck ; for, in the felt formerly for him. absence of the commander, whom they await• For she existed no longer to him-that dear ed, he occupied the quartets of that officer. mother! no! Peter lost her, when his eon "I have found you at last, sir. That is was but eight years of age, and took him with very fortunate," said he, opening the door of himself on board the Salamander. the stem gallery, wherein the midshipman Thus was the poor little one deprived very was waiting for him. young of all those maternal cares, which tt woman lavished on him with all that prcdl- gality of tenderness which she could nut be. stow on her absent husband. For, do yon CHAPTER II. know it? the moment a woman is anxious fur THE lIfIDSHIPMAN. the life of her husband, she becomes doublv Bow well thea Imow'st to gild each distant scene! tender to her child: Never, since that fat~[ To thee ho. glorious is the day's young sheen, event, had Paul lett the Side of hit;father. While love's new glow, and fresh, untarnished hope, Brought up on board-cducatcd in the school To the pure soul reveal its destined scope- That forth, it bounds in spotless beauty bright, of that hard and almost savage life, the sub. And, one sole object ita supreme delight, limity and harmony of that nature, which is Exclaims with Romeo=-v ' Tis not yet the day• ever new, reflected themselves in that young Crow. not the cock-love we, while love we may." Man's bliss exists but in this point of time- and ardent soul, and sprang up there into the Life'. path iI only green to those who upward climb. noblest sentiments. ALPBONSIC DE L.ulUTIN.£-Ntnlu.n1ll4 Verba. While yet a very child, his father delighted ThUll, in light of the agonies of death, the Christian to make him admire the various and sublime' lOul is purified, as it were, ill tire. Thus is ,he stripped pictures which were incessantly unrolled be. orall thnt she has of earthly, and of too sensiuve qual• fore his eyes. Now cradled in the tops, and ities, even in her most innocent affections. B088UET-F.u.eral Oratilm6. lulled by the howl of. the storm, Paul would smile at its frantic roar. YB'!'one word of him-of this child !-for Now the old boatswain, La Joie, taking he was scant sixteen; and all the illusions of him on his back, and climbing to the truck.of his age were fresh about him. Illusions so the mainmast, fashioned his little hands to the fair, so frank.eo poetical, 80 new! He had rude touch of the rigging, and taught him one of those hearts 80 virgin-like and candid, there, in play, the practice of that perilous pro. so full of noble c mfidence, that he wept at fession. It was a pleasant sight, at times, to the recital of a geuerous action, or of a mis, see Paul, gliding down to the end of some' fortune borne with courage. Wept tears of hanging rope, suspend himself there above the , joy, or of compaesion. abyss, and balance himself fearlessly. It was that there existed there a powerful Such sparta, such a life, developed 8troll~_ fount of youth, and of conviction-that this ly both his mental and physical conetuution soul, pure and tender yet, believed in, and ad. -the heart is tempered, as it were, by perils mired everything. -then Peter-withdrew his sun from the lW,lJUS To that new soul, life was but a dazzling I of hill nurse., as he called the rugged sailors, prism, colored by the vague desires of love, . and took upon himself the charge of his cdu, of fortune, and of glory. All was sunshine! cation. and Spring, confidence and virtue. " Example united thus to theory, the 'young And, moreover, to this child, the object, the man made amazing progress, was named a ideal object, of his deepest and most idola-I midshipman, and received his first wound in trous worship, waa a woman. - one of the Salamander's glorious acrions. Oh! to him, woman was a creed-his aim His father saw him fall, bleeding and of life--his whole future-the everlasting bliss mangled; he turned away his eyes, and cool. which heaven undoubtedly reserved as are. ly finished the order which he had begun to compeDH for his chaste youth. utter. Everlutina! yes: for in hi, thoughts he But, after the action. when with his speak. wtJlld Deyer 'luit th.t adored woman, either ing trumpet he had laid aside the hard and

Digitized byGo~gIe' 22 THE IALAMAl'fD:I:a. impueh'e cbuacter of the eailor, thil man of been jealous of the influence 'whicla hia son, iron, immovable in the midst of firo, wept, exerted over tbe crew. sobbed, like a young mother beside the era- It is one of the strangMt contradicdons of die of her child. Whole nights he passed human nature, to see the boldest and moet alone, watching him, tending him, observant terrible beings, render a willing obedience to of his least wishes; eager, attentive, submis- the weakest and most inoffensive. Isit a sive to the most violent caprices of his suffer, matter of.conscience to beings so palpably 8U• ing, and devouring his tears, when Paul, not perior--a coneciousnees of their own inferi• recognizing him in his delirium, called him ority, which induces them to subject their ea• with violent outcries. ergy and will to the guidance of those timid Oh! what grief was there then !what deep hands, which they could break so easily 1 and cutting grief in the voice of the unhappy Perhaps, moreover, the strong man whp .ub. father, when he replied, quite low, II But I mita thus to the weak, imagines that he proves am here. my Ion, my Paul !-my God! my by that means that his submission is volun- God !-I am here! It is I!-it is my hand!- tary, At all events it is certain, that the in. • it is your father's hand, which you press in fiuence of Paul seemed to be almoet magicel. your burning fingers! Paul! oh, Paul! oh, He exercised-he, a weak child-a marvel- my child! He knows me no longer; oh, I lous dominion over those men who had seen am very wretched !" But Paul, alas! heard twenty battles, and knew no longer the mean. him not, but continued still to calion his fa. ing of the word danger. tiler. Moreover, these men, who were supersti- Instructive and sublime invocation! last tious--as almost all bold and energetic, and, cry of hope and of love! admirable illusion! at the same time, artlesa men are-believed in which, shedding light upon the gloom of the I know not what prediction, of an old caZier, • mOlt cruel anguish, led that child to believe which connected the existence of the Sala. that his father could, with a God-like pow. mander with the destiny of the midshipman. ~ .r, prolong his life! Thus, never was the vessel cleaner or in bet. But death did not strike down the mortal ter trim than when Paul was on duty; in a part of that lovely soul: Paul recovered, and word, he might have been called the guardian his father was almost mad with joy. During angel of the Salamander. Moreover, he was 'his long convalescence he never left him a good-humored, courageous, daring, generous ; moment. To' amuse him he related to him and with him the exterior responded to the hili wonderful and distant voyages, his daring beauty of the soul: of moderate height, but battles. Then, when a soft and healing sleep erect, supple, and graceful. His address par• closed the eyelids of Paul, he kept silence, took alike of his character and his position. e.nd hardly breathing, leaned over his ham. His luxurious chestnut-colored hair, shaded a mock, gazed on him with affection, with prominent forehead, as white and smooth 88 idolatry; and could not contain the great that of a young girl; his dark eyes were well tears ofjoy-for it was joy which then made opened, quick, piercing, intellectual; his aqui• him weep, poor father-when he heard his line nose, his mouth slightly arched, and his son call to him. as if in the middle of a smi, dimpled chin, rather projecting than the reo ling, peaceful dream. verse,gave him a mingled expressionof haugh- As soon aloPaul was well enough to endure tiness and daring, which became him admi• • another cruise in the Salamander, he left the rably; add to this a fresh rosy color, which

port to fightthat action with the frigate which became crimson on the least emotion, and a 0 I have mentioned. That was the last battle sproutingsilky mustache which overshadowed of the Corvette, prior to 1814; a terrible and his red lips, and you will have before you the bloody battle in which Peter, in his turn, reo charming aspect of the childlik~ boy, who calved .a dangerous wound. And it was a would have turned the heads ofhalf the girls in touching thing to see the son repaying his fa- Saint Tropez; especially, when his blue uni. ther's kindness, with those assiduous cares, form ~ith its aiguilettes of gold set off 80 ad. with that almost selfish devotion, with that mirobly the slender waist, defined by the belt jealous affection,which spring naturally from of his curved dirk, and when he wore so noble spirits. i martially his gold.laced hat. Peter recovered; and his recovery was a I' But Peter Huet did not permit the young holiday to the crew; for Peter Huet was man to go ashore-not that he wished to make loved as much as he was feared, and in reali- a monk of him, but that he knew the sailors ty deserved to inspire those two sentiments of the Salamander to be hated for their extra• so wiJely opposed to each other, by the strict- vogant political opinions; and, that he also n~9S of his discipline, and the devotedness by knew the peasantry of Provence decided in which he had attached himself to his sailors, their own feelings, to be watching his people and which they had long since divined: sai, with dislike and distrust; and therefore, as lors have It sort of instinct on this head, in ' which they are rarely deceived. If, however, I '* I can fi~d no word in the, ~lilh lafllUa.r.~!~o~~· o 1 ld } 1." d bidi I I ymous to this term. which ImpJ1e1a man eicl.-vwoy ~ell ousy COU rave roan au a 1 mg-p ace I· employed in \he holda ofveaels or warj froIDode, the JO a soul so noble, Peter would have perhaps hold. • Digitized by Google 'fIlB PATII:&K AftD T.E LJEl1T:&N.l.T.

a ~ and a1fectionate father, he felt much playing the superior, Ishould Dner ba1'8 gut cxiety for his son, at anything from him; for be hM the devil'e! Now, as it happened, the son did not par. own steadmese of character. At least, this . c_e of the father's apprehensions; and asor. way, Ishall know all. But I will not look at ders had been issued that no persons should him, for I should feel more dispoeed to em. be allowed to go ashore, Paul, on the prece• brace than to blame him-he looks 110 like ding evening, had stolen dawn the stern lad. his mother !" d.r, and had swum the .. all distance which "Well, Paul, speak out." divided the ship from the shores of the gulf. The boy drew near to his father. and thUi time he was permitted to lean both bis anna on the back of the arm-chair ; then be low. ered his head to the level of bit father's, em• CHAPTER III. braced him, and aaid in a low voice, with a Tn FATBER ANDTHE LIEUTENA."iT. deep sigh: " You must know, my' father. that I am in A father ia the only God who bas no Atheist here love !" below. EaulTld&Ovvl:- Uapublialed Po.... " Upon my word! tbis is better Brill !" W. have left Peter and his son in the stern II You know very well, my father, that I ,.nery of the corvette. went, eight days ago, with the long-beat to "May I know, monsieur," said Peter, sit• the landing.place, to get some hogsheads. ing down at a considerable distance from the While the men were rolling them down to young man; "may I know why you went the Iong.boat, I took a walk along the shore ; ashore withoat permission 7" and there-ah! you can see it hence-it ia The reproachful question came from the that little summer-house among the orange. officer i-the father .ftdded, mentally: "And trees." at the risk of your life, too, unhappy boy!" " Well, Isee it--go on-what after that 1" Yes, father, I will teU you the whole." "Well, father, I saw there, oh! sucb a .And as he uttered these words, Paul timidly pretty woman! who was looking-upon my drew nearer to his father, and leaning with word! I do not know at what she was look. one of his hands on the back of the arm.chair, ing,' he took that of his father with the other. " Well, what next 1" The good lieutenant felt that his courage "Well, father, hidden behind a rock, in • was ebbing away, at the sound of that word, order that she might not see me, ! paesed a , father,' so softly and submissively pronounc• whole hour in gazing at her; and my heart edt beat, and my eyes were dimmed; and at I "Moreover," he said, pushing his arm. retumed--oh! as I returned, it appeared to chair quickly back to avoid his son's caress• me that I loved you twice as much as ever, " moreover, this is a question of duty, monsieur; my dear father." call me lieutenant, and stand farther off." " It was on that account, then, monsieur, c, So, at least," thought he to himself, "I that the long-boat W8S delayed till it was 10 shall be able to maintain my firmness." late," said Peter, in an aesumed voice, which The boy made a little grimace, full of yet but poorly concealed his emotion. graceful and good.humored malice; blushed, " Lieutenant," replied the other, in hiB lit. and changed his tone. His voice, which had tle, devilish, dry tone, "I gave you reaaons been weak and trembling, became short and at the time, which you accepted." decided. He raised his head firmly, and an• He was taking advantage of his father's swered, with confidence: love--tbat confounded boy! "Lieutenant, I left the ship because I was "Paul!" cried his father. bored here. Ihave done wrong; and submit "Oh !" said he, "father, do n't be angry. myself to my punishment." Yesterday evening I lowered myself by the "I insist on knowing, sir, what 10\1 went stern ladder: I had put my clothes in a little to do on shore." box, which I pushed along before me; and I "Lieutenant, excuse my refusing to dis• swam ashore." close it to you. I have violated the rules of II What imprudence! and you well knew the service--punish me." that your wound often cramps your leg to "Monsieur--" said Peter, sternly. such a degree that you cannot swim." " Lieutenant, my life as an officerconcerns "Bah! father, do you suppose that I had you-my private life concerns my father on• time to think about that 7 besides, I hoped to ly." see her again." "Well, then, my son, I require-" " In a word, tben, did you see her 1" said Oh! then, that is quite a different a1t"airj• Peter, without considering that this was ra, you shall know everything, my father." ther a trifling question. This time it was the mild and submissive . "No, father." 'YOice that spoke. ~ " And what the devil were you doing all "Ws]), well," thought Peter, within him. night long !" M1f, "I must give way to him. Mter all, by "I wu walking father; wa.J.kiaa to and

Digitized by Google 24 1M .. SALAMANDB1t.

fro in her garden, before her windows, and I In, to the addition of a IItwpM' UIIt IUrcl to the tu.• should be looking at them still, if that old Speet:h, r~ fqr tAl eommi8"ary-famU t1/ /.. nance, charged wit//,tke duty of maintain"", tAe i.t/'rll.efJ villain, Boatswain La Joie, had not surprised of the lnuJ/let. " me i and if I had not been afraid of making you too uneasy, father," added the child, with IN accordance with the lieutenant's orders, an exquisite expression oftenderness and love. the distribution of pay by the purser had "And is this the whole, Paul-the whole commenced; and the rigid silence, which truth 1" ordinarily reigned en board the Salamander, " Father, I never lie," was interrupted only by the chinking of "I believe you; but all thIs is very bad• money, sounding from every corner of the you know, my b9Y, that the people of Pro• ship. ve,n~edo not love the Salamander: strange " At last," said the purser, who had dressed thIngs occur here in the south: these peas, himself up for the performance of his duties ants are viciousi and I fear for you, as Ido in his blue coat, embroidered with silver, with for my sailors. Promise me, then, that you scarlet facings-" at last," he repeated, gath_ will go ashore no more." ering up the registers and other papers, which " No, father i because I shall go ashore, if were scattered over the cabin table of the Ihave to go over burning coals i-but always corvette, "here are these cursed arrears paid without,neglecting my duty." up i three years' pay-and it was time, too; " Provoking, obstinate boy! Promise me, for with such madmen--" then, at least, that you will go armed." At this moment, a sort of low and inarticu• ."Yes, father, that I will promise you," late grunting became audible at the cabin " Paul, I behave with most culpable weak• door, interrupting the soliloquy ef the purser. ness toward you i and, one day, you will " What, again !" said he ; " well, well! lot blame me for it. Well, now" as you have us see what they want with me." openly offended against discipline, my dear The grumbling becar, ~ rather more dis• boy, you will remain under arrest twenty-four tinct, so that the words, .. My purser-it is I hours; but I will go and keep you compa, _:_mypurser," became audible. ny.' . " Who-you? who are you? what do you " Good father! dear father !" cried the boy, want 1" and the purser rose up hastily from .. ~lUbl'a<;illghim. his chair, went to the door, and taking the . "Yes, this is all very good now," said the intruder by the lappet of his waistcoat, led kind lieutenant i but if you knew the uneasi• him immediately under the -skylight of the ness I have sutl'ered! I have not slept all main-hatch, so that by the aid of that dazzling this night-my poor boy! I have but you in light, he could contemplate him at his leisure. all the world; consider, then--" And he It was, upon my word, a face for a Rem• choked down a great tear, which was about brandt. Picture to yourself a man of the to flow i for he heard some one knock at the middle height, with a face almost violet, so door. strongly was it empurpled, surrounded by "Come ill," said Peter, turning his head large thick black whiskers, joined to a head toward the window,in ceder that no one might of white hair closely clipped, short and stiff perceive the moisture of his eyes. "Who is as a brush. An enormous scar, beginning it ?', , on his forehead, crossing his eyebrows, his " Lieutenant," said a ahip.boy, "the purser eye-of which he had lost the sight-and the wishes to know if he shall begin to pay the left cheek, lost itself in his beard; but this men 7" scar was so deep and hollow, that you might " Certaialy: give notice to the crew." have laid your finger into it! Although it was in the month of June, and the weather sutl'ocatingly hot, this man wore two shirts-first, one of red flannel, and then CHAPTER IV. a white one, the collar of which, richly em• PAY-DA.Y. broidered, was turned down 'over the first. Above these, a very long jacket of blue cloth, They have but slender salaries; but then, wha.t lire edged on the collar and at the cuffs with a ~~~~Il~fo~?::~::Il:~c~~~~~~~~~~~\!n::!a~D~~gold binding, and trowsers of coarse stuff,com, TlII:ROT's TRAVELS. pleted his dress. It is very just, gentlemen, that the taz-payers-ethat When the purser drew him toward the vo.Junble and respected base of the social edifice-that the tax-payers, I say, should know, to the very smallest light of the' hatch, he suffered him to do Be details, the uS,es mnde of the public moneys. It is by unresisted, advancing only by slow steps, and the burning hghts of our consciences, gentlemen, that fixing his one eye, with a shamefaced look, you have examined, weighed, discussed, analyzed, every expenditure and every receipt; and I am both proud' upon the paymaster. nnd happy, in being able to proclaim, before this tribu• " Ah! it is you, Master Bouquin! Well, nal, that, under OUT ndministrotion, great retrenchments what do you want 1 Come, answer quickly." have been effected, immense ifrlilrovemen18 have been proposed; and, to arrive at this end, it i. without fear, " My purser," said the other, rolling up his It iI relying on the interest of the tax-payen themtelves, cap of blue checkered woollen,which he was that I cume 1.0 tllY before this chamber, a pzoJect tad- holding in bia hand, into a cylinder, a cone, a

Digitized by Google PAY·DAY. thomltold,"My p1ll'Hr-it' is-it 'ii-that I his rebellious braiDS the elter ed 1am!Jiou ;1IIJnk they areehiselinrmer-" explanation of the parser. "What?" "Now," he resumed, "your seven hunclrecl .'":-,. Y88, my purser, that they are ~eecil'lg (raft"lI,being already SUbjected to the inevi• JIle-and that I have not get my pay--'~ • table fluctuations arisiftg from the change of "How so 1", value in the Spanish dollars, and the crOWDS :i "Three years, my purser ; three years'ot of six livres being also subject to a palpable arrears, at seven hundred fran.cs--that is two and eonsiderable defalcation, all this brinp thousand one hundred francs--and I have it to pass that, the value of the dollars being only touched one thousand seven hundred set against them only in so much' as regarde and nineteen francs, five BOUS and a farthing." the bissextile year, and the months of twenty. and he showed a huge pair of leather bags, eight days, it comes to pass, necessarily-cdc which h,e carried under his ann. you understand me perfectly well? But do "Ah! that is te say, you ask for an ac, not trouble yourself, if you do not understand eount1" me, say so, and I will go over it again. Do uNo, my purser, pardon me, I ask for my you understand me quite well1" account." " Yes, purser !" and he shut and opened, and stared with, hisoneeye, in a way to terrify you. "Nothing can be more just, my lad-no• " I resume. From the bissextile years and. 'thing more just. Heaven and earth! if any the. months of twenty-eight days, it results one should suppose me capable of refusing the most minute explanation! Ah! yes, in• necessarily-it is clear, it is palpable, it is deed-if he should. No! no! you earn your notcri.ius=-that in subtracting on one side the money too hardly, my brave, my worthy diminution effected on the dollars, the dimi• friends; you earn it too honorably-that I nution of the pay, rated in proportion to the bissextile years, and the months of twenty. should not be willing to explain to you, to a eight days; and in balancing, on the other farthing, or to the twelfth part of a penny hand-but always balancing to your advan• even, that you have received no wrong. Do tage-you continue to understand me elear, you hear that, Master Bouquin1" and be ac• I centuated the words very strongly-" that you Iy 1-in your favor, say, the augmentation have been wronged in nothing !" of the crowns of six francs--the crowns of six francs greatly esceed-e-nay ! enormously "I know, I know, my purser." exceed-the pieces of a hundred sous ; exceed " What do you mean by, ' I know l'" them by above four hundred and seventy. "I say, I know, my purser, because the five francs. Thus yon see that, by adding other before you said just the same! That's these four hundred and seventy-five francs to all right; it is a part of your profession to say that, just as it is a part of ours to say, 'Stand your one thousand seven hundred and eighty• by to loose the topsails.' No! no! my purser, five, that gives you two thousand two hun. dred and sixty, and on your own showing• I am up to tlrat,' mark this, I entreat you-only two thousand 'c Well, then. look here; seven hundred one hundred are due to you. Is this true '1 francs a year make so many a month, so answer me now-is this true 1" many a week, 80 many a day; but there are, ,i That is true, my purser. They only do you see, Master Bouquin, leap-years, and owe me two thousand one hundred francs," months of twenty-eight days; moreover, the answered Bouquin, wiping off the sweat, value' of current money is constantly chang• which treamed down his face. ing, and the Spanish dollars in which you "Well then, you see, now, that is on the have boen paid, have a value of forty-seven contrary you who owe to the government centimes more than the five.franc pieces; one hundred and sixty francs, since it is not I, which causes--you follow my reasoning, do but yourself, who say that they only owo you you?" two thousand one _hundred francs, and that Ie Yes, purser," said the other, biting his they have paid you two thousand two hundred lips till the blood came, as he lent the most and sixty. Thus you see, my lad, plainly, painful attention to this ministerial discourse. that I might ask you to give me back one hun• - " Which causes," resumed the purser, with dred and sixty francs; that perhaps I ought redoubled volubility," causes, I say, the value to do so, in order to teach you what it is to dis• of the five.franc pieces to decrease in the trust yoursuperiors and the government, which .same proportion, on the capital, and on the always pays you more than it owes you, and totality of the sums, which the treasury pays cheats itself in your favor, 8S you see-but you with scrupulous exactitude--do you for this time I will be good.natured=-let this understand, Master Bouquin ?-with scrupu• teach you a lesson-keep your one hundred lous exactitude; for the amortization of the and r~xtysurplus francs. Do you understand, pay in arrears--do you follow me well?-I Master Bouquin ?~keep them, and let this hope this is sufficiently,clear." be anotherreason to you, why you should blesa " The pay in arrears ! Yes, purser, I begin the order of things which God has restored to tQ,et at it ;" and the unfortunate devil pressed us. So now, go, Master Bouquin, and tell , _JUa haDda on his foeehead, as if to force into yoUlcomrades, that if they have any explana.. ., 11

Digitized by Goog le tiona to ask of ml, I am quite ready to give become a new tongue-e tongue emphatioalt, them asclearly and luminously sa this. Oh l his own; turn by turn gay or sad, angry or Heavens! Imake no preferences-what one well-pleesed-s-a tongue which HIved admi. does for OM man he ought to do for another." rably to exprees the feelinp of the old sailor. Saying these words, the purser, placing his By the manner in which he modulated his registers under bis arm, humming a little air, instrument in ordering the working of the entered his state-room and closed tbe door, ship, by the greater or less violence of the leaving Master Bouquin all in a flood of Bounds,the crew could judge of the slightest sweat, stupefied, confounded, abashed, and shade of his temper. what is more than all, convinced of the kind If the sounds were in regular cadence, sil• and disinterested generosity of the govern. very, interspersed with trills and quavera, ment inhis favor. "Damn it all," said he, which rose and feUin brilliant gamuts, pealing wiping his forehead," I would rather take out, vibrating, and echoing in harmonious tbree reefs in the mainsail in the height of a modulations- hurricane, than be compelled to understand " Oh! good," whispered the sailors one to over again the purser. Ah! what a tongue! another. "It will be a jolly watch-Boats• And after all, it appears that it is I who am wain La J oie has got a fair wind." the debtor, and that I am a gainer of one But if, on the other hand, the whistle only hundred and sixty francs. What the devil suffered a dry, shrill, cold note to escape from then set that old alligator La Joie ringing in it, hoarse and imperative, without embellish. my ear all the time, that the purser fleeced us ment or omature- as if we were powder-monkeys 7" And the " Look out for squalls!" they would utter, worthy man ran off to find Boatswain La Joie. in a voice scarce intelligible. ," The wind " Well! sailor," said Bouquin, coming up seems to come from a dirty quarter, and if it to him=-" well, we were mistaken-it appears holds, it will rain kicks and licks like fury." that the fructuations, that the buissepticks, Now these meteorological and psychological and the amor, the avor, the acor, in short it predictions, were generally realized by the is all one-the name has nothing to do with event. it-bring it to pass, that we are gainers of But on this day there was room for nothing one hundred and sixty francs imtead of be• but gayety and hope, which the receipt of their ing losers of four hundred and fifty francs ; pay had created in the bosoms of the sailors. and that if tbe government was nota jolly good fellow, he would make us pay it back into his mees-cheet j and that the purser has steered a straight course, and not lurched to CHAPTER V leeward." For answer to this speech, La Joie looked A. PROBLDI. Bouquin steadily in the eye, took his great Men have a secret inatinet which lew them to ... k whistle out of his pocket, and gave utterance for diversionsand occuJl&tionlabroad,which arilel from their deep feeling of continued millllry _ to two loud notes. P.A.8c.A.L-TAovglta. U You be cursed," said Bouquin, who ape peared to comprehend perfectlythe meaning of The inconstancy of the fantutic dance of Fortune, La Joie's expressive melody. "May the en. causesher to show UI many different ~~~~.A.IQN •• sign.halliard be my neck-cloth if it is nottrue." Then came a low note of the whistle, CERTES!If such a thing as happiness ex. which Bouquin translated as readily as the ists anywhere, it existed that day on board last, for he replied, " You are as obstinate as the Salamander. a porpoise, and as it is so, you might better Happiness! that fantastic, and yet real be. have gone yourself." ing, which each one of us invokes under a . And Bouquin went up to the spar.deck, leave different name and appearance• ing his friend of the long whistle on the gun• Thus, at the close of day, when the sun, deck. sprinkling the atmosphere with all the hues of Now it is necessary to be known that La the prism, deluges the heavens with his warm Joie, the boatswain of the corvette, was the light, in gradations from the most dazzling most silent and gloomy being in the world. white, to the deepest and most purple red; you He had made it a practice to speak as seldom sometimes see a cloud, with evanescent gild, as possible ; and for the greater part of the ed outlines, floating upon the breeze among time he only answered his equals or his infe• the haze of that burning sky. riors, by a note of his whistle, which they had That cloud has but one aspect, and yet it at last learned to understand. And this will has a thousand. To one eye it is a gothic col• appear the ,leas strange to those who know onnade, graceful and glorious with its rich• that, in the pto.ctice of men-of-war, most or. stained windows. Another admires in it a ders are issued by'the whistle, whose shrill tree with boughs of gold and leaves of ~leam. and piercing notes overpower the bellowing iog purple; this sees in it a mighty ferm. of the winds and wavel. wrapped in grand draperies, puiasant as a Th\1l_to Boatawam La,loie, his whirie had God; that nco in it thesoft aedalliDea of Digitized by Google A P1l0BtBM. • ,oung girl" enehantiag forehead and neck, have .upported with your sword; a brother, in Btately all the wild swan's. a word, who sought you out &0 weep with And 10 is it with happinees ! Ideal thing him, whenever he wu suffering; and, if you of positive emenee, real 118 light or sound; will, this tender and good brother taking ad. and equally intangible! Happinees, which vantage of some change in politics, robs you, tum by tum invests itself with forms the most and sends you to the scaffold, and when he di88imilar,and yet holds none of them beyond comes to see you t'Mr" you cry out to him : the moment. "Make haste, sluggard! you are almoet For wbat is happiness? Is it a woman's too late to see the show l" but you cry it mouth murmuring in your ear a soft word of lawgAing. For you cannot find one feeling, tendemess t a trembling hand, which seeks no! Dot even batred or vengeance in your Jiot to withdraw itself from yoU1'81 Is it a dried and palsied heart ! long, long walk upon a velvet greensward, un, Truly! can this be happiness? can it con. der the shadowy vault of old oaks crowning a sist in that moral death of the heart which fair and verdant isle-a walk, with her arm leaves it as insensible to joy or sorrow, as a linked in yours-when there are fits of si• limb separated from the body is insensible to lence, and reproaches, sadness, and bursts of pain? child.like glee, and sudden shudderiogs• Happiness! Does it rather reveal itself in where, indeed, all is love and confession, and the midst of luxury and its gay show? Is it in yet the word love not yet spoken 1 princely castles, royal demesnes, hounds and Or again, is it happine98,the lasting ha,tl• horses, rich liveries, antique armorial bear• pinelllSwhich bathes, which steeps the soul ngs, the chase and its stirring bugle blasts, for ever in celestial joy-is it when that eon. which makes the heart leap so delightedly 1 fession has been made 1 The .chase ! the chase! Blow, huntsman, When she is all in tremor, yet all in hap. blow! open, stanch pack-give tongue to pinel!l8at the sacrifice which she has made all your hundred voices! All is the very you, because she has already tasted her fu• frenzy of delight; the baying of hounds bat. ture bliss with you, and knows that she may tling with their couples; the blare of bugles; lose it-because she foresees many bitter the shrill neigh of coursers te~ the earth tears that must be shed one day-because, in up in their glorious bounds. a word, she is a woman, and a woman who Away! Talbot! my good rece-horse l-s• loves must suffer1 Away! my favorite steed! chosen from Is it when that confeesien has been made? eotU'lersof the purest blood--of stainless, no. when, seated at her knees, she says to you blest geneaology, who whinny in my stablea with that tearful smile, " Oh ! now my honoris paved with marble. Oh! my wild, nobie yours, my life is yours, my every thought, my Talbot! with the gold which bought thee, I very soul is yours! now, with one word you might have dowered three vVgin rosebuds; .can make me the most wretched of women; I might have performed twen"tydeeds of no• with one word you can kill me; therefore, blest charity; but lo! thy mane is thin, silky my angel, oh! my adored angel! my love is and glittering; thy withers high and gaunt; not love! it is a new sense-a sense which thy houghs powerful; thyshanks firm,ftat and absorbs, which effaces all the rest ; a sense bony; thy hoofs clean and round; thy coat whicb alone constitutes my existence !" sleek and golden.glossy-my brave Talbot! Happiness! Is it not rather the contempt How could one pay too much for such a steed for 1111 human deceptions-became we under, 88 thou! Away! The horns tell that the stag stand them all, because we foresee them ? has broken covert. Away! over ditch and Thus you find a poor young girl, lovely and rail; spring! bound! for your vigorous and wretched, trembling on the very verge of elastic loin plays like a spring of steel!• vice, and ready to fall headlong; you pity her, Away, Talbot! hurry me away, intoxicated, you raise her from the mud and corruption• headlong, for there is intoxication in thy wild you clothe, you perfume her body-you tri and unchecked career. to give a soul to that body, by trying to make But when I speak of intoxieation-e-happi, gratitude take root there. And then, thanks neaa-can it be found in the bottom of the to your pure cares, your disinterested efforts, drunkard'. bowl, when leaving his reason in her spirit begins to form itself, her graces the dregsand drowninghis imagination, which grow on her, her beauty ripens-you smile at the fuat was merely kindled, he limits him. .upon your handiwork. self to that sort of vegetable bliss produced And some fine evening your handiwork by the nervous expansion of his spirits, wbile runs off with the footman-but shntgging up all his inner being hears, sees, understand. your shoulder, you say, 14U1fhinlr,I expected nothing? 'it; and not one fibre has been touched in "Happine88! does it dwell with you, good. your heart palsied long ago. man grocer-always wearing a cap of otter. Can this be happinea&-this? Or better yet, skin, always fat, always rudd,. always sleek a friend from your childhood upward, with and shining, always coo\e.nted,always joUy'l whom you have held all things common, you With ~t. good mlUl, w.h~: ~,> .!U~ baviog all, he notwna; • brothel whom you called Veronica, is already on "tne wa.ll?

Digitized by Google browa, adored by Iter buband; quick and tundity of bis full b.,; "I r..l here. the passionate when she llpeaks to him, but ready smooth.,.t and the ~o(t.. t skin. I see t,he \Q sh.>wher white teetA in a smile. the mo• blackest eyes, the whiteet boeom, Oh! come ment the firalllhop.boy pinches her knees un• my jolly Roee, or Thereee, or Toinette-come der the counter 1 With that grocer, who al, rood girb-it must be 80, that with you, in ways christens his daughter. Azeid., and hie two or three day., this baa' of dollars will have Bon, Theobald, and alway. dreMes the latter run dry-.come, ROI5e, Therese, T"inette• as 811 artillerist or It lancer 1 let me embrace." " With that erocer. always on elector, al, And he embraced Roee, Toinette, or The. wnysasubscriber to the Conatitutionnel,ajury. rese, in the venerable person of hia well.filled man, a aerjeltntof the National Guard, a great bap•. admirer of comic operas, of vaudevilles, of .. And thou, Giromon, what wilt thou do IIJIrllhtly engravingsi-for that illwhat he calls with thy pay 1" said .another, to a companion, them-and of the rural nature of tbe Pre. who seemed to be absorbed in counting up Saint Ger'DaiB1 his receipts, and now answered: "The rogue With that grocer, who alway. reads Vol. has fleeced me !" taire; who swears by Saperlotte, and used a With the exception of Master Bouquln, he Touquet snuff-box, while there was a charter; WOl, perhaps, the ooly one who thought of who never gves to mass, because he is a free examining his accounts. thinker. and because religion is eood for the "I!"said Giromon, " I will buy at Toulon. people 1 do you see 1a purser'a uniform, a pureer's hat, Is tile grocer, then, an incarnation of hap. a pIlJ'8erSsword. in fact, a whole purser's kit, piness 7 and then I will say to the titst citizen, or 891. Well, now, perhaps this lone, and as you dier, or calker I meet, e Go and dress yourselt msy think; tiresome digression, teaching this as a purser."' most intangible of things, was necoaaary• " And what then ?" cried several voicee, this rapid and complete analY8isof taltes, so " And then Iwill say to him, •Now, I will opposite, 90 varied, so eontradictory-e-in order elve you 08 much money as you want, bu t to bring you, excellent reader, to comprehend you must let me wallop you with blows the fantasuc absurdity, the utter folly of the enough to break every bone in your skin-to different kinds of happiness, which were blow your spine out of the bolt-ropes.' For, talked of, and balanced, on board the Sala• look you here ; it is too bad to be fleeced, to mander; none of them either more true, or be plundered from morning to night] and by falser, than those which we have enumerated this means at least, loan fancy tAat I am re• here. venging myself on a real purser, on a live Iu a word, most of the sailoJ'8collected on thief of a purser-that I am payine him for the gun-deck were sitting down, lying, or what he h38 robbed me of, and that will con.. 6tanl.1i;.gup,.co\nting and counting again their 801eme?" dollars, and stowing them away ill their long "Oh! capital, famous, Giromon," said the purses. Then. while waiting for the hour man, who had questioned him ; .. will you let in which they might put in practice their sin. me join with you-will you give me a share 1" gulb.r theory of amusements, they talked of "Not I, indeed! make one for yourself• them with rapture, promising to themselves, make a sham purser, as Ishall. One will not and even swearing to get rid of their gold; be enough for two of us; he would not be whicb troubled, and annoyed them with the strong enougb, uuless, indeed, we could find care it rendered uecessary, and worried them a giant-a COlOllU8." 88 they laid, by the querulous sounds it ut• " I," said another. " will collect all the mu, tered. sicians I can find in Saint Tropez, and Iwill This principal point was then irrevocably make tbem all embark in company, and fol. determined, but not without having previously low me-with fiddles, clarionets, hunting, paid a visit, either to Lieutenant Peter, or to homs, ketde-drums, trumpets, pianos-the old Garnier, in order to hand over to tbem whole sf them, like a band of madmen, play. the moiety of their pay, destined to their fa. ing me aU at once a delicious air, from a ro• there, their mothers, their wives. or their ehil• mance Iknow-as forexample, • Let U6 break dren. This was a custom, recognized. 88- our loin., and drink ~e P"Oif'--or this one, tabliahed, secred t and, this division once e RHe-bud of Love.'" made, they were at liberty to abandon them. .. Oh, DO! Parisian," said another, cc you selvee by anticipation, to tho enjoyment of the ought to make each of them play a different liveliest raptures, air, that will be much richer." .. HUTnl !" said one, 8haking his purse; "in .. Yea! you are right-each one .holl play the bcuom of this are thirty of the best cans a different tune; what a lark! and that too, of Cape wine, tbat ever flowed from the cask all the time. while I am walking, drink.ini. to discharge themselvea into the throat of a eating. sleeping, wbile--" thirsty sailor." " All this is very fine," answered the gun• "By all tbe .AktlOtl,ttu of Cadiz," ex· ner, interrupting him; .. but the whole of i~ claimed another, c:a.relliDcamor~u.al1the ro- U Dotworth the pleuure of leaviDeoff th_is

Digitizedby Goog Ie T. B S-,A LA• .A K D. a. w. •• • A I D 'I'll TK• !)A'!'. 29 h8l'l,..dog uniform, and wearibl citizen's Iyou may .. at yourself-yel! Hat youree1t clothes-a Garrlck-a three.comered hat, and here, under the canopy of thil wild mulberrv boots-boots-only think of boots (or 01, who upon its velTet lUTes-yea! seat yOUf"elf, are obliged all our lives to paddle about bar~ remain on the brow of the mountain; and, footed on this eursecldeck." perbapl, before the morning's dawn, you will " And gallowses toW!gallowses! how de. aee some wild and fantastic spectacle-s-fer th. Jightful," cried Giromon: ., will not 1 get my. Salama"der. !lilT, paid '!I"ttrdoy. aelf a pair 7-1, who he r never worn them Perhaps the calm repose, which you are except once on a lark at .alcntta,' about to take upon that 8Ta., all.perfumed U Ah!" repliedthe Parisian;" Calcutta-that with wild thyme, and sweet marjoram, will il a country for you! Do "'''1 remember, Gfro. be a little interrupted. mon ; do you remember ( . .utta ? Oh! what Your eye.lids, closed in Ileep, will, perhapll, • delicious country that Calcutta is-a eoun- see through their lashes, a reddiab light ari", try of real happinees, where you may break increase, float Itrenming through the air, and two Indians on the whc . I, if you like it, (or shedding, hither and thither, flll8hesof liv1nr a handful of rice. Oh! what a glorious life! fire. always in palanquins, or on camels, or on ele, You win open your eyE!8-and the coed, phanta. And then the women! Thunder the gulf, the eea, the sky, will be illuminated, and lightning! Bayaderes, lovely, charming, bathed in a red and wavering light; and Silint without any clothes at all, fanning you with Tropel will appear to be all io flame. and peacock'l! tails! And then what eating! that crackling-nnd oaths, and eries, and bursts is the food for me. Spicea 80 hot, that when of joyous laughter, and songs and impreca. you have eat them, you can peel the akin oft' tions, blent with th. jangling din of bella, the your tongue. Ah! that is happinUl," he ad- long roll. of the drum, the reports of gune, ded, with a loll&'drawn sigb. and the signala of alann-for, perchance, tho And a bundred other propoaitioD8,too long con8agration will spread its mantle abroad, to be enumerated. ita mantle of devouring flame-for tM Sa},Q. By.and.by, night overtook the crew in the rqa"cllT. !lIlTepaid ye.tv"y. midst of thosechanning projects-those Iweet Or, should your night pas. trauquilly, and and stirring conversatione, in which the souls well, when you come down from the hill of those good sailors were revealed to the side, you will enter the town. Have you, broad daylight, wherein they appeared bare then, seen at Rnytime, in a city, the trace. and unveiled, but shamefaced and timid. where a whirlwind or a hurrieane hae palsed. You would bave taken one of those souls for There are roofs broken, window. dashed a young maiden, bluahing as she let fall her in, paved floors broken to atoms, doara split last veil-her veil 80 transparent, that, her from top to bottom, shutters turn otT,hanging Iweet limbs, luatrous and soft as aatin, show and swinging in the wind-there are frag. themselves like .. faint rose-colored ahadow, menta piled up in the etreets of shattered through the white tisaue. stones, and beams rended asunder. Wen! you will see here nearly the eam. lpectaele. You will petcelve eome timid wa. man Iiftina:the earner or a curtain, and ven. CHAPTER VI. turinr a glance into the street. You will se. 'I'D UUJrWQ)US WED p.lm YQ1'IIJ)U. th. boldest of the children IItealingout of the housel, and euting a wistful look toward that The.'" fawiDdtheiawiDpdaoontid. 0(fromthe onemoon,poiDtoCthead -- _..... I.'.tormid abl e pci t ure-th en, grow ibid ng 0 er, yoU 'l'bent JDOlW a atrang., uDeanhlylOwad. will tee them draw near and pfgk up a sail. BnoN-DIm Jwu&. or'. bat, all battered out of .hape; a Lon, Thll II thy Deellll"Dee-ItiJI thou miltakut, Iilyer whisde; lome scattered coina of gold; Or lite comm!\'. thy Yapri. wilfully. or, perheps, a neckcloth richly embrofdered- BD...unu-~ HilM'. DtoMa. ror the Salamanders have passed by i and if What, ,,·oman willi, God willa. .l'NN-6. you question them, they will reply to you art• lenly, "Ab! monsieur, it ie nnthing-tM 8TlU.~OAR, artist, or traTeller-who atoppcst Saltml4ndlT. !lIlTepaid '!I"tlTday." a little while to lean upon thtne uhen stick, And all that might very well be true-fllr, 10 wipe thy brow, and listen witb an attentiVE; yesterday, until ni,htfall, the crew were pian.. ear to those dim and diatant aounds, to those Ding and discoursing of their projects; but It wild shouts,.wbich come to you, half.deaden.. was necessary to put them into execution. ed, from afnr-fear nothing, for there ia no Now, they knew that the lieutenant wu danger; only wait yet a day, before you enter inflexible; and that he but rarely ,ranted Snint Tro-pez-for, do you see, tke Salaman· leave to go on shore ] and they were talkin, •• werepaid ",.terilay. Stranger, the ni!Ptt over the meens of accomplishing In much 1180 fine, 10Iweet, so tnrrlsparent-the aloe. witbout hil knowledge.. . and tho orange trees, .pread abroad perfllmea And you must know, .tranger, that ~t fa eo odoriferoUl, 10 penetrating":'th.e .ky 10Ieasier to find 8' girl of fifteeu a virgin of tbe Wu-&he IWaJ 10 briahuy.UmmeriDl-lbal Mart, .. friend who will reapee& ),0W' m1I.

Digitized by Google 30 THE SAL.A.M.A.NDEJt.. treA, a horse without blemish, a book without I fancy, to play at tickle-baCk, 1lponthe Ieatb• a prtface, a aun~t without poetry, a 8Up6mu. er hid.. of these dogs i and here goes, to let merary in the balcony of the comic opera, a them know that the dance will be lively i" hQ river without water-(I am not talking of added, putting his great whistle to his lips. Spain, or of English gardens)-than to pre- By Jove! it was enough to make one vent a crew of sailors, who have secured their' shudder-e-that ha-rsh, piercing. sharp, threat, pay, fromgoing ashore-and. the &laflUlnde1'. ening sound! never 4lefore, I believe, had fDuepaid yesterday. that whistle so terrible a voice i it is 8. very Thus, toward midnight, the ensign of the different thing i : im the trumpet of the last watch, seeing it was a perfect cal~, and that judgment, upon ;"y word! . the sea was beautifully tranquil, went down The note of fn! whistle having resounded, to his cabin, desiring Boatswain La Joie, to Boatswain La _Joie put it up in his pocket; k... p a good watch over the ship. Boatswain and confidently awaited its effects-walking La Joie watched as long as he could i but the about, with his arms crossed on his breast, weather was superb, there was nothing to be Ishaking his head, and muttering the most feared for tbe safety of the ship-besides, he frightful blasphemiea. would have awakened, had there been the Not the lightest breath or sound disturbed aUghtest noise, So he pulled down his sou'- the ship. You would have thought it was a wester over hia eyes, squatted himself down whale, sleeping upon an azure sea. It WIl8 011 the quarter-deck beneh, and soon fell a. silence, the deepest silence! eleep, Boatswain La Joie stopped short-his eye- Immediately a powder-monkey, who had brews spread apart a little, and, for the first been lying in ambush between two of the car- time in thirteen years, I think, the appear• ronades, crept down to carry the intelligence ance-the faint, and doubtful appearance of to the sai101'1, who had got into their ham- a smile, came wandering over his compressed mocks all ready dressed, With one spring lips. they were all out of their swinging beds; the " They have a horrible dread of me, and watch on deck immediately came below; they dare not show themselves," said the old with the exception of the officers and petty fellow; H it is very. agreeable, after all, with officeR, wao were asleep in their state-rooms, such a little thing aa'this,' and he drew out the whole crew mustered on the gun-deck. his whistle, and looked at it with delight• They closed the hatches frOIDwithin,opened I" with such a little thing as this," he reaum• a port; and, DB the three boats of the corvette ed, "to terrify eighty devils, who fear nei• were moored alongside of the ship, the fir,,- ther fire nor water-to make them tremble, H eater« and the rest, all lowered themselves neither a volley of grape-shot, nor a hurri, from the port-hole to the number of ninety, eane in the tropics could make them do. It two, took their places in the boats, and push, is a fine state, indeed, of naval discipline." ed off, without making the slightest noise, ali Mter having thus suffered himself to be the oars having been muffled carefully. In carried away by these self-conceited reflec, the space of half an hour, they were all tiona, Boatswain La Joie listened anew. Si• ashore, leaving the officers and petty officers, lence still-the same silence. utterly unable to rejoin them, not having leCe They are as quiet there, as congers in their them a single boat with the corvette. holes-they dare not, for their lives, 80 And this escapade was in the natural order much as to stir. They well know, that the of things; it was in rule-it was natural i it whistle tells them that the very first who was a physical fact, arising from the magnetic shan show his nose outside of the hatches, infiuence of dollars over the organization of will receive such a ration of rope's end, that the sailor i and, in a word, they could not he will not know where to stow it. The escape the performance of the ordinary rules same silence still reigned throughout the ship. of nature, these wurthy S4lamo:n.ders, who Juul " Bah J" said Boatswain La Joie, who, by been paid ye8terday. chance, found himself in a moment of unusu- It certainly would have been a study for II. 81 good-nature; II perhaps, I whistled a little physiognomist, the expression which contract- too harshly-that may well be, for I never re• ed the face of Boatewain La Joie, when awak. , member having made such a row before. ened by the brisk, clear air of the morning' Come, come! I must soften it off a little; breeze, he shook himself in his thickv leose for the SUR has risen, and the ensign is n9t watch coat, 118 a lion doesin his mane, push. yet hoisted." ed back his hood, looked about him, and per. And, as a woman sometimes, in repentance ceived that the ten sailors, who had been for a hfrsh word that she has uttered, takes a considered sufficient for a night-watch while new determination, which produces an effect in the road, were absent from their posts. opposite to that which she intended, so now He thought he must be dreaming. The 4 Joie gave utterance to a sound, which brave Boatawain went entirely round the deck promised, if not a pleasant day, at Ie.. and found no one-s-abaolutelyno one. . moderate weather. II The villains," he muttered to himself, I "No1hing~tm the same silence!" .. have sone below, to bed. We shall have, Then )'oli should have seen ,be Boatswain

Digitized by Google ALles. 11 La JoielewDI down over the main.hatch; "Come! tellme, La Joie, ean it be that bla arm lI¢etcbed out, his whistle in one you are in a hot fever 1 we must c~h up hind, his eyes gJari~ stupidly, his nostrils that rogue, and bleed him till he "is white tg distended, his face passing through every hue the face," said the good doctor. from pale white, to deep, and almost purple Co La Joie! La Joie! what is the meaning" redness. of these cries 1" said the lieutenant, in a The DOtes of the whistle became hurried, harsh voice. ahort, violent, passionate, furious, thunder. U They are gone, lieutenant! they arc all ing, and echoing, like flashes of lightniltg. gone, the dogs-all gone aahore, with the His foot beat time to every note, with strength boats." that seemed almost enough to break in the "Once more, who 1" deck. U The crew, lieutenant; all gone ashore, Silence-still silence. the Yillains." At last, exasperated, he lowered himself "We ought to have suspected them," said toward the hatches. Impossible! they were the lieutenant; "they have money; but tell fastened from within. All the hatchee=ev• me, La Joie, have they taken the yawll" ery one of them fastened down. " I did not think of it," said La Joie; Boatswain La Joie, fairly roared for rage. " that is lucky!" and he ran forward. He sprani[ upon the waist-cloths to lar, "They belve taken it! they have taken board-he leaned over, looked oot, saw not the yawl too! but that has not been done by the boats, and instantly learned all the hide. them, but by M. Paul; here is a bit of his oUs truth. aiguillette, sticking to one of the davits; aa Then he leaped about, danced, shouted, he went down, he could not have perceived foamed at the mouth; handspikes, capstan. it." bars, powder-boxes, coils of cable, every. "Confounded boy! " said Peter, " what an thing that came into his hands, flew to and example!" fro and crashed upon the deck. " But what must we do, lieutenant 1 what At this infernal noise, the officers,the lieu. must we do 1".said. La Joie, biting his fists. tenants, wake up and rise in haste. Thus "We must+wait.> They will" come back, aometimes, in the middle of the night, the I do not doubt it. But what I am afraid of ezploaion of a gun, or a.sudden shriek arouses is quarrels, disputes, and perhaps actual fight• a house abruptly. Every window is thrown ing with the Psoveneals, And:my son-my open, is thronged; dozens ot heads, half. son may be involved in it. Curses on it! asleep, in their night-caps, or with their hair curses on it P' dishevelled, yawning, scolding, rubbing their "Now," said the doctor," these scamps eyes, joggiog the elbows of each other, and will all be coming back, with their heads full uking-" What is the matter 1 what is it 1" of holes and notches. I must gOto my medi, In the same way, at the furious noise of cine chest, and overhaul my lint and salves." La Joie, the lieutenant, the surgeon, the pur. " And you willbe right to do so,my officer," ser, the ensign, and some few of the petty replied La Joie; "for take my word for it, officers. who had remained on board, showed there will be rum things doing in St. Tropez; their faces, dull with sleep, at the port-holes, the knives will be playing; and we ooght to at the windows of the seuttle, and the stern, have expected it, says the lieutenant-For the gaillery, looking toward the deck. Sala'll&llnder8 tDllrtlpaid yesterday."

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I. der though rounded, showed the most eJepnt• and perfect contour; her wbole fonn graceful A.LICE. and slight, displayed one of those delicate How hnt her Imile, her eye how pUlely bright, bodies, which, by a 8trange caprice of nature, Sbow.iq the limpid lOul's internal light ! for the most part inclose the most excitable So ctearly lustrous shine. not Nemi's lo.lte, and paasionate spirits. When not a wind itlBUmmer .heen doth llreb.k. Or ere .he thinkl, her .pirit you ma.y read. The long tresses of her luxuriant hair, fell AL'BOllBJ: DII L.UU,Il'1'IlCI:-Le PrtmlUn- Rqrret. down at largQover her slight and satin neck, and veiled partially thatfairyounj{face,for you IN a"heavy summer's night, hot almost to could onlysee her little rosy chin, exquisitely suffocation; by the uncertain lieht of a lamp rounded. and covered with a skin so pore and which cast great shadows over the walls of a transparent, that it showed clearly the net• neatly furnished chamber, a young girl, lying work of blue veins. on her bed, was hiding her face in her hands, By a sudden sbuddering movement, abe seemingly buried in deep thought. raised her head, uttered a long sigh, stretched Her naked arms, white as snow, and elen· out her arms, and then,lookiD¥ at a watch,

Digitized by Google Til. 8ALAMAJrDBB. wblch hun, by her bed's head, beside a cr088 brightly likewise! "The ball! the baD W8II of i'\'ory, overalladowed by a consecrated beautiful! the dart:e, the many nrinkUna branch of box-wood, criea out: fcet-eo' animated and so lively, to wothen H Only two Q'clock! only two o'clock! glittering with jewels--women who smiled, Oft! what a night! wbat a night! Never and men who smiled likewise, but it was their before did the time appear to me 80 long! lips that smiled I)nly! There w&reon all their And then I do n't know what ails me, but I brows weariness and disdain! And yet dia• feel so hot; I am suffocating, I can scarcely monds glittered, perfumes spread abroad their breathe-tbe air seems to fan me, and my rich odors, the mirrors reflected a thousand hands are burning hot. My God! my God! flaming nghts, a thousand crystal chandeliers, whitt ails me 1" and 1 know not why it was that all the splen,' And, from having been sittinl, laying her• dcr filled my eyes only-my soul remained self down abruptly, she crossed both her unsatisfied, and remembers nothing. For the arms, on the bed's edge, and let her head fall soul has no memory ef that which is but an. down upon them, empty sound, or a vain eolor, Oh l my God! Her features tben wore a sort of indistinct how sad it is, to have nothing which one and·misty expression, in the uncertain light of can remember! Yes! life is indeed weary, the lamp; it was something aerial, intangible; weary !" you would bave said tbat tbe trembling light, And already her blue eyes, 80 soft and lan• which at one time gilded everything around guid, were overflowed with tears, and she with a sparkling lustre, and at another cast sigbed as she turned herself over in her bed, but, a pale reflection, gave to tbat charming and, bending her arms, gracefully joined her face an expression, by turns of sweet tranquil• hands above her head, with the pretty fingem lity, or of hard bitterness. interlaced. . But was it; indeed, tbe char.ge of the light And the life of the lamp had well nigh ex• only, which lighted up, or over-clouded tbat pired, and the shadows were gradually con• youthful face 1 Was it not, rather, tbe varia• quering in the strife with its waning light. tiona of the changeful virgin soul within, At this moment, the glance of Alice fell which reflected themselves there, gay or upon the crucifix, and the branches of box• Cloomy, happy or sorrowful 1 wood hanging above the alcove of her bed. For who shall ever know the heart of a e. Behold!" she said, in a low voice, " be• young girl-that abyss 8 thousand times deep• hold the crucifix, that was my mother's; the er than the heart of woman 1 Between the cross which she kissed ere she died, the con• two, tbere is the difference which exists be• secrated branch which decked her coffin !" tween the id.l and the true. With a woo And a tear rolled down ber pale cheek. man, her future is determined, fixed, almost "That cross has never quitted me, either foreseen; with a girl, it is all uncertainty, here or at my convent! My convent! Why vague aspirations, hopes and fears, joys and did theyever take me from my convent 1 Iwas dim soerows, Her soul is like an )Eolian harp, so happy there, I loved so dearly the holidays quivering to the least breath that thrills its of the church; the steam of the incense! I sonorous chords-it is a confused harmony, loved so dearly to carry the ribbons and the fantastic, inconsequent, incomplete; yet banner of the virgin, embroidered all with which both charms and saddens you, makes white and gold! I loved so dearly to sing, you weep or smile. with my companicns, those sweet canticles " Ob!" said Alice, Ie how do I wish that to the sound of the organ! How grand, and I could not think !-that I were a flower, a yet how sweet was the music of the organ ! tree, a bird, to flyaway into the air, or 10 Sometimes it seemed to hurt me, sometimea bloom on a streamlet's edge! Yes! Iwould it made me shudder! And then the roeea, be a Bower! a flower that withers, and falls; which we' used to strip of their leaves for without regretting its mother! and when the Corpus Christi day! and the garments which aun sets, what sorrow for her! a flower-lo! we used to make for poor mothers l and our here is one which I wore in my dress at the hymns to CBJUST,who sacrificed himself to ball, last night! To look at their green leaves, save the world! What heavenly devotion! their lively colora,·one would believe them and then with what love, what deep adora.. real. And yet what falsehoods! And yet tion, I used to sing his praises! To serve a poor flower of the fields, all true and natu• him in his hoI) temple, to adore him, duriog ral, would 'he faded, dead, in a single day; my whole life! Oh! to adore him! for I yet these false ones will keep for weeks and feel here--oh! Ifeel here;" and she preased months their false and borrowed bloom!" both her hands upon her fluttering struggling And I know not what rapid and fugitive bosom. " Oh! Ifeel here, the immense ne• thought revealed to her the advantage which ce8llits'of sacrifice, and of devotion." a (alae and cold coquette haa over au. inge• Then, after a moment's silence, she rew. nuous and paeaionate girl. med: H The ball l" resumed she, and already the " Why should they have brought me away 'I melancholy expreaaion had disappeared; her Why make me leave France 1 I ahould .,81.padded,ud by <:hueethe 1&mpbeamed have beeD 10 happy at JD110Ilnnt t To love.

Digitized by Google chriat; to pray to him aU day; to pray to " Oh! my mother, thou hut hMJd· til, him u above all I Can there be anythiq be. child!" ahe exclaimed, kneeling SO retona yond the happlneee which we feel in praying 1 thanu to.God. Then, wearied by the emo. y.. ! perhaps there may be, in praying for tions, 80 lively and 10 varioUl, which .be another. But I am unjust-I am goiug' to had experienced, ahe closed her eyOl, yN rejoin my father who left me yet a child. moist with tean i and the lut word. which· And yet, despite myself, the prospect of this were aiahed forth from her half open mouth, voyqe saddens and terrifies me 1 The sole by her 8weet voluptuoul breath, were-" My idea of seeing my father.eeeme sometimes to mother-heavenly aniele-happine.!n &ael render my thoughts less gloomy. Ob! my Ihe fell uloep between a tear and a .mile. God!" she continued, "pity me, pity me! Sleep, young airl, ale.p! and may buvea if this voy:;ge were to prove fatal to me !" grant that thia morniDl"1 ray may be the And the lamp WIUI now quite expiring. dawniDi of a fair day for thee! Sle.p, , Only at times, and those far aaunder, did the Alice! and maya pure and bliuful dream li:ht flicker feebly upward, illuminating the come to thy heart and calm it. Sleep! my room palely, and ClUltiogon the walla large child! perhaps you may one day relTet thOle wavering and fantastic shadows. agitated, eruel, almoel sleeplees ni,hts! The heart of Alice seemed to contract it. Poor child! After having inhaled the It• lelf. She was almost afraid; and animated moephere of this brilliant and showy world, by that singular desire, wbich all women feel where all aeem. to be ftowera, perfume., and at lome moments, of ClUltingtheirfate, lUI it li,hte, intoxication and voluptuouaneu, burn. were, into the hands of chance, and of seek. ing desiree and frantic p.l8ion~ you will per• ing a knowledge of futurity, she cried out, haps regret these long. long houra Qflolitud. with a strange romantic inspiration, but in a and pensive reveriee=-perhape, in tho midat firm and confident voice: of a false and convulsive gayety, you will re• "I am devoted for evermore upon thiB gret the 80ft tears which you were wont to earth to misery, if this lamp shall expire be. shed alone to your mother's memory. Per. fore I have laid thrse times, 'My mother, haps you will regret your own world-your who art in heaven, pray to God for thy own ideal world, which you created for your. child?'" self-which for yourself you peopled; your And Alice, pale, pantin" and inan altered world, in which you were 19verai,n-in voice. began- which. evokin, a thousand futures, you were " 1\Iymother, who art in heaven, pray to able, earelees, and capricious, to wipe them God for thy child!" out witb a breath. The lamp waned visibly-it acarcely Ihed Sleep, Alice! and, if your vir,tn heart CIIl a dim dying glimmer. enjoy the qani.. which you cause to an• U My mother, who art in heavea, pray to other. I will tell you. that, aince 1alt avenin,. God for thy child!" the IIfInofthe lieutenant of the Salamander• The lamp crackled, and ftaahed, and blazed that Paul-that handsome, timid Paul. whom up with a clear lustre, The heart of Alice you kDOW not, has sat weeping. unhappy, at was relieved from a vast weight, and she con. the base of the rocks which surround your tinued confidently- garden, full of orange treea, hoping again to II My mother,who art in beaven--" behold your angelic figure throiCAthe erev. But the lamp shuddered, and went out be. icea of their dark foUIli'. fore her prayer was concluded. " Oh ! my mother, I am lost l" cried the young girl. in a voice of anguish. And lOb. CHAPTER bing. she fell backward, and coyered her n. face with her hands. '1'D UVllUf tp IT. lUaCIL. Before a moment had paued by, ahe raill8d her head, her whole face bathed in teare, u " It II,u Itall,ou, a.., Ull!reqUIDIed IDB~K'. if to enjoy, with a BGrtof vengeful bittern.... IIA 101BorracJaoa-lIIUcfdad. "-JV4KlLLO Bla, •• the very darkness, which foretold to her 80 lad a future. But what WIUI her surprise, Tn tavern of St. Marcel is a Proven~al her delight, to see a soft and feeble ray of inn, lituated at Iittl. more than half a lea,ue wnlhin8. which gilding her blindl faintly, from Saint Tropez. very near the coast; soli• with a Jiight increaaiag lu-tre, played through tary, quiet, f~r from any other dwelllna', the room, aad concentraUn, itself on the roomy, convinient; in a word, an excellent ivory crucifix and the conaecrated branch. tavern-a famous tavarn-where the drinkers •• med to surround them with a luminous are bothered, neither by the importunity of. _lory. BOcialU'lIIt', nor by the violence of pollee That tender and mysterious light, .0 unez, regulation.. Therefore the sailors who ocea, peered and ao reassuring, which glided into sionally touched at Saint Tropez affected that that deep gloom as hope into a IOrr~wing tavern singularly. After every cruise. they hurt. tranquillized the young ,ifI, .ad ren- hurried ashore, ftew jo,fully to that dear tav• 4tled her grief 1.... ""w. ern, over ,lad. to w.l;Qm. &h,m-tvfl PT. 2* Digitized by Google ~JtB SALAMANDEB.. ever read,. to reeek'. tlt.m~whatever might parabolic curves in their descent, and re• be their opinioDl. bounding like bombs in an directions ; from. In fact, to those poor sailors, that tavern the hats, the clothes of all kinds, Garricks,' was like a mistress, whom you are always shawls, top-boots, women's caps, and five or Bureto find again after a long absence, and 'Six paira of braces, which followed in the whom you never question, how her days have track of the plates and chairs. Still, it is hut been spent, so long 'as she receives you cor• just to observe, that hitherto tbey had thrown dially and frankly. neither man nor woman out of the window. Now the welcome at the tavern of Saint It now appeared, however, that this sort of Marcel was always cordial and frank-per• missile was about to succeed to the rest; for haps a little interested, it is true; but what now, fastened to the end of a sheet, pale, then? The old Marius, its proprietor, a la• overdone, wriggling, in a rage, swearing and borious, inquirer, well versed in the study of blaspheming, old father Marius, the proprie, the abstract sciences, had established a scale tor of the tavern, might have been seen de. of proportions, which proved to him, mathe• scending slowly from the terrace. The in:• matically, that sailors'money was of exactly visible hands which held this sheet, being, five times less value to themselves than to perhaps, deceived-we cannot know every. ethers, in consequence of the vast facility thing-being deceived, I say, as to the real with which they spent it; therefore, he made height of the house, let go a little too Boon; tliem pay him, mathematically,just five times and old Marius came down by the run• the va!ue of what they consumed. So much upon my word, very rapidly-the last eleven for the nwral qualities of the tavern of Saint feet which remained for him to descend. He Marcel. , fell upon his knees, and exclaimed, in his As for its p"ymal qualities, it was white, Provencal dialect: with a pretty terrace, surrounded by a slight "Damned dogs of Ponaritais!* we shall wooden balustrade, over which crept one of lee !" and, with a spring, he recovered his feet those lovely vines of the south, with green and dashed at the door; it was locked. leaves, and brown knotted branches; but the Then Giromon-the sailor who had wanted blinds were painted red-an abominable red to dress men as pursers, for the purpose of -yes, red as 'blood. And then a wooden licking them-Giromon appeared on the bal• sign, representing Saint Marcel, swung over cony. the principal door; sheltered by a sort of shed, There is no need of saying that these formed by the projection of a great balcony. guests were no others than the fire-eaters of the There was, moreover, a group of plane trees Salamander, who had been paid yesterday. and lindens, which overshadowed Bornestone This is self-apparent. Giromon then appear, tables, dispersed here and there under that ed on the balcony; but in what a state! oh, charming verdure. heavens! his face purple, violet, actually On this day, it was already late; and the glowing; his eyes glaring like stars; his hair sun disappearing behind the mountains, cast powdered-the poor wretch had powdered long reflections of gold over the white walls his hair for very extravagance; dressed in a af the tavern. The sky was pure, the air shirt with cuffs and bosom of the finest cam• calm; everything seemed to announce a de• bric, a huge pair of breeches of black silk, licious summer's evening. and a maroon- colored coat, which had already There can be nothing more delightful than to deplore the '1088 of its collar, one sleeve, to prolong a gay feast, during a long, long and one of its skirts. He addressed Marius, WIDmer's evening, by the uncertain ligbt of who was roaring with awful imprecations. the moon; to inhale with delight tbe cool " We requested you to descend, you old aea-breeze, which seems to blow up purposely wizard! do you understand 1 because you to sooth your burning brow; beated with broke our backs with your incessant 'Iet• ,eneroul wine. Now to hear the cries and aways.''' .ongs which were at that moment echoing " But, villain that you are! you have bro• from the tavern of SaiDt Marcel, you would ken, to.night, everything in my house; you have suppoeedthat there would be many fore• have stove in my casks !" heads for the breeze to refresh that evening. " You will be paid for them !" You might have judged of the quality and " You' have broken my tables !" importance of the guests who were feasting " You will be paid for them !" there, from the unharnessed carriages shel• " You have broken my chairs-my gl886ea tered beneath a cart-house; from the infer• -my--" , nal din, which made the few glasses rattle, " You will be paid for them !-you will be which yet remained in the windows-which paid for them !". Nook the doors, the shutters-even the calm " You have already twice barely escaped and peaceful image of Saint Marcel, who setting my house on fire !" trembled at the far end of the sign-poet; " You will be paid for it-but, now Ithink from the plates, empty or full, bottles, chairs or tables, which, dying out of the three win- * Ponantab-the &lang term of the Prov4tIl9811(or dows over the balcony, fell J'8pidlYIdescribing I the people of the northern departmenta,

Digitized by Google of it, we wlll pay you for your house, and CHAPTER III. *J1 it will be ours; ~nd if y?U have the TD PDO ARTS. misfortune to come near It, we will make you dance' a dance, the setting steps of which " There is not a grief which we may not let slip, shall be executed on the broad of your back. By the aid of the am and of goodly frietuJ,I'"p." Come! how much is your hut worth 1" , MOKlllAURScal ... And Giromon raised his head, and looked "'The women there, were u they are everywhere• dreued up, perfumed coquetteB-Uving hap by hap." first to one side and then to the other, like an JVL.. JUDi-Tile OntfUftft.. expert architect. and tben said : " Will you take ten thousand francs for the OR! do ),ou not dote on one of those im, house and all that is in it, and then leave us posing symphonies, wherein a hundred atten, in peace 1 Come! it is a bargain; yonr house tive musicians unite in the expre.ion of a is OUr8, and before we go away, we will single sound, composed of a thousand sounds make a midsummer's-day bonfire of it. To. --one harmony, composed of a thousand har, day is precisely the day to show you that the monies-in which a hundred musicians read, Fire-eaters are jolly good fellows. This shall as it were, wiLhone single and solemn voice, be the kindling.wood." an immense musical poem, by turns lively Of' And. Giromon, delighted with bis idea, pathetic, flighty or deep and spirit.sti~? went back into the room, in spite of the re• Do you- not love to dream, admiringly, fusals of Marius; and Marius, in great dis• that these sounds, so various--ay! so oppo• may, actually trembled, because he knew the site-lose themselves, confound themselves sailors to be perfectly qualified to chime in into one; and that these extremes never with Giromon's fantastic proposal, 18 under. meet, except to blend themselves into the stand and adopt it. most enchanting melody 1 There are the In five minutes Giromon returned, carrying echoing and metallic clang of the brass in. two heavy bags of leather. struments-the soft and plaintive Dotes of "Here is your price, dog of an oil-eater !. the bassoon--the deep and cavernous sounds Now your house is ours! Take yourself off, of the violins-the pure, shrill warblings of or we will come down and be after you. the flute-the sonorous vibrations of the harp Come, cut yonr stick! you bother us, and -the funereal rolling of the kettle-drums. make bothus and these ladies ashamed. Here What a contrast of sounds ! is your money!" And then to think that each one of these And the bags. fell heavily to the ground, has its own phrase, its own word. to S8y• giving out the clear, sharp, clinking sound of that all goes to complete the general effect: silver. from the ambitious solo of the first performers Marius picked them up, and then eried out, down to the modest tinkling of the steel tri• " Ah! you tum me out of doors !-thieves, angle, each has the same importance-the plunderers, banditti, Bonapartists, that you same power of rendering the diapason grand are! I know well what is to be done, you and expressive. villains of Ponantais,' And then address• ing Giromon: "You see that my shutters are If you love that, then would you love and red: well! there is stuff enow to die them admire the thundering voice which roared anew, and it is you that shall furnish it !" through the tavern of Saint Marcel; and yet, And, with these words, he disappeared, car. I swear to yeu! there was not one noise, not rying off the bags. one single sound, that could be spared from "Do you say, you cursed camel! that we that fierce harmony: for that harmony also shall paint your shutters anew 1 Since they bad its own requirements, its own immovable are now ours, we will do just as we please laws :---an orgie of so strange a nature is 80 about that. Do you understand 1 Are we uncommon-it requires 80 many sounds to complete it fairly ! your elaves, you dog of an oil-eater 1 Y 8S ! yes! you are right to cut your suck; unless All these are necessary, from insane laugh. you had done so, your bill would have been ter unto tears of rage-all, from merry ballads well paid! At last," said Giromon, with a to roars of blasphemy and vice. There must' deep sigh of inward joy and perfect satiefac. be also shrill and piercing eriee of fury; tion, "At last we are at home ! Now we are there must be the high, clear notes of woman, what you may call at home !" beginning now to falter; there must be deep And he entered the parlor, with that dig. groans, and the heavy sound of men falling nified step and air of confidence which be. to the ground dead.drunk ; there must be comes a proprietor of the soil. oaths, and tbe strife of brawling ribalds, He entered: what a scene! what a din.! words of defiance, the dull noise of blows, nnd the cries of death. The shivering clash * Oil-eater, the,lanl term of tile people mtlle north• of swords produces also an admirable effect, ern departments for those of Proven~e. but, a.las! it is as rare as a real Tom.tom in an orchestra• . What shall I·say more 1 There must be ~ c~ (If broken ,lasae. and bO~(III-~'

Digitized by Google 'rJIB IAItA.ARDalL. fl"dDi squeak of'forb, which. the drunken Salamander-rrotesquely dretsed, druabn. men are &rindingon the plates. dishevelled, besotted, broken with e.xce.... Moreover, .it i. all-important-it is abso• of all kinds. Farther yet in the distance,u lutely necessary-that n,'thing should be lost, if to contrast with the brown and purple faoes from the frantic din of the wild dance, whirl• of the sailors, appeared the 'pale and marble• ing and bounding in the firelight, to the soft like features of some poor girls, led thither murmur of a kiss given and received in the by their evil destiny. ,abade. Nothing must be lost, I tell you! In short, out of eighty sailors, there were, All this there was in' the great hall of the at the least, thirty or thirty-five dead drunk, . tavern of Marcel, which trembled to its found• writhing, or fast asleep under the table. ThOle ations with the diapason of this perfect har, who were reasonable, were holding among mony-co~plete, but fantastic; yet frightful themselves some funny propositions, while u the nameless noises which escape from the finishing some bottles which had been for- mouths of Dante's hell. gotten. . For the sailors of the Salamander were " After a11/'said one, smashing a bottle of gifted so marvellouslyby nature, that they ex. wine, of which he had scaree drunk a quarter 'temporized in a wonderful manner the dif• _cc after all, this is living !" ferent parts of the sublime and gigantic mas. " Oh !" cried another, taking the girl who terpiece, which was executed in the house of sat next to him amorously and licentiously the respectable Marius. round die waist-for true love is very bold, Brave musicians! wellborn tobe musicians! because modesty-ie a mark of indifference• But it was little to listen to that music, un, " Oh! my little Therese,.I love you, I adore ' le88 you had seen the picture, If the orgies you! I say this all aloud, without fear of had their own peculiar melody, SO also had compromising you~because, after all, we are they their own peculiar coloring. That col• not parsons !" oring was strong and deeplyshadowed, lively, " Ah! Parisiau," said Girornon, "it is not sharp, and decided-tints double in vigor and in Paris that they make festivals like this• in brilliancy; for on their faces white became larks like this, is it 1 Out of twenty-three purple, the purple violet, and the violet blue. thousand francs that we had yesterday, when The eyes did not sparkle-they blazed. The this house, which is paid for, has been burned, veins were not swollen-they were convul, to-morrow we shall not have a single cursed sively stretched=-etretcbed as though they SOUB-notone villain, not one thief of a !lQU. would burst. Nor is that all: the orgies had Ten thousand thunders!" aJ;ldhe smote his their own forms, as well as their own coloring. hand heavily upon the table, with an expres, The bodies of the revellers appeared t~ have sion of deligbt which it is almost imposeible no bony frames, to see their soft and elastic to describe. positions, to see them fall-not simply fall, "And it does not need to be said," added but be jammed up and doubled on themselves another, "that any others than the fire-eaters -the angles softened down, the joints impal• would break their bottles and kiss their girls, pable and rounded. And it was a great pity and after that there would be an end of every_ that it was so; for the outlines were lost, and thing. But after us eomes the world's end! if the outlines had been equal to the coloring, A house for a bon.fire l and the wbole CGUO· it would have been sublime. try to say, when they see it, , Look, look! the In a word, to conclude, the very atmosphere Salamanders are amusing themselves finely.' was turned to a hot and ruddy vapor, which, Well, well; we are happy beings !" veiling the picture, gave it I know not what "A'nd that, too," said the Parisian, "with_ of mysterious and fantastic, diat made a out having any cause for remorse;" and he magnificent effect. stammered as he spoke. " A fellow has a And lo! how often nature pleases itself in family: he satisfies bis family, and the-the carrying out the perfection of human organ• -the-in short, the natural things. Half of izations ! These jolly sailors of the Salaman• bis pay for nature, half for folly; for, do you der, already gifted so happily for making mu• see? we are the worshippers of folly, Giro. sic, were not leAs,80 for making pictures-• mon." warm and vigorous pictures-pictures of " I believe you, indeed !" said the last, with double-did I say double 1-of quadruple an air of drunken gravity that would do honor tone rind effect. Therefore may we not say, to a judge. fine painters! well born to be painters! . "But," said the Parisian, " for desert, what You have heard all-now see! can we do 7 Suppose we were to throw the In the middle of a vast hall, with blaek, women out of the window, and play so at masaive beams, scarce lighted by the trem, beads and tails with them 7" bling and undecided light of a few copper The girls looked at one another in desperate lamps, stretched out a huge table, covered consternation. , ' witb' fragments of glass, bottles, and dishes; u. No, Parisian; we pledged our worda to a table dirtied, soiled, and blotted with wine. them." And all around the table roared, yeUed,thun, " filupposewe were to change blow. aJDCJDa aered, dlaoJr.and drank again, the crew of ~ oUPGlvea7"

Digitized by Google IJ.' •• LI~TLE GAJlE 01' DEVILI.

.. Capital idea! • capital idea that, Parisian! Ie Come, come-ene1llb Iaid,1011otbir r.L Bot look out-take care of you1"Hlf,M. Rich. lowl 7" uked the Pari.ian. ard !. See, th.re i8 another fellow carrying II Ishould think 10,by Hpu'en ! And re. sail at a great rate. He is already laying.to, member too, my boy," added Giromon, philo. That's it-that's it! under the table with you! sophically, II that a good deed done ia nevor that's it! They are going to make a gulf of lost l" it there-they are going to bite one another, "Go it, then-go it !" said the Parisian i is that certain. Come, tell me-you, my pretty and the wick of tbe lamp was now close te Wende-would you like to play at shoving the the eombuetibles, when, at this moment 10 whole of this napkin into Bernard's mouth 1" critical to the poor fellows whom tbey were " Come, have done with it at once! Look going to smoke from sheer philanthropy, at his eyes, how he goggles with them. What frightful cries ranlE abroad, and the whole nonsense! He doesn't eat napkins-it will house trembled under the reiterated blows lIDlother him! I teU you, you will smother which shook the massive doors of the tavern. him ! There, there-you bave almost done The lamp fell from the hands of the Pari.. it now! Ah! are you a fool? let him alone l" ian, who, following Glreraon, darted toward "Good, good! one more dead drunk,' reo the window. sumed Giromon, 88 he saw Bernard fall, half " Weare floored!" said the latter, to the suffocated. "The wine will finish them• Parisian; "look out! see there !" they will die of the wine, that is certain ....And " Bah !"replied tbe other; "it ia a deeert real fire-eaters, too-what a pity! Oh! see for us-just come in time, too; for we cUdDel you here, Parisian; suppose, in order to keep know what to do." them for their respectable parents and their other friends, we were to smoke those who . are quite done up 1"said Giromon. " Do yeu agree to it, you other fellows 7" CHAPTER IV. " Yes, yes !" cried all those unanimously, THELITTLB GAD OFDEVILS. who could stand upon their legs; "let us There, bum.! Be quiet, comradel; Dever reran! tMt snoke them-they might spoil, otherwise." wretch. SCBILuli-TAI BDbHN. "Smoked pork always keeps beat," said a joker. fj:~~~~::!i:r~~ far the toil " Yes, yee! that is it-it if for their own SBU8PJ:li:l-RtcMrcI 11. good, too! They shall see that they have Tn utonishment or terror of Giromon was not got to do with ungrateful fellows." not without just cause. By the lurid and The table was removed, and they piled up bloody light of the reeinous torches, which the dead drunk, ODe upon the other, croes, cast their red reflections far and wide, erim, wise; then they heaped round 'them straw soning all the 8aJient ang~s of the tavern of hats, women's scarfs, pieces of stick and Saint Marcel, a great crowd wal seen Ohting handsful of straw pulled from the broken about like ahadows, strangely dressed, and chairs. The poor devils let them do as they fantastically lighted up by the capricious would, uttering some smothered entreaty, or glare, which waved hither and thither, on some ribald witticism, half weeping and half crOWDS,onarms, on garments, shining with laughing. Th088 only-whobore up the weight gold and siver. At this time that .illgular of that human funeral pile uttered faint groans. rout appeared quite quiet, and was collecting " Hold !" stammered one; II. they are piling itself in a vast circle round the tavern. lUI up like spare topmasts. We muat be spare It was composed of a wild multitude of sailors!" And a hundred other such expres• men, grotesquely habited 88 devile, S8tYll,· sions, which the Parisian inten;upted by ex. women, gods, or fauns l They were all eov, claimin«: ered with gold and tinsel, with rap and tat. C4 Now, let us smoke them-let us smoke ters, "'hich gave a strange and terrible appear. them l" ance to the fierce and savRge expreseion of C4 They will live a hundred yelU'Bthelonger their black eyes, and of their tanned and lun. for it !" cried one. burnt faces. M Mot we not be good fellows7" laid an. When the tumult was completely quieted, other. a tall and- athletic Proven~al adnnced from . "And when tbey awake," said Otromon, the circle. He wal dressed in a woman'. " how surpriaed they will be, at 6nding them. costume, and represented the Queen of Saba eelve. as well preserved as if they had jU8~ in that ignoble farce, wildly Mended with the come out of a cask l" most Imposing religious ceremonies. There ., Come, come-get· fire; let us sl1Ioke was King Herod, with his crown ofpded pa• them!" per, Pluto and Christ, Proserpine and the And the lamp was placed near tho enor• Holy Virgin, with a myriad of angels and de. mous pile of straw, which would necessarily viis, subaltern saints and demons, all arm, have eommuniCBted the flame to all the ed with scythee, with clubs, or with pitch. c10tbel aDd linen which IW1'oWlded them. forb. Some ofthem were drunk-for, on the

Digitized by Google TlIB SALAl'lANDBI..

occuion of thia IOn of solemn processions, uYo !ho ! you rabble ofoil-eaten, whence .y were in the habit of making frequent do you hail 1 yo! ho7" halts, after having followed all day long in This speech was about to call forth a reply, the parochial processions of St. John's Day i in a hurricane of yells androars, when, by a and having pompouslyfiguredinit, after a cus• single gesture, the Queen of Saba checked the tom which may be traced back, as Ibelieve, uproar, and replied: . to the era of John, the first Count of Pro• " Itis thou-dog ofa Ponantais-of a Bona• venge, and which is continued even down to partiat=-who art one of the rabble-s-who bast the present day; for even now, the muaici. driven an old man out of his house-and who pal authorities cause the programme and the keep'st festival on this church holyday-do march of this hideous procession to be an• you hear 7 And, if you do not open to us, nounced by solemn proclamation. instantly, there will be Bornered-do you un• The Queen of Saba had h~ whole face eov, derstand that, Jacobin 1-answer me that!" ered with paint and patches; his long beard " As for you-do you see 1" said Giromon, was powdered, as well as his long hair; a gravely; I! I should take your dress foran old soiled white gown displayed his broad brawny sail. your legs for masts, your arms for yard., shoulders, and shaggy arms; a sort of miser• your body for the bull i and I would pitch you able scarlet mantle was girt about his loins, into the water, with six inches of a steel and a diadem of silvered paateboard covered blade in your guts for ballast," his huge head. . "Kill! kill the dog !" The queen com• Brandishing an oaken club, rudely sculp• pelled the crowd to silence, and said : tured, which served him as a sceptre, the II You will 800 that--" Queen of Saba commanded silence, in a voice Giromon intemtpted him, saying : which would have done honor to the chanter " Stop! I had forgotten=-" and as when of a cathedral, and said, in the broadest pa• you become a ship, your great scull must be thos of Provence, nearly as follows: the figure-head,I will baptize yoo-' The vile lubber!'" , "My little ones, here are a scum ofthieves, and Bonapartiats, who dare to make a pro• And Giromon shut the window, after mak. fane revelry of the holiday of St. John, and ing a very energetical grimace. who have robbed and beaten our countryman, " Thunder and lightning !" said the Queen of Saba. "Let us break down the door, my Marius. These dogs of Frenchmen,. these children; and do not let the Bonapartists an• raacaleofPonantaist have driven him fromthe noyus." house ; but luckily, he has found friends, and we have come to avenge him, my little " Yes! yes !till~' cried a thousand voices devils." . And they hurled !hemselvea against the door, which could not have resisted long, for " Yes! yes! vengeance! kill! kill the BOo already one plank was broken-when, from napartists I the doge!" shouted and vociferat, the balcony that jutted out over the porch, a ed the troop, with one single voice, rushing vast oak table fell plump among the multi• tumultuously against the door, which, happi, tude. Luckily, the Queen of Saba waS not ly, was bolted from within. struck by it; but five or six of the demon. " The villains have made fast their door," were knocked over, and crushed, King He• cried the Queen ofSaba, smiting the door witb rod got a bad contusion, and the Virgin Mary heavy blows of his club. "Will you open• had her shoulder put out of joint. dogs that you are 1 we have come to revenge This incident redoubled the rage of the Fatber Marius." Proven9ala, but at the same time, it consider• " Yes! yes!" repeated the whole troop; ably calmed their ardor. They retreated un• "vengeance upon the Bonapartists! ven• til they were out of the reach of such projec• ~eance for Marius." tiles, and they began to' take council together. "They drove them from Toulon. let us But this time 'the council was interrupted by drive them hence." Giromon, who reappeared at tbe "Window, " Kill! kill tbem, as they did at Nismes, with his beloved speaking trumpet : my children l" roared the queen, shaking the " Yo! ho! oil-eaters, will you give us back door till its hi~es rattled. But, at this mo. OW' tables 1 We have yet a faw cans to empty, ment, the window opened, and showed them and a few of your loins to smash to atom.. " the wine-aeasoned face of Giromon, carrying " To deatb with him !-kill the dog !" c;ried in his haud the neck of a broken bottle, of some of them. which he had made a speaking trumpet i he "Leave him alone,my little ones," said the raised this to his mouth, forthwith, and these Queen of Saba; "J ulian and Jean Marie.. words reached them from the balcony above: will be here directly," " You will kill nothing at all," laid Giro. .. The peuaD~ or ProYen~ call tbe people of thezeal man; "ah! do you think that the fire-eaters of France »~fIItIl. would let themselves be licked like powder. t The proper BeD., of PO'II4Iatai8 is western; but it it aj DO• only applied properly to the atation oflhipll; the At• monkeys? Nothing all-you will kill lantic Beet being caJ)ed 10, to diatinpiah it from tile thing at all !" lIIeditemuaean. Giromo,,"could 1&1DO 1nOfe, for a abot WIll

Digitized by Google THE LIT'Tl,E GA.MB OF DEVILS. 39 discharged by the crowd below. He disap, time has paMed, do you see '1 Our flag hal peared from the window, and his last words changed its color; the English have run un, were-U Cursed cowards!" der our stem; and I shall be glad to see. too. It was Julien, with Jean Marie, who had wbether the ships up there aloft carry stay• retuTned with carabines. sails and royals. Fare ye well, fire.eaters ! " WeU done: well done !" roared the troop; I will be sunk iIi the sea-do you hear me 1- " well done !-60 die all Frenchmen, and Bo, in the sea, with a 36 pounder at my heels• napartists !" that is a sailor's grave! Farewell! once' " My little ones," cried' the Queen of Saba, more. farewell, Parisian! Love my poor lit• II ipstead of breaking down the door, let us tle girl a little; don't beat my wife too much i barricade it; and then we will climb up to and-faith! fellows, you will not denounce the terrace. There is a loop-hole there whIch me! so here goes- Vi'Oe I' EmpeTeurI" I know iJt opens on the great hall, and we And with the words he fell baek dead. can pick them off from thence at our ease." " Ah ! dogs of Bonapartists! '"i"e l'Em• And the door was fastened from without, pereur t? is it 7 Now, then, here's for your blocked up by the table covered with stones monster of an emperor-your ogre of an em. and beams, so that all escape was rendered peror !" Impossible for the unhappy sailors. And three shots were discharged through The scene in the great hall was sadly the narrow window. Giromon received a Ie. changed-there were no more cries of Intox• cond in his head-a ball thrown away; the ication, no more joy. Parisian had his arm grazed by another; Ber• The fire-eaters stood round poor Giromon, nard, the gunner, fell, as hereceived the third, who had received the ball in his throat, and which broke his shoulder. yet breathed a little. The Parisian kneeling "But these hounds will pick us off bere by his side, supported his head; the others, like flies !" cried the Parisian; "let ua get pale and immovable. fixed a stupid gaze on out of this; let us clinch with them. body to him. body; let us avenge Giromon! Away there, "My good messmatea,' said Giromon at boarders! Let us board-let us board! Out Iest, in a weak hissing voice, " it is very bad, with your knives, or take those from the ta• very bad, after all, to have escaped grape-shot ble," he added, and darting to the staircase 80 often, to be a fire.eater, and to be shot like which opened on the terrace, he brandished a mad dog! Well! well !-where is the Pa, a huge carving-knife with which he had risian 1" armed himself. " Here Iam, old lad ;.here, poormessmate !" Curses! the door was fastened, and they "Ah! I am beginning, then, to see gray. could hear the dull noise made by a party of for I did not recollect you. I am floored,Pa, Provencals, posted on the terrace, who were risian !" demolishing the ceiling of the old hall, while . "No, no." others watched at the windows, which they " Yes, I am; but listen-promise me one had barricaded like the door,by hoisting them• thing, will you 1" selves up to the balcony. " It is done, whatever it is ; it is done, mess. In a few minutes, a hail-storm of stones mase !' and plaster showed that the assailants had " Well, then, marry my wife, Parisian; she made a large hole in the ceiling, though bas no right to a penaion=-she will die of the three carabines might have played over hunger when I am gone, and my little girl, the whole room, and cut down ten or a dozen too! and that idea, do you see, messmate 7- of the fire.eaters ; but happily, at this moment, that idea will make the gaff very hard for me the peasants found that they were out of am. to swallow. Will you do it? I know that munition. she will plague you." " My children," said the Queen of Saba, " Oh,~yes,I will-all's one for that; your " n6Wlet us open the door of this terrace, little girl will have a father, my good mess• and finish them. .Our knives are sharp, and mate," said the Parisian, wiping away a tear we will soon see whether these Bretons have WIth his clenched hand. blood or butter in their veins." "Kiss me, then! Give me your hands, "In a word," cried the fire.eaters," the you others. Farewell! my poor fire-eaters • game is to be a fair one, though you are two It vexes me that I cannot say adieu to the lieu• to one." tenant and to M. Paul before I cut my stick. " You wished for blood, and blood you But you will tell them, for you will see them shall have l" said the Parisian, sternly through again, you other fellows, if these dogs leave his set teeth, while he wrapped a napkin you tongue or eyes." round his hand, to give him a surer gripe on . Here his tone grew weaker. and his voice his knife. . became more hissing and embarrassed. .The "I am for you, my lad-e-cook-with-the-big, sailors crowded yet nigher to him. knife," said the queen to the Parisian, leaping "Come, come," said Giromon, with an ef, into the hall. ion; "now I am going to the bottom. Fare. '" Ah! come, sweet woman !-let me give Well, my old. fife.eaters J all'8 w~u..fo~' oW' YO,," • necklace of frellqb steel!" shouted th~

Digitized by Google 40 " •• 14LA • .lNDII.. raffsfan, 81 h. lfapld forward to rn.~t the And tJ.ere wu eMn without, in th. IOrt, iigftntic PftlVen~81. Th. rest of tb. band calm moonlight, 8 emUing landseape, with having forced their way in, either through the groves of orange-tree-acovered with bloom i. opening in the ceiling or by tile staircase, the and a cool rivulet winding its silver way m.lee became general and Iuricus, through a wide, gentle meadow; and the fire• flies hung their pyramids of flickering lustre from the rose oleanders; and the cicala sang CHAPTER V. continually, with its shrill, limpid note. "I have you, then, at last !" cried th,. Paril• THE COltUlAT. ian, to the queen; "for a quarter of a1'1bour Solt.~!"..-The,.have batred the llarrowpallllpUp, I hnve been seeking you to- avenge my me.... 1I.Dd It I, dO,f;ed with dead, even to the d90f. , mate, and to put the steel that Ipromised yo~ .87W1Jur SolclUr.-&lybrain it crushed! Comrades, to your throat, sweet woman." lialp! ho! alI', darkn_ ! BnoN-TAID'!Drf¥Il '1'ra:IlIfor'7MtL " You are jealous of my favors, darling," cried the colossus, with the snarling laugh of Bow beautit'ul the moonl"bt i, to-ni,bt ! .a GAftCIr,to Au pertMI'. a hyena. . " Yes, I would touch you to the heart!" Sa.INeE! not a single cry! for a cry be• cried the Parisian, springing, with one bound. trays a wound! Silence! they bite in si• upon the Queen of Saba. lence, when (ney are disarmed! tbey stab, " Oh! ceme, my little darling; let me em• they cut throats, they kill, in silence; and brace you.· I will be a fond mistress to you; thev kill much; for the floor is flooded with and. for a keepsake, Iwill wear your bead u hot'blood. Yet not a cry! . a decoration," cried the Provencal, straining And this fierce, fiery, drunken mass reels the Parisian in his' arms of iron. . to and fro, contracts expands, rolis over, falls, Their faces touched; and so they stood for 'pring!! up again i-nails and teeth; all are an instant, feeling each other's breath elCap. good, if they can bring blood through the ing from his swollen nostrils, .kin. Yet nut a cry! . Suddenly the queen relaxed his hold, ut• Silence--except the tramp of feet, pressed tering a fearful yell, extorted from him by sur. bard and heavy in the struggle; except the prise 8S much BS agony. It was a dying aigh, suppressed even in the death-pang; the man, who had bitten balf way through the clash of steel; the grinding of two blades, calf of his leg. meeting in one breast-for it wal dark--only Th. Parisian drew back one pace, railed one lamp remained. Silence! y~u cannot his great knife, which descended sheer upon. 'hear a cry! the breast of the queen, and hissed as it tore And the windows having been opened by his flesh asunder, buried therein hilt deep. the essailants, there waa seen, without, in the " Ho! Ihave touched your heart, my queen, 110ft, calm moonlight, a smiling landscape, have I not 1" said the Parisian, twistina Ilia 'With gr",ves of orange- trees, covered with knife round and round in the wound to en• bloom; and a cool rivulet, winding its silver laree its orifice. 'Waythrough a wide, gentle meadow; nnd " Oh, yes! thunder and lightning! you have the fire-flies hung their pyramids of flickering touched my heart; but I will give you a lut lustre from the rose oleanders; and the cicsla Iove.kisa,' I.ng contiaually, with its shrill, limpid note. And., with the convulsive rage of a dyina The corpses of the dent! began to embar, man, the Provencal threw himself on the Pa. fua those who lived but to fight. They trod risian, and bit him through cheek and lip• upon corpees only; and on that slippery foot• bit him 10 fiercely, that his teeth, p8.8liDi hold, they tripped often; and in a fray like clear through the muscles, were ground thie, body to body, knife to knife, and tooth against the teeth of the sailor. They fell, to tooth, all the advantage is with him who, side by side. like that Provencal, can plant his two knees And there was seen without, in the soft, on his foeman's bosom, and say to him, with calm moonlight, a smiling landscape, with a eruel smile, with his two fiery eyes fixed ~roves of orange,trees, covered with bloom; on him, red and relentless: and a cool rivulet, winding- its silver way ".Thou art mine; down to hell with thee! through a wide, gentle meadow; and the fire. and here Ui myknife,lharp for another French- flies hung their pyramids of flickerin, lustre man." ' from the rose oleanders; and.the cicala l!IaD&' Or like that sailer, who hasjustaaid to He• continually, with its shrill, limpid Dote. rod: "The Pansian is deac !" cried a fire. " My blade is broken, but I will beat your eater. teeth out with the haft. Ah! do you feel it 1 " ;Vengeance! vengeance {orthe Parielan !" I believe you do; for your teeth have closed "Vengeance for the queen !'! replied the upon it like a vice. Keep it, then, keep it; I Provencals. And the melee became more tnke your own dogger. By the Lord! its hilt bloody and more deep; and, as tho strength is very wet-it is blood; ho! what lots of of the parties began to diminish, they be,g ~lood!1t \0 bl&wp~me and .wear ;-AQ~ aiv.. Ie

Digitized by Google 41 much strength 18 tbat. But the Proven~als new.comen .houted. u they flUIlI tb.1fttIl... were the·mOltnumerons: they were protect, h.adlong into the midlt of that furioua &Ad. edt too, by their garbe, and by the paste. implacable melee! • board head.drelees th.y wore. The sailol'l, The unsuspected r.inforcement-the .oand. too, were worn out by the excesse8 of the of La Joie's whistle, the cheer of Paul, all previous night. combines to give such energy, such power to Already they were growing weaker, borne the sailors, that the chances changed, the bat. down by overwhelming numbers; alreadytheir tie lasted but a moment. The advantage, de• sllcce. was doubling the strengtb and cou, cided now and positive, remained with the rare of the Provencals, when the voice of the Salamanders, Parisians gave fresh courage to the sailors. The sailors being always furnished, 8,11 Be had succeeded in tearing himself 1008e wellknown; with abundance of rope's.ende and from the teeth Q{ the queen, by leaving balf spun-yam, they soon tied hand and foot all his lip behind. He was one sheet of gore. the Provencals who were capable of moving, "Courage, boys, courage! If we leave our and of these, tbere were but a few. Then wns here, let us tear theirs away," be cried; they descended to the lower ball to bring out and desperately he cast bimself UpOBProser- the women who had fainted, and the drunken pine, shouting: "I am gallant to-night; bow sailors, who slept mostly in the deepest and many mistresses I have !" most delicious sleep; for, in the moment of And on one side they fought with the fierce. danger, their comrade. had carried them thl, ne88 of despair; and on the other, with the ther, to be out of the way of that bloodymelee. certainty and confidence of victory, which Tbese poor fellows complained bitterly uf ba. they well knew the sailors could not long dis. ing thus awakened. pule with them. It was a hideous butchery; "Have you turned brutes?".saidone; II could there was, indeed, much' red,' as the Queen you not amuse yourselves without making all of Saba had predicted. earthquake; without keeping a witch'. eab. And there was seen without, in the soft, bat, as you were dtlinl up stairs 7" calm moonlight, a smiling landscape, with "It is quite true," said another; "amUM groves of orange.trees covered with bloom; yourselves as much aa you please, but lot UI and a cool rivulet, winding its silver way sleep." through a wide, gentle meadow; and the fire. " Acd pray don't fire any more guns or pe. tties hung their pyramids of flickering lustre tards," said a third, stretcbing out his arma from the rose oleanders; and the cicala sang and turning himself over, in order to finiah continually, with its shrill, limpid note. his nap. But the voice of the cicala, at this instant, "Now then, La Joie," said Paul, "order BOundednot alone; another note, shrill also, them to be carried and put on board the boats." but keen, piercing, penetrating, rang wildly through the quiet of the night; and, as the Then turning to the new-como...... "And noise drew nearer, it became keener, more you," he said, "form a guard, en tchtlon, from ear-piercing, and far more expressive. It may thie place to the coast, until the moment when be told-it was the sound of a whistle, well we puh off, for I am afraid we shall have the knowft on board the Salamander: and it whole country on our banda." could easily be judged that he who drew from They took up the body of poor Giromon. it those notes was coming on at a fast run; and of cleven sailors very dangerously wound. for she notes themselves kept time to a hur, ed, and lowered them down to be transported lied march. to the beach, either by hand, or in the car- "Courage, my children--euccors are hero! riages which bad brought up the crew. Such FOl'\Vard-the fire.eaters=-forward, the Sala, of the fire-eaters, as were strong enough to manders forward!" walk and do duty, setting offin company with And Paul, seeing the ladders yet standing .the sailors .brought by Paul, were appointed where they had been planted by the peasants, .to row tho ~oatd back to the Salamander. rushed up to the balcony followed by La Joie, When the little convoy was readY:1}.tart, close at his heels; and in one minute all bis Paul went the rounds of the house with acru, peopl. haa escaladed the balcony and dashed puloue care, to see that no one of the fire. iato the ireat ball. eaters had.been left in the tavern, and then It wu time-I swear it to you! gave the lIgna! to advance. . "Monsieur Paul," said the Parisian. "I --~- have forgotten something." What he had f6rgotten, was to lIet the taY. C HAP T E R ~VI. em of Marius on fire; but tbis h. did not J'Oll.WAllDTHE rnll~-EATERS. mention. Ob! bappilleu0( .....;i....oace __ h.! "Well, away with you, but make haste -~ ....-:ii:LUU1I. bagk; tbe .UD is rising, and they are lJl.1ioUi on board !" "Fo.w.a.BDtbe fire-eaten !forwardthe Sala. The Parisian was IIcarcely two DUnutH ...... ,~tWtrl die fint wordl wWc.ll the abita&, &Del reapp.u.cl iaa&&Dtly,.yWit

Digitized by Google 42 THB SALA1'4ANJ)BJt. "-There is no use' in W'llting 'money fot times to tcdi with his me88DlatcBouquin, anel Il()thing!" considering its sqlitary.and quiet situationlJ, cr March !" said Paul. suspected !iltronglythat it might contain the The whistle of La Joie sounded, and the missing crew:of the Salamander. caravan set out upon their return. We have already seen that he was not mise They very soon reached the shore, where. taken; and that he arrived just in time to hin, , Allthe boats of the Salamander had touched. der their enemies from putting the last stroke The wounded were placed in the long-boat, to the- massacre of the poor fire-eaters, who and the drunken men in the barge. . were now in safety, and returning to the cor.. Paul ordered them to set the sails, and they vette under all sail. steered directly on the Salamander, which was In fact, as the Turks say, God is God, aud , beginning to loomup out of the morning mist, Mahomet is his prophet-but destiny could as it yielded gradually to the rays of the morn. not have devoted to destruction, by the assas• ing sun. sin's, knife, that brave crew of the Salaman, The fresh and keen morning air, striking der--such capital musicians, such sublime the drunkards in the face, wakened them by painters, so mad in their orgies, so gay in degrees, and restored to them their gayety at their strife. least, if not their reason. There where then A crew, which individualized itself, as merry songs, quavers and harmoniee, which though it were but one man-the lame will not all the blasts of Boatswain La Joie's whia, to all-the same passions! Was the question tle could repress. For these poor fellows had ofdrinking, let us drink-of killing, let us kill ! not the least notion of what had occurred; without the least spite against the luck, which and their joyous cries contrasted dolefullywith had changed a day of frantic joy, to one of the groans and lamentations of the wounded, desperate and unbridled carnage. Good Hea• in the other boat, who sighed anxiously for vens! no! they were surprised, that's all, and the care of the good Gamier. asked each other, "Who would have thought It remains to be explained, how Paul are this yesterday T" rived so opportunely to the aid of the Sala, And then, if the crew had perished, what, manders, I pray you, would have become of the SMa. Himself absent from the Salamander, have mander7 For that crew was her life, her ing been, according to his custom, wandering blood r That crew, which circulates through round the house of Alice, until sunset, he was her batteries, her decks, her m ists, her tops; preparing to return on board, when he met which divides itself into the infinite subdivi. on the shore twenty sailors, under the com• sions of her cordage. mand of a boatswain, who had just been sent It is the blood which circulates in the arte• to Saint Tropez to reinforce the ship's com• ries, in the blood.vessels, in the 'veins. It is pany. When he reached the little bay, which the blood that animates the body, it is her served as a landing-place, he was greatly as. crew that animates tbe Salamander, that gives toniahed to find all the boata of the Salaman• her an air of life, of joy, of existence; it is der moored there, wiabout any boat-keepers. her heart, her-head. Then she quivers, she He had begun to entertain some suspicions, tremble.s--ehe eomes=-ehe goes--she has a when he saw, at a distance, something heave voice~a breath-life escapes, as it were, from up above the waves; then It drew near, be• all her port-holes. Then is she surrounded came more and more distinct, and at last he by tbat inexplicable noise,which is not a noise, made it out to be a man swimming. The but which exhales from every living creature swimmer was La Jole, sent by the lieutenant, -is it an echo of his thought 1 of his anima• who, having waited the whole day in vain, tion 1-1know not-but in a word, this voice without any means ofcommunicating with the says to you-" this thing exists." And wi&h. shore, had at last determined on sending off out that noise, the Salamander would exist no La Joie to gain information, and to let him longer. swim the league which lay between the Sal• See her now, as she lies there, all alone, amander and the coast. all sad, and voiceless, deprived of her crew La Joie speedily told all this to Paul; and since yesterday ; it is the. silence, it is the he, shuddering at the consequences of this de• sleep of death! -How cold and colorless she sertion, and. knowing the hatred that existed is! how dim and doleful! You would be• between the Bretons and Provencals, the dif• lieve her to be one of those petrified bodies ference in their political opinions,and the im• which the magician of a fairy tale has smit• placable character of the latter race, put him. ten with a temporary death. Come, good self at the head of the new.comers, and fol, magician; say, have you again touched her lowed by La Joie, who dressed himself very with your wand-that she shivem gently decently, owing to the precaution he had ta• throughout all her frame, that she raises her ken offastening his clothes on his head, scour. yards softly, that a shuddering of pleasure ed all the taverns of Saint Tropez, without 'runs to the very smallest of her rigging 7 Oh! encountering the fire.eaters, see, she moves-she is lively-e-she exists!• At last, La Joie called to mind the tavern she exists, for her crew is aboard her-s-ehe ex- of Saint Marcel, since he hadbeon there some· 818, for her battery is thronged, ber deck.l

Digitized by Google THE JtETt1JtN. 48

maued. her tOJHI fi11ed. She exists, I say; Merval, cC he ia lteeriDI tbe lone-boat; h. hi 8,8' how her upect i.. ll ehaaged. She isno not hurt." lODgeread-no longer dull-no longer cold "The devil !" said the doctor, "I must be. and shamefaced, like a girl without a lover; take myself to my medicine cheat, for lint and she is proud, she it haughty, she is smiling, linen." she is lovely, she admires herself in the mire And ~e good man went down into hi.state~ ror of the waves, she is coquettish, she stoops room. and apin arises, making the splendor of her " Now comes the painful part of it, Mer. pyensignnadiate around her; she is ellsplen, val," said the lieutenant. "These are brave did, amorous, and daring. And then, when fellows, trusty sailors, whose conduct I can the poor sun comes out, and clothes her pom, excuse, because I know the privations which pouRlyinrobes of gold and purple,she receives they have endured so gaUantly; and yet, I his offerings of homage with indifference and must receive them on board with rigor and disdain, as a court dame in satiety of admir... severity. I must punish them." tion;: suffers herself to be decked, careless " Bah !" said the ensign, "you treat your what she wears in the moet rich and gorgeous .sailors tQomildly. The English--" tissues. "The English - the English, Monsieur, have not got French blood in their veins. . It is by the rope's.end only, that you can brin&. them under fire; and it is but a low kind of CHAPTER VII. courage that will fight only when placed be. THE RETURN. tween two perils, or gorged with rum and I To _,. tile truth it was a sad sleep, intel'l'Uptedby wine! have not given a flQggingto any of tries&Del 1ItutI. Jvus J....lf1M-TM OmJU81tn&. my fellows but ten times in nine years. I have seen my fire-eaters in action, and Iknow Dilnus est intrare in nostro doeto eerpcee. . MOLlua-uMoJGde itrUJlifUlfire. what they can do." " Every one to his opinion, lieutenant; but IT has been stated that, by the instructions here are our men." of Peter, La Joie betook himself to swimming, .. In fact, the boats had come alongside, but iB order to go ashore, Ia the hope of findin, not a sailor appeared on deck. Ashamed and meana by w.hichto bringback a boat, and.so confused, they all sprang up through the port. refJstablisha communication. Therefore, the holes; they were the wounded only, who were lieutenant, the ensign, the purser, and the hoisted up, together with poor Giromon. doctor, were all agreeably surprised at seeing Paul informed the staff of all that had pass. the four boats coming back under full sail. ed; and the lieutenant ordered Boatswain La " I am surprised," said Peter, "that old La Joie to call all hands on deck. Joie should have succeeded 80 quickly!' The sailors appeared, hanging their heads, "What the devil! would you have 1" an• down-hearted, and submisaive. Peter placed swered the surgeon; "there are not very great himself upon his bench on the quarter-deck, resources on shore-wine! wine! still wine! put on his sternest aspect, and said: That is all, so that they will arrive in a state-" "I hope, lieutenant," said the parser, "you Ie Every man who leaves the ship without will make a severe example !" permission, is to be punished with eigh~days "I know my duty, sir !" in irOJUl. When such leaving the ship shall " Hold your tongue, purser l" said old Gar. partake of the nature of a conspiracy or de. ni,er~ " Do you think you know what a sailor sertion-the ringleader shall be punished with is 1 do you think that these poor devils, after fifty lashes. The crew of the Salamander is a cruise of two or three years, are doing any in this position. Narne your ringleader !" ~ery great harm if they go ashore for a single He well knew, that kind-hearted officer, day? I will give you six months; you, who that he should receive no answer. are grumbling already about the life on board, " Since you refuse to name them, the men &Del we should 800n see how you would get who are off watch, shall remain twelve hours on.!" . a day in irons for a month. Break your ranks "May I be damned !" said Merval, "if -march-the larboard watch into irons! there are not blood and dead men in the Oeptain-at.arms see to it !" boats !" All this was so perfectly foreseen; so well "Say rather wine and druakarda :" said known by the crew, that there was not Ii Gamier. word, not a murmur; and, in truth, Peter " No! by Heaven! Merval is right," said appeared to be in greater trouble than the the lieutenant, a,;ranging the focus of his tel. men. escope. " I was sure of it !-a quarrel and an "Brave fellows!" he said; "good, brave exchange of blows with these Provencal fel, fellows !" as he saw them gQ. below care. 10ws-tlOme difference in politics, I suppose ! lessly. "For one day's pleasures! and what Curses upon it, my poor fire.eaters l my poor pleasure after all? They will begin again aailors! and Paul, too, my son 1" now, two or three years of the hardest, and II J3e.at1ourelUlfSoll hisacccunt,' answered most toilsome life, and not a word of com

Digitized by Google 44. '1'JlB • .lLAMAND.a.

p.1afn'. Poor follow! Come.let UI look to I to scratch my ean, and...., like a mcmk' the wounded !" Do you think that fellows lilte ,ou, wretch .. And with the worda h. rtjoined the doctor. 88 you are, do' not deM". all the care that who was coming. and eoing, 8wearina and can possiblybe taken of you t h not my life storming' about tbe gun-deck, whereon they devoted to you, you wretch.. 1" bad been deposited for the moment. " Yes, doctor-yes, doctor-YII!" eried " Could you not, then," he said, "brutes the others, dreadfully frightened. for old Gar. 8S you are, have carried your cutlasses or nier was expressing his philanthropy with quarter.staves, when you went ashore, and unheard-of fury. "Yes, doctor! we know· murdered these savagel? What tho devil that you are our excellent old doctor, and that is the use of being Bretons, and knowing how you take care of us damnably!" 10 pl:lY with the double.endedataff if you let " Pretty work-pretty work. I would box your throllS be cut by them, l1ke block• my own ears roundly if I did not. Cpme.· beads?" my children, keep your courage; this will be h But, doctor, we had our knives !" nothing! set ycurselves at rest, and remem• " Ah! your knives, indeed! Fine asses ber, the irons if you do not let me know when you are, to play knife.play with these Pro. you are in pain." ven~ol dogs! Look at this slaeh l were they " Yes. doctor!' such bodkins as yours that made these garh. Then the good Garnier, still grumbUna. 817 I tell you, you are brutes, asses, senseless went to join the lieutenant who had an open animals. Ah! ah! remember now what I letter in his hand. am eoing to tell you. If I lee by your "Wen," said Peter, "our commander, the wounds to.morrow morning, that anyone of Marquis de Longetour, is coming." you have been in sufferlag to-day or to.night, " And when, I pray you 7" without sending for me, or calling me up-if "As they tell me by letters from ToulOll, u I see, in word. that anyone of you has been he is coming to inspect US to-merrow," in suffering without letting me know it-do " Monsieur Longetour--" you understand filii 1" "Yes, doctor." "Y8S! the Marquis de Longetour, fripte " Well; that fellow, aa eoon as he is cured, captain. I have not the slightest reeolleetioa shall go into irons for a fortnight. I swear to of the name." you that it shall be so, for it is not the first " Nor I; but it is all one to me. I mUlt time that has happened, you brutes l" go back to my wounded fellowa ; there ia " But, cloctor--" . something I forgot to tell them." " Thera is no but doctor about tb. matter! And during the rest of the day, the arrival Do you suppose," aaid·thflgood mao,getting or-the new commander wu the subject of aU Tery angry_COdo you suppose that you are the conversations which were h.ld 011 board here to &UlTerthetorture. of the damned, and the Salamander.

BOOK IV.

CJlAPTElt I. aloped.out exe_v.I,. Sh. wu the ant who paintea tbe interior of her port-ahuttel'8 coqn'l'&T. red, 80 that-when they were opened, relieved - To deleat Yloe 'th0llfb much 11Ie1Jllld by her white streak, tbey showed like crimeoll Yet WILfIII,not wutoa· c1llnled, but not bUncl." lozenges. But in order to do such tbin':8 U BVlLox-La Wq,z.1o this, it was necessary to have her shape, her Btlt wbat a dl8ll! thJI Intended of youn II per• benuty; to be in fact the Salamander. For r.otly hldeous, DIy cl.. r. I remember having seen one day, at Caiao, Be II • maa. A WOJl.&JC'.AlI.WItIL. an English corvette trying to ape the dr", 'Y E gods! what a toilet! what eztrava• of a French one. Ye gode! if you could ganee! what erace! Oh! it is not the stiff have seen that poor Englishman! She wu end awkward shape of a Danish hoy, dry so ridiculous that she would have moved your and etit}'as an old maid; nor the square, pity. Poor English man.of.war l And ,et massi ve figure of a eood broad.beamed she had the same red painting to her port8; . Dutch Balliot, heavy and stout ns a fat house• the same slope to her to'-gallant-sail.; but keeper. No! it is something captivating, she lacked that something, that diltinctiva supple, elegant, voluptuous. For she iii beau. mark of all aristocratic races, whether of cor. tifully elreeslid,the Salamander. ~"e has 10 venes, or of women. - Ye8! it is ealY to per. much, and eo iOild taste. And then. look ceive, my pretty Salamander, that you expect you, a corvette does not follow the modes of your new master! What taste in all your others; she invents her own. Thus. it WBI tackling! how perfect a lUXury of cleanlL lbo, wbo fiB, 8Urie4 atr w'..pJlaAwailI Dill! Bow wbite aDd Ma'''' 10urdeoka~

Digitized by Google Bow met are your· muta and I.tanto! a small hat, yt1rf low.crowned, with a "'1 1ltidl IJJDlDetry how exquisite are your Barrow rim, covered by a white cll.ing, fa.. JUde Iquued! How YOluptuously are you tened by a broad black ribbon. oompletecl robed in the· undulating (old, of your lower their uniform attire. .. Us! But what· Ie this I see 7. Coquette The bOltlwain. boatawatn'e.mate8, Ind that you ate, have you opened your fine jewel quarter.masters, were distinguished by tbe box 1 Have youl put on yO'QJ'sparklinr ,ar. gold bindings with which their aleevel and. mllll8 of battle.asea 1 your girdle of brazen collars were adorned. carronade., with pan.covers of ,litterinr .teel, The moet profound eilence rlt,ned on e.. hing like diamonds 7 Heavena! how am board; it was nino o'clock, and it bad been Idazzled! Even your tape have their neck. announced tbat Ute marquis would arrive at laces of pistols, with butte of polished copper, balf.pllst nine. Meantime the ata1f was ... and tbeir bell-mouthed blunderbuaaea after sembled on the quarter-deck, . the Mooriah fashion, which give them an air Peter and the military offiul't were ellUl 10pert and rakiab! And now, too, you have in tbe dreae uniform of the n~vy, with scarlet ercwned youreelf with all your pendants, facings, embroidered witb go.d on the cuff. enamelling' tbe azure o( the IIky with all the and at the collur; and inatead of wearing briahle.t and most varied hues. There is their swords, carried dirk., han,inr from the blue fta~ of the English, the red of the their belts by silk cords. Turk, tbe yellow of Spain, the white and The good doctor had the decoration of btl blue of modern Greece, the green and while grade embroidered on scarlet velvet, and the of Cbili; and yet a hundred' othere tbat I purser hi' in silver on blue cloth. Paul, for know not of. In truth, my beauteous Sala. hi' part, was 88 proud all a child of his gold mander, you are dressed up and flickering aiguillette and his dirk with a hilt of the mOe with It.el and ,old, with every color of .the ther-of-pearl, which his father had given him. rainbow glowine in the bright sunehine, " Do you aee nothing, helmsman 1" asked And wberefore, you, wherefore I beseeeh the lieutenant. theee gay and gorgeous preparations? To receive the good and worthy Marquis de " Yell, lieutenant, Ithink I lee a Doat car. • Lon,etour, who for you has foreaken hie rying a flag, pulling round the point." peaceful counter, his spiteful wife, his happy, " So! then we shall soon know our com. indolent and calm existence, his dominos, his mander," said Peter, taking his teleseope. co1fee.hoU8e; his quiet CUJtoms. . " Yes, it is he, without any doubt. Mon.ieur Alaa! alaa! I greatly (ear, foolish and de Merval, see that the men are attheir quare Gighty that you are. I patly fear leet the ters to receive their captain." poor man will be led utray, distracted, tor. Tbis was done easily. mented, perhaps fOrever ruined by you. He i. " Is he fat or lean 1" asked the doctor ot 10mild, you 80 haughty; he 10fearful, you 10 Peter. intrepid; he 10 chaste, 10 timid, you eo im, "Upon my word! I can't tell at tbis dis. pertinent, I!IOamorous, makinA' 110ftlIignals to tance. Look for yourself." .very ship you meet! _ "He locks to me very thin," lIald the dOt'.• AI .. ! 18ay, and again alas! I fear that tor sadly, after looking attentively fur, mo• tlsere may be a great incompatibility of tern, ment. U A bad sign, that! for our table, I per, as they say, between you, and that you mean to say." will be obliged to sue- for a eeparate mairrte, " Come, gentlemen, to your stations," I!Inid Dace. For you will still desire to retain your the lieutenant-" the boat is coming' up, and proQd' brave lover, Peter Huet. Poor, poor will be alongside directly." marquil! And if he should fan in love with In fact the boat, pulled by a dozen sturdy you 1 For you have dressed yourself out in sailors, described a great circle before coming yOW' best to-day. You do not love him, yet alongside, and tben came up, with marvellcus yO\I wiah to seduce him. accuracy, losing her way exactly at the star. In truta, conettea and women are incar. board gangway. nata devils. At tbis moment Peter appeared above at In fact, never had the Salamander been the opening of the gangway. The whistle of 80' gay or fascinating-all the fire-eatere and tbe Boatswain La Joie rang through the ship, newly enlisted men, led by Paul, were gal. the drum beat a march, then up ran the broad lantly attired in white pantaloons. in blue pennant, and two handsome man.ropes, cov. jackets, with anchor buttons, Tbeir red gir• ered witb scarlet cloth, were stretched along. dIu made a gay contrast with their white side, in order to assist the ex.ahopkeeper ill ah.irt-collarB adorned with blue embroidery, coming on board-who had already taken his and tu.rned O'fer on the jacket 10 as to show hat off three times, and appeared very much 1heir broWll aDd ainlWY Ileclu. To eenelude, alarmed and embarrussld about ioilll up.

Digitized by Google CHAPTER I!. stem.gallery, lwill have the hoDor 0{ prel8llL THE INSPECTION. ing your offieers to you by name." You bow bim well; he has hill own habjb; But the commander wal so much stupefied . Do you understandme ? by all that had passed, that instead 0( going R.A.nu.n. toward the stern, he Betoff as bard as he Veil! yes ! I understandyou. could go toward the forward part of the SCHlLLEIl-TA4I RoMI'r". ship, followed by the whole staff, who could My comrades,what do you think of them '1 not conceive the meaning of this strange Hum! hum! 011I ob! movement. I am eUl'tly of your opinion. BURn. " Probably he is going to look at the cook's gally," said the doctor. "Come, that is II. M. FORMO~, Marquis of Longetour, dnring capital idea." the long time he spent behind the counter, had neglected his naval gymnastics a good After a while the ex.shopkeeper, remem- d~l; moreover, he appeared a good deal bering that in old times the gaUeryused to be puzzled about climbing up a ladder, the rungs aft, came back to the taffrail, having made of wbich, set close against the ship's sides, a complete circuit of the ship. It is true, scarce left room for him to set the tips of bia that to the crew this walk might possibly have feet upon them, passed for an inspection. , Helping himself, however, up by the two The lieutenant then went below, and pre~ man-ropes or cords which hung on each side ceded his superior to the gun-deck, whereoa of the ladder, he commenced his perilous his quarters were situated. The worthy mar. ascent. When he had ,got about half.way quia entered, and was very much astonished up, he made a false step, slipped, and would at the luxury which reigned within. most certainly have killed himself, if he had "This is very comfortable-all this !" said not retained presence of mind enough to hold he to Pierre--" very comfortable, indeed! fast to the ropes. Having no support left to .But come, pray present messieura my.officel8 his feet, however, he remained swinging to me." round and round in the air. Pierre began. Then one of the sailors of the boat raised " M. de Menal, ship's ensign !" him respectfully, and put his feet on the gang. ." M. de Merval-ellJign 7 Ah! I see. We way ladder; and, thanks to that unexpected used to call tbat, in old times, capitainc tk aid, he was enabled to gain the deck. jI(J,u, I think, and theD we used to wear-I " What the devil manreuvre is he perform. think, we used to wear a blue coat and waist. ing 7" said old Garnier. "Is he trying if coat, edged with gold binding of the Burgun, the man-ropes are stout? Certainly, he is dy pattern. His majeaty was pleased to grant very lean!" us permission to wear camlet. Upon my " I salute you, gentlemen; but your stair. word! it was very cool. I am delighted, M. case is very inconvenient." de Menal, to make your acquaintance." These were the first words that the ex- And the good marquis bowed to him. shopkeeper addressed to the assembled offi. Peter and the doctor exchanged glancn of cere on board the corvette. M. Longetour astonishment; and Peter continued the intra.. was imprisoned in a handsome new uniform; ductions. he had a new hat, new epaulettes, a bran -" M. Paul Huet, midshipman of the, fint new sword. Oh! yes! bran new, all cov. class, doing the duty of an officer on board." ered with that slight damp and greasy dew " But your name is Huet, too,is it not, u.n. which proves the virgin purity of the steel. tenant 7" He was, moreover, himself radiant; mirthful, " Yes, captain: this is my son." and even dazzling, was M. Formon, Marquis "Ah! ha! a charming young man! Ah! de Longetonr. he is a midshipman; we ned to call that- " No! upon my word! yonr staircase is wait a minut&-yes ! now I recollect! guard not convenient," he exclaimed, again saluting of the naval ensign! Then we had a coat of his officers. royal blue, lined with scarlet serge, with f~ " Weare extremely sorry, captain," replied cings to the sleeves and body of the same- , Peter, " that we have no better to I)trer you. the belt, of elk-skin, stitched with gold thrud But permit me to present you to the officers and buckles to match--searlet stockings, and of the staff of.--My God! take care, cap. a musketeer'S cocked hat. It was a very be• tain, or you will tumble into the hold." coming eire_, upon my word! And thi8 The fsct is, that M. de Longetour, who, pretty boy would have looked very well in it. drawing b_ackthree steps in order to assume So! so!" said the good-natured captain~tap• a dignified position, had come to the very ping Paul's cbeelr.ligbtly-" So! IIO!are you edge of the main-hatch, and would probably a good boy7 Is papa well pleased with you 7" h~ve ~mbled. ~to it, had it not been for the Paul blushed; refrained with great difticuJ. kind rnterposttion of Peter. ty from laughing, and then retired, with a low "Captain," continued Peter," if you will bow. aiTe ),oW'l'tlf the trouble to 10 below to the Peter went on : Digitized by Google tJti INSPECTION. 41

4e M. Garnier, surgeon.major of the Sala• alism and loud loyalty, SO unexpectedly and mander." suddenly, that the doctor rave a tremendous The old doctor advanced. Jump. "Ah! ah! monsieur, the doctor, charmed . The lieutenant was in agony. He went up to know you! I hope that we may meet as to the marquis, and asked him if he wished good friends, but nothing more; for I am to examine the corvette more closely. dreadfully afraid of your instruments." "No! DO! my good friend! we will lee "Nevertheless, commnnder,just now when that somewhat later. But firstof all Ishould I saw you twisting about at the end Of the like to say a few words to those good fellows, man-ropes, I thought we should have made who are above there." acquaintance very quickly." This was said in despite the reiterated And he went up the companion-ladder, fol• glances and signs of the lieutenant, who was lowed by his officers. The whistle of Laloie afraid of Gamier's frankness. produced silence, and the marquis addressed " The truth is, doctor," replied the captain, himself to the men. " that I did make some funny pirouettes." U My brave friends, the king has sent me to "Oh! devilish funny, captain! we laughed command you, and I shall do my best to de• at them, here, like cripples!" Bene that honor. Ihope that we shall under• Here Peter grew red in the face, with an• stand one anothervery well. We fellows--" Peter coughed here very hard, looking at ger. , "So much the better; I am always glad the marqws, but he went on, not observing that people should be amused and be merry," him: said the captain. " And you shall all be my children." "They. too!" said old Garnier-"Ah! ha! "Oh!--" he is worse than a sea-gull with her little Here the lieutenant interrupted the doctor, ones." , who was going to reply to the captain, by "For, my friends," said the ex-shopkeeper, presenting the purser. "you shall see that your captain is a jolly " M. Gabillot, agent of accounts, and com• fellow, who will never harm anyone, do you missary on board." understand 1 No! not anyone !-but, on the "Agent of accounts !" said the captain, who contrary, would suffer himself to be quartered was not yet at the end of his recollections of for you; and who will always uphold yon, old times-" Agent of accounts! well, we should anyone attempt to wrong you !" called that formerly' officerof the pen.' They were dressed in gray, with collars of crimson And the worthy man was so much affected velvet, and crimson stockings." by his own words, that he began to weep. Peter drew near, ana said to him in a whis• "Monsieur the captain is too good," replied per: the government agent-" too good to remem• ber these particulars; and on this subject, I " Enough! enough! captain; let me finish !" will take occasion of manifesting my devo• And, in fact, the sailors, who were little use~ to see men weep, began to giggle and tion to the reigning family, which Providence whisper, one to the other. has restored to llB-which Providence--" , "Do hold your tongue, purser," said the . "Do so, then !" said the marquis, wiping doctor, in a half-voice,interrupting the purser. his eyes. " He speaks to you ef crimson stockings, and "Sailors !"-Peter took up the words• you reply about Providence! You are as " the captain desires me to add, that while he great a fool as though you ate hay." desires to make you happy, he is determined The ex-shopkeeper could not, however, re• that the strictest discipline shall be maintain. main quiet, and replied: ed on board. He intends that the smallest " Noone more than I, messieurs, respects faults shan be punished as heretofore. He or• and venerates that family, which Providence ders me to say that you will find him hard haa restored to us. I, moreover, owe to that and inftexible if you do not maintain your an, famfiy the pleasure of making your acquaint• cient reputation. Break. your ranks !-march ! ance, which I am charmed to do. You seem Let the watch that is not at quarters return to to me to be excellent fellows. Ah! I hope their irons." 'we shall understand one another very well ! The faces of the sailors resumed their ex• And I feel well.disposed to love you all, and pressionof carelessnessand resignation, which to carry you in my heart, as if you were my the eloquence of the marquis had a little dis• children. Ah! ha! we will support one an• turbed; and they said, as they went down to othet,shall we not 1 and you will aid me with their irons: '.your councils, for I shall need them, do you U Fa. all his air of good child, it seems that, see'! In a word, my friends, to conclude with after all, he is an old stormer, this new cap• a phrase which will doubtless find an echo tain. Did you hear ho~he told the lieuten• inall your hearts-' Live! live! the king!' " ant to haze us 1 He is another old sea-wolf cned the iood marquis,moved almost to tears, -another hard-to-cook! We must look oat and throwing his hat up into the air. for squalls, there !" The purser then uttered eueh a cry of roy. Poor marquis! tbey judged you Tery Digitized by Google 48 Wrongfully. Y... "ery wrongfully, by Hea. transformed himself into a gentleman or die "on! bedchamber. By the greatest accident in the II My denr lieutenant,' said the captain, world, I happened to be the posaessor ofsome .. now tben, will you be 80 goed as to go be• papers concerning the family, of"ut impor• low with me for a little while 1 I have two tance to him; my devil of a wife-my fiend words to say to you." of a wife offered them to him. He accepted II I bave myself something about which to them; and by gratitude, he felt himself cOID• speak to you, captain." pelled to restore me to active service, and to " See, then, how well tbinp tum up tore• sive me rank superior to that which I held be• ther!" said the ex.shopkeeper. fore the revolution. You will easily be• And tbey went below together. lieve, my good friend, that I refused it." " Well, what then, captain 1" " Well, then, my good friend, my furious, CHAPTER III. mad wife did this and that, till she forced me to accept it. She answered, in spite of me, DISCLOSURES. in the affirmative to the minister, and would TlIe k!nr Is inrallible.-TBB CBUTBB. have brought me here herself, if good Provi• dence had not sent a pleurisy, which lefs her II FIIlST of all, my dear lieutenant," laid in Paris." the marquis, "I will ask your permiesion to " Ah! monsieur, monsieur, beware! you lay aside this devil of a uniform, for I am are in a truly dangerous position, I aeaure ehokiog in it." you; in a word, you must have entirely for• " At your pleasure, captain." gotten your profession!" tI Ah! 1 am free at last! How heavy it " Entirely! entirely! my dear fellow." II! And the sword, and this cursed hat, " The practice of it 1" which makes me squint. It is because, in "Yes." fact, I have been so long a time a citizen, a " The theory too1" rood quiet citizen, my friend, that 1 have got "Yes.!' out of the habit of barnesa, as they say." "It would be absurd, I suppose,to talk tG ..Is it 80 long a time since you have been you of tactics or astronomy1" to sea, captain 1" "Why, how the devil would you have " Ab! do you ask me if it is a long time? had me learn those things 1 for before the I believe it is. But, my friend, believe me, revolution I was very young, and, upon my the beat of all things is frankness. So listen word, pleasure--you understand me 1-1 re• to me: In '90,1 emigrated to Germany, and peat it toyou-how would you have me leam there I stayed till 1805.; then I asked the it in my office1" emperor to grant me the favor of admitting " But yet, monsieur-it is yet time; refuse, me to the rank of lieutenant, which I had be• refuse: you are playing with your own life. fore the revolution. He refused me clean; and that of a whole crew of good and brave on the pretext, which by.the.way was true, sailors. Monsieur, for heaven's sake, while that I must have grown a little rusty, seeing yet there is time, refuse." that Vienna is not a seaport. .But one of my " Refuse 7 refuse? It is very easy to say relations, the Duke de Saint Are, then cham• that. With my wife-" ' berlain to Bonaparte,obtained for me an ad. " But, by God! your wife, by what I see" ministration of tobacco--that WB8 some com. ought to have worn the epaulettes !" pensation." " Between us, my friend, that is quite true ; 14 A tobacco factory! How, monsieur! is and it is on that account that I could not re• it a tobacco factory that you have left 1" fuse without her consent; and she will never cried Peter, with an air of mournful astonish• give it-never I"~ ment. " But, in a word, monsieur, when you have "Yes, my dear fellow. But listen, will accepted, what do you mean to do 7'" you. Upon my word, I found myself very "Upon my word, my good friend, I had comfortable in my new situation--quiet, ob, but one.of two parts to play-either to affect ecur., forgetful of my ancient fortunes, my capacity, or to confess ignorance. In takin, title, of hopes which could not be realized. the first part, I could not have played my I lived thus up to the period of the restoration. part eight days perhaps; in taking the second, Then came the law to recognize the time of I had the chance of meeting with a gallant emigrant officers.whether during emigration, man like you i"and here the marquisstretched or during the usurpation, which, at the first, out his hand to Peter-" of eonfessing the was all one to me; but I have II devil of a whole to him, of asking his advice, and wife, lieutenant-an incarnate devil," added throwing myself on his generosity." he, in Ii low voice, as if, even on board, he The anger of Peter fell before this frank had feared that Elizabeth would hear him. avowal. This poor old man had a- manner U Now. my devil of a wife took it into her 90 humble, so repentant, so confused, tbat Lead to write to my cousin the Duke de Saint the good lieutenant answered: Arc, who, from chamberlain, had na~ural1y It Your confidence shall not be deceived,

Digitized by Google D It 0 t. 0-1 V •• I. lBO_eur, aad I give yltD credit for your g088 out to Smyrna, and the COI'Yetta iIat his ayowal. I ought~however, W cODfees to you di$position; and, moreover, Madame. and that it is not for you, whom I hardly know, Mademoiselle de Blene, her niece, who are but for yoar epaulettea, which ....e to me a going to Smyrna to rejoin M. 88 BUm8, aD .ymbol and a rank, that I devote myself-a exceedingly rich banker, as they tell me. -1'8nk 'whielt muat ever be prese"ed apotleu. Theae three pe.rsonswill eat at my table; aI It illa fanaticism, I well know it j but ao long to their lodgings, 1-" , as Peter Huet 'livel, big cares, his' hopes, his "I will see to that, captain." life, even his honor, if it were needed, IhoWd "And I. captain," said old Garnier j U I all be eacri6eed 'to the honor of our Davy, gf eome to request for my children, a favor. our tag, that neither may be loile4; and that The quarters for the sick are chock.forward an officer, bearing the epaulettee of a com. on the gun-deck,· and the bew-chaaell are mander, may be respected, and reepectable in terribly in my way. Will the captain be 10 the eyes of his crew; for, without this, mon. good as to rive sorne orders on th. subject"" 'Bienr, there can be no subordinatj;on. To " Myoid friend," replied Peter, seeing the require that absolute and passive obedience, confusion of the marquis, "the captain, to which is the very soul of navigation, it is in. whom I have spoken on the subject, has in. fallibly necessary, that grade should represent struetsd me with regard to it." courage and knowledge in the eyes of the " Yea, yes, it is arranged, doctor," replied Clew. It is on this account that, hereafter, the marquis; "but I hope, gentlemen, that I will give all my cares t!l prevent you from you will dine with me to-day.' .appearing misplaced in the situation which " We will have that honor, captain," an. you hold. Jut once more, monsieur, you swered Peter, bowing to his superior with aH have put yourself, with leeiningly a light respect and subordination. He then left the heart, in a very perilous position." cabin with Dr. Gamier. \ II Tell me, then, lieutenaat, what would "Well," gid the doctor, " he seems to IIlf) you have me do 1 It iI done, now j there. to be a good fellow; but he does not give me fore--" the idea of one who has often had his eyee "Yea, mossieur, I know it. Unhappily, washed by a head sea. Hey 1" the evil is irreparable. You are noble, sup• . " You are mistaken, old friend; you are ported by powerful friends, protected by the mistaken. He is is a sound man; one who great. If I were to write to the minister, MOWS his duty, 8S I think, right well; but telling him the true state of the ease, I should who has, aa he tells me, a habit of giving all be diamlssed as a Bonapartist. Now I prefer bis commands through his first lieutenant, to keep watch myself over my poor fire.eaters who is little more than his speaking-trumpet, .of the Salamander. But, for God's sake, not which is disagreable enough." . a word about working the ship, and above "Upon my word, yes; but if he is a sea.. all, never contradict iny orders." man, that ill a great deal; we, too, who were "Yes, lientenant," said the other meekly. so much afraid of having an ass !" " To begin, you will sign an order of the "Which ought to prove to you, good doc. day, which I will write, expressing your tor, that we never ought to bave evil misgiv. satisfaction with the state of the crew." ings. But what is that Isee, hey? a boat, . " Yes, lieutenant." and fairly laden, too, upon my word. Here " And then you will grant a pardon to the are some pretty patients for you, happy doe• men in irons." tor." " Yea, lieutenant." "Y8It, indeed, they must be our paBlen. " You must also order a double ratien of flere," said Garnier, running to the gangway wine to these brave fellows, for your health ; with the agility of a young man. It was En• it is the custom." sign Merval, who respectfully received Ma• "Yes, lieutenant.' dame and Mademoiselle de Blene, who were "ADd, above all, avoid, by all means, introduced into the captain's cabin by Peter when we are once at sea, to oome upon deck Huet. - in bad :!Veather;you would be in my way. Now, let me try to explain the fanaticism Only, you will send for me to you, as if to of Paul in behalf of rank, which neechim.t give me your oriers." appear extravagant to all those who know not " Yes, lieutenant." the requirement of a naval life. This incon• At this instant old Garnier came in; and, ceivable self-sacrifice to a cOnventionalsym• at the same momeat, Peter, bowing to the bol would require no commentary, if people Marquis de Longetour, said, in the most re- generally knew the degree to which point of spectful manner: . honor and eqrit du·corp. were at that time, " You have no more orders then, to give and are still carried in tbe navy. And in fact me, captain 1" . 'thisfanaticism, if indeed it is such, baa positive " Orders l" replied the ex-shopkeeper; II it and irrefragable arguments in its favor. The is you, on the·.contrary--no! no! I have working of a ship, and naval clistOfR$,all re. no more -th.t,\s to say, we are to take some quire that the most ahaolute despotism muat ~e~oDi othel'B,M.de SHftie, who reiBll on bOild-requilt _, obod.iolwo ti&III a

._ Digitjzed by Google not only be prompt; but instantaneous; for, on fidenoe in his skill and COlll'.,.; that aMy shore, even to an. army, the execution of an should feel, in a word, die meet thorough erder, hastened or retarded by a min\lle, could collllCiouaneaeof tt.eir own inC4S1iority anel J»rodueeno very fatal consequences. At sea, hi. superiority; and that they should attach ,the slightest hesitation might produce the losa the ide. of pel8On~lafety to that of subordi• of a vessel with all on beard ~t. nation. Abd this eoneeiousnees they poaseia It will be seen, then, instantly, that if there instinctively; because man always involun, exists the least doubt as to the ce.pacity of .talily recognizes the IUperiority of intellect tile &upremechief, of whom all the aubahern to brute force; and sailors posseea this con• officers are but as echoes; that blind confi• aciouaness, because they feel and knew that dence, which leads the crew to brave all dan• they are but the arin that executes, while g.rs. would, be weakened and chilled. In• their commander is the head who conceives stead of obeying the first syllable, the orders and thinks. They have this eonscioueness 'Would be.' discussed, and doubt, and there.. deeply fixed-I know it; bat in the very after iOSl1bordinationandmutiny would 800n same degree-asthat belief inthe high capacity break down the admirable structure of naval of their chief imposes on sail~rs a profound hierarchy, founded, as it is~on courage and submission, so would an opposite belief lea~ knowledge. to the most appalling consequeuees, Thus Peter, in sacrificing himself to the This it was which Peter had at once per• rank of, the marquis, thought as much of ceived; for he feared that the crew, perceiv• himself and his companions,.as of his com. ingthe incapacity of the marquis, might ap• mander; for, from the day on which the point him, Peter, io perform his functions; moral influence of the superior is annihilated, and Peter, with his rooted faith in discipline, what, I pray you, becomes of the inferiors 1 and with-the knowledge he possessed of the And is not that influence the vital ques• character of sailors, well knew that the first tion, the pivot, the base of social society 1 invasion of ~e rights of the supreme chief, Is it 110tthe puissant lever by which one man would lead, as, a necessary consequenee, to sways and governs the destioy, the existence the destruction of all the rest, For, in a JJlIL\• of five hundred 1 00 shore, the earth on ter of attack on a military hierarchy, to have which we stand never fails the soldier. He undergone one insult is to be as a pearl neck• sees whither he is led; towns, mountains, lace, from which the most precious gem has forests are his guides; but at, sea, the un• been ravished-all the others fall asunder, and known stars and astronomic calculations, far are lost for ever. beyond their knowledge, are the soilors' safe• I hope this very long and very dry discus• guard. Go, and he goes; stop, and he sion will be pardoned; for 1think it is neces• stands still; risk your life at the end of that sary to a complete comprehension of the yard, he risks it j where he is, whither he character of Peter Huet, ~ho is not an ab• goel, he knows not; he has not even the stract idea, but a fact, a psychologicalportrait, right to fea~ a reef, not even when he is in tbe of which we could point out fifty originals. midst of the breakers; and, in that igno• At the end of about an hour, Paul returned rance,}te passes months, years, swept away from an unprofitable'visit to the coast. . by the tempests, cradled by the calm, without He came lightly up the aide; but when he knowing whither the breeze hurries, or where reached the deck, he became pale, his eyes the calm cradles him. wandered, he was about to lean for support And then to the sailor, a hard and narrow against the hammock-nettings. He saw hammock, a .coarsesort of food, a corrupted Alice! Alice on boardthe Salamander! beverage, hard labor and hard blows i-for them a dark gun-deck, wherein they are heaped, one upon tbe other, almost deprived CHAPTER IV. of the vital air, while their commander en, joys a wide and luxurious cabin, and feasts THE PASSENGERS. upou delicate meats, the rich steams of which The atrangea tbiDJ was, heauteolU, ahawas dolly tempt the poor sailors, eating their ealt fish Unconaei01ls, albehturn'd of quick IHIvlnteen, and hard biscuit, as the stewards carry up his That she Will fair, or durk, or short, or tall ; She never thought about he!'!lelfat all. meals smoking on costly plate. ByaOR-D.. J..... ls it not neceseary, then-I repeat my ques• tion-that these persons, whose numerical How! is it possible you could have wilhed to come force is out of all proportion to the numerical and bore younelfwithM~O C.-TAl 7W BrotUrll. force of the officers who command them-is it not neceesary, I say, in order to account IT is sweet to say to yourself," This heart for this disparity in .the conditions of exist• is mine-it is entirely mine! for before it be. enee, to reconcile them to a rude and toilsome' longed to nre, it had never thro~bed-Dev~r life, involving the risk of life, at the least or. had a blush risen to the face of this young gu} der of their ofticers; that these people should -never had her dim eye veiled itself-never have the most profound respect for the at• had she fled from an overpowering thought...;... fIiIWl~J1.UII.:oftheir ~~f,. the lI108t entire con- never in vague meditation had she forgotton

Digitized by Google THE PASSENGERS. 61 the p888iqg hours, or hidden herself in her' could aD earthly love be t6 her-a common, mother's bosom.'''' Alas! alas! to .y the and, 08 it 'ftre, illegitima&eUfeetion1 for truth, such hearte as these, such virlin. ,at with her, .eveeytbiogwas in the extreme, as these, are rarely found but in convents or in is the c-. fier, ~th etrongsouls. It might harems; for, according to our morals, and in be crime, it might be virtue, but Gertlinly our Paris,·the most moda.t"the moat.atrictly- never nee! watched, the chastest girl, the mOlit.virtuOWl, .AJiee; 88 it has been atated, quitted her the most trusting in her mother, the mOH dis- CODventwithsorrow; but the idea of a Ilea trustful of her servant, has had-how many voyqe, aad the hope of rejoining her father, Ioves=-how many, Heaven only knows!' had softened her regret not a little. When First of all, from three to five years old- she came .on board the Salamander, she ex- 90 carry do women begin--cOmes the love of amined everything with the natural curiosity the doll; the loy' equally powerful at all mo. of a young girl, and fouad in Paul, the mOlt ments-Iove by day, love by night-without attentive and sedulous of Cicerolies. For comparison, the most fiery love of all. Fn:un Paul was Dot shy~ with that Billy timidity five to ten, the love-of the.little wife to her which is often the cODsciolJl!ln6811offolly, or 'tittle hU8band-love which grandmamas tole. the result of an ill-directed and absurd edu• rate, even encourage, because nothing can be cation. more amusing than these scenes of jealousy, On the contrary, the midshipman WQS frank of tenderness, and of the sullena, acted in and open to e~C'88. He said everythiD&'that miniature. At twelve, comesthe love of the came into hiehead; and, as his father had de, sehool.girl for her drawing or music-master veloped in him the noblest sentiments, all --'his !'loftwhite hands stray over the notes so that he said bore that stamp of elevated feel• .gracefully, or make tbe pencil glide-so ele- ing, which is. so rarely met with. And the gantly over the vellum! He is 80 polite, too, love which he bore Alice changed in no re• w her governess, who is,alwayspresent during spect this frl\nkneea of d.iepoaition,but on the the Iesson t At fifteen-years, comes the love contrary augmented it; 80, in .that pure heart of the opposite neig;hbor-of the fresh, fair-: 0{ his, love was like virtue, a. sentiment of haired lodger, who looks out so roeyfrom his which one must be proud i a word which we plTet window, among the green garland of ought Dot.to pronounce, bu.ta fact which we DastUrtiumsand creepers. From sixteen to ought to prove by the highest respect, the eighteen, there begins a complete debauch! most religious devotion. Oh! myriads of loversfor myriads of dancers" Alice, too, observed Paul cloeely, altholllh of each sueoeeding' winter: fair, dark, pale, without emotion; she sought him out, but .roey. tall or short, intellectual, or frivolousand calmly i she liatened..to him with pleasure, foolish. ItIs enough to make one shudder! but it was the pleasure of happiness, not of Loves always chaste, I acknowledge-not delirium. Within twb days of the arrival·of betraying themselves even by a look, if ypu the passengers, Paul passed all his time, when will; but loves of the fancy, tHInialloves, as he was not on duty, with Alice and M;adame they call them: but loves,nevertheless, which de Blene, who were delighted with him. _nually alter that freshness of sensations, And Paul told them' his whole soul ; spoke that nrgin purity of the emotions, so delicate of himself "nth that candid confidence, that and intangible, so like the dswn on a fruit or desire of expressing to others all tha\ he him. a flower. self experienced, which is one of. the privil. Are you astonished, after this, to find, even eges of a new and fresh nature. It never for under the maternal' wing, girls of eighteen a moment entered his mind that he could be lI_e, cunning, crafty enough to puzzle a troublesome, or annoying; for tha.tvery eon• judge 1--girls,. who have nothing to give you fidence was in his eyes a mark of esteem in return for your passion, if by,chance you and regard on his part, and he judged thus, entertain a paaeion, but'a false love? for all because' he felt that he should have been too _t W8$ true and natural they have used up, proud to Inspire such a·se~ent to another. from the doll upward to the w.altz. . He told them, therefore, all his hopes, told How much, then, did the soul of Alice dif, them the history of all his campaigns, all ferfrom the souls embodied in 'lhose beings, his voyages, with an enchanting simplicity; apd .before their prime !-she. who. was' so spoke to them of his poor' mother with tiara pure, 80 primitive-:-ehe, who had been but to in his eyes, and a smile on hie lips; beeaue one ball, only to swear that she would never the memory of his father came to' change go to aneeher-e-ehe,who, educated in a con, that cutting bitterness into a patie melan- vent by a friend of her mother's, had purified cboIy.. • .. . . her heart instead of tarnishing it-she, who And Alice wept and smtled, also; and had never loved, save her God and her Save good Madame de Blene said, wiping her eyes Iour !-noble and sublime love, wholly con. as she spoke: I ' . ·.templative,wholly ascetic, which had given "Come, children, let us talk of something an inconceivable development and maturity else." to her young, chaste, and ardent imagination. And then it became the turD of Alice to When compared to that divine love, what relate the history of her own life: ber child.

Digitized by Google , ••• ALA ...... a. hood, ber J01l and· ~rroWB, her recret at been ,oiar on for ~e tim., had been ill:. chan,tn, her pioo. add holy •.d.Itenoe, her wrrupted for a malMnt. hope of seeing ·her (atbel' onee apia, her " Picture to Y8urselvee,then, my children..• doubts concerning the f",ure. said Muter Bouquin, putting back into At this word future, Paul was nerveci,.. if hie pocket hi.! tobacco box, from which be bv an electric shock, He had often framed had taken a ,loriolll haul-" picture to your. hiB own in imagination: he would be kiUed, lelvee, then, that the Green Pilot took com• or become an admiral, he would have valiant mand o( a ship of the line. Bnt what a Ihip, combats, wounds, and finally a pat name; my boys! the masts of a three decker would and all this, he said with a Suah, ahould be hav. scarce served for pins to the gammonings for his wife. of her bowsprit !-one more comparison:• U And that wife will be very happy, and Mould you bave been ordeted to go aloft to very proud of you," Hid Alice; "you are so the truek of ber mainmast oh the starboard. ,ood. 110 noble! you love your father 110 well, and come down on the larboard side; well. Monsieur Paul !". • bad you ltaned powder.monke1s, ·youwould And sometimes itW8I the Marq.ilde For. bave all comeback old-quite old-with bair rnon, 80 little fit for a frigate captain, but 10 .. white as mow! Ye8, my boys! five-ud. worthy a personotherwise; sometimes it was twenty yean to go up, and five-and-twenty to the good lieutenant; IOmetimea it WIUI old come down the mainmast !" Gamier, who increued the little circle. And The audience pve token of its IUrprile 'they conversed, and laughed; and the doctor and admiration by an ucendiar aClle of teased the commiuary; and Ensign Merval oatha and blupbemiee. Master Bouquin. paid wonderful anentien to Alice, but Alice reinforced the .,-ut quid which filledhit cheek, took no note of it. ADdeverythin, went en and went on : for the best, and Alice wu bappy; and ~ve. "At that time, my .boys, the Green Pilot ry one was happy-only all were anxioua sailed in a way that you Must have seen t9 to get under way. But it wu neceuary to believe: . in the molt hideous tempests, in. wflit for M. de Szaffie, at WbOMdiapOlition hurricanes, where you would have thoUCht Ille government had placed the corvette. that the 88awas about to catch fire, he heaped on sail aa we should do in light breezes! And what sails, bOYB !-what lails! the CHAPTER V. Green Pilot could have put a squadron of a hundred sail of the liae in hit foreto'.gallaat• '1'IU GUllI 1'U.OI'. sail i he would bave knotted the four corne,. 1.. ,olaf to tellyou i. .Ie. Silence. as you would a pocket handkerchief. full of W.LT&& Bco'rT-P",eril til tAl P_.- chestnuts, and be could have carried it in bis hand with no more trouble than that. At IT WlS a few days af'er the arrival of Mad. that time, the Green Pilot was pursuing the ame d. Bl.n. on board tbe Salamander; the poor little sloop, which was wbite and gold night W88lovely, .. the nights are in Provo with sky. blue sails, and which fled-which en~e i only the moon waa veiled in a sort of coppe~ Llase,and the heat had suddenly be. fled-and carried sail enough to ovenet her, come iimOit stilling-for the feeble breeze But pooh! the Green Pilot kept advancing, 'which had hitherto scattered a little eoclnees pining on her always, though he was -always through the air, died away altogether. Then touching tbe bottom-for the ocean WlS not ",u the sea u calm, as smooth and polished quite deep enough for h1s draught of water! He kept gaining, however, a8 I tell yo.~. -88 a mirror, in which waa reSected the aingu. ery now and tben polling along with his boat• lar color of the moon. hook. You may judge what a boat-hook! Muter BouquiD, IfIlvely Hated at the And now comes the beauty of it-and my lit• forecutle, baving the sailors of the watcb tle white and gold sloop with her blue sails, litting at bie feet, Qr grouped around him, W811 not above. two cannons' shot from the W88 occupied in telling one of those marvel. Green Pilot, when-what do you think she .1oUl atories which have at all timea charmed tb. monotony of the service. Some lying d\d-the little beggar1-why,she hove to!" on their backs, with their banda clasped "That '8 a faree--a meekery 1" said one. : toptber over their faceS, kept their eyes shut " Ah! the idiot-the cursedfool-s-thedog!" as if to tate tbe better the honey of Mas. cried another, furicus at the stupidity of the ter Bouquin's stories. Others preased close. little sloop,jumping up (uriouslyon the deck. Iy to him, with their. elbows preesed up. " After all, if she ie grabbed, it will be only on their knees, their eyee staring, their necks what she deserves," said another, who wu outstretched, seemed to suck down eve. somewhat Ie. enthusiastic. ry word aa fast as it was uttered. And, "For that time, there was somethin&'yet to conclude, a few real Sybarites, did not more surprising," continued Bouquin, stuff• content themselvee with a single mode of en. ing in his third quid j "for now the Green joyment, but divided their attention between Pilot waa corningup close alongside, to throw their pipe aDd their ItOry i which last, haviDi or board tbe poor little sloop, • hook tall

Digitized by Google 63

tim. ...\tig 18 the lbeet.aDehor 0( • tIu!ee. II Certainly; of lOUd gold-that wu ~. decker." be&1Jtyofit. There was not en board .the "Thunder!" little eloop a jot of Iron, not 80 much .. en as ~,Ah! for that time, I ten you, he was to• a needle." . iDg to fiah up the poor little sloopwith a line, " Bat the tailon, master?P as yon or I would catch a sardine !" "But, you stupid animal, have you not U The rascal! the old crocodile! the Pari. been told that the crew of pretty women had aian of a Green Pilot]' r.ud one. DO clothes -butwhat were nec88saryfor mo• " Silence, there !" ori.,! the auditory! "si. desty !" replied Poirot, on whom that circum. lence !" stance appeared to have made a very deep "Well, my boys, he drew yet nearer; and impressjon. you must remark that ..'1 the Green Pilot's "In fact, my lada.". continued Bouqnfn, sails were close furled, a;,,-,that he was push.. whom thoee frequent interruptions sui\ed iDg her along, because it was an ordinary extremely well, as they permitted him to tempest only-and been use that wind w9uld have frequent recourse to his tobaceo.box-« Dot 80 much as shiver as his saiJs. Well! " in fact, my lads, the Green Pilot was full of .all of a sudden, my brute of a Green Pilot iron, for his part; and the little sloop, who begaR to run off-.to run off-to run off, two, was a very good navigator, knew that in the three, five, ten, fifteenknots under bare poles; threo hundred and sixth degree of north lati• that, too, stern foremost, for he had wore tude, there is, III you must know, my lads, a ahip luff and luff, to weather the little eloop," mountain of loadatone-of pure loadstone• Hllre astonishment and admiration being six thousand leagues in circumference." _. at their highest pitch with the crew, they " Ah! master!" said one, with an accent manifested their feelings by looks of wQnder of very Itrongly.marked incredulity. and .expressivegestures only. " Dog that you are! if that is not true, teU "For tbat time, it turned out good, my me why our eompaseee, which are of the lads P' resumed Bouquin, delighted with the pureet steel, always tum to the north 1" effect whicb he was producing. "That is A tremendous blow of his fiat, superadded good-and you will judge of the joy of the to this irrefragable reasoning, elosed the little white and gold sloop with blue sails. mouth of the sceptic, to the greal satisfaction See now, how she heists as a sign of triumph, of the audience. her ensigns at all her mast.heads. They were " On that account, my lade, the navigatora flames of fire of all colora, w.bichwent, and who dQnot take the precaution to avoid the came, and flashed and sparkled beautifully to loadstone moantai,D,or to haye all their iron behold. But this was not aU, my lads. On work of pure gold, which would bother all .her deck, which was of silver, there were the privateera, and the government too, on golden cannons, which very beautiful women, account of the expense, do you see 1-if, as I wearing no clothes but what were absqlptely tell you, they do not take these precautions " aeceeeary for the purpoeesof modesty, loaded to avoid it, when once they are within two with delicious perfumes,in the place of pow• hundred and sixty-three league. and a quar• der. And then, my lade, instead of the in• ter-neither more nor less, my boys-their fernal din which our thirty-six pounders make ships begin to run-to run-faater than you when they go off, these golden pieces made can fancy, straight to the loadstone moun, the most superb musie; their smoke perfum• tain; and when once they are within seven ed the air, and the flash of each shot wu as leagues of it, they leap out of the water Uk. fresh and soft as the land-wind which comes flying.fish, and go and attach themselves w to us from those orange-groves ashore." the mountain by the iron work.of their flyin,. " By heavens !" said a Sybarite of the crew, jib-booms, like pins on a pincushion. And U I should like to have been master-gunner as the loadstone hal no inftuence on gold, in that crew of pretty women. Every night those which are bolted with gold can lough' I would have had two of them put in irons at the danger; and that was the reaaon the iA my hammock, for the aake of discipline, or Green Pilot ran at such a devil of a rate, and for having committed some fault or other, the little sloop staid quietly where she WIl!. thoQh I would not have te~ed. them with But unluckily for the little sloop,what ahould duty! no, not I." . rise up from the bottom of the sea--" " Bite your tongue! silence! Poirot 1" cried At this point of his ltory, Master ·aouquin the audience. uttered a piercing cry. . " And, 1DY lad..," resumed Bouquin, " they "CU1'l!le.upon it!" said he, carryint laJa could .ae in the distance my thief of a Green hand quickly to his left thigh. "Children, Pilot, still running, running always in spite something is stirring in the air!" of herself," . "What now, master? Hal the Green PI. " But how was that, master 1" lot hailed that iu your earl" "This wu it, lads. ,I have told you al. " No! lads, no !. It is my barometer, my !eady, that all the bolta, futeninp, and naila thigh! Ever since my last wound, 1 know of 'he little sloop were of pure ,old." the weather beforehand, and I can tell you " BoUd fQlcI, m .. cer ,,' ~molhin, chofe. 11 brewm, for 'Ill JIII1IlO",.

Digitized by Google T' H.K S' A LAM AND E it~. Oil! again-there it comes again. Come! and boiled up UJr:e air-bubbles from tbe1;Ot:. come! Boys, up on the alert; enough of tom of the sea; and a pale lurid flash glea1ft.;. stories like these! We have got to look ed down the sky, and Iitremendous thunder• out for .qualls, and we shall have a jolly one clap crashed just above the corvette. directly!" " Officers, to your posts!" cried the lieu• " By the way, master, what a queer color tenant. "Boatswain, are the chains of the the moon has." lightning-conductors in order? See to it; it And Bouquin, without answering a word, is of Importance. I am afraid of a water• went down rapidly to the captain's cabin, spout, or a tyT" Ion," lie said to Merval; where the staff and the passengers were all "this road is 11.,,: a funnel. Ah! Ishould , aseembled. like much better to be lying-to; but the "Ladies!" said Peter, after having looked breeze does not come. I should greatly pre.. Olltof one of the windows of the 'stern galle• fer to hear the wind speak out." ry, " there is no danger, but you had better ((All clear above I" cried a voice from the 10 down to ·the corvette's ward-room, it will maintop. be prudent." . The whistle of La Joie replied that aUwas Then, having made a sign to the captain to well. remain where he was, he said to the other " MervaI!" said tbe lieutenant, "look -to--" officera: Here Peter was interrupted by a violent II Come, gentlemen, let us go on deck, and roar of thunder, accompanied by a flash of lee' what is stirriDi. I will return immedi• lightning, which seemed to set into a blaze at ately, captain, to tell you what it is, and to once, all the electricity which had been col• take your orders." lecting itself and becoming condensed for eo The ladies went down to the ward.room long a time about the Salamander. In an in• with the purser and the' doctor. The com• stant, the masts, the ends of the yards, the mander and the other officers went on deck. chains, and every part of the ship in short that It was time they should ~ presented the smallest surface of iron, were surmounted by a light and volatile blue flame, which never remained fixed for a moment, but flitted to and fro through the gloom. CHAPTER VI. " It is the fire of St. Elmo!" said the lieu• THE TYl'HOON. tenant; If watch the helm, steersman, for the weather"is getting very black." Yoa urm.d ill idn-aal weather, Driok ! Bvau. In fact, the air was growing so dense and mrrky, and the obscurity so complete, that WON the lieutenant came on deck, the nothing could be seen. whistle of Boatswain La,Joie had already "Light the lanterns!" cried Peter. But collected all hands upon deck. The heat scarcely had the order been pronounced, be• was dull and insupportable, and you could fore an immense column of air was carried hear tne thunder, not in redoubled and reo down upon the corvette, with frightful rapid• echoing peala, but with a deep, dull roar, sus• ity and with an awful roar. The commotion tained and constant, resembling the rolling was terrible. The Salamander yielded to the of a mu1Beddrum. violence of the wind, keeled over, and already The color of the moon became darker and her starboard top-timber-ribands touched the darker, and she at last disappeared in a sort water. Peter sprang to the helm : of violet-colored vapor, which, extending it• "She does not steer, commander," cried self rapidly over the face of heaven, veiled the helmsman, as if he had been asking a with a dim haze, and gave a lurid and red• question of this officer; and then he said, dish hue to every object; and the long waves, again, "Well, commander T" which, notwithstanding the utter calm, rolled "Down with the mizen-mast! Cut-La heavilyin upon the sands, evolved such masses Joie-cut all !" of phosphoric light; that they appeared to "La Joic sprang to seize an axe; but, a8 cover with fiery foam the black rocks which he reached it, "Hold!" cried Peter; "no! lined the coast, and which retained in their no! she minds her helm! Brave ship! brave cavities fiery traces of the passage of the Balamander l" he exclaimed, seeing-the cor, waves; and the fish, rising to the surface of vette right herself gallantly; and it was well tbe sea, glided upon it, crossing the tracks of "he did so, for the next moment the typhoon one another and then receding, and left upon broke on her with all its violence, and seemed the' calm and polished sea long wakes of fire to bury her to the level of the sell. The -long wake" of flame-which sparkled in shocks were frightful and appalling. The circles, in lines, hi lozenges of rapid and daz• electric fluid literally furrowed the deck, and zling lustre; and a strong odor of brimstone the ship was surrounded, as it were, by a fiery Ipread itself suddenly through the atmosphere, glory. The masts and yards seemed to be already impregnated, surcharged, with electric the conductors of some huge machine, which 8uid ; ,..ad tbere were disengaged thence a appeared to be draWingdown noise and fire vol~ of sulphuric,va~rst which cracked from the black clouds. To these terrible ex.

Digitized byGO gIe plOsi.oDs were blended a shiiII metallic vibra-] " You speak, I presume, of the miClslUp.' non; the yards cracked in their slinga and man on 'ooty," answered Peter, coldly; who, tackles, and that fiery mass appeared yet according to his habits, and his rigid disci• more keenly vivid, from the b1ack darkness pline, always made a broad distinction be- which enwrapped beth sea and shore! tween his family ties, and the subordination' For one moment, by the funereal glare 'and military hierarchy of the service.. "Since which shone around the Salamander, they he has failed to do his duty, punish him, M. saw a boat struggling, with all the power of de Merval. You are bis superior." her oars, to reach the ship. But they saw it And the good lieutenant turned his back. for a moment only, for that terrible phenome. Paul had gone below to console Alice and non hardly lasted two minutes: the electric Madame de Blene, whom these events had cloud passed over rapidly, and left the roade frightened terribly, despite the protestations in the deepest obscurity. of the old doctor. At the end of a quarter of Not a. 'Wordhad been spoken, so violent an hour, the marquis came on deck. , had been the surprise, when the silence was "Ah! one can at least breathe now," he broken by these words: said; "ahd I had need of it. Ah! lieuten- " Ahoy! the Salamander, ahoy!" ant-we set sail to.morrow morning. Our " Who hails 1'" returned the lieutenant. passenger desires it." " An officer-a shore-boat !" _"Ah! that is very well. If he has the pow- " Come alongside," he answered. " Well, er of commanding the wind to come out of boatswain," he continued, addressing La Joie, the northwest!" U has the typhoon deafened you'! Do n't you " Of course, I mean, if the wind is fair, my hear that7 It is an officer. Come! come!- friend j that is understood," to the man..ropea!" "After all, it ia possible that it may-for In faet,like the rest of the crew, La Joie the weather seems to be clearing off. Some had been, for the moment, paralyzed by this heavy drops of rain are falling; and we nuty unexpected .incident. But tranquillity was well have it from the northwest." soon restored. The boat8wain's whiatle was "So much the better. Have you seen tho heard, and Merval advanced to the gangway passenger 7" , to receive the .stranger, who arrived in such "No, captain!" , dreadful weather. The lieutenant had gone ." He is no talker. He asked me which below to see the captain, whom he found was his state-room; sent for his valet-de, lying on his sofa, with his head under the ehambre ; bowed to me, and retired." cushions, in a lamentable state. " What is his appearance 1" Merva! had not to wait long. The stran- " Why, very good-pale, rather haugbty- ger soon appeared on deck, accompanied by rather proud=-one of the faces which--in a naval officer, an ensign; who Was to make a word, he- h803by no means the air of what up the corvette's complement. Merval bow. we call a good fellow." edv-and the stranger returned his salutation, "Upon my word, captain, I do n't much sa.ying: care. What I care about much more, is, that "I am the passenger, monsieur, who has you should grant me the whole of this night 1" been expected. Can I speak with your cap- "Good heaven! for what, lieutenant? I lain 1 and will you have the goodness to have am very anxious to go to sleep." my valet and my people who are in that boot " I dare say; but go to sleep you cannot, got on board 1" . until you have learned, and repeated to me, " I will give the necessary orders,monsieur. the whole formula of ,getting the ship under You have been exceedingly lucky to escape sail; which you will, perhaps, have to order the Typhoon, which has taken a different to-morrow. It is impossible that you can direction," avoid it!" . .. It was, indeed, very fortunate, monsieur; " But I will say that I am sick !" but will you be so kind as to lead me to the "With old Garnier, that, too, is im.pos- captain 1" . sible. He would prove to you, that you were Merval requested Paul to conduct the pas- lying." senger to the marquis. It 'Vas impossible to U But--" see tbe face of M. de Szaffie, for he was a], " There is no but about it, captain, It must most entirely wrapped up in a great black be done. My post is forward. I muat be mantle, all steeped in salt water. He appear- there. As soon as the anchor ia up, I will ed, however, to be very tall. Scarce had he come and relieve you." left the deck for the cabin of the marquis, " WelJ.! as you will," said poor Longetour, before Peter reappeared upon the deck. with a sigh, sayiIig to himself, aside-If in " At last, Merval," he said, ., our passenger truth, he is a second Elizabeth; this devil ot has arrived i and if the breeze will only wake, a lieutenant !" we shall quit this roadstead. But come, have And the sailors, as they lay down on the that boat unloaded." gun-deck, seeing the lamps shining in the " I desired your son to do 80, monsieur;' captain's cabin, said one.to the other, "He ~S' said the ensign, who was a little piqued. mad l, that old devil! He is tormenting the

Digitized by Google IieatlJllDt with.tbeoretical quWODI, you may _ BUperIlatural powers,or because, u depend upon it, to find out if he i8 streng in sceptics say, he is very likely to know the bit. workings." hiding-places, which always abound in the "Did you see t tell me, Poirot-how "he dar~ depths of -the orlop. ordered the mizenma.etto be cut away, when And, to conclude, if any singular meteor-· the corvette refused to mind the helm 1 He oIogicalphenomenon should occur, the sailors • ill an old bard.one-to-cook, who never flinches ask its explanation from the man of the hold, aor hesitates." because he is subject to no strange influences, " And who would ever say it-to see him because, seeing nothing of the ocean, and with his old furred coat, and hi8 otter-akin knowing nothing of the weather, he must bring cap 1" said a third. the most utter lilimplicitytohis predictions. " Arter. all, it is not' the hull that makes The lion'. den,a portion of the bold di• the ship,' as they say; and by.and.by we shall vided from the rest, is, orelinarily,the dwell• see him work-for, to-morrow, they say. we ing-place, the boudoir,and the dining-parlor of are to run our log." the master of the hold. It was so on board' " Faith! so much the better-for I am be- the Salamander; and master Buyk, the cap. ginning to get sick of this." , tain of the hold, was so fond of his den, and And very soon, with the exception of the so little desirous of enjoying the upper air or Milan who were on the watch, the crew of the sight of nature, that, when the .eorrette the Salamander was .buried in the deepest was calked, he asked permission to remain sMep. in a lighter while she was careened, and took poesession of his den again as soon as the CHAPTER VII. 'corvette came out of dock. Now, master Bnyk, who was, in other res• MISERls.. pects, very clear, and very much esteemed Bow! II it poaible that you could have withed to on board, partook, as to his moral qualities, come aDd bore YoUllelf with UI 1 . of the cold hardness of the sheet-iron, which IUac. C.-nu 7'Iao BrlllAtirll. covered the 'floor of his dwelling. Tn walk, which Ensign Merval took the Let us take a look at him : next moming, from stem to stern, and from On a low box a man sat, huddled up, with stern to stem, of the corvette, was interrupted his head propped on his hands. He wore, as by piercing shrieks, coming from the ship's h18whole attire, a pair of pantaloons of gray' cloth, and a shirt, according to his usual habit ; head. and, in consideration of the sti1lingheat which "What is' all that?" asked the ensign, of reigns in that narrow place, almost entirely the helmsman. " Nothing, monsieur. They are only am"". deprived of air and daylight. ing themselves with Misllre; for the cursed He seemed to be of middle height, lean and rat has come out of the hold." slender, but wonderfully muscular. The light " Ah!" said the ensign; and continued his of the lantern, which illumined the den, caet walk, after having requested them not to but a dim and feeble ray. amu,e themselves quite so loudly. He raised his head-s-his hair was gray and The hold of a ship, is the lowest part of thin; his eyes dark and muscular; his cheek• the whole vessel-it is, throughout its whole bones prominent i and, from negligence, he length, divided and subdivided into many wore his beard very long. compartments; in which are kept the powder, "Mi~re !" cried he, with a strong voice. the spare cordage,.the wine, the biscuit, &c. But he received no answer. In short, it is an immense storehouse, from " Misere! MUHlre!M~re !" which they,are making incessant drafts. It Still silence. is the subterranean town, affording nourish• " Mi~re! Misere! MisWe! MiMlre!" ment to tbe town above-a town peopled by At the fourth time a weak voice answered a peculiar race-fi.or the men of the hold, who from a distance, with an accent of terror. inhabit it, rarely appear OD deck, are con. "Here I am! here I am, master-s-here I stantly employed in the most toilsome tasks, am!" 'and pll8l their existence in its eternal dark• And the 'voice drew nearer and neater, 8tiU DeSl. repeating, Il8 it came: Mereovet, as on land, 80 at sea, men al. " Here I am! here I am !" ways attach the poesession of supernatural At last a child of eight yelU8old leaped into' powers, to people who live in solitude. On the den. It was Misere. Master Buyk was land, it is, in popular opinion, bermits and still sitting down; he made a slight sign with shepherds, who enjoy the gifts of divination; his hand. Misere felt a shudder run through at l8a, it is the men of the hold. biB whole frame, 88 he went and brought Does anyone know the eventl of futurity, out of a comer a sort of whip, made of NV.. it ia a man of the hold. . eral ropes' ends, full of very tight knots. Is anything lost-it is to the man of the Then he knelt down, offering his back to bold that they apply i either beca_ he poe.. lUI tormentor; and it wu a pitr to see .that

Digitized by Google ,...... :- .~ .NrSI .... \&1 peerIfttIe hack, 80 weak &nd pIIIl)',. emtciat.. bammock.elotbl, aad tlteee tD the ohain. ed, yellow, and unhealthy. wales•. Master Buyk then spoke: Then bia peor little weakly frame seemed "Four times I .have called you, and you to expand, breathed upoAas it was, and reani• have not OOIne ;" aad fom-blows, applied with mated by the fresh air-by the keen fresh sea all his strength, feU on the wretched child, air. He experienced the happiness of a child, ' who uttered neither cry nor complaint, but in seeing the waTel bounding, boiling, an-' arose, took up the whip, hung it up again OR breaking over the boWl of the ship, delugiq ita nail,'and came and stood upright before it, u they did so, with phoephorescent lustre his tyrant. • -in seeing the Itars sparkling in the sky- " Now tell me," said be, "why did younot in listening to the voices of the deep, and in come when I called you 1" remaining one hour without beina beaten. " Master, they were beating me on deck !" But these moments were both short and rarct, " You lie, YOll were playing!" so much did h. dread to ran in answerina " I playing, master? I playing? Heavens! the call of Master Buyk. And thus, in' pro- I playing! wh<1is there to play with me 1" ce. of time, the brain of the miaerable liul. said the hapless and puny child, with an ae- wretch began to wander. Then pal. anel cent of inconceivable bitterness. "The other livid, a frightful smile playin, over his white sbip.boys beat me when I 8pea~ to them; they Ups, and glaring with hia eyel, horribly, bo call me the rat of the hold; and just now, would sing in hie small, thin, .hrill voice: master, they were whipping me on deck, be- " TM rat of tAe holtl Aat ,ood "eth-.,eol cause they said that ten good lasbes to a ship. t"tA, 4~tllllill lOOn gMID ''''o.,h tIN 8luU boy bring a good'wind! Oh! muter, m.. • oj the lI16t." ter! weUdid you name me Misitre!" he ad. And, as he uttered these unintelu,tble ed with a sigh, for he dared not weep; and words, he spun round upon his heel witb ter. • all his body, lacerated with stripee, and black rible rapidity; then, wheu worn out witb ex· • and blue, trembled like a leaf i-the heat wu citement and fatigue, he fell into a lethargic suffocating,yet he was celd, sleep, which his master interrupted by violent "What weather is it1" blows of the rope, thus calling him back to II Since yesterday it has blown from the himself. northwest, master." Now then, Moster Buyk ordered him to.o '.'And is the northwest wind still blowing?" and call Master Bouquin. The ship.boy went asked master Buyk, in a voice of thunder, up to the gun.deek, trembling, for he well . "Yes, master," answered' the child in die. knew what awaited him j and, indeed, searee, may. If had he shown himself, before he was hail• ." It blows from the northwest still 1" asked ed by a storm of cries, not unaccompanied his master, peevishly. by blows, "Yes! master!" "Ah! here you are, rat of lBehold; haTeat " Who spoke toyou 1" and these four word$ you! rat of the hold," cried one. . were accompanied by a slap in the face. "This is the beggar that eats our cable.. Master Buyk then fell into a deep fit of mu, and drinka our pitch and tar," .aiel another. sing, which he interrupted only to make sym. " Take that, Mis're; put that in your ac. bola and figures, with pebbles, bits of ropes'. count of thruhinas !" end, and his knife. The child did not stir; im, " Hie, rat! hie, rat! rat, rat !" movable, he stood, feariog to draw upon him. And all the sailors of the gun.deck, and. self new blows, holding his very breath. above all, the powder.monke}'l gave chase to And, in troth, Mis~re was much to be pit. Mist}re,shoutin, and stampina, while he ,lid. ied. .The little wretch had been taken OD ed between the cannon, with the agility of a board, only through pity; his mother had 'serpent, !50 much activity did terro~ lend to died in the hospital,'and master Buyk, if it him. At last, he reached the deck 10 search can be so called, had adopted him; bad of Master Bouquio. New misfortune, Master made his ahlp-boy of him, and made him, I Bouquin wu talkin, to the lieutenant OIJ the 'assure you, pay very dear for the bread which, deck j and he well kuew what would befall poor child, he very rarely got to eat. In a him, should he .et his foot 00 that part of word, Mistlte wn&so puny, and 80 delicate, the vessel appropriated to tho officers•• At that, to restore henlth to the unhappy little last, good luck would bave it, that Muter being, he should have had air and sunshine i Bouquin finished his communication. . childish apcrts, noisy and animated i'a good "Maater Buyk wants to see you, Muter joyful and earelessUfe, plenty of rest and sleep. Bouquin," said the .hip.boy. But, on the eontrary, he never left the bold but when he was compelled, so much did he· "Ob, it is you, is it, cursed rat!-l wtU dread the other ship.boye, wbo'hunted him, go to him. Get out and tell him/lO-DOW tOrmented him, bent him. The only pleaaure ttart." . of the little wretch was, durina the night, And master Bouquin accompanied Iu.an• while his master slept, to glide over the deck, .wer with a kick, as if not to d•.ropte (tolD aoiIel.,. u a serpent; to mOWlt, climb the the CUitom wllich Jaacl become ...... 8*

Digitized by Google THE SA.LAMAIiDElt. regard to !\Iiael'e; then he went down to the 1 Go ODJ I am listening to you-try to reeol, lien'. den, saying: lect with what wind he came on board 1" H What the devil can he want with me, old "With a souvweeter, strODg enough to wJzard 1 He ia one, indeed, who may boast blow the horns off a. bull!" JUm.elf of'beiDg famously philoaophical1" "Go on," said the master of the hold. " Do n't stop l" " Well, he is a tall man-e-shaped a good deal as the mainmast is! He wears list CHAPTER VIII. alippers,.a yellow great-coat, and a fur cap• like the porter at the arsenal." PREDICTIONS. " And does he come-damn him !-on the T... t.iIan I have CODIulted J(ademOileUe Lenor- deck of the Salamander-on the deck of the DUd. 8M is It nuui woman, but.he tel.strange and brave ship of war, in that fashion 7" cried wonderful things.-TuJ: EMPEROR ALEUIU>IJl. Buyk, exasperated beyond endurance. I C&JI DOt deny the II1Upri.ing eWects of second sight. " In truth," answered Bouquin," I feel as WALT ... BCOTT-I1IAMoe_ you do, that it is mortifying enough, both to the ship and to the crew, who are not rigged " WELL!old alligator-do you want to take in yellow great.coats !" a swallow with your old friend ?"--saill Bou, " She is a gone ship !" said the master of quin, as he entered the den of the master of the hold, solemnly. the hold with great precaution. "Dut, _in " Do you think 80 1" the devils name!" added Bouquin-" it is "And the lieutenant, what does he say to very dark in your quartel8-8O dark, that if all that 1" one were drinking here, he could never know " Damn it-he is furious, and the more so, 'Whether he had drunk two bottles or four. that the old beast is not good.tempered, and But since we are talking about drinking," he has sharp teeth--ah ! no! he is not good. eontinued, though the man of the hold had tempered, for all his list slippers. You should Dever said a word-" fill out a can of some. see how he writhes about with rage, for all his thing or other, I do n't care what it is-for I good-natured air, And the other day, I heard ha.ve a dry hard cough, which the doctor told the lieutenant say quite aloud, so that the me to take care of; and you will understand whole crew heard it, that the captain is a good, that it is not for my own sake, but for that of ~h, a verygood sailor, only that he does not the doctor whom we all love, as if he were look like it--and in fact he does look more our own father, that I tell you to 'fill up a like the uncle of our poor dead Giromon, who can; for, above everything, I must comfort gives the holy water at the gate of Saint my poor weak stomach ; and that will do Louis." hOllorto the surgeon-major. " Wonderful !" And as if to prove that his state was deli• " And the quarter-master at the helm, who cate, Master Bouquifi began to shake and' has seen everything that the captain has •hiver, and to fill the whole Salamander with done, says that he understands himself devil• '&heechoing din of his stentorian lungs. Mas• ish well-and that stands good with the rest ter Burk, deeply absorbed in his calculations, of us. For if you had seen him come on made no answer to Bouquin ; but stretching board, you would have taken him for one of out his IU'Dlt he let beforehis friend a glorious those old cockneye, who come to see the ship cannikin of wine. This silence was too when we are in harbor, and ask you a whole much to Beuquin's taste, for him to dream of heap of nonsense. N evertheless, he is au old interrupting it; and for a time nothing was stormer-e-one of your hard.to.cock-s-Oh ! it to be heard but a measured gurgling sound, won't do (0 cr088him, I can tell you !" like that of a fountain constantly lUnning, " His name 7" which went far to prove the anxiety of Bon, "And he is a noble too--a returned emi. quin in keeping guard over the medical re• grant-the Marquis de Longetour." lponsibilities of old Garnier. When Bouquin "So." said the master of the hold, "his had nearly emptied the can, he said, address• name be~ with an L, he come on board in&' hjmself to his friend : in a sou .west gale, and that too on a .. WeUI oldfellow; what the devil do you --1" want with your old friend 1" " Friday." .. Listen, Bouquin,' said the other, with nn• •" On a Friday!" pert1lrbable gravity: "we have drawn the "And instead of going first to the quarter• horoscope of our new captain, which ought of deck, he went forward !" eourae te ba done, since we are perhaps to set _' "The devil!" ail to.morrow1,' , "And when they hoisted his broad pen.. ,4' That's right," said Bouquin, who bad nant, the ensign halliards made three knots !" cJrank aaain, smacking his tongue again.t the "Ha!" reoi0{ his mouth.. . "And it was thirteen days before the II .Allcll kye .p.t up fOl; y,()~ in order to typhoon, .in, which ~e passenger, whom we eet some information touching him, Bouquin. are to take to Smyrna, came on board-you

"'_--c Digitized by Google MAKING SAIL. know that fine looking man, with so proud are to be wounded, you will he wounded; if 8!l air and demeanor-and the day after poor not-not! Forward, and stand up to it•. Al5 Giromon was murdered by those dogs of for .me, I am of the Ottoman's opinion-be• oil-eaters." 'cause it is very clear, if we leave our bones U The day after 1" here, they willlltay here-if we do not leaye " And, I forgot-the very day on which M. them, they will not stay. And, as for bath• Paul fell down the orlop-hatch, and narrowly ing the captain, without giving him due no• missed being killed." tice of it, that is a play in which I shall take At these words Master Buyk gave a tre• no part; and I do not even promise you to mendous bound on the chest, whereon he W88 say anything about it, very loud, because I sitting. . am quite sure there is a cat.o'·nine-tails on " Enough! enough!" he cried'-" enough, board, and because I reflect that I have some Bouquin! Poor Corvette! Poor Salamander! skin on my loins, But I hear old La Joie's Do you 86e, Bouquin1 this marquis, is to be whistle! I wonder what's the matter! all the death of the Corvette; and, in saying so, hands on deck! Perhaps we are going to I mean of M. Paul too-for one cannot go get under weigh. Good-by for the present, without the other; since he was born on. tho old fellow! Thank you for your prophecy." day whereon she was launched-yes! it will And he left Buyk to make out new combi• be his death. Poor M. Paul-who, as I have nations, from the information which he had told you a hundred times, is her guardian received. And, in good truth, there was a angel. Oh! poor Salamander," said Master confused and bustling noise on board the ship, Buyk, sadly. "I who saw you launched-I as the whole crew hurried to the deck to who was launched in you, since.even then I perform some important duty. was installed in my lion's den. You have got but a little time to last longer." " Ah! bah, messmate, you are muddled !" "I muddled," said the master of the bold, CHAPTER IX. ;:_ Hevei'ely-" I muddled !,._Ie it true or not, )lAKING SAIL. that, when we fought the English frigate, I Pedice gteSSUB JUe08 semitis tuili.-l'SALIIl 16. predicted that if the Salamander was much damaged, M. Paul would be.wounded also, As the lieutenant had foretold-as the ty• and in the same place too 1-we11, what phoon cleared off, the wind came out of tire \\'88 the greatest damage the Salamander re• northwest. All the preparations for depart. ceived 1" ure, and for getting under way, had been " Inher quick works-in the larboard quar• made; and when Bouquin appeared on the ter-under the ninth port-hole." deck, the crew of the Salamander were all " Well, was it not in the larboard quarter• at their posts. that is to say in the left side, that poor M. The topmen were in the top. Ensign Paul was wounded? And when I tell you, Merval and Paul looked to the anchors, and obstinate wretch that you are, that whatevor they only waited for the lieutenant and the happens to one will happen to both-and captain. Old Gamier, the purser,' and the that your marquis will be the deetruction of other ensign were very much busied with both. But there is one thing to do stil~d their new guest, M. de Szaffie. \ only one." . "Have you seen him, doctor'?" asked the " What is that, messmate 1" purser. " To send the captain overboard, to see if cc Yes! this morning, for a moment !" .he can live with fish, and if his fins will " What sort of a man is he 1" sprout." " A tall man." said the new officer, an old "Not, by any means, a bad idea; but.as. ensign called Bidaud-" a tall proud-looking for that, do you see, old fellow,there is some. man-with a look-a strange look." thing up aloft that will hinder it." "Grayeyes-,-like Bonaparte," added the " What ...... Providence 1" doctor. "He is very handsome!" " Stuff and nonsense !-no ! The lieuten• "He is devilish ugly!" interrupted Mer• ant. He would soon cook our beads with val, who came up to take a part in the con• eartridge sauce,. and make a delicious meal versation. "I saw him, myself, a' minute for the sharks; an«, moreover, look you here, ago, at the stern.gallery ! He has a very Master Buyk, if it J8 to be so, so it will be-as distinguished figure, a hand like a woman's; that Ottoman used to say, with whom I got but I do not like his face-he has a conceited drunk .at Alexandlla, in spite of his-what and impertinent expression." do ye call 'um-hlS--" " No!" replied. the doctor; "I think he " His religion,you mean." has rather the air of a person worn out, and " Yes t yes! his religion-whieh W88 not weary of success." . IJO bad after all, for him ! 'I'he Turk! And "One m~bt, perhaps, s~y harsh and spite_ JOIlimust conf688; Buyk, that it is a capital ful.looking," said Bidaud j "and yet some• thing to make new men. samd 6r&-tbia Ot• times, again; OA!,'r0uld fAllcyhe·wl\8" good. 'tOme religion. They say to them,._if you fellow•. He is not much of a tilk.er, for in-

Digitized by Google eo .. , , ... "'01; aad theD, I do nit know ho~ it is, Peter knew DOdtinl ()( what wu 'M«en. but when he flpeaks to you, you would al, and cried out: . . ways say that he was mocking you." "We are apeak, captain; shall we !let " Come! come!" said Garnier, in a depre. trip the anchor 1" eating manner. That question was as a«leam of light to the "It is so, I assure you! I accompanied unhappy captain, who immediately began to him from Toulon hither, doctor. Well, if cry out as loud as he could: he talked 8ulkily to me, I talked sulkily to "Trip it, certainly-certainly; trip it di, him, because he seemed black; and then reedy!" again he would talk white, and then he " The unlucky devil does not remember a seemed white. Although the black appeared word," tbought Peter to himself; "I musthaye black, and the white --" pity on him." And, drawing near to the COlD. " Ah! well." said the doctor, interrupting mander, said quite low to him : him-" well, Monsieur Bidaud, I do n't know "you bave no memory, even-it is· a if it is on account of the black, but what you shame! Give me your speaking.trumpet• eay is devilish obscure-with his black and quick! The corvette is coming to the wind." his white, one would say he might be gray, " But, my friend, I know __ It old friend. Do you understand this, Mer. " Captain! captain! she casta to the lar. val 7" board," cried de Merval, in a sort of CODater• "Not I-not a word of it !" nation. " It i8 a charade then, Mon8ieur Bidattd, is " Your speaking-trumpet, monsieur," said it 7 come, the word! the word l" cried the Peter, again in a low voice. doctor. "But consider-before the eyea of the Luckily for poor M. Bidaud, the captain who1e crew; ah l now I recollect-wait a and Peter appeared on the deck. The captain moment. Cast off! all buttoned up, and pinched in his uniform, " But we are going ashore, stem on, cap• pale, wobegone, with a dim eye, in a state tain!" cried Me"a!' and Paul, both in one truly pitiful to witness, Then came the lieu• voice. tenant, who said to him, after a military salute: "You force me to it!" said Peter, in a " Captain, I am going to execute your or. hoarse and smothered voice; "I am ruining ders," myself for you." And Peter went forwar.dto the head of the And with the words, a8 if he could COD. corvette, to give directions for heaving at the tain himself no longer, he pushed the marquis capstan until the anchor should be apeak, leav, on one side, sprang upon the quarter-bench, ing the marquis all alone on the quarter deck, and shouted: wit!l his speaking.trumpet in his hand, which "Stand by to east loose the topsails-• he turned and twisted in all directions. haul aft the sheets, and hoist them! And It seemed to the unhappy captain that the you, helmsman, hard-a-port I" eyes of the whole crew were fixed upon him ; At the well.known voice-at the short and his hair stood on end, he heard hummings in emphatic orders, the crew acted as one man, his ears, and in his own mind he wished Eliza. as if it had been actuated by a lingle will and beth in the hands of all the legions of devils intellect. . with whom hell is peopled. The voice of the The corvette ran now no danger, and began lieutenant was now heard-a voice a hun. to cast to starboard. To aid the movement of dred times more terrible to the ears of the the vessel, and complete getting her under marquis than the trumpet that shall sound sails, it would have been correct to set tbe for the last judgment. atanding.jib and fore-Btaysail. Peter knew "Captain, the anchor is apeak," cried Peter. this better than anyone, but he gave no 01'• The marquis wished that he was sunk in ders for it-but stepped down quickly to the bottom of the sea-the poor devil could the quarter-deck, and whispered to the cap- not recollect one word of all that Peter had tain: . taught him, and repeated to him on the pre• "The ship is badly worked, monsieur• 'riou8evening. but she is in no danger! Order them to set " Captain!" repeated Peter, "the anchor the standing.jib, and the mizen--and to brace is apeak !" to larboard aft; and it will be well to observe U Ah! indeed! very well ! aloud, that I have forgotten that important IC Well, captain 7" asked M. Bidaud. step." IC Well!" and the unhappy Longetour The marquis, delighted to obtain this re• twisted his speaking.trumpet to and fro. He venge for his humiliation, raised his speak• was bathed in sweat-he seemed to see ing trumpet to his mouth, and shouted tho everything tumi~ round him. At last he words, almost letter for letter, as he received answered with an effort: them. It i& true, there were one or two "Well! let us go on!" technical words misapplied; but the crew, "I beg your pardon, captain 1" Uked the accustomed to the general sound, undentood. other. perfectly what wu meant-eafinl to tbe&• "'1..: let up-let us ,0~" .selves, for the .. dme: ,

Digitized by Google 81

U It .WM hardty worth the neuten.nt', friend. I will dowhatever you- dealrt. 0..., 'Whileto mterrupt the captain, and forget that let us •• now-if you really wiah it, 1011 after an. What GOuldhe have been thinking shall be puniehed, since tliat gives you pl_. ()(1 But this old Sea-dog forgets nothing• Isure" - oh! he understands the machine. But the Peter shrugged up his shoulders in com. lieutenant was wrong to interrupt him in his paEon. orders--and he will work him for it; that '. " Do you imarine then, monsieur, that it certain." .. m118tnot be cruelly painful, at my age to be The breeze filled the large sails of the Sal• entered on the log-book a8 guilty of insubor• amander; she yielded to their impulse, and dination 1 I, who am afanatic for discipline! had very 800n doubled the point of the Gulf But that matters little ;, for the example of of Grimaud. a severe punishment inflicted upon an officer When -the corvette was once under way, for a fault against discipline, is salutary to a the captain, at a sign from Peter, went down crew, and cannot but render yet more pro• to his cabin, and was BOOR joined there by found that unalterable respect, which it ought his lieutenant. at all times to entertain for subordination. "In truth, monsieur," said Peter, "it is And yet, monsieur, that which you are about wonderful that you should have so Bhorta to write in this log.book, according to my in• memory." atructions, will, perhaps, destroy the last hope " It is because, lieutenant, it is all as diffi. of promotion that is l('ft to me." cult as' the devil. But, thanks to you, I got 'I Well-will you not then--?" very well out of it. Receive my thanks !" " Well, monsieur, 1well know how to Ia. •. It is no time for thanks, monsieur! on crifice all that, to the honor of the corps to the contrary, you must punish, me; for, on which I belong; and my conscience will reo your account, I have for the first time in my munerate me largely. You are in the view life, acted in defiance of all orders, by uttering of all men, monsieur, and I am obscure; if a command in your place, without your giv. there are five hundred lieutenants of men-of, ing me formal directions to do 80 before the' war, there are but fifty frigate c;,aptainl,who crew." ought always to be in the lIyesof the sailors "But it was for the gol>dof the service, good and picked men. Besides, monsieur, a my dear friead." stain shows more dirtily on the embroidered " But it was a dreadfully bad example-you coat of a captain, than on the plain blue frock must understend, that a crew must endure to of an inferior officer." see itself in the breakers; within two fing• " But, my God! since I am going to pun: en' length of being wrecked; certain of per• ish you~what the devil! can you desire ishing ;-without one man, one officer, having more 1" the right to alter one syllable ofthe c~ptain's orders. Understand, then, that what I did " It is well, so," replied Peter; and the from praiseworthy motives, might be done marquis, according to his dictation, entered from evil mauves; that it has already been the act of insubordination of Peter on his unfortunate, as regards discipline; and that log.book, showing how he had dared. on the extreme severity can alone counteract its full deck, to in~rrupt the orders of his com, dangerous effects." mander; and that, for this,offence, he had "But it is very singular, my friend, that been sentenced to fifteen days of close ar. you should wish to compel me to punish you, rest. when--" The aame facti were entered on the tog• " Do you wish, then, to kill me by a slow book of the staff. .The importance of these fire, monsieur 1 Will you not understand that journals will be. readily understood, when it it concerns you-thaUt concerns your grade 1 is known that they are kept carefully on that it concerns this 1" cried Peter, violently board every ship, and sent to the minister on shaking the epaulette of the marquis. "This, the return of the yeesel to France, to serve monsieur, th~that is a question of life and for information, as to the conduct of the of· death, both to ourselves and to you. What ficers, and historical proofs as to the paB8l1ge if such a deed of insubordination went un• and duty which the vessel had been sent to punished? Encouraged by so evil an example, perform. the grew would, perhaps, discuas the proprio In a word, en Friday, die 15th of August, ety of obeying our orders, even to.morrow ; 1815, the Salamander left the roadstead of would murmur.,would mutiny perhaps, would St. Tropez, at eleven O'clock in the morn• overpower us, and. run off with the eorvette." ing; and, at five o'clock in the evening, the " Well! well! do not be angry, my good highlands of Corsica were in sight no longor.

Digitized by~oogIe BOOK. V.

oHAP T ER I. onward. Then foUow high meditations on BUENOVIAIE. mankind, on the soul, on the divinity-on all You~ul or old, imprudent ordiscreet, systems, ~l religions. Then you adopt all, Who, like a cl.ud from heaven to hellvell careering try all, believe all. During this sublime hal. Thy barque,. in love'. pupuit, orlucre'a, steering.' l.ucination, you dress. you.rself,tum by turn, What port, 0 voyqer, would'at thou be nenring '1 f And where the refuge for thy wenry feet '1 10 every sort 0 wild conviction; fancy your- VICTOR HUGO-Ode XIY. self Mahomet, Cmsar, and I know not whom Dream's! thou of huppiness ? Lo ' I am here. beside. . M.A.TUIUR-Ber-tl'&7II. And to conclude the poetry of opium-a-fan, SWIFTLYglide,swiftly fly over the azure tastic, nervous, convulsive, fiery poetry; last sea, beloved and beauteous Salamander! term of the poetic life which it completes. A~ieu, France, adieu! Adieu, fair Provence, Thus that which Faust so long sought after, With your sweet orange-groves, with your that which was Manfred's perdition, opium warm and voluptuousclimate-with your kind will give to you. You evoke the shades=, hospitable inhabitants !-adieu ! again, adieu! the shades will appear to you; would you as. You are bound to Smyrna, brave corvette; sist in the most awful mysteries 7 then it is an t~ Smyrna, the loveliest city of the Levant, infemal,fantastic,superhumancirama-beings city of gold- and sunshine, city of red and without a name, indefinable sounds, an I1n. green kiosks, of marble basins filled with per.' guish which would kill, if it were too much fumed and limpid water, of cool, umbrageous prolonged, and which can, moreover, always sycamores and palms, of opium and of coffee: arouse your slumbering faculties of volition. perfect city, if ever yet there was one. With a single wish, you change all these hid. Oh! the life of the Levanr=-the life of the eous pictures for some ravishing vision of Levant! only existence which is not one long love, of women, or of glory; deception! For there is found no theoretic Then, having wandered through those lofty happiness, no' speculative bliss. No, no; all spheres, and tasted the sublime enjoyments of there is true, positive, and well.proved happi, 'pure intellect, you return to earth in your ha• ness; and let no one believe that he will find rem. Thete are a crowd of lovely, loving, there nothing but a train of material and sen. and submissive women-for were you hideous sual pleasures. It is, on the contrary, the and defonned.~till they would love you; there most spiritualized life in the world, as are all are pleasures WIthoutnumber, varied, delicate, idle and contemplative modes of life; for, in and c~ojce. Then it is, that the charms of the one word, can you conceive an Oriental who f!llltenal succeed to those of the intellectual is not a poet? Does he not inhale long hfe. Th~n, plunged in the abs~action of .the draughts of poetry and of intoxication 1-for dormant intellect, you become inert and ani. intoxication is a sort of accidental poetry, and mal; ~ll Yo:orsenses sleep save one, and that does not he inhale poetry from three sources-- one gains Vigorfrom the momentary absence his narghilck,* his coffee-cup, and his Taim.t of the rest i-then you are happy, happy as a The poetry of the oargbilek-aeriaJ trans- fool !-then you are in the very paradise of parent, and vague poetry! Vague as the per- fools! fumed vapor which steams up from it., It is And this is not a vain theory-a Utopia a ~onfused harmony, a lieht dream, a thought made for pleasure.. . qwtted once and taken up again; a grace. T~bacco ~oes not decelve-----:C0ffeedoesnot ful form, now naked, and veiled by the de~elve--oPlUm d~ no~deceive. Their reo odoriferous fumes of the wild Levantine to- action on the orgamzanon of our nerves is baceo. positive, and physiologically proved and de- Then comes the poetry of coffee, stronger dueed. It ~ in~vitably necessary, that our and more decided in its character. The ideas, moral orgamzation should yield to their in• under its influence, knot, intertwine, and un, fluence ; sad .or gar, happy or unhappy, our rol themselves, with marvellous brilliancy, keenest emotions YIeld to a few puffs of to. into the most gorgeous tissues. The im8gi. baeeo, ten grains of coffee, or a bit of opium. nation, then, unfolds its wings of fire, and Th~ women ?f your harem do not deceive hUrri~8 you away into the highest regions of you either.. It 18 a fact,.that .th?ir skins are the intellect, Centuries, then, outspread S?ft and satlnr, that their hUonIS black and themselves before youreyes, rapid and bright. silky, tha~t~elf teeth are white, that their lips ly tinted, like those fair shores, which ever are red; It IS a fact, that their caresses are seem to ~y from you as the wave bears you ardent and passionate; for, educated in your seraglio, you are the only man they have ever '" The -Ililikk ill a IoOrt of eastern pipe. seen, or will see for ever. t The TIli1ll i. the opium tavam •. Thus your tobacco, your coft'~~,and your

Digitized by Google lttrBKO'VIA.rB". ojiimiare'of 8Up&riorquality; and, if you are sometimes, in ·the mere hope of seeing her ncb enough to layout six thousand dollars for at her state-room window, swing himself a Georgian girl, shew me II. single deception down by a rope, and that only, though at the in this purely intellectual existence, of which risk of killing himself, for a smile, or 8. waf• the entire and perfect happiness reposes itself, ture of her white hand. not on the frail and fallacious bases of a wo• In truth, I believe, also, that Alice loved man's heart, or a friend's honor, but on ma• Paul; for she was perfectly happy, with a terial facts, which we buy by the ounce, and calm and serene happiness--only she looked find to be bought in all the bazaars of Smyrna -for a declaration-poor young girl !-for she and Constantinople. often caught her aunt and Paul's father ex• And it is to this most excellent of countries changing singular glances. She looked for a that you are carrying all this honest society, declaration; for, in her virgin innocence, all which you are cradling in your bosom, my love was in that-in that one phrase, I love glorious Salamander. For five days, heaven you! Up to that time, it might, perhaps, but has blesaed you-for it is impossible to have be friendship-up to that she couldyet doubt; a calmer sea, a more favorable breeze. In the and then, that phrase-I love you !-must call memory of no sailor, has there been more forth an emotion as profound; so that the poor serene and even weather. child sighed only after Paul's confession. The good marquis was becoming perfectly As for the passenger, whom they were car• accustomed to his new existence. Peter or• rying to Smyrna, M. de Szaffie,he had made dered the ship's course, Peter took the observ• a singular impression on board. Up to this ations; Peter directed the working of the ship, time, the little colony had understood itself Peter watched over the discipline; and saw perfectly well. Every one had made his own that it was most rigorous; in a word, Peter nest, to use a vulgar phrase. Each one en• did, every thing-but so did it as to bring his joyed the good qualities, and· excused the captain forward, leaving to him the credit t faults of the other; and these mutual conces, everything that was done well; in that re• sions rendered life endurable. But that which, spect, an admirable minister of an irrespon• above all, characterized this miniature socie• slble. monarc;h. Old Garnier continually ty, was perfect confidence-an unlimited trust plague,d;the purser-swore, blasphemed, bul• in each other. From the day M. de Szaffic lied h" c'kildrell~when they had the misfor; came on board, the whole state of things was tune to conceal nny ailment. changed. Ensign Merval, having found himself una• It was not that he was either troublesome, ble to succeed in making love to Alice, made or fretful; on the contrary, it would have a friendship with Madame de Blene. The been impossible to find a man of greater po• new officer, Bidaud, eat, kept his watch, and liteness, of more noble or distinguished mall. slept, , ners-full of tact and of good taste, pleasing It is already notorious that Paul loved Al• and kind, free from all assumption, forgetful, ice. But Paul's love was deep and religious; as it seemed, of his high position, and by those for the memory ef his mother mingled itself verymeans rendering its influence far greater. with all his thoughts, and purified and sanc• But there was something in him strange and tified that passion-that passion, so thorough• inexplicable; he appeared to be about thirty ly interwoven with his existence, that he be• years old-s-hia face was regularly handsome, lieved in it, as his own life-believed, I mean, pale and grave-his large eyes had, at times, that it was his life; so that, if, in the midst a delightful expression of grace and kindness, of this bliss, in which he was entranced, he but more frequently told of an inward senti. could have thought of dying, he would have ment of proud and bitter melancholy. His thought of it, not as of dying, but of being no figure was tall, slight, and admirably formed; longer loved by Alice. In a word, he had as and the extreme care which he lavished on much accustomed himself to love her, as he his elegantly simple dress, would have mark• was accustomed to exist-being no more as, ed him out as an accomplished man, by his tonished at it, than one ill astonished at liv• exterior only, if these wretched advantages of ing. And then, the poor boy had not dream• his exterior had not been obliterated in him, ed of making a declaration, because he fan• by the splendor and fantastic brilliancy of his cied that his whole conducr W88 a declara• conversation, which so completely absorbed tion. all hearers, that they thought of nothing but As tor Alice, she soilght out Paul. Alice to listen to it. passed hours, in listening to Paul talking of But moments like these were very rare. his projects, of his father, of his childhood. Sometimes, however, his face became ani. Tears came to her eyes, as she saw how his mated-his cheeks were flushed; and then pure and noble heart traced itselfin its slight• ideas the most ingenious, the most complete, est words. Alice admired rus character-so the most original, .ung forth from his mind aruess, so full of the illusions which she, her• in crowds. His conversation, at these times, self, partook-believing in virtue, only, and consisted of the most salient and striking con, ~tributing vice ever to fatality, or to chance. tradictlons-e-oftears and oflaughter-of child And then, so brave, so daring'! Did not Paul like simplicity, and the sad irony of age-

Digitized by Google , • I •~L. .t " ...If J) I a • eematimee, of the IB_ friahtful paracloxee• I think dsat h. vie", .. in a lJaht tar too of the most ~Iarrning truths, .concerning meD odious; and I pity him (or it-for he' Beema and women-of keen and bloody railleries incapable of seeing all that is great and good againl!lt the whole human race. And then, an~ noble in their nature. The vices and the u if his audience had failed him, he held his crimes are but the shadows of the picture•. tongue-fell into silence-into his habitual But, look you, if he only knew my father, he taciturnity-roee from hillseat, and went to would no longer doubt the existence of virtue take his favorite place in a boat hanging from in humanity," said the boy; who was repaid, the davits of the corvette's taffrail, where he by a sweet smile from Alice, (or his filial paued whole hours in meditation. trust and affection. Perhaps the fantastic conduct of this man " The truth ill, that there is something in was the result of his conscioueneee of superi• his glance," said Madame de Blene, " exceed• ority-for nothing appeared strange or un• ingly striking; of which, however, we do not known to him. He had talked of naval tac-~ take enough account." tics, with Peter; of plJyaiology,with old Gar• "As for me," said Alice, "I am sure, and nier; of painting, with Madame de Blsne ; of I repeat it, that he is either a very bad, or a music, with Alice; but always in a tone very unhappy man." And she remained, for 10 cold, although with the most perfect po• some time, thoughtful and meditative. Iiteness, and with so marked an indifference "Perhaps both," said the eld doctor, "and toward the person with whom he waa talking, that is what I shall find out, if Providence that it produced a sensation more painful, be• will only hear my prayers, aad send him a cause the first impression wrought on all per• good GtUtTitiB." -.ons by Szaffie's manners, tended to draw . "Upon my word! it is net what he eats them toward him. It always happened that that will make him sick," said the marquia ; when he came in, all gayety and abandon• " except. a sort of Turkish piUaw, which his ment were checked at once. The moment own cook makes for him, he eats nothing; that he left the room, the hearts of all expand• alld he only drinks that devil ef a beverage, ed, and their lips were again lighted up with which his valet de chambre prepares, of cold laughter. tea with a little 'chempaigne." It was on the fifth day of their departure " What a brew!" said the doctor; "but from France, and tb. evening waa waxing per~ap8 this is because be has lived too hard late. Coffee was served in the captaiu's cab• formerly; do you see, captain 7" in, wherein part of the staff were aasembled, . " What would you have 7" replied the mar• at his invitation; and just at this moment, quis, philosophically; "one cannot both be, Szaffie had retired from the cabin to go on and have been." deck. Never had his irony been severer) or " And yet, captain, we are going to have a more cruel-never had be raised himself, in mateh at chess, and we had one yeaterday• the first instance, to a pitch of sarcaam 80 answer that." blasting and bitter-nor ever had he descend. " Upon my word! I will," said the captain ; ed to a philosophy 10 soft and consoling; 80 "my answer is, let us play." that his own opinions, being in some sort And they seated themselves at the ch881- neutralized, he had left the whGle party in a board; while Madame de Bltmetook her ta~. state of doubt and wonder, not easy to be com• estry.work. prehended, Paul had gone out to take IUs watch, Alice " Devil of man! From what place has he was leaning on the window ledge watchina picked up all those strange ideas?" said the tbe sun, which waa setting purely and gor• ,ood-natured marquis, striking his hand up• geou81yon the horizon. on his thigh. Szaffie was also watching the lun, as be "I cannot comprehend anything about that sank to rest. being," said the doctor. "He makes you sad orgay; he makes you love or hate him• and all that in less than a quarter of an hour. CHAPTER II. I should like, very much, to see him sick; for it is on the sick bed only, that we can judge SUllIE. men to the bottom of their hearts. Oh : I Then am ! tempted to believe mankind wish he would fall sick." The hitter mockof wayward powen,andblbtd; " And then," said Alice, " there is 80 much To answer mockwith mock-a they who clie, disdain, so much confidence in his expres, ADd cheat their tortures with a laUlliilll u.• eions, that it seems as if he wished to force Te .ink my reuon's liIrhtin frenzydire, Aad, in a roar of leomlul rage,expiJe! upon you all his convictions, whether false or A. DI:LAx.u.TUCII-H...... reMonable. As for me, I am very far from sharing all of them. Thet,.eare some ofthem, PETER waa on the w'atchwhen Szaftie came indeed, which seem to inmcate a mind either upon the deck; but the rood lieutenant, after very deeply wounded, or very odioul. Do goming up to him and exchatl4Pn1 a feW' not you think so, M. Paul?" words, made an excuse for retirina, of lOIII8 ..~deed 1 do,madem_lle. Lib you, orde,. wbicJ1. I»had to liTe, for be bad ~

Digitized by Google 65 'illrirtk. ~1··tbe·etraDfe apl'ellion which over• .,un, but found it dead-dead qd fnleuHtle 'cut the pale countenance of the paeee,nger. to everything. For the 188t time, he reftecktd The desire of solitude waelegibly imprinted on tbe consequences; and met, in the happi. on that care_worn brow, and in the bitter ness which had followed hllt every step, the smile which arched that pale, thin, lewer lip. seurce of the real or imaginary evils which As soon, then, as the lieutenant left him, tortured him without relaxation. Then, by a Ssaffie ascended the taffrail, got into the boat sentiment which might, perhaps, be almost - which was suspended from the stem, and eat called a monomania, he began to execrate down there. Then, hiding his head in his himself, and to curse the world, which, in hands, he appeared to be buried in deep med• gratifying all his wishea, had rendered him itation. Szaffie was 'Ilt thia moment plunged most miaerable i-and his heart, wbtch had in one of those rare moods of recollection, no longer a response for the words love, vir• and frankneaa with himself, wherein a man tue, or ambition, found a prolonged echo in is placed, as it were, face to face with hia own the word hatred! soul, in the presence of facts and of memory ; And Szaffie was delighted; he had dill• and, by a sudden power of intuition, he could, covered a new chord in his soul j a mine at a single glance, embrace his own life, both fruitful in all emotions. II After all," h. said past and present, to himself, "wbether by the excess of grief, An orphan of distinguished birth, he had or of bliss, tbe world hu rendered me miser• been placed very early in the po888aaionof an able; it has consumed all my sensations, I immense fortune. On his first appearance in find but one left; sharp, cutting, and impla, the world, he was received with almost in• cable. The world shall endlire that which credible favor. His face of rare beauty, his alone it has spared to me." And now tbere wealth, hia singular.capacity of mind, obtain• remained to him but this one idea-to do .u ed for him success in society, such as, at hill thB evil in hiBpower to humanity. Not that age, has been rarely heard of. Therefore it physical evil which the laws condemn and was, that he speedily consumed that freshness punish] but that moral evil, that moral mur• of emotiODl;that pure and holy exaltation; der which they tolerate, ana which society !hose' sublime beliefs which God himself even seems sometimes to encourage. breaths into the heart of every livingman• A spiritual murderer, it was Szaffie'8aim to admirable sentiments, which some men pre• destroy-not the body, but the soul. "The serve to their extreme old age, while others world no longer believes in the devil; well, I waste them in a day. And Szaffie, for his will make them believe in him, and that, too, part, having wasted them, felt his heart emp• by the only means given to man'. intelli, ty, and his soul withered, almost before he gence and nature," said Szaffie, to himself. was twenty years of age. And this new future which he created to His success with women, which he had himself, excited powerfully the ardent and found so easy, he despised; be sought for new disordered imagination of Szaffie. He felt excitement in ambition, and by a singular that he now, more than ever, required, the fatality, which can be explained only by the full aid of his wonderful advantages. There, manners and events of that epoch, in this fore he reappeared in the world, handsomer, line too he perfectly succeeded. From that more fascinating, more perfect than before; moment, he began to look on women and men for that fixed and predominating idea, had alike, Withtbe most profound pity. For, by givea to his featnres a fantastical exprel_ a singular caprice of our organization, it is sion, which. distinguished him from other those men, always, who have the most reason men. As for him, his part was not difficult to be grateful to the world, ~h() most utterly to play; his hatred against mankind, putting deteatthe world. him continually on his' guard againat men's This can be understood, thus. Man-man falsehoods, assured him, that to them he of superior parts especially-has moments should never fall a victim. Thus, the moat of sadness, of deep discouragement, the prin• sordid baseness, the most flagrant ingratitude, cipal charaetenstic of which is a sentiment of the most revolting caprice, always found him exaggerated contempt forhuman nature. And insensible to it, and forewarned. Judgin, of when he comes to the thought that he, him• all the world according to his own standard, aelf-he, 80 loathsome and degraded in his he saw both men and women in colora so own -eyes,is Battered, adored, idolized by the gloomy, he attributed to them views and world; he must, in truth,. eitber despise or after-thoughts so infamous, that the reality hate that world very thoroughly. was always lel8 odious thnn his euspieicna, Thus Szaffie, bl~ with everything, be. But, by a singular fatality with that withered C8u.ae in everything be had succeeded, fell into and forewarned heart, Szaffie had preserved a state of incurable melancholy. His thoughts thehead of a young man, the imagination of became dark and painful; and in the-space of a poet. One of those potent and highly col• two years, he ascended, or descended, aUthe ored Imagtnarione, wbich cast over all a bril. It.epswhich lead to suicide. Once arrived at liant cloak of poetry, joined to deep disslmu, the verge of that abya, he halted-ho reflect• lation, gave him the power of sportin, with ed for the lase tim., ~d his ~ean "net) all oonvictions, all emotions, necesaary to

Digitized by Google 66 T H K SAL A 1\1 A-M :0 E R.. . C8lTyhim to the accomplishment of his object. whose 8~elet crime we knO'W;. and wIiorn,• And eo young, 10 handsome, so rich, in an twenty times a day, we can place mentaUyin elevated social sphere-had he not all the full view of the scaffold. And the wretch means of accomplishing his desires 1 ' revelled in the agonizing sobs which then es. And only to imagine, that this young and caped from her. He delighted to wound charming body,sometimes so strongly marked anew that moral wound, which he tortured by that sad, soft melancholy, which always till it bled again. He delighted to watch appears to reveal a frank and tender soul• that heart, panting, and writhing, aud giving only to imagine, that all this was a lie! To vent to its anguish in cries of grief, of love, imagine, that this youthful manner was all a and of remorse. Then, when aweary of the lie! This seductive exterior, so full of life nervous excitement, to which this -hsieoua and racy freshness; this warm and kindling sight aroused him, he fell baek into hiSlietles8 elocution; these seemingly spontaneous bursts torpor, like a lifelessbody, no longer wrought of admiration for all virtue, contempt for all upon by galvanism. And, misery to tell! crime-to imagine that QlI these were but a the physical and intellectual advantages, lie! To imagine, that from the depth of his with which he was so admirably gifted, gave dark and empty soul, of his incredulous, hate. him but too many opportunities of practicing• ful, frozen soul, Szaffie was purposely draw, IUs atrocious system, of disenchanting their• ing' forth these lies so elegantly, so brilliantly souls of their sweetest illusions, upon those' masked! Thus, he believed not in friend. weak, confiding, inoffensive beings, whom• ship--no ! Yet friendship found him -always he attracted to himself by those wondrous ready, open and kindly; for, with his pene• powers offascination, with which some men trating glance, he quickly discovered in every .are so strangely endowed. one, the vice or the quality which he wished Such is an imperfect analysis of a charac• to flatter or to extinguish. Thus, all the irre• ter, which sometimes, by a just punishment sistible fascinations of his intellect, of his for. from God, fell into gloomy and torturing re• tune, _of his position, were brought to -bear flection. In fact, at this very moment, Szaf. upon the weakest side of every man's char. fie had become almost giddy, -as he con• acter, however small that weak spot might templated the bottomless abyss which he had be ; well satisfied, that to one skilful in play• dug in his own heart. For he saw hie 'Own ing upon 'Ren, every living being has some soul, naked, in all its cold and arid deformity chord, either concealed or openly displayed, -his own soul, which he had. stripped 80 which CaD be made to thrill painfully to the cruelly'of all the pure and primitive beliefs of touch. So, also, he believed not in love• childhood; of those illusions which God has which he had reduced in his own practice to given us to color with its magical reflections, a mere method, and that certain-setting as with a prism casting a thousand hues, all thereby at defiance all its pleasant deceptions. that is cold and desperate in reality. For, And yet, to gain his end, he employcd all, during this dark flight of his thoughts, Szaffie the purest and most burning language, the sawall the gloom and emptiness of his soul, most ingenious fascinations, the most deli, without one memory on which he could dwell cate cares, the most wonderful devotion. with pleasure; without one consoling idea, He believed not in love, and yet his misty on which he could rest himself, 8S if ill a cool eyes could, still bathe themselves in tears. oasis, surrounded -by a 'Y8stand arid desert. His heart could bound,his Ups tremble. The He found nothing in his soul; nothing but a sound of his voice could become low and void and despair; for, having broken all tbe melodious. His words of passion could be ties which could attach him to-humanity, he' panted forth, as if under the influence of In• saw himself alone in .the world, alone with toxication, of frenzy. His caresses could be his hatred. As Szaffie raised his head, his. earnest and too real; his kisses so fiery, that 'face was paler than its wont, and he had on the heart answered to them as to an electric his brow a horrible expression of incurable spark. And then, when a wretched woman, grief and anguish. " Oh I" he said; "cab. intoxicated by her passions, fascinated by his this life be called living 1 I lived once Oil 'Seductions, madly in love, forgetting every• love; I live now on hatred. But when this thing for him, tortured already by remorse, life too shall be at length coDSulI'ed-when would-cry out with tears of agony, " At least this last sensation shall be extinguished also, in God's name! at least, tell me that you for hatred, too, consumes itself-well! after. love me!" then, still warm from her burning ward! what then 1" be asked himself. kiseee, Szaffie would auswer by some cruel ,~Well, afterward," he replied, ,~-afterward: sarcasm, revealing the whole barrenness of suicide. I should never have pUt it off; but his aoul, Then he confessed that his passion to fall back on it again-" .- was hut feigned-was hut _a means to gain .. And after that," he -again added, - an end-that -possesslon itself was but a " Oh! after that-annihilation-annihila.,; means of producing an atrocious reaction on tion-horrible thought--te exist no longer! a confiding, passionate woman. No more and yet if my solitary; frozen-life, were too love-no more desire, even-only his victim, terrible to me-:-ah! ah ! what hateful folly, was absolutely in his power, 8S a man is, to cast bi.ntsetf fd'ttf annihilation .in Order to

Digitized by Google CLEARING SHIP ~OR ACTION. 61 avoid annihilation! Oh! that I could believe his eyes fearfully dilated, striking his hands in hell!" together: "we shall be lost! let us escape; And he hid his head in hie hands, and then let us escape !" raising himself, erect with his face toward " Yes, captain," said Peter, in a high voice, heaven: with the respectful manner of one answering " Well, then-hell! Come; that would, per• a superior; and then advancing toward Mer• haps, be a sensation t" he cried, with a bitter val, he said, "order them to rig the lower smile; "yet how can it be that Ishould love atu'n.sails, monsieur. It is the captain's in. others, when Ihate myself1 Yes, yes," he tendon to learn at once how fa rwe call count mattered, with his teeth hard set, "let my on these sails." destiny of evil be accomplished firet; and af. " Yes, lieutenant," said the ensign. And terward-well, afterward, hell! if there be he gave the necessary orders, which were one-but no! there is no such thing," he ad. obeyed immediately. ded, with an extraordinary e:apressionof des. " But," cried the marquis, as pale now as pair and regret. death, eatching the lieutenant by the arm. And then, hie inflexible and iron character, " are you sure that there is nothing to appre• leaping, at one bound, over all the dishearten. hend, in the name of Heaven !" illll thoughts which had overwhelmed him for " Ay, ay, captain," replied Peter again, in a time, recovered itself--drawing from that his deep and thundering voice; and then add. meditation but another bitter thought against ed: "Monsieur de Merval, the captain thinks humanity. He stepped down to the deck. that we have not sufficient sail set, and that TheJl Ensign Mervel, whoee watch it was, we do not make sufficient way. Set the to'. eame up to him. gallant stu'n.sails,' "Well, monsiear,' said the gay and frivo• The order was executed as soon as it was lous young man, "are you a poet? This issued, and the corvette began to run at a glorious night oaght to iDlpire you. Confide tremendous rate; and Bouquin said to La to me, I beseech you, the subject of your late Joie, who was putting his great whistle back. meditations." into his pocket: "Evangelic charity, monsieur," answered " Do you see that old serpent, with his fur &a1fie, with a emile which froze the onsign's cap? What sail he carries! oh, what sail! blood in his veins. the lieutenant is a devil for crac....ing on the canvas; but he is a mere powder-monkey to the old one. Look you, now; see you 1 the the lower stu'n.sail booms are dipping in the CHAPTER III. water. He is a real old eea.wolf=-whc can CLEARIl(G SHIP FOR ACTION. doubt it 1" .. Alas! Etrik, I hhve DO confidencein my com· .And, indeed, the corvette did stoop to the lade." BlI..u.. breeze, and flew almost with the speed of an THE next morning, at sunrise, the whole arrow. ~taff of the .corvette were assembled upon "But, God of Heaven! we shall overset," deck. Peter was levellinghis wlesoope upon exclaimed the ex-shopkeeper, with an ex• • very distant point; and beside him stood pression of exceeding terror. the commauder, with his eye fixed, his neck " One word more, captain, and I will set outstretched, his manner obviously aazious ] the royals." . appearing to await eagerly the result of the " 1 do n't know what you mean by the roy. lieutenant's observation. als," said the poor marquis, "but I compre. "I was sure of it," said Peter, closing the hend you; come, I am silent, I am sHent• joints of the telescope with a light blow of the but are you really going to open the powder palm of bis hand. Then he,turned to the thing-urn-bob 1" captain. "That is a matter of a moment-have you " Ah ! captain," he said, "I ought to tell anything on the magazine ?', you one thing; "it is that, for some time, of " Hey 1" Iate, the Algerine corsairs have been emis, " Have you any baggage or trunks overthe iog on this course; and that it is possible-« place by which you enter the powder-room~" ah! ab! what is the matter? are you ill? you " Is it near me 1" are growing pale." "To be sure it is; the scuttle is under your c. No, no, my friend, it ill merely a nervous bed." attack. I know what it is." " The scuttle! the powder-place-what- "That is well. I was about to tell you the scuttle! Do you mean that I sleep upon that it is pcssible we may have to give chase gunpowder ?" to Bornepirate. Therefore I am going to or. " You sleep over the powder.room=-what der the drummer to bent to quarters, to open, of that ? it is the post of honor; is it not, the powder magazine, and to see to the clear. monsieur? Ought not tbe captain of a ves• iog the ship for action." sel to be so placed, that, in case of its com. .. Ah! my God! my God! for action !". iog to. extremities, he might blow up his cried the ~oor marquis, in a low voice, with ship 1",

Digitizedby Google • ,. •• IALAX.A.N'blll. N Blow up 1 who talks of hlowiD, up 1 Ah! CHAPTER. I'Y. my good God-all is lost !" .. See here, captain," continued Peter, leu. '1'10 SAIL• iDa' the captain down into his own cabin', so III I!.word, h.. she is! tbat no one should hear him; " see here, mon, 8cIllLLU.-TM RMtw•. Bieuri it is now my turn to be afraid, mine l" As Peter left the captain'. cabin, he ~ Ie Afraid! of what, lieutenant 1" hit son on the quarter.deck. " That yeiuare a coward." "Well, father, is it true 1" aaid the boy. II Monsieur !" his face gleaming with 'pirit, "an action at " Be quiet, and listen to me i 80 long as hand 7" Peter Huet is lieutenant of the Salamander, " It may be 80, my dear boy i and therefore 110 long as he can pull the trigger of a pistol, you shall go down with me, for an instant, to I will answer for you, I will, tbat your epau• my alate-room." letts remain pure, arid stainleas-and in your They went below. own despite, toe." " Paul," aid tbe liet1tenant,taking c.awn a " What do you mean to 8ay1" sabre, which hung above his standing.bed .. I mean to say, that should I lee you on place; "you will take this sabre-do you 0- the point of committing a poltroonery-do derstand 1 It it an excellent Turkish blade, you understand me-poltroonery 7" mounted in the Spanish fashion, with a guard "Well!" and shell that cover the whole hand and fore• .. Then I will kill you." arm. In boarding it is a preeious weapon. II " My God! my God !" " But you, father 7" " Yes; I will kill you! I shall'be shot, but H You know that I haM got poor Bremon... your uniform will be Apotle88!" sabre, which is an admirable on8-8le yoar " But in the name of Heaven--" pistols in order 1" " In the name of Heaven l think of what I . " Yes, father." tell you! I shall have my eyes upon you; " Go, and bring tbem to me--that I ma), and I givQyou my werd of honor, my word see." of honor as a sailor, that I will do as I tell " But, father, they are inorder." you-and Peter Huet never yet failed to keep " Paul, go and fetch them to me." his word ! SG listen to me. We shall now "Yes, talber," laid the boy, embraciog overhaul that sail-s-it may be nothing-it may Peter. be a great deal. Iam going, in obedience to Peter Huet followed him with his eyea, your orders, to clear the ship for action. ' In while he was yet in sight, and then raising half an hour, we shall be within cannon.ehot, them to heaven, said, with all expression of and we ruay have wann work. Do you feel extraordinary fervor, "My God! my God ! do that you have the courage to give out the or• not separale us yet !" ders, which I will whisper quite closein your Paul returned with his pistols, and it would ear1" have been a sight, to witness the care with " Wben1" which his father tried the play of the springe, "When the action shall have begun-if and the pan-faces. "That trigger goe~ too there be any action." easily," he said, and flung one of the pistole "But during the battle, cannot I remain dswn upon his .bed, Then taking down an. here in quiet 1" , ether from a group of ..veapons on the wall, " Ah ! well , if it be thue=-wbetber there be he examined it strictly, and gave it to his 1011. an action or no, as soon as we shall be within "Take it, my boy; load them with two cannon.sbot, I will come end let you know. balle each-do you understand 1 and above You will then come on deck, look at the com. nil, Paul, take care not to waste your shots; paBS, and the. masts, and then say to me, no imprudence, B8 the last time---" 'Lieutenant, see to the working of the ship, " But the cold steel, father 7" and God send that our cannon may find whom " Cold steel-cold steel, sir, is not half 80 to speak te i' or something else after your good as firearms with a correct aim. And, own ch-ice, but of the same meaning; and above all, Paul, remain at your ltation-)Jou then you wiU get upon your quarter.bench, hear me-your station is in the battery, and !rom which you will not stir, until the firing not on deck." u over. And remember well, monsieur, that " But, father-" I B,hallbethere-on the least sign of fear, or " Monlieur--tJ the slightest hesitation, I shall be there, I re• " Yee,yee, father i I will remaia there-• peat it to you, and I shall wateh you narrow, but you 1" Iy itt said Peter, raising his fore-tin,er to his "I-my poet it on the quarter-d.ek. .. left eye, which seemed to the poor marquis unsel, in working the ship." to flash fire; "and now, captain," he added, " That is very much exposed, father." retpectfully, " I will take care of everything, " You jealoUl rogue," said the geod lieu. and obey your orders,' tEanaot,with a amile. "But--" At tbia moment one of the helmsmeltcame Fater bowed low, aDd left the cabin. down. " LI'$~t, tbe 9fticer of &be w."'"

Digitized by Google f.a iAiL.

Worm. you tlrat we are almoet within CaD- in hie ear-but for all that he will not 80 AOIWhotof the chile." much u shake hie head." " Tell him tllat I come i" and, as the man At the firet gun which tb. Salamander fired withdrew, "come, my boy," he said, U em- under her fiag, the unhappy Marquis, although brace me, and then let U8 be men." forewarned of it, gave a tremendous jump on One must have embraced a father or a hie quarter-bench. friend under like cireumstaneee, to know the " Ah! ha! the old crocodile!" said Bou, deep and thrilling sensation of that pressure, quin, pulling La Joie by the jacket. "Ah! bnut to breast, which may well be the last. the old rogue! luok at him, jumping for joy When Paul, however, with his father, reap- to see the commencement of the dance of peared OB the deck, there wu not the slight- 'Take cere of ,our hide!' Is he not mad, .t trace of emotion Yiaibleon the face of hey, La Joie, with love for fire 1 Be euy! either. be euy! they are goin, to begin the tune, .. Well, lieul.enant," said Merval, handing and the grape-shot, to~ld madman-old him the telescope, " we do not know what to bullet-eater-ah! he! ha I" make of her," But, happily for the bullet-eater, the mad- In • word, after hannr fired a blank car- man, the amateur of grape.shot, and of the tridee under the proper colore of the Sala- dance of "Take care of your hide"-the 6r. mander, they tried a shorted gun which suc- ing did not last; but, on the contrary, the brig ceeded better. hoisted her colors, after receiving the 10me- H That is lucky," said tae lieutenant, seeing wbat rough invitation of the Salamander, and • red ensian houted .lowly at the gaff of the lent a boat on board the eorvette • •tranaer-a tall, l-Pae, rakish looking brig. Then Peter, coming up to the MllrquiJ., - -. said in bis ear: "Bouquin took good sigbt-for hie ball "All but the jump on the quarter.bench •. hulled her,'''aaid Merval; "but look, the brig I am very well satisfied. You may come ia lowering her sails, and beaving.to. She down." must be going to Bend a boat on board us, The ex-shopkeeper did not wait to have lieutenant." thie intimated to him twice. In the boat, "I suppose so-and I will go and inform which was pulled by four Omenvery neatly the commander." dressed'in the Egyptian faehron-s-that il to Tbe conversation between the unfortunate say, in a white shirt, a red cap, and a pa,irof Marquis and Peter bad not, 0( course, been breeches, which barely came down to their forgotten; and, accordin-r to tbe instrueticne knees-there was a man, rather fat than oth, of the latter, the ex-shopkeeper had eome on erwise, dressed in a waistcoat of chamois deck in full uniform-had uttered, better or leather. with an olive-colored frock, and a worse. the phrase which Peter had taught blue cap on his bead. him, and had mounted his bench on the quar, He spmng on board lightly, bawed to En. ter-deck. Stiff and immovable, with his eyes sign Merval, wbo was at the gangway, and bed on Peter, who never withdrew hia gaze said to him in very good French, though KV. from him, he stood steady at hie poet- Oer, oring eomewhat'ef his Norman origin: tainly, if tbe Marquis had deserved a punish- "May I beg to know, lieutenant, in what ment, he received it larp and ample, durin&" I can be of service to you711 the balf hour of uncertainty which beld him " You were a long time, monsieur, before in luspense, with no other distractions for hia you showed your colors!" observed Peter, mind than these caused by Peter, who came who was not a little astonished tbat tbis fat from time to time to whisper in his ear. man, a native of lower Normandy, should be "Think of what I promised you-at the sailing under a Turkish fl8g. int hesitation. Do you understand me 1" " Upon my word, lieutenant." returned the And, after that amicable communication, other, "I was asleep-my mate is' sick; Peter saluted him 88respectfully 88 if he had and before I could make those beasts under• been .p~aking of matters all important to the stand me,"-pointing to the Egyptiane-" just IOmce. And the crew, seeing the stiff and time enough pa88ed to allow me to receive immovable positionof the Marquis, unchang. one of your shot"--and here he took eff his ed by all the preparations which were going cap-" in my wale." ou (or action, very naturally took that petre- "But you are a Frenchman-are you not, faction of his faculties for cold-blooded in- monsieur 7" 88ked Peter. difference to danger. "Yes, lieutenant; a native of Vire." And Bouquin said to La Joie, pointin&'to "How is it, then, that you are sailin, un. the Marquis: der the Turkish flRg7" ° "He is miserably packed up in his uniform; " Why, I am a Turk too !" be looks like the very model of a damned lub- " Monsieur, reply seriously, if you ple.... .ber-but he is an old dog, that won't flinch It is an officerof the French Royal Navy, who -under fire. Stuek up there like tbe mast,he WillI u addrc88ingyou." not budge from his quarter-bencb j the lieu- " But, indeed, lieutenant, I am a Turk, iQ. "'DAD'IDal wbiapor aa m~d&II he will to him umuch 18 Ihave changed lilT religioa."

Digitized by Google 70 TifF SA.LAMANDEJt.

"Dh! you are 0. renegade," cried Peter, " You saw no arms, did you'llt with an expression of contempt. " No! a few m1l8lr.ets, thllt's' all, It wu " At your service!" replied the other, tak• exceedingly clean in his smaller cunn. For ing off his cap. a renegade, he seems to be a decent feJlow!" "And whither are you bonnd?" asked " I dare s8y-1 dare eay; but I do not like Peter. ' apostacy. It is a mere matter of calculation, "To Gibraltar, with wheat from Odessa. and that is base." Here are my letters, my papers, lieutenant, "I am of yoor opinion. But see, he ie signed by the English consul at Constantino• mnking a signal, to ask if he can steer hie ple." course," showing his superior a signal from Everything was perfectly in rule. the brig. "T nm going, monsieur, if you will permit " Answer him 'Yes!' " said Peter, and a me," said Peter, " to send one of my officers blue and yellow pennant 'Washoisted at the on hoard you, to visit your brig. It is an ar.' Salamander's gaff. Scarcely had this signal rangernent made between the three powers, been made, when he unmasked his maintop. in order, if possible, to take Sam.Bat, the sail, and sailed quietly on his course, taking pirate." advantage of the wind, which was very fresh, "May God-I mean to say, may Mahomet Then, when she was out of gunshot of the aid you, lieutenant; but, as soon as you can corvette, he let fall all his sails, unfurling eve• .;isit my brig, 1 am ready, for J am in haste rything, from his royala to his courses, with 10 make my port." admirable quickness and precision, steered " Monsieur de Merval," said Peter, " take large with the wind on his quarter, which W88 Ute barge with an armed boat's crew, nnd be his best sailing, and ran off with exceeding so kind as to examine that brig. You will velocity. then make me your report." " There is a merchant brig, which sails and The whistle of La Joie rang through the manmuvres better than many ships of war," ship-the boat was lowered, manned, and said the lieutenant, shaking his head. armed, and Merval, with the renegade, left " Shall we chase 1" said Merval. the ship. "Certainly not, his papers are all right. "Lieutenant, allow me to offer you my Besides, fast as we think the Salamander, that compliments,and best wishes," said tqe Nor. brig can give us her topsails. It is no use man renegade, bowing to Peter. thinking of it, even now!" "Good day, monsieur," he replied with icy " Why the devil! can he run so, though 7" coldness; and then added, aloud," Merval, said Merva!' leave half your people armed in the barge, and at the slightest hostile demonstration "I'il be hanged if I know," said the lieu• make a signal. This brig, as you know, is tenant, as he went down to give the captain an under our guns; but never mind--prudence !" account of what had passed. And the And the boat quitted the Salamander, and good.natured man, enchanted at having es, Peter followed it with anxious eyes. At the caped the danger he so much dreaded, asked end of half an hour it returned on board, and Peter If he might not double the men's rations. Merval came up the side, H To-morrow will be Sunday," said Peter. " 'Veil, Merval ?" asked Peter. " Yes, captain, that will do very well i it will " Well, lieutenant, there is not a word to enliven their ball-for they asked my permis, be said. She is laden with wheat, evento her sion to dance to-morrow, and I granted it, in great cabin; only her crew is verYnumerous, your name!" that is all. Her mate is an Italian, a rene. " And you did very rightly"t said the ex. gade, like the other; he is in bed, and very shopkeeper; and the news of the generous pale. He answered, in very bad French, all intentions of the captain having gained eir• the questions I put to him; and all agreed culation, every one began to calculate gaily. perfectly with what the fat man teld us." on the fun of to.morrow's ball.

BOOK VI.

CHAPTER I. crew, and even of her officers-all of whom had expected a sanguinary conflict. PARADOXES. 1 It was like a drama without a develop. Pqce, child of passion, peace! ment-aelove broken off in its most thrilling If not within thy heart, yet with thy tongue, moment-an abortive ambition-it wos,.in Do God no wrong. short, one of those commondeceptions which • BYB.ON-H""ml and Earth. often occur, brutally setting at nought tbe THEREwas something mournfully mirthful most just expectations. in the disappointment of the Salamander'S And, in fact, the preparations for war-1he

Digitized by Google PA.B.4DOX~S. 71 instinctive ,motives of fear, which even the to die, but when thou shalt send it I will bless bravest feel, when a question of life or death the sender :"-to tell that wretch, 'I say, that is to be answered-the demonstrations of there is no God; or that, if there be ene, he • grave and solemn tenderness, which are eli. hears you not, he occupies himself about the eited by moments such as these-all these universe, not about iadividuals. "Is the fami, things had been produced by a fat renegade ly indeed dead '! Then for thee it is annihi, of lower Normandy, who was peaceably traf- lated-utterly annihilated !' Cabanis and -ficking in wheat. ·So many high and fiery Bichat have proved it! For ever and every. aspirations chilled in a moment! There was, where annihilated ! Do you understand me I repent it, something vexatious for men, who well 1 Therefore, instead of hoping, forget. had already made up their minds to the loss Death is the end of all. If your sufferings of life, having got over that which is most dif, are greater than you can fear, behold the ficult, the first moments, and had now only to Seine! Complain not then, you Sybarite!" . look forward to the favorable chances of an Now tell me--shall he who cold.bloodedly action, so rare ill times of peace. destroys that soul, so full of 'the hope which is Thus almost every front was gloomy and life-who mathematically drives that man to contracted bYJLfrown. Paul, above all the suicide-irrefragable consequence of moral ~t, was unable to conceal the annoyance he death, and the extinction of all faith-positive felt at missing so fine an opportunity of dis. deduction which is to be applied either to in. tintuisbing himself before the eyes of Alice! dividual man, or to society at large-shall he, and be expressed his vexation with so much I say, be held less guilty than the man of bitktmess, that it attracted Szaffie's attention. fiery passions, who kills his mistress or his Sznffie had already observed Paul's character; enemy 1 . hie original, ingenuous, and passionate nature, And it was under the dead weight of this offered so strong a contrast to the bastard and disenchanting process that Szaffie proposed to degraded organization, which alone he had himself to crush the soul of Paul. This nc• hitherto encountered, that a desire came upon tion, so impatiently desired, which had ended him of undermining that young and candid in the disappointment of so many hopes, was heart. . . Ihis starting point. His cruel and puissant Yes! Szaffie, instigated by a truly devilish raillery found in this I.·ncidentafaithful image wickedness, wished to dry up and blight- of the deceptions which are the torment of others may call it enlightening-that young our existence. And Paul spoke to him of its soul, because his own was blasted and arid. glories. Then Szaffiepainted to him the po, To tear from that poor boy his poetical illu, sition of his father ;-of Peter Huet, brave, sions, through which he saw in the world only loyal, covered with wounds, grown old in ser, pure and noble sentiments, and sweet affee, vice, and in victory, seeing a cowardly and tions-because he, Szaffie, saw nought in it imbecile man set at one bound above him. bnt hatred, vice and crimes. Paul, knowing not what reply to make to For, as I have said before, his aim was to such facts as these, spoke to him Q.f that glo• kill, not the body, but the soul. And such is rious and everlasting future state, wherein the the absurdity of human justice, that the pun- victorious are well compensated for all man's ishment of death is denounced against the in- injustice. Then Szaffie showed him the pri• flieter of a wound, which either gets well, or vations, the monotony, the despotism, which kills in a moment. But they suffer men with secretly react on all the sweetest affections impunity to torture, to rend piecemeal the im- of nature; changing the relation of the son mortal soul; to infilter into it, drop by drop, toward the father, into that of the slave to• poisons which consume it, as if by a slow fire, ward the master. And the unhappy boy, changing it into one entire and immedicable wishing to escape from the narrow circle of wound, which bleeds even until the tomb! individualizing argument, in which Szaffie Murder the body, and th~yslay you. Ass8S. cramped him as in a vice, with his poetical sinate the Boul-and ,they alWo.ysleave you and touchingly credulous enthusiasm, spoke at peace, and sometimes even praise you. to him of love, of genius, and of friendship. And this is infamous-infamous! for, at the Then Szaffie, with a minuteness of detail, worst, for 0. dagger's stroke, you have two no less positive than frightful, replied to hours of agony, and all is over! him: But to tear from an artless and satisfied " Virtue? it is either gold, or tempera. heart its simplicity and its conviction, that is ment, negative in a greater or less degree. a dagger stroke which lasts a whole lifetime! Crime? it is an organization produced by the But to snyto this man, who kneels nnd cries- form of the skull. Love 1 it is Ilnervous ex• " My God! I lead a bitter and painful life-my citement. Genius? a brain more or less am• mother, .my children are dead, my 'Wifeis ply developed. And all these again subjected dead, but I endure all. because thou art just- to the vile and ignoble powers of intoxica, because one day, if I endure without com. tion. So that the breath of God, the emana, plaining, the trials which thou hast imposed tion from divinity itself, lacks power to resist upon me, I shall again see my mother, my the influence of a material production, of a wife, my children .-uwrefore. 1desire not cup of wine. So that, again, the most oxalt.

Digitized by Google ed love, the mOlt di.iatereeted lenius, are his first step in that life! 'AJUl apin, to re• melted down and effaced by a fever of an flect that the first atep il!lall iD all! For I hour." know not what fatal obliquity of our intellect And this hideous theory terrified the boy; makes us run down hill to meet misery, with lor Szaftie colored his pictures with hues so desperation like to madneee-e-makes us forget gloomy, and proved his theory with facts so in one instant, years'of happiness and hope, fearfully probable at first light; and that too, and devote ourselves voluntarily to a future with an eloquence 10 sharp and cutting, taat of tears and sorrows. the heplees Paul was like one bewildered, Oh! can it be, that it is written in the se. like one seized with a vertigo. cret heart of man-thou canst not grow great, For a moment, he became like that fool of but from the very depth of thine own desola, whom some poet speaks-I know not who it tion ? il-who, being possessed by 'the demon of Oh! can it be, that the invincible ambi• knowledge, could no longer see the delicate tion of some men would desh on to seek ali. and roseate skin of woman; her pure. and ment even from despair 1 traneparent eyes, her silky ringlets-no! that Oh! pity Paul! For Szaflie"at)ast with. charming exterior was lost to him-but his ered by science, blue by pleasure, had yet keen and penetrating glance looked through, hillhate whereby to live! He had subetituted and law the bloody veins which ramify be. something in his own soul, to that which he neath the skin, the nerves which turn the eyes, was now bent on destroying in Paul's. Be• the crimson muscles, which give movement cause Szaffie had a mind firmly tempered• to the body. Horror of horrors! He saw in ooe of those characters completely organized, her, no longer, aught but an animated corpse. whether for the extreme of good or evil, But he saw truly: he saw to the -bcttom of whic1J.Providence at times launches on the tbinga-as the world says, And Paul like• world. wise began to see truly-began to see the bot. Because, at this time, the soul of Szaffie tom of things, and to dsubt likewise. And was like the crater of a vaat volcano ;-it bad scepticismis a vast step toward being disen, swallowed up all: cool springs, green turf, chanted. And Paul remained immovable, refreshing umbrage; but it could still vomit attracted, fascinated by the fearful converse• forth the burning lava which boiled within its tion and the penetrating look of Szaffic. entrails. Y8S; Paul, instead of believing, began to But the soul of Paul !-Heaveos !-the soul doubt. That irony so biting, so algebraical, of Paul! it was but a frail and delicate flower, was about to leave eternal traces on his quick, which, torn from its stem, blighted and with. passionate and intelligent spirit. Oh! mise. ered, has nothing left it but to die. The poor ry! oh! pity Paul! who up to this time had boy felt that his heart was breaking; his eyes escaped that abstract education, last step of grew wet with bitter tears, and he eried, al• an extreme civilization which consumes itself most plaintively, to Szaffie: by ita own light, and which has stripped our " Ah! monsieur, monsieur! why-great society of its last illusions. God !-why have you said this to me 1 H And this il' an irreparable evil-for who you knew but how deeply you have hurt me ! shall ever find again 11 belief which he has Oh! what a hideous system is this of yours !', Once lost 1 Who would not give all the cold, Then Szaffie,with his marvellous power of deep knowledge of the sceptic, for the emo. setting one motion in opposition to another, tion of the little child, who clasps its hands answered him, that this system was not his, before the little crucifix, and asks the Saviour's but that of men 80 unhappy as to believe in pardon for some trivial fault, or implores a nothing. happy old age for its mother 1 "As for me," he said, with a sardonic Who would not give the implacable reason, smile, "I believe in the progree&-in the in• the despairing science of the materialist, for finite perfectibility of mankind." the consolatory convictions of him who be• But this latter system was laid down so faint• lieves in another world, all peopled with those ly-was tinted with colors so pale and evan• who have been dear to him in this ? Who escent-and the other, on, the contrary, was would not exchange that bitter contempt of so vigorously tinted-that, dark, imposing. the world, that sad and mocking insensibility terrible, it remained fixed, in all its awful which sets us beyond the reach of aU decep. might, in the soul of Paul. tion, for those days of ingenuous credulity Szaffieleft him alone ;-and then, delivered wherein we suffered ourselvesto be deceived from the attacka of that infernal being, Paul with so much pleasure 1 struggled hard to free his spirit from the dark• Oh! how arid, how empty is the spirit ness into which it had been plunged 80 cru• then! Oh! how sad to see in everything in. elly.. He invoked, as allies, his affection for terest, calculation, after.thought. To believe his father-hie love for Alice. 'I'aese soft in nothing, to love nothing, 'to be forcibly and peaceful memories did, indeed, come to compelled to crime or misfortune ! shine over his thongbta, like rays of hope How atrocious must &e such I a life !-and and czonaolation;but, like a bird whose wing then to imagine,_cAatflul had aheldy made iJ broun, the Wlhappy WRttchstrove ill v~

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'to soar agaia to that clear serenity of 80ul- The young girl trembled. fC Have pity on 1:0 tha t plenitude of bU., which he had me 1" It was almost a declaration. known of old. " Explain yourself, Monsieur Paul," she re• Then was it that there came over Paul an plied, with an air of interest-" explain what indistinct and vague consciousness of what is the matter with you 7" his life should be thenceforth. Frightened " Oh! I am in need of happiness, made, and almost in despair, he raa, by a sublime moiselle, I must anchor myself upon my instinct, to seek for his father. father-upon you; for I feel that a 'terrible It will be remembered, that Peter had com. fatality is dragging me-sweeping me away: pelled his captain to punish him with fifteen Oh! prove to me that tbere is something true days of close arrest, for his act of noble in• in life-that the world is not all a lie-a thing subordination. The fifteen days had not yet of hatred and despair. Oh, love me! for expired, and there was a sentinel at his door! pity's sake, love me, or I die !" "I wish to speak with my father," said This language was so strangely at vari, Paul, in an altered voice. ancs with the whole character of Paul, that "Monsieur Paul, the lieutenant has forbid• Alice was moved to the very bottom 6£ her den me to admit anyone. It is the order for heart. close arrest, from the commander." "L"t what terrible thoughts are these, But Paul, trembling with grief, replied, which have so suddenly overpowered you, U I tell you that J must speak with my father." " Lieutenant," cried the marine, "it is M. Monsiaur Paul 1 Can it be you-so confident of the future--eo blissful tbe sun of your hap, Paul who wishes to speak with you. Shall piness1" ' I pass him 1" " Monsieur," said Peter to his son, show• " Yes! yes! I was so, two hours since; ing himself at the door of his state-room, with but now he has changed it all. It ishe-he an expression of displeasnre on his face, only! What fearful powers must not that " Monsieur, do you not know.the orders 1" man possess 1" "Father, for pity's sake !-father, let me " But, in the name of Heaven! of whom speak to you. Oh! I have much to say to are you speaking 1" exclaimed Alice. you. Indeed, I suffer terribly, my father!" " Of Szaffie!" answered Paul, with an ac, At the sound of that agitated, interrupted cent of terror. Alice shuddered throughout voice, the good lieutenant was on the poiat her whole body. of yielding. Already he had raised his hand " Yes," continued Paul, U it is he-Szaffie ! to order the marine to pass him, but his in• This strange man has an eloquence so fatal ! flexible love for discipline prevailed, and he I felt his words enter here-enter my soul-• said: sharp, penetrating, cold! My father's les• " Paul, it is impossible. If you are in suf• sons-the last vows of my mother-all passed fering, consult myoId friend Garnier." away from my mind! His voice overspread And he had the courage to shut his door. all, as it were, with a veil; and I was there, "Oh! my God !-oh! my God !"-cried panting, despairing-and yet attracted irre• Paul; and he sank down, half-sitting, half• sistibly-listening to him with avidity 'and falling, on the companion of the orlop-deck, terror-wishing to fly, yet unable-feeling with his head hidden in his hands. Then, as the poniard in my heart, yet lacking the cour• a sudden thought flashed on him, he cried out: age to make one movement to avoid it. But " Alice, at least, perhaps, will listen to me." all this is false; it is a dream-a vision! And he rose, and rushed thence. No! happiness does exist; for you are there, mademoiselle. Virtue does exist, for'J have .. seen my father. Oh ! yes, he deceived me. -_ Did he not 1 Did he not deceive me, when CHAPTER II. he told me that there was no such thing as LOVE. happiness on earth 1 There would be happi• Fair iI:I the firstthat fell of womankind, ness for me, if.--if you would love me; for Whf!ln on that dread, yet lovely, serpentsmiling• -see mademoiselle, I have not the strength Whose imB.{ethen was stamped UpOIIher mind, But once beguiled, and evermorebeguiling. to conceal it from you any longer. I loveyou! BYRON-1'ke Bride of .I1bydH. oh! how I love you! Let not this declara• THE captain was playing at chess with tion vex you. Pardon me !" said the poor Madamede Blene. Alice was sitting, medi• boy; "oh! pardon me ! This declaration• tative, in the stern-gallery. Thanks to the I should, perhaps, never have made it to you; completeabstraction of the players, Paul pass. but I am so unhappy! Oh! take this ring! ed themby, almost without being seen. it is that which fell from my mother'S finger He drew near to Alice, who was struck at when she embraced me last. Db, take it! onceby his paleness and emotion. it is my treasure; it is my most precious "Good God! Monsieur Paul," she said to possession; and ought it not to belong to you, him, "what is the matter with you 1" if you love me?" said he, offering it to her, " Oh! Mademoiselle Alice, have pity on with channing timidity. _ 1" said Paw. - " Alica! Alice!" said Madame de Bleue: 4.

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".cepe, .and decid,e between the captain and voted!y; his memories of ~ mother are 10 m...w touching, When he speaks to me-'orHer " Paul, my good.friend, then you will come his voice is so affectionate and moving; and to my succor 1" said the kind marquis. to speak to me of a mother, is to awaken in These words recalled Paul to himself. my soul all my feelings of sadness and of Alice took the ring, trembling as she did so, melancholy. And then, this ring-it was his put it upon her finger, and cast on Paul a mother's; he gave it me because he loves look full of endearment, as she entered the me-and 1 love him: for I do love him. captain's '.cabin. Yes; and yet I fancied, that this word wrought a complete change in our whole And that night, cradled on her sea-rocked being r I fancied that this word changed the couch, Alice slept not. Her heart beat; she whole tenor of our lives, our nopes-every• experienced a sentiment of anguish and of thing-everything, even to out language• inexplicable grief, and said to herself, in even to the air which we inhale, the nature affright, "Wha.t infernal influence must he ~hich we beh~ld; and yet Ifeel 110 change not possess, to have changed Paul thus-by in myself; I Iive and breathe as I lived and one single word !-that Paul, formed by a breathed before: that is the same blue sky• father's love-purified by the prayers of a dy• those are the same calm waves below me. ing mother! What dreadful power !' It is I always-I myself, unchanged-I, Alice-nnd I love him; for I have no thoughts or hopes but for his happiness. If 1think of the future, it is but to pray God to make CHAPTER III. him prosperous and happy. And yesterday, But it is, ever in misfortune,that true love reveala how much I suffered to see him in grief; itlelf. MAD,un: E. DE GIRARDIN-ll m'Gimait. poor boy! so innocent nnd happy heretofore, now suffering and overwhelmed by the influ, LOVE AND HATRED. ence of--" OR! how lovely is the night upon the And here Alice broke off abruptly, with '8 slumbering waves of the Mediterranean! deep blush, and remained silent for a while; The night, when the careless ship lets her then she resumed : great white sails float on the vague breath of "Yes! yes! I love him! I .see it well, a dying breeze I-when the sea rocks her like when I compare my feelings for him with an infant in the cradle I-when the stars glit• those I entertain for others: in a word, tbis ter on the mirror of the blue waves, like so young ensign is as brave and as handsome as many spangles of pure gold dropped from Paul; but he has nothing in his heart--but heaven I-when the moon leaves a long train he has a commonplace and vulgar soul: of her silvery reflections on the breast of the therefore, little concern do I feel for his bliss azure sea! or sorrow. His voice is indifferent to me, And the silence of those nights, how Ilove but I love the voice of Paul; he leaves me them ! How I adore the heavy, and melan• neither a recollection nor a regret-instead choly murmur of a sleeping sea! How I of which, Ilove to see Paul-to be near him love to listen to the breathings of the distant -I love his presence, while 1--" porpoise, who plays on the surface of the Here Alice again interrupted herself, for, waves, darting aloft his jets of snowy spray! from a sort of inexplicable fear, she had twice How I love to hear the gurgling of the ship's recoiled from a thought, which still involun, way through the waters, that sound soft as the tarily returned upon her. whisper of dry leaves under the light steps of "Well, after all," she resumed, as if over• a woman! coming a sentiment of shame. even of her• How I love to see the Salamander silently self, " why should I recoil from that thought? gliding, in the midst of the harmonious silence Yes! yes! he is, a being whom I hate-the of the sea and sky! sight of his face hurts me-the sound of his How I love, on the taffrail of the vessel, to voice irritates me. I hate him! oh! how I see Alice, clothed in white, who, alone, im• hate him! and how dearly do I wish that I movable in the midst of the transparent could love Paul as ardently as I hate him !', shadows of the night, lets her 'dewy eyes And her cheeks were flushed fiery red, aad wander far and wide over the sea! she breathed with effort. And the past day appeared to her a dream, "Oh! it is hatred that changea the heart and she mused within herself: far more than love does! It is the hatred "Paul loves me !" she thought; "he loves which I feel for him that has changed me, me-he has told me so; and this declaration When I think of him, the sky appears to me which, as I have ever heard them say, ought dark and gloomy-the sea stormy and over• to excite me, has left, only a calm and soft cast. ~Ina word, if I-I, timid and fearful impression. Is this, then, the whole of love 1 that I am-if I think of him, it is to curse Do I love him 1 Oh, yes! I think I do! him; and yet, what has he

Digitized by Google DO YOU 1.\T.fl'.Q'E AM .JLlJ P Y' m.. .H. MIO proud and haughty, and Paul II I see, mademoiselle, that my prtHn~ '* Sa 10 kiud and gentle; and then bis eternal disagreeable to you; and that 'the dishke earcasms on both men and women-his bitter which you entertain toward me, prevents you mockeries of happineas and love! And yet, from accepting the slightest service at m1 what is all this to me 1 And his looks have hands. I retire. But permit me, mademoi• 80 stern an expression i for 1 look at bim• selle, to send some person to you; for," he and it is in my own despite-it is while curs. added, with an accent of the deepest interelt, iog both myself and kim. And his pale "I perceive that you are sufferingvery much, melaucboly face haunts me! From the first and it would be painful to me to imagine that moment of my seeing, Ihave bated him. you are deprived of neceasary care, becBllI1 " Yes! he was there, leaning against that it is I who offer it." ladder, when I first saw him, as I came .one "Monsieur, I am much better-e-mueh be~ day on deck. He looked thoughtful at once ter : but I do not know what authorizes 1')11 and sad. He bowed very low to me, and to suppose-" Dever ehah I forget the expression of his "To suppose that you hate me, Alice 1" large eyes, which dwelt on me for a moment, answered Szaffie. "An inward sympathy. never to 6..x themselves on me since then. which is rarely deceived-a lecret voici Never shall I forget the expression of that which informs us, whenever the sentiment long, deep, decided gaze. I almost felt it we experience is mutual. that it il 1110. And physically. And I remember, now, that Paul you see that the instinct has not deceived me, was struck, aa I was, by the strange and un. Alice." common aspect of that man. I observed to The young girl thought she must be dream. him how singularly I had been affected by ing. Szaffiecalled her Alice-addreued that his address. He had experienced, too, the word to her for the first time, with that care. same Impression. And every day, since that less ease which exists only after yeara of in• time-oh! every day my hatred has in. timate acquaintance, or after proof. of mutual creased. Oh! I would give one half of my affection. She knew not how to answer; ,h. existence to leave this vessel-to have arrived was confused, ye~she felt her heart throb and. at the end of our voyage-never to see him bound. But Szaftie said no more, although -n.ever to see him more! but, oh l myGod, she listened still. At last he retumed : should I ever then forget him 1" " In a word, I know that you hate me, AI. And, Alice fell thereupon into 8, sad, and ice, because, from the day on which I lirat painful revery. beheld you, I 8180 hated you!' " Are you in pain, mademoiselle1" said a soft voice. Alice shuddered. And Alice shuddered. It was he-it was " Yes i-for the sight of you recalled to 1111 8zaftie ! For the first time, he spoke to her mind cruelly emotions I have lost, beliefs de• -to her alone; for the first time, his voice stroyed for ever, dreams long passed by of expressed an interest in her. She felt as if happiness and love. Yes, Alice! for YOll she were dying-her heart failed her. were the angel seen by the damned from the pit of despair. Thus, daily my batred for YOll was increased by each one of your charms, by each one of your perfectiens. Yea; I CHAPTER IV. cursed, because I could no longer love you!" DO YOU SUPPOSE I A.."tf. HAPPY? Alice turned pale. "One must have a heart to ADdyet, &moil( you are lOme heavenlyere._tures. loVe, Atic.; BYRON-Don Jua.ff,. one must have a heart worthy of your heart• Alas! that ills by dread are ne'er foreshown: s young and ardent heart; an innocent soul, The tempter's voicehath oft the sweetesttone. wherein your soul, when it should 6y for ref. MADAHB E. DR GIRARDIN-M~. uge, might find the same sweet and consela, He said" I hate," as tholllh he meant" I love." tory thoughts-as a bird of heaven, which SBXTIU8 DELA.UNAV-Pa.uyOta, MS. POI'tII•. only quits its nest because it knows where to ALICE, unable to overcome her emotion, find _the same sun, the same perfumes, the leaned against the hammock-cloths of the same flowers! But, in my soul, Alice," be corvette. added, with a bitter smile, "oh! you find but "Mademoiselle," said Szaffie, drawing hatred, scorn, and' incredulity. An empty near, " may I presume to offer you my arm 1" and blighted heart is a horrible abyss, Alice. k No, no, monsieur!" said Alice at first, Poor angel! you would be ingulfed, should with an expression of involuntary fear; and you fan into it, amid horror and despair." then she added, "A theu ....nd thanks, mon• Then, taking the hand of Alice, whose ey~. sieur!" . -, . . wet with tears, he continued, in a soft She wished to .go; .~ ,se~~: ng voice: "But I think, with JUme; but it, W-aH . ' joy and sorrow, that there is for you 'sPe was n~~(tthei:e. of happiness. Yes, Alice! there twin sister of your own-a heart ~:;:;~~r:~' .·he· pay YOll bIOS. .uYOll C&II &i'.l& I

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'8. child of the dawn of life, as you are your• gination ; I am. sick-delirious-I am mad ; self-pure, artless, confiding,and affectionate mad with delirium! For Paul can Ion me-:• 8S you are-beautiful, almost, 88 you are. Paul! Paul whom he orders me to love. His And he loves you, Alice; and do you, Alice, is a candid seul, noble and kind-him will I love him-you must love him, Nevertheless, love. Yes! yes! I love him even now. Alice, were there room for new sorrows in Paul! Paul, where are you 1-Paul I love my heart, they would grow with my days in none but you!" number; but my heart is full. For do you And Alice was in a state of delirious ex• know, child, what agony there would b. in citement, difficult to be understood. saying, 'Here it is, then-this ineffable bliss "Alice! Alice!" cried a low voice. ~hel"e i,t is realized by others, though denied The young girl shuddered; tbe words ·to me i-this dream of my whole lifetime• came from the open port-hole. Paul showed dream, which I have no longer the power of himself before it. dreaming T' Oh! Alice, you could compre, Heavens! Paul! Monsielll'Paul !" said she, hend my hatred, if you could only su1feras I 8pringing impetuously forward, "how came suffer j" and a tear fell on the hand of Alice, you there 1" who, scarce able now to breathe, cried out, " Oh! mademoiselle,is it not my place-at involuntarily: every moment when I am frse 1Whether you " And, oh, my God! who told you that I are here or no, do not I come hither? For was happy-I1" and she burst into tears, for to me, YOft are always here; your person, or that scene was too much for her strength. your memory. Oh! suffer me to stay ;~'aaid Therefore, at the moment when Madame de the boy kneeling in the open port. Blene came on the deck, as she now did: "Did you hear what I was sajmg, Mon. "Szaffiehad but the time to exclaim: sieur Paul? " " I think that mademoiselle, your niece, is " It is true, then? ! was not miataken-c• indisposed, madam." it was your voice-you called me !" "Here am I, then-here am I," cried the And he sprang into the cabin. Alice good doctor. "Let us go below j for the could not deny it. evening air may have chilled you, mademoi, " Listen, Paul. Do you loveme 1" selle." , " Yau have my mother's ring, mademoi, selle," "I am worthy i)f it, Paul; for I love you• CHAPTER V. Paul, I love you !" THE BETIlOTllED. The boy fell at her feet. "Listen to me," she said, in a hurried and The heart! a blind o.byss.-POPlC. agitate\\! voice; "although my father'S for• ALICE,hiding her tears, had retired to her tune is very large-although we are both .ewn state.room, and desiring to be alone, had young, I am sure that I can obtain his con. implored her aunt to withdraw, being desi• sent to our marriage. Your father must ask rous, as she said, to get a little sleep. me of my aunt, for you, and she will consent. . "Oh! wo! wo is me!" she murmured; Then, Paul, you will never leave me for a ." wo is me! what have I heard 1 and I did moment; then you will have the right never not die-there, at his very feet! He cannot to leave me ; for we shall be troth.plighted, love me, he says-he orders me to love an• and you will be with me always=-always, .other l He cannot love me! Have my eyes Paul. Do you hear 1 do you agree 1" then told him that I loved him1 Oh! my Paul was mad, drunk, delirious with excess God, what then would be my lot, if I did, of joy His dream was then realized. This love him? I should then be humiliated, adorable woman, whom he was bound to rebuffed, scorned! I should then drag my• love in the name of the virtues of his moth• self to his feet, and cry, mercy! mercy! er-of his own fixed belief; aye! of his God' "And if I loved him-I! if I loved him himself-this adorable woman was found; it with my whole soul-if by some unaccounta• was Alice! Alice, who said to him, I love ble influence, that soul so sad and sorrowing you; Alice, who said to him, poor child, I of his, had attracted me to it. If I had hoped prefer you to the world. She loved him; to heal those agonizing wounds--if there she had told him so. But Paul found not a were as much love as pity in my heart. word, wherewith to answer her-on his knees "He cannot love me; and if-but this before her, with his hands joined, and closely thought makes me blush, as if some other clasped together, you would have s~, dlat mouth than my own were uttering it• he was praying. .l'.. and if, by Borne fatal contradiction, some Then a deluge of tears bathed fiis cheeks, awful caprice of my destiny. I-I loved him and he could only say-" Oh! Alice-oh'! perchance, even because he cannot love me ! my mother, thou hast heard me!" "But no,oh no! my God! I am mad! And Alice was all panting. By that un, Pardon me, oh! my God! The soul created heard-of and unexpected advance, she hoped .in your own imago, can never be so base• to escapecthe love which she felt for Szaffie, :80 miserable ; no-it is· an error of Illyima. without beiDJ able to account forthe violeD®

Digitized by Google oIIeLY .. STONING THE )LA.T. rr of hi8 pll88ion. That confession" as she herself. "And does be then believe that I thought, raised up between herself and him love Paul because he told me to do so1 I love a barrier, which she should never dare to Paul because he is good, brave, and true. I·· overleap. Betrothed-devoted by her own love him because this loveconstitutes my hap. act and will to Paul; it would be crime, in. pinese.' famy to deceive him, she thought, and I am Then, after a silence of a few moments, she i(lcapable of falling so low as that. clasped her hands forcibly together, and look. " How, Alice! you love me !" ing up to heaven, exclaimed: "Oh! that 1 " Yes! I love you-I love only you, Paul, could die! Oh! that I could die l" . only you !-and you love me, do you not 1 And then, perhaps, for the first time, Paul's Oh! say the word, repeat it, let me bear it! attention appeared wearisome to her. His Oh ! you can love me, can you not 1 That presence seemed a restraint on her; so that phrase does me so much good! Tell me too, she made an excuse of indispesition, and 'that I love you, that it was of my own ac. withdrew to her state-room. cord I told you 80; and that, if I have lied "And you are wrong to do so," said the to you, I should be infamous, Paul! infam. old doctor. "For-do you see 1 to-day is . ous-infamous !" Sunday; we are-to have a ball this evening, "I do not understand you, Alice. " and it wduld have amused you greatly, for UNo! no! I love you! are you not the our sailor's will dance, .one with the other-. husband of my choice 1 Your mother and That is v~ry natural; it is a day consecrated my own are there on high, and they will bless to pleasure." our union. My own Paul! my own good This, however, did not decide Alice, and Paul !" she went below to her own apartment. It : But Paul, hearing steps approaching in the was, as the doctor said, a day consecrated t~ ,. stem-gallery, kissed Alice's hand, and dis• pleasure; and one of the convincing proofs .appeared through the port hole. of that pleasure, were the piercing cries which.. "At least," said the young girl, "this rung through all the forward part of the cor• frightful thought will beset me no longer; I vette• •"all forget /aim! Oh! my dear aunt, how " Mercy l" cried a little weak. voice, inter. terribly am I suffering!" sltid she, as Ma. rupted by tears. "Mercy! mercy!" dame de BMneentered her atate-room. "Holy-stone him! holy.stone the cursed rat !" repeated all the crew in chorus. " Oh !you hurt me ! you hurt me 80 badly!" CHAPTER VI. again cried the little voice. "Why did you not come, then, to waah HOLV-sTONING THE RAT. your hammock with the other _hip.boys1 You were gnawing at something in the hold, l:Tv::: ~~::~ hey '7" POETRY OJ' Ta. ExPl.... Oh! my God! I cune as soon al!lMuter SEVEUL days had passed since Alice can. Buyk would su1Ferme." felled to Paul that she loved him. But she " That '. not true! holy-stone him! holy.. had requested him not to speak to his father atone the rat!" about asking for her hand. But, in accord. " Ye8! yea! holy.. tone the rat! holy~ ance with her own desire, Paul never left her. stone him !" repeated a dozen strong Yoices; Alway. beside her, happy, and enchanted, he above which the cries of the ship.boys sound. had quite forgotten his conversation with ed fearfully sbrill. Szaftie; and the joy in which his whole soul " My God! my God ! what have I done to was deluged, had effaced the recollection of you, that you should torture me _0 much 1" the dark and cruel thoughts, which for a time cried MiHre. had agitated him. " You have done this to us, that w. are. Szaffie, for his part, r.i :''':J.redrarely either stupefied; and we have a Jiaht to amuse our. on deck or even in the l· .Iain'e cabin. He eelVft1l little; and we want to see what color ahut himself up ill his ow.. 3tate.room, plead. a rat's skin becomes when it is rubbed with. ingas his excuse, a slight indisposition, which sand and holy.etonel!l." raised old Gamier nearlyto the summit of his hopes. But the hopes of old Garnier were This witticism made the audience. laugh. deceived, for Szaftie obstinately refused his till the tears streamed from their eye.; and 8118istance. their applause drowned the cries of the mil. Once, only, Szaftie drew near to Alice, and erable child, now struggling in vain with a laid to her: crowd of sbip.boys and sailors. They had stripped him to his skin, all but his pantak "Alice, you are happy. I see it. Yo" 100DS, and were preparing to rub hie body low /aim! Did Dot I so advise you 1 And with land and tow.- Then two strong sall you find happinesa therein, do you not 1" . .An. d he retired from her; but a¥ anJwer. e4 not, though she grew extremel'pale. • An operation yery COIDIDOII OD baud Pip, esp.eJal ..ill the CQIof"'moo oo'fIceI..-Notlbr Bv•• n 8v. II lI. 10 advised me l" she tho.t, within vutlJ to tbe CMd1tottbei'NDchNaVJ_7N"".

Digitized by Google on Mllect htlll, alld betd hi. poor little puny wen! you teaf my hody all to ptee" t':'1tUt limbs immovable on a apare.topmast. my mother comes; and you shell see 1" II Hold! ob! hold! Parisian !" cried the And he laughed. Miserable little child! poor little wretch, trembling with terror. "Pa- " He is mad! look at his eyea, Parisian,. lilian, do not hurt me, and I will give you my said ft sailor; " one would say that they were bread and wine. I have nothing of my own fire!" 'l»utthat; my God! I have but that, but Iwill Mis~re bad in fact fallen into one of tho.. ' give It to you, if they do not take it away from paroxysms of frenzy, which alwaysfollowed me !'t the evil treatment which they heaped Oft II I believe you-you villainous rat! And him. His eyes sparkled, flashed and dilaa.d. thaft you will go and munch the biscuit in the fearfully; they became fixed; and a smile IlJl.gazines." like the convulsive sneer that curls the mouth .This was followed by a fresh burst of fran. of It person dying, arched his wan lips. The tie laughter, and they threw over Mis~re a .sailors held him, still; but they rubbed bim mUll of fine white sand. no longer. And Mis~re cried out again: " Oh! you are throwing it into my eyes. "My mother! it is I! do you hear me '1 You have blinded me! - Mercy! mercy! -it is your little George, whom they call What have Idone to you? Oh! tell me!- Mistlre. I weH know why they call me 80: what have I done to you 1 My God! my for they beat me all day long! You will God! my God !" cried the child, in a voice .come ; will you not 1-yoo will bring' me high.pitched and shrill, between agony and bread; for they take mine from me, and I pallion. am 'very hungry !--clothes; for I am cola.· " Rub bim, now! rub him! He will Boon cold! Say, mother, will you not warm me' becin to grow red. Beeauae-s-dc you see? in your bed, by the great chimney? lay, will the sea.rat, like the lobster, becomes red with -you not? And in the morning you will give cqokinA', and this will cook him. Now!" me the cake of brown bread you made for laid the Parisian. your little.George 1 And then, on Sllndal. New bursts of laughter. And they began .yon will take me to pray to the good God, to rub all the body of Mis~rewith tow steep. andto kiss the child Jesus !...... ;gaywill you .d in salt-water; and that bitter and biting mot? for here I have forgotten how 'to pray. water mixedwith the keen and corrosivesand, :But no, no !-yoo cannot come to me-you caused indescribable agony to the poor little ;are dead, like my father, who is dead also! wretch; for that sharp briny sand was forced ;There is now only your little George, who is into the wounds which it made in every part .not dead, but they are killing him a little ev• of his body. :ery day! Doyou bear me, my mother? ,they Ie Will you-will you leave me oaloue 1 will :are sending me to you !', you leave me alone 1" shriekechhe poor, tor- And Mis~re closed his eyes, while the sail- tured child. ora stood round and gazed at one another. "Ah! be is fsmeua l capital! the powder. Their conduct had not been dictated by cold, monkey! As soon as you are washed, rat, blooded atrocity; it was brutal gayety-s-un, --" thinking as unfeeling. They spotted with "God! God.! what torture! Oh! Pari. that miserable boy, as n child plays with.a lian ! I beseech you! Parisian, spare me! poor bird, which he torments in ignorant .pare Die! I will do anything you tell me! wantonness. Those who held Misere had Stop! Itop! Iwill eat the sand! Say, Pari. tears in their eyes. They loosed Misere, and .ian, shall I eat it 1 Will that do 1 But, oh! placed him sitting on the combings of the Dot this! For pity's sake! Oh! mercy! hatchway. This action restored the child to' Look! lee! my breast is· all raw already 1" his senses, without recalling him to reason. He The rubbing continued. Continued, did I sprang up with II. bound; and. turning round .y1 It was redoubled, and round, like a mountebank, with astonish. II Will you not then let me g07 My God! ing rapidity, he began to cry with his small If my mother were only here! if my mother shrill voice: wer, not dead l" cried the cbild.-and his "The rat-tho rat has sharp, sharp teeth! race took a wild and singular exprea,sion.The he has gnawed the nut, he has gnawed the pain which it expressed, became convulsive nut! has gnawed, has gnawed !" and spalmodic. "Ah !my mother l my mo, And he made his teeth to clatter one th.r! they are torturing me! Come! mother I against the other, with inconceivable rapidity. and protect me !" Then, still spinr.ing round and round, he Aftd lbe little wretch lost his sense. Tbe swung himself cl vn by a rope through the derinp were-toogreat for the endurance of forward hatch, n i so disappeared. A few tile weak, frail being. moments after thc: again heard these words, " 1lJ, ha! he is fool-this beast of a rat! while Mis~re was lost to sight in the dark. Ia he going mad 7 There are no she rats ness of the hold: her.! do you'b~, wild .beaat1" Ct Has gnawed-has gnawed the nut 1 for II Ab, lot !seeber! Ihecomes-she cornea! .the rat has &,oodteeth! Has gnawed, hd ;o;.ti1Y-lilotbe ..'t You: tottl.lie' me~ !well, gnawed·!'" 1

Digitized by Google tRW' .... tt.

,Thea· tM voice Wb no longer heard i Mi. the lieutenant-II let UI bet.that twill uk'the litre had reached the bottom of the hold. purser to dance l" Although the poor wretch was in an utter " You are not gallant, doctor!" laid Mad. alienation of 'mind, still one fixed permanent ame de Blene, idea wlie uppermost in his mind-one settled " Oh, madam! I am roo old, and J leaYe thought of vengeance. And it was in the that honor to the captain, or the fint Iieuten• execution of that one idea that he appeared ant." to have concentrated all the little sense that " Oh ! you see, captain,' said Madame de remained to him. Now, then, Misere glided Blene, "we must envy mediocrity ita hap. into one of the store-rooms, and creeping up piness ; for, if power has its charms it hu 10 a cask, which he removed to .one side, he its troubles likewise." . crouched down beside tbe planking of the " Madam," replied the marquis, recalliaa corvette; and, by the aid of an augur and a to his mind the gallantry of the last century, .w, which he had stolen, he finished " while waiting for the troubles, I enjoy the cutting through the bull of the ship, and ma, charms." king an opening of four feet in length by two And as he spoke, be took her hand with an in width. He had been at work at this for a air of gallantry. ' long time, and it was this he called gnawing " Oh! what nonsense, captain! to dance the nut. at our age l" At this moment I the slight copper-aheath. "The heart never grows oldl' said M. d.. iog which coveredthe vessel on tbe outer side, Longetour, with an air of intellect. alone hindered the water from entering the " True, as regards the heart, captain-the corvette. But by means of a single blow heart; but the question now is of the legl." struck with a chisel on tbe first sheet of cop. " Yes," said the marquis, witb that brilliant pet, the others would have detached them. impudence which recalled to mind the days selva. immediately, and given admittance to of the Marshal of Mirepoix-ci ye8; but you the waves, which would soon have swamped can put a heart even into lege." the corvette. Misere took the chisel; but he stopped ; for he thought of the ball that There was nothing to be said in anawer to that. It was necessary to surrender, and 1V1I8 to, be that evening, and awaited his time. Madame de Blene surrendered. '" " But, really, captain, I ought to decline this honor. My niece is unwell--" II Not at all," said the surgeon; "I have CHAPTER VII. just left the captain's cabin; I have listened THE BALL. at her door, and she is sleeping-eeleeping tranquilly; therefore, madam, you can have Forwardtwo.- TOLBIIOQ. no excuse. Purser, will you do me the honor In the evening, the sailors, who were a lit- of dancing this country dance with me 1" tIe drunk and very lively, came upon deck; "Come, come, you are joking, doctor," then two Bretons, from Ploeswel, began to said the purser. play on the national Blgnou», a sort of bag. "Not at all; the captain and madam must pipe, with two mouth-pieces, by no means have a vis.a·vis-and you ate very well; harmonious, but very sharp and creaking. yes, purser, you only want a Bolivar and Aud with regard to the ball: the military Marabout feathers to make you perfect." - hierarchy had disappeared entirely. The "But, now that I think of it," said Merval~ powder-monkey danced modestly 'oppositeto "suppose we were to awake Mademoi8ell~r the quarter-master, who had often thrashed Alice." - him; the newly impressed men received the " I think so, indeed," said 'the good U.u~ gracious favors of the topmen; and Boatswain tenant, who was looking out for Paul. La Joie,himself,with singular gravity, danced At this moment tbe bignoux had ceased his merriest stepsoppositeto Mastel' Bouquin, from its discordant music, the dancers were whom be had chosen for his partner, and taking breath, and there prevailed one of whom, in a surprising fit of merriment, he those sudden silences which, at times, BU·t. ealled joyously Madame Bouquin. prise the most tumultuous assembliea, _ Some of the old, very old fire-eaters, who In the midst of this silence was heard a no longer cared about dancing, looked on burst of shrill laughter, thrilling and terrible', quietly, squatting under the hammock-cloths, which seemed to come from heaven; Then smoking their pipes, and, by way of conver, these words were heard from the to'.gallant.'· aation, emitting frightful puffs of tobacco, al, mast: ternately through their mouths and noses. "Ha! ha! ha! The rat haaaharp, sbarp teeth- ''I'be good captain looked smilingly on the -he has gnawed the nut-the riut is knaw• scene, delighted at the gayety of these brave ed-look out for tbe hole-the rat has sharp, fellows, and annoyed only at finding himself sharp teeth 1" , thua clasped up in uniform. The crew, the staff-eveiy one were utoil· n Let' Us bet, Peter," said old Garnier to 'Ished, thunder-etricken, ,aeekiDg to ~.L

Digitized by Google &om what pIaee came.that strange cry. Then, instant jeopardy, every order WIUI obeyed.aa· then they heard the sound of a heavy weight silently and promptly as if the men had been plunged into the sea. The lieutenant look. employed OR mere every-day service. ed over the taffrail and cried: . The lieutenant, who was occupied in ac, UA man overboard !" and then, a moment tively superintending the movements of his afterward, with the greatest coolness," To inferiors, had not been able to attend to the the pumps! rig the pumps!" captain-whose head was turned, and who It is impossible to describe the effect of was, in fact, utterly demoralized by the effect these words on the minds of all who heard of terror. them, repeated, as they were, from mouth to Peter now looked around quickly for the ex. mouth. shopkeeper. The yawlhad been just lowered to " To the pumps! to the pumps!" cried the the water; and the marquis, havingdiscqvered lieutenant, rushing forward; "do you wish to this, was striding over the gunwale to spring siak, without one effortto preserve yourlives1" into it, when Peter caught him by the skirt of Scarce were these words pronounced, be. his coat. fore the captain of the hold, Master Buyk, "Whither are you going, monsieur 1" .he appeared on deck. exclaimed. "Four feet of the planking are adrift !', " By the Lord! I am escaping! You see he said, "and the hold is filling!" that quite well. Let me go; we are sink. " To the pumps! all hands to the pumps !" ing." repeated the lieutenant. "Lower all the "Misetable wretch !" cried the lieutenant, boats, and death to the first man who leaves retaining him forcibly on the deck. the ship before his turn !" "I am your captain," returned the other, . That well.known voice, and the whistle " and I command you to let me go !" of M. La Joie, effected as much order as " But, do you not know, unhappy men, could be hoped for. The pumps were manned, that the first person who leaves the ship till and began to play-the boats were lowered; the women and the boys are saved, shall be and, at this moment, Paul was about ttt quit .punished with death 1 Do you not know the deck. His father saw him. . ' . that the captain must be the last person to quit "To your station, monsieur!" he cried; his ship 7" "forward! " "But I'do not choose to die-not I. W.ell, " But, Alice, father--" yes, I am afraid. There, have it so. I am " Do you hear me, sir 1" cried the lieuten, unworthy to command-I resign my commis• ant, in a voice of thunder. sion-let me escape !" and the ex-shopkeeper Paul had not one word to reply; and, gov. struggled hard to extricate himself from the erned by the habit of passive obedience, he hands of ~eter, who trembled lest the crew ran to his station. He met, on his way, Ma· should mark the struggle. "Save himself dame de Blene, the aunt of Alice, who was who can! save himself who can!" cried the using every effort to find a passage through marquis, in an ecstacy of terror, as the cor. the close line of sailors who interrupted her. vette gave a heavy lurch, and seemed to he Those brave men were working the brakes on the point of sinking. of the pumps. . "Hold your tongue!" exclaimed Paul, "You cannot pass, madam," said he to her. pressing his hand violently over the mouth of r "But, in Heaven's' name! Alice! my the' marquis. "Hold your tongue, dastard! niece--". That cry of infamy is ever punished with "She is perfectly safe, madam. If the death. It shall be so now; for I promised corvette sinks, the first persons saved will be you that you should never disgrace your epau• the women." lettes !" and Peter, furious and exasperated " But, my God! my God! I must see her! beyond control, drew his dirk and made a I must pass !" thrust at his captain. Happily, the blade " It is Imposaible, madam; you will inter• glanced aside, and only grazed the arm of rupt the service, and destroy the small chance the old man. we have of safety, which depends altogether " Lieutenant, what is this? Lieutenant l" on the pumps. Now, my lads, now, cheerily, cried La 1oie, springing upon him. altogether !" cried Paul, setting the example "The wretch would murder me !" cried with·prodigious activity, ' the marquis, pale and trembling. - The lieutenant, with his speaki~g.trumpet Peter recovered his senses, and continued, in his hand, was calm as ever, in the midst in a: voice of well-feigned passion: "Why ef thi8 hideous danger. From minute to mi. then, captain, would you not save my son, nute he leaned downtomark the progressof the by ordering him to go on board the yawl 1" water, which was gradually gaining even the By this admirable falsehood,giving a na• gun-deck ; and, from time to time, giving or• tural interpretation to his conduct, Peter pre. ders necessary to avoid all eonfusion. And served the honor of his commander, but de. this admirable crew had been accustomed by stroyed his own life lilyso doing. lum to a discipline 80 exacr and rigorous, that "But you know, lieutenant, the officersal DOW, when the Uvea of all on bOardwere in ways go into the boats last; and M. Paul •

Digitized by Google aUIPWllBC)[. 81:, 8n-oftieer·," said La 1oi., still holmn, Peter And ill-fact the port, which wu genelally tightly round the wrist. a foot above the level sf the water, had sunlt " Go to your station, boatawain," saiei Pe• above a foot, and was stillsin:king slowly. ter, appearing to recover his self command; " It is true I-we are about to die I"~said " my love for my eon has led me astray-I Alice, in deep thought, and her cheeks were am guilty, captain! Aut I resign myself to my flashed with most lively crimson, and a Ius. fate. Here is my dirk." trous flash shot from her eyee, yet moist with The marquis, in utter astonishment, re• her last tears. ceived the dirk almost mechanically. " To die !" she said again; "then heaven At this moment, Master Bouquin ran up, has heard me !" and her face became straneely quite out of breath. radiant. Szaftie drew nearer to her, and took "Captain," said he, "the worst iIover-if her burning hands in his own. the pumps can keep us clear. Master Buyk, " And it is because we are about to die, having lowered himself along the ship's aide, Alice, that I have come to die with you'; and is nailing a sheet of lead over the water-way." I would give my whole life for this death, if " These are the captain's orders," replied it were about to begin long and prosperoua,' Peter, coldly; "that the pumps be kept going At this moment a fearful cry, as if of ter• steadily. Monsieur Merval, lay the main-top. ror, re-echoed from the deck, and the port• sail to the mnst: we will lie.to, until we can hole sank to the level of the waves. see a little how we stand. Let them continue " Do you hear, Alice 1" he said,' preseing the preparations for getting out the loag-boat, her passionately against his bosom. Monsieur Bidaud, and go down yourself U Oh! Ihear well, Szaffie ; I am about te into the hold, and see how fast they are ~ain• die at length-and to die with you." iAg on the water; Master Bouquin, let there "Yes, with me. be order in the batteries. See to the men at And his mouth was glued t. the mouth of the tackles, for, if circumstances should re• Alice. quire, we must get the guns overboard, to At the deep and electrical passion of that lighten the ship; and do you, master caulker, 'fieTJkiss, Alice appeared to lose all self-con. confer with the carpenter on the best means trol. The fire remained fixed on ber lips. of stopping the leak permanently." her whole being concentrated itself into that And these accurate and minute details• passionate caress, and faint from excess of these precise and definite orders, were uttered feeling, she sank into the arms of Szaffie. in his usual voice, without the slightest emo• u Oh! blessed be the death which is 80 tion. But the danger was still imminent. near !" she murmured, " if it will o1}lygive me time and strength to confese that I love you, Szaftie; that I love you-you, who can feel no love in return. But on the brink of CHAPTER VIII. death I can confees this-can I not, without 8BIl'Wl1.ZCK. infamy 1" An opportunity,dear Tom. " Oh! Alice !" and he covered her with hot BYJloJl-JII__ •• and delirious kisses; "love-bliss, will have consumed us, before death comes to end No, the fire of heaven is less rapid thaD that which mfIamedme at that moment. them!" . ROV88IU.U-Jill". " Oh! yes; but, ere I die-think you I APTERhavingwept for a long time, fasei• shall have time to make you forget one of your nated as it were, and her. whole soul belea• eorrows--to wipe out the memory of one of guered by the thoughts of Szaffie, which she your aftlictions-you, whom I love 80 madly, could not escape, cursing the frantic love whom I thought J hated !-hated you I-you ! which she felt for him, having callod twenty my fiend, and my guardian angel! you, my times upon death to set her free, Allce had tears and my deJ.i«ht! Oh ! tell me tbat you fallen asleep, overpowered, almost heart. suirer no longer; tell me that you pardon my broken by the anguish of her feelings. hatred I-for my hatred," she resumed enthu, Awakened by the tumult upon deck, she aiuncally, "was but love !-burning and con. heard, on a sudden, the fearful worda: "The cealed love I-it was love, for my soul, my corvette is lost-we are sinking 1" Szaffie, )t was love !-do you hear 11M,,-it "My God ! what can this mean 1" ahe wu love!" cried, half rising from her couch. , "And mine also, my own Alice-Alice• The door of her state-room opened. Alice! my hatred was love, too; hatred, be• U In the name of God !--aunt !-" cause I was mad-mad that I could not dtt. It was Szaffie. ' vour your eyes, yourlipa, your hair, yourself• U WeBre lost, Alice I-before ten ~ute. all, all YOUl'8elf,Alice,with my kiaeas!" the corvette will be swallowed up !" And Aliee,'ahivering with passion, intox~ " What do you say 1" icated with exce. of pleaSure,resisted not the nA leak haabeen spnmg I-we are s:i.nk.iD4r paa10nate embraee of Szaffie. now I-look out !" I( Oh !Szame l" she sighed ill a·half..exp!r. 01\.

Digitized by Google "',' ft ing ~ee, "yott baTe said it. .These fiery after ginng· hill lut instiucdon to Menal, plelluree will have consumed me ere the went down after the marquis to his cabin. waves can reach me-th,anks be to beaven !" At sight of him, the marquis experienced U Yea, Alice; thanks to heaven, or to hen !" a strange throbbing of the heart. U My heaven and my hen are both in you, ee Munsieur," said Peter; "pardon me, for SlBftie; for you intoxicate my very soul with I was on the point of co.mitting II. crime• lov., and yet, perhaps, you love me not, my but it ivas your own fault !" Hored! But what care I for that? I love The kind Longetour arose and replied, ,ou-I-I die with YOU; oh! how I wish J " You should have respected my gray haira, copld bave died for yoll! Do you wish me lieutenant-my gray hairs only; (or I knew, ,10 COD'~Dmyself for Y()U 10 perdition=-to that, 8S yourcommander,Ican deserve nothin, perciition,for .ver~ and for ever 1 Do you but your contempt; that you do all that is .In 'Wilb me to blupheme in this awful mo• your power to conceal my errors from the ment 1 Do you wish me to destroy my soul crew; that, thanks to you, I am even supposed for ever 7-and will you believe, after that, to know something of my duty; and, more. that I love you 1" murmured Alice, through over, that even at the moment when my cow, laeraet teeth. ardice disgusted you, you sacrificed yourself U Yea," said Szaffie, drawing himself up to for me. I know all this, my friend, therefore bia full height, with a hideous expreseion of I ought to excuse a moment's passion. Give irony; "yes-blaspheme! blaspheme !" me your hand, and let us say no more about At thiemoment, the cap of a combing wave it." buret, in a crowd of spray, through the port• "In truth, monsieur," said Peter, "I have hqle. not courage to wish you any ill-and yet, do " Oh! Szaflie !" cried Alice, terrified; and you know of what you will be the cause 1" ,b. strained bim violently in her arms, glued " Not at all, my good friend; not at all !" her mouth ardently to his, fell into a nervous ., Thanks to you, monsieur-my poor boy convulsion, and fainted. ~ill be an orphan !" SzaRie caught her up in his arms, and car• " Great God l. explain yourself!" ri.d her out rapidly upon the gun-deck, say• " Will you have the goodness to read this 7" said Peter, handing to his commander the ing, II he did so : "Ihope, after all, there is not the slightest regulations of the navy. The captain took it, dllDger; at least the lieutenant told me there and began to read: was not • particle, when I came below to "Every officer,who, during an action, or a And her."· .shipwreck, shall refuse to execute an order 0{ Then looking at her with a sarcastic smile• the captain-' -" " Here is another girl ; who, on her waking, " Every officer,who shall draw his 8wOrd. win not believe in love-who will lee the or raise his hand, egainat hie suPt'rior, when nth! How many sorrows do I spare her! on duty--"· The marquis was nfl.ble to proceed-he Disabused, 80 young, of her illusions! What a c.areerof coquetry is before her, if she only turned very pole, and was obliged to rest his ~mprehend. her position! But where shall hand on the back.of a chair to support him_ I find Madame de Blene, to restore to her self. Peter took the book out of his hand, tbiI preciolll burthen 1" and read on quietly- "Such officer shall be punished with death !It And he laid the book down upon the table. CHAPTER IX. The captain fell back in his arm-chair, almost senseless. Peter folded.his arms, and said, TIlE LOGoBOOX. quite steadily: . lUeta 8i1IlpHeltu! That Is not the question. Bear . "You see, monsieur, that on this point the .... witboat kDowm, any more about jt. law is quite positive. Now, I drew my sword GOSTHIII-.Jhut. on you. Not to mince words, I would have It th...... or Cleopatra had been a little soomsr, the murdered you !-the captain of a ship-on the ... raeeor·th.wodd would bn. been chanced. quarter-deck, before all the crew; and at one PlI.1Jcu-ThowgAt8. of those moments, when it is necessary that IN fact, when Szaflie went down toAlice's the.strietelt discipline should be enforced, I ltate.rooM, the pQrapswere be~Dning to gain repeat it to you, the law iJ positive !-th on the leak, and the water had only come Into J1e7UIlty-DBATB !" lb. port-hole, in consequence. of • preserv_ "But'* is impoeaible! But, except La Joie, ative mell1lre in the working of-the ship, perhaps, no one else has seen you. But, at during which they had sueeeeded in putting ell events, I shall make no complaint. There• the diad.lights up in the stem-galleries; and fore- ,01the corvette on the oppositetack, in order IC Everything passed in the presence of aU to repair the leak. At the end of an hour, our IHti10rs; and even, if.you should oft"erDO tru.quilUty wlS reatqre~ on board; the Sal.. complaint, public rumor would still accUif mmcler was laying her COUl'8e, and Peter, rile. Moreover, I would accuae myaelt."·

Digitized by Google ~~~ i;mo~\U',wou1dsayopenly to the in' command of hll majetty'. COlftttI, the eeuncil of war-' All this has occurred be. Salamander." . ", cause I behaved myself like a coward; be• Then Peter arose, and said to the c'aptaUt: cause I endeavored to desert myship ; and my "Sign this, if you please. I have drawn it lieutenant would have prevented me.' For up myself, because you would not have known the 1nIth is. that I have not had experience how to word the charge." in confronting fire and water !"cried the food " Never! never !I' said the marquis, when• marquis, risiog. "It is true, also, that am he had read it. afraid of shipwreck and cannon-balls-all " Your resistance is uaeless ; for, at this f this is true; but it shall not be said, that I very moment," replied Peter, "Ensign Bid. ,.. .such a wretch as to allow a good and aud is drawing up the same charge on the gallant officer, a father of a family, a loyal sta1f.log.book; which has the same authority seaman, Inch as you are, Peter, to be shot for. 88 your own." - my faults!" "Then," said the marquis," I will write And as a peroration to his speech, the ex. wider it the whole truth." cellent man cast himself,deeply agitated, into "Monsieur," said Paul, turning very red j the arms of his lieutenant; who, greatly with anger-" will you, then, dare to enter on moved bimself, supported him. a log-book of the French navy, il deed of " Composeyourself, captain; you are good cowardice. such as was never heard of 1 Are aad generous; you have many qualities which you aware that these log-books will, one day,' I greatly respect. In any position in the become history, monsieur 7" world. but that of captain of a man-of-war, "A nd would you insert a lie on it 7" you would have been very well-very honor. "This falsehood does not dishonor Die; ably-placed. In a word, it is a misfortune• men will read on the log-book of the Bala• the fault is committed-and tbere is QO rem• mander, 'forgot himself so far as to strike his edy for it. But Iswear to you, by my honor, commander, led to the deed byloveforhis son." and my God, that I shall not entertain one. But they will not read, that a captain of the 88ntiment of hostility against you, at my last French navy has been the first-the only one lDOIIl8Dt." in the world who cried,' Save himself who . JA My God! my God !" said the geed-heart, can,' on his own deck. No! no! were thun• e~ commander, weeping hot team; "wo! der to, strike me this instant, you should not wo is me! once more, Peter," resumed the add one word to it-and you should sign it marquis, wipiag his tears-Ie this shall no~ without delay. For reflect, monsieur, that cannot be!" you are talking of his punishment to a man For his reply, Peter took up tlre captain's condemned to death, and"-Paul continued log.book, and wrote ~ more composedlyJ "I should prefer some other "T0.4ay, Peter Huet, forty.t:wo yeam of subject of conversation." are. born at Quimperle, knight of the legion The captain signed it, sobbing as he did so. of honor, my second in comlQ.8Ddon board U Well done !" said Peter; "now I have a his majEl8ty'sship Salamander, ~ far forgot favor to ask of you. It is that My 80n may himself, as to draw his dirk. OB me, frigate. remain in ignorance of what has happened. capkin of the royal navy, in command of the His age will prevent him from taking part in said corvette, clad in my aniform, and in the the council. And I Sf') well know the crew, exercise of my duty. Tbis crime was com. my good fire-eaters, that the poor boy will mitted in consequence of my refusing to give learn notbing of it before our arrival at Smyr• an order for the preservation of his 80n,a mid• na, where we shall find the division which aIlipman on board. I therefore have sum, will furnish the court-martial of the last re• moned, for to-morrow, an extraordinary eoun, sort. Oue word more, captain; for five years eil of war, in order to take cognizance of this I have supported an old invalid sailor, a crime; and to take' the measures necessary brave and worthy man, who has no friend in in consequence thereof. The present crime the world but myself. Promise me to replace; being a second offence; and the aforesaid me as his protector-without that, he would Peter Hnet, having, already gravely ~1feJ;lded die of hunger. His name is. Gratien, and ho against disciplioe, by interrupting my com. livea at Brest; Come, I have said enougbj' mands ieaoed on the full quarter.deck, Ihave, you will do it 1 Fare you well, captain. moreover, provisionallyordered the said Peter will tell Paul that you have ordered me into Hnet to be deprived of his command, and arrest for a breach of duty. M. Bidaud wilJ held prisoaer in his state-rccm, DDtil further keep the reckoning and take the obaervetiona; ... minatiGns shall have been taken. I Ulluk he i.e capab!e of doing so." -, ~ Done on board U.e &c. &c. Petel went-cut; and the marquis remaine4 '~SignN-frigate-captain.G£ the, royalnaY)', buried inead meditation.

I'

Digitized by Google TaB .... LAXANDiUl.

CK,A'TER X. ous gouts and spectres, 80 soon as tile IllOOU rises broad and bloody behind the 'black Plt'!SENTIMENTS. pines of the forest-and yet, perhaps, even ..AJu! you 5&yed my life to-day; you tarned aside thus the world in miniature, which, but 'a few from me the stroke of the lUt'usin; why did you stop Nle blow 1 All uncertainty could have been ended, and days' since, bustled and fretted, loved or free from all reproach, I should have slept ill the quiet courted one another en your decks, with all fJlLve. SCBILLItR-Mary St1ULrt. their devotions, all their loves, all their friend. Alas! those tears! ships, await but the rising of a bloody moon, Couklst thou but know what oceans will be shed. to trample under foot, like the fairies of the BYaON-OIin. ballads, flower and perfumes, floating scarfs BEHOLD!once more thou dost lay thy and showy decorations; to change forcries of: course, beauteous and glorious Salamander. murder and despair all these softwords whis• Thou hast been, it is true, somewhat retarded pered so low, all those protestations made so by the attempt of Mis~re. loudly; to change for sharp and vindictive Hapless Misere, sleep peacefully in your bites, those soft and velvet-like Impressions transparent grave. YOU1' idea was good, but, which amorous mouths stamp on a skin of child, your execution was too hasty. 'l'wo satin, so rapturously for fond lovers. minutes' silence, and your projects would But what shall I say, dear Salamander? have succeeded to the extent of your wild Perhaps it may be, on the contrary, a glorious wishes. Why did you leap into the sea, lb• sun that shall arise, instead of that sad plan• stead of watching from the main.to'cgallant, et. A dazzling sun which flashes and sparkles mast, the consummation of your scheme 7 on the waves in a thousandreflections,broken, By slow degrees you would have seen the upstarting, ardent-too lustrous for the eye to corvette sink, with that crowd which had so brook. A glad, wann sun, cheering up with often, and so cruelly maltreated you !--that its golden .rays the brood of little halcyons, crowd which you, a weak and miserable which the sea bears and rocks in their nests, child, swayed from the towering height of tapestried with its green pink-flowering lich• that mast, yet lower than your vengeance! ens. For, as Paul said to Szaffie, "It is not Youth, beauty, love, glory, and genius, all always winter-s-nor darkness always." There swallowed up beneath your feet! and you, is a spring, and a son likewise; there are whom they despised, you ship-boy, you be. compensations. come a giant, you contemplating from above For, although Alice, a victim to nervous their long and painful agony. and convulsive spasms, from the moment And then the mast in its turn sinking, foot when Szatlie brought her out almost dying by foot, would have disappeared, till for a mo. to the gun-deck, and intrusted her to the affec. ment perched upon its summit now level with tionate cares of her aunt-although Alice, the surface of the waves, you would have Isay, having lost her reason. shudders and seemed, while balanced on the truck, to walk laughs convulsively in terrible delirium:• the waters, now alone upon the vasty deep, Although Paul, scarcely breathing, his eyes and, like Saint James, might have exclaimed steeped in tears, has passed the day and " a miracle." night without a moment's rest, listening with, And then, to imagine how awkwardly for tortured ear and breaking heart to each con. the mere pleasure of uttering, from the truck vulsive cry uttered by that unhappy girl. who, of your mast, some wretched play of words, according to her own promise, was to be his about a nut gnawed by a rat, you sacrificed bride ;-for was he not her chosen lover, and all the advantage you had gained. was she not to be his bride, or to he held as Sail on! sail on! fair Salamander, now we infamous, by her own words1-Although Pe• are nearing the shores of Mrica, and the ter went alone to his state.room, with his head breeze blows freshening every moment, and buried in bis hands-thinking how, within a yet fair. Who would believe te see you so month, he should be shot as acriminal, because calm and still, what fiery passions are at work hissuperiorhas behaved himself like scoward: within your breast-what breaking. hearts, Although the poor marquis, contemplating what thoughts of death, what tears and sob• his position with fear and horror, sees himself bings 7· Heavens! all these things affect not -himself, the kindest and least malevolent of your hull, to render it lees black; make not men-the cause of his good lieutenant's death, your rig less rakish, your trim less graceful. whom he loves with his whole heart, while No! let them strive and slaughteJ'--'oCuthe trembles with apprehension that he may throats--weep teare of blood! your cold and not be able to preserve him: -Although the orderly exterior betrays nothing! crew, sad and silent, seemed stricken before. And yet, perhaps, liko those fairies in old hand by the blow which must fall on Peter• ballads, so beautiful, so rosy-who, robed in on Peter, whom the sailors pity without da• gold and azure, weave ·maaicdances on some riDg to xcuse; so deeply, thanks to the con• IIOlitarylake, scarce ruftling its limpid sur• stant endeasora of that excellent lieutenant, face with the tips of their delicate white feet; is the respect due to superiors, and the dread and who, the next moment, swollen with of insubordination, implanted in their breasts: rIP and fury, are metamorphOied into hide- AlthoUlh these brave fellows look on Paul

Digitized by Google with lUI eye 0{ intereat, breaking short their, the wind toeaed abroad the long brown hair eonversation whenever he approaches them; of Paul, who, leaning against one of the car, BO that the,poor boy is the only one on board ronades of the gun.deck, seemed to 1>6' buried ignorant of his father's fate :-Although the in mournful meditation. His face, generally good old Gamier, even while he lavishes the rosy, calm and smiling, was of a mortal pale. meet paternal cares on Mademoiselle de Blene, ness; the traces of tears lately dried were vis. says to himself, "this, is not clear ; there is ible on his cheeks, and his fiery eyes ~ere some villainy under this;' Peter is incapable fixed on a ring which he held in his hand. of 80 far forgetting himself toward the cap. The poor boy's head was bewildered: it was, tain; and yet they saw him-they saw him- his mother's ring, which Alice had just given poor, poor Peter! who would have thought back to him, adding-"l am unworthy ont; that such should be the end of your career 1 Paul, forget me !" to b~ shot like a dog !"--:Alth~ugh the pu~er, Behind Paul, watching him closely, stood EnsIgn Merval, and Ensign Bidaud=-feeling, the immovable form of Szaffie. He drew however, far less sympathy in this general af. nearer to him. :ftictionthan the others-cannot escape the " What is the matter Paul 1,you seem to contagious sadness spread abroad ~y these be in grief,' ' !aet events ;, and are mo~o$ea~d taciturn, as Paul shuddered, hid his ring, and replied: if n.ot.to be out of ke~pmg WIththe general "Nothing is the matter with me, air." affilctlOn:-Alt~~ugh, In a word, so many sore " Nevertheless, your face is much altered. ~ows.and calamitiea have tu~ed the ~nce gay Is it because the captain has punished your mtertor of the Sal~ander into gloom. and father with a few days of arrest 1" (Paul, it darknes.8,still, by th~s rule.of compensat1on~, must be remembered, was ignorant of the Szaffie 18cold and rmpassrve, and keeps. h18 scene of the dirk, and its consequences.) e~le e~e c~nstantly glancing ove~everything. "But," resumed Szaffie, "that is a conse• Since, 10 h18 deadly hatred, h~ 1Ovolve~~e quence of military hierarchy-the coward whole human race _; all that, directly or ~ndl., punishes the brave man; that is all in rule. reetly, w~nt to atRICtth.atrace, was to hll~ a Your father is sacrificing himself for an old ca':ll'eof JOY, and a subject for s~udyand 10. dotard-for Iknow the whole; and, as a re• C).wry:and, I know no~by what lO~ernalfore. ward of his aelf-sacrifice, he will perhaps be sight, be had a presentiment of terrible events undone, one of these days. But all this, fol- to Tcohmeh' d k d th lows the natural course of human events, . e eavens were ar an overcast, e Paul." wind began to ~low deeply, the sea ~o roar " That is true, monsieur-vice, infamy and ~earfull~; and,. bk~ those. hyenas which an crime, are the only things that never deceive meonceivable Ins~nct guides and attracts us-that we always find 8S we have imagined to the houses of dymg men, Szaffiewalked to them." ~nd fro the ~eck of tb~ corvette, a~eady call. , " Hollo! Paul, what is the meaning of all mg np to .hlS fancy Images of dismay and this 1 wisdom has come to you quickly, .my death. H18footsteps sounded heavy ~nd un- boy, since the other day I" earthly, as those of the commander, 10 Don ce, Oh l h t i b " dd d P 1 ·. Hid donic smil . t a 18 ecause now, a e au; ,GlOvanru. e was pa e, an a sar OOlC ami e ith bi t d sneeri ·1" b us rutted acroeshis thia red lips, as he said to WI a It er ~n .sneenng smi e- eca e himself: "I have never believed in presenti, now ~ am beginning to ~e ~orthy of under• ments; but who will explain to me, why 1 standing you-1 ~,mbegmnmg to doubt ev• have a firm consciousness of being on the erythmg, myself. brink of a frightful catastrophe 1 'Tis a strange " That is a great step, Paul." thing; but I,have a sensation, deeply felt, " Yes, to doubt everything, monsieur-to piercing, painful; and I can give, myself no ask myself if it is not impossible that an oath explanation of it. And if I am about to die made on the ashes of the dead-on a most -to die already! that would be f~htful! hallowed memory, should not be-but tell oa: no, no; I trust to my star-and then," me," he said, interrupting himself-" tell me, he added, with a bitter smile, "Satan would YOll, whom experience must have taught-tell laugh, as good people say." me, if to be loved by a woman, it is not en• ough to 'be loyal and devoted, to live but for CHAPTER XI. her-to see in .her his whole existence, his belief, his god 1 Is not this enough 1 is net THEORY. this enough 1 For pity's sake! answer-oh! The evil that we do, draWl! not upon UB,SO many answer me." penecutiolll, orsoi.~c~~~~~o~:~~f:~1=:'e:"" Hear me Paul. Suppose, by way of an hypothesis, a man of immense, genius, of in- Swil\, when' he was no longer young; not hand• comparable beauty, of royal wealtb, of & snb• some, nor ricll, nor even amiable, inspired two of the most extraordinary passions the world has ever heard lwe soul-well, Paul--'~ ot-those of Vanel88. and Stella. BYRON-Memoi,.,. " Alas! monsieur, is all this necessary te .THE'gale blew violently from the north• Win a woman's love 1" ward.-.the sea was. high, the sky dtllk, ~d .:"All this, Paul, is ofteil neoe8S1Q'y to: in,

Digitized by Goog Ie sure toonl the"prlvile£e of seeing himself'lIaC• caprice 0{ this woman to ain bIa blo04. JI.lI'; rificed to lome degmded, deformed,idiot." soul, if he could give it, to be a fool for OD.. ;' n Oh! monsieur, this is a cruel mockery !" hour, one second, nay for life itself~ince " I am not mocking; I speak the simple his mistress loves fools, and loves not area' . truth. Paul, it is not granted to any human men! puaion, whether of man or woman, to remain " And do you think, Paul, that there exilJta,~ fixed at anyone termination, how complete one woman capable Df' resisting the plea• 10 ever. The activity of the human intellect sure of saying. to herself C By a mere whim, would not be satisfied, even with the posses• a whim that arose to mind while smoothiaa: .• lion of an ideal being. Thus, Paul, even if my hair, or rumpling my scarf, I-I a weak a woman meets with perfection, she will not nameless woman-have brought down a m.~ -, .top there. For the very reason that she can who.is the glory of a nation, of a world, of a. hlVe nothing for which to seek above that, universe! to curse those godlike gifts wbicb." the will seek below it; and will cast herself he possesses, the envy of his sex, and the ael•. into contrasts. Now, once engaged. in con• miration of all the other, save myself;only~ trastS, the more marked they are, the better. to curse them, and to cry, with clasped hands•. It is the history of the wife of loconde-for, with his eyes full of tears, on his bendecl under a varnish of frivolity and insipidity, knees-my God! my God! make me as al1ject there will b~ found in it a very deep and strik• as you have made me noble, and perhaps aM ing truth, whether applied to physical or mo• will love me.' No, Paul, I tell you no! ral science. Have you read Joconde, Paul 1" There is no daughter of Eve who could resial "No, monsieur." such a temptation." . cc Well, I will tell you. Jooonde was a " But, in Heaven's name! what must one prince, rich, amiable, and intellectual. He then .do? What believe 1" left his wife to go on a voyage. She had yet "An old Hindu verse tells you-' Bzpect the warmth of his farewell kisses on her lips, everything, and be BUrpri8ed at nothing.' " when he returned suddenly, and found her• " But this is doubt-that i~ the very incre, in bed with a footman, a cretin, deformed, dulity, which eats a'Y8Ythe heart." and an idiot. It was, as I told you, the Irre, " Yes! Paul, so long as one has a heart ! tistible desire for contrasts. It is again that But after that 1 But when he has no heart t ancient symbol of the forbidden fruit, applied when it is withered, blighted, dried up, dead, to moral nature. It is again that love of the inseusible and cold; then he laughs at the unforeseen, the unexpected, and the fantastic, world and its deceptions! For then his which induces them to put Chinese idols, and heart is but a corpse to which they are apply. monsters, on their chimney-pieces, and in ing the tortures of society--and he lauabs at their beds." \ them." " Oh! this is horrible! too horrible !" said "But this is infamous!" exclaimed Paul, Paul, burying his face in his Illlnds~ almost frenzied: "Are virtue, honor, purity, "And I repeat to you, now, that what Ihave love, nothing-nothing to win back love ill said, touching physical deformity, is yet much return 1 Must there, for that, be vice and more strongly applicable to that of the mind. corruption 1" . Here, also, is a search for contrasts. For to " Yes, Paul-vice, elegant vice, chllllBl return to. our complete man, whom we have women greatly. Vice is sufficient for an or-, imagined to ourselves:'Paul-let us suppose dinary intrigue; but for a great, enthusiastic, our ideal to be passionately in love with a frenzied passion, a bot and consuming pas• young and beautiful woman. But this wo• sion, crime is needful. A corrupt, insolent, man will have a thousand methods for tramp• and sceptical soul attracts' and amuses them. ling under foot this·noble being, whose supe• A criminal soul terrifies and governs them. riority will always crush her down, and tor• With them love is almost always a curiosity, ture her; and those methods she will employ. or a terror. Lauzun. and Ricbelieu for viee• For with a woman, there is no sentiment 80 the heroic brigands of Calabria and ~pain deep and unalterable as her self-love. for crime-these, Paul, aze my examples !" " Think then, Paul, that with one kiss, she " Therefore," said Paul, whose heart wu can make a f091,a cretin, greater than this throbbing painfully, "in order to be happy great man-greater, Paul, in his own eyes with them --" especially-in his eyes, who shall see himself " Oh! Paul, you are asking too much-to eentemned, and the cretin enjoying that be happy with a woman, you must look on which is refused to him. Then, Paul, ob• her as a fact-and in defence of your own serve the agonies, listen to the cries, mark self-love, break with her SODn;defying thus the sobs of that great man, who.1()'v~8butthe, what is called treachet'!l,on her part. Then more madly, the more he is contemned. See you must sa.y C thank. you,' or' fare-you.well,' him deny his glory, his high name, his genius, just as it may happen-nod above all change his beauty, his wealth; see him curse him• often." Bett-be, perhaps, a Byron, a Dante, Dr a " But if you Jove! if you love madly, frau.. BOJ1.8p~rte-what know 11 See him abhor tically 1" ~etr-see him 1'eduCedby the' infernal " 1 dlo1ight you _dre ~ d1e·the waftb

Digitized by Google tti'happy,"autt True happmeu iInegatiY8, much of her; I did not 8.en .hOpe 10Dluch ; and cOl18islain moral insenaibility. There. why, then, should she have aaid it, if it were fote it is preeminently necessary to waste, to not true 1 she had no object in deceiving m.; eonsnrne as quickly as pOlsible-it matters is it not 80? and yet, this mornin,-oh! dUll not on whom-that superfluityof paesion, that morning--" delirium as you call.it-it matters not how• And Pnul hid his face in his handa• •0 that you only get rid of it." " Well, Paul," said Szaffie, coldly; "th£8 " But, in the name of Heaven, what is left morning Alice gave you back your riDe, aa4 . after this 1" • said to you, 'Paul, forget me.' " "This remains; to satisfy the senees, 10 Paul drew himself up with. Itart, u if h•. loa, Il!I you have senses-and when you have bad been bitten by a serpenL 1hem no longer, to amuse yourself by dissect.. ','Do you know this?" iDg in cold blood the. inexplicable beings• " Yes; did not I tell you that the heart of mwng them undergo, at your will, or their woman was thus constituted 1 Paul, you ar•. OWD, all emotions from the most ple~g to young; you have a soul, noble, confiding, in. tht most poignant; and then telling them nocent, and artless; you believe in every. that your passion has been nothing more than thing-you admire everything. But there .is a 'psycholugical study; that you have COD• a man, who has no one consolatory convie. }ferted their souls, which you have the power tion-who believes in nothing-who can love of rendering happy or miserable, into a book nothing-who hates all humanity with an im. (roln which you read, and which, having placable hatred." read, you propose 'to shut up, Or perhaps to And Szaffie seemed to dilate in proportion tear." to the development of his odious character, Paul was for the moment in a state which "And did you think, that you, a boy d~ it is impossible to describe. For the second voted, and full of heart, could be loved, when time, this implacable man beld him under his there was so near to you a man of base and infernal domination. But that which had corrupted nature 1 Did you think that you caused the bitterness of these accursed para• could be loved, when a woman had a choice doxes to enter so deeply into the soul of Paul, between a man and a devil 1" was the conduct of Alice, and a vague suspi• " My God! my God! my heart will bUJ"8t! cion, an indefinable instinct telling him that Whnt would you soy 1" stammered Paul. .he so pure, so innocent, so loving,might per• "Who is this man-tllis devil 1" , haps become a proof, an example of this atro• "I !" cious system. Therefore, all desperate and "You?" fascinated as it were, he tried a last effort, And Paul sank down upon a carronad•• with the cold madness of the gambler, who Then, raising himself with a sudden bound, with his last guinea, sets his life likewise he seized Szaffie by the arm, and cried out: on the cast. " Thou liest! or, if it be true, I will kill " Monsieur," said he, in a deep passionate thee !" voice, "hold a moment; let Uli leave gene• "Boy!" said Szaffie, disengaging him•• lf ralitiee-let us come at something tangible• from the grasp of Paul ; "I instruct you; I at' myself! .See, monsieur, I loved a young enlighten you; Ijoin practice to precept, and lid-beautiful, pure, and chaste. Oh l I you would kill your benefactor! that is wron,. loved her with passion blended with respect. Lo! here is some one coming; be compoeed; For I loved her, monsieur, under the sanction think of the reputation of my Alice !" of my mother's .name. Do you understand And Szaffie withdrew into the captain'! me 1 Under the sanction of my mother'S cabin. . mtues. One dav I was in mental suffering• oh·! great suffering. I wanted some one to CHAPTER XII. whom I might confidemy sorrow-to whom I might say 'pity me;' I went to seek my UNCERTAIlfTY. father! He would not see me. Then, I .. Are you quite sure of it, at least'1 our life depeDcIt went to her; and, perhaps you know it• on it." Dever does one desire so deeply to be loved, "Very sure." GOII:TBII:-lihut. &I.when he is in suffering and sorrow. My "Oh! how I love you; mv darling! What wom... confession escaped me with my tears, she did would Dot be jealOUI of me P' Dotreject me; but, on the contrary, she said " Yas; but you have loved lome fool or other, I 1Up" JI018··-not to speak of your husband j 10, that I am to me, .'Paul, I love you;' it was a sh.Qrt.seme fool'8 successor, and that, too, only after a streC' time afterward that she said to me-' Paul, iJ gle; 10, that 10ur love is but a mocbry, my dear j aad , is of my own accord that I love yOY. It is in ~ou have,!>elieved in my love-that is beiDf muc,htoo the name of your mother'S ring, that I name Innocent. 'M. J. S.-TAoqAf4 m aetiDII. myself your bride, before God-therefore, I "CAl'TAIN!" said old Bidaud ; "my reck. Ihould be infamous. Paul, if I were to deceive ·oning makes us fifteen lequee distant from you--do youunderstand me1 I sayinfamous]" the back of Teri •• " ''In a word, ~onsie~t you can ju_ of "A:nd ~. We) Jeap., ~aptaip, at .the., m" raptuie:-::or my joy. I did not ask 80 very utmOlt, , repUed Merva!. Digitized by Google TBB_-8 A I... ~ .. l,'( D:IJl.

U And thi. devil of a lieutenant, who}:las her i it is only a first emodon, which,th. hu compelled me to put him under arrest, and not had the power to overcome." - who is not here w advise me. Really, it is ABd, indeed, Aliee, as she came to herself, cruel selfishness," thought the marquis, with. cast her first glance toward Szaftie, and fixed in himself. it upon him, witb that admirable expression -" And you, captain, wlt:at is yoar reckon• of sadness, resignation, happiness and love, in,7 where does it place us 1" which reveals the existence of one of those " My reckoning?" 80ft sorrowa which women are so happy to And the marquis wished himself at the de. experience. Szaffie turned his eyes toward vil, her, and drew near, inquiring after her health, ," My reckoning 1 Wait a moment." with his wonted politenesa-cold and icy. " Here is your ruttier, captain; shall Isee ?" Not one emotion-not one of those deep and .e No! no!" said the marquis; "my reck. rapid glances which express so many thinga• oning ngrees with that of M. Bidaud. Yes, nothing in the -tone of his voice-nothing in yea, it agrees perfectly. Upon my word," .the glance of his eye-nothing but the polite thought he to himself, "for better or for and easy demeanor of a man of the world to worse, here goes; he is the older, and ought a woman about whom he is utterly indiffer• to know most; and this gets me out of the ent. scrape. Moreover, it would be a bad exanr• "It is nothing now," said the good doctor; pie to give the preference to the youager " mademoiselle has quite recovered; all this man." was merely nervous, without any danger. "Therefore, captain, you approve of my But, excuse me, madam, I must leave you; course," said old Bidaud, my children are waiting for me." " Yes, my dear friend." And the good doctor left the room. "That is enough, captain," said Merval, "Come, come; all will be well now," said retiring. the marquis; CI we shall very soon reach .It'was exactly at this moment that Szaffie Smyrna, witbout any more trouble. In the entered the captain's cabin. mean time, Madame de Blene, whysbould we "Good morning, captain." not have our accustomed game of chess '1 " Good morning, my dear passenger." these confounded events of late have sadly " Is ·Mademoisellede Blane better 7" asked interrupted us." Szaffie, shutting the door of the ladies' cabin, "Go, aunt," said Ali'ce, seeing Madame which communicated with the captain's stern. de Blene's uneertainty; "I feel much better. gallery. From this place I can both see and hear you. " The doctor says the nervous irritation is I{ I want anything, I will call to you." almost composed-it was fear; for the rest, Madame de Blene went into the captain's she illvery grateful to you, for having saved cabin, whicb was divided from the gallery her; -for, in her delirium she has done noth. only by a slight wainscoting, in-which there mg but call upen you. In fact, without you, were two doors. Szaflie remained -alone she would have run a great risk of being with Alice. drowned in her state-room," added the good co Oh! Szaffie1" said the poor yoWlggirl, marquis, with an air of much interest; "but, burying her blushing face in both her hands. as they say, a good deed is never thrown "Are you in pain, mademoiaells ?" he an. away." swered, with his cold-blooded iciness of tofte. II Can you ask me, Szaffie7" she replied, in " You are quite in the right, captain; but a low voice; "what is now left to me but I hear a noise in the ladies' room." _ dishonor 1'" . ,. Probably it is Madame de Blens, who is bringing her niece into the gallery, to take a "Do you not think, mademoiselle, that in little air." woman's heart love holds but a very second. ary place 1 First of all comes virtue; then And, indeed, Alice, pale, Buffering,and regard for the world's opinion j then duty; languid, entered the sterll.gallery, leaning up· then-I know not what; and after all these, on old Garnier and on her aunt's arm. love; and then they call that dUMfUW. In " Softly, softly," said the good doctor; truth, woman employs whatever there is of " you are still weak, mademoiselle, and--- " quick life in her soul, not in loving, but in Alice uttered II. violent cry of surprise; she organizing her passions, in arranging-a com. had just aeen Szaffie. Madame de Blene was, medious and discreet intrigue, a tranquil af• luckily, able to support her; she turned her fection, which comes in turn after this duty, head round, and seeing Szaffie: or her pleasure. There comes a daYt an "My God! monsieur, pardon m-e; but hour, in which you read in her memoranda• your presence has moved my poor sensitive , at such a time to forget my duties as a wife Alice--" or maiden,' That time once past, she be. " I will retire, madam." gins again to adore her husband, or to lay, " Oh! by no means, monsieur! lowe you e mother, bl~88your child.''' so mucb for the auistance you rendered her, Alice thought she was dreaming. Tha· that the siaht of you will be very agreeable to cold_and quiet raiUeryco.ofo'iulded her. The

Digitized by Google 89. miserable girl could make no reply, and him, by Boaf8W1l-inLa Joie-who ,aid to him, Szaffie reswned : touching his ann respectfully: .. As for me, if I were to be loved by a " Monsieur Paul, I have been 'reading my woman, I would have nothiag take the prece• flambeau of the sea, and it tells me that we dence of my love. That love must be con• are running on the bank of Terim. Look at fessed aloud, in broad day-whether a girl or the color of this water! Lsok at these weeds! a married woman, I care not. Sbe must ea• By God! Monsieur Paul, the lieutenant would erifice to that love, reputation, propriety, and be better here than in his state.room.' virtue." Paul looked at the water, and instantly per• Great God! Szaffie," said Alice, in a chok• ceived the danger, which had escaped the no. ing voice, "is it thus that you must be loved1" tice of Ensign Bidaud, who was persuaded ,i Yes!" said Szaffie,with an expression of that they were very far from that dangerous irony and pride. shoal. This time Paul passed the sentinel in ~'Be it so !~' said Alice; " I will love you spite of his orders, and told his father; who, thus, Szaffie! Yes!" she resumed, with her terrified, hurried upon deck, and thence to eyes full of tears--" yes! if you wish it. I the captain's cabin, to make himself sure of will tell it in the face of Heaven. I will say, the dangerous position of the ship. By his 'I love him-I love him only! I have ruined orders, Master Bouquin had cast the lead. myself for him. I have forgotten virtue, hon• Absolute silence reigned on deck, for this or, duty; and now his love is my virtue-is test was decisive. my honor-is my all! I will tell it, Szaffie. "Well," said Peter, very anxiously, to Bou, I Bm proud to be made happy by him-to be quin, leaning outward from the chainwales as despised for him !"-and the whole face of he spoke, " how many 7" Alice became radiant as she spoke; and she " Weare in eighteen fathom, lieutenant," took his hand, and would have kissed it, but said the sailor, hauling in the lead. For one he drew it back coldly. moment the impassive face of Paul wore a "And whe tells you," he said, "that 'you rapid expression of grief, of resignation and will be loved? that you are loved 1" with bit. despair; but he leaped, nevertheless, on the ter irony. quarter-bench, and uttered his commands with " Oh! as you said, Szaffie, that instinct his wonted eoclness ; only his short, Impera. which teaches us that the emotions we expe; tive, stern tone, announced that 'the working rience are shared by tl,ose who inspire them. of the ship was of the last importance. It is love which tells me this-love, and the "Stand by to take in the studding-sails!" recollection of my fault. No! no! I meant he cried. "Bring her to the wind, helms• to say my happiness, Szaffie." man. Bouquin, how are the eoundings?" " But your love,young girl, misleads YIiIU !" "Fifteen fathoms, lieutenant." "I do not understand you, Szaffie." "To the wind, sir! hard to the wind! do " Then understand me now--" you hear 7" he shouted, with extraordinary -At this moment, the door of the captain's vivacity; and he fixed his eyes on the sails. gallery was pushed open violently, and the "Luff! let her luff all you can !" lieutenant entered, They were on the bank of Terim. There " Hell! curses!" he exclaimed; "that was no longer time. The corvette, ail she wretched Bidaud has made an error in his luffed, stirred the bottom. She ran a little reckonings; WQ must be on the bank of 'I'e, way, then struck a second time; then a third; rim. Your ruttier, captain! quick! your and brought up where the lead only gave five ruttier! quick! quick!" metree wat.er. The last shock went heavily And Peter, without answering the inter• to the heart of every OReon board. ruptions of the marquis, of Alice, or of Szaffie, snatched up a pair of compasses,made a rapid calculation, and rushed upon deck. It has been already stated, that Peter, ordered into CHAPTER XIII. close confinement, had given the charge of the ship's course to Ensign Bidaud, whom he TIlE SA.ND·B.lNX. believes capable of keeping it. He, either ImmortRl man, behold her glori•• bine, from carelessness or utter ignorance, had And ery, ezulting inly, they are mine; made a miscalculation, and thought himself Gaze on while yet tGy gladd8l1ec1eye may ___ much farther from the bank tbn he was in A morrow comes when they are B:~~o:~~~. reality. Here very quic:kly is DHl,Il I18t face to face With Nevertbeless, within two or three hours, man. . M. B. J.-Pe1UIU dit1w,,.. the color ef the water had changed visibly; they were catching fish in great numbers, and THE first time the corvette touched upon the long seaweeds, which were floating on all the bank, the crew uttered a great cry of aides, announced that they were sailing in astonishment; at the second shock, there was very shallow water. At this moment, Paul silence; at the third, there was no cry; but was aroused from the state of stupefaction in !l deep groan escaped from the hearts of all. w~~ the CODVelSationofizaffie had plunged There was still, however, lome hope left in'

Digitized by Google that·deep.drawn eirh. But at the fourthshock, I "Lieutenant, we are theill~'" when the Salamander suddenly brought up in " It mlly be so-and as you might poIIibly th'middle of her course, cracked through her be' afraid, and might come on deck, I.han waole- frame-diaunited by the heavy dull lock you up here. When there ia no one left shocks, which made her whole keel quiver on board but you and myself, then I will CORle' like the body of a hu,!{eserpent, when it and let you out, and we will go on board the movee--then there arose, there rang, above boats the last." . the sullen dash of the waves which swelled "But my God !"-said the marquis, raia· and broke against the sides of the motionless ing himself erect in a sitting posture-" but eorvette, one cry, piercing, tremendous, as if if.--" from one single man, so simultaneously did But Peter was already out of the room, and' all tongues swell it, and the crew were silent: the marquis hear-dthe sound of the locks of for that cry was that of the vital instinct pre. the three doors, which the lieutenant succe.. dominating,for one moment, over both will sively secured. When Peter reappeared upon Ind wonted discipline. That cry, uttered by the deck it was in full uniform, as if on a gala the man-not the sailor-was the last expres, day, or on the eve of battle. He mounted sion of a nature which thenceforth gave way his quarter-bench, and said in a finn voice: to an absolute self-denial-a perfect self-de- " My lads, all is not, as yet, desperate !• nial-a coolness quite immoved, even in the but there is need of the greatest ardor, in all midst of those awful occurrences. the attempts which we shall make, for the The crew, then, became once more calm preservation of the corvette. The captain is and impassive; the whistle of Boatswain La dangerously wounded, and cannot come on Joie once more reechoed, and every one re, deck; but Ihave received his insttuctions, and paired to hie post, neither fearing nor despis- he is watching over you. If our effortsshall in&, the danger. They were waiting for the prove in vain, we will abandon the corvette; lieutenant, who had gone below to the cap- having done.our duty, we will first save the tain's cabin: Alice and her aunt were there, women. the sick, the boys, and raw handa• and in a state of terror utterly indescribable. then you, then the officers, myself, and the "Ladies," said Peter," all is not yet cer, captain last. I reckon upon you, reckon you tainly lost; but there is much reason for upon me." alarm. Be so kind as to go below. under the Then, tuming to the helmsman, he con- doctor's care, to the ward-room." tinued : ' , Alice and her aunt went below. " Hoist the ensign of France !" "Monsieur," said Peter to Szaffie," the as- And the great white flag unfurled itS large .tance of a man with a bold heart cannot folds majestically, amid the deep and solemn but be useful at such a time as this, Will silence of the seamen. Peter pointed to ,you go on deck 1" the flag, and said: "My brave lads, always "I am at your orders, sil," said Szaffie, think on that-white or tri-color, it is still the " only I must go and get my papers." emblem of France. Be worthy of it-France He entered his state-room, took a purse, a for ever !" . large red-lacquered dispatch box, and went ".France! France for ever !"-cried the upon deck. Paul remained alone with the whole crew in a high voice, with a sort of captain, pale, overcome, and entirely demor- firm and cool enthusiasm, if Imay so express alized. myself; and then every man set about his " Monsieur," said Peter to him, "by your peculiar duty. ignorance, you have lost the Salamander, by The sand-bank on which the corvette was «lving preference to M.Bidaud's, over Mer- aground, being composed of mud and small val's course.' That latter officer's was the white shells, she lay for a time motionless in correct, the only correct course. There is the bed which she had hollowed for herself. nothing at all astonishing in thia, it was cer, If the breeze should not rise, orthe sea be• tain to happen. Ah! monsieur, monsieur! come too heavy, there might be some chance Imprudent proteetorebllve reuon to reproach of saving her. Then, thanks to the Incon, themselvee for frightful misfortunes, which ceivable activity of Peter, who appeared are about to befall us in consequence of your to multiply himself, began the important appobltment to this station. The evil that ia work of preservation, in deep but energetic done, being, however, irreparable; and as.I silence. The ship was lightened of all ber have no wish to see you recommence yester- heavy burthen ; her guns were thrown over• dty's scene, you will. not leave tlris state.. board, her sails were lowered hastily, her to'., room." .gallant-masts were sent down, her topmaats The good marquis was relieved from a vast were struck, and all necessary preparation. weight by this speech... were made for warping the Salamander off " You will go to bed in your birth, and I thi8 dangerous shoal. will Baythat you were grievously hurt in the " The master of the hold predicted but too lot shcck, by a fall of one of your pieces truly, messmate," said Bouquin to La Joie; o£ fumituJ:e. and that you cannot appear 0 " the corvette is floored!" ~ck.'J' "What would you have," saiel La Jolt.

Digitized by Google 01: wko wu' bUiitf emPloyed· in beltdinr a· allllOlt mathemafical exaetnell. It WIt a eable~c, what would you have? Corvettes, death of which the very hour could be predic.. UIr..e sailors, are not everlasting-they are like ted ;-one might aay "The horizon is at ten gllll!Ses~if they did not get broken, they would leaguee' distance j gusty .qualls are ,ath.rin" last too long." . within an hour they will strike us; and then, U Look here, La Joie, there is a red cloud this sea, now 80 level, scourged by the fury of hereaway, that I do n't like the looks of! Ab! the wind, will be lashed into breakers on thia the villain, i!lbe not ugly-there is wind in elevated shoal; and, at each wave the corvette him for certain 1" will be raised from her bed, and dashed down "Never mind him," said La Joie ; "but again upon the sand.bank, from the full heicht help me to haul taught the main..stay." of those mountain billows. Then, within tell " Yes, messmate. This brings bad luck to minutes, there will be an end of the Salaman. the lieutenant, for having tried to stab the cap. der," tam." This reasoning it was that determined P.. , "Good luck, you mean to say! for, look ter to order the construction of a raft. Szaftie yOu; Bouquin, in 11 shipwreck he may be observed all that was going on, with impsr, drowned, and that is better than being shot, turbable coolness; he almost smiled, for be which is ouly fit for soldiers !" foresaw the commencement of some awful "Come, La Joie, they have let go the an. drama; and, although he knew that he mue' ehor, down there; we shall see if they can get have his own part to play with the remainder her 011"; it will soon be decided. This is the of the passengers, he feared nothing; for the decisive moment, as that old fellowsaid. ADd only favorable side of his hideous character, th~n. as the Ottoman said: 'If it is to be was his indomitable courage, and his utter done; it will be done ;-and if it is no. be contempt of death, which his life, perhlp-. clone;it will not be done-that's all !' " • goes far to explain. Paul, Merval, and Bidand were in the for. "Perhaps, now," he ,thought within him. wud part of the gun.deck, and had obeyed the self; "I am going to see civilization tryiD&' orders of Peter, having let go the anchors at its strength against brute nature; the purest a considerable distance from the corvette; sentiments battling against the most animal tbey now manned the capstan, and hauled instincts. Perhaps I may even learn to what upon the anchors,which ought to have warped degree, in the scale of our organization, the the ship, by degrees, down the sloping edge spirit yields to -the dominion of the body• of the bank, and got her once more afloat. the soul to the beast. Oh!thiswill be, indeed, In fact, it did stir her, and she moved some curious !" feet; but, unfortunately, the muddy bottom And he moved hie eyes rapidly and eagerir gave no hold to the flukes of the anchors; and, over aUthat was going on. one by one, they came home, and the Sala, " My lads," cried Peter, "there is no uee in mander stirred no more; concealing it from you: there are no meanaleft Peter then caused two masts to be driven of saving the corvette. Let UB go to work at in, as props, on each side, to support the ship, a raft; it is the only means that remains of in case of her oversetting, Then, seeing that gaining the coast." the sky was beginning to be marbled with The crew saw clearly that all was lost. red clouds, flying rapidly, he perceived that They felt, indeed, a sincere grief, at leaving the wind was making, for the waves became the goodSalamander,whichhad sheltered them more and more deeply hollowed, as they burst soiong ; but necessitjwas irresistible, and they on that high shoal. The Salamander, up to went to work at the raft, with that carele.... this moment immovable, now began to feel ness which is their chief characteristic. In afight shocks, which the increasing power of the raft they saw only another ship, somewhat tbe waves inflicted on her. Peter looked at lees convenient than the one they were leave the horizon for a moment, and said, after hAv. ing; that was all. ing consulted the compass: "All is over; to " I have never been on board tI. raft yet; judge from the wind, we have scarce an hour have you, Parisian 1" asked a raw hand. left to build a raft, and that is our last hope !" .. I have, twice; it is a superb navigation. What was the most extraordinary, and almost Air! oh, yes! we have lots of fine fresh air; fantastic, in this frightful position was, that to not like those cursed orlop.deeks, in which the eyes, even of the experienced sailors, the we are smotheted ; .and then, on the water'. danger, which was really so imminent, wore level, too! so that we can pull the sharks by . nothing menacing in its appearance. The sky their tails: and that, while in bed, one bas w~ still pure, the Reamoderately serene, and nothing burto put out his hands and catch tho corveue almost immovable. It was not bonittos. You will admit, I think, that is one of those awful and impetuous shipwrecks, jolly." in which the enchained and perilous, billows "Will you hold your jaws, Parisian, and dash you upon keen and pointed rocks. It work, you scamp1" exclaimed La Joie ; " and wa. as calm and terrible as a silent and pale yoo, too. Johnny Raw! look at this rip. here, ~ '" shipwreck.of which it waa pcssible to will you 1 he is about anmart w~thbie haada ClllbtUate'thechances lti4 the progre18;'with as a pig is with biB tail."

Digitized by Google " That," replied the Parisian, in explana.. below on the orlop. All the crew CO the boati; nation; "is because everyone has not the each one to hie cnvn number; the. topmen advantage of being born in the capital; and and waisters to the' raft !" - of being a jolly fellow, a hard one, a prime And, after that, DOsailor 10 much Ill! thought chap, a real devil." of stirring to look after his cheat. A glorious lick from the huge fist of the "Monsieur." said Peter to Merva}; u you boatswain, interrupted this pompous nomen. will now see and get the sick into the long. clature. boat, then the women, the ship.boys, the raw " You will not keep your tongue within hands, and the able seamen. You will give your teeth, hey 1 you dog of n negro-of a a towline to the barge, and take the raft in maroon-of a crocodile i-YOU will not work tow. The captain and I will go on board, at your raft. when that is all we have got left last, in the yawll" to depend on! You are well called Pari. It was a glorious sight to behold those men Bian!* Now, then, will you work without going, impassive, grave, and silent, each to. talking, as I tell you 1" his own station, leaving the ship one by one " That's it! that's it, master! I beard you, -the ship in which they were abandoning boatswain,' returned the incorrigible Pari. all that they possessed in the wide world, to Pian; "you told me that in my left ear, wben encounter incalculable perils; ana all this with. you half stove in the side of my head!" , out complaining, without a word of regret; . And the construction of the raft went on going as if to an ordinary manmuvre; such, rapidly. Peter had placed some ranges 8f and so absolute, was the discipline which Pe- ' empty barrels under the masts, which formed ter had established on board. the body of the raft, in order to support it, and When the boats were all manned with • keep it a'bove the surface of the water. He their moper crews, they proceeded to get the then caused them to insert small wood be. si$:k" board; old Garnier aecompanylng tween the timbers, and above the principal them, earrying a large chest which he would spore,so as to constitute II. sort of platform, as intrust to no one, saying it was "for his chil, level a. possible, covered with planks; then dren !" their on crotches of the hammock.nettings cc Come, come !'. he added, "come, my were fixed all around the raft, with cords and children, the motion will do yeu good, and nettings attached to them, to serve the pur. you will have a change of air; and, on the " pose of II. bulwark. . whole, you will be the gainers." .To eonclude, a few patereroes were low. And while addressing them with these sin• ered to answer for signalizing, and a foretop. gular consolations, the good doctor arranged lIlast was stepped as solidly as poesible, with them as comfortably as possible in the long. a top-gallant sail. The raft wu provided with boat. Then Alice and her aunt appeared at powder, with a compass, and other instru, the gangway, accompanied by their women. ments; and the whole of the frail machine It was remarkable how perfectly self.cOPlpoe• Will! moored by a small eable, from the stem ed and cool Alice now appeared;· she even of the corveue.. Scarcely were their works encouraged her aunt, with the most perfect finisbed, when the sea, which had risen possession of all her qualities; only, as she considerably, grew strong and billowy; the saw Szaffie, she grew pale. wind was hard and keen. and the surf, break. The women were leshed to an arm.chair, ing upon the shoal, began to shake the cor. and lowered, one after the other, upon the 'Yette from stem to stern. Peter grew pale, raft, which was under the command of Paul. and ordered them to cut away the lower masts, Unhappy boy! stunned by all that was p.... in order to lighten the ship further; but, at this sing around him. aad by the activity of hia moment, die master of the hold ran up to an-. own duties, he had almostforgotten his grief•• nounce that the hull was breaking up; and, The .sight of Alice recalled all of them. in fact, the surf, which was becoming every His heart was breaking. He turned his moment more formidable, was beginning to eyes away; for II burning tear flowed from lift the Salamander from her bed. In accor• tbem which he wished to conceal. dance to Peter's orders, the pumps were man. And Alice was seated by his side, so near ned, but they would' not work. There no as almost to touch him i-it was a moment of longer remained any hope of preserving the indescribable anguish. corvette. Peter gave orders fer the imme• The speaking trumpet of Peter was now diate embarkation of all hands. , beard, and all lent an anxious,ear to the sum, ..And our chests 1" cried some of the sail- mons: 01'1. Now the chests contain the whole for. " Is every one at his post 1" tunee--the sole posaessionsof a sailor. cc Ay, ay, lieutenant!" replied Merval. "I .. It is no time to think of ehests !" cried bave given tow-line to the rUt, and await your Peter; "I forbid anyone, whoJDlOever,to 10 orders." "Ay, ay, lieutenant!" replied Bidaud. "I have the long-boat in tow, and await youror. • The epithet" PariftGfl" puIIIe, _"nerally.in the 11&"1for an lnault. s..the Marin. DiQ\iODlI.ryof'WU• ders." ,1laIlUl8'. " Ay, ay, Ueuteaant!" hid P.w. ,i The

Digitized by Google • Sl1]1(.B.~1 NIGHT. 93 ~ft i& . aU,clear, .and I await your orders to Iquia being. left .here a!0ne. It. will b. very cast, oft'the,mOQnngs.', droll for him-c-all by himself," " Are the compasses and instruments OR. And the yawl put off the last from the Sal~ board 1" shouted the lieutenant. amander, and speedilyreached the raft, where. ,e I have them in the long-boat, sir," an- on they put Peter, still fainting. The marquis, .wered Merval. it·ia true, was forgotten. Heavens ! he was II Ha.... you the chest with the log-books 1" left! The men in the long.boat thought.he " It ia faatened to the mast of the raft," re, was on the raft, and the men on the raft plied Paul. ' thought he was ill the long-boat; while, in "Let the coxswains of every boat," said truth, he was on,board the Salamander•. Peter, "call the roll of each boat, to make Poor corvette. Every e~e w~ now direct. that all hands are on board." ed toward her, a~ she rose into sl~ht now and sure. then, when the billows sank, heaving up black They called the roll; the crews were com- and gloomy, with her immense white ensign plete all but the six topmen, wh~ manned the floating upon the gale like. a winding sheet yawl which was waiting for Peter, to conduct against the black and stormy sky. him on board the raft. Once clear of the edges of the bank the " Stan~ by to cast.offthe .moorings !" cried raft sailed more easily. The sea was h;avy, Peter, WIth an echoing vo!ce, ~ltho.ugh!err but as it no longer broke on the shallows, the deeply moved; and Bouquin 181dhie knife s raft rode over it. At the end of an hour the edge to the only cord which held the raft to corvette was no longer in sight, though, at the corvette. times, they could distinguish her ensign, al, U Let go all !" shouted Peter. . though indistinct and misty as the wing of a And the cord, stretched already to the U1. sea-gull skimming the surface of the deep in most, was cut asunder, and the raft, in tow the far distance. of the boats, began to move slowly from the Then they saw nothing more, for night fell ship. This last command was that whi~h dark and dismal, and the weather became went most directly to the hearts of the sad. every moment blacker and more threatening. Oll. That cord.was the last link which at- tached .their existence to the Salamander; enee broken, there was n,o more hope left to them touching the corvette. All was finished! CHAPTER XIV. It was, moreover, time, for the surf was be. It is 0. .pint which deltinyhaslet loose D.gllinst me to coming truly terrible. One wave among the torment me. rde not entertain one hope but that thi6 infelllallerpent will cast himself in my wa.y. rest, outrunning all the others, rushed on- SCHlLLER-.MariBStUa¥'t rushed on, boiling and hissing almost to the height of the ship's tops-then, when it met A SUXMU'S NIGHT. the resistance of the shoal, increased in vio• A SWEETlight is that of the summer mOI)D, lence and bulk, and striking the corvette on when she is reflected pure and brilliant on the the quarter, heaved her down on her star• surface of a tranquil lake ; but when wading board beam-ends, and overset Peter and his through dark and drifting clouds, she appears six topmen on the deck. Peter was prepar, but at intervals, lurid and bloody, as some ill, ing, just at that moment, to go down into the omened meteor--on! then her funereal glare captain's cabin to let him out, and take him is the befitting lamp for a night of storm and on board the yawl. He had already set his despair. . foot on the first step of the companion, when An awful night it was! The rising and he was cut with such force against the cer• impetuous billows, black as the night, marbled ner of the hatch, that he wounded himself with veins of snowy foam, tossed and broke, severely in the head; and the shock was so one upon the other, forming a vast whirlpool, severe that he fell fainting and covered with the foamy crests of which were drawn dis• blood. tinct and dark against the transparent though Szaffie had also remained on shipboard, for dark sky of the Mediterranean. And what he wished to see everything to the end. He, wild sounds! If for a moment the tempest it was, who raised up Peter, bound up his lowered its thundering voice, and died away wounds with his handkerchief, and said to as it skimmed the billows with a weak, wail• .the boatmen, deeply afBicted by the accident ing moan-after a fearful silence, it waked which had' befallen the lieutenant: again, and roared withtwofold fury-s-now it "Come, let us go on board ; the sea is grow• came with sharp and metallic whistlings, ing dangerous, the raft is leaving us fast, and with loud and angry bursts rolling athwart the we shall have work yet to overhaul it." sky-now with sharp screams, resembling 'They lowered, then, the poor lieutenant cries of anguish. It was the shock of waves, into the yawl, which the force of the waves whieh broke, bounding in their wrath, over sometimes lifted nearly to .the height of the the wretched raft. nettings; and Szaffie, casting a last Iook on For the raft, now drove blindly round and 'me deck,'s8id, with ,. hideous smile: rotthd in the midst of the wild war of waters II What lli)te'best of all, is the good mar. -the' raft alone=-for the undecked . beata,

Digitized by Google _llichhad'Ui",tow, unable to live in thatfu, Weal to the stroq-wo to the .e$! rious sea, had Iwamped, all ip them perish. There was one-s-only one, who -appellrcJd W:'; ing'_Merval and Bidaud, and their whole perior to these irritating wan~it wa~ Szaftie. crews, swamped=-carrying down with them His face alone had not altered. He ,till fe• the provisions, the compass, and the instru, mained the same-tranquil, impassive, cold. ments-s-the soul and body of the raft; and Standing and leaning against the stump of the raft drifted to the untamed wrath of the the mast, he watched; at each blow of the tempest, for its mast was bent, shattered, bro. sea, as it broke over the taft, some bowed 'the ken. But its flat beams and flooring offer. head in passive despair-others interposed be. ing no resistance nor surface to the violence tween themselves and the cutting deluge of of the winds, it WDS impossible for it to sink. the salt billows fragments of planks and .pars Ooly at each sea it was entirely inundated ~thers again made no effort; lying in,. and submerged by the waves, which made a lethargic torpor, with theirglazed and glUl1 clean broach over it, washing it from end to eyes wide open, they gnawed between their end.. teeth some miserable rope's-end, which chance Five days already had that tempest lasted, had thrown in their way, and quitted it not, and it was now no longer the brave, dashing, as though it had been truly precious. and submissive crew of the Salamander, ,Some, whose legs had been jammed and which crowded that frail machine-it was a broken in the seams of the raft, laughed. band of hideous and accursed ruffians. Be. Hunger and crying had made them mad. ings without a name-s-discolored, wan, cada, The greatest number still erect, obeyed like an verous, dishevelled, water.bleached-e-with red inanimate mass the oscillations of the raft, and wolfish eyes, foqg beards, and tattered the centre of which they oeeupied, In the garments-with hideous smiles playing upon stern, if so it might be called, were Paul, hie their chapped and bleeding Iips=-for during father, Alice,' her aunt, Szaffie, and good old those five days they have been devoured by Garnier. As the last relic of subordination, the keenest famine. They are now men they hac still left the scanty remnant of pro. abandoned to the whole fury of their animal vision which remained to them in the keep. necessities-in them, all but the instinct of ing of tbeir officers. life had been dead ,long ago. There could The lieutenant was lying on the deek, par. be no hope save of n speedy death. But no ! tially sheltered by a rampart of" barrels, wrap. Fapine parches their entrails, thirst bums ped in an oriental eapote, and gazed at Paul, theIr throats; their fresh and bleeding wounds who in his tum gazed at Alice. Alice, bun. are ulcerated by the acrid salt of the sea-wa. dled up in 11 heap, d.ripping with salt water, ter; rage is in their hearts, blasphemy on their shuddering with cold, propping ber head on tongues-e-yer still they cling to life-they are her emaciated knees, which she 'had clasped attached to it by the bonds of agony. Ar. with her thin arms, sat, with a fixed and pier. rived at this point, suicide is impossible to cing gaze riveted upon Szaffie. Madam de them; for suicide is the result of reasoning, Blene saw no one any more--she thought no and these men ha~e long ceased to reason. more--sbe was motionless, and almostijfele!J8. Moreover, suicide rarely occurs in the midst' At this moment, the tempest appeared to of privations and corporeal misery. To gen. redouble its violence ...... the raft, uplifted by the erate suicide, there must be sumptuous and high waves, which took it athwart.shlps, intoxicating pleasures •••perfumes and women, seemed at times to be almost perpendicular. Bowers and delicious wines. To generate Then the sailors, unable to resist the violent suieide, the victim's cup, glittering with gems impulsion, were driven from the stern for. and gold, must be filled even to overflowing, ward. In vain, the officers endeavored to .~ith Q concentration of all known or imag- give some orders for the concentration, of tbe ined pleasures, and then he must be told, men in the middle. They were not listened :w~en he has qrained the ambrosial cup to the to. In that terrible moment the sailol'll be. very: dregs-n';~ur cup is empty-fare you lieving themselves in danger of immediate well I". ~::...'. I death, after a few words interchanged with Thus .clung tnes"i e,11to life ~ boar~ ~hat each other, some, erect, some creeping or raft, .whlch now. for-1 _ men 8till~urv~V1ng, dragging themselves along, or hanalng on to had m reserve bu! three: . D,~sof b15CUltand the nettings, pressed toward tbe stern, armed a. small keg of wine. . ~ ,~~~, accord they with pikes and axes. . _ eould, had they chosen It, hav~, pq~,a term to "We want the wine I' said La Joie,'bran. their ?I"eadf~l agonies.' But n'Q,.,:~o.!>.they dishing a hatchet, "we' want to fuddle our. must bye-hve on tears, ,on blood,. on t.6~~~!, selves, and die in peace," and on cri?1e-what mattered It, so dilir:-, ',:Rater arose, and clingiq to a cuk with could only hve. , ' :baHd IfWell~ a iltol with the other Vital instinct so willed that it should be- one. "., - . ,p, ., . ' for these people were no more fathers or sons, saymg: I. • . .: seamen rr officer' women cr girls=-they were "Wretches. ItlS our lut resource-It JlUlit l '" ~ , be pared" but hungry beings-e-beings willing to ve~urtl s • ~, it they 10mi&huat. " Your pistol will D" 10 d-it. we.. ••

Digitized by Google • mt4.,. .,t.a..Jl)ie~.beatinr..tbe.JDDZ. zle down with U Do you S88, ,Paul f'_ a,nd he ~ .1&U!·[)atehet-" The wme, damn you!" down to the ear of the wretched boy, wbo "The. wine-the wine !" cried the rest. was suffering terribly from a wound in hi. IC The wine or death !" shoulder. . " Do you daremutiny 1" cried the lieuten• _'." Do you see, Paul 1-1 told you ao-do ant, looking around him for a weapon. you now believe in any$ng 1-all subor• . "There are no officers now-we are the dination, all the modesty of a young girl• strongest-we will have the wine." devotion, love-all that-Paul, yes, all tbat• "No." yields to the irresistible influence of hunger, "Yes." , and of thirst! Noble sentiments, truly! which And La Joie advanced against Peter in a depend onwants the moet ignoble-c-which-c-s-• menacing attitude. Paul darted upon him, But you do not bear me, you are fainting !• but La Joie knocked him down with the oh! you shall hear me," he added, with a back of his hatchet. Peter would have aven• hideous smile; anetmaking him inhaie a pow• ged his son, but he too was wounded. Then, erful essence, with which he was provided, he furious and bleeding, they would have defend• brought him to himself 8gain~ ed themselves still, supported by the doctor "Ah! go, for heaven's sake-for God'. and two sailors, faithful to the last. But they sake! go and leave me I" were overthrown, trampled under foot, and "Boy, Iam saving you-take, cat!" hurled to the forward end of the raft, Mal And Szaffie, having, with the greatest mys• dame de Blane, during the tumult, forced to tery, partially opened the red dispatch box, the edge of the raft, was carried overboard, which he had constantly carried about with and swallowed up in the sea, stretching her him from, the moment of his leaving the hands in vain to Alice. But Alice saw her corvette, drew out of it a piece of some very drowned without the power of assisting her, compact and solid substance, and gave it to for she was clinging herself, with all her Paul. strength, to one of the timbers, to avoid roll• Paul carried it eagerly to his lips j then, by ing into the sea. an impulse of sublime and noble thoughtful• " Let U8 drink and be damned !" cried La ness, he stopped, divided it into three little Joie, bleeding from many wounds, and cling• bits, and dragged himself toward his father. ing to the nettings with one hand, while he Alice was too far off-he had not strength to held out with the other a tin pannikin. reach her. " Let us drink ! let us drink to the last, and die jolly!" And they threw themselves in a crowd CHAPTER XV. upon the cask, which was stove in, sacked, drank to the dregs in a moment. And drunk• A SAIL! A SAIL ! enness, taking possession of their brains, And this is life !-BVllON-Cai •• weakened by so many privations, in the midst of the roar of the waves, and of the howling Ob! O1y golden dreams! 8cSlLLER-7'Ae Robber,: of the storm, they began to sing in cracked and ghastly voices; strange words, wild, inco, Two days afterward, the tempest had en• herent, and lugubrious as the song of a tirely abated. The sky was blue, the air madman-and, in the lurid moonlight, some pure, the sun just rising. of them strove to dance, tripping and stagger, The wine had been all drunk-the biscuit ing to and fro. Then, gorged with liquor, trodden under foot, crushed to atoms. Then heavy with drunkenness, they fell down reck• theyhad eaten leather-hate.sword.belts, shoes! less, rolled hither and thither, and as the raft they had drunk salt-water, in their madness j lifted, some of them dropped into the sea, and they had put nails and little bits of lead into were drowned without uttering a cry. their mouths, in the hope that the coldness of The Parisian, now quite drunk, discovered the metal might alleviate their thirst; they Alice, huddled tip near an empty.barrel. had eaten oakum-linen! . "Here, drink !" he cried, knocking her There had been a second massacre, a8they .teeth with the tin pannikin. fought for a sea-gull which had faUen on Alice drank with rapture, even to the last board; they had eaten old Gamier, who died dregs ; color and warmth mantled to her pale eursing his children; they had eaten two• cheeks. thirds of the Parisian, for whom they had " You grow pretty," stuttered the Parisian. drawn lots j bot that accursed food had .. Come, kiss me for my trouble." . abridged the days of those who partook of it. And the sailor's foul lips deflowered the Szaffie alone, and two or three sailors, were sweet mouth of Alice, who said, as she Ian, able to stand upright; and they were watch• • g!Wilyrepulsed him, ing the indistinct and vaporous line of the " Oh l that wine did me so'much good! I horizon with iuconceivable attention. They am still thirsty, give me more-" thought they could perceive a sail. " Look! look, Paul !" said Szaftie, ehowing A sail ! Szaffie, above all the rest, up, ~.All~' .~:~ Ail,or. . . hie 0101 hod on the .pot with uort oro..

Digitized by Google THE SALAMA.NDER. stinate conetancy , for he was beginning now Poor wretches! their souls, so long ulcerJ~d to partake the horrors of their situation. In by the extremity of aftiiction,could no longer the moment of the shipwreck, with a fore. contain happiness so boundless. Their joy sight which can easily be uaderstood, he had actually overflowed,nod,they experienced the provided himself with an exceedingly nutri• desire of giving vent toit it in a prayer of tive preparation,* consolidated in the smallest gratitude and love. . possible bulk. He had thus, up to this mo• At that moment, some of the Bretons set ment, escaped the torments of hunger; but up a simple canticle to NOTRE DAME DU BON his meuns of subsistence were beginning to SECOUBS. fail, and he was fast losing the nope of see• "On your knees, my children, on your ing the raft cast, by the currents, on the coast knees," cried Paal; and all knelt with fervor. of Africa; for the wind had blown so vio. Their glariftg eyes were moistened with sweet 'Iently off the land, that they were already at tcars; and it was ~ sublime picture to behold a considerable distance-c-eo that it was with those pale men, lean and half-starved, clasp• a feeling of jOj"that cannot be described, that ing their trembling and emaciated hands, to he cried, " A sail! a saill" return thanks to God for that unexpected sue, This magic cry, "A sail !" spoke even to cor. It was majestic-the simple prayer of the hearts of those who were dying; their those intrepid men, which, rising from the dim eyes glowed again; the wounded wretches vast expanse of rolling billows, seemed to sa. reared themselves up painfully, and turned lute the new-born sun, as the dawn of a new wistfulglances to the spot which Szaffiepoint• day of happiness; which seemed to recog• ed out. Some clasped their hands; some nize a divine presage in the splendor of that burst into wild shouts of laughter; a few flaming star, banishing the dark shades of the shed tears of happiness. That cry, " A sail !" past night, even as happiness and tranquillity acted as a consoling balm, spread on their were about to banish the very recollection of wounds, which tranquillized their sorrows, their past tortures. And they drew nearer and made them forget even their hunger. and nearer to the raft, bugging the wind as Hope put an end to all their hatred, and all closely as possible. violent feelings were assuaged by that one " The people will leave the raft," exclaim, thought. These men-of late so cruel, so ed Peter, with his habitual coolness and al. savagely ferocious--now drew near one to most mechanical discipline, "in the same or. the other, shook hands with each other, and der wherein they came on board it. The exchanged embraces, with, cries of frantic women first, the ship.boys, the raw hands, joy, which came forth from their very soul. the crew, and the staff." The staff were Some, who, in utter torture, could take no himself and his son. share in the general intoxication, were shaken "Ay! ay! our goad' lieutenant," an. by their comrades, dancing around them and swered the sailors, with joyful submission; ehouting : for, with the hope and conviction that they "'Ve are saved! messmates, we are sav• were saved, had returned their subordination, ed !-a sail! by heavens, a sail !" their devotedness, with the love and respect Paul and his father exchanged glances of they bore to their beloved lieutenant. - sublime rapture, and. embraced each other " Father," said Paul," you will never be with happiness so deep thatIt could find no strong enough to get up the ship's side; but tongue. Alice, quite worn out, lay buried in never mind; with a chair, it will be easy." n nervous lethargy, disturbed at times by ab, " My Paul, my boy," answered Peter, as rupt fits of shivering. Poor child! she had he embraced him, " I know net what secret heard nothing! voice it was which whispered me that we " A sail!" The word was repeated, sung, should not part-and it was true; for Heaven shouted, or murmured with joy, with delirious would not sever us; for I often implored my ecstasy, which seemed eonstantly on the in. God for you in secret-yes, every evening; crease ; for, by degrees, the saviour.ship be. and he, you see, Paul, never abandons those coming/ more and more distinct, they could who call upon him." . distinguish the sails of a frigate glittering in " Oh! my mother told me so ever," replied the sunshine. Oh! what an admirable mo• the poor boy, with a beautiful expression of ment of enthusiastic gratitude, when all un, trust and tenderness, kissing the hands of his certainty passed over, and this sign of safety father as he spoke. W8S hailed by a thousand echoing acclama• " Well, well, what is this 1" cried Szaffie, tions ! with an accent of deep anxiety. "Look. Then these seamen, of late so careless, har• there! look there!" and he showed the fri• . dened and impious, felt themselves penetrated gate to a sailor, who was busied about his by unwonted feelings of divine gratitude. preparations for departure. " Oh ! monsieur!" said he, " she is bearing '" The flesl\ of pounded venison, dried with sugar. up ; afterward she will--hut no ! no !--oh The Indians, in their longest hunts, carry with them no horror !" other provisions. An ounce of this substance illenough " Heaven and hell!" cried Szaffie, stamp for'the subsistenee of Il strong man for a flaV•• veG in . Violent exerelte. . " . ing with his foot OD thedeck of the raft•

Digitized by Google 'rHE CALENTURJL 91

II Wba .... what is the matter 1" asked many them. Everything seemed to tum around "'oieee. them. They had the vertigo-but, above all, U She has not seen us, and is going about, hunger ;-hunger, as of a tiger, was predomi• my fine pealm.singera l" cried Szaffie, in a nant. YOice of thunder, with flaming eyes, and teeth U Paul," said his father, in a hollow, husky gnashed together as if he would break them. voice, " I' am very hungry; where did you ., It is not possible !" cried Peter. get what you gave me yesterday 1" But it was true e the frigate was careening. " It was from Szaffie!ot When she had finished her tack, she went " Has he more 1" about, to take another, in order to hold her "I know not." course as near the wind as possible. There. " Let us go see! we will take it from him. fore the ship receded=-eank little by little, We are two!" grew less and leas distinct, was veiled in the They dragged themselves on their hand. mists of the horizon, became almost imper, and knees to Szaffie,who seemed immovable. ceptible, and disappeared at last entirely. Peter knelt on his chest, holding bis poniard So long as there was one line's breadth of to his throat, while Paul searched him. Paul the frigate's sails perceptible above the sur• found the red-lacquered box. His father saw face' of the sea, there was yet a/ray of hope to him ( 'en it. . shine on the hearts of those wretches i-for " (: :ve me! give me !" he said to his sOil. they could not, they would not believe, that " V{ait a little-" destiny had played them a trick of spiteful "No--give me some !" mockery &0 thoroughly atrocious. But when ., It is mine !" cried Paul, snatching from there was nothing more on the horizon-no. the box the little which it still contained, and thing-nothing but the sun glittering on the carrying it to his month. blue, tranquil, solitary seu-s-ohl then their " I will have some-c-or 1- !" cried Peter, situation was the most piercing, the most cruel leaping with a fierce cry upon his son; and which could try the heart ofhumanity. Then, thereupon began a hideous struggle. Szaflie as in all the more acute reactions of the awoke in themidst of it. moral on the physical part of man, total re• " Oh! yon have robbed me!" he cried i laxation and torpor succeeded first to that "you would assassinate me. So, you see, state of excitement to which hope had given Paul," he continued, in a weak voice, watch• birth. This torpor of the body and the mind ing the chances of the frightful conflict-" it lasted but a few moments. You would have is the dagger, which must now decide be• fancied that these hapless wretches had re• tween your father and yourself. Now-ah ! quired that space of time, to fall the whole ha! is not that a fine mouthful, for which you height from the pitch of hope to which they have all but committed parricide l . Well• had arisen, down to the very abyss of despair; eat! cat! eat--" to taste thoroughly the mockery of this hellish Night happily fell o'er the waters, veilin,2', deception-to comprehend absolutely the hor, that frightful scene. The next day, Szaffie, Torof their hopeless position-to envisage it waking from a sort of heavy'nerveus lethargy, face to face. And then, when that convic• fancied himself under the influence of some tion had once fairly penetrated into the soul hor-ible night-mare. of each, cutting and cold as the bite of a dying foe-when the sea and the horizon were alike desert and alone-o h! then it was a fearful mixture of blasphemies the most ter• CHAPTER XVI. . rible, against that very Heaven which they THE CALENTURE. had.but now invoked! appalling cries of ago. ny, and rage, and death, littered by men, who, And 1--1 die! I die! no, God, thou artn.tjust. but a moment since, were embracing one an• .I<'RB:rERIC80~LIE-CkriBtt7ae. other. - Then hunger and hatred, which hope l\Jndlles. is but the concentration of ail ideas, in one single thought carried to the extreme. had for a moment lulled to sleep, burst forth. CABANr.'S-Physical and .MoralNature. even more implacable, more bloody than be. fore. Then all those wretches-as if to IT was 11oon.' The sun, now nearly vern• avenge each '011 his neighbor his common cal, on the African shores, in all its summer misery-rushed, one upon another, striking, glory, poured down its burning rays upon tearing,exasperated by a sort of fearfulfrenzy. the still and liquid waters, and made them, . Szoffiehimself uttered a cry, torn from him 8S it were, the mirror of a thousand fires• by excess of pain, and fell, swooning. Ono The raft, immovable upon the surface of of the madmen was endeavoring to cut off the sea, level and smooth 8R ice, was reo his foot with a case-knife. fleeted to its smallest details. The frail bul• The following day that fit of frantic rage warks of barrels and hammoek.netrings, had had overpassed; hunger was now predomi• been all broken, and swept away by the tem, nant. Peter and hi!'!$011 were crouched among pest; the deck was now Dot above a foot the ruins of the raft, ncar to each other; but raised from the level of the water, and that ~ .• ll8ee were now beginning to forsake without aRY guard or breast-werk, HW8 and. 5

Digitized by Google THE S"ALAM.A.NDEI.. there floated rags of garm!3nts,of cordage, of and tones so convincing and 8Q natural, t1aat• blanketrJ,brightened and gilded by the sua a blind man would have taken the aberrations which sported with them-some weapons, of that fever for realities. rusted, and twisted, and broken,glittered up. It is one of the symptoms"of this feyer,-to on the deck. All but the bodies of the dead, develope to the utmost, the prevailing paasiOl1 and those mortally wounded, stood erect; of every one; to put into strong relief his "theireyes sparkling, their lips red, their com- fixedand habitual thoughts, as indeed happens ple:r.ions highly colored, animated and res. in all complete or transient attacks of mania. plendent. Only instead of feeling that sweet Thence came the artless truth, which the un.. and penetrating warmth, which these symp, happy wretches threw into the description of toms appeared to announce, they were bathed their insane dreams. in cold sweat; their limbs were stiff and icy. At the sight of this sad, and terrible, be- But with, the exception of this phenomenon, cause tranquil delirium, Szaffie remained and a nervous twitch which gave to almost struck with a kind of stupid wonder. aD their faces a grotesque and frightful ex. For, having, 88 well as Paul, taken some pression; there was nothing to show that they atoms of nourishment, he did not partake had endured such tedious sufferings :-for that state of drowsy excitement, the furious some of them were repairing the dlswder of irritation of the brain, originated by the ac• their toilettes, mending their tattered jackets, tion of a burning sun, and by the sympathet• knotting their neckcloths, and saying to one ic reaction of a stomach parched, on a head another: "The· lieutenant will inspect us weakened, by famine. The calenture in a shortly. It is necessary to be cleanly.". word-that sort of moral mirage-did not Others thought, that they could see at a cause his brain to quiver, by offering to his distance a town, all glittering with gold and view, as to that of the other wretches, de• marble and rich verdure, rising in an amphi, ceitful fantasies of enchanting situations, of theatre from the water's edge. banquets, of women, or of familiar circles. " That is Smyrna," said they, " and herewe Szaffie and Paul, were the only two who have arrived. Heavens l how beautiful it is! retained the coolness of their intellect in the See, then, those domes of silver, those basins, midst of those fearful orgies. Although those orange-trees, and those women who call weakened by long privations, they had pre• to us! Come hither, sailor, come hither! give served enough of tbe clearness of their me your arm." minds to Bee all, and hear all-Paul, espe- And they advanced to the edge of the raft dally; supported by that particle of nourish• together, walked on undisturbed, as if the sea ment which, on the preceeding day, he had and the deck had been on the same level; disputed with his father. Thus he experi• tripped on the end of tho beams, fell, and enced an awful sense of horror at the sight were swallowed up in the waves. Then a of the spectacle, which became more fright. few drops of spray wore dashed upward, the ful by the Budden apparition of Alice. Of waves spread out in circular ripples, a few Alice. wounded, bedraggled, her hair in dis• air.bubbles boiled up to the surface, and then order ;-of Alice, wan, pale emaciated; but theseabecame full,smooth, and even as before. her cheeks kindled with a lively and bright Another group, seated around an empty carnation, her eyes sparkling, and gifted for barrel, imagined themselves banquetting at a the moment with supernatural power ;-of table sumptuously furnished. Alice, who, rising slowly from between the "Pass me that chicken, messmate," said two barrels, where she had remained un, one. til then ;-who, rising straight and stiff as a " Here it is, and it is famous," replied the statue, half covered by the hood and cassock other, imitating the gesture of one who helps which Peter had left her, advanced toward his neighbor. them. " What wine !" Paul hid his head in his hands; she seem. " What nice white bread!" " ed to look around for something; then, when "What excellent fresh meat !" her eyes fell on Szuffie,she pushed aside the "I am regaling myself jovially, on my sailors who stood in her way, with surprising word! One is not on shore always." strength, and came up to him. Here was a dance with unsteady feet-a "Oh! Szaffie," said Alice with a sweet rapid waltz between two sailors,begun on the low voice, leaning against him tenderly; deck, concluded in the sea. Others imagined "you are mine! mine, my lover, my adored that they saw the cottage wherein they were. lover! whom alone I have loved with my born; their wives, their children-all that whole soul." was dear to them. Then they were moved Here. Paul wished to retire, but the poor to tears; they ki~sed their children on the wretch had not the power. He 'had sufficient brow, and promised them that they would qo moral strength to hear, but he lacked physi• to sea no more. And all this with the smile cal force to make his escape. on their lips and the tear in their eyes, in " I thought that I loved Paul, poor anllll ! the most perfect sincerity of belief. It was but I was mistaken, He was to me u It. " delirium, whiqh expl'8111ed it8elf in words I90mpanion,~OIt .. a sisUlt-he wu, .. jC

Digitized by Google THE CALENTt1B.B. were, a weak. and tender friend-that was boy, I shell be altogether at your eemce; but aU, all! But thou, oh! thou," said she, rais• it is necessary, do you see, that the Salaman• ing herself proudly up, If thou art my 10v6I'• der should.be in her course. The captain. each look of thine, is to me both a pleasure has given me the point; for he is brave and and a torture! and then, thy caresses burn experienced, is our captain." and intoxicate--oh! thy caresses, from that Then he appeared 'to close up his instra. day in which, fearing .death, I gave myself, ment.., up to thee, all to thee ;-1have felt them al• 'I Now, Paul~I am at your service, my own ways, thy caresses! the impressions of them boy, whom I love so dearly-who are to me, have remained,to me, and remain yet. From indeed, all in all-whom I have cared {oru that day, my life has been but ODelong plea. you have cared for me. Oh, my Paul! Carll sure. For thy kieaes=-I feel them yet upon for cares--existence for exiatence !" my lips." This last blow seemed completely to over.. "Oh! oh! I shall die !" cried Paul, in a power the poor boy. Oh! he began to CUlIe voice of anguish. himself. "Who speaks of dying? Let me live " Paul, my boy, I am in pain. Iknow not with vou Szaffie, let me live. Come, Szaffie, how, but I am wounded in the head and ill come: My aunt is dead, I think, like my the arm. Come! I know Dotwho has done father, like my mother-like all the world; it to me, but it pains me. Come; my boy! who were dead, dead to me, from the day come, my Paul! .let rna feel that you are near when first I loved thee. Come! I am thine ! me, and I shall suffer then no longer. We Comevdo you See.this blue bed-chamber? it shall now soon arrive at Smyrna, and there," is mine, it is thine if you will. Theseflow. he added, speaking in a lower tone, "thete ers which you love-it is 1, who placed them I shall tell you some good news. I have - in these alabaster vases. Come, my lever, asked Mademoiselle Alice of her aunt, for for you are my lover ;-what care Ifor the you, and then you shall see. Poor boy! how world's contempt? I need no world to en• it delights me to think of your happiness ! able me to tell you-you are my life, my soul! for your happiness is my thought every day, What care I for the world? my world hi all and all day long. Do you see, Paul? if this in you! Corne, Szaffie! come-let us live, happiness shall come to pass, what joy for my and revive again, in the intoxicating rap• old age ! Embrace me, then, ungrateful boy!" tures, of which the recollection still de• .And the lieutenant leaned over his son, vours me ; for since that dav, it is no longer who actually shuddered as he felt the icy lips blood, it is pusaion-c-passlon which circulates of his father. Then raising himself erect through roy veins, and beats in my heart !" once more, he cried out: The eyes of Szuffie began to sparkle. , " Here am I, captain, at your orders!" Then Alice added, feigning to undress And he went and sat down in the I»iddle herself, ., See this black dress, which made of the raft, where he appeared to eonverae me look 80 fair! it falls! How tiresome are with some ODe. these laces! To the wind-to the wind, my " Oh, misery! hell! Death! ob, give me long brown hair, which you love 80 much! death !" cried Paul, "for I am infamcus," See how it falls upon my shoulders! Now! "Wherefore death, Paul 1" said Szaffie; oh! come, my love, come!" "you have arrived at the term of science• And the unhappy girl made a movement at despising yourself-yourself, and all oth; as if she were about to climb into a bed, miss• ers. For Paul, you know it-you have 8HIl ed her foothold, and fell into the sea. Paul it-and you may believe-tbat--" uttered a terrible cry; rose up in u sitting And he stopped short, for he began to grow posture, stretched his hands forward, but was weaker, and his ideas were becoming dim; unable to arise. but, governed by his atrocious system, be " .. "Save her, then, monster!" he exclaimed, determined to follow it rip, even to the very pointing to Alice, who reappeared for a mo. end-even to the brink of the tomb. ment at the surface of the water, with her " Well, you see," be continued, with a arms outstretched. deep and interrupted voice, "you see it--it Her last word'was '.'Szaffie." is proved-matter carries the ,dayover mind: " She dies happy," replied Szaffie,in asmo, animal instinct is the stronger-honor, re• thered voice; and a tear sparkled in his eyes. spect, love, modesty, patemity--everythiDa' " Alice! Alice !-my father, Alice!" cried holds its tongue when hunger speaks-Alice Paul, writhing. -your father !" That voice, that word "father," aroused " Oh, leave me! go your way! go you!'• Peter from his lethargy; for the unhappy way!" said Paul; "you ar~ actually Satan!" man, having been deprived by hillson of that " I wish to God I were !" said Szaffie. little nourishment, shared in the general mad• And a last, bitter, and ironical smile curled Dess; and, at this moment, fancied be was his lips. ..mg, with great care, an asrrcnemical ob• '" Oh !" said Paal, in an expiring voice, llerrau(m trying to roll himself over the edge of the "Directly, Paul I" he said; "directly, my raft-to throw hilD8elfinto the Ilea. -

Digitized by Google BOOK VII~

CHAPTER I. into a hollow cornet, she rolled into it, b, pushing at it with a branch of Bow.ring aca.. ;SAllCAGANA. cia, a great egg of a dull and rosy white hue, Toadme God in His creature. !, and then placed the leaf on the top of a Per- B&M AJl.UB-P".Iia" PfUtry. sian lilac. Then taking up her many-colored A LOVELY lake is lake Tsad, with waters basket, perfumed with a thousand flow8l'8t solanpid and 80 green, that you may see, she delivered it to the waves of the lake, and sparkling on the white sand which clothes its then followed, with anxious and eager looks. bed, rich, gayly.colored shells, beaming with that odoriferous barque. Then the slight pearly hues, and many a branch' of red and breeze which caressed the surface of the lake, lustrous coral. Sometimes the fraik, with buried itself in the rose.leaves, whistled his asure scales and fins of gold, comes to among the petals of the scarlet lilies, and hur• bite at the long yellow roots of the lotuses, ried the little vessel to the islet whereon the which fioaton the surface, and dragging down birds had alighted. with him the lovely blue garlands of the Sad and terrible shipwreck! whereof the fiow.er,disappears among the crimson branch- scattered fragments attached; themselves to es of the coral bed. Now it is a white, black. the stalks ofgrass, or to the litde shells of all headed heron, which, standing erect on his colors, which sparkled like precious stones on long scarlet legs, his neck bent to meditate the shore. Nevertheless, Leila appeared to the blow, waits immovable on the water'S be afflicted by this shipwreck; for it WIUI edge, like-some of the symbolic figures of with an expression of grief that she took up ~ Hmdu worship. Situated in the hollow ora the egg inclosed in the leaf, and pensive, basin formed by the inaccessible mountains stopped more than once before she reached of Bornou, very far from Tripoli and the Bar. the temple of Lari, bary coast, that lake appeared there, fresh, Th~ temple of Lari formedthe interior of a pure and unknown, like a drop of dew in me long pamllelograin, built of sweet-scented bottom'of a thick tuft of herbage. Surround. bamboos, bound one to the other with ropes ed by aceeias, eocoa-trees, palms, bananas, of cotton, of many gay contrasted colors, whicb reflect their thousand tints of verdure which Leila had much difficulty to distin, in its transparent waters, there is scarce aguish; for several nests of tameos, filled with spot left in the very centre wherein the wa- the luminous wonns which those birds use to terl reflect the trembling azure of the skies, decorate their retreats, were the only thin,s so dense and lofty are the trees which over- that shed any light through the midst of that shadow it. And then the sand on its shores gloomy colonnade. so equal, so white, and so dazzling-the mea- And yet, to look upon those nests, sur.· dow which surrounds it is of a turf so fresh, rounded by a sort of blueish glory, youwould 80 brightly enamelled with flowers, that it is have taken them for numerous candelabra of a place of delight for the fmuu, with their sapphire, reflecting their gleams hither and violet-coloredfeathers, the teal, the pelicans, thither, changeable and prismatic as t"heopal. and the cranes; which come to sport there, as Perhaps the melancholy aspect of ihis gloomy they·leave the water, and make the diamonds place' would have increased the sadnese of which faUfrom their damp wings glitter in Leila, had not the song of the tameos, which tbe tropical sunshine. breathed out in plaintive and harmonious But heavens! what cries, what terror ofthe murmurs, changed, by their artless and deli• aquatic birds! they rise, wheel in the air, cious melody, the sorrow of. the young Arab• and fiy hurriedly to the little islet, whereon into a sweet and meditative melancholy. they alight; that little islet covered with young Leila approached the sanctuary. At the larches, with thuyas, nnd tuberoses. Poor lower end of the temple, cutting aerop its birds! wherefore fly1 It is not in truth a very whole breadth, stretched a vast crimson cur. fearful figure, that of Leila, a pretty, youthful tain of Persian damask, flowered with ·silver. Indian girl; slight, graceful, of n rich sunny Its silky and transparent substance appeared complexion, who approached pensively,dress. to conceal the focus of some powerful light i eel in a baracan of ponceau cotton, go.thcred for reflectionsof a bright red colorgleamed In about the waist by a girdle of white silk. the first place, on the edges of the bamboo Leila held in her hand a smnll red basket" colonnades nearest to the sanctuary; then which she had filled with flowers carefully weakening and lowering its hues as it reeed. selected. Having come to a red magnolia, ed, that tint, at first so marked and vivid,wu she was preparing to rob it of its brilliant extinguished, and died away in the eolurl_ blossems, when she uttered 11. little cry of sur. obscurity which filled the preoincts of that prise, and stopped suddenly. Then fashion- sacred 8l1Ylwn. . .. ing the thick and polished leaf of a panana Very near to the'curtain, richly empupW

Digitized by Google 101 by the huee which penetrated through it, a "Far theelhall be the IIICl'8d 1isarda, with slight balustrade of painted reeds, seemed to their blue scelea, and thou shah eat them. defend the entrance of the sanctuary. That For thee shall be the dates, filled with milk elegant gallery was adorned by wonderful and honey, and thou shalt eat them. For arabesques, made of the feathers of peacocks, thee shall be the downy beds of cotton, for of eolibris, and verlas; and the thousand thee, chosen by the great scheik of ilie greert hues of these beautiful plumages were melted valleys, to fecundate the germ of the divinity one into the other, with so much skill on a by thy vital warmth. dark ground, that you would have taken " Open the sanctuary. it for black velvet, embroidered witb gold, " My head is covered by the taIlek, and my with azure, with rubies, and with emeralds. shoulders by the baracan-open the lanctna. In the centre of this magnificent trellice, ry. It is a spark of the divine fire which work, there was placed--elevated on a reed thou. art about to enkindle by thy breath, cnriously chiselled-a plate of gold of con• thou chosen one of the areat echeik of the siderable size, covered with a bed of white green valleys." eetton, 80ft as down, and perfumed with rose An invisible hand withdrew the curtain, leaves. It was upon this dazzling bed, in the which slid on a bamboo, and a Hoodof re• midst of flowers, that Leila deposited the splendent lustre deluaed the interior of the consecrated egg. temple. Barca Gana was, himlelf, almOit Then, taking a sort of two-stringea psal• dazzled by the splendor of the spec:tacle tery, sU8pended from a bamboo, she drew which oft"eraditlelf to hia e, ... from it a Boundwhich vibrated, and was re. echoed for a moment, louder than the lOng of the birds. Having replaced the instru• ment, Leila retreated from the sanctuary, CHAPTER II. Itep by step, her hands clasped upon her bo, TJIE CHOSBN.ONJ:01' TJIE QJL&.lT ICDIE ~ ~ ~m, singing a Maldivian hymn. The young QBUN VALLXYS. girl, in proportion 88 she withdrew farther tM world.-.d ...... f~ the shrine, lowered the cadences of ber So..,. voice, 110 that when she h.w.ached the door THE space concealed by the curtain fonn. 0{ the temple, the voice of Leila, as she ut• ed a semi-circle, a good deal elonogated, built tered the last words of tbe hymn, had sunk like the rest of the temple, of bamboos ; but into a 80ft and melodious murmur. painted in a rich aad glowing crimson, re. Her silence announced that the adorer of lieved by rings of gold, which formed, 81 it Lari had disappeared: the high priest of Barca were, the capitals and base. of tho.e elegant Gana came forth from one of the side-aisles columns, of the temple, in which was his dwelling; Down the midst of the dome, where the drew nigh to the curtain; saw the egg, and green reeds, which surmounted the crilDlOD prostrated himself. Barca Gana was a gre~t colonnade, were united, swu~ a large lamp priest of a deep olive hue, emaciated, with of translucent porcelain, 81 richly colored as an eye that sparkled still under long snow• an Etruscan vase, fed with aloe chips, whence white lashes,-the last of his sect, a wan• the pure white flame sbed abroad more of dering tribe, which, coming from the Persian perfume than of illumination. In the centre Gulf, had established itself among the inae, of this sanctuary there was raieed an altar of ceaaible mountains of Bomou-Barca Gana Q. square form, supported on feet of bronze, had brought with him, the superstitions of his and covered with the richest tiasU88 of Peraia Dative land; and like several sects of Egyp• or the Indies; veils of silk aad gold, cache. tiana, of Hind~s, and Persians, he adored mires of vivid hues, ,auzes embroidered God in his creatures. The crane was a sa• with silk and scarlet-all were blended and cred bird of these Pagans. confounded in the undulating draperies, Barca Gana, clad in r. '!I'f'eDbaracan whicb which supported thie 80rt of bed, made of four nilecl hie form entirely_ i I his head cover. cotton couches, the purest and whitest po,&. ei by a turban of orangf.,· .lored crape, with eible, On each side of the bed, two huge ta..J1 Aow.ra of gold; fastened on the forehead'with of peacock-feathers, refreshed the air, moved an ailrette of precious stones. by invisible hands. He drew near to the little cushion, where. And to conclude the picture, reclining OD on w. placed the sacred egg-the egg ofthe this bed, crowned with a royal diadem of crane; and after genuflexione, he began to crane-feathers adorned with diamonds, tbere aiD« in a monotonoua and regular rythm, the appeared in the midst.of golden ~lates, flash. following words, in the Maldivian tongue: ing upon his shoulders, of symbolical decora. " 'Open the sanctuary: there is a ray of the tions, glistening with precious stones, which heavenly. Bame, an atom of its light, a .parkle shone upon his breast, on his arEDS,and of i18 fire.· around his neck-s-there appeared, I say, grave tI Chosen beiag of the great echeik. of the ofcountenance, abstracted-andsorrowfulofex. Cn valle,., thou who by thy breath cloet pression-t4ere appeared the ~.shopkeeper, , acI... tbe prm, 011'8 u.. JaDctuary. the ex-fripte-captain, the e&omarq~ Qf1.o.p.

Digitized by Google 'T• *.S.&. tAM A. 1'f J) .~ a . «flOur, the ehosen minister, for the moment, dame de BUme' and the crew 7 and' their of the great seheik of the green valleys. raft 7 - Drowned, I dare say! I am better The excellent marquis had grown prodig• here-but how much better? Dh! Elizabeth, iously fat; his smooth and ruddy face an• may you be cursed twenty times! It is thy nounced a state of perfect health; and his fault; for, had it not been for thee, I should long gray beard gave him a certain druidical still be in the rue de Grammont, selling mac• and solemn aspect. But the husband of coboy at a good profit!" Elizabeth made a furious grimace. when he And the good man remained in deep aaw Barca Gana respectfully raise the cache• tbought, until the hour of his meal; after mire coverlet, and slip under it the sacred which he fell asleep, and enjoyed that tranquil egg. slumber, peculiar to the righteous, and to II Well! this is good," said the marquis ; chosen favorites of the great scheik of the U "astly good! another hatching to be made. green valleys. "rhe next morning the-mar• , These negro brutes take me, Ibelieve, for an quis was awakened with a start, by an unac• oven or a sining hen. They make a devilish customed noise. Instead of the shrill and bad use of my natural heat, to hatch these guttural sound, which was wont to re.echo 1lceursed cranes. And if they would even through the temple, he heard European voice•. leave them to me, it would be something. His heart beat, and he thought he should die , But no--as soon as once they ean stand up• of joy, when he saw the great curtain drawn . right on their feet, they take them away from back, nnd three English officersin their scarlet me. . The creatures would, at least, keep uniforms ndvance toward the great shrine, me company and become attatched to me. with an nir of great devotion, conducted by There, there! that will do--get away you Barca Gann; who seemed disposed to admit old brute!" continued the marquis, observ, them, to adore the great Mystery. ine the genuflexions of Barca Gaua, who re• Scarcely did the marquis perceive them, be• tired from the sanctuary, backward. "Come, fore he cried out, trembling with emotion:

now I shall be let alone, until ten, o'clock. " In the name of Heaven! whoever you are, I At ten they will bring me lizards stewed have pity on me." with spices, and dates preserved in honey, The three Englishmen looked at him in in•

and cream. I had an immense deal of trou• describable a.nishment; for they had been I

ble in reconciling myself to this food; but very far from suspecting the person of ID I now I like it very well. Irather take to the European to be concealed under those fantu• lizards! But, good God! good God! when, tic paraphernalia. only four months ago, I was playing my game "Are you a Frenchman, monsieur 1" said . of dominos in the coffee-houseof Saint Ma• one of them. gloire, who would have thought that one day " Yes! oh, my God! a Freachman-e-yee ! T should be reduced to hatch cranes, and eat the captain of a frigate, and here have I been, lizards in Africa! And the devil take it! why for my sins, these three-and-thirty daYL should that villain of a lieutenant have aban• For pity's sake, take me away with you! SaT' doned me in the corvette? Oh ! I will never me !" forgive him that; and, if I ever see him again " It is impossiblc, monsieur," replied the in France -- For, in a word, if he had English officer,"to carry you offby force; but not abandoned me, that wretch, Sam Bat, I am on my way to Tripoli, returning from I whom they were assee enough to let escape, voyage in the interior of Africa, undertaken taking him for a wheat-trader from Odessa, according to the orders of my lord Bathurst. coming the very evening of the shipwreck, I will see the consul of your nation, monsieur, from I know not what unlucky cruise, would and I will exert all the influence which our Jfothaveseen the corvette agroundon the bank, consul possesses over the Dey, to obtain the and on the point of swamping-would not restoration of your liberty." have Benthis men to pillage the ship-would not have found me more dead than alive in " And I shall not live years enough, .uBi. - my cabin-would not have taken me on ciently to bless you, in case you should sue• board, brought me to the coast, or sold me tb ceed," said the marquis. a madman, who wanted at first to set me rc Be of good courage,. monsieur! within makin, casks. Then, when he found I was three days we shall be at Tripoli, and ere 10lIl no hand at that, he put me to draw water; you shall have tidings of us. Farewell! for : -but I was not strong enough-at last, happily I greatly fear that a longer interview miPt for me-l sayhappily,(or after roy other modes be perilous to yo.'." 0( existence, it is a sort of happiness-this "In truth, B ca Gana began to frown long-bearded animal swapped a camel and heavily; but the interpreter of the Eneliah two guns for me, and brought me to these travellers having reassurred him, he led the mountains, rivetted me to this devil of a bed, strangers out of the temple, and wll8 comple.. covered me with tinsel; and, for thirty-three tely tranquillized when he saw them, with dayB I have' been at this bird's trade, here. their suite, descending the terraced slopes of Ob, my God! how long will it last 7 and the the high mountains. teat, where are they 7 and Alice? and Ma- These officersformed a part of that ezpedi

Digitized by Google ., ,It I 1 ty D& B I• ,dOn 01 d.iieoftry, which preceeded that of extraordinarily colored hone to draw hie cba. :the unhappy and illustrious Major Laing. riot. Unfortunately Berea Gana did not long Having. learned from their interpreters that enjoy the results of his foresight. The Eng• there existed, in the mountains of Bornou, a lish officers, on their arrival at Tripoli, laid .sect profel!l8ingareligion different from that the matter before the European consuls. The of Mahomet, they were desirous of visiting aid of the Dey was invoked, and by his or. it, and from this oame the fortuitous and for• ders an escort of Arabs went with the chan• rnnate arrival for the ex-shopkeeper. cellor of the consulate to rescue the worthy As for Barca Gana be had made a capital Formon from his gallinaceous occupation. hit in the purchase of the Marquis. Accord• The Dey went even beyond this in the de• ing to the practice of all those sects of Hin, sire to-gratify the English consul, for, with. dastan who worship birds, the emigrants of out consulting him, he caused the inhabi• Bomou never aHow birds to hatch those tants of Lari to be decimated, Barca Gana eggs from which their divinities are to issue. to he hung as an idolator, and Leila to be These birds, as they imagine, possessa purer transferred to his seraglio. essence when they owe to man that second As for the marquis, he came to Tripoli, life which proceeds from incubation. There. fresh, and in good health, mounted on one of fore it is a· high honor to be chosen to the the Dey's camels. Three days afterward a fulfillment of that office. ship sailing for G~noa, was charged with But Barca Gana thought that a white man, dispatches from the French consul to his that a man of that separate and extraordinary government, and with a report wherein the race whicRthey so seldom saw, would pro. marquis gave vent to all his indignation duce a yet better effect upon the mind of the against Peter, who had locked him up en believers, and that he would hatch the eggs board the corvette, at the moment of the quite as well. It:was in consequeace of this shipwreck. He, moreover, announced hi. .idea that he purchased the worthy Marquis, speedy retusn, 80 800n as an opportunity of precisely as a mountebank prefers to buy an setting &ail for France.should occur.

BOOK VIII.

CHAPTER I. by the recital of a fresh crime in addition to those cited previously. THE .Tt1OOES. It was the twentieth day of November. I eallfor justice and revenge. The cold and wintry air of the port was be- P. L. J4COB-TM Kixg oj RibalU. coming condensed into a thick fog, which THE dispatch of the marquis arrived just covered all the veesels which were at anchor in the point of time at Cherbourg, where the in the roads with an impenetrable veil. It merchant brig, "The Two Friends," had was eight O'clock, and a long barge, moored landed those preserved from the raft, whom to the landing of the mole, rocked and toseed she had picked up the day after they had on the heavy swell which was rolling in. been seized with calenture. The boatmen sat on the thwarts with their The court-martial, which had been for oar-blades raised, chatting one with the oth• some time convened for the trial of Peter, had er, while the coxswain, crouched in the stern. come together. The accuaation was based sheets, was cleaning with minute care the on the entry on the Salamander's log-book, Beats, which were destined, probably, to reo which was preserved on the raft, as has been ceive officersof high rank, if we may judge mentioned." by the pennant displayed at the boat's stern. Peter was accused then, of attempt to com- From this occupation he was disturbed by mit murder, prosecuted to full success, on a sailor about fiftyyears old, with-hair almoet 'the person of his commander, during the ex- entirely white, and a wooden leg-wretchedly eeution of his duty. The witnesses had been dressed, and carrying a bag which seemed to beard, and the few sailors who had escaped announce that he had just completed a long mm the wreck of the Salamander, were journey. obliged to give evidence against the lieute- " Master,'~said the old sailor, taking off a Dant; for the facts were so positive, and so straw hat covered with a thick coat of tar• clearly evident, thet they could not attempt -" master, you are the coxswain of the admi, even to palliete the enormity of the offence. ral's barge, are you not 7" The preciousdocument sent by the marquis "Ay, ay; what of that 1" came to put a finishing stroke to the matter, " It is thatl would ask a great favor of you, by co~ple'ting the. aceusation against Peter, master: would you give me a seat in the ~d gJVl~i a t're~hImpulseto the prosecution, .barge to go aboard 1"

Digitized by Google , 1111 • .l t. .l M .. N-.I 1t • "A board the admiral 1" would have been quite:e..,;- tOr itie .. mira• "'Yes! master." cle, that this chest, imperviou8 though itwu, ., You had better take yourself off, you old should have been preserved." conger; this is the barge of the general, and " But Peter Huet is a man of hODor,mon• the superior 'officers, who are going to the sieur," said the admiral; .. A gallant officer, court-martial !" led astray by the excess of the love he enter. .. My God! master!" said the old sailor, tamed for his son. It is a fault which must with an incredible expression of fear and an• be punished, but which can stillbe palliated." guish; "what court.martial ?" " Think you, that 80 violent an attack upon I' You are bothering me-that is the end of discipline as that is, can be palliated,general7" it! _The court.martial which is trying lieu. answered the judge-advocate, a little, shrill. tenant Peter Huet." voiced, wizened man, with greenish eyes; "Lieutenant Huet! alas!" said the old ee for this is not the first offence of Peter Ailor, hiding his face in his wrinkled hands. Huet, as we learn .by the dispatch of the " Do you know him then 7" said the cox. Marquis de Longetour. Discipline was odi• 8wain, affected-he knew not why. ous to him-yes! discipline-that queen, cc Do I not know him 7" which ought to reign on shipboard absolute " Well!" said the coxswain, "take' your• and despotical, was odious to Peter Huet l" self off. Here come the general and the offi. added the little man, in a harsh, declamatory cers, To your oars, you sirs! Stand up !" voice. At these orders, the crew all rose up and " Monsieur," said the general, with an air stood erect, holding their hats in one hand, of calm and cold dignity, which, neverthe, and their oars in the other. less, betrayed his Impatience-e-" Monsieur It was the general, and five superior offi, Judge Advooate, the time for prosecuting the eers. prisoner is after the assembling of the court." " Stand by!" said the admiral, pushing the And the most absolute silence reigned in old sailor, who stood motionless in his way to the boat until it was aboard the flag.ship. the boat; but, recalled to his wits by the ae, cc General, do not forget me," said old Gra• tion, the sailor resolutely caught the general tien, at the moment his superior officer waa by the skirt of his coat and held him back. about to go up the side. "Well! well! what's all this 7 what the cc No,.. my br~ve fellow. Coxswain, ·l,t devil does the fellow want 1" this man be admitted to see M. Peter Huet,' "General," said Gratien, for that was the " Yes, general." old sailor's name; "general, I have come from Brest on foot, walking upon that," he added, striking his wooden leg 'with a stick. CHAPTER II. " I have made this journey to see my lieuten, ant-my brave lieutenant-who gives me THE FATHER ANDTHE LIEUU.N.l.NT. bread-who has hindered me from starving .A fatller is the only God, wbo bas no atbeists here these five years. Oh l general! you will let below. ERNRST LEGOUVE-MS.pot1U. me go, and see him-will you not, general 1 IN one of the state-rooms of the flag-ehip, --an old sailor who loves his officer-that is dimly lighted by the opening of a dead eye, understood, is it not, general 7" which allowed a pale ray to shine into it, two "To.be.sure it is, my brave fellow," 'said persons were sitting together-Peter Huet the officer. "Come, thou shalt see thv lieu- and Paul. tenant. Coxswain, find room for this man Peter, seated before a bureau covered with forward there." ,papers, did not allow the slightest shadow of Oh! thanks l thanks! my general," said emotion to appear on his features; but Paul, .Gratien, hurrying into the barge, despite hilt in a state of terrible stupefaction, held the wooden leg, with the alacrity of a boy. The two hands of his father tightly clasped in his general took the first place on the starboard own, and fixed upon his face his great eyes, side of the boat; the other, officers placed which seemed yet larger than their wont, in themselves according to their rank, or the date consequence of his extreme emaciation-for of their commissions,and the coxswain steer. Paul could now scarce be recognized, 80 ad the boat straight for the flag-ship. much had suffering and sorrow changed him. . After a few moments' silence, OReof the " But," said the boy_;,."but, father, it is im- f~ate captains said to the general: . possible-impossible-they cannot condemn " Do you know, general, that Captain Lon. you." , tQur's dispatch .ia overwhelming against ct The crime is capital, Paul," replied Peter, Wuet 1" .. in a hollow voice. " It is true, sir; I have never heard of a "But, in Heaven's .name l explain the worse breach of discipline." , truth, father, tell them bow it occurred, tell "One thing passes my comprehension," them that it is false-c-atleast employcouncil. " said another: "it is how Huet, knowing that " r have told you, my son, that my fault ~ chest with the log-books was on board the was real in the eyes of the world. My know,,: ;art, should not have thrown it overboard. It iog how to sacrifi:ce·myself to-the mainten..

Digitized by Google THE :r A. l' .Jlt>~B-·_ ~ li n, T ,B ,.. 1 :a.. UTE N A. NT. .lO6 ance of that diaciplipe, ~h I am aeeused Peter did not COIIIprehend,but he Ceu tbat of breaking, could not alter the case." his heart was breaking. .. But, my father, it is. infamous in you, to " You perceive one thing, Alice is dead, it insist on thus destroying youraelf. I am no she not? After your death, ae the eon of a longer, then, anything in your regard." condemned man, I must quit the navy, and " Paul, I -was an officer, before I was a for whom shall I live then 1 Confe.e, then, father ;-the greater my sacrifice, the more father, confess from the bottom of your han• meritorious is it," replied the fanatical and est sailor heart, that I should be mad to think. obstinate sailor. of surviving you." " But, my God! do not you Beethat it is a " Paul !" exclaimed Peter, terrified. crime which you are committing!" cried Paul "No! hold there-picture to yourself that violently. "But do you then forget that my I-I yourson, I had been condemned to death. mother sees you, hears you, and CU1'8eS you'1 would you survive me 1" Do you forget, then, that ber last words were, " Oh! my God !" e live for our Paul?' and this, too, wbenyou "My father-in the name of my mother, J know well' that if you die, I will kill myself implore you to answer me truly-to tell me likewise !" . what is the inmost thought of your heart- "Paul !" said Peter, in tones of authority. would you survive me 1" " Yes !" added the boy, now thoroughly Peter replied nothing; but burying his head exasperated, " Yes! I will kill myself at in his hands, gave vent to his feelings in a deep groan. your very feet! for, at last I am tired of the . "I was sure of it!" replied the boy; "could sacrifices I make for you. I live on, and yet, f I have entertained a thought, which was no. one by one, my it1usions are tom rom your thought, likewise 1 Besides, I should me. I live on, yea! I live on, and Alice died not live-you can ·seehow I am s·uffering. 1 before my eyes-died, uttering the name of a should D"O mad !-better die with you. So, fa. man who did not love her, and whom yet • ther, as they judge you to-day, it will be to. she preferred to me, who loved her. Oh! morrow-well, be it to.morrow, father', there, wo is me! how I loved her! I am but six. teen years old, and the world to me already as in action, tbe father and the son will be aide by side, and will fall by the same blow. ,is a desert. I have no longer anything left to I only ask you to consider if I could wish for, me, but you-you only; and inorder to cause be ambitious of, any other fate-if it is not a weak man, a coward to be respected, you DOWthenecessary, and the only termination lie! lie basely! and ignoblybeg for a disgrace. of my life. Answer me then. my father. ful death, which you have Dot deserved." My God! how sad you look lindhow serious. II I do my duty, Paul!" But why should tbis be so 1 At least-at II Your duty! but this is infamous! your least-look at your Paul 1" said the boy, for. duty! But you too-you are another proof to cibly drawing down his father's hands, which me, that all in this world-all is selfishness; were covering his face. for know, in a word, that I can almost doubt For Peter experienced at that moment, an your love for me, my father." emotion which words cannot describe. He .. Oh! my Paul, my boy, what a thought !" understood his son's wish-he felt, that to the cried the unhappy father, bursting into tears, unhappy boy, life was indeed impossible; for " Oh! pardon, father, father, pardon me! he judged of his son's, from his own feelings; but hear me-listen to your Paul, whom you and well he knew that he should not have loved so fondly. It is to persuade you to live, hesitated for ene moment. that J speak thus !" "But tell me, my father-I know not why, II But you are killing me, unhappy boy. but my head spins round, and my heart fail. You are inflicting on me hideous tortures! me. It is one of my fits of weakness-you How, can I, if I wish to retrace my steps, how .see-that-and, and-father!" can I do so? It is a fact, which occurred be. He turned pale, his eyes closed, and he fore the eyes of the. whole crew-a fact ob- fainted in the arms of Peter. The poor boy, vious and evident, confessed by myself, exhausted by tbe privations he had undergone proved clearly. My God! my God! is it for on board the raft, by grief and disappoint• you to reproach me 1 J·ou,who JIUlsthave felt ment, was painfully weak. It was, at the how my heart beat, when I embraced you, most, eight days since he had left his bed, before we went into action." slowly recovering from a dang~rous illnees. IC You are in the rlgltt,father," replied Paul, "Cu~.a on it! he is ill ! it is the third time 'ft-itha ealmnees which aiBgularlycontraated since yesterday." the pauing enthW!iaamwhich had animated And he bore Paul to his bed, and laid him him for·a moment, and hieface wore even an down on it. expre88ion of sweet se,verity-"YQU are in At this moment Gratien entered the state. the right, after aU. Do you see 1 all tbat I room. Aid was for you; it was- to save you! Now "My good lieutenant;" he exclaimed- that yoa have proved to me, that YOI1 cannot

Digitized by Google 'I'PB SALAM.AlfD.· •• that ksa sent thee to my ald. .Help me, help CHAPTER III. me to Issist my boy!" " 11hi a fainting fit, lieutenant-some vin. THE JUDGMENT. €gar." God 1l1oneisjuR.-l'lll: KOILAM,".".•• 11. ,. Here is some." II It will be nothing, lieutenant," said Gra, THE court-martial, assembled in the great tien, cabin, was composed of the' admiral, who II Listen to me, Gratien. You are devoted presided, of three post-captains, who com- to me, I think." manded ships-of-the-Iine,of two. frigate.cap- " I have' come on foot from Brest, day and tains, and the judge-advocate, . night, to see you, lieutenant." When Peter entered, he was placed oppo• • II Well, Bee; take this--it is all the gold I site to .the president; who immediately laid, have got left. Take my Bonhence, whither. addressing himself to the judie.advo~ate : soever you will--shut him up--guard him "Be so good, monsieur, as to state the closely-with or against his will-but let me charge," not see him again! Do you understand, Gra, The little man with green eyes, r088, took tien? My sentence will be pronounced to. up a large sheet of paper, and read as fol, day, and executed to-morrow.' lows: " Yes, lieutenant ;" the sailor answered, in " Messie'ltl'B:it is in the name of discipline, a firm and unshaken voice. foully attacked by a man, who, in considera, The door of the state-room opened. "Lieu. tion of his rank and standing, ought, above tenant, the court-martial is assembled;" said all others, to respect it, that we demand the the eeptein-at-arms. infliction of the severest penalties on the ac. " I C01n~sir !" replied the lieutenant; and cused, Peter Huet, lieutenant of a ship of the the subaltern retired. royal navy; already guilty of having, on the Then drawing nizh to Paul, who was still full deck, interrupted and altered the orders fainting, the poor fath6( bent over him, and of his captain, and substituted commands, embraced him with feelings of the keenest which might have beenfatal to the vessel. agony. " But what is this offence,messieurs, when " Farewell! farewell, my Paul !-my own compared with the others? For, in this hor• boy, farewell, once for all! 1 shall see you rible affair, we fall from one deep, to deeps no more--no more, for ever! for ever! And yet lower. Mark me, messieurs! In a mo. yet ; oh! yet...... itmay be soon. Oh! bow I ment of great peril, forgetting the respect due suffer!-what agony! but now-now it is all to his commander, and to the immutable dis- 100 late-my own confessions have confirmed cipline established on board-blinded by a the accusatlon-e-there are wimesses t all is selfish affection for his son-the accused car. over! Farewell, again, my boy!-my poor, ried his forgetfulness of all duty so far, as to poor boy I-and then' to die !-to die, with. require of his captain an order to save this out having embraced me-oh! it is eruel-s- young man, who was a midshipman on board, eruel !" before any other person-directly in contra. And he went to the door, and returned; diction of all the rules of the service. But to and went, and returned again-to cover his what an excess did he not dare to carry it, boi'" face with tears and kisses. messieurs; when the brave captain, with the "Hold! I ..shall die here, Gratien--open cold inflexibility so characteristic of our navy, the door !" refused to grant that unheard.of request 1 Gratien, whose heart was almost broken, This Lieutenant Peter, messieurs, dared to obeyed; and, at the door,was seen the party draw his dirk, and to strike his captain in under arms, detailed to lead Peter to the the full view of all the crew; in one of those cabin, wherein the court.martial was as- critical moments, in which the most perfect sembled. subordination, the most passive obedience, This sight recalled the lieutenant to him- are the sole means by which the ship can be self. He buttoned up his uniform, stripped,' preserved. You shudder, messieurs--you as it was, of the epaulettes and ribbon of his shudder. now-what will then be your feel, order; wiped his eyes, and taking his hat, ings, when you learn his second crime. said to the subaltern, in a steady voice: "The corvette was again endangered, bythe " Let us march! monsieur." ignorance of one of the officers of the watch. And the regular tramp of the guard echoed In this critical instant, wherein the presence heavily through the gun-deck, Arrived at the of the captain on the deck, may be compared door of the cabin, the butts of the grounded to the pharos,which guides the good ship from muskets clanged hoarsely; and Peter, accom, afar; and directs its march, in the midst of panted by"two men, entered the precincts of shoals whitened by the surf of breakers, roll. the court. ing and bounding over them in blind fury, During this time, Gratien, taking advantage and' threatening to devour him; who would of the weakness and the fainting fit of Paul, save the reeling vessel from the tremendous contrived to convey him on shore, with the seas, by the beneficent lustre which be Usistance of the admiral's crew. spreads out over the immensity of the wild

Digitized by Google • it' .. 'R ,J 11 D-G l( It N 'P • t01 waters, like a etar, guided by the eternal hand afore8llid Peter Huet, the 1tpplicatiODM 'the of Providence-" article of the present code as cited.' . .. At the end of this long and pompous sen. "lat. For want Of 8ubordinationto hie com.. tence, which he uttered all at one breath, the manding officer. advocate turned blue, and seemed on the "2nd. For attempt to murder his com. point of choking; but after drawing 8 deep mantling officer,in the exercise of his duty. breath, he resumed: . "3rd. For having wilfully contributed to .. It was at this moment, messieurs, that, the 1088 of the corvette, by depriving it of dreading doubtless the new opposition which the orders, and of the presence of its COUi. his brave and inflexible commander would mander ;--and farther, of having exposed that have unquestionably made to his projects,the officerto die, by wilfully depriviag him of aU aforesaid Peter Huet, presumed to lock up assistance." the captain in his own cabin j thus wilfully, And the little man resumed his seat. - and of aforethought malice, depriving the " Prisoner: have you anything to 8ay in crew of the orders and talents of that superior your defence 7" asked the admiral of Peter, officer j which, as it is said, according to the with an air of much interest. account given by Peter Huet himself of his " No! monsieur the president." captain's capacity-which, I say, would pro. " Have you counsel7" bably have rescued the vessel from its peril. " No! monsieur the president." ous position on the shoals. Does it not then " Do you persist in your silence 7" appear to you, that the aforesaid Peter Huet, "Yes! monsieur the president. Only, I .bavingwilfully deprived the corvette of the would declaimin the face ofmen, and of God, guidance of its proper commander, is respon, that, if I had not been wounded, and stricken sible alone for the loss of the vessel 1 senseless, just before leaving the corvette, I "This last document has been forwarded to should not have failed to let out the captain, us by tbe Marquis of Longetour himself, who, who was locked up in his own cabin!" with a clemency peculiar to his noble charac. " But why did you lock him up 1" ter, endeavors as much as possible to extenu, ate the guilt of his lieutenant. And here, "That is a question, which I cannot an• messieurs, is the befitting place to reply to swer, monsieur the president l" the calumnies which have obtained concern. The president went out with the other ing an estimable class of officers,who were members of the court-martial. Peter re• for a short space removed from active service. mained alone, with his head buried in his. You see it here, messieurs. The Marquis of hands-quite alone! The few fire-eaters Longetour was abandoned in the midst of the who were preserved alive from the raft, after most frightful perils by his officers and crew. being heard as witnesses, had received shore. Strong in his own courage, he abided his leave. The court-martial returned, and the time! Pirates took him oB' from the wreck, president read in a voice of much emotion. and earried him into the centre of Africa; U Louis, by the grace of God, King of and, in despite of innumerable dangers, he France and Navarre, &c. took advantage of his leisure to give himself "This day, the twentieth of November, up to scientific experiments, and deep reo 1815,assembled on board the flag.ship in this - searches into natural history, as he.writes us harbor, after hearing. the mass of the Holy word himself,thus coupling the assiduity and Ghost, the naval court-martial, in full ses· perseverance of the scholar to the stem valor sion, by virtue his of majesty's ordonance--the of a naval officer. debate, relative to the Sieur Peter Huet, ex. "But let us return, messieurs, to pictures lieutenant of the royal navy, being termi- • which have less that is creditable to humani, nated-all the formalitles prescribed by the ty. Let us return to the accused, and to his decree of July twenty-four, 1806, having crimes. It is in the name, then, of offended been strictly fulfilled-the public prosecutor, discipline, messieurs, that I protest against and the accused having been heard-the the entertaining those merciful considerations cour-mtartial having deliberated, with doors which this document would appear to sug• closed, in the presence of M. the attorney of gest. My accusation, messieurs, has facts for his majesty-M. the president, having col. Na basis. The conduct of M. Huet has given lected the votes, found them to be unallimoua the worst possible example, and must not be that the process had been regularly instituted, excused in consequence of the paternal ten. and found them, likewise, unanimotU, that derness which appears to have been its mo. Peter Huet is guilty of an attempt to commit tive. I will conclude, messieurs, with a very murder, followed by execution of the same, simple phrase, but one which, I think, has on the person of his commanding officer. .verygreat expression-' Before being a fa• " Moreover, having caused the prosecutors ther, it is a seaman's duty to remember that of the prison~lrto withdraw, the court-martini he js an officer!' " unanimously condemn, on their souls and At these last words, Peter alone appeared consciences, the aforesaid Peter Huet to cap. to be moved, and even started in his chair. ital punishment-the sentence to be executed Ie I. demand, then, messieure, against the within four-and-twenty hours; and farther,

Digitized by Google T II E s A LAM A. N D 2·1\ • condemD8the accused to defray the expenses CHAPTER IV. of the prosecution to the state. What a bore!-BU8K •. " Done, executed, and concluded on board the flag.ship in the port of Cherbourg, on the A VISIT. -day, month, and year aforesaid, at a quarter TAKING advantage of Paul's fainting fit, before eleven o'clock in the morning-and Gratien had carried him to his lodging, in messieurs, the members of the council, have the place du Port, at the Chas8e.Marte. signed, with the register, the minutes of the It has already been stated, that it was the judgment, &c." afternoon preceding Peter's execution. He As he heard his sentence, Peter said not was to be shot the next. morning; and the one word-not the slightest motion ,.as de. signal for his death was to be the last stroke picted on his countenance; for a considerable of eleven by the clock of the port. time, he lived in this idea only. Only ad• The small chamber, inhabited by Paul for dressing himself to the president, he said : the moment, Willi, ordinarily let to sailors, " My general, will you be good enough to waiting to ship advantageously in some mer. grant me a conversation of ten words 7" chant vessel. Walls covered with yellow II I am at your service, monsieur. Be so paper, decorated with sprigs, hanging in tat• kind as to leave us gentlemen," said he to the ters from the panels-a few colored prints, members of the council-s-who went out of the representing scenes.in the wars of Bonaparte; cabin. a chair, a rickety table, and a flock bed• "General," said Peter, when they were such was the whole furniture of the apart, alone, " do you recollect me 1" ment. " Yes! Peter," said the officer, extending Situated on the fourth story, the solitary his hand to him. "I have seen you in action, windows of this garret, looked out upon a and well know who you are; I never knew narrow and pestilential lane; and the day a person more devoted to discipline. There stole in but dimly through the greenish panes, must be some inexplicable fatality in this af• in the middle of which were bull'a.eyes, like fair !" the bottoms of old bottles, " General, I have a son." . It was evening; about four o'clock. The "I had thought upon that; you need feel sky was wintry, and overcharged with No. nouneasiness concerninghisfutureprospects." vember fogs, .and darkness began at a very "His future prospects !-no !" said Paul, early hour to invade that miserable hovel. sadly; "he will kill himself." . Paul, seated on the edge of the bed, perceived " My friend, that idea--" , it not. Poor boy! his head bowed down, his " He will kill himself, general, I know it. bands crossed upon his knees, his legs hang• Only I would wish-I would wish-that we ing listlessly, he appeared to be in a state of should not be separated-do you understand absolute insensibility. His eyes staring' wide me?" open, dry and tearless. " Peter, my friend, I do not share your ape Four o'clock struck, and tbe bell of the are prehensions. Your 1Ion--" senal commenced its long chiming, by which II He will kill himself!" answered Peter. Paul was aroused from his mournful mu• "Only, general, think of a prayer for us two. sings. I am sure you' will. I have .never been a "Four o'clock!" said he, after counting fanatic, but I am SUrethat there is ONE aloft. every stroke. "What can my father be I have said my say, general." doing now 1 Nineteen hours to count yet. " In case the misfortune you foresee should It is very long; y'etIlove that clock, forit will occur-on the honor of a sailor-it shall be tell me the moment of my father's death. as you wish." It will sny to me-Paul, art thon ready 1 he " Thanks! general. Farewell !" said Peter, awaits thee. It will not deceive me. To. extending his hand. monow, for him and for me, the last stroke of " Comehither," replied the admiral,opening eleven o'clock will be the signal of great joy; his arms to him-" hither, my gallant friend. for at that hour we shall be reunited, never It is not the first time. Was it not I who more to be severed. But what can I do till dubbed you as knight of the legion 7" then7 Oh! weary-I am 80 weary! I And the two seamen fell, each into the hope only, that this night or to-morrow, one arms of the other. of my fainting fits do not seize me. Oh! no ! " Farewell! farewell, general-s-end think Heaven is too just to deny me that last happi• of U8 I" said Peter, as the admiral left him. ness," he added bitterly. He returned to his state.room, but he found "Who would have .thought of this, how. not his son there. ever, six months ago? Oh! mine has been He ant down sadly in the chair, whereon but a very fatal life ! Oh! what can I have his child had been sitting, and passed the done to merit 80 much misery 7 And I night in meditation. thought, too, that Ihad so long a future-eo He was to be shot in a pontoon, at eleven smiling and 80 beautiful a future outspread o'clock the next morning, by a platoon of before me! I haa a father who cherished .nd'armes. me ;-1was brave; I was young; my pro(ee

Digitized by Google A PItOPOSAL. lOSt lion delighted me; and I loved-yes, I loved " Well, PaW1" an angel !" Then, after a moment's silence: " Well, moneieur I' when you entered the " But this is, indeed, very frightful! Iknow room, Ifancied that I diacovered in myeeU· not whether pain, or sorrow, or sickness have a sentiment of hatred toward you. I wa. consumed all, to the very strings of my heart! mistakcn., Oh! how you ought to despise but I feel it no longer beat! I think of me, to think.me infamousP' said the boy, with Alice! of my father,·who will be shot to.mor, a bitter laugh j "for J see you here. beaide row! of myself-who shall kill myself! I me,and I have neither the power, nor strength, think of all this, and think of it without one nor even the desire to kill you. Do you emotion. My life, past, present and future, is comprehend tbis 1" like a book whioh I ,haveread, and which has " Yes, Paul !, it is the necesaary eonse• left me recollections,but DO impressions. Ifeel quenee of what has gone before. After nothing but weariness-oh ! howdull a weari- great joys, or great sufferings, come empti• ness! and the desire of to-morrow. No! no!" ness of heart-moral death! Thus tbat may he continued, after a longer silence; "no! I be applied to the soul, which gamblers 88y may well dreamof all that has been dear tome with regard to play. There are two pleas• -of all my hopes deceived. I may well probe, urea in play; first the pleasure of winning• with a heavy touch, the wounds formerly so after tbat of winning, the pleasure of losing• keen and agoni:ting~may wellcallup dle most for a hundred times better is it to lose than cruel recollection; still, nothing, nothing-I not to play at all. Again, a, hundred times feel nothing-neither haste, nor despair, nor better is it to suffer, than to be stunned 88 you regret. My soul is dead to every sensation I now are, Paul." Doubtless it is the effect of extreme suffering; "That is a great truth, Szaffie-for if I perchance of illness, likewise, But it is singu, suffered, I could hate you-and if I could lsr ; perhapsit mayarise, also,from 'he certain. hate you, I would kill you; but I 'cannot !" tythat Ishall die to-morrow. But, at all events, "Listen to me-it is now nearly eight it is certain that I am aweary-still aweary." years since, that like you, Paul, I was on At-this moment a slight rustling sound was the eve of killing myself; like yours, my heart heard at the door. .was dead and cold-the only difference is, " Ah! it is that good old Gratien on his that the weariness of bliss had brought me post, who would binder me from going out j to the verge, whither the weariness ofsorrow as if I so much as thought of it." has condueted you-to the verge, I mean, of The door opened, and some one entered suicide. It matters not, the result WIl8 the in the darknees ; for the night had now set in same. Now, I come to propose to you to em. completely. ploy the same means which saved me; for " Is it thou, Gratien 1" asked the boy. you interest me;" " No, Paul," replied a well.known voice, " What do you mean to say 1" which made the lieutenant's son shudder. "YO'Qf father once dead, supposing that " Szaffie!" exclaimed Paul, in astonish. you could be aroused from the sort of torpor ment. which now seems to weigh you down; what, think you, would be the first sensation to which your heart would be awakened 1" CHAPTER V. Paul reflected for a moment, and replied; A PROPOSAL. " Hatred of mankind in general, and the de. sire of avenging myself on you in particular." Oh! eternal perdifton! oh! "Hatred of mankind.is all very well-but One moment of hatred !-BERTRA.M. as to the desire of avenging yourself on me, As he heard the voice of that man recalling that is both folly and injustice j for, after all, to bis mind all his most cutting sorrows, and boy, is it I who have caused events? Is it I, coming, 88 it were, again to torment him, in who said to your father, devotee of an image his own odious person; Paul felt a slight inary discipline, 'Sacrifice to your idol, your emotion stirring his withered heart. T~e honor, your ambition, your son and your life7' poor wretch thought. that hatred, at least, Is it I, who said to Alice, 'Despise and tor, would now penetrate his soul, But no! no! ture the artlesa and candid heart of Paul, and all the springs of that soul were broken for love me l' No; I said to her, 'There is a ever. This p~ing emotion waa but surprise; heart, pure and chaste as your own j wiu that scarce did it last one moment, before Paul heart, comprehend it, love it! for my scul, fell back into his previous insensibility. young girl, is dried up and empty, void and Gratien made his appearance with a lamp. melancholy.' Well! despite all this-ay, on " Leave us," said Paul; and the old man aceoant of all this, Paul, she came to me, and withdrew. Szaffie. emaciated by the priva, fled from you.* It was in accordance with tions which he, also, had undergone, was her woman's nature. On account of that, somewhat paler than usual; but there was the same expression of tranquillity, the same * It IDUlItbe rememberedthat the atrocioul doctrines: eol~blooded look, the same air of haughty put into the mouth of Sznffie, are not intended to :be ::da~ot!~t as the d8lperate villainies or a dia~ and;~onteIn.PtuOU8 irony.

Digitized by Google ilO '!'HE ·S'ALA:M.tMD.R. Alice, brourht up in a convent,. posse88ing Come, let us leave this town-follow· me to aU"virtues,all Dobleconvictions, preferred me Pari&-eome--come !" to you-and it was on account of her virtues " No! no! I must die-s-die here with my milt she preferred me. A corrupt woman father!" " would norhave hesitated one moment. She " But, wretched boy, whom will your death would have chosen you, boy. You speak of annoy? Why, it is but the action of a foolto killing me. Paul, was it I, or hunger, that avenge humanity upon himself !'7 changed subordination into rebellion, love II Do you see, Szaffie? I have listened to into hatred, modesty into amorous madnessl you with attention-with attention I have Did I not share your privations-did not 1? spied out to see if any of your words should Like you, did not Isport with my life ? My awaken in me any sensation, hatred, or grief, sole advantage over you, was, that I nw all or despair. My heart has remained dumb• in cold blood;-Dothing astonishes me, for I dumb!" u"_ct everything." " Thou art sure ~" II In a word, what do you want with me 1" "I am sure." said the boy, carelessly. "Poor Paul, then I pity thee.; for I had II Listen, Paul: you are sixteen years old; counted on thee-but I ought to have fore. you are handsome, brave. Yon have the seen this. It must be a very strong and puis• most terrible causes that ever fatality heaped sant soul to resist the flows of eomplete hap• on the head of mortal man, for detesting the piness, or complete misery. But· thy soul is world. Your longing for vengeance ought to weak and feeble. Yet once more think-e-re, be keen and implacable. For the world has Hect-question thy heart, is there notbing• robbed you of your father and your mistress, nothing 1" of your illusions and your future. Come then, " Nothing," replied Paul, alter a moment's with me, Paul-I am rich, my experience thought; "nothing. I can conceive no p08si. will serve you; we two will unite in a broth. ble cause for living when the world is empty," erhood of hatred. Corne, Paul, thou art the " But vengeance! weak one, vengeance! ' only human being in whom I can take an in. " But, since even at the sight of you, I feel terest, because thou only canst serve my pro. not the desire of it, it must be that my heart jects and render them more complete. Come, is dead-quite dead!" a woman has deceived thee ! well; so young, " Farewell, then, Paul, farewell." so handsome, 80 undeceived, so blighted, now And for the first time, perhaps, a, tear of it is thy turn to have woman at thy feet. Now, pity or regret moistened the eyes of Sz~e. Paul, now thou shalt make them shed tears of And it is true, that there was something very agony. Now thon shalt make them feeltheir terrible in looking on that boy ;--SO young, 80 hearts breaking ! Think of it well-all the beautifuk so pale; blighted and dying-ay, woes thou hast felt, in thy tum shalt thou in. I might say, dead already-for the mere death flict on humanity! Because thy heart has of the body seemed but a trifling thing, when been blighted, all women muat endure the you looked upon that poor boy, all alone, in reaction of thy despair !.;._oinnocentorguilty, that dilapidated chamber, without a friend what matters it 1 Thou hast wept tears without a kinsman, isolated in the mldst of of blood; let them weep tears of blood, the world; haVingapproached his lips only to also ! Come, Paul, come; and this is noth, the cup of life, in order to taste all its bitter. ing yet that I have told you; for if love shall ness ;: and now passing away to extinction, give you the means of crushing one sex, am. without a murmu~or a regret-without even bition shall give you power of vengeance on the power of shedding a single tear. the other! -Come, Paul; I can open to thee "Once more, farewell," said Szaffie, and a broad and vast cereer in places and in hon• with the words, he disappeared. ers, and in these we shall find another puis• " Farewell," said Paul, and then looking at sant means of action on humanity-we shall his watch, he added: "At least one hour has overlook men from an awful elevation-thy passed away unnoticed." spirit willgrow mighty, boy-and who knows? And the cracking of the pOBtilliol'ls'whips we may arrive at such a pitch, as to reckon followed, and the windows of the paltry inn our enjoyments no longer by the agonies of rang to the loud and dissonant din of a car. men, but of nations! Dost thou understand, riage, driven furiously away. Paull-of nations! To do vengeance on 8 scale so mighty, that the cry of our scourge should ring to the farthest posterity! Come, CHAPTER VI. Paul, and if the race appear to thee too bound. ed-well; then exist at Rome, yet a more GR'&''l'IEN. powerful lever. And thou art not married, nor am I. Come, then, I teUthee; and more• ~~ ~~ln~' alas ! over, in thee, vengeance itself is honorable, C~gluael. . because thou art avenging a father, and a SCBlLLICR..-Tlu Robkr .. mistress. Think, then, Paul-all humanity Tn next morningat eighto'clock,Paul call~ -how vast a hecatomb to their manes!- ed Graden. The sailor entered hit chaanlMr.

Digitized by Google .1.&'1'11:",. III ",Lis_ to me,'lIlYold Gra&ien,"_d Paul, which will Dever end-oh. fee, a ad 1IieC! as he opened a drawer in a table. " Here a grief of a whole lifetime! my poor Muter are, J believe, fivethoasaod and one hundred Paul." france. It is all the money that my father " You see clearly that I am nebt, my good and I have got left. I will give it to you." old Gratieh; 80 buy me a pair of pislOla,and "Thanks, Monsieur Paul." load them yourself with two balla each: Because you can readily underatand, that, yourself-do you understand 1" when one is dead, he will have no need for "Be satiefied, MODilieurPaul," said Gra. money." tien, wiping away a tear. "Yes! Monsieur PauL" "Go, then, and be back here before half " My father is to be 8hot at eleven O'clock past ten. Now, then, I depend on you, G~ to.cIay!" tien--a sailor's honor!" " Yes" Monsieur Paul." "A sailor's houor! Mon8ieur Paul," Pi" " Then Ishan kill m)"l8lfat elenn o'olock. Gratien, after a moment'a heaitatioll-4l1A h. But you do not answer me. Idepend on you went out. to prClvideme with arms." Nine o'clock struck! ' " Mowlieur Paul !" Half past nine! " Do you prefer that I should hang myaelf Ten! with my cravat 7 or duh my brains out on At a quarter past ten, Paul heard the Bound the pavement !" of several perscas at his door. FeariIli lome "No, Monsieur Paul." breach of trust on the part of Gratien, he " Well, then, you understand, that if you frowned heavily; but he came in with a binder me to-day, or to-morrow, after to-mor• brace of pistols under his jacket-appearini, row I can always find both the place and the however, bashful and confused. occuion-therefore--" "Monsieur Paul," said he, turning the "Yes, Monsieur Paul." weapons from side to side, with hie eyee "In a word, Gratien, you have known me, down.cast, you told me to tell no one." from my cradle, have you not 1" "Certainly, I did! WeU! what have you "/Yes, Monsieur Paul i" and the poor man's done?" heart began to swell. "Yes, MonsieW'Paul, " MonsieRr Paul, I met Boatswain La Joie it was I who taught you to walk, who rocked and Muster Bouquin in the street-two old you to sleep, when you were a babe, and who sailors of the raft-who told me they should aet you to ride on my wooden leg, when you like to see you before." pew older." "Let them come in, Gratien." " Well, then, my good old Gratien, you La Joie and Bouquin entered, timidly. loved me then, did you not 1" "Well! myoid fire-eaters," said Paul, II Oh! yes, Monsieur Paul." "you havecome tobidme farewell,have you1" " Well, then, refuse me not "Y'batIask you. "Oh! Monsieur Paul," replied La Juie, Would you be satisfied if one refUBedthelike we do not forget, do you see, those whom Wit to you 1 In a word, if, instead of one leg, love dearly. It was I, Monllieur Paul, who both yours had been carried oft"-if you had taught you to make your first reef.knot. It beon sure to die, would you have been well was I who caught you in my arms when you pleased if your meaamate had refused to shoot were wounded; and you remembered it, for you through the head to prevent your suft"er- you never treated old La J oie-as so many iog any farther 'P' , young officers do-as if he were a brute. , "Oh! no, Monsieur Paul, that is a sacred And then it is sad, too, Monsieur Paul, to duty, which sailors mutually owe to' one think that, after you and the lieutenant, there another. When a friend can be spared any will be none o( us old fire-eaters of the Sala• .wrering, it must be done-be who would not mander but I and Bouquin; for Gratien hal do it, is a wretch and a coward." " told me all, Monsieur Paul. It is noble of " Well, Gratien, I am your friend, too• you-this, which you are about to do. There I am; and will you refuse to the son of your are none but women and curates who will lieutenant-to the boy whom you cradled.in SHy that you have done wrongly; only, Mon• your arms-that which you would not refuse sieur Paul, I and Bouquin should wish very to your messmate 1 and you refue me this, much-but I do not dare to Rpcak--" 'when you know that my father is going to be "Ask, myoid La Joie!" 'thot. In a word, when he ill once dead, you ," Well, Monsieur Paul, we should wish know that I will not survive. him-that I very much to have something of youra-a sball suffer too, bitterly-and you refuse me.! uniform button-the least thing-that would You had rather see me die of slow agony, be a relic for us two-Bouquin and me-eo than by a shot, as every soldier ought to die. pardon us-excuse us, Monsieur Paul." ])0 you refuse me 1 Speak, my gGOd, myoId " I promise you, La Joie." friend Gratien 1" Half past ten O'clock,struck. K Well, see! No, Monaieur Paul, since "Now then, farewell, my friends I" laid you wisb it; for, iadeed, I believe when Paul, "you muat leave me. It" fOT el~e1J ,our father hal died~' that will be a grie( o'clock-not a word to ap.ybody."

Digitized by Google 112 THE • .AL.AMAMDEIl.

"Reckon on us, Monsieur Paul." J The thouand mouldinp .. d ...u.qua, of .. Come, embrace me !" the doors, the ceilings and the pannell!,.ban And Bouquin and La Joie embraced Paul all been newly gilded, and stand Ollt brilliant. with many tears. ly from the ground work of the white waiu• " Farewell, myoId Gratien !fare\vell ! and coting. . Large windows veiled by vut sad· many thanks to you !" heavy curtains, look out upon a garden. " My poor Monsieur Paul!" said the 118t, Other doors, parallel to these window., open and all the three went slowly down the Btair• into a delicious hot-hcuse, all perfumed and case. embalmed with winter flowers. Thick and ,Paul began to write as follows, 18 soon as soft carpets are spread throughout the bot• the clock struck three quarters after ten : houee; and lofty aviaries, filled with Be1t• gal~, give a fresh charm to the lovely aDd .. I kill myself, because I cannot survive vigoro~ vegetation o( that aweet place. the death of my father. ,Igive aod bequeath It is aight. Splendid cudelabru p_cI in to James Gratien, an invalid sailor, all the the comers of that 'YMt drawing·room, reflect money which is contained in this drawer. I themselves in maoy a mirror, and cut a rew request that my uniform dirk, which will be faint beams into the hot-house, which is illu• found in my father's state-room, in the flag. minated only by that deliciolll lustre. !!hip,may be given to Boatswain La Joie; Several ramily portraits announced that uu. and my aguillctte, which will be found in the hotel is inhabited by persons of ancient and sam, place, to Master-gunner Bouquin, 8S glorious origin. tokens of friendship and gratitude to these two gallant Bailors. I desire to be buried Six o'clock strikes, a footman opens the with my father." two leaves of the drawing.room dobr-and .. Done the 218t of November, at ten min. enter-the Duche« de Saint•.Arc-flfty year• utes before eleven o'clock in the morning, old, a noble figure, an intellectual and ten minute. before my father will be shot." kind expression; dreBBedwith extreme tast« PAUL lIt1ET. and Bimplicity. The Countelld'Hermilly• nineteen years old-an exquisite face, tAt At the first stroke of eleven o'clock, Paul largest eyes in the world-fat, and hand. cocked bis pistols. His last words were: wonderfully small and ariBtoCf'atic-pale, "Pardon me! oh, my God! if it be a with brOUJnhair, and an exceedi1l61, white crime. Wait for me, father! I follow you l• .kin-e:.cquuitely dres.ecl---married within tI my mother !-Alice !" year to the Count d'Hermillv. At the la.t stroke of eleven O'clock, Peter They enter arm in arm, and ,0 and Hat Huet fell, shot dead, in the pontoou. thentMlfJe.on one of the ottOtfttJ,.,.,",lieh are At the Iast stroke of eleven o'clock, Paul p14cetlon eitm Bideof the large chimney. ' Huet fell, shot dead, on the floor ofthe little 'l'BE Dt1CDSS. room in the use of the challe marte. pod The admir~ did not forget the promise How of ),ou, my dear Marie. to have come 80 early, and to have diverted me which be had made to his old companion in arms. Peter and his 80n were not divided. during all the ennui of dreeain&'. by the re• lation of your little follies, The admiral, Gratien, Bouquin, and La Joie, Weretbe only persons who attended tbe TD OOt1lfTISS. funeral of the father and the son. That Good heanna! do you call .thoee folli.. ? evening, the three sailors, who had been I am sorry, Monsieur d' Hermilly is not here, drowning their grief in a tavern, were a little who i.alwaye reproaching me with my leri. drunk, and began to talk of burning the port oueneBB. of Cherbourg, to avenge Peter and his child; THE Dt1CBESS. "hutthe project fortunately lacked execution. And he is right, Marie. It is not 8uitabJ,t -Gratieu enjoyed a comfortable independ, to your age. ence to the end of his days. La Joie feUin• TJIB COt1ln'l88. to the sea and wos drowned, in a whirlwind. Nor, I, think, does.his extreme livetmt. Hit s~ipmate Bouquin died of the yellow agree well with his yevs. ru Dt10DlS. fOTe' at Martinique. The fact ii, that, at thirty, he hu the a,b. IUrdity to imagine himeelf young-the fault of being deliahtful, and 0{ coDlidering hiaa• CHAPTER VII. self the happiest of men. I repeat it to yoe, A Dll.t.WING BOOM. Marie, you are a little fool; anel,if he went Tktleme occur. in tlu /wtel de Saint-Arc, .pNteDt, I would 8Cold you beforehim. Would fI month a~ter the death of Paul and hu you prefer that he should. rnemble M. de 'J' 8enieux-elwaya mournful,a_nt, and .. father a pe.Bim~t 18 to be eternally wilhina for the IT was one of those ancient and superb end of the world. drawing rooms,ofthe faubourgSaint Germain, TO 00U1'ID8I. which date from the Inenteeath ceatury. Do you e:apeethim here. thia eveDiJlg.J~

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good M. de Semeu, tlaat old friend of my THE DUCHESS. mother's? . A maA of thirty, at the Yery utmost; 0{ the 'lIB DlKlHBI8. best possible standing, of most distinguished Yes: and not rudy him. I expect a ileat beauty, of most original and extragrdinary in• lion-oh! a great lion, indeed; jUit now are tellect-painting like an angel, and lL WOD- rived in Parie. derful musician. • 'fHE OOUNTBS&-( cwwlUl,.) THE COUNTESS. Ab! Heavens! Who can it be 1 Why, he is in reality a hero of romane •. THE -DUCRE8S. THE DUCHESS. The Marquis de Loagetour; a relation of And to all this you must add an historice.1• M. de Saint Arc; a sailor, a real Jean-Bart, name, vast wealth, carriages of the rarelt His story is quite a romance. taste, the finest horses in Paris, and then you THE COUNT~8. will have an idea of M. de Szaffi.e. Tell me this story, then Tn COUNTESS. THB DUCHESS. Ah ! I have heard a great deal 0{ him• My dear child, it would be much too long; and do you receive him 1" only, they tell me, that carried oft"by pirates, and taken into the interior of Africa, he has THE DUCHEss-(amiling.) seen the most curious things in the world, I know tbat envious and calumniating and has made a great many discoveries. in people talk of an abduction, accompanied by natural history; for the Academy of Science awful circumstances; nccuse him of havin, wishes to have him as a correspondent. But killed the poor Baronness of Pavy, by break. the finest feature of the whole, is, that he Ing her heart; and a hundred other simUar was made a prisoner in consequence of his crimes. not choosing to quit his ship, even when it THE COUNTESS. was wrecked, and beyond all hope of being And all this is false 1 do you beliove 10, saved. His crew deserted him-bot he had madam? the courage to insist on staying there alone. THE DUCHESS. These sailors have a strange attachment to The proof, that I consider the authority on their ships, which these rumors rest as very doubtful and THE COUNTESS. impure, is, my dear Marie, that M. de SuBie Here is, indeed, faith and constancy, such is a welcome visitor in my dawing-room, as we rarely hope to see. Is he married 1 [Enter, .. wit de cimaiwe, announei1I6 THE DUCHESS. Monsieur de Servi~z.] Yes, indeed! With all this he is a simple, kind, and mild old' man; but one of those [Enter, the Chevalier de Senneuz; he ku,. characters of perfect and indomitable cour• es the hand of the Duchess of St. Arc, and bow. lOID to the Countes«d'Hermilly.] ~e, which never seem to be aroused, except by the imminence of peril. One of those TBE DUCHESS. . characters, in short, which become great ill How very amiable of you to come so ear)y~ proportion to the obstacles which oppose Monsieur de Servieux! You are going to them. make U8 very sad, I suppose i-to fill us with THE COUNTESS. terror for the Future-c-are you not 1 Here iJ I shall be very curious to see your sailor. one of your devotees, wonderfully inclined to THE DUCHESS. believe you. . Lam, indeed, very much attached to him. M. DE SEl1VIKt1X, (nnili"6.) • Moreover, Ishan have to-day the pleasure of It is a war to the knife, Madame 1&Duch, informing him that tbey are going, I hope, to esse But you must admit, .that melancholy promote him to a bigher rank, as & recom• in an old man is sometimes & matter of can. pense for his noble conduct. He has, more, science, or of self-denial. However, in tho over, been strongly supported by the passen• tn:e spirit of contradiction, I will be nry ger whom he Wascarrying to Smyrna, as he gay this evening. It is, however, iess the dt,· informs me; and who has given him the sire of being contradictory, that will work highest testimonials. He, by the way, is an• this change in my spirits, than the certainty other romance in himself-this. passenger. I feel of being able to render myeelf agre.a. THE COUNTESS. ble to you, by the good news of which I... What! two of them 1 it must be a close the bearer; .race between them. THE Dl7CHE8S. THE DUCHESS. What are you going to tell'me 1 M. de Longetour presented his passenger M. DE SERVIEUX. 10 me, and I must confess, Marie, he is one Oh! I have nothing to tell you of new bene• of the most extraordinary men I have ever fits to.be performed; or of visits to be paid in met with. . the early morning, of wbich the poor only THE COUNTESS. know the secret; or of the gratitude of the Another old sailor, very rough, veryugly, widows of officerswho fell at Waterloo, aided With great .cars aU" over his (ace? .. 10 generously by your bounty; or ~

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TIlE DUCIlE8S-(impatitnUy.) TBB Dt1CIII:IL , ,, Monsieur de Servieux! What a disappointment; it is vexatioUl. M. DE SERVIEUX. But, after all, I shall see again this excellent . Ah! here it ill, madam; simply a note in Marquis de Longetour; but I !Shall never see the handwriting of tae minister--set down in such allother letter}. so all is for tho beftt. haste.• I saw him in the chamber, and he (She bur8t. intI)a violent fit of laughter.} . In handed these words to me written in pencil. fact, sailors are very strange people. . But, THE DUCHEss-(reading.) they say, that all men of very superior courage "The promotion of M., the Marquis of and high intellect are governed thus by their Longetour, to the rank of post-captain, and wives. Read this .letter aloud, Monsieur de his nomination ItS a commander of the legion Servienx, and I defy you to make us sad af• of honor, were signed to.day,' That is per. terward; and it will enliven you too, Marie, feet! a thousand thanks, my dear Monsieur for you seem to me, I cannot tell why, some. de Servieux. what dull, these last few minutes. lII. DE SERVIEUX. TllE COUNTESS. No thanks at all, madam.for it is a mere Oh! 'not at all. act of justice. This noble officerstruggled M. DE SERVIEux-(reading.) with all his might against danger, and when " My dear kinswoman I 8S it is allowable he found that it could not be overcome, with to speak frankly among friends and relatives, an admirable fanaticism, he refused to quit I confess to yon that I cannot have the plea. the ship, which the king had intrusted to his sure of dining with you to-day; not on ac, charge. Then he remained and atoned for count of any want of willingness on my part, this deed of heroical, devotion, by a frightful but on that of mydevilof an Elizabeth, ~y~\ir. captivity in the deserts of Africa, where he sed wife, whom you know. I have beiged, atill occupied himself in serving the cause of threatened, but can effect nothirig ; and I'can. seience, You will confess to me, madam, cannot guess on what whim she is acting; but that this is indeed admirable. This is what gain her consent I cannot. Am.I,as I spoke I have learned, and on excellent authority• of going to your house in spite of her-for on nor is this all; for this gallant seaman had a board my ship it was quite a different thing-' most dangerous character for his lieutenant, well, madam, and my dear kinswoman, she who endeavored to murder him in the face of fastened me up ; double-looked, I assure you; his whole crew--disgusted, doubtless, at a and it is from my prison that I wrote this to degree of firmnessand gallantry which he did you, which I have thrown out of a window to not expect to find in our loyal captain. It a messenger, desiring him to carry it forthwith appeared, moreover, on his trial, that it was to the hotel de St. Arc. Be not displeased this monster who caused the loss of the ves• with me, then, my dear kinswoman; for I sel, which M. de Longetour had once saved should be in despair were you to imagine me already. Happily justice has been done, and ungrateful, after all the kindness which you our navy no longer contains an officer of have heaped upon me, since my return from whose conduct she may not be justly proud. Tripoli. I was very sure that I had written THE DUCHESS. to you from Toulon, on my first arrival in And yet, the Marquis of Longetour was an France, eight days before Icame up to Paris. emigrant; and an emigrant can, of necessity, I have just found my letter in the writing-desk be nothing but a coward and a fool! Really, of Elizabeth, who must have forgotten it. Do it is.too bad to be so little appreciated; and not be displeased with me, for this, my dear to gain nothing but slander, for the little good kinswoman, and pity a prisoner. If I had one attempts to do. been on board my ship it would not have hap. •• DE SEllVIltUX.' pened. Above all, for God's sake, do not let They take us all for old women; and our Elizabeth know anything about it. I learn. cauae is judged by the tribunal of last resort, ed, on arriving here, that my lieutenant has 88 soon as they have mentioned dungeoas and been shot. It is a great calamity, for be was Neonl' wings! In truth, these jests tell as a very gallant man; I would have given all deep a tale as the proscriptions of '93. The that Ihave in the world to save him. There• quarrel is not ended, Madame la Duchess. fore, madam, aU the interest which I entreat• France hatea us. For creeds that have been ed you to make, in his behalf,is useless; and cut down, are not built up, as you build up I am in despair-in despair! a throne. " I have the honor to be, &c. &c." TD DUCHESS. [M. de Sereieu» returns the letter t. tM Come, come! you are a melancholy.dream• duckt •••] er. The Casette of the restoration. THE DUCHESS. [Enter, a valet de ckambre, wlw hand. a le,• Excellent man! he still pities his lieu. ter to tke duche88.] tenant! THE DUCHEss-(breaking the 8eal.) lll. nE SERVIEUX. With your permission, Monsieur de Ser. It ia a very singular thing, though woll vieux. proved, that theee characters of iron-thue [M. de &rvuux benD8,anaconvlir8e8witktie men of indomitable spirit in the midat of Countu. a'Bmnill,.],

Digitized by Google ,. •• DJlAWr:NQ·)tf)ON. 116 daaa.r-are wonderfully weak when they Carry thia. oaee return into the bosom of domestic life. !If. DE SEBVIIUX. THEDlJCBESS-(mailin,.) Poor fellow! how I pity him! If Eltza. It is the old story of Hercules at the feet beth should intercept the correspondence, he of Omphale, Monsieur tie Servieux; but I will be put into solitary confinement, must answer this poor.marquie. THE DUCHESS. (Ri1l6ing tie beUand apeairing to a jootrruJn.) On bread and water, peraaps ! and tocked Bring me the writing. things. up out of sight of all-who knows? (Writing, and reading aloud at tAe BarM ( Valet de chambre, announcing Monneur Ie time.) " My dear kinsman, I take a very lively (T~ke of Saint Arc kUlBeBthe hand of the interest in your captivity; to soften the pri, counte.. ; tM conversation is resumed and vations of which I inclose a Dote from the camp-d on with spirit,and UIonly interrupt• minister. After all, what coneoles me a lit. ed by th

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