The old man bowed down his head with a pensive air, and remained silent for some time, seemingly absorbed by recollections of the past.
"Can it be so?" at length ne said, raising his head, "can it be twenty-five years ago. Good heaven! it appears to me only yesterday that you were born in this house, that you first saw the light in that very room:" and the old man raised his head, and pointed to a door which led into another room.
Paul, in his turn, appeared to reflect, and then, looking around him, to strengthen by the aid of objects which presented themselves to his view, the recollections which crowded on his memory.
"In this cottage, in that room," he repeated, "and I lived here till I was five years old, did I not?"
"Yes," murmured the old man, as if fearful to disturb the feelings which were taking possession of the young man"s mind.
"Well," continued Paul, leaning his head on both his hands, as if to concentrate his thoughts, "allow me for one moment to look back, in my turn, to the past, for I am recollecting a room which I had thought I had seen in a dream--it may be that one. Listen to me! Oh! how strange it is--remembrances now rush upon me."
"Speak, my child, speak!" said the old man.
"It it be that room, there ought to be on the right, as you go in, at the end of the room, a bed with green hangings."
"Yes."
"A crucifix at the head of the bed."
"Yes."
"A closet opposite, in which were books, among the rest a large Bible, with numerous engravings."
"There it is," said the old man, pointing to the sacred book which was lying open on a desk for prayer.
"Oh! it is that--it is that," cried Paul, pressing his lips against the leaves.
"Oh! good and pious heart," cried the old man, "I thank thee, oh! my G.o.d--I thank thee."
"Then," said Paul, rising, "in that room there is a window, from which you can discern the sea, and on the sea, three islands?"
"Yes, Houat, Hoedic, and Belle-Ileen-mer.
"Then, it is really so," said Paul, rushing towards the room, and then perceiving that the old man was about to follow him, he said: "No, no! I must be alone--let me enter it alone--I feel that I must be alone," and he went into the room, closing the door after him.
He then paused a moment, impressed with that holy respect which accompanies the remembrance of our infancy. The room was as he had described it, for the religious devotedness of the old servant had preserved it from any change. Paul, feeling doubtless that the eye of a stranger would have interrupted the expression of the feelings he experienced, and now certain of being alone, abandoned himself to them He slowly advanced, and with clasped hands, towards the ivory crucifix; and falling on his knees, which formerly he had the habit of doing, morning and evening, he endeavoured to remember one of those simple prayers, in which a child, still on the threshold of this life, prays to G.o.d for those who have opened its gates to him. "What events had succeeded each other in the lapse of time which had pa.s.sed between these genuflexions! Paul remained for a considerable time absorbed in thought, and then slowly arose, and went to the window. The night was beautiful and calm, the moon was shining in the heavens, and tipped the ocean waves with silver. The three islands appeared on the horizon, like blue vapor floating on the ocean. He remembered how often in his infancy he had leaned against that window, gazing upon that same scene, following with his eyes some bark, with its snowy sails, which glided silently over the sea, like the wing of a night bird. Then his heart swelled with sweet and tender recollection; his head fell upon his chest, and silent tears ran down his cheeks. At that moment he felt that some one pressed his hands--it was the old man--he wished to conceal his emotions; but instantly repenting this vain feeling, he turned toward Achard, and frankly let him see his face, down which the tears were streaming.
"You weep, my child," said the old man.
"Yes, I weep," replied Paul; "and why should I conceal it? Yea, look at me. And yet I have, during my life, witnessed dreadful scenes. I have seen the tempest bear my vessel to the summit of a mountain wave, and then sink her into an abyss, from which I thought she would never rise again; and I felt that she weighed no more upon the wings of the storm than does a dried leaf on the evening breeze. I have seen men fall around me like the ripe ears of corn before the sickle of the reaper.
I have heard the cries of distress, and the dying groans of those whose meal I had shared but the day before. In order to receive their last sigh, I have walked amid a shower of bullets, and grape-shot, upon a plank slippery with blood. And yet, amid all this, my soul was calm--my eyes remained unmoistened. But this room, see you; this room, of which I had retained so holy a remembrance; this room, in which I had received the first caresses of a father whom I shall never see again, and the last kisses of a mother who perhaps desires no more to see me; this room is sacred as a cradle and as a tomb. I cannot thus revisit it without giving vent to my emotions; I must weep, or I shall suffocate." The old man clasped him in his arms. Paul leaned his head upon his shoulder, and during some time nothing was heard but his sobs. At length the old servant rejoined:
"Yes, you are right; this room is at once a cradle and a tomb; it was there that you were born;" he pointed to one corner with his hand; "and it was there that you received the last blessing of your father,"
continued he, pointing to the opposite side of the room.
"He is then dead?" said Paul.
"He is dead."
"You must tell me how he died."
"I will tell you all."
"Defer it for a moment," added Paul, as he reached a chair and seated himself, "for I am now too weak to listen to you. Let me recover myself." He placed his elbow on the window-sill, leaned his head upon his hand, and once more cast his eyes upon the sea.
"What a magnificent spectacle is the ocean when the moon shines upon it as brightly as it does now," continued he, with that accent of soft melancholy which was habitual to him. "It is as calm as G.o.d himself, and vast as eternity. I do not believe that a man accustomed to study such a scene can be afraid of death. My father met death bravely, did he not?"
"a.s.suredly!" proudly replied Achard.
"It could not be otherwise," continued Paul, "for I remember my father, although I was only four years old when I last saw him."
"He was a handsome young man, as you yourself are," said Achard, looking sorrowfully at Paul, "and just as old as you are."
"What was his name?"
"The Count de Moraix."
"Then I also am of an old and n.o.ble family. I also have arms and an escutcheon as well as those young and insolent n.o.bles who ask me for my parchments when I show them my wounds?"
"Wait, young man, wait; do not allow pride to carry you thus away, for I have not yet told you the name of her who gave you being, and you are still ignorant of the dreadful secret of your birth."
"Well: be it so. I shall not with the less respect and veneration hear the name of my mother. What was my mother"s name?"
"The Marchioness d"Auray," slowly replied the old man, as if regretting that he was compelled to mention her name.
"What is it that you tell me!" cried Paul, starting from his chair, and seizing the hands of the old man.
"The truth!" replied Achard, sorrowfully.
"Then Emanuel is my brother--Marguerite is my sister."
"Do you then already know them?" exclaimed the old servant, much astounded.
"Oh! you were right, old man," said Paul, throwing himself into his chair. "G.o.d orders all things according to His will, and what He does ordain, His wisdom has long before matured."
They both remained silent for a time, when at length Paul raised his head, and resolutely fixing his eyes on the old man"s face, said:
"Now, I am ready to hear all you have to communicate--you may go on."
CHAPTER IX.--FATAL LOVE.
I shall a tale unfold Will harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood; Make thy two eyes like stars, start from their spheres; Thy knotted and combined locks to part.
And each particular hair to stand on end, Like quills upon the fretful porcupine.
Shakespeare.