"You have said that before; why repeat it again?"
"Because it is my duty; because I am thinking that, if I die, it will be my insane pa.s.sions that have caused the ruin of one of the best and purest women in the world. I entreat you to believe that she has nothing to repent of. See, I am not ashamed to descend to entreaty. Let my death, if you kill me, be an expiation for everything. Be gentle with your wife; and if you survive me, do not make her life one prolonged existence of agony."
"Silence, or I shall look upon you as a dastard," returned Norbert fiercely.
"Miserable fool!" said De Croisenois. "On guard, then, and may heaven decide the issue!"
There was a sharp clash as their swords crossed, and the combat began with intense vigor.
The s.p.a.ce upon which the rays of the lantern cast a glimmering and uncertain light was but a small one; and while one of the combatants was in complete shade the other was in the light, and exposed to thrusts which he could not see. This was fatal to Croisenois, and, as he took a step forward, Norbert made a fierce lunge which pierced him to the heart.
The unfortunate man threw up his arms above his head; his sword escaping from his nerveless fingers and his knees bending under him, he fell heavily backwards without a word escaping from his lips. Thrice he endeavored to regain his feet, and thrice he failed in his attempts. He strove to speak, but he could only utter a few unintelligible words, for his life blood was suffocating him. A violent convulsion shook every limb, then arose a long, deep-drawn sigh, and then silence--George de Croisenois was dead.
Yes, he was dead, and Norbert de Champdoce stood over him with a wild look of terror in his eyes, and his hair bristling upon his head, as a shudder of horror convulsed his body. Then, for the first time, he realized the horror of seeing a man slain by his own hand; and yet what affected Norbert most was not that he had killed George de Croisenois--for he believed that justice was on his side and that he could not have acted otherwise--but the perspiration stood in thick beads upon his forehead, as he thought that he must raise up that still warm and quivering body, and place it in its unhallowed grave.
He hesitated and reasoned with himself for some time, going over all the reasons that made dispatch so absolutely necessary--the risk of detection, and the honor of his name.
He stooped and prepared to raise it, but recoiled again before his hands had touched the body. His heart failed him, and once more he a.s.sumed an erect position. At last he nerved himself, grasped the body, and, with an immense exertion of strength, hurled it into the gaping grave. It fell with a dull, heavy sound which seemed to Norbert like the roar of an earthquake. The violent emotions which he had endured had ended by acting on his brain, and, s.n.a.t.c.hing up the spade which his late antagonist had used with so unpracticed a hand, shovelled the earth upon the body, flattened down the ground, and finally covered it with straw and dead leaves.
"And this is the end of a man who wronged a Champdoce; yes, his life has paid the penalty of his deed."
All at once, a few paces off, in the deep shadow of the trees, he thought that he detected the outline of a human head with a pair of glittering eyes fixed upon him. The shock was so terrible that for an instant he stopped and nearly fell, but he quickly recovered himself, and, s.n.a.t.c.hing up his blood-stained sword, he dashed to the spot where he fancied he had seen this terrible witness of his deed.
At this rapid movement on the part of the Duke, a figure started up with a faint cry for mercy. It was a woman.
She fled with inconceivable swiftness towards the house, but he caught her just as she had gained the steps.
"Have mercy on me!" cried she. "Do not murder me!"
He dragged her back to where the lantern was hanging. She was a girl of about eighteen years of age, ugly, badly clothed, and dirty looking.
Norbert looked earnestly at her, but could not say who she was, though he was certain that he had seen her face somewhere.
"Who are you?" asked he.
She burst into a flood of tears, but made no other reply.
"Come," resumed he, in more soothing accents; "you shall not be hurt.
Tell me who you are."
"Caroline Schimmel."
"Caroline?" repeated he.
"Yes. I have been in your service as scullery maid for the last three months."
"How is it that you did not go to the wedding with the rest of them?"
"It was not my fault. I was asked, and I did so long to go, but I was too shabby; I had no finery to put on. I am very poor now, for I have only fifteen francs a month, and none of the other maids would lend me anything to wear."
"How did you come into the garden?" asked Norbert.
"I was very miserable, and was sitting in the garden crying, when I suddenly saw a light down there. I thought it was theirs, and crept down the back stairs."
"And what did you see?"
"I saw it all."
"All what?"
"When I got down here, you and the other were digging. I thought you were looking for money! but ah, dear me! I was wrong. Then the other began to say something, but I couldn"t catch a word; then you fought.
Oh, it was awful! I was so frightened, I could not take my eyes off you.
Then the other fell down on his back."
"And then?"
"Then," she faltered, "you buried him, and then----"
"Could you recognize this--this other?"
"Yes, my lord duke, I did."
"Had you ever seen him before? Do you know who he was?"
"No."
"Listen to me, my girl. If you know how to hold your tongue, if you can forget all you have seen to-night, it will be the greatest piece of luck for you in the world that you did not go to this wedding."
"I won"t open my lips to a soul, my lord duke. Hear me swear, I won"t.
Oh, do believe me!"
"Very well; keep your oath, and your fortune is made. To-morrow I will give you a fine, large sum of money, and you can go back to your village and marry some honest fellow to whom you have taken a fancy."
"Are you not making game of me?"
"No; go to your room and go to bed, as if nothing had happened. Jean will tell you what to do to-morrow, and you must obey him as you would me."
"Oh, my lord! Oh, my lord duke!"
Unable to contain her delight, she mingled her laughter and her tears.
And Norbert knew that his name, his honor, and perhaps his life were in the hands of a wretched girl like this. All the peace and happiness of his life were gone, and he felt like some unhappy prisoner who through the bars of his dungeon sees his jailer"s children sporting with lighted matches and a barrel of gunpowder. He was at her mercy, for well he knew that it would resolve into this--that the smallest wish of this girl would become an imperative command that he dared not disobey. However absurd might be her whims and caprices, she had but to express them, and he dared not resist. What means could he adopt to free himself from this odious state of servitude? He knew but of one--the dead tell no tales.
There were four persons who were the sharer of Norbert"s secret. First, the writer of the anonymous letter; then the d.u.c.h.ess; then Caroline Schimmel; and, finally, Jean, to whom he must confide all. With these thoughts ringing through his brain, Norbert carefully effaced the last traces of the duel, and then bent his steps towards his wife"s chamber.
He had expected to find her still unconscious on the spot where he had left her lying. Marie was seated in an armchair by the side of the fire; her face was terribly pale, and her eyes sparkling with the inward flame that consumed her.
"My honor has been vindicated; the Marquis de Croisenois is no more; I have slain your lover, madame."
Marie did not start; she had evidently prepared herself for this blow.