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〃Wretched woman！〃 cried Morok； irritated at this meeting； which might；
perhaps； be fatal to his projects； 〃do you wish to kill him？ In his
present state； this agitation is death。 Begone！〃 So saying； he seized
Cephyse suddenly by the arm； just as Jacques； waking； as it were； from a
painful dream； began to distinguish what was passing around him。
〃You！ It is you！〃 cried the Bacchanal Queen； in amazement； as she
recognized Morok； 〃who separated me from Jacques！〃
She paused； for the dim eye of the victim； as it rested upon her； grew
suddenly bright。
〃Cephyse！〃 murmured Jacques； 〃is it you？〃
〃Yes； it is I；〃 answered she； in a voice of deep emotion； 〃who have come…
…I will tell you〃
She was unable to continue； and； as she clasped her hands together； her
pale； agitated； tearful countenance expressed her astonishment and
despair at the mortal change which had taken place in the features of
Jacques。 He understood the cause of her surprise； and as he
contemplated； in his turn； the suffering and emaciated countenance of
Cephyse。 he said to her； 〃Poor girl！ you also have had to bear much
grief； much miseryI should hardly have known you。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Cephyse； 〃much griefmuch miseryand worse than misery；〃
she added； trembling； whilst a deep blush overspread her pale features。
〃Worse than misery？〃 said Jacques； astonished。
〃But it is you who have suffered；〃 hastily resumed Cephyse； without
answering her lover。
〃Just now； I was going to make an end of ityour voice has recalled me
for an instantbut I feel something here；〃 and he laid his hand upon his
breast； 〃which never gives quarter。 It is all the same nowI have seen
youI shall die happy。〃
〃You shall not die； Jacques； I am here〃
〃Listen to one； my girl。 If I had a bushel of live coal in my stomach；
it could hardly burn me more。 For more than a month； I have been
consuming my body by a slow fire。 This gentleman；〃 he added； glancing at
Morok； 〃this dear friend； always undertook to feed the flame。 I do not
regret life； I have lost the habit of work； and taken to drink and riot；
I should have finished by becoming a thorough blackguard： I preferred
that my friend here should amuse himself with lighting a furnace in my
inside。 Since what I drank just now； I am certain that it fumes like
yonder punch。〃
〃You are both foolish and ungrateful；〃 said Morok； shrugging his
shoulders； 〃you held out your glass； and I filled itand； faith； we
shall drink long and often together yet。〃
For some moments； Cephyse had not withdrawn her eyes from Morok。 〃I tell
you； that you have long blown the fire； in which I have burnt my skin；〃
resumed Jacques； addressing Morok in a feeble voice； 〃so that they may
not think I die of cholera。 It would look as if I had been frightened by
the part I played。 I do not therefore reproach you； my affectionate
friend；〃 added he； with a sardonic smile； 〃you dug my grave gaylyand
sometimes； when； seeing the great dark hole； into which I was about to
fall； I drew back a stepbut you； my excellent friend； still pushed me
forward； saying； ‘Go on； my boy； go on！'and I went onand here I am〃
So saying； Sleepinbuff burst into a bitter laugh； which sent an icy
shudder through the spectators of this scene。
〃My good fellow；〃 said Morok； coolly； 〃listen to me； and follow my
advice。〃
〃Thank you！ I know your adviceand； instead of listening to you； I
prefer speaking to my poor Cephyse。 Before I go down to the moles； I
should like to tell her what weighs on my heart。〃
〃Jacques；〃 replied Cephyse； 〃do not talk so。 I tell you； you shall not
die。〃
〃Why； then； my brave Cephyse； I shall owe my life to you；〃 returned
Jacques； in a tone of serious feeling； which surprised the spectators。
〃Yes；〃 resumed he； 〃when I came to myself； and saw you so poorly clad； I
felt something good about my heartdo you know why？it was because I
said to myself； ‘Poor girl！ she has kept her word bravely； she has chosen
to toil； and want； and sufferrather than take another lovewho would
have given her what I gave her as long as I could'and that thought；
Cephyse； refreshed my soul。 I needed it； for I was burningand I burn
still；〃 added he； clinching his fists with pain； 〃but that made me happy…
…it did me goodthanks； my good； brave Cephyseyes； you are good and
braveand you were right； for I never loved any but you in the wide
world； and if； in my degradation； I had one thought that raised me a
little above the filth； and made me regret that I was not betterthe
thought was of you！ Thanks then； my poor； dear love；〃 said Jacques； whose
hot and shining eyes were becoming moist； 〃thanks once again；〃 and he
reached his cold hand to Cephyse； 〃if I die； I shall die happyif I
live； I shall live happy also。 Give me your hand； my brave Cephyse！you
have acted like a good and honest creature。〃
Instead of taking the hand which Jacques offered her； Cephyse； still
kneeling； bowed her head； and dared not raise her eyes to her lover。
〃You don't answer；〃 said he； leaning over towards the young girl； 〃you
don't take my handwhy is this？〃
The unfortunate creature only answered by stifled sobs。 Borne down with
shame； she held herself in so humble； so supplicating an attitude； that
her forehead almost touched the feet of her lover。
Amazed at the silence and conduct of the Bacchanal Queen； Jacques looked
at her with increasing agitation； suddenly he stammered out with
trembling lips； 〃Cephyse； I know you。 If you do not take my hand； it is
because〃
Then； his voice failing； he added； in a dull tone； after a moment's
silence； 〃When； six weeks ago； I was taken to prison； did you not say to
me； 'Jacques； I swear that I will workand if need be； live in horrible
miserybut I will live true！' That was your promise。 Now； I know you
never speak false； tell me you have kept your word； and I shall believe
you。〃
Cephyse only answered by a heart…rending sob； as she pressed the knees of
Jacques against her heaving bosom。 By a strange contradiction； more
common than is generally thoughtthis man； degraded by intoxication and
debauchery； who； since he came out of prison； had plunged in every
excess； and tamely yielded to all the fatal incitements of Morok； yet
received a fearful blow； when he learned； by the mute avowal of Cephyse；
the infidelity； of this creature； whom he had loved in spite of
degradation。 The first impulse of Jacques was terrible。 Notwithstanding
his weakness and exhaustion； he succeeded in rising from his seat； and；
with a countenance contracted by rage and despair； he seized a knife；
before they had time to prevent him； and turned it upon Cephyse。 But at
the moment he was about to strike； shrinking from an act of murder； he
hurled the knife far away from him； and falling back into the chair；
covered his face with his hands。
At the cry of Ninny Moulin； who had； though late； thrown himself upon
Jacques to take away the knife； Cephyse raised her head： Jacques's woeful
dejection wrung her heart； she rose； and fell upon his neck；
notwithstanding his resistance； exclaiming in a voice broken by sobs；
〃Jacques； if you knew！ if you only knewlistendo not condemn me
without hearing