按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shudder； the rustle of a silk gown； and almost recognized by their
sound the steps of his wife。
〃Well； father；〃 said Clemence； 〃my poor father； are you better？ What
courage you have shown！〃
〃Come here； my child；〃 replied Ferragus； holding out his hand to her。
Clemence held her forehead to him and he kissed it。
〃Now tell me； what is the matter； my little girl？ What are these new
troubles？〃
〃Troubles； father！ it concerns the life or death of the daughter you
have loved so much。 Indeed you must； as I wrote you yesterday； you
/must/ find a way to see my poor Jules to…day。 If you knew how good he
has been to me； in spite of all suspicions apparently so legitimate。
Father； my love is my very life。 Would you see me die？ Ah！ I have
suffered so much that my life； I feel it！ is in danger。〃
〃And all because of the curiosity of that miserable Parisian？〃 cried
Ferragus。 〃I'd burn Paris down if I lost you； my daughter。 Ha！ you may
know what a lover is； but you don't yet know what a father can do。〃
〃Father； you frighten me when you look at me in that way。 Don't weigh
such different feelings in the same scales。 I had a husband before I
knew that my father was living〃
〃If your husband was the first to lay kisses on your forehead； I was
the first to drop tears upon it；〃 replied Ferragus。 〃But don't feel
frightened； Clemence； speak to me frankly。 I love you enough to
rejoice in the knowledge that you are happy； though I； your father；
may have little place in your heart； while you fill the whole of
mine。〃
〃Ah！ what good such words do me！ You make me love you more and more；
though I seem to rob something from my Jules。 But； my kind father；
think what his sufferings are。 What may I tell him to…day？〃
〃My child； do you think I waited for your letter to save you from this
threatened danger？ Do you know what will become of those who venture
to touch your happiness； or come between us？ Have you never been aware
that a second providence was guarding your life？ Twelve men of power
and intellect form a phalanx round your love and your existence；
ready to do all things to protect you。 Think of your father； who has
risked death to meet you in the public promenades； or see you asleep
in your little bed in your mother's home； during the night…time。 Could
such a father； to whom your innocent caresses give strength to live
when a man of honor ought to have died to escape his infamy； could
/I/； in short； I who breathe through your lips； and see with your
eyes； and feel with your heart； could I fail to defend with the claws
of a lion and the soul of a father； my only blessing； my life； my
daughter？ Since the death of that angel； your mother； I have dreamed
but of one thing；the happiness of pressing you to my heart in the
face of the whole earth； of burying the convict；〃 He paused a
moment； and then added： 〃of giving you a father； a father who could
press without shame your husband's hand； who could live without fear
in both your hearts； who could say to all the world； 'This is my
daughter；'in short； to be a happy father。〃
〃Oh； father！ father！〃
〃After infinite difficulty； after searching the whole globe；〃
continued Ferragus； 〃my friends have found me the skin of a dead man
in which to take my place once more in social life。 A few days hence；
I shall be Monsieur de Funcal； a Portuguese count。 Ah！ my dear child；
there are few men of my age who would have had the patience to learn
Portuguese and English； which were spoken fluently by that devil of a
sailor； who was drowned at sea。〃
〃But； my dear father〃
〃All has been foreseen； and prepared。 A few days hence； his Majesty
John VI。； King of Portugal will be my accomplice。 My child； you must
have a little patience where your father has had so much。 But ah！ what
would I not do to reward your devotion for the last three years；
coming religiously to comfort your old father； at the risk of your own
peace！〃
〃Father！〃 cried Clemence； taking his hands and kissing them。
〃Come； my child； have courage still； keep my fatal secret a few days
longer； till the end is reached。 Jules is not an ordinary man； I know；
but are we sure that his lofty character and his noble love may not
impel him to dislike the daughter of a〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Clemence； 〃you have read my heart； I have no other fear
than that。 The very thought turns me to ice；〃 she added； in a heart…
rending tone。 〃But； father； think that I have promised him the truth
in two hours。〃
〃If so； my daughter； tell him to go to the Portuguese embassy and see
the Comte de Funcal； your father。 I will be there。〃
〃But Monsieur de Maulincour has told him of Ferragus。 Oh； father； what
torture； to deceive； deceive； deceive！〃
〃Need you say that to me？ But only a few days more； and no living man
will be able to expose me。 Besides； Monsieur de Maulincour is beyond
the faculty of remembering。 Come； dry your tears； my silly child； and
think〃
At this instant a terrible cry rang from the room in which Jules
Desmarets was stationed。
The clamor was heard by Madame Jules and Ferragus through the opening
of the wall； and struck them with terror。
〃Go and see what it means； Clemence；〃 said her father。
Clemence ran rapidly down the little staircase； found the door into
Madame Gruget's apartment wide open； heard the cries which echoed from
the upper floor； went up the stairs； guided by the noise of sobs； and
caught these words before she entered the fatal chamber：
〃You； monsieur； you； with your horrid inventions；you are the cause
of her death！〃
〃Hush； miserable woman！〃 replied Jules； putting his handkerchief on
the mouth of the old woman； who began at once to cry out； 〃Murder！
help！〃
At this instant Clemence entered； saw her husband； uttered a cry； and
fled away。
〃Who will save my child？〃 cried the widow Gruget。 〃You have murdered
her。〃
〃How？〃 asked Jules； mechanically； for he was horror…struck at being
seen by his wife。
〃Read that；〃 said the old woman； giving him a letter。 〃Can money or
annuities console me for that？〃
Farewell； mother！ I bequeeth you what I have。 I beg your pardon
for my forlts； and the last greef to which I put you by ending my
life in the river。 Henry； who I love more than myself； says I have
made his misfortune； and as he has drifen me away； and I have lost
all my hops of merrying him； I am going to droun myself。 I shall
go abov Neuilly； so that they can't put me in the Morg。 If Henry
does not hate me anny more after I am ded； ask him to berry a pore
girl whose hart beet for him only； and to forgif me； for I did
rong to meddle in what didn't consern me。 Tak care of his wounds。
How much he sufered； pore fellow！ I shall have as much corage to
kill myself as he had to burn his bak。 Carry home the corsets I
have finished。 And pray God for your daughter。
Ida。
〃Take this letter to Monsieur de Funcal； who is upstairs；〃 said Jules。
〃He alone can save your daughter； if there is still time。〃
So saying he disappeared； running like a man who has committed a
crime。 His legs trembled。 The hot blood poured into his swelling heart
in torrents greater than at any other moment of his life； and left it