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！
moment she heard her Gabriel moving she sprang quickly to her feet；
regarded him with a tearful face； and her eye illumined with a holy
anger； which made her more lovely to look upon； exclaimed
〃If you advance a single step towards me； I will make one towards
death！〃
And she took her stiletto in her hand。
So heartrending was the tragic spectacle of her grief that Jehan
answered her
〃It is not for thee but for me to die； my dear； beautiful mistress；
more dearly loved than will ever woman be again upon this earth。〃
〃If you had truly loved me you would not have killed me as you have；
for I will die sooner than be reproached by my husband。〃
〃Will you die？〃 said he。
〃Assuredly；〃 said she。
〃Now； if I am here pierced with a thousand blows； you will have your
husband's pardon； to whom you will say that if your innocence was
surprised； you have avenged his honour by killing the man who had
deceived you； and it will be the greatest happiness that could ever
befall me to die for you； the moment you refuse to live for me。〃
Hearing this tender discourse spoken with tears； Bertha dropped the
dagger； Jehan sprang upon it； and thrust it into his breast； saying
〃Such happiness can be paid for but with death。〃
And fell stiff and stark。
Bertha； terrified； called aloud for her maid。 The servant came； and
terribly alarmed to see a wounded man in Madame's chamber； and Madame
holding him up； crying and saying； 〃What have you done； my love？〃
because she believed he was dead； and remembered her vanished joys；
and thought how beautiful Jehan must be； since everyone； even Imbert；
believed him to be a girl。 In her sorrow she confessed all to her
maid； sobbing and crying out； 〃that it was quite enough to have upon
her mind the life of a child without having the death of a man as
well。〃 Hearing this the poor lover tried to open his eyes； and only
succeeded in showing a little bit of the white of them。
〃Ha！ Madame； don't cry out；〃 said the servant； 〃let us keep our senses
together and save this pretty knight。 I will go and seek La Fallotte；
in order not to let any physician or surgeon into the secret； and as
she is a sorceress she will； to please Madame； perform the miracle of
healing this wound so not a trace of it shall remain。
〃Run！〃 replied Bertha。 〃I will love you； and will pay you well for
this assistance。〃
But before anything else was done the lady and her maid agreed to be
silent about this adventure； and hide Jehan from every eye。 Then the
servant went out into the night to seek La Fallotte； and was
accompanied by her mistress as far as the postern； because the guard
could not raise the portcullis without Bertha's special order。 Bertha
found on going back that her lover had fainted； for the blood was
flowing from the wound。 At the sight she drank a little of his blood；
thinking that Jehan had shed it for her。 Affected by this great love
and by the danger； she kissed this pretty varlet of pleasure on the
face； bound up his wound； bathing it with her tears； beseeching him
not to die； and exclaiming that if he would live she would love him
with all her heart。 You can imagine that the chatelaine became still
more enamoured while observing what a difference there was between a
young knight like Jehan； white； downy； and agreeable； and an old
fellow like Imbert； bristly； yellow； and wrinkled。 This difference
brought back to her memory that which she had found in the pleasure of
love。 Moved by this souvenir； her kisses became so warm that Jehan
came back to his senses； his look improved； and he could see Bertha；
from whom in a feeble voice he asked forgiveness。 But Bertha forbade
him to speak until La Fallotte had arrived。 Then both of them consumed
the time by loving each other with their eyes； since in those of
Bertha there was nothing but compassion； and on these occasions pity
is akin to love。
La Fallotte was a hunchback； vehemently suspected of dealings in
necromancy； and of riding to nocturnal orgies on a broomstick；
according to the custom of witches。 Certain persons had seen her
putting the harness on her broom in the stable； which； as everyone
knows is on the housetops。 To tell the truth； she possessed certain
medical secrets； and was of such great service to ladies in certain
things； and to the nobles； that she lived in perfect tranquillity；
without giving up the ghost on a pile of fagots； but on a feather bed；
for she had made a hatful of money； although the physicians tormented
her by declaring that she sold poisons； which was certainly true； as
will be shown in the sequel。 The servant and La Fallotte came on the
same ass； making such haste that they arrived at the castle before the
day had fully dawned。
The old hunchback exclaimed； as she entered the chamber； 〃Now then； my
children； what is the matter？〃
This was her manner； which was familiar with great people； who
appeared very small to her。 She put on her spectacles； and carefully
examined the wound； saying
〃This is fine blood； my dear； you have tasted it。 That's all right； he
has bled externally。〃
Then she washed the wound with a fine sponge； under the nose of the
lady and the servant； who held their breath。 To be brief； Fallotte
gave it as her medical opinion； that the youth would not die from this
blow； 〃although；〃 said she； looking at his hand； 〃he will come to a
violent end through this night's deed。〃
This decree of chiromancy frightened considerably both Bertha and the
maid。 Fallotte prescribed certain remedies； and promised to come again
the following night。 Indeed； she tended the wound for a whole
fortnight； coming secretly at night…time。 The people about the castle
were told by the servants that their young lady； Sylvia de Rohan； was
in danger of death； through a swelling of the stomach； which must
remain a mystery for the honour of Madame； who was her cousin。 Each
one was satisfied with this story； of which his mouth was so full that
he told it to his fellows。
The good people believe that it was the malady which was fraught with
danger； but it was not！ it was the convalescence； for the stronger
Jehan grew； the weaker Bertha became； and so weak that she allowed
herself to drift into that Paradise the gates of which Jehan had
opened for her。 To be brief； she loved him more and more。 But in the
midst of her happiness； always mingled with apprehension at the
menacing words of Fallotte； and tormented by her great religion； she
was in great fear of her husband； Imbert； to whom she was compelled to
write that he had given her a child； who would be ready to delight him
on his return。 Poor Bertha avoided her lover； Jehan； during the day on
which she wrote the lying letter； over which she soaked her
handkerchief with tears。 Finding himself avoided （for they had
previously left each other no more than fire leaves the wood it has
bitten） Jehan believed that she was beginning to hate hi