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quietly put on the clothes purchased by the servant。 By Madame's order
this servant made up the account of her effects； arranged her clothes；
purples； jewels； and diamonds； as the property of a widow is arranged
when she renounces her rights。 Bertha ordered even her alms…purse be
included； in order that the ceremony might be perfect。 The report of
these preparations ran through the house； and everyone knew then that
the mistress was about to leave it； a circumstance that filled every
heart with sorrow； even that of a little scullion； who had only been a
week in the place； but to whom Madame had already given a kind word。
Frightened at these preparations； old Bastarnay came into her chamber；
and found her weeping over the body of Jehan； for the tears had come
at last； but she dried them directly she perceived her husband。 To his
numerous questions she replied briefly by the confession of her fault；
telling him how she had been duped； how the poor page had been
distressed； showing him upon the corpse the mark of the poniard wound；
how long he had been getting well； and how； in obedience to her； and
from penitence towards God； he had entered the Church； abandoning the
glorious career of a knight； putting an end to his name； which was
certainly worse than death； how she； while avenging her honour； had
thought that even God himself would not have refused the monk one day
in the year to see the son for whom he had sacrificed everything； how；
not wishing to live with a murderer； she was about to quit his house；
leaving all her property behind her； because； if the honour of the
Bastarnays was stained； it was not she who had brought the shame
about； because in this calamity she had arranged matters as best she
could； finally； she added a vow to go over mountain and valley； she
and her son； until all was expiated； for she knew how to expiate all。
Having with noble mien and a pale face uttered these beautiful words；
she took her child by the hand and went out in great mourning； more
magnificently beautiful than was Mademoiselle Hagar on her departure
from the residence of the patriarch Abraham； and so proudly； that all
the servants and retainers fell on their knees as she passed along；
imploring her with joined hands； like Notre Dame de la Riche。 It was
pitiful to see the Sieur de Bastarnay following her； ashamed； weeping；
confessing himself to blame； and downcast and despairing； like a man
being led to the gallows； there to be turned off。
And Bertha turned a deaf ear to everything。 The desolation was so
great that she found the drawbridge lowered； and hastened to quit the
castle； fearing that it might be suddenly raised again； but no one had
the right or the heart to do it。 She sat down on the curb of the moat；
in view of the whole castle； who begged her； with tears； to stay。 The
poor sire was standing with his hand upon the chain of the portcullis；
as silent as the stone saints carved above the door。 He saw Bertha
order her son to shake the dust from his shoes at the end of the
bridge； in order to have nothing belonging to Bastarnay about him； and
she did likewise。 Then； indicating the sire to her son with her
finger； she spoke to him as follows
〃Child； behold the murderer of thy father； who was； as thou art aware；
the poor prior； but thou hast taken the name of this man。 Give it him
back here； even as thou leavest the dust taken by the shoes from his
castle。 For the food that thou hast had in the castle； by God's help
we will also settle。〃
Hearing this； Bastarnay would have let his wife receive a whole
monastery of monks in order not to be abandoned by her； and by a young
squire capable of becoming the honour of his house； and remained with
his head sunk down against the chains。
The heart of Bertha was suddenly filled with holy solace； for the
banner of the great monastery turned the corner of a road across the
fields； and appeared accompanied by the chants of the Church； which
burst forth like heavenly music。 The monks； informed of the murder
perpetrated on their well…beloved prior； came in procession； assisted
by the ecclesiastical justice； to claim his body。 When he saw this；
the Sire de Bastarnay had barely that time to make for the postern
with his men； and set out towards Monseigneur Louis； leaving
everything in confusion。
Poor Bertha； en croup behind her son； came to Montbazon to bid her
father farewell； telling him that this blow would be her death； and
was consoled by those of her family who endeavoured to raise her
spirits； but were unable to do so。 The old Sire de Rohan presented his
grandson with a splendid suit of armour； telling him to acquire glory
and honour that he might turn his mother's faults into eternal renown。
But Madame de Bastarnay had implanted in the mind of her dear son no
other idea than of atoning for the harm done； in order to save her and
Jehan from eternal damnation。 Both then set out for the places then in
a state of rebellion； in order to render such service to Bastarnay
that he would receive from them more than life itself。
Now the heat of the sedition was； as everyone knows； in the
neighbourhood of Angouleme； and of Bordeaux in Guienne； and other
parts of the kingdom； where great battles and severe conflicts between
the rebels and the royal armies was likely to take place。 The
principal one which finished the war was given between Ruffec and
Angouleme； where all the prisoners taken were tried and hanged。 This
battle； commanded by old Bastarnay； took place in the month of
November； seven months after the poisoning of Jehan。 Now the Baron
knew that his head had been strongly recommended as one to be cut off；
he being the right hand of Monsiegneur Louis。 Directly his men began
to fall back； the old fellow found himself surrounded by six men
determined to seize him。 Then he understood that they wished to take
him alive； in order to proceed against his house； ruin his name； and
confiscate his property。 The poor sire preferred rather to die and
save his family； and present the domains to his son。 He defended
himself like the brave old lion that he was。 In spite of their number；
these said soldiers； seeing three of their comrades fall； were obliged
to attack Bastarnay at the risk of killing him； and threw themselves
together upon him； after having laid low two of his equerries and a
page。
In this extreme danger an esquire wearing the arms of Rohan； fell upon
the assailants like a thunderbolt； and killed two of them； crying；
〃God save the Bastarnays！〃 The third man…at…arms； who had already
seized old Bastarnay； was so hard pressed by this squire； that he was
obliged to leave the elder and turn against the younger； to whom he
gave a thrust with his dagger through a flaw in his armour。 Bastarnay
was too good a comrade to fly without assisting the liberator of his
house； who was badly wounded。 With a blow of his mace he killed the
man…at…arms； seized the squire； lifted