white lies- 第51部分

Then　Rose；　seeing　her　terror；　was　almost　glad　at　the　suicidal　falsehood　she　had　told。　　She　comforted　and　encouraged　Josephine　and　deceived　her。　　（This　was　the　climax。）

〃All　is　well；　my　poor　coward；〃　she　cried；　〃your　fears　are　all　imaginary；　another　has　owned　the　child；　and　the　story　is　believed。〃

〃Another！　impossible！　　He　would　not　believe　it。〃

〃He　does　believe　ithe　shall　believe　it。〃

Rose　then；　feeling　by　no　means　sure　that　Josephine；　terrified　as　she　was；　would　consent　to　let　her　sister　come　to　shame　to　screen　her；　told　her　boldly　that　Jacintha　had　owned　herself　the　mother　of　the　child；　and　that　Raynal's　only　feeling　towards　HER　was　pity；　and　regret　at　having　so　foolishly　frightened　her；　weakened　as　she　was　by　illness。　　〃I　told　him　you　had　been　ill；　dear。　　But　how　came　you　on　the　ground？〃

〃I　had　come　to　myself；　I　was　on　my　knees　praying。　　He　tapped。　　I　heard　his　voice。　　I　remember　no　more。　　I　must　have　fainted　again　directly。〃

Rose　had　hard　work　to　make　her　believe　that　her　guilt；　as　she　called　it；　was　not　known；　and　even　then　she　could　not　prevail　on　her　to　come　down…stairs；　until　she　said；　〃If　you　don't；　he　will　come　to　you。〃　　On　that　Josephine　consented　eagerly；　and　with　trembling　fingers　began　to　adjust　her　hair　and　her　dress　for　the　interview。

All　this　terrible　night　Rose　fought　for　her　sister。　　She　took　her　down…stairs　to　the　salon；　she　put　her　on　the　sofa；　she　sat　by　her　and　pressed　her　hand　constantly　to　give　her　courage。　　She　told　the　story　of　the　surprise　her　own　way；　before　the　whole　party；　including　the　doctor；　to　prevent　Raynal　from　being　called　on　to　tell　it　his　way。　　She　laughed　at　Josephine's　absurdity；　but　excused　it　on　account　of　her　feeble　health。　　In　short；　she　threw　more　and　more　dust　in　all　their　eyes。

But　by　the　time　when　the　rising　sun　came　faintly　in　and　lighted　the　haggard　party；　where　the　deceived　were　happy；　the　deceivers　wretched；　the　supernatural　strength　this　young　girl　had　shown　was　almost　exhausted。　　She　felt　an　hysterical　impulse　to　scream　and　weep：　each　minute　it　became　more　and　more　ungovernable。　　Then　came　an　unexpected　turn。　　Raynal　after　a　long　and　tiring　talk　with　his　mother；　as　he　called　her；　looked　at　his　watch；　and　in　a　characteristic　way　coolly　announced　his　immediate　departure；　this　being　the　first　hint　he　had　given　them　that　he　was　not　come　back　for　good。

The　baroness　was　thunderstruck。

Rose　and　Josephine　pressed　one　another's　hands；　and　had　much　ado　not　to　utter　a　loud　cry　of　joy。

Raynal　explained　that　he　was　the　bearer　of　despatches。　　〃I　must　be　off：　not　an　hour　to　lose。　　Don't　fret；　mother；　I　shall　soon　be　back　again；　if　I　am　not　knocked　on　the　head。〃

Raynal　took　leave　of　them　all。　　When　it　came　to　Rose's　turn；　he　drew　her　aside　and　whispered　into　her　ear；　〃Who　is　the　man？〃

She　started；　and　seemed　dumfounded。

〃Tell　me；　or　I　ask　my　wife。〃

〃She　has　promised　me　not　to　betray　me：　I　made　her　swear。　　Spare　me　now；　brother；　I　will　tell　you　all　when　you　come　back。〃

〃That　is　a　bargain：　now　hear　ME　swear：　he　shall　marry　you；　or　he　shall　die　by　my　hand。〃

He　confirmed　this　by　a　tremendous　oath。

Rose　shuddered；　but　said　nothing；　only　she　thought　to　herself；　〃I　am　forewarned。　　Never　shall　you　know　who　is　the　father　of　that　child。〃

He　was　no　sooner　gone　than　the　baroness　insisted　on　knowing　what　this　private　communication　between　him　and　Rose　was　about。

〃Oh；〃　said　Rose；　〃he　was　only　telling　me　to　keep　up　your　courage　and　Josephine's　till　he　comes　back。〃

This　was　the　last　lie　the　poor　entangled　wretch　had　to　tell　that　morning。　　The　next　minute　the　sisters；　exhausted　by　their　terrible　struggle；　went　feebly；　with　downcast　eyes；　along　the　corridor　and　up　the　staircase　to　Josephine's　room。

They　went　hand　in　hand。　　They　sank　down；　dressed　as　they　were；　on　Josephine's　bed；　and　clung　to　one　another　and　trembled　together；　till　their　exhausted　natures　sank　into　uneasy　slumbers；　from　which　each　in　turn　would　wake　ever　and　anon　with　a　convulsive　start；　and　clasp　her　sister　tighter　to　her　breast。

Theirs　was　a　marvellous　love。　　Even　a　course　of　deceit　had　not　yet　prevailed　to　separate　or　chill　their　sister　bosoms。　　But　still　in　this　deep　and　wonderful　love　there　were　degrees：　one　went　a　shade　deeper　than　the　other　noway；　since　last　night。　　Which？　why；　she　who　had　sacrificed　herself　for　the　other；　and　dared　not　tell　her；　lest　the　sacrifice　should　be　refused。


It　was　the　gray　of　the　morning；　and　foggy；　when　Raynal；　after　taking　leave；　went　to　the　stable　for　his　horse。　　At　the　stable…door　he　came　upon　a　man　sitting　doubled　up　on　the　very　stones　of　the　yard；　with　his　head　on　his　knees。　　The　figure　lifted　his　head；　and　showed　him　the　face　of　Edouard　Riviere；　white　and　ghastly：　his　hair　lank　with　the　mist；　his　teeth　chattering　with　cold　and　misery。　　The　poor　wretch　had　walked　frantically　all　night　round　and　round　the　chateau；　waiting　till　Raynal　should　come　out。　　He　told　him　so。

〃But　why　didn't　you？Ah！　I　see。　　No！　you　could　not　go　into　the　house　after　that。　　My　poor　fellow；　there　is　but　one　thing　for　you　to　do。　　Turn　your　back　on　her；　and　forget　she　ever　lived；　she　is　dead　to　you。〃

〃There　is　something　to　be　done　besides　that；〃　said　Edouard；　gloomily。

〃What？〃

〃Vengeance。〃

〃That　is　my　affair；　young　man。　　When　I　come　back　from　the　Rhine；　she　will　tell　me　who　her　seducer　is。　　She　has　promised。〃

〃And　don't　you　see　through　that？〃　said　Edouard；　gnashing　his　teeth；　〃that　is　only　to　gain　time：　she　will　never　tell　you。　　She　is　young　in　years；　but　old　in　treachery。〃

He　groaned　and　was　silent　a　moment；　then　laying　his　hand　on　Raynal's　arm　said　grimly；　〃Thank　Heaven；　we　don't　depend　on　her　for　information！　　I　know　the　villain。〃

Raynal's　eyes　flashed：　〃Ah！　then　tell　me　this　moment。〃

〃It　is　that　scoundrel　Dujardin。〃

〃Dujardin！　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　mean　that；　while　you　were　fighting　for　France；　your　house　was　turned　into　a　hospital　for　wounded　soldiers。〃

〃And　pray；　sir；　to　what　more　honorable　use　could　they　put　it？〃

〃Well；　this　Dujardin　was　housed　by　you；　was　nursed　by　your　wife　and　all　the　family；　and　in　return　has　seduced　your　sister；　my　affianced。〃

〃I　can　hardly　believe　that。　　Camille　Dujardin　was　always　a　man　of　honor；　and　a　good　soldier。〃

〃Colonel；　there　has　been　no　man　near　the　place　but　this　Dujardin。　　I　tell　you　it　is　he。　　Don't　make　me　tear　my　bleeding　heart　out：　must　I　tell　you　how　often　I　caught　them　together；　how　I　suspected；　and　how　she　gulled　me？　blind　fool　that　I　was；　to　believe　a　woman's　words　before　my　own　eyes。　　I　swear　to　you　he　is　the　villain；　the　only　question　is；　which　of　us　two　is　to　kill　him。〃

〃Where　is　the　man？〃

〃In　the　army　of　the　Rhine。〃

〃Ah！　all　the　better。〃

〃Covered　with　glory　and　honor。　　Curse　him！　oh；　curse　him！　curse　him！〃

〃I　am　in　luck。　　I　am　going　to　the　Rhine。〃

〃I　know　it。　　That　is　why　I　waited　here　all　through　this　night　of　misery。　　Yes；　you　are　in　luck。　　But　you　will　send　me　a　line　when　you　have　killed　him；　will　you　not？　　Then　I　shall　know　joy　again。　　Should　he　escape　you；　he　shall　not　escape　me。〃

〃Young　man；〃　said　Raynal；　with　dignity；　〃this　rage　is　unmanly。　Besides；　we　have　not　heard　his　side　of　the　story。　　He　is　a　good　soldier；　perhaps　he　is　not　all　to　blame：　or　perhaps　passion　has　betrayed　him　into　a　sin　that　his　conscience　and　honor　disapprove：　if　so；　he　must　not　die。　　You　think　only　of　your　wrong：　it　is　natural：　but　I　am　the　girl's　brother；　guardian　of　her　honor　and　my　own。　　His　life　is　precious　as　gold。　　I　shall　make　him　marry　her。〃

〃What！　reward　him　for　his　villany？〃　cried　Edouard；　frantically。

〃A　mighty　reward；〃　replied　Raynal；　with　a　sneer。

〃You　leave　one　thing　out　of　the　calculation；　monsieur；〃　said　Edouard；　trembling　with　anger；　〃that　I　will　kill　your　brother…in…law　at　the　altar；　before　her　eyes。〃

〃YOU　leave　one　thing　out　of　the　calculation：　that　you　will　first　have　to　cross　swords；　at　the　altar；　with　me。〃

〃So　be　it。　　I　will　not　draw　on　my　old　commandant。　　I　could　not；　but　be　sure　I　will　catch　him　and　her　alone　some　day；　and　the　bride　shall　be　a　widow　in　her　honeymoon。〃

〃As　you　please；〃　said　Raynal；　coolly。　　〃That　is　all　fair；　as　you　have　been　wronged。　　I　shall　make　her　an　honest　wife；　and　then　you　may　make　her　an　honest　widow。　　（This　is　what　they　call　LOVE；　and　sneer　at　me　for　keeping　clear　of　it。）　　But　neither　he　nor　you　shall　keep　MY　SISTER　what　she　is　now；　a　；〃　and　he　used　a　word　out　of　camp。

Edouard　winced　and　groaned。　　〃Oh！　don't　call　her　by　such　a　name。　There　is　some　mystery。　　She　loved　me　once。　　There　must　have　been　some　strange　seduction。〃

〃Now　you　deceive　yourself；〃　said　Raynal。　　〃I　never　saw　a　girl　that　could　take　her　own　part　better　than　she　can；　she　is　not　like　her　sister　at　all　in　character。　　Not　that　I　excuse　him；　it　was　a　dishonorable　act；　an　ungrateful　act　to　my　wife　and　my　mother。〃

〃And　to　you。〃

〃Now　listen　to　me：　in　four　days　I　shall　stand　before　him。　　I　shall　not　go　into　a　pet　like　you；　I　am　in　earnest。　　I　shall　just　say　to　him；　'Dujardin；　I　know　all！'　　Then　if　he　is　guilty　his　face　will　show　it　directly。　　Then　I　shall　say；　'Comrade；　you　must　marry　her　whom　you　have　dishonored。'〃

〃He　will　not。　　He　is　a　libertine；　a　rascal。〃

〃You　are　speaking　of　a　man　you　don't　know。　　He　WILL　marry　her　and　repair　the　wrong　he　has　done。〃

〃Suppose　he　refuses？〃

〃Why　should　he　refuse？　　The　girl　is　not　ugly　nor　old；　and　if　she　has　done　a　folly；　he　was　her　partner　in　it。〃

〃But　SUPPOSE　he　refuses？〃

Raynal　ground　his　teeth。　　〃Refuse？　　If　he　does；　I'll　run　my　sword　through　his　carcass　then　and　there；　and　the　hussy　shall　go　into　a　convent。〃


CHAPTER　XXI。


The　French　army　lay　before　a　fortified　place　near　the　Rhine；　which　we　will　call　Philipsburg。

This　army　knew　Bonaparte　by　report　only；　it　was　commanded　by　generals　of　the　old　school。

Philipsburg　was　defended　on　three　sides　by　the　nature　of　the　ground；　but　on　the　side　that　faced　the　French　line　of　march　there　was　only　a　zigzag　wall；　pierced；　and　a　low　tower　or　two　at　each　of　the　salient　angles。

There　were　evidences　of　a　tardy　attempt　to　improve　the　defences。　　In　particular　there　was　a　large　round　bastion；　about　three　times　the　height　of　the　wall；　but　the　masonry　was　new；　and　the　very　embrasures　were　not　yet　cut。

Young　blood　was　for　assaulting　the