第66章

"Then I related my story to you, and said: 'You know the character of Kostia Petrovitch.Do not hope to move him, it would be an amusement for him to break your heart.If I had been as much in love as you are, I should have carried off Pauline and fled with her to the ends of the world.An elopement!--that is your only resource.And mark (it was in my dream that I spoke thus), and mark--if you perform this bold stroke successfully, the Count, at first furious to see his victim escape him, will at last be reconciled to it.The sight of this child is a horror to him; even the tyranny which he exercises over her excites him and disorders his nerves.After she has left him, he will breathe more freely, will enjoy better health, and will pardon the ravisher, who will have relieved his life of the ferment of hatred which torments him.

Then you can treat with him, and I shall be much mistaken if it is long before your dear mistress becomes your wife.' It was thus Irepeat, that I spoke to you in my dream, and I added: 'Do not lose an instant; there is danger in remaining here.Kostia Petrovitch has suspicions; to-morrow perhaps it will be too late!'""And then you awoke," interrupted Gilbert, laughing.

Then rising, he continued:

"Your dreams have no common sense, my dear Doctor; for without taking into consideration that M.Leminof has no daughter, the faculty of loving has been denied to me by nature, and the only abduction of which I am capable is that of ink spots from a folio.

With a little chlorine you see--"

He took a few steps to pick up the little flower which he had thrown away, and continued as he retraced with Vladimir the path which led to the castle."Let us speak of more serious things.Do you know the family of this pretty flower?"Thus walking on they conversed exclusively upon botany, and having arrived at the terrace, separated amicably.Vladimir saw Gilbert move away, and then muttered between his teeth:

"Ha! you won't speak, you refuse me your confidence, and you only take off spots of ink! Then let your fate work itself out!"Shall I describe the feelings which agitated Gilbert's heart? They will readily be divined.In addition to the anxiety which preyed upon him, a further and greater source of uneasiness was the fear that all had been discovered."In spite of my precautions,"thought he, "some spy stationed by the Count may have seen me running over the roof, but it is very improbable.

"I am inclined to believe rather, that the lynx eyes of Vladimir Paulitch have read Stephane's face.At the table he has watched her narrowly.Perhaps, too, my glances have betrayed me.This mind, coarse in its subtilty, has taken for a common love the tender and generous pity with which a great misfortune has inspired me.Doubtless he has informed the Count, and it was by his order that he attempted to force my confidence and to draw out my intentions.Stephane, Stephane, all my efforts then will have but resulted in heaping upon your head new misfortunes!" He was calmed a little, however, by the reflection that she had authorized him of her own accord to remain away from her for at least two weeks.

"Before that time expires," thought he, "I shall have devised some expedient.It is, first of all, important to throw this terrier, who is upon our track, off the scent.Fortunately he will not be here long.His departure will be a great relief to me, for he is a dangerous person.If only Stephane will be prudent!"Dinner passed off well! Vladimir did not make his appearance.The Count was amiable and gay.Stephane, although very pale, was as calm as on the preceding days, and his eyes did not try to meet those of Gilbert, who felt his alarm subsiding; but when they had risen from the table, Kostia Petrovitch having left the room first, his daughter had time, before following him, to turn quickly, draw from her sleeve a little roll of paper, and throw it at Gilbert's feet; he picked it up, and what was his chagrin when, after having locked himself in his room, he read the following lines: "The spirit of darkness has returned to me! I could not close my eyes last night.My head is on fire.I fear, I doubt, I despair.My Gilbert, I must at any cost see you this evening, for I feel myself capable of anything.Oh, my friend! come at least to console me--come and take from my sight the knife which remains open on my table."Gilbert passed two hours in indescribable anguish.Whilst day lasted, he stood leaning upon his window sill, hoping all the time that Stephane would appear at hers, and that he could communicate to her by signs; but he waited in vain, and already night began to fall.He deliberated, wavered, hesitated.At last, in this internal struggle, one thought prevailed over all others.He imagined he could see Stephane, pale, disheveled, despair in her eyes; he thought he could see a knife in her hands, the slender blade flashing in the darkness of the night.Terrified by these horrible fancies, he turned a deaf ear to prudential counsels, suspended his ladder, descended, crossed the roofs, clambered up the window, and sprang into the room.Stephane awaited him, crouching at the feet of the saints.She rose, bounded forward, and seized the knife lying upon the table with a convulsive motion, turned the point towards her heart, and cried in a vibrating voice:

"Gilbert, for the first and last time, do you love me?"Terrified, trembling, beside himself, Gilbert opened his arms to her.She threw the poniard away, uttered a cry of joy, of delirium, leaped with a bound to her friend, threw her arms about him, and hanging upon his lips she cried:

"He loves me! he loves! I am saved."

Gilbert, while returning her caresses, sought to calm her excitement; but all at once he turned pale.From the neighboring alcove came a sigh like that he had heard in one of the corridors of the castle.

"We are lost!" gasped he in a stifled voice."They have surprised us."But she, clinging to him, her face illuminated by delirious joy, answered: