Chapter 8 six

My grandfather died when I was fifteen; his death caused no sorrow at Maupra Rock, but real depression.He was the mastermind of all evil that ruled there, and it was needless to say that there was something more cruel in him than his sons, but less despicable.When he died, the glory that his boldness had won us was lost with him.His children have hitherto followed his rules, becoming more and more drunken and depraved.And going out to loot becomes more dangerous every day. We became more and more isolated and helpless, except with the few friends whom we treated favorably and were faithful to us.Because of our ravages, the surrounding area is full of desolation.The terror we have wrought increases day by day the devastation that surrounds us.Must run farther, to the edge of the plain to run amok.We didn't take advantage of it there, my uncle Laurent was the most daring and was badly wounded in a small encounter.Another solution must be found.John made a suggestion.This is disguised, sneaked into the market, and stealing skillfully.We went from robbers to thieves, and our notoriety went from bad to bad.We established a rapport with all the tainted people in the province, and by working behind closed doors for each other, we escaped poverty once again.

I say us, because after my grandfather's death I began to belong to this band of robbers.He had conceded to my pleas to take part in the last few operations he had initiated.Tell you the truth, you have before you a man who has committed robbery.The reminiscence of this is as unrepentant as any soldier who has fought in battle under the general's command.I feel like I'm still living in the Middle Ages.The force and wisdom of written laws are, to me, words without meaning.I feel brave; I fight.Indeed, the fruits of our victories have often made me blush; I have not used them to absolve myself of guilt, and I recall with pleasure that I have helped more than one fallen victim to rise and flee.

This life dazzles me with its intensity, danger, and weariness, and frees me from the painful broodings that arise in my heart.Also, it saved me from John's ensuing abuse.After my grandfather died, we gang of robbers became inferior to another kind of martial arts, and I fell into a loathsome rule.I was not born to cheat and blackmail.Not only did I show disgust, but I also showed incompetence for this new thing.They saw me as a useless member and started treating me badly again.If they feared that I would conform to society and become a dangerous enemy, they would expel me.They not only brought me up, but also worried about my accident. They often deliberately (I have already noticed) provoked me, forcing me to swear and scuffle, trying to get rid of me.This was John's opinion, while Antoine, retaining a little of Tristan's fortitude and family equality, expressed the opinion that I am not so harmful, but useful.I'm a good soldier, and they may need someone to help them when the time comes.I too can learn to deceive; I am young and ignorant; if only John would be kinder to me, and save my fate from being so unfortunate, and above all, let me see my real situation, and tell me that I belong to the society. In the end, I will be hanged as soon as I appear in the public, and my stubbornness and pride will probably give way to gain and need.At least try it before getting rid of me.Antoine sums up his tirade by saying:

"Because we were ten Mauprats last year; after Father died, if we killed Bernard, we would only be eight." This argument prevailed.They released me from the dungeon where I had been languishing for months; they gave me new clothes; they replaced my old gun with the nice carbine I always wanted; and explained to me where I was in society ; Pour me fine wine at meal time.I promised to think about it, and during this time I became a little cruder with my idleness and the binge drinking I hadn't had in my previous raids. But captivity made a sombre impression on me, and I swore secretly that I would rather show my face and meet all that might happen in the land of the King of France than suffer abuse.Only an abominable notion of honor keeps me at Mopra Rock.It was obvious that the storm was gathering above our heads.The peasants are full of murmurs, though we do our best to chain them; independent theories creep in silently among them; our most faithful servants are weary of having bread and plenty of food, and they want money, which we have not. .Several times the courts have solemnly ordered us to pay taxes to the state; our creditors have joined forces with the king's servants and rebellious peasants; The scourge of which the locality fell victim. ①①The lord of Plemadan left a local memory, which saved Maupra's story from exaggerated censure.It is not necessary here to describe the insanity and ingenuity of torture which characterized the life of this madman, and which perpetuated the feudal tradition of brigands in the Berry region to the end of the old dynasty.His castle was besieged, and after stubborn resistance he was caught and hanged.Several people who are still alive and not very old know him. ——Original note

My uncles had long plotted to join in the looting and resistance of this local tyrant.Just when Plemadan was about to fall into the hands of his enemies, and promised us to receive us as friends and allies if we would come to his aid, we learned of his defeat and tragic end .We are always on the alert.Must get out of here, or find a way to survive this life-or-death crisis.Some suggested the former idea, while others insisted on following their father's dying order to be buried under the ruins of the tower.They think that any idea of ​​escape or compromise means cowardice.Fear of such condemnation, and perhaps a somewhat instinctive taste for danger, kept me still; but my distaste for this abominable life lay dormant in me, ready to burst forth violently.

We ate so much one night, and stayed at the table, drinking and gossiping and gossiping, God knows what and what kind of obscenities we used!The weather was bad, and through the partitioned windows there was the sound of running water on the gravel floor of the hall, and the wind and rain shook the old walls.The night wind whistled through the cracks in the dome, making the flames of the resin torches flicker.During the dinner, they ruthlessly made fun of my so-called virtues, and regarded my attitude of not having contact with women as abstinence, especially this point. They took advantage of my embarrassment and forced me to go bad.Resisting these vulgar taunts, retaliation, and drinking, my easily aroused imagination was intoxicated, and I boasted that at the side of the first woman brought to Maupra Rock, I would be better than any of my uncles. Be bolder and be successful.The challenge was accepted with a laugh.Thunder and lightning answered this devilish joy.

Suddenly, a horn sounded from the Spike Fang gate.Everything returned to silence.The Maupra family echoed and greeted each other with trumpets.My Uncle Laurent, who has been away all day, is asking to come in.We were so suspicious that we all seemed to be jailers and wardens of our fortresses.John stood up, shaking the key, but immediately remained still, listening to the sound of the horn, which sounded a second time, signaling the return of the booty and the need to meet it.In the blink of an eye, all Moprats came to the Spike Gate with torches in their hands, except for me, who was indifferent, so drunk that I couldn't stand on my legs.

"If this is a woman," cried Antoine, as he went out, "I swear on my father's soul, she will judge you, brave young man! We will see if your audacity matches your purpose." I propped my elbows on the table, in a state of dementia and restlessness. When the door opened, I saw a decidedly dressed woman enter.I had to force myself not to lose my mind, and finally understood what one of the Moprats was saying in my ear.Neighboring lords, with their wives, were taking part in the hunt, and the young woman's horse was frightened and led her away from the hunt.After galloping for a mile or so, the horse calmed down. She wanted to go back, but she didn't know the Varennes area.Rain, rain and night put her in complete trouble.Laurent met her and offered to send her to Rochemore, which was more than six leagues away, but he said it was nearby, and pretended to be the gamekeeper of the castle.The lady accepted his invitation.She did not know Lady Rochemore, they were somewhat related, and she boasted of being well received.She had never seen the face of any Maupra, and she did not expect to be so close to their lair.She followed her guide without suspicion, and, having never seen the Maupra Rock, near or far, she had no doubt of falling into a trap when she was brought into the hall where we feasted.

I rubbed my heavy eyelids and looked at this young and beautiful woman with a calm, frank, upright expression I had never seen in any other woman's face (all the mace gates into our little castle women, all shameless whores, or victims of stupidity), then I thought I was dreaming. The fairies I've seen appear in knightly legends.I almost thought that Morgana and Hurard had come to our house to punish the evil and promote the good; for a moment I wanted to kneel and protest that I would be mixed with my uncles for the sentence.Laurent quickly gave his instructions to Antoine, who approached her as courteously as possible, and begged her to forgive him and his friends for wearing hunting clothes.They were all nephews or cousins ​​of Lady Rochemore, and were waiting at table for this very pious lady to emerge from the chapel, where she was having a doctrinal discussion with her preacher.The innocence and trust with which the strange woman listened to this ludicrous lie bothered me, but I didn't realize how I felt.My uncle John stayed beside her with a perverted look all the time; she said to him: ①Morgana is a fairy in medieval fairy tales, and Ultonde is a fairy in medieval knight novels.

"I do not want to disturb this lady; I am afraid that my presence here at this moment will disturb my father and my friends. Please tell her that I ask her to lend me a rested horse and a guide, Let me go back to where I guess they were waiting for me." "Madame," replied John with certainty, "you cannot go on the road in this weather; it is only a matter of postponing the meeting with those who are looking for you. Ten of us, well ridden and equipped with torches, set off at once in ten routes, running Everywhere in Varenna. There is no way your parents will not hear from you for at most two hours, and in a little while you will see them arrive here, and they will be best accommodated. You rest awhile and eat your tonic things, recover; for you are drenched and exhausted."

She replied with a smile: "If my anxiety is relieved, I will be hungry. I will try to eat something; but there is no need to make special arrangements for me. You are very kind." She approached the table at my elbow and picked up a piece of fruit next to me, without seeing me.I turned around and stared at her rudely and shamelessly.She defiantly met my gaze.At least that's how I feel.I learned later that she did not look at me; the reason was that, while she was trying to appear calm and confident in the hospitality of others, she was uneasy at the unexpected presence of so many strange men with hideous faces and coarse clothes.But she didn't have any doubts in her heart.I heard a Maupra next to me say to John: "Good! All is well; she's caught; give her a drink, and she'll talk." "Wait a minute," said John, "watching her, it's not a joke; it's better to do it here, not to make fun of it. I'll talk it over, and you'll be called to ask your opinion; look at Bell accept." "What's wrong?" I turned around to him. "Doesn't this girl belong to me? Didn't you all swear on the soul of your grandfather? . . . " "Oh, that's true," said Antoine, approaching us, while the other Mauprats surrounded the lady. "Listen, Bernard, I keep my promise on one condition." "What conditions?" "Very simple; don't tell this frivolous woman that she is not at old Madame Rochemore's for ten minutes." "What do you think I am?" I replied, pulling my hat over my eyes. "You think I'm a brute? Wait a minute, do you want me to fetch my grandmother's gown upstairs and dress up like an old Rochemore woman?" "Good idea," said Laurent. "However, I have something to tell you." John said. He beckoned to the other Moprats and led them outside.As they went out, I believed to have seen John trying to encourage Antoine to watch me, and Antoine insisted on going with them, with a stubbornness I did not understand.Just leave me with a strange woman. For a moment I was dazed and flustered, more confused than satisfied to be alone; I tried to make sense of the mysteries going on around me, and through the smell of alcohol I imagined something quite realistic, though not at all so. I interpret everything I have just seen and heard on the basis of the following assumptions: 1. This lady, so calm and richly dressed, is a Bohemian girl, whom I have sometimes seen at the fairs; 2. 1. Laurent met her in the fields and brought her to make everyone happy; 3. They whispered to him that I uttered wild words when I was drunk, and they took him away to test my pursuit of women means, they would observe me through the keyhole.As soon as this thought came to me, my first movement was to rise, go straight to the door, lock and bolt it, and approach the lady, determined not to give her reason to laugh at my cowardice. She sat under the mantel-piece, bent over the fire, as if absorbed in drying wet laundry, and was oblivious to my movements; but she shuddered at the strange expression on my face as I approached her.I decided to hug and kiss her first, but she raised her eyes to me, and I don't know why it's so weird that I can't make this kind of kiss.I can only say to her: "To tell you the truth, madam, you are very charming, and I really like you, as surely as my name is Bernard Mauprat." "Bernar Mauprat!" she cried, standing up. "Are you Bernard Mauprat? In that case, please be respectful. Do you know who you are addressing? No one has ever spoken to you?" "I haven't been told that, but I can guess it," I replied mockingly, trying to resist the respect I felt for her sudden paleness and severity. "If you can guess," she said, "how can you talk to me like that? I've been told you've got a bad education, but I've always wanted to see you." "Really?" I said mockingly, still. "You are the princess of the highway, how many people have you seen in your life! Let my lips touch yours, my beauty, and you will know that I am educated as well as my uncles, whom you have just heard their speech." "Your uncle!" she cried, grabbing the chair and placing it between us, as if in an instinct of self-defense. "Oh, my God! My God! I'm not at Madame Rochemore's!" "The beginning of the name is the same①, and the rock formation we live in is as beautiful as anywhere." ) starts with the same. "O Moprayan! . . . " she murmured, trembling from head to toe, as a doe hears a wolf howling. Her lips turned pale.Concern flitted across her face.Out of involuntary sympathy, I also shuddered, and almost suddenly changed my attitude and language. "What's there to panic about for her?" I wondered. "Isn't she acting? If the Maupra brothers hadn't been eavesdropping behind the parapet, she wouldn't have seen it happen. Tell them everything about it? But she trembles like a poplar leaf... What if this is an actress? I saw an actress who played Genevieve of Brabant and cried like real The same as ours.” ①A character in medieval folklore is the embodiment of virtue. I was at a loss, my eyes flicked to her from time to time, and to the door from time to time, I always thought the door would open at any moment amidst the laughter of my uncles. This woman is beautiful and charming.I can't believe there was ever such a beautiful woman.And I'm not alone in judging this; she left a reputation for beauty that has not been forgotten in the land to this day.She was tall and slender, with a nimble demeanor that was striking.Her dark eyes and ebony hair set off her fairness.There is a kind and delicate expression in the gaze and the smile, which is elusive together; it seems that God has given her two hearts, the intelligent heart and the emotional heart.She was gay and bold by nature; she was an angel, and the troubles of men had not dared to visit her.Nothing had made her miserable, nothing had taught her doubts and fears.This was the first time in her life that she had suffered, and it was I, a brute, who had caused her.I took her for a gypsy girl and she was a pure angel. She is my distant aunt named Edmé de Mauprat, daughter of my (also distant) great-uncle Monsieur Hubert, whom they call a knight, who married at a very old age and left Malta Knights; my aunt and I, we are the same age, seventeen years old, only a few months apart; this is our first meeting.I should have risked my life to protect her from harm, but she shivered and trembled before me, like a victim facing an executioner. She pulled herself together and approached me, and I walked the hall preoccupied.She gave her name and said: "You can't be as mean as those robbers I just saw. I know their devilish lives. You were young, and your mother was kind and wise. My father wanted to raise you and adopt you. He still regrets not You dragged out of the abyss into which you fell. Haven't you received a few letters from him? Bernard, you are my relative, think about the blood relationship; why do you want to insult me? They want to murder me or torture me here Why? Why did they lie to me that I was at Fort Rochemore? Why did they retreat mysteriously? What were they going to do? What happened?" She stopped talking; just now there was a shot outside.There was an echo from the light cannon, and the dismal blare of the siren shook the forlorn walls of the tower.Miss Maupra sank back into her chair.I didn't move, wondering if this was just another comic situation to make fun of me, and I decided to ignore the alarm until I was sure it wasn't fake. I approached her again and said, "Well, to be honest, this is a joke. You're not Mademoiselle de Mauprat, and you want to know if I'm a novice at flirting." "I swear in the name of Christ," she answered, pressing my hand in hers as cold as death, "I am Edmee, your kinsman, your captive, your friend; for I have been Concerned about you, always begging my father not to leave you... Listen, Bernard, there is a fight, there is a gunfight! Of course, my father is coming for me, and they will kill him! Ah!" she cried, kneeling In front of me, "Go and stop, Bernard, my son! Tell your uncles, respect my father, you know, he is the best man! Tell them, if they hate me, want bloodshed , then, let them kill me and dig out my heart, but honor my father..." Someone outside called me sternly. "Where is this coward? Where is this broomstick?" cried my uncle Laurent. People shake the hall door; I shut it firmly against the frenzied shaking. "The coward is having fun while we're stuck in the neck! Bernard, the mounted police are attacking us. Your Uncle Louis has just been killed. Come, for God's sake, come, Bernard!" "To hell with you all!" I cried, "death to all, I will not be so credulous; I am not so stupid as you think; only liars are cowards. I, I swear, I will Get this woman, and hand her over when it pleases me." "Go to hell!" replied Laurent, "you pretend..." The musketry fired more densely, and there was a terrible cry.Laurent left the door and ran towards the noise.His anxiety was very telling, and I couldn't help it.The idea that they would accuse me of being a coward prevailed; I headed for the door. "Oh, Bernard! Oh, Monsieur de Mauprat!" cried Edmee, following me, "let me go with you; I will prostrate myself at the feet of your uncles, and let this Stop the fighting, give them everything I have, my life, if they want it...in order to save my father's life." "Wait a minute," I said, turning to her, "I have no way of knowing if they will laugh at me. I believe my uncles are hiding behind the door; our dog servants are shooting in the yard, but they Waiting to wrap me in a blanket and toss it up. You're my relative, or a... You'll swear to me, and I'll swear to you. If you're a wandering princess, I'm deceived by your pretentious demeanor Now, come out of this room, then swear to be my lover, that you will not suffer another to be with you till I use my right; or I swear to you that you will be punished, as I taught me this morning That dappled bitch like Flor. If you were Edmee, I swear to you, I'd keep your father from anyone who would kill him, so what do you promise me, what do you swear to me ?” "If you save my father," she cried, "I swear to you that I will marry you." "Well!" I said to her, emboldened by her passion, the sublime of which I did not understand. "Please give me a promise, no matter what, I can't get out of here like a fool." She let me kiss her without resistance; her cheeks were cold.She followed me nonchalantly; I had to give her a push.I didn't push hard, but she fell down like a faint.I began to understand my real situation because the hallway was empty and the noise outside was getting louder.I ran to my weapon, when she made a last gesture of apprehension, or perhaps another emotion, which brought me back, and I left Edmee in the hall, locking the door tightly.I hung the key in my belt, and I loaded my gun as I ran, and ran over to the wall. This was only an attack by the Mounted Police and had nothing to do with Mademoiselle de Mauprat.Our creditors get judgment for our arrest.After the judiciary had been badly treated and beaten, the Royal Attorney of the Lower Court of Bourges filed an indictment, issued a summons, and demanded the best execution of the armed forces, in an attempt to catch us lightly by night raids.But we are on the best defense they can imagine; our men are brave, we are armed, and besides, we are fighting to the death; we have desperate courage, which is a great advantage.Our ranks had grown to twenty-four, but their armed men numbered more than fifty.Twenty or so peasants were throwing stones, and they were causing more trouble for the Confederates than for us. After half an hour of fierce fighting, our resistance overwhelmed the enemy, and the enemy had no choice but to withdraw their troops temporarily; but after a while, they made a comeback and were repelled with losses.The exaggeration of sword drawing paused temporarily.For the third time they demanded our surrender, promising to spare our lives.Antoine Mauprat answered them with a mocking swearword.They hesitated and refused to retreat. I fought bravely and did what I called my duty.The truce continues.We could not judge the distance of the enemy, and dared not shoot into the darkness, because our ammunition was very precious.All my uncles are sticking to the wall, not knowing when a new attack will come.Uncle Louie was seriously injured.I thought of my female captive.At the beginning of the battle, I heard someone say to John Mauprat that, in the event of a rout, she must be sacrificed by asking for a relief, or hang her in the presence of the enemy.I no longer doubt the veracity of her words.When the victory seemed to be ours, the female captives were forgotten.Only the cunning John slipped away into the darkness like a cat from the light cannon he so loved to aim.An unimaginable jealous impulse seized me.I dropped my gun and rushed to follow him, knife in hand, sure that if he touched the female prisoner I regarded as my own, I would stab him firmly.I saw him approaching the hall door, trying to open it, and peering through the keyhole to make sure his catch had escaped.The gunfire rang out again.With his amazing agility, he turned his uneven heels and ran towards the wall.I hid in the dark and let him run without following him.Another instinct, different from Harsha, has occupied my mind just now.Flashes of jealousy ignite my lust.The smoke, the sight of blood, the noise, the danger, the several glasses of schnapps that I drank in turn to keep me excited all worked my head in an unusual way.I took the key from my girdle, flung open the hall door, and when I reappeared in front of the prisoner, I was no longer the suspicious and rough apprentice she had shaken; One hundred times more dangerous.She hurried to me.I threw my arms around her; instead of being frightened, she rushed forward and asked loudly: "What! Where is my father?" "Your father," I said, embracing her, "isn't here. There's a lot of fighting going on right now, and there's nothing to talk about, neither him nor you. We've knocked out a dozen gendarmes, that's all. Victory, as usual, is ours. So , you don't have to worry about your father; I don't worry about the king's men any more. Let us live in peace and celebrate our love." After speaking, I lifted the jug of wine on the table to my lips.And she snatched it from me, emboldening me with an air of arbitrariness. "Don't drink any more," she said to me. "Think about what you said. Do you mean what you say? Will you be responsible on honor and on your mother's soul?" "It's all true, I swear by your pretty pink mouth," I replied, wanting to hug her again. She backed away in fear. "Oh, my God!" she said, "he's drunk! Bernard! Bernard! Remember your promise, keep it. You know now that I am your relative, your Sister①"①From here on, the author makes the host and hostess equal in seniority. "You are either my lover or my wife," I answered her, running after her. "You're a vile fellow!" she said, pushing me away with the whip. "What did you do to make me owe you? Did you save my father?" "I swore to save him, and I would have done it if he was here; I've done it. You know if I did it and failed, at Mopra Rock, with brutal slow torture— Simmering to punish my betrayal? I swear so loud that they may have heard. To be honest, I don't care, I don't care if I live two days more or less, but I value your favor, My beauty, and insisted not to be a despondent knight to be ridiculed. Come, love me now, or, tell the truth, I'll go back there, and woe to you if I'm killed. Beside you No more knights, and you have seven Maupras to deal with. I'm afraid you don't have that much strength in your hands, pretty little daredevil." I said this casually, with no other intention than to distract her, so as to grab her hand or put my arms around her waist, but it made a strong impression on her.She fled to the other side of the hall and tried to open the window, but her little hands couldn't move the rusted frame.Her attempt made me laugh.She folded her hands sadly and remained motionless; her face changed suddenly; she seemed to have made up her mind, and she walked towards me with her hands open and a smile on her face.She was pretty and moving, and a cloud of mist passed over my eyes. For a moment, I looked at her, but I turned a blind eye. Let me omit my childish behavior.I must tell you how she was dressed.She never wore the suit again after this odd evening, but I remember it well.This is already far away.But as long as I'm alive, I'll never forget a detail.At that time, both outside and inside me were in turmoil, bullets hit the fence, flashes flashed across the sky; my blood flowed from heart to head, and from head to chest, what a strong impression I had. oh!She is graceful!Right now, I feel her ghost still passing before my eyes.I will say, I believe seeing her in the riding clothes that were in vogue at the time.The riding attire consisted of a wide sarong; the bodice was cinched tightly in a gray satin waistcoat with pearl buttons and red sash; A gray felt hat, trimmed with six red feathers, hung up on his forehead and held down his unpowdered hair, which was brushed around his face and trailed behind him in two long braids like a Bernese woman.Edmee's braid was so long that it almost reached the ground. For me, this strange costume, this flower of youth, this gracious welcome which she seemed to express to my attempt, were enough to drive me mad with joy and love.I know nothing that is more flattering than a pretty woman's surrender without foul language or shameful tears.My first gesture was to take her in my arms; and as if overwhelmed by the irresistible need to love that marks first love even in the wildest of people, I fell at her knees, Hugging her legs to my chest; in my hypothesis, this admiration was expressed to a frivolous woman.Even so, I almost passed out. She took my head in her beautiful hands and said aloud: "Ah! I see clearly, and I understand that you are not one of these wicked people; oh! you will save me. Thank God, bless you, oh God! my dear boy, what do you say Walking? Let's run away; should we jump out of the window? Oh! I'm not afraid, my dear sir, let's go!" I woke up like a dream, and to be honest, I found it extremely unpleasant. "How?" I answered, standing up again. "Are you playing with me? Don't you know where you are? You think I'm a child?" "I know I'm at the Rock of Mopra," she answered, turning pale again, "and I'll be insulted and killed in two hours, if I never arouse your pity. But I shall succeed, cried she, and this time it was her turn to kneel at my feet, "you are not one of those people. You are too young to be a devil like them; just now you seemed to pity me, and you would let me escape, Is that right, is it right, my darling?" She seized my hand, and kissed it passionately, in order to soften my heart; I could not reassure her when I listened to her, and looked at her in a dazed manner.My soul does not automatically come to the stage of magnanimity and sympathy, when a passion, stronger than all others, suppressed the feeling she was trying to find in me.I stared at her, but didn't understand her words.For me, it was all about knowing if I liked her, or if she was willing to use me to get away. "I can see that you are afraid," I said to her. "You are afraid that I am wrong; I will certainly not hurt you. You are so beautiful that I want nothing but to touch you." "Yes, your uncles will kill me," she cried, "you understand that. Would you like them to kill me? If you like me, save me, and I will love you afterwards .” "Oh, yes! After, after!" I answered her, laughing with stupid distrust, "after you let the king's men hang me, because I just beat them hard. Come, prove to me You love me, and I will save you later; I am also later." I chased her around the room; she was running.However, she didn't show any anger at me, she just pushed me back with kind words.The unfortunate girl pinned her only hope on me, lest I should be offended.what!If only I could understand the situation of a woman like her and mine!I can't do it, I have only one fixed idea, the same one that a wolf would have in the same situation. At last, to all her entreaties, I always answered the same sentence: "Are you loving me, or are you mocking me?" She saw that she was dealing with a rough person, and she made up her mind, and turned to me. , wrapped her arms around my neck, hid her face in my arms, and let me kiss her hair.Then she gently pushed me away and said to me: “我的天！你没看出我爱你吗？你没看出我一看见你就喜欢你吗？你不明白我憎恶你的几位叔叔，我只愿属于你吗？” “明白，”我固执地回答，“因为您想，这是一个傻瓜，我对他说我爱他，说服他相信我愿意做的事；他会相信的，然后我把他拉去上绞刑架。得了，如果您爱我的话，管用的只有一句话。” 她用忧虑的神态看我，她不掉转头去，我便竭力去吻她的嘴唇。我捏住她的双手，她只能推迟她缴械的时刻。她苍白的脸蓦地变得绯红，露出微笑，带着天使般娇媚的神情说： “您呢，您爱我吗？” 打这时起，胜利属于她的了。我再没有力量去要求我渴望的东西；我猞猁般的头脑乱成一团，这正是一个男子的头脑；我相信，我生平头一遭喊出：“是的，我爱你！是的，我爱你！”的时候有了人的声调。 她带着疯狂的神态，用柔媚的声调说：“那么，我们相爱吧，我们逃走吧。” “是的，我们逃走吧，”我回答她，“我憎恨这个家和我的叔叔们。我早就想逃走。不过，你分明知道，你们的人会绞死我的。” “他们不会绞死你的，”她笑着说，“我的未婚夫是个少将。” “你的未婚夫！”我叫道，又一次起了嫉妒，比第一次更厉害，“你就要结婚？” “为什么不呢？”她回答，仔细打量我。 我脸色变白。咬紧牙齿。 “这样的话，”我对她说，想把她拖到怀里。 “这样的话，”她在我脸颊上轻轻拍了一下，“我看你嫉妒了；不过，十点钟想占有她的情人，半夜再让给八个醉醺醺的人，他们第二天把脏得像道路烂泥的她还给他，这倒是一个古怪的爱嫉妒的人。” “啊！你说得对，”我大声说，“你走吧！你走吧！我会保护你，直到流尽我最后一滴血；我会因寡不敌众而倒下，死时想到你仍然属于他们。多么可怕呀！你使我想到这上面去；瞧我多么忧虑。得，走吧！” “噢！是的！噢！是的！我的天使！”她叫道，冲动地吻着我的脸颊。 这种温存是我自童年以来，一个女人第一回给我的，我不知道什么原因，使我想起我母亲的最后一吻；它不但没给我愉快，反而引起我深深的悲哀。我感到泪水盈眶。哀求我的姑娘发觉了，吻着我的眼泪，一直重复： “救救我！救救我！” “但你的婚事呢？”我对她说，“噢！听着，向我发誓，我死之前你不能结婚；这不会很久，因为我的几个叔叔会像他们所说的那样，短时间作出合理的惩罚。” “你不跟我走？”她又说。 “跟你走？不，因为干了强盗的勾当在那边上绞刑架，因为放走你在这里被吊死，这本是一码事，至少我不必羞愧，被看作一个告密者，在公共广场上绞刑架。” “我不让你留在这里，”她大声说，“要不然我宁愿一死；跟我来吧，什么险你也不用冒，相信我的话。我在上帝面前担保你的安全。如果我说谎，那么你就杀死我吧；我们快走吧……我的天！我听到他们唱歌！他们来了！啊！如果你不想保护我，那就马上杀死我！” 她扑到我的怀里。爱情和嫉妒越来越在我身上占了上风；我确实有杀死她的念头，我听到大厅旁边的房间有嘈杂声和人声时，将手按在猎刀上。这是凯旋的呐喊。我诅咒上天让我的敌人胜利。我把爱德梅紧紧抱在胸前；我们彼此拥抱，一动不动，直至又一声枪响表明战斗重新开始。于是我满怀激情地把她抱在我的心口上，对她说： “你使我想起一只可怜的斑鸠，它被鹞鹰追逐，有一天扑到我的外衣里，一直钻进我的怀中。” “你没有把它出卖给鹞鹰，是不？”爱德梅说。 “没有，真见鬼！我也不会出卖你，你是树林里最美丽的鸟儿，我不会出卖给威胁着你的凶恶的夜鸟。” “我们怎么逃呢？”她恐惧地倾听着枪声，说道。 “很容易，”我说，“跟我来。” 我拿了一支火把，拉起翻板活门，让她跟我下到地窖去。从那里，我们来到从岩层中挖出的地道，从前，守卫的人数更多时，这地道用作自卫的重要方式；人们从与狼牙闸门相反的另一端来到田野，绕到正在交战的围攻者背后。如今，守卫莫普拉岩的人已不能分成两部分，况且，在夜晚，冒险走出城堡简直是发疯。我们毫无障碍地来到地道出口，末了，我一下发起火来，将火炬扔到地上，倚着门对瑟瑟发抖的爱德梅说： “你不属于我，你就别想从这里走出去。” 我们待在黑暗中，战斗的响声已传不到我们这里。他们到这里抓住我们之前，我们有千百次逃跑的时间。一切都在鼓励我，爱德梅只能任凭我摆布。待她看到她的姿色的诱惑已对我起不了作用，无法使我激动不已，她便不再哀求我，在黑暗中倒退几步。“你打开门，”她对我说，“你先出去，否则我就自尽；因为我拿到了你的猎刀，你把它忘在翻板活门边上了，你要是想回到你的叔叔们那里，就不得不踩到我的血泊里。” 她的嗓音充满毅力，使我十分惶恐。 “将这把刀还给我，”我对她说，“否则我要冒一切危险夺过来。” “你以为我怕死？”她平静地说。“我在那边拿到了这把刀，就不会在你面前受辱。” “真倒霉！”我叫道，“您欺骗了我，您不爱我！您走吧，我看不起您，我不跟您走。” 我一面说，一面打开了门。 “您不走，我也不想走，”她说，“您不希望我们逃走时我是清清白白的。我们俩谁更豪爽？” “您疯了，”我对她说，“您欺骗了我，您耍弄我很有手腕。不过，您不起誓，您成为我的情人之前，不能与少将或别人结婚，那就别想从这儿出去。” “您的情人？”她说，“您居然这么想？难道您就不能收敛您的无礼，至少说您的妻子？” “我的几个叔叔处在我的地位，就会这样说，因为他们只关心您的嫁妆。我呢，我什么也不想，只歆羡您的美色。您发誓，您将先属于我，然后您才是自由的；我这样发誓：如果我嫉妒得太厉害，无法忍受下去，大丈夫说话算数，我会开枪自杀。” 爱德梅说：“我发誓属于您之前，不属于任何人。” “不是这样，要发誓属于任何人之前，先属于我。” “这是一码事，”她回答，“我这样发誓。” “以《福音书》的名义发誓？以基督的名字发誓？以您的灵魂得救发誓？以您母亲的灵柩发誓？” “以《福音书》的名义发誓，以基督的名字发誓，以我的灵魂得救发誓，以我母亲的灵柩发誓！” "very good." “等一等，”她又说，“您要发誓，我的诺言和履行诺言将是我们之间的一个秘密，我的父亲，包括会宣扬出去的任何人都绝对不能知道。” “不管世上什么人，都不会知道。只要这确定下来，我何苦要别人知道呢？” 她让我重复誓言，我们手拉手，作为互相信任的表示，然后冲到外面。 我们的逃跑困难重重。爱德梅既怕围攻者，又怕困守者。我们幸亏没遇到任何人，但不容易走快：夜色漆黑，我们撞在树上；道路很滑，我们站立不稳。一下意料不及的响声使我们哆嗦起来；随即听到脚上拖着的铁链声，我认出是我祖父的坐骑，它老掉了牙，却依然壮实暴烈：正是它十年前把我驮到莫普拉岩；它的脖子上只有一条缰绳。我打了个活结，套在它嘴上；我把外衣披在它的后臀上，将逃跑的姑娘扶上去，我去掉绊索，跳上了马，发狂地用鞋后跟踢它，让它漫无目的地奔跑起来。幸亏马儿比我认得路，不需要看清道路，便能绕来绕去，不撞在树上。可是，马儿经常滑蹄，为了站稳，它摇得我们多少次踩空马澄（马儿像我们全身装备好一样，也戴着鞍具），险而又险。在这样的情况下，偏是绝处逢生，上帝总保护被追逐的人。我们看来没有什么要害怕的了，这当儿，马儿突然撞在一个树根上，它因蹄子陷在齐地面的树根里而摔倒了。我们爬起来之前，它已经跑到黑暗中去，我听见急速的马蹄声愈来愈远。我把爱德梅抱在怀里，她没有摔伤，而我猛扭了一下，连一步路都走不动。爱德梅以为我大腿摔断了；我痛得要命，也以为是这样；可是，过了一会儿，我既想不到疼，也没想到不安。爱德梅对我温柔关切，使我忘却一切。我徒劳地催促她丢下我继续赶路，她现在可以逃跑了。我们走了很多路。不久就要破晓。她会找到居民点，到处有人保护她，不让她受莫普拉兄弟们的伤害。 “我不离开你，”她执拗地回答我，“你对我忠诚，我同样对你忠诚；我们一起逃走，或者死在一起。” “我没有搞错，”我大声说，“我从枝叶之间看到一缕光。有人住在那边。爱德梅，您去敲门吧。您把我留在这里，不必担心，您会找到一个向导，把您带回家去。” “不管怎样，我不离开您，”她说，“不过，我去看看是否有人能救您。” “不，”我对她说，“我不会让您独个儿去敲这家的门。黑夜里，树林深处的人家，那儿的灯光可能藏着圈套。” 我一直拖着脚，走到那家的门口。门冷得像金属做的；墙垣爬满长春藤。 “谁呀？”我们还没敲门，里边就有人喊起来。 “我们得救了，”爱德梅高声说，“这是帕希昂斯的嗓音。” “我们完蛋了，”我对她说，“他和我，我们是死冤家。” “不用害怕，”她说，“跟我来吧；是上帝把我们引到这儿来的。” “是的，正是上帝把你引到这儿，苍天的女儿和晨星，”帕希昂斯打开门说，“谁跟着你，谁在加佐塔楼就受到欢迎。” 我们进入一个极低的拱顶之下，屋子当中悬挂着一盏铁壳油灯。在这盏阴惨惨的油灯和在炉灶里燃烧的几根灌木的亮光下，我们惊异地看到，加佐塔楼里有几位罕见的客人光临。这一边，有个穿僧侣服装的人，苍白严肃的脸映出火焰的闪光；那一边，一顶宽边帽盖住一个椭圆形的头，末端是一部稀疏的胡子。墙壁映出一只削尖鼻子的影子，世上还没有什么东西可以比拟，除了那把斜放在他膝盖上的长剑；墙上还映出一只小狗的脸，照这副脸的尖尖的形状，可以看作一只大老鼠的脸：因此，在堂马尔卡斯的鼻子、他的狗的头和他的长剑的锋刃这三个尖形物之间，笼罩着一种神秘的和谐。堂马尔卡斯慢腾腾地站起来，将手举到帽子上。冉森教派的本堂神甫就是这样做的。他的狗把头伸进主人的两腿中间，像他一样默然无声，露出牙齿，垂下双耳，不吠不叫。 “嘘！布莱罗！”马尔卡斯冲它喊了起来。