Chapter 10 Eight

We walked about a mile in the wood, stopping and calling at every fork; for Edmee, sure that her father would not come home without her, begged her traveling companions to help her find him; The gendarme was very reluctant, for fear of being discovered and attacked by Moprayan's small group of fleeing people.Along the way, they told us that the bandit's nest had been taken during the third attack.The side attacking the castle has been preparing its forces.The lieutenant of the mounted police wished to take the tower without destroying it, and especially to capture the guards without killing them; but, owing to the obstinacy of the latter, this could not be done.The assailants of the castle were met with such ferocity in their second attack that they had no choice but to go to extremes or to retreat.So they set fire to the walls and buildings, and on the third attack they spared nothing.Two Maupras perished on the ruins of the fort; the other five disappeared.Six gendarmes hastened to one side, six to the other; for at once the tracks of the fugitives were found, and the man who told us these details was in hot pursuit of Laurent and Leonard, not far from the Tower of Gazzot. , several bullets hit the first of the two hapless creatures.They heard him cry that he was going to die, and Leonardo, by all appearances, carried him to the wizard's quarters.Only this Leonardo deserves some pity; because perhaps only he can choose a better life.In his life as a bandit, he was sometimes chivalrous, and his fierce heart could still love.His tragic death deeply affected me, and I let myself be led mechanically, lost in somber reflections, and resolved to end my life in the same way if the authorities condemned me to a humiliation he did not want to endure.

Suddenly, the sound of horns and the barking of dogs showed us the approach of a party of hunters.Our side answered them with shouts, and Patience ran to check it out.Edmee, impatient to find his father, overcome the horror of a bloody night, whipped his horse, and was the first to reach the hunters.When we joined them, I saw Edmee nestled in the arms of a tall, respectable-looking man.His sumptuous attire, his hunting jacket with gold thread at all seams, and a magnificent Norman horse led by a hound servant behind him, made such a strong impression on me that I thought that facing a prince .His affections for his daughter were so new to me that I almost took them to be affectations, out of proportion to a man's dignity; my uncle.Edmee whispered to him, emotionally.They talked for a while, and then the old man came to me and hugged me warmly.These gestures seemed so novel to me that I remained motionless and silent in the face of the reassurance and tenderness offered to me.A tall young man, with a handsome face, dressed as well as M. Hubert, came up to shake my hand and thank me, which I could not understand.He then spoke to the gendarmes, whom I understood to be the major general of the province, who asked the gendarmes to let me go back to the castle at liberty to follow my uncle, Monsieur Chevalier, who had guaranteed me on his honor.The gendarmes bid us farewell; for the knights and major generals had enough escorts that they need not fear encountering gangsters.Again I was amazed to see the cavaliers warm friendly gestures to Patience and Marcas.As for the parish priest, he was on an equal footing with the two gentlemen.During the last few months he had been priest of the Château Saint-Sever, and the troubles of the parish had led him to renounce his priesthood.

The tenderness that Edmee received, the love of such a family that I had not expected, the warmth and loveliness of a respectful commoner and amiable nobleman, all I saw and heard seemed like a dream.I watched, unable to comment on anything.Only my thoughts began to move, and at this moment the cavalry was on the road again, and I saw the major general (Monsieur de La Marche) driving between me and Edmee's horse, where he took his place for granted.I remembered she had told me at Mopra Rock that he was her fiancé.Hatred and anger took hold of me, and Edmee seemed to pig out what was on my stubborn soul's mind, and if she hadn't told him she wanted to talk to me and put me in my place near her, I wouldn't know What stupid things would you do.

"What are you going to say to me?" I asked her, more affection than politeness. "Nothing," she whispered back to me. "I have a lot to say to you in the future; will you always do what I want?" "Why the hell should I do what you want, cousin?" She hesitated for a moment, didn't know how to answer me, and finally said: "Because this is how a man proves to a woman that he loves her." "You think I don't love you?" I asked suddenly. "How should I know?" she said. This doubt took me by surprise, and I tried to overcome it in my own way.

"Aren't you pretty?" I said to her. "Aren't I a boy? Perhaps you think I'm too young to perceive a woman's beauty, but now that I'm clear-headed, melancholy, and serious, I can tell you that I'm more beautiful than I am." The more I imagined, I fell in love with you. The more I look at you, the more beautiful I think you are. I never thought that I would find a woman so beautiful. Really, I can't sleep, it's just... " "Stop it," she said sternly. "Oh! You are afraid that this gentleman will hear me," I said, pointing to M. de La Marche. "Don't worry, I will keep my vows, and I hope you, as a girl of high birth, will do yours too." .”

She was silent.We came to a small road where only two people could walk side by side.The night was dark, and although the knights and major generals followed closely behind us, I still wanted to put my arms around her waist boldly, when she said to me in a melancholy and weak voice: "Cousin, forgive me if I don't talk to you. I don't understand what you're saying to me. I'm so exhausted, I feel like I'm dying. Thank goodness we're home. Swear to me, you love my dad , give in to all his suggestions, and make up your own mind about nothing without asking me. If you want me to believe in your friendship, swear to me."

"Oh! my friendship, don't believe that, I agree to friendship," I answered, "but believe in my love. I swear everything that pleases you; and you, won't you promise me anything?" , and sincerely?" "I don't belong to you, what else can I promise you?" she said in a serious tone, "you saved my name, my life belongs to you." At this time, the dawn whitened the horizon, we came to the village of Saint-Several, and after a while we entered the courtyard of the castle.When Edmee dismounted, she threw herself into her father's arms; she was as pale as death.M. La Marche gave a cry and helped carry her away.She passed out.The curate took care of me.I was uneasy about my fate.Once I was no longer fascinated by the girl who had made me leave the lair, the robber's inherent doubts awoke.Like a wounded wolf, I cast sullen glances about me, ready to pounce on the first person to make a movement or utter an ambiguous sentence.The servant took me to a gorgeous suite, and the cake was brought to me at once, which was so exquisite that I couldn't even think of it.The curate's interest in me finally reassured me, and he left me to care for his friend Patience.My distraction and a little uneasiness can't stop the good appetite that young people have.The servant, much better dressed than I, stood behind my chair, and I could not refrain from saluting him whenever he came to grant my wishes; I hate the green dress and silk trousers.It was even worse when he got down on his knees to perform his duties, take off my shoes and send me to bed.At the moment I thought he was laughing at me, and I almost gave him a hard punch on the head; but when he was done, he looked serious, and I looked at him in a daze.

At the beginning of going to bed, I was unarmed, and people were walking around on tiptoes, so I made uneasy movements again.I got up when I was alone, took the longest knife I could pick out from the half-cut table, and then lay down much more at ease, holding the knife tightly in my hand, fell asleep soundly. When I awoke, the setting sun sprinkled the soft reflections of my red brocade curtains on my quilt, making the golden pomegranates that adorned the corners of the cushions shimmer. Feel sorry.I looked up and saw a kind, respectful face, parting the corner of the bed curtain, smiling at me.This is the Chevalier Hubert de Mauprat, who asked me about my health.I tried my best to be polite and thankful; but I made a far less expressive expression than his, and I was terrified and sick at my unconscious brutality.In utter misfortune, I made a movement, and the knife which had been my bed-companion fell to Mr. Mauprat's feet, and he picked it up, looked at it, and looked at me in astonishment.My face became as red as fire, and I faltered, not knowing what to say.I expected reproach for having insulted his hospitality; and he was too polite to presume it.He calmly put the knife on the hearth, came back to me, and said to me thus:

"Bernard, now I know that the life of the most precious person I have in the world was saved by you. I will spend the rest of my life proving my gratitude and respect to you. My daughter has a debt to you Holy debt. You need not be insecure about your future. I know what persecution and vengeance you will face when you come to us; I also know that my friendship and loyalty can save you from the terrible life. You are an orphan, and I have no son. Will you accept me as a father?" I stared blankly at the knight.I can't believe my ears.All sensations in me were numb with astonishment and timidity.I couldn't answer a word; the knight himself was a little surprised, he did not expect to meet such a stubborn person.

"Ah," he said to me, "I hope you will get used to our life. You only need to shake my hand and prove to me that you trust me. I will assign you a servant at once, and you can order anything you want." He, he is at your beck and call. There is only one thing I beg of you, and that is, do not step outside the walls of this garden. I have taken steps to save you from justice. The charges against the conduct of several of your uncles may involve to you." "My uncles?" I said, rubbing my hands over my head. "I had a nightmare? Where are they? What has become of Mopra Rock?"

"The Moprat Rock was not destroyed by the fire," he replied, "and several outbuildings were destroyed; I was in charge of restoring your home, and redeeming your fief from your creditors, which is now the object of their struggle. As for your uncles... you may be the only one to restore the family's reputation, and you have become the only heir to the family." "The only one!" I cried. "Four Maupras fell last night, but what about the other three..." "The fifth, Goucher, was killed in flight; he was found this morning drowned in the pond of Froy. John and Antoine were not found; but the mount of the one and the cloak of the other are in Not far from where Goucher's body lay, it was an ominous omen of similar events. If a Mauprat had escaped, he would not reappear, for there was no hope for him; since they brought upon themselves the inevitable storm, To them and to us (we unfortunately have the same surname) it would be better for them to bear arms and get a tragic end than to be ignominiously hanged on the gallows. We accept what God has given them. The sentence is very severe. Only In one night, seven energetic and youthful beings were summoned to a dreadful debrief!  … Pray for them, Bernard, and let us do our best to wash away their crimes and erase them with acts of righteousness and good deeds A blot on our emblem." The last few words sum up the knight's character.He was pious, upright, and full of charity; but in him, as in most nobles, the tenets of Christian humiliation were thwarted by the pride of blood.He would have had a poor man at his table with all his heart, and every Good Friday he would have washed the feet of a dozen beggars; yet he could not do without all the prejudices of our class.He felt that his cousins, as nobles, were more violating human dignity and crimes than they were as commoners.According to him, on this latter assumption, their guilt would be reduced by half.I have long subscribed to this certainty; it is in my blood, if I can express it that way.Only by the harsh lessons of my fate did I lose this certainty. ①The Friday before Easter. He then confirmed to me what his daughter had said to me.From my birth he had longed to be in charge of my education; but his brother Tristan vehemently opposed it.Having said this, the knight's face darkened, and he said: "You don't know what pernicious consequences my whims have had for me and for you. It has probably been veiled in mystery... the terrible mystery, the blood of the family of Atreides! In Greek legend The sons of Atreus refer to Agamemnon and Menelaus. This family is fierce in nature and disasters continue. Agamemnon’s great-grandfather once chopped his son into pieces and gave it to the gods to eat, which angered the main god Zeus. Agamemnon’s father, Atreus, killed the two sons of his brother Thyestes, who was trying to usurp the throne, and gave him to eat. Later, Agamemnon was killed by his wife and the son of Thyestes son killed. He squeezed my hand, and added sadly: "Bernar, we are both victims of a cruel family. It is not time to accuse those who are going to God's terrible court at this moment; they have done me irreparable damage and they have broken my heart ...the wounds they have done you will be repaid, I swear by the memory of your mother. They have left you uneducated and chained to their life of robbers; but your heart is still as high and pure as the one that gave birth to you Like the mind of an angel. You will correct the mistakes you made unconsciously in your childhood; you will receive an education worthy of your position and restore the honor of your family, will you not? Me, I hope so, I will kneel at your knees I want your confidence, and I shall have it, for heaven ordained you to be my son. Ah! I dreamed of a more perfect adoption before. If I asked for the second time, they would give you my favor, You may grow up with my daughter and you will be her husband. Only God will not. Now you must start your education, and her education is completed. She is old enough to start a family, and she has made She has chosen; she loves M. de La Marche, and is about to marry him; she has told you." I muttered a few vague words.I was so moved by the gentle and magnanimous words of this venerable old man that I felt as if a new quality had awakened in me.But when he uttered the name of his future son-in-law, all my wild instincts came to life, and I felt that no principle of social rectitude would lead me to relinquish the possession of the woman I regarded as prey.My face turned pale, then turned red again, and I had difficulty breathing.Fortunately, the Abbe Aubert (the curate of Jansen) interrupted our conversation, and he came to understand the situation of my fall.Only the Cavalier knew I was sprained at the time, and with the turmoil of so many more serious incidents he had no time for details, and sent for his doctor; Out of the instinct of gratitude, I bowed my head and obeyed. I dare not ask the knight for news of his daughter.I am more daring when I am with the priest.He told me that she was always restless, disturbed, and worrying; the doctor came back at night to bandage me, and told me that she had a high fever, and he worried that she was seriously ill. She did get sick for a few days, which was disturbing.In the horrific agitation she was going through, she expended a great deal of energy and reacted quite violently.As for me, I also stayed in bed; I was in excruciating pain at every step, and the doctor threatened me that if I wouldn't stay still for a few days, I'd be stuck in bed for months.As I am in good health and have never been ill, the transition of my restless habits into this limp confinement bored me with such boredom that it is impossible to describe.One must have experienced the hardships of sleeping in the open in the depths of the woods in order to understand the fear and despair I felt while guarding in the four sides of the silk curtain for more than a week.The splendor of my room, the lacquer of my bed, the care of the servants, down to the food which was kindly provided for me, I was so sensitive on the first day that I thought it was too good, and after twenty-four hours all this seemed to me The unspoken part has become hateful.The knight's visit was kind and short, for his thoughts were preoccupied with the sickness of his beloved daughter.The priest took great care of me.I dare not say to this one and the other, I feel very bad; when I am alone, I want to roar like a lion in a cage, and at night I have wild dreams, dreaming of moss in the woods, and hanging leaves in the forest, Up to the gloomy battlements of Mopra Rock, I thought it was a paradise on earth.On other occasions, the tragic scenes which accompanied and immediately followed my escape were so deeply etched in my memory that even upon waking I was still tormented by a kind of frenzy. M. de La Marche's visit added confusion and excitement to my thoughts.How much he cared for me, how many times he took my hand, asked for my friendship, how many times he cried out that he would give his life for me, and how many other promises I did not hear; There was a rush of water in my ears as I spoke, and if I had my hunting knife in hand I am sure I would have sprung upon him.My savage manner and gloomy glance surprised him greatly, but, as the abbe had told him, my sanity had been struck by sudden and dreadful events at home, he strengthened his assurance all the more, with the utmost kindness and elegance. Way to say goodbye to me. This courtesy I see in all, from the master here to the humblest servant, causes me a discomfort I have never known, though it marvels me; Produced, I can not understand, it is clearly a kind of good intentions.It wasn't like the bragging, sarcasm, and chatter of the Maupras, and it seemed to me like a whole new language that I understood but couldn't speak. When the priest announced to me that he was in charge of educating me, asking me about my situation and my level of education, I was finally able to answer him again.My ignorance far exceeded his imagination, and I was ashamed to reveal it to him, and my rough pride got the better of me, and I declared to him that I was a nobleman, and that I had no intention of becoming a priest.He laughed back at me and stabbed me badly.He gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder, said I would change my opinion over time, and then called me a comical character.I flushed with anger when the knight entered.The priest told him our conversation and my answer.M. Hubert suppressed a smile. "My boy," he said to me kindly, "I don't want to be offended on your account, not even out of friendship. I'm not talking about studies today. Before you can be interested, you must understand necessity. Your thoughts Reasonable, because you have a noble heart; the desire to be educated will come of itself. Have your supper. Are you hungry? Do you like good wine?" "Far more than liking Latin," I answered. "Then, abbe, to punish you for being pedantic," said M. Hubert cheerfully, "you will have to drink with us. Edmee is quite out of danger. The doctor agrees that Bernard should get up and go for a walk. We will be there Let's have dinner in his room." The supper and wine were really good, and I got a little drunk, as is the custom of Mauprayan.I believe the two of them put me like this on purpose, so that I could talk, and understand what kind of common folk they were dealing with.My lack of education was more than they expected; and it is needless to say that they expected me to be well educated, for they did not leave me alone, but hoped and ardently tried to carve my stone.Once I could get out of the room, my boredom melted away.The priest and I were inseparable the first day.The second long day was made easier by the expectation of seeing Edmee the next day, and by the hospitality which I began to find comfortable as I grew accustomed to not expressing surprise.The kindness of the knight's every action was to overcome my rudeness; and this kindness soon conquered my heart.It was the first feeling of admiration in my life.It occupied my heart and went hand in hand with my intense love for his daughter, and it never once occurred to me to let the two feelings wrestle with each other.These are all my needs, these are all my instincts, these are all my desires.In the mind of a child, I harbor the passions of an adult.