CHAPTER XXXII.
THE NUN'S HUSBAND.
A deep silence long surrounded the two women, one in painfulmeditation, the other in astonishment readily understood.
"If you were removed out of the nunnery," said Lady Louise, to breakthis silence, "you are unaware of how it was done? Yet a convent iswell enclosed and guarded, with bars to the windows, walls of heightand a warder who keeps the keys. In Italy it is particularly so, wherethe regulations are stricter than in France."
"What can I tell your ladyship, when I puzzle my brains without findinga clue?"
"But if you saw this man, did you not blame him for the abduction?"
"I did, but he excused himself on the plea that he loved me. I told himthat he frightened me, and that I was sure that I did not like him. Thestrange feeling is another kind. I am not myself when he is by, buthis; whatever he wills, I must do; one look fascinates me and subduesme. You see, lady, this must be magic."
"At least, it is strange, if not supernatural," said the princess. "Butyou are in the company of this man?"
"Yes; but I do not love him."
"Then why not appeal to the authorities, your parents, theecclesiastical powers?"
"He so watched me that I could not move."
"But you could have written."
"On the road, he stopped at houses where everything is owned by him andhe is master of everybody. When I asked the people about for writingmaterials, they gave no answer; they were his bondwomen."
"But how did you travel?"
"At first in a postchaise; but at Milan, he had a kind of house onwheels to continue the journey in."
"Still, he must have left you alone sometimes?"
"Yes; but then he bade me sleep, and sleep I did, only waking up whenhe returned."
"You could not have strongly wanted to get away," observed PrincessLouise, shaking her head, "or else you would have managed it."
"Alas! I was so fascinated."
"By his loving speech and endearments?"
"Seldom did he speak of love, and I remember me of no caresses save akiss night and morning."
"Really, this is very strange?" muttered the abbess; but as a suspicionstruck her, she resumed: "Repeat to me that you do not love him, andthat as no worldly tie unites you, he would have no claim on you if hecame."
"He has none."
"But tell me how you came here through all; for I am in a fog," saidthe princess.
"I took advantage of a violent thunderstorm, which broke on us neara town called Nancy, I believe. He left me to go into a part of histravelling house which is inhabited by an old man; I leaped upon hishorse and fled. My resolution was to hide in Paris, or some great citywhere I could be lost to all eyes, especially to his. When I arrivedhere, all were talking of your highness' retirement into the Carmeliteconvent. All extolled your piety, solicitude for the unhappy, andcompassion for the afflicted. This was a ray of heavenly light, showingme that you alone were generous enough to receive me and powerfulenough to defend me."
"You continually appeal to power, my child, as though he were powerful?"
"I am ignorant what he is. I only know that no king inspires morerespect--no idol commands more adoration--than he from those to whom hedeigns to reveal himself."
"But his name--how is he entitled?"
"I have heard him called by many names. But only two remain in mymemory. One is used by the old man who is his traveling companion fromMilan to where I left him; the other that he gives himself. The agedman calls him Acharat, and that sounds anti-Christian, does it not,lady? He calls himself Joseph Balsamo."
"What does he say of himself?"
"He knows everything and divines what he knew not. He is thecontemporary of all time. He has lived through all ages. He speaks--theLord forgive me! and forgive him for such blasphemy! not only ofAlexander the Great, Caesar and Charlemagne, as though he had knownthem, albeit I believe they were dead ever so long ago, but also ofthe high priest Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Our Lord Himself, whosemartyrdom he claims to have witnessed."
"He is some quack," said the Princess Louise.
"I do not clearly understand the word, madame; but he is a dangerousman, terrible too, before whom everything bends, snaps and crumblesaway. When he is taken to be defenseless he is armed at all points;when believed alone, he stamps his foot and an army springs up; or ata beck of the finger--smiling the while."
"Very well," soothed the daughter of France; "take cheer, my child; youwill be protected against him. So long as you desire the protection,of course. But do not believe any longer in these supernatural visionsborn of a sick brain. In any case the walls of St. Denis Abbey are asure rampart against infernal power, and what is more to be dreaded,mark you! against human power. Now, what do you propose doing?"
"With this property of mine, in jewels, I mean to pay for my repose ina convent--if possible, in this one."
Lorenza placed on the table some twenty thousand crowns' worth ofbracelets, rings and earrings of price.
"These jewels are mine, as Balsamo gave them to me, and I shall turnthem over to Heaven's use. I have nothing of his but his steed Djerid,which was the instrument of my deliverance, but I should like him tohave it. So I solicit the favor of staying here, on my knees."
"Rest easy, my child," said the lady superior; "from this time forthyou may dwell among us; and when you shall have shown by your exemplaryconduct that you deserve the favor, you may again be the bride of theLord; and I will answer for it that you will not be removed out of St.Denis without knowledge of the superior."
Lorenza fell at the princess feet and poured forth the mostaffectionate and sincere thanks.
But suddenly she rose on one knee, and listened with trembling andpallor.
"Oh, God, how I shake! he is coming! he means to be my destroyer--thatman is at hand. Do you not see how my limbs quiver?"
"I see this, indeed."
"Now I feel the stab in the heart," continued the Italian: "he comesnearer and nearer."
"You are mistaken."
"No, no. In spite of myself, he draws me to him. Hold me back from him."
Princess Louise seized the speaker in her arms.
"Recover your senses, child," she said. "Even if any one came, even he,you would be in safety here."
"He approaches--I tell you, he approaches," screamed Lorenza, terrifiedinto inertia, but with her hands and her eyes directed toward the roomdoor.
"Madness!" said the abbess. "Do you think that anybody can intrude onthe Royal Lady of France? None but the bearer of an order from theking."
"I do not know how he entered," stammered the fugitive, recoiling,"but I am certain that he is coming up the stairs--he is not ten stepsoff--there he is!"
The door flew open, so that the princess receded, frightened in spiteof herself by the odd coincidence. But it was a nun who appeared.
"What do you want--who is there?" cried her superior.
"Madame, it is a nobleman who presents himself to have speech with yourroyal highness."
"His title?"
"Count Fenix, please your highness."
"Do you know the name as his?" inquired the princess of the fugitive.
"I do not know the name, but it is he," she replied.
"Charged with a mission to the king of France from the king ofPrussia," said the nun, "he wishes the honor of a hearing by yourhighness."
Princess Louise reflected an instant; then turning to Lorenza andbidding her go into her inner room, she ordered the sister to show inthe visitor. She went and took her chair, waiting, not without emotion,for the sequel of the incident.
Almost instantly reappearing, the Carmelite ushered in a man whom wehave seen under the title of Fenix, at the presentation of JeanneDubarry at court. He was garbed in the same Prussian uniform, of severecut; he wore the military wig and the black stock; his expressive blackeyes lowered in presence of Princess Louise, but only with the respectof any man for a princess of the royal house, whatever his r
ank. Heraised them rapidly, as though he feared showing too much timidity.
"I thank your royal highness for the favor kindly done me," he said,"though I reckoned upon it from knowing that your highness alwaysupholds the unfortunate."
"I endeavor so to do, my lord," replied the lady with dignity, for shehoped in ten minutes to defeat the man who impudently came to claimoutside help to oppress where he had abused his powers.
The count bowed as if he did not see any hidden meaning in therejoinder.
"What can I do for your lordship?" continued the lady in the same toneof irony.
"Everything. I should like your highness to believe that I would notwithout grave motives vex you in the solitude she has chosen, but youhave sheltered a person in whom I am interested in all points."
"What is the name of this person?"
"Lorenza Feliciani."
"What is this person to you--a relative, sister?"
"She is my wife."
"Lorenza Feliciani, wife of Count Fenix!" said the abbess, raising hervoice so as to be heard in the inner room. "No Countess Fenix is in St.Denis Abbey," she dryly added.
"It may be," said the count, who was not yet acknowledging his defeat,"that your highness is not persuaded that Lorenza and Countess Fenixare the same person. Kindly give the order that Lorenza shall bebrought before you, and all doubt will cease. I ask pardon for beingso persistent, but I am tenderly attached to this wife of mine, and Ibelieve she is sorry we are separated, poor as is my merit."
"Ah!" thought the princess, "Lorenza spoke the truth, for this man ishighly dangerous."
The count stood with a calm bearing, strictly according to courtetiquette.
"I must prevaricate," thought Princess Louise, before she said: "Mylord, I am not in the position to restore a wife who is not here. Iunderstand your seeking her with such persistency, if you love her asdearly as you say; but you will have to seek elsewhere if you wantsuccess."
On entering, the count had glanced round the closet, and his gaze hadcaught a reflection, however slight, of the jewels placed by Lorenzaon the little table in the darkest corner. By the sparkling Fenixrecognized them.
"If your royal highness would kindly collect your memory, though Ihave to ask her to do such violence--it will be recalled that LorenzaFeliciani was here, for she laid those jewels on yonder table beforeshe retired into the next room."
The princess colored up as the count continued:
"So that I wait solely for your highness' leave for me to order her tocome forth, for I cannot doubt that she will immediately obey."
The abbess remembered that Lorenza had locked the door behind her,and consequently that she could not be prevailed upon except by herown will to come out. No longer trying to dissimulate her vexation athaving been lying uselessly to this man, from whom nothing could beconcealed, she said:
"Were she to enter, what would be done to her?"
"Nothing, your highness; she will merely tell you that she wishes to gowith her husband."
This encouraged the princess, recalling the Italian woman's protests.
"It would seem that your highness does not believe me," said the count,in answer to her apparent indignation. "Is there anything incredible inCount Fenix marrying Lorenza Feliciani, and claiming his wife. I caneasily lay before your royal highness's eyes the marriage certificate,properly signed by the priest who performed the ceremony."
The princess started, for such calmness shook her conviction. Heopened a portfolio and took out a twice-folded paper.
"This is the proof of my claim on my wife," he said; "the signatureought to carry belief. It is that of the curate of St. John's inStrasburg, well-known to Prince Louis of Rohan for one, and were hiseminence the cardinal here----"
"He is here at this very time," exclaimed the abbess, fastening fierylooks on the count. "His eminence has not left the abbey, wherehe is with the cathedral canons; so nothing is more easy than theverification you challenge."
"This is a great boon to me," said the count, coolly replacing thedocument in the pocket-book. "I hope this verification will dispel yourroyal highness' unjust suspicions against me."
"Indeed, impudence does disgust me," said the princess, ringing herhand bell quickly.
The nun in waiting entered hastily.
"Send my courier to carry this note to Cardinal Rohan, who is in thecathedral chapter. Let his eminence come hither, as I await him."
While speaking she scribbled a couple of lines on paper which shehanded the nun, whispering:
"Post two archers of the rural guard in the corridor, and let not asoul issue without my leave. Go!"
The count had watched all the princess' preparations to fight out thebattle with him. While she was writing, he approached the inner room,and he muttered some words while extending and working his hands in amovement more methodical than nervous, with his eyes fastened on thedoor. The princess, turning, caught him in the act.
"Madame," said the count, "I am adjuring Lorenza Feliciani to comepersonally and confirm by her own words and by her free will whetherI am or not a forger and an impostor, without prejudice to the otherproofs your highness may exact. Lorenza," called out the count, risingabove all--even to the princess' will, "come forth!"
The key grated in the lock and the princess beheld with unspeakableapprehension the coming of the Italian beauty. Her eyes were fixed onthe count, with no show of hatred or anger.
"What are you doing, child," faltered the Lady Louise, "and why do youcome to the man whom you shunned? I told you that you were in safetythere."
"She is also in safety in my house, my lady," replied the nobleman."Are you not in safety there, Lorenza," he demanded of the refugee.
"Yes," was the other's answer.
At the height of amazement the princess clasped her hands and droppedinto her chair.
"Lorenza," went on the count, in a soft voice but one with the accentof command, "I am accused of doing you violence. Tell me if I have everacted so toward you?"
"Never," replied the woman, in a clear and precise voice but withoutany gesture accompanying the denial.
"Then what did the story about the abduction mean?" questioned theprincess.
Lorenza remained dumb, but looking at the count as though all her life,and speech--which is its expression--must come from him.
"Her highness doubtless wishes to know how you came to leave yournunnery. Relate what happened from your fainting in the choir until youawoke in our postchaise."
"I remember," said Lorenza in the same monotonous voice.
"Speak, for I wish it."
"When I fainted, as the scissors touched my hair, I was carried into mycell, and placed in bed. My mother stayed with me until evening, whenthe village doctor declared that I was dead."
"How did you know this?" inquired the princess.
"Her highness wishes to know how you were aware of what went on," saidthe count.
"Strange thing!" said Lorenza, "I could see and hear but without havingmy eyes open. I was in a trance."
"In fact," said the abbess, "I have heard Doctor Tronchin speak ofpatients in catalepsy who were buried alive."
"Proceed Lorenza."
"My mother was in despair and would not believe in my death. She passedsix-and thirty hours beside me, without my making a move or uttering asigh. The priest came three times and told my mother that she was wrongto dispute the interment as her daughter had passed away just as shewas speaking the vow, and that my soul had gone straight from the altarto heaven. But my mother insisted on watching all Monday night.
"Tuesday morning I was in the same insensibility, and my motherretired, vanquished. The nuns hooted her for the sacrilege.
"The death-candles were lighted in the chapel, where the custom was forthe exposure of the body to repose a day and a night.
"I was shrouded, dressed in white, as I had not taken the vow; my handscrossed on my bosom, and a wreath of white blossoms placed on my brow.
"When the coffin
was brought in, I felt a shiver pass over my body;for, I repeat, I saw all that happened as though I were my second selfstanding invisibly beside my counter-part.
"I was placed in the coffin, and after my time of lying in state, leftwith only the hospital sister to watch me.
"A dreadful thought tormented me in this lethargy--that I should beburied living on the morrow unless some interposition came.
"Each stroke of the time bell echoed in my heart, for I waslistening--doleful idea! to my own death-knell.
"Heaven alone knows what efforts I made to break the iron bonds whichheld me down on the bier; but it had pity on me in my frozen sleep,since here I am.
"Midnight rang.
"At the first stroke, I felt that convulsion experienced wheneverAcharat approached me; a shock came to my heart; I saw him appear inthe chapel doorway."
"Was it fright that you felt?" asked Count Fenix.
"No, no; it was joy, bliss, ecstasy, for I knew that he came to tear mefrom the desperate death which I so abhorred. Slowly he came up to mycoffin; he smiled on me as he gazed for a moment, and he said:
"'Are you glad to live? Then come with me.'
"All the bonds snapped at his call; I rose, extricated myself from thebier as from the grave clothes, and passed by the slumbering nun. Ifollowed him who for the second time had snatched me from death.
"Out in the courtyard I beheld the sky spangled with stars which nevermore had I expected to see. I felt that cool night air which blessesnot the dead, but which is so refreshing to the living.
"'Now,' said my liberator, 'before quitting the convent, choose betweenit and me. Will you be a nun, or will you be my wife?' I wanted to behis wife, and I followed him.
"The tower gate was closed and locked. He asked where were the keys,and as I said in the pocket of the wardress, who slept within, he sentme there to get them.
"Five minutes after we were in the street. I took his arm and we ranto the end of Subiaco village. A hundred paces beyond the last housea postchaise was waiting, all ready. We got in, and off it went at agallop."
"And no violence was done you? No threat was proffered? You followedthe man willingly?"
Lorenza remained mute.
"Her royal highness asks you, Lorenza, if by threat or act I forced youto follow me."
"No; I went because I loved you, darling."
With a triumphant smile, Count Fenix turned round to the royalprincess.