CHAPTER XX. CHIQUITA'S DECLARATION OF LOVE
A compact crowd filled the Place de Greve, despite the early hourindicated by the clock of the Hotel de Ville.
The tall buildings on the eastern side of the square threw theirshadows more than half-way across it, and upon a sinister-looking woodenframework, which rose several feet above the heads of the populace, andbore a number of ominous, dull red stains. At the windows of the housessurrounding the crowded square, a few heads were to be seen looking outfrom time to time, but quickly drawn back again as they perceived thatthe interesting performance, for which all were waiting, had not yetbegun. Clinging to the transverse piece of the tall stone cross, whichstood at that side of the open square nearest the river, was aforlorn, little, ragged boy, who had climbed up to it with the greatestdifficulty, and was holding on with all his might, his arms claspedround the cross-piece and his legs round the upright, in a most painfuland precarious position. But nothing would have induced him to abandonit, so long as he could possibly maintain himself there, no matter atwhat cost of discomfort, or even actual distress, for from it he hada capital view of the scaffold, and all its horribly fascinatingdetails--the wheel upon which the criminal was to revolve, the coil ofrope to bind him to it, and the heavy bar to break his bones.
If any one among the anxious crowd of spectators, however, had carefullystudied the small, thin countenance of the child perched up on the tallstone cross, he would have discovered that its expression was by nomeans that of vulgar curiosity. It was not simply the fierce attractionsof an execution that had drawn thither this wild, weird-looking youngcreature, with his sun-burned complexion, great, flashing, dark eyes,brilliant white teeth, unkempt masses of thick, black hair, and slenderbrown hands--which were convulsively clinging to the rough, cold stone.The delicacy of the features would seem to indicate a different sex fromthe dress--but nobody paid any attention to the child, And all eyeswere turned towards the scaffold, or the direction from which the cartbearing the condemned criminal was to come. Among the groups closearound the scaffold were several faces we have seen before; notably, thechalky countenance and fiery red nose of Malartic, and the bold profileof Jacquemin Lampourde, also several of the ruffians engaged in theabduction of Isabelle, as well as various other habitues of the CrownedRadish. The Place de Greve, to which sooner or later they were allpretty sure to come and expiate their crimes with their lives, seemed toexercise a singular fascination over murderers, thieves, and criminalsof all sorts, who invariably gathered in force to witness an execution.They evidently could not resist it, and appeared to find a fiercesatisfaction in watching the terrible spectacle that they themselveswould some day probably furnish to the gaping multitude. Then the victimhimself always expected his friends' attendance--he would be hurt anddisappointed if his comrades did not rally round him at the last. Acriminal in that position likes to see familiar faces in the throng thathems him in. It gives him courage, steadies his nerves.
He cannot exhibit any signs of cowardice before those who appreciatetrue merit and bravery, according to his way of thinking, and pridecomes to his aid. A man will meet death like a Roman under suchcircumstances, who would be weak as a woman if he were despatched inprivate.
The criminal to be executed on that occasion was a thief, alreadynotorious in Paris for his daring and dexterity, though he had only beenthere a few months. But, unfortunately for himself--though very much thereverse for the well-to-do citizens of the capital in general--hehad not confined himself to his legitimate business. In his lastenterprise--breaking into a private dwelling to gain possession of alarge sum of money that was to be kept there for a single night--he hadkilled the master of the house, who was aroused by his entrance; and,not content to stop there, had also brutally murdered his wife, as shelay quietly sleeping in her bed--like a tiger, that has tasted bloodand is wild for more. So atrocious a crime had roused the indignation ofeven his own unscrupulous, hardened companions, and it was not long erehis hiding-place was mysteriously revealed, and he was arrested, tried,and condemned to death. Now he was to pay the penalty of his guilt.
As the fatal hour approached, a carriage drove down along the quay,turned into the Place de Greve, and attempted to cross it; but, becomingimmediately entangled in the crowd, could make little or no progress,despite the utmost exertions of the majestic coachman and attendantlackeys to induce the people to make way for it, and let it pass.
But for the grand coat of arms and ducal coronet emblazoned on thepanels, which inspired a certain awe as well as respect in the motleythrong of pedestrians, the equipage would undoubtedly have been roughlydealt with-but as it was, they contented themselves with resolutely andobstinately barring its passage, after it had reached the middle of thesquare. The indignant coachman did not dare to urge his spiritedhorses forward at all hazards, ruthlessly trampling down the unluckyindividuals who happened to be directly in his way, as he wouldcertainly have done in any ordinary crowd, for the canaille, that filledthe Place de Greve to overflowing, was out in too great force to betrifled with--so there was nothing for it but patience.
"These rascals are waiting for an execution, and will not stir, norlet us stir, until it is over," said a remarkably handsome young man,magnificently dressed, to his equally fine looking, though more modestlyattired friend, who was seated beside him in the luxurious carriage."The devil take the unlucky dog who must needs be broken on the wheeljust when we want to cross the Place de Greve. Why couldn't he have putit off until to-morrow morning, I should like to know!"
"You may be sure that the poor wretch would be only too glad to do so ifhe could," answered the other, "for the occasion is a far more seriousmatter to him than to us."
"The best thing we can do under the circumstances, my dear de Sigognac,is to turn our heads away if the spectacle is too revolting--though itis by no means easy, when something horrible is taking place close athand. Even Saint Augustine opened his eyes in the arena at a loud cheerfrom the people, though he had vowed to himself beforehand to keep themclosed."
"At all events, we shall not be detained here long," rejoined deSigognac, "for there comes the prisoner. See, Vallombreuse, how thecrowd gives way before him, though it will not let us move an inch."
A rickety cart, drawn by a miserable old skeleton of a horse, andsurrounded by mounted guards, was slowly advancing through the densethrong towards the scaffold. In it were a venerable priest, with a longwhite beard, who was holding a crucifix to the lips of the condemnedman, seated beside him, the executioner, placed behind his victim, andholding the end of the rope that bound him, and an assistant, who wasdriving the poor old horse. The criminal, whom every one turned to gazeat, was no other than our old acquaintance, Agostino, the brigand.
"Why, what is this!" cried de Sigognac, in great surprise. "I knowthat man--he is the fellow who stopped us on the highway, and tried tofrighten us with his band of scarecrows, as poor Matamore called them. Itold you all about it when we came by the place where it happened."
"Yes, I remember perfectly," said Vallombreuse; "it was a capital story,and I had a good laugh over it. But it would seem that the ingeniousrascal has been up to something more serious since then--his ambitionhas probably been his ruin. He certainly is no coward--only look what agood face he puts on it."
Agostino, holding his head proudly erect, but a trifle paler than usualperhaps, seemed to be searching for some one in the crowd. When the cartpassed slowly in front of the stone cross, he caught sight of the littleboy, who had not budged from his excessively uncomfortable and wearisomeposition, and a flash of joy shone in the brigand's eyes, a slight smileparted his lips, as he made an almost imperceptible sign with his head,and said, in a low tone, "Chiquita!"
"My son, what was that strange word you spoke?" asked the priest. "Itsounded like an outlandish woman's name. Dismiss all such subjects fromyour mind, and fix your thoughts on your own hopes of salvation, for youstand on the threshold of eternity."
"Yes, my father, I know it but too we
ll, and though my hair is blackand my form erect, whilst you are bowed with age, and your long beardis white as snow, you are younger now than I--every turn of the wheels,towards that scaffold yonder, ages me by ten years."
During this brief colloquy the cart had made steady progress, andin a moment more had stopped at the foot of the rude wooden stepsthat led up to the scaffold, which Agostino ascended slowly butunfalteringly--preceded by the assistant, supported by the priest, andfollowed by the executioner. In less than a minute he was firmly boundupon the wheel, and the executioner, having thrown off his showy scarletcloak, braided with white, and rolled up his sleeves, stooped to pick upthe terrible bar that lay at his feet. It was a moment of intensehorror and excitement. An anxious curiosity, largely mixed withdread, oppressed the hearts of the spectators, who stood motionless,breathless, with pale faces, and straining eyes fixed upon the tragicgroup on the fatal scaffold. Suddenly a strange stir ran through thecrowd--the child, who was perched up on the cross, had slipped quicklydown to the ground, and gliding like a serpent through the closelypacked throng, reached the scaffold, cleared the steps at a bound, andappeared beside the astonished executioner, who was just in the actof raising the ponderous bar to strike, with such a wild, ghastly, yetinspired and noble countenance--lighted up by a strength of will andpurpose that made it actually sublime--that the grim dealer of deathpaused involuntarily, and withheld the murderous blow about to fall.
"Get out of my way, thou puppet!" he roared in angry tones, as herecovered his sang-froid, "or thou wilt get thy accursed head smashed."
But Chiquita paid no attention to him--she did not care whether she waskilled too, or not. Bending over Agostino, she passionately kissed hisforehead, whispered "I love thee!"--and then, with a blow as swiftas lightning, plunged into his heart the knife she had reclaimed fromIsabelle. It was dealt with so firm a hand, and unerring an aim, thatdeath was almost instantaneous--scarcely had Agostino time to murmur"Thanks."
With a wild burst of hysterical laughter the child sprang down from thescaffold, while the executioner, stupefied at her bold deed, lowered hisnow useless club; uncertain whether or not he should proceed to breakthe bones of the man already dead, and beyond his power to torture.
"Well done, Chiquita, well done, and bravely!" cried Malartic--who hadrecognised her in spite of her boy's clothes--losing his self-restraintin his admiration. The other ruffians, who had seen Chiquita at theCrowned Radish, and wondered at and admired her courage when she stoodagainst the door and let Agostino fling his terrible navaja at herwithout moving a muscle, now grouped themselves closely together so asto effectually prevent the soldiers from pursuing her. The fracasthat ensued gave Chiquita time to reach the carriage of the Duke ofVallombreuse--which, taking advantage of the stir and shifting in thethrong, was slowly making its way out of the Place de Greve. She climbedup on the step, and catching sight of de Sigognac within, appealed tohim, in scarcely audible words, as she panted and trembled--"I savedyour Isabelle, now save me!"
Vallombreuse, who had been very much interested by this strange andexciting scene, cried to the coachman, "Get on as fast as you can, evenif you have to drive over the people."
But there was no need--the crowd opened as if by magic before thecarriage, and closed again compactly after it had passed, so thatChiquita's pursuers could not penetrate it, or make any progress--theywere completely baffled, whichever way they turned. Meanwhile thefugitive was being rapidly carried beyond their reach. As soon as theopen street was gained, the coachman had urged his horses forward,and in a very few minutes they reached the Porte Saint Antoine. Asthe report of what had occurred in the Place de Greve could not havepreceded them, Vallombreuse thought it better to proceed at a moremoderate pace--fearing that their very speed might arouse suspicion--andgave orders accordingly; as soon as they were fairly beyond the gatehe took Chiquita into the carriage--where she seated herself, without aword, opposite to de Sigognac. Under the calmest exterior she was filledwith a preternatural excitement--not a muscle of her face moved; buta bright flush glowed on her usually pale cheeks, which gave to hermagnificent dark eyes--now fixed upon vacancy, and seeing nothing thatwas before them--a marvellous brilliancy. A complete transformationhad taken place in Chiquita--this violent shock had torn asunder thechildish chrysalis in which the young maiden had lain dormant--as sheplunged her knife into Agostino's heart she opened her own. Her love wasborn of that murder--the strange, almost sexless being, half child, halfgoblin, that she had been until then, existed no longer--Chiquita wasa woman from the moment of that heroic act of sublime devotion. Herpassion, that had bloomed out in one instant, was destined to beeternal--a kiss and a stab, that was Chiquita's love story.
The carriage rolled smoothly and swiftly on its way towardsVallombreuse, and when the high, steep roof of the chateau came in sightthe young duke said to de Sigognac, "You must go with me to my roomfirst, where you can get rid of the dust, and freshen up a bit before Ipresent you to my sister--who knows nothing whatever of my journey,or its motive. I have prepared a surprise for her, and I want it to becomplete--so please draw down the curtain on your side, while I do thesame on mine, in order that we may not be seen, as we drive into thecourt, from any of the windows that command a view of it. But what arewe to do with this little wretch here?"
Chiquita, who was roused from her deep reverie by the duke's question,looked gravely up at him, and said, "Let some one take me to Mlle.Isabelle--she will decide what is to be done with me."
With all the curtains carefully drawn down the carriage drove over thedrawbridge and into the court. Vallombreuse alighted, took de Sigognac'sarm, and led him silently to his own apartment, after having ordered aservant to conduct Chiquita to the presence of the Comtesse de Lineuil.At sight of her Isabelle was greatly astonished, and, laying down thebook she was reading, fixed upon the poor child a look full of interest,affection, and questioning.
Chiquita stood silent and motionless until the servant had retired,then, with a strange solemnity, which was entirely new in her, she wentup to Isabelle, and timidly taking her hand, said:
"My knife is in Agostino's heart. I have no master now, and I mustdevote myself to somebody. Next to him who is dead I love you best ofall the world. You gave me the pearl necklace I wished for, and youkissed me. Will you have me for your servant, your slave, your dog? Onlygive me a black dress, so that I may wear mourning for my lost love--itis all I ask. I will sleep on the floor outside your door, so thatI shall not be in your way. When you want me, whistle for me, likethis,"--and she whistled shrilly--"and I will come instantly. Will youhave me?"
In answer Isabelle drew Chiquita into her arms, pressed her lips tothe girl's forehead warmly, and thankfully accepted this soul, thatdedicated itself to her.