CHAPTER IX.
GERONIMO RESURRECTED.
The clock in the steeple of Saint George struck seven, and night wascoming on, when Julio opened the garden-gate of his master's country-seatand walked with a light step towards the house.
He kept one hand wrapped in his cloak, as if to conceal some object; theother was in his pocket, turning over the gold pieces given him by SimonTurchi. Joy sparkled in his eyes, as he said to himself:
"God be praised! I resisted the temptation. They urged me to drink andplay at the 'Swan,' but my gold coins reminded me that I had a seriousduty to perform. After work comes the recompense. What I hold in my handwill indemnify me for the thirst I have suffered and for the time lost. Itis the very best Spanish wine--as dear as if it were melted silver, and asstrong as if it were liquid fire."
On entering a room in the house, he drew two bottles from his doublet andone from under his cloak, placed them upon the table, and looked at themlongingly.
"No, no, not now; presently! Business first. Your bewitching smile cannotseduce me. Patience, my friends; an hour hence we will become acquainted.To fill up a grave and roll some empty casks into the cellar is a smallmatter. But it is getting so dark that I can no longer distinguish theimage of the emperor on the gold pieces; I must light the lamp."
Taking a wooden box from the mantelpiece, he drew out a flint and struckit. It was some time before the tinder took fire, and Julio laughed at hisown failures; but at last he succeeded in his efforts, and a large lampmade the whole room bright with its rays.
Julio approached the table and said:
"Now at least I can gratify the desire which has irritated my nervesduring the last hour. To possess two hundred crowns, to be as rich as abanker, to feel my pockets weighed down by gold, and still unable to feastmy eyes on the treasure! Now I am alone; there is no one to ask whence itcame. The time has arrived. I may enjoy my wealth without anxiety!"
He drew an arm-chair to the table, reclined in it comfortably, withextended limbs, and placed the gold coin by handfuls under the light ofthe lamp.
After searching his pocket and doublet and convincing himself that all thecrowns were spread out before him, he heaped them up and ran his handsthrough them as if to enjoy the sparkle and jingle of the gold. He heldhis breath, for fear of losing the least sound; with eyes wide open hecontemplated the brilliant treasure.
For a long time Julio remained, with a smile of happiness upon his lips,in mute admiration, and, perhaps scarcely aware of what he was doing, heranged the crowns in a line and counted them; then he separated them intopiles of twenty pieces each; then he tossed them from hand to hand, until,wearied of this amusement, he looked at them musingly. At last heexclaimed in a joyous outbreak:
"Two hundred crowns! What will I do with them? How will I spend them?Shall I drink Malmsey, Muscatel, the very best, such as brings pleasure tothe heart? But at that rate I shall soon see the end of my money. Shall Iplay for florins and crowns? That would be an excellent means, certainly,of either becoming a hundred times richer or of losing every farthing.Strange! how fearful and avaricious money makes me! I do not even care toplay; no, I will not do it. I will dress like a nobleman: in satin,velvet, and silk; I will drink and eat of the most exquisite dishes; Iwill Jive in luxury and abundance, as though the world were a terrestrialparadise. Ah, what a glorious life!
"But what a cowardly wretch I am! My only anxiety is to know how to spendor rather squander this treasure, and at this moment there lives, far fromme, one who perhaps is stretching out her hand to me to beg an alms! Mypoor mother! she may even need bread. Were she to curse her ungratefulson, would he not have deserved it a hundred times? I am afraid of myself!With ten crowns, with the twentieth part of what I am going to throw awayin dissipation, she might be saved from misery for more than a year. Whydid I not give twenty crowns to my master to send to her? Suppose I returnto the factory to execute this good thought? Impossible! Signor Turchiwould be enraged; besides, I have no confidence in him. I will inquire,when in Germany, if she still lives, and if she be in want I will send hermoney."
He took up twenty crowns, one by one, from the table, counted them,regarded them wistfully, and said, as he dropped them into his pocket:
"Twenty crowns! that is a large sum; but it may make my blind old motherhappy. I will put her portion by itself."
His eye again rested on the glittering coin. The sight appeared to dejecthim.
"How visibly it has diminished!" he said, sighing. "I believed my treasureinexhaustible, and by one thought the twentieth part has disappeared. Willit not go as fast in Germany? Will not gambling and drinking deprive me ofthe whole in a few months and leave me in misery? What sombre thoughts! Amoment ago, and everything wore a smiling aspect; now, my mind is torturedby fear and anxiety. But why need I be troubled? When I have spent the twohundred crowns, Signor Turchi will send me more. But it is not well torely too much upon that; his head may fall under the axe of theexecutioner. In that case I would be as badly off myself. The discoverywould drive me from Germany into Netherlands or Italy. Instead of livingin luxury, I would infallibly fall into the lion's jaw, and the gallows orthe wheel would be my well-merited fate. But if the murderer of Geronimobe not discovered, I can return quietly, and my master would receive mekindly for fear I would betray his secret. That depends in a great measureupon my care in acquitting myself of the task entrusted to me. I willaccomplish it loyally and well. The sight of this gold no longer gives mepleasure. A full cup of wine first, and then to work bravely!"
He uncorked one of the bottles and half emptied it; then muttering a fewwords as to the strength and energy imparted by the liquor, he took thelamp, and fixing his eye on the bottle, said:
"It will take me only a few minutes to throw the body into the grave andfill it up; but the rest of the work will require more than an hour. Thatis a long time to be separated from you, is it not? To keep me company, Iwill take the half-empty bottle; that will not hinder me from doing myduty properly; on the contrary, it will give me courage and strength. Nowto work!"
He re-corked the bottle, put it inside of his doublet, took the lamp, andslowly descended the staircase.
The passage leading to the cellar in which Julio had thrown Geronimo'sbody was rather long, and he had time to feel the effect of the wine, andit so raised his spirits that he commenced jesting about hid past anxiety,and on nearing the cellar he sang the first notes of a joyful song.
But the words expired upon his lips, he trembled in every limb, and turnedashy pale.
A voice answered him from the cellar.
Immovable from terror, Julio fixed his eyes upon the door, and strove tocomprehend the words which fell indistinctly upon his ear.
"Heavens!" he exclaimed, "it is Geronimo; he lives!"
Shuddering, he withdrew a short distance down the passage, and was for atime as motionless as a statue. At last, with deep emotion, he said:
"What can this mean? The signor said at the first thrust his dagger metmetal, but that the wound in his neck was deep. Suppose it were merely aflesh-wound? What shall I do? Shall I let him live?"
He was painfully undecided.
"Impossible!" he said. "It would be the death-warrant of both my masterand myself. I must choose between his death and ours. Implacable fatalityurges me on--in truth, I have no choice. One blow, and all is over! I mustnot hesitate; my knife is sharp."
He drew his dagger from its scabbard, examined the blade, tried it withhis finger. He shuddered, and a cry of horror escaped him.
"Fatal position!" he exclaimed. "To kill a man in cold blood! an innocentman! What harm has poor Geronimo ever done me? Stab him! My heart failsme--I cannot perpetrate such a cruelty. And yet, and yet I must! The crimehorrifies me, but I have no alternative. Only by the sacrifice of his lifecan my master escape the scaffold, and I the gallows. Fate irresistiblypursues me; I am the slave of necessity--I must follow whither it leads!"
With staggering step and in a blind frenzy, Julio
ran down the passage,caught his dagger between his teeth, put the key in the lock, and turnedthe light so that it might fall upon his victim.
He stopped trembling in the middle of the cellar, and pity filled his soulas his eye rested on Geronimo. He had indeed drawn his dagger to completethe horrible crime; but now, touched and moved by compassion, heconsidered the unfortunate young man, who extended to him his supplianthands and begged for help.
Geronimo was kneeling on the side of the grave which had been dug toreceive his corpse. His face was partly covered with clotted blood; theportion visible was excessively pale, and his cheeks were so sunken thatthose few days of suffering had left only the skin to cover his bones. Hiseyes, rolling wildly, were sunk in their sockets; his neck, weakened bythe wound, could not support his head, which fell upon his right shoulder.His clothes were blood-stained and covered with dirt. It was evident thatin his struggle against death he had dragged himself around the tomb totry, if possible, to escape it.
"Whoever you may be," cried out Geronimo, "for the love of God, one dropof water!"
His voice was weak, but capable of moving the hardest heart.
Julio shook his head, without speaking.
"Water! water!" repeated the young man. "I am burning up, consumed bythirst. Water! water! one drop of water! Save me from a frightful death!"
Moved by pity and forgetting, as it were, his own situation, Julio thrusthis hand under his doublet, drew out the bottle, uncorked it, and withoutspeaking gave it to the wounded gentleman. He uttered a cry of joy, seizedthe bottle with feverish energy, and kissed with transport the hand whichpresented him the saving beverage.
Julio, with palpitating heart, watched the unfortunate Geronimo, as withtrembling joy he placed the bottle to his lips, as if the contents wereimparting to him a new life.
And indeed, after having quaffed a deep draught, Geronimo appeared to havenew strength; for a sweet smile appeared upon his face, his eyes sparkledwith gratitude, and lifting his hands to Julio, he said:
"May God bless you! you have saved me from a frightful death. May Heavenhear my prayer and reward you on the day of judgment for all the good Imay have done in my life. The light blinded me; I could not see. Are younot Julio?"
This recognition struck Geronimo with terror, and in a feeble anddiscouraged voice he said:
"Julio, Julio, you pushed me into the chair!"
Then seeing the dagger in Julio's hands, he shuddered.
"A dagger in your hand! Ah! you come to kill me?"
"Yes, signor," replied Julio, sadly, "I come to take your life; but do notsuppose I fulfil this fatal mission without emotion; on the contrary, myheart bleeds for you, and I feel an indescribable repugnance to deal thefatal blow."
"Ah! you are not merciless; you will have pity on me," said Geronimo.
"Impossible!" replied Julio. "Fatality governs us both; it has irrevocablycondemned you to death, and me to inhumanity. All prayer, all supplicationis useless; nothing can save your life. I beg you, signor, not to increasethe difficulties of my task; accept with resignation a fate you cannotescape."
A sharp cry escaped Geronimo, as these unfeeling words convinced him thatall hope was lost.
"My God!" he exclaimed, "is it then true that this dungeon is to become mytomb? Must I die without confession? Shall my body lie in unconsecratedground? Oh, mercy! mercy!"
"Necessity is a merciless law, signor," replied Julio, "and I have morecause than you to complain of its harshness. You, at least, will receivein heaven the recompense of your innocent life, while I must commit here acrime from which I recoil with horror, but which is forced upon me by anirresistible power, and for which my poor soul will stand accused beforethe judgment-seat of God. But do not cherish a deceitful hope; there is nohope for you. Before I depart from here, that grave must receive yourbody. That I did not immediately on entering fulfil my sad mission ispartly owing to the fact that an uncontrollable compassion paralyzed myarm, but still more, to my desire to afford you time to say some prayers.Therefore prepare your soul for its last passage. I will wait patientlyeven for a quarter of an hour. Pray with a tranquil mind--I will notstrike without giving notice."
Saying these words, Julio put down the lamp replaced his dagger in itsscabbard, and seated himself on a block of wood which was in a corner ofthe cellar.
Geronimo, overwhelmed by Julio's insensibility, bowed his head upon hisbreast. For some time he neither spoke nor moved, seeming to accept hisfate with complete resignation. But the terror of death again possessedhim.
"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "You will not kill me, Julio? I conjure you,by your soul's salvation, not to imbrue your hands in my blood!"
And the unfortunate young man endeavored to drag his feeble body toJulio's feet; but the latter drew his dagger in a threatening manner.
Geronimo uttered a cry of despair, crawled back to the side of the grave,and fell exhausted on the ground, where he bewept his sad fate.
His stifled sobs were so heart-breaking that Julio's soul was stirredwithin him, and without being conscious of it, he wiped away the tearswhich fell from his eyes.
In a voice full of compassion he said:
"Come, signor, be calm, and submit with resignation to the irrevocabledecree of fate. When one has lived like you in the fear of God, honorablyand loyally, death is but the passage to a better life."
A cry of indignation mingled with the convulsive sobs of the younggentleman.
"I understand you," said Julio; "you think that my pity is a cruel irony;you believe me to be inhuman. Even in the tomb you might justly call downmaledictions on the head of the murderer who of his own will and choicewould deprive you of life. But, alas! signor, I have neither will norchoice in the matter. To-morrow the officers of justice will search thishouse and cellar."
"To-morrow!" exclaimed Geronimo, a new hope-springing up in his heart.
"If I let you live, they would infallibly find you here," pursued Julio."This hope inspires you with joy; vain hope! signor, for should it berealized, my master would perish on the scaffold, and I would expiate mycrime on the gallows!"
"Julio," said Geronimo, beseechingly, "I will remove all suspicion fromyou; I will declare you innocent; I will reward you magnificently."
"It would be useless, signor. The law knows no mercy. My master wouldbetray the part I had in the deed; and do you think the judges wouldpardon me for having pushed you into the chair?"
"Save me, spare my life, Julio; and if necessary for your acquittal, Iwill kneel to the bailiff, I will appeal to the emperor himself."
"There is another reason, unknown to you, signor," replied Julio,bitterly. "I am a fugitive, condemned to death by the laws of Italy. Mymaster alone knows my real name. The least infidelity on my part wouldmake him deliver me into the hands of those who for five years have beenseeking me. Think you, then, that it is in my power to spare you? It is myown and my master's death you demand. And what a death! For him, the axeof the executioner and eternal infamy to his family; for me, the rack, thewheel, the gallows. Do not blame me then, signor; do not contend againstimplacable fate; employ your last moments in prayer, or tell me that youare ready to receive the mortal blow. Nothing can save you; that open tombtells you a sad but pitiless truth. Again I beg you, signor, lift up yourheart to God, and do not force me to make use of sudden violence."
"Die so young and guiltless!" lamented Geronimo. "Never again to see thelight of heaven! O Mary, my beloved! how you will deplore my fate! My pooruncle! sorrow will bring your gray hairs to the grave!"
The accents of despair made Julio shudder; but he said, in a cold manner:
"Are you ready, signor?"
"A moment more, one moment for prayer!" said Geronimo.
He joined his hands and uttered a fervent prayer; but although heapparently accepted his fate with resignation, it was equally evident thathis soul struggled against the death which was hanging over him.
By degrees, however, prayer brought resignation and consolation to
Geronimo, for the nervous trembling of his limbs ceased and his voicebecame more distinct and calm.
Julio fixed his eyes on Geronimo, and his heart was touched when hethought he heard him ask pardon of God for his enemies; but when the lipsof the young man pronounced his own name in ardent supplication, and hedistinctly heard his unfortunate victim praying for the soul of hismurderer, Julio dropped his knife, and said, with a deep sigh:
"My courage has forsaken me! I have not the strength to accomplish thiscruel act."
"Ah!" exclaimed Geronimo, as Julio pronounced these words, "it is a voicefrom heaven speaking to your heart. Hearken to it. Have pity on me! sparemy life!"
Julio was too absorbed in his own thoughts to heed Geronimo. In accents ofdespair he muttered:
"Frightful situation! Beside the very grave I have dug for him, he praysfor my soul! And can I shed his blood? But there is no help for it. Imust--I must!"
The young gentleman remarked the struggle in Julio's soul, and he musteredup all his strength to approach him; but Julio, seeing Geronimo's design,picked up his knife, took the lamp, and left the cellar, saying:
"It is useless, signor. Fate is more powerful than we are; and struggle aswe may against its inevitable decrees, they must be accomplished! Thesight of your sorrow has deprived me of all courage. I go to regainstrength. I will soon return. Be prepared, for this time I will actwithout delay!"
He closed the door and walked slowly down the passage. Having reached hisroom, he stamped with anger, uttered desperate words, struck his foreheadwith his fist, vented his impatience, because he could see no solution ofhis difficulties. He paced the room like a madman, fought the air,stopped, resumed his walk,--until exhausted he threw himself into a chair.Sorrow, anguish, and rage, by turns were depicted on his countenance. Helamented the necessity of the murder, and complained in bitter terms ofhis sad fate. But in vain he tortured his brain--not a ray of light cameto illumine his darkness. The pitiless "I must do it!" was the invariablerefrain.
By chance his eye fell upon the two bottles which he had placed upon thetable, and as if the sight had inspired him with a sudden resolution, heseized one of the bottles, uncorked it, and putting it to his lips, dranka long draught, stopped a moment for breath, then emptied the bottle.
He remained some time immovable as if to test the influence of the wine onhis mind, swallowed half of the second bottle, drew his dagger, took thelamp, and descended the stairs, saying:
"Now my courage will not fail me! No more words: a single blow and allwill be over! I must strike him in the back; he wears a cuirass on hisbreast."
Opening the door of the cellar, he placed the lamp on the ground withoutspeaking, and raising his dagger, he walked directly towards Geronimo, wholifted his hands imploringly.
Within a few steps of his victim, Julio, with an exclamation of surprise,stopped suddenly as if immovable. His eye fell upon an object whichGeronimo held in his hand and extended to him, as though it had power toturn aside the mortal blow.
It was a flat copper medal, in the centre of which was a cross and otheremblems, and attached to it was a bright steel chain.
Julio, forgetful of what he was about to do, sprang forward, seized thestrange medal, examined it closely, and said, in astonishment:
"This amulet in your hands, signor! What does it mean? How came you byit?"
Geronimo, whose every thought was fixed upon death, was too much startledby the sudden transition to reply immediately.
"Speak, tell me whence comes this amulet? Who gave it to you?"
"From Africa--from a blind woman," answered Geronimo, almostunintelligibly.
"In Africa? And the woman's name?" said Julio, beside himself withimpatience.
"Mostajo. Teresa Mostajo!"
"Teresa Mostajo! You are then the liberator of my poor blind mother!"
"Then you will spare my life! God of mercy, I thank thee, there is stillhope!"
But Julio heeded not the words of the young man.
"This amulet," he said, "recalls my native village. I see again my father,mother, friends. I see myself as I was before dissipation led me to sinand vice. This amulet, brought by my grandfather from Jerusalem, protectedmy father against many dangers, saved my mother's life; and you, signor,you owe to the same amulet escape from a violent death, for it turnedaside my master's dagger from your breast. Strange and mysterious powerwhich thus shields the victim from his executioner!"
"Julio," said Geronimo, "keep me not in suspense. Say that you will nottake my life. Be merciful to the man whose name is blessed by the lips ofyour mother!"
"Fear not, signor; rather than shed one drop of your blood, I would paythe penalty of my guilty life on the gallows. But I must reflect upon ourpeculiar situation, for my mind is not clear; perhaps I may discover ameans of escape. Do not disturb me, I beg you."
He withdrew to the corner of the cellar where he had been previouslyseated, and remained motionless for some time, without giving any sign ofthe agitation of his mind.
Geronimo regarded him at first with a look of joyful anticipation; bydegrees, however, his face wore an expression of sadness and surprise; itseemed to him that Julio had fallen asleep. He was mistaken, however, forJulio arose after a while, and said:
"Now I see my way clearly. I will save you, signor; but in doing that, Imight as well avoid securing a halter for myself. You must have patienceuntil to-morrow. It is now about nine o'clock in the evening, and thetime, I know, will be very long to you. But you must submit to a conditionwhich is necessary for the preservation of my own life. To-morrow, atdaybreak, I shall quit the city and country. Before leaving, I will setyou at liberty. Do not attempt to shake my resolution; let me go now,signor, and expect with confidence your deliverance."
Geronimo joined his hands, and said, feebly:
"Thanks, thanks, and may the good God show you the mercy you have shown tome! I have yet a favor to implore, a benefit to ask."
"Speak, signor, what do you wish?"
"It is long since I awoke from my death-like stupor. I know not how long,and I am tormented by hunger and thirst; you have kept life in me by thewine so kindly bestowed, but now my body demands nourishment. Give mebread."
"Bread!" said Julio, "there is not a mouthful of food in the house."
But seeing Geronimo's eyes fixed in supplication upon him, he added:
"It is not late; perhaps I may find some shop still open. I will returnpresently; remain quiet, and have no anxiety, signor."
He took the lamp, left the cellar, closing the door after him, andascended to his room. There folding his arms, he began to muse:
"How strange! the young merchant who, at the risk of his own life,defended my mother from her Moslem master, who paid her ransom, andliberated her from slavery--that merchant was Geronimo! By some mysteriousinfluence the amulet protected his heart from the blade of his vindictiveenemy; and when I am about to shed his blood, behold, the amulet paralyzesmy arm. It is incomprehensible!"
The current of his thoughts changed. Seizing the half empty bottle, hedrank its contents.
"Strange," said he, "how the bad effects of liquor are controlled by theemotions! I have taken enough to deprive me of consciousness, and I feelmy mind as clear as though I had not touched a drop. This last draught,however, has mounted to my brain. So it is decreed that my master, SimonTurchi, must die upon the scaffold? It is disagreeable for both of us, butI could not help it. I shall not know what to do when the two hundredcrowns are spent; necessity will force me to seek other resources, even atthe risk of the gallows, and in all probability the fatal noose willencircle my neck. Bah! if it is predestined, who can prevent it? My masterand I will receive only what we deserve. But I am forgetting the starvingyoung gentleman; I must go out to procure him some food. It will be a fineopportunity to drink a pint of wine at the _Swan_; that cannot be closedyet, for gamblers do not keep early hours. Only one pint in passing! notmore, for if my reason became clouded, I cannot answer for theconsequences; but th
ere is no need to fear that, for my life is at stake.I will return in half an hour."
He extinguished the lamp, and hastily traversed the garden.