3.
The appointed day and hour were at hand. Fernand Rochez had engaged abarouche which was to take him and his lovely victim to a little houseat Auteuil, which he had rented for the purpose. There the lovers wereto lie perdu until such time as papa Goldberg had relented and themarriage could be duly solemnized in the synagogue of the Rue desHalles. Sarah had offered in the meanwhile to do all that in her powerlay to soften the old man's heart and to bring about the happyconclusion of the romantic adventure.
For the latter we had chosen the night of May 23rd. It was a moonlessnight, and the Passage Corneille, from whence I was to operate, wasmost usefully dark. Sarah Goldberg had, according to convention, leftthe postern gate on the latch, and at ten o'clock precisely I made myway up the cul-de-sac and cautiously turned the handle of the door. Iconfess that my heart beat somewhat uncomfortably in my bosom.
I had left Rochez and his barouche in the Rue des Pipots, about ahundred metres from the angle of the Passage Corneille, and it wasalong those hundred metres of a not altogether unfrequented streetthat he expected me presently to carry a possibly screaming andstruggling burden in the very teeth of a gendarmerie always on thelook-out for exciting captures.
No, Sir; that was not to be! And it was with a resolute if beatingheart that I presently felt the postern gate yielding to the pressureof my hand. The neighbouring church clock of St. Sulpice had justfinished striking ten. I pushed open the gate and tip-toed across thethreshold.
In the garden the boughs of a dilapidated old ash tree were soughingin the wind above my head, whilst from the top of the boundary wallthe yarring and yowling of beasts of the feline species gratedunpleasantly on my ear. I could not see my hand before my eyes, andhad just stretched it out in order to guide my footsteps when it wasseized with a kindly yet firm pressure, whilst a voice murmuredsoftly:
"Hush!"
"Who is it?" I whispered in response.
"It is I--Sarah!" the voice replied. "Everything is all right, butLeah is unsuspecting. I am sure that if she suspected anything shewould not set foot outside the door."
"What shall we do?" I asked.
"Wait here a moment quietly," Sarah rejoined, speaking in a rapidwhisper, "under cover of this wall. Within the next few minutes Leahwill come out of the house. I have left my knitting upon a gardenchair, and I will ask her to run out and fetch it. That will be youropportunity. The chair is in the angle of the wall, there," she added,pointing to her right, "not three paces from where you are standingnow. Leah has a white dress on. She will have to stoop in order topick up the knitting. I have taken the precaution to entangle the woolin the leg of the chair, so she will be some few seconds entirely atyour mercy. Have you a shawl?"
I had, of course, provided myself with one. A shawl is always anecessary adjunct to such adventures. Breathlessly, silently, Iintimated to my kind accomplice that I would obey her behests and thatI was prepared for every eventuality. The next moment her hold upon myhand relaxed, she gave another quickly-whispered "Hush!" anddisappeared into the night.
For a second or two after that my ear caught the soft sound of herretreating footsteps, then nothing more. To say that I felt anxiousand ill at ease was but to put it mildly. I was face to face with anadventure which might cost me at least five years' acute discomfort inNew Caledonia, but which might also bring me as rich a reward as couldbefall any man of modest ambitions: a lovely wife and a comfortablefortune. My whole life seemed to be hanging on a thread, and myoverwrought senses seemed almost to catch the sound of thespinning-wheel of Fate weaving the web of my destiny.
A moment or two later I again caught the distinct sound of a gentlefootfall upon the soft earth. My eyes by now were somewhat accustomedto the gloom. It was very dark, you understand; but through thedarkness I saw something white moving slowly toward me. Then my heartthumped more furiously than ever before. I dared not breathe. I sawthe lovely Leah approaching, or, rather, I felt her approach, for itwas too dark to see. She moved in the direction which Sarah hadindicated to me as being the place where stood the garden chair withthe knitting upon it. I grasped the shawl. I was ready.
Another few seconds of agonising suspense went by. The fair Leah hadceased to move. Undoubtedly she was engaged in disentangling the woolfrom the leg of the chair. That was my opportunity. More stealthy thanany cat, I tiptoed toward the chair--and, indeed, at that moment Iblessed the sudden yowl set up by some feline in its wrath which rentthe still night air and effectually drowned any sound which I mightmake.
There, not three paces away from me, was the dim outline of the younggirl's form vaguely discernible in the gloom--a white mass, almostmotionless, against a background of inky blackness. With a quickintaking of my breath I sprang forward, the shawl outspread in myhand, and with a quick dexterous gesture I threw it over her head, andthe next second had her, faintly struggling, in my arms. She was aslight as a feather, and I was as strong as a giant. Think of it, Sir!There was I, alone in the darkness, holding in my arms, together witha lovely form, a fortune of two hundred thousand francs!
Of that fool Fernand Rochez I did not trouble to think. He had abarouche waiting _up_ the Rue des Pipots, a hundred metres from thecorner of the Passage Corneille, but I had a chaise and pair of horseswaiting _down_ that same street, and that now was my objective. Yes,Sir! I had arranged the whole thing! But I had done it for mine ownadvantage, not for that of the miserly friend who had been too great acoward to risk his own skin for the sake of his beloved.
The guerdon was mine, and I was determined this time that no traitoror ingrate should filch from me the reward of my labours. With thethousand francs which Rochez had given me for my services I hadengaged the chaise and horses, paid the coachman lavishly, and secureda cosy little apartment for my future wife in a pleasant hostelry Iknew of at Suresnes.
I had taken the precaution to leave the wicket-gate on the latch. Withmy foot I pushed it open, and, keeping well under the cover of thetall convent wall, I ran swiftly to the corner of the Rue des Pipots.Here I paused a moment. Through the silence of the night my ear caughtthe faint sound of horses snorting and harness jingling in thedistance, both sides from where I stood; but of gendarmes orpassers-by there was no sign. Gathering up the full measure of mycourage and holding my precious burden closer to my heart, I ranquickly down the street.
Within the next few seconds I had the seemingly inanimate maidensafely deposited in the inside of the barouche and myself sitting byher side. The driver cracked his whip, and whilst I, happy butexhausted, was mopping my streaming forehead the chaise rattled gailyalong the uneven pavements of the great city in the direction ofSuresnes.
What that fool Rochez was doing I could not definitely ascertain. Ilooked through the vasistas of the coach, but could see nothing inpursuit of us. Then I turned my full attention to my lovely companion.It was pitch dark inside the carriage, you understand; only from timeto time, as we drove past an overhanging street lanthorn, I caught aglimpse of that priceless bundle beside me, which lay there so stilland so snug, still wrapped up in the shawl.
With cautious, loving fingers I undid its folds. Under cover of thedarkness the sweet and modest creature, released of her bonds, turnedfor an instant to me, and for a few, very few, happy seconds I heldher in my arms.
"Have no fear, fair one," I murmured in her ear. "It is I, HectorRatichon, who adores you and who cannot live without you! Forgive mefor this seeming violence, which was prompted by an undying passion,and remember that to me you are as sacred as a divinity until thehappy hour when I can proclaim you to the world as my beloved wife!"
I pressed her against my heart, and my lips imprinted a delicate kissupon her forehead. After which, with chaste decorum, she once moreturned away from me, covered her face and head with the shawl, anddrew back into the remote corner of the carriage, where she remained,silent and absorbed, no doubt, in the contemplation of her happiness.
I respected her silence, and I, too, fell to meditating upon my goodfortune. Here was I, Si
r, within sight of a haven wherein I could livethrough the twilight of my days in comfort and in peace, a beautifulyoung wife, a modest fortune! I had never in my wildest dreamsenvisaged a Fate more fair. The little house at Chantilly which Icoveted, the plot of garden, the espalier peaches--all, all would bemine now! It seemed indeed too good to be true!
The very next moment I was rudely awakened from those golden dreams bya loud clatter, and stern voices shouting the ominous word, "Halt!"The carriage drew up with such a jerk that I was flung off my seatagainst the front window and my nose seriously bruised. A faint cry ofterror came from the precious bundle beside me.
"Have no fear, my beloved," I whispered hurriedly. "Your own Hectorwill protect you!"
Already the door of the carriage had been violently torn open;the next moment a gruff voice called out peremptorily:
"By order of the Chief Commissary of Police!"
I was dumbfounded. In what manner had the Chief Commissary of Policebeen already apprised of this affair? The whole thing was, of course,a swift and vengeful blow dealt to me by that cowardly Rochez. Buthow, in the name of thunder, had he got to work so quickly? But, ofcourse, there was no time now for reflection. The gruff voice wasgoing on more peremptorily and more insistently:
"Is Hector Ratichon here?"
I was dumb. My throat had closed up, and I could not have uttered asound to save my life. The police had even got my name quite straight!
"Now then, Ratichon," that same irascible voice continued, "get out ofthere! In the name of the law I charge you with the abduction of adefenceless female, and my orders are to bring you forthwith beforethe Chief Commissary of Police."
Then it was, Sir, that bliss once more re-entered my soul. I had justfelt a small hand pressing something crisp into mine, whilst a softvoice whispered in my ear:
"Give him this, and tell him to let you go in peace. Say that I amMademoiselle Goldberg, your promised wife."
The feel of that crackling note in my hand at once restored mycourage. Covering the lovely creature beside me with a protecting arm,I replied boldly to the minion of the law.
"This lady," I said, "is my affianced wife. You, Sir Gendarme, areoverstepping your powers. I demand that you let us proceed in peace."
"My orders are--" the gendarme resumed; but already my sensitiveear had detected a faint wavering in the gruffness of his voice. Thehectoring tone had gone out of it. I could not see him, of course, butsomehow I felt that his attitude had become less arrogant and hisglance more shifty.
"This gentleman has spoken the truth," now came in soft, dulcet tonesfrom under the shawl that wrapped the head of my beloved. "I am Mlle.Goldberg, M. le Gendarme, and I am travelling with M. Hector Ratichonentirely of my own free will, since I have promised him that I wouldbe his wife."
"Ah!" the gendarme ejaculated, obviously mollified.
"If Mademoiselle is the fiancee of Monsieur, and is acting of her ownfree will--"
"It is not for you to interfere, eh, my friend?" I broke in jocosely."You will now let us proceed in peace, and for your trouble you willno doubt accept this token of my consideration." And, groping in thedarkness, I found the rough hand of the gendarme, and speedily pressedinto it the crisp note which my adored one had given to me.
"Ah!" he said, with very obvious gratification. "If Monsieur Ratichonwill assure me that Mademoiselle here is indeed his affianced wife, thenindeed it is not a case of abduction, and--"
"Abduction!" I retorted, flaring up in righteous indignation. "Whodares to use the word in connexion with this lovely lady? MademoiselleGoldberg, I swear, will be Madame Ratichon within the next four andtwenty hours. And the sooner you, Sir Gendarme, allow us to proceed onour way the less pain will you cause to this distressed and virtuousdamsel."
This settled the whole affair quite comfortably. The gendarme shut thecarriage door with a bang, and at my request gave the order to thedriver to proceed. The latter once again cracked his whip, and onceagain the cumbrous vehicle, after an awkward lurch, rattled on its wayalong the cobblestones of the sleeping city.
Once more I was alone with the priceless treasure by my side--aloneand happy--more happy, I might say, than I had been before. Had not myadored one openly acknowledged her love for me and her desire to standwith me at the hymeneal altar? To put it vulgarly--though vulgarityin every form is repellent to me--she had burnt her boats. She hadallowed her name to be coupled with mine in the presence of theminions of the law. What, after that, could her father do but give hisconsent to a union which alone would save his only child's reputationfrom the cruelty of waggish tongues?
No doubt, Sir, that I was happy. True, that when the uncouth gendarmefinally slammed to the door of our carriage and we restarted on ourway, my ears had been unpleasantly tickled by the sound of prolongedand ribald laughter--laughter which sounded strangely and unpleasantlyfamiliar. But after a few seconds' serious reflection I dismissed thematter from my thoughts. If, as indeed I gravely suspected, it wasFernand Rochez who had striven thus to put a spoke in the wheel of mygood fortune, he would certainly not have laughed when I drovetriumphantly away with my conquered bride by my side. And, of course,my ears _must_ have deceived me when they caught the sound of a girl'smerry laugh mingling with the more ribald one of the man.
4.
I have paused purposely, Sir, ere I embark upon the narration of thefinal stage of this, my life's adventure.
The chaise was bowling along the banks of the river toward Suresnes.Presently the driver struck to his right and plunged into thefastnesses of the Bois de Boulogne. For a while, therefore, we were inutter darkness. My lovely companion neither moved nor spoke. Somewherein the far distance a church clock struck eleven. One whole hour hadgone by since first I had embarked on this great undertaking.
I was excited, feverish. The beautiful Leah's silence and tranquillitygrated upon my nerves. I could not understand how she could remainthere so placid when her whole life's happiness had so suddenly, sounexpectedly, been assured. I became more and more fidgety as timewent on. Soon I felt that I could no longer hold myself in propercontrol. Being of an impulsive disposition, this tranquil acceptanceof so great a joy became presently intolerable, and, unable torestrain my ardour any longer, I seized that passive bundle ofloveliness in my arms.
"Have no fear," I murmured once again, as I pressed her to my heart.
But my admonition was obviously unnecessary. The beautiful Leah showednot the slightest sign of fear. She rested her head against myshoulder and put one arm around my neck. I was in raptures.
Just then the vehicle swung out of the Bois and once more rattled uponthe cobblestones. This time we were nearing Suresnes. A vague light,emanating from the lanthorns at the bridge-head, was already faintlyvisible ahead of us. Soon it grew brighter. The next moment we passedimmediately beneath the lanthorns. The interior of the carriage wasflooded with light . . . and, Sir, I gave a gasp of unadulterateddismay! The being whom I held in my arms, whose face was even at thatmoment raised up to my own, was not the lovely Leah! It was Sarah,Sir! Sarah Goldberg, the dour, angular aunt, whose yellow teethgleamed for one brief moment through her thin lips as she threw me oneof those glances of amorous welcome which invariably sent a coldshiver down my spine. Sarah Goldberg! I scarce could believe my eyes,and for a moment did indeed think that the elusive, swiftly-vanishedlight of the bridge-head lanthorns had played my excited senses aweird and cruel trick. But no! The very next second proved mydisillusionment. Sarah spoke to me!
She spoke to me and laughed! Ah, she was happy, Sir! Happy in that shehad completely and irrevocably tricked me! That traitor Fernand Rochezwas up to the neck in the plot which had saddled me for ever with anugly, elderly wife of dour mien and no fortune, while he and thelovely Leah were spinning the threads of perfect love at the other endof Paris and laughing their fill at my discomfiture. Think, Sir, whatI suffered during those few brief minutes while the coach lurchedthrough the narrow streets of Suresnes, and I had perforce to listento the protest
ations of undying love from this unprepossessing female!
That love, she vowed, was her excuse, and everything, she asserted,was fair in love and war. She knew that after Rochez had attained hisheart's desire and carried off the lady of his choice--which he hadsuccessfully done half an hour before I myself made my way up thePassage Corneille--I would pass out of her life for ever. This shecould not endure. Life at once would become intolerable. And, aidedand abetted by Rochez and Leah, she had planned and contrived mymystification and won me by foul means, since she could not do so byfair; and it seemed as if her volubility then was the forecast of whatmy life with her would be in the future. Talk! Talk! Talk! She neverceased!
She told me the whole story of the abominable conspiracy against myliberty. Her brother, M. Goldberg, she explained, had determined uponremarriage. She, Sarah, felt that henceforth she would be in the wayof everybody; she would have no home. Leah married to Rochez; a newand young Mme. Goldberg ruling in the old house of the Rue desMedecins! Ah, it was unthinkable!
And I, Sir--I, Hector Ratichon--had, it appears, by my polite mannersand prepossessing ways, induced this dour old maid to believe that shewas not altogether indifferent to me. Ah, how I cursed my own charms,when I realised whither they had led me! It seems that it was thatfickle jade Leah who first imagined the whole execrable plot. Rochezwas to entrust me with the task of carrying off his beloved, and thusI would be tricked in the darkness into abducting Mlle. Goldbergsenior from her home. Then some friends of Rochez arranged to play thecomedy of false gendarmes, and again I was tricked into acknowledgingSarah as my affianced wife before independent witnesses. After that Icould no longer repudiate mine honourable intentions, for if I did,then I should be arraigned before the law on a criminal charge ofabduction. In this comedy of false gendarmes Rochez himself and theheartless Leah had joined with zest and laughed over my discomfiture,whilst the friends who played their roles to such perfection had apaltry hundred francs each as the price of this infamous trick. Now mydoom was sealed, and all that was left for me to do was to thinkdisconsolately over my future.
I did bitterly reproach Sarah for her treachery and tried to still herprotestations of love by pointing out to her that I had absolutely nofortune, and could only offer her a life of squalor, not to say ofwhat. But this she knew, and vowed that penury by my side would makeher happier than luxury beside any other man. Ah, Sir, 'tis given tofew men to arouse such selfless passion in a woman's heart, and ithath oft been my dream in the past one day thus to be adored formyself alone!
But for the moment I was too deeply angered to listen placidly toSarah's vows of undying affection. My nerves were irritated by herfulsome adulation; indeed, I could not bear the sight of her nor yetthe sound of her voice. You may imagine how thankful I was when thechaise came at last to a halt outside the humble little hostelry whereI had engaged the room which I had so fondly hoped would have beenoccupied by the lovely and fickle Leah.
I bundled Mlle. Goldberg senior into the house, and here again I hadto endure galling mortification in the shape of sidelong glances castat me and my future bride by the landlord of the hostelry and hisill-bred daughter. When I engaged the room I had very foolishly toldthem that it would be occupied by a lovely lady who had consented tobe my wife, and that she would remain here in happy seclusion untilsuch time as all arrangements for our wedding were complete. Thehumiliation of these vulgar people's irony seemed like the last strawwhich overweighed my forbearance. The room and pension I had alreadypaid two days in advance, so I had nothing more to say either to theribald landlord or to Mlle. Goldberg senior. I was bitterly angeredagainst her, and refused her the solace of a kindly look or of anencouraging pressure from my hand, even though she waited for bothwith the pathetic patience of an old spaniel.
I re-entered the coach, which was to take me back to mine own humblelodgings in Passy. Here at least I was alone--alone with my gloomythoughts. My heart was full of wrath against the woman who had sobasely tricked me, and I viewed with dismay amounting almost todespair the prospect of spending the rest of my life in her company.That night I slept but little, nor yet the following night, or thenight after that. Those days I spent in seclusion, thankful for mysolitude.
Twice each day did Mlle. Goldberg come to my lodgings. In the foolishpast I had somewhat injudiciously acquainted her of where I lived. Nowshe came and asked to be allowed to see me, but invariably did Irefuse thus to gratify her. I felt that time alone would perhapssoften my feelings a little towards her. In the meanwhile I mustcommend her discretion and delicacy of procedure. She did not in anyway attempt to molest me. When she was told by Theodore--whom Iemployed during the day to guard me against unwelcome visitors--that Irefused to see her, she invariably went away without demur, nor didshe refer in any way, either with adjurations or threats, to theimpending wedding. Indeed, Sir, she was a lady of vast discretion.
On the third day, however, I received a visit from M. Goldberghimself. I could not refuse to see him. Indeed, he would not bedenied, but roughly pushed Theodore aside, who tried to hinder him. Hehad come armed with a riding-whip, and nothing but mine own innatedignity saved me from outrage. He came, Sir, with a marriage licencefor his sister and me in one pocket and with a denunciation to thepolice against me for abduction in another. He gave me the choice.What could I do, Sir? I was like a helpless babe in the hands ofunscrupulous brigands!
The marriage licence was for the following day--at the mairie of theeighth arrondissement first, and in the synagogue of the Rue desHalles afterwards. I chose the marriage licence. What could I do, Sir?I was helpless!
Of my wedding day I have but a dim recollection. It was all hustle andbustle; from the mairie to the synagogue, and thence to the house ofM. Goldberg in the Rue des Medecins. I must say that the old usurerreceived me and my bride with marked amiability. He was, I gathered,genuinely pleased that his sister had found happiness and a home bythe side of an honourable man, seeing that he himself was on the pointof contracting a fresh alliance with a Jewish lady of unsurpassedloveliness.
Of Rochez and Leah we saw nothing that day, and from one or two wordswhich M. Goldberg let fall I concluded that he was greatly angeredagainst his daughter because of her marriage with a fortune-huntingadventurer, who, he weirdly hinted, had already found quick andexemplary punishment for his crime. I was sincerely glad to hear this,even though I could not get M. Goldberg to explain in what thatexemplary punishment consisted.
The climax came at six o'clock of that eventful afternoon, at the hourwhen I, with the newly-enthroned Mme. Ratichon on my arm, was about totake leave of M. Goldberg. I must admit that at that moment my heartwas overflowing with bitterness. I had been led like a lamb to theslaughter; I had been made to look foolish and absurd in the midst ofthis Israelite community which I despised; I was saddled for the restof my life with an unprepossessing elderly wife, who could do naughtfor me but share the penury, the hard crusts, the onion pies with meand Theodore. The only advantage I might ever derive from her was thatshe would darn my stockings, sew the buttons on my vests, and gofferthe frills of my shirts!
Was this not enough to turn any man's naturally sweet disposition togall? No doubt my mobile face betrayed something of the bitterness ofmy thoughts, for M. Goldberg at one moment slapped me vigorously onthe back and bade me be of good cheer, as things were not so bad as Iimagined. I was on the point of asking him what he meant when I sawanother gentleman advancing toward me. His face, which was sallow andoily, bore a kind of obsequious smile; his clothes were of rustyblack, and his features were markedly Jewish in character. He had somelaw papers under his arm, and he was perpetually rubbing his thin,bony hands together as if he were for ever washing them.
"Monsieur Hector Ratichon," he said unctuously, "it is with muchgratification that I bring you the joyful news."
Joyful news!--to me! Ah, Sir, the words struck at first with cruelirony upon mine ear. But not so a second later, for the Jewishgentleman went on speaking, and what he said appeared to my ree
lingsenses like songs of angels from paradise.
At first I could not grasp his full meaning. A moment ago I had beenin the depths of despair, and now--now--a whole vista of beatitudeopened out before me! What the worthy Israelite said was that, by theterms of Grandpapa Goldberg's will, if Leah married without herfather's consent, one-half of the fortune destined for her wouldrevert to her aunt, Sarah Goldberg, now Madame Hector Ratichon.
Can you wonder that I could scarce believe my ears? One-half thatfortune meant that a hundred thousand francs would now become mine! M.Goldberg had already made it very clear to his daughter and to Rochezthat he would never give his consent to their marriage, and, as thiswas now consummated, they had already forfeited one-half of thegrandfather's fortune in favour of my Sarah. That was the exemplarypunishment which they were to suffer for their folly.
But their folly--aye! and their treachery--had become my joy. In thismoment of heavenly rapture I was speechless, but I turned to Sarahwith loving arms outstretched, and the next instant she nestledagainst my heart like a joyful if elderly bird.
What is said of a people, Sir, is also true of the individual. Happyhe who hath no history. Since that never-to-be-forgotten hour my lifehas run its simple, uneventful course here in this quiet corner of ourbeautiful France, with my pony and my dog and my chickens, and Mme.Ratichon to minister to my creature comforts.
I bought this little property, Sir, soon after my marriage, and myoffice in the Rue Daunou knows me no more. You like the house, Sir?Ah, yes! And the garden? . . . After dejeuner you must see my prizechickens. Theodore will show them to you. You did not know Theodorewas here? Well, yes! He lives with us. Madame Ratichon finds himuseful about the house, and, not being used to luxuries, he is on thewhole pleasantly contented.
Ah, here comes Madame Ratichon to tell us that the dejeuner is served!This way, Sir, under the porch. . . . After you!
THE END
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