CHAPTER XXIII.
FATKOURA.
The captive of the lord of Tosa found her days long and monotonous.She waited for her avenger, sure of his coming, but impatient at thedelay. She was tormented by the love, steadily gaining strength, withwhich Tosa pursued her. After the execution of the man whom he supposedto be Nagato, he had abstained from visiting her; then, seeing thatFatkoura's grief was not violent, and that she seemed resigned, hetook courage and renewed his importunities. Sometimes he was humble,submissive, suppliant; sometimes he raged and stormed; and again, hewould try to melt her by his tears. But she was still implacable.
"Your tears," said she, "are like the tiger's, when he fears his victimwill escape him."
"You shall never escape me," shouted Tosa.
Fatkoura was severe with Tika; she saw that the maid favored thePrince's love. Tika schemed to make her mistress Princess of Tosa. "ThePrince of Nagato is dead!" thought she. "Besides, Fatkoura was quicklyconsoled for his loss."
"You are free now," she said to her mistress one day; "you can love thePrince of Tosa."
"I shall never love any one but Iwakura," was the young woman's answer.
"Love a dead man! That won't last," thought Tika.
But from that day forth Fatkoura ceased to talk to her; she did noteven permit the girl to remain in her presence. Tika wept outsidethe door; her mistress pretended not to hear her. Yet she missedher maid more than she was willing to confess. This companion ofher misfortunes, this confidant of her griefs and her sorrows, wasa necessity of her life. Captivity seemed harder to her since shehad exiled her from her side; she especially missed the girl'sconversation. Finally, she resolved to forgive her, and to confess toher that the Prince still lived. She accordingly summoned her.
The repentant Tika knelt in the centre of the room, hid her face behindher flowing sleeves, and her tears fell fast.
"You will never mention the Prince of Tosa to me again," said Fatkoura.
"Never, mistress," sobbed Tika; "except to curse him."
"Well, I forgive you. Talk to me of my beloved as you used to do."
"Alack! he is dead," said Tika; "I can only mourn with you."
"Don't you think I was speedily consoled?"
Tika, in surprise, looked up at her mistress, who smiled.
"Why, I thought--" she stammered, "I thought he was wrong to submit todefeat in your presence."
"What if I were to tell you that he was never defeated, that he isalive--."
"He triumphs over your heart; he lives in your imagination: that iswhat you mean."
"No; he still breathes the breath of life."
"Alas, that is impossible! Before our eyes--I shudder to think of itstill--his ghastly head fell to the ground."
"That man, whose death we witnessed, was not Iwakura."
"Has grief affected her reason?" thought Tika, scrutinizing hermistress in some alarm.
"You think me mad?" said Fatkoura, "You shall see, when he comes toopen the doors of our prison, whether I speak the truth.".
Tika dared not contradict her mistress; she pretended to believe thatNagato lived. "Better this strange hallucination than her former blankdespair!" she thought.
They then began to talk of the absent one as had been their wont in theDairi. They recalled the words that he had spoken, the anecdotes he hadtold. They tried to imitate the tones of his voice. They reconstructedhis every dress, rehearsed, his features, his smile, his attitude.Often they would hold a long discussion over some detail or date, or asimple phrase which he had uttered. In this fashion the hours glidedrapidly by.
Every day the Prince of Tosa sent presents to Fatkoura,--flowers, rarebirds, marvellous fabrics. Every day Fatkoura let the birds fly, threwthe silks and flowers from the window. The Prince never wearied. Atnoon he would pay a visit to the prisoner, and discourse of his love.
One day, however, he entered Fatkoura's room with a strange expressionon his face.
He dismissed Tika with a gesture that suffered no reply; then hestepped towards Fatkoura, and gazed at her fixedly.
"You are firmly resolved to resist me still?" said he, after a pause.
"Now and always; and to hate as much as I despise you."
"That is your final answer? Think again."
"I do not need to think. I hated you from the first moment I saw you; Ishall hate you to my death."
"Very well!" cried the Prince, in a terrible voice; "I can force you tobecome my wife."
"I defy you to do so," said Fatkoura, who never quailed before thePrince's gaze.
"I will conquer you, I swear, as I conquered your lover."
Fatkoura smiled scornfully.
"Yes," resumed the Prince, "you have exhausted my patience. My lovemade me merciful, timid,--even shy. I implored, I wept, I waited!I left your grief time to heal. Your repeated refusals inflamed mypassion; I was enraged; then I humbled myself. But I am tired of thisprolonged torture; my prayers are over. No more gentleness, no moretears; you must henceforth be the one to weep and entreat. For the lasttime, will you love me?"
"Truly you have a singular nature," said Fatkoura. "The vulture doesnot seek gratitude from the bird he strangles in his clutch; and youinsist on love from a woman whose husband you have killed!"
"I know that you can never love me," said Tosa. "Still, you shall saythat you do; you shall strive to make me think you do."
"I am curious to learn what means you will employ to make me say suchthings."
"You will know them soon enough," said the Prince, withdrawing.
From that day a series of sufferings for the prisoner began. At firstthey separated her from Tika, and locked her into her room; then theystopped up the windows, only letting a few rays of light enter fromabove. In this way Fatkoura was deprived of seeing the gardens, andof the cool evening air. She was served with food she did not like.Gradually, all utensils for her personal use disappeared. Each day madeher situation worse. At last none of the servants would wait on her.She was put into a prison cell, and finally removed to a dungeon, whereshe had to wait all day for a bowl of cold rice.
"These are the means he takes to win my love!" said Fatkoura, sustainedby a hope of rescue.
But one day, abruptly, these stern measures ceased. The young woman wasbrought back to the rooms which she had at first occupied. Tika wasrestored to her, and seemed very happy.
"The province of Tosa is invaded," she exclaimed. "An army is at hand;we shall be set free."
"I told you he would come, my lord, my beloved spouse!" said Fatkoura."He comes to deliver us from our troubles, and to avenge the man whodied so bravely in his place."
"I heard no mention of any one but General Signenari, sent by theShogun."
"Be assured that Iwakura is with him."
"It may be so," said the girl.
"It is so! I shall see him again at last! After so many trials,happiness will return! Is anything known of the fight?"
"The Prince of Tosa set off hurriedly. His soldiers, who did not expectthis attack, and were resting on their laurels, were completely beaten.The Shogun's army is but a few leagues away."
"It will soon be beneath these walls," said Fatkoura, "and we shallhave to undergo a second siege. But while at Hagui we longed forvictory, we now tremble with desire to be vanquished."
Several days passed in feverish expectation. Suddenly, the Prince ofTosa's army, put to rout, returned to the fortress in confusion. Thegates were closed, and the siege began. The assailants, leaving thebesieged no time for reflection, stormed the place.
A terrible uproar filled the castle. Within, were dismay, continualcoming and going, shouts and cries; without, uninterrupted blows. Tikaran in search of news; returned; then started out again. On the thirdday, the soldiers suddenly rushed to one point: a breach was effected.Cries of discouragement rose on all sides.
"Better surrender."
"We can't hold out long."
"We are lost."
Towards noon the Prince of Tosa
entered Fatkoura's room abruptly. Shewas standing by the window, looking out; her face was radiant with joy.She turned, and saw her enemy gazing at her with folded arms. A sortof instinctive terror took possession of her as she beheld him. He waspale, with a sinister expression. In his right hand he grasped a bloodysword, which dripped upon the floor. He quietly returned it to his belt.
"The battle is lost," he said, with a scowl; "I am conquered."
"The man whom you thought to dishonor is at your gates, and comes tochastise your crimes," said Fatkoura.
"Ah! You know that Nagato is not dead," cried the Prince. "But whatdoes it matter? He is there, it is true; he comes to deliver you: butbefore he takes you back," he added, in tones of thunder, "before hecrosses the crumbling walls of my castle,--mark me well!--you shall bemine."
Fatkoura sprang back, and darted to the farthest corner of the room.
"You may fancy," continued Tosa, "that I did not abandon the field fornothing. The victors are at my heels; there is no time to be lost inidle entreaties." As he said this he sprang towards her.
"Help!" she shrieked in an agonized voice; "Tika, help! Nagato, come tomy rescue!"
Tosa laid his hand upon her mouth. "What's the use of shrieking?" saidhe; "nobody will come. Submit! for you are mine at last; you shall notescape me now."
He encircled her with his arms; but all at once he saw something gleamabove him. Fatkoura had snatched a dagger from the Prince's belt.
"You are wrong; I shall escape you yet once again," said she. "My lastthought is for you, Iwakura!"
Tosa uttered a loud cry. He saw the dagger buried to the hilt in theyoung woman's breast; then she drew it out and threw it to the ground.
At that instant the panel which closed the entrance flew in splinters.The Prince of Nagato, sword in hand, rushed into the room and leapedupon the Prince of Tosa.
"Ah, wretch!" he shouted; "you insult your captive and my betrothed!You add this unparalleled crime to all your former misdeeds! But thehour of vengeance is at hand; the earth shall be rid of you!"
Tosa had drawn his sword; he struck it against Nagato's blade. But heshuddered; a superstitious fear froze his blood; he felt that he wasabout to die.
Iwakura, with irresistible force, drove him back to the other sideof the room, and brought him to a stand against the wall. Tosa, withbloodshot eyes, glared wildly at his foe; he could but ill defendhimself. Nagato dashed the sword from his hand.
"Now you shall die!" he cried; "I will kill you,--not as a man freeshimself of a loyal enemy, but as he would crush a scorpion." And withone fearful blow, he nailed him to the wall by the throat.
Fatkoura had not fallen. She stood leaning against the wall, her handpressed to her wound. The blood gushed between her fingers. The Princeof Nagato left his enemy writhing in awful agony, and ran to her; hesaw the blood flowing in rivers.
"What is it?" he cried.
"I am dying," said Fatkoura.
She sank to the ground. The Prince knelt beside her, and supported heron his knees.
"Is there no one here?" he cried. "Let some one bring a doctor."
"I implore you," said Fatkoura, "do not call; nothing can heal mywound. It was to prevent a stain upon your name that I struck home; Icannot be saved. Let no one enter; let me die by your side, as I couldnot live there."
"Unfortunate girl! and I have brought you to this!" cried the Prince."You die for me after a life of suffering,--you, so fair, so young,and so formed for happiness? Ah! why was I placed upon your path?"
"I was happy for a time," said Fatkoura, "very happy; for you seemed tolove me. But I have dearly paid for those days of joy. What did I do toyou, cruel one, that you should desert me as you did?"
"You guessed the reason, sweet Princess. An all-powerful, invinciblelove turned me from you; my will refused to obey my reason any longer."
"Yes! how can we struggle against love? I know the power it gains, I,who vainly strove to hate you. Yes! you have felt those sharp pangs,that aimless expectation, those fevered dreams, those hopes that wouldnot die; you have known those sobs which would not be stifled, thosetears that burned like drops of fire. A prey to hopeless love, yousuffered as I did. Is it not frightful, and can you not pity me?"
"I would give my life to repair the harm I have done you."
"There is no rest by night or day, is there? It seems as if you were atthe foot of a precipice lined with steep rocks, which you fain wouldclimb, yet fall back again and again. But I am mad," added Fatkoura;"your suffering was nothing as compared to mine, for you were loved."
The Prince started.
"Yes, she loved you; I know it," resumed Fatkoura, with a faint sigh."Do you think that the jealous eye of the woman you scorned could failto read her face I--how its pride died away when she looked at you; howher voice, against her will, would soften when she spoke to you; whathappy tremors when you came, what sadness when you went! I watched andnoted all; each discovery was like a sword thrust into my heart; rage,hate, and love devoured my soul. No, you never suffered as I did."
"Do not overwhelm me, Fatkoura!" said the Prince. "I did not deservesuch love; see how I have rewarded it! You are dying for my sake, andI cannot save you. The horrible grief that rends me at this momentavenges you for much of the suffering that I have caused you."
"I am happy now," said Fatkoura. "I might have died before you came;and I am with you."
"But you shall not die!" cried the Prince. "Am I mad, that I standhere, stunned by horror, instead of bringing you help, or having yourwound dressed? You are young; you will recover."
"Why should?" said Fatkoura. "Would you love me then?"
"I would love you then as now, with an infinite affection."
"With a brother's love," Fatkoura whispered, with a bitter smile. "Letme die."
"Alas! that blood which flows so fast, and bears your life with it!"exclaimed the Prince, frantic with grief.
He began to utter frenzied shouts. They were heard. Soldiers andservants rushed in. General Signenari also appeared, still stained withblood from the battle. All stood aside, to let him pass.
"What is the matter, Prince?" he cried.
"A doctor, for Heaven's sake, and at once!" said Nagato. "My betrothedhas stabbed herself, to escape the outrages of the infamous Tosa; sheis dying."
Fatkoura had fainted.
The palace doctor soon came. He bared the wound, and when he saw it, helooked anything but encouraging. "She did not spare herself," he said.
"Can she be saved?" asked the Prince of Nagato.
The doctor shook his head. "I think not," said he; "the steel went intoo deep. If I were to dress the wound, I might stanch the blood; butit would still flow from within, and suffocate her."
"And if you do not stanch the wound?"
"She will die in a very few moments."
The doctor brought the edges of the wound together. As he touched thesensitive spot, Fatkoura never stirred. He shook his head again. "A badsign," he muttered.
When the dressing was done, he forced between the young woman's lipsthe neck of a small bottle holding a strengthening cordial, and madeher drink it. Fatkoura soon re-opened her eyes; she still lay acrossNagato's knees. Tika sobbed at her feet. She cast an uneasy look atthose who filled the room; with a slow and painful gesture signed tothem to go. Signenari dismissed them, and withdrew; only the doctor andTika remained.
"You disobeyed me, Iwakura," said the dying girl in a voice which grewever weaker; "why did you call in help?"
"To save you."
"I am lost. Saved, rather," she added; "what should I do in this world?"
Spasms seized her; she stretched out her arms; the blood choked her."Air!" she gasped.
Tika flew to open all the windows, and her mistress saw her.
"Good-by, Tika," she said; "you see that he was not defeated, that hewas not dead! We shall never talk of him again."
The girl wept, with her face buried in her hands. Fatkoura raised hereyes to the Prince.
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br /> "Let me look at you," she said; "it is so long since my eyes havemirrored your image. How handsome you are, my beloved!--You know," shewent on, turning to the doctor, "he is my husband. He came to set mefree; but Tosa would have outraged me, and I killed myself."
She spoke in a dull, broken voice, growing weaker and weaker. Her eyesopened wide; a waxen pallor over-spread her face.
"You will speak of me to your father, Iwakura," she resumed; "he lovedme well! I told him that I should never see the castle again. I wasalmost happy there. I saw the room where you were born, your babydresses--Ah! I have loved you fondly!"
She gasped; drops of sweat stood on her brow. She tore the bandage fromher wound.
"Iwakura!" she said, "I cannot see you; lean over me--nearer--Ah!" sheshrieked, "to go when he is here!"
"She is dying!" cried the agonized Prince.
"She is dead," said the doctor.
Tika uttered a howl of grief. The Prince hid his face in his hands.
"All her sufferings are over now," said the doctor; "she is at rest,and forgets her troubles in the serene tranquillity of the last sleep."