Read Mémoires d'un Éléphant blanc. English Page 23

  CHAPTER XXI

  JEALOUSY

  He appeared one day at the Palace of Golconda--the enemy--thefiance--whom I had already learned to detest.

  When I saw him advancing from a distance, talking and laughing withParvati, a red flame danced before me, and I closed my eyes to escapefrom the frenzy of rage which overwhelmed me at the sight of him.

  I could hear them coming; the voice of the stranger reached my ears,resounded in them, and pierced them like a sharp arrow! On hearing itI seemed to see once more the bloody battlefield--the corpses crushedunder my feet, and my Master in chains, and our perilous flight throughthe wilderness....

  A tremor shook me from head to foot. I lowered my head and kept my eyesobstinately shut, and I tore up the ground with my tusks to try andwork off my fury.

  I heard them coming nearer and nearer, she with her light step, and hedragging his feet along carelessly. He had seen me, and it was of methat he was speaking.

  "Ah!" said he, "you have a white elephant! I know that a greatveneration is felt for animals of this species in some countries--amongothers in Siam, the country of the Queen your mother. We, however, areless simple-minded, and we like them for processions, but value themless than the others because they are less robust." Parvati had stoppednear me, disturbed by my silent rage, which was plainly visible to her;she sought to soothe me with her gentle hand, and her voice shook asshe replied to the Prince: "Iravata is the good Genius of our family.The soul of one of my ancestors dwells in him, and he is my dearestfriend!"

  "Not dearer than your fiance, I hope!" said he with a conceited laugh.

  "He who has been devoted to me since my birth is more of a friend thanthe fiance of yesterday...."

  "Why, this is serious!" cried Baladji, laughing still louder: "Must Ireally be jealous of a great beast like that?"...

  I could no longer restrain myself from opening my eyes, and at the lookthat met his, the Prince recoiled several steps.

  "By Kali," said he, "your Ancestor has not a very pleasant expression!his eyes are as ferocious as a tiger's!"

  "Let us go on, I beg of you," said Parvati. "I do not know what hasirritated him, but Iravata is not himself to-day."

  "I will go on very willingly," said the Prince, endeavouring to concealhis fright, "for I detest the vicinity of elephants because of theirodour!" He turned and went away hurriedly, while Parvati, beforerejoining him, looked back at me, and clasped her hands supplicatingly.

  It was well that he left, for I could no longer control myself; theidea of crushing him under my feet, and stamping him to a jelly hadcome over me, and in spite of the shame I felt at such a murderousimpulse, I could not banish it.