Joseph Balsamo (10 page)

” Then you must have been a child ? “

“Undoubtedly.”

70 JOSEPH BALSAMO.

” Four or five years old at most ? “

” No ; I was forty-one.”

The baron burst into a loud fit of laughter, which Nicole re-echoed.

” I told you you would not believe me,” said Balsam o, gravely.

” But how is it possible to believe that ? at least, give me some proofs.”

“That is easy. I was forty-one then, but I do not say that I was the man I am.”

” Oh,” cried the baron, ” this is going back to paganism. Was there not a philosopher for those wretches flourished in every century was there not a Greek philosopher who would not eat beans because he pretended they had had souls, as my son says negroes have who was he ? what the deuce was his name ? “

” Pythagoras,” said Andre.

” Yes, Pythagoras ; the Jesuits taught me that. Father Poree made me compose Latin verses on it, with little Arouet. I remember they thought mine much the best. Pythagoras ? yes.”

” Well, how do you know that I am not Pythagoras ? ” replied Balsamo, quietly.

” I do not deny that you may be Pythagoras, but Pythagoras was not at the siege of Philipsbourg at least, I did not see him there.”

” No ; but you saw the Viscount Jean des Barreaux, who was in the Black Musketeers.”

” Yes, I knew him well ; but he was no philosopher, although he did hate beans, and never eat them when he could help it.”

“Well, do you recollect the day after the duel, Des Barreaux was in the trenches with you ?”

“Yes, perfectly well.”

” For yon know the Black Musketeers and the light horse always mounted guard together every seven days.”

” True enough. What next ? “

“That very evening the grapeshot fell like hail, and

JOSEPH BALSAMO. 71

Des Barreaux was dull ; he asked you for a pincli of snuff, and you offered him your gold box.”

” On which was the likeness of a female ? “

” Exactly. I see her now. She was fair, was she not ? “

” Mordieu ! ” cried the baron, terrified, “you are right. Well, then ? “

“Well, then,” continued Balsamo, “as he was taking that pinch of snuff, a ball carried off his head ; just in the same way that Marshal Berwick’s was carried away formerly.”

“Alas! yes. I remember,” said the baron. “Poor Des Barreaux ! “

“And now, sir, you see I must have seen and known you at the siege of Philipsbourg, since I was that very Des Barreaux.”

The baron fell back once more in his chair, almost stupefied at these words, but recovering, he cried :

” Why, this is sorcery magic ! A hundred years ago you would have been burned, my dear guest. Upon my honor, I think I can smell a sort of corpse-like odor ! “

“Sir,” said Balsamo, ” no true sorcerer or magician has ever yet been burned ; it is fools who have anything to do with the fagot. But a truce to this conversation, Mademoiselle de Taverney is asleep ; it seems that metaphysics and the occult sciences have few attractions for her.”

In fact, Andre, overcome by an unknown, irresistible power, felt her head sink on her breast, like a flower whose cups bends under its weight of dew.

At the last words of Balsamo, she made an effort to shake off the influence, that, like a subtle fluid, stole u poii her. She shook her head, arose, seemed about to fall, but, supported by Nicole, left the dining-room. At the same mo-ment, the face which had been looking in at the window, and which Balsamo had long ago recognized as Gilbert’s, also disappeared. An instant after, he heard Andre begin to play with vigor on her harpsichord. He had followed her with his eye as she left the room, and could not help exclaiming triumphantly, as she disappeared: “I may say, like Archimedes, Eureka!”

72 JOSEPH BALSAMO.

” Archimedes ! Who was he ? ” asked the baron. ” A good sort of a fellow a savant whom I knew two thousand one hundred and fifty years ago,” said Balsamo.

CHAPTER VII.

EUBEKA !

WHETHER this piece of extravagance was too much for the baron, whether he had not heard it, or whether, having heard it, he thought it best to get rid of this strange guest, we know not ; but he made no reply to it ; but when the sound of Andre’s harpsichord proved that she was engaged in the next apartment, he offered to procure Balsamo the means of proceeding to the nearest town.

” I have an old horse who, though on his last legs, will carry you so far, and you would at least procure good lodgings ; there is, indeed, a room and a bed at Taverney. But my ideas of hospitality are rather peculiar ” Goad or none” is my motto.”

” Then you wish to send me away,” said Balsamo, hiding his vexation under a smile. ” That is treating me like an intruder.”

” No, indeed ; it is treating youjike a friend, my dear guest ; lodging you here would be really treating you as an enemy. I say this in all conscience, but with great regret, for I am delighted with your society.”

” Then, pray, do not force me to rise when I am tired to get on horseback when I would rather stretch my limbs in bed. Do not represent your hospitable resources as worse than they are, if you would not have me believe that I have been so unfortunate as to incur your dislike.”

“Oh,” said the baron, “since you view the matter in that light, you shall stay.”

Then, looking round for La Brie, who was in a corner, he cried : ” Come hither, you old rascal ! ” La Brie advanced a few steps, timidly. ” Ventrebleu ! come hither,

JOSEPH BALSAMO. 73

I say. Is the red room fit to accommodate a gentleman, think you ? “

” Oh, certainly, sir,” replied the old servant ; ” you know it is occupied by Monsieur Philip, when he comes to Taverney.”

” It may do very well for a poor devil of a lieutenant who comes to pass a month with a ruined father, and at the same time very unfit for a rich nobleman who travels post with four horses.”

“I assure you,” said Balsamo, “I shall be perfectly content with it.”

The baron grinned, as if he would have said, ” I know better ; ” then he added, aloud, ” La Brie, show the stranger to the red room, since he is determined to be cured of all wish to return to Taverney. Well, you have decided to stay, I suppose ? ” said he, turning to Balsamo.

” Yes ; if you permit it.”

” Stay ; there are still other means.”

” Means for what ? “

” To avoid having to make the journey on horseback.”

” What journey ? “

“To Bar-le-Duc.”

Balsamo waited quietly to hear this new plan developed.

” You were brought here by post-horses, were you not ? “

” Yes ; unless Satan brought me.”

” I at first almost suspected he did, for you do not seem to be on bad terms with him.”

” You do me infinitely more honor than I deserve.”

” Well, the horses that brought your carriage could not take it away ? “

” No ; there are only .two horses left of the four, and the carriage is heavy. Besides, post-horses must rest.”

” Ha ! another reason. You are determined, I see, to remain.”

“Because I wish to see you again to-morrow, and express my gratitude to you for your hospitality.”

” That you could easily repay.”

” How ? “

” Since you are on such good terms with his satanic

DUMAS VOL. VI. D

74 JOSEPH BALSAMO.

majesty, beg him to permit me to discover the philosopher’s stone. “

” Why, Monsieur le Baron, if you really wish for it “

” The philosopher’s stone ? Ear bleu ! if I really wish for it!”

” In that case, you must apply to another individual than the devil.”

” To whom, then ? “

” To ME ! as I heard Corneillesay about a hundred years ago, when he was reciting to me a part of one of his comedies.”

” Ha ! La Brie, you old rascal ! ” cried the baron, who began to find the conversation rather dangerous at such an hour, and with such a man, ” try and find a wax-candle and light the gentleman to his room.”

La Brie hastened to obey, and during this search, almost as dubious in its result as that for the philosopher’s stone, he desired Nicole to precede him up-stairsand air the bedroom. Nicole being gone, Andre was delighted to find herself alone. She felt as if she required to reflect. The baron bid Balsamo good-night, and retired to bed.

Balsamo looked at his watch, for he remembered the promise he had made to Althotas a promise now impossible to fulfil, the two hours having expired. He asked La Brie if the carriage was still in the place he had pointed out. La Brie replied that unless it would move away of itself, it must be there. He then asked what had become of Gilbert. La Brie assured him that the lazy fellow was no doubt in bed two hours ago. Then, after having studied the topography of the passage which led to the red room, Balsamo went out to waken Althotas.

The Baron de Taverney had not spoken falsely respecting the discomfort of this apartment ; it was as poorly furnished as all the other rooms of the chateau.

An oaken bed with a faded green damask coverlet, and hangings of the same material looped up above it. An oaken table with twisted legs, a huge stone chimney-piece of the time of Louis XIII., to which in winter a fire might impart some appearance of comfort, but which now, want-

JOSEPH BALSAMO. 75

ing that, wanting all ornaments and utensils, wanting wood, and stuffed with old newspapers, only made the place look still more dreary. Such was the apartment of which Balsamo was for one night to be the fortunate possessor.

We must add that there were two chairs and a wardrobe painted of a gray color.

Whilst La Brie was. endeavoring to give a habitable appearance to the room which Nicole had aired before retiring to her own_apartment, Balsamo had wakened Althotas and returned to the house. When he reached Andre’s door he stopped to listen. From the moment Andre left the dining-room she felt that she had escaped from the mysterious influence which the stranger exercised over her, and to rouse herself completely from-its power, she continued to play on her harpsichord. Its sound reached Balsamo through the closed door, and, as we have said, he stopped to listen.

After a minute or two he made several gestures with a sweeping circular motion which might have been mistaken for a species of conjuration, since Andre, struck again by the same sensation she had previously experienced, ceased to play, let her arms fall immovable by her side, and turned toward the door with a slow, stiff motion, as if she were obeying a command against her own free will. Balsamo smiled in the dark, as if he saw through the door. No doubt this was all he wanted, for he stretched out his left hand, and having found the balustrade of the staircase, which was deep and broad, he ascended to the red room. In proportion as he increased his distance, Andre, with the same slow, rigid motion, returned to her harpsichord, and when Balsamo reached the highest stair he heard her resume the first notes of the air which he had interrupted,

Having entered his chamber, he dismissed La Brie. La Brie was evidently a good servant, accustomed to obey on the instant, but now, after moving a few steps toward the door, he stopped.

“Well ?” said Balsamo.

f 6 JOSEPH BALSAMO.

La Brie slipped his hand into his waistcoat-pocket and seemed feeling for something in its silent depths, but he did not reply.

” Have you anything to say to me, my friend ? ” inquired Balsamo, approaching him.

La Brie made a great effort over himself, and pulled his hand out of his pocket.

” I merely wished to say, sir, that you made a mistake this evening.”

” Did I ? ” said Balsamo. ” How so ? ” “You meant to give me a crown, and you gave me a louis d’or ; ” and he opened his hand and disclosed to view the new shining piece.

Balsamo looked at the old servant with an expression of admiration which indicated he had not the highest opinon of men as far as probity was concerned.

“‘And honest ?’” said he, “as Hamlet says ;” and, feeling in his own pocket, he drew out a second louis d’or, which he laid beside the first in La Erie’s hand.

La Erie’s joy at this munificence could not be described ; for twenty years he had not once seen gold, and in order to convince him that he was really the happy possessor of such a treasure, Balsamo had to put the money with his own hand into La Erie’s pocket. He bowed to the ground, and was retiring without turning his back on the stranger, when the latter stopped him. ” At what hour does the family usually rise in the morning ? ” asked he.

“Monsieur de Taverney rises late, but Mademoiselle de Taverney is always up at a very early hour.” At what hour ?” About six o’clock.” ‘ Who sleeps above this room ? ” I do, sir.” And below ? “

No one ; the vestibule is under this.” Thank you, my friend. Now you may go.”

Good night, sir.”

‘ Good night ; but, by the bye, see that my carriage be all safe.”

JOSEPH BALSAMO. 77

” Yon may depend on me, sir.”

” If you hear any noise, or see any light, do not be alarmed. I have an old lame servant in it, who travels with me everywhere. Tell Monsieur Gilbert not to interfere with him, and tell him also, if you please, not to go out to-morrow morning until I have spoken to him. Can you remember all this ? “

” Oh, certainly ; but are yon going to leave us so soon, sir ? “

” I am not quite sure,” said Balsamo, with a smile ; “yet, strictly speaking, I ought to be at Bar-le-Duc to-morrow evening.”

La Brie sighed resignedly, gave a last glance at the bed, and taking up the candle, went toward the fireplace to give a little warmth to the great damp room by setting fire to the papers, as he had no wood.

” No, never mind,” said Balsamo, preventing him ; ” leave the old papers. If I do not sleep, I can amuse my-self by reading them.”

La Brie bowed and retired.

Balsamo listened until the steps of the old servant had died away on the stairs, and until he heard them over-head. Then he went to the window. In the opposite tower there was a light in the window of a garret, the curtains of which were but half closed. It was Legay’s room. She was thoughtfully unfastening her gown and handkerchief, and from time to time she opened her window and leaned out to see into the courtyard. Balsamo looked at her with more attention than he had chosen to bestow on her during supper.