按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
gainst the wall； the other erect and proudly conscious of his own worth and dignity。
〃I said that I would not have dreamed of risking my life with a brainless fop； for the sake of a heartless fool； but this fop was guilty of another crime： he was not only the betrayer of my wife； but he was the author of a shameful and most insulting letter； which you； madame； had the effrontery to copy and send me。〃
〃How do you know that he wrote this letter？〃 cried Camilla。
〃In the first place； madame； you are not even capable of composing such a letter。 I took the liberty of removing the original of this letter from your writing…desk。 Armed with this proof； I sought le beau cousin； and demanded satisfaction。 Lieutenant Kaphengst； a former friend of this handsome cavalier； accompanied me。 When you deal with such a man as the one who stands cowering before me； witnesses are necessary。 He is quite capable of denying every thing； and changing the roles。 The baron had left home； he had gone to Mecklenberg。 Certainly he did not know that I had come to Berlin to seek him； or he would have had the courtesy to remain and receive my visit。 I was too impatient to await his return； and followed his traces； even as ardently as he has followed you； madame。 I found him at last； in the hotel of a little village。 Like all other sentimental lovers； he longed for solitude； and； not wishing to be disturbed in his sweet dreams； he rented the entire hotel。 I was； however； bold enough to seek himwith swords and pistolsand gave him choice of weapons； he was peaceable； and refused both sword and pistol。 I therefore took my third weapon； my trusty walking…stick。 It was a beautiful bamboo…rod； and neither broke nor split； though I beat away valiantly on the back of the knightly cavalier。〃
〃This cannot be true。 This is a lie！〃 cried Camilla。
Lord Elliot raised his arm and pointed slowly to Kindar。 〃Ask him； madame； if this is a lie。〃
Camilla turned； and as her eye rested upon him； she felt that she had no need to ask the question。
Kindar leaned with pale cheek and tottering knees against the wall。 He was a living picture of cowardly despair and trembling terror。
Camilla groaned aloud； and with a look of unspeakable aversion she turned from him to her husband。 For the first time； she did not find him ugly。 He was indeed imposing。 His proud bearing； his noble intellect； and manly worth impressed her。 To her he had never been but the fond； tender； yielding lovernow she saw before her the firm and angry man； and he pleased her。 Kindar； who had been so handsome and so irresistible； was now hateful in her eyes。
〃Go on；〃 murmured Camilla。
〃Well； I beat this man with my cane till he consented to fight with me。 We had； however； played this little comedy too energetically。 The people of the hotel heard the noise； and fearing some fatal result； rushed to the rescue of this handsome cavalier。 We deferred the duel； therefore； till the next day； but lo！ the next morning le beau cousin had fled。 Without doubt he had forgotten our little arrangement； and his thirst to see you lured him back to Berlin。 I was barbarian enough to follow him； and I swore to shoot him down like a mad dog if he did not consent to fight。 This comparison was doubtless somewhat insulting； and he resolved at last to fight。〃
〃Ah； he accepted the challenge！〃 cried Camilla； casting a sudden glance upon Kindar； but oh； how ugly； how pitiful； how repulsive did he now appear to her！ She closed her eyes； in order not to see him。
〃We rode on with our seconds and our weapons to the little village of Bernan； on the border of Saxony； but I saw； madame； that your cavalier had no inclination to fight this duel。 Besides； I thought of youof your great grief if he should fall； and thus deprive you of your pretty plaything before you had time to replace it。 You know that my heart was ever soft and compassionate。 I resolved； therefore； to be merciful to le beau cousin。 Arrived on the ground； I proposed to Kindar； instead of fighting with me； to sign a paper which I had prepared； in which he implores my pardon and my mercy； acknowledges himself to be an unworthy scoundrel and liar； and solemnly swears that every accusation he brought against me in the letter you copied was a liedeclares me to be an irreproachable cavalier； who has been deceived and betrayed by himself and Lady Elliot。 Baron Kindar found this somewhat strongly expressed； and preferred to fight rather than sign it。〃
〃God be thanked！〃 murmured Camilla。
〃Well； we were resolved to fight； and I was obliging enough to give Kindar the first shot。 He accepted this advantage readily； and I confess he aimed well。 His hand trembled； and he shot too high； just over my head。 Now it was my turn。 I raised the pistol； and I swear to you； madame； my hand did not tremble。 Perhaps Kindar noticed thisperhaps he wished to live and find a compensation in your love for the terrible torments of the last few days。 It suffices to say； he called out to me not to shoot； as he was ready to sign the paper confessing he was a scoundrel and a liar。 He signed it kneeling at my feet； and begging pardon。 I then gave him permission to return to Berlin。 For myself； I drove to Sans…Souci； asked an audience of the king； and obtained his consent to a divorce。 You know； madame； that I have a soft and yielding nature。 I never could refuse a wish of your heart。 I therefore implored his majesty to allow of your immediate marriage with Baron Kindar。〃
〃Never； never； will that marriage take place！〃 cried Camilla； springing from the divan and gazing with abhorrence upon Kindar。
〃It will take place！〃 said Lord Elliot； firmly and imperiously； 〃you love him； you betrayed me for his sakehe is a base coward； despised by every man； but still you will marry him。 We are divorced； and the king commands this marriage。 From this hour we are nothing to each otheryou are the betrothed of Baron von Kindar。 Allow me to give you this paper； which he signed to save his pitiful life； as a bridal present。〃
He laid the paper upon the table； and bowed to Camilla； who was pale and terrified； and whose teeth chattered as if in an ague…fit。
〃Madame；〃 said Lord Elliot； 〃I have the honor to bid you adieu。 I wish you a long and happy wedded life！〃
Lord Elliot left the room and passed on to the apartment which had been his own。 Every thing had been removed； all the pictures taken from the wall but one； only Camilla's portrait； taken in her bridal dress； remained。 He stood long before this lovely picture； and gazed steadily； as if to impress every lineament upon his soul。 He felt that in taking leave of this painting he was bidding adieu to youth； to happiness； to all the sweet illusions of life。
〃Farewell！〃 said he； aloud〃farewell； Camilla！ my bride！ the dream is over！〃
He took a little knife from his pocket and cut the picture in two pieces； from the top to the bottom； then slowly descended the steps to his carriage； in which his friend； Doctor Blitz awaited him。
〃I am ready； doctor； and I beg you to give me a bed in your house for the present。 During the last ten days I have had a burning fever。〃
While Lord Elliot was driving off； Camilla and le beau cousin stood confronting each other； neither dared to break the fearful silence； or even to look at each other。
Suddenly the door opened； and General von Saldern； the adjutant of the king； entered the room。 Camilla had not the strength to advance to meet him； she returned his salutation by a faint inclination of the head。 The general did not appear to see Kindar； and made no response to his profound bow。
〃Madame；〃 said the general； solemnly； 〃I come at the command of the king； by his authority as king and judge； and as head of the church； he has annulled your marriage with Lord Elliot。 This was done as a proof of his regard to Lord Elliot。 Out of regard to your own family； he insists upon your immediate marriage with Baron Kindar； who has been dismissed from the king's service。〃
〃No； no；〃 cried Camilla； 〃I will never marry him！ Leave me； sirI will never become the wife of this man！〃
〃It is his majesty's express command that you should be married without delay；〃 said General Saldern； 〃he has also commanded me to say to