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gold tassels； precisely opposite to the seat vacated of the burgher。 A
silver…gilt lamp； hanging from the vaulted ceiling of the chapel
before an altar magnificently decorated； cast its pale light upon a
prayer…book held by the lady。 The book trembled violently in her hand
when the young man approached her。
〃A…men！〃
To that response； sung in a sweet low voice which was painfully
agitated； though happily lost in the general clamor； she added rapidly
in a whisper：
〃You will ruin me。〃
The words were said in a tone of innocence which a man of any delicacy
ought to have obeyed； they went to the heart and pierced it。 But the
stranger； carried away； no doubt； by one of those paroxysms of passion
which stifle conscience； remained in his chair and raised his head
slightly that he might look into the chapel。
〃He sleeps！〃 he replied； in so low a voice that the words could be
heard by the young woman only； as sound is heard in its echo。
The lady turned pale； her furtive glance left for a moment the vellum
page of the prayer…book and turned to the old man whom the young man
had designated。 What terrible complicity was in that glance？ When the
young woman had cautiously examined the old seigneur； she drew a long
breath and raised her forehead； adorned with a precious jewel； toward
a picture of the Virgin； that simple movement； that attitude； the
moistened glance； revealed her life with imprudent naivete； had she
been wicked； she would certainly have dissimulated。 The personage who
thus alarmed the lovers was a little old man； hunchbacked； nearly
bald； savage in expression； and wearing a long and discolored white
beard cut in a fan…tail。 The cross of Saint…Michel glittered on his
breast； his coarse； strong hands； covered with gray hairs； which had
been clasped； had now dropped slightly apart in the slumber to which
he had imprudently yielded。 The right hand seemed about to fall upon
his dagger； the hilt of which was in the form of an iron shell。 By the
manner in which he had placed the weapon； this hilt was directly under
his hand； if； unfortunately； the hand touched the iron； he would wake；
no doubt； instantly； and glance at his wife。 His sardonic lips； his
pointed chin aggressively pushed forward； presented the characteristic
signs of a malignant spirit； a sagacity coldly cruel； that would
surely enable him to divine all because he suspected everything。 His
yellow forehead was wrinkled like those of men whose habit it is to
believe nothing； to weigh all things； and who； like misers chinking
their gold； search out the meaning and the value of human actions。 His
bodily frame； though deformed； was bony and solid； and seemed both
vigorous and excitable； in short； you might have thought him a stunted
ogre。 Consequently； an inevitable danger awaited the young lady
whenever this terrible seigneur woke。 That jealous husband would
surely not fail to see the difference between a worthy old burgher who
gave him no umbrage； and the new…comer； young； slender； and elegant。
〃Libera nos a malo；〃 she said； endeavoring to make the young man
comprehend her fears。
The latter raised his head and looked at her。 Tears were in his eyes；
tears of love and of despair。 At sight of them the lady trembled and
betrayed herself。 Both had； no doubt； long resisted and could resist
no longer a love increasing day by day through invincible obstacles；
nurtured by terror； strengthened by youth。 The lady was moderately
handsome； but her pallid skin told of secret sufferings that made her
interesting。 She had； moreover； an elegant figure； and the finest hair
in the world。 Guarded by a tiger； she risked her life in whispering a
word； accepting a look； and permitting a mere pressure of the hand。
Love may never have been more deeply felt than in those hearts； never
more delightfully enjoyed； but certainly no passion was ever more
perilous。 It was easy to divine that to these two beings air； sound；
foot…falls； etc。； things indifferent to other men； presented hidden
qualities； peculiar properties which they distinguished。 Perhaps their
love made them find faithful interpreters in the icy hands of the old
priest to whom they confessed their sins； and from whom they received
the Host at the holy table。 Love profound！ love gashed into the soul
like a scar upon the body which we carry through life！ When these two
young people looked at each other； the woman seemed to say to her
lover； 〃Let us love each other and die！〃 To which the young knight
answered； 〃Let us love each other and not die。〃 In reply； she showed
him a sign her old duenna and two pages。 The duenna slept； the pages
were young and seemingly careless of what might happen； either of good
or evil； to their masters。
〃Do not be frightened as you leave the church； let yourself be
managed。〃
The young nobleman had scarcely said these words in a low voice； when
the hand of the old seigneur dropped upon the hilt of his dagger。
Feeling the cold iron he woke； and his yellow eyes fixed themselves
instantly on his wife。 By a privilege seldom granted even to men of
genius； he awoke with his mind as clear； his ideas as lucid as though
he had not slept at all。 The man had the mania of jealousy。 The lover；
with one eye on his mistress； had watched the husband with the other；
and he now rose quickly； effacing himself behind a column at the
moment when the hand of the old man fell； after which he disappeared；
swiftly as a bird。 The lady lowered her eyes to her book and tried to
seem calm； but she could not prevent her face from blushing and her
heart from beating with unnatural violence。 The old lord saw the
unusual crimson on the cheeks； forehead； even the eyelids of his wife。
He looked about him cautiously； but seeing no one to distrust； he said
to his wife：
〃What are you thinking of； my dear？〃
〃The smell of the incense turns me sick；〃 she replied。
〃It is particularly bad to…day？〃 he asked。
In spite of this sarcastic query； the wily old man pretended to
believe in this excuse； but he suspected some treachery and he
resolved to watch his treasure more carefully than before。
The benediction was given。 Without waiting for the end of the 〃Soecula
soeculorum；〃 the crowd rushed like a torrent to the doors of the
church。 Following his usual custom； the old seigneur waited till the
general hurry was over； after which he left his chapel； placing the
duenna and the youngest page； carrying a lantern； before him； then he
gave his arm to his wife and told the other page to follow them。
As he made his way to the lateral door which opened on the west side
of the cloister； through which it was his custom to pass； a stream of
persons detached itself from the flood which obstructed the great
portals； and poured through the side aisle around the old lord and his
party。 The mass was too compact to allow him to retrace his steps； and
he and his wife were therefore pushed onward to the d