Fascination

Chapter I. Ib Out

a quarter of a mile from the fishing town of Aleth stood the Chateau de Beauvert, one of the few remaining relics of a bye-gone day in Brittany. It was a very large old house, with two wings in front flanking a stone court-yard, the slate roofs rose to an enormous height, and so did the great stone chimneys ; on the north side was a fine perron, the broad steps of vol. I. B FASCINATION. which led on to a flat space of grass, which stretched away till it lost itself in many trees ; in front, the stone gates of the court-yard opened upon a road which was crossed by a long avenue of fine elm-trees. The south side of the house faced the cliff ; a kind of terraced pleasance (it could hardly be called a garden as it lacked flowers) was cut in the side of the hill, and ended abruptly where it broke away in sharp rugged cliffs, and some hundred feet below rolled the sea.

Standing at the end of the avenue, and looking from thence, was one of the finest views in Aleth ; two or three promontories, each somewhat longer than the other, ran out into the sea, thickly clothed with rich vegetation, and the eye wandered from one to another till it rested on the furthest of all, where the faint outline of a fair town was just touched with light. FASCINATION. 3 This was the fair-weather aspect of the place, seamen told each other of the treachery of those cruel jagged rocks, of the difficulty, when wind and storm were high, of keeping off the coast, and making a good wide circuit into harbour ; when the fierce equinoctial gales were blowing, or the wild winds of March, the fisherman with all care kept aloof from the rocks round the Chateau de Beauvert. Within the old house were some few traces still left of ancient splendour, the staircase was broad and of fine old oak, on the landing was a very large window with small square panes of glass and a deep window-seat ; on each side stretched away a long line of large apartments, all opening into each other, all with well waxed and polished floors, without a vestige of carpet, two of these apart ments were furnished with Louis Quinze B FASCINATION. 4 furniture of faded white and gold, covered with tapestry representing farm yard scenes which had once been exceed ingly fine, but had now faded capriciously in such fashion, that where a spirited cock had almost paled out of existence, his scarlet comb stood abruptly and pugnaciously out ; so with a fair milk maid, her cheeks, eyes and petticoats all indicated in one faint grey tint, while a pair of rose-red lips aggressively pouted for observation.

These rooms also possessed tapestry portieres of great beauty and antiquity. Beyond them was a smaller apartment, chiefly occupied by the master of the house, the old Marquis de Beauvert ; here he sat and smoked, and had his meals and lived unceremoniously, for the death of his handsome wife had allowed him to resume the habits of his bachelor days. The walls were white, the modern FASCINATION. 5 sofas, ottomans and chairs were all gilt, and covered with red silk damask, a small table held a great repousse brass coffer, divided into various compartments for cigars of varied potency ; though there was no carpet, several Aubusson rugs lay about, and on one of these reposed a large dog of that pseudo-pointer breed only to be found in France, and nowhere in greater abundance than in the neighbourhood of Aletb.

Monsieur le Marquis was a small slight old man. with hands and feet as deli cately made as a woman's, he wore a brown wig, and without the soft and venerable accompaniment of white hair the thin face looked hard ; his skin, the hue of the finest parchment, was covered with a thousand tiny wrinkles: the eyes were pale blue, with scarce a trace of eyebrow, he was smoothly shaved — truly before you stood a man who in his prime FASCINATION. 6 must have had a face of much beauty, but now a slight elevation of the thin nostril, a deeper impression of the down ward curve between nostril and chin, gave a peculiar expression of weariness and discontent. Monsieur le Marquis had loved Paris, and lived there until his perpetual calls on his Breton property could no longer be met with alacrity, until, with im poverished fortunes and growing debts, he found that the world of fashion was growing cold to him, that acquaintances dropped off, and friends became careless, and suddenly resolving that he would retire before this neglect should become apparent to others as it was to himself, Monsieur le Marquis sent out invitations for a last grand ball ; he wrote a pathetic little autograph note with every card, declaring himself on the eve of dis appearance from the gay world, and on FASCINATION. 7 this understanding every invitation was accepted -with empressement, and the sun of Monsieur le Marquis' Paris life set in a blaze of splendour.

Monsieur de Beauvert betook himself to the country, the sale of his hotel in the Faubourg St. Germain went far to wards paying his debts, he also parted with an outlying property in Brittany, and considering that he now proposed to himself to lead a country life, his fortune proved amply sufficient, espe cially as he had but one child, a daughter, whom he had not seen for ten years, for she was being educated in a fashion able convent. When settled in his new life Monsieur de Beauvert looked about him for some friend or acquaintance with whom he might amuse himself when so disposed, it was not easy to find the exact person to suit him, he must be of sufficient good- FASCINATION. breeding not to offend the refinement of Monsieur le Marquis, but at the same time not too well-born, lest it should prove an impediment to the exercise of his despotic will, also he must be un shackled by family ties, Monsieur le Marquis could put up with a male inferior, but his women — ah, bah !

The individual possessed of so many attributes was found at last, in the person of Monsieur Emile Mayen, a gentleman of excellent bourgeois family, of paramount good-nature, of inordinate gourmandise, of surprising corpulence. He, like his noble friend, was a widower, and like him also had one child, a boy, but unlike Monsieur le Marquis, the good man's whole soul was wrapped up in his son, an ungainly youth of eighteen. His father always alluded to him as " le petit Jules," and on Sundays " le petit Jules" with some fifty other lads might be seen FASCINATION. 9 walking two and two clown to the beach, in the low prentice caps with gold bands which distinguished them as the Col iegiens of Aleth, followed by two spare careworn young priests. By degrees it came to be a habit that Monsieur Mayen should spend all his evenings, except Thursdays and Sundays, at the Chateau de Beauvert ; on those days his Jules rejoiced in whole holidays, and not to the most peevish or most amiable exhor tations of his patron would he sacrifice what he used to call " his family life."

It was a wild October night, and one of the worst gales of the season was raging along the coast of Brittany, it had lasted for two days and two nights, and seemed still on the increase ; the results of the storm within the chateau were that Monsieur le Marquis could have no fish, and as to-night his capricious appetite could fancy nothing else, Monsieur Mayen FASCINATION. 10 was like to spend a less agreeable even ing than usual. " But see, Monsieur le Marquis," said he eagerly, pointing with both his fat dimpled hands, " but see, the good Jean Marie has sent you a fricassee so tender, so sweet, so luscious, so set off by those adorable atoms of truffle, that I entreat of you to shut your eyes, open your mouth so ! and crack ! you will hardly know that you are not eating the most delicate fish, it so melts on the palate."

But Monsieur de Beauvert would not be mollified. " These poltroons of fisher men !" he exclaimed, " these fools without ambition. Jean Marie knew that I cared for nothing else to-day, and would have paid them with gold." " The imbeciles ! my good Monsieur, be persuaded by me ! a morsel ! a suspicion of a morsel ! no !" " Remove it !" peevishly exclaimed the FASCINATION. 11 host, and the dish vanished before Mon sieur Mayen had accomplished the second helping he had in view. The sweet dishes proved somewhat more acceptable, and under their influence Monsieur Mayen became calmer, ate more slowly and with more enjoyment, for as sometimes happened, his pleasure over each dish had been sadly diminished by the fear that the one following it would be ordered away before he had partaken of its de licacies.

As Monsieur Mayen became calmer, he began as usual to unfold his little budget of local news, for which Monsieur le Marquis scorned to ask, but the omit tance of which he would have resented. " Madame Angin is about to marry her daughter, Monsieur le Marquis, and it is said that the young person does not like the pretender to her hand who is old enough to be her father." FA SCINA TION. 12 " And will the parents consult the in clinations of Mademoiselle ?" inquired Monsieur de Beauvert. " Assuredly not ! I, for my part, should have chosen with more discretion, but having chosen, the obligation of course is incumbent on the young person to fulfil the engagement entered into by the parents ; in this case a scandal is antici pated as they fear that Mademoiselle is determined." " Who is the pretender ?"

" Monsieur de Lancefort." " De Lancefort ! he marry into the bourgeoisie! he! Are you certain, Mayen?" " Assuredly, and there are many who say that that gentleman has very much the best of the bargain." " Pouf !" said Monsieur le Marquis blowing out his cheeks emphatically. " Let us discriminate," pursued Mon- FASCINATION. 13 sieur Mayen rather hotly. " Mademoiselle is very rich, more than ten thousand francs of rents, she is beautiful as an angel, and has made her education at the Sacre Cœur — whereas Monsieur de Lance fort is after all of the petite noblesse, is poor, and of small pretensions to good looks." " No good ever comes of a mesalliance," said Monsieur de Beauvert coldly. " But in this case dear Monsieur.' Monsieur de Beauvert waved his hand peevishly. " I know well what you would say — let us leave it."

The wind burst into a louder roar than ever and the windows of the chateau shook. " Sacre tonnerre ! what a night !" cried Monsieur Mayen. "And apropos, one of the first navires came in yesterday, returning from the cod fisheries of St. FASCINATION. 14 Pierre, they had made a fair voyage of thirty-six days, and only suffered as they passed through the last two nights." " How many do they expect this year ?" " Four remain still to come, there are five-and-thirty fathers of families out from one quarter of the town alone, but at present no uneasiness is felt. I was about to tell you that le Capitaine Renault re ports that he passed a fine yacht two days ago, which signalled that she was bound for Aleth, but he mentioned that she was somewhat too beautiful to be all one could wish for in these heavy seas."

" A yacht ! at this time of year ! what imprudence, truly the owner must be an Englishman." " Without doubt, and talking of the English — a new English family has arrived in Aleth, and look for apartments now, a numerous, an enormous family — there are FASCINATION. 15 of them seven daughters to marry, and two sons for the College." " Seven daughters ! Heavens ! and the responsibility of but one is so great." " Truly, as you say, and before long without doubt Mademoiselle de Beauvert will have accomplished her education ?" Monsieur le Marquis groaned. Suddenly both started, as a violent downpour of hail rattled against the windows, and the wind rose to a furious height — neither spoke, but they glanced at each other in involuntary awe. " Hark !" cried Monsieur Mayen suddenly. " Did you hear nothing ?"

" Who could hear anything in such a noise !" " There ! again ! it is without doubt, the sound of a gun !" Again through the wind, which now sounded like one loud never-ending roar, came the faint but unmistakable FASCINATION. signal of distress. The door opened and a servant came in very pale and trembling. " I have come Monsieur le Marquis," he said, " to ask if I may dispatch Francois to the town, a ship is close to the rocks, and the wind is driving her in, and it would be best to have some of the fishermen here when she strikes." " Fly ! imbecile !" cried Monsieur de Beauvert ; going to the window he drew aside the curtains and looked out, the hail was over and the moon fiercely struggling with stormy clouds showed the sea lashed up into fearful violence. " See !" cried Monsieur le Marquis, hook ing his hand on to the fat arm of his friend, " your eyes are younger than mine ! what is the ship endeavouring to do ?"

" Ah ! parbleu ! she is in very great FASCINATION. 17 danger ! she strives to get round the promontory ! but the wind is blowing her in shore ! Ah, mon Dieu ! the poor souls !" At this moment a lower door opened, and a crowd of the chateau servants rushed out, among them conspicuous the white costumes of two cooks ; they rushed in a body to the edge of the cliff, and there stood holding each other, talking and gesticulating violently and waving a rope. " Am I right ? or do my eyes deceive me? is not Francois among them?" ex claimed Monsieur le Marquis. " Yes, doubtless ! it is Francois !" " Then who is gone to the town, oblige me, Monsieur — ring — thank you." A frightened old woman obeyed the summons. " Oblige me, Marie, by informing me vol. I. c FASCINATION. who has obeyed my orders and gone to the town ?"

" Victorine, Monsieur le Marquis, Fran cois swore he would not go by the cliff to-night, and so as one reaches the town much sooner, Victorine went. Oui dame ! Victorine went like the wind." Monsieur de Beauvert turned again to the window to watch the struggle for life or death going on so close to them. " Is it not strange, my friend," he said in his usual measured accents, " how a few short years subdue emotion ? you vibrate, you quiver, you smite yourself ! I am calm, and look on without any excess of emotion." And meanwhile the handsome Bre tonne girl, Victorine, with the hair and eyes of a tender woman, and the strength of a man, was breasting that fearful wind, and at her utmost speed going on her dangerous FASCINATION. 19 path in quest of succour ; tight in her hand she grasped a little crucifix, and her lips moved with many a half finished Pater noster, as time after time she was almost swept from her feet, and compelled to throw herself on the ground till the blast had passed by.

Again came the boom of the gun, show ing the sharp agony of the ship in peril. " Take my glasses," said Monsieur le Marquis in his calm tones. " What do you see, my friend ?" " She rolls fearfully, she makes no way whatever, I could almost think that she is nearer in land than before. Ah, alas ! alas ! never can she pass that promon tory." " Permit me," said Monsieur le Marquis, then after a moment's silent looking he exclaimed. "Oh Ciel!" Startled at so unusual an exclamation, c FA SCINA TION. 20 Mayen bent still more eagerly forward, a wild burst of wind tore round them — a mass of water rising in one huge black wave seemed to lift the vessel like a fragile toy on its breast, and flung her in shore upon the rocks, where for one awful moment she seemed to shudder like a hving thing impaled, and then quivering sank on her side, the sea washing over her from stem to stern.

The two men grasped each other, the crowd of servants below ran helplessly to and fro, they kept flinging their ropes over the cliff, but they were of little avail for they hung but half way down the face of the rocks. Now the moon struggled out again, and showed the ship lying motionless on her side, the wild sea foaming and rolling over her, but no vestige of a human being. " One would think that she is not even FASCINATION. 21 manned," said Monsieur Mayen when he could speak, the good man was now sobbing, so great was his agitation. " And yet I could distinguish some movement I fancied just now !" " And there is no power to assist them ! nothing that can be done !" cried Monsieur Mayen, wringing his hands. " See, there are the human beings," said Monsieur le Marquis gravely. Monsieur Mayen looked.

" Ah, mon Dieu !" he cried, and covered his face with his hands, for there were dark objects in the water, and the waves were flinging them on the rocks and drawing them back as though in fearful play. There came a sudden shout and the running of many footsteps, the fishermen, sailors, and douaniers arriving from Aleth with cords and rope-ladders, and climb- FASCINATION. 22 ing irons. Hours passed before anything could be done ; in vain two of the most enterprizing of the men were lowered with ropes over the cliff, the rock on which the vessel lay was divided from the cliff by lower rocks covered by the sea, and the waves furiously dashing over them would have dashed them to pieces had they ventured within their reach — not till the tide should turn and bare these connect ing rocks, could they hope to reach the wreck.

Morning came at last, the wind sank suddenly to a sullen moaning sound, one or two heavy hail-storms swept over the sky, and the tide turned. Slow and re luctant seemed that hungry sea to leave its prey, even after it seemed uncovered, as if the rock were bare, it sent back from time to time a wild wave which broke itself on the wreck, dispersing in a shower of snow-white foam. And now FASCINATION. 23 the whole crowd on the cliff rushed down to the shore, for the band of rocks was widening and widening, and the hardier sailors waded in and reached the wreck. " This part of the proceedings makes me feel very sick, mon cher," said Mon sieur le Marquis, laying his hand on his friend's arm. " We will ring for some black coffee and look no more. The news will soon be brought to us — quite soon enough."

And shuddering he left the window where during the whole night they had been watching, and returned to his chair. he looked very pale and old, and his hands trembled. " Marie, some coffee ! quick, and very strong — and the cognac." Hardly had the coffee been brought into the room when a servant entered. " Monsieur le Marquis," he said, FASCINATION. 24 " the fishermen have returned from the wreck." "Well!" said Monsieur de Beauvert. " There is one survivor — the owner of the yacht, and he " " Ask him to do me the honour of stepping in here, his room doubtless has been prepared." " Yes, Monsieur le Marquis." " The sole survivor, did you say ?" " Dame ! yes, but the bodies " " Chut ! be silent and do as I tell )> you. Hardly a moment passed when the door was thrown open, and a servant pompously announced.

" Monsieur le Prince del Monte," and the unfortunate owner of the yacht entered the room. Monsieur Mayen whose good heart and bourgeois breeding at such a moment could not be controlled, precipitated him- FASCINATION. 25 self forward and seized the arms of the gentleman with a torrent of words of welcome, shaking them again and again, and on letting him go wiped his eyes and struck his breast effusively. Meanwhile the Prince del Monte ad vanced towards his host, who, too courteous to question him, immediately entreated him to take coffee and cognac, or cognac only. The Prince preferred coffee only, and with the water stream ing from his clothes drank it eagerly, asking for more when he had finished. Monsieur de Beauvert found that he could not remove his eyes from his guest, when he had time to look at him.

He was a tall slight man of apparently about six or seven-and-twenty years of age, his complexion was of the warm olive tint, untouched by red, of his native Italy, his hair and large moustache FASCINATION. black as jet ; he had very large dark eyes, with something very strange in their expression, he habitually kept them fixed on the ground, with the beauti fully formed eye-lids half closed over them ; a strong curiosity made Monsieur le Marquis most anxious to meet those eyes, he wished to know whether they would shift uneasily before his, whether his habit of looking no man in the face was the result of cowardice, the fear of a guilty conscience, or a mere gaucherie which seemed incompatible with the perfect ease and high breeding of his manner of speaking. At last, for one moment only did the Prince raise his eyes, and Monsieur de Beauvert looked at them, he started when he did so.

They were not raised to his, but gazing away out of the window, out over the sea ; but he saw how large and deep aud beautiful they were, and he saw FASCINATION. 27 a strange appearance in them which aston ished him, round the pupil of each eye was a second dark circle, it might be said of him that he had double pupils in his eyes, and the expression they wore as they gazed on the sea was so wild and mournful that Monsieur le Marquis felt a shiver run through him, and an indescribable relief when the dark eye lashes veiled them again. It was a new and strange sensation to Monsieur de Beauvert to give so much thought to any other than himself, it was rather an agreeable experience. The Prince would not be persuaded to go to bed ; having entreated his host to do so, he accepted the loan of dry clothes and returned at once to the rocks.

Monsieur Mayen took his departure, and Monsieur le Marquis feeling old and feeble retired to bed, and took a com- FASCINATION. posing draught that the unwonted excitement of his nerves might not prevent him from sleeping.

Chapter II

|HE sun rose slowly in a glow of crimson light, it reddened the sullen grey sea, it shone on the curved line of yellow sand, on the shining wet shingle, on the dark green seaweed. The wreck was lying almost high and dry now, with little pools of water stand ing all round in the jagged fissures of the rocks, the great torn rent in her side was visible, her masts were gone, the sails hung in ribbons — even in ruin she showed what a beautiful smiling little vessel she had been. FASCINATION. 30 And close under the rocks drawn up from the shingle lay the body of a young sailor, and kneeling beside him was his young master, the sole survivor. The fishermen and servants stood at a little distance talking together in whispers ; but all unheeding them, Paolo del Monte wrung his hands and cried aloud in Italian " Andrea !

Andrea mine ! my God ! my God ! how shall I meet thy mother !" Then he rose; he pressed his hands together, he hung his head, he bit his lips, his eyes wandered round him with a wild hunted look of despair, then suddenly he threw his arms outwards towards Heaven with a wild bitter cry, a wail of inexpressible anguish. " Oh Heaven ! no mercy ! no hope !" The fishermen shrugged their shoulders, they shook their heads. FASCINATION. 31 " He is mad !" said one. " Oui done I he is mad." " He has without doubt lost his all !" said another. " Le Capitaine Bouvet was like one possessed when he lost the Amelie, poor soul ! Come, Monsieur," said the man approaching. " Courage, Monsieur, there is always something to be got from the sale of the wreckage, and Monsieur is still young. Will Monsieur allow us to remove that, and he pointed to the body of the young sailor, adding grimly.

" We would take him to the farm there, the crew is almost complete now I wager." The Prince looked at him for a second then bowed his head in token of assent, and the little procession moved away with their sad burden along the narrow strip of sand, then sitting down on a low rock he covered his face with his hands. FASCINATION. 32 Paolo del Monte did not know how long he remained thus, but he was roused by the low whispering of a woman's voice. " See, Babette, it is the poor gentle man who was nearly drowned, courage, my little sister, there are times when sympathy comforts the afflicted." And he felt the touch of a hand on his shoulder, and looking up, saw a pair of tender blue eyes looking down on him, and a sweet woman's face with fair hair smoothed under her snowy Breton cap ; a little girl was clinging timidly to her apron.

" The breakfast is served, Monsieur," said she again. " And Monsieur looks so weary, so sad, the good God can comfort Monsieur." " Who are you, my good friend ?" "lam Victorine, one of the bonnes at the chateau. Come, Babette, we must FASCINATION. 33 be going. Monsieur must not fret for the poor souls that are gone, the good God will care for His own." " Ah, Victorine ! but the good God had entrusted them to my care !" The words seemed to burst from him with uncontrolable sadness. Victorine looked puzzled for a moment, then said suddenly, " Oui, dame ! but the good God has removed them from your care to His own, the poor souls. Come, Babette, we detain Monsieur," and taking the child by the hand she departed. There was rare beauty in her noble figure, and the grace of each movement, the supple grace of great strength and activity.

Then Paolo rose and turned his steps towards the Chateau de Beauvert, following the line of the bay till he reached vol. i. D FASCINATION. 34 the steps which enabled him to mount the cliff. Meanwhile the Marquis de Beauvert stood in the dining-room, where in honour of his guest the dejeuner had been served, and in front of him stood the unfortunate Francois. " No, I give not even the customary week, to-day you cease to be my ser vant." " But if Monsieur le Marquis would deign to take into consideration " " I take nothing into consideration, when disobedience is in question." "But, Monsieur le Marquis, my life is more precious to me than " " Precisely, more precious to you than my commands, therefore — depart !" The gesture that accompanied this word was unmistakable, and Francois flew from the room, almost overturning in his rapid exit the Prince who was entering FASCINATION. 35 " You have had no rest, Prince," said his host.

" Heavens ! you are pale and exhausted, let me entreat you to eat, and then repose yourself." " I will obey your first command, Mon sieur," and sitting down, Paolo made a feint of eating, but every mouthful seemed to choke him, and after awhile he perforce desisted, and sat patiently during the lengthy and deliberate meal of his host. " I fear that you will be sadly incom moded by the want of a personal servant," began Monsieur le Marquis, presently. " I presume that yours " Almost a convulsion passed over Paolo's face. " I am indebted to you for everything, Monsieur de Beauvert; when one more sad duty is accomplished I must go into Aleth to the bank, to procure money and afterwards clothes ; for a servant I d FASCINATION. must trust to your goodness until I have had time " " Certainly, certainly, my whole household is at your disposition, you have but to command."

" Are we far from Aleth ?" " About half a mile, it is a be nighted neighbourhood, and you will not find it easy to supply all your needs." Paolo could not rest ; in vain he tossed to and fro in his bed, in vain he tried every art known to the sleepless, sleep would not come to his call, and before the afternoon had merged into evening he was again afoot, and on his way to the farm-house which contained the corpses of the men who had formed his handsome and gallant crew. They were all young men in the prime of life, chosen out for their good looks and good character, as fine a set of young FASCINATION. 37 sailors as ever left the fair coasts of Italy, and now those whom the sea had sullenly rendered up from its cold depths lay side by side. It was a very large bare room, and hastily the kindly farm-people had hung white sheets round the walls, had laid sheets on the floor, had laid the dead there with candles burning at their feet, and one large crucifix brought in by the cure at their head.