Part 49 (1/2)

(A conversation between lovers is a very commonplace affair. It is a perpetual ”I love you.” A musical phrase which is very insipid and very bald for indifferent listeners, when it is not ornamented with some _fioriture_; but Claude was not an indifferent listener.)

”Oh!” said the young girl, without raising her eyes, ”do not despise me, monseigneur Phoebus. I feel that what I am doing is not right.”

”Despise you, my pretty child!” replied the officer with an air of superior and distinguished gallantry, ”despise you, _tete-Dieu_! and why?”

”For having followed you!”

”On that point, my beauty, we don't agree. I ought not to despise you, but to hate you.”

The young girl looked at him in affright: ”Hate me! what have I done?”

”For having required so much urging.”

”Alas!” said she, ”'tis because I am breaking a vow. I shall not find my parents! The amulet will lose its virtue. But what matters it? What need have I of father or mother now?”

So saying, she fixed upon the captain her great black eyes, moist with joy and tenderness.

”Devil take me if I understand you!” exclaimed Phoebus. La Esmeralda remained silent for a moment, then a tear dropped from her eyes, a sigh from her lips, and she said,--”Oh! monseigneur, I love you.”

Such a perfume of chast.i.ty, such a charm of virtue surrounded the young girl, that Phoebus did not feel completely at his ease beside her. But this remark emboldened him: ”You love me!” he said with rapture, and he threw his arm round the gypsy's waist. He had only been waiting for this opportunity.

The priest saw it, and tested with the tip of his finger the point of a poniard which he wore concealed in his breast.

”Phoebus,” continued the Bohemian, gently releasing her waist from the captain's tenacious hands, ”You are good, you are generous, you are handsome; you saved me, me who am only a poor child lost in Bohemia. I had long been dreaming of an officer who should save my life. 'Twas of you that I was dreaming, before I knew you, my Phoebus; the officer of my dream had a beautiful uniform like yours, a grand look, a sword; your name is Phoebus; 'tis a beautiful name. I love your name; I love your sword. Draw your sword, Phoebus, that I may see it.”

”Child!” said the captain, and he unsheathed his sword with a smile.

The gypsy looked at the hilt, the blade; examined the cipher on the guard with adorable curiosity, and kissed the sword, saying,--

”You are the sword of a brave man. I love my captain.” Phoebus again profited by the opportunity to impress upon her beautiful bent neck a kiss which made the young girl straighten herself up as scarlet as a poppy. The priest gnashed his teeth over it in the dark.

”Phoebus,” resumed the gypsy, ”let me talk to you. Pray walk a little, that I may see you at full height, and that I may hear your spurs jingle. How handsome you are!”

The captain rose to please her, chiding her with a smile of satisfaction,--

”What a child you are! By the way, my charmer, have you seen me in my archer's ceremonial doublet?”

”Alas! no,” she replied.

”It is very handsome!”

Phoebus returned and seated himself beside her, but much closer than before.

”Listen, my dear--”

The gypsy gave him several little taps with her pretty hand on his mouth, with a childish mirth and grace and gayety.

”No, no, I will not listen to you. Do you love me? I want you to tell me whether you love me.”

”Do I love thee, angel of my life!” exclaimed the captain, half kneeling. ”My body, my blood, my soul, all are thine; all are for thee.