Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub

and in faith. His last word was a blessing upon his daughter. The cause for silence is now at an end. Permit me, then, to reveal to the president, as to a man of honour and intelligence, the whole truth."

Albertine looked kindly and gratefully towards her deliverer, but answered only with silence and with tears. Nordech, addressing himself to the president, began:—

"When our troops returned from France in 1816, I was quartered with the several squadrons of the fourth hussar regiment in this neighbourhood. The idleness of quarters led me to excursions into the surrounding country. We officers were hospitably received among the neighbouring gentry, and in the numerous bathing places, such as K—, which at that time possessed an excellent theatre.

"In that theatre, to which I had accompanied some friend, I accidentally met with Baron Hermann von Preussach. We had served together in the campaign of 1809, and I was under obligations to him. I felt pleasure in meeting him again, but not unmingled with a feeling of pain. He was sadly altered. The handsome and noble-looking-youth had become prematurely old; his limbs stiff and feeble; his spirit gone; even his dress bore the traces either of negligence or of poverty. I knew he had been rich; I had heard he had made a brilliant match; and this I could not reconcile with his present appearHe seemed to have a suspicion of my thought; but on this occasion we had no time for any explanations.

ance.

"In the course of our subsequent intercourse, I saw that his mind was ill at ease with itself: he lived in society beneath his rank, and with which in his better moments he was disgusted. I was happy to give him the opportunity of finding a better circle among the officers of my regiment.

"By degrees he became more communicative; he told me, in fragments, the history of his marriage and separation. He avowed himself, with remorse, to be the guilty person. He told me farther, how he had broken with his friends, gone abroad for a time, returned, and had now lived on for some months at Kwithout a plan or object. An unfortunate attachment still fettered him, though the connexion had long become wearisome to him. The subject

of it was a member of the corps de ballet of the theatre.

"Accident led to further disclosures on his part. Among other acquaintances which I and my comrade had formed, was that of the family of Baron Kettler von Blumenrode, at whose house a young lady was on a visit-Madame Siegfeld. She was too attractive and beautiful not to form the frequent subject of our con versations. At one of these Preussach was present, and the extreme attention with which he listened could not escape my observation. The next time we were alone, he began the most particular enquiries as to Madame Siegfeld. I told him all I knew, and when I had exhausted the subject, he sat for a little, brooding and thoughtfül, and then broke silence in earnest. To my astonishment I now learned that Albertine von Siegfeld was his separated wife. He spoke of her with such affection, with such animation, that he affected me in turn. He confessed that, since the separation, he had lived in a state of moral degradation at which he shuddered. He felt that his only chance of reformation depended on a re-union with his wife. He implored me to act as mediator between them; to be the bearer of his repentant prayer to his wife. I shrunk back: I was terrified at the task; I represented to him the chimerical, the hopeless nature of the attempt. This time he desisted. But the attempt was often renewed. Weary of the subject, I began to avoid Preussach, But I did not avoid Blumenrode; and, strangely enough, I began to think that Albertine eyed me with particular attention. I was not vain enough to ascribe her notice to any personal attractions; but the suspicion flashed across my mind that Hermann had, without my interference, found the means of opening a written communication with his wife, and had alluded to me as one to whom he had confided his secret. I learned afterwards that my conjecture was correct.

"To be brief; disclosures took place between Albertine and myself. Albertine told me one evening on which I had the pleasure of accompanying her in an evening walk, that she knew I was acquainted with her situation; that she knew the commission with which I had been charged by Hermann; that she believed me to be a man of honour, and as such would con

12

fide in me; but that to Hermann she had but one answer to make that she never would accede to his wish for a re-union. She had forgiven him; but the will of her father, which she never would oppose, rendered all thoughts of re-union hopeless, even if her own feelings could have led her to such a step. I vowed that I would never lend countenance to any plan on the part of Hermann which did not meet with her approbation.

"So ended my first conversation with Albertine. I communicated every thing to Hermann. He was silent.

The matter appeared to rest. To my surprise and terror, however, I discovered not only that he continued his correspondence with Blumenrode, but received answers from thence. I reproached him; he embraced me, and exclaimed in an agitated tone,- O Max! interfere not with my plans. I count upon you. Albertine trusts to me -and yourself! All will soon be clear to you."

66

My astonishment was indescribable. I still doubted: I thought Hermann must be deceiving me or himself. Yet it was as he said. Albertine had consented, not indeed to a re-union, but to give him a meeting. Hermann, it appears, had assailed her in her tenderest part-her affection for her child. He had threatened that he and his family could and would reclaim the child by law, if she refused him the interview he asked. Albertine, with her clear intellect, could allow herself to be terrified with this bugbear of a legal reclamation of the child, I know not; but so it was. She consented to Hermann's plan. That plan was as follows:

How

"The gentry of the neighbourhood held weekly assemblies in Hilgenberg, and Albertine generally accompanied the Kettler family thither. The parties were numerous-gentlemen and ladies of all ages;

[ocr errors]

excursions amusements of all kinds-afforded opportunities for any one who chose to separate from the rest to do so without being observed.

"It was arranged that Albertine should be summoned from her party by a pretended message from a friend, to whom we gave the name of Madame Seehausen, and conducted to an appointed spot where I should be in waiting. The place fixed was the residence of a respectable woman in Hilgenberg,

"From this house I was to conduct Albertine to a lonely ruin on the top of a neighbouring eminence; a spot which Hermann had discovered in the course of his rambles, and where he himself was to be in waiting.

"I could not disguise from myself the questionable, even the dangerous nature of this scheme. I would will ingly have frustrated it; but now Albertine seemed anxious for the interview. She was determined to bring the question as to the child to a point. I was obliged at last to reconcile myself to the plan. Hermann himself could not enter Hilgenberg, where he was known; Albertine could not venture to be seen in his company. To see him at Blumenrode was impossible; while her being seen in my company, either in Hilgenberg or the neighbourhood, would excite no remark. In short the plan, hazardous as it might be, was the only one which appeared practicable.

“The 10th of August was fixed for its execution. That day, however, the inclemency of the weather prevented. It was delayed for another week.

"I know not how it was, but during this interval the thought more than once crossed my mind that Hermann had designs which he did not communicate to me or to Albertine. I hinted this to her in writing. I received no written answer; but I learned in haste from Albertine verbally, that on the 17th she would be at the place of rendezvous.

"Hermann and I were at our posts. But Albertine-I thanked Heaven for it in secret-Albertine came not. The illness of one of the family detained her.

On

"Hermann was not daunted. the 24th, he was positive that Albertine would make her appearance.

"That ill-omened day approached; the most eventful, the most painful of my life. Early in the morning-it was a Saturday-I rode towards Hilgenberg. As I cast my eyes upwards in passing, I saw the concerted signal that Hermann was in the ruin. I hurried towards the assembly-room at Hilgenberg.

"I looked at the visiting list. I prayed that the Kettlers might be again detained. They were but Albertine came-she had accompanied the family of Langsitz.

"There now remained no choice. The billet was despatched. After an

hour of anxious expectation on my part, Albertine came.

"The calm dignity, the composure with which this extraordinary woman proceeded on her trying missionwhile I, a man, felt my heart beat with an indefinable feeling of terror overpowered me with surprise, and at last with shame. Time was valuable; without delay we hurried through the garden, and in the direction of the woods, within whose deep shadows we were soon involved. From thence the path ascends, first gradually, then more steeply towards the ruin. Albertine was in her assembly dress; she slid frequently with her thin smooth shoes; it was only by exerting all my strength that I was able to support and assist her in her ascent. Her heroic perseverance, however, overcame every difficulty.

"At the distance of a few steps from the ruin we were met by Hermann. Albertine's heart beat audibly. There he stood before her-the broken-down, degraded man, before the woman blooming in the lustre of almost maiden beauty. What a meeting! What feelings must have been awakened in the pure and noble heart of Albertine! Willingly could I conceal the degrading fact-but it must be spoken. Hermann appeared in a state of unnatural excitation; he had brought wine with him to the ruin for what purpose I know not-and it soon became plain to me that he had indulged in it to excess.

"Even Albertine, who had not at first observed it, could not long be insensible to Hermann's condition. His whole behaviour had in it something wild, savage, and revolting. I saw by her looks that she repented the step which she had taken; but the deed was done. I exerted myself accordingly to bring the conversation to the point, in the hope that the painful interview might the sooner terminate. Directing the old man, who had been Hermann's guide, to accompany us, we entered the ruin: he could not understand our conversation, which was carried on in French.

"What shall I say of this conversation? Its constant, ever-repeated theme was, on the one hand, Hermann's entreaties for a reconciliation and a re-union, on which he felt that his whole chance of amendment depended; on the other, Albertine's inflexible resolution not to violate the

injunction of her father. Both parties became warm-reproachful expressions were uttered by Hermann. There was a pause-the day had become hot. Hermann directed the guide to unpack the refreshments. We men applied ourselves to them vigorously. Albertine, at my request, ate a few morsels to repair her strength. Hermann, in spite of my remonstrances, indulged in long draughts of strong and fiery wine; his entreaties, addressed to his wife, became more urgent, and at last assumed the tone of threats, directed both against her and her child. Al bertine rose-she saw it was time to depart I watched her every look.

[ocr errors]

"Hermann perceived it, and, with a demoniac look and wildly rolling eye, exclaimed,—' Ay, you are in league-I see through you.'

[ocr errors]

"Albertine cast on him a look of pity and contempt. Herr von Nordech,' she said, 'I go.'

"So, you go!' cried Hermann in a fearful tone. He held a large twoedged knife in his hand. You go!go then-forsake me-cast me back into a life which to me is hell. Life! -no; it is death itself. Go-but first see me die!' And he made a motion with the knife as if to stab himself.

“What happened afterwards? I try in vain to realize to myself the order of events in the next moment. I know only that the words thoughtlessly escaped me.

"Hermann, are you not ashamed to play off this mummery before your noble wife?'

"This reproach seemed to have inflamed him to madness.

"Wretch!' he exclaimed, do I not know how to die!'

"Scarcely had he uttered these words when he lay at my feet in his blood, the handle of the knife convul sively clasped in his hand, the blade plunged into his heart. Albertine lay beside him, herself bleeding and insensible.

"Scarcely knowing what I did, I raised her. Her right hand bled. In the moment of the death-blow she had seized hold of the knife to stay his hand-but in vain.

"The guide drew the knife from Hermann's breast-it was too late. A single slight movement of the head, a faint rattling in the throat, and Her

mann was no more.

"Albertine, the weak and tender woman, was the first who evinced

promptitude and coolness in these trying circumstances. The deceased was the object of her solicitude. The body, she said, could not be allowed to remain there. Her husband, the father of her children, must not be left exposed and unburied at all hazards, she was resolved that his remains should find a grave in Christian earth.

"The guide suggested the scheme of carrying the body down from the ruin and placing it in the neighbourhood of the chapel beneath, where it was certain in a short time to be discovered, and would be taken for the body of some one who had been robbed and murdered on the mountain; in which case it would obtain interment in consecrated ground, which would be denied to it if known to be the remains of a suicide. We thought the plan feasible. With the assistance of the guide I stripped the body of its upper garments, purse, watch, and portfolio. The clothes we concealed in a pit behind the ruin, covering them carefully with stones. The watch, the purse, the marriage-ring, and the portfolio, Albertine, at my request, took into her possession. The seal-ring we were obliged to leave on the right hand; it could not be drawn off without mutilation. We tore to pieces the silk cravat which Hermann wore, and bound it tightly round the body to stanch the torrent of blood which still flowed from the wound, and by which my clothes were already sullied-then raising the body in our arms, we carried it from the ruin and deposited it on the greensward before the chapel.

"It was now full time to make the best of our way to Hilgenberg. The guide undertook to conduct Albertine to some surgeon who would dress her wound. I supported her in her descent. Bitterly did she now express her regret that she had violated her promise to her father, under the terror of being separated from her child; perhaps though she did not confess it-under the influence of old attachment to her husband.

• But never, never!' she exclaimed, shall he have the misery of knowing that I have violated his injunctions; the idea of such disobedience on the part of a beloved daughter would be his death. Come what will-nay, though I should be myself suspected of being a murderess-though the arm of the law should be extended to persecute me

I will be silent; silent to the scaffoldto the grave!'

"I exerted all my eloquence to dissipate this unhappy idea by which Albertine was haunted, but without success. In a tone which cut me to the heart, she repeated, that her last prayer to me wass-that, as long as her father lived, I would reveal to no one that she had seen Hermann. I promised solemnly what she required. The guide, touched by her grief, promised, with tears in his eyes, to do the

same.

"Already we were beginning to emerge from the wood. My clothes, I knew, were spotted with blood; but on Albertine's dress there was only a few specks, which might easily be accounted for by the wound in her hand. At this moment she discovered that she had dropped her glove. We saw how important it was to recover it; I offered to re-ascend for that purpose, thinking I should have no difficulty in overtaking her. My search was long and vain the glove was not to be found. When I again reached the road, Albertine was gone. She had proceeded on her way, accompanied by her guide. I reached my quarters about dusk; and I saw her no more till I met her here. Thank God! my coming was not too late!" "Thanks to God, indeed!" said the worthy president. "I believe your story: it bears on its face the stamp of truth. But the forms of law must be complied with. The evidence of the woodman will be necessary to confirm your statement. Where is he?"

"I have kept my eye upon him," said Nordech." His name is Florian Krauss; and he inhabits a small cottage in the village of Zellenbach.”

"He shall be summoned. One other circumstance I should wish explained. The purse of the deceased was dropped into the poor's-chest of the chapel, with this scrap of writing. How does that cohere with your plan of representing the deceased as having been robbed ?

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Nordech looked at the paper with surprise. "I cannot explain it,” he replied; I except that Albertine, solely occupied with her own scheme of procuring Christian burial for her husband, may have forgotten our arrangement, and dropped the purse into the box while she remained in the chapel, during the time we removed the body."

606

The Dead Man of St Anne's Chapel.

The old man made his appearance, and his testimony completely corroborated the story of Nordech.

One doubt may still remain to be cleared up. How came it that Nordech had been so long separated from the chief actor in this extraordinary

event?-how came it that the news of her danger only reached him in the most critical moment ?

Thus it was:His regiment, within a few weeks after the eventful 24th of August, was ordered into another quarter, and afterwards reduced. Nordech resumed his original profes. sion, that of a mining engineer, and distinguished himself so much, that he was selected to accompany a mining expedition which the Government sent out to Brazil. Pleased with the prospects which the New World afforded, he determined to settle there entirely. Before doing so, however, he resolved to visit his native country once more, finally to arrange his affairs before leaving it for ever.

His business concluded, he resolved to pay a parting visit to the scenes where he had fought in defence of his

to her, fearing that the shock might be too much for her, when coupled with her own misfortunes.

Albertine has not

"In the name of Heaven!" exclaimed Nordech, " yet heard of her father's death! She must hear of it, and that instantly."

The ground seemed to burn beneath his feet: he was deaf to every ques tion which was asked. "To Hainburg!" he exclaimed to Hainburg! Every instant is precious."

In a moment his horse was ready, and in full gallop for Hainburg. He was told the court was still sitting. He made his way through the thronged passages with difficulty; he saw the jury retiring; his eyes lighted upon

the prisoner. already knows,

The rest the reader

1820, I met, in the sal oon of the inn Happening to be in Marseilles in the young nurse of a pretty little girl of seven years old, to whom the attend

dant gave the name

of Constance.

Seeing she was a German, I entered into conversation with her, and learned country. His way led him through parents, who were just expected-and that the sweet was waiting for her

that district where he had been the involuntary witness of such eventful

Occurrences.

The newspapers of the department announced the opening of the assizes in Hainburg; one case was mentioned as likely to attract peculiar attention: the initials only of the parties were given, but to him they were enough. There was no doubt: the accused was Albertine ! Thus fearfully had her dark presentiment been fulfilled.

He hurried to Blumenrode: there he would hear all; he learned all that the family had to tell: it was enough to convince him of the pressing nature of the danger. Albertine's sentence was expected to be pronounced that day, and the worst fears were entertained as to the result.

that the family were from thence for the Bra

I asked their names

about to sail zils.

and was told

Nordech. "Now that the lady's mother is dead," continued the nurse, "they have nothing to bind them any longer to this country."

Nordech! The name sounded to me as familiar. I enqız red further. I learned that Constance was the stepdaughter of Nordech-that her

name was Fraulein von

I saw it all. The lo

Preussach.

ely child was

the unfortunate Herman von PreusAlbertine's daughter-te daughter of sach-the dead man of St Anne's

Chapel.

A servant entered to a the family were come, a ing in the carriage.

nounce that nd were wait

The nurse

"And her parents," he enquired, dressed the child, and hurried down

"Do they know of this? Are they here?"

"The colonel is dead," was the reply, "he never learned the danger in which Albertine stood. The un

the window. sat in the car

with her. I advanced to A lady and gentleman riage. The lady looke

up; it gave

those well known and still beautiful me an opportunity of per using again fortunate mother, with admirable pru- features which could never be forgot

dence, contrived to make him believe to the last that Albertine was merely involved in a troublesome process with Ferdinand von Preussach as to her settlements. Her mother has not yet dared, however, to break the tidings

ten. It was Albertine.

The carriage drove on pier; and the ocean soon her and that land where countered so many sorro

-ards to the lay between she had en

S.

« IndietroContinua »