The Casque's Lark; or, Victoria, the Mother of the Camps

by Eugène Sue

  Need I tell you, my son, how deeply I was moved by such solicitude onher part? I was at the time steeped in gloom and absorbed by the fear ofthe grave events that might follow in the wake of Victoria's death. Iremained almost insensible to the hope of speedily returning toBrittany, in order to end my days there, on the spot where my ancestorslived. When my health was completely restored, I repaired to the generalwho commanded the army of the Rhine. An old soldier himself, he wascertain to appreciate better than anyone else the serious dangers thatGaul remained exposed to with Victoria's death. I frankly told him theschemes that Tetrik was hatching; I also expressed to him my suspicionsregarding the poisoning of my foster-sister. The general made me thefollowing answer:

  "The crimes and plots that you accuse Tetrik of are so monstrous, theywould bespeak so infernal a soul, that I would hardly believe them, evenif they were attested by Victoria herself, our august mother, whom wecan never forget. Schanvoch, you are a brave and honest soldier, butyour deposition will not suffice to bring the Chief of Gaul to the barof the senate and the army. Besides, Tetrik is himself about to die;even his own poisoning proves to a certainty that he is innocent ofVictoria's death. You would be the only witness against the Chief ofGaul, who has been loved and venerated up to now, seeing that he hasalways conducted himself as the first subject of Victoria, the realempress of the nation. Take my advice, Schanvoch, invigorate yourspirit, that the sudden death of this august woman has so severelyshaken. It may be that, shocked by the disaster, your judgment is ledastray, and mistakes vague apprehensions for facts. Until now, Tetrikhas governed Gaul wisely, thanks to the inspiration of our augustMother. If he dies, he will be regretted by us; if he survives themysterious crime which he has himself narrowly escaped, we shallcontinue to honor the man who was pointed out to us by Victoria herselfas the fit object of our choice."

  The general's answer proved to me that I would never succeed in causingthe senate and the army to share my suspicions and convictions, bothbeing so thoroughly prejudiced in favor of the Chief of Gaul.

  Tetrik did not die. Hearing of his father's predicament, his son hurriedto Treves, and took his father in charge. When he became convalescent,Tetrik held lengthy interviews with the senators and the chiefs of thearmy. He manifested on the subject of Victoria's death so profound and,to all appearance, sincere a grief; he honored her memory in so pious amanner by a funeral ceremony at which he glorified the illustriouswoman, whose omnipotent hand, he said, had so long supported him, and towhom he felt proud of owing his elevation; in short, he seemed soheart-stricken when, pale, worn with his illness, frequently breakingout into tears, and leaning on the arm of his son, he dragged himselfwith unsteady step to the sad solemnity, that he conquered the affectionof the people and the army more completely than ever by the last homagethat he rendered to the memory of Victoria.

  I then realized how utterly futile it would be to press my accusationsagainst Tetrik. With my heart rent at seeing the fate of Gaul in thehands of a man whom I knew for a traitor, I decided to leave Treves withyou, my son, and Sampso, your second mother, and repair to Brittany, thecountry of our family's nativity, there to seek some consolation for mysorrows.

  Nevertheless I felt bound to fulfil what I considered a sacred duty. Bydint of constantly interrogating my memory on the subject of theconversation between Tetrik and Victoria, I succeeded in transcribing ita second time, word for word. Of this I made a second copy, and on theeve of my departure took the first draft to the general of the army.

  "You are of the opinion," I said to him, "that my reason wanders--keepthis narrative--I hope the future may not prove to you the truth of myaccusation."

  The general took the parchment, and dismissed me with the compassionatemien that is bestowed upon people whose mind is deranged.