by Mór Jókai
CHAPTER XXII
THE DEVIL
Suddenly a glow of light illumined the dark waves; a red gleam,reflected on the street of houses, was seen advancing towards them. Froma side street a boat was approaching, with a torch stuck in its bow.Two men were pulling; a third, boat-hook in hand, was staving off thefloating masses of ice; a fourth was at the rudder. In the middle of theboat stood a woman, her head and face entirely enveloped in a bashlik,engaged in covering up a group of children of all ages, distributingbiscuit among them, and soothing their cries for papa and baba (littleRussian children say "baba" instead of mamma). Papa and baba do not takethe children to the fair, but lock up the poor little mites in thehouses before they go out. If any sudden calamity occurs papa and babaescape. But what becomes of the little ones? Does a fire break out theyare burned to death; a flood, then let Providence send some good-naturedgentry-folk, such as take pleasure in rescuing children through roof orwindows. It is as good sport as wild-duck shooting. So this boat wasfilled to overflowing.
The boatmen were the first to see the desperate position of the carriageand its occupants, and they rowed towards it. The torch showered sparksin the high wind, illuminating the face of the youth who, as he stood inthe prow of the boat gliding over the dark waters, looked like some heroof antiquity. Masses of ice grated under the keel. The young man,steering dexterously through the ice, reached the carriage. It was butjust in time, for Bethsaba could scarce maintain her seat upon thehorse. Without a second's hesitation he had seized the half-frozen girl,who clutched with both hands at his arm, and the next instant she was inthe boat.
Bethsaba looked into the youth's eyes, and in that moment she knew theexquisite joy of losing one's self in a look. Once before she had metthe fire of those eyes--then they had singed her wings; now her heartwas the victim.
"Wrap her in this fur cloak," said the lady standing in the middle ofthe boat to the young man, and threw her own cloak to the girl, who wasshivering with cold; then going alongside the carriage, held out herhand to help the lady sitting in it into the boat. As she did so thebashlik fell back, and Bethsaba recognized the face. It was that ofZeneida Ilmarinen--the devil! The Duchess also recognized her.
Like a fury she struck back her enemy's helping hand, crying, in a voicehoarse with passionate excitement:
"Away, away! I will not have your help! Rather perish in the flood thanin hell with you!" And, snatching the whip from her coachman's hand, sheadministered some smart lashes to the horses, who, madly rearing,plunged deeper into the foaming waves, already up to their chests. Shewould have none of Zeneida's help.
Bethsaba remained in the boat, trembling, not with cold, but at thethought that she had fallen into the devil's clutches, who already wasmaking off with her as his prey. Of course he had given her his own furwrap in order to get more sure hold of her. How warm it was! It mustcome direct from the lower regions.
"You will take cold," said the man with the boat-hook to Zeneida.
"I will row to keep myself warm," she answered; and, taking an oar inher firm grasp, began rowing vigorously, her chest heaving with theexertion, as does the devil when hastening off with his prey. Of coursehe takes all the little children he can get hold of to hell. The boatflew like the wind down the dark lanes.
At length they came to a large garden, the high walls of which kept backthe seething waters. Bethsaba recognized the gilded railings thatsurmounted them. It was here the stag had been shot that they werehunting last spring. The evil spirit was bringing her to his lair.
The boat pulled up to the very threshold of the castle, for the watercovered the marble steps. But the castle itself was built on such highground that it was secure from all inundation.
The hall was brilliantly lighted, and an army of liveried footmen withlighted lamps hastened out to receive the party. From one end of thelong ballroom to the other were rows of beds; in the centre of the rooma table spread with food and steaming samovars. A number of beds werealready occupied by children; another group was in the act of being fedwith tea and soup. Bethsaba recognized many well-known faces among thehelpers. They were those of members of the Society of the Green Book,who had been utilizing the Feast of St. Michael to hold a sitting, forthat is one of the days when the attention of the police is otherwiseengaged. Scarce had the sitting begun when Pushkin had burst in amongthem with the alarming news that the Neva had overflowed its banks.
The common danger at once put politics, new constitutions, andconspiracy out of their heads. Their one thought was to save thoseimperilled.
In Zeneida's grounds was an immense fish-pond, on which her guests werewont to hold regattas in the spring. In winter boats and punts were laidup in the boat-houses. These were got out in all haste, the conspiratorstold off to them with oars and boat-hooks, and they were quickly rowedoff in all directions to carry help to the inundated city. Their firstwork was to rescue the children out of endangered houses, and thosewomen who had stayed at home with them. Zeneida placed her castle, staffof servants, and wardrobe at the disposal of the rescuing party; butthe lion's share of the work fell to her, and she gave herself heart andsoul to it. She herself carried the young Circassian Princess in herarms into a well-warmed apartment hung with rich tapestries. Bethsabahad not strength to resist; she suffered herself to be carried like ababy. Besides, what is the use of resistance to the Prince of Darkness?
First Zeneida cut away and removed the frozen clothing from Bethsaba'snumbed body--so does the Evil One with his prey! Here the king'sdaughter experienced a sensation of surprise, for she was accustomed tobathe very often with Korynthia, who never failed to admire her form,and to say to her god-daughter, "How lovely are you!" But Zeneidainstead, with frowning brow, as if angry with her, clothed her rapidlyin a woollen garment, then commenced rubbing her limbs vigorously untilthe numbness yielded and a pleasant sense of warmth was infused into herframe. Then, wrapping her in well-warmed blankets, she laid Bethsaba ina delicious soft bed and covered her up. Yes, so the Evil One treats hispoor victims before he takes them to the nether regions!
Then Zeneida brought a steaming drink in a delicate porcelain cup, fromwhich Bethsaba, taking one sip, felt warmed through as though with fire.This must certainly be the devil's potion! And having once tasted it shewanted more, and did not stop until she had emptied the cup. Then hereyes closed, and, fiercely as she resisted it, sleep overpowered her. Inher dreams the Prince of Darkness led her through fairy-like placeswhich, narrow at first, widened out farther and farther until theychanged into one great Paradise, where people flew about instead ofwalking. Once in her dreams she saw the Evil One gently attending toher wants and removing her saturated garments. And next morning, whenshe awoke, true enough, her coverings had been changed. If that was nodream, were the other dreams equally true?
Bethsaba, sitting up in bed, looked about her. Yes; it must be the EvilOne's room. No image of a saint to be seen; only Chinese and Japaneseidols of every form and shape. Most likely images of Beelzebub andAsmodeus!
But what most astonished her was to find her own clothes folded on a lowchair by her bedside. How could that be? Last night the Spirit ofDarkness had certainly cut and torn them to shreds; and now here theywere, whole and dry. Certainly he has numberless agents who can worklike magic? Timorously she put on the mysterious clothing, not failingto ejaculate a "Kyrie eleison!" at each garment, in order to dispel thepower of the Evil One.
And when thus dressed she tried to find her way out of the room she wasin. Two or three of the rooms she passed through were very unlike thoseof her godmother, rich princess as she was. One of these was full ofliving birds; another of stuffed animals. Suddenly she heard awhimpering of children. This must be the place where the Evil Spirittortures the little ones he has stolen. Curiosity made her follow thevoices, and advancing she came to a half-open door, where, looking in,she saw Zeneida occupied in washing, combing, and dressing a group oftiny children. Some, who were being washed, were whimpering; but others,already dressed, were
chattering, and admiring their pretty, new frocks.Surely an odd occupation for the Evil One. They were in Zeneida'sbath-room. Bethsaba boldly entered. Curiosity begets courage.
"Ah, dressed already, little Princess?" said Zeneida.
"What are you doing to the children?" asked Bethsaba, with desire forknowledge.
"As you see, washing and dressing them; one cannot tell where theirmother may be, poor little mites. The flood is rising higher and higher;the whole city is under water. As long as the danger lasts we must lookafter these little ones. Those who dress quickly," continued she,turning to the children, "may run into the dining-hall, and thehousekeeper will give them some nice soup for breakfast."
Bethsaba thought she would put the Evil One to the proof.
"But who hears them say their prayers before their breakfast?"
"Nobody, dear child; for they are more hungry than devout."
"But prayer is good," returned the king's daughter.
"For what?"
"In order to avert further misfortune from the city."
"My dear little Princess!" exclaimed Zeneida, "the wind which sends theNeva over St. Petersburg is called _Auster_, and were the whole twelvehundred millions of people who inhabit the earth to blow together itwould not avail to blow back the _Auster_!"
This was a speech worthy of its maker. To liken the efficacy of prayerto a blowing of breath! Bethsaba now plunged into the extreme ofaudacity. She would name the Deity, and surely then the devil, amidsulphur and brimstone, would strip himself of his seductive exterior andappear in his conventional form of horns and goat's feet.
"So you do not believe that God has sent this awful calamity uponmankind?"
"No, dear child. For were it God who had sent this visitation upon theearth the flood would have destroyed the houses of the wicked and notthose of the honest, hard-working people."
Bethsaba thought, "You must be he, or you would never have dared toutter such blasphemy." She went further; she wanted to catch the EvilOne in his own net.
"You have too much to do; may I not help you? If you would let me, Iwould wash and dress the children, too. I should like to do it; it is soamusing."
"Yes, indeed," said Zeneida, merrily. "Why not? It will give yousomething to do; and I, by-the-way, must go and see that we have enoughto eat for all our multitude. I leave you in charge of the nursery."
So saying she gave up her seat to Bethsaba, and, bidding the manyunwashed little folk to be good, left the bath-room with a smile.Bethsaba's first care was to make the children all kneel down. Then,kneeling in their midst, she said the Lord's Prayer with them--"Deliverus from the Evil One. Amen."
Now he must be effectually quashed!
Then she began her task of washing and dressing the little ones.