CHAPTER XXXV
WILL SHE LIVE?
Spero hurried with his burden to the street, and Gontram could hardlykeep up with him. Finally he overtook him, and, placing his hand on thevicomte's shoulder, he urgently cried:
"Spero, where are you going with this corpse?"
"She is not dead," replied the vicomte, tremblingly. "She lives; shemust live--she dare not die!"
"And who is she?" asked Gontram, as he tried to get a glimpse of theface. Yes, he recognized her now as she lay in Spero's arms.
"Jane! Jane Zild?" stammered the painter, terror-stricken. "O my God!"
They had now reached the Place de l'Etoile, and Gontram looked aroundfor a carriage.
"What shall we do?" he asked, turning in desperation to Spero. "Are yougoing to bring the poor thing to your house? I shall go and arouse theservants."
"Do so, Gontram, and hurry--every minute counts."
Soon the Monte-Cristo mansion was reached. Spero carried the unconsciousgirl up the stairs and gently laid her on the divan. He then got on hisknees beside Jane, and, hiding his face in his hands, he sobbedbitterly.
Gontram now approached his friend.
"Spero," he said, "calm yourself; we must rescue the poor child."
The vicomte sprang up.
"You are right, Gontram," he replied; "but if she is dead, I shall die,too, for I love her--I love her more than my life."
"She is no doubt wounded," said Gontram softly.
"Yes, just hold a light here," cried the vicomte. "I will examine her. Ihave not studied medicine for nothing."
The vicomte laid his ear to her bosom, and then said:
"She lives, but to tell whether there is any hope I must examine hermore closely. Gontram, go to my study and bring me the cedar box whichstands on my writing-desk."
Gontram left the room, and Spero was alone with the unconscious girl.Placing his hand upon her white forehead, he bent over the young girland tenderly murmured:
"Poor dear child! Why did you wish to die? Oh, Jane, Jane! you mustlive--live for me, and no power on earth shall tear you from me!"
He pressed his lips upon her pale mouth, and with this kiss his soul wasbound to that of the young girl.
Gontram now returned; Spero opened the box and took an instrument fromit.
"Feel if my hand trembles," he said, turning to the painter; "only ifthat is not the case can I dare to probe for the bullet."
Gontram took hold of the white hand. It did not tremble, and Spero beganto probe for the bullet.
"The ball has not touched a vital part," whispered the vicomte atlength; "it lies in the muscles. I touched it with the instrument."
"Do you think you can remove the bullet?" asked the painter.
"I hope so."
The vicomte motioned to Gontram to hand him the box again, and taking abistoury and a pincette he bent over the unconscious girl again.
An anxious moment passed and then Spero triumphantly exclaimed:
"Saved!"
"Saved," repeated Gontram as he took the murderous lead from thevicomte's hand.
"Then we can call the housekeeper," said Spero, after he had poured aliquid down the young girl's throat.
He hurried out, and returned in less than five minutes with MadameCaraman.
The last time we saw the worthy governess she was in Africa, in companywith Miss Clary. The latter fell in love with Captain Joliette andmarried him in spite of Lord Ellis's opposition. The young couple werevery happy until the _coup d'etat_ of the 2d of December, 1851, whenAlbert de Morcerf was killed by a murderous ball. Six months later MissClary died of grief. Four weeks after her death Madame Caraman becamethe housekeeper of the Monte-Cristo mansion. Thus it came about thatSpero hurried to her for aid for the sick girl. She asked no questions,but, with the vicomte's assistance, placed a bandage upon the younggirl's wound and wished to discreetly retire.
"Mamma Caraman," said Spero, imploringly, "stay here and watch over theyoung girl whom I place under your protection. Let no one know that sheis in this house."
Spero thereupon withdrew, while Jane Zild remained under the care of thegood-hearted woman.
The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume II Page 36