Le Juif errant. English

by Eugène Sue

  CHAPTER XIII. BURGLARY.

  Half-past eleven had just struck, when Dagobert and his son arrived onthe Boulevard de l'Hopital.

  The wind blew violently, and the rain fell down in torrents, butnotwithstanding the thickness of the watery clouds, it was tolerablylight, thanks to the late rising of the moon. The tall, dark trees, andthe white walls of the convent garden, were distinguishable in the midstof the pale glimmer. Afar off, a street lamp, acted on by the wind, withits red lights hardly visible through the mist and rain, swung backwardsand forwards over the dirty causeway of the solitary boulevard.

  At rare intervals, they heard, at a very great distance, the rattle andrumble of a coach, returning home late; then all was again silent.

  Since their departure from the Rue Brise-Miche, Dagobert and his son hadhardly exchanged a word. The design of these two brave men was nobleand generous, and yet, resolute but pensive, they glided through thedarkness like bandits, at the hour of nocturnal crimes.

  Agricola carried on his shoulders the sack containing the cord, thehook, and the iron bar; Dagobert leaned upon the arm of his son, andSpoil sport followed his master.

  "The bench, where we sat down, must be close by," said Dagobert,stopping.

  "Yes," said Agricola, looking around; "here it is, father."

  "It is oily half-past eleven--we must wait for midnight," resumedDagobert. "Let us be seated for an instant, to rest ourselves, anddecide upon our plan."

  After a moment's silence, the soldier took his son's hands between hisown, and thus continued: "Agricola, my child--it is yet time. Let mego alone, I entreat you. I shall know very well how to get through thebusiness; but the nearer the moment comes, the more I fear to drag youinto this dangerous enterprise."

  "And the nearer the moment comes, father, the more I feel I may beof some use; but, be it good or bad, I will share the fortune of youradventure. Our object is praiseworthy; it is a debt of honor that youhave to pay, and I will take one half of it. Do not fancy that I willnow draw back. And so, dear father, let us think of our plan of action."

  "Then you will come?" said Dagobert, stifling a sigh.

  "We must do everything," proceeded Agricola, "to secure success. Youhave already noticed the little garden-door, near the angle of thewall--that is excellent."

  "We shall get by that way into the garden, and look immediately for theopen paling."

  "Yes; for on one side of this paling is the wing inhabited by Mdlle.de Cardoville, and on the other that part of the convent in which thegeneral's daughters are confined."

  At this moment, Spoil-sport, who was crouching at Dagobert's feet, rosesuddenly, and pricked up his ears, as if to listen.

  "One would think that Spoil-sport heard something," said Agricola. Theylistened--but heard only the wind, sounding through the tall trees ofthe boulevard.

  "Now I think of it, father--when the garden-door is once open, shall wetake Spoil-sport with us?"

  "Yes; for if there is a watch-dog, he will settle him. And then he willgive us notice of the approach of those who go the rounds. Besides, heis so intelligent, so attached to Rose and Blanche, that (who knows?) hemay help to discover the place where they are. Twenty times I have seenhim find them in the woods, by the most extraordinary instinct."

  A slow and solemn knell here rose above the noise of the wind: it wasthe first stroke of twelve.

  That note seemed to echo mournfully through the souls of Agricola andhis father. Mute with emotion, they shuddered, and by a spontaneousmovement, each grasped the hand of the other. In spite of themselves,their hearts kept time to every stroke of the clock, as each successivevibration was prolonged through the gloomy silence of the night.

  At the last strobe, Dagobert said to his son, in a firm voice: "It ismidnight. Shake hands, and let us forward!"

  The moment was decisive and solemn. "Now, father," said Agricola, "wewill act with as much craft and daring as thieves going to pillage astrong box."

  So saying, the smith took from the sack the cord and hook; Dagobertarmed himself with the iron bar, and both advanced cautiously, followingthe wall in the direction of the little door, situated not far from theangle formed by the street and the boulevard. They stopped from time totime, to listen attentively, trying to distinguish those noises whichwere not caused either by the high wind or the rain.

  It continued light enough for them to be able to see surroundingobjects, and the smith and the soldier soon gained the little door,which appeared much decayed, and not very strong.

  "Good!" said Agricola to his father. "It will yield at one blow."

  The smith was about to apply his shoulder vigorously to the door, whenSpoil-sport growled hoarsely, and made a "point." Dagobert silenced thedog with a word, and grasping his son's arm, said to him in a whisper:"Do not stir. The dog has scented some one in the garden."

  Agricola and his father remained for some minutes motionless, holdingtheir breath and listening. The dog, in obedience to his master, nolonger growled, but his uneasiness and agitation were displayed more andmore. Yet they heard nothing.

  "The dog must have been deceived, father," whispered Agricola.

  "I am sure of the contrary. Do not move."

  After some seconds of expectation, Spoil-sport crouched down abruptly,and pushed his nose as far as possible under the door, snuffling up theair.

  "They are coming," said Dagobert hastily, to his son.

  "Let us draw off a little distance," replied Agricola.

  "No," said his father; "we must listen. It will be time to retire, ifthey open the door. Here, Spoil-sport! down!"

  The dog obeyed, and withdrawing from the door, crouched down at the feetof his master. Some seconds after, they heard a sort of splashing on thedamp ground, caused by heavy footsteps in puddles of water, and then thesound of words, which carried away by the wind, did not reach distinctlythe ears of the soldier and the smith.

  "They are the people of whom Mother Bunch told us, going their round,"said Agricola to his father.

  "So much the better. There will be an interval before they come roundagain, and we shall have some two hours before us, without interruption.Our affair is all right now."

  By degrees, the sound of the footsteps became less and less distinct,and at last died away altogether.

  "Now, quick! we must not lose any time," said Dagobert to his son, afterwaiting about ten minutes; "they are far enough. Let us try to open thedoor."

  Agricola leaned his powerful shoulder against it, and pushed vigorously;but the door did not give way, notwithstanding its age.

  "Confound it!" said Agricola; "there is a bar on the inside. I am sureof it, or these old planks would not have resisted my weight."

  "What is to be done?"

  "I will scale the wall by means of the cord and hook, and open the doorfrom the other side."

  So saying, Agricola took the cord, and after several attempts, succeededin fixing the hook on the coping of the wall.

  "Now, father, give me a leg up; I will help myself up with the cord;once astride on the wall, I can easily turn the hook and get down intothe garden."

  The soldier leaned against the wall, and joined his two hands, in thehollow of which his son placed one of his feet, then mounting upon therobust shoulders of his father, he was able, by help of the cord, andsome irregularities in the wall, to reach the top. Unfortunately, thesmith had not perceived that the coping of the wall was strewed withbroken bottles, so that he wounded his knees and hands; but, for fear ofalarming Dagobert, he repressed every exclamation of pain, and replacingthe hook, he glided down the cord to the ground. The door was close by,and he hastened to it; a strong wooden bar had indeed secured it on theinside. This was removed, and the lock was in so bad a state, that itoffered no resistance to a violent effort from Agricola.

  The door was opened, and Dagobert entered the garden with Spoil-sport.

  "Now," said the soldier to his son, "thanks to you, the worst isover. Here is a means of escape for the poor child
ren, and Mdlle. deCardoville. The thing is now to find them, without accident or delay.Spoil-sport will go before as a scout. Come, my good dog!" addedDagobert, "above all--fair and softly!"

  Immediately, the intelligent animal advanced a few steps, sniffing andlistening with the care and caution of a hound searching for the game.

  By the half-light of the clouded moon, Dagobert and his son perceivedround them a V-shaped grove of tall trees, at which several paths met.Uncertain which to choose, Agricola said to his father: "Let us takethe path that runs alongside the wall. It will surely lead to somebuilding."

  "Right! Let us walk on the strips of grass, instead of through the mud.It will make less noise."

  The father and son, preceded by the Siberian dog, kept for some time ina winding path, at no great distance from the wall. They stopped nowand then to listen, or to satisfy themselves, before continuing theiradvance, with regard to the changing aspects of the trees and bushes,which, shaken by the wind, and faintly illumined by the pale light ofthe moon, often took strange and doubtful forms.

  Half-past twelve struck as Agricola and his father reached a largeiron gate which shut in that part of the garden reserved for theSuperior--the same into which Mother Bunch had intruded herself, afterseeing Rose Simon converse with Adrienne de Cardoville.

  Through the bars of this gate, Agricola and his father perceived at alittle distance an open paling, which joined a half-finished chapel, andbeyond it a little square building.

  "That is no doubt the building occupied by Mdlle. de Cardoville," saidAgricola.

  "And the building which contains the chambers of Rose and Blanche, butwhich we cannot see from here, is no doubt opposite it," said Dagobert."Poor children! they are there, weeping tears of despair," added he,with profound emotion.

  "Provided the gate be but open," said Agricola.

  "It will probably be so--being within the walls."

  "Let us go on gently."

  The gate was only fastened by the catch of the lock. Dagobert was aboutto open it, when Agricola said to him: "Take care! do not make it creakon its hinges."

  "Shall I push it slowly or suddenly?"

  "Let me manage it," said Agricola; and he opened the gate so quickly,that it creaked very little; still the noise might have been plainlyheard, in the silence of the night, during one of the lulls between thesqualls of wind.

  Agricola and his father remained motionless for a moment, listeninguneasily, before they ventured to pass through the gate. Nothingstirred, however; all remained calm and still. With fresh courage, theyentered the reserved garden.

  Hardly had the dog arrived on this spot, when he exhibited tokens ofextraordinary delight. Picking up his ears, wagging his tail, boundingrather than running, he had soon reached the paling where, inthe morning, Rose Simon had for a moment conversed with Mdlle. deCardoville. He stopped an instant at this place, as if at fault, andturned round and round like a dog seeking the scent.

  Dagobert and his son, leaving Spoil-sport to his instinct, followedhis least movements with intense interest, hoping everything from hisintelligence and his attachment to the orphans.

  "It was no doubt near this paling that Rose stood when Mother Bunch sawher," said Dagobert. "Spoil-sport is on her track. Let him alone."

  After a few seconds, the dog turned his head towards Dagobert, andstarted at full trot in the direction of a door on the ground-floor ofa building, opposite to that occupied by Adrienne. Arrived at this door,the dog lay down, seemingly waiting for Dagobert.

  "No doubt of it! the children are there!" said Dagobert, hastening torejoin Spoil-sport; "it was by this door that they took Rose into thehouse."

  "We must see if the windows are grated," said Agricola, following hisfather.

  "Well, old fellow!" whispered the soldier, as he came up to the dog andpointed to the building, "are Rose and Blanche there?"

  The dog lifted his head, and answered by a joyful bark. Dagobert hadjust time to seize the mouth of the animal with his hands.

  "He will ruin all!" exclaimed the smith. "They have, perhaps, heardhim."

  "No," said Dagobert. "But there is no longer any doubt--the children arehere."

  At this instant, the iron gate, by which the soldier and his son hadentered the reserved garden, and which they had left open, fell to witha loud noise.

  "They've shut us in," said Agricola, hastily; "and there is no otherissue."

  For a moment, the father and son looked in dismay at each other; butAgricola instantly resumed: "The gate has perhaps shut of itself. I willmake haste to assure myself of this, and to open it again if possible."

  "Go quickly; I will examine the windows."

  Agricola flew towards the gate, whilst Dagobert, gliding along the wall,soon reached the windows on the ground floor. They were four in number,and two of them were not grated. He looked up at the first story; it wasnot very far from the ground, and none of the windows had bars. It wouldthen be easy for that one of the two sisters, who inhabited this story,once informed of their presence, to let herself down by means of asheet, as the orphans had already done to escape from the inn ofthe White Falcon. But the difficult thing was to know which room sheoccupied. Dagobert thought they might learn this from the sister on theground floor; but then there was another difficulty--at which of thefour windows should they knock?

  Agricola returned precipitately. "It was the wind, no doubt, which shutthe gate," said he. "I have opened it again, and made it fast with astone. But we have no time to lose."

  "And how shall we know the windows of the poor children?" said Dagobert,anxiously.

  "That is true," said Agricola, with uneasiness. "What is to be done?"

  "To call them at hap-hazard," continued Dagobert, "would be to give thealarm."

  "Oh, heavens!" cried Agricola, with increasing anguish. "To have arrivedhere, under their windows, and yet not to know!"

  "Time presses," said Dagobert, hastily, interrupting his son; "we mustrun all risks."

  "But how, father?"

  "I will call out loud, 'Rose and Blanche'--in their state of despair, Iam sure they do not sleep. They will be stirring at my first summons. Bymeans of a sheet, fastened to the window, she who is on the firststory will in five minutes be in our arms. As for the one on the groundfloor--if her window is not grated, we can have her in a second. If itis, we shall soon loosen one of the bars."

  "But, father--this calling out aloud?"

  "Will not perhaps be heard."

  "But if it is heard--all will be lost."

  "Who knows? Before they have time to call the watch, and open severaldoors, the children may be delivered. Once at the entrance of theboulevard, and we shall be safe."

  "It is a dangerous course; but I see no other."

  "If there are only two men, I and Spoil-sport will keep them in check,while you will have time to carry off the children."

  "Father, there is a better way--a surer one," cried Agricola, suddenly."From what Mother Bunch told us, Mdlle. de Cardoville has correspondedby signs with Rose and Blanche."

  "Yes."

  "Hence she knows where they are lodged, as the poor children answeredher from their windows."

  "You are right. There is only that course to take. But how find herroom?"

  "Mother Bunch told me there was a shade over the window."

  "Quick! we have only to break through a wooden fence. Have you the ironbar?"

  "Here it is."

  "Then, quick!"

  In a few steps, Dagobert and his son had reached the paling. Threeplanks, torn away by Agricola, opened an easy passage.

  "Remain here, father, and keep watch," said he to Dagobert, as heentered Dr. Baleinier's garden.

  The indicated window was easily recognized. It was high and broad; asort of shade surmounted it, for this window had once been a door, sincewalled in to the third of its height. It was protected by bars of iron,pretty far apart. Since some minutes, the rain had ceased. The moon,breaking through the clouds, shone full upo
n the building. Agricola,approaching the window, saw that the room was perfectly dark; but lightcame from a room beyond, through a door left half open. The smith,hoping that Mdlle. de Cardoville might be still awake, tapped lightly atthe window. Soon after, the door in the background opened entirely, andMdlle. de Cardoville, who had not yet gone to bed, came from the otherchamber, dressed as she had been at her interview with Mother Bunch. Hercharming features were visible by the light of the taper she held inher hand. Their present expression was that of surprise and anxiety. Theyoung girl set down the candlestick on the table, and appeared to listenattentively as she approached the window. Suddenly she started andstopped abruptly. She had just discerned the face of a man, lookingat her through the window. Agricola, fearing that Mdlle. de Cardovillewould retire in terror to the next room, again tapped on the glass, andrunning the risk of being heard by others, said in a pretty loud voice:"It is Agricola Baudoin."

  These words reached the ears of Adrienne. Instantly remembering herinterview with Mother Bunch, she thought that Agricola and Dagobertmust have entered the convent for the purpose of carrying off Roseand Blanche. She ran to the window, recognized Agricola in the clearmoonlight, and cautiously opened the casement.

  "Madame," said the smith, hastily; "there is not an instant to lose.The Count de Montbron is not in Paris. My father and myself have come todeliver you."

  "Thanks, thanks, M. Agricola!" said Mdlle. de Cardoville, in a toneexpressive of the most touching gratitude; "but think first of thedaughters of General Simon."

  "We do think of them, madame, I have come to ask you which are theirwindows."

  "One is on the ground floor, the last on the garden-side; the other isexactly over it, on the first story."

  "Then they are saved!" cried the smith.

  "But let me see!" resumed Adrienne, hastily; "the first story is prettyhigh. You will find, near the chapel they are building, some long polesbelonging to the scaffolding. They may be of use to you."

  "They will be as good as a ladder, to reach the upstairs window. But nowto think of you madame."

  "Think only of the dear orphans. Time presses. Provided they aredelivered to-night, it makes little difference to me to remain a day ortwo longer in this house."

  "No, mademoiselle," cried the smith, "it is of the first importance thatyou should leave this place to-night. Interests are concerned, of whichyou know nothing. I am now sure of it."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I have not time to explain myself further; but I conjure you madame, tocome. I can wrench out two of these bars; I will fetch a piece of iron."

  "It is not necessary. They are satisfied with locking the outer doorof this building, which I inhabit alone. You can easily break open thelock."

  "And, in ten minutes, we shall be on the boulevard," said the smith."Make yourself ready, madame; take a shawl, a bonnet, for the night iscold. I will return instantly."

  "M. Agricola," said Adrienne, with tears in her eyes, "I know what yourisk for my sake. I shall prove to you, I hope, that I have as good amemory as you have. You and your adopted sister are noble and valiantcreatures, and I am proud to be indebted to you. But do not return forme till the daughters of Marshal Simon are in safety."

  "Thanks to your directions, the thing will be done directly, madame. Ifly to rejoin my father, and we will come together to fetch you."

  Following the excellent advice of Mdlle. de Cardoville, Agricola tookone of the long, strong poles that rested against the wall of thechapel, and, bearing it on his robust shoulders, hastened to rejoinhis father. Hardly had Agricola passed the fence, to direct his stepstowards the chapel, obscured in shadow, than Mdlle. de Cardovillethought she perceived a human form issue from one of the clumps of treesin the convent-garden, cross the path hastily, and disappear behinda high hedge of box. Alarmed at the sight, Adrienne in vain called toAgricola in a low voice, to bid him beware. He could not hear her; hehad already rejoined his father, who, devoured by impatience, went fromwindow to window with ever-increasing anguish.

  "We are saved," whispered Agricola. "Those are the windows of the poorchildren--one on the ground floor, the other on the first story."

  "At last!" said Dagobert, with a burst of joy impossible to describe. Heran to examine the windows. "They are not grated!" he exclaimed.

  "Let us make sure, that one of them is there," said Agricola; "then, byplacing this pole against the wall, I will climb up to the first story,which is not so very high."

  "Right, my boy!--once there, tap at the window, and call Rose orBlanche. When she answers, come down. We will rest the pole againstthe window, and the poor child will slide along it. They are bold andactive. Quick, quick! to work!"

  "And then we will deliver Mdlle. de Cardoville."

  Whilst Agricola placed his pole against the wall, and prepares to mount,Dagobert tapped at the panes of the last window on the ground floor, andsaid aloud: "It is I--Dagobert."

  Rose Simon indeed occupied the chamber. The unhappy child, in despairat being separated from her sister, was a prey to a burning fever, and,unable to sleep, watered her pillow with her tears. At the sound of thetapping on the glass, she started up affrighted, then, hearing the voiceof the soldier--that voice so familiar and so dear--she sat up in bed,pressed her hands across her forehead, to assure herself that she wasnot the plaything of a dream, and, wrapped in her long night-dress, ranto the window with a cry of joy. But suddenly--and before she could openthe casement--two reports of fire-arms were heard, accompanied by loudcries of "Help! thieves!"

  The orphan stood petrified with terror, her eyes mechanically fixed uponthe window, through which she saw confusedly, by the light of the moon,several men engaged in a mortal struggle, whilst the furious barkingof Spoil-sport was heard above all the incessant cries of "Help! Help!Thieves! Murder!"

  BOOK V.

  XIV. The Eve of a Great Day XV. The Thug XVI. The Two Brothers of the Good Work XVII. The House in the Rue Saint- Francois XVIII. Debit and Credit XIX. The Heir XX. The Rupture XXI. The Change XXII. The Red Room XXIII. The Testament XXIV. The Last Stroke of Noon XXV. The Deed of Gift