The Yellow Sign & Other Stories

by Robert W. Chambers

  She seated herself on the bank of the stream among the falcons and I threw myself at her feet to listen.

  The Demoiselle d’Ys held up one rosy-tipped finger and began very gravely, “First one must catch the falcon.”

  “I am caught,” I answered.

  She laughed very prettily and told me my dressage would perhaps be difficult as I was noble.

  “I am already tamed,” I replied; “jessed and belled.” She laughed, delighted. “Oh, my brave falcon; then you will return at my call?”

  “I am yours,” I answered gravely. She sat silent for a moment. Then the color heightened in her cheeks and she held up her finger again saying, “Listen; I wish to speak of falconry—”

  “I listen, Countess Jeanne d’Ys.”

  But again she fell into the reverie, and her eyes seemed fixed on something beyond the summer clouds. “Philip,” she said at last.

  “Jeanne,” I whispered.

  “That is all—that is what I wished,” she sighed,—”Philip and Jeanne.”

  She held her hand toward me and I touched it with my lips. “Win me,” she said, but this time it was the body and soul which spoke in unison. After a while she began again: “Let us speak of falconry.” “Begin,” I replied; “we have caught the falcon.”

  Then Jeanne d’Ys took my hand in both of hers and told me how with infinite patience the young falcon was taught to perch upon the wrist, how little by little it became used to the belled jesses and the chaperon à cornette.

  “They must first have a good appetite,” she said; “then little by little I reduce their nourishment which in falconry we call pât. When after many nights passed au bloc as these birds are now, I prevail upon the hagard to stay quietly on the wrist, then the bird is ready to be taught to come for its food. I fix the pât to the end of a thong or leurre, and teach the bird to come to me, as soon as I begin to whirl the cord in circles about my head. At first I drop the pat when the falcon comes, and he eats the food on the ground. After little he will learn to seize the leurre in motion as I whirl it around my head, or drag it over the ground. After that it is easy to teach the falcon to strike at game, always remembering to ‘faire courtoisie à l’oiseau,’ that is, to allow the bird to taste the quarry.”

  A squeal from one of the falcons interrupted her, and she arose to adjust the longe which had become whipped about the bloc, but the bird still flapped its wings and screamed.

  “What is the matter?” she said; “Philip, can you see?” I looked around and at first saw nothing to cause the commo - tion which was now heightened by the screams and flapping of all the birds. Then my eye fell upon the flat rock beside the stream from which the girl had risen. A gray serpent was moving slowly across the surface of the boulder, and the eyes in its flat triangular head sparkled like jet.

  “A couleuvre,” she said quietly.

  “It is harmless, is it not?” I asked.

  She pointed to the black V-shaped figure on the neck. “It is certain death,” she said; “it is a viper.”

  We watched the reptile moving slowly over the smooth rock to where the sunlight fell in a broad warm patch.

  I started forward to examine it, but she clung to my arm crying “Don’t Philip, I am afraid.” “For me?”

  “For you, Philip,—I love you.”

  Then I took her in my arms and kissed her on the lips, but all I could say was: “Jeanne, Jeanne, Jeanne.” And as she lay trembling on my breast something struck my foot in the grass below, but I did not heed it. Then again something struck my ankle, and a sharp pain shot through me. I looked into the sweet face of Jeanne d’Ys and kissed her, and with all my strength lifted her in my arms and flung her from me. Then bending I tore the viper from my ankle, and set my heel upon its head. I remember feeling weak and numb,—I remember falling to the ground. Through my slowly glazing eyes I saw Jeanne’s white face bending close to mine, and when the light in my eyes went out I still felt her arms about my neck and her soft cheek against my drawn lips.

  When I opened my eyes, I looked around in terror. Jeanne was gone. I saw the stream and the flat rock; I saw the crushed viper in the grass beside me, but the hawks and blocs had disappeared, I sprang to my feet. The garden, the fruit trees, the drawbridge and the walled court were gone. I stared stupidly at a heap of crumbling ruins ivycovered and gray, through which great trees had pushed their way. I crept forward dragging my numbed foot, and as I moved, a falcon sailed from the tree-tops among the ruins and soaring, mounting in narrowing circles, faded and vanished in the clouds above.

  “Jeanne, Jeanne,” I cried, but my voice died on my lips, and I fell on my knees among the weeds. And as God willed it, I, not knowing, had fallen kneeling before a crumbling shrine; carved in stone for our Mother of Sorrows. I saw the sad face of the Virgin wrought in the cold stone. I saw the cross and thorns at her feet, and beneath it I read:

  “PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF THE

  DEMOISELLE JEANNE D’Ys,

  WHO DIED

  IN HER YOUTH FOR LOVE OF

  PHILIP, A STRANGER.

  A.D. 1573.”

  But upon the icy slab lay a woman’s glove still warm and fragrant.

  The Prophet’s Paradise

  “If but the Vine and Love Abjuring Band Are in the Prophets’Paradise to stand, Alack, I doubt the Prophets’Paradise, Were empty as the hollow of one’s hand.”

  THE STUDIO

  He smiled, saying: “Seek her throughout the world.”

  I said, “Why tell me of the world? My world is here, between these walls and the sheet of glass above; here among gilded flag- ons and dull jewelled arms, tarnished frames and canvasses, black chests and high backed chairs, quaintly carved and stained in blue and gold.

  “For whom do you wait?” he said, and I answered, “When she comes I shall know her.”

  On my hearth a tongue of flame whispered secrets to the whiten- ing ashes. In the street below I heard footsteps, a voice, and a song. “For whom then do you wait?” he said, and I answered, “I shall know her.”

  Footsteps, a voice, and a song in the street below, and I knew the song but neither the steps nor the voice.

  “Fool!” he cried, “the song is the same, the voice and steps have but changed with years!” On the hearth a tongue of flame whispered above the whiten - ing ashes: “Wait no more; they have passed, the steps and the voice in the street below.”

  Then he smiled, saying: “For whom do you wait? Seek her throughout the world!” I answered, “My world is here, between these walls and the sheet of glass above; here among gilded flagons and dull jewelled arms, tarnished frames and canvasses, black chests and high backed chairs, quaintly carved and stained in blue and gold.”

  THE PHANTOM

  The Phantom of the Past would go no further.

  “If it is true,” she sighed, “that you find in me a friend, let us turn back together. You will forget, here, under the summer sky.” I held her close, pleading, caressing; I seized her, white with anger, but she resisted.

  “If it is true,” she sighed, “that you find in me a friend, let us turn back together.”

  The Phantom of the Past would go no further.

  THE SACRIFICE

  I went into a field of flowers, whose petals are whiter than snow and whose hearts are pure gold. Far afield a woman cried, “I have killed him I loved!” and from a jar she poured blood upon the flowers whose petals are whiter than snow and whose hearts are pure gold.

  Far afield I followed, and on the jar I read a thousand names, while from within the fresh blood bubbled to the brim. “I have killed him I loved!” she cried. “The world’s athirst; now let it drink!” She passed, and far afield I watched her pouring blood upon the flowers whose petals are whiter than snow and whose hearts are pure gold.

  DESTINY

  I came to the bridge which few may pass.

  “Pass!” cried the keeper, but I laughed, saying, “There is time;” and he smiled and shut the gates. To the bridge which few
may pass came young an old. All were refused. Idly I stood and counted them, until, wearied of their noise and lamentations, I came again to the bridge which few may pass.

  Those in the throng about the gates shrieked out, “He comes too late!” But I laughed saying, “There is time.”

  “Pass!” cried the keeper as I entered; then smiled and shut the gates.

  THE THRONG

  There, where the throng was thickest in the street, I stood with Pierrot. All eyes were turned to me. “What are they laughing at?” I asked, but he grinned, dusting the chalk from my black cloak. “I cannot see; it must be something droll, perhaps an honest thief!”

  All eyes were turned on me.

  “He has robbed you of your purse!” they laughed.

  “My purse!” I cried; “Pierrot help! it is a thief!”

  They laughed: “He has robbed you of your purse!”

  Then Truth stepped out holding a mirror. “If he is an honest thief,” cried Truth, “Pierrot shall find him with this mirror!” but he only grinned dusting the chalk from my black cloak.

  “You see,” he said, “Truth is an honest thief, she brings you back your mirror.”

  All eyes were turned on me. “Arrest Truth!” I cried, forgetting it was not a mirror but a purse I lost, standing with Pierrot, there, where the throng was thickest in the street.

  THE JESTER

  “Was she fair?” I asked, but he only chuckled, listening to the bells jingling on his cap. “Stabbed,” he tittered; “think of the long journey, the days of peril, the dreadful nights! Think how he wandered, for her sake, year after year, through hostile lands, yearning for kith and kin, yearning for her!”

  “Stabbed,” he tittered, listening to the bells jingling on his cap. “She kissed him at the gate,” he tittered, “but in the hall his brother’s welcome touched his heart.”

  “Was she fair?” I asked.

  “Stabbed,” he chuckled; “think of the long journey, the days of peril, the dreadful nights! Think how he wandered, for her sake, year after year, through hostile lands, yearning for kith and kin, yearning for her!

  “She kissed him at the gate, but in the hall his brother’s welcome touched his heart.”

  “Was she fair?” I asked; but he only snarled, listening to the bells jingling on his cap.

  .

  THE GREEN ROOM

  The Clown turned his powdered face to the mirror.

  “If to be fair is to be beautiful,” he said, “who can compare with me in my white mask?”

  “Who can compare with him his white mask?” I asked of Death beside me.

  “Who can compare with me?” said Death, “for I am paler still.” “You are beautiful,” sighed the Clown, turning his powdered face from the mirror.

  THE LOVE TEST “If it is true that you love,” said Love, “then wait no longer. Give her these jewels which would dishonour her and so dishonour you in loving one dishonoured. If it is true that you love,” said Love, “then wait no longer.”

  I took the jewels and went to her, but she trod upon them, sobbing: “Teach me to wait, I love you!”

  “Then wait, if it is true,” said Love.

  The Street of the Four Winds

  “Ferme tes yeux à demi, Croise tes bras sur ton sein,

  Et de ton coeur endormi Chasse à jamais tout dessein.

  “Je chante Ia nature, Les étoiles du soir, les larmes du matin, Les couchers de soleil à l’horizon lointain, Ie ciel qui parle au coeur d’existence future!”

  I THE animal paused on the threshold, interrogative, alert, ready for flight if necessary. Severn laid down his palette, and held out a hand of welcome. The cat remained motionless, her yellow eyes fastened upon Severn.

  Puss,” he said, in his low, pleasant voice, come in.” The tip of her thin tail twitched uncertainly.

  “Come in,” he said again.

  Apparently she found his voice reassuring, for she slowly settled upon all fours, her eyes still fastened upon him, her tail tucked under her gaunt flanks.

  He rose from his easel smiling. She eyed him quietly, and when he walked toward her she watched him bend above her without a wince her eyes followed his hand until it touched her head. Then she uttered a ragged niew.

  It had long been Severn’s custom to converse with animals, prnbably because he lived so much alone and now he said “What’s the matter, puss ?”

  Her timid eyes sought his.

  “I understand,” he said gently, “you shall have it at once. Then moving quietly about he busied himself with the duties of a host, rinsed a saucer, filled it with the rest of the milk from the bottle on the window-sill, and kneeling down, crumbled a roll into the hollow of his hand.

  The creature rose and crept toward the saucer. With the handle of a palette knife he stirred the crumbs and milk together and stepped back as she thrust her nose into the mess. He watched her in silence. From time to time the saucer klinked upon the tiled floor as she reached for a morsel on the rim; and at last the bread was all gone, and her purple tongue travelled over every unlicked spot until the saucer shone like polished marble. Then she sat up, and coolly turning her back to him, began her ablutions.

  “Keep it up,” said Severn much interested, “you need it.” She flattened one ear but neither turned nor interrupted her toi - let. As the grime was slowly removed Severn observed that nature ~ad intended her for a white cat. Her fur had disappeared in patches, from disease or the chances of war, her tail was bony and her spine sharp. But what charms she had were becoming apparent under vigorous licking, and he waited until she had finished before re-open- ing the conversation. When at last she closed her eyes and folded her forepaws under her breast, he began again very gently: “Puss, tell me your troubles.”

  At the sound of his voice she broke into a harsh rumbling which he recognized as an attempt to purr. He bent over to rub her cheek and she mewed again, an amiable inquiring little mew, to which he replied, “Certainly, you are greatly improved, and when you recover your plumage you will be a gorgeous bird.” Much flattered she stood up and marched around and around his legs, pushing her head between them and making pleased remarks, to which he responded with grave politeness.

  “Now what sent you here,” he said, “here into the Street of the Four Winds, and up five flights to the very door where you would be welcome? What was it that prevented your meditated flight when I turned from my canvas to encounter your yellow eyes ? Are you a Latin Quarter cat as I am a Latin Quarter man? And why do you wear a rose-colored flowered garter buckled about your neck? The cat had climbed into his lap and now sat purring as he passed his hand over her thin coat.

  Excuse me,” he continued in lazy soothing tbnes, harmonizing with her purring, “if I seem indelicate, but I cannot help musing on this rose-colored garter, flowered so quaintly and fastened with a silver clasp. For the clasp is silver; I can see the mint mark on the edge, as is prescribed by the law of the French Republic. Now, why is this garter woven of rose silk and delicately embroidered,—why is this silken garter with its silver clasp about your famished throat? Am I indiscreet when I inquire if its owner is your owner ? Is she some aged dame living in memory of youthful vanities fond, doting on you, decorating you with her intimate personal attire ? The circumference of the garter would suggest this, for your neck is thin, and the garter fits you. But then again I notice—I notice most things—that the garter is capable of being much enlarged. These small silver-rimmed eyelets, of which I count five, are proof of that, And now I observe that the fifth eyelet is worn out, as though the tongue of the clasp were ac- customed to lie there. That seems to argue a well-rounded form.”

  The cat curled her toes in contentment. The street was very still outside. He murmured on : “Why should your mistress decorate you with an article most necessary to her at all times ? Anyway, at most times. How did she come to slip this bit of silk and silver about your neck? Was it the caprice of a moment, when you, before you had lost your pristine plumpncss, marched
singing into her bedroom to bid her good-morning? Of course, and she sat up among the pillows, her coiled hair tumbling to her shoulders, as you sprang upon the bed purring: ‘Good-day, my lady.’ Oh, it is very easy to understand,” he yawned, resting his head on the back of the chair., The cat still purred, tightening and relaxing her padded claws over his knee.

  “Shall I tell you all about her, cat? She is very beautiful— your mistress,” he murmured drowsily, “ and her hair is heavy as burnished gold.” “I could paint her,—not on canvas—for I should need shades and tones and hues and dyes more splendid than the iris of a splendid rainbow. I could only paint her with closed eyes, for in dreams alone can such colors as I need be found. For her eyes, I must have azure from skies untroubled by a cloud—the skies of dreamland. For her lips, roses from the palaces of slumberland, and for her brow, snow-drifts from mountains which tower in fantastic pinnacles to the moons;—oh, much higher than our moon here,—the crystal moons of dreamland She is—very—beautiful, your mistress.”

  The words died on his lips and his eyelids drooped. The cat too was asleep, her cheek turned Up upon her. wasted flank, her paws relaxed and limp.

  II “IT is fortunate,” said Severn, sitting up and stretching, “that we have tided over the dinner hour, for I have nothing to offer you for supper but what may be purchased with one silver franc.”

  The cat on his knee rose, arched her back yawned, and looked up at him, “What shall it be ? A roast chicken with salad ? No ? Possibly you prefer beef? Of course,—and I shall try an egg and some white bread. Now for the wines. Milk for you? Good. I shall take a little water, fresh from fl~e wood,” with a motion toward the bucket in the sink.