The Genius (Carl Grosse)/Chapter 24
CHAP. VII.
In less than a fortnight subsequent to this catastrophe, Don Fernandos took leave of me and Adela, and retired with her father to Montpellier, where he died some time after, in consequence of the bursting of a blood vessel occasioned by a fall from his horse, while hunting with my father-in-law. I shall ever regret him, as notwithstanding his frailties, he was a most amiable and steady companion, and the friend of my youth.
I searched my uncle's portmanteau, and found in it the key to the box which was said to contain the documents of the history of his life, and some writings relative to the Mystic Cabal. The latter I took great pains to study, but could not unravel the spirit of their contents, which I consigned to Don Bernardos, who eagerly promised to peruse them, and communicate such discoveries as his knowledge should enable him to make.
My Adela felt an irresistible desire of being associated with the Covenant, whose projects she conceived to be of the most attractive nature. My adventures were constantly the object of her conversation.
"O my love," exclaimed she one day, "how inconceivably blind have you been!"
—"How could I help it?" replied I, "I was completely in the dark, and they even put my thoughts in confusion."
—"You was mistaken, Carlos. Me thinks, that the declaration of your principles alone rendered you worthy in the eyes of the Cabal. They proposed to you the perpetration of the most horrid of crimes, only that they might try whether your mind was incorruptibly honest. It must surely have been a mere scheme to make them acquainted with the real sentiments of your heart, and the bold display of these alone procured your admission. I dare say, you accuse them wrongly of being regicides."
—"May be so. For it is a maxim of theirs, "That the great and the good-may live free under any form of government."
—"I confess, Carlos, that I cease to be a woman, if I reflect on the events of your life. There is something more than human in it. Alfonso's papers must be extremely interesting."
—"Those which he brought with him hither, are mystic, and too abstruse to be studied with success in a gay city. Next spring we visit Spain, and rural seclusion will doubtless be more propitious to our enquiries."
"Bernardos is certainly one of the league; I long to be initiated in its mysteries; and am rejoiced your friends predominate again in its councils."
Thus Adela prepossessed me more than ever in favor of the Cabal, and we agreed between ourselves, to make sure of the confidence of Bernardos, who seemed to be more acquainted than myself with the operations of the covenant of my brethren. He was always poring on the papers left by Alsonso, and his natural gravity and earnest reserve increased every day.
The period now came, which we had fixed for our return to Spain, and the sudden death of Don Antonio whom I had entrusted with the chief management of my estates, served in a great measure to accelerate it. We therefore took leave of Adela's father and the rest of our friends, and arrived with Don Bernardos at Alcantara after a journey more expeditious than pleasant.
I found all my possessions in good order, and returned immediately to the villa, to take charge of the papers left by my uncle. The room in which he said they had been deposited, was strictly searched, but neither the will nor the smallest fragment of the writings alluded to could be found. My diligence was such, that I left not a corner all over the house unsearched, but still without success. I had no reason to doubt my uncle's veracity, and began to suspect, that the papers must have been stolen. Upon the strictest enquiry among the servants, it appeared, that Don Pedro's confidential valet had inhabited that part of the premises, by permission of Don Antonio, as at the time of the former's departure he was prevented by an illness of several weeks, from accompanying his master to Mexico. That man had quitted the villa only three months before my arrival, and was gone to Cadiz to embark for South America. As his character had always appeared fair and honest, my deceased friend, who had no suspicion of so precious a deposit being concealed in the place, thought it worthy of his beneficence to afford a temporary home to a poor menial, who found himself destitute of a home, and incapacitated by disease from seeking one at a time, when his master's mansion was sold to a stranger. Strong as my suspicion was, I had no prospect of redress, and was consequently obliged to put up with my severe loss. The history of Don Diego's life would have been far more agreeable to me, than the bequest of his property at Seville, which was legally confirmed to me, on the deposition made by Count Selami and Don Bernardos, in whose presence he had constituted me his heir.
On searching the villa, I discovered several secret passages and communications, which my Genius could have used with safety for the execution of his plans, Since my Antonio's death the garden had been neglected, not a single favorite spot remained to put me in mind of my past happiness, and the very streamlet I used to strew with rose leaves, was choaked up with mire.
It was as if every thing warned me to prepare for new important events. I insensibly began to indulge my former melancholy, and Adela being naturally inclined to it, contributed all she could to its progress. Her ideas of the Mystic Cabal seemed to be more enlarged, and the grave Bernardos, always in deep study, flattered her with a speedy accomplishment of her wishes. Had it not been for Adela, I would never have returned to the society of my brethren; and if I did, it was only that she might likewise be made a member.
One morning, Bernardos, with uncommon cheerfulness, informed us, that it was his intention to introduce us both to the Covenant in the evening of the next day, My spouse almost fainted for joy, and each beat of her heart loudly expressed the eagerness of her sanguine expectation.
The long-wished hour arrived, and we all _three ser out on horseback, and traversed the awful forest. I pointed out Jago's hovel to Adela, and though a lively picture of past occurrences renewed itself in my mind, yet I did not feel the least apprehension, and was as unconcerned as possible. Adela, possessed as she was of a masculine spirit, could not help being agitated at the moment of the unravelling of a scene which had so long pre-occupied her mind. We did all we could to invigorate her wavering courage, but our efforts were of little use; her face would change color twice or thrice in a minute, and she was scarce able to support herself upright on horseback.
Don Bernardos, by a much easier way than that my old guide used to take, led us through the corridor into the assembly of my mystic brethren. The venerable chief embraced me and Don Bernardos, and consenting with the rest of the society to Adela's reception, she took the oath in the usual manner.
A fete was then given which lasted all night, and represented the celebration of the Eleusymian Mysteries. A long procession of priests and priestesses began to file off, and the latter were drest in white transparent robes, their hair hung down in natural curls, and garlands decorated their head. Among the number of those women, who carried the covered mystic baskets, I instantly descried Rosalia. She eyed me with a soft mien, and tears bedewed her cheeks. She then cast a look expressive of reconciliation upon my spouse, who perceiving me rather in emotion, laid hold of my hand, and asked me what was the matter. I only answered her with a sigh. Bernardos now made us join the procession, and seemed indefatigable in his attention to my wife. I don't know how it happened, but among all persons present, I was the coolest and most sober partaker of the festivities of that night. In the midst of tumultuous rejoicings a secret fit of jealousy entered my heart. I saw Adela, quite intoxicated with pleasure, signalize herself by her forwardness before all other women; methought, she paid less attention to me than to any other man, and in a very strange manner seemed to wish to attract the looks and seize the hand of Bernardos. I knew she had at all times been rather partial to the latter, whose prudence and solid talents she often praised and extolled. Bernardos's uncommon efforts to please Adela and wholly to engross her regard at this fete, could not therefore but give me umbrage. Every trait of levity which my wife had formerly displayed in her conduct, every weak moment of hers, now powerfully returned to my mind. The solemnities of the night appeared to me like a miserable farce, and my imagination was utterly distracted. Rosalia's modest and touching deportment heightened my confusion, and renewed the bitterest recollections. I felt my face as cold as ice, and it seemed as if all the blood were thronging back to my heart; the starting tear now engaged the eyes of every marvelling bye-stander, especially those of Rosalia, This only served to overwhelm me entirely, I began to totter, threw myself on a seat, and immediately fainted.
Some drops of water, sprinkled in my face, soon made me recover my senses. Every body was eager to lend me his assistance, and Rosalia stood the foremost to hasten to my relief, I anxiously looked out for Adela, and found her at a good distance from me, by the side of Bernardos, or rather leaning on him, and quite lost in deep conversation. She had not even taken notice of my indisposition, and being ultimately told of it, cast such a cold look upon me, as fully benumbed my affection. It certainly was an instance of unpardonable neglect, all my pride was excited, and I resolved to make her expiate the unkindness of her conduct. "Is this the same Adela," said I to myself, "who bore me in her heart before she knew me? Who, that sees her now, can say she is the same?"
The mystic ceremonies being ended, my indignation was wound up to the highest pitch, by the continual indifference of Adela, who feigning to be perfectly ignorant of what had happened to me, went on whispering to Bernardos and favoring him exclusively with her conversation, probably with a design of curing me in this manner of all jealousy, or preparing for an explanation after our return home.
Poor woman! How little was she acquainted with my real character? It would have been easier to tame a furious lion than me in my anger. Don Bernardos, who had had more frequent opportunities to study the peculiarities of my character, seemed to entertain some secret apprehensions of my being very much irritated, and no doubt advised Adela to submit, but she was determined to have her own way.
We left the society, and rode back to the villa. I never said a word to my wife, and my heart was full of bitterness and gloomy dissatisfaction. I began to give vent to my sadness by fetching a deep sigh, when Don Bernardos beckoned Adela, who stopped her horse, and led it more to my side of the way.
"What means this change, Don Carlos?" began she after a long silence, and in a tone of voice not the most gentle.
"There's no change, Madam, that I know," ansewred I with a blunt and severe harshness, proceeding from the heart. She now appeared to me as if I had never known her. My mind was made up, and I did not much care for any thing that was to follow.
She had never heard a harsh word from my mouth, and felt herself much disconcerted. She seemed to wish for Bernardos's advice, but he probably had none to give, and she, like one that has a bad conscience, began to screen her damped courage, under the mask of assurance.
"What answer," returned she, "from the mouth of Don Carlos? What ails you? What can be the matter with you?"
—"Nothing, Madam, I have told you so already."
She now relented, and wanted to try what softness would do. "What ails my dear?" cried she with an artfully tremulous voice, and presenting her hand to me, "Does he know me no more?"
She was actually like nothing in my eyes. When the senses are once freed from love's enchantment, the heart is but little apt to give way to the illusion. I beheld this petty scene with cold indifference, shook her hand like that of some old acquaintance, and then let it go again, though the wanted to hold me fast with one finger.
This polite and firm indifference, which was kept within proper bounds, offended her to the last degree. In the first emotion of her choler she violently spurred her horse, and keeping it back, the animal pranced, and would have thrown her, had I not seasonably alighted and caught her in my arms.
Meanwhile the horse ran off without its rider, and Don Bernardos galloped on to overtake it. Adela had fainted in her fright, and having relieved her with the smelling bottle, I put her on my own horse, and led it by the bridle.
"Excuse me Madam," added I, "for taking the bridle, because I really think you don't now ride so well as you used to do."
This remark penetrated deeply into her heart, and she did not answer it. But I saw that her bosom glowed with rage, and she could but difficultly draw breath. I never opened my mouth again till we arrived at the villa, and leading the horse to the gate, I walked on slowly, without favoring her with a single look. On our arrival before her apartment, I said to her, "Though the morning is far advanced, yet, I suppose, you will go to rest." At these words I let go her hand, and abruptly left her, without waiting the reply for which she had already opened her lips.
She was vexed, and shut the door of her apartment with loud impetuosity. I went to refresh myself in the garden, and heard Don Bernardos return soon after with Adela's horse. He anxiously enquired after her, but she begged to be excused from receiving his visit. He then went away, without troubling himself the least about me.