The Genius (Carl Grosse)/Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Thus far my history has been full of misfortunes; but this period opens a field of fresh scenes of horror, which even eclipsed all my hopes and wishes.
I had not been many minutes on the bed, before my half-closed eyes were dazzled by an uncommon brightness, which diffused itself all over the room. I took it for the rising sun, and shut my eye-lids against it. But soon the light became so strong, that I rose, and found every thing, as it were, in a blaze, and large streams of light passing to and fro through the chamber, which at times, emitted numerous sparkling particles, that threw a party colored glaze on every object.
A soft rustling, as if the wind blew through the strings of a harp, now passed by me; I rung for my people, but the string of the bell broke at the first touch, I attempted to leap from the bed, but felt myself held fast by some invisible power. I expected to lose the sight of these terrors in a beneficent swoon, but my senses, already accustomed to similar apparitions, even denied me this last office.
Art last the glare changed into a thick mist, and I saw a white form,-with eyes darting fury, advance towards me.
—"Who art thou?" cried I.
—"I am thy genius Amanuel," was the answer in a hollow but soft tone, "I have to warn thee, not to fly with Elmira. Obey me, for I am thy friend."
—"Who sends thee?"
"The great covenant has consigned thee to my care."
I had a thousand questions to ask, and a thousand objections to urge. But no sooner had I made a grasp to seize the phantom, than all became black darkness around me.
A stillness of death ensued, the piercing dawn made me discover, that every object was in its proper place, and I laid down again. As I rose, I found the door and windows as fast as I had made them, and the natural situation of the room precluded the very idea of secret communication. Deception was impracticable, my whole belief in the non-existence of a spiritual world began to totter, and reason forced me to be persuaded of the presence of my genius Amanuel.
—"Alas," said I to myself, "what can be the object his mission? Must I abandon my beloved Elmira to that cruel Cabal of mysterious strangers? Is this the happiness that has been promised me? Were I not happier, if I had never seen that mystic society, whose inconceivable arts will make my hair turn grey in the blossom of my youth.
I was much indisposed, and went to Elmira whose uncasiness had not permitted her to enjoy an instant's repose. We perambulated the garden, both so happy, and yet so unhappy. Each of us felt the pressure of a secret, and perceived the other's anguish, which made both keep a painful silence.
We returned to the drawing room in silent affliction, and after exchanging a thousand fond caresses, prepared for an important conversation.
—"I am unspeakably wretched, "began I; it is impossible for me to fly with my Elmira!"?
—"Mercy! Carlos," replied she in deep consternation, "why not!"
I now related the adventures of the night; her blood seemed to run quite cold; but she insisted on our flight.
—"Rather plunge a dagger in this bosom," said she, "than leave me here. Why wilt thou overwhelm with misery the woman whom thou hast taught to love; her, that before she knew thee, was so blest in the bosom of fond relations; her, who dared all for thy sake, who bore all for the love of thee?—Be merciful, Carlos, or kill me!"
—"No, Elmira, thou shall never die but with me. Tell me, what shall I do?"
—"Fly—'tis the only resource we have. Fly with me; no flower blooms for us here. The farther we go, the happier shall we be in a distant country."
—"But how shall I escape the invisible arms, that incompass me on all sides? How rescue thee from their grasps? Teach me the way, my lovely spouse. Thou seemest to keep a secret, Elmira, impart it to me, to save us both."
—"No, save us first, else they would murder me in thine arms. O thou shalt know, how they impose on and sport with thy generous heart; how they strive under the mask of friendship, to seduce thee to the foulest and blackest of crimes. All the sublime ideas they offered to thy noble mind, rally in one common centre of wickedness, I found it out; I was to die a second time; but threw myself in thy pitying arms.
—"I am amazed, Elmira!—Should my apprehensions be true?"
—"I am confident, Carlos, they are. Behold, I know how they seduced thee. I was obliged to witness thy infidelity in Rosalia's arms; I was to join the conspirators against thy person—but what is yonder rustling,—Hear'st thou nothing Carlos?"
—"'Tis nothing Elmira; thy mind is flurried."
—"It certainly was a noise I heard; take me in thy arms, dear Carlos, and there, at least, suffer me to die."
There actually was a rustling noise coming down a large pier-glass; but I feigned not to hear it; and did all I could to case her agitated mind. Nothing would avail, till I promised her to fly and take her with me with all possible dispatch.
In order to defend her, during the short time. I wanted to make the necesiary preparations, at least from open attacks, I left two trusty servants constantly with her in the same apartment, till I got every thing in readiness. All seemed auspicious for our approaching journey, no obstacle came in our way, and I began already to bid defiance to the Genius, who, I thought, would use every means to prevent me from accomplishing my design.
The night, fixed for our departure arrived. We intended going to France, where I hoped to find both happiness and a new home. Elmira and I anticipated already the blissful effects of our removal. Already were the mules put to the carriages, every thing was packed up, and I went with a beating heart to fetch her. It was dark, two waxlights were burning in her apartment, where she sat on the sopha to alter some part of a travelling dress. So light were her spirits, that she began to rally with me on our expedition, and was ready to rise, when looking with a ghastly stare, she cried:
—"Dear Carlos, I am positive something is making a noise there." She pointed at a large chandelier fixed to the ceiling.
—"It is only the stamping of the mules," replied I; "come, let's be gone."
—"No, no, I plainly heard it here, just above us."
—"Then let us get out of this cursed room."
Here I laid hold of her hand, when a pane of a window suddenly burst and fell into the room. A whistling like that of a strong gale rushed through the aperture. Both the candles were blown out, with a strong sound, like some explosion. A ball of fiery matter dropt down, to light them again. At last, both doors flew open, and shut themselves. Something lucid was rustling and moving in the apartment. A chilling current of air blew in our faces, and was succeeded by another almost stifling us with sultriness.
Elmira lay senseless in my arms, but I had strength enough to carry her to the door, and danger made me quite raving. I wished for Amanuel's appearance, to combat him. I could not open the door, but called for help, from the window. The door was forced open, I carried out Elmira, the horrid whistling followed us, with a noise, as if all the furniture of the apartments was dancing at our backs. The chandelier fell down with a tremendous crack, and the house shook, as if there had been an earthquake. All the apartments seemed to be in a blaze, and a frightful rattling pursued us down stairs, to the very door of the carriage.
No sooner had I got into the vehicle, than the whole villa seemed to be illuminated, all the doors and gates creaked, and large stones rolled down from the roof, The servants were almost frightened out of their senses, and we drove off with furious speed.
We soon reached a neighbouring wood. The carriage had hitherto been drawn in full gallop, but now it began to move slower and slower, and not all the exertions of the coachman and the postillion, could make the animals go faster. At last it stopt, the window glass was dashed in a thousand pieces, a fellow in disguise came up, and discharging a horse-pistol into the carriage, I felt Elmira drop dying into my arms!!!—
It is impossible to describe, what I felt at this moment. Elmira bleeding in my embrace! Her heart palpitated feebler and feebler under my hands, till it entirely ceased. I took the whole for a fantastic sport of the imagination, and wavered between truth and uncertainty. It was not till after a long conflict between contradictory sensations, that I discovered Elmira was no more. Her blood had been rilling over my hands, and when I "took off the veil, I found her countenance quite distorted; not a feature was cognizable, her eyes were sunk deep in her head, no moan heaved the suffering bosom, she was like a congealed corpse—My grief was suspended by a glowing desire of vengeance, my tongue was parched and began, as it were, to thirst for blood; methought her fleeting manes demanded no tears, bur signal revenge.
A volume of light rushed at the same time upon my mind respecting the proceedings of the Cabal; never had I felt myself thus much the sport of those fatal strangers, never had they so barbarously treated me as their slave, I became sensible that their despotic yoke required, that I should with abject servility, court their approbation for each moment's pleasure I wished to enjoy.—Life was now a matter of indifference to me, and while my thoughts were directed to some immediate plan of revenge, two of my servants on horseback pursued the murderer, who had fled with incredible swiftness. They got up within fifty yards of the wretch, but despairing of taking him alive, one of my faithful domestics fired a carabine at the fugitive, a slug entered his brains, and he tumbled instantly from his horse which ran off without its rider, and when the pursuers came up with their victim they found him quite dead.
Hearing the report of the carabine, I left the remains of Elmira for a moment, and hastened to recognize the assassin. He had a mask on his face, we removed it, but none of us had the slightest knowledge of his person. Having fstriclly searched him from head to foot, nothing was found, that could lead to a discovery. I ordered the carriage to drive back to the villa, and deposited the sad relics of Elmira in her apartment. After having bolted and double-lockt all the doors, I proceeded to examine her wounds, that I might be certain of her death. Removing part of her dress, I found that two balls had quite shattered her left breast, and a third lacerated her tender neck; the blood was all clotted, and every limb rendered unpliant by the chill stiffness of death. I sent for her women to undress her entirely, took myself her clothes into my room to search them at leisure, and as I was turning one of her pockets, a small pocket-book, tied with a lilac-colored ribbon, fell out of it. With eagerness I tore it open, and found, besides the note which I once picked up in the church of the Capuchins at St. Jago, another paquet of writings, which I imagined to be of great moment. Unable to read them then, I put them in a secret drawer of my bureau, and returned the pocket-book where I had first discovered it.
Though the shocking mangled state of Elmira's body made it appear to common understanding, that all the interference of art was useless; yet I was not satisfied, till every physical remedy had been tried tending to recover animation. But all my cares were in vain. I now gave orders to dress the corpse, and let it lie three days in the same apartment. I had already had one instance of the illusory tricks of the Cabal, and was now resolved to leave nothing undone, to prevent a second deception. I made a secret mark on the body, and inspected it every hour to see if it had not been changed. The explosion of the gunpowder had so much disfigured her whole person, especially the face, that there was not one feature or lineament in it, which resembled those that characterized it when living. Hence it would have been very easy to put another corpse in her place. A scar however was now visible on her forehead, which I had never observed before, and which it would have been difficult to counterfeit.
To be the safer in what I was doing, I sent for some confidential tenants, who did not leave the body for a moment. Three days after, the symptoms of putrefaction growing too strong, the bier was screwed up in my presence, and each screw sealed with my seal; no attention was spared, to prevent a second fraud, and I assisted myself at the melancholy duty of fitting by the corpse in my own family vault.
No sooner was I come back from those last and pious rites, no sooner had my heart-breaking sorrows been somewhat mildered by a briny flood of tears, than I hastened to the bureau to peruse the papers. They were badly and almost illegibly written, related to uninteresting family affairs, and after a short and hasty inspection I again sealed and put them by.
Night was, by this time, very near, and I expected a visit from my Genius. I ordered some lighted candles to the lodge in the garden, to induce him to come. Provided with two braces of pistols and a sword, I was ready to bid him welcome. I was quite furious, yet waited patiently and with cold blood all night long; but Amanuel kept away.
I laid three more nights in ambush for him in a secret press contrived in the wall of my bed-chamber, but all my vigils were frustrated and no genius would approach me. I then took the desperate; resolution of meeting the dreadful Cabal in their own repair alone, there to destroy or perish among them.
I was coolly bent on this resolution, and bade defiance to all dangers. Several weeks passed in making preparations, and I considered myself as a dying man. I made a will, delivered it to my friends,and under the pretence of going on a long journey, appointed Don Antonio the care and management of the villa which had now been given to me, and likewise to the rest of my personal and landed property. I concealed a good quantity of poison under my clothes, to escape a long and lingering death, in case the Cabal should seize me alive.
Meanwhile word was brought me, that Don Pedro had returned without his wife. He visited me a few days afterwards, and every trace of human benevolence seemed to be obliterated from his character. He was extremely cool and reserved, and I repaid him his frigidity in fullest measure. Whenever I mentioned Francisca's name, he was mute and melancholy, and if I dropt any inquisitive hints respecting her fate, a few significant looks, and shrugging up his shoulders, were all the answer I could obtain. But when if spoke of the mystic covenant, his whole countenance brightened up, and he seemed to wish to scrutinize anxiously all my thoughts and designs. But I always opposed an uniform and close reserve to his curiosity, till quite disgusted, he discontinued his visits.
The day was now come, which I had fixed on for my departure. Don Antonio was arrived at the villa, and I spent the whole afternoon in taking a tender and affectionate leave of my friends, and spent the evening in parting conviviality with Antonio.
Every body having retired to rest, I took the keys of the garden, went softly down stairs, and climbing over a little wall into the yard where my horses were stabled, I wrenched off the lock from the stable-door, and began to saddle my best horse.
Thus occupied, I felt something jumping about my feet; it was Fidello, my favorite dog. He had known me by the scent, was glad to see me, whined for joy, and made an hundred starts and gambols. It seemed, as if he felt I was going to leave him for a long time, and would thus bid me farewell. I could not indeed take him with me, without betraying myself. Ten times he jumped up to lick away the tears that were rolling from my face. I had borne every thing with composure, even the last embrace of my Antonio, but this mute parting scene with a dumb animal, made my heart melt in woe. The poor beast!—He surely must have felt my grief. He hung his head so sadly—his whining was so oppressively moanful—perhaps it was the only equanimous friend I left behind me!—
By this time, the pack in the kennel began also to be unruly, and no time was to be lost, if I wished to set off unperceived. I took therefore Fidello by his proffered paw, and fondly stroking his head: "poor Fidello," said I, "thy master is going. Thou'lt be the last to forget me!" Here, with some difficulty I bolted the stable-door upon him, shut my ear against his anxious scraping, and faithful complaints, opened a back-gate, and rode off gallopping on a well known road, which soon brought me into an adjacent wood of chesnut trees.