按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃My son； as you refuse to come with me； here is a wonderful talisman； which I would not use before the last extremity。 So long as you wear this ring on your finger； neither sword nor poison will have power against you。〃
〃You see then； mother；〃 said the prince； smiling； 〃with this protection there is no reason at all to fear for my life。〃
There are other dangers than sword or poison；〃 sighed the queen。
〃Be calm； mother： the best of all talismans is your prayer to God for me： it is the tender thought of you that will keep me for ever in the path of duty and justice； your maternal love will watch over me from afar； and cover me like the wings of a guardian angel。〃
Elizabeth sobbed as she embraced her son； and when she left him she felt her heart was breaking。 At last she made up her mind to go； and was escorted by the whole court； who had never changed towards her for a moment in their chivalrous and respectful devotion。 The poor mother； pale； trembling； and faint； leaned heavily upon Andre's arm； lest she should fall。 On the ship that was to take her for ever from her son； she cast her arms for the last time about his neck； and there hung a long time； speechless； tearless； and motionless； when the signal for departure was given； her women took her in their arms half swooning。 Andre stood on the shore with the feeling of death at his heart： his eyes were fixed upon the sail that carried ever farther from him the only being he loved in the world。 Suddenly he fancied he beheld something white moving a long way off： his mother had recovered her senses by a great effort； and had dragged herself up to the bridge to give a last signal of farewell： the unhappy lady knew too well that she would never see her son again。
At almost the same moment that Andre's mother left the kingdom； the former queen of Naples； Robert's widow； Dona Sancha； breathed her last sigh。 She was buried in the convent of Santa Maria delta Croce； under the name of Clara； which she had assumed on taking her vows as a nun； as her epitaph tells us； as follows：
〃Here lies； an example of great humility； the body of the sainted sister Clara； of illustrious memory； otherwise Sancha； Queen of Sicily and Jerusalem； widow of the most serene Robert； King of Jerusalem and Sicily； who； after the death of the king her husband； when she had completed a year of widowhood； exchanged goods temporary for goods eternal。 Adopting for the love of God a voluntary poverty； and distributing her goods to the poor； she took upon her the rule of obedience in this celebrated convent of Santa Croce； the work of her own hands； in the year 1344； on the gist of January of the twelfth indiction； where； living a life of holiness under the rule of the blessed Francis； father of the poor； she ended her days religiously in the year of our Lord 1345； on the 28th of July of the thirteenth indiction。 On the day following she was buried in this tomb。〃
The death of Dona Sancha served to hasten on the catastrophe which was to stain the throne of Naples with blood： one might almost fancy that God wished to spare this angel of love and resignation the sight of so terrible a spectacle； that she offered…herself as a propitiatory sacrifice to redeem the crimes of her family。
CHAPTER IV
Eight days after the funeral of the old queen； Bertrand of Artois came to Joan； distraught； dishevelled； in a state of agitation and confusion impossible to describe。
Joan went quickly up to her lover； asking him with a look of fear to explain the cause of his distress。
〃I told you； madam；〃 cried the young baron excitedly； 〃you will end by ruining us all； as you will never take any advice from me。〃
〃For God's sake； Bertrand； speak plainly： what has happened？ What advice have I neglected？〃
〃Madam； your noble husband； Andre of Hungary； has just been made King of Jerusalem and Sicily； and acknowledged by the court of Avignon； so henceforth you will be no better than his slave。〃
〃Count of Artois； you are dreaming。〃
〃No； madam； I am not dreaming： I have this fact to prove the truth of my words； that the pope's ambassadors are arrived at Capua with the bull for his coronation； and if they do not enter Castel Nuovo this very evening； the delay is only to give the new king time to make his preparations。〃
The queen bent her head as if a thunderbolt had fallen at her feet。
〃When I told you before；〃 said the count； with growing fury； 〃that we ought to use force to make a stand against him； that we ought to break the yoke of this infamous tyranny and get rid of the man before he had the means of hurting you； you always drew back in childish fear； with a woman's cowardly hesitation。〃
Joan turned a tearful look upon her lover。
〃God； my God！〃 she cried； clasping her hands in desperation； 〃am I to hear for ever this awful cry of death！ You too； Bertrand； you too say the word； like Robert of Cabane； like Charles of Duras？ Wretched man； why would you raise this bloody spectre between us； to check with icy hand our adulterous kisses？ Enough of such crimes； if his wretched ambition makes him long to reign； let him be king： what matters his power to me； if he leaves me with your love？〃
〃It is not so sure that our love will last much longer。〃
〃What is this； Bertrand？ You rejoice in this merciless torture。〃
〃I tell you； madam； that the King of Naples has a black flag ready； and on the day of his coronation it will be carried before him。〃
〃And you believe；〃 said Joan； pale as a corpse in its shroud；〃you believe that this flag is a threat？〃
〃Ay； and the threat begins to be put in execution。〃
The queen staggered； and leaned against a table to save herself from falling。
〃Tell me all；〃 she cried in a choking voice； 〃fear not to shock me； see； I am not trembling。 O Bertrand； I entreat you！〃
〃The traitors have begun with the man you most esteemed； the wisest counsellor of the crown； the best of magistrates； the noblest… hearted； most rigidly virtuous…〃
〃Andrea of Isernia！〃
〃Madam； he is no more。〃
Joan uttered a cry； as though the noble old man had been slain before her eyes： she respected him as a father； then； sinking back； she remained profoundly silent。
〃How did they kill him？〃 she asked at last； fixing her great eyes in terror on the count。
〃Yesterday evening； as he left this castle； on the way to his own home； a man suddenly sprang out upon him before the Porta Petruccia： it was one of Andre's favourites； Conrad of Gottis chosen no doubt because he had a grievance against the incorruptible magistrate on account of some sentence passed against him； and the murder would therefore be put down to motives of private revenge。 The cowardly wretch gave a sign to two or three companions； who surrounded the victim and robbed him of all means of escape。 The poor old man looked fixedly；at his assassin； and asked him what he wanted。 'I want you to lose your life at my hands； as I lost my case at yours！' cried the murderer； and leaving him no time to answer； he ran him through with his sword。 Then the rest fell upon the poor man； who did not even try to call for help； and his body was riddled with wounds and horribly mutilated； and then left bathed in its blood。〃
〃Terrible！〃 murmured the queen； covering her face。
〃It was only their first effort： the proscription lists are already full： Andre must needs have blood to celebrate his accession to the throne of Naples。 And do you know； Joan； whose name stands first in the doomed list？〃
〃Whose？〃 cried the queen； shuddering from head to foot。
〃Mine；〃 said the count calmly。
〃Yours！〃 cried Joan； drawing herself up to her full height； 〃are you to be killed next！ Oh； be careful； Andre； you have pronounced your own death…sentence。 Long have I turned aside the dagger pointing to your breast； but you put an end to all my patience。 Woe to you； Prince of Hungary！ the blood which you have spilt shall fall on your own head。〃
As she spoke she had lost her pallor： her lovely face was fired with revenge； her eyes flashed lightning。 This child of sixteen was terrible to behold： she pressed her lover's hand with convulsive tenderness； and clung to him as if she would screen him with her own body。
〃Your anger is awakened too late；〃 said he gently and sadly； for at this moment Joan seemed so lovely that he could reproach her with nothing。 〃You 'do not know that his mother has left him a talisman preserving him from sword and poison？〃
〃He will die；〃 said Joan firmly： the smile that lighted up her face was so unnatural that the count was dismayed； and dropped his eyes。
The next day the young Queen of Naples； lovelier； more smiling than ever； sitting carelessly in a graceful attitude beside a window which looked out on the magnificent view of the bay； was busy weaving a cord of silk and gold。 The sun had run nearly two…thirds of his fiery course； and was gradually sinking his rays in the clear blue waters where Posilippo's head is reflected with its green and flowery crown。 A warm； balmy breeze that had passed over the orange trees of Sorrento and Amalfi felt deliciously refreshing to the inhabitants of the capital； who had succumbed to torpor in the enervating softness of the day。 The whole town was waki