English
Thelastnotesoftheintroductiontotheoperawerebeingplayed,andtheseatsinthepitwereallfilled,whenPescaandIreachedthetheatre.
Therewasplentyofroom,however,inthepassagethatranroundthepit—preciselythepositionbestcalculatedtoanswerthepurposeforwhichIwasattendingtheperformance.
Iwentfirsttothebarrierseparatingusfromthestalls,andlookedfortheCountinthatpartofthetheatre.Hewasnotthere.
Returningalongthepassage,ontheleft-handsidefromthestage,andlookingaboutmeattentively,Idiscoveredhiminthepit.
Heoccupiedanexcellentplace,sometwelveorfourteenseatsfromtheendofabench,withinthreerowsofthestalls.
Iplacedmyselfexactlyonalinewithhim.Pescastandingbymyside.
TheProfessorwasnotyetawareofthepurposeforwhichIhadbroughthimtothetheatre,andhewasrathersurprisedthatwedidnotmovenearertothestage.
Thecurtainrose,andtheoperabegan.
Throughoutthewholeofthefirstactweremainedinourposition—theCount,absorbedbytheorchestraandthestage,nevercastingsomuchasachanceglanceatus.
NotanoteofDonizetti’sdeliciousmusicwaslostonhim.
Therehesat,highabovehisneighbours,smiling,andnoddinghisgreatheadenjoyinglyfromtimetotime.
Whenthepeoplenearhimapplaudedthecloseofanair(asanEnglishaudienceinsuchcircumstancesalwaysWILLapplaud),withouttheleastconsiderationfortheorchestralmovementwhichimmediatelyfollowedit,helookedroundatthemwithanexpressionofcompassionateremonstrance,andhelduponehandwithagestureofpoliteentreaty.
Atthemorerefinedpassagesofthesinging,atthemoredelicatephasesofthemusic,whichpassedunapplaudedbyothers,hisfathands,adornedwithperfectly-fittingblackkidgloves,softlypattedeachother,intokenofthecultivatedappreciationofamusicalman.
Atsuchtimes,hisoilymurmurofapproval,“Bravo!Bra-a-a-a!”
hummedthroughthesilence,likethepurringofagreatcat.
Hisimmediateneighboursoneitherside—hearty,ruddy-facedpeoplefromthecountry,baskingamazedlyinthesunshineoffashionableLondon—seeingandhearinghim,begantofollowhislead.
Manyaburstofapplausefromthepitthatnightstartedfromthesoft,comfortablepattingoftheblack-glovedhands.
Theman’svoraciousvanitydevouredthisimpliedtributetohislocalandcriticalsupremacywithanappearanceofthehighestrelish.
Smilesrippledcontinuouslyoverhisfatface.
Helookedabouthim,atthepausesinthemusic,serenelysatisfiedwithhimselfandhisfellow-creatures.“Yes!yes!
thesebarbarousEnglishpeoplearelearningsomethingfromME.
Here,there,andeverywhere,I—Fosco—amaninfluencethatisfelt,amanwhositssupreme!”
Ifeverfacespoke,hisfacespokethen,andthatwasitslanguage.
Thecurtainfellonthefirstact,andtheaudiencerosetolookaboutthem.ThiswasthetimeIhadwaitedfor—thetimetotryifPescaknewhim.
Herosewiththerest,andsurveyedtheoccupantsoftheboxesgrandlywithhisopera-glass.
Atfirsthisbackwastowardsus,butheturnedroundintime,tooursideofthetheatre,andlookedattheboxesaboveus,usinghisglassforafewminutes—thenremovingit,butstillcontinuingtolookup.
ThiswasthemomentIchose,whenhisfullfacewasinview,fordirectingPesca’sattentiontohim.
“Doyouknowthatman?”Iasked.
“Whichman,myfriend?”
“Thetall,fatman,standingthere,withhisfacetowardsus.”
Pescaraisedhimselfontiptoe,andlookedattheCount.
“No,”saidtheProfessor.“Thebigfatmanisastrangertome.Ishefamous?Whydoyoupointhimout?”
“BecauseIhaveparticularreasonsforwishingtoknowsomethingofhim.Heisacountrymanofyours—hisnameisCountFosco.Doyouknowthatname?”
“NotI,Walter.Neitherthenamenorthemanisknowntome.”
“Areyouquitesureyoudon’trecognisehim?Lookagain—lookcarefully.
IwilltellyouwhyIamsoanxiousaboutitwhenweleavethetheatre.Stop!
letmehelpyouuphere,whereyoucanseehimbetter.”
Ihelpedthelittlemantoperchhimselfontheedgeoftheraiseddaisuponwhichthepit-seatswereallplaced.
Hissmallstaturewasnohindrancetohim—herehecouldseeovertheheadsoftheladieswhowereseatedneartheoutermostpartofthebench.
Aslim,light-hairedmanstandingbyus,whomIhadnotnoticedbefore—amanwithascaronhisleftcheek—lookedattentivelyatPescaasIhelpedhimup,andthenlookedstillmoreattentively,followingthedirectionofPesca’seyes,attheCount.
Ourconversationmighthavereachedhisears,andmight,asitstruckme,haverousedhiscuriosity.
Meanwhile,Pescafixedhiseyesearnestlyonthebroad,full,smilingfaceturnedalittleupward,exactlyoppositetohim.
“No,”hesaid,“Ihaveneversetmytwoeyesonthatbigfatmanbeforeinallmylife.”
AshespoketheCountlookeddownwardstowardstheboxesbehindusonthepittier.
TheeyesofthetwoItaliansmet.
TheinstantbeforeIhadbeenperfectlysatisfied,fromhisownreiteratedassertion,thatPescadidnotknowtheCount.TheinstantafterwardsIwasequallycertainthattheCountknewPesca!
Knewhim,and—moresurprisingstill—FEAREDhimaswell!
Therewasnomistakingthechangethatpassedoverthevillain’sface.
Theleadenhuethatalteredhisyellowcomplexioninamoment,thesuddenrigidityofallhisfeatures,thefurtivescrutinyofhiscoldgreyeyes,themotionlessstillnessofhimfromheadtofoottoldtheirowntale.
Amortaldreadhadmasteredhimbodyandsoul—andhisownrecognitionofPescawasthecauseofit!
Theslimmanwiththescaronhischeekwasstillclosebyus.
HehadapparentlydrawnhisinferencefromtheeffectproducedontheCountbythesightofPescaasIhaddrawnmine.
Hewasamild,gentlemanlikeman,lookinglikeaforeigner,andhisinterestinourproceedingswasnotexpressedinanythingapproachingtoanoffensivemanner.
FormyownpartIwassostartledbythechangeintheCount’sface,soastoundedattheentirelyunexpectedturnwhicheventshadtaken,thatIknewneitherwhattosayordonext.
Pescarousedmebysteppingbacktohisformerplaceatmysideandspeakingfirst.
“Howthefatmanstares!”heexclaimed.“IsitatME?
AmIfamous?HowcanheknowmewhenIdon’tknowhim?”
IkeptmyeyestillontheCount.IsawhimmoveforthefirsttimewhenPescamoved,soasnottolosesightofthelittlemaninthelowerpositioninwhichhenowstood.
IwascurioustoseewhatwouldhappenifPesca’sattentionunderthesecircumstanceswaswithdrawnfromhim,andIaccordinglyaskedtheProfessorifherecognisedanyofhispupilsthateveningamongtheladiesintheboxes.
Pescaimmediatelyraisedthelargeopera-glasstohiseyes,andmoveditslowlyallroundtheupperpartofthetheatre,searchingforhispupilswiththemostconscientiousscrutiny.
ThemomentheshowedhimselftobethusengagedtheCountturnedround,slippedpastthepersonswhooccupiedseatsonthefarthersideofhimfromwherewestood,anddisappearedinthemiddlepassagedownthecentreofthepit.
IcaughtPescabythearm,andtohisinexpressibleastonishment,hurriedhimroundwithmetothebackofthepittointercepttheCountbeforehecouldgettothedoor.
Somewhattomysurprise,theslimmanhastenedoutbeforeus,avoidingastoppagecausedbysomepeopleonoursideofthepitleavingtheirplaces,bywhichPescaandmyselfweredelayed.
WhenwereachedthelobbytheCounthaddisappeared,andtheforeignerwiththescarwasgonetoo.
“Comehome,”Isaid;“comehome,Pescatoyourlodgings.Imustspeaktoyouinprivate—Imustspeakdirectly.”
“My-soul-bless-my-soul!”criedtheProfessor,inastateoftheextremestbewilderment.“Whatonearthisthematter?”
Iwalkedonrapidlywithoutanswering.ThecircumstancesunderwhichtheCounthadleftthetheatresuggestedtomethathisextraordinaryanxietytoescapePescamightcarryhimtofurtherextremitiesstill.
Hemightescapeme,too,byleavingLondon.
IdoubtedthefutureifIallowedhimsomuchasaday’sfreedomtoactashepleased.
AndIdoubtedthatforeignstranger,whohadgotthestartofus,andwhomIsuspectedofintentionallyfollowinghimout.
Withthisdoubledistrustinmymind,IwasnotlonginmakingPescaunderstandwhatIwanted.
Assoonaswetwowerealoneinhisroom,IincreasedhisconfusionandamazementahundredfoldbytellinghimwhatmypurposewasasplainlyandunreservedlyasIhaveacknowledgedithere.
“Myfriend,whatcanIdo?”criedtheProfessor,piteouslyappealingtomewithbothhands.“Deuce-what-the-deuce!howcanIhelpyou,Walter,whenIdon’tknowtheman?”
“HEknowsYOU—heisafraidofyou—hehasleftthetheatretoescapeyou.Pesca!theremustbeareasonforthis.
LookbackintoyourownlifebeforeyoucametoEngland.
YouleftItaly,asyouhavetoldmeyourself,forpoliticalreasons.
Youhavenevermentionedthosereasonstome,andIdon’tinquireintothemnow.
Ionlyaskyoutoconsultyourownrecollections,andtosayiftheysuggestnopastcausefortheterrorwhichthefirstsightofyouproducedinthatman.”
Tomyunutterablesurprise,thesewords,harmlessastheyappearedtoME,producedthesameastoundingeffectonPescawhichthesightofPescahadproducedontheCount.
Therosyfaceofmylittlefriendwhitenedinaninstant,andhedrewbackfrommeslowly,tremblingfromheadtofoot.
“Walter!”hesaid.“Youdon’tknowwhatyouask.”
Hespokeinawhisper—helookedatmeasifIhadsuddenlyrevealedtohimsomehiddendangertobothofus.
Inlessthanoneminuteoftimehewassoalteredfromtheeasy,lively,quaintlittlemanofallmypastexperience,thatifIhadmethiminthestreet,changedasIsawhimnow,Ishouldmostcertainlynothaveknownhimagain.
“Forgiveme,ifIhaveunintentionallypainedandshockedyou,”Ireplied.
“RememberthecruelwrongmywifehassufferedatCountFosco’shands.
Rememberthatthewrongcanneverberedressed,unlessthemeansareinmypowerofforcinghimtodoherjustice.
IspokeinHERinterests,Pesca—Iaskyouagaintoforgiveme—Icansaynomore.”
Irosetogo.HestoppedmebeforeIreachedthedoor.
“Wait,”hesaid.“Youhaveshakenmefromheadtofoot.Youdon’tknowhowIleftmycountry,andwhyIleftmycountry.Letmecomposemyself,letmethink,ifIcan.”
Ireturnedtomychair.Hewalkedupanddowntheroom,talkingtohimselfincoherentlyinhisownlanguage.
Afterseveralturnsbackwardsandforwards,hesuddenlycameuptome,andlaidhislittlehandswithastrangetendernessandsolemnityonmybreast.
“Onyourheartandsoul,Walter,”hesaid,“istherenootherwaytogettothatmanbutthechance-waythroughME?”
“Thereisnootherway,”Ianswered.
Heleftmeagain,openedthedooroftheroomandlookedoutcautiouslyintothepassage,closeditoncemore,andcameback.
“Youwonyourrightoverme,Walter,”hesaid,“onthedaywhenyousavedmylife.
Itwasyoursfromthatmoment,whenyoupleasedtotakeit.Takeitnow.Yes!ImeanwhatIsay.
Mynextwords,astrueasthegoodGodisaboveus,willputmylifeintoyourhands.”
Thetremblingearnestnesswithwhichheutteredthisextraordinarywarning,carriedwithit,tomymind,theconvictionthathespokethetruth.
“Mindthis!”hewenton,shakinghishandsatmeinthevehemenceofhisagitation.
“Iholdnothread,inmyownmind,betweenthatmanFosco,andthepasttimewhichIcallbacktomeforyoursake.
Ifyoufindthethread,keepittoyourself—tellmenothing—onmykneesIbegandpray,letmebeignorant,letmebeinnocent,letmebeblindtoallthefutureasIamnow!”
Hesaidafewwordsmore,hesitatinglyanddisconnectedly,thenstoppedagain.
IsawthattheeffortofexpressinghimselfinEnglish,onanoccasiontooserioustopermithimtheuseofthequaintturnsandphrasesofhisordinaryvocabulary,waspainfullyincreasingthedifficultyhehadfeltfromthefirstinspeakingtomeatall.
Havinglearnttoreadandunderstandhisnativelanguage(thoughnottospeakit),intheearlierdaysofourintimatecompanionship,InowsuggestedtohimthatheshouldexpresshimselfinItalian,whileIusedEnglishinputtinganyquestionswhichmightbenecessarytomyenlightenment.Heacceptedtheproposal.
Inhissmooth-flowinglanguage,spokenwithavehementagitationwhichbetrayeditselfintheperpetualworkingofhisfeatures,inthewildnessandthesuddennessofhisforeigngesticulations,butneverintheraisingofhisvoice,Inowheardthewordswhicharmedmetomeetthelaststruggle,thatisleftforthisstorytorecord.†
†Itisonlyrighttomentionhere,thatIrepeatPesco’sstatementtomewiththecarefulsuppressionsandalterationswhichtheseriousnatureofthesubjectandmyownsenseofdutytomyfrienddemand.
Myfirstandlastconcealmentsfromthereaderarethosewhichcautionrendersabsolutelynecessaryinthisportionofthenarrative.
“YouknownothingofmymotiveforleavingItaly,”hebegan,“exceptthatitwasforpoliticalreasons.
IfIhadbeendriventothiscountrybythepersecutionofmygovernment,Ishouldnothavekeptthosereasonsasecretfromyouorfromanyone.
Ihaveconcealedthembecausenogovernmentauthorityhaspronouncedthesentenceofmyexile.
Youhaveheard,Walter,ofthepoliticalsocietiesthatarehiddenineverygreatcityonthecontinentofEurope?
TooneofthosesocietiesIbelongedinItaly—andbelongstillinEngland.
WhenIcametothiscountry,Icamebythedirectionofmychief.
Iwasover-zealousinmyyoungertime—Irantheriskofcompromisingmyselfandothers.
ForthosereasonsIwasorderedtoemigratetoEnglandandtowait.Iemigrated—Ihavewaited—Iwaitstill.
To-morrowImaybecalledaway—tenyearshenceImaybecalledaway.
Itisallonetome—Iamhere,Isupportmyselfbyteaching,andIwait.
Iviolatenooath(youshallhearwhypresently)inmakingmyconfidencecompletebytellingyouthenameofthesocietytowhichIbelong.
AllIdoistoputmylifeinyourhands.
IfwhatIsaytoyounowiseverknownbyotherstohavepassedmylips,ascertainlyaswetwosithere,Iamadeadman.”
Hewhisperedthenextwordsinmyear.Ikeepthesecretwhichhethuscommunicated.
Thesocietytowhichhebelongedwillbesufficientlyindividualisedforthepurposeofthesepages,ifIcallit“TheBrotherhood,”onthefewoccasionswhenanyreferencetothesubjectwillbeneededinthisplace.
“TheobjectoftheBrotherhood,”Pescawenton,“is,briefly,theobjectofotherpoliticalsocietiesofthesamesort—thedestructionoftyrannyandtheassertionoftherightsofthepeople.
TheprinciplesoftheBrotherhoodaretwo.
Solongasaman’slifeisuseful,orevenharmlessonly,hehastherighttoenjoyit.
But,ifhislifeinflictsinjuryonthewell-beingofhisfellow-men,fromthatmomentheforfeitstheright,anditisnotonlynocrime,butapositivemerit,todeprivehimofit.
Itisnotformetosayinwhatfrightfulcircumstancesofoppressionandsufferingthissocietytookitsrise.
Itisnotforyoutosay—youEnglishmen,whohaveconqueredyourfreedomsolongago,thatyouhaveconvenientlyforgottenwhatbloodyoushed,andwhatextremitiesyouproceededtointheconquering—itisnotforyoutosayhowfartheworstofallexasperationsmay,ormaynot,carrythemaddenedmenofanenslavednation.
Theironthathasenteredintooursoulshasgonetoodeepforyoutofindit.Leavetherefugeealone!
Laughathim,distrusthim,openyoureyesinwonderatthatsecretselfwhichsmouldersinhim,sometimesundertheevery-dayrespectabilityandtranquillityofamanlikeme—sometimesunderthegrindingpoverty,thefiercesqualor,ofmenlesslucky,lesspliable,lesspatientthanIam—butjudgeusnot!
InthetimeofyourfirstCharlesyoumighthavedoneusjustice—thelongluxuryofyourownfreedomhasmadeyouincapableofdoingusjusticenow.
Allthedeepestfeelingsofhisnatureseemedtoforcethemselvestothesurfaceinthosewords—allhisheartwaspouredouttomeforthefirsttimeinourlives—butstillhisvoiceneverrose,stillhisdreadoftheterriblerevelationhewasmakingtomeneverlefthim.
“Sofar,”heresumed,“youthinkthesocietylikeothersocieties.
Itsobject(inyourEnglishopinion)isanarchyandrevolution.
Ittakesthelifeofabadkingorabadminister,asiftheoneandtheotherweredangerouswildbeaststobeshotatthefirstopportunity.Igrantyouthis.
ButthelawsoftheBrotherhoodarethelawsofnootherpoliticalsocietyonthefaceoftheearth.
Themembersarenotknowntooneanother.
ThereisapresidentinItaly;therearepresidentsabroad.Eachofthesehashissecretary.
Thepresidentsandthesecretariesknowthemembers,butthemembers,amongthemselves,areallstrangers,untiltheirchiefsseefit,inthepoliticalnecessityofthetime,orintheprivatenecessityofthesociety,tomakethemknowntoeachother.
Withsuchasafeguardasthisthereisnooathamongusonadmittance.
WeareidentifiedwiththeBrotherhoodbyasecretmark,whichweallbear,whichlastswhileourliveslast.
Wearetoldtogoaboutourordinarybusiness,andtoreportourselvestothepresident,orthesecretary,fourtimesayear,intheeventofourservicesbeingrequired.
Wearewarned,ifwebetraytheBrotherhood,orifweinjureitbyservingotherinterests,thatwediebytheprinciplesoftheBrotherhood—diebythehandofastrangerwhomaybesentfromtheotherendoftheworldtostriketheblow—orbythehandofourownbosom-friend,whomayhavebeenamemberunknowntousthroughalltheyearsofourintimacy.
Sometimesthedeathisdelayed—sometimesitfollowscloseonthetreachery.
Itisourfirstbusinesstoknowhowtowait—oursecondbusinesstoknowhowtoobeywhenthewordisspoken.
Someofusmaywaitourlivesthrough,andmaynotbewanted.
Someofusmaybecalledtothework,ortothepreparationforthework,theverydayofouradmission.
Imyself—thelittle,easy,cheerfulmanyouknow,who,ofhisownaccord,wouldhardlyliftuphishandkerchieftostrikedowntheflythatbuzzesabouthisface—I,inmyyoungertime,underprovocationsodreadfulthatIwillnottellyouofit,enteredtheBrotherhoodbyanimpulse,asImighthavekilledmyselfbyanimpulse.
Imustremaininitnow—ithasgotme,whateverImaythinkofitinmybettercircumstancesandmycoolermanhood,tomydyingday.
WhileIwasstillinItalyIwaschosensecretary,andallthemembersofthattime,whowerebroughtfacetofacewithmypresident,werebroughtfacetofacealsowithme.”
Ibegantounderstandhim—Isawtheendtowardswhichhisextraordinarydisclosurewasnowtending.
Hewaitedamoment,watchingmeearnestly—watchingtillhehadevidentlyguessedwhatwaspassinginmymindbeforeheresumed.
“Youhavedrawnyourownconclusionalready,”hesaid.“Iseeitinyourface.
Tellmenothing—keepmeoutofthesecretofyourthoughts.
Letmemakemyonelastsacrificeofmyself,foryoursake,andthenhavedonewiththissubject,nevertoreturntoitagain.”
Hesignedtomenottoanswerhim—rose—removedhiscoat—androlleduptheshirt-sleeveonhisleftarm.
“Ipromisedyouthatthisconfidenceshouldbecomplete,”hewhispered,speakingcloseatmyear,withhiseyeslookingwatchfullyatthedoor.
“Whatevercomesofityoushallnotreproachmewithhavinghiddenanythingfromyouwhichitwasnecessarytoyourintereststoknow.
IhavesaidthattheBrotherhoodidentifiesitsmembersbyamarkthatlastsforlife.
Seetheplace,andthemarkonitforyourself.”
Heraisedhisbarearm,andshowedme,highontheupperpartofitandintheinnerside,abranddeeplyburntinthefleshandstainedofabrightblood-redcolour.
Iabstainfromdescribingthedevicewhichthebrandrepresented.
Itwillbesufficienttosaythatitwascircularinform,andsosmallthatitwouldhavebeencompletelycoveredbyashillingcoin.
“Amanwhohasthismark,brandedinthisplace,”hesaid,coveringhisarmagain,“isamemberoftheBrotherhood.
AmanwhohasbeenfalsetotheBrotherhoodisdiscoveredsoonerorlaterbythechiefswhoknowhim—presidentsorsecretaries,asthecasemaybe.
Andamandiscoveredbythechiefsisdead.NOHUMANLAWSCANPROTECTHIM.
Rememberwhatyouhaveseenandheard—drawwhatconclusionsYOUlike—actasyouplease.
But,inthenameofGod,whateveryoudiscover,whateveryoudo,tellmenothing!
Letmeremainfreefromaresponsibilitywhichithorrifiesmetothinkof—whichIknow,inmyconscience,isnotmyresponsibilitynow.
ForthelasttimeIsayit—onmyhonourasagentleman,onmyoathasaChristian,ifthemanyoupointedoutattheOperaknowsME,heissoaltered,orsodisguised,thatIdonotknowhim.
IamignorantofhisproceedingsorhispurposesinEngland.
Ineversawhim,Ineverheardthenamehegoesby,tomyknowledge,beforeto-night.Isaynomore.Leavemealittle,Walter.
Iamoverpoweredbywhathashappened—IamshakenbywhatIhavesaid.
Letmetrytobelikemyselfagainwhenwemeetnext.
Hedroppedintoachair,andturningawayfromme,hidhisfaceinhishands.
Igentlyopenedthedoorsoasnottodisturbhim,andspokemyfewpartingwordsinlowtones,whichhemighthearornot,ashepleased.
“Iwillkeepthememoryofto-nightinmyheartofhearts,”Isaid.“Youshallneverrepentthetrustyouhavereposedinme.MayIcometoyouto-morrow?MayIcomeasearlyasnineo’clock?”
“Yes,Walter,”hereplied,lookingupatmekindly,andspeakinginEnglishoncemore,asifhisoneanxietynowwastogetbacktoourformerrelationstowardseachother.
“CometomylittlebitofbreakfastbeforeIgomywaysamongthepupilsthatIteach.”
“Good-night,Pesca.”
“Good-night,myfriend.”
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