Balsamo, the Magician; or, The Memoirs of a Physician Read online

  CHAPTER VIII.

  THE HARBINGER.

  The traveler had risen early to look to his coach and learn howAlthotas was faring.

  All were still sleeping but Gilbert, who peeped through a window of hisroom over the doorway and spied all the stranger's movements.

  The latter was struck by the change which day brought on the scene sogloomy overnight. The domain of Taverney did not lack dignity or grace.The old house resembled a cavern which nature embellishes with flowers,creepers and capricious rookeries, although at night it would daunt atraveler seeking shelter.

  When Balsamo returned after an hour's stroll to the Red Castle ruins,he saw the lord of it all leave the house by a side door to cull rosesand crush snails. His slender person was wrapped in his flowereddressing-gown.

  "My lord," said Balsamo, with the more courtesy as he had been soundinghis host's poverty, "allow my excuses with my respects. I ought to waityour coming down, but the aspect of Taverney tempted me, and I yearnedto view the imposing ruins and pretty garden."

  "The ruins are rather fine," returned the baron; "about all here worthlooking at. The castle was my ancestors'; it is called the Red Castle,and we long have borne its name together with Taverney, it beingthe same barony. Oh, my lord, as you are a magician," continued thenobleman, "you ought with a wave of your wand uprear again the old RedCastle, as well as restore the two thousand odd acres around it. But Isuppose you wanted all your art to make that beastly bed comfortable.It is my son's, and he growled enough at it."

  "I protest it is excellent, and I want to prove it by doing you someservice in return."

  Labrie was bringing to his master a glass of spring water on a splendidchina platter.

  "Here's your chance," said the baron, always jeering; "turn that intowine as the greatest service of all."

  Balsamo smiling, the old lord thought it was backing out and took theglass, swallowing the contents at a gulp.

  "Excellent specific," said the mesmerist. "Water is the noblest of theelements, baron. Nothing resists it; it pierces stone now, and one ofthese days will dissolve diamonds."

  "It is dissolving me. Will you drink with me. It has the advantage overwine of running freely here. Not like my liquor."

  "I might make one useful to you."

  "Labrie, a glass of water for the baron. How can the water which Idrink daily comprise properties never suspected by me? As the fellowin the play talked prose all his life without knowing it, have I beenpractising magic for ten years without an idea of it?"

  "I do not know about your lordship, but I do know about myself," wasthe other's grave reply.

  Taking the glass from Labrie, who had displayed marvelous celerity, helooked at it steadily.

  "What do you see in it, my dear guest?" the baron continued to mock."I am dying with eagerness. Come, come! a windfall to me, another RedCastle to set me on my legs again."

  "I see the advice here to prepare for a visit. A personage of highdistinction is coming, self-invited, conducted by your son Philip, whois even now near us."

  "My dear lord, my son is on military duty at Strasburg, and he will notbe bringing guests at the risk of being punished as a deserter."

  "He is none the less bringing a lady, a mighty dame--and, by the way,you had better keep that pretty Abigail of yours at a distance whileshe stays, as there is a close likeness between them."

  "The promised lady guest bears a likeness to my servant Legay? Whatcontradiction!"

  "Why not? Once I bought a slave so like Cleopatra that the Romanstalked of palming her off for the genuine queen in the triumph in theircapital."

  "So you are at your old tricks again?" laughed the baron.

  "How would you like it, were you a princess, for instance, to seebehind your chair a maid who looked your picture, in short petticoatsand linen neckerchief."

  "Well, we will protect her against that. But I am very pleased withthis boy of mine who brings guests without forewarning us!"

  "I am glad my forecast affords you pleasure, my dear baron; and, ifyou meant to properly greet the coming guest, you have not a minute tolose."

  The baron shook his head like the most incredulous of beings, and asthe two were near the dwelling part of the baron's daughter, he calledout to her to impart the stranger's predictions.

  This was the call which brought her to the window despite herself, andshe saw Balsamo. He bowed deeply to her while fixing his eyes upon her.She reeled and had to catch the sill not to fall.

  "Good-morning, my lord," she answered.

  She uttered these words at the very moment when Nicole, telling thebaron that his daughter would not come, stopped stupefied and withgaping mouth at this capricious contradiction.

  Instantly Andrea fell on a chair, all her powers quitting her. Balsamohad gazed on her to the last.

  "This is deusedly hard to believe," remarked the baron, "and seeing isbelieving----"

  "Then, see!" said the wonder-worker, pointing up the avenue, from theend of which came galloping at full speed a rider whose steed made thestones rattle under its hoofs.

  "Oh, it is indeed----" began the baron.

  "Master Philip!" screamed Nicole, standing on tiptoe, while Labriegrunted in pleasure.

  "My brother!" cried out Andrea, thrusting her hands through the window.

  "This is the commencement," said Balsamo.

  "Decidedly you are a magician," said the baron.

  A smile of triumph appeared on the mesmerist's lips.

  Soon the horse approached plainly, reeking with sweat and smoking, andthe rider, a young man in an officer's uniform, splashed with mud upto the countenance, animated by the speed, leaped off and hurried toembrace his father.

  "It is I," said Philip of Taverney, seeing the doubt. "I bear a greathonor for our house. In an hour Marie Antoinette, Archduchess ofAustria and bride of the Dauphin of France, will be here."

  The baron dropped his arms with as much humility as he had shownsarcasm and irony, and turned to Balsamo for his forgiveness.

  "My lord," said the latter, bowing, "I leave you with your son, fromwhom you have been long separated and to whom you must have a greatdeal to say."

  Saluting Andrea, who rushed to meet her brother in high delight,Balsamo drew off, beckoning Nicole and Labrie, who disappeared with himunder the trees.