The day following the one on which Gilbert had resolved to remain at Geierfels, Father Alexis rose at an early hour, and betook himself as usual to his dear chapel; he entered with a slow step, bowed back, and anxious face; but when he had traversed the nave and stood before the main entrance to the choir, the influence of the holy place began to dissipate his melancholy; his thoughts took a more serene turn, and his face brightened.
For several days Father Alexis had been occupied in painting a group of three figures, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their posterity on their knees.It was the exact copy of a picture in the Convent of Lavra.These patriarchs were gravely seated upon a grassy bank, separated from each other by little shrubs of a somewhat fantastic shape.Their venerable heads were crowned with aureoles; their abundant hair, combed with the greatest care, fell majestically upon their shoulders, and their thick beards descended to the middle of their breasts.
Father Alexis worked for nearly an hour, when he heard a step in the court, and turning his head quickly, perceived Gilbert coming towards the chapel.The priest thrilled with joy, as a fisherman might, who after long hours of mortal waiting sees a fish of good size imprudently approaching his net.Eager for his prey, he threw aside his brush, quickly descended the ladder with the agility of a young man and ran to place himself in ambuscade near the door, where he waited with bated breath.As soon as Gilbert appeared, he rushed upon him, seized him by the arm, and looked upon him with eyes which seemed to say: "You are caught, and you won't escape from me either."When he had recovered from his first excess of joy, "Ah, my son,"exclaimed he, "what happy inspiration brings you hither?""M.Leminof is not well to-day," answered Gilbert, "and I thought Icould make no better use of my leisure than to pay my respects to you.""Oh! what a charming idea," said the priest, looking at him with ineffable tenderness."Come, come, my son, I will show you all, yes all."This word ALL was pronounced with such an energetic accent, that Gilbert was startled.It may be readily believed that it was not exactly about Byzantine pictures that he was curious at this moment.Nevertheless, he entered with great good-nature into a minute examination of the images of the choir and the nave; he praised all which appeared praiseworthy, kept silent upon the prominent defects which offended the delicacy of his taste, and allowed himself to criticise only some of the details.
At last he announced to the priest that he wished to talk with him of a serious matter.
"A serious matter?"
And the face of the good father became grave."Have you anything to confess to me? What am I saying? You are not orthodox, my child,--would to God you were.""Let us descend, let us descend," said Gilbert, putting his foot upon the ladder.
They descended and seated themselves upon the end of a white marble step, which extended the entire width of the nave, at the entrance of the choir.
"My son," began the priest timidly, "yesterday evening--""That is precisely what I want to talk to you about," said Gilbert.
"Ah! you are a good, generous child.You saw my embarrassment, and you wished,--I confess it, a slight drowsiness,--flesh is weak,--ah, it is good in you.Favors do not turn your head.Speak, speak, I am all attention.""It is understood that you will keep the secret, father, for you know--""I understand! we should be lost if it were known that we talked of certain things together.Oh! you need not be afraid.If Kostia Petrovitch alludes to this matter, I shall appear to know nothing, and I shall accuse myself of having violated the precept of the great Solomon, who said, 'When thou sittest down to eat with a prince, consider attentively what is done before thee.'
"Speak with confidence, my child, and rest assured that this mouth has an old tongue in it which never says what it does not want to."When Gilbert had finished his recital, Father Alexis burst forth in exclamations accompanied by many signs of the cross.
"Oh! unhappy child!" cried he; "what folly is thine! He has then sworn his own destruction? To wish to die in mortal sin! A spirit of darkness must have taken possession of him.Then he invokes St.
George no longer every morning and evening? He prays no more,--he no longer carries on his heart the holy amulet I gave him.Ah! why did I fall asleep yesterday evening? What beautiful things I would have said to him! I would have commenced by representing to him--""I do not doubt your eloquence; but it is not remonstrance, nor good counsel that this child wants: a little happiness would answer the purpose far better.""Happiness! Ah, yes! his life is a little sad.There are certain maxims of education--""It is not a question of maxims of education, but of a father who betrays an open hatred to his son.""Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the priest with a gesture of terror, "you must not say such things, my child.These are words which the good God does not like to hear.Never repeat them, it would be neither prudent nor charitable."Gilbert persisted; announcing the conjectures which he had formed as certainties, and even exaggerating his suspicions in the hope that the priest, in correcting him, would furnish the explanations which he desired.The success of this little artifice surpassed his expectation.
