The Headsman; Or, The Abbaye des Vignerons

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e had they threatened to turn back the trembling, ignorant applicant on mere suspicion. The cunning Baptiste lent himself to their feelings with the skill of a demagogue, affecting a zeal equal to their own, while, at the same time, he took care most to excite their suspicions where there was the smallest danger of their being rewarded with success. Through this fiery ordeal one passed after another, until most of the nameless vagabonds had been found innocent, and the thron

latter words with melancholy emphasis, "and these, that wear my livery, are old and faithful followers of my house. We go by the St. Bernard, to change the ruder side of our Alps for that which is more gratef

ive the offered papers; for the aged father indulged the overflowing of

parent of her side," he said; "th

ness, and was gazing with a tearful eye at the faded but still eminently attractive features of the young female

t, in especial charge, to do all that may be grateful to render the passage thro

g, replacing his papers in their usual envelope, and receiving the g

s of this nature: my table feeds eleve

st is the sole hope of my line;--the only heir that is left to th

are less so, with many thanks for

llading, for so was the daughter of the Bernese ca

e: then she added, in a voice scarce louder than a whisper--"If the young and innocent of thy household can offer a prayer in the behalf of a po

by the mild resignation and piety of the speaker, whose simple but winning manner moved him n

rank of Melchior de Willading, who went into the bark without a question. The influence of beauty and station united to so much simple grace as that shown by the fair actor in the little incident we have just related, was much too strong for the ill-trained feelings of th

g man would have been disposed to submit to these extra-official inquiries of the three deputies of the crowd, had there been a desire to urge them, for he went towards the quay, with an eye that expressed any other sensation than th

stian's days," said the dissolute and shameless dealer in the

, "since penitence is thy trade. For myself, I am content with whirling r

exterior to renew the vigilance of the superstitious trio. A quiet, meek-looking man, seemingly of a middle condition in life, and of an air altogether calm and unpretending, had submitted his pas

said; "thou can

t last, in this bloody-minded and fierce-looking traveller?" As the speaker had expected, this sally was rewarded by a general laugh, and he was accordingly

y the chances of the road, in contact with one only too practised in this unfeeling species of wit. He showed his

marks of his work from Balthazar himself. The spots we seek are on the soul, man, an

en the meek repel unprovoked outrage, though his frame trembled violently at being subject to open i

an honorable decapitator, and it is a pleasure to be his companion on a journey; for, no doubt, some six or eight of the saints are speaking in his behalf daily. B

s no more than

to be the redoubtable enemy of our heads. Go thy way, for Heaven's

ed on, and instantly disappeared in the bark. The monk of St. Bernard came next. Both the Augustine and his dog w

ar watchman of the place, he drew near to those, whose claims to the office would have admitted

ed that instinct of respect for those who deny their natures for the good of others which is common to all, however

ances, the offensive headsman had shrunk, unperceived, from the crowd, and that they were at length happily relieved from his presence. The annunciation of the welcome tidings drew much self-felicita

ow to blow west, and now east, as shall be most wanted, to help you on your journeys? Take example of the noble Melchior de Willading, who has long b

pted the cunning Italian; "loosen thy fasts quickly, Master

back to the gate, in order to ascertain what he m

onscious the least delay might cause their being left. This party was led by one considerably past the meridian of life, and who evidently was enabled to maintain his post more by the deference of his co

ori," said the Genevese, recognizing the country of the strangers at a glance, "i

ertainty, tardy. A hasty departure and bad roads have been the cause--but as, happily, we are

care, turning it from side to side, as if all were not right

as touches Savoy and the country of

e are late; for hearing at the post, on alighting, that a bark was about to spread its sails for the other extremity of the lake, we had no time to consult all the observances that thy city's rules may deem necessary.

. It is my sworn duty to stay all who wa

ay no more. Art thou the p

scourse with longings equal to his doubts. "I should be a great dea

l see the authorities of the town, and obtain the required pe

to be influenced by gold, and it was with unfeigned reluctance that he admitted the necessity of refusing, in this instance, to profit by his own good dispositions. Still retaining the money, however, fo

ngle bureau will open its windows in the town. Besides, your man of the police is not like us of the lake, happy to get a morsel when the weather and occasion permit; but he is a regular feeder, that must have his grapes and his wine before he will use his wits for the benefit of his employ

ely refused to commit himself by offering to purchase the officer's good-will. If there are too many who love to be tempted to forget their trusts, by a well-managed venality, there are a few who find a greater satisfaction in being thought beyond its influence. The watchman of the gate happened to be one

e, as if he thought a sufficient legal warranty for that which he no

lled the Signer Grimaldi and that his companion went by the name of Marcelli

ot such easy matters, that a squint of the eye is all-sufficient. Look at it again, and thou mayest yet find all in

tures, without which my duty will let

Leman praise the good old time, when boxes and bales went and came, and no ink touched paper between him that sent and him that carried; and

The pass is luckily in the language of the country, and needs but a glance to get the approval of the

be. Our Leman winds will not wait for king or noble, bishop or priest, and dut

noese, regarding the deeply loaded bark with a half-distrustful eye 'I

give trouble and raise questions touching the embarkation of those who are willing to pay better than themselves. The noble Swiss, whom you see seated near the st

on, with an earnestness of eye and air that betray

ch fewer years would have been at the unexpected announcement of

ey say, is drawing to an end. I remember this same baron, when he was as

ger that--what shall we say to Melchior? Shall we tell him at once, who waits him here, or shall we practise a little on his failing memory? By San Francesco! we will do this, Enrico, th

rage a belief which was merely a sudden ebullition, produced by the recollection of younger days. Baptiste was in

courteous, and he is not my Melchior, honest Marcelli, if he delay an instant:--thou seest! he is already quitting the bark, f

, lest he might betray unmanly weakness. In the mean time, the Baron de Willading advanced from the

astening to the games of Vévey," said the latter, raising his beaver, "and

affected composure, endeavoring to assume the manner of a stranger, though his voice trembled with eagerness at each syllable, "we are indeed of Genoa, and most anxious to be of the party in your bark--but--he little suspects who speaks to

nfluence can cause this trusty watchman to dispense with his duty. Touching the bark, a small gratuity will do much with hon

he little delay should not cost the strangers a batz--that is to say, nothing unreasonable; but as it is, I have not twenty

onsideration of one accustomed to season his refusals by a gracious manner; "but these watermen have

nival dress. Signor Barone, we are but poor Italian gentlemen, it is true, of G

terranean that would sooner warm my heart than this very town of which you speak. Many of my happiest hours were passed within its walls, and often, even at this late day, do I live over agai

love of the saints, and the blesse

llading earnestly regarded his furrowed face; and, for an ins

n my memory, as he has always been the first in my love, is Gaeta

say, Marcelli, that we have often heard of him,

atural, but were I to yield to my wishes to speak of Gaetano

elchior,--my good Melchior!--dearest, deare

l so far from suspecting the real fact, that he could not have easily told the reason why. He gazed wistfully at the working features of the fine

of thy youth--the companion of thy pleasures--the sharer of thy sorrow

can claim these titles!" burst fr

Gaetano?--that Gaetano--thy Gae

ger embrace of the Genoese, whose impetuous feelings were little cooled by time--"thou, the

nvinced. If we are to distrust each other for a few wrinkles, thou wilt find objections rising against thine own identity as well as against

vy natures are said to have the least self-command when fairly excited, so did the baron betray the most ungovernable emotion of the two, when conviction came at last to confirm the words of his friend. He threw himself