Page:Once a Week Volume 7.djvu/22

 14 muffled-sounding footsteps; I heard the key turn in the lock; and then, as the door opened, I stood face to face with my foe, and where he expected to find darkness and death he found light and life. He saw me—saw, in my hand, his book that contained the secrets of a lifetime, with the lock forced—saw his schemes defeated, and himself an outcast. It was too much for his mind. He shrieked a cry of mingled horror and fear, and fell forward in the doorway as if he were dead.

I went up-stairs to the office, said to the porter, “M. Vernay is below in the strong room; go down and see to him,” and went over to the house.

I suffered a long illness, during the whole of which Victorine was my nurse, and thanks to that, and a good constitution, I recovered, and got up such a clear case against M. Vernay, that the whole of the property I had rescued was restored to my uncle.

To M. Vernay this was a matter of indifference, for his mind never recovered the shock, and he spent the short remainder of his life in a criminal lunatic asylum.

The mistake of the thousand francs was easily explained by the application of a magnifying glass to the figures. He had cleverly altered the one to a nought, and bribed Francois to put the missing note into my room.

Need I add that I am now in possession of my uncle’s business, and blessed by my Victorine’s constant presence; and further, that my present strong-roomstrong room [sic] can be opened from the inside with perfect ease? 2em

a kingdom rocky throned Above the brimming Rhine! With vassals who shall pay their toll, In many sorts of wine; Above me nought but the blue air, And all below the vine. I’d plant my throne where legends say, In nights of harvest time, King Charlemagne in golden robe (So runs the rustic rhyme) Doth come to bless the mellowing crops, While the bells of heaven chime

(Children have heard them!); and a bridge Of gold leaps o’er the stream For the king to cross. A maiden once Saw its bright arches gleam; The priests they burnt her for that sight, Calling it “Satan’s Dream.”

Churches should in my valleys hide, Old towers rise on each hill: The forge, the farm-house, and the inn, Should cluster round the mill, And past them all, the river broad, Should flow at its own sweet will.

My stream at noon of fairy gold, Should crimson turn ere night, Then by the magic of the moon, Change to quick-silver bright. At dawn each little wave should be Mantled with purple light.

I’d dwell where Charlemagne looked down, And turning to his peers, Exclaimed, “Behold for this fair land I’ve prayed and fought for years,” Then all the Rhine towers shook to hear The earthquake of their cheers.

That day the tide ran crimson red, (But not with Rhenish wine); Not with those vintage streams that through The green leaves gush and shine: Twas blood that from the Lombard ranks Rushed down into the Rhine.

Twas here the German soldiers flocked, Burning with love and pride, And threw their muskets down to kiss The soil with French blood dyed. The Rhine—dear Rhine,” ten thousand men, Kneeling together, cried.

O fairest of the many brides, Wedded to Father Sea, That from thy cold home in the snow, Trippest so merrily, As if in eager haste of love To plight thy fealty.

Thy handmaids are the little streams, That to thee flock and throng, Each with her own small dower of vines Each with her special song; Each like a vein of blood, the more To make thee stark and strong.

Fair daughter of the crowned Alps In aspiration bold, No frost can bind thy fervid flood, That never doth grow old, Unchecked by summer’s golden fire, Or by fierce winter’s cold.

O, special favourite of God, Eternal beauty cling Around thy banks—let all thy vines Together praise and sing, And o’er thee angels bend and pause With sheathed and reverent wing.

Sweet river! where the laughing hills Thy majesty do greet, And echoes call from rock to rock, All through the noonday heat, In earliest dusk the gathering stars Above thee love to meet.

When lovers in the ferry-boat, Forget the passing tide, And closer drawn cling lip to lip, What though the river’s wide, And silver clouds no secrets tell To the towers on either side.

When church-bells o’er the water speak Of God unto the hill, Where ruined castles on the cliff, Speak of God’s anger still, How strong His arm, how swift His shaft, Who may resist His will?

Then here upon this haunted Rhine, My kingdom I will found, No spectre knight, or goblins blue, My purpose shall confound; I’ll bring the golden age again To this old feudal ground.