sheep will bleat for pleasure, the ox will bellow with joy. But man
— man, whom God created in his own image — man, upon whom God has
laid his first, his sole commandment, to love his neighbor — man,
to whom God has given a voice to express his thoughts — what is his
first cry when he hears his fellow-man is saved? A blasphemy. Honor
to man, this masterpiece of nature, this king of the creation!" And
the count burst into a laugh; a terrible laugh, that showed he must
have suffered horribly to be able thus to laugh. However, the
struggle still continued, and it was dreadful to witness. The
people all took part against Andrea, and twenty thousand voices
cried, "Put him to death! put him to death!" Franz sprang back, but
the count seized his arm, and held him before the window. "What are
you doing?" said he. "Do you pity him? If you heard the cry of `Mad
dog!' you would take your gun — you would unhesitatingly shoot the
poor beast, who, after all, was only guilty of having been bitten
by another dog. And yet you pity a man who, without being bitten by
one of his race, has yet murdered his benefactor; and who, now
unable to kill any one, because his hands are bound, wishes to see
his companion in captivity perish. No, no — look, look!"
The command was needless. Franz was fascinated by the horrible
spectacle. The two assistants had borne Andrea to the scaffold, and
there, in spite of his struggles, his bites, and his cries, had
forced him to his knees. During this time the executioner had
raised his mace, and signed to them to get out of the way; the
criminal strove to rise, but, ere he had time, the mace fell on his
left temple. A dull and heavy sound was heard, and the man dropped
like an ox on his face, and then turned over on his back. The
executioner let fall his mace, drew his knife, and with one stroke
opened his throat, and mounting on his stomach, stamped violently
on it with his feet. At every stroke a jet of blood sprang from the
wound.
This time Franz could contain himself no longer, but sank, halfwound.
This time Franz could contain himself no longer, but sank, half
fainting, into a seat. Albert, with his eyes closed, was standing
grasping the window-curtains. The count was erect and triumphant,
like the Avenging Angel!When Franz recovered his senses, he saw Albert drinking a glass
of water, of which, to judge from his pallor, he stood in great
need; and the count, who was assuming his masquerade costume. He
glanced mechanically towards the square — the scene was wholly
changed; scaffold, executioners, victims, all had disappeared; only
the people remained, full of noise and excitement. The bell of
Monte Citorio, which only sounds on the pope's decease and the
opening of the Carnival, was ringing a joyous peal. "Well," asked
he of the count, "what has, then, happened?"
"Nothing," replied the count; "only, as you see, the Carnival
his commenced. Make haste and dress yourself."
"In fact," said Franz, "this horrible scene has passed away like
a dream."
"It is but a dream, a nightmare, that has disturbed you."
"Yes, that I have suffered; but the culprit?"
"That is a dream also; only he has remained asleep, while you
have awakened; and who knows which of you is the most
fortunate?"
"But Peppino — what has become of him?"
"Peppino is a lad of sense, who, unlike most men, who are happy
in proportion as they are noticed, was delighted to see that the
general attention was directed towards his companion. He profited
by this distraction to slip away among the crowd, without even
thanking the worthy priests who accompanied him. Decidedly man is
an ungrateful and egotistical animal. But dress yourself; see, M.
de Morcerf sets you the example." Albert was drawing on the satin
pantaloon over his black trousers and varnished boots. "Well,
Albert," said Franz, "do you feel much inclined to join the revels?
Come, answer frankly."
"Ma foi, no," returned Albert. "But I am really glad to have
seen such a sight; and I understand what the count said — that when
you have once habituated yourself to a similar spectacle, it is the
only one that causes you any emotion."
"Without reflecting that this is the only moment in which you
can study character," said the count; "on the steps of the scaffoldcan study character," said the count; "on the steps of the scaffold
death tears off the mask that has been worn through life, and the
real visage is disclosed. It must be allowed that Andrea was not
very handsome, the hideous scoundrel! Come, dress yourselves,
gentlemen, dress yourselves." Franz felt it would be ridiculous not
to follow his two companions' example. He assumed his costume, and
fastened on the mask that scarcely equalled the pallor of his own
face. Their toilet finished, they descended; the carriage awaited
them at the door, filled with sweetmeats and bouquets. They fell
into the line of carriages. It is difficult to form an idea of the
perfect change that had taken place. Instead of the spectacle of
gloomy and silent death, the Piazza del Popolo presented a
spectacle of gay and noisy mirth and revelry. A crowd of masks
flowed in from all sides, emerging from the doors, descending from
the windows. From every street and every corner drove carriages
filled with clowns, harlequins, dominoes, mummers, pantomimists,
Transteverins, knights, and peasants, screaming, fighting,
gesticulating, throwing eggs filled with flour, confetti, nosegays,
attacking, with their sarcasms and their missiles, friends and
foes, companions and strangers, indiscriminately, and no one took
offence, or did anything but laugh. Franz and Albert were like men
who, to drive away a violent sorrow, have recourse to wine, and
who, as they drink and become intoxicated, feel a thick veil drawn
between the past and the present. They saw, or rather continued to
see, the image of what they had witnessed; but little by little the
general vertigo seized them, and they felt themselves obliged to
take part in the noise and confusion. A handful of confetti that
came from a neighboring carriage, and which, while it covered
Morcerf and his two companions with dust, pricked his neck and that
portion of his face uncovered by his mask like a hundred pins,
incited him to join in the general combat, in which all the masks