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rather have banished myself forever from my native
country and wandered a friendless outcast over the earth
than have consented to this miserable marriage. But, as if
possessed of magic powers, the monster had blinded me to
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his real intentions; and when I thought that I had prepared
only my own death, I hastened that of a far dearer victim.
As the period fixed for our marriage drew nearer,
whether from cowardice or a prophetic feeling, I felt my
heart sink within me. But I concealed my feelings by an
appearance of hilarity that brought smiles and joy to the
countenance of my father, but hardly deceived the
everwatchful and nicer eye of Elizabeth. She looked
forward to our union with placid contentment, not
unmingled with a little fear, which past misfortunes had
impressed, that what now appeared certain and tangible
happiness might soon dissipate into an airy dream and
leave no trace but deep and everlasting regret.
Preparations were made for the event, congratulatory
visits were received, and all wore a smiling appearance. I
shut up, as well as I could, in my own heart the anxiety
that preyed there and entered with seeming earnestness
into the plans of my father, although they might only
serve as the decorations of my tragedy. Through my
father s exertions a part of the inheritance of Elizabeth had
been restored to her by the Austrian government. A small
possession on the shores of Como belonged to her. It was
agreed that, immediately after our union, we should
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proceed to Villa Lavenza and spend our first days of
happiness beside the beautiful lake near which it stood.
In the meantime I took every precaution to defend my
person in case the fiend should openly attack me. I carried
pistols and a dagger constantly about me and was ever on
the watch to prevent artifice, and by these means gained a
greater degree of tranquillity. Indeed, as the period
approached, the threat appeared more as a delusion, not to
be regarded as worthy to disturb my peace, while the
happiness I hoped for in my marriage wore a greater
appearance of certainty as the day fixed for its
solemnization drew nearer and I heard it continually
spoken of as an occurrence which no accident could
possibly prevent.
Elizabeth seemed happy; my tranquil demeanour
contributed greatly to calm her mind. But on the day that
was to fulfil my wishes and my destiny, she was
melancholy, and a presentiment of evil pervaded her; and
perhaps also she thought of the dreadful secret which I had
promised to reveal to her on the following day. My father
was in the meantime overjoyed and in the bustle of
preparation only recognized in the melancholy of his niece
the diffidence of a bride.
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After the ceremony was performed a large party
assembled at my father s, but it was agreed that Elizabeth
and I should commence our journey by water, sleeping
that night at Evian and continuing our voyage on the
following day. The day was fair, the wind favourable; all
smiled on our nuptial embarkation.
Those were the last moments of my life during which I
enjoyed the feeling of happiness. We passed rapidly along;
the sun was hot, but we were sheltered from its rays by a
kind of canopy while we enjoyed the beauty of the scene,
sometimes on one side of the lake, where we saw Mont
Saleve, the pleasant banks of Montalegre, and at a distance,
surmounting all, the beautiful Mont Blanc and the
assemblage of snowy mountains that in vain endeavour to
emulate her; sometimes coasting the opposite banks, we
saw the mighty Jura opposing its dark side to the ambition
that would quit its native country, and an almost
insurmountable barrier to the invader who should wish to
enslave it.
I took the hand of Elizabeth. You are sorrowful, my
love. Ah! If you knew what I have suffered and what I
may yet endure, you would endeavour to let me taste the
quiet and freedom from despair that this one day at least
permits me to enjoy.
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Be happy, my dear Victor, replied Elizabeth; there is,
I hope, nothing to distress you; and be assured that if a
lively joy is not painted in my face, my heart is contented.
Something whispers to me not to depend too much on
the prospect that is opened before us, but I will not listen
to such a sinister voice. Observe how fast we move along
and how the clouds, which sometimes obscure and
sometimes rise above the dome of Mont Blanc, render this
scene of beauty still more interesting. Look also at the
innumerable fish that are swimming in the clear waters,
where we can distinguish every pebble that lies at the
bottom. What a divine day! How happy and serene all
nature appears!
Thus Elizabeth endeavoured to divert her thoughts and
mine from all reflection upon melancholy subjects. But
her temper was fluctuating; joy for a few instants shone in
her eyes, but it continually gave place to distraction and
reverie.
The sun sank lower in the heavens; we passed the river
Drance and observed its path through the chasms of the
higher and the glens of the lower hills. The Alps here
come closer to the lake, and we approached the
amphitheatre of mountains which forms its eastern
boundary. The spire of Evian shone under the woods that
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surrounded it and the range of mountain above mountain
by which it was overhung.
The wind, which had hitherto carried us along with
amazing rapidity, sank at sunset to a light breeze; the soft
air just ruffled the water and caused a pleasant motion
among the trees as we approached the shore, from which
it wafted the most delightful scent of flowers and hay. The
sun sank beneath the horizon as we landed, and as I
touched the shore I felt those cares and fears revive which
soon were to clasp me and cling to me forever.
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Chapter 23
It was eight o clock when we landed; we walked for a
short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory light, and
then retired to the inn and contemplated the lovely scene
of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured in darkness,
yet still displaying their black outlines.
The wind, which had fallen in the south, now rose
with great violence in the west. The moon had reached
her summit in the heavens and was beginning to descend;
the clouds swept across it swifter than the flight of the
vulture and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the
scene of the busy heavens, rendered still busier by the
restless waves that were beginning to rise. Suddenly a
heavy storm of rain descended.
I had been calm during the day, but so soon as night
obscured the shapes of objects, a thousand fears arose in
my mind. I was anxious and watchful, while my right
hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my bosom;
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