The Corsican Brothers | Page 8

replied the young man, "say to my mother that we
are coming."
He had just finished his toilette, and stood before me in his Corsican
highland dress, with a round velvet jacket, breeches, and spatterdashes;
he had retained nothing of his former dress but the cartouchire which
encircled his waist."
I was still occupied in examining two carabines, which hung opposite
each other, and both bearing this inscription on the stock; "21
Septembre, 1819, onze heures du matin."
"And these carabines," asked I, "are they also historical weapons?"
"Yes," said he, "to us at least. One belonged to my father--" He
stopped.
"And the other?"
"The other!" continued he, laughing, "belongs to my mother. But come
down stairs now, you know that supper waits for us."
And walking out first to show me the way, he made a sign for me to
follow.



CHAPTER III.
I must confess that while I walked down stairs, Lucien's last words,
"this carabine belongs to my mother," occupied my thoughts very much.
They were certainly calculated to make me regard Signora de Franchi
with still greater interest, than I had done at my first interview with her.
Her son, upon entering the dining saloon, respectfully kissed her hand,

which homage she received with the dignity of a queen.
"Pardon me, mother," said Lucien,
"I fear that I have kept you waiting."
"In that case, signora," said I, bowing, "it would be my fault. Signor
Lucien has related and shown me so many interesting things, that my
endless questions have perhaps caused him to be too late."
"Be easy on that subject," replied she, "I have but just come down;
but," continued she, speaking to Lucien, "I was anxious to see you, to
learn if you had any news from Louis."
"Is your son suffering?" asked I of Madame de Franchi.
"Lucien is afraid of it," replied she.
"You have then received a letter from your brother?" inquired I.
"No," said he, "and that especially makes me uneasy."
"But how do you know that he is suffering?"
"Because, for the last few days I have been suffering myself."
"Excuse my never-ending inquiries, but that does not explain the
cause."
"Don't you know that we are twins?"
"Yes, my guide told me so."
"And that at our birth we were united at the side?"
"No, I did not know that circumstance."
"Well then, the use of the scalpel was required to separate us, and
whatever distance may lie between, we form only one body; so that

every physical and moral impression which is made upon either of us,
has its counter effect upon the other. For the last few days, without any
reason, I have been sad, morose and gloomy. I have felt violent
contractions of the heart, and it is evident to me that my brother must
have some profound grief."
I looked with astonishment at this young man, who asserted such
strange things, without appearing to have the least doubt on the subject.
His mother seemed likewise to have the same conviction, she smiled
sadly, and said:
"The absent is in the hands of God. It is most important that you be sure
he lives."
"If he were dead," said Lucien, calmly, "I should have seen him."
"And you would have told me, my son?"
"Oh! the very moment, mother, I assure you."
"Well then, pardon me, sir," continued she, turning again towards me,
"for not having suppressed my maternal anxieties in your presence.
You must know that Lucien and Louis are not alone my only sons, but
they are also the last of our name. Please take a seat at my right-hand
side."
"Lucien, sit down here," said she pointing to a vacant seat on her left.
We sat down at the extremity of a long table, on the opposite side of
which were six other covers, for what they call in Corsica the family,
those persons who in great houses hold a station between the master
and servants.
The table was spread with profusion; but I confess, that
notwithstanding I felt al that moment a most violent appetite, I merely
satisfied it mechanically, my prepossessed mind not permitting me to
indulge in the delicate pleasure of gastronomy.

It seemed to me, in fact, that upon my arrival at this house, I had
entered a new world. I appeared to live in a dream. What circumstances
could be connected with this woman, who had her rifle like a soldier?
What, with this young man, who felt the same pains as his brother, at a
distance of three hundred leagues? How could I explain the mystery of
a mother who makes her son promise to tell her, if he should see her
other son dead?
There was, you must acknowledge, in all this, sufficient