the black robe-第74节
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told you thisStella signed a formal document； sent from Rome；
asserting that she consented of her own free will to the
separation。 She was relieved from the performance of another
formality （which I need not mention more particularly） by a
special dispensation。 Under these circumstancescommunicated to
me while Stella and I have been together in this housethe
wife's presence at the bedside of her dying husband is regarded
by the other priests at the Embassy as a scandal and a
profanation。 The kind…hearted Nuncio is blamed for having
exceeded his powers in yielding （even under protest） to the last
wishes of a dying man。 He is now in communication with Rome；
waiting for the final instructions which are to guide him。〃
〃Has Romayne seen his child？〃 I asked。
〃Stella has taken the child with her to…day。 It is doubtful in
the last degree whether the poor little boy will be allowed to
enter his father's room。 _That_ complication is even more serious
than the other。 The dying Romayne persists in his resolution to
see the child。 So completely has his way of thinking been altered
by the approach of death； and by the closing of the brilliant
prospect which was before him； that he even threatens to recant；
with his last breath； if his wishes are not complied with。 How it
will end I cannot even venture to guess。
〃Unless the merciful course taken by the Nuncio is confirmed；〃
said Lord Loring； 〃it may end in a revival of the protest of the
Catholic priests in Germany against the prohibition of marriage
to the clergy。 The movement began in Silesia in 1826； and was
followed by unions （or Leagues； as we should call them now） in
Baden； Wurtemburg； Bavaria； and Rhenish Prussia。 Later still； the
agitation spread to France and Austria。 It was only checked by a
papal bull issued in 1847； reiterating the final decision of the
famous Council of Trent in favor of the celibacy of the
priesthood。 Few people are aware that this rule has been an
institution of slow growth among the clergy of the Church of
Rome。 Even as late as the twelfth century； there were still
priests who set the prohibition of marriage at defiance。〃
I listened； as one of the many ignorant persons alluded to by
Lord Loring。 It was with difficulty that I fixed my attention on
what he was saying。 My thoughts wandered to Stella and to the
dying man。 I looked at the clock。
Lady Loring evidently shared the feeling of suspense that had got
possession of me。 She rose and walked to the window。
〃Here is the message！〃 she said； recognizing her traveling
servant as he entered the hotel door。
The man appeared； with a line written on a card。 I was requested
to present the card at the Embassy； without delay。
May 4。I am only now able to continue my record of the events of
yesterday。
A silent servant received me at the Embassy； looked at the card；
and led the way to an upper floor of the house。 Arrived at the
end of a long passage； he opened a door； and retired。
As I crossed the threshold Stella met me。 She took both my hands
in hers and looked at me in silence。 All that was true and good
and noble expressed itself in that look。
The interval passed； and she spokevery sadly； very quietly。
〃One more work of mercy； Bernard。 Help him to die with a heart at
rest。〃
She drew backand I approached him。
He reclined； propped up with pillows； in a large easy…chair； it
was the one position in which he could still breathe with
freedom。 The ashy shades of death were on his wasted face。 In the
eyes alone； as they slowly turned on me； there still glimmered
the waning light of life。 One of his arms hung down over the
chair； the other was clasped round his child； sitting on his
knee。 The boy looked at me wonderingly； as I stood by his father。
Romayne signed to me to stoop； so that I might hear him。
〃Penrose？〃 he asked； faintly whispering。 〃Dear Arthur！ Not dying；
like me？〃
I quieted _that_ anxiety。 For a moment there was even the shadow
of a smile on his face； as I told him of the effort that Penrose
had vainly made to be the companion of my journey。 He asked me；
by another gesture； to bend my ear to him once more。
〃My last grateful blessing to Penrose。 And to you。 May I not say
it？ You have saved Arthur〃his eyes turned toward Stella〃you
have been _her_ best friend。〃 He paused to recover his feeble
breath； looking round the large room； without a creature in it
but ourselves。 Once more the melancholy shadow of a smile passed
over his faceand vanished。 I listened； nearer to him still。
〃Christ took a child on His knee。 The priests call themselves
ministers of Christ。 They have left me； because of _this_ child；
here on my knee。 Wrong； wrong； wrong。 Winterfield； Death is a
great teacher。 I know how I have erredwhat I have lost。 Wife
and child。 How poor and barren all the rest of it looks now！〃
He was silent for a while。 Was he thi nking？ No： he seemed to be
listeningand yet there was no sound in the room。 Stella；
anxiously watching him； saw the listening expression as I did。
Her face showed anxiety； but no surprise。
〃Does it torture you still？〃 she asked。
〃No；〃 he said； 〃I have never heard it plainly； since I left Rome。
It has grown fainter and fainter from that time。 It is not a
Voice now。 It is hardly a whisper： my repentance is accepted； my
release is coming。 Where is Winterfield？〃
She pointed to me。
〃I spoke of Rome just now。 What did Rome remind me of？〃 He slowly
recovered the lost recollection。 〃Tell Winterfield；〃 he whispered
to Stella； 〃what the Nuncio said when he knew that I was going to
die。 The great man reckoned up the dignities that might have been
mine if I had lived。 From my place here in the Embassy〃
〃Let me say it；〃 she gently interposed； 〃and spare your strength
for better things。 From your place in the Embassy you would have
mounted a step higher to the office of Vice…Legate。 Those duties
wisely performed； another rise to the Auditorship of the
Apostolic Chamber。 That office filled； a last step upward to the
highest rank left； the rank of a Prince of the Church。〃
〃All vanity！〃 said the dying Romayne。 He looked at his wife and
his child。 〃The true happiness was waiting for me here。 And I
only know it now。 Too late。 Too late。〃
He laid his head back on the pillow and closed his weary eyes。 We
thought he was composing himself to sleep。 Stella tried to
relieve him of the boy。 〃No；〃 he whispered； 〃I am only resting my
eyes to look at him again。〃 We waited。 The child stared at me； in
infantine curiosity。 His mother knelt at his side； and whispered
in his ear。 A bright smile irradiated his face； his clear brown
eyes sparkled； he repeated the forgotten lesson of the bygone
time； and called me once more； 〃Uncle Ber'。〃
Romayne heard it。 His heavy eyelids opened again。 〃No；〃 he said。
〃Not uncle。 Something better and dearer。 Stella； give me your
hand。〃
Still kneeling； she obeyed him。 He slowly raised himself on the
chair。 〃Take her hand；〃 he said to me。 I too knelt。 Her hand lay
cold in mine。 After a long interval he spoke to me。 〃Bernard
Winterfield；〃 he said； 〃love them； and help them； when I am
gone。〃 He laid his weak hand on our hands； clasped together。 〃May
God protect you！ may God bless you！〃 he murmured。 〃Kiss me；
Stella。〃
I remember no more。 As a man； I ought to have set a better
example； I ought to have preserved my self…control。 It was not to
be done。 I turned away from themand burst out crying。
The minutes passed。 Many minutes or few minutes； I don't know
which。
A soft knock at the door aroused me。 I dashed away the useless
tears。 Stella had retired to the further end of the room。 She was
sitting by the fireside； with the child in her arms。 I withdrew
to the same part of the room； keeping far enough away not to
disturb them。
Two strangers came in and placed themselves on either side of
Romayne's chair。 He seemed to recognize them unwillingly。 From
the manner in which they examined him； I inferred that they were
medical men。 After a consultation in low tones； one of them went
out。
He returned again almost immediately； followed by the gray…headed
gentleman whom I had noticed on the journey to Pari
