The mystery of Malbackt E-Book

Max du Veuzit

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 243

Beschreibung

Orphaned, Marguerite was taken in by her guardian, Sir Evérard, in the Malbackt estate in Scotland. The luxury of the residence, isolated in a wild nature, did not succeed in dispelling the intense uneasiness that seized the young Frenchwoman upon her arrival. Marguerite has no sympathy for Sir Evérard, a cynical man. Cruel, even... Her feeling becomes anxious when she discovers that her host's nephew, Roland, is trapped in the dungeon. A colossus, the disturbing Piercy, the damned soul of the lord, keeps a watchful eye on the man who is said to be mad... A strange disease destroys the recluse. In charge of treating him, Marguerite swears to clear up the mystery. Little by little, moreover, she feels an irrepressible disorder in her contact with him. His heart is moved, gives itself... Too late, the two young people will realize the strength of their love and the inextricable trap they have fallen into. Are they forbidden any hope now?

Leseprobe

The mystery of Malbackt

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Max du Veuzit

The mystery of Malbackt

Max the Veuzit is the pen name of Alphonsine Zéphirine Vavasseur, born in Petit-Quevilly 29 October 1876 and died in Bois-Colombes 15 April 1952. It is a French language writer, author of numerous romance novels with great success.

To Mr. Augustus Godefroy

the dear master and friend,

who published my first three novels,

in loving memory and emotion.

Max the Veuzit.

I

My mother died giving me birth, and my father survived him only a few years.

Upon his death, as I had no close relatives to collect me, they asked a cousin of my mother, to consent to be my guardian.

His name Everard Dunbuy and lived an old mansion near Dumfries in Scotland.

The family ties that bound me to this man were rather vague and had to go back several generations to establish. However, as he had been in business with my father, he did not too difficult to accept the proffered guardianship.

He even came Dumfries Guingamp - city that my parents had always lived - to see me and take measures for my education which he intended not to load.

- I am a widower, he explained to the notary who handled my interests, and I live alone, with some servants to Malbackt. - What was the name of its domain. - I cannot make me the teacher of this child. He needs maternal care at his age, and I am sure she will find it easier in the country of origin in England she does not know the language. Moreover, it seems natural that receives exactly the same education as his parents had given him, had they lived.

This reasoning seemed very wise to M. The Uanec, the notary, who knew all the best that Sir Everard Dunbuy going to be very rich, while I possessed almost nothing.

It was agreed that I would go to the convent of Saint-Brieuc and that I would stay until my education was fully completed. My tutor would then know me his intentions towards me.

It was only the day before I left for the pension I saw one of which now depended on my destiny.

Although there long ago, I remember very well the painful impression he gave me when, strongly holding the hand of my nurse who accompanied me, I entered the office of Mr. Yves Le Uanec.

He was a small man with big belly and spindly legs. He wore spectacles behind which his gray eyes seemed hard and sharp. Two red whiskers hung on each side of his face, giving her face an indescribable rough and unpleasant appearance.

- Ah! here is little Margaret. She is not pretty ! He said in a good French recalling only away his British accent.

A little frightened by the exclamation which he had greeted my arrival, I snuggled more against my nurse.

The notary rose and came to me:

- Come, my child; Come embrace your guardian, he said softly pulling me by the hand.

- Oh ! no no ! I cried. Nanny, do not leave me!

And I resisted, clinging to dresses of it trying to reassure me.

- No, she is not beautiful! repeated my guardian who watched with indifference this little scene. She holds her father probably. In our family women are generally very pretty ...

He said this lip and a disdainful tone that, despite my young age, did not escape me.

- It will grow stammered my nurse with a strong urge to cry. His parents were as beautiful as love.

- Good ... And no matter, the rest!

And turning completely to the notary, without more attention to me, he took with him the conversation that my arrival had interrupted.

The day after this adventure, I entered the Sisters of Saint-Brieuc. I stayed there until I reached the age of eighteen.

At that time, my tutor informed me, always through M. The Uanec, my education to be completed, he wanted to have me at his home in Malbackt; and to cover my travel expenses, he sent a check for five hundred francs.

Until today, I had virtually no thought to my position orphan without fortune. I had lived carefree among my companions that I loved as sisters and nuns I considered genuine relatives.

Never thought that I could leave one day only had seriously put my mind.

Everard Dunbuy had shown during the twelve years that I spent at the pension, so indifferent to me that I was convinced that when the time comes to make a decision about my future, it would recover completely notary this care.

It is therefore understandable my excitement when I learned his desire to have me near him.

The thought that I needed to eighteen years, to leave my country, my good master, my beloved companions, to go into the unknown, to the foreign tutor I had kept so unpleasant memory, made me shed copious tears.

However, having obtained the notary promise that my nurse accompany me in my journey - if, however, she consented - I end up with less bitterness accept the idea of ​​my exile.

Approached, the good woman did not refuse.

Her husband and son had died the previous year, nothing held her more in Brittany, and she says it is ready to attach to my fate and to follow me everywhere.

- Provided there, they want to keep me, I ask no more ...

Excellent Benoise that was simple to emigrate with me!

I believe, however, that deep down she did not was well aware of the distance between Dumfries Guingamp, and for her to go, was not it seem a greater sacrifice than to place in Paris as every day she saw young Breton do for a living. In both cases, does it not necessary to leave their native land, and whatever the countries where it's not would wear, would appear not it always him halfway around the world, as long as she would not see his fields gorse, bell tower of the village and its white caps of Brittany sisters?

It was a Tuesday morning I left Saint-Brieuc, with my faithful nurse.

Two nuns even accompanied me on the station platform.

When say goodbye, forever perhaps, I really thought that I would not have the courage to leave. Fortunately, the notary had given, too, to witness my departure and it was he who took care of our tickets and luggage.

- Remember, my child, that your tutor is very rich, it has no direct heirs and if you know you love him, you have nothing to lose, he said installing me in a first class compartment.

The final recommendation of my teachers was less hardware:

- Whatever happens, little Marguerite, always turn your conscience and duty above all, they made tenderly hugging me in their arms.

Soon the train sped and I could see the station platform on which two white handkerchiefs waved in farewell.

Through the tears drowning my eyes, I can still make out the moors and hillsides of my beloved Brittany, its buckwheat fields, streams that ran at the foot of willows, stone and thatch houses, small white cows spotted black; then it was different. As the train crossed the stations, the country changed its appearance and became unknown to me ...

- Already so far, yet so near yet! I stammered in the finding. What will it be there? ...

But like my nurse had understood the words that my lips had only whisper, she pulled me against her motherly and kissed my forehead.

- We'll be two, honey. Do not cry.

And I returned her caresses, with a lighter heart.

II

The next evening we arrived at Calais, where we departed for Dover. And on the fourth day, at ten in the morning, after passing through London and Liverpool without stopping longer than to take a little rest between trains, we descended in Dumfries.

I warned by telegraph, in Liverpool, my guardian, the exact time of our arrival and he had sent a car to the station to meet us.

And scarcely had we stepped out of our car a man of about thirty, wearing a sort of gray cloak, rushed towards me.

At his appearance I guessed a home.

- Miss Margaret Dumart? if he informed bowing respectfully.

- It's me, I answered a little amused to hear for the first time my name Margaret pronounced in English.

- I am directed by Sir Everard Dunbuy Driving Miss Malbackt to ...

I handed him my ticket.

- If you want to take care of my luggage: there are two large trunks and smaller.

As he laid them on the platform of the car, I sent Benoise a baker whose shop stood in front of the train station to buy a bun that without more ado, I began to devour their teeth, soon as she brought, because I did not have lunch.

While eating, I noticed that the man sent by my tutor curiously examined me under every time he passed me, still standing near the door of the car.

- Is it far, Malbackt? I asked as he settled my bag on the interior seat.

- Fourteen miles separate us raw land and twenty-two of the dwelling.

- How long does it take to get to it?

- The path is still rising; within six hours we could be if we were not stopped on the way.

- Six o'clock ! It's long! ... We'll stop, you say?

- Yes, halfway to rest the horses. May miss lunch.

I repeated these words to Benoise who did not understand them, because we had spoken in English, which I had fortunately learned with a teacher of British origin.

- Since he lives far away, your tutor! muttered my nurse when I had explained to him how far we were Malbackt. Will we never get to the point?

- We touch it, my dear, 'I said, sitting down beside her in the car.

She sighed.

- It's really not too soon.

At that time, the man who was seated in the front seat, cracked his whip briskly and the car rolled noisily on the pavement of Dumfries crossed it in minutes.

The path that we followed then was steep and difficult. Sometimes, rising to a great height, he rubbed the top of a precipice or wound through a narrow gorge; other times, he followed sloping green valleys and farmland that small streams crisscrossed in every direction; or it ran along the edge of a small lake in which the high hills mirrored their stone edges.

The show was really great.

Each elbow field the scene changed around us, or the mountains and valleys appeared us in another aspect as a result of our high position sometimes and sometimes low, or a village suddenly appeared before us at foot of a hillside covered with heather, or the high walls of a tower loomed on a steep peak, just when we least expected to meet them there.

Two and a half hours after our exit from Dumfries, our driver stopped his horse at the door of a small inn.

On alighting, I was greeted by an old woman to the affable, whose long nose and tapered was surmounted by a pair of glasses.

- What is it for your service, beautiful lady? me she asked with that mixture of familiarity and respect I have met since, in most Scottish innkeepers advanced age.

- Can you give us to eat? I replied, a little embarrassed, education I had received until then did I not used to treat these yet basic livelihood issues.

She guessed, probably, my embarrassment, as it became more amiable yet.

- I have hotchpoch1and cod, she said, before opening the door of a small room pretty neat. If you want to get in a few minutes I will have prepared your meal.

Benoise and I penetrated into the room she showed us.

Coarse pictures adorned the walls whitewashed. At first I was amused watching them, then I went to sit by the window. From there, I saw our driver unhitch the horses and tie them to a full oat trough.

The innkeeper, who came and went from his fireplace in her kitchen door, called out as he finished:

- Well ! Killan, you are in pleasant walk, faith! It's not every day you wear so cool to Malbackt little face?

- As you say, Mrs. Mengs.

- And who is this pretty girl?

- The master of the ward told me that Edie, the cook of the castle.

- A short stay in our area?

- At all ! It seems that she will stay with us.

- You lose the head, Killan! The dove is not made to live near the owl! An old shrike had better have his case.

- You may be right, it will be however as I have just said.

- Well ! I pity her, poor thing! It will lose more than a feather ...

Again, she left the door of his house to poke his fire; and, hearing nothing more, I began to think about the strange words she had uttered.

Alas! The result of my thoughts was not very gay. Until then, I do not like my guardian, without being afraid yet, but now, suddenly, I began to fear seriously.

- What is it, Margaret? asked Benoise seeing my gloomy front.

- Nothing, I replied, dominating my allowance because I did not want to worry unnecessarily. I'm hungry, I'm tired and I want to be installed Malbackt; I am eager to know why Everard Dunbuy me come near him.

- You may know too soon, she said, nodding. Since I saw this wild country and these miserable people that our car has crossed the road, I do not bode well for the end of our trip.

I told him with a sigh and I began to silently eat dishes that our hostess placed before us.

She had left open the door communicating between the small room where we were and cuisine, so probably do it faster service, and my place, I saw the driver of our car, sitting on a stool wood, eating his soup.

The innkeeper and he continued to speak.

It was the gossip of the country and they told me it was not interested. However, I thought I distinguish at a time, the name of my tutor, and listened more carefully, because everything concerning it intrigued me to no end.

- And keeps it always Sir Roland ward? said the woman. This boy is it really as crazy as it says?

The man jumped and threw a quick glance at me as if he was afraid that I had heard the request.

- Go to hell, woman, with your questions, he said to upset half. This often cooked to care business major. Serve me a bottle of ale and put a damper on your language, it will be better.

She brought him the drink he asked.

- She did not hear, she said softly, casting a glance at me that appeared busy cutting my mutton chop.

The then leaving, she came to us as to ensure that nothing was missing on the table, but I noticed that she was careful to close the door after her when she returned.

" What does that mean ? I asked myself then. What is this Sir Roland whose name is feared to utter before me? "

For a moment I formed all kinds of guesses, then, weary, none seemed worth holding me, because I did not know enough for my guardian they might be plausible, I end up not thinking the conversation that I had heard and I said to my nurse who spoke to me of our beloved Brittany.

Soon, however, the driver of the car came to tell us that the horses were harnessed and we could leave as soon as I was ready.

- Right away, I said.

And I hastened to settle the modest meal that we had to take.

The last leg of our trip ended sadly.

Benoise and I were too worried to be able to speak thoughtfully and our eyes wandered over the country through which we passed, as if we had wanted to question the trees and plants in order to extract the secret of our destiny.

At one point, the tortuous path that we followed since the inn became so bad that our driver got out of his seat and walked to his horses.

Turning my head to the lowered windows, I called him near me.

- Are we there yet? I asked.

- When we're on set, you will see, in the distance, the towers of the castle Malbackt, he replied.

- So if I understand what you told me just now, I said we need to be right now on the land of this area?

- Effectively ! These fields and the wooden part from the small river that we crossed on a bridge at the bottom of the coast.

- And all these properties belong to my tutor! I cried quite thoughtlessly.

The man looked at me under and did not answer. He returned with his horses until we had finished crossing the feel. Then, turning to me, he reached out to a dark mass was visible at the other end of the plateau.

- Malbackt, he said only.

My eyes followed the direction he pointed to me.

From a distance, the appearance of the castle was awesome.

It was a huge gray stone building four towers dominated the corners. These towers were topped with battlements projecting outside the walls, and loopholes that appeared to defend the entrance. A wide gap and thick crenellated walls surrounding the main body and thus made into a fortress.

This large house, which was to be several centuries old, stood at the end of a site suddenly rising from a glen2 steep and wide enough that almost surrounded him from all sides.

To access it, as I explained our guide, there was no other way than the one we had followed until then, the sides of the glen is absolutely inaccessible.

To round, if it saw no dwelling trace.

The place was completely deserted; better than that, it was barren and bare.

Here was the gray surface of a rock that attracted the eye; Moreover, heather fields were spread out of sight; further, spaced thickets covered the tops of the hills surrounding the glen; some of large trees on the plateau, left, adorned only severe landscape; Finally, around the area of ​​lean shrubs spread their branches over the abyss, and filled the cavities in the rock by landslides and rains.

- As this remains sad! I whispered after extensively discussed.

- Yes, replied Benoise, and I expected: so wild path could only lead to the den of a bear.

I smiled at his joke.

- Do not laugh, Marguerite! She replied seriously. Who knows if the inside of the castle does not meet the frightening aspect of the outside ... This is not a Christian home, that: it is a real prison.

- A prison ! I repeated, shuddering and closing his eyes to not see the great dark walls to where our car was running too fast, now, in my opinion.

I opened my only when the sound of horses' hooves, hitting the road with stones, stopped abruptly.

We had arrived at the foot of the high walls of Malbackt, including a large oak door, fully trimmed nails and protected by an outer iron gate, closed access.

Our driver leaving a kind of horn from his pocket, pulled out two long distinct sounds that echo reverberated dismally.

At this signal, the heavy door rolled on its hinges and our car, crossing the wide wooden drawbridge thrown over the ditch, went under the dark arch-shaped corridor that opened in the courtyard of the castle.

Our journey was finally over.

Kind of Scottish soup made of mutton chops and peas.

Glen, Scottish name deep valleys, but little width; such narrow grooves Pyrenees.

III

Immediately after our arrival, valet rid us of our bags, our umbrellas and our traveling clothes, and then he led us into a large antechamber, simply furnished with chairs and carved benches, ranged in battle along the walls, begging us to please wait for his master had been informed of our presence Malbackt.

A few minutes after he left us, a second footman, wearing this one of a jacket of coarse brown cloth coarse cloth buttons colorful green and red, came for us; and, after having passed through a succession of salons longer than each other, he introduced us to the Sir Everard firm.

It was a large room, richly paneled, a very dark wood, two tall windows with silk curtains and velvet fringed golden illuminated.

Many libraries, whose rays were heavily laden with books chiseled staples reigned along the walls. Between the two windows, a massive oak table covered with papers scattered, ebony cabinets and all the necessary arsenal to write, took the place of office.

The baron was comfortably installed in a large chair with a wood fire crackling merrily in a high gray marble fireplace.

Seeing me enter, he turned his eyes towards me, and, twelve years later, I felt under his gaze the same feeling of anguish that the first time I had seen him in the office of notary in Guingamp.

I remained standing near the door, not daring to move, and Benoise stood behind me, motionless, before, I believe, of equal concern to mine.

One moment, my guardian looked at me in silence.

- Did I frighten you, Margaret, that you forget to introduce me your respects? said he finally coldly, in French.

I stiffened and made an effort to speak.

- I beg your pardon, sir, 'I replied with a firm voice, though low, there is a long time since I saw you and I was not sure of being in the presence of my guardian. Please allow me to inform me ...

He interrupted me rather abruptly:

- You're exemption. Come and sit down; we will talk better.

I sat opposite him on a seat, he showed me his hand and replied to the questions he asked me about my studies and literary knowledge, the people that I had frequented update on all my past life, finally.

Our conversation turned on these subjects for an hour; after which, probably satisfied with what I had learned, he deigned to notice that I was not alone and that Benoise waiting, still standing near the door.

- The woman who accompanies you is one that you raised, I believe?

- Yes, that's my nurse.

- Will there she here long?

- As much time as you please, sir. I would be very happy that you can take on your staff: it agrees not to leave me.

- Its good ! It remains for the moment; Later we'll see if I can keep it here ...

Highly thanked him for this favor, but he interrupted me again and pulled me near the window, because the night was almost come during our interview, he began to examine me even longer than it had done before.

- My compliments ! He said at the end. You're much prettier than I expected. I kept you from the memory of an unpleasant little girl and now you are beautiful now. I love it so much ...

This compliment charged on the tone of a buyer weighing the goods we just send him humbled me rather than pleased me.

- Can I retire now? I asked him then. I'm a little tired from my long journey and I would like to freshen up and rest.

- I'll let you drive in your apartments. I did arrange for you one of the turrets of the castle, you'll be completely at home. I will serve you your dinner tonight in your room if you wish.

As he spoke he had struck a servant.

The one who had introduced me to him reappeared, and, on his order, took me to one of the towers that formed the corners of the main body of the house, as I had noticed in the car.

The tower that I would stay included two floors connected to the outside via a narrow staircase, which allowed to get in and out of home directly without going through the castle. This staircase seemed very convenient for me my independence.

The first floor was occupied by a pretty large living room.

In the second, there was a bedroom and a small office.

In this final piece, taking day by a narrow skylight, we drew up a bed for my nurse so she was not separated from me.

The layout of the room pleased me a lot.

She was tense cloth with blue flowers; a thick carpet covered floor; the bed curtains and windows were adorned with large white lace, a small ebony pedestal stand a vase filled with fresh flowers and two heavy silver candlesticks; Finally, on the toilet in white marble, stood a beautiful Venetian mirror framed in silver filigree.

There was far from my modest little room of the convent of Saint-Brieuc in elegant apartment that would be mine now! And immediately, I knew infinitely grateful to my tutor for giving me so pleasantly accommodated.

IV

My first thought when I awoke the next morning, was to open a narrow windows that let light into my room and put his head out to realize the exact location of the tower that I occupied.

The view that I discovered, then, was wonderful and terrible at once. And mechanically, my first impulse was, uttering a cry of surprise, clapping.

My room stood in line the walls of the glen, so that the flying buttresses by which the foundations of the tower were supported seem part of the same rock.

Leaning a little, I could see the abyss down which a foaming torrent flowed noisily.

On the other side of the glen, I saw before me a long line of wooded hills, the rising sun haloed with purple reflections in the distance.

Further to the right, a wide plateau covered with a velvety turf extended gentle slope halfway up a small mountain flanks clothed with dark and rich purple heather.

Never had I seen so sublime and majestic scenery. Not a living, not a work done by the hand of man, only came to disturb the imposing grandeur. Everywhere, as far as the view stretched all was the work of nature.

I stayed over an hour leaning out my window, the heart oppressed by the extreme solitude of this place, my eyes not satisfying the magnificent spectacle which they were invited.

When Benoise entered my room, I was still immersed in the rapture.

- Oh ! nurse, 'I said, kissing her. Come see how beautiful it is!

And, dragging out the window, I forced myself to look to admire the gulf and river.

Frightened, she leaned back.

- It's awful if she cried. How can you find this beautiful country? When you look down, dizziness grabs you, and when eyes rest on the things that are the same level as us, we are struck with sterility and poor soil ... And you admire this for an hour at the risk of catching cold!

His words amused me and, by sending lunch she brought me, I ceased to delight him boast an air cure at the window of my tower.

At nine, my tutor asked for me. I went immediately to his call.

He received me, as before, in his office.

After being informed of my health and my first night under his roof, I spoke about in these terms:

- My dear child, he said, cutting the pages of a new volume, not by extreme sensitivity to your position orphan without family or fortune that I wanted to have you near me. It is not out of affection for you, since I know you, as it not. On your side, outside a matter of interest, I do not think any other feeling could advocate for your stay in Malbackt ...

- You are wrong, sir, I interrupted gently. And coming here, I have obeyed your orders: no question of money could not bring myself to leave my country, if I were free not to do so. Mr. Yves Le Uanec taught me when your great fortune, I was already installed on the train, ready to go. Before that moment, I had always ignored, and only your desire led me here.

He stopped cutting the pages of his book and looked at me with some surprise.

- Your deductible is me, he said. I will go straight to the point ... I take ... Since no feeling of affection binds us to one another, let us at least one interest or the same goal we meet.

- I do not understand, I whispered.

- Let me explain. You instruction, - I could convince me yesterday talking with you - put it in my service: I bought you. I need a secretary. Be it. In exchange, I will give you, lodging for you and your nurse, and I will give you a fee of two hundred francs a month, you will be free to have at your leisure.

I had a high round the body of surprise. At that time, the figure was indicated that a very large sum.

- Two hundred francs, I repeated, unable to believe my ears.

- Yes, two hundred francs. You accept ?

- But I do not know if I can ... I stammered, still seizure by the unexpectedness of these proposals.

- Oh ! rest assured. Your task will not be heavy; only a few letters to write, occasionally, some accounts to make each month, and that's about all ...

I was going to say that I accepted with gratitude when a remark suddenly appeared to me. And timidly:

- Why do you offer to pay me, I said when it would suffice you to require me to do your paperwork without being remunerated?

- Ah! Why ? he said, rising from his seat to pace his study. That's precisely what I was going to say.

Suddenly he stopped in front of me.

- Why ? He repeated. Because I want my secretary or my discretion. I want him to have eyes not to see, and ears not to hear and lips not to speak. You can be and I want you to be that person.