crypt.”
“So I would have slept my eternal sleep in unconsecrated ground?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“I would much rather be at the rectory.”
“Help me out of this coffin and I’ll show you the way out of here.”
“I’m still not certain you really are a woman.”
“If you’re afraid, I’ll help myself.”
Valerie carefully stood up in the coffin and jumped to the ground.
“Follow me.”
“I shall really be able to boast to the brethren that I have been to Hell,” said the missionary, surveying the strange subterranean room where the candle had begun to gutter.
Valerie noticed that beneath the opening giving on to the room above lay a piece of paper. She bent down and picked it up.
“So what became of the young black girl you saved and then lost sight of in Marseilles?” the girl asked calmly, seeking to distract this poltroon from the underworld where he felt so ill at ease.
“A pretty shameless hussy she turned out to be. She favored sailors over the ministers of God who had instructed her in scripture and the true faith.”
“Do you condemn her for that?”
“I bet she came to a wretched end somewhere, though she could have had an ideal life in a convent.”
“I expect she yearned for freedom.”
“Her savage’s blood asserted itself, that’s all.”
Valerie laughed.
“I keep tripping. It’s as dark down here as the gateway to Hell. Where are you taking me?”
“Not long now and we’ll be in the light.”
“If it is Monday, I haven’t eaten for three days. My stomach’s rumbling.”
Valerie laughed again.
“A woman is indeed the Devil’s creature. She has the Devil within her, leading us into sin.”
“Look here, you would have died without being given last rites,” she said blithely.
“It was not God’s wish.”
“Watch out, the passage turns left here.”
“When will this hellhole come to an end?”
“Another twenty paces.”
“In all my life as a missionary I’ve never had such a shameful adventure. And it really is a shameful adventure. If only it were soon over.”
“We’re here. Now we must carefully lift two boards and we’ll be free.”
“You have knowledge of some fine mysteries.”
“And there’s no one sorrier than I.”
Valerie climbed the steps right up to the ceiling and pushed against the planks. The ceiling yielded. It was also twilight up above.
“Give me your hand, young woman. I am quite exhausted.”
“I haven’t much strength left either, but here’s my hand, just be careful you don’t bang yourself.”
Thus did Valerie find herself liberated.
“We go through two rooms, and then you’ll easily get to the rectory.”
“Witch!” muttered the missionary once they were out in the street and the danger had passed.
Valerie laughed again. She was glad to see the back of the coward, whose parting shot was to threaten her with an Inquisition.
It was evening. Valerie walked towards the square where a few days earlier she had been permitted to save Orlík. She paused beneath a streetlamp around which moths were circling. It was glorious, it was delightful. Finally, she straightened out the crumpled paper.
From the handwriting she recognized that it was a letter from Orlík.
She leaned against the lamppost and read.
Chapter XXVII
A SECOND LETTER
My dear friend , Orlík wrote, What I feared most has come to pass. Why didn’t you listen to me and stay with me? It is a pity I do not have a weapon at hand. I would have killed the monster that had the audacity to accept your sacrifice. Imagine how I felt, looking down through the hole as your very life was at stake and I was unable to help you. You should have stayed with me. The murderer would have died like the rankest carrion and we could have been happy. His longing for you has so crazed his wretched mind that he believes you are his daughter. There were times when he thought I was his son and when he would have gladly abused me as he did you despite my
“So I would have slept my eternal sleep in unconsecrated ground?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“I would much rather be at the rectory.”
“Help me out of this coffin and I’ll show you the way out of here.”
“I’m still not certain you really are a woman.”
“If you’re afraid, I’ll help myself.”
Valerie carefully stood up in the coffin and jumped to the ground.
“Follow me.”
“I shall really be able to boast to the brethren that I have been to Hell,” said the missionary, surveying the strange subterranean room where the candle had begun to gutter.
Valerie noticed that beneath the opening giving on to the room above lay a piece of paper. She bent down and picked it up.
“So what became of the young black girl you saved and then lost sight of in Marseilles?” the girl asked calmly, seeking to distract this poltroon from the underworld where he felt so ill at ease.
“A pretty shameless hussy she turned out to be. She favored sailors over the ministers of God who had instructed her in scripture and the true faith.”
“Do you condemn her for that?”
“I bet she came to a wretched end somewhere, though she could have had an ideal life in a convent.”
“I expect she yearned for freedom.”
“Her savage’s blood asserted itself, that’s all.”
Valerie laughed.
“I keep tripping. It’s as dark down here as the gateway to Hell. Where are you taking me?”
“Not long now and we’ll be in the light.”
“If it is Monday, I haven’t eaten for three days. My stomach’s rumbling.”
Valerie laughed again.
“A woman is indeed the Devil’s creature. She has the Devil within her, leading us into sin.”
“Look here, you would have died without being given last rites,” she said blithely.
“It was not God’s wish.”
“Watch out, the passage turns left here.”
“When will this hellhole come to an end?”
“Another twenty paces.”
“In all my life as a missionary I’ve never had such a shameful adventure. And it really is a shameful adventure. If only it were soon over.”
“We’re here. Now we must carefully lift two boards and we’ll be free.”
“You have knowledge of some fine mysteries.”
“And there’s no one sorrier than I.”
Valerie climbed the steps right up to the ceiling and pushed against the planks. The ceiling yielded. It was also twilight up above.
“Give me your hand, young woman. I am quite exhausted.”
“I haven’t much strength left either, but here’s my hand, just be careful you don’t bang yourself.”
Thus did Valerie find herself liberated.
“We go through two rooms, and then you’ll easily get to the rectory.”
“Witch!” muttered the missionary once they were out in the street and the danger had passed.
Valerie laughed again. She was glad to see the back of the coward, whose parting shot was to threaten her with an Inquisition.
It was evening. Valerie walked towards the square where a few days earlier she had been permitted to save Orlík. She paused beneath a streetlamp around which moths were circling. It was glorious, it was delightful. Finally, she straightened out the crumpled paper.
From the handwriting she recognized that it was a letter from Orlík.
She leaned against the lamppost and read.
Chapter XXVII
A SECOND LETTER
My dear friend , Orlík wrote, What I feared most has come to pass. Why didn’t you listen to me and stay with me? It is a pity I do not have a weapon at hand. I would have killed the monster that had the audacity to accept your sacrifice. Imagine how I felt, looking down through the hole as your very life was at stake and I was unable to help you. You should have stayed with me. The murderer would have died like the rankest carrion and we could have been happy. His longing for you has so crazed his wretched mind that he believes you are his daughter. There were times when he thought I was his son and when he would have gladly abused me as he did you despite my
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