Stranica 68 [68]
LABOULAYE 5 PALEY. BOOK
honors us with her presence. To the noble lady of the
golden cottage!"
All began to huzzah and drink. Yvon contented himseif
with raising his goblet to a level with his eyes. Suddenly
he started and stood mute, his mouth open and his eyes
fixed, like a man that has a vision.
It was a vision. In the gold of the goblet Yvon saw his
past life as in a mirror: the giant pursuing him; Finette
dragging him along; both embarking in the ship that saved
them; both landing on the shore of Brittany; he quitting
her for an instant; she weeping at his departure. Where
was she? By his side, of course. What other woman than
Finette could be by the side of Yvon?
He turned toward the fair-haired lady and cried out
like a man treading on a serpent. Then, staggering as if
he were drunk, he rose and looked around him with haggard
eyes. At the sight of Finette he clasped his trembling
hands and, dragging himself toward her, fell on his knees
and exclaimed, " Finette, forgive me!"
To forgive is the height of happiness. Before evening
Finette was seated by the side of Yvon, both weeping and
smiling.
And what became of the fair-haired lady? No one knows.
At the ery of Yvon she disappeared; but it was said that a
wretched old hag was seen flying on a broomstick over the
castle walls, chased by the dogs; and it was the common
44