41.The Gratifying Sequel
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THUS the true Guivric passed beyond the knowledge of men: and the false Guivric gathered up his papers and took off his cap of owl feathers and prepared for dinner.
The wife and the son of Guivric from that time forth delighted in his affection and geniality: and it was observed, for another wonder, that Guivric of Perdigon had, with increasing age, graduated from a cool reserve about religious matters into very active beneficence and piety. The legend of Manuel had nowhere, now, a more fervent adherent and expounder, because Glaum nourished his sprouting soul with every sort of religious fertilizer. Nor was his loving-kindness confined to talking about itself, for the good works of Glaum were untiring and remarkably free-handed, since he had everything to gain by being liberal with Guivric’s property.
The old gentleman thus became a marked favorite with Holy Holmendis: and indeed it was Glaum who at this time, when Guivric’s ancient comrade Kerin of Nointel came back into Poictesme, chiefly assisted Holmendisin converting Kerin to the great legend of Manuel.
In fine, Glaum lived, without detection, in Guivric’s body; and preserved it in unquestioned virtue, since a well-to-do nobleman is, after sixty, subject to very few temptations which cannot be gratified quietly without scandal. He died in the assurance of a blessed resurrection, which he no doubt attained.
As for the true Guivric, nothing more was ever quite definitely known of him. It was remarked, however, that for many years thereafter an amorous devil went invisibly about the hill country behind Perdigon. The girls of Valnères and Ogde reported that by three traits alone could the presence of this demon be detected: for one thing, he diffused a sweet and poignant odor, not unlike that of an embalmer’s spiceries; and, for another, the soles of his feet had been observed, after dusk, to be luminous. A third infallible sign of his being anywhere near you they, with blushes and some giggling, declined to reveal.
BOOK SEVENWHAT SARAÏDE WANTED“None shall want her mate.”—Isaiah, xxxiv, 16.
BOOK SEVENWHAT SARAÏDE WANTED“None shall want her mate.”—Isaiah, xxxiv, 16.
BOOK SEVEN
WHAT SARAÏDE WANTED
“None shall want her mate.”
—Isaiah, xxxiv, 16.