THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN MOONS

Part II

Pierre and Michelle

Chapter 03

On that same afternoon, Vadin and Michelle were walking, side by side, with their arms locked, in the gardens of the mansion. When Jacques told her the good news, the girl's green eyes narrowed with joy and shone with happiness.

- So mother has agreed that I rehearse the role of Juliet?

- Hum, hum!

She kissed Vadin's face and said:

- Uncle Jacques, you are wonderful. But, how did you convince mom?

Vadim smiled. -

Ah, that is a secret, my angel. The point is that she won't create any obstacle.

Michelle laughed, in contentment.

- Uncle, you are a wizard, a very dear wizard. Today is the happiest day of my life.

The other shook his head.

- I understand your happiness. But be sure that you'll feel an even greater happiness when, at the end of the presentation, in the night of the premiere, you"ll hear the applauses from the audience. Oh yes, then you shall know what is really to feel happy.

Michelle's face was illuminated for a brief instant, but soon her look shadowed and an expression of doubt appeared in those beautiful eyes

- And if I fail, uncle?

He turned toward Michelle and stared deeply into her eyes.

- That won't happen, my dear, because you were born to become an actress. I feel that in my onw heart.

Vadin made a pause, removed a bundle of papers from one of the pockets of his long coat and gave it to the girl.

- Pierre sent you this. It is the text of the play. Learn it by heart and try to imagine yourself as Juliet. Then you shall see that things will be easier then you imagine. And have faith on yourself. Besides, Pierre, himself, will take charge of your training.

Michelle felt a slight pressure inside her chest.

- Did he say that ?

- Yes, he did.

Vadin thought for a while and continued:

- However, let me advise you on some thing else. Pierre is an exceptionally active man, quite intelligent and I do like him. But I feel him to be sort of unstable on sentimental matters. Therefore, I think you should be a little cautious in relation to his charms.

Michelle stopped walking and spoke:

- Your words confuse me, uncle. Make them clearer, please.

Vadin also stopped

- See, the two of you just met once and quite briefly. Everything was limited to a praise from his part and an exchange of glances. Right?

Michelle's memory went back to the pair of black eyes that seemed to want to trespass her soul and the seductive words that accelerated her heart and made her blush. Dear sensations that she couldn’t and did not wish to forget. However, she did not comment and her answer was limited to a murmur:

- Hum, hum.

- Well. As I said, not too much to justify a great passion, correct? And do you know what he had the audacy to confess to me? He told me that, as soon as we left the restaurant, he informed his parents that, some day, he would marry you. Is not this a demonstration of how precipitated this young man can be as far as affairs of love are concerned?

Michelle's face became as red as a tomato. She hesitated for a moment, then loosened a long sigh and said:

- I don't think so, uncle.

Jacques made an expression of amazement

- What do you mean?

Michelle arranged her thoughts for some seconds and replied:

- Uncle, I never kept secrets from you. Therefore I will also make a confession, that must remain only between us and must never reach mom's ears.

Vadin looked at her with curiosity.

- Don't even worry about that, my dear. Now, tell me; what do you have to confess?

- When M. Mansard looked at me, there in the restaurant... no, I think it was before that, it was some time during the play, when Romeo was charming Juliet at the party.Yes, that was it. Well, at that moment I had the same thought.

- How so?... are you trying to say that...

- That, one day, I am going to marry him.

Vadin looked well inside his niece's eyes. She blushed but sustained the glance.

- My God, - Jacques said, now turning his eyes toward the skies - you do speak serious, don't you? Sacred Mother of Jesus, I guess I'm dealing with two lunatics. Two wonderful and dreamer lunatics...

And he said no more. Neither did Michele.

He gave her his arm and they resumed their walk through the stony path of the beautiful garden.

***

Two months later, on the morning of March 22th, 1659, Pierre and Maurice arrived in Marseilles, with the cast and the sceneries of the play "Romeo and Juliet". They were received by a happy Vadin that led them to the hotel where they would be accommodated during their permanence in the city. In the afternoon, Jacques took them to the Charlemagne Theater, where the play would be rehearsed and presented. It was much wider than the Shakespearean Theater of Bordeaux, and could easily shelter from 500 to 600 spectators. After they had inspected the place, and were at the back of the stage, Vadin pointed to a door at the end of a long hall and said:

- That is a dressing room that sometimes I use as an office. Come with me. Someone is there, eager to see you.

Pierre felt an extra beat in the heart, sensing who the "someone" should be. And he was not deceived. When the host opened the door, they came across a young girl, standing next to a desk replete of papers, with an air of expectation in the eyes and a wide smile lighting up the beauty of her face, framed by a blonde hair arranged in two long braids that went down to the shoulders. Jacques went ahead and announced:

- I know you have already met, but, nevertheless ...Gentlemen, this is my niece, Mademoiselle Michelle Clermont. Michelle, these are my guests and associates, M. Maurice Mansard and his nephew, M. Pierre Mansard.

Maurice curved the body lightly, in an compliment gesture, to which the girl answered with the well educated women's characteristic bow. Pierre walked toward her, extended the arms and retained, smoothly, Michelle's hands within his own. As he was just slightly taller, their eyes were almost at the same level. Looking at her, fixedly, the young man said:

- The gods were kind allowing me to contemplate again such a beauty.

Michelle blushed, but her smile became even wider. Almost in a murmur, she spoke, in a soft tone:

- M. Mansard is as gallant as the Romeo he interprets.

Pierre quickly objected:

- We are going to be working together for a long period. Therefore, it would be for the best that we drop out certain formalities. So, if you please, just treat me as Pierre and I will call you Michelle.

And opening the most seductive of his smiles, he asked:

- Do you agree... .Michelle?

- She did not hesitate:

- Of course ...Pierre.

And, for a few minutes, they continued holding hands, eyes fixed in each other, seeming to ignore everything surrounding them. Maurice cleared the throat. Pierre took notice, loosened Michelle's hands and said:

- Well, uncle, I believe that we should go now. There is a lot to do. If Jacques agrees, we will start the rehearsals tomorrow morning, as early as possible....

- We shall be ready - answered Vadin.

Pierre smiled:

- Excellent - and turning to Michelle: - Did you read the text I sent through your uncle?

She nodded, full of enthusiasm:

- Yes, and I believe I know by heart every single word

- Magnificent. Then we shall start tomorrow. I will do Romeo and you will do Juliet. We will rehearsal the scene of the party at the Capuletos', when the two met for the first time

And with a bow, Maurice and Pierre left, under Jacques' thoughtful glance and Michelle's glance of happiness.

*****

Chapter 04

Around 08:00 A.M. of the following morning, they were all there, the members of the cast, in the stage of the Charles Magne Theater, talking in small groups, waiting for the rehearsal to begin. Maurice was absent, caring on the financial aspects of the play. Although invited by Vadin, the countess had refused to come, alleging she did not wish to watch "the sad show of a Clermont playing actress". Forced by her brother's blackmail, she had agreed with Michelle participation, but continued unreconciled to the situation. Vadin was already active, guiding the assembly of the famous scenery of the night party at the Capuletos´ mansion, to provide the rehearsal of the first encounter between Romeo and Juliet. At a corner of the stage, far from the other players, Pierre and Michelle were talking in low voice. Timidly, she asked:

- Pierre, I am curious about something.

- Say it.

- What happened to that girl that played Juliet in Bordeuax? I think she did a very good acting. Did you simply move her away from the cast?

He shook the head.

- No, I just liberated her so that she could accept the invitation she received from Moliére, to do a role in one of his future plays.

And giving a malicious smile, he concluded:

- I am sure Louise is adoring Paris.

What Pierre omitted, was the fact that the invitation the actress received, resulted from a request from his uncle Maurice to Moliére. Michelle gave a sigh.

- I feel alleviated. I would hate to rob the place of anyone. But there is another thing I would also like to know.

She did a quick pause, arranged her thoughts and said:

- Pierre, I no experience with theater, and, certainly, you know many people better qualified than me. Why then was I choosen?

Pierre stepped closer to her, sensing that now was the proper moment to begin the process of conquest of the youth's heart. Looking deep inside her beautiful green eyes, he said:

- O.K. I'll be sincere with you. I did so for two reasons, Michelle. First: your uncle told me about your love for the theater and of your desire to become an actress. Second: I fell in love with you the very moment we met and I thought that, if we played together, I would have a better chance to conquer your heart and, eventually, to convince you to marry me.

Michelle's face blushed and her heart accelerated. She diverted the eyes, while trying to recover from the surprise. After some seconds, still not looking at Pierre, she murmured:

- Are you really serious?

He placed the hand lightly on her shoulder. Michelle trembled, but didn't stand back. Then he answered:

- Yes, Michelle, I never have been so serious in all my life. But, please, tell me, honestly: did I upset you byconfessing my feelings?

The youth moved the head so that their eyes met. And, with a blushing face, in an ashamed tone of voice, that revealed how much of a child it still existed inside her, she answered:

- No, not upset, only confused. And ...Pierre.. I think... that I liked ...very much to hear what you said...

They held hands and remained silent, only allowing their eyes to express the sweet emotions that enveloped them. Suddenly, the voice of Vadin, coming from the other extremity of the stage, interrupted the mutual contemplation and the candy and silent dream.

- Ei, Pierre, the scenery of the party at the Capuletos´ house is mounted. What about you and Michelle coming right here, so that we may start the rehearsal?

Pierre smiled at his companion and spoke, smoothly:

- Shall we start... Juliet?

Holding hands and already involved by the magic mantle of passion, they crossed the stage and posted themselves at the places designated by Vadin. And the rehearse began.

*****

Chapter 05

ACT I Scenery V

It is night. In one of the large rooms at the house of the Capulets, the party has begun. The musicians are playing and a few people are dancing. Some have their face hidden by masks. They don't want to be recognized. Romeo, a member of Montecchio´s family, tradicional enemy of the Capulets, is one of them. Nevertheless, Teobald, Juliet’s cousin, recognizes him and tells his uncle that he wishes to expel Romeo. But the head of the clan says he has nothing against the youth and doesn't want scandals in his house, thus forbiding Teobald from acting. Juliet enters the room by the arm of an old gentleman. Romeo sees her and, fascinated by the youth's beauty, asks a servant that is passing by:

- Who is that lady that enriches that gentleman's arm?

- I don’t know her, sir.

Juliet begins to dance. Romeo (speaking to himself): " Oh, does she teach the torch how to shine ...I will seek her when the dance is over... Has my heart known, until today, the meaning of love? No... Oh, how simple it is! Actually, I never really knew up to now what beauty is..." The dance stops. Juliet stands at a corner, behind a column, wrapped up with curtains, from where she cannot be seen by other people in the room. Romeo, who had not lost her out of view, for one single moment, approaches, quietly, and touches her face, lightly, with the tip of his fingers. Juliet gets startled, but Romeo, removing the mask, stares at her eyes and murmurs, sweetly:

- If my hand profanes the sacred, in remission I accept the penitence; however, my lip, solitary pilgrim, will demonstrate, with surpluses, my reverence.

Juliet answers:

- You offend your hand, good pilgrim, since it has shown to be devoted and reverent. This is the most sacred and convenient kiss.

Romeo:

- By chance, saints and devotees have no mouth ?

Juliet:

- Yes, but only for prayers.

Romeo:

- Leave, then, oh saint! That this mouth shows the right road to the hearts.

Juliet :

- Without moving, the saint exalts the vote.

Romeo gets closer to her an speaks:

- Then stay put. Here is the devotee; in your mouth I shall clean my sins.

Pierre, getting closer to Michelle, kisses her, lightly, in the lips. The youth looks amazed and murmurs:

- Pierre, is that a real kiss? I had never been kissed before...

He leans his mouth close to her ear and says, in a low voice:

- Just a display. Keep playing the role of Juliet. Then I will show you what a real kiss is.

She retreats, her face brushing. But fastly recovers and resumes the her role.

Juliet:

-What did you transfer to my lips?

Romeo:

- My sins? Oh, then I want them back.

Pierre takes Michelle in his arms and kisses her, now with intensity. But she keeps her lips closed. He shakes the head and murmurs:

- This is not the way that Romeo and Juliet kiss each other.

Michelle blushes even more. She is feeling quite ashamed, but doesn't want to spoil her role. She takes courage and whispers:

Teach me then ...how ...how I must proceed.

- Open a little bit your beautiful mouth – says Pierre.

She obeys. He takes her in his arms and kisses, deeply, sucking the language and the lips. She hesitates, but just for a moment. Then, she retributes, imitating his movements. And they kiss, now slowly and passionately. Vadin, delighted, screams:

- Well done, very good, perfect.

And the whole cast applauds, with enthusiasm, the lingering kiss, the initial mark of the great and eternal love between Romeo and Juliet.

* * *

And the rehearsals continued under Jacques Vadin's competent and enthusiastic direction.

As time goes by, Michelle improves. She is definetily acting better wirh every passing day. At the end of the trainings of ACT II her interpretation as Juliet is already considered excellent. When acting with Pierre. she gets close to perfection. The two of them play as if they were really "living" the lovers of Verona, so strong is way they express their intense passion. Out of the stage, the only opportunity they have to be together is during the noon intervals, when the cast goes to a closeby tavern for lunch. Pierre and Michelle always seek to stay apart from the others, in order to talk more freely. Ther dialogue doesn't vary much, almost always setting around the same themes. Michelle, with her typical shyness, questions:

- How am I doing in the rehearsals?

And Pierre answers:

- You have been wonderful.

And adds:

- And every day you become more beautiful and desirable. I’m mad about you, Michelle.

She blushes but confesses:

- I also have a strange and pleasant feeling toward you, that seems to keep on growing everyday. Could it be love?

Pierre tries to probe the girl's feelings:

- When we kiss each other in the rehearsals, what do you feel?

She blushes even more.

- I feel as if a fire were burning inside me.

Pierre takes the girl's hands between his and says:

- Do you like to hold hands with me ?

She sighs and admits:

- I adore it.

- And when the rehearsal is over and we separate, how do you feel?

Michelle fills herself with courage, puts aside her shyness and says:

- A great emptiness ...I keep a long time thinking about you at night, waiting for the sleep that doesn’t come. But, suddenly, I remember that soon, on the following day, we will be together again at the theater. And then I sleep happy...

Michelle makes a pause, diverts the eyes and ends:

- But when I wake up, I get afraid that, if I tell you all those things I feel, you may think I am a silly and foolish girl.

Pierre kisses her hand.

- There is nothing foolish about those feelings. They just prove that you are you also in love me.

- How can you be sure of that?

- Because I feel exactly the same things. And that, my sweetheart, is called love, love stuffed with passion.

She stares at him and says:

- I feel happy when you speak like this. It is so beautiful, Pierre...

- Love speaks for me.

Suddenly, Michelle assumes an expression of sadness and says:

- Some times I feel sad ...sad and fearful.

- Why sad? What do you fear?

She sighs.

- When the presentation of the play will be over, you will go back to Bordeaux and I will stay here...away from you...

He shakes the head.

Not at all. You will leave with me

- How come?

- We will get married before the end of the season.

Michelle's heart discharges. In an unexpected gesture, she takes Pierre's hand and kisses it, sweetly.

- Are you speaking serious?

- I never spoke so serious in all my life. One month before the closing of the play, I will ask for your hand.

Her face is lit up but soon the lights are overcome by shadow.

- I fear that mom won't allow it.

Pierre kisses the youth's face and says, with conviction:

- She will.

- How can you be so sure?

- Because love always wins over anything else.

At this moment, Vadin approaches them and says, without hiding a certain tone of tenderness in the voice:

- Sorry to interrupt the idyll of such a passionate couple. But I can see you didn’t even touch the food. Please, eat your lunch... and fast. It is almost time to go back to the theater.

Pierre makes a vague gesture with the hand. Michelle blushes. Vadin leaves. The two lovers look at each other, smile and begin to eat.

*****

Chapter 06

On a certain morning, suprising everybody, the countess appears at the theater to attend the rehearsal. Vadin receives the sister with a smile, leads her to the first row and says, with a slight touch of irony in the voice:

- What a pleasant surprise you grant us with, my dear. And at a such appropriate occasion. Pierre and Michelle are going to rehearse one of the most beautiful passages of the play. Pay attention to your daughter's performance.

She ignores the irony.

- I will be attentive.

ACT III Cena V

Romeo is being pursued by the soldiers of the prince of Verona. But they don´t find him.At night, protected by darkness, he manages to escalate the trees in the garden of the Capuletos’s mansion and enters Juliet's bedroom. They spend the night making love, consumed by the fervor of their passion. Now, it starts to clear up as dawn is approching. Juliet wakes up and sees Romeo getting dressed, ready to leave. She hides a yawn and asks:

- Are you leaving already? The day is still far away. The sound you heard was not the lark but the nightingale that, every night, sings in the branches of the rosebush.

Romeo:

- No, my love, It was the lark, the herald of the morning. It is getting clear. I must go.. Either I leave now and live or I stay and die.

Juliet insists:

- What you see is not the clarity of the day, but the light of a meteor. It is still night, my love. Wait, you don't need to depart so early.

Romeo approaches her and says:

- Very well, I'll stay. It does not matter that they arrest me, that they kill me. I will be happy this way,, if that is what you desire. To stay is for me a great pleasure. To leave means pain, so death, don't take long to arrive !

Someone knocks on the door. It is Juliet's chaperon who informs:

- Miss... it is already daylight. Your mother is coming.

Juliet gets startled. She moves from illusion to reality and says, concerned:

- I was wrong, my love. It was the lark we heard...It is day time. Flee. Fast.

Romeo kisses her and walks to the open window:

-Then, good-bye, my love.

Juliet:

- I want to have news from you all time.

Romeo: - I won't let pass one single moment without sending you news of my torment.

Juliet:

- Oh! Do you really believe we'll be seeing each other again ?

Rome:

- Have no doubt, my love. Good-bye.

And Romeo leaves through the window.

The cast applauds. Vadin turns to his sister and asks:

- Tell me, what do tou think of your daughter's interpretation ? Isn't she a perfect Juliet?

The countess gives him a kind of disconsolate smile and says:

- I have to admit that she did a good job in that scene.

Jacques looks at her, seriously, and speaks:

- Not only in that, Marie, but in all. Michelle is revealing herself an excellent actress.

And adds with a certain touch of malice:

- Particularly when she is playing with Pierre.They act togheter so perfectly, that it could be said they are living, in fact, a great passion.

- I know. And that is, precisely, what I fear, although it seems that this gives you an immense pleasure.

Vadin does not answer. He just displays an enigmatic smile.

***

It seemed that the whole aristocracy of Marseilles was present at the premiere, in the night of June 12th, 1659. The audience was virtually packed, thanks, partly, to the fact that the countess, keeping the promise made to Vadin, had endeavored, although against her own will, all the efforts so that her friends attended in full. Even the weather was favorable: the soft breeze that blew from the Mediterranean lessened the effects of the summer heat in the south of France, so strong at that time of the year. One of the two honor boxes was occupied by the Governor of the Province and his wife and by the King's representative, accompanied by a charming lady. On the other, were the countess and Pierre's parents, who had arrived from Bordeaux on that same afternoon. The armchair beside Marie Térèse was to remain empty until some minutes before the curtains were risen. Suddenly, a good-looking young man, in the uniform of the Royal French Navy, entered the box and sat at the countess's side. She recognizes her lover and turning pale, asks him in a low voice:

- In God's name, Pierre Marie, what are you doing here?

The lieutenant, although a little uncomfortable, answers, in the same tone:

- I came in my father's place, since he, because of influenza, was not in condition to attend. And, certainly, the Rastignac family could not be absent from such an important event.

- And I suppose the invitation came from my dear brother, right?

-Yes, dad and Mr. Vadin are friends of long date.

He made a pause and continued, in an even lower voice:

- I understand, Térèse, that you don't like that we appear together in public, but it was not my decision to come.

- Couldn't you have asked your father to send another relative ?

Pierre-Marie sighed.

- It was not a request from the father to the son, but an order from the admiral to the lieutenant. So, what else could I do? But don't worry, I’lI try to be very discreet.

The countess stared at him with tenderness and, whispering, said:

- I know you will, my love. Albeit tonight you are my official pair, etiquette demands that, in the interval, you take me by the arm when we move to and from the room where the refreshments are served.

He turned the eyes inside their orbits and said:

- So be it. If anybody, for malice or perception, imagines the truth about us, what can be done? We shall be victims of a joke played by a coincidence of fate.

The countess smiled.

- It was no coincidence. I am sure that our encounter was schemed by my brother. He knows about us.

- How did he find out?

- Vadin is very smart. He must have a spy among my servants. Actually, I believe it is Michelle's chaperon. She probably saw us, some night, when I was leading you to my bedroom. And she told my brother about it.

- But why should Jacques take notice of this? He is your brother. Do you think he plans to expose us ? My God, Térèse, if it becomes necessary, in order to protect your honor, I will stay away from you, althought his would break my heart.

The countess turned pale.

- Don't even think about it, dear, I would not survive without our moments of love.

- What should we do, then?

- To act naturally. I don't believe these people will get suspicious and I'm sure Vadin is not going to expose us. He is just showing his power. Perhaps a warning from him, to get me scared enough so that I will not thwart him in relation to a certain subject.

Pierre Marie assumed an air of indignation..

- But that is blackmail! After all, what does he want?

- I suppose he wishes me not to impede Michelle's marriage.

- Is Michelle getting married? With whom?

- With the actor that plays with her. Soon will be seeing them acting togheter.

The lieutenant raised his eyebrows.

- Romeo and Juliet...

- Yes, my sweet love, Romeo and Julliet...Pierre and Michelle.

The officer, momentarily ignoring discretion, stared deeply at his lover and said:

- And why not, Térese? Don't we live a similar romance ?

The countess sustained her lover's glance and answered:

- It is true, Pierre ...on second thought, why not?

At that exact instant, Vadin appeared in the stage to present the introduction of the play.The countess and the lieutenant stopped talking and started to listen to the introductory words.

*****

Chapter 07

The premiere of "Romeo and Juliet" in Marseilhes was a complete success.The play ran on for more than four months, the last presentation taking place on November 26th, 1659. One month before, Pierre and Michelle went to Vadin, in his dressing room-office, at the Charlesmagne. The actor was straight to the point:

- Jacques - he said, with conviction and seriousness - Within thirty days, the theatrical season will be over and I will go back to Bordeaux. But I don't want to return alone. So, tomorrow afternoon, I'm going to see the countess, in order to ask her permission to marry Michelle. I can't foresee Madame Clermont's reaction. Therefore, I hope to count with your support.

Vadin stared at Pierre for some time, then turned to his niece and asked:

- Is this also your desire, Michelle?

Although blushing, her answer was categorical:

- Yes, uncle. Pierre and I cannot imagine the idea of being separated. Therefore, I will marry him. I would be happy to have mom's approval, but if she refuses, we will elope to Bordeaux.

Vadin rose from the chair, walked around the room for a while, than stopped and kept his eyes closed, submerged in deep thought. Finally, he opened them and stared, for a long moment, at the two passionate youths who awaited, with anxiety and expectation printed in their faces. Then, in a serious and solemn tone, Jacques said:

- I always had for you, my dear niece, the love that a father dedicates to a daughter. And for you, my brave Mansard, I feel a great friendship and an enormous admiration. I have been following, day by day, the progress of your idyll and I feel, deep in my heart, that your love affair was traced by the gods that determine the roads of fate. Yes, I will intervene in favor of that union. I know how to overcome any eventual objection on the part of my sister. Pierre and Michele won't have the destiny of Romeo and Juliet. You will marry, as you wish, and I will pray that, as long as you live, you will be very, very happy.

With tears in her eyes, Juliet hugged Vadin and kissed him. Then, Pierre shook hands with Jacques and, repeating Michelle's affectionate gesture, also kissed him in the face.

* * *

On that same night, Vadin arrived at the Clermont's mansion. A few moments later, he locked himself with the countess in the library. They talked for a long time. When Jacques finally left, a shine of victory was hovering in his eyes.

***

Around three in the afternoon of the following day, Pierre stopped before the iron gate of the Clermont's mansion, and stayed, for some time, contemplating the well arranged garden, loaded with spring flowers. His love, so he thought, should be now upstairs, in the bedroom, anxiously waiting for the oucome of his encounter with her mother. He took a deep breath and pulled the cord of the bell. A metallic sound was heard, coming from the entrance of the house. Almost immediately, a servant appeared. The young actor introduced himself. The servant opened the gate and accompanied Pierre until a room, where the countess waited, standing close to an armchair. The time of the encounter had been previously arranged between Marie and Vadin. She pointed to a chair close by, inviting him to sit down. Pierre refused with a gesture of the head, walked forward, bent before the countess, took the hand she had extended, touched it lightly.with his lips and said:

- If you allow me, countess, I prefer to stand.

- As you please - she answered, sitting down in the armchair.

Pierre adopted a respectful expression but didn't waste time with preambles:

- As you were already informed by M. Vadin, I am here to ask, formally, your permission to marry Michelle before the end of the theatrical season. As I intend to return soon to Bordeaux it is my desire to take her with me as my wife.

Marie raised the head and stared at Pierre's face for a while, before speaking, dryly:

- I must confess, Mr. Mansard, that I didn't idealize for Michelle such a precocious marriage, as well as I always wanted that, when that came to happen, she married one of the gentlemen of our social circle.

Pierre turned pale before what he figured to be a badly disguised offense, but thought it better to stay quiet and let the countess go on with her dissertation. Feeling that had given the message she wanted to, Marie continued, now in a softer tone:

- However, I understand that I am not the mistress of my daughter's heart. As I also admit that, although you caused me a negative impression at our fist meeting, I have now a much more favorable opinion about you. Thus, if it is of God's desire and if, in fact, Michelle intends to marry you, I won't create any embarrassment to the accomplishment of that marriage.

A mixed of joy and surprise appeared in the face of Pierre, who tried to say something but emotion didn't allow him to find the appropriate words. He let his body slip to the chair that the hostess had offered and, still amazeded, remained silent. The countess noticed his embarrassment and smiled. A smile of satisfaction from someone who felt the comfort of winning a little battle in a lost war.Then, she pulled a small cord disguised behind the curtain at her side. A servant appeared and she ordered him to fetch Michelle.

While they awaited, Marie spoke again, facing the probable future son-in-law:

- But I impose a small condition.

Pierre startled. Things had developed too easily up to then. For sure, his hostess had reserved some unpleasant surprise for him. Making an effort to pretend a not existent calm, he asked:

- What is it, Countess?

- Just a detail, but, for me, and possibly also for my daughter, a very important one. That you get married here in Marseilles, in the cathedral of Notre Dame de la Garde.The place where I got married and Michelle was baptized.

A great relief took hold of Pierre. After all, the countess was not as hard as she had seemed to be. Actually, he thought. Like every women, the countess possessed a sentimental side. And, from that moment on, the young actor began to like his future mother-in-law. His thought was interrupted by Michelle's entrance in the room. She looked more beautiful than ever, dressed in white, what enhanced the beauty of her green eyes. Pierre rose. The young lady went to the countess and kissed her forehead. Then, she stretched out the arms to her love. They joined hands and their eyes met in a sweet and lingering glance. The countess recognized, on that exchange of glances, the existence of a deep passion. What made her remember another passionate affair, involving another Pierre, a young officer of the French Navy, her much dear and secret lover. Then, she smiled again. But, this time, there was no irony or grief in the smile. Just heat and tenderness.

After a brief and friendly colloquy among the three, it was settled that the marriage would take place in Notre Dame of Garde, within three weeks, on a Saturday, November 15th of the year of 1659. The necessary time to run the proclaims and to make Michelle's wedding gown. The countess announced that she would take care of all the details. Vadin had predicted accurately: The destiny of Michelle and Pierre would be, at least for the time being, quite different from that of Juliet and Romeo.

*****

Chapter 08

Pierre's parents arrived two days before the wedding and were accommodated at the mansion of the Clermonts. The countess, in an unexpected but wellcome change of attitude, was showing a lot of enthusiasm and, as she had promised, took to herself the command of the preparations for the ceremony. And the ceremony was a wonderful show. The interior of the cathedral was all ornamented with the most beautiful flowers that the fields of France still produced at that time of the year. A coral of seventy castrated adolescents, known as the small canaries of the Opera of Marseilles, accompanied by the sounds of a gigantic organ, intoned, in Latin, traditional religious songs and appropriate musics for marriage ceremonies. D. René Martin, archbishop of the diocese, celebrated the wedding, aided by two monsignors and ten "altar boy". Pierre, flanked by his parents and Maurice, all wearing the best proper garments of the epoch, awaited, to the left of the marble bench, where the engaged couple would kneel down, the arrival of the bride. To the right, the countess, in a navy blue dress, pleated with small diamonds, irradiated beauty and charm, flanked by an elegant officer of the Real Guard, in a pompous uniform covered with medals, who had come from Paris to represent the King of France. The elite of the city filled the banks of the cathedral. Michelle, exceptionally beautiful, all in white, her blond hair falling over the shoulders, was totally covered with flowers, in the best style of the rural France of the XVIIth century.

She entered the church, led by the elegant Jacques Vadin and walked, very slowly, across the the aisle of the church, under the men's greedy stares and the women's envious glances. Finally, she stopped before her fiancé who stepped forward to take her hand from the arm of the proud uncle. Minutes later, kneeling side by side, they received the sacrament of the Holy Church, uniting them before God and repeated the sacred vows to remain united "until death do us appart."

***

The "honey-moon" took place at the very mansion of the Clermonts and in the forests and gardens that surrounded the city, since the newly wed couple didn't have enough time for a trip of nuptialses. The play had to go on for ten more days, and the show demanded the presence of the main participants. The last presentation had a consecration superior to that of the premiere. And it was already commented, at the artistic circles of Paris and London, that the beautiful Michelle, now Madame Mansard, had become the best among the actresses that, in France, as well as in England, played the role of William Shakespeare's Juliet.

* * *

Three days after the closing of the season, the couple left for Bordeaux. They went to live at a beautiful mansion in the surroundings of the city, a place that would become their home for the next fourteen years. Pierre continued with his theatrical activities. but still found time to help his father - who was now beginnig to give the first signs of fatigue brought by age - in the production of grapes and wines. Sometimes, he took part in horse-driven chart races, an old impassionate habit. And he did so, in spite of his wife's protests, for whom that sport was dangerous and life threatening. Once in a while, on Sundays, Pierre took Michelle for a ride in his favorite chart, across the roads of nearby fields. He drove with expertise, although, occasionally, carried by enthusiasm, he would run faster than normal, what scared his wife very much. She then grabbed the iron arms on the sides of the chart and implored her husband to reduced the speed. Pierre apologized and obeyed, but, soon, by force of habit, he would run faster again until Michelle's renewed her protests. Once, when one of the wheels hit hard against a stone, the chart went slighly off balance. Terrified, Michelle complained and profetized:

- Pierre, I pray to God that I am wrong, but my intuition tells me that your habit of running those cursed charts, will still be, one day, the reason of our perdition.

He pulled the reins and the vehicle stoped. Then turned to Michelle, kissed her tenderly in the lips and spoke:

- Relax, my love. Don't worry. From now on I shall lead more carefully.

And he drove again, now at a much slower pace. .

* * *

Michelle continued her actress's career. The Shakespearan Theather of Bordeaux had become famous throughout France and even beyond its borders. She played several roles, besides that of Juliet; she was Desdemona in "Otelo", Cleopatra in "Antony and Cleopatra", Ophelia in "Hamlet" and Cordelia in "King Lear", always with the most absolute success. Little by little, Michelle got interested in directing plays and, soon, she was doing it quite efficiently too.

Vadin used to show up with a certain frequency,which always brought joy to his dear niece. And, once in a while, she went to Marseilhes, to visit her mother, but never stayed for a long time. The longing for Pierre soon brought her back to Bordeaux. For unknown reasons, they didn't have children, but the great love between them supplied that gap. It can be said, without fear of incurring in error, that Pierre and Michelle were truly happy...during their fourteen years and five months of matrimonial life.

Until a certain Sunday morning, in the month of May, 1674...

*****

Chapter 09

I woke up early, the sun was just above the horizon. I got up from bed and went to the window of our bedroom. The limpid sky foresaw a beautiful sunny Sunday. But soon I felt that I had not wakened with the habitual disposition and happiness. An inexplicable shade of sadness afflicted my heart. Why? Reflex of some nightmare that I no longer remembered? A passing sickness from the wine ingested at dinner yesterday? Presage of some tragedy? I couldn't say. I looked at the bed. Michelle slept, quitely, on her left side, nude. The sheets had been partially moved, exposing her lovely body. How beautiful my wife was ! I felt, on that moment, that my love for her had reached the maximum of intensity that is given to a man to feel for a woman. How much happiness she gave me during those almost fifteen years together! Businesses was also proceeding satisfactorily, everything ran well at the Shakespearian Theater and we both enjoyed a good health. Why then that strange sadness, that unpleasant melancholy that had fallen upon me ? In an effort of the mind, I moved away the gloomy thoughts and went to the bed. Smoothly, I began to kiss my lover's face. She opened the eyes, smiled and extended the arms to wrap me up in a hug. And we remained embraced for some minutes, silently enjoying the sweet sensation of a cheek-to-cheek union. Finally she asked:

- How is the weather, Pierre?

- Beautiful. We will have a Sunday with a lot of sun.

Her face lit up and I realized that, unlike me, she had wakened up in a cheerful and pleasant mood. I thought it better not to mention my strange sadness. Why spoil her happiness with something that, most probably, was just a temporary depression? Which, actually, it seemed to be already vanishing before Michelle's beauty and tenderness. She rose, put the nightgown and we went down to the kitchen for breakfast. Then we both changed to light clothes, appropriate for the pleasant climate of the rural spring and started to make plans for the day.. I suggested we ride by chart to Tonneins, a small village about twenty kilometers away, where - I knew - Michelle liked to go, occasionally, and whose forests were a tempting invitation for a pleasant walk.

- And we could have lunch at the inn of Trevan and eat roasted boar.

My wife's eyes shone. She adored roasted boar. Michelle shook the lovely blond hair, smiled and, looking well inside my eyes, said:

- And why not?

But soon came the already expected warning.

- With one condition, Pierre. Ride slowly. There is a place on that road that always gives me chills. You know the one that I'm referring to: the narrow passage, just near a cliff.

I nodded.

- Of course I do. The pass of Marmande. But do not fear. It is a short path and I will be careful when crossing it.

She seemed satisfied and, minutes later, we left in my favorite chart, pulled by Ravel, a four year-old horse, brave and well trained. The fresh air of the morning encouraged our spirits. Michelle's long and blond hair, agitated by the wind, floated in a wavy movement and, for an instant, I had the sensation of having by my side one of those Walquírias of the German mythology. After twenty minutes, we reached the entrance of the narrow pass. I noticed Michelle's body tremble lightly.

And it was then that, due to chance, bad luck or the action of some diabolic force, I really dont know which, everything started going wrong: intending to surpass, as fast as possible, the narrow path so feared by my wife, I accelerated the march. We were already halfway through, when a snake of medium size, appeared crawling right in the middle of the road. Unfortunately, the only thing that Ravel feared were cobras. Thus, when it saw the damned creature, the horse stanched and raised the front paws. The chart stopped abruptly and started to swing. Michelle let out a fright scream, while me, in a daring impulse, whipped the horse that, scared, galloped to the right side of the road, in order to avoid the snake, which was moving to the opposite direction. But, in so doing, Ravel got dangerously close to the cliff. I pulled the reins to correct the direction of the animal, but its front paw slipped in the slime at the border of the road and the Ravel began to fall down the cliff, dragging the chart behind it. In one fraction of a second we were in the air, in free fall. I saw Michelle being thrown away from the vehicle, while the horse, the chart and I reached, with violence, the bottom of the cliff, eight to ten meters below the road. I must have hit the head against something hard because I lost, immediately, my consciousness.

I suppose I remained unconscious for no more than one to two minutes. I woke up confused and dizzy and, still laying down, I looked around. Ravel, loosening gushes of blood through the mouth, seemed to be dying under the irons of the destroyed chart. About six to seven meters from where I was, Michelle layed down immobile, with the head strangely twisted to the left. I screamed her name but had no answer. I tried to rise, but, in so doing, I heard a dry crack and felt a terrible pain in my right leg. I lied down again, now on my belly and, afflicted and full of bad presage, I dragged myself towards my lover. With great effort, I sat next to Michlle and, carefully, deposed her head on my lap. It had lost all firmness, balancing to and fro, as if it was made of rubber. Terrified, I realized that my lover had broken the neck in the fall. I lied her down on the mud earth and, already knowing what I didn't admit to know, I leaned the ear over her chest, seeking the beats of the heart. No sounds. Michelle was dead. An unbearable sensation of loss was joined by a devastating feeling of guilty. Why didn't I give ears to the premonition that assauted me when I woke up? Why did I suggest the damned trip to Tonneins? Why did I accelerate in the narrow pass? Why was I unable to control the panic of my horse? Why such a succession of mistakes, why, my God, why? And now, there I was, disgraced, with the soul cut to pieces, my head lying on the lifeless body of who was the reason of my life. My thoughts went back to my mother's Christ and, for the first time, in my whole existence, I went to Him, imploring for death to come to me now, on that exact moment, so I could go seeking for Michelle, wherever she might be, to beg her forgiveness and to reaffirm the eternity of my love. Yes, because, it was inadmissible Pierre being alive while Michelle was dead.

***

I don't know for how long I stayed there, begging for the arrival of death, while my tears kept rolling on my lover's chest. But, all of a sudden, I felt, gratefully, that my feet were cooling. And soon an intense cold began to penetrate my body. I became dizzy and everything went darkening around me. The heart beats became progressively slow and weakened. Life was going away. Suddenly, something seemed to detach from my body and I felt as if part of it was going up. With what probably were the eyes of the mind or of the soul - how could I know?, I saw, down below, moving away, slowly, the scene of the disaster: Ravel, now entirely immobile, underneath the smashed chart, Michelle lying on the earth and me, Pierre, also on the soil, by her side, with the head on her chest. Little by little, the scene went losing its clearness and I felt that the abstract part of myself began moving away from the Earth, at an incredible speed. Then I heard, or imagined to have heard, coming from some distant place, Michelle's voice, saying: "Why did you do that, Pierre? Why?...I wanted so much to live". A deep torment took possession of what should still be the remaining part of my material mind. But, fortunately, the torment didn't last long. As my brain was fast desintegrating, thoughts were becoming anesthetized and even the pain of Michelle's loss was attenuating, substituted by a strange, but wellcome sensation of peace, that was taking care of my spirit. Yes, because, for certain, that was just what I was now: a spirit, moving toward the unknown and taking with it the hope that, sometime, somewhere, in an indefinite point of the infinite or, who knows?, again in planet Earth, I would find Michelle and restart our immense love affair. Suddenly, the spirit was wrapped up by total darkness and then came the emptiness, the absolute nothing...

*****

Chapter 10

On the following morning, two farmers were ridind their horse, by the narrow pass, when one of them looked down and cried out:

- Look, Jean, down below, a kind of coach ...smashed and it seems that there are two bodies...

The other looked and waved his head in agreement

- I think you're right, Paul. The horse must have slipped and the coach fell down. Come, help me to tie a rope around that log over there. I´ll go down to see if they are still alive.

Jean went down the rope, examined the two bodies carefullly, shook the head and, looking upward, screamed to Paul:

- Both are dead. They are from our neighbourhood. Pierre Mansard and his wife Michelle.

- Holy Mother of God - exclaimed the other.

Minutes later the two were galloping, at full speed, in the direction of Langon.

* * *

The burial took place in the afternoon of the following day, at the old cemetery of Langon, located at the top of one of the small hills that surround the villa. In obedience to Pierre's mother's desire, it was a simple and reserved ceremony, attended only by a few. Besides Jean Claude, Bernadette and Maurice Mansard, Marie Thérèse Clermont and her brother Jacques Vadin - who informed of the sad event, had arrived in the morning, were also present a few actors and employees of the Shakespearian Theater, some foremen of the farms and Doctor Giscard Danton, physician and friend of the family. It was him who had examined the bodies and had attested, officially, the death of the young couple.

A few moments before the burial, the doctor took Jean Claude apart and gave him some explanations about the causes of Pierre's and Michelle's death. The old priest Louis who, decades ago, had baptized Pierre, abated and visibly emotive, babbled some words, directing the souls of the couple to their Creator and, then, summoned those present to accompany him in the reading of the psalm 23. Soon after, the caskets were lowered into the open graves reserved to the Mansard family and carefully disposed, side by side. Flowers were thrown, the grave-diggers threw earth on the coffins and it was over.

* * *

As soon as the cortege left, two farmers, who stepped grapes to do wine in the Mansard lands and that had attended, from a distance, the burial ceremony, hidden behind a tombstone, rose and began to walk across the alleys of the cemetery. The younger turned to the older and spoke:

- George, it grieves me they have died.

The other awaved in agreement..

- True, it was a pity, Alan.

- Do you know why they died?

- I heard Dr. Danton talking with our boss, just before the burial.

- And what did he say?

- That Madame Michelle broke the neck in the fall and, for that, she died.

- And M. Pierre?

- He just broke the right leg.

- And that kills, George?

- No, Alan, it doesn't.

- Then, why did he die?

- The doctor thinks M. Pierre was overtaken by a great torment. A deep sadness for the loss of his lover.

- And that kills, George?

- Yes, Alan, it does.

- I didn't know about that.

- You are very young, Alan. There are a lot of things that you still ignore.

- It is true, George.

- So now you know that a very big sadness can stop one's heart... and that one may die because of love.

The chat finished. The two farmers crossed the gate of the cemetery and started to go down the hillside in the direction of their cottages. In the exact moment that the night began to go down over the village...

First "Intermezzo"

Far beyond our universe, in the eternal emptiness, where time never changes, the souls get ready to return to Earth, in order to correct mistakes of other existences and, therefore, to improve. And the cycle keeps repeating until each soul reaches the stage of spiritual maturity, essential to allow its definitive integration into the Great Cosmic Energy. Michelle's soul reincarnated first. And, if one takes the Gregorian calendar as reference of terrestrial time, Pierre returned twelve years later. However, this time, they were not born in Marseilles or Bordeaux, but in a same city, Arica, at the north of Chile.

Click HERE to continue