white lies-第20章

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nd　begged　to　see　the　governor。　　The　servant　left　him　in　the　hall；　and　went　up…stairs　to　tell　his　master。　　At　the　name　the　governor　reflected；　then　frowned；　then　bade　his　servant　reach　him　down　a　certain　book。　　He　inspected　it。　　〃I　thought　so：　any　one　with　him？〃

〃No；　your　excellency。〃

〃Load　my　pistols；　put　them　on　the　table；　show　him　in；　and　then　order　a　guard　to　the　door。〃

The　governor　was　a　stern　veteran　with　a　powerful　brow；　a　shaggy　eyebrow；　and　a　piercing　eye。　　He　never　rose；　but　leaned　his　chin　on　his　hand；　and　his　elbow　on　a　table　that　stood　between　them；　and　eyed　his　visitor　very　fixedly　and　strangely。　　〃We　did　not　expect　to　see　you　on　this　side　the　Pyrenees；〃　said　he　gravely。

〃Nor　I　myself；　governor。〃

〃What　do　you　come　for？〃

〃A　suit　of　regimentals；　and　money　to　take　me　to　Paris。〃

〃And　suppose；　instead　of　that；　I　turn　out　a　corporal's　guard；　and　bid　them　shoot　you　in　the　courtyard？〃

〃It　would　be　the　drollest　thing　you　ever　did；　all　things　considered；〃　said　the　other　coolly；　but　bitterly。

The　governor　looked　for　the　book　he　had　lately　consulted；　found　the　page；　handed　it　to　the　rusty　officer；　and　watched　him　keenly：　the　blood　rushed　all　over　his　face；　and　his　lip　trembled；　but　his　eye　dwelt　stern　yet　sorrowful　on　the　governor。

〃I　have　read　your　book；　now　read　mine。〃　　He　drew　off　his　coat　and　showed　his　wrists　and　arms；　blue　and　waled。　　〃Can　you　read　that；　sir？〃

〃No。〃

〃All　the　better　for　you：　Spanish　fetters；　general。〃　　He　showed　a　white　scar　on　his　shoulder。　　〃Can　you　read　that？　　This　is　what　I　cut　out　of　it；〃　and　he　handed　the　governor　a　little　round　stone　as　big　and　almost　as　regular　as　a　musket…ball。

〃Humph！　that　could　hardly　have　been　fired　from　a　French　musket。〃

〃Can　you　read　this？〃　and　he　showed　him　a　long　cicatrix　on　his　other　arm。

〃Knife　I　think；〃　said　the　governor。

〃You　are　right；　sir：　Spanish　knife。　　Can　you　read　this？〃　and　opening　his　bosom　he　showed　a　raw　wound　on　his　breast。

〃Oh；　the　devil！〃　cried　the　governor。

The　wounded　man　put　his　rusty　coat　on　again；　and　stood　erect；　and　haughty；　and　silent。

The　general　eyed　him；　and　saw　his　great　spirit　shining　through　this　man。　　The　more　he　looked　the　less　could　the　scarecrow　veil　the　hero　from　his　practised　eye。　　He　said　there　must　be　some　mistake；　or　else　he　was　in　his　dotage；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　he　added；　〃Be　seated；　if　you　please；　and　tell　me　what　you　have　been　doing　all　these　years。〃

〃Suffering。〃

〃Not　all　the　time；　I　suppose。〃

〃Without　intermission。〃

〃But　what？　suffering　what？〃

〃Cold；　hunger；　darkness；　wounds；　solitude；　sickness；　despair；　prison；　all　that　man　can　suffer。〃

〃Impossible！　a　man　would　be　dead　at　that　rate　before　this。〃

〃I　should　have　died　a　dozen　deaths　but　for　one　thing；　I　had　promised　her　to　live。〃

There　was　a　pause。　　Then　the　old　soldier　said　gravely；　but　more　kindly；　to　the　young　one；　〃Tell　me　the　facts；　captain〃　（the　first　time　he　had　acknowledged　his　visitor's　military　rank）。

An　hour　had　scarce　elapsed　since　the　rusty　figure　was　stopped　by　the　sentinels　at　the　gate；　when　two　glittering　officers　passed　out　under　the　same　archway；　followed　by　a　servant　carrying　a　furred　cloak。　The　sentinels　presented　arms。　　The　elder　of　these　officers　was　the　governor：　the　younger　was　the　late　scarecrow；　in　a　brand…new　uniform　belonging　to　the　governor's　son。　　He　shone　out　now　in　his　true　light；　the　beau　ideal　of　a　patrician　soldier；　one　would　have　said　he　had　been　born　with　a　sword　by　his　side　and　drilled　by　nature；　so　straight　and　smart；　yet　easy　he　was　in　every　movement。　　He　was　like　a　falcon；　eye　and　all；　only；　as　it　were；　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　hawk's　eye　lay　a　dove's　eye。　　That　compound　and　varying　eye　seemed　to　say；　I　can　love；　I　can　fight：　I　can　fight；　I　can　love；　as　few　of　you　can　do　either。

The　old　man　was　trying　to　persuade　him　to　stay　at　Bayonne；　until　his　wound　should　be　cured。

〃No；　general；　I　have　other　wounds　to　cure　of　longer　standing　than　this　one。〃

〃Well；　promise　me　to　lay　up　at　Paris。〃

〃General；　I　shall　stay　an　hour　at　Paris。〃

〃An　hour　in　Paris！　　Well；　at　least　call　at　the　War　Office　and　present　this　letter。〃

That　same　afternoon；　wrapped　in　the　governor's　furred　cloak；　the　young　officer　lay　at　his　full　length　in　the　coupe　of　the　diligence；　the　whole　of　which　the　governor　had　peremptorily　demanded　for　him；　and　rolled　day　and　night　towards　Paris。

He　reached　it　worn　with　fatigue　and　fevered　by　his　wound；　but　his　spirit　as　indomitable　as　ever。　　He　went　to　the　War　Office　with　the　governor's　letter。　　It　seemed　to　create　some　little　sensation；　one　functionary　came　and　said　a　polite　word　to　him；　then　another。　　At　last　to　his　infinite　surprise　the　minister　himself　sent　down　word　he　wished　to　see　him；　the　minister　put　several　questions　to　him；　and　seemed　interested　in　him　and　touched　by　his　relation。

〃I　think；　captain；　I　shall　have　to　send　to　you：　where　do　you　stay　in　Paris？〃

〃Nowhere；　monsieur；　I　leave　Paris　as　soon　as　I　can　find　an　easy…　going　horse。〃

〃But　General　Bretaux　tells　me　you　are　wounded。〃

〃Not　dangerously。〃

〃Pardon　me；　captain；　but　is　this　prudent？　is　it　just　to　yourself　and　your　friends？〃

〃Yes；　I　owe　it　to　those　who　perhaps　think　me　dead。〃

〃You　can　write　to　them。〃

〃I　grudge　so　great；　so　sacred　a　joy　to　a　letter。　　No！　after　all　I　have　suffered　I　claim　to　be　the　one　to　tell　her　I　have　kept　my　word：　I　promised　to　live；　and　I　live。〃

〃HER？　then　I　say　no　more；　only　tell　me　what　road　you　take。〃

〃The　road　to　Brittany。〃

As　the　young　officer　was　walking　his　horse　by　the　roadside　about　a　league　and　a　half　from　Paris；　he　heard　a　clatter　behind　him；　and　up　galloped　an　aide…de…camp　and　drew　up　alongside；　bringing　his　horse　nearly　on　his　haunches。

He　handed　him　a　large　packet　sealed　with　the　arms　of　France。　　The　other　tore　it　open；　and　there　was　his　brevet　as　colonel。　　His　cheek　flushed　and　his　eye　glittered　with　joy。　　The　aide…de…camp　next　gave　him　a　parcel：　〃Your　epaulets；　colonel！　　We　hear　you　are　going　into　the　wilds　where　epaulets　don't　grow。　　You　are　to　join　the　army　of　the　Rhine　as　soon　as　your　wound　is　well。〃

〃Wherever　my　country　calls　me。〃

〃Your　address；　then；　colonel；　that　we　may　know　where　to　put　our　finger　on　a　tried　soldier　when　we　want　one。〃

〃I　am　going　to　Beaurepaire。〃

〃Beaurepaire？　　I　never　heard　of　it。〃

〃You　never　heard　of　Beaurepaire？　it　is　in　Brittany；　forty…five　leagues　from　Paris；　forty…three　leagues　and　a　half　from　here。〃

〃Good！　　Health　and　honor　to　you；　colonel。〃

〃The　same　to　you；　lieutenant；　or　a　soldier's　death。〃

The　new　colonel　read　the　precious　document　across　his　horse's　mane；　and　then　he　was　going　to　put　one　of　the　epaulets　on　his　right　shoulder；　bare　at　present：　but　he　reflected。

〃No；　she　should　make　him　a　colonel　with　her　own　dear　hand。　　He　put　them　in　his　pocket。　　He　would　not　even　look　at　them　till　she　had　seen　them。　　Oh；　how　happy　he　was　not　only　to　come　back　to　her　alive；　but　to　come　back　to　her　honored。〃

His　wound　smarted；　his　limbs　ached；　but　no　pain　past　or　present　could　lay　hold　of　his　mind。　　In　his　great　joy　he　remembered　past　suffering　and　felt　present　painyet　smiled。　　Only　every　now　and　then　he　pined　for　wings　to　shorten　the　weary　road。

He　was　walking　his　horse　quietly；　drooping　a　little　over　his　saddle；　when　another　officer　well　mounted　came　after　him　and　passed　him　at　a　hand　gallop　with　one　hasty　glance　at　his　uniform；　and　went　tearing　on　like　one　riding　for　his　life。

〃Don't　I　know　that　face？〃　said　Dujardin。

He　cudgelled　his　memory；　and　at　last　he　remembered　it　was　the　face　of　an　old　comrade。　　At　least　it　strongly　reminded　him　of　one　Jean　Raynal　who　had　saved　his　life　in　the　Arno；　when　they　were　lieutenants　together。

Yes；　it　was　certainly　Raynal；　only　bronzed　by　service　in　some　hot　country。

〃Ah！〃　thought　Camille；　〃I　suppose　I　am　more　changed　than　he　is；　for　he　certainly　did　not　recognize　me　at　all。　　Now　I　wonder　what　that　fellow　has　been　doing　all　this　time。　　What　a　hurry　he　was　in！　a　moment　more　and　I　should　have　hailed　him。　　Perhaps　I　may　fall　in　with　him　at　the　next　town。〃

He　touched　his　horse　with　the　spur；　and　cantered　gently　on；　for　trotting　shook　him　more　than　he　could　bear。　　Even　when　he　cantered　he　had　to　press　his　hand　against　his　bosom；　and　often　with　the　motion　a　bitterer　pang　than　usual　came　and　forced　the　water　from　his　eyes；　and　then　he　smiled。　　His　great　love　and　his　high　courage　made　this　reply　to　the　body's　anguish。　　And　still　his　eyes　looked　straight　forward　as　at　some　object　in　the　distant　horizon；　while　he　came　gently　on；　his　hand　pressed　to　his　bosom；　his　head　drooping　now　and　then；　smiling　patiently；　upon　the　road　to　Beaurepaire。

Oh！　if　anybody　had　told　him　that　in　five　days　his　Josephine　was　to　be　married；　and　that　the　bronzed　comrade；　who　had　just　galloped　past　him；　was　to　marry　her！


At　Beaurepaire　they　were　making　and　altering　wedding…dresses。　　Rose　was　excited；　and　even　Josephine　took　a　calm　interest。　　Dress　never　goes　for　nothing　with　her　sex。　　The　chairs　and　tables　were　covered；　and　the　floor　was　littered。　　The　baroness　was　presiding　over　the　rites　of　vanity；　and　telling　them　what　she　wore　at　her　wedding；　under　Louis　XV。；　with　strict　accuracy；　and　what　we　men　should　consider　a　wonderful　effort　of　memory；　when　the　Commandant　Raynal　came　in　like　a　cannon…ball；　without　any　warning；　and　stood　among　them　in　a　stiff；　military　attitude。　　Exclamations　from　all　the　party；　and　then　a　kind　greeting；　especially　from　the　baroness。

〃We　have　been　so　dull　without　you；　Jean。〃

〃And　I　have　missed　you　once　or　twice；　mother…in…law；　I　can　tell　you。　Well；　I　have　got　bad　news；　but　you　must　consider　we　live　in　a　busy　time。　　To…morrow　I　start　for　Egypt。〃

Loud　ejaculations　from　the　baroness　and　Rose。　　Josephine　put　down　her　work　quietly。

The　baroness　sighed　deeply；　and　the　tears　came　into　her　eyes。　　〃Oh；　you　must　not　be　down…hearted；　old　lady；〃　shouted　Raynal。　　〃Why；　I　am　as　likely　to　come　back　from　Egypt　as　not。　　It　is　an　even　chance；　to　say　the　least。〃

This　piece　of　consolation　completed　the　baroness's　unhappiness。　　She　really　had　conceived　a　great　affection　for　Raynal；　and　her　heart　had　been　set　on　the　wedding。

〃Take　away　all　that　finery；　girls；〃　said　she　bitterly；　〃we　shall　not　want　it　for　years。　　I　shall　not　be　alive　when　he　comes　home　from　Egypt。　　I　never　had　a　sononly　daughtersthe　best　any　woman　ever　had；　but　a　mother　is　not　complete　without　a　son；　and　I　shall　never　live　to　have　one　now。〃

〃I　hate　General　Bonaparte；〃　said　Rose　viciously。

〃Hate　my　general？〃　groaned　Raynal；　looking　down　with　a　sort　of　superstitious　awe　and　wonder　at　the　lovely　vixen。　　〃Hate　the　best　soldier　the　world　ever　saw？〃

〃What　do　I　care　for　his　soldiership？　　He　has　put　off　our　wedding。　For　how　many　years　did　you　say？〃

〃No；　he　has　put　it　on。〃

In　answer　to　the　astonished　looks　this　excited；　he　explained　that　the　wedding　was　to　have　been　in　a　week；　but　now　it　must　be　to…morrow　at　ten　o'clock。

The　three　ladies　set　up　their　throats　together。　　〃Tomorrow？〃

〃To…morrow。　　Why；　what　do　you　suppose　I　left　Paris　for　yesterday？　left　my　duties　even。〃

〃What；　monsieur？〃　asked　Josephine；　timidly；　〃did　you　ride　all　that　way；　and　leave　your　duties　MERELY　TO　MARRY　ME？〃　and　she　looked　a　little　pleased。

〃You　are　worth　a　great　d