white lies-第51章

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Camille　was　now　utterly　mystified。　　Raynal　continued；　〃But　of　course　it　is　upon　condition　that　you　consent　to　heal　the　wound　you　have　made。　　If　you　refusehum！　but　you　will　not　refuse。〃

〃But　what　is　it　you　require　of　me？〃　inquired　Camille　impatiently。

〃Only　a　little　common　honesty。　　This　is　the　case：　you　have　seduced　a　young　lady。〃

〃Sir！〃　cried　Camille　angrily。

〃What　is　the　matter？　　The　word　is　not　so　bad　as　the　crime；　I　take　it。　　You　have　seduced　her；　and　under　circumstances　　But　we　won't　speak　of　them；　because　I　am　resolved　to　keep　cool。　　Well；　sir；　as　you　said　just　now；　it's　no　use　crying　over　spilled　milk；　you　can't　unseduce　the　little　fool；　so　you　must　marry　her。〃

〃Mmmarry　her？〃　and　Dujardin　flushed　all　over；　and　his　heart　beat；　and　he　stared　in　Raynal's　face。

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter　again？　　If　she　has　played　the　fool；　it　was　with　you；　and　no　other　man：　it　is　not　as　if　she　was　depraved。　　Come；　my　lad；　show　a　little　generosity！　　Take　the　consequences　of　your　own　actor　your　share　of　itdon't　throw　it　all　on　the　poor　feeble　woman。　　If　she　has　loved　you　too　much；　you　are　the　man　of　all　others　that　should　forgive　her。　　Come；　what　do　you　say？〃

This　was　too　much　for　Camille；　that　Raynal　should　come　and　demand　of　him　to　marry　his　own　wife；　for　so　he　understood　the　proposal。　　He　stared　at　Raynal　in　silence　ever　so　long；　and　even　when　he　spoke　it　was　only　to　mutter；　〃Are　you　out　of　your　senses；　or　am　I？〃

At　this　it　cost　Raynal　a　considerable　effort　to　restrain　his　wrath。　However；　he　showed　himself　worthy　of　the　office　he　had　undertaken。　He　contained　himself；　and　submitted　to　argue　the　matter。　　〃Why；　colonel；〃　said　he；　〃is　it　such　a　misfortune　to　marry　poor　Rose？　　She　is　young；　she　is　lovely；　she　has　many　good　qualities；　and　she　would　have　walked　straight　to　the　end　of　her　days　but　for　you。〃

Now　here　was　another　surprise　for　Dujardin；　another　mystification。

〃Rose　de　Beaurepaire？〃　said　he；　putting　his　hand　to　his　head；　as　if　to　see　whether　his　reason　was　still　there。

〃Yes；　Rose　de　BeaurepaireRose　Dujardin　that　ought　to　be；　and　that　is　to　be；　if　you　please。〃

〃One　word；　monsieur：　is　it　of　Rose　we　have　been　talking　all　this　time？〃

Raynal　nearly　lost　his　temper　at　this　question；　and　the　cold；　contemptuous　tone　with　which　it　was　put；　but　he　gulped　down　his　ire。

〃It　is；〃　said　he。

〃One　question　more。　　Did　she　tell　you　I　hadI　had〃

〃Why；　as　to　that；　she　was　in　no　condition　to　deny　she　had　fallen；　poor　girl；　the　evidence　was　too　strong。　　She　did　not　reveal　her　seducer's　name；　but　I　had　not　far　to　go　for　that。〃

〃One　question　more；〃　said　Dujardin；　with　a　face　of　anguish。　　〃Is　it　Josis　it　Madame　Raynal's　wish　I　should　marry　her　sister？〃

〃Why；　of　course；〃　said　Raynal；　in　all　sincerity；　assuming　that　naturally　enough　as　a　matter　of　course；　〃if　you　have　any　respect　for　HER　feelings；　look　on　me　as　her　envoy　in　this　matter。〃

At　this　Camille　turned　sick　with　disgust；　then　rage　and　bitterness　swelled　his　heart。　　A　furious　impulse　seized　him　to　expose　Josephine　on　the　spot。　　He　overcame　that；　however；　and　merely　said；　〃She　wishes　me　to　marry　her　sister；　does　she？　very　well　then；　I　decline。〃

Raynal　was　shocked。　　〃Oh；〃　said　he；　sorrowfully；　〃I　cannot　believe　this　of　you；　such　heartlessness　as　this　is　not　written　in　your　face；　it　is　contradicted　by　your　past　actions。〃

〃I　refuse；〃　said　Dujardin；　hastily；　and　to　tell　the　truth；　not　sorry　to　inflict　some　pain　on　the　honest　soldier　who　had　unintentionally　driven　the　iron　so　deep　into　his　own　soul。

〃And　I；〃　said　Raynal；　losing　his　temper；　〃insist；　in　the　name　of　my　dear　Josephine〃

〃Perdition！〃　snarled　Dujardin；　losing　his　self…command　in　turn。

〃And　of　the　whole　family。〃

〃And　I　tell　you　I　will　never　marry　her。　　Upon　my　honor；　never。〃

〃Your　honor！　you　have　none。　　The　only　question　is　would　you　rather　marry　heror　die。〃

〃Die；　to　be　sure。〃

〃Then　die　you　shall。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Dujardin；　〃did　I　not　tell　you　we　were　wasting　time？

〃Let　us　waste　no　more　then。　　WHEN　and　WHERE？〃

〃At　the　rear　of　the　commander…in…chief's　tent；　when　you　like。〃

〃This　afternoon；　thenat　five。〃

〃At　five。〃

〃Seconds？〃

〃What　for？〃

〃You　are　right。　　They　are　only　in　the　way　of　men　who　carry　sabres；　and　besides　the　less　gossip　the　better。　　Good…by；　till　five；〃　and　the　two　saluted　one　another　with　grim　ceremony；　and　Raynal　turned　on　his　heel。

Camille　stood　transfixed；　a　fierce；　guilty　joy　throbbed　in　his　heart。　　His　rival　had　quarrelled　with　him；　had　insulted　him；　had　challenged　him。　　It　was　not　his　fault。　　The　sun　shone　bright　now　upon　his　cold　despair。　　An　hour　ago　life　offered　nothing。　　A　few　hours　more；　and　then　joy　beyond　expression；　or　an　end　of　all。　　Death　or　Josephine！　　Then　he　remembered　that　this　very　Josephine　wished　to　marry　him　to　Rose。　　Then　he　remembered　Raynal　had　saved　his　life。　Cold　chills　crossed　his　breaking　heart。　　Of　all　that　could　happen　to　him　death　alone　seemed　a　blessing　without　alloy。

He　stood　there　so　torn　with　conflicting　passions；　that　he　noted　neither　the　passing　hours　nor　the　flying　bullets。

He　was　only　awakened　from　his　miserable　trance　by　the　even　tread　of　soldiers　marching　towards　him；　he　looked　up　and　there　were　several　officers　coming　along　the　edge　of　the　trench；　escorted　by　a　corporal's　guard。

He　took　a　step　or　two　to　meet　them。　　After　the　usual　salutes；　one　of　the　three　colonels　delivered　a　large　paper；　with　a　large　seal；　to　Dujardin。　　He　read　it　out　to　his　captains　and　lieutenants；　who　had　assembled　at　sight　of　the　cocked　hats　and　full　uniforms。


〃Attack　by　the　army　to…morrow　upon　all　the　lines。　　Attack　of　the　bastion　St。　Andre　this　evening。　　The　22d；　the　24th；　and　12th　brigades　will　furnish　the　contingents；　the　operation　will　be　conducted　by　one　of　the　colonels　of　the　second　division；　to　be　appointed　by　General　Raimbaut。〃


〃Aha！〃　sounded　a　voice　like　a　trombone　at　the　reader's　elbow。　　〃I　am　just　in　the　nick　of　time。　　When；　colonel；　when？〃

〃At　five　this　evening；　Colonel　Raynal。〃

〃There；〃　said　Raynal；　in　a　half…whisper；　to　Dujardin；　〃could　they　choose　no　hour　but　that？〃

〃Do　not　be　uneasy；〃　replied　Dujardin；　under　his　breath。　　He　explained　aloud〃the　assault　will　not　take　place；　gentlemen；　the　bastion　is　mined。〃

〃What　of　that？　half　of　them　are　mined。　　We　will　take　our　engineers　in　with　us；〃　said　Raynal。

〃Such　an　assault　will　be　a　useless　massacre；〃　resumed　Dujardin。　　〃I　reconnoitred　the　bastion　last　night；　and　saw　their　preparations　for　blowing　us　to　the　devil；　and　General　Raimbaut；　at　my　request；　is　even　now　presenting　my　remarks　to　the　commander…in…chief；　and　enforcing　them。　　There　will　be　no　assault。　　In　a　day　or　two　we　shall　blow　the　bastion；　mines；　and　all　into　the　air。〃

At　this　moment　Raynal　caught　sight　of　a　gray…haired　officer　coming　at　some　distance。　　〃There　IS　General　Raimbaut；〃　said　he。　　〃I　will　go　and　pay　my　respects　to　him。〃　　General　Raimbaut　shook　his　hand　warmly；　and　welcomed　him　to　the　army。　　They　were　old　and　warm　friends。　　〃And　you　are　come　at　the　right　time；〃　said　he。　　〃It　will　soon　be　as　hot　here　as　in　Egypt。〃

Raynal　laughed　and　said　all　the　better。

General　Raimbaut　now　joined　the　group　of　officers；　and　entered　at　once　in　the　business　which　had　brought　him。　　Addressing　himself　to　Colonel　Dujardin；　first　he　informs　that　officer　he　had　presented　his　observations　to　the　commander…in…chief；　who　had　given　them　the　attention　they　merited。

Colonel　Dujardin　bowed。

〃But；〃　continued　General　Raimbaut；　〃they　are　overruled　by　imperious　circumstances；　some　of　which　he　did　not　reveal；　they　remain　in　his　own　breast。　　However；　on　the　eve　of　a　general　attack；　which　he　cannot　postpone；　that　bastion　must　be　disarmed；　otherwise　it　would　be　too　fatal　to　all　the　storming　parties。　　It　is　a　painful　necessity。〃　　He　added；　〃Tell　Colonel　Dujardin　I　count　greatly　on　the　courage　and　discipline　of　his　brigade；　and　on　his　own　wise　measures。〃

Colonel　Dujardin　bowed。　　Then　he　whispered　in　the　other's　ear；　〃Both　will　alike　be　wasted。〃

The　other　colonels　waved　their　hats　in　triumph　at　the　commander…in…　chief's　decision；　and　Raynal's　face　showed　he　looked　on　Dujardin　as　a　sort　of　spoil…sport　happily　defeated。

〃Well；　then；　gentlemen；〃　said　General　Raimbaut；　〃we　begin　by　settling　the　contingents　to　be　furnished　by　your　several　brigades。　Say；　an　equal　number　from　each。　　The　sum　total　shall　be　settled　by　Colonel　Dujardin；　who　has　so　long　and　ably　baffled　the　bastion　at　this　post。〃

Colonel　Dujardin　bowed　stiffly　and　not　very　graciously。　　In　his　heart　he　despised　these　old　fogies；　compounds　of　timidity　and　rashness。

〃So；　how　many　men　in　all；　colonel？〃　asked　General　Raimbaut。

〃The　fewer　the　better；〃　replied　the　other　solemnly；　〃since〃and　then　discipline　tied　his　tongue。

〃I　understand　you；〃　said　the　old　man。　　〃Shall　we　say　eight　hundred　men？〃

〃I　should　prefer　three　hundred。　　They　have　made　a　back　door　to　the　bastion；　and　the　means　of　flight　at　hand　will　put　flight　into　their　heads。　　They　will　pick　off　some　of　our　men　as　we　go　at　them。　　When　the　rest　jump　in　they　will　jump　out；　and〃　　He　paused。

〃Why；　he　knows　all　about　it　before　it　comes；〃　said　one　of　the　colonels　naively。

〃I　do。　　I　see　the　whole　operation　and　its　result　before　me；　as　I　see　this　hand。　　Three　hundred　men　will　do。〃

〃But；　general；〃　objected　Raynal；　〃you　are　not　beginning　at　the　beginning。　　The　first　thing　in　these　cases　is　to　choose　the　officer　to　command　the　storming　party。〃

〃Yes；　Raynal；　unquestionably；　but　you　must　be　aware　that　is　a　painful　and　embarrassing　part　of　my　duty；　especially　after　Colonel　Dujardin's　remarks。〃

〃Ah；　bah！〃　cried　Raynal。　　〃He　is　prejudiced。　　He　has　been　digging　a　thundering　long　mine　here；　and　now　you　are　going　to　make　his　child　useless。　　We　none　of　us　like　that。　　But　when　he　gets　the　colors　in　his　hand；　and　the　storming　column　at　his　back；　his　misgivings　will　all　go　to　the　wind；　and　the　enemy　after　them；　unless　he　has　been　committing　some　crime；　and　is　very　much　changed　from　what　I　knew　him　four　years　ago。〃

〃Colonel　Raynal；〃　said　one　of　the　other　colonels；　politely　but　firmly；　〃pray　do　not　assume　that　Colonel　Dujardin　is　to　lead　the　column；　there　are　three　other　claimants。　　General　Raimbaut　is　to　select　from　us　four。〃

〃Yes；　gentlemen；　and　in　a　service　of　this　kind　I　would　feel　grateful　to　you　all　if　you　would　relieve　me　of　that　painful　duty。〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　Dujardin；　with　an　imperceptible　sneer；　〃the　general　means　to　say　this：　the　operation　is　so　glorious　that　he　could　hardly　without　partiality　assign　the　command　to　either　of　us　four　claimants。　　Well；　then；　let　us　cast　lots。〃

The　proposal　was　received　by　acclamation。

〃The　general　will　mark　a　black　cross　on　one　lot；　and　he　who　draws　it　wins　the　command。〃

The　young　colonels　prepared　their　lots　with　almost　boyish　eagerness。　These　fiery　spirits　were　sick　to　death　of　lying　and　skulking　in　the　trenches。　　They　flung　their　lots　into　the　hat。　　After　them；　who　should　approach　the　hat；　lot　in　hand；　but　Raynal。　　Dujardin　instantly　interfered；　and　held　his　arm　as　he　was　in　the　act　of　dropping　in　his　lot。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　Raynal；　sharply。

〃This　is　our　affair；　Colonel　Raynal。　　You　have　no　command　in　this　army。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　I　have　yours。〃

〃Not　till　to…morrow。〃

〃Why；　you　would　not　take　suc