the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第21章
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He was flushed； and his small eyes were as vicious as those of a bull…
dog。 There was hatred on his face。 For my part I carried myself lightly
and gaily。 A French gentleman fights but he does not hate。 I drew
myself up before him； and I bowed as I have done in the duello。
There can be grace and courtesy as well as defiance in a bow； I put all
three into this one； with a touch of ridicule in the shrug which
accompanied it。 It was at this moment that he struck me。 The room
spun round me。 I fell upon my back。 But in an instant I was on my feet
again and had rushed to a close combat。 His ear； his hair； his nose； I
seized them each in turn。 Once again the mad joy of the battle was in my
veins。 The old cry of triumph rose to my lips。 〃Vive l'Empereur！〃 I
yelled as I drove my head into his stomach。 He threw his arm round my
neck； and holding me with one hand he struck me with the other。 I
buried my teeth in his arm； and he shouted with pain。 〃Call him off；
Rufton！〃 he screamed。
〃Call him off； man！ He's worrying me！〃 They dragged me away
from him。 Can I ever forget it？the laughter； the cheering； the
congratulations！ Even my enemy bore me no ill…will； for he shook me by
the hand。 For my part I embraced him on each cheek。 Five years
afterward I learned from Lord Rufton that my noble bearing upon that
evening was still fresh in the memory of my English friends。
It is not； however； of my own exploits in sport that I wish to speak to
you to…night； but it is of the Lady Jane Dacre and the strange adventure of
which she was the cause。 Lady Jane Dacre was Lord Rufton's sister and
the lady of his household。 I fear that until I came it was lonely for her；
since she was a beautiful and refined woman with nothing in common
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with those who were about her。 Indeed； this might be said of many
women in the England of those days； for the men were rude and rough and
coarse； with boorish habits and few accomplishments； while the women
were the most lovely and tender that I have ever known。 We became
great friends； the Lady Jane and I； for it was not possible for me to drink
three bottles of port after dinner like those Devonshire gentlemen； and so I
would seek refuge in her drawing…room； where evening after evening she
would play the harpsichord and I would sing the songs of my own land。
In those peaceful moments I would find a refuge from the misery which
filled me； when I reflected that my regiment was left in the front of the
enemy without the chief whom they had learned to love and to follow。
Indeed； I could have torn my hair when I read in the English papers of
the fine fighting which was going on in Portugal and on the frontiers of
Spain； all of which I had missed through my misfortune in falling into the
hands of Milord Wellington。
From what I have told you of the Lady Jane you will have guessed
what occurred； my friends。 Etienne Gerard is thrown into the company
of a young and beautiful woman。 What must it mean for him？ What
must it mean for her？ It was not for me； the guest； the captive； to make
love to the sister of my host。 But I was reserved。
I was discreet。 I tried to curb my own emotions and to discourage
hers。 For my own part I fear that I betrayed myself； for the eye becomes
more eloquent when the tongue is silent。 Every quiver of my fingers as I
turned over her music…sheets told her my secret。 But sheshe was
admirable。 It is in these matters that women have a genius for deception。
If I had not penetrated her secret I should often have thought that she
forgot even that I was in the house。 For hours she would sit lost in a
sweet melancholy； while I admired her pale face and her curls in the lamp…
light； and thrilled within me to think that I had moved her so deeply。
Then at last I would speak； and she would start in her chair and stare at me
with the most admirable pretence of being surprised to find me in the
room。 Ah！ how I longed to hurl myself suddenly at her feet； to kiss her
white hand； to assure her that I had surprised her secret and that I would
not abuse her confidence。
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But no； I was not her equal； and I was under her roof as a castaway
enemy。 My lips were sealed。 I endeavoured to imitate her own
wonderful affectation of indifference； but； as you may think？ I was
eagerly alert for any opportunity of serving her。
One morning Lady Jane had driven in her phaeton to Okehampton；
and I strolled along the road which led to that place in the hope that I
might meet her on her return。
It was the early winter； and banks of fading fern sloped down to the
winding road。 It is a bleak place this Dartmoor； wild and rockya
country of wind and mist。
I felt as I walked that it is no wonder Englishmen should suffer from
the spleen。 My own heart was heavy within me； and I sat upon a rock by
the wayside looking out on the dreary view with my thoughts full of
trouble and foreboding。 Suddenly； however； as I glanced down the road；
I saw a sight which drove everything else from my mind； and caused me
to leap to my feet with a cry of astonishment and anger。
Down the curve of the road a phaeton was coming； the pony tearing
along at full gallop。 Within was the very lady whom I had come to meet。
She lashed at the pony like one who endeavours to escape from some
pressing danger； glancing ever backward over her shoulder。 The bend of
the road concealed from me what it was that had alarmed her； and I ran
forward not knowing what to expect。
The next instant I saw the pursuer； and my amazement was increased
at the sight。 It was a gentleman in the red coat of an English fox…hunter；
mounted on a great grey horse。 He was galloping as if in a race； and the
long stride of the splendid creature beneath him soon brought him up to
the lady's flying carriage。 I saw him stoop and seize the reins of the pony；
so as to bring it to a halt。 The next instant he was deep in talk with the
lady； he bending forward in his saddle and speaking eagerly； she shrinking
away from him as if she feared and loathed him。
You may think； my dear friends； that this was not a sight at which I
could calmly gaze。 How my heart thrilled within me to think that a
chance should have been given to me to serve the Lady Jane！ I ranoh；
good Lord； how I ran！ At last； breathless； speechless； I reached the
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phaeton。 The man glanced up at me with his blue English eyes； but so
deep was he in his talk that he paid no heed to me； nor did the lady say a
word。 She still leaned back； her beautiful pale face gazing up at him。
He was a good…looking fellowtall； and strong； and brown； a pang of
jealousy seized me as I looked at him。 He was talking low and fast； as
the English do when they are in earnest。
〃I tell you； Jinny； it's you and only you that I love；〃 said he。 〃Don't
bear malice； Jinny。 Let by…gones be by…gones。 Come now； say it's all
over。〃
〃No； never； George； never！〃 she cried。
A dusky red suffused his handsome face。 The man was furious。
〃Why can't you forgive me； Jinny？〃
〃I can't forget the past。〃
〃By George； you must！ I've asked enough。 It's time to order now。
I'll have my rights； d'ye hear？〃 His hand closed upon her wrist。
At last my breath had returned to me。
〃Madame；〃 I said； as I raised my hat； 〃do I intrude； or is there any
possible way in which I can be of service to you？〃
But neither of them minded me any more than if I had been a fly who
buzzed between them。 Their eyes were locked together。
〃I'll have my rights； I tell you。 I've waited long enough。〃
〃There's no use bullying； George。〃
〃Do you give in？〃
〃No； never！〃
〃Is that your final answer？〃
〃Yes； it is。〃
He gave a bitter curse and threw down her hand。
〃All right； my lady； we'll see about this。〃
〃Excuse me； sir！〃 said I； with dignity。
〃Oh； go to blazes！〃 he cried； turning on me with his furious face。 The
next instant he had spurred his horse and was galloping down the road
once more。
Lady Jane gazed after him until he was out of sight； and I was
surprised to see that her face wore a smile and not a frown。 Then she
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turned to me and held out her hand。
〃You are very kind； Colonel Gerard。 You meant well； I am sure。〃
〃Madame；〃 said I； 〃if you can oblige me with the gentleman's name
and address I will arrange that he shall never trouble you again。〃
〃No scandal； I beg of you；〃 she cried。
〃Madame； I could not so far forget myself。 Rest assured that no
lady's name would ever be mentioned by me in the course of such an
incident。 In bidding me to go to blazes this gentleman has relieved me
from the embarrassment of having to invent a cause of quarrel。〃
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 said the lady； earnestly； 〃you must give me your
word as a soldier and a gentleman that this matter goes no farther； and also
that you will say nothing to my bro
