penguin island-第23章

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n。

Count　Olive　advised　the　Dracophils　to　make　a　last　appeal　for　funds　and　to　attempt　a　great　stroke　while　Alca　was　still　in　a　ferment。

An　executive　committee；　which　he　himself　had　chosen；　decided　to　kidnap　the　members　of　the　Chamber　of　Deputies；　and　considered　ways　and　means。

The　affair　was　fixed　for　the　twenty…eighth　of　July。　On　that　day　the　sun　rose　radiantly　over　the　city。　In　front　of　the　legislative　palace　women　passed　to　market　with　their　baskets；　hawkers　cried　their　peaches；　pears；　and　grapes；　cab　horses　with　their　noses　in　their　bags　munched　their　hay。　Nobody　expected　anything；　not　because　the　secret　had　been　kept　but　because　it　met　with　nothing　but　unbelievers。　Nobody　believed　in　a　revolution；　and　from　this　fact　we　may　conclude　that　nobody　desired　one。　About　two　o'clock　the　deputies　began　to　pass；　few　and　unnoticed；　through　the　side…door　of　the　palace。　At　three　o'clock　a　few　groups　of　badly　dressed　men　had　formed。　At　half　past　three　black　masses　coming　from　the　adjacent　streets　spread　over　Revolution　Square。　This　vast　expanse　was　soon　covered　by　an　ocean　of　soft　hats；　and　the　crowd　of　demonstrators；　continually　increased　by　sight…seers；　having　crossed　the　bridge；　struck　its　dark　wave　against　the　walls　of　the　legislative　enclosure。　Cries；　murmurs；　and　songs　went　up　to　the　impassive　sky。　〃It　is　Chatillon　we　want！〃　〃Down　with　the　Deputies！〃　〃Down　with　the　Republicans！〃　〃Death　to　the　Republicans！〃　The　devoted　band　of　Dracophils；　led　by　Prince　des　Boscenos；　struck　up　the　august　canticle：

　　　　　　　Vive　Crucho；　　　　　　　　Vaillant　et　sage；　　　　　　　　Plein　de　courage　　　　　　　　　Des　le　berceau！

Behind　the　wall　silence　alone　replied。

This　silence　and　the　absence　of　guards　encouraged　and　at　the　same　time　frightened　the　crowd。　Suddenly　a　formidable　voice　cried　out：

〃Attack！〃

And　Prince　des　Boscenos　was　seen　raising　his　gigantic　form　to　the　top　of　the　wall；　which　was　covered　with　barbs　and　iron　spikes。　Behind　him　rushed　his　companions；　and　the　people　followed。　Some　hammered　against　the　wall　to　make　holes　in　it；　others　endeavoured　to　tear　down　the　spikes　and　to　pull　out　the　barbs。　These　defences　had　given　way　in　places　and　some　of　the　invaders　had　stripped　the　wall　and　were　sitting　astride　on　the　top。　Prince　des　Boscenos　was　waving　an　immense　green　flag。　Suddenly　the　crowd　wavered　and　from　it　came　a　long　cry　of　terror。　The　police　and　the　Republican　carabineers　issuing　out　of　all　the　entrances　of　the　palace　formed　themselves　into　a　column　beneath　the　wall　and　in　a　moment　it　was　cleared　of　its　besiegers。　After　a　long　moment　of　suspense　the　noise　of　arms　was　heard；　and　the　police　charged　the　crowd　with　fixed　bayonets。　An　instant　afterwards　and　on　the　deserted　square　strewn　with　hats　and　walking…sticks　there　reigned　a　sinister　silence。　Twice　again　the　Dracophils　attempted　to　form；　twice　they　were　repulsed。　The　rising　was　conquered。　But　Prince　des　Boscenos；　standing　on　the　wall　of　the　hostile　palace；　his　flag　in　his　hand；　still　repelled　the　attack　of　a　whole　brigade。　He　knocked　down　all　who　approached　him。　At　last　he；　too；　was　thrown　down；　and　fell　on　an　iron　spike；　to　which　he　remained　hooked；　still　clasping　the　standard　of　the　Draconides。

On　the　following　day　the　Ministers　of　the　Republic　and　the　Members　of　Parliament　determined　to　take　energetic　measures。　In　vain；　this　time；　did　President　Formose　attempt　to　evade　his　responsibilities。　The　government　discussed　the　question　of　depriving　Chatillon　of　his　rank　and　dignities　and　of　indicting　him　before　the　High　Court　as　a　conspirator；　an　enemy　of　the　public　good；　a　traitor；　etc。

At　this　news　the　Emiral's　old　companions　in　arms；　who　the　very　evening　before　had　beset　him　with　their　adulations；　made　no　effort　to　conceal　their　joy。　But　Chatillon　remained　popular　with　the　middle　classes　of　Alca　and　one　still　heard　the　hymn　of　the　liberator　sounding　in　the　streets；　〃It　is　Chatillon　we　want。〃

The　Ministers　were　embarrassed。　They　intended　to　indict　Chatillon　before　the　High　Court。　But　they　knew　nothing；　they　remained　in　that　total　ignorance　reserved　for　those　who　govern　men。　They　were　incapable　of　advancing　any　grave　charges　against　Chatillon。　They　could　supply　the　prosecution　with　nothing　but　the　ridiculous　lies　of　their　spies。　Chatillon's　share　in　the　plot　and　his　relations　with　Prince　Crucho　remained　the　secret　of　the　thirty　thousand　Dracophils。　The　Ministers　and　the　Deputies　had　suspicions　and　even　certainties；　but　they　had　no　proofs。　The　Public　Prosecutor　said　to　the　Minister　of　justice：　〃Very　little　is　needed　for　a　political　prosecution！　but　I　have　nothing　at　all　and　that　is　not　enough。〃　The　affair　made　no　progress。　The　enemies　of　the　Republic　were　triumphant。

On　the　eighteenth　of　September　the　news　ran　in　Alca　that　Chatillon　had　taken　flight。　Everywhere　there　was　surprise　and　astonishment。　People　doubted；　for　they　could　not　understand。

This　is　what　had　happened：　One　day　as　the　brave　Under…Emiral　Vulcanmould　happened；　as　if　by　chance；　to　go　into　the　office　of　M。　Barbotan；　the　Minister　of　Foreign　Affairs；　he　remarked　with　his　usual　frankness：

〃M。　Barbotan；　your　colleagues　do　not　seem　to　me　to　be　up　to　much；　it　is　evident　that　they　have　never　commanded　a　ship。　That　fool　Chatillon　gives　them　a　deuced　bad　fit　of　the　shivers。〃

The　Minister；　in　sign　of　denial；　waved　his　paper…knife　in　the　air　above　his　desk。

〃Don't　deny　it；〃　answered　Vulcanmould。　〃You　don't　know　how　to　get　rid　of　Chatillon。　You　do　not　dare　to　indict　him　before　the　High　Court　because　you　are　not　sure　of　being　able　to　bring　forward　a　strong　enough　charge。　Bigourd　will　defend　him；　and　Bigourd　is　a　clever　advocate。　。　。　。　You　are　right；　M。　Barbotan；　you　are　right。　It　would　be　a　dangerous　trial。〃

〃Ah！　my　friend；〃　said　the　Minister；　in　a　careless　tone；　〃if　you　knew　how　satisfied　we　are。　。　。　。　I　receive　the　most　reassuring　news　from　my　prefects。　The　good　sense　of　the　Penguins　will　do　justice　to　the　intrigues　of　this　mutinous　soldier。　Can　you　suppose　for　a　moment　that　a　great　people；　an　intelligent；　laborious　people；　devoted　to　liberal　institutions　which。　。　。〃

Vulcanmould　interrupted　with　a　great　sigh：

〃Ah！　If　I　had　time　to　do　it　I　would　relieve　you　of　your　difficulty。　I　would　juggle　away　my　Chatillon　like　a　nutmeg　out　of　a　thimble。　I　would　fillip　him　off　to　Porpoisia。〃

The　Minister　paid　close　attention。

〃It　would　not　take　long；〃　continued　the　sailor。　〃I　would　rid　you　in　a　trice　of　the　creature。　。　。　。　But　just　now　I　have　other　fish　to　fry。　。　。　。　I　am　in　a　bad　hole。　I　must　find　a　pretty　big　sum。　But；　deuce　take　it；　honour　before　everything。〃

The　Minister　and　the　Under…Emiral　looked　at　each　other　for　a　moment　in　silence。　Then　Barbotan　said　with　authority：

〃Under…Emiral　Vulcanmould；　get　rid　of　this　seditious　soldier。　You　will　render　a　great　service　to　Penguinia；　and　the　Minister　of　Home　Affairs　will　see　that　your　gambling　debts　are　paid。〃

The　same　evening　Vulcanmould　called　on　Chatillon　and　looked　at　him　for　some　time　with　an　expression　of　grief　and　mystery。

〃My　do　you　look　like　that？〃　asked　the　Emiral　in　an　uneasy　tone。

Vulcanmould　said　to　him　sadly：

〃Old　brother　in　arms；　all　is　discovered。　For　the　past　half…hour　the　government　knows　everything。〃

At　these　words　Chatillon　sank　down　overwhelmed。

Vulcanmould　continued：

〃You　may　be　arrested　any　moment。　I　advise　you　to　make　off。〃

And　drawing　out　his　watch：

〃Not　a　minute　to　lose。〃

〃Have　I　time　to　call　on　the　Viscountess　Olive？〃

〃It　would　be　mad；〃　said　Vulcanmould；　handing　him　a　passport　and　a　pair　of　blue　spectacles；　and　telling　him　to　have　courage。

〃I　will；〃　said　Chatillon。

〃Good…bye！　old　chum。〃

〃Good…bye　and　thanks！　You　have　saved　my　life。〃

〃That　is　the　least　I　could　do。〃

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　the　brave　Emiral　had　left　the　city　of　Alca。

He　embarked　at　night　on　an　old　cutter　at　La　Cirque　and　set　sail　for　Porpoisia。　But　eight　miles　from　the　coast　he　was　captured　by　a　despatch…boat　which　was　sailing　without　lights　and　which　was　under；　the　flag　of　the　Queen　of　the　Black　Islands。　That　Queen　had　for　a　long　time　nourished　a　fatal　passion　for　Chatillon。



VII。　CONCLUSION

Nunc　est　bibendum。　Delivered　from　its　fears　and　pleased　at　having　escaped　from　so　great　a　danger；　the　government　resolved　to　celebrate　the　anniversary　of　the　Penguin　regeneration　and　the　establishment　of　the　Republic　by　holding　a　general　holiday。

President　Formose；　the　Ministers；　and　the　members　of　the　Chamber　and　of　the　Senate　were　present　at　the　ceremony。

The　Generalissimo　of　the　Penguin　army　was　present　in　uniform。　He　was　cheered。

Preceded　by　the　black　flag　of　misery　and　the　red　flag　of　revolt；　deputations　of　workmen　walked　in　the　procession；　their　aspect　one　of　grim　protection。

President；　Ministers；　Deputies；　officials；　heads　of　the　magistracy　and　of　the　army；　each；　in　their　own　names　and　in　the　name　of　the　sovereign　people；　renewed　the　ancient　oath　to　live　in　freedom　or　to　die。　It　was　an　alternative　upon　which　they　were　resolutely　determined。　But　they　preferred　to　live　in　freedom。　There　were　games；　speeches；　and　songs。

After　the　departure　of　the　representatives　of　the　State　the　crowd　of　citizens　separated　slowly　and　peaceably；　shouting　out；　〃Hurrah　for　the　Republic！〃　〃Hurrah　for　liberty！〃　〃Down　with　the　shaven　pates！〃

The　newspapers　mentioned　only　one　regrettable　incident　that　happened　on　that　wonderful　day。　Prince　des　Boscenos　was　quietly　smoking　a　cigar　in　the　Queen's　Meadow　when　the　State　procession　passed　by。　The　prince　approached　the　Minister's　carriage　and　said　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Death　to　the　Republicans！〃　He　was　immediately　apprehended　by　the　police；　to　whom　he　offered　a　most　desperate　resistance。　He　knocked　them　down　in　crowds；　but　he　was　conquered　by　numbers；　and；　bruised；　scratched；　swollen；　and　unrecognisable　even　to　the　eyes　of。　his　wife；　he　was　dragged　through　the　joyous　streets　into　an　obscure　prison。

The　magistrates　carried　on　the　case　against　Chatillon　in　a　peculiar　style。　Letters　were　found　at　the　Admiralty　which　revealed　the　complicity　of　the　Reverend　Father　Agaric　in　the　plot。　Immediately　public　opinion　was　inflamed　against　the　monks；　and　Parliament　voted；　one　after　the　other；　a　dozen　laws　which　restrained；　diminished；　limited；　prescribed；　suppressed；　determined；　and　curtailed；　their　rights；　immunities；　exemptions；　privileges；　and　benefits；　and　created　many　invalidating　disqualifications　against　them。

The　Reverend　Father　Agaric　steadfastly　endured　the　rigour　of　the　laws　which　struck　himself　personally；　as　well　as　the　terrible　fall　of　the　Emiral　of　which　he　was　the　chief　cause。　Far　from　yielding　to　evil　fortune；　he　regarded　it　as　but　a　bird　of　passage。　He　was　planning　new　political　designs　more　audacious　than　the　first。

When　his　projects　were　sufficiently　ripe　he　went　one　day　to　the　Wood　of　Conils。　A　thrush　sang　in　a　tree　and　a　little　hedgehog　crossed　the　stony　path　in　front　of　him　with　awkward　steps。　Agaric　walked　with　great　strides；　muttering　fragments　of　sentences　to　himself。

When　he　reached　the　door　of　the　laboratory　in　which；　for　so　many　years；　the　pious　manufacturer　bad　distilled　the　golden　liqueur　of　St。　Orberosia；　he　found　the　place　deserted　and　the　door　shut。　Having　walked　around　the　building　he　saw　in　the　backyard　the　venerable　Cornemuse；　who；　with　his　habit　pinned　up；　was　cli