penguin island-第26章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　read　in　large　letters：　Pyrot　is　innocent；　Maubec　is　guilty。　He　was　not　a　bill…poster；　his　name　was　Colomban；　and　as　the　author　of　sixty　volumes　on　Penguin　sociology　he　was　numbered　among　the　most　laborious　and　respected　writers　in　Alca。　Having　given　sufficient　thought　to　the　matter　and　no　longer　doubting　Pyrot's　innocence；　he　proclaimed　it　in　the　manner　which　he　thought　would　be　most　sensational。　He　met　with　no　hindrance　while　posting　his　bills　in　the　quiet　streets；　but　when　he　came　to　the　populous　quarters；　every　time　he　mounted　his　ladder；　inquisitive　people　crowded　round　him　and；　dumbfounded　with　surprise　and　indignation；　threw　at　him　threatening　looks　which　he　received　with　the　calm　that　comes　from　courage　and　short…sightedness。　Whilst　caretakers　and　tradespeople　tore　down　the　bills　he　had　posted；　he　kept　on　zealously　placarding；　carrying　his　tools　and　followed　by　little　boys　who；　with　their　baskets　under　their　arms　or　their　satchels　on　their　backs；　were　in　no　hurry　to　reach　school。　To　the　mute　indignation　against　him；　protests　and　murmurs　were　now　added。　But　Colomban　did　not　condescend　to　see　or　hear　anything。　As；　at　the　entrance　to　the　Rue　St。　Orberosia；　he　was　posting　one　of　his　squares　of　paper　bearing　the　words：　Pyrot　is　innocent；　Maubec　is　guilty；　the　riotous　crowd　showed　signs　of　the　most　violent　anger。　They　called　after　him；　〃Traitor；　thief；　rascal；　scoundrel。〃　A　woman　opened　a　window　and　emptied　a　vase　full　of　filth　over　his　head；　a　cabby　sent　his　hat　flying　from　one　end　of　the　street　to　the　other　by　a　blow　of　his　whip　amid　the　cheers　of　the　crowd　who　now　felt　themselves　avenged。　A　butcher's　boy　knocked　Colomban　with　his　paste…pot；　his　brush；　and　his　posters；　from　the　top　of　his　ladder　into　the　gutter；　and　the　proud　Penguins　then　felt　the　greatness　of　their　country。　Colomban　stood　up；；　covered　with　filth；　lame；　and　with　his　elbow　injured；　but　tranquil　and　resolute。

〃Low　brutes；〃　he　muttered；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

Then　he　went　down　on　all…fours　in　the　gutter　to　look　for　his　glasses　which　he　had　lost　in　his　fall。　t　was　then　seen　that　his　coat　was　split　from　the　collar　to　the　tails　and　that　his　trousers　were　in　rags。　The　rancour　of　the　crowd　grew　stronger。

On　the　other　side　of　the　street　stretched　the　big　St。　Orberosian　Stores。　The　patriots　seized　whatever　they　could　lay　their　hands　on　from　the　shop　front；　and　hurled　at　Colomban　oranges；　lemons；　pots　of　jam；　pieces　of　chocolate；　bottles　of　liqueurs；　boxes　of　sardines；　pots　of　foie　gras；　hams；　fowls；　flasks　of　oil；　and　bags　of　haricots。　Covered　with　the　debris　of　the　food；　bruised；　tattered；　lame；　and　blind；　he　took　to　flight；　followed　by　the　shop…boys；　bakers；　loafers；　citizens；　and　hooligans　whose　number　increased　each　moment　and　who　kept　shouting：　〃Duck　him！　Death　to　the　traitor！　Duck　him！〃　This　torrent　of　vulgar　humanity　swept　along　the　streets　and　rushed　into　the　Rue　St。　Mael。　The　police　did　their　duty。　From　all　the　adjacent　streets　constables　proceeded　and；　holding　their　scabbards　with　their　left　hands；　they　went　at　full　speed　in　front　of　the　pursuers。　They　were　on　the　point　of　grabbing　Colomban　in　their　huge　hands　when　he　suddenly　escaped　them　by　falling　through　an　open　man…hole　to　the　bottom　of　a　sewer。

He　spent　the　night　there　in　the　darkness；　sitting　close　by　the　dirty　water　amidst　the　fat　and　slimy　rats。　He　thought　of　his　task；　and　his　swelling　heart　filled　with　courage　and　pity。　And　when　the　dawn　threw　a　pale　ray　of　light　into　the　air…hole　he　got　up　and　said；　speaking　to　himself：

〃I　see　that　the　fight　will　be　a　stiff　one。〃

Forthwith　he　composed　a　memorandum　in　which　he　clearly　showed　that　Pyrot　could　not　have　stolen　from　the　Ministry　of　War　the　eighty　thousand　trusses　of　hay　which　it　had　never　received；　for　the　reason　that　Maubec　had　never　delivered　them；　though　he　had　received　the　money。　Colomban　caused　this　statement　to　be　distributed　in　the　streets　of　Alca。　The　people　refused　to　read　it　and　tore　it　up　in　anger。　The　shop…keepers　shook　their　fists　at　the　distributers；　who　made　off；　chased　by　angry　women　armed　with　brooms。　Feelings　grew　warm　and　the　ferment　lasted　the　whole　day。　In　the　evening　bands　of　wild　and　ragged　men　went　about　the　streets　yelling：　〃Death　to　Colomban！〃　The　patriots　snatched　whole　bundles　of　the　memorandum　from　the　newsboys　and　burned　them　in　the　public　squares；　dancing　wildly　round　these　bon…fires　with　girls　whose　petticoats　were　tied　up　to　their　waists。

Some　of　the　more　enthusiastic　among　them　went　and　broke　the　windows　of　the　house　in　which　Colomban　had　lived　in　perfect　tranquillity　during　his　forty　years　of　work。

Parliament　was　roused　and　asked　the　Chief　of　the　Government　what　measures　he　proposed　to　take　in　order　to　repel　the　odious　attacks　made　by　Colomban　upon　the　honour　of　the　National　Arm　and　the　safety　of　Penguinia。　Robin　Mielleux　denounced　Colomban's　impious　audacity　and　proclaimed　amid　the　cheers　of　the　legislators　that　the　man　would　be　summoned　before　the　Courts　to　answer　for　his　infamous　libel。

The　Minister　of　War　was　called　to　the　tribune　and　appeared　in　it　transfigured。　He　had　no　longer　the　air；　as　in　former　days；　of　one　of　the　sacred　geese　of　the　Penguin　citadels。　Now；　bristling；　with　outstretched　neck　and　hooked　beak；　he　seemed　the　symbolical　vulture　fastened　to　the　livers　of　his　country's　enemies。

In　the　august　silence　of　the　assembly　he　pronounced　these　words　only：

〃I　swear　that　Pyrot　is　a　rascal。〃

This　speech　of　Greatauk　was　reported　all　over　Penguinia　and　satisfied　the　public　conscience。



V。　THE　REVEREND　FATHERS　AGARIC　AND　CORNEMUSE

Colomban　bore　with　meekness　and　surprise　the　weight　of　the　general　reprobation。　He　could　not　go　out　without　being　stoned；　so　he　did　not　go　out。　He　remained　in　his　study　with　a　superb　obstinacy；　writing　new　memoranda　in　favour　of　the　encaged　innocent。　In　the　mean　time　among　the　few　readers　that　he　found；　some；　about　a　dozen；　were　struck　by　his　reasons　and　began　to　doubt　Pyrot's　guilt。　They　broached　the　subject　to　their　friends　and　endeavoured　to　spread　the　light　that　had　arisen　in　their　minds。　One　of　them　was　a　friend　of　Robin　Mielleux　and　confided　to　him　his　perplexities；　with　the　result　that　he　was　no　longer　received　by　that　Minister。　Another　demanded　explanations　in　an　open　letter　to　the　Minister　of　War。　A　third　published　a　terrible　pamphlet。　The　latter；　whose　name　was　Kerdanic；　was　a　formidable　controversialist。　The　public　was　unmoved。　It　was　said　that　these　defenders　of　the　traitor　had　been　bribed　by　the　rich　Jews；　they　were　stigmatized　by　the　name　of　Pyrotists　and　the　patriots　swore　to　exterminate　them。　There　were　only　a　thousand　or　twelve　hundred　Pyrotists　in　the　whole　vast　Republic；　but　it　was　believed　that　they　were　everywhere。　People　were　afraid　of　finding　them　in　the　promenades；　at　meetings；　at　receptions；　in　fashionable　drawing…rooms；　at　the　dinner…table；　even　in　the　conjugal　couch。　One　half　of　the　population　was　suspected　by　the　other　half。　The　discord　set　all　Alca　on　fire。

In　the　mean　time　Father　Agaric；　who　managed　his　big　school　for　young　nobles；　followed　events　with　anxious　attention。　The　misfortunes　of　the　Penguin　Church　had　not　disheartened　him。　He　remained　faithful　to　Prince　Crucho　and　preserved　the　hope　of　restoring　the　heir　of　the　Draconides　to　the　Penguin　throne。　It　appeared　to　him　that　the　events　that　were　happening　or　about　to　happen　in　the　country；　the　state　of　mind　of　which　they　were　at　once　the　effect　and　the　cause；　and　the　troubles　that　necessarily　resulted　from　them　mightif　they　were　directed；　guided；　and　led　by　the　profound　wisdom　of　a　monkoverthrow　the　Republic　and　incline　the　Penguins　to　restore　Prince　Crucho；　from　whose　piety　the　faithful　hoped　for　so　much　solace。　Wearing　his　huge　black　hat；　the　brims　of　which　looked　like　the　wings　of　Night；　he　walked　through　the　Wood　of　Conils　towards　the　factory　where　his　venerable　friend；　Father　Cornemuse；　distilled　the　hygienic　St。　Orberosian　liqueur；　The　good　monk's　industry；　so　cruelly　affected　in　the　time　of　Emiral　Chatillon；　was　being　restored　from　its　ruins。　One　heard　goods　trains　rumbling　through　the　Wood　and　one　saw　in　the　sheds　hundreds　of　orphans　clothed　in　blue；　packing　bottles　and　nailing　up　cases。

Agaric　found　the　venerable　Cornemuse　standing　before　his　stoves　and　surrounded　by　his　retorts。　The　shining　pupils　of　the　old　man's　eyes　had　again　become　as　rubies；　his　skull　shone　with　its　former　elaborate　and　careful　polish。

Agaric　first　congratulated　the　pious　distiller　on　the　restored　activity　of　his　laboratories　and　workshops。

〃Business　is　recovering。　I　thank　God　for　it；〃　answered　the　old　man　of　Conils。　〃Alas！　it　had　fallen　into　a　bad　state；　Brother　Agaric。　You　raw　the　desolation　of　this　establishment。　I　need　say　no　more。〃

Agaric　turned　away　his　head。

〃The　St。　Orberosian　liqueur；〃　continued　Cornemuse；　〃is　making　fresh　conquests。　But　none　the　less　my　industry　remains　uncertain　and　precarious。　The　laws　of　ruin　and　desolation　that　struck　it　have　not　been　abrogated；　they　have　only　been　suspended。〃

And　the　monk　of　Conils　lifted　his　ruby　eyes　to　heaven。

Agaric　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder。

〃What　a　sight；　Cornemuse；　does　unhappy　Penguinia　present　to　us！　Everywhere　disobedience；　independence；　liberty！　We　seethe　proud；　the　haughty；　the　men　of　revolt　rising　up。　After　having　braved　the　Divine　laws　they　now　rear　themselves　against　human　laws；　so　true　is　it　that　in　order　to　be　a　good　citizen　a　man　must　be　a　good　Christian。　Colomban　is　trying　to　imitate　Satan。　Numerous　criminals　are　following　his　fatal　example。　They　want；　in　their　rage；　to　put　aside　all　checks；　to　throw　off　all　yokes；　to　free　themselves　from　the　most　sacred　bonds；　to　escape　from　the　most　salutary　restraints。　They　strike　their　country　to　make　it　obey　them。　But　they　will　be　overcome　by　the　weight　of　public　animadversion；　vituperation；　indignation；　fury；　execration；　and　abomination。　That　is　the　abyss　to　which　they　have　been　led　by　atheism；　free　thought；　and　the　monstrous　claim　to　judge　for　themselves　and　to　form　their　own　opinions。〃

〃Doubtless；　doubtless；〃　replied　Father　Cornemuse；　shaking　his　head；　〃but　I　confess　that　the　care　of　distilling　these　simples　has　prevented　me　from　following　public　affairs。　I　only　know　that　people　are　talking　a　great　deal　about　a　man　called　Pyrot。　Some　maintain　that　he　is　guilty；　others　affirm　that　he　is　innocent；　but　I　do　not　clearly　understand　the　motives　that　drive　both　parties　to　mix　themselves　up　in　a　business　that　concerns　neither　of　them。〃

The　pious　Agaric　asked　eagerly：

〃You　do　not　doubt　Pyrot's　guilt？〃

〃I　cannot　doubt　it；　dear　Agaric；〃　answered　the　monk　of　Conils。　〃That　would　be　contrary　to　the　laws　of　my　country　which　we　ought　to　respect　as　long　as　they　are　not　opposed　to　the　Divine　laws。　Pyrot　is　guilty；　for　he　has　been　convicted。　As　to　saying　more　for　or　against　his　guilt；　that　would　be　to　erect　my　own　authority　against　that　of　the　judges；　a　thing　which　I　will　take　good　care　not　to　do。　Besides；　it　is　useless；　for　Pyrot　has　been　convicted。　If　he　has　not　been　convicted　because　he　is　guilty；　he　is　guilty　because　he　has　been　convicted；　it　comes　to　the　same　thing。　I　believe　in　his　guilt　as　every　good　citizen　ought　to　believe　in　it；　and　I　will　believe　in　it　as　long　as　the　established　jurisdiction　will　order　me　to　believe　in　it；　for　it　is　not　for　a　private