the origins of contemporary france-4-第50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！



others；　he　is　well　acquainted　with　the　families　he　proscribes；　names

to　him　are　not　merely　so　many　letters　strung　together；　but　they　recall

personal　souvenirs　and　evoke　living　forms。　　At　all　events；　he　is　the

spectator；　artisan　and　beneficiary　of　his　own　dictatorship；　the

silver…plate　and　money　he　confiscates　passes　under　his　eye；　through

his　hands；　he　sees　the　〃suspects〃　he　incarcerates　march　before　him；　he

is　in　the　court…room　on　the　rendering　of　the　sentence　of　death；

frequently；　the　guillotine　he　has　supplied　with　heads　works　under　his

windows；　he　sleeps　in　the　mansion　of　an　emigré　he　makes　requisitions

for　the　furniture；　linen　and　wine　belonging　to　the　decapitated　and　the

imprisoned；＇96＇　lies　in　their　beds；　drinks　their　wine　and　revels　with

plenty　of　company　at　their　expense；　and　in　their　place。　　In　the　same

way　as　a　bandit　chief　who　neither　kills　nor　robs　with　his　own　hands；

but　has　murder　and　robbery　committed　in　his　presence；　by　which　he

substantially　profits；　not　by　proxy；　but　personally；　through　the　well…

directed　blows　ordered　by　him。　　…　To　this　degree；　and　in　such

proximity　to　physical　action；　omnipotence　is　a　noxious　atmosphere

which　no　state　of　health　can　resist。　　Restored　to　the　conditions　which

poisoned　man　in　barbarous　times　or　countries；　he　is　again　attacked　by

moral　maladies　from　which　he　was　thenceforth　believed　to　be　exempt；　he

retrogrades　even　to　the　strange　corruptions　of　the　Orient　and　the

Middle　Ages；　forgotten　leprosies；　apparently　extinct；　with　exotic

pestilences　to　which　civilized　lands　seemed　closed；　reappear　in　his

soul　with　their　issues　and　tumors。



VII。　　Brutal　Instincts。



Eruption　of　brutal　instincts。　　…　Duquesnoy　at　Metz。　　…　Dumont　at

Amiens。　　…　Drunkards。　　…　Cusset；　Bourbotte；　Moustier；　Bourdon　de

l'Oise；　Dartigoyte。



〃It　seems；〃　says　a　witness　who　was　long　acquainted　with　Maignet；　〃that

all　he　did　for　these　five　or　six　years　was　simply　the　delirious　phase

of　an　illness；　after　which　he　recovered；　and　lived　on　as　if　nothing

had　happened。〃＇97＇　And　Maignet　himself　writes　〃I　was　not　made　for

these　tempests。〃　That　goes　for　everyone　but　especially　for　the　coarser

natures；　subordination　would　have　restrained　them　while　dictatorial

power　make　the　instincts　of　the　brute　and　the　mob　appear。



Contemplate　Duquesnoy；　a　sort　of　mastiff；　always　barking　and　biting；

when　gorged　he　is　even　more　furious。　　Delegate　to　the　army　of　the

Moselle；　and　passing　by　Metz＇98＇　he　summoned　before　him　Altmayer；　the

public　prosecutor；　although　he　had　sat　down　to　dinner。　　The　latter

waits　three　hours　and　a　half　in　the　ante…chamber；　is　not　admitted；

returns；　and；　at　length　received；　is　greeted　with　a　thundering

exclamation：



　〃Who　are　you？〃



　〃The　public　prosecutor；〃　he　replies。



〃You　look　like　a　bishop　…　you　were　once　a　curé　or　monk　…　you　can't　be

a　revolutionary　。　　。　　。　　。　　I　have　come　to　Metz　with　unlimited　powers。

Public　opinion　here　is　not　satisfactory。　　I　am　going　to　drill　it。　　I

am　going　to　set　folks　straight　here。　　I　mean　to　shoot；　here　in　Metz；

as　well　as　in　Nancy；　five　or　six　hundred　every　fortnight。〃



The　same　at　the　house　of　General　Bessières；　commandant　of　the　town

encountering　there　M。　Cledat；　an　old　officer；　the　second　in　command；

he　measures　him　from　head　to　foot：



〃You　look　like　a　muscadin。　　Where　did　you　come　from？　You　must　be　a　bad

republican　…　you　look　as　if　you　belonged　to　the　ancient　régime。〃



　〃My　hair　is　gray；〃　he　responds；　〃but　I　am　not　the　less　a　good

republican：　you　may　ask　the　General　and　the　whole　town。〃



　〃Be　off！　Go　to　the　devil；　and　be　quick　about　it；　or　I　will　have　you

arrested！〃　…



　The　same；　in　the　street；　where　he　lays　hold　of　a　man　passing；　on

account　of　his　looks；　the　justice　of　the　peace；　Joly；　certifies　to　the

civism　of　this　person；　and　he　〃eyes〃　Joly：



　〃You　too；　you　are　an　aristocrat！　I　see　it　in　your　eyes！　I　never　make

a　mistake。〃



Whereupon；　tearing　off　the　Judge's　badge；　he　sends　him　to　prison。　　…

Meanwhile；　a　fire；　soon　extinguished；　breaks　out　in　the　army　bakery；

officers；　townspeople；　laborers；　peasants　and　even　children　form　a

line　（for　passing　water）　and　Duquesnoy　appears　to　urge　them　on　in　his

way：　using　his　fists　and　his　foot；　he　falls　on　whoever　he　meets；　on　an

employee　in　the　commissariat；　on　a　convalescent　officer；　on　two　men　in

the　line；　and　many　others。　　He　shouts　to　one　of　them；　〃You　are　a

muscadin！〃　To　another：



〃I　see　by　your　eyes　that　you　are　an　aristocrat！〃



To　another：



〃You　are　a　bloody　beggar；　an　aristocrat；　a　rascal；〃



and　he　strikes　him　in　the　stomach；　he　seizes　a　fourth　by　his　collar

and　throws　him　down　on　the　pavement。＇99＇　In　addition　to　this；　all　are

imprisoned。　　The　fire　being　extinguished；　an　indiscreet　fellow；　who

stood　by　looking　on；　recommends　〃　the　dispenser　of　blows　〃to　wipe　his

forehead。〃　〃You　can't　see　straight　…　who　are　you？　Answer　me；　I　am　the

representative。〃　The　other　replies　mildly：　〃Representative；　nothing

could　be　more　respectable。〃　Duquesnoy　gives　the　unlucky　courtier　a

blow　under　the　nose：　〃You　are　disputing　…　go　to　prison；〃　〃　which　I　did

at　once；〃　adds　the　docile　subject。　　…　That　same　evening；　〃whereas；　in

the　conflagration；　none　of　the　inhabitants　in　good　circumstances

offered　their　services　in　extinguishing　the　fire；＇100＇　and　none　but

sans…culottes　came　thereto；　from　the　garrison　as　well　as　from　the

commune；〃　Duquesnoy　orders　〃that　a　tax　of　40；000　livres　be　imposed　on

the　commune　of　Metz；　levied　on　the　fortunes　of　the　rich　and

distributed　among　the　poor；　payable　within　ten　days。〃＇101＇　　〃Fais…

moi　f。。。。　　dedans　tous　ces　b。。。　　là＇102＇；〃　〃quatre　j。。。f。。。　　à

raccourcir；〃＇103＇　At　Arras；　as　at　Metz；　the　lout　is　ever　the　ruffian

and　the　butcher。



　Others　are　either　jolly　fellows；　or　blackguards。　　A　certain　André

Dumont；　an　old　village　attorney；　now　king　of　Picardie；　or　sultan；　as

occasion　offers；　〃figures　as　a　white　Negro；〃　sometimes　jovial；　but

generally　as　a　rude　hardened　cynic；　treating　female　prisoners　and

petitioners　as　in　a　kermesse。＇104＇　…　One　morning　a　lady　enters　his

ante…room；　and　waits　amidst　about　twenty　sans…culottes；　to　solicit　the

release　of　her　husband。　　Dumont　appears　in　a　morning…gown；　seats

himself　and　listens　to　the　petitioner。



　〃Sit　down；　citoyenne。〃



He　takes　her　on　his　lap；　thrusts　his　hand　in　her　bosom　and　exclaims：



〃Who　would　suppose　that　the　bust　of　a　marchioness　would　feel　so　soft

to　one　of　the　people's　representatives。〃



The　sans…culottes　shout　with　laughter。　　He　sends　the　poor　woman　away

and　keeps　her　husband　locked　up。　　In　the　evening　he　may　write　to　the

Convention　that　he　investigates　things　himself；　and　closely　examines

aristocrats。　　…　If　one　is　to　maintain　the　revolutionary　enthusiasm　at

a　high　level　it　is　helpful　to　have　a　drop　too　much　in　one's　head；　and

most　of　them　take　precautions　in　this　direction。　　At　Lyons；＇105＇　〃the

representatives　sent　to　ensure　the　people's　welfare；　Albitte　and

Collot；〃　call　upon　the　Committee　of　Sequestrations　to　deliver　at　their

house　two　hundred　bottles　of　the　best　wine　to　be　found；　and　five

hundred　bottles　more　of　Bordeaux　red　wine；　first　quality；　for　table

use。　　…　In　three　months；　at　the　table　of　the　representatives　who

devastate　la　Vendée；　nineteen　hundred　and　seventy…four　bottles　of　wine

are　emptied；＇106＇　taken　from　the　houses　of　the　emigrés　belonging　to

the　town；　for；　〃when　one　has　helped　to　preserve　a　commune　one　has　a

right　to　drink　to　the　Republic。〃　Representative　Bourbotte　presides　at

this　bar；　Rossignol　touches　his　glass；　an　ex…jeweler　and　then　a

September　massacreur；　all　his　life　a　debauchee　and　brigand；　and　now　a

major…general；　alongside　of　Rossignol；　stand　his　adjutants；　Grammont；

an　old　actor；　and　Hazard；　a　former　priest；　along　with　them　is

Vacheron；　a　good　républican；　who　ravishes　women　and　shoots　them　when

they　refuse　to　succumb；＇107＇　in　addition　to　these　are　some　〃brilliant〃

young　ladies；　undoubtedly　brought　from　Paris；　〃the　prettiest　of　whom

share　their　nights　between　Rossignol　and　Bourbotte；〃　whilst　the　others

serve　their　subordinates：　the　entire　band；　male　and　female；　is　installed

in　a　Hotel　de　Fontenay；　where　they　begin　by　breaking　the　seals；　so　as　t

o　confiscate　〃for　their　own　benefit；　furniture；　jewelry；　dresses；

feminine　trinkets　and　even　porcelains。〃＇108＇　Meanwhile；　at　Chantonney；

representative　Bourdon　de　l'Oise　drinks　with　General　Tunck；　becomes　〃

frantic〃　when　tipsy；　and　has　patriotic　administrators　seized　in　their

beds　at　midnight；　whom　he　had　embraced　the　evening　before。　　…　Nearly

all　of　them；　like　the　latter；　get　nasty　after　a　few　drinks；　…　Carrier

at　Nantes；　Petit…Jean　at　Thiers；　Duquesnoy　at　Arras；　Cusset　at

Thionville；　Monestier　at　Tarbes。　　At　Thionville；　Cusset　drinks　like

a　〃Lapithe〃　and；　when　drunk；　gives　the　orders　of　a　〃vizier；〃　which

orders　are　executed。＇109＇　　At　Tarbes；　Monestier　〃after　a　heavy　meal

and　much　excited；〃　warmly　harangues　the　court；　personally　examines

the　prisoner；　M。　de　Lasalle；　an　old　officer；　whom　he　has　condemned

to　death；　and　signs　the　order　to　have　him　guillotined　at　once。　　M。

de　Lasalle　is　guillotined　that　very　evening；　at　midnight；　by　torchlight。

The　following　morning　Monestier　says　to　the　president　of　the　court：

〃Well；　we　gave　poor　Lasalle　a　famous　fright　last　night；　didn't　we　？〃

〃How　a　famous　fright？　He　is　executed　！〃　Monestier　is　astonished　…　he

did　not　remember　having　issued　the　order。＇110＇　…　With　others；　wine；

besides　sanguinary　instincts；　brings　out　the　foulest　instincts。　　At

N？mes；　Borie；　in　the　uniform　of　a　representative；　along　with　Courbis；

the　mayor；　Géret；　the　justice　and　a　number　of　prostitutes；　dance　the

farandole　around　the　guillotine。　　At　Auch；　one　of　the　worst　tyrants　in

the　South；　Dartigoyte；　always　heated　with　liquor　〃vomited　every　species

of　obscenity　〃　in　the　faces　of　women　that　came　to　demand　justice；　〃he

compels；　under　penalty　of　imprisonment；　mothers　to　take　their　daughters

to　the　popular　club；〃　to　listen　to　his　filthy　preaching；　one　evening；　at

the　theatre；　probably　after　an　orgy；　he　shouts　at　all　the　women　between

the　acts；　lets　loose　upon　them　his　smutty　vocabulary；　and；　by　way　of

demonstration；　or　as　a　practical　conclusion；　ends　by　stripping　himself

naked。＇111＇　…　This　time；　the　genuine　brute　appears。　　All　the　clothing

woven　during　the　past　centuries　and　with　which　civilization　had　dressed

him；　the　last　drapery　of　humanity；　falls　to　the　ground。　　Nothing　remains

but　the　primitive　animal；　the　ferocious；　lewd　gorilla　supposed　to　be

tamed；　but　which　still　subsists　indefinitely　and　which　a　dictatorship；

joined　to　drunkenness；　revives　in　an　uglier　guise　than　in　remotest　times。





VIII。　　Delirium。



Approach　of　madness。　　…　Loss　of　common…sense。　　…　Fabre；　Gaston；

Guiter；　in　the　army　of　the　Eastern　Pyrenees。　　…　Baudot；　Lebas；　Saint…

Just；　and　the　predecessors　and　successors　in　the　army　of　the　Rhine。　　…

Furious　excitement。　　…　Lebon　at　Arras