the relics of general chasse-第1章

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The　Relics　of　General　Chasse


by　Anthony　Trollope





That　Belgium　is　now　one　of　the　European　kingdoms；　living　by　its　own
laws；　resting　on　its　own　bottom；　with　a　king　and　court；　palaces　and
parliament　of　its　own；　is　known　to　all　the　world。　　And　a　very　nice
little　kingdom　it　is；　full　of　old　towns；　fine　Flemish　pictures；　and
interesting　Gothic　churches。　　But　in　the　memory　of　very　many　of　us
who　do　not　think　ourselves　old　men；　Belgium；　as　it　is　now　calledin
those　days　it　used　to　be　Flanders　and　Brabantwas　a　part　of
Holland；　and　it　obtained　its　own　independence　by　a　revolution。　　In
that　revolution　the　most　important　military　step　was　the　siege　of
Antwerp；　which　was　defended　on　the　part　of　the　Dutch　by　General
Chasse；　with　the　utmost　gallantry；　but　nevertheless　ineffectually。

After　the　siege　Antwerp　became　quite　a　show　place；　and　among　the
visitors　who　flocked　there　to　talk　of　the　gallant　general；　and　to
see　what　remained　of　the　great　effort　which　he　had　made　to　defend
the　place；　were　two　Englishmen。　　One　was　the　hero　of　this　little
history；　and　the　other　was　a　young　man　of　considerably　less　weight
in　the　world。　　The　less　I　say　of　the　latter　the　better；　but　it　is
necessary　that　I　should　give　some　description　of　the　former。

The　Rev。　Augustus　Horne　was；　at　the　time　of　my　narrative；　a
beneficed　clergyman　of　the　Church　of　England。　　The　profession　which
he　had　graced　sat　easily　on　him。　　Its　external　marks　and　signs　were
as　pleasing　to　his　friends　as　were　its　internal　comforts　to　himself。
He　was　a　man　of　much　quiet　mirth；　full　of　polished　wit；　and　on　some
rare　occasions　he　could　descend　to　the　more　noisy　hilarity　of　a
joke。　　Loved　by　his　friends　he　loved　all　the　world。　　He　had　known　no
care　and　seen　no　sorrow。　　Always　intended　for　holy　orders　he　had
entered　them　without　a　scruple；　and　remained　within　their　pale
without　a　regret。　　At　twenty…four　he　had　been　a　deacon；　at　twenty…
seven　a　priest；　at　thirty　a　rector；　and　at　thirty…five　a　prebendary；
and　as　his　rectory　was　rich　and　his　prebendal　stall　well　paid；　the
Rev。　Augustus　Horne　was　called　by　all；　and　called　himself；　a　happy
man。　　His　stature　was　about　six　feet　two；　and　his　corpulence
exceeded　even　those　bounds　which　symmetry　would　have　preferred　as
being　most　perfectly　compatible　even　with　such　a　height。　　But
nevertheless　Mr。　Horne　was　a　well…made　man；　his　hands　and　feet　were
small；　his　face　was　handsome；　frank；　and　full　of　expression；　his
bright　eyes　twinkled　with　humour；　his　finely…cut　mouth　disclosed　two
marvellous　rows　of　well…preserved　ivory；　and　his　slightly　aquiline
nose　was　just　such　a　projection　as　one　would　wish　to　see　on　the　face
of　a　well…fed　good…natured　dignitary　of　the　Church　of　England。　　When
I　add　to　all　this　that　the　reverend　gentleman　was　as　generous　as　he
was　richand　the　kind　mother　in　whose　arms　he　had　been　nurtured　had
taken　care　that　he　should　never　wantI　need　hardly　say　that　I　was
blessed　with　a　very　pleasant　travelling　companion。

I　must　mention　one　more　interesting　particular。　Mr。　Horne　was　rather
inclined　to　dandyism；　in　an　innocent　way。　　His　clerical　starched
neckcloth　was　always　of　the　whitest；　his　cambric　handkerchief　of　the
finest；　his　bands　adorned　with　the　broadest　border；　his　sable　suit
never　degenerated　to　a　rusty　brown；　it　not　only　gave　on　all
occasions　glossy　evidence　of　freshness；　but　also　of　the　talent　which
the　artisan　had　displayed　in　turning　out　a　well…dressed　clergyman　of
the　Church　of　England。　　His　hair　was　ever　brushed　with　scrupulous
attention；　and　showed　in　its　regular　waves　the　guardian　care　of　each
separate　bristle。　　And　all　this　was　done　with　that　ease　and　grace
which　should　be　the　characteristics　of　a　dignitary　of　the
established　English　Church。

I　had　accompanied　Mr。　Horne　to　the　Rhine；　and　we　had　reached
Brussels　on　our　return；　just　at　the　close　of　that　revolution　which
ended　in　affording　a　throne　to　the　son…in…law　of　George　the　Fourth。
At　that　moment　General　Chasse's　name　and　fame　were　in　every　man's
mouth；　and；　like　other　curious　admirers　of　the　brave；　Mr。　Horne
determined　to　devote　two　days　to　the　scene　of　the　late　events　at
Antwerp。　　Antwerp；　moreover；　possesses　perhaps　the　finest　spire；　and
certainly　one　of　the　three　or　four　finest　pictures；　in　the　world。
Of　General　Chasse；　of　the　cathedral；　and　of　the　Rubens；　I　had　heard
much；　and　was　therefore　well　pleased　that　such　should　be　his
resolution。　　This　accomplished　we　were　to　return　to　Brussels；　and
thence；　via　Ghent；　Ostend；　and　Dover；　I　to　complete　my　legal　studies
in　London；　and　Mr。　Horne　to　enjoy　once　more　the　peaceful　retirement
of　Ollerton　rectory。　　As　we　were　to　be　absent　from　Brussels　but　one
night　we　were　enabled　to　indulge　in　the　gratification　of　travelling
without　our　luggage。　　A　small　sac…de…nuit　was　prepared；　brushes；
combs；　razors；　strops；　a　change　of　linen；　&c。　&c。；　were　carefully
put　up；　but　our　heavy　baggage；　our　coats；　waistcoats；　and　other
wearing　apparel　were　unnecessary。　　It　was　delightful　to　feel　oneself
so　light…handed。　　The　reverend　gentleman；　with　my　humble　self　by　his
side；　left　the　portal　of　the　Hotel　de　Belle　Vue　at　7　a。m。；　in　good
humour　with　all　the　world。　　There　were　no　railroads　in　those　days；
but　a　cabriolet；　big　enough　to　hold　six　persons；　with　rope　traces
and　corresponding　appendages；　deposited　us　at　the　Golden　Fleece　in
something　less　than　six　hours。　　The　inward　man　was　duly　fortified；
and　we　started　for　the　castle。

It　boots　not　here　to　describe　the　effects　which　gunpowder　and　grape…
shot　had　had　on　the　walls　of　Antwerp。　　Let　the　curious　in　these
matters　read　the　horrors　of　the　siege　of　Troy；　or　the　history　of
Jerusalem　taken　by　Titus。　　The　one　may　be　found　in　Homer；　and　the
other　in　Josephus。　　Or　if　they　prefer　doings　of　a　later　date　there
is　the　taking　of　Sebastopol；　as　narrated　in　the　columns　of　the
〃Times〃　newspaper。　　The　accounts　are　equally　true；　instructive；　and
intelligible。　　In　the　mean　time　allow　the　Rev。　Augustus　Horne　and
myself　to　enter　the　private　chambers　of　the　renowned　though　defeated
general。

We　rambled　for　a　while　through　the　covered　way；　over　the　glacis　and
along　the　counterscarp；　and　listened　to　the　guide　as　he　detailed　to
us；　in　already　accustomed　words；　how　the　siege　had　gone。　　Then　we
got　into　the　private　apartments　of　the　general；　and；　having
dexterously　shaken　off　our　attendant；　wandered　at　large　among　the
deserted　rooms。

〃It　is　clear　that　no　one　ever　comes　here；〃　said　I。

〃No；〃　said　the　Rev。　Augustus；　〃it　seems　not；　and　to　tell　the　truth；
I　don't　know　why　any　one　should　come。　　The　chambers　in　themselves
are　not　attractive。〃

What　he　said　was　true。　　They　were　plain；　ugly；　square；　unfurnished
rooms；　here　a　big　one；　and　there　a　little　one；　as　is　usual　in　most
houses；unfurnished；　that　is；　for　the　most　part。　　In　one　place　we
did　find　a　table　and　a　few　chairs；　in　another　a　bedstead；　and　so　on。
But　to　me　it　was　pleasant　to　indulge　in　those　ruminations　which　any
traces　of　the　great　or　unfortunate　create　in　softly　sympathising
minds。　　For　a　time　we　communicated　our　thoughts　to　each　other　as　we
roamed　free　as　air　through　the　apartments；　and　then　I　lingered　for　a
few　moments　behind；　while　Mr。　Horne　moved　on　with　a　quicker　step。

At　last　I　entered　the　bedchamber　of　the　general；　and　there　I
overtook　my　friend。　　He　was　inspecting；　with　much　attention；　an
article　of　the　great　man's　wardrobe　which　he　held　in　his　hand。　　It
was　precisely　that　virile　habiliment　to　which　a　well…known　gallant
captain　alludes　in　his　conversation　with　the　posthumous　appearance
of　Miss　Bailey；　as　containing　a　Bank　of　England　5　pound　note。

〃The　general　must　have　been　a　large　man；　George；　or　he　would　hardly
have　filled　these；〃　said　Mr。　Horne；　holding　up　to　the　light　the
respectable　leathern　articles　in　question。　　〃He　must　have　been　a
very　large　man；the　largest　man　in　Antwerp；　I　should　think；　or　else
his　tailor　has　done　him　more　than　justice。〃

They　were　certainly　large；　and　had　about　them　a　charming　regimental
military　appearance。　　They　were　made　of　white　leather；　with　bright
metal　buttons　at　the　knees　and　bright　metal　buttons　at　the　top。
They　owned　no　pockets；　and　were；　with　the　exception　of　the
legitimate　outlet；　continuous　in　the　circumference　of　the　waistband。
No　dangling　strings　gave　them　an　appearance　of　senile　imbecility。
Were　it　not　for　a　certain　rigidity；　sternness；　and　mental
inflexibility；we　will　call　it　military　ardour；with　which　they
were　imbued；　they　would　have　created　envy　in　the　bosom　of　a　fox…
hunter。

Mr。　Horne　was　no　fox…hunter；　but　still　he　seemed　to　be　irresistibly
taken　with　the　lady…like　propensity　of　wishing　to　wear　them。
〃Surely；　George；〃　he　said；　〃the　general　must　have　been　a　stouter　man
than　I　am〃and　he　contemplated　his　own　proportions　with
complacency〃these　what's…the…names　are　quite　big　enough　for　me。〃

I　differed　in　opinion；　and　was　obliged　to　explain　that　I　thought　he
did　the　good　living　of　Ollerton　insufficient　justice。

〃I　am　sure　they　are　large　enough　for　me；〃　he　repeated；　with
considerable　obstinacy。　　I　smiled　incredulously；　and　then　to　settle
the　matter　he　resolved　that　he　would　try　them　on。　　Nobody　had　been
in　these　rooms　for　the　last　hour；　and　it　appeared　as　though　they
were　never　visited。　　Even　the　guide　had　not　come　on　with　us；　but　was
employed　in　showing　other　parties　about　the　fortifications。　　It　was
clear　that　this　portion　of　the　building　was　left　desolate；　and　that
the　experiment　might　be　safely　made。　　So　the　sportive　rector
declared　that　he　would　for　a　short　time　wear　the　regimentals　which
had　once　contained　the　valorous　heart　of　General　Chasse。

With　all　decorum　the　Rev。　Mr。　Horne　divested　himself　of　the　work　of
the　London　artist's　needle；　and；　carefully　placing　his　own　garments
beyond　the　reach　of　dust；　essayed　to　fit　himself　in　military　garb。

At　that　important　momentat　the　critical　instant　of　the　attempt
the　clatter　of　female　voices　was　heard　approaching　the　chamber。
They　must　have　suddenly　come　round　some　passage　corner；　for　it　was
evident　by　the　sound　that　they　were　close　upon　us　before　we　had　any
warning　of　their　advent。　　At　this　very　minute　Mr。　Horne　was　somewhat
embarrassed　in　his　attempts；　and　was　not　fully　in　possession　of　his
usual　active　powers　of　movement；　nor　of　his　usual　presence　of　mind。
He　only　looked　for　escape；　and　seeing　a　door　partly　open；　he　with
difficulty　retreated　through　it；　and　I　followed　him。　　We　found　that
we　were　in　a　small　dressing…room；　and　as　by　good　luck　the　door　was
defended　by　an　inner　bolt；　my　friend　was　able　to　protect　himself。

〃There　shall　be　another　siege；　at　any　rate　as　stout　as　the　last；
before　I　surrender；〃　said　he。

As　the　ladies　seemed　inclined　to　linger　in　the　room　it　became　a
matter　of　importance　that　the　above…named　articles　should　fit；　not
only　for　ornament　but　for　use。　　It　was　very　cold；　and　Mr。　Horne　was
altogether　unused　to　move　in　a　Highland　sphere　of　life。　　But　alas；
alas！　　General　Chasse　had　not　been　nurtured　in　the　classical
retirement　of　Ollerton。　　The　ungiving　leather　would　stretch　no　point
to　accommodate　the　divine；　though　it　had　been　willing　to　minister　to
the　convenience　of　the　soldier。　　Mr。　Horne　was　vexed　and　chilled；
and　throwing　the　now　hateful　garments　into　a　co