scaramouche-第13章

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If　it　might　be　said　of　Andre…Louis　that　he　had　that　day　lighted　the
torch　of　the　Revolution　in　Nantes；　it　might　with　even　greater　truth
be　said　that　the　torch　itself　was　supplied　by　the　opulent　bourgeoisie。

I　need　not　dwell　at　any　length　upon　the　sequel。　　It　is　a　matter　of
history　how　that　oath　which　Omnes　Omnibus　administered　to　the
citizens　of　Nantes　formed　the　backbone　of　the　formal　protest　which
they　drew　up　and　signed　in　their　thousands。　　Nor　were　the　results　of
that　powerful　protest　…　which；　after　all；　might　already　be　said　to
harmonize　with　the　expressed　will　of　the　sovereign　himself　…　long
delayed。　　Who　shall　say　how　far　it　may　have　strengthened　the　hand　of
Necker；　when　on　the　27th　of　that　same　month　of　November　he　compelled
the　Council　to　adopt　the　most　significant　and　comprehensive　of　all
those　measures　to　which　clergy　and　nobility　had　refused　their　consent？
On　that　date　was　published　the　royal　decree　ordaining　that　the
deputies　to　be　elected　to　the　States　General　should　number　at　least
one　thousand；　and　that　the　deputies　of　the　Third　Estate　should　be
fully　representative　by　numbering　as　many　as　the　deputies　of　clergy
and　nobility　together。



CHAPTER　IX

THE　AFTERMATH


Dusk　of　the　following　day　was　falling　when　the　homing　Andre…Louis
approached　Gavrillac。　　Realizing　fully　what　a　hue　and　cry　there
would　presently　be　for　the　apostle　of　revolution　who　had　summoned
the　people　of　Nantes　to　arms；　he　desired　as　far　as　possible　to
conceal　the　fact　that　he　had　been　in　that　maritime　city。　　Therefore
he　made　a　wide　detour；　crossing　the　river　at　Bruz；　and　recrossing
it　a　little　above　Chavagne；　so　as　to　approach　Gavrillac　from　the
north；　and　create　the　impression　that　he　was　returning　from　Rennes；
whither　he　was　known　to　have　gone　two　days　ago。

Within　a　mile　or　so　of　the　village　he　caught　in　the　fading　light
his　first　glimpse　of　a　figure　on　horseback　pacing　slowly　towards
him。　But　it　was　not　until　they　had　come　within　a　few　yards　of　each
other；　and　he　observed　that　this　cloaked　figure　was　leaning　forward
to　peer　at　him；　that　he　took　much　notice　of　it。　　And　then　he　found
himself　challenged　almost　at　once　by　a　woman's　voice。

〃It　is　you；　Andre　…　at　last！〃

He　drew　rein；　mildly　surprised；　to　be　assailed　by　another　question；
impatiently；　anxiously　asked。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃

〃Where　have　I　been；　Cousin　Aline？　　Oh。。。　seeing　the　world。〃

〃I　have　been　patrolling　this　road　since　noon　to…day　waiting　for　you。〃
She　spoke　breathlessly；　in　haste　to　explain。　　〃A　troop　of　the
marechaussee　from　Rennes　descended　upon　Gavrillac　this　morning　in
quest　of　you。　　They　turned　the　chateau　and　the　village　inside　out；
and　at　last　discovered　that　you　were　due　to　return　with　a　horse
hired　from　the　Breton　arme。　　So　they　have　taken　up　their　quarters
at　the　inn　to　wait　for　you。　　I　have　been　here　all　the　afternoon　on
the　lookout　to　warn　you　against　walking　into　that　trap。〃

〃My　dear　Aline！　　That　I　should　have　been　the　cause　of　so　much
concern　and　trouble！〃

〃Never　mind　that。　　It　is　not　important。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　it　is　the　most　important　part　of　what　you　tell　me。
It　is　the　rest　that　is　unimportant。〃

〃Do　you　realize　that　they　have　come　to　arrest　you？〃　she　asked　him；
with　increasing　impatience。　　〃You　are　wanted　for　sedition；　and　upon
a　warrant　from　M。　de　Lesdiguieres。〃

〃Sedition？〃　quoth　he；　and　his　thoughts　flew　to　that　business　at
Nantes。　　It　was　impossible　they　could　have　had　news　of　it　in　Rennes
and　acted　upon　it　in　so　short　a　time。

〃Yes；　sedition。　　The　sedition　of　that　wicked　speech　of　yours　at
Rennes　on　Wednesday。〃

〃Oh；　that！〃　said　he。　　〃Pooh！〃　　His　note　of　relief　might　have　told
her；　had　she　been　more　attentive；　that　he　had　to　fear　the　consequences
of　a　greater　wickedness　committed　since。　　〃Why；　that　was　nothing。〃

〃Nothing？〃

〃I　almost　suspect　that　the　real　intentions　of　these　gentlemen　of
the　marechaussee　have　been　misunderstood。　　Most　probably　they　have
come　to　thank　me　on　M。　de　Lesdiguieres'　behalf。　　I　restrained　the
people　when　they　would　have　burnt　the　Palais　and　himself　inside　it。〃

〃After　you　had　first　incited　them　to　do　it。　　I　suppose　you　were
afraid　of　your　work。　　You　drew　back　at　the　last　moment。　　But　you
said　things　of　M。　de　Lesdiguieres；　if　you　are　correctly　reported；
which　he　will　never　forgive。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　and　he　fell　into　thought。

But　Mlle。　de　Kercadiou　had　already　done　what　thinking　was　necessary；
and　her　alert　young　mind　had　settled　all　that　was　to　be　done。

〃You　must　not　go　into　Gavrillac；〃　she　told　him；　〃and　you　must　get
down　from　your　horse；　and　let　me　take　it。　　I　will　stable　it　at　the
chateau　to…night。　　And　sometime　to　morrow　afternoon；　by　when　you
should　be　well　away；　I　will　return　it　to　the　Breton　arme。〃

〃Oh；　but　that　is　impossible。〃

〃Impossible？　　Why？〃

〃For　several　reasons。　　One　of　them　is　that　you　haven't　considered
what　will　happen　to　you　if　you　do　such　a　thing。〃

〃To　me？　　Do　you　suppose　I　am　afraid　of　that　pack　of　oafs　sent　by　M。
Lesdiguieres？　　I　have　committed　no　sedition。〃

〃But　it　is　almost　as　bad　to　give　aid　to　one　who　is　wanted　for　the
crime。　　That　is　the　law。〃

〃What　do　I　care　for　the　law？　　Do　you　imagine　that　the　law　will
presume　to　touch　me？〃

〃Of　course　there　is　that。　　You　are　sheltered　by　one　of　the　abuses　I
complained　of　at　Rennes。　　I　was　forgetting。〃

〃Complain　of　it　as　much　as　you　please；　but　meanwhile　profit　by　it。
Come；　Andre；　do　as　I　tell　you。　　Get　down　from　your　horse。〃　　And　then；
as　he　still　hesitated；　she　stretched　out　and　caught　him　by　the　arm。
Her　voice　was　vibrant　with　earnestness。　　〃Andre；　you　don't　realize
how　serious　is　your　position。　　If　these　people　take　you；　it　is　almost
certain　that　you　will　be　hanged。　　Don't　you　realize　it？　　You　must
not　go　to　Gavrillac。　　You　must　go　away　at　once；　and　lie　completely
lost　for　a　time　until　this　blows　over。　　Indeed；　until　my　uncle　can
bring　influence　to　bear　to　obtain　your　pardon；　you　must　keep　in　hiding。〃

〃That　will　be　a　long　time；　then；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　M。　de　Kercadiou
has　never　cultivated　friends　at　court。〃

〃There　is　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；〃　she　reminded　him；　to　his
astonishment。

〃That　man！〃　he　cried；　and　then　he　laughed。　　〃But　it　was　chiefly
against　him　that　I　aroused　the　resentment　of　the　people　of　Rennes。
I　should　have　known　that　all　my　speech　was　not　reported　to　you。

〃It　was；　and　that　part　of　it　among　the　rest。〃

〃Ah！　　And　yet　you　are　concerned　to　save　me；　the　man　who　seeks　the
life　of　your　future　husband　at　the　hands　either　of　the　law　or　of　the
people？　　Or　is　it；　perhaps；　that　since　you　have　seen　his　true　nature
revealed　in　the　murder　of　poor　Philippe；　you　have　changed　your　views
on　the　subject　of　becoming　Marquise　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr？〃

〃You　often　show　yourself　without　any　faculty　of　deductive　reasoning。〃

〃Perhaps。　　But　hardly　to　the　extent　of　imagining　that　M。　de　La　Tour
d'Azyr　will　ever　lift　a　finger　to　do　as　you　suggest。〃

〃In　which；　as　usual；　you　are　wrong。　　He　will　certainly　do　so　if　I
ask　him。〃

〃If　you　ask　him？〃　　Sheer　horror　rang　in　his　voice。

〃Why；　yes。　　You　see；　I　have　not　yet　said　that　I　will　be　Marquise　de
La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　I　am　still　considering。　　It　is　a　position　that　has
its　advantages。　　One　of　them　is　that　it　ensures　a　suitor's　complete
obedience。〃

〃So；　so。　　I　see　the　crooked　logic　of　your　mind。　　You　might　go　so　far
as　to　say　to　him：　'Refuse　me　this；　and　I　shall　refuse　to　be　your
marquise。'　You　would　go　so　far　as　that？〃

〃At　need；　I　might。〃

〃And　do　you　not　see　the　converse　implication？　　Do　you　not　see　that
your　hands　would　then　be　tied；　that　you　would　be　wanting　in　honour
if　afterwards　you　refused　him？　　And　do　you　think　that　I　would
consent　to　anything　that　could　so　tie　your　hands？　　Do　you　think　I
want　to　see　you　damned；　Aline？〃

Her　hand　fell　away　from　his　arm。

〃Oh；　you　are　mad！〃　she　exclaimed；　quite　out　of　patience。

〃Possibly。　　But　I　like　my　madness。　　There　is　a　thrill　in　it　unknown
to　such　sanity　as　yours。　　By　your　leave；　Aline；　I　think　I　will　ride
on　to　Gavrillac。〃

〃Andre；　you　must　not！　　It　is　death　to　you！〃　　In　her　alarm　she　backed
her　horse；　and　pulled　it　across　the　road　to　bar　his　way。

It　was　almost　completely　night　by　now；　but　from　behind　the　wrack　of
clouds　overhead　a　crescent　moon　sailed　out　to　alleviate　the　darkness。

〃Come；　now；〃　she　enjoined　him。　〃Be　reasonable。　　Do　as　I　bid　you。
See；　there　is　a　carriage　coming　up　behind　you。　　Do　not　let　us　be
found　here　together　thus。〃

He　made　up　his　mind　quickly。　　He　was　not　the　man　to　be　actuated　by
false　heroics　about　dying；　and　he　had　no　fancy　whatever　for　the
gallows　of　M。　de　Lesdiguieres'　providing。　　The　immediate　task　that
he　had　set　himself　might　be　accomplished。　　He　had　made　heard　…　and
ringingly　…　the　voice　that　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　imagined　he　had
silenced。　　But　he　was　very　far　from　having　done　with　life。

〃Aline；　on　one　condition　only。〃

〃And　that？〃

〃That　you　swear　to　me　you　will　never　seek　the　aid　of　M。　de　La　Tour
d'Azyr　on　my　behalf。〃

〃Since　you　insist；　and　as　time　presses；　I　consent。　　And　now　ride　on
with　me　as　far　as　the　lane。　　There　is　that　carriage　coming　up。〃

The　lane　to　which　she　referred　was　one　that　branched　off　the　road
some　three　hundred　yards　nearer　the　village　and　led　straight　up　the
hill　to　the　chateau　itself。　　In　silence　they　rode　together　towards
it；　and　together　they　turned　into　that　thickly　hedged　and　narrow
bypath。　　At　a　depth　of　fifty　yards　she　halted　him。

〃Now！〃　she　bade　him。

Obediently　he　swung　down　from　his　horse；　and　surrendered　the　reins
to　her。

〃Aline；〃　he　said；　〃I　haven't　words　in　which　to　thank　you。〃

〃It　isn't　necessary；〃　said　she。

〃But　I　shall　hope　to　repay　you　some　day。〃

〃Nor　is　that　necessary。　　Could　I　do　less　than　I　am　doing？　　I　do　not
want　to　hear　of　you　hanged；　Andre；　nor　does　my　uncle；　though　he　is
very　angry　with　you。

〃I　suppose　he　is。

〃And　you　can　hardly　be　surprised。　　You　were　his　delegate；　his
representative。　　He　depended　upon　you；　and　you　have　turned　your　coat。
He　is　rightly　indignant；　calls　you　a　traitor；　and　swears　that　he
will　never　speak　to　you　again。　　But　he　doesn't　want　you　hanged；
Andre。〃

〃Then　we　are　agreed　on　that　at　least；　for　I　don't　want　it　myself。〃

〃I'll　make　your　peace　with　him。　And　now　…　good…bye；　Andre。　　Send　me
a　word　when　you　are　safe。〃

She　held　out　a　hand　that　looked　ghostly　in　the　faint　light。　　He　took
it　and　bore　it　to　his　lips。

〃God　bless　you；　Aline。〃

She　was　gone；　and　he　stood　listening　to　the　receding　clopper…clop　of
hooves　until　it　grew　faint　in　the　distance。　　Then　slowly；　with
shoulders　hunched　and　head　sunk　on　his　breast；　he　retraced　his　steps
to　the　main　road；　cogitating　whither　he　should　go。　　Quite　suddenly
he　checked；　remembering　with　dismay　that　he　was　almost　entirely
without　money。　　In　Brittany　itself　he　knew　of　no　dependable
hiding…place；　and　as　long　as　he　was　in　Brittany　his　peril　must
remain　imminent。　　Yet　to　leave　the　province；　and　to　leave　it　as
quickly　as　prudence　dictated；　horses　would　be　necessary。　　And　how
was　he　to　procure　horses；　having　no　money　beyond　a　single　louis
d'or　and　a　few　pieces　of　silver？

There　was　also　the　fact　that　he　was　very　weary。　　He　had　had　little
sleep　since　Tuesday　night；　and　not