scaramouche-第15章

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He　was　midway　across　the　vast　common　to　the　north　of　Guignen　when
he　came　to　a　halt。　　He　had　left　the　road；　and　taken　heedlessly　to
the　footpath　that　struck　across　the　waste　of　indifferent　pasture
interspersed　with　clumps　of　gorse。　　A　stone's　throw　away　on　his
right　the　common　was　bordered　by　a　thorn　hedge。　　Beyond　this　loomed
a　tall　building　which　he　knew　to　be　an　open　barn；　standing　on　the
edge　of　a　long　stretch　of　meadowland。　　That　dark；　silent　shadow　it
may　have　been　that　had　brought　him　to　a　standstill；　suggesting
shelter　to　his　subconsciousness。　　A　moment　he　hesitated；　then　he
struck　across　towards　a　spot　where　a　gap　in　the　hedge　was　closed
by　a　five…barred　gate。　　He　pushed　the　gate　open；　went　through　the
gap；　and　stood　now　before　the　barn。　　It　was　as　big　as　a　house；　yet
consisted　of　no　more　than　a　roof　carried　upon　half　a　dozen　tall；
brick　pillars。　　But　densely　packed　under　that　roof　was　a　great
stack　of　hay　that　promised　a　warm　couch　on　so　cold　a　night。　　Stout
timbers　had　been　built　into　the　brick　pillars；　with　projecting　ends
to　serve　as　ladders　by　which　the　labourer　might　climb　to　pack　or
withdraw　hay。　　With　what　little　strength　remained　him；　Andre…Louis
climbed　by　one　of　these　and　landed　safely　at　the　top；　where　he　was
forced　to　kneel；　for　lack　of　room　to　stand　upright。　　Arrived　there；
he　removed　his　coat　and　neckcloth；　his　sodden　boots　and　stockings。
Next　he　cleared　a　trough　for　his　body；　and　lying　down　in　it；　covered
himself　to　the　neck　with　the　hay　he　had　removed。　　Within　five　minutes
he　was　lost　to　all　worldly　cares　and　soundly　asleep。

When　next　he　awakened；　the　sun　was　already　high　in　the　heavens；　from
which　he　concluded　that　the　morning　was　well　advanced；　and　this
before　he　realized　quite　where　he　was　or　how　he　came　there。　　Then
to　his　awakening　senses　came　a　drone　of　voices　close　at　hand；　to
which　at　first　he　paid　little　heed。　　He　was　deliciously　refreshed；
luxuriously　drowsy　and　luxuriously　warm。

But　as　consciousness　and　memory　grew　more　full；　he　raised　his　head
clear　of　the　hay　that　he　might　free　both　ears　to　listen；　his　pulses
faintly　quickened　by　the　nascent　fear　that　those　voices　might　bode
him　no　good。　　Then　he　caught　the　reassuring　accents　of　a　woman；
musical　and　silvery；　though　laden　with　alarm。

〃Ah；　mon　Dieu；　Leandre；　let　us　separate　at　once。　　If　it　should　be
my　father。。。　〃

And　upon　this　a　man's　voice　broke　in；　calm　and　reassuring：

〃No；　no；　Climene；　you　are　mistaken。　　There　is　no　one　coming。　　We
are　quite　safe。　　Why　do　you　start　at　shadows？〃

〃Ah；　Leandre；　if　he　should　find　us　here　together！　　I　tremble　at　the
very　thought。〃

More　was　not　needed　to　reassure　Andre…Louis。　　He　had　overheard
enough　to　know　that　this　was　but　the　case　of　a　pair　of　lovers　who；
with　less　to　fear　of　life；　were　yet　…　after　the　manner　of　their
kind　…　more　timid　of　heart　than　he。　　Curiosity　drew　him　from　his
warm　trough　to　the　edge　of　the　hay。　　Lying　prone；　he　advanced　his
head　and　peered　down。

In　the　space　of　cropped　meadow　between　the　barn　and　the　hedge　stood
a　man　and　a　woman；　both　young。　　The　man　was　a　well…set…up；　comely
fellow；　with　a　fine　head　of　chestnut　hair　tied　in　a　queue　by　a
broad　bow　of　black　satin。　　He　was　dressed　with　certain　tawdry
attempts　at　ostentatious　embellishments；　which　did　not　prepossess
one　at　first　glance　in　his　favour。　　His　coat　of　a　fashionable　cut
was　of　faded　plum…coloured　velvet　edged　with　silver　lace；　whose
glory　had　long　since　departed。　　He　affected　ruffles；　but　for　want
of　starch　they　hung　like　weeping　willows　over　hands　that　were　fine
and　delicate。　　His　breeches　were　of　plain　black　cloth；　and　his　black
stockings　were　of　cotton　…　matters　entirely　out　of　harmony　with　his
magnificent　coat。　　His　shoes；　stout　and　serviceable；　were　decked
with　buckles　of　cheap；　lack…lustre　paste。　　But　for　his　engaging　and
ingenuous　countenance；　Andre…Louis　must　have　set　him　down　as　a
knight　of　that　order　which　lives　dishonestly　by　its　wits。　　As　it
was；　he　suspended　judgment　whilst　pushing　investigation　further　by
a　study　of　the　girl。　　At　the　outset；　be　it　confessed　that　it　was　a
study　that　attracted　him　prodigiously。　　And　this　notwithstanding
the　fact　that；　bookish　and　studious　as　were　his　ways；　and　in
despite　of　his　years；　it　was　far　from　his　habit　to　waste
consideration　on　femininity。

The　child　…　she　was　no　more　than　that；　perhaps　twenty　at　the　most
　…　possessed；　in　addition　to　the　allurements　of　face　and　shape　that
went　very　near　perfection；　a　sparkling　vivacity　and　a　grace　of
movement　the　like　of　which　Andre…Louis　did　not　remember　ever　before
to　have　beheld　assembled　in　one　person。　　And　her　voice　too　…　that
musical；　silvery　voice　that　had　awakened　him　…　possessed　in　its
exquisite　modulations　an　allurement　of　its　own　that　must　have　been
irresistible；　he　thought；　in　the　ugliest　of　her　sex。　　She　wore　a
hooded　mantle　of　green　cloth；　and　the　hood　being　thrown　back；　her
dainty　head　was　all　revealed　to　him。　　There　were　glints　of　gold
struck　by　the　morning　sun　from　her　light　nut…brown　hair　that　hung
in　a　cluster　of　curls　about　her　oval　face。　　Her　complexion　was　of
a　delicacy　that　he　could　compare　only　with　a　rose　petal。　　He　could
not　at　that　distance　discern　the　colour　of　her　eyes；　but　he　guessed
them　blue；　as　he　admired　the　sparkle　of　them　under　the　fine；　dark
line　of　eyebrows。

He　could　not　have　told　you　why；　but　he　was　conscious　that　it
aggrieved　him　to　find　her　so　intimate　with　this　pretty　young　fellow；
who　was　partly　clad；　as　it　appeared；　in　the　cast…offs　of　a　nobleman。
He　could　not　guess　her　station；　but　the　speech　that　reached　him　was
cultured　in　tone　and　word。　　He　strained　to　listen。

〃I　shall　know　no　peace；　Leandre；　until　we　are　safely　wedded；〃　she
was　saying。　　〃Not　until　then　shall　I　count　myself　beyond　his　reach。
And　yet　if　we　marry　without　his　consent；　we　but　make　trouble　for
ourselves；　and　of　gaining　his　consent　I　almost　despair。〃

Evidently；　thought　Andre…Louis；　her　father　was　a　man　of　sense；　who
saw　through　the　shabby　finery　of　M。　Leandre；　and　was　not　to　be
dazzled　by　cheap　paste　buckles。

〃My　dear　Climene；〃　the　young　man　was　answering　her；　standing
squarely　before　her；　and　holding　both　her　hands；　〃you　are　wrong　to
despond。　　If　I　do　not　reveal　to　you　all　the　stratagem　that　I　have
prepared　to　win　the　consent　of　your　unnatural　parent；　it　is　because
I　am　loath　to　rob　you　of　the　pleasure　of　the　surprise　that　is　in
store。　　But　place　your　faith　in　me；　and　in　that　ingenious　friend
of　whom　I　have　spoken；　and　who　should　be　here　at　any　moment。〃

The　stilted　ass！　　Had　he　learnt　that　speech　by　heart　in　advance；　or
was　he　by　nature　a　pedantic　idiot　who　expressed　himself　in　this　set
and　formal　manner？　　How　came　so　sweet　a　blossom　to　waste　her
perfumes　on　such　a　prig？　　And　what　a　ridiculous　name　the　creature
owned！

Thus　Andre…Louis　to　himself　from　his　observatory。　　Meanwhile；　she
was　speaking。

〃That　is　what　my　heart　desires；　Leandre；　but　I　am　beset　by　fears
lest　your　stratagem　should　be　too　late。　　I　am　to　marry　this　horrible
Marquis　of　Sbrufadelli　this　very　day。　　He　arrives　by　noon。　　He　comes
to　sign　the　contract　…　to　make　me　the　Marchioness　of　Sbrufadelli。
Oh！〃　　It　was　a　cry　of　pain　from　that　tender　young　heart。　　〃The　very
name　burns　my　lips。　　If　it　were　mine　I　could　never　utter　it　…　never！
The　man　is　so　detestable。　　Save　me；　Leandre。　　Save　me！　　You　are　my
only　hope。〃

Andre…Louis　was　conscious　of　a　pang　of　disappointment。　　She　failed
to　soar　to　the　heights　he　had　expected　of　her。　　She　was　evidently
infected　by　the　stilted　manner　of　her　ridiculous　lover。　　There　was
an　atrocious　lack　of　sincerity　about　her　words。　　They　touched　his
mind；　but　left　his　heart　unmoved。　　Perhaps　this　was　because　of　his
antipathy　to　M。　Leandre　and　to　the　issue　involved。

So　her　father　was　marrying　her　to　a　marquis！　　That　implied　birth　on
her　side。　　And　yet　she　was　content　to　pair　off　with　this　dull　young
adventurer　in　the　tarnished　lace！　　It　was；　he　supposed；　the　sort　of
thing　to　be　expected　of　a　sex　that　all　philosophy　had　taught　him　to
regard　as　the　maddest　part　of　a　mad　species。

〃It　shall　never　be！〃　M。　Leandre　was　storming　passionately。　　〃Never！
I　swear　it！〃　　And　he　shook　his　puny　fist　at　the　blue　vault　of　heaven
　…　Ajax　defying　Jupiter。　　〃Ah；　but　here　comes　our　subtle　friend。。。　〃
（Andre…Louis　did　not　catch　the　name；　M。　Leandre　having　at　that　moment
turned　to　face　the　gap　in　the　hedge。）　〃He　will　bring　us　news；　I　know。〃

Andre…Louis　looked　also　in　the　direction　of　the　gap。　　Through　it
emerged　a　lean；　slight　man　in　a　rusty　cloak　and　a　three…cornered　hat
worn　well　down　over　his　nose　so　as　to　shade　his　face。　　And　when
presently　he　doffed　this　hat　and　made　a　sweeping　bow　to　the　young
lovers；　Andre…Louis　confessed　to　himself　that　had　he　been　cursed
with　such　a　hangdog　countenance　he　would　have　worn　his　hat　in
precisely　such　a　manner；　so　as　to　conceal　as　much　of　it　as　possible。
If　M。　Leandre　appeared　to　be　wearing；　in　part　at　least；　the　cast…offs
of　nobleman；　the　newcomer　appeared　to　be　wearing　the　cast…offs　of　M。
Leandre。　　Yet　despite　his　vile　clothes　and　viler　face；　with　its　three
days'　growth　of　beard；　the　fellow　carried　himself　with　a　certain　air；
he　positively　strutted　as　he　advanced；　and　he　made　a　leg　in　a　manner
that　was　courtly　and　practised。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　he；　with　the　air　of　a　conspirator；　〃the　time　for
action　has　arrived；　and　so　has　the　Marquis。。。　That　is　why。〃

The　young　lovers　sprang　apart　in　consternation；　Climene　with　clasped
hands；　parted　lips；　and　a　bosom　that　raced　distractingly　under　its
white　fichu…menteur；　M。　Leandre　agape；　the　very　picture　of　foolishness
and　dismay。

Meanwhile　the　newcomer　rattled　on。　　〃I　was　at　the　inn　an　hour　ago
when　he　descended　there；　and　I　studied　him　attentively　whilst　he　was
at　breakfast。　　Having　done　so；　not　a　single　doubt　remains　me　of　our
success。　　As　for　what　he　looks　like；　I　could　entertain　you　at　length
upon　the　fashion　in　which　nature　has　designed　his　gross　fatuity。
But　that　is　no　matter。　　We　are　concerned　with　what　he　is；　with　the
wit　of　him。　　And　I　tell　you　confidently　that　I　find　him　so　dull　and
stupid　that　you　may　be　confident　he　will　tumble　headlong　into　each
and　all　of　the　traps　I　have　so　cunningly　prepared　for　him。〃

〃Tell　me；　tell　me！　　Speak！〃　Climene　implored　him；　holding　out　her
hands　in　a　supplication　no　man　of　sensibility　could　have　resisted。
And　then　on　the　instant　she　caught　her　breath　on　a　faint　scream。
〃My　father！〃　she　exclaimed；　turning　distractedly　from　one　to　the
other　of　those　two。　　〃He　is　coming！　　We　are　lost！〃

〃You　must　fly；　Climene！〃　said　M。　Leandre。

〃Too　late！〃　she　sobbed。　　〃Too　late！　　He　is　here。〃

〃Calm；　mademoiselle；　calm！〃　the　subtle　friend　was　urging　her。　　〃Keep
calm　and　trust　to　me。　　I　promise　you　that　all　shall　be　well。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　M。　Leandre；　limply。　　〃Say　what　you　will；　my　friend；　this
is　ruin　…　the　end　of　all　our　hopes。　　Your　wits　will　never　extricate
us　from　this。　　Never！〃

Through　the　gap　strode　now　an　enormous　man　with　an　inflamed　moon
face　and　a　great　nose；　decently　dressed　after　the　fashion　of　a　solid
bourgeois。　　There　was　no　mistaking　his　anger；　but　the　expression
that　it　found　was　an　amazement　to　Andre…Louis。

〃Leandre；　you're　an　imbecile！　　Too　much