scaramouche-第31章

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They　crossed　the　square　and　entered　the　caf？

〃So　you　think　the　world　has　been　standing　still！　　Dieu　de　Dieu！　　I
suppose　you　haven't　heard　of　the　royal　order　for　the　convocation　of
the　States　General；　or　the　terms　of　them　…　that　we　are　to　have　what
we　demanded；　what　you　demanded　for　us　here　in　Nantes！　　You　haven't
heard　that　the　order　has　gone　forth　for　the　primary　elections　…　the
elections　of　the　electors。　　You　haven't　heard　of　the　fresh　uproar
in　Rennes；　last　month。　　The　order　was　that　the　three　estates　should
sit　together　at　the　States　General　of　the　bailliages；　but　in　the
bailliage　of　Rennes　the　nobles　must　ever　be　recalcitrant。　　They　took
up　arms　actually　…　six　hundred　of　them　with　their　valetaille；　headed
by　your　old　friend　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　and　they　were　for　slashing
us　…　the　members　of　the　Third　Estate　…　into　ribbons　so　as　to　put　an
end　to　our　insolence。〃　　He　laughed　delicately。　　〃But；　by　God；　we
showed　them　that　we；　too；　could　take　up　arms。　　It　was　what　you
yourself　advocated　here　in　Nantes；　last　November。　　We　fought　them
a　pitched　battle　in　the　streets；　under　the　leadership　of　your
namesake　Moreau；　the　provost；　and　we　so　peppered　them　that　they　were
glad　to　take　shelter　in　the　Cordelier　Convent。　　That　is　the　end　of
their　resistance　to　the　royal　authority　and　the　people's　will。〃

He　ran　on　at　great　speed　detailing　the　events　that　had　taken　place；
and　finally　came　to　the　matter　which　had；　he　announced；　been　causing
him　to　hunt　for　Andre…Louis　until　he　had　all　but　despaired　of
finding　him。

Nantes　was　sending　fifty　delegates　to　the　assembly　of　Rennes　which
was　to　select　the　deputies　to　the　Third　Estate　and　edit　their　cahier
of　grievances。　　Rennes　itself　was　being　as　fully　represented；　whilst
such　villages　as　Gavrillac　were　sending　two　delegates　for　every　two
hundred　hearths　or　less。　　Each　of　these　three　had　clamoured　that
Andre…Louis　Moreau　should　be　one　of　its　delegates。　　Gavrillac　wanted
him　because　he　belonged　to　the　village；　and　it　was　known　there　what
sacrifices　he　had　made　in　the　popular　cause；　Rennes　wanted　him
because　it　had　heard　his　spirited　address　on　the　day　of　the　shooting
of　the　students；　and　Nantes　…　to　whom　his　identity　was　unknown　…　
asked　for　him　as　the　speaker　who　had　addressed　them　under　the　name
of　Omnes　Omnibus　and　who　had　framed　for　them　the　memorial　that　was
believed　so　largely　to　have　influenced　M。　Necker　in　formulating　the
terms　of　the　convocation。

Since　he　could　not　be　found；　the　delegations　had　been　made　up
without　him。　　But　now　it　happened　that　one　or　two　vacancies　had
occurred　in　the　Nantes　representation；　and　it　was　the　business　of
filling　these　vacancies　that　had　brought　Le　Chapelier　to　Nantes。

Andre…Louis　firmly　shook　his　head　in　answer　to　Le　Chapelier's
proposal。

〃You　refuse？〃　the　other　cried。　　〃Are　you　mad？　　Refuse；　when　you　are
demanded　from　so　many　sides？　　Do　you　realize　that　it　is　more　than
probable　you　will　be　elected　one　of　the　deputies；　that　you　will　be
sent　to　the　States　General　at　Versailles　to　represent　us　in　this
work　of　saving　France？〃

But　Andre…Louis；　we　know；　was　not　concerned　to　save　France。　　At　the
moment　he　was　concerned　to　save　two　women；　both　of　whom　he　loved；
though　in　vastly　different　ways；　from　a　man　he　had　vowed　to　ruin。
He　stood　firm　in　his　refusal　until　Le　Chapelier　dejectedly　abandoned
the　attempt　to　persuade　him。

〃It　is　odd；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　〃that　I　should　have　been　so　deeply
immersed　in　trifles　as　never　to　have　perceived　that　Nantes　is　being
politically　active。〃

〃Active！　　My　friend；　it　is　a　seething　cauldron　of　political　emotions。
It　is　kept　quiet　on　the　surface　only　by　the　persuasion　that　all　goes
well。　　At　a　hint　to　the　contrary　it　would　boil　over。〃

〃Would　it　so？〃　said　Scaramouche；　thoughtfully。　　〃The　knowledge　may
be　useful。〃　　And　then　he　changed　the　subject。　　〃You　know　that　La
Tour　d'Azyr　is　here？〃

〃In　Nantes？　　He　has　courage　if　he　shows　himself。　　They　are　not　a
docile　people；　these　Nantais；　and　they　know　his　record　and　the　part
he　played　in　the　rising　at　Rennes。　　I　marvel　they　haven't　stoned
him。　　But　they　will；　sooner　or　later。　　It　only　needs　that　some　one
should　suggest　it。〃

〃That　is　very　likely；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　and　smiled。　　〃He　doesn't
show　himself　much；　not　in　the　streets；　at　least。　　So　that　he　has
not　the　courage　you　suppose；　nor　any　kind　of　courage；　as　I　told
him　once。　　He　has　only　insolence。〃

At　parting　Le　Chapelier　again　exhorted　him　to　give　thought　to　what
he　proposed。　　〃Send　me　word　if　you　change　your　mind。　　I　am　lodged
at　the　Cerf；　and　I　shall　be　here　until　the　day　after　to…morrow。　　If
you　have　ambition；　this　is　your　moment。〃

〃I　have　no　ambition；　I　suppose；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　and　went　his　way。

That　night　at　the　theatre　he　had　a　mischievous　impulse　to　test　what
Le　Chapelier　had　told　him　of　the　state　of　public　feeling　in　the
city。　　They　were　playing　〃The　Terrible　Captain；〃　in　the　last　act　of
which　the　empty　cowardice　of　the　bullying　braggart　Rhodomont　is
revealed　by　Scaramouche。

After　the　laughter　which　the　exposure　of　the　roaring　captain
invariably　produced；　it　remained　for　Scaramouche　contemptuously　to
dismiss　him　in　a　phrase　that　varied　nightly；　according　to　the
inspiration　of　the　moment。　　This　time　he　chose　to　give　his　phrase
a　political　complexion：

〃Thus；　0　thrasonical　coward；　is　your　emptiness　exposed。　　Because
of　your　long　length　and　the　great　sword　you　carry　and　the　angle　at
which　you　cock　your　hat；　people　have　gone　in　fear　of　you；；　have
believed　in　you；　have　imagined　you　to　be　as　terrible　and　as　formidable
as　you　insolently　make　yourself　appear。　　But　at　the　first　touch　of
true　spirit　you　crumple　up；　you　tremble；　you　whine　pitifully；　and
the　great　sword　remains　in　your　scabbard。　　You　remind　me　of　the
Privileged　Orders　when　confronted　by　the　Third　Estate。〃

It　was　audacious　of　him；　and　he　was　prepared　for　anything　…　a　laugh；
applause；　indignation；　or　all　together。　　But　he　was　not　prepared　for
what　came。　　And　it　came　so　suddenly　and　spontaneously　from　the
groundlings　and　the　body　of　those　in　the　amphitheatre　that　he　was
almost　scared　by　it　…　as　a　boy　may　be　scared　who　has　held　a　match
to　a　sun…scorched　hayrick。　　It　was　a　hurricane　of　furious　applause。
Men　leapt　to　their　feet；　sprang　up　on　to　the　benches；　waving　their
hats　in　the　air；　deafening　him　with　the　terrific　uproar　of　their
acclamations。　　And　it　rolled　on　and　on；　nor　ceased　until　the　curtain
fell。

Scaramouche　stood　meditatively　smiling　with　tight　lips。　　At　the
last　moment　he　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　face
thrust　farther　forward　than　usual　from　the　shadows　of　his　box；　and
it　was　a　face　set　in　anger；　with　eyes　on　fire。

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　laughed　Rhodomont；　recovering　from　the　real　scare　that
had　succeeded　his　histrionic　terror；　〃but　you　have　a　great　trick
of　tickling　them　in　the　right　place；　Scaramouche。〃

Scaramouche　looked　up　at　him　and　smiled。　　〃It　can　be　useful　upon
occasion；〃　said　he；　and　went　off　to　his　dressing…room　to　change。
　
But　a　reprimand　awaited　him。　　He　was　delayed　at　the　theatre　by
matters　concerned　with　the　scenery　of　the　new　piece　they　were　to
mount　upon　the　morrow。　　By　the　time　he　was　rid　of　the　business　the
rest　of　the　company　had　long　since　left。　　He　called　a　chair　and
had　himself　carried　back　to　the　inn　in　solitary　state。　　It　was　one
of　many　minor　luxuries　his　comparatively　affluent　present
circumstances　permitted。

Coming　into　that　upstairs　room　that　was　common　to　all　the　troupe；
he　found　M。　Binet　talking　loudly　and　vehemently。　　He　had　caught
sounds　of　his　voice　whilst　yet　upon　the　stairs。　　As　he　entered　Binet
broke　off　short；　and　wheeled　to　face　him。

〃You　are　here　at　last！〃　　It　was　so　odd　a　greeting　that　Andre…Louis
did　no　more　than　look　his　mild　surprise。　　〃I　await　your　explanations
of　the　disgraceful　scene　you　provoked　to…night。〃

〃Disgraceful？　　Is　it　disgraceful　that　the　public　should　applaud　me？〃

〃The　public？　　The　rabble；　you　mean。　　Do　you　want　to　deprive　us　of
the　patronage　of　all　gentlefolk　by　vulgar　appeals　to　the　low　passions
of　the　mob。？〃

Andre…Louis　stepped　past　M。　Binet　and　forward　to　the　table。　　He
shrugged　contemptuously。　　The　man　offended　him；　after　all。

〃You　exaggerate　grossly　…　as　usual。〃

〃I　do　not　exaggerate。　　And　I　am　the　master　in　my　own　theatre。　　This
is　the　Binet　Troupe；　and　it　shall　be　conducted　in　the　Binet　way。〃

〃Who　are　the　gentlefolk　the　loss　of　whose　patronage　to　the　Feydau
will　be　so　poignantly　felt？〃　asked　Andre…Louis。

〃You　imply　that　there　are　none？　　See　how　wrong　you　are。　　After　the
play　to…night　M。　le　Marquis　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　came　to　me；　and　spoke
to　me　in　the　severest　terms　about　your　scandalous　outburst。　　I　was
forced　to　apologize；　and。。。　〃

〃The　more　fool　you；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃A　man　who　respected　himself
would　have　shown　that　gentleman　the　door。〃　　M。　Binet's　face　began
to　empurple。　　〃You　call　yourself　the　head　of　the　Binet　Troupe；　you
boast　that　you　will　be　master　in　your　own　theatre；　and　you　stand
like　a　lackey　to　take　the　orders　of　the　first　insolent　fellow　who
comes　to　your　green…room　to　tell　you　that　he　does　not　like　a　line
spoken　by　one　of　your　company！　　I　say　again　that　had　you　really
respected　yourself　you　would　have　turned　him　out。〃

There　was　a　murmur　of　approval　from　several　members　of　the　company；
who；　having　heard　the　arrogant　tone　assumed　by　the　Marquis；　were
filled　with　resentment　against　the　slur　cast　upon　them　all。

〃And　I　say　further；〃　Andre…Louis　went　on；　〃that　a　man　who　respects
himself；　on　quite　other　grounds；　would　have　been　only　too　glad　to
have　seized　this　pretext　to　show　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　the　door。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　　There　was　a　rumble　of　thunder　in　the
question。

Andre…Louis'　eyes　swept　round　the　company　assembled　at　the
supper…table。　　〃Where　is　Climene？〃　he　asked；　sharply。

Leandre　leapt　up　to　answer　him；　white　in　the　face；　tense　and
quivering　with　excitement。

〃She　left　the　theatre　in　the　Marquis　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　carriage
immediately　after　the　performance。　　We　heard　him　offer　to　drive
her　to　this　inn。〃

Andre…Louis　glanced　at　the　timepiece　on　the　overmantel。　　He　seemed
unnaturally　calm。

〃That　would　be　an　hour　ago　…　rather　more。　　And　she　has　not　yet
arrived？〃

His　eyes　sought　M。　Binet's。　　M。　Binet's　eyes　eluded　his　glance。
Again　it　was　Leandre　who　answered　him。

〃Not　yet。〃

〃Ah！〃　　Andre…Louis　sat　down；　and　poured　himself　wine。　　There　was
an　oppressive　silence　in　the　room。　　Leandre　watched　him　expectantly；
Columbine　commiseratingly。　　Even　M。　Binet　appeared　to　be　waiting
for　a　cue　from　Scaramouche。　　But　Scaramouche　disappointed　him。
〃Have　you　left　me　anything　to　eat？〃　he　asked。

Platters　were　pushed　towards　him。　　He　helped　himself　calmly　to　food；
and　ate　in　silence；　apparently　with　a　good　appetite。　　M。　Binet　sat
down；　poured　himself　wine；　and　drank。　　Presently　he　attempted　to
make　conversation　with　one　and　another。　　He　was　answered　curtly；　in
monosyllables。　　M。　Binet　did　not　appear　to　be　in　favour　with　his
troupe　that　night。

At　long　length　came　a　rumble　of　wheels　below　and　a　rattle　of　halting
hooves。　　Then　voices；　the　high；　trilling　laugh　of　Climene　floating
upwards。　　Andre…Louis　went　on　eating　unconcernedly。

〃What　an　act