scaramouche-第38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！


voice　speaking　a　language　that　was　certainly　French；　but　such
French　as　is　never　heard　outside　a　fencing…school。

〃Coulez！　　Mais；　coulez　donc！。。。。So！　　Now　the　flanconnade　…　en
carte。。。。And　here　is　the　riposte。。。。Let　us　begin　again。　　Come！　　The
ward　of　fierce。。。。Make　the　coupe；　and　then　the　quinte　par　dessus
les　armes。。。。0；　mais　allongez！　　Allongez！　　Allez　au　fond！〃　the　voice
cried　in　expostulation。　　〃Come；　that　was　better。〃　　The　blades　ceased。

〃Remember：　the　hand　in　pronation；　the　elbow　not　too　far　out。　　That
will　do　for　to…day。　　On　Wednesday　we　shall　see　you　tirer　au　mur。
It　is　more　deliberate。　　Speed　will　follow　when　the　mechanism　of　the
movements　is　more　assured。〃

Another　voice　murmured　in　answer。　　The　steps　moved　aside。　　The
lesson　was　at　an　end。　　Andre…Louis　tapped　on　the　door。

It　was　opened　by　a　tall；　slender；　gracefully　proportioned　man　of
perhaps　forty。　　Black　silk　breeches　and　stockings　ending　in　light
shoes　clothed　him　from　the　waist　down。　　Above　he　was　encased　to　the
chin　in　a　closely　fitting　plastron　of　leather；　His　face　was　aquiline
and　swarthy；　his　eyes　full　and　dark；　his　mouth　firm　and　his　clubbed
hair　was　of　a　lustrous　black　with　here　and　there　a　thread　of　silver
showing。

in　the　crook　of　his　left　arm　he　carried　a　fencing…mask；　a　thing　of
leather　with　a　wire　grating　to　protect　the　eyes。　　His　keen　glance
played　over　Andre…Louis　from　head　to　foot。

〃Monsieur？〃　he　inquired；　politely。

It　was　clear　that　he　mistook　Andre…Louis'　quality；　which　is　not
surprising；　for　despite　his　sadly　reduced　fortunes；　his　exterior　was
irreproachable；　and　M。　des　Amis　was　not　to　guess　that　he　carried
upon　his　back　the　whole　of　his　possessions。

〃You　have　a　notice　below；　monsieur；〃　he　said；　and　from　the　swift
lighting　of　the　fencing…master's　eyes　he　saw　that　he　had　been
correct　in　his　assumption　that　applicants　for　the　position　had　not
been　jostling　one　another　on　his　threshold。　　And　then　that　flash　of
satisfaction　was　followed　by　a　look　of　surprise。

〃You　are　come　in　regard　to　that？〃

Andre…Louis　shrugged　and　half　smiled。　　〃One　must　live；〃　said　he。

〃But　come　in。　　Sit　down　there。　　I　shall　be　at　your。。。。I　shall　be
free　to　attend　to　you　in　a　moment。〃

Andre…Louis　took　a　seat　on　the　bench　ranged　against　one　of　the
whitewashed　walls。　　The　room　was　long　and　low；　its　floor　entirely
bare。　　Plain　wooden　forms　such　as　that　which　he　occupied　were　placed
here　and　there　against　the　wall。　　These　last　were　plastered　with
fencing　trophies；　masks；　crossed　foils；　stuffed　plastrons；　and　a
variety　of　swords；　daggers；　and　targets；　belonging　to　a　variety　of
ages　and　countries。　　There　was　also　a　portrait　of　an　obese；　big…nosed
gentleman　in　an　elaborately　curled　wig；　wearing　the　blue　ribbon　of
the　Saint　Esprit；　in　whom　Andre…Louis　recognized　the　King。　　And　there
was　a　framed　parchment　…　M。　des　Amis'　certificate　from　the　King's
Academy。　　A　bookcase　occupied　one　corner；　and　near　this；　facing　the
last　of　the　four　windows　that　abundantly　lighted　the　long　room；　there
was　a　small　writing…table　and　an　armchair。　　A　plump　and　beautifully
dressed　young　gentleman　stood　by　this　table　in　the　act　of　resuming
coat　and　wig。　　M。　des　Amis　sauntered　over　to　him　…　moving；　thought
Andre…Louis；　with　extraordinary　grace　and　elasticity　…　and　stood　in
talk　with　him　whilst　also　assisting　him　to　complete　his　toilet。

At　last　the　young　gentleman　took　his　departure；　mopping　himself　with
a　fine　kerchief　that　left　a　trail　of　perfume　on　the　air。　　M。　des
Amis　closed　the　door；　and　turned　to　the　applicant；　who　rose　at　once。

〃Where　have　you　studied？〃　quoth　the　fencing…master　abruptly。

〃Studied？〃　Andre…Louis　was　taken　aback　by　the　question。　　〃Oh；　at
Louis　Le　Grand。〃

M。　des　Amis　frowned；　looking　up　sharply　as　if　to　see　whether　his
applicant　was　taking　the　liberty　of　amusing　himself。

〃In　Heaven's　name！　　I　am　not　asking　you　where　you　did　your
humanities；　but　in　what　academy　you　studied　fencing。〃

〃Oh　…　fencing！〃　　It　had　hardly　ever　occurred　to　Andre…Louis　that
the　sword　ranked　seriously　as　a　study。　　〃I　never　studied　it　very
much。　　I　had　some　lessons　in。。。　in　the　country　once。

The　master's　eyebrows　went　up。　　〃But　then？〃　he　cried。　　〃Why　trouble
to　come　up　two　flights　of　stairs？〃　　He　was　impatient。

〃The　notice　does　not　demand　a　high　degree　of　proficiency。　　If　I　am
not　proficient　enough；　yet　knowing　the　rudiments　I　can　easily
improve。　　I　learn　most　things　readily；〃　Andre…Louis　commended　himself。
〃For　the　rest：　I　possess　the　other　qualifications。　　I　am　young；　as
you　observe：　and　I　leave　you　to　judge　whether　I　am　wrong　in　assuming
that　my　address　is　good。　　I　am　by　profession　a　man　of　the　robe；
though　I　realize　that　the　motto　here　is　cedat　toga　armis。〃

M。　des　Amis　smiled　approvingly。　　Undoubtedly　the　young　man　had　a
good　address；　and　a　certain　readiness　of　wit；　it　would　appear。　　He
ran　a　critical　eye　over　his　physical　points。　　〃What　is　your　name？〃
he　asked。

Andre…Louis　hesitated　a　moment。　　〃Andre…Louis；〃　he　said。

The　dark；　keen　eyes　conned　him　more　searchingly。
　　
〃Well？　　Andre…Louis　what？〃

〃Just　Andre…Louis。　　Louis　is　my　surname。〃

〃Oh！　　An　odd　surname。　　You　come　from　Brittany　by　your　accent。　　Why
did　you　leave　it？〃

〃To　save　my　skin；〃　he　answered；　without　reflecting。　　And　then　made
haste　to　cover　the　blunder。　　〃I　have　an　enemy；〃　he　explained。

M。　des　Amis　frowned；　stroking　his　square　chin。　　〃You　ran　away？〃　

〃You　may　say　so。

〃A　coward；　eh？〃

〃I　don't　think　so。〃　　And　then　he　lied　romantically。　　Surely　a　man
who　lived　by　the　sword　should　have　a　weakness　for　the　romantic。
〃You　see；　my　enemy　is　a　swordsman　of　great　strength　…　the　best　blade
in　the　province；　if　not　the　best　blade　in　France。　　That　is　his
repute。　　I　thought　I　would　come　to　Paris　to　learn　something　of　the
art；　and　then　go　back　and　kill　him。　That；　to　be　frank；　is　why　your
notice　attracted　me。　　You　see；　I　have　not　the　means　to　take　lessons
otherwise。　　I　thought　to　find　work　here　in　the　law。　　But　I　have
failed。　　There　are　too　many　lawyers　in　Paris　as　it　is；　and　whilst
waiting　I　have　consumed　the　little　money　that　I　had；　so　that。。。　so
that；　enfin；　your　notice　seemed　to　me　something　to　which　a　special
providence　had　directed　me。〃

M。　des　Amis　gripped　him　by　the　shoulders；　and　looked　into　his　face。

〃Is　this　true；　my　friend？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　a　word　of　it；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　wrecking　his　chances　on　an
irresistible　impulse　to　say　the　unexpected。　　But　he　didn't　wreck
them。　M。　des　Amis　burst　into　laughter；　and　having　laughed　his　fill；
confessed　himself　charmed　by　his　applicant's　fundamental　honesty。

〃Take　off　your　coat；〃　he　said；　〃and　let　us　see　what　you　can　do。
Nature；　at　least；　designed　you　for　a　swordsman。　　You　are　light；
active；　and　supple；　with　a　good　length　of　arm；　and　you　seem
intelligent。　　I　may　make　something　of　you；　teach　you　enough　for　my
purpose；　which　is　that　you　should　give　the　elements　of　the　art　to
new　pupils　before　I　take　them　in　hand　to　finish　them。　Let　us　try。
Take　that　mask　and　foil；　and　come　over　here。

He　led　him　to　the　end　of　the　room；　where　the　bare　floor　was　scored
with　lines　of　chalk　to　guide　the　beginner　in　the　management　of　his
feet。

At　the　end　of　a　ten　minutes'　bout；　M。　des　Amis　offered　him　the
situation；　and　explained　it。　　In　addition　to　imparting　the　rudiments
of　the　art　to　beginners；　he　was　to　brush　out　the　fencing…room　every
morning；　keep　the　foils　furbished；　assist　the　gentlemen　who　came　for
lessons　to　dress　and　undress；　and　make　himself　generally　useful。
His　wages　for　the　present　were　to　be　forty　livres　a　month；　and　he
might　sleep　in　an　alcove　behind　the　fencing…room　if　he　had　no　other
lodging。

The　position；　you　see；　had　its　humiliations。　　But；　if　Andre…Louis
would　hope　to　dine；　he　must　begin　by　eating　his　pride　as　an　hors
d'oeuvre。

〃And　so；〃　he　said；　controlling　a　grimace；　〃the　robe　yields　not　only
to　the　sword；　but　to　the　broom　as　well。　　Be　it　so。　　I　stay。〃

lt　is　characteristic　of　him　that；　having　made　that　choice；　he　should
have　thrown　himself　into　the　work　with　enthusiasm。　　It　was　ever　his
way　to　do　whatever　he　did　with　all　the　resources　of　his　mind　and
energies　of　his　body。　　When　he　was　not　instructing　very　young
gentlemen　in　the　elements　of　the　art；　showing　them　the　elaborate　and
intricate　salute　…　which　with　a　few　days'　hard　practice　he　had
mastered　to　perfection　…　and　the　eight　guards；　he　was　himself　hard
at　work　on　those　same　guards；　exercising　eye；　wrist；　and　knees。

Perceiving　his　enthusiasm；　and　seeing　the　obvious　possibilities　it
opened　out　of　turning　him　into　a　really　effective　assistant；　M。
des　Amis　presently　took　him　more　seriously　in　hand。

〃Your　application　and　zeal；　my　friend；　are　deserving　of　more　than
forty　livres　a　month；〃　the　master　informed　him　at　the　end　of　a　week。
〃For　the　present；　however；　I　will　make　up　what　else　I　consider　due
to　you　by　imparting　to　you　secrets　of　this　noble　art。　　Your　future
depends　upon　how　you　profit　by　your　exceptional　good　fortune　in
receiving　instruction　from　me。〃

Thereafter　every　morning　before　the　opening　of　the　academy；　the
master　would　fence　for　half　an　hour　with　his　new　assistant。　　Under
this　really　excellent　tuition　Andre…Louis　improved　at　a　rate　that
both　astounded　and　flattered　M。　des　Amis。　　He　would　have　been　less
flattered　and　more　astounded　had　he　known　that　at　least　half　the
secret　of　Andre…Louis'　amazing　progress　lay　in　the　fact　that　he　was
devouring　the　contents　of　the　master's　library；　which　was　made　up
of　a　dozen　or　so　treatises　on　fencing　by　such　great　masters　as　La
Bessiere；　Danet；　and　the　syndic　of　the　King's　Academy；　Augustin
Rousseau。　　To　M。　des　Amis；　whose　swordsmanship　was　all　based　on
practice　and　not　at　all　on　theory；　who　was　indeed　no　theorist　or
student　in　any　sense；　that　little　library　was　merely　a　suitable
adjunct　to　a　fencing…academy；　a　proper　piece　of　decorative　furniture。
The　books　themselves　meant　nothing　to　him　in　any　other　sense。　　He
had　not　the　type　of　mind　that　could　have　read　them　with　profit　nor
could　be　understand　that　another　should　do　so。　　Andre…Louis；　on　the
contrary；　a　man　with　the　habit　of　study；　with　the　acquired　faculty
of　learning　from　books；　read　those　works　with　enormous　profit；　kept
their　precepts　in　mind；　critically　set　off　those　of　one　master
against　those　of　another；　and　made　for　himself　a　choice　which　he
proceeded　to　put　into　practice。

At　the　end　of　a　month　it　suddenly　dawned　upon　M。　des　Amis　that　his
assistant　had　developed　into　a　fencer　of　very　considerable　force；
a　man　in　a　bout　with　whom　it　became　necessary　to　exert　himself　if
he　were　to　escape　defeat。

〃I　said　from　the　first；〃　he　told　him　one　day；　〃that　Nature　designed
you　for　a　swordsman。　　See　how　justified　I　was；　and　see　also　how　well
I　have　known　how　to　mould　the　material　with　which　Nature　has
equipped　you。〃

〃To　the　master　be　the　glory；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

His　relations　with　M。　des　Amis　had　meanwhile　become　of　the
friendliest；　and　he　was　now　beginning　to　receive　from　him　other
pupils　than　mere　beginners。　　In　fact　Andre…Louis　was　becoming　an
assistant　in　a　much　fuller　sense　of　the　word。　　M。　des　Amis；　a
chivalrous；　open…handed　fellow；　far　from　taking　advantage　of　what
he　had　guessed　to　be　the　young　man's　difficulties；　rewarded　hi