scaramouche-第42章

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who　should　concern　himself　with　the　death　of　the　miserable　Binet
killed　by　him　…　if；　indeed；　he　had　killed　him；　as　he　hoped　…　in
self…defence。

And　so　one　fine　day　in　early　August；　Andre…Louis　gave　himself　a
holiday　from　the　academy；　which　was　now　working　smoothly　under　his
assistants；　hired　a　chaise　and　drove　out　to　Versailles　to　the　Caf？
d'Amaury；　which　he　knew　for　the　meeting…place　of　the　Club　Breton；
the　seed　from　which　was　to　spring　that　Society　of　the　Friends　of
the　Constitution　better　known　as　the　Jacobins。　　He　went　to　seek
Le　Chapelier；　who　had　been　one　of　the　founders　of　the　club；　a　man
of　great　prominence　now；　president　of　the　Assembly　in　this　important
season　when　it　was　deliberating　upon　the　Declaration　of　the　Rights
of　Man。

Le　Chapelier's　importance　was　reflected　in　the　sudden　servility　of
the　shirt…sleeved；　white…aproned　waiter　of　whom　Andre…Louis　inquired
for　the　representative。

M。　Le　Chapelier　was　above…stairs　with　friends。　　The　waiter　desired
to　serve　the　gentleman；　but　hesitated　to　break　in　upon　the　assembly
in　which　M。　le　Depute　found　himself。

Andre…Louis　gave　him　a　piece　of　silver　to　encourage　him　to　make　the
attempt。　　Then　he　sat　down　at　a　marble…topped　table　by　the　window
looking　out　over　the　wide　tree…encircled　square。　　There；　in　that
common…room　of　the　caf？　deserted　at　this　hour　of　mid…afternoon；　the
great　man　came　to　him。　Less　than　a　year　ago　he　had　yielded　precedence
to　Andre…Louis　in　a　matter　of　delicate　leadership；　to…day　he　stood
on　the　heights；　one　of　the　great　leaders　of　the　Nation　in　travail；
and　Andre…Louis　was　deep　down　in　the　shadows　of　the　general　mass。

The　thought　was　in　the　minds　of　both　as　they　scanned　each　other；
each　noting　in　the　other　the　marked　change　that　a　few　months　had
wrought。　　In　Le　Chapelier；　Andre…Louis　observed　certain　heightened
refinements　of　dress　that　went　with　certain　subtler　refinements　of
countenance。　　He　was　thinner　than　of　old；　his　face　was　pale　and
there　was　a　weariness　in　the　eyes　that　considered　his　visitor
through　a　gold…rimmed　spy…glass。　　In　Andre…Louis　those　jaded　but
quick…moving　eyes　of　the　Breton　deputy　noted　changes　even　more
marked。　　The　almost　constant　swordmanship　of　these　last　months　had
given　Andre…Louis　a　grace　of　movement；　a　poise；　and　a　curious；
indefinable　air　of　dignity；　of　command。　　He　seemed　taller　by　virtue
of　this；　and　he　was　dressed　with　an　elegance　which　if　quiet　was
none　the　less　rich。　　He　wore　a　small　silver…hilted　sword；　and　wore
it　as　if　used　to　it；　and　his　black　hair　that　Le　Chapelier　had　never
seen　other　than　fluttering　lank　about　his　bony　cheeks　was　glossy
now　and　gathered　into　a　club。　　Almost　he　had　the　air　of　a
petit…maitre。

In　both；　however；　the　changes　were　purely　superficial；　as　each　was
soon　to　reveal　to　the　other。　　Le　Chapelier　was　ever　the　same　direct
and　downright　Breton；　abrupt　of　manner　and　of　speech。　　He　stood
smiling　a　moment　in　mingled　surprise　and　pleasure；　then　opened　wide
his　arms。　　They　embraced　under　the　awe…stricken　gaze　of　the　waiter；
who　at　once　effaced　himself。

〃Andre…Louis；　my　friend！　　Whence　do　you　drop？〃

〃We　drop　from　above。　　I　come　from　below　to　survey　at　close　quarters
one　who　is　on　the　heights。〃

〃On　the　heights！　　But　that　you　willed　it　so；　it　is　yourself　might
now　be　standing　in　my　place。〃

〃I　have　a　poor　head　for　heights；　and　I　find　the　atmosphere　too
rarefied。　　Indeed；　you　look　none　too　well　on　it　yourself；　Isaac。
You　are　pale。〃

〃The　Assembly　was　in　session　all　last　night。　　That　is　all。　　These
damned　Privileged　multiply　our　difficulties。　　They　will　do　so　until
we　decree　their　abolition。〃

They　sat　down。　　〃Abolition！　　You　contemplate　so　much？　　Not　that　you
surprise　me。　　You　have　always　been　an　extremist。〃

〃I　contemplate　it　that　I　may　save　them。　I　seek　to　abolish　them
officially；　so　as　to　save　them　from　abolition　of　another　kind　at
the　hands　of　a　people　they　exasperate。〃

〃I　see。　　And　the　King？〃

〃The　King　is　the　incarnation　of　the　Nation。　　We　shall　deliver　him
together　with　the　Nation　from　the　bondage　of　Privilege。　　Our
constitution　will　accomplish　it。　　You　agree？〃

Andre…Louis　shrugged。　　〃Does　it　matter？　　I　am　a　dreamer　in　politics；
not　a　man　of　action。　　Until　lately　I　have　been　very　moderate；　more
moderate　than　you　think。　　But　now　almost　I　am　a　republican。　　I　have
been　watching；　and　I　have　perceived　that　this　King　is　…　just　nothing；
a　puppet　who　dances　according　to　the　hand　that　pulls　the　string。〃

〃This　King；　you　say？　　What　other　king　is　possible？　　You　are　surely
not　of　those　who　weave　dreams　about　Orleans？　　He　has　a　sort　of
party；　a　following　largely　recruited　by　the　popular　hatred　of　the
Queen　and　the　known　fact　that　she　hates　him。　　There　are　some　who
have　thought　of　making　him　regent；　some　even　more；　Robespierre　is
of　the　number。〃

〃Who？〃　asked　Andre…Louis；　to　whom　the　name　was　unknown。

〃Robespierre　…　a　preposterous　little　lawyer　who　represents　Arras；
a　shabby；　clumsy；　timid　dullard；　who　will　make　speeches　through
his　nose　to　which　nobody　listens　…　an　ultra…royalist　whom　the
royalists　and　the　Orleanists　are　using　for　their　own　ends。　　He
has　pertinacity；　and　he　insists　upon　being　heard。　　He　may　be
listened　to　some　day。　　But　that　he；　or　the　others；　will　ever　make
anything　of　Orleans。。。　pish！　　Orleans　himself　may　desire　it；　but。
the　man　is　a　eunuch　in　crime；　he　would；　but　he　can't。　　The　phrase
is　Mirabeau's。〃

He　broke　off　to　demand　Andre…Louis'　news　of　himself。

〃You　did　not　treat　me　as　a　friend　when　you　wrote　to　me；〃　he
complained。　　〃You　gave　me　no　clue　to　your　whereabouts；　you
represented　yourself　as　on　the　verge　of　destitution　and　withheld
from　me　the　means　to　come　to　your　assistance。　　I　have　been　troubled
in　mind　about　you；　Andre。　　Yet　to　judge　by　your　appearance　I　might
have　spared　myself　that。　　You　seem　prosperous；　assured。　　Tell　me
of　it。〃

Andre…Louis　told　him　frankly　all　that　there　was　to　tell。　　〃Do　you
know　that　you　are　an　amazement　to　me？〃　said　the　deputy。　　〃From　the
robe　to　the　buskin；　and　now　from　the　buskin　to　the　sword！　　What
will　be　the　end　of　you；　I　wonder？〃

〃The　gallows；　probably。〃

〃Fish！　　Be　serious。　　Why　not　the　toga　of　the　senator　in　senatorial
France？　　It　might　be　yours　now　if　you　had　willed　it　so。〃

〃The　surest　way　to　the　gallows　of　all；〃　laughed　Andre…Louis。

At　the　moment　Le　Chapelier　manifested　impatience。　　I　wonder　did　the
phrase　cross　his　mind　that　day　four　years　later　when　himself　he　rode
in　the　death…cart　to　the　Greve。

〃We　are　sixty…six　Breton　deputies　in　the　Assembly。　　Should　a　vacancy
occur；　will　you　act　as　suppleant？　　A　word　from　me　together　with　the
influence　of　your　name　in　Rennes　and　Nantes；　and　the　thing　is　done。〃

Andre…Louis　laughed　outright。　　〃Do　you　know；　Isaac；　that　I　never
meet　you　but　you　seek　to　thrust　me　into　politics？〃

〃Because　you　have　a　gift　for　politics。　　You　were　born　for　politics。〃

〃Ah；　yes　…　Scaramouche　in　real　life。　　I've　played　it　on　the　stage。
Let　that　suffice。　　Tell　me；　Isaac；　what　news　of　my　old　friend；　La
Tour　d'Azyr？〃

〃He　is　here　in　Versailles；　damn　him　…　a　thorn　in　the　flesh　of
the　Assembly。　　They've　burnt　his　chateau　at　La　Tour　d'Azyr。
Unfortunately　he　wasn't　in　it　at　the　time。　　The　flames　haven't　even
singed　his　insolence。　　He　dreams　that　when　this　philosophic
aberration　is　at　an　end；　there　will　be　serfs　to　rebuild　it　for　him。〃

〃So　there　has　been　trouble　in　Brittany？〃　Andre…Louis　had　become
suddenly　grave；　his　thoughts　swinging　to　Gavrillac。

〃An　abundance　of　it；　and　elsewhere　too。　　Can　you　wonder？　　These
delays　at　such　a　time；　with　famine　in　the　land？　　Chateaux　have　been
going　up　in　smoke　during　the　last　fortnight。　　The　peasants　took
their　cue　from　the　Parisians；　and　treated　every　castle　as　a　Bastille。
Order　is　being　restored；　there　as　here；　and　they　are　quieter　now。〃

〃What　of　Gavrillac？　　Do　you　know？〃

〃I　believe　all　to　be　well。　　M。　de　Kercadiou　was　not　a　Marquis　de　La
Tour　d'Azyr。　　He　was　in　sympathy　with　his　people。　　It　is　not　likely
that　they　would　injure　Gavrillac。　　But　don't　you　correspond　with
your　godfather？〃

〃In　the　circumstances　…　no。　　What　you　tell　me　would　make　it　now　more
difficult　than　ever；　for　he　must　account　me　one　of　those　who　helped
to　light　the　torch　that　has　set　fire　to　so　much　belonging　to　his
class。　　Ascertain　for　me　that　all　is　well；　and　let　me　know。〃

〃I　will；　at　once。〃

At　parting；　when　Andre…Louis　was　on　the　point　of　stepping　into　his
cabriolet　to　return　to　Paris；　he　sought　information　on　another
matter。

〃Do　you　happen　to　know　if　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　has　married？〃　he
asked。

〃I　don't；　which　really　means　that　he　hasn't。　　One　would　have　heard
of　it　in　the　case　of　that　exalted　Privileged。〃

〃To　be　sure。〃　Andre…Louis　spoke　indifferently。　　〃Au　revoir；　Isaac！
You'll　come　and　see　me　…　13　Rue　du　Hasard。　　Come　soon。〃

〃As　soon　and　as　often　as　my　duties　will　allow。　　They　keep　me　chained
here　at　present。〃

〃Poor　slave　of　duty　with　your　gospel　of　liberty！〃

〃True！　　And　because　of　that　I　will　come。　　I　have　a　duty　to　Brittany：
to　make　Omnes　Omnibus　one　of　her　representatives　in　the　National
Assembly。〃

〃That　is　a　duty　you　will　oblige　me　by　neglecting；〃　laughed
Andre…Louis；　and　drove　away。



CHAPTER　IV

AT　MEUDON


Later　in　the　week　he　received　a　visit　from　Le　Chapelier　just　before
noon。

〃I　have　news　for　you；　Andre。　　Your　godfather　is　at　Meudon。　　He
arrived　there　two　days　ago。　　Had　you　heard？〃

〃But　no。　　How　should　I　hear？　　Why　is　he　at　Meudon？〃　　He　was　conscious
of　a　faint　excitement；　which　he　could　hardly　have　explained。

〃I　don't　know。　　There　have　been　fresh　disturbances　in　Brittany。　　It
may　be　due　to　that。〃

〃And　so　he　has　come　for　shelter　to　his　brother？〃　asked　Andre…Louis。

〃To　his　brother's　house；　yes；　but　not　to　his　brother。　　Where　do　you
live　at　all；　Andre？　　Do　you　never　hear　any　of　the　news？　　Etienne　de
Gavrillac　emigrated　years　ago。　　He　was　of　the　household　of　M。
d'Artois；　and　he　crossed　the　frontier　with　him。　　By　now；　no　doubt；
he　is　in　Germany　with　him；　conspiring　against　France。　　For　that　is
what　the　emigres　are　doing。　　That　Austrian　woman　at　the　Tuileries
will　end　by　destroying　the　monarchy。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Andre…Louis　impatiently。　　Politics　interested　him
not　at　all　this　morning。　　〃But　about　Gavrillac？〃

〃Why；　haven't　I　told　you　that　Gavrillac　is　at　Meudon；　installed　in
the　house　his　brother　has　left？　　Dieu　de　Dieu！　　Don't　I　speak　French
or　don't　you　understand　the　language？　　I　believe　that　Rabouillet；
his　intendant；　is　in　charge　of　Gavrillac。　　I　have　brought　you　the
news　the　moment　I　received　it。　　I　thought　you　would　probably　wish　to
go　out　to　Meudon。〃

〃Of　course。　　I　will　go　at　once　…　that　is；　as　soon　as　I　can。　　I　can't
to…day；　nor　yet　to…morrow。　　I　am　too　busy　here。〃　　He　waved　a　hand
towards　the　inner　room；　whence　proceeded　the　click…click　of　blades；
the　quick　moving　of　feet；　and　the　voice　of　the　instructor；　Le　Duc。

〃Well；　well；　that　is　your　own　affair。　　You　are　busy。　　I　leave　you　now。
Let　us　dine　this　evening　at　the　Caf？de　Foy。　　Kersain　will　be　of　the
party。〃

〃A　moment！〃　Andre…Louis'　voice　arrested　him　on　the　threshold。　　〃Is
Mlle。　de　Kercadiou　with　her　uncle？〃

〃How　the　devil　should　I　know？　　Go　and　find　out。〃

He　was　gone；　and　Andre…Louis　stood　t