scaramouche-第47章

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took　their　leave　of　her。

〃Some　day；　perhaps；〃said　M。　de　Kercadiou　vaguely；　and　swept　his
godson　out。

In　the　carriage　he　asked　him　bluntly　of　what　madame　had　talked。

〃She　was　very　kind　…　a　sweet　woman；〃　said　Andre…Louis　pensively。

〃Devil　take　you；　I　didn't　ask　you　the　opinion　that　you　presume
to　have　formed　of　her。　　I　asked　you　what　she　said　to　you。

〃She　strove　to　point　out　to　me　the　error　of　my　ways。　　She　spoke　of
great　things　that　I　might　do　…　to　which　she　would　very　kindly　help
me　…　if　I　were　to　come　to　my　senses。　　But　as　miracles　do　not　happen；
I　gave　her　little　encouragement　to　hope。〃

〃I　see。　　I　see。　　Did　she　say　anything　else？〃

He　was　so　peremptory　that　Andre…Louis　turned　to　look　at　him。

〃What　else　did　you　expect　her　to　say；　monsieur　my　godfather？〃

〃Oh；　nothing。〃

〃Then　she　fulfilled　your　expectations。〃

〃Eh？　　Oh；　a　thousand　devils；　why　can't　you　express　yourself　in　a
sensible　manner　that　a　plain　man　can　understand　without　having　to
think　about　it？〃

He　sulked　after　that　most　of　the　way　to　the　Rue　du　Hasard；　or　so
it　seemed　to　Andre…Louis。　　At　least　he　sat　silent；　gloomily
thoughtful　to　judge　by　his　expression。

〃You　may　come　and　see　us　soon　again　at　Meudon；〃　he　told
Andre…Louis　at　parting。　　〃But　please　remember　…　no　revolutionary
politics　in　future；　if　we　are　to　remain　friends。〃



CHAPTER　VI

POLITICIANS


One　morning　in　August　the　academy　in　the　Rue　du　Hasard　was　invaded
by　Le　Chapelier　accompanied　by　a　man　of　remarkable　appearance；　whose
herculean　stature　and　disfigured　countenance　seemed　vaguely　familiar
to　Andre…Louis。　　He　was　a　man　of　little；　if　anything；　over　thirty；
with　small　bright　eyes　buried　in　an　enormous　face。　　His　cheek…bones
were　prominent；　his　nose　awry；　as　if　it　had　been　broken　by　a　blow；
and　his　mouth　was　rendered　almost　shapeless　by　the　scars　of　another
injury。　　（A　bull　had　horned　him　in　the　face　when　he　was　but　a　lad。）
As　if　that　were　not　enough　to　render　his　appearance　terrible；　his
cheeks　were　deeply　pock…marked。　　He　was　dressed　untidily　in　a　long
scarlet　coat　that　descended　almost　to　his　ankles；　soiled　buckskin
breeches　and　boots　with　reversed　tops。　　His　shirt；　none　too　clean；
was　open　at　the　throat；　the　collar　hanging　limply　over　an　unknotted
cravat；　displaying　fully　the　muscular　neck　that　rose　like　a　pillar
from　his　massive　shoulders。　　He　swung　a　cane　that　was　almost　a　club
in　his　left　hand；　and　there　was　a　cockade　in　his　biscuit…coloured；
conical　hat。　　He　carried　himself　with　an　aggressive；　masterful　air；
that　great　head　of　his　thrown　back　as　if　he　were　eternally　at
defiance。

Le　Chapelier；　whose　manner　was　very　grave；　named　him　to　Andre…Louis。

〃This　is　M。　Danton；　a　brother…lawyer；　President　of　the　Cordeliers；
of　whom　you　will　have　heard。〃

Of　course　Andre…Louis　had　heard　of　him。　　Who　had　not；　by　then？

Looking　at　him　now　with　interest；　Andre…Louis　wondered　how　it　came
that　all；　or　nearly　all　the　leading　innovators；　were　pock…marked。
Mirabeau；　the　journalist　Desmoulins；　the　philanthropist　Marat；
Robespierre　the　little　lawyer　from　Arras；　this　formidable　fellow
Danton；　and　several　others　he　could　call　to　mind　all　bore　upon
them　the　scars　of　smallpox。　　Almost　he　began　to　wonder　was　there
any　connection　between　the　two。　　Did　an　attack　of　smallpox　produce
certain　moral　results　which　found　expression　in　this　way？

He　dismissed　the　idle　speculation；　or　rather　it　was　shattered　by
the　startling　thunder　of　Danton's　voice。

〃This　　Chapelier　has　told　me　of　you。　　He　says　that　you　are　a
patriotic　　。〃

More　than　by　the　tone　was　Andre…Louis　startled　by　the　obscenities
with　which　the　Colossus　did　not　hesitate　to　interlard　his　first
speech　to　a　total　stranger。　　He　laughed　outright。　　There　was　nothing
else　to　do。

〃If　he　has　told　you　that；　he　has　told　you　more　than　the　truth！　　I
am　a　patriot。　　The　rest　my　modesty　compels　me　to　disavow。〃

〃You're　a　joker　too；　it　seems；〃　roared　the　other；　but　he　laughed
nevertheless；　and　the　volume　of　it　shook　the　windows。　　〃There's　no
offence　in　me。　　I　am　like　that。〃

〃What　a　pity；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

It　disconcerted　the　king　of　the　markets。　　〃Eh？　　what's　this；
Chapelier？　　Does　he　give　himself　airs；　your　friend　here？〃

The　spruce　Breton；　a　very　petit…maitre　in　appearance　by　contrast
with　his　companion；　but　nevertheless　of　a　down…right　manner　quite
equal　to　Danton's　in　brutality；　though　dispensing　with　the　emphasis
of　foulness；　shrugged　as　he　answered　him：

〃It　is　merely　that　he　doesn't　like　your　manners；　which　is　not　at　all
surprising。　　They　are　execrable。〃

〃Ah；　bah！　　You　are　all　like　that；　you　…　Bretons。　　Let's　come　to
business。　　You'll　have　heard　what　took　place　in　the　Assembly
yesterday？　　You　haven't？　　My　God；　where　do　you　live？　　Have　you　heard
that　this　scoundrel　who　calls　himself　King　of　France　gave　passage
across　French　soil　the　other　day　to　Austrian　troops　going　to　crush
those　who　fight　for　liberty　in　Belgium？　　Have　you　heard　that；　by
any　chance？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Andre…Louis　coldly；　masking　his　irritation　before　the
other's　hectoring　manner。　　〃I　have　heard　that。〃

〃Oh！　　And　what　do　you　think　of　it？〃　arms　akimbo；　the　Colossus
towered　above　him。

Andre…Louis　turned　aside　to　Le　Chapelier。

〃I　don't　think　I　understand。　　Have　you　brought　this　gentleman　here
to　examine　my　conscience？〃

〃Name　of　a　name！　　He　's　prickly　as　a　…　porcupine！〃　Danton　protested。

〃No；　no。〃　Le　Chapelier　was　conciliatory；　seeking　to　provide　an
antidote　to　the　irritant　administered　by　his　companion。　　〃We　require
your　help；　Andre。　　Danton　here　thinks　that　you　are　the　very　man　for
us。　　Listen　now。。。　〃

〃That's　it。　　You　tell　him；〃　Danton　agreed。　　〃You　both　talk　the　same
mincing　…　sort　of　French。　　He'll　probably　understand　you。〃

Le　Chapelier　went　on　without　heeding　the　interruption。　　〃This
violation　by　the　King　of　the　obvious　rights　of　a　country　engaged
in　framing　a　constitution　that　shall　make　it　free　has　shattered
every　philanthropic　illusion　we　still　cherished。　　There　are　those
who　go　so　far　as　to　proclaim　the　King　the　vowed　enemy　of　France。
But　that；　of　course；　is　excessive。

〃Who　says　so？〃　blazed　Danton；　and　swore　horribly　by　way　of
conveying　his　total　disagreement。

Le　Chapelier　waved　him　into　silence；　and　proceeded。

〃Anyhow；　the　matter　has　been　more　than　enough；　added　to　all　the
rest；　to　set　us　by　the　ears　again　in　the　Assembly。　　It　is　open
war　between　the　Third　Estate　and　the　Privileged。〃

〃Was　it　ever　anything　else？〃

〃Perhaps　not；　but　it　has　assumed　a　new　character。　　You'll　have
heard　of　the　duel　between　Lameth　and　the　Duc　de　Castries？〃

〃A　trifling　affair。〃

〃In　its　results。　　But　it　might　have　been　far　other。　　Mirabeau　is
challenged　and　insulted　now　at　every　sitting。　　But　he　goes　his
way；　cold…bloodedly　wise。　　Others　are　not　so　circumspect；　they
meet　insult　with　insult；　blow　with　blow；　and　blood　is　being　shed
in　private　duels。　　The　thing　is　reduced　by　these　swordsmen　of
the　nobility　to　a　system。〃

Andre…Louis　nodded。　　He　was　thinking　of　Philippe　de　Vilmorin。
〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　an　old　trick　of　theirs。　　It　is　so　simple　and
direct　…　like　themselves。　　I　wonder　only　that　they　didn't　hit　upon
this　system　sooner。　　In　the　early　days　of　the　States　General；　at
Versailles；　it　might　have　had　a　better　effect。　　Now；　it　comes　a
little　late。〃

〃But　they　mean　to　make　up　for　lost　time　…　sacred　name！〃　cried
Danton。　　〃Challenges　are　flying　right　and　left　between　these
bully…swordsmen；　these　spadassinicides；　and　poor　devils　of　the　robe
who　have　never　learnt　to　fence　with　anything　but　a　quill。　　It's
just　　murder。　　Yet　if　I　were　to　go　amongst　messieurs　les　nobles
and　crunch　an　addled　head　or　two　with　this　stick　of　mine；　snap　a
few　aristocratic　necks　between　these　fingers　which　the　good　God　has
given　me　for　the　purpose；　the　law　would　send　me　to　atone　upon　the
gallows。　　This　in　a　land　that　is　striving　after　liberty。　　Why；　Dieu
me　damne！　　I　am　not　even　allowed　to　keep　my　hat　on　in　the　theatre。
But　they　…　these　s！〃

〃He　is　right；〃　said　Le　Chapelier。　　〃The　thing　has　become　unendurable；
insufferable。　　Two　days　ago　M。　d'Ambly　threatened　Mirabeau　with　his
cane　before　the　whole　Assembly。　　Yesterday　M。　de　Faussigny　leapt　up
and　harangued　his　order　by　inviting　murder。　　'Why　don't　we　fall　on
these　scoundrels；　sword　in　hand？'　he　asked。　　Those　were　his　very
words：　'Why　don't　we　fall　on　these　scoundrels；　sword　in　hand。'〃

〃It　is　so　much　simpler　than　lawmaking；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃Lagron；　the　deputy　from　Ancenis　in　the　Loire；　said　something　that
we　did　not　hear　in　answer。　　As　he　was　leaving　the　Manege　one　of
these　bullies　grossly　insulted　him。　　Lagron　no　more　than　used　his
elbow　to　push　past　when　the　fellow　cried　out　that　he　had　been
struck；　and　issued　his　challenge。　　They　fought　this　morning　early
in　the　Champs　Elysees；　and　Lagron　was　killed；　run　through　the
stomach　deliberately　by　a　man　who　fought　like　a　fencing…master；
and　poor　Lagron　did　not　even　own　a　sword。　　He　had　to　borrow　one　to
go　to　the　assignation。〃

Andre…Louis　…　his　mind　ever　on　Vilmorin；　whose　case　was　here
repeated；　even　to　the　details　…　was　swept　by　a　gust　of　passion。
He　clenched　his　hands；　and　his　jaws　set。　　Danton's　little　eyes
observed　him　keenly。

〃Well？　　And　what　do　you　think　of　that？　　Noblesse　oblige；　eh？　　The
thing　is　we　must　oblige　them　too；　these　s。　　We　must　pay　them　back
in　the　same　coin；　meet　them　with　the　same　weapons。　　Abolish　them；
tumble　these　assassinateurs　into　the　abyss　of　nothingness　by　the
same　means。

〃But　how？〃

〃How？　　Name　of　God！　　haven't　I　said　it？〃

〃That　is　where　we　require　your　help；〃　Le　Chapelier　put　in。　　〃There
must　be　men　of　patriotic　feeling　among　the　more　advanced　of　your
pupils。　　M。　Danton's　idea　is　that　a　little　band　of　these　…　say　a
half…dozen；　with　yourself　at　their　head　…　might　read　these　bullies
a　sharp　lesson。〃

Andre…Louis　frowned。

〃And　how；　precisely；　had　M。　Danton　thought　that　this　might　be　done？〃

M。　Danton　spoke　for　himself；　vehemently。

〃Why；　thus：　We　post　you　in　the　Manege；　at　the　hour　when　the　Assembly
is　rising。　　We　point　out　the　six　leading　phlebotomists；　and　let　you
loose　to　insult　them　before　they　have　time　to　insult　any　of　the
representatives。　　Then　to…morrow　morning；　six　　phlebotomists
themselves　phlebotomized　secundum　artem。　　That　will　give　the　others
something　to　think　about。　　It　will　give　them　a　great　deal　to　think
about；　by　！　　If　necessary　the　dose　may　be　repeated　to　ensure　a
cure。　　If　you　kill　the　s；　so　much　the　better。〃

He　paused；　his　sallow　face　flushed　with　the　enthusiasm　of　his　idea。
Andre…Louis　stared　at　him　inscrutably。

〃Well；　what　do　you　say　to　that？〃

〃That　it　is　most　ingenious。〃　And　Andre…Louis　turned　aside　to　look
out　of　the　window。

〃And　is　that　all　you　think　of　it？〃

〃I　will　not　tell　you　what　else　I　think　of　it　because　you　probably
would　not　understand。　　For　you；　M。　Danton；　there　is　at　least　this
excuse　that　you　did　not　know　me。　　But　you；　Isaac　…　to　bring　this
gentleman　here　with　such　a　proposal！〃

Le　Chapelier　was　overwhelmed　in　confusion。　　〃I　confess　I　hesitated；〃
he　apologized。　　〃But　M。　Danton　would　not　take　my　word　for　it　that
the　proposal　might　not　be　to　your　taste。〃

〃I　would　not！〃　Danton　broke　in；　bellowing。　　He　swung　upon　Le
Chapelier；