scaramouche-第51章

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at　the　utterly　unexpected　event。　　Also　his　vindictiveness　was　held
curiously　in　leash。　　Perhaps　he；　too；　remembered　the　part　played　by
Chabrillane　in　the　affair　at　Gavrillac；　and　saw　in　this　obscure
Andre…Louis　Moreau；　who　had　so　persistently　persecuted　him　ever
since；　an　ordained　avenger。　　The　repugnance　he　felt　to　come　to　the
point；　with　him；　particularly　after　this　culminating　provocation；
was　puzzling　even　to　himself。　　But　it　existed；　and　it　curbed　him　now。

To　Andre…Louis；　since　La　Tour　was　not　one　of　that　waiting　pack；　it
mattered　little　on　that　Tuesday　morning　who　should　be　the　next。　　The
next；　as　it　happened；　was　the　young　Vicomte　de　La　Motte…Royau；　one
of　the　deadliest　blades　in　the　group。

On　the　Wednesday　morning；　coming　again　an　hour　or　so　late　to　the
Assembly；　Andre…Louis　announced　…　in　much　the　same　terms　as　he　had
announced　the　death　of　Chabrillane　…　that　M。　de　La　Motte…Royau
would　probably　not　disturb　the　harmony　of　the　Assembly　for　some
weeks　to　come；　assuming　that　he　were　so　fortunate　as　to　recover
ultimately　from　the　effects　of　an　unpleasant　accident　with　which　he
had　quite　unexpectedly　had　the　misfortune　to　meet　that　morning。

On　Thursday　he　made　an　identical　announcement　with　regard　to　the
Vidame　de　Blavon。　　On　Friday　he　told　them　that　he　had　been　delayed
by　M。　de　Troiscantins；　and　then　turning　to　the　members　of　the　Cote
Droit；　and　lengthening　his　face　to　a　sympathetic　gravity：

〃I　am　glad　to　inform　you；　messieurs；　that　M。　des　Troiscantins　is
in　the　hands　of　a　very　competent　surgeon　who　hopes　with　care　to
restore　him　to　your　councils　in　a　few　weeks'　time。〃

It　was　paralyzing；　fantastic；　unreal；　and　friend　and　foe　in　that
assembly　sat　alike　stupefied　under　those　bland　daily　announcements。
Four　of　the　most　redoubtable　spadassinicides　put　away　for　a　time；
one　of　them　dead　…　and　all　this　performed　with　such　an　air　of
indifference　and　announced　in　such　casual　terms　by　a　wretched　little
provincial　lawyer！

He　began　to　assume　in　their　eyes　a　romantic　aspect。　　Even　that　group
of　philosophers　of　the　Cote　Gauche；　who　refused　to　worship　any　force
but　the　force　of　reason；　began　to　look　upon　him　with　a　respect　and
consideration　which　no　oratorical　triumphs　could　ever　have　procured
him。

And　from　the　Assembly　the　fame　of　him　oozed　out　gradually　over　Paris。
Desmoulins　wrote　a　panegyric　upon　him　in　his　paper　〃Les　Revolutions；〃
wherein　he　dubbed　him　the　〃Paladin　of　the　Third　Estate；〃　a　name　that
caught　the　fancy　of　the　people；　and　clung　to　him　for　some　time。
Disdainfully　was　he　mentioned　in　the　〃Actes　des　Apotres；〃　the　mocking
organ　of　the　Privileged　party；　so　light…heartedly　and　provocatively
edited　by　a　group　of　gentlemen　afflicted　by　a　singular　mental　myopy。

The　Friday　of　that　very　busy　week　in　the　life　of　this　young　man　who
even　thereafter　is　to　persist　in　reminding　us　that　he　is　not　in　any
sense　a　man　of　action；　found　the　vestibule　of　the　Manege　empty　of
swordsmen　when　he　made　his　leisurely　and　expectant　egress　between
Le　Chapelier　and　Kersain。

So　surprised　was　he　that　he　checked　in　his　stride。

〃Have　they　had　enough？〃　he　wondered；　addressing　the　question　to　Le
Chapelier。

〃They　have　had　enough　of　you；　I　should　think；〃　was　the　answer。
〃They　will　prefer　to　turn　their　attention　to　some　one　less　able　to
take　care　of　himself。〃

Now　this　was　disappointing。　　Andre…Louis　had　lent　himself　to　this
business　with　a　very　definite　object　in　view。　　The　slaying　of
Chabrillane　had；　as　far　as　it　went；　been　satisfactory。　　He　had
regarded　that　as　a　sort　of　acceptable　hors　d'oeuvre。　　But　the
three　who　had　followed　were　no　affair　of　his　at　all。　　He　had　met
them　with　a　certain　amount　of　repugnance；　and　dealt　with　each　as
lightly　as　consideration　of　his　own　safety　permitted。　　Was　the
baiting　of　him　now　to　cease　whilst　the　man　at　whom　he　aimed　had
not　presented　himself？　　In　that　case　it　would　be　necessary　to　force
the　pace！

Out　there　under　the　awning　a　group　of　gentlemen　stood　in　earnest
talk。　　Scanning　the　group　in　a　rapid　glance；　Andre…Louis　perceived
M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　amongst　them。　　He　tightened　his　lips。　　He　must
afford　no　provocation。　　It　must　be　for　them　to　fasten　their　quarrels
upon　him。　　Already　the　〃Actes　des　Apotres〃　that　morning　had　torn　the
mask　from　his　face；　and　proclaimed　him　the　fencing…master　of　the　Rue
du　Hasard；　successor　to　Bertrand　des　Amis。　　Hazardous　as　it　had　been
hitherto　for　a　man　of　his　condition　to　engage　in　single　combat　it
was　rendered　doubly　so　by　this　exposure；　offered　to　the　public　as
an　aristocratic　apologia。

Still；　matters　could　not　be　left　where　they　were；　or　he　should　have
had　all　his　pains　for　nothing。　　Carefully　looking　away　from　that
group　of　gentlemen；　he　raised　his　voice　so　that　his　words　must
carry　to　their　ears。

〃It　begins　to　look　as　if　my　fears　of　having　to　spend　the　remainder
of　my　days　in　the　Bois　were　idle。〃

Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　caught　the　stir　his　words　created
in　that　group。　　Its　members　had　turned　to　look　at　him；　but　for　the
moment　that　was　all。　　A　little　more　was　necessary。　　Pacing　slowly
along　between　his　friends　he　resumed：

〃But　is　it　not　remarkable　that　the　assassin　of　Lagror　should　make
no　move　against　Lagron's　successor？　　Or　perhaps　it　is　not　remarkable。
Perhaps　there　are　good　reasons。　　Perhaps　the　gentleman　is　prudent。〃

He　bad　passed　the　group　by　now；　and　he　left　that　last　sentence　of
his　to　trail　behind　him；　and　after　it　sent　laughter；　insolent　and
provoking。

He　had　not　long　to　wait。　　Came　a　quick　step　behind　him；　and　a　hand
falling　upon　his　shoulder；　spun　him　violently　round。　　He　was　brought
face　to　face　with　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　whose　handsome　countenance
was　calm　and　composed；　but　whose　eyes　reflected　something　of　the
sudden　blaze　of　passion　stirring　in　him。　　Behind　him　several　members
of　the　group　were　approaching　more　slowly。　　The　others　…　like
Andre…Louis'　two　companions　…　remained　at　gaze。

〃You　spoke　of　me；　I　think；〃　said　the　Marquis　quietly。　　〃I　spoke　of
an　assassin　…　yes。　　But　to　these　my　friends。〃　　Andre…Louis'　manner
was　no　less　quiet；　indeed　the　quieter　of　the　two；　for　he　was　the
more　experienced　actor。

〃You　spoke　loudly　enough　to　be　overheard；〃　said　the　Marquis；
answering　the　insinuation　that　he　had　been　eavesdropping。

〃Those　who　wish　to　overhear　frequently　contrive　to　do　so。〃

〃I　perceive　that　it　is　your　aim　to　be　offensive。〃

〃Oh；　but　you　are　mistaken；　M。　le　Marquis。　　I　have　no　wish　to　be
offensive。　　But　I　resent　having　hands　violently　laid　upon　me；
especially　when　they　are　hands　that　I　cannot　consider　clean；　　In　the
circumstances　I　can　hardly　be　expected　to　be　polite。〃

The　elder　man's　eyelids　flickered。　　Almost　he　caught　himself
admiring　Andre…Louis'　bearing。　　Rather；　he　feared　that　his　own　must
suffer　by　comparison。　　Because　of　this；　he　enraged　altogether；　and
lost　control　of　himself。

〃You　spoke　of　me　as　the　assassin　of　Lagron。　　I　do　not　affect　to
misunderstand　you。　　You　expounded　your　views　to　me　once　before；　and
I　remember。〃

〃But　what　flattery；　monsieur！〃

〃You　called　me　an　assassin　then；　because　I　used　my　skill　to　dispose
of　a　turbulent　hot…head　who　made　the　world　unsafe　for　me。　　But　how
much　better　are　you；　M。　the　fencing…master；　when　you　oppose　yourself
to　men　whose　skill　is　as　naturally　inferior　to　your　own！〃

M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　friends　looked　grave；　perturbed。　　It　was
really　incredible　to　find　this　great　gentleman　so　far　forgetting
himself　as　to　descend　to　argument　with　a　canaille　of　a
lawyer…swordsman。　　And　what　was　worse；　it　was　an　argument　in　which
he　was　being　made　ridiculous。

〃I　oppose　myself　to　them！〃　said　Andre…Louis　on　a　tone　of　amused
protest。　　〃Ah；　pardon；　M。　le　Marquis；　it　is　they　who　chose　to　oppose
themselves　to　me　…　and　so　stupidly。　　They　push　me；　they　slap　my
face；　they　tread　on　my　toes；　they　call　me　by　unpleasant　names。　　What
if　I　am　a　fencing…master？　　Must　I　on　that　account　submit　to　every
manner　of　ill…treatment　from　your　bad…mannered　friends？　　Perhaps　had
they　found　out　sooner　that　I　am　a　fencing…master　their　manners　would
have　been　better。　　But　to　blame　me　for　that！　　What　injustice！〃

〃Comedian！〃　the　Marquis　contemptuously　apostrophized　him。　〃Does　it
alter　the　case？　　Are　these　men　who　have　opposed　you　men　who　live　by
the　sword　like　yourself？〃

〃On　the　contrary；　M。　le　Marquis；　I　have　found　them　men　who　died　by
the　sword　with　astonishing　ease。　　I　cannot　suppose　that　you　desire
to　add　yourself　to　their　number。〃

〃And　why；　if　you　please？〃　　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　face　had　flamed　scarlet
before　that　sneer。

〃Oh；〃　　Andre…Louis　raised　his　eyebrows　and　pursed　his　lips；　a　man
considering。　　He　delivered　himself　slowly。　　〃Because；　monsieur；　you
prefer　the　easy　victim　…　the　Lagrons　and　Vilmorins　of　this　world；
mere　sheep　for　your　butchering。　　That　is　why。〃

And　then　the　Marquis　struck　him。

Andre…Louis　stepped　back。　　His　eyes　gleamed　a　moment；　the　next　they
were　smiling　up　into　the　face　of　his　tall　enemy。

〃No　better　than　the　others；　after　all！　　Well；　well！　　Remark；　I　beg
you；　how　history　repeats　itself　…　with　certain　differences。　　Because
poor　Vilmorin　could　not　bear　a　vile　lie　with　which　you　goaded　him；
he　struck　you。　　Because　you　cannot　bear　an　equally　vile　truth　which
I　have　uttered；　you　strike　me。　　But　always　is　the　vileness　yours。
And　now　as　then　for　the　striker　there　is。。。　〃　　He　broke　off。　　〃But
why　name　it？　　You　will　remember　what　there　is。　　Yourself　you　wrote
it　that　day　with　the　point　of　your　too…ready　sword。　　But　there。
I　will　meet　you　if　you　desire　it；　monsieur。〃

〃What　else　do　you　suppose　that　I　desire？　　To　talk？〃

Andre…Louis　turned　to　his　friends　and　sighed。　　〃So　that　I　am　to　go
another　jaunt　to　the　Bois。　　Isaac；　perhaps　you　will　kindly　have　a
word　with　one　of　these　friends　of　M。　le　Marquis'；　and　arrange　for
nine　o'clock　to…morrow；　as　usual。〃

〃Not　to…morrow；〃　said　the　Marquis　shortly　to　Le　Chapeher。　　〃I　have
an　engagement　in　the　country；　which　I　cannot　postpone。〃

Le　Chapelier　looked　at　Andre…Louis。

〃Then　for　M。　le　Marquis'　convenience；　we　will　say　Sunday　at　the
same　hour。〃

〃I　do　not　fight　on　Sunday。　　I　am　not　a　pagan　to　break　the　holy　day。〃

〃But　surely　the　good　God　would　not　have　the　presumption　to　damn　a
gentleman　of　M。　le　Marquis'　quality　on　that　account？　　Ah；　well；
Isaac；　please　arrange　for　Monday；　if　it　is　not　a　feast…day　or
monsieur　has　not　some　other　pressing　engagement。　　I　leave　it　in
your　hands。〃

He　bowed　with　the　air　of　a　man　wearied　by　these　details；　and
threading　his　arm　through　Kersain's　withdrew。

〃Ah；　Dieu　de　Dieu！　　But　what　a　trick　of　it　you　have；〃　said　the
Breton　deputy；　entirely　unsophisticated　in　these　matters。

〃To　be　sure　I　have。　　I　have　taken　lessons　at　their　hands。〃　　He　
laughed。　　He　was　in　excellent　good…humour。　　And　Kersam　was
enrolled　in　the　ranks　of　those　who　accounted　Andre…Louis　a　man
without　heart　or　conscience。

But　in　his　〃Confessions〃　he　tells　us　…　and　this　is　one　of　the
glimpses　that　reveal　the　true　man　under　all　that　make…believe
　…　that　on　that　night　he　went　down　on　his　knees　to　commune　with
his　dead　friend　Philippe；　and　to　call　his　spirit　to　witness　that
he　was　about　to　take　the　last　step　in　the　fulfilment　of　the　oath
sworn　upon　his　body　at　Gavrillac　two　yea