scaramouche-第52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！


he　was　about　to　take　the　last　step　in　the　fulfilment　of　the　oath
sworn　upon　his　body　at　Gavrillac　two　years　ago。



CHAPTER　IX

TORN　PRIDE


M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　engagement　in　the　country　on　that　Sunday
was　with　M。　de　Kercadiou。　　To　fulfil　it　he　drove　out　early　in　the
day　to　Meudon；　taking　with　him　in　his　pocket　a　copy　of　the　last
issue　of　〃Les　Actes　des　Apotres；〃　a　journal　whose　merry　sallies
at　the　expense　of　the　innovators　greatly　diverted　the　Seigneur　de
Gavrillac。　　The　venomous　scorn　it　poured　upon　those　worthless
rapscallions　afforded　him　a　certain　solatium　against　the
discomforts　of　expatriation　by　which　he　was　afflicted　as　a　result
of　their　detestable　energies。

Twice　in　the　last　month；　had　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　gone　to　visit
the　Lord　of　Gavrillac　at　Meudon；　and　the　sight　of　Aline；　so　sweet
and　fresh；　so　bright　and　of　so　lively　a　mind；　had　caused　those
embers　smouldering　under　the　ashes　of　the　past；　embers　which
until　now　he　had　believed　utterly　extinct；　to　kindle　into　flame
once　more。　　He　desired　her　as　we　desire　Heaven。　　I　believe　that
it　was　the　purest　passion　of　his　life；　that　had　it　come　to　him
earlier　he　might　have　been　a　vastly　different　man。　　The　cruelest
wound　that　in　all　his　selfish　life　he　had　taken　was　when　she
sent　him　word；　quite　definitely　after　the　affair　at　the　Feydau；
that　she　could　not　again　in　any　circumstances　receive　him。　　At
one　blow　…　through　that　disgraceful　riot　…　he　had　been　robbed　of　a
mistress　he　prized　and　of　a　wife　who　had　become　a　necessity　to　the
very　soul　of　him。　The　sordid　love　of　La　Binet　might　have　consoled
him　for　the　compulsory　renunciation　of　his　exalted　love　of　Aline；
just　as　to　his　exalted　love　of　Aline　he　had　been　ready　to　sacrifice
his　attachment　to　La　Binet。　　But　that　ill…timed　riot　had　robbed
him　at　once　of　both。　　Faithful　to　his　word　to　Sautron　he　had
definitely　broken　with　La　Binet；　only　to　find　that　Aline　had
definitely　broken　with　him。　　And　by　the　time　that　he　had
sufficiently　recovered　from　his　grief　to　think　again　of　La　Binet；
the　comedienne　had　vanished　beyond　discovery。

For　all　this　he　blamed；　and　most　bitterly　blamed；　Andre…Louis。
That　low…born　provincial　lout　pursued　him　like　a　Nemesis；　was
become　indeed　the　evil　genius　of　his　life。　　That　was　it　…　the　evil
genius　of　his　life！　　And　it　was　odds　that　on　Monday。。。　He　did　not
like　to　think　of　Monday。　　He　was　not　particularly　afraid　of　death。
He　was　as　brave　as　his　kind　in　that　respect；　too　brave　in　the
ordinary　way；　and　too　confident　of　his　skill；　to　have　considered
even　remotely　such　a　possibility　as　that　of　dying　in　a　duel。　　It
was　only　that　it　would　seem　like　a　proper　consummation　of　all　the
evil　that　he　had　suffered　directly　or　indirectly　through　this
Andre…Louis　Moreau　that　he　should　perish　ignobly　by　his　hand。
Almost　he　could　hear　that　insolent；　pleasant　voice　making　the
flippant　announcement　to　the　Assembly　on　Monday　morning。

He　shook　off　the　mood；　angry　with　himself　for　entertaining　it。
It　was　maudlin。　　After　all　Chabrillane　and　La　Motte…Royau　were
quite　exceptional　swordsmen；　but　neither　of　them　really　approached
his　own　formidable　calibre。　　Reaction　began　to　flow；　as　he　drove
out　through　country　lanes　flooded　with　pleasant　September　sunshine。
His　spirits　rose。　　A　premonition　of　victory　stirred　within　him
Far　from　fearing　Monday's　meeting；　as　he　had　so　unreasonably　been
doing；　he　began　to　look　forward　to　it。　　It　should　afford　him　the
means　of　setting　a　definite　term　to　this　persecution　of　which　he
had　been　the　victim。　　He　would　crush　this　insolent　and　persistent
flea　that　had　been　stinging　him　at　every　opportunity。　　Borne　upward
on　that　wave　of　optimism；　he　took　presently　a　more　hopeful　view
of　his　case　with　Aline。

At　their　first　meeting　a　month　ago　he　had　used　the　utmost　frankness
with　her。　　He　had　told　her　the　whole　truth　of　his　motives　in　going
that　night　to　the　Feydau；　he　had　made　her　realize　that　she　had　acted
unjustly　towards　him。　　True　he　had　gone　no　farther。

But　that　was　very　far　to　have　gone　as　a　beginning。　　And　in　their
last　meeting；　now　a　fortnight　old；　she　had　received　him　with　frank
friendliness。　　True；　she　had　been　a　little　aloof。　　But　that　was　to
be　expected　until　he　quite　explicitly　avowed　that　he　had　revived
the　hope　of　winning　her。　　He　had　been　a　fool　not　to　have　returned
before　to…day。

Thus　in　that　mood　of　new…born　confidence　…　a　confidence　risen　from
the　very　ashes　of　despondency　…　came　he　on　that　Sunday　morning　to
Meudon。　　He　was　gay　and　jovial　with　M。　de　Kercadiou　what　time　he
waited　in　the　salon　for　mademoiselle　to　show　herself。　　He　pronounced
with　confidence　on　the　country's　future。　　There　were　signs　already
　…　he　wore　the　rosiest　spectacles　that　morning　…　of　a　change　of
opinion；　of　a　more　moderate　note。　　The　Nation　began　to　perceive
whither　this　lawyer　rabble　was　leading　it。　　He　pulled　out　〃The　Acts
of　the　Apostles〃　and　read　a　stinging　paragraph。　　Then；　when
mademoiselle　at　last　made　her　appearance；　he　resigned　the　journal
into　the　hands　of　M。　de　Kercadiou。

M。　de　Kercadiou；　with　his　niece's　future　to　consider；　went　to　read
the　paper　in　the　garden；　taking　up　there　a　position　whence　he　could
keep　the　couple　within　sight　…　as　his　obligations　seemed　to　demand
of　him　…　whilst　being　discreetly　out　of　earshot。

The　Marquis　made　the　most　of　an　opportunity　that　might　be　brief。
He　quite　frankly　declared　himself；　and　begged；　implored　to　be　taken
back　into　Aline's　good　graces；　to　be　admitted　at　least　to　the　hope
that　one　day　before　very　long　she　would　bring　herself　to　consider
him　in　a　nearer　relationship。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　told　her；　his　voice　vibrating　with　a　feeling
that　admitted　of　no　doubt；　〃you　cannot　lack　conviction　of　my　utter
sincerity。　　The　very　constancy　of　my　devotion　should　afford　you
this。　　It　is　just　that　I　should　have　been　banished　from　you；　since
I　showed　myself　so　utterly　unworthy　of　the　great　honour　to　which
I　aspired。　　But　this　banishment　has　nowise　diminished　my　devotion。
If　you　could　conceive　what　I　have　suffered；　you　would　agree　that
I　have　fully　expiated　my　abject　fault。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　curious；　gentle　wistfulness　on　her
lovely　face。

〃Monsieur；　it　is　not　you　whom　I　doubt。　　It　is　myself。〃

〃You　mean　your　feelings　towards　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃But　that　I　can　understand。　　After　what　has　happened。。。　〃

〃It　was　always　so；　monsieur；〃　she　interrupted　quietly。　　〃You
speak　of　me　as　if　lost　to　you　by　your　own　action。　　That　is　to　say
too　much。　　Let　me　be　frank　with　you。　　Monsieur；　I　was　never　yours
to　lose。　　I　am　conscious　of　the　honour　that　you　do　me。　　I　esteem
you　very　deeply。。。　〃

〃But；　then；〃　he　cried；　on　a　high　note　of　confidence；　〃from　such
a　beginning。。。　〃

〃Who　shall　assure　me　that　it　is　a　beginning？　　May　it　not　be　the
whole？　　Had　I　held　you　in　affection；　monsieur；　I　should　have　sent
for　you　after　the　affair　of　which　you　have　spoken。　　I　should　at
least　not　have　condemned　you　without　hearing　your　explanation。　　As
it　was。。。　〃　　She　shrugged；　smiling　gently；　sadly。　　〃You　see。。。　〃

But　his　optimism　far　from　being　crushed　was　stimulated。　　〃But　it
is　to　give　me　hope；　mademoiselle。　　If　already　I　possess　so　much；
I　may　look　with　confidence　to　win　more。　　I　shall　prove　myself
worthy。　　I　swear　to　do　that。　　Who　that　is　permitted　the　privilege
of　being　near　you　could　do　other　than　seek　to　render　himself
worthy？〃

And　then　before　she　could　add　a　word；　M。　de　Kercadiou　came
blustering　through　the　window；　his　spectacles　on　his　forehead；　his
face　inflamed；　waving　in　his　hand　〃The　Acts　of　the　Apostles；〃　and
apparently　reduced　to　speechlessness。

Had　the　Marquis　expressed　himself　aloud　he　would　have　been　profane。
As　it　was　he　bit　his　lip　in　vexation　at　this　most　inopportune
interruption。

Aline　sprang　up；　alarmed　by　her　uncle's　agitation。

〃What　has　happened？〃

〃Happened？〃　He　found　speech　at　last。　　〃The　scoundrel！　　The
faithless　dog！　　I　consented　to　overlook　the　past　on　the　clear
condition　that　he　should　avoid　revolutionary　politics　in　future。
That　condition　he　accepted；　and　now〃　…　he　smacked　the　news…sheet
furiously　…　〃he　has　played　me　false　again。　　Not　only　has　he　gone
into　politics；　once　more；　but　he　is　actually　a　member　of　the
Assembly；　and　what　is　worse　he　has　been　using　his　assassin's
skill　as　a　fencing…master；　turning　himself　into　a　bully…swordsman。
My　God　　Is　there　any　law　at　all　left　in　France？〃

One　doubt　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　had　entertained；　though　only
faintly；　to　mar　the　perfect　serenity　of　his　growing　optimism。
That　doubt　concerned　this　man　Moreau　and　his　relations　with　M。
de　Kercadiou。　　He　knew　what　once　they　had　been；　and　how　changed
they　subsequently　were　by　the　ingratitude　of　Moreau's　own
behavior　in　turning　against　the　class　to　which　his　benefactor
belonged。　　What　he　did　not　know　was　that　a　reconciliation　had
been　effected。　　For　in　the　past　month　…　ever　since　circumstances
had　driven　Andre…Louis　to　depart　from　his　undertaking　to　steer
clear　of　politics　…　the　young　man　had　not　ventured　to　approach
Meudon；　and　as　it　happened　his　name　had　pot　been　mentioned　in　La
Tour　d'Azyr's　hearing　on　the　occasion　of　either　of　his　own　previous
visits。　　He　learnt　of　that　reconciliation　now；　but　he　learnt　at
the　same　time　that　the　breach　was　now　renewed；　and　rendered　wider
and　more　impassable　than　ever。　　Therefore　he　did　not　hesitate　to
avow　his　own　position。

〃There　is　a　law；〃　he　answered。　　〃The　law　that　this　rash　young　man
himself　evokes。　　The　law　of　the　sword。〃　　He　spoke　very　gravely；
almost　sadly。　　For　he　realized　that　after　all　the　ground　was　tender。
〃You　are　not　to　suppose　that　he　is　to　continue　indefinitely　his
career　of　evil　and　of　murder。　　Sooner　or　later　he　will　meet　a
sword　that　will　avenge　the　others。　　You　have　observed　that　my
cousin　Chabrillane　is　among　the　number　of　this　assassin's　victims；
that　he　was　killed　on　Tuesday　last。〃

〃If　I　have　not　expressed　my　condolence；　Azyr；　it　is　because　my
indignation　stifles　at　the　moment　every　other　feeling。　　The
scoundrel！　　You　say　that　sooner　or　later　he　will　meet　a　sword　that
will　avenge　the　others。　　I　pray　that　it　may　be　soon。〃

The　Marquis　answered　him　quietly；　without　anything　but　sorrow　in
his　voice。　　〃I　think　your　prayer　is　likely　to　be　heard。　　This
wretched　young　man　has　an　engagement　for　to…morrow；　when　his
account　may　be　definitely　settled。〃

He　spoke　with　such　calm　conviction　that　his　words　had　all　the　sound
of　a　sentence　of　death。　　They　suddenly　stemmed　the　flow　of　M。　de
Kercadiou's　anger。　　The　colour　receded　from　his　inflamed　face；
dread　looked　out　of　his　pale　eyes；　to　inform　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；
more　clearly　than　any　words；　that　M。　de　Kercadiou's　hot　speech　had
been　the　expression　of　unreflecting　anger；　that　his　prayer　that
retribution　might　soon　overtake　his　godson　had　been　unconsciously
insincere。　　Confronted　now　by　the　fact　that　this　retribution　was
about　to　be　visited　upon　that　scoundrel；　the　fundamental　gentleness
and　kindliness　of　his　nature　asserted　itself；　his　anger　was　suddenly
whelmed　in　apprehension；　his　affection　for　the　lad　beat　up　to　the
surface；　making　Andre…Louis'　sin；　however　hideous；　a　thing　of　no
account　by　comparison　with　the　threatened　punishment。

M。　de　Kercadiou　moistened　his　lips。

〃With　whom　is