scaramouche-第55章

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resolve。〃

She　did　not　answer　him。　She　was　numbed。　　He　took　her　silence　for
assent；　and；　bowing；　left　her。　　Standing　there　she　heard　his　steps
going　down　the　stairs　together　with　Le　Chapelier's。　　He　was
speaking　to　his　friend；　and　his　voice　was　calm　and　normal。

Oh；　he　was　mad　…　blinded　by　self…confidence　and　vanity。　　As　his
carriage　rattled　away；　she　sat　down　limply；　with　a　sense　of
exhaustion　and　nausea。　　She　was　sick　and　faint　with　horror。
Andre…Louis　was　going　to　his　death。　　Conviction　of　it　…　an
unreasoning　conviction；　the　result；　perhaps；　of　all　M。　de　Kercadiou's
rantings　…　entered　her　soul。　　Awhile　she　sat　thus；　paralyzed　by
hopelessness。　　Then　she　sprang　up　again；　wringing　her　hands。　　She
must　do　something　to　avert　this　horror。　　But　what　could　she　do？　　To
follow　him　to　the　Bois　and　intervene　there　would　be　to　make　a　scandal
for　no　purpose。　　The　conventions　of　conduct　were　all　against　her；
offering　a　barrier　that　was　not　to　be　overstepped。　　Was　there　no　one
could　help　her？

Standing　there；　half…frenzied　by　her　helplessness；　she　caught　again
a　sound　of　vehicles　and　hooves　on　the　cobbles　of　the　street　below。
A　carriage　was　approaching。　　It　drew　up　with　a　clatter　before　the
fencing…academy。　　Could　it　be　Andre…Louis　returning？　　Passionately
she　snatched　at　that　straw　of　hope。　　Knocking；　loud　and　urgent；　fell
upon　the　door。　　She　heard　Andre…Louis'　housekeeper；　her　wooden　shoes
clanking　upon　the　stairs；　hurrying　down　to　open。

She　sped　to　the　door　of　the　anteroom；　and　pulling　it　wide　stood
breathlessly　to　listen。　　But　the　voice　that　floated　up　to　her　was
not　the　voice　she　so　desperately　hoped　to　hear。　　It　was　a　woman's
voice　asking　in　urgent　tones　for　M。　Andre…Louis　…　a　voice　at　first
vaguely　familiar；　then　clearly　recognized；　the　voice　of　Mme。　de
Plougastel。

Excited；　she　ran　to　the　head　of　the　narrow　staircase　in　time　to　hear
Mme。　de　Plougastel　exclaim　in　agitation：

〃He　has　gone　already！　　Oh；　but　how　long　since？　　Which　way　did　he
take？〃

It　was　enough　to　inform　Aline　that　Mme。　de　Plougastel's　errand　must
be　akin　to　her　own。　　At　the　moment；　in　the　general　distress　and
confusion　of　her　mind；　her　mental　vision　focussed　entirely　on　the
one　vital　point；　she　found　in　this　no　matter　for　astonishment。　　The
singular　regard　conceived　by　Mme。　de　Plougastel　for　Andre…Louis
seemed　to　her　then　a　sufficient　explanation。

Without　pausing　to　consider；　she　ran　down　that　steep　staircase；
calling：

〃Madame！　　Madame！〃

The　portly；　comely　housekeeper　drew　aside；　and　the　two　ladies　faced
each　other　on　that　threshold。　　Mme。　de　Plougastel　looked　white　and
haggard；　a　nameless　dread　staring　from　her　eyes。

〃Aline！　　You　here！〃　she　exclaimed。　　And　then　in　the　urgency　sweeping
aside　all　minor　considerations；　〃Were　you　also　too　late？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　madame。　　I　saw　him。　I　implored　him。　But　he　would　not　listen。〃

〃Oh；　this　is　horrible！〃　Mme。　de　Plougastel　shuddered　as　she　spoke。
〃I　heard　of　it　only　half　an　hour　ago；　and　I　came　at　once；　to　prevent
it　at　all　costs。〃

The　two　women　looked　blankly；　despairingly；　at　each　other。　　In　the
sunshine…flooded　street　one　or　two　shabby　idlers　were　pausing　to
eye　the　handsome　equipage　with　its　magnificent　bay　horses；　and　the
two　great　ladies　on　the　doorstep　of　the　fencing…academy。　　From
across　the　way　came　the　raucous　voice　of　an　itinerant　bellows…mender
raised　in　the　cry　of　his　trade：

〃A　raccommoder　les　vieux　soufflets！〃

Madame　swung　to　the　housekeeper。

〃How　long　is　it　since　monsieur　left？〃

〃Ten　minutes；　maybe；　hardly　more。〃　　Conceiving　these　great　ladies
to　be　friends　of　her　invincible　master's　latest　victim；　the　good
woman　preserved　a　decently　stolid　exterior。

Madame　wrung　her　hands。　　〃Ten　minutes！　　Oh！〃　　It　was　almost　a　moan。
〃Which　way　did　he　go？〃

〃The　assignation　is　for　nine　o'clock　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；〃
Aline　informed　her。　　〃Could　we　follow？　　Could　we　prevail　if　we　did？〃

〃Ah；　my　God！　　The　question　is　should　we　come　in　time？　　At　nine
o'clock！　　And　it　wants　but　little　more　than　a　quarter　of　an　hour。
Mon　Dieu！　　Mon　Dieu！〃　　Madame　clasped　and　unclasped　her　hands　in
anguish。　　〃Do　you　know；　at　least；　where　in　the　Bois　they　are　to　meet？〃

〃No　…　only　that　it　is　in　the　Bois。〃

〃In　the　Bois！〃　Madame　was　flung　into　a　frenzy。　　〃The　Bois　is　nearly
half　as　large　as　Paris。〃　　But　she　swept　breathlessly　on；　〃Come；
Aline：　get　in；　get　in！〃

Then　to　her　coachman。　　〃To　the　Bois　de　Boulogne　by　way　of　the　Cours
Ia　Reine；〃　she　commanded；　〃as　fast　as　you　can　drive。　　There　are　ten
pistoles　for　you　if　we　are　in　time。　　Whip　up；　man！〃

She　thrust　Aline　into　the　carriage；　and　sprang　after　her　with　the
energy　of　a　girl。　　The　heavy　vehicle　…　too　heavy　by　far　for　this
race　with　time　…　was　moving　before　she　had　taken　her　seat。　　Rocking
and　lurching　it　went；　earning　the　maledictions　of　more　than　one
pedestrian　whom　it　narrowly　avoided　crushing　against　a　wall　or
trampling　underfoot。

Madame　sat　back　with　closed　eyes　and　trembling　lips。　　Her　face
showed　very　white　and　drawn。　　Aline　watched　her　in　silence。　　Almost
it　seemed　to　her　that　Mme。　de　Plougastel　was　suffering　as　deeply
as　herself；　enduring　an　anguish　of　apprehension　as　great　as　her　own。

Later　Aline　was　to　wonder　at　this。　　But　at　the　moment　all　the
thought　of　which　her　half…numbed　mind　was　capable　was　bestowed　upon
their　desperate　errand。

The　carriage　rolled　across　the　Place　Louis　XV　and　out　on　to　the
Cours　Ia　Reine　at　last。　　Along　that　beautiful；　tree…bordered　avenue
between　the　Champs　Elysees　and　the　Seine；　almost　empty　at　this　hour
of　the　day；　they　made　better　speed；　leaving　now　a　cloud　of　dust
behind　them。

But　fast　to　danger…point　as　was　the　speed；　to　the　women　in　that
carriage　it　was　too　slow。　　As　they　reached　the　barrier　at　the　end
of　the　Cours；　nine　o'clock　was　striking　in　the　city　behind　them；
and　every　stroke　of　it　seemed　to　sound　a　note　of　doom。

Yet　here　at　the　barrier　the　regulations　compelled　a　momentary　halt。
Aline　enquired　of　the　sergeant…in…charge　how　long　it　was　since　a
cabriolet　such　as　she　described　had　gone　that　way。　　She　was　answered
that　some　twenty　minutes　ago　a　vehicle　had　passed　the　barrier
containing　the　deputy　M。　le　Chapelier　and　the　Paladin　of　the　Third
Estate；　M。　Moreau。　　The　sergeant　was　very　well　informed。　　He　could
make　a　shrewd　guess；　he　said；　with　a　grin；　of　the　business　that　took
M。　Moreau　that　way　so　early　in　the　day。

They　left　him；　to　speed　on　now　through　the　open　country；　following
the　road　that　continued　to　hug　the　river。　　They　sat　back　mutely
despairing；　staring　hopelessly　ahead；　Aline's　hand　clasped　tight
in　madame's。　　In　the　distance；　across　the　meadows　on　their　right；
they　could　see　already　the　long；　dusky　line　of　trees　of　the　Bois；
and　presently　the　carriage　swung　aside　following　a　branch　of　the
road　that　turned　to　the　right；　away　from　the　river　and　heading
straight　for　the　forest。

Mademoiselle　broke　at　last　the　silence　of　hopelessness　that　had
reigned　between　them　since　they　had　passed　the　barrier。

〃Oh；　it　is　impossible　that　we　should　come　in　time！　　Impossible！〃

〃Don't　say　it！　　Don't　say　it！〃　madame　cried　out。

〃But　it　is　long　past　nine；　madame！　　Andre　would　be　punctual；　and
these。。。　affairs　do　not　take　long。　　It。。。　it　will　be　all　over　by　now。

Madame　shivered；　and　closed　her　eyes。　　Presently；　however；　she　opened
them　again；　and　stirred。　　Then　she　put　her　head　from　the　window。　　〃A
carriage　is　approaching；〃　she　announced；　and　her　tone　conveyed　the
thing　she　feared。

〃Not　already！　　Oh；　not　already！〃　　Thus　Aline　expressed　the　silently
communicated　thought。　　She　experienced　a　difficulty　in　breathing；
felt　the　sudden　need　of　air。　　Something　in　her　throat　was　throbbing
as　if　it　would　suffocate　her；　a　mist　came　and　went　before　her　eyes。

In　a　cloud　of　dust　an　open　caleche　was　speeding　towards　them；　coming
from　the　Bois。　　They　watched　it；　both　pale；　neither　venturing　to
speak；　Aline；　indeed；　without　breath　to　do　so。

As　it　approached；　it　slowed　down；　perforce；　as　they　did；　to　effect
a　safe　passage　in　that　narrow　road。　　Aline　was　at　the　window　with
Mme。　de　Plougastel；　and　with　fearful　eyes　both　looked　into　this
open　carriage　that　was　drawing　abreast　of　them。

〃Which　of　them　is　it；　madame？　　Oh；　which　of　them？〃　gasped　Aline；
scarce　daring　to　look；　her　senses　swimming。

Qn　the　near　side　sat　a　swarthy　young　gentleman　unknown　to　either　of
the　ladies。　　He　was　smiling　as　he　spoke　to　his　companion。　　A　moment
later　and　the　man　sitting　beyond　came　into　view。　　He　was　not　smiling。
His　face　was　white　and　set；　and　it　was　the　face　of　the　Marquis　de　La
Tour　d'Azyr。

For　a　long　moment；　in　speechless　horror；　both　women　stared　at　him；
until；　perceiving　them；　blankest　surprise　invaded　his　stern　face。

In　that　moment；　with　a　long　shuddering　sigh　Aline　sank　swooning　to
the　carriage　floor　behind　Mme。　de　Plougastel。



CHAPTER　XI

INFERENCES


By　fast　driving　Andre…Louis　had　reached　the　ground　some　minutes
ahead　of　time；　notwithstanding　the　slight　delay　in　setting　out。
There　he　had　found　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　already　awaiting　him；
supported　by　a　M。　d'Ormesson；　a　swarthy　young　gentleman　in　the
blue　uniform　of　a　captain　in　the　Gardes　du　Corps。

Andre…Louis　had　been　silent　and　preoccupied　throughout　that　drive。
He　was　perturbed　by　his　last　interview　with　Mademoiselle　de
Kercadiou　and　the　rash　inferences　which　he　had　drawn　as　to　her
motives。

〃Decidedly；〃　he　had　said；　〃this　man　must　be　killed。〃

Le　Chapelier　had　not　answered　him。　　Almost；　indeed；　had　the　Breton
shuddered　at　his　compatriot's　cold…bloodedness。　　He　had　often　of
late　thought　that　this　fellow　Moreau　was　hardly　human。　　Also　he　had
found　him　incomprehensibly　inconsistent。　　When　first　this
spadassinicide　business　had　been　proposed　to　him；　he　had　been　so
very　lofty　and　disdainful。　　Yet；　having　embraced　it；　he　went　about
it　at　times　with　a　ghoulish　flippancy　that　was　revolting；　at　times
with　a　detachment　that　was　more　revolting　still。

Their　preparations　were　made　quickly　and　in　silence；　yet　without
undue　haste　or　other　sign　of　nervousness　on　either　side。　　In　both
men　the　same　grim　determination　prevailed。　　The　opponent　must　be
killed；　there　could　be　no　half…measures　here。　　Stripped　each　of　coat
and　waistcoat；　shoeless　and　with　shirt…sleeves　rolled　to　the　elbow；
they　faced　each　other　at　last；　with　the　common　resolve　of　paying
in　full　the　long　score　that　stood　between　them。　I　doubt　if　either
of　them　entertained　a　misgiving　as　to　what　must　be　the　issue。

Beside　them；　and　opposite　each　other；　stood　Le　Chapelier　and　the
young　captain；　alert　and　watchful。

〃Allez；　messieurs！〃

The　slender；　wickedly　delicate　blades　clashed　together；　and　after
a　momentary　glizade　were　whirling；　swift　and　bright　as　lightnings；
and　almost　as　impossible　to　follow　with　the　eye。　　The　Marquis　led
the　attack；　impetuously　and　vigorously；　and　almost　at　once
Andre…Louis　realized　that　he　had　to　deal　with　an　opponent　of　a　very
different　mettle　from　those　successive　duellists　of　last　week；　not
excluding　La　Motte…Royau；　of　terrible　reputation。

Here　was　a　man　whom　much　and　constant　practice　had　given
extraordinary　speed　and　a　technique　that　was　almost　perfect。
In　addition；　he　enjoyed　over　Andre…Louis　physical　advantages　of