scaramouche-第56章

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extraordinary　speed　and　a　technique　that　was　almost　perfect。
In　addition；　he　enjoyed　over　Andre…Louis　physical　advantages　of
strength　and　length　of　reach；　which　rendered　him　altogether
formidable。　　And　he　was　cool；　too；　cool　and　self…contained；　fearless
and　purposeful。　　Would　anything　shake　that　calm；　wondered
Andre…Louis？

He　desired　the　punishment　to　be　as　full　as　he　could　make　it。　　Not
content　to　kill　the　Marquis　as　the　Marquis　had　killed　Philippe；　he
desired　that　he　should　first　know　himself　as　powerless　to　avert
that　death　as　Philippe　had　been。　　Nothing　less　would　content
Andre…Louis。　　M。　le　Marquis　must　begin　by　tasting　of　that　cup　of
despair。　　It　was　in　the　account；　part　of　the　quittance　due。

As　with　a　breaking　sweep　Andre…Louis　parried　the　heavy　lunge　in
which　that　first　series　of　passes　culminated；　he　actually　laughed
　…　gleefully；　after　the　fashion　of　a　boy　at　a　sport　he　loves。

That　extraordinary；　ill…timed　laugh　made　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's
recovery　hastier　and　less　correctly　dignified　than　it　would　otherwise
have　been。　　It　startled　and　discomposed　him；　who　had　already　been
discomposed　by　the　failure　to　get　home　with　a　lunge　so　beautifully
timed　and　so　truly　delivered。

He；　too；　had　realized　that　his　opponent's　force　was　above　anything
that　he　could　have　expected；　fencing…master　though　he　might　be；　and
on　that　account　he　had　put　forth　his　utmost　energy　to　make　an　end
at　once。

More　than　the　actual　parry；　the　laugh　by　which　it　was　accompanied
seemed　to　make　of　that　end　no　more　than　a　beginning。　　And　yet　it
was　the　end　of　something。　　It　was　the　end　of　that　absolute　confidence
that　had　hitherto　inspired　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　He　no　longer　looked
upon　the　issue　as　a　thing　forgone。　　He　realized　that　if　he　was　to
prevail　in　this　encounter；　he　must　go　warily　and　fence　as　he　had
never　fenced　yet　in　all　his　life。

They　settled　down　again；　and　again　…　on　the　principle　this　time　that
the　soundest　defence　is　in　attack　…　it　was　the　Marquis　who　made　the
game。　　Andre…Louis　allowed　him　to　do　so；　desired　him　to　do　so；
desired　him　to　spend　himself　and　that　magnificent　speed　of　his
against　the　greater　speed　that　whole　days　of　fencing　in　succession
for　nearly　two　years　had　given　the　master。　　With　a　beautiful；　easy
pressure　of　forte　on　foible　Andre…Louis　kept　himself　completely
covered　in　that　second　bout；　which　once　more　culminated　in　a　lunge。

Expecting　it　now；　Andre…Louis　parried　it　by　no　more　than　a　deflecting
touch。　　At　the　same　moment　he　stepped　suddenly　forward；　right　within
the　other's　guard；　thus　placing　his　man　so　completely　at　his　mercy
that；　as　if　fascinated；　the　Marquis　did　not　even　attempt　to　recover
himself。

This　time　Andre…Louis　did　not　laugh：　He　just　smiled　into　the　dilating
eyes　of　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　and　made　no　shift　to　use　his　advantage。

〃Come；　come；　monsieur！〃　he　bade　him　sharply。　　〃Am　I　to　run　my　blade
through　an　uncovered　man？〃　　Deliberately　he　fell　back；　whilst　his
shaken　opponent　recovered　himself　at　last。

M。　d'Ormesson　released　the　breath　which　horror　had　for　a　moment
caught。　　Le　Chapelier　swore　softly；　muttering：

〃Name　of　a　name！　　It　is　tempting　Providence　to　play　the　fool　in
this　fashion！〃

Andre…Louis　observed　the　ashen　pallor　that　now　over　spread　the　face
of　his　opponent。

〃I　think　you　begin　to　realize；　monsieur；　what　Philippe　de　Vilmorin
must　have　felt　that　day　at　Gavrillac。　　I　desired　that　you　should
first　do　so。　　Since　that　is　accomplished；　why；　here's　to　make　an　end。〃

He　went　in　with　lightning　rapidity。　　For　a　moment　his　point　seemed
to　La　Tour　d'Azyr　to　be　everywhere　at　once；　and　then　from　a　low
engagement　in　sixte；　Andre…Louis　stretched　forward　with　swift　and
vigorous　ease　to　lunge　in　tierce。　　He　drove　his　point　to　transfix
his　opponent　whom　a　series　of　calculated　disengages　uncovered　in
that　line。　　But　to　his　amazement　and　chagrin；　La　Tour　d'Azyr　parried
the　stroke；　infinitely　more　to　his　chagrin　La　Tour　d'Azyr　parried
it　just　too　late。　　Had　he　completely　parried　it；　all　would　yet　have
been　well。　　But　striking　the　blade　in　the　last　fraction　of　a　second；
the　Marquis　deflected　the　point　from　the　line　of　his　body；　yet　not
so　completely　but　that　a　couple　of　feet　of　that　hard…driven　steel
tore　through　the　muscles　of　his　sword…arm。

To　the　seconds　none　of　these　details　had　been　visible。　　All　that
they　had　seen　had　been　a　swift　whirl　of　flashing　blades；　and　then
Andre…Louis　stretched　almost　to　the　ground　in　an　upward　lunge　that
had　pierced　the　Marquis'　right　arm　just　below　the　shoulder。

The　sword　fell　from　the　suddenly　relaxed　grip　of　La　Tour　d'Azyr's
fingers；　which　had　been　rendered　powerless；　and　he　stood　now
disarmed；　his　lip　in　his　teeth；　his　face　white；　his　chest　heaving；
before　his　opponent；　who　had　at　once　recovered。　　With　the
blood…tinged　tip　of　his　sword　resting　on　the　ground；　Andre…Louis
surveyed　him　grimly；　as　we　survey　the　prey　that　through　our　own
clumsiness　has　escaped　us　at　the　last　moment。

In　the　Assembly　and　in　the　newspapers　this　might　be　hailed　as　another
victory　for　the　Paladin　of　the　Third　Estate；　only　himself　could　know
the　extent　and　the　bitternest　of　the　failure。

M。　d'Ormesson　had　sprung　to　the　side　of　his　principal。

〃You　are　hurt！〃　he　had　cried　stupidly。

〃It　is　nothing；〃　said　La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　〃A　scratch。〃　　But　his　lip
writhed；　and　the　torn　sleeve　of　his　fine　cambric　shirt　was　full　of
blood。

D'Ormesson；　a　practical　man　in　such　matters；　produced　a　linen
kerchief；　which　he　tore　quickly　into　strips　to　improvise　a　bandage。

Still　Andre…Louis　continued　to　stand　there；　looking　on　as　if　bemused。
He　continued　so　until　Le　Chapelier　touched　him　on　the　arm。　　Then　at
last　he　roused　himself；　sighed；　and　turned　away　to　resume　his
garments；　nor　did　he　address　or　look　again　at　his　late　opponent；　but
left　the　ground　at　once。

As；　with　Le　Chapelier；　he　was　walking　slowly　and　in　silent　dejection
towards　the　entrance　of　the　Bois；　where　they　had　left　their　carriage；
they　were　passed　by　the　caleche　conveying　La　Tour　d'Azyr　and　his
second　…　which　had　originally　driven　almost　right　up　to　the　spot　of
the　encounter。　　The　Marquis'　wounded　arm　was　carried　in　a　sling
improvised　from　his　companion's　sword…belt。　　His　sky…blue　coat　with
three　collars　had　been　buttoned　over　this；　so　that　the　right　sleeve
hung　empty。　　Otherwise；　saving　a　certain　pallor；　he　looked　much　his
usual　self。

And　now　you　understand　how　it　was　that　he　was　the　first　to　return；
and　that　seeing　him　thus　returning；　apparently　safe　and　sound；　the
two　ladies；　intent　upon　preventing　the　encounter；　should　have
assumed　that　their　worst　fears　were　realized。

Mme。　de　Plougastel　attempted　to　call　out；　but　her　voice　refused　its
office。　　She　attempted　to　throw　open　the　door　of　her　own　carriage；
but　her　fingers　fumbled　clumsily　and　ineffectively　with　the　handle。
And　meanwhile　the　caleche　was　slowly　passing；　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　fine
eyes　sombrely　yet　intently　meeting　her　own　anguished　gaze。　　And　then
she　saw　something　else。　　M。　d'Ormesson；　leaning　back　again　from　the
forward　inclination　of　his　body　to　join　his　own　to　his　companion's
salutation　of　the　Countess；　disclosed　the　empty　right　sleeve　of　M。
de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　blue　coat。　　More；　the　near　side　of　the　coat
itself　turned　back　from　the　point　near　the　throat　where　it　was
caught　together　by　single　button；　revealed　the　slung　arm　beneath
in　its　blood。　sodden　cambric　sleeve。

Even　now　she　feared　to　jump　to　the　obvious　conclusion　feared　lest
perhaps　the　Marquis；　though　himself　wounded；　might　have　dealt　his
adversary　a　deadlier　wound。

She　found　her　voice　at　last；　and　at　the　same　moment　signalled　to
the　driver　of　the　caleche　to　stop。

As　it　was　Pulled　to　a　standstill；　M。　d'Ormesson　alighted；　and　so
met　madame　in　the　little　space　between　the　two　carriages。

〃Where　is　M。　Moreau？〃　was　the　question　with　which　she　surprised　him。

〃Following　at　his　leisure；　no　doubt；　madame；〃　he　answered；
recovering。

〃He　is　not　hurt？〃

〃Unfortunately　it　is　we　who。。。　〃　　M。　d'Ormesson　was　beginning；　when
from　behind　him　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　voice　cut　in　crisply：

〃This　interest　on　your　part　in　M。　Moreau；　dear　Countess。。。　〃

He　broke　off；　observing　a　vague　challenge　in　the　air　with　which
she　confronted　him。　　But　indeed　his　sentence　did　not　need　completing。

There　was　a　vaguely　awkward　pause。　　And　then　she　looked　at　M。
d'Ormesson。　　Her　manner　changed。　　She　offered　what　appeared　to　be
an　explanation　of　her　concern　for　M。　Moreau。

〃Mademoiselle　de　Kercadiou　is　with　me。　　The　poor　child　has　fainted。〃

There　was　more；　a　deal　more；　she　would　have　said　just　then；　but　for
M。　d'Ormesson's　presence。

Moved　by　a　deep　solicitude　for　Mademoiselle　de　Kertadiou；　de　La　Tour
d'Azyr　sprang　up　despite　his　wound。

〃I　am　in　poor　case　to　render　assistance；　madame；〃　he　said；　an
apologetic　smile　on　his　pale　face。　　〃But。。。　〃

With　the　aid　of　d'Ormesson；　and　in　spite　of　the　latter's
protestations；　he　got　down　from　the　caleche；　which　then　moved　on　a
little　way；　so　as　to　leave　the　road　clear　…　for　another　carriage
that　was　approaching　from　the　direction　of　the　Bois。

And　thus　it　happened　that　when　a　few　moments　later　that　approaching
cabriolet　overtook　and　passed　the　halted　vehicles；　Andre…Louis
beheld　a　very　touching　scene。　　Standing　up　to　obtain　a　better　view；
he　saw　Aline　in　a　half…swooning　condition　…　she　was　beginning　to
revive　by　now　…　seated　in　the　doorway　of　the　carriage；　supported　by
Mme。　de　Plougastel。　　In　an　attitude　of　deepest　concern；　M。　de　La
Tour　d'Azyr；　his　wound　notwithstanding；　was　bending　over　the　girl；
whilst　behind　him　stood　M。　d'Ormesson　and　madame's　footman。

The　Countess　looked　up　and　saw　him　as　he　was　driven　past。　　Her　face
lighted；　almost　it　seemed　to　him　she　was　about　to　greet　him　or　to
call　him；　wherefore；　to　avoid　a　difficulty；　arising　out　of　the
presence　there　of　his　late　antagonist；　he　anticipated　her　by　bowing
frigidly　…　for　his　mood　was　frigid；　the　more　frigid　by　virtue　of
what　he　saw　…　and　then　resumed　his　seat　with　eyes　that　looked
deliberately　ahead。

Could　anything　more　completely　have　confirmed　him　in　his　conviction
that　it　was　on　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　account　that　Aline　had　come
to　plead　with　him　that　morning？　　For　what　his　eyes　had　seen；　of
course；　was　a　lady　overcome　with　emotion　at　the　sight　of　blood　of
her　dear　friend；　and　that　same　dear　friend　restoring　her　with
assurances　that　his　hurt　was　very　far　from　mortal。　　Later；　much
later；　he　was　to　blame　his　own　perverse　stupidity。　　Almost　is　he
too　severe　in　his　self…condemnation。　　For　how　else　could　he　have
interpreted　the　scene　he　beheld；　his　preconceptions　being　what
they　were？

That　which　he　had　already　been　suspecting；　he　now　accounted　proven
to　him。　Aline　had　been　wanting　in　candour　on　the　subject　of　her
feelings　towards　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　It　was；　he　supposed；　a
woman's　way　to　be　secretive　in　such　matters；　and　he　must　not　blame
her。　　Nor　could　he　blame　her　in　his　heart　for　having　succumbed　to
the　singular　charm　of　such　a　man　as　the　Marquis　…　for　not　even　his
hostility　could　blind　him　to　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　attractions。
That　she　had　succumbed　was　betrayed；　he　thought；　by　the　weakness
that　had　overtaken　her　upon　seeing　him　wounded。
　
〃My　God！〃　he