scaramouche-第57章

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that　had　overtaken　her　upon　seeing　him　wounded。
　
〃My　God！〃　he　cried　aloud。　　〃What　must　she　have　suffered；　then；　if
I　had　killed　him　as　I　intended！〃

If　only　she　had　used　candour　with　him；　she　could　so　easily　have　won
his　consent　to　the　thing　she　asked。　　　If　only　she　had　told　him　what
now　he　saw；　that　she　loved　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　instead　of　leaving
him　to　assume　her　only　regard　for　the　Marquis　to　be　based　on
unworthy　worldly　ambition；　he　would　at　once　have　yielded。

He　fetched　a　sigh；　and　breathed　a　prayer　for　forgiveness　to　the
shade　of　Vilmorin。

　〃It　is　perhaps　as　well　that　my　lunge　went　wide；〃　he　said。
　
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　wondered　Le　Chapelier。

〃That　in　this　business　I　must　relinquish　all　hope　of　recommencing。〃



CHAPTER　XII

THE　OVERWHELMING　REASON


M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　was　seen　no　more　in　the　Manege　…　or　indeed　in
Paris　at　all　…　throughout　all　the　months　that　the　National　Assembly
remained　in　session　to　complete　its　work　of　providing　France　with
a　constitution。　　After　all；　though　the　wound　to　his　body　had　been
comparatively　slight；　the　wound　to　such　a　pride　as　his　had　been
all　but　mortal。

The　rumour　ran　that　he　had　emigrated。　　But　that　was　only　half　the
truth。　　The　whole　of　it　was　that　he　had　joined　that　group　of　noble
travellers　who　came　and　went　between　the　Tuileries　and　the
headquarters　of　the　emigres　at　Coblenz。　　He　became；　in　short；　a
member　of　the　royalist　secret　service　that　in　the　end　was　to　bring
down　the　monarchy　in　ruins。

As　for　Andre…Louis；　his　godfather's　house　saw　him　no　more；　as　a
result　of　his　conviction　that　M。　de　Kercadiou　would　not　relent　from
his　written　resolve　never　to　receive　him　again　if　the　duel　were
fought。

He　threw　himself　into　his　duties　at　the　Assembly　with　such　zeal　and
effect　that　when　…　its　purpose　accomplished　…　the　Constituent　was
dissolved　in　September　of　the　following　year；　membership　of　the
Legislative；　whose　election　followed　immediately；　was　thrust　upon
him。

He　considered　then；　like　many　others；　that　the　Revolution　was　a
thing　accomplished；　that　France　had　only　to　govern　herself　by　the
Constitution　which　had　been　given　her；　and　that　all　would　now　be
well。　　And　so　it　might　have　been　but　that　the　Court　could　not　bring
itself　to　accept　the　altered　state　of　things。　　As　a　result　of　its
intrigues　half　Europe　was　arming　to　hurl　herself　upon　France；　and
her　quarrel　was　the　quarrel　of　the　French　King　with　his　people。
That　was　the　horror　at　the　root　of　all　the　horrors　that　were　to　come。

Of　the　counter…revolutionary　troubles　that　were　everywhere　being
stirred　up　by　the　clergy；　none　were　more　acute　than　those　of　Brittany；
and；　in　view　of　the　influence　it　was　hoped　he　would　wield　in　his
native　province；　it　was　proposed　to　Andre…Louis　by　the　Commission　of
Twelve；　in　the　early　days　of　the　Girondin　ministry；　that　he　should
go　thither　to　combat　the　unrest。　　He　was　desired　to　proceed
peacefully；　but　his　powers　were　almost　absolute；　as　is　shown　by　the
orders　he　carried　…　orders　enjoining　all　to　render　him　assistance
and　warning　those　who　might　hinder　him　that　they　would　do　so　at
their　peril。

He　accepted　the　task；　and　he　was　one　of　the　five　plenipotentiaries
despatched　on　the　same　errand　in　that　spring　of　1792。　　It　kept　him
absent　from　Paris　for　four　months　and　might　have　kept　him　longer
but　that　at　the　beginning　of　August　he　was　recalled。　　More　imminent
than　any　trouble　in　Brittany　was　the　trouble　brewing　in　Paris　itself；
when　the　political　sky　was　blacker　than　it　had　been　since　'89。
Paris　realized　that　the　hour　was　rapidly　approaching　which　would
see　the　climax　of　the　long　struggle　between　Equality　and　Privilege。
And　it　was　towards　a　city　so　disposed　that　Andre…Louis　came　speeding
from　the　West；　to　find　there　also　the　climax　of　his　own　disturbed
career。

Mlle。　de　Kercadiou；　too；　was　in　Paris　in　those　days　of　early　August；
on　a　visit　to　her　uncle's　cousin　and　dearest　friend；　Mme。　de
Plougastel。　　And　although　nothing　could　now　be　plainer　than　the
seething　unrest　that　heralded　the　explosion　to　come；　yet　the　air　of
gaiety；　indeed　of　jocularity；　prevailing　at　Court　…　whither　madame
and　mademoiselle　went　almost　daily　…　reassured　them。　　M。　de
Plougastel　had　come　and　gone　again；　back　to　Coblenz　on　that　secret
business　that　kept　him　now　almost　constantly　absent　from　his　wife。
But　whilst　with　her　he　had　positively　assured　her　that　all　measures
were　taken；　and　that　an　insurrection　was　a　thing　to　be　welcomed；
because　it　could　have　one　only　conclusion；　the　final　crushing　of
the　Revolution　in　the　courtyard　of　the　Tuileries。　　That；　he　added；
was　why　the　King　remained　in　Paris。　　But　for　his　confidence　in　that
he　would　put　himself　in　the　centre　of　his　Swiss　and　his　knights　of
the　dagger；　and　quit　the　capital。　　They　would　hack　a　way　out　for
him　easily　if　his　departure　were　opposed。　　But　not　even　that　would
be　necessary。

Yet　in　those　early　days　of　August；　after　her　husband's　departure
the　effect　of　his　inspiring　words　was　gradually　dissipated　by　the
march　of　events　under　madame's　own　eyes。　　And　finally　on　the
afternoon　of　the　ninth；　there　arrived　at　the　Hotel　Plougastel　a
messenger　from　Meudon　bearing　a　note　from　M。　de　Kercadiou　in
which　he　urgently　bade　mademoiselle　join　him　there　at　once；　and
advised　her　hostess　to　accompany　her。

You　may　have　realized　that　M。　de　Kercadiou　was　of　those　who　make
friends　with　men　of　all　classes。　　His　ancient　lineage　placed　him
on　terms　of　equality　with　members　of　the　noblesse；　his　simple
manners　…　something　between　the　rustic　and　the　bourgeois　…　and　his
natural　affability　placed　him　on　equally　good　terms　with　those　who
by　birth　were　his　inferiors。　　In　Meudon　he　was　known　and　esteemed
of　all　the　simple　folk；　and　it　was　Rougane；　the　friendly　mayor；
who；　informed　on　the　9th　of　August　of　the　storm　that　was　brewing
for　the　morrow；　and　knowing　of　mademoiselle's　absence　in　Paris；
had　warningly　advised　him　to　withdraw　her　from　what　in　the　next
four…and…twenty　hours　might　be　a　zone　of　danger　for　all　persons
of　quality；　particularly　those　suspected　of　connections　with　the
Court　party。

Now　there　was　no　doubt　whatever　of　Mme。　de　Plougastel's　connection
with　the　Court。　　It　was　not　even　to　be　doubted　…　indeed；　measure　of
proof　of　it　was　to　be　forthcoming　…　that　those　vigilant　and
ubiquitous　secret　societies　that　watched　over　the　cradle　of　the
young　revolution　were　fully　informed　of　the　frequent　journeyings　of
M。　de　Plougastel　to　Coblenz；　and　entertained　no　illusions　on　the
score　of　the　reason　for　them。　　Given；　then；　a　defeat　of　the　Court
party　in　the　struggle　that　was　preparing；　the　position　in　Paris　of
Mme。　de　Plougastel　could　not　be　other　than　fraught　with　danger；　and
that　danger　would　be　shared　by　any　guest　of　birth　at　her　hotel。

M。　de　Kercadiou's　affection　for　both　those　women　quickened　the　fears
aroused　in　him　by　Rougane's　warning。　　Hence　that　hastily　dispatched
note；　desiring　his　niece　and　imploring　his　friend　to　come　at　once
to　Meudon。

The　friendly　mayor　carried　his　complaisance　a　step　farther；　and
dispatched　the　letter　to　Paris　by　the　hands　of　his　own　son；　an
intelligent　lad　of　nineteen。　　It　was　late　in　the　afternoon　of　that
perfect　August　day　when　young　Rougane　presented　himself　at　the
Hotel　Plougastel。

He　was　graciously　received　by　Mme。　de　Plougastel　in　the　salon；　whose
splendours；　when　combined　with　the　great　air　of　the　lady　herself；
overwhelmed　the　lad's　simple；　unsophisticated　soul。　　Madame　made　up
her　mind　at　once。

M。　de　Kercadiou's　urgent　message　no　more　than　confirmed　her　own
fears　and　inclinations。　　She　decided　upon　instant　departure。

〃Bien；　madame；〃　said　the　youth。　　〃Then　I　have　the　honour　to　take
my　leave。〃

But　she　would　not　let　him　go。　　First　to　the　kitchen　to　refresh
himself；　whilst　she　and　mademoiselle　made　ready；　and　then　a　seat
for　him　in　her　carriage　as　far　as　Meudon。　　She　could　not　suffer　him
to　return　on　foot　as　he　had　come。

Though　in　all　the　circumstances　it　was　no　more　than　his　due；　yet
the　kindliness　that　in　such　a　moment　of　agitation　could　take　thought
for　another　was　presently　to　be　rewarded。　　Had　she　done　less　than
this；　she　would　have　known　…　if　nothing　worse　…　at　least　some　hours
of　anguish　even　greater　than　those　that　were　already　in　store　for　her。

It　wanted；　perhaps；　a　half…hour　to　sunset　when　they　set　out　in　her
carriage　with　intent　to　leave　Paris　by　the　Porte　Saint…Martin。　　They
travelled　with　a　single　footman　behind。　　Rougane　…　terrifying
condescension　…　was　given　a　seat　inside　the　carriage　with　the　ladies；
and　proceeded　to　fall　in　love　with　Mlle。　de　Kercadiou；　whom　he
accounted　the　most　beautiful　being　he　had　ever　seen；　yet　who　talked
to　him　simply　and　unaffectedly　as　with　an　equal。　　The　thing　went　to
his　head　a　little；　and　disturbed　certain　republican　notions　which
he　had　hitherto　conceived　himself　to　have　thoroughly　digested。

The　carriage　drew　up　at　the　barrier；　checked　there　by　a　picket　of
the　National　Guard　posted　before　the　iron　gates。

The　sergeant　in　command　strode　to　the　door　of　the　vehicle。　　The
Countess　put　her　head　from　the　window。

〃The　barrier　is　closed；　madame；〃　she　was　curtly　informed。

〃Closed！〃　she　echoed。　　The　thing　was　incredible。　　〃But。。。　but　do
you　mean　that　we　cannot　pass？〃

Not　unless　you　have　a　permit；　madame。〃　　The　sergeant　leaned
nonchalantly　on　his　pike。　　〃The　orders　are　that　no　one　is　to　leave
or　enter　without　proper　papers。〃

〃Whose　orders？〃

〃Orders　of　the　Commune　of　Paris。〃

〃But　I　must　go　into　the　country　this　evening。〃　　Madame's　voice　was
almost　petulant。　　〃I　am　expected。〃

〃In　that　case　let　madame　procure　a　permit。〃

〃Where　is　it　to　be　procured？〃

〃At　the　Hotel　de　Ville　or　at　the　headquarters　of　madame's　section。〃

She　considered　a　moment。　　〃To　the　section；　then。　　Be　so　good　as　to
tell　my　coachman　to　drive　to　the　Bondy　Section。〃

He　saluted　her　and　stepped　back。　　〃Section　Bondy；　Rue　des　Morts；〃
he　bade　the　driver。

Madame　sank　into　her　seat　again；　in　a　state　of　agitation　fully
shared　by　mademoiselle。　　Rougane　set　himself　to　pacify　and　reassure
them。　The　section　would　put　the　matter　in　order。　　They　would　most
certainly　be　accorded　a　permit。　　What　possible　reason　could　there
be　for　refusing　them？　　A　mere　formality；　after　all！

His　assurance　uplifted　them　merely　to　prepare　them　for　a　still　more
profound　dejection　when　presently　they　met　with　a　flat　refusal　from
the　president　of　the　section　who　received　the　Countess。

〃Your　name；　madame？〃　he　had　asked　brusquely。　　A　rude　fellow　of　the
most　advanced　republican　type；　he　had　not　even　risen　out　of
deference　to　the　ladies　when　they　entered。　　He　was　there；　he　would
have　told　you；　to　perform　the　duties　of　his　office；　not　to　give
dancing…lessons。

〃Plougastel；〃　he　repeated　after　her；　without　title；　as　if　it　had
been　the　name　of　a　butcher　or　baker。　　He　took　down　a　heavy　volume
from　a　shelf　on　his　right；　opened　it　and　turned　the　pages。　　It　was
a　sort　of　directory　of　his　section。　　Presently　he　found　what　he
sought。　　〃Comte　de　Plougastel；　Hotel　Plougastel；　Rue　du　Paradis。
Is　that　it？〃

〃That　is　correct；　monsieur；〃　she　answered；　with　what　civility　she
could　muster　before　the　fellow's　affronting　rudeness。

There　was　a　long　moment　of　silence；　during　which　h