scaramouche-第7章

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on　his　soul。　　It　was　horrible。　　Yet　God　would　see　the　righteousness
of　that　anger。　　And　in　no　case　…　be　man's　interpretation　of　Divinity
what　it　might　…　could　that　one　sin　outweigh　the　loving　good　that
Philippe　had　ever　practised；　the　noble　purity　of　his　great　heart。
God　after　all；　reflected　Andre…Louis；　was　not　a　grand…seigneur。
　
M。　de　Kercadiou　stared　at　him　blankly　out　of　his　pale



CHAPTER　V

THE　LORD　OF　GAVRILLAC


For　the　second　time　that　day　Andre…Louis　set　out　for　the　chateau；
walking　briskly；　and　heeding　not　at　all　the　curious　eyes　that
followed　him　through　the　village；　and　the　whisperings　that　marked
his　passage　through　the　people；　all　agog　by　now　with　that　day's
event　in　which　he　had　been　an　actor。

He　was　ushered　by　Benoit；　the　elderly　body…servant；　rather
grandiloquently　called　the　seneschal；　into　the　ground…floor　room
known　traditionally　as　the　library。　　It　still　contained　several
shelves　of　neglected　volumes；　from　which　it　derived　its　title；　but
implements　of　the　chase　…　fowling…pieces；　powder…horns；　hunting…bags；
sheath…knives　…　obtruded　far　more　prominently　than　those　of　study。
The　furniture　was　massive；　of　oak　richly　carved；　and　belonging　to
another　age。　　Great　massive　oak　beams　crossed　the　rather　lofty
whitewashed　ceiling。
　　
Here　the　squat　Seigneur　de　Gavrillac　was　restlessly　pacing　when
Andre…Louis　was　introduced。　　He　was　already　informed；　as　he
announced　at　once；　of　what　had　taken　place　at　the　Breton　arme。　　M。
de　Chabrillane　had　just　left　him；　and　he　confessed　himself　deeply
grieved　and　deeply　perplexed。

〃The　pity　of　it！〃　he　said。　　〃The　pity　of　it！〃　　He　bowed　his　enormous
head。　　〃So　estimable　a　young　man；　and　so　full　of　promise。　　Ah；　this
La　Tour　d'Azyr　is　a　hard　man；　and　he　feels　very　strongly　in　these
matters。　　He　may　be　right。　　I　don't　know。　　I　have　never　killed　a　man
for　holding　different　views　from　mine。　　In　fact；　I　have　never　killed
a　man　at　all。　　It　isn't　in　my　nature。　　I　shouldn't　sleep　of　nights　if
I　did。　　But　men　are　differently　made。〃

〃The　question；　monsieur　my　godfather；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　〃is　what　is
to　be　done。〃　　He　was　quite　calm　and　self…possessed；　but　very　white。

M。　de　Kercadiou　stared　at　him　blankly　out　of　his　pale　eyes。

〃Why；　what　the　devil　is　there　to　do？　　From　what　I　am　told；　Vilmorin
went　so　far　as　to　strike　M。　le　Marquis。〃

〃Under　the　very　grossest　provocation。〃

〃Which　he　himself　provoked　by　his　revolutionary　language。　　The　poor
lad's　head　was　full　of　this　encyclopaedist　trash。　　It　comes　of　too
much　reading。　　I　have　never　set　much　store　by　books；　Andre；　and　I
have　never　known　anything　but　trouble　to　come　out　of　learning。　　It
unsettles　a　man。　　It　complicates　his　views　of　life；　destroys　the
simplicity　which　makes　for　peace　of　mind　and　happiness。　　Let　this
miserable　affair　be　a　warning　to　you；　Andre。　　You　are；　yourself；
too　prone　to　these　new…fashioned　speculations　upon　a　different
constitution　of　the　social　order。　　You　see　what　comes　of　it。　　A
fine；　estimable　young　man；　the　only　prop　of　his　widowed　mother　too；
forgets　himself；　his　position；　his　duty　to　that　mother　…　everything；
and　goes　and　gets　himself　killed　like　this。　　It　is　infernally　sad。
On　my　soul　it　is　sad。〃　　He　produced　a　handkerchief；　and　blew　his
nose　with　vehemence。

Andre…Louis　felt　a　tightening　of　his　heart；　a　lessening　of　the
hopes；　never　too　sanguine；　which　he　had　founded　upon　his　godfather。

〃Your　criticisms；〃　he　said；　〃are　all　for　the　conduct　of　the　dead；
and　none　for　that　of　the　murderer。　　It　does　not　seem　possible　that
you　should　be　in　sympathy　with　such　a　crime。

〃Crime？〃　shrilled　M。　de　Kercadiou。　　〃My　God；　boy；　you　are　speaking
of　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。〃

〃I　am；　and　of　the　abominable　murder　he　has　committed。。。　〃

〃Stop！〃　　M。　de　Kercadiou　was　very　emphatic。　　〃I　cannot　permit　that
you　apply　such　terms　to　him。　I　cannot　permit　it。　　M。　le　Marquis　is
my　friend；　and　is　likely　very　soon　to　stand　in　a　still　closer
relationship。〃

〃Notwithstanding　this？〃　asked　Andre…Louis。

M。　de　Kercadiou　was　frankly　impatient。

〃Why；　what　has　this　to　do　with　it？　　I　may　deplore　it。　　But　I　have
no　right　to　condemn　it。　　It　is　a　common　way　of　adjusting　differences
between　gentlemen。〃

〃You　really　believe　that？〃

〃What　the　devil　do　you　imply；　Andre？　　Should　I　say　a　thing　that　I
don't　believe？　　You　begin　to　make　me　angry。〃

〃'Thou　shalt　not　kill；'　is　the　King's　law　as　well　as　God's。〃

〃You　are　determined　to　quarrel　with　me；　I　think。　　It　was　a　duel。。。　〃

Andre…Louis　interrupted　him。　　〃It　is　no　more　a　duel　than　if　it　had
been　fought　with　pistols　of　which　only　M。　le　Marquis　's　was　loaded。
He　invited　Philippe　to　discuss　the　matter　further；　with　the
deliberate　intent　of　forcing　a　quarrel　upon　him　and　killing　him。
Be　patient　with　me；　monsieur　my　god…father。　　I　am　not　telling　you
of　what　I　imagine　but　what　M。　le　Marquis　himself　admitted　to　me。〃

Dominated　a　little　by　the　young　man's　earnestness；　M。　de　Kercadiou's
pale　eyes　fell　away。　　He　turned　with　a　shrug；　and　sauntered　over　to
the　window。

〃It　would　need　a　court　of　honour　to　decide　such　an　issue。　　And　we
have　no　courts　of　honour；〃　he　said。

〃But　we　have　courts　of　justice。〃

With　returning　testiness　the　seigneur　swung　round　to　face　him　again。
〃And　what　court　of　justice；　do　you　think；　would　listen　to　such　a
plea　as　you　appear　to　have　in　mind？〃

〃There　is　the　court　of　the　King's　Lieutenant　at　Rennes。〃

〃And　do　you　think　the　King's　Lieutenant　would　listen　to　you？〃

〃Not　to　me；　perhaps；　Monsieur。　　But　if　you　were　to　bring　the
plaint。。。　〃

〃I　bring　the　plaint？〃　　M。　de　Kercadiou's　pale　eyes　were　wide　with
horror　of　the　suggestion。

〃The　thing　happened　here　on　your　domain。〃

〃I　bring　a　plaint　against　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr！　　You　are　out　of　your
senses；　I　think。　　Oh；　you　are　mad；　as　mad　as　that　poor　friend　of
yours　who　has　come　to　this　end　through　meddling　in　what　did　not
concern　him。　　The　language　he　used　here　to　M。　le　Marquis　on　the
score　of　Mabey　was　of　the　most　offensive。　　Perhaps　you　didn't　know
that。　　It　does　not　at　all　surprise　me　that　the　Marquis　should　have
desired　satisfaction。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　on　a　note　of　hopelessness。

〃You　see？　　What　the　devil　do　you　see？〃

〃That　I　shall　have　to　depend　upon　myself　alone。〃

〃And　what　the　devil　do　you　propose　to　do；　if　you　please？〃

〃I　shall　go　to　Rennes；　and　lay　the　facts　before　the　King's
Lieutenant。〃

〃He'll　be　too　busy　to　see　you。〃　　And　M。　de　Kercadiou's　mind　swung
a　trifle　inconsequently；　as　weak　minds　will。　　〃There　is　trouble
enough　in　Rennes　already　on　the　score　of　these　crazy　States　General；
with　which　the　wonderful　M。　Necker　is　to　repair　the　finances　of　the
kingdom。　　As　if　a　peddling　Swiss　bank…clerk；　who　is　also　a　damned
Protestant；　could　succeed　where　such　men　as　Calonne　and　Brienne　have
failed。〃

〃Good…afternoon；　monsieur　my　godfather；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　was　the　querulous　demand。

〃Home　at　present。　　To　Rennes　in　the　morning。〃

〃Wait；　boy；　wait！〃　　The　squat　little　man　rolled　forward；　affectionate
concern　on　his　great　ugly　face；　and　he　set　one　of　his　podgy　hands　on
his　godson's　shoulder。　　〃Now　listen　to　me；　Andre；〃　he　reasoned。　　〃This
is　sheer　knight…errantry　…　moonshine；　lunacy。　　You'11　come　to　no　good
by　it　if　you　persist。　　You've　read　'Don　Quixote；'　and　what　happened
to　him　when　he　went　tilting　against　windmills。　　It's　what　will　happen
to　you；　neither　more　nor　less。　　Leave　things　as　they　are；　my　boy。　　I
wouldn't　　have　a　mischief　happen　to　you。〃

Andre…Louis　looked　at　him；　smiling　wanly。

〃I　swore　an　oath　to…day　which　it　would　damn　my　soul　to　break。〃

〃You　mean　that　you'll　go　in　spite　of　anything　that　I　may　say？〃
Impetuous　as　he　was　inconsequent；　M。　de　Kercadiou　was　bristling
again。　　〃Very　well；　then；　go。。。　Go　to　the　devil！〃

〃I　will　begin　with　the　King's　Lieutenant。〃

〃And　if　you　get　into　the　trouble　you　are　seeking；　don't　come
whimpering　to　me　for　assistance；〃　the　seigneur　stormed。　　He　was　very
angry　now。　　〃Since　you　choose　to　disobey　me；　you　can　break　your
empty　head　against　the　windmill；　and　be　damned　to　you。〃

Andre…Louis　bowed　with　a　touch　of　irony；　and　reached　the　door。

〃If　the　windmill　should　prove　too　formidable；〃　said　he；　from　the
threshold；　〃I　may　see　what　can　be　done　with　the　wind。　　Good…bye；
monsieur　my　godfather。〃

He　was　gone；　and　M。　de　Kercadiou　was　alone；　purple　in　the　face；
puzzling　out　that　last　cryptic　utterance；　and　not　at　all　happy　in
his　mind；　either　on　the　score　of　his　godson　or　of　M。　de　La　Tour
d'Azyr。　　He　was　disposed　to　be　angry　with　them　both。　　He　found
these　headstrong；　wilful　men　who　relentlessly　followed　their　own
impulses　very　disturbing　and　irritating。　　Himself　he　loved　his　ease；
and　to　be　at　peace　with　his　neighbours；　and　that　seemed　to　him　so
obviously　the　supreme　good　of　life　that　he　was　disposed　to　brand
them　as　fools　who　troubled　to　seek　other　things。



CHAPTER　VI

THE　WINDMILL


There　was　between　Nantes　and　Rennes　an　established　service　of　three
stage…coaches　weekly　in　each　direction；　which　for　a　sum　of
twenty…four　livres　…　roughly；　the　equivalent　of　an　English　guinea
　…　would　carry　you　the　seventy　and　odd　miles　of　the　journey　in　some
fourteen　hours。　　Once　a　week　one　of　the　diligences　going　in　each
direction　would　swerve　aside　from　the　highroad　to　call　at　Gavrillac；
to　bring　and　take　letters；　newspapers；　and　sometimes　passengers。　　It
was　usually　by　this　coach　that　Andre…Louis　came　and　went　when　the
occasion　offered。　　At　present；　however；　he　was　too　much　in　haste　to
lose　a　day　awaiting　the　passing　of　that　diligence。　　So　it　was　on　a
horse　hired　from　the　Breton　arme　that　he　set　out　next　morning；　and
an　hour's　brisk　ride　under　a　grey　wintry　sky；　by　a　half…ruined　road
through　ten　miles　of　flat；　uninteresting　country；　brought　him　to　the
city　of　Rennes。

He　rode　across　the　main　bridge　over　the　Vilaine；　and　so　into　the
upper　and　principal　part　of　that　important　city　of　some　thirty
thousand　souls；　most　of　whom；　he　opined　from　the　seething；　clamant
crowds　that　everywhere　blocked　his　way；　must　on　this　day　have　taken
to　the　streets。　　Clearly　Philippe　had　not　overstated　the　excitement
prevailing　there。

He　pushed　on　as　best　he　could；　and　so　came　at　last　to　the　Place
Royale；　where　he　found　the　crowd　to　be　most　dense。　　From　the　plinth
of　the　equestrian　statue　of　Louis　XV；　a　white…faced　young　man　was
excitedly　addressing　the　multitude。　　His　youth　and　dress　proclaimed
the　student；　and　a　group　of　his　fellows；　acting　as　a　guard　of　honour
to　him；　kept　the　immediate　precincts　of　the　statue。

Over　the　heads　of　the　crowd　Andre…Louis　caught　a　few　of　the　phrases
flung　forth　by　that　eager　voice。

〃It　was　the　promise　of　the　King。。。　It　is　the　King's　authority　they
flout。。。　They　arrogate　to　themselves　the　whole　sovereignty　in
Brittany。　　The　King　has　dissolved　them。。。　These　insolent　nobles
defying　their　sovereign　and　the　people。。。　〃

Had　he　not　known　already；　from　what　Philippe　had　told　him；　of　the
events　which　had　brought　the　Third　Estate　to　the　point　of　active
revolt；　those　few　phrases　would　fully　have　informed　him。　　This　popular
display　of　temper　was　most　opportune　to　his　need；　he　thought。　　And　in
the　hope　that　it　might　serve　his　turn　by　disposing　to　reasonablenes