scaramouche-第9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！



〃I　am；　then；　to　understand；　monsieur；　that　there　will　be　no　inquiry
into　this　case？　　That　nothing　that　I　can　say　will　move　you？〃

〃You　are　to　understand　that　if　you　are　still　there　in　two　minutes
it　will　be　very　much　the　worse　for　you。〃　　And　M。　de　Lesdiguieres
tinkled　the　silver　hand…bell　upon　his　table。

〃I　have　informed　you；　monsieur；　that　a　duel　…　so…called　…　has　been
fought；　and　a　man　killed。　　It　seems　that　I　must　remind　you；　the
administrator　of　the　King's　justice；　that　duels　are　against　the　law；
and　that　it　is　your　duty　to　hold　an　inquiry。　　I　come　as　the　legal
representative　of　the　bereaved　mother　of　M。　de　Vilmorin　to　demand
of　you　the　inquiry　that　is　due。〃

The　door　behind　Andre…Louis　opened　softly。　　M。　de　Lesdiguieres；
pale　with　anger；　contained　himself　with　difficulty。

〃You　seek　to　compel　us；　do　you；　you　impudent　rascal？〃　he　growled。
〃You　think　the　King's　justice　is　to　be　driven　headlong　by　the　voice
of　any　impudent　roturier？　　I　marvel　at　my　own　patience　with　you。
But　I　give　you　a　last　warning；　master　lawyer；　keep　a　closer　guard
over　that　insolent　tongue　of　yours；　or　you　will　have　cause　very
bitterly　to　regret　its　glibness。〃　　He　waved　a　jewelled；　contemptuous
hand；　and　spoke　to　the　usher　standing　behind　Andre。　　〃To　the　door！〃
he　said；　shortly。

Andre…Louis　hesitated　a　second。　　Then　with　a　shrug　he　turned。　　This
was　the　windmill；　indeed；　and　he　a　poor　knight　of　rueful　countenance。
To　attack　it　at　closer　quarters　would　mean　being　dashed　to　pieces。
Yet　on　the　threshold　he　turned　again。

〃M。　de　Lesdiguieres；〃　said　he；　〃may　I　recite　to　you　an　interesting
fact　in　natural　history？　　The　tiger　is　a　great　lord　in　the　jungle；
and　was　for　centuries　the　terror　of　lesser　beasts；　including　the
wolf。　　The　wolf；　himself　a　hunter；　wearied　of　being　hunted。　　He
took　to　associating　with　other　wolves；　and　then　the　wolves；　driven
to　form　packs　for　self…protection；　discovered　the　power　of　the　pack；
and　took　to　hunting　the　tiger；　with　disastrous　results　to　him。　You
should　study　Buffon；　M。　de　Lesdiguieres。〃

〃I　have　studied　a　buffoon　this　morning；　I　think；〃　was　the　punning
sneer　with　which　M。　de　Lesdiguieres　replied。　　But　that　he　conceived
himself　witty；　it　is　probable　he　would　not　have　condescended　to
reply　at　all。　　〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　he　added。

〃But　you　will；　M。　de　Lesdiguieres。　　You　will；〃　said　Andre…Louis；
and　so　departed。



CHAPTER　VII

THE　WIND


He　had　broken　his　futile　lance　with　the　windmill　…　the　image
suggested　by　M。　de　Kercadiou　persisted　in　his　mind　…　and　it　was；　he
perceived；　by　sheer　good　fortune　that　he　had　escaped　without　hurt。
There　remained　the　wind　itself　…　the　whirlwind。　　And　the　events　in
Rennes；　reflex　of　the　graver　events　in　Nantes；　had　set　that　wind
blowing　in　his　favour。
　
He　set　out　briskly　to　retrace　his　steps　towards　the　Place　Royale；
where　the　gathering　of　the　populace　was　greatest；　where；　as　he
judged；　lay　the　heart　and　brain　of　this　commotion　that　was　exciting
the　city。
　
But　the　commotion　that　he　had　left　there　was　as　nothing　to　the
commotion　which　he　found　on　his　return。　　Then　there　had　been　a
comparative　hush　to　listen　to　the　voice　of　a　speaker　who　denounced
the　First　and　Second　Estates　from　the　pedestal　of　the　statue　of
Louis　XV。　　Now　the　air　was　vibrant　with　the　voice　of　the　multitude
itself；　raised　in　anger。　　Here　and　there　men　were　fighting　with
canes　and　fists；　everywhere　a　fierce　excitement　raged；　and　the
gendarmes　sent　thither　by　the　King's　Lieutenant　to　restore　and
maintain　order　were　so　much　helpless　flotsam　in　that　tempestuous
human　ocean。

There　were　cries　of　〃To　the　Palais！　　To　the　Palais！　　Down　with　the
assassins！　　Down　with　the　nobles！　　To　the　Palais！〃

An　artisan　who　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　him　in　the　press
enlightened　Andre…Louis　on　the　score　of　the　increased　excitement。

〃They've　shot　him　dead。　　His　body　is　lying　there　where　it　fell　at
the　foot　of　the　statue。　　And　there　was　another　student　killed　not
an　hour　ago　over　there　by　the　cathedral　works。　　Pardi！　　If　they
can't　prevail　in　one　way　they'll　prevail　in　another。〃　　The　man　was
fiercely　emphatic。　　〃They'll　stop　at　nothing。　　If　they　can't　overawe
us；　by　God；　they'll　assassinate　us。　　They　are　determined　to　conduct
these　States　of　Brittany　in　their　own　way。　　No　interests　but　their
own　shall　be　considered。〃

Andre…Louis　left　him　still　talking；　and　clove　himself　a　way　through
that　human　press。
　　
At　the　statue's　base　he　came　upon　a　little　cluster　of　students　about
the　body　of　the　murdered　lad；　all　stricken　with　fear　and　helplessness。

〃You　here；　Moreau！〃　said　a　voice。

He　looked　round　to　find　himself　confronted　by　a　slight；　swarthy　man
of　little　more　than　thirty；　firm　of　mouth　and　impertinent　of　nose；
who　considered　him　with　disapproval。　　It　was　Le　Chapelier；　a　lawyer
of　Rennes；　a　prominent　member　of　the　Literary　Chamber　of　that　city；
a　forceful　man；　fertile　in　revolutionary　ideas　and　of　an　exceptional
gift　of　eloquence。

〃Ah；　it　is　you；　Chapelier！　　Why　don't　you　speak　to　them？　　Why　don't
you　tell　them　what　to　do？　　Up　with　you；　man！〃　　And　he　pointed　to
the　plinth。

Le　Chapelier's　dark；　restless　eyes　searched　the　other's　impassive
face　for　some　trace　of　the　irony　he　suspected。　　They　were　as　wide
asunder　as　the　poles；　these　two；　in　their　political　views；　and　
mistrusted　as　Andre…Louis　was　by　all　his　colleagues　of　the　Literary
Chamber　of　Rennes；　he　was　by　none　mistrusted　so　thoroughly　as　by
this　vigorous　republican。　　Indeed；　had　Le　Chapelier　been　able　to
prevail　against　the　influence　of　the　seminarist　Vilmorin；
Andre…Louis　would　long　since　have　found　himself　excluded　from　that
assembly　of　the　intellectual　youth　of　Rennes；　which　he　exasperated
by　his　eternal　mockery　of　their　ideals。

So　now　Le　Chapelier　suspected　mockery　in　that　invitation；　suspected
it　even　when　he　failed　to　find　traces　of　it　on　Andre…Louis'　face；
for　he　had　learnt　by　experience　that　it　was　a　face　not　often　to　be
trusted　for　an　indication　of　the　real　thoughts　that　moved　behind　it。

〃Your　notions　and　mine　on　that　score　can　hardly　coincide；〃　said　he。

〃Can　there　be　two　opinions？〃　quoth　Andre…Louis。

〃There　are　usually　two　opinions　whenever　you　and　I　are　together；
Moreau　…　more　than　ever　now　that　you　are　the　appointed　delegate　of
a　nobleman。　　You　see　what　your　friends　have　done。　　No　doubt　you
approve　their　methods。〃　　He　was　coldly　hostile。

Andre…Louis　looked　at　him　without　surprise。　　So　invariably　opposed
to　each　other　in　academic　debates；　how　should　Le　Chapelier　suspect
his　present　intentions？

〃If　you　won't　tell　them　what　is　to　be　done；　I　will；〃　said　he。

〃Nom　de　Dieu！　　If　you　want　to　invite　a　bullet　from　the　other　side；
I　shall　not　hinder　you。　　It　may　help　to　square　the　account。〃

Scarcely　were　the　words　out　than　he　repented　them；　for　as　if　in
answer　to　that　challenge　Andre…Louis　sprang　up　on　to　the　plinth。
Alarmed　now；　for　he　could　only　suppose　it　to　be　Andre…Louis'
intention　to　speak　on　behalf　of　Privilege；　of　which　he　was　a
publicly　appointed　representative；　Le　Chapelier　clutched　him　by　the
leg　to　pull　him　down　again。

〃Ah；　that；　no！〃　he　was　shouting。　　〃Come　down；　you　fool。　　Do　you
think　we　will　let　you　ruin　everything　by　your　clowning？　　　Come　down！〃

Andre…Louis；　maintaining　his　position　by　clutching　one　of　the　legs
of　the　bronze　horse；　flung　his　voice　like　a　bugle…note　over　the
heads　of　that　seething　mob。

〃Citizens　of　Rennes；　the　motherland　is　in　danger！〃

The　effect　was　electric。　　A　stir　ran；　like　a　ripple　over　water；
across　that　froth　of　upturned　human　faces；　and　completest　silence
followed。　　In　that　great　silence　they　looked　at　this　slim　young　man；
hatless；　long　wisps　of　his　black　hair　fluttering　in　the　breeze；　his
neckcloth　in　disorder；　his　face　white；　his　eyes　on　fire。

Andre…Louis　felt　a　sudden　surge　of　exaltation　as　he　realized　by
instinct　that　at　one　grip　he　had　seized　that　crowd；　and　that　he　held
it　fast　in　the　spell　of　his　cry　and　his　audacity。

Even　Le　Chapelier；　though　still　clinging　to　his　ankle；　had　ceased
to　tug。　　The　reformer；　though　unshaken　in　his　assumption　of
Andre…Louis'　intentions；　was　for　a　moment　bewildered　by　the　first
note　of　his　appeal。

And　then；　slowly；　impressively；　in　a　voice　that　travelled　clear　to
the　ends　of　the　square；　the　young　lawyer　of　Gavrillac　began　to　speak。

〃Shuddering　in　horror　of　the　vile　deed　here　perpetrated；　my　voice
demands　to　be　heard　by　you。　　You　have　seen　murder　done　under　your
eyes　…　the　murder　of　one　who　nobly；　without　any　thought　of　self；
gave　voice　to　the　wrongs　by　which　we　are　all　oppressed。　　Fearing
that　voice；　shunning　the　truth　as　foul　things　shun　the　light；　our
oppressors　sent　their　agents　to　silence　him　in　death。〃

Le　Chapelier　released　at　last　his　hold　of　Andre…Louis'　ankle；
staring　up　at　him　the　while　in　sheer　amazement。　　It　seemed　that　the
fellow　was　in　earnest；　serious　for　once；　and　for　once　on　the　right
side。　　What　had　come　to　him？

〃Of　assassins　what　shall　you　look　for　but　assassination？　　I　have　a
tale　to　tell　which　will　show　that　this　is　no　new　thing　that　you
have　witnessed　here　to…day；　it　will　reveal　to　you　the　forces　with
which　you　have　to　deal。　　Yesterday。。。　〃

There　was　an　interruption。　　A　voice　in　the　crowd；　some　twenty　paces；
perhaps；　was　raised　to　shout：

〃Yet　another　of　them！〃

Immediately　after　the　voice　came　a　pistol…shot；　and　a　bullet
flattened　itself　against　the　bronze　figure　just　behind　Andre…Louis。

Instantly　there　was　turmoil　in　the　crowd；　most　intense　about　the
spot　whence　the　shot　had　been　fired。　　The　assailant　was　one　of　a
considerable　group　of　the　opposition；　a　group　that　found　itself　at
once　beset　on　every　side；　and　hard　put　to　it　to　defend　him。

》From　the　foot　of　the　plinth　rang　the　voice　of　the　students　making
chorus　to　Le　Chapelier；　who　was　bidding　Andre…Louis　to　seek　shelter。

〃Come　down！　　Come　down　at　once！　　They'll　murder　you　as　they　murdered
La　Riviere。〃

〃Let　them！〃　　He　flung　wide　his　arms　in　a　gesture　supremely　theatrical；
and　laughed。　　〃I　stand　here　at　their　mercy。　　Let　them；　if　they　will；
add　mine　to　the　blood　that　will　presently　rise　up　to　choke　them。
Let　them　assassinate　me。　　It　is　a　trade　they　understand。　　But　until
they　do　so；　they　shall　not　prevent　me　from　speaking　to　you；　from
telling　you　what　is　to　be　looked　for　in　them。〃　　And　again　he　laughed；
not　merely　in　exaltation　as　they　supposed　who　watched　him　from　below；
but　also　in　amusement。　　And　his　amusement　had　two　sources。　　One　was
to　discover　how　glibly　he　uttered　the　phrases　proper　to　whip　up
the　emotions　of　a　crowd：　the　other　was　in　the　remembrance　of　how
the　crafty　Cardinal　de　Retz；　for　the　purpose　of　inflaming　popular
sympathy　on　his　behalf；　had　been　in　the　habit　of　hiring　fellows
to　fire　upon　his　carriage。　　He　was　in　just　such　case　as　that
arch…politician。　　True；　he　had　not　hired　the　fellow　to　fire　that
pistol…shot；　but　he　was　none　the　less　obliged　to　him；　and　ready　to
derive　the　fullest；　advantage　from　the　act。

The　group　that　sought　to　protect　that　man　was　battling　on；　seeking
to　hew　a　way　out　of　that　angry；　heaving　press。

〃Let　them　go！〃　Andre…Louis　called　down。。。　〃What　matters　one　assassin
more　or　less？　　Let　them　go；　and　listen　to　me；　my　countrymen！〃

And　presently；　when　some　mea