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第33章

st. ives-第33章

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in the least likely to be an amusing correspondent; and; as I 

conceived these scenes in the parlour; I felt sure the interest 

centred in the Colonel himself; and I thought I could feel in my 

own heart that mixture of the ridiculous and the pathetic; the 

contest of tears and laughter; which must have shaken the bosoms of 

the family。  Their kindness had continued till the end。  It appears 

they were privy to his flight; the camlet cloak had been lined 

expressly for him; and he was the bearer of a letter from the 

daughter of the house to his own daughter in Paris。  The last 

evening; when the time came to say good…night; it was tacitly known 

to all that they were to look upon his face no more。  He rose; 

pleading fatigue; and turned to the daughter; who had been his 

chief ally: 'You will permit me; my dear … to an old and very 

unhappy soldier … and may God bless you for your goodness!'  The 

girl threw her arms about his neck and sobbed upon his bosom; the 

lady of the house burst into tears; 'ET JE VOUS LE JURE; LE PERE SE 

MOUCHAIT!' quoth the Colonel; twisting his moustaches with a 

cavalry air; and at the same time blinking the water from his eyes 

at the mere recollection。



It was a good thought to me that he had found these friends in 

captivity; that he had started on this fatal journey from so 

cordial a farewell。  He had broken his parole for his daughter: 

that he should ever live to reach her sick…bed; that he could 

continue to endure to an end the hardships; the crushing fatigue; 

the savage cold; of our pilgrimage; I had early ceased to hope。  I 

did for him what I was able; … nursed him; kept him covered; 

watched over his slumbers; sometimes held him in my arms at the 

rough places of the road。  'Champdivers;' he once said; 'you are 

like a son to me … like a son。'  It is good to remember; though at 

the time it put me on the rack。  All was to no purpose。  Fast as we 

were travelling towards France; he was travelling faster still to 

another destination。  Daily he grew weaker and more indifferent。  

An old rustic accent of Lower Normandy reappeared in his speech; 

from which it had long been banished; and grew stronger; old words 

of the PATOIS; too: OUISTREHAM; MATRASSE; and others; the sense of 

which we were sometimes unable to guess。  On the very last day he 

began again his eternal story of the cross and the Emperor。  The 

Major; who was particularly ill; or at least particularly cross; 

uttered some angry words of protest。  'PARDONNEZ…MOI; MONSIEUR LE 

COMMANDANT; MAIS C'EST POUR MONSIEUR;' said the Colonel: 'Monsieur 

has not yet heard the circumstance; and is good enough to feel an 

interest。'  Presently after; however; he began to lose the thread 

of his narrative; and at last: 'QUE QUE J'AI?  JE M'EMBROUILLE!' 

says he; 'SUFFIT: S'M'A LA DONNE; ET BERTHE EN ETAIT BIEN 

CONTENTE。'  It struck me as the falling of the curtain or the 

closing of the sepulchre doors。



Sure enough; in but a little while after; he fell into a sleep as 

gentle as an infant's; which insensibly changed into the sleep of 

death。  I had my arm about his body at the time and remarked 

nothing; unless it were that he once stretched himself a little; so 

kindly the end came to that disastrous life。  It was only at our 

evening halt that the Major and I discovered we were travelling 

alone with the poor clay。  That night we stole a spade from a field 

… I think near Market Bosworth … and a little farther on; in a wood 

of young oak trees and by the light of King's lantern; we buried 

the old soldier of the Empire with both prayers and tears。



We had needs invent Heaven if it had not been revealed to us; there 

are some things that fall so bitterly ill on this side Time!  As 

for the Major; I have long since forgiven him。  He broke the news 

to the poor Colonel's daughter; I am told he did it kindly; and 

sure; nobody could have done it without tears!  His share of 

purgatory will be brief; and in this world; as I could not very 

well praise him; I have suppressed his name。  The Colonel's also; 

for the sake of his parole。  REQUIESCAT。









CHAPTER XV … THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK





I HAVE mentioned our usual course; which was to eat in 

inconsiderable wayside hostelries; known to King。  It was a 

dangerous business; we went daily under fire to satisfy our 

appetite; and put our head in the loin's mouth for a piece of 

bread。  Sometimes; to minimise the risk; we would all dismount 

before we came in view of the house; straggle in severally; and 

give what orders we pleased; like disconnected strangers。  In like 

manner we departed; to find the cart at an appointed place; some 

half a mile beyond。  The Colonel and the Major had each a word or 

two of English … God help their pronunciation!  But they did well 

enough to order a rasher and a pot or call a reckoning; and; to say 

truth; these country folks did not give themselves the pains; and 

had scarce the knowledge; to be critical。



About nine or ten at night the pains of hunger and cold drove us to 

an alehouse in the flats of Bedfordshire; not far from Bedford 

itself。  In the inn kitchen was a long; lean; characteristic…

looking fellow of perhaps forty; dressed in black。  He sat on a 

settle by the fireside; smoking a long pipe; such as they call a 

yard of clay。  His hat and wig were hanged upon the knob behind 

him; his head as bald as a bladder of lard; and his expression very 

shrewd; cantankerous; and inquisitive。  He seemed to value himself 

above his company; to give himself the airs of a man of the world 

among that rustic herd; which was often no more than his due; 

being; as I afterwards discovered; an attorney's clerk。  I took 

upon myself the more ungrateful part of arriving last; and by the 

time I entered on the scene the Major was already served at a side 

table。  Some general conversation must have passed; and I smelled 

danger in the air。  The Major looked flustered; the attorney's 

clerk triumphant; and three or four peasants in smock…frocks (who 

sat about the fire to play chorus) had let their pipes go out。



'Give you good evening; sir!' said the attorney's clerk to me。



'The same to you; sir;' said I。



'I think this one will do;' quoth the clerk to the yokels with a 

wink; and then; as soon as I had given my order; 'Pray; sir; 

whither are you bound?' he added。



'Sir;' said I; 'I am not one of those who speak either of their 

business or their destination in houses of public entertainment。'



'A good answer;' said he; 'and an excellent principle。  Sir; do you 

speak French?'



'Why; no; sir;' said I。  'A little Spanish at your service。'



'But you know the French accent; perhaps?' said the clerk。



'Well do I do that!' said I。 'The French accent?  Why; I believe I 

can tell a Frenchman in ten words。'



'Here is a puzzle for you; then!' he said。  'I have no material 

doubt myself; but some of these gentlemen are more backward。  The 

lack of education; you know。  I make bold to say that a man cannot 

walk; cannot hear; and cannot see; without the blessings of 

education。'



He turned to the Major; whose food plainly stuck in his throat。



'Now; sir;' pursued the clerk; 'let me have the pleasure to hear 

your voice again。  Where are you going; did you say?'



'Sare; I am go…ing to Lon…don;' said the Major。



I could have flung my plate at him to be such an ass; and to have 

so little a gift of languages where that was the essential。



'What think ye of that?' said the clerk。  'Is that French enough?'



'Good God!' cried I; leaping up like one who should suddenly 

perceive an acquaintance; 'is this you; Mr。 Dubois?  Why; who would 

have dreamed of encountering you so far from home?'  As I spoke; I 

shook hands with the Major heartily; and turning to our tormentor; 

'Oh; sir; you may be perfectly reassured!  This is a very hone

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