st. ives-第4章
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gentlefolk these generous sentiments are natural。 If your brother
and I were to meet in the field; we should meet like tigers; but
when he sees me here disarmed and helpless; he forgets his
animosity。' (At which; as I had ventured to expect; this beardless
champion coloured to the ears for pleasure。) 'Ah; my dear young
lady;' I continued; 'there are many of your countrymen languishing
in my country; even as I do here。 I can but hope there is found
some French lady to convey to each of them the priceless
consolation of her sympathy。 You have given me alms; and more than
alms … hope; and while you were absent I was not forgetful。 Suffer
me to be able to tell myself that I have at least tried to make a
return; and for the prisoner's sake deign to accept this trifle。'
So saying; I offered her my lion; which she took; looked at in some
embarrassment; and then; catching sight of the dedication; broke
out with a cry。
'Why; how did you know my name?' she exclaimed。
'When names are so appropriate; they should be easily guessed;'
said I; bowing。 'But indeed; there was no magic in the matter。 A
lady called you by name on the day I found your handkerchief; and I
was quick to remark and cherish it。'
'It is very; very beautiful;' said she; 'and I shall be always
proud of the inscription。 … Come; Ronald; we must be going。' She
bowed to me as a lady bows to her equal; and passed on (I could
have sworn) with a heightened colour。
I was overjoyed: my innocent ruse had succeeded; she had taken my
gift without a hint of payment; and she would scarce sleep in peace
till she had made it up to me。 No greenhorn in matters of the
heart; I was besides aware that I had now a resident ambassador at
the court of my lady。 The lion might be ill chiselled; it was
mine。 My hands had made and held it; my knife … or; to speak more
by the mark; my rusty nail … had traced those letters; and simple
as the words were; they would keep repeating to her that I was
grateful and that I found her fair。 The boy had looked like a
gawky; and blushed at a compliment; I could see besides that he
regarded me with considerable suspicion; yet he made so manly a
figure of a lad; that I could not withhold from him my sympathy。
And as for the impulse that had made her bring and introduce him; I
could not sufficiently admire it。 It seemed to me finer than wit;
and more tender than a caress。 It said (plain as language); 'I do
not and I cannot know you。 Here is my brother … you can know him;
this is the way to me … follow it。'
CHAPTER II … A TALE OF A PAIR OF SCISSORS
I WAS still plunged in these thoughts when the bell was rung that
discharged our visitors into the street。 Our little market was no
sooner closed than we were summoned to the distribution; and
received our rations; which we were then allowed to eat according
to fancy in any part of our quarters。
I have said the conduct of some of our visitors was unbearably
offensive; it was possibly more so than they dreamed … as the
sight…seers at a menagerie may offend in a thousand ways; and quite
without meaning it; the noble and unfortunate animals behind the
bars; and there is no doubt but some of my compatriots were
susceptible beyond reason。 Some of these old whiskerandos;
originally peasants; trained since boyhood in victorious armies;
and accustomed to move among subject and trembling populations;
could ill brook their change of circumstance。 There was one man of
the name of Goguelat; a brute of the first water; who had enjoyed
no touch of civilisation beyond the military discipline; and had
risen by an extreme heroism of bravery to a grade for which he was
otherwise unfitted … that of MARECHAL DES LOGIS in the 22nd of the
line。 In so far as a brute can be a good soldier; he was a good
soldier; the Cross was on his breast; and gallantly earned; but in
all things outside his line of duty the man was no other than a
brawling; bruising ignorant pillar of low pothouses。 As a
gentleman by birth; and a scholar by taste and education; I was the
type of all that he least understood and most detested; and the
mere view of our visitors would leave him daily in a transport of
annoyance; which he would make haste to wreak on the nearest
victim; and too often on myself。
It was so now。 Our rations were scarce served out; and I had just
withdrawn into a corner of the yard; when I perceived him drawing
near。 He wore an air of hateful mirth; a set of young fools; among
whom he passed for a wit; followed him with looks of expectation;
and I saw I was about to be the object of some of his insufferable
pleasantries。 He took a place beside me; spread out his rations;
drank to me derisively from his measure of prison beer; and began。
What he said it would be impossible to print; but his admirers; who
believed their wit to have surpassed himself; actually rolled among
the gravel。 For my part; I thought at first I should have died。 I
had not dreamed the wretch was so observant; but hate sharpens the
ears; and he had counted our interviews and actually knew Flora by
her name。 Gradually my coolness returned to me; accompanied by a
volume of living anger that surprised myself。
'Are you nearly done?' I asked。 'Because if you are; I am about to
say a word or two myself。'
'Oh; fair play!' said he。 'Turn about! The Marquis of Carabas to
the tribune。'
'Very well;' said I。 'I have to inform you that I am a gentleman。
You do not know what that means; hey? Well; I will tell you。 It
is a comical sort of animal; springs from another strange set of
creatures they call ancestors; and; in common with toads and other
vermin; has a thing that he calls feelings。 The lion is a
gentleman; he will not touch carrion。 I am a gentleman; and I
cannot bear to soil my fingers with such a lump of dirt。 Sit
still; Philippe Goguelat! sit still and do not say a word; or I
shall know you are a coward; the eyes of our guards are upon us。
Here is your health!' said I; and pledged him in the prison beer。
'You have chosen to speak in a certain way of a young child;' I
continued; 'who might be your daughter; and who was giving alms to
me and some others of us mendicants。 If the Emperor' … saluting …
'if my Emperor could hear you; he would pluck off the Cross from
your gross body。 I cannot do that; I cannot take away what His
Majesty has given; but one thing I promise you … I promise you;
Goguelat; you shall be dead to…night。'
I had borne so much from him in the past; I believe he thought
there was no end to my forbearance; and he was at first amazed。
But I have the pleasure to think that some of my expressions had
pierced through his thick hide; and besides; the brute was truly a
hero of valour; and loved fighting for itself。 Whatever the cause;
at least; he had soon pulled himself together; and took the thing
(to do him justice) handsomely。
'And I promise you; by the devil's horns; that you shall have the
chance!' said he; and pledged me again; and again I did him
scrupulous honour。
The news of this defiance spread from prisoner to prisoner with the
speed of wings; every face was seen to be illuminated like those of
the spectators at a horse…race; and indeed you must first have
tasted the active life of a soldier; and then mouldered for a while
in the tedium of a jail; in order to understand; perhaps even to
excuse; the delight of our companions。 Goguelat and I slept in the
same squad; which greatly simplified the business; and a committee
of honour was accordingly formed of our shed…mates。 They chose for
president a sergeant…major in the 4th Dragoons; a greybeard of the
army; an excellent military subject; and a good man。 He took the
most serious view of his functions; visited us both; and reported