st. ives-第8章
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To my great surprise； the doctor appeared very much affected。 He
nodded his little bob…wigged head at us； and said repeatedly； 'All
right； Johnny … me comprong。'
Then Goguelat shook hands with me； embraced me again； and I went
out of the room sobbing like an infant。
How often have I not seen it； that the most unpardonable fellows
make the happiest exits！ It is a fate we may well envy them。
Goguelat was detested in life； in the last three days； by his
admirable staunchness and consideration； he won every heart； and
when word went about the prison the same evening that he was no
more； the voice of conversation became hushed as in a house of
mourning。
For myself I was like a man distracted； I cannot think what ailed
me： when I awoke the following day； nothing remained of it； but
that night I was filled with a gloomy fury of the nerves。 I had
killed him； he had done his utmost to protect me； I had seen him
with that awful smile。 And so illogical and useless is this
sentiment of remorse； that I was ready； at a word or a look； to
quarrel with somebody else。 I presume the disposition of my mind
was imprinted on my face； and when； a little after； I overtook；
saluted and addressed the doctor； he looked on me with
commiseration and surprise。
I had asked him if it was true。
'Yes；' he said； 'the fellow's gone。'
'Did he suffer much？' I asked。
'Devil a bit； passed away like a lamb；' said he。 He looked on me a
little； and I saw his hand go to his fob。 'Here； take that！ no
sense in fretting；' he said； and； putting a silver two…penny…bit in
my hand； he left me。
I should have had that twopenny framed to hang upon the wall； for
it was the man's one act of charity in all my knowledge of him。
Instead of that； I stood looking at it in my hand and laughed out
bitterly； as I realised his mistake； then went to the ramparts； and
flung it far into the air like blood money。 The night was falling；
through an embrasure and across the gardened valley I saw the
lamplighters hasting along Princes Street with ladder and lamp； and
looked on moodily。 As I was so standing a hand was laid upon my
shoulder； and I turned about。 It was Major Chevenix； dressed for
the evening； and his neckcloth really admirably folded。 I never
denied the man could dress。
'Ah！' said he； 'I thought it was you； Champdivers。 So he's gone？'
I nodded。
'Come； come；' said he； 'you must cheer up。 Of course it's very
distressing； very painful and all that。 But do you know； it ain't
such a bad thing either for you or me？ What with his death and
your visit to him I am entirely reassured。'
So I was to owe my life to Goguelat at every point。
'I had rather not discuss it；' said I。
'Well；' said he； 'one word more； and I'll agree to bury the
subject。 What did you fight about？'
'Oh； what do men ever fight about？' I cried。
'A lady？' said he。
I shrugged my shoulders。
'Deuce you did！' said he。 'I should scarce have thought it of
him。'
And at this my ill…humour broke fairly out in words。 'He！' I
cried。 'He never dared to address her … only to look at her and
vomit his vile insults！ She may have given him sixpence： if she
did； it may take him to heaven yet！'
At this I became aware of his eyes set upon me with a considering
look； and brought up sharply。
'Well； well；' said he。 'Good night to you； Champdivers。 Come to
me at breakfast…time to…morrow； and we'll talk of other subjects。'
I fully admit the man's conduct was not bad： in writing it down so
long after the events I can even see that it was good。
CHAPTER IV … ST。 IVES GETS A BUNDLE OF BANK NOTES
I WAS surprised one morning； shortly after； to find myself the
object of marked consideration by a civilian and a stranger。 This
was a man of the middle age； he had a face of a mulberry colour；
round black eyes； comical tufted eyebrows； and a protuberant
forehead； and was dressed in clothes of a Quakerish cut。 In spite
of his plainness； he had that inscrutable air of a man well…to…do
in his affairs。 I conceived he had been some while observing me
from a distance； for a sparrow sat betwixt us quite unalarmed on
the breech of a piece of cannon。 So soon as our eyes met； he drew
near and addressed me in the French language； which he spoke with a
good fluency but an abominable accent。
'I have the pleasure of addressing Monsieur le Vicomte Anne de
Keroual de Saint…Yves？' said he。
'Well；' said I； 'I do not call myself all that； but I have a right
to； if I chose。 In the meanwhile I call myself plain Champdivers；
at your disposal。 It was my mother's name； and good to go
soldiering with。'
'I think not quite；' said he； 'for if I remember rightly； your
mother also had the particle。 Her name was Florimonde de
Champdivers。'
'Right again！' said I； 'and I am extremely pleased to meet a
gentleman so well informed in my quarterings。 Is monsieur Born
himself？' This I said with a great air of assumption； partly to
conceal the degree of curiosity with which my visitor had inspired
me； and in part because it struck me as highly incongruous and
comical in my prison garb and on the lips of a private soldier。
He seemed to think so too； for he laughed。
'No； sir；' he returned； speaking this time in English； 'I am not
〃BORN；〃 as you call it； and must content myself with DYING； of
which I am equally susceptible with the best of you。 My name is
Mr。 Romaine … Daniel Romaine … a solicitor of London City； at your
service； and； what will perhaps interest you more； I am here at the
request of your great…uncle； the Count。'
'What！' I cried； 'does M。 de Keroual de St。…Yves remember the
existence of such a person as myself； and will he deign to count
kinship with a soldier of Napoleon？'
'You speak English well；' observed my visitor。
'It has been a second language to me from a child；' said I。 'I had
an English nurse； my father spoke English with me； and I was
finished by a countryman of yours and a dear friend of mine； a Mr。
Vicary。'
A strong expression of interest came into the lawyer's face。
'What！' he cried； 'you knew poor Vicary？'
'For more than a year；' said I； 'and shared his hiding…place for
many months。'
'And I was his clerk； and have succeeded him in business；' said he。
'Excellent man！ It was on the affairs of M。 de Keroual that he
went to that accursed country； from which he was never destined to
return。 Do you chance to know his end； sir？'
'I am sorry；' said I； 'I do。 He perished miserably at the hands of
a gang of banditti； such as we call CHAUFFEURS。 In a word； he was
tortured； and died of it。 See；' I added； kicking off one shoe； for
I had no stockings； 'I was no more than a child； and see how they
had begun to treat myself。'
He looked at the mark of my old burn with a certain shrinking。
'Beastly people！' I heard him mutter to himself。
'The English may say so with a good grace；' I observed politely。
Such speeches were the coin in which I paid my way among this
credulous race。 Ninety per cent。 of our visitors would have
accepted the remark as natural in itself and creditable to my
powers of judgment； but it appeared my lawyer was more acute。
'You are not entirely a fool； I perceive；' said he。
'No；' said I； 'not wholly。'
'And yet it is well to beware of the ironical mood；' he continued。
'It is a dangerous instrument。 Your great…uncle has； I believe；
practised it very much； until it is now become a problem what he
means。'
'And that brings me back to what you will admit is a most natural
inquiry；' said I。 'To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit？
how did you recognise me？ and how did you know I was here？'
Carefull separating his coat skirts； the lawyer took a s
