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第108章

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go with my free will into the land of darkness; but new suns and

systems blaze around us from the grave。  I go where the souls of

those for whom I resign the clay shall be my co…mates through

eternal youth。  At last I recognise the true ordeal and the real

victory。  Mejnour; cast down thy elixir; lay by thy load of

years!  Wherever the soul can wander; the Eternal Soul of all

things protects it still!〃





CHAPTER 7。XV。



Il ne veulent plus perdre un moment d'une nuit si precieuse。

Lacretelle; tom。 xii。



(They would not lose another moment of so precious a night。)



It was late that night; and Rene…Francois Dumas; President of the

Revolutionary Tribunal; had re…entered his cabinet; on his return

from the Jacobin Club。  With him were two men who might be said

to represent; the one the moral; the other the physical force of

the Reign of Terror:  Fouquier…Tinville; the Public Accuser; and

Francois Henriot; the General of the Parisian National Guard。

This formidable triumvirate were assembled to debate on the

proceedings of the next day; and the three sister…witches over

their hellish caldron were scarcely animated by a more fiend…like

spirit; or engaged in more execrable designs; than these three

heroes of the Revolution in their premeditated massacre of the

morrow。



Dumas was but little altered in appearance since; in the earlier

part of this narrative; he was presented to the reader; except

that his manner was somewhat more short and severe; and his eye

yet more restless。  But he seemed almost a superior being by the

side of his associates。  Rene Dumas; born of respectable parents;

and well educated; despite his ferocity; was not without a

certain refinement; which perhaps rendered him the more

acceptable to the precise and formal Robespierre。  (Dumas was a

beau in his way。  His gala…dress was a BLOOD…RED COAT; with the

finest ruffles。)  But Henriot had been a lackey; a thief; a spy

of the police; he had drunk the blood of Madame de Lamballe; and

had risen to his present rank for no quality but his ruffianism;

and Fouquier…Tinville; the son of a provincial agriculturist; and

afterwards a clerk at the Bureau of the Police; was little less

base in his manners; and yet more; from a certain loathsome

buffoonery; revolting in his speech;bull…headed; with black;

sleek hair; with a narrow and livid forehead; with small eyes;

that twinkled with a sinister malice; strongly and coarsely

built; he looked what he was; the audacious bully of a lawless

and relentless Bar。



Dumas trimmed the candles; and bent over the list of the victims

for the morrow。



〃It is a long catalogue;〃 said the president; 〃eighty trials for

one day!  And Robespierre's orders to despatch the whole fournee

are unequivocal。〃



〃Pooh!〃 said Fouquier; with a coarse; loud laugh; 〃we must try

them en masse。  I know how to deal with our jury。  'Je pense;

citoyens; que vous etes convaincus du crime des accuses?' (I

think; citizens; that you are convinced of the crime of the

accused。)  Ha! ha!the longer the list; the shorter the work。〃



〃Oh; yes;〃 growled out Henriot; with an oath;as usual; half…

drunk; and lolling on his chair; with his spurred heels on the

table;〃little Tinville is the man for despatch。〃



〃Citizen Henriot;〃 said Dumas; gravely; 〃permit me to request

thee to select another footstool; and for the rest; let me warn

thee that to…morrow is a critical and important day; one that

will decide the fate of France。〃



〃A fig for little France!  Vive le Vertueux Robespierre; la

Colonne de la Republique! (Long life to the virtuous Robespierre;

the pillar of the Republic!)  Plague on this talking; it is dry

work。  Hast thou no eau de vie in that little cupboard?〃



Dumas and Fouquier exchanged looks of disgust。  Dumas shrugged

his shoulders; and replied;



〃It is to guard thee against eau de vie; Citizen General Henriot;

that I have requested thee to meet me here。  Listen if thou

canst!〃



〃Oh; talk away! thy metier is to talk; mine to fight and to

drink。〃



〃To…morrow; I tell thee then; the populace will be abroad; all

factions will be astir。  It is probable enough that they will

even seek to arrest our tumbrils on their way to the guillotine。

Have thy men armed and ready; keep the streets clear; cut down

without mercy whomsoever may obstruct the ways。〃



〃I understand;〃 said Henriot; striking his sword so loudly that

Dumas half…started at the clank;〃Black Henriot is no

'Indulgent。'〃



〃Look to it; then; citizen;look to it!  And hark thee;〃 he

added; with a grave and sombre brow; 〃if thou wouldst keep thine

own head on thy shoulders; beware of the eau de vie。〃



〃My own head!sacre mille tonnerres!  Dost thou threaten the

general of the Parisian army?〃



Dumas; like Robespierre; a precise atrabilious; and arrogant man;

was about to retort; when the craftier Tinville laid his hand on

his arm; and; turning to the general; said; 〃My dear Henriot; thy

dauntless republicanism; which is too ready to give offence; must

learn to take a reprimand from the representative of Republican

Law。  Seriously; mon cher; thou must be sober for the next three

or four days; after the crisis is over; thou and I will drink a

bottle together。  Come; Dumas relax thine austerity; and shake

hands with our friend。  No quarrels amongst ourselves!〃



Dumas hesitated; and extended his hand; which the ruffian

clasped; and; maudlin tears succeeding his ferocity; he half…

sobbed; half…hiccoughed forth his protestations of civism and his

promises of sobriety。



〃Well; we depend on thee; mon general;〃 said Dumas; 〃and now;

since we shall all have need of vigour for to…morrow; go home and

sleep soundly。〃



〃Yes; I forgive thee; Dumas;I forgive thee。  I am not

vindictive;I! but still; if a man threatens me; if a man

insults me〃 and; with the quick changes of intoxication; again

his eyes gleamed fire through their foul tears。  With some

difficulty Fouquier succeeded at last in soothing the brute; and

leading him from the chamber。  But still; as some wild beast

disappointed of a prey; he growled and snarled as his heavy tread

descended the stairs。  A tall trooper; mounted; was leading

Henriot's horse to and fro the streets; and as the general waited

at the porch till his attendant turned; a stranger stationed by

the wall accosted him:



〃General Henriot; I have desired to speak with thee。  Next to

Robespierre; thou art; or shouldst be; the most powerful man in

France。〃



〃Hem!yes; I ought to be。  What then?every man has not his

deserts!〃



〃Hist!〃 said the stranger; 〃thy pay is scarcely suitable to thy

rank and thy wants。〃



〃That is true。〃



〃Even in a revolution; a man takes care of his fortunes!〃



〃Diable! speak out; citizen。〃



〃I have a thousand pieces of gold with me;they are thine; if

thou wilt grant me one small favour。〃



〃Citizen; I grant it!〃 said Henriot; waving his hand

majestically。  〃Is it to denounce some rascal who has offended

thee?〃



〃No; it is simply this:  write these words to President Dumas;

'Admit the bearer to thy presence; and; if thou canst; grant him

the request he will make to thee; it will be an inestimable

obligation to Francois Henriot。'〃  The stranger; as he spoke;

placed pencil and tablets in the shaking hands of the soldier。



〃And where is the gold?〃



〃Here。〃



With some difficulty; Henriot scrawled the words dictated to him;

clutched the gold; mounted his horse; and was gone。



Meanwhile Fouquier; when he had closed the door upon Henriot;

said sharply; 〃How canst thou be so mad as to incense that

brigand?  Knowest thou not that our laws are nothing without the

physical force of the National Guard; and that he is their

leader?〃



〃I know this; that Robespierre must have been mad to place that

drunkard at their head; and mark my words; Fouquier; if the

struggle come; it is that man'

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