the chouans-第16章

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ging　to　the　lady；　whom　the　commandant　sneeringly　called　〃the　princess〃；　everything；　even　to　the　clothes　of　her　attendant　squire；　stirred　Hulot's　bile。　The　dress　of　the　unknown　man　was　a　good　specimen　of　the　fashions　of　the　day　then　being　caricatured　as　〃incroyable；〃unbelievable；　unless　seen。　Imagine　a　person　trussed　up　in　a　coat；　the　front　of　which　was　so　short　that　five　or　six　inches　of　the　waistcoat　came　below　it；　while　the　skirts　were　so　long　that　they　hung　down　behind　like　the　tail　of　a　cod；the　term　then　used　to　describe　them。　An　enormous　cravat　was　wound　about　his　neck　in　so　many　folds　that　the　little　head　which　protruded　from　that　muslin　labyrinth　certainly　did　justify　Captain　Merle's　comparison。　The　stranger　also　wore　tight…fitting　trousers　and　Suwaroff　boots。　A　huge　blue…and…white　cameo　pinned　his　shirt；　two　watch…chains　hung　from　his　belt；　his　hair；　worn　in　ringlets　on　each　side　of　his　face；　concealed　nearly　the　whole　forehead；　and；　for　a　last　adornment；　the　collar　of　his　shirt　and　that　of　his　coat　came　so　high　that　his　head　seemed　enveloped　like　a　bunch　of　flowers　in　a　horn　of　paper。　Add　to　these　queer　accessories；　which　were　combined　in　utter　want　of　harmony；　the　burlesque　contradictions　in　color　of　yellow　trousers；　scarlet　waistcoat；　cinnamon　coat；　and　a　correct　idea　will　be　gained　of　the　supreme　good　taste　which　all　dandies　blindly　obeyed　in　the　first　years　of　the　Consulate。　This　costume；　utterly　uncouth；　seemed　to　have　been　invented　as　a　final　test　of　grace；　and　to　show　that　there　was　nothing　too　ridiculous　for　fashion　to　consecrate。　The　rider　seemed　to　be　about　thirty　years　old；　but　he　was　really　twenty…two；　perhaps　he　owed　this　appearance　of　age　to　debauchery；　possibly　to　the　perils　of　the　period。　In　spite　of　his　preposterous　dress；　he　had　a　certain　elegance　of　manner　which　proved　him　to　be　a　man　of　some　breeding。

When　the　captain　had　dropped　back　close　to　the　carriage；　the　dandy　seemed　to　fathom　his　design；　and　favored　it　by　checking　his　horse。　Merle；　who　had　flung　him　a　sardonic　glance；　encountered　one　of　those　impenetrable　faces；　trained　by　the　vicissitudes　of　the　Revolution　to　hide　all；　even　the　most　insignificant；　emotion。　The　moment　the　curved　end　of　the　old　triangular　hat　and　the　captain's　epaulets　were　seen　by　the　occupants　of　the　carriage；　a　voice　of　angelic　sweetness　said：　〃Monsieur　l'officier；　will　you　have　the　kindness　to　tell　us　at　what　part　of　the　road　we　now　are？〃

There　is　some　inexpressible　charm　in　the　question　of　an　unknown　traveller；　if　a　woman；a　world　of　adventure　is　in　every　word；　but　if　the　woman　asks　for　assistance　or　information；　proving　her　weakness　or　ignorance　of　certain　things；　every　man　is　inclined　to　construct　some　impossible　tale　which　shall　lead　to　his　happiness。　The　words；　〃Monsieur　l'officier；〃　and　the　polite　tone　of　the　question　stirred　the　captain's　heart　in　a　manner　hitherto　unknown　to　him。　He　tried　to　examine　the　lady；　but　was　cruelly　disappointed；　for　a　jealous　veil　concealed　her　features；　he　could　barely　see　her　eyes；　which　shone　through　the　gauze　like　onyx　gleaming　in　the　sunshine。

〃You　are　now　three　miles　from　Alencon；　madame；〃　he　replied。

〃Alencon！　already！〃　and　the　lady　threw　herself；　or；　rather；　she　gently　leaned　back　in　the　carriage；　and　said　no　more。

〃Alencon？〃　said　the　other　woman；　apparently　waking　up；　〃then　you'll　see　it　again。〃

She　caught　sight　of　the　captain　and　was　silent。　Merle；　disappointed　in　his　hope　of　seeing　the　face　of　the　beautiful　incognita；　began　to　examine　that　of　her　companion。　She　was　a　girl　about　twenty…six　years　of　age；　fair；　with　a　pretty　figure　and　the　sort　of　complexion；　fresh　and　white　and　well…fed；　which　characterizes　the　women　of　Valognes；　Bayeux；　and　the　environs　of　Alencon。　Her　blue　eyes　showed　no　great　intelligence；　but　a　certain　firmness　mingled　with　tender　feeling。　She　wore　a　gown　of　some　common　woollen　stuff。　The　fashion　of　her　hair；　done　up　closely　under　a　Norman　cap；　without　any　pretension；　gave　a　charming　simplicity　to　her　face。　Her　attitude；　without；　of　course；　having　any　of　the　conventional　nobility　of　society；　was　not　without　the　natural　dignity　of　a　modest　young　girl；　who　can　look　back　upon　her　past　life　without　a　single　cause　for　repentance。　Merle　knew　her　at　a　glance　for　one　of　those　wild　flowers　which　are　sometimes　taken　from　their　native　fields　to　Parisian　hot…houses；　where　so　many　blasting　rays　are　concentrated；　without　ever　losing　the　purity　of　their　color　or　their　rustic　simplicity。　The　naive　attitude　of　the　girl　and　her　modest　glance　showed　Merle　very　plainly　that　she　did　not　wish　a　listener。　In　fact；　no　sooner　had　he　withdrawn　than　the　two　women　began　a　conversation　in　so　low　a　tone　that　only　a　murmur　of　it　reached　his　ear。

〃You　came　away　in　such　a　hurry；〃　said　the　country…girl；　〃that　you　hardly　took　time　to　dress。　A　pretty…looking　sight　you　are　now！　If　we　are　going　beyond　Alencon；　you　must　really　make　your　toilet。〃

〃Oh！　oh！　Francine！〃　cried　the　lady。

〃What　is　it？〃

〃This　is　the　third　time　you　have　tried　to　make　me　tell　you　the　reasons　for　this　journey　and　where　we　are　going。〃

〃Have　I　said　one　single　word　which　deserves　that　reproach？〃

〃Oh；　I've　noticed　your　manoeuvring。　Simple　and　truthful　as　you　are；　you　have　learned　a　little　cunning　from　me。　You　are　beginning　to　hold　questioning　in　horror；　and　right　enough；　too；　for　of　all　the　known　ways　of　getting　at　a　secret；　questions　are；　to　my　mind；　the　silliest。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Francine；　〃since　nothing　escapes　you；　you　must　admit；　Marie；　that　your　conduct　would　excite　the　curiosity　of　a　saint。　Yesterday　without　a　penny；　to…day　your　hands　are　full　of　gold；　at　Mortagne　they　give　you　the　mail…coach　which　was　pillaged　and　the　driver　killed；　with　government　troops　to　protect　you；　and　you　are　followed　by　a　man　whom　I　regard　as　your　evil　genius。〃

〃Who？　Corentin？〃　said　the　young　lady；　accenting　the　words　by　two　inflections　of　her　voice　expressive　of　contempt；　a　sentiment　which　appeared　in　the　gesture　with　which　she　waved　her　hand　towards　the　rider。　〃Listen；　Francine；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　remember　Patriot；　the　monkey　I　taught　to　imitate　Danton？〃

〃Yes；　mademoiselle。〃

〃Well；　were　you　afraid　of　him？〃

〃He　was　chained。〃

〃And　Corentin　is　muzzled；　my　dear。〃

〃We　used　to　play　with　Patriot　by　the　hour；〃　said　Francine；〃I　know　that；　but　he　always　ended　by　serving　us　some　bad　trick。〃　So　saying；　Francine　threw　herself　hastily　back　close　to　her　mistress；　whose　hands　she　caught　and　kissed　in　a　coaxing　way；　saying　in　a　tone　of　deep　affection：　〃You　know　what　I　mean；　Marie；　but　you　will　not　answer　me。　How　can　you；　after　all　that　sadness　which　did　so　grieve　meoh；　indeed　it　grieved　me！how　can　you；　in　twenty…four　hours；　change　about　and　become　so　gay？　you；　who　talked　of　suicide！　Why　have　you　changed？　I　have　a　right　to　ask　these　questions　of　your　soulit　is　mine；　my　claim　to　it　is　before　that　of　others；　for　you　will　never　be　better　loved　than　you　are　by　me。　Speak；　mademoiselle。〃

〃Why；　Francine；　don't　you　see　all　around　you　the　secret　of　my　good　spirits？　Look　at　the　yellowing　tufts　of　those　distant　tree…tops；　not　one　is　like　another。　As　we　look　at　them　from　this　distance　don't　they　seem　like　an　old　bit　of　tapestry？　See　the　hedges　from　behind　which　the　Chouans　may　spring　upon　us　at　any　moment。　When　I　look　at　that　gorse　I　fancy　I　can　see　the　muzzles　of　their　guns。　Every　time　the　road　is　shady　under　the　trees　I　fancy　I　shall　hear　firing；　and　then　my　heart　beats　and　a　new　sensation　comes　over　me。　It　is　neither　the　shuddering　of　fear　nor　an　emotion　of　pleasure；　no；　it　is　better　than　either；　it　is　the　stirring　of　everything　within　meit　is　life！　Why　shouldn't　I　be　gay　when　a　little　excitement　is　dropped　into　my　monotonous　existence？〃

〃Ah！　you　are　telling　me　nothing；　cruel　girl！　Holy　Virgin！〃　added　Francine；　raising　her　eyes　in　distress　to　heaven；　〃to　whom　will　she　confess　herself　if　she　denies　the　truth　to　me？〃

〃Francine；〃　said　the　lady；　in　a　grave　tone；　〃I　can't　explain　to　you　my　present　enterprise；　it　is　horrible。〃

〃Why　do　wrong　when　you　know　it　to　be　wrong？〃

〃How　can　I　help　it？　I　catch　myself　thinking　as　if　I　were　fifty；　and　acting　as　if　I　were　still　fifteen。　You　have　always　been　my　better　self；　my　poor　Francine；　but　in　this　affair　I　must　stifle　conscien