the chouans-第39章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e of Auray！ the rector was right enough in telling us the Blues had signed a compact with the devil。 I'll bring you to life； I will！〃
〃Stop！ my life is sacred；〃 cried Merle； seeing his danger。 〃There's the glove of your Gars；〃 and he held it out。
〃Ghosts' lives are not sacred；〃 replied the Chouan； 〃and I sha'n't give you yours。 Ave Maria！〃
He fired； and the ball passed through his victim's head。 The captain fell。 When Francine reached him she heard him mutter the words； 〃I'd rather die with them than return without them。〃
The Chouan sprang upon the body to strip it； saying； 〃There's one good thing about ghosts； they come to life in their clothes。〃 Then； recognizing the Gars' glove； that sacred safeguard； in the captain's hand； he stopped short； terrified。 〃I wish I wasn't in the skin of my mother's son！〃 he exclaimed； as he turned and disappeared with the rapidity of a bird。
To understand this scene； so fatal to poor Merle； we must follow Mademoiselle de Verneuil after the marquis； in his fury and despair； had abandoned her to Pille…Miche。 Francine had caught Marche…a…Terre by the arm and reminded him； with sobs； of the promise he had made her。 Pille…Miche was already dragging away his victim like a heavy bundle。 Marie； her head and hair hanging back； turned her eyes to the lake； but held as she was in a grasp of iron she was forced to follow the Chouan； who turned now and then to hasten her steps； and each time that he did so a jovial thought brought a hideous smile upon his face。
〃Isn't she a morsel！〃 he cried； with a coarse laugh。
Hearing the words； Francine recovered speech。
〃Pierre？〃
〃Well； what？〃
〃He'll kill her。〃
〃Not at once。〃
〃Then she'll kill herself； she will never submit； and if she dies I shall die too。〃
〃Then you love her too much； and she shall die；〃 said Marche…a…Terre。
〃Pierre！ if we are rich and happy we owe it all to her； but； whether or no； you promised me to save her。〃
〃Well； I'll try； but you must stay here； and don't move。〃
Francine at once let go his arm； and waited in horrible suspense in the courtyard where Merle found her。 Meantime Marche…a…Terre joined his comrade at the moment when the latter； after dragging his victim to the barn； was compelling her to get into the coach。 Pille…Miche called to him to help in pulling out the vehicle。
〃What are you going to do with all that？〃 asked Marche…a…Terre。
〃The Grande Garce gave me the woman； and all that belongs to her is mine。〃
〃The coach will put a sou or two in your pocket； but as for the woman； she'll scratch your eyes out like a cat。〃
Pille…Miche burst into a roar of laughter。
〃Then I'll tie her up and take her home；〃 he answered。
〃Very good； suppose we harness the horses；〃 said Marche…a…Terre。
A few moments later Marche…a…Terre； who had left his comrade mounting guard over his prey； led the coach from the stable to the causeway； where Pille…Miche got into it beside Mademoiselle de Verneuil； not perceiving that she was on the point of making a spring into the lake。
〃I say； Pille…Miche！〃 cried Marche…a…Terre。
〃What！〃
〃I'll buy all your booty。〃
〃Are you joking？〃 asked the other； catching his prisoner by the petticoat； as a butcher catches a calf that is trying to escape him。
〃Let me see her； and I'll set a price。〃
The unfortunate creature was made to leave the coach and stand between the two Chouans； who each held a hand and looked at her as the Elders must have looked at Susannah。
〃Will you take thirty francs in good coin？〃 said Marche…a…Terre； with a groan。
〃Really？〃
〃Done？〃 said Marche…a…Terre； holding out his hand。
〃Yes； done； I can get plenty of Breton girls for that； and choice morsels； too。 But the coach； whose is that？〃 asked Pille…Miche； beginning to reflect upon his bargain。
〃Mine！〃 cried Marche…a…Terre； in a terrible tone of voice； which showed the sort of superiority his ferocious character gave him over his companions。
〃But suppose there's money in the coach？〃
〃Didn't you say； 'Done'？〃
〃Yes； I said； 'Done。'〃
〃Very good； then go and fetch the postilion who is gagged in the stable over there。〃
〃But if there's money in the〃
〃Is there any？〃 asked Marche…a…Terre； roughly； shaking Marie by the arm。
〃Yes； about a hundred crowns。〃
The two Chouans looked at each other。
〃Well； well； friend；〃 said Pille…Miche； 〃we won't quarrel for a female Blue； let's pitch her into the lake with a stone around her neck； and divide the money。〃
〃I'll give you that money as my share in d'Orgemont's ransom；〃 said Marche…a…Terre； smothering a groan； caused by such sacrifice。
Pille…Miche uttered a sort of hoarse cry as he started to find the postilion； and his glee brought death to Merle； whom he met on his way。
Hearing the shot； Marche…a…Terre rushed in the direction where he had left Francine； and found her praying on her knees； with clasped hands； beside the poor captain； whose murder had deeply horrified her。
〃Run to your mistress；〃 said the Chouan； 〃she is saved。〃
He ran himself to fetch the postilion； returning with all speed； and； as he repassed Merle's body； he noticed the Gars' glove； which was still convulsively clasped in the dead hand。
〃Oho！〃 he cried。 〃Pille…Miche has blundered horriblyhe won't live to spend his crowns。〃
He snatched up the glove and said to Mademoiselle de Verneuil； who was already in the coach with Francine： 〃Here； take this glove。 If any of our men attack you on the road； call out 'Ho； the Gars！' show the glove； and no harm can happen to you。 Francine；〃 he said； turning towards her and seizing her violently； 〃you and I are quits with that woman； come with me and let the devil have her。〃
〃You can't ask me to abandon her just at this moment！〃 cried Francine； in distress。
Marche…a…Terre scratched his ear and forehead； then he raised his head； and his mistress saw the ferocious expression of his eyes。 〃You are right；〃 he said； 〃I leave you with her one week； if at the end of that time you don't come with me〃 he did not finish the sentence； but he slapped the muzzle of his gun with the flat of his hand。 After making the gesture of taking aim at her； he disappeared； without waiting for her reply。
No sooner was he gone than a voice； which seemed to issue from the lake； called； in a muffled tone： 〃Madame； madame！〃
The postilion and the two women shuddered； for several corpses were floating near them。 A Blue； hidden behind a tree； cautiously appeared。
〃Let me get up behind the coach； or I'm a dead man。 That damned cider which Clef…des…Coeurs would stop to drink cost more than a pint of blood。 If he had done as I did； and made his round； our poor comrades there wouldn't be floating dead in the pond。〃
*****
While these events were taking place outside the chateau； the leaders sent by the Vendeans and those of the Chouans were holding a council of war； with their glasses in their hands； under the presidency of the Marquis de Montauran。 Frequent libations of Bordeaux animated the discussion； which； however； became more serious and important at the end of the meal。 After the general plan of military operations had been decided on； the Royalists drank to the health of the Bourbons。 It was at that moment that the shot which killed Merle was heard； like an echo of the disastrous war which these gay and noble conspirators were about to make against the Republic。 Madame du Gua quivered with pleasure at the thought that she was freed from her rival； the guests looked at each other in silence； the marquis rose from the table and went out。
〃He loved her！〃 said Madame du Gua； sarcastically。 〃Follow him； Monsieur de Fontaine； and keep him company； he will be as irritating as a fly if we let him sulk。〃
She went to a window which looked on the courtyard to endeavor to see Marie's body。 There； by the last gleams of the sinking moon； she caught sight of the coach being rapidly driven down the avenue of apple…trees。 Mademoiselle de Verneuil's veil was fluttering in the wind。 Madame du Gua； furious at the sight； left the room hurriedly。 The marquis； standing on the portico absorbed in gloomy thought； was watching about a hundred and fifty Chouans； who； having divided their booty in the gardens； were now r
