the chouans-第43章

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The　tower　called　the　Papegaut；　against　which　the　house　now　occupied　by　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　rested；　has　its　base　at　the　very　bottom　of　the　precipice；　and　rises　to　the　esplanade　which　forms　the　cornice　or　terrace　before　the　church　of　Saint…Leonard。　From　Marie's　house；　which　was　open　on　three　sides；　could　be　seen　the　horseshoe　（which　begins　at　the　tower　itself）；　the　winding　valley　of　the　Nancon；　and　the　square　of　Saint…Leonard。　It　is　one　of　a　group　of　wooden　buildings　standing　parallel　with　the　western　side　of　the　church；　with　which　they　form　an　alley…way；　the　farther　end　of　which　opens　on　a　steep　street　skirting　the　church　and　leading　to　the　gate　of　Saint…Leonard；　along　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　now　made　her　way。

Marie　naturally　avoided　entering　the　square　of　the　church　which　was　then　above　her；　and　turned　towards　the　Promenade。　The　magnificence　of　the　scene　which　met　her　eyes　silenced　for　a　moment　the　tumult　of　her　passions。　She　admired　the　vast　trend　of　the　valley；　which　her　eyes　took　in；　from　the　summit　of　La　Pelerine　to　the　plateau　where　the　main　road　to　Vitry　passes；　then　her　eyes　rested　on　the　Nid…aux…Crocs　and　the　winding　gorges　of　the　Val　de　Gibarry；　the　crests　of　which　were　bathed　in　the　misty　glow　of　the　setting　sun。　She　was　almost　frightened　by　the　depth　of　the　valley　of　the　Nancon；　the　tallest　poplars　of　which　scarcely　reached　to　the　level　of　the　gardens　below　the　Queen's　Staircase。　At　this　time　of　day　the　smoke　from　the　houses　in　the　suburbs　and　in　the　valleys　made　a　vapor　in　the　air；　through　which　the　various　objects　had　a　bluish　tinge；　the　brilliant　colors　of　the　day　were　beginning　to　fade；　the　firmament　took　a　pearly　tone；　the　moon　was　casting　its　veil　of　light　into　the　ravine；　all　things　tended　to　plunge　the　soul　into　reverie　and　bring　back　the　memory　of　those　beloved。

In　a　moment　the　scene　before　her　was　powerless　to　hold　Marie's　thoughts。　In　vain　did　the　setting　sun　cast　its　gold…dust　and　its　crimson　sheets　to　the　depths　of　the　river　and　along　the　meadows　and　over　the　graceful　buildings　strewn　among　the　rocks；　she　stood　immovable；　gazing　at　the　heights　of　the　Mont　Saint…Sulpice。　The　frantic　hope　which　had　led　her　to　the　Promenade　was　miraculously　realized。　Among　the　gorse　and　bracken　which　grew　upon　those　heights　she　was　certain　that　she　recognized；　in　spite　of　the　goatskins　which　they　wore；　a　number　of　the　guests　at　La　Vivetiere；　and　among　them　the　Gars；　whose　every　moment　became　vivid　to　her　eyes　in　the　softened　light　of　the　sinking　sun。　A　few　steps　back　of　the　ground　of　men　she　distinguished　her　enemy；　Madame　du　Gua。　For　a　moment　Marie　fancied　that　she　dreamed；　but　her　rival's　hatred　soon　proved　to　her　that　the　dream　was　a　living　one。　The　attention　she　was　giving　to　the　least　little　gesture　of　the　marquis　prevented　her　from　observing　the　care　with　which　Madame　du　Gua　aimed　a　musket　at　her。　But　a　shot　which　woke　the　echoes　of　the　mountains；　and　a　ball　that　whistled　past　her　warned　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　of　her　rival's　determination。　〃She　sends　me　her　card；〃　thought　Marie；　smiling。　Instantly　a　〃Qui　vive？〃　echoing　from　sentry　to　sentry；　from　the　castle　to　the　Porte　Saint…Leonard；　proved　to　the　Chouans　the　alertness　of　the　Blues；　inasmuch　as　the　least　accessible　of　their　ramparts　was　so　well　guarded。

〃It　is　sheand　he；〃　muttered　Marie　to　herself。

To　seek　the　marquis；　follow　his　steps　and　overtake　him；　was　a　thought　that　flashed　like　lightning　through　her　mind。　〃I　have　no　weapon！〃　she　cried。　She　remembered　that　on　leaving　Paris　she　had　flung　into　a　trunk　an　elegant　dagger　formerly　belonging　to　a　sultana；　which　she　had　jestingly　brought　with　her　to　the　theatre　of　war；　as　some　persons　take　note…books　in　which　to　jot　down　their　travelling　ideas；　she　was　less　attracted　by　the　prospect　of　shedding　blood　than　by　the　pleasure　of　wearing　a　pretty　weapon　studded　with　precious　stones；　and　playing　with　a　blade　that　was　stainless。　Three　days　earlier　she　had　deeply　regretted　having　put　this　dagger　in　a　trunk；　when　to　escape　her　enemies　at　La　Vivetiere　she　had　thought　for　a　moment　of　killing　herself。　She　now　returned　to　the　house；　found　the　weapon；　put　it　in　her　belt；　wrapped　a　large　shawl　round　her　shoulders　and　a　black　lace　scarf　about　her　hair；　and　covered　her　head　with　one　of　those　broad…　brimmed　hats　distinctive　of　Chouans　which　belonged　to　a　servant　of　the　house。　Then；　with　the　presence　of　mind　which　excited　passions　often　give；　she　took　the　glove　which　Marche…a…Terre　had　given　her　as　a　safeguard；　and　saying；　in　reply　to　Francine's　terrible　looks；　〃I　would　seek　him　in　hell；〃　she　returned　to　the　Promenade。

The　Gars　was　still　at　the　same　place；　but　alone。　By　the　direction　of　his　telescope　he　seemed　to　be　examining　with　the　careful　attention　of　a　commander　the　various　paths　across　the　Nancon；　the　Queen's　Staircase；　and　the　road　leading　through　the　Porte　Saint…Sulpice　and　round　the　church　of　that　name；　where　it　meets　the　high…road　under　range　of　the　guns　at　the　castle。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　took　one　of　the　little　paths　made　by　goats　and　their　keepers　leading　down　from　the　Promenade；　reached　the　Staircase；　then　the　bottom　of　the　ravine；　crossed　the　Nancon　and　the　suburb；　and　divining　like　a　bird　in　the　desert　her　right　course　among　the　dangerous　precipices　of　the　Mont　Saint…Sulpice；　she　followed　a　slippery　track　defined　upon　the　granite；　and　in　spite　of　the　prickly　gorse　and　reeds　and　loose　stones　which　hindered　her；　she　climbed　the　steep　ascent　with　an　energy　greater　perhaps　than　that　of　a　man；the　energy　momentarily　possessed　by　a　woman　under　the　influence　of　passion。

Night　overtook　her　as　she　endeavored　by　the　failing　moonlight　to　make　out　the　path　the　marquis　must　have　taken；　an　obstinate　quest　without　reward；　for　the　dead　silence　about　her　was　sufficient　proof　of　the　withdrawal　of　the　Chouans　and　their　leader。　This　effort　of　passion　collapsed　with　the　hope　that　inspired　it。　Finding　herself　alone；　after　nightfall；　in　a　hostile　country；　she　began　to　reflect；　and　Hulot's　advice；　together　with　the　recollection　of　Madame　du　Gua's　attempt；　made　her　tremble　with　fear。　The　stillness　of　the　night；　so　deep　in　mountain　regions；　enabled　her　to　hear　the　fall　of　every　leaf　even　at　a　distance；　and　these　slight　sounds　vibrated　on　the　air　as　though　to　give　a　measure　of　the　silence　or　the　solitude。　The　wind　was　blowing　across　the　heights　and　sweeping　away　the　clouds　with　violence；　producing　an　alternation　of　shadows　and　light；　the　effect　of　which　increased　her　fears；　and　gave　fantastic　and　terrifying　semblances　to　the　most　harmless　objects。　She　turned　her　eyes　to　the　houses　of　Fougeres；　where　the　domestic　lights　were　burning　like　so　many　earthly　stars；　and　she　presently　saw　distinctly　the　tower　of　Papegaut。　She　was　but　a　very　short　distance　from　her　own　house；　but　within　that　space　was　the　ravine。　She　remembered　the　declivities　by　which　she　had　come；　and　wondered　if　there　were　not　more　risk　in　attempting　to　return　to　Fougeres　than　in　following　out　the　purpose　which　had　brought　her。　She　reflected　that　the　marquis's　glove　would　surely　protect　her　from　the　Chouans；　and　that　Madame　du　Gua　was　the　only　enemy　to　be　really　feared。　With　this　idea　in　her　mind；　Marie　clasped　her　dagger；　and　tried　to　find　the　way　to　a　country　house　the　roofs　of　which　she　had　noticed　as　she　climbed　Saint…Sulpice；　but　she　walked　slowly；　for　she　suddenly　became　aware　of　the　majestic　solemnity　which　oppresses　a　solitary　being　in　the　night　time　in　the　midst　of　wild　scenery；　where　lofty　mountains　nod　their　heads　like　assembled　giants。　The　rustle　of　her　gown；　caught　by　the　brambles；　made　her　tremble　more　than　once；　and　more　than　once　she　hastened　her　steps　only　to　slacken　them　again　as　she　thought　her　last　hour　had　come。　Before　long　matters　assumed　an　aspect　which　the　boldest　men　could　not　have　faced　without　alarm；　and　which　threw　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　into　the　sort　of　terror　that　so　affects　the　very　springs　of　life　that　all　things　become　excessive；　weakness　as　well　as　strength。　The　feeblest　beings　will　then　do　deeds　of　amazing　power；　the　strongest　go　mad　with　fear。

Marie　heard　at　a　short　distance　a　number　of　strange　sounds；　distinct　yet　vague；　indicative　of　confusion　and　tumult；　fatiguing　to　the　ear　which　tried　to　distinguish　them。　They　cam