the chouans-第49章

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s　have　the　same　type　of　door　though　far　more　decorated；　the　lower　half　possessing　a　call…bell。　The　door　in　question　opened　with　a　wooden　latch　worthy　of　the　golden　age；　and　the　upper　part　was　never　closed　except　at　night；　for　it　was　the　only　opening　through　which　daylight　could　enter　the　room。　There　was；　to　be　sure；　a　clumsy　window；　but　the　glass　was　thick　like　the　bottom　of　a　bottle；　and　the　lead　which　held　the　panes　in　place　took　so　much　room　that　the　opening　seemed　intended　to　intercept　the　light　rather　than　admit　it。　As　soon　as　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　had　turned　the　creaking　hinges　of　the　lower　door　she　smelt　an　intolerable　ammoniacal　odor；　and　saw　that　the　beasts　in　the　stable　had　kicked　through　the　inner　partition　which　separated　the　stable　from　the　dwelling。　The　interior　of　the　farmhouse；　for　such　it　was；　did　not　belie　its　exterior。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　asking　herself　how　it　was　possible　for　human　beings　to　live　in　such　habitual　filth；　when　a　ragged　boy　about　eight　or　nine　years　old　suddenly　presented　his　fresh　and　rosy　face；　with　a　pair　of　fat　cheeks；　lively　eyes；　ivory　teeth；　and　a　mass　of　fair　hair；　which　fell　in　curls　upon　his　half…naked　shoulders。　His　limbs　were　vigorous；　and　his　attitude　had　the　charm　of　that　amazement　and　naive　curiosity　which　widens　a　child's　eyes。　The　little　fellow　was　a　picture　of　beauty。

〃Where　is　your　mother？〃　said　Marie；　in　a　gentle　voice；　stooping　to　kiss　him　between　the　eyes。

After　receiving　her　kiss　the　child　slipped　away　like　an　eel；　and　disappeared　behind　a　muck…heap　which　was　piled　at　the　top　of　a　mound　between　the　path　and　the　house；　for；　like　many　Breton　farmers　who　have　a　system　of　agriculture　that　is　all　their　own；　Galope…Chopine　put　his　manure　in　an　elevated　spot；　so　that　by　the　time　it　was　wanted　for　use　the　rains　had　deprived　it　of　all　its　virtue。　Alone　for　a　few　minutes；　Marie　had　time　to　make　an　inventory。　The　room　in　which　she　waited　for　Barbette　was　the　whole　house。　The　most　obvious　and　sumptuous　object　was　a　vast　fireplace　with　a　/mantle/…shelf　of　blue　granite。　The　etymology　of　that　word　was　shown　by　a　strip　of　green　serge；　edged　with　a　pale…green　ribbon；　cut　in　scallops；　which　covered　and　overhung　the　whole　shelf；　on　which　stood　a　colored　plaster　cast　of　the　Holy　Virgin。　On　the　pedestal　of　the　statuette　were　two　lines　of　a　religious　poem　very　popular　in　Brittany：

　　〃I　am　the　mother　of　God；　　　Protectress　of　the　sod。〃

Behind　the　Virgin　a　hideous　image；　daubed　with　red　and　blue　under　pretence　of　painting；　represented　Saint…Labre。　A　green　serge　bed　of　the　shape　called　〃tomb；〃　a　clumsy　cradle；　a　spinning…wheel；　common　chairs；　and　a　carved　chest　on　which　lay　utensils；　were　about　the　whole　of　Galope…Chopine's　domestic　possessions。　In　front　of　the　window　stood　a　chestnut　table　flanked　by　two　benches　of　the　same　wood；　to　which　the　sombre　light　coming　through　the　thick　panes　gave　the　tone　of　mahogany。　An　immense　cask　of　cider；　under　the　bung　of　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　noticed　a　pool　of　yellow　mud；　which　had　decomposed　the　flooring；　although　it　was　made　of　scraps　of　granite　conglomerated　in　clay；　proved　that　the　master　of　the　house　had　a　right　to　his　Chouan　name；　and　that　the　pints　galloped　down　either　his　own　throat　or　that　of　his　friends。　Two　enormous　jugs　full　of　cider　stood　on　the　table。　Marie's　attention；　caught　at　first　by　the　innumerable　spider's…webs　which　hung　from　the　roof；　was　fixing　itself　on　these　pitchers　when　the　noise　of　fighting；　growing　more　and　more　distinct；　impelled　her　to　find　a　hiding…place；　without　waiting　for　the　woman　of　the　house；　who；　however；　appeared　at　that　moment。

〃Good…morning；　Becaniere；〃　said　Marie；　restraining　a　smile　at　the　appearance　of　a　person　who　bore　some　resemblance　to　the　heads　which　architects　attach　to　window…casings。

〃Ha！　you　come　from　d'Orgemont？〃　answered　Barbette；　in　a　tone　that　was　far　from　cordial。

〃Yes；　where　can　you　hide　me？　for　the　Chouans　are　close　by〃

〃There；〃　replied　Barbette；　as　much　amazed　at　the　beauty　as　by　the　strange　apparel　of　a　being　she　could　hardly　believe　to　be　of　her　own　sex；〃there；　in　the　priest's　hiding…place。〃

She　took　her　to　the　head　of　the　bed；　and　was　putting　her　behind　it；　when　they　were　both　startled　by　the　noise　of　a　man　springing　into　the　courtyard。　Barbette　had　scarcely　time　to　drop　the　curtain　of　the　bed　and　fold　it　about　the　girl　before　she　was　face　to　face　with　a　fugitive　Chouan。

〃Where　can　I　hide；　old　woman？　I　am　the　Comte　de　Bauvan；〃　said　the　new…　comer。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　quivered　as　she　recognized　the　voice　of　the　belated　guest；　whose　words；　still　a　secret　to　her；　brought　about　the　catastrophe　of　La　Vivetiere。

〃Alas！　monseigneur；　don't　you　see；　I　have　no　place？　What　I'd　better　do　is　to　keep　outside　and　watch　that　no　one　gets　in。　If　the　Blues　come；　I'll　let　you　know。　If　I　stay　here；　and　they　find　me　with　you；　they'll　burn　my　house　down。〃

Barbette　left　the　hut；　feeling　herself　incapable　of　settling　the　interests　of　two　enemies　who；　in　virtue　of　the　double　role　her　husband　was　playing；　had　an　equal　right　to　her　hiding…place。

〃I've　only　two　shots　left；〃　said　the　count；　in　despair。　〃It　will　be　very　unlucky　if　those　fellows　turn　back　now　and　take　a　fancy　to　look　under　this　bed。〃

He　placed　his　gun　gently　against　the　headboard　behind　which　Marie　was　standing　among　the　folds　of　the　green　serge；　and　stooped　to　see　if　there　was　room　for　him　under　the　bed。　He　would　infallibly　have　seen　her　feet；　but　she；　rendered　desperate　by　her　danger；　seized　his　gun；　jumped　quickly　into　the　room；　and　threatened　him。　The　count　broke　into　a　peal　of　laughter　when　he　caught　sight　of　her；　for；　in　order　to　hide　herself；　Marie　had　taken　off　her　broad…brimmed　Chouan　hat；　and　her　hair　was　escaping；　in　heavy　curls；　from　the　lace　scarf　which　she　had　worn　on　leaving　home。

〃Don't　laugh；　monsieur　le　comte；　you　are　my　prisoner。　If　you　make　the　least　movement；　you　shall　know　what　an　offended　woman　is　capable　of　doing。〃

As　the　count　and　Marie　stood　looking　at　each　other　with　differing　emotions；　confused　voices　were　heard　without　among　the　rocks；　calling　out；　〃Save　the　Gars！　spread　out；　spread　out；　save　the　Gars！〃

Barbette's　voice；　calling　to　her　boy；　was　heard　above　the　tumult　with　very　different　sensations　by　the　two　enemies；　to　whom　Barbette　was　really　speaking　instead　of　to　her　son。

〃Don't　you　see　the　Blues？〃　she　cried　sharply。　〃Come　here；　you　little　scamp；　or　I　shall　be　after　you。　Do　you　want　to　be　shot？　Come；　hide；　quick！〃

While　these　things　took　place　rapidly　a　Blue　jumped　into　the　marshy　courtyard。

〃Beau…Pied！〃　exclaimed　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。

Beau…Pied；　hearing　her　voice；　rushed　into　the　cottage；　and　aimed　at　the　count。

〃Aristocrat！〃　he　cried；　〃don't　stir；　or　I'll　demolish　you　in　a　wink；　like　the　Bastille。〃

〃Monsieur　Beau…Pied；〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　in　a　persuasive　voice；　〃you　will　be　answerable　to　me　for　this　prisoner。　Do　as　you　like　with　him　now；　but　you　must　return　him　to　me　safe　and　sound　at　Fougeres。〃

〃Enough；　madame！〃

〃Is　the　road　to　Fougeres　clear？〃

〃Yes；　it's　safe　enoughunless　the　Chouans　come　to　life。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　picked　up　the　count's　gun　gaily；　and　smiled　satirically　as　she　said　to　her　prisoner；　〃Adieu；　monsieur　le　comte；　au　revoir！〃

Then　she　darted　down　the　path；　having　replaced　the　broad　hat　upon　her　head。

〃I　have　learned　too　late；〃　said　the　count；　〃not　to　joke　about　the　virtue　of　a　woman　who　has　none。〃

〃Aristocrat！〃　cried　Beau…Pied；　sternly；　〃if　you　don't　want　me　to　send　you　to　your　/ci…devant/　paradise；　you　will　not　say　a　word　against　that　beautiful　lady。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　returned　to　Fougeres　by　the　paths　which　connect　the　rocks　of　Saint…Sulpice　with　the　Nid…aux…Crocs。　When　she　reached　the　latter　height　and　had　threaded　the　winding　way　cut　in　its　rough　granite；　she　stopped　to　admire　the　pretty　valley　of　the　Nancon；　lately　so　turbulent　and　now　so　tranquil。　Seen　from　that　point；　the　vale　was　like　a　street　of　verdure。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　re…entered　the　town　by　the　Porte　Saint…Leonard。　The　inhabitants；　still　uneasy　about　the　fighting；　which；　judging　by　the　distant　firing；　was　still　going　on；　were　waiting　the　return　of　the　National　Guard；　to　judge　of　their　losses。　Seeing