the trampling of the lilies-第16章
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out of the world altogether。 Besides； the peasantry that has risen
once may rise again； and I shall not be here to protect him from
its violence。 Tell him he had best depart at once。〃
〃Monsieur； I am grateful … very； very deeply grateful。 I can say
no more。 May Heaven reward you。 I shall pray the good God to
watch over you always。 Adieu； Monsieur！〃
He stood looking at her a moment still retaining his hold of her
hands。
〃Adieu； Mademoiselle；〃he said at last。 Then； very slowly … as if
so that realising his intent she might frustrate it were she so
minded … he raised her right hand。 It was not withdrawn； and so
he bent low； and pressed his lips upon it。
〃God guard you； Mademoiselle；〃he said at last； and if they were
strange words for a Republican and a Deputy； it must be remembered
that his bearing during the past few moments had been singularly
unlike a Republican's。
He released her hand； and stepping back； doffed his hat。 With a
final inclination of the head； she turned and walked away in the
direction of the terrace。
At a distance La Boulaye followed； so lost in thought that he did
not observe Captain Juste until the fellow's voice broke upon his
ear。
〃You have been long enough； Citizen…deputy；〃 was the soldier's
greeting。 〃I take it there is to be no duel。〃
〃I make you my compliments upon the acuteness of your perception；〃
answered La Boulaye tartly。 〃You are right。 There is to be no
encounter。〃
Juste's air was slightly mocking； and words of not overdelicate
banter rose to his lips； to be instantly quelled by La Boulaye。
〃Let your drums beat a rally； Citizen…captain；〃he commanded briskly。
〃We leave Bellecour in ten minutes。〃。
And indeed； in less than that time the blue…coats were swinging
briskly down the avenue。 In the rear rode La Boulaye； his cloak
wrapped about him； his square chin buried in his neck…cloth； and
his mind deep in meditation。
》From a window of the Chateau the lady who was the cause of the young
Revolutionist's mental absorption watched the departing soldiers。
On either side of her stood Ombreval and her father。
〃My faith； little one；〃 said Bellecour good…humouredly。 〃I wonder
what magic you have exercised to rid us of that infernal company。〃
〃Women have sometimes a power of which men know nothing；〃 was her
cryptic answer。
Ombreval turned to her with a scowl of sudden suspicion。
〃I trust； Mademoiselle； that you did not … 〃 he stopped short。 His
thoughts were of a quality that defied polite utterance。
〃That I did not what； Monsieur？〃she asked。
〃I trust you remembered that you are to become the Vicomtesse
d'Ombreval〃 he answered； constructing his sentence differently。
〃Monsieur！〃 exclaimed Bellecour angrily。
〃I was chiefly mindful of the fact that I had my brother's life to
save；〃 said the girl； very coldly； her eye resting upon her
betrothed in a glance of so much contempt that it forced him into
an abashed silence。
In her mind she was contrasting this supercilious； vacillating
weakling with the stern； strong man who lode yonder。 A sigh
fluttered across her lips。 Had things but been different。 Had
Ombreval been the Revolutionist and La Boulaye the Vicomte； how
much better pleased might she not have been。 But since it was
not so； why sigh？ It was not as if she had loved this La Boulaye。
How was that possible？ Was he not of the canaille； basely born；
and a Revolutionist … the enemy of her order … in addition？ It
were a madness to even dream of the possibility of such a thing；
for Suzanne de Bellecour came of too proud a stock； and knew too
well the respect that was due to it。
CHAPTER VIII
THE INVALIDS AT BOISVERT
There had been friction between the National Convention and General
Dumouriez； who； though a fine soldier； was a remarkably indifferent
Republican。 The Convention had unjustly ordered the arrest of his
commissariat officers； Petit…Jean and Malus； and in other ways
irritated a man whose patience was never of the longest。
On the eve； however； of war with Holland； the great ones in Paris
had suddenly perceived their error； and had sought … despite the
many enemies； from Marat downwards； that Dumouriez counted among
their numbers … to conciliate a general whose services they found
that they could not dispense with。 This conciliation was the
business upon which the Deputy La Boulaye had been despatched to
Antwerp； and as an ambassador he proved signally successful； as much
by virtue of the excellent terms he was empowered to offer as in
consequence of the sympathy and diplomacy he displayed in offering
them。
The great Republican General started upon his campaign in the Low
Countries as fully satisfied as under the circumstances he could
hope to be。 Malus and Petit…Jean were not only enlarged but
reinstated； he was promised abundant supplies of all descriptions；
and he was assured that the Republic approved and endorsed his plan
of campaign。
La Boulaye； his mission satisfactorily discharged； turned homewards
once more； and with an escort of six men and a corporal he swiftly
retraced his steps through that blackened； war…ravaged country。
They had slept a night at Mons； and they were within a short three
leagues of French soil when they chanced to ride towards noon into
the little hamlet of Boisvert。 Probably they would have gone
straight through without drawing rein； but that； as they passed
the Auberge de l'Aigle； La Boulaye espied upon the green fronting
the wayside hostelry a company of a half…dozen soldiers playing at
bowls with cannon…balls。
The sight brought Caron to a sudden halt； and he sat his horse
observing them and wondering how it chanced that these men should
find themselves so far from the army。 Three of them showed signs
of having been recently wounded。 One carried his arm in a sling；
another limped painfully and by the aid of a stick； whilst the
head of the third was swathed in bandages。 But most remarkable
were they by virtue of their clothes。 One fellow … he of the
bandaged head … wore a coat of yellow brocaded silk； which； in
spite of a rent in the shoulder； and sundry stains of wine and oil；
was unmistakably of a comparative newness。 Beneath this appeared
the nankeens and black leggings of a soldier。 Another covered his
greasy locks with a three…cornered hat； richly laced in gold。 A
third flaunted under his ragged blue coat a gold…broidered
waistcoat and a Brussels cravat。 A valuable ring flashed from the
grimy finger of a fourth； who； instead of the military white
nankeens； wore a pair of black silk breeches。 There was one … he
of the injured arm … resplendent in a redingote of crimson velvet；
whilst he of the limp supported himself upon a gold…headed cane of
ebony； which was in ludicrous discord with the tattered blue coat；
the phrygian cap； and the toes that peeped through his broken boots。
They paused in their game to inspect； in their turn； the newcomers；
and to La Boulaye it seemed that their glances were not free from
uneasiness。
〃A picturesque company on my life；〃 he mused aloud。 Then beckoned
the one in the crimson coat。
〃Hola； Citizen；〃he called to him。
The fellow hesitated a moment； then shuffled forward with a sullen
air； and stood by Caron's stirrup。
〃In God's name； what are you and who are you？〃 the Deputy demanded。
〃We are invalided soldiers from the army of Dumouriez；〃the man
answered him。
〃But what are you doing here； at Boisvert？〃
〃We are in hospital； Citizen。〃
〃Yonder？〃 asked La Boulaye derisively； pointing with his whip to
the 〃Eagle Inn。〃
The fellow nodded。
〃Yes； Citizen； yonder；〃 he answered curtly。
La Boulaye looked surprised。 Then his eyes strayed to the others
on the green。
〃But you are not all invalids？〃he questioned。
〃Many of us are convalescent。〃
〃Convalescent？ But those three braves yonder are something more
than convalescent。 They are as well as I am。 Why do they not
rejoin the troops？〃
The fellow looked up with a scowl。
〃We take our orders from our officer；〃he answered sourly。
〃Ah！〃 quoth the Deputy。 〃There is someone in charge here； then？
Who may it be？〃
〃Captain Charlot；〃the fello
