the trampling of the lilies-第18章
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tugging at his sleeve。
〃Let be； you greasy rascal；〃 the Captain snapped at him； to add：
〃What do you say？ A Deputy？ Where？〃 The fellow pointed with
his thumb in the direction of the hostelry。
〃Sacred name of a name！〃 growled Charlot； and； turning suddenly
from the men to whom he had been issuing directions； he sprang up
the steps and entered the inn。 As he crossed the threshold of the
common room he was confronted by the tall figure of La Boulaye。
〃I make you my compliments； Charlot；〃 was Caron's greeting； 〃upon
the vigorous health that appears to prevail in your hospital。〃
Tardivet stood a moment within the doorway； staring at the Deputy。
Then his brow cleared； and with a laugh； at once of welcome and
amusement； he strode forward and put out his hand。
〃My good Caron！〃 he cried。 〃To meet you at Boisvert is a pleasure
I had not looked for。〃
〃Are you so very sure；〃 asked La Boulaye sardonically； as he took
the outstretched hand； 〃that it is a pleasure？〃
〃How could it be else； old friend？ By St。 Guillotine！〃 he added；
clapping the Deputy on the back； 〃you shall come to my room； and
we will broach a bottle of green seal。〃
In some measure of wonder； La Boulaye permitted himself to be led
up the crazy stairs to a most untidy room above； which evidently did
duty as the Captain's parlour。 A heavy brass lamp； hanging from the
ceiling； a few untrustworthy chairs and a deal table； stained and
unclean； were the only articles of furniture。 But in almost every
corner there were untidy heaps of garments Of all sorts and
conditions； strewn about the floor were other articles of apparel；
a few weapons； a saddle； and three or four boots； here an empty
bottle； lying on its side； yonder a couple of full ones by the
hearth； an odd book or two and an infinity of playing cards； cast
there much as a sower scatters his seeds upon the ground。
There may be a hundred ways of apprehending the character of a man；
but none perhaps is more reliable than the appearance of his
dwelling； and no discerning person that stepped into Captain
Tardivet's parlour could long remain in doubt of its inhabitant's
pursuits and habits。
When Dame Capoulade had withdrawn； after bringing them their wine
and casting a few logs upon the fire； La Boulaye turned his back
to the hearth and confronted his host。
〃Why are you not with the army； Charlot？〃 he asked in a tone which
made the question sound like a demand。
〃Have they not told you；〃rejoined the other airily； engrossed in
filling the glasses。
〃I understand you were sent here to recover from a wound you received
three months ago at Jemappes； and to take charge of other invalided
soldiers。 But seemingly； your invalids do not number more than a
half…dozen out of the fifty or sixty men that are with you。 How is
it then； that you do not return with these to Dumouriez？〃
〃Because I can serve France better here；〃 answered Charlot； 〃and at
the same time enrich myself and my followers。〃
〃In short；〃 returned La Boulaye coldly； 〃because you have degenerated
from a soldier into a brigand。〃
Charlot looked up； and for just a second his glance was not without
uneasiness。 Then he laughed。 He unbuckled his sword and tossed it
into a corner； throwing his hat after it。
〃It was ever your way to take extreme views； Caron；〃 he observed；
with a certain whimsical regret of tone。 〃That； no doubt； is what
has made a statesman of you。 You had chosen more wisely had you
elected to serve the Republic with your sword instead。 Come； my
friend；〃 and he pointed to the wine； 〃let us pledge the Nation。〃
La Boulaye shrugged his shoulders slightly； and sighed。 In the end
he came forward and took the wine。
〃Long live the Republic！〃 was Charlot's toast； and with a slight
inclination of the head La Boulaye drained his glass。
〃It is likely to live without you； Charlot； unless you mend your
conduct。〃
〃Diable！〃 snapped the Captain； a trifle peevishly。 〃Can you not
understand that in my own way I am serving my country。 You have
called me a brigand。 But you might say the same of General
Dumouriez himself。 How many cities has he not sacked？〃
〃That is the way of war。〃
〃And so is this。 He makes war upon the enemies of France that dwell
in cities； whilst I； in a smaller way； make war upon those that
travel in coaches。 I confine myself to emigres … these damned
aristocrats whom it is every good Frenchman's duty to aid in stamping
out。 Over the frontiers they come with their jewels； their plate；
and their money…chests。 To whom belongs this wealth？ To France。
Too long already have they withheld from the sons of the soil that
which belongs equally to them； and now they have the effrontery to
attempt to carry these riches out of the country。 Would any true
Republican dare to reproach me for what I do？ I am but seizing
that which belongs to France； and here dividing it among the good
patriots that are with me； the soldiers that have bled for France。〃
〃A specious argument；〃sneered La Boulaye。
〃Specious enough to satisfy the Convention itself if ever I should
be called to task；〃 answered Charlot； with heat。 〃Do you propose
to draw the attention of the Executive to my doings？〃
La Boulaye's grey eyes regarded him steadily for a moment。
〃Know you of any reason why I should not？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； Caron； I do；〃 was the ready answer。 〃I am well aware of the
extent of your power with the Mountain。 In Paris I can see that
it might go hard with me if you were minded that it should； and you
were able to seize me。 On the other hand； that such arguments that
I have advanced to you would be acceptable to the Government I do
not doubt。 But whilst they would approve of this that you call
brigandage； I also do not doubt that they would claim that the
prizes I have seized are by right the property of the Convention；
and they might compel me to surrender them。 Thus they would pass
from my hands into those of some statesman…brigand； who； under the
plea of seizing these treasures for the coffers of the nation；
would transfer them to his own。 Would you rather help such an one
to profit than me； Caron？ Have you so far forgotten how we
suffered together … almost in the self…same cause … at Bellecour；
in the old days？ Have you forgotten the friendship that linked
us later； in Paris； when the Revolution was in its dawn？ Have
you forgotten what I have endured at the hands of this infernal
class that you can feel no sympathy for me？ Caron； it is a
measure of revenge； and as there is a Heaven； a very mild one。
Me they robbed of more than life； them I deprive but of their
jewels and their plate； turning them destitute upon the world。
Bethink you of my girl…wife； Caron；〃 he added； furiously； 〃and of
how she died of grief and shame a short three months after our
hideous nuptials。 God in Heaven！ When the memory of it returns
to me I marvel at my own forbearance。 I marvel that I do not take
every man and woman of them that fall into my hands and flog them
to death as they would have flogged you when you sought … alas to
so little purpose … to intervene on my behalf。〃
He grew silent and thoughtful； and the expression of his face was
not nice。 At last： 〃Have I given you reason enough；〃 he asked；
〃why you should not seek to thwart me？〃
〃Why； yes；〃 answered La Boulaye； 〃more than was necessary。 I am
desolated that I should have brought you to re…open a sorrow that
I thought was healed。〃
〃So it is； Caron。 How it is I do not know。 Perhaps it is my
nature； perhaps it is that in youth sorrow is seldom long…enduring；
perhaps it is the strenuous life I have lived and the changes that
have been wrought in me … for； after all； there is a little in this
Captain Tardivet that is like the peasant poor Marie took to
husband； four years ago。 I am no longer the same man； and among
the other things that I have put from me are the sorrows that were
of the old Charlot。 But some memories cannot altogether die； and
if to…day I no longer mourn that poor child； yet the knowledge of
the debt that lies 'twixt the noblesse of France and me is ever
present； and I neglect no opportunity of discharging a par
