the trampling of the lilies-第21章
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on one side； was regarding her at once with mockery and satisfaction。
〃What do you intend by us； Monsieur？〃 she questioned in a choking
voice。
He smiled inscrutably。
〃Allay your fears； Citoyenne； you will find me very gentle。〃
〃I knew you would prove generous；〃she cried。
〃But； yes； Citoyenne；〃he rejoined； in the tones we employ to those
who fear unreasonably。 〃I shall prove generous； as generous as … as
was my lord your father。〃
La Boulaye trembled； but his face remained calmly expressionless as
he watched that grim scene。
〃Monsieur！〃 Suzanne cried out in horror。
〃You will not dare； you scum！〃 blazed the Marchioness。
Charlot shrugged his shoulders and laughed； whereupon Madame de
Bellecour seemed to become a being transformed。 Her ample flesh；
which but a moment back had quivered in fear； quivered now more
violently still in anger。 The colour flowed back into her cheeks
until they flamed an angry crimson； and her vituperations rang in
so loud and fierce a voice that at last； putting his hands to his
ears； Charlot crossed to the door。
〃Silence！〃 he roared at her； so savagely that her spirit forsook
her on the instant。 〃I will put an end to this；〃 he swore； as he
opened the door。 〃Hold there！ Is Guyot below？〃
〃Here； Captain；〃came a voice。
Charlot retraced his steps； leaving the door wide； his eyes dwelling
upon Suzanne until she shrank under its gaze； as she might have done
from the touch of some unclean thing。 She drew near to her mother；
in whom the brief paroxysm of rage was now succeeded by a no less
violent paroxysm of weeping。 On the stairs sounded Guyot's ascending
steps。
〃Mother；〃 whispered Suzanne； setting her arms about her in a vain
attempt to comfort。 Then she heard Charlot's voice curtly bidding
Guyot to reconduct the Marquise to her carriage。
Madame de Bellecour heard it also； and roused herself once more。
〃I will not go；〃she stormed； anger flashing again from the tear…laden
eyes。 〃I will not leave my daughter。〃
Charlot shrugged his shoulders callously。
〃Take her away； Guyot；〃he said； shortly； and the sturdy soldier
obeyed him with a roughness that took no account of either birth or
sex。
When the Marquise's last scream had died away in the distance；
Charlot turned once more to Suzanne； and it seemed that he sought
to compose his features into an expression of gentleness beyond
their rugged limitations。 But the glance of his blue eyes was kind；
and mistaking the purport of that kindness； Mademoiselle began an
appeal to his better feelings。
Straight and tall； pale and delicate she stood； her beauty rendered；
perhaps； the more appealing by virtue of the fear reflected on her
countenance。 Her blue eyes were veiled behind their long black
lashes； her lips were tremulous； and her hands clasped and unclasped
as she now made her prayer to the Republican。 But in the hardened
heart of Charlot no breath of pity stirred。 He beheld her beauty
and he bethought him of his wrongs。 For the rest； perhaps； had she
been less comely he had been less vengeful。
And yonder by the hearth stood La Boulaye like a statue； unmoved and
immovable。 The Captain was speaking to her； gently and soothingly；
but her thoughts became more taken with the silence of La Boulaye
than with the speech of Charlot。 Even in that parlous moment she
had leisure to despise herself for having once … on the day on which；
in answer to her intercessions； he had spared her brother's life
… entertained a kindly； almost wistful； thought concerning this man
whom she now deemed a dastard。
CHAPTER X
THE BAISER LAMOURETTE
Presently Charlot turned to La Boulaye； and for all that he uttered
no word； his glance left nothing to be said。 In response to it Caron
stirred at last； and came leisurely over to the table。
〃A mouthful of wine； and I'm gone； Charlot；〃 said he in level；
colourless tones； as taking up a flagon he filled himself a goblet。
〃Fill for me； too；〃 cried the Captain； 〃aye； and for the Citoyenne
here。 Come； my girl； a cup of wine will refresh you。〃
But Suzanne shrank from the invitation as much as from the tenor of
it and the epithet he had applied to her。 Observing this； he
laughed softly。
〃Oh！ As you will。 But the wine is good…from cellar of a ci…devant
Duke。 My service to you； Citoyenne；〃 he pledged her； and raising
his cup； he poured the wine down a throat that was parched by the
much that he had drunk already； But ere the goblet was half…empty；
a sharp； sudden cry from La Boulaye came to interrupt his quaffing。
He glanced round； and at what he saw he spilled the wine down his
waistcoat； then let the cup fall to the ground； as with an oath he
flung himself upon the girl。
She had approached the table whilst both men were drinking； and
quietly possessed herself of a knife； and； but that it was too blunt
to do the service to which she put it； Charlot's intervention would
have come too late。 As it was he caught her wrist in time； and in
a rage he tore the weapon from her fingers； and flung it far across
the room。
〃So； pretty lady！〃 he gasped； now gripping both her wrists。 〃So！
we are suicidally inclined； are we！ We would cheat Captain Charlot；
would we？ Fi donc！〃 he continued with horrid playfulness。 〃To
shed a blood so blue upon a floor so unclean！ Name of a name of a
name！〃
Accounting herself baffled at every point； this girl； who had
hitherto borne herself so stoutly as to have stoically sought death
as a last means of escape； began to weep softly。 Whereupon：
〃Nay； nay； little…woman；〃murmured the Captain； in such accents as
are employed to a petted child； and instinctively； in his intent to
soothe he drew her nearer。 And now the close contact thrilled him；
her beauty； and some subtle perfume that reached him from her；
played havoc with his senses。 Nearer he drew her in silence； his
face white and clammy； and his hot； wine laden breath coming quicker
every second。 And unresisting she submitted； for she was beyond
resistance now； beyond tears even。 From between wet lashes her great
eyes gazed into his with a look of deadly； piteous affright； her
lips were parted； her cheeks ashen； and her mind was dimly striving
to formulate a prayer to the Holy Mother； the natural protectress of
all imperilled virgins。
Nearer she felt herself drawn to her tormentor； in whose thoughts
there dwelt now little recollection of the vengeful character of his
purpose。 For a second her wrists were released； then she felt his
arms going round her as the coils of a snake go round its prey。
With a sudden reassertion of self； with a panting gasp of horror；
she tore herself free。 An oath broke from him as he sprang after
her。 Then the unexpected happened。 Above his head something bright
flashed up； then down。 There was a dull crack； and the Captain
stopped short in his rush； his hands were jerked to the height of
his breast； and like a pole…axed beast he dropped and lay prone at
her feet。
Across his fallen body she beheld La Boulaye standing impassively；
the ghost of a smile on his thin lips； and in his hand one of the
heavy silver candlesticks from the table。
Whilst a man might count a dozen they stood so with no word spoken。
Then：
〃It was a cowardly blow； Citoyenne；〃 said the Deputy in accents of
regret； 〃but what choice had I？〃 He set down the candlestick； and
kneeling beside Charlot； he felt for the Captain's heart。 〃The door；
Citoyenne；〃 he muttered。 〃Lock it。〃
Mechanically； and without uttering a word； she hastened to do his
bidding。 As the key grated in the lock he rose。
〃It has only stunned him；〃 he announced。 〃Now to prepare an
explanation for it。〃
He drew a chair under the old brass lamp； that hung from the ceiling。
He mounted the chair； and with both hands he seized the chain
immediately above the lamp。 Drawing himself up； he swung there for
just a second； then the hook gave way； and amid a shower of plaster
La Boulaye half…tumbled to the ground。
〃There；〃 said he； as he dropped the lamp with its chain and hook
upon the floor by Charlot。 〃It may not be as convincing as we might
wish； but I think that it will prove convincing
