the trampling of the lilies-第23章
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which Caron occupied in the Convention； and he had seen the intimate
relations in which he stood to Tardivet； so that unhesitatingly he
now obeyed him。
La Boulaye closed the window； and crossed slowly to the fire。 He
stirred the burning logs with his boot； then stood there waiting。
Presently the stairs creaked； next the door opened； and Guyot
ushered in Mademoiselle。
〃The elder citoyenne refuses to come； Citizen…deputy；〃 said the
soldier。 〃They both insisted that it was not necessary； and that
the Citoyenne here would answer your questions。〃
Almost on the point of commanding the soldier to return for the
Marquise； Caron caught the girl's eye； and her glance was so
significant that he thought it best to hear first what motives she
had for thus disobeying him。
〃Very well；〃he said shortly。 〃You may go below； Guyot。 But hold
yourself in readiness lest I should have need of you。〃
The soldier saluted and disappeared。 Scarce was he gone when
Mademoiselle came hurrying forward。
〃Monsieur Caron；〃 she cried 〃Heaven is surely befriending us。 The
soldiers are drinking themselves out of their wits。 They will be
keeping a slack watch presently。〃
He looked at her for a moment； fathoming the purport of what she
said。
〃But；〃 he demanded at last； 〃why did not the Marquise obey my
summons； and accompany you？〃
〃She was afraid to leave the coach； Monsieur。 Moreover； she agreed
with me that it would not be necessary。〃
〃Not necessary？〃 he echoed。 〃But it is necessary。 When last you
were here I told you I did not intend you should return to the coach。
This is my plan； Citoyenne。 I shall keep Guyot waiting below while
you and your mother are fortifying yourselves by supper here。 Then
I shall dismiss him with a recommendation that he keep a close watch
upon the carriage； and the information that you will not be returning
to it to…night。 A half…hour later or so； when things are quiet； I
shall find a way out for you by the back； after which the rest must
remain in your hands。 More I cannot do。〃
〃You can；〃 she cried； 〃you can。〃
〃If you will enlighten me；〃said he； with the faintest touch of irony。
She looked at his stern； sardonic face and solemn grey eyes； and for
a moment it almost seemed to her that she hated him more than anybody
in the world。 He was so passionless； so master of himself； and he
addressed her in a tone which； whilst it suggested that he accounted
himself most fully her equal； made her feel that he was really her
better by much。 If one of these two was an aristocrat； surely that
one was the Citizen…deputy La Boulaye。
〃If you had but the will you would do it； Monsieur；〃she answered
him。 〃It is not mine to enlighten you； I know not how。〃
〃I have the very best will in the world； Citoyenne；〃 said he。 〃Of
that I think that I am giving proof。〃
〃Aye； the will to do nothing that will shame your manhood；〃 she
rejoined。 〃That is all you think of。 It was because your manhood
bade you that you came to my rescue … so you said when you declined
my thanks。 It is this manhood of yours； I make no doubt； that is
now prevailing upon you to deliver two unprotected women out of the
hands of these brigands。〃
〃In Heaven's name； Citoyenne；〃 quoth the astonished Deputy； 〃out of
what sentiment would you have me act； and； indeed； so that I save
you； how can it concern you by what sentiment I am prompted？〃
She paused a moment before replying。 Her eyes were downcast； and
some of the colour faded from her cheeks。 She carne a step nearer；
which brought her very close to him。
〃Monsieur；〃she faltered very shyly； 〃in the old days at Bellecour
you would have served me out of other sentiments。〃
He started now in spite of himself； and eyed her with a sudden gleam
of hope； or triumph； or mistrust； or perhaps of all three。 Then his
glance fell； and his voice was wistful。
〃But the old days are dead； Mademoiselle。〃
〃The days； yes；〃 she answered； taking courage from his tone。 〃But
love Monsieur； is everlasting … it never dies； they say。〃
And now it was La Boulaye who drew closer； and this man who had so
rigidly schooled himself out of all emotions； felt his breath
quickening； and his pulses throbbing faster and faster。 To him it
seemed that she was right； and that love never died … for the love
for her； which he believed he had throttled out of existence long
ago； seemed of a sudden to take life as vigorously as ever。 And
then it was as if some breeze out of the past bore to his nostrils
the smell of the violets and of the moist earth of that April
morning when she had repulsed him in the woods of Bellecour。 His
emotion died down。 He drew back； and stood rigid before her。
〃And if it were to live； Citoyenne；〃 he said … the resumption of
the Republican form of address showed that he had stepped back into
the spirit as well as in the flesh 〃what manner of fool were I to
again submit it to the lash of scorn it earned when first it was
discovered？〃
〃But that belonged to the old days；〃 she cried； 〃and it is dead
with the old days。'
〃It is vain to go back； Citoyenne；〃 he cut in； and his voice rang
harsh with determination。
She bit her lip under cover of her bent head。 If she had hated him
before how much more did she not hate him now？ And but a moment
back it had seemed to her that she had loved him。 She had held out
her hands to him and he had scorned them； in her eagerness she had
been unmaidenly； and all that she had earned had been humiliation。
She quivered with shame and anger； and sinking into the nearest
chair she burst into a passion of tears。
Thus by accident did she stumble upon the very weapon wherewith to
make an utter rout of all Caron's resolutions。 For knowing nothing
of the fountain from which those tears were springing； and deeming
them the expression of a grief pure and unalloyed … saving； perhaps；
by a worthy penitence … he stepped swiftly to her side。
〃Mademoiselle；〃he murmured； and his tone was as gentle and beseeching
as it had lately been imperious。 〃Nay； Mademoiselle； I implore you！〃
But her tears continued； and her sobs shook the slender frame as if
to shatter it。 He dropped upon his knees。 Scarcely knowing what he
did； he set his arm about her waist in a caress of protection。
A long curl of her black； unpowdered hair lay against his cheek。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he murmured； and she took comfort at the soothing
tone。
》From it she judged him malleable now； that had been so stern and
unyielding before。 She raised her eyes； and through her tears she
turned their heavenly blue full upon the grey depths of his。
〃You will not believe me； Monsieur；〃she complained softly。 〃You
will not believe that I can have changed with the times； that I see
things differently now。 If you were to come to me again as in the
woods at Bellecour … 〃 She paused abruptly； her cheeks flamed
scarlet； and she covered them with her hands。
〃Suzanne！〃 he cried； seeking to draw those hands away。 〃Is it true；
this？ You care； beloved！〃
She uncovered her face at last。 Again their eyes met。
〃I was right；〃 she whispered。 〃Love never dies； you see。〃
〃And you will marry me； Suzanne？〃 he asked incredulously。
She inclined her head； smiling through her tears； and he would have
caught her to him but that she rose of a sudden。
〃Hist！〃 she cried； raising her finger： 〃someone is coming。〃
He listened； holding his breath； but no sound stirred。 He went to
the door and peered out。 All was still。 But the interruption
served to impress him with the fact that time was speeding； and
that all unsuspicious though Guyot might be as yet； it was more
than possible that his suspicions would be aroused if she remained
there much longer。
He mentioned this； and he was beginning to refer to his plan for
their escape when she thrust it aside； insisting that they must
depart in their coach； so that their treasure might also be saved。〃
〃Be reasonable； Suzanne；〃he cried。 〃It is impossible。〃
A cloud of vexation swept across her averted face。
〃Nay； surely not impossible；〃 she answered。 〃Listen； Caron； there
are two treasures in that coach。 One is in money and in gold and
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