the trampling of the lilies-第25章
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Charlot's men and his own followers lay about the floor in all
conceivable manner of attitudes； their senses locked deep in the
drunken stupor that possessed them。 Two or three had remained
seated； and had fallen across the table； when overcome。 Of these
was Mother Capoulade； whose head lay sideways on her curled arms；
and from whose throat there issued a resonant and melodious snore。
Most of the faces that La Boulaye could see were horribly livid
and bedewed with sweat； and again it came into his mind to wonder
whether he had overdone things； and they would wake no more。 On
the other hand； an even greater fear beset him； that the drug might
have been insufficient。 By way of testing it； he caught one fellow
who lay across his path a violent kick in the side。 The man grunted
in his sleep； and stirred slightly； to relapse almost at once into
his helpless attitude； and to resume his regular breathing； which
the blow had interrupted。
La Boulaye smiled his satisfaction； and without further hesitancy
passed out into the yard。 He had yet a good deal to say to
Mademoiselle； but he could not bring himself to speak to her before
her mother； particularly as he realised how much the Marquise might
be opposed to him。 He opened the carriage door。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he called softly； 〃will you do me the favour to
alight for an instant？ I must speak to you。〃
〃Can you not say what you have to say where you are？〃 came the
Marquise's voice。
〃No； Madame；〃 answered La Boulaye coldly； 〃I cannot。〃
〃Oh； it is 'Madame' and 'Mademoiselle' now； eh？ What have you done
to the man； child； to have earned us so much deference。〃
〃May I remind Mademoiselle；〃 put in La Boulaye firmly； 〃that time
presses； and that there is much to be done？〃
〃I am here； Monsieur〃 she answered； as without more ado； and heedless
of her mother's fresh remarks； she stepped from the carriage。
La Boulaye proffered his wrist to assist her to alight； then reclosed
the door； and led her slowly towards the stable。
〃Where are the soldiers？〃 she whispered。
〃Every soul in the inn is asleep；〃 he answered。 〃I have drugged
them all； from the Captain down to the hostess。 The only one left
is the ostler； who is sleeping in one of the outhouses here。 Him
you must take with you； not only because it is not possible to drug
him as well； but also because the blame of your escape must rest on
someone； and it may as well rest on him as another。〃
〃But why not on you？〃she asked。
〃Because I must remain。〃
〃Ah！〃 It was no more than a breath of interrogation； and her face
was turned towards him as she awaited an explanation。
〃I have given it much thought； Suzanne； and unless someone remains
to cover； as it were； your retreat； I am afraid that your flight
might be vain； and that you would run an overwhelming risk of
recapture。 You must remember the resourcefulness of this fellow；
Tardivet； and his power in the country here。 If he were to awake
to the discovery that I had duped him； he would be up and after us；
and I make little doubt that it would not be long ere he found the
scent and ran us to earth。 Tomorrow I shall discover your flight
and the villainy of the ostler； and I shall so organise the pursuit
that you shall not be overtaken。〃
There was a moment's pause； during which La Boulaye seemed to expect
some question。 But none came； so he proceeded：
〃Your original intention was to make for Prussia； where you say that
your father and your brother are awaiting you。〃
〃Yes； Monsieur。 Beyond the Moselle … at Treves。〃
〃You must alter your plans；〃 said he shortly。 〃Your mother； no
doubt； will insist upon repairing thither； and I will see that the
road is left open for her escape。 At Soignies you； Suzanne； can
hire yourself a berline； that will take you back to France。〃
〃Back to France？〃 she echoed。
〃Yes； back to France。 That is the unlikeliest road on which to
think of pursuing you； and thus you will baffle Charlot。 Let your
mother proceed on her journey to Prussia； but tell her to avoid
Charleroi； and to go round by Liege。 Thus only can she hope to
escape Tardivet's men that are patrolling the road from France。
As for you； Suzanne； you had best go North as far as Oudenarde； so
as to circumvent the Captain's brigands on that side。 Then make
straight for Roubaix； and await me at the 'Hotel des Cloches。' 〃
〃But； Monsieur； I shudder at the very thought of re…entering France。〃
〃As Mademoiselle de Bellecour； a proscribed aristocrat； that is
every reason for your fears。 But I have given。 the matter thought
and I can promise you that as the Citoyenne La Boulaye； wife of the
Citizen…deputy Caron La Boulaye； you will be as safe as I should be
myself； if you are questioned； and； in response； you will find
nothing but eagerness to serve you on every hand。〃
She spoke now of the difficulties her mother would make； but he
dismissed the matter by reminding her that her mother could not
detain her by force。 Again she alluded to her dowry； but that also
he dismissed； bidding her leave it behind。 Her family would need
the money； to be realised by the jewels。 As for herself； he assured
her that as his wife she would not want； and showed her how idle
was her dread of living in France。
〃And now； Mademoiselle；〃 he said； more briskly； 〃let us see to this
ostler。〃
He opened the door of the outhouse； and uncovering his lantern he
raised it above his head。 Its yellow light revealed to them a
sleeper on the straw in a corner。 La Boulaye entered and stirred
the man with his foot。
The fellow sat up blinking stupidly and dragging odd wisps of straw
from his grey hair。
〃What's amiss？〃he grunted。
As briefly as might be La Boulaye informed him that he was to receive
a matter of five hundred francs if he would journey into Prussia with
the ci…devant Marquise de Bellecour。
Five hundred francs？ It was a vast sum； the tenth of which had never
been his at any one time of his wretched life。 For five hundred
francs he would have journeyed into Hades； and La Boulaye found him
willing enough to go to Prussia； and had no need to resort to the
more forcible measures he had come prepared to employ。
Accompanied by the ostler； they now passed to the stables； and when
La Boulaye had unlocked the door and cut the bonds that pinioned
the Marquis's coachman； they got the horses； and together they
harnessed them as quietly as might be。
Then working with infinite precaution； and as little sound as
possible； they brought them out into the yard and set them in the
shafts of the carriage。 The rest was easy work； and a quarter of
an hour later the heavy vehicle rumbled through the porte…cochere
and started on its way to Soignies。
La Boulaye dropped the keys into a bucket and went within。 In the
common…room nothing had changed； and the men lay about precisely
as he had left them。 Reassured； he went above and took a peep at
the Captain； whom he found snoring lustily。
Satisfied that all was well； Caron passed quietly to his own chamber；
and with an elation of soul such as had never been his since boyhood；
he fell asleep amid visions of Suzanne and the new life he was to
enter upon in her sweet company。
CHAPTER XII
THE AWAKENING
La Boulaye awakened betimes next morning。 It may be that the matter
on his mind and the business that was toward aroused him； certainly
it was none of the sounds that are common to an inn at early morn；
for the place was as silent as a tomb。
Some seconds he remained on his back； staring at the whitewashed
ceiling and listening to the patter of the rain against his window。
Then； as his mind gathered up the threads of recollection； he leapt
from his bed and made haste to assume a garment or two。
He stood a moment at his casement； looking out into the empty
courtyard。 From a leaden sky the rain was descending in sheets； and
the gargoyle at the end of the eaves overhead was discharging a
steady column of water into the yard。 Caron shivered with the cold
of that gloomy February morning； and turned away from the window。
A few moments later he was in Tardivet's bedchamber； vigorously
shaking the sleeping Captai
