the trampling of the lilies-第27章
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〃But what of your men who are guarding the frontiers？〃
〃Pooh！ A detour might circumvent them。 The Marquise might go as
far north as Roubaix or Comines； or as fair south as Rocroy； or even
Charlemont。 Name of a name； but it is more than likely！〃 he
exclaimed； with sudden conviction。 〃What do you say； Caron？〃
〃That you rave；〃answered La Boulaye coldly。
〃Well； we shall see。 I will despatch a message to my men； bidding
them spread themselves as far north as Comiines and as far south as
Charlemont。 Should the fugitives have made such a detour as I
suggested there will be ample time to take them。〃
La Boulaye still contemned the notion with a fine show of
indifference； but Tardivet held to his purpose； and presently
despatched the messengers as he had proposed。 At that Caron felt
his pulses quickening with anxiety for Mademoiselle。 These astute
measures must inevitably result im her capture … for was it not at
Roubaix that he had bidden her await him？ There was but one thing
to be done； to ride out himself to meet her along the road from
Soignies to Oudenarde； and to escort her into France。 She should
go ostensibly as his prisoner； and he was confident that not all
the brigands of Captain Tardivet would suffice to take her from him。
Accordingly； he announced his intention of resuming his interrupted
journey； and ordered his men to saddle and make ready。 Meanwhile；
having taken measures to recapture the Marquise should she have
doubled back into France； Charlot was now organising an expedition
to scour the road to Prussia； against the possibility of her having
adhered to her original intention of journeying that way。 Thus he
was determined to take no risks； and leave her no loophole of escape。
Tardivet would have set himself at the head of the six horsemen of
this expedition； but that La Boulaye interfered； and this time to
some purpose。 He assured the Captain that he was still far from
recovered； and that to spend a day in the saddle might have the
gravest of consequences for him。
〃If the occasion demanded it；〃 he concluded； 〃I should myself urge
you to chance the matter of your health。 But the occasion does not。
The business is of the simplest； and your men can do as much without
you as they could with you。〃
Tardivet permitted himself to be persuaded； and Caron had again good
cause to congratulate himself that he had remained behind to
influence him。 He opined that the men； failing to pick up the trail
at Charleroi； would probably go on as far as Dinant before abandoning
the chase； then they would return to Boisvert to announce their
failure； and by that time it would be too late to reorganise the
pursuit。 On the other hand； had Tardivet accompanied them； upon
failing to find any trace of the Marquise at Charleroi； La Boulaye
could imagine him pushing north along the Sambre； and pressing the
peasantry into his service to form an impassable cordon。
And so； having won his way in this at least； and seen the six men
set out under the command of Tardivet's trusted Guyot； Caron took
his leave of the Captain。 He was on the very point of setting out
when a courier dashed up to the door of the 〃Eagle；〃 and called for
a cup of wine。 As it was brought him he asked the hostess whether
the Citizen…deputy La Boulaye； Commissioner to the army of Dumouriez；
had passed that way。 Upon being informed that the Deputy was even
then within the inn； the courier got down from his horse and
demanded to be taken to him。
The hostess led him into the common…room； and pointed out the
Deputy。 The courier heaved a sigh of relief； and removing his
sodden cloak he bade the landlady get it dried and prepare him as
stout a meal as her hostelry afforded。
〃Name of a name！〃 he swore； as he pitched his dripping hat into a
corner。 〃But it is good to find you at last； Citizen…deputy？ I
had expected to meet you at Valenciennes。 But as you were not there；
and as my letters were urgent； I have been compelled to ride for the
past six hours through that infernal deluge。 Enfin； here you are；
and here is my letter … from the Citizen…deputy Maximilien
Robespierre … and here I'll rest me for the next six hours。〃
Bidding the fellow by all means rest and refresh himself； La Boulaye
broke the seal； and read the following：
Dear Caron；
My courier should deliver you this letter as you are on the Point
of reentering France； on your return from the mission which you
have discharged with so much glory to yourself and credit to me
who recommended you for the task。 I make you my compliments on
the tact and adroitness you have employed to bring this stubborn
Dumouriez into some semblance of sympathy with the Convention。
And now； my friend； I have another task for you； which you can
discharge on your homeward journey。 You will make a slight detour；
passing into Artois and riding to the Chateau d'Ombreval； which is
situated some four miles south of Arras。 Here I wish you not only
to Possess yourself of the person of the ci…devant Vicomte
d'Ombreval； bringing him to Paris as your Prisoner； but further；
to make a very searching investigation of that aristocrat's papers；
securing any documents that you may consider of a nature
treasonable to the French Republic； One and Indivisible。
The letter ended with the usual greetings and Robespierre's signature。
La Boulaye swore softly to himself as he folded the epistle。
〃It seems；〃 he muttered to Charlot； 〃that I am to turn catch…poll in
the service of the Republic。〃
〃To a true servant of the Nation；〃 put in the courier； who had
overheard him； 〃all tasks that may tend to the advancement of the
Republic should be eagerly undertaken。 Diable！ Have not I ridden
in the rain these six hours past？〃
La Boulaye paid no heed to him； he was too inured to this sort of
insolence since the new rule had levelled all men。 But Charlot
turned slowly to regard the fellow。
He was a tall man of rather slender stature； but indifferently
dressed in garments that were splashed from head to foot with mud；
and from which a steam was beginning to rise as he stood now with
his back to the fire。 Charlot eyed him so narrowly that the fellow
shifted his position and dropped his glance in some discomfort。
His speech； though rough of purport； had not been ungentle of
delivery。 But his face was dirty … the sure sign of an ardent
patriot … his hair hung untidy about his face； and he wore that
latest abomination of the ultra…revolutionist； a dense black beard
and moustache。
〃My friend；〃 said Charlot； 〃although we are ready to acknowledge
you our equal； we should like you to understand that we do not take
lessons in duty even from our equals。 Bear you that in mind if you
seek to have a peaceful time while you are here； for it so happens
that I am quartered at this inn； and have a more important way with
me than this good…natured Deputy here。〃
The fellow darted Charlot a malevolent glance。
〃You talk of equality and you outrage equality in a breath；〃 he
growled。 〃I half suspect you of being a turncoat aristocrat。〃 And
he spat ostentatiously on the ground。
〃Suspect what you will； but voice no suspicions here； else you'll
become acquainted with the mighty short methods of Charlot Tardivet。
And as for aristocrats； my friend； there are none so rabid as the
newly…converted。 I wonder how long it is since you became a patriot？〃
Before the fellow could make any answer the corporal in command of
La Boulaye's escort entered to inform Caron that the men were in the
saddle。
At that the Deputy hurriedly took his leave of Tardivet； and wrapping
his heavy cloak tightly about him he marched out into the rain； and
mounted。
A few moments later they clattered briskly out of Boisvert； the thick
grey mud flying from their horses' hoofs as they went； and took the
road to France。 For a couple of miles they rode steadily along under
the unceasing rain and in the teeth of that bleak February wind。
Then at a cross…road La Boulaye unexpectedly called a halt。
〃My friends；〃 he said to his escort； 〃we have yet a little business
to discharge in Belgium before we cross the fronti
