the trampling of the lilies-第29章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Well？〃　demanded　Madame　de　Bellecour　severely。　　〃Answer　me；　Suzanne。
Are　you　in　love　with　this　La　Boulaye？〃

〃Is　there　the　need　to　answer？〃　quoth　the　girl　scornfully。　　〃Surely
you　forget　that　I　am　Mademoiselle　de　Bellecour；　daughter　of　the
Marquise　de　Bellecour；　and　that　this　man　is　of　the　canaille；　else
you　had　never　asked　the　question。〃

With　an　expression　of　satisfaction　the　Marquise　was　sinking　back　in
the　carriage；　when　of　a　sudden　she　sat　bolt　upright。

〃Someone　is　riding　very　desperately；〃　she　cried；　a　note　of　alarm
ringing　in　her　voice。

Above　the　thud　of　the　coach…horses'　hoofs　and　the　rumble　of　their
vehicle　sounded　now　the　clatter　of　someone　galloping　madly　in　their
wake。　　Mademoiselle　looked　from　the　window　into　the　gathering　dusk。

〃It　will　be　some　courier；　Madame；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃None　other
would　ride　at　such　a　pace。〃

〃I　shall　know　no　rest　until　we　are　safely　in　a　Christian　country
again；〃　the　Marquise　complained。

The　hoof…beats　grew　nearer；　and　the　dark　figure　of　a　horseman　dashed
suddenly　past　the　window。　　Simultaneously；　a　loud；　harsh　command　to
halt　rang　out　upon　the　evening　air。

The　Marquise　clutched　at　her　daughter's　arm　with　one　hand；　whilst
with　the　other　she　crossed　herself；　as　though　their　assailant　were
some　emissary　of　the　powers　of　evil。

〃Mother　in　Heaven；　deliver　us！〃　she　gasped；　turning　suddenly　devout。

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　cried　Mademoiselle；　who　had　recognised　the　voice　that
was　now　haranguing　the　men　on　the　box　…　their　driver　and　the　ostler
of　the　'Eagle　Inn。'　　〃It　is　La　Boulaye　himself。〃

〃La　Boulaye？〃echoed　the　Marquise。　　Then；　in　a　frenzy　of　terror：
〃There　are　the　pistols　there；　Suzanne；〃　she　cried。　　〃You　can　shoot。
Kill　him！　　Kill　him！〃

The　girl's　lips　came　tightly　together　until　her　mouth　seemed　no　more
than　a　straight　line。　　Her　cheeks　grew　white　as　death；　but　her　eyes
were　brave　and　resolute。　　She　put　forth　her　hand　and　seized　one　of
the　pistols　as　the　carriage　with　a　final　jolt　came　to　a　standstill。

An　instant　later　the　door　was　dragged　open；　and　La　Boulaye　stood
bowing　in　the　rain　with　mock　ceremoniousness　and　a　very　contemptuous
smile　on　his　stern　mouth。　　He　had　dismounted；　and　flung　the　reins　of
his　horse　over　the　bough　of　a　tree　by　the　roadside。　　The　Marquise
shuddered　at　sight　of　him；　and　sought　to　shrink　farther　back　into
the　cushions　of　the　carriage。

〃Citoyenne；〃　he　was　saying；　very　bitterly；　〃when　I　made　my　compact
with　you　yesternight；　I　did　not　reckon　upon　being　compelled　to　ride
after　you　in　this　fashion。　　I　have　some　knowledge　of　the　ways　of
your　people；　of　their　full　words　and　empty　deeds；　but　you　I　was　fool
enough　to　trust。　　By　experience　we　learn。　　I　must　ask　you　to　alight；
Citoyenne。〃

〃To　what　purpose；　Monsieur？〃　she　asked；　in　a　voice　which　she　strove
to　render　cold　and　steady。

〃To　the　purpose　that　your　part　of　the　bargain　be　carried　out。　　Your
mother　and　your　treasure　were　to　find　their　way　into　Prussia　upon
condition　that　you　return　with　me　to　France。〃

〃It　was　a　bargain　of　coercion；　Monsieur；〃　she　answered　attempting　to
brazen　it　out。　　〃I　was　a　woman　in　a　desperate　situation。〃

〃Surely　your　memory　is　at　fault；　Citoyenne；〃　he　answered；　with　a
politeness　that　was　in　itself　a　mockery。

〃Your　situation　was　so　little　desperate　that　I　had　offered　to　effect
the　rescue　both　of　your　mother　and　yourself　without　asking　any
guerdon。　　Your　miserable　treasure　alone　it　was　that　had　to　be
sacrificed。　　You　will　recall　that　the　bargain　was　of　your　own
proposing。〃

There　was　a　pause；　during　which　he　stood　waiting　for　her　reply。
Her　blue　eyes　made　an　attempt　to　meet　his　steady　gaze；　but　failed。
Her　bosom　rose　and　fell　in　the　intensity　of　her　agitation。

〃I　was　a　woman　distraught；　Monsieur。　　Surely　you　will　not　hold　me
to　words　uttered　in　an　hour　of　madness。　　It　was　a　bargain　I　had　no
right　to　make；　for　I　am　no　longer　free　to　dispose　of　myself。　　I　am
betrothed　to　the　Vicomte　Anatole　d'Ombreval。　　The　contract　has
already　been　signed；　and　the　Vicomte　will　be　meeting　us　at　Treves。〃

It　was　as　if　she　had　struck　him；　and　amazement　left　him　silent　a
moment。　　In　a　dim；　subconscious　way　he　seemed　to　notice　that　the
name　she　mentioned　was　that　of　the　man　he　was　bidden　to　arrest。
Then；　with　an　oath：

〃I　care　naught　for　that；〃　he　cried。　　〃As　God　lives；　you　shall
fulfil　your　word　to　me。〃

〃Monsieur；　I　refuse；〃　she　answered；　with　finality。　　〃Let　me　request
you　to　close　the　door　and　suffer　us　to　proceed。〃

〃Your　mother　and　your　treasure　may　proceed　…　it　was　thus　we
bargained。　　But　you　shall　come　with　me。　　I　will　be　no　girl's　dupe；
no　woman's　fool；　Citoyenne。〃

When　he　said　that　he　uttered　the　full　truth。　　There　was　no　love　in
his　voice　or　in　his　heart　at　that　moment。　　Than　desire　of　her
nothing　was　further　from　his　mind。　　It　was　his　pride　that　was　up　in
arms；　his　wounded　dignity　that　cried　out　to　him　to　avenge　himself
upon　her；　and　to　punish　her　for　having　no　miserably　duped　him。　　That
she　was　unwilling　to　go　with　him　only　served　to　increase　his　purpose
of　taking　her；　since　the　more　unwilling　she　was　the　more　would　she
be　punished。

〃Citoyenne；　I　am　waiting　for　you　to　alight；〃　he　said　peremptorily。

〃Monsieur；　I　am　very　well　as　I　am；〃　she　answered　him；　and　leaning
slightly　from　the　coach　…　〃Drive　on；　Blaise；〃　she　commanded。

But　La　Boulaye　cocked　a　pistol。

〃Drive　so　much　as　a　yard；〃　he　threatened。　　〃and　I'll　drive　you　to
the　devil。〃　　Then；　turning　once　more　to　Suzanne：　〃Never　in　my　life；
Citoyenne　have　I　employed　force　to　a　woman；〃　he　said。　　〃I　trust　that
you　will　not　put　me　to　the　pain　of　commencing　now。〃

〃Stand　back；　Monsieur；〃　was　her　imperious　answer。　　But　heedless　he
advanced；　and　thrusting　his　head　under　the　lintel　of　the　carriage
door　he　leaned　forward；　to　seize　her。　　Then；　before　he　could　so
much　as　conjecture　what　she　was　about；　her　hand　went　up　grasping　a
heavy　horse…pistol　by　the　barrel；　and　she　brought　the　butt　of　it
down　with　a　deadly　precision　between　his　brows。

He　reeled　backwards；　threw　up　his　arms；　and　measured　his　length　in
the　thick　grey　mud　of　the　road。

Her　eyes　had　followed　him　with　a　look　of　horror；　and　until　she　saw
him　lying　still　on　his　back　did　she　seem　to　realise　what　she　had　done。

〃My　dear；　brave　girl；〃　murmured　her　mother's　voice　but　she　never
heard　it。　　With　a　sob　she　relaxed　her　grasp　of　the　pistol　and　let　it
fall　from　the　carriage。

〃Shall　I　drive　on；　Mademoiselle？〃　inquired　Blaise　from　the　box。

But　without　answering　him　she　had　stepped　down　into　the　mud；　and　was
standing　bare…headed　in　the　rain　beside　the　body　of　Caron。

Silently；　she　stooped　and　groped　for　his　heart。　　It　was　beating
vigorously　enough；　she　thought。　　She　stooped　lower　and　taking　him
under　the　arms；　she　half　bore；　half　dragged　him　to　the　side　of　the
road；　as　if　the　thin；　bare　hedge　were　capable　of　affording　him
shelter。　　There　she　stood　a　moment　looking　down　at　him。　　Then　with
a　sob　she　suddenly　stooped；　and　careless　of　the　eyes　observing　her；
she　kissed　him　full　upon　the　mouth。

A　second　later　she　fled　like　a　frightened　thing　back　to　the　carriage；
and；　closing　the　door；　she　called　in　a　strangled　voice　too　drive　on。

She　paid　little　heed　to　the　praise　that　was　being　bestowed　upon　her
by　her　mother　…　who　had　seen　nothing　of　the　kiss。　　But　she　lay　back
in　her　corner　of　the　coach；　and　now　her　lashes　were　wet　at　the
thought　of　Caron　lying　out　there　in　the　road。　　Now　her　cheeks　grew
red　with　shame　at　the　thought　that　she；　the　nobly…born　Mademoiselle
de　Bellecour；　should　have　allowed　even　pity　to　have　so　far　overcome
her　as　to　have　caused　her　to　touch　with　her　lips　the　lips　of　a
low…bred　revolutionist。





CHAPTER　XIV

THE　COURIER


It　was　well　for　La　Boulaye　that　he　had　tethered　his　horse　to　a　tree
before　approaching　the　coach。　　That　solitary　beast　standing　by　the
roadside　in　the　deepening　gloom　attracted　the　attention　of　his
followers；　when　…　a　half…hour　or　so　later　…　they　rode　that　way；　making
for　Liege；　as　La　Boulaye　had　bidden　them。

At　their　approach　the　animal　neighed；　and　Garin；　hearing　the　sound；
reined　in　and　peered　forward　into　the　gloom；　to　descry　the　horse's
head　and　back　outlined　above　the　blur　of　the　hedge