the trampling of the lilies-第32章
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from Artois； then。 I have some property there； and it lately came
to my ears that this assembly of curs they call the Convention had
determined to make an end of me。 But before they could carry out
their design； those sons of dogs； my tenants； incited by the choice
examples set them by other tenantry； made a descent on my Chateau
one night； and did themselves the pleasure of burning it to the
ground。 By a miracle I escaped with my life and lay hidden for
three weeks in the house of an old peasant who had remained faithful。
In that time I let my beard grow； and trained my hair into a
patriotic unkemptness。 Then； in filthy garments； like any true
Republican； I set out to cross the frontier。 As I approached it；
I was filled with fears that I might not win across； and then； in
the moment of my doubtings； I came upon that most opportune of
couriers。 I had the notion to change places with him； and I did。
He was the bearer of a letter to the Deputy La Boulaye； of whom you
may have heard； and this letter I opened to discover that it charged
him to effect my arrest。〃
If La Boulaye was startled； his face never betrayed it； not by so
much as the quiver of an eyelid。 He sat on； his jaw in his palm；
his eyes admiringly bent upon the speaker。
〃You may judge of my honesty； and of how fully sensible I was of the
trust I had undertaken； when I tell you that with my own hand I
delivered the letter this morning to that animal La Boulaye at
Boisvert。〃 He seemed to swell with pride in his achievement。
〃Diable！〃 he continued。 〃Mine was a fine piece of acting。 I would
you could have seen me play the part of the patriot。 Think of the
irony of it！ I won out of France with the very papers ordering my
arrest。 Ma foi！ You should have seen me befool that dirt of a
deputy！ It was a performance worthy of Talma himself。〃 And he
looked from Cadoux to La Boulaye for applause。
〃I doubt not；〃 said the Deputy coldly。 〃It must have been worth
witnessing。 But does it not seem a pity to spoil everything and to
neutralise so wonderful an achievement for the mere sake of boasting
of it to a poor； ignorant peasant； Monsieur le Vicomte Anatole
d'Ombreval？〃
With a sudden cry； the pseudo courier leapt to his feet； whilst Des
Cadoux turned on the stool he occupied to stare alarmedly at the
speaker。
〃Name of God！ Who are you？〃 demanded Ombreval advancing a step。
With his sleeve La Boulaye rubbed part of the disfiguring smear from
his face as he stood up and made answer coolly：
〃I am that dirt of a Deputy whom you befooled at Boisvert。〃 Then；
raising his voice； 〃Garin！〃 he shouted； and immediately the door
opened and the soldiers filed in。
Ombreval stood like a statue； thunderstruck with amazement at this
most unlooked…for turning of the tables； his face ashen； his weak
mouth fallen open and his eyes fearful。
Des Cadoux； who had also risen； seemed to take in the situation at
a glance。 Like a well…bred gamester who knows how to lose with a
good grace the old gentleman laughed drily to himself as he tapped
his snuff…box。
〃We are delightfully taken； cher Vicomte；〃 he murmured； applying the
tobacco to his nostril as he spoke。 〃It's odds you won't be able to
repeat that pretty story to any more of your friends。 I warned you
that you inclined to relate it too often。〃
With a sudden oath； Ombreval … moved to valour by the blind rage
that possessed him … sprang at La Boulaye。 But； as suddenly； Garin
caught his arms from behind and held him fast。
〃Remove them both；〃 La Boulaye commanded。 〃Place them in safety for
the night； and see that they do not escape you； Garin； as you value
your neck。〃
Des Coudax shut his snuff…box with a snap。
〃For my part； I am ready； Monsieur … your pardon … Citizen；〃 he
said； 〃and I shall give you no trouble。 But since I am not； I take
it； included in the orders you have received； I have a proposal to
make which may prove mutually convenient。〃
〃Pray make it； Citizen；〃 said La Boulaye。
〃It occurs to me that it may occasion you some measure of annoyance
to carry me all the way to Paris … and certainly； for my part； I
should much prefer not to undertake the journey。 For one thing； it
will be fatiguing； for another； I have no desire to look upon the
next world through the little window of the guillotine。 I wish；
then； to propose； Citizen；〃 pursued the old nobleman； nonchalantly
dusting some fragments of tobacco from his cravat。 〃that you deal
with me out of hand。〃
〃How； Citizen？〃 inquired La Boulaye。
〃Why； your men； I take it are tolerable marksmen。 I think that it
might prove more convenient to both of us if you were to have me
shot as soon as there is light enough。〃
La Boulaye's eyes rested in almost imperceptible kindness upon Des
Cadoux。 Here； at least； was an aristocrat with a spirit to be
admired and emulated。
〃You are choosing the lesser of two evils； Citizen；〃 said the Deputy。
〃Precisely；〃 answered Des Cadoux。
〃But possibly； Citizen； it may be yours to avoid both。 You shall
hear from me in the morning。 I beg that you will sleep tranquilly
in the meantime。 Garin； remove the prisoners。〃
CHAPTER XV
LA BOULAYE BAITS HIS HOOK
For fully an hour after their prisoners had been removed La Boulaye
paced the narrow limits of the kitchen with face inscrutable and
busy mind。 He recalled what Suzanne had said touching her betrothal
to Ombreval； whom she looked to meet at Treves。 This miserable
individual； then； was the man for whose sake she had duped him。 But
Ombreval at least was in Caron's power； and it came to him now that
by virtue of that circumstance he might devise a way to bring her
back without the need to go after her。 He would send her word … aye；
and proof … that he had taken him captive； and it should be hers to
choose whether she would come to his rescue and humble herself to
save him or leave him to his fate。 In that hour it seemed all one
to La Boulaye which course she followed； since by either； he
reasoned； she must be brought to suffer。 That he loved her was
with him now a matter that had sunk into comparative insignificance。
The sentiment that ruled his mind was anger； with its natural
concomitant … the desire to punish。
And when morning came the Deputy's view of the situation was still
unchanged。 He was astir at an early hour； and without so much as
waiting to break his fast； he bade Garin bring in the prisoners。
Their appearance was in each case typical。 Ombreval was sullen
and his dress untidy； even when allowance had been made for the
inherent untidiness of the Republican disguise which he had adopted
to so little purpose。 Des Cadoux looked well and fresh after his
rest； and gave the Deputy an airy 〃Good morning〃 as he entered。 He
had been at some pains； too； with his toilet； and although his hair
was slightly disarranged and most of the powder was gone from the
right side； suggesting that he had lain on it； his appearance in
the main was creditably elegant。
〃Citizen Ombreval；〃 said La Boulaye； in that stern； emotionless
voice that was becoming characteristic of him； 〃since you have
acquainted yourself with the contents of the letter you stole from
the man you murdered； you cannot be in doubt as to my intentions
concerning you。〃
The Vicomte reddened with anger。
〃For your intentions I care nothing；〃 he answered hotly … rendered
very brave by passion … 〃but I will have you consider your words。
Do you say that I stole and murdered？ You forget； M。 le Republican；
that I am a gentlemen。〃
〃Meaning； of course； that the class that so described itself could
do these things with impunity without having them called by their
proper names； is it not so？ But you also forget that the Republic
has abolished gentlemen； and with them； their disgraceful privileges。〃
〃Canaille！〃 growled the Vicomte； his eyes ablaze with wrath。
〃Citizen…aristocrat； consider your words！〃 La Boulaye had stepped
close up to him； and his voice throbbed with a sudden anger no whit
less compelling than Ombreval's。 〃Fool！ let me hear that word again；
applied either to me or to any of my followers； and I'll have you
beaten like a dog。〃
And as t
