the trampling of the lilies-第33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！
applied either to me or to any of my followers； and I'll have you
beaten like a dog。〃
And as the lesser ever does give way before the greater； so now did
the anger that had sustained Ombreval go down and vanish before the
overwhelming passion of La Boulaye。 He grew pale to the lips at
the Deputy's threat； and his eyes cravenly avoided the steady gaze
of his captor。
〃You deserve little consideration at my hands； Citizen；〃 said La
Boulaye； more quietly；〃 and yet I have a mind to give you a lesson
in generosity。 We start for Paris in half…an…hour。 If anywhere
you should have friends expecting you； whom you might wish to
apprise of your position； you may spend the half…hour that is left
in writing to them。 I will see that your letter reaches its
destination。〃
Ombreval's pallor seemed to intensify。 His eyes looked troubled as
they were raised to La Boulaye's。 Then they fell again； and there
was a pause。 At last …
〃I shall be glad to avail myself of your offer；〃 he said； in a voice
that for meekness was ludicrously at variance with his late
utterances。
〃Then pray do so at once。〃 And La Boulaye took down an inkhorn
a quill； and a sheaf of paper from the mantel…shelf behind him。
These he placed on the table； and setting a chair； he signed to the
aristocrat to be seated。
〃And now； Citizen Cadoux；〃 said La Boulaye； turning to the old
nobleman； 〃I shall be glad if you will honour me by sharing my
breakfast while Citizen Ombreval is at his writing。〃
Des Cadoux looked up in some surprise。
〃You are too good； Monsieur；〃 said he； inclining his head。 〃But
afterwards？〃
〃I have decided；〃 said La Boulaye； with the ghost of a smile； 〃to
deal with your case myself； Citizen。〃
The old dandy took a deep breath； but the glance of his blue eyes
was steadfast； and his lips smiled as he made answer：
〃Again you are too good。 I feared that you would carry me to Paris；
and at my age the journey is a tiresome one。 I am grateful； and
meanwhile； … why； since you are so good as to invite me； let us
breakfast； by all means。〃
They sat down at a small table in the embrasure of the window； and
their hostess placed before them a boiled fowl； a dish of eggs； a
stew of herbs； and a flask of red wine； all of which La Boulaye had
bidden her prepare。
〃Why； it is a feast；〃 declared Des Cadoux； in excellent humour； and
for all that he was under the impression that he was to die in
half…an…hour he ate with the heartiest good…will； chatting pleasantly
the while with the Republican … the first Republican with whom it had
ever been his aristocratic lot to sit at table。 And what time the
meal proceeded Ombreval … with two soldiers standing behind his
chair…penned his letter to Mademoiselle de Bellecour。
Had La Boulaye … inspired by the desire to avenge himself for the
treachery of which he had been the victim … dictated that epistle；
t could not have been indicted in a manner better suited to his ends。
It was a maudlin； piteous letter； in which； rather than making his
farewells； the Vicomte besought the aid of Suzanne。 He was； he
wrote； in the hands of men who might be bribed； and since she was
rich … for he knew of the treasure with which she had escaped … he
based his hopes upon her employing a portion of her riches to
obtaining his enlargement。 She； he continued； was his only hope；
and for the sake of their love； for the sake of their common
nobility； he besought her not to fail him now。 Carried away by
the piteousness of his entreaties the tears welled up to his eyes
and trickled down his cheeks； one or two of them finding their
way to the paper thus smearing it with an appeal more piteous still
if possible than that of his maudlin words。
At last the letter was ended。 He sealed it with a wafer and wrote
the superscription：
〃To Mademoiselle de Bellecour。 At the 'Hotel des Trois Rois；'
Treves。〃
He announced the completion of his task； and La Boulaye bade him go
join Des Cadoux at the next table and take some food before setting
out； whilst the Deputy himself now sat down to write。
〃Citoyenne；' he wrote； 〃the man to whom you are betrothed； for whose
sake you stooped to treachery and attempted murder； is in my hands。
Thus has Heaven set it in my power to punish you； if the knowledge
that he travels to the guillotine is likely to prove a punishment。
If you would rescue him； come to me in Paris； and； conditionally；
I may give you his life。〃
That； he thought should humble her。 He folded his letter round
Ombreval's and having sealed the package； he addressed it as Ombreval
had addressed his own missive。
〃Garin；〃 he commanded briefly； 〃remove the Citizen Ombreval。〃
When he had been obeyed； and Garin had conducted the Vicomte from
the room； La Boulaye turned again to Des Cadoux。 They were alone；
saving the two soldiers guarding the door。
The old man rose； and making the sign of the cross； he stepped
forward； calm and intrepid of bearing。
〃Monsieur；〃 he announced to La Boulaye； who was eyeing him with the
faintest tinge of surprise； 〃I am quite ready。〃
〃Have you always been so devout； Citizen？〃 inquired the Deputy。
〃Alas！ no Monsieur。 But there comes a time in the life of every
man when； for a few moments at least； he is prone to grow mindful
of the lessons learnt in childhood。〃
The surprise increased in La Boulaye's countenance。 At last he
shrugged his shoulders； after the manner of one who abandons a
problem that has grown too knotty。
〃Citizen des Cadoux；〃 said he； 〃I have deliberated that since I
have received no orders from Paris concerning you； and also since
I am not by profession a catch…poll there is no reason whatever why
I should carry you to Paris。 In fact； Citizen； I know of no reason
why I should interfere with your freedom at all。 On the contrary
when I recall the kindness you sought to do me that day； years ago；
at Bellecour； I find every reason why I should further your escape
from the Revolutionary tribunal。 A horse； Citizen； stands ready
saddled for you； and you are free to depart； with the one condition；
however； that you will consent to become my courier for once； and
carry a letter for me … a matter which should occasion you； I think；
no deviation from your journey。〃
The old dandy； in whose intrepid spirit the death which he had
believed imminent had occasioned no trembling； turned pale as La
Boulaye ceased。 His blue eyes were lifted almost timidly to the
Deputy's face； and his lip quivered。
〃You are not going to have me shot； then？〃 he faltered。
〃Shot？〃 echoed La Boulaye； and then he remembered the precise words
of the request which Des Cadoux had preferred the night before； but
which； at the time； he had treated lightly。 〃Ma foi； you do not
flatter me！〃 he cried。 〃Am I a murderer； then？ Come； come；
Citizen； here is the letter that you are to carry。 It is addressed
to Mademoiselle de Bellecour； at Treves； and encloses Ombreval's
farewell epistle to that lady。〃
〃But； gladly； Monsieur；〃 exclaimed Des Cadoux。
And then； as if to cover his sudden access of emotion； of which he
was most heartily ashamed； he fumbled for his snuff…box； and；
having found it； he took an enormous pinch。
They parted on the very best of terms did these two … the aristocrat
and the Revolutionary … actuated by a mutual esteem tempered in each
case with gratitude。
When at last Des Cadoux had taken a sympathetic leave of Ombreval
and departed； Caron ordered the Vicomte to be brought before him
again； and at the same time bade his men make ready for the road。
〃Citizen；〃 said La Boulaye； 〃we start for Paris at once。 If you
will pass me your word of honour to attempt no escape you shall
travel with us in complete freedom and with all dignity。〃
Ombreval looked at him with insolent surprise； his weak supercilious
mouth growing more supercilious even than its wont。 He had recovered
a good deal of his spirit by now。
〃Pass you my word of honour？〃 he echoed。 〃Mon Dieu！ my good fellow
a word of honour is a bond between gentlemen。 I think too well of
mine to pass it to the first greasy rascal of the Republic that
asks it of me。〃
La Boulaye eyed him a second with a glance be
