the trampling of the lilies-第38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！
〃Yes； but upon terms； Mademoiselle； and those terms you have heard。〃
She looked a moment into that calm； set face； into the dark grey
eyes that looked so solemn and betrayed so little of what was
passing within。
〃And you say that you love me？〃 she cried。
〃Helas！〃 he sighed。 〃It is a weakness I cannot conquer。
〃Look well down into your heart； M。 La Boulaye；〃 she answered him；〃
and you will find how egregious is your error。 You do not love me；
you love yourself； and only yourself。 If you loved me you would not
seek to have me when I am unwilling。 Above all things； you would
desire my happiness … it is ever so when we truly love … and you
would seek to promote it。 If； indeed； you loved me you would grant
my prayer； and not torture me as you are doing。 But since you only
love yourself； you minister only to yourself； and seek to win me by
force since you desire me。〃
She ceased； and her eyes fell before his glance； which remained
riveted upon her face。 Immovable he stood a moment or two； then
he turned from her with a little sigh； and leaning his elbow upon
the window…sill； he gazed down into the crowds surging about the
second tumbril。 But although he saw much there that was calculated
to compel attention； he heeded nothing。 His thoughts were very busy；
and he was doing what Mademoiselle had bidden him。 He was looking
into himself。 And from that questioning he gathered not only that
he loved her； but that he loved her so well and so truly that … in
spite even of all that was passed … he must do her will； and deliver
up to her the man she loved。
His resolve was but half taken when he heard her stirring in the
room behind him。 He turned sharply to find that she had gained the
door。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 he called after her。 She stopped； and as she
turned； he observed that her lashes were wet。 But in her heart
there arose now a fresh hope； awakened by the name by which he had
recalled her。 〃Whither are you going？〃 he asked。
〃Away； Monsieur；〃 she answered。 〃I was realising that my journey
had indeed been in vain。〃
He looked at her a second in silence。 Then stepping forward：
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said； very quietly； 〃your arguments have
prevailed； and it shall be as you desire。 The ci…devant Vicomte
d'Ombreval shall go free。〃
Her face seemed to grow of a sudden paler； and for an instant she
stood still as if robbed of understanding。 Then she came forward
with hands outheld。
〃 aid I not that you were good and generous？ Said I not that you
could be noble； Monsieur？〃 she cried； as she caught his resisting
hand and sought to carry it to her lips。 〃God will bless you；
Monsieur … 〃
He drew his hand away； but without roughness。 〃Let us say no more；
Mademoiselle；〃 he begged。
〃But I will；〃 she answered him。 〃I am not without heart； Monsieur；
and now that you have given me this proof of the deep quality of
your love； I … 〃 She paused； as if at a loss for words。
〃Well； Mademoiselle？〃 he urged her。
〃I have it in my heart to wish that … that it were otherwise；〃 she
said； her cheeks reddening under his gaze。 〃If it were not that I
account myself in honour bound to wed M。 le Vicomte … 〃
〃Stop！〃 he interrupted her。 He had caught at last the drift of
what she was saying。 〃There is no need for any comedy； Suzanne。
Enough of that had we at Boisvert。〃
〃It is not comedy；〃 she cried with heat。 〃It was not altogether
comedy at Boisvert。〃
〃True；〃 he said； wilfully misunderstanding her that he might the
more easily dismiss the subject；〃 it went nearer to being tragedy。〃
Then abruptly he asked her：
〃Where are you residing？〃
She paused before replying。 She still wanted to protest that some
affection for him dwelt in her heart； although curbed （to a greater
extent even than she was aware） by the difference in their stations；
and checked by her plighted word to Ombreval。 At last； abandoning
a purpose which his countenance told her would be futile：
〃I am staying with my old nurse at Choisy；〃 she answered him。
〃Henriette Godelliere is her name。 She is well known in the village；
and seems in good favour with the patriots； so that I account myself
safe。 I am believed to be her niece from the country。〃
〃Hum！〃 he snorted。 〃The Citoyenne Godelliere's niece from the
country in silks？〃
〃That is what someone questioned； and she answered that it was a
gown plundered from the wardrobe of some emigrated aristocrats。〃
〃Have a care； Suzanne；〃 said he。 〃The times are dangerous； and it
is a matter of a week ago since a man was lanterne for no other
reason than because he was wearing gloves； which was deemed an
aristocratic habit。 Come； Mademoiselle； let us gather up your gems。
You were going without them some moments ago。〃
And down upon his knees he went； and； taking up the little bag
which had been left where he had flung it； he set himself to
restore the jewels to it。 She came to his assistance； in spite of
his protestations； and so； within a moment or two； the task was
completed； and the little treasure was packed away in the bosom
of her gown。
〃To…morrow；〃 he said； as he took his leave of her at the door； 〃I
shall hope to bring the ci…devant Vicomte to Choisy； and I will
see that he is equipped with a laissez…passer that will carry both
of you safely out of France。〃
She was beginning to thank him all over again； but he cut her
short； and so they parted。
Long after she was gone did he sit at his writing…table； his head
in his hands and his eyes staring straight before him。 His face
looked grey and haggard； the lines that seared it were lines of
pain。
〃They say；〃 he murmured once； thinking aloud； as men sometimes will
in moments of great stress；〃 that a good action brings its own
reward。 Perhaps my action is not a good one； after all； and that
is why I suffer。〃
And； burying his head in his arms； he remained thus with his sorrow
until his official entered to inquire if he desired lights。
CHAPTER XVIII
THE INCORRUPTIBLE
It was towards noon of the following day when Caron La Boulaye
presented himself at the house of Duplay； the cabinet…maker in the
Rue St。 Honore； and asked of the elderly female who admitted him
if he might see the Citizen…deputy Robespierre。
A berline stood at the door； the postillion at the horses' heads；
and about it there was some bustle； as if in preparation of a
departure。 But La Boulaye paid no heed to it as he entered the house。
He was immediately conducted upstairs to the Incorruptible's
apartment … for he was too well known to so much as need announcing。
In answer to the woman's knock a gentle； almost plaintive voice from
within bade them enter； and thus was Caron ushered into the humble
dwelling of the humble and ineffective…looking individual whose power
already transcended that of any other man in France； and who was
destined to become still more before his ephemeral star went out。
Into that unpretentious and rather close…smelling room … for it was
bed…chamber as well as dining…room and study … stepped La Boulaye
unhesitatingly； with the air of a man who is intimate with his
surroundings and assured of his welcome in them。 In the right…hand
corner stood the bed on which the clothes were still tumbled； in the
centre of the chamber was a table all littered with the disorder of
a meal partaken； on the left； by the window； sat Robespierre at his
writing…table； and from the overmantel at the back of the room a
marble counterpart of Robespierre's own head and shoulders looked
down upon the newcomer。 There were a few pictures on the
whitewashed walls； and a few objects of art about the chamber； but
in the main it had a comfortless air； which may in part have
resulted from the fact that no fire had been lighted。
The great man tossed aside his pen； and rose as the door closed
after the entering visitor。 Pushing his horn…rimmed spectacles up
on to his forehead he stretched out his hand to La Boulaye。
〃It is you； Caron；〃 he murmured in that plaintive voice of his。
It was a voice that sorted well with the humane man who had resigned
a judgeship at Arras sooner than pass a death…sentence； but hardly
so well with him wh
