the trampling of the lilies-第45章
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himself none but a weakling could waste time and energy in bewailing
the circumstances that had conspired to it。 In a man of La
Boulaye's calibre and mettle it was more befitting to seek a means
to neutralise as much as possible the evil done。
He called Brutus and cross…questioned him regarding the attitude
and behaviour of the soldiery since their coming。 He learnt that
nothing had been touched by them； and that they were acting with
the utmost discreetness； taking scrupulous care not to exceed the
orders they had received； which amounted to detaining La Boulaye
and nothing more。
〃You think； then； that you might come and go unmolested？〃 he asked。
〃I think that I might certainly go。 But whether they would permit
me to return once I had left； I cannot say。 〃So that they will let
you pass out； that is all that signifies at the moment；〃 said Caron。
〃Should they question you； you can tell them that you are going to
dine and to fetch me my dinner from Berthon's。 As a matter of fact；
I shall want you to go to Choisy with a letter； which you must see
does not fall into the hands of any of these people of the
Convention。〃
〃Give me the letter； Citizen； and trust me to do the rest；〃 answered
the faithful Brutus。
La Boulaye searched a drawer of his writing…table for the blank
passport he required。 Having found it； he hesitated for a moment
how to fill it in。 At last he decided； and set down three names
… Pierre； Francois； and Julie Michael； players； going to Strasbourg
… to which he added descriptions of himself； the Vicomte； and
Mademoiselle。 He reasoned that in case it should ultimately prove
impossible for him to accompany them； the passport； thus indited；
would still do duty for the other two。 They could easily advance
some excuse why the third person mentioned was not accompanying
them。 From this it will be seen that La Boulaye was far from
having abandoned hope of effecting his escape； either by his own
resourcefulness or by the favour of Robespierre himself； whose
kindness for him； after all； was a factor worth reckoning upon。
To Mademoiselle he now wrote as follows：
I am sending you the laissez…passer filled in for the three of
us。 I am unfortunately unable to bring it myself as my
abstraction of the order of release has already been discovered；
and I am being detained pending the arrival of Robespierre。 But
I am at my own lodging； and I have every hope that； either by
the use of my own wit； or else by the favour of my friend
Robespierre； I shall shortly be able to join you。 I would
therefore ask you to wait a few days。 But should I presently
send you word not to do so any longer； or should you hear of
events which will render it impossible for me to accompany you；
you can then set out with Ombreval； travelling under the guise
described in the passport； and informing any questioners that
the other person mentioned has been forced by ill health to
interrupt his journey。 As I have said； I have every hope of
winning through my present difficulties； but should I fail to
do so； my most earnest prayer will be that you may make your
way out of France in safety； and that lasting happiness may be
your lot in whatever country you may elect to settle。 You may
trust the bearer implicitly； patriotic though he may appear。
He subscribed the letter with his initials； and； having enclosed
the passport and sealed the package； he gave it to Brutus； with the
most minute instructions touching its delivery。
These instructions Brutus carried out with speed and fidelity。 He
was allowed to quit the house without so much as a question； which
left his plan for readmittance the greater likelihood of succeeding。
In something less than an hour … for he hired himself a horse at
the nearest post…house … he had delivered his letter to Mademoiselle
at Choisy。
Its contents sowed in her heart the very deepest consternation …
a consternation very fully shared by the Vicomte。
〃Tenez！〃 he exclaimed； when he had read it。 〃Perhaps now you will
admit the justice of my plaint that you did not make a simple
purchase of my liberty； as I counselled you； instead of entering
into this idiotic compact with that sans…culotte。〃
She looked at him a moment in silence。 She was suffering as it
was at the very thought that La Boulaye's life might be in danger
in consequence of what he had done for her。 With reluctance had
she accepted the sacrifice of his career which he had made to serve
her。 Now that it became the question of a sacrifice of life as
well she was dismayed。 All the wrongs that she and hers had done
that man seemed to rise up and reproach her now。 And so； when
presently she answered the Vicomte； it was no more than natural
that she should answer him impatiently。
〃I thought； Monsieur； that we had already discussed and settled
that？〃
〃 Settled it？〃 he echoed； with a sneer。 〃It seems none so easy to
settle。 Do you think that words will settle it。〃
〃By no means；〃 she answered； her voice quivering。 〃It seems as if
a man's life will be required for that。〃
He shrugged his shoulders； and his face put on a look of annoyance。
〃I hope； Mademoiselle； that you are not proposing to introduce
sentimentality。 I think you would be better advised to leave that
vulgarity to the vulgar。〃
〃I do not propose to pursue the discussion at all； Monsieur；〃 was
her chilly answer。
〃The way of woman；〃 he reflected aloud。 〃Let her find that she is
being worsted in argument； and she calmly tells you that she has
no mind to pursue it。 But； Mademoiselle； will you tell me at least
what you intend？〃
〃What do I intend？〃 she questioned。 〃What choice have we？〃
〃Whenever we are asked to follow a given course； we have always the
choice between two alternatives；〃 he theorised。 〃We can comply；
or not comply。〃
〃In the present instance I am afraid your rule is inapplicable。
There is no room for any alternative。 We can do nothing but wait。〃
She looked at him impatiently； and wearily she sank on to a chair。
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； as calmly as might be；〃 I am almost distracted
by my thoughts as it is。 I don't know whether you are seeking to
complete the rout of my senses。 Let me beg of you at least not to
deal in riddles with me。 The time is ill…chosen。 Tell me bluntly
what is in your mind； if； indeed； anything。〃
He turned from her peevishly； and crossed to the window。 The
twilight was descending； and the little garden was looking grey in
the now pallid light。 Her seeming obtuseness was irritating him。
〃Surely； Mademoiselle；〃 he exclaimed at last； 〃it is not necessary
that I should tell you what other course is open to us？ It is a
matter for our choice whether we depart at once。 We have a
passport； and … and； enfin； every hour that we remain here our
danger is increased； and our chances of escape are lessened。〃
〃Ah！〃 She breathed the syllable contemptuously。 〃And what of La
Boulaye？〃
〃Pooh！ he says himself that he is in no great danger。 He is among
his fellows。 Leave him to extricate himself。 After all； it is his
fault that we are here。 Why should we endanger our necks by waiting
his convenience？〃
〃But surely you forget what he has done for us。 You are forgetting
that he has rescued you from the guillotine； dragged you out of the
very jaws of death。 Do you think that to forsake him now would be
a fair； an honest return？〃
〃But name of a name；〃 rasped the Vicomte； 〃does he not say that he
is far from despairing？ His position is not half so dangerous as
ours。 If we are taken； there will be an end of us。 With him matters
are far from being so bad。 He is one of the rabble himself； and the
rabble will look after its own。〃
She rose impatiently。
〃Monsieur； I am afraid the subject is not one that we may profitably
discuss。 I shall obey the voice of my conscience in the matter； and
I shall wait until we hear again from La Boulaye。 That is the
message I am about to return him by his servant。
The Vicomte watched her fling out of the room； and his weak face was
now white with anger。 He rapped out an oath as he turned to the
window again。
〃Mad！〃 he
