the trampling of the lilies-第46章
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now white with anger。 He rapped out an oath as he turned to the
window again。
〃Mad！〃 he muttered； through…set teeth。 〃Mad as a sun…struck dog。
The troubles she has lately seen have turned her head … never a
difficult matter with a woman。 She talks as if she had been reading
Rousseau on the 'Right of man'。 To propose to endanger our lives
for the sake of that scum； La Boulaye！ Ciel！ It passes belief。〃
But it was in vain that he was sullen and resentful。 Suzanne's mind
entertained no doubt of what she should do； and she had her way in
the matter； sending back Brutus with the message that she would wait
until La Boulaye communicated with her again。
That night Caron slept tranquilly。 He had matured a plan of escape
which he intended to carry out upon the morrow； and with confident
hope to cradle him he had fallen asleep。
But the morrow … early in the forenoon … brought a factor with which
he had not reckoned； in the person of the Incorruptible himself。
Robespierre had returned in hot haste to Paris upon receiving
Varennes' message； and he repaired straight to the house of La
Boulaye。
Caron was in his dressing…gown when Robespierre was ushered into
his study； and the sight of that greenish complexion and the small
eyes； looking very angry and menacing； caused the song that the
young man had been humming to fade on his lips。
〃You； Maximilien！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Your cordial welcome flatters me；〃 sneered the Incorruptible；
coming forward。 Then with a sudden change of voice： 〃What is that
they tell me you have done； miserable？〃 he growled。
It would have been a madness on Caron's part to have increased an
anger that was already mounting to very passionate heights。
Contritely； therefore； and humbly he acknowledged his fault； and
cast himself upon the mercy of Robespierre。
But the Incorruptible was not so easily to be shaken。
〃Traitor that you are！〃 he inveighed。 〃Do you imagine that because
it is yours to make high sounding speeches in the Convention you
are to conspire with impunity against the Nation？ Your loyalty； it
seems； is no more than a matter of words； and they that would keep
their heads on their shoulders in France to…day will find the need
for more than words as their claim to be let live。 If you would
save your miserable neck； tell me what you have done with this
damned aristocrat。〃
〃He is gone；〃 answered La Boulaye quietly。
〃Don't prevaricate； Caron！ Don't seek to befool me； Citizen…deputy。
You have him in hiding somewhere。 You can have supplied him with
no papers； and a man may not travel out of France without them in
these times。 Tell me … where is he？〃
〃Gone；〃 repeated La Boulaye。 〃I have set him free； and he has
availed himself of it to place himself beyond your reach。 More
than that I cannot tell you。〃
〃Can you not？〃 snarled Robespierre； showing his teeth。 〃Of what
are you dreaming fool？ Do you think that I will so easily see
myself cheated of this dog？ Did I not tell you that rather would
I grant you the lives of a dozen aristocrats than that of this
single one？ Do you think； then； that I am so lightly to be
baulked？ Name of God？ Who are you； La Boulaye； what are you；
that you dare thwart me in this？〃 He looked at the young man's
impassive face to curb his anger。 〃Come； Caron；〃 he added； in a
wheedling tone。 〃Tell me what you have done with him？〃
〃I have already told you；〃 answered the other quietly。
As swift and suddenly as it changed before did Robespierre's humour
change again upon receiving that reply。 With a snort of anger he
strode to the door and threw it open。
〃Citizen…lieutenant！〃 he called； in a rasping voice。
〃Here； Citizen；〃 came a voice from below。
〃Give yourself the trouble of coming up with a couple of men。 Now；
Citizen La Boulaye；〃 he said； more composedly； as he turned once
more to the young man； 〃since you will not learn reason you may
mount the guillotine in his place。〃
Caron paled slightly as he inclined his head in silent submission。
At that moment the officer entered with his men at his heels。
〃Arrest me that traitor；〃 Maximilien commanded； pointing a shaking
finger at Caron。 〃To the Luxembourg with him。〃
〃If you will wait while I change my dressing…gown for a coat；
Citizen…officer；〃 said La Boulaye composedly； 〃I shall be grateful。〃
Then； turning to his official； 〃Brutus；〃 he called； 〃attend me。〃
He had an opportunity while Brutus was helping him into his coat to
whisper in the fellow's ear：
〃Let her know。〃
More he dared not say； but to his astute official that was enough；
and with a sorrowful face he delivered to Suzanne； a few hours
later； the news of La Boulaye's definite arrest and removal to the
Luxembourg。
At Brutus's description of the scene there had been 'twixt
Robespierre and Caron she sighed heavily； and her lashes grew wet。
〃Poor； faithful La Boulaye！〃 she murmured。 〃God aid him now。〃
She bore the news to d'Ombreval； and upon hearing it he tossed aside
the book that had been engrossing him and looked up； a sudden light
of relief spreading on his weak face。
〃It is the end；〃 said he； as though no happier consummation could
have attended matters； 〃and we have no more to wait for。 Shall we
set out to…day？〃 he asked； and urged the wisdom of making haste。
〃I hope and I pray God that it may not be the end； as you so fondly
deem it； Monsieur；〃 she answered him。 〃But whether it is the end
or not； I am resolved to wait until there is no room for any hope。〃
〃As you will；〃 he sighed wearily； 〃The issue of it all will probably
be the loss of our heads。 But even that might be more easily
accomplished than to impart reason to a woman。〃
〃Or unselfishness； it seems； to a man；〃 she returned； as she swept
angrily from the room。
CHAPTER XXII
THE TRIBUNAL
At the Bar of the Revolutionary Tribunal stood Deputy Caron La
Boulaye upon his trial for treason to the Nation and contravention
of the ends of justice。 Fouquier…Tinvillle； the sleuth…hound
Attorney…General； advanced his charges； and detailed the nature of
the young revolutionist's crime。 But there was in Fouquier…Tinvillle's
prosecution a lack of virulence for once； just as among La Boulaye's
fellows； sitting in judgment； there was a certain uneasiness； for the
Revolution was still young； and it had not yet developed that
Saturnian habit of devouring its own children which was later to
become one of its main features。
The matter of La Boulaye's crime； however； was but too clear； and
despite the hesitancy on the part of the jury； despite the unwonted
tameness of Tinvillle's invective； the Tribunal's course was
well…defined； and admitted of not the slightest doubt。 And so； the
production of evidence being dispensed with by Caron's ready
concurrence and acknowledgment of the offence； the President was on
the point of formally asking the jury for their finding； when
suddenly there happened a commotion； and a small man in a blue coat
and black…rimmed spectacles rose at Tinvillle's side； and began an
impassioned speech for the defence。
This man was Robespierre； and the revolutionists sitting there
listened to him in mute wonder； for they recalled that it was upon
the Incorruptible's own charge their brother…deputy had been arrested。
Ardently did Maximilien pour out his eloquence； enumerating the many
virtues of the accused and dwelling at length upon his vast services
to the Republic； his hitherto unfaltering fidelity to the nation and
the people's cause； and lastly； deploring that in a moment of
weakness he should have committed the indiscretion which had brought
him where he stood。 And against this thing of which he was now
accused； Robespierre bade the Deputies of the jury balance the young
man's past； and the much that he had done for the Revolution； and
to offer him； in consideration of all that； a chance of making
atonement and regaining the position of trust and of brotherly
affection which for a moment he had forfeited。
The Court was stirred by the address。 They knew the young
sans…culotte's worth； and they were reluctant to pass sentence upon
him and to send him to the death designed for aristocrats and
