the trampling of the lilies-第47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！
sans…culotte's worth； and they were reluctant to pass sentence upon
him and to send him to the death designed for aristocrats and
traitors。 And so they readily pronounced themselves willing to
extend him the most generous measure of mercy； to open their arms
and once more to clasp to their hearts the brother who had strayed
and to reinstate him in their confidence and their councils。 They
pressed Robespierre to name the act of atonement by which he
proposed La Boulaye should recover his prestige； and Robespierre in
answer cried：
〃Let him repair the evil he has done。 Let him neutralise the
treachery into which a moment of human weakness betrayed him。 Let
him return to us the aristocrat he has attempted to save； and we
will forget his indiscretion and receive him back amongst us with
open arms； as was the prodigal son received。〃
There was a salvo of applause。 Men rose to their feet excitedly；
and with arms outstretched in Caron's direction they vociferously
implored him to listen to reason as uttered by the Incorruptible；
to repent him and to atone while there was yet time。 They loved
him； they swore in voices of thunder； each seeking to be heard
above his neighbour's din； and it would break their hearts to find
him guilty； yet find him guilty they must unless he chose the
course which this good patriot Maximilien pointed out to him。
La Boulaye stood pale but composed； his lips compressed； his keen
eyes alert。 Inwardly he was moved by this demonstration of goodwill；
this very storm of fraternity； but his purpose remained adamant； and
when at last the President's bell had tinkled his noisy judges into
silence； his voice rose clear and steady as he thanked them for
leaning to clemency on his behalf。
〃Helas；〃 he ended； 〃words cannot tell you how deeply I deplore that
it is a clemency of which I may not avail myself。 What I have done
I may not undo。 And so； Citizens； whilst I would still retain your
love and your sympathy； you must suffer me to let justice take its
course。 To delay would be but to waste your time the Nation's time。〃
〃But this is rank defiance；〃 roared Tinvillle； roused at last into
some semblance of his habitual bloodthirstiness。 〃He whose heart
can be so insensible to our affections merits no clemency at this
bar。〃
And so the President turned with a shrug to his colleagues； and
the verdict was taken。 The finding was 〃Guilty；〃 and the President
was on the point of passing sentence； when again Robespierre sprang
to his feet。 The Incorruptible's complexion looked sicklier than
its wont； for mortification had turned him green outright。 A gust
of passion swept through his soul； such as would have made another
man call for the death of this defiant youth who had withstood his
entreaties。 But such was Robespierre's wonderful command of self；
such was his power of making his inclinations subservient to the
ends he had in view that he had but risen to voice a fresh appeal。
He demanded that the sentence should be passed with the reservation
that the accused should have twenty…four hours for reflection。
Should he at the end of that time be disposed to tell them where
the ci…devant Vicomte d'Ombreval was to be found； let them reconsider
his case。 On the other hand； should he still continue obdurate by
the noon of to…morrow； then let the sentence be consummated。
There was some demur； but Robespierre swept it fiercely aside with
patriotic arguments。 La Boulaye was a stout servant of the Nation；
whom it must profit France to let live that he might serve her；
Ombreval was a base aristocrat； whose death all true Republicans
should aim at encompassing。 And so he won the day in the end； and
when the sentence of death was passed； it was passed with the
reservation that should the prisoner； upon reflection； be inclined
to show himself more loyal to France and the interests of the
Republic by telling them how Ornbreval might be recaptured； he
would find them still inclined to mercy and forgiveness。 Allowing
his eyes to stray round the Court at that moment； La Boulaye started
at sight of an unexpected face。 It was Mademoiselle de Bellecour；
deathly pale and with the strained； piteous look that haunts the
eyes of the mad。 He shivered at the thought of the peril to herself
in coming into that assembly； then； recovering himself； he turned
to his judges。
〃Citizen…President； Citizens all； I thank you； but I should be
unappreciative of your kindness did I permit you to entertain false
hopes。 My purpose is unalterable。〃
〃Take him away；〃 the President commanded impatiently； and as they
removed him Mademoiselle crept from the Court； weeping softly in
her poignant grief； and realising that not so much for the
President's ear as for her own had La Boulaye uttered those words。
They were meant to fortify her and to give her courage with the
assurance that Ombreval would not be betrayed。 To give her courage！
Her lip was twisted into an oddly bitter smile at the reflection；
as she stepped into her cabriolet； and bade the driver return to
Choisy。 Caron was doing this for her。 He was casting away his
young； vigorous life； with all its wealth of promise； to the end
that her betrothed … the man whom he believed she loved … might be
spared。 The greatness； the nobility of the sacrifice overwhelmed
her。 She remembered the thoughts that in the past she had
entertained concerning this young revolutionist。 Never yet had
she been able to regard him as belonging to the same order of
beings as herself…not even when she had kissed his unconscious
lips that evening on the Ridge road。 An immeasurable gulf had
seemed to yawn between them … the gulf between her nobility and
his base origin。 And now； as her carriage trundled out of Paris
and took the dusty high road； she shuddered； and her cheeks burned
with shame at the memory of the wrong that by such thoughts she
had done him。 Was she； indeed； the nobler？ By accident of birth；
perhaps； but by nature proper he was assuredly the noblest man that
ever woman bore。
In the Place de la Revolution a gruesome engine they called the
guillotine was levelling all things； and fast establishing the
reign of absolute equality。 But with all the swift mowing of its
bloody scythe； not half so fast did it level men as Mademoiselle
de Bellecour's thoughts were doing that afternoon。
So marked was the disorder in her countenance when she reached
Choisy that even unobservant Ombreval whom continuous years of
self…complacency had rendered singularly obtuse … could not help
but notice it； and … fearing； no doubt； that this agitation might
in some way concern himself … he even went the length of questioning
her； his voice sounding the note of his alarm。
〃It is nothing；〃 she answered； in a dejected voice。 〃At least；
nothing that need cause you uneasiness。 They have sentenced La
Boulaye to death；〃 she announced； a spasm crossing her averted face。
He took a deep breath of relief。
〃God knows they've sentenced innocent men enough。 It is high time
they began upon one another。 It augurs well…extremely well。〃
They were alone in Henriette's kitchen； the faithful woman was at
market。 Mademoiselle was warming herself before the fire。 Ombreval
stood by the window。 He had spent the time of her absence in the
care of his clothes； and he had contrived to dress himself with some
semblance of his old…time elegance which enhanced his good looks
and high…born air。
〃You seem to utterly forget； Monsieur； the nature of the charge upon
which he has been arraigned；〃 she said； in a tired voice。
〃Why； no；〃 he answered； and he smiled airily； 〃he was sufficiently
a fool to be lured by the brightest eyes in France into a service
for their mistress。 My faith！ He's not the first by many a thousand
whom a woman's soft glances have undone … 〃
〃The degree in which you profit by the service he is doing those
bright eyes； appears singularly beneath the dignity of your notice。〃
〃What a jester you are becoming； ma mie；〃 he laughed and at the sound
she shuddered again and drew mechanically nearer to the fire as
though her shuddering was the result of cold。
〃It is yet possible tha
