the trampling of the lilies-第49章
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her corsage。 A moment she looked at him。 Then：
〃Do not let us talk of ourselves；〃 she exclaimed at last。 〃There is
a man in the Conciergerie who dies at noon unless you are
forthcoming before then to save him。 He himself will not betray
you because he … No matter why； he will not。 Tell me； Monsieur；
how do you； who account yourself a man of honour above everything；
intend to deal with this situation？〃
He shrugged his shoulders。
〃Once he is dead and done with … provided that he does not first
betray me … I trust that； no longer having this subject to harp
upon； you will consent to avail yourself of our passport； and
accompany me out of France。〃
〃Honour does not for instance； suggest to you that you should repair
to the Conciergerie and take the place that belongs to you； and
which another is filling？〃
A sudden light of comprehension swept now into his face。
〃At last I understand what has been in your mind since yesterday；
what has made you so odd in your words and manner。 You have thought
that it was perhaps my duty as a man of honour to go and effect the
rescue of this fellow。 But； my dear child； bethink you of what he
is； and of what I am。 Were he a gentleman … my equal … my course
would stand clearly defined。 I should not have hesitated a moment。
But this canaille！ Ma foi！ let me beg of you to come to your senses。
The very thought is unworthy in you。〃
〃I understand you；〃 she answered him； very coldly。 〃You use a
coward's arguments； and you have the effrontery to consider yourself
a man of honour … a nobleman。 I no longer marvel that there is a
revolution in France。〃
She stood surveying him for a moment； then she quietly left the room。
He stared after her。
〃Woman； woman！〃 he sighed； as he set down his napkin and rose in his
turn。
His humour was one of pitying patience for a girl that had not the
wit to see that to ask him … the most noble d'Ombreval … to die that
La Boulaye might live was very much like asking him to sacrifice
his life to save a dog's。
CHAPTER XXIII
THE CONCIERGERIE
It wanted but a few minutes to noon as the condemned of the day were
being brought out of the Conciergerie to take their places in the
waiting tumbrils。 Fourteen they numbered； and there was a woman
amongst them as composed as any of the men。 She descended the
prison steps in nonchalant conversation with a witty young man of
some thirty years of age； who had been one of the ornaments of the
prerevolutionary salons。 Had the pair been on the point of mounting
a wedding coach they could not have shown themselves in better
spirits。
Aristocrats； too； were the remaining twelve； with one exception； and
if they had not known how to live； at least they could set a very
splendid example of how to die。 They came mostly in pairs； and the
majority of them emulating the first couple and treating the whole
matter as a pleasantry that rather bored them by the element of
coarseness introduced by the mob。 One or two were pale； and their
eyes wore a furtive； frightened look。 But they valiantly fought
down their fears； and for all that the hearts within them may have
been sick with horror； they contrived to twist a smile on to their
pale lips。 They did not lack for stout patterns of high bearing；
and in addition they had their own arrogant pride …the pride that
had brought them at last to this pass … to sustain them in their
extremity。 Noblesse les obligeait。 The rabble； the canaille of
the new regime； might do what they would with their bodies； but
their spirits they could not break； nor overcome their indomitable
pride。 By the brave manner of their death it remained for them to
make amends for the atrocious manner of their lives； and such a
glamour did they shed upon themselves by the same brave manner；
that it compelled sympathy and admiration of those that beheld them；
and made upon humanity an impression deep enough to erase the former
impression left by their misdeeds。
Like heroes； like sainted martyrs； they died； these men who； through
generation after generation； had ground and crushed the people 'neath
the iron heel of tyranny and oppression； until the people had； of a
sudden； risen and reversed the position； going to excesses； in their
lately…awakened wrath； that were begotten of the excesses which for
centuries they had endured。
Last of this gallant and spruce company （for every man had donned
his best； and dressed himself with the utmost care） came Caron La
Boulaye。 He walked alone； for although their comrade in death； he
was their comrade in nothing else。 Their heads might lie together
in the sawdust of Sanson's basket； but while they lived； no contact
would they permit themselves； of body or of soul； with this
sans…culotte。 Had they known why he died； perhaps； they had shown
him fellowship。 But in their nescience of the facts； it would need
more than death to melt them into a kindness to a member of the
Convention； for death was the only thing they had in common； and
death； as we have seen； had not conquered them。
As he was about to pass out； a gaoler suddenly thrust forward a hand
to detain him； and almost simultaneously the door； which had swung
to behind the last of his death…fellows； re…opened to admit the
dapper figure of the Incorruptible。
He eyed Caron narrowly as he advanced into the hall； and at the
composure evident in the young man's bearing； his glance seemed to
kindle with admiration； for all that his lips remained cruel in
their tightened curves。
Caron gave him good…day with a friendly smile； and before Robespierre
could utter a word the young man was expressing his polite regrets
at having baulked him as he had done。
〃I had a great object to serve； Maximilien；〃 he concluded； 〃and my
only regret is that it should have run counter to your wishes。 I
owe you so much … everything in fact … that I am filled with shame
at the thought of how ill a return I am making you。 My only hope
is that by my death you will consider that I have sufficiently
atoned for my ingratitude。〃
〃Fool！〃 croaked Robespierre； 〃you are sacrificing yourself for some
chimaera and the life you are saving is that of a very worthless
and vicious individual。 Of your ingratitude to me wee will not
speak。 But even now； in the eleventh hour； I would have you bethink
you of yourself。〃
He held out ＇his hands to him； and entreaty was stamped upon
Robespierre's countenance to a degree which perhaps no man had yet
seen。 〃Bethink you； cher Caron … 〃 he began again。 But the young
man shook his head。
〃My friend； my best of friends；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I beg that you will
not make it harder for me。 I am resolved； and your entreaties do
but heighten my pain of thwarting your … the only pain that in this
supreme hour I am experiencing。 It is not a difficult thing to die；
Maximilien。 Were I to live； I must henceforth lead a life of
unsatisfied desire。 I must even hanker and sigh after a something
that is unattainable。 I die； and all this is extinguished with me。
At the very prospect my desires fade immeasurably。 Let me go in
peace； and with your forgiveness。〃
Robespierre eyed him a moment or two in astonishment。 Then he made
an abrupt gesture of impatience。
〃Fool that you are！ It is suicide you are committing。 And for
what？ For a dream a shadow。 Is this like a man； Caron'？ Is this …
Will you be still； you animal？〃 he barked at a gaoler who had once
before touched him upon the arm。 〃Do you not see that I am occupied？〃
But the man leant forward； and said some words hurriedly into
Robespierre's ear； which cast the petulance out of his face and mind；
and caused him of a sudden to become very attentive。
〃Ah？〃 he said at last。 Then； with a sudden briskness： 〃Let the
Citizen La Boulaye not go forth until I return；〃 he bade the gaoler；
and to Caron he said： 〃You will have the goodness to await my return。〃
With that he turned and stepped briskly across the hall and through
the door； which the gaoler； all equality notwithstanding； hastened
to open for him with as much servility as ever the haughtiest
aristocrat had compelled。
Saving that single gaoler； La Boulaye was a
