the trampling of the lilies-第5章
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Marie obeyed； with eyes downcast and a heightened colour。 If she
conjectured at all why they had been stopped； it was but to conclude
that M。 le Marquis was about to offer her some mark of appreciation。
Uneasiness； in her dear innocence； she knew none。
〃What is your name； child？〃 inquired the Marquis more gently。
〃It was Marie Michelin； Monseigneur；〃 she made answer timidly。 〃But
it has just been changed to Marie Tardivet。〃
〃You have just been wed； eh？〃
〃We are on our way from church； Monseigneur。〃
〃C'est ca；〃 he murmured； as if to himself； and his eyes taking such
stock of her as made Charlot burn to tear him from his horse。 Then；
in a kindly； fatherly voice； he added： 〃My felicitations； Marie； may
you be a happy wife and a happier mother。〃
〃Merci； Monseigneur；〃 she murmured； with crimson cheeks； whilst
Charlot breathed once more； and from his heart gave thanks to Heaven；
believing the interview at an end。 But he went too fast。
〃Do you know； Marie； that you are a very comely child？〃 quoth the
Marquis； in tones which made the bridegroom's blood run cold。
Some in that noble company nudged one another； and one there was who
burst into a loud guffaw。
〃Charlot has often told me so；〃 she laughed； all unsuspicious。
The Marquis moved on his horse that he might bend lower。 With his
forefinger he uptilted her chin； and now； as she met his glance thus
at close quarters； an unaccountable fear took possession of her； and
the colour died out of her plump cheeks。
〃Yes；〃 said Bellecour； with a smile。 〃this Tardivet has good taste。
My congratulations； to him。 We must find you a wedding gift； little
woman；〃 he continued more briskly。 〃It is an ancient and honoured
custom that is falling somewhat into neglect。 Go up to the Chateau
with Blaise and Jean there。 This good Tardivet must curb his
impatience until to…morrow。〃
He turned in his saddle； and beckoning the two servants he had named；
he bade Marie to mount behind Blaise。
She drew back now； her cheeks white as those of the dead。 With a
wild terror in her eyes she turned to Charlot； who stood the very
picture of anguish and impotent rage。 In the cortege； where but a
few moments ago all had been laughter； a sob or two sounded now from
some of the women。
〃By my faith；〃 laughed Bellecour contemptuously eyeing their
dejection； 〃you have more the air of a burial than a bridal party。〃
〃Mercy my lord！〃 cried the agonised voice of Charlot； as； distraught
with grief； he flung himself before the Marquis。
〃Who seeks to harm you； fool？〃 was Bellecour's half…derisive
rejoinder。
〃Do not take her from me； my lord；〃 the young man pleaded piteously。
〃She shall return to…morrow； booby；〃 answered the noble。 〃Out of
the way！〃
But Charlot was obstinate。 The Marquis might be claiming no more
than by ancient law was the due of the Seigneur； but Charlot was by
no means minded to submit in craven acquiescence to that brutal；
barbarous law。
〃My lord；〃 he cried； 〃you shall not take her。 She is my wife。 She
belongs to me。 You shall not take her！〃
He caught hold of the Marquis's bridle with such a strength and
angry will that the horse was forced to back before him。
〃Insolent clod！〃 exclaimed Bellecour； with an angry laugh and a
sharp； downward blow of the butt of his whip upon the peasant's head。
Charlot's hand grew nerveless and released the bridle as he sank
stunned to the ground。 Bellecour touched his horse with the spur
and rode over the prostrate fellow with no more concern than had he
been a dog's carcase。 〃Blaise； see to the girl；〃 he called over his
shoulder； adding to his company： 〃Come； messieurs； we have wasted
time enough。〃
Not a hand was raised to stay him； not a word of protest uttered；
as the nobles rode by； laughing； and chatting among themselves； with
the utmost unconcern of the tragedy that was being enacted。
Like a flock of frightened sheep the peasants stood huddled together
and watched them go。 In the same inaction … for all that not a
little grief was blent with the terror on their countenances … they
stood by and allowed Blaise to lift the half…swooning girl to the
withers of his horse。 No reply had they to the coarse jest with
which he and his fellow…servant rode off。 But La Boulaye； who； from
the point where he and Duhamel had halted； had observed the whole
scene from its inception； turned now a livid face upon his companion。
〃Shall such things be？〃 he cried passionately。 〃Merciful God！ Are
we men； Duhamel； and do we permit such things to take place？〃
The old pedagogue shrugged his shoulders in despair。 His face was
heavily scored by sorrow。
〃Helas！〃 he sighed。 〃Are they not masters of all that they may take？
The Marquis goes no further than is by ancient law allowed his class。
It is the law needs altering； my friend； and then the men will alter。
Meanwhile； behold them … lords of life and death。〃
〃Lords of hell are they！〃 blazed the young revolutionist。 〃That is
where they belong； whence they are come； and whither they shall
return。 Poltroons！〃 he cried； shaking his fist at the group of cowed
peasants that surrounded the prostrate Charlot 〃Sheep！ Worthless
clods！ The nobles do well to despise you； for； by my faith； you
invite nothing but contempt； you that will suffer rape and murder
to be done under your eyes； and never do more than look scared
encouragement upon your ravishers！〃
〃Blame not these poor wretches； Caron；〃 sighed the old man。 〃They
dare not raise a hand。〃
〃Then； pardieu！ here； at least； is one who does dare；〃 he cried
furiously； as from the breast pocket of his coat he drew a pistol。
Blaise； with the girl across the withers of his horse； was
approaching them； followed by Jean。
〃What would you do？〃 cried the old man fearfully； setting a
restraining hand upon La Boulaye's sleeve。 But Caron shook himself
free。
〃This；〃 was all he answered； and simultaneously； he levelled his
pistol and fired at Blaise。
Shot through the head； the servant collapsed forward； then； as the
horse reared and started off at a gallop； he toppled sideways and
fell。 The girl went down with him and lay in the road whilst he
was dragged along； his head bumping horribly on the stones as faster
and faster went the frightened horse。
With a shout that may have been either anger or dismay Jean reined
in his horse； and sat for a second hesitating whether to begin by
recovering the girl； or avenging his comrade。 But his doubts were
solved for him by La Boulaye； who took a deliberate aim at him。
〃Begone！〃 cried the secretary； 〃unless you prefer to go by the road
I've sent your fellow。〃 And being a discreet youth； Jean made off
in silence by the street down which poor Blaise had been dragged。
〃Carom〃 cried Duhamel； in a frenzy of apprehension。 〃I tremble for
you； my son。 Fly from Bellecour at once … now； this very instant。
Go to my friends at Amiens； they will … 〃
But Caron had already left his side to repair to the spot where
Marie was lying。 The peasantry followed him； though leisurely； in
their timid hesitation。 They were asking themselves whether； even
so remotely as by tending the girl； they dared participate in the
violence La Boulaye had committed。 That a swift vengeance would be
the Seigneur's answer they were well assured； and a great fear
possessed them that in that vengeance those of the Chateau might
lack discrimination。 Charlot was amongst them； and on his feet； but
still too dazed to have a clear knowledge of the circumstances。
Presently； however； his faculties awakening and taking in the
situation； he staggered forward； and came lurching towards La
Boulaye； who was assisting the frightened Marie to rise。 With a
great sob the girl flung herself into her husband's arms。
〃Charlot； mon Charlot！〃 she cried； and added a moment later： 〃It was
he … this brave gentleman … who rescued me。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Charlot； 〃I shall remember it to my dying day。〃
He would have said more； but the peasants； stirred by fear； now
roused themselves and plucked at his coat。
〃Get you gone； Charlot； Get you gone quickly；〃 they advised him。
〃And if you are wise you will leave Bellecour wit
