the trampling of the lilies-第50章

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to　open　for　him　with　as　much　servility　as　ever　the　haughtiest
aristocrat　had　compelled。

Saving　that　single　gaoler；　La　Boulaye　was　alone　in　the　spacious　hall
of　the　Conciergerie。　　From　without　they　heard　the　wild　clamouring
and　Ca…iraing　of　the　mob。　　Chafing　at　this　fresh　delay；　which　was
as　a　prolongation　of　his　death…agony；　La　Boulaye　was　pacing　to　and
fro；　the　ring　of　his　footsteps　on　the　stone　floor　yielding　a　hollow；
sepulchral　echo。

〃Is　he　never　returning？〃　he　cried　at　last；　and　as　if　in　answer　to
his　question；　the　drums　suddenly　began　to　roll；　and　the　vociferations
of　the　rabble　swelled　in　volume　and　grew　shriller。　　〃What　is　that？〃
he　inquired。

The　gaoler；　on　whose　dirty　face　some　measure　of　surprise　was
manifested；　approached　the　little　grating　that　overlooked　the　yard
and　peered　out。

〃Sacrenom！〃　he　swore。　　〃The　tumbrils　are　moving。　　They　have　left
you　behind；　Citizen。〃

But　La　Boulaye　gathered　no　encouragement；　such　as　the　gaoler　thought
he　might；　from　that　contingency。　　He　but　imagined　that　it　was
Robespierre's　wish　to　put　him　back　for　another　day　in　the　hope　that
he　might　still　loosen　his　tongue。　　An　oath　of　vexation　broke　from
him；　and　he　stamped　his　foot　impatiently　upon　the　floor。

Then　the　door　opened　suddenly；　and　Robespierre　held　it　whilst　into
the　room　came　a　woman；　closely　veiled；　whose　tall　and　shapely　figure
caused　the　young　Deputy's　breath　to　flutter。　　The　Incorruptible
followed　her；　and　turning　to　the　gaoler：

〃Leave　us；〃　he　commanded　briskly。

And　presently；　when　those　three　stood　alone；　the　woman　raised　her
veil　and　disclosed　the　face　he　had　expected　…　the　beautiful　face　of
Suzanne　de　Bellecour；　but；　alas！　woefully　pale　and　anguished　of
expression。　　She　advanced　a　step　towards　Caron；　and　then　stood　still；
encountering　his　steadfast；　wonder…struck　gaze；　and　seeming　to
falter。　　With　a　sob；　at　last　she　turned　to　Maximilien；　who　had
remained　a　pace　or　two　behind。

〃Tell　him；　Monsieur；〃　she　begged。

Robespierre　started　out　of　his　apparent　abstraction。　　He　peered　at
her　with　his　short…sighted　eyes；　and　from　her　to　Caron。　　Then　he
came　forward　a　step　and　cleared　his　throat；　rather　as　a　trick　of
oratory　than　to　relieve　any　huskiness。

〃To　put　it　briefly；　my　clear　Caron；〃　said　he；　〃the　Citoyenne　here
has　manifested　a　greater　solicitude　for　your　life　than　you　did
yourself；　and　she　has　done　me　the　twofold　service　of　setting　it
in　my　power　to　punish　an　enemy；　and　to　preserve　a　friend　from　a
death　that　was　very　imminent。　　In　the　eleventh　hour　she　came　to　me
to　make　terms　for　your　pardon。　　She　proposed　to　deliver　up　to　me
the　person　of　the　ci…devant　Vicomte　d'Ombreval　provided　that　I
should　grant　you　an　unconditional　pardon。　　You　can　imagine；　my
good　Caron；　with　what　eagerness　I　agreed　to　her　proposal；　and　with
what　pleasure　I　now　announce　to　you　that　you　are　free。〃

〃Free！〃　gasped　La　Boulaye；　his　eyes　travelling　fearfully　from
Robespierre　to　Mademoiselle；　and　remaining　riveted　upon　the　latter
as　though　he　were　attempting　to　penetrate　into　the　secrets　of　her
very　soul。

〃Practically　free；〃　answered　the　Incorruptible。　　〃You　may　leave
the　Conciergerie　when　you　please；　thought　I　shall　ask　you　to　remain
at　your　lodging　in　the　Rue　Nationale　until　this　Ombreval　is　actually
taken。　　Once　he　has　been　brought　to　Paris；　I　shall　send　you　your
papers　that　you　may　leave　France；　for；　much　though　I　shall　regret
your　absence；　I　think　that　it　will　be　wiser　for　you　to　make　your
fortune　elsewhere　after　what　has　passed。〃

La　Boulaye　took　a　step　in　Suzanne's　direction。

〃You　have　done　this？〃　he　cried；　in　a　quivering　voice。　　〃You　have
betrayed　the　man　to　whom　you　were　betrothed？〃

〃Do　not　use　that　word；　Monsieur；〃　she　cried；　with　a　shudder。　　〃My
action　cannot　be　ranked　among　betrayals。　　He　would　have　let　you　go
to　the　guillotine　in　his　stead。　　He　had　not　the　virtue　to　come
forward；　for　all　that　he　knew　that　you　must　die　if　he　did　not。　　On
the　contrary；　such　a　condition　of　things　afforded　him　amusement；
matter　to　scorn　and　insult　you　with。　　He　would　have　complacently
allowed　a　dozen　men　to　have　gone　to　the　guillotine　that　his　own
worthless　life　might　have　been　spared。

〃But　he　was　your　betrothed！〃　La　Boulaye　protested。

〃True！〃　she　made　answer；　　〃but　I　had　to　choose　between　the　man　it
had　been　arranged　I　should　marry　and　the　man　I　lowed。〃　　A　flush
crimsoned　her　cheek；　and　her　voice　sank　almost　to　a　whisper。　　〃And
to　save　the　man　I　love　I　have　delivered　up　Ombreval。〃

〃Suzanne　〃

The　name　burst　from　his　lips　in　a　shout　of　wonder　and　of　joy
ineffable。　　In　a　stride　he　seemed　to　cover　the　distance　between
them；　and　he　caught　her　to　him　as　the　door　slammed　on　the
discreetly　departing　Robespierre。







End