the trampling of the lilies-第8章
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seen； the news came as so desirable a solution to the altercation
that was waxing 'twixt himself and Des Cadoux that he was more
than glad to avail himself of it。
The discovery that Caron lived was made while they were cutting him
down from his pillory； and just as the Marquis was turning to go
within。 A flutter of the eyelids and a gasp for breath announced
the fact； and the executioner was on the point of crying out his
discovery when Mademoiselle's eyes flashed him a glance of warning；
and her voice whispered feverishly：
〃Hush！ There are ten louis for each of you if you but keep silent
and carry him to Master Duhamel as I told you。〃
The secretary opened his eyes but saw nothing； and a low moan
escaped him。 She shot a fearful glance at the retreating figure of
her father； whilst Gilles … the executioner … hissed sharply into
his ear：
〃Mille diables！ be still； man。 You are dead。〃
Thus did he escape； and thus was he borne … a limp； agonised； and
bleeding mass； to the house of Duhamel。 The old schoolmaster
received them with tears in his eyes … nor were they altogether tears
of sorrow； for all that poor Caron's mangled condition grieved him
sorely； they were in a measure tears of thankfulness； for Duhamel had
not dared hope to see the young man alive again。
At the pedagogue's door stood a berline； and within his house there
was a visitor。 This was a slight young man of medium stature； who
had not the appearance of more than twenty…five years of age； for
all that； as a matter of fact； he was just over thirty。 He was
dressed with so scrupulous a neatness as to convey； in spite of the
dark colour of his garments； an impression almost of foppishness。
There was an amplitude about his cravat； an air of extreme care
about the dressing of his wig and the powdering of it； and a shining
brightness about his buttons and the buckles of his shoes which
seemed to proclaim the dandy； just as the sombreness of the colour
chosen seemed to deny it。 In his singularly pale countenance a
similar contradiction was observable。 The weak； kindly eyes almost
appeared to give the lie to the astute prominence of his cheekbones；
the sensitiveness of the mouth seemed neutralised by the thinness
of the lips； whilst the oddly tip…tilted nose made a mock of the
austerity of the brow。
He was perfectly at ease in his surroundings； and as La Boulaye was
carried into the schoolmaster's study and laid on a couch； he came
forward and peered curiously at the secretary's figure； voicing an
inquiry concerning him。
〃It is the young man of whom I was telling you； Maximilien；〃 answered
Duhamel。 〃I give thanks to God that they have not killed him
outright。 It is a mercy I had not expected from those wolves； and
one which； on my soul； I cannot understand。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Gilles； 〃will understand it better perhaps if I
tell you that the Marquis believes him to be dead。 He was cut down
for dead； and when we discovered that he still lived it was
Mademoiselle who prevailed upon us to save him。 She is paying us
to keep the secret； but not a fortune would tempt me if I thought
the Seigneur were ever likely to hear of it。 He must be got away
from Bellecour； indeed； he must be got out of Picardy at once；
Monsieur。 And you must promise me that this shall be done or we
will carry him back to the Chateau and tell the Marquis that he
has suddenly revived。 I must insist； Monsieur； for if ever it
should transpire that he was not dead the Seigneur would hang us。〃
The stranger's weak eyes seemed to kindle in anger； and his lips
curled until they exaggerated the already preposterous tilt of his
nose。
〃He would hang you； eh？〃 said he。 〃Ma foi； Duhamel； we shall change
all this very soon； I promise you。〃
〃God knows it needs changing；〃 growled Duhamel。 〃It seems that it
was only in the Old Testament that Heaven interfered with human
iniquity。 Why it does not rain fire and brimstone on the Chateau
de Bellecour passes the understanding of a good Christian。 I'll
swear that in neither Sodom nor Gomorrah was villainy more rampant。
The stranger plucked at his sleeve to remind him of the presence
of the servants from the Chateau。 Duhamel turned to them。
〃I will keep him concealed here until he is able to get about；〃
he assured them。 〃Then I shall find him the means to leave the
province。〃
But Gilles shook his head； and his companion grunted an echo of
his disapproval。
〃That will not serve； master；〃 he answered sullenly。 〃What if the
Seigneur should have word of his presence here？ It is over…dangerous。
Someone may see him。 No； no； Either he leaves Bellecour this very
night； and you swear that he shall； or else we carry him back to the
Chateau。〃
〃But how can I swear this？〃 cried Duhamel impatiently。
〃Why； easily enough；〃 put in the stranger。 〃 Let me take him in my
berline。 I can leave him at Amiens or at Beauvais； or any one of
the convenient places that I pass。 Or I can even carry him on to
Paris with me。〃
〃You are very good； Maximilien；〃 answered the old man； to which the
other returned a gesture of deprecation。
In this fashion； then； was the matter settled to the satisfaction
of the Seigneur's retainers； and upon having received Duhamel's
solemn promise that Caron should be carried out of Bellecour； and；
for that matter； out of Picardy； before the night was spent； they
withdrew。
Within the schoolmaster's study he whom Duhamel called Maximilien
strode to and fro； his hands clasped behind his back； his head bent；
his chin thrust forward； denouncing the seigneurial system； of whose
atrocity he had received that evening instances enough … for he had
heard the whole story of La Boulaye's rebellion against the power
of Bellecour and the causes that had led to it。
〃We will mend all this； I promise you； Duhamel；〃 he was repeating。
〃But not until we have united to shield the weak from oppression；
to restrain the arrogant and to secure to each the possession of
what belongs to him； not until all men are free and started upon
equal terms in the race of life； not until we shall have set up
rules of justice and of peace； to which all … rich and poor； noble
and simple alike … shall be obliged to conform。 Thus only can we
repair the evil done by the caprice of fortune； which causes the
one to be born into silk and the other into fustian。 We must
subject the weak and the mighty alike to mutual duties； collecting
our forces into the supreme power to govern us all impartially by
the same laws； to protect alike all members of the community； to
repel our common foes and preserve us in never…ending concord。 How
many crimes； murders； wars； miseries； horrors shall thus be spared
us； Duhamel？ And it will come； it will come soon； never fear。〃
Caron stirred on the couch where Duhamel was tending him； and raised
his head to glance at the man who was voicing the doctrines that for
years had dwelt in his heart。
〃Dear Jean Jacques；〃 he murmured。
The stranger turned sharply and stepped to the young man's side。
〃You have read the master？〃 he inquired； with a sudden； new…born
interest in the secretary。
〃Read him？〃 cried Carom forgetting for the moment the sore condition
of his body in the delight of discovering one who was bound to him
by such bonds of sympathy as old Rousseau established。
〃Read him； Monsieur？ There is scarce a line in all his 'Discourses'
that I do not know by heart； and that I do not treasure； vaguely
hoping and praying that some day such a state as he dreamt of may
find itself established； and may sweep aside these corrupt；
tyrannical conditions。〃
Maximilien's eyes kindled。
〃Boy；〃 he answered impressively； 〃Your hopes are on the eve of
fruition； your prayers are about to be heard。 Yes … even though it
should entail trampling the Lilies of France into the very dust。
〃Who are you； Monsieur？〃 asked La Boulaye； eyeing this prophet with
growing interest。
〃Robespierre is my name；〃 was the answer； and to La Boulaye it
conveyed no enlightenment； for the name of Maximilien Marie Isidore
de Robespierre； which within so very short a time was to mean so
much in France； as yet meant nothing。
La Bo
