el dorado-第3章
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impatient。 There was loud stamping of feet； and a few shrill
whistles of disapproval proceeded from the gallery。
〃If Heron gets impatient；〃 said de Batz lightly； when the noise
had momentarily subsided； the manager of this theatre and mayhap
his leading actor and actress will spend an unpleasant day
to…morrow。〃
〃Always Heron！〃 said St。 Just； with a contemptuous smile。
〃Yes； my friend；〃 rejoined the other imperturbably； 〃always Heron。
And he has even obtained a longer lease of existence this
afternoon。〃
〃By the new decree？〃
〃Yes。 The new decree。 The agents of the Committee of General
Security； of whom Heron is the chief； have from to…day powers of
domiciliary search； they have full powers to proceed against all
enemies of public welfare。 Isn't that beautifully vague？ And
they have absolute discretion； every one may become an enemy of
public welfare； either by spending too much money or by spending
too little； by laughing to…day or crying to…morrow； by mourning
for one dead relative or rejoicing over the execution of another。
He may be a bad example to the public by the cleanliness of his
person or by the filth upon his clothes； he may offend by walking
to…day and by riding in a carriage next week； the agents of the
Committee of General Security shall alone decide what constitutes
enmity against public welfare。 All prisons are to be opened at
their bidding to receive those whom they choose to denounce； they
have henceforth the right to examine prisoners privately and
without witnesses； and to send them to trial without further
warrants； their duty is clearthey must 'beat up game for the
guillotine。' Thus is the decree worded； they must furnish the
Public Prosecutor with work to do； the tribunals with victims to
condemn； the Place de la Revolution with death…scenes to amuse the
people； and for their work they will be rewarded thirty…five
livres for every head that falls under the guillotine Ah！ if
Heron and his like and his myrmidons work hard and well they can
make a comfortable income of four or five thousand livres a week。
We are getting on； friend St。 Justwe are getting on。〃
He had not raised his voice while he spoke； nor in the recounting
of such inhuman monstrosity； such vile and bloodthirsty conspiracy
against the liberty； the dignity； the very life of an entire
nation； did he appear to feel the slightest indignation； rather
did a tone of amusement and even of triumph strike through his
speech； and now he laughed good…humouredly like an indulgent
parent who is watching the naturally cruel antics of a spoilt boy。
〃Then from this hell let loose upon earth；〃 exclaimed St。 Just
hotly； 〃must we rescue those who refuse to ride upon this tide of
blood。〃
His cheeks were glowing； his eyes sparkled with enthusiasm。 He
looked very young and very eager。 Armand St。 Just； the brother of
Lady Blakeney； had something of the refined beauty of his lovely
sister； but the features though manlyhad not the latent strength
expressed in them which characterised every line of Marguerite's
exquisite face。 The forehead suggested a dreamer rather than a
thinker； the blue…grey eyes were those of an idealist rather than
of a man of action。
De Batz's keen piercing eyes had no doubt noted this； even whilst
he gazed at his young friend with that same look of good…humoured
indulgence which seemed habitual to him。
〃We have to think of the future； my good St。 Just；〃 he said after
a slight pause； and speaking slowly and decisively； like a father
rebuking a hot…headed child； 〃not of the present。 What are a few
lives worth beside the great principles which we have at stake？〃
〃The restoration of the monarchyI know；〃 retorted St。 Just；
still unsobered； 〃but； in the meanwhile〃
〃In the meanwhile；〃 rejoined de Batz earnestly； 〃every victim to
the lust of these men is a step towards the restoration of law and
orderthat is to say； of the monarchy。 It is only through these
violent excesses perpetrated in its name that the nation will
realise how it is being fooled by a set of men who have only their
own power and their own advancement in view； and who imagine that
the only way to that power is over the dead bodies of those who
stand in their way。 Once the nation is sickened by these orgies
of ambition and of hate； it will turn against these savage brutes；
and gladly acclaim the restoration of all that they are striving
to destroy。 This is our only hope for the future； and； believe
me； friend； that every head snatched from the guillotine by your
romantic hero； the Scarlet Pimpernel； is a stone laid for the
consolidation of this infamous Republic。〃
〃I'll not believe it；〃 protested St。 Just emphatically。
De Batz； with a gesture of contempt indicative also of complete
self…satisfaction and unalterable self…belief； shrugged his broad
shoulders。 His short fat fingers； covered with rings； beat a
tattoo upon the ledge of the box。
Obviously； he was ready with a retort。 His young friend's
attitude irritated even more than it amused him。 But he said
nothing for the moment； waiting while the traditional three knocks
on the floor of the stage proclaimed the rise of the curtain。 The
growing impatience of the audience subsided as if by magic at the
welcome call； everybody settled down again comfortably in their
seats； they gave up the contemplation of the fathers of the
people； and turned their full attention to the actors on the
boards。
CHAPTER II
WIDELY DIVERGENT AIMS
This was Armand S。 Just's first visit to Paris since that
memorable day when first he decided to sever his connection from
the Republican party； of which he and his beautiful sister
Marguerite had at one time been amongst the most noble； most
enthusiastic followers。 Already a year and a half ago the
excesses of the party had horrified him； and that was long before
they had degenerated into the sickening orgies which were
culminating to…day in wholesale massacres and bloody hecatombs of
innocent victims。
With the death of Mirabeau the moderate Republicans； whose sole
and entirely pure aim had been to free the people of France from
the autocratic tyranny of the Bourbons； saw the power go from
their clean hands to the grimy ones of lustful demagogues； who
knew no law save their own passions of bitter hatred against all
classes that were not as self…seeking； as ferocious as themselves。
It was no longer a question of a fight for political and religious
liberty only； but one of class against class； man against man； and
let the weaker look to himself。 The weaker had proved himself to
be； firstly； the man of property and substance； then the
law…abiding citizen； lastly the man of action who had obtained for
the people that very same liberty of thought and of belief which
soon became so terribly misused。
Armand St。 Just； one of the apostles of liberty； fraternity； and
equality； soon found that the most savage excesses of tyranny were
being perpetrated in the name of those same ideals which he had
worshipped。
His sister Marguerite； happily married in England； was the final
temptation which caused him to quit the country the destinies of
which he no longer could help to control。 The spark of enthusiasm
which he and the followers of Mirabeau had tried to kindle in the
hearts of an oppressed people had turned to raging tongues of
unquenchable flames。 The taking of the Bastille had been the
prelude to the massacres of September； and even the horror of
these had since paled beside the holocausts of to…day。
Armand； saved from the swift vengeance of the revolutionaries by
the devotion of the Scarlet Pimpernel； crossed over to England and
enrolled himself tinder the banner of the heroic chief。 But he
had been unable hitherto to be an active member of the League。
The chief was loath to allow him to run foolhardy risks。 The St。
Justsboth Marguerite and Armandwere still very well…known in
Paris。 Marguerite was not a woman easily forgotten； and her
marriage with an English 〃aristo〃 did not please those republican
circles who had looked upon her as their queen。 Armand's secession
from his party into the ranks of the emigres had singled him out
for
