scaramouche-第14章
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violation of which is ranked as almost a capital offence？
〃And what of other rights； unspeakable； abominable； over the lives
and bodies of their people； rights which； if rarely exercised； have
never been rescinded。 To this day if a noble returning from the
hunt were to slay two of his serfs to bathe and refresh his feet in
their blood； he could still claim in his sufficient defence that it
was his absolute feudal right to do so。
〃Rough…shod； these million Privileged ride over the souls and bodies
of twenty…four million contemptible canaille existing but for their
own pleasure。 Woe betide him who so much as raises his voice in
protest in the name of humanity against an excess of these already
excessive abuses。 I have told you of one remorselessly slain in
cold blood for doing no more than that。 Your own eyes have witnessed
the assassination of another here upon this plinth； of yet another
over there by the cathedral works； and the attempt upon my own life。
〃Between them and the justice due to them in such cases stand these
Lesdiguieres； these King's Lieutenants； not instruments of justice；
but walls erected for the shelter of Privilege and Abuse whenever it
exceeds its grotesquely excessive rights。
〃Do you wonder that they will not yield an inch； that they will
resist the election of a Third Estate with the voting power to
sweep all these privileges away； to compel the Privileged to submit
themselves to a just equality in the eyes of the law with the
meanest of the canaille they trample underfoot； to provide that the
moneys necessary to save this state from the bankruptcy into which
they have all but plunged it shall be raised by taxation to be borne
by themselves in the same proportion as by others？
〃Sooner than yield to so much they prefer to resist even the royal
command。〃
A phrase occurred to him used yesterday by Vilmorin； a phrase to
which he had refused to attach importance when uttered then。 He
used it now。 〃In doing this they are striking at the very
foundations of the throne。 These fools do not perceive that if
that throne falls over； it is they who stand nearest to it who will
be crushed。〃
A terrific roar acclaimed that statement。 Tense and quivering with
the excitement that was flowing through him； and from him out into
that great audience； he stood a moment smiling ironically。 Then he
waved them into silence；； and saw by their ready obedience how
completely he possessed them。 For in the voice with which he spoke
each now recognized the voice of himself； giving at last expression
to the thoughts that for months and years had been inarticulately
stirring in each simple mind。
Presently he resumed； speaking more quietly； that ironic smile about
the corner of his mouth growing more marked：
〃In taking my leave of M。 de Lesdiguieres I gave him warning out of
a page of natural history。 I told him that when the wolves； roaming
singly through the jungle； were weary of being hunted by the tiger；
they banded themselves into packs； and went a…hunting the tiger in
their turn。 M。 de Lesdiguieres contemptuously answered that he did
not understand me。 But your wits are better than his。 You
understand me； I think？ Don't you？〃
Again a great roar； mingled now with some approving laughter； was
his answer。 He had wrought them up to a pitch of dangerous passion；
and they were ripe for any violence to which he urged them。 If he
had failed with the windmill； at least he was now master of the wind。
〃To the Palais！〃 they shouted； waving their hands； brandishing canes；
and … here and there … even a sword。 〃To the Palais！ Down with M。
de Lesdiguieres！ Death to the King's Lieutenant！〃
He was master of the wind； indeed。 His dangerous gift of oratory
… a gift nowhere more powerful than in France； since nowhere else
are men's emotions so quick to respond to the appeal of eloquence
… had given him this mastery。 At his bidding now the gale would
sweep away the windmill against which he had flung himself in vain。
But that； as he straightforwardly revealed it； was no part of his
intent。
〃Ah； wait！〃 he bade them。 〃Is this miserable instrument of a
corrupt system worth the attention of your noble indignation？〃
He hoped his words would be reported to M。 de Lesdiguieres。 He
thought it would be good for the soul of M。 de Lesdiguieres to hear
the undiluted truth about himself for once。
〃It is the system itself you must attack and overthrow； not a mere
instrument … a miserable painted lath such as this。 And precipitancy
will spoil everything。 Above all； my children； no violence！〃
My children！ Could his godfather have heard him！
〃You have seen often already the result of premature violence
elsewhere in Brittany； and you have heard of it elsewhere in France。
Violence on your part will call for violence on theirs。 They will
welcome the chance to assert their mastery by a firmer grip than
heretofore。 The military will be sent for。 You will be faced by
the bayonets of mercenaries。 Do not provoke that； I implore you。
Do not put it into their power； do not afford them the pretext they
would welcome to crush you down into the mud of your own blood。〃
Out of the silence into which they had fallen anew broke now the
cry of
〃What else； then？ What else？〃
〃I will tell you；〃 he answered them。 〃The wealth and strength of
Brittany lies in Nantes … a bourgeois city； one of the most
prosperous in this realm； rendered so by the energy of the
bourgeoisie and the toil of the people。 It was in Nantes that
this movement had its beginning； and as a result of it the King
issued his order dissolving the States as now constituted … an
order which those who base their power on Privilege and Abuse do
not hesitate to thwart。 Let Nantes be informed of the precise
situation； and let nothing be done here until Nantes shall have
given us the lead。 She has the power … which we in Rennes have
not … to make her will prevail； as we have seen already。 Let her
exert that power once more； and until she does so do you keep the
peace in Rennes。 Thus shall you triumph。 Thus shall the outrages
that are being perpetrated under your eyes be fully and finally
avenged。〃
As abruptly as he had leapt upon the plinth did he now leap down
from it。 He had finished。 He had said all … perhaps more than
all … that could have been said by the dead friend with whose voice
he spoke。 But it was not their will that he should thus extinguish
himself。 The thunder of their acclamations rose deafeningly upon
the air。 He had played upon their emotions … each in turn … as a
skilful harpist plays upon the strings of his instrument。 And they
were vibrant with the passions he had aroused； and the high note of
hope on which he had brought his symphony to a close。
A dozen students caught him as he leapt down； and swung him to their
shoulders； where again he came within view of all the acclaiming
crowd。
The delicate Le Chapelier pressed alongside of him with flushed face
and shining eyes。
〃My lad；〃 he said to him； 〃you have kindled a fire to…day that will
sweep the face of France in a blaze of liberty。〃 And then to the
students he issued a sharp command。 〃To the Literary Chamber …at
once。 We must concert measures upon the instant； a delegate must
be dispatched to Nantes forthwith； to convey to our friends there
the message of the people of Rennes。〃
The crowd fell back； opening a lane through which the students bore
the hero of the hour。 Waving his hands to them； he called upon
them to disperse to their homes； and await there in patience what
must follow very soon。
〃You have endured for centuries with a fortitude that is a pattern
to the world；〃 he flattered them。 〃Endure a little longer yet。 The
end； my friends； is well in sight at last。〃
They carried him out of the square and up the Rue Royale to an old
house； one of the few old houses surviving in that city that had
risen from its ashes； where in an upper chamber lighted by
diamond…shaped panes of yellow glass the Literary Chamber usually
held its meetings。 Thither in his wake the members of that chamber
came hurrying； summoned by the messages that Le
