scaramouche-第19章
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plunge further into danger。 He would strike south again。 At the
foot of some meadows on this side of the village there was a ferry
that would put him across the river。 Thus he would avoid the
village； and by placing the river between himself and the immediate
danger； he would obtain an added sense of security。
A lane； turning out of the highroad； a quarter of a mile this side
of Gavrillac； led down to that ferry。 By this lane some twenty
minutes later came Andre…Louis with dragging feet。 He avoided the
little cottage of the ferryman； whose window was alight； and in the
dark crept down to the boat； intending if possible to put himself
across。 He felt for the chain by which the boat was moored； and
ran his fingers along this to the point where it was fastened。
Here to his dismay he found a padlock。
He stood up in the gloom and laughed silently。 Of course he might
have known it。 The ferry was the property of M。 de La Tour d'Azyr；
and not likely to be left unfastened so that poor devils might cheat
him of seigneurial dues。
There being no possible alternative； he walked back to the cottage；
and rapped on the door。 When it opened； he stood well back； and
aside； out of the shaft of light that issued thence。
〃Ferry！〃 he rapped out； laconically。
The ferryman； a burly scoundrel well known to him； turned aside to
pick up a lantern； and came forth as he was bidden。 As he stepped
from the little porch； he levelled the lantern so that its light
fell on the face of this traveller。
〃My God！〃 he ejaculated。
〃You realize； I see； that I am pressed；〃 said Andre…Louis； his eyes
on the fellow's startled countenance。
〃And well you may be with the gallows waiting for you at Rennes；〃
growled the ferryman。 〃Since you've been so foolish as to come
back to Gavrillac； you had better go again as quickly as you can。
I will say nothing of having seen you。〃
〃I thank you； Fresnel。 Your advice accords with my intention。 That
is why I need the boat。〃
〃Ah； that； no；〃 said Fresnel； with determination。 〃I'll hold my
peace； but it's as much as my skin is worth to help you。
〃You need not have seen my face。 Forget that you have seen it。〃
〃I'll do that； monsieur。 But that is all I will do。 I cannot put
you across the river。〃
〃Then give me the key of the boat； and I will put myself across。〃
〃That is the same thing。 I cannot。 I'll hold my tongue； but I
will not … I dare not … help you。〃
Andre…Louis looked a moment into that sullen； resolute face； and
understood。 This man； living under the shadow of La Tour d'Azyr；
dared exercise no will that might he in conflict with the will of
his dread lord。
〃Fresnel；〃 he said； quietly； 〃if； as you say； the gallows claim me；
the thing that has brought me to this extremity arises out of the
shooting of Mabey。 Had not Mabey been murdered there would have
been no need for me to have raised my voice as I have done。 Mabey
was your friend； I think。 Will you for his sake lend me the little
help I need to save my neck？〃
The man kept his glance averted； and the cloud of sullenness
deepened on his face。
〃I would if I dared； but I dare not。〃 Then； quite suddenly he became
angry。 It was as if in anger he sought support。 〃Don't you
understand that I dare not？ Would you have a poor man risk his life
for you？ What have you or yours ever done for me that you should ask
that？ You do not cross to…night in my ferry。 Understand that；
monsieur； and go at once … go before I remember that it may be
dangerous even to have talked to you and not give information。 Go！〃
He turned on his heel to reenter his cottage； and a wave of
hopelessness swept over Andre…Louis。
But in a second it was gone。 The man must be compelled； and he had
the means。 He bethought him of a pistol pressed upon him by Le
Chapelier at the moment of his leaving Rennes； a gift which at the
time he had almost disdained。 True； it was not loaded； and he had
no ammunition。 But how was Fresnel to know that？
He acted quickly。 As with his right hand he pulled it from his
pocket； with his left he caught the ferryman by the shoulder； and
swung him round。
〃What do you want now？〃 Fresnel demanded angrily。 〃Haven't I told
you that I。。。 〃
He broke off short。 The muzzle of the pistol was within a foot of
his eyes。
〃I want the key of the boat。 That is all； Fresnel。 And you can
either give it me at once； or I'll take it after I have burnt your
brains。 I should regret to kill you； but I shall not hesitate。 It
is your life against mine； Fresnel； and you'll not find it strange
that if one of us must die I prefer that it shall be you。〃
Fresnel dipped a hand into his pocket； and fetched thence a key。
He held it out to Andre…Louis in fingers that shook … more in anger
than in fear。
〃I yield to violence；〃 he said； showing his teeth like a snarling
dog。 〃But don't imagine that it will greatly profit you。〃
Andre…Louis took the key。 His pistol remained levelled。
〃You threaten me； I think；〃 he said。 〃It is not difficult to read
your threat。 The moment I am gone； you will run to inform against
me。 You will set the marechaussee on my heels to overtake me。〃
〃No； no！〃 cried the other。 He perceived his peril。 He read his
doom in the cold； sinister note on which Andre…Louis addressed him；
and grew afraid。 〃I swear to you； monsieur； that I have no such
intention。〃
〃I think I had better make quite sure of you。〃
〃0 my God！ Have mercy； monsieur！〃 The knave was in a palsy of
terror。 〃I mean you no harm … I swear to Heaven I mean you no harm。
I will not say a word。 I will not。。。 〃
〃I would rather depend upon your silence than your assurances。
Still； you shall have your chance。 I am a fool； perhaps； but I have
a reluctance to shed blood。 Go into the house； Fresnel。 Go； man。
I follow you。〃
In the shabby main room of that dwelling； Andre…Louis halted him
again。 〃Get me a length of rope；〃 he commanded； and was readily
obeyed。
Five minutes later Fresnel was securely bound to a chair； and
effectively silenced by a very uncomfortable gag improvised out of
a block of wood and a muffler。
On the threshold the departing Andre…Louis turned。
〃Good…night； Fresnel；〃 he said。 Fierce eyes glared mute hatred at
him。 〃It is unlikely that your ferry will be required again to…night。
But some one is sure to come to your relief quite early in the
morning。 Until then bear your discomfort with what fortitude you
can； remembering that you have brought it entirely upon yourself by
your uncharitableness。 If you spend the night considering that； the
lesson should not be lost upon you。 By morning you may even have
grown so charitable as not to know who it was that tied you up。
Good…night。〃
He stepped out and closed the door。
To unlock the ferry； and pull himself across the swift…running
waters； on which the faint moonlight was making a silver ripple；
were matters that engaged not more than six or seven minutes。 He
drove the nose of the boat through the decaying sedges that fringed
the southern bank of the stream； sprang ashore； and made the little
craft secure。 Then； missing the footpath in the dark； he struck
out across a sodden meadow in quest of the road。
BOOK II：
CHAPTER I
HE TRESPASSERS
Coming presently upon the Redon road； Andre…Louis； obeying instinct
rather than reason； turned his face to the south； and plodded
wearily and mechanically forward。 He had no clear idea of whither
he was going； or of whither he should go。 All that imported at the
moment was to put as great a distance as possible between Gavrillac
and himself。
He had a vague； half…formed notion of returning to Nantes； and
there； by employing the newly found weapon of his oratory； excite
the people into sheltering him as the first victim of the
persecution he had foreseen； and against which he had sworn them to
take up arms。 But the idea was one which he entertained merely as
an indefinite possibility upon which he felt no real impulse to act。
Meanwhile he chuckled at the thought of Fresnel as he had last seen
him； with his muffled face and glaring eyeballs。 〃For one who was
anything but a man of act
