scaramouche-第3章
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a struggle。 It is a futile and ridiculous struggle … but then。。。 it
is human nature； I suppose； to be futile and ridiculous。〃
M。 de Vilmorin became witheringly sarcastic。 〃Probably you will
also qualify the shooting of Mabey as futile and ridiculous。 I
should even be prepared to hear you argue in defence of the Marquis
de La Tour d' Azyr that his gamekeeper was merciful in shooting
Mabey； since the alternative would have been a life…sentence to
the galleys。〃
Andre…Louis drank the remainder of his chocolate； set down his cup；
and pushed back his chair； his breakfast done。
〃I confess that I have not your big charity； my dear Philippe。 I
am touched by Mabey's fate。 But； having conquered the shock of
this news to my emotions； I do not forget that； after all； Mabey
was thieving when he met his death。〃
M。 de Vilmorin heaved himself up in his indignation。
〃That is the point of view to be expected in one who is the assistant
fiscal intendant of a nobleman； and the delegate of a nobleman to
the States of Brittany。〃
〃Philippe； is that just？ You are angry with me！〃 he cried； in real
solicitude。
〃I am hurt；〃 Vilmorin admitted。 〃I am deeply hurt by your attitude。
And I am not alone in resenting your reactionary tendencies。 Do
you know that the Literary Chamber is seriously considering your
expulsion？〃
Andre…Louis shrugged。 〃That neither surprises nor troubles me。〃
M。 de Vilmorin swept on； passionately： 〃Sometimes I think that you
have no heart。 With you it is always the law； never equity。 It
occurs to me； Andre； that I was mistaken in coming to you。 You are
not likely to be of assistance to me in my interview with M。 de
Kercadiou。〃 He took up his hat； clearly with the intention of
departing。
Andre…Louis sprang up and caught him by the arm。
〃I vow；〃 said he； 〃that this is the last time ever I shall consent
to talk law or politics with you； Philippe。 I love you too well
to quarrel with you over other men's affairs。〃
〃But I make them my own；〃 Philippe insisted vehemently。
〃Of course you do； and I love you for it。 It is right that you
should。 You are to be a priest； and everybody's business is a
priest's business。 Whereas I am a lawyer … the fiscal intendant
of a nobleman； as you say … and a lawyer's business is the business
of his client。 That is the difference between us。 Nevertheless；
you are not going to shake me off。〃
〃But I tell you frankly； now that I come to think of it； that I
should prefer you did not see M。 de Kercadiou with me。 Your duty
to your client cannot be a help to me。〃
His wrath had passed； but his determination remained firm； based
upon the reason he gave。
〃Very well；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃It shall be as you please。 But
nothing shall prevent me at least from walking with you as far as
the chateau； and waiting for you while you make your appeal to M。
de Kercadiou。〃
And so they left the house good friends； for the sweetness of M。
de Vilmorin's nature did not admit of rancour； and together they
took their way up the steep main street of Gavrillac。
CHAPTER II
THE ARISTOCRAT
The sleepy village of Gavrillac； a half…league removed from the main
road to Rennes； and therefore undisturbed by the world's traffic；
lay in a curve of the River Meu； at the foot； and straggling halfway
up the slope； of the shallow hill that was crowned by the squat manor。
By the time Gavrillac had paid tribute to its seigneur … partly in
money and partly in service … tithes to the Church； and imposts to
the King； it was hard put to it to keep body and soul together with
what remained。 Yet； hard as conditions were in Gavrillac； they were
not so hard as in many other parts of France； not half so hard； for
instance； as with the wretched feudatories of the great Lord of La
Tour d'Azyr； whose vast possessions were at one point separated from
this little village by the waters of the Meu。
The Chateau de Gavrillac owed such seigneurial airs as might be
claimed for it to its dominant position above the village rather
than to any feature of its own。 Built of granite； like all the rest
of Gavrillac； though mellowed by some three centuries of existence；
it was a squat； flat…fronted edifice of two stories； each lighted by
four windows with external wooden shutters； and flanked at either end
by two square towers or pavilions under extinguisher roofs。 Standing
well back in a garden； denuded now； but very pleasant in summer； and
immediately fronted by a fine sweep of balustraded terrace； it looked；
what indeed it was； and always had been； the residence of
unpretentious folk who found more interest in husbandry than in
adventure。
Quintin de Kercadiou； Lord of Gavrillac … Seigneur de Gavrillac was
all the vague title that he bore； as his forefathers had borne before
him； derived no man knew whence or how … confirmed the impression
that his house conveyed。 Rude as the granite itself； he had never
sought the experience of courts； had not even taken service in the
armies of his King。 He left it to his younger brother； Etienne； to
represent the family in those exalted spheres。 His own interests
from earliest years had been centred in his woods and pastures。 He
hunted； and he cultivated his acres； and superficially he appeared
to be little better than any of his rustic metayers。 He kept no
state； or at least no state commensurate with his position or with
the tastes of his niece Aline de Kercadiou。 Aline； having spent
some two years in the court atmosphere of Versailles under the aegis
of her uncle Etienne； had ideas very different from those of her
uncle Quintin of what was befitting seigneurial dignity。 But though
this only child of a third Kercadiou had exercised； ever since she
was left an orphan at the early age of four； a tyrannical rule over
the Lord of Gavrillac； who had been father and mother to her； she
had never yet succeeded in beating down his stubbornness on that
score。 She did not yet despair … persistence being a dominant note
in her character … although she had been assiduously and fruitlessly
at work since her return from the great world of Versailles some
three months ago。
She was walking on the terrace when Andre…Louis and M。 de Vilmorin
arrived。 Her slight body was wrapped against the chill air in a
white pelisse； her head was encased in a close…fitting bonnet； edged
with white fur。 It was caught tight in a knot of pale…blue ribbon
on the right of her chin； on the left a long ringlet of corn…coloured
hair had been permitted to escape。 The keen air had whipped so much
of her cheeks as was presented to it； and seemed to have added
sparkle to eyes that were of darkest blue。
Andre…Louis and M。 de Vilmorin had been known to her from childhood。
The three had been playmates once； and Andre…Louis … in view of his
spiritual relationship with her uncle … she called her cousin。 The
cousinly relations had persisted between these two long after
Philippe de Vilmorin had outgrown the earlier intimacy； and had
become to her Monsieur de Vilmorin。
She waved her hand to them in greeting as they advanced； and stood
… an entrancing picture； and fully conscious of it … to await them
at the end of the terrace nearest the short avenue by which they
approached。
〃If you come to see monsieur my uncle； you come inopportunely；
messieurs；〃 she told them； a certain feverishness in her air。 〃He
is closely … oh； so very closely … engaged。〃
〃We will wait； mademoiselle；〃 said M。 de Vilmorin； bowing gallantly
over the hand she extended to him。 〃Indeed； who would haste to the
uncle that may tarry a moment with the niece？〃
〃M。 l'abbe；〃 she teased him； 〃when you are in orders I shall take
you for my confessor。 You have so ready and sympathetic an
understanding。〃
〃But no curiosity；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃You haven't thought of that。〃
〃I wonder what you mean； Cousin Andre。〃
〃Well you may；〃 laughed Philippe。 〃For no one ever knows。〃 And
then； his glance straying across the terrace settled upon a carriage
that was drawn up before the door of the chateau。 It was a vehicle
such as was often to be seen in the streets of a great city； but
rarely in the country。 It was a b
