scaramouche-第49章
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ringing clear as a bell：
〃And so you see； my dear M。 Leandre； that when you speak of the
Third Estate； it is necessary to be more explicit。 What precisely
is the Third Estate？〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Leandre。
There was a gasp from the audience； audible in the wings； and then
swiftly followed Scaramouche's next question：
〃True。 Alas！ But what should it be？〃
〃Everything；〃 said Leandre。
The audience roared its acclamations； the more violent because of
the unexpectedness of that reply。
〃True again；〃 said Scaramouche。 〃And what is more； that is what it
will be； that is what it already is。 Do you doubt it？〃
〃I hope it；〃 said the schooled Leandre。
〃You may believe it；〃 said Scaramouche； and again the acclamations
rolled into thunder。
Polichinelle and Rhodomont exchanged glances： indeed； the former
winked； not without mirth。
〃Sacred name！〃 growled a voice behind them。 〃Is the scoundrel at
his political tricks again？〃
They turned to confront M。 Binet。 Moving with that noiseless tread
of his； he had come up unheard behind them； and there he stood now
in his scarlet suit of Pantaloon under a trailing bedgown； his little
eyes glaring from either side of his false nose。 But their attention
was held by the voice of Scaramouche。 He had stepped to the front
of the stage。
〃He doubts it；〃 he was felling the audience。 〃But then this M。
Leandre is himself akin to those who worship the worm…eaten idol of
Privilege； and so he is a little afraid to believe a truth that is
becoming apparent to all the world。 Shall I convince him？ Shall I
tell him how a company of noblemen backed by their servants under
arms … six hundred men in all … sought to dictate to the Third
Estate of Rennes a few short weeks ago？ Must I remind him of the
martial front shown on that occasion by the Third Estate； and how
they swept the streets clean of that rabble of nobles … cette
canaille noble。。。 〃
Applause interrupted him。 The phrase had struck home and caught。
Those who had writhed under that infamous designation from their
betters leapt at this turning of it against the nobles themselves。
〃But let me tell you of their leader … le pins noble de cette
canaille； on bien le plus canaille de ces nobles！ You know him
… that one。 He fears many things； but the voice of truth he fears
most。 With such as him the eloquent truth eloquently spoken is a
thing instantly to be silenced。 So he marshalled his peers and
their valetailles； and led them out to slaughter these miserable
bourgeois who dared to raise a voice。 But these same miserable
bourgeois did not choose to be slaughtered in the streets of Rennes。
It occurred to them that since the nobles decreed that blood should
flow； it might as well be the blood of the nobles。 They marshalled
themselves too … this noble rabble against the rabble of nobles …
and they marshalled themselves so well that they drove M。 de La
Tour d'Azyr and his warlike following from the field with broken
heads and shattered delusions。 They sought shelter at the hands
of the Cordeliers； and the shavelings gave them sanctuary in their
convent … those who survived； among whom was their proud leader；
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。 You have heard of this valiant Marquis； this
great lord of life and death？〃
The pit was in an uproar a moment。 It quieted again as Scaramouche
continued：
〃Oh； it was a fine spectacle to see this mighty hunter scuttling to
cover like a hare； going to earth in the Cordelier Convent。 Rennes
has not seen him since。 Rennes would like to see him again。 But
if he is valorous； he is also discreet。 And where do you think he
has taken refuge； this great nobleman who wanted to see the streets
of Rennes washed in the blood of its citizens； this man who would
have butchered old and young of the contemptible canaille to silence
the voice of reason and of liberty that presumes to ring through
France to…day？ Where do you think he hides himself？ Why； here in
Nantes。〃
Again there was uproar。
〃What do you say？ Impossible？ Why； my friends； at this moment he
is here in this theatre … skulking up there in that box。 He is too
shy to show himself … oh； a very modest gentleman。 But there he is
behind the curtains。 Will you not show yourself to your friends；
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； Monsieur le Marquis who considers eloquence
so very dangerous a gift？ See； they would like a word with you；
they do not believe me when I tell them that you are here。〃
Now； whatever he may have been； and whatever the views held on the
subject by Andre…Louis； M。 de La Tour d'Azyr was certainly not a
coward。 To say that he was hiding in Nantes was not true。 He came
and went there openly and unabashed。 It happened； however； that the
Nantais were ignorant until this moment of his presence among them。
But then he would have disdained to have informed them of it just as
he would have disdained to have concealed it from them。
Challenged thus； however； and despite the ominous manner in which
the bourgeois element in the audience had responded to Scaramouche's
appeal to its passions； despite the attempts made by Chabrillane to
restrain him； the Marquis swept aside the curtain at the side of the
box； and suddenly showed himself； pale but self…contained and
scornful as he surveyed first the daring Scaramouche and then those
others who at sight of him had given tongue to their hostility。
Hoots and yells assailed him； fists were shaken at him； canes were
brandished menacingly。
〃Assassin！ Scoundrel！ Coward！ Traitor！〃
But he braved the storm； smiling upon them his ineffable contempt。
He was waiting for the noise to cease； waiting to address them in
his turn。 But he waited in vain； as he very soon perceived。
The contempt he did not trouble to dissemble served but to goad
them on。
In the pit pandemonium was already raging。 Blows were being freely
exchanged； there were scuffling groups； and here and there swords
were being drawn； but fortunately the press was too dense to permit
of their being used effectively。 Those who had women with them and
the timid by nature were making haste to leave a house that looked
like becoming a cockpit； where chairs were being smashed to provide
weapons； and parts of chandeliers were already being used as missiles。
One of these hurled by the hand of a gentleman in one of the boxes
narrowly missed Scaramouche where he stood； looking down in a sort
of grim triumph upon the havoc which his words had wrought。 Knowing
of what inflammable material the audience was composed； he had
deliberately flung down amongst them the lighted torch of discord；
to produce this conflagration。
He saw men falling quickly into groups representative of one side
or the other of this great quarrel that already was beginning to
agitate the whole of France。 Their rallying cries were ringing
through the theatre。
〃Down with the canaille！〃 from some。
〃Down with the privileged！〃 from others。
And then above the general din one cry rang out sharply and
insistently：
〃To the box！ Death to the butcher of Rennes！ Death to La Tour
d'Azyr who makes war upon the people！〃
There was a rush for one of the doors of the pit that opened upon
the staircase leading to the boxes。
And now； whilst battle and confusion spread with the speed of fire；
overflowing from the theatre into the street itself； La Tour
d'Azyr's box； which had become the main object of the attack of the
bourgeoisie； had also become the rallying ground for such gentlemen
as were present in the theatre and for those who； without being men
of birth themselves； were nevertheless attached to the party of the
nobles。
La Tour d'Azyr had quitted the front of the box to meet those who
came to join him。 And now in the pit one group of infuriated
gentlemen； in attempting to reach the stage across the empty
orchestra； so that they might deal with the audacious comedian who
was responsible for this explosion； found themselves opposed and
held back by another group composed of men to whose feelings
Andre…Louis had given expression。
Perceiving this； and remembering the chandelier； he turned to
Leandre； who had remained beside him。
〃I
