scaramouche-第76章
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that some twenty minutes ago a vehicle had passed the barrier
containing the deputy M。 le Chapelier and the Paladin of the Third
Estate； M。 Moreau。 The sergeant was very well informed。 He could
make a shrewd guess； he said； with a grin； of the business that took
M。 Moreau that way so early in the day。
They left him； to speed on now through the open country； following
the road that continued to hug the river。 They sat back mutely
despairing； staring hopelessly ahead； Aline's hand clasped tight
in madame's。 In the distance； across the meadows on their right；
they could see already the long； dusky line of trees of the Bois；
and presently the carriage swung aside following a branch of the
road that turned to the right； away from the river and heading
straight for the forest。
Mademoiselle broke at last the silence of hopelessness that had
reigned between them since they had passed the barrier。
〃Oh； it is impossible that we should come in time！ Impossible！〃
〃Don't say it！ Don't say it！〃 madame cried out。
〃But it is long past nine； madame！ Andre would be punctual； and
these。。。 affairs do not take long。 It。。。 it will be all over by now。
Madame shivered； and closed her eyes。 Presently； however； she opened
them again； and stirred。 Then she put her head from the window。 〃A
carriage is approaching；〃 she announced； and her tone conveyed the
thing she feared。
〃Not already！ Oh； not already！〃 Thus Aline expressed the silently
communicated thought。 She experienced a difficulty in breathing；
felt the sudden need of air。 Something in her throat was throbbing
as if it would suffocate her； a mist came and went before her eyes。
In a cloud of dust an open caleche was speeding towards them； coming
from the Bois。 They watched it； both pale； neither venturing to
speak； Aline； indeed； without breath to do so。
As it approached； it slowed down； perforce； as they did； to effect
a safe passage in that narrow road。 Aline was at the window with
Mme。 de Plougastel； and with fearful eyes both looked into this
open carriage that was drawing abreast of them。
〃Which of them is it； madame？ Oh； which of them？〃 gasped Aline；
scarce daring to look； her senses swimming。
Qn the near side sat a swarthy young gentleman unknown to either of
the ladies。 He was smiling as he spoke to his companion。 A moment
later and the man sitting beyond came into view。 He was not smiling。
His face was white and set； and it was the face of the Marquis de La
Tour d'Azyr。
For a long moment； in speechless horror； both women stared at him；
until； perceiving them； blankest surprise invaded his stern face。
In that moment； with a long shuddering sigh Aline sank swooning to
the carriage floor behind Mme。 de Plougastel。
CHAPTER XI
INFERENCES
By fast driving Andre…Louis had reached the ground some minutes
ahead of time； notwithstanding the slight delay in setting out。
There he had found M。 de La Tour d'Azyr already awaiting him；
supported by a M。 d'Ormesson； a swarthy young gentleman in the
blue uniform of a captain in the Gardes du Corps。
Andre…Louis had been silent and preoccupied throughout that drive。
He was perturbed by his last interview with Mademoiselle de
Kercadiou and the rash inferences which he had drawn as to her
motives。
〃Decidedly；〃 he had said； 〃this man must be killed。〃
Le Chapelier had not answered him。 Almost； indeed； had the Breton
shuddered at his compatriot's cold…bloodedness。 He had often of
late thought that this fellow Moreau was hardly human。 Also he had
found him incomprehensibly inconsistent。 When first this
spadassinicide business had been proposed to him； he had been so
very lofty and disdainful。 Yet； having embraced it； he went about
it at times with a ghoulish flippancy that was revolting； at times
with a detachment that was more revolting still。
Their preparations were made quickly and in silence； yet without
undue haste or other sign of nervousness on either side。 In both
men the same grim determination prevailed。 The opponent must be
killed； there could be no half…measures here。 Stripped each of coat
and waistcoat； shoeless and with shirt…sleeves rolled to the elbow；
they faced each other at last； with the common resolve of paying
in full the long score that stood between them。 I doubt if either
of them entertained a misgiving as to what must be the issue。
Beside them； and opposite each other； stood Le Chapelier and the
young captain； alert and watchful。
〃Allez； messieurs！〃
The slender； wickedly delicate blades clashed together； and after
a momentary glizade were whirling； swift and bright as lightnings；
and almost as impossible to follow with the eye。 The Marquis led
the attack； impetuously and vigorously； and almost at once
Andre…Louis realized that he had to deal with an opponent of a very
different mettle from those successive duellists of last week； not
excluding La Motte…Royau； of terrible reputation。
Here was a man whom much and constant practice had given
extraordinary speed and a technique that was almost perfect。
In addition； he enjoyed over Andre…Louis physical advantages of
strength and length of reach； which rendered him altogether
formidable。 And he was cool； too； cool and self…contained； fearless
and purposeful。 Would anything shake that calm； wondered
Andre…Louis？
He desired the punishment to be as full as he could make it。 Not
content to kill the Marquis as the Marquis had killed Philippe； he
desired that he should first know himself as powerless to avert
that death as Philippe had been。 Nothing less would content
Andre…Louis。 M。 le Marquis must begin by tasting of that cup of
despair。 It was in the account； part of the quittance due。
As with a breaking sweep Andre…Louis parried the heavy lunge in
which that first series of passes culminated； he actually laughed
… gleefully； after the fashion of a boy at a sport he loves。
That extraordinary； ill…timed laugh made M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's
recovery hastier and less correctly dignified than it would otherwise
have been。 It startled and discomposed him； who had already been
discomposed by the failure to get home with a lunge so beautifully
timed and so truly delivered。
He； too； had realized that his opponent's force was above anything
that he could have expected； fencing…master though he might be； and
on that account he had put forth his utmost energy to make an end
at once。
More than the actual parry； the laugh by which it was accompanied
seemed to make of that end no more than a beginning。 And yet it
was the end of something。 It was the end of that absolute confidence
that had hitherto inspired M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。 He no longer looked
upon the issue as a thing forgone。 He realized that if he was to
prevail in this encounter； he must go warily and fence as he had
never fenced yet in all his life。
They settled down again； and again … on the principle this time that
the soundest defence is in attack … it was the Marquis who made the
game。 Andre…Louis allowed him to do so； desired him to do so；
desired him to spend himself and that magnificent speed of his
against the greater speed that whole days of fencing in succession
for nearly two years had given the master。 With a beautiful； easy
pressure of forte on foible Andre…Louis kept himself completely
covered in that second bout； which once more culminated in a lunge。
Expecting it now； Andre…Louis parried it by no more than a deflecting
touch。 At the same moment he stepped suddenly forward； right within
the other's guard； thus placing his man so completely at his mercy
that； as if fascinated； the Marquis did not even attempt to recover
himself。
This time Andre…Louis did not laugh： He just smiled into the dilating
eyes of M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； and made no shift to use his advantage。
〃Come； come； monsieur！〃 he bade him sharply。 〃Am I to run my blade
through an uncovered man？〃 Deliberately he fell back； whilst his
shaken opponent recovered himself at last。
M。 d'Ormesson released the breath which horror had for a moment
caught。 Le Chapelier swore softly； muttering：
〃Name of a name！ It is tempting Providence to play
