scaramouche-第80章
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Early in the morning they were awakened by a din of bells … the
tocsins of the sections ringing the alarm。 To their startled ears
came later the rolling of drums； and at one time they heard the
sounds of a multitude on the march。 Paris was rising。 Later still
came the rattle of small…arms in the distance and the deeper boom
of cannon。 Battle was joined between the men of the sections and
the men of the Court。 The people in arms had attacked the Tuileries。
Wildest rumours flew in all directions； and some of them found their
way through the servants to the Hotel Plougastel； of that terrible
fight for the palace which was to end in the purposeless massacre
of all those whom the invertebrate monarch abandoned there； whilst
placing himself and his family under the protection of the Assembly。
Purposeless to the end； ever adopting the course pointed out to him
by evil counsellors； he prepared for resistance only until the need
for resistance really arose； whereupon he ordered a surrender which
left those who had stood by him to the last at the mercy of a
frenzied mob。
And while this was happening in the Tuileries； the two women at the
Hotel Plougastel still waited for the return of Rougane； though now
with ever…lessening hope。 And Rougane did not return。 The affair
did not appear so simple to the father as to the son。 Rougane the
elder was rightly afraid to lend himself to such a piece of
deception。
He went with his son to inform M。 de Kercadiou of what had happened；
and told him frankly of the thing his son suggested； but which he
dared not do。
M。 de Kercadiou sought to move him by intercessions and even by the
offer of bribes。 But Rougane remained firm。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃if it were discovered against me； as it
inevitably would be； I should； hang for it。 Apart from that； and
in spite of my anxiety to do all in my power to serve you； it
would be a breach of trust such as I could not contemplate。 You
must not ask me； monsieur。〃
〃But what do you conceive is going to happen？〃 asked the
half…demented gentleman。
〃It is war；〃 said Rougane； who was well informed； as we have seen。
〃War between the people and the Court。 I am desolated that my
warning should have come too late。 But； when all is said； I do not
think that you need really alarm yourself。 War will not be made
on women。 M。 de Kercadiou clung for comfort to that assurance after
the mayor and his son had departed。 But at the back of his mind
there remained the knowledge of the traffic in which M。 de Plougastel
was engaged。 What if the revolutionaries were equally well informed？
And most probably they were。 The women…folk political offenders had
been known aforetime to suffer for the sins of their men。 Anything
was possible in a popular upheaval； and Aline would be exposed
jointly with Mme。 de Plougastel。
Late that night； as he sat gloomily in his brother's library； the
pipe in which he had sought solace extinguished between his fingers；
there came a sharp knocking at the door。
To the old seneschal of Gavrillac who went to open there stood
revealed upon the threshold a slim young man in a dark olive
surcoat； the skirts of which reached down to his calves。 He wore
boots； buckskins； and a small…sword； and round his waist there was
a tricolour sash； in his hat a tricolour cockade； which gave him an
official look extremely sinister to the eyes of that old retainer
of feudalism； who shared to the full his master's present fears。
〃Monsieur desires？〃 he asked； between respect and mistrust。
And then a crisp voice startled him。
〃Why； Benoit！ Name of a name！ Have you completely forgotten me？〃
With a shaking hand the old man raised the lantern he carried so
as to throw its light more fully upon that lean； wide…mouthed
countenance。
〃M。 Andre！〃 he cried。 〃M。Andre！〃 And then he looked at the sash
and the cockade； and hesitated； apparently at a loss。
But Andre…Louis stepped past him into the wide vestibule； with its
tessellated floor of black…and…white marble。
〃If my godfather has not yet retired； take me to him。 If he has
retired； take me to him all the same。〃
〃Oh； but certainly； M。 Andre … and I am sure he will be ravished to
see you。 No； he has not yet retired。 This way； M。 Andre； this way；
if you please。〃
The returning Andre…Louis； reaching Meudon a half…hour ago； had
gone straight to the mayor for some definite news of what might be
happening in Paris that should either confirm or dispel the ominous
rumours that he had met in ever…increasing volume as he approached
the capital。 Rougane informed him that insurrection was imminent；
that already the sections had possessed themselves of the barriers；
and that it was impossible for any person not fully accredited to
enter or leave the city。
Andre…Louis bowed his head； his thoughts of the gravest。 He had
for some time perceived the danger of this second revolution from
within the first； which might destroy everything that had been done；
and give the reins of power to a villainous faction that would
plunge the country into anarchy。 The thing he had feared was more
than ever on the point of taking place。 He would go on at once；
that very night； and see for himself what was happening。
And then； as he was leaving； he turned again to Rougane to ask if
M。 de Kercadiou was still at Meudon。
〃You know him； monsieur？〃
〃He is my godfather。〃
〃Your godfather！ And you a representative！ Why； then； you may be
the very man he needs。〃 And Rougane told him of his son's errand
into Paris that afternoon and its result。
No more was required。 That two years ago his godfather should upon
certain terms have refused him his house weighed for nothing at the
moment。 He left his travelling carriage at the little inn and went
straight to M。 de Kercadiou。
And M。 de Kercadiou； startled in such an hour by this sudden
apparition； of one against whom he nursed a bitter grievance；
greeted him in terms almost identical with those in which in that
same room he had greeted him on a similar occasion once before。
〃What do you want here； sir？〃
〃To serve you if possible； my godfather；〃 was the disarming answer。
But it did not disarm M。 de Kercadiou。 〃You have stayed away so
long that I hoped you would not again disturb me。〃
〃I should not have ventured to disobey you now were it not for the
hope that I can be of service。 I have seen Rougane； the mayor。。。 〃
〃What's that you say about not venturing to disobey？〃
〃You forbade me your house； monsieur。〃
M。 de Kercadiou stared at him helplessly。
〃And is that why you have not come near me in all this time？〃
〃Of course。 Why else？〃
M。 de Kercadiou continued to stare。 Then he swore under his breath。
It disconcerted him to have to deal with a man who insisted upon
taking him so literally。 He had expected that Andre…Louis would
have come contritely to admit his fault and beg to be taken back
into favour。 He said so。
〃But how could I hope that you meant less than you said； monsieur？
You were so very definite in your declaration。 What expressions of
contrition could have served me without a purpose of amendment？
And I had no notion of amending。 We may yet be thankful for that。〃
〃Thankful？〃
〃I am a representative。 I have certain powers。 I am very
opportunely returning to Paris。 Can I serve you where Rougane
cannot？ The need； monsieur； would appear to be very urgent if the
half of what I suspect is true。 Aline should be placed in safety
at once。〃
M。 de Kercadiou surrendered unconditionally。 He came over and took
Andre…Louis' hand。
〃My boy；〃 he said； and he was visibly moved； 〃there is in you a
certain nobility that is not to be denied。 If I seemed harsh with
you； then； it was because I was fighting against your evil
proclivities。 I desired to keep you out of the evil path of
politics that have brought this unfortunate country into so terrible
a pass。 The enemy on the frontier； civil war about to flame out at
home。 That is what you revolution。 aries have done。〃
Andre…Louis did not argue。 He passed on。
〃About Aline？〃 he asked。 And himself answered his own question：
〃She is in Paris； and she must
