scaramouche-第82章
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in the head。〃 And then； finding the part beyond his power； he
abruptly threw it up； utterly abandoned all pretence。 〃Why。。。 why
has there been all this mystery？〃 he asked。 〃Was it intended that
I should never know？〃
〃I： was； Andre。 It。。。 it had to be； for prudence' sake。〃
〃Eut why？ Complete your confidence； sir。 Surely you cannot leave
it there。 Having told me so much； you must tell me all。〃
〃'The reason； my boy； is that you were born some three years after
your mother's marriage with M。 de Plougastel； some eighteen months
after M。 de Plougastel had been away with the army； and some four
months before his return to his wife。 It is a matter that M。 de
Plougastel has never suspeted； and for gravest family reasons must
never suspect。 That is why the utmost secrecy has been preserved。
That is why none was ever allowed to know。 Your mother came betimes
into Brittany； and under an assumed name spent some months in the
village of Moreau。 It was while she was there that you were born。〃
Andre…Louis turned it over in his mind。 He had dried his tears。
And sat now rigid and collected。
〃When you say that none was ever allowed to know； you are telling
me； of course； that you； monsieur。。。 〃
〃Oh； mon Dieu； no！〃 The denial came in a violent outburst。 M。 de
Kercadiou sprang to his feet propelled from Andre's side by the
violence of his emotions。 It was as if the very suggestion filled
him with horror。 〃I was the only other one who knew。 But it is
not as you think； Andre。 You cannot imagine that I should lie to
you； that I should deny you if you were my son？〃
〃If you say that I am not； monsieur； that is sufficient。〃
〃You are not。 I was Therese's cousin and also； as she well knew；
her truest friend。 She knew that she could trust me； and it was
to me she came for help in her extremity。 Once； years before； I
would have married her。 But； of course； I am not the sort of man
a woman could love。 She trusted； however； to my love for her； and
I have kept her trust。〃
〃Then； who was my father？〃
〃I don't know。 She never told me。 It was her secret； and I did
not pry。 It is not in my nature； Andre。〃
Andre…Louis got up； and stood silently facing M。 de Kercadiou。
〃You believe me； Andre。〃
〃Naturally； monsieur； and I am sorry； I am sorry that I am not your
son。
M。 de Kercadiou gripped his godson's hand convulsively； and held
it a moment with no word spoken。 Then as they fell away from each
other again：
〃And now； what will you do； Andre？〃 he asked。 〃Now that you know？〃
Andre…Louis stood awhile。 considering； then broke into laughter。
The situation had its humours。 He explained them。
〃What difference should the knowledge make？ Is filial piety to be
called into existence by the mere announcement of relationship？ Am
I to risk my neck through lack of circumspection on behalf of a
mother so very circumspect that she had no intention of ever
revealing herself？ The discovery rests upon the merest chance；
upon a fall of the dice of Fate。 Is that to weigh with me？〃
〃The decision is with you； Andre。〃
〃Nay； it is beyond me。 Decide it who can； I cannot。〃
〃You mean that you refuse even now？〃
〃I mean that I consent。 Since I cannot decide what it is that I
should do； it only remains for me to do what a son should。 It is
grotesque； but all life is grotesque。〃
〃You will never； never regret it。〃
〃I hope not；〃 said Andre。 〃Yet I think it very likely that I shall。
And now I had better see Rougane again at once； and obtain from him
the other two permits required。 Then perhaps it will be best that
I take them to Paris myself； in the morning。 If you will give me a
bed； monsieur； I shall be grateful。 I。。。 I confess that I am hardly
in case to do more to…night。〃
CHAPTER XIII
SANCTUARY
Into the late afternoon of that endless day of horror with its
perpetual alarms； its volleying musketry； rolling drums； and distant
muttering of angry multitudes； Mme。 de Plougastel and Aline sat
waiting in that handsome house in the Rue du Paradis。 It was no
longer for Rougane they waited。 They realized that； be the reason
what it might … and by now many reasons must no doubt exist … this
friendly messenger would not return。 They waited without knowing
for what。 They waited for whatever might betide。
At one time early in the afternoon the roar of battle approached
them； racing swiftly in their direction； swelling each moment in
volume and in horror。 It was the frenzied clamour of a multitude
drunk with blood and bent on destruction。 Near at hand that fierce
wave of humanity checked in its turbulent progress。 Followed blows
of pikes upon a door and imperious calls to open； and thereafter
came the rending of timbers； the shivering of glass； screams of
terror blending with screams of rage； and； running through these
shrill sounds； the deeper diapason of bestial laughter。
It was a hunt of two wretched Swiss guardsmen seeking blindly to
escape。 And they were run to earth in a house in the neighbourhood；
and there cruelly done to death by that demoniac mob。 The thing
accomplished； the hunters； male and female； forming into a battalion；
came swinging down the Rue du Paradis； chanting the song of
Marseilles … a song new to Paris in those days：
Allons； enfants de la patrie！
Le jour de gloire est arrive
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'etendard sanglant est 1eve。
Nearer it came； raucously bawled by some hundreds of voices； a
dread sound that had come so suddenly to displace at least
temporarily the merry； trivial air of the 〃Ca ira！〃 which hitherto
had been the revolutionary carillon。 Instinctively Mme。 de
Plougastel and Aline clung to each other。 They had heard the
sound of the ravishing of that other house in the neighbourhood；
without knowledge of the reason。 What if now it should be the
turn of the Hotel Plougastel！ There was no real cause to fear it；
save that amid a turmoil imperfectly understood and therefore the
more awe…inspiring； the worst must be feared always。
The dreadful song so dreadfully sung； and the thunder of heavily
shod feet upon the roughly paved street； passed on and receded。
They breathed again； almost as if a miracle had saved them； to
yield to fresh alarm an instant later； when madame's young footman；
Jacques； the most trusted of her servants； burst into their presence
unceremoniously with a scared face； bringing the announcement that
a man who had just climbed over the garden wall professed himself a
friend of madame's； and desired to be brought immediately to her
presence。
〃But he looks like a sansculotte； madame；〃 the staunch fellow
warned her。
Her thoughts and hopes leapt at once to Rougane。
〃Bring him in；〃 she commanded breathlessly。
Jacques went out； to return presently accompanied by a tall man in
a long； shabby； and very ample overcoat and a wide…brimmed hat that
was turned down all round； and adorned by an enormous tricolour
cockade。 This hat he removed as he entered。
Jacques； standing behind him； perceived that his hair； although now
in some disorder； bore signs of having been carefully dressed。 It
was clubbed； and it carried some lingering vestiges of powder。 The
young footman wondered what it was in the man's face； which was
turned from him； that should cause his mistress to out and recoil。
Then he found himself dismissed abruptly by a gesture。
The newcomer advanced to the middle of the salon； moving like a man
exhausted and breathing hard。 There he leaned against a table；
across which he confronted Mme。 de Plougastel。 And she stood
regarding him； a strange horror in her eyes。
In the background； on a settle at the salon's far end； sat Aline
staring in bewilderment and some fear at a face which； if
unrecognizable through the mask of blood and dust that smeared it；
was yet familiar。 And then the man spoke； and instantly she knew
the voice for that of the Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr。
〃My dear friend；〃 he was saying； 〃forgive me if I startled you。
Forgive me if I thrust myself in here without leave； at such a time；
in such a manner。 But。。。 you see how it is with me。 I am a
fugitive。 In the course of my distracted flig
