the trampling of the lilies-第13节

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on　a　fruitless　journey　to　Bellecour。　　Neither　I　nor　my　son　is　so
lost　to　the　duty　which　we　owe　our　rank　as　to　so　much　as　dream　of
acceding　to　your　preposterous　request。　　I　think；　sir；　that　you　had
been　better　advised　to　have　left　the　mob　to　its　work　last　night；　if
you　but　restrained　it　for　this　purpose。〃

〃Is　that　your　last　word？〃　asked　La　Boulaye；　still　calmly　weathering
that　storm　of　insults。

〃My　very　last；　sir。〃

〃There　are　more　ways　than　one　of　taking　satisfaction　for　that
affront；　Citizen　Bellecour；〃　rejoined　La　Boulaye；　〃and　if　the　course
which　I　now　pursue　should　prove　more　distasteful　to　you　than　that
which　I　last　suggested；　the　blame　of　it　must　rest　with　you。〃　　He
turned　to　the　bluecoat　at　the　door。　　〃Citizen…soldier；　my　whip。〃

There　was　a　sudden　movement　among　the　aristocrats　…　a　horrified
recoiling　…　and　even　Bellecour　was　shaken　out　of　his　splendid
arrogance。

〃Insolent　cur！〃　exclaimed　Ombreval　with　withering　scorn；　〃to　what
lengths　is　presumption　driving　you？〃

〃To　the　length　of　a　horsewhip；〃answered　La　Boulaye　pleasantly。

He　received　the　whip　from　the　hands　of　the　soldier　and　he　now
advanced　towards　Bellecour；　unwinding　the　lash　as　he　came。
Ombreval　barred　his　way　with　an　oath。

〃By　Heaven：　you　shall　not！〃　he　cried。

〃Shall　not？〃　echoed　La　Boulaye；　his　lips　curling。　　〃You　had　best
stand　aside　…　you　that　are　steeped　in　musk　and　fierceness。〃　　And
before　the　stern　and　threatening　contempt　of　La　Boulaye's　glance
the　young　nobleman　fell　back。　　But　his　place　was　taken　by　the
Vicomte　de　Bellecour；　who　advanced　to　confront　Caron。

〃Monsieur　la　Boulaye；〃he　announced；　〃I　am　ready　and　willing　to　meet
you。〃　　And　considering　the　grim　alternative　with　which　the
Republicans　had　threatened　him；　the　old　Marquis　had　not　the　courage
to　interfere　again。

〃Ah！〃　　It　was　an　exclamation　of　satisfaction　from　the　Commissioner。
〃I　imagined　that　you　would　change　your　minds。　　I　shall　await　you；
Citizen；　in　the　garden　in　five　minutes'　time。〃

〃I　shall　not　keep　you　waiting；　Monsieur；〃　was　the　Vicomte's　answer。

Very　formally　La　Boulaye　bowed　and　left　the　room　accompanied　by　the
officer　and　followed　by　the　soldier。

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　gasped　the　Marquise；　fanning　herself　as　the　door　closed
after　the　Republicans。　　〃Open　me　a　window　or　I　shall　stifle！　　How
the　place　reeks　with　them。　　I　am　a　calm　woman；　Messieurs；　but；　on
my　honour；　had　he　addressed　any　of　you　by　his　odious　title　of
'citizen'　again；　I　swear　that　I　had　struck　him　with　my　own　hands。〃

There　were　some　that　laughed。　　But　Mademoiselle　was　not　of　those。

Her　eyes　travelled　to　her　brother's　pale　face　and　weakly　frame；　and
her　glance　was　such　a　glance　as　we　bend　upon　the　beloved　dead；　for
in　him　she　saw　one　who　was　going　inevitably　to　his　death。




CHAPTER　VII

LA　BOULAYE　DISCHARGES　A　DEBT


Along　the　northern　side　of　the　Chateau　ran　a　terrace　bordered　by　a
red　sandstone　balustrade；　and　below　this　the　Italian　garden；　so
called　perhaps　in　consequence　of　the　oddly　clipped　box…trees；　its
only　feature　that　suggested　Italy。　　At　the　far　end　of　this　garden
there　was　a　strip　of　even　turf　that　might　have　been　designed　for　a
fencing　ground；　and　which　Caron　knew　of　old。　　Thither　he　led
Captain　Juste；　and　there　in　the　pale　sunshine　of　that　February
morning　they　awaited　the　arrival　of　the　Vicomte　and　his　sponsor。

But　the　minutes　went　by　and　still　they　waited…five；　ten；　fifteen
minutes　elapsed；　yet　no　one　came。　　Juste　was　on　the　point　of
returning　within　to　seek　the　reason　of　this　delay　when　steps
sounded　on　the　terrace　above。　　But　they　were　accompanied　by　the
rustle　of　a　gown；　and　presently　it　was　Mademoiselle　who　appeared
before　them。　　The　two　men　eyed　her　with　astonishment；　which　in　the
case　of　La　Boulaye；　was　tempered　by　another　feeling。

〃Monsieur　la　Boulaye；〃　said　she；　her　glance　wandering　towards　the
Captain；　〃may　I　speak　with　you　alone？〃

Outwardly　impassive　the　Commissioner　bowed。

〃Your　servant；　Citoyenne；〃　said　he；　removing　his　cocked　hat。
〃Juste；　will　you　give　us　leave？〃

〃You　will　find　me　on　the　terrace　when　you　want　me；　Citizen…deputy；〃
answered　the　officer；　and　saluting；　he　departed。

For　a　moment　or　two　after　he　was　gone　Suzanne　and　Caron　stood
confronting　each　other　in　silence。　　She　seemed　smitten　with　a　sudden
awkwardness；　and　she　looked　away　from　him　what　time　he　waited；　hat
in　hand；　the　chill　morning　breeze　faintly　stirring　a　loose　strand
of　his　black　hair。

〃Monsieur；〃　she　faltered　at　last；　〃I　am　come　to　intercede。〃

At　that　a　faint　smile　hovered　a　second　on　the　Republican's　thin　lips。

〃And　is　the　noblesse　of　France　fallen　so　low　that　it　sends　its　women
to　intercede　for　the　lives　of　its　men？　　　But；　perhaps；〃　he　added
cynically；　〃it　had　not　far　to　fall。〃

Her　cheeks　reddened。　　His　insult　to　her　class　acted　upon　her　as　a
spur　and　overcame　the　irresoluteness　that　seemed　to　have　beset　her。

〃To　insult　the　fallen；　sir；　is　worthy　of　the　new　regime；　whose
representative　you　are；　Enfine！　　We　must　take　it；　I　suppose；　as　we
take　everything　else　in　these　disordered　times　…　with　a　bent　head
and　a　meek　submission。〃

〃From　the　little　that　I　have　seen；　Citoyenne；〃　he　answered；　very
coldly；　roused　in　his　turn；　〃it　rather　seems　that　you　take　things
on　your　knees　and　with　appeals　for　mercy。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　she　cried；　and　her　eyes　now　met　his　in　fearless　anger；
〃if　you　persist　in　these　gratuitous　insults　I　shall　leave　you。〃

He　laughed　in　rude　amusement；　and　put　on　his　hat。　　The　spell　that
for　a　moment　her　beauty　had　cast　over　him　when　first　she　had
appeared　had　been　attenuating。　　It　now　broke　suddenly；　and　as　he
covered　himself　his　whole　manner　changed。

〃Is　this　interview　of　my　seeking？〃　he　asked。　　〃It　is　your　brother
I　am　awaiting。　　Name　of　a　name；　Citoyenne；　do　you　think　my　patience
inexhaustible？　　The　ci…devant　Vicomte　promised　to　attend　me　here。
It　was　the　boast　of　your　order　that　whatever　sins　you　might　be
guilty　of　you　never　broke　your　word。　　Have　you　lost　even　that　virtue；
which　served　you　as　a　cloak　for　untold　vices？　　　And　is　your　brother
fled　into　the　woods　whilst　you；　his　sister；　come　here　to　intercede
with　me　for　his　wretched　life？　　　Pah！　　In　the　old　days　you　aroused
my　hatred　by　your　tyrannies　and　your　injustices；　to…day　you　weary
and　disgust　me　by　your　ineffable　cowardices；　from　that　gentleman　in
Paris　who　now　calls　himself　Orleans…Egalite　downwards。〃

〃Monsieur；〃she　began　But　he　was　not　yet　done。　　His　cheeks　were
flushed　with　a　reflection　of　the　heart　within。

〃Citoyenne；　I　have　a　debt　to　discharge；　and　I　will　discharge　it　in
full。　　Intercessions　are　vain　with　me。　　I　cannot　forget。　　Send　me
your　brother　within　ten　minutes　to　meet　me　here；　man　to　man；　and　he
shall　have　…　all　of　you　shall　have　…　the　chance　that　lies　in　such
an　encounter。　　But　woe　unto　every　man　at　Bellecour　if　he　should
fail　me。　　Citoyenne；　you　know　my　mind。〃

But　she　overlooked　the　note　of　dismissal　in　his　voice。

〃You　speak　of　a　debt　that　you　must　discharge；〃　said　she；　with　no
whit　less　heat　than　he　had　exhibited。　　〃You　refer　to　the　debt　of
vengeance　which　you　look　to　discharge　by　murdering　that　boy；　my
brother。　　But　do　you　not　owe　me　a　debt　also？〃

〃You？〃　he　questioned。　　〃My　faith！　　Unless　it　be　a　debt　of　scorn；
I　know　of　none。〃

〃Aye；〃　she　returned　wistfully；　〃you　are　like　the　rest。　　You　have　a
long　memory　for　injuries；　but　a　short　one　for　benefits。　　Had　it　not
been　for　me；　Monsieur；　you　would　not　be　here　now　to　demand　this
that　you　call　satisfaction。　　Have　you　forgotten　how　I　…　〃

〃No；〃　he　broke　in。　　〃I　well　remember　how　you　sought　to　stay　them
when　they　were　flogging　me　in　the　yard　there。　　But　you　came　too
late。　　You　might　have　come　before；　for　from　the　balcony　above　you
had　been　watching　my　torture。　　But　you　waited　overlong。　　I　was
cast　out　for　dead。〃。

She　flashed　him　a　searching　glance；　as　though　she　sought　to　read
his　thoughts；　and　to　ascertain　whether　he　indeed　believed　what
he　was　saying。

〃Cast　out　for　dead？〃　she　echoed。　　〃And　by　whose　contrivance？　　　By
mine；　M。　la　Boulaye。　　When　they　were　cutting　you　down　they
discovered　that　you　were　not　dead；　and　but　that　I　bribed　the　men
to　keep　it　secret　and　carry　you　to　Duhamel's　house；　they　had
certainly　informed　my　father　and　you　would　have　been　finished　off。〃

His　eyes　opened　wide　now；　and　into　them　there　came　a　troubled　look
　…　the　look　of　one　who　is　endeavouring　to　grasp　an　elusive
recollection。

〃Ma　foi；〃　he　muttered。　　〃It　seems　to　come　to　me　as　if　I　had　heard
something　of　the　sort　in　a　dream。　　It　was　…　〃　　He　paused；　and　his
brows　were　knit　a　moment。　　Then　he　looked　up　suddenly；　and　gradually
his　face　cleared。　　〃Why；　yes　…　I　have　it！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃It　was
in　Duhamel's　house。　　While　I　was　lying　half　unconscious　on　the　couch
I　heard　one　of　the　men　telling　Duhamel　that　you　had　paid　them　to
carry　me　there　and　to　keep　a　secret。〃

〃And　you　had　forgotten　that？〃　she　asked；　with　the　faintest　note　of
contempt。

〃Not　forgotten；〃he　answered；　〃for　it　was　never　really　there　to　be
remembered。　　That　I　had　heard　such　words　had　more　than　once　occurred
to　me；　but　I　have　always　looked　upon　it　as　the　recollection　of
something　that　I　had　dreamt。　　I　had　never　looked　upon　it　as　a　thing
that　had　h