the trampling of the lilies-第15节

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spite　of　a　rent　in　the　shoulder；　and　sundry　stains　of　wine　and　oil；
was　unmistakably　of　a　comparative　newness。　　Beneath　this　appeared
the　nankeens　and　black　leggings　of　a　soldier。　　Another　covered　his
greasy　locks　with　a　three…cornered　hat；　richly　laced　in　gold。　　A
third　flaunted　under　his　ragged　blue　coat　a　gold…broidered
waistcoat　and　a　Brussels　cravat。　　A　valuable　ring　flashed　from　the
grimy　finger　of　a　fourth；　who；　instead　of　the　military　white
nankeens；　wore　a　pair　of　black　silk　breeches。　　There　was　one　…　he
of　the　injured　arm　…　resplendent　in　a　redingote　of　crimson　velvet；
whilst　he　of　the　limp　supported　himself　upon　a　gold…headed　cane　of
ebony；　which　was　in　ludicrous　discord　with　the　tattered　blue　coat；
the　phrygian　cap；　and　the　toes　that　peeped　through　his　broken　boots。

They　paused　in　their　game　to　inspect；　in　their　turn；　the　newcomers；
and　to　La　Boulaye　it　seemed　that　their　glances　were　not　free　from
uneasiness。

〃A　picturesque　company　on　my　life；〃　he　mused　aloud。　　Then　beckoned
the　one　in　the　crimson　coat。

〃Hola；　Citizen；〃he　called　to　him。

The　fellow　hesitated　a　moment；　then　shuffled　forward　with　a　sullen
air；　and　stood　by　Caron's　stirrup。

〃In　God's　name；　what　are　you　and　who　are　you？〃　the　Deputy　demanded。

〃We　are　invalided　soldiers　from　the　army　of　Dumouriez；〃the　man
answered　him。

〃But　what　are　you　doing　here；　at　Boisvert？〃

〃We　are　in　hospital；　Citizen。〃

〃Yonder？〃　asked　La　Boulaye　derisively；　pointing　with　his　whip　to
the　〃Eagle　Inn。〃

The　fellow　nodded。

〃Yes；　Citizen；　yonder；〃　he　answered　curtly。

La　Boulaye　looked　surprised。　　Then　his　eyes　strayed　to　the　others
on　the　green。

〃But　you　are　not　all　invalids？〃he　questioned。

〃Many　of　us　are　convalescent。〃

〃Convalescent？　　　But　those　three　braves　yonder　are　something　more
than　convalescent。　　They　are　as　well　as　I　am。　　Why　do　they　not
rejoin　the　troops？〃

The　fellow　looked　up　with　a　scowl。

〃We　take　our　orders　from　our　officer；〃he　answered　sourly。

〃Ah！〃　quoth　the　Deputy。　　〃There　is　someone　in　charge　here；　then？
Who　may　it　be？〃

〃Captain　Charlot；〃the　fellow　answered；　with　an　impudent　air；　which
clearly　seemed　to　ask：　〃What　have　you　to　say　to　that？〃

〃Captain　Charlot？〃　echoed　La　Boulaye；　in　astonishment；　for　the　name
was　that　of　the　sometime　peasant　of　Bellecour；　who　had　since　risen
in　life；　and　who；　as　an　officer；　had　in　a　few　months　acquired　a
brilliant　fame　for　deeds　of　daring。　　〃Charlot　Tardivet？〃　he　inquired。

〃Is　there　any　other　Captain　Charlot　in　the　army　of　the　Republic？〃
the　fellow　asked　insolently。

〃Is　he　invalided　too？〃　inquired　Caron；　without　heeding　the　soldier's
offensiveness　of　manner。

〃He　was　severely　wounded　at　Jemappes；〃was　the　answer。

〃At　Jemappes？　　　But；　voyons　my　friend；　Jemappes　was　fought　three
months　ago。〃

〃Why；　so　all　the　world　knows。　　What　then？　　　The　General　sent　Captain
Charlot　here　to　rest　and　be　cured；　giving　him　charge　of　the
invalided　soldiers　who　came　with　him　and　of　others　who　were　already
here。〃

〃And　of　these；〃cried　La　Boulaye；　his　amazement　growing；　〃have　none
returned　to　Dumouriez？〃

〃Have　I　not　said　that　we　are　invalids？〃

Caron　eyed　him　with　cold　contempt。

〃How　many　of　you　are　there？〃he　asked。　　And　for　all　that　the　man
began　to　mislike　this　questioning；　he　had　not　the　hardihood　to
refuse　an　answer　to　the　stern　tones　of　that　stern　man　on　horseback。

〃Some　fifty；　or　thereabouts。〃

La　Boulaye　said　nothing　for　a　moment；　then　touching　the　fellow's
sleeve　with　his　whip。

〃How　came　you　into　this　masquerade？〃he　inquired。

〃Ma　foi；〃　answered　the　man；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃we　were　in
rags。　　The　commissariat　was　demoralised；　and　supplies　were　not
forthcoming。　　We　had　to　take　what　we　could　find；　or　else　go　naked。〃

〃And　where　did　you　find　these　things？〃

〃Diable！　　Will　your　questions　never　come　to　an　end；　Citizen？　　　Would
you　not　be　better　advised　in　putting　them　to　the　Captain　himself？〃

〃Why；　so　I　will。　　Where　is　he？〃

In　the　distance　a　cloud　of　dust　might　be　perceived　above　the　long；
white　road。　　The　soldier　espied　it　as　La　Boulaye　put　his　question。

〃I　am　much　at　fault　if　he　does　not　come　yonder。〃　　And　he　pointed　to
the　dust…cloud。

〃I　think；〃　said　La　Boulaye；　turning　to　his　men；　〃that　we　will　drink
a　cup　of　wine　at　the　'Eagle　Inn。'　〃

Mean　though　the　place　was；　it　was　equipped　with　a　stable…yard；　to
which　admittance　was　gained　by　a　porte…cochere　on　the　right。
Wheeling　his　horse；　La　Boulaye；　without　another　word　to　the　soldier
he　had　been　questioning；　rode　through　it；　followed　by　his　escort。

The　hostess；　who　came　forward　to　receive　them；　was　a　tall；　bony
woman　of　very　swarthy　complexion；　with　beady　eyes　and　teeth
prominent　as　a　rat's。　　But　if　ill…favoured；　she　seemed；　at　least；
well…intentioned；　in　addition　to　which　the　tricolour　scarf　of　office
round　La　Boulaye's　waist　was　a　thing　that　commanded　respect　and
servility；　however　much　it　might　be　the　insignia　of　a　Government　of
liberty；　equality；　and　fraternity。

She　bade　the　ostler　care　for　their　horses；　and　she　brought　them　her
best　wine；　seeking　under　an　assumed　geniality　to　conceal　the　unrest
born　of　her　speculations　as　to　what　might　happen　did　Captain　Charlot
return　ere　the　Deputy　departed。

Charlot　did　return。　　Scarce　were　they　seated　at　their　wine　when　the
confused　sounds　that　from　the　distance　had　been　swelling　took　more
definite　shape。　　The　hostess　looked　uneasy　as　La　Boulaye　rose　and
went　to　the　door　of　the　inn。　　Down　the　road　marched　now　a　numerous
company　from　which　…　to　judge　by　their　odd　appearance　…　the　players
at　bowls　had　been　drawn。　　They　numbered　close　upon　threescore；　and
in　the　centre　of　them　came　a　great　lumbering　vehicle；　which　puzzled
La　Boulaye。　　He　drew　away　from　the　door　and　posted　himself　at　the
window；　so　that　unobserved　he　might　ascertain　what　was　toward。　　Into
the　courtyard　came　that　company；　pele…mele；　an　odd　mixture　of　rags
and　gauds；　yet　a　very　lusty　party；　vigorous　of　limb　and　loud　of
voice。　　With　them　came　the　coach；　and　there　was　such　a　press　about
the　gates　that　La　Boulaye　looked　to　see　some　of　them　crushed　to　death。
But　with　a　few　shouts　and　oaths　and　threats　at　one　another　they　got
through　in　safety；　and　the　unwieldy　carriage　was　brought　to　a
standstill。

They　were　clamouring　about　its　doors；　and　to　La　Boulaye　it　seemed
that　they　were　on　the　point　of　quarrelling　among　themselves；　some
wanting　to　enter　the　coach　and　others　seeking　to　restrain　them；
when　through　the　porte…cochere　rode　Charlot　Tardivet　himself。

He　barked　out　a　sharp　word　of　command；　and　they　grew　silent　and
still；　testifying　to　a　discipline　which　said　much　for　the　strength
of　character　of　their　captain。　　He　was　strangely　altered；　was　this
Tardivet；　and　his　appearance　now　was　worthy　of　his　followers。　　Under
a　gaudily…laced；　three…cornered　hat　his　hair　hung　dishevelled　and
unkempt；　like　wisps　of　straw。　　He　wore　a　coat　of　flowered　black
silk；　with　a　heavy　gold　edging；　and　a　very　bright　plum…coloured
waistcoat　showed　above　the　broad　tricolour　scarf　that　sashed　his
middle。　　His　breeches　were　white　（or　had　been　white　in　origin）；　and
disappeared　into　a　pair　of　very　lustrous　lacquered　boots　that　rose
high　above　his　knees。　　A　cavalry　sabre　of　ordinary　dimensions　hung
from　a　military　belt；　and　a　pistol…butt；　peeping　from　his　sash；
completed　the　astonishing　motley　of　his　appearance。　　For　the　rest；
he　was　the　same　tall　and　well…knit　fellow；　but　there　was　more
strength　in　his　square　chin；　more　intelligence　in　the　keen　blue
eyes；　and；　alas！　more　coarseness　in　the　mouth；　which　bristled　with
a　reddish　beard　of　some　days'　growth。

La　Boulaye　watched　him　with　interest。　　He　had　become　intimate　with
him　in　the　old　days　in　Paris；　whither　Tardivet　had　gone；　and　where；
fired　by　the　wrongs　he　had　suffered；　he　had　been　one　of　the
apostles　of　the　Revolution。　　When　the　frontiers　of　France　had　been
in　danger　Tardivet　had　taken　up　arms；　and　by　the　lustre　which　he
had　shed　upon　the　name　of　Captain　Charlotas　he　was　come　to　be
called　throughout　the　army　…　he　had　eclipsed　the　fame　of　Citizen
Tardivet；　the　erstwhile　prophet　of　liberty。　　Great　changes　these　in
the　estate　of　one　who　had　been　a　simple　peasant；　but　then　the　times
were　times　of　great　changes。　　Was　not　Santerre；　the　brewer；　become
a　great　general；　and　was　not　Robespierre；　the　obscure　lawyer　of
Arras；　by　way　of　becoming　a　dictator？　　　Was　it；　therefore；　wonderful
that　Charlot　should　have　passed　from　peasant　to　preacher；　from
preacher　to　soldier；　and　from　soldier　to　…　what？

A　shrewd　suspicion　was　being　borne　in　upon　La　Boulaye's　mind　as　he
stood　by　that　window；　his　men　behind　him　watching　also；　with　no　less
intentness　and　some　uneasiness　for　themselves　…　for　they　misliked
the　look　of　the　company。

In　five　seconds　Charlot　had　restored　order　in　the　human　chaos
without。　　In　five　minutes　there　were　but　ten　men　left　in　the　yard。
The　others　were　gone　at　Charlot's　bidding　…　a　bidding；　couched　in
words　that　went　to　confirm　La　Boulaye's　suspicions。

〃You　will　get　back　to　your　posts　at　once；〃he　had　said。　　〃Because　we
have　made　one　rich　capture　is　no　reason　why　you　should　neglect　the
opportunities　of　making　others　no　less　rich。　　You；　Moulinet；　with
twenty　men；　sh