the trampling of the lilies-第16节

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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；　shall　patrol　the　road　to　Charleroi；　and　get　as　near
France　as　possible。　　You　Boligny；　station　yourself　in　the
neighbourhood　of　Conde；　with　ten　men；　and　guard　the　road　from
Valenciennes。　　You；　Aigreville；　spread　your　twenty　men　from　Conde
to　Tournay；　and　watch　the　frontiers　closely。　　Make　an　inspection　of
any　captures　you　may　take；　and　waste　no　time　in　bringing　hither
worthless　ones。　　Now　go。　　I　will　see　that　each　man's　share　of　this
is　assured　him。　　March！〃

There　were　some　shouts　of　〃Vive　la　Republique！〃　some　of　〃Vive　le
Captaine　Charlot！〃　and　so　they　poured　out　of　the　yard；　and　left
him　to　give　a　few　hurried　directions　to　the　ten　men　that　remained。

〃Sad　invalids　these；　as　I　live！〃　exclaimed　La　Boulaye　over　his
shoulder　to　his　followers。　　〃Ha！　　There　is　my　friend　of　the　red
redingote！〃

The　fellow　with　the　bandaged　head　had　approached　Charlot　and　was
tugging　at　his　sleeve。

〃Let　be；　you　greasy　rascal；〃　the　Captain　snapped　at　him；　to　add：
〃What　do　you　say？　　　A　Deputy？　　　Where？〃　　The　fellow　pointed　with
his　thumb　in　the　direction　of　the　hostelry。

〃Sacred　name　of　a　name！〃　growled　Charlot；　and；　turning　suddenly
from　the　men　to　whom　he　had　been　issuing　directions；　he　sprang　up
the　steps　and　entered　the　inn。　　As　he　crossed　the　threshold　of　the
common　room　he　was　confronted　by　the　tall　figure　of　La　Boulaye。

〃I　make　you　my　compliments；　Charlot；〃　was　Caron's　greeting；　〃upon
the　vigorous　health　that　appears　to　prevail　in　your　hospital。〃

Tardivet　stood　a　moment　within　the　doorway；　staring　at　the　Deputy。
Then　his　brow　cleared；　and　with　a　laugh；　at　once　of　welcome　and
amusement；　he　strode　forward　and　put　out　his　hand。

〃My　good　Caron！〃　he　cried。　　〃To　meet　you　at　Boisvert　is　a　pleasure
I　had　not　looked　for。〃

〃Are　you　so　very　sure；〃　asked　La　Boulaye　sardonically；　as　he　took
the　outstretched　hand；　〃that　it　is　a　pleasure？〃

〃How　could　it　be　else；　old　friend？　　　By　St。　Guillotine！〃　he　added；
clapping　the　Deputy　on　the　back；　〃you　shall　come　to　my　room；　and
we　will　broach　a　bottle　of　green　seal。〃

In　some　measure　of　wonder；　La　Boulaye　permitted　himself　to　be　led
up　the　crazy　stairs　to　a　most　untidy　room　above；　which　evidently　did
duty　as　the　Captain's　parlour。　　A　heavy　brass　lamp；　hanging　from　the
ceiling；　a　few　untrustworthy　chairs　and　a　deal　table；　stained　and
unclean；　were　the　only　articles　of　furniture。　　But　in　almost　every
corner　there　were　untidy　heaps　of　garments　Of　all　sorts　and
conditions；　strewn　about　the　floor　were　other　articles　of　apparel；
a　few　weapons；　a　saddle；　and　three　or　four　boots；　here　an　empty
bottle；　lying　on　its　side；　yonder　a　couple　of　full　ones　by　the
hearth；　an　odd　book　or　two　and　an　infinity　of　playing　cards；　cast
there　much　as　a　sower　scatters　his　seeds　upon　the　ground。

There　may　be　a　hundred　ways　of　apprehending　the　character　of　a　man；
but　none　perhaps　is　more　reliable　than　the　appearance　of　his
dwelling；　and　no　discerning　person　that　stepped　into　Captain
Tardivet's　parlour　could　long　remain　in　doubt　of　its　inhabitant's
pursuits　and　habits。

When　Dame　Capoulade　had　withdrawn；　after　bringing　them　their　wine
and　casting　a　few　logs　upon　the　fire；　La　Boulaye　turned　his　back
to　the　hearth　and　confronted　his　host。

〃Why　are　you　not　with　the　army；　Charlot？〃　he　asked　in　a　tone　which
made　the　question　sound　like　a　demand。

〃Have　they　not　told　you；〃rejoined　the　other　airily；　engrossed　in
filling　the　glasses。

〃I　understand　you　were　sent　here　to　recover　from　a　wound　you　received
three　months　ago　at　Jemappes；　and　to　take　charge　of　other　invalided
soldiers。　　But　seemingly；　your　invalids　do　not　number　more　than　a
half…dozen　out　of　the　fifty　or　sixty　men　that　are　with　you。　　How　is
it　then；　that　you　do　not　return　with　these　to　Dumouriez？〃

〃Because　I　can　serve　France　better　here；〃　answered　Charlot；　〃and　at
the　same　time　enrich　myself　and　my　followers。〃

〃In　short；〃　returned　La　Boulaye　coldly；　〃because　you　have　degenerated
from　a　soldier　into　a　brigand。〃

Charlot　looked　up；　and　for　just　a　second　his　glance　was　not　without
uneasiness。　　Then　he　laughed。　　He　unbuckled　his　sword　and　tossed　it
into　a　corner；　throwing　his　hat　after　it。

〃It　was　ever　your　way　to　take　extreme　views；　Caron；〃　he　observed；
with　a　certain　whimsical　regret　of　tone。　　〃That；　no　doubt；　is　what
has　made　a　statesman　of　you。　　You　had　chosen　more　wisely　had　you
elected　to　serve　the　Republic　with　your　sword　instead。　　Come；　my
friend；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　wine；　〃let　us　pledge　the　Nation。〃

La　Boulaye　shrugged　his　shoulders　slightly；　and　sighed。　　In　the　end
he　came　forward　and　took　the　wine。

〃Long　live　the　Republic！〃　was　Charlot's　toast；　and　with　a　slight
inclination　of　the　head　La　Boulaye　drained　his　glass。

〃It　is　likely　to　live　without　you；　Charlot；　unless　you　mend　your
conduct。〃

〃Diable！〃　snapped　the　Captain；　a　trifle　peevishly。　　〃Can　you　not
understand　that　in　my　own　way　I　am　serving　my　country。　　You　have
called　me　a　brigand。　　But　you　might　say　the　same　of　General
Dumouriez　himself。　　How　many　cities　has　he　not　sacked？〃

〃That　is　the　way　of　war。〃

〃And　so　is　this。　　He　makes　war　upon　the　enemies　of　France　that　dwell
in　cities；　whilst　I；　in　a　smaller　way；　make　war　upon　those　that
travel　in　coaches。　　I　confine　myself　to　emigres　…　these　damned
aristocrats　whom　it　is　every　good　Frenchman's　duty　to　aid　in　stamping
out。　　Over　the　frontiers　they　come　with　their　jewels；　their　plate；
and　their　money…chests。　　To　whom　belongs　this　wealth？　　　To　France。
Too　long　already　have　they　withheld　from　the　sons　of　the　soil　that
which　belongs　equally　to　them；　and　now　they　have　the　effrontery　to
attempt　to　carry　these　riches　out　of　the　country。　　Would　any　true
Republican　dare　to　reproach　me　for　what　I　do？　　　I　am　but　seizing
that　which　belongs　to　France；　and　here　dividing　it　among　the　good
patriots　that　are　with　me；　the　soldiers　that　have　bled　for　France。〃

〃A　specious　argument；〃sneered　La　Boulaye。

〃Specious　enough　to　satisfy　the　Convention　itself　if　ever　I　should
be　called　to　task；〃　answered　Charlot；　with　heat。　　〃Do　you　propose
to　draw　the　attention　of　the　Executive　to　my　doings？〃

La　Boulaye's　grey　eyes　regarded　him　steadily　for　a　moment。

〃Know　you　of　any　reason　why　I　should　not？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　Caron；　I　do；〃　was　the　ready　answer。　　〃I　am　well　aware　of　the
extent　of　your　power　with　the　Mountain。　　In　Paris　I　can　see　that
it　might　go　hard　with　me　if　you　were　minded　that　it　should；　and　you
were　able　to　seize　me。　　On　the　other　hand；　that　such　arguments　that
I　have　advanced　to　you　would　be　acceptable　to　the　Government　I　do
not　doubt。　　But　whilst　they　would　approve　of　this　that　you　call
brigandage；　I　also　do　not　doubt　that　they　would　claim　that　the
prizes　I　have　seized　are　by　right　the　property　of　the　Convention；
and　they　might　compel　me　to　surrender　them。　　Thus　they　would　pass
from　my　hands　into　those　of　some　statesman…brigand；　who；　under　the
plea　of　seizing　these　treasures　for　the　coffers　of　the　nation；
would　transfer　them　to　his　own。　　Would　you　rather　help　such　an　one
to　profit　than　me；　Caron？　　　Have　you　so　far　forgotten　how　we
suffered　together　…　almost　in　the　self…same　cause　…　at　Bellecour；
in　the　old　days？　　　Have　you　forgotten　the　friendship　that　linked
us　later；　in　Paris；　when　the　Revolution　was　in　its　dawn？　　　Have
you　forgotten　what　I　have　endured　at　the　hands　of　this　infernal
class　that　you　can　feel　no　sympathy　for　me？　　　Caron；　it　is　a
measure　of　revenge；　and　as　there　is　a　Heaven；　a　very　mild　one。
Me　they　robbed　of　more　than　life；　them　I　deprive　but　of　their
jewels　and　their　plate；　turning　them　destitute　upon　the　world。
Bethink　you　of　my　girl…wife；　Caron；〃　he　added；　furiously；　〃and　of
how　she　died　of　grief　and　shame　a　short　three　months　after　our
hideous　nuptials。　　God　in　Heaven！　　When　the　memory　of　it　returns
to　me　I　marvel　at　my　own　forbearance。　　I　marvel　that　I　do　not　take
every　man　and　woman　of　them　that　fall　into　my　hands　and　flog　them
to　death　as　they　would　have　flogged　you　when　you　sought　…　alas　to
so　little　purpose　…　to　intervene　on　my　behalf。〃

He　grew　silent　and　thoughtful；　and　the　expression　of　his　face　was
not　nice。　　At　last：　〃Have　I　given　you　reason　enough；〃　he　asked；
〃why　you　should　not　seek　to　thwart　me？〃

〃Why；　yes；〃　answered　La　Boulaye；　〃more　than　was　necessary。　　I　am
desolated　that　I　should　have　brought　you　to　re…open　a　sorrow　that
I　thought　was　healed。〃

〃So　it　is；　Caron。　　How　it　is　I　do　not　know。　　Perhaps　it　is　my
nature；　perhaps　it　is　that　in　youth　sorrow　is　seldom　long…enduring；
perhaps　it　is　the　strenuous　life　I　have　lived　and　the　changes　that
have　been　wrought　in　me　…　for；　after　all；　there　is　a　little　in　this
Captain　Tardivet　that　is　like　the　peasant　poor　Marie　took　to
husband；　four　years　ago。　　I　am　no　longer　the　same　man；　and　among
the　other　things　that　I　have　put　from　me　are　the　sorrows　that　were
of　the　old　Charlot。　　But　some　memories　cannot　altogether　die；　and
if　to…day　I　no　longer　mourn　that　poor　child；　yet　the　knowledge　of
the　debt　that　lies　'twixt　the　noblesse　of　France　and　me　is　ever
present；　and　I　neglect　no　opportunity　of　discharging