the trampling of the lilies-第24节

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continue　their　journey；　a　half…dozen　men　should　suffice　to　recapture
them。　　I　will　despatch　these　at　once。。。　〃

La　Boulaye　looked　up　at　that。

〃If　they　have　resolved　to　continue　their　journey？〃　he　echoed。　　〃What
else　should　they　have　resolved？〃

Tardivet　stroked　his　reddish　hair　and　smiled　astutely。

〃In　organising　a　pursuit；〃aid　he；　〃the　wise　pursuer　will　always　put
himself　in　the　place　of　the　fugitives；　and　seek　to　reason　as　they
would　probably　reason。　　Now；　what　more　likely　than　that　these　ladies；
or　their　coachman；　or　that　rascally　ostler；　should　have　thought　of
doubling　back　into　France？　　　They　might　naturally　argue　that　we；
should　never　think　of　pursuing　them　in　that　direction。　　Similarly
placed；　that　is　how　I　should　reason；　and　that　is　the　course　I　should
adopt；　making　for　Prussia　through　Lorraine。　　Perhaps　I　do　their
intelligences　too　much　honour　…　yet；　to　me；　it　seems　such　an　obvious
course。〃'

La　Boulaye　grew　cold　with　apprehension。　　Yet　impassively　he　asked：

〃But　what　of　your　men　who　are　guarding　the　frontiers？〃

〃Pooh！　　A　detour　might　circumvent　them。　　The　Marquise　might　go　as
far　north　as　Roubaix　or　Comines；　or　as　fair　south　as　Rocroy；　or　even
Charlemont。　　Name　of　a　name；　but　it　is　more　than　likely！〃　he
exclaimed；　with　sudden　conviction。　　〃What　do　you　say；　Caron？〃

〃That　you　rave；〃answered　La　Boulaye　coldly。

〃Well；　we　shall　see。　　I　will　despatch　a　message　to　my　men；　bidding
them　spread　themselves　as　far　north　as　Comiines　and　as　far　south　as
Charlemont。　　Should　the　fugitives　have　made　such　a　detour　as　I
suggested　there　will　be　ample　time　to　take　them。〃

La　Boulaye　still　contemned　the　notion　with　a　fine　show　of
indifference；　but　Tardivet　held　to　his　purpose；　and　presently
despatched　the　messengers　as　he　had　proposed。　　At　that　Caron　felt
his　pulses　quickening　with　anxiety　for　Mademoiselle。　　These　astute
measures　must　inevitably　result　im　her　capture　…　for　was　it　not　at
Roubaix　that　he　had　bidden　her　await　him？　　　There　was　but　one　thing
to　be　done；　to　ride　out　himself　to　meet　her　along　the　road　from
Soignies　to　Oudenarde；　and　to　escort　her　into　France。　　She　should
go　ostensibly　as　his　prisoner；　and　he　was　confident　that　not　all
the　brigands　of　Captain　Tardivet　would　suffice　to　take　her　from　him。

Accordingly；　he　announced　his　intention　of　resuming　his　interrupted
journey；　and　ordered　his　men　to　saddle　and　make　ready。　　Meanwhile；
having　taken　measures　to　recapture　the　Marquise　should　she　have
doubled　back　into　France；　Charlot　was　now　organising　an　expedition
to　scour　the　road　to　Prussia；　against　the　possibility　of　her　having
adhered　to　her　original　intention　of　journeying　that　way。　　Thus　he
was　determined　to　take　no　risks；　and　leave　her　no　loophole　of　escape。

Tardivet　would　have　set　himself　at　the　head　of　the　six　horsemen　of
this　expedition；　but　that　La　Boulaye　interfered；　and　this　time　to
some　purpose。　　He　assured　the　Captain　that　he　was　still　far　from
recovered；　and　that　to　spend　a　day　in　the　saddle　might　have　the
gravest　of　consequences　for　him。

〃If　the　occasion　demanded　it；〃　he　concluded；　〃I　should　myself　urge
you　to　chance　the　matter　of　your　health。　　But　the　occasion　does　not。
The　business　is　of　the　simplest；　and　your　men　can　do　as　much　without
you　as　they　could　with　you。〃

Tardivet　permitted　himself　to　be　persuaded；　and　Caron　had　again　good
cause　to　congratulate　himself　that　he　had　remained　behind　to
influence　him。　　He　opined　that　the　men；　failing　to　pick　up　the　trail
at　Charleroi；　would　probably　go　on　as　far　as　Dinant　before　abandoning
the　chase；　then　they　would　return　to　Boisvert　to　announce　their
failure；　and　by　that　time　it　would　be　too　late　to　reorganise　the
pursuit。　　On　the　other　hand；　had　Tardivet　accompanied　them；　upon
failing　to　find　any　trace　of　the　Marquise　at　Charleroi；　La　Boulaye
could　imagine　him　pushing　north　along　the　Sambre；　and　pressing　the
peasantry　into　his　service　to　form　an　impassable　cordon。

And　so；　having　won　his　way　in　this　at　least；　and　seen　the　six　men
set　out　under　the　command　of　Tardivet's　trusted　Guyot；　Caron　took
his　leave　of　the　Captain。　　He　was　on　the　very　point　of　setting　out
when　a　courier　dashed　up　to　the　door　of　the　〃Eagle；〃　and　called　for
a　cup　of　wine。　　As　it　was　brought　him　he　asked　the　hostess　whether
the　Citizen…deputy　La　Boulaye；　Commissioner　to　the　army　of　Dumouriez；
had　passed　that　way。　　Upon　being　informed　that　the　Deputy　was　even
then　within　the　inn；　the　courier　got　down　from　his　horse　and
demanded　to　be　taken　to　him。

The　hostess　led　him　into　the　common…room；　and　pointed　out　the
Deputy。　　The　courier　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief；　and　removing　his
sodden　cloak　he　bade　the　landlady　get　it　dried　and　prepare　him　as
stout　a　meal　as　her　hostelry　afforded。

〃Name　of　a　name！〃　he　swore；　as　he　pitched　his　dripping　hat　into　a
corner。　　〃But　it　is　good　to　find　you　at　last；　Citizen…deputy？　　　I
had　expected　to　meet　you　at　Valenciennes。　　But　as　you　were　not　there；
and　as　my　letters　were　urgent；　I　have　been　compelled　to　ride　for　the
past　six　hours　through　that　infernal　deluge。　　Enfin；　here　you　are；
and　here　is　my　letter　…　from　the　Citizen…deputy　Maximilien
Robespierre　…　and　here　I'll　rest　me　for　the　next　six　hours。〃

Bidding　the　fellow　by　all　means　rest　and　refresh　himself；　La　Boulaye
broke　the　seal；　and　read　the　following：

　Dear　Caron；

　　My　courier　should　deliver　you　this　letter　as　you　are　on　the　Point
　　of　reentering　France；　on　your　return　from　the　mission　which　you
　　have　discharged　with　so　much　glory　to　yourself　and　credit　to　me
　　who　recommended　you　for　the　task。　　I　make　you　my　compliments　on
　　the　tact　and　adroitness　you　have　employed　to　bring　this　stubborn
　　Dumouriez　into　some　semblance　of　sympathy　with　the　Convention。
　　And　now；　my　friend；　I　have　another　task　for　you；　which　you　can
　　discharge　on　your　homeward　journey。　　You　will　make　a　slight　detour；
　　passing　into　Artois　and　riding　to　the　Chateau　d'Ombreval；　which　is
　　situated　some　four　miles　south　of　Arras。　　Here　I　wish　you　not　only
　　to　Possess　yourself　of　the　person　of　the　ci…devant　Vicomte
　　d'Ombreval；　bringing　him　to　Paris　as　your　Prisoner；　but　further；
　　to　make　a　very　searching　investigation　of　that　aristocrat's　papers；
　　securing　any　documents　that　you　may　consider　of　a　nature
　　treasonable　to　the　French　Republic；　One　and　Indivisible。

The　letter　ended　with　the　usual　greetings　and　Robespierre's　signature。

La　Boulaye　swore　softly　to　himself　as　he　folded　the　epistle。

〃It　seems；〃　he　muttered　to　Charlot；　〃that　I　am　to　turn　catch…poll　in
the　service　of　the　Republic。〃

〃To　a　true　servant　of　the　Nation；〃　put　in　the　courier；　who　had
overheard　him；　〃all　tasks　that　may　tend　to　the　advancement　of　the
Republic　should　be　eagerly　undertaken。　　Diable！　　Have　not　I　ridden
in　the　rain　these　six　hours　past？〃

La　Boulaye　paid　no　heed　to　him；　he　was　too　inured　to　this　sort　of
insolence　since　the　new　rule　had　levelled　all　men。　　But　Charlot
turned　slowly　to　regard　the　fellow。

He　was　a　tall　man　of　rather　slender　stature；　but　indifferently
dressed　in　garments　that　were　splashed　from　head　to　foot　with　mud；
and　from　which　a　steam　was　beginning　to　rise　as　he　stood　now　with
his　back　to　the　fire。　　Charlot　eyed　him　so　narrowly　that　the　fellow
shifted　his　position　and　dropped　his　glance　in　some　discomfort。
His　speech；　though　rough　of　purport；　had　not　been　ungentle　of
delivery。　　But　his　face　was　dirty　…　the　sure　sign　of　an　ardent
patriot　…　his　hair　hung　untidy　about　his　face；　and　he　wore　that
latest　abomination　of　the　ultra…revolutionist；　a　dense　black　beard
and　moustache。

〃My　friend；〃　said　Charlot；　〃although　we　are　ready　to　acknowledge
you　our　equal；　we　should　like　you　to　understand　that　we　do　not　take
lessons　in　duty　even　from　our　equals。　　Bear　you　that　in　mind　if　you
seek　to　have　a　peaceful　time　while　you　are　here；　for　it　so　happens
that　I　am　quartered　at　this　inn；　and　have　a　more　important　way　with
me　than　this　good…natured　Deputy　here。〃

The　fellow　darted　Charlot　a　malevolent　glance。

〃You　talk　of　equality　and　you　outrage　equality　in　a　breath；〃　he
growled。　　〃I　half　suspect　you　of　being　a　turncoat　aristocrat。〃　　And
he　spat　ostentatiously　on　the　ground。

〃Suspect　what　you　will；　but　voice　no　suspicions　here；　else　you'll
become　acquainted　with　the　mighty　short　methods　of　Charlot　Tardivet。
And　as　for　aristocrats；　my　friend；　there　are　none　so　rabid　as　the
newly…converted。　　I　wonder　how　long　it　is　since　you　became　a　patriot？〃

Before　the　fellow　could　make　any　answer　the　corporal　in　command　of
La　Boulaye's　escort　entered　to　inform　Caron　that　the　men　were　in　the
saddle。

At　that　the　Deputy　hurriedly　took　his　leave　of　Tardivet；　and　wrapping
his　heavy　cloak　tightly　about　him　he　marched　out　into　the　rain；　and
mounted。

A　few　moments　later　they　clattered　briskly　out　of　Boisvert；　the　thick
grey　mud　flying　from　their　horses'　hoofs　as　they　went；　and　took　the
road　to　France。　　For　a　couple　of　miles　they　rode　steadily　along　under
the　unceasing　rain　and　in　the　teeth　of　that　bleak　February　wind。
Then　at　a　cross…road　La　Boulaye　unexpectedly　called　a　halt。

〃My　friends；〃　he　said　to　his　escort；　〃we　have　yet　a　little　business
to　discharge　in　Belgium　before　we　cross　the　frontier。〃

With　that