the trampling of the lilies-第27节

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riders；　as　half　a　mile　away　an　illuminated　window　beamed　invitingly。
Encouraged　by　it；　they　quickened　their　steps　a　little。　　But　almost
at　the　same　time　La　Boulaye　stirred　on　the　cloak；　and　the　men　who
carried　him　heard　him　speak。　　At　first　it　was　an　incoherent　mutter；
then　his　words　came　more　distinctly。

〃Hold！　　Where　are　you　carrying　me？　　Who　the　devil　are　you？〃

It　was　Garin's　voice　that　came　instantly　to　reassure　him。　　Caron
essayed　to　sit　up；　but　finding　it　impracticable；　he　shortly　bade
his　men　set　him　down。　　They　halted。　　Garin　dismounted　and　came　to
the　Deputy's　side；　and　it　was　found　that　his　condition　was　none　so
grave　after　all；　for　he　was　able　to　stand　unaided。　　When；　however；
he　attempted　to　walk；　he　reeled；　and　would　of　a　certainty　have
fallen；　but　that　Garin　put　out　his　arm　to　support　him。

〃Steady　there；　Citizen；〃　the　corporal　admonished　him。

〃Get　my　horse！〃　he　commanded　briefly。

〃But；　name　of　a　name！　you　are　not　fit　to　ride；〃　Garin　protested。

La　Boulaye；　however；　would　listen　to　no　reason。　　With　the　recovery
of　his　faculties　came　the　consideration　of　how　miserably　Suzanne　had
duped　him；　and　of　how　she　had　dealt　with　him　when　he　had　overtaken
her。　　He　burned　now　to　be　avenged；　and　at　all　costs　he　would　ride
after　and　recapture　her。　　He　announced；　therefore；　to　the　corporal
that　they　must　push　on　to　Liege。　　Garin　gasped　at　his　obstinacy；
and　would　have　sought　to　have　dissuaded　him；　but　that　La　Boulaye
turned　on　him　with　a　fierceness　that　silenced　his　expostulations。

It　was　left　to　Nature　to　enforce　what　Garin　could　not　achieve。　　When
La　Boulaye　came　to　attempt　to　mount　he　found　it　impossible。　　He　was
stiff　and　numb　from　his　long　exposure　in　the　rain；　and　when　he　moved
with　any　vigour　his　head　swam　dizzily　and　throbbed　with　pain。

At　last　he　was　forced　to　realise　…　with　inward　girding　…　that　he
must　relinquish　his　determination；　and　he　acknowledged　himself　ready
to　take　the　corporal's　advice　and　make　for　the　house　whose　lighted
window　shone　like　a　beacon　in　the　darkness　that　had　descended。　　He
even　allowed　them　to　prevail　upon　him　to　lie　down　in　the　cloak　again；
and　thus　they　carried　him　the　remainder　of　the　way。　　In　his　heart　he
still　bore　the　hope　that　short　rest；　restoratives；　and　fresh　clothes
would　fit　him　for　the　pursuit　once　more；　and　that　if　he　set　out
within　the　next　few　hours　he　might　yet　come　up　with　Mademoiselle
before　she　had　passed　beyond　his　reach。　　Should　the　morning　still
find　him　unequal　to　the　task　of　going　after　her；　he　would　despatch
Garin　and　his　men。

At　last　they　reached　the　cottage　…　it　was　little　more　…　and　Garin
rapped　on　the　door　with　his　whip。　　It　was　opened　by　a　woman；　who
told　them；　in　answer　to　the　corporal's　request　for　shelter；　that
her　husband　was　from　home；　and　that　she　had　no　accommodation　for
them。　　It　would　seem　that　the　woman　had　housed　soldiers　of　the
Republic　before；　and　that　her　experiences　had　not　been　of　a　nature
calculated　to　encourage　her　in　the　practice。　　But　La　Boulaye　now
staggered　forward　and　promised　her　generous　payment　if　she　would
receive　them。

〃Payment？〃　she　cried。　〃In　worthless　assignats　that　nobody　will　take
from　me。　　I　know　the　ways　of　you。〃

〃Not　in　assignats；〃　La　Boulaye　promised　her；　〃but　in　coin。〃

And　having　mollified　her　somewhat　with　that　assurance；　he　proceeded
to　urge　her　to　admit　them。　　Yonder　was　a　shed　where　the　horses　could
be　stabled　for　the　night。　　But　still　the　woman　demurred。

〃I　lack　the　room；〃　she　said；　with　some　firmness。

〃But　at　least；〃　put　in　Garin；　〃you　could　house　the　Citizen　here。
He　has　been　hurt；　and　he　is　scarcely　able　to　stand。　　Come；　woman；
if　you　will　consent　to　that；　we　others　can　lie　with　the　horses　in
the　shed。〃

This　in　the　end　they　gained　by　renewed　promises　of　good　payment。
She　brewed　a　broth　for　them；　and　for　La　Boulaye　she　found　a　suit
of　her　absent　husband's　clothes；　whilst　his　own　wet　garments　were
spread　to　dry　before　the　fire。　　Some　brandy；　too；　she　found　and
brought　him；　and　the　draught　did　much　to　restore　him。

When　they　had　supped；　Garin　and　the　troopers　withdrew　to　the
outhouse；　leaving　La　Boulaye　in　sole　possession　of　the　cottage
hearth。　　And　there；　in　a　suit　of　the　absent　farmer's　grey　homespun；
his　legs　encased　in　coarse　woollen　stockings　and　sabots　upon　his
feet；　sat　the　young　Deputy　alone　with　his　unpleasant　thoughts。　　The
woman　had　brought　him　a　pipe；　and；　although　the　habit　was　foreign
to　him　as　a　rule；　he　had　lighted　it　and　found　the　smoking　somewhat
soothing。　　Ruefully　he　passed　his　hand　across　his　bandaged　brow；
and　in　pondering　over　all　that　had　taken　place　since　yesternight
at　Boisvert；　his　cheeks　grew　flushed　at　once　with　anger　and　with
shame。

〃To　have　been　so　duped！〃

And　now　…　his　mind　growing　clearer　as　he　recovered　in　vigour　…　it
occurred　to　him　that　by　to…morrow　it　would　be　too　late　to　give
pursuit。　　Once　she　crossed　the　Sambre　at　Liege；　or　elsewhere；　who
could　tell　him　by　what　road　she　would　elect　to　continue　her　journey？
He　had　not　sufficient　men　at　his　disposal　to　send　out　parties　along
each　of　the　possible　roads。　　That　her　ultimate　destination　was
Treves　he　knew。　　But　once　there　she　was　beyond　his　reach；　at　safety
from　the　talons　of　the　French　Republic。

He　sat　on　and　thought；　what　time　his　brows　came　closer　together　and
his　teeth　fastened　viciously　upon　the　stem　of　the　pipe。　　By　the
table　sat　the　woman；　knitting　industriously；　and　ever　and　anon
glancing　inquiry　at　her　stern；　thoughtful　guest；　and　the　click　of
her　needles　was　the　only　sound　that　disturbed　the　stillness　of　the
room。　　Outside　the　wind　was　wailing　like　the　damned；　and　the　rain
which　had　recommenced　with　new　vigour；　rattled　noisily　upon　the
panes。

Suddenly　above　the　din　of　the　elements　a　shout　sounded　in　the　night。
The　Deputy　raised　his　head；　and　glanced　towards　the　woman。　　A　moment
later　they　heard　the　gate　creak；　and　steps　upon　the　path　that　led
to　the　cottage　door。

〃Your　husband？〃　inquired　La　Boulaye。

〃No；　monsieur。　　He　has　gone　to　Liege；　and　will　not　return　until
to…morrow。　　I　do　not　know　who　it　can　be。〃

There　was　alarm　on　her　face；　which　La　Boulaye　now　set　himself　to
allay。

〃At　least　you　are　well　protected；　Citoyenne。　　My　men　are　close　at
hand；　and　we　can　summon　them　if　there　be　the　need。〃

Reassured　she　rose；　and　at　the　same　moment　a　knock　sounded　on　the
door。　　She　went　to　open　it；　and　from　his　seat　by　the　hearth　La
Boulaye　heard　a　gentle；　mincing　voice　that　was　oddly　familiar　to
him。

〃Madame；〃　it　said；　〃we　are　two　poor；　lost　wayfarers；　and　we　crave
shelter　for　the　night。　　We　will　pay　you　handsomely。〃

〃I　am　desolated　that　I　have　no　room；　Messieur；〃　she　answered；　with
courteous　firmness。

〃Pardi！〃　interpolated　another　voice。　〃We　need　no　room。　　A　bundle　of
straw　and　a　corner　is　all　we　seek。　　Of　your　charity；　Madame；　is　this
a　night　on　which　to　leave　a　dog　out　of　doors？〃

A　light　of　recollection　leaped　suddenly　to　La　Boulaye's　eyes；　and
with　a　sudden　gasp　he　stooped　to　the　hearth。

〃But　I　cannot；　Messieurs；〃　the　woman　was　saying；　when　the　second
voice　interrupted　her。

〃I　see　your　husband　by　the　fire；　Madame。　　Let　us　hear　what　he　has
to　say。〃

The　woman　coloured　to　the　roots　of　her　hair。　　She　stepped　back　a
pace；　and　was　about　to　answer　them　when；　chancing　to　glance　in　La
Boulaye's　direction；　she　paused。　　He　had　risen；　and　was　standing　with
his　back　to　the　fire。　　There　was　a　black　smudge　across　his　face；
which　seemed　to　act　as　a　mask；　and　his　dark　eyes　glowed　with　an
intensity　of　meaning　which　arrested　her　attention；　and　silenced　the
answer　which　was　rising　to　her　lips。

In　the　brief　pause　the　new…comers　had　crossed　the　threshold；　and
stood　within　the　rustic　chamber。　　The　first　of　these　was　he　whose
gentle　voice　La　Boulaye　had　recognised　…　old　M。　des　Cadoux；　the
friend　of　the　Marquis　de　Bellecour。　　His　companion；　to　the　Deputy's
vast　surprise；　was　none　other　than　the　bearded　courier　who　had　that
morning　delivered　him　at　Boisvert　the　letter　from　Robespierre。
What　did　these　two　together；　and　upon　such　manifest　terms　of
equality？　　That；　it　should　be　his　business　to　discover。

〃Come　in；　Messieurs；〃　he　bade　them；　assuming　the　role　of　host。　〃We
are　unused　to　strangers；　and　Mathilde　there　is　timid　of　robbers。
Draw　near　the　fire　and　dry　yourselves。　　We　will　do　the　best　we　can
for　you。　　We　are　poor　people；　Messieurs；　very　poor。〃

〃I　have　already　said　that　we　will　pay　you　handsomely　my　friend；〃
quoth　Des　Cadoux；　coming　forward　with　his　companion。　　〃Do　your　best
for　us　and　you　shall　not　regret　it。　　Have　you　aught　to　eat　in　the
house？〃

The　woman　was　standing　by　the　wall；　her　face　expressing　bewilderment
and　suspicion。　　Suspicious　she　was；　yet　that　glance　of　La　Boulaye's
had　ruled　her　strangely；　and　she　was　content　to　now　await　developments。

〃We　will　see　what　we　can　do；〃　answered　La　Boulaye；　as　he　made　room
for　them　by　the　hearth。　〃Come；　Mathilde；　let　us　try　what　the　larder
will　yield。〃

〃I　am　afraid　that　Madame　still　mistrusts　us；〃　deplored　Des　Cadoux。

La　Boulaye　laughed　for　answer　as　he　gently　but　firmly　drew　her
towards　the　door　leading　to　the　interior　of　the　house。　　He　held　it
for　her　to　pass；　what　time　his　eyes　were　set　in　an　intent　bu