the trampling of the lilies-第29节

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to　carry　me　all　the　way　to　Paris　…　and　certainly；　for　my　part；　I
should　much　prefer　not　to　undertake　the　journey。　　For　one　thing；　it
will　be　fatiguing；　for　another；　I　have　no　desire　to　look　upon　the
next　world　through　the　little　window　of　the　guillotine。　　I　wish；
then；　to　propose；　Citizen；〃　pursued　the　old　nobleman；　nonchalantly
dusting　some　fragments　of　tobacco　from　his　cravat。　〃that　you　deal
with　me　out　of　hand。〃

〃How；　Citizen？〃　inquired　La　Boulaye。

〃Why；　your　men；　I　take　it　are　tolerable　marksmen。　　I　think　that　it
might　prove　more　convenient　to　both　of　us　if　you　were　to　have　me
shot　as　soon　as　there　is　light　enough。〃

La　Boulaye's　eyes　rested　in　almost　imperceptible　kindness　upon　Des
Cadoux。　　Here；　at　least；　was　an　aristocrat　with　a　spirit　to　be
admired　and　emulated。

〃You　are　choosing　the　lesser　of　two　evils；　Citizen；〃　said　the　Deputy。

〃Precisely；〃　answered　Des　Cadoux。

〃But　possibly；　Citizen；　it　may　be　yours　to　avoid　both。　　You　shall
hear　from　me　in　the　morning。　　I　beg　that　you　will　sleep　tranquilly
in　the　meantime。　　Garin；　remove　the　prisoners。〃




CHAPTER　XV

LA　BOULAYE　BAITS　HIS　HOOK


For　fully　an　hour　after　their　prisoners　had　been　removed　La　Boulaye
paced　the　narrow　limits　of　the　kitchen　with　face　inscrutable　and
busy　mind。　　He　recalled　what　Suzanne　had　said　touching　her　betrothal
to　Ombreval；　whom　she　looked　to　meet　at　Treves。　　This　miserable
individual；　then；　was　the　man　for　whose　sake　she　had　duped　him。　　But
Ombreval　at　least　was　in　Caron's　power；　and　it　came　to　him　now　that
by　virtue　of　that　circumstance　he　might　devise　a　way　to　bring　her
back　without　the　need　to　go　after　her。　　He　would　send　her　word　…　aye；
and　proof　…　that　he　had　taken　him　captive；　and　it　should　be　hers　to
choose　whether　she　would　come　to　his　rescue　and　humble　herself　to
save　him　or　leave　him　to　his　fate。　　In　that　hour　it　seemed　all　one
to　La　Boulaye　which　course　she　followed；　since　by　either；　he
reasoned；　she　must　be　brought　to　suffer。　　That　he　loved　her　was
with　him　now　a　matter　that　had　sunk　into　comparative　insignificance。
The　sentiment　that　ruled　his　mind　was　anger；　with　its　natural
concomitant　…　the　desire　to　punish。

And　when　morning　came　the　Deputy's　view　of　the　situation　was　still
unchanged。　　He　was　astir　at　an　early　hour；　and　without　so　much　as
waiting　to　break　his　fast；　he　bade　Garin　bring　in　the　prisoners。
Their　appearance　was　in　each　case　typical。　　Ombreval　was　sullen
and　his　dress　untidy；　even　when　allowance　had　been　made　for　the
inherent　untidiness　of　the　Republican　disguise　which　he　had　adopted
to　so　little　purpose。　　Des　Cadoux　looked　well　and　fresh　after　his
rest；　and　gave　the　Deputy　an　airy　〃Good　morning〃　as　he　entered。　　He
had　been　at　some　pains；　too；　with　his　toilet；　and　although　his　hair
was　slightly　disarranged　and　most　of　the　powder　was　gone　from　the
right　side；　suggesting　that　he　had　lain　on　it；　his　appearance　in
the　main　was　creditably　elegant。

〃Citizen　Ombreval；〃　said　La　Boulaye；　in　that　stern；　emotionless
voice　that　was　becoming　characteristic　of　him；　〃since　you　have
acquainted　yourself　with　the　contents　of　the　letter　you　stole　from
the　man　you　murdered；　you　cannot　be　in　doubt　as　to　my　intentions
concerning　you。〃

The　Vicomte　reddened　with　anger。

〃For　your　intentions　I　care　nothing；〃　he　answered　hotly　…　rendered
very　brave　by　passion　…　〃but　I　will　have　you　consider　your　words。
Do　you　say　that　I　stole　and　murdered？　　You　forget；　M。　le　Republican；
that　I　am　a　gentlemen。〃

〃Meaning；　of　course；　that　the　class　that　so　described　itself　could
do　these　things　with　impunity　without　having　them　called　by　their
proper　names；　is　it　not　so？　　But　you　also　forget　that　the　Republic
has　abolished　gentlemen；　and　with　them；　their　disgraceful　privileges。〃

〃Canaille！〃　growled　the　Vicomte；　his　eyes　ablaze　with　wrath。

〃Citizen…aristocrat；　consider　your　words！〃　La　Boulaye　had　stepped
close　up　to　him；　and　his　voice　throbbed　with　a　sudden　anger　no　whit
less　compelling　than　Ombreval's。　　〃Fool！　let　me　hear　that　word　again；
applied　either　to　me　or　to　any　of　my　followers；　and　I'll　have　you
beaten　like　a　dog。〃

And　as　the　lesser　ever　does　give　way　before　the　greater；　so　now　did
the　anger　that　had　sustained　Ombreval　go　down　and　vanish　before　the
overwhelming　passion　of　La　Boulaye。　　He　grew　pale　to　the　lips　at
the　Deputy's　threat；　and　his　eyes　cravenly　avoided　the　steady　gaze
of　his　captor。

〃You　deserve　little　consideration　at　my　hands；　Citizen；〃　said　La
Boulaye；　more　quietly；〃　and　yet　I　have　a　mind　to　give　you　a　lesson
in　generosity。　　We　start　for　Paris　in　half…an…hour。　　If　anywhere
you　should　have　friends　expecting　you；　whom　you　might　wish　to
apprise　of　your　position；　you　may　spend　the　half…hour　that　is　left
in　writing　to　them。　　I　will　see　that　your　letter　reaches　its
destination。〃

Ombreval's　pallor　seemed　to　intensify。　　His　eyes　looked　troubled　as
they　were　raised　to　La　Boulaye's。　　Then　they　fell　again；　and　there
was　a　pause。　　At　last　…

〃I　shall　be　glad　to　avail　myself　of　your　offer；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice
that　for　meekness　was　ludicrously　at　variance　with　his　late
utterances。

〃Then　pray　do　so　at　once。〃　　And　La　Boulaye　took　down　an　inkhorn
　a　quill；　and　a　sheaf　of　paper　from　the　mantel…shelf　behind　him。
These　he　placed　on　the　table；　and　setting　a　chair；　he　signed　to　the
aristocrat　to　be　seated。

〃And　now；　Citizen　Cadoux；〃　said　La　Boulaye；　turning　to　the　old
nobleman；　〃I　shall　be　glad　if　you　will　honour　me　by　sharing　my
breakfast　while　Citizen　Ombreval　is　at　his　writing。〃

Des　Cadoux　looked　up　in　some　surprise。

〃You　are　too　good；　Monsieur；〃　said　he；　inclining　his　head。　〃But
afterwards？〃

〃I　have　decided；〃　said　La　Boulaye；　with　the　ghost　of　a　smile；　〃to
deal　with　your　case　myself；　Citizen。〃

The　old　dandy　took　a　deep　breath；　but　the　glance　of　his　blue　eyes
was　steadfast；　and　his　lips　smiled　as　he　made　answer：

〃Again　you　are　too　good。　　I　feared　that　you　would　carry　me　to　Paris；
and　at　my　age　the　journey　is　a　tiresome　one。　　I　am　grateful；　and
meanwhile；　…　why；　since　you　are　so　good　as　to　invite　me；　let　us
breakfast；　by　all　means。〃

They　sat　down　at　a　small　table　in　the　embrasure　of　the　window；　and
their　hostess　placed　before　them　a　boiled　fowl；　a　dish　of　eggs；　a
stew　of　herbs；　and　a　flask　of　red　wine；　all　of　which　La　Boulaye　had
bidden　her　prepare。

〃Why；　it　is　a　feast；〃　declared　Des　Cadoux；　in　excellent　humour；　and
for　all　that　he　was　under　the　impression　that　he　was　to　die　in
half…an…hour　he　ate　with　the　heartiest　good…will；　chatting　pleasantly
the　while　with　the　Republican　…　the　first　Republican　with　whom　it　had
ever　been　his　aristocratic　lot　to　sit　at　table。　　And　what　time　the
meal　proceeded　Ombreval　…　with　two　soldiers　standing　behind　his
chair…penned　his　letter　to　Mademoiselle　de　Bellecour。

Had　La　Boulaye　…　inspired　by　the　desire　to　avenge　himself　for　the
treachery　of　which　he　had　been　the　victim　…　dictated　that　epistle；
t　could　not　have　been　indicted　in　a　manner　better　suited　to　his　ends。
It　was　a　maudlin；　piteous　letter；　in　which；　rather　than　making　his
farewells；　the　Vicomte　besought　the　aid　of　Suzanne。　　He　was；　he
wrote；　in　the　hands　of　men　who　might　be　bribed；　and　since　she　was
rich　…　for　he　knew　of　the　treasure　with　which　she　had　escaped　…　he
based　his　hopes　upon　her　employing　a　portion　of　her　riches　to
obtaining　his　enlargement。　　She；　he　continued；　was　his　only　hope；
and　for　the　sake　of　their　love；　for　the　sake　of　their　common
nobility；　he　besought　her　not　to　fail　him　now。　　Carried　away　by
the　piteousness　of　his　entreaties　the　tears　welled　up　to　his　eyes
and　trickled　down　his　cheeks；　one　or　two　of　them　finding　their
way　to　the　paper　thus　smearing　it　with　an　appeal　more　piteous　still
if　possible　than　that　of　his　maudlin　words。

At　last　the　letter　was　ended。　　He　sealed　it　with　a　wafer　and　wrote
the　superscription：

〃To　Mademoiselle　de　Bellecour。　　At　the　'Hotel　des　Trois　Rois；'
Treves。〃

He　announced　the　completion　of　his　task；　and　La　Boulaye　bade　him　go
join　Des　Cadoux　at　the　next　table　and　take　some　food　before　setting
out；　whilst　the　Deputy　himself　now　sat　down　to　write。

〃Citoyenne；'　he　wrote；　〃the　man　to　whom　you　are　betrothed；　for　whose
sake　you　stooped　to　treachery　and　attempted　murder；　is　in　my　hands。
Thus　has　Heaven　set　it　in　my　power　to　punish　you；　if　the　knowledge
that　he　travels　to　the　guillotine　is　likely　to　prove　a　punishment。
If　you　would　rescue　him；　come　to　me　in　Paris；　and；　conditionally；
I　may　give　you　his　life。〃

That；　he　thought　should　humble　her。　　He　folded　his　letter　round
Ombreval's　and　having　sealed　the　package；　he　addressed　it　as　Ombreval
had　addressed　his　own　missive。

〃Garin；〃　he　commanded　briefly；　〃remove　the　Citizen　Ombreval。〃

When　he　had　been　obeyed；　and　Garin　had　conducted　the　Vicomte　from
the　room；　La　Boulaye　turned　again　to　Des　Cadoux。　　They　were　alone；
saving　the　two　soldiers　guarding　the　door。

The　old　man　rose；　and　making　the　sign　of　the　cross；　he　stepped
forward；　calm　and　intrepid　of　bearing。

〃Monsieur；〃　he　announced　to　La　Boulaye；　who　was　eyeing　him　with　the
faintest　tinge　of　surprise；　〃I　am　quite　ready。〃

〃Have　you　always　been　so　devout；　Citizen？〃　inquired　the　Deputy。

〃Alas！　no　Monsieur。　　But　there　come