the trampling of the lilies-第4节

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patience　shall　not　be　overtaxed。　　To…day　they　say　that　you　presume；
that　you　are　not　one　of　them　…　although；　by　my　soul；　you　have　as
good　an　air　as　any　nobleman　in　France。〃　　And　he　eyed　the　lean　height
of　the　secretary　with　a　glance　of　such　pride　as　a　father　might　take
in　a　well…grown　son。

Elegant　of　figure；　La　Boulaye　was　no　less　elegant　in　dress；　for　all
that；　from　head　to　foot　…　saving　the　silver　buckles　on　his　shoes　and
the　unpretentious　lace　at　throat　and　wrists　…　he　was　dressed　in　the
black　that　his　office　demanded。　　His　countenance；　too；　though　cast
in　a　mould　of　thoughtfulness　that　bordered　on　the　melancholy；　bore
a　lofty　stamp　that　might　have　passed　for　birth　and　breeding；　and
this　was　enhanced　by　the　careful　dressing　of　his　black　unpowdered
hair；　gathered　into　a　club　by　a　broad　ribbon　of　black　silk。

〃But　what　shall　waiting　avail　me？〃　cried　the　young　man；　with　some
impatience。　　〃What　am　I　to　do　in　the　meantime？〃

〃Go　to　Amiens；〃　said　the　other。　　〃You　have　learning；　you　have
eloquence；　you　have　a　presence　and　an　excellent　address。　　For
success　no　better　attributes　could　be　yours。〃　　He　approached　the
secretary；　and　instinctively　lowered　his　voice。　　〃We　have　a　little
club　there　…　a　sort　of　succursal　to　the　Jacobins。　　We　are　numerous；
but　we　have　no　very　shining　member　yet。　　Come　with　me；　and　I　will
nominate　you。　　Beginning　thus；　I　promise　you　that　you　shall　presently
become　a　man　of　prominence　in　Picardy。　　Anon　we　may　send　you　to　Paris
to　represent　us　in　the　States…General。　　Then；　when　the　change　comes；
who　shall　say　to　what　heights　it　may　not　be　yours　to　leap？〃

〃I　will　think　of　it；〃　answered　La　Boulaye　cordially；　〃and　not　a
doubt　of　it　but　that　I　will　come。　　I　did　not　know　that　you　had　gone
so　far　…　〃

〃Sh！　　You　know　now。　　Let　that　suffice。　　It　is　not　good　to　talk　of
these　things　just　yet。〃

〃But　in　the　meantime；〃　La　Boulaye　persisted；　〃what　of　this？〃　　And
again　he　pointed　to　his　cheek。

〃Why；　let　it　heal；　boy。〃

〃I　promised　the　Marquis　that　I　would　demand　satisfaction　of　his　son；
and　I　am　tempted　to　do　so　and　risk　the　consequences。〃

〃I　am　afraid　the　consequences　will　be　the　only　satisfaction　that　you
will　get。　　In　fact；　they　will　be　anticipations　rather　than
consequences；　for　they'll　never　let　you　near　the　boy。〃

〃I　know　not　that；〃　he　answered。　　〃The　lad　is　more　generous　than　his
sire；　and　if　I　were　to　send　him　word　that　I　have　been　affronted；　he
might　consent　to　meet　me。　　For　the　rest；　I　could　kill　him
blindfolded；〃　he　added；　with　a　shrug。

〃Bloodthirsty　animal！〃　rejoined　Duhamel。　　〃Unnatural　tutor！　　Do　you
forget　that　you　were　the　boy's　preceptor？〃

With　that　Duhamel　carried　the　argument　into　new　fields；　and　showed
La　Boulaye　that　to　avenge　upon　the　young　Vicomte　the　insults　received
at　the　hands　of　the　old　Marquis　was　hardly　a　worthy　method　of　taking
vengeance。　　At　last　he　won　him　to　his　way；　and　it　was　settled　that　on
the　morrow　La　Boulaye　should　journey　with　him　to　Amiens。

〃But；　Caron；　we　are　forgetting　our　friend　Charlot　and　his　bride；〃　he
broke　off　suddenly。　　〃Come；　boy；　the　ceremony　will　be　at　an　end　by
this。〃

He　took　La　Boulaye　by　the　arm；　and　led　him　out　and　down　the　street
to　the　open　space　opposite　St。　Ildefonse。　　The　wedding…party　was
streaming　out　through　the　door　of　the　little　church　into　the　warm
sunshine　of　that　April　morning。　　In　the　churchyard　they　formed　into
a　procession　of　happy　be…ribboned　and　nosegayed　men　and　women　…　the
young　preceding；　the　old　following；　the　bridal　couple。　　Two　by　two
they　came；　and　the　air　rang　with　their　laughter　and　joyous　chatter。
Then　another　sound　arose；　and　if　the　secretary　and　the　pedagogue
could　have　guessed　of　what　that　beating　of　hoofs　was　to　be　the
prelude；　they　had　scarce　smiled　so　easily　as　they　watched　the
approaching　cortege。

》From　a　side　street　there　now　emerged　a　gaily　apparelled　cavalcade。
At　its　head　rode　the　Marquis　de　Bellecour；　the　Vicomte；　and　a
half…dozen　other　gentlemen；　followed　by；　perhaps；　a　dozen　lacqueys。
It　was　a　hunting　party　that　was　making　its　way　across　the　village
to　the　open　country　beyond。　　The　bridal　procession　crossing　their
path　caused　them　to　draw　rein；　and　to　wait　until　it　should　have
passed　…　which　argued　a　very　condescending　humour；　for　it　would　not
have　been　out　of　keeping　with　their　habits　to　have　ridden　headlong
through　it。　　Their　presence　cast　a　restraint　upon　the　peasants。　　The
jests　were　silenced；　the　laughter　hushed；　and　like　a　flight　of
pigeons　under　the　eye　of　the　hawk；　they　scurried　past　the　Seigneurie；
and　some　of　them　prayed　God　that　they　might　be　suffered　to　pass
indeed。

Bellecour　eyed　them　in　cold　disdain；　until　presently　Charlot　and　his
bride　were　abreast　of　him。　Then　his　eye　seemed　to　take　life　and　his
sallow　face　to　kindle　into　expression。　　He　leant　lightly　from　the
saddle。

〃Stay！〃　he　commanded　coldly；　and　as　they　came　to　a　halt；　daring　not
to　disobey　him　…　〃approach；　girl；〃　he　added。

Charlot's　brows　grew　black。　　He　looked　up　at　the　Marquis；　but　if　his
glance　was　sullen　and　threatening；　it　was　also　not　free　from　fear。
Marie　obeyed；　with　eyes　downcast　and　a　heightened　colour。　　If　she
conjectured　at　all　why　they　had　been　stopped；　it　was　but　to　conclude
that　M。　le　Marquis　was　about　to　offer　her　some　mark　of　appreciation。
Uneasiness；　in　her　dear　innocence；　she　knew　none。

〃What　is　your　name；　child？〃　inquired　the　Marquis　more　gently。

〃It　was　Marie　Michelin；　Monseigneur；〃　she　made　answer　timidly。　　〃But
it　has　just　been　changed　to　Marie　Tardivet。〃

〃You　have　just　been　wed；　eh？〃

〃We　are　on　our　way　from　church；　Monseigneur。〃

〃C'est　ca；〃　he　murmured；　as　if　to　himself；　and　his　eyes　taking　such
stock　of　her　as　made　Charlot　burn　to　tear　him　from　his　horse。　　Then；
in　a　kindly；　fatherly　voice；　he　added：　〃My　felicitations；　Marie；　may
you　be　a　happy　wife　and　a　happier　mother。〃

〃Merci；　Monseigneur；〃　she　murmured；　with　crimson　cheeks；　whilst
Charlot　breathed　once　more；　and　from　his　heart　gave　thanks　to　Heaven；
believing　the　interview　at　an　end。　　But　he　went　too　fast。

〃Do　you　know；　Marie；　that　you　are　a　very　comely　child？〃　quoth　the
Marquis；　in　tones　which　made　the　bridegroom's　blood　run　cold。

Some　in　that　noble　company　nudged　one　another；　and　one　there　was　who
burst　into　a　loud　guffaw。

〃Charlot　has　often　told　me　so；〃　she　laughed；　all　unsuspicious。

The　Marquis　moved　on　his　horse　that　he　might　bend　lower。　　With　his
forefinger　he　uptilted　her　chin；　and　now；　as　she　met　his　glance　thus
at　close　quarters；　an　unaccountable　fear　took　possession　of　her；　and
the　colour　died　out　of　her　plump　cheeks。

〃Yes；〃　said　Bellecour；　with　a　smile。　　〃this　Tardivet　has　good　taste。
My　congratulations；　to　him。　　We　must　find　you　a　wedding　gift；　little
woman；〃　he　continued　more　briskly。　　〃It　is　an　ancient　and　honoured
custom　that　is　falling　somewhat　into　neglect。　　Go　up　to　the　Chateau
with　Blaise　and　Jean　there。　　This　good　Tardivet　must　curb　his
impatience　until　to…morrow。〃

He　turned　in　his　saddle；　and　beckoning　the　two　servants　he　had　named；
he　bade　Marie　to　mount　behind　Blaise。

She　drew　back　now；　her　cheeks　white　as　those　of　the　dead。　　With　a
wild　terror　in　her　eyes　she　turned　to　Charlot；　who　stood　the　very
picture　of　anguish　and　impotent　rage。　　In　the　cortege；　where　but　a
few　moments　ago　all　had　been　laughter；　a　sob　or　two　sounded　now　from
some　of　the　women。

〃By　my　faith；〃　laughed　Bellecour　contemptuously　eyeing　their
dejection；　〃you　have　more　the　air　of　a　burial　than　a　bridal　party。〃

〃Mercy　my　lord！〃　cried　the　agonised　voice　of　Charlot；　as；　distraught
with　grief；　he　flung　himself　before　the　Marquis。

〃Who　seeks　to　harm　you；　fool？〃　was　Bellecour's　half…derisive
rejoinder。

〃Do　not　take　her　from　me；　my　lord；〃　the　young　man　pleaded　piteously。

〃She　shall　return　to…morrow；　booby；〃　answered　the　noble。　　〃Out　of
the　way！〃

But　Charlot　was　obstinate。　　The　Marquis　might　be　claiming　no　more
than　by　ancient　law　was　the　due　of　the　Seigneur；　but　Charlot　was　by
no　means　minded　to　submit　in　craven　acquiescence　to　that　brutal；
barbarous　law。

〃My　lord；〃　he　cried；　〃you　shall　not　take　her。　　She　is　my　wife。　　She
belongs　to　me。　　You　shall　not　take　her！〃

He　caught　hold　of　the　Marquis's　bridle　with　such　a　strength　and
angry　will　that　the　horse　was　forced　to　back　before　him。

〃Insolent　clod！〃　exclaimed　Bellecour；　with　an　angry　laugh　and　a
sharp；　downward　blow　of　the　butt　of　his　whip　upon　the　peasant's　head。
Charlot's　hand　grew　nerveless　and　released　the　bridle　as　he　sank
stunned　to　the　ground。　　Bellecour　touched　his　horse　with　the　spur
and　rode　over　the　prostrate　fellow　with　no　more　concern　than　had　he
been　a　dog's　carcase。　　〃Blaise；　see　to　the　girl；〃　he　called　over　his
shoulder；　adding　to　his　company：　〃Come；　messieurs；　we　have　wasted
time　enough。〃

Not　a　hand　was　raised　to　stay　him；　not　a　word　of　protest　uttered；
as　the　nobles　rode　by；　laughing；　and　chatting　among　themselves；　with
the　utmost　unconcern　of　the　tragedy　that　was　being　enacted。

Like　a　flock　of　frightened　sheep　the　peasants　stood　huddled　together
and　watched　them　go。　　In　the　same　inaction　…　for　all　that　not　a
little　grief　was　blent　with　the　terror　on　their　countenances　…　they
stood　by　and　allowed　Blaise　to　lift　th