the trampling of the lilies-第40节

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〃But　why；　Citizen…officer？〃　La　Boulaye　demanded；　striving　to　exclude
from　his　voice　any　shade　of　the　chagrin　that　was　besetting　him。
〃What　do　these　orders　mean？〃

The　officer　was　courtesy　personified；　but　explanations　he　had　none
to　give；　for　the　excellent　reason；　he　urged　that　he　was　possessed
of　none。　　He　was　a　soldier；　and　he　had　received　orders　which　he　must
obey；　without　questioning　either　their　wisdom　or　their　justice。
Appreciating　the　futility　of　bearing　himself　otherwise；　since　his
retreat　was　already　blocked　by　a　couple　of　gendarmes；　Caron
submitted　to　the　inevitable。

He　mounted　leisurely　to　his　study；　and　the　ruin　that　stared　him　in
the　eyes　was　enough　to　have　daunted　the　boldest　of　men。　　Yet；　to　do
him　justice；　he　was　more　concerned　at　the　moment　with　the
consequences　this　turn　of　affairs　might　have　for　Mademoiselle　than
with　his　own　impending　downfall。　　That　he　had　Cecile　to　thank　for
his　apprehension　he　never　doubted。　　Yet　it　was　a　reflection　that　he
readily　dismissed　from　his　mind。　　In　such　a　pass　as　he　now　found
himself　none　but　a　weakling　could　waste　time　and　energy　in　bewailing
the　circumstances　that　had　conspired　to　it。　　In　a　man　of　La
Boulaye's　calibre　and　mettle　it　was　more　befitting　to　seek　a　means
to　neutralise　as　much　as　possible　the　evil　done。

He　called　Brutus　and　cross…questioned　him　regarding　the　attitude
and　behaviour　of　the　soldiery　since　their　coming。　　He　learnt　that
nothing　had　been　touched　by　them；　and　that　they　were　acting　with
the　utmost　discreetness；　taking　scrupulous　care　not　to　exceed　the
orders　they　had　received；　which　amounted　to　detaining　La　Boulaye
and　nothing　more。

〃You　think；　then；　that　you　might　come　and　go　unmolested？〃　he　asked。

〃I　think　that　I　might　certainly　go。　　But　whether　they　would　permit
me　to　return　once　I　had　left；　I　cannot　say。　　〃So　that　they　will　let
you　pass　out；　that　is　all　that　signifies　at　the　moment；〃　said　Caron。
〃Should　they　question　you；　you　can　tell　them　that　you　are　going　to
dine　and　to　fetch　me　my　dinner　from　Berthon's。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；
I　shall　want　you　to　go　to　Choisy　with　a　letter；　which　you　must　see
does　not　fall　into　the　hands　of　any　of　these　people　of　the
Convention。〃

〃Give　me　the　letter；　Citizen；　and　trust　me　to　do　the　rest；〃　answered
the　faithful　Brutus。

La　Boulaye　searched　a　drawer　of　his　writing…table　for　the　blank
passport　he　required。　　Having　found　it；　he　hesitated　for　a　moment
how　to　fill　it　in。　　At　last　he　decided；　and　set　down　three　names
…　Pierre；　Francois；　and　Julie　Michael；　players；　going　to　Strasbourg
…　to　which　he　added　descriptions　of　himself；　the　Vicomte；　and
Mademoiselle。　　He　reasoned　that　in　case　it　should　ultimately　prove
impossible　for　him　to　accompany　them；　the　passport；　thus　indited；
would　still　do　duty　for　the　other　two。　　They　could　easily　advance
some　excuse　why　the　third　person　mentioned　was　not　accompanying
them。　　From　this　it　will　be　seen　that　La　Boulaye　was　far　from
having　abandoned　hope　of　effecting　his　escape；　either　by　his　own
resourcefulness　or　by　the　favour　of　Robespierre　himself；　whose
kindness　for　him；　after　all；　was　a　factor　worth　reckoning　upon。

To　Mademoiselle　he　now　wrote　as　follows：

　　I　am　sending　you　the　laissez…passer　filled　in　for　the　three　of
　　us。　　I　am　unfortunately　unable　to　bring　it　myself　as　my
　　abstraction　of　the　order　of　release　has　already　been　discovered；
　　and　I　am　being　detained　pending　the　arrival　of　Robespierre。　　But
　　I　am　at　my　own　lodging；　and　I　have　every　hope　that；　either　by
　　the　use　of　my　own　wit；　or　else　by　the　favour　of　my　friend
　　Robespierre；　I　shall　shortly　be　able　to　join　you。　　I　would
　　therefore　ask　you　to　wait　a　few　days。　　But　should　I　presently
　　send　you　word　not　to　do　so　any　longer；　or　should　you　hear　of
　　events　which　will　render　it　impossible　for　me　to　accompany　you；
　　you　can　then　set　out　with　Ombreval；　travelling　under　the　guise
　　described　in　the　passport；　and　informing　any　questioners　that
　　the　other　person　mentioned　has　been　forced　by　ill　health　to
　　interrupt　his　journey。　　As　I　have　said；　I　have　every　hope　of
　　winning　through　my　present　difficulties；　but　should　I　fail　to
　　do　so；　my　most　earnest　prayer　will　be　that　you　may　make　your
　　way　out　of　France　in　safety；　and　that　lasting　happiness　may　be
　　your　lot　in　whatever　country　you　may　elect　to　settle。　　You　may
　　trust　the　bearer　implicitly；　patriotic　though　he　may　appear。

He　subscribed　the　letter　with　his　initials；　and；　having　enclosed
the　passport　and　sealed　the　package；　he　gave　it　to　Brutus；　with　the
most　minute　instructions　touching　its　delivery。

These　instructions　Brutus　carried　out　with　speed　and　fidelity。　　He
was　allowed　to　quit　the　house　without　so　much　as　a　question；　which
left　his　plan　for　readmittance　the　greater　likelihood　of　succeeding。
In　something　less　than　an　hour　…　for　he　hired　himself　a　horse　at
the　nearest　post…house　…　he　had　delivered　his　letter　to　Mademoiselle
at　Choisy。

Its　contents　sowed　in　her　heart　the　very　deepest　consternation　…
a　consternation　very　fully　shared　by　the　Vicomte。

〃Tenez！〃　he　exclaimed；　when　he　had　read　it。　　〃Perhaps　now　you　will
admit　the　justice　of　my　plaint　that　you　did　not　make　a　simple
purchase　of　my　liberty；　as　I　counselled　you；　instead　of　entering
into　this　idiotic　compact　with　that　sans…culotte。〃

She　looked　at　him　a　moment　in　silence。　　She　was　suffering　as　it
was　at　the　very　thought　that　La　Boulaye's　life　might　be　in　danger
in　consequence　of　what　he　had　done　for　her。　　With　reluctance　had
she　accepted　the　sacrifice　of　his　career　which　he　had　made　to　serve
her。　　Now　that　it　became　the　question　of　a　sacrifice　of　life　as
well　she　was　dismayed。　　All　the　wrongs　that　she　and　hers　had　done
that　man　seemed　to　rise　up　and　reproach　her　now。　　And　so；　when
presently　she　answered　the　Vicomte；　it　was　no　more　than　natural
that　she　should　answer　him　impatiently。

〃I　thought；　Monsieur；　that　we　had　already　discussed　and　settled
that？〃

〃　Settled　it？〃　he　echoed；　with　a　sneer。　　〃It　seems　none　so　easy　to
settle。　　Do　you　think　that　words　will　settle　it。〃

〃By　no　means；〃　she　answered；　her　voice　quivering。　　〃It　seems　as　if
a　man's　life　will　be　required　for　that。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　his　face　put　on　a　look　of　annoyance。

〃I　hope；　Mademoiselle；　that　you　are　not　proposing　to　introduce
sentimentality。　　I　think　you　would　be　better　advised　to　leave　that
vulgarity　to　the　vulgar。〃

〃I　do　not　propose　to　pursue　the　discussion　at　all；　Monsieur；〃　was
her　chilly　answer。

〃The　way　of　woman；〃　he　reflected　aloud。　　〃Let　her　find　that　she　is
being　worsted　in　argument；　and　she　calmly　tells　you　that　she　has
no　mind　to　pursue　it。　　But；　Mademoiselle；　will　you　tell　me　at　least
what　you　intend？〃

〃What　do　I　intend？〃　she　questioned。　　〃What　choice　have　we？〃

〃Whenever　we　are　asked　to　follow　a　given　course；　we　have　always　the
choice　between　two　alternatives；〃　he　theorised。　　〃We　can　comply；
or　not　comply。〃

〃In　the　present　instance　I　am　afraid　your　rule　is　inapplicable。
There　is　no　room　for　any　alternative。　　We　can　do　nothing　but　wait。〃

She　looked　at　him　impatiently；　and　wearily　she　sank　on　to　a　chair。

〃Monsieur；〃　she　said；　as　calmly　as　might　be；〃　I　am　almost　distracted
by　my　thoughts　as　it　is。　　I　don't　know　whether　you　are　seeking　to
complete　the　rout　of　my　senses。　　Let　me　beg　of　you　at　least　not　to
deal　in　riddles　with　me。　　The　time　is　ill…chosen。　　Tell　me　bluntly
what　is　in　your　mind；　if；　indeed；　anything。〃

He　turned　from　her　peevishly；　and　crossed　to　the　window。　　The
twilight　was　descending；　and　the　little　garden　was　looking　grey　in
the　now　pallid　light。　　Her　seeming　obtuseness　was　irritating　him。

〃Surely；　Mademoiselle；〃　he　exclaimed　at　last；　〃it　is　not　necessary
that　I　should　tell　you　what　other　course　is　open　to　us？　　It　is　a
matter　for　our　choice　whether　we　depart　at　once。　　We　have　a
passport；　and　…　and；　enfin；　every　hour　that　we　remain　here　our
danger　is　increased；　and　our　chances　of　escape　are　lessened。〃

〃Ah！〃　　She　breathed　the　syllable　contemptuously。　　〃And　what　of　La
Boulaye？〃

〃Pooh！　he　says　himself　that　he　is　in　no　great　danger。　　He　is　among
his　fellows。　　Leave　him　to　extricate　himself。　　After　all；　it　is　his
fault　that　we　are　here。　　Why　should　we　endanger　our　necks　by　waiting
his　convenience？〃

〃But　surely　you　forget　what　he　has　done　for　us。　　You　are　forgetting
that　he　has　rescued　you　from　the　guillotine；　dragged　you　out　of　the
very　jaws　of　death。　　Do　you　think　that　to　forsake　him　now　would　be
a　fair；　an　honest　return？〃

〃But　name　of　a　name；〃　rasped　the　Vicomte；　〃does　he　not　say　that　he
is　far　from　despairing？　　His　position　is　not　half　so　dangerous　as
ours。　　If　we　are　taken；　there　will　be　an　end　of　us。　　With　him　matters
are　far　from　being　so　bad。　　He　is　one　of　the　rabble　himself；　and　the
rabble　will　look　after　its　own。〃

She　rose　impatiently。

〃Monsieur；　I　am　afraid　the　subject　is　not　one　that　we　may　profitably
discuss。　　I　shall　obey　the　voice　of　my　conscience　in　the　matter；　and
I　shall　wait　until　we　hear　again　from　La　Boulaye。　　That　is　the
message　I　am　about　to　return　him　by　his　servant。

The　Vicomte　watched　her　fling　out　of　the　room；　and　his　weak　face　was
now　white　with　anger。　　He　rapped　out　an　oath　as　he