the trampling of the lilies-第41节

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now　white　with　anger。　　He　rapped　out　an　oath　as　he　turned　to　the
window　again。

〃Mad！〃　he　muttered；　through…set　teeth。　　〃Mad　as　a　sun…struck　dog。
The　troubles　she　has　lately　seen　have　turned　her　head　…　never　a
difficult　matter　with　a　woman。　　She　talks　as　if　she　had　been　reading
Rousseau　on　the　'Right　of　man'。　　To　propose　to　endanger　our　lives
for　the　sake　of　that　scum；　La　Boulaye！　　Ciel！　　It　passes　belief。〃

But　it　was　in　vain　that　he　was　sullen　and　resentful。　　Suzanne's　mind
entertained　no　doubt　of　what　she　should　do；　and　she　had　her　way　in
the　matter；　sending　back　Brutus　with　the　message　that　she　would　wait
until　La　Boulaye　communicated　with　her　again。

That　night　Caron　slept　tranquilly。　　He　had　matured　a　plan　of　escape
which　he　intended　to　carry　out　upon　the　morrow；　and　with　confident
hope　to　cradle　him　he　had　fallen　asleep。

But　the　morrow　…　early　in　the　forenoon　…　brought　a　factor　with　which
he　had　not　reckoned；　in　the　person　of　the　Incorruptible　himself。
Robespierre　had　returned　in　hot　haste　to　Paris　upon　receiving
Varennes'　message；　and　he　repaired　straight　to　the　house　of　La
Boulaye。

Caron　was　in　his　dressing…gown　when　Robespierre　was　ushered　into
his　study；　and　the　sight　of　that　greenish　complexion　and　the　small
eyes；　looking　very　angry　and　menacing；　caused　the　song　that　the
young　man　had　been　humming　to　fade　on　his　lips。

〃You；　Maximilien！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Your　cordial　welcome　flatters　me；〃　sneered　the　Incorruptible；
coming　forward。　　Then　with　a　sudden　change　of　voice：　　〃What　is　that
they　tell　me　you　have　done；　miserable？〃　he　growled。

It　would　have　been　a　madness　on　Caron's　part　to　have　increased　an
anger　that　was　already　mounting　to　very　passionate　heights。
Contritely；　therefore；　and　humbly　he　acknowledged　his　fault；　and
cast　himself　upon　the　mercy　of　Robespierre。

But　the　Incorruptible　was　not　so　easily　to　be　shaken。

〃Traitor　that　you　are！〃　he　inveighed。　　〃Do　you　imagine　that　because
it　is　yours　to　make　high　sounding　speeches　in　the　Convention　you
are　to　conspire　with　impunity　against　the　Nation？　　Your　loyalty；　it
seems；　is　no　more　than　a　matter　of　words；　and　they　that　would　keep
their　heads　on　their　shoulders　in　France　to…day　will　find　the　need
for　more　than　words　as　their　claim　to　be　let　live。　　If　you　would
save　your　miserable　neck；　tell　me　what　you　have　done　with　this
damned　aristocrat。〃

〃He　is　gone；〃　answered　La　Boulaye　quietly。

〃Don't　prevaricate；　Caron！　　Don't　seek　to　befool　me；　Citizen…deputy。
You　have　him　in　hiding　somewhere。　　You　can　have　supplied　him　with
no　papers；　and　a　man　may　not　travel　out　of　France　without　them　in
these　times。　　Tell　me　…　where　is　he？〃

〃Gone；〃　repeated　La　Boulaye。　　〃I　have　set　him　free；　and　he　has
availed　himself　of　it　to　place　himself　beyond　your　reach。　　More
than　that　I　cannot　tell　you。〃

〃Can　you　not？〃　snarled　Robespierre；　showing　his　teeth。　　〃Of　what
are　you　dreaming　fool？　　Do　you　think　that　I　will　so　easily　see
myself　cheated　of　this　dog？　　Did　I　not　tell　you　that　rather　would
I　grant　you　the　lives　of　a　dozen　aristocrats　than　that　of　this
single　one？　　Do　you　think；　then；　that　I　am　so　lightly　to　be
baulked？　　Name　of　God？　　Who　are　you；　La　Boulaye；　what　are　you；
that　you　dare　thwart　me　in　this？〃　　He　looked　at　the　young　man's
impassive　face　to　curb　his　anger。　　〃Come；　Caron；〃　he　added；　in　a
wheedling　tone。　　〃Tell　me　what　you　have　done　with　him？〃

〃I　have　already　told　you；〃　answered　the　other　quietly。

As　swift　and　suddenly　as　it　changed　before　did　Robespierre's　humour
change　again　upon　receiving　that　reply。　　With　a　snort　of　anger　he
strode　to　the　door　and　threw　it　open。

〃Citizen…lieutenant！〃　he　called；　in　a　rasping　voice。

〃Here；　Citizen；〃　came　a　voice　from　below。

〃Give　yourself　the　trouble　of　coming　up　with　a　couple　of　men。　　Now；
Citizen　La　Boulaye；〃　he　said；　more　composedly；　as　he　turned　once
more　to　the　young　man；　〃since　you　will　not　learn　reason　you　may
mount　the　guillotine　in　his　place。〃

Caron　paled　slightly　as　he　inclined　his　head　in　silent　submission。
At　that　moment　the　officer　entered　with　his　men　at　his　heels。

〃Arrest　me　that　traitor；〃　Maximilien　commanded；　pointing　a　shaking
finger　at　Caron。　　〃To　the　Luxembourg　with　him。〃

〃If　you　will　wait　while　I　change　my　dressing…gown　for　a　coat；
Citizen…officer；〃　said　La　Boulaye　composedly；　〃I　shall　be　grateful。〃
Then；　turning　to　his　official；　〃Brutus；〃　he　called；　〃attend　me。〃

He　had　an　opportunity　while　Brutus　was　helping　him　into　his　coat　to
whisper　in　the　fellow's　ear：

〃Let　her　know。〃

More　he　dared　not　say；　but　to　his　astute　official　that　was　enough；
and　with　a　sorrowful　face　he　delivered　to　Suzanne；　a　few　hours
later；　the　news　of　La　Boulaye's　definite　arrest　and　removal　to　the
Luxembourg。

At　Brutus's　description　of　the　scene　there　had　been　'twixt
Robespierre　and　Caron　she　sighed　heavily；　and　her　lashes　grew　wet。

〃Poor；　faithful　La　Boulaye！〃　she　murmured。　　〃God　aid　him　now。〃

She　bore　the　news　to　d'Ombreval；　and　upon　hearing　it　he　tossed　aside
the　book　that　had　been　engrossing　him　and　looked　up；　a　sudden　light
of　relief　spreading　on　his　weak　face。

〃It　is　the　end；〃　said　he；　as　though　no　happier　consummation　could
have　attended　matters；　〃and　we　have　no　more　to　wait　for。　　Shall　we
set　out　to…day？〃　he　asked；　and　urged　the　wisdom　of　making　haste。

〃I　hope　and　I　pray　God　that　it　may　not　be　the　end；　as　you　so　fondly
deem　it；　Monsieur；〃　she　answered　him。　　〃But　whether　it　is　the　end
or　not；　I　am　resolved　to　wait　until　there　is　no　room　for　any　hope。〃

〃As　you　will；〃　he　sighed　wearily；　〃The　issue　of　it　all　will　probably
be　the　loss　of　our　heads。　　But　even　that　might　be　more　easily
accomplished　than　to　impart　reason　to　a　woman。〃

〃Or　unselfishness；　it　seems；　to　a　man；〃　she　returned；　as　she　swept
angrily　from　the　room。




CHAPTER　XXII

THE　TRIBUNAL


At　the　Bar　of　the　Revolutionary　Tribunal　stood　Deputy　Caron　La
Boulaye　upon　his　trial　for　treason　to　the　Nation　and　contravention
of　the　ends　of　justice。　　Fouquier…Tinvillle；　the　sleuth…hound
Attorney…General；　advanced　his　charges；　and　detailed　the　nature　of
the　young　revolutionist's　crime。　　But　there　was　in　Fouquier…Tinvillle's
prosecution　a　lack　of　virulence　for　once；　just　as　among　La　Boulaye's
fellows；　sitting　in　judgment；　there　was　a　certain　uneasiness；　for　the
Revolution　was　still　young；　and　it　had　not　yet　developed　that
Saturnian　habit　of　devouring　its　own　children　which　was　later　to
become　one　of　its　main　features。

The　matter　of　La　Boulaye's　crime；　however；　was　but　too　clear；　and
despite　the　hesitancy　on　the　part　of　the　jury；　despite　the　unwonted
tameness　of　Tinvillle's　invective；　the　Tribunal's　course　was
well…defined；　and　admitted　of　not　the　slightest　doubt。　　And　so；　the
production　of　evidence　being　dispensed　with　by　Caron's　ready
concurrence　and　acknowledgment　of　the　offence；　the　President　was　on
the　point　of　formally　asking　the　jury　for　their　finding；　when
suddenly　there　happened　a　commotion；　and　a　small　man　in　a　blue　coat
and　black…rimmed　spectacles　rose　at　Tinvillle's　side；　and　began　an
impassioned　speech　for　the　defence。

This　man　was　Robespierre；　and　the　revolutionists　sitting　there
listened　to　him　in　mute　wonder；　for　they　recalled　that　it　was　upon
the　Incorruptible's　own　charge　their　brother…deputy　had　been　arrested。
Ardently　did　Maximilien　pour　out　his　eloquence；　enumerating　the　many
virtues　of　the　accused　and　dwelling　at　length　upon　his　vast　services
to　the　Republic；　his　hitherto　unfaltering　fidelity　to　the　nation　and
the　people's　cause；　and　lastly；　deploring　that　in　a　moment　of
weakness　he　should　have　committed　the　indiscretion　which　had　brought
him　where　he　stood。　　And　against　this　thing　of　which　he　was　now
accused；　Robespierre　bade　the　Deputies　of　the　jury　balance　the　young
man's　past；　and　the　much　that　he　had　done　for　the　Revolution；　and
to　offer　him；　in　consideration　of　all　that；　a　chance　of　making
atonement　and　regaining　the　position　of　trust　and　of　brotherly
affection　which　for　a　moment　he　had　forfeited。

The　Court　was　stirred　by　the　address。　　They　knew　the　young
sans…culotte's　worth；　and　they　were　reluctant　to　pass　sentence　upon
him　and　to　send　him　to　the　death　designed　for　aristocrats　and
traitors。　　And　so　they　readily　pronounced　themselves　willing　to
extend　him　the　most　generous　measure　of　mercy；　to　open　their　arms
and　once　more　to　clasp　to　their　hearts　the　brother　who　had　strayed
and　to　reinstate　him　in　their　confidence　and　their　councils。　　They
pressed　Robespierre　to　name　the　act　of　atonement　by　which　he
proposed　La　Boulaye　should　recover　his　prestige；　and　Robespierre　in
answer　cried：

〃Let　him　repair　the　evil　he　has　done。　　Let　him　neutralise　the
treachery　into　which　a　moment　of　human　weakness　betrayed　him。　　Let
him　return　to　us　the　aristocrat　he　has　attempted　to　save；　and　we
will　forget　his　indiscretion　and　receive　him　back　amongst　us　with
open　arms；　as　was　the　prodigal　son　received。〃

There　was　a　salvo　of　applause。　　Men　rose　to　their　feet　excitedly；
and　with　arms　outstretched　in　Caron's　direction　they　vociferously
implored　him　to　listen　to　reason　as　uttered　by　the　Incorruptible；
to　repent　him　and　to　atone　while　there　was　yet　time。　　They　loved
him；　they　swore　in　voices　o