the trampling of the lilies-第9节

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brought。

All　that　was　left　of　the　noblesse　in　Picardy　had　flocked　that　day
to　the　Chateau　de　Bellecour；　and　the　company　there　assembled
numbered　perhaps　some　thirty　gallants　and　some　twenty　ladies。　　A
banquet　there　had　been；　which　in　the　main　was　a　gloomy　function；
for　the　King's　death　was　too　recent　a　matter　to　be　utterly　lost
sight　of。　　Later；　however；　as　the　generous　supply　of　wine　did　its
work　and　so　far　thawed　the　ice　of　apprehension　that　bound　their
souls　as　to　dispose　them　to　enjoy；　at　least；　the　present　hour　in
forgetfulness；　there　was　a　better　humour　in　the　air。　　This　developed；
and　so　far　indeed　did　it　go　that　in　the　evening　a　Pavane　was
suggested；　and；　the　musicians　being　found；　it　was　held　in　the　great
salon　of　the　Chateau。

It　was　then　that　the　first　alarm　had　penetrated　to　their　midst。　　It
had　found　them　a　recklessly　merry　crew；　good　to　behold　in　their
silks　and　satins；　powder　and　patches；　gold　lace　and　red　heels；　moving
with　waving　fans；　or　hand　on　sword；　and　laced　beaver　under　elbow；
through　the　stately　figures　of　the　gavotte。

Scared；　white…faced　lackeys　had　brought　the　news；　dashing　wildly　in
upon　that　courtly　assembly。　　The　peasants　had　risen　and　were　marching
on　Bellecour。

Some　of　his　sudden　rage　the　Marquis　vented　by　striking　the　servants'
spokesman　in　the　face。

〃Dare　you　bring　me　such　a　message？〃　he　cried　furiously。

〃But；　my　lord；　what　are　we　to　do？〃　gasped　the　frightened　lackey。

〃Do；　fool？〃　returned　Bellecour。　　〃Why；　close　the　gates　and　bid　them
return　home　as　they　value　their　lives。　　For　if　they　give　me　trouble
I'll　hang　a　round　dozen　of　them。〃

Still　was　there　that　same　big　talk　of　hanging　men。　　Still　did　it
seem　that　the　Marquis　of　Bellecour　accounted　himself　the　same　lord
of　life　and　death　that　he　and　his　forbears　had　been　for　generations。
But　there　were　others　who　thought　differently。　　The　music　had　ceased
abruptly；　and　a　little　knot　of　gentlemen　now　gathered　about　the　host；
and　urged　him　to　take　some　measures　of　precaution。　　In　particular
they　desired　to　ensure　the　safety　of　the　ladies　who　were　being　thrown
into　a　great　state　of　alarm；　so　that　of　some　of　these　were　the
screams　that　were　heard　in　that　night　of　terror。　　Bellecour's　temper
was　fast　gaining；　and　as　he　lost　control　of　himself　the　inherent
brutality　of　his　character　came　uppermost。

〃Mesdames；〃　he　cried　rudely；　〃this　screeching　will　profit　us　nothing。
Even　if　we　must　die；　let　us　die　becomingly；　not　shrieking　like
butchered　geese。〃

A　dozen　men　raised　their　voices　angrily　against　him　in　defence　of
the　women　he　had　slighted。　　But　he　waved　them　impatiently　away。

〃Is　this　an　hour　in　which　to　fall　a…quarrelling　among　ourselves？〃
he　exclaimed。　　〃Or　do　you　think　it　one　in　which　a　man　can　stop　to
choose　his　words？　　Sang…dieu！　　That　screaming　is　a　more　serious
matter　than　at　first　may　seem。　　If　these　rebellious　dogs　should
chance　to　hear　it；　it　will　be　but　so　much　encouragement　to　them。
A　fearless　front；　a　cold　contempt；　are　weapons　unrivalled　if　you
would　prevail　against　these　mutinous　cravens。〃

But　his　guests　were　insistent　that　something　more　than　fearless
fronts　and　cold　contempts　should　be　set　up　as　barriers　between
themselves　and　the　advancing　peasantry。　　And　in　the　end　Bellecour
impatiently　quitted　the　room　to　give　orders　for　the　barricading　of
the　gates　and　the　defending　of　the　Chateau；　leaving　behind　him　in
the　salon　the　very　wildest　of　confusions。

》From　the　windows　the　peasantry　could　now　be　seen；　by　the　light　of
their　torches；　marching　up　the　long　avenue　that　fronted　the　Chateau；
and　headed　by　a　single　drum　on　which　the　bearer　did　no　more　than
beat　the　step。　　They　were　a　fierce；　unkempt　band；　rudely　armed　…
some　with　scythes；　some　with　sickles；　some　with　hedge…knives；　and
some　with　hangers；　whilst　here　and　there　was　one　who　carried　a　gun；
and　perhaps　a　bayonet　as　well。　　Nor　were　there　men　only　in　the
rebellious　ranks。　　There　were　an　almost　equal　number　of　women　in
crimson　caps；　their　bosoms　bare；　their　heads　dishevelled；　their
garments　filthy　and　in　rags　…　for　the　tooth　of　poverty　had　bitten
deeply　into　them　during　the　past　months。

As　they　swung　along　to　the　rhythmical　thud　of　the　drum；　their　voices
were　raised　in　a　fearful　chorus　that　must　have　made　one　think　of　the
choirs　of　hell；　and　the　song　they　sang　was　the　song　of　Rouget　de
l'Isle；　which　all　France　had　been　singing　these　twelve　months　past：

　　　〃Aux　armes；　citovens！
　　　　Formez　vos　bataillons。
　　　　Allons；　marchons！
　　　　Qu'un　sang　inpur
　　　　Abreuve　nos　sillons！〃

Ever　swelling　as　they　drew　nearer　came　the　sound　of　that　terrible
hymn　to　the　ears　of　the　elegant；　bejewelled；　bepowdered　company　in
the　Chateau。　　The　gates　were　reached　and　found　barred。　　An　angry
roar　went　up　to　Heaven；　followed　by　a　hail　of　blows　upon　the　stout；
ironbound　oak；　and　an　imperious　call　to　open。

In　the　courtyard　below　the　Marquis　had　posted　the　handful　of　servants
that　remained　faithful　…　for　reasons　that　Heaven　alone　may　discern　…
to　the　fortunes　of　the　house。　　He　had　armed　them　with　carbines　and
supplied　them　with　ammunition。　　He　had　left　them　orders　to　hold　off
the　mob　from　the　outer　gates　as　long　as　possible；　but　should　these　be
carried；　they　were　to　fall　back　into　the　Chateau　itself；　and　make　fast
the　doors。　　Meanwhile；　he　was　haranguing　the　gentlemen　…　some　thirty
of　them；　as　we　have　seen　…　in　the　salon　and　urging　them　to　arm
themselves　so　that　they　might　render　assistance。

His　instances　were　met　with　a　certain　coldness；　which　at　last　was
given　expression　by　the　most　elegant　Vicomte　d'Ombreval　…　the　man
who　was　about　to　become　his　son…in…law。

〃My　dear　Marquis；〃　protested　the　young　man；　his　habitually
supercilious　mouth　looking　even　more　supercilious　than　usual　as　he
now　spoke；　〃I　beg　that　you　will　consider　what　you　are　proposing。　　We
are　your　guests；　we　others；　and　you　ask　us　to　defend　your　gates
against　your　own　people　for　you！　　Surely；　surely；　sir；　your　first
duty　should　have　been　to　have　ensured　our　safety　against　such
mutinies　on　the　part　of　the　rabble　of　Bellecour。〃

The　Seigneur　angrily　stamped　his　foot。　　In　his　choler　he　was　within
an　ace　of　striking　Ombreval；　and　might　have　done　so　had　not　the
broad…minded　and　ever…reasonable　old　Des　Cadoux　interposed　at　that
moment　to　make　clear　to　the　Marquis's　guests　a　situation　than　which
nothing　could　have　been　clearer。　　He　put　it　to　them　that　the　times
were　changed；　and　that　France　was　no　longer　what　France　had　been；
that　allowances　must　be　made　for　M。　de　Bellecour；　who　was　in　no
better　case　than　any　other　gentleman　in　that　unhappy　country！　and
finally；　that　either　they　must　look　to　arming　and　defending
themselves　or　they　must　say　their　prayers　and　submit　to　being
butchered　with　the　ladies。

〃For　ourselves；〃　he　concluded　calmly；　tapping　his　gold　snuffbox　and
holding　it　out　to　Bellecour；　for　all　the　world　with　the　air　of　one
who　was　discussing　the　latest　fashion　in　wigs；　〃I　can　understand
your　repugnance　at　coming　to　blows　with　this　obscene　canaille。　　It
is　doing　them　an　honour　of　which　they　are　not　worthy。　　But　we　have
these　ladies　to　think　of；　Messieurs；　and　…　〃　he　paused　to　apply　the
rappee　to　his　nostrils　…　〃and　we　must　exert　ourselves　to　save　them；
however　disagreeable　the　course　we　may　be　compelled　to　pursue。
Messieurs；　I　am　the　oldest　here；　permit　that　I　show　you　the　way。〃

His　words　were　not　without　effect；　they　kindled　chivalry　in　hearts
that；　after　all；　were　nothing　if　not　prone　to　chivalry　…　according
to　their　own　lights　…　and　presently　something　very　near　enthusiasm
prevailed。　　But　the　supercilious　and　very　noble　Ombreval　still
grumbled。

〃To　ask　me　to　fight　this　scum！〃　he　ejaculated　in　horror　〃Pardi！　　It
is　too　much。　　Ask　me　to　beat　them　off　with　a　whip　like　a　pack　of
curs；　and　I'll　do　it　readily。　　But　fight　them　…　！〃

〃Nothing　could　delight　us　more；　Vicomte；　than　to　see　you　beat　them
off　with　a　whip；〃　Des　Cadoux　assured　him。　　〃Arm　yourself　with　a　whip；
by　all　means；　my　friend；　and　let　us　witness　the　prodigies　you　can
perform　with　it。〃

〃See　what　valour　inflames　the　Vicomte；　Suzanne；〃　sneered　a　handsome
woman　into　Mademoiselle's　ear。　　With　what　alacrity　he　flies　to　arms
that　he　may　defend　you；　even　with　his　life。〃

〃M。　d'Ombreval　is　behaving　according　to　his　lights；〃　answered　Suzanne
coldly。

〃Ma　foi；　then　his　lights　are　unspeakably　dim；〃　was　the　contemptuous
answer。

Mademoiselle　gave　no　outward　sign　of　the　deep　wound　her　pride　was
receiving。　　The　girl　of　nineteen；　who　had　scorned　the　young
secretary…lover　in　the　park　of　Bellecour　that　morning　four　years　ago；
was　developed　into　a　handsome　lady　of　three…and…twenty。

〃It　would　be　beneath　the　dignity　of　his　station　to　soil　his　hands
in　such　a　conflict　as　my　father　has　suggested；〃　she　said　at　last。

〃I　wonder　would　it　be　beneath　the　dignity　of　his　courage；〃　mused　the
same　caustic　friend。　　〃But　surely　not；　for　nothing　could　be　beneath
that。〃

〃Madame！〃　exclaimed　Suzanne；　her　cheeks　reddening；　for　as　of　old；
and　like　her　father；　she　was　quickly　moved　to　anger。　　〃Will　it　please
you　to　remember　that　M。　d'Ombreval　is　my　affianced　husband？〃

〃True；〃　confessed　the　lady；　no　whit　abashed。　　〃But　had　I　not　been
told　so　I　had