the chouans-第12节

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　of　recruits　and　counter…Chouans。〃

〃Yes；　true　enough；　father；〃　replied　the　marquis。

〃Ah！　ah！〃　cried　the　lady。　〃Fouche　means　to　send　women　against　you；　does　he？　I　shall　be　ready　for　them；〃　she　added　in　a　deeper　tone　of　voice　and　after　a　slight　pause。

*****

At　a　distance　of　three　or　four　gunshots　from　the　plateau；　now　abandoned；　a　little　scene　was　taking　place　which　was　not　uncommon　in　those　days　on　the　high…roads。　After　leaving　the　little　village　of　La　Pelerine；　Pille…Miche　and　Marche…a…Terre　again　stopped　the　turgotine　at　a　dip　in　the　road。　Coupiau　got　off　his　seat　after　making　a　faint　resistance。　The　silent　traveller；　extracted　from　his　hiding　place　by　the　two　Chouans；　found　himself　on　his　knees　in　a　furze　bush。

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Marche…a…Terre　in　a　threatening　voice。

The　traveller　kept　silence　until　Pille…Miche　put　the　question　again　and　enforced　it　with　the　butt　end　of　his　gun。

〃I　am　Jacques　Pinaud；〃　he　replied；　with　a　glance　at　Coupiau；　〃a　poor　linen…draper。〃

Coupiau　made　a　sign　in　the　negative；　not　considering　it　an　infraction　of　his　promise　to　Saint　Anne。　The　sign　enlightened　Pille…Miche；　who　took　aim　at　the　luckless　traveller；　while　Marche…a…Terre　laid　before　him　categorically　a　terrible　ultimatum。

〃You　are　too　fat　to　be　poor。　If　you　make　me　ask　you　your　name　again；　here's　my　friend　Pille…Miche；　who　will　obtain　the　gratitude　and　good…　will　of　your　heirs　in　a　second。　Who　are　you？〃　he　added；　after　a　pause。

〃I　am　d'Orgemont；　of　Fougeres。〃

〃Ah！　ah！〃　cried　the　two　Chouans。

〃I　didn't　tell　your　name；　Monsieur　d'Orgemont；〃　said　Coupiau。　〃The　Holy　Virgin　is　my　witness　that　I　did　my　best　to　protect　you。〃

〃Inasmuch　as　you　are　Monsieur　d'Orgemont；　of　Fougeres；〃　said　Marche…a…　Terre；　with　an　air　of　ironical　respect；　〃we　shall　let　you　go　in　peace。　Only；　as　you　are　neither　a　good　Chouan　nor　a　true　Blue　（thought　it　was　you　who　bought　the　property　of　the　Abbey　de　Juvigny）；　you　will　pay　us　three　hundred　crowns　of　six　francs　each　for　your　ransom。　Neutrality　is　worth　that；　at　least。〃

〃Three　hundred　crowns　of　six　francs　each！〃　chorussed　the　luckless　banker；　Pille…Miche；　and　Coupiau；　in　three　different　tones。

〃Alas；　my　good　friend；〃　continued　d'Orgemont；　〃I'm　a　ruined　man。　The　last　forced　loan　of　that　devilish　Republic　for　a　hundred　millions　sucked　me　dry；　taxed　as　I　was　already。〃

〃How　much　did　your　Republic　get　out　of　you？〃

〃A　thousand　crowns；　my　dear　man；〃　replied　the　banker；　with　a　piteous　air；　hoping　for　a　reduction。

〃If　your　Republic　gets　forced　loans　out　of　you　for　such　big　sums　as　that　you　must　see　that　you　would　do　better　with　us；　our　government　would　cost　you　less。　Three　hundred　crowns；　do　you　call　that　dear　for　your　skin？〃

〃Where　am　I　to　get　them？〃

〃Out　of　your　strong…box；〃　said　Pille…Miche；　〃and　mind　that　the　money　is　forthcoming；　or　we'll　singe　you　still。〃

〃How　am　I　to　pay　it　to　you？〃　asked　d'Orgemont。

〃Your　country…house　at　Fougeres　is　not　far　from　Gibarry's　farm　where　my　cousin　Galope…Chopine；　otherwise　called　Cibot；　lives。　You　can　pay　the　money　to　him；〃　said　Pille…Miche。

〃That's　not　business…like；〃　said　d'Orgemont。

〃What　do　we　care　for　that？〃　said　Marche…a…Terre。　〃But　mind　you　remember　that　if　that　money　is　not　paid　to　Galope…Chopine　within　two　weeks　we　shall　pay　you　a　little　visit　which　will　cure　your　gout。　As　for　you；　Coupiau；〃　added　Marche…a…Terre；　〃your　name　in　future　is　to　be　Mene…a…Bien。〃

So　saying；　the　two　Chouans　departed。　The　traveller　returned　to　the　vehicle；　which；　thanks　to　Coupiau's　whip；　now　made　rapid　progress　to　Fougeres。

〃If　you'd　only　been　armed；〃　said　Coupiau；　〃we　might　have　made　some　defence。〃

〃Idiot！〃　cried　d'Orgemont；　pointing　to　his　heavy　shoes。　〃I　have　ten　thousand　francs　in　those　soles；　do　you　think　I　would　be　such　a　fool　as　to　fight　with　that　sum　about　me？〃

Mene…a…Bien　scratched　his　ear　and　looked　behind　him；　but　his　new　comrades　were　out　of　sight。

Hulot　and　his　command　stopped　at　Ernee　long　enough　to　place　the　wounded　in　the　hospital　of　the　little　town；　and　then；　without　further　hindrance；　they　reached　Mayenne。　There　the　commandant　cleared　up　his　doubts　as　to　the　action　of　the　Chouans；　for　on　the　following　day　the　news　of　the　pillage　of　the　turgotine　was　received。

A　few　days　later　the　government　despatched　to　Mayenne　so　strong　a　force　of　〃patriotic　conscripts；〃　that　Hulot　was　able　to　fill　the　ranks　of　his　brigade。　Disquieting　rumors　began　to　circulate　about　the　insurrection。　A　rising　had　taken　place　at　all　the　points　where；　during　the　late　war；　the　Chouans　and　Bretons　had　made　their　chief　centres　of　insurrection。　The　little　town　of　Saint…James；　between　Pontorson　and　Fougeres　was　occupied　by　them；　apparently　for　the　purpose　of　making　it　for　the　time　being　a　headquarters　of　operations　and　supplies。　From　there　they　were　able　to　communicate　with　Normandy　and　the　Morbihan　without　risk。　Their　subaltern　leaders　roamed　the　three　provinces；　roused　all　the　partisans　of　monarchy；　and　gave　consistence　and　unity　to　their　plans。　These　proceedings　coincided　with　what　was　going　on　in　La　Vendee；　where　the　same　intrigues；　under　the　influence　of　four　famous　leaders　（the　Abbe　Vernal；　the　Comte　de　Fontaine；　De　Chatillon；　and　Suzannet）；　were　agitating　the　country。　The　Chevalier　de　Valois；　the　Marquis　d'Esgrignon；　and　the　Troisvilles　were；　it　was　said；　corresponding　with　these　leaders　in　the　department　of　the　Orne。　The　chief　of　the　great　plan　of　operations　which　was　thus　developing　slowly　but　in　formidable　proportions　was　really　〃the　Gars；〃a　name　given　by　the　Chouans　to　the　Marquis　de　Montauran　on　his　arrival　from　England。　The　information　sent　to　Hulot　by　the　War　department　proved　correct　in　all　particulars。　The　marquis　gained　after　a　time　sufficient　ascendancy　over　the　Chouans　to　make　them　understand　the　true　object　of　the　war；　and　to　persuade　them　that　the　excesses　of　which　they　were　guilty　brought　disgrace　upon　the　cause　they　had　adopted。　The　daring　nature；　the　nerve；　coolness；　and　capacity　of　this　young　nobleman　awakened　the　hopes　of　all　the　enemies　of　the　Republic；　and　suited　so　thoroughly　the　grave　and　even　solemn　enthusiasm　of　those　regions　that　even　the　least　zealous　partisans　of　the　king　did　their　part　in　preparing　a　decisive　blow　in　behalf　of　the　defeated　monarchy。

Hulot　received　no　answer　to　the　questions　and　the　frequent　reports　which　he　addressed　to　the　government　in　Paris。

But　the　news　of　the　almost　magical　return　of　General　Bonaparte　and　the　events　of　the　18th　Brumaire　were　soon　current　in　the　air。　The　military　commanders　of　the　West　understood　then　the　silence　of　the　ministers。　Nevertheless；　they　were　only　the　more　impatient　to　be　released　from　the　responsibility　that　weighed　upon　them；　and　they　were　in　every　way　desirous　of　knowing　what　measures　the　new　government　was　likely　to　take。　When　it　was　known　to　these　soldiers　that　General　Bonaparte　was　appointed　First　Consul　of　the　Republic　their　joy　was　great；　they　saw；　for　the　first　time；　one　of　their　own　profession　called　to　the　management　of　the　nation。　France；　which　had　made　an　idol　of　this　young　hero；　quivered　with　hope。　The　vigor　and　energy　of　the　nation　revived。　Paris；　weary　of　its　long　gloom；　gave　itself　up　to　fetes　and　pleasures　of　which　it　had　been　so　long　deprived。　The　first　acts　of　the　Consulate　did　not　diminish　any　hopes；　and　Liberty　felt　no　alarm。　The　First　Consul　issued　a　proclamation　to　the　inhabitants　of　the　West。　The　eloquent　allocutions　addressed　to　the　masses　which　Bonaparte　had；　as　it　were；　invented；　produced　effects　in　those　days　of　patriotism　and　miracle　that　were　absolutely　startling。　His　voice　echoed　through　the　world　like　the　voice　of　a　prophet；　for　none　of　his　proclamations　had；　as　yet；　been　belied　by　defeat。

　　INHABITANTS：

　　An　impious　war　again　inflames　the　West。

　　The　makers　of　these　troubles　are　traitors　sold　to　the　English；　or　　　brigands　who　seek　in　civil　war　opportunity　and　license　for　　　misdeeds。

　　To　such　men　the　government　owes　no　forbearance；　nor　any　　　declaration　of　its　principles。

　　But　there　are　citizens；　dear　to　France；　who　have　been　misled　by　　　their　wiles。　It　is　so　such　that　truth　and　light　are　due。

　　Unjust　laws　have　been　promulgated　and　executed；　arbitrary　acts　　　have　threatened　the　safety　of　citizens　and　the　liberty　of　　　consciences；　mistaken　entries　on　the　list　of　/emigres/　imperil　　　citizens；　the　great　principles　of　social　order　have　been　violated。

　　The　Consuls　declare　that　liberty　of　worship　having　been　guaranteed　　　by　the　Constitution；　the　law　of　11　Prairial；　year　III。；　which　　　gives　the　use　of　edifices　built　for　religious　worship　to　all　　　citizens；　shall　be　executed。

　　The　government　will　pardon；　it　will　be　merciful　to　repentance；　its　　　mercy　will　be　complete　and　absolute；　but　it　will　punish　whosoever；　　　after　this　declaration；　shall　dare　to　resist　the　national　　　sovereignty。

〃Well；〃　said　Hulot；　after　the　public　reading　of　this　Consular　manifesto；　〃Isn't　that　paternal　enough？　But　you'll　see　that　not　a　single　royalist　brigand　will　be　changed　by　it。〃

The　commandant　was　right。　The　proclamation　merely　served　to　strengthen　each　side　in　their　own　convictions。　A　few　days　later　Hulot　and　his　colleagues　received　reinforcements。　The　new　minister　of　war　notified　them　that　General　Brune　was　appointed　to　comm