the chouans-第28节

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　future　of　this　happy　drama；　believing　she　had　assured　it　with　her　smile。　She　was　so　beautiful！　She　knew　so　well　how　to　conquer　all　obstacles　to　love！　She　was　so　accustomed　to　take　all　risks　and　push　on　at　all　hazards！　She　loved　the　unexpected；　and　the　tumults　of　lifewhy　should　she　fear？

Before　long　the　carriage；　under　the　young　chief's　directions；　left　the　highway　and　took　a　road　cut　between　banks　planted　with　apple…trees；　more　like　a　ditch　than　a　roadway；　which　led　to　La　Vivetiere。　The　carriage　now　advanced　rapidly；　leaving　the　escort　to　follow　slowly　towards　the　manor…house；　the　gray　roofs　of　which　appeared　and　disappeared　among　the　trees。　Some　of　the　men　lingered　on　the　way　to　knock　the　stiff　clay　of　the　road…bed　from　their　shoes。

〃This　is　devilishly　like　the　road　to　Paradise；〃　remarked　Beau…Pied。

Thanks　to　the　impatience　of　the　postilion；　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　soon　saw　the　chateau　of　La　Vivetiere。　This　house；　standing　at　the　end　of　a　sort　of　promontory；　was　protected　and　surrounded　by　two　deep　lakelets；　and　could　be　reached　only　by　a　narrow　causeway。　That　part　of　the　little　peninsula　on　which　the　house　and　gardens　were　placed　was　still　further　protected　by　a　moat　filled　with　water　from　the　two　lakes　which　it　connected。　The　house　really　stood　on　an　island　that　was　well…　nigh　impregnable；an　invaluable　retreat　for　a　chieftain；　who　could　be　surprised　there　only　by　treachery。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　put　her　head　out　of　the　carriage　as　she　heard　the　rusty　hinges　of　the　great　gates　open　to　give　entrance　to　an　arched　portal　which　had　been　much　injured　during　the　late　war。　The　gloomy　colors　of　the　scene　which　met　her　eyes　almost　extinguished　the　thoughts　of　love　and　coquetry　in　which　she　had　been　indulging。　The　carriage　entered　a　large　courtyard　that　was　nearly　square；　bordered　on　each　side　by　the　steep　banks　of　the　lakelets。　Those　sterile　shores；　washed　by　water；　which　was　covered　with　large　green　patches；　had　no　other　ornament　than　aquatic　trees　devoid　of　foliage；　the　twisted　trunks　and　hoary　heads　of　which；　rising　from　the　reeds　and　rushes；　gave　them　a　certain　grotesque　likeness　to　gigantic　marmosets。　These　ugly　growths　seemed　to　waken　and　talk　to　each　other　when　the　frogs　deserted　them　with　much　croaking；　and　the　water…fowl；　startled　by　the　sound　of　the　wheels；　flew　low　upon　the　surface　of　the　pools。　The　courtyard；　full　of　rank　and　seeded　grasses；　reeds；　and　shrubs；　either　dwarf　or　parasite；　excluded　all　impression　of　order　or　of　splendor。　The　house　appeared　to　have　been　long　abandoned。　The　roof　seemed　to　bend　beneath　the　weight　of　the　various　vegetations　which　grew　upon　it。　The　walls；　though　built　of　the　smooth；　slaty　stone　which　abounds　in　that　region；　showed　many　rifts　and　chinks　where　ivy　had　fastened　its　rootlets。　Two　main　buildings；　joined　at　the　angle　by　a　tall　tower　which　faced　the　lake；　formed　the　whole　of　the　chateau；　the　doors　and　swinging；　rotten　shutters；　rusty　balustrades；　and　broken　windows　of　which　seemed　ready　to　fall　at　the　first　tempest。　The　north　wind　whistled　through　these　ruins；　to　which　the　moon；　with　her　indefinite　light；　gave　the　character　and　outline　of　a　great　spectre。　But　the　colors　of　those　gray…blue　granites；　mingling　with　the　black　and　tawny　schists；　must　have　been　seen　in　order　to　understand　how　vividly　a　spectral　image　was　suggested　by　the　empty　and　gloomy　carcass　of　the　building。　Its　disjointed　stones　and　paneless　windows；　the　battered　tower　and　broken　roofs　gave　it　the　aspect　of　a　skeleton；　the　birds　of　prey　which　flew　from　it；　shrieking；　added　another　feature　to　this　vague　resemblance。　A　few　tall　pine…trees　standing　behind　the　house　waved　their　dark　foliage　above　the　roof；　and　several　yews　cut　into　formal　shapes　at　the　angles　of　the　building；　festooned　it　gloomily　like　the　ornaments　on　a　hearse。　The　style　of　the　doors；　the　coarseness　of　the　decorations；　the　want　of　harmony　in　the　architecture；　were　all　characteristic　of　the　feudal　manors　of　which　Brittany　was　proud；　perhaps　justly　proud；　for　they　maintained　upon　that　Gaelic　ground　a　species　of　monumental　history　of　the　nebulous　period　which　preceded　the　establishment　of　the　French　monarchy。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　to　whose　imagination　the　word　〃chateau〃　brought　none　but　its　conventional　ideas；　was　affected　by　the　funereal　aspect　of　the　scene。　She　sprang　from　the　carriage　and　stood　apart　gazing　at　in　terror；　and　debating　within　herself　what　action　she　ought　to　take。　Francine　heard　Madame　du　Gua　give　a　sigh　of　relief　as　she　felt　herself　in　safety　beyond　reach　of　the　Blues；　an　exclamation　escaped　her　when　the　gates　were　closed；　and　she　saw　the　carriage　and　its　occupants　within　the　walls　of　this　natural　fortress。

The　Marquis　de　Montauran　turned　hastily　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　divining　the　thoughts　that　crowded　in　her　mind。

〃This　chateau；〃　he　said；　rather　sadly；　〃was　ruined　by　the　war；　just　as　my　plans　for　our　happiness　have　been　ruined　by　you。〃

〃How　ruined？〃　she　asked　in　surprise。

〃Are　you　indeed　'beautiful；　brilliant；　and　of　noble　birth'？〃　he　asked　ironically；　repeating　the　words　she　had　herself　used　in　their　former　conversation。

〃Who　has　told　you　to　the　contrary？〃

〃Friends；　in　whom　I　put　faith；　who　care　for　my　safety　and　are　on　the　watch　against　treachery。〃

〃Treachery！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　a　sarcastic　tone。　〃Have　you　forgotten　Hulot　and　Alencon　already？　You　have　no　memory；a　dangerous　defect　in　the　leader　of　a　party。　But　if　friends；〃　she　added；　with　increased　sarcasm；　〃are　so　all…powerful　in　your　heart；　keep　your　friends。　Nothing　is　comparable　to　the　joys　of　friendship。　Adieu；　neither　I　nor　the　soldiers　of　the　Republic　will　stop　here。〃

She　turned　towards　the　gateway　with　a　look　of　wounded　pride　and　scorn；　and　her　motions　as　she　did　so　displayed　a　dignity　and　also　a　despair　which　changed　in　an　instant　the　thoughts　of　the　young　man；　he　felt　that　the　cost　of　relinquishing　his　desires　was　too　great；　and　he　gave　himself　up　deliberately　to　imprudence　and　credulity。　He　loved；　and　the　lovers　had　no　desire　now　to　quarrel　with　each　other。

〃Say　but　one　word　and　I　will　believe　you；〃　he　said；　in　a　supplicating　voice。

〃One　word？〃　she　answered；　closing　her　lips　tightly；　〃not　a　single　word；　not　even　a　gesture。〃

〃At　least；　be　angry　with　me；〃　he　entreated；　trying　to　take　the　hand　she　withheld　from　him；〃that　is；　if　you　dare　to　be　angry　with　the　leader　of　the　rebels；　who　is　now　as　sad　and　distrustful　as　he　was　lately　happy　and　confiding。〃

Marie　gave　him　a　look　that　was　far　from　angry；　and　he　added：　〃You　have　my　secret；　but　I　have　not　yours。〃

The　alabaster　brow　appeared　to　darken　at　these　words；　she　cast　a　look　of　annoyance　on　the　young　chieftain；　and　answered；　hastily：　〃Tell　you　my　secret？　Never！〃

In　love　every　word；　every　glance　has　the　eloquence　of　the　moment；　but　on　this　occasion　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　exclamation　revealed　nothing；　and；　clever　as　Montauran　might　be；　its　secret　was　impenetrable　to　him；　though　the　tones　of　her　voice　betrayed　some　extraordinary　and　unusual　emotion　which　piqued　his　curiosity。

〃You　have　a　singular　way　of　dispelling　suspicion；〃　he　said。

〃Do　you　still　suspect　me？〃　she　replied；　looking　him　in　the　eye；　as　if　to　say；　〃What　rights　have　you　over　me？〃

〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　young　man；　in　a　voice　that　was　submissive　and　yet　firm；　〃the　authority　you　exercise　over　Republican　troops；　this　escort〃

〃Ah；　that　reminds　me！　My　escort　and　I；〃　she　asked；　in　a　slightly　satirical　tone；　〃your　protectors；　in　short；will　they　be　safe　here？〃

〃Yes；　on　the　word　of　a　gentleman。　Whoever　you　be；　you　and　your　party　have　nothing　to　fear　in　my　house。〃

The　promise　was　made　with　so　loyal　and　generous　an　air　and　manner　that　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　felt　absolutely　secure　as　to　the　safety　of　the　Republican　soldiers。　She　was　about　to　speak　when　Madame　du　Gua's　approach　silenced　her。　That　lady　had　either　overheard　or　guessed　part　of　their　conversation；　and　was　filled　with　anxiety　at　no　longer　perceiving　any　signs　of　animosity　between　them。　As　soon　as　the　marquis　caught　sight　of　her；　he　offered　his　hand　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　and　led　her　hastily　towards　the　house；　as　if　to　escape　an　undesired　companion。

〃I　am　in　their　way；〃　thought　Madame　du　Gua；　remaining　where　she　was。　She　watched　the　lovers　walking　slowly　towards　the　portico；　where　they　stopped；　as　if　satisfied　to　have　placed　some　distance　between　themselves　and　her。　〃Yes；　yes；　I　am　in　their　way；〃　she　repeated；　speaking　to　herself；　〃but　before　long　that　creature　will　not　be　in　mine；　the　lake；　God　willing；　shall　have　her。　I'll　help　him　keep　his　word　as　a　gentleman；　once　under　the　water；　she　has　nothing　to　fear；　what　can　be　safer　than　that？〃

She　was　looking　fixedly　at　the　still　mirror　of　the　little　lake　to　the　right　when　suddenly　she　heard　a　rustling　among　the　rushes　and　saw　in　the　moonlight　the　face　of　Marche…a…Terre　rising　behind　the　gnarled　trunk　of　an　old　willow。　None　but　those　who　knew　the　Chouan　well　could　have　distinguished　him　from　the　tangle　of　branches　of　which　he　seemed　a　part。　Madame　du　Gua　looked　about　her　with　some　distrust；　she　saw　the　postilion　leading　his　horses　to　a　stable　in　the　wing　of　the　chateau　which　was　opposite　to　the　bank　where　Marche…a…Terre　was　hiding；　Francine；　with　her　back　to　her；　was　going　towards　the　tw