the chouans-第33节
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reached the heart of one whom they struck to death。 The leaders of the Vendeans and the Chouans assembled round that table looked at the Marquis de Montauran with cruel curiosity。 The eyes of Madame du Gua； flashing with joy； turned from the marquis to Mademoiselle de Verneuil； who was speechless with surprise。 The Republican officers； uneasy in mind； questioned each other's thoughts as they awaited the result of this extraordinary scene。 In a moment the forks remained inactive in every hand； silence reigned； and every eye was turned to the Gars。 A frightful anger showed upon his face； which turned waxen in tone。 He leaned towards the guest from whom the rocket had started and said； in a voice that seemed muffled in crape； 〃Death of my soul！ count； is that true？〃
〃On my honor；〃 said the count； bowing gravely。
The marquis lowered his eyes for a moment； then he raised them and looked fixedly at Marie； who； watchful of his struggle； knew that look to be her death…warrant。
〃I would give my life；〃 he said in a low voice； 〃for revenge on the spot。〃
Madame du Gua understood the words from the mere movement of the young man's lips； and she smiled upon him as we smile at a friend whose regrets are about to cease。 The scorn felt for Mademoiselle de Verneuil and shown on every face； brought to its height the growing indignation of the two Republicans； who now rose hastily：
〃Do you want anything； citizens？〃 asked Madame du Gua。
〃Our swords； /citoyenne/；〃 said Gerard； sarcastically。
〃You do not need them at table；〃 said the marquis； coldly。
〃No； but we are going to play at a game you know very well；〃 replied Gerard。 〃This is La Pelerine over again。〃
The whole party seemed dumfounded。 Just then a volley； fired with terrible regularity； echoed through the courtyard。 The two officers sprang to the portico； there they beheld a hundred or so of Chouans aiming at the few soldiers who were not shot down at the first discharge； these they fired upon as upon so many hares。 The Bretons swarmed from the bank； where Marche…a…Terre had posted them at the peril of their lives； for after the last volley； and mingling with the cries of the dying； several Chouans were heard to fall into the lake； where they were lost like stones in a gulf。 Pille…Miche took aim at Gerard； Marche…a…Terre held Merle at his mercy。
〃Captain；〃 said the marquis to Merle； repeating to the Republican his own words； 〃you see that men are like medlars； they ripen on the straw。〃 He pointed with a wave of his hand to the entire escort of the Blues lying on the bloody litter where the Chouans were despatching those who still breathed； and rifling the dead bodies with incredible rapidity。 〃I was right when I told you that your soldiers will not get as far as La Pelerine。 I think； moreover； that your head will fill with lead before mine。 What say you？〃
Montauran felt a horrible necessity to vent his rage。 His bitter sarcasm； the ferocity； even the treachery of this military execution； done without his orders； but which he now accepted； satisfied in some degree the craving of his heart。 In his fury he would fain have annihilated France。 The dead Blues； the living officers； all innocent of the crime for which he demanded vengeance； were to him the cards by which a gambler cheats his despair。
〃I would rather perish than conquer as you are conquering；〃 said Gerard。 Then； seeing the naked and bloody corpses of his men； he cried out； 〃Murdered basely； in cold blood！〃
〃That was how you murdered Louis XVI。； monsieur；〃 said the marquis。
〃Monsieur；〃 replied Gerard； haughtily； 〃there are mysteries in a king's trial which you could never comprehend。〃
〃Do you dare to accuse the king？〃 exclaimed the marquis。
〃Do you dare to fight your country？〃 retorted Gerard。
〃Folly！〃 said the marquis。
〃Parricide！〃 exclaimed the Republican。
〃Well； well；〃 cried Merle； gaily； 〃a pretty time to quarrel at the moment of your death。〃
〃True；〃 said Gerard； coldly； turning to the marquis。 〃Monsieur； if it is your intention to put us to death； at least have the goodness to shoot us at once。〃
〃Ah！ that's like you； Gerard；〃 said Merle； 〃always in a hurry to finish things。 But if one has to travel far and can't breakfast on the morrow； at least we might sup。〃
Gerard sprang forward without a word towards the wall。 Pille…Miche covered him； glancing as he did so at the motionless marquis； whose silence he took for an order； and the adjutant…major fell like a tree。 Marche…a…Terre ran to share the fresh booty with Pille…Miche； like two hungry crows they disputed and clamored over the still warm body。
〃If you really wish to finish your supper； captain； you can come with me；〃 said the marquis to Merle。
The captain followed him mechanically； saying in a low voice： 〃It is that devil of a strumpet that caused all this。 What will Hulot say？〃
〃Strumpet！〃 cried the marquis in a strangled voice； 〃then she is one？〃
The captain seemed to have given Montauran a death…blow； for he re…entered the house with a staggering step； pale； haggard； and undone。
Another scene had meanwhile taken place in the dining…room； which assumed； in the marquis's absence； such a threatening character that Marie； alone without her protector； might well fancy she read her death…warrant in the eyes of her rival。 At the noise of the volley the guests all sprang to their feet； but Madame du Gua remained seated。
〃It is nothing；〃 she said； 〃our men are despatching the Blues。〃 Then； seeing the marquis outside on the portico； she rose。 〃Mademoiselle whom you here see；〃 she continued； with the calmness of concentrated fury； 〃came here to betray the Gars！ She meant to deliver him up to the Republic。〃
〃I could have done so twenty times to…day and yet I saved his life；〃 said Mademoiselle de Verneuil。
Madame du Gua sprang upon her rival like lightning； in her blind excitement she tore apart the fastenings of the young girl's spencer； the stuff； the embroidery； the corset； the chemise； and plunged her savage hand into the bosom where； as she well knew； a letter lay hidden。 In doing this her jealousy so bruised and tore the palpitating throat of her rival； taken by surprise at the sudden attack； that she left the bloody marks of her nails； feeling a sort of pleasure in making her submit to so degrading a prostitution。 In the feeble struggle which Marie made against the furious woman； her hair became unfastened and fell in undulating curls about her shoulders； her face glowed with outraged modesty； and tears made their burning way along her cheeks； heightening the brilliancy of her eyes； as she quivered with shame before the looks of the assembled men。 The hardest judge would have believed in her innocence when he saw her sorrow。
Hatred is so uncalculating that Madame du Gua did not perceive she had overshot her mark； and that no one listened to her as she cried triumphantly： 〃You shall now see； gentlemen； whether I have slandered that horrible creature。〃
〃Not so horrible；〃 said the bass voice of the guest who had thrown the first stone。 〃But for my part； I like such horrors。〃
〃Here；〃 continued the cruel woman； 〃is an order signed by Laplace； and counter…signed by Dubois； minister of war。〃 At these names several heads were turned to her。 〃Listen to the wording of it；〃 she went on。
〃'The military citizen commanders of all grades； the district administrators； the /procureur…syndics/； et cetera； of the insurgent departments； and particularly those of the localities in which the ci…devant Marquis de Montauran； leader of the brigands and otherwise known as the Gars； may be found； are hereby commanded to give aid and assistance to the /citoyenne/ Marie Verneuil and to obey the orders which she may give them at her discretion。'
〃A worthless hussy takes a noble name to soil it with such treachery；〃 added Madame du Gua。
A movement of astonishment ran through the assembly。
〃The fight is not even if the Republic employs such pretty women against us；〃 said the Baron du Guenic gaily。
〃Especially women who have nothing to lose；〃 said Madame du Gua。
〃Nothing？〃 cried the Chevalier du Vissard。 〃Mademoiselle has a property which probably brings her in a pretty good sum。〃
〃The Republic must like a joke； to send strumpets for ambassadors；〃 said the Abbe Gudin。
〃Unfortunately； Mademoiselle seeks the joys that kill；〃 said Madame du Gua； with a horrible expression of pleasure at the end she foresaw。
〃Then why are you still living？〃 said her victim； rising to her feet； after repairing the disorder of her clothes。
This bitter sarcasm excited a sort of respect for so brave a victim； and silenced the assembly。 Madame du Gua saw a satirical smile on the lips of the men； which infuriated her； and paying no attention to the marquis and Merle who were entering the room； she called to the Chouan who followed them。 〃Pille…Miche！〃 she said； pointing to Mademoiselle de Verneuil； 〃take her； she is my share of the booty； and I turn her over to youdo what you like with her。〃
At these words the whole assembly shuddered； for the hideous heads of Pille…Miche and Marche…a…Terre appeared behind the marquis； and the punishment was seen in all its horror。
Francine was standing with clasped h
