the chouans-第44节

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it　was　made　of　scraps　of　granite　conglomerated　in　clay；　proved　that　the　master　of　the　house　had　a　right　to　his　Chouan　name；　and　that　the　pints　galloped　down　either　his　own　throat　or　that　of　his　friends。　Two　enormous　jugs　full　of　cider　stood　on　the　table。　Marie's　attention；　caught　at　first　by　the　innumerable　spider's…webs　which　hung　from　the　roof；　was　fixing　itself　on　these　pitchers　when　the　noise　of　fighting；　growing　more　and　more　distinct；　impelled　her　to　find　a　hiding…place；　without　waiting　for　the　woman　of　the　house；　who；　however；　appeared　at　that　moment。

〃Good…morning；　Becaniere；〃　said　Marie；　restraining　a　smile　at　the　appearance　of　a　person　who　bore　some　resemblance　to　the　heads　which　architects　attach　to　window…casings。

〃Ha！　you　come　from　d'Orgemont？〃　answered　Barbette；　in　a　tone　that　was　far　from　cordial。

〃Yes；　where　can　you　hide　me？　for　the　Chouans　are　close　by〃

〃There；〃　replied　Barbette；　as　much　amazed　at　the　beauty　as　by　the　strange　apparel　of　a　being　she　could　hardly　believe　to　be　of　her　own　sex；〃there；　in　the　priest's　hiding…place。〃

She　took　her　to　the　head　of　the　bed；　and　was　putting　her　behind　it；　when　they　were　both　startled　by　the　noise　of　a　man　springing　into　the　courtyard。　Barbette　had　scarcely　time　to　drop　the　curtain　of　the　bed　and　fold　it　about　the　girl　before　she　was　face　to　face　with　a　fugitive　Chouan。

〃Where　can　I　hide；　old　woman？　I　am　the　Comte　de　Bauvan；〃　said　the　new…　comer。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　quivered　as　she　recognized　the　voice　of　the　belated　guest；　whose　words；　still　a　secret　to　her；　brought　about　the　catastrophe　of　La　Vivetiere。

〃Alas！　monseigneur；　don't　you　see；　I　have　no　place？　What　I'd　better　do　is　to　keep　outside　and　watch　that　no　one　gets　in。　If　the　Blues　come；　I'll　let　you　know。　If　I　stay　here；　and　they　find　me　with　you；　they'll　burn　my　house　down。〃

Barbette　left　the　hut；　feeling　herself　incapable　of　settling　the　interests　of　two　enemies　who；　in　virtue　of　the　double　role　her　husband　was　playing；　had　an　equal　right　to　her　hiding…place。

〃I've　only　two　shots　left；〃　said　the　count；　in　despair。　〃It　will　be　very　unlucky　if　those　fellows　turn　back　now　and　take　a　fancy　to　look　under　this　bed。〃

He　placed　his　gun　gently　against　the　headboard　behind　which　Marie　was　standing　among　the　folds　of　the　green　serge；　and　stooped　to　see　if　there　was　room　for　him　under　the　bed。　He　would　infallibly　have　seen　her　feet；　but　she；　rendered　desperate　by　her　danger；　seized　his　gun；　jumped　quickly　into　the　room；　and　threatened　him。　The　count　broke　into　a　peal　of　laughter　when　he　caught　sight　of　her；　for；　in　order　to　hide　herself；　Marie　had　taken　off　her　broad…brimmed　Chouan　hat；　and　her　hair　was　escaping；　in　heavy　curls；　from　the　lace　scarf　which　she　had　worn　on　leaving　home。

〃Don't　laugh；　monsieur　le　comte；　you　are　my　prisoner。　If　you　make　the　least　movement；　you　shall　know　what　an　offended　woman　is　capable　of　doing。〃

As　the　count　and　Marie　stood　looking　at　each　other　with　differing　emotions；　confused　voices　were　heard　without　among　the　rocks；　calling　out；　〃Save　the　Gars！　spread　out；　spread　out；　save　the　Gars！〃

Barbette's　voice；　calling　to　her　boy；　was　heard　above　the　tumult　with　very　different　sensations　by　the　two　enemies；　to　whom　Barbette　was　really　speaking　instead　of　to　her　son。

〃Don't　you　see　the　Blues？〃　she　cried　sharply。　〃Come　here；　you　little　scamp；　or　I　shall　be　after　you。　Do　you　want　to　be　shot？　Come；　hide；　quick！〃

While　these　things　took　place　rapidly　a　Blue　jumped　into　the　marshy　courtyard。

〃Beau…Pied！〃　exclaimed　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。

Beau…Pied；　hearing　her　voice；　rushed　into　the　cottage；　and　aimed　at　the　count。

〃Aristocrat！〃　he　cried；　〃don't　stir；　or　I'll　demolish　you　in　a　wink；　like　the　Bastille。〃

〃Monsieur　Beau…Pied；〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　in　a　persuasive　voice；　〃you　will　be　answerable　to　me　for　this　prisoner。　Do　as　you　like　with　him　now；　but　you　must　return　him　to　me　safe　and　sound　at　Fougeres。〃

〃Enough；　madame！〃

〃Is　the　road　to　Fougeres　clear？〃

〃Yes；　it's　safe　enoughunless　the　Chouans　come　to　life。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　picked　up　the　count's　gun　gaily；　and　smiled　satirically　as　she　said　to　her　prisoner；　〃Adieu；　monsieur　le　comte；　au　revoir！〃

Then　she　darted　down　the　path；　having　replaced　the　broad　hat　upon　her　head。

〃I　have　learned　too　late；〃　said　the　count；　〃not　to　joke　about　the　virtue　of　a　woman　who　has　none。〃

〃Aristocrat！〃　cried　Beau…Pied；　sternly；　〃if　you　don't　want　me　to　send　you　to　your　/ci…devant/　paradise；　you　will　not　say　a　word　against　that　beautiful　lady。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　returned　to　Fougeres　by　the　paths　which　connect　the　rocks　of　Saint…Sulpice　with　the　Nid…aux…Crocs。　When　she　reached　the　latter　height　and　had　threaded　the　winding　way　cut　in　its　rough　granite；　she　stopped　to　admire　the　pretty　valley　of　the　Nancon；　lately　so　turbulent　and　now　so　tranquil。　Seen　from　that　point；　the　vale　was　like　a　street　of　verdure。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　re…entered　the　town　by　the　Porte　Saint…Leonard。　The　inhabitants；　still　uneasy　about　the　fighting；　which；　judging　by　the　distant　firing；　was　still　going　on；　were　waiting　the　return　of　the　National　Guard；　to　judge　of　their　losses。　Seeing　the　girl　in　her　strange　costume；　her　hair　dishevelled；　a　gun　in　her　hand；　her　shawl　and　gown　whitened　against　the　walls；　soiled　with　mud　and　wet　with　dew；　the　curiosity　of　the　people　was　keenly　excited；all　the　more　because　the　power；　beauty；　and　singularity　of　this　young　Parisian　had　been　the　subject　of　much　discussion。

Francine；　full　of　dreadful　fears；　had　waited　for　her　mistress　throughout　the　night；　and　when　she　saw　her　she　began　to　speak；　but　Marie；　with　a　kindly　gesture；　silenced　her。

〃I　am　not　dead；　my　child；〃　she　said。　〃Ah！〃　she　added；　after　a　pause；　〃I　wanted　emotions　when　I　left　Paris；　and　I　have　had　them！〃

Francine　asked　if　she　should　get　her　some　food；　observing　that　she　must　be　in　great　need　of　it。

〃No；　no；　a　bath；　a　bath！〃　cried　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。　〃I　must　dress　at　once。〃

Francine　was　not　a　little　surprised　when　her　mistress　required　her　to　unpack　the　most　elegant　of　the　dresses　she　had　brought　with　her。　Having　bathed　and　breakfasted；　Marie　made　her　toilet　with　all　the　minute　care　which　a　woman　gives　to　that　important　act　when　she　expects　to　meet　the　eyes　of　her　lover　in　a　ball…room。　Francine　could　not　explain　to　herself　the　mocking　gaiety　of　her　mistress。　It　was　not　the　joy　of　love；a　woman　never　mistakes　that；　it　was　rather　an　expression　of　concentrated　maliciousness；　which　to　Francine's　mind　boded　evil。　Marie　herself　drew　the　curtains　of　the　window　from　which　the　glorious　panorama　could　be　seen；　then　she　moved　the　sofa　to　the　chimney　corner；　turning　it　so　that　the　light　would　fall　becomingly　on　her　face；　then　she　told　Francine　to　fetch　flowers；　that　the　room　might　have　a　festive　air；　and　when　they　came　she　herself　directed　their　arrangement　in　a　picturesque　manner。　Giving　a　last　glance　of　satisfaction　at　these　various　preparations　she　sent　Francine　to　the　commandant　with　a　request　that　he　would　bring　her　prisoner　to　her；　then　she　lay　down　luxuriously　on　a　sofa；　partly　to　rest；　and　partly　to　throw　herself　into　an　attitude　of　graceful　weakness；　the　power　of　which　is　irresistible　in　certain　women。　A　soft　languor；　the　seductive　pose　of　her　feet　just　seen　below　the　drapery　of　her　gown；　the　plastic　ease　of　her　body；　the　curving　of　the　throat；all；　even　the　droop　of　her　slender　fingers　as　they　hung　from　the　pillow　like　the　buds　of　a　bunch　of　jasmine；　combined　with　her　eyes　to　produce　seduction。　She　burned　certain　perfumes　to　fill　the　air　with　those　subtle　emanations　which　affect　men's　fibres　powerfully；　and　often　prepare　the　way　for　conquests　which　women　seek　to　make　without　seeming　to　desire　them。　Presently　the　heavy　step　of　the　old　soldier　resounded　in　the　adjoining　room。

〃Well；　commandant；　where　is　my　captive？〃　she　said。

〃I　have　just　ordered　a　picket　of　twelve　men　to　shoot　him；　being　taken　with　arms　in　his　hand。〃

〃Why　have　you　disposed　of　my　prisoner？〃　she　asked。　〃Listen　to　me；　commandant；　surely；　if　I　can　trust　your　face；　the　death　of　a　man　/after/　a　fight　is　no　particular　satisfaction　to　you。　Well；　then；　give　my　Chouan　a　reprieve；　for　which　I　will　be　responsible；　and　let　me　see　him。　I　assure　you　that　aristocrat　has　become　essential　to　me；　and　he　can　be　made　to　further　the　success　of　our　plans。　Besides；　to　shoot　a　mere　amateur　in　Chouannerie　would　be　as　absurd　as　to　fire　on　a　balloon　when　a　pinprick　would　disinflate　it。　For　heaven's　sake　leave　cruelty　to　the　aristocracy。　Republicans　ought　to　be　generous。　Wouldn't　you　and　yours　have　forgiven　the　victims　of　Quiberon？　Come；　send　your　twelve　men　to　patrol　the　town；　and　dine　with　me　and　bring　the　prisoner。　There　is　only　an　hour　of　daylight　left；　and　don't　you　see；〃　she　added　smiling；　〃that　if　you　are　too　late；　my　toilet　will　have　lost　its　effect？〃

〃But；　mademoiselle；〃　said　the　commandant；　amazed。

〃Well；　what？　But　I　know　what　you　mean。　Don't　be　anxious；　the　count　shall　not　escape。　Sooner　or　later　that　big　butterfly　will　burn　himself　in　your　fire。〃

The　commandant　shrugged　his　shoulders　slightly；　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　is　forced　to　obey；　whether　he　will　or　no；　the　commands　of　a　pretty　woman；　and　he　returned　in　about　half　an　h