the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第1节
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
THE ADVENTURES OF
GERARD
BY A。 CONAN DOYLE
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
PREFACE
I hope that some readers may possibly be interested in these little tales
of the Napoleonic soldiers to the extent of following them up to the
springs from which they flow。 The age was rich in military material；
some of it the most human and the most picturesque that I have ever read。
Setting aside historical works or the biographies of the leaders there is a
mass of evidence written by the actual fighting men themselves； which
describes their feelings and their experiences； stated always from the point
of view of the particular branch of the service to which they belonged。
The Cavalry were particularly happy in their writers of memoirs。 Thus
De Rocca in his 〃Memoires sur la guerre des Francais en Espagne〃 has
given the narrative of a Hussar； while De Naylies in his 〃Memoires sur la
guerre d'Espagne〃 gives the same campaigns from the point of view of the
Dragoon。 Then we have the 〃Souvenirs Militaires du Colonel de
Gonneville；〃 which treats a series of wars； including that of Spain； as seen
from under the steel…brimmed hair…crested helmet of a Cuirassier。 Pre…
eminent among all these works； and among all military memoirs； are the
famous reminiscences of Marbot； which can be obtained in an English
form。 Marbot was a Chasseur； so again we obtain the Cavalry point of
view。 Among other books which help one to an understanding of the
Napoleonic soldier I would specially recommend 〃Les Cahiers du
Capitaine Coignet；〃 which treat the wars from the point of view of the
private of the Guards； and 〃Les Memoires du Sergeant Bourgoyne；〃 who
was a non…commissioned officer in the same corps。 The Journal of
Sergeant Fricasse and the Recollections of de Fezenac and of de Segur
complete the materials from which I have worked in my endeavour to give
a true historical and military atmosphere to an imaginary figure。
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
I。 How Brigadier Gerard Lost His
Ear
It was the old Brigadier who was talking in the cafe。
I have seen a great many cities； my friends。 I would not dare to tell
you how many I have entered as a conqueror with eight hundred of my
little fighting devils clanking and jingling behind me。 The cavalry were
in front of the Grande Armee； and the Hussars of Conflans were in front of
the cavalry； and I was in front of the Hussars。 But of all the cities which
we visited Venice is the most ill…built and ridiculous。 I cannot imagine
how the people who laid it out thought that the cavalry could manoeuvre。
It would puzzle Murat or Lassalle to bring a squadron into that square of
theirs。 For this reason we left Kellermann's heavy brigade and also my
own Hussars at Padua on the mainland。 But Suchet with the infantry
held the town； and he had chosen me as his aide… de…camp for that winter；
because he was pleased about the affair of the Italian fencing…master at
Milan。 The fellow was a good swordsman； and it was fortunate for the
credit of French arms that it was I who was opposed to him。 Besides； he
deserved a lesson； for if one does not like a prima donna's singing one can
always be silent； but it is intolerable that a public affront should be put
upon a pretty woman。 So the sympathy was all with me； and after the
affair had blown over and the man's widow had been pensioned Suchet
chose me as his own galloper； and I followed him to Venice； where I had
the strange adventure which I am about to tell you。
You have not been to Venice？ No； for it is seldom that the French
travel。 We were great travellers in those days。 From Moscow to Cairo
we had travelled everywhere； but we went in larger parties than were
convenient to those whom we visited； and we carried our passports in our
limbers。 It will be a bad day for Europe when the French start travelling
again； for they are slow to leave their homes； but when they have done so
no one can say how far they will go if they have a guide like our little man
to point out the way。 But the great days are gone and the great men are
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
dead； and here am I； the last of them； drinking wine of Suresnes and
telling old tales in a cafe。
But it is of Venice that I would speak。 The folk there live like water…
rats upon a mud…bank； but the houses are very fine； and the churches；
especially that of St。 Mark； are as great as any I have seen。 But above all
they are proud of their statues and their pictures； which are the most
famous in Europe。 There are many soldiers who think that because one's
trade is to make war one should never have a thought above fighting and
plunder。 There was old Bouvet； for examplethe one who was killed by
the Prussians on the day that I won the Emperor's medal； if you took him
away from the camp and the canteen； and spoke to him of books or of art；
he would sit and stare at you。 But the highest soldier is a man like
myself who can understand the things of the mind and the soul。 It is true
that I was very young when I joined the army； and that the quarter… master
was my only teacher； but if you go about the world with your eyes open
you cannot help learning a great deal。
Thus I was able to admire the pictures in Venice； and to know the
names of the great men； Michael Titiens； and Angelus； and the others； who
had painted them。 No one can say that Napoleon did not admire them
also； for the very first thing which he did when he captured the town was
to send the best of them to Paris。 We all took what we could get； and I
had two pictures for my share。
One of them； called 〃Nymphs Surprised；〃 I kept for myself； and the
other； 〃Saint Barbara；〃 I sent as a present for my mother。
It must be confessed； however； that some of our men behaved very
badly in this matter of the statues and the pictures。 The people at Venice
were very much attached to them； and as to the four bronze horses which
stood over the gate of their great church； they loved them as dearly as if
they had been their children。 I have always been a judge of a horse； and I
had a good look at these ones； but I could not see that there was much to
be said for them。 They were too coarse…limbed for light cavalry charges
and they had not the weight for the gun…teams。
However； they were the only four horses； alive or dead； in the whole
town； so it was not to be expected that the people would know any better。
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
They wept bitterly when they were sent away； and ten French soldiers
were found floating in the canals that night。 As a punishment for these
murders a great many more of their pictures were sent away； and the
soldiers took to breaking the statues and firing their muskets at the stained…
glass windows。
This made the people furious； and there was very bad feeling in the
town。 Many officers and men disappeared during that winter； and even
their bodies were never found。
For myself I had plenty to do； and I never found the time heavy on my
hands。 In every country it has been my custom to try to learn the
language。 For this reason I always look round for some lady who will be
kind enough to teach it to me； and then we practise it together。 This is
the most interesting way of picking it up； and before I was thirty I could
