the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第34节
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food and I drank my wine； but it was neither food nor wine which had
warmed the heart within me。 What could those words of Barakoff mean？
Why was I to remain awake？ For what was I to be ready？ Was it
possible that there was a chance yet of escape？ I have never respected
the man who neglects his prayers at all other times and yet prays when he
is in peril。 It is like a bad soldier who pays no respect to the colonel save
when he would demand a favour of him。 And yet when I thought of the
salt…mines of Siberia on the one side and of my mother in France upon the
other； I could not help a prayer rising； not from my lips； but from my heart；
that the words of Barakoff might mean all that I hoped。 But hour after
hour struck upon the village clock； and still I heard nothing save the call of
the Russian sentries in the street outside。
Then at last my heart leaped within me； for I heard a light step in the
passage。 An instant later the key turned； the door opened； and Sophie
was in the room。
〃Monsieur〃 she cried。
〃Etienne；〃 said I。
〃Nothing will change you；〃 said she。 〃But is it possible that you do
not hate me？ Have you forgiven me the trick which I played you？〃
〃What trick？〃 I asked。
〃Good heavens！ Is it possible that even now you have not understood
it？ You have asked me to translate the despatch。 I have told you that it
meant； 'If the French come to Minsk all is lost。' 〃
〃What did it mean； then？〃
〃It means； 'Let the French come to Minsk。 We are awaiting them。〃'
I sprang back from her。
〃You betrayed me！〃 I cried。 〃You lured me into this trap。 It is to
you that I owe the death and capture of my men。 Fool that I was to trust
a woman！〃
〃Do not be unjust； Colonel Gerard。 I am a Russian woman； and my
first duty is to my country。 Would you not wish a French girl to have
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acted as I have done？
Had I translated the message correctly you would not have gone to
Minsk and your squadron would have escaped。
Tell me that you forgive me！〃
She looked bewitching as she stood pleading her cause in front of me。
And yet； as I thought of my dead men； I could not take the hand which she
held out to me。
〃Very good；〃 said she； as she dropped it by her side。
〃You feel for your own people and I feel for mine； and so we are equal。
But you have said one wise and kindly thing within these walls； Colonel
Gerard。 You have said； 'One man more or less can make no difference in
a struggle between two great armies。' Your lesson of nobility is not
wasted。 Behind those fagots is an unguarded door。 Here is the key to it。
Go forth； Colonel Gerard； and I trust that we may never look upon each
other's faces again。〃
I stood for an instant with the key in my hand and my head in a whirl。
Then I handed it back to her。
〃I cannot do it；〃 I said。
〃Why not？〃
〃I have given my parole。〃
〃To whom？〃 she asked。
〃Why； to you。〃
〃And I release you from it。〃
My heart bounded with joy。 Of course； it was true what she said。 I
had refused to give my parole to Sergine。 I owed him no duty。 If she
relieved me from my promise my honour was clear。 I took the key from
her hand。
〃You will find Captain Barakoff at the end of the village street；〃 said
she。 〃We of the North never forget either an injury or a kindness。 He
has your mare and your sword waiting for you。 Do not delay an instant；
for in two hours it will be dawn。〃
So I passed out into the star…lit Russian night； and had that last glimpse
of Sophie as she peered after me through the open door。 She looked
wistfully at me as if she expected something more than the cold thanks
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which I gave her； but even the humblest man has his pride； and I will not
deny that mine was hurt by the deception which she had played upon me。
I could not have brought myself to kiss her hand； far less her lips。 The
door led into a narrow alley； and at the end of it stood a muffled figure；
who held Violette by the bridle。
〃You told me to be kind to the next French officer whom I found in
distress；〃 said he。 〃Good luck！ Bon voyage！〃 he whispered； as I
bounded into the saddle。
〃Remember； 'Poltava' is the watchword。〃
It was well that he had given it to me； for twice I had to pass Cossack
pickets before I was clear of the lines。
I had just ridden past the last vedettes and hoped that I was a free man
again； when there was a soft thudding in the snow behind me； and a heavy
man upon a great black horse came swiftly after me。 My first impulse
was to put spurs to Violette。 My second； as I saw a long black beard
against a steel cuirass； was to halt and await him。
〃I thought that it was you； you dog of a Frenchman；〃 he cried； shaking
his drawn sword at me。 〃So you have broken your parole； you rascal！〃
〃I gave no parole。〃
〃You lie； you hound！〃
I looked around and no one was coming。 The vedettes were
motionless and distant。 We were all alone； with the moon above and the
snow beneath。 Fortune has ever been my friend。
〃I gave you no parole。〃
〃You gave it to the lady。〃
〃Then I will answer for it to the lady。〃
〃That would suit you better； no doubt。 But； unfortunately； you will
have to answer for it to me。〃
〃I am ready。〃
〃Your sword； too！ There is treason in this！ Ah； I see it all！ The
woman has helped you。 She shall see Siberia for this night's work。〃
The words were his death…warrant。 For Sophie's sake I could not let
him go back alive。 Our blades crossed； and an instant later mine was
through his black beard and deep in his throat。 I was on the ground
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almost as soon as he； but the one thrust was enough。 He died； snapping
his teeth at my ankles like a savage wolf。
Two days later I had rejoined the army at Smolensk； and was a part
once more of that dreary procession which tramped onward through the
snow； leaving a long weal of blood to show the path which it had taken。
Enough； my friends； I would not re…awaken the memory of those days
of misery and death。 They still come to haunt me in my dreams。 When
we halted at last in Warsaw we had left behind us our guns； our transport；
and three…fourths of our comrades。 But we did not leave behind us the
honour of Etienne Gerard。 They have said that I broke my parole。 Let
them beware how they say it to my face； for the story is as I tell it； and old
as I am my forefinger is not too weak to press a trigger when my honour is
in question。
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VII 。 How the Brigadier Bore
Himself at Waterloo
I。 THE STORY OF THE FOREST INN
Of all the great battles in which I had the honour of drawing my sword
for the Emperor and for France there was not one which was lost。 At
Waterloo； although； in a sense； I was present； I was unable to fight； and the
enemy was victorious。 It is not for me to say that there is a connection
between these two things。 You know me too well； my friends； to imagine
that I would make such a claim。 But it gives matter for thought； and
some have drawn flattering conclusions from it。
After all； it was only a matter of breaking a few English squares and
the day would have been our own。 If the Hussars of Conflans； with
Etienne Gerard to lead them； could not do this； then the best judges are
mistaken。
But let that pass。 The Fates had ordained that I should hold my hand
and that the Em
