the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第4节
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the doorway； so that all further flight was out of the question。 It is at
such instants that my nature asserts itself。 With dignity I advanced
toward the tribunal。 My jacket was torn； my hair was dishevelled； my
head was bleeding； but there was that in my eyes and in my carriage which
made them realise that no common man was before them。 Not a hand
was raised to arrest me until I halted in front of a formidable old man；
whose long grey beard and masterful manner told me that both by years
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and by character he was the man in authority。
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃you will； perhaps； tell me why I have been forcibly
arrested and brought to this place。 I am an honourable soldier； as is this
other gentleman here； and I demand that you will instantly set us both at
liberty。〃
There was an appalling silence to my appeal。 It was not pleasant to
have twelve masked faces turned upon you and to see twelve pairs of
vindictive Italian eyes fixed with fierce intentness upon your face。 But I
stood as a debonair soldier should； and I could not but reflect how much
credit I was bringing upon the Hussars of Conflans by the dignity of my
bearing。 I do not think that anyone could have carried himself better
under such difficult circumstances。 I looked with a fearless face from
one assassin to another； and I waited for some reply。
It was the grey…beard who at last broke the silence。
〃Who is this man？〃 he asked。
〃His name is Gerard；〃 said the little steward at the door。
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 said I。 〃I will not deceive you。 I am Etienne
Gerard； THE Colonel Gerard； five times mentioned in despatches and
recommended for the sword of honour。 I am aide…de…camp to General
Suchet； and I demand my instant release； together with that of my comrade
in arms。〃
The same terrible silence fell upon the assembly； and the same twelve
pairs of merciless eyes were bent upon my face。 Again it was the grey…
beard who spoke。
〃He is out of his order。 There are two names upon our list before
him。〃
〃He escaped from our hands and burst into the room。〃
〃Let him await his turn。 Take him down to the wooden cell。〃
〃If he resist us； your Excellency？〃
〃Bury your knives in his body。 The tribunal will uphold you。
Remove him until we have dealt with the others。〃
They advanced upon me； and for an instant I thought of resistance。 It
would have been a heroic death； but who was there to see it or to chronicle
it？ I might be only postponing my fate； and yet I had been in so many
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bad places and come out unhurt that I had learned always to hope and to
trust my star。 I allowed these rascals to seize me； and I was led from the
room； the gondolier walking at my side with a long naked knife in his
hand。 I could see in his brutal eyes the satisfaction which it would give
him if he could find some excuse for plunging it into my body。
They are wonderful places； these great Venetian houses； palaces； and
fortresses； and prisons all in one。 I was led along a passage and down a
bare stone stair until we came to a short corridor from which three doors
opened。 Through one of these I was thrust and the spring lock closed
behind me。 The only light came dimly through a small grating which
opened on the passage。
Peering and feeling； I carefully examined the chamber in which I had
been placed。 I understood from what I had heard that I should soon have
to leave it again in order to appear before this tribunal； but still it is not my
nature to throw away any possible chances。
The stone floor of the cell was so damp and the walls for some feet
high were so slimy and foul that it was evident they were beneath the level
of the water。 A single slanting hole high up near the ceiling was the only
aperture for light or air。 Through it I saw one bright star shining down
upon me； and the sight filled me with comfort and with hope。 I have
never been a man of religion； though I have always had a respect for those
who were； but I remember that night that the star shining down the shaft
seemed to be an all…seeing eye which was upon me； and I felt as a young
and frightened recruit might feel in battle when he saw the calm gaze of
his colonel turned upon him。 Three of the sides of my prison were
formed of stone； but the fourth was of wood； and I could see that it had
only recently been erected。 Evidently a partition had been thrown up to
divide a single large cell into two smaller ones。 There was no hope for
me in the old walls； in the tiny window； or in the massive door。 It was
only in this one direction of the wooden screen that there was any
possibility of exploring。 My reason told me that if I should pierce it
which did not seem very difficultit would only be to find myself in
another cell as strong as that in which I then was。 Yet I had always rather
be doing something than doing nothing； so I bent all my attention and all
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my energies upon the wooden wall。 Two planks were badly joined； and
so loose that I was certain I could easily detach them。 I searched about
for some tool； and I found one in the leg of a small bed which stood in the
corner。 I forced the end of this into the chink of the planks； and I was
about to twist them outward when the sound of rapid footsteps caused me
to pause and to listen。
I wish I could forget what I heard。 Many a hundred men have I seen
die in battle； and I have slain more myself than I care to think of； but all
that was fair fight and the duty of a soldier。 It was a very different matter
to listen to a murder in this den of assassins。 They were pushing
someone along the passage； someone who resisted and who clung to my
door as he passed。 They must have taken him into the third cell； the one
which was farthest from me。 〃Help！ Help！〃 cried a voice； and then I
heard a blow and a scream。 〃Help！ Help！〃 cried the voice again； and
then 〃Gerard！ Colonel Gerard！〃 It was my poor captain of infantry
whom they were slaughtering。
〃Murderers！ Murderers！〃 I yelled； and I kicked at my door； but
again I heard him shout and then everything was silent。 A minute later
there was a heavy splash； and I knew that no human eye would ever see
Auret again。 He had gone as a hundred others had gone whose names
were missing from the roll…calls of their regiments during that winter in
Venice。
The steps returned along the passage； and I thought that they were
coming for me。 Instead of that they opened the door of the cell next to
mine and they took someone out of it。 I heard the steps die away up the
stair。
At once I renewed my work upon the planks； and within a very few
minutes I had loosened them in such a way that I could remove and
replace them at pleasure。 Passing through the aperture I found myself in
the farther cell； which； as I expected； was the other half of the one in
which I had been confined。 I was not any nearer to escape than I had
been before； for there was no other wooden wall which I could penetrate
and the spring lock of the door had been closed。 There were no traces to
show who was my companion in misfortune。 Closing the two loose
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planks behind me I returned to my own cell and waited there with all the
courage which I could command for the sum
