the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第9节
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Within； there was a labyrinth of passages formed among the debris of the
houses which had been destroyed by the mines of the engineers。 Acres
and acres were covered with splintered walls and piles of brick which had
once been a populous suburb。 Lanes had been driven through it and
lanterns placed at the corners with inscriptions to direct the wayfarer。
The colonel hurried onward until at last； after a long walk； we found our
way barred by a high grey wall which stretched right across our path。
Here behind a barricade lay our advance guard。 The colonel led me
into a roofless house； and there I found two general officers； a map
stretched over a drum in front of them； they kneeling beside it and
examining it carefully by the light of a lantern。 The one with the clean…
shaven face and the twisted neck was Marshal Lannes； the other was
General Razout； the head of the engineers。
〃Captain Gerard has volunteered to go；〃 said the colonel。
Marshal Lannes rose from his knees and shook me by the hand。
〃You are a brave man； sir；〃 said he。 〃I have a present to make to
you；〃 he added； handing me a very tiny glass tube。 〃It has been specially
prepared by Dr。 Fardet。 At the supreme moment you have but to put it to
your lips and you will be dead in an instant。〃
This was a cheerful beginning。 I will confess to you； my friends； that
a cold chill passed up my back and my hair rose upon my head。
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 said I； as I saluted； 〃I am aware that I have
volunteered for a service of great danger； but the exact details have not yet
been given to me。〃
〃Colonel Perrin；〃 said Lannes； severely； 〃it is unfair to allow this brave
officer to volunteer before he has learned what the perils are to which he
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will be exposed。〃
But already I was myself once more。
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃permit me to remark that the greater the danger the
greater the glory； and that I could only repent of volunteering if I found
that there were no risks to be run。〃
It was a noble speech； and my appearance gave force to my words。
For the moment I was a heroic figure。
As I saw Lannes's eyes fixed in admiration upon my face it thrilled me
to think how splendid was the debut which I was making in the army of
Spain。 If I died that night my name would not be forgotten。 My new
comrades and my old； divided in all else； would still have a point of union
in their love and admiration of Etienne Gerard。
〃General Razout； explain the situation！〃 said Lannes； briefly。
The engineer officer rose； his compasses in his hand。
He led me to the door and pointed to the high grey wall which towered
up amongst the debris of the shattered houses。
〃That is the enemy's present line of defence；〃 said he。 〃It is the wall
of the great Convent of the Madonna。 If we can carry it the city must fall；
but they have run countermines all round it； and the walls are so
enormously thick that it would be an immense labour to breach it with
artillery。 We happen to know； however； that the enemy have a
considerable store of powder in one of the lower chambers。 If that could
be exploded the way would be clear for us。〃
〃How can it be reached？〃 I asked。
〃I will explain。 We have a French agent within the town named
Hubert。 This brave man has been in constant communication with us；
and he had promised to explode the magazine。 It was to be done in the
early morning； and for two days running we have had a storming party of
a thousand Grenadiers waiting for the breach to be formed。 But there has
been no explosion； and for these two days we have had no communication
from Hubert。
The question is； what has become of him？〃
〃You wish me to go and see？〃
〃Precisely。 Is he ill； or wounded； or dead？ Shall we still wait for
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him； or shall we attempt the attack elsewhere？
We cannot determine this until we have heard from him。 This is a
map of the town； Captain Gerard。
You perceive that within this ring of convents and monasteries are a
number of streets which branch off from a central square。 If you come so
far as this square you will find the cathedral at one corner。 In that corner
is the street of Toledo。 Hubert lives in a small house between a cobbler's
and a wine…shop； on the right…hand side as you go from the cathedral。 Do
you follow me？〃
〃Clearly。〃
〃You are to reach that house； to see him； and to find out if his plan is
still feasible or if we must abandon it。〃
He produced what appeared to be a roll of dirty brown flannel。 〃This
is the dress of a Franciscan friar；〃 said he。 〃You will find it the most
useful disguise。〃
I shrank away from it。
〃It turns me into a spy；〃 I cried。 〃Surely I can go in my uniform？〃
〃Impossible！ How could you hope to pass through the streets of the
city？ Remember； also； that the Spaniards take no prisoners； and that your
fate will be the same in whatever dress you are taken。〃
It was true； and I had been long enough in Spain to know that that fate
was likely to be something more serious than mere death。 All the way
from the frontier I had heard grim tales of torture and mutilation。 I
enveloped myself in the Franciscan gown。
〃Now I am ready。〃
〃Are you armed？〃
〃My sabre。〃
〃They will hear it clank。 Take this knife； and leave your sword。 Tell
Hubert that at four o'clock； before dawn； the storming party will again be
ready。 There is a sergeant outside who will show you how to get into the
city。 Good…night； and good luck！〃
Before I had left the room； the two generals had their cocked hats
touching each other over the map。 At the door an under…officer of
engineers was waiting for me。
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I tied the girdle of my gown； and taking off my busby； I drew the cowl
over my head。 My spurs I removed。 Then in silence I followed my
guide。
It was necessary to move with caution； for the walls above were lined
by the Spanish sentries； who fired down continually at our advance posts。
Slinking along under the very shadow of the great convent； we picked our
way slowly and carefully among the piles of ruins until we came to a large
chestnut tree。 Here the sergeant stopped。
〃It is an easy tree to climb；〃 said he。 〃A scaling ladder would not be
simpler。 Go up it； and you will find that the top branch will enable you to
step upon the roof of that house。 After that it is your guardian angel who
must be your guide； for I can help you no more。〃
Girding up the heavy brown gown； I ascended the tree as directed。 A
half moon was shining brightly； and the line of roof stood out dark and
hard against the purple； starry sky。 The tree was in the shadow of the
house。
Slowly I crept from branch to branch until I was near the top。 I had
but to climb along a stout limb in order to reach the wall。 But suddenly
my ears caught the patter of feet； and I cowered against the trunk and tried
to blend myself with its shadow。 A man was coming toward me on the
roof。 I saw his dark figure creeping along； his body crouching； his head
advanced； the barrel of his gun protruding。 His whole bearing was full of
caution and suspicion。 Once or twice he paused； and then came on again
until he had reached the edge of the parapet within a few yards of me。
Then he knelt down； levelled his musket； and fired。
I was so astonished at this sudden crash at my very elbow that I nearly
fell out of the tree。 For an instant I could not be sure that he had not hit
me
