scaramouche-第20节

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rolled　up　the　sleeves　of　his　fine　shirt；　whilst　Rhodomont　procured
him　soap；　a　towel；　and　presently　a　broken　comb；　and　even　a　greasy
hair…ribbon；　in　case　the　gentleman　should　have　lost　his　own。　　This
last　Andre…Louis　declined；　but　the　comb　he　gratefully　accepted；　and
having　presently　washed　himself　clean；　stood；　with　the　towel　flung
over　his　left　shoulder；　restoring　order　to　his　dishevelled　locks
before　a　broken　piece　of　mirror　affixed　to　the　door　of　the
travelling　house。

He　was　standing　thus；　what　time　the　gentle　Rhodomont　babbled
aimlessly　at　his　side　when　his　ears　caught　the　sound　of　hooves。
He　looked　over　his　shoulder　carelessly；　and　then　stood　frozen；　with
uplifted　comb　and　loosened　mouth。　　Away　across　the　common；　on　the
road　that　bordered　it；　he　beheld　a　party　of　seven　horsemen　in　the
blue　coats　with　red　facings　of　the　marechaussee。

Not　for　a　moment　did　he　doubt　what　was　the　quarry　of　this　prowling
gendarmerie。　　It　was　as　if　the　chill　shadow　of　the　gallows　had
fallen　suddenly　upon　him。

And　then　the　troop　halted；　abreast　with　them；　and　the　sergeant
leading　it　sent　his　bawling　voice　across　the　common。

〃Hi；　there！　　Hi！〃　　His　tone　rang　with　menace。

Every　member　of　the　company　…　and　there　were　some　twelve　in　all
　…　stood　at　gaze。　　Pantaloon　advanced　a　step　or　two；　stalking；　his
head　thrown　back；　his　manner　that　of　a　King's　Lieutenant。

〃Now；　what　the　devil's　this？〃　quoth　he；　but　whether　of　Fate　or
Heaven　or　the　sergeant；　was　not　clear。

There　was　a　brief　colloquy　among　the　horsemen；　then　they　came
trotting　across　the　common　straight　towards　the　players'　encampment。

Andre…Louis　had　remained　standing　at　the　tail　of　the　travelling
house。　　He　was　still　passing　the　comb　through　his　straggling　hair；
but　mechanically　and　unconsciously。　　His　mind　was　all　intent　upon
the　advancing　troop；　his　wits　alert　and　gathered　together　for　a　leap
in　whatever　direction　should　be　indicated。

Still　in　the　distance；　but　evidently　impatient；　the　sergeant　bawled
a　question。

〃Who　gave　you　leave　to　encamp　here？〃

It　was　a　question　that　reassured　Andre…Louis　not　at　all。　　He　was
not　deceived　by　it　into　supposing　or　even　hoping　that　the　business
of　these　men　was　merely　to　round　up　vagrants　and　trespassers。　　That
was　no　part　of　their　real　duty；　it　was　something　done　in　passing
　…　done；　perhaps；　in　the　hope　of　levying　a　tax　of　their　own。　　It
was　very　long　odds　that　they　were　from　Rennes；　and　that　their　real
business　was　the　hunting　down　of　a　young　lawyer　charged　with
sedition。　　Meanwhile　Pantaloon　was　shouting　back。

〃Who　gave　us　leave；　do　you　say？　　What　leave？　　This　is　communal　land；
free　to　all。〃

The　sergeant　laughed　unpleasantly；　and　came　on；　his　troop　following。

〃There　is；〃　said　a　voice　at　Pantaloon's　elbow；　〃no　such　thing　as
communal　land　in　the　proper　sense　in　all　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　vast
domain。　　This　is　a　terre　censive；　and　his　bailiffs　collect　his　dues
from　all　who　send　their　beasts　to　graze　here。〃

Pantaloon　turned　to　behold　at　his　side　Andre…Louis　in　his
shirt…sleeves；　and　without　a　neckcloth；　the　towel　still　trailing
over　his　left　shoulder；　a　comb　in　his　hand；　his　hair　half　dressed。

〃God　of　God！〃　swore　Pantaloon。　　〃But　it　is　an　ogre；　this　Marquis
de　La　Tour　d'Azyr！〃

〃I　have　told　you　already　what　I　think　of　him；〃　said　Andre…Louis。
〃As　for　these　fellows　you　had　better　let　me　deal　with　them。　　I　have
experience　of　their　kind。〃　　And　without　waiting　for　Pantaloon's
consent；　Andre…Louis　stepped　forward　to　meet　the　advancing　men　of
the　marechaussee。　　He　had　realized　that　here　boldness　alone　could
save　him。

When　a　moment　later　the　sergeant　pulled　up　his　horse　alongside　of
this　half…dressed　young　man；　Andre…Louis　combed　his　hair　what　time
he　looked　up　with　a　half　smile；　intended　to　be　friendly；　ingenuous；
and　disarming。

In　spite　of　it　the　sergeant　hailed　him　gruffly：　〃Are　you　the　leader
of　this　troop　of　vagabonds？〃

〃Yes。。。　that　is　to　say；　my　father；　there；　is　really　the　leader。〃
And　he　jerked　a　thumb　in　the　direction　of　M。　Pantaloon；　who　stood
at　gaze　out　of　earshot　in　the　background。　　〃What　is　your　pleasure；
captain？〃

〃My　pleasure　is　to　tell　you　that　you　are　very　likely　to　be　gaoled
for　this；　all　the　pack　of　you。〃　　His　voice　was　loud　and　bullying。
It　carried　across　the　common　to　the　ears　of　every　member　of　the
company；　and　brought　them　all　to　stricken　attention　where　they　stood。
The　lot　of　strolling　players　was　hard　enough　without　the　addition
of　gaolings。

〃But　how　so；　my　captain？　　This　is　communal　land　free　to　all。〃

〃It　is　nothing　of　the　kind。〃

〃Where　are　the　fences？〃　quoth　Andre…Louis；　waving　the　hand　that
held　the　comb；　as　if　to　indicate　the　openness　of　the　place。
　　
〃Fences！〃　snorted　the　sergeant。　　〃What　have　fences　to　do　with　the
matter？　　This　is　terre　censive。　　There　is　no　grazing　here　save　by
payment　of　dues　to　the　Marquis　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。〃

〃But　we　are　not　grazing；〃　quoth　the　innocent　Andre…Louis。

〃To　the　devil　with　you；　zany！　　You　are　not　grazing！　　But　your　beasts
are　grazing！〃

〃They　eat　so　little；〃　Andre…Louis　apologized；　and　again　essayed　his
ingratiating　smile。

The　sergeant　grew　more　terrible　than　ever。　　〃That　is　not　the　point。
The　point　is　that　you　are　committing　what　amounts　to　a　theft；　and
there's　the　gaol　for　thieves。〃

〃Technically；　I　suppose　you　are　right；〃　sighed　Andre…Louis；　and
fell　to　combing　his　hair　again；　still　looking　up　into　the　sergeant's
face。　　〃But　we　have　sinned　in　ignorance。　　We　are　grateful　to　you　for
the　warning。〃　　He　passed　the　comb　into　his　left　hand；　and　with　his
right　fumbled　in　his　breeches'　pocket；　whence　there　came　a　faint
jingle　of　coins。　　〃We　are　desolated　to　have　brought　you　out　of　your
way。　　Perhaps　for　their　trouble　your　men　would　honour　us　by　stopping
at　the　next　inn　to　drink　the　health　of。。。　of　this　M。　de　La　Tour　d'
Azyr；　or　any　other　health　that　they　think　proper。

Some　of　the　clouds　lifted　from　the　sergeant's　brow。　　But　not　yet　all。

〃Well；　well；〃　said　he；　gruffly。　　〃But　you　must　decamp；　you
understand。〃　　He　leaned　from　the　saddle　to　bring　his　recipient　hand
to　a　convenient　distance。　　Andre…Louis　placed　in　it　a　three…livre
piece。

〃In　half　an　hour；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃Why　in　half　an　hour？　　Why　not　at　once？〃

〃Oh；　but　time　to　break　our　fast。〃

They　looked　at　each　other。　　The　sergeant　next　considered　the　broad
piece　of　silver　in　his　palm。　Then　at　last　his　features　relaxed　from
their　sternness。

〃After　all；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　none　of　our　business　to　play　the
tipstaves　for　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　We　are　of　the　marechaussee
from　Rennes。〃　　Andre…Louis'　eyelids　played　him　false　by　flickering。
〃But　if　you　linger；　look　out　for　the　gardes…champetres　of　the
Marquis。　　You'll　find　them　not　at　all　accommodating。　　Well；　well
　…　a　good　appetite　to　you；　monsieur；〃　said　he；　in　valediction。

〃A　pleasant　ride；　my　captain；〃　answered　Andre…Louis。

The　sergeant　wheeled　his　horse　about；　his　troop　wheeled　with　him。
They　were　starting　off；　when　he　reined　up　again。

〃You；　monsieur！〃　he　called　over　his　shoulder。　　In　a　bound
Andre…Louis　was　beside　his　stirrup。　　〃We　are　in　quest　of　a　scoundrel
named　Andre…Louis　Moreau；　from　Gavrillac；　a　fugitive　from　justice
wanted　for　the　gallows　on　a　matter　of　sedition。　　You've　seen　nothing；
I　suppose；　of　a　man　whose　movements　seemed　to　you　suspicious？〃

〃Indeed；　we　have；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　very　boldly；　his　face　eager
with　consciousness　of　the　ability　to　oblige。

〃You　have？〃　cried　the　sergeant；　in　a　ringing　voice。　　〃Where？　　When？〃

〃Yesterday　evening　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Guignen。。。　〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　the　sergeant　felt　himself　hot　upon　the　trail。

〃There　was　a　fellow　who　seemed　very　fearful　of　being　recognized
。。。　a　man　of　fifty　or　thereabouts。。。　〃

〃Fifty！〃　cried　the　sergeant；　and　his　face　fell。　　〃Bah！　　This　man　of
ours　is　no　older　than　yourself；　a　thin　wisp　of　a　fellow　of　about
your　own　height　and　of　black　hair；　just　like　your　own；　by　the
description。　　Keep　a　lookout　on　your　travels；　master　player。　　The
King's　Lieutenant　in　Rennes　has　sent　us　word　this　morning　that　he
will　pay　ten　louis　to　any　one　giving　information　that　will　lead　to
this　scoundrel's　arrest。　　So　there　's　ten　louis　to　be　earned　by
keeping　your　eyes　open；　and　sending　word　to　the　nearest　justices。
It　would　be　a　fine　windfall　for　you；　that。〃

〃A　fine　windfall；　indeed；　captain；〃　answered　Andre…Louis；　laughing。

But　the　sergeant　had　touched　his　horse　with　the　spur；　and　was
already　trotting　off　in　the　wake　of　his　men。　　Andre…Louis　continued
to　laugh；　quite　silently；　as　he　sometimes　did　when　the　humour　of　a
jest　was　peculiarly　keen。

Then　he　turned　slowly　about；　and　came　back　towards　Pantaloon　and
the　rest　of　the　company；　who　were　now　all　grouped　together；　at　gaze。

Pantaloon　advanced　to　meet　him　with　both　hands　out…held。　　For　a
moment　Andre…Louis　thought　he　was　about　to　be　embraced。

〃We　hail　you　our　saviour！〃　the　big　man　declaimed。　　〃Already　the
shadow　of　the　gaol　was　creeping　over　us；　chilling　us　to　the　very
marrow。　　For　though　we　be　poor；　yet　are　we　all　honest　folk　and　not
one　of　us　has　ever　suffered　the　indignity　of　prison。　　Nor　is　there
one　of　us　would　survive　it。　　But　for　you；　my　friend；　it　might　have
happened。　　What　mag