scaramouche-第58节

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direct　…　like　themselves。　　I　wonder　only　that　they　didn't　hit　upon
this　system　sooner。　　In　the　early　days　of　the　States　General；　at
Versailles；　it　might　have　had　a　better　effect。　　Now；　it　comes　a
little　late。〃

〃But　they　mean　to　make　up　for　lost　time　…　sacred　name！〃　cried
Danton。　　〃Challenges　are　flying　right　and　left　between　these
bully…swordsmen；　these　spadassinicides；　and　poor　devils　of　the　robe
who　have　never　learnt　to　fence　with　anything　but　a　quill。　　It's
just　　murder。　　Yet　if　I　were　to　go　amongst　messieurs　les　nobles
and　crunch　an　addled　head　or　two　with　this　stick　of　mine；　snap　a
few　aristocratic　necks　between　these　fingers　which　the　good　God　has
given　me　for　the　purpose；　the　law　would　send　me　to　atone　upon　the
gallows。　　This　in　a　land　that　is　striving　after　liberty。　　Why；　Dieu
me　damne！　　I　am　not　even　allowed　to　keep　my　hat　on　in　the　theatre。
But　they　…　these　s！〃

〃He　is　right；〃　said　Le　Chapelier。　　〃The　thing　has　become　unendurable；
insufferable。　　Two　days　ago　M。　d'Ambly　threatened　Mirabeau　with　his
cane　before　the　whole　Assembly。　　Yesterday　M。　de　Faussigny　leapt　up
and　harangued　his　order　by　inviting　murder。　　'Why　don't　we　fall　on
these　scoundrels；　sword　in　hand？'　he　asked。　　Those　were　his　very
words：　'Why　don't　we　fall　on　these　scoundrels；　sword　in　hand。'〃

〃It　is　so　much　simpler　than　lawmaking；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃Lagron；　the　deputy　from　Ancenis　in　the　Loire；　said　something　that
we　did　not　hear　in　answer。　　As　he　was　leaving　the　Manege　one　of
these　bullies　grossly　insulted　him。　　Lagron　no　more　than　used　his
elbow　to　push　past　when　the　fellow　cried　out　that　he　had　been
struck；　and　issued　his　challenge。　　They　fought　this　morning　early
in　the　Champs　Elysees；　and　Lagron　was　killed；　run　through　the
stomach　deliberately　by　a　man　who　fought　like　a　fencing…master；
and　poor　Lagron　did　not　even　own　a　sword。　　He　had　to　borrow　one　to
go　to　the　assignation。〃

Andre…Louis　…　his　mind　ever　on　Vilmorin；　whose　case　was　here
repeated；　even　to　the　details　…　was　swept　by　a　gust　of　passion。
He　clenched　his　hands；　and　his　jaws　set。　　Danton's　little　eyes
observed　him　keenly。

〃Well？　　And　what　do　you　think　of　that？　　Noblesse　oblige；　eh？　　The
thing　is　we　must　oblige　them　too；　these　s。　　We　must　pay　them　back
in　the　same　coin；　meet　them　with　the　same　weapons。　　Abolish　them；
tumble　these　assassinateurs　into　the　abyss　of　nothingness　by　the
same　means。

〃But　how？〃

〃How？　　Name　of　God！　　haven't　I　said　it？〃

〃That　is　where　we　require　your　help；〃　Le　Chapelier　put　in。　　〃There
must　be　men　of　patriotic　feeling　among　the　more　advanced　of　your
pupils。　　M。　Danton's　idea　is　that　a　little　band　of　these　…　say　a
half…dozen；　with　yourself　at　their　head　…　might　read　these　bullies
a　sharp　lesson。〃

Andre…Louis　frowned。

〃And　how；　precisely；　had　M。　Danton　thought　that　this　might　be　done？〃

M。　Danton　spoke　for　himself；　vehemently。

〃Why；　thus：　We　post　you　in　the　Manege；　at　the　hour　when　the　Assembly
is　rising。　　We　point　out　the　six　leading　phlebotomists；　and　let　you
loose　to　insult　them　before　they　have　time　to　insult　any　of　the
representatives。　　Then　to…morrow　morning；　six　　phlebotomists
themselves　phlebotomized　secundum　artem。　　That　will　give　the　others
something　to　think　about。　　It　will　give　them　a　great　deal　to　think
about；　by　！　　If　necessary　the　dose　may　be　repeated　to　ensure　a
cure。　　If　you　kill　the　s；　so　much　the　better。〃

He　paused；　his　sallow　face　flushed　with　the　enthusiasm　of　his　idea。
Andre…Louis　stared　at　him　inscrutably。

〃Well；　what　do　you　say　to　that？〃

〃That　it　is　most　ingenious。〃　And　Andre…Louis　turned　aside　to　look
out　of　the　window。

〃And　is　that　all　you　think　of　it？〃

〃I　will　not　tell　you　what　else　I　think　of　it　because　you　probably
would　not　understand。　　For　you；　M。　Danton；　there　is　at　least　this
excuse　that　you　did　not　know　me。　　But　you；　Isaac　…　to　bring　this
gentleman　here　with　such　a　proposal！〃

Le　Chapelier　was　overwhelmed　in　confusion。　　〃I　confess　I　hesitated；〃
he　apologized。　　〃But　M。　Danton　would　not　take　my　word　for　it　that
the　proposal　might　not　be　to　your　taste。〃

〃I　would　not！〃　Danton　broke　in；　bellowing。　　He　swung　upon　Le
Chapelier；　brandishing　his　great　arms。　　〃You　told　me　monsieur　was
a　patriot。　　Patriotism　knows　no　scruples。　　You　call　this　mincing
dancing…master　a　patriot？〃

〃Would　you；　monsieur；　out　of　patriotism　consent　to　become　an
assassin？〃

〃Of　course　I　would。　　haven't　I　told　you　so？　　haven't　I　told　you
that　I　would　gladly　go　among　them　with　my　club；　and　crack　them
like　so　many　…　fleas？〃

〃Why　not；　then？〃

〃Why　not？　　Because　I　should　get　myself　hanged。　　Haven't　I　said　so？〃

〃But　what　of　that…being　a　patriot？　　Why　not；　like　another　Curtius；
jump　into　the　gulf；　since　you　believe　that　your　country　would
benefit　by　your　death？〃

M。　Danton　showed　signs　of　exasperation。　　〃Because　my　country　will
benefit　more　by　my　life。〃

〃Permit　me；　monsieur；　to　suffer　from　a　similar　vanity。〃

〃You？　　But　where　would　be　the　danger　to　you？　　You　would　do　your
work　under　the　cloak　of　duelling　…　as　they　do。〃

〃Have　you　reflected；　monsieur；　that　the　law　will　hardly　regard　a
fencing…master　who　kills　his　opponent　as　an　ordinary　combatant；
particularly　if　it　can　be　shown　that　the　fencing…master　himself
provoked　the　attack？〃

〃So！　　Name　of　a　name！〃　　M。　Danton　blew　out　his　cheeks　and　delivered
himself　with　withering　scorn。　　〃It　comes　to　this；　then：　you　are
afraid！〃

〃You　may　think　so　if　you　choose　…　that　I　am　afraid　to　do　slyly　and
treacherously　that　which　a　thrasonical　patriot　like　yourself　is
afraid　of　doing　frankly　and　openly。　　I　have　other　reasons。　　But　that
one　should　suffice　you。〃

Danton　gasped。　　Then　he　swore　more　amazingly　and　variedly　than　ever。

〃By　！　　you　are　right；〃　he　admitted；　to　Andre…Louis'　amazement。
〃You　are　right；　and　I　am　wrong。　　I　am　as　bad　a　patriot　as　you　are；
and　I　am　a　coward　as　well。〃　　And　he　invoked　the　whole　Pantheon　to
witness　his　self…denunciation。　　〃Only；　you　see；　I　count　for
something：　and　if　they　take　me　and　hang　me；　why；　there　it　is！
Monsieur；　we　must　find　some　other　way。　　Forgive　the　intrusion。
Adieu！〃　　He　held　out　his　enormous　hand。。

Le　Chapelier　stood　hesitating；　crestfallen。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
〃You　understand；　Andre？　　I　am　sorry　that。。。　〃

〃Say　no　more；　please。　　Come　and　see　me　soon　again。　　I　would　press
you　to　remain；　but　it　is　striking　nine；　and　the　first　of　my　pupils
is　about　to　arrive。〃

〃Nor　would　I　permit　it；〃。　　said　Danton。　　〃Between　us　we　must　resolve
the　riddle　of　how　to　extinguish　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　and　his　friends。〃

〃Who？〃

Sharp　as　a　pistol…shot　came　that　question；　as　Danton　was　turning
away。　　The　tone　of　it　brought　him　up　short。　　He　turned　again；　Le
Chapelier　with　him。

〃I　said　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。〃

〃What　has　he　to　do　with　the　proposal　you　were　making　me？〃

〃He？　　Why；　he　is　the　phlebotomist　in　chief。〃

And　Le　Chapelier　added。　　〃It　is　he　who　killed　Lagron。〃

〃Not　a　friend　of　yours；　is　he？〃　wondered　Danton。

〃And　it　is　La　Tour　d'Azyr　you　desire　me　to　kill？〃　asked　Andre…Louis
very　slowly；　after　the　manner　of　one　whose　thoughts　are　meanwhile
pondering　the　subject。

〃That's　it；〃　said　Danton。　　〃And　not　a　job　for　a　prentice　hand；　I
can　assure　you。

〃Ah；　but　this　alters　things；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　thinking　aloud。
〃It　offers　a　great　temptation。〃

〃Why；　then。。。　？〃　　The　Colossus　took　a　step　towards　him　again。

〃Wait！〃　　He　put　up　his　hand。　　Then　with　chin　sunk　on　his　breast；
he　paced　away　to　the　window；　musing。

Le　Chapelier　and　Danton　exchanged　glances；　then　watched　him；
waiting；　what　time　he　considered。

At　first　he　almost　wondered　why　he　should　not　of　his　own　accord
have　decided　upon　some　such　course　as　this　to　settle　that
long…standing　account　of　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　What　was　the　use
of　this　great　skill　in　fence　that　he　had　come　to　acquire；　unless
he　could　turn　it　to　account　to　avenge　Vilmorin；　and　to　make　Aline
safe　from　the　lure　of　her　own　ambition？　　It　would　be　an　easy　thing
to　seek　out　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　put　a　mortal　affront　upon　him；　and
thus　bring　him　to　the　point。　　To…day　this　would　be　murder；　murder
as　treacherous　as　that　which　La　Tour　d'Azyr　had　done　upon　Philippe
de　Vilmorin；　for　to…day　the　old　positions　were　reversed；　and　it
was　Andre…Louis　who　might　go　to　such　an　assignation　without　a　doubt
of　the　issue。　　It　was　a　moral　obstacle　of　which　he　made　short　work。
But　there　remained　the　legal　obstacle　he　had　expounded　to　Danton。
There　was　still　a　law　in　France；　the　same　law　which　he　had　found　it
impossible　to　move　against　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　but　which　would　move
briskly　enough　against　himself　in　like　case。　　And　then；　suddenly；
as　if　by　inspiration；　he　saw　the　way　…　a　way　which　if　adopted　would
probably　bring　La　Tour　d'Azyr　to　a　poetic　justice；　bring　him；
insolent；　confident；　to　thrust　himself　upon　Andre…Louis'　sword；
with　all　the　odium　of　provocation　on　his　own　side。

He　turned　to　them　again；　and　they　saw　that　he　was　very　pale；　that
his　great　dark　eyes　glowed　oddly。

〃There　will　probably　be　some　difficulty　in　finding　a　suppleant　for
this　poor　Lagron；〃　he　said。　　〃Our　fellow…countrymen　will　be　none　so
eager　to　offer　themselves　to　the　swords　of　Privilege。

〃True　enough；〃　said　Le　Chapelier　gloom