scaramouche-第70节

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afternoon　of　the　ninth；　there　arrived　at　the　Hotel　Plougastel　a
messenger　from　Meudon　bearing　a　note　from　M。　de　Kercadiou　in
which　he　urgently　bade　mademoiselle　join　him　there　at　once；　and
advised　her　hostess　to　accompany　her。

You　may　have　realized　that　M。　de　Kercadiou　was　of　those　who　make
friends　with　men　of　all　classes。　　His　ancient　lineage　placed　him
on　terms　of　equality　with　members　of　the　noblesse；　his　simple
manners　…　something　between　the　rustic　and　the　bourgeois　…　and　his
natural　affability　placed　him　on　equally　good　terms　with　those　who
by　birth　were　his　inferiors。　　In　Meudon　he　was　known　and　esteemed
of　all　the　simple　folk；　and　it　was　Rougane；　the　friendly　mayor；
who；　informed　on　the　9th　of　August　of　the　storm　that　was　brewing
for　the　morrow；　and　knowing　of　mademoiselle's　absence　in　Paris；
had　warningly　advised　him　to　withdraw　her　from　what　in　the　next
four…and…twenty　hours　might　be　a　zone　of　danger　for　all　persons
of　quality；　particularly　those　suspected　of　connections　with　the
Court　party。

Now　there　was　no　doubt　whatever　of　Mme。　de　Plougastel's　connection
with　the　Court。　　It　was　not　even　to　be　doubted　…　indeed；　measure　of
proof　of　it　was　to　be　forthcoming　…　that　those　vigilant　and
ubiquitous　secret　societies　that　watched　over　the　cradle　of　the
young　revolution　were　fully　informed　of　the　frequent　journeyings　of
M。　de　Plougastel　to　Coblenz；　and　entertained　no　illusions　on　the
score　of　the　reason　for　them。　　Given；　then；　a　defeat　of　the　Court
party　in　the　struggle　that　was　preparing；　the　position　in　Paris　of
Mme。　de　Plougastel　could　not　be　other　than　fraught　with　danger；　and
that　danger　would　be　shared　by　any　guest　of　birth　at　her　hotel。

M。　de　Kercadiou's　affection　for　both　those　women　quickened　the　fears
aroused　in　him　by　Rougane's　warning。　　Hence　that　hastily　dispatched
note；　desiring　his　niece　and　imploring　his　friend　to　come　at　once
to　Meudon。

The　friendly　mayor　carried　his　complaisance　a　step　farther；　and
dispatched　the　letter　to　Paris　by　the　hands　of　his　own　son；　an
intelligent　lad　of　nineteen。　　It　was　late　in　the　afternoon　of　that
perfect　August　day　when　young　Rougane　presented　himself　at　the
Hotel　Plougastel。

He　was　graciously　received　by　Mme。　de　Plougastel　in　the　salon；　whose
splendours；　when　combined　with　the　great　air　of　the　lady　herself；
overwhelmed　the　lad's　simple；　unsophisticated　soul。　　Madame　made　up
her　mind　at　once。

M。　de　Kercadiou's　urgent　message　no　more　than　confirmed　her　own
fears　and　inclinations。　　She　decided　upon　instant　departure。

〃Bien；　madame；〃　said　the　youth。　　〃Then　I　have　the　honour　to　take
my　leave。〃

But　she　would　not　let　him　go。　　First　to　the　kitchen　to　refresh
himself；　whilst　she　and　mademoiselle　made　ready；　and　then　a　seat
for　him　in　her　carriage　as　far　as　Meudon。　　She　could　not　suffer　him
to　return　on　foot　as　he　had　come。

Though　in　all　the　circumstances　it　was　no　more　than　his　due；　yet
the　kindliness　that　in　such　a　moment　of　agitation　could　take　thought
for　another　was　presently　to　be　rewarded。　　Had　she　done　less　than
this；　she　would　have　known　…　if　nothing　worse　…　at　least　some　hours
of　anguish　even　greater　than　those　that　were　already　in　store　for　her。

It　wanted；　perhaps；　a　half…hour　to　sunset　when　they　set　out　in　her
carriage　with　intent　to　leave　Paris　by　the　Porte　Saint…Martin。　　They
travelled　with　a　single　footman　behind。　　Rougane　…　terrifying
condescension　…　was　given　a　seat　inside　the　carriage　with　the　ladies；
and　proceeded　to　fall　in　love　with　Mlle。　de　Kercadiou；　whom　he
accounted　the　most　beautiful　being　he　had　ever　seen；　yet　who　talked
to　him　simply　and　unaffectedly　as　with　an　equal。　　The　thing　went　to
his　head　a　little；　and　disturbed　certain　republican　notions　which
he　had　hitherto　conceived　himself　to　have　thoroughly　digested。

The　carriage　drew　up　at　the　barrier；　checked　there　by　a　picket　of
the　National　Guard　posted　before　the　iron　gates。

The　sergeant　in　command　strode　to　the　door　of　the　vehicle。　　The
Countess　put　her　head　from　the　window。

〃The　barrier　is　closed；　madame；〃　she　was　curtly　informed。

〃Closed！〃　she　echoed。　　The　thing　was　incredible。　　〃But。。。　but　do
you　mean　that　we　cannot　pass？〃

Not　unless　you　have　a　permit；　madame。〃　　The　sergeant　leaned
nonchalantly　on　his　pike。　　〃The　orders　are　that　no　one　is　to　leave
or　enter　without　proper　papers。〃

〃Whose　orders？〃

〃Orders　of　the　Commune　of　Paris。〃

〃But　I　must　go　into　the　country　this　evening。〃　　Madame's　voice　was
almost　petulant。　　〃I　am　expected。〃

〃In　that　case　let　madame　procure　a　permit。〃

〃Where　is　it　to　be　procured？〃

〃At　the　Hotel　de　Ville　or　at　the　headquarters　of　madame's　section。〃

She　considered　a　moment。　　〃To　the　section；　then。　　Be　so　good　as　to
tell　my　coachman　to　drive　to　the　Bondy　Section。〃

He　saluted　her　and　stepped　back。　　〃Section　Bondy；　Rue　des　Morts；〃
he　bade　the　driver。

Madame　sank　into　her　seat　again；　in　a　state　of　agitation　fully
shared　by　mademoiselle。　　Rougane　set　himself　to　pacify　and　reassure
them。　The　section　would　put　the　matter　in　order。　　They　would　most
certainly　be　accorded　a　permit。　　What　possible　reason　could　there
be　for　refusing　them？　　A　mere　formality；　after　all！

His　assurance　uplifted　them　merely　to　prepare　them　for　a　still　more
profound　dejection　when　presently　they　met　with　a　flat　refusal　from
the　president　of　the　section　who　received　the　Countess。

〃Your　name；　madame？〃　he　had　asked　brusquely。　　A　rude　fellow　of　the
most　advanced　republican　type；　he　had　not　even　risen　out　of
deference　to　the　ladies　when　they　entered。　　He　was　there；　he　would
have　told　you；　to　perform　the　duties　of　his　office；　not　to　give
dancing…lessons。

〃Plougastel；〃　he　repeated　after　her；　without　title；　as　if　it　had
been　the　name　of　a　butcher　or　baker。　　He　took　down　a　heavy　volume
from　a　shelf　on　his　right；　opened　it　and　turned　the　pages。　　It　was
a　sort　of　directory　of　his　section。　　Presently　he　found　what　he
sought。　　〃Comte　de　Plougastel；　Hotel　Plougastel；　Rue　du　Paradis。
Is　that　it？〃

〃That　is　correct；　monsieur；〃　she　answered；　with　what　civility　she
could　muster　before　the　fellow's　affronting　rudeness。

There　was　a　long　moment　of　silence；　during　which　he　studied　certain
pencilled　entries　against　the　name。　　The　sections　had　been　working
in　the　last　few　weeks　much　more　systematically　than　was　generally
suspected。

〃Your　husband　is　with　you；　madame？〃　he　asked　curtly；　his　eyes　still
conning　that　page。

〃M。　le　Comte　is　not　with　me；〃　she　answered；　stressing　the　title。

〃Not　with　you？〃　He　looked　up　suddenly；　and　directed　upon　her　a
glance　in　which　suspicion　seemed　to　blend　with　derision。　　〃Where
is　he？〃

〃He　is　not　in　Paris；　monsieur。

〃Ab！　　Is　he　at　Coblenz；　do　you　think？〃

Madame　felt　herself　turning　cold。　　There　was　something　ominous　in
all　this。　　To　what　end　had　the　sections　informed　themselves　so
thoroughly　of　the　comings　and　goings　of　their　inhabitants？　　What　was
preparing？　　She　had　a　sense　of　being　trapped；　of　being　taken　in　a
net　that　had　been　cast　unseen。

〃I　do　not　know；　monsieur；〃　she　said；　her　voice　unsteady。

〃Of　course　not。〃　He　seemed　to　sneer。　　〃No　matter。　　And　you　wish　to
leave　Paris　also？　　Where　do　you　desire　to　go？〃

〃To　Meudon。〃

〃Your　business　there？〃　

The　blood　leapt　to　her　face。　　His　insolence　was　unbearable　to　a
woman　who　in　all　her　life　had　never　known　anything　but　the　utmost
deference　from　inferiors　and　equals　alike。　　Nevertheless；　realizing
that　she　was　face　to　face　with　forces　entirely　new；　she　controlled
herself；　stifled　her　resentment；　and　answered　steadily。

〃I　wish　to　conduct　this　lady；　Mlle。　de　Kercadiou；　back　to　her　uncle
who　resides　there。〃

〃Is　that　all？　　Another　day　will　do　for　that；　madame。　　The　matter　is
not　pressing。〃

〃Pardon；　monsieur；　to　us　the　matter　is　very　pressing。〃

〃You　have　not　convinced　me　of　it；　and　the　barriers　are　closed　to　all
who　cannot　prove　the　most　urgent　and　satisfactory　reasons　for　wishing
to　pass。　　You　will　wait；　madame；　until　the　restriction　is　removed。
Good…evening。〃

〃But；　monsieur。。。　〃

〃Good…evening；　madame；〃　he　repeated　significantly；　a　dismissal　more
contemptuous　and　despotic　than　any　royal　〃You　have　leave　to　go。

Madame　went　out　with　Aline。　　Both　were　quivering　with　the　anger　that
prudence　had　urged　them　to　suppress。　　They　climbed　into　the　coach
again；　desiring　to　be　driven　home。

Rougane's　astonishment　turned　into　dismay　when　they　told　him　what
had　taken　place。　　〃Why　not　try　the　Hotel　de　Ville；　madame？〃　he
suggested。

〃After　that？　　It　would　be　useless。　　We　must　resign　ourselves　to
remaining　in　Paris　until　the　barriers　are　opened　again。〃

〃Perhaps　it　will　not　matter　to　us　either　way　by　then；　madame；〃　said
Aline。

〃Aline！〃　she　exclaimed　in　horror。

〃Mademoiselle！〃　cried　Rougane　on　the　same　note。　　And　then；　because
he　perceived　that　people　detained　in　this　fashion　must　be　in　some
danger　not　yet　discernible；　but　on　that　account　more　dreadful；　he
set　his　wits　to　work。　　As　they　were　approaching　the　Hotel　Plougastel
once　more；　he　announced　that　he　had　solved　the　problem。

〃A　passport　from　without　would　do　equally　well；〃　he　announced。
〃Listen；　now；　and　trust　to　me。　　I　will　go　back　to　Meudon　at　once。
My　father　shall　give　me　two　permits　…　one