from the memoirs of a minister of france-第36节

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t　my　business　to　acquire；　rendering　the　work　easy　to　me。

We　had　not　been　long　engaged；　however；　when　Fonvelle　put　in　an　appearance；　and　elbowing　the　peasants　aside；　begged　to　speak　with　me　apart。　　I　rose　and　stepped　back　with　him　two　or　three　paces；　on　which　he　winked　at　me　in　a　very　knowing　fashion；　〃I　am　M。　de　Fonvelle；〃　he　said。　　And　he　winked　again。

〃Ah！〃　　I　said。

〃My　name　is　not　in　your　list。〃

〃I　find　it　there；〃　I　replied；　raising　a　hand　to　my　ear。

〃Tut；　tut！　　you　do　not　understand；〃　he　muttered。　　〃Has　not　Gringuet　told　you？〃

〃What？〃　　I　said；　pretending　to　be　a　little　deaf。

〃Has　not〃

I　shook　my　head。

〃Has　not　Gringuet　told　you？〃　　he　repeated；　reddening　with　anger；　and　this　time　speaking；　on　compulsion；　so　loudly　that　the　peasants　could　hear　him。

I　answered　him　in　the　same　tone。　　〃Yes；〃　I　said　roundly。　　〃He　has　told　me；　of　course；　that　every　year　you　give　him　two　hundred　livres　to　omit　your　name。〃

He　glanced　behind　him　with　an　oath。　　〃Man；　are　you　mad？〃　　he　gasped；　his　jaw　falling。　　〃They　will　hear　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said　loudly；　〃I　mean　them　to　hear　me。〃

I　do　not　know　what　he　thought　of　thisperhaps　that　I　was　mad　but　he　staggered　back　from　me；　and　looked　wildly　round。　　Finding　everyone　laughing；　he　looked　again　at　me；　but　still　failed　to　understand；　on　which；　with　another　oath；　he　turned　on　his　heel；　and　forcing　his　way　through　the　grinning　crowd；　was　out　of　sight　in　a　moment。

I　was　about　to　return　to　my　seat；　when　a　pursy；　pale…faced　man；　with　small　eyes　and　a　heavy　jowl；　whom　I　had　before　noticed；　pushed　his　way　through　the　line；　and　came　to　me。　　Though　his　neighbours　were　all　laughing　he　was　sober；　and　in　a　moment　I　understood　why。

〃I　am　very　deaf；〃　he　said　in　a　whisper。　　〃My　name；　Monsieur；　is　Philippon。　　I　am　a〃

I　made　a　sign　to　him　that　I　could　not　hear。

〃I　am　the　silk　merchant；〃　he　continued　pretty　audibly；　but　with　a　suspicious　glance　behind　him。　　〃Probably　you　have〃

Again　I　signed　to　him　that　I　could　not　hear。

〃You　have　heard　of　me？〃

〃From　M。　Gringuet？〃　　I　said　very　loudly。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered　in　a　similar　tone；　for；　aware　that　deaf　persons　cannot　hear　their　own　voices　and　are　seldom　able　to　judge　how　loudly　they　are　speaking；　I　had　led　him　to　this。　　〃And　I　suppose　that　you　will　do　as　he　did？〃

〃How？〃　　I　asked。　　〃In　what　way？〃

He　touched　his　pocket　with　a　stealthy　gesture；　unseen　by　the　people　behind　him。

Again　I　made　a　sign　as　if　I　could　not　hear。

〃Take　the　usual　little　gift？〃　　he　said；　finding　himself　compelled　to　speak。

〃I　cannot　hear　a　word；〃　I　bellowed。　　By　this　time　the　crowd　were　shaking　with　laughter。

〃Accept　the　usual　gift？〃　　he　said；　his　fat；　pale　face　perspiring；　and　his　little　pig's　eyes　regarding　me　balefully。

〃And　let　you　pay　one　quarter？〃　　I　said。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。

But　this；　and　the　simplicity　with　which　he　said　it；　drew　so　loud　a　roar　of　laughter　from　the　crowd　as　penetrated　even　to　his　dulled　senses。　　Turning　abruptly；　as　if　a　bee　had　stung　him；　he　found　the　place　convulsed　with　merriment；　and　perceiving；　in　an　instant；　that　I　had　played　upon　him；　though　he　could　not　understand　how　or　why；　he　glared　about　him　a　moment；　muttered　something　which　I　could　not　catch；　and　staggered　away　with　the　gait　of　a　drunken　man。

After　this；　it　was　useless　to　suppose　that　I　could　amuse　myself　with　others。　　The　crowd；　which　had　never　dreamed　of　such　a　tax…　collector；　and　could　scarcely　believe　either　eyes　or　ears；　hesitated　to　come　forward　even　to　pay；　and　I　was　considering　what　I　should　do　next；　when　a　commotion　in　one　corner　of　the　square　drew　my　eyes　to　that　quarter。　　I　looked　and　saw　at　first　only　Curtin。　　Then；　the　crowd　dividing　and　making　way　for　him；　I　perceived　that　he　had　the　real　Gringuet　with　himGringuet；　who　rode　through　the　market　with　an　air　of　grim　majesty；　with　one　foot　in　a　huge　slipper　and　eyes　glaring　with　ill…temper。

Doubtless　Curtin；　going　to　him　on　the　chance　of　hearing　something　of　the　rogue　who　had　cheated　him；　had　apprised　the　tax…collector　of　the　whole　matter；　for　on　seeing　me　in　my　chair　of　state；　he　merely　grinned　in　a　vicious　way；　and　cried　to　the　nearest　not　to　let　me　escape。　　〃We　have　lost　one　rogue；　but　we　will　hang　the　other；〃　he　said。　　And　while　the　townsfolk　stood　dumbfounded　round　us；　he　slipped　with　a　groan　from　his　horse；　and　bade　his　two　servants　seize　me。

〃And　do　you；〃　he　called　to　the　host；　〃see　that　you　help；　my　man！　You　have　harboured　him；　and　you　shall　pay　for　it　if　he　escapes。〃

With　that　he　hopped　a　step　nearer；　and　then；　not　dreaming　of　resistance；　sank　with　another　groanfor　his　foot　was　immensely　swollen　by　the　journeyinto　the　chair　from　which　I　had　risen。

A　glance　showed　me　that；　if　I　would　not　be　drawn　into　an　unseemly　brawl；　I　must　act；　and　meeting　Maignan's　eager　eye　fixed　upon　my　face；　I　nodded。　　In　a　second　he　seized　the　unsuspecting　Gringuet　by　the　neck；　snatched　him　up　from　the　chair；　and　flung　him　half…　a…dozen　paces　away。　　〃Lie　there；〃　he　cried；　〃you　insolent　rascal！　Who　told　you　to　sit　before　your　betters？〃

The　violence　of　the　action；　and　Maignan's　heat；　were　such　that　the　nearest　drew　back　affrighted；　and　even　Gringuet's　servants　recoiled；　while　the　market　people　gasped　with　astonishment。　　But　I　knew　that　the　respite　would　last　a　moment　only；　and　I　stood　forward。　　〃Arrest　that　man；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　the　collector；　who　was　grovelling　on　the　ground；　nursing　his　foot　and　shrieking　foul　threats　at　us。

In　a　second　my　two　men　stood　over　him。　　〃In　the　King's　name；〃　La　Trape　cried；　〃let　no　man　interfere。〃

〃Raise　him　up；〃　I　continued；　〃and　set　him　before　me；　and　Curtin　also；　and　Fonvelle；　and　Philippon；　and　Lescaut；　the　corn…dealer；　if　he　is　here。〃

I　spoke　boldly；　but　I　felt　some　misgiving。　　So　mighty；　however；　is　the　habit　of　command；　that　the　crowd；　far　from　resisting；　thrust　forward　the　men　I　named。　　Still；　I　could　not　count　on　this　obedience；　and　it　was　with　pleasure　that　I　saw　at　this　moment；　as　I　looked　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd；　a　body　of　horsemen　entering　the　square。　　They　halted　an　instant；　looking　at　the　unusual　concourse；　while　the　townsfolk；　interrupted　in　the　middle　of　the　drama；　knew　not　which　way　to　stare。　　Then　Boisrueil；　seeing　me；　and　that　I　was　holding　some　sort　of　court；　spurred　his　horse　through　the　press；　and　saluted　me。

〃Let　half…a…dozen　of　your　varlets　dismount　and　guard　these　men；〃　I　said；　〃and　do　you；　you　rogue；〃　I　continued；　addressing　Gringuet；　〃answer　me；　and　tell　me　the　truth。　　How　much　does　each　of　these　knaves　give　you　to　cheat　the　King；　and　your　master？　Curtin　first。　　How　much　does　he　give　you？〃

〃My　lord；〃　he　answered；　pale　and　shaking；　yet　with　a　mutinous　gleam　in　his　eyes；　〃I　have　a　right　to　know　first　before　whom　I　stand。〃

〃Enough；〃　I　thundered；　〃that　it　is　before　one　who　has　the　right　to　question　you！　　answer　me；　villain；　and　be　quick。　　What　is　the　sum　of　Curtin's　bribe？〃

He　stood　white　and　mute。

〃Fonvelle's？〃

Still　he　stood　silent；　glaring　with　the　devil　in　his　eyes；　while　the　other　men　whimpered　and　protested　their　innocence；　and　the　crowd　stared　as　if　they　could　never　see　enough。

〃Philippon's？〃

〃I　take　no　bribes；〃　he　muttered。

〃Lescaut's？〃

〃Not　a　denier。〃

〃Liar！〃　　I　exclaimed。　　〃Liar；　who　devour　widows'　houses　and　poor　men's　corn！　　Who　grind　the　weak　and　say　it　is　the　King；　and　let　the　rich　go　free。　　Answer　me；　and　answer　the　truth。　　How　much　do　these　men　give　you？〃

〃Nothing；〃　he　said　defiantly。

〃Very　well；〃　I　answered；　〃then　I　will　have　the　list。　　It　is　in　your　shoe。〃

〃I　have　no　list；〃　he　said；　beginning　to　tremble。

〃It　is　in　your　shoe；〃　I　repeated；　pointing　to　his　gouty　foot。　〃Maignan；　off　with　his　shoe；　and　look　in　it。〃

Disregarding　his　shrieks　of　pain；　they　tore　it　off　and　looked　in　it。　　There　was　no　list。

〃Off　with　his　stocking；〃　I　said　roundly。

〃It　is　there。〃

He　flung　himself　down　at　that；　cursing　and　protesting　by　turns。　But　I　remembered　the　trampled　corn；　and　the　girl's　bleeding　face；　and　I　was　inexorable。　　The　stocking　was　drawn　off；　not　too　tender＇y；　and　turned　inside　out。　　Still　no　list　was　found。

〃He　has　it；〃　I　persisted。　　〃We　have　tried　the　shoe　and　we　have　tried　the　stocking；　now　we　must　try　the　foot。　　Fetch　a　stirrup…　leather；　and　do　you　hold　him；　and　let　one　of　the　grooms　give　him　a　dozen　on　that　foot。〃

But　at　that　he　gave　way；　he　flung　himself　on　his　knees；　screaming　for　mercy。

〃The　list！〃　　I　said；

〃I　have　no　list！　　I　have　none！〃　　he　wailed。

〃Then　give　it　me　out　of　your　head。　　Curtin；　how　much？〃

He　glanced　at　the　man　I　named；　and　shivered；　and　for　a　moment　was　silent。　　But　one　of　the　grooms　approaching　with　the　stirrup…　leather；　he　found　his　voice。　　〃Forty　crowns；〃　he　muttered。

〃Fonvelle？〃

〃The　same。〃

I　made　him　confess　also　the　sums　which　he　had　received　from　Lescaut　and　Philippon；　and　then　the　names　of　seven　others　who　had　been　in　the　habit　of　bribing　him。　　Satisfied　that　he　had　so　far　told　the　truth；　I　bade　him　put　on　his　stocking　and　shoe。　　〃And　now；〃　I　said　to　Boisrueil；　when　this　was　done；　〃take　him　to　the　whipping…post　there；　and　tie　him　up；　and　see　that　each　man　of　the　eleven　gives　him　a　stripe　for　every　crown　with　which　he　has　bribed　himand　good　ones；　or　I　will　have　them　tied　up　in　his　place。　　Do　you　hear；　you　ras