the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第43节
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me outburst of exalted patriotism； and that his wife's sister might suddenly find herself confined in a concentration camp under suspicion of having dealings with the enemy。
Frau von Hartrott made his uneasiness worse。 Instead of keeping a discreet silence； she was constantly introducing discord into the home with her opinions。
During the first days of the war； she kept herself locked in her room； joining the family only when summoned to the dining room。 With tightly puckered mouth and an absent…minded air； she would then seat herself at the table； pretending not to hear Don Marcelo's verbal outpourings of enthusiasm。 He enjoyed describing the departure of the troops； the moving scenes in the streets and at the stations； commenting on events with an optimism sure of the first news of the war。 Two things were beyond all discussion。 The bayonet was the secret of the French； and the Germans were shuddering with terror before its fatal； glistening point。 。 。 。 The '75 cannon had proved itself a unique jewel； its shots being absolutely sure。 He was really feeling sorry for the enemy's artillery since its projectiles so seldom exploded even when well aimed。 。 。 。 Furthermore； the French troops had entered victoriously into Alsace； many little towns were already theirs。
〃Now it is as it was in the '70's；〃 he would exult； brandishing his fork and waving his napkin。 〃We are going to kick them back to the other side of the Rhinekick them！ 。 。 。 That's the word。〃
Chichi always agreed gleefully while Dona Elena was raising her eyes to heaven； as though silently calling upon somebody hidden in the ceiling to bear witness to such errors and blasphemies。
The kind Dona Luisa always sought her out afterwards in the retirement of her room； believing it necessary to give sisterly counsel to one living so far from home。 The Romantica did not maintain her austere silence before the sister who had always venerated her superior instruction； so now the poor lady was overwhelmed with accounts of the stupendous forces of Germany； enunciated with all the authority of a wife of a great Teutonic patriot； and a mother of an almost celebrated professor。 According to her graphic picture； millions of men were now surging forth in enormous streams； thousands of cannons were filing by； and tremendous mortars like monstrous turrets。 And towering above all this vast machinery of destruction was a man who alone was worth an army； a being who knew everything and could do everything； handsome； intelligent； and infallible as a godthe Emperor。
〃The French just don't know what's ahead of them；〃 declared Dona Elena。 〃We are going to annihilate them。 It is merely a matter of two weeks。 Before August is ended； the Emperor will have entered Paris。〃
Senora Desnoyers was so greatly impressed by these dire prophecies that she could not hide them from her family。 Chichi waxed indignant at her mother's credulity and her aunt's Germanism。 Martial fervor was flaming up in the former Peoncito。 Ay； if the women could only go to war！ 。 。 。 She enjoyed picturing herself on horseback in command of a regiment of dragoons； charging the enemy with other Amazons as dashing and buxom as she。 Then her fondness for skating would predominate over her tastes for the cavalry； and she would long to be an Alpine hunter； a diable bleu among those who slid on long runners； with musket slung across the back and alpenstock in hand； over the snowy slopes of the Vosges。
But the government did not appreciate the valorous women； and she could obtain no other part in the war but to admire the uniform of her true…love； Rene Lacour； converted into a soldier。 The senator's son certainly looked beautiful。 He was tall and fair； of a rather feminine type recalling his dead mother。 In his fiancee's opinion； Rene was just 〃a little sugar soldier。〃 At first she had been very proud to walk the streets by the side of this warrior； believing that his uniform had greatly augmented his personal charm； but little by little a revulsion of feeling was clouding her joy。 The senatorial prince was nothing but a common soldier。 His illustrious father； fearful that the war might cut off forever the dynasty of the Lacours； indispensable to the welfare of the State； had had his son mustered into the auxiliary service of the army。 By this arrangement； his heir need not leave Paris； ranking about as high as those who were kneading the bread or mending the soldiers' cloaks。 Only by going to the front could he claimas a student of the Ecole Centralehis title of sub…lieutenant in the Artillery Reserves。
〃What happiness for me that you have to stay in Paris！ How delighted I am that you are just a private！ 。 。 。〃
And yet； at the same time； Chichi was thinking enviously of her friends whose lovers and brothers were officers。 They could parade the streets； escorted by a gold…trimmed kepis that attracted the notice of the passers…by and the respectful salute of the lower ranks。
Each time that Dona Luisa； terrified by the forecasts of her sister； undertook to communicate her dismay to her daughter； the girl would rage up and down； exclaiming：
〃What lies my aunt tells you！ 。 。 。 Since her husband is a German； she sees everything as he wishes it to be。 Papa knows more； Rene's father is better informed about these things。 We are going to give them a thorough hiding！ What fun it will be when they hit my uncle and all my snippy cousins in Berlin！ 。 。 。〃
〃Hush；〃 groaned her mother。 〃Do not talk such nonsense。 The war has turned you as crazy as your father。〃
The good lady was scandalized at hearing the outburst of savage desires that the mere mention of the Kaiser always aroused in her daughter。 In times of peace； Chichi had rather admired this personage。 〃He's not so bad…looking；〃 she had commented； 〃but with a very ordinary smile。〃 Now all her wrath was concentrated upon him。 The thousands of women that were weeping through his fault！ The mothers without sons； the wives without husbands； the poor children left in the burning towns！ 。 。 。 Ah； the vile wretch！ 。 。 。 And she would brandish her knife of the old Peoncito daysa dagger with silver handle and sheath richly chased； a gift that her grandfather had exhumed from some forgotten souvenirs of his childhood in an old valise。 The very first German that she came across was doomed to death。 Dona Luisa was terrified to find her flourishing this weapon before her dressing mirror。 She was no longer yearning to be a cavalryman nor a diable bleu。 She would be entirely content if they would leave her； alone in some closed space with the detested monster。 In just five minutes she would settle the universal conflict。
〃Defend yourself； Boche；〃 she would shriek； standing at guard as in her childhood she had seen the peons doing on the ranch。
And with a knife…thrust above and below； she would pierce his imperial vitals。 Immediately there resounded in her imagination； shouts of joy； the gigantic sigh of millions of women freed at last from the bloody nightmarethanks to her playing the role of Judith or Charlotte Corday； or a blend of all the heroic women who had killed for the common weal。 Her savage fury made her continue her imaginary slaughter； dagger in hand。 Second stroke！the Crown Prince rolling to one side and his head to the other。 A rain of dagger thrusts！all the invincible generals of whom her aunt had been boasting fleeing with their insides in their handsand bringing up the rear； that fawning lackey who wished to receive the same things as those of highest rankthe uncle from Berlin。 。 。 。 Ay； if she could only get the chance to make these longings a reality！
〃You are mad；〃 protested her mother。 〃Completely mad！ How can a ladylike girl talk in such a way？〃 。 。 。
Surprising her niece in the ecstasy of these delirious ravings； Dona Elena would raise her eyes to heaven； abstaining thenceforth from communicating her opinions； reserving them wholly for the mother。
Don Marcelo's indignation took another bound when his wife repeated to him the news from her sister。 All a lie！ 。 。 。 The war was progressing finely。 On the Eastern frontier the French troops had advanced through the interior of Alsace and Lorraine。
〃ButBelgium is invaded； isn't it？〃 asked Dona Luisa。 〃And those poor Belgians？〃
Desnoyers retorted indignantly。
〃That invasion of Belgium is treason。 。 。 。 And a treason never amounts to anything among decent people。〃
He said it in all good faith as though war were a duel in which the traitor was henceforth ruled out and unable to continue his outrages。 Besides； the heroic resistance of Belgium was nourishing the most absurd illusions in his heart。 The Belgians were certainly supernatural men destined to the most stupendous achievements。 。 。 。 And to think that heretofore he had never taken this plucky little nation into account！ 。 。 。 For several days； he considered Liege a holy city before whose walls the Teutonic power would be completely confounded。 Upon the fall of Liege； his unquenchable faith sought another handle。 There were still remaining many other Lieges in the interior。 The Germans might force their way further in； then we would see how many of them ever succeeded in ge
