the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第44节
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he Germans might force their way further in； then we would see how many of them ever succeeded in getting out。 The entry into Brussels did not disquiet him。 An unprotected city！ 。 。 。 Its surrender was a foregone conclusion。 Now the Belgians would be better able to defend Antwerp。 Neither did the advance of the Germans toward the French frontier alarm him at all。 In vain his sister…in…law； with malicious brevity； mentioned in the dining…room the progress of the invasion； so confusedly outlined in the daily papers。 The Germans were already at the frontier。
〃And what of that？〃 yelled Don Marcelo。 〃Soon they will meet someone to talk to！ Joffre is going to meet them。 Our armies are in the East； in the very place where they ought to be； on the true frontier； at the door of their home。 But they have to deal with a treacherous and cowardly opponent that instead of marching face to face； leaps the walls of the corral like sheep…stealers。 。 。 。 Their underhand tricks won't do them any good； though！ The French are already in Belgium and adjusting the accounts of the Germans。 We shall smash them so effectually that never again will they be able to disturb the peace of the world。 And that accursed individual with the rampant moustache we are going to put in a cage； and exhibit in the place de la Concorde！〃
Inspired by the paternal braggadocio； Chichi also launched forth exultingly an imaginary series of avenging torments and insults as a complement to this Imperial Exhibition。
These allusions to the Emperor aggravated Frau von Hartrott more than anything else。 In the first days of the war； her sister had surprised her weeping before the newspaper caricatures and leaflets sold in the streets。
〃Such an excellent man。 。 。 so knightly 。 。 。 such a good father to his family！ He wasn't to blame for anything。 It was his enemies who forced him to assume the offensive。〃
Her veneration for exalted personages was making her take the attacks upon this admired grandee as though they were directed against her own family。
One night in the dining room； she abandoned her tragic silence。 Certain sarcasms； shot by Desnoyers at her hero； brought the tears to her eyes； and this sentimental indulgence turned her thoughts upon her sons who were undoubtedly taking part in the invasion。
Her brother…in…law was longing for the extermination of all the enemy。 〃May every barbarian be exterminated！ 。 。 。 every one of the bandits in pointed helmets who have just burned Louvain and other towns； shooting defenceless peasants； old men； women and children！ 〃
〃You forget that I am a mother；〃 sobbed Frau von Hartrott。 〃You forget that among those whose extermination you are imploring； are my sons。〃
Her violent weeping made Desnoyers realize more than ever the abyss yawning between him and this woman lodged in his own house。 His resentment； however； overleapt family considerations。 。 。 。 She might weep for her sons all she wanted to； that was her right。 But these sons were aggressors and wantonly doing evil。 It was the other mothers who were inspiring his pitythose who were living tranquilly in their smiling little Belgian towns when their sons were suddenly shot down； their daughters violated and their houses burned to the ground。
As though this description of the horrors of war were a fresh insult to her； Dona Elena wept harder than ever。 What falsehoods！ The Kaiser was an excellent man。 His soldiers were gentlemen； the German army was a model of civilization and goodness。 Her husband had belonged to this army； her sons were marching in its ranks。 And she knew her sonswell…bred and incapable of wrong…doing。 These Belgian calumnies she could no longer listen to 。 。 。 and； with dramatic abandon； she flung herself into the arms of her sister。
Senor Desnoyers raged against the fate that condemned him to live under the same roof with this woman。 What an unfortunate complication for the family！ 。 。 。 and the frontiers were closed； making it impossible to get rid of her！
〃Very well； then；〃 he thundered。 〃Let us talk no more about it。 We shall never reach an understanding； for we belong to two different worlds。 It's a great pity that you can't go back to your own people。〃
After that； he refrained from mentioning the war in his sister…in… law's presence。 Chichi was the only one keeping up her aggressive and noisy enthusiasm。 Upon reading in the papers the news of the shootings； sackings； burning of cities； and the dolorous flight of those who had seen their all reduced to ashes； she again felt the necessity of assuming the role of lady…assassin。 Ay； if she could only once get her hands on one of those bandits！ 。 。 。 What did the men amount to anyway if they couldn't exterminate the whole lot？ 。 。 。
Then she would look at Rene in his exquisitely fresh uniform； sweet… mannered and smiling as though all war meant to him was a mere change of attire； and she would exclaim enigmatically：
〃What luck that you will never have to go to the front！ 。 。 。 How fine that you don't run any risks！〃
And her lover would accept these words as but another proof of her affectionate interest。
One day Don Marcelo was able to appreciate the horrors of the war without leaving Paris。 Three thousand Belgian refugees were quartered provisionally in the circus before being distributed among the provinces。 When Desnoyers entered this place； he saw in the vestibule the same posters which had been flaunting their spectacular gayeties when he had visited it a few months before with his family。
Now he noticed the odor from a sick and miserable multitude crowded togetherlike the exhalation from a prison or poorhouse infirmary。 He saw a throng that seemed crazy or stupefied with grief。 They did not know exactly where they were； they had come thither； they didn't know how。 The terrible spectacle of the invasion was still so persistent in their minds that it left room for no other impression。 They were still seeing the helmeted men in their peaceful hamlets； their homes in flames； the soldiery firing upon those who were fleeing； the mutilated women done to death by incessant adulterous assault； the old men burned alive； the children stabbed in their cradles by human beasts inflamed by alcohol and license。 。 。 。 Some of the octogenarians were weeping as they told how the soldiers of a civilized nation were cutting off the breasts from the women in order to nail them to the doors； how they had passed around as a trophy a new…born babe spiked on a bayonet； how they had shot aged men in the very armchair in which they were huddled in their sorrowful weakness； torturing them first with their jests and taunts。
They had fled blindly； pursued by fire and shot； as crazed with terror as the people of the middle ages trying not to be ridden down by the hordes of galloping Huns and Mongols。 And this flight had been across the country in its loveliest festal array； in the most productive of months； when the earth was bristling with ears of grain； when the August sky was most brilliant； and when the birds were greeting the opulent harvest with their glad songs！
In that circus； filled with the wandering crowds； the immense crime was living again。 The children were crying with a sound like the bleating of lambs； the men were looking wildly around with terrified eyes； the frenzied women were howling like the insane。 Families had become separated in the terror of flight。 A mother of five little ones now had but one。 The parents； as they realized the number missing； were thinking with anguish of those who had disappeared。 Would they ever find them again？ 。 。 。 Or were they already dead？ 。 。 。
Don Marcelo returned home； grinding his teeth and waving his cane in an alarming manner。 Ah； the bandits！ 。 。 。 If only his sister…in… law could change her sex！ Why wasn't she a man？ 。 。 。 It would be better still if she could suddenly assume the form of her husband； von Hartrott。 What an interesting interview the two brothers…in…law would have！ 。 。 。
The war was awakening religious sentiment in the men and increasing the devotion of the women。 The churches were filled。 Dona Luisa was no longer confining herself to those of her neighborhood。 With the courage induced by extraordinary events； she was traversing Paris afoot and going from the Madeleine to Notre Dame； or to the Sacre Coeur on the heights of Montmartre。 Religious festivals were now thronged like popular assemblies。 The preachers were tribunes。 Patriotic enthusiasm interrupted many sermon with applause。
Each morning on opening the papers； before reading the war news； Senora Desnoyers would hunt other notices。 〃Where was Father Amette going to be to…day？〃 Then； under the arched vaultings of that temple； would she unite her voice with the devout chorus imploring supernatural intervention。 〃Lord； save France！〃 Patriotic religiosity was putting Sainte Genevieve at the head of the favored ones； so from all these fiestas； Dona Luisa； tremulous with faith； would return in expectation of a miracle similar to that which the patron saint of Paris had worked before the invading hordes of Attila。
Dona Elena was also visiting the churches； but those nearest the house。 Her brother…
