the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第52节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
illagers invaded by preference the best coaches； believing that they would there find more room。 Those holding first…class tickets hunted up the plainer coaches in the vain hope of travelling without being crowded。 On the cross roads were waiting from the day before long trains made up of cattle cars。 All the stables on wheels were filled with people seated on the wooden floor or in chairs brought from their homes。 Every train load was an encampment eager to take up its march； whenever it halted； layers of greasy papers； hulls and fruit skins collected along its entire length。
The invaders； pushing their way in； put up with many annoyances and pardoned one another in a brotherly way。 〃In war times； war measures；〃 they would always say as a last excuse。 And each one was pressing closer to his neighbor in order to make a few more inches of room； and helping to wedge his scanty baggage among the other bundles swaying most precariously above。 Little by little； Desnoyers was losing all his advantage as a first comer。 These poor people who had been waiting for the train from four in the morning till eight at night； awakened his pity。 The women； groaning with weariness； were standing in the corridors； looking with ferocious envy at those who had seats。 The children were bleating like hungry kids。 Julio finally gave up his place； sharing with the needy and improvident the bountiful supply of eatables with which Argensola had provided him。 The station restaurants had all been emptied of food。
During the train's long wait； soldiers only were seen on the platform； soldiers who were hastening at the call of the trumpet； to take their places again in the strings of cars which were constantly steaming toward Paris。 At the signal stations； long war trains were waiting for the road to be clear that they might continue their journey。 The cuirassiers； wearing a yellow vest over their steel breastplate； were seated with hanging legs in the doorways of the stable cars； from whose interior came repeated neighing。 Upon the flat cars were rows of gun carriages。 The slender throats of the cannon of '75 were pointed upwards like telescopes。
Young Desnoyers passed the night in the aisle； seated on a valise； noting the sodden sleep of those around him； worn out by weariness and exhaustion。 It was a cruel and endless night of jerks； shrieks and stops punctuated by snores。 At every station； the trumpets were sounding precipitously as though the enemy were right upon them。 The soldiers from the South were hurrying to their posts； and at brief intervals another detachment of men was dragged along the rails toward Paris。 They all appeared gay； and anxious to reach the scene of slaughter as soon as possible。 Many were regretting the delays； fearing that they might arrive too late。 Leaning out of the window； Julio heard the dialogues and shouts on the platforms impregnated with the acrid odor of men and mules。 All were evincing an unquenchable confidence。 〃The Boches！ very numerous； with huge cannons； with many mitrailleuse 。 。 。 but we only have to charge with our bayonets to make them run like rabbits！〃
The attitude of those going to meet death was in sharp contrast to the panic and doubt of those who were deserting Paris。 An old and much…decorated gentleman； type of a jubilee functionary； kept questioning Desnoyers whenever the train started on again〃Do you believe that they will get as far as Tours？〃 Before receiving his reply； he would fall asleep。 Brutish sleep was marching down the aisles with leaden feet。 At every junction； the old man would start up and suddenly ask； 〃Do you believe that we will get as far as Bordeaux？〃 。 。 。 And his great desire not to halt until； with his family； he had reached an absolutely secure refuge； made him accept as oracles all the vague responses。
At daybreak； they saw the Territorialists guarding the roads。 They were armed with old muskets； and were wearing the red kepis as their only military distinction。 They were following the opposite course of the military trains。
In the station at Bordeaux； the civilian crowds struggling to get out or to enter other cars； were mingling with the troops。 The trumpets were incessantly sounding their brazen notes； calling the soldiers together。 Many were men of darkest coloring； natives with wide gray breeches and red caps above their black or bronzed faces。
Julio saw a train bearing wounded from the battles of Flanders and Lorraine。 Their worn and dirty uniforms were enlivened by the whiteness of the bandages sustaining the wounded limbs or protecting the broken heads。 All were trying to smile； although with livid mouths and feverish eyes； at their first glimpse of the land of the South as it emerged from the mist bathed in the sunlight； and covered with the regal vestures of its vineyards。 The men from the North stretched out their hands for the fruit that the women were offering them； tasting with delight the sweet grapes of the country。
For four days the distracted lover lived in Bordeaux； stunned and bewildered by the agitation of a provincial city suddenly converted into a capital。 The hotels were overcrowded； many notables contenting themselves with servants' quarters。 There was not a vacant seat in the cafes； the sidewalks could not accommodate the extraordinary assemblage。 The President was installed in the Prefecture； the State Departments were established in the schools and museums； two theatres were fitted up for the future reunions of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies。 Julio was lodged in a filthy； disreputable hotel at the end of a foul…smelling alley。 A little Cupid adorned the crystals of the door； and the looking…glass in his room was scratched with names and unspeakable phrases souvenirs of the occupants of an hour 。 。 。 and yet many grand ladies； hunting in vain for temporary residence； would have envied him his good fortune。
All his investigations proved fruitless。 The friends whom he encountered in the fugitive crowd were thinking only of their own affairs。 They could talk of nothing but incidents of the installation； repeating the news gathered from the ministers with whom they were living on familiar terms； or mentioning with a mysterious air； the great battle which was going on stretching from the vicinity of Paris to Verdun。 A pupil of his days of glory； whose former elegance was now attired in the uniform of a nurse； gave him some vague information。 〃The little Madame Laurier？ 。 。 。 I remember hearing that she was living somewhere near here。 。 。 。 Perhaps in Biarritz。〃 Julio needed no more than this to continue his journey。 To Biarritz！
The first person that he encountered on his arrival was Chichi。 She declared that the town was impossible because of the families of rich Spaniards who were summering there。 〃The Boches are in the majority； and I pass a miserable existence quarrelling with them。 。 。 。 I shall finally have to live alone。〃 Then he met his mother embraces and tears。 Afterwards he saw his Aunt Elena in the hotel parlors； most enthusiastic over the country and the summer colony。
She could talk at great length with many of them about the decadence of France。 They were all expecting to receive the news from one moment to another； that the Kaiser had entered the Capital。 Ponderous men who had never done anything in all their lives； were criticizing the defects and indolence of the Republic。 Young men whose aristocracy aroused Dona Elena's enthusiasm； broke forth into apostrophes against the corruption of Paris； corruption that they had studied thoroughly； from sunset to sunrise； in the virtuous schools of Montmartre。 They all adored Germany where they had never been； or which they knew only through the reels of the moving picture films。 They criticized events as though they were witnessing a bull fight。 〃The Germans have the snap！ You can't fool with them！ They are fine brutes！〃 And they appeared to admire this inhumanity as the most admirable characteristic。 〃Why will they not say that in their own home on the other side of the frontier？〃 Chichi would protest。 〃Why do they come into their neighbor's country to ridicule his troubles？ 。 。 。 Possibly they consider it a sign of their wonderful good…breeding！〃
But Julio had not gone to Biarritz to live with his family。 。 。 。 The very day of his arrival； he saw Marguerite's mother in the distance。 She was alone。 His inquiries developed the information that her daughter was living in Pau。 She was a trained nurse taking care of a wounded member of the family。 〃Her brother 。 。 。 undoubtedly it is her brother；〃 thought Julio。 And he again continued his trip； this time going to Pau。
His visits to the hospitals there were also unavailing。 Nobody seemed to know Marguerite。 Every day a train was arriving with a new load of bleeding flesh； but her brother was not among the wounded。 A Sister of Charity； believing that he was in search of someone of his family； took pity on him and gave him some helpful directions。 He ought to go to Lourdes； there were many of the wounded there and many of the military nurses。 So Desnoyers immediately took the short cut between Pau and Lourdes。
He had never visited the sacred city
