the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第76节

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minable　wedding　procession。　　And　these　soldiers　got　out　of　the　automobiles　on　the　very　edge　of　the　battle　field；　opening　fire　the　instant　that　they　leaped　from　the　steps。　　Gallieni　had　launched　all　the　men　who　knew　how　to　handle　a　gun　against　the　extreme　right　of　the　adversary　at　the　supreme　moment　when　the　most　insignificant　weight　might　tip　the　scales　in　favor　of　the　victory　which　was　hanging　in　the　balance。　　The　clerks　and　secretaries　of　the　military　offices；　the　orderlies　of　the　government　and　the　civil　police；　all　had　marched　to　give　that　final　push；　forming　a　mass　of　heterogenous　colors。

And　one　Sunday　afternoon　when；　with　his　three　companions　of　the　〃siege〃　he　was　strolling　with　thousands　of　other　Parisians　through　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　he　had　learned　from　the　extras　that　the　combat　which　had　developed　so　near　to　the　city　was　turning　into　a　great　battle；　a　victory。

〃I　have　seen　much；　Madame　Desnoyers。　。　。　。　　I　can　relate　great　events。〃

And　she　agreed　with　him。　　Of　course　Argensola　had　seen　much！　。　。　。　And　on　taking　her　departure；　she　offered　him　all　the　assistance　in　her　power。　　He　was　the　friend　of　her　son；　and　she　was　used　to　his　petitions。　　Times　had　changed；　Don　Marcelo's　generosity　now　knew　no　bounds　。　。　。　but　the　Bohemian　interrupted　her　with　a　lordly　gesture；　he　was　living　in　luxury。　　Julio　had　made　him　his　trustee。　　The　draft　from　America　had　been　honored　by　the　bank　as　a　deposit；　and　he　had　the　use　of　the　interest　in　accordance　with　the　regulations　of　the　moratorium。　　His　friend　was　sending　him　regularly　whatever　money　was　needed　for　household　expenses。　　Never　had　he　been　in　such　prosperous　condition。　　War　had　its　good　side；　too　。　。　。　but　not　wishing　to　break　away　from　old　customs；　he　announced　that　once　more　he　would　mount　the　service　stairs　in　order　to　bear　away　a　basket　of　bottles。

After　her　sister's　departure；　Dona　Luisa　went　alone　to　the　churches　until　Chichi　in　an　outburst　of　devotional　ardor；　suddenly　surprised　her　with　the　announcement：

〃Mama；　I　am　going　with　you！〃

The　new　devotee　was　no　longer　agitating　the　household　by　her　rollicking；　boyish　joy；　she　was　no　longer　threatening　the　enemy　with　imaginary　dagger　thrusts。　　She　was　pale；　and　with　dark　circles　under　her　eyes。　　Her　head　was　drooping　as　though　weighed　down　with　a　set　of　serious；　entirely　new　thoughts　on　the　other　side　of　her　forehead。

Dona　Luisa　observed　her　in　the　church　with　an　almost　indignant　jealousy。　　Her　headstrong　child's　eyes　were　moist；　and　she　was　praying　as　fervently　as　the　mother　　。　。　。　but　it　was　surely　not　for　her　brother。　　Julio　had　passed　to　second　place　in　her　remembrance。　Another　man　was　now　completely　filling　her　thoughts。

The　last　of　the　Lacours　was　no　longer　a　simple　soldier；　nor　was　he　now　in　Paris。　　Upon　her　return　from　Biarritz；　Chichi　had　listened　anxiously　to　the　reports　from　her　little　sugar　soldier。　　Throbbing　with　eagerness；　she　wanted　to　know　all　about　the　dangers　which　he　had　been　experiencing；　and　the　young　warrior　〃in　the　auxiliary　service〃　told　her　of　his　restlessness　in　the　office　during　the　interminable　days　in　which　the　troops　were　battling　around　Paris；　hearing　afar　off　the　boom　of　the　artillery。　　His　father　had　wished　to　take　him　with　him　to　Bordeaux；　but　the　administrative　confusion　of　the　last　hour　had　kept　him　in　the　capital。

He　had　done　something　more。　　On　the　day　of　the　great　crisis；　when　the　acting　governor　had　sent　out　all　the　available　men　in　automobiles；　he　had；　unasked；　seized　a　gun　and　occupied　a　motor　with　others　from　his　office。　　He　had　not　seen　anything　more　than　smoke；　burning　houses；　and　wounded　men。　　Not　a　single　German　had　passed　before　his　eyes；　excepting　a　band　of　Uhlan　prisoners；　but　for　some　hours　he　had　been　shooting　on　the　edge　of　the　road　。　。　。　and　nothing　more。

For　a　while；　that　was　enough　for　Chichi。　　She　felt　very　proud　to　be　the　betrothed　of　a　hero　of　the　Marne；　even　though　his　intervention　had　lasted　but　a　few　hours。　　In　a　few　days；　however；　her　enthusiasm　became　rather　clouded。

It　was　becoming　annoying　to　stroll　through　the　streets　with　Rene；　a　simple　soldier　and　in　the　auxiliary　service；　besides。　。　。　。　　The　women　of　the　town；　excited　by　the　recollection　of　their　men　fighting　at　the　front；　or　clad　in　mourning　because　of　the　death　of　some　loved　one；　would　look　at　them　with　aggressive　insolence。　　The　refinement　and　elegance　of　the　Republican　Prince　seemed　to　irritate　them。　Several　times；　she　overheard　uncomplimentary　words　hurled　against　the　〃embusques。〃

The　fact　that　her　brother　who　was　not　French　was　in　the　thick　of　the　fighting；　made　the　Lacour　situation　still　more　intolerable。　　She　had　an　〃embusque〃　for　a　lover。　　How　her　friends　would　laugh　at　her！　。　。　。

The　senator's　son　soon　read　her　thoughts　and　began　to　lose　some　of　his　smiling　serenity。　　For　three　days　he　did　not　present　himself　at　the　Desnoyers'　home；　and　they　all　supposed　that　he　was　detained　by　work　at　the　office。

One　morning　as　Chichi　was　going　toward　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　escorted　by　one　of　the　nut…brown　maids；　she　noticed　a　soldier　coming　toward　her。　　He　was　wearing　a　bright　uniform　of　the　new　gray…blue；　the　〃horizon　blue〃　just　adopted　by　the　French　army。　　The　chin　strap　of　his　kepi　was　gilt；　and　on　his　sleeve　there　was　a　little　strip　of　gold。　　His　smile；　his　outstretched　hands；　the　confidence　with　which　he　advanced　toward　her　made　her　recognize　him。　　Rene　an　officer！　Her　betrothed　a　sub…lieutenant！

〃Yes；　of　course！　I　could　do　nothing　else。　。　。　。　　I　had　heard　enough！〃

Without　his　father's　knowledge；　and　assisted　by　his　friends；　he　had　in　a　few　days；　wrought　this　wonderful　transformation。　　As　a　graduate　of　the　Ecole　Centrale；　he　held　the　rank　of　a　sub…lieutenant　of　the　Reserve　Artillery；　and　he　had　requested　to　be　sent　to　the　front。　Good…bye　to　the　auxiliary　service！　。　。　。　　Within　two　days；　he　was　going　to　start　for　the　war。

〃You　have　done　this！〃　exclaimed　Chichi。　　〃You　have　done　this！〃

Although　very　pale；　she　gazed　fondly　at　him　with　her　great　eyes　eyes　that　seemed　to　devour　him　with　admiration。

〃Come　here；　my　poor　boy。　。　。　。　　Come　here；　my　sweet　little　soldier！　。　。　。　　I　owe　you　something。〃

And　turning　her　back　on　the　maid；　she　asked　him　to　come　with　her　round　the　corner。　　It　was　just　the　same　there。　　The　cross　street　was　just　as　thronged　as　the　avenue。　　But　what　did　she　care　for　the　stare　of　the　curious！　　Rapturously　she　flung　her　arms　around　his　neck；　blind　and　insensible　to　everything　and　everybody　but　him。

〃There。　。　。　。　　There！〃　　And　she　planted　on　his　face　two　vehement；　sonorous；　aggressive　kisses。

Then；　trembling　and　shuddering；　she　suddenly　weakened；　and　fumbling　for　her　handkerchief；　broke　down　in　desperate　weeping。



CHAPTER　II

IN　THE　STUDIO


Upon　opening　the　studio　door　one　afternoon；　Argensola　stood　motionless　with　surprise；　as　though　rooted　to　the　ground。

An　old　gentleman　was　greeting　him　with　an　amiable　smile。

〃I　am　the　father　of　Julio。〃

And　he　walked　into　the　apartment　with　the　confidence　of　a　man　entirely　familiar　with　his　surroundings。

By　good　luck；　the　artist　was　alone；　and　was　not　obliged　to　tear　frantically　from　one　end　of　the　room　to　the　other；　hiding　the　traces　of　convivial　company；　but　he　was　a　little　slow　in　regaining　his　self…control。　　He　had　heard　so　much　about　Don　Marcelo　and　his　bad　temper；　that　he　was　very　uncomfortable　at　this　unexpected　appearance　in　the　studio。　。　。　。　　What　could　the　fearful　man　want？

His　tranquillity　was　restored　after　a　furtive；　appraising　glance。　His　friend's　father　had　aged　greatly　since　the　beginning　of　the　war。　He　no　longer　had　that　air　of　tenacity　and　ill…humor　that　had　made　him　unapproachable。　　His　eyes　were　sparkling　with　childish　glee；　his　hands　were　trembling　slightly；　and　his　back　was　bent。　　Argensola；　who　had　always　dodged　him　in　the　street　and　had　thrilled　with　fear　when　sneaking　up　the　stairway　in　the　avenue　home；　now　felt　a　sudden　confidence。　　The　transformed　old　man　was　beaming　on　him　like　a　comrade；　and　making　excuses　to　justify　his　visit。

He　had　wished　to　see　his　son's　home。　　Poor　old　man！　　He　was　drawn　thither　by　the　same　attraction　which　leads　the　lover　to　lessen　his　solitude　by　haunting　the　places　that　his　beloved　has　frequented。　The　letters　from　Julio　were　not　enough；　he　needed　to　see　his　old　abode；　to　be　on　familiar　terms　with　the　objects　which　had　surrounded　him；　to　breathe　the　same　air；　to　chat　with　the　young　man　who　was　his　boon　companion。

His　fatherly　glance　now　included　Argensola。　。　。　　。　　〃A　very　interesting　fellow；　that　Argensola！〃　　And　as　he　thought　this；　he　forgot　completely　that；　without　knowing　him；　he　had　been　accustomed　to　refer　to　him　as　〃shameless；〃　just　because　he　was　sharing　his　son's　prodigal　life。

Desnoyers'　glance　roamed　delightedly　around　the　studio。　　He　knew　well　these　tapestries　and　furnishings；　all　the　decorations　of　the　former　owner。　　He　easily　remembered　everything　that　he　had　ever　bought；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　they　were　so　many。　　His　eyes　then　sought　the　personal　effects；　everything　that　would　call　the　absent　occupant　to　mind；　and　he　pored　over　the　miserably　executed　paintings；　the　unfinished　dabs　which　filled　all　the　corners。

Were　they　all　Julio's？　。　。　。　　Many　of　the　canvases　belonged　to　Argensola；　but　affected　by　the　ol