the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第86节
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〃He has always been the living image of you！〃
Having made sure that he was well and happy； the entire family suddenly felt a certain disquietude。 They wished to examine his wound so as to convince themselves that he was completely out of danger。
〃Oh； it's nothing at all；〃 protested the sub…lieutenant。 〃A bullet wound in the shoulder。 The doctor feared at first that I might lose my left arm； but it has healed well and it isn't worth while to think any more about it。〃
Chichi's appraising glance swept Julio from head to foot； taking in all the details of his military elegance。 His cloak was worn thin and dirty； the leggings were spatter…dashed with mud； he smelled of leather； sweaty cloth and strong tobacco； but on one wrist he was wearing a watch； and on the other； his identity medal fastened with a gold chain。 She had always admired her brother for his natural good taste； so she stowed away all these little details in her memory in order to pass them on to Rene。 Then she surprised her mother with a demand for a loan that she might send a little gift to her artilleryman。
Don Marcelo gloated over the fifteen days of satisfaction ahead of him。 Sub…lieutenant Desnoyers found it impossible to go out alone； for his father was always pacing up and down the reception hall before the military cap which was shedding modest splendor and glory upon the hat rack。 Scarcely had Julio put it on his head before his sire appeared； also with hat and cane； ready to sally forth。
〃Will you permit me to accompany you？ 。 。 。 I will not bother you。〃
This would be said so humbly； with such an evident desire to have his request granted； that his son had not the heart to refuse him。 In order to take a walk with Argensola； he had to scurry down the back stairs； or resort to other schoolboy tricks。
Never had the elder Desnoyers promenaded the streets of Paris with such solid satisfaction as by the side of this muscular youth in his gloriously worn cloak； on whose breast were glistening his two decorationsthe cross of war and the military medal。 He was a hero； and this hero was his son。 He accepted as homage to them both the sympathetic glances of the public in the street cars and subways。 The interest with which the women regarded the fine… looking youth tickled him immensely。 All the other military men that they met； no matter how many bands and crosses they displayed； appeared to the doting father mere embusques； unworthy of comparison with his Julio。 。 。 。 The wounded men who got out of the coaches by the aid of staffs and crutches inspired him with the greatest pity。 Poor fellows！ 。 。 。 They did not bear the charmed life of his son。 Nobody could kill him； and when； by chance； he had received a wound； the scars had immediately disappeared without detriment to his handsome person。
Sometimes； especially at night； Desnoyers senior would show an unexpected magnanimity； letting Julio fare forth alone。 Since before the war； his son had led a life filled with triumphant love… affairs； what might he not achieve now with the added prestige of a distinguished officer！ 。 。 。
Passing through his room on his way to bed； the father imagined the hero in the charming company of some aristocratic lady。 None but a feminine celebrity was worthy of him； his paternal pride could accept nothing less。 。 。 。 And it never occurred to him that Julio might be with Argensola in a music…hall or in a moving…picture show； enjoying the simple and monotonous diversions of a Paris sobered by war； with the homely tastes of a sub…lieutenant whose amorous conquests were no more than the renewal of some old friendships。
One evening as Don Marcelo was accompanying his son down the Champs Elysees； he started at recognizing a lady approaching from the opposite direction。 It was Madame Laurier。 。 。 。 Would she recognize Julio？ He noted that the youth turned pale and began looking at the other people with feigned interest。 She continued straight ahead； erect； unseeing。 The old gentleman was almost irritated at such coldness。 To pass by his son without feeling his presence instinctively！ Ah； these women！ 。 。 。 He turned his head involuntarily to look after her； but had to avert his inquisitive glance immediately。 He had surprised Marguerite motionless behind them； pallid with surprise； and fixing her gaze earnestly on the soldier who was separating himself from her。 Don Marcelo read in her eyes admiration； love； all of the past that was suddenly surging up in her memory。 Poor woman！ 。 。 。 He felt for her a paternal affection as though she were the wife of Julio。 His friend Lacour had again spoken to him about the Lauriers。 He knew that Marguerite was going to become a mother； and the old man； without taking into account the reconciliation nor the passage of time； felt as much moved at the thought of this approaching maternity as though the child were going to be Julio's。
Meanwhile Julio was marching right on； without turning his head； without being conscious of the burning gaze fixed upon him； colorless； but humming a tune to hide his emotion。 He always believed that Marguerite had passed near him without recognizing him； since his father did not betray her。
One of Don Marcelo's pet occupations was to make his son tell about the encounter in which he had been hurt。 No visitor ever came to see the sub…lieutenant but the father always made the same petition。
〃Tell us how you were wounded。 。 。 。 Explain how you killed that German captain。〃
Julio tried to excuse himself with visible annoyance。 He was already surfeited with his own history。 To please his father； he had related the facts to the senator； to Argensola and to Tchernoff in his studio； and to other family friends。 。 。 。 He simply could not do it again。
So the father began the narration on his own account； giving the relief and details of the deed as though seen with his own eyes。 。 。 。
He had to take possession of the ruins of a sugar refinery in front of the trench。 The Germans had been expelled by the French cannon。 A reconnoitring survey under the charge of a trusty man was then necessary。 And the heads； as usual； had selected Sergeant Desnoyers。
At daybreak； the platoon had advanced stealthily without encountering any difficulty。 The soldiers scattered among the ruins。 Julio then went on alone； examining the positions of the enemy； on turning around a corner of the wall； he had the most unexpected of encounters。 A German captain was standing in front of him。 They had almost bumped into each other。 They looked into each other's eyes with more suspense than hate； yet at the same time； they were trying instinctively to kill each other； each one trying to get the advantage by his swiftness。 The captain had dropped the map that he was carrying。 His right hand sought his revolver； trying to draw it from its case without once taking his eyes off his enemy。 Then he had to give this up as uselessit was too late。 With his eyes distended by the proximity of death； he kept his gaze fixed upon the Frenchman who had raised his gun to his face。 A shot； from a barrel almost touching him 。 。 。 and the German fell dead。
Not till then did the victor notice the captain's orderly who was but a few steps behind。 He shot Desnoyers； wounding him in the shoulder。 The French hurried to the spot； killing the corporal。 Then there was a sharp cross…fire with the enemy's company which had halted a little ways off while their commander was exploring the ground。 Julio； in spite of his wound； continued at the head of his section； defending the factory against superior forces until supports arrived； and the land remained definitely in the power of the French。
〃Wasn't that about the way of it？〃 Don Marcelo would always wind up。
The son assented； desirous that his annoyance with the persistent story should come to an end as soon as possible。 Yes； that was the way of it。 But what the father didn't know； what Julio would never tell； was the discovery that he had made after killing the captain。
The two men； during the interminable second in which they had confronted each other； had showed in their eyes something more than the surprise of an encounter； and the wish to overcome the other。 Desnoyers knew that man。 The captain knew him； too。 He guessed it from his expression。 。 。 。 But self…preservation was more insistent than recollection and prevented them both from co…ordinating their thoughts。
Desnoyers had fired with the certainty that he was killing someone that he knew。 Afterwards； while directing the defense of the position and guarding against the approach of reinforcements； he had a suspicion that the enemy whose corpse was lying a few feet away might possibly be a member of the von Hartrott family。 No； he looked much older than his cousins； yet younger than his Uncle Karl who at his age； would be no mere captain of infantry。
When； weakened by the loss of blood； they were about to carry him to the trenches； the sergeant expressed a wish to see again the body of his victim。 His doubt continued before the face blanched by death。 The wide…open eyes still seemed to retain their startled expression。 The man had undoubtedly recognized him。 His face was famil
