an historical mystery-第27节
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of faith; when the sovereign pontiff had power to intervene and cut
the Gordian knot of such phenomena (allied to the deepest and most
impenetrable mysteries); would have found its solution。 The Revolution
had deepened the Catholic faith in these young hearts; and religion
now rendered this crisis in their lives the more severe; because
nobility of character is ever heightened by the grandeur of
circumstances。 A sense of this truth kept Monsieur and Madame
d'Hauteserre and the abbe from the slightest fear of any unworthy
result on the part of the brothers or of Laurence。
This private drama; secretly developing within the limits of the
family life where each member watched it silently; ran its course so
rapidly and withal so slowly; it carried with it so many unhoped…for
pleasures; trifling jars; frustrated fancies; hopes reversed; anxious
waitings; delayed explanations and mute avowals that the dwellers at
Cinq…Cygne paid no attention to the public drama of the Emperor's
coronation。 At times these passions made a truce and sought
distraction in the violent enjoyment of hunting; when weariness of
body took from the soul all occasions to wander in the dangerous
meadows of reverie。 Neither Laurence nor her cousins had a thought now
for public affairs; each day brought its palpitating and absorbing
interests for their hearts。
〃Really;〃 said Mademoiselle Goujet one evening; 〃I don't know which of
all the lovers loves the most。〃
Adrien; who happened to be alone in the salon with the four card…
players; raised his eyes and turned pale。 For the last few days his
only hold on life had been the pleasure of seeing Laurence and of
listening to her。
〃I think;〃 said the abbe; 〃that the countess; being a woman; loves
with the greater abandonment to love。〃
Laurence; the twins; and Robert entered the room soon after。 The
newspapers had just arrived。 England; seeing the failure of all
conspiracies attempted within the borders of France; was now arming
all Europe against their common enemy。 The disaster at Trafalgar had
overthrown one of the most amazing plans which human genius ever
conceived; by which; if it had succeeded; the Emperor would have paid
the nation for his election by the ruin of the British power。 The camp
at Boulogne had just been raised。 Napoleon; whose solders were; as
always; inferior in numbers to the enemy; was about to carry the war
into parts of Europe where he had not before waged it。 The whole world
was breathless; awaiting the results of the campaign。
〃He'll surely be defeated this time;〃 said Robert; laying down the
paper。
〃The armies of Austria and of Russia are before him;〃 said Marie…Paul。
〃He has never fought in Germany;〃 added Paul…Marie。
〃Of whom are you speaking?〃 asked Laurence。
〃The Emperor;〃 answered the three gentlemen。
The jealous girl threw a disdainful look at her twin lovers; which
humiliated them while it rejoiced the heart of Adrien; who made a
gesture of admiration and gave her one proud look; which said plainly
that /he/ thought only of her;of Laurence。
〃I told you;〃 said the abbe in a low voice; 〃that love would some day
cause her to forget her animosity。〃
It was the first; last; and only reproach the brothers ever received
from her; but certainly at that moment their love; which could still
be distracted by national events; was inferior to that of Laurence;
which; absorbed her mind so completely that she only knew of the
amazing triumph at Austerlitz by overhearing a discussion between
Monsieur d'Hauteserre and his sons。
Faithful to his ideas of submission; the old man wished both Robert
and Adrien to re…enter the French army and apply for service; they
could; he thought; be reinstated in their rank and soon find an
opening to military honors。 But royalist opinions were now all…
powerful at Cinq…Cygne。 The four young men and Laurence laughed at
their prudent elder; who seemed to foresee a coming evil。 Possibly;
prudence is less virtue than the exercise of some instinct; or /sense/
of the mind (if it is allowable to couple those two words)。 A day will
come; no doubt; when physiologists and philosophers will both admit
that the senses are; in some way; the sheath or vehicle of a keen and
penetrative active power which issues from the mind。
CHAPTER XI
WISE COUNSEL
After peace was concluded between France and Austria; towards the end
of the month of February; 1806; a relative; whose influence had been
employed for the reinstatement of the Simeuse brothers; and who was
destined later to give them signal proofs of family attachment; the
ci…devant Marquis de Chargeboeuf; whose estates extended from the
department of the Seine…et…Marne to that of the Aube; arrived one
morning at Cinq…Cygne in a species of caleche which was then named in
derision a /berlingot/。 When this shabby carriage was driven past the
windows the inhabitants of the chateau; who were at breakfast; were
convulsed with laughter; but when the bald head of the old man was
seen issuing from behind the leather curtain of the vehicle Monsieur
d'Hauteserre told his name; and all present rose instantly to receive
and do honor to the head of the house of Chargeboeuf。
〃We have done wrong to let him come to us;〃 said the Marquis de
Simeuse to his brother and the d'Hauteserres; 〃we ought to have gone
to him and made our acknowledgements。〃
A servant; dressed as a peasant; who drove the horses from a seat on a
level with the body of the carriage; slipped his cartman's whip into a
coarse leather socket; and got down from the box to assist the marquis
from the carriage; but Adrien and the younger de Simeuse prevented
him; unbuttoned the leather apron; and helped the old man out in spite
of his protestations。 This gentleman of the old school chose to
consider his yellow /berlingot/ with its leather curtains a most
convenient and excellent equipage。 The servant; assisted by Gothard;
unharnessed the stout horses with shining flanks; accustomed no doubt
to do as much duty at the plough as in a carriage。
〃In spite of this cold weather! Why; you are a knight of the olden
time;〃 said Laurence; to her visitor; taking his arm and leading him
into the salon。
〃What has he come for?〃 thought old d'Hauteserre。
Monsieur de Chargeboeuf; a handsome old gentleman of sixty…six; in
light…colored breeches; his small weak legs encased in colored
stockings; wore powder; pigeon…wings and a queue。 His green cloth
hunting…coat with gold buttons was braided and frogged with gold。 His
white waistcoat glittered with gold embroidery。 This apparel; still in
vogue among old people; became his face; which was not unlike that of
Frederick the Great。 He never put on his three…cornered hat lest he
should destroy the effect of the half…moon traced upon his cranium by
a layer of powder。 His right hand; resting on a hooked cane; held both
cane and hat in a manner worthy of Louis XIV。 The fine old gentleman
took off his wadded silk pelisse and seated himself in an armchair;
holding the three…cornered hat and the cane between his knees in an
attitude the secret of which has never been grasped by any but the
roues of Louis XV。's court; an attitude which left the hands free to
play with a snuff…box; always a precious trinket。 Accordingly the
marquis drew from the pocket of his waistcoat; which was closed by a
flap embroidered in gold arabesques; a sumptuous snuff…box。 While
fingering his own pinch and offering the box around him with another
charming gesture accompanied with kindly smiles; he noticed the
pleasure which his visit gave。 He seemed then to comprehend why these
young /emigres/ had been remiss in their duty towards him; and to be
saying to himself; 〃When we are making love we can't make visits。〃
〃You will stay with us some days?〃 said Laurence。
〃Impossible;〃 he replied。 〃If we were not so separated by events (for
as to distance; you go farther than that which lies between us) you
would know; my dear child; that I have daughters; daughters…in…law;
and grand…children。 All these dear creatures would be very uneasy if I
did not return to them to…night; and I have forty…five miles to go。〃
〃Your horses are in good condition;〃 said the Marquis de Simeuse。
〃Oh! I am just from Troyes; where I had business yesterday。〃
After the customary polite inquiries for the Marquise de Chargeboeuf
and other matters really uninteresting but about which politeness
assumes that we are keenly interested; it dawned on Monsieur
d'Hauteserre that the old gentleman had come to warn his young
relatives against imprudence。 He remarked that times were changed and
no one could tell what the Emperor might now become。
〃Oh!〃 said Laurence; 〃he'll make himself God。〃
The Marquis spoke of the wisdom of concession。 When he stated; with
more emphasis and authority than he put into his other remarks; the
necessity of submission; Monsieur d'Hauteserre looked at his sons with
an almost supplicating air。
〃Would you serve that man?〃 asked the Marquis de Simeuse。
〃Yes; I would; if the interests of my family required it;〃 replied
Monsieur de Chargeboeuf。
Gradually the old man made them aware; though vaguely; of some
threatened dange