an historical mystery-第4节
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and the same soul； lived together as the Arab and his horse in the
desert。 The bailiff knew the modulations of the dog's voice； just as
the dog read his master's meaning in his eyes； or felt it exhaling in
the air from his body。
〃What do you say to that？〃 said Michu； in a low voice； calling his
wife's attention to two strangers who appeared in a by…path making for
the /rond…point/。
〃What can it mean？〃 cried the old mother。 〃They are Parisians。〃
〃Here they come！〃 said Michu。 〃Hide my gun；〃 he whispered to his wife。
The two men who now crossed the wide open space of the /rond…point/
were typical enough for a painter。 One； who appeared to be the
subaltern； wore top…boots； turned down rather low； showing well…made
calves； and colored silk stockings of doubtful cleanliness。 The
breeches； of ribbed cloth； apricot color with metal buttons； were too
large； they were baggy about the body； and the lines of their creases
seemed to indicate a sedentary man。 A marseilles waistcoat； overloaded
with embroidery； open； and held together by one button only just above
the stomach； gave to the wearer a dissipated look；all the more so；
because his jet black hair； in corkscrew curls； hid his forehead and
hung down his cheeks。 Two steel watch…chains were festooned upon his
breeches。 The shirt was adorned with a cameo in white and blue。 The
coat； cinnamon…colored； was a treasure to caricaturists by reason of
its long tails； which； when seen from behind； bore so perfect a
resemblance to a cod that the name of that fish was given to them。 The
fashion of codfish tails lasted ten years； almost the whole period of
the empire of Napoleon。 The cravat； loosely fastened； and with
numerous small folds； allowed the wearer to bury his face in it up to
the nostrils。 His pimpled skin； his long； thick； brick…dust colored
nose； his high cheek…bones； his mouth； lacking half its teeth but
greedy for all that and menacing； his ears adorned with huge gold
rings； his low forehead；all these personal details； which might have
seemed grotesque in many men； were rendered terrible in him by two
small eyes set in his head like those of a pig； expressive of
insatiable covetousness； and of insolent； half…jovial cruelty。 These
ferreting and perspicacious blue eyes； glassy and glacial； might be
taken for the model of that famous Eye； the formidable emblem of the
police； invented during the Revolution。 Black silk gloves were on his
hands and he carried a switch。 He was certainly some official
personage； for he showed in his bearing； in his way of taking snuff
and ramming it into his nose； the bureaucratic importance of an office
subordinate； one who signs for his superiors and acquires a passing
sovereignty by enforcing their orders。
The other man； whose dress was in the same style； but elegant and
elegantly put on and careful in its smallest detail； wore boots /a la/
Suwaroff which came high upon the leg above a pair of tight trousers；
and creaked as he walked。 Above his coat he wore a spencer； an
aristocratic garment adopted by the Clichiens and the young bloods of
Paris； which survived both the Clichiens and the fashionable youths。
In those days fashions sometimes lasted longer than parties；a
symptom of anarchy which the year of our Lord 1830 has again presented
to us。 This accomplished dandy seemed to be thirty years of age。 His
manners were those of good society； he wore jewels of value； the
collar of his shirt came to the tops of his ears。 His conceited and
even impertinent air betrayed a consciousness of hidden superiority。
His pallid face seemed bloodless； his thin flat nose had the sardonic
expression which we see in a death's head； and his green eyes were
inscrutable； their glance was discreet in meaning just as the thin
closed mouth was discreet in words。 The first man seemed on the whole
a good fellow compared with this younger man； who was slashing the air
with a cane； the top of which； made of gold； glittered in the
sunshine。 The first man might have cut off a head with his own hand；
but the second was capable of entangling innocence； virtue； and beauty
in the nets of calumny and intrigue； and then poisoning them or
drowning them。 The rubicund stranger would have comforted his victim
with a jest； the other was incapable of a smile。 The first was forty…
five years old； and he loved； undoubtedly； both women and good cheer。
Such men have passions which keep them slaves to their calling。 But
the young man was plainly without passions and without vices。 If he
was a spy he belonged to diplomacy； and did such work from a pure love
of art。 He conceived； the other executed； he was the idea； the other
was the form。
〃This must be Gondreville； is it not； my good woman？〃 said the young
man。
〃We don't say 'my good woman' here；〃 said Michu。 〃We are still simple
enough to say 'citizen' and 'citizeness' in these parts。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the young man； in a natural way； and without seeming
at all annoyed。
Players of ecarte often have a sense of inward disaster when some
unknown person sits down at the same table with them； whose manners；
look； voice； and method of shuffling the cards； all； to their fancy；
foretell defeat。 The instant Michu looked at the young man he felt an
inward and prophetic collapse。 He was struck by a fatal presentiment；
he had a sudden confused foreboding of the scaffold。 A voice told him
that that dandy would destroy him； although there was nothing whatever
in common between them。 For this reason his answer was rude； he was
and he wished to be forbidding。
〃Don't you belong to the Councillor of State； Malin？〃 said the younger
man。
〃I am my own master；〃 answered Malin。
〃Mesdames；〃 said the young man； assuming a most polite air； 〃are we
not at Gondreville？ We are expected there by Monsieur Malin。〃
〃There's the park；〃 said Michu； pointing to the open gate。
〃Why are you hiding that gun； my fine girl？〃 said the elder； catching
sight of the carbine as he passed through the gate。
〃You never let a chance escape you； even in the country！〃 cried his
companion。
They both turned back with a sense of distrust which the bailiff
understood at once in spite of their impassible faces。 Marthe let them
look at the gun； to the tune of Couraut's bark； she was so convinced
that her husband was meditating some evil deed that she was thankful
for the curiosity of the strangers。
Michu flung a look at his wife which made her tremble； he took the gun
and began to load it； accepting quietly the fatal ill…luck of this
encounter and the discovery of the weapon。 He seemed no longer to care
for life； and his wife fathomed his inward feeling。
〃So you have wolves in these parts？〃 said the young man； watching him。
〃There are always wolves where there are sheep。 You are in Champagne；
and there's a forest； we have wild…boars； large and small game both； a
little of everything；〃 replied Michu； in a truculent manner。
〃I'll bet； Corentin；〃 said the elder of the two men； after exchanging
a glance with his companion； 〃that this is my friend Michu〃
〃We never kept pigs together that I know of；〃 said the bailiff。
〃No； but we both presided over Jacobins； citizen；〃 replied the old
cynic；〃you at Arcis； I elsewhere。 I see you've kept your Carmagnole
civility； but it's no longer in fashion； my good fellow。〃
〃The park strikes me as rather large； we might lose our way。 If you
are really the bailiff show us the path to the chateau；〃 said
Corentin； in a peremptory tone。
Michu whistled to his son and continued to load his gun。 Corentin
looked at Marthe with indifference； while his companion seemed charmed
by her； but the young man noticed the signs of her inward distress；
which escaped the old libertine； who had； however； noticed and feared
the gun。 The natures of the two men were disclosed in this trifling
yet important circumstance。
〃I've an appointment the other side of the forest；〃 said the bailiff。
〃I can't go with you； but my son here will take you to the chateau。
How did you get to Gondreville？ did you come by Cinq…Cygne？〃
〃We had； like yourself； business in the forest；〃 said Corentin；
without apparent sarcasm。
〃Francois；〃 cried Michu； 〃take these gentlemen to the chateau by the
wood path； so that no one sees them； they don't follow the beaten
tracks。 Come here；〃 he added； as the strangers turned to walk away；
talking together as they did so in a low voice。 Michu caught the boy
in his arms； and kissed him almost solemnly with an expression which
confirmed his wife's fears； cold chills ran down her back； she glanced
at her mother with haggard eyes； for she could not weep。
〃Go；〃 said Michu； and he watched the boy until he was entirely out of
sight。 Couraut was barking on the other side of the road in the
direction of Grouage。 〃Oh； that's Violette；〃 remarked Michu。 〃This is
the third time that old fellow has passed here to…day。 What's in the
wind？ Hush； Couraut！〃
A few moments later the trot of a pony was heard approaching。
CHAPTER II
A CRIME RELINQUISHED
Violette； mounted on one of those little nags which the farmers in the
neighborhood of Paris use so much； soon appeared； wearing a round hat
with a broad brim； bene
