roads of destiny-第1节

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Roads　of　Destiny

by　O。　Henry





CONTENTS

　　　　I。　Roads　of　Destiny
　　　II。　The　Guardian　of　the　Accolade
　　III。　The　Discounters　of　Money
　　　IV。　The　Enchanted　Profile
　　　　V。　〃Next　to　Reading　Matter〃
　　　VI。　Art　and　the　Bronco
　　VII。　Phoebe
　VIII。　A　Double…dyed　Deceiver
　　　IX。　The　Passing　of　Black　Eagle
　　　　X。　A　Retrieved　Reformation
　　　XI。　Cherchez　la　Femme
　　XII。　Friends　in　San　Rosario
　XIII。　The　Fourth　in　Salvador
　　XIV。　The　Emancipation　of　Billy
　　　XV。　The　Enchanted　Kiss
　　XVI。　A　Departmental　Case
　XVII。　The　Renaissance　at　Charleroi
XVIII。　On　Behalf　of　the　Management
　　XIX。　Whistling　Dick's　Christmas　Stocking
　　　XX。　The　Halberdier　of　the　Little　Rheinschloss
　　XXI。　Two　Renegades
　XXII。　The　Lonesome　Road




ROADS　OF　DESTINY



I

ROADS　OF　DESTINY

　　I　go　to　seek　on　many　roads　　　　　What　is　to　be。　　　True　heart　and　strong；　with　love　to　light　　　　　Will　they　not　bear　me　in　the　fight　　　　　To　order；　shun　or　wield　or　mould　　　My　Destiny？

/Unpublished　Poems　of　David　Mignot/。


The　song　was　over。　The　words　were　David's；　the　air；　one　of　the　countryside。　The　company　about　the　inn　table　applauded　heartily；　for　the　young　poet　paid　for　the　wine。　Only　the　notary；　M。　Papineau；　shook　his　head　a　little　at　the　lines；　for　he　was　a　man　of　books；　and　he　had　not　drunk　with　the　rest。

David　went　out　into　the　village　street；　where　the　night　air　drove　the　wine　vapour　from　his　head。　And　then　he　remembered　that　he　and　Yvonne　had　quarrelled　that　day；　and　that　he　had　resolved　to　leave　his　home　that　night　to　seek　fame　and　honour　in　the　great　world　outside。

〃When　my　poems　are　on　every　man's　tongue；〃　he　told　himself；　in　a　fine　exhilaration；　〃she　will；　perhaps；　think　of　the　hard　words　she　spoke　this　day。〃

Except　the　roisterers　in　the　tavern；　the　village　folk　were　abed。　David　crept　softly　into　his　room　in　the　shed　of　his　father's　cottage　and　made　a　bundle　of　his　small　store　of　clothing。　With　this　upon　a　staff；　he　set　his　face　outward　upon　the　road　that　ran　from　Vernoy。

He　passed　his　father's　herd　of　sheep；　huddled　in　their　nightly　pen　the　sheep　he　herded　daily；　leaving　them　to　scatter　while　he　wrote　verses　on　scraps　of　paper。　He　saw　a　light　yet　shining　in　Yvonne's　window；　and　a　weakness　shook　his　purpose　of　a　sudden。　Perhaps　that　light　meant　that　she　rued；　sleepless；　her　anger；　and　that　morning　mightBut；　no！　His　decision　was　made。　Vernoy　was　no　place　for　him。　Not　one　soul　there　could　share　his　thoughts。　Out　along　that　road　lay　his　fate　and　his　future。

Three　leagues　across　the　dim；　moonlit　champaign　ran　the　road；　straight　as　a　ploughman's　furrow。　It　was　believed　in　the　village　that　the　road　ran　to　Paris；　at　least；　and　this　name　the　poet　whispered　often　to　himself　as　he　walked。　Never　so　far　from　Vernoy　had　David　travelled　before。



THE　LEFT　BRANCH

　　/Three　leagues；　then；　the　road　ran；　and　turned　into　a　puzzle。　It　　　joined　with　another　and　a　larger　road　at　right　angles。　David　　　stood；　uncertain；　for　a　while；　and　then　took　the　road　to　the　　　left。/

Upon　this　more　important　highway　were；　imprinted　in　the　dust；　wheel　tracks　left　by　the　recent　passage　of　some　vehicle。　Some　half　an　hour　later　these　traces　were　verified　by　the　sight　of　a　ponderous　carriage　mired　in　a　little　brook　at　the　bottom　of　a　steep　hill。　The　driver　and　postilions　were　shouting　and　tugging　at　the　horses'　bridles。　On　the　road　at　one　side　stood　a　huge；　black…clothed　man　and　a　slender　lady　wrapped　in　a　long；　light　cloak。

David　saw　the　lack　of　skill　in　the　efforts　of　the　servants。　He　quietly　assumed　control　of　the　work。　He　directed　the　outriders　to　cease　their　clamour　at　the　horses　and　to　exercise　their　strength　upon　the　wheels。　The　driver　alone　urged　the　animals　with　his　familiar　voice；　David　himself　heaved　a　powerful　shoulder　at　the　rear　of　the　carriage；　and　with　one　harmonious　tug　the　great　vehicle　rolled　up　on　solid　ground。　The　outriders　climbed　to　their　places。

David　stood　for　a　moment　upon　one　foot。　The　huge　gentleman　waved　a　hand。　〃You　will　enter　the　carriage；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　large；　like　himself；　but　smoothed　by　art　and　habit。　Obedience　belonged　in　the　path　of　such　a　voice。　Brief　as　was　the　young　poet's　hesitation；　it　was　cut　shorter　still　by　a　renewal　of　the　command。　David's　foot　went　to　the　step。　In　the　darkness　he　perceived　dimly　the　form　of　the　lady　upon　the　rear　seat。　He　was　about　to　seat　himself　opposite；　when　the　voice　again　swayed　him　to　its　will。　〃You　will　sit　at　the　lady's　side。〃

The　gentleman　swung　his　great　weight　to　the　forward　seat。　The　carriage　proceeded　up　the　hill。　The　lady　was　shrunk；　silent；　into　her　corner。　David　could　not　estimate　whether　she　was　old　or　young；　but　a　delicate；　mild　perfume　from　her　clothes　stirred　his　poet's　fancy　to　the　belief　that　there　was　loveliness　beneath　the　mystery。　Here　was　an　adventure　such　as　he　had　often　imagined。　But　as　yet　he　held　no　key　to　it；　for　no　word　was　spoken　while　he　sat　with　his　impenetrable　companions。

In　an　hour's　time　David　perceived　through　the　window　that　the　vehicle　traversed　the　street　of　some　town。　Then　it　stopped　in　front　of　a　closed　and　darkened　house；　and　a　postilion　alighted　to　hammer　impatiently　upon　the　door。　A　latticed　window　above　flew　wide　and　a　nightcapped　head　popped　out。

〃Who　are　ye　that　disturb　honest　folk　at　this　time　of　night？　My　house　is　closed。　'Tis　too　late　for　profitable　travellers　to　be　abroad。　Cease　knocking　at　my　door；　and　be　off。〃

〃Open！〃　spluttered　the　postilion；　loudly；　〃open　for　Monsiegneur　the　Marquis　de　Beaupertuys。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　the　voice　above。　〃Ten　thousand　pardons；　my　lord。　I　did　not　knowthe　hour　is　so　lateat　once　shall　the　door　be　opened；　and　the　house　placed　at　my　lord's　disposal。〃

Inside　was　heard　the　clink　of　chain　and　bar；　and　the　door　was　flung　open。　Shivering　with　chill　and　apprehension；　the　landlord　of　the　Silver　Flagon　stood；　half　clad；　candle　in　hand；　upon　the　threshold。

David　followed　the　Marquis　out　of　the　carriage。　〃Assist　the　lady；〃　he　was　ordered。　The　poet　obeyed。　He　felt　her　small　hand　tremble　as　he　guided　her　descent。　〃Into　the　house；〃　was　the　next　command。

The　room　was　the　long　dining…hall　of　the　tavern。　A　great　oak　table　ran　down　its　length。　The　huge　gentleman　seated　himself　in　a　chair　at　the　nearer　end。　The　lady　sank　into　another　against　the　wall；　with　an　air　of　great　weariness。　David　stood；　considering　how　best　he　might　now　take　his　leave　and　continue　upon　his　way。

〃My　lord；〃　said　the　landlord；　bowing　to　the　floor；　〃h…had　I　ex…　expected　this　honour；　entertainment　would　have　been　ready。　T…t…there　is　wine　and　cold　fowl　and　m…m…maybe〃

〃Candles；〃　said　the　marquis；　spreading　the　fingers　of　one　plump　white　hand　in　a　gesture　he　had。

〃Y…yes；　my　lord。〃　He　fetched　half　a　dozen　candles；　lighted　them；　and　set　them　upon　the　table。

〃If　monsieur　would；　perhaps；　deign　to　taste　a　certain　Burgundythere　is　a　cask〃

〃Candles；〃　said　monsieur；　spreading　his　fingers。

〃AssuredlyquicklyI　fly；　my　lord。〃

A　dozen　more　lighted　candles　shone　in　the　hall。　The　great　bulk　of　the　marquis　overflowed　his　chair。　He　was　dressed　in　fine　black　from　head　to　foot　save　for　the　snowy　ruffles　at　his　wrist　and　throat。　Even　the　hilt　and　scabbard　of　his　sword　were　black。　His　expression　was　one　of　sneering　pride。　The　ends　of　an　upturned　moustache　reached　nearly　to　his　mocking　eyes。

The　lady　sat　motionless；　and　now　David　perceived　that　she　was　young；　and　possessed　of　pathetic　and　appealing　beauty。　He　was　startled　from　the　contemplation　of　her　forlorn　loveliness　by　the　booming　voice　of　the　marquis。

〃What　is　your　name　and　pursuit？〃

〃David　Mignot。　I　am　a　poet。〃

The　moustache　of　the　marquis　curled　nearer　to　his　eyes。

〃How　do　you　live？〃

〃I　am　also　a　shepherd；　I　guarded　my　father's　flock；〃　David　answered；　with　his　head　high；　but　a　flush　upon　his　cheek。

〃Then　listen；　master　shepherd　and　poet；　to　the　fortune　you　have　blundered　upon　to…night。　This　lady　is　my　niece；　Mademoiselle　Lucie　de　Varennes。　She　is　of　noble　descent　and　is　possessed　of　ten　thousand　francs　a　year　in　her　own　right。　As　to　her　charms；　you　have　but　to　observe　for　yourself。　If　the　inventory　pleases　your　shepherd's　heart；　she　becomes　your　wife　at　a　word。　Do　not　interrupt　me。　To…night　I　conveyed　her　to　the　/chateau/　of　the　Comte　de　Villemaur；　to　whom　her　hand　had　been　promised。　Guests　were　present；　the　priest　was　waiting；　her　marriage　to　one　eligible　in　rank　and　fortune　was　ready　to　be　accomplished。　At　the　alter　this　demoiselle；　so　meek　and　dutiful；　turned　upon　me　like　a　leopardess；　charged　me　with　cruelty　and　crimes；　and　broke；　before　the　gaping　priest；　the　troth　I　had　plighted　for　her。　I　swore　there　and　then；　by　ten　thousand　devils；　that　she　should　marry　the　first　man　we　met　after　leaving　the　/chateau/；　be　he　prince；　charcoal…burner；　or　thief。　You；　shepherd；　are　the　first。　Mademoiselle　must　be　wed　this　night。　If　not　you；　then　another。　You　have　ten　minutes　in　which　to　make　your　decision。　Do　not　vex　me　with　words　or　questions。　Ten　minutes；　shepherd；　and　they　are　speeding。〃

The　marquis　drummed　loudly　with　his　white　fingers　upon　the　table。　He　sank　into　a　veiled　attitude　of　waiting。　It　was　as　if　some　great　house　had　shut　its　doors　and　windows　against　approach。　David　would　have　spoken；　but　the　huge　man's　bearing　stopped　his　tongue。　Instea