roads of destiny-第2节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ead；　he　stood　by　the　lady's　chair　and　bowed。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　and　he　marvelled　to　find　his　words　flowing　easily　before　so　much　elegance　and　beauty。　〃You　have　heard　me　say　I　was　a　shepherd。　I　have　also　had　the　fancy；　at　times；　that　I　am　a　poet。　If　it　be　the　test　of　a　poet　to　adore　and　cherish　the　beautiful；　that　fancy　is　now　strengthened。　Can　I　serve　you　in　any　way；　mademoiselle？〃

The　young　woman　looked　up　at　him　with　eyes　dry　and　mournful。　His　frank；　glowing　face；　made　serious　by　the　gravity　of　the　adventure；　his　strong；　straight　figure　and　the　liquid　sympathy　in　his　blue　eyes；　perhaps；　also；　her　imminent　need　of　long…denied　help　and　kindness；　thawed　her　to　sudden　tears。

〃Monsieur；〃　she　said；　in　low　tones；　〃you　look　to　be　true　and　kind。　He　is　my　uncle；　the　brother　of　my　father；　and　my　only　relative。　He　loved　my　mother；　and　he　hates　me　because　I　am　like　her。　He　has　made　my　life　one　long　terror。　I　am　afraid　of　his　very　looks；　and　never　before　dared　to　disobey　him。　But　to…night　he　would　have　married　me　to　a　man　three　times　my　age。　You　will　forgive　me　for　bringing　this　vexation　upon　you；　monsieur。　You　will；　of　course；　decline　this　mad　act　he　tries　to　force　upon　you。　But　let　me　thank　you　for　your　generous　words；　at　least。　I　have　had　none　spoken　to　me　in　so　long。〃

There　was　now　something　more　than　generosity　in　the　poet's　eyes。　Poet　he　must　have　been；　for　Yvonne　was　forgotten；　this　fine；　new　loveliness　held　him　with　its　freshness　and　grace。　The　subtle　perfume　from　her　filled　him　with　strange　emotions。　His　tender　look　fell　warmly　upon　her。　She　leaned　to　it；　thirstily。

〃Ten　minutes；〃　said　David；　〃is　given　me　in　which　to　do　what　I　would　devote　years　to　achieve。　I　will　not　say　I　pity　you；　mademoiselle；　it　would　not　be　trueI　love　you。　I　cannot　ask　love　from　you　yet；　but　let　me　rescue　you　from　this　cruel　man；　and；　in　time；　love　may　come。　I　think　I　have　a　future；　I　will　not　always　be　a　shepherd。　For　the　present　I　will　cherish　you　with　all　my　heart　and　make　your　life　less　sad。　Will　you　trust　your　fate　to　me；　mademoiselle？〃

〃Ah；　you　would　sacrifice　yourself　from　pity！〃

〃From　love。　The　time　is　almost　up；　mademoiselle。〃

〃You　will　regret　it；　and　despise　me。〃

〃I　will　live　only　to　make　you　happy；　and　myself　worthy　of　you。〃

Her　fine　small　hand　crept　into　his　from　beneath　her　cloak。

〃I　will　trust　you；〃　she　breathed；　〃with　my　life。　Andand　lovemay　not　be　so　far　off　as　you　think。　Tell　him。　Once　away　from　the　power　of　his　eyes　I　may　forget。〃

David　went　and　stood　before　the　marquis。　The　black　figure　stirred；　and　the　mocking　eyes　glanced　at　the　great　hall　clock。

〃Two　minutes　to　spare。　A　shepherd　requires　eight　minutes　to　decide　whether　he　will　accept　a　bride　of　beauty　and　income！　Speak　up；　shepherd；　do　you　consent　to　become　mademoiselle's　husband？〃

〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　David；　standing　proudly；　〃has　done　me　the　honour　to　yield　to　my　request　that　she　become　my　wife。〃

〃Well　said！〃　said　the　marquis。　〃You　have　yet　the　making　of　a　courtier　in　you；　master　shepherd。　Mademoiselle　could　have　drawn　a　worse　prize；　after　all。　And　now　to　be　done　with　the　affair　as　quick　as　the　Church　and　the　devil　will　allow！〃

He　struck　the　table　soundly　with　his　sword　hilt。　The　landlord　came；　knee…shaking；　bringing　more　candles　in　the　hope　of　anticipating　the　great　lord's　whims。　〃Fetch　a　priest；〃　said　the　marquis；　〃a　priest；　do　you　understand？　In　ten　minutes　have　a　priest　here；　or〃

The　landlord　dropped　his　candles　and　flew。

The　priest　came；　heavy…eyed　and　ruffled。　He　made　David　Mignot　and　Lucie　de　Verennes　man　and　wife；　pocketed　a　gold　piece　that　the　marquis　tossed　him；　and　shuffled　out　again　into　the　night。

〃Wine；〃　ordered　the　marquis；　spreading　his　ominous　fingers　at　the　host。

〃Fill　glasses；〃　he　said；　when　it　was　brought。　He　stood　up　at　the　head　of　the　table　in　the　candlelight；　a　black　mountain　of　venom　and　conceit；　with　something　like　the　memory　of　an　old　love　turned　to　poison　in　his　eyes；　as　it　fell　upon　his　niece。

〃Monsieur　Mignot；〃　he　said；　raising　his　wineglass；　〃drink　after　I　say　this　to　you：　You　have　taken　to　be　your　wife　one　who　will　make　your　life　a　foul　and　wretched　thing。　The　blood　in　her　is　an　inheritance　running　black　lies　and　red　ruin。　She　will　bring　you　shame　and　anxiety。　The　devil　that　descended　to　her　is　there　in　her　eyes　and　skin　and　mouth　that　stoop　even　to　beguile　a　peasant。　There　is　your　promise；　monsieur　poet；　for　a　happy　life。　Drink　your　wine。　At　last；　mademoiselle；　I　am　rid　of　you。〃

The　marquis　drank。　A　little　grievous　cry；　as　if　from　a　sudden　wound；　came　from　the　girl's　lips。　David；　with　his　glass　in　his　hand；　stepped　forward　three　paces　and　faced　the　marquis。　There　was　little　of　a　shepherd　in　his　bearing。

〃Just　now；〃　he　said；　calmly；　〃you　did　me　the　honor　to　call　me　'monsieur。'　May　I　hope；　therefore　that　my　marriage　to　mademoiselle　has　placed　me　somewhat　nearer　to　you　inlet　us　say；　reflected　rankhas　given　me　the　right　to　stand　more　as　an　equal　to　monseigneur　in　a　certain　little　piece　of　business　I　have　in　my　mind？〃

〃You　may　hope；　shepherd；〃　sneered　the　marquis。

〃Then；〃　said　David；　dashing　his　glass　of　wine　into　the　contemptuous　eyes　that　mocked　him；　〃perhaps　you　will　condescend　to　fight　me。〃

The　fury　of　the　great　lord　outbroke　in　one　sudden　curse　like　a　blast　from　a　horn。　He　tore　his　sword　from　its　black　sheath；　he　called　to　the　hovering　landlord：　〃A　sword　there；　for　this　lout！〃　He　turned　to　the　lady；　with　a　laugh　that　chilled　her　heart；　and　said：　〃You　put　much　labour　upon　me；　madame。　It　seems　I　must　find　you　a　husband　and　make　you　a　widow　in　the　same　night。〃

〃I　know　not　sword…play；〃　said　David。　He　flushed　to　make　the　confession　before　his　lady。

〃'I　know　not　sword…play；'〃　mimicked　the　marquis。　〃Shall　we　fight　like　peasants　with　oaken　cudgels？　/Hola/！　Francois；　my　pistols！〃

A　postilion　brought　two　shining　great　pistols　ornamented　with　carven　silver；　from　the　carriage　holsters。　The　marquis　tossed　one　upon　the　table　near　David's　hand。　〃To　the　other　end　of　the　table；〃　he　cried；　〃even　a　shepherd　may　pull　a　trigger。　Few　of　them　attain　the　honour　to　die　by　the　weapon　of　a　De　Beaupertuys。〃

The　shepherd　and　the　marquis　faced　each　other　from　the　ends　of　the　long　table。　The　landlord；　in　an　ague　of　terror；　clutched　the　air　and　stammered：　〃M…M…Monseigneur；　for　the　love　of　Christ！　not　in　my　house！　do　not　spill　bloodit　will　ruin　my　custom〃　The　look　of　the　marquis；　threatening　him；　paralyzed　his　tongue。

〃Coward；〃　cried　the　lord　of　Beaupertuys；　〃cease　chattering　your　teeth　long　enough　to　give　the　word　for　us；　if　you　can。〃

Mine　host's　knees　smote　the　floor。　He　was　without　a　vocabulary。　Even　sounds　were　beyond　him。　Still；　by　gestures　he　seemed　to　beseech　peace　in　the　name　of　his　house　and　custom。

〃I　will　give　the　word；〃　said　the　lady；　in　a　clear　voice。　She　went　up　to　David　and　kissed　him　sweetly。　Her　eyes　were　sparkling　bright；　and　colour　had　come　to　her　cheek。　She　stood　against　the　wall；　and　the　two　men　levelled　their　pistols　for　her　count。

〃/Un//deux//trois/！〃

The　two　reports　came　so　nearly　together　that　the　candles　flickered　but　once。　The　marquis　stood；　smiling；　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand　resting；　outspread；　upon　the　end　of　the　table。　David　remained　erect；　and　turned　his　head　very　slowly；　searching　for　his　wife　with　his　eyes。　Then；　as　a　garment　falls　from　where　it　is　hung；　he　sank；　crumpled；　upon　the　floor。

With　a　little　cry　of　terror　and　despair；　the　widowed　maid　ran　and　stooped　above　him。　She　found　his　wound；　and　then　looked　up　with　her　old　look　of　pale　melancholy。　〃Through　his　heart；〃　she　whispered。　〃Oh；　his　heart！〃

〃Come；〃　boomed　the　great　voice　of　the　marquis；　〃out　with　you　to　the　carriage！　Daybreak　shall　not　find　you　on　my　hands。　Wed　you　shall　be　again；　and　to　a　living　husband；　this　night。　The　next　we　come　upon；　my　lady；　highwayman　or　peasant。　If　the　road　yields　no　other；　then　the　churl　that　opens　my　gates。　Out　with　you　into　the　carriage！〃

The　marquis；　implacable　and　huge；　the　lady　wrapped　again　in　the　mystery　of　her　cloak；　the　postilion　bearing　the　weaponsall　moved　out　to　the　waiting　carriage。　The　sound　of　its　ponderous　wheels　rolling　away　echoed　through　the　slumbering　village。　In　the　hall　of　the　Silver　Flagon　the　distracted　landlord　wrung　his　hands　above　the　slain　poet's　body；　while　the　flames　of　the　four　and　twenty　candles　danced　and　flickered　on　the　table。



THE　RIGHT　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　　　right。/

Whither　it　led　he　knew　not；　but　he　was　resolved　to　leave　Vernoy　far　behind　that　night。　He　travelled　a　league　and　then　passed　a　large　/chateau/　which　showed　testimony　of　recent　entertainment。　Lights　shone　from　every　window；　from　the　great　stone　gateway　ran　a　tracery　of　wheel　tracks　drawn　in　the　dust　by　the　vehicles　of　the　guests。

Three　leagues　farther　and　David　was　weary。　He　rested　and　slept　for　a　while　on　a　bed　of　pine　boughs　at　the　roadside。　Then　up　and　on　again　along　the　unknown　way。

Thus　for　five　days　he　travelled　the　great　road；　sleeping　upon　Nature's　balsamic　beds　or　in　peasants'　ricks；　eating　of　their　black；　hospitable　bread；　drinking　from　streams　or　the　willi