roads of destiny-第4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！


cted。　Me；　I　must　put　many　leagues　between　myself　and　Paris　this　night。　To…morrow　must　find　me　in　my　/chateau/。　After　you；　dear　countess。〃

The　marquis　puffed　out　the　candle。　The　lady；　well　cloaked；　and　the　two　gentlemen　softly　descended　the　stairway　and　flowed　into　the　crowd　that　roamed　along　the　narrow　pavements　of　the　Rue　Conti。

David　sped。　At　the　south　gate　of　the　king's　residence　a　halberd　was　laid　to　his　breast；　but　he　turned　its　point　with　the　words；　〃The　falcon　has　left　his　nest。〃

〃Pass；　brother；〃　said　the　guard；　〃and　go　quickly。〃

On　the　south　steps　of　the　palace　they　moved　to　seize　him；　but　again　the　/mot　de　passe/　charmed　the　watchers。　One　among　them　stepped　forward　and　began：　〃Let　him　strike〃　but　a　flurry　among　the　guards　told　of　a　surprise。　A　man　of　keen　look　and　soldierly　stride　suddenly　pressed　through　them　and　seized　the　letter　which　David　held　in　his　hand。　〃Come　with　me；〃　he　said；　and　led　him　inside　the　great　hall。　Then　he　tore　open　the　letter　and　read　it。　He　beckoned　to　a　man　uniformed　as　an　officer　of　musketeers；　who　was　passing。　〃Captain　Tetreau；　you　will　have　the　guards　at　the　south　entrance　and　the　south　gate　arrested　and　confined。　Place　men　known　to　be　loyal　in　their　places。〃　To　David　he　said：　〃Come　with　me。〃

He　conducted　him　through　a　corridor　and　an　anteroom　into　a　spacious　chamber；　where　a　melancholy　man；　sombrely　dressed；　sat　brooding　in　a　great；　leather…covered　chair。　To　that　man　he　said：

〃Sire；　I　have　told　you　that　the　palace　is　as　full　of　traitors　and　spies　as　a　sewer　is　of　rats。　You　have　thought；　sire；　that　it　was　my　fancy。　This　man　penetrated　to　your　very　door　by　their　connivance。　He　bore　a　letter　which　I　have　intercepted。　I　have　brought　him　here　that　your　majesty　may　no　longer　think　my　zeal　excessive。〃

〃I　will　question　him；〃　said　the　king；　stirring　in　his　chair。　He　looked　at　David　with　heavy　eyes　dulled　by　an　opaque　film。　The　poet　bent　his　knee。

〃From　where　do　you　come？〃　asked　the　king。

〃From　the　village　of　Vernoy；　in　the　province　of　Eure…et…Loir；　sire。〃

〃What　do　you　follow　in　Paris？〃

〃II　would　be　a　poet；　sire。〃

〃What　did　you　in　Vernoy？〃

〃I　minded　my　father's　flock　of　sheep。〃

The　king　stirred　again；　and　the　film　lifted　from　his　eyes。

〃Ah！　in　the　fields！〃

〃Yes；　sire。〃

〃You　lived　in　the　fields；　you　went　out　in　the　cool　of　the　morning　and　lay　among　the　hedges　in　the　grass。　The　flock　distributed　itself　upon　the　hillside；　you　drank　of　the　living　stream；　you　ate　your　sweet；　brown　bread　in　the　shade；　and　you　listened；　doubtless；　to　blackbirds　piping　in　the　grove。　Is　not　that　so；　shepherd？〃

〃It　is；　sire；〃　answered　David；　with　a　sigh；　〃and　to　the　bees　at　the　flowers；　and；　maybe；　to　the　grape　gatherers　singing　on　the　hill。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　the　king；　impatiently；　〃maybe　to　them；　but　surely　to　the　blackbirds。　They　whistled　often；　in　the　grove；　did　they　not？〃

〃Nowhere；　sire；　so　sweetly　as　in　Eure…et…Loir。　I　have　endeavored　to　express　their　song　in　some　verses　that　I　have　written。〃

〃Can　you　repeat　those　verses？〃　asked　the　king；　eagerly。　〃A　long　time　ago　I　listened　to　the　blackbirds。　It　would　be　something　better　than　a　kingdom　if　one　could　rightly　construe　their　song。　And　at　night　you　drove　the　sheep　to　the　fold　and　then　sat；　in　peace　and　tranquillity；　to　your　pleasant　bread。　Can　you　repeat　those　verses；　shepherd？〃

〃They　run　this　way；　sire；〃　said　David；　with　respectful　ardour：

　　〃'Lazy　shepherd；　see　your　lambkins　　　　　Skip；　ecstatic；　on　the　mead；　　　See　the　firs　dance　in　the　breezes；　　　　　Hear　Pan　blowing　at　his　reed。

　　〃Hear　us　calling　from　the　tree…tops；　　　　　See　us　swoop　upon　your　flock；　　　Yield　us　wool　to　make　our　nests　warm　　　　　In　the　branches　of　the'〃

〃If　it　please　your　majesty；〃　interrupted　a　harsh　voice；　〃I　will　ask　a　question　or　two　of　this　rhymester。　There　is　little　time　to　spare。　I　crave　pardon；　sire；　if　my　anxiety　for　your　safety　offends。〃

〃The　loyalty；〃　said　the　king；　〃of　the　Duke　d'Aumale　is　too　well　proven　to　give　offence。〃　He　sank　into　his　chair；　and　the　film　came　again　over　his　eyes。

〃First；〃　said　the　duke；　〃I　will　read　you　the　letter　he　brought：

　　〃'To…night　is　the　anniversary　of　the　dauphin's　death。　If　he　goes；　　　as　is　his　custom；　to　midnight　mass　to　pray　for　the　soul　of　his　　　son；　the　falcon　will　strike；　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　Esplanade。　　　If　this　be　his　intention；　set　a　red　light　in　the　upper　room　at　the　　　southwest　corner　of　the　palace；　that　the　falcon　may　take　heed。'

〃Peasant；〃　said　the　duke；　sternly；　〃you　have　heard　these　words。　Who　gave　you　this　message　to　bring？〃

〃My　lord　duke；〃　said　David；　sincerely；　〃I　will　tell　you。　A　lady　gave　it　me。　She　said　her　mother　was　ill；　and　that　this　writing　would　fetch　her　uncle　to　her　bedside。　I　do　not　know　the　meaning　of　the　letter；　but　I　will　swear　that　she　is　beautiful　and　good。〃

〃Describe　the　woman；〃　commanded　the　duke；　〃and　how　you　came　to　be　her　dupe。〃

〃Describe　her！〃　said　David　with　a　tender　smile。　〃You　would　command　words　to　perform　miracles。　Well；　she　is　made　of　sunshine　and　deep　shade。　She　is　slender；　like　the　alders；　and　moves　with　their　grace。　Her　eyes　change　while　you　gaze　into　them；　now　round；　and　then　half　shut　as　the　sun　peeps　between　two　clouds。　When　she　comes；　heaven　is　all　about　her；　when　she　leaves；　there　is　chaos　and　a　scent　of　hawthorn　blossoms。　She　came　to　see　me　in　the　Rue　Conti；　number　twenty…nine。〃

〃It　is　the　house；〃　said　the　duke；　turning　to　the　king；　〃that　we　have　been　watching。　Thanks　to　the　poet's　tongue；　we　have　a　picture　of　the　infamous　Countess　Quebedaux。〃

〃Sire　and　my　lord　duke；〃　said　David；　earnestly；　〃I　hope　my　poor　words　have　done　no　injustice。　I　have　looked　into　that　lady's　eyes。　I　will　stake　my　life　that　she　is　an　angel；　letter　or　no　letter。〃

The　duke　looked　at　him　steadily。　〃I　will　put　you　to　the　proof；〃　he　said；　slowly。　〃Dressed　as　the　king；　you　shall；　yourself；　attend　mass　in　his　carriage　at　midnight。　Do　you　accept　the　test？〃

David　smiled。　〃I　have　looked　into　her　eyes；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　my　proof　there。　Take　yours　how　you　will。〃

Half　an　hour　before　twelve　the　Duke　d'Aumale；　with　his　own　hands；　set　a　red　lamp　in　a　southwest　window　of　the　palace。　At　ten　minutes　to　the　hour；　David；　leaning　on　his　arm；　dressed　as　the　king；　from　top　to　toe；　with　his　head　bowed　in　his　cloak；　walked　slowly　from　the　royal　apartments　to　the　waiting　carriage。　The　duke　assisted　him　inside　and　closed　the　door。　The　carriage　whirled　away　along　its　route　to　the　cathedral。

On　the　/qui　vive/　in　a　house　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　Esplanade　was　Captain　Tetreau　with　twenty　men；　ready　to　pounce　upon　the　conspirators　when　they　should　appear。

But　it　seemed　that；　for　some　reason；　the　plotters　had　slightly　altered　their　plans。　When　the　royal　carriage　had　reached　the　Rue　Christopher；　one　square　nearer　than　the　Rue　Esplanade；　forth　from　it　burst　Captain　Desrolles；　with　his　band　of　would…be　regicides；　and　assailed　the　equipage。　The　guards　upon　the　carriage；　though　surprised　at　the　premature　attack；　descended　and　fought　valiantly。　The　noise　of　conflict　attracted　the　force　of　Captain　Tetreau；　and　they　came　pelting　down　the　street　to　the　rescue。　But；　in　the　meantime；　the　desperate　Desrolles　had　torn　open　the　door　of　the　king's　carriage；　thrust　his　weapon　against　the　body　of　the　dark　figure　inside；　and　fired。

Now；　with　loyal　reinforcements　at　hand；　the　street　rang　with　cries　and　the　rasp　of　steel；　but　the　frightened　horses　had　dashed　away。　Upon　the　cushions　lay　the　dead　body　of　the　poor　mock　king　and　poet；　slain　by　a　ball　from　the　pistol　of　Monseigneur；　the　Marquis　de　Beaupertuys。



THE　MAIN　ROAD

　　/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　sat　himself　to　rest　upon　　　its　side。/

Whither　these　roads　led　he　knew　not。　Either　way　there　seemed　to　lie　a　great　world　full　of　chance　and　peril。　And　then；　sitting　there；　his　eye　fell　upon　a　bright　star；　one　that　he　and　Yvonne　had　named　for　theirs。　That　set　him　thinking　of　Yvonne；　and　he　wondered　if　he　had　not　been　too　hasty。　Why　should　he　leave　her　and　his　home　because　a　few　hot　words　had　come　between　them？　Was　love　so　brittle　a　thing　that　jealousy；　the　very　proof　of　it；　could　break　it？　Mornings　always　brought　a　cure　for　the　little　heartaches　of　evening。　There　was　yet　time　for　him　to　return　home　without　any　one　in　the　sweetly　sleeping　village　of　Vernoy　being　the　wiser。　His　heart　was　Yvonne's；　there　where　he　had　lived　always　he　could　write　his　poems　and　find　his　happiness。

David　rose；　and　shook　off　his　unrest　and　the　wild　mood　that　had　tempted　him。　He　set　his　face　steadfastly　back　along　the　road　he　had　come。　By　the　time　he　had　retravelled　the　road　to　Vernoy；　his　desire　to　rove　was　gone。　He　passed　the　sheepfold；　and　the　sheep　scurried；　with　a　drumming　flutter；　at　his　late　footsteps；　warming　his　heart　by　the　homely　sound。　He　crept　without　noise　into　his　little　room　and　lay　there；　thankful　that　his　feet　had　escaped　the　distress　of　new　roads　that　night。

How　well　he　knew　woman's　heart！　The　next　evening　Yvonne　was　at　the　well　in　the　road　where　the　young　congregated　in　order　that　the　/cure/　might　have　business。　The　corner　of　her　eye　was　engaged　in　a　search　for　David；　albeit　her　set　mouth　se