tartarin of tarascon-第6节

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others；　and　this　made　him　suffer　horribly。

Ah；　the　huge　bowl　of　popularity！　it's　all　very　well　to　have　a　seat　in　front　of　it；　but　what　a　scalding　you　catch　when　it　is　overturned！

Notwithstanding　his　pain；　Tartarin　smiled　and　peacefully　jogged　on　in　the　same　life　as　if　nothing　untoward　had　happened。　　Still；　the　mask　of　jovial　heedlessness　glued　by　pride　on　his　face　would　sometimes　be　suddenly　detached。　　Then；　in　lieu　of　laughter；　one　saw　grief　and　indignation。　　Thus　it　was　that　one　morning；　when　the　little　blackguards　yelped　〃Muster　Jarvey's　Roifle〃　beneath　his　window；　the　wretches'　voices　rose　even　into　the　poor　great　man's　room；　where　he　was　shaving　before　the　glass。　　（Tartarin　wore　a　full　beard；　but　as　it　grew　very　thick；　he　was　obliged　to　keep　it　trimmed　orderly。）

All　at　once　the　window　was　violently　opened；　and　Tartarin　appeared　in　shirt…sleeves　and　nightcap；　smothered　in　lather；　flourishing　his　razor　and　shaving…brush；　and　roaring　with　a　formidable　voice　；

〃Let's　have　it　out　with　swords；　gentlemen；　not　pins！〃

Fine　words；　worthy　of　history's　record；　with　only　the　blemish　that　they　were　addressed　to　little　scamps　not　higher　than　their　boot…　boxes；　and　who　were　quite　incapable　of　holding　a　smallsword。



XII。　A　memorable　Dialogue　in　the　little　Baobab　Villa。


Amid　the　general　falling　off；　the　army　alone　stuck　out　firmly　for　Tartarin。　　Brave　Commandant　Bravida　（the　former　captain　in　the　Army　Clothing　Department）　continued　to　show　him　the　same　esteem　as　ever。　　〃He's　game！〃　he　persisted　in　saying　　an　assertion；　I　beg　to　believe；　fully　worth　the　chemist　Bezuquet's。　　Not　once　did　the　brave　officer　let　out　any　allusion　to　the　trip　to　Africa；　but　when　the　public　clamour　grew　too　loud；　he　determined　to　have　his　say。

One　evening　the　luckless　Tartarin　was　in　his　study；　in　a　brown　study　himself；　when　he　saw　the　commandant　stride　in；　stern；　wearing　black　gloves；　buttoned　up　to　his　ears。

〃Tartarin；〃　said　the　ex…captain　authoritatively；　〃Tartarin；　you'll　have　to　go！〃

And　there　he　dwelt；　erect　in　the　doorway　frame；　grand　and　rigid　as　embodied　Duty。　Tartarin　of　Tarascon　comprehended　all　the　sense　in　〃Tartarin；　you'll　have　to　ago！〃

Very　pale；　he　rose　and　looked　around　with　a　softened　eye　upon　the　cosy　snuggery；　tightly　closed　in；　full　of　warmth　and　tender　light　　upon　the　commodious　easy　chair；　his　books；　the　carpet；　the　white　blinds　of　the　windows；　beyond　which　trembled　the　slender　twigs　of　the　little　garden。　　Then；　advancing　towards　the　brave　officer；　he　took　his　hand；　grasped　it　energetically；　and　said　in　a　voice　somewhat　tearful；　but　stoical　for　all　that：

〃I　am　going；　Bravida。〃

And　go　he　did；　as　he　said　he　would。　Not　straight　off　though；　for　it　takes　time　to　get　the　paraphernalia　together。

To　begin　with；　he　ordered　of　Bompard　two　large　boxes　bound　with　brass；　and　an　inscription　to　be　on　them：

…　I　　　　　　　　　TARTARIN；　OF　TARASCON　　　　　　　　　I　I　　　　　　　　　　　　　Firearms；　&c。　　　　　　　　　　　　　I　…

　The　binding　in　brass　and　the　lettering　took　much　time。　　He　also　ordered　at　Tastavin's　a　showy　album；　in　which　to　keep　a　diary　and　his　impressions　of　travel；　for　a　man　cannot　help　having　an　idea　or　two　strike　him　even　when　he　is　busy　lion…hunting。

Next；　he　had　over　from　Marseilles　a　downright　cargo　of　tinned　eatables；　pemmican　compressed　in　cakes　for　making　soup；　a　new　pattern　shelter…tent；　opening　out　and　packing　up　in　a　minute；　sea…　boots；　a　couple　of　umbrellas；　a　waterproof　coat；　and　blue　spectacles　to　ward　off　ophthalmia。　　To　conclude；　Bezuquet　the　chemist　made　him　up　a　miniature　portable　medicine　chest　stuffed　with　diachylon　plaister；　arnica；　camphor；　and　medicated　vinegar。

Poor　Tartarin！　he　did　not　take　these　safeguards　on　his　own　behalf；　but　he　hoped；　by　dint　of　precaution　and　delicate　attentions；　to　allay　Sancho…Tartarin's　fury；　who；　since　the　start　was　fixed；　never　left　off　raging　day　or　night。



XIII。　The　Departure。


EFTSOON　arrived　the　great　and　solemn　day。　　From　dawn　all　Tarascon　had　been　on　foot；　encumbering　the　Avignon　road　and　the　approaches　to　Baobab　Villa。　　People　were　up　at　the　windows；　on　the　roofs；　and　in　the　trees；　the　Rhone　bargees；　porters；　dredgers；　shoe…blacks；　gentry；　tradesfolk；　warpers　and　weavers；　taffety…　workers；　the　club　members；　in　short　the　whole　town；　moreover；　people　from　Beaucaire　had　come　over　the　bridge；　market…gardeners　from　the　environs；　carters　in　their　huge　carts　with　ample　tilts；　vinedressers　upon　handsome　mules；　tricked　out　with　ribbons；　streamers；　bells；　rosettes；　and　jingles；　and　even；　here　and　there；　a　few　pretty　maids　from　Arles；　come　on　the　pillion　behind　their　sweethearts；　with　bonny　blue　ribbons　round　the　head；　upon　little　iron…grey　Camargue　horses。

All　this　swarm　squeezed　and　jostled　before　our　good　Tartarin's　door；　who　was　going　to　slaughter　lions　in　the　land　of　the　Turks。

For　Tarascon；　Algeria；　Africa；　Greece；　Persia；　Turkey；　and　Mesopotamia；　all　form　one　great　hazy　country；　almost　a　myth；　called　the　land　of　the　Turks。　　They　say　〃Tur's；〃　but　that's　a　linguistic　digression。

In　the　midst　of　all　this　throng；　the　cap　poppers　bustled　to　and　fro；　proud　of　their　captain's　triumph；　leaving　glorious　wakes　where　they　had　passed。

In　front　of　the　Indian　fig…tree　house　were　two　large　trucks。　　From　time　to　time　the　door　would　open；　and　allow　several　persons　to　be　spied；　gravely　lounging　about　the　little　garden。　At　every　new　box　the　throng　started　and　trembled。　　The　articles　were　named　in　a　loud　voice：

〃That　there's　the　shelter…tent；　these　the　potted　meats；　that's　the　physic…chest；　these　the　gun…cases；〃　　the　cap…poppers　giving　explanations。

All　of　a　sudden；　about　ten　o'clock；　there　was　a　great　stir　in　the　multitude；　for　the　garden　gate　banged　open。

〃Here　he　is！　　here　he　is！〃　they　shouted。

It　was　he　indeed。　　When　he　appeared　upon　the　threshold；　two　outcries　of　stupefaction　burst　from　the　assemblage：

〃He's　a　Turk！〃　　〃He's　got　on　spectacles　！〃

In　truth；　Tartarin　of　Tarascon　had　deemed　it　his　duty；　on　going　to　Algeria；　to　don　the　Algerian　costume。　Full　white　linen　trousers；　small　tight　vest　with　metal　buttons；　a　red　sash　two　feet　wide　around　the　waist；　the　neck　bare　and　the　forehead　shaven；　and　a　vast　red　fez；　or　chechia；　on　his　head；　with　something　like　a　long　blue　tassel　thereto。　　Together　with　this；　two　heavy　guns；　one　on　each　shoulder；　a　broad　hunting…knife　in　the　girdle；　a　bandolier　across　the　breast；　a　revolver　on　the　hip；　swinging　in　its　patent　leather　case　　that　is　all。　No；　I　cry　your　pardon；　I　was　forgetting　the　spectacles　　a　pantomimically　large　pair　of　azure　barnacles；　which　came　in　patly　to　temper　what　was　rather　too　fierce　in　the　bearing　of　our　hero。

〃Long　life　to　Tartarin！　hip；　hip；　hurrah　for　Tartarin！〃　roared　the　populace。

The　great　man　smiled；　but　did　not　salute；　on　account　of　the　firearms　hindering　him。　Moreover；　he　knew　now　on　what　popular　favour　depends；　it　may　even　be　that　in　the　depths　of　his　soul　he　cursed　his　terrible　fellow…townsfolk；　who　obliged　him　to　go　away　and　leave　his　pretty　little　pleasure…house　with　whitened　walls　and　green　venetians。　　But　there　was　no　show　of　this。

Calm　and　proud；　although　a　little　pallid；　he　stepped　out　on　the　footway；　glanced　at　the　hand…carts；　and；　seeing　all　was　right；　lustily　took　the　road　to　the　railway…station；　without　even　once　looking　back　towards　Baobab　Villa。　　Behind　him　marched　the　brave　Commandant　Bravida；　Ladeveze　the　Chief　Judge；　Costecalde　the　gunsmith　next；　and　then　all　the　sportsmen　who　pop　at　caps；　preceding　the　hand…carts　and　the　rag；　tag；　and　bobtail。

Before　the　station　the　station…master　awaited　them；　an　old　African　veteran　of　1830；　who　shook　Tartarin's　hand　many　times　with　fervency。

The　Paris…to…Marseilles　express　was　not　yet　in；　so　Tartarin　and　his　staff　went　into　the　waiting…rooms。　　To　prevent　the　place　being　overrun；　the　station…master　ordered　the　gates　to　be　closed。

During　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　Tartarin　promenaded　up　and　down　in　the　rooms　in　the　midst　of　his　brother　marksmen；　speaking　to　them　of　his　journey　and　his　hunting；　and　promising　to　send　them　skins；　they　put　their　names　down　in　his　memorandum…book　for　a　lionskin　apiece；　as　waltzers　book　for　a　dance。

Gentle　and　placid　as　Socrates　on　the　point　of　quaffing　the　hemlock；　the　intrepid　Tarasconian　had　a　word　and　a　smile　for　each。　He　spoke　simply；　with　an　affable　mien；　it　looked　as　if；　before　departing；　he　meant　to　leave　behind　him　a　wake　of　charms；　regrets；　and　pleasant　memories。　　On　hearing　their　leader　speak　in　this　way；　all　the　sportsmen　felt　tears　well　up；　and　some　were　stung　with　remorse；　to　wit；　Chief　Judge　Ladeveze　and　the　chemist　Bezuquet。　The　railway　employees　blubbered　in　the　corners；　whilst　the　outer　public　squinted　through　the　bars　and　bellowed：　〃Long　live　Tartarin！〃

At　length　the　bell　rang。　A　dull　rumble　was　heard；　and　a　piercing　whistle　shook　the　vault。

〃The　Marseilles　express；　gen'lemen！〃

〃Good…bye；　Tartarin！　　Good　luck；　old　fellow！〃

〃Good…bye　to　you　all！〃　murmured　the　great　man；　as；　with　his　arms　around　the　brave　Commandant　Bravida；　he　embraced　his　dear　native　place　collectively　in　him。　Then　he　leaped　out　upon　the　platform；　and　clambered　into　a　carriage　full　of　Parisian　ladies；　who　were　ready　to　die　with　fright　at　sight　of　this　stranger　with　so　many　pistols　and　rifles。