white lies-第24节

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The　wedding　was　fixed　for　that　day　fortnight。　　The　next　morning　wardrobes　were　ransacked。　　The　silk；　muslin；　and　lace　of　their　prosperous　days　were　looked　out：　grave　discussions　were　held　over　each　work　of　art。　　Rose　was　active；　busy；　fussy。　　The　baroness　threw　in　the　weight　of　her　judgment　and　experience。

Josephine　managed　to　smile　whenever　either　Rose　or　the　baroness　looked　at　all　fixedly　at　her。

So　glided　the　peaceful　days。　　So　Josephine　drifted　towards　the　haven　of　wedlock。


CHAPTER　VI。


At　Bayonne；　a　garrison　town　on　the　south　frontier　of　France；　two　sentinels　walked　lethargically；　crossing　and　recrossing　before　the　governor's　house。　　Suddenly　their　official　drowsiness　burst　into　energy；　for　a　pale；　grisly　man；　in　rusty；　defaced；　dirty；　and　torn　regimentals；　was　walking　into　the　courtyard　as　if　it　belonged　to　him。　　The　sentinels　lowered　their　muskets；　and　crossed　them　with　a　clash　before　the　gateway。

The　scarecrow　did　not　start　back。　　He　stopped　and　looked　down　with　a　smile　at　the　steel　barrier　the　soldiers　had　improvised　for　him；　then　drew　himself　a　little　up；　carried　his　hand　carelessly　to　his　cap；　which　was　nearly　in　two；　and　gave　the　name　of　an　officer　in　the　French　army。

If　you　or　I；　dressed　like　a　beggar　who　years　ago　had　stolen　regimentals　and　worn　them　down　to　civil　garments；　had　addressed　these　soldiers　with　these　very　same　words；　the　bayonets　would　have　kissed　closer；　or　perhaps　the　points　been　turned　against　our　sacred　and　rusty　person：　but　there　is　a　freemasonry　of　the　sword。　　The　light；　imperious　hand　that　touched　that　battered　cap；　and　the　quiet　clear　tone　of　command　told。　　The　sentinels　slowly　recovered　their　pieces；　but　still　looked　uneasy　and　doubtful　in　their　minds。　　The　battered　one　saw　this；　and　gave　a　sort　of　lofty　smile；　he　turned　up　his　cuffs　and　showed　his　wrists；　and　drew　himself　still　higher。

The　sentinels　shouldered　their　pieces　sharp；　then　dropped　them　simultaneously　with　a　clatter　and　ring　upon　the　pavement。

〃Pass；　captain。〃

The　rusty　figure　rang　the　governor's　bell。　　A　servant　came　and　eyed　him　with　horror　and　contempt。　　He　gave　his　name；　and　begged　to　see　the　governor。　　The　servant　left　him　in　the　hall；　and　went　up…stairs　to　tell　his　master。　　At　the　name　the　governor　reflected；　then　frowned；　then　bade　his　servant　reach　him　down　a　certain　book。　　He　inspected　it。　　〃I　thought　so：　any　one　with　him？〃

〃No；　your　excellency。〃

〃Load　my　pistols；　put　them　on　the　table；　show　him　in；　and　then　order　a　guard　to　the　door。〃

The　governor　was　a　stern　veteran　with　a　powerful　brow；　a　shaggy　eyebrow；　and　a　piercing　eye。　　He　never　rose；　but　leaned　his　chin　on　his　hand；　and　his　elbow　on　a　table　that　stood　between　them；　and　eyed　his　visitor　very　fixedly　and　strangely。　　〃We　did　not　expect　to　see　you　on　this　side　the　Pyrenees；〃　said　he　gravely。

〃Nor　I　myself；　governor。〃

〃What　do　you　come　for？〃

〃A　suit　of　regimentals；　and　money　to　take　me　to　Paris。〃

〃And　suppose；　instead　of　that；　I　turn　out　a　corporal's　guard；　and　bid　them　shoot　you　in　the　courtyard？〃

〃It　would　be　the　drollest　thing　you　ever　did；　all　things　considered；〃　said　the　other　coolly；　but　bitterly。

The　governor　looked　for　the　book　he　had　lately　consulted；　found　the　page；　handed　it　to　the　rusty　officer；　and　watched　him　keenly：　the　blood　rushed　all　over　his　face；　and　his　lip　trembled；　but　his　eye　dwelt　stern　yet　sorrowful　on　the　governor。

〃I　have　read　your　book；　now　read　mine。〃　　He　drew　off　his　coat　and　showed　his　wrists　and　arms；　blue　and　waled。　　〃Can　you　read　that；　sir？〃

〃No。〃

〃All　the　better　for　you：　Spanish　fetters；　general。〃　　He　showed　a　white　scar　on　his　shoulder。　　〃Can　you　read　that？　　This　is　what　I　cut　out　of　it；〃　and　he　handed　the　governor　a　little　round　stone　as　big　and　almost　as　regular　as　a　musket…ball。

〃Humph！　that　could　hardly　have　been　fired　from　a　French　musket。〃

〃Can　you　read　this？〃　and　he　showed　him　a　long　cicatrix　on　his　other　arm。

〃Knife　I　think；〃　said　the　governor。

〃You　are　right；　sir：　Spanish　knife。　　Can　you　read　this？〃　and　opening　his　bosom　he　showed　a　raw　wound　on　his　breast。

〃Oh；　the　devil！〃　cried　the　governor。

The　wounded　man　put　his　rusty　coat　on　again；　and　stood　erect；　and　haughty；　and　silent。

The　general　eyed　him；　and　saw　his　great　spirit　shining　through　this　man。　　The　more　he　looked　the　less　could　the　scarecrow　veil　the　hero　from　his　practised　eye。　　He　said　there　must　be　some　mistake；　or　else　he　was　in　his　dotage；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　he　added；　〃Be　seated；　if　you　please；　and　tell　me　what　you　have　been　doing　all　these　years。〃

〃Suffering。〃

〃Not　all　the　time；　I　suppose。〃

〃Without　intermission。〃

〃But　what？　suffering　what？〃

〃Cold；　hunger；　darkness；　wounds；　solitude；　sickness；　despair；　prison；　all　that　man　can　suffer。〃

〃Impossible！　a　man　would　be　dead　at　that　rate　before　this。〃

〃I　should　have　died　a　dozen　deaths　but　for　one　thing；　I　had　promised　her　to　live。〃

There　was　a　pause。　　Then　the　old　soldier　said　gravely；　but　more　kindly；　to　the　young　one；　〃Tell　me　the　facts；　captain〃　（the　first　time　he　had　acknowledged　his　visitor's　military　rank）。

An　hour　had　scarce　elapsed　since　the　rusty　figure　was　stopped　by　the　sentinels　at　the　gate；　when　two　glittering　officers　passed　out　under　the　same　archway；　followed　by　a　servant　carrying　a　furred　cloak。　The　sentinels　presented　arms。　　The　elder　of　these　officers　was　the　governor：　the　younger　was　the　late　scarecrow；　in　a　brand…new　uniform　belonging　to　the　governor's　son。　　He　shone　out　now　in　his　true　light；　the　beau　ideal　of　a　patrician　soldier；　one　would　have　said　he　had　been　born　with　a　sword　by　his　side　and　drilled　by　nature；　so　straight　and　smart；　yet　easy　he　was　in　every　movement。　　He　was　like　a　falcon；　eye　and　all；　only；　as　it　were；　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　hawk's　eye　lay　a　dove's　eye。　　That　compound　and　varying　eye　seemed　to　say；　I　can　love；　I　can　fight：　I　can　fight；　I　can　love；　as　few　of　you　can　do　either。

The　old　man　was　trying　to　persuade　him　to　stay　at　Bayonne；　until　his　wound　should　be　cured。

〃No；　general；　I　have　other　wounds　to　cure　of　longer　standing　than　this　one。〃

〃Well；　promise　me　to　lay　up　at　Paris。〃

〃General；　I　shall　stay　an　hour　at　Paris。〃

〃An　hour　in　Paris！　　Well；　at　least　call　at　the　War　Office　and　present　this　letter。〃

That　same　afternoon；　wrapped　in　the　governor's　furred　cloak；　the　young　officer　lay　at　his　full　length　in　the　coupe　of　the　diligence；　the　whole　of　which　the　governor　had　peremptorily　demanded　for　him；　and　rolled　day　and　night　towards　Paris。

He　reached　it　worn　with　fatigue　and　fevered　by　his　wound；　but　his　spirit　as　indomitable　as　ever。　　He　went　to　the　War　Office　with　the　governor's　letter。　　It　seemed　to　create　some　little　sensation；　one　functionary　came　and　said　a　polite　word　to　him；　then　another。　　At　last　to　his　infinite　surprise　the　minister　himself　sent　down　word　he　wished　to　see　him；　the　minister　put　several　questions　to　him；　and　seemed　interested　in　him　and　touched　by　his　relation。

〃I　think；　captain；　I　shall　have　to　send　to　you：　where　do　you　stay　in　Paris？〃

〃Nowhere；　monsieur；　I　leave　Paris　as　soon　as　I　can　find　an　easy…　going　horse。〃

〃But　General　Bretaux　tells　me　you　are　wounded。〃

〃Not　dangerously。〃

〃Pardon　me；　captain；　but　is　this　prudent？　is　it　just　to　yourself　and　your　friends？〃

〃Yes；　I　owe　it　to　those　who　perhaps　think　me　dead。〃

〃You　can　write　to　them。〃

〃I　grudge　so　great；　so　sacred　a　joy　to　a　letter。　　No！　after　all　I　have　suffered　I　claim　to　be　the　one　to　tell　her　I　have　kept　my　word：　I　promised　to　live；　and　I　live。〃

〃HER？　then　I　say　no　more；　only　tell　me　what　road　you　take。〃

〃The　road　to　Brittany。〃

As　the　young　officer　was　walking　his　horse　by　the　roadside　about　a　league　and　a　half　from　Paris；　he　heard　a　clatter　behind　him；　and　up　galloped　an　aide…de…camp　and　drew　up　alongside；　bringing　his　horse　nearly　on　his　haunches。

He　handed　him　a　large　packet　sealed　with　the　arms　of　France。　　The　other　tore　it　open；　and　there　was　his　brevet　as　colonel。　　His　cheek　flushed　and　his　eye　glittered　with　joy。　　The　aide…de…camp　next　gave　him　a　parcel：　〃Your　epaulets；　colonel！　　We　hear　you　are　going　into　the　wilds　where　epaulets　don't　grow。　　You　are　to　join　the　army　of　the　Rhine　as　soon　as　your　wound　is　well。〃

〃Wherever　my　country　calls　me。〃

〃Your　address；　then；　colonel；　that　we　may　know　where　to　put　our　finger　on　a　tried　soldier　when　we　want　one。〃

〃I　am　going　to　Beaurepaire。〃

〃Beaurepaire？　　I　never　heard　of　it。〃

〃You　never　heard　of　Beaurepaire？　it　is　in　Brittany；　forty…five　leagues　from　Paris；　forty…three　leagues　and　a　half　from　here。〃

〃Good！　　Health　and　honor　to　you；　colonel。〃

〃The　same　to　you；　lieutenant；　or　a　soldier's　death。〃

The　new　colonel　read　the　precious　document　across　his　horse's　mane；　and　then　he　was　going　to　put　one　of　the　epaulets　on　his　right　shoulder；　bare　at　present：　but　he　reflected。

〃No；　she　should　make　him　a　colonel　with　her　own　dear　hand。　　He　put　them　in　his　pocket。　　He　would　not　even　look　at　them　till　she　had　seen　them。　　Oh；　how　happy　he　was　not　only　to　come　back　to　her　alive；　but　to　come　back　to　her　honored。〃

His　wound　smarted；　his　limbs　ached；　but　no　pain　past　or　present　could　lay　hold　of　his　mind。　　In　his　great　joy　he　remembered　past　suffering　and　felt　pres