penguin island- 第25部分

〃She　is　very　useful　to　us；〃　objected　the　pious　Agaric。

〃Undoubtedly；〃　answered　Cornemuse；　〃but　she　does　us　an　injury　by　ruining　us。〃

A　schism　divided　the　Dracophils。　Misunderstandings　reigned　in　their　councils。　Some　wished　that　in　accordance　with　the　policy　of　M。　Bigourd　and　the　pious　Agaric；　they　should　carry　on　the　design　of　reforming　the　Republic。　Others；　wearied　by　their　long　constraint；　had　resolved　to　proclaim　the　Dragon's　crest　and　swore　to　conquer　beneath　that　sign。

The　latter　urged　the　advantage　of　a　clear　situation　and　the　impossibility　of　making　a　pretence　much　longer；　and　in　truth；　the　public　began　to　see　whither　the　agitation　was　tending　and　that　the　Emiral's　partisans　wanted　to　destroy　the　very　foundations　of　the　Republic。

A　report　was　spread　that　the　prince　was　to　land　at　La　Cirque　and　make　his　entry　into　Alca　on　a　green　horse。

These　rumours　excited　the　fanatical　monks；　delighted　the　poor　nobles；　satisfied　the　rich　Jewish　ladies；　and　put　hope　in　the　hearts　of　the　small　traders。　But　very　few　of　them　were　inclined　to　purchase　these　benefits　at　the　price　of　a　social　catastrophe　and　the　overthrow　of　the　public　credit；　and　there　were　fewer　still　who　would　have　risked　their　money；　their　peace；　their　liberty；　or　a　single　hour　from　their　pleasures　in　the　business。　On　the　other　hand；　the　workmen　held　themselves　ready；　as　ever；　to　give　a　day's　work　to　the　Republic；　and　a　strong　resistance　was　being　formed　in　the　suburbs。

〃The　people　are　with　us；〃　the　pious　Agaric　used　to　say。

However；　men；　women；　and　children；　when　leaving　their　factories；　used　to　shout　with　one　voice：

　　　　　A　bas　Chatillon！　　　　　　Hou！　Hou！　la　calotte！

As　for　the　government；　it　showed　the　weakness；　indecision；　flabbiness；　and　heedlessness　common　to　all　governments；　and　from　which　none　has　ever　departed　without　falling　into　arbitrariness　and　violence。　In　three　words　it　knew　nothing；　wanted　nothing；　and　would　do　nothing。　Formose；　shut　in　his　presidential　palace；　remained　blind；　dumb；　deaf；　huge；　invisible；　wrapped　up　in　his　pride　as　in　an　eider…down。

Count　Olive　advised　the　Dracophils　to　make　a　last　appeal　for　funds　and　to　attempt　a　great　stroke　while　Alca　was　still　in　a　ferment。

An　executive　committee；　which　he　himself　had　chosen；　decided　to　kidnap　the　members　of　the　Chamber　of　Deputies；　and　considered　ways　and　means。

The　affair　was　fixed　for　the　twenty…eighth　of　July。　On　that　day　the　sun　rose　radiantly　over　the　city。　In　front　of　the　legislative　palace　women　passed　to　market　with　their　baskets；　hawkers　cried　their　peaches；　pears；　and　grapes；　cab　horses　with　their　noses　in　their　bags　munched　their　hay。　Nobody　expected　anything；　not　because　the　secret　had　been　kept　but　because　it　met　with　nothing　but　unbelievers。　Nobody　believed　in　a　revolution；　and　from　this　fact　we　may　conclude　that　nobody　desired　one。　About　two　o'clock　the　deputies　began　to　pass；　few　and　unnoticed；　through　the　side…door　of　the　palace。　At　three　o'clock　a　few　groups　of　badly　dressed　men　had　formed。　At　half　past　three　black　masses　coming　from　the　adjacent　streets　spread　over　Revolution　Square。　This　vast　expanse　was　soon　covered　by　an　ocean　of　soft　hats；　and　the　crowd　of　demonstrators；　continually　increased　by　sight…seers；　having　crossed　the　bridge；　struck　its　dark　wave　against　the　walls　of　the　legislative　enclosure。　Cries；　murmurs；　and　songs　went　up　to　the　impassive　sky。　〃It　is　Chatillon　we　want！〃　〃Down　with　the　Deputies！〃　〃Down　with　the　Republicans！〃　〃Death　to　the　Republicans！〃　The　devoted　band　of　Dracophils；　led　by　Prince　des　Boscenos；　struck　up　the　august　canticle：

　　　　　　　Vive　Crucho；　　　　　　　　Vaillant　et　sage；　　　　　　　　Plein　de　courage　　　　　　　　　Des　le　berceau！

Behind　the　wall　silence　alone　replied。

This　silence　and　the　absence　of　guards　encouraged　and　at　the　same　time　frightened　the　crowd。　Suddenly　a　formidable　voice　cried　out：

〃Attack！〃

And　Prince　des　Boscenos　was　seen　raising　his　gigantic　form　to　the　top　of　the　wall；　which　was　covered　with　barbs　and　iron　spikes。　Behind　him　rushed　his　companions；　and　the　people　followed。　Some　hammered　against　the　wall　to　make　holes　in　it；　others　endeavoured　to　tear　down　the　spikes　and　to　pull　out　the　barbs。　These　defences　had　given　way　in　places　and　some　of　the　invaders　had　stripped　the　wall　and　were　sitting　astride　on　the　top。　Prince　des　Boscenos　was　waving　an　immense　green　flag。　Suddenly　the　crowd　wavered　and　from　it　came　a　long　cry　of　terror。　The　police　and　the　Republican　carabineers　issuing　out　of　all　the　entrances　of　the　palace　formed　themselves　into　a　column　beneath　the　wall　and　in　a　moment　it　was　cleared　of　its　besiegers。　After　a　long　moment　of　suspense　the　noise　of　arms　was　heard；　and　the　police　charged　the　crowd　with　fixed　bayonets。　An　instant　afterwards　and　on　the　deserted　square　strewn　with　hats　and　walking…sticks　there　reigned　a　sinister　silence。　Twice　again　the　Dracophils　attempted　to　form；　twice　they　were　repulsed。　The　rising　was　conquered。　But　Prince　des　Boscenos；　standing　on　the　wall　of　the　hostile　palace；　his　flag　in　his　hand；　still　repelled　the　attack　of　a　whole　brigade。　He　knocked　down　all　who　approached　him。　At　last　he；　too；　was　thrown　down；　and　fell　on　an　iron　spike；　to　which　he　remained　hooked；　still　clasping　the　standard　of　the　Draconides。

On　the　following　day　the　Ministers　of　the　Republic　and　the　Members　of　Parliament　determined　to　take　energetic　measures。　In　vain；　this　time；　did　President　Formose　attempt　to　evade　his　responsibilities。　The　government　discussed　the　question　of　depriving　Chatillon　of　his　rank　and　dignities　and　of　indicting　him　before　the　High　Court　as　a　conspirator；　an　enemy　of　the　public　good；　a　traitor；　etc。

At　this　news　the　Emiral's　old　companions　in　arms；　who　the　very　evening　before　had　beset　him　with　their　adulations；　made　no　effort　to　conceal　their　joy。　But　Chatillon　remained　popular　with　the　middle　classes　of　Alca　and　one　still　heard　the　hymn　of　the　liberator　sounding　in　the　streets；　〃It　is　Chatillon　we　want。〃

The　Ministers　were　embarrassed。　They　intended　to　indict　Chatillon　before　the　High　Court。　But　they　knew　nothing；　they　remained　in　that　total　ignorance　reserved　for　those　who　govern　men。　They　were　incapable　of　advancing　any　grave　charges　against　Chatillon。　They　could　supply　the　prosecution　with　nothing　but　the　ridiculous　lies　of　their　spies。　Chatillon's　share　in　the　plot　and　his　relations　with　Prince　Crucho　remained　the　secret　of　the　thirty　thousand　Dracophils。　The　Ministers　and　the　Deputies　had　suspicions　and　even　certainties；　but　they　had　no　proofs。　The　Public　Prosecutor　said　to　the　Minister　of　justice：　〃Very　little　is　needed　for　a　political　prosecution！　but　I　have　nothing　at　all　and　that　is　not　enough。〃　The　affair　made　no　progress。　The　enemies　of　the　Republic　were　triumphant。

On　the　eighteenth　of　September　the　news　ran　in　Alca　that　Chatillon　had　taken　flight。　Everywhere　there　was　surprise　and　astonishment。　People　doubted；　for　they　could　not　understand。

This　is　what　had　happened：　One　day　as　the　brave　Under…Emiral　Vulcanmould　happened；　as　if　by　chance；　to　go　into　the　office　of　M。　Barbotan；　the　Minister　of　Foreign　Affairs；　he　remarked　with　his　usual　frankness：

〃M。　Barbotan；　your　colleagues　do　not　seem　to　me　to　be　up　to　much；　it　is　evident　that　they　have　never　commanded　a　ship。　That　fool　Chatillon　gives　them　a　deuced　bad　fit　of　the　shivers。〃

The　Minister；　in　sign　of　denial；　waved　his　paper…knife　in　the　air　above　his　desk。

〃Don't　deny　it；〃　answered　Vulcanmould。　〃You　don't　know　how　to　get　rid　of　Chatillon。　You　do　not　dare　to　indict　him　before　the　High　Court　because　you　are　not　sure　of　being　able　to　bring　forward　a　strong　enough　charge。　Bigourd　will　defend　him；　and　Bigourd　is　a　clever　advocate。　。　。　。　You　are　right；　M。　Barbotan；　you　are　right。　It　would　be　a　dangerous　trial。〃

〃Ah！　my　friend；〃　said　the　Minister；　in　a　careless　tone；　〃if　you　knew　how　satisfied　we　are。　。　。　。　I　receive　the　most　reassuring　news　from　my　prefects。　The　good　sense　of　the　Penguins　will　do　justice　to　the　intrigues　of　this　mutinous　soldier。　Can　you　suppose　for　a　moment　that　a　great　people；　an　intelligent；　laborious　people；　devoted　to　liberal　institutions　which。　。　。〃

Vulcanmould　interrupted　with　a　great　sigh：

〃Ah！　If　I　had　time　to　do　it　I　would　relieve　you　of　your　difficulty。　I　would　juggle　away　my　Chatillon　like　a　nutmeg　out　of　a　thimble。　I　would　fillip　him　off　to　Porpoisia。〃

The　Minister　paid　close　attention。

〃It　would　not　take　long；〃　continued　the　sailor。　〃I　would　rid　you　in　a　trice　of　the　creature。　。　。　。　But　just　now　I　have　other　fish　to　fry。　。　。　。　I　am　in　a　bad　hole。　I　must　find　a　pretty　big　sum。　But；　deuce　take　it；　honour　before　everything。〃

The　Minister　and　the　Under…Emiral　looked　at　each　other　for　a　moment　in　silence。　Then　Barbotan　said　with　authority：

〃Under…Emiral　Vulcanmould；　get　rid　of　this　seditious　soldier。　You　will　render　a　great　service　to　Penguinia；　and　the　Minister　of　Home　Affairs　will　see　that　your　gambling　debts　are　paid。〃

The　same　evening　Vulcanmould　called　on　Chatillon　and　looked　at　him　for　some　time　with　an　expression　of　grief　and　mystery。

〃My　do　you　look　like　that？〃　asked　the　Emiral　in　an　uneasy　tone。

Vulcanmould　said　to　him　sadly：

〃Old　brother　in　arms；　all　is　discovered。　For　the　past　half…hour　the　government　knows　everything。〃

At　these　words　Chatillon　sank　down　overwhelmed。

Vulcanmould　continued：

〃You　may　be　arrested　any　moment。　I　advise　you　to　make　off。〃

And　drawing　out　his　watch：

〃Not　a　minute　to　lose。〃

〃Have　I　time　to　call　on　the　Viscountess　Olive？〃

〃It　would　be　mad；〃　said　Vulcanmould；　handing　him　a　passport　and　a　pair　of　blue　spectacles；　and　telling　him　to　have　courage。

〃I　will；〃　said　Chatillon。

〃Good…bye！　old　chum。〃

〃Good…bye　and　thanks！　You　have　saved　my　life。〃

〃That　is　the　least　I　could　do。〃

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　the　brave　Emiral　had　left　the　city　of　Alca。

He　embarked　at　night　on　an　old　cutter　at　La　Cirque　and　set　sail　for　Porpoisia。　But　eight　miles　from　the　coast　he　was　captured　by　a　despatch…boat　which　was　sailing　without　lights　and　which　was　under；　the　flag　of　the　Queen　of　the　Black　Islands。　That　Queen　had　for　a　long　time　nourished　a　fatal　passion　for　Chatillon。



VII。　CONCLUSION

Nunc　est　bibendum。　Delivered　from　its　fears　and　pleased　at　having　escaped　from　so　great　a　d