scaramouche- 第17部分

〃My　dear　Climene；〃　the　young　man　was　answering　her；　standing
squarely　before　her；　and　holding　both　her　hands；　〃you　are　wrong　to
despond。　　If　I　do　not　reveal　to　you　all　the　stratagem　that　I　have
prepared　to　win　the　consent　of　your　unnatural　parent；　it　is　because
I　am　loath　to　rob　you　of　the　pleasure　of　the　surprise　that　is　in
store。　　But　place　your　faith　in　me；　and　in　that　ingenious　friend
of　whom　I　have　spoken；　and　who　should　be　here　at　any　moment。〃

The　stilted　ass！　　Had　he　learnt　that　speech　by　heart　in　advance；　or
was　he　by　nature　a　pedantic　idiot　who　expressed　himself　in　this　set
and　formal　manner？　　How　came　so　sweet　a　blossom　to　waste　her
perfumes　on　such　a　prig？　　And　what　a　ridiculous　name　the　creature
owned！

Thus　Andre…Louis　to　himself　from　his　observatory。　　Meanwhile；　she
was　speaking。

〃That　is　what　my　heart　desires；　Leandre；　but　I　am　beset　by　fears
lest　your　stratagem　should　be　too　late。　　I　am　to　marry　this　horrible
Marquis　of　Sbrufadelli　this　very　day。　　He　arrives　by　noon。　　He　comes
to　sign　the　contract　…　to　make　me　the　Marchioness　of　Sbrufadelli。
Oh！〃　　It　was　a　cry　of　pain　from　that　tender　young　heart。　　〃The　very
name　burns　my　lips。　　If　it　were　mine　I　could　never　utter　it　…　never！
The　man　is　so　detestable。　　Save　me；　Leandre。　　Save　me！　　You　are　my
only　hope。〃

Andre…Louis　was　conscious　of　a　pang　of　disappointment。　　She　failed
to　soar　to　the　heights　he　had　expected　of　her。　　She　was　evidently
infected　by　the　stilted　manner　of　her　ridiculous　lover。　　There　was
an　atrocious　lack　of　sincerity　about　her　words。　　They　touched　his
mind；　but　left　his　heart　unmoved。　　Perhaps　this　was　because　of　his
antipathy　to　M。　Leandre　and　to　the　issue　involved。

So　her　father　was　marrying　her　to　a　marquis！　　That　implied　birth　on
her　side。　　And　yet　she　was　content　to　pair　off　with　this　dull　young
adventurer　in　the　tarnished　lace！　　It　was；　he　supposed；　the　sort　of
thing　to　be　expected　of　a　sex　that　all　philosophy　had　taught　him　to
regard　as　the　maddest　part　of　a　mad　species。

〃It　shall　never　be！〃　M。　Leandre　was　storming　passionately。　　〃Never！
I　swear　it！〃　　And　he　shook　his　puny　fist　at　the　blue　vault　of　heaven
　…　Ajax　defying　Jupiter。　　〃Ah；　but　here　comes　our　subtle　friend。。。　〃
（Andre…Louis　did　not　catch　the　name；　M。　Leandre　having　at　that　moment
turned　to　face　the　gap　in　the　hedge。）　〃He　will　bring　us　news；　I　know。〃

Andre…Louis　looked　also　in　the　direction　of　the　gap。　　Through　it
emerged　a　lean；　slight　man　in　a　rusty　cloak　and　a　three…cornered　hat
worn　well　down　over　his　nose　so　as　to　shade　his　face。　　And　when
presently　he　doffed　this　hat　and　made　a　sweeping　bow　to　the　young
lovers；　Andre…Louis　confessed　to　himself　that　had　he　been　cursed
with　such　a　hangdog　countenance　he　would　have　worn　his　hat　in
precisely　such　a　manner；　so　as　to　conceal　as　much　of　it　as　possible。
If　M。　Leandre　appeared　to　be　wearing；　in　part　at　least；　the　cast…offs
of　nobleman；　the　newcomer　appeared　to　be　wearing　the　cast…offs　of　M。
Leandre。　　Yet　despite　his　vile　clothes　and　viler　face；　with　its　three
days'　growth　of　beard；　the　fellow　carried　himself　with　a　certain　air；
he　positively　strutted　as　he　advanced；　and　he　made　a　leg　in　a　manner
that　was　courtly　and　practised。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　he；　with　the　air　of　a　conspirator；　〃the　time　for
action　has　arrived；　and　so　has　the　Marquis。。。　That　is　why。〃

The　young　lovers　sprang　apart　in　consternation；　Climene　with　clasped
hands；　parted　lips；　and　a　bosom　that　raced　distractingly　under　its
white　fichu…menteur；　M。　Leandre　agape；　the　very　picture　of　foolishness
and　dismay。

Meanwhile　the　newcomer　rattled　on。　　〃I　was　at　the　inn　an　hour　ago
when　he　descended　there；　and　I　studied　him　attentively　whilst　he　was
at　breakfast。　　Having　done　so；　not　a　single　doubt　remains　me　of　our
success。　　As　for　what　he　looks　like；　I　could　entertain　you　at　length
upon　the　fashion　in　which　nature　has　designed　his　gross　fatuity。
But　that　is　no　matter。　　We　are　concerned　with　what　he　is；　with　the
wit　of　him。　　And　I　tell　you　confidently　that　I　find　him　so　dull　and
stupid　that　you　may　be　confident　he　will　tumble　headlong　into　each
and　all　of　the　traps　I　have　so　cunningly　prepared　for　him。〃

〃Tell　me；　tell　me！　　Speak！〃　Climene　implored　him；　holding　out　her
hands　in　a　supplication　no　man　of　sensibility　could　have　resisted。
And　then　on　the　instant　she　caught　her　breath　on　a　faint　scream。
〃My　father！〃　she　exclaimed；　turning　distractedly　from　one　to　the
other　of　those　two。　　〃He　is　coming！　　We　are　lost！〃

〃You　must　fly；　Climene！〃　said　M。　Leandre。

〃Too　late！〃　she　sobbed。　　〃Too　late！　　He　is　here。〃

〃Calm；　mademoiselle；　calm！〃　the　subtle　friend　was　urging　her。　　〃Keep
calm　and　trust　to　me。　　I　promise　you　that　all　shall　be　well。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　M。　Leandre；　limply。　　〃Say　what　you　will；　my　friend；　this
is　ruin　…　the　end　of　all　our　hopes。　　Your　wits　will　never　extricate
us　from　this。　　Never！〃

Through　the　gap　strode　now　an　enormous　man　with　an　inflamed　moon
face　and　a　great　nose；　decently　dressed　after　the　fashion　of　a　solid
bourgeois。　　There　was　no　mistaking　his　anger；　but　the　expression
that　it　found　was　an　amazement　to　Andre…Louis。

〃Leandre；　you're　an　imbecile！　　Too　much　phlegm；　too　much　phlegm！
Your　words　wouldn't　　convince　a　ploughboy！　　Have　you　considered　what
they　mean　at　all？　　Thus；〃　he　cried；　and　casting　his　round　hat　from
him　in　a　broad　gesture；　he　took　his　stand　at　M。　Leandre's　side；　and
repeated　the　very　words　that　Leandre　had　lately　uttered；　what　time
the　three　observed　him　coolly　and　attentively。

〃Oh；　say　what　you　will；　my　friend；　this　is　ruin　…　the　end　of　all
our　hopes。　　Your　wits　will　never　extricate　us　from　this。　　Never！〃

A　frenzy　of　despair　vibrated　in　his　accents。　　He　swung　again　to　face
M。　Leandre。　　〃Thus；〃　he　bade　him　contemptuously。　　〃Let　the　passion
of　your　hopelessness　express　itself　in　your　voice。　　Consider　that　you
are　not　asking　Scaramouche　here　whether　he　has　put　a　patch　in　your
breeches。　　You　are　a　despairing　lover　expressing。。。　〃

He　checked　abruptly；　startled。　　Andre…Louis；　suddenly　realizing　what
was　afoot；　and　how　duped　he　had　been；　had　loosed　his　laughter。　　The
sound　of　it　pealing　and　booming　uncannily　under　the　great　roof　that
so　immediately　confined　him　was　startling　to　those　below。

The　fat　man　was　the　first　to　recover；　and　he　announced　it　after　his
own　fashion　in　one　of　the　ready　sarcasms　in　which　he　habitually　dealt。

〃Hark！〃　he　cried；　〃the　very　gods　laugh　at　you；　Leandre。〃　　Then　he
addressed　the　roof　of　the　barn　and　its　invisible　tenant。　　〃Hi！　　You
there！〃

Andre…Louis　revealed　himself　by　a　further　protrusion　of　his　tousled
head。

〃Good…morning；〃　said　he；　pleasantly。　　Rising　now　on　his　knees；　his
horizon　was　suddenly　extended　to　include　the　broad　common　beyond
the　hedge。　　He　beheld　there　an　enormous　and　very　battered　travelling
chaise；　a　cart　piled　up　with　timbers　partly　visible　under　the　sheet
of　oiled　canvas　that　covered　them；　and　a　sort　of　house　on　wheels
equipped　with　a　tin　chimney；　from　which　the　smoke　was　slowly　curling。
Three　heavy　Flemish　horses　and　a　couple　of　donkeys　…　all　of　them
hobbled　…　were　contentedly　cropping　the　grass　in　the　neighbourhood
of　these　vehicles。　　These；　had　he　perceived　them　sooner；　must　have
given　him　the　clue　to　the　queer　scene　that　had　been　played　under
his　eyes。　　Beyond　the　hedge　other　figures　were　moving。　　Three　at
that　moment　came　crowding　into　the　gap　…　a　saucy…faced　girl　with　a
tip…tilted　nose；　whom　he　supposed　to　be　Columbine；　the　soubrette；
a　lean；　active　youngster；　who　must　be　the　lackey　Harlequin；；　and
another　rather　loutish　youth　who　might　be　a　zany　or　an　apothecary。

All　this　he　took　in　at　a　comprehensive　glance　that　consumed　no　more
time　than　it　had　taken　him　to　say　good…morning。　　To　that
good…morning　Pantaloon　replied　in　a　bellow：

〃What　the　devil　are　you　doing　up　there？〃

〃Precisely　the　same　thing　that　you　are　doing　down　there；〃　was　the
answer。　　〃I　am　trespassing。〃

〃Eh？〃　said　Pantaloon；　and　looked　at　his　companions；　some　of　the
assurance　beaten　out　of　his　big　red　face。　　Although　the　thing　was
one　that　they　did　habitually；　to　hear　it　called　by　its　proper　name
was　disconcerting。

〃Whose　land　is　this？〃　he　asked；　with　diminishing　assurance。

Andre…Louis　answered；　whilst　drawing　on　his　stockings。　　〃I　believe
it　to　be　the　property　of　the　Marquis　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。〃

〃That's　a　high…sounding　name。　Is　the　gentleman　severe？〃

〃The　gentleman；〃　said　Andre…Louis；　〃is　the　devil；　or　rather；　I
should　prefer　to　say　upon　reflection；　that　the　devil　is　a　gentleman
by　comparison。

〃And　yet；〃　interposed　the　villainous…looking　fellow　who　played
Scaramouche；　〃by　your　own　confessing　you　don't　hesitate；　yourself；
to　trespass　upon　his　property。〃

〃Ah；　but　then；　you　see；　I　am　a　lawyer。　　And　lawyers　are　notoriously
unable　to　observe　the　law；　just　as　actors　are　notoriously　unable　to
act。　　Moreover；　sir；　Nature　imposes　her　limits　upon　us；　and　Nature
conquers　respect　for　law　as　she　conquers　all　else。　　Nature　conquered
me　last　night　when　I　had　got　as　far　as　this。　　And　so　I　slept　here
without　regard　for　the　very　high　and　puissant　Marquis　de　La　Tour
d'Azyr。　　At　the　same　time；　M。　Scaramouche；　you'll　observe　that　I
did　not　flaunt　my　trespass　quite　as　openly　as　you　and　your　companions。

Having　donned　his　boots；　Andre…Louis　came　nimbly　to　the　ground　in
his　shirt…sleeves；　his　riding…coat　over　his　arm。　　As　he　stood　there
to　don　it；　the　little　cunning　eyes　of　the　heavy　father　conned　him　in
detail。　　Observing　that　his　clothes；　if　plain；　were　of　a　good　fashion；
that　his　shirt　was　of　fine　cambric；　and　that　he　expressed　himself
like　a　man　of　culture；　such　as　he　claimed　to　be；　M。　Pantaloon　was
disposed　to　be　civil。

〃I　am　very　grateful　to　you　for　the　warning；　sir。。。　〃　he　was　beginning。

〃Act　upon　it；　my　friend。　　The　gardes…champetres　of　M。　d'Azyr　have
orders　to　fire　on　trespassers。　　Imitate　me；　and　decamp。〃

They　followed　him　upon　the　instant　through　that　gap　in　the　hedge　to
the　encampment　on　the　common。　　There　Andre…Louis　took　his　leave　of
them。　　But　as　he　was　turning　away　he　perceived　a　young　man　of　the
company　performing　his　morning　toilet　at　a　bucket　placed　upon　one
of　the　wooden　steps　at　the　tail　of　the　house　on　wheels。　　A　moment
he　hesitated；