the chouans- 第28部分

〃La　Billardiere　took　a　great　deal　upon　himself。　Serving　princes　is　far　from　lying　on　a　bed　of　roses。〃

〃Ah！　you　make　me　shudder！〃　cried　Marie。　〃Marquis；〃　she　continued；　in　a　tone　which　seemed　to　indicate　some　mysterious　personal　reticence；　〃a　single　instant　suffices　to　destroy　illusions　and　to　betray　secrets　on　which　the　life　and　happiness　of　many　may　depend〃　she　stopped；　as　though　she　feared　she　had　said　too　much；　then　she　added；　in　another　tone；　〃I　wish　I　could　be　sure　that　those　Republican　soldiers　were　in　safety。〃

〃I　will　be　prudent；〃　he　said；　smiling　to　disguise　his　emotion；　〃but　say　no　more　about　your　soldiers；　have　I　not　answered　for　their　safety　on　my　word　as　a　gentleman？〃

〃And　after　all；〃　she　said；　〃what　right　have　I　to　dictate　to　you？　Be　my　master　henceforth。　Did　I　not　tell　you　it　would　drive　me　to　despair　to　rule　a　slave？〃

〃Monsieur　le　marquis；〃　said　Major　Brigaut；　respectfully；　interrupting　the　conversation；　〃how　long　are　the　Blues　to　remain　here？〃

〃They　will　leave　as　soon　as　they　are　rested；〃　said　Marie。

The　marquis　looked　about　the　room　and　noticed　the　agitation　of　those　present。　He　left　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　and　his　place　beside　her　was　taken　at　once　by　Madame　du　Gua；　whose　smiling　and　treacherous　face　was　in　no　way　disconcerted　by　the　young　chief's　bitter　smile。　Just　then　Francine；　standing　by　the　window；　gave　a　stifled　cry。　Marie；　noticing　with　amazement　that　the　girl　left　the　room；　looked　at　Madame　du　Gua；　and　her　surprise　increased　as　she　saw　the　pallor　on　the　face　of　her　enemy。　Anxious　to　discover　the　meaning　of　Francine's　abrupt　departure；　she　went　to　the　window；　where　Madame　du　Gua　followed　her；　no　doubt　to　guard　against　any　suspicions　which　might　arise　in　her　mind。　They　returned　together　to　the　chimney；　after　each　had　cast　a　look　upon　the　shore　and　the　lake；Marie　without　seeing　anything　that　could　have　caused　Francine's　flight；　Madame　du　Gua　seeing　that　which　satisfied　her　she　was　being　obeyed。

The　lake；　at　the　edge　of　which　Marche…a…Terre　had　shown　his　head；　where　Madame　du　Gua　had　seen　him；　joined　the　moat　in　misty　curves；　sometimes　broad　as　ponds；　in　other　places　narrow　as　the　artificial　streamlets　of　a　park。　The　steep　bank；　washed　by　its　waters；　lay　a　few　rods　from　the　window。　Francine；　watching　on　the　surface　of　the　water　the　black　lines　thrown　by　the　willows；　noticed；　carelessly　at　first；　the　uniform　trend　of　their　branches；　caused　by　a　light　breeze　then　prevailing。　Suddenly　she　thought　she　saw　against　the　glassy　surface　a　figure　moving　with　the　spontaneous　and　irregular　motion　of　life。　The　form；　vague　as　it　was；　seemed　to　her　that　of　a　man。　At　first　she　attributed　what　she　saw　to　the　play　of　the　moonlight　upon　the　foliage；　but　presently　a　second　head　appeared；　then　several　others　in　the　distance。　The　shrubs　upon　the　bank　were　bent　and　then　violently　straightened；　and　Francine　saw　the　long　hedge　undulating　like　one　of　those　great　Indian　serpents　of　fabulous　size　and　shape。　Here　and　there；　among　the　gorse　and　taller　brambles；　points　of　light　could　be　seen　to　come　and　go。　The　girl's　attention　redoubled；　and　she　thought　she　recognized　the　foremost　of　the　dusky　figures；　indistinct　as　its　outlines　were；　the　beating　of　her　heart　convinced　her　it　was　no　other　than　her　lover；　Marche…a…Terre。　Eager　to　know　if　this　mysterious　approach　meant　treachery；　she　ran　to　the　courtyard。　When　she　reached　the　middle　of　its　grass　plot　she　looked　alternately　at　the　two　wings　of　the　building　and　along　the　steep　shores；　without　discovering；　on　the　inhabited　side　of　the　house；　any　sign　of　this　silent　approach。　She　listened　attentively　and　heard　a　slight　rustling；　like　that　which　might　be　made　by　the　footfalls　of　some　wild　animal　in　the　silence　of　the　forest。　She　quivered；　but　did　not　tremble。　Though　young　and　innocent；　her　anxious　curiosity　suggested　a　ruse。　She　saw　the　coach　and　slipped　into　it；　putting　out　her　head　to　listen；　with　the　caution　of　a　hare　giving　ear　to　the　sound　of　the　distant　hunters。　She　saw　Pille…Miche　come　out　of　the　stable；　accompanied　by　two　peasants；　all　three　carrying　bales　of　straw；　these　they　spread　on　the　ground　in　a　way　to　form　a　long　bed　of　litter　before　the　inhabited　wing　of　the　house；　parallel　with　the　bank；　bordered　by　dwarf　trees。

〃You're　spreading　straw　as　if　you　thought　they'd　sleep　here！　Enough；　Pille…Miche；　enough！〃　said　a　low；　gruff　voice；　which　Francine　recognized。

〃And　won't　they　sleep　here？〃　returned　Pille…Miche　with　a　laugh。　〃I'm　afraid　the　Gars　will　be　angry！〃　he　added；　too　low　for　Francine　to　hear。

〃Well；　let　him；〃　said　Marche…a…Terre；　in　the　same　tone；　〃we　shall　have　killed　the　Blues　anyway。　Here's　that　coach；　which　you　and　I　had　better　put　up。〃

Pille…Miche　pulled　the　carriage　by　the　pole　and　Marche…a…Terre　pushed　it　by　one　of　the　wheels　with　such　force　that　Francine　was　in　the　barn　and　about　to　be　locked　up　before　she　had　time　to　reflect　on　her　situation。　Pille…Miche　went　out　to　fetch　the　barrel　of　cider；　which　the　marquis　had　ordered　for　the　escort；　and　Marche…a…Terre　was　passing　along　the　side　of　the　coach；　to　leave　the　barn　and　close　the　door；　when　he　was　stopped　by　a　hand　which　caught　and　held　the　long　hair　of　his　goatskin。　He　recognized　a　pair　of　eyes　the　gentleness　of　which　exercised　a　power　of　magnetism　over　him；　and　he　stood　stock…still　for　a　moment　under　their　spell。　Francine　sprang　from　the　carriage；　and　said；　in　the　nervous　tone　of　an　excited　woman：　〃Pierre；　what　news　did　you　give　to　that　lady　and　her　son　on　the　road？　What　is　going　on　here？　Why　are　you　hiding？　I　must　know　all。〃

These　words　brought　a　look　on　the　Chouan's　face　which　Francine　had　never　seen　there　before。　The　Breton　led　his　innocent　mistress　to　the　door；　there　he　turned　her　towards　the　blanching　light　of　the　moon；　and　answered；　as　he　looked　in　her　face　with　terrifying　eyes：　〃Yes；　by　my　damnation；　Francine；　I　will　tell　you；　but　not　until　you　have　sworn　on　these　beads　（and　he　pulled　an　old　chaplet　from　beneath　his　goatskin）　on　this　relic；　which　/you　know　well/；〃　he　continued；　〃to　answer　me　truly　one　question。〃

Francine　colored　as　she　saw　the　chaplet；　which　was　no　doubt　a　token　of　their　love。　〃It　was　on　that；〃　he　added；　much　agitated；　〃that　you　swore〃

He　did　not　finish　the　sentence。　The　young　girl　placed　her　hand　on　the　lips　of　her　savage　lover　and　silenced　him。

〃Need　I　swear？〃　she　said。

He　took　his　mistress　gently　by　the　hand；　looked　at　her　for　a　moment　and　said：　〃Is　the　lady　you　are　with　really　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil？〃

Francine　stood　with　hanging　arms；　her　eyelids　lowered；　her　head　bowed；　pale　and　speechless。

〃She　is　a　strumpet！〃　cried　Marche…a…Terre；　in　a　terrifying　voice。

At　the　word　the　pretty　hand　once　more　covered　his　lips；　but　this　time　he　sprang　back　violently。　The　girl　no　longer　saw　a　lover；　he　had　turned　to　a　wild　beast　in　all　the　fury　of　its　nature。　His　eyebrows　were　drawn　together；　his　lips　drew　apart；　and　he　showed　his　teeth　like　a　dog　which　defends　its　master。

〃I　left　you　pure；　and　I　find　you　muck。　Ha！　why　did　I　ever　leave　you！　You　are　here　to　betray　us；　to　deliver　up　the　Gars！〃

These　sentences　sounded　more　like　roars　than　words。　Though　Francine　was　frightened；　she　raised　her　angelic　eyes　at　this　last　accusation　and　answered　calmly；　as　she　looked　into　his　savage　face：　〃I　will　pledge　my　eternal　safety　that　that　is　false。　That's　an　idea　of　the　lady　you　are　serving。〃

He　lowered　his　head；　then　she　took　his　hand　and　nestling　to　him　with　a　pretty　movement　said：　〃Pierre；　what　is　all　this　to　you　and　me？　I　don't　know　what　you　understand　about　it；　but　I　can't　make　it　out。　Recollect　one　thing：　that　noble　and　beautiful　young　lady　has　been　my　benefactress；　she　is　also　yourswe　live　together　like　two　sisters。　No　harm　must　ever　come　to　her　where　we　are；　you　and　Iin　our　lifetime　at　least。　Swear　it！　I　trust　no　one　here　but　you。〃

〃I　don't　command　here；〃　said　the　Chouan；　in　a　surly　tone。

His　face　darkened。　She　caught　his　long　ears　and　twisted　them　gently　as　if　playing　with　a　cat。

〃At　least；〃　she　said；　seeing　that　he　looked　less　stern；　〃promise　me　to　use　all　the　power　you　have　to　protect　our　benefactress。〃

He　shook　his　head　as　if　he　doubted　of　success；　and　the　motion　made　her　tremble。　At　this　critical　moment　the　escort　was　entering　the　courtyard。　The　tread　of　the　soldiers　and　the　rattle　of　their　weapons　awoke　the　echoes　and　seemed　to　put　an　end　to　Marche…a…Terre's　indecision。

〃Perhaps　I　can　save　her；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　make　her　stay　in　the　house。　And　mind；〃　he　added；　〃whatever　happens；　you　must　stay　with　her　and　keep　silence；　if　not；　no　safety。〃

〃I　promise　it；〃　she　replied　in　terror。

〃Very　good；　then　go　ingo　in　at　once；　and　hide　your　fears　from　every　one；　even　your　mistress。〃

〃Yes。〃

She　pressed　his　hand；　he　stood　for　a　moment　watching　her　with　an　almost　paternal　air　as　she　ran　with　the　lightness　of　a　bird　up　the　portico；　then　he　slipped　behind　the　bushes；　like　an　actor　darting　behind　the　scenes　as　the　curtain　rises　on　a　tragedy。

〃Do　you　know；　Merle；〃　said　Gerard　as　they　reached　the　chateau；　〃that　this　place　looks　to　me　like　a　mousetrap？〃

〃So　I　think；〃　said　the　captain；　anxiously。

The　two　officers　hastened　to　post　sentinels　to　guard　the　gate　and　the　causeway；　then　they　examined　with　great　distrust　the　precipitous　banks　of　the　lakes　and　the　surroundings　of　the　chateau。

〃Pooh！〃　said　Merle；　〃we　must　do　one　of　two　things：　either　trust　ourselves　in　this　barrack　with　perfect　confidence；　or　else　not　enter　it　at　all。〃

〃Come；　let's　go　in；〃　replied　Gerard。

The　soldiers；　released　at　the　word　of　command；　hastened　to　stack　their　muskets　in　conical　sheaves；　and　to　form　a　sort　of　line　before　the　litter　of　straw；　in　the　middle　of　which　was　the　promised　barrel　of　cider。　They　then　divided　into　groups；　to　whom　two　peasants　began　to　distribute　butter　and　rye…bread。　The　marquis　appeared　in　the　portico　to　welcome　the　officers　and　take　them　to　the　salon。　As　Gerard　went　up　the　steps　he　looked　at　both　ends　of　the　portico；　where　some　venerable　larches　spread　their　black　branches；　and　he　called　up　Clef…des…Coeurs　and　Beau…Pied。

〃You　will　each　reconnoitre　the　gardens　and　search　the　bushes；　and　post　a　sentry　before　your　line。〃

〃May　we　light　our　fire　before　starting；　adjutant？〃　asked　Clef…des…　Coeurs。

Gerard　nodded。

〃There！　you　see；　C