the chouans- 第50部分

The　instinctive　hope　sent　a　brilliant　color　to　her　cheeks　and　joy　into　her　heart。　Galope…Chopine　looked　alternately　from　the　mistress　to　the　maid　with　evident　distrust　of　the　latter；　but　a　sign　from　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　reassured　him。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃about　two　o'clock　/he/　will　be　at　my　house　waiting　for　you。〃

Emotion　prevented　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　from　giving　any　other　reply　than　a　movement　of　her　head；　but　the　man　understood　her　meaning。　At　that　moment　Corentin's　step　was　heard　in　the　adjoining　room；　but　Galope…Chopine　showed　no　uneasiness；　though　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　look　and　shudder　warned　him　of　danger；　and　as　soon　as　the　spy　had　entered　the　room　the　Chouan　raised　his　voice　to　an　ear…splitting　tone。

〃Ha；　ha！〃　he　said　to　Francine；　〃I　tell　you　there's　Breton　butter　/and/　Breton　butter。　You　want　the　Gibarry　kind；　and　you　won't　give　more　than　eleven　sous　a　pound；　then　why　did　you　send　me　to　fetch　it？　It　is　good　butter　that；〃　he　added；　uncovering　the　basket　to　show　the　pats　which　Barbette　had　made。　〃You　ought　to　be　fair；　my　good　lady；　and　pay　one　sou　more。〃

His　hollow　voice　betrayed　no　emotion；　and　his　green　eyes；　shaded　by　thick　gray　eyebrows；　bore　Corentin's　piercing　glance　without　flinching。

〃Nonsense；　my　good　man；　you　are　not　here　to　sell　butter；　you　are　talking　to　a　lady　who　never　bargained　for　a　thing　in　her　life。　The　trade　you　run；　old　fellow；　will　shorten　you　by　a　head　in　a　very　few　days〃；　and　Corentin；　with　a　friendly　tap　on　the　man's　shoulder；　added；　〃you　can't　keep　up　being　a　spy　of　the　Blues　and　a　spy　of　the　Chouans　very　long。〃

Galope…Chopine　needed　all　his　presence　of　mind　to　subdue　his　rage；　and　not　deny　the　accusation　which　his　avarice　had　made　a　just　one。　He　contented　himself　with　saying：

〃Monsieur　is　making　game　of　me。〃

Corentin　turned　his　back　on　the　Chouan；　but；　while　bowing　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　whose　heart　stood　still；　he　watched　him　in　the　mirror　behind　her。　Galope…Chopine；　unaware　of　this；　gave　a　glance　to　Francine；　to　which　she　replied　by　pointing　to　the　door；　and　saying；　〃Come　with　me；　my　man；　and　we　will　settle　the　matter　between　us。〃

Nothing　escaped　Corentin；　neither　the　fear　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　could　not　conceal　under　a　smile；　nor　her　color　and　the　contraction　of　her　features；　nor　the　Chouan's　sign　and　Francine's　reply；　he　had　seen　all。　Convinced　that　Galope…Chopine　was　sent　by　the　marquis；　he　caught　the　man　by　the　long　hairs　of　his　goatskin　as　he　was　leaving　the　room；　turned　him　round　to　face　him；　and　said　with　a　keen　look：　〃Where　do　you　live；　my　man？　I　want　butter；　too。〃

〃My　good　monsieur；〃　said　the　Chouan；　〃all　Fougeres　knows　where　I　live。　I　am〃

〃Corentin！〃　exclaimed　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　interrupting　Galope…　Chopine。　〃Why　do　you　come　here　at　this　time　of　day？　I　am　scarcely　dressed。　Let　that　peasant　alone；　he　does　not　understand　your　tricks　any　more　than　I　understand　the　motive　of　them。　You　can　go；　my　man。〃

Galope…Chopine　hesitated　a　moment。　The　indecision；　real　or　feigned；　of　the　poor　devil；　who　knew　not　which　to　obey；　deceived　even　Corentin；　but　the　Chouan；　finally；　after　an　imperative　gesture　from　the　lady；　left　the　room　with　a　dragging　step。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　and　Corentin　looked　at　each　other　in　silence。　This　time　Marie's　limpid　eyes　could　not　endure　the　gleam　of　cruel　fire　in　the　man's　look。　The　resolute　manner　in　which　the　spy　had　forced　his　way　into　her　room；　an　expression　on　his　face　which　Marie　had　never　seen　there　before；　the　deadened　tones　of　his　shrill　voice；　his　whole　demeanor；all　these　things　alarmed　her；　she　felt　that　a　secret　struggle　was　about　to　take　place　between　them；　and　that　he　meant　to　employ　against　her　all　the　powers　of　his　evil　influence。　But　though　she　had　at　this　moment　a　full　and　distinct　view　of　the　gulf　into　which　she　was　plunging；　she　gathered　strength　from　her　love　to　shake　off　the　icy　chill　of　these　presentiments。

〃Corentin；〃　she　said；　with　a　sort　of　gayety；　〃I　hope　you　are　going　to　let　me　make　my　toilet？〃

〃Marie；〃　he　said；〃yes；　permit　me　to　call　you　so；you　don't　yet　know　me。　Listen；　a　much　less　sagacious　man　than　I　would　see　your　love　for　the　Marquis　de　Montauran。　I　have　several　times　offered　you　my　heart　and　hand。　You　have　never　thought　me　worthy　of　you；　and　perhaps　you　are　right。　But　however　much　you　may　feel　yourself　too　high；　too　beautiful；　too　superior　for　me；　I　can　compel　you　to　come　down　to　my　level。　My　ambition　and　my　maxims　have　given　you　a　low　opinion　of　me；　frankly；　you　are　mistaken。　Men　are　not　worth　even　what　I　rate　them　at；　and　that　is　next　to　nothing。　I　shall　certainly　attain　a　position　which　will　gratify　your　pride。　Who　will　ever　love　you　better；　or　make　you　more　absolutely　mistress　of　yourself　and　of　him；　than　the　man　who　has　loved　you　now　for　five　years？　Though　I　run　the　risk　of　exciting　your　suspicions；for　you　cannot　conceive　that　any　one　should　renounce　an　idolized　woman　out　of　excessive　love；I　will　now　prove　to　you　the　unselfishness　of　my　passion。　If　the　marquis　loves　you；　marry　him；　but　before　you　do　so；　make　sure　of　his　sincerity。　I　could　not　endure　to　see　you　deceived；　for　I　do　prefer　your　happiness　to　my　own。　My　resolution　may　surprise　you；　lay　it　to　the　prudence　of　a　man　who　is　not　so　great　a　fool　as　to　wish　to　possess　a　woman　against　her　will。　I　blame　myself；　not　you；　for　the　failure　of　my　efforts　to　win　you。　I　hoped　to　do　so　by　submission　and　devotion；　for　I　have　long；　as　you　well　know；　tried　to　make　you　happy　according　to　my　lights；　but　you　have　never　in　any　way　rewarded　me。〃

〃I　have　suffered　you　to　be　near　me；〃　she　said；　haughtily。

〃Add　that　you　regret　it。〃

〃After　involving　me　in　this　infamous　enterprise；　do　you　think　that　I　have　any　thanks　to　give　you？〃

〃When　I　proposed　to　you　an　enterprise　which　was　not　exempt　from　blame　to　timid　minds；〃　he　replied；　audaciously；　〃I　had　only　your　own　prosperity　in　view。　As　for　me；　whether　I　succeed　or　fail；　I　can　make　all　results　further　my　ends。　If　you　marry　Montauran；　I　shall　be　delighted　to　serve　the　Bourbons　in　Paris；　where　I　am　already　a　member　of　the　Clichy　club。　Now；　if　circumstances　were　to　put　me　in　correspondence　with　the　princes　I　should　abandon　the　interests　of　the　Republic；　which　is　already　on　its　last　legs。　General　Bonaparte　is　much　too　able　a　man　not　to　know　that　he　can't　be　in　England　and　in　Italy　at　the　same　time；　and　that　is　how　the　Republic　is　about　to　fall。　I　have　no　doubt　he　made　the　18th　Brumaire　to　obtain　greater　advantages　over　the　Bourbons　when　it　came　to　treating　with　them。　He　is　a　long…headed　fellow；　and　very　keen；　but　the　politicians　will　get　the　better　of　him　on　their　own　ground。　The　betrayal　of　France　is　another　scruple　which　men　of　superiority　leave　to　fools。　I　won't　conceal　from　you　that　I　have　come　here　with　the　necessary　authority　to　open　negotiations　with　the　Chouans；　/or/　to　further　their　destruction；　as　the　case　may　be；　for　Fouche；　my　patron；　is　deep；　he　has　always　played　a　double　part；　during　the　Terror　he　was　as　much　for　Robespierre　as　for　Danton〃

〃Whom　you　basely　abandoned；〃　she　said。

〃Nonsense；　he　is　dead；forget　him；〃　replied　Corentin。　〃Come；　speak　honestly　to　me；　I　have　set　you　the　example。　Old　Hulot　is　deeper　than　he　looks；　if　you　want　to　escape　his　vigilance；　I　can　help　you。　Remember　that　he　holds　all　the　valleys　and　will　instantly　detect　a　rendezvous。　If　you　make　one　in　Fougeres；　under　his　very　eyes；　you　are　at　the　mercy　of　his　patrols。　See　how　quickly　he　knew　that　this　Chouan　had　entered　your　house。　His　military　sagacity　will　show　him　that　your　movements　betray　those　of　the　Garsif　Montauran　loves　you。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　had　never　listened　to　a　more　affectionate　voice；　Corentin　certainly　seemed　sincere；　and　spoke　confidingly。　The　poor　girl's　heart　was　so　open　to　generous　impressions　that　she　was　on　the　point　of　betraying　her　secret　to　the　serpent　who　had　her　in　his　folds；　when　it　occurred　to　her　that　she　had　no　proof　beyond　his　own　words　of　his　sincerity；　and　she　felt　no　scruple　in　blinding　him。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　right；　Corentin。　I　do　love　the　marquis；　but　he　does　not　love　meat　least；　I　fear　so；　I　can't　help　fearing　that　the　appointment　he　wishes　me　to　make　with　him　is　a　trap。〃

〃But　you　said　yesterday　that　he　came　as　far　as　Fougeres　with　you；〃　returned　Corentin。　〃If　he　had　meant　to　do　you　bodily　harm　you　wouldn't　be　here　now。〃

〃You've　a　cold　heart；　Corentin。　You　can　draw　shrewd　conclusions　as　to　the　ordinary　events　of　human　life；　but　not　on　those　of　passion。　Perhaps　that　is　why　you　inspire　me　with　such　repulsion。　As　you　are　so　clear…sighted；　you　may　be　able　to　tell　me　why　a　man　from　whom　I　separated　myself　violently　two　days　ago　now　wishes　me　to　meet　him　in　a　house　at　Florigny　on　the　road　to　Mayenne。〃

At　this　avowal；　which　seemed　to　escape　her　with　a　recklessness　that　was　not　unnatural　in　so　passionate　a　creature；　Corentin　flushed；　for　he　was　still　young；　but　he　gave　her　a　sidelong　penetrating　look；　trying　to　search　her　soul。　The　girl's　artlessness　was　so　well　played；　however；　that　she　deceived　the　spy；　and　he　answered　with　crafty　good…　humor；　〃Shall　I　accompany　you　at　a　distance？　I　can　take　a　few　solders　with　me；　and　be　ready　to　help　and　obey　you。〃

〃Very　good；〃　she　said；　〃but　promise　me；　on　your　honor；no；　I　don't　believe　in　it；　by　your　salvation；but　you　don't　believe　in　God；　by　your　soul；but　I　don't　suppose　you　have　any！　what　pledge　/can/　you　give　me　of　your　fidelity？　and　yet　you　expect　me　to　trust　you；　and　put　more　than　my　lifemy　love；　my　vengeanceinto　your　hands？〃

The　slight　smile　which　crossed　the　pallid　lips　of　the　spy　showed　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　the　danger　she　had　just　escaped。　The　man；　whose　nostrils　contracted　instead　of　dilating；　took　the　hand　of　his　victim；　kissed　it　with　every　mark　of　the　deepest　respect；　and　left　the　room　with　a　bow　that　was　not　devoid　of　grace。

Three　hours　after　this　scene　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　who　feared　the　man's　return；　left　the　town　furtively　by　the　Porte　Saint…Leonard；　and　made　her　way　through　the　labyrinth　of　paths　to　the　cottage　of　Galope…　Chopine；　led　by　the　dream　of　at　last　finding　happiness；　and　also　by　the　purpose　of　saving　her　lover　from　the　danger　that　threatened　him。

During　this　time　Corentin　had　gone　to　find　the　commandant。　He　had　some　difficulty　in　recognizing　Hulot　wh