the chouans- 第59部分

When　Hulot　reached　the　Promenade　Corentin　pointed　out　to　him　the　singular　position　taken　by　the　Chouans。

〃They　must　have　deceived　or　strangled　the　sentries　I　placed　between　the　castle　and　the　Queen's　Staircase。　Ah！　what　a　devil　of　a　fog！　However；　patience！　I'll　send　a　squad　of　men　under　a　lieutenant　to　the　foot　of　the　rock。　There　is　no　use　attacking　them　where　they　are；　for　those　animals　are　so　hard　they'd　let　themselves　roll　down　the　precipice　without　breaking　a　limb。〃

The　cracked　clock　of　the　belfry　was　ringing　two　when　the　commandant　got　back　to　the　Promenade　after　giving　these　orders　and　taking　every　military　precaution　to　seize　the　Chouans。　The　sentries　were　doubled　and　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　house　became　the　centre　of　a　little　army。　Hulot　found　Corentin　absorbed　in　contemplation　of　the　window　which　overlooked　the　tower。

〃Citizen；〃　said　the　commandant；　〃I　think　the　/ci…devant/　has　fooled　us；　there's　nothing　stirring。〃

〃He　is　there；〃　cried　Corentin；　pointing　to　the　window。　〃I　have　seen　a　man's　shadow　on　the　curtain。　But　I　can't　think　what　has　become　of　that　boy。　They　must　have　killed　him　or　locked　him　up。　There！　commandant；　don't　you　see　that？　there's　a　man's　shadow；　come；　come　on！〃

〃I　sha'n't　seize　him　in　bed；　thunder　of　God！　He　will　come　out　if　he　went　in；　Gudin　won't　miss　him；〃　cried　Hulot；　who　had　his　own　reasons　for　waiting　till　the　Gars　could　defend　himself。

〃Commandant；　I　enjoin　you；　in　the　name　of　the　law　to　proceed　at　once　into　that　house。〃

〃You're　a　fine　scoundrel　to　try　to　make　me　do　that。〃

Without　showing　any　resentment　at　the　commandant's　language；　Corentin　said　coolly：　〃You　will　obey　me。　Here　is　an　order　in　good　form；　signed　by　the　minister　of　war；　which　will　force　you　to　do　so。〃　He　drew　a　paper　from　his　pocket　and　held　it　out。　〃Do　you　suppose　we　are　such　fools　as　to　leave　that　girl　to　do　as　she　likes？　We　are　endeavoring　to　suppress　a　civil　war；　and　the　grandeur　of　the　purpose　covers　the　pettiness　of　the　means。〃

〃I　take　the　liberty；　citizen；　of　sending　you　toyou　understand　me？　Enough。　To　the　right…about；　march！　Let　me　alone；　or　it　will　be　the　worse　for　you。〃

〃But　read　that；〃　persisted　Corentin。

〃Don't　bother　me　with　your　functions；〃　cried　Hulot；　furious　at　receiving　orders　from　a　man　he　regarded　as　contemptible。

At　this　instant　Galope…Chopine's　boy　suddenly　appeared　among　them　like　a　rat　from　a　hole。

〃The　Gars　has　started！〃　he　cried。

〃Which　way？〃

〃The　rue　Saint…Leonard。〃

〃Beau…Pied；〃　said　Hulot　in　a　whisper　to　the　corporal　who　was　near　him；　〃go　and　tell　your　lieutenant　to　draw　in　closer　round　the　house；　and　make　ready　to　fire。　Left　wheel；　forward　on　the　tower；　the　rest　of　you！〃　he　shouted。

To　understand　the　conclusion　of　this　fatal　drama　we　must　re…enter　the　house　with　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　when　she　returned　to　it　after　denouncing　the　marquis　to　the　commandant。

When　passions　reach　their　crisis　they　bring　us　under　the　dominion　of　far　greater　intoxication　than　the　petty　excitements　of　wine　or　opium。　The　lucidity　then　given　to　ideas；　the　delicacy　of　the　high…wrought　senses；　produce　the　most　singular　and　unexpected　effects。　Some　persons　when　they　find　themselves　under　the　tyranny　of　a　single　thought　can　see　with　extraordinary　distinctness　objects　scarcely　visible　to　others；　while　at　the　same　time　the　most　palpable　things　become　to　them　almost　as　if　they　did　not　exist。　When　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　hurried；　after　reading　the　marquis's　letter；　to　prepare　the　way　for　vengeance　just　as　she　had　lately　been　preparing　all　for　love；　she　was　in　that　stage　of　mental　intoxication　which　makes　real　life　like　the　life　of　a　somnambulist。　But　when　she　saw　her　house　surrounded；　by　her　own　orders；　with　a　triple　line　of　bayonets　a　sudden　flash　of　light　illuminated　her　soul。　She　judged　her　conduct　and　saw　with　horror　that　she　had　committed　a　crime。　Under　the　first　shock　of　this　conviction　she　sprang　to　the　threshold　of　the　door　and　stood　there　irresolute；　striving　to　think；　yet　unable　to　follow　out　her　reasoning。　She　knew　so　vaguely　what　had　happened　that　she　tried　in　vain　to　remember　why　she　was　in　the　antechamber；　and　why　she　was　leading　a　strange　child　by　the　hand。　A　million　of　stars　were　floating　in　the　air　before　her　like　tongues　of　fire。　She　began　to　walk　about；　striving　to　shake　off　the　horrible　torpor　which　laid　hold　of　her；　but；　like　one　asleep；　no　object　appeared　to　her　under　its　natural　form　or　in　its　own　colors。　She　grasped　the　hand　of　the　little　boy　with　a　violence　not　natural　to　her；　dragging　him　along　with　such　precipitate　steps　that　she　seemed　to　have　the　motions　of　a　madwoman。　She　saw　neither　persons　nor　things　in　the　salon　as　she　crossed　it；　and　yet　she　was　saluted　by　three　men　who　made　way　to　let　her　pass。

〃That　must　be　she；〃　said　one　of　them。

〃She　is　very　handsome；〃　exclaimed　another；　who　was　a　priest。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　first；　〃but　how　pale　and　agitated〃

〃And　beside　herself；〃　said　the　third；　〃she　did　not　even　see　us。〃

At　the　door　of　her　own　room　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　saw　the　smiling　face　of　Francine；　who　whispered　to　her：　〃He　is　here；　Marie。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　awoke；　reflected；　looked　at　the　child　whose　hand　she　held；　remembered　all；　and　replied　to　the　girl：　〃Shut　up　that　boy；　if　you　wish　me　to　live　do　not　let　him　escape　you。〃

As　she　slowly　said　the　words　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　door　of　her　bedroom；　and　there　they　continued　fastened　with　so　dreadful　a　fixedness　that　it　seemed　as　if　she　saw　her　victim　through　the　wooden　panels。　Then　she　gently　opened　it；　passed　through　and　closed　it　behind　her　without　turning　round；　for　she　saw　the　marquis　standing　before　the　fireplace。　His　dress；　without　being　too　choice；　had　the　look　of　careful　arrangement　which　adds　so　much　to　the　admiration　which　a　woman　feels　for　her　lover。　All　her　self…possession　came　back　to　her　at　the　sight　of　him。　Her　lips；　rigid；　although　half…open；　showed　the　enamel　of　her　white　teeth　and　formed　a　smile　that　was　fixed　and　terrible　rather　than　voluptuous。　She　walked　with　slow　steps　toward　the　young　man　and　pointed　with　her　finger　to　the　clock。

〃A　man　who　is　worthy　of　love　is　worth　waiting　for；〃　she　said　with　deceptive　gaiety。

Then；　overcome　with　the　violence　of　her　emotions；　she　dropped　upon　the　sofa　which　was　near　the　fireplace。

〃Dear　Marie；　you　are　so　charming　when　you　are　angry；〃　said　the　marquis；　sitting　down　beside　her　and　taking　her　hand；　which　she　let　him　take；　and　entreating　a　look；　which　she　refused　him。　〃I　hope；〃　he　continued；　in　a　tender；　caressing　voice；　〃that　my　wife　will　not　long　refuse　a　glance　to　her　loving　husband。〃

Hearing　the　words　she　turned　abruptly　and　looked　into　his　eyes。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　that　dreadful　look？〃　he　said；　laughing。　〃But　your　hand　is　burning！　oh；　my　love；　what　is　it？〃

〃Your　love！〃　she　repeated；　in　a　dull；　changed　voice。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　throwing　himself　on　his　knees　beside　her　and　taking　her　two　hands　which　he　covered　with　kisses。　〃Yes；　my　loveI　am　thine　for　life。〃

She　pushed　him　violently　away　from　her　and　rose。　Her　features　contracted；　she　laughed　as　mad　people　laugh；　and　then　she　said　to　him：　〃You　do　not　mean　one　word　of　all　you　are　saying；　base　manbaser　than　the　lowest　villain。〃　She　sprang　to　the　dagger　which　was　lying　beside　a　flower…vase；　and　let　it　sparkle　before　the　eyes　of　the　amazed　young　marquis。　〃Bah！〃　she　said；　flinging　it　away　from　her；　〃I　do　not　respect　you　enough　to　kill　you。　Your　blood　is　even　too　vile　to　be　shed　by　soldiers；　I　see　nothing　fit　for　you　but　the　executioner。〃

The　words　were　painfully　uttered　in　a　low　voice；　and　she　moved　her　feet　like　a　spoilt　child；　impatiently。　The　marquis　went　to　her　and　tried　to　clasp　her。

〃Don't　touch　me！〃　she　cried；　recoiling　from　him　with　a　look　of　horror。

〃She　is　mad！〃　said　the　marquis　in　despair。

〃Mad；　yes！〃　she　repeated；　〃but　not　mad　enough　to　be　your　dupe。　What　would　I　not　forgive　to　passion？　but　to　seek　to　possess　me　without　love；　and　to　write　to　that　woman〃

〃To　whom　have　I　written？〃　he　said；　with　an　astonishment　which　was　certainly　not　feigned。

〃To　that　chaste　woman　who　sought　to　kill　me。〃

The　marquis　turned　pale　with　anger　and　said；　grasping　the　back　of　a　chair　until　he　broke　it；　〃If　Madame　du　Gua　has　committed　some　dastardly　wrong〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　looked　for　the　letter；　not　finding　it　she　called　to　Francine。

〃Where　is　that　letter？〃　she　asked。

〃Monsieur　Corentin　took　it。〃

〃Corentin！　ah！　I　understand　it　all；　he　wrote　the　letter；　he　has　deceived　me　with　diabolical　artas　he　alone　can　deceive。〃

With　a　piercing　cry　she　flung　herself　on　the　sofa；　tears　rushing　from　her　eyes。　Doubt　and　confidence　were　equally　dreadful　now。　The　marquis　knelt　beside　her　and　clasped　her　to　his　breast；　saying；　again　and　again；　the　only　words　he　was　able　to　utter：

〃Why　do　you　weep；　my　darling？　there　is　no　harm　done；　your　reproaches　were　all　love；　do　not　weep；　I　love　youI　shall　always　love　you。〃

Suddenly　he　felt　her　press　him　with　almost　supernatural　force。　〃Do　you　still　love　me？〃　she　said；　amid　her　sobs。

〃Can　you　doubt　it？〃　he　replied　in　a　tone　that　was　almost　melancholy。

She　abruptly　disengaged　herself　from　his　arms；　and　fled；　as　if　frightened　and　confused；　to　a　little　distance。

〃Do　I　doubt　it？〃　she　exclaimed；　but　a　smile　of　gentle　meaning　was　on　her　lover's　face；　and　the　words　died　away　upon　her　lips；　she　let　him　take　her　by　the　hand　and　lead　her　to　the　salon。　There　an　altar　had　been　hastily　arranged　during　her　absence。　The　priest　was　robed　in　his　officiating　vestments。　The　lighted　tapers　shed　upon　the　ceiling　a　glow　as　soft　as　hope　itself。　She　now　recognized　the　two　men　who　had　bowed　to　her；　the　Comte　de　Bauvan　and　the　Baron　du　Guenic；　the　witnesses　chosen　by　Montauran。

〃You　will　not　still　refuse？〃　said　the　marquis。

But　at　the　sight　she　stopped；　stepped　backward　into　her　chamber　and　fell　on　her　knees；　raising　her　hands　towards　the　marquis　she　cried　out：　〃Pardon！　pardon！　pardon！〃

Her　voice　died　away；　her　head　fell　back；　her　eyes　closed；　and　she　lay　in　the　arms　of　her　lover　and　Francine　as　if　dead。　When　she　opened　her　eyes　they　met　those　of　the　young　man　full　of　loving　tenderness。

〃Marie！　patience！　this　is　your　last　trial；〃　he　said。

〃The　last！〃　she　exclaimed；　bitterly。

Francine　and　the　marquis　looke