the chouans-第13章

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As　the　carriage　passed　the　commandant；　she　called　out　to　him；　in　a　sweet　voice：

〃We　will　meet　at　the　inn；　commandant。　Come　and　see　me。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　growled　the　commandant。　〃'The　inn'！　'Come　and　see　me'！　Is　that　how　you　speak　to　an　officer　in　command　of　the　army？〃　and　he　shook　his　fist　at　the　carriage；　which　was　now　rolling　rapidly　along　the　road。

〃Don't　be　vexed；　commandant；　she　has　got　your　rank　as　general　up　her　sleeve；〃　said　Corentin；　laughing；　as　he　endeavored　to　put　his　horse　into　a　gallop　to　overtake　the　carriage。

〃I　sha'n't　let　myself　be　fooled　by　any　such　folks　as　they；〃　said　Hulot　to　his　two　friends；　in　a　growling　tone。　〃I'd　rather　throw　my　general's　coat　into　that　ditch　than　earn　it　out　of　a　bed。　What　are　these　birds　after？　Have　you　any　idea；　either　of　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Merle；　〃I've　an　idea　that　that's　the　handsomest　women　I　ever　saw！　I　think　you're　reading　the　riddle　all　wrong。　Perhaps　she's　the　wife　of　the　First　Consul。〃

〃Pooh！　the　First　Consul's　wife　is　old；　and　this　woman　is　young；〃　said　Hulot。　〃Besides；　the　order　I　received　from　the　minister　gives　her　name　as　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。　She　is　a　/ci…devant/。　Don't　I　know　'em？　They　all　plied　one　trade　before　the　Revolution；　and　any　man　could　make　himself　a　major；　or　a　general　in　double…quick　time；　all　he　had　to　do　was　to　say　'Dear　heart'　to　them　now　and　then。〃

While　each　soldier　opened　his　compasses；　as　the　commandant　was　wont　to　say；　the　miserable　vehicle　which　was　then　used　as　the　mail…coach　drew　up　before　the　inn　of　the　Trois　Maures；　in　the　middle　of　the　main　street　of　Alencon。　The　sound　of　the　wheels　brought　the　landlord　to　the　door。　No　one　in　Alencon　could　have　expected　the　arrival　of　the　mail…　coach　at　the　Trois　Maures；　for　the　murderous　attack　upon　the　coach　at　Mortagne　was　already　known；　and　so　many　people　followed　it　along　the　street　that　the　two　women；　anxious　to　escape　the　curiosity　of　the　crowd；　ran　quickly　into　the　kitchen；　which　forms　the　inevitable　antechamber　to　all　Western　inns。　The　landlord　was　about　to　follow　them；　after　examining　the　coach；　when　the　postilion　caught　him　by　the　arm。

〃Attention；　citizen　Brutus；〃　he　said；　〃there's　an　escort　of　the　Blues　behind　us；　but　it　is　I　who　bring　you　these　female　citizens；　they'll　pay　like　/ci…devant/　princesses；　therefore〃

〃Therefore；　we'll　drink　a　glass　of　wine　together　presently；　my　lad；〃　said　the　landlord。

After　glancing　about　the　kitchen；　blackened　with　smoke；　and　noticing　a　table　bloody　from　raw　meat；　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　flew　into　the　next　room　with　the　celerity　of　a　bird；　for　she　shuddered　at　the　sight　and　smell　of　the　place；　and　feared　the　inquisitive　eyes　of　a　dirty　/chef/；　and　a　fat　little　woman　who　examined　her　attentively。

〃What　are　we　to　do；　wife？〃　said　the　landlord。　〃Who　the　devil　could　have　supposed　we　would　have　so　many　on　our　hands　in　these　days？　Before　I　serve　her　a　decent　breakfast　that　woman　will　get　impatient。　Stop；　an　idea！　evidently　she　is　a　person　of　quality。　I'll　propose　to　put　her　with　the　one　we　have　upstairs。　What　do　you　think？〃

When　the　landlord　went　to　look　for　the　new　arrival　he　found　only　Francine；　to　whom　he　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　taking　her　to　the　farther　end　of　the　kitchen；　so　as　not　to　be　overheard。

〃If　the　ladies　wish；〃　he　said；　〃to　be　served　in　private；　as　I　have　no　doubt　they　wish　to　do；　I　have　a　very　nice　breakfast　all　ready　for　a　lady　and　her　son；　and　I　dare　say　wouldn't　mind　sharing　it　with　you；　they　are　persons　of　condition；〃　he　added；　mysteriously。

He　had　hardly　said　the　words　before　he　felt　a　tap　on　his　back　from　the　handle　of　a　whip。　He　turned　hastily　and　saw　behind　him　a　short；　thick…　set　man；　who　had　noiselessly　entered　from　a　side　room；an　apparition　which　seemed　to　terrify　the　hostess；　the　cook；　and　the　scullion。　The　landlord　turned　pale　when　he　saw　the　intruder；　who　shook　back　the　hair　which　concealed　his　forehead　and　eyes；　raised　himself　on　the　points　of　his　toes　to　reach　the　other's　ears；　and　said　to　him　in　a　whisper：　〃You　know　the　cost　of　an　imprudence　or　a　betrayal；　and　the　color　of　the　money　we　pay　it　in。　We　are　generous　in　that　coin。〃

He　added　a　gesture　which　was　like　a　horrible　commentary　to　his　words。　Though　the　rotundity　of　the　landlord　prevented　Francine　from　seeing　the　stranger；　who　stood　behind　him；　she　caught　certain　words　of　his　threatening　speech；　and　was　thunderstruck　at　hearing　the　hoarse　tones　of　a　Breton　voice。　She　sprang　towards　the　man；　but　he；　seeming　to　move　with　the　agility　of　a　wild　animal；　had　already　darted　through　a　side　door　which　opened　on　the　courtyard。　Utterly　amazed；　she　ran　to　the　window。　Through　its　panes；　yellowed　with　smoke；　she　caught　sight　of　the　stranger　as　he　was　about　to　enter　the　stable。　Before　doing　so；　however；　he　turned　a　pair　of　black　eyes　to　the　upper　story　of　the　inn；　and　thence　to　the　mail…coach　in　the　yard；　as　if　to　call　some　friend's　attention　to　the　vehicle。　In　spite　of　his　muffling　goatskin　and　thanks　to　this　movement　which　allowed　her　to　see　his　face；　Francine　recognized　the　Chouan；　Marche…a…Terre；　with　his　heavy　whip；　she　saw　him；　indistinctly；　in　the　obscurity　of　the　stable；　fling　himself　down　on　a　pile　of　straw；　in　a　position　which　enabled　him　to　keep　an　eye　on　all　that　happened　at　the　inn。　Marche…a…Terre　curled　himself　up　in　such　a　way　that　the　cleverest　spy；　at　any　distance　far　or　near；　might　have　taken　him　for　one　of　those　huge　dogs　that　drag　the　hand…carts；　lying　asleep　with　his　muzzle　on　his　paws。

The　behavior　of　the　Chouan　proved　to　Francine　that　he　had　not　recognized　her。　Under　the　hazardous　circumstances　which　she　felt　her　mistress　to　be　in；　she　scarcely　knew　whether　to　regret　or　to　rejoice　in　this　unconsciousness。　But　the　mysterious　connection　between　the　landlord's　offer　（not　uncommon　among　innkeepers；　who　can　thus　kill　two　birds　with　one　stone）；　and　the　Chouan's　threats；　piqued　her　curiosity。　She　left　the　dirty　window　from　which　she　could　see　the　formless　heap　which　she　knew　to　be　Marche…a…Terre；　and　returned　to　the　landlord；　who　was　still　standing　in　the　attitude　of　a　man　who　feels　he　has　made　a　blunder；　and　does　not　know　how　to　get　out　of　it。　The　Chouan's　gesture　had　petrified　the　poor　fellow。　No　one　in　the　West　was　ignorant　of　the　cruel　refinements　of　torture　with　which　the　〃Chasseurs　du　Roi〃　punished　those　who　were　even　suspected　of　indiscretion；　the　landlord　felt　their　knives　already　at　his　throat。　The　cook　looked　with　a　shudder　at　the　iron　stove　on　which　they　often　〃warmed〃　（〃chauffaient〃）　the　feet　of　those　they　suspected。　The　fat　landlady　held　a　knife　in　one　hand　and　a　half…peeled　potato　in　the　other；　and　gazed　at　her　husband　with　a　stupefied　air。　Even　the　scullion　puzzled　himself　to　know　the　reason　of　their　speechless　terror。　Francine's　curiosity　was　naturally　excited　by　this　silent　scene；　the　principal　actor　of　which　was　visible　to　all；　though　departed。　The　girl　was　gratified　at　the　evident　power　of　the　Chouan；　and　though　by　nature　too　simple　and　humble　for　the　tricks　of　a　lady's　maid；　she　was　also　far　too　anxious　to　penetrate　the　mystery　not　to　profit　by　her　advantages　on　this　occasion。

〃Mademoiselle　accepts　your　proposal；〃　she　said　to　the　landlord；　who　jumped　as　if　suddenly　awakened　by　her　words。

〃What　proposal？〃　he　asked　with　genuine　surprise。

〃What　proposal？〃　asked　Corentin；　entering　the　kitchen。

〃What　proposal？〃　asked　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　returning　to　it。

〃What　proposal？〃　asked　a　fourth　individual　on　the　lower　step　of　the　staircase；　who　now　sprang　lightly　into　the　kitchen。

〃Why；　the　breakfast　with　your　persons　of　distinction；〃　replied　Francine；　impatiently。

〃Distinction！〃　said　the　ringing　and　ironical　voice　of　the　person　who　had　just　come　down　the　stairway。　〃My　good　fellow；　that　strikes　me　as　a　very　poor　inn　joke；　but　if　it's　the　company　of　this　young　female　citizen　that　you　want　to　give　us；　we　should　be　fools　to　refuse　it。　In　my　mother's　absence；　I　accept；〃　he　added；　striking　the　astonished　inn…　keeper　on　the　shoulder。

The　charming　heedlessness　of　youth　disguised　the　haughty　insolence　of　the　words；　which　drew　the　attention　of　every　one　present　to　the　new…　comer。　The　landlord　at　once　assumed　the　countenance　of　Pilate　washing　his　hands　of　the　blood　of　that　just　man；　he　slid　back　two　steps　to　reach　his　wife's　ear；　and　whispered；　〃You　are　witness；　if　any　harm　comes　of　it；　that　it　is　not　my　fault。　But；　anyhow；〃　he　added；　in　a　voice　that　was　lower　still；　〃go　and　tell　Monsieur　Marche…a…Terre　what　has　happened。〃

The　traveller；　who　was　a　young　man　of　medium　height；　wore　a　dark　blue　coat　and　high　black　gaiters　coming　above　the　knee　and　over　the　breeches；　which　were　also　of　blue　cloth。　This　simple　uniform；　without　epaulets；　was　that　of　the　pupils　of　the　Ecole　Polytechnique。　Beneath　this　plain　attire　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　could　distinguish　at　a　glance　the　elegant　shape　and　nameless　/something/　that　tells　of　natural　nobility。　The　face　of　the　young　man；　which　was　rather　ordinary　at　first　sight；　soon　attracted　the　eye　by　the　conformation　of　certain　features　which　revealed　a　soul　capable　of　great　things。　A　bronzed　skin；　curly　fair　hair；　sparkling　blue　eyes；　a　delicate　nose；　motions　full　of　ease；　all　disclosed　a　life　guided　by　noble　sentiments　and　trained　to　the　habit　of　command。　But　the　most　characteristic　signs　of　his　nature　were　in　the　chin；　which　was　dented　like　that　of　Bonaparte；　and　in　the　lower　lip；　which　joined　the　upper　one　with　a　graceful　curve；　like　that　of　an　acanthus　leaf　on　the　capital　of　a　Corinthian　column。　Nature　had　given　to　these　two　features　of　his　face　an　irresistible　charm。

〃This　young　man　has　singular　distinction　if　he　is　really　a　republican；〃　thought　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。

To　see　all　this　at　a　glance；　to　brighten　at　the　thought　of　pleasing；　to　bend　her　head　softly　and　smile　coquettishly　and　cast　a　soft　look　able　to　revive　a　heart　that　was　dead　to　love；　to　veil　her　long　black　eyes　with　lids　whose　curving　lashes　made　shadows　on　her　cheeks；　to　choose　the　melodious　tones　of　her　voice　and　give　a　penetrating　charm　to　the　formal　words；　〃Monsieur；　we　are　very　much　obliged　to　you；〃all　this　charming　by…play　took　less　time　than　it　has　taken　to　describe　it。　After　this；　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　addressing　the　landlord；　asked　to　be　shown　to　a　room；　saw　the　staircase；　and　disappeared　with　Francine；　leaving　the　stranger　to　discover　whether　her　reply　was　intended　as　an　acceptance　or　a　refusal。

〃Who　is　that　woman？〃　asked　the　Polytechnique　student；　in　an　airy　manner；　of　the　landlord；　who　still　stood　motionless　and　bewildered。

〃That's　the　female　citizen　Verneuil；〃　replied　Corentin；　sharply；　looking　jealously　at　the　questioner；　〃a　/ci…devant/；　what　is　she　to　you？〃

The　stranger；　who　was　humming　a　revolutionary　tune；　turned　his　head　haughtily　towards　Corentin。　The　two　young　men　looked　at　each　other　for　a　moment　like　cocks　about　to　fight；　and　the　glance　they　exchanged　gave　birth　to　a　hatred　which　lasted　forever。　The　blue　eye　of　the　young　soldier　was　as　frank　and　honest　as　the　green　eye　of　the　other　man　was　false　and　malicious；　the　manners　of　the　one　had　native　grandeur；　those　of　the　other　were　insinuating；　one　was　eager　in　his　advance；　the　other　deprecating；　one　commanded　respect；　the　other　sought　it。

〃Is　the　citizen　du　Gua　Saint…Cyr　here？〃　said　a　peasant；　entering　the　kitchen　at　that　moment。

〃What　do