the chouans-第18章

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e　has　bought　me　my　uncle　Thomas's　big　house　for　fifteen　hundred　francs；　and　I　have　saved　two　thousand　beside。〃

But　her　smiles　and　the　announcement　of　her　wealth　fell　dead　before　the　dogged　immovability　of　the　Chouan。

〃The　priests　have　told　us　to　go　to　war；〃　he　replied。　〃Every　Blue　we　shoot　earns　one　indulgence。〃

〃But　suppose　the　Blues　shoot　you？〃

He　answered　by　letting　his　arms　drop　at　his　sides；　as　if　regretting　the　poverty　of　the　offering　he　should　thus　make　to　God　and　the　king。

〃What　will　become　of　me？〃　exclaimed　the　young　girl；　sorrowfully。

Marche…a…Terre　looked　at　her　stupidly；　his　eyes　seemed　to　enlarge；　tears　rolled　down　his　hairy　cheeks　upon　the　goatskin　which　covered　him；　and　a　low　moan　came　from　his　breast。

〃Saint　Anne　of　Auray！Pierre；　is　this　all　you　have　to　say　to　me　after　a　parting　of　seven　years？　You　have　changed　indeed。〃

〃I　love　you　the　same　as　ever；〃　said　the　Chouan；　in　a　gruff　voice。

〃No；〃　she　whispered；　〃the　king　is　first。〃

〃If　you　look　at　me　like　that　I　shall　go；〃　he　said。

〃Well；　then；　adieu；〃　she　replied；　sadly。

〃Adieu；〃　he　repeated。

He　seized　her　hand；　wrung　it；　kissed　it；　made　the　sign　of　the　cross；　and　rushed　into　the　stable；　like　a　dog　who　fears　that　his　bone　will　be　taken　from　him。

〃Pille…Miche；〃　he　said　to　his　comrade。　〃Where's　your　tobacco…box？〃

〃Ho！　/sacre　bleu/！　what　a　fine　chain！〃　cried　Pille…Miche；　fumbling　in　a　pocket　constructed　in　his　goatskin。

Then　he　held　out　to　Marche…a…Terre　the　little　horn　in　which　Bretons　put　the　finely　powdered　tobacco　which　they　prepare　themselves　during　the　long　winter　nights。　The　Chouan　raised　his　thumb　and　made　a　hollow　in　the　palm　of　his　hand；　after　the　manner　in　which　an　〃Invalide〃　takes　his　tobacco；　then　he　shook　the　horn；　the　small　end　of　which　Pille…　Miche　had　unscrewed。　A　fine　powder　fell　slowly　from　the　little　hole　pierced　in　the　point　of　this　Breton　utensil。　Marche…a…Terre　went　through　the　same　process　seven　or　eight　times　silently；　as　if　the　powder　had　power　to　change　the　current　of　his　thoughts。　Suddenly　he　flung　the　horn　to　Pille…Miche　with　a　gesture　of　despair；　and　caught　up　a　gun　which　was　hidden　in　the　straw。

〃Seven　or　eight　shakes　at　once！　I　suppose　you　think　that　costs　nothing！〃　said　the　stingy　Pille…Miche。

〃Forward！〃　cried　Marche…a…Terre　in　a　hoarse　voice。　〃There's　work　before　us。〃

Thirty　or　more　Chouans　who　were　sleeping　in　the　straw　under　the　mangers；　raised　their　heads；　saw　Marche…a…Terre　on　his　feet；　and　disappeared　instantly　through　a　door　which　led　to　the　garden；　from　which　it　was　easy　to　reach　the　fields。

When　Francine　left　the　stable　she　found　the　mail…coach　ready　to　start。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　and　her　new　fellow…travellers　were　already　in　it。　The　girl　shuddered　as　she　saw　her　young　mistress　sitting　side　by　side　with　the　woman　who　had　just　ordered　her　death。　The　young　man　had　taken　his　seat　facing　Marie；　and　as　soon　as　Francine　was　in　hers　the　heavy　vehicle　started　at　a　good　pace。

The　sun　had　swept　away　the　gray　autumnal　mists；　and　its　rays　were　brightening　the　gloomy　landscape　with　a　look　of　youth　and　holiday。　Many　lovers　fancy　that　such　chance　accidents　of　the　sky　are　premonitions。　Francine　was　surprised　at　the　strange　silence　which　fell　upon　the　travellers。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　had　recovered　her　cold　manner；　and　sat　with　her　eyes　lowered；　her　head　slightly　inclined；　and　her　hands　hidden　under　a　sort　of　mantle　in　which　she　had　wrapped　herself。　If　she　raised　her　eyes　it　was　only　to　look　at　the　passing　scenery。　Certain　of　being　admired；　she　rejected　admiration；　but　her　apparent　indifference　was　evidently　more　coquettish　than　natural。　Purity；　which　gives　such　harmony　to　the　diverse　expressions　by　which　a　simple　soul　reveals　itself；　could　lend　no　charm　to　a　being　whose　every　instinct　predestined　her　to　the　storms　of　passion。　Yielding　himself　up　to　the　pleasures　of　this　dawning　intrigue；　the　young　man　did　not　try　to　explain　the　contradictions　which　were　obvious　between　the　coquetry　and　the　enthusiasm　of　this　singular　young　girl。　Her　assumed　indifference　allowed　him　to　examine　at　his　ease　a　face　which　was　now　as　beautiful　in　its　calmness　as　it　had　been　when　agitated。　Like　the　rest　of　us；　he　was　not　disposed　to　question　the　sources　of　his　enjoyment。

It　is　difficult　for　a　pretty　woman　to　avoid　the　glances　of　her　companions　in　a　carriage　when　their　eyes　fasten　upon　her　as　a　visible　distraction　to　the　monotony　of　a　journey。　Happy；　therefore；　in　being　able　to　satisfy　the　hunger　of　his　dawning　passion；　without　offence　or　avoidance　on　the　part　of　its　object；　the　young　man　studied　the　pure　and　brilliant　lines　of　the　girl's　head　and　face。　To　him　they　were　a　picture。　Sometimes　the　light　brought　out　the　transparent　rose　of　the　nostrils　and　the　double　curve　which　united　the　nose　with　the　upper　lip；　at　other　times　a　pale　glint　of　sunshine　illuminated　the　tints　of　the　skin；　pearly　beneath　the　eyes　and　round　the　mouth；　rosy　on　the　cheeks；　and　ivory…white　about　the　temples　and　throat。　He　admired　the　contrasts　of　light　and　shade　caused　by　the　masses　of　black　hair　surrounding　her　face　and　giving　it　an　ephemeral　grace；for　all　is　fleeting　in　a　woman；　her　beauty　of　to…day　is　often　not　that　of　yesterday；　fortunately　for　herself；　perhaps！　The　young　man；　who　was　still　at　an　age　when　youth　delights　in　the　nothings　which　are　the　all　of　love；　watched　eagerly　for　each　movement　of　the　eyelids；　and　the　seductive　rise　and　fall　of　her　bosom　as　she　breathed。　Sometimes　he　fancied；　suiting　the　tenor　of　his　thoughts；　that　he　could　see　a　meaning　in　the　expression　of　the　eyes　and　the　imperceptible　inflection　of　the　lips。　Every　gesture　betrayed　to　him　the　soul；　every　motion　a　new　aspect　of　the　young　girl。　If　a　thought　stirred　those　mobile　features；　if　a　sudden　blush　suffused　the　cheeks；　or　a　smile　brought　life　into　the　face；　he　found　a　fresh　delight　in　trying　to　discover　the　secrets　of　this　mysterious　creature。　Everything　about　her　was　a　snare　to　the　soul　and　a　snare　to　the　senses。　Even　the　silence　that　fell　between　them；　far　from　raising　an　obstacle　to　the　understanding　of　their　hearts；　became　the　common　ground　for　mutual　thoughts。　But　after　a　while　the　many　looks　in　which　their　eyes　encountered　each　other　warned　Marie　de　Verneuil　that　the　silence　was　compromising　her；　and　she　turned　to　Madame　du　Gua　with　one　of　those　commonplace　remarks　which　open　the　way　to　conversation；　but　even　in　so　doing　she　included　the　young　man。

〃Madame；〃　she　said；　〃how　could　you　put　your　son　into　the　navy？　have　you　not　doomed　yourself　to　perpetual　anxiety？〃

〃Mademoiselle；　the　fate　of　women；　of　mothers；　I　should　say；　is　to　tremble　for　the　safety　of　their　dear　ones。〃

〃Your　son　is　very　like　you。〃

〃Do　you　think　so；　mademoiselle？〃

The　smile　with　which　the　young　man　listened　to　these　remarks　increased　the　vexation　of　his　pretended　mother。　Her　hatred　grew　with　every　passionate　glance　he　turned　on　Marie。　Silence　or　conversation；　all　increased　the　dreadful　wrath　which　she　carefully　concealed　beneath　a　cordial　manner。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃you　are　quite　mistaken。　Naval　men　are　not　more　exposed　to　danger　than　soldiers。　Women　ought　not　to　dislike　the　navy；　we　sailors　have　a　merit　beyond　that　of　the　military；　we　are　faithful　to　our　mistresses。〃

〃Oh；　from　necessity；〃　replied　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　laughing。

〃But　even　so；　it　is　fidelity；〃　said　Madame　du　Gua；　in　a　deep　voice。

The　conversation　grew　lively；　touching　upon　subjects　that　were　interesting　to　none　but　the　three　travellers；　for　under　such　circumstances　intelligent　persons　given　new　meanings　to　commonplace　talk；　but　every　word；　insignificant　as　it　might　seem；　was　a　mutual　interrogation；　hiding　the　desires；　hopes；　and　passions　which　agitated　them。　Marie's　cleverness　and　quick　perception　（for　she　was　fully　on　her　guard）　showed　Madame　du　Gua　that　calumny　and　treachery　could　alone　avail　to　triumph　over　a　rival　as　formidable　through　her　intellect　as　by　her　beauty。　The　mail…coach　presently　overtook　the　escort；　and　then　advanced　more　slowly。　The　young　man；　seeing　a　long　hill　before　them；　proposed　to　the　young　lady　that　they　should　walk。　The　friendly　politeness　of　his　offer　decided　her；　and　her　consent　flattered　him。

〃Is　Madame　of　our　opinion？〃　she　said；　turning　to　Madame　du　Gua。　〃Will　she　walk；　too？〃

〃Coquette！〃　said　the　lady　to　herself；　as　she　left　the　coach。

Marie　and　the　young　man　walked　together；　but　a　little　apart。　The　sailor；　full　of　ardent　desires；　was　determined　to　break　the　reserve　that　checked　him；　of　which；　however；　he　was　not　the　dupe。　He　fancied　that　he　could　succeed　by　dallying　with　the　young　lady　in　that　tone　of　courteous　amiability　and　wit；　sometimes　frivolous；　sometimes　serious；　which　characterized　the　men　of　the　exiled　aristocracy。　But　the　smiling　Parisian　beauty　parried　him　so　mischievously；　and　rejected　his　frivolities　with　such　disdain；　evidently　preferring　the　stronger　ideas　and　enthusiasms　which　he　betrayed　from　time　to　time　in　spite　of　himself；　that　he　presently　began　to　understand　the　true　way　of　pleasing　her。　The　conversation　then　changed。　He　realized　the　hopes　her　expressive　face　had　given　him；　yet；　as　he　did　so；　new　difficulties　arose；　and　he　was　still　forced　to　suspend　his　judgment　on　a　girl　who　seemed　to　take　delight　in　thwarting　him；　a　siren　with　whom　he　grew　more　and　more　in　love。　After　yielding　to　the　seduction　of　her　beauty；　he　was　still　more　attracted　to　her　mysterious　soul；　with　a　curiosity　which　Marie　perceived　and　took　pleasure　in　exciting。　Their　intercourse　assumed；　insensibly；　a　character　of　intimacy　far　removed　from　the　tone　of　indifference　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　endeavored　in　vain　to　give　to　it。

Though　Madame　du　Gua　had　followed　the　lovers；　the　latter　had　unconsciously　walked　so　much　more　rapidly　than　she　that　a　distance　of　several　hundred　feet　soon　separated　them。　The　charming　pair　trod　the　fine　sand　beneath　their　feet；　listening　with　childlike　delight　to　the　union　of　their　footsteps；　happy　in　being　wrapped　by　the　same　ray　of　a　sunshine　that　seemed　spring…like；　in　breathing　with　the　same　breath　autumnal　perfumes　laden　with　vegetable　odors　which　seemed　a　nourishment　brought　by　the　breezes　to　their　dawning　love。　Though　to　them　it　may　have　been　a　mere　circumstance　of　their　fortuitous　meeting；　yet　the　sky；　the　landscape；　the　season　of　the　year；　did　communicate　to　their　emotions　a　tinge　of　melancholy　gravity　which　gave　them　an　element　of　passion。　They　praised　the　weather　and　talked　of　its　beauty；　then　of　their　strange　encounter；　of　the　coming　rupture　of　an　intercourse　so　delightful；　of　the　ease　with　which；　in　travelling；　friendships；　lost　as　soon　as　made；　are　formed。　After　this　last　remark；　the　young　man　profited　by　what　seemed　to　be　a　tacit　permission　to　make　a　few　tender　confidences；　and　to　risk　an　avowal　of　love　like　a　man　who　was　not　unaccustomed　to　such　situations。

〃Have　you　noticed；　mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　〃how　little　the　feelings　of　the　heart　follow　the　old　conventional　rules　in　the　days　of　terror　in　which　we　live？　Everything　about　us　bears　the　stamp　of　suddenness。　We　love　in　a　day；　or　we　hate　on　the　strength　of　a　single　glance。　We　are　bound　to　each　other　for　life　in　a　moment；　or　we　part　with　the　celerity　of　death　itself。　All　things　are　hurried；　like　the　convulsions　of　the　nation。　In　the　midst　of　such　dange