the chouans-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ich　left　no　impressions　on　her　mind。　They　reached　Mayenne；　the　soldiers　of　the　escort　were　changed；　Merle　spoke　to　her；　she　replied；　they　crossed　the　whole　town　and　were　again　in　the　open　country；　but　the　faces；　houses；　streets；　landscape；　men；　swept　past　her　like　the　figments　of　a　dream。　Night　came；　and　Marie　was　travelling　beneath　a　diamond　sky；　wrapped　in　soft　light；　and　yet　she　was　not　aware　that　darkness　had　succeeded　day；　that　Mayenne　was　passed；　that　Fougeres　was　near；　she　knew　not　even　where　she　was　going。　That　she　should　part　in　a　few　hours　from　the　man　she　had　chosen；　and　who；　she　believed；　had　chosen　her；　was　not　for　her　a　possibility。　Love　is　the　only　passion　which　looks　to　neither　past　nor　future。　Occasionally　her　thoughts　escaped　in　broken　words；　in　phrases　devoid　of　meaning；　though　to　her　lover's　ears　they　sounded　like　promises　of　love。　To　the　two　witnesses　of　this　birth　of　passion　she　seemed　to　be　rushing　onward　with　fearful　rapidity。　Francine　knew　Marie　as　well　as　Madame　du　Gua　knew　the　marquis；　and　their　experience　of　the　past　made　them　await　in　silence　some　terrible　finale。　It　was；　indeed；　not　long　before　the　end　came　to　the　drama　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　had　called；　without　perhaps　imagining　the　truth　of　her　words；　a　tragedy。

When　the　travellers　were　about　three　miles　beyond　Mayenne　they　heard　a　horseman　riding　after　them　with　great　rapidity。　When　he　reached　the　carriage　he　leaned　towards　it　to　look　at　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　who　recognized　Corentin。　That　offensive　personage　made　her　a　sign　of　intelligence；　the　familiarity　of　which　was　deeply　mortifying；　then　he　turned　away；　after　chilling　her　to　the　bone　with　a　look　full　of　some　base　meaning。　The　young　/emigre/　seemed　painfully　affected　by　this　circumstance；　which　did　not　escape　the　notice　of　his　pretended　mother；　but　Marie　softly　touched　him；　seeming　by　her　eyes　to　take　refuge　in　his　heart　as　thought　it　were　her　only　haven。　His　brow　cleared　at　this　proof　of　the　full　extent　of　his　mistress's　attachment；　coming　to　him　as　it　were　by　accident。　An　inexplicable　fear　seemed　to　have　overcome　her　coyness；　and　her　love　was　visible　for　a　moment　without　a　veil。　Unfortunately　for　both　of　them；　Madame　du　Gua　saw　it　all；　like　a　miser　who　gives　a　feast；　she　seemed　to　count　the　morsels　and　begrudge　the　wine。

Absorbed　in　their　happiness　the　lovers　arrived；　without　any　consciousness　of　the　distance　they　had　traversed；　at　that　part　of　the　road　which　passed　through　the　valley　of　Ernee。　There　Francine　noticed　and　showed　to　her　companions　a　number　of　strange　forms　which　seemed　to　move　like　shadows　among　the　trees　and　gorse　that　surrounded　the　fields。　When　the　carriage　came　within　range　of　these　shadows　a　volley　of　musketry；　the　balls　of　which　whistled　above　their　heads；　warned　the　travellers　that　the　shadows　were　realities。　The　escort　had　fallen　into　a　trap。

Captain　Merle　now　keenly　regretted　having　adopted　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　idea　that　a　rapid　journey　by　night　would　be　a　safe　one；an　error　which　had　led　him　to　reduce　his　escort　from　Mayenne　to　sixty　men。　He　at　once；　under　Gerard's　orders；　divided　his　little　troop　into　two　columns；　one　on　each　side　of　the　road；　which　the　two　officers　marched　at　a　quick　step　among　the　gorse　hedges；　eager　to　meet　the　assailants；　though　ignorant　of　their　number。　The　Blues　beat　the　thick　bushes　right　and　left　with　rash　intrepidity；　and　replied　to　the　Chouans　with　a　steady　fire。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　first　impulse　was　to　jump　from　the　carriage　and　run　back　along　the　road　until　she　was　out　of　sight　of　the　battle；　but　ashamed　of　her　fears；　and　moved　by　the　feeling　which　impels　us　all　to　act　nobly　under　the　eyes　of　those　we　love；　she　presently　stood　still；　endeavoring　to　watch　the　combat　coolly。

The　marquis　followed　her；　took　her　hand；　and　placed　it　on　his　breast。

〃I　was　afraid；〃　she　said；　smiling；　〃but　now〃

Just　then　her　terrified　maid　cried　out：　〃Marie；　take　care！〃

But　as　she　said　the　words；　Francine；　who　was　springing　from　the　carriage；　felt　herself　grasped　by　a　strong　hand。　The　sudden　weight　of　that　enormous　hand　made　her　shriek　violently；　she　turned；　and　was　instantly　silenced　on　recognizing　Marche…a…Terre。

〃Twice　I　owe　to　chance；〃　said　the　marquis　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　〃the　revelation　of　the　sweetest　secrets　of　the　heart。　Thanks　to　Francine　I　now　know　you　bear　the　gracious　name　of　Marie；Marie；　the　name　I　have　invoked　in　my　distresses；Marie；　a　name　I　shall　henceforth　speak　in　joy；　and　never　without　sacrifice；　mingling　religion　and　love。　There　can　be　no　wrong　where　prayer　and　love　go　together。〃

They　clasped　hands；　looked　silently　into　each　other's　eyes；　and　the　excess　of　their　emotion　took　away　from　them　the　power　to　express　it。

〃There's　no　danger　for　/the　rest　of　you/；〃　Marche…a…Terre　was　saying　roughly　to　Francine；　giving　to　his　hoarse　and　guttural　voice　a　reproachful　tone；　and　emphasizing　his　last　words　in　a　way　to　stupefy　the　innocent　peasant…girl。　For　the　first　time　in　her　life　she　saw　ferocity　in　that　face。　The　moonlight　seemed　to　heighten　the　effect　of　it。　The　savage　Breton；　holding　his　cap　in　one　hand　and　his　heavy　carbine　in　the　other；　dumpy　and　thickset　as　a　gnome；　and　bathed　in　that　white　light　the　shadows　of　which　give　such　fantastic　aspects　to　forms；　seemed　to　belong　more　to　a　world　of　goblins　than　to　reality。　This　apparition　and　its　tone　of　reproach　came　upon　Francine　with　the　suddenness　of　a　phantom。　He　turned　rapidly　to　Madame　du　Gua；　with　whom　he　exchanged　a　few　eager　words；　which　Francine；　who　had　somewhat　forgotten　the　dialect　of　Lower　Brittany；　did　not　understand。　The　lady　seemed　to　be　giving　him　a　series　of　orders。　The　short　conference　ended　by　an　imperious　gesture　of　the　lady's　hand　pointing　out　to　the　Chouan　the　lovers　standing　a　little　distance　apart。　Before　obeying；　Marche…a…　Terre　glanced　at　Francine　whom　he　seemed　to　pity；　he　wished　to　speak　to　her；　and　the　girl　was　aware　that　his　silence　was　compulsory。　The　rough　and　sunburnt　skin　of　his　forehead　wrinkled；　and　his　eyebrows　were　drawn　violently　together。　Did　he　think　of　disobeying　a　renewed　order　to　kill　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil？　The　contortion　of　his　face　made　him　all　the　more　hideous　to　Madame　du　Gua；　but　to　Francine　the　flash　of　his　eye　seemed　almost　gentle；　for　it　taught　her　to　feel　intuitively　that　the　violence　of　his　savage　nature　would　yield　to　her　will　as　a　woman；　and　that　she　reigned；　next　to　God；　in　that　rough　heart。

The　lovers　were　interrupted　in　their　tender　interview　by　Madame　du　Gua；　who　ran　up　to　Marie　with　a　cry；　and　pulled　her　away　as　though　some　danger　threatened　her。　Her　real　object　however；　was　to　enable　a　member　of　the　royalist　committee　of　Alencon；　whom　she　saw　approaching　them；　to　speak　privately　to　the　Gars。

〃Beware　of　the　girl　you　met　at　the　hotel　in　Alencon；　she　will　betray　you；〃　said　the　Chevalier　de　Valois；　in　the　young　man's　ear；　and　immediately　he　and　his　little　Breton　horse　disappeared　among　the　bushes　from　which　he　had　issued。

The　firing　was　heavy　at　that　moment；　but　the　combatants　did　not　come　to　close　quarters。

〃Adjutant；〃　said　Clef…des…Coeurs；　〃isn't　it　a　sham　attack；　to　capture　our　travellers　and　get　a　ransom。〃

〃The　devil　is　in　it；　but　I　believe　you　are　right；〃　replied　Gerard；　darting　back　towards　the　highroad。

Just　then　the　Chouan　fire　slackened；　for；　in　truth；　the　whole　object　of　the　skirmish　was　to　give　the　chevalier　an　opportunity　to　utter　his　warning　to　the　Gars。　Merle；　who　saw　the　enemy　disappearing　across　the　hedges；　thought　best　not　to　follow　them　nor　to　enter　upon　a　fight　that　was　uselessly　dangerous。　Gerard　ordered　the　escort　to　take　its　former　position　on　the　road；　and　the　convoy　was　again　in　motion　without　the　loss　of　a　single　man。　The　captain　offered　his　hand　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　to　replace　her　in　the　coach；　for　the　young　nobleman　stood　motionless；　as　if　thunderstruck。　Marie；　amazed　at　his　attitude；　got　into　the　carriage　alone　without　accepting　the　politeness　of　the　Republican；　she　turned　her　head　towards　her　lover；　saw　him　still　motionless；　and　was　stupefied　at　the　sudden　change　which　had　evidently　come　over　him。　The　young　man　slowly　returned；　his　whole　manner　betraying　deep　disgust。

〃Was　I　not　right？〃　said　Madame　du　Gua　in　his　ear；　as　she　led　him　to　the　coach。　〃We　have　fallen　into　the　hands　of　a　creature　who　is　trafficking　for　your　head；　but　since　she　is　such　a　fool　as　to　have　fallen　in　love　with　you；　for　heaven's　sake　don't　behave　like　a　boy；　pretend　to　love　her　at　least　till　we　reach　La　Vivetiere；　once　there　But；〃　she　thought　to　herself；　seeing　the　young　man　take　his　place　with　a　dazed　air；　as　if　bewildered；　〃can　it　be　that　he　already　loves　her？〃

The　coach　rolled　on　over　the　sandy　road。　To　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　eyes　all　seemed　changed。　Death　was　gliding　beside　her　love。　Perhaps　it　was　only　fancy；　but；　to　a　woman　who　loves；　fancy　is　as　vivid　as　reality。　Francine；　who　had　clearly　understood　from　Marche…a…Terre's　glance　that　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　fate；　over　which　she　had　commanded　him　to　watch；　was　in　other　hands　than　his；　looked　pale　and　haggard；　and　could　scarcely　restrain　her　tears　when　her　mistress　spoke　to　her。　To　her　eyes　Madame　du　Gua's　female　malignancy　was　scarcely　concealed　by　her　treacherous　smiles；　and　the　sudden　changes　which　her　obsequious　attentions　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　made　in　her　manners；　voice；　and　expression　was　of　a　nature　to　frighten　a　watchful　observer。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　herself　shuddered　instinctively；　asking　herself；　〃Why　should　I　fear？　She　is　his　mother。〃　Then　she　trembled　in　every　limb　as　the　thought　crossed　her　mind；　〃Is　she　really　his　mother？〃　An　abyss　suddenly　opened　before　her；　and　she　cast　a　look　upon　the　mother　and　son；　which　finally　enlightened　her。　〃That　woman　loves　him！〃　she　thought。　〃But　why　has　she　begun　these　attentions　after　showing　me　such　coolness？　Am　I　lost？　oris　she　afraid　of　me？〃

As　for　the　young　man；　he　was　flushed　and　pale　by　turns；　but　he　kept　a　quiet　attitude　and　lowered　his　eyes　to　conceal　the　emotions　which　agitated　him。　The　graceful　curve　of　his　lips　was　lost　in　their　close　compression；　and　his　skin　turned　yellow　under　the　struggle　of　his　stormy　thoughts。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　unable　to　decide　whether　any　love　for　her　remained　in　his　evident　anger。　The　road；　flanked　by　woods　at　this　particular　point；　became　darker　and　more　gloomy；　and　the　obscurity　prevented　the　eyes　of　the　silent　travellers　from　questioning　each　other。　The　sighing　of　the　wind；　the　rustling　of　the　trees；　the　measured　step　of　the　escort；　gave　that　almost　solemn　character　to　the　scene　which　quickens　the　pulses。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　could　not　long　try　in　vain　to　discover　the　reason　of　this　change。　The　recollection　of　Corentin　came　to　her　like　a　flash；　and　reminded　her　suddenly　of　her　real　destiny。　For　the　first　time　since　the　morning　she　reflected　seriously　on　her　position。　Until　then　she　had　yielded　herself　up　to　the　delight　of　loving；　without　a　thought　of　the　past　or　of　the　future。　Unable　to　bear　the　agony　of　her　mind；　she　sought；　with　the　patience　of　love；　to　obtain　a　look　from　the　young　man's　eyes；　and　when　she　did　so　her　paleness　and　the　quiver　in　her　face　had　so　penetrating　an　influence　over　him　that　he　wavered；　but　the　softening　was　momentary。

〃Are　you　ill；　mademoiselle？〃　he　said；　but　his　voic