the chouans-第22章

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t　he　wavered；　but　the　softening　was　momentary。

〃Are　you　ill；　mademoiselle？〃　he　said；　but　his　voice　had　no　gentleness；　the　very　question；　the　look；　the　gesture；　all　served　to　convince　her　that　the　events　of　this　day　belonged　to　a　mirage　of　the　soul　which　was　fast　disappearing　like　mists　before　the　wind。

〃Am　I　ill？〃　she　replied；　with　a　forced　laugh。　〃I　was　going　to　ask　you　the　same　question。〃

〃I　supposed　you　understood　each　other；〃　remarked　Madame　du　Gua　with　specious　kindliness。

Neither　the　young　man　nor　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　replied。　The　girl；　doubly　insulted；　was　angered　at　feeling　her　powerful　beauty　powerless。　She　knew　she　could　discover　the　cause　of　the　present　situation　the　moment　she　chose　to　do　so；　but；　for　the　first　time；　perhaps；　a　woman　recoiled　before　a　secret。　Human　life　is　sadly　fertile　in　situations　where；　as　a　result　of　either　too　much　meditation　or　of　some　catastrophe；　our　thoughts　seem　to　hold　to　nothing；　they　have　no　substance；　no　point　of　departure；　and　the　present　has　no　hooks　by　which　to　hold　to　the　past　or　fasten　on　the　future。　This　was　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　condition　at　the　present　moment。　Leaning　back　in　the　carriage；　she　sat　there　like　an　uprooted　shrub。　Silent　and　suffering；　she　looked　at　no　one；　wrapped　herself　in　her　grief；　and　buried　herself　so　completely　in　the　unseen　world；　the　refuge　of　the　miserable；　that　she　saw　nothing　around　her。　Crows　crossed　the　road　in　the　air　above　them　cawing；　but　although；　like　all　strong　hearts；　hers　had　a　superstitious　corner；　she　paid　no　attention　to　the　omen。　The　party　travelled　on　in　silence。　〃Already　parted？〃　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　saying　to　herself。　〃Yet　no　one　about　us　has　uttered　one　word。　Could　it　be　Corentin？　It　is　not　his　interest　to　speak。　Who　can　have　come　to　this　spot　and　accused　me？　Just　loved；　and　already　abandoned！　I　sow　attraction；　and　I　reap　contempt。　Is　it　my　perpetual　fate　to　see　happiness　and　ever　lose　it？〃　Pangs　hitherto　unknown　to　her　wrung　her　heart；　for　she　now　loved　truly　and　for　the　first　time。　Yet　she　had　not　so　wholly　delivered　herself　to　her　lover　that　she　could　not　take　refuge　from　her　pain　in　the　natural　pride　and　dignity　of　a　young　and　beautiful　woman。　The　secret　of　her　lovea　secret　often　kept　by　women　under　torture　itselfhad　not　escaped　her　lips。　Presently　she　rose　from　her　reclining　attitude；　ashamed　that　she　had　shown　her　passion　by　her　silent　sufferings；　she　shook　her　head　with　a　light…　hearted　action；　and　showed　a　face；　or　rather　a　mask；　that　was　gay　and　smiling；　then　she　raised　her　voice　to　disguise　the　quiver　of　it。

〃Where　are　we？〃　she　said　to　Captain　Merle；　who　kept　himself　at　a　certain　distance　from　the　carriage。

〃About　six　miles　from　Fougeres；　mademoiselle。〃

〃We　shall　soon　be　there；　shall　we　not？〃　she　went　on；　to　encourage　a　conversation　in　which　she　might　show　some　preference　for　the　young　captain。

〃A　Breton　mile；〃　said　Merle　much　delighted；　〃has　the　disadvantage　of　never　ending；　when　you　are　at　the　top　of　one　hill　you　see　a　valley　and　another　hill。　When　you　reach　the　summit　of　the　slope　we　are　now　ascending　you　will　see　the　plateau　of　Mont　Pelerine　in　the　distance。　Let　us　hope　the　Chouans　won't　take　their　revenge　there。　Now；　in　going　up　hill　and　going　down　hill　one　doesn't　make　much　headway。　From　La　Pelerine　you　will　still　see〃

The　young　/emigre/　made　a　movement　at　the　name　which　Marie　alone　noticed。

〃What　is　La　Pelerine？〃　she　asked　hastily；　interrupting　the　captain's　description　of　Breton　topography。

〃It　is　the　summit　of　a　mountain；〃　said　Merle；　〃which　gives　its　name　to　the　Maine　valley　through　which　we　shall　presently　pass。　It　separates　this　valley　from　that　of　Couesnon；　at　the　end　of　which　is　the　town　of　Fougeres；　the　chief　town　in　Brittany。　We　had　a　fight　there　last　Vendemiaire　with　the　Gars　and　his　brigands。　We　were　escorting　Breton　conscripts；　who　meant　to　kill　us　sooner　than　leave　their　own　land；　but　Hulot　is　a　rough　Christian；　and　he　gave　them〃

〃Did　you　see　the　Gars？〃　she　asked。　〃What　sort　of　man　is　he？〃

Her　keen；　malicious　eyes　never　left　the　so…called　vicomte's　face。

〃Well；　mademoiselle；〃　replied　Merle；　nettled　at　being　always　interrupted；　〃he　is　so　like　citizen　du　Gua；　that　if　your　friend　did　not　wear　the　uniform　of　the　Ecole　Polytechnique　I　could　swear　it　was　he。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　looked　fixedly　at　the　cold；　impassible　young　man　who　had　scorned　her；　but　she　saw　nothing　in　him　that　betrayed　the　slightest　feeling　of　alarm。　She　warned　him　by　a　bitter　smile　that　she　had　now　discovered　the　secret　so　treacherously　kept；　then　in　a　jesting　voice；　her　nostrils　dilating　with　pleasure；　and　her　head　so　turned　that　she　could　watch　the　young　man　and　yet　see　Merle；　she　said　to　the　Republican：　〃That　new　leader　gives　a　great　deal　of　anxiety　to　the　First　Consul。　He　is　very　daring；　they　say；　but　he　has　the　weakness　of　rushing　headlong　into　adventures；　especially　with　women。〃

〃We　are　counting　on　that　to　get　even　with　him；〃　said　the　captain。　〃If　we　catch　him　for　only　an　hour　we　shall　put　a　bullet　in　his　head。　He'll　do　the　same　to　us　if　he　meets　us；　so　/par　pari/〃

〃Oh！〃　said　the　/emigre/；　〃we　have　nothing　to　fear。　Your　soldiers　cannot　go　as　far　as　La　Pelerine；　they　are　tired；　and；　if　you　consent；　we　can　all　rest　a　short　distance　from　here。　My　mother　stops　at　La　Vivetiere；　the　road　to　which　turns　off　a　few　rods　farther　on。　These　ladies　might　like　to　stop　there　too；　they　must　be　tired　with　their　long　drive　from　Alencon　without　resting；　and　as　mademoiselle；〃　he　added；　with　forced　politeness；　〃has　had　the　generosity　to　give　safety　as　well　as　pleasure　to　our　journey；　perhaps　she　will　deign　to　accept　a　supper　from　my　mother；　and　I　think；　captain；〃　he　added；　addressing　Merle；　〃the　times　are　not　so　bad　but　what　we　can　find　a　barrel　of　cider　for　your　men。　The　Gars　can't　have　taken　all；　at　least　my　mother　thinks　not〃

〃Your　mother？〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　interrupting　him　in　a　tone　of　irony；　and　making　no　reply　to　his　invitation。

〃Does　my　age　seem　more　improbable　to　you　this　evening；　mademoiselle？〃　said　Madame　du　Gua。　〃Unfortunately　I　was　married　very　young；　and　my　son　was　born　when　I　was　fifteen。〃

〃Are　you　not　mistaken；　madame？when　you　were　thirty；　perhaps。〃

Madame　du　Gua　turned　livid　as　she　swallowed　the　sarcasm。　She　would　have　liked　to　revenge　herself　on　the　spot；　but　was　forced　to　smile；　for　she　was　determined　at　any　cost；　even　that　of　insult；　to　discover　the　nature　of　the　feelings　that　actuated　the　young　girl；　she　therefore　pretended　not　to　have　understood　her。

〃The　Chouans　have　never　had　a　more　cruel　leader　than　the　Gars；　if　we　are　to　believe　the　stories　about　him；〃　she　said；　addressing　herself　vaguely　to　both　Francine　and　her　mistress。

〃Oh；　as　for　cruel；　I　don't　believe　that；〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　〃he　knows　how　to　lie；　but　he　seems　rather　credulous　himself。　The　leader　of　a　party　ought　not　to　be　the　plaything　of　others。〃

〃Do　you　know　him？〃　asked　the　/emigre/；　quietly。

〃No；〃　she　replied；　with　a　disdainful　glance；　〃but　I　thought　I　did。〃

〃Oh；　mademoiselle；　he's　a　/malin/；　yes　a　/malin/；〃　said　Captain　Merle；　shaking　his　head　and　giving　with　an　expressive　gesture　the　peculiar　meaning　to　the　word　which　it　had　in　those　days　but　has　since　lost。　〃Those　old　families　do　sometimes　send　out　vigorous　shoots。　He　has　just　returned　from　a　country　where；　they　say；　the　/ci…devants/　didn't　find　life　too　easy；　and　men　ripen　like　medlars　in　the　straw。　If　that　fellow　is　really　clever　he　can　lead　us　a　pretty　dance。　He　has　already　formed　companies　of　light　infantry　who　oppose　our　troops　and　neutralize　the　efforts　of　the　government。　If　we　burn　a　royalist　village　he　burns　two　of　ours。　He　can　hold　an　immense　tract　of　country　and　force　us　to　spread　out　our　men　at　the　very　moment　when　we　want　them　on　one　spot。　Oh；　he　knows　what　he　is　about。〃

〃He　is　cutting　his　country's　throat；〃　said　Gerard　in　a　loud　voice；　interrupting　the　captain。

〃Then；〃　said　the　/emigre/；　〃if　his　death　would　deliver　the　nation；　why　don't　you　catch　him　and　shoot　him？〃

As　he　spoke　he　tried　to　look　into　the　depths　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　soul；　and　one　of　those　voiceless　scenes　the　dramatic　vividness　and　fleeting　sagacity　of　which　cannot　be　reproduced　in　language　passed　between　them　in　a　flash。　Danger　is　always　interesting。　The　worst　criminal　threatened　with　death　excites　pity。　Though　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　now　certain　that　the　lover　who　had　cast　her　off　was　this　very　leader　of　the　Chouans；　she　was　not　ready　to　verify　her　suspicions　by　giving　him　up；　she　had　quite　another　curiosity　to　satisfy。　She　preferred　to　doubt　or　to　believe　as　her　passion　led　her；　and　she　now　began　deliberately　to　play　with　peril。　Her　eyes；　full　of　scornful　meaning；　bade　the　young　chief　notice　the　soldiers　of　the　escort；　by　thus　presenting　to　his　mind　triumphantly　an　image　of　his　danger　she　made　him　feel　that　his　life　depended　on　a　word　from　her；　and　her　lips　seemed　to　quiver　on　the　verge　of　pronouncing　it。　Like　an　American　Indian；　she　watched　every　muscle　of　the　face　of　her　enemy；　tied；　as　it　were；　to　the　stake；　while　she　brandished　her　tomahawk　gracefully；　enjoying　a　revenge　that　was　still　innocent；　and　torturing　like　a　mistress　who　still　loves。

〃If　I　had　a　son　like　yours；　madame；〃　she　said　to　Madame　du　Gua；　who　was　visibly　frightened；　〃I　should　wear　mourning　from　the　day　when　I　had　yielded　him　to　danger；　I　should　know　no　peace　of　mind。〃

No　answer　was　made　to　this　speech。　She　turned　her　head　repeatedly　to　the　escort　and　then　suddenly　to　Madame　du　Gua；　without　detecting　the　slightest　secret　signal　between　the　lady　and　the　Gars　which　might　have　confirmed　her　suspicions　on　the　nature　of　their　intimacy；　which　she　longed　to　doubt。　The　young　chief　calmly　smiled；　and　bore　without　flinching　the　scrutiny　she　forced　him　to　undergo；　his　attitude　and　the　expression　of　his　face　were　those　of　a　man　indifferent　to　danger；　he　even　seemed　to　say　at　times：　〃This　is　your　chance　to　avenge　your　wounded　vanitytake　it！　I　have　no　desire　to　lessen　my　contempt　for　you。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　began　to　study　the　young　man　from　the　vantage…ground　of　her　position　with　coolness　and　dignity；　at　the　bottom　of　her　heart　she　admired　his　courage　and　tranquillity。　Happy　in　discovering　that　the　man　she　loved　bore　an　ancient　title　（the　distinctions　of　which　please　every　woman）；　she　also　found　pleasure　in　meeting　him　in　their　present　situation；　where；　as　champion　of　a　cause　ennobled　by　misfortune；　he　was　fighting　with　all　the　faculties　of　a　strong　soul　against　a　Republic　that　was　constantly　victorious。　She　rejoiced　to　see　him　brought　face　to　face　with　danger；　and　still　displaying　the　courage　and　bravery　so　powerful　on　a　woman's　heart；　again　and　again　she　put　him　to　the　test；　obeying　perhaps　the　instinct　which　induces　a　woman　to　play　with　her　victim　as　a　cat　plays　with　a　mouse。

〃By　virtue　of　what　law　do　you　put　the　Chouans　to　death？〃　she　said　to　Merle。

〃That　of　the　14th　of　last　Fructidor；　which　outlaws　the　insurgent　departments　and　proclaims　martial　law；〃　replied　the　Republican。

〃May　I　ask　why　I　have　the　honor　to　attract　your　eyes？〃　she　said　presently　to　the　young　chief；　who　was　attentively　watching　her。

〃Because　of　a　feeling　which　a　man　of　honor　cannot　express　to　any　woman；　no　matter　who　she　is；〃　replied　the　Marquis　de　Monta