the chouans-第24章

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　sight　of　the　well…known　blue　uniforms　with　red　facings；　and　the　glittering　bayonets；　the　amazed　conspirators　called　out　hastily；　〃You　have　surely　not　betrayed　us？〃

〃If　I　had；　I　should　not　warn　you；〃　said　the　marquis；　smiling　bitterly。　〃Those　Blues；〃　he　added；　after　a　pause；　〃are　the　escort　of　this　young　lady；　whose　generosity　has　delivered　us；　almost　miraculously；　from　a　danger　we　were　in　at　Alencon。　I　will　tell　you　about　it　later。　Mademoiselle　and　her　escort　are　here　in　safety；　on　my　word　as　a　gentleman；　and　we　must　all　receive　them　as　friends。〃

Madame　du　Gua　and　Francine　were　now　on　the　portico；　the　marquis　offered　his　hand　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　the　group　of　gentlemen　parted　in　two　lines　to　allow　them　to　pass；　endeavoring；　as　they　did　so；　to　catch　sight　of　the　young　lady's　features；　for　Madame　du　Gua；　who　was　following　behind；　excited　their　curiosity　by　secret　signs。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　saw；　with　surprise；　that　a　large　table　was　set　in　the　first　hall；　for　about　twenty　guests。　The　dining…room　opened　into　a　vast　salon；　where　the　whole　party　were　presently　assembled。　These　rooms　were　in　keeping　with　the　dilapidated　appearance　of　the　outside　of　the　house。　The　walnut　panels；　polished　by　age；　but　rough　and　coarse　in　design　and　badly　executed；　were　loose　in　their　places　and　ready　to　fall。　Their　dingy　color　added　to　the　gloom　of　these　apartments；　which　were　barren　of　curtains　and　mirrors；　a　few　venerable　bits　of　furniture　in　the　last　stages　of　decay　alone　remained；　and　harmonized　with　the　general　destruction。　Marie　noticed　maps　and　plans　stretched　out　upon　long　tables；　and　in　the　corners　of　the　room　a　quantity　of　weapons　and　stacked　carbines。　These　things　bore　witness；　though　she　did　not　know　it；　to　an　important　conference　between　the　leaders　of　the　Vendeans　and　those　of　the　Chouans。

The　marquis　led　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　to　a　large　and　worm…eaten　armchair　placed　beside　the　fireplace；　Francine　followed　and　stood　behind　her　mistress；　leaning　on　the　back　of　that　ancient　bit　of　furniture。

〃You　will　allow　me　for　a　moment　to　play　the　part　of　master　of　the　house；〃　he　said；　leaving　the　two　women　and　mingling　with　the　groups　of　his　other　guests。

Francine　saw　the　gentlemen　hasten；　after　a　few　words　from　Montauran；　to　hide　their　weapons；　maps；　and　whatever　else　might　arouse　the　suspicions　of　the　Republican　officers。　Some　took　off　their　broad　leather　belts　containing　pistols　and　hunting…knives。　The　marquis　requested　them　to　show　the　utmost　prudence；　and　went　himself　to　see　to　the　reception　of　the　troublesome　guests　whom　fate　had　bestowed　upon　him。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　who　had　raised　her　feet　to　the　fire　and　was　now　warming　them；　did　not　turn　her　head　as　Montauran　left　the　room；　thus　disappointing　those　present；　who　were　anxious　to　see　her。　Francine　alone　saw　the　change　produced　upon　the　company　by　the　departure　of　the　young　chief。　The　gentlemen　gathered　hastily　round　Madame　du　Gua；　and　during　a　conversation　carried　on　in　an　undertone　between　them；　they　all　turned　several　times　to　look　curiously　at　the　stranger。

〃You　know　Montauran；〃　Madame　du　Gua　said　to　them；　〃he　has　fallen　in　love　with　that　worthless　girl；　and；　as　you　can　easily　understand；　he　thinks　all　my　warnings　selfish。　Our　friends　in　Paris；　Messieurs　de　Valois　and　d'Esgrignon；　have　warned　him　of　a　trap　set　for　him　by　throwing　some　such　creature　at　his　head；　but　in　spite　of　this　he　allows　himself　to　be　fooled　by　the　first　woman　he　meets；a　girl　who；　if　my　information　is　correct；　has　stolen　a　great　name　only　to　disgrace　it。〃

The　speaker；　in　whom　our　readers　have　already　recognized　the　lady　who　instigated　the　attack　on　the　〃turgotine；〃　may　be　allowed　to　keep　the　name　which　she　used　to　escape　the　dangers　that　threatened　her　in　Alencon。　The　publication　of　her　real　name　would　only　mortify　a　noble　family　already　deeply　afflicted　at　the　misconduct　of　this　woman；　whose　history；　by　the　bye；　has　already　been　given　on　another　scene。

The　curiosity　manifested　by　the　company　of　men　soon　became　impertinent　and　almost　hostile。　A　few　harsh　words　reached　Francine's　ear；　and　after　a　word　said　to　her　mistress　the　girl　retreated　into　the　embrasure　of　a　window。　Marie　rose；　turned　towards　the　insolent　group；　and　gave　them　a　look　full　of　dignity　and　even　disdain。　Her　beauty；　the　elegance　of　her　manners；　and　her　pride　changed　the　behavior　of　her　enemies；　and　won　her　the　flattering　murmur　which　escaped　their　lips。　Two　or　three　men；　whose　outward　appearance　seemed　to　denote　the　habits　of　polite　society　and　the　gallantry　acquired　in　courts；　came　towards　her；　but　her　propriety　of　demeanor　forced　them　to　respect　her；　and　none　dared　speak　to　her；　so　that；　instead　of　being　herself　arraigned　by　the　company；　it　was　she　who　appeared　to　judge　of　them。　These　chiefs　of　a　war　undertaken　for　God　and　the　king　bore　very　little　resemblance　to　the　portraits　her　fancy　had　drawn　of　them。　The　struggle；　really　great　in　itself；　shrank　to　mean　proportions　as　she　observed　these　provincial　noblemen；　all；　with　one　or　two　vigorous　exceptions；　devoid　of　significance　and　virility。　Having　made　to　herself　a　poem　of　such　heroes；　Marie　suddenly　awakened　to　the　truth。　Their　faces　expressed　to　her　eyes　more　a　love　of　scheming　than　a　love　of　glory；　self…interest　had　evidently　put　arms　into　their　hands。　Still；　it　must　be　said　that　these　men　did　become　heroic　when　brought　into　action。　The　loss　of　her　illusions　made　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　unjust；　and　prevented　her　from　recognizing　the　real　devotion　which　rendered　several　of　these　men　remarkable。　It　is　true　that　most　of　those　now　present　were　commonplace。　A　few　original　and　marked　faces　appeared　among　them；　but　even　these　were　belittled　by　the　artificiality　and　the　etiquette　of　aristocracy。　If　Marie　generously　granted　intellect　and　perception　to　the　latter；　she　also　discerned　in　them　a　total　absence　of　the　simplicity；　the　grandeur；　to　which　she　had　been　accustomed　among　the　triumphant　men　of　the　Republic。　This　nocturnal　assemblage　in　the　old　ruined　castle　made　her　smile；　the　scene　seemed　symbolic　of　the　monarchy。　But　the　thought　came　to　her　with　delight　that　the　marquis　at　least　played　a　noble　part　among　these　men；　whose　only　remaining　merit　in　her　eyes　was　devotion　to　a　lost　cause。　She　pictured　her　lover's　face　upon　the　background　of　this　company；　rejoicing　to　see　it　stand　forth　among　those　paltry　and　puny　figures　who　were　but　the　instruments　of　his　great　designs。

The　footsteps　of　the　marquis　were　heard　in　the　adjoining　room。　Instantly　the　company　separated　into　little　groups　and　the　whisperings　ceased。　Like　schoolboys　who　have　plotted　mischief　in　the　master's　absence；　they　hurriedly　became　silent　and　orderly。　Montauran　entered。　Marie　had　the　happiness　of　admiring　him　among　his　fellows；　of　whom　he　was　the　youngest；　the　handsomest；　and　the　chief。　Like　a　king　in　his　court；　he　went　from　group　to　group；　distributing　looks　and　nods　and　words　of　encouragement　or　warning；　with　pressure　of　the　hands　and　smiles；　doing　his　duty　as　leader　of　a　party　with　a　grace　and　self…　possession　hardly　to　be　expected　in　the　young　man　whom　Marie　had　so　lately　accused　of　heedlessness。

The　presence　of　the　marquis　put　an　end　to　the　open　curiosity　bestowed　on　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　but　Madame　du　Gua's　scandalous　suggestions　bore　fruit。　The　Baron　du　Guenic；　familiarly　called　〃l'Intime；〃　who　by　rank　and　name　had　the　best　right　among　those　present　to　treat　Montauran　familiarly；　took　the　young　leader　by　the　arm　and　led　him　apart。

〃My　dear　marquis；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　much　disturbed　at　seeing　you　on　the　point　of　committing　an　amazing　folly。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Do　you　know　where　that　girl　comes　from；　who　she　is；　and　what　her　schemes　about　you　are？〃

〃Don't　trouble　yourself；　my　dear　Intime；　between　you　and　me　my　fancy　for　her　will　be　over　to…morrow。〃

〃Yes；　but　suppose　that　creature　betrays　you　to…night？〃

〃I'll　answer　that　when　you　tell　me　why　she　has　not　done　it　already；〃　said　Montauran；　assuming　with　a　laugh　an　air　of　conceit。　〃My　dear　fellow；　look　at　that　charming　girl；　watch　her　manners；　and　dare　to　tell　me　she　is　not　a　woman　of　distinction。　If　she　gave　you　a　few　favorable　looks　wouldn't　you　feel　at　the　bottom　of　your　soul　a　respect　for　her？　A　certain　lady　has　prejudiced　you。　I　will　tell　you　this：　if　she　were　the　lost　creature　our　friends　are　trying　to　make　her　out；　I　would；　after　what　she　and　I　have　said　to　each　other；　kill　her　myself。〃

〃Do　you　suppose；〃　said　Madame　du　Gua；　joining　them；　〃that　Fouche　is　fool　enough　to　send　you　a　common　prostitute　out　of　the　streets？　He　has　provided　seductions　according　to　your　deserts。　You　may　choose　to　be　blind；　but　your　friends　are　keeping　their　eyes　open　to　protect　you。〃

〃Madame；〃　replied　the　Gars；　his　eyes　flashing　with　anger；　〃be　warned；　take　no　steps　against　that　lady；　nor　against　her　escort；　if　you　do；　nothing　shall　save　you　from　my　vengeance。　I　choose　that　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　is　to　be　treated　with　the　utmost　respect；　and　as　a　lady　belonging　to　my　family。　We　are；　I　believe；　related　to　the　de　Verneuils。〃

The　opposition　the　marquis　was　made　to　feel　produced　the　usual　effect　of　such　obstacles　on　all　young　men。　Though　he　had；　apparently；　treated　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　rather　lightly；　and　left　it　to　be　supposed　that　his　passion　for　her　was　a　mere　caprice；　he　now；　from　a　feeling　of　pride；　made　immense　strides　in　his　relation　to　her。　By　openly　protecting　her；　his　honor　became　concerned　in　compelling　respect　to　her　person；　and　he　went　from　group　to　group　assuring　his　friends；　in　the　tone　of　a　man　whom　it　was　dangerous　to　contradict；　that　the　lady　was　really　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。　The　doubts　and　gossip　ceased　at　once。　As　soon　as　Montauran　felt　that　harmony　was　restored　and　anxiety　allayed；　he　returned　to　his　mistress　eagerly；　saying　in　a　low　voice：

〃Those　mischievous　people　have　robbed　me　of　an　hour's　happiness。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　have　come　back　to　me；〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃I　warn　you　that　I　am　inquisitive；　therefore　you　must　not　get　tired　of　my　questions。　Tell　me；　in　the　first　place；　who　is　that　worthy　in　a　green　cloth　jacket？〃

〃That　is　the　famous　Major　Brigaut；　a　man　from　the　Marais；　a　comrade　of　the　late　Mercier；　called　La　Vendee。〃

〃And　that　fat　priest　with　the　red　face　to　whom　he　is　talking　at　this　moment　about　me？〃　she　went　on。

〃Do　you　want　to　know　what　they　are　saying？〃

〃Do　I　want　to　know　it？　What　a　useless　question！〃

〃But　I　could　not　tell　it　without　offending　you。〃

〃If　you　allow　me　to　be　insulted　in　your　house　without　avenging　me；　marquis；　adieu！〃　she　said。　〃I　will　not　stay　another　moment。　I　have　some　qualms　already　about　deceiving　these　poor　Republicans；　loyal　and　confiding　as　they　are！〃

She　made　a　few　hasty　steps；　the　marquis　followed　her。

〃Dear　Marie；　listen　to　me。　On　my　honor；　I　have　silenced　their　evil　speaking；　without　knowing　whether　it　was　false　or　true。　But；　placed　as　I　am；　if　friends　whom　we　have　in　all　the　ministries　in　Paris　warn　me　to　beware　of　every　woman　I　meet；　and　assure　me　that　Fouche　has　employed　against　me　a　Judith　of　the　streets；　it　is　not　unnatural　that　my　best　friends　here　should　think　you　too　beautiful　to　be　an　honest　woman。〃

As　he　spoke　the　marquis　plunged　a　glance　into　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　eyes。　She　colored；　and　was　unable　to　restrain　her　tears。

〃I