the chouans-第32章

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e　suburb；　and　divining　like　a　bird　in　the　desert　her　right　course　among　the　dangerous　precipices　of　the　Mont　Saint…Sulpice；　she　followed　a　slippery　track　defined　upon　the　granite；　and　in　spite　of　the　prickly　gorse　and　reeds　and　loose　stones　which　hindered　her；　she　climbed　the　steep　ascent　with　an　energy　greater　perhaps　than　that　of　a　man；the　energy　momentarily　possessed　by　a　woman　under　the　influence　of　passion。

Night　overtook　her　as　she　endeavored　by　the　failing　moonlight　to　make　out　the　path　the　marquis　must　have　taken；　an　obstinate　quest　without　reward；　for　the　dead　silence　about　her　was　sufficient　proof　of　the　withdrawal　of　the　Chouans　and　their　leader。　This　effort　of　passion　collapsed　with　the　hope　that　inspired　it。　Finding　herself　alone；　after　nightfall；　in　a　hostile　country；　she　began　to　reflect；　and　Hulot's　advice；　together　with　the　recollection　of　Madame　du　Gua's　attempt；　made　her　tremble　with　fear。　The　stillness　of　the　night；　so　deep　in　mountain　regions；　enabled　her　to　hear　the　fall　of　every　leaf　even　at　a　distance；　and　these　slight　sounds　vibrated　on　the　air　as　though　to　give　a　measure　of　the　silence　or　the　solitude。　The　wind　was　blowing　across　the　heights　and　sweeping　away　the　clouds　with　violence；　producing　an　alternation　of　shadows　and　light；　the　effect　of　which　increased　her　fears；　and　gave　fantastic　and　terrifying　semblances　to　the　most　harmless　objects。　She　turned　her　eyes　to　the　houses　of　Fougeres；　where　the　domestic　lights　were　burning　like　so　many　earthly　stars；　and　she　presently　saw　distinctly　the　tower　of　Papegaut。　She　was　but　a　very　short　distance　from　her　own　house；　but　within　that　space　was　the　ravine。　She　remembered　the　declivities　by　which　she　had　come；　and　wondered　if　there　were　not　more　risk　in　attempting　to　return　to　Fougeres　than　in　following　out　the　purpose　which　had　brought　her。　She　reflected　that　the　marquis's　glove　would　surely　protect　her　from　the　Chouans；　and　that　Madame　du　Gua　was　the　only　enemy　to　be　really　feared。　With　this　idea　in　her　mind；　Marie　clasped　her　dagger；　and　tried　to　find　the　way　to　a　country　house　the　roofs　of　which　she　had　noticed　as　she　climbed　Saint…Sulpice；　but　she　walked　slowly；　for　she　suddenly　became　aware　of　the　majestic　solemnity　which　oppresses　a　solitary　being　in　the　night　time　in　the　midst　of　wild　scenery；　where　lofty　mountains　nod　their　heads　like　assembled　giants。　The　rustle　of　her　gown；　caught　by　the　brambles；　made　her　tremble　more　than　once；　and　more　than　once　she　hastened　her　steps　only　to　slacken　them　again　as　she　thought　her　last　hour　had　come。　Before　long　matters　assumed　an　aspect　which　the　boldest　men　could　not　have　faced　without　alarm；　and　which　threw　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　into　the　sort　of　terror　that　so　affects　the　very　springs　of　life　that　all　things　become　excessive；　weakness　as　well　as　strength。　The　feeblest　beings　will　then　do　deeds　of　amazing　power；　the　strongest　go　mad　with　fear。

Marie　heard　at　a　short　distance　a　number　of　strange　sounds；　distinct　yet　vague；　indicative　of　confusion　and　tumult；　fatiguing　to　the　ear　which　tried　to　distinguish　them。　They　came　from　the　ground；　which　seemed　to　tremble　beneath　the　feet　of　a　multitude　of　marching　men。　A　momentary　clearness　in　the　sky　enabled　her　to　perceive　at　a　little　distance　long　files　of　hideous　figures　waving　like　ears　of　corn　and　gliding　like　phantoms；　but　she　scarcely　saw　them；　for　darkness　fell　again；　like　a　black　curtain；　and　hid　the　fearful　scene　which　seemed　to　her　full　of　yellow；　dazzling　eyes。　She　turned　hastily　and　ran　to　the　top　of　a　bank　to　escape　meeting　three　of　these　horrible　figures　who　were　coming　towards　her。

〃Did　you　see　it？〃　said　one。

〃I　felt　a　cold　wind　as　it　rushed　past　me；〃　replied　a　hoarse　voice。

〃I　smelt　a　damp　and　graveyard　smell；〃　said　the　third。

〃Was　it　white？〃　asked　the　first。

〃Why　should　only　/he/　come　back　out　of　all　those　we　left　dead　at　La　Pelerine？〃　said　the　second。

〃Why　indeed？〃　replied　the　third。　〃Why　do　the　Sacre…Coeur　men　have　the　preference？　Well；　at　any　rate；　I'd　rather　die　without　confession　than　wander　about　as　he　does；　without　eating　or　drinking；　and　no　blood　in　his　body　or　flesh　on　his　bones。〃

〃Ah！〃

This　exclamation；　or　rather　this　fearful　cry；　issued　from　the　group　as　the　three　Chouans　pointed　to　the　slender　form　and　pallid　face　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　who　fled　away　with　terrified　rapidity　without　a　sound。

〃Here　he　is！〃　〃There　he　is！〃　〃Where？〃　〃There！〃　〃He's　gone！〃　〃No！〃　〃Yes！〃　〃Can　you　see　him？〃　These　cries　reverberated　like　the　monotonous　murmur　of　waves　upon　a　shore。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　walked　bravely　in　the　direction　of　the　house　she　had　seen；　and　soon　came　in　sight　of　a　number　of　persons；　who　all　fled　away　at　her　approach　with　every　sign　of　panic　fear。　She　felt　impelled　to　advance　by　a　mysterious　power　which　coerced　her；　the　lightness　of　her　body；　which　seemed　to　herself　inexplicable；　was　another　source　of　terror。　These　forms　which　rose　in　masses　at　her　approach；　as　if　from　the　ground　on　which　she　trod；　uttered　moans　which　were　scarcely　human。　At　last　she　reached；　not　without　difficulty；　a　trampled　garden；　the　hedges　and　fences　of　which　were　broken　down。　Stopped　by　a　sentry；　she　showed　the　glove。　The　moon　lighted　her　face；　and　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　already　pointed　at　her　was　dropped　by　the　Chouan；　who　uttered　a　hoarse　cry；　which　echoed　through　the　place。　She　now　saw　large　buildings；　where　a　few　lighted　windows　showed　the　rooms　that　were　occupied；　and　presently　reached　the　walls　without　further　hindrance。　Through　the　window　into　which　she　looked；　she　saw　Madame　du　Gua　and　the　leaders　who　were　convoked　at　La　Vivetiere。　Bewildered　at　the　sight；　also　by　the　conviction　of　her　danger；　she　turned　hastily　to　a　little　opening　protected　by　iron　bars；　and　saw　in　a　long　vaulted　hall　the　marquis；　alone　and　gloomy；　within　six　feet　of　her。　The　reflection　of　the　fire；　before　which　he　was　sitting　in　a　clumsy　chair；　lighted　his　face　with　a　vacillating　ruddy　glow　that　gave　the　character　of　a　vision　to　the　scene。　Motionless　and　trembling；　the　girl　stood　clinging　to　the　bars；　to　catch　his　words　if　he　spoke。　Seeing　him　so　depressed；　disheartened；　and　pale；　she　believed　herself　to　be　the　cause　of　his　sadness。　Her　anger　changed　to　pity；　her　pity　to　tenderness；　and　she　suddenly　knew　that　it　was　not　revenge　alone　which　had　brought　her　there。

The　marquis　rose；　turned　his　head；　and　stood　amazed　when　he　saw；　as　if　in　a　cloud；　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　face；　then　he　shook　his　head　with　a　gesture　of　impatience　and　contempt；　exclaiming：　〃Must　I　forever　see　the　face　of　that　devil；　even　when　awake？〃

This　utter　contempt　for　her　forced　a　half…maddened　laugh　from　the　unhappy　girl　which　made　the　young　leader　quiver。　He　sprang　to　the　window；　but　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　gone。　She　heard　the　steps　of　a　man　behind　her；　which　she　supposed　to　be　those　of　the　marquis；　and；　to　escape　him；　she　knew　no　obstacles；　she　would　have　scaled　walls　and　flown　through　air；　she　would　have　found　and　followed　a　path　to　hell　sooner　than　have　seen　again；　in　flaming　letters　on　the　forehead　of　that　man；　〃I　despise　you；〃words　which　an　inward　voice　sounded　in　her　soul　with　the　noise　of　a　trumpet。

After　walking　a　short　distance　without　knowing　where　she　went；　she　stopped；　conscious　of　a　damp　exhalation。　Alarmed　by　the　sound　of　voices；　she　went　down　some　steps　which　led　into　a　cellar。　As　she　reached　the　last　of　them；　she　stopped　to　listen　and　discover　the　direction　her　pursuers　might　take。　Above　the　sounds　from　the　outside；　which　were　somewhat　loud；　she　could　hear　within　the　lugubrious　moans　of　a　human　being；　which　added　to　her　terror。　Rays　of　light　coming　down　the　steps　made　her　fear　that　this　retreat　was　only　too　well　known　to　her　enemies；　and；　to　escape　them；　she　summoned　fresh　energy。　Some　moments　later；　after　recovering　her　composure　of　mind；　it　was　difficult　for　her　to　conceive　by　what　means　she　had　been　able　to　climb　a　little　wall；　in　a　recess　of　which　she　was　now　hidden。　She　took　no　notice　at　first　of　the　cramped　position　in　which　she　was；　but　before　long　the　pain　of　it　became　intolerable；　for　she　was　bending　double　under　the　arched　opening　of　a　vault；　like　the　crouching　Venus　which　ignorant　persons　attempt　to　squeeze　into　too　narrow　a　niche。　The　wall；　which　was　rather　thick　and　built　of　granite；　formed　a　low　partition　between　the　stairway　and　the　cellar　whence　the　groans　were　issuing。　Presently　she　saw　an　individual；　clothed　in　a　goatskin；　enter　the　cave　beneath　her；　and　move　about；　without　making　any　sign　of　eager　search。　Impatient　to　discover　if　she　had　any　chance　of　safety；　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　waited　with　anxiety　till　the　light　brought　by　the　new…comer　lighted　the　whole　cave；　where　she　could　partly　distinguish　a　formless　but　living　mass　which　was　trying　to　reach　a　part　of　the　wall；　with　violent　and　repeated　jerks；　something　like　those　of　a　carp　lying　out　of　water　on　a　shore。

A　small　pine　torch　threw　its　blue　and　hazy　light　into　the　cave。　In　spite　of　the　gloomy　poetic　effects　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　imagination　cast　about　this　vaulted　chamber；　which　was　echoing　to　the　sounds　of　a　pitiful　prayer；　she　was　obliged　to　admit　that　the　place　was　nothing　more　than　an　underground　kitchen；　evidently　long　abandoned。　When　the　formless　mass　was　distinguishable　it　proved　to　be　a　short　and　very　fat　man；　whose　limbs　were　carefully　bound　before　he　had　been　left　lying　on　the　damp　stone　floor　of　the　kitchen　by　those　who　had　seized　him。　When　he　saw　the　new…comer　approach　him　with　a　torch　in　one　hand　and　a　fagot　of　sticks　in　the　other；　the　captive　gave　a　dreadful　groan；　which　so　wrought　upon　the　sensibilities　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　that　she　forgot　her　own　terror　and　despair　and　the　cramped　position　of　her　limbs；　which　were　growing　numb。　But　she　made　a　great　effort　and　remained　still。　The　Chouan　flung　the　sticks　into　the　fireplace；　after　trying　the　strength　of　an　old　crane　which　was　fastened　to　a　long　iron　bar；　then　he　set　fire　to　the　wood　with　his　torch。　Marie　saw　with　terror　that　the　man　was　the　same　Pille…　Miche　to　whom　her　rival　had　delivered　her；　and　whose　figure；　illuminated　by　the　flame；　was　like　that　of　the　little　boxwood　men　so　grotesquely　carved　in　Germany。　The　moans　of　his　prisoner　produced　a　broad　grin　upon　features　that　were　ribbed　with　wrinkles　and　tanned　by　the　sun。

〃You　see；〃　he　said　to　his　victim；　〃that　we　Christians　keep　our　promises；　which　you　don't。　That　fire　is　going　to　thaw　out　your　legs　and　tongue　and　hands。　Hey！　hey！　I　don't　see　a　dripping…pan　to　put　under　your　feet；　they　are　so　fat　the　grease　may　put　out　the　fire。　Your　house　must　be　badly　furnished　if　it　can't　give　its　master　all　he　wants　to　warm　him。〃

The　victim　uttered　a　sharp　cry；　as　if　he　hoped　someone　would　hear　him　through　the　ceiling　and　come　to　his　assistance。

〃Ho！　sing　away；　Monsieur　d'Orgemont；　they　are　all　asleep　upstairs；　and　Marche…a…Terre　is　just　behind　me；　he'll　shut　the　cellar　door。〃

While　speaking　Pille…Miche　was　sounding　with　the　butt…end　of　his　musket　the　mantel…piece　of　the　chimney；　the　tiles　of　the　floor；　the　walls　and　the　ovens；　to　discover；　if　possible；　where　the　miser　hid　his　gold。　This　search　was　made　with　such　adroitness　that　d'Orgemont　kept　silence；　as　if　he　feared　to　have　been　betrayed　by　some　frightened　servant；　for；　though　he　trusted　his　secrets　to