the chouans-第34章

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conomical　and　laid　by　money。　It　is　four　years　since　he　died；　I　don't　know　what　was　the　matter　with　him；　perhaps　it　was　that　priests　are　so　in　the　habit　of　kneeling　down　to　pray　that　he　couldn't　get　accustomed　to　standing　upright　here　as　I　do。　I　walled　him　up　there；　/they'd/　have　dug　him　up　elsewhere。　Some　day　perhaps　I　can　put　him　in　holy　ground；　as　he　used　to　call　it；poor　man；　he　only　took　the　oath　out　of　fear。〃

A　tear　rolled　from　the　hard　eyes　of　the　little　old　man；　whose　rusty　wig　suddenly　seemed　less　hideous　to　the　girl；　and　she　turned　her　eyes　respectfully　away　from　his　distress。　But；　in　spite　of　these　tender　reminiscences；　d'Orgemont　kept　on　saying；　〃Don't　go　near　the　wall；　you　might〃

His　eyes　never　ceased　to　watch　hers；　hoping　thus　to　prevent　her　from　examining　too　closely　the　walls　of　the　closet；　where　the　close　air　was　scarcely　enough　to　inflate　the　lungs。　Marie　succeeded；　however；　in　getting　a　sufficiently　good　look　in　spite　of　her　Argus；　and　she　came　to　the　conclusion　that　the　strange　protuberances　in　the　walls　were　neither　more　nor　less　than　sacks　of　coin　which　the　miser　had　placed　there　and　plastered　up。

Old　d'Orgemont　was　now　in　a　state　of　almost　grotesque　bewilderment。　The　pain　in　his　legs；　the　terror　he　felt　at　seeing　a　human　being　in　the　midst　of　his　hoards；　could　be　read　in　every　wrinkle　of　his　face；　and　yet　at　the　same　time　his　eyes　expressed；　with　unaccustomed　fire；　a　lively　emotion　excited　in　him　by　the　presence　of　his　liberator；　whose　white　and　rosy　cheek　invited　kisses；　and　whose　velvety　black　eye　sent　waves　of　blood　to　his　heart；　so　hot　that　he　was　much　in　doubt　whether　they　were　signs　of　life　or　of　death。

〃Are　you　married？〃　he　asked；　in　a　trembling　voice。

〃No；〃　she　said；　smiling。

〃I　have　a　little　something；〃　he　continued；　heaving　a　sigh；　〃though　I　am　not　so　rich　as　people　think　for。　A　young　girl　like　you　must　love　diamonds；　trinkets；　carriages；　money。　I've　got　all　that　to　giveafter　my　death。　Hey！　if　you　will〃

The　old　man's　eyes　were　so　shrewd　and　betrayed　such　calculation　in　this　ephemeral　love　that　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　as　she　shook　her　head　in　sign　of　refusal；　felt　that　his　desire　to　marry　her　was　solely　to　bury　his　secret　in　another　himself。

〃Money！〃　she　said；　with　a　look　of　scorn　which　made　him　satisfied　and　angry　both；　〃money　is　nothing　to　me。　You　would　be　three　times　as　rich　as　you　are；　if　you　had　all　the　gold　that　I　have　refused〃　she　stopped　suddenly。

〃Don't　go　near　that　wall；　or〃

〃But　I　hear　a　voice；〃　she　said；　〃it　echoes　through　that　wall；a　voice　that　is　more　to　me　than　all　your　riches。〃

Before　the　miser　could　stop　her　Marie　had　laid　her　hand　on　a　small　colored　engraving　of　Louis　XV。　on　horseback；　to　her　amazement　it　turned；　and　she　saw；　in　a　room　beneath　her；　the　Marquis　de　Montauran；　who　was　loading　a　musket。　The　opening；　hidden　by　a　little　panel　on　which　the　picture　was　gummed；　seemed　to　form　some　opening　in　the　ceiling　of　the　adjoining　chamber；　which；　no　doubt；　was　the　bedroom　of　the　royalist　general。　D'Orgemont　closed　the　opening　with　much　precaution；　and　looked　at　the　girl　sternly。

〃Don't　say　a　word　if　you　love　your　life。　You　haven't　thrown　your　grappling…iron　on　a　worthless　building。　Do　you　know　that　the　Marquis　de　Montauran　is　worth　more　than　one　hundred　thousand　francs　a　year　from　lands　which　have　not　yet　been　confiscated？　And　I　read　in　the　Primidi　de　l'Ille…et…Vilaine　a　decree　of　the　Consuls　putting　an　end　to　confiscation。　Ha！　ha！　you'll　think　the　Gars　a　prettier　fellow　than　ever；　won't　you？　Your　eyes　are　shining　like　two　new　louis　d'or。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　face　was；　indeed；　keenly　excited　when　she　heard　that　well…known　voice　so　near　her。　Since　she　had　been　standing　there；　erect；　in　the　midst　as　it　were　of　a　silver　mine；　the　spring　of　her　mind；　held　down　by　these　strange　events；　recovered　itself。　She　seemed　to　have　formed　some　sinister　resolution　and　to　perceive　a　means　of　carrying　it　out。

〃There　is　no　return　from　such　contempt；〃　she　was　saying　to　herself；　〃and　if　he　cannot　love　me；　I　will　kill　himno　other　woman　shall　have　him。〃

〃No；　abbe；　no！〃　cried　the　young　chief；　in　a　loud　voice　which　was　heard　through　the　panel；　〃it　must　be　so。〃

〃Monsieur　le　marquis；〃　replied　the　Abbe　Gudin；　haughtily；　〃you　will　scandalize　all　Brittany　if　you　give　that　ball　at　Saint　James。　It　is　preaching；　not　dancing；　which　will　rouse　our　villagers。　Take　guns；　not　fiddles。〃

〃Abbe；　you　have　sense　enough　to　know　that　it　is　not　in　a　general　assembly　of　our　partisans　that　I　can　learn　to　know　these　people；　or　judge　of　what　I　may　be　able　to　undertake　with　them。　A　supper　is　better　for　examining　faces　than　all　the　spying　in　the　world；　of　which；　by　the　bye；　I　have　a　horror；　they　can　be　made　to　talk　with　glasses　in　their　hand。〃

Marie　quivered；　as　she　listened；　and　conceived　the　idea　of　going　to　the　ball　and　there　avenging　herself。

〃Do　you　take　me　for　an　idiot　with　your　sermon　against　dancing？〃　continued　Montauran。　〃Wouldn't　you　yourself　dance　a　reed　if　it　would　restore　your　order　under　its　new　name　of　Fathers　of　the　Faith？　Don't　you　know　that　Bretons　come　away　from　the　mass　and　go　to　dancing？　Are　you　aware　that　Messieurs　Hyde　de　Neuville　and　d'Andigne　had　a　conference；　five　days　ago；　with　the　First　Consul；　on　the　question　of　restoring　his　Majesty　Louis　XVIII。？　Ah；　monsieur；　the　princes　are　deceived　as　to　the　true　state　of　France。　The　devotions　which　uphold　them　are　solely　those　of　rank。　Abbe；　if　I　have　set　my　feet　in　blood；　at　least　I　will　not　go　into　it　to　my　middle　without　full　knowledge　of　what　I　do。　I　am　devoted　to　the　king；　but　not　to　four　hot…heads；　not　to　a　man　crippled　with　debt　like　Rifoel；　not　to　'chauffeurs；'　not　to〃

〃Say　frankly；　monsieur；　not　to　abbes　who　force　contributions　on　the　highway　to　carry　on　the　war；〃　retorted　the　Abbe　Gudin。

〃Why　should　I　not　say　it？〃　replied　the　marquis；　sharply；　〃and　I'll　say；　further；　that　the　great　and　heroic　days　of　La　Vendee　are　over。〃

〃Monsieur　le　marquis；　we　can　perform　miracles　without　you。〃

〃Yes；　like　that　of　Marie　Lambrequin；　whom　I　hear　you　have　brought　to　life；〃　said　the　marquis；　smiling。　〃Come；　come；　let　us　have　no　rancor；　abbe。　I　know　that　you　run　all　risks　and　would　shoot　a　Blue　as　readily　as　you　say　an　/oremus/。　God　willing；　I　hope　to　make　you　assist　with　a　mitre　on　your　head　at　the　king's　coronation。〃

This　last　remark　must　have　had　some　magic　power；　for　the　click　of　a　musket　was　heard　as　the　abbe　exclaimed；　〃I　have　fifty　cartridges　in　my　pocket；　monsieur　le　marquis；　and　my　life　is　the　king's。〃

〃He's　a　debtor　of　mine；〃　whispered　the　usurer　to　Marie。　〃I　don't　mean　the　five　or　six　hundred　crowns　he　has　borrowed；　but　a　debt　of　blood　which　I　hope　to　make　him　pay。　He　can　never　suffer　as　much　evil　as　I　wish　him；　the　damned　Jesuit！　He　swore　the　death　of　my　brother；　and　raised　the　country　against　him。　Why？　Because　the　poor　man　was　afraid　of　the　new　laws。〃　Then；　after　applying　his　ear　to　another　part　of　his　hiding…place；　he　added；　〃They　are　all　decamping；　those　brigands。　I　suppose　they　are　going　to　do　some　other　miracle　elsewhere。　I　only　hope　they　won't　bid　me　good…bye　as　they　did　the　last　time；　by　setting　fire　to　my　house。〃

After　the　lapse　of　about　half　an　hour；　during　which　time　the　usurer　and　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　looked　at　each　other　as　if　they　were　studying　a　picture；　the　coarse；　gruff　voice　of　Galope…Chopine　was　heard　saying；　in　a　muffled　tone：　〃There's　no　longer　any　danger；　Monsieur　d'Orgemont。　But　this　time；　you　must　allow　that　I　have　earned　my　thirty　crowns。〃

〃My　dear；〃　said　the　miser　to　Marie；　〃swear　to　shut　your　eyes。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　placed　one　hand　over　her　eyelids；　but　for　greater　security　d'Orgemont　blew　out　the　lamp；　took　his　liberator　by　the　hand；　and　helped　her　to　make　seven　or　eight　steps　along　a　difficult　passage。　At　the　end　of　some　minutes　he　gently　removed　her　hand；　and　she　found　herself　in　the　very　room　the　Marquis　de　Montauran　had　just　quitted；　and　which　was；　in　fact；　the　miser's　own　bedroom。

〃My　dear　girl；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃you　can　safely　go　now。　Don't　look　about　you　that　way。　I　dare　say　you　have　no　money　with　you。　Here　are　ten　crowns；　they　are　a　little　shaved；　but　they'll　pass。　When　you　leave　the　garden　you　will　see　a　path　that　leads　straight　to　the　town；　or；　as　they　say　now；　the　district。　But　the　Chouans　will　be　at　Fougeres；　and　it　is　to　be　presumed　that　you　can't　get　back　there　at　once。　You　may　want　some　safe　place　to　hide　in。　Remember　what　I　say　to　you；　but　don't　make　use　of　it　unless　in　some　great　emergency。　You　will　see　on　the　road　which　leads　to　Nid…aux…Crocs　through　the　Val　de　Gibarry；　a　farm…　house　belonging　to　Cibototherwise　called　Galope…Chopine。　Go　in；　and　say　to　his　wife：　'Good…day；　Becaniere；'　and　Barbette　will　hide　you。　If　Galope…Chopine　discovers　you　he　will　either　take　you　for　the　ghost；　if　it　is　dark；　or　ten　crowns　will　master　him　if　it　is　light。　Adieu；　our　account　is　squared。　But　if　you　choose；〃　he　added；　waving　his　hand　about　him；　〃all　this　is　yours。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　gave　the　strange　old　man　a　look　of　thanks；　and　succeeded　in　extracting　a　sigh　from　him；　expressing　a　variety　of　emotions。

〃You　will　of　course　return　me　my　ten　crowns；　and　please　remark　that　I　ask　no　interest。　You　can　pay　them　to　my　credit　with　Maitre　Patrat；　the　notary　at　Fougeres；　who　would　draw　our　marriage　contract　if　you　consented　to　be　mine。　Adieu。〃

〃Adieu；〃　she　said；　smiling　and　waving　her　hand。

〃If　you　ever　want　money；〃　he　called　after　her；　〃I'll　lend　it　to　you　at　five　per　cent；　yes；　only　fivedid　I　say　five？why；　she's　gone！　That　girl　looks　to　me　like　a　good　one；　nevertheless；　I'll　change　the　secret　opening　of　my　chimney。〃

Then　he　took　a　twelve…pound　loaf　and　a　ham；　and　returned　to　his　hiding…place。

*****

As　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　walked　through　the　country　she　seemed　to　breathe　a　new　life。　The　freshness　of　the　night　revived　her　after　the　fiery　experience　of　the　last　few　hours。　She　tried　to　follow　the　path　explained　to　her　by　d'Orgemont；　but　the　darkness　became　so　dense　after　the　moon　had　gone　down　that　she　was　forced　to　walk　hap…hazard；　blindly。　Presently　the　fear　of　falling　down　some　precipice　seized　her　and　saved　her　life；　for　she　stopped　suddenly；　fancying　the　ground　would　disappear　before　her　if　she　made　another　step。　A　cool　breeze　lifting　her　hair；　the　murmur　of　the　river；　and　her　instinct　all　combined　to　warn　her　that　she　was　probably　on　the　verge　of　the　Saint…　Sulpice　rocks。　She　slipped　her　arm　around　a　tree　and　waited　for　dawn　with　keen　anxiety；　for　she　heard　a　noise　of　arms　and　horses　and　human　voices；　she　was　grateful　to　the　darkness　which　saved　her　from　the　Chouans；　who　were　evidently；　as　the　miser　had　said；　surrounding　Fougeres。

Like　fires　lit　at　night　as　signals　of　liberty；　a　few　gleams；　faintly　crimsoned；　began　to　show　upon　the　summits；　while　the　bases　of　the　mountains　still　retained　the　bluish　tints　which　contrasted　with　the　rosy　clouds　that　were　floating　in　the　valley。　Soon　a　ruby　disk　rose　slowly　on　the　horizon　and　the　skies　greeted　it；　the　varied　landscape；　the　bell…tower　of　Saint…Leonard；　the　rocks；　the　meadows　buried　in　shadow；　all　insensibly　reappeared；　and　the　trees　on　the　summits　were　defined　against　the　skies　in　the　rising　glow。　The　sun　freed　itself　with　a　graceful　spring　from　the　ribbons　of　flame　and　ochre　an