the chouans-第38章

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〃Ah！　diviner！〃　she　said；　putting　on　the　gay　expression　a　woman　assumes　when　she　makes　an　avowal　which　compromises　neither　her　dignity　nor　her　secret　sentiments。

Then；　having　slipped　on　a　pelisse；　she　accompanied　him　as　far　as　the　Nid…aux…Crocs。　When　they　reached　the　end　of　the　path　she　said；　〃Monsieur；　be　absolutely　silent　on　all　this；　even　to　the　marquis〃；　and　she　laid　her　finger　on　both　lips。

The　count；　emboldened　by　so　much　kindness；　took　her　hand；　she　let　him　do　so　as　though　it　were　a　great　favor；　and　he　kissed　it　tenderly。

〃Oh！　mademoiselle；〃　he　cried；　on　knowing　himself　beyond　all　danger；　〃rely　on　me　for　life；　for　death。　Though　I　owe　you　a　gratitude　equal　to　that　I　owe　my　mother；　it　will　be　very　difficult　to　restrain　my　feelings　to　mere　respect。〃

He　sprang　into　the　narrow　pathway。　After　watching　him　till　he　reached　the　rocks　of　Saint…Sulpice；　Marie　nodded　her　head　in　sign　of　satisfaction；　saying　to　herself　in　a　low　voice：　〃That　fat　fellow　has　given　me　more　than　his　life　for　his　life！　I　can　make　him　my　creator　at　a　very　little　cost！　Creature　or　creator；　that's　all　the　difference　there　is　between　one　man　and　another〃

She　did　not　finish　her　thought；　but　with　a　look　of　despair　she　turned　and　re…entered　the　Porte　Saint…Leonard；　where　Hulot　and　Corentin　were　awaiting　her。

〃Two　more　days；〃　she　cried；　〃and　then〃　She　stopped；　observing　that　they　were　not　alone〃he　shall　fall　under　your　guns；〃　she　whispered　to　Hulot。

The　commandant　recoiled　a　step　and　looked　with　a　jeering　contempt；　impossible　to　render；　at　the　woman　whose　features　and　expression　gave　no　sign　whatever　of　relenting。　There　is　one　thing　remarkable　about　women：　they　never　reason　about　their　blameworthy　actions；feeling　carries　them　off　their　feet；　even　in　their　dissimulation　there　is　an　element　of　sincerity；　and　in　women　alone　crime　may　exist　without　baseness；　for　it　often　happens　that　they　do　not　know　how　it　came　about　that　they　committed　it。

〃I　am　going　to　Saint…James；　to　a　ball　the　Chouans　give　to…morrow　night；　and〃

〃But；〃　said　Corentin；　interrupting　her；　〃that　is　fifteen　miles　distant；　had　I　not　better　accompany　you？〃

〃You　think　a　great　deal　too　much　of　something　I　never　think　of　at　all；〃　she　replied；　〃and　that　is　yourself。〃

Marie's　contempt　for　Corentin　was　extremely　pleasing　to　Hulot；　who　made　his　well…known　grimace　as　she　turned　away　in　the　direction　of　her　own　house。　Corentin　followed　her　with　his　eyes；　letting　his　face　express　a　consciousness　of　the　fatal　power　he　knew　he　could　exercise　over　the　charming　creature；　by　working　upon　the　passions　which　sooner　or　later；　he　believed；　would　give　her　to　him。

As　soon　as　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　reached　home　she　began　to　deliberate　on　her　ball…dress。　Francine；　accustomed　to　obey　without　understanding　her　mistress's　motives；　opened　the　trunks；　and　suggested　a　Greek　costume。　The　Republican　fashions　of　those　days　were　all　Greek　in　style。　Marie　chose　one　which　could　be　put　in　a　box　that　was　easy　to　carry。

〃Francine；　my　dear；　I　am　going　on　an　excursion　into　the　country；　do　you　want　to　go　with　me；　or　will　you　stay　behind？〃

〃Stay　behind！〃　exclaimed　Francine；　〃then　who　would　dress　you？〃

〃Where　have　you　put　that　glove　I　gave　you　this　morning？〃

〃Here　it　is。〃

〃Sew　this　green　ribbon　into　it；　and；　above　all；　take　plenty　of　money。〃　Then　noticing　that　Francine　was　taking　out　a　number　of　the　new　Republican　coins；　she　cried　out；　〃Not　those；　they　would　get　us　murdered。　Send　Jeremie　to　Corentinno；　stay；　the　wretch　would　follow　mesend　to　the　commandant；　ask　him　from　me　for　some　six…franc　crowns。〃

With　the　feminine　sagacity　which　takes　in　the　smallest　detail；　she　thought　of　everything。　While　Francine　was　completing　the　arrangements　for　this　extraordinary　trip；　Marie　practised　the　art　of　imitating　an　owl；　and　so　far　succeeded　in　rivalling　Marche…a…Terre　that　the　illusion　was　a　good　one。　At　midnight　she　left　Fougeres　by　the　gate　of　Saint…Leonard；　took　the　little　path　to　Nid…aux…Crocs；　and　started；　followed　by　Francine；　to　cross　the　Val　de　Gibarry　with　a　firm　step；　under　the　impulse　of　that　strong　will　which　gives　to　the　body　and　its　bearing　such　an　expression　of　force。　To　leave　a　ball…room　with　sufficient　care　to　avoid　a　cold　is　an　important　affair　to　the　health　of　a　woman；　but　let　her　have　a　passion　in　her　heart；　and　her　body　becomes　adamant。　Such　an　enterprise　as　Marie　had　now　undertaken　would　have　floated　in　a　bold　man's　mind　for　a　long　time；　but　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　had　no　sooner　thought　of　it　than　its　dangers　became　to　her　attractions。

〃You　are　starting　without　asking　God　to　bless　you；〃　said　Francine；　turning　to　look　at　the　tower　of　Saint…Leonard。

The　pious　Breton　stopped；　clasped　her　hands；　and　said　an　〃Ave〃　to　Saint　Anne　of　Auray；　imploring　her　to　bless　their　expedition；　during　which　time　her　mistress　waited　pensively；　looking　first　at　the　artless　attitude　of　her　maid　who　was　praying　fervently；　and　then　at　the　effects　of　the　vaporous　moonlight　as　it　glided　among　the　traceries　of　the　church　building；　giving　to　the　granite　all　the　delicacy　of　filagree。　The　pair　soon　reached　the　hut　of　Galope…Chopine。　Light　as　their　steps　were　they　roused　one　of　those　huge　watch…dogs　on　whose　fidelity　the　Bretons　rely；　putting　no　fastening　to　their　doors　but　a　simple　latch。　The　dog　ran　to　the　strangers；　and　his　bark　became　so　threatening　that　they　were　forced　to　retreat　a　few　steps　and　call　for　help。　But　no　one　came。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　then　gave　the　owl's　cry；　and　instantly　the　rusty　hinges　of　the　door　made　a　creaking　sound；　and　Galope…Chopine；　who　had　risen　hastily；　put　out　his　head。

〃I　wish　to　go　to　Saint…James；〃　said　Marie；　showing　the　Gars'　glove。　〃Monsieur　le　Comte　de　Bauvan　told　me　that　you　would　take　me　there　and　protect　me　on　the　way。　Therefore　be　good　enough　to　get　us　two　riding　donkeys；　and　make　yourself　ready　to　go　with　us。　Time　is　precious；　for　if　we　do　not　get　to　Saint…James　before　to…morrow　night　I　can　neither　see　the　ball　nor　the　Gars。〃

Galope…Chopine；　completely　bewildered；　took　the　glove　and　turned　it　over　and　over；　after　lighting　a　pitch　candle　about　a　finger　thick　and　the　color　of　gingerbread。　This　article　of　consumption；　imported　into　Brittany　from　the　North；　was　only　one　more　proof　to　the　eyes　in　this　strange　country　of　a　utter　ignorance　of　all　commercial　principles；　even　the　commonest。　After　seeing　the　green　ribbon；　staring　at　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　scratching　his　ear；　and　drinking　a　beaker　of　cider　（having　first　offered　a　glass　to　the　beautiful　lady）；　Galope…　Chopine　left　her　seated　before　the　table　and　went　to　fetch　the　required　donkeys。

The　violet　gleam　cast　by　the　pitch　candle　was　not　powerful　enough　to　counteract　the　fitful　moonlight；　which　touched　the　dark　floor　and　furniture　of　the　smoke…blackened　cottage　with　luminous　points。　The　little　boy　had　lifted　his　pretty　head　inquisitively；　and　above　it　two　cows　were　poking　their　rosy　muzzles　and　brilliant　eyes　through　the　holes　in　the　stable　wall。　The　big　dog；　whose　countenance　was　by　no　means　the　least　intelligent　of　the　family；　seemed　to　be　examining　the　strangers　with　as　much　curiosity　as　the　little　boy。　A　painter　would　have　stopped　to　admire　the　night　effects　of　this　scene；　but　Marie；　not　wishing　to　enter　into　conversation　with　Barbette；　who　sat　up　in　bed　and　began　to　show　signs　of　amazement　at　recognizing　her；　left　the　hovel　to　escape　its　fetid　air　and　the　questions　of　its　mistress。　She　ran　quickly　up　the　stone　staircase　behind　the　cottage；　admiring　the　vast　details　of　the　landscape；　the　aspect　of　which　underwent　as　many　changes　as　spectators　made　steps　either　upward　to　the　summits　or　downward　to　the　valleys。　The　moonlight　was　now　enveloping　like　a　luminous　mist　the　valley　of　Couesnon。　Certainly　a　woman　whose　heart　was　burdened　with　a　despised　love　would　be　sensitive　to　the　melancholy　which　that　soft　brilliancy　inspires　in　the　soul；　by　the　weird　appearance　it　gives　to　objects　and　the　colors　with　which　it　tints　the　streams。

The　silence　was　presently　broken　by　the　braying　of　a　donkey。　Marie　went　quickly　back　to　the　hut；　and　the　party　started。　Galope…Chopine；　armed　with　a　double…barrelled　gun；　wore　a　long　goatskin；　which　gave　him　something　the　look　of　Robinson　Crusoe。　His　blotched　face；　seamed　with　wrinkles；　was　scarcely　visible　under　the　broad…brimmed　hat　which　the　Breton　peasants　still　retain　as　a　tradition　of　the　olden　time；　proud　to　have　won；　after　their　servitude；　the　right　to　wear　the　former　ornament　of　seignorial　heads。　This　nocturnal　caravan；　protected　by　a　guide　whose　clothing；　attitudes；　and　person　had　something　patriarchal　about　them；　bore　no　little　resemblance　to　the　Flight　into　Egypt　as　we　see　it　represented　by　the　sombre　brush　of　Rembrandt。　Galope…Chopine　carefully　avoided　the　main…road　and　guided　the　two　women　through　the　labyrinth　of　by…ways　which　intersect　Brittany。

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　then　understood　the　Chouan　warfare。　In　threading　these　complicated　paths；　she　could　better　appreciate　the　condition　of　a　country　which　when　she　saw　it　from　an　elevation　had　seemed　to　her　so　charming；　but　into　which　it　was　necessary　to　penetrate　before　the　dangers　and　inextricable　difficulties　of　it　could　be　understood。　Round　each　field；　and　from　time　immemorial；　the　peasants　have　piled　mud　walls；　about　six　feet　high；　and　prismatic　in　shape；　on　the　top　of　which　grow　chestnuts；　oaks　and　beeches。　The　walls　thus　planted　are　called　hedges　（Norman　hedges）　and　the　long　branches　of　the　trees　sweeping　over　the　pathways　arch　them。　Sunken　between　these　walls　（made　of　a　clay　soil）　the　paths　are　like　the　covered　ways　of　a　fortification；　and　where　the　granite　rock；　which　in　these　regions　comes　to　the　surface　of　the　ground；　does　not　make　a　sort　of　rugged　natural　pavement；　they　become　so　impracticable　that　the　smallest　vehicles　can　only　be　drawn　over　them　by　two　pairs　of　oxen　or　Breton　horses；　which　are　small　but　usually　vigorous。　These　by…ways　are　so　swampy　that　foot…passengers　have　gradually　by　long　usage　made　other　paths　beside　them　on　the　hedge…banks　which　are　called　〃rotes〃；　and　these　begin　and　end　with　each　division　into　fields。　In　order　to　cross　from　one　field　to　another　it　is　necessary　to　climb　the　clay　banks　by　means　of　steps　which　are　often　very　slippery　after　a　rain。

Travellers　have　many　other　obstacles　to　encounter　in　these　intricate　paths。　Thus　surrounded；　each　field　is　closed　by　what　is　called　in　the　West　an　/echalier/。　That　is　a　trunk　or　stout　branch　of　a　tree；　one　end　of　which；　being　pierced；　is　fitted　to　an　upright　post　which　serves　as　a　pivot　on　which　it　turns。　One　end　of　the　/echalier/　projects　far　enough　beyond　the　pivot　to　hold　a　weight；　and　this　singular　rustic　gate；　the　post　of　which　rests　in　a　hole　made　in　the　bank；　is　so　easy　to　work　that　a　child　can　handle　it。　Sometimes　the　peasants　economize　the　stone　which　forms　the　weight　by　lengthening　the　trunk　or　branch　beyond　the　pivot。　This　method　of　enclosure　varies　with　the　genius　of　each　proprietor。　Sometimes　it　consists　of　a　single　trunk　or　branch；　both　ends　of　which　are　embedded　in　the　bank。　In　other　places　it　looks　like　a　gate；　and　is　made　of　several　slim　branches　placed　at　regular　distances　like　the　steps　of　a　ladder　lying　horizontally。　The　form　turns；　like　the　/echalier/；　on　a　pivot。　These　〃hedges〃　and　/echaliers/　give　the　region　the　appearance　o