the chouans-第39章

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ns；　like　the　/echalier/；　on　a　pivot。　These　〃hedges〃　and　/echaliers/　give　the　region　the　appearance　of　a　huge　chess…board；　each　field　forming　a　square；　perfectly　isolated　from　the　rest；　closed　like　a　fortress　and　protected　by　ramparts。　The　gate；　which　is　very　easy　to　defend；　is　a　dangerous　spot　for　assailants。　The　Breton　peasant　thinks　he　improves　his　fallow　land　by　encouraging　the　growth　of　gorse；　a　shrub　so　well　treated　in　these　regions　that　it　soon　attains　the　height　of　a　man。　This　delusion；　worthy　of　a　population　which　puts　its　manure　on　the　highest　spot　in　the　courtyard；　has　covered　the　soil　to　a　proportion　of　one　fourth　with　masses　of　gorse；　in　the　midst　of　which　a　thousand　men　might　ambush。　Also　there　is　scarcely　a　field　without　a　number　of　old　apple…trees；　the　fruit　being　used　for　cider；　which　kill　the　vegetation　wherever　their　branches　cover　the　ground。　Now；　if　the　reader　will　reflect　on　the　small　extent　of　open　ground　within　these　hedges　and　large　trees　whose　hungry　roots　impoverish　the　soil；　he　will　have　an　idea　of　the　cultivation　and　general　character　of　the　region　through　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　now　passing。

It　is　difficult　to　say　whether　the　object　of　these　enclosures　is　to　avoid　all　disputes　of　possession；　or　whether　the　custom　is　a　lazy　one　of　keeping　the　cattle　from　straying；　without　the　trouble　of　watching　them；　at　any　rate　such　formidable　barriers　are　permanent　obstacles；　which　make　these　regions　impenetrable　and　ordinary　warfare　impossible。　There　lies　the　whole　secret　of　the　Chouan　war。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　saw　plainly　the　necessity　the　Republic　was　under　to　strangle　the　disaffection　by　means　of　police　and　by　negotiation；　rather　than　by　a　useless　employment　of　military　force。　What　could　be　done；　in　fact；　with　a　people　wise　enough　to　despise　the　possession　of　towns；　and　hold　to　that　of　an　open　country　already　furnished　with　indestructible　fortifications？　Surely；　nothing　except　negotiate；　especially　as　the　whole　active　strength　of　these　deluded　peasants　lay　in　a　single　able　and　enterprising　leader。　She　admired　the　genius　of　the　minister　who；　sitting　in　his　study；　had　been　able　to　grasp　the　true　way　of　procuring　peace。　She　thought　she　understood　the　considerations　which　act　on　the　minds　of　men　powerful　enough　to　take　a　bird's…eye　view　of　an　empire；　men　whose　actions；　criminal　in　the　eyes　of　the　masses；　are　the　outcome　of　a　vast　and　intelligent　thought。　There　is　in　these　terrible　souls　some　mysterious　blending　of　the　force　of　fate　and　that　of　destiny；　some　prescience　which　suddenly　elevates　them　above　their　fellows；　the　masses　seek　them　for　a　time　in　their　own　ranks；　then　they　raise　their　eyes　and　see　these　lordly　souls　above　them。

Such　reflections　as　these　seemed　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　to　justify　and　even　to　ennoble　her　thoughts　of　vengeance；　this　travail　of　her　soul　and　its　expectations　gave　her　vigor　enough　to　bear　the　unusual　fatigues　of　this　strange　journey。　At　the　end　of　each　property　Galope…Chopine　made　the　women　dismount　from　their　donkeys　and　climb　the　obstructions；　then；　mounting　again；　they　made　their　way　through　the　boggy　paths　which　already　felt　the　approach　of　winter。　The　combination　of　tall　trees；　sunken　paths；　and　enclosed　places；　kept　the　soil　in　a　state　of　humidity　which　wrapped　the　travellers　in　a　mantle　of　ice。　However；　after　much　wearisome　fatigue；　they　managed　to　reach　the　woods　of　Marignay　by　sunrise。　The　journey　then　became　less　difficult；　and　led　by　a　broad　footway　through　the　forest。　The　arch　formed　by　the　branches；　and　the　great　size　of　the　trees　protected　the　travellers　from　the　weather；　and　the　many　difficulties　of　the　first　half　of　their　way　did　not　recur。

They　had　hardly　gone　a　couple　of　miles　through　the　woods　before　they　heard　a　confused　noise　of　distant　voices　and　the　tinkling　of　a　bell；　the　silvery　tones　of　which　did　not　have　the　monotonous　sound　given　by　the　movements　of　cattle。　Galope…Chopine　listened　with　great　attention；　as　he　walked　along；　to　this　melody；　presently　a　puff　of　wind　brought　several　chanted　words　to　his　ear；　which　seemed　to　affect　him　powerfully；　for　he　suddenly　turned　the　wearied　donkeys　into　a　by…path；　which　led　away　from　Saint…James；　paying　no　attention　to　the　remonstrances　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　whose　fears　were　increased　by　the　darkness　of　the　forest　path　along　which　their　guide　now　led　them。　To　right　and　left　were　enormous　blocks　of　granite；　laid　one　upon　the　other；　of　whimsical　shape。　Across　them　huge　roots　had　glided；　like　monstrous　serpents；　seeking　from　afar　the　juicy　nourishment　enjoyed　by　a　few　beeches。　The　two　sides　of　the　road　resembled　the　subterranean　grottos　that　are　famous　for　stalactites。　Immense　festoons　of　stone；　where　the　darkling　verdure　of　ivy　and　holly　allied　itself　to　the　green…gray　patches　of　the　moss　and　lichen；　hid　the　precipices　and　the　openings　into　several　caves。　When　the　three　travellers　had　gone　a　few　steps　through　a　very　narrow　path　a　most　surprising　spectacle　suddenly　unfolded　itself　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　eyes；　and　made　her　understand　the　obstinacy　of　her　Chouan　guide。

A　semi…circular　basin　of　granite　blocks　formed　an　ampitheatre；　on　the　rough　tiers　of　which　rose　tall　black　pines　and　yellowing　chestnuts；　one　above　the　other；　like　a　vast　circus；　where　the　wintry　sun　shed　its　pale　colors　rather　than　poured　its　light；　and　autumn　had　spread　her　tawny　carpet　of　fallen　leaves。　About　the　middle　of　this　hall；　which　seemed　to　have　had　the　deluge　for　its　architect；　stood　three　enormous　Druid　stones；a　vast　altar；　on　which　was　raised　an　old　church…banner。　About　a　hundred　men；　kneeling　with　bared　heads；　were　praying　fervently　in　this　natural　enclosure；　where　a　priest；　assisted　by　two　other　ecclesiastics；　was　saying　mass。　The　poverty　of　the　sacerdotal　vestments；　the　feeble　voice　of　the　priest；　which　echoed　like　a　murmur　through　the　open　space；　the　praying　men　filled　with　conviction　and　united　by　one　and　the　same　sentiment；　the　bare　cross；　the　wild　and　barren　temple；　the　dawning　day；　gave　the　primitive　character　of　the　earlier　times　of　Christianity　to　the　scene。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　struck　with　admiration。　This　mass　said　in　the　depths　of　the　woods；　this　worship　driven　back　by　persecution　to　its　sources；　the　poesy　of　ancient　times　revived　in　the　midst　of　this　weird　and　romantic　nature；　these　armed　and　unarmed　Chouans；　cruel　and　praying；　men　yet　children；　all　these　things　resembled　nothing　that　she　had　ever　seen　or　yet　imagined。　She　remembered　admiring　in　her　childhood　the　pomps　of　the　Roman　church　so　pleasing　to　the　senses；　but　she　knew　nothing　of　God　/alone/；　his　cross　on　the　altar；　his　altar　the　earth。　In　place　of　the　carved　foliage　of　a　Gothic　cathedral；　the　autumnal　trees　upheld　the　sky；　instead　of　a　thousand　colors　thrown　through　stained　glass　windows；　the　sun　could　barely　slide　its　ruddy　rays　and　dull　reflections　on　altar；　priest；　and　people。　The　men　present　were　a　fact；　a　reality；　and　not　a　system；it　was　a　prayer；　not　a　religion。　But　human　passions；　the　momentary　repression　of　which　gave　harmony　to　the　picture；　soon　reappeared　on　this　mysterious　scene　and　gave　it　powerful　vitality。

As　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　reached　the　spot　the　reading　of　the　gospel　was　just　over。　She　recognized　in　the　officiating　priest；　not　without　fear；　the　Abbe　Gudin；　and　she　hastily　slipped　behind　a　granite　block；　drawing　Francine　after　her。　She　was；　however；　unable　to　move　Galope…　Chopine　from　the　place　he　had　chosen；　and　from　which　he　intended　to　share　in　the　benefits　of　the　ceremony；　but　she　noticed　the　nature　of　the　ground　around　her；　and　hoped　to　be　able　to　evade　the　danger　by　getting　away；　when　the　service　was　over；　before　the　priests。　Through　a　large　fissure　of　the　rock　that　hid　her；　she　saw　the　Abbe　Gudin　mounting　a　block　of　granite　which　served　him　as　a　pulpit；　where　he　began　his　sermon　with　the　words；

〃/In　nomine　Patris　et　Filii；　et　Spiritus　Sancti/。〃

All　present　made　the　sign　of　the　cross。

〃My　dear　friends；〃　continued　the　abbe；　〃let　us　pray　in　the　first　place　for　the　souls　of　the　dead；Jean　Cochegrue；　Nicalos　Laferte；　Joseph　Brouet；　Francois　Parquoi；　Sulpice　Coupiau；　all　of　this　parish；　and　dead　of　wounds　received　in　the　fight　on　Mont　Pelerine　and　at　the　siege　of　Fougeres。　/De　profundis/；〃　etc。

The　psalm　was　recited；　according　to　custom；　by　the　congregation　and　the　priests；　taking　verses　alternately　with　a　fervor　which　augured　well　for　the　success　of　the　sermon。　When　it　was　over　the　abbe　continued；　in　a　voice　which　became　gradually　louder　and　louder；　for　the　former　Jesuit　was　not　unaware　that　vehemence　of　delivery　was　in　itself　a　powerful　argument　with　which　to　persuade　his　semi…savage　hearers。

〃These　defenders　of　our　God；　Christians；　have　set　you　an　example　of　duty；〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　not　ashamed　of　what　will　be　said　of　you　in　paradise？　If　it　were　not　for　these　blessed　ones；　who　have　just　been　received　with　open　arms　by　all　the　saints；　our　Lord　might　have　thought　that　your　parish　is　inhabited　by　Mahometans！Do　you　know；　men；　what　is　said　of　you　in　Brittany　and　in　the　king's　presence？　What！　you　don't　know？　Then　I　shall　tell　you。　They　say：　'Behold；　the　Blues　have　cast　down　altars；　and　killed　priests；　and　murdered　the　king　and　queen；　they　mean　to　make　the　parish　folk　of　Brittany　Blues　like　themselves；　and　send　them　to　fight　in　foreign　lands；　away　from　their　churches；　where　they　run　the　risk　of　dying　without　confession　and　going　eternally　to　hell；　and　yet　the　gars　of　Marignay；　whose　churches　they　have　burned；　stand　still　with　folded　arms！　Oh！　oh！　this　Republic　of　damned　souls　has　sold　the　property　of　God　and　that　of　the　nobles　at　auction；　it　has　shared　the　proceeds　with　the　Blues；　it　has　decreed；　in　order　to　gorge　itself　with　money　as　it　does　with　blood；　that　a　crown　shall　be　only　worth　three　francs　instead　of　six；　and　yet　the　gars　of　Marignay　haven't　seized　their　weapons　and　driven　the　Blues　from　Brittany！　Ha！　paradise　will　be　closed　to　them！　they　can　never　save　their　souls！'　That's　what　they　say　of　you　in　the　king's　presence！　It　is　your　own　salvation；　Christians；　which　is　at　stake。　Your　souls　are　to　be　saved　by　fighting　for　religion　and　the　king。　Saint　Anne　of　Auray　herself　appeared　to　me　yesterday　at　half…past　two　o'clock；　and　she　said　to　me　these　very　words　which　I　now　repeat　to　you：　'Are　you　a　priest　of　Marignay？'　'Yes；　madame；　ready　to　serve　you。'　'I　am　Saint　Anne　of　Auray；　aunt　of　God；　after　the　manner　of　Brittany。　I　have　come　to　bid　you　warn　the　people　of　Marignay　that　they　must　not　hope　for　salvation　if　they　do　not　take　arms。　You　are　to　refuse　them　absolution　for　their　sins　unless　they　serve　God。　Bless　their　guns；　and　those　who　gain　absolution　will　never　miss　the　Blues；　because　their　guns　are　sanctified。'　She　disappeared；　leaving　an　odor　of　incense　behind　her。　I　marked　the　spot。　It　is　under　the　oak　of　the　Patte　d'Oie；　just　where　that　beautiful　wooden　Virgin　was　placed　by　the　rector　of　Saint…James；　to　whom　the　crippled　mother　of　Pierre　Leroi　（otherwise　called　Marche…　a…Terre）　came　to　pray；　and　was　cured　of　all　her　pains；　because　of　her　son's　good　deeds。　You　see　her　there　in　the　midst　of　you；　and　you　know　that　she　walks　without　assistance。　It　was　a　miraclea　miracle　intended；　like　the　resurrection　of　Marie　Lambrequin　to　prove　to　you　that　God　will　never　forsake　the　Breton　cause　so　long　as　the　peopl