the chouans-第41章

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〃I　am　horrible　to…night；〃　she　said；　as　though　she　were　surrounded　by　flatterers。　〃I　look　like　a　statue　of　Liberty。〃

She　placed　the　dagger　carefully　in　her　bosom　leaving　the　rubies　in　the　hilt　exposed；　their　ruddy　reflections　attracting　the　eye　to　the　hidden　beauties　of　her　shape。　Francine　could　not　bring　herself　to　leave　her　mistress。　When　Marie　was　ready　she　made　various　pretexts　to　follow　her。　She　must　help　her　to　take　off　her　mantle；　and　the　overshoes　which　the　mud　and　muck　in　the　streets　compelled　her　to　wear　（though　the　roads　had　been　sanded　for　this　occasion）；　also　the　gauze　veil　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　had　thrown　over　her　head　to　conceal　her　features　from　the　Chouans　who　were　collecting　in　the　streets　to　watch　the　company。　The　crowd　was　in　fact　so　great　that　they　were　forced　to　make　their　way　through　two　hedges　of　Chouans。　Francine　no　longer　strove　to　detain　her　mistress；　and　after　giving　a　few　last　touches　to　a　costume　the　greatest　charm　of　which　was　its　exquisite　freshness；　she　stationed　herself　in　the　courtyard　that　she　might　not　abandon　this　beloved　mistress　to　her　fate　without　being　able　to　fly　to　her　succor；　for　the　poor　girl　foresaw　only　evil　in　these　events。

A　strange　scene　was　taking　place　in　Montauran's　chamber　as　Marie　was　on　her　way　to　the　ball。　The　young　marquis；　who　had　just　finished　dressing；　was　putting　on　the　broad　red　ribbon　which　distinguished　him　as　first　in　rank　of　the　assembly；　when　the　Abbe　Gudin　entered　the　room　with　an　anxious　air。

〃Monsieur　le　marquis；　come　quickly；〃　he　said。　〃You　alone　can　quell　a　tumult　which　has　broken　out；　I　don't　know　why；　among　the　leaders。　They　talk　of　abandoning　the　king's　cause。　I　think　that　devil　of　a　Rifoel　is　at　the　bottom　of　it。　Such　quarrels　are　always　caused　by　some　mere　nonsense。　Madame　du　Gua　reproached　him；　so　I　hear；　for　coming　to　the　ball　ill…dressed。〃

〃That　woman　must　be　crazy；〃　cried　the　marquis；　〃to　try　to〃

〃Rifoel　retorted；〃　continued　the　abbe；　interrupting　his　chief；　〃that　if　you　had　given　him　the　money　promised　him　in　the　king's　name〃

〃Enough；　enough；　I　understand　it　all　now。　This　scene　has　all　been　arranged；　and　you　are　put　forward　as　ambassador〃

〃I；　monsieur　le　marquis！〃　said　the　abbe；　again　interrupting　him。　〃I　am　supporting　you　vigorously；　and　you　will；　I　hope；　do　me　the　justice　to　believe　that　the　restoration　of　our　altars　in　France　and　that　of　the　king　upon　the　throne　of　his　fathers　are　far　more　powerful　incentives　to　my　humble　labors　than　the　bishopric　of　Rennes　which　you〃

The　abbe　dared　say　no　more；　for　the　marquis　smiled　bitterly　at　his　last　words。　However；　the　young　chief　instantly　repressed　all　expression　of　feeling；　his　brow　grew　stern；　and　he　followed　the　Abbe　Gudin　into　a　hall　where　the　worst　of　the　clamor　was　echoing。

〃I　recognize　no　authority　here；〃　Rifoel　was　saying；　casting　angry　looks　at　all　about　him　and　laying　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　sabre。

〃Do　you　recognize　that　of　common…sense？〃　asked　the　marquis；　coldly。

The　young　Chevalier　de　Vissard；　better　known　under　his　patronymic　of　Rifoel；　was　silent　before　the　general　of　the　Catholic　armies。

〃What　is　all　this　about；　gentlemen？〃　asked　the　marquis；　examining　the　faces　round　him。

〃This；　monsieur　le　marquis；〃　said　a　famous　smuggler；　with　the　awkwardness　of　a　man　of　the　people　who　long　remains　under　the　yoke　of　respect　to　a　great　lord；　though　he　admits　no　barriers　after　he　has　once　jumped　them；　and　regards　the　aristocrat　as　an　equal　only；　〃/this/；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　have　come　in　the　nick　of　time　to　hear　it。　I　am　no　speaker　of　gilded　phrases；　and　I　shall　say　things　plainly。　I　commanded　five　hundred　men　during　the　late　war。　Since　we　have　taken　up　arms　again　I　have　raised　a　thousand　heads　as　hard　as　mine　for　the　service　of　the　king。　It　is　now　seven　years　that　I　have　risked　my　life　in　the　good　cause；　I　don't　blame　you；　but　I　say　that　the　laborer　is　worthy　of　his　hire。　Now；　to　begin　with；　I　demand　that　I　be　called　Monsieur　de　Cottereau。　I　also　demand　that　the　rank　of　colonel　shall　be　granted　me；　or　I　send　in　my　adhesion　to　the　First　Consul！　Let　me　tell　you；　monsieur　le　marquis；　my　men　and　I　have　a　devilishly　importunate　creditor　who　must　be　satisfiedhe's　here！〃　he　added；　striking　his　stomach。

〃Have　the　musicians　come？〃　said　the　marquis；　in　a　contemptuous　tone；　turning　to　Madame　du　Gua。

But　the　smuggler　had　dealt　boldly　with　an　important　topic；　and　the　calculating；　ambitious　minds　of　those　present　had　been　too　long　in　suspense　as　to　what　they　might　hope　for　from　the　king　to　allow　the　scorn　of　their　new　leader　to　put　an　end　to　the　scene。　Rifoel　hastily　blocked　the　way　before　Montauran；　and　seized　his　hand　to　oblige　him　to　remain。

〃Take　care；　monsieur　le　marquis；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　treating　far　too　lightly　men　who　have　a　right　to　the　gratitude　of　him　whom　you　are　here　to　represent。　We　know　that　his　Majesty　has　sent　you　with　full　powers　to　judge　of　our　services；　and　we　say　that　they　ought　to　be　recognized　and　rewarded；　for　we　risk　our　heads　upon　the　scaffold　daily。　I　know；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned；　that　the　rank　of　brigadier…general〃

〃You　mean　colonel。〃

〃No；　monsieur　le　marquis；　Charette　made　me　a　colonel。　The　rank　I　mention　cannot　be　denied　me。　I　am　not　arguing　for　myself；　I　speak　for　my　brave　brothers…in…arms；　whose　services　ought　to　be　recorded。　Your　signature　and　your　promise　will　suffice　them　for　the　present；　though；〃　he　added；　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　must　say　they　are　satisfied　with　very　little。　But；〃　he　continued；　raising　his　voice；　〃when　the　sun　rises　on　the　chateau　of　Versailles　to　glorify　the　return　of　the　monarchy　after　the　faithful　have　conquered　France；　/in　France/；　for　the　king；　will　they　obtain　favors　for　their　families；　pensions　for　widows；　and　the　restitution　of　their　confiscated　property？　I　doubt　it。　But；　monsieur　le　marquis；　we　must　have　certified　proof　of　our　services　when　that　time　comes。　I　will　never　distrust　the　king；　but　I　do　distrust　those　cormorants　of　ministers　and　courtiers；　who　tingle　his　ears　with　talk　about　the　public　welfare；　the　honor　of　France；　the　interests　of　the　crown；　and　other　crochets。　They　will　sneer　at　a　loyal　Vendean　or　a　brave　Chouan；　because　he　is　old　and　the　sword　he　drew　for　the　good　cause　dangles　on　his　withered　legs；　palsied　with　exposure。　Can　you　say　that　we　are　wrong　in　feeling　thus？〃

〃You　talk　well；　Monsieur　du　Vissard；　but　you　are　over　hasty；〃　replied　the　marquis。

〃Listen；　marquis；〃　said　the　Comte　de　Bauvan；　in　a　whisper。　〃Rifoel　has　really；　on　my　word；　told　the　truth。　You　are　sure；　yourself；　to　have　the　ear　of　the　king；　while　the　rest　of　us　only　see　him　at　a　distance　and　from　time　to　time。　I　will　own　to　you　that　if　you　do　not　give　me　your　word　as　a　gentleman　that　I　shall；　in　due　course　of　time；　obtain　the　place　of　Master　of　Woods　and　Waters　in　France；　the　devil　take　me　if　I　will　risk　my　neck　any　longer。　To　conquer　Normandy　for　the　king　is　not　an　easy　matter；　and　I　demand　the　Order　for　it。　But；〃　he　added；　coloring；　〃there's　time　enough　to　think　of　that。　God　forbid　that　I　should　imitate　these　poor　mercenaries　and　harass　you。　Speak　to　the　king　for　me；　and　that's　enough。〃

Each　of　the　chiefs　found　means　to　let　the　marquis　know；　in　a　more　or　less　ingenious　manner；　the　exaggerated　price　they　set　upon　their　services。　One　modestly　demanded　the　governorship　of　Brittany；　another　a　barony；　this　one　a　promotion；　that　one　a　command；　and　all　wanted　pensions。

〃Well；　baron；〃　said　the　marquis　to　Monsieur　du　Guenic；　〃don't　you　want　anything？〃

〃These　gentlemen　have　left　me　nothing　but　the　crown　of　France；　marquis；　but　I　might　manage　to　put　up　with　that〃

〃Gentlemen！〃　cried　the　Abbe　Gudin；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃remember　that　if　you　are　too　eager　you　will　spoil　everything　in　the　day　of　victory。　The　king　will　then　be　compelled　to　make　concessions　to　the　revolutionists。〃

〃To　those　Jacobins！〃　shouted　the　smuggler。　〃Ha！　if　the　king　would　let　me　have　my　way；　I'd　answer　for　my　thousand　men；　we'd　soon　wring　their　necks　and　be　rid　of　them。〃

〃Monsieur　/de/　Cottereau；〃　said　the　marquis；　〃I　see　some　of　our　invited　guests　arriving。　We　must　all　do　our　best　by　attention　and　courtesy　to　make　them　share　our　sacred　enterprise；　you　will　agree；　I　am　sure；　that　this　is　not　the　moment　to　bring　forward　your　demands；　however　just　they　may　be。〃

So　saying；　the　marquis　went　to　the　door；　as　if　to　meet　certain　of　the　country　nobles　who　were　entering　the　room；　but　the　bold　smuggler　barred　his　way　in　a　respectful　manner。

〃No；　no；　monsieur　le　marquis；　excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃the　Jacobins　taught　me　too　well　in　1793　that　it　is　not　he　who　sows　and　reaps　who　eats　the　bread。　Sign　this　bit　of　paper　for　me；　and　to…morrow　I'll　bring　you　fifteen　hundred　gars。　If　not；　I'll　treat　with　the　First　Consul。〃

Looking　haughtily　about　him；　the　marquis　saw　plainly　that　the　boldness　of　the　old　partisan　and　his　resolute　air　were　not　displeasing　to　any　of　the　spectators　of　this　debate。　One　man　alone；　sitting　by　himself　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　appeared　to　take　no　part　in　the　scene；　and　to　be　chiefly　occupied　in　filling　his　pipe。　The　contemptuous　air　with　which　he　glanced　at　the　speakers；　his　modest　demeanor；　and　a　look　of　sympathy　which　the　marquis　encountered　in　his　eyes；　made　the　young　leader　observe　the　man；　whom　he　then　recognized　as　Major　Brigaut；　and　he　went　suddenly　up　to　him。

〃And　you；　what　do　you　want？〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　monsieur　le　marquis；　if　the　king　comes　back　that's　all　I　want。〃

〃But　for　yourself？〃

〃For　myself？　are　you　joking？〃

The　marquis　pressed　the　horny　hand　of　the　Breton；　and　said　to　Madame　du　Gua；　who　was　near　them：　〃Madame；　I　may　perish　in　this　enterprise　before　I　have　time　to　make　a　faithful　report　to　the　king　on　the　Catholic　armies　of　Brittany。　I　charge　you；　in　case　you　live　to　see　the　Restoration；　not　to　forget　this　honorable　man　nor　the　Baron　du　Guenic。　There　is　more　devotion　in　them　than　in　all　those　other　men　put　together。〃

He　pointed　to　the　chiefs；　who　were　waiting　with　some　impatience　till　the　marquis　should　reply　to　their　demands。　They　were　all　holding　papers　in　their　hands；　on　which；　no　doubt；　their　services　were　recorded　over　the　signatures　of　the　various　generals　of　the　former　war；　and　all　were　murmuring。　The　Abbe　Gudin；　the　Comte　de　Bauvan；　and　the　Baron　du　Guenic　were　consulting　how　best　to　help　the　marquis　in　rejecting　these　extravagant　demands；　for　they　felt　the　position　of　the　young　leader　to　be　extremely　delicate。

Suddenly　the　marquis　ran　his　blue　eyes；　gleaming　with　satire；　over　the　whole　assembly；　and　said　in　a　clear　voice：　〃Gentlemen；　I　do　not　know　whether　the　powers　which　the　king　has　graciously　assigned　to　me　are　such　that　I　am　able　to　satisfy　your　demands。　He　doubtless　did　not　foresee　such　zeal；　such　devotion；　on　your　part。　You　shall　judge　yourselves　of　the　duties　put　upon　me；duties　which　I　shall　know　how　to　accomplish。〃

So　saying；　he　left　the　room　and　returned　immediately　holding　in　his　hand　an　open　letter　bearing　the　royal　seal　and　signature。

〃These　are　the　letters…patent　in　virtue　of　which　you　are　to　obey　me；〃　he　said。　〃They　authorize　me　to　govern　the　provinces　of　Brittany；　Normandy；　Maine；　and　Anjou；　in　the　king's　name；　and　to　recognize　the　services　of　such　officers　as　may　distinguish　themselves　in　his　armies。〃

A　movement　of　satisfaction　ran　through　the　assembly。　The　Chouans　approac