the chouans-第53章

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〃There　are　houses　adjoining　mine；〃　she　said；　〃you　had　better　surround　them　all。　Don't　lay　up　regrets　by　neglecting　a　single　precaution。〃

〃She　is　mad；〃　thought　Hulot。

〃Was　I　not　a　prophet？〃　asked　Corentin　in　his　ear。　〃As　for　the　boy　I　shall　send　with　her；　he　is　the　little　gars　with　a　bloody　foot；　therefore〃

He　did　not　finish　his　sentence；　for　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　by　a　sudden　movement　darted　in　the　direction　of　her　house；　whither　he　followed　her；　whistling　like　a　man　supremely　satisfied。　When　he　overtook　her　she　was　already　at　the　door　of　her　house；　where　Galope…　Chopine's　little　boy　was　on　the　watch。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　Corentin；　〃take　the　lad　with　you；　you　cannot　have　a　more　innocent　or　active　emissary。　Boy；〃　he　added；　〃when　you　have　seen　the　Gars　enter　the　house　come　to　me；　no　matter　who　stops　you；　you'll　find　me　at　the　guard…house　and　I'll　give　you　something　that　will　make　you　eat　cake　for　the　rest　of　your　days。〃

At　these　words；　breathed　rather　than　said　in　the　child's　ear；　Corentin　felt　his　hand　squeezed　by　that　of　the　little　Breton；　who　followed　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　into　the　house。

〃Now；　my　good　friends；　you　can　come　to　an　explanation　as　soon　as　you　like；〃　cried　Corentin　when　the　door　was　closed。　〃If　you　make　love；　my　little　marquis；　it　will　be　on　your　winding…sheet。〃

But　Corentin　could　not　bring　himself　to　let　that　fatal　house　completely　out　of　sight；　and　he　went　to　the　Promenade；　where　he　found　the　commandant　giving　his　last　orders。　By　this　time　it　was　night。　Two　hours　went　by；　but　the　sentinels　posted　at　intervals　noticed　nothing　that　led　them　to　suppose　the　marquis　had　evaded　the　triple　line　of　men　who　surrounded　the　three　sides　by　which　the　tower　of　Papegaut　was　accessible。　Twenty　times　had　Corentin　gone　from　the　Promenade　to　the　guard…room；　always　to　find　that　his　little　emissary　had　not　appeared。　Sunk　in　thought；　the　spy　paced　the　Promenade　slowly；　enduring　the　martyrdom　to　which　three　passions；　terrible　in　their　clashing；　subject　a　man；love；　avarice；　and　ambition。　Eight　o'clock　struck　from　all　the　towers　in　the　town。　The　moon　rose　late。　Fog　and　darkness　wrapped　in　impenetrable　gloom　the　places　where　the　drama　planned　by　this　man　was　coming　to　its　climax。　He　was　able　to　silence　the　struggle　of　his　passions　as　he　walked　up　and　down；　his　arms　crossed；　and　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　windows　which　rose　like　the　luminous　eyes　of　a　phantom　above　the　rampart。　The　deep　silence　was　broken　only　by　the　rippling　of　the　Nancon；　by　the　regular　and　lugubrious　tolling　from　the　belfries；　by　the　heavy　steps　of　the　sentinels　or　the　rattle　of　arms　as　the　guard　was　hourly　relieved。

〃The　night's　as　thick　as　a　wolf's　jaw；〃　said　the　voice　of　Pille…Miche。

〃Go　on；〃　growled　Marche…a…Terre；　〃and　don't　talk　more　than　a　dead　dog。〃

〃I'm　hardly　breathing；〃　said　the　Chouan。

〃If　the　man　who　made　that　stone　roll　down　wants　his　heart　to　serve　as　the　scabbard　for　my　knife　he'll　do　it　again；〃　said　Marche…a…Terre；　in　a　low　voice　scarcely　heard　above　the　flowing　of　the　river。

〃It　was　I；〃　said　Pille…Miche。

〃Well；　then；　old　money…bag；　down　on　your　stomach；〃　said　the　other；　〃and　wriggle　like　a　snake　through　a　hedge；　or　we　shall　leave　our　carcasses　behind　us　sooner　than　we　need。〃

〃Hey；　Marche…a…Terre；〃　said　the　incorrigible　Pille…Miche；　who　was　using　his　hands　to　drag　himself　along　on　his　stomach；　and　had　reached　the　level　of　his　comrade's　ear。　〃If　the　Grande…Garce　is　to　be　believed　there'll　be　a　fine　booty　to…day。　Will　you　go　shares　with　me？〃

〃Look　here；　Pille…Miche；〃　said　Marche…a…Terre　stopping　short　on　the　flat　of　his　stomach。　The　other　Chouans；　who　were　accompanying　the　two　men；　did　the　same；　so　wearied　were　they　with　the　difficulties　they　had　met　with　in　climbing　the　precipice。　〃I　know　you；〃　continued　Marche…a…　Terre；　〃for　a　Jack　Grab…All　who　would　rather　give　blows　than　receive　them　when　there's　nothing　else　to　be　done。　We　have　not　come　here　to　grab　dead　men's　shoes；　we　are　devils　against　devils；　and　sorrow　to　those　whose　claws　are　too　short。　The　Grande…Garce　has　sent　us　here　to　save　the　Gars。　He　is　up　there；　lift　your　dog's　nose　and　see　that　window　above　the　tower。〃

Midnight　was　striking。　The　moon　rose；　giving　the　appearance　of　white　smoke　to　the　fog。　Pille…Miche　squeezed　Marche…a…Terre's　arm　and　silently　showed　him　on　the　terrace　just　above　them；　the　triangular　iron　of　several　shining　bayonets。

〃The　Blues　are　there　already；〃　said　Pille…Miche；　〃we　sha'n't　gain　anything　by　force。〃

〃Patience；〃　replied　Marche…a…Terre；　〃if　I　examined　right　this　morning；　we　must　be　at　the　foot　of　the　Papegaut　tower　between　the　ramparts　and　the　Promenade；that　place　where　they　put　the　manure；　it　is　like　a　feather…bed　to　fall　on。〃

〃If　Saint…Labre；〃　remarked　Pille…Miche；　〃would　only　change　into　cider　the　blood　we　shall　shed　to…night　the　citizens　might　lay　in　a　good　stock　to…morrow。〃

Marche…a…Terre　laid　his　large　hand　over　his　friend's　mouth；　then　an　order　muttered　by　him　went　from　rank　to　rank　of　the　Chouans　suspended　as　they　were　in　mid…air　among　the　brambles　of　the　slate　rocks。　Corentin；　walking　up　and　down　the　esplanade　had　too　practiced　an　ear　not　to　hear　the　rustling　of　the　shrubs　and　the　light　sound　of　pebbles　rolling　down　the　sides　of　the　precipice。　Marche…a…Terre；　who　seemed　to　possess　the　gift　of　seeing　in　darkness；　and　whose　senses；　continually　in　action；　were　acute　as　those　of　a　savage；　saw　Corentin；　like　a　trained　dog　he　had　scented　him。　Fouche's　diplomatist　listened　but　heard　nothing；　he　looked　at　the　natural　wall　of　rock　and　saw　no　signs。　If　the　confusing　gleam　of　the　fog　enabled　him　to　see；　here　and　there；　a　crouching　Chouan；　he　took　him；　no　doubt；　for　a　fragment　of　rock；　for　these　human　bodies　had　all　the　appearance　of　inert　nature。　This　danger　to　the　invaders　was　of　short　duration。　Corentin's　attention　was　diverted　by　a　very　distinct　noise　coming　from　the　other　end　of　the　Promenade；　where　the　rock　wall　ended　and　a　steep　descent　leading　down　to　the　Queen's　Staircase　began。　When　Corentin　reached　the　spot　he　saw　a　figure　gliding　past　it　as　if　by　magic。　Putting　out　his　hand　to　grasp　this　real　or　fantastic　being；　who　was　there；　he　supposed；　with　no　good　intentions；　he　encountered　the　soft　and　rounded　figure　of　a　woman。

〃The　devil　take　you！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃if　any　one　else　had　met　you；　you'd　have　had　a　ball　through　your　head。　What　are　you　doing；　and　where　are　you　going；　at　this　time　of　night？　Are　you　dumb？　It　certainly　is　a　woman；〃　he　said　to　himself。

The　silence　was　suspicious；　but　the　stranger　broke　it　by　saying；　in　a　voice　which　suggested　extreme　fright；　〃Ah；　my　good　man；　I'm　on　my　way　back　from　a　wake。〃

〃It　is　the　pretended　mother　of　the　marquis；〃　thought　Corentin。　〃I'll　see　what　she's　about。　Well；　go　that　way；　old　woman；〃　he　replied；　feigning　not　to　recognize　her。　〃Keep　to　the　left　if　you　don't　want　to　be　shot。〃

He　stood　quite　still；　then　observing　that　Madame　du　Gua　was　making　for　the　Papegaut　tower；　he　followed　her　at　a　distance　with　diabolical　caution。　During　this　fatal　encounter　the　Chouans　had　posted　themselves　on　the　manure　towards　which　Marche…a…Terre　had　guided　them。

〃There's　the　Grande…Garce！〃　thought　Marche…a…Terre；　as　he　rose　to　his　feet　against　the　tower　wall　like　a　bear。

〃We　are　here；〃　he　said　to　her　in　a　low　voice。

〃Good；〃　she　replied；　〃there's　a　ladder　in　the　garden　of　that　house　about　six　feet　above　the　manure；　find　it；　and　the　Gars　is　saved。　Do　you　see　that　small　window　up　there？　It　is　in　the　dressing…room；　you　must　get　to　it。　This　side　of　the　tower　is　the　only　one　not　watched。　The　horses　are　ready；　if　you　can　hold　the　passage　over　the　Nancon；　a　quarter　of　an　hour　will　put　him　out　of　dangerin　spite　of　his　folly。　But　if　that　woman　tries　to　follow　him；　stab　her。〃

Corentin　now　saw　several　of　the　forms　he　had　hitherto　supposed　to　be　stones　moving　cautiously　but　swiftly。　He　went　at　once　to　the　guard…　room　at　the　Porte　Saint…Leonard；　where　he　found　the　commandant　fully　dressed　and　sound　asleep　on　a　camp　bed。

〃Let　him　alone；〃　said　Beau…Pied；　roughly；　〃he　has　only　just　lain　down。〃

〃The　Chouans　are　here！〃　cried　Corentin；　in　Hulot's　ear。

〃Impossible！　but　so　much　the　better；〃　cried　the　old　soldier；　still　half　asleep；　〃then　he　can　fight。〃

When　Hulot　reached　the　Promenade　Corentin　pointed　out　to　him　the　singular　position　taken　by　the　Chouans。

〃They　must　have　deceived　or　strangled　the　sentries　I　placed　between　the　castle　and　the　Queen's　Staircase。　Ah！　what　a　devil　of　a　fog！　However；　patience！　I'll　send　a　squad　of　men　under　a　lieutenant　to　the　foot　of　the　rock。　There　is　no　use　attacking　them　where　they　are；　for　those　animals　are　so　hard　they'd　let　themselves　roll　down　the　precipice　without　breaking　a　limb。〃

The　cracked　clock　of　the　belfry　was　ringing　two　when　the　commandant　got　back　to　the　Promenade　after　giving　these　orders　and　taking　every　military　precaution　to　seize　the　Chouans。　The　sentries　were　doubled　and　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　house　became　the　centre　of　a　little　army。　Hulot　found　Corentin　absorbed　in　contemplation　of　the　window　which　overlooked　the　tower。

〃Citizen；〃　said　the　commandant；　〃I　think　the　/ci…devant/　has　fooled　us；　there's　nothing　stirring。〃

〃He　is　there；〃　cried　Corentin；　pointing　to　the　window。　〃I　have　seen　a　man's　shadow　on　the　curtain。　But　I　can't　think　what　has　become　of　that　boy。　They　must　have　killed　him　or　locked　him　up。　There！　commandant；　don't　you　see　that？　there's　a　man's　shadow；　come；　come　on！〃

〃I　sha'n't　seize　him　in　bed；　thunder　of　God！　He　will　come　out　if　he　went　in；　Gudin　won't　miss　him；〃　cried　Hulot；　who　had　his　own　reasons　for　waiting　till　the　Gars　could　defend　himself。

〃Commandant；　I　enjoin　you；　in　the　name　of　the　law　to　proceed　at　once　into　that　house。〃

〃You're　a　fine　scoundrel　to　try　to　make　me　do　that。〃

Without　showing　any　resentment　at　the　commandant's　language；　Corentin　said　coolly：　〃You　will　obey　me。　Here　is　an　order　in　good　form；　signed　by　the　minister　of　war；　which　will　force　you　to　do　so。〃　He　drew　a　paper　from　his　pocket　and　held　it　out。　〃Do　you　suppose　we　are　such　fools　as　to　leave　that　girl　to　do　as　she　likes？　We　are　endeavoring　to　suppress　a　civil　war；　and　the　grandeur　of　the　purpose　covers　the　pettiness　of　the　means。〃

〃I　take　the　liberty；　citizen；　of　sending　you　toyou　understand　me？　Enough。　To　the　right…about；　march！　Let　me　alone；　or　it　will　be　the　worse　for　you。〃

〃But　read　that；〃　persisted　Corentin。

〃Don't　bother　me　with　your　functions；〃　cried　Hulot；　furious　at　receiving　orders　from　a　man　he　regarded　as　contemptible。

At　this　instant　Galope…Chopine's　boy　suddenly　appeared　among　them　like　a　rat　from　a　hole。

〃The　Gars　has　started！〃　he　cried。

〃Which　way？〃

〃The　rue　Saint…Leonard。〃

〃Beau…Pied；〃　said　Hulot　in　a　whisper　to　the　corporal　who　was　near　him；　〃go　and　tell　your　lieutenant　to　draw　in　closer　round　the　house；　and　make　ready　to　fire。　Left　wheel；　forward　on　the　tower；　the　rest　of　you！〃　he　shouted。

To　understand　the　conclusion　of　this　fatal　drama　we　must　re…enter　the　house　with　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　when　she　returned　to　it　after　denouncing　the　marquis　to　the　commandant。

When　passions　reach　their　crisis　they　bring　us　under　the　dominion　of　far　greater　intoxication　than　the　petty　excitements　of　wine　or　opium。　The　lucidity　then　given　to　ideas；　the　delicacy　of　the　high…wrought　s