the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第3章
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livery。 As I listened to their talk I saw that the small man was the
steward of the house； and that the others were under his orders。
There were four of them； then； but the little steward might be left out
of the reckoning。 Had I a weapon I should have smiled at such odds as
those。 But； hand to hand； I was no match for the one even without three
others to aid him。 Cunning； then； not force； must be my aid。 I wished
to look round for some mode of escape； and in doing so I gave an almost
imperceptible movement of my head。 Slight as it was it did not escape
my guardians。
〃Come； wake up； wake up！〃 cried the steward。
〃Get on your feet； little Frenchman；〃 growled the gondolier。 〃Get up；
I say；〃 and for the second time he spurned me with his foot。
Never in the world was a command obeyed so promptly as that one。
In an instant I had bounded to my feet and rushed as hard as I could to the
back of the hall。 They were after me as I have seen the English hounds
follow a fox； but there was a long passage down which I tore。
It turned to the left and again to the left； and then I found myself back
in the hall once more。 They were almost within touch of me and there
was no time for thought。 I turned toward the staircase； but two men were
coming down it。 I dodged back and tried the door through which I had
been brought； but it was fastened with great bars and I could not loosen
them。 The gondolier was on me with his knife； but I met him with a kick
on the body which stretched him on his back。 His dagger flew with a
clatter across the marble floor。 I had no time to seize it； for there were
half a dozen of them now clutching at me。 As I rushed through them the
little steward thrust his leg before me and I fell with a crash； but I was up
in an instant； and breaking from their grasp I burst through the very middle
of them and made for a door at the other end of the hall。 I reached it well
in front of them； and I gave a shout of triumph as the handle turned freely
in my hand； for I could see that it led to the outside and that all was clear
for my escape。 But I had forgotten this strange city in which I was。
Every house is an island。 As I flung open the door； ready to bound out
into the street； the light of the hall shone upon the deep； still； black water
which lay flush with the topmost step。
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I shrank back； and in an instant my pursuers were on me。
But I am not taken so easily。 Again I kicked and fought my way
through them； though one of them tore a handful of hair from my head in
his effort to hold me。 The little steward struck me with a key and I was
battered and bruised； but once more I cleared a way in front of me。
Up the grand staircase I rushed； burst open the pair of huge folding
doors which faced me； and learned at last that my efforts were in vain。
The room into which I had broken was brilliantly lighted。 With its
gold cornices； its massive pillars； and its painted walls and ceilings it was
evidently the grand hall of some famous Venetian palace。 There are
many hundred such in this strange city； any one of which has rooms which
would grace the Louvre or Versailles。 In the centre of this great hall there
was a raised dais； and upon it in a half circle there sat twelve men all clad
in black gowns； like those of a Franciscan monk； and each with a mask
over the upper part of his face。
A group of armed menrough…looking rascalswere standing round
the door； and amid them facing the dais was a young fellow in the uniform
of the light infantry。 As he turned his head I recognised him。 It was
Captain Auret； of the 7th； a young Basque with whom I had drunk many a
glass during the winter。
He was deadly white； poor wretch； but he held himself manfully amid
the assassins who surrounded him。 Never shall I forget the sudden flash
of hope which shone in his dark eyes when he saw a comrade burst into
the room； or the look of despair which followed as he understood that I
had come not to change his fate but to share it。
You can think how amazed these people were when I hurled myself
into their presence。 My pursuers had crowded in behind me and choked
the doorway； so that all further flight was out of the question。 It is at
such instants that my nature asserts itself。 With dignity I advanced
toward the tribunal。 My jacket was torn； my hair was dishevelled； my
head was bleeding； but there was that in my eyes and in my carriage which
made them realise that no common man was before them。 Not a hand
was raised to arrest me until I halted in front of a formidable old man；
whose long grey beard and masterful manner told me that both by years
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and by character he was the man in authority。
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃you will； perhaps； tell me why I have been forcibly
arrested and brought to this place。 I am an honourable soldier； as is this
other gentleman here； and I demand that you will instantly set us both at
liberty。〃
There was an appalling silence to my appeal。 It was not pleasant to
have twelve masked faces turned upon you and to see twelve pairs of
vindictive Italian eyes fixed with fierce intentness upon your face。 But I
stood as a debonair soldier should； and I could not but reflect how much
credit I was bringing upon the Hussars of Conflans by the dignity of my
bearing。 I do not think that anyone could have carried himself better
under such difficult circumstances。 I looked with a fearless face from
one assassin to another； and I waited for some reply。
It was the grey…beard who at last broke the silence。
〃Who is this man？〃 he asked。
〃His name is Gerard；〃 said the little steward at the door。
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 said I。 〃I will not deceive you。 I am Etienne
Gerard； THE Colonel Gerard； five times mentioned in despatches and
recommended for the sword of honour。 I am aide…de…camp to General
Suchet； and I demand my instant release； together with that of my comrade
in arms。〃
The same terrible silence fell upon the assembly； and the same twelve
pairs of merciless eyes were bent upon my face。 Again it was the grey…
beard who spoke。
〃He is out of his order。 There are two names upon our list before
him。〃
〃He escaped from our hands and burst into the room。〃
〃Let him await his turn。 Take him down to the wooden cell。〃
〃If he resist us； your Excellency？〃
〃Bury your knives in his body。 The tribunal will uphold you。
Remove him until we have dealt with the others。〃
They advanced upon me； and for an instant I thought of resistance。 It
would have been a heroic death； but who was there to see it or to chronicle
it？ I might be only postponing my fate； and yet I had been in so many
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bad places and come out unhurt that I had learned always to hope and to
trust my star。 I allowed these rascals to seize me； and I was led from the
room； the gondolier walking at my side with a long naked knife in his
hand。 I could see in his brutal eyes the satisfaction which it would give
him if he could find some excuse for plunging it into my body。
They are wonderful places； these great Venetian houses； palaces； and
fortresses； and prisons all in one。 I was led along a passage and down a
bare stone stair until we came to a short corridor from which three doors
opened。 Through one of these I was thrust and the spring lock closed
behind me。 The only light came dimly through a small grating which
opened on the passage。
Peering and feeling； I carefully examined the chamber in which I had
been placed。 I understood from what I had heard that I should soon have
to leave it again in order to appear before this tribunal； but still it is not my
nature to throw away any possible chances。
The stone floor of the cell was so damp and the walls for some feet
high were so slimy and foul that it was evident they were beneath the level
of the water。 A single slanting hole high up near the ceiling was the only
aperture for light or air。 Through it I saw one bright star shining down
upon me； and the sight filled me with comfort and with hope。 I have
never been a man of religion； though I have always had a respect for those
who were； but I remember that night that the star shining down the shaft
seemed to be an all…seeing eye which was upon me； and I felt as a young
and frightened recruit might feel in battle when he saw the calm gaze of
his colonel turned upon him。 Three of the sides of my prison were
formed of stone； but the fourth was of wood； and I could see that it had
only recently been erected。 Evidently a partition had been thrown up to
divide a single large cell into two smaller ones。 There was no hope for
me in the old walls； in the tiny window； or in the massive door。 It was
only in this one direction of the wooden screen that there was any
possibility of exploring。 My reason told me that if I should pierce it
which did not seem very difficultit would only be to find myself in
another cell as strong as that in which I then was。 Yet I had always rather
be doing something than doing nothing； so I bent all my attention and all
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