the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第8章
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far as this square you will find the cathedral at one corner。 In that corner
is the street of Toledo。 Hubert lives in a small house between a cobbler's
and a wine…shop； on the right…hand side as you go from the cathedral。 Do
you follow me？〃
〃Clearly。〃
〃You are to reach that house； to see him； and to find out if his plan is
still feasible or if we must abandon it。〃
He produced what appeared to be a roll of dirty brown flannel。 〃This
is the dress of a Franciscan friar；〃 said he。 〃You will find it the most
useful disguise。〃
I shrank away from it。
〃It turns me into a spy；〃 I cried。 〃Surely I can go in my uniform？〃
〃Impossible！ How could you hope to pass through the streets of the
city？ Remember； also； that the Spaniards take no prisoners； and that your
fate will be the same in whatever dress you are taken。〃
It was true； and I had been long enough in Spain to know that that fate
was likely to be something more serious than mere death。 All the way
from the frontier I had heard grim tales of torture and mutilation。 I
enveloped myself in the Franciscan gown。
〃Now I am ready。〃
〃Are you armed？〃
〃My sabre。〃
〃They will hear it clank。 Take this knife； and leave your sword。 Tell
Hubert that at four o'clock； before dawn； the storming party will again be
ready。 There is a sergeant outside who will show you how to get into the
city。 Good…night； and good luck！〃
Before I had left the room； the two generals had their cocked hats
touching each other over the map。 At the door an under…officer of
engineers was waiting for me。
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I tied the girdle of my gown； and taking off my busby； I drew the cowl
over my head。 My spurs I removed。 Then in silence I followed my
guide。
It was necessary to move with caution； for the walls above were lined
by the Spanish sentries； who fired down continually at our advance posts。
Slinking along under the very shadow of the great convent； we picked our
way slowly and carefully among the piles of ruins until we came to a large
chestnut tree。 Here the sergeant stopped。
〃It is an easy tree to climb；〃 said he。 〃A scaling ladder would not be
simpler。 Go up it； and you will find that the top branch will enable you to
step upon the roof of that house。 After that it is your guardian angel who
must be your guide； for I can help you no more。〃
Girding up the heavy brown gown； I ascended the tree as directed。 A
half moon was shining brightly； and the line of roof stood out dark and
hard against the purple； starry sky。 The tree was in the shadow of the
house。
Slowly I crept from branch to branch until I was near the top。 I had
but to climb along a stout limb in order to reach the wall。 But suddenly
my ears caught the patter of feet； and I cowered against the trunk and tried
to blend myself with its shadow。 A man was coming toward me on the
roof。 I saw his dark figure creeping along； his body crouching； his head
advanced； the barrel of his gun protruding。 His whole bearing was full of
caution and suspicion。 Once or twice he paused； and then came on again
until he had reached the edge of the parapet within a few yards of me。
Then he knelt down； levelled his musket； and fired。
I was so astonished at this sudden crash at my very elbow that I nearly
fell out of the tree。 For an instant I could not be sure that he had not hit
me。 But when I heard a deep groan from below； and the Spaniard leaned
over the parapet and laughed aloud； I understood what had occurred。 It
was my poor； faithful sergeant； who had waited to see the last of me。 The
Spaniard had seen him standing under the tree and had shot him。 You
will think that it was good shooting in the dark； but these people used
trabucos； or blunderbusses； which were filled up with all sorts of stones
and scraps of metal； so that they would hit you as certainly as I have hit a
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pheasant on a branch。 The Spaniard stood peering down through the
darkness； while an occasional groan from below showed that the sergeant
was still living。 The sentry looked round and everything was still and
safe。
Perhaps he thought that he would like to finish of this accursed
Frenchman； or perhaps he had a desire to see what was in his pockets； but
whatever his motive； he laid down his gun； leaned forward； and swung
himself into the tree。 The same instant I buried my knife in his body； and
he fell with a loud crashing through the branches and came with a thud to
the ground。 I heard a short struggle below and an oath or two in French。
The wounded sergeant had not waited long for his vengeance。
For some minutes I did not dare to move； for it seemed certain that
someone would be attracted by the noise。
However； all was silent save for the chimes striking midnight in the
city。 I crept along the branch and lifted myself on to the roof。 The
Spaniard's gun was lying there； but it was of no service to me； since he had
the powder…horn at his belt。 At the same time； if it were found； it would
warn the enemy that something had happened； so I thought it best to drop
it over the wall。
Then I looked round for the means of getting of the roof and down into
the city。
It was very evident that the simplest way by which I could get down
was that by which the sentinel had got up； and what this was soon became
evident。 A voice along the roof called 〃Manuelo！ Manuelo！〃 several
times； and； crouching in the shadow； I saw in the moonlight a bearded
head； which protruded from a trap… door。
Receiving no answer to his summons； the man climbed through；
followed by three other fellows； all armed to the teeth。 You will see here
how important it is not to neglect small precautions； for had I left the
man's gun where I found it； a search must have followed and I should
certainly have been discovered。 As it was； the patrol saw no sign of their
sentry； and thought； no doubt； that he had moved along the line of the
roofs。
They hurried on； therefore； in that direction； and I； the instant that their
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backs were turned； rushed to the open trap…door and descended the flight
of steps which led from it。 The house appeared to be an empty one； for I
passed through the heart of it and out； by an open door； into the street
beyond。
It was a narrow and deserted lane； but it opened into a broader road；
which was dotted with fires； round which a great number of soldiers and
peasants were sleeping。
The smell within the city was so horrible that one wondered how
people could live in it； for during the months that the siege had lasted there
had been no attempt to cleanse the streets or to bury the dead。 Many
people were moving up and down from fire to fire； and among them I
observed several monks。 Seeing that they came and went unquestioned； I
took heart and hurried on my way in the direction of the great square。
Once a man rose from beside one of the fires and stopped me by seizing
my sleeve。 He pointed to a woman who lay motionless on the road； and I
took him to mean that she was dying； and that he desired me to administer
the last offices of the Church。 I sought refuge； however； in the very little
Latin that was left to me。 〃Ora pro nobis；〃 said I； from the depths of my
cowl。 〃Te Deum laudamus。
Ora pro nobis。〃 I raised my hand as I spoke and pointed forward。
The fellow released my sleeve and shrank back in silence； while I； with a
solemn gesture； hurried upon my way。
As I had imagined； this broad boulevard led out into the central square；
which was full of troops and blazing with fires。 I walked swiftly onward；
disregarding one or two people who addressed remarks to me。 I passed
the cathedral and followed the street which had been described to me。
Being upon the side of the city which was farthest from our attack； there
were no troops encamped in it； and it lay in darkness； save for an
occasional glimmer in a window。 It was not difficult to find the house to
which I had been directed； between the wine… shop and the cobbler's。
There was no light within and the door was shut。 Cautiously I pressed
the latch； and I felt that it had yielded。 Who was within I could not tell；
and yet I must take the risk。 I pushed the door open and entered。
It was pitch…dark withinthe more so as I had closed the door behind
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me。 I felt round and came upon the edge of a table。 Then I stood still
and wondered what I should do next； and how I could gain some news of
this Hubert； in whose house I found myself。 Any mistake would cost me
not only my life but the failure of my mission。 Perhaps he did not live
alone。 Perhaps he was only a lodger in a Spanish family； and my visit
might bring ruin to him as well as to myself。 Seldom in my life have I
been more perplexed。 And then； suddenly； something turned my blood
cold in my veins。 It was a voice； a whispering voice； in my very ear。
〃Mon Dieu！〃 cried the voice； in a tone of agony。 〃Oh； mon Dieu！ mon
Dieu！〃
