the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第30部分
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man； for my instinct told me that it was my own fate which was under
debate。 For a long time the soldier shook his head； and then； at last
softening before her pleadings； he appeared to give way。 He turned to
where I stood with my guardian sergeant beside me。
〃These good people offer you the shelter of their roof for the night；〃
said he to me； looking me up and down with vindictive eyes。 〃I find it
hard to refuse them； but I tell you straight that for my part I had rather see
you on the snow。 It would cool your hot blood； you rascal of a
Frenchman！〃
I looked at him with the contempt that I felt。
〃You were born a savage and you will die one；〃 said I。
My words stung him； for he broke into an oath； raising his whip as if
he would strike me。
〃Silence； you crop…eared dog！〃 he cried。 〃Had I my way some of the
insolence would be frozen out of you before morning。〃 Mastering his
passion； he turned upon Sophie with what he meant to be a gallant manner。
〃If you have a cellar with a good lock；〃 said he； 〃the fellow may lie in it
for the night； since you have done him the honour to take an interest in his
comfort。 I must have his parole that he will not attempt to play us any
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tricks； as I am answerable for him until I hand him over to the Hetman
Platoff to…morrow。〃
His supercilious manner was more than I could endure。
He had evidently spoken French to the lady in order that I might
understand the humiliating way in which he referred to me。
〃I will take no favour from you；〃 said I。 〃You may do what you like；
but I will never give you my parole。〃
The Russian shrugged his great shoulders； and turned away as if the
matter were ended。
〃Very well； my fine fellow； so much the worse for your fingers and
toes。 We shall see how you are in the morning after a night in the snow。〃
〃One moment； Major Sergine；〃 cried Sophie。 〃You must not be so
hard upon this prisoner。 There are some special reasons why he has a
claim upon our kindness and mercy。〃
The Russian looked with suspicion upon his face from her to me。
〃What are the special reasons？ You certainly seem to take a
remarkable interest in this Frenchman；〃 said he。
〃The chief reason is that he has this very morning of his own accord
released Captain Alexis Barakoff； of the Dragoons of Grodno。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Barakoff； who had come out of the house。 〃He
captured me this morning； and he released me upon parole rather than take
me back to the French army； where I should have been starved。〃
〃Since Colonel Gerard has acted so generously you will surely； now
that fortune has changed； allow us to offer him the poor shelter of our
cellar upon this bitter night；〃 said Sophie。 〃It is a small return for his
generosity。〃
But the Dragoon was still in the sulks。
〃Let him give me his parole first that he will not attempt to escape；〃
said he。 〃Do you hear； sir？ Do you give me your parole？〃
〃I give you nothing；〃 said I。
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 cried Sophie； turning to me with a coaxing smile；
〃you will give me your parole； will you not？〃
〃To you； mademoiselle； I can refuse nothing。 I will give you my
parole； with pleasure。〃
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〃There； Major Sergine；〃 cried Sophie； in triumph；
〃that is surely sufficient。 You have heard him say that he gives me
his parole。 I will be answerable for his safety 。〃
In an ungracious fashion my Russian bear grunted his consent； and so I
was led into the house； followed by the scowling father and by the big；
black…bearded Dragoon。 In the basement there was a large and roomy
chamber； where the winter logs were stored。 Thither it was that I was led；
and I was given to understand that this was to be my lodging for the night。
One side of this bleak apartment was heaped up to the ceiling with fagots
of firewood。 The rest of the room was stone… flagged and bare…walled；
with a single； deep…set window upon one side； which was safely guarded
with iron bars。 For light I had a large stable lantern； which swung from a
beam of the low ceiling。 Major Sergine smiled as he took this down； and
swung it round so as to throw its light into every corner of that dreary
chamber。
〃How do you like our Russian hotels； monsieur？〃 he asked； with his
hateful sneer。 〃They are not very grand； but they are the best that we can
give you。 Perhaps the next time that you Frenchmen take a fancy to
travel you will choose some other country where they will make you more
comfortable。〃 He stood laughing at me； his white teeth gleaming through
his beard。 Then he left me； and I heard the great key creak in the lock。
For an hour of utter misery； chilled in body and soul； I sat upon a pile
of fagots； my face sunk upon my hands and my mind full of the saddest
thoughts。 It was cold enough within those four walls； but I thought of the
sufferings of my poor troopers outside； and I sorrowed with their sorrow。
Then。 I paced up and down； and I clapped my hands together and kicked
my feet against the walls to keep them from being frozen。 The lamp gave
out some warmth； but still it was bitterly cold； and I had had no food since
morning。 It seemed to me that everyone had forgotten me； but at last I
heard the key turn in the lock； and who should enter but my prisoner of the
morning； Captain Alexis Barakoff。 A bottle of wine projected from under
his arm； and he carried a great plate of hot stew in front of him。
〃Hush！〃 said he； 〃not a word！ Keep up your heart！
I cannot stop to explain； for Sergine is still with us。
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Keep awake and ready！〃 With these hurried words he laid down the
welcome food and ran out of the room。
〃Keep awake and ready！〃 The words rang in my ears。 I ate my
food and I drank my wine； but it was neither food nor wine which had
warmed the heart within me。 What could those words of Barakoff mean？
Why was I to remain awake？ For what was I to be ready？ Was it
possible that there was a chance yet of escape？ I have never respected
the man who neglects his prayers at all other times and yet prays when he
is in peril。 It is like a bad soldier who pays no respect to the colonel save
when he would demand a favour of him。 And yet when I thought of the
salt…mines of Siberia on the one side and of my mother in France upon the
other； I could not help a prayer rising； not from my lips； but from my heart；
that the words of Barakoff might mean all that I hoped。 But hour after
hour struck upon the village clock； and still I heard nothing save the call of
the Russian sentries in the street outside。
Then at last my heart leaped within me； for I heard a light step in the
passage。 An instant later the key turned； the door opened； and Sophie
was in the room。
〃Monsieur〃 she cried。
〃Etienne；〃 said I。
〃Nothing will change you；〃 said she。 〃But is it possible that you do
not hate me？ Have you forgiven me the trick which I played you？〃
〃What trick？〃 I asked。
〃Good heavens！ Is it possible that even now you have not understood
it？ You have asked me to translate the despatch。 I have told you that it
meant； 'If the French come to Minsk all is lost。' 〃
〃What did it mean； then？〃
〃It means； 'Let the French come to Minsk。 We are awaiting them。〃'
I sprang back from her。
〃You betrayed me！〃 I cried。 〃You lured me into this trap。 It is to
you that I owe the death and capture of my men。 Fool that I was to trust
a woman！〃
〃Do not be unjust； Colonel Gerard。 I am a Russian woman； and my
first duty is to my country。 Would you not wish a French girl to have
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acted as I have done？
Had I translated the message correctly you would not have gone to
Minsk and your squadron would have escaped。
Tell me that you forgive me！〃
She looked bewitching as she stood pleading her cause in front of me。
And yet； as I thought of my dead men； I could not take the hand which she
held out to me。
〃Very good；〃 said she； as she dropped it by her side。
〃You feel for your own people and I feel for mine； and so we are equal。
But you have said one wise and kindly thing within these walls； Colonel
Gerard。 You have said； 'One man more or less can make no difference in
a struggle between two great armies。' Your lesson of nobility is not
wasted。 Behi
