the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第7部分
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Marshal Lannes was confronted。 The immense city was crowded with a
horde of Spaniardssoldiers； peasants； priests all filled with the most
furious hatred of the French； and the most savage determination to perish
before they would surrender。 There were eighty thousand men in the
town and only thirty thousand to besiege them。 Yet we had a powerful
artillery； and our engineers were of the best。 There was never such a
siege； for it is usual that when the fortifications are taken the city falls； but
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here it was not until the fortifications were taken that the real fighting
began。 Every house was a fort and every street a battle…field； so that
slowly； day by day； we had to work our way inwards； blowing up the
houses with their garrisons until more than half the city had disappeared。
Yet the other half was as determined as ever and in a better position for
defence； since it consisted of enormous convents and monasteries with
walls like the Bastille； which could not be so easily brushed out of our
way。 This was the state of things at the time that I joined the army。
I will confess to you that cavalry are not of much use in a siege；
although there was a time when I would not have permitted anyone to
have made such an observation。 The Hussars of Conflans were
encamped to the south of the town； and it was their duty to throw out
patrols and to make sure that no Spanish force was advancing from that
quarter。 The colonel of the regiment was not a good soldier； and the
regiment was at that time very far from being in the high condition which
it afterwards attained。 Even in that one evening I saw several things
which shocked me； for I had a high standard； and it went to my heart to
see an ill… arranged camp； an ill…groomed horse； or a slovenly trooper。
That night I supped with twenty…six of my new brother…officers； and I fear
that in my zeal I showed them only too plainly that I found things very
different to what I was accustomed in the army of Germany。
There was silence in the mess after my remarks； and I felt that I had
been indiscreet when I saw the glances that were cast at me。 The colonel
especially was furious； and a great major named Olivier； who was the fire…
eater of the regiment； sat opposite to me curling his huge black
moustaches； and staring at me as if he would eat me。 However； I did not
resent his attitude； for I felt that I had indeed been indiscreet； and that it
would give a bad impression if upon this my first evening I quarrelled
with my superior officer。
So far I admit that I was wrong； but now I come to the sequel。
Supper over； the colonel and some other officers left the room； for it was
in a farm…house that the mess was held。 There remained a dozen or so；
and a goat…skin of Spanish wine having been brought in we all made
merry。 Presently this Major Olivier asked me some questions concerning
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the army of Germany and as to the part which I had myself played in the
campaign。 Flushed with the wine； I was drawn on from story to story。
It was not unnatural； my friends。
You will sympathise with me。 Up there I had been the model for
every officer of my years in the army。 I was the first swordsman； the
most dashing rider； the hero of a hundred adventures。 Here I found
myself not only unknown； but even disliked。 Was it not natural that I
should wish to tell these brave comrades what sort of man it was that had
come among them？ Was it not natural that I should wish to say； 〃Rejoice；
my friends； rejoice！ It is no ordinary man who has joined you to…night；
but it is I； THE Gerard； the hero of Ratisbon； the victor of Jena； the man
who broke the square at Austerlitz〃？ I could not say all this。 But I
could at least tell them some incidents which would enable them to say it
for themselves。 I did so。 They listened unmoved。 I told them more。
At last； after my tale of how I had guided the army across the Danube； one
universal shout of laughter broke from them all。 I sprang to my feet；
flushed with shame and anger。 They had drawn me on。 They were
making game of me。 They were convinced that they had to do with a
braggart and a liar。 Was this my reception in the Hussars of Conflans？
I dashed the tears of mortification from my eyes； and they laughed the
more at the sight。
〃Do you know； Captain Pelletan； whether Marshal Lannes is still with
the army？〃 asked the major。
〃I believe that he is； sir；〃 said the other。
〃Really； I should have thought that his presence was hardly necessary
now that Captain Gerard has arrived。〃
Again there was a roar of laughter。 I can see the ring of faces； the
mocking eyes； the open mouths Olivier with his great black bristles；
Pelletan thin and sneering； even the young sub…lieutenants convulsed with
merriment。 Heavens； the indignity of it！ But my rage had dried my
tears。 I was myself again； cold； quiet； self…contained； ice without and fire
within。
〃May I ask； sir；〃 said I to the major； 〃at what hour the regiment is
paraded？〃
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〃I trust； Captain Gerard； that you do not mean to alter our hours；〃 said
he； and again there was a burst of laughter； which died away as I looked
slowly round the circle。
〃What hour is the assembly？〃 I asked； sharply； of Captain Pelletan。
Some mocking answer was on his tongue； but my glance kept it there。
〃The assembly is at six；〃 he answered。
〃I thank you；〃 said I。 I then counted the company and found that I
had to do with fourteen officers； two of whom appeared to be boys fresh
from St。 Cyr。 I could not condescend to take any notice of their
indiscretion。
There remained the major； four captains； and seven lieutenants。
〃Gentlemen；〃 I continued； looking from one to the other of them； 〃I
should feel myself unworthy of this famous regiment if I did not ask you
for satisfaction for the rudeness with which you have greeted me； and I
should hold you to be unworthy of it if on any pretext you refused to grant
it。〃
〃You will have no difficulty upon that score；〃 said the major。 〃I am
prepared to waive my rank and to give you every satisfaction in the name
of the Hussars of Conflans。〃
〃I thank you；〃 I answered。 〃I feel； however； that I have some claim
upon these other gentlemen who laughed at my expense。〃
〃Whom would you fight； then？〃 asked Captain Pelletan。
〃All of you；〃 I answered。
They looked in surprise from one to the other。 Then they drew off to
the other end of the room； and I heard the buzz of their whispers。 They
were laughing。 Evidently they still thought that they had to do with some
empty braggart。 Then they returned。
〃Your request is unusual；〃 said Major Olivier； 〃but it will be granted。
How do you propose to conduct such a duel？ The terms lie with you。〃
〃Sabres；〃 said I。 〃And I will take you in order of seniority； beginning
with you； Major Olivier； at five o'clock。 I will thus be able to devote five
minutes to each before the assembly is blown。 I must； however； beg you
to have the courtesy to name the place of meeting； since I am still ignorant
of the locality。〃
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They were impressed by my cold and practical manner。
Already the smile had died away from their lips。
Olivier's face was no longer mocking； but it was dark and stern。
〃There is a small open space behind the horse lines；〃 said he。 〃We
have held a few affairs of honour there and it has done very well。 We
shall be there； Captain Gerard； at the hour you name。〃
I was in the act of bowing to thank them for their acceptance when the
door of the mess…room was flung open and the colonel hurried into the
room； with an agitated face。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said he； 〃I have been asked to call for a volunteer from
among you for a service which involves the greatest possible danger。 I
will not disguise from you that the matter is serious in the last degree； and
that Marshal Lannes has chosen a cavalry officer because he can be better
spared than an officer of infantry or of engineers。 Married men are not
eligible。 Of the others； who will volunteer？〃
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