roads of destiny-第4部分

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〃Can　you　repeat　those　verses？〃　asked　the　king；　eagerly。　〃A　long　time　ago　I　listened　to　the　blackbirds。　It　would　be　something　better　than　a　kingdom　if　one　could　rightly　construe　their　song。　And　at　night　you　drove　the　sheep　to　the　fold　and　then　sat；　in　peace　and　tranquillity；　to　your　pleasant　bread。　Can　you　repeat　those　verses；　shepherd？〃

〃They　run　this　way；　sire；〃　said　David；　with　respectful　ardour：

　　〃'Lazy　shepherd；　see　your　lambkins　　　　　Skip；　ecstatic；　on　the　mead；　　　See　the　firs　dance　in　the　breezes；　　　　　Hear　Pan　blowing　at　his　reed。

　　〃Hear　us　calling　from　the　tree…tops；　　　　　See　us　swoop　upon　your　flock；　　　Yield　us　wool　to　make　our　nests　warm　　　　　In　the　branches　of　the'〃

〃If　it　please　your　majesty；〃　interrupted　a　harsh　voice；　〃I　will　ask　a　question　or　two　of　this　rhymester。　There　is　little　time　to　spare。　I　crave　pardon；　sire；　if　my　anxiety　for　your　safety　offends。〃

〃The　loyalty；〃　said　the　king；　〃of　the　Duke　d'Aumale　is　too　well　proven　to　give　offence。〃　He　sank　into　his　chair；　and　the　film　came　again　over　his　eyes。

〃First；〃　said　the　duke；　〃I　will　read　you　the　letter　he　brought：

　　〃'To…night　is　the　anniversary　of　the　dauphin's　death。　If　he　goes；　　　as　is　his　custom；　to　midnight　mass　to　pray　for　the　soul　of　his　　　son；　the　falcon　will　strike；　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　Esplanade。　　　If　this　be　his　intention；　set　a　red　light　in　the　upper　room　at　the　　　southwest　corner　of　the　palace；　that　the　falcon　may　take　heed。'

〃Peasant；〃　said　the　duke；　sternly；　〃you　have　heard　these　words。　Who　gave　you　this　message　to　bring？〃

〃My　lord　duke；〃　said　David；　sincerely；　〃I　will　tell　you。　A　lady　gave　it　me。　She　said　her　mother　was　ill；　and　that　this　writing　would　fetch　her　uncle　to　her　bedside。　I　do　not　know　the　meaning　of　the　letter；　but　I　will　swear　that　she　is　beautiful　and　good。〃

〃Describe　the　woman；〃　commanded　the　duke；　〃and　how　you　came　to　be　her　dupe。〃

〃Describe　her！〃　said　David　with　a　tender　smile。　〃You　would　command　words　to　perform　miracles。　Well；　she　is　made　of　sunshine　and　deep　shade。　She　is　slender；　like　the　alders；　and　moves　with　their　grace。　Her　eyes　change　while　you　gaze　into　them；　now　round；　and　then　half　shut　as　the　sun　peeps　between　two　clouds。　When　she　comes；　heaven　is　all　about　her；　when　she　leaves；　there　is　chaos　and　a　scent　of　hawthorn　blossoms。　She　came　to　see　me　in　the　Rue　Conti；　number　twenty…nine。〃

〃It　is　the　house；〃　said　the　duke；　turning　to　the　king；　〃that　we　have　been　watching。　Thanks　to　the　poet's　tongue；　we　have　a　picture　of　the　infamous　Countess　Quebedaux。〃

〃Sire　and　my　lord　duke；〃　said　David；　earnestly；　〃I　hope　my　poor　words　have　done　no　injustice。　I　have　looked　into　that　lady's　eyes。　I　will　stake　my　life　that　she　is　an　angel；　letter　or　no　letter。〃

The　duke　looked　at　him　steadily。　〃I　will　put　you　to　the　proof；〃　he　said；　slowly。　〃Dressed　as　the　king；　you　shall；　yourself；　attend　mass　in　his　carriage　at　midnight。　Do　you　accept　the　test？〃

David　smiled。　〃I　have　looked　into　her　eyes；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　my　proof　there。　Take　yours　how　you　will。〃

Half　an　hour　before　twelve　the　Duke　d'Aumale；　with　his　own　hands；　set　a　red　lamp　in　a　southwest　window　of　the　palace。　At　ten　minutes　to　the　hour；　David；　leaning　on　his　arm；　dressed　as　the　king；　from　top　to　toe；　with　his　head　bowed　in　his　cloak；　walked　slowly　from　the　royal　apartments　to　the　waiting　carriage。　The　duke　assisted　him　inside　and　closed　the　door。　The　carriage　whirled　away　along　its　route　to　the　cathedral。

On　the　/qui　vive/　in　a　house　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　Esplanade　was　Captain　Tetreau　with　twenty　men；　ready　to　pounce　upon　the　conspirators　when　they　should　appear。

But　it　seemed　that；　for　some　reason；　the　plotters　had　slightly　altered　their　plans。　When　the　royal　carriage　had　reached　the　Rue　Christopher；　one　square　nearer　than　the　Rue　Esplanade；　forth　from　it　burst　Captain　Desrolles；　with　his　band　of　would…be　regicides；　and　assailed　the　equipage。　The　guards　upon　the　carriage；　though　surprised　at　the　premature　attack；　descended　and　fought　valiantly。　The　noise　of　conflict　attracted　the　force　of　Captain　Tetreau；　and　they　came　pelting　down　the　street　to　the　rescue。　But；　in　the　meantime；　the　desperate　Desrolles　had　torn　open　the　door　of　the　king's　carriage；　thrust　his　weapon　against　the　body　of　the　dark　figure　inside；　and　fired。

Now；　with　loyal　reinforcements　at　hand；　the　street　rang　with　cries　and　the　rasp　of　steel；　but　the　frightened　horses　had　dashed　away。　Upon　the　cushions　lay　the　dead　body　of　the　poor　mock　king　and　poet；　slain　by　a　ball　from　the　pistol　of　Monseigneur；　the　Marquis　de　Beaupertuys。



THE　MAIN　ROAD

　　/Three　leagues；　then；　the　road　ran；　and　turned　into　a　puzzle。　It　　　joined　with　another　and　a　larger　road　at　right　angles。　David　　　stood；　uncertain；　for　a　while；　and　then　sat　himself　to　rest　upon　　　its　side。/

Whither　these　roads　led　he　knew　not。　Either　way　there　seemed　to　lie　a　great　world　full　of　chance　and　peril。　And　then；　sitting　there；　his　eye　fell　upon　a　bright　star；　one　that　he　and　Yvonne　had　named　for　theirs。　That　set　him　thinking　of　Yvonne；　and　he　wondered　if　he　had　not　been　too　hasty。　Why　should　he　leave　her　and　his　home　because　a　few　hot　words　had　come　between　them？　Was　love　so　brittle　a　thing　that　jealousy；　the　very　proof　of　it；　could　break　it？　Mornings　always　brought　a　cure　for　the　little　heartaches　of　evening。　There　was　yet　time　for　him　to　return　home　without　any　one　in　the　sweetly　sleeping　village　of　Vernoy　being　the　wiser。　His　heart　was　Yvonne's；　there　where　he　had　lived　always　he　could　write　his　poems　and　find　his　happiness。

David　rose；　and　shook　off　his　unrest　and　the　wild　mood　that　had　tempted　him。　He　set　his　face　steadfastly　back　along　the　road　he　had　come。　By　the　time　he　had　retravelled　the　road　to　Vernoy；　his　desire　to　rove　was　gone。　He　passed　the　sheepfold；　and　the　sheep　scurried；　with　a　drumming　flutter；　at　his　late　footsteps；　warming　his　heart　by　the　homely　sound。　He　crept　without　noise　into　his　little　room　and　lay　there；　thankful　that　his　feet　had　escaped　the　distress　of　new　roads　that　night。

How　well　he　knew　woman's　heart！　The　next　evening　Yvonne　was　at　the　well　in　the　road　where　the　young　congregated　in　order　that　the　/cure/　might　have　business。　The　corner　of　her　eye　was　engaged　in　a　search　for　David；　albeit　her　set　mouth　seemed　unrelenting。　He　saw　the　look；　braved　the　mouth；　drew　from　it　a　recantation　and；　later；　a　kiss　as　they　walked　homeward　together。

Three　months　afterwards　they　were　married。　David's　father　was　shrewd　and　prosperous。　He　gave　them　a　wedding　that　was　heard　of　three　leagues　away。　Both　the　young　people　were　favourites　in　the　village。　There　was　a　procession　in　the　streets；　a　dance　on　the　green；　they　had　the　marionettes　and　a　tumbler　out　from　Dreux　to　delight　the　guests。

Then　a　year；　and　David's　father　died。　The　sheep　and　the　cottage　descended　to　him。　He　already　had　the　seemliest　wife　in　the　village。　Yvonne's　milk　pails　and　her　brass　kettles　were　bright/ouf/！　they　blinded　you　in　the　sun　when　you　passed　that　way。　But　you　must　keep　your　eyes　upon　her　yard；　for　her　flower　beds　were　so　neat　and　gay　they　restored　to　you　your　sight。　And　you　might　hear　her　sing；　aye；　as　far　as　the　double　chestnut　tree　above　Pere　Gruneau's　blacksmith　forge。

But　a　day　came　when　David　drew　out　paper　from　a　long…shut　drawer；　and　began　to　bite　the　end　of　a　pencil。　Spring　had　come　again　and　touched　his　heart。　Poet　he　must　have　been；　for　now　Yvonne　was　well…nigh　forgotten。　This　fine　new　loveliness　of　earth　held　him　with　its　witchery　and　grace。　The　perfume　from　her　woods　and　meadows　stirred　him　strangely。　Daily　had　he　gone　forth　with　his　flock；　and　brought　it　safe　at　night。　But　now　he　stretched　himself　under　the　hedge　and　pieced　words　together　on　his　bits　of　paper。　The　sheep　strayed；　and　the　wolves；　perceiving　that　difficult　poems　make　easy　mutton；　ventured　from　the　woods　and　stole　his　lambs。

David's　stock　of　poems　grew　longer　and　his　flock　smaller。　Yvonne's　nose　and　temper　waxed　sharp　and　her　talk　blunt。　Her　pans　and　kettles　grew　dull；　but　her　eyes　had　caught　their　flash。　She　pointed　out　to　the　poet　that　his　neglect　was　reducing　the　flock　and　bringing　woe　upon　the　household。　David　hired　a　boy　to　guard　the　sheep；　locked　himself　in　the　little　room　at　the　top　of　the　cottage；　and　wrote　more　poems。　The　boy；　being　a　poet　by　nature；　but　not　furnished　with　an　outlet　in　the　way　of　writing；　spent　his　time　in　slumber。　The　wolves　lost　no　time　in　discovering　that　poetry　and　sleep　are　practically　the　same；　so　the　flock　steadily　grew　smaller。　Yvonne's　ill　temper　increased　at　an　equal　rate。　Sometimes　she　would　stand　in　the　yard　and　rail　at　David　through　his　high　window。　Then　you　could　hear　her　as　far　as　the　double　chestnut　tree　above　Pere　Gruneau's　blacksmith　forge。

M。　Papineau；　the　kind；　wise；　meddling　old　notary；　saw　this；　as　he　saw　everything　at　which　his　nose　pointed。　He　went　to　David；　fortified　himself　with　a　great　pinch　of　snuff；　and　said：

〃Friend　Mignot；　I　affixed　the　seal　upon　the　marriage　certificate　of　your　father。　It　would　distress　me　to　be　obliged　to　attest　a　paper　signifying　the　bankruptcy　of　his　son。　But　that　is　what　you　are　coming　to。　I　speak　as　an　old　friend。　Now；　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say。　You　have　your　heart　set；　I　perceive；　upon　poetry。　At　Dreux；　I　have　a　friend；　one　Monsieur　BrilGeorges　Bril。　He　lives　in　a　little　cleared　space　in　a　houseful　of　books。　He　is　a　learned　man；　he　visits　Paris　each　year；　he　himself　has　written　books。　He　will　tell　you　when　the　catacombs　were　made；　how　they　found　out　the　names　of　the　stars；　and　why　the　plover　has　a　long　bill。　The　meaning　and　the　form　of　poetry　is　to　him　as　intelligent　as　the　baa　of　a　sheep　is　to　you。　I　will　give　you　a　letter　to　him；　and　you　shall　take　him　your　poems　and　let　him　read　them。　Then　you　will　know　if　you　shall　write　more；　or　give　your　attention　to　your　wife　and　business。〃

〃Write　the　letter；〃　said　David；　〃I　am　sorry　you　did　not　speak　of　this　sooner。〃

At　sunrise　the　next　morning　he　was　on　the　road　to　Dreux　with　the　precious　roll　of　poems　under　his　arm。　At　noon　he　wiped　the　dust　from　his　feet　at　the　door　of　Monsieur　Bril。　That　learned　man　broke　the　seal　of　M。　Papineau's　letter；　and　sucked　up　its　contents　through　his　gleaming　spectacles　as　the　sun　draws　water。　He　took　David　inside　to　his　study　and　sat　him　down　upon　a　lit