the trampling of the lilies-第22部分

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〃If　the　occasion　demanded　it；〃　he　concluded；　〃I　should　myself　urge
you　to　chance　the　matter　of　your　health。　　But　the　occasion　does　not。
The　business　is　of　the　simplest；　and　your　men　can　do　as　much　without
you　as　they　could　with　you。〃

Tardivet　permitted　himself　to　be　persuaded；　and　Caron　had　again　good
cause　to　congratulate　himself　that　he　had　remained　behind　to
influence　him。　　He　opined　that　the　men；　failing　to　pick　up　the　trail
at　Charleroi；　would　probably　go　on　as　far　as　Dinant　before　abandoning
the　chase；　then　they　would　return　to　Boisvert　to　announce　their
failure；　and　by　that　time　it　would　be　too　late　to　reorganise　the
pursuit。　　On　the　other　hand；　had　Tardivet　accompanied　them；　upon
failing　to　find　any　trace　of　the　Marquise　at　Charleroi；　La　Boulaye
could　imagine　him　pushing　north　along　the　Sambre；　and　pressing　the
peasantry　into　his　service　to　form　an　impassable　cordon。

And　so；　having　won　his　way　in　this　at　least；　and　seen　the　six　men
set　out　under　the　command　of　Tardivet's　trusted　Guyot；　Caron　took
his　leave　of　the　Captain。　　He　was　on　the　very　point　of　setting　out
when　a　courier　dashed　up　to　the　door　of　the　〃Eagle；〃　and　called　for
a　cup　of　wine。　　As　it　was　brought　him　he　asked　the　hostess　whether
the　Citizen…deputy　La　Boulaye；　Commissioner　to　the　army　of　Dumouriez；
had　passed　that　way。　　Upon　being　informed　that　the　Deputy　was　even
then　within　the　inn；　the　courier　got　down　from　his　horse　and
demanded　to　be　taken　to　him。

The　hostess　led　him　into　the　common…room；　and　pointed　out　the
Deputy。　　The　courier　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief；　and　removing　his
sodden　cloak　he　bade　the　landlady　get　it　dried　and　prepare　him　as
stout　a　meal　as　her　hostelry　afforded。

〃Name　of　a　name！〃　he　swore；　as　he　pitched　his　dripping　hat　into　a
corner。　　〃But　it　is　good　to　find　you　at　last；　Citizen…deputy？　　　I
had　expected　to　meet　you　at　Valenciennes。　　But　as　you　were　not　there；
and　as　my　letters　were　urgent；　I　have　been　compelled　to　ride　for　the
past　six　hours　through　that　infernal　deluge。　　Enfin；　here　you　are；
and　here　is　my　letter　…　from　the　Citizen…deputy　Maximilien
Robespierre　…　and　here　I'll　rest　me　for　the　next　six　hours。〃

Bidding　the　fellow　by　all　means　rest　and　refresh　himself；　La　Boulaye
broke　the　seal；　and　read　the　following：

　Dear　Caron；

　　My　courier　should　deliver　you　this　letter　as　you　are　on　the　Point
　　of　reentering　France；　on　your　return　from　the　mission　which　you
　　have　discharged　with　so　much　glory　to　yourself　and　credit　to　me
　　who　recommended　you　for　the　task。　　I　make　you　my　compliments　on
　　the　tact　and　adroitness　you　have　employed　to　bring　this　stubborn
　　Dumouriez　into　some　semblance　of　sympathy　with　the　Convention。
　　And　now；　my　friend；　I　have　another　task　for　you；　which　you　can
　　discharge　on　your　homeward　journey。　　You　will　make　a　slight　detour；
　　passing　into　Artois　and　riding　to　the　Chateau　d'Ombreval；　which　is
　　situated　some　four　miles　south　of　Arras。　　Here　I　wish　you　not　only
　　to　Possess　yourself　of　the　person　of　the　ci…devant　Vicomte
　　d'Ombreval；　bringing　him　to　Paris　as　your　Prisoner；　but　further；
　　to　make　a　very　searching　investigation　of　that　aristocrat's　papers；
　　securing　any　documents　that　you　may　consider　of　a　nature
　　treasonable　to　the　French　Republic；　One　and　Indivisible。

The　letter　ended　with　the　usual　greetings　and　Robespierre's　signature。

La　Boulaye　swore　softly　to　himself　as　he　folded　the　epistle。

〃It　seems；〃　he　muttered　to　Charlot；　〃that　I　am　to　turn　catch…poll　in
the　service　of　the　Republic。〃

〃To　a　true　servant　of　the　Nation；〃　put　in　the　courier；　who　had
overheard　him；　〃all　tasks　that　may　tend　to　the　advancement　of　the
Republic　should　be　eagerly　undertaken。　　Diable！　　Have　not　I　ridden
in　the　rain　these　six　hours　past？〃

La　Boulaye　paid　no　heed　to　him；　he　was　too　inured　to　this　sort　of
insolence　since　the　new　rule　had　levelled　all　men。　　But　Charlot
turned　slowly　to　regard　the　fellow。

He　was　a　tall　man　of　rather　slender　stature；　but　indifferently
dressed　in　garments　that　were　splashed　from　head　to　foot　with　mud；
and　from　which　a　steam　was　beginning　to　rise　as　he　stood　now　with
his　back　to　the　fire。　　Charlot　eyed　him　so　narrowly　that　the　fellow
shifted　his　position　and　dropped　his　glance　in　some　discomfort。
His　speech；　though　rough　of　purport；　had　not　been　ungentle　of
delivery。　　But　his　face　was　dirty　…　the　sure　sign　of　an　ardent
patriot　…　his　hair　hung　untidy　about　his　face；　and　he　wore　that
latest　abomination　of　the　ultra…revolutionist；　a　dense　black　beard
and　moustache。

〃My　friend；〃　said　Charlot；　〃although　we　are　ready　to　acknowledge
you　our　equal；　we　should　like　you　to　understand　that　we　do　not　take
lessons　in　duty　even　from　our　equals。　　Bear　you　that　in　mind　if　you
seek　to　have　a　peaceful　time　while　you　are　here；　for　it　so　happens
that　I　am　quartered　at　this　inn；　and　have　a　more　important　way　with
me　than　this　good…natured　Deputy　here。〃

The　fellow　darted　Charlot　a　malevolent　glance。

〃You　talk　of　equality　and　you　outrage　equality　in　a　breath；〃　he
growled。　　〃I　half　suspect　you　of　being　a　turncoat　aristocrat。〃　　And
he　spat　ostentatiously　on　the　ground。

〃Suspect　what　you　will；　but　voice　no　suspicions　here；　else　you'll
become　acquainted　with　the　mighty　short　methods　of　Charlot　Tardivet。
And　as　for　aristocrats；　my　friend；　there　are　none　so　rabid　as　the
newly…converted。　　I　wonder　how　long　it　is　since　you　became　a　patriot？〃

Before　the　fellow　could　make　any　answer　the　corporal　in　command　of
La　Boulaye's　escort　entered　to　inform　Caron　that　the　men　were　in　the
saddle。

At　that　the　Deputy　hurriedly　took　his　leave　of　Tardivet；　and　wrapping
his　heavy　cloak　tightly　about　him　he　marched　out　into　the　rain；　and
mounted。

A　few　moments　later　they　clattered　briskly　out　of　Boisvert；　the　thick
grey　mud　flying　from　their　horses'　hoofs　as　they　went；　and　took　the
road　to　France。　　For　a　couple　of　miles　they　rode　steadily　along　under
the　unceasing　rain　and　in　the　teeth　of　that　bleak　February　wind。
Then　at　a　cross…road　La　Boulaye　unexpectedly　called　a　halt。

〃My　friends；〃　he　said　to　his　escort；　〃we　have　yet　a　little　business
to　discharge　in　Belgium　before　we　cross　the　frontier。〃

With　that　he　announced　his　intention　of　going　North；　and　so　briskly
did　he　cause　them　to　ride；　that　by　noon　…　a　short　three　hours　after
quitting　Boisvert　…　they　had　covered　a　distance　of　twenty…five　miles；
and　brought　up　their　steaming　horses　before　the　Hotel　de　Flandres
at　Leuze。

At　this；　the　only　post…house　in　the　place；　La　Boulaye　made　inquiries
as　to　whether　any　carriage　had　arrived　from　Soignies　that　morning；
to　receive　a　negative　answer。　　This　nowise　surprised　him；　for　he
hardly　thought　that　Mademoiselle　could　have　had　time　to　come　so
far。　　She　must；　however；　be　drawing　nearer；　and　he　determined　to
ride　on　to　meet　her。　　From　Leuze　to　Soignies　is　a　distance　of　some
eight　or　nine　leagues　by　a　road　which　may　roughly　be　said　to　be
the　basis　of　a　triangle　having　its　apex　at　Boisvert。

After　his　men　had　hurriedly　refreshed　themselves；　La　Boulaye　ordered
them　to　horse　again；　and　they　now　cantered　out；　along　this　road；　to
Soignes。　　But　as　mile　after　mile　was　covered　without　their　coming
upon　any　sign　of　such　a　carriage　as　Mademoiselle　should　be　travelling
in；　La　Boulaye　almost　unconsciously　quickened　the　pace　until　in　the
end　they　found　themselves　careering　along　as　fast　as　their　jaded
horses　would　bear　them；　and　speculating　mightily　upon　the　Deputy's
odd　behaviour。

Soignies　itself　was　reached　towards　four　o'clock；　and　still　they
had　not　met　her　whom　La　Boulaye　expected。　　Here；　in　a　state　of　some
wonder　and　even　of　some　anxiety；　Caron　made　straight　for　the　Auberge
des　Postes。　　Bidding　his　men　dismount　and　see　to　themselves　and
their　beasts；　he　went　in　quest　of　the　host；　and　having　found　him；
bombarded　him　with　questions。

In　reply　he　elicited　the　information　that　at　noon　that　day　a
carriage　such　as　he　described　had　reached　Soignies　in　a　very　sorry
condition。　　One　of　the　wheels　had　come　off　on　the　road；　and　although
the　Marquise's　men　had　contrived　to　replace　it　and　to　rudely　secure
it　by　an　improvised　pin；　they　had　been　compelled　to　proceed　at　a
walk　for　some　fifteen　miles　of　the　journey；　which　accounted　for　the
lateness　of　their　arrival　at　Soignies。　　They　had　remained　at　the
Auberge　des　Postes　until　the　wheel　had　been　properly　mended；　and　it
was　not　more　than　an　hour　since　they　had　resumed　their　journey　along
the　road　to　Liege。

〃But　did　both　the　citoyennes　depart？〃　cried　La　Boulaye；　in　amazement；
and　upon　receiving　an　affirmative　reply　it　at　once　entered　his　mind
that　the　Marquise　must　have　influenced　her　daughter　to　that　end
　…　perhaps　even　employed　force。

〃Did　there　appear　to　be　any　signs　of　disagreement　between　them？〃
was　his　next　question。

〃No；　Citizen；　I　observed　nothing。　　They　seemed　in　perfect　accord。〃

〃The　younger　one　did　not　by　any　chance　inquire　of　you　whether　it
would　be　possible　to　hire　a　berline？〃　asked　Caron　desperately。

〃No；〃　the　landlord　answered　him；　with　wondering　eyes。　　〃She　appeared
as　anxious　as　her　mother　for　the　repairing　of　the　coach　in　which
they　came；　that　they　might　again　depart　in　it。〃

La　Boulaye　stood　a　moment　in　thought；　his　brows　drawn　together；　his
breathing　seeming　suspended；　for　into　his　soul　a　suspicion　had　of　a
sudden　been　thrust　…　a　hideous　suspicion。　　Abruptly　he　drew　himself
up　to　the　full　of　his　active　figure；　and　threw　back　his　head；　his
resolve　taken。

〃Can　I　have　fresh　horses　at　once？〃　he　inquired。　　〃I　need　eight。〃

The　landlord　thoughtfully　scratched　his　head。

〃You　can　have　two　at　once；　and　the　other　six　in　a　half…hour。〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　answered。　　〃Saddle　me　one　at　once；　and　have　the
other　seven　ready　for　my　men　as　soon　as　possible。〃

And　whilst　the　host　sent　the　ostler　to　execute　the　order；　Caron
called　for　a　cup　of　wine　and　a　crust　of　bread。　　Munching　his　crust
he　entered　the　common…room　where　his　men　were　at　table　with　a
steaming　ragout　before　them。

〃Garin；〃　he　said　to　the　corporal；　〃in　a　half…hour　the　landlord　will
be　able　to　provide　you　with　fresh　horses。　　You　will　set　out　at　once
to　follow　me　along　the　road　to　Liege。　　I　am　starting　immediately。〃

Garin；　with　the　easy　familiarity　of　the　Republi