the trampling of the lilies-第23部分

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to　follow　me　along　the　road　to　Liege。　　I　am　starting　immediately。〃

Garin；　with　the　easy　familiarity　of　the　Republican　soldier；　bade
him　take　some　thought　of　his　exhausted　condition；　and　snatch　at
least　the　half…hour's　rest　that　was　to　be　theirs。　　But　La　Boulaye
was　out　of　the　room　before　he　had　finished。　　A　couple　of　minutes
later　they　heard　a　clatter　of　departing　hoofs；　and　La　Boulaye　was
gone　along　the　road　too　Liege　in　pursuit　of　the　ladies　of　Bellecour。




CHAPTER　XIII

THE　ROAD　TO　LIEGE


〃Of　what　are　you　thinking；　little　fool？〃　asked　the　Marquise
peevishly；　her　fat　face　puckered　into　a　hundred　wrinkles　of
ill…humour。

〃Of　nothing　in　particular；　Madame；〃the　girl　answered　patiently。

The　Marquise　sniffed　contemptuously；　and　glanced　through　the　window
of　the　coach　upon　the　dreary；　rain　sodden　landscape。

〃Do　you　call　the　sometime　secretary　Citizen…cutthroat　La　Boulaye；
nothing　in　particular？〃　she　asked。　　〃Ma　foi！　　I　wonder　that　you　do
not　die　of　self…contempt　after　what　passed　between　you　at　Boisvert。〃

〃Madame；　I　was　not　thinking　of　him；〃　said　Suzanne。

〃More　shame　to　you；　then；〃　was　the　sour　retort；　for　the　Marquise
was　bent　upon　disagreeing　with　her。　　〃Have　you　a　conscience；　Suzanne；
that　you　could　have　played　such　a　Delilah　part　and　never　give　a
thought　to　the　man　you　have　tricked？〃

〃You　will　make　me　regret　that　I　told　you　of　it；〃　said　the　girl
quietly。

〃You　are　ready　enough　to　regret　anything　but　the　act　itself。　　Perhaps
you'll　be　regretting　that　you　did　not　take　a　berline　at　Soignies；　as
you　promised　the　citizen…scoundrel　that　you　would；　and　set　out　to
join　him？〃

〃It　is　hardly　generous　to　taunt　me　so；　Madame；　I　do　very　bitterly
regret　what　has　taken　place。　　But　you　might　do　me　the　justice　to
remember　that　what　I　did　I　did　as　much　for　others　as　for　myself。
As　much；　indeed；　for　you　as　for　myself。〃

〃For　me？〃　echoed　the　Marquise　shrilly。　　〃Tiens；　that　is　droll　now！
For　me？　　　Was　it　for　me　that　you　made　love　to　the　citizen…blackguard？
Are　you　so　dead　to　shame　that　you　dare　remind　me　of　it？〃

Mademoiselle　sighed；　and　seemed　to　shrink　back　into　the　shadows　of
the　carriage。　　Her　face　was　very　pale；　and　her　eyes　looked　sorely
troubled。

〃It　is　something　that　to　my　dying　day　I　shall　regret；〃she　murmured。
〃It　was　vile；　it　was　unworthy！　　Yet　if　I　had　not　used　the　only　weapon
to　my　hand　…　〃　　She　ceased；　the　Marquise　caught　the　sound　of　a　sob。

〃What　are　you　weeping　for；　little　fool？〃　she　cried。

〃As　much　as　anything　for　what　he　must　think　of　me　when　he　realises
how　shamefully　I　have　used　him。〃

〃And　does　it　matter　what　the　canaille　thinks？　　　Shall　it　matter　what
the　citizen…assassin　thinks？〃

〃A　little；　Madame；〃　she　sighed。　　〃He　will　despise　me　as　I　deserve。
I　almost　wish　that　I　could　undo　it；　and　go　back　to　that　little　room
at　Boisvert。　　the　prisoner　of　that　fearful　man；　Tardivet；　or　else
that　…　〃　　Again　she　paused；　and　the　Marquise　turned　towards　her
with　a　gasp。

〃Or　else　that　what？〃　she　demanded。　　〃Ma　foi；　it　only　remains　that
you　should　wish　you　had　kept　your　promise　to　this　scum。〃

〃I　almost　wish　it；　Madame。　　I　pledged　my　word　to　him。〃

〃You　talk　as　if　you　were　a　man；〃　said　her　mother；　〃as　if　your　word
was　a　thing　that　bound　you。　　It　is　a　woman's　prerogative　to　change
her　mind。　　As　for　this　Republican　scum　…　〃

〃You　shall　not　call　him　that；〃　was　the　rejoinder；　sharply　delivered；
for　Suzanne　was　roused　at　last。　　〃He　is　twenty　times　more　noble　and
brave　than　any　gentleman；　that　I　have　ever　met。　　We　owe　our　liberty
to　him　at　this　moment；　and　sufficiently　have　I　wronged　him　by　my
actions　…　〃

〃Fool；　what　are　you　saying？〃　cried　the　enraged　Marquise。　　〃He；　more
noble　and　brave　than　any　gentleman　that　you　ever　met？　　　He　…　this
kennel…bred　citizen…ruffian　of　a　revolutionist？　　　Are　you　mad；　girl；
or　…　〃　　The　Marquise　paused　a　moment　and　took　a　deep　breath　that
was　as　a　gasp　of　sudden　understanding。　　〃Is　it　that　you　are　in　love
with　this　wretch！〃

〃Madame！〃　　The　exclamation　was　laden　with　blended　wonder；　dignity；
and　horror。

〃Well？〃　demanded　Madame　de　Bellecour　severely。　　〃Answer　me；　Suzanne。
Are　you　in　love　with　this　La　Boulaye？〃

〃Is　there　the　need　to　answer？〃　quoth　the　girl　scornfully。　　〃Surely
you　forget　that　I　am　Mademoiselle　de　Bellecour；　daughter　of　the
Marquise　de　Bellecour；　and　that　this　man　is　of　the　canaille；　else
you　had　never　asked　the　question。〃

With　an　expression　of　satisfaction　the　Marquise　was　sinking　back　in
the　carriage；　when　of　a　sudden　she　sat　bolt　upright。

〃Someone　is　riding　very　desperately；〃　she　cried；　a　note　of　alarm
ringing　in　her　voice。

Above　the　thud　of　the　coach…horses'　hoofs　and　the　rumble　of　their
vehicle　sounded　now　the　clatter　of　someone　galloping　madly　in　their
wake。　　Mademoiselle　looked　from　the　window　into　the　gathering　dusk。

〃It　will　be　some　courier；　Madame；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃None　other
would　ride　at　such　a　pace。〃

〃I　shall　know　no　rest　until　we　are　safely　in　a　Christian　country
again；〃　the　Marquise　complained。

The　hoof…beats　grew　nearer；　and　the　dark　figure　of　a　horseman　dashed
suddenly　past　the　window。　　Simultaneously；　a　loud；　harsh　command　to
halt　rang　out　upon　the　evening　air。

The　Marquise　clutched　at　her　daughter's　arm　with　one　hand；　whilst
with　the　other　she　crossed　herself；　as　though　their　assailant　were
some　emissary　of　the　powers　of　evil。

〃Mother　in　Heaven；　deliver　us！〃　she　gasped；　turning　suddenly　devout。

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　cried　Mademoiselle；　who　had　recognised　the　voice　that
was　now　haranguing　the　men　on　the　box　…　their　driver　and　the　ostler
of　the　'Eagle　Inn。'　　〃It　is　La　Boulaye　himself。〃

〃La　Boulaye？〃echoed　the　Marquise。　　Then；　in　a　frenzy　of　terror：
〃There　are　the　pistols　there；　Suzanne；〃　she　cried。　　〃You　can　shoot。
Kill　him！　　Kill　him！〃

The　girl's　lips　came　tightly　together　until　her　mouth　seemed　no　more
than　a　straight　line。　　Her　cheeks　grew　white　as　death；　but　her　eyes
were　brave　and　resolute。　　She　put　forth　her　hand　and　seized　one　of
the　pistols　as　the　carriage　with　a　final　jolt　came　to　a　standstill。

An　instant　later　the　door　was　dragged　open；　and　La　Boulaye　stood
bowing　in　the　rain　with　mock　ceremoniousness　and　a　very　contemptuous
smile　on　his　stern　mouth。　　He　had　dismounted；　and　flung　the　reins　of
his　horse　over　the　bough　of　a　tree　by　the　roadside。　　The　Marquise
shuddered　at　sight　of　him；　and　sought　to　shrink　farther　back　into
the　cushions　of　the　carriage。

〃Citoyenne；〃　he　was　saying；　very　bitterly；　〃when　I　made　my　compact
with　you　yesternight；　I　did　not　reckon　upon　being　compelled　to　ride
after　you　in　this　fashion。　　I　have　some　knowledge　of　the　ways　of
your　people；　of　their　full　words　and　empty　deeds；　but　you　I　was　fool
enough　to　trust。　　By　experience　we　learn。　　I　must　ask　you　to　alight；
Citoyenne。〃

〃To　what　purpose；　Monsieur？〃　she　asked；　in　a　voice　which　she　strove
to　render　cold　and　steady。

〃To　the　purpose　that　your　part　of　the　bargain　be　carried　out。　　Your
mother　and　your　treasure　were　to　find　their　way　into　Prussia　upon
condition　that　you　return　with　me　to　France。〃

〃It　was　a　bargain　of　coercion；　Monsieur；〃　she　answered　attempting　to
brazen　it　out。　　〃I　was　a　woman　in　a　desperate　situation。〃

〃Surely　your　memory　is　at　fault；　Citoyenne；〃　he　answered；　with　a
politeness　that　was　in　itself　a　mockery。

〃Your　situation　was　so　little　desperate　that　I　had　offered　to　effect
the　rescue　both　of　your　mother　and　yourself　without　asking　any
guerdon。　　Your　miserable　treasure　alone　it　was　that　had　to　be
sacrificed。　　You　will　recall　that　the　bargain　was　of　your　own
proposing。〃

There　was　a　pause；　during　which　he　stood　waiting　for　her　reply。
Her　blue　eyes　made　an　attempt　to　meet　his　steady　gaze；　but　failed。
Her　bosom　rose　and　fell　in　the　intensity　of　her　agitation。

〃I　was　a　woman　distraught；　Monsieur。　　Surely　you　will　not　hold　me
to　words　uttered　in　an　hour　of　madness。　　It　was　a　bargain　I　had　no
right　to　make；　for　I　am　no　longer　free　to　dispose　of　myself。　　I　am
betrothed　to　the　Vicomte　Anatole　d'Ombreval。　　The　contract　has
already　been　signed；　and　the　Vicomte　will　be　meeting　us　at　Treves。〃

It　was　as　if　she　had　struck　him；　and　amazement　left　him　silent　a
moment。　　In　a　dim；　subconscious　way　he　seemed　to　notice　that　the
name　she　mentioned　was　that　of　the　man　he　was　bidden　to　arrest。
Then；　with　an　oath：

〃I　care　naught　for　that；〃　he　cried。　　〃As　God　lives；　you　shall
fulfil　your　word　to　me。〃

〃Monsieur；　I　refuse；〃　she　answered；　with　finality。　　〃Let　me　request
you　to　close　the　door　and　suffer　us　to　proceed。〃

〃Your　mother　and　your　treasure　may　proceed　…　it　was　thus　we
bargained。　　But　you　shall　come　with　me。　　I　will　be　no　girl's　dupe；
no　woman's　fool；　Citoyenne。〃

When　he　said　that　he　uttered　the　full　truth。　　There　was　no　love　in
his　voice　or　in　his　heart　at　that　moment。　　Than　desire　of　her
nothing　was　further　from　his　mind。　　It　was　his　pride　that　was　up　in
arms；　his　wounded　dignity　that　cried　out　to　him　to　avenge　himself
upon　her；　and　to　punish　her　for　having　no　miserably　duped　him。　　That
she　was　unwilling　to　go　with　him　only　served　to　increase　his　purpose
of　taking　her；　since　the　more　unwilling　she　was　the　more　would　she
be　punished。

〃Citoyenne；　I　am　waiting　for　you　to　alight；〃　he　said　peremptorily。

〃Monsieur；　I　am　very　well　as　I　am；〃　she　answered　him；　and　leaning
slightly　from　the　coach　…　〃Drive　on；　Blaise；〃　she　commanded。

But　La　Boulaye　cocked　a　pistol。

〃Drive　so　much　as　a　yard；〃　he　threatened。　　〃and　I'll　drive　you　to
the　devil。〃　　Then；　turning　once　more　to　Suzanne：　〃Never　in　my　life；
Citoyenne　have　I　employed　force　to　a　woman；〃　he　said。　　〃I　trust　that
you　will　not　put　me　to　the　pain　of　commencing　now。〃

〃Stand　back；　Monsieur；〃　was　her　imperious　answer。　　But　heedless　he
advanced；　and　thrusting　his　head　under　the　lintel　of　the　carriage
door　he　leaned　forward；　to　seize　her。　　Then；　before　he　could　so
much　as　conjecture　what　she　was　about；　her　hand　went　up　grasping　a
heavy　horse…pistol　by　the　barrel；　and　she　brought　the　butt　of　it
down　with　a　deadly　precision　between　his　brows。

He　reeled　backwards；　threw　up　his　arms；　and　measured　his　length　in
the　thick　grey　mud　of　the　road。

Her　eyes　had　followed　him　with　a　look　of　horror；　and　until　she　saw
him　lying　stil