the trampling of the lilies-第24部分

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Her　eyes　had　followed　him　with　a　look　of　horror；　and　until　she　saw
him　lying　still　on　his　back　did　she　seem　to　realise　what　she　had　done。

〃My　dear；　brave　girl；〃　murmured　her　mother's　voice　but　she　never
heard　it。　　With　a　sob　she　relaxed　her　grasp　of　the　pistol　and　let　it
fall　from　the　carriage。

〃Shall　I　drive　on；　Mademoiselle？〃　inquired　Blaise　from　the　box。

But　without　answering　him　she　had　stepped　down　into　the　mud；　and　was
standing　bare…headed　in　the　rain　beside　the　body　of　Caron。

Silently；　she　stooped　and　groped　for　his　heart。　　It　was　beating
vigorously　enough；　she　thought。　　She　stooped　lower　and　taking　him
under　the　arms；　she　half　bore；　half　dragged　him　to　the　side　of　the
road；　as　if　the　thin；　bare　hedge　were　capable　of　affording　him
shelter。　　There　she　stood　a　moment　looking　down　at　him。　　Then　with
a　sob　she　suddenly　stooped；　and　careless　of　the　eyes　observing　her；
she　kissed　him　full　upon　the　mouth。

A　second　later　she　fled　like　a　frightened　thing　back　to　the　carriage；
and；　closing　the　door；　she　called　in　a　strangled　voice　too　drive　on。

She　paid　little　heed　to　the　praise　that　was　being　bestowed　upon　her
by　her　mother　…　who　had　seen　nothing　of　the　kiss。　　But　she　lay　back
in　her　corner　of　the　coach；　and　now　her　lashes　were　wet　at　the
thought　of　Caron　lying　out　there　in　the　road。　　Now　her　cheeks　grew
red　with　shame　at　the　thought　that　she；　the　nobly…born　Mademoiselle
de　Bellecour；　should　have　allowed　even　pity　to　have　so　far　overcome
her　as　to　have　caused　her　to　touch　with　her　lips　the　lips　of　a
low…bred　revolutionist。





CHAPTER　XIV

THE　COURIER


It　was　well　for　La　Boulaye　that　he　had　tethered　his　horse　to　a　tree
before　approaching　the　coach。　　That　solitary　beast　standing　by　the
roadside　in　the　deepening　gloom　attracted　the　attention　of　his
followers；　when　…　a　half…hour　or　so　later　…　they　rode　that　way；　making
for　Liege；　as　La　Boulaye　had　bidden　them。

At　their　approach　the　animal　neighed；　and　Garin；　hearing　the　sound；
reined　in　and　peered　forward　into　the　gloom；　to　descry　the　horse's
head　and　back　outlined　above　the　blur　of　the　hedge。　　His　men　halted
behind　him　whilst　he　approached　the　riderless　beast　and　made　…　as
well　as　he　could　in　the　darkness　…　an　examination　of　the　saddle。
One　holster　he　found　empty；　at　which　he　concluded　that　the　rider；
whoever　he　had　been；　had　met　with　trouble；　from　the　other　he　drew　a
heavy　pistol；　which；　however；　gave　him　no　clue。

〃Get　down；〃　he　ordered　his　men；〃　and　search　the　roads　hereabouts。
I'll　wager　a　horse　to　a　horseshoe　that　you　will　find　a　body
somewhere。〃

He　was　obeyed；　and　presently　a　cry　from　one　of　the　searchers
announced　a　discovery。　　It　was　succeeded　by　another　exclamation。

〃Sacre　nom！〃　swore　the　trooper。　　〃It　is　the　Citizen…deputy！〃

In　an　instant　Garin　had　leapt　to　the　ground　and　with　the　others
crowding　about　him；　their　bridles　over　their　arms　and　their　horses
in　a　bunch　behind　them；　he　was　bending　under　the　dripping　hedge　to
examine　the　body　that　lay　supine　in　the　sodden　road。　　A　vigorous
oath　escaped　him　when　he　assured　himself　that　it　was　indeed　La
Boulaye。

〃Is　he　dead？〃　cried　the　men　in　chorus。

〃No　…　not　dead〃　grumbled　the　corporal。　〃But　there　is　a　lump　on　his
brow　the　size　of　an　egg；　and　God　knows　how　long　he　has　been　lying
here　in　this　bed　of　mud。〃

They　had　no　restoratives；　and　the　only　thing　was　to　convey　him　to
the　nearest　habitation　and　demand　shelter。　　They　held　a　short　council
on　the　matter；　and　in　the　end　Garin　bade　four　of　them　take　him　up
and　carry　him　in　a　cloak。　　Some　two　miles　back　they　had　passed　a
house；　and　thither　the　corporal　now　bade　them　retrace　their　steps。
They　made　an　odd　procession；　first　went　two　mounted　troopers　leading
the　horses　of　the　others；　then　the　four　on　foot；　carrying　the　Deputy
in　a　cloak；　and　lastly；　Garin　riding　in　the　rear。

In　this　manner　they　went　back　along　the　dark　road；　and　for　close
upon　a　half…hour　…　for　their　progress　was　slow　…　they　trudged　along
in　silence。　　At　last　there　was　a　short　exclamation　from　one　of　the
riders；　as　half　a　mile　away　an　illuminated　window　beamed　invitingly。
Encouraged　by　it；　they　quickened　their　steps　a　little。　　But　almost
at　the　same　time　La　Boulaye　stirred　on　the　cloak；　and　the　men　who
carried　him　heard　him　speak。　　At　first　it　was　an　incoherent　mutter；
then　his　words　came　more　distinctly。

〃Hold！　　Where　are　you　carrying　me？　　Who　the　devil　are　you？〃

It　was　Garin's　voice　that　came　instantly　to　reassure　him。　　Caron
essayed　to　sit　up；　but　finding　it　impracticable；　he　shortly　bade
his　men　set　him　down。　　They　halted。　　Garin　dismounted　and　came　to
the　Deputy's　side；　and　it　was　found　that　his　condition　was　none　so
grave　after　all；　for　he　was　able　to　stand　unaided。　　When；　however；
he　attempted　to　walk；　he　reeled；　and　would　of　a　certainty　have
fallen；　but　that　Garin　put　out　his　arm　to　support　him。

〃Steady　there；　Citizen；〃　the　corporal　admonished　him。

〃Get　my　horse！〃　he　commanded　briefly。

〃But；　name　of　a　name！　you　are　not　fit　to　ride；〃　Garin　protested。

La　Boulaye；　however；　would　listen　to　no　reason。　　With　the　recovery
of　his　faculties　came　the　consideration　of　how　miserably　Suzanne　had
duped　him；　and　of　how　she　had　dealt　with　him　when　he　had　overtaken
her。　　He　burned　now　to　be　avenged；　and　at　all　costs　he　would　ride
after　and　recapture　her。　　He　announced；　therefore；　to　the　corporal
that　they　must　push　on　to　Liege。　　Garin　gasped　at　his　obstinacy；
and　would　have　sought　to　have　dissuaded　him；　but　that　La　Boulaye
turned　on　him　with　a　fierceness　that　silenced　his　expostulations。

It　was　left　to　Nature　to　enforce　what　Garin　could　not　achieve。　　When
La　Boulaye　came　to　attempt　to　mount　he　found　it　impossible。　　He　was
stiff　and　numb　from　his　long　exposure　in　the　rain；　and　when　he　moved
with　any　vigour　his　head　swam　dizzily　and　throbbed　with　pain。

At　last　he　was　forced　to　realise　…　with　inward　girding　…　that　he
must　relinquish　his　determination；　and　he　acknowledged　himself　ready
to　take　the　corporal's　advice　and　make　for　the　house　whose　lighted
window　shone　like　a　beacon　in　the　darkness　that　had　descended。　　He
even　allowed　them　to　prevail　upon　him　to　lie　down　in　the　cloak　again；
and　thus　they　carried　him　the　remainder　of　the　way。　　In　his　heart　he
still　bore　the　hope　that　short　rest；　restoratives；　and　fresh　clothes
would　fit　him　for　the　pursuit　once　more；　and　that　if　he　set　out
within　the　next　few　hours　he　might　yet　come　up　with　Mademoiselle
before　she　had　passed　beyond　his　reach。　　Should　the　morning　still
find　him　unequal　to　the　task　of　going　after　her；　he　would　despatch
Garin　and　his　men。

At　last　they　reached　the　cottage　…　it　was　little　more　…　and　Garin
rapped　on　the　door　with　his　whip。　　It　was　opened　by　a　woman；　who
told　them；　in　answer　to　the　corporal's　request　for　shelter；　that
her　husband　was　from　home；　and　that　she　had　no　accommodation　for
them。　　It　would　seem　that　the　woman　had　housed　soldiers　of　the
Republic　before；　and　that　her　experiences　had　not　been　of　a　nature
calculated　to　encourage　her　in　the　practice。　　But　La　Boulaye　now
staggered　forward　and　promised　her　generous　payment　if　she　would
receive　them。

〃Payment？〃　she　cried。　〃In　worthless　assignats　that　nobody　will　take
from　me。　　I　know　the　ways　of　you。〃

〃Not　in　assignats；〃　La　Boulaye　promised　her；　〃but　in　coin。〃

And　having　mollified　her　somewhat　with　that　assurance；　he　proceeded
to　urge　her　to　admit　them。　　Yonder　was　a　shed　where　the　horses　could
be　stabled　for　the　night。　　But　still　the　woman　demurred。

〃I　lack　the　room；〃　she　said；　with　some　firmness。

〃But　at　least；〃　put　in　Garin；　〃you　could　house　the　Citizen　here。
He　has　been　hurt；　and　he　is　scarcely　able　to　stand。　　Come；　woman；
if　you　will　consent　to　that；　we　others　can　lie　with　the　horses　in
the　shed。〃

This　in　the　end　they　gained　by　renewed　promises　of　good　payment。
She　brewed　a　broth　for　them；　and　for　La　Boulaye　she　found　a　suit
of　her　absent　husband's　clothes；　whilst　his　own　wet　garments　were
spread　to　dry　before　the　fire。　　Some　brandy；　too；　she　found　and
brought　him；　and　the　draught　did　much　to　restore　him。

When　they　had　supped；　Garin　and　the　troopers　withdrew　to　the
outhouse；　leaving　La　Boulaye　in　sole　possession　of　the　cottage
hearth。　　And　there；　in　a　suit　of　the　absent　farmer's　grey　homespun；
his　legs　encased　in　coarse　woollen　stockings　and　sabots　upon　his
feet；　sat　the　young　Deputy　alone　with　his　unpleasant　thoughts。　　The
woman　had　brought　him　a　pipe；　and；　although　the　habit　was　foreign
to　him　as　a　rule；　he　had　lighted　it　and　found　the　smoking　somewhat
soothing。　　Ruefully　he　passed　his　hand　across　his　bandaged　brow；
and　in　pondering　over　all　that　had　taken　place　since　yesternight
at　Boisvert；　his　cheeks　grew　flushed　at　once　with　anger　and　with
shame。

〃To　have　been　so　duped！〃

And　now　…　his　mind　growing　clearer　as　he　recovered　in　vigour　…　it
occurred　to　him　that　by　to…morrow　it　would　be　too　late　to　give
pursuit。　　Once　she　crossed　the　Sambre　at　Liege；　or　elsewhere；　who
could　tell　him　by　what　road　she　would　elect　to　continue　her　journey？
He　had　not　sufficient　men　at　his　disposal　to　send　out　parties　along
each　of　the　possible　roads。　　That　her　ultimate　destination　was
Treves　he　knew。　　But　once　there　she　was　beyond　his　reach；　at　safety
from　the　talons　of　the　French　Republic。

He　sat　on　and　thought；　what　time　his　brows　came　closer　together　and
his　teeth　fastened　viciously　upon　the　stem　of　the　pipe。　　By　the
table　sat　the　woman；　knitting　industriously；　and　ever　and　anon
glancing　inquiry　at　her　stern；　thoughtful　guest；　and　the　click　of
her　needles　was　the　only　sound　that　disturbed　the　stillness　of　the
room。　　Outside　the　wind　was　wailing　like　the　damned；　and　the　rain
which　had　recommenced　with　new　vigour；　rattled　noisily　upon　the
panes。

Suddenly　above　the　din　of　the　elements　a　shout　sounded　in　the　night。
The　Deputy　raised　his　head；　and　glanced　towards　the　woman。　　A　moment
later　they　heard　the　gate　creak；　and　steps　upon　the　path　that　led
to　the　cottage　door。

〃Your　husband？〃　inquired　La　Boulaye。

〃No；　monsieur。　　He　has　gone　to　Liege；　and　will　not　return　until
to…morrow。　　I　do　not　know　who　it　can　be。〃

There　was　alarm　on　her　face；　which　La　Boulaye　now　set　himself　to
allay。

〃At　least　yo