the trampling of the lilies-第3部分

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Boulaye's　sight。　　The　young　revolutionist　felt　weary　and　lonely　…
dear　God；　how　lonely！　neither　kith　nor　kin　had　he；　and　of　late　all
the　interest　of　his　life　…　saving　always　that　absorbed　by　Jean
Jacques　…　had　lain　in　watching　Suzanne　de　Bellecour；　and　in　loving
her　silently　and　distantly。　　Now　that　little　crumb　of　comfort　was
to　be　his　no　more；　he　was　to　go　away　from　Bellecour；　away　from　the
sight　of　her　for　all　time。　　And　he　loved　her；　loved　her；　loved　her！

He　tossed　his　arms　to　Heaven　with　a　great　sigh　that　was　a　sob　almost；
then　he　passed　his　hands　over　his　face；　and　as　they　came　in　contact
with　the　swollen　ridge　that　scored　it；　love　faded　from　his　mind；
and　vindictiveness　came　to　fill　its　room。

〃But　for　this；〃　he　cried　aloud。　　〃I　shall　take　payment　…　aye；　as
there　is　a　God！〃

Then　turning；　and　with　〃The　Discourses　〃　held　tightly　to　his　side；
he　moved　slowly　away；　following　the　course　of　the　gleaming　waters。




CHAPTER　II

LORDS　OF　LIFE　AND　DEATH


One　friend　did　La　Boulaye　count　in　the　village　of　Bellecour。　　This
was　old　Duhamel；　the　schoolmaster；　an　eccentric　pedant　and　a
fellow…worshipper　of　the　immortal　Jean　Jacques。　　It　was　to　him　that
La　Boulaye　now　repaired　intent　upon　seeking　counsel　touching　a
future　that　wore　that　morning　a　singularly　gloomy　outlook。

He　found　Duhamel's　door　open；　and　he　stepped　across　the　threshold
into　the　chief　room　of　the　house。　　But　there　he　paused；　and
hesitated。　　The　chamber　was　crowded　with　people　in　holiday　attire；
and　the　centre　of　attraction　was　a　well…set…up　peasant　with　a　happy；
sun…tanned　face；　whose　golden　locks　were　covered　by　a　huge　round
hat　decked　with　a　score　of　gaily…coloured　ribbons。

At　sight　of　him　La　Boulaye　remembered　that　it　was　Charlot's
wedding…day。　　Popular　amongst　the　women　by　virtue　of　his　comeliness；
and　respected　by　the　men　by　virtue　of　his　strength；　Charlot　Tardivet
was　a　general　favourite　of　the　countryside；　and　here；　in　the　room　of
old　Duhamel；　the　schoolmaster；　was　half　the　village　gathered　to　do
him　honour　upon　his　wedding　morn。　　It　was　like　Duhamel；　who；　in
fatherliness　towards　the　villagers；　went　near　out…rivalling　M。　le
Cure；　to　throw　open　his　house　for　the　assembling　of　Charlot's
friends；　and　La　Boulaye　was　touched　by　this　fresh　sign　of　kindliness
from　a　man　whose　good　heart　he　had　not　lacked　occasion　to　observe
and　appreciate。　　But　it　came　to　the　secretary　that　there　was　no
place　for　him　in　this　happy　assemblage。　　His　advent　would；　probably；
but　serve　to　cast　a　gloom　upon　them；　considering　the　conditions
under　which　he　came；　with　the　signs　of　violence　upon　his　face　to
remind　them　of　the　lords　of　life　and　death　who　dwelt　at　the　Chateau
up　yonder。　　And　such　a　reminder　must　fall　upon　them　as　does　the
reminder　of　some　overhanging　evil　clutch　suddenly　at　our　hearts　in
happy　moments　of　forgetfulness。　　To　let　them　be　happy　that　day；　to
leave　their　feasts　free　of　a　death's　head；　La　Boulaye　would　have
withdrawn　had　he　not　already　been　too　late。　　Duhamel　had　espied　him；
and　the　little；　wizened　old　man　came　hurrying　forward；　his
horn…rimmed　spectacles　perched　on　the　very　end　of　his　nose；　his　keen
little　eyes　beaming　with　delight　and　welcome。

〃Ah；　Caron；　you　are　very　choicely　come；〃　he　cried；　holding　out　both
hands　to　La　Boulaye。　　〃You　shall　embrace　our　happy　Hercules　yonder；
and　wish　him　joy　of　the　wedded　life　he　has　the　audacity　to　exploit。〃
Then；　as　he　espied　the　crimson　ridge　across　the　secretary's
countenance；　〃Mon　Dieu！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃what　have　you　done　to
yourself；　Caron？〃

〃Pish！　　It　is　nothing；〃　answered　La　Boulaye　hurriedly；　and　would
have　had　the　subject　dismissed；　but　that　one　of　the　onlooking
peasants　swore　by　the　memory　of　some　long…dead　saint　that　it　was　the
cut　of　a　whip。　　Duhamel's　eyes　kindled　and　his　parchment…like　skin
was　puckered　into　a　hundred　evil　wrinkles。

〃Who　did　it；　Caron？〃　he　demanded。

〃Since　you　insist；　old　master；〃　answered　the　secretary；　still
endeavouring　to　make　light　of　it；　〃learn　that　is　the　lord　Marquis's
signature　to　his　order　of　my　dismissal　from　his　service。〃

〃The　dog！〃　ejaculated　the　school…master。

〃Sh！　let　it　be。　　Perhaps　I　braved　him　overmuch。　　I　will　tell　you　of
it　when　these　good　folks　have　gone。　　Do　not　let　us　cast　a　gloom　over
their　happiness；　old　master。　　And　now　to　embrace　this　good　Charlot。〃

Though　inwardly　burning　with　curiosity　and　boiling　with　indignation；
Duhamel　permitted　himself　to　be　guided　by　La　Boulaye；　and　for　the
moment　allowed　the　matter　to　rest。　　La　Boulaye　himself　laughingly
set　aside　the　many　questions　with　which　they　pressed　him。　　He　drank
the　health　of　the　bride…elect　…　who　was　not　yet　of　the　party　…　and
he　pledged　the　happiness　of　the　pair。　　He　embraced　Charlot；　and　even
went　so　far　as　to　urge　upon　him；　out　of　his　own　scanty　store；　a
louis　d'or　with　which　to　buy　Marie　a　trinket　in　memory　of　him。

Then　presently　came　one　with　the　announcement　that　M。　le　Cure　was
waiting；　and　in　answer　to　that　reminder　that　there　was　a　ceremony
to　be　gone　through；　Charlot　and　his　friends　flung　out　of　the　house
in　joyous　confusion；　and　went　their　way　with　laughter　and　jest　to
the　little　church　of　St。　Ildefonse。

〃We　will　follow　presently　…　M。　la　Boulaye　and　I　…　Charlot；〃　Duhamel
had　said；　as　the　sturdy　bridegroom　was　departing。　　〃We　shall　be　there
to　shake　Madame　by　the　hand　and　wish　her　joy　of　you。〃

When　at　last　they　were　alone　in　the　schoolmaster's　room；　the　old
man　turned　to　La　Boulaye；　the　very　embodiment　of　a　note　of
interrogation。　　The　secretary　told　him　all　that　had　passed。　　He
reddened　slightly　when　it　came　to　speaking　of　his　love　for　Mlle。
de　Bellecour；　but　he　realised　that　if　he　would　have　guidance　he　must
withhold　nothing　from　his　friend。

Duhamel's　face　grew　dark　as　the　young　man　spoke；　and　his　eyes　became
sad　and　very　thoughtful。

〃Alas！〃　he　sighed；　when　La　Boulaye　had　ended。　　〃What　shall　I　say　to
you；　my　friend？　　The　time　is　not　yet　for　such　as　we　…　you　and　I　…　to
speak　of　love　for　a　daughter　of　the　Seigneurie。　　It　is　coming；　I　doubt
it　not。　　All　things　have　their　climax；　and　France　is　tending　swiftly
to　the　climax　of　her　serfdom。　　Very　soon　we　shall　have　the　crisis；
this　fire　that　is　already　smouldering；　will　leap　into　a　great　blaze；
that　shall　lick　the　old　regime　as　completely　from　the　face　of　history
as　though　it　had　never　been。　　A　new　condition　of　things　will　spring
up；　of　that　I　am　convinced。　　Does　not　history　afford　us　many
instances？　　And　what　is　history　but　the　repetition　of　events　under
similar　circumstances　with　different　peoples。　　It　will　come　in　France；
and　it　will　come　soon；　for　it　is　very　direly　needed。〃

〃I　know；　I　know；　old　master；〃　broke　in　La　Boulaye；　〃but　how　shall　all
this　help　me？　　For　all　that　I　have　the　welfare　of　France　at　heart；　it
weighs　little　with　me　at　the　moment　by　comparison　with　my　own　affairs。
What　am　I　to　do；　Duhamel？　　How　am　I　to　take　payment　for　this？〃　　And　he
pressed　his　finger　to　his　seared　cheek。

〃Wait；〃　said　the　old　man　impressively。　　〃That　is　the　moral　you　might
have　drawn　from　what　I　have　said。　　Be　patient。　　I　promise　you　your
patience　shall　not　be　overtaxed。　　To…day　they　say　that　you　presume；
that　you　are　not　one　of　them　…　although；　by　my　soul；　you　have　as
good　an　air　as　any　nobleman　in　France。〃　　And　he　eyed　the　lean　height
of　the　secretary　with　a　glance　of　such　pride　as　a　father　might　take
in　a　well…grown　son。

Elegant　of　figure；　La　Boulaye　was　no　less　elegant　in　dress；　for　all
that；　from　head　to　foot　…　saving　the　silver　buckles　on　his　shoes　and
the　unpretentious　lace　at　throat　and　wrists　…　he　was　dressed　in　the
black　that　his　office　demanded。　　His　countenance；　too；　though　cast
in　a　mould　of　thoughtfulness　that　bordered　on　the　melancholy；　bore
a　lofty　stamp　that　might　have　passed　for　birth　and　breeding；　and
this　was　enhanced　by　the　careful　dressing　of　his　black　unpowdered
hair；　gathered　into　a　club　by　a　broad　ribbon　of　black　silk。

〃But　what　shall　waiting　avail　me？〃　cried　the　young　man；　with　some
impatience。　　〃What　am　I　to　do　in　the　meantime？〃

〃Go　to　Amiens；〃　said　the　other。　　〃You　have　learning；　you　have
eloquence；　you　have　a　presence　and　an　excellent　address。　　For
success　no　better　attributes　could　be　yours。〃　　He　approached　the
secretary；　and　instinctively　lowered　his　voice。　　〃We　have　a　little
club　there　…　a　sort　of　succursal　to　the　Jacobins。　　We　are　numerous；
but　we　have　no　very　shining　member　yet。　　Come　with　me；　and　I　will
nominate　you。　　Beginning　thus；　I　promise　you　that　you　shall　presently
become　a　man　of　prominence　in　Picardy。　　Anon　we　may　send　you　to　Paris
to　represent　us　in　the　States…General。　　Then；　when　the　change　comes；
who　shall　say　to　what　heights　it　may　not　be　yours　to　leap？〃

〃I　will　think　of　it；〃　answered　La　Boulaye　cordially；　〃and　not　a
doubt　of　it　but　that　I　will　come。　　I　did　not　know　that　you　had　gone
so　far　…　〃

〃Sh！　　You　know　now。　　Let　that　suffice。　　It　is　not　good　to　talk　of
these　things　just　yet。〃

〃But　in　the　meantime；〃　La　Boulaye　persisted；　〃what　of　this？〃　　And
again　he　pointed　to　his　cheek。

〃Why；　let　it　heal；　boy。〃

〃I　promised　the　Marquis　that　I　would　demand　satisfaction　of　his　son；
and　I　am　tempted　to　do　so　and　risk　the　consequences。〃

〃I　am　afraid　the　consequences　will　be　the　only　satisfaction　that　you
will　get。　　In　fact；　they　will　be　anticipations　rather　than
consequences；　for　they'll　never　let　you　near　the　boy。〃

〃I　know　not　that；〃　he　answered。　　〃The　lad　is　more　generous　than　his
sire；　and　if　I　were　to　send　him　word　that　I　have　been　affronted；　he
might　consent　to　meet　me。　　For　the　rest；　I　could　kill　him
blindfolded；〃　he　added；　with　a　shrug。

〃Bloodthirsty　animal！〃　rejoined　Duhamel。　　〃Unnatural　tutor！　　Do　you
forget　that　you　were　the　boy's　preceptor？〃

With　that　Duhamel　carried　the　argument　into　new　fields；　and　showed
La　Boulaye　that　to　avenge　upon　the　young　Vicomte　the　insults　received
at　the　hands　of　the　old　Marquis　was　hardly　a　worthy　method　of　taking
vengeance。　　At　last　he　won　him　to　his　way；　and　it　was　settled　that　on
the　morrow　La　Boulaye　should　journey　with　him　to　Amiens。

〃But；　Caron；　we　are　forgetting　our　friend　Charlot　and　his　bride；〃　he
broke　off　suddenly。　　〃Come；　boy；　the　ceremony　will　be　at　an　end　by
this。〃

He　took　La