the trampling of the lilies-第30部分

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life　a　happy　one；　whose　absence　would　leave　him　now　a　lasting
unhappiness；　knelt　here　at　his　feet。　　Forgotten　were　the　wrongs　he
had　suffered；　forgotten　the　purpose　to　humble　and　to　punish。
Everything　was　forgotten　and　silenced　by　the　compelling　voice　of　his
blood；　which　cried　out　that　he　loved　her。　　He　stooped　to　her　and
caught　her　wrists　in　a　grip　that　made　her　wince。　　His　voice　grew
tense。

〃If　you　would　bribe　me　to　save　his　life；　Suzanne；　there　is　but　one
price　that　you　can　pay。〃

〃And　that？〃　she　gasped　her　eyes　looking　up　with　a　scared　expression
into　his　masterful　face。

〃Yourself；〃　he　whispered；　with　an　ardour　that　almost　amounted　to
fierceness。

She　gazed　a　second　at　him　in　growing　alarm；　then　she　dragged　her
hands　from　his　grasp；　and　covering　her　face　she　fell　a…sobbing。

〃Do　not　misunderstand　me；〃　he　cried；　as　he　stood　erect　over　her。
〃If　you　would　have　Ombreval　saved　and　sent　out　of　France　you　must
become　my　wife。〃

〃Your　wife？〃　she　echoed；　pausing　in　her　weeping；　and　for　a　moment
an　odd　happiness　seemed　to　fill　her。　　But　as　suddenly　as　it　had
arisen　did　she　stifle　it。　　Was　she　not　the　noble　daughter　of　the
noble　Marquis　de　Bellecour　and　was　not　this　a　lowly　born　member　of
a　rabble　government？　　There　could　be　no　such　mating。　　A　shudder
ran　through　her。　　〃I　cannot；　Monsieur；　I　cannot！〃　she　sobbed。

He　looked　at　her　a　moment　with　a　glance　that　was　almost　of　surprise；
then；　with　a　slight　compression　of　the　lips　and　the　faintest　raising
of　the　shoulders；　he　turned　from　her　and　strode　over　to　the　window。
There　was　a　considerable　concourse　of　people　on　their　way　to　the
Place　de　la　Republique；　for　the　hour　of　the　tumbrils　was　at　hand。

A　half…dozen　of　those　unsexed　viragos　produced　by　the　Revolution；
in　filthy　garments；　red　bonnets　and　streaming　hair；　were　marching
by　to　the　raucous　chorus　of　the　〃Ca　ira！〃

He　turned　from　the　sight　in　disgust；　and　again　faced　his　visitor。

〃Citoyenne；〃　he　said；　in　a　composed　voice；〃　I　am　afraid　that　your
journey　has　been　in　vain。〃

She　rose　now　from　her　knees；　and　advanced　towards　him。

〃Monsieur；　you　will　not　be　so　cruel　as　to　send　me　away　empty…handed？〃
she　cried；　scarce　knowing　what　she　was　saying。

But　he　looked　at　her　gravely；　and　without　any　sign　of　melting。

〃On　what；〃　he　asked；　〃do　you　base　any　claim　upon　me？〃

〃On　what？〃　she　echoed；　and　her　glance　vas　troubled　with　perplexity。
Then　of　a　sudden　it　cleared。　　〃On　the　love　that　you　have　confessed
for　me；〃　she　cried。

He　laughed　a　short　laugh…half　amazement；　half　scorn。

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　he　exclaimed；　tossing　his　arms　to　Heaven；　〃a　fine　claim
that；　as　I　live；　a　fine　argument　by　which　to　induce　me　to　place
another　man　in　your　arms。　　I　am　to　do　it　because　I　love　you！〃

They　gazed　at　each　other　now；　she　with　a　glance　of　strained　anxiety；
he　with　the　same　look　of　half…contemptuous　wonder。　　And　then　a
creaking　rumble　from　below　attracted　his　attention；　and　he　looked
round。　　He　moved　forward　and　threw　the　window　wide；　letting　in　with
the　March　air　an　odd　medley　of　sounds　to　which　the　rolling　of　drums
afforded　a　most　congruous　accompaniment。

〃Look；　Citoyenne；〃　he　said；　and　he　pointed　out　the　first　tumbril；
which　was　coming　round　the　corner　of　the　Rue　St。　Honore。

She　approached　with　some　shrinking　begotten　by　a　suspicion　of　what
she　was　desired　to　see。

In　the　street　below；　among　a　vociferating　crowd　of　all　sorts　and
conditions；　the　black　death…cart　moved　on　its　way　to　the　guillotine。
It　was　preceded　by　a　company　of　National　Guards；　and　followed　by
the　drummers　and　another　company　on　foot。　　Within　the　fatal　vehicle
travelled　three　men　and　two　women；　accompanied　by　a　constitutional
priest　…　one　of　those　renegades　who　had　taken　the　oath　imposed　by
the　Convention。　　The　two　women　sat　motionless；　more　like　statues
than　living　beings；　their　faces　livid　and　horribly　expressionless；
so　numbed　were　their　intelligences　by　fear。　　Of　the　men；　one　stood
calm　and　dignified；　another　knelt　at　his　prayers；　and　was　subject；
therefore；　to　the　greater　portion　of　the　gibes　the　mob　was　offering
these　poor　victims；　the　third；　a　very　elegant　gentleman　in　a　green
coat　and　buckskin　breeches；　leant　nonchalantly　upon　the　rail　of　the
tumbril　and　exchanged　gibes　with　the　people。　　All　five　of　them　were
in　the　prime　of　life；　and；　by　their　toilettes　and　the　air　that　clung
to　them；　belonged　unmistakably　to　the　noblesse。

One　glance　did　Mademoiselle　bestow　upon　that　tragic　spectacle；　then
with　a　shudder　she　drew　back；　her　face　going　deathly　white。

〃Why　did　you　bid　me　look？〃　she　moaned。

〃That　for　yourself　you　might　see；〃　he　answered　pitilessly；　〃the
road　by　which　your　lover　is　to　journey。〃

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　she　cried；　wringing　her　hands；　〃it　is　horrible。　　Oh！
You　are　not　men；　you　Revolutionists。　　You　are　beasts　of　prey；　tigers
in　human　semblance。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Great　injustices　beget　great　reactions。　　Great　wrongs　can　only　be
balanced　by　great　wrongs。　　For　centuries　the　power　has　lain　with
the　aristocrats；　and　they　have　most　foully　abused　it。　　For　centuries
the　people　of　France　have　writhed　beneath　the　armed　heel　of　the
nobility；　and　their　blood；　unjustly　and　wantonly　shed；　has　saturated
the　soil　until　from　that　seed　has　sprung　this　overwhelming
retribution。　　Now　…　now；　when　it　is　too　late　…　you　are　repenting；
now；　when　at　last　some　twenty…five　million　Frenchmen　have　risen　with
weapons　in　their　hands　to　purge　the　nation　of　you。　　We　are　no　worse
than　were　you；　indeed；　not　so　bad。　　It　is　only　that　we　do　in　a　little
while　…　and；　therefore；　while　it　lasts　in　greater　quantity　…　what
you　have　been　doing　through　countless　generations。〃

〃Spare　me　these　arguments；　Monsieur；〃　she　cried；　recovering　her
spirit。　　〃The　'whys'　and　'wherefores'　of　it　are　nothing　to　me。　　I
see　what　you　are　doing；　and　that　is　enough。　　But；〃　and　her　voice
grew　gentle　and　pleading；　her　hands　were　held　out　to　him；　〃you　are
good　at　heart；　Monsieur；　you　are　generous　and　you　can　be　noble。　　You
will　give　me　the　life　that　I　have　come　to　beg　of　you；　the　life　you
promised　me。〃

〃Yes；　but　upon　terms；　Mademoiselle；　and　those　terms　you　have　heard。〃

She　looked　a　moment　into　that　calm；　set　face；　into　the　dark　grey
eyes　that　looked　so　solemn　and　betrayed　so　little　of　what　was
passing　within。

〃And　you　say　that　you　love　me？〃　she　cried。

〃Helas！〃　he　sighed。　　〃It　is　a　weakness　I　cannot　conquer。

〃Look　well　down　into　your　heart；　M。　La　Boulaye；〃　she　answered　him；〃
and　you　will　find　how　egregious　is　your　error。　　You　do　not　love　me；
you　love　yourself；　and　only　yourself。　　If　you　loved　me　you　would　not
seek　to　have　me　when　I　am　unwilling。　　Above　all　things；　you　would
desire　my　happiness　…　it　is　ever　so　when　we　truly　love　…　and　you
would　seek　to　promote　it。　　If；　indeed；　you　loved　me　you　would　grant
my　prayer；　and　not　torture　me　as　you　are　doing。　　But　since　you　only
love　yourself；　you　minister　only　to　yourself；　and　seek　to　win　me　by
force　since　you　desire　me。〃

She　ceased；　and　her　eyes　fell　before　his　glance；　which　remained
riveted　upon　her　face。　　Immovable　he　stood　a　moment　or　two；　then
he　turned　from　her　with　a　little　sigh；　and　leaning　his　elbow　upon
the　window…sill；　he　gazed　down　into　the　crowds　surging　about　the
second　tumbril。　　But　although　he　saw　much　there　that　was　calculated
to　compel　attention；　he　heeded　nothing。　　His　thoughts　were　very　busy；
and　he　was　doing　what　Mademoiselle　had　bidden　him。　　He　was　looking
into　himself。　　And　from　that　questioning　he　gathered　not　only　that
he　loved　her；　but　that　he　loved　her　so　well　and　so　truly　that　…　in
spite　even　of　all　that　was　passed　…　he　must　do　her　will；　and　deliver
up　to　her　the　man　she　loved。

His　resolve　was　but　half　taken　when　he　heard　her　stirring　in　the
room　behind　him。　　He　turned　sharply　to　find　that　she　had　gained　the
door。

〃Mademoiselle！〃　he　called　after　her。　　She　stopped；　and　as　she
turned；　he　observed　that　her　lashes　were　wet。　　But　in　her　heart
there　arose　now　a　fresh　hope；　awakened　by　the　name　by　which　he　had
recalled　her。　　〃Whither　are　you　going？〃　he　asked。

〃Away；　Monsieur；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　was　realising　that　my　journey
had　indeed　been　in　vain。〃

He　looked　at　her　a　second　in　silence。　　Then　stepping　forward：

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　very　quietly；　〃your　arguments　have
prevailed；　and　it　shall　be　as　you　desire。　　The　ci…devant　Vicomte
d'Ombreval　shall　go　free。〃

Her　face　seemed　to　grow　of　a　sudden　paler；　and　for　an　instant　she
stood　still　as　if　robbed　of　understanding。　　Then　she　came　forward
with　hands　outheld。

〃　aid　I　not　that　you　were　good　and　generous？　　Said　I　not　that　you
could　be　noble；　Monsieur？〃　she　cried；　as　she　caught　his　resisting
hand　and　sought　to　carry　it　to　her　lips。　　〃God　will　bless　you；
Monsieur　…　〃

He　drew　his　hand　away；　but　without　roughness。　　〃Let　us　say　no　more；
Mademoiselle；〃　he　begged。

〃But　I　will；〃　she　answered　him。　　〃I　am　not　without　heart；　Monsieur；
and　now　that　you　have　given　me　this　proof　of　the　deep　quality　of
your　love；　I　…　〃　　She　paused；　as　if　at　a　loss　for　words。

〃Well；　Mademoiselle？〃　he　urged　her。

〃I　have　it　in　my　heart　to　wish　that　…　that　it　were　otherwise；〃　she
said；　her　cheeks　reddening　under　his　gaze。　　〃If　it　were　not　that　I
account　myself　in　honour　bound　to　wed　M。　le　Vicomte　…　〃

〃Stop！〃　he　interrupted　her。　　He　had　caught　at　last　the　drift　of
what　she　was　saying。　　〃There　is　no　need　for　any　comedy；　Suzanne。
Enough　of　that　had　we　at　Boisvert。〃

〃It　is　not　comedy；〃　she　cried　with　heat。　　〃It　was　not　altogether
comedy　at　Boisvert。〃

〃True；〃　he　said；　wilfully　misunderstanding　her　that　he　might　the
more　easily　dismiss　the　subject；〃　it　went　nearer　to　being　tragedy。〃
Then　abruptly　he　asked　her：

〃Where　are　you　residing？〃

She　paused　before　replying。　　She　still　wanted　to　protest　that　some
affection　for　him　dwelt　in　her　heart；　although　curbed　（to　a　greater
extent　even　than　she　was　aware）　by　the　difference　in　their　stations；
and　checked　by　her　plighted　word　to　Ombreval。　　At　last；　abandoning
a　purpose　which　his　countenance　told　her　would　be　futile：

〃I　am　staying　with　my　old　nurse　at　Choisy；〃　she　answered　him。
〃Henriette　Godelliere　is　her　name。　　She　is　well　known　in　the　village；
and　seems　in　good　favour　with　the　patriots；　so　that　I　a