the trampling of the lilies-第33部分

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who　answered　his　peremptory　knock。

〃He　has　been　gone　this　hour；　Citizen　La　Boulaye；〃　she　answered。
〃He　started　almost　immediately　after　you　left　him。〃

〃Diable！〃　grumbled　Caron；　with　well…feigned　annoyance。　　〃Quel
contretemps！　　I　have　left　a　most　important　document　in　his　room；
and；　of　course；　it　will　be　locked。〃

〃But　the　Citoyenne　Cecile　has　the　key；〃　answered　the　woman；　eager
to　oblige　him。

〃Why；　yes　…　naturally！　　Now　that　is　fortunate。　　Will　you　do　me　the
favour　to　procure　the　key　from　he　Citoyenne　for　a　few　moments；
telling　her；　of　course；　that　it　is　I　who　need　it？〃

〃But　certainly；　Montez；　Citoyen。〃　　And　with　a　wave　of　the　hand
towards　the　stairs　she　went　before　him。

He　followed　leisurely；　and　by　the　time　he　had　reached　Robespierre's
door　her　voice　floated　down　to　him　from　above；　calling　the
Incorruptible's　niece。　　Next　he　heard　Cecile's　voice　replying；　and
then　a　whispered　conference　on　the　landing　overhead；　to　the
accompaniment　of　the　occasional　tinkle　of　a　bunch　of　keys。

Presently　the　domestic　returned；　and　unlocking　the　door；　she　held　it
open　for　La　Boulaye　to　pass。　　From　her　attitude　it　seemed　to　Caron
as　if　she　were　intentioned　…　probably　she　had　been　instructed　…　to
remain　there　while　he　obtained　what　he　sought。　　Now　he　had　no　mind
that　she　should　see　him　making　his　quest　among　the　wasted　papers　on
the　floor；　and　so：

〃I　shall　not　be　more　than　a　few　minutes；〃　he　announced　quietly。　　〃I
will　call　you　when　I　am　ready　to　depart。〃

Thus　uncompromisingly　dismissed；　she　did　not　venture　to　remain；　and；
passing　in；　La　Boulaye　closed　the　door。　　As　great　as　had　been　his
deliberation　hitherto　was　now　the　feverish　haste　with　which　he
crossed　to　the　spot　where　he　had　seen　the　document　flung。　　He　caught
up　a　crumpled　sheet　and　opened　it　out　It　was　not　the　thing　he　sought。
He　cast　it　aside　and　took　up　another　with　no　better　luck。　　To　crumple
discarded　papers　seemed　the　habit　of　the　Incorruptible；　for　there　was
a　very　litter　of　them　on　the　ground。　　One　after　another　did　Caron
investigate　without　success。　　He　was　on　his　knees　now；　and　his
exploration　had　carried　him　as　far　as　the　table；　another　moment　and
he　was　grovelling　under　it；　still　at　his　search；　which　with　each
fresh　disappointment　grow　more　feverish。

Yonder　…　by　the　leg　of　the　Incorruptible's　chair　…　he　espied　the　ball
of　paper；　and　to　reach　it　he　stretched　to　his　full　length；　lying
prone　beneath　a　table　in　an　attitude　scarce　becoming　a　Deputy　of　the
French　Republic。　　But　it　was　worth　the　effort　and　the　disregard　of
dignity；　for　when　presently　on　his　knees　he　smoothed　out　that
document；　he　discovered　it　to　be　the　one　he　sought　the　order　upon　the
gaolers　of　the　Luxembourg　to　set　at　liberty　a　person　or　persons　whose
names　were　to　be　filled　in；　signed　by　Maximilien　Robespierre。

He　rose；　absorbed　in　his　successful　find；　and　he　pursued　upon　the
table　the　process　of　smoothing　the　creases　as　much　as　possible　from
that　priceless　document。　　That　done　he　took　up　a　pen　and　attached
his　own　signature　alongside　of　Robespierre's；　then　into　the　blank
space　above　he　filled　the　name　of　Anatole　d'Ombreval　ci…devant
Vicomte　d'Ombreval。　　He　dropped　the　pen　and　took　up　the　sand…box。
He　sprinkled　the　writing；　creased　the　paper；　and　dusted　the　sand
back　into　the　receptacle。　　And　then　of　a　sudden　his　blood　seemed　to
freeze；　and　beads　of　cold　sweat　stood　out　upon　his　brow。　　There
had　been　the　very　slightest　stir　behind　him；　and　with　it　had　come　a
warm　breath　upon　his　bowed　neck。　　Someone　was　looking　over　his
shoulder。　　An　instant　he　remained　in　that　bowed　attitude　with　head
half…raised。　　Then　suddenly　straightening　himself　he　swung　round　and
came　face　to　face　with　Cecile　Deshaix。

Confronting　each　other　and　very　close　they　now　stood　and　each　was
breathing　with　more　than　normal　quickness。　　Her　cheeks　were　white；
her　nostrils　dilated　and　quivering；　her　blue　eyes　baleful　and　cruel；
whilst　her　lips　wore　never　so　faint　a　smile。　　For　a　second　La　Boulaye
looked　the　very　picture　of　foolishness　and　alarm。　　Then　it　seemed
as　if　he　drew　a　curtain；　and　his　face　assumed　the　expressionless
mask　that　was　habitual　to　it　in　moments　of　great　tension。
Instinctively　he　put　behind　him　his　hands　which　held　the　paper。
Cecile's　lips　took　on　an　added　curl　of　scorn　as　she　observed　the　act。

〃You　thief！〃　she　said；　very　low；　but　very　fiercely。　　〃That　was　the
paper　that　you　left　behind　you；　was　it？〃

〃The　paper　that　I　have　is　certainly　the　paper　that　I　left　behind；〃
he　answered　serenely；　for　he　had　himself　well　in　hand　by　now。　　〃And
as　for　dubbing　me　a　thief　so　readily〃　…　he　paused；　and　shrugged　his
shoulders　…　〃you　are　a　woman；〃　he　concluded；　with　an　air　suggesting
that　that　fact　was　a　conclusion　to　all　things。

〃Fool！〃　she　blazed。　　〃Do　you　think　to　overcome　me　by　quibbles？　　Do
you　think　to　dupe　me　with　words　and　shrugs？〃

〃My　dear　Cecile　he　begged　half…whimsically；　〃may　I　implore　you　to
use　some　restraint？　　Inured　as　I　am　to　the　unbounded　licence　of　your
tongue　and　to　the　abandon　that　seems　so　inherent　in　you；　let　me
assure　you　that　…　〃

〃Ah！　　You　can　say　Cecile　now？〃　she　cried；　leaving　the　remainder　of
his　speech　unheeded。　　〃Now　that　you　need　me；　now　that　you　want　me
to　be　a　party　to　your　treacherous　designs　against　my　uncle。　　Oh；　you
can　say　'Cecile'　and　'dear　Cecile'　instead　of　your　everlasting
'Citoyenne'。

〃It　seems　I　am　doomed　to　be　always　misunderstood　by　you；〃　he　laughed；
and　at　the　sound　she　started　as　if　he　had　struck　her。

Had　she　but　looked　in　his　eyes　she　had　seen　no　laughter　there；　she
might　have　realised　that　murder　rather　than　mirth　was　in　his　soul　…
for；　at　all　costs；　he　was　determined　to　hold　the　paper　he　had　been
at　such　pains　to　get。

〃I　understand　you　well　enough；〃　she　cried　hotly；　her　cheeks　flaming
red　of　a　sudden。　　〃I　understand　you；　you　thief；　you　trickster。　　Do
you　think　that　I　heard　nothing　of　what　passed　this　morning　between
my　uncle　and　you？　　Do　you　think　I　do　not　know　whose　name　you　have
written　on　that　paper？　　Answer　me；〃　she　commanded　him。

〃Since　you　know　so　much；　what　need　for　any　questions？〃　quoth　he
coolly；　transferring　the　coveted　paper　to　his　pocket　as　he　spoke。
〃And　since　we　are　so　far　agreed　that　I　am　not　contradicting　anything
you　say　…　nor；　indeed；　intend　to　…　perhaps　you　will　see　the
convenience　of　ending　an　interview　that　promises　to　be　fruitless。
My　dear　Cecile；　I　am　very　grateful　to　you　for　the　key　of　this　room。
I　beg　that　you　will　make　my　compliments　to　the　Citizen　your　uncle
upon　his　return；　and　inform　him　of　how　thoroughly　you　ministered　to
my　wants。〃

With　that　and　a　superb　air　of　insouciance；　he　made　shift　to　go。　　But
fronting　him　she　barred　his　way。

〃Give　me　that　paper；　sclerat；〃　she　demanded　imperiously。　　〃You　shall
not　go　until　you　surrender　it。　　Give　it　to　me　or　I　will　call　Duplay。〃

〃You　may　call　the　devil　for　aught　I　care；　you　little　fool；〃　he
answered　her；　very　pleasantly。　　〃Do　you　think　Duplay　will　be　mad
enough　to　lay　hands　upon　a　Deputy　of　the　Convention　in　the　discharge
of　the　affairs　of　the　Nation？〃

〃It　is　a　lie！〃

〃Why；　of　course　it　is；〃　he　admitted　sweetly。　　〃But　Duplay　will　not　be
aware　of　that。〃

〃I　shall　tell　him。〃

〃Tut！　　He　won't　believe　you。　　I'll　threaten　him　with　the　guillotine
if　he　does。　　And　I　should　think　that　Duplay　has　sufficient　dread　of
the　national　barber　not　to　risk　having　his　toilet　performed　by　him。
Now；　be　reasonable；　and　let　me　pass。〃

Enraged　beyond　measure　by　his　persiflage　and　very　manifest　contempt
of　her；　she　sprang　suddenly　upon　him；　and　caught　at　the　lapels　of
his　redingote。

〃Give　me　that　paper！〃　she　screamed；　exerting　her　entire　strength　in
a　vain　effort　to　boldly　shake　him。

Coldly　he　eyed　this　golden…haired　virago　now；　and　looked　in　vain
for　some　trace　of　her　wonted　beauty　in　the　stormy　distortion　of　her
face。

〃You　grow　tiresome　with　your　repetitions；〃　he　answered　her
impatiently；　as；　snatching　at　her　wrists；　he　made　her　release　her
hold。　　〃Let　me　go。〃　　And　with　that　he　flung　her　roughly　from　him。

A　second　she　staggered；　then；　recovering　her　balance　and　without　an
instant's　hesitation；　she　sped　to　the　door。　　Imagining　her　intent　to
be　to　lock　him　in　La　Boulaye　sprang　after　her。　　But　it　seemed　that
his　mind　had　been　more　swift　to　fasten　upon　the　wiser　course　than
had　hers。　　Instead；　she　snatched　the　key　and　closed　the　door　on　the
inside。　　She　wasted　a　moment　fumbling　at　the　lock；　and　even　as　he
caught　her　by　the　waist　the　key　slipped　in；　and　before　he　dragged
her　back　she　had　contrived　to　turn　it；　and　now　held　it　in　her　hand。
He　laughed　a　trifle　angrily　as　she　twisted　out　of　his　grasp；　and
stood　panting　before　him。

〃You　shall　not　leave　this　room　with　that　paper；〃　she　gasped；　her
anger　ever　swelling；　and　now　rendering　her　speech　almost　incoherent。

He　set　his　arms　akimbo；　and　surveyed　her　whimsically。

〃My　dear　Cecile；〃　quoth　he；　〃if　you　will　take　no　thought　for　my
convenience；　I　beg　that；　at　least；　you　will　take　some　for　your　good
name。　　Thousand　devils　woman！　　Will　you　have　it　said　in　Paris　that
you　were　found　locked　in　a　room　with　me？　　What　will　your　uncle　…
your　virtuous；　prudish；　incorruptible　uncle　…　say　when　he　learns　of
it？　　If　he　does　not　demand　a　heavy　price　from　you　for　so　dishonouring
him；　he　is　not　the　man　I　deem　him。　　Now　be　sensible；　child；　and　open
that　door　while　there　is　yet　time；　and　before　anybody　discovers　us
in　this　most　compromising　situation。〃

He　struck　the　tone　most　likely　to　win　him　obedience；　and　that　he
had　judged　astutely　her　face　showed　him。　　In　the　place　of　the　anger
that　had　distorted　it　there　came　now　into　that　countenance　a　look
of　surprise　and　fear。　　She　saw　herself　baffled　at　every　point。　　She
had　threatened　him　with　Duplay　…　the　only　man　available　…　and　he　had
shown　her　how　futile　it　must　prove　to　summon　him。　　And　now　she　had
locked　herself　in　with　him；　thinking　to　sit　there　until　he　should　do
her　will；　and　he　showed　her　the　danger　to　herself　therein；　which　had
escaped　her　notice。

There　was　a　settle　close　behind　her；　and　on　to　this　she　sank；　and
bending　her　head　she　opened　the　floodgates　of　her　passionate　little
soul；　and　let　the　rage　that　had　so　long　possessed　her　dissolve　in
tears。　　At　sight