第 42 节
作者:朝令夕改      更新:2021-02-21 16:09      字数:9322
  implored him to listen to reason as uttered by the Incorruptible;
  to repent him and to atone while there was yet time。  They loved
  him; they swore in voices of thunder; each seeking to be heard
  above his neighbour's din; and it would break their hearts to find
  him guilty; yet find him guilty they must unless he chose the
  course which this good patriot Maximilien pointed out to him。
  La Boulaye stood pale but composed; his lips compressed; his keen
  eyes alert。  Inwardly he was moved by this demonstration of goodwill;
  this very storm of fraternity; but his purpose remained adamant; and
  when at last the President's bell had tinkled his noisy judges into
  silence; his voice rose clear and steady as he thanked them for
  leaning to clemency on his behalf。
  〃Helas;〃 he ended; 〃words cannot tell you how deeply I deplore that
  it is a clemency of which I may not avail myself。  What I have done
  I may not undo。  And so; Citizens; whilst I would still retain your
  love and your sympathy; you must suffer me to let justice take its
  course。  To delay would be but to waste your time the Nation's time。〃
  〃But this is rank defiance;〃 roared Tinvillle; roused at last into
  some semblance of his habitual bloodthirstiness。  〃He whose heart
  can be so insensible to our affections merits no clemency at this
  bar。〃
  And so the President turned with a shrug to his colleagues; and
  the verdict was taken。  The finding was 〃Guilty;〃 and the President
  was on the point of passing sentence; when again Robespierre sprang
  to his feet。  The Incorruptible's complexion looked sicklier than
  its wont; for mortification had turned him green outright。  A gust
  of passion swept through his soul; such as would have made another
  man call for the death of this defiant youth who had withstood his
  entreaties。  But such was Robespierre's wonderful command of self;
  such was his power of making his inclinations subservient to the
  ends he had in view that he had but risen to voice a fresh appeal。
  He demanded that the sentence should be passed with the reservation
  that the accused should have twenty…four hours for reflection。
  Should he at the end of that time be disposed to tell them where
  the ci…devant Vicomte d'Ombreval was to be found; let them reconsider
  his case。  On the other hand; should he still continue obdurate by
  the noon of to…morrow; then let the sentence be consummated。
  There was some demur; but Robespierre swept it fiercely aside with
  patriotic arguments。  La Boulaye was a stout servant of the Nation;
  whom it must profit France to let live that he might serve her;
  Ombreval was a base aristocrat; whose death all true Republicans
  should aim at encompassing。  And so he won the day in the end; and
  when the sentence of death was passed; it was passed with the
  reservation that should the prisoner; upon reflection; be inclined
  to show himself more loyal to France and the interests of the
  Republic by telling them how Ornbreval might be recaptured; he
  would find them still inclined to mercy and forgiveness。  Allowing
  his eyes to stray round the Court at that moment; La Boulaye started
  at sight of an unexpected face。  It was Mademoiselle de Bellecour;
  deathly pale and with the strained; piteous look that haunts the
  eyes of the mad。  He shivered at the thought of the peril to herself
  in coming into that assembly; then; recovering himself; he turned
  to his judges。
  〃Citizen…President; Citizens all; I thank you; but I should be
  unappreciative of your kindness did I permit you to entertain false
  hopes。  My purpose is unalterable。〃
  〃Take him away;〃 the President commanded impatiently; and as they
  removed him Mademoiselle crept from the Court; weeping softly in
  her poignant grief; and realising that not so much for the
  President's ear as for her own had La Boulaye uttered those words。
  They were meant to fortify her and to give her courage with the
  assurance that Ombreval would not be betrayed。  To give her courage!
  Her lip was twisted into an oddly bitter smile at the reflection;
  as she stepped into her cabriolet; and bade the driver return to
  Choisy。  Caron was doing this for her。  He was casting away his
  young; vigorous life; with all its wealth of promise; to the end
  that her betrothed … the man whom he believed she loved … might be
  spared。  The greatness; the nobility of the sacrifice overwhelmed
  her。  She remembered the thoughts that in the past she had
  entertained concerning this young revolutionist。  Never yet had
  she been able to regard him as belonging to the same order of
  beings as herself…not even when she had kissed his unconscious
  lips that evening on the Ridge road。  An immeasurable gulf had
  seemed to yawn between them … the gulf between her nobility and
  his base origin。  And now; as her carriage trundled out of Paris
  and took the dusty high road; she shuddered; and her cheeks burned
  with shame at the memory of the wrong that by such thoughts she
  had done him。  Was she; indeed; the nobler?  By accident of birth;
  perhaps; but by nature proper he was assuredly the noblest man that
  ever woman bore。
  In the Place de la Revolution a gruesome engine they called the
  guillotine was levelling all things; and fast establishing the
  reign of absolute equality。  But with all the swift mowing of its
  bloody scythe; not half so fast did it level men as Mademoiselle
  de Bellecour's thoughts were doing that afternoon。
  So marked was the disorder in her countenance when she reached
  Choisy that even unobservant Ombreval whom continuous years of
  self…complacency had rendered singularly obtuse … could not help
  but notice it; and … fearing; no doubt; that this agitation might
  in some way concern himself … he even went the length of questioning
  her; his voice sounding the note of his alarm。
  〃It is nothing;〃 she answered; in a dejected voice。  〃At least;
  nothing that need cause you uneasiness。  They have sentenced La
  Boulaye to death;〃 she announced; a spasm crossing her averted face。
  He took a deep breath of relief。
  〃God knows they've sentenced innocent men enough。  It is high time
  they began upon one another。  It augurs well…extremely well。〃
  They were alone in Henriette's kitchen; the faithful woman was at
  market。  Mademoiselle was warming herself before the fire。  Ombreval
  stood by the window。  He had spent the time of her absence in the
  care of his clothes; and he had contrived to dress himself with some
  semblance of his old…time elegance which enhanced his good looks
  and high…born air。
  〃You seem to utterly forget; Monsieur; the nature of the charge upon
  which he has been arraigned;〃 she said; in a tired voice。
  〃Why; no;〃 he answered; and he smiled airily; 〃he was sufficiently
  a fool to be lured by the brightest eyes in France into a service
  for their mistress。  My faith!  He's not the first by many a thousand
  whom a woman's soft glances have undone … 〃
  〃The degree in which you profit by the service he is doing those
  bright eyes; appears singularly beneath the dignity of your notice。〃
  〃What a jester you are becoming; ma mie;〃 he laughed and at the sound
  she shuddered again and drew mechanically nearer to the fire as
  though her shuddering was the result of cold。
  〃It is yet possible that he may not die;〃 she said almost as if
  speaking to herself。  〃They have offered him his liberty; and his
  reinstatement even … upon conditions。〃
  〃How interesting!〃 he murmured nonchalantly。  〃They have an odd way
  of dispensing justice。〃
  〃The conditions imposed are that he shall amend the wrong he has
  done; and deliver up to the Convention the person of one ci…devant
  Vicomte d'Ombreval。〃
  〃My God!〃
  It was a gasp of sudden dismay that broke from the young nobleman。
  The colour swept out of his face; and his eyes dilated with horror。
  Watching him Suzanne observed the sudden change; and took a fierce
  joy in having produced it。
  〃It interests you more closely now; Monsieur?〃 she asked。
  〃Suzanne;〃 he cried; coming a step nearer; and speaking eagerly;
  〃he knows my whereabouts。  He brought me here himself。  Are you mad;
  girl; that you can sit there so composedly and tell me this?〃
  〃What else would you have me do?〃 she inquired。
  〃Do?  Why; leave Choisy at once。  Come; be stirring。  In God's name;
  girl; bethink you that we have not a moment to lose。  I know these
  Republicans; and how far they are to be trusted。  This fellow would
  betray me to save his skin with as little compunction as … 〃
  〃You fool!〃 she broke in; an undercurrent of fierce indignation
  vibrating through her scorn。  〃What are you saying?  He would betray
  you?  He?〃  She tossed her arms to Heaven; and burst into a laugh
  of infinite derision。  〃Have no fear of that; M。 le Vicomte; for you
  are dealing with a nature of a nobility that you cannot so much as
  surmise。  If he were minded to betray you; why did he not do so
  to…day; when they offered him his liberty in exchange for information
  that would lead to your recapture?〃
  〃But although he may have refused to…day;〃 returned the Vicomte
  frenziedly; 〃he may think better of it to…morrow…perhaps even tonight。
  Ciel!  Think of the risk we run; already it may be too late。  Oh;
  why;〃 he demanded reproachfully; 〃why didn't you listen to me w