第 44 节
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朝令夕改 更新:2021-02-21 16:09 字数:9322
eyes wore a furtive; frightened look。 But they valiantly fought
down their fears; and for all that the hearts within them may have
been sick with horror; they contrived to twist a smile on to their
pale lips。 They did not lack for stout patterns of high bearing;
and in addition they had their own arrogant pride …the pride that
had brought them at last to this pass … to sustain them in their
extremity。 Noblesse les obligeait。 The rabble; the canaille of
the new regime; might do what they would with their bodies; but
their spirits they could not break; nor overcome their indomitable
pride。 By the brave manner of their death it remained for them to
make amends for the atrocious manner of their lives; and such a
glamour did they shed upon themselves by the same brave manner;
that it compelled sympathy and admiration of those that beheld them;
and made upon humanity an impression deep enough to erase the former
impression left by their misdeeds。
Like heroes; like sainted martyrs; they died; these men who; through
generation after generation; had ground and crushed the people 'neath
the iron heel of tyranny and oppression; until the people had; of a
sudden; risen and reversed the position; going to excesses; in their
lately…awakened wrath; that were begotten of the excesses which for
centuries they had endured。
Last of this gallant and spruce company (for every man had donned
his best; and dressed himself with the utmost care) came Caron La
Boulaye。 He walked alone; for although their comrade in death; he
was their comrade in nothing else。 Their heads might lie together
in the sawdust of Sanson's basket; but while they lived; no contact
would they permit themselves; of body or of soul; with this
sans…culotte。 Had they known why he died; perhaps; they had shown
him fellowship。 But in their nescience of the facts; it would need
more than death to melt them into a kindness to a member of the
Convention; for death was the only thing they had in common; and
death; as we have seen; had not conquered them。
As he was about to pass out; a gaoler suddenly thrust forward a hand
to detain him; and almost simultaneously the door; which had swung
to behind the last of his death…fellows; re…opened to admit the
dapper figure of the Incorruptible。
He eyed Caron narrowly as he advanced into the hall; and at the
composure evident in the young man's bearing; his glance seemed to
kindle with admiration; for all that his lips remained cruel in
their tightened curves。
Caron gave him good…day with a friendly smile; and before Robespierre
could utter a word the young man was expressing his polite regrets
at having baulked him as he had done。
〃I had a great object to serve; Maximilien;〃 he concluded; 〃and my
only regret is that it should have run counter to your wishes。 I
owe you so much … everything in fact … that I am filled with shame
at the thought of how ill a return I am making you。 My only hope
is that by my death you will consider that I have sufficiently
atoned for my ingratitude。〃
〃Fool!〃 croaked Robespierre; 〃you are sacrificing yourself for some
chimaera and the life you are saving is that of a very worthless
and vicious individual。 Of your ingratitude to me wee will not
speak。 But even now; in the eleventh hour; I would have you bethink
you of yourself。〃
He held out 'his hands to him; and entreaty was stamped upon
Robespierre's countenance to a degree which perhaps no man had yet
seen。 〃Bethink you; cher Caron … 〃 he began again。 But the young
man shook his head。
〃My friend; my best of friends;〃 he exclaimed; 〃I beg that you will
not make it harder for me。 I am resolved; and your entreaties do
but heighten my pain of thwarting your … the only pain that in this
supreme hour I am experiencing。 It is not a difficult thing to die;
Maximilien。 Were I to live; I must henceforth lead a life of
unsatisfied desire。 I must even hanker and sigh after a something
that is unattainable。 I die; and all this is extinguished with me。
At the very prospect my desires fade immeasurably。 Let me go in
peace; and with your forgiveness。〃
Robespierre eyed him a moment or two in astonishment。 Then he made
an abrupt gesture of impatience。
〃Fool that you are! It is suicide you are committing。 And for
what? For a dream a shadow。 Is this like a man; Caron'? Is this …
Will you be still; you animal?〃 he barked at a gaoler who had once
before touched him upon the arm。 〃Do you not see that I am occupied?〃
But the man leant forward; and said some words hurriedly into
Robespierre's ear; which cast the petulance out of his face and mind;
and caused him of a sudden to become very attentive。
〃Ah?〃 he said at last。 Then; with a sudden briskness: 〃Let the
Citizen La Boulaye not go forth until I return;〃 he bade the gaoler;
and to Caron he said: 〃You will have the goodness to await my return。〃
With that he turned and stepped briskly across the hall and through
the door; which the gaoler; all equality notwithstanding; hastened
to open for him with as much servility as ever the haughtiest
aristocrat had compelled。
Saving that single gaoler; La Boulaye was alone in the spacious hall
of the Conciergerie。 From without they heard the wild clamouring
and Ca…iraing of the mob。 Chafing at this fresh delay; which was
as a prolongation of his death…agony; La Boulaye was pacing to and
fro; the ring of his footsteps on the stone floor yielding a hollow;
sepulchral echo。
〃Is he never returning?〃 he cried at last; and as if in answer to
his question; the drums suddenly began to roll; and the vociferations
of the rabble swelled in volume and grew shriller。 〃What is that?〃
he inquired。
The gaoler; on whose dirty face some measure of surprise was
manifested; approached the little grating that overlooked the yard
and peered out。
〃Sacrenom!〃 he swore。 〃The tumbrils are moving。 They have left
you behind; Citizen。〃
But La Boulaye gathered no encouragement; such as the gaoler thought
he might; from that contingency。 He but imagined that it was
Robespierre's wish to put him back for another day in the hope that
he might still loosen his tongue。 An oath of vexation broke from
him; and he stamped his foot impatiently upon the floor。
Then the door opened suddenly; and Robespierre held it whilst into
the room came a woman; closely veiled; whose tall and shapely figure
caused the young Deputy's breath to flutter。 The Incorruptible
followed her; and turning to the gaoler:
〃Leave us;〃 he commanded briskly。
And presently; when those three stood alone; the woman raised her
veil and disclosed the face he had expected … the beautiful face of
Suzanne de Bellecour; but; alas! woefully pale and anguished of
expression。 She advanced a step towards Caron; and then stood still;
encountering his steadfast; wonder…struck gaze; and seeming to
falter。 With a sob; at last she turned to Maximilien; who had
remained a pace or two behind。
〃Tell him; Monsieur;〃 she begged。
Robespierre started out of his apparent abstraction。 He peered at
her with his short…sighted eyes; and from her to Caron。 Then he
came forward a step and cleared his throat; rather as a trick of
oratory than to relieve any huskiness。
〃To put it briefly; my clear Caron;〃 said he; 〃the Citoyenne here
has manifested a greater solicitude for your life than you did
yourself; and she has done me the twofold service of setting it
in my power to punish an enemy; and to preserve a friend from a
death that was very imminent。 In the eleventh hour she came to me
to make terms for your pardon。 She proposed to deliver up to me
the person of the ci…devant Vicomte d'Ombreval provided that I
should grant you an unconditional pardon。 You can imagine; my
good Caron; with what eagerness I agreed to her proposal; and with
what pleasure I now announce to you that you are free。〃
〃Free!〃 gasped La Boulaye; his eyes travelling fearfully from
Robespierre to Mademoiselle; and remaining riveted upon the latter
as though he were attempting to penetrate into the secrets of her
very soul。
〃Practically free;〃 answered the Incorruptible。 〃You may leave
the Conciergerie when you please; thought I shall ask you to remain
at your lodging in the Rue Nationale until this Ombreval is actually
taken。 Once he has been brought to Paris; I shall send you your
papers that you may leave France; for; much though I shall regret
your absence; I think that it will be wiser for you to make your
fortune elsewhere after what has passed。〃
La Boulaye took a step in Suzanne's direction。
〃You have done this?〃 he cried; in a quivering voice。 〃You have
betrayed the man to whom you were betrothed?〃
〃Do not use that word; Monsieur;〃 she cried; with a shudder。 〃My
action cannot be ranked among betrayals。 He would have let you go
to the guillotine in his stead。 He had not the virtue to come
forward; for all that he knew that you must die if he did not。 On
the contrary; such a condition of things afforded him amusement;
matter to scorn and insult you with。 He would have complacently
allowed a dozen men to have gone to the guillotine that his own
worthless life might have been spare