第 13 节
作者:插翅难飞      更新:2021-04-30 17:18      字数:9322
  yell of the terrified Spaniards was heard the terrific shout of the storming
  column   of   Grenadiers。        As   in   a   dreama   happy   dreamI   heard   it;   and
  then I heard no more。
  When I came to my senses two French soldiers were propping me up;
  and my head was singing like a kettle。
  I staggered to my feet and looked around me。                  The plaster had fallen;
  the furniture was scattered; and there were rents in the bricks; but no signs
  of a breach。       In fact; the walls of the convent had been so solid that the
  explosion of the magazine had been insufficient to throw them down。                         On
  the other hand; it had caused such a panic among the defenders that our
  stormers   had   been   able   to   carry   the   windows   and   throw   open   the   doors
  almost without assistance。           As I ran out into the corridor I found it full of
  troops; and I met Marshal Lannes himself; who was entering with his staff。
  He stopped and listened eagerly to my story。
  〃Splendid; Captain Gerard; splendid!〃 he cried。
  〃These facts will certainly be reported to the Emperor。〃
  〃I would suggest to your Excellency;〃 said I; 〃that I have only finished
  the work that was planned and carried out by Monsieur Hubert; who gave
  his life for the cause。〃
  〃His services will not be forgotten;〃 said the Marshal。
  〃Meanwhile;   Captain   Gerard;   it   is   half…past   four;   and   you   must   be
  starving after such a night of exertion。
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  My  staff   and   I   will   breakfast   inside   the   city。 I   assure   you   that   you
  will be an honoured guest。〃
  〃I will follow your Excellency;〃 said I。           〃There is a small engagement
  which detains me。〃
  He opened his eyes。
  〃At this hour?〃
  〃Yes; sir;〃 I answered。        〃My fellow…officers; whom I never saw until
  last night; will not be content unless they catch another glimpse of me the
  first thing this morning。〃
  〃Au revoir; then;〃 said Marshal Lannes; as he passed upon his way。
  I hurried through the shattered door of the convent。
  When      I  reached     the   roofless   house     in  which     we   had    held   the
  consultation the night before; I threw of my gown and I put on the busby
  and sabre which I had left there。
  Then; a Hussar once more; I hurried onward to the grove which was
  our   rendezvous。      My   brain   was   still   reeling   from  the   concussion   of   the
  powder; and I was exhausted by the many emotions which had shaken me
  during that terrible night。        It is like a dream; all that walk in the first dim
  grey  light   of dawn;   with   the   smouldering   camp…fires   around   me   and   the
  buzz   of   the   waking   army。     Bugles   and   drums   in   every   direction   were
  mustering the  infantry;   for  the  explosion   and the shouting   had   told   their
  own tale。      I strode onward until; as I entered the little clump of cork oaks
  behind the horse lines; I saw my twelve comrades waiting in a group; their
  sabres     at  their  sides。   They     looked    at  me   curiously    as  I  approached。
  Perhaps   with   my   powder…   blackened   face   and   my   blood…stained   hands   I
  seemed   a   different   Gerard   to   the   young   captain   whom   they   had   made
  game of the night before。
  〃Good   morning;   gentlemen;〃   said   I。       〃I   regret   exceedingly  if   I   have
  kept you waiting; but I have not been master of my own time。〃
  They said nothing; but they still scanned me with curious eyes。                   I can
  see them now; standing in a line before me; tall men and short men; stout
  men and thin men:          Olivier; with his warlike moustache; the thin; eager
  face of Pelletan; young Oudin; flushed by his first duel; Mortier; with the
  sword…cut across his wrinkled brow。
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  I laid aside my busby and drew my sword。
  〃I have one favour to ask you; gentlemen;〃 said I。
  〃Marshal   Lannes   has   invited   me   to   breakfast   and   I   cannot   keep   him
  waiting。〃
  〃What do you suggest?〃 asked Major Olivier。
  〃That you release me from my promise to give you five minutes each;
  and that you will permit me to attack you all together。〃               I stood upon my
  guard as I spoke。
  But    their  answer    was   truly   beautiful   and  truly   French。    With    one
  impulse the twelve swords flew from their scabbards and were raised in
  salute。    There   they   stood;   the   twelve   of   them;   motionless;   their   heels
  together; each with his sword upright before his face。
  I staggered back from them。          I looked from one to the other。          For an
  instant I could not believe my own eyes。             They were paying me homage;
  these; the men who had jeered me!             Then I understood it all。        I saw the
  effect   that   I   had   made   upon   them   and   their   desire   to   make   reparation。
  When a man is weak he can steel himself against danger; but not against
  emotion。
  〃Comrades;〃 I cried; 〃comrades!〃 but I could say no more。
  Something seemed to take me by the throat and choke me。                    And then
  in an instant Olivier's arms were round me; Pelletan had seized me by the
  right   hand;   Mortier   by   the   left;   some   were   patting   me   on   the   shoulder;
  some   were   clapping   me   on   the   back;   on   every   side   smiling   faces   were
  looking into mine; and so it was that I knew that I had won my footing in
  the Hussars of Conflans。
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  III。          How the Brigadier Slew the
  Fox'*'
  '*' This story; already published in The Green Flag; is included here
  so that all of the Brigadier Gerard stories may appear together。
  In   all   the   great   hosts   of   France   there   was   only   one   officer   toward
  whom   the     English    of  Wellington's     Army    retained    a  deep;   steady;  and
  unchangeable hatred。
  There     were   plunderers     among     the  French;    and    men    of  violence;
  gamblers; duellists; and roues。         All these could be forgiven; for others of
  their kidney were to be found among the ranks of the English。                    But one
  officer of Massena's force had committed a crime which was unspeakable;
  unheard   of;   abominable;   only   to   be   alluded   to   with   curses   late   in   the
  evening;   when   a   second   bottle   had   loosened   the   tongues   of   men。    The
  news of it was carried back to England; and country gentlemen who knew
  little of the details of the war grew crimson with passion when they heard
  of it; and yeomen of the shires raised freckled fists to Heaven and swore。
  And yet who should be the doer of this dreadful deed but our friend the
  Brigadier; Etienne Gerard; of the Hussars of Conflans; gay…riding; plume…
  tossing; debonair; the darling of the ladies and of the six brigades of light
  cavalry。
  But the strange part of it is that this gallant gentleman did this hateful
  thing; and made himself the most unpopular man in the Peninsula; without
  ever knowing that he had done a crime for which there is hardly a name
  amid   all   the   resources   of   our   language。  He   died   of   old   age;   and   never
  once   in   that   imperturbable   self…   confidence   which   adorned   or   disfigured
  his character knew that so many thousand Englishmen would gladly have
  hanged   him   with   their   own   hands。     On   the   contrary;   he   numbered   this
  adventure among those other exploits which he has given to the world; and
  many a time he chuckled and hugged himself as he narrated it to the eager
  circle   who   gathered   round   him   in   that   humble   cafe   where;   between   his
  dinner  and his   dominoes;  he  would   tell;  amid   tears   and   laughter;  of   that
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  inconceivable Napoleonic past when France; like an angel of wrath; rose
  up;  splendid   and   terrible;   before   a   cowering   continent。    Let   us   listen   to
  him as he tells the story in his own way and from his own point of view。
  You must know; my friends; said he; that it was toward the end of the
  year eighteen hundred and ten that I and Massena and the others pushed
  Wellington backward until we had hoped to drive him and his army i