第 33 节
作者:插翅难飞      更新:2021-04-30 17:18      字数:9322
  a full purse or an empty pocket; ever swaying from the best to the worst;
  with only his courage and his honour unchanging。
  The Russian horsemen dismounted; and my poor fellows were ordered
  to do the same。        It was already late; and it was clearly their intention to
  spend     the   night   in  this  village。    There     were    great   cheering     and   joy
  amongst   the   peasants   when   they  understood   that   we   had   all   been   taken;
  and   they   flocked   out   of   their   houses   with   flaming   torches;   the   women
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  carrying   out   tea   and   brandy   for   the   Cossacks。    Amongst   others   the   old
  priest came forth the same whom we had seen in the morning。                       He was
  all smiles now; and he bore with him some hot punch on a salver; the reek
  of   which   I   can   remember   still。    Behind   her   father   was   Sophie。       With
  horror I saw her clasp Major Sergine's hand as she congratulated him upon
  the victory he had won and the prisoners he had made。                      The old priest;
  her father; looked at me with an insolent face and made insulting remarks
  at   my   expense;   pointing   at   me   with   his   lean   and   grimy   hand。   His   fair
  daughter Sophie looked at me also; but she said nothing; and I could read
  her tender pity in her dark eyes。           At last she turned to Major Sergine and
  said   something   to   him   in   Russian;   on   which   he   frowned   and   shook   his
  head impatiently。
  She   appeared   to   plead   with   him;   standing   there   in   the   flood   of   light
  which   shone   from   the   open   door   of   her   father's   house。    My   eyes   were
  fixed upon the two faces; that of the beautiful girl and of the dark; fierce
  man;   for   my   instinct   told   me   that   it   was   my   own   fate   which   was   under
  debate。     For   a   long   time   the   soldier   shook   his   head;   and   then;   at   last
  softening   before   her   pleadings;   he   appeared   to   give   way。     He   turned   to
  where I stood with my guardian sergeant beside me。
  〃These good people offer you the shelter of their roof for the night;〃
  said he to me; looking me up and down with vindictive eyes。                        〃I find it
  hard to refuse them; but I tell you straight that for my part I had rather see
  you     on   the  snow。     It   would     cool   your    hot  blood;    you    rascal   of  a
  Frenchman!〃
  I looked at him with the contempt that I felt。
  〃You were born a savage and you will die one;〃 said I。
  My words stung him; for he broke into an oath; raising his whip as if
  he would strike me。
  〃Silence; you crop…eared dog!〃 he cried。              〃Had I my way some of the
  insolence   would   be   frozen   out   of   you   before   morning。〃       Mastering   his
  passion; he turned upon Sophie with what he meant to be a gallant manner。
  〃If you have a cellar with a good lock;〃 said he; 〃the fellow may lie in it
  for the night; since you have done him the honour to take an interest in his
  comfort。      I must have his parole that he will not attempt to play us any
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  tricks;  as   I  am  answerable  for him  until   I  hand him  over  to   the   Hetman
  Platoff to…morrow。〃
  His supercilious manner was more than I could endure。
  He   had   evidently   spoken   French   to   the   lady   in   order   that   I   might
  understand the humiliating way in which he referred to me。
  〃I will take no favour from you;〃 said I。            〃You may do what you like;
  but I will never give you my parole。〃
  The Russian shrugged his great shoulders; and turned away as if the
  matter were ended。
  〃Very  well;   my   fine   fellow;   so   much   the   worse   for   your   fingers   and
  toes。    We shall see how you are in the morning after a night in the snow。〃
  〃One   moment;   Major   Sergine;〃   cried   Sophie。          〃You   must   not   be   so
  hard   upon   this   prisoner。    There   are   some   special   reasons   why  he   has   a
  claim upon our kindness and mercy。〃
  The Russian looked with suspicion upon his face from her to me。
  〃What      are   the   special    reasons?     You     certainly    seem     to  take    a
  remarkable interest in this Frenchman;〃 said he。
  〃The chief reason is that he has this very morning of his own accord
  released Captain Alexis Barakoff; of the Dragoons of Grodno。〃
  〃It   is   true;〃   said   Barakoff;   who   had   come   out   of   the   house。   〃He
  captured me this morning; and he released me upon parole rather than take
  me back to the French army; where I should have been starved。〃
  〃Since   Colonel   Gerard has   acted   so   generously  you   will   surely;  now
  that   fortune   has   changed;   allow   us   to   offer   him   the   poor   shelter   of   our
  cellar   upon   this   bitter   night;〃   said   Sophie。  〃It   is   a   small   return   for   his
  generosity。〃
  But the Dragoon was still in the sulks。
  〃Let him give me his parole first that he will not attempt to escape;〃
  said he。     〃Do you hear; sir?        Do you give me your parole?〃
  〃I give you nothing;〃 said I。
  〃Colonel Gerard;〃   cried Sophie; turning   to me   with a   coaxing smile;
  〃you will give me your parole; will you not?〃
  〃To   you;   mademoiselle;   I   can   refuse   nothing。       I   will   give   you   my
  parole; with pleasure。〃
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  〃There; Major Sergine;〃 cried Sophie; in triumph;
  〃that is surely sufficient。      You have heard him say that he gives me
  his parole。    I will be answerable for his safety 。〃
  In an ungracious fashion my Russian bear grunted his consent; and so I
  was   led   into the house;  followed   by  the scowling   father  and by  the   big;
  black…bearded   Dragoon。        In   the   basement   there   was   a   large   and   roomy
  chamber; where the winter logs were stored。             Thither it was that I was led;
  and I was given to understand that this was to be my lodging for the night。
  One side of this bleak apartment was heaped up to the ceiling with fagots
  of firewood。       The rest of the room was stone… flagged and bare…walled;
  with a single; deep…set window upon one side; which was safely guarded
  with iron bars。      For light I had a large stable lantern; which swung from a
  beam of the low ceiling。        Major Sergine smiled as he took this down; and
  swung   it   round   so   as   to   throw   its   light   into   every   corner   of   that   dreary
  chamber。
  〃How do you like our Russian hotels; monsieur?〃 he asked; with his
  hateful sneer。     〃They are not very grand; but they are the best that we can
  give   you。    Perhaps   the   next   time   that   you   Frenchmen   take   a   fancy   to
  travel you will choose some other country where they will make you more
  comfortable。〃       He stood laughing at me; his white teeth gleaming through
  his beard。     Then he left me; and I heard the great key creak in the lock。
  For an hour of utter misery; chilled in body and soul; I sat upon a pile
  of fagots; my face sunk upon my hands and my mind full of the saddest
  thoughts。     It was cold enough within those four walls; but I thought of the
  sufferings of my poor troopers outside; and I sorrowed with their sorrow。
  Then。     I paced up and down; and I clapped my hands together and kicked
  my feet against the walls to keep them from being frozen。               The lamp gave
  out some warmth; but still it was bitterly cold; and I had had no food since
  morning。      It seemed to me that everyone had forgotten me; but at last I
  heard the key turn in the lock; and who should enter but my prisoner of the
  morning; Captain Alexis Barakoff。           A bottle of wine projected from under
  his arm; and he carried a great plate of hot stew in front of him。
  〃Hush!〃 said he; 〃not a word!         Keep up your heart!
  I cannot stop to explain; for Sergine is still with us。
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  Keep awake and ready!〃           With these hurried words he laid down the
  welcome food and ran out of the room。
  〃Keep   awake   and   ready!〃       The   words   rang   in   my   ears。   I   ate   my
  food   and   I   drank   my   wine;   but   it   was   neither   food   nor   wine   which   had
  warmed the heart within me。           W