the chouans- 第58部分

〃Are　you　going　to　let　those　fellows　cut　the　throats　of　men　who　are　sent　by　Marche…a…Terre　to　protect　the　Gars？〃　he　cried；　angrily。

〃Ah；　beg　pardon；〃　said　the　woman；　〃but　it　is　so　easy　to　be　deceived。　What　parish　do　you　belong　to？〃

〃Saint…Georges；〃　replied　two　or　three　of　the　men；　in　the　Breton　patois；　〃and　we　are　dying　of　hunger。〃

〃Well；　there；〃　said　the　woman；　〃do　you　see　that　smoke　down　there？　that's　my　house。　Follow　the　path　to　the　right；　and　you　will　come　to　the　rock　above　it。　Perhaps　you'll　meet　my　man　on　the　way。　Galope…　Chopine　is　sure　to　be　on　watch　to　warn　the　Gars。　He　is　spending　the　day　in　our　house；〃　she　said；　proudly；　〃as　you　seem　to　know。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　good　woman；〃　replied　Hulot。　〃Forward；　march！　God's　thunder！　we've　got　him；〃　he　added；　speaking　to　his　men。

The　detachment　followed　its　leader　at　a　quick　step　through　the　path　pointed　out　to　them。　The　wife　of　Galope…Chopine　turned　pale　as　she　heard　the　un…Catholic　oath　of　the　so…called　Chouan。　She　looked　at　the　gaiters　and　goatskins　of　his　men；　then　she　caught　her　boy　in　her　arms；　and　sat　down　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃May　the　holy　Virgin　of　Auray　and　the　ever　blessed　Saint…Labre　have　pity　upon　us！　Those　men　are　not　ours；　their　shoes　have　no　nails　in　them。　Run　down　by　the　lower　road　and　warn　your　father；　you　may　save　his　head；〃　she　said　to　the　boy；　who　disappeared　like　a　deer　among　the　bushes。

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Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　met　no　one　on　her　way；　neither　Blues　nor　Chouans。　Seeing　the　column　of　blue　smoke　which　was　rising　from　the　half…ruined　chimney　of　Galope…Chopine's　melancholy　dwelling；　her　heart　was　seized　with　a　violent　palpitation；　the　rapid；　sonorous　beating　of　which　rose　to　her　throat　in　waves。　She　stopped；　rested　her　hand　against　a　tree；　and　watched　the　smoke　which　was　serving　as　a　beacon　to　the　foes　as　well　as　to　the　friends　of　the　young　chieftain。　Never　had　she　felt　such　overwhelming　emotion。

〃Ah！　I　love　him　too　much；〃　she　said；　with　a　sort　of　despair。　〃To…day；　perhaps；　I　shall　no　longer　be　mistress　of　myself〃

She　hurried　over　the　distance　which　separated　her　from　the　cottage；　and　reached　the　courtyard；　the　filth　of　which　was　now　stiffened　by　the　frost。　The　big　dog　sprang　up　barking；　but　a　word　from　Galope…Chopine　silenced　him　and　he　wagged　his　tail。　As　she　entered　the　house　Marie　gave　a　look　which　included　everything。　The　marquis　was　not　there。　She　breathed　more　freely；　and　saw　with　pleasure　that　the　Chouan　had　taken　some　pains　to　clean　the　dirty　and　only　room　in　his　hovel。　He　now　took　his　duck…gun；　bowed　silently　to　his　guest　and　left　the　house；　followed　by　his　dog。　Marie　went　to　the　threshold　of　the　door　and　watched　him　as　he　took　the　path　to　the　right　of　his　hut。　From　there　she　could　overlook　a　series　of　fields；　the　curious　openings　to　which　formed　a　perspective　of　gates；　for　the　leafless　trees　and　hedges　were　no　longer　a　barrier　to　a　full　view　of　the　country。　When　the　Chouan's　broad　hat　was　out　of　sight　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　turned　round　to　look　for　the　church　at　Fougeres；　but　the　shed　concealed　it。　She　cast　her　eyes　over　the　valley　of　the　Couesnon；　which　lay　before　her　like　a　vast　sheet　of　muslin；　the　whiteness　of　which　still　further　dulled　a　gray　sky　laden　with　snow。　It　was　one　of　those　days　when　nature　seems　dumb　and　noises　are　absorbed　by　the　atmosphere。　Therefore；　though　the　Blues　and　their　contingent　were　marching　through　the　country　in　three　lines；　forming　a　triangle　which　drew　together　as　they　neared　the　cottage；　the　silence　was　so　profound　that　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　overcome　by　a　presentiment　which　added　a　sort　of　physical　pain　to　her　mental　torture。　Misfortune　was　in　the　air。

At　last；　in　a　spot　where　a　little　curtain　of　wood　closed　the　perspective　of　gates；　she　saw　a　young　man　jumping　the　barriers　like　a　squirrel　and　running　with　astonishing　rapidity。　〃It　is　he！〃　she　thought。

The　Gars　was　dressed　as　a　Chouan；　with　a　musket　slung　from　his　shoulder　over　his　goatskin；　and　would　have　been　quite　disguised　were　it　not　for　the　grace　of　his　movements。　Marie　withdrew　hastily　into　the　cottage；　obeying　one　of　those　instinctive　promptings　which　are　as　little　explicable　as　fear　itself。　The　young　man　was　soon　beside　her　before　the　chimney；　where　a　bright　fire　was　burning。　Both　were　voiceless；　fearing　to　look　at　each　other；　or　even　to　make　a　movement。　One　and　the　same　hope　united　them；　the　same　doubt；　it　was　agony；　it　was　joy。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　at　last；　in　a　trembling　voice；　〃your　safety　alone　has　brought　me　here。〃

〃My　safety！〃　he　said；　bitterly。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　〃so　long　as　I　stay　at　Fougeres　your　life　is　threatened；　and　I　love　you　too　well　not　to　leave　it。　I　go　to…night。〃

〃Leave　me！　ah；　dear　love；　I　shall　follow　you。〃

〃Follow　me！the　Blues？〃

〃Dear　Marie；　what　have　the　Blues　got　to　do　with　our　love？〃

〃But　it　seems　impossible　that　you　can　stay　with　me　in　France；　and　still　more　impossible　that　you　should　leave　it　with　me。〃

〃Is　there　anything　impossible　to　those　who　love？〃

〃Ah；　true！　true！　all　is　possiblehave　I　not　the　courage　to　resign　you；　for　your　sake。〃

〃What！　you　could　give　yourself　to　a　hateful　being　whom　you　did　not　love；　and　you　refuse　to　make　the　happiness　of　a　man　who　adores　you；　whose　life　you　fill；　who　swears　to　be　yours；　and　yours　only。　Hear　me；　Marie；　do　you　love　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said。

〃Then　be　mine。〃

〃You　forget　the　infamous　career　of　a　lost　woman；　I　return　to　it；　I　leave　youyes；　that　I　may　not　bring　upon　your　head　the　contempt　that　falls　on　mine。　Without　that　fear；　perhaps〃

〃But　if　I　fear　nothing？〃

〃Can　I　be　sure　of　that？　I　am　distrustful。　Who　could　be　otherwise　in　a　position　like　mine？　If　the　love　we　inspire　cannot　last　at　least　it　should　be　complete；　and　help　us　to　bear　with　joy　the　injustice　of　the　world。　But　you；　what　have　you　done　for　me？　You　desire　me。　Do　you　think　that　lifts　you　above　other　men？　Suppose　I　bade　you　renounce　your　ideas；　your　hopes；　your　king　（who　will；　perhaps；　laugh　when　he　hears　you　have　died　for　him；　while　I　would　die　for　you　with　sacred　joy！）；　or　suppose　I　should　ask　you　to　send　your　submission　to　the　First　Consul　so　that　you　could　follow　me　to　Paris；　or　go　with　me　to　America；away　from　the　world　where　all　is　vanity；　suppose　I　thus　tested　you；　to　know　if　you　loved　me　for　myself　as　at　this　moment　I　love　you？　To　say　all　in　a　word；　if　I　wished；　instead　of　rising　to　your　level；　that　you　should　fall　to　mine；　what　would　you　do？〃

〃Hush；　Marie；　be　silent；　do　not　slander　yourself；〃　he　cried。　〃Poor　child；　I　comprehend　you。　If　my　first　desire　was　passion；　my　passion　now　is　love。　Dear　soul　of　my　soul；　you　are　as　noble　as　your　name；　I　know　it；as　great　as　you　are　beautiful。　I　am　noble　enough；　I　feel　myself　great　enough　to　force　the　world　to　receive　you。　Is　it　because　I　foresee　in　you　the　source　of　endless；　incessant　pleasure；　or　because　I　find　in　your　soul　those　precious　qualities　which　make　a　man　forever　love　the　one　woman？　I　do　not　know　the　cause；　but　this　I　knowthat　my　love　for　you　is　boundless。　I　know　I　can　no　longer　live　without　you。　Yes；　life　would　be　unbearable　unless　you　are　ever　with　me。〃

〃Ever　with　you！〃

〃Ah！　Marie；　will　you　not　understand　me？〃

〃You　think　to　flatter　me　by　the　offer　of　your　hand　and　name；〃　she　said；　with　apparent　haughtiness；　but　looking　fixedly　at　the　marquis　as　if　to　detect　his　inmost　thought。　〃How　do　you　know　you　would　love　me　six　months　hence？　and　then　what　would　be　my　fate？　No；　a　mistress　is　the　only　woman　who　is　sure　of　a　man's　heart；　duty；　law；　society；　the　interests　of　children；　are　poor　auxiliaries。　If　her　power　lasts　it　gives　her　joys　and　flatteries　which　make　the　trials　of　life　endurable。　But　to　be　your　wife　and　become　a　drag　upon　you；rather　than　that；　I　prefer　a　passing　love　and　a　true　one；　though　death　and　misery　be　its　end。　Yes；　I　could　be　a　virtuous　mother；　a　devoted　wife；　but　to　keep　those　instincts　firmly　in　a　woman's　soul　the　man　must　not　marry　her　in　a　rush　of　passion。　Besides；　how　do　I　know　that　you　will　please　me　to…morrow？　No；　I　will　not　bring　evil　upon　you；　I　leave　Brittany；〃　she　said；　observing　hesitation　in　his　eyes。　〃I　return　to　Fougeres　now；　where　you　cannot　come　to　me〃

〃I　can！　and　if　to…morrow　you　see　smoke　on　the　rocks　of　Saint…Sulpice　you　will　know　that　I　shall　be　with　you　at　night；　your　lover；　your　husband；what　you　will　that　I　be　to　you；　I　brave　all！〃

〃Ah！　Alphonse；　you　love　me　well；〃　she　said；　passionately；　〃to　risk　your　life　before　you　give　it　to　me。〃

He　did　not　answer；　he　looked　at　her　and　her　eyes　fell；　but　he　read　in　her　ardent　face　a　passion　equal　to　his　own；　and　he　held　out　his　arms　to　her。　A　sort　of　madness　overcame　her；　and　she　let　herself　fall　softly　on　his　breast；　resolved　to　yield　to　him；　and　turn　this　yielding　to　great　results；staking　upon　it　her　future　happiness；　which　would　become　more　certain　if　she　came　victorious　from　this　crucial　test。　But　her　head　had　scarcely　touched　her　lover's　shoulder　when　a　slight　noise　was　heard　without。　She　tore　herself　from　his　arms　as　if　suddenly　awakened；　and　sprang　from　the　cottage。　Her　coolness　came　back　to　her；　and　she　thought　of　the　situation。

〃He　might　have　accepted　me　and　scorned　me；〃　she　reflected。　〃Ah！　if　I　could　think　that；　I　would　kill　him。　But　not　yet！〃　she　added；　catching　sight　of　Beau…Pied；