按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
supplied them with ammunition。 He had left them orders to hold off
the mob from the outer gates as long as possible； but should these be
carried； they were to fall back into the Chateau itself； and make fast
the doors。 Meanwhile； he was haranguing the gentlemen … some thirty
of them； as we have seen … in the salon and urging them to arm
themselves so that they might render assistance。
His instances were met with a certain coldness； which at last was
given expression by the most elegant Vicomte d'Ombreval … the man
who was about to become his son…in…law。
〃My dear Marquis；〃 protested the young man； his habitually
supercilious mouth looking even more supercilious than usual as he
now spoke； 〃I beg that you will consider what you are proposing。 We
are your guests； we others； and you ask us to defend your gates
against your own people for you！ Surely； surely； sir； your first
duty should have been to have ensured our safety against such
mutinies on the part of the rabble of Bellecour。〃
The Seigneur angrily stamped his foot。 In his choler he was within
an ace of striking Ombreval； and might have done so had not the
broad…minded and ever…reasonable old Des Cadoux interposed at that
moment to make clear to the Marquis's guests a situation than which
nothing could have been clearer。 He put it to them that the times
were changed； and that France was no longer what France had been；
that allowances must be made for M。 de Bellecour； who was in no
better case than any other gentleman in that unhappy country！ and
finally； that either they must look to arming and defending
themselves or they must say their prayers and submit to being
butchered with the ladies。
〃For ourselves；〃 he concluded calmly； tapping his gold snuffbox and
holding it out to Bellecour； for all the world with the air of one
who was discussing the latest fashion in wigs； 〃I can understand
your repugnance at coming to blows with this obscene canaille。 It
is doing them an honour of which they are not worthy。 But we have
these ladies to think of； Messieurs； and … 〃 he paused to apply the
rappee to his nostrils … 〃and we must exert ourselves to save them；
however disagreeable the course we may be compelled to pursue。
Messieurs； I am the oldest here； permit that I show you the way。〃
His words were not without effect； they kindled chivalry in hearts
that； after all； were nothing if not prone to chivalry … according
to their own lights … and presently something very near enthusiasm
prevailed。 But the supercilious and very noble Ombreval still
grumbled。
〃To ask me to fight this scum！〃 he ejaculated in horror 〃Pardi！ It
is too much。 Ask me to beat them off with a whip like a pack of
curs； and I'll do it readily。 But fight them … ！〃
〃Nothing could delight us more； Vicomte； than to see you beat them
off with a whip；〃 Des Cadoux assured him。 〃Arm yourself with a whip；
by all means； my friend； and let us witness the prodigies you can
perform with it。〃
〃See what valour inflames the Vicomte； Suzanne；〃 sneered a handsome
woman into Mademoiselle's ear。 With what alacrity he flies to arms
that he may defend you； even with his life。〃
〃M。 d'Ombreval is behaving according to his lights；〃 answered Suzanne
coldly。
〃Ma foi； then his lights are unspeakably dim；〃 was the contemptuous
answer。
Mademoiselle gave no outward sign of the deep wound her pride was
receiving。 The girl of nineteen； who had scorned the young
secretary…lover in the park of Bellecour that morning four years ago；
was developed into a handsome lady of three…and…twenty。
〃It would be beneath the dignity of his station to soil his hands
in such a conflict as my father has suggested；〃 she said at last。
〃I wonder would it be beneath the dignity of his courage；〃 mused the
same caustic friend。 〃But surely not； for nothing could be beneath
that。〃
〃Madame！〃 exclaimed Suzanne； her cheeks reddening； for as of old；
and like her father； she was quickly moved to anger。 〃Will it please
you to remember that M。 d'Ombreval is my affianced husband？〃
〃True；〃 confessed the lady； no whit abashed。 〃But had I not been
told so I had accounted him your rejected suitor； who；
broken…hearted； gives no thought either to his own life or to yours。〃
In a pet； Mademoiselle gave her shoulder to the speaker and turned
away。 In spite of the words with which she had defended him； Suzanne
was disappointed in her betrothed； and yet； in a way； she understood
his bearing to be the natural fruit of that indomitable pride of
which she had observed the outward signs； and for which； indeed as
much as for the beauty of his person； she had consented to become his
wife。 After all； it was the outward man she knew。 The marriage had
been arranged； and this was but their third meeting； whilst never for
an instant had they been alone together。 By her mother she had been
educated up to the idea that it was eminently desirable she should
become the Vicomtesse d'Ombreval。 At first she had endured dismay at
the fact that she had never beheld the Vicomte； and because she
imagined that he would be； most probably； some elderly roue； as did
so often fall to the lot of maidens in her station。 But upon finding
him so very handsome to behold； so very noble of bearing； so lofty
and disdainful that as he walked he seemed to spurn the very earth；
she fell enamoured of him out of very relief； as well as because he
was the most superb specimen of the other sex that it had ever been
hers to observe。
And now that she had caught a glimpse of the soul that dwelt beneath
that mass of outward perfections it had cost her a pang of
disappointment； and the poisonous reflection cast upon his courage
by that sardonic lady with whom she had talked was having its effect。
But the time was too full of other trouble to permit her to indulge
her thoughts overlong upon such a matter。 A volley of musketry from
below came to warn them of the happenings there。 The air was charged
with the hideous howls of the besieging mob； and presently there was
a cry from one of the ladies； as a sudden glare of light crimsoned
the window…panes。
〃What is that？〃 asked Madame de Bellecour of her husband。
〃They have fired the stables；〃 he answered； through set teeth。 〃I
suppose they need light to guide them in their hell's work。〃
He strode to the glass doors opening to the balcony the same balcony
from which four years ago his guests had watched the flogging of La
Boulaye … and； opening them； he passed out。 His appearance was
greeted by a storm of execration。 A sudden shot rang out； and the
bullet； striking the wall immediately above him； brought down a
shower of plaster on his head。 It had been fired by a demoniac who sat astride the great gates
waving his discharged carbine and yelling such ordures of speech as it had never been the most
noble Marquis's lot to have stood listening to。 Bellecour never flinched。 As calmly as if nothing
had happened； he leant over the parapet and called to his men below
〃Hold； there！ Of what are you dreaming slumberers。 Shoot me that
fellow down。〃
Their guns had been discharged； but one of them； who had now completed
his