The most important personage of this little caravan2 was a man of considerable corpulence, with a solemn and formal countenance3, wearing a travelling-cloak over his habit of black velvet4.
He had a chain of silver around his neck, and rode a little horse with an ambling5 gait.
These personages were no other than Master Isnard, recorder of the admiralty of Toulon, and his clerk or scribe, who, mounted on an old white mule6, carried behind enormous bags filled with bundles of papers, and two large registers in their boxes of black shagreen.
The clerk was a little middle-aged7 man, with a pointed8 nose, a pointed chin, high cheek-bones, and sharp eyes. This nose, this chin, and these cheek-bones, and these eyes were very red, thanks to the very keen wind from the north.
A valet, mounted on another mule, laden9 with wallets, and two halberdiers, dressed in green and orange-coloured cassocks trimmed with white lace, accompanied the recorder and his clerk.
It was evident that the two officers of justice did not enjoy an unmarred serenity11.
Master Isnard, especially, betrayed his bad humour, from time to time, by imprecations upon the cold, the weather, the roads, and particularly upon his mission.
The clerk responded to these complaints with a humble12 and pitiful air.
“On my oath!” cried the recorder, “here I am only two days on my circuit, and it is far from promising13 anything agreeable. Hm! the nobility takes this census14 of arms ordered by the Marshal of Vitry very ill; they receive us in their castles like Turks—”
“And we are happy to be received at all, Master Isnard,” said the clerk; “the lord of Signerol shut his door in our faces, and we were obliged to draw up our report by the light of the moon. The lord of Saint-Yves received us reluctantly.”
“And all these resistances, open or mute, to the orders of his Eminence15, the cardinal16, will be duly recorded, clerk, and bad intentions will be punished!”
“Fortunately, the reception given by the Baron17 des Anbiez will indemnify us for these tribulations18, Master Isnard. They say the old lord is the best of men. His jovial19 nature is as well known throughout the country as the austerity of his brother, the commander of the black galley20, or the charity of Father Elzear of the Order of Mercy, his other brother—”
“Hm! Raimond V. does well to be hospitable,” growled21 the recorder; “he is one of those old strife-stirrers, always ready to draw his sword against any established power; but patience, clerk, good courage, the reign22 of men of peace and justice has come, thank God! All these arrogant23 disputants, with long rapiers and spurs, will keep as quiet in their strong castles as wolves in their dens24, or, on my oath, we will rase their houses to the ground and sow salt on them. However,” added Master Isnard, as if he wanted to give himself artificial courage, “we are always sure of the support of the cardinal; just let them touch a hair of our heads,—why, you see, clerk, that it would be the same as pulling a hair out of the beard of his Eminence!”
“Which would be dreadfully injurious to the said Eminence, Master Isnard, as they say he has a regular cat’s beard,—thin and sharp.”
“You are an ass10!” said the recorder, shrugging his shoulders, and giving his horse a thrust of the spur.
The clerk lowered his head, said no more, and blew through his fingers by way of keeping in countenance.
The little caravan followed the road for some time along the beach, the sea on the right, and interminable rocks on the left, when they were joined by a traveller modestly seated on a donkey.
The tawny25 complexion26 of this man, with his overcoat of leather, his red cap, from which escaped a forest of black hair, curled and standing27 on end, and a little portable forge, fastened to one side of the pack-saddle on the back of his donkey, proved him to be one of those strolling Bohemians who go from farm to village, offering their services to housekeepers28 as repairers of household utensils29.
Notwithstanding the cold, the legs and feet of this man were naked. His delicate and nervous limbs, and his expressive30 face, scarcely shaded by a black and distinctly marked beard, presented the type peculiar31 to the men of his race.
His donkey was quiet and tractable32, and had neither bit nor bridle,—he guided it by means of a stick which he held to the animal’s left eye, if he wished to go to the right, and to the right eye if he wished him to go to the left. As he approached the recorder and his attendants, the Bohemian took the donkey by one of his long, pendent ears, and stopped him suddenly.
“Can you tell me, sir,” said the Bohemian to the recorder, respectfully, “if I am still far from La Ciotat?”
The recorder, thinking, doubtless, the man unworthy of a reply from him, made a disdainful gesture, and said to his scribe:
“Answer him, clerk,” and rode on.
“The mouth is the mistress, the ear is the slave,” said the Bohemian, bowing himself humbly33 before the clerk.
The clerk inflated34 his thin cheeks, assumed a haughty35 air, seated himself on his mule with triumphant36 dignity, and said to the valet who followed him, as he pointed to the Bohemian:
“Lackey, reply to him,” and passed on.
Little John, more compassionate37, told the wanderer that he could follow the caravan, as it was on its way to a place quite near the town of La Ciotat.
The two halberdiers were a short distance in the rear, and, joining the principal group, all continued to move forward on the beach. The sun soon made its influence felt; although it was in the month of December, its rays became so warm that Master Isnard felt the need of relieving himself of his cloak. He tossed it to his clerk, saying:
“Are you sure, clerk, that you recognise the route to Maison-Forte, the castle of Raimond V., Baron des Anbiez? For we are to stop first at his dwelling38. It is from that point that I will begin the census of arms in this diocese. Eh, eh, clerk, the morning air and salt odour of the beach gives me an appetite! They say the baron has the good cheer of an abbé, and the hospitality of the good King René. So much the better, on my oath! so much the better, clerk. Instead of putting up for fifteen days at some paltry39 hostelry of La Ciotat, eh, eh! I will make my winter quarters at Maison-Forte of Raimond V., and you will follow me, clerk,” said the recorder, giving himself airs. “Instead of your bacon with garlic and beans, and your codfish seasoned with oil for high days, you will only have to choose between fowl40, venison, and the best fish of the gulf. Eh, eh! for a starved wretch41 like you, it is a rare windfall, so, clerk, you can get a big mouthful—”
The poor scribe made no reply to these coarse pleasantries, by which he felt humiliated42, and only said to the recorder: “I recognise the road easily, Master Isnard, because there is a post bearing the escutcheon of Raimond V., and a milestone43 which marks the land belonging to the house of Baux.”
“The lands of Baux!” cried the recorder, with indignation. “Another one of the abuses that his Eminence will destroy, on my oath! It is enough to make one insane to try to find his way out of-this labyrinth44 of feudal45 privileges!” Then, passing from grave to gay, the recorder added, with a loud laugh, “Eh, eh! it would be as difficult a task as for you to distinguish the wine of Xeres from the wine of Malaga, accustomed as you are to drink the second pressing of the grape like a fish, and then taste a glass of Sauve-chrétien, to put a good taste in your mouth.”
“And happy when this grape-water does not fail us, Master Isnard,” said the poor clerk, with a sigh.
“Eh, eh! then the river never fails, and asses46 can drink at their ease,” replied the recorder, insolently47.
His unhappy victim could only hang his head in silence, while the recorder, proud of his triumph, put his hand above his eyes, hoping to discover the roof of Maison-Forte des Anbiez, as his appetite was growing clamorous48.
The Bohemian, who rode behind the two talkers, had heard their conversation.
Although his features were common, they showed much penetration49 and intelligence. His little, piercing, changing black eyes constantly moved from the recorder to the clerk with an expression by turns ironical50 and compassionate. When Master Isnard had finished conversation by his coarse witticism51 on asses, he contracted his eyebrows52 into a severe frown, and seemed about to speak, but whether he feared the recorder, or was afraid of saying too much, he remained silent.
“Tell me, clerk,” cried the recorder, stopping short before a post, painted with a coat of arms, which marked a division of the road, “is not this the route to Des Anbiez?”
“Yes, Master Isnard, but we must leave the shore. This is the road to Maison-Forte; it is about two hundred steps from here; this rock hides it from you,” answered the clerk, as he pointed to a sort of little promontory53 which thrust itself into the sea, and thus interfered54 with a view of the castle.
“Then, clerk, go on before,” said the recorder, checking his own horse, and giving a blow of his switch to the scribe’s mule.
The clerk rode on in advance, and the little band ventured into a precipitous road which wound its way across the rocks on the coast.
After a quarter of an hour’s travel, the road became level, and wooded hills, vines, olive-trees, and sown fields succeeded the rocks. Master Isnard at last saw, to his great joy, the imposing55 pile of Maison-Forte. It stood out at the end of an immense avenue, planted with six rows of beeches56 and sycamores, which conducted to the vast court of which we have spoken.
“Eh, eh!” said the recorder, expanding his nostrils57, “it is about midday; it ought to be the dinner-hour of Raimond V., for these country lords follow the old Proven?al custom: they take four meals; every four hours,—breakfast at eight o’clock, dine in the middle of the day, lunch at four o’clock, and sup at eight.” “Indeed, then they must eat nearly all day long,” said the clerk, with a sigh of envy, “for they often sit three or four hours at table.”
“Eh, eh! you are licking your lean lips already, clerk; but do you not see a thick smoke on the side of the kitchens?”
“Master Isnard, I do not know where the kitchens are,” said the clerk. “I have never been inside Maison-Forte, but I do see a thick smoke above the tower which looks toward the west.”
“And you do not detect the odour of fish-soup, or roast? On my oath, in the house of Raimond V. it ought to be Christmas every day. Come, can’t you scent58 something, man?”
The clerk held his nose in the air like a dog on the scent, and replied, with a shake of the head: “Master, I scent nothing.”
When the recorder had arrived a few steps from the court of Maison-Forte, he was astonished to see no one outside of this large habitation, at an hour when domestic duties always require so much commotion59.
As we have said, the court formed a sort of parallelogram.
At the farther end of this parallelogram rose the main dwelling.
On each side could be seen its wings at right angles, and the buildings occupied by persons in the employ of the castle.
On the first plane rose a high wall, pierced with loopholes for cannon60, in the middle of which opened a massive door. In front of this wall stretched a wide and deep ditch, filled with water, which was crossed by means of a movable bridge, built directly in front of the door.
The recorder and his retinue61 arrived at the entrance of the bridge, where they found Master Laramée.
The majordomo, solemnly clothed in black, bore in his hand a white rod, a distinctive62 mark of office.
The recorder descended63 from his horse with an important air, and, turning to Laramée, said: “In the name of the king, and his Eminence, the cardinal, I, Master Isnard, recorder, have come to take census and catalogue of the arms and ammunition64 of war, retained here in this castle of Maison-Forte, belonging to Sir Raimond V., Baron des Anbiez.”
Then turning to his train, which the Bohemian had joined, he said: “All of you follow me.”
Laramée made a profound bow, and with a sly expression of face said to the recorder, as he indicated the road: “If you will follow me, Master Recorder, I will show you our magazine of arms and artillery65.” Encouraged by this reception, Master Isnard and his retinue crossed the bridge, leaving their horses outside, tied to the parapet, according to the instruction of the majordomo.
As they entered the court planted with trees, the recorder said to Laramée: “Is your master at home? We are very hungry and very thirsty, friend.”
The majordomo looked up at the recorder, lifted his cap, and replied: “You condescend66, sir; you call me friend; you honour me too much, Master Recorder.”
“Oh, go on! I am as kind as a prince. If the baron is not at table, conduct me first to him; if he is at table, conduct me to him all the sooner.”
“Monseigneur has just been served, Master Recorder. I am going to open the door of honour for you, as is proper.”
As he said these words, Laramée disappeared through a narrow passage.
The recorder, his clerk, his valet, the Bohemian, and the two halberdiers remained in the court, staring at the great portal of the castle, expecting every moment to see its massive doors open for their reception. They did not see that two men had removed the bridge, beyond the ditch, on the side of the fields, thus cutting off all retreat from the men of the law.
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1
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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2
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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3
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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4
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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5
ambling
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的现在分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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6
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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7
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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8
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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9
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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10
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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11
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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12
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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13
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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14
census
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| n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查 | |
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15
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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16
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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17
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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18
tribulations
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| n.苦难( tribulation的名词复数 )；艰难；苦难的缘由；痛苦 | |
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19
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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20
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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21
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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22
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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23
arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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24
dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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25
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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26
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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27
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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28
housekeepers
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| n.（女）管家( housekeeper的名词复数 ) | |
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29
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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30
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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31
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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32
tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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33
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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34
inflated
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| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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35
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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36
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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37
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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38
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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39
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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40
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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41
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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42
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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43
milestone
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| n.里程碑；划时代的事件 | |
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44
labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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45
feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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46
asses
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| n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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47
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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48
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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49
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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50
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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51
witticism
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| n.谐语，妙语 | |
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52
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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53
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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54
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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55
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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56
beeches
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| n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材 | |
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57
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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58
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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59
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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60
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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61
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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62
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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63
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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64
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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65
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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66
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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