And meantime, she was preparing a superb welcome, like the sovereign state of a vast empire, for the deputies of the primary Assemblies which had accepted the Constitution. Federalism was on its knees; the Republic, one and indivisible, would surely vanquish7 all its enemies.
"There it was," cried évariste, "that on the 17th July, '91, the infamous9 Bailly ordered the people to be shot down at the foot of the altar of the fatherland. Passavant, the grenadier, who witnessed the massacre10, returned to his house, tore his coat from his back and cried: 'I have sworn to die with Liberty; Liberty is no more, and I fulfil my oath,'—and blew out his brains."
All this time artists and peaceful citizens were examining the preparations for the festival, their faces showing as joyless a joy in life as their lives were dull and joyless; to their minds the mightiest11 events shrank into insignificance12 and grew as insipid13 as they were themselves. Couple by couple they went, carrying in their arms or holding by the hand or letting them run on in front children as unprepossessing as their parents and promising14 to grow up no whit15 happier, who in due course would give birth to children of their own as poor in spirit and looks as they. Yet now and again a young girl would pass, tall and fair and desirable, rousing in young men a not ignoble16 passion to possess, and in the old regret for the bliss17 they had missed.
Near the école Militaire évariste pointed18 out to his companion the Egyptian statues designed by David on Roman models of the age of Augustus, and they overheard a Parisian, an old man with powdered hair, ejaculate to himself:
"Egad! you might think yourself on the banks of the Nile!"
It was three days since élodie had seen her lover, and serious events had befallen meantime at the Amour peintre. The citoyen Blaise had been denounced to the Committee of General Security for fraudulent dealings in the matter of supplies to the armies. Fortunately for himself, the print-dealer was well known in his Section; the Committee of Surveillance of the Section des Piques19 had stood guarantee of his patriotism21 with the general committee and had completely justified22 his conduct.
This alarming incident élodie now recounted in trembling accents, concluding:
"We are quiet now, but the alarm was a hot one. A little more and my father would have been clapped in prison. If the danger had lasted a few hours more, I should have come to you, évariste, to make interest for him among your influential23 friends."
évariste vouchsafed24 no reply to this, but élodie was very far from realizing all his silence portended25.
They went on hand in hand along the banks of the river, discoursing26 of their mutual27 fondness in the phrases of Julie and Saint-Preux; the good Jean-Jacques gave them the colours to paint and prank28 their love withal.
The Municipality of Paris had wrought29 a miracle,—abundance reigned30 for a day in the famished31 city. A fair was installed on the Place des Invalides, beside the Seine, where hucksters in booths sold sausages, saveloys, chitterlings, hams decked with laurels32, Nanterre cakes, gingerbreads, pancakes, four-pound loaves, lemonade and wine. There were stalls also for the sale of patriotic33 songs, cockades, tricolour ribands, purses, pinchbeck watch-chains and all sorts of cheap gewgaws. Stopping before the display of a petty jeweller, évariste selected a silver ring having a head of Marat in relief with a silk handkerchief wound about the brows, and put it on élodie's finger.
The same evening Gamelin proceeded to the Rue34 de l'Arbre-Sec to call on the citoyenne Rochemaure, who had sent for him on pressing business. She received him in her bedchamber, reclining on a couch in a seductive dishabille.
While the citoyenne's attitude expressed a voluptuous35 languor36, everything about her spoke37 of her accomplishments38, her diversions, her talents,—a harp39 beside an open harpsichord40, a guitar on a chair, an embroidering41 frame with a square of satin stretched on it, a half-finished miniature on a table among papers and books, a bookcase in dire42 disorder43 as if rifled by the hand of a fair reader as eager to know as to feel.
She gave him her hand to kiss, and addressed him:
"Greeting, sir juryman!... This very day Robespierre the elder gave me a letter in your favour to be handed to the President Herman, a very well turned letter, pretty much to this effect:
"I bring to your notice the citoyen Gamelin, commendable44 alike for his talents and for his patriotism. I have made it my duty to make known to you a patriot20 whose principles are good and his conduct steadfast45 in the right line of revolution. You will not let slip the opportunity of being useful to a Republican.... This letter I carried there and then to the President Herman, who received me with an exquisite46 politeness and signed your appointment on the spot. The thing is done."
After a moment's pause:
"Citoyenne," said Gamelin, "though I have not a morsel47 of bread to give my mother, I swear on my honour I accept the duties of a juror only to serve the Republic and avenge48 her on her foes49."
The citoyenne thought this but a cold way of expressing gratitude50 and considered the sentiment high-flown. The young man was no adept51, she suspected, at graceful52 courtesies. But she was too great an admirer of youth not to excuse some little lack of polish. Gamelin was a handsome fellow, and that was merit enough in her eyes. "We will form him," she said to herself. So she invited him to her suppers to which she welcomed her friends every evening after the theatre.
"You will meet at my house men of wit and talent,—Elleviou, Talma, the citoyen Vigée, who turns bouts-rimés with a marvellous aptitude53. The citoyen Fran?ois read us his 'Paméla' the other day, the piece rehearsing at the present moment at the Théatre de la Nation. The style is elegant and chaste54, as everything is that comes from the citoyen Fran?ois' pen. The plot is touching55; it brought tears to all our eyes. It is the young citoyenne Lange who is to take the part of 'Paméla.'"
"I believe it if you say so, citoyenne," answered Gamelin, "but the Théatre de la Nation is scarcely National and it is hard on the citoyen Fran?ois that his works should be produced on the boards degraded by the contemptible56 verses of a Laya; the people has not forgotten the scandal of the Ami des Lois...."
It was not purely58 out of kindness that the citoyenne had employed her credit to get Gamelin appointed to a much envied post; after what she had done for him and what peradventure she might come to do for him in the future, she counted on binding59 him closely to her interests and in that way securing for herself a protector connected with a tribunal she might one day or another have to reckon with; for the fact is, she was in constant correspondence with the French provinces and foreign countries, and at that date such a circumstance was ground enough for suspicion.
"Do you often go to the theatre, citoyen?"
As she asked the question, Henry, the dragoon, entered the room, looking more charming than the youthful Bathyllus. A brace60 of enormous pistols was passed through his belt.
He kissed the fair citoyenne's hand. Turning to him:
"There stands the citoyen évariste Gamelin," she said, "for whose sake I have spent the day at the Committee of General Security, and who is an ungrateful wretch61. Scold him for me."
"Ah! citoyenne," cried the young soldier, "you have seen our Legislators at the Tuileries. What an afflicting62 sight! Is it seemly the Representatives of a free people should sit beneath the roof of a despot? The same lustres that once shone on the plots of Capet and the orgies of Antoinette now illumine the deliberations of our law-makers. 'Tis enough to make Nature shudder63."
"Pray, congratulate the citoyen Gamelin," was all her answer, "he is appointed juryman on the Revolutionary Tribunal."
"My compliments, citoyen!" said Henry. "I am rejoiced to see a man of your character invested with these functions. But, to speak truth, I have small confidence in this systematic64 justice, set up by the moderates of the Convention, in this complaisant65 Nemesis66 that is considerate to conspirators67 and merciful to traitors68, that hardly dares strike a blow at the Federalists and fears to summon the Austrian to the bar. No, it is not the Revolutionary Tribunal will save the Republic. They are very culpable69, the men who, in the desperate situation we are in, have arrested the flowing torrent70 of popular justice!"
On reaching home, Gamelin found his mother and old Brotteaux playing a game of piquet by the light of a smoky tallow-candle. At the moment the old woman was calling "sequence of kings" without the smallest scruple72.
When she heard her son was appointed juryman, she kissed him in a transport of triumph, thinking what an honour it was for both of them and that henceforth they would have plenty to eat every day.
"I am proud and happy," she declared, "to be the mother of a juryman. Justice is a fine thing, and of all the most necessary; without justice the weak would be harassed73 every moment of their lives. And I think you will give right judgment74, évariste, my own boy; for from a child I have found you just and kind-hearted in all concerns. You could never endure wrong-doing and always tried what you could to hinder violence. You compassionated75 the unfortunate and that is the finest jewel in a juror's crown.... But tell me, évariste, how are you dressed in your grand tribunal?"
Gamelin informed her that the judges wore a hat with black plumes76, but that the jury had no special costume, that they were dressed in their every-day attire77.
"It would be better," returned the good woman, "if they wore wig78 and gown; it would inspire more respect. Though you are mostly dressed carelessly, you are a handsome man and you set off your clothes; but the majority of men need some fine feathers to make them look imposing79; yes, the jury should have wigs80 and gowns."
The citoyenne had heard say that the duties of a juror of the Tribunal carried a salary; and she had no hesitation81 in asking the question whether the emoluments82 were enough to live respectably on, for a juryman, she opined, ought to cut a good figure in the world.
She was pleased to hear that each juror received an allowance of eighteen livres for every sitting and that the multiplicity of crimes against the security of the State obliged the court to sit very frequently.
Old Brotteaux gathered up the cards, rose from the table and addressing Gamelin:
"Citoyen," he said, "you are invested with an august and redoubtable83 office. I congratulate you on lending the light of your integrity to a tribunal more trustworthy and less fallible perhaps than any other, because it searches out good and evil, not in themselves and in their essence, but solely84 in relation to tangible85 interests and plain and obvious sentiments. You will have to determine betwixt hate and love, which is done spontaneously, not betwixt truth and falsehood, to discriminate86 which is impossible for the feeble mind of man. Giving judgment after the impulses of your heart, you will run no risk of mistake, inasmuch as the verdict will be good provided it satisfy the passions that are your sacred law. But, all the same, if I was your President, I should imitate Bridoie, I should appeal to the arbitrament of the dice87. In matters of justice it is still the surest plan."
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1
erecting
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| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
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symbolic
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| adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的 | |
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brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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vanquish
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| v.征服，战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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piques
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的第三人称单数 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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portended
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| v.预示( portend的过去式和过去分词 )；预兆；给…以警告；预告 | |
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discoursing
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| 演说（discourse的现在分词形式） | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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voluptuous
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| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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harpsichord
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| n.键琴（钢琴前身） | |
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embroidering
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| v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的现在分词 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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50
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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51
adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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52
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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53
aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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54
chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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56
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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57
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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58
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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afflicting
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| 痛苦的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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complaisant
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| adj.顺从的，讨好的 | |
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nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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72
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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73
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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compassionated
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| v.同情（compassionate的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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80
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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81
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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82
emoluments
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| n.报酬，薪水( emolument的名词复数 ) | |
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83
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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84
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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85
tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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86
discriminate
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| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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