You have seen something of the same heartlessness in his conduct when he discovered the faithlessness of La Binet although that is belied12 by the measures he took to avenge13 himself. His subsequent contempt of the woman I account to be born of the affection in which for a time he held her. That this affection was as deep as he first imagined, I do not believe; but that it was as shallow as he would almost be at pains to make it appear by the completeness with which he affects to have put her from his mind when he discovered her worthlessness, I do not believe; nor, as I have said, do his actions encourage that belief. Then, again, his callous14 cynicism in hoping that he had killed Binet is also an affectation. Knowing that such things as Binet are better out of the world, he can have suffered no compunction; he had, you must remember, that rarely level vision which sees things in their just proportions, and never either magnifies or reduces them by sentimental15 considerations. At the same time, that he should contemplate16 the taking of life with such complete and cynical equanimity17, whatever the justification18, is quite incredible.
Similarly now, it is not to be believed that in coming straight from the Bois de Boulogne, straight from the killing19 of a man, he should be sincerely expressing his nature in alluding20 to the fact in terms of such outrageous21 flippancy22. Not quite to such an extent was he the incarnation of Scaramouche. But sufficiently23 was he so ever to mask his true feelings by an arresting gesture, his true thoughts by an effective phrase. He was the actor always, a man ever calculating the effect he would produce, ever avoiding self-revelation, ever concerned to overlay his real character by an assumed and quite fictitious25 one. There was in this something of impishness, and something of other things.
Nobody laughed now at his flippancy. He did not intend that anybody should. He intended to be terrible; and he knew that the more flippant and casual his tone, the more terrible would be its effect. He produced exactly the effect he desired.
What followed in a place where feelings and practices had become what they had become is not difficult to surmise. When the session rose, there were a dozen spadassins awaiting him in the vestibule, and this time the men of his own party were less concerned to guard him. He seemed so entirely26 capable of guarding himself; he appeared, for all his circumspection27, to have so completely carried the war into the enemy’s camp, so completely to have adopted their own methods, that his fellows scarcely felt the need to protect him as yesterday.
As he emerged, he scanned that hostile file, whose air and garments marked them so clearly for what they were. He paused, seeking the man he expected, the man he was most anxious to oblige. But M. de La Tour d’Azyr was absent from those eager ranks. This seemed to him odd. La Tour d’Azyr was Chabrillane’s cousin and closest friend. Surely he should have been among the first to-day. The fact was that La Tour d’Azyr was too deeply overcome by amazement28 and grief at the utterly unexpected event. Also his vindictiveness29 was held curiously30 in leash31. Perhaps he, too, remembered the part played by Chabrillane in the affair at Gavrillac, and saw in this obscure Andre–Louis Moreau, who had so persistently32 persecuted33 him ever since, an ordained34 avenger35. The repugnance36 he felt to come to the point, with him, particularly after this culminating provocation37, was puzzling even to himself. But it existed, and it curbed38 him now.
To Andre–Louis, since La Tour was not one of that waiting pack, it mattered little on that Tuesday morning who should be the next. The next, as it happened, was the young Vicomte de La Motte–Royau, one of the deadliest blades in the group.
On the Wednesday morning, coming again an hour or so late to the Assembly, Andre–Louis announced — in much the same terms as he had announced the death of Chabrillane — that M. de La Motte–Royau would probably not disturb the harmony of the Assembly for some weeks to come, assuming that he were so fortunate as to recover ultimately from the effects of an unpleasant accident with which he had quite unexpectedly had the misfortune to meet that morning.
On Thursday he made an identical announcement with regard to the Vidame de Blavon. On Friday he told them that he had been delayed by M. de Troiscantins, and then turning to the members of the Cote Droit, and lengthening39 his face to a sympathetic gravity:
“I am glad to inform you, messieurs, that M. des Troiscantins is in the hands of a very competent surgeon who hopes with care to restore him to your councils in a few weeks’ time.”
It was paralyzing, fantastic, unreal; and friend and foe40 in that assembly sat alike stupefied under those bland41 daily announcements. Four of the most redoubtable42 spadassinicides put away for a time, one of them dead — and all this performed with such an air of indifference43 and announced in such casual terms by a wretched little provincial44 lawyer!
He began to assume in their eyes a romantic aspect. Even that group of philosophers of the Cote Gauche45, who refused to worship any force but the force of reason, began to look upon him with a respect and consideration which no oratorical46 triumphs could ever have procured him.
And from the Assembly the fame of him oozed47 out gradually over Paris. Desmoulins wrote a panegyric48 upon him in his paper “Les Revolutions,” wherein he dubbed49 him the “Paladin of the Third Estate,” a name that caught the fancy of the people, and clung to him for some time. Disdainfully was he mentioned in the “Actes des Apotres,” the mocking organ of the Privileged party, so light-heartedly and provocatively51 edited by a group of gentlemen afflicted52 by a singular mental myopy.
The Friday of that very busy week in the life of this young man who even thereafter is to persist in reminding us that he is not in any sense a man of action, found the vestibule of the Manege empty of swordsmen when he made his leisurely53 and expectant egress54 between Le Chapelier and Kersain.
So surprised was he that he checked in his stride.
“Have they had enough?” he wondered, addressing the question to Le Chapelier.
“They have had enough of you, I should think,” was the answer. “They will prefer to turn their attention to some one less able to take care of himself.”
Now this was disappointing. Andre–Louis had lent himself to this business with a very definite object in view. The slaying55 of Chabrillane had, as far as it went, been satisfactory. He had regarded that as a sort of acceptable hors d’oeuvre. But the three who had followed were no affair of his at all. He had met them with a certain amount of repugnance, and dealt with each as lightly as consideration of his own safety permitted. Was the baiting of him now to cease whilst the man at whom he aimed had not presented himself? In that case it would be necessary to force the pace!
Out there under the awning56 a group of gentlemen stood in earnest talk. Scanning the group in a rapid glance, Andre–Louis perceived M. de La Tour d’Azyr amongst them. He tightened57 his lips. He must afford no provocation. It must be for them to fasten their quarrels upon him. Already the “Actes des Apotres” that morning had torn the mask from his face, and proclaimed him the fencing-master of the Rue24 du Hasard, successor to Bertrand des Amis. Hazardous58 as it had been hitherto for a man of his condition to engage in single combat it was rendered doubly so by this exposure, offered to the public as an aristocratic apologia.
Still, matters could not be left where they were, or he should have had all his pains for nothing. Carefully looking away from that group of gentlemen, he raised his voice so that his words must carry to their ears.
“It begins to look as if my fears of having to spend the remainder of my days in the Bois were idle.”
Out of the corner of his eye he caught the stir his words created in that group. Its members had turned to look at him; but for the moment that was all. A little more was necessary. Pacing slowly along between his friends he resumed:
“But is it not remarkable59 that the assassin of Lagron should make no move against Lagron’s successor? Or perhaps it is not remarkable. Perhaps there are good reasons. Perhaps the gentleman is prudent60.”
He had passed the group by now, and he left that last sentence of his to trail behind him, and after it sent laughter, insolent61 and provoking.
He had not long to wait. Came a quick step behind him, and a hand falling upon his shoulder, spun62 him violently round. He was brought face to face with M. de La Tour d’Azyr, whose handsome countenance63 was calm and composed, but whose eyes reflected something of the sudden blaze of passion stirring in him. Behind him several members of the group were approaching more slowly. The others — like Andre–Louis’ two companions — remained at gaze.
“You spoke64 of me, I think,” said the Marquis quietly.
“I spoke of an assassin — yes. But to these my friends.” Andre–Louis’ manner was no less quiet, indeed the quieter of the two, for he was the more experienced actor.
“You spoke loudly enough to be overheard,” said the Marquis, answering the insinuation that he had been eavesdropping65.
“Those who wish to overhear frequently contrive66 to do so.”
“I perceive that it is your aim to be offensive.”
“Oh, but you are mistaken, M. le Marquis. I have no wish to be offensive. But I resent having hands violently laid upon me, especially when they are hands that I cannot consider clean, In the circumstances I can hardly be expected to be polite.”
The elder man’s eyelids67 flickered68. Almost he caught himself admiring Andre–Louis’ bearing. Rather, he feared that his own must suffer by comparison. Because of this, he enraged69 altogether, and lost control of himself.
“You spoke of me as the assassin of Lagron. I do not affect to misunderstand you. You expounded70 your views to me once before, and I remember.”
“But what flattery, monsieur!”
“You called me an assassin then, because I used my skill to dispose of a turbulent hot-head who made the world unsafe for me. But how much better are you, M. the fencing-master, when you oppose yourself to men whose skill is as naturally inferior to your own!”
M. de La Tour d’Azyr’s friends looked grave, perturbed71. It was really incredible to find this great gentleman so far forgetting himself as to descend72 to argument with a canaille of a lawyer-swordsman. And what was worse, it was an argument in which he was being made ridiculous.
“I oppose myself to them!” said Andre–Louis on a tone of amused protest. “Ah, pardon, M. le Marquis; it is they who chose to oppose themselves to me — and so stupidly. They push me, they slap my face, they tread on my toes, they call me by unpleasant names. What if I am a fencing-master? Must I on that account submit to every manner of ill-treatment from your bad-mannered friends? Perhaps had they found out sooner that I am a fencing-master their manners would have been better. But to blame me for that! What injustice73!”
“Comedian!” the Marquis contemptuously apostrophized him. “Does it alter the case? Are these men who have opposed you men who live by the sword like yourself?”
“On the contrary, M. le Marquis, I have found them men who died by the sword with astonishing ease. I cannot suppose that you desire to add yourself to their number.”
“And why, if you please?” La Tour d’Azyr’s face had flamed scarlet74 before that sneer75.
“Oh,” Andre–Louis raised his eyebrows76 and pursed his lips, a man considering. He delivered himself slowly. “Because, monsieur, you prefer the easy victim — the Lagrons and Vilmorins of this world, mere4 sheep for your butchering. That is why.”
And then the Marquis struck him.
Andre–Louis stepped back. His eyes gleamed a moment; the next they were smiling up into the face of his tall enemy.
“No better than the others, after all! Well, well! Remark, I beg you, how history repeats itself — with certain differences. Because poor Vilmorin could not bear a vile50 lie with which you goaded77 him, he struck you. Because you cannot bear an equally vile truth which I have uttered, you strike me. But always is the vileness78 yours. And now as then for the striker there is . . . ” He broke off. “But why name it? You will remember what there is. Yourself you wrote it that day with the point of your too-ready sword. But there. I will meet you if you desire it, monsieur.”
“What else do you suppose that I desire? To talk?”
Andre–Louis turned to his friends and sighed. “So that I am to go another jaunt79 to the Bois. Isaac, perhaps you will kindly80 have a word with one of these friends of M. le Marquis’, and arrange for nine o’clock to-morrow, as usual.”
“Not to-morrow,” said the Marquis shortly to Le Chapeher. “I have an engagement in the country, which I cannot postpone81.”
Le Chapelier looked at Andre–Louis.
“Then for M. le Marquis’ convenience, we will say Sunday at the same hour.”
“I do not fight on Sunday. I am not a pagan to break the holy day.”
“But surely the good God would not have the presumption82 to damn a gentleman of M. le Marquis’ quality on that account? Ah, well, Isaac, please arrange for Monday, if it is not a feast-day or monsieur has not some other pressing engagement. I leave it in your hands.”
He bowed with the air of a man wearied by these details, and threading his arm through Kersain’s withdrew.
“Ah, Dieu de Dieu! But what a trick of it you have,” said the Breton deputy, entirely unsophisticated in these matters.
“To be sure I have. I have taken lessons at their hands.” He laughed. He was in excellent good-humour. And Kersain was enrolled83 in the ranks of those who accounted Andre–Louis a man without heart or conscience.
But in his “Confessions” he tells us — and this is one of the glimpses that reveal the true man under all that make-believe — that on that night he went down on his knees to commune with his dead friend Philippe, and to call his spirit to witness that he was about to take the last step in the fulfilment of the oath sworn upon his body at Gavrillac two years ago.
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1
iniquitous
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| adj.不公正的；邪恶的；高得出奇的 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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instigator
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| n.煽动者 | |
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justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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bourgeois
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| adj./n.追求物质享受的(人)；中产阶级分子 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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flippancy
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| n.轻率；浮躁；无礼的行动 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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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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fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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circumspection
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| n.细心，慎重 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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vindictiveness
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| 恶毒；怀恨在心 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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33
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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curbed
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| v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lengthening
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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gauche
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| adj.笨拙的，粗鲁的 | |
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oratorical
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| adj.演说的，雄辩的 | |
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oozed
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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panegyric
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| n.颂词，颂扬 | |
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dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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provocatively
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52
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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55
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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56
awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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57
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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59
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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64
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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eavesdropping
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| n. 偷听 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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67
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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expounded
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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75
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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76
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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77
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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78
vileness
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| n.讨厌，卑劣 | |
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79
jaunt
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| v.短程旅游；n.游览 | |
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80
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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81
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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82
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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