Ah! ambition is a fine thing!
The Duc de Sairmeuse and the Marquis de Courtornieu were past middle age; their lives had been marked by many storms and vicissitudes1; they were the possessors of millions, and the owners of the most sumptuous2 residences in the province. Under these circumstances one might have supposed that they would desire to end their days in peace and quietness.
It would have been easy for them to create a life of happiness by doing good to those around them, and by preparing for their last hours a chorus of benedictions3 and of regrets.
But no. They longed to have a hand in managing the ship of state; they were not content to be simply passengers.
And the duke, appointed to the command of the military forces, and the marquis, made presiding judge of the court at Montaignac, were both obliged to leave their beautiful homes and take up their abode4 in rather dingy5 quarters in town.
They did not murmur6 at the change; their vanity was satisfied.
Louis XVIII. was on the throne; their prejudices were triumphant7; they were happy.
It is true that dissatisfaction was rife8 on every side, but had they not hundreds and thousands of allies at hand to suppress it?
And when wise and thoughtful persons spoke9 of “discontent,” the duke and his associates regarded them as visionaries.
On the 4th of March, 1816, the duke was just sitting down to dinner when a loud noise was heard in the vestibule.
He rose — but at that very instant the door was flung open and a man entered, panting and breathless.
This man was Chupin, the former poacher, whom M. de Sairmeuse had elevated to the position of head gamekeeper.
It was evident that something extraordinary had happened.
“What is it?” inquired the duke.
“They are coming!” cried Chupin; “they are already on the way!”
“Who? who?”
By way of response, Chupin handed the duke a copy of the letter written by Martial10 under Chanlouineau’s dictation.
M. de Sairmeuse read:
“My dear friend — We are at last agreed, and the marriage is
decided11. We are now busy in preparing for the wedding, which will
take place on the 4th of March.”
The date was no longer blank; but still the duke did not comprehend.
“Well, what of it?” he demanded.
Chupin tore his hair.
“They are on the way,” he repeated. “I speak of the peasants — they intend to take possession of Montaignac, dethrone Louis XVIII., bring back the Emperor, or at least the son of the Emperor — miserable12 wretches13! they have deceived me. I suspected this outbreak, but I did not think it was so near at hand.”
This terrible blow, so entirely15 unexpected, stupefied the duke for a moment.
“How many are there?” he demanded.
“Ah! how do I know, Monsieur? Two thousand, perhaps — perhaps ten thousand.”
“All the towns-people are with us.”
“No, Monsieur, no. The rebels have accomplices16 here. All the retired17 officers stand ready to assist them.”
“Who are the leaders of the movement?”
“Lacheneur, Abbe Midon, Chanlouineau, Baron18 d’Escorval ——”
“Enough!” cried the duke.
Now that danger was certain, his coolness returned; and his herculean form, a trifle bowed by the weight of years, rose to its full height.
He gave the bell-rope a violent pull; a valet appeared.
“My uniform,” commanded M. de Sairmeuse; “my pistols! Quick!”
The servant was about to obey, when the duke exclaimed:
“Wait! Let someone take a horse, and go and tell my son to come here without a moment’s delay. Take one of the swiftest horses. The messenger ought to go to Sairmeuse and return in two hours.”
Chupin endeavored to attract the duke’s attention by pulling the skirt of his coat. M. de Sairmeuse turned:
“What is it?”
The old poacher put his finger on his lip, recommending silence, but as soon as the valet had left the room, he said:
“It is useless to send for the marquis.”
“And why, you fool?”
“Because, Monsieur, because — excuse me — I——”
“Zounds! will you speak, or will you not?”
Chupin regretted that he had gone so far.
“Because the marquis ——”
“Well?”
“He is engaged in it.”
The duke overturned the table with a terrible blow of his clinched19 fist.
“You lie, wretch14!” he thundered, with the most horrible oaths.
He was so formidable in his anger that the old poacher sprang to the door and turned the knob, ready to take flight.
“May I lose my head if I do not speak the truth,” he insisted. “Ah! Lacheneur’s daughter is a regular sorceress. All the gallants of the neighborhood are in the ranks; Chanlouineau, young d’Escorval, your son ——”
M. de Sairmeuse was pouring forth20 a torrent21 of curses upon Marie-Anne when his valet re-entered the room.
He suddenly checked himself, put on his uniform, and ordering Chupin to follow him, hastened from the house.
He was still hoping that Chupin had exaggerated the danger; but when he reached the Place d’Arms, which commanded an extended view of the surrounding country, his illusions were put to flight.
Signal-lights gleamed upon every side. Montaignac seemed surrounded by a circle of flame.
“These are the signals,” murmured Chupin. “The rebels will be here before two o’clock in the morning.”
The duke made no response, but hastened to consult M. de Courtornieu.
He was striding toward his friend’s house when, on hastily turning a corner, he saw two men talking in a doorway22, and on seeing the glittering of the duke’s epaulets, both of them took flight.
The duke instinctively23 started in pursuit, overtook one man, and seizing him by the collar, he asked, sternly:
“Who are you? What is your name?”
The man was silent, and his captor shook him so roughly that two pistols, which had been hidden under his long coat, fell to the ground.
“Ah, brigand24!” exclaimed M. de Sairmeuse, “so you are one of the conspirators25 against the King!”
Then, without another word, he dragged the man to the citadel26, gave him in charge of the astonished soldiers, and again started for M. de Courtornieu’s house.
He expected the marquis would be terrified; not in the least; he seemed delighted.
“At last there comes an opportunity for us to display our devotion and our zeal27 — and without danger! We have good walls, strong gates, and three thousand soldiers at our command. These peasants are fools! But be grateful for their folly28, my dear duke, and run and order out the Montaignac chasseurs ——”
But suddenly a cloud overspread his face; he knit his brows, and added:
“The devil! I am expecting Blanche this evening. She was to leave Courtornieu after dinner. Heaven grant that she may meet with no misfortune on the way!”
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1
vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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2
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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3
benedictions
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| n.祝福( benediction的名词复数 )；（礼拜结束时的）赐福祈祷；恩赐；（大写）（罗马天主教）祈求上帝赐福的仪式 | |
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4
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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5
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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6
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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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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10
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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11
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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12
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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13
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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14
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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15
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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16
accomplices
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| 从犯，帮凶，同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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17
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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18
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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19
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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21
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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23
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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brigand
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| n.土匪，强盗 | |
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25
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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26
citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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27
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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28
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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