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！
and his sister； for she was his sister； I am sure。 I thought about them for a whole year afterwards； and kept on hoping that they would come back。 I would have given two years of my life only to see that traveler again； he looked so nice。 Until I knew M。 Benassis these were the greatest events of my life。 Although my mistress turned me away for trying on that horrid ball…dress of hers； I was sorry for her； and I have forgiven her； for candidly； if you will give me leave to say so； I thought myself the better woman of the two； countess though she was。〃
〃Well；〃 said Genestas； after a moment's pause； 〃you see that Providence has kept a friendly eye on you； you are in clover here。〃
At these words La Fosseuse looked at Benassis with eyes full of gratitude。
〃Would that I was rich！〃 came from Genestas。 The officer's exclamation was followed by profound silence。
〃You owe me a story；〃 said La Fosseuse at last； in coaxing tones。
〃I will tell it at once；〃 answered Genestas。 〃On the evening before the battle of Friedland；〃 he went on； after a moment； 〃I had been sent with a despatch to General Davoust's quarters； and I was on the way back to my own； when at a turn in the road I found myself face to face with the Emperor。 Napoleon gave me a look。
〃 'You are Captain Genestas； are you not？' he said。
〃 'Yes； your Majesty。'
〃 'You were out in Egypt？'
〃 'Yes； your Majesty。'
〃 'You had better not keep to the road you are on；' he said； 'turn to the left； you will reach your division sooner that way。'
〃That was what the Emperor said； but you would never imagine how kindly he said it； and he had so many irons in the fire just then； for he was riding about surveying the position of the field。 I am telling you this story to show you what a memory he had； and so that you may know that he knew my face。 I took the oath in 1815。 But for that mistake； perhaps I might have been a colonel to…day； I never meant to betray the Bourbons； France must be defended； and that was all I thought about。 I was a Major in the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard； and although my wound still gave me trouble； I swung a sabre in the battle of Waterloo。 When it was all over； and Napoleon returned to Paris； I went too； then when he reached Rochefort； I followed him against his orders； it was some sort of comfort to watch over him and to see that no mishap befell him on the way。 So when he was walking along the beach he turned and saw me on duty ten paces from him。
〃 'Well； Genestas；' he said； as he came towards me； 'so we are not yet dead； either of us？'
〃It cut me to the heart to hear him say that。 If you had heard him； you would have shuddered from head to foot； as I did。 He pointed to the villainous English vessel that was keeping the entrance to the Harbor。 'When I see THAT；' he said； 'and think of my Guard； I wish that I had perished in that torrent of blood。'
〃Yes；〃 said Genestas； looking at the doctor and at La Fosseuse； 〃those were his very words。
〃 'The generals who counseled you not to charge with the Guard； and who hurried you into your traveling carriage； were not true friends of yours；' I said。
〃 'Come with me；' he cried eagerly； 'the game is not ended yet。'
〃 'I would gladly go with your Majesty； but I am not free； I have a motherless child on my hands just now。'
〃And so it happened that Adrien over there prevented me from going to St。 Helena。
〃 'Stay；' he said； 'I have never given you anything。 You are not one of those who fill one hand and then hold out the other。 Here is the snuff…box that I have used though this last campaign。 And stay on in France； after all； brave men are wanted there！ Remain in the service； and keep me in remembrance。 Of all my army in Egypt； you are the last that I have seen still on his legs in France。' And he gave me a little snuff…box。
〃 'Have 〃Honneur et patrie〃 engraved on it；' he said； 'the history of our last two campaigns is summed up in those three words。'
〃Then those who were going out with him came up； and I spent the rest of the morning with them。 The Emperor walked to and fro along the beach； there was not a sign of agitation about him； though he frowned from time to time。 At noon； it was considered hopeless for him to attempt to escape by sea。 The English had found out that he was at Rochefort； he must either give himself up to them； or cross the breadth of France again。 We were wretchedly anxious； the minutes seemed like hours！ On the one hand there were the Bourbons； who would have shot Napoleon if he had fallen into their clutches； and on the other； the English； a dishonored race： they covered themselves with shame by flinging a foe who asked for hospitality away on a desert rock； that is a stain which they will never wash away。 Whilst they were anxiously debating； some one or other among his suite presented a sailor to him； a Lieutenant Doret； who had a scheme for reaching America to lay before him。 As a matter of fact； a brig from the States and a merchant vessel were lying in the harbor。
〃 'But how could you set about it； captain？' the Emperor asked him。
〃 'You will be on board the merchant vessel； Sire；' the man answered。 'I will run up the white flag and man the brig with a few devoted followers。 We will tackle the English vessel； set fire to her； and board her； and you will get clear away。'
〃 'We will go with you！' I cried to the captain。 But Napoleon looked at us and said； 'Captain Doret； keep yourself for France。'
〃It was the only time I ever saw Napoleon show any emotion。 With a wave of his hand to us he went in again。 I watched him go on board the English vessel； and then I went away。 It was all over with him； and he knew it。 There was a traitor in the harbor； who by means of signals gave warning to the Emperor's enemies of his presence。 Then Napoleon fell back on a last resource； he did as he had been wont to do on the battlefield： he went to his foes instead of letting them come to him。 Talk of troubles！ No words could ever make you understand the misery of those who loved him for his own sake。〃
〃But where is his snuff…box？〃 asked La Fosseuse。
〃It is in a box at Grenoble；〃 the commandant replied。
〃I will go over to see it； if you will let me。 To think that you have something in your possession that his fingers have touched！ 。 。 。 Had he a well…shaped hand？〃
〃Very。〃
〃Can it be true that he is dead？ Come； tell me the real truth？〃
〃Yes； my dear child； he is dead； there is no doubt about it。〃
〃I was such a little girl in 1815。 I was not tall enough to see anything but his hat； and even so I was nearly crushed to death in the crowd at Grenoble。〃
〃Your coffee and cream is very nice indeed；〃 said Genestas。 〃Well； Adrien； how do you like this country？ Will you come here to see mademoiselle？〃
The boy made no answer； he seemed afraid to look at La Fosseuse。 Benassis never took his eyes off Adrien； he appeared to be reading the lad's very soul。
〃Of course he will come to see her；〃 said Benassis。 〃But let us go home again； I have a pretty long round to make； and I shall want a horse。 I daresay you and Jacquotte will manage to get on together whilst I am away。〃
〃Will you not come with us？〃 said Genestas to La Fosseuse。
〃Willingly；〃 she answered； 〃I have a lot of things to take over for Mme。 Jacquotte。
They started out for the doctor's house。 Her visitors had raised La Fosseuse's spirits； she led the way along narrow tracks； through the loneliest parts of the hills。
〃You have told us nothing about yourself； Monsieur l'Officier；〃 she said。 〃I should have liked to hear you tell us about some adventure in the wars。 I liked what you told us about Napoleon very much； but it made me feel sad。 。 。 。 If you would be so very kind〃
〃Quite right！〃 Benassis exclaimed。 〃You ought to tell us about some thrilling adventure during our walk。 Come； now； something really interesting like that business of the beam in Beresina！〃
〃So few of my recollections are worth telling；〃 said Genestas。 〃Some people come in for all kinds of adventures； but I have never managed to be the hero of any story。 Oh！ stop a bit though； a funny thing did once happen to me。 I was with the Grand Army in 1805； and so； of course； I was at Austerlitz。 There was a great deal of skirmishing just before Ulm surrendered； which kept the cavalry pretty fully occupied。 Moreover； we were under the command of Murat； who never let the grass grow under his feet。
〃I was still only a sub…lieutenant in those days。 It was just at the opening of the campaign； and after one of these affairs； that we took possession of a district in which there were a good many fine estates； so it fell out that one evening my regiment bivouacked in a park belonging to a handsome chateau where a countess lived； a young and pretty woman she was。 Of course； I meant to lodge in the house； and I hurried there to put a stop to pillage of any sort。 I came into the salon just as my quartermaster was pointing his carbine at the countess； his brutal way of asking for what she certainly could not give the ugly scoundrel。 I struck up his carbine with my sword； the bullet went through a looking…glass on the wall； then I dealt my gentleman a back…handed blow that stretched him on the floor。 The sound of the s