登陆注册
5413900000033

第33章

"I am not thirsty," said Hulot."Come, your papers."At that instant the rattle of arms and the tread of men was heard in the street.Hulot walked to the window and gave a satisfied look which made Mademoiselle de Verneuil tremble.That sign of interest on her part seemed to fire the young man, whose face had grown cold and haughty.After feeling in the pockets of his coat he drew forth an elegant portfolio and presented certain papers to the commandant, which the latter read slowly, comparing the description given in the passport with the face and figure of the young man before him.During this prolonged examination the owl's cry rose again; but this time there was no difficulty whatever in recognizing a human voice.The commandant at once returned the papers to the young man, with a scoffing look.

"That's all very fine," he said; "but I don't like the music.You will come with me to headquarters.""Why do you take him there?" asked Mademoiselle de Verneuil, in a tone of some excitement.

"My good lady," replied the commandant, with his usual grimace, "that's none of your business."Irritated by the tone and words of the old soldier, but still more at the sort of humiliation offered to her in presence of a man who was under the influence of her charms, Mademoiselle de Verneuil rose, abandoning the simple and modest manner she had hitherto adopted; her cheeks glowed and her eyes shone as she said in a quiet tone but with a trembling voice: "Tell me, has this young man met all the requirements of the law?""Yes--apparently," said Hulot ironically.

"Then, I desire that you will leave him, /apparently/, alone," she said."Are you afraid he will escape you? You are to escort him with me to Mayenne; he will be in the coach with his mother.Make no objection; it is my will--Well, what?" she added, noticing Hulot's grimace; "do you suspect him still?""Rather."

"What do you want to do with him?"

"Oh, nothing; balance his head with a little lead perhaps.He's a giddy-pate!" said the commandant, ironically.

"Are you joking, colonel?" cried Mademoiselle de Verneuil.

"Come!" said the commandant, nodding to the young man, "make haste, let us be off."At this impertinence Mademoiselle de Verneuil became calm and smiling.

"Do not go," she said to the young man, protecting him with a gesture that was full of dignity.

"Oh, what a beautiful head!" said the youth to his mother, who frowned heavily.

Annoyance, and many other sentiments, aroused and struggled with, did certainly bring fresh beauties to the young woman's face.Francine, Madame du Gua, and her son had all risen from their seats.

Mademoiselle de Verneuil hastily advanced and stood between them and the commandant, who smiled amusedly; then she rapidly unfastened the frogged fastenings of her jacket.Acting with that blindness which often seizes women when their self-love is threatened and they are anxious to show their power, as a child is impatient to play with a toy that has just been given to it, she took from her bosom a paper and presented it to Hulot.

"Read that," she said, with a sarcastic laugh.

Then she turned to the young man and gave him, in the excitement of her triumph, a look in which mischief was mingled with an expression of love.Their brows cleared, joy flushed each agitated face, and a thousand contradictory thoughts rose in their hearts.Madame du Gua noted in that one look far more of love than of pity in Mademoiselle de Verneuil's intervention; and she was right.The handsome creature blushed beneath the other woman's gaze, understanding its meaning, and dropped her eyelids; then, as if aware of some threatening accusation, she raised her head proudly and defied all eyes.The commandant, petrified, returned the paper, countersigned by ministers, which enjoined all authorities to obey the orders of this mysterious lady.

Having done so, he drew his sword, laid it across his knees, broke the blade, and flung away the pieces.

"Mademoiselle, you probably know what you are about; but a Republican has his own ideas, and his own dignity.I cannot serve where women command.The First Consul will receive my resignation to-morrow;others, who are not of my stripe, may obey you.I do not understand my orders and therefore I stop short,--all the more because I am supposed to understand them."There was silence for a moment, but it was soon broken by the young lady, who went up to the commandant and held out her hand, saying, "Colonel, though your beard is somewhat long, you may kiss my hand;you are, indeed, a man!"

"I flatter myself I am, mademoiselle," he replied, depositing a kiss upon the hand of this singular young woman rather awkwardly."As for you, friend," he said, threatening the young man with his finger, "you have had a narrow escape this time.""Commandant," said the youth, "it is time all this nonsense should cease; I am ready to go with you, if you like, to headquarters.""And bring your invisible owl, Marche-a-Terre?""Who is Marche-a-Terre?" asked the young man, showing all the signs of genuine surprise.

"Didn't he hoot just now?"

"What did that hooting have to do with me, I should like to know? Isupposed it was your soldiers letting you know of their arrival.""Nonsense, you did not think that."

同类推荐
  • A Bundle of Letters

    A Bundle of Letters

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台上迟客

    台上迟客

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 留别复本修古二上人

    留别复本修古二上人

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 雪关和尚语录

    雪关和尚语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 画山水序

    画山水序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 白苍山下

    白苍山下

    天下纷繁来去,问一声何人为仙?千古沧海桑田,道一句公子来也!白苍山下,剑斩仙凡。 葫芦转身,心镇蓬莱! 书友群:684348599
  • 造化天棺

    造化天棺

    一口棺材,装着一个世界,一个少年,生而为魔,那又如何,一口棺材一个少年,一个嚣张跋扈的少年改变的事情,在这灵天大陆中又会留下怎样不朽的传说。
  • SCAR—L的守护

    SCAR—L的守护

    这是一个作者在突发奇想之下,一时冲动根据一些现实故事外加脑洞加工而写的一本小说,狗血是不存在滴,校园暴力也是没有滴,反派也是不成气候滴,目前来看是应该是一本小甜文。虽然作者很努力想当个后妈,奈何剧情不让,所以,,,在本书中虐是不可能的。中间穿插一些由大学室友之间相处的鬼马日常而编写的小剧场,欢迎入坑。
  • 当时明月在

    当时明月在

    一生一世一双人,自从见到谢轩的第一面,白若秋便满心的把自己全都给了他。不管是欢声还是笑语,痛苦或者灰暗……你人生的每一个重要的时刻我都渴望着参与,但却错过了你人生中最重要的一幕……这世界,天南海北、山长水阔,我都走遍了,只为寻你;离家出走、逃避婚约,也只为你……我们之间经历了那么多,你的山盟海誓还能再对我实现吗?
  • 千金嫡女:谁都别惹我

    千金嫡女:谁都别惹我

    全身异能的她穿越到一个任人欺负的将军府嫡女身上,二娘,二妹的狠毒她一下子给灭了,收了紫色眸子的妖孽弟弟,带着两个呆萌美男侍卫,开始报复欺负她的人,来一个送死的,她收了,来一个又一个美男,有点招架不住,跑到哪里又来一个,又来一个……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 总裁的野蛮女友:剩女俏佳人

    总裁的野蛮女友:剩女俏佳人

    她是穿Prada的女主编,他是传媒界的冷面王子。一场邂逅,原以为天亮后不再见面,谁知他成了她的顶头上司。被她误当做男公关的他,誓将洗刷自己的屈辱,一次次将她变成了自己的盘中餐。而她从抗拒到依恋,早就无法解除他种下的情毒,摆脱他布下的情网。直到最后才发现,相恋的只是彼此的身体。当冷面总裁遭遇野蛮剩女,谁又会俘虏了谁?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 烟霞不老身

    烟霞不老身

    太上者,虚无之神也。天地者,阴阳之神也。人虫者,血肉之神也。其同者神,其异者形。是故形不灵而气灵,语不灵而声灵,觉不灵而梦灵,生不灵而死灵。水至清而结冰不清,神至明而结形不明,冰浮返清,形散返明,能知真死者,可以游太上之京。可游太上之京!
  • 围炉夜话

    围炉夜话

    本书从立德、立身、立业三方面下笔,对《围炉夜话》原著中的200多条富含人生哲理和行为标准的言辞进行精编精译。虽然都是三言两语,结构层次也没有那么清晰明了,但可谓“立片言而居要”,内涵极为深刻,贯穿首尾的思想具有广泛的教育意义。另外,该书还把鞭挞、指导、讽刺、劝勉等多种情感熔于一炉,用精妙的语言道出了深刻的哲理,让人读来回味无穷,获益匪浅。《围炉夜话》,儒家通俗读物,是明清时期有名文学品评著作,它针对于当时以及以前的文坛掌故,人、事、文章等等分段作评价议论。作者虚拟了一个冬日拥着火炉,至交好友畅谈文艺的情境,使本书语言亲切、自然、易读。
  • 变革力:铸就IBM百年传奇

    变革力:铸就IBM百年传奇

    《变革力:铸就IBM的百年传奇》的作者通过对IBM 100年的历史回顾,首度剖析了企业如何在竞争如此激烈的环境下做强、做大、做久的八大核心变革。
  • 天下丹青

    天下丹青

    古典架空,悬疑,推理,权谋。云惜是个小小的女画师,父亲在宫廷里的丹青院供职。这天晚上云惜做了个梦,梦见父亲在一个飘雨的黄昏归家,身形瘦削,神态呆板,仿佛不带活人的气息。忽然一阵狂风携带飘雨而来,将父亲生生撕成了两半……因为对父亲的思念,对梦境的恐惧和不解,让云惜踏上了主动求解的道路。在青梅竹马的邻居、衙门捕快晏怀安的陪伴下,工于画技、对事物有着超常观察力的云惜卷入了一个又一个扑朔迷离的案件。在破解案件的同时,她离父亲的真相也越来越近……小说元素为古典架空、言情、推理、悬疑、神秘。由数个大小不一的案件构成,全部与丹青有关。