登陆注册
14325700000014

第14章

"You, Marianne," said the bailiff to his faithful servant, "stand in front of his door and watch him. You, mother, stay down here, and keep an eye on this spy; keep your eyes and ears open and don't unfasten the door to any one but Francois. It is a question of life or death,"he added, in a deep voice. "Every creature beneath my roof must remember that I have not quitted it this night; all of you must assert that--even though your heads were on the block. Come," he said to Marthe, "come, wife, put on your shoes, take your coat, and let us be off! No questions--I go with you."For the last three quarters of an hour the man's demeanor and glance were of despotic authority, all-powerful, irresistible, drawn from the same mysterious source from which great generals on fields of battle who inflame an army, great orators inspiring vast audiences, and (it must be said) great criminals perpetrating bold crimes derive their inspiration. At such times invincible influence seems to exhale from the head and issue from the tongue; the gesture even can inject the will of the one man into others. The three women knew that some dreadful crisis was at hand; without warning of its nature they felt it in the rapid actions of the man, whose countenance shone, whose forehead spoke, whose brilliant eyes glittered like stars; they saw it in the sweat that covered his brow to the roots of his hair, while more than once his voice vibrated with impatience and fury. Marthe obeyed passively. Armed to the teeth and with his gun over his shoulder Michu dashed into the avenue, followed by his wife. They soon reached the cross-roads where Francois was in waiting hidden among the bushes.

"The boy is intelligent," said Michu, when he caught sight of him.

These were his first words. His wife had rushed after him, unable to speak.

"Go back to the house, hide in a thick tree, and watch the country and the park," he said to his son. "We have all gone to bed, no one is stirring. Your grandmother will not open the door until you ask her to let you in. Remember every word I say to you. The life of your father and mother depends on it. No one must know we did not sleep at home."After whispering these words to the boy, who instantly disappeared in the forest like an eel in the mud, Michu turned to his wife.

"Mount behind me," he said, "and pray that God be with us. Sit firm, the beast may die of it." So saying he kicked the horse with both heels, pressing him with his powerful knees, and the animal sprang forward with the rapidity of a hunter, seeming to understand what his master wanted of him, and crossed the forest in fifteen minutes. Then Michu, who had not swerved from the shortest way, pulled up, found a spot at the edge of the woods from which he could see the roofs of the chateau of Cinq-Cygne lighted by the moon, tied his horse to a tree, and followed by his wife, gained a little eminence which overlooked the valley.

The chateau, which Marthe and Michu looked at together for a moment, makes a charming effect in the landscape. Though it has little extent and is of no importance whatever as architecture, yet archaeologically it is not without a certain interest. This old edifice of the fifteenth century, placed on an eminence, surrounded on all sides by a moat, or rather by deep, wide ditches always full of water, is built in cobble-stones buried in cement, the walls being seven feet thick.

同类推荐
  • The Federalist Papers

    The Federalist Papers

    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。
  • Green Mansions

    Green Mansions

    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。
  • 使辽语录

    使辽语录

    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。
  • 西铭述解

    西铭述解

    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。
  • 熹庙谅阴记事

    熹庙谅阴记事

    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。
热门推荐
  • minecraft:暗黑崛起

    minecraft:暗黑崛起

    延续上百年的海尤曼帝国,表面上的浮华并不能掩盖即将衰落的现实。曾经覆灭边缘,如今蠢蠢欲动。一切,都将改变......
  • 饮水词

    饮水词

    一段故事,一场虚无飘渺的梦,到头来才发现这些只不过过眼云烟。
  • 天道纵横之天下重生

    天道纵横之天下重生

    堕落的人则由我仲裁,腐朽的世界将由我审判。我,司马元,今以晋皇之名,古皇之力,制霸天下。世间所有的罪孽,将由本皇洗净。并叫天下从今起,得以重生!
  • 傲娇陛下的晴天娃娃

    傲娇陛下的晴天娃娃

    公元2017年5月20日,一群普通的年轻朋友组织去森林露营,一对情侣离开队伍独自去寻找食物,她被一条突然窜出的大蛇吓了一条,失足跌落进湖水中,他想要去救她,却不小心失足,一同跌落。一阵突如其来的漩涡中,两人同时失踪……
  • 盗墓术士

    盗墓术士

    术士,也叫方士,就是古代的科学家。精通医学、天文、相术、堪舆、占卜、炼丹。云清风四岁开始就跟爷爷学习术法,为了得到墓中的古玉进行修炼,进“活人坟”,探“红山女神庙”,后来竟挖通了阴间的“黄泉路”……
  • 重生之多彩世界

    重生之多彩世界

    高旭科学重生,本想安心做个安逸的富二代,但无奈世界太纷乱又太精彩,根本闲不住啊。只能说所有的爱恨纠葛不是命运,纯属自己愿意!
  • 画

    讲述的是一个简单的故事
  • 埋藏于尘埃之中的低语

    埋藏于尘埃之中的低语

    随笔涂鸦,生活有感。取最激烈的感情冲突记录下来,试图解析自己,溯本归源,得到救赎
  • 秘境异事录

    秘境异事录

    退伍后的我整日无所事事,直到有一天黑子一行人的来临,改变了我原有的生活轨迹。我随他们一起进到了渺无人烟的丛林后,发现了一个神秘的石门。当我们进入石门之后,一个神秘的千古秘密慢慢揭晓开来……
  • 第七集团军之快速造舰系统

    第七集团军之快速造舰系统

    冷子辰堂堂高级焊接专业的高才生,却穿到了一个陌生的位面当起了奴隶,每天饱受鞭笞,苦不堪言,你说这叫什么事……有一天一个晶莹剔透的晶片从天而降,众人皆疑为妖物,不敢上前,惟有冷子辰明白,那是一块超自然属性的晶片,于是就悄悄藏了起来……不想藉此坐拥快速造舰系统,从此命格改变,重新造就了第七集团军的辉煌!