登陆注册
15469500000009

第9章 MADEMOISELLE FIFI(2)

They were enveloped in a cloud of strong tobacco smoke; they seemed to be sunk in a state of drowsy, stupid intoxication, in that dull state of drunkenness of men who have nothing to do, when suddenly, the baron sat up, and said: "By heavens! This cannot go on; we must think of something to do." And on hearing this, Lieutenant Otto and Sub-lieutenant Fritz, who pre-eminently possessed the grave, heavy German countenance, said: "What, Captain?"He thought for a few moments, and then replied "What? Well, we must get up some entertainment; if the commandant will allow us.""What sort of an entertainment, captain?" the major asked, taking his pipe out of his mouth.

"I will arrange all that, commandant," the baron said. "I will send Le Devoir to Rouen, who will bring us some ladies. I know where they can be found. We will have supper here, as all the materials are at hand, and, at least, we shall have a jolly evening."Graf von Farlsberg shrugged his shoulders with a smile: "You must surely be mad, my friend."But all the other officers got up, surrounded their chief, and said: "Let the captain have his own way, commandant; it is terribly dull here."And the major ended by yielding. "Very well," he replied, and the baron immediately sent for Le Devoir.

The latter was an old corporal who had never been seen to smile, but who carried out all the orders of his superiors to the letter, no matter what they might be. He stood there, with an impassive face while he received the baron's instructions, and then went out; five minutes later a large wagon belonging to the military train, covered with a miller's tilt, galloped off as fast as four horses could take it, under the pouring rain, and the officers all seemed to awaken from their lethargy, their looks brightened, and they began to talk.

Although it was raining as hard as ever, the major declared that it was not so dull, and Lieutenant von Grossling said with conviction, that the sky was clearing up, while Mademoiselle Fifi did not seem to be able to keep in his place. He got up, and sat down again, and his bright eyes seemed to be looking for something to destroy. Suddenly, looking at the lady with the mustaches, the young fellow pulled out his revolver, and said:

"You shall not see it." And without leaving his seat he aimed, and with two successive bullets cut out both the eyes of the portrait.

"Let us make a mine!" he then exclaimed, and the conversation was suddenly interrupted, as if they had found some fresh and powerful subject of interest. The mine was his invention, his method of destruction, and his favorite amusement.

When he left the chateau, the lawful owner, Count Fernand d'Amoys d'Urville, had not had time to carry away or to hide anything, except the plate, which had been stowed away in a hole made in one of the walls, so that, as he was very rich and had good taste, the large drawing-room, which opened into the dining-room, had looked like the gallery in a museum, before his precipitate flight.

Expensive oil-paintings, water-colors, and drawings hung upon the walls, while on the tables, on the hanging shelves, and in elegant glass cupboards, there were a thousand knickknacks: small vases, statuettes, groups in Dresden china, grotesque Chinese figures, old ivory, and Venetian glass, which filled the large room with their precious and fantastical array.

Scarcely anything was left now; not that the things had been stolen, for the major would not have allowed that, but Mademoiselle Fifi WOULD HAVE A MINE, and on that occasion all the officers thoroughly enjoyed themselves for five minutes. The little marquis went into the drawing-room to get what he wanted, and he brought back a small, delicate china teapot, which he filled with gunpowder, and carefully introduced a piece of German tinder into it, through the spout. Then he lighted it, and took this infernal machine into the next room; but he came back immediately and shut the door. The Germans all stood expectantly, their faces full of childish, smiling curiosity, and as soon as the explosion had shaken the chateau, they all rushed in at once.

Mademoiselle Fifi, who got in first, clapped his hands in delight at the sight of a terra-cotta Venus, whose head had been blown off, and each picked up pieces of porcelain, and wondered at the strange shape of the fragments, while the major was looking with a paternal eye at the large drawing-room which had been wrecked in such a Neronic fashion, and which was strewn with the fragments of works of art. He went out first, and said, with a smile: "He managed that very well!"But there was such a cloud of smoke in the dining-room, mingled with the tobacco smoke, that they could not breathe, so the commandant opened the window, and all the officers, who had gone into the room for a glass of cognac, went up to it.

The moist air blew into the room, and brought a sort of spray with it, which powdered their beards. They looked at the tall trees which were dripping with the rain, at the broad valley which was covered with mist, and at the church spire in the distance, which rose up like a gray point in the beating rain.

The bells had not rung since their arrival. That was the only resistance which the invaders had met with in the neighborhood.

The parish priest had not refused to take in and to feed the Prussian soldiers; he had several times even drunk a bottle of beer or claret with the hostile commandant, who often employed him as a benevolent intermediary; but it was no use to ask him for a single stroke of the bells; he would sooner have allowed himself to be shot. That was his way of protesting against the invasion, a peaceful and silent protest, the only one, he said, which was suitable to a priest, who was a man of mildness, and not of blood; and everyone, for twenty-five miles round, praised Abbe Chantavoine's firmness and heroism, in venturing to proclaim the public mourning by the obstinate silence of his church bells.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 娱乐编年史

    娱乐编年史

    这是华夏,一个强盛版的中国。外蒙古不叫外蒙古,它叫外蒙市,南海从来没人敢动。华夏一如千百年前强盛的唐朝傲视宇内。只不过娱乐还是那么粗制滥造,毫无水平。直到一只来自平行世界的小小蝴蝶降临,扇动起一场改变娱乐的风暴。【朝10晚18-20更新两张,如若迟到,必定是睡过头,顺便求点、收藏和推荐】
  • 老少爷们儿拿起枪

    老少爷们儿拿起枪

    面对凶狠残暴的侵略者,包括土匪和黑社会成员在内的所有中国人都意识到反抗是必须的。他们什么都没有,只能扯出红旗,拿起土枪。于是,一支由各色人等组成的草莽式武装,在与日寇的残酷斗争中应运而生,一个个各具特色的人物形象从混沌的历史中走出来,使这个故事焕发出悲壮、复杂的传奇色彩。
  • 绯色之夏:元气少女逆袭季

    绯色之夏:元气少女逆袭季

    “你怎么长得这么丑。”第N+1个人对眼前这个长得极其抽象、分辨率巨低的少女说出这句她已经认为是家常便饭的话!“你这个愚蠢的人类!长得丑想得美好吗!”少女插腰抬头蔑视着眼前这个高傲的少年——咦?长得还挺帅的。。“梵高的星空有别于一般的星空,而他这幅画为什么出名你知道吗!它!抽!像!别具一格的美!就像我!”语毕,她看到眼前少年扶额的样子,以为是在内疚是在忏悔在抽泣——“没事啊喂!道理明白的晚也没事啊喂!男人不要动不动就哭啊喂!”少
  • 万灵降天

    万灵降天

    携美戏红尘.傲剑屠三界.谁主万灵怒.何为逍遥行!一个传说的开始.就注定了将会有诸多天才的落幕,风云际会的地方.总是会出现最为闪亮的光芒。一个跨时代的大风浪即将到来,究竟有几人能渡过这个大风浪,成为超越众神之上的存在?芸芸众生的怒吼是否有人听见?曾经逝去的世界能否再度重现?这诸多传奇的博弈能否决定万境的将来?
  • 神世之步步成神

    神世之步步成神

    前世飞天大盗“飞天鼠”被狙杀,不想却突然来到异界,这个魔法都是的世界,慕枫想要让世人看看自己的光彩,本想轻松修炼,却不想总有艰巨的任务责任背负在自己身上,无奈的慕枫只有逆天而行,用自己的勇气与坚持来完成任务,神兽,神器,神座。打开他的成神之路,神女,红颜。打开他的心灵之门。看一个默默无闻的“废物”在自己的成神路上踏上他的征途。友情提示:作者属于新手,希望各路朋友的大力支持,同时渴求大神的提拔,天啊,给我掉一个大神吧,我愿意用我的贞操来换。(贞操?那是不可能的。我还要用来泡妹子呢!)
  • 极世道,残魂残剑

    极世道,残魂残剑

    魂与剑..................雷声出奇地大,简直就是在身边炸开一样,或许是个不错的闹钟,外面恐怕是要下暴雨了。
  • 惡女戀愛史

    惡女戀愛史

    开始的我们手牵着手暂停的我们肩靠着肩结束的我们背靠着背最寂寞的季节最寒冷的夜无助的我们该如何把握着该如何完美落幕...微笑的你宛如天使沉默的你貌似诗人冷漠的你神似恶魔最后的恋人最铭心的你被遗忘的我该怎样走出阴霍该怎样学会结束...
  • 重生超级美男独宠我

    重生超级美男独宠我

    渡劫时被雷劈中也就罢了,可为毛她会重生在一个被送监狱的女孩身上。出狱后,她本来只想好好修行,可为啥俊美的豪门总裁对她死缠烂打,酷酷的黑道太子对他紧追不舍,就连军装笔挺的上校同志都对她一见钟情。怎么办,逃吧。自己可不想在这个世界待下去。自己可是要成神的,只是从命运之轮转动的那一刻开始,自己的世界就偏离了原来的轨道
  • 美人如墓

    美人如墓

    我叫苏诺,今年二十岁。我嘴馋,最喜欢吃虾了,可青岛的虾太贵,我和小伙伴们就决定自己去郊外钓虾,顺便露营。谁知到了晚上,我们竟然撞见了一串串诡异的事件,难道在陌生的地方露营也能撞鬼吗?我害怕极了,让我还没想到的是,这只鬼物这么……
  • 随身空间之重生女配

    随身空间之重生女配

    被渣男背叛,转眼又出了车祸,原以为自己已经一命呜呼。没想到竟然穿越到自己最近看完的小说里变成了女配!呼,穿就穿吧,好歹有知道剧情这个金手指,还可以在女主前得到空间!哇!............咦,他是谁,怎么老缠着我?让我想想,咦,原文里没有啊!