第 81 节
作者:
这就是结局 更新:2021-02-20 15:59 字数:9322
Amongst those loudest and sternest against the reign of blood;
amongst those most disenchanted of the Revolution; amongst those
most appalled by its excesses;was; as might be expected; the
Englishman; Clarence Glyndon。 The wit and accomplishments; the
uncertain virtues that had lighted with fitful gleams the mind of
Camille Desmoulins; had fascinated Glyndon more than the
qualities of any other agent in the Revolution。 And when (for
Camille Desmoulins had a heart; which seemed dead or dormant in
most of his contemporaries) that vivid child of genius and of
error; shocked at the massacre of the Girondins; and repentant of
his own efforts against them; began to rouse the serpent malice
of Robespierre by new doctrines of mercy and toleration; Glyndon
espoused his views with his whole strength and soul。 Camille
Desmoulins perished; and Glyndon; hopeless at once of his own
life and the cause of humanity; from that time sought only the
occasion of flight from the devouring Golgotha。 He had two lives
to heed besides his own; for them he trembled; and for them he
schemed and plotted the means of escape。 Though Glyndon hated
the principles; the party (None were more opposed to the
Hebertists than Camille Desmoulins and his friends。 It is
curious and amusing to see these leaders of the mob; calling the
mob 〃the people〃 one day; and the 〃canaille〃 the next; according
as it suits them。 〃I know;〃 says Camille; 〃that they (the
Hebertists) have all the canaille with them。〃(Ils ont toute la
canaille pour eux。)); and the vices of Nicot; he yet extended to
the painter's penury the means of subsistence; and Jean Nicot; in
return; designed to exalt Glyndon to that very immortality of a
Brutus from which he modestly recoiled himself。 He founded his
designs on the physical courage; on the wild and unsettled
fancies of the English artist; and on the vehement hate and
indignant loathing with which he openly regarded the government
of Maximilien。
At the same hour; on the same day in July; in which Robespierre
conferred (as we have seen) with his allies; two persons were
seated in a small room in one of the streets leading out of the
Rue St。 Honore; the one; a man; appeared listening impatiently;
and with a sullen brow; to his companion; a woman of singular
beauty; but with a bold and reckless expression; and her face as
she spoke was animated by the passions of a half…savage and
vehement nature。
〃Englishman;〃 said the woman; 〃beware!you know that; whether in
flight or at the place of death; I would brave all to be by your
side;you know THAT! Speak!〃
〃Well; Fillide; did I ever doubt your fidelity?〃
〃Doubt it you cannot; betray it you may。 You tell me that in
flight you must have a companion besides myself; and that
companion is a female。 It shall not be!〃
〃Shall not!〃
〃It shall not!〃 repeated Fillide; firmly; and folding her arms
across her breast。 Before Glyndon could reply; a slight knock at
the door was heard; and Nicot opened the latch and entered。
Fillide sank into her chair; and; leaning her face on her hands;
appeared unheeding of the intruder and the conversation that
ensued。
〃I cannot bid thee good…day; Glyndon;〃 said Nicot; as in his
sans…culotte fashion he strode towards the artist; his ragged hat
on his head; his hands in his pockets; and the beard of a week's
growth upon his chin;〃I cannot bid thee good…day; for while the
tyrant lives; evil is every sun that sheds its beams on France。〃
〃It is true; what then? We have sown the wind; we must reap the
whirlwind。〃
〃And yet;〃 said Nicot; apparently not heeding the reply; and as
if musingly to himself; 〃it is strange to think that the butcher
is as mortal as the butchered; that his life hangs on as slight a
thread; that between the cuticle and the heart there is as short
a passage;that; in short; one blow can free France and redeem
mankind!〃
Glyndon surveyed the speaker with a careless and haughty scorn;
and made no answer。
〃And;〃 proceeded Nicot; 〃I have sometimes looked round for the
man born for this destiny; and whenever I have done so; my steps
have led me hither!〃
〃Should they not rather have led thee to the side of Maximilien
Robespierre?〃 said Glyndon; with a sneer。
〃No;〃 returned Nicot; coldly;〃no; for I am a 'suspect:' I
could not mix with his train; I could not approach within a
hundred yards of his person; but I should be seized; YOU; as yet;
are safe。 Hear me!〃and his voice became earnest and
expressive;〃hear me! There seems danger in this action; there
is none。 I have been with Collot d'Herbois and Bilaud…Varennes;
they will hold him harmless who strikes the blow; the populace
would run to thy support; the Convention would hail thee as their
deliverer; the〃
〃Hold; man! How darest thou couple my name with the act of an
assassin? Let the tocsin sound from yonder tower; to a war
between Humanity and the Tyrant; and I will not be the last in
the field; but liberty never yet acknowledged a defender in a
felon。〃
There was something so brave and noble in Glyndon's voice; mien;
and manner; as he thus spoke; that Nicot at once was silenced; at
once he saw that he had misjudged the man。
〃No;〃 said Fillide; lifting her face from her hands;〃no! your
friend has a wiser scheme in preparation; he would leave you
wolves to mangle each other。 He is right; but〃
〃Flight!〃 exclaimed Nicot; 〃is it possible? Flight; how?when?
by what means? All France begirt with spies and guards!
Flight! would to Heaven it were in our power!〃
〃Dost thou; too; desire to escape the blessed Revolution?〃
〃Desire! Oh!〃 cried Nicot; suddenly; and; falling down; he
clasped Glyndon's knees;〃oh; save me with thyself! My life is
a torture; every moment the guillotine frowns before me。 I know
that my hours are numbered; I know that the tyrant waits but his
time to write my name in his inexorable list; I know that Rene
Dumas; the judge who never pardons; has; from the first; resolved
upon my death。 Oh; Glyndon; by our old friendship; by our common
art; by thy loyal English faith and good English heart; let me
share thy flight!〃
〃If thou wilt; so be it。〃
〃Thanks!my whole life shall thank thee。 But how hast thou
prepared the means; the passports; the disguise; the〃
〃I will tell thee。 Thou knowest C; of the Convention;he has
power; and he is covetous。 'Qu'on me meprise; pourvu que je
dine' (Let them despise me; provided that I dine。); said he; when
reproached for his avarice。〃
〃Well?〃
〃By the help of this sturdy republican; who has friends enough in
the Comite; I have obtained the means necessary for flight; I
have purchased them。 For a consideration I can procure thy
passport also。〃
〃Thy riches; then; are not in assignats?〃
〃No; I have gold enough for us all。〃
And here Glyndon; beckoning Nicot into the next room; first
briefly and rapidly detailed to him the plan proposed; and the
disguises to be assumed conformably to the passports; and then
added; 〃In return for the service I render thee; grant me one
favour; which I think is in thy power。 Thou rememberest Viola
Pisani?〃
〃Ah;remember; yes!and the lover with whom she fled。〃
〃And FROM whom she is a fugitive now。〃
〃Indeedwhat!I understand。 Sacre bleu! but you are a lucky
fellow; cher confrere。〃
〃Silence; man! with thy eternal prate of brotherhood and virtue;
thou seemest never to believe in one kindly action; or one
virtuous thought!〃
Nicot bit his lip; and replied sullenly; 〃Experience is a great
undeceiver。 Humph! What service can I do thee with regard to
the Italian?〃
〃I have been accessory to her arrival in this city of snares and
pitfalls。 I cannot leave her alone amidst dangers from which
neither innocence nor obscurity is a safeguard。 In your blessed
Republic; a good and unsuspected citizen; who casts a desire on
any woman; maid or wife; has but to say; 'Be mine; or I denounce
you!' In a word; Viola must share our flight。〃
〃What so easy? I see your passports provide for her。〃
〃What so easy? What so difficult? This Fillidewould that I
had never seen her!would that I had never enslaved my soul to
my senses! The love of an uneducated; violent; unprincipled
woman; opens with a heaven; to merge in a hell! She is jealous
as all the Furies; she will not hear of a female companion; and
when once she sees the beauty of Viola!I tremble to think of
it。 She is capable of any excess in the storm of her passions。〃
〃Aha; I know what such women are! My wife; Beatrice Sacchini;
whom I took from Naples; when I failed with this very Viola;
divorced me when my money failed; and; as the mistress of a
judge; passes me in her carriage while I crawl through the
streets。 Plague on her!but patience; patience! such is the lot
of virtue。 Would I were Robespierr