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