第 27 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:50      字数:9322
  But during his absence things had happened among these men; who had
  hitherto obeyed him blindly; which he little expected。  He had left;
  as usual; Ravanel in command; but hardly had he ridden away when
  Ravanel began to take all kinds of precautions; ordering the men not
  to lay aside their arms。  The negotiations with M。 de Villars had
  made him most anxious; he looked upon all the promises given as
  snares; and he regarded the compromise favoured by his chief as a
  defection on Cavalier's part。  He therefore called all the officers
  and men together; told them of his fears; and ended by imbuing them
  with his suspicions。  This was all the more easily done; as it was
  very well known that Cavalier had joined the Huguenots less from
  devotion to the cause than to avenge a private wrong; and on many
  occasions had given rise to the remark that he had more genius than
  religion。
  So; on getting back to Calvisson; the young chief found his principal
  officers; Ravanel at their head; drawn up in the market…place;
  waiting for him。  As soon as he drew near they told him that they
  were determined to know at once what were the conditions of the
  treaty he had signed with the marechal; they had made up their minds
  to have a plain answer without delay。  Such a way of speaking to him
  was so strange and unexpected; that Cavalier shrugged his shoulders
  and replied that such matters were no business of theirs; being too
  high for their intelligence; that it was his business to decide what
  course to take and theirs to take it; it had always been so in the
  past; and with the help of God and his own; Cavalier's; goodwill; it
  should still be so in future; and having so spoken; he told them to
  disperse。  Ravanel upon this came forward; and in the name of all the
  others said they would not go away until they knew what orders
  Cavalier was about to give the troops; that they might consult among
  themselves whether they should obey them or not。  This
  insubordination was too much for Cavalier's patience。
  〃The orders are;〃 he said; 〃to put on the uniforms that are being
  made for you; and to follow me to Portugal。〃
  The effect of such words on men who were expecting nothing less than
  the re…enactment of the Edict of Nantes; can be easily imagined; the
  words 〃coward〃 and 〃traitor〃 could be distinguished above the
  murmurs; as Cavalier noticed with increasing astonishment。  Raising
  himself in his stirrups; and glancing round with that look before
  which they had been used to tremble; he asked in a voice as calm as
  if all the demons of anger were not raging in his heart; 〃Who called
  Jean Cavalier traitor and coward?〃
  〃I;〃 said Ravanel; crossing his arms on his breast。
  Cavalier drew a pistol from his holsters; and striking those near him
  with the butt end; opened a way towards his lieutenant; who drew his
  sword; but at this moment the commissary…general; Vincel; and Captain
  Cappon threw themselves between the two and asked the cause of the
  quarrel。
  〃The cause;〃 said Ravanel; 〃is that the Cadets of the Cross; led by
  the 'Hermit;' have just knocked out the brains of two of our
  brethren; who were coming to join us; and are hindering others front
  attending our meetings to worship God: the conditions of the truce
  having been thus broken; is it likely they will keep those of the
  treaty?  We refuse to accept the treaty。〃
  〃Sir;〃 said Vincel; 〃if the 'Hermit' has done what you say; it is
  against the orders of the marachal; and the misdoer will be punished;
  besides; the large number of strangers at present in Calvisson ought
  to be sufficient proof that no attempt has been made to prevent the
  new converts from coming to the town; and it seems to me that you
  have been too easily led to believe everything that malicious people
  have told you。〃
  〃I believe what I choose to believe;〃 said Ravanel impatiently; 〃but
  what I know and say is; that I shall never lay down arms till the
  king grants us full liberty of conscience; permission to rebuild our
  places of worship; and sends us back all prisoners and exiles。〃
  〃But; judging by your tone;〃 said Cavalier; who had till now remained
  silent while toying with his pistol; 〃you seem to be in command here;
  have we changed; parts without my being aware?〃
  〃It is possible;〃 said Ravanel。
  Cavalier burst out laughing。
  〃It seems to astonish you;〃 said Ravanel; 〃but it is true。  Make
  peace for yourself; lay down what conditions suit you; sell yourself
  for whatever you will bring; my only reply is; You are a coward and a
  traitor。 But as to the troops; they will not lay down arms except on
  the conditions formulated by me。〃
  Cavalier tried to get at Ravanel; but seeing from his paleness and
  his smile that terrible things would happen if he reached his
  lieutenant; Vincel and Cappon; backed by some Camisards; threw
  themselves before his horse。 Just then the whole band shouted with
  one voice; 〃No peace! no peace! no reconciliation till our temples
  are restored!〃  Cavalier then saw for the first time that things were
  more serious than he had believed; but Vincel; Cappon; Berlie; and
  about twenty Camisards surrounded the young chief and forced him to
  enter a house; it was the house of Vincel。
  They had hardly got indoors when the 'generale' was sounded:
  resisting all entreaties; Cavalier sprang to the door; but was
  detained by Berlie; who said that the first thing he ought to do was
  to write M。 de Villars an account of what had happened; who would
  then take measures to put things straight。
  〃You are right;〃 said Cavalier; 〃as I have so many enemies; the
  general might be told if I were killed that I had broken my word。
  Give me pen and ink。〃
  Writing materials were brought; and he wrote to M。 de Villars。
  〃Here;〃 he said; giving the letter unsealed to Vincel; 〃set out for
  Nimes and give this to the marechal; and tell him; if I am killed in
  the attempt I am about to make; I died his humble servant。〃
  With these words; he darted out of the house and mounted his horse;
  being met at the door by twelve to fifteen men who had remained
  faithful to him。  He asked them where Ravanel and his troops were;
  not seeing a single Camisard in the streets; one of the soldiers
  answered that they were probably still in town; but that they were
  moving towards Les Garrigues de Calvisson。  Cavalier set off at a
  gallop to overtake them。
  In crossing the market…place he met Catinat; walking between two
  prophets; one called Moses and the other Daniel Guy; Catinat was just
  back from a visit to the mountains; so that he had taken no part in
  the scene of insubordination that had so lately been enacted。
  Cavalier felt a ray of hope; he was sure he could depend on Catinat
  as on himself。  He hurried to greet him; holding out his hand; but
  Catinat drew back his。
  〃What does this mean?〃 cried Cavalier; the blood mounting to his
  forehead。
  〃It means;〃 answered Catinat; 〃that you are a traitor; and I cannot
  give my hand to a traitor。〃
  Cavalier gave a cry of rage; and advancing on Catinat; raised his
  cane to strike him; but Moses and Daniel Guy threw themselves
  between; so that the blow aimed at Catinat fell on Moses。  At the
  same moment Catinat; seeing Cavalier's gesture; drew a pistol from
  his belt。  As it was at full cock; it went off in his hand; a bullet
  piercing Guy's hat; without; however; wounding him。
  At the noise of the report shouts were heard about a hundred yards
  away。  It was the Camisards; who had been on the point of leaving the
  town; but hearing the shot had turned back; believing that some of
  their brethren were being murdered。  On seeing them appear; Cavalier
  forgot Catinat; and rode straight towards them。  As soon as they
  caught sight of him they halted; and Ravanel advanced before them
  ready for every danger。
  〃Brethren;〃 he cried; 〃the traitor has come once more to tempt us。
  Begone; Judas!  You have no business here。〃
  〃But I have;〃 exclaimed Cavalier。  〃I have to punish a scoundrel
  called Ravanel; if he has courage to follow me。〃
  〃Come on; then;〃 cried Ravanel; darting down a small side…street;
  〃and let us have done with it。〃  The Camisards made a motion as if to
  follow them; but Ravanel turning towards them ordered them to remain
  where they were。
  They obeyed; and thus Cavalier could see that; insubordinate as they
  had been towards him; they were ready to obey another。
  Just at the moment as he turned into the narrow street where the
  dispute was to be settled once for all; Moses and Guy came up; and
  seizing the bridle of his horse stopped him; while the Camisards who
  were on the side of Cavalier surrounded Ravanel and forced him to
  return to his soldiers。  The troops struck up a psalm; and resumed
  their march; while Cavalier was held back by force。
  At last; however; the young Cevenol succeeded in breaking away from
  those who surrounded him; and as the street by which the Camisards
  had retired was blocked; he dashed down another。  The two prophets
  suspecting his intention; hurried after the troops by the most direct
  route; and got up with them; just as Cavalier; who had made the
  circuit of the town; came galloping across the plain to intercept
  their passage。  The troops halted; and Ravanel gave orders t