from the memoirs of a minister of france-第8部分

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〃Twenty　crowns。〃

Doubtless　some　will　view　my　conduct　on　this　occasion　with　surprise；　and　wonder　why　I　troubled　myself　with　inquiries　so　minute　upon　a　matter　so　mean。　　But　these　do　not　consider　that　ministers　are　the　King's　eyes；　and　that　in　a　State　no　class　is　so　unimportant　that　it　can　be　safely　overlooked。　　Moreover；　as　the　settlement　of　the　finances　was　one　of　the　objects　of　my　stay　in　those　partsand　I　seldom　had　the　opportunity　of　checking　the　statements　made　to　me　by　the　farmers　and　lessees　of　the　taxes；　the　receivers；　gatherers；　and；　in　a　word；　all　the　corrupt　class　that　imparts　such　views　of　a　province　as　suit　its　interestsI　was　glad　to　learn　anything　that　threw　light　on　the　real　condition　of　the　country：　　the　more；　as　I　had　to　receive　at　Vitre　a　deputation　of　the　notables　and　officials　of　the　district。

Accordingly；　I　continued　to　put　questions　to　her　until；　crossing　a　ridge；　we　came　at　last　within　sight　of　the　inn；　a　lonely　house　of　stone；　standing　in　the　hollow　of　the　moor　and　sheltered　on　one　side　by　a　few　gnarled　trees　that　took　off　in　a　degree　from　the　bleakness　of　its　aspect。　　The　house　was　of　one　story　only；　with　a　window　on　either　side　of　the　door；　and　no　other　appeared　in　sight；　but　a　little　smoke　rising　from　the　chimney　seemed　to　promise　a　better　reception　than　the　desolate　landscape　and　the　girl's　scanty　dress　had　led　us　to　expect。

As　we　drew　nearer；　however；　a　thing　happened　so　remarkable　as　to　draw　our　attention　in　a　moment　from　all　these　points；　and　bring　us；　gaping；　to　a　standstill。　　The　shutters　of　the　two　windows　were　suddenly　closed　before　our　eyes　with　a　clap　that　came　sharply　on　the　wind。　　Then；　in　a　twinkling；　one　window　flew　open　again　and　a　man；　seemingly　naked；　bounded　from　it；　fled　with　inconceivable　rapidity　across　the　front　of　the　house　and　vanished　through　the　other　window；　which　opened　to　receive　him。　　He　had　scarcely　gained　that　shelter　before　a　coal…black　figure　followed　him；　leaping　out　of　the　one　window　and　in　at　the　other　with　the　same　astonishing　swiftnessa　swiftness　which　was　so　great　that　before　any　of　us　could　utter　more　than　an　exclamation；　the　two　figures　appeared　again　round　the　corner　of　the　house；　in　the　same　order；　but　this　time　with　so　small　an　interval　that　the　fugitive　barely　saved　himself　through　the　window。　　Once　more；　while　we　stared　in　stupefaction；　they　flashed　out　and　in；　and　this　time　it　seemed　to　me　that　as　they　vanished　the　black　spectre　seized　its　victim。

When　I　say　that　all　this　time　the　two　figures　uttered　no　sound；　that　there　was　no　other　living　being　in　sight；　and　that　on　every　side　of　the　solitary　house　the　moor；　growing　each　minute　more　eerie　as　the　day　waned；　spread　to　the　horizon；　the　more　superstitious　among　us　may　be　pardoned　if　they　gave　way　to　their　fears。　　La　Font　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃MON　DIEU！〃　　he　criedwhile　the　girl　moaned　in　terror；　the　Breton　crossed　himself；　and　La　Trape　looked　uncomfortable〃the　place　is　bewitched！〃

〃Nonsense！〃　　I　said。　　〃Who　is　in　the　house；　girl？〃

〃Only　my　mother；〃　she　wailed。　　〃Oh；　my　poor　mother！〃

I　silenced　her；　scolding　them　all　for　fools；　and　her　first；　and　La　Font；　recovering　himself；　did　the　same。　　But　this　was　the　year　of　that　strange　appearance　of　the　spectre　horseman　at　Fontainebleau　of　which　so　much　has　been　said；　and　my　servants；　when　we　had　approached　the　house　a　little　nearer；　and　it　still　remained　silent　and；　as　it　were；　dead　to　the　eye；　would　go　no　farther；　but　stood　in　sheer　terror　and　permitted　me　to　go　on　alone　with　La　Font。　　I　confess　that　the　loneliness　of　the　house；　and　the　dreary　waste　that　surrounded　it　（which　seemed　to　exclude　the　idea　of　trickery）　were　not　without　their　effect　on　my　spirits；　and　that　as　I　dismounted　and　approached　the　door；　I　felt　a　kind　of　chill　not　remarkable　under　the　circumstances。

But　the　courage　of　the　gentleman　differs　from　that　of　the　vulgar　in　that　he　fears　yet　goes；　and　I　lifted　the　latch；　and　entered　boldly。　　The　scene　which　met　my　eyes　inside　was　sufficiently　commonplace　to　reassure　me。　　At　the　farther　end　of　a　long　bare　room；　draughty；　half…lighted；　and　having　an　earthen　floor；　yet　possessing　that　air　of　homeliness　which　a　wood　fire　never　fails　to　impart；　sat　a　single　traveller；　who　had　drawn　his　small　table　under　the　open　chimney；　and　there；　with　his　feet　almost　in　the　fire；　was　partaking　of　a　poor　meal　of　black　bread　and　onions。　　He　was　a　tall；　spare　man；　with　sloping　shoulders　and　a　long　sour　face；　of　which；　as　I　entered；　he　gave　me　the　full　benefit。

I　looked　round　the　room；　but　look　as　I　might　I　could　see　no　one　else；　nor　anything　that　explained　what　we　had　witnessed　and　I　accosted　the　man　civilly；　wishing　him　good　evening。　　He　made　an　answer；　but　indistinctly；　and；　this　done；　went　on　with　his　meal　like　one　who　viewed　our　arrival　with　little　pleasure；　while　I；　puzzled　and　astonished　by　the　ordinary　look　of　things　and　the　stillness　of　the　house；　affected　to　warm　my　feet　at　the　logs。　　At　length；　espying　no　signs　of　disturbance　anywhere；　I　asked　him　if　he　was　alone。

〃I　was；　sir；〃　he　answered　gravely。

I　was　going　on　to　tell　him；　though　reluctantly；　what　we　had　seen　outside；　and　to　question　him　upon　it；　when　on　a　sudden；　before　I　could　speak　again；　he　leaned　towards　me　and　accosted　me　with　startling　abruptness。　　〃Sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　should　like　to　have　your　opinion　of　Louis　Eleven。〃

I　stared　at　him　in　the　most　perfect　astonishment；　and　was　for　a　moment　so　completely　taken　aback　that　I　mechanically　repeated　his　words。　　For　answer；　he　did　so　also。

〃The　Eleventh　Louis？〃　　I　said。

〃Yes；〃　he　rejoined；　turning　his　pale　visage　full　upon　me。　　〃What　is　your　opinion　of　him；　sir？　　He　was　a　man？〃

〃Well；〃　I　said；　shrugging　my　shoulders；　〃I　take　that　for　granted。〃　　I　began　to　think　that　the　traveller　was　demented。

〃And　a　king？〃

〃Yes；　I　suppose　so；〃　I　answered　contemptuously。　　〃I　never　heard　it　doubted。〃

He　leaned　towards　me；　and　spoke　with　the　most　eager　impressiveness。　　〃A　manand　a　king！〃　　he　said。　　〃Yet　neither　a　manly　king；　nor　a　kingly　man！　　You　take　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said　impatiently。　　〃I　see　what　you　mean。

〃Neither　a　kingly　man；　nor　a　manly　king！〃　　he　repeated　with　solemn　gusto。　　〃You　take　me　clearly；　I　think？〃

I　had　no　stomach　for　further　fooleries；　and　I　was　about　to　answer　him　with　some　sharpnessthough　I　could　not　for　the　life　of　me　tell　whether　he　was　mad　or　an　eccentric　when　a　harsh　voice　shrieked　in　my　ear；　〃Bob！〃　　and　in　a　twinkling　a　red　figure　appeared　bounding　and　whirling　in　the　middle　of　the　kitchen；　now　springing　into　the　air　until　its　head　touched　the　rafters；　now　eddying　round　and　round　the　floor　in　the　giddiest　gyrations。　　At　the　first　glance；　startled　by　the　voice　in　my　ear；　I　recoiled；　but　a　second　disclosing　what　it　was；　and　the　secret　of　our　alarm　outside；　I　masked　my　movement；　and　when　the　man　brought　his　performance　to　a　sudden　stop；　and　falling　on　one　knee　in　an　attitude　of　exaggerated　respect　held　out　his　cap；　I　was　ready　for　him。

〃Why；　you　knave；〃　I　said；　〃you　should　be　whipped；　not　rewarded。　Who　gave　you　leave　to　play　pranks　on　travellers？〃

He　looked　at　me　with　a　droll　smile　on　his　round　merry　face；　which　at　its　gravest　was　a　thing　to　laugh　at。　　〃Let　him　whip　who　is　scared；〃　he　said；　with　roguish　impudence。　　〃Or　if　there　is　to　be　whipping；　my　lord；　whip　Louis　XI。〃

Thus　reminded；　I　turned　to　the　solemn　traveller；　but　my　eyes　had　no　sooner　met　his　than　he　twisted　his　visage　into　so　wry　a　smile　if　smile　it　could　be　calledthat　wherever　there　was　a　horse　collar　he　must　have　won　the　prize。　　To　hide　my　amusement；　I　asked　them　what　they　were。　　〃Mountebanks？〃　　I　said　curtly。

〃Your　lordship　has　pricked　the　garter　offhand；〃　the　merry　man　answered　cheerfully。　　〃You　see　before　you　the　renowned　Pierre　Paladin　VOILA！and　Philibert　Le　Grand！　　of　the　Breton　fairs；　monsieur。〃

〃But　why　this　fooleryhere？〃　　I　said。

〃We　took　you　for　another；　monsieur；〃　he　answered。

〃Whom　you　intended　to　frighten？〃

〃Precisely；　your　grace。〃

〃Well；　you　are　nice　rogues；〃　I　said；　looking　at　him。

〃So　is　he；〃　he　answered；　undaunted。

I　left　the　matter　there　for　a　moment；　while　I　summoned　La　Font　and　the　servants；　whose　rage；　when；　entering　a…tiptoe　and　with　some　misgiving；　they　discovered　how　they　had　been　deceived；　and　by　whom；　was　scarcely　to　be　restrained　even　by　my　presence。　However；　aided　by　Philibert's　comicalities；　I　presently　secured　a　truce；　and　the　two　strollers　vacating　in　my　honour　the　table　by　the　firethough　they　had　not　the　slightest　notion　who　I　was　we　were　soon　on　terms。　　I　had　taken　the　precaution　to　bring　a　meal　with　me；　and　while　La　Trape　and　his　companion　unpacked　it；　and　I　dried　my　riding　boots；　I　asked　the　players　who　it　was　they　had　meant　to　frighten。

They　were　not　very　willing　to　tell　me；　but　at　length　confessed；　to　my　astonishment；　that　it　was　M。　Grabot。

〃GrabotGrabot！〃　　I　said；　striving　to　recollect　where　I　had　heard　the　name。　　〃The　Mayor　of　Bottitort？〃

The　solemn　man　made　an　atrocious　grimace。　　Then；　〃Yes；　monsieur；　the　Mayor　of　Bottitort；〃　he　said　frankly。　　〃A　year　ago　he　put　Philibert　in　the　stocks　for　a　riddle；　that　is　his　affair。　　And　the　woman　of　this　house　has　more　than　once　befriended　me；　and　he　is　for　turning　her　out　for　a　debt　she　does　not　owe；　and　that　is　my　affair。　　However；　your　lordship's　arrival　has　saved　him　for　this　time。〃

〃You　expected　him　here　this　evening；　then？〃

〃He　is　coming；〃　he　answered；　with　more　than　his　usual　gloom。　　〃He　passed　this　way　this　morning；　and　announced　that　on　his　return　he　should　spend　the　night　here。　　We　found　the　goodwife　all　of　a　tremble　when　we　arrived。　　He　is　a　hard　man；　monsieur；〃　the　mountebank　continued　bitterly。　　〃She　cried　after　him　that　she　hoped　that　God　would　change　his　heart；　but　he　only　answered　that　even　if　St。　Brieuc　changed　his　bodyyou　know　the　legend；　monseigneur；　doubtlesshe　should　be　here。〃

〃And　here　he　is；〃　the　other；　who　had　been　looking　out　of　one　of　the　windows；　cried。　　〃I　see　his　lanthorn　coming　down　the　hill。　And　by　St。　Brieuc；　I　have　it！　　I　have　it；〃　the　droll　continued；　suddenly　spinning　round　in　a　wild　dance　of　triumph　on　the　floor；　and　then　as　suddenly　stopping　and　falling　into　an　attitude　before　us。　　〃Monsieur；　if　you　will　help　us；　I　have　the　richest　jest　ever　played。　　Pierre；　listen。　　You；　gentlemen　all；　list