登陆注册
5242500000099

第99章 CHAPTER XXIV(1)

THE HURRIED QUESTION OF DESPAIR.

Le Gardeur plunged headlong down the silent street, neither knowing nor caring whither. Half mad with grief, half with resentment, he vented curses upon himself, upon Angelique, upon the world, and looked upon Providence itself as in league with the evil powers to thwart his happiness,--not seeing that his happiness in the love of a woman like Angelique was a house built on sand, which the first storm of life would sweep away.

"Holla! Le Gardeur de Repentigny! Is that you?" exclaimed a voice in the night. "What lucky wind blows you out at this hour?" Le Gardeur stopped and recognized the Chevalier de Pean. "Where are you going in such a desperate hurry?"

"To the devil!" replied Le Gardeur, withdrawing his hand from De Pean's, who had seized it with an amazing show of friendship. "It is the only road left open to me, and I am going to march down it like a garde du corps of Satan! Do not hold me, De Pean! Let go my arm! I am going to the devil, I tell you!"

"Why, Le Gardeur," was the reply, "that is a broad and well- travelled road--the king's highway, in fact. I am going upon it myself, as fast and merrily as any man in New France."

"Well, go on it then! March either before or after me, only don't go with me, De Pean; I am taking the shortest cuts to get to the end of it, and want no one with me." Le Gardeur walked doggedly on; but De Pean would not be shaken off. He suspected what had happened.

"The shortest cut I know is by the Taverne de Menut, where I am going now," said he, "and I should like your company, Le Gardeur!

Our set are having a gala night of it, and must be musical as the frogs of Beauport by this hour! Come along!" De Pean again took his arm. He was not repelled this time.

"I don't care where I go, De Pean!" replied he, forgetting his dislike to this man, and submitting to his guidance,--the Taverne de Menut was just the place for him to rush into and drown his disappointment in wine. The two moved on in silence for a few minutes.

"Why, what ails you, Le Gardeur?" asked his companion, as they walked on arm in arm. "Has fortune frowned upon the cards, or your mistress proved a fickle jade like all her sex?"

His words were irritating enough to Le Gardeur. "Look you, De Pean, said he, stopping, "I shall quarrel with you if you repeat such remarks. But you mean no mischief I dare say, although I would not swear it!" Le Gardeur looked savage.

De Pean saw it would not be safe to rub that sore again. "Forgive me, Le Gardeur!" said he, with an air of sympathy well assumed. "I meant no harm. But you are suspicious of your friends to-night as a Turk of his harem."

I have reason to be! And as for friends, I find only such friends as you, De Pean! And I begin to think the world has no better!"

The clock of the Recollets struck the hour as they passed under the shadow of its wall. The brothers of St. Francis slept quietly on their peaceful pillows, like sea birds who find in a rocky nook a refuge from the ocean storms. "Do you think the Recollets are happy, De Pean?" asked he, turning abruptly to his companion.

"Happy as oysters at high water, who are never crossed in love, except of their dinner! But that is neither your luck nor mine, Le Gardeur!" De Pean was itching to draw from his companion something with reference to what had passed with Angelique.

"Well, I would rather be an oyster than a man, and rather be dead than either!" was the reply of Le Gardeur. "How soon, think you, will brandy kill a man, De Pean?" asked he abruptly, after a pause of silence.

"It will never kill you, Le Gardeur, if you take it neat at Master Menut's. It will restore you to life, vigor, and independence of man and woman. I take mine there when I am hipped as you are, Le Gardeur. It is a specific for every kind of ill-fortune,--I warrant it will cure and never kill you."

They crossed the Place d'Armes. Nothing in sight was moving except the sentries who paced slowly like shadows up and down the great gateway of the Castle of St. Louis.

"It is still and solemn as a church-yard here," remarked De Pean;

"all the life of the place is down at Menut's! I like the small hours," added he as the chime of the Recollets ceased. "They are easily counted, and pass quickly, asleep or awake. Two o'clock in the morning is the meridian of the day for a man who has wit to wait for it at Menut's!--these small hours are all that are worth reckoning in a man's life!"

Without consenting to accompany De Pean, Le Gardeur suffered himself to be led by him. He knew the company that awaited him there--the wildest and most dissolute gallants of the city and garrison were usually assembled there at this hour.

The famous old hostelry was kept by Master Menut, a burly Breton who prided himself on keeping everything full and plenty about his house--tables full, tankards full, guests full, and himself very full. The house was to-night lit up with unusual brilliance, and was full of company--Cadet, Varin, Mercier, and a crowd of the friends and associates of the Grand Company. Gambling, drinking, and conversing in the loudest strain on such topics as interested their class, were the amusements of the night. The vilest thoughts, uttered in the low argot of Paris, were much affected by them.

They felt a pleasure in this sort of protest against the extreme refinement of society, just as the collegians of Oxford, trained beyond their natural capacity in morals, love to fall into slang and, like Prince Hal, talk to every tinker in his own tongue.

De Pean and Le Gardeur were welcomed with open arms at the Taverne de Menut. A dozen brimming glasses were offered them on every side.

同类推荐
  • 南村诗集

    南村诗集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 篁墩文集

    篁墩文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清洞真智慧观身大戒文

    上清洞真智慧观身大戒文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 紫竹林颛愚衡和尚语录

    紫竹林颛愚衡和尚语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 施设论卷

    施设论卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 青梅竹马是女帝

    青梅竹马是女帝

    红衣女帝伊人袖,青衫书生亦风流。舍权散财素身清,只愿与卿共余生。
  • 中国建筑地图

    中国建筑地图

    本书是彩色中国文化地图系列丛书的一种。编者应用地图的理念,以一种全新的视角来解读中国古代建筑,在参考了大量古建筑文献资料的基础上,从众多的中国古代建筑中遴选近50个最具代表性的古建筑,并从多个角度对这些古建筑做了剖析,并且辅以专题解说、建筑小知识、建筑术语等内容,使读者在轻松阅读的同时获取更多的建筑知识,并为其提供更广泛的文化视野、审美感受与想像空间。
  • 恋上钻石王老五的吻

    恋上钻石王老五的吻

    处子之身的白枫被杨荣轩骗取清白之身后。白枫就当是一夜情,一笑而过。原本想回到自己宁静的生活,可不是料杨荣轩却对白枫展开了激烈的追求!“做我的女人,只要是我想要的,你就逃不出我的手掌心!”杨荣轩狠狠的捏着白枫的下巴冷冷的说道。“想让我做你女人,休想!”白枫同样的,也冷冷的回答。
  • 毒气

    毒气

    吃晌饭的时候,有人见他倒背着手,牵着牛从村央的大路上慢腾腾地往西走,便私下里嘀咕,一直嘀咕到天黑,嘀咕到望台村活着的、死去的人都知道了这件事——彭老蒯买了一头牛。彭老蒯真的买了一头牛,一千八买的。早晨在集上,他一眼就相中了这头牛,黄底白花,干干净净,像艳阳天里白云彩飘过刚垦的地,透着一份爽气。虽然有几年没种地了,可彭老蒯知道,相牛和相人差不多,相的是精气神儿。有的牛高高大大,牙口也好,但一眼瞟过去脏兮兮的,不叫人待见。
  • 环湖崩溃 情和欲的悲歌(修订版)

    环湖崩溃 情和欲的悲歌(修订版)

    环绕青海湖的世界是一片充满野性又不乏温情的广袤天地。《藏獒》作者杨志军以大气磅礴的叙事风格,讲述了一个“环湖崩溃”的现代寓言,振聋发聩又发人深醒。这部展示荒原人性的作品既是寓言,也是预言。本书曾被作家汪曾祺称为“一部震撼人心的罕见杰作”,亦被台湾评论界誉为“华语世界一流精品”。
  • 嫡妻难为:相爷勾勾缠

    嫡妻难为:相爷勾勾缠

    前世,祖母狠毒,表妹阴险,骗她把豺狼作良配!一朝惊变,家破,人财空!她被陷害成逃犯,卖身为奴忍辱偷生,却看渣男平步青云,最后更因她为冤死的乡亲请命,将她灭口!呸!这一世,欠了姐的,百倍还来!吃了姐的,连血带肉的给姐吐出来!黑心祖母,恶毒表妹,豺狼表哥,看她又能饶了谁?嫡女归来,涅槃重生!草包大小姐学会了权谋,谁敢算计她一时,她便让那人痛苦一世!猜人心,算计策,步步为营。却不料,从此被他骗上了贼船,成就了夫妻档,携手并进,铺就了一条锦绣之路
  • 都市小片警

    都市小片警

    警察也能被雷劈,一名警校刚毕业的小警察,被分配在派出所工作,负责一块地区的管理,俗称片警,由于一次意外,在回家的路上被雷电劈到,结果精神与雷电结合,产生变异,从此小片警的生活被改变,身怀绝技的小片警开始为守护神州而努力,我们的小片警能否出杀重围,扬我国威,尽到守护神州的责任?
  • 每个老师都是故事

    每个老师都是故事

    只要为孩子真心付出,就能够为自己和孩子们带来无法衡量的成长与快乐……在李镇西校长带领的成都武侯实验中学,每个教师都是一个故事,每个教师都是一位爱的传播者,“让人们因为我的存在而感到幸福”的人文精神深入到每一个武侯实验人的内心,他们与作为一校之长的李镇西在教育生活中相互砥砺与激荡,共同谱写了新教育的华章。这些真实的故事就如同一首首教育诗,为被温家宝总理所盛赞的“平民教育实践”留下了生动的教材和宝贵的资料。
  • 健康心理调节师

    健康心理调节师

    这是一本教你获得晋升和高薪的书,这是一本身在职场的你必须品读的书。工作可以不那么辛苦,只要你掌握了方法。工作可以不那么费尽苦心,只要你会统筹安排。工作可以不那么忙忙碌碌,只要你注重效率。工作可以不那么疲惫,只要你调节好心态。
  • Reminiscences of Tolstoy

    Reminiscences of Tolstoy

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。