登陆注册
5390900000046

第46章 CHAPTER VII(7)

Judging by the audacity of his bearing, and the expression of his face, Max cared little for public opinion; he expected, no doubt, to take his revenge some day, and to lord it over those who now condemned him. Moreover, if the bourgeoisie of Issoudun thought ill of him, the admiration he excited among the common people counterbalanced their opinion; his courage, his dashing appearance, his decision of character, could not fail to please the masses, to whom his degradations were, for the most part, unknown, and indeed the bourgeoisie themselves scarcely suspected its extent. Max played a role at Issoudun which was something like that of the blacksmith in the "Fair Maid of Perth"; he was the champion of Bonapartism and the Opposition; they counted upon him as the burghers of Perth counted upon Smith on great occasions. A single incident will put this hero and victim of the Hundred-Days into clear relief.

In 1819, a battalion commanded by royalist officers, young men just out of the Maison Rouge, passed through Issoudun on its way to go into garrison at Bourges. Not knowing what to do with themselves in so constitutional a place as Issoudun, these young gentlemen went to while away the time at the cafe Militaire. In every provincial town there is a military cafe. That of Issoudun, built on the place d'Armes at an angle of the rampart, and kept by the widow of an officer, was naturally the rendezvous of the Bonapartists, chiefly officers on half-pay, and others who shared Max's opinions, to whom the politics of the town allowed free expression of their idolatry for the Emperor.

Every year, dating from 1816, a banquet was given in Issoudun to commemorate the anniversary of his coronation. The three royalists who first entered asked for the newspapers, among others, for the "Quotidienne" and the "Drapeau Blanc." The politics of Issoudun, especially those of the cafe Militaire, did not allow of such royalist journals. The establishment had none but the "Commerce,"--a name which the "Constitutionel" was compelled to adopt for several years after it was suppressed by the government. But as, in its first issue under the new name, the leading article began with these words, "Commerce is essentially constitutional," people continued to call it the "Constitutionel," the subscribers all understanding the sly play of words which begged them to pay no attention to the label, as the wine would be the same.

The fat landlady replied from her seat at the desk that she did not take those papers. "What papers do you take then?" asked one of the officers, a captain. The waiter, a little fellow in a blue cloth jacket, with an apron of coarse linen tied over it, brought the "Commerce."

"Is that your paper? Have you no other?"

"No," said the waiter, "that's the only one."

The captain tore it up, flung the pieces on the floor, and spat upon them, calling out,--

"Bring dominos!"

In ten minutes the news of the insult offered to the Constitution Opposition and the Liberal party, in the supersacred person of its revered journal, which attacked priests with courage and the wit we all remember, spread throughout the town and into the houses like light itself; it was told and repeated from place to place. One phrase was on everybody's lips,--

"Let us tell Max!"

Max soon heard of it. The royalist officers were still at their game of dominos when that hero entered the cafe, accompanied by Major Potel and Captain Renard, and followed by at least thirty young men, curious to see the end of the affair, most of whom remained outside in the street. The room was soon full.

"Waiter, MY newspaper," said Max, in a quiet voice.

Then a little comedy was played. The fat hostess, with a timid and conciliatory air, said, "Captain, I have lent it!"

"Send for it," cried one of Max's friends.

"Can't you do without it?" said the waiter; "we have not got it."

The young royalists were laughing and casting sidelong glances at the new-comers.

"They have torn it up!" cried a youth of the town, looking at the feet of the young royalist captain.

"Who has dared to destroy that paper?" demanded Max, in a thundering voice, his eyes flashing as he rose with his arms crossed.

"And we spat upon it," replied the three young officers, also rising, and looking at Max.

"You have insulted the whole town!" said Max, turning livid.

"Well, what of that?" asked the youngest officer.

With a dexterity, quickness, and audacity which the young men did not foresee, Max slapped the face of the officer nearest to him, saying,--

"Do you understand French?"

They fought near by, in the allee de Frapesle, three against three; for Potel and Renard would not allow Max to deal with the officers alone. Max killed his man. Major Potel wounded his so severely, that the unfortunate young man, the son of a good family, died in the hospital the next day. As for the third, he got off with a sword cut, after wounding his adversary, Captain Renard. The battalion left for Bourges that night. This affair, which was noised throughout Berry, set Max up definitely as a hero.

The Knights of Idleness, who were all young, the eldest not more than twenty-five years old, admired Maxence. Some among them, far from sharing the prudery and strict notions of their families concerning his conduct, envied his present position and thought him fortunate.

Under such a leader, the Order did great things. After the month of May, 1817, never a week passed that the town was not thrown into an uproar by some new piece of mischief. Max, as a matter of honor, imposed certain conditions upon the Knights. Statutes were drawn up.

同类推荐
  • 风门

    风门

    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。
  • 佛说孝子经

    佛说孝子经

    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。
  • 权谋残卷

    权谋残卷

    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。
  • 顿悟入道要门论

    顿悟入道要门论

    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。
  • 佛性论卷

    佛性论卷

    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
  • 涅兰纪

    涅兰纪

    正值西晋最为动乱的时期,一穿越少女款款而来,明明前有灭门之伤,后有困囿之苦,可是此人却随遇而安,云淡风轻,凡事轻飘飘带过。毕竟是将死之身重获新生,何不趁着韶光依旧,纵享青春年华? 浮忆袖春回,爱恨杳成风。记忆轮回中永不褪色的少年郎,点缀了谁家少女迷失的梦境。也有人翩袖若惊鸿,愿为她散尽八荒,轮转时空。可往事依旧荼靡,渲染了整个花季,只待明澈又至,清风自来。
  • 带着空间回家种田

    带着空间回家种田

    刚刚得到一个随身空间,就得知青梅竹马的男友为了前途要分手。行吧,分手就分手,收拾东西,回乡种田,发家致富不在话下!只是,她好心救下的那个小哥,怎么就赖着不肯走了呢?
  • 天庭

    天庭

    无尽岁月之前,远古天庭威诸天,震万界,旷古绝今。却在一夕之间毁于一旦。无尽岁月之后,林天,一位无名的散修获得了来自远古天庭的传承,他能否重铸天庭,威震诸天万界,再现天庭荣光?
  • BOSS追妻记:女人,别想逃

    BOSS追妻记:女人,别想逃

    关明月,一个从婚姻坟墓里爬出来的人,尝遍婚姻的酸甜苦辣,发誓要好好享受单身贵族的生活。既然爬出来就坚决不能再陷进去,可是她忘了,出来混迟早要还的。秦汉,一个从不做亏本买卖的腹黑商人,帅气高傲,天之骄子。欠了我的必须连本带利讨回来,可是谁知道,本利都讨回来了,却把自己搭进去了。“我救了你的命,你是不是得报恩?“你要我怎么报?”“钱我有的是,你的命我救的,早已属于我,那就以身相许吧!”.“你确定要我以身相许?这难道不是恩将仇报?”“恩将仇报我也甘之如饴!”
  • 我的业余爱好是爱你

    我的业余爱好是爱你

    本文超甜[男女]什么都能错过,别再错过你了年龄不是问题,互相喜欢最关键当身边的人都拥有了美好的爱情,那你呢?本文正在加载,谢谢大家支持
  • 爵女惹不起:我本猖狂

    爵女惹不起:我本猖狂

    她是杀伐果决的爵女,优秀而绝对,存在只为报父母深仇。他是隐世家族的少主,帅气优雅,从看见她的第一眼只为她而着迷。玫瑰花与叶的相随,白与夜的不可相见,颜色那样的浓烈,是你我相吸相引的见证。活一世喧嚣繁华,相爱美好
  • 时空世界维护者

    时空世界维护者

    飞凡作为一名时空世界维护者,忙于拯救各类文明世界。却意外拥有了成神的机遇。在其他神的帮助下。又一位强大的神诞生了
  • 满满都是我对你的爱

    满满都是我对你的爱

    徐少其人,三分洁癖,三分无赖,四分小贱,但他在外人面前却总是清风朗月,遗世独立,孤傲中带着冷漠,冷漠中带着疏离,疏离中带着高贵。只不过回到家后,他就进入"欢脱"模式——"洗澡洗澡洗澡。清溪要不要来蹂躏我啊?"清溪总想,这人可以再贱一点吗?不然就是——"老婆,快给我做饭啊,合法要求啊!""女人,今晚看电影吧,合法要求哦!""清溪,那个,密西密西吧,婚姻法合法合法合法要求哦!"每当这时,顾清溪"童鞋"就无法克制地升腾起一种想把他非法处理掉的心情。
  • 毒门奇女之踏血归来

    毒门奇女之踏血归来

    她是毒门乃至江湖上都百年一遇的奇女子,三年就将毒门推上顶峰,却毫无征兆的就高调宣布归隐,谁也不知道为什么。从此花想容这个名字在江湖上只是一个过去的传说。三年后,一个接着一个的世家门派被人在一夜之间灭了满门,皆是剧毒身亡。放眼整个江湖,有如此令人生畏的毒功只有一人——花想容!毒门奇女,踏血归来!看她如何再次掀起江湖风云!
  • 慧因室杂缀

    慧因室杂缀

    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。