selected writings of guy de maupassant(莫伯桑作品选)-第31部分

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been　no　Prussians　here　for　three　days。　It　is　a　sinister　place；　is
this　village。　I　have　been　talking　to　a　Sister　of　Mercy；　who　is
attending　to　four　or　five　wounded　men　in　an　abandoned　convent。'

〃I　ordered　them　to　ride　on；　and　we　penetrated　into　the　principal
street。　On　the　right　and　left　we　could　vaguely　see　roofless
walls；　hardly　visible　in　the　profound　darkness。　Here　and　there　a
light　was　burning　in　a　room；　some　family　had　remained　to　keep　its
house　standing　as　long　as　they　were　able；　a　family　of　brave；　or
of　poor；　people。　The　rain　began　to　fall；　a　fine；　icy…cold　rain；
which　froze　us　before　it　wetted　us　through；　by　merely　touching
our　cloaks。　The　horses　stumbled　against　stones；　against　beams；
against　furniture。　Marchas　guided　us；　going　before　us　on　foot；
and　leading　his　horse　by　the　bridle。

〃　'Where　are　you　taking　us　to？'　I　asked　him。　And　he　replied：　'I
have　a　place　for　us　to　lodge　in；　and　a　rare　good　one。'　And　soon
we　stopped　before　a　small　house；　evidently　belonging　to　some
person　of　the　middle　class；　completely　shut　up；　built　on　to　the
street　with　a　garden　in　the　rear。

〃Marchas　broke　open　the　lock　by　means　of　a　big　stone；　which　he
picked　up　near　the　garden　gate；　then　he　mounted　the　steps；
smashed　in　the　front　door　with　his　feet　and　shoulders；　lighted　a
bit　of　wax　candle；　which　he　was　never　without；　and　preceded　us
into　the　comfortable　apartments　of　some　rich　private　individual；
guiding　us　with　admirable　assurance；　just　as　if　he　had　lived　in
this　house　which　he　now　saw　for　the　first　time。

〃Two　troopers　remained　outside　to　take　care　of　our　horses；　then
Marchas　said　to　stout　Ponderel；　who　followed　him：　'The　stables
must　be　on　the　left；　I　saw　that　as　we　came　in；　go　and　put　the
animals　up　there；　for　we　do　not　want　them；'　and　then　turning　to
me　he　said：　'Give　your　orders；　confound　it　all！'

〃Marchas　always　astonished　me；　and　I　replied　with　a　laugh：　'I
shall　post　my　sentinels　at　the　country　approaches　and　I　will
return　to　you　here。'

〃　'How　many　men　are　you　going　to　take？'

〃　'Five。　The　others　will　relieve　them　at　five　o'clock　in　the
evening。'

〃　'Very　well。　Leave　me　four　to　look　after　provisions；　to　do　the
cooking；　and　to　set　the　table。　I　will　go　and　find　out　where　the
wine　is　hidden　away。'

〃I　went　off　to　reconnoiter　the　deserted　streets；　until　they　ended
in　the　open　country；　so　as　to　post　my　sentries　there。

〃Half　an　hour　later　I　was　back；　and　found　Marchas　lounging　in　a
great　armchair；　the　covering　of　which　he　had　taken　off；　from　love
of　luxury　as　he　said。　He　was　warming　his　feet　at　the　fire　and
smoking　an　excellent　cigar；　whose　perfume　filled　the　room。　He　was
alone；　his　elbows　resting　on　the　arms　of　the　chair；　his　cheeks
flushed；　his　eyes　bright；　and　looking　delighted。

〃I　heard　the　noise　of　plates　and　dishes　in　the　next　room；　and
Marchas　said　to　me；　smiling　in　a　beatific　manner：　'This　is
famous；　I　found　the　champagne　under　the　flight　of　steps　outside；
the　brandyfifty　bottles　of　the　very　finestin　the　kitchen
garden　under　a　pear…tree；　which　did　not　look　to　me　to　be　quite
straight；　when　I　looked　at　it　by　the　light　of　my　lantern。　As　for
solids；　we　have　two　fowls；　a　goose；　a　duck；　and　three　pigeons。
They　are　being　cooked　at　this　moment。　It　is　a　delightful　part　of
the　country。'

〃I　had　sat　down　opposite　to　him；　and　the　fire　in　the　grate　was
burning　my　nose　and　cheeks。

〃　'Where　did　you　find　this　wood？'　I　asked。

〃　'Splendid　wood；'　he　replied。　'The　owner's　carriage。　It　is　the
paint　which　is　causing　all　this　flame；　an　essence　of　alcohol　and
varnish。　A　capital　house！'

〃I　laughed；　for　I　found　the　creature　was　funny；　and　he　went　on：
'Fancy　this　being　the　Epiphany！　I　have　had　a　bean　put　into　the
goose；　but　there　is　no　queen；　it　is　really　very　annoying！'　And　I
repeated　like　an　echo：　'It　is　annoying；　but　what　do　you　want　me
to　do　in　the　matter？'

〃　'To　find　some；　of　course。'

〃　'Some　women。　Women？you　must　be　mad！'

〃　'I　managed　to　find　the　brandy　under　the　pear…tree；　and　the
champagne　under　the　steps；　and　yet　there　was　nothing　to　guide　me；
while　as　for　you；　a　petticoat　is　a　sure　sign。　Go　and　look；　old
fellow。'

〃He　looked　so　grave；　so　convinced；　that　I　could　not　tell　whether
he　was　joking　or　not。　So　I　replied：　'Look　here；　Marchas；　are　you
having　a　joke　with　me？'

〃　'I　never　joke　on　duty。'

〃　'But　where　the　devil　do　you　expect　me　to　find　any　women？'

〃　'Where　you　like；　there　must　be　two　or　three　remaining　in　the
neighborhood；　so　ferret　them　out　and　bring　them　here。'

〃I　got　up；　for　it　was　too　hot　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　Marchas
went　on：　'Do　you　want　an　idea？'

〃　'Yes。'

〃　'Go　and　see　the　priest。'

〃　'The　priest？　What　for？'

〃　'Ask　him　to　supper；　and　beg　him　to　bring　a　woman　with　him。'

〃　'The　priest！　A　woman！　Ha！　ha！　ha！'

〃But　Marchas　continued　with　extraordinary　gravity：　'I　am　not
laughing；　go　and　find　the　priest　and　tell　him　how　we　are
situated；　and；　as　he　must　be　horribly　dull；　he　will　come。　But
tell　him　that　we　want　one　woman　at　least；　a　lady；　of　course；
since　we　are　all　men　of　the　world。　He　is　sure　to　have　the　names
of　his　female　parishioners　on　the　tips　of　his　fingers；　and　if
there　is　one　to　suit　us；　and　you　manage　it　well；　he　will　indicate
her　to　you。'

〃　'Come；　come；　Marchas；　what　are　you　thinking　of？'

〃　'My　dear　Garens；　you　can　do　this　quite　well。　It　will　be　very
funny。　We　are　well　bred；　by　Jove！　and　we　will　put　on　our　most
distinguished　manners　and　our　grandest　style。　Tell　the　abbe　who
we　are；　make　him　laugh；　soften　him；　seduce　him；　and　persuade
him！'

〃　'No；　it　is　impossible。'

〃He　drew　his　chair　close　to　mine；　and　as　he　knew　my　weak　side；
the　scamp　continued：　'Just　think　what　a　swagger　thing　it　will　be
to　do；　and　how　amusing　to　tell　about；　the　whole　army　will　talk
about　it；　and　it　will　give　you　a　famous　reputation。'

〃I　hesitated；　for　the　adventure　rather　tempted　me。　He　persisted：
'Come；　my　little　Garens。　You　are　in　command　of　this　detachment；
and　you　alone　can　go　and　call　on　the　head　of　the　church　in　this
neighborhood。　I　beg　of　you　to　go；　and　I　promise　you　that　after
the　war；　I　will　relate　the　whole　affair　in　verse　in　the　〃Revue
des　Deux　Mondes。〃　You　owe　this　much　to　your　men；　for　you　have
made　them　march　enough　during　the　last　month。'

〃I　got　up　at　last　and　asked：　'Where　is　the　parsonage？'

〃　'Take　the　second　turning　at　the　end　of　the　street；　you　will
then　see　an　avenue；　and　at　the　end　of　the　avenue　you　will　find
the　church。　The　parsonage　is　beside　it。'　As　I　departed　he　called
out：　'Tell　him　the　bill　of　fare；　to　make　him　hungry！'

〃I　discovered　the　ecclesiastic's　little　house　without　any
difficulty；　it　was　by　the　side　of　a　large；　ugly；　brick　church。　As
there　was　neither　bell　nor　knocker；　I　knocked　at　the　door　with　my
fist；　and　a　loud　voice　from　inside　asked：　'Who　is　there？'　to
which　I　replied：　'A　quartermaster　of　hussars。'

〃I　heard　the　noise　of　bolts；　and　of　a　key　being　turned。　Then　I
found　myself　face　to　face　with　a　tall　priest　with　a　large
stomach；　the　chest　of　a　prize…fighter；　formidable　hands
projecting　from　turned…up　sleeves；　a　red　face；　and　the　looks　of　a
kind　man。　I　gave　him　a　military　salute　and　said：　'Good　day；
Monsieur　le　Cure。'

〃He　had　feared　a　surprise；　some　marauders'　ambush；　and　he　smiled
as　he　replied：　'Good　day；　my　friend；　come　in。'　I　followed　him
into　a　small　room；　with　a　red　tiled　floor；　in　which　a　small　fire
was　burning；　very　different　to　Marchas's　furnace。　He　gave　me　a
chair　and　said：　'What　can　I　do　for　you？'

〃　'Monsieur；　allow　me　first　of　all　to　introduce　myself'；　and　I
gave　him　my　card；　which　he　took　and　read　half　aloud：　'The　Comte
de　Garens。'

〃I　continued：　'There　are　eleven　of　us　here　Monsieur　l'Abbe；　five
on　grand　guard；　and　six　installed　at　the　house　of　an　unknown
inhabitant。　The　names　of　the　six　are；　Garens　（that　is　I）；　Pierre
de　Marchas；　Ludovic　de　Ponderel；　Baron　d'Etreillis；　Karl
Massouligny；　the　painter's　son；　and　Joseph　Herbon；　a　young
musician。　I　have　come　to　ask　you；　in　their　name　and　my　own；　to　do
us　the　honor　of　supping　with　us。　It　is　an　Epiphany　supper；
Monsieur　le　Cure；　and　we　should　like　to　make　it　a　little
cheerful。'

〃The　priest　smiled　and　murmured：　'It　seems　to　me　to　be　hardly　a
suitable　occasion　for　amusing　oneself。'

〃I　replied：　'We　are　fighting　every　day；　Monsieur。　Fourteen　of　our
comrades　have　been　killed　in　a　month；　and　three　fell　as　late　as
yesterday。　That　is　war。　We　stake　our　life　every　moment；　have　we
not；　therefore；　the　right　to　amuse　ourselves　freely？　We　are
Frenchmen；　we　like　to　laugh；　and　we　can　laugh　everywhere。　Our
fathers　laughed　on　the　scaffold！　This　evening　we　should　like　to
brighten　ourselves　up　a　little；　like　gentlemen；　and　not　like
soldiers；　you　understand　me；　I　hope。　Are　we　wrong？'

〃He　replied　quickly：　'You　are　quite　right；　my　friend；　and　I
accept　your　invitation　with　great　pleasure。'　Then　he　called　out：
'Hermance！'

〃An　old；　bent；　wrinkled；　horrible；　peasant　woman　appeared　and
said：　'What　do　you　want？'

〃　'I　shall　not　dine　at　home；　my　daughter。'

〃　'Where　are　you　going　to　dine　then？'

〃　'With　some　gentlemen；　hussars。'

〃I　felt　inclined　to　say：　'Bring　your　servant　with　you；'　just　to
see　Marchas's　face；　but　I　did　not　venture　to；　and　continued：　'Do
you　know　anyone　among　your　parishioners；　male　or　female；　whom　I
could　invite　as　well？'　He　hesitated；　reflected；　and　then　said：
'No；　I　do　not　know　anybody！'

〃I　persisted：　'Nobody？　Come；　Monsieur；　think；　it　would　be　very
nice　to　have　some　ladies；　I　mean　to　say；　some　married　couples！　I
know　nothing　about　your　parishioners。　The　baker　and　his　wife；　the
grocer；　thethethewatchmakertheshoemaker　thethe
chemist　with　his　wife。　We　have　a　good　spread；　and　plenty　of　wine；
and　we　should　be　enchanted　to　leave　pleasant　recollections　of
ourselves　behind　us　with　the　people　here。'

〃The　priest　thought　again　for　a　long　time　and　then　said
resolutely：　'No；　there　is　nobody。'

〃I　began　to　laugh。　'By　Jove；　Monsieur　le　Cure；　it　is　very　vexing
not　to　have　an　Epiphany　queen；　for　we　have　the　bean。　Come；　think。
Is　there　not　a　married　mayor；　or　a　married　deputy…mayor；　or　a
married　municipal　councilor；　or　schoolmaster？'

〃　'No　all　the　ladies　have　gone　away。'

〃　'What；　is　there　not　in　the　whole　place　some　good　tradesman's