the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第43部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Four hours later； on descending one of the hills that bounded the valley of the Marne； he saw afar the roofs of Villeblanche clustered around the church； and further on； beyond a little grove； the slatey points of the round towers of his castle。
The streets of the village were deserted。 Only on the outer edges of the square did he see some old women sitting as in the placid evenings of bygone summers。 Half of the neighborhood had fled； the others were staying by their firesides through sedentary routine； or deceiving themselves with a blind optimism。 If the Prussians should approach； what could they do to them？ 。 。 。 They would obey their orders without attempting any resistance； and it is impossible to punish people who obey。 。 。 。 Anything would be preferable to losing the homes built by their forefathers which they had never left。
In the square he saw the mayor and the principal inhabitants grouped together。 Like the women； they all stared in astonishment at the owner of the castle。 He was the most unexpected of apparitions。 While so many were fleeing toward Paris； this Parisian had come to join them and share in their fate。 A smile of affection； a look of sympathy began to appear on the rough； bark…like countenances of the suspicious rustics。 For a long time Desnoyers had been on bad terms with the entire village。 He had harshly insisted on his rights； showing no tolerance in matters touching his property。 He had spoken many times of bringing suit against the mayor and sending half of the neighborhood to prison； so his enemies had retaliated by treacherously invading his lands； poaching in his hunting preserves； and causing him great trouble with counter…suits and involved claims。 His hatred of the community had even united him with the priest because he was on terms of permanent hostility with the mayor。 But his relations with the Church turned out as fruitless as his struggles with the State。 The priest was a kindly old soul who bore a certain resemblance to Renan； and seemed interested only in getting alms for his poor out of Don Marcelo； even carrying his good…natured boldness so far as to try to excuse the marauders on his property。
How remote these struggles of a few months ago now seemed to him！ 。 。 。 The millionaire was greatly surprised to see the priest； on leaving his house to enter the church； greet the mayor as he passed； with a friendly smile。
After long years of hostile silence they had met on the evening of August first at the foot of the church tower。 The bell was ringing the alarm； announcing the mobilization to the men who were in the fieldand the two enemies had instinctively clasped hands。 All French！ This affectionate unanimity also came to meet the detested owner of the castle。 He had to exchange greetings first on one side； then on the other； grasping many a horny hand。 Behind his back the people broke out into kindly excuses〃A good man； with no fault except a little bad temper。 。 。 。〃 And in a few minutes Monsieur Desnoyers was basking in the delightful atmosphere of popularity。
As the iron…willed old gentleman approached his castle he concluded that； although the fatigue of the long walk was making his knees tremble； the trip had been well worth while。 Never had his park appeared to him so extensive and so majestic as in that summer twilight； never so glistening white the swans that were gliding double over the quiet waters； never so imposing the great group of towers whose inverted images were repeated in the glassy green of the moats。 He felt eager to see at once the stables with their herds of animals； then a brief glance showed him that the stalls were comparatively empty。 Mobilization had carried off his best work horses； the driving and riding horses also had disappeared。 Those in charge of the grounds and the various stable boys were also in the army。 The Warden； a man upwards of fifty and consumptive； was the only one of the personnel left at the castle。 With his wife and daughter he was keeping the mangers filled； and from time to time was milking the neglected cows。
Within the noble edifice he again congratulated himself on the adamantine will which had brought him thither。 How could he ever give up such riches！ 。 。 。 He gloated over the paintings； the crystals； the draperies； all bathed in gold by the splendor of the dying day； and he felt more than proud to be their possessor。 This pride awakened in him an absurd； impossible courage； as though he were a gigantic being from another planet； and all humanity merely an ant hill that he could grind under foot。 Just let the enemy come！ He could hold his own against the whole lot！ 。 。 。 Then； when his common sense brought him out of his heroic delirium； he tried to calm himself with an equally illogical optimism。 They would not come。 He did not know why it was； but his heart told him that they would not get that far。
He passed the following morning reconnoitering the artificial meadows that he had made behind the park； lamenting their neglected condition due to the departure of the men； trying himself to open the sluice gates so as to give some water to the pasture lands which were beginning to dry up。 The grape vines were extending their branches the length of their supports； and the full bunches； nearly ripe； were beginning to show their triangular lusciousness among the leaves。 Ay； who would gather this abundant fruit！ 。 。 。
By afternoon he noted an extraordinary amount of movement in the village。 Georgette； the Warden's daughter； brought the news that many enormous automobiles and soldiers； French soldiers； were beginning to pass through the main street。 In a little while a procession began filing past on the high road near the castle； leading to the bridge over the Marne。 This was composed of motor trucks； open and closed； that still had their old commercial signs under their covering of dust and spots of mud。 Many of them displayed the names of business firms in Paris； others the names of provincial establishments。 With these industrial vehicles requisitioned by mobilization were others from the public service which produced in Desnoyers the same effect as a familiar face in a throng of strangers。 On their upper parts were the names of their old routes：〃Madeleine…Bastille； Passy…Bourne；〃 etc。 Probably he had travelled many times in these very vehicles； now shabby and aged by twenty days of intense activity； with dented planks and twisted metal； perforated like sieves； but rattling crazily on。
Some of the conveyances displayed white discs with a red cross in the center； others had certain letters and figures comprehensible only to those initiates in the secrets of military administration。 Within these vehiclesthe only new and strong motorshe saw soldiers； many soldiers； but all wounded； with head and legs bandaged； ashy faces made still more tragic by their growing beards； feverish eyes looking fixedly ahead； mouths so sadly immobile that they seemed carven by agonizing groans。 Doctors and nurses were occupying various carriages in this convoy escorted by several platoons of horsemen。 And mingled with the slowly moving horses and automobiles were marching groups of foot…soldiers； with cloaks unbuttoned or hanging from their shoulders like capeswounded men who were able to walk and joke and sing； some with arms in splints across their breasts； others with bandaged heads with clotted blood showing through the thin white strips。
The millionaire longed to do something for these brave fellows； but he had hardly begun to distribute some bottles of wine and loaves of bread before a doctor interposed； upbraiding him as though he had committed a crime。 His gifts might result fatally。 So he had to stand beside the road； sad and helpless； looking after the sorrowful convoy。 。 。 。 By nightfall the vehicles filled with the sick were no longer filing by。
He now saw hundreds of drays； some hermetically sealed with the prudence that explosive material requires； others with bundles and boxes that were sending out a stale odor of provisions。 Then came great herds of cattle raising thick； whirling clouds of dust in the narrow parts of the road； prodded on by the sticks and yells of the shepherds in kepis。
His thoughts kept him wakeful all night。 This； then； was the retreat of which the people of Paris were talking； but in which many wished not to believethe retreat reaching even there and continuing its indefinite retirement； since nobody knew what its end might be。 。 。 。 His optimism aroused a ridiculous hope。 Perhaps this was only the retreat of the hospitals and stores which always follows an army。 The troops； wishing to be rid of impedimenta； were sending them forward by railway and highway。 That must be it。 So all through the night； he interpreted the incessant bustle as the passing of vehicles filled with the wounded； with munitions and eatables； like those which had filed by in the afternoon。
Toward morning he fell asleep through sheer weariness； and when he awoke late in the day his first glance was toward the road。 He saw it filled with men and horses dragging some rolling objects。 But these men were carrying guns and were formed in battalions and regiments。 The animals were pulling the pieces of artillery。 It was an army。 。 。 。 It was the retreat！
Desnoyers ran to the edge of the road to be more convinced of the truth。
Alas； they were regiments such as he had seen leaving the stations of Paris。 。 。 。 But with what a very different aspect！ The blue cloaks were now ragged and yellowing garments； the trousers faded to the color of a half…baked brick； the shoes great cakes of mud。 The faces had a desperate expression； with layers of dust and sweat in all their grooves and openings； with beards of recent growth； sharp as spikes； with an air of great weariness showing the longing to drop down somewhere forever； killing or dying； but without going a step further。 They were tramping 。 。 。 tramping 。 。 。 tramping！ Some marches had lasted thirty hours at a stretch。 The enemy was on their tracks； and the order was to go on and not to fight； freeing themselves by their fleet…footedness from the involved movements of the invader。
The chiefs suspected the discourag
