the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第53部分

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as　sweeping　him　from　head　to　foot。　Don　Marcelo　felt　a　presentiment　that　his　life　was　hanging　on　this　examination；　should　an　evil　suggestion；　a　cruel　caprice　flash　across　this　brain；　he　was　surely　lost。　　The　general　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　said　a　few　words　in　a　contemptuous　tone；　then　entered　his　automobile　with　two　of　his　aids；　and　the　group　disbanded。

The　cruel　uncertainty；　the　interminable　moments　before　the　official　returned　to　his　side；　filled　Desnoyers　with　dread。

〃His　Excellency　is　very　gracious；〃　announced　the　lieutenant。　　〃He　might　have　shot　you；　but　he　pardons　you　and　yet　you　people　say　that　we　are　savages！〃　。　。　。

With　involuntary　contempt；　he　further　explained　that　he　had　conducted　him　thither　fully　expecting　that　he　would　be　shot。　　The　General　was　planning　to　punish　all　the　prominent　residents　of　Villeblanche；　and　he　had　inferred；　on　his　own　initiative；　that　the　owner　of　the　castle　must　be　one　of　them。

〃Military　duty；　sir。　。　。　。　　War　exacts　it。〃

After　this　excuse　the　petty　official　renewed　his　eulogies　of　His　Excellency。　　He　was　going　to　make　his　headquarters　in　Don　Marcelo's　property；　and　on　that　account　granted　him　his　life。　　He　ought　to　thank　him。　。　。　。　　Then　again　his　face　trembled　with　wrath。　　He　pointed　to　some　bodies　lying　near　the　road。　　They　were　the　corpses　of　Uhlans；　covered　with　some　cloaks　from　which　were　protruding　the　enormous　soles　of　their　boots。

〃Plain　murder！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃A　crime　for　which　the　guilty　are　going　to　pay　dearly！〃

His　indignation　made　him　consider　the　death　of　four　soldiers　as　an　unheard…of　and　monstrous　outrageas　though　in　was　only　the　enemy　ought　to　fall；　keeping　safe　and　sound　the　lives　of　his　compatriots。

A　band　of　infantry　commanded　by　an　officer　approached。　　As　their　ranks　opened；　Desnoyers　saw　the　gray　uniforms　roughly　pushing　forward　some　of　the　inhabitants。　　Their　clothes　were　torn　and　some　had　blood　on　face　and　hands。　　He　recognized　them　one　by　one　as　they　were　lined　up　against　the　mud　wall；　at　twenty　paces　from　the　firing　squad　of　soldiersthe　mayor；　the　priest；　the　forest　guard；　and　some　rich　villagers　whose　houses　he　had　seen　falling　in　flames。

〃They　are　going　to　shoot　them　。　。　。　in　order　to　prevent　any　doubt　about　it；〃　the　lieutenant　explained。　　〃I　wanted　you　to　see　this。　　It　will　serve　as　an　object　lesson。　　In　this　way；　you　will　feel　more　appreciative　of　the　leniency　of　His　Excellency。〃

The　prisoners　were　mute。　　Their　voices　had　been　exhausted　in　vain　protest。　　All　their　life　was　concentrated　in　their　eyes；　looking　around　them　in　stupefaction。　。　。　。　　And　was　it　possible　that　they　would　kill　them　in　cold　blood　without　hearing　their　testimony；　without　admitting　the　proofs　of　their　innocence！

The　certainty　of　approaching　death　soon　gave　almost　all　of　them　a　noble　serenity。　　It　was　useless　to　complain。　　Only　one　rich　countryman；　famous　for　his　avarice；　was　whimpering　desperately；　saying　over　and　over；　〃I　do　not　wish　to　die。　。　。　。　　I　do　not　want　to　die！〃

Trembling　and　with　eyes　overflowing　with　tears；　Desnoyers　hid　himself　behind　his　implacable　guide。　　He　knew　them　all；　he　had　battled　with　them　all；　and　repented　now　of　his　former　wrangling。　The　mayor　had　a　red　stain　on　his　forehead　from　a　long　skin　wound。　Upon　his　breast　fluttered　a　tattered　tricolor；　the　municipality　had　placed　it　there　that　be　might　receive　the　invaders　who　had　torn　most　of　it　away。　　The　priest　was　holding　his　little　round　body　as　erect　as　possible；　wishing　to　embrace　in　a　look　of　resignation　the　victims；　the　executioners；　earth　and　heaven。　　He　appeared　larger　than　usual　and　more　imposing。　　His　black　girdle。　　broken　by　the　roughness　of　the　soldiers；　left　his　cassock　loose　and　floating。　　His　waving；　silvery　hair　was　dripping　blood；　spotting　with　its　red　drops　the　white　clerical　collar。

Upon　seeing　him　cross　the　fatal　field　with　unsteady　step；　because　of　his　obesity；　a　savage　roar　cut　the　tragic　silence。　　The　unarmed　soldiers；　who　had　hastened　to　witness　the　execution；　greeted　the　venerable　old　man　with　shouts　of　laughter。　　〃Death　to　the　priest！〃　。　。　。　　The　fanaticism　of　the　religious　wars　vibrated　through　their　mockery。　　Almost　all　of　them　were　devout　Catholics　or　fervent　Protestants；　but　they　believed　only　in　the　priests　of　their　own　country。　　Outside　of　Germany；　everything　was　despicable　even　their　own　religion。

The　mayor　and　the　priest　changed　their　places　in　the　file；　seeking　one　another。　　Each；　with　solemn　courtesy；　was　offering　the　other　the　central　place　in　the　group。

〃Here；　your　Honor；　is　your　place　as　mayorat　the　head　of　all。〃

〃No；　after　you；　Monsieur　le　cure。〃

They　were　disputing　for　the　last　time；　but　in　this　supreme　moment　each　one　was　wishing　to　yield　precedence　to　the　other。

Instinctively　they　had　clasped　hands；　looking　straight　ahead　at　the　firing　squad；　that　had　lowered　its　guns　in　a　rigid；　horizontal　line。　Behind　them　sounded　laments〃Good…bye；　my　children。　。　。　。　　Adieu；　life！　。　。　。　　I　do　not　wish　to　die！　。　。　。　　I　do　not　want　to　die！　。　。　。〃

The　two　principal　men　felt　the　necessity　of　saying　something；　of　closing　the　page　of　their　existence　with　an　affirmation。

〃Vive　la　Republique！〃　cried　the　mayor。

〃Vive　la　France！〃　said　the　priest。

Desnoyers　thought　that　both　had　said　the　same　thing。　　Two　uprights　flashed　up　above　their　headsthe　arm　of　the　priest　making　the　sign　of　the　cross；　and　the　sabre　of　the　commander　of　the　shooters；　glistening　at　the　same　instant。　。　。　。　　A　dry；　dull　thunderclap；　followed　by　some　scattering；　tardy　shots。

Don　Marcelo's　compassion　for　that　forlorn　cluster　of　massacred　humanity　was　intensified　on　beholding　the　grotesque　forms　which　many　assumed　in　the　moment　of　death。　　Some　collapsed　like　half…emptied　sacks；　others　rebounded　from　the　ground　like　balls；　some　leaped　like　gymnasts；　with　upraised　arms；　falling　on　their　backs；　or　face　downward；　like　a　swimmer。　　In　that　human　heap；　he　saw　limbs　writhing　in　the　agony　of　death。　　Some　soldiers　advanced　like　hunters　bagging　their　prey。　　From　the　palpitating　mass　fluttered　locks　of　white　hair；　and　a　feeble　hand；　trying　to　repeat　the　sacred　sign。　　A　few　more　shots　and　blows　on　the　livid；　mangled　mass　。　。　。　and　the　last　tremors　of　life　were　extinguished　forever。

The　officer　had　lit　a　cigar。

〃Whenever　you　wish；〃　he　said　to　Desnoyers　with　ironical　courtesy。

They　re…entered　the　automobile　in　order　to　return　to　the　castle　by　the　way　of　Villeblanche。　　The　increasing　number　of　fires　and　the　dead　bodies　in　the　streets　no　longer　impressed　the　old　man。　　He　had　seen　so　much！　　What　could　now　affect　his　sensibilities？　。　。　。　　He　was　longing　to　get　out　of　the　village　as　soon　as　possible　to　try　to　find　the　peace　of　the　country。　　But　the　country　had　disappeared　under　the　invasionsoldier's；　horses；　cannons　everywhere。　　Wherever　they　stopped　to　rest；　they　were　destroying　all　that　they　came　in　contact　with。　　The　marching　battalions；　noisy　and　automatic　as　a　machine　were　preceded　by　the　fifes　and　drums；　and　every　now　and　then；　in　order　to　cheer　their　drooping　spirits；　were　breaking　into　their　joyous　cry；　〃Nach　Paris！〃

The　castle；　too；　had　been　disfigured　by　the　invasion。　　The　number　of　guards　had　greatly　increased　during　the　owner's　absence。　　He　saw　an　entire　regiment　of　infantry　encamped　in　the　park。　　Thousands　of　men　were　moving　about　under　the　trees；　preparing　the　dinner　in　the　movable　kitchens。　　The　flower　borders　of　the　gardens；　the　exotic　plants；　the　carefully　swept　and　gravelled　avenues　were　all　broken　and　spoiled　by　this　avalanche　of　men；　beasts　and　vehicles。

A　chief　wearing　on　his　sleeve　the　band　of　the　military　administration　was　giving　orders　as　though　he　were　the　proprietor。　He　did　not　even　condescend　to　look　at　this　civilian　walking　beside　the　lieutenant　with　the　downcast　look　of　a　prisoner。　　The　stables　were　vacant。　　Desnoyers　saw　his　last　animals　being　driven　off　with　sticks　by　the　helmeted　shepherds。　　The　costly　progenitors　of　his　herds　were　all　beheaded　in　the　park　like　mere　slaughter…house　animals。　　In　the　chicken　houses　and　dovecotes；　there　was　not　a　single　bird　left。　　The　stables　were　filled　with　thin　horses　who　were　gorging　themselves　before　overflowing　mangers。　　The　feed　from　the　barns　was　being　lavishly　distributed　through　the　avenue；　much　of　it　lost　before　it　could　be　used。　　The　cavalry　horses　of　various　divisions　were　turned　loose　in　the　meadows；　destroying　with　their　hoofs　the　canals；　the　edges　of　the　slopes；　the　level　of　the　ground；　all　the　work　of　many　months。　　The　dry　wood　was　uselessly　burning　in　the　park。　　Through　carelessness　or　mischief；　someone　had　set　the　wood　piles　on　fire。　　The　trees；　with　the　bark　dried　by　the　summer　heat；　were　crackling　on　being　licked　by　the　flame。

The　building　was　likewise　occupied　by　a　multitude　of　men　under　this　same　superintendent。　　The　open　windows　showed　a　continual　shifting　through　the　rooms。　　Desnoyers　heard　great　blows　that　re…echoed　within　his　breast。　　Ay；　his　historic　mansion！　。　。　。　　The　General　was　going　to　establish　himself　in　it；　after　having　examined　on　the　banks　of　the　Marne；　the　works　of　the　pontoon　builders；　who　had　been　constructing　several　military　bridges　for　the　troops。　　Don　Marcelo's　outraged　sense　of　ownership　forced　him　to　speak。　　He　feared　that　they　would　break　the　doors　of　the　locked　roomshe　would　like　to　go　for　the　keys　in　order　to　give　them　up　to　those　in　charge。　　The　commissary　would　not　listen　to　him　but　continued　ignoring　his　existence。　　The　lieutenant　replied　with　cutting　amiability：

〃It　is　not　necessary；　do　not　trouble　yourself！〃

After　this　considerate　remark；　he　started　to　rejoin　his　regiment　but　deemed　it　prudent　before　losing　sight　of　Desnoyers　to　give　him　a　little　advice。　　He　must　remain　quietly　at　the　castle；　outside；　he　might　be　taken　for　a　spy；　and　he　already　knew　how　promptly　the　soldiers　of　the　Emperor　settled　all　such　little　matters。

He　could　not　remain　in　the　garden　looking　at　his　dwelling　from　any　distance；　because　the　Germans　who　were　going　and　coming　were　diverting　themselves　by　playing　practical　jokes　upon　him。　　They　would　march　toward　him　in　a　straight　line；　as　though　they　did　not　see　him；　and　he　would　have　to　hurry　out　of　their　way　to　avoid　being　thrown　down　by　their　mechanical　and　rigid　advance。

Finally　he　sought　refuge　in　the　lodge　of　the　Keeper；　whose　good　w