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！
d the honest face of Jansoulet； whose sparkling eyes； set over his fat； sunburnt cheeks； looked like two gold nails in a goffering of Spanish leather。 Suddenly an electric bell rang。 The station…master； in a new uniform； ran down the line： 〃Gentlemen； the train is signalled。 It will be here in eight minutes。〃 Every one started； and with the same instinctive movement pulled out their watches。 Only six minutes more。 Then in the great silence some one said： 〃Look over there！〃 To the right； on the side from which the train was to come； two great slopes； covered with vines； made a sort of funnel into which the track disappeared as though swallowed up。 Just then all this hollow was as black as ink； darkened by an enormous cloud； a bar of gloom； cutting the blue of the sky perpendicularly； throwing out banks that resembled cliffs of basalt on which the light broke all white like moonshine。 In the solemnity of the deserted track； over the lines of silent rails where one felt that everything was ready for the coming of the prince； it was terrifying to see this aerial crag approaching； throwing its shadow before it； to watch the play of the perspective which gave the cloud a slow； majestic movement； and the shadow the rapidity of a galloping horse。 〃What a storm we shall have directly！〃 was the thought which came to every one； but none had voice to express it； for a strident whistle sounded and the train appeared at the end of the dark funnel。 A real royal train； rapid and short； and decorated with flags。 The smoking； roaring engine carried a large bouquet of roses on its breastplate； like a bridesmaid at some leviathan wedding。
It came out of the funnel at full speed； but slowed down as it approached。 The functionaries grouped themselves； straightened their backs； hitched their swords and eased their collars； while Jansoulet went down the track to meet the train； an obsequious smile on his lips； his back curved ready for the 〃Salam Alek。〃 The train proceeded very slowly。 Jansoulet thought it had stopped； and put his hand on the door of the royal carriage； glittering with gold under the black sky。 But； doubtless； the impetus had been too strong； and the train continued to advance； the Nabob walking beside it； trying to open the accursed door which was stuck fast； and making signs to the engine… driver。 The engine was not answering。 〃Stop； stop； there！〃 It did not stop。 Losing patience； he jumped on to the velvet…covered step； and in that fiery； impulsive manner of his which had so delighted the old Bey； he cried； his woolly head at the door； 〃Saint…Romans station； your Highness。〃
You know the sort of vague light there is in dreams； the colourless empty atmosphere where everything has the look of a phantom。 Jansoulet was suddenly enveloped in this； stricken； paralyzed。 He wanted to speak； words would not come； his nerveless hand held the door so feebly that he almost fell backward。 What had he seen？ On a divan at the back of the saloon； reposing on his elbow； his beautiful dark head with its long silky beard leaning on his hand； was the Bey； close wrapped in his Oriental coat； without other ornaments than the large ribbon of the Legion of Honour across his breast and the diamond in the aigrette of his fez。 He was fanning himself impassively with a little fan of gold…embroidered strawwork。 Two aides…de…camp and an engineer of the railway company were standing beside him。 Opposite； on another divan； in a respectful attitude； but favoured evidently； as they were the only ones seated in the Bey's presence； were two owl… like men； their long whiskers falling on their white ties； one fat and the other thin。 They were the Hemerlingues； father and son； who had won over his Highness and were bearing him off in triumph to Paris。 What a horrible dream！ All three men； who knew Jansoulet well； looked at him coldly as though his face recalled nothing。 Piteously white； his forehead covered with sweat； he stammered； 〃But； your Highness； are you not going to〃 A vivid flash of lightning； followed by a terrible peal of thunder； stopped the words。 But the lightning in the eyes of his sovereign seemed to him as terrible。 Sitting up； his arm outstretched； in guttural voice as of one accustomed to roll the hard Arab syllables； but in pure French； the Bey struck him down with the slow； carefully prepared words： 〃Go home； swindler。 The feet go where the heart guides。 Mine will never enter the house of the man who has cheated my country。〃
Jansoulet tried to say something。 The Bey made a sign： 〃Go on。〃 The engineer pressed a button； a whistle replied； the train； which had never really stopped； seemed to stretch itself； making all its iron muscles crack； to take a bound and start off at full speed； the flags fluttering in the storm…wind； and the black smoke meeting the lightning flashes。
Jansoulet； left standing on the track； staggering； stunned； ruined； watched his fortune fly away and disappear； oblivious of the large drops of rain which were falling on his bare head。 Then； when the others rushed upon him； surrounded him； rained questions upon him； he stuttered some disconnected words： 〃Court intriguesinfamous plot。〃 And suddenly； shaking his fist after the train； with eyes that were bloodshot； and a foam of rage upon his lips； he roared like a wild beast； 〃Blackguards！〃
〃You forget yourself； Jansoulet； you forget yourself。〃 You guess who it was that uttered those words； and； taking the Nabob's arm； tried to pull him together； to make him hold his head as high as his own； conducted him to the carriage through the rows of stupefied people in uniform； and made him get in； exhausted and broken； like a near relation of the deceased that one hoists into a mourning…coach after the funeral。 The rain began to fall； peals of thunder followed one another。 Every one now hurried into the carriages； which quickly took the homeward road。 Then there occurred a heart…rending yet comical thing； one of the cruel farces played by that cowardly destiny which kicks its victims after they are down。 In the falling day and the growing darkness of the cyclone； the crowd； squeezed round the approaches of the station； thought they saw his Highness somewhere amid the gorgeous trappings； and as soon as the wheels started an immense clamour； a frightful bawling； which had been hatching for an hour in all those breasts； burst out； rose； rolled； rebounded from side to side and prolonged itself in the valley。 〃Hurrah； hurrah for the Bey！〃 This was the signal for the first bands to begin； the choral societies started in their turn； and the noise growing step by step； the road from Giffas to Saint…Romans was nothing but an uninterrupted bellow。 Cardailhac and all the gentlemen； Jansoulet himself； leant in vain out of the windows making desperate signs； 〃That will do！ That's enough！〃 Their gestures were lost in the tumult and the darkness； what the crowd did see seemed to act only as an excitant。 And I promise you there was no need of that。 All these meridionals； whose enthusiasm had been carefully led since early morning； excited the more by the long wait and the storm； shouted with all the force of their voices and the strength of their lungs； mingling with the song of Provence the cry