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！
hrough our jest； if I would help her therefore； they would subscribe two crowns so that she might have a substantial sum to offer on account of her debt。 As I took this to be the greater part of their capital； and judged for other reasons that the offer was genuine； I received it in the best part； and found their good…nature no less pleasant than their foolery。 I handed over three crowns for our share； and on that we parted； they set out with their bundles strapped to their backs； and I waited somewhat impatiently for La Trape and the Breton to bring round the horses。
Before these appeared； however； La Font； who was at the door； cried out that the two players were coming hack； and going to the window I saw with astonishment a whole troop； some mounted and some on foot； hurrying down the hill after them。 For a moment I felt some alarm； supposing it to be a scheme of Epernon's to seize my person； and I cursed the imprudence which had led me to expose myself in this solitary place。 But a second glance showing me that the Mayor of Bottitort was among the foremost； I repented almost as seriously of the unlucky trifling that had landed me in this foolish plight。
I even debated whether I should mount and； if it were possible； get clear before they arrived； but the rueful faces of the two players as they appeared breathless in the doorway； and the liking I had taken for the rascals； decided me to stand my ground 〃What is it？〃 I said。
〃The Mayor； monsieur；〃 Philibert answered； while Pierre pursed up his lips with gloomy gravity。 〃I fear it will not stop at the stocks this time；〃 the rogue continued with a grimace。
His comrade muttered something about a rod and a fool's back； but M。 Grabot's entrance cut his witticism short。 The Mayor； between shame and rage； and the gratification of his revenge； was almost bursting； and the moment he caught sight of us opened fire。 〃All； M。 de Gol； we have them all！〃 he cried exultingly。 〃Now they shall smart for it！ Depend upon it； it is some deep…laid scheme of that party。 I have said so。〃
But the Mayor of Gol； a stout； big； placid man； looked at us doubtfully。 〃Well；〃 he said； 〃I know these two； they are strolling mountebanks； honest knaves enough but always in some mischief。〃
〃What； strolling clowns？〃 M。 Grabot rejoined； his face falling。
〃Ay； and you may depend upon it it is some joke of theirs；〃 his friend answered； his eyes twinkling。 〃I begin to think that you would have done better if you had waited a little before bringing M。 le Comte into the matter。〃
〃Ah； but there are these two；〃 M。 Grabot cried； as he recovered from the momentary panic into which the other's words had thrown him。 〃Depend upon it they are the chief movers。 What else but treason could they mean by asserting that one of them was Mayor of Bottitort？ By denying my title？ By setting up other officers than those to whom his Gracious Majesty has delegated his authority？〃
〃Umph！〃 his brother Mayor said； 〃I don't know these gentlemen。〃
〃No！〃 his companion cried in triumph。 〃But I intend to know them； and to know a good deal about them。 Guard the window there；〃 he continued fussily。 〃Where is my clerk？ Is M。 de Laval coming？〃
Two or three cried obsequiously that he had crossed the hill； and would arrive immediately。
Hearing this； and thinking it more becoming not to enter into an altercation； I kept my seat and the scornful silence I had hitherto maintained。 The two Mayors had brought with them a posse of busybodieshuissiers； constables； tip…staves； and the like； and these all gaped upon us as if they saw before them the most notable traitors of the age。 The women of the house wept in a corner； and the strollers shrugged their shoulders and strove to appear at their ease。 But the only person who felt the indifference which they assumed was La Font； who； obnoxious to none of the annoyances which I foresaw； could hardly restrain his mirth at the DENOUEMENT which he anticipated。
Meanwhile the Mayor； foreseeing a very different issue； stood blowing out his cheeks and fixing us with his little eyes with an expression of dignity that would have pleased me vastly if I had been free to enjoy it。 But the reflection that Laval's presence； which would cut the knot of our difficulties； would also place me at the mercy of his wit； did not enable me to contemplate it with entire indifference。
By…and…by we heard him dismount； and a moment later he came in with a gentleman and two or three armed servants。 He did not at once see me； but as the crowd made way for him he addressed himself sharply to M。 Grabot。 〃Well； have you got them？〃 he said。
〃Certainly； M。 le Comte。〃
〃Oh！ very well。 Now for the particulars； then。 You must state your charge quickly； for I have to be in Vitre to…day。〃
〃He alleged that he had been appointed Mayor of Bottitort；〃 Grabot answered pompously。
〃Umph！ I don't know？〃 M。 de Laval muttered； looking round with a frown of discontent。 〃I hope that you have not brought me hither on a fool's errand。 Which one？〃
〃That one；〃 the Mayor said； pointing to the solemn man； whose gravity and depression were now something preternatural。
〃Oh！〃 M。 de Laval grumbled。 〃But that is not all； I suppose。 What of the others？〃
M。 Grabot pointed to me。 〃That one；〃 he said
He got no farther； for M。 de Laval； springing forward； seized my hand and saluted me warmly。 〃Why； your excellency；〃 he cried； in a tone of boundless surprise； 〃what are you doing in this GALERE！ All last evening I waited for you； at my house； and now〃
〃Here I am；〃 I answered jocularly； 〃in charge it seems； M。 le Comte！〃
〃MON DIEU！〃 he cried。 〃I don't understand it！〃
I shrugged my shoulders。 〃Don't ask me；〃 I said。 〃Perhaps your friend the Mayor call tell you。〃
〃But； Monsieur； I do not understand；〃 the Mayor answered piteously； his mouth agape with horror； his fat cheeks turning in a moment all colours。 〃This gentleman； whom you seem to know； Monsieur le Comte〃
〃Is the Marquis de Rosny； President of the Council； blockhead！〃 Laval cried irately。 〃You madman！ you idiot！〃 he continued； as light broke in upon him； and he saw that it was indeed on a fool's errand that he had been roused so early。 〃Is this your conspiracy？ Have you dared to bring me here〃
But I thought that it was time to interfere。 〃The truth is；〃 I said； 〃that M。 Grabot here is not so much to blame。 He was the victim of a trick which these rascals played on him； and in an idle moment I let it go on。 That is the whole secret。 However； I forgive him for his officiousness since it brings us together； and I shall now have the pleasure of your company to Vitre。〃
Laval assented heartily to this； and I did not think fit to tell him more； nor did he inquire； the Mayor's stupidity passing current for all。 For M。 Grabot himself； I think that I never saw a man more completely confounded。 He stood staring with his mouth open； and； as much deserted as the statesman who has fallen from office； had not the least credit even with his own sycophants； who to a man deserted him and flocked about the Mayor of Gol。 Though I had no reason to pity him； and； indeed； thought him well punished； I took the o