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！
He sat down again； so as to laugh at his ease； and trying
ineffectually to speak in the Parisian accent； he said： 〃That is
good； very good！ Then what did you come here for； my dear？〃
She was thunderstruck； and made no reply for a moment； for in her
agitation she did not understand him at first； but as soon as she
grasped his meaning； she said to him indignantly and vehemently：
〃I！ I！ I am not a woman； I am only a strumpet； and that is all
that Prussians want。〃
Almost before she had finished； he slapped her full in her face；
but as he was raising his hand again as if he would strike her；
she； almost mad with passion； took up a small dessert knife from
the table； and stabbed him right in the neck； just above the
breastbone。 Something that he was going to say； was cut short in
his throat； and he sat there； with his mouth half open； and a
terrible look in his eyes。
All the officers shouted in horror； and leaped up tumultuously；
but throwing her chair between Lieutenant Otto's legs； who fell
down at full length； she ran to the window； opened it before they
could seize her； and jumped out into the night and pouring rain。
In two minutes； Mademoiselle Fifi was dead。 Fritz and Otto drew
their swords and wanted to kill the women； who threw themselves
at their feet and clung to their knees。 With some difficulty the
major stopped the slaughter； and had the four terrified girls
locked up in a room under the care of two soldiers。 Then he
organized the pursuit of the fugitive； as carefully as if he were
about to engage in a skirmish； feeling quite sure that she would
be caught。
The table； which had been cleared immediately； now served as a
bed on which to lay Fifi out； and the four officers made for the
window； rigid and sobered； with the stern faces of soldiers on
duty； and tried to pierce through the darkness of the night； amid
the steady torrent of rain。 Suddenly； a shot was heard； and then
another； a long way off； and for four hours they heard； from time
to time； near or distant reports and rallying cries； strange
words uttered as a call； in guttural voices。
In the morning they all returned。 Two soldiers had been killed
and three others wounded by their comrades in the ardor of that
chase； and in the confusion of such a nocturnal pursuit； but they
had not caught Rachel。
Then the inhabitants of the district were terrorized； the houses
were turned topsy…turvy； the country was scoured and beaten up；
over and over again； but the Jewess did not seem to have left a
single trace of her passage behind her。
When the general was told of it； he gave orders to hush up the
affair； so as not to set a bad example to the army； but he
severely censured the commandant； who in turn punished his
inferiors。 The general had said： 〃One does not go to war in order
to amuse oneself； and to caress prostitutes。〃 And Graf von
Farlsberg； in his exasperation； made up his mind to have his
revenge on the district； but as he required a pretext for showing
severity； he sent for the priest and ordered him to have the bell
tolled at the funeral of Count von Eyrick。
Contrary to all expectation； the priest showed himself humble and
most respectful； and when Mademoiselle Fifi's body left the
Chateau d'Urville on its way to the cemetery； carried by
soldiers； preceded； surrounded； and followed by soldiers； who
marched with loaded rifles； for the first time the bell sounded
its funereal knell in a lively manner； as if a friendly hand were
caressing it。 At night it sounded again； and the next day； and
every day； it rang as much as anyone could desire。 Sometimes
even； it would start at night； and sound gently through the
darkness； seized by strange joy； awakened； one could not tell
why。 All the peasants in the neighborhood declared that it was
bewitched； and nobody； except the priest and the sacristan would
now go near the church tower； and they went because a poor girl
was living there in grief and solitude； secretly nourished by
those two men。
She remained there until the German troops departed； and then one
evening the priest borrowed the baker's cart； and himself drove
his prisoner to Rouen。 When they got there； he embraced her； and
she quickly went back on foot to the establishment from which she
had come； where the proprietress； who thought that she was dead；
was very glad to see her。
A short time afterward； a patriot who had no prejudices； who
liked her because of her bold deed； and who afterward loved her
for herself； married her； and made a lady of her。
AN AFFAIR OF STATE。
Paris had just heard of the disaster of Sedan。 The Republic was
proclaimed。 All France was panting from a madness that lasted
until the time of the Commonwealth。 Everybody was playing at
soldier from one end of the country to the other。
Capmakers became colonels； assuming the duties of generals；
revolvers and daggers were displayed on large rotund bodies；
enveloped in red sashes； common citizens turned warriors；
commanding battalions of noisy volunteers； and swearing like
troopers to emphasize their importance。
The very fact of bearing arms and handling guns with a system
excited a people who hitherto had only handled scales and
measures； and made them formidable to the first comer； without
reason。 They even executed a few innocent people to prove that
they knew how to kill； and； in roaming through virgin fields
still belonging to the Prussians； they shot stray dogs； cows
chewing the cud in peace； or sick horses put out to pasture。 Each
believed himself called upon to play a great role in military
affairs。 The cafes of the smallest villages； full of tradesmen in
uniform； resembled barracks or field hospitals。
Now； the town of Canneville did not yet know the exciting news of
the army and the Capital。 It had； however； been greatly agitated
for a month over an encounter between the rival political
parties。 The mayor； Viscount de Varnetot； a small； thin man；
already old； remained true to the Empire； especially since he saw
rising up against him a powerful adversary； in the great；
sanguine form of Doctor Massarel； head of the Republican party in
the district； venerable chief of the Masonic lodge； president of
the Society of Agriculture and of the Fire Department； and
organizer of the rural militia designed to save the country。
In two weeks he had induced sixty…three men to volunteer in
defense of their countrymarried men； fathers of families；
prudent farmers and merchants of the town。 These he drilled every
morning in front of the mayor's window。
Whenever the mayor happened to appear； Commander Massarel；
covered with pistols； passing proudly up and down in front of his
troops； would make them shout； 〃Long live our country！〃 And this；
they noticed； disturbed the little viscount； who no doubt heard
in it menace and defiance； and perhaps some odious recollection
of the great Revolution。
On the morning of the fifth of September； in uniform； his
revolver on the table； the doctor gave consultation to an old
peasant couple。 The husband had suffered with a varicose vein for
seven years； but had waited until his wife had one too； so that
they might go and hunt