the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第75节

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tts　should　die　than　that　Julio　should　receive　the　most　insignificant　wound！　。　。　。　　She　began　to　share　the　bellicose　sentiments　of　her　daughter；　recognizing　in　her　an　exceptional　talent　for　appraising　events；　and　now　desiring　all　of　Chichi's　dagger　thrusts　to　be　converted　into　reality。

Fortunately　La　Romantica　took　herself　off　before　this　antipathy　crystallized。　　She　was　accustomed　to　pass　the　afternoons　somewhere　outside；　and　on　her　return　would　repeat　the　news　gleaned　from　friends　unknown　to　the　rest　of　the　family。

This　made　Don　Marcelo　wax　very　indignant　because　of　the　spies　still　hidden　in　Paris。　　What　mysterious　world　was　his　sister…in…law　frequenting？　。　。　。

Suddenly　she　announced　that　she　was　leaving　the　following　morning；　she　had　obtained　a　passport　to　Switzerland；　and　from　there　she　would　go　to　Germany。　　It　was　high　time　for　her　to　be　returning　to　her　own；　she　was　most　appreciative　of　the　hospitality　shown　her　by　the　family。　。　。　。　　And　Desnoyers　bade　her　good…bye　with　aggressive　irony。　　His　regards　to　von　Hartrott；　he　was　hoping　to　pay　him　a　visit　in　Berlin　as　soon　as　possible。

One　morning　Dona　Luisa；　instead　of　entering　the　neighboring　church　as　usual；　continued　on　to　the　rue　de　la　Pompe；　pleased　at　the　thought　of　seeing　the　studio　once　more。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　in　this　way　she　might　put　herself　more　closely　in　touch　with　her　son。　This　would　be　a　new　pleasure；　even　greater　than　poring　over　his　photograph　or　re…reading　his　last　letter。

She　was　hoping　to　meet　Argensola；　the　friend　of　good　counsels；　for　she　knew　that　he　was　still　living　in　the　studio。　　Twice　he　had　come　to　see　her　by　the　service　stairway　as　in　the　old　days；　but　she　had　been　out。

As　she　went　up　in　the　elevator；　her　heart　was　palpitating　with　pleasure　and　distress。　　It　occurred　to　the　good　lady　that　the　〃foolish　virgins〃　must　have　had　feelings　like　this　when　for　the　first　time　they　fell　from　the　heights　of　virtue。

The　tears　came　to　her　eyes　when　she　beheld　the　room　whose　furnishings　and　pictures　so　vividly　recalled　the　absent。　　Argensola　hastened　from　the　door　at　the　end　of　the　room；　agitated；　confused；　and　greeting　her　with　expressions　of　welcome　at　the　same　time　that　he　was　putting　sundry　objects　out　of　sight。　　A　woman's　sweater　lying　on　the　divan；　he　covered　with　a　piece　of　Oriental　draperya　hat　trimmed　with　flowers；　he　sent　flying　into　a　far…away　corner。　　Dona　Luisa　fancied　that　she　saw　a　bit　of　gauzy　feminine　negligee　embroidered　in　pink；　flitting　past　the　window　frame。　　Upon　the　divan　were　two　big　coffee　cups　and　bits　of　toast　evidently　left　from　a　double　breakfast。　　These　artists！　。　。　。　　The　same　as　her　son！　　And　she　was　moved　to　compassion　over　the　bad　life　of　Julio's　counsellor。

〃My　honored　Dona　Luisa。　。　。　。　　My　DEAR　Madame　Desnoyers。　。　。　。〃

He　was　speaking　in　French　and　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　looking　frantically　at　the　door　through　which　the　white　and　rosy　garments　had　flitted。　　He　was　trembling　at　the　thought　that　his　hidden　companion；　not　understanding　the　situation；　might　in　a　jealous　fit；　compromise　him　by　a　sudden　apparition。

Then　he　spoke　to　his　unexpected　guest　about　the　soldier；　exchanging　news　with　her。　　Dona　Luisa　repeated　almost　word　for　word　the　paragraphs　of　his　letters　so　frequently　read。　　Argensola　modestly　refrained　from　displaying　his；　the　two　friends　were　accustomed　to　an　epistolary　style　which　would　have　made　the　good　lady　blush。

〃A　valiant　man！〃　affirmed　the　Spaniard　proudly；　looking　upon　the　deeds　of　his　comrade　as　though　they　were　his　own。　　〃A　true　hero！　and　I；　Madame　Desnoyers；　know　something　about　what　that　means。　。　。　。　His　chiefs　know　how　to　appreciate　him。〃　。　。　。

Julio　was　a　sergeant　after　having　been　only　two　months　in　the　campaign。　　The　captain　of　his　company　and　the　other　officials　of　the　regiment　belonged　to　the　fencing　club　in　which　he　had　had　so　many　triumphs。

〃What　a　career！〃　he　enthused。　　〃He　is　one　of　those　who　in　youth　reach　the　highest　ranks；　like　the　Generals　of　the　Revolution。　。　。　。　And　what　wonders　he　has　accomplished！〃

The　budding　officer　had　merely　referred　in　the　most　casual　way　to　some　of　exploits；　with　the　indifference　of　one　accustomed　to　danger　and　expecting　the　same　attitude　from　his　comrades；　but　his　chum　exaggerated　them；　enlarging　upon　them　as　though　they　were　the　culminating　events　of　the　war。　　He　had　carried　an　order　across　an　infernal　fire；　after　three　messengers；　trying　to　accomplish　the　same　feat；　had　fallen　dead。　　He　had　been　the　first　to　attack　many　trenches　and　had　saved　many　of　his　comrades　by　means　of　the　blows　from　his　bayonet　and　hand　to　hand　encounters。　　Whenever　his　superior　officers　needed　a　reliable　man；　they　invariably　said；　〃Let　Sergeant　Desnoyers　be　called！〃

He　rattled　off　all　this　as　though　he　had　witnessed　it；　as　if　he　had　just　come　from　the　seat　of　war；　making　Dona　Luisa　tremble　and　pour　forth　tears　of　joy　mingled　with　fear　over　the　glories　and　dangers　of　her　son。　　That　Argensola　certainly　possessed　the　gift　of　affecting　his　hearers　by　the　realism　with　which　he　told　his　stories！

In　gratitude　for　these　eulogies；　she　felt　that　she　ought　to　show　some　interest　in　his　affairs。　。　。　。　　What　had　he　been　doing　of　late？

〃I；　Madame；　have　been　where　I　ought　to　be。　　I　have　not　budged　from　this　spot。　　I　have　witnessed　the　siege　of　Paris。〃

In　vain；　his　reason　protested　against　the　inexactitude　of　that　word；　〃siege。〃　　Under　the　influence　of　his　readings　about　the　war　of　1870；　he　had　classed　as　a　siege　all　those　events　which　had　developed　near　Paris　during　the　course　of　the　battle　of　the　Marne。

He　pointed　modestly　to　a　diploma　in　a　gold　frame　hanging　above　the　piano　against　a　tricolored　flag。　　It　was　one　of　the　papers　sold　in　the　streets；　a　certificate　of　residence　in　the　Capital　during　the　week　of　danger。　　He　had　filled　in　the　blanks　with　his　name　and　description　of　his　person；　and　at　the　foot　were　very　conspicuous　the　signatures　of　two　residents　of　the　rue　de　la　Pompea　tavern…keeper；　and　a　friend　of　the　concierge。　　The　district　Commissary　of　Police；　with　stamp　and　seal；　had　guaranteed　the　respectability　of　these　honorable　witnesses。　　Nobody　could　remain　in　doubt；　after　such　precautions；　as　to　whether　he　had　or　had　not　witnessed　the　siege　of　Paris。　　He　had　such　incredulous　friends！　。　。　。

In　order　to　bring　the　scene　more　dramatically　before　his　amiable　listener；　he　recalled　the　most　striking　of　his　impressions　for　her　special　benefit。　　Once；　in　broad　daylight；　he　had　seen　a　flock　of　sheep　in　the　boulevard　near　the　Madeleine。　　Their　tread　had　resounded　through　the　deserted　streets　like　echoes　from　the　city　of　the　dead。　　He　was　the　only　pedestrian　on　the　sidewalks　thronged　with　cats　and　dogs。

His　military　recollections　excited　him　like　tales　of　glory。

〃I　have　seen　the　march　of　the　soldiers　from　Morocco。　。　。　。　　I　have　seen　the　Zouaves　in　automobiles！〃

The　very　night　that　Julio　had　gone　to　Bordeaux；　he　had　wandered　around　till　sunrise；　traversing　half　of　Paris；　from　the　Lion　of　Belfort；　to　the　Gare　de　l'Est。　　Twenty　thousand　men；　with　all　their　campaign　outfit；　coming　from　Morocco；　had　disembarked　at　Marseilles　and　arrived　at　the　Capital；　making　part　of　the　trip　by　rail　and　the　rest　afoot。　　They　had　come　to　take　part　in　the　great　battle　then　beginning。　　They　were　troops　composed　of　Europeans　and　Africans。　The　vanguard；　on　entering　through　the　Orleans　gate；　had　swung　into　rhythmic　pace；　thus　crossing　half　Paris　toward　the　Gare　de　l'Est　where　the　trains　were　waiting　for　them。

The　people　of　Paris　had　seen　squadrons　from　Tunis　with　theatrical　uniforms；　mounted　on　horses；　nervous　and　fleet；　Moors　with　yellow　turbans；　Senegalese　with　black　faces　and　scarlet　caps；　colonial　artillerymen；　and　light　infantry　from　Africa。　　These　were　professional　warriors；　soldiers　who　in　times　of　peace；　led　a　life　of　continual　fighting　in　the　coloniesmen　with　energetic　profiles；　bronzed　faces　and　the　eyes　of　beasts　of　prey。　　They　had　remained　motionlesss　in　the　streets　for　hours　at　a　time；　until　room　could　be　found　for　them　in　the　military　trains。　。　。　。　　And　Argensola　had　followed　this　armed；　impassive　mass　of　humanity　from　the　boulevards；　talking　with　the　officials；　and　listening　to　the　primitive　cries　of　the　African　warriors　who　had　never　seen　Paris；　and　who　passed　through　it　without　curiosity；　asking　where　the　enemy　was。

They　had　arived　in　time　to　attack　von　Kluck　on　the　banks　of　the　Ourq；　obliging　him　to　fall　back　or　be　completely　overwhelmed。

A　fact　which　Argensola　did　not　relate　to　his　sympathetic　guest　was　that　his　nocturnal　excursion　the　entire　length　of　this　division　of　the　army　had　been　accompanied　by　the　amiable　damsel　within；　and　two　other　friendsan　enthusiastic　and　generous　coterie；　distributing　flowers　and　kisses　to　the　swarthy　soldiers；　and　laughing　at　their　consternation　and　gleaming　white　teeth。

Another　day　he　had　seen　the　most　extraordinary　of　all　the　spectacles　of　the　war。　　All　the　taxicabs；　some　two　thousand　vehicles；　conveying　battalions　of　Zouaves；　eight　men　to　a　motor　car；　had　gone　rolling　past　him　at　full　speed；　bristling　with　guns　and　red　caps。　　They　had　presented　a　most　picturesque　train　in　the　boulevards；　like　a　kind　of　interminable　wedding　procession。　　And　these　soldiers　got　out　of　the　automobiles　on　the　very　edge　of　the　b