Rafael Sabatini

“ He encountered Corbigny in the vast stone kitchen, at table with the persons of his household. These consisted of his elderly steward, Fougereot, the latter's wife, their two stalwart sons and a plump, comely young woman euphoniously named Filomène, who was responsible for the domestic comforts of the impoverished nobleman. Corbigny, himself, a man of thirty, fitted into his environment as if made for it. In dress he was almost a peasant, in dignity and courtesy a gentleman, whilst in speech and in countenance, with his lofty brow and sombre wistful eyes, he suggested the scholar and poet. ”

“ The making of laws is the sole prerogative of the National Convention, and any man or group of men infringing that prerogative and arrogating any such rights are themselves guilty of an incivisme for which they may be indicted.”
Chauvinière admired the shrewdness and subtlety of that counter-attack, and was thankful that it was made before men of too low an order of intelligence to appreciate it. A growl of anger and mockery was all it drew from the assembly, and when that subsided the President spoke without emotion: “You have three days for consideration, Citizen Corbigny.” ”

“ I assure you, citizen, that the gravest consequences might follow upon an unsubstantiated attack upon Corbigny. In Poussignot all know the stalwart republicanism of his principles; all know the unpretentious simplicity of his existence, and all love him. That is not a man to be lightly accused. For your own sake, Citizen-Representative, and for ours, you would do well to be fully armed with particulars of Corbigny's incivisme before you demand of us his arrest.”
If the argument did not suffice to turn Chauvinière from his purpose, it sufficed to make him temporize. ”

“ The eccentricity of this behavior, thought M. de Corbigny, called for investigation. He was fleet of foot, and he was upon the fugitive before the latter had covered half the distance to his goal. He clutched the shoulder of a stripling, clad in the blouse, loose pantaloons and wooden shoes of a peasant. “A word with you, my friend. You are too fleet for honesty, to say nothing of your skulking behind a wall.” ”

“ He waved a hand, a hand that was long and slender as an aristocrat's and as graceful in its gesture which subtly blended invitation with command.
The doctors sighed and grunted. “For my own part,” said the shorter one, “I do not like her eyes. That wild, hunted look, that expression of distraction... hem! Hem!”
“And then her pallor,” put in the other. “Most unnatural! And this pulse!”
“Of course, of course,” said the deputy's voice, and it was cold as ice, or—thought the little doctor—cold as the knife of the guillotine: “It is for you to form the opinion. ”

“ You make life possible. If I had been wrong, nothing further would have mattered. I should still have died the richer, the nobler for what you brought me. But since you care .. Listen, my dear. The decree is only that I marry. So that I marry within three days I fulfil the requirements of this grotesque mockery which they call a law. Filomène was proposed to me, because I would make no choice for myself. But Filomène or another, it is all one to them. If you, then, come with me before the Tribunal, in peasant dress—that will be safer—as a girl whom I prefer, whom I have chosen for myself .. ”

“ Instantly Chauvinière scented danger, and as instantly would he have forestalled it, but that he was undone by the mockery in which he dealt so lavishly. His absurd gesture of mock-deference, cumbered now his right hand with his doffed hat. Before he could slip that hand into his bosom to pluck thence the pistol which he carried ready for just such emergencies, it was necessary to be rid of the hat. ”

“ Oh, if you are a trickster, play your vile trick. I care not. I am sick and weary. I should welcome even such rest as the guillotine brings. I am Cléonie de Montsorbier. You are incredulous? You have heard of us in prison in Paris. We are a Nivernaise family, and there should be interest in us hereabouts. ”

“ When they began to realize that he was not jesting, Corbigny made haste to change the subject.
Chauvinière left shortly, but on the morrow he inaugurated that novel mission of his. From the rostrum of the Jacobin Society of Poussignot he propounded his new gospel with the frenzied rhetoric and specious cant with which he had learnt to sway the passions of emotional unintelligent mobs. France was being depopulated by the events. That was his starting point. The evil brood of aristocracy must be replaced by a race of free men, born in an enlightened age. ”

“ Filomène came in with a scared countenance. “It is the Citizen-Representative,” she announced. “He is here. He asks to see you.”
Mademoiselle de Montsorbier shrank back in fear. Corbigny came to his feet, very stiff and straight and suddenly of a preternatural calm.
“He comes most opportunely.” Corbigny's voice had resumed its normal, pleasant tone. “I was considering going in quest of him. Detain him a moment or two in the hall, Filomène. Then bring him in.”
Before Filomène was out of the room, Corbigny was at a tall cupboard of polished mulberry that stood against the wall. ”

“ Corbigny was faintly embarrassed. “It does not matter. And it would be easy to find a more interesting topic of conversation than myself.”
“You are mistaken in both opinions. It matters very much.” Chauvinière had thought of something else. “Celibacy is an affront to Nature; and who affronts Nature is no good republican, since republicanism is based on Nature's laws, That is why I say that it matters very much.” ”

“ Within ten days the movement had reached such a pitch that it was proposed and unanimously agreed at the Society of Jacobins that, as the Citizen-Representative had propounded, for a man of twenty-five to remain unmarried in the face of the country's needs was to give proof of incivisme, to be punished as incivisme was punished by declaring him outside the law and sending him to the guillotine. ”

“ Over the well-larded capon Chauvinière expressed himself to his secretary.
“By this I should judge that there is a good deal of aristocracy surviving in this Nivernais of yours.”
“You should be thankful for that since it enables you to sup so well.”
“In this world, as you may find, the greater the cause for thankfulness on the one hand, the greater the cause for repining on the other. It is thus that Fortune bestows her favors: taking payment always.” ”

“ Chauvinière climbed down, swearing savagely. It had been his purpose to reach Nevers that night, to address a meeting of the Committee of Public Safety and so to plan that upon the morrow he might set out upon his survey. That plan he must now abandon, and accept such a kennel as La Charité could offer his Republican sybaritism.
Yet when they had tramped the half-mile of muddy road to the village, they found there an excellent inn, where they were given a good room above-stairs in which to sup, with a bedroom opening from each side of it. ”

“ You are astir! It is fortunate; for otherwise I must have fetched you from your bed. I need a horse at once, citizen.”
“A horse? At, this hour?”
“Business of the Nation.” The young secretary's voice was hard and peremptory. He flourished his portfolio. “I am to ride ahead of the Citizen-Representative into Nevers, There is urgency. Make haste, or you will answer to the Citizen-Representative.”
A horse was quickly saddled, and upon this the young secretary, with a seat suggestive of a huntsman rather than a clerk, vanished at the gallop into the night. ”

“ She took them up, and proffered them to the Vicomte. “My friend, you must wear these.” He shrank a little. “It is a necessity,” she insisted. “Henceforth, you are the Citizen-Representative Chauvinière.”
She spent a moment in assisting Corbigny to assume the sash of office, then led him out, Fougereot following. Came brief but very touching farewells between the seigneur and his shrunken family.
“You will care for the land,” Mademoiselle de Montsorbier told them, “and count it your own until Monsieur the Vicomte comes to claim it again.” ”

“ Chauvinière's lips twitched. “It is gratifying, citizen-doctors, for a layman to find his scientific suspicions confirmed by men of science. You will, then, certify the citoyenne, so that the Public-Accuser may authorize her removal say to the madhouse in the Rue du Bac.” ”

“ The Citizen ci-devant Vicomte de Corbigny, belongs by birth to a class which the Republic has abolished. Himself he has gone unscathed because of the republican spirit by which he is believed to be inspired. He should perceive that he is now provided with an opportunity of placing his republicanism beyond all possibility of future question.
“Acquainted as I am with his household, in which I have had the honor to be entertained, I am fortunately in a position to advise him. A girl of the people who serves him should prove domestically a very suitable wife. ”

“ Dumey departed. Chauvinière entered the room, carrying the valise.
Mademoiselle de Montsorbier, forewarned of his presence by his voice was standing to receive him. He bowed deferentially, and this time he was so unrepublican as to remove his hat. Then he placed the valise on the table.
“You have resolved, citoyenne?” He had no doubt, this psychologist, that time and thought must have brought a person of her age to one conclusion only. It is very difficult to die willingly at twenty. ”

“ A paper in his hand drew the eyes—some scared, some pathetic, some proudly indifferent and some defiantly scornful—of the hundred men and women assembled there for the daily purpose of hearing that paper's contents. For this slim young gentleman, Robert Wolf, clerk of the Revolutionary Tribunal, was the adjutant of the Public Accuser. His paper bore the list over whose preparation Fouquier-Tinville had labored half the night. ”

“ His face grew pale as if with fear, and a deeper wistfulness crept into the lines of it. At last he answered her very slowly. “Yes, I have thought. And a third course offers. But I hesitate from fear of being misunderstood.”
She almost smiled as she looked up at him. “To a man in your case can it matter to be misunderstood? ”

“ But there! We have no time to lose. I efface myself that you may make haste. When you are ready you will find me in the corridor.”
A half hour or so later, by when the deputy was in a ferment of impatience, a stripling figure, in round hat, black riding-coat, boots and breeches emerged from the lady's room. A moment Chauvinière detained her, to scrutinise her with an eye that missed no detail. Thus dressed she looked shorter by some inches, but her figure was well enough, and the queue of her hair had been cleverly contrived. He hurried her below. Dumey awaited them, his certificate prepared. ”

“ The question came abruptly from Doucier, the horse-leech, a man prominent in the local Jacobin Society, honest, fearless and formidable in debate, a man who might, had he chosen, represent his own section of the Nivernais in the National Convention. He was the first, as might have been expected, to throw off the spell of terror which Chauvinière had imposed upon the Committee. ”