The Czar: A Tale of the Time of the First Napoleon/Chapter 10
CHAPTER X.
THE DRAWING OF THE LOT.
"Our God upon the cross,
Our king upon the scaffold; let us think
Of these, and fold endurance to our hearts."
CLEMENCE went into her own room, and Henri followed her. The chamber was severely simple, but scrupulously neat. The narrow bedstead might have suited a nun, and the table and chairs were of unpainted deal: but an ivory crucifix, exquisitely carved, hung over the bed; and the white-washed wall was adorned with a little tier of book-shelves, constructed by Henri, and containing a select and precious library—the "Augustinos" of Jansenius, the works of Arnauld, Nicole, and other divines of the school of Port-Royal, the sermons of Fénélon, and the letters of Madame Guyon. Most precious of all was De Sacy's translation of the New Testament; and next to this inestimable treasure, the volume best beloved and most carefully studied by Clémence was the Port-Royal edition of the "Pensées de Pascal." Many a line, marked by the hand of the thoughtful young student, showed her sympathy with the soul of the great teacher. Her heart, like his, had turned from all that earth could give to seek a more enduring rest and a better portion. Had she found it? At least she had found much that was unspeakably precious—a God to be loved and served with all her mind, with all her soul, and with all her strength. But she had been taught to dwell rather upon his commandments than upon his gifts, and was still far from recognizing, with St. Augustine, that he himself must give that which he commands. She had seen the mystery of the cross, but dimly and afar off, reading therein rather the exceeding sinfulness of the sin that had to be atoned for, than the unutterable greatness of the love that atoned for all. Consequently, her religion was one of surrender and renunciation, not of joyous acceptance and activity; death to the flesh was her watchword rather than life in the Spirit. The air she breathed was bracing and invigorating, but it was cold and sunless. If it were the will of God that Henri should become a hunted fugitive, that he should be arrested as "refractory," and should perish miserably in a fortress dungeon, there was nothing for her to say but this, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good." And having said it, she would still be an unprofitable servant. Her heart, it is true, would be broken; but what mattered that to any one?
While such thoughts passed through the mind of Clémence, Henri stood in silence, leaning against the little latticed window, and looking out upon the peaceful country landscape. At last he spoke. "They are gay enough in the village," he said. "They do not seem to dread the conscription half so much as they did last year. In fact, this new war is very popular. Mathieu Féron, who was standing in his father's forge when I went by, said he would be glad to be drawn; and Jacques Bonin, and that other lad who is with him, were of the same mind, saying they would like nothing better than to go and give the Russians a good beating."
"What miserable folly!" said Clémence with bitter sadness. "What have the Russians done to us, that the blacksmith's son and the butcher's boys of Brie should be eager to go and kill them?"
"I daresay you know as well as they do," returned Henri.
"'It is in his heart to pluck up and to destroy kingdoms not a few,'" Clémence quoted. "But, Henri," she added, with a sudden gleam of hope, "may not good for us spring out of this madness of theirs? Might we not, even if you draw a bad number, find a substitute? You know there is nothing we would not part with to raise the money—nothing."
Henri shook his head. "Last time," he said, "the price went up to three thousand francs, and beyond it. Indeed, it was difficult to get one at any price. But that is not all,"—he lowered his voice: "Clémence, I have reason to think M. le Maire means no good to me."
She started. "Why do you say that?" she asked, with a quick fading of the new-born hope.
"Quietly as we have lived here," Henri resumed, "we are not quite unknown. Every one is aware that I am the son of Henri Charles de Talmont, who died for his King in La Vendée. I have no favour to hope. On the contrary, I think M. le Maire would be glad to see me with a musket on my shoulder."
"If that be the case," Clémence returned sadly, "at least we may thank God that he cannot tamper with the numbers."
"The numbers we are to draw? They matter less than you think. The lists must be filled up; and so many young men have been taken already that few enough are left to choose from now. In any case, our little village will have to contribute its full quota; and even should I succeed in escaping, some other luckless lad will have to go in my place."
"It is not the misfortune of serving as a soldier that you want to escape, but the dishonour, nay the sin, of serving a usurper."
"But, Clémence"— He paused.
"Well, brother?"
"It is no sin to fight for France,—for France, not for Napoleon."
"There is no France," Clémence returned proudly—"no France that we can recognize apart from the King of France, Louis Dix-huit."
"Of whom I know no more than Féron or Bonin knows of the Emperor of Russia."
"What does that matter? What do you mean, Henri?"
"That we think Féron and Bonin a couple of fools because they are longing to go and destroy the Emperor of Russia, about whom they know nothing. Are we so much wiser if we let ourselves be destroyed for a king of France about whom we know just as little?"
"Not for a king of France, but for the King," Clémence answered gently. "And not alone for the King, but for truth, and loyalty, and God."
No more was said; for at that moment they heard the voice of Madame de Talmont, who, having finished her letter, called her daughter to read it. Henri stood yet beside the window; but it was not the quiet wintry scene without which was passing before the boy's anxious eyes. He saw instead his mother's peaceful home invaded by ruthless soldiers; he heard the clank of their spurs, the tread of their feet upon the stair, their oaths, their threats as they sought everywhere for him, the fugitive. He saw—he heard much more—his dwelling given over to pillage—that, perhaps, might be borne; but his mother, his sister, exposed to all the wrongs and insults a lawless soldiery could inflict, and had inflicted in like cases! No; he could not risk it. Not for all the kings of France that ever wore a crown! Better serve Napoleon—better a thousand times! And, after all, what was Napoleon—what were emperors and kings, to him and his? What was death on the battle-field? He had always heard that such a death was honourable and noble, and at all events a man could die but once. But the deserter's fate was only terrible; suffering without glory, "the pang without the palm." From those dreary fortress prisons where the "refractory" toiled in the garb of convicts, fed on bread and water, with shaven heads and fettered feet, no man ever came forth alive.
Days wore on, bringing the dreaded morning that was to decide the fate of the conscripts. Madame de Talmont wrapped her mantle around her and took the arm of her son. Clémence also was prepared to accompany them to the village. Henri, who looked very pale, attempted a remonstrance. "The place will be crowded to-day," he said. "It is not fit for you, mother, or for Clémence."
But they would not listen. "There is no country lad," said his mother, "who will not have his people with him to-day to learn his fate; and shall De Talmont go to the drawing alone, as if no one cared for him?"
As they passed along, they could not avoid hearing the mocking remarks which were exchanged by the peasants of Brie when they saw the proud aristocrats, whose lives had flowed on for years beside yet apart from their own, forced at last into fellowship with their neighbours by a common hope and fear. The silk of Madame de Talmont's mantle, well-worn yet unmistakably elegant, rubbed against the homespun gown of the baker's widow, and both faces were pale with one anxiety.
"Ah, madame, there's little chance for us this time," said Widow Simon. "They like it, the young folk. They know no better. But God help the old!"
A crowd of women were standing together in the town hall, while the young men went inside into the mayor's office to draw each his number from the box. Without, in the village street, a band was playing martial airs, and people were shouting, "Vive l'Empereur!"
Every minute or two some one came out of the office, swaggering or downcast, as the case might be. Widow Simon's son had drawn a very high number, which made him comparatively safe; and Madame de Talmont felt glad ever afterwards that she congratulated the mother. Mathieu Féron came out waving his cap triumphantly, and shouting, "Vive l'Empereur! I am going to fight the Russians! Hammer and tongs, good-bye!"
Then Henri came. He was calm, but a few shades paler than before. He showed his number—eleven. No one spoke; but a moment after Clémence touched his arm and whispered hurriedly, "Come out into the air. Our mother is growing faint."
"Let us go home," said Madame de Talmont, sighing heavily. The crowd was increasing every moment, and the din and tumult were deafening. With some impatience Henri pushed aside those who stood in his path, and there was a sharp ring in his voice as he said, "Make way, make way, good people!"
"Oh yes; make way for the new conscript. How well M. de Talmont will look in the awkward squad!" cried some one.
Féron had crossed the street to the little inn opposite the Mairie, and was about to drink the Emperor's health in a cup of good red wine, a practice much in favour with the conscripts, but before tasting it he pushed through the throng, and offered the brimming goblet to Henri. "Drink, M. de Talmont," he said. "We are all comrades now, and the sooner we learn good fellowship the better."
Henri pushed the cup aside without a word; but Clémence spoke gently to the village lad. "It is not that my brother would not drink with you, Mathieu," she said; "but he is troubled just now, and so are we—like your mother and your sisters."
No other word was spoken until the De Talmonts reached their home, and even then very few. Madame de Talmont and Clémence arranged everything, and Henri seemed quite passive in their hands. According to their plan, he was to leave the cottage after nightfall, and travelling on foot by unfrequented ways, to try to reach the neighbourhood of their old home in the Bocage, where the faithful Grandpierre, who had been their father's steward, would receive and protect him. A little money and a change of linen were concealed about his person, but on no account must he look like a traveller. So long had Madame de Talmont contemplated the necessity for this journey that she was able to give her son the fullest and clearest directions.
At length all was done. The last meal was eaten together, or at least a pretence was made of eating it. Henri embraced his mother, and received her parting blessing; then Clémence, wrapping a shawl around her, said, "The night is fine; I will go with you to the stile of the far corn-field."
They walked along in silence. They had worlds to say to each other, and this might be their last opportunity on earth, yet neither found a word. Not until the parting-place was reached did Clémence whisper, as she slipped a purse into her brother's hand, "There are five napoleons, Henri; you will be sure to want them. And oh! write to us as soon as you can. I will try to cheer and comfort our mother. Just one word more, dearest of brothers. Pray to God, seek to have him for your friend; then, whatever happens"— But here her voice failed utterly.
Henri threw his arms around her, and his voice was hoarse and changed, very unlike his own. "Clémence," he said, "promise me one thing."
"Yes."
"That, whatever happens, you will not hate or curse me, or call me traitor, but forgive and love me still; that you will plead with my mother to forgive me"—
"Forgive you! love you still! What can you mean, Henri? It is not possible we should ever change to each other. Not—possible," she sobbed, clinging to him, and straining him to her heart in an embrace that seemed as if no power on earth could sunder it.
Somehow or other Henri freed himself at last. He said in a kind of choked whisper, "Remember my words. Good-bye, and God—your God—bless you." One last lingering look, and he turned away, ran quickly down the sloping corn-field, and was soon lost to sight.
But he did not take the path that Clémence supposed. He returned to the village by a circuitous route, and about midnight tapped gently at the curé's door. The priest was evidently on the watch, for he opened the door and admitted him at once, then shut and bolted it, and extinguished the light he had kept burning in his window as a guide to his expected guest.