第8章

THECOMMISSARY(CRITICALLY)。MAISOUI。TRESBIEN。 THEARETHUSA。COMMENT，MONSIEUR!What!Butdoyounotobserveitisantique。Itisdifficulttounderstand，evenforyouandme； butfortheaudienceatafair，itwouldbemeaningless。 THECOMMISSARY(TAKINGAPEN)。ENFIN，ILFAUIENFINIR。Whatisyourname？ THEARETHUSA(SPEAKINGWITHTHESWALLOWINGVIVACITYOFTHE ENGLISH)。Robert-Louis-Stev\'ns\'n。 THECOMMISSARY(AGHAST)。HE!QUOI？ THEARETHUSA(PERCEIVINGANDIMPROVINGHISADVANTAGE)。Rob\'rt- Lou\'s-Stev\'ns\'n。 THECOMMISSARY(AFTERSEVERALCONFLICTSWITHHISPEN)。EHBIEN，IL FAUTSEPASSERDUNOM。CANES\'ECRITPAS。(Well，wemustdowithoutthename:itisunspellable。) Theaboveisaroughsummaryofthismomentousconversation，inwhichIhavebeenchieflycarefultopreservetheplumsoftheCommissary；buttheremainderofthescene，perhapsbecauseofhisrisinganger，hasleftbutlittledefiniteinthememoryoftheArethusa。TheCommissarywasnot，Ithink，apractisedliteraryman；nosooner，atleast，hadhetakenpeninhandandembarkedonthecompositionofthePROCES-VERBAL，thanhebecamedistinctlymoreuncivilandbegantoshowapredilectionforthatsimplestofallformsofrepartee:\"Youlie!\"SeveraltimestheArethusaletitpass，andthensuddenlyflaredup，refusedtoacceptmoreinsultsortoanswerfurtherquestions，defiedtheCommissarytodohisworst，andpromisedhim，ifhedid，thatheshouldbitterlyrepentit。Perhapsifhehadwornthisproudfrontfromthefirst，insteadofbeginningwithasenseofentertainmentandthengoingontoargue，thethingmighthaveturnedotherwise；forevenatthiseleventhhourtheCommissarywasvisiblystaggered。Butitwastoolate；hehadbeenchallengedthePROCES-VERBALwasbegun； andheagainsquaredhiselbowsoverhiswriting，andtheArethusawasledforthaprisoner。 Asteportwodownthehotroadstoodthegendarmerie。Thitherwasourunfortunateconducted，andtherehewasbiddentoemptyforththecontentsofhispockets。Ahandkerchief，apen，apencil，apipeandtobacco，matches，andsometenfrancsofchange:thatwasall。Notafile，notacipher，notascrapofwritingwhethertoidentifyortocondemn。Theverygendarmewasappalledbeforesuchdestitution。 \"Iregret，\"hesaid，\"thatIarrestedyou，forIseethatyouarenoVOYOU。\"Andhepromisedhimeveryindulgence。 TheArethusa，thusencouraged，askedforhispipe。Thathewastoldwasimpossible，butifhechewed，hemighthavesometobacco。 Hedidnotchew，however，andaskedinsteadtohavehishandkerchief。 \"NON，\"saidthegendarme。\"NOUSAVONSEUDESHISTOIRESDEGENSQUI SESONTPENDUS。\"(No，wehavehadhistoriesofpeoplewhohangedthemselves。) \"What，\"criedtheArethusa。\"Andisitforthatyourefusememyhandkerchief？ButseehowmuchmoreeasilyIcouldhangmyselfinmytrousers!\" Themanwasstruckbythenoveltyoftheidea；buthestucktohiscolours，andonlycontinuedtorepeatvagueoffersofservice。 \"Atleast，\"saidtheArethusa，\"besurethatyouarrestmycomrade； hewillfollowmeerelongonthesameroad，andyoucantellhimbythesackuponhisshoulders。\" Thispromised，theprisonerwasledroundintothebackcourtofthebuilding，acellardoorwasopened，hewasmotioneddownthestair，andboltsgratedandchainsclangedbehindhisdescendingperson。 Thephilosophicandstillmoretheimaginativemindisapttosupposeitselfpreparedforanymortalaccident。Prison，amongotherills，wasonethathadbeenoftenfacedbytheundauntedArethusa。Evenashewentdownthestairs，hewastellinghimselfthatherewasafamousoccasionforaroundel，andthatlikethecommittedlinnetsofthetunefulcavalier，hetoowouldmakehisprisonmusical。Iwilltellthetruthatonce:theroundelwasneverwritten，oritshouldbeprintedinthisplace，toraiseasmile。Tworeasonsinterfered:thefirstmoral，thesecondphysical。 Itisoneofthecuriositiesofhumannature，thatalthoughallmenareliars，theycannoneofthembeartobetoldsoofthemselves。 Togetandtaketheliewithequanimityisastretchbeyondthestoic；andtheArethusa，whohadbeensurfeiteduponthatinsult，wasblazinginwardlywithawhiteheatofsmotheredwrath。Butthephysicalhadalsoitspart。Thecellarinwhichhewasconfinedwassomefeetunderground，anditwasonlylightedbyanunglazed，narrowaperturehighupinthewallandsmotheredintheleavesofagreenvine。Thewallswereofnakedmasonry，thefloorofbareearth；bywayoffurnituretherewasanearthenwarebasin，awater- jug，andawoodenbedsteadwithablue-graycloakforbedding。Tobetakenfromthehotairofasummer\'safternoon，thereverberationoftheroadandthestirofrapidexercise，andplungedintothegloomanddampofthisreceptacleforvagabonds，struckaninstantchillupontheArethusa\'sblood。Nowseeinhowsmallamatterahardshipmayconsist:thefloorwasexceedinglyunevenunderfoot，withtheveryspade-marks，Isuppose，ofthelabourerswhodugthefoundationsofthebarrack；andwhatwiththepoortwilightandtheirregularsurface，walkingwasimpossible。 Thecagedauthorresistedforagoodwhile；butthechilloftheplacestruckdeeperanddeeper；andatlength，withsuchreluctanceasyoumayfancy，hewasdriventoclimbuponthebedandwraphimselfinthepubliccovering。There，then，helayuponthevergeofshivering，plungedinsemi-darkness，woundinagarmentwhosetouchhedreadedliketheplague，and(inaspiritfarremovedfromresignation)tellingtherolloftheinsultshehadjustreceived。 Thesearenotcircumstancesfavourabletothemuse。 Meantime(tolookattheuppersurfacewherethesunwasstillshiningandthegunsofsportsmenwerestillnoisythroughthetuftedplain)theCigarettewasdrawingnearathismorephilosophicpace。InthosedaysoflibertyandhealthhewastheconstantpartneroftheArethusa，andhadampleopportunitytoshareinthatgentleman\'sdisfavourwiththepolice。Manyabitterbowlhadhepartakenofwiththatdisastrouscomrade。Hewashimselfamanborntofloateasilythroughlife，hisfaceandmannerartfullyrecommendinghimtoall。Therewasbutonesuspiciouscircumstancehecouldnotcarryoff，andthatwashiscompanion。HewillnotreadilyforgettheCommissaryinwhatisironicallycalledthefreetownofFrankfort-on-the-Main；northeFranco-Belgianfrontier；northeinnatLaFere；last，butnotleast，heisprettycertaintorememberChatillon-sur-Loire。 Atthetownentry，thegendarmeculledhimlikeawaysideflower； andamomentlater，twopersons，inahighstateofsurprise，wereconfrontedintheCommissary\'soffice。ForiftheCigarettewassurprisedtobearrested，theCommissarywasnolesstakenabackbytheappearanceandappointmentsofhiscaptive。Herewasamanaboutwhomtherecouldbenomistake:amanofanunquestionableandunassailablemanner，inapple-pieorder，dressednotwithneatnessmerelybutelegance，readywithhispassport，ataword，andwellsuppliedwithmoney:amantheCommissarywouldhavedoffedhishattoonchanceuponthehighway；andthisBEAU CAVALIERunblushinglyclaimedtheArethusaforhiscomrade!Theconclusionoftheinterviewwasforegone；ofitshumours，I rememberonlyone。\"Baronet？\"demandedthemagistrate，glancingupfromthepassport。\"ALORS，MONSIEUR，VOUSETESLEFIRSD\'UN BARON？\"AndwhentheCigarette(hisonemistakethroughouttheinterview)deniedthesoftimpeachment，\"ALORS，\"fromtheCommissary，\"CEN\'ESTPASVOTREPASSEPORT!\"Butthesewereineffectualthunders；heneverdreamedoflayinghandsupontheCigarette；presentlyhefellintoamoodofunrestrainedadmiration，gloatingoverthecontentsoftheknapsack，commandingourfriend\'stailor。Ah，whatanhonouredguestwastheCommissaryentertaining!whatsuitableclothesheworeforthewarmweather! whatbeautifulmaps，whatanattractiveworkofhistoryhecarriedinhisknapsack!Youaretounderstandtherewasnowbutonepointofdifferencebetweenthem:whatwastobedonewiththeArethusa？ theCigarettedemandinghisrelease，theCommissarystillclaiminghimasthedungeon\'sown。NowitchancedthattheCigarettehadpassedsomeyearsofhislifeinEgypt，wherehehadmadeacquaintancewithtwoverybadthings，choleramorbusandpashas； andintheeyeoftheCommissary，ashefingeredthevolumeofMichelet，itseemedtoourtravellertherewassomethingTurkish。 Ipassoverthislightly；itishighlypossibletherewassomemisunderstanding，highlypossiblethattheCommissary(charmedwithhisvisitor)supposedtheattractiontobemutualandtookforanactofgrowingfriendshipwhattheCigarettehimselfregardedasabribe。Andatanyrate，wasthereeverabribemoresingularthananoddvolumeofMichelet\'shistory？Theworkwaspromisedhimforthemorrow，beforeourdeparture；andpresentlyafter，eitherbecausehehadhisprice，ortoshowthathewasnotthemantobebehindinfriendlyoffices-\"EHBIEN，\"hesaid，\"JESUPPOSEQU\'IL FAUTLAHERVOIRECAMARADE。\"Andhetoreupthatfeastofhumour，theunfinishedPROCES-VERBAL。Ah，ifhehadonlytornupinsteadtheArethusa\'sroundels!ThereweremanyworksburntatAlexandria，therearemanytreasuredintheBritishMuseum，thatI couldbettersparethanthePROCES-VERBALofChatillon。PoorbubuckledCommissary!IbegintobesorrythatheneverhadhisMichelet:perceivinginhimfinehumantraits，abroad-basedstupidity，agustoinhismagisterialfunctions，atasteforletters，areadyadmirationfortheadmirable。AndifhedidnotadmiretheArethusa，hewasnotaloneinthat。 Totheimprisonedone，shiveringunderthepubliccovering，therecamesuddenlyanoiseofboltsandchains。Hesprangtohisfeet，readytowelcomeacompanionincalamity；andinsteadofthat，thedoorwasflungwide，thefriendlygendarmeappearedaboveinthestrongdaylight，andwithamagnificentgesture(beingprobablyastudentofthedrama)-\"VOUSETESLIBRE!\"hesaid。NonetoosoonfortheArethusa。Idoubtifhehadbeenhalf-an-hourimprisoned； butbythewatchinaman\'sbrain(whichwastheonlywatchhecarried)heshouldhavebeeneighttimeslonger；andhepassedforthwithecstasyupthecellarstairsintothehealingwarmthoftheafternoonsun；andthebreathoftheearthcameassweetasacow\'sintohisnostril；andheheardagain(andcouldhavelaughedforpleasure)theconcordofdelicatenoisesthatwecallthehumoflife。 Andhereitmightbethoughtthatmyhistoryended；butnotso，thiswasanact-dropandnotthecurtain。Uponwhatfollowedinfrontofthebarrack，sincetherewasaladyinthecase，Iscrupletoexpatiate。ThewifeoftheMarechal-des-logiswasahandsomewoman，andyettheArethusawasnotsorrytobegonefromhersociety。Somethingofherimage，coolasapeachonthathotafternoon，stilllingersinhismemory:yetmoreofherconversation。\"Youhavethereaveryfineparlour，\"saidthepoorgentleman-\"Ah，\"saidMadamelaMarechale(des-logis)，\"youareverywellacquaintedwithsuchparlours!\"Andyoushouldhaveseenwithwhatahardandscornfuleyeshemeasuredthevagabondbeforeher!IdonotthinkheeverhatedtheCommissary；butbeforethatinterviewwasatanend，hehatedMadamelaMarechale。Hispassion(asIamledtounderstandbyonewhowaspresent)stoodconfessedinaburningeye，apalecheek，andatremblingutterance；Madamemeanwhiletastingthejoysofthematador，goadinghimwithbarbedwordsandstaringhimcoldlydown。 Itwascertainlygoodtobeawayfromthislady，andbetterstilltositdowntoanexcellentdinnerintheinn。Here，too，thedespisedtravellersscrapedacquaintancewiththeirnextneighbour，agentlemanoftheseparts，returnedfromtheday\'ssport，whohadthegoodtastetofindpleasureintheirsociety。Thedinneratanend，thegentlemanproposedtheacquaintanceshouldberipenedinthecafe。 Thecafewascrowdedwithsportsmenconclamantlyexplainingtoeachotherandtheworldthesmallnessoftheirbags。Aboutthecentreoftheroom，theCigaretteandtheArethusasatwiththeirnewacquaintance；atrioverywellpleased，forthetravellers(aftertheirlateexperience)weregreedyofconsideration，andtheirsportsmanrejoicedinapairofpatientlisteners。Suddenlytheglassdoorflewopenwithacrash；theMarechal-des-logisappearedintheinterval，gorgeouslybeltedandbefrogged，enteredwithoutsalutation，strodeuptheroomwithaclangofspursandweapons，anddisappearedthroughadooratthefarend。CloseathisheelsfollowedtheArethusa\'sgendarmeoftheafternoon，imitating，withaniceshadeofdifference，theimperialbearingofhischief； only，ashepassed，hestrucklightlywithhisopenhandontheshoulderofhislatecaptive，andwiththatringing，dramaticutteranceofwhichhehadthesecret-\"SUIVEZ!\"saidhe。 Thearrestofthemembers，theoathoftheTennisCourt，thesigningofthedeclarationofindependence，MarkAntony\'soration，allthebravescenesofhistory，IconceiveashavingbeennotunlikethateveninginthecafeatChatillon。Terrorbreathedupontheassembly。Amomentlater，whentheArethusahadfollowedhisrecaptorsintothefartherpartofthehouse，theCigarettefoundhimselfalonewithhiscoffeeinaringofemptychairsandtables，allthelustysportsmenhuddledintocorners，alltheirclamorousvoiceshushedinwhispering，alltheireyesshootingathimfurtivelyasataleper。 AndtheArethusa？Well，hehadalong，sometimesatrying，interviewinthebackkitchen。TheMarechal-des-logis，whowasaveryhandsomeman，andIbelievebothintelligentandhonest，hadnoclearopiniononthecase。HethoughttheCommissaryhaddonewrong，buthedidnotwishtogethissubordinatesintotrouble； andheproposedthis，that，andtheother，toallofwhichtheArethusa(withagrowingsenseofhisposition)demurred。 \"Inshort，\"suggestedtheArethusa，\"youwanttowashyourhandsoffurtherresponsibility？Well，then，letmegotoParis。\" TheMarechal-des-logislookedathiswatch。 \"Youmayleave，\"saidhe，\"bytheteno\'clocktrainforParis。\" Andatnoonthenextdaythetravellersweretellingtheirmisadventureinthedining-roomatSiron\'s。 CHAPTERV-RANDOMMEMORIES I-THECOASTOFFIFE MANYwritershavevigorouslydescribedthepainsofthefirstdayorthefirstnightatschool；toaboyofanyenterprise，I believe，theyaremoreoftenagreeablyexciting。Misery-oratleastmiseryunrelieved-isconfinedtoanotherperiod，tothedaysofsuspenseandthe\"dreadfullooking-for\"ofdeparture；whentheoldlifeisrunningtoanend，andthenewlife，withitsnewinterests，notyetbegun:andtothepainofanimminentparting，thereisaddedtheunrestofastateofconsciouspre-existence。 Thearearailings，thebelovedshop-window，thesmellofsemi- suburbantanpits，thesongofthechurchbellsuponaSunday，thethin，highvoicesofcompatriotchildreninaplaying-field-whatasudden，whatanoverpoweringpathosbreathestohimfromeachfamiliarcircumstance!Theassaultsofsorrowcomenotfromwithin，asitseemstohim，butfromwithout。Iwasproudandgladtogotoschool；hadIbeenletalone，Icouldhaveborneuplikeanyhero；buttherewasaroundme，inallmynativetown，aconspiracyoflamentation:\"Poorlittleboy，heisgoingaway- unkindlittleboy，heisgoingtoleaveus\"；sotheunspokenburthenfollowedmeasIwent，withyearningandreproach。Andatlength，onemelancholyafternoonintheearlyautumn，andataplacewhereitseemstome，lookingback，itmustbealwaysautumnandgenerallySunday，therecamesuddenlyuponthefaceofallI saw-thelongemptyroad，thelinesofthetallhouses，thechurchuponthehill，thewoodyhillsidegarden-alookofsuchapiercingsadnessthatmyheartdied；andseatingmyselfonadoor- step，Ishedtearsofmiserablesympathy。Abenevolentcatcumberedmethewhilewithconsolations-wetwowerealoneinallthatwasvisibleoftheLondonRoad:twopoorwaifswhohadeachtastedsorrow-andshefawnedupontheweeper，andgambolledforhisentertainment，watchingtheeffectitseemed，withmotherlyeyes。 Forthesakeofthecat，Godblessher!Iconfessedathomethestoryofmyweakness；andsoitcomesaboutthatIowedacertainjourney，andthereaderowesthepresentpaper，toacatintheLondonRoad。Itwasjudged，ifIhadthusbrimmedoveronthepublichighway，somechangeofscenewas(inthemedicalsense) indicated；myfatheratthetimewasvisitingtheharbourlightsofScotland；anditwasdecidedheshouldtakemealongwithhimaroundaportionoftheshoresofFife；myfirstprofessionaltour，myfirstjourneyinthecompletecharacterofman，withoutthehelpofpetticoats。 TheKingdomofFife(thatroyalprovince)maybeobservedbythecuriousonthemap，occupyingatongueoflandbetweenthefirthsofForthandTay。ItmaybecontinuallyseenfrommanypartsofEdinburgh(amongtherest，fromthewindowsofmyfather\'shouse) dyingawayintothedistanceandtheeasterlyHAARwithonesmokyseasidetownbeyondanother，orinwinterprintingonthegrayheavensomeglitteringhill-tops。Ithasnobeautytorecommendit，beingalow，sea-salted，wind-vexedpromontory；treesveryrare，except(ascommonontheeastcoast)alongthedensofrivers；thefieldswellcultivated，Iunderstand，butnotlovelytotheeye。ItisofthecoastIspeak:theinteriormaybethegardenofEden。HistorybroodsoverthatpartoftheworldliketheeasterlyHAAR。Evenonthemap，itslongrowofGaelicplace- namesbeartestimonytoanoldandsettledrace。Oftheselittletowns，postedalongtheshoreascloseassedges，eachwithitsbitofharbour，itsoldweather-beatenchurchorpublicbuilding，itsflavourofdecayedprosperityanddecayingfish，notonebuthasitslegend，quaintortragic:Dunfermline，inwhoseroyaltowersthekingmaybestillobserved(intheballad)drinkingtheblood- redwine；somnolentInverkeithing，oncethequarantineofLeith； Aberdour，hardbythemonasticisletofInchcolm，hardbyDonibristlewherethe\"bonnyfacewasspoiled\"；Burntislandwhere，whenPaulJoneswasoffthecoast，theReverendMr。Shirrahadatablecarriedbetweentidemarks，andpubliclyprayedagainsttheroveratthepitchofhisvoiceandhisbroadlowlanddialect； Kinghorn，whereAlexander\"brak\'sneckbane\"andleftScotlandtotheEnglishwars；Kirkcaldy，wherethewitchesonceprevailedextremelyandsanktallshipsandhonestmarinersintheNorthSea； Dysart，famous-wellfamousatleasttomefortheDutchshipsthatlayinitsharbour，paintedliketoysandwithpotsofflowersandcagesofsong-birdsinthecabinwindows，andforoneparticularDutchskipperwhowouldsitalldayinslippersonthebreakofthepoop，smokingalongGermanpipe；Wemyss(pronounceWeems)withitsbat-hauntedcaves，wheretheChevalierJohnstone，onhisflightfromCulloden，passedanightofsuperstitiousterrors；Leven，abald，quitemodernplace，sacredtosummervisitors，whencetherehasgonebutyesterdaythetallfigureandthewhitelocksofthelastEnglishmaninDelhi，myuncleDr。 Balfour，whowasstillwalkinghishospitalrounds，whilethetroopersfromMeerutclatteredandcried\"DeenDeen\"alongthestreetsoftheimperialcity，andWilloughbymusteredhishandfulofheroesatthemagazine，andthenamelessbraveoneinthetelegraphofficewasperhapsalreadyfingeringhislastdespatch； andjustalittlebeyondLeven，LargoLawandthesmokeofLargotownmountingaboutitsfeet，thetownofAlexanderSelkirk，betterknownunderthenameofRobinsonCrusoe。Soon，thelistmightbepursued(onlyforprivatereasons，whichthereaderwillshortlyhaveanopportunitytoguess)bySt。Monance，andPittenweem，andthetwoAnstruthers，andCellardyke，andCrail，wherePrimateSharpewasonceahumbleandinnocentcountryminister:ontotheheeloftheland，toFifeNess，overlookedbyasea-woodofmattedeldersandthequaintoldmansionofBalcomie，itselfoverlookingbutthebreachorthequiescenceofthedeep-theCarrRockbeaconrisingcloseinfront，andasnightdrawsin，thestaroftheInchcapereefspringingupontheonehand，andthestaroftheMayIslandontheother，andfartheroffyetathirdandagreateronthecraggyforelandofSt。Abb\'s。Andbutalittlewayroundthecorneroftheland，imminentitselfabovethesea，standsthegemoftheprovinceandthelightofmediaevalScotland，St。Andrews，wherethegreatCardinalBeatonheldgarrisonagainsttheworld，andthesecondofthenameandtitleperished(asyoumayreadinKnox\'sjeeringnarrative)undertheknivesoftrue-blueProtestants，andtothisday(aftersomanycenturies)thecurrentvoiceoftheprofessorisnothushed。