双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第46部分

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ectly。
As　the　road…mender　plied　his　dusty　labour；　and　the　hail…clouds；　rolling　away；　revealed　bright　bars　and　streaks　of　sky　which　were　responded　to　by　silver　gleams　upon　the　landscape；　the　little　man　（who　wore　a　red　cap　now；　in　place　of　his　blue　one）　seemed　fascinated　by　the　figure　on　the　heap　of　stones。　His　eyes　were　so　often　turned　towards　it；　that　he　used　his　tools　mechanically；　and；　one　would　have　said；　to　very　poor　account。　The　bronze　face；　the　shaggy　black　hair　and　beard；　the　coarse　woollen　red　cap；　the　rough　medley　dress　of　home…spun　stuff　and　hairy　skins　of　beasts；　the　powerful　frame　attenuated　by　spare　living；　and　the　sullen　and　desperate　pression　of　the　lips　in　sleep；　inspired　the　mender　of　roads　with　awe。　The　traveller　had　travelled　far；　and　his　feet　were　footsore；　and　his　ankles　chafed　and　bleeding；　his　great　shoes；　stuffed　with　leaves　and　grass；　had　been　heavy　to　drag　over　the　many　long　leagues；　and　his　clothes　were　chafed　into　holes；　as　he　himself　was　into　sores。　Stooping　down　beside　him；　the　road…mender　tried　to　get　a　peep　at　secret　weapons　in　his　breast　or　where　not；　but；　in　vain；　for　he　slept　with　his　arms　crossed　upon　him；　and　set　as　resolutely　as　his　lips。　Fortified　towns　with　their　stockades；　guard…houses；　gates；　trenches；　and　drawbridges；　seemed　to　the　mender　of　roads；　to　be　so　much　air　as　against　this　figure。　And　when　he　lifted　his　eyes　from　it　to　the　horizon　and　looked　around；　he　saw　in　his　small　fancy　similar　figures；　stopped　by　no　obstacle；　tending　to　centres　all　over　France。
The　man　slept　on；　indifferent　to　showers　of　hail　and　intervals　of　brightness；　to　sunshine　on　his　face　and　shadow；　to　the　pattering　lumps　of　dull　ice　on　his　body　and　the　diamonds　into　which　the　sun　changed　them；　until　the　sun　was　low　in　the　west；　and　the　sky　was　glowing。　Then；　the　mender　of　roads　having　got　his　tools　together　and　all　things　ready　to　go　down　into　the　village；　roused　him。
‘Good！'　said　the　sleeper；　rising　on　his　elbow。　‘Two　leagues　beyond　the　summit　of　the　hill？'
‘About。'　
‘About。　Good！'
The　mender　of　roads　went　home；　with　the　dust　going　on　before　him　according　to　the　set　of　the　wind；　and　was　soon　at　the　fountain；　squeezing　himself　in　among　the　lean　kine　brought　there　to　drink；　and　appearing　even　to　whisper　to　them　in　his　whispering　to　all　the　village。　When　the　village　had　taken　its　poor　supper；　it　did　not　creep　to　bed；　as　it　usually　did；　but　came　out　of　doors　again；　and　remained　there。　A　curious　contagion　of　whispering　was　upon　it；　and　also；　when　it　gathered　together　at　the　fountain　in　the　dark；　another　curious　contagion　of　looking　expectantly　at　the　sky　in　one　direction　only。　Monsieur　Gabelle；　chief　functionary　of　the　place；　became　uneasy；　went　out　on　his　house…top　alone；　and　looked　in　that　direction　too；　glanced　down　from　behind　his　chimneys　at　the　darkening　faces　by　the　fountain　below；　and　sent　word　to　the　sacristan　who　kept　the　keys　of　the　church；　that　there　might　be　need　to　ring　the　tocsin　by…and…by。
The　night　deepened。　The　trees　environing　the　old　chateau；　keeping　its　solitary　state　apart；　moved　in　a　rising　wind；　as　though　they　threatened　the　pile　of　building　massive　and　dark　in　the　gloom。　Up　the　two　terrace　flights　of　steps　the　rain　ran　wildly；　and　beat　at　the　great　door；　like　a　swift　messenger　rousing　those　within；　uneasy　rushes　of　wind　went　through　the　hall；　among　the　old　spears　and　knives；　and　passed　lamenting　up　the　stairs；　and　shook　the　curtains　of　the　bed　where　the　last　Marquis　had　slept。　East；　West；　North；　and　South；　through　the　woods；　four　heavy…treading；　unkempt　figures　crushed　the　high　grass　and　cracked　the　branches；　striding　on　cautiously　to　e　together　in　the　courtyard。　Four　lights　broke　out　there；　and　moved　away　in　different　directions；　and　all　was　black　again。
But；　not　for　long。　Presently；　the　chateau　began　to　make　itself　strangely　visible　by　some　light　of　its　own；　as　though　it　were　growing　luminous。　Then；　a　flickering　streak　played　behind　the　architecture　of　the　front；　picking　out　transparent　places；　and　showing　where　balustrades；　arches；　and　windows　were。　Then　it　soared　higher；　and　grew　broader　and　brighter。　Soon；　from　a　score　of　the　great　windows；　flames　burst　forth；　and　the　stone　faces　awakened；　stared　out　of　fire。
A　faint　murmur　arose　about　the　house　from　the　few　people　who　were　left　there；　and　there　was　a　saddling　of　a　horse　and　riding　away。　There　was　spurring　and　splashing　through　the　darkness；　and　bridle　was　drawn　in　the　space　by　the　village　fountain；　and　the　horse　in　a　foam　stood　at　Monsieur　Gabelle's　door。　‘Help；　Gabelle！　Help；　every　one！'　The　tocsin　rang　impatiently；　but　other　help　（if　that　were　any）　there　was　none。　The　mender　of　roads；　and　two　hundred　and　fifty　particular　friends；　stood　with　folded　arms　at　the　fountain；　looking　at　the　pillar　of　fire　in　the　sky。　‘It　must　be　forty　feet　high；'　said　they；　grimly；　and　never　moved。
The　rider　from　the　chateau；　and　the　horse　in　a　foam；　clattered　away　through　the　village；　and　galloped　up　the　stony　steep；　to　the　prison　on　the　crag。　At　the　gate；　a　group　of　officers　were　looking　at　the　fire；　removed　from　them；　a　group　of　soldiers。　‘Help；　gentlemen…officers！　The　chateau　is　on　fire；　valuable　objects　may　be　saved　from　the　flames　by　timely　aid！　Help；　help！'　The　officers　looked　towards　the　soldiers　who　looked　at　the　fire；　gave　no　orders；　and　answered；　with　shrugs　and　biting　of　lips；　‘It　must　burn。'
As　the　rider　rattled　down　the　hill　again　and　through　the　street；　the　village　was　illuminating。　The　mender　of　roads；　and　the　two　hundred　and　fifty　particular　friends；　inspired　as　one　man　and　woman　by　the　idea　of　lighting　up；　had　darted　into　their　houses；　and　were　putting　candles　in　every　dull　little　pane　of　glass。　The　general　scarcity　of　everything；　occasioned　candles　to　be　borrowed　in　a　rather　peremptory　manner　of　Monsieur　Gabelle；　and　in　a　moment　of　reluctance　and　hesitation　on　that　functionary's　part；　the　mender　of　roads；　once　so　submissive　to　authority；　had　remarked　that　carriages　were　good　to　make　bonfires　with；　and　that　post…horses　would　roast。
The　chateau　was　left　to　itself　to　flame　and　burn。　In　the　roaring　and　raging　of　the　conflagration；　a　red…hot　wind；　driving　straight　from　the　infernal　regions；　seemed　to　be　blowing　the　edifice　away。　With　the　rising　and　falling　of　the　blaze；　the　stone　faces　showed　as　if　they　were　in　torment。　When　great　masses　of　stone　and　timber　fell；　the　face　with　the　two　dints　in　the　nose　became　obscured：　anon　struggled　out　of　the　smoke　again；　as　if　it　were　the　face　of　the　cruel　Marquis；　burning　at　the　stake　and　contending　with　the　fire。
The　chateau　burned；　the　nearest　trees；　laid　hold　of　by　the　fire；　scorched　and　shrivelled；　trees　at　a　distance；　fired　by　the　four　fierce　figures；　begirt　the　blazing　edifice　with　a　new　forest　of　smoke。　Molten　lead　and　iron　boiled　in　the　marble　basin　of　the　fountain；　the　water　ran　dry；　the　extinguisher　tops　of　the　towers　vanished　like　ice　before　the　heat；　and　trickled　down　into　four　rugged　wells　of　flame。　Great　rents　and　splits　branched　out　in　the　solid　walls；　like　crystallisation；　stupefied　birds　wheeled　about　and　dropped　into　the　furnace；　four　fierce　figures　trudged　away；　East；　West；　North；　and　South；　along　the　night…enshrouded　roads；　guided　by　the　beacon　they　had　lighted；　towards　their　next　destination。　The　illuminated　village　had　seized　hold　of　the　tocsin；　and；　abolishing　the　lawful　ringer；　rang　for　joy。
Not　only　that；　but　the　village；　light…headed　with　famine；　fire；　and　bell…ringing；　and　bethinking　itself　that　Monsieur　Gabelle　had　to　do　with　the　collection　of　rent　and　taxes……though　it　was　but　a　small　instalment　of　taxes；　and　no　rent　at　all；　that　Gabelle　had　got　in　those　latter　days……became　impatient　for　an　interview　with　him；　and；　surrounding　his　house；　summoned　him　to　e　forth　for　personal　conference。　Whereupon；　Monsieur　Gabelle　did　heavily　bar　his　door；　and　retire　to　hold　counsel　with　himself　The　result　of　that　conference　was；　that　Gabelle　again　withdrew　himself　to　his　house…top　behind　his　stack　of　chimneys；　this　time　resolved；　if　his　door　was　broken　in　（he　was　a　small　Southern　man　of　retaliative　temperament）；　to　pitch　himself　head　foremost　over　the　parapet；　and　crush　a　man　or　two　below。
Probably；　Monsieur　Gabelle　passed　a　long　night　up　there；　with　the　distant　chateau　for　fire　and　candle；　and　the　beating　at　his　door；　bined　with　the　joy…ringing；　for　music；　not　to　mention　his　having　an　ill…omened　lamp　slung　across　the　road　before　his　posting…house　gate；　which　the　village　showed　a　lively　inclination　to　displace　in　his　favour。　A　trying　suspense；　to　be　passing　a　whole　summer　night　on　the　brink　of　the　black　ocean；　ready　to　take　that　plunge　into　it　upon　which　Monsieur　Gabelle　had　resolved　But；　the　friendly　dawn　appearing　at　last；　and　the　rush…candles　of　the　village　guttering　out；　the　people　happily　dispersed；　and　Monsieur　Gabelle　came　down　bringing　his　life　with　him　for　that　while。
Within　a　hundred　miles；　and　in　the　light　of　other　fires；　there　were　other　functionaries　less　fortunate；　that　night　and　other　nights；　whom　the　rising　sun　found　hanging　across　once…peaceful　streets；　where　they　had　been　born　and　bred；　also；　there　were　other　villagers　and　townspeople　less　fortunate　than　the　mender　of　roads　and　his　fellows；　upon　whom　the　functionaries　and　soldiery　turned　with　success；　and　whom　they　strung　up　in　their　turn。　But；　the　fierce　figures　were　steadily　wending　East；　West；　North；　and　South；　be　that　as　it　would；　and　whosoever　hung；　fire　burned。　The　altitude　of　the　gallows　that　would　turn　to　water　and　quench　it；　no　functionary；　by　any　stretch　of　mathematics；　was　able　to　calculate　successfully。　
CHAPTER　XXIV
Drain　to　the　Loadstone　Rock
In　such　risings　of　fire　and　risings　of　sea……the　firm　earth　shaken　by　the　rushes　of　an　angry　ocean　which　had　now　no　ebb；　but　was　always　on　the　flow；　higher　and　higher；　to　the　tenor　and　wonder　of　the　beholders　on　the　shore……three　years　of　tempest　were　consumed。　Three　more　birthdays　of　little　Lucie　had　been　woven　by　the　golden　thread　into　the　peaceful　tissue　of　the　life　of　her　home。
Many　a　night　and　many　a　day　had　its　inmates　listened　to　the　echoes　in　the　corner；　with　hearts　that　failed　them　when　they　heard　the　thronging　feet。　For；　the　footsteps　had　bee　to　their　minds　as　the　footsteps　of　a　people；　tumultuous　under　a　red　flag　and　with　their　country　declared　in　danger；　changed