第5章 How Brigadier Gerard Lost His Ear(4)
The room into which I had broken was brilliantly lighted.With its gold cornices, its massive pillars, and its painted walls and ceilings it was evidently the grand hall of some famous Venetian palace.There are many hundred such in this strange city, any one of which has rooms which would grace the Louvre or Versailles.In the centre of this great hall there was a raised dais, and upon it in a half circle there sat twelve men all clad in black gowns, like those of a Franciscan monk, and each with a mask over the upper part of his face.
A group of armed men--rough-looking rascals--were standing round the door, and amid them facing the dais was a young fellow in the uniform of the light infantry.As he turned his head I recognised him.It was Captain Auret, of the 7th, a young Basque with whom I had drunk many a glass during the winter.
He was deadly white, poor wretch, but he held himself manfully amid the assassins who surrounded him.Never shall I forget the sudden flash of hope which shone in his dark eyes when he saw a comrade burst into the room, or the look of despair which followed as he understood that I had come not to change his fate but to share it.
You can think how amazed these people were when I hurled myself into their presence.My pursuers had crowded in behind me and choked the doorway, so that all further flight was out of the question.It is at such instants that my nature asserts itself.With dignity I advanced toward the tribunal.My jacket was torn, my hair was dishevelled, my head was bleeding, but there was that in my eyes and in my carriage which made them realise that no common man was before them.Not a hand was raised to arrest me until I halted in front of a formidable old man, whose long grey beard and masterful manner told me that both by yearsand by character he was the man in authority.
"Sir," said I, "you will, perhaps, tell me why I have been forcibly arrested and brought to this place.I am an honourable soldier, as is this other gentleman here, and I demand that you will instantly set us both at liberty."There was an appalling silence to my appeal.It was not pleasant to have twelve masked faces turned upon you and to see twelve pairs of vindictive Italian eyes fixed with fierce intentness upon your face.But I stood as a debonair soldier should, and I could not but reflect how much credit I was bringing upon the Hussars of Conflans by the dignity of my bearing.I do not think that anyone could have carried himself better under such difficult circumstances.I looked with a fearless face from one assassin to another, and I waited for some reply.
It was the grey-beard who at last broke the silence."Who is this man?" he asked.
"His name is Gerard," said the little steward at the door.
"Colonel Gerard," said I."I will not deceive you.I am Etienne Gerard, THE Colonel Gerard, five times mentioned in despatches and recommended for the sword of honour.I am aide-de-camp to General Suchet, and I demand my instant release, together with that of my comrade in arms."The same terrible silence fell upon the assembly, and the same twelve pairs of merciless eyes were bent upon my face.Again it was the grey- beard who spoke.
"He is out of his order.There are two names upon our list before him.""He escaped from our hands and burst into the room.""Let him await his turn.Take him down to the wooden cell." "If he resist us, your Excellency?""Bury your knives in his body.The tribunal will uphold you.Remove him until we have dealt with the others."They advanced upon me, and for an instant I thought of resistance.It would have been a heroic death, but who was there to see it or to chronicle it? I might be only postponing my fate, and yet I had been in so manybad places and come out unhurt that I had learned always to hope and to trust my star.I allowed these rascals to seize me, and I was led from the room, the gondolier walking at my side with a long naked knife in his hand.I could see in his brutal eyes the satisfaction which it would give him if he could find some excuse for plunging it into my body.
They are wonderful places, these great Venetian houses, palaces, and fortresses, and prisons all in one.I was led along a passage and down a bare stone stair until we came to a short corridor from which three doors opened.Through one of these I was thrust and the spring lock closed behind me.The only light came dimly through a small grating which opened on the passage.
Peering and feeling, I carefully examined the chamber in which I had been placed.I understood from what I had heard that I should soon have to leave it again in order to appear before this tribunal, but still it is not my nature to throw away any possible chances.