a woman of thirty-第2部分

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Her　father　shuddered　at　the　selfish　speech。　There　were　tears　in　the　girl's　voice；　he　looked　at　her；　and　thought　that　he　saw　tears　beneath　her　lowered　eyelids；　tears　caused　not　so　much　by　the　disappointment　as　by　one　of　the　troubles　of　early　youth；　a　secret　easily　guessed　by　an　old　father。　Suddenly　Julie's　face　flushed；　and　she　uttered　an　exclamation。　Neither　her　father　nor　the　sentinels　understood　the　meaning　of　the　cry；　but　an　officer　within　the　barrier；　who　sprang　across　the　court　towards　the　staircase；　heard　it；　and　turned　abruptly　at　the　sound。　He　went　to　the　arcade　by　the　Gardens　of　the　Tuileries；　and　recognized　the　young　lady　who　had　been　hidden　for　a　moment　by　the　tall　bearskin　caps　of　the　grenadiers。　He　set　aside　in　favor　of　the　pair　the　order　which　he　himself　had　given。　Then；　taking　no　heed　of　the　murmurings　of　the　fashionable　crowd　seated　under　the　arcade；　he　gently　drew　the　enraptured　child　towards　him。

〃I　am　no　longer　surprised　at　her　vexation　and　enthusiasm；　if　/you/　are　in　waiting；〃　the　old　man　said　with　a　half…mocking；　half…serious　glance　at　the　officer。

〃If　you　want　a　good　position；　M。　le　Duc；〃　the　young　man　answered；　〃we　must　not　spend　any　time　in　talking。　The　Emperor　does　not　like　to　be　kept　waiting；　and　the　Grand　Marshal　has　sent　me　to　announce　our　readiness。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　had　taken　Julie's　arm　with　a　certain　air　of　old　acquaintance；　and　drew　her　rapidly　in　the　direction　of　the　Place　du　Carrousel。　Julie　was　astonished　at　the　sight。　An　immense　crowd　was　penned　up　in　a　narrow　space；　shut　in　between　the　gray　walls　of　the　palace　and　the　limits　marked　out　by　chains　round　the　great　sanded　squares　in　the　midst　of　the　courtyard　of　the　Tuileries。　The　cordon　of　sentries　posted　to　keep　a　clear　passage　for　the　Emperor　and　his　staff　had　great　difficulty　in　keeping　back　the　eager　humming　swarm　of　human　beings。

〃Is　it　going　to　be　a　very　fine　sight？〃　Julie　asked　（she　was　radiant　now）。

〃Pray　take　care！〃　cried　her　guide；　and　seizing　Julie　by　the　waist；　he　lifted　her　up　with　as　much　vigor　as　rapidity　and　set　her　down　beside　a　pillar。

But　for　his　prompt　action；　his　gazing　kinswoman　would　have　come　into　collision　with　the　hindquarters　of　a　white　horse　which　Napoleon's　Mameluke　held　by　the　bridle；　the　animal　in　its　trappings　of　green　velvet　and　gold　stood　almost　under　the　arcade；　some　ten　paces　behind　the　rest　of　the　horses　in　readiness　for　the　Emperor's　staff。

The　young　officer　placed　the　father　and　daughter　in　front　of　the　crowd　in　the　first　space　to　the　right；　and　recommended　them　by　a　sign　to　the　two　veteran　grenadiers　on　either　side。　Then　he　went　on　his　way　into　the　palace；　a　look　of　great　joy　and　happiness　had　succeeded　to　his　horror…struck　expression　when　the　horse　backed。　Julie　had　given　his　hand　a　mysterious　pressure；　had　she　meant　to　thank　him　for　the　little　service　he　had　done　her；　or　did　she　tell　him；　〃After　all；　I　shall　really　see　you？〃　She　bent　her　head　quite　graciously　in　response　to　the　respectful　bow　by　which　the　officer　took　leave　of　them　before　he　vanished。

The　old　man　stood　a　little　behind　his　daughter。　He　looked　grave。　He　seemed　to　have　left　the　two　young　people　together　for　some　purpose　of　his　own；　and　now　he　furtively　watched　the　girl；　trying　to　lull　her　into　false　security　by　appearing　to　give　his　whole　attention　to　the　magnificent　sight　in　the　Place　du　Carrousel。　When　Julie's　eyes　turned　to　her　father　with　the　expression　of　a　schoolboy　before　his　master；　he　answered　her　glance　by　a　gay；　kindly　smile；　but　his　own　keen　eyes　had　followed　the　officer　under　the　arcade；　and　nothing　of　all　that　passed　was　lost　upon　him。

〃What　a　grand　sight！〃　said　Julie　in　a　low　voice；　as　she　pressed　her　father's　hand；　and　indeed　the　pomp　and　picturesquesness　of　the　spectacle　in　the　Place　du　Carrousel　drew　the　same　exclamation　from　thousands　upon　thousands　of　spectators；　all　agape　with　wonder。　Another　array　of　sightseers；　as　tightly　packed　as　the　ranks　behind　the　old　noble　and　his　daughter；　filled　the　narrow　strip　of　pavement　by　the　railings　which　crossed　the　Place　du　Carrousel　from　side　to　side　in　a　line　parallel　with　the　Palace　of　the　Tuileries。　The　dense　living　mass；　variegated　by　the　colors　of　the　women's　dresses；　traced　out　a　bold　line　across　the　centre　of　the　Place　du　Carrousel；　filling　in　the　fourth　side　of　a　vast　parallelogram；　surrounded　on　three　sides　by　the　Palace　of　the　Tuileries　itself。　Within　the　precincts　thus　railed　off　stood　the　regiments　of　the　Old　Guard　about　to　be　passed　in　review；　drawn　up　opposite　the　Palace　in　imposing　blue　columns；　ten　ranks　in　depth。　Without　and　beyond　in　the　Place　du　Carrousel　stood　several　regiments　likewise　drawn　up　in　parallel　lines；　ready　to　march　in　through　the　arch　in　the　centre；　the　Triumphal　Arch；　where　the　bronze　horses　of　St。　Mark　from　Venice　used　to　stand　in　those　days。　At　either　end；　by　the　Galeries　du　Louvre；　the　regimental　bands　were　stationed；　masked　by　the　Polish　Lancers　then　on　duty。

The　greater　part　of　the　vast　graveled　space　was　empty　as　an　arena；　ready　for　the　evolutions　of　those　silent　masses　disposed　with　the　symmetry　of　military　art。　The　sunlight　blazed　back　from　ten　thousand　bayonets　in　thin　points　of　flame；　the　breeze　ruffled　the　men's　helmet　plumes　till　they　swayed　like　the　crests　of　forest…trees　before　a　gale。　The　mute　glittering　ranks　of　veterans　were　full　of　bright　contrasting　colors；　thanks　to　their　different　uniforms；　weapons；　accoutrements；　and　aiguillettes；　and　the　whole　great　picture；　that　miniature　battlefield　before　the　combat；　was　framed　by　the　majestic　towering　walls　of　the　Tuileries；　which　officers　and　men　seemed　to　rival　in　their　immobility。　Involuntarily　the　spectator　made　the　comparison　between　the　walls　of　men　and　the　walls　of　stone。　The　spring　sunlight；　flooding　white　masonry　reared　but　yesterday　and　buildings　centuries　old；　shone　full　likewise　upon　thousands　of　bronzed　faces；　each　one　with　its　own　tale　of　perils　passed；　each　one　gravely　expectant　of　perils　to　come。

The　colonels　of　the　regiments　came　and　went　alone　before　the　ranks　of　heroes；　and　behind　the　masses　of　troops；　checkered　with　blue　and　silver　and　gold　and　purple；　the　curious　could　discern　the　tricolor　pennons　on　the　lances　of　some　half…a…dozen　indefatigable　Polish　cavalry；　rushing　about　like　shepherds'　dogs　in　charge　of　a　flock；　caracoling　up　and　down　between　the　troops　and　the　crowd；　to　keep　the　gazers　within　their　proper　bounds。　But　for　this　slight　flutter　of　movement；　the　whole　scene　might　have　been　taking　place　in　the　courtyard　of　the　palace　of　the　Sleeping　Beauty。　The　very　spring　breeze；　ruffling　up　the　long　fur　on　the　grenadiers'　bearskins；　bore　witness　to　the　men's　immobility；　as　the　smothered　murmur　of　the　crowd　emphasized　their　silence。　Now　and　again　the　jingling　of　Chinese　bells；　or　a　chance　blow　to　a　big　drum；　woke　the　reverberating　echoes　of　the　Imperial　Palace　with　a　sound　like　the　far…off　rumblings　of　thunder。

An　indescribable；　unmistakable　enthusiasm　was　manifest　in　the　expectancy　of　the　multitude。　France　was　about　to　take　farewell　of　Napoleon　on　the　eve　of　a　campaign　of　which　the　meanest　citizen　foresaw　the　perils。　The　existence　of　the　French　Empire　was　at　staketo　be；　or　not　to　be。　The　whole　citizen　population　seemed　to　be　as　muc