In the Name of Liberty: A Story of the Terror by Owen Johnson
II
DOSSONVILLE EARNS A KISS
Dossonville, taking the river bank, proceeded with many inquiringhalts, inhaling the air and sunshine in full breaths. He strolled intothe halles, where the stalls, in state of siege, extended in long,deserted barracks; no buying, no selling, no provisions, only in theshadows the same clusters of limp basking beggars, slumbering with oneear alert.
As he languidly pursued his way, a door at his side was flung violentlyopen and a man bearing on his back an enormous side of beef scurriedacross the place toward a butcher-shop, the door of which swung opento receive him. Instantly, with a hue and cry from every corner, therewas a swift leaping of famished men, women, and children. BeforeDossonville could leap aside he was caught in the rush, elbowed,buffeted, and thrown off his feet. When again he rose, the butcherwas buried under a mound of ravenous humanity, thirty feet from hisdestination, while the square was obscured with the multitude thatbattled over the shreds of meat which came up from the bottom of theheap.
Hardly had he extricated himself from the tangle when, in the Place dela Bastille, a group of savage boys, pursuing a dog with a bone, sweptby him, snatching at the fleeing animal, unmindful of its anger. Onehand at last, more fortunate than the others, closed over the brute,and the human children tore the bone from the beast. Pursuing now ahaggard boy, they returned in a cloud, panting, with famine-inflamedeyes, while the lean, infuriated brute at their heels struck with angryjaws into the pack.
Beset on every side by troops of children too weak to extend theirhands, Dossonville arrived at the Rue Maugout, readily recognizing theCabaret of the Pretre Pendu by its figure of a priest, which, swingingfrom a miniature gibbet, advertised the republican principles of thehost.
Seeing no one before the entrance of No. 38, he penetrated into theinner room of the cabaret, where, the two or three groups occupied withcards being unknown to him, he exchanged salutations with the hostess,asking genially:
"Your husband, citoyenne, I hope, is frying me a bit of steak?"
"My man's with the army."
"A patriot, then."
"And there's no meat."
"An omelet will do."
"No eggs, no fish, no vegetables."
"Diable! that leaves nothing but bread and cheese."
"No bread, no cheese!"
"Mordieu, what am I going to lunch on?"
"Soup."
"Ah!" Dossonville nodded, with understanding. "True! As long as thematerial world exists, soup is possible. Well, soup be it, citoyenne,soon and hot."
He passed curiously to the card-players, for his ear had caught suchstrange expressions as these:
"I play the Liberty of Marriage."
"I the Genius of Peace."
"The Equality of Rank."
"Liberty of the Press."
"Taken by the Genius of Arts."
Dossonville, much perplexed, moved to a survey of the pack. He foundthe Monarchs indeed dethroned; the Kings succeeded by the Geniusesof War, Commerce, Peace, and the Arts; the Queens replaced by theLiberties of Faith, Professions, Marriage, and the Press. The Knavesthemselves, as though suspected of royalistic tendencies, had yieldedto the Equalities of Duties, Color, Rights, and Rank.
"The sentiment is perfect," he murmured to himself, "perfect, butperplexing."
The hostess appearing with a capacious bowl, he returned to his corner,where he contemplated the soup with that respect and curiosity which aParisian gives to a dish of which he has not had the making. He stirredit doubtfully, and at the first taste drew a long face.
"Tonnerre de Dieu! They've put the aristocrats in the soup," hegrumbled. "However, being good patriots, we must eat it."
He was bending over the bowl, when a shadow darkened the open doorway,and with the fragrant scent of flowers came the voice of Louison,chanting:
"Cockades, patriots; cockades, my Sans-Culottes. The last ones I havebeen able to save for you."
She passed among them, calling to them by name, tapping them on theshoulders, but receiving nothing but banter.
"Are they good to eat--your cockades?"
"As a salad, nothing is better." Taking up the idea, she repeatedlaughingly: "Buy my salads, citoyens; buy my patriotic salads!"
Wishing to enjoy her surprise, Dossonville kept silent, leaningforward, his chin in his palm, smiling expectantly. Thus Louisondiscovered him. The very slightest look of astonishment passed over herface, a fugitive amazement that she immediately controlled.
"Louison, you are discretion itself," Dossonville said approvingly, hissmile extending to a grin as he stretched forth his hand. "If ever theRevolution places women in power (and what is impossible to-day?), I'llrecommend you for Minister of Foreign Affairs."
"Citoyen, citoyen, you are mad to enter this place," Louison cried. "Doyou not know that this is the headquarters of Javogues?"
"I know it; but see you, Louison, that animal is so stupid."
Divining that despite his careless manner he was fortified against theencounter, she relaxed and said more calmly:
"Really, I didn't expect that you'd escape."
"My dear Louison, it is not so difficult."
"In these days it is."
"A man has as many lives as a cat," he said ironically. "It is theimagination that is lacking."
As though to put this theory to the test, a voice jarred upon thestillness, crying:
"Where is the spy?"
The next instant the cabaret was thrown into turmoil as Javogues, atthe head of three or four companions, rushed in.
"Good day, citoyen," Dossonville's cool voice was heard saying abovethe uproar, "and how goes it with you since we parted last?"
Guided by his voice, Javogues precipitated himself toward his enemy,but as his hand shot forth it stopped in mid-air, and he fell back inastonishment.
Dossonville, never losing his poise, with an imperceptible movement ofhis hand had rolled back the lapel of his redingote, disclosing on hisbreast the shield of an agent de surete.
"Impossible!" Javogues exclaimed, recoiling. "You an agent de surete!It's a counterfeit!"
Dossonville checked the second rush as coolly as the first. His handwent into his breast pocket and withdrew a document, which he tenderedto Javogues on the tips of his fingers, saying:
"Read, and grow wise."
The Marseillais passed it to a companion, who shook his head and passedit to a third, who read in a piping voice:
OFFICE OF THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY
The Citoyen Santerre having appeared before us and established the alibi of the Citoyen Dossonville on the day of the Tenth of August, we declare the Citoyen Dossonville innocent of all suspicion. Furthermore, as it appears he refused to disclose the nature of the secret mission, in the interests of the Nation, on which he was engaged, even at the risk of his life, we declare the Citoyen Dossonville a patriot who deserves the gratitude of his country.
We further appoint the said Citoyen Dossonville agent de surete, with the following powers--
"The rest is quite technical," Dossonville interrupted. He turnedto Javogues, who, thus robbed of his dearest vengeance, remainedtransfixed with stupor. "You see, Citoyen Javogues, you cannot alwaystell a traitor by the look in his eyes."
Stung by the taunt, Javogues advanced furiously:
"It's a lie," he cried. "It's another of his tricks. The paper is aforgery." Then turning to his companions, he shouted: "Don't let himout of your sight until I return!"
Dossonville, erect and solemn, checked him sternly:
"Enough! Enough, citoyen, do you hear? What you have done Iforgive--but go no further! An act such as you contemplate is adefiance of the Nation. I represent the Nation. Citoyen Javogues, Iwarn you, at the next attack you make against me I'll have you on thescaffold within twenty-four hours."
Javogues, impressed despite himself, found no encouragement in thefaces of his comra
"Dossonville, if I am not to hate you, arrest me, guillotine me atonce. For, as long as I live, it is war between you and me! If you wantme, you'll find me here, at five."
Dossonville remained a moment pensive and erect.
"Mordieu!" he exclaimed at last, "the fellow is genuine. Devil take meif I can help liking him." Then turning to Louison, who had followedhim with fascinated eyes, he said: "As for you, ma belle, I owe youeverything. To begin with, I swear an eternal love."
And, taking her in his arms, he kissed her on the cheek, and then satdown.
In a moment the room was swept of its terrified guests, while theproprietress, disappearing through a back door, left the memory of ared stocking.
Louison, at the familiarity, recoiled, while anger like a blast from anoven inflamed her face. Her hand stole to her bosom, and with a suddenmovement she hid a knife behind her. Dossonville, feigning ignorance,appeared engrossed in the selection of a cockade from the abandonedbasket. But as the girl in her passion leaped at him, he sprang aside,whipped out his sword, and flung himself behind a table.
Then, those without, flattening their noses against the window orpeering through the doorway, beheld a furious combat between them; theman, always cool and alert, checking the rushes of the girl with thepoint of his sword, turning, retreating, or advancing as his assailant,with the rapidity of a bird, flew from point to point, darting,feinting, or striking for an opening. Meanwhile above the scuffle andthe patter of feet the voice of Dossonville rose imperturbably inrunning comment:
"Hoop-la, parried! A little more to the left and you had me. Mordieu,who'd have thought a pretty woman would resent a kiss? Such a fraternalkiss, too, so full of gratitude! Perhaps that's the trouble; you nevercan tell with a woman. What now?"
Bounding on the table, the girl without a pause leaped full at him.
"Bravo! That's a jump for you. What a woman! Louison, you are splendid.Dame, what fury! A toi!"
Hard pressed with the recklessness of her attacks, he threatened herthroat so closely that, with the slightest stiffening of his arm, hewould have run her through.
"A life for a life! there's gratitude for you!"
From outside they cried to him offers of help.
"Never; any man that interferes, I'll shoot down. This little affair isbetween us,--eh, Louison? What now?"
He sprang away, barely avoiding a chair hurled to break down his guard.
"That was well imagined. Mille diables, what a woman--and not a sound!Louison, I adore you already. Louison, my dear, do you believe inanother life? If you would only guarantee me another, I'd give you thisout of courtesy,--only then I couldn't adore you. What energy! If youare getting tired, Louison, rest a while."
But her answer was to fling herself again at him, seeking to comeinside his guard by stooping suddenly to one side, grasping at hisblade with her free hand. Dossonville, forced to meet the fury ofthe onslaught, a second time presented the point of his blade to herthroat; but this time, so impetuous was her rush that only the instantwithdrawal of the weapon saved her.
"A second time, Louison, I spare you. My gratitude, you see, iseternal. Louison, you fight too recklessly, you expose yourself. Yourely too much on my sense of gratitude. Hoop-la! Again I had you! Ifit's only a matter of a kiss that stands between us, you might giveit back to me. Ha, ha! Well struck, Louison! Where will it end? Mygratitude restrains me, and you must realize what a good fellow you aretrying to end--"
Suddenly, to the astonishment of all, Dossonville included, Louisonhalted, panting and heaving, restored the knife to her bosom, and burstout laughing.
"Dossonville," she cried, flinging out her hand in acclamation, "you'rea man!"
He dropped on both knees, exclaiming: "That word disarms me. Do me thefavor of cutting my neck."
With a movement as swift as her attack, the girl passed to his side,and, bending suddenly, kissed him on the forehead.
"That one, Dossonville," she cried, "you have deserved."
And with a laugh, she flitted into the street, where the spectators,respecting her sudden whims, prudently left her an open passage.