by Eugène Sue
CHAPTER II.
COLONEL OLIVER.
The studio of Citizen Martin, painter, member of the Council of FiveHundred, and former captain and then battalion commander of the ParisVolunteers who fought at Weissenburg, was decorated in martial fashionwith pictures and sketches depicting episodes in the republican wars,placed here and there on easels; models of antique statuary and studiesof nature graced the walls. On one side was a gay display composed ofthe epaulets of Commander Martin, his arms of war, and his military hat,whose two bullet holes bore witness to its wearer's intrepidity. Onemorning early in November, 1799, the painter himself was gladsomelyembracing John Lebrenn, who had just deposited on a stool the travelingbag he carried.
"Well, but I'm glad to see you, my friend," said John warmly, "after somany chances and such a long separation!"
"It was made less grievous for me," rejoined Martin, "by ourcorrespondence. What is the news of your worthy wife, your little Marik,and Madam Desmarais?"
"They were all well when I left them."
"And your cloth business--does it prosper as you would wish?"
"Our labor furnishes us the means to supply our modest wants; we desirenothing more. Our life is rolling on peacefully at Vannes, that old townof Armorica, the cradle of our family."
"I know how greatly the country should please you."
"And nevertheless, we must soon leave our nest, for it is impossiblethere to give my son a suitable education. In a year or two, or perhapseven sooner, we shall return to Paris, where we shall continue ourBreton cloth commerce. Such, at least, is my intention and that of mydear wife and her mother."
"Hurrah! May your plan be realized, the sooner the better, my dearfriend. Then we shall no longer be reduced to a correspondence forconsolation."
"Your last letters," replied John, "decided me to come to Paris, seeingthe Republic was in danger of perishing. I think I could be useful toyou in such a case, and also perhaps to the Republic, by still pulling atrigger against her enemies."
"The political situation is indeed grave. Nevertheless, there is noground for fearing a catastrophe very soon. In the Council of FiveHundred there is an imposing republican majority; we are decided topreserve liberty, and to fight the clericals, Jesuits and monarchists tothe finish."
"I doubt not your energy nor that of your friends; but the Republic hasnow been for some time deprived of the popular element, its life, itsspirit, its strength."
"True; since Thermidor a great gap has been made in the republicanranks. You may be sure that General Bonaparte, for all his militaryrenown, would never have dared affront Vergniaud, Danton, orRobespierre, had they been in the Council of Five Hundred. At theirvoice the people would rise in arms, and the ambitious dictator would besent before the revolutionary tribunal."
"Belated regrets, my friend. But explain to me how it is that theDirectorate, knowing full well the intrigues organized in Napoleon'sfavor by his brothers, by Fouche, and by that former Bishop Talleyrand,than whom no meaner rascal ever lived--how the Directorate was so weakas not to send this General Bonaparte before a court-martial, guilty ashe was of deserting the army in Egypt, more than six hundred leaguesfrom France? In the height of the Convention such an act would not havepassed unpunished."
"For this weakness of the Directorate, and our own indecision in theCouncil of Five Hundred, there are many causes. Sieyes is the soul ofthe conspiracy against the Constitution of the year III, which hehimself framed, while we republicans rather defend that Constitution,defective as it is, in order not to throw the Republic open to newdangers. Sieyes, a member of the Directorate, and Roger Ducos, hiscolleague and accomplice, are at the head of the sworn enemies of thepresent Constitution. Among these oppositionists are the majority of theCouncil of Ancients and some members of the Council of Five Hundred;then come a crowd of intriguers of all sorts, stock brokers, men withfrayed reputations, get-rich-quick contractors, bourgeois weather-vanes,corruptionists, harpies, repentant Terrorists, like Fouche and yourbrother-in-law Desmarais, who is now a member of the Council ofAncients. Sieyes's object is to overthrow the Constitution of the yearIII by a coup d'etat and replace it by a bourgeois oligarchy; on top ofwhich would come a constitutional monarchy similar to that of '92, andthen it would be done for the Republic. That is the plan of theopposition. Now here is the situation of us republicans, who constitutethe majority of the Council of Five Hundred. We count on the support oftwo members of the Directorate, Moulins and Gohier, devoted to theRepublic. Then in case of a conflict, we have cause to hope that GeneralBernadotte, whose influence may serve to blanket Bonaparte's, will marchon our side. The Council of Five Hundred has, moreover, for braces, theremains of the several republican parties--Girondins, Mountainists,Jacobins, Terrorists--as well as a large number of former members of theCommune who escaped the scaffold after Thermidor, and belong to thebourgeoisie--men of progress and free thought."
"And the people," inquired John again, "the workingmen of the suburbs,are they also sunk in inertia? They should form a strong element foryou."
"Alas, they live indifferent to public affairs, except some workingmenin Santerre's brewery and some old sans-culottes, such as your oldforeman Castillon--whom you will no doubt see this morning, as Inotified him of your arrival."
"Thank you, friend, for having arranged this pleasure for me. I shall behappy to see our brave Castillon."
"He is still the industrious and honest artisan of yore; only, credulousand naive as a veritable child of the people, he is like so many othersincere republicans, a great partisan of Bonaparte's."
"Castillon, once so devoted to the Republic!"
"Exactly, since there is not a better republican--God save themark!--than this very General Bonaparte, according to Castillon and hisfriends."
Just then Martin's servant entered to hand him a letter, saying: "Anordnance dragoon has just brought this epistle, citizen, and awaits youranswer."
Martin tore open the envelope and read aloud:
"Perhaps you recall, sir, an under-officer in the Third Hussars, who in the days of terrorism when the nation's honor sought refuge in the armies, fought with you in the defense of a battery at the battle of Weissenburg. This under-officer has made his way. He has had the happy fortune of serving under the orders of the greatest captain of ancient and modern times, on whom to-day hangs the safety of France.
"Knowing, sir, your renown as a painter of battles, I desire to engage you on a picture. I beg you to let me know at what hour to-day you can grant me an interview on the subject of this work, on which you may set your own price.
"Accept, sir, my best sentiments,
"OLIVER,
"Colonel of the Seventh Dragoons, aide-de-camp to General Bonaparte.
"Tell the soldier I await his colonel this morning," added Martin to thedomestic, after a moment's thought.
The servant left the studio, and Lebrenn, to whom Martin had passed theletter, began:
"My sister's forecast, I see, was not wide of the mark. 'Oliver,' shesaid to me, 'loves battles. He sees in war only a trade, a means tocarve out a fortune--pride and ambition.' And Oliver has become acolonel and one of the staff officers of Bonaparte."
"This order for a picture," replied Martin, "is only a pretext to renewacquaintanceship with me, and attempt to bring me over into the party ofhis general."
"Painful as a meeting with Oliver will be, I almost congratulate myselfon the opportunity. Who knows but I may be able to bring home the truthto him who was once my apprentice, and perhaps, thanks to my oldinfluence over him, open his eyes to the light?"
"I would like to think, at least, that he will not show himself amonster of ingratitude toward you. I know all that he owes to yourfamily, and above all to the devotion of your sister."
"Oliver wrote me several times from Italy to inform me of his rapidpromotion in the army. Then the correspondence gradually died out, andnow for two years I have completely ceased
to receive news from him.Such have been his forgetfulness and ingratitude!"
At this moment who should enter the studio but Castillon, accompanied byDuchemin, the old quartermaster of the field-artillery of the Army ofthe Rhine and Moselle. The latter wore the fatigue uniform of theartillery, and the straps of his rank; his left arm hung in a scarf. Hisface, bronzed by the sun of Egypt, was dark as an Arab's. Unable torepress his tears of joy, Castillon fell into Lebrenn's arms, crying"Oh! Friend John!"
"Embrace me, my old Castillon," replied the latter, with unrestrainedwarmth. "I find you still as I left you, the best of men."
Lebrenn and his former foreman continued their conversation to one side,in low tones, while Duchemin said to Martin, who was studying his faceas if seeking to trace a resemblance:
"You don't recognize me, captain?"
"It seems to me I have seen you----" replied Martin dubiously.
"That blasted sun of Egypt has spoiled my complexion, else you'dremember Duchemin, once cannonier in the Army of the Rhine and Moselle,where we served together."
"Aye, now I remember you, old comrade," cried the artist, seizing theother's hand. "And how is Carmagnole--and Reddy?" he added with a grin.
"My poor Reddy--he went the way of Double-grey," sighed the artillerist."He died like a brave war-horse. He received a ball in the body at thebattle of Altenkirchen. As to Carmagnole, my sweetheart of a spit-fire,she split laughing, my pretty piece, while sending a triple charge ofgrape-shot into the Austrians. After which, widowed of my Carmagnole, Iset out for the Orient."
"And so you went through the campaign in Egypt?"
"Bad luck to it, yes! A devil of a war! And Bonaparte!--Twist his noosewithout drum or trumpet! To leave the army in the lurch! Name of names,what cries, what shouts there were against the 'Little Corporal,' whenit became known he had abandoned us. Had we caught him, we'd have tiedhis necktie for him!"
"_You left Egypt, then, after him?_"
"Three days after, with a convoy of wounded men they were sending backto France. Our ship had the luck to dodge the English cruisers anddisembark us at Toulon. Thence I demanded to be sent during my recoveryto my old Paris, to see again my St. Antoine and the sans-culottes of'93. They are not very thick now, but those who are still of this worldare all good and solid, witness comrade Castillon, one of the first Iencountered in the suburb. He told me that he was on his way to visityou, captain, and as an old soldier of the Rhine and Moselle and a pureJacobin, I thought I might be permitted to follow along with him."
"You could not afford me a greater pleasure, comrade," the painterassented, cordially. "The faithful of '93 are scarce in these times."
"Monsieur Colonel Oliver asks to see you, citizen," announced theservant.
"Let Colonel Oliver enter. You, Castillon, and you, Duchemin, are goingto St. Antoine to have a talk with Santerre's workmen?"
"To meet here again at eight this evening, and decide what we shall do,in view of developments," added Lebrenn.
Colonel Oliver was introduced. The brilliant uniform of the dragoonsbesat him with natural grace; but his face was haughty, imperious andrude; every line in it denoted the arrogance of command. He did not atfirst recognize, or rather he paid no attention to, Lebrenn, Castillonand Duchemin; but addressed himself straightway to Martin:
"I am delighted, citizen, to take this opportunity of renewingacquaintance with an old brother in arms."
"Citizen," politely rejoined Martin, "I am no less happy than yourselfat the circumstance that brings us together, as well as three of our oldcomrades of the Army of the Rhine;" and he indicated the three friends.
Greatly surprised, Oliver held out his hand and quickly ran over toLebrenn, crying, "Good meeting! You here? How are Madam Lebrenn and yourson?"
"All the family are in good health; my son is growing up, and I hope tomake a good republican out of him."
Castillon now approached, and slapping the colonel familiarly over theshoulder, called out, "Say now, my boy--has your rank of colonel madeyou near-sighted?"
Oliver trembled and turned purple with rage. He looked Castillon up anddown, and replied: "Who are you, sir, to permit yourself suchfamiliarity?"
"Well, well! Forsooth, it is I, Castillon, your old foreman, who taughtyou how to handle a file and hammer a piece of iron, when you were ourapprentice."
"Give you good day, my dear sir, give you good day," retorted Oliverhaughtily and impatiently; and continuing his conversation with Lebrenn:"And what chance brings you to Paris? Tell me about it."
But Castillon touched Oliver on the arm before he had time to get ananswer, and said: "Say, my boy, have you truly become, to all intentsand purposes, an aristocrat, since you belong to the staff of GeneralBonaparte, as Duchemin says, our old comrade of the Lines ofWeissenburg, here, whom you don't seem to recognize either?"
"Hush, my old fellow," said Duchemin in Castillon's ear, "else he willhave the commandant of Paris toss me into the headquarters of police,and then we won't be able to go to St. Antoine."
After a moment's silence, Colonel Oliver spoke, with difficulty holdinghimself in: "I would reply to Monsieur Castillon, that if I was hisapprentice, it is nothing to blush for. He should understand that my ageand the rank I owe to my sword render inappropriate the pleasantriespermissible when I was eighteen."
"Pardon, excuse me, Monsieur the Marquis!" rejoined Castillon, not awhit put down by Oliver's manner. "Ah, that's how the staff of GeneralBonaparte comports itself!"
"As to you, who are still in the service," continued Colonel Oliverrudely to Duchemin, "do not forget that we put the insolent in cells,and shoot the unruly."
"I said nothing, Colonel," replied Duchemin quietly.
"Shut your mouth, hang-dog, and go to the devil!"
"Yes, hold your peace, old comrade, and make yourself scarce, since youhave but the choice between a cell and the shooting squad," Castillonadvised Duchemin; and then he turned on Oliver: "As to me, who, as aprivate citizen have hanging over me the shadow of neither, nor yet theawe of gold epaulets, I tell you this, Oliver, son of the people, a poororphan, put on your feet by the goodness of our friend John--you contemnyour brothers. A soldier of the Republic, you conspire against her.You're an ingrate and a traitor! But the day of remorse will come."
"Do not provoke me, wretch, or----" cried Colonel Oliver.
Castillon and Duchemin turned on their heels and went out, Martinaccompanying them to the outer door, as Lebrenn had requested that he beleft alone a few minutes with the colonel. The latter hung his head andmaintained an embarrassed silence.
"Castillon's reproaches seem to have made some impression on you,Oliver," Lebrenn began, at last.
"Not at all; such insolence does not trouble me. But let us forget thewretches, and speak of you and your family, my dear Lebrenn."
"Let us speak rather of you, Oliver; let us speak also of my sister,whose memory should be sacred to you. Her forebodings of your future arerealized; I fear her devotion to you has gone for naught."
"In what may my conduct justify your criticism? Has not my sword beenever at the service of the Republic?"
"At the service of your ambition! And at the present moment you seem tobe in a mind to sacrifice the Republic."
Oliver responded with a start: "I firmly believe that France has need oforder, repose, stability, and a firm hand. I believe that authorityshould be concentrated in the greatest captain of modern times."
"And what are your Bonaparte's titles--for you doubtless mean him--tothe government of France?"
"His victories!"
"But is not the military glory of Hoche, Marceau, Joubert, Massena,Moreau, Kleber, Augereau, Bernadotte, Desaix, equal to that of yourgeneral? And even if he were the greatest captain the world has everseen, it does not follow that he should be given the dictatorship. Anation should never place its destinies in the hands of one man andconfide to him that exorbitant power, which smites with vertigo even thehardest heads."
At this juncture Marti
n returned, and by a look inquired of his friendthe result of his interview with the colonel. Lebrenn shook his head inthe negative. Martin then addressed the officer:
"I would have excused myself, citizen, for my absence just now, had Inot left you in the company of our comrade John. Now I am at yourservice. Let us discuss the battle scene you wish to give me thecommission for. Some explanation will be requisite."
"It is a brilliant charge executed by a squadron of my regiment againstthe Mamelukes of Hussein Bey. I can furnish you with a sketch of thefield of battle made by one of my officers, and some notes I took onthe feat of arms itself."
"Any such documents would much facilitate my work, and I can, if youdesire it, citizen, commence work in a month--provided," he added with asmile, "I am not in the meantime banished or shot."
"And why should either of those fates befall you, monsieur?"
"I am one of the Council of Five Hundred, and strongly resolved, likethe majority of my colleagues, to defend the Republic and theConstitution against all factions. But the defenders of the best causemay be defeated. In that case, your general, who seems to side with theconspirators, is capable, in the event of his triumph, of transportingthe republican deputies to Cayenne, or having them shot on the plain ofGrenelle."
"Monsieur, I have still to learn that the vanquisher of Lodi, Arcola,and the Pyramids is party to a conspiracy. But if he is conspiring, hehas for accomplice the whole of France; and in that case the factiousare those who attempt to oppose themselves to the national will."
Just then Duresnel, the young recruit of the Parisian battalion whoserved under Martin at Weissenburg was introduced into the studio. Thecolonel brusquely saluted the newcomer together with the two who werealready present and left the apartment.
Duresnel looked at John Lebrenn several seconds, and then cried out:
"Eh! If I am not mistaken, I have the pleasure of meeting, at the houseof a common friend, an old comrade of the Seventh Battalion ofVolunteers?"
"A comrade who was a witness to your first feat of arms, CitizenDuresnel," rejoined Lebrenn cordially, "when after the charge of theGerman cuirassiers upon our battery, you and Castillon took the GrandDuke of Gerolstein prisoner."