Robert Tournay: A Romance of the French Revolution

by William Sage

  CHAPTER X

  OVER THE FRONTIER

  In the carriage Agatha related to her mistress what had occurred afterher disappearance from La Haye. How she had sent Pere Louchet with themessage to Gaillard at Paris, and then had followed on to Tours anddiscovered where her mistress was imprisoned. Tournay and Gaillard,coming post haste to Tours, had reached there on the same day that sawthe transfer of Mademoiselle de Rochefort to the prison-ship upon theLoire. Together with Agatha, they had formulated a plan of rescue andput it into immediate execution.

  The two men had approached the vessel in a small skiff on the river,while Agatha had awaited them in a carriage on the other side. Themoving of the prison ship down the river might have disconcerted theirplans had not the watchful Agatha seen the movement, and following alongthe shore reached them when they had almost succumbed from the exposureand cold.

  The carriage was a commodious one and well equipped for the longjourney, and in a few minutes Agatha had her mistress in a change ofwarm clothing. As soon as Edme was able, she bade Agatha call Tournay tothe carriage door.

  "Thanks are a small return for what you have done," she said as he rodeby her side, "yet they are all I have to give." Then she stretched herhand out to him with an impulsive gesture,--"Robert Tournay, I misjudgedyou when you were last at La Thierry. Will you forgive it?"

  It was the first time she had spoken to him as one addresses an equal,and it moved him greatly. He leaned forward and took the hand she gavehim, looking down at her with a smile that lit up his face, as hesaid:--

  "Mademoiselle, I forgave the words you spoke as soon as they wereuttered. It is happiness enough to know that I have saved you." Beforehe released it, he thought he felt the hand in his tremble a little.

  The remembrance flashed through her mind, how, years before, she hadonce noticed Tournay's manly bearing as he rode into the chateau-courtupon a spirited horse. She had at that time thought him handsome, withan air about him superior to his station, and then had dismissed himfrom her thoughts. As he rode before her now, the water still drippingfrom his clothing, hatless, with damp locks clinging to his forehead,she thought she had never looked upon a nobler figure among all thegentlemen who in the old days frequented the chateau of the baron, herfather.

  "Where are we going?" she asked, with more emotion than such a simplequestion warranted.

  "To the German frontier," was the reply. "We must travel rapidly nightand day. I shall hardly dare to stop for rest until you are safely overthe border."

  "I leave myself in your charge," she said, leaning back in the carriage.

  He gave a word of command and the coach rushed forward through thenight.

  Tournay's words had recalled vividly to Edme her unhappy situation.Although innocent of all crime, she was proscribed and forced to flyfrom her own country to take refuge among those who were invading it.And the man who rode by the side of her carriage, and had undertaken toconvey her in safety across the border, was a soldier, fighting for thegovernment that persecuted her. Laying her head upon Agatha's shouldershe felt her heart swell with bitterness. For hours, during which Agathaimagined that she slept, she watched in silence through the window thedark outlines of the swiftly moving landscape. Finally long afterAgatha's regular breathing announced her slumber, Edme, worn out by theexcitement and fatigue, leaned back in the opposite corner and sleptlike a tired child.

  For five days the coach rolled toward the frontier, Tournay and Gaillardriding on horseback.

  Through Blois, Orleans, Arcis sur-Aube to Bar-le-Duc and on toward Metzthey went, stopping only to exchange their worn-out horses for freshones, and for such few hours of rest as were absolutely indispensable.

  During all the journey, Tournay saw little of Mademoiselle de Rochefort,although her comfort and her safety were his constant care. Thepassport with which he was provided prevented all delay; and it wasthought best that mademoiselle should remain as secluded in the carriageas possible. When she did step out for a breath of air or a few hours'rest at some inn she always wore a veil to hide her features. Wheneverhe approached her to inform her as to the route they traveled he alwaysdid so with the greatest deference, showing marked solicitude for herhealth and comfort; expressing deep regret that the nature of theirjourney rendered the great speed imperative.

  One afternoon as they crossed the little stream of the Sarre, Tournay,who had been riding some fifty yards in advance, drew rein and waitedfor the carriage to come up to him.

  "In an hour, mademoiselle," he said, as in obedience to his signal thevehicle drew up by the roadside, "we shall be across the frontier, andin Germany. At Hagenhof resides the Baron von Waldenmeer, who I think isknown to you as your father's friend."

  "He was one of my father's friends," Mademoiselle Edme acquiesced.

  "I remember having often heard his name mentioned at La Thierry," saidTournay. "So I took this direction rather than further south, whichwould have been somewhat shorter. A few hours will bring us to Hagenhof,where you will be able to put yourself under the baron's protection."

  "And you?" inquired Edme, "what are you going to do?"

  "I shall return to France."

  * * * * *

  The armies of Prussia and Austria, three hundred thousand strong, weredrawing in on France, to help to crush out the Republic and restore theold regime.

  The Baron von Waldenmeer's division was already on the frontier,quartered at Falzenberg--waiting for other troops to come up beforejoining the Austrian army at Wissembourg, near which the French hadconcentrated a large force.

  On a cold December afternoon two batteries of Prussian heavy artillerywere proceeding through the wood on the road going east from Inweiler,whence they had been sent to join the main body of troops at Falzenberg.It was snowing and at five o'clock darkness was already settling down onthe woodland road. Over the snow-carpeted leaves the wheels of the guncarriages rolled almost noiselessly.

  "Paff," growled Lieutenant Saueraugen, wiping the flakes from hiseyelashes for the twentieth time, as he thought of the hot sausages atthat moment being devoured in the mess-room at Falzenberg, and ten milesbetween it and him. "A pest on such weather and such slow progress! atthis rate we shall not be at Falzenberg before midnight."

  "_Donnerwetter!_ what is this?" he cried with his next breath, as alongthe road that crossed from the north came a two-horse carriage at arapid gait. The driver of the vehicle saw the battery on the other road,and tried to check the speed of his horses. The rider on the nigh leaderof the caisson whirled his horse to the left, but it received thecarriage pole on the right foreleg and went to the ground, dragging itsmate with it. Then followed a snorting of frightened animals and arattling of harness, flavored with the shouts and oaths of thelieutenant and his men as they tried to bring order out of theentanglement.

  Two men on horseback rode up from behind the carriage, and with theirassistance the fallen horses were brought to their feet and the brokenharness repaired.

  "Who the devil are you that tear through these woods like this?"demanded the German, examining the abrasure on the leader's leg. "Come,give account of yourselves." The two riders had remounted and seemedanxious to be off.

  "We are bound for Hagenhof," replied one of them. "We are in a greathurry, and regret this accident, for which we are entirely to blame.Name the amount which you think a proper compensation for your injuredhorse and broken harness and we will gladly pay it."

  He had spoken in German and in the easy, careless manner of one whodeemed the matter too trivial to be the cause of any controversy.

  "You are French!" exclaimed the lieutenant, looking at the partyclosely.

  "We are," replied the man who had spoken before.

  "You must accompany me to Falzenberg," said the German officer, "andinterview the general there."

  "What does he say?" inquired the second Frenchman of his companion.

  "Come, you had best not chatter your French before me," put in the surlylieutenant,
as one of the Frenchmen proceeded to interpret to the other."You may be spies for all I know, but that we shall find out when we getto Falzenberg."

  The dark eyes of the second Frenchman looked inquiringly at his comrade.The other again translated the officer's words.

  "We are most unfortunate, Gaillard, to have fallen in with thisimbecile," was the reply.

  "My friend commends your prudence and judgment," repeated theinterpreter, his mouth widening and showing his white teeth, "anddesires me to tell you that we have important business at Hagenhof. Ifyou will send us there under an escort, we shall be able to prove thatwe are not spying upon the movement of your troops."

  The lieutenant scowled. "Can so few words of your language stand for allthat in German?" he demanded.

  The Frenchman laughed lightly as he replied, "Our language is veryflexible."

  "So perhaps may be your necks," said the officer brutally, a suspicionentering his mind that he was being laughed at. "But you must come withme to Falzenberg, and there's an end of it."

  "Why not to Hagenhof?" persisted Gaillard with perfect good-humor.

  "To Falzenberg!" roared the Prussian officer, swearing roundly, "andbefore we start, let me see what sort of freight you are carrying alongthe road." He approached the carriage with the intention of opening thedoor.

  Tournay wheeled his horse between him and the coach with a suddennessthat made the German jump aside to avoid being trodden upon by theanimal.

  "We are going to General von Waldenmeer at Hagenhof," he said, speakinghis own language, "and if you prevent or delay our journey you may rueit."

  The lieutenant, infuriated at this interference, caught Tournay's horseby the bridle with one hand, while the other flew to his belt; but themention of General von Waldenmeer's name and the ring of decision in thespeaker's voice caused him to pause.

  "General von Waldenmeer at Hagenhof," repeated Tournay slowly anddistinctly, as if he were speaking to a person of defective hearing.

  "Who is making so free with the name of Waldenmeer?" cried a voice inthe French tongue but with a strong German accent; and half a dozenPrussian officers came riding out of the wood, the fresh-fallen snowflying from the evergreen branches like white down as their horses drovethrough them.

  They circled round the group by the carriage, drawing their animals upwith a suddenness that threw them on their haunches.

  "Who is it that claims the friendship of von Waldenmeer?" repeated oneof the number, this time speaking in German. He was a young man abouttwenty-two, with short, dark red hair, and a small mustache. He rode ablack horse that pranced and curvetted nervously.

  "These people, my colonel," said the lieutenant, growing suddenlypolite. "I was about to tell them"--

  "Never mind what you were about to tell them, Lieutenant Saueraugen,"replied the colonel haughtily, "but inform me as briefly as possiblewhat has occurred."

  Confused by the thought that possibly he had been rude to friends ofGeneral von Waldenmeer, the lieutenant stammered through a recital whichwas far from clear.

  While the lieutenant was speaking, the young Prussian colonel wasslapping his boot sharply with his riding-whip, or checking theimpatient pawing of his horse.

  "_Potstausend!_" he exclaimed, interrupting the unhappy lieutenant inthe middle of his story. "I cannot make head or tail of your account,Saueraugen. Broken harness, and French spies, closed carriage, andinjured horses." Then, turning to Tournay, he addressed him in French:--

  "I understand you are on your way to find General von Waldenmeer,--he isin the field, quartered at present at Falzenberg. You can accompany methere."

  "We are bound for General von Waldenmeer's castle at Hagenhof," repliedTournay politely, "and with your permission we will proceed there."

  "Do you know the general?" inquired the Prussian colonel.

  "I have not that honor."

  "I am his son, Karl von Waldenmeer, and I think it would be best for youto accompany me to Falzenberg, where I am going to join my father."

  "Perhaps if the baroness is still at Hagenhof it would better suit theinclination of the lady whom I escort, Mademoiselle de Rochefort, to goforward rather than be compelled to go to Falzenberg."

  Colonel von Waldenmeer sat in thought during the long space, for him, offive seconds. "I think you would better come with me as far asFalzenberg," he said.

  "As you command," answered Tournay.

  "Did I understand you to say that the occupant of that carriage was aMademoiselle de Rochefort?" asked the young von Waldenmeer, as Tournayspoke aside to Gaillard.

  "Yes."

  "What is the nature of your business with the baron my father?" was thenext question, abruptly put.

  "Will you permit me to discuss that with the baron himself?"

  "As you will," answered the Prussian colonel with hauteur. Then turningto the group of officers who had sat motionless upon their horses, hesaid:--

  "Gentlemen, you will please accompany this carriage to Falzenberg.Lieutenant Saueraugen, bring up your batteries with all possible speedand report to me. Franz von Shiffen, you will please come with me." Hegave his black charger a slight touch with the spur, the spirited animalsprang forward, and he was seen galloping down the road, with Franz vonShiffen riding hotly after him.

  Baron von Waldenmeer, general of the division of the Rhine, was seatedwith a beer mug before him and his pipe freshly lit, enjoying hisevening smoke, when word was brought to him that the party of Frenchmen,encountered by his son and some other members of his staff on the roadfrom Inweiler, had arrived at Falzenberg, and was now awaiting hispleasure in the room below. His son, who had come in some time before,had told him of the incident of the meeting.

  The baron blew a cloud of smoke out of his capacious mouth.

  "Show the entire party up here at once. We can then hear their story anddecide as to the probability of it. You, Karl, send word to General vonScrappenhauer that I shall have to defer our party of Skat for an hour.Ludwig, have your father's beer mug replenished. Would you have histhroat become like the bed of a dried-up stream? And now send up yourFrenchmen; I am waiting for them."

  Ludwig von Waldenmeer, who was the picture of his younger brother Karl,except that he was heavier in build and larger of girth, passed thebeer flagon from his end of the table to his father.

  Karl gave a few commands to an orderly, then took a seat by thegeneral's side. The latter was a man of about sixty. Around his shiningbald pate was a fringe of grizzled hair that had once been red. Hismustache was a bristling, scrubby brush of the same color. Although notof great height he was broad of chest and still broader about thewaistband; and even in his lightest boots he rode in the saddle at twohundred pounds.

  An orderly opened the door and ushered in the four French travelers.Mademoiselle de Rochefort entered first. She paused for a moment at thesight of a room full of officers. Then she took a few steps into theroom and stood awaiting the baron's command. The baron took one look atthe figure before him, then rose suddenly to his feet and came towardher; the other officers took the signal and rose from their places atthe table and stood beside their chairs.

  "You are the daughter of Honore de Rochefort. One has no need to ask thequestion, it is answered by your face." And General von Waldenmeer tookEdme by the hand and led her to a seat by his side. Agatha kept at hermistress's elbow like a faithful guardian.

  Tournay and Gaillard, travel-stained and splashed with mud from head tofoot, remained standing by the door.

  "If you have come, as I surmise, to find in Prussia a home denied you byyour native land, let me say that nowhere will you find a warmerwelcome than under the roof of von Waldenmeer," and the general put herhand to his lips.

  "I have come," she replied, "to find a refuge from the persecution whichfollows me in my own unhappy country. Thanks to the devotion of thesefriends," and she turned toward Tournay with a look of gratitude, "Ihave been able to reach here in safety, to throw myself upon yourprotection, and to ask your advice as to
my future movements."

  "If you will pardon this reception in a rough soldier's camp,mademoiselle, and can put up with such poor accommodation as this houseaffords, to-morrow you shall be escorted on to Hagenhof, where my wifewill receive you as one of her own daughters." And he bent over her handfor the second time.

  This unusual show of gallantry on the part of their general caused Franzvon Shippen to place his hand before his mouth to hide a smile, whileLudwig von Waldenmeer looked up at the ceiling.

  "Franz," called out the general, "interview the good lady whose house weoccupy and see that the best room she has is prepared for Mademoisellede Rochefort. Ludwig, to-morrow you shall have the honor of escortingthis lady to Hagenhof. There you shall be welcome, mademoiselle, as longas you choose to honor us with your company. But rest assured it willnot be long before your own country will be rescued from the miscreantswho are devouring it. All Europe is in arms to avenge outraged royalty;the Prussian army of two hundred thousand men is now prepared to marchon Paris. With us are thousands of your own nobility. We make commoncause against anarchy and murder. We shall not rest until we haverestored the monarchy and chastised these insolent Republicans."

  Edme looked quickly in the direction of Tournay, fearful lest thebaron's words should stir him to make a reply, but he and Gaillard stoodlistening imperturbably. From their quiet and unobtrusive demeanor thegeneral had taken them for servants of Mademoiselle de Rochefort and hadnot given them a second look.

  "But you are fatigued, mademoiselle," said von Waldenmeer. "To-morrowmorning will be a more fitting time to discuss your affairs. The goodhausfrau by this time is preparing your quarters. I will conduct you tothem. Your followers will be comfortably cared for outside."

  Edme, glad of an opportunity to escape further conversation, was aboutto thank the general for his permission to retire to her room, when theouter door opened and a number of French noblemen, officers of thegeneral's staff, entered the room.

  Among them was the Marquis de Lacheville. His quick roving eye caughtsight of Edme instantly. He stopped in the middle of a conversation witha companion and looked over his shoulder hastily as if he would retracehis steps without attracting attention; but it was too late. The deepvoice of General von Waldenmeer sounded in his ears.

  "Ah, here are some of your brave countrymen, mademoiselle, who deem itno disgrace to serve under the flag of Prussia in order to reconquer thethrone for their rightful sovereign."

  The door behind de Lacheville was closed by the Count de Beaujeu, whowas the last to enter, and the marquis, drawing a deep breath betweenhis set teeth, stepped forward as one who suddenly resolves to take adesperate chance.

  "Cousin Edme!" he exclaimed, coming up to where she was seated andendeavoring to take her hand. "Thank Heaven you have escaped!"

  "Yes, I am in a place of safety, thanks to a brave gentleman," shereplied, drawing back her hand. "But do not call me cousin. I ceased tobe your kinswoman when you deserted me at Rochefort. There are nocowards of our blood." And she turned from him with a look ofunutterable contempt as if he were too mean an object to deserve herpassing notice. She had spoken in a low voice, yet so distinctly thatall in the room heard what she had said. A murmur of surprise ran roundthe entire group of officers. The marquis drew back under the rebuff,his face deadly pale, while he darted at Edme a look of hatred as if hecould have killed her.

  "What's that?" roared the general as soon as he could master hisastonishment. "One of my aides a coward?"

  De Lacheville gave a quick glance around the room, as a hunted man,brought suddenly to bay, might seek some weapon to defend himself. As hecaught sight of Tournay, his eyes gleamed wickedly.

  "This mad girl," he exclaimed, pointing to Mademoiselle de Rochefort assoon as he could control his voice, "was once my affianced bride, butshe has found a mate better suited to her liking. She has been travelingwith him throughout France, and now she seeks to extenuate her ownconduct by slandering me, whom she has wronged."

  "If you are not the coward mademoiselle has called you, you will answerto me for that lie," said Tournay, throwing Gaillard's restraining handoff from his arm and advancing toward the marquis threateningly.

  De Lacheville drew back. He remembered the duel in the woods at LaThierry. He looked again into the dark eyes of the stern man whoconfronted him, and his mouth twitched nervously. Then with an effort heturned to the French gentlemen at his side and said, speaking rapidly,"This fellow is a Republican, one of those who clamored for King Louis'sdeath. Shall we forget our oath to kill these regicides wherever we mayfind them?"

  Before he had finished speaking, three swords were out of theirscabbards and three infuriated French noblemen sprang at Tournay.

  "Gott in Himmel!" shouted General von Waldenmeer, as his Prussianofficers beat down the points of the excited Frenchmen, "will you spillblood here under my very nose? Colonel Karl von Waldenmeer, place thoseFrench gentlemen under restraint, and let there be quiet here while Iexamine into these charges."

  The Marquis de Lacheville had taken up a position near the door.

  "He is Robert Tournay, an officer of the Republican army!" he cried outas he sheathed his sword. "While he is here in the disguise of a lackeyin waiting to Mademoiselle de Rochefort, his intention is to play thespy and return with his information to France. For your own sake,General von Waldenmeer, you should place him where he can do you no suchinjury."

  "What answer have you to make to this?" said the old general, addressingTournay. "Are you a servant of Mademoiselle de Rochefort, or are you aspy of those Republican brigands? Speak! I condemn no man unheard."

  Tournay looked round the room before replying.

  "I am a colonel in the Republican army," he said quietly. "But I camehere solely to bring mademoiselle to a place of safety; not to spy uponyour army, which as a matter of fact I thought twenty miles furthereast."

  General von Waldenmeer broke the silence that followed this avowal.

  "You admit that you are an officer in the Republican army. You arewithin our lines under very peculiar circumstances. You may have takenadvantage of Mademoiselle de Rochefort's confidence in you to play thespy. Until it is proven to the contrary, I must take the ground thatboth you and your companion are spies, and treat you accordingly.Colonel von Waldenmeer, you will send for a file of soldiers and placethese two men under arrest."

  "General von Waldenmeer!" said Edme de Rochefort, turning toward the oldbaron with an appealing gesture, "you are about to commit an act ofgrave injustice. Colonel Tournay is guiltless of the charge of being aspy. The charge was brought against him out of malice and revenge by theman who has just slandered me so basely."

  She did not look at the Marquis de Lacheville, but under the generalgaze which was directed toward him as she spoke, he quailed and shrunkfrom the room, shivering as with ague.

  "This gentleman," she went on, looking at Tournay gratefully, "hasincurred great danger and endured much privation in order to bring mehere in safety. He has been brave and devoted when others cravenlydeserted me; and if he should be treated by you as a spy it would be asif I had decoyed him here only to destroy him."

  "No, mademoiselle, no," said Robert Tournay in a low tone.

  By a quick gesture she bade him be silent.

  "General von Waldenmeer, you are a brave soldier. You have professed thegreatest friendship for your old friend's daughter. She now asks you torelease these gentlemen. As a soldier and a gentleman you are bound togrant her prayer."

  She spoke the words simply and in the tone which was natural to her, asif the request admitted of no denial; and laying her hand upon thegeneral's arm looked into his rough face.

  For a moment he sat in silence. His heavy brows came down until theyshaded his eyes completely. Then taking the hand that rested on hissleeve, he said:--

  "At the risk of neglecting my duty as a soldier, I will grant yourrequest. These men shall go free, but," he added hastily, as though hisconsent to their liberation had been given too q
uickly, "they must bekept under surveillance here until to-morrow, and then they shall beescorted back over the frontier. Colonel von Waldenmeer," he continued,addressing his son, "I leave you to conduct these French gentlemen totheir quarters. I make you responsible for their keeping."

  Edme held out her hand to Tournay. "Good-night, Colonel Tournay," shesaid. "It is a great joy and relief to know that you are to come to noharm through having brought me here. And you, who have done so much forme, will surely overlook this last and slight indignity which you arecalled upon to endure for my sake."

  "Mademoiselle," he replied, bending over her hand and speaking in a toneso low that none other in the room could hear, "there is nothing in theworld I would not endure for your sake. To have you speak to me likethis repays me a thousand-fold. Adieu, mademoiselle. Now, Colonel vonWaldenmeer, I am ready;" and with Gaillard at his side he followed youngvon Waldenmeer from the room.