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He stepped aside to the ledge where the vine leaves yet lay strewn
about； collected two or three； and stood wiping his hands upon them；
with his back to the light。
'Well；' he demanded after a silence； 'have you nothing to say to all
that？'
'It's ugly；' returned the little man； who had risen； and was brightening
his knife upon his shoe； as he leaned an arm against the wall。
'What do you mean？' John Baptist polished his knife in silence。
'Do you mean that I have not represented the case correctly？'
'Al…tro！' returned John Baptist。 The word was an apology now； and stood
for 'Oh； by no means！'
'What then？'
'Presidents and tribunals are so prejudiced。'
'Well；' cried the other； uneasily flinging the end of his cloak over his
shoulder with an oath； 'let them do their worst！'
'Truly I think they will；' murmured John Baptist to himself； as he bent
his head to put his knife in his sash。
Nothing more was said on either side； though they both began walking
to and fro； and necessarily crossed at every turn。 Monsieur Rigaud
sometimes stopped； as if he were going to put his case in a new light；
or make some irate remonstrance； but Signor Cavalletto continuing to
go slowly to and fro at a grotesque kind of jog…trot pace with his eyes
turned downward； nothing came of these inclinings。
By…and…by the noise of the key in the lock arrested them both。 The sound
of voices succeeded； and the tread of feet。 The door clashed； the voices
and the feet came on； and the prison…keeper slowly ascended the stairs；
followed by a guard of soldiers。
'Now； Monsieur Rigaud；' said he； pausing for a moment at the grate； with
his keys in his hands； 'have the goodness to e out。'
'I am to depart in state； I see？' 'Why； unless you did；' returned the
jailer； 'you might depart in so many pieces that it would be difficult
to get you together again。 There's a crowd； Monsieur Rigaud； and it
doesn't love you。'
He passed on out of sight； and unlocked and unbarred a low door in the
corner of the chamber。 'Now；' said he； as he opened it and appeared
within； 'e out。'
There is no sort of whiteness in all the hues under the sun at all like
the whiteness of Monsieur Rigaud's face as it was then。 Neither is there
any expression of the human countenance at all like that expression in
every little line of which the frightened heart is seen to beat。 Both
are conventionally pared with death； but the difference is the whole
deep gulf between the struggle done； and the fight at its most desperate
extremity。
He lighted another of his paper cigars at his panion's； put it
tightly between his teeth； covered his head with a soft slouched hat；
threw the end of his cloak over his shoulder again； and walked out into
the side gallery on which the door opened； without taking any further
notice of Signor Cavalletto。 As to that little man himself； his whole
attention had bee absorbed in getting near the door and looking out
at it。 Precisely as a beast might approach the opened gate of his den
and eye the freedom beyond； he passed those few moments in watching and
peering； until the door was closed upon him。
There was an officer in mand of the soldiers； a stout； serviceable；
profoundly calm man； with his drawn sword in his hand； smoking a cigar。
He very briefly directed the placing of Monsieur Rigaud in the midst of
the party； put himself with consummate indifference at their head； gave
the word 'march！' and so they all went jingling down the staircase。 The
door clashed……the key turned……and a ray of unusual light； and a breath
of unusual air； seemed to have passed through the jail； vanishing in a
tiny wreath of smoke from the cigar。
Still； in his captivity； like a lower animal……like some impatient ape；
or roused bear of the smaller species……the prisoner； now left solitary；
had jumped upon the ledge； to lose no glimpse of this departure。 As he
yet stood clasping the grate with both hands； an uproar broke upon his
hearing； yells； shrieks； oaths； threats； execrations； all prehended
in it； though （as in a storm） nothing but a raging swell of sound
distinctly heard。
Excited into a still greater resemblance to a caged wild animal by his
anxiety to know more； the prisoner leaped nimbly down； ran round the
chamber； leaped nimbly up again； clasped the grate and tried to shake
it； leaped down and ran； leaped up and listened； and never rested until
the noise； being more and more distant； had died away。 How many
better prisoners have worn their noble hearts out so； no man thinking
of it； not even the beloved of their souls realising it； great kings
and governors； who had made them captive； careering in the sunlight
jauntily； and men cheering them on。 Even the said great personages dying
in bed； making exemplary ends and sounding speeches； and polite history；
more servile than their instruments； embalming them！
At last； John Baptist； now able to choose his own spot within the
pass of those walls for the exercise of his faculty of going to sleep
when he would； lay down upon the bench； with his face turned over on his
crossed arms； and slumbered。 In his submission； in his lightness； in his
good humour； in his short…lived passion； in his easy contentment with
hard bread and hard stones； in his ready sleep； in his fits and starts；
altogether a true son of the land that gave him birth。
The wide stare stared itself out for one while； the Sun went down in
a red； green； golden glory； the stars came out in the heavens； and the
fire…flies mimicked them in the lower air； as men may feebly imitate
the goodness of a better order of beings； the long dusty roads and the
interminable plains were in repose……and so deep a hush was on the sea；
that it scarcely whispered of the time when it shall give up its dead。
CHAPTER 2 Fellow Travellers
'No more of yesterday's howling over yonder to…day； Sir； is there？'
'I have heard none。'
'Then you may be sure there is none。 When these people howl； they howl
to be heard。'
'Most people do； I suppose。'
'Ah！ but these people are always howling。 Never happy otherwise。'
'Do you mean the Marseilles people？'
'I mean the French people。 They're always at it。 As to Marseilles； we
know what Marseilles is。 It sent the most insurrectionary tune into the
world that was ever posed。 It couldn't exist without allonging and
marshonging to something or other……victory or death； or blazes； or
something。'
The speaker； with a whimsical good humour upon him all the time； looked
over the parapet…wall with the greatest disparagement of Marseilles； and
taking up a determined position by putting his hands in his pockets and
rattling his money at it； apostrophised it with a short laugh。
'Allong and marshong； indeed。 It would be more creditable to you；
I think； to let other people allong and marshong about their lawful
business； instead of shutting 'em up in quarantine！'
'Tiresome enough；' said the other。 'But we shall be out to…day。'
'Out to…day！' repeated the first。 'It's almost an aggravation of the
enormity； that we shall be out to…day。 Out！ What have we ever been in
for？'
'For no very strong reason； I must say。 But as we e from the East；
and as the East is the country of the plague……'
'The plague！' repeated the other。 'That's my grievance。 I have had the
plague continually； ever since I have been here。 I am like a sane man
shut up in a madhouse； I can't stand the suspicion of the thing。 I came
here as well as ever I was in my life； but to suspect me of the plague
is to give me the plague。 And I have had it……and I have got it。'
'You bear it very well； Mr Meagles；' said the second speaker； smiling。
'No。 If you knew the real state of the case； that's the last observation
you would think of making。 I have been waking up night after night； and
saying； NOW I have got it； NOW it has developed itself； NOW I am in for
it； NOW these fellows are making out their case for their precautions。
Why； I'd as soon have a spit put through me； and be stuck upon a card in
a collection of beetles； as lead the life I have been leading here。'
'Well； Mr Meagles； say no more about it now it's over；' urged a cheerful
feminine voice。
'Over！