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New Arabian Nights-Part44_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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titter among the audience. Berthelini wondered why; he did not

know the antecedents of the Garde Champetre; he had never heard of



a little story about postage stamps. But the public knew all about

the postage stamps and enjoyed the coincidence hugely.



The Commissary planted himself upon a vacant chair with somewhat

the air of Cromwell visiting the Rump, and spoke in occasional



whispers to the Garde Champetre, who remained respectfully standing

at his back. The eyes of both were directed upon Berthelini, who



persisted in his statement.

"Y a des honnetes gens partout," he was just chanting for the



twentieth time; when up got the Commissary upon his feet and waved

brutally to the singer with his cane.



"Is it me you want?" inquired Leon, stopping in his song.

"It is you," replied the potentate.



"Fichu Commissaire!" thought Leon, and he descended from the stage

and made his way to the functionary.



"How does it happen, sir," said the Commissary, swelling in person,

"that I find you mountebanking in a public cafe without my



permission?"

"Without?" cried the indignant Leon. "Permit me to remind you - "



"Come, come, sir!" said the Commissary, "I desire no explanations."

"I care nothing about what you desire," returned the singer. "I



choose to give them, and I will not be gagged. I am an artist,

sir, a distinction that you cannot comprehend. I received your



permission and stand here upon the strength of it; interfere with

me who dare."



"You have not got my signature, I tell you," cried the Commissary.

"Show me my signature! Where is my signature?"



That was just the question; where was his signature? Leon

recognised that he was in a hole; but his spirit rose with the



occasion, and he blustered nobly, tossing back his curls. The

Commissary played up to him in the character of tyrant; and as the



one leaned farther forward, the other leaned farther back - majesty

confronting fury. The audience had transferred their attention to



this new performance, and listened with that silent gravity common

to all Frenchmen in the neighbourhood of the Police. Elvira had



sat down, she was used to these distractions, and it was rather

melancholy than fear that now oppressed her.



"Another word," cried the Commissary, "and I arrest you."

"Arrest me?" shouted Leon. "I defy you!"



"I am the Commissary of Police,' said the official.

Leon commanded his feelings, and replied, with great delicacy of



innuendo -

"So it would appear."



The point was too refined for Castel-le-Gachis; it did not raise a

smile; and as for the Commissary, he simply bade the singer follow



him to his office, and directed his proud footsteps towards the

door. There was nothing for it but to obey. Leon did so with a



proper pantomime of indifference, but it was a leek to eat, and

there was no denying it.



The Maire had slipped out and was already waiting at the

Commissary's door. Now the Maire, in France, is the refuge of the



oppressed. He stands between his people and the boisterous rigours

of the Police. He can sometimes understand what is said to him; he



is not always puffed up beyond measure by his dignity. 'Tis a

thing worth the knowledge of travellers. When all seems over, and



a man has made up his mind to injustice, he has still, like the

heroes of romance, a little bugle at his belt whereon to blow; and



the Maire, a comfortable DEUS EX MACHINA, may still descend to

deliver him from the minions of the law. The Maire of Castel-le-



Gachis, although inaccessible to the charms of music as retailed by

the Berthelinis, had no hesitationwhatever as to the rights of the



matter. He instantly fell foul of the Commissary in very high

terms, and the Commissary, pricked by this humiliation, accepted



battle on the point of fact. The argument lasted some little while

with varying success, until at length victory inclined so plainly



to the Commissary's side that the Maire was fain to reassert




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