第8章

THECOMMISSARY(CRITICALLY)。MAISOUI。TRESBIEN。

THEARETHUSA。COMMENT，MONSIEUR!What!Butdoyounotobserveitisantique。Itisdifficulttounderstand，evenforyouandme；

butfortheaudienceatafair，itwouldbemeaningless。

THECOMMISSARY(TAKINGAPEN)。ENFIN，ILFAUIENFINIR。Whatisyourname？

THEARETHUSA(SPEAKINGWITHTHESWALLOWINGVIVACITYOFTHE

ENGLISH)。Robert-Louis-Stev"ns"n。

THECOMMISSARY(AGHAST)。HE!QUOI？

THEARETHUSA(PERCEIVINGANDIMPROVINGHISADVANTAGE)。Rob"rt-

Lou"s-Stev"ns"n。

THECOMMISSARY(AFTERSEVERALCONFLICTSWITHHISPEN)。EHBIEN，IL

FAUTSEPASSERDUNOM。CANES"ECRITPAS。(Well，wemustdowithoutthename:itisunspellable。)

Theaboveisaroughsummaryofthismomentousconversation，inwhichIhavebeenchieflycarefultopreservetheplumsoftheCommissary；buttheremainderofthescene，perhapsbecauseofhisrisinganger，hasleftbutlittledefiniteinthememoryoftheArethusa。TheCommissarywasnot，Ithink，apractisedliteraryman；nosooner，atleast，hadhetakenpeninhandandembarkedonthecompositionofthePROCES-VERBAL，thanhebecamedistinctlymoreuncivilandbegantoshowapredilectionforthatsimplestofallformsofrepartee:"Youlie!"SeveraltimestheArethusaletitpass，andthensuddenlyflaredup，refusedtoacceptmoreinsultsortoanswerfurtherquestions，defiedtheCommissarytodohisworst，andpromisedhim，ifhedid，thatheshouldbitterlyrepentit。Perhapsifhehadwornthisproudfrontfromthefirst，insteadofbeginningwithasenseofentertainmentandthengoingontoargue，thethingmighthaveturnedotherwise；forevenatthiseleventhhourtheCommissarywasvisiblystaggered。Butitwastoolate；hehadbeenchallengedthePROCES-VERBALwasbegun；

andheagainsquaredhiselbowsoverhiswriting，andtheArethusawasledforthaprisoner。

Asteportwodownthehotroadstoodthegendarmerie。Thitherwasourunfortunateconducted，andtherehewasbiddentoemptyforththecontentsofhispockets。Ahandkerchief，apen，apencil，apipeandtobacco，matches，andsometenfrancsofchange:thatwasall。Notafile，notacipher，notascrapofwritingwhethertoidentifyortocondemn。Theverygendarmewasappalledbeforesuchdestitution。

"Iregret，"hesaid，"thatIarrestedyou，forIseethatyouarenoVOYOU。"Andhepromisedhimeveryindulgence。

TheArethusa，thusencouraged，askedforhispipe。Thathewastoldwasimpossible，butifhechewed，hemighthavesometobacco。

Hedidnotchew，however，andaskedinsteadtohavehishandkerchief。

"NON，"saidthegendarme。"NOUSAVONSEUDESHISTOIRESDEGENSQUI

SESONTPENDUS。"(No，wehavehadhistoriesofpeoplewhohangedthemselves。)

"What，"criedtheArethusa。"Andisitforthatyourefusememyhandkerchief？ButseehowmuchmoreeasilyIcouldhangmyselfinmytrousers!"

Themanwasstruckbythenoveltyoftheidea；buthestucktohiscolours，andonlycontinuedtorepeatvagueoffersofservice。

"Atleast，"saidtheArethusa，"besurethatyouarrestmycomrade；

hewillfollowmeerelongonthesameroad，andyoucantellhimbythesackuponhisshoulders。"

Thispromised，theprisonerwasledroundintothebackcourtofthebuilding，acellardoorwasopened，hewasmotioneddownthestair，andboltsgratedandchainsclangedbehindhisdescendingperson。

Thephilosophicandstillmoretheimaginativemindisapttosupposeitselfpreparedforanymortalaccident。Prison，amongotherills，wasonethathadbeenoftenfacedbytheundauntedArethusa。Evenashewentdownthestairs，hewastellinghimselfthatherewasafamousoccasionforaroundel，andthatlikethecommittedlinnetsofthetunefulcavalier，hetoowouldmakehisprisonmusical。Iwilltellthetruthatonce:theroundelwasneverwritten，oritshouldbeprintedinthisplace，toraiseasmile。Tworeasonsinterfered:thefirstmoral，thesecondphysical。

Itisoneofthecuriositiesofhumannature，thatalthoughallmenareliars，theycannoneofthembeartobetoldsoofthemselves。

Togetandtaketheliewithequanimityisastretchbeyondthestoic；andtheArethusa，whohadbeensurfeiteduponthatinsult，wasblazinginwardlywithawhiteheatofsmotheredwrath。Butthephysicalhadalsoitspart。Thecellarinwhichhewasconfinedwassomefeetunderground，anditwasonlylightedbyanunglazed，narrowaperturehighupinthewallandsmotheredintheleavesofagreenvine。Thewallswereofnakedmasonry，thefloorofbareearth；bywayoffurnituretherewasanearthenwarebasin，awater-

jug，andawoodenbedsteadwithablue-graycloakforbedding。Tobetakenfromthehotairofasummer"safternoon，thereverberationoftheroadandthestirofrapidexercise，andplungedintothegloomanddampofthisreceptacleforvagabonds，struckaninstantchillupontheArethusa"sblood。Nowseeinhowsmallamatterahardshipmayconsist:thefloorwasexceedinglyunevenunderfoot，withtheveryspade-marks，Isuppose，ofthelabourerswhodugthefoundationsofthebarrack；andwhatwiththepoortwilightandtheirregularsurface，walkingwasimpossible。

Thecagedauthorresistedforagoodwhile；butthechilloftheplacestruckdeeperanddeeper；andatlength，withsuchreluctanceasyoumayfancy，hewasdriventoclimbuponthebedandwraphimselfinthepubliccovering。There，then，helayuponthevergeofshivering，plungedinsemi-darkness，woundinagarmentwhosetouchhedreadedliketheplague，and(inaspiritfarremovedfromresignation)tellingtherolloftheinsultshehadjustreceived。

Thesearenotcircumstancesfavourabletothemuse。

Meantime(tolookattheuppersurfacewherethesunwasstillshiningandthegunsofsportsmenwerestillnoisythroughthetuftedplain)theCigarettewasdrawingnearathismorephilosophicpace。InthosedaysoflibertyandhealthhewastheconstantpartneroftheArethusa，andhadampleopportunitytoshareinthatgentleman"sdisfavourwiththepolice。Manyabitterbowlhadhepartakenofwiththatdisastrouscomrade。Hewashimselfamanborntofloateasilythroughlife，hisfaceandmannerartfullyrecommendinghimtoall。Therewasbutonesuspiciouscircumstancehecouldnotcarryoff，andthatwashiscompanion。HewillnotreadilyforgettheCommissaryinwhatisironicallycalledthefreetownofFrankfort-on-the-Main；northeFranco-Belgianfrontier；northeinnatLaFere；last，butnotleast，heisprettycertaintorememberChatillon-sur-Loire。

Atthetownentry，thegendarmeculledhimlikeawaysideflower；

andamomentlater，twopersons，inahighstateofsurprise，wereconfrontedintheCommissary"soffice。ForiftheCigarettewassurprisedtobearrested，theCommissarywasnolesstakenabackbytheappearanceandappointmentsofhiscaptive。Herewasamanaboutwhomtherecouldbenomistake:amanofanunquestionableandunassailablemanner，inapple-pieorder，dressednotwithneatnessmerelybutelegance，readywithhispassport，ataword，andwellsuppliedwithmoney:amantheCommissarywouldhavedoffedhishattoonchanceuponthehighway；andthisBEAU

CAVALIERunblushinglyclaimedtheArethusaforhiscomrade!Theconclusionoftheinterviewwasforegone；ofitshumours，I

rememberonlyone。"Baronet？"demandedthemagistrate，glancingupfromthepassport。"ALORS，MONSIEUR，VOUSETESLEFIRSD"UN

BARON？"AndwhentheCigarette(hisonemistakethroughouttheinterview)deniedthesoftimpeachment，"ALORS，"fromtheCommissary，"CEN"ESTPASVOTREPASSEPORT!"Butthesewereineffectualthunders；heneverdreamedoflayinghandsupontheCigarette；presentlyhefellintoamoodofunrestrainedadmiration，gloatingoverthecontentsoftheknapsack，commandingourfriend"stailor。Ah，whatanhonouredguestwastheCommissaryentertaining!whatsuitableclothesheworeforthewarmweather!

whatbeautifulmaps，whatanattractiveworkofhistoryhecarriedinhisknapsack!Youaretounderstandtherewasnowbutonepointofdifferencebetweenthem:whatwastobedonewiththeArethusa？

theCigarettedemandinghisrelease，theCommissarystillclaiminghimasthedungeon"sown。NowitchancedthattheCigarettehadpassedsomeyearsofhislifeinEgypt，wherehehadmadeacquaintancewithtwoverybadthings，choleramorbusandpashas；

andintheeyeoftheCommissary，ashefingeredthevolumeofMichelet，itseemedtoourtravellertherewassomethingTurkish。

Ipassoverthislightly；itishighlypossibletherewassomemisunderstanding，highlypossiblethattheCommissary(charmedwithhisvisitor)supposedtheattractiontobemutualandtookforanactofgrowingfriendshipwhattheCigarettehimselfregardedasabribe。Andatanyrate，wasthereeverabribemoresingularthananoddvolumeofMichelet"shistory？Theworkwaspromisedhimforthemorrow，beforeourdeparture；andpresentlyafter，eitherbecausehehadhisprice，ortoshowthathewasnotthemantobebehindinfriendlyoffices-"EHBIEN，"hesaid，"JESUPPOSEQU"IL

FAUTLAHERVOIRECAMARADE。"Andhetoreupthatfeastofhumour，theunfinishedPROCES-VERBAL。Ah，ifhehadonlytornupinsteadtheArethusa"sroundels!ThereweremanyworksburntatAlexandria，therearemanytreasuredintheBritishMuseum，thatI

couldbettersparethanthePROCES-VERBALofChatillon。PoorbubuckledCommissary!IbegintobesorrythatheneverhadhisMichelet:perceivinginhimfinehumantraits，abroad-basedstupidity，agustoinhismagisterialfunctions，atasteforletters，areadyadmirationfortheadmirable。AndifhedidnotadmiretheArethusa，hewasnotaloneinthat。

Totheimprisonedone，shiveringunderthepubliccovering，therecamesuddenlyanoiseofboltsandchains。Hesprangtohisfeet，readytowelcomeacompanionincalamity；andinsteadofthat，thedoorwasflungwide，thefriendlygendarmeappearedaboveinthestrongdaylight，andwithamagnificentgesture(beingprobablyastudentofthedrama)-"VOUSETESLIBRE!"hesaid。NonetoosoonfortheArethusa。Idoubtifhehadbeenhalf-an-hourimprisoned；

butbythewatchinaman"sbrain(whichwastheonlywatchhecarried)heshouldhavebeeneighttimeslonger；andhepassedforthwithecstasyupthecellarstairsintothehealingwarmthoftheafternoonsun；andthebreathoftheearthcameassweetasacow"sintohisnostril；andheheardagain(andcouldhavelaughedforpleasure)theconcordofdelicatenoisesthatwecallthehumoflife。

Andhereitmightbethoughtthatmyhistoryended；butnotso，thiswasanact-dropandnotthecurtain。Uponwhatfollowedinfrontofthebarrack，sincetherewasaladyinthecase，Iscrupletoexpatiate。ThewifeoftheMarechal-des-logiswasahandsomewoman，andyettheArethusawasnotsorrytobegonefromhersociety。Somethingofherimage，coolasapeachonthathotafternoon，stilllingersinhismemory:yetmoreofherconversation。"Youhavethereaveryfineparlour，"saidthepoorgentleman-"Ah，"saidMadamelaMarechale(des-logis)，"youareverywellacquaintedwithsuchparlours!"Andyoushouldhaveseenwithwhatahardandscornfuleyeshemeasuredthevagabondbeforeher!IdonotthinkheeverhatedtheCommissary；butbeforethatinterviewwasatanend，hehatedMadamelaMarechale。Hispassion(asIamledtounderstandbyonewhowaspresent)stoodconfessedinaburningeye，apalecheek，andatremblingutterance；Madamemeanwhiletastingthejoysofthematador，goadinghimwithbarbedwordsandstaringhimcoldlydown。

Itwascertainlygoodtobeawayfromthislady，andbetterstilltositdowntoanexcellentdinnerintheinn。Here，too，thedespisedtravellersscrapedacquaintancewiththeirnextneighbour，agentlemanoftheseparts，returnedfromtheday"ssport，whohadthegoodtastetofindpleasureintheirsociety。Thedinneratanend，thegentlemanproposedtheacquaintanceshouldberipenedinthecafe。

Thecafewascrowdedwithsportsmenconclamantlyexplainingtoeachotherandtheworldthesmallnessoftheirbags。Aboutthecentreoftheroom，theCigaretteandtheArethusasatwiththeirnewacquaintance；atrioverywellpleased，forthetravellers(aftertheirlateexperience)weregreedyofconsideration，andtheirsportsmanrejoicedinapairofpatientlisteners。Suddenlytheglassdoorflewopenwithacrash；theMarechal-des-logisappearedintheinterval，gorgeouslybeltedandbefrogged，enteredwithoutsalutation，strodeuptheroomwithaclangofspursandweapons，anddisappearedthroughadooratthefarend。CloseathisheelsfollowedtheArethusa"sgendarmeoftheafternoon，imitating，withaniceshadeofdifference，theimperialbearingofhischief；

only，ashepassed，hestrucklightlywithhisopenhandontheshoulderofhislatecaptive，andwiththatringing，dramaticutteranceofwhichhehadthesecret-"SUIVEZ!"saidhe。

Thearrestofthemembers，theoathoftheTennisCourt，thesigningofthedeclarationofindependence，MarkAntony"soration，allthebravescenesofhistory，IconceiveashavingbeennotunlikethateveninginthecafeatChatillon。Terrorbreathedupontheassembly。Amomentlater，whentheArethusahadfollowedhisrecaptorsintothefartherpartofthehouse，theCigarettefoundhimselfalonewithhiscoffeeinaringofemptychairsandtables，allthelustysportsmenhuddledintocorners，alltheirclamorousvoiceshushedinwhispering，alltheireyesshootingathimfurtivelyasataleper。

AndtheArethusa？Well，hehadalong，sometimesatrying，interviewinthebackkitchen。TheMarechal-des-logis，whowasaveryhandsomeman，andIbelievebothintelligentandhonest，hadnoclearopiniononthecase。HethoughttheCommissaryhaddonewrong，buthedidnotwishtogethissubordinatesintotrouble；

andheproposedthis，that，andtheother，toallofwhichtheArethusa(withagrowingsenseofhisposition)demurred。

"Inshort，"suggestedtheArethusa，"youwanttowashyourhandsoffurtherresponsibility？Well，then，letmegotoParis。"

TheMarechal-des-logislookedathiswatch。

"Youmayleave，"saidhe，"bytheteno"clocktrainforParis。"

Andatnoonthenextdaythetravellersweretellingtheirmisadventureinthedining-roomatSiron"s。

CHAPTERV-RANDOMMEMORIES

I-THECOASTOFFIFE

MANYwritershavevigorouslydescribedthepainsofthefirstdayorthefirstnightatschool；toaboyofanyenterprise，I

believe，theyaremoreoftenagreeablyexciting。Misery-oratleastmiseryunrelieved-isconfinedtoanotherperiod，tothedaysofsuspenseandthe"dreadfullooking-for"ofdeparture；whentheoldlifeisrunningtoanend，andthenewlife，withitsnewinterests，notyetbegun:andtothepainofanimminentparting，thereisaddedtheunrestofastateofconsciouspre-existence。

Thearearailings，thebelovedshop-window，thesmellofsemi-

suburbantanpits，thesongofthechurchbellsuponaSunday，thethin，highvoicesofcompatriotchildreninaplaying-field-whatasudden，whatanoverpoweringpathosbreathestohimfromeachfamiliarcircumstance!Theassaultsofsorrowcomenotfromwithin，asitseemstohim，butfromwithout。Iwasproudandgladtogotoschool；hadIbeenletalone，Icouldhaveborneuplikeanyhero；buttherewasaroundme，inallmynativetown，aconspiracyoflamentation:"Poorlittleboy，heisgoingaway-

unkindlittleboy，heisgoingtoleaveus"；sotheunspokenburthenfollowedmeasIwent，withyearningandreproach。Andatlength，onemelancholyafternoonintheearlyautumn，andataplacewhereitseemstome，lookingback，itmustbealwaysautumnandgenerallySunday，therecamesuddenlyuponthefaceofallI

saw-thelongemptyroad，thelinesofthetallhouses，thechurchuponthehill，thewoodyhillsidegarden-alookofsuchapiercingsadnessthatmyheartdied；andseatingmyselfonadoor-

step，Ishedtearsofmiserablesympathy。Abenevolentcatcumberedmethewhilewithconsolations-wetwowerealoneinallthatwasvisibleoftheLondonRoad:twopoorwaifswhohadeachtastedsorrow-andshefawnedupontheweeper，andgambolledforhisentertainment，watchingtheeffectitseemed，withmotherlyeyes。

Forthesakeofthecat，Godblessher!Iconfessedathomethestoryofmyweakness；andsoitcomesaboutthatIowedacertainjourney，andthereaderowesthepresentpaper，toacatintheLondonRoad。Itwasjudged，ifIhadthusbrimmedoveronthepublichighway，somechangeofscenewas(inthemedicalsense)

indicated；myfatheratthetimewasvisitingtheharbourlightsofScotland；anditwasdecidedheshouldtakemealongwithhimaroundaportionoftheshoresofFife；myfirstprofessionaltour，myfirstjourneyinthecompletecharacterofman，withoutthehelpofpetticoats。

TheKingdomofFife(thatroyalprovince)maybeobservedbythecuriousonthemap，occupyingatongueoflandbetweenthefirthsofForthandTay。ItmaybecontinuallyseenfrommanypartsofEdinburgh(amongtherest，fromthewindowsofmyfather"shouse)

dyingawayintothedistanceandtheeasterlyHAARwithonesmokyseasidetownbeyondanother，orinwinterprintingonthegrayheavensomeglitteringhill-tops。Ithasnobeautytorecommendit，beingalow，sea-salted，wind-vexedpromontory；treesveryrare，except(ascommonontheeastcoast)alongthedensofrivers；thefieldswellcultivated，Iunderstand，butnotlovelytotheeye。ItisofthecoastIspeak:theinteriormaybethegardenofEden。HistorybroodsoverthatpartoftheworldliketheeasterlyHAAR。Evenonthemap，itslongrowofGaelicplace-

namesbeartestimonytoanoldandsettledrace。Oftheselittletowns，postedalongtheshoreascloseassedges，eachwithitsbitofharbour，itsoldweather-beatenchurchorpublicbuilding，itsflavourofdecayedprosperityanddecayingfish，notonebuthasitslegend，quaintortragic:Dunfermline，inwhoseroyaltowersthekingmaybestillobserved(intheballad)drinkingtheblood-

redwine；somnolentInverkeithing，oncethequarantineofLeith；

Aberdour，hardbythemonasticisletofInchcolm，hardbyDonibristlewherethe"bonnyfacewasspoiled"；Burntislandwhere，whenPaulJoneswasoffthecoast，theReverendMr。Shirrahadatablecarriedbetweentidemarks，andpubliclyprayedagainsttheroveratthepitchofhisvoiceandhisbroadlowlanddialect；

Kinghorn，whereAlexander"brak"sneckbane"andleftScotlandtotheEnglishwars；Kirkcaldy，wherethewitchesonceprevailedextremelyandsanktallshipsandhonestmarinersintheNorthSea；

Dysart，famous-wellfamousatleasttomefortheDutchshipsthatlayinitsharbour，paintedliketoysandwithpotsofflowersandcagesofsong-birdsinthecabinwindows，andforoneparticularDutchskipperwhowouldsitalldayinslippersonthebreakofthepoop，smokingalongGermanpipe；Wemyss(pronounceWeems)withitsbat-hauntedcaves，wheretheChevalierJohnstone，onhisflightfromCulloden，passedanightofsuperstitiousterrors；Leven，abald，quitemodernplace，sacredtosummervisitors，whencetherehasgonebutyesterdaythetallfigureandthewhitelocksofthelastEnglishmaninDelhi，myuncleDr。

Balfour，whowasstillwalkinghishospitalrounds，whilethetroopersfromMeerutclatteredandcried"DeenDeen"alongthestreetsoftheimperialcity，andWilloughbymusteredhishandfulofheroesatthemagazine，andthenamelessbraveoneinthetelegraphofficewasperhapsalreadyfingeringhislastdespatch；

andjustalittlebeyondLeven，LargoLawandthesmokeofLargotownmountingaboutitsfeet，thetownofAlexanderSelkirk，betterknownunderthenameofRobinsonCrusoe。Soon，thelistmightbepursued(onlyforprivatereasons，whichthereaderwillshortlyhaveanopportunitytoguess)bySt。Monance，andPittenweem，andthetwoAnstruthers，andCellardyke，andCrail，wherePrimateSharpewasonceahumbleandinnocentcountryminister:ontotheheeloftheland，toFifeNess，overlookedbyasea-woodofmattedeldersandthequaintoldmansionofBalcomie，itselfoverlookingbutthebreachorthequiescenceofthedeep-theCarrRockbeaconrisingcloseinfront，andasnightdrawsin，thestaroftheInchcapereefspringingupontheonehand，andthestaroftheMayIslandontheother，andfartheroffyetathirdandagreateronthecraggyforelandofSt。Abb"s。Andbutalittlewayroundthecorneroftheland，imminentitselfabovethesea，standsthegemoftheprovinceandthelightofmediaevalScotland，St。Andrews，wherethegreatCardinalBeatonheldgarrisonagainsttheworld，andthesecondofthenameandtitleperished(asyoumayreadinKnox"sjeeringnarrative)undertheknivesoftrue-blueProtestants，andtothisday(aftersomanycenturies)thecurrentvoiceoftheprofessorisnothushed。