The Hour and the Man Part 30

"In that room," hastily answered Afra. "He is very old, and much alarmed to-day; and he cannot believe that he and Euphrosyne are safe, even here. If you will only a.s.sure Euphrosyne that there is no danger-- if she could tell him that you say so--"

"I will tell him myself," said Toussaint. "He is in that apartment, you say?"

"Oh! but please your Excellency," exclaimed Afra, "he may not like--he may not wish--Euphrosyne is as much devoted to you as we are, but--"

Toussaint was well aware that Monsieur Revel might not like, would not wish, to see him, or any black. Among all the hatreds which had deformed the colony, none more fierce had existed than that between Monsieur Revel and the negro race. He had been a cruel master; hence his incessant terrors now. He had been marked out for vengeance at the time of the revolution, and his family had perished for his crimes; and hence the detestation in which, as the survivor of these victims, he was regarded by most who knew the story. Euphrosyne knew nothing of it; nor did her young companion. There was no one to tell them uselessly so painful a tale; and there was nothing in Monsieur Revel's present conduct to awaken a suspicion of the truth. He rarely saw a black: and the tenderness which lies in some corner of the hardest hearts was by him lavished upon his only remaining descendant. Little did she suppose now, how much better her grandfather was known by Toussaint than by herself.

"Trust me!" said Toussaint, smiling. "I will not annoy Monsieur Revel.

I will merely rea.s.sure him, and tell him a little good news; and then leave him to his repose."

"Yes, Afra," interposed Euphrosyne. "Oh yes, please your Excellency, do go! I will tell him you are coming."

She flew along the corridor, and, with joyous smiles, prepared Monsieur Revel for some great honour and pleasure, when Toussaint entered, and bowed low, as it had ever been his custom to do before grey hairs.

"I come," said he to the old man, who seemed at a loss whether to rise or not, but who would not ask his visitor to sit down, "I come to encourage you to dismiss all fears. By the resolution of the Commissary to sail for France this day all further disputes are obviated. We have strong hopes that peace will not be disturbed."

"The Commissary going home. Who, then, is to govern us? What is to become of the whites in the colony?"

"I will take care of them. Those who are unwilling to remain, in the absence of the Commissary, can depart with him. There is s.h.i.+pping enough for more than will wish to go."

Euphrosyne glanced apprehensively at her grandfather, and then said, "Grandpapa is too old to go upon the sea any more; and I am not afraid of anything here. I do not believe there is anything to be afraid of here; is there?"

"Indeed, I believe not."

"Besides," said Afra, "my father will not allow any harm to happen to his best friends. My father--"

"Your father, my dear, will not be here," said Toussaint. "He is appointed to the legislature, in the interior. I protect this town till a new governor is appointed. I told you we hoped to see you at Pongaudin. You will pa.s.s your time there, with my family, while Monsieur Raymond attends his duties in the legislature. I go, sir, to provide for the peace of the town. If I can be of service to you, you have only to send to me. I entreat you to rely upon my protection."

And he went out.

"Oh, grandpapa!" exclaimed Euphrosyne, sighing.

"My dears, I hope I was not rude to him. I know that he meant kindly by coming: and I would not be otherwise than civil. I hope I was not rude to the Commander-in-chief."

Neither of his companions spoke, to give him comfort on this head. He grew angry. He declared that he did not understand all these changes and troubles, and he would go out of the way of them. He would sail with Hedouville; and so should Euphrosyne, and so should Pierre. He knew he should die before they had been a week at sea; but he would not stay to see everything turned topsy-turvy by the blacks.

Afra gently said that she understood it was Hedouville who had endeavoured to turn everything topsy-turvy, and those who understood the affairs of the colony better, who hoped to keep them straight.

Euphrosyne protested that it was impossible to get home, to pack up their goods: and even if they were at home, there was no time to do it properly. When she found all her objections of this cla.s.s unavailing, she gravely said that she fully believed what her grandfather had just declared--that he would die before they had been a week at sea; and nothing, therefore, should make her consent to go. A compromise was at length agreed upon. Euphrosyne promised to enter the convent, if her grandfather should desire it: and on this promise, he consented to say no more about going to sea.

As Toussaint went forth from Monsieur Revel's apartment, he met Monsieur Pascal, with his portfolio in his hand.

"Monsieur Pascal here already! I am gratified--I am grateful!" said Toussaint, grasping his hand. "You are weary--you must be very weary; but can you work a little before going to rest?"

"Willingly. No doubt. Most willingly."

Toussaint desired that fruit and wine should be sent to the governor's private room, and that the reports of messengers from the city should be brought instantly to him there. Monsieur Pascal and he then sat down beside a table, with pen, ink, and paper before them.

"Monsieur Pascal," Toussaint began, "the Commissary sails for France this day, with as many as desire to accompany him. You know the reasons which compel me to advise his departure. You came out as his secretary.

Do you desire to return with him?"

"I do not. With your permission, I will remain with you."

"With what view?"

"My own satisfaction, and the wish to serve the colony. My attachment to yourself is strong. I also perceive that you govern wisely and well; and I desire to aid in so important a work."

"Good. But you are not aware of the danger of attaching yourself thus exclusively to me. Till to-day, if I fell, your way to France, your way in France, was open. After to-day, it will no longer be so. I am so surrounded with dangers, that I can scarcely escape ruin or death. The mulattoes conspire against my power and my life. The blacks, for whom I have made myself responsible, are yet full of pa.s.sion, and not to be relied on in the present infancy of their education. The French officials are so many malignant spies--excepting yourself, indeed," he added, with a smile. "Bonaparte, who rules everywhere, is surrounded by our emigrants, who attribute their sufferings to the blacks; and he is jealous of me. I would rather say he distrusts me. Now you see my position. I ask no white to share its perils. If you go with Hedouville, you shall carry with you my friendly farewell."

"I will stay with you."

"Thank G.o.d! Then we are friends indeed! Now to business. In the pressing affairs of to-day, we must not overlook the future security of the colony. The story which Hedouville will tell at home must be met and ill.u.s.trated by our statement. Write so fully to the First Consul as that he may clearly see that it is to Hedouville's ignorance and presumption that the present disturbances are owing."

"It is a clear case."

"It is to us. Make it so to him. One word first. Will you undertake the office of governor of this town?"

"Instead of Raymond?"

"Instead of Raymond. He is a good man; but I erred in appointing him.

He is fit for deliberation, but not for action. But for my early arrival, this town would have been burned to-day, for want of even a show of defence. He is setting out now for the legislature, to which I have appointed him, and where he will be valuable. Will you a.s.sume his office?"

"By no means. I desire to remain beside you, and study your mode of government, before I attempt myself to govern."

"I have no fixed mode of governing. I merely act as seems to me good at the time."

"Inspired by a generous love, ever," said Pascal.

"Enough of this. It would be an advantage to me, and to the colony, that you should undertake this office. There is no other white, there is no mulatto fit for it! and the mulattoes need conciliation. If they see the office bestowed on a black, or occupied by me, in the interim they will feel themselves injured by Raymond's removal. You see the advantages of your filling the office."

"I see yet more plainly the disadvantages, unfit as I am. I cannot accept it."

"Very well. While you are writing, I will ascertain how the provisioning of the s.h.i.+ps goes on, and will give you as much time as possible. But there is not a moment to lose. I will return presently to sign."

Toussaint walked up and down the corridor, receiving reports, and issuing orders every moment. He found that the harbour was covered with boats carrying out hogs, fowls, vegetables, and water, according to his orders: but no baggage had been sent down from the quarters of the French officials, though porters had been waiting for two hours past.

Scouts had come in, with news of the approach of the insurgents. This information was communicated to Hedouville, with a hint that the s.h.i.+ps were nearly provisioned; but no answer was returned. Moyse sent word that the preparations in the town were nearly complete, and the spirit of the inhabitants improving every hour, if only the Commissary would make haste and be gone. Toussaint found the moment was coming for him to give the word to fire the alarm gun.

"Are the despatches nearly ready?" he asked of Pascal, entering the secretary's apartment.

"Quite ready for signature," replied Pascal, drying the ink of the last sheet.

"Excellent!" cried Toussaint, when he had read them. "True and clear!"

He signed and sealed them, and introduced the officer who was to be responsible for their delivery, a.s.suring him that he would be welcome back to the honours which would follow the faithful discharge of his trust. He did not forget to request Monsieur Pascal to go to rest.

There might be no rest for either of them this night.

As Euphrosyne sat beside Monsieur Revel, who was sleeping on a couch, after the fatigues of the morning, old Pierre beckoned her softly out, sending in Euphrosyne's maid, and saying, as he shut the door, "She will stay with my master fill he wakes. Mademoiselle Afra has sent for you, mademoiselle, to see from the upper gallery what is going on. The harbour is so crowded with boats, that they can hardly move; and it is time they were moving pretty fast; for the battle is beginning at the other end of the town; and the Commissary is not off yet, though the gun was fired half-an-hour since. You heard the gun, mademoiselle?"

"Yes. I am glad it was only a signal. You are sure it was only a signal?"