第80章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(63)

第80章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(63)

afaintmurmuraroseaboutthehousefromthefewpeoplewhowereleftthere，andtherewasasaddlingofahorseandridingaway.therewasspurringandsplashingthroughthedarkness，andbridlewasdrawninthespacebythevillagefountain，andthehorseinafoamstoodatmonsieurgabelle'sdoor.'help，gabelle！help，everyone！'thetocsinrangimpatiently，butotherhelp（ifthatwereany）therewasnone.themenderofroads，andtwohundredandfiftyparticularfriends，stoodwithfoldedarmsatthefountain，lookingatthepillaroffireinthesky.'itmustbefortyfeethigh，'saidthey，grimly；andnevermoved.

theriderfromthechateau，andthehorseinafoam，clatteredawaythroughthevillage，andgallopedupthestonysteep，totheprisononthecrag.atthegate，agroupofofficerswerelookingatthefire；removedfromthem，agroupofsoldiers.'help，gentlemanofficers！thechateauisonfire；valuableobjectsmaybesavedfromtheflamesbytimelyaid！help，help！'theofficerslookedtowardsthesoldierswholookedatthefire；gavenoorders；andansweredwithshrugsandbitingoflips，'itmustburn.'

astheriderrattleddownthehillagainandthroughthestreet，thevillagewasilluminating.themenderofroads，andthetwohundredandfiftyparticularfriends，inspiredasonemanandwomanbytheideaoflightingup，haddartedintotheirhouses，andwereputtingcandlesineverydulllittlepaneofglass.thegeneralscarcityofeverything，occasionedcandlestobeborrowedinaratherperemptorymannerofmonsieurgabelle；andinamomentofreluctanceandhesitationonthatfunctionary'spart，themenderofroads，oncesosubmissivetoauthority，hadremarkedthatcarriagesweregoodtomakebonfireswith，andthatpost-horseswouldroast.

thechateauwaslefttoitselftoflameandburn.intheroaringandragingoftheconflagration，ared-hotwind，drivingstraightfromtheinfernalregions，seemedtobeblowingtheedificeaway.withtherisingandfallingoftheblaze，thestonefacesshowedasiftheywereintorment.whengreatmassesofstoneandtimberfell，thefacewiththetwodintsinthenosebecameobscured：anonledoutofthesmokeagain，asifitwerethefaceofthecruelmarquis，burningatthestakeandcontendingwiththefire.

thechateauburned；thenearesttrees，laidholdofbythefire，scorchedandshrivelled；treesatadistance，firedbythefourfiercefigures，begirttheblazingedificewithanewforestofsmoke.moltenleadandironboiledinthemarblebasinofthefountain；thewaterrandry；theextinguishertopsofthetowersvanishedlikeicebeforetheheat，andtrickleddownintofouredwellsofflame.greatrentsandsplitsbranchedoutinthesolidwalls，likecrystallisation；stupefiedbirdswheeledaboutanddroppedintothefurnace；fourfiercefigurestrudgedaway，east，west，north，andsouth，alongthenight-enshroudedroads，guidedbythebeacontheyhadlighted，towardstheirnextdestination.theilluminatedvillagehadseizedholdofthetocsin，and，abolishingthelawfulringer，rangforjoy.

notonlythat；butthevillage，light-headedwithfamine，fire，andbell-ringing，andbethinkingitselfthatmonsieurgabellehadtodowiththecollectionofrentandtaxes—thoughitwasbutasmallinstalmentoftaxes，andnorentatall，thatgabellehadgotinthoselatterdays—becameimpatientforaninterviewwithhim，and，surroundinghishouse，summonedhimtocomeforthforpersonalconference.whereupon，monsieurgabelledidheavilybarhisdoor，andretiretoholdcounselwithhimself.theresultofthatconferencewas，thatgabelleagainwithdrewhimselftohishouse-topbehindhisstackofchimneys；thistimeresolved，ifhisdoorwerebrokenin（hewasasmallsouthernmanofretaliativetemperament），topitchhimselfheadforemostovertheparapet，andcrushamanortwobelow.

probably，monsieurgabellepassedalongnightuptherewiththedistantchateauforfireandcandle，andthebeatingathisdoor，combinedwiththejoy-ringingformusic；nottomentionhishavinganill-omenedlampslungacrosstheroadbeforehisposting-housegate，whichthevillageshowedalivelyinclinationtodisplaceinhisfavour.atryingsuspense，tobepassingawholesummernightonthebrinkoftheblackocean，readytotakethatplungeintoituponwhichmonsieurgabellehadresolved！but，thefriendlydawnappearingatlast，andtherush-candlesofthevillagegutteringout，thepeoplehappilydispersed，andmonsieurgabellecamedownbringinghislifewithhimforthatwhile.

withinahundredmiles，andinthelightofotherfires，therewereotherfunctionarieslessfortunate，thatnightandothernights，whomtherisingsunfoundhangingacrossonce-peacefulstreets，wheretheyhadbeenbornandbred；also，therewereothervillagersandtownspeoplelessfortunatethanthemenderofroadsandhisfellows，uponwhomthefunctionariesandsoldieryturnedwithess，andwhomtheystrungupintheirturn.but，thefiercefiguresweresteadilywendingeast，west，north，andsouth，bethatasitwould；andwhosoeverhung，fireburned.thealtitudeofthegallowsthatwouldturntowaterandquenchit，nofunctionary，byanystretchofmathematics，wasabletocalculateessfully.

xxx.drawntotheloadstonerock

insuchrisingsoffireandrisingsofsea—thefirmearthshakenbytherushesofanangryoceanwhichhadnownoebb，butwasalwaysontheflow，higherandhigher，totheterrorandwonderofthebeholdersontheshore—threeyearsoftempestwereconsumed.threemorebirthdaysoflittleluciehadbeenwovenbythegoldenthreadintothepeacefultissueofthelifeofherhome.