suet balls Maupassant (1850～1893) An outstanding French critical realist writer in the second half of the 19th century.He has created 6 novels and more than 356 short stories in his life. His literary achievements are most prominent in short stories. He is known as the "King of Short Stories" and has had a great influence on later generations. For several days, the remnants of many defeated troops passed through the urban area of ​​Rouen.It's not a team at all, it's just a scattered nomadic tribe.The brothers had dirty and long beards all over their faces, and their bodies were covered in tattered military uniforms, and they had no regimental flags or regimental numbers. They walked forward with a tired posture.All of them seem to be bruised, their waists are broken, their minds are so dull that they can't think of anything, can't make up their minds, they just walk forward out of habit, and if they stop, they will immediately fall down due to lack of strength. down.What we saw were, above all, those who had been conscripted for a mobilization order, and a number of National Guards, known for their alertness, who had gone out to fight this time: the former were sex-loving and peaceful, law-abiding men who lived on fixed interest, Both were hunched over their rifles; the latter were easily frightened and impulsive men, ready to charge as well as to desert.And between these two groups there were a few red trousers who were the remnants of a division which had been wiped out in a bad battle; Dragoons with bronze helmets dragged their heavy heels behind the brisk steps of the infantry.

Many volunteer teams were established with various heroic names, and their names were: Failure Revenge Team - Tomb Citizens Team - Death Sharing Team, and they all walked by with the air of bandits. Some of their leaders were wool merchants or grain merchants, some were out of business butter merchants or soap merchants. After the war broke out, they all became soldiers in time, and because they had silver dollars or long beards Officers, all covered with arms, red velvet tapestry and gold thread, they talked, discussed plans of battle, and boasted that a dying France rested on the shoulders of their boastful men, but sometimes they Fear of their minions, strong men who are often too brave and fond of robbery and mischief.

The Prussians are about to enter the city of Rouen, it is said. Since two months, the city's National Guard has carefully done a lot of reconnaissance in the surrounding forests, and occasionally shot and accidentally injured its own sentry, and sometimes encountered a little rabbit in the bushes. Move, they're ready for battle, and now they're all home.The instruments and clothing, and all the weapons with which they had previously carried to frighten people along the national road for three leagues around the city, were suddenly gone. The last of the French soldiers crossed the Seine at last, and passed from Sévets and Bourgscha to the Pont d'Odemey; the last was a division commander, who, of course, could not think of anything to do with these messy remnants of the defeated army. Seeing that a nation with a reputation of being good at war collapsed because of a fiasco, he was also hopeless, and only two adjutants accompanied him on foot.

Afterwards, a deep tranquility and a frightening solitary waiting reigned over the city.Many rich people with big bellies who have been dazzled by business are anxiously waiting for the victor, thinking that if the iron barbecue fork and meat chopping knife in their kitchen are treated as weapons, they can't help but tremble all over. Life seemed to have come to a standstill, the shops were all closed, and the streets were completely silent.Occasionally a resident, timid at the silent aspect of the society, slips swiftly along the wall. The boredom of waiting makes one hope that the enemy will come quickly.

On the afternoon of the second day after the complete retreat of the French army, three or five Prussian cavalry from nowhere hurried through the city.A little later, a sooty mass descended from the slopes of the Shankardines, and at the same time two other bands appeared on the road to Darnetale and the road to the Bois de Guillaum.The outposts of these three armies happened to join forces at the same time on the Town Hall Square; at last the main force of the Germans came from the neighboring streets, battalion after battalion, trampling the stones in the street with a strong, timed step. Loudly.

Words, uttered in a strange and hard-jawed voice, went up to the sky along the empty, dead houses, whose shutters were all closed, and inside which countless eyes were watching. Those who spy on these victories, who by the "laws of war" have acquired the status of masters of the life and property of the whole city.The inhabitants, in their darkened houses, were bewildered with terror, and were confronted with floods, and landslides, against which all wisdom and strength were useless.For whenever the order of things is overthrown, whenever security ceases to exist, whenever everything that enjoys the protection of man-made or natural laws is placed at the mercy of an unconscious and brutal violence, this same feeling must It also showed up.Whether it is an earthquake that destroys an entire nation by causing houses to collapse, whether it is a breach of a river that sends drowned peasants adrift with carcasses of cattle and scattered beams, whether it is a victorious army that slaughters and captures those who defend themselves It is also a terrible natural disaster, and it also destroys any belief in eternal justice, and destroys our protection of God and human beings through education. Reasonable trust.

Finally, outside the door of each house, a small detachment knocked on the door, and then disappeared in the house.This is occupation after the invasion.From then on begins the duty of preferential treatment that the vanquished owes to the victor. After a short time, once the initial terror had disappeared, a new atmosphere of tranquility was established.In many houses the Prussian officer dined with the family.Occasionally the officers were well-educated, and out of politeness, he also complained for France, saying that he did not want to take part in the war.Someone is grateful to him for this sentiment; and then someone may need his protection sooner or later.Now that we are dealing with him, maybe we can feed a few fewer soldiers.And why offend someone you can depend on?This kind of behavior is of course more thoughtless than bold, but rashness is no longer a shortcoming of the residents of Rouen, which is different from the heroic defense era that glorified their city in the past.At last it was said, for the great reason deduced from the refined French temperament, that it was permissible to be courteous at home, without showing familiarity with foreign soldiers in public.So they pretended to be strangers to each other outside the door, but talked happily at home, and finally the Germans stayed longer every night, and warmed up with the host family by the same fireplace.

The urban area is even slowly returning to its usual state.The French didn't go out much, but Prussian soldiers kept coming and going in the streets.Moreover, a number of light cavalry officers in blue uniform walked haughtily toward the cafés dragging their long sabers over the paving stones, but with no more contempt for ordinary residents than the French who drank in the same cafés the previous year. Infantry officers are more pronounced. But there was always something in the air, something elusive, something unbearable and strange, like a diffused smell, the smell of alien invasion.It fills private houses and public places, it changes the taste of food and drink, it makes one feel in the middle of travel, far away, into wild and dangerous tribes.

The conqueror needs to ask for money, and he needs to ask for a lot of money.The inhabitants always pay; and they are rich.But the richer a Norman merchant became, the more he dreaded sacrifice, the more he dreaded seeing a small part of his fortune pass into the hands of another. However, in the river about two or three miles downstream of the urban area, near Cross Island, Giabdal or Besarna, boatmen or fishermen often picked up the dead bodies of Germans from the bottom of the water. The corpses swollen inside the uniforms were all stabbed to death or kicked to death, their heads were smashed by stones or pushed off the bridge and fell into the water.The mud at the bottom of the river conceals these ambiguous savage and legal vengeances, unsung heroism, silent assaults, far more terrifying and honorless than daytime battles.

Because of the hatred of intruders, it has always been able to teach three or five daring people to be extra strong, making them risk their lives for a belief. Finally, although these invaders controlled the urban area with a severe discipline, although their monstrous deeds along the whole line of victory had already made a reputation, and they had not yet accomplished a single thing in the urban area, at this time At that time, people gradually became courageous, and the need to do business was reactivated in the hearts of local merchants.Several of them had signed contracts of great interest at Havre, and that city was still under the defense of the French, so they all wanted to start by land first to Jieb, and then go by boat to this seaport.

Someone took advantage of the influence of the German officers he knew well, and finally obtained an exit permit issued by their commander-in-chief. Therefore, a long-distance coach drawn by four animals was booked for this trip. Ten passengers booked seats in the garage, and it was decided to start when it was still dark on a Tuesday, so as not to disturb the public. People ran over to watch the show. For several days, the ground has been frozen hard, and at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, piles of black clouds flew over from the north with snowflakes, and they did not stop until it was dark and deep into the night. Around four-thirty in the morning, the travelers were in the courtyard of the Hotel Normandie, where they had boarded. They were all still sleepy, shivering under their clothes.No one could see who in the dark; and the heavy winter clothes piled their bodies like fat priests in cassocks.But two travelers recognized each other, a third came up to them, and they began to chat. "I brought my wife," said one. "I did the same." "Me too." The other went on: "We will not return to Rouen, and if the Prussians go to Havre, we will go to England." They all have the same plan. At this time, no one set up the car.A door opened in a dark house, and a groom with a small lantern came out, and then immediately went into another room.Many horses hoofed the ground, but the sound of the hoofs was softened by the grass on the ground, and from the far end of the house came the sound of people speaking and scolding the animals.Then there was a faint tinkling of bells, announcing that someone was touching the horse's bridle; But it also stopped for a moment, and then it sounded again in a sudden shaking, and the dull sound of a shoe hitting the ground was transmitted outside together. The door closed suddenly.All noises ceased.The frozen townspeople were silent; they all stood as if frozen. The continuous snowflakes fall straight down to the ground like a curtain, and at the same time shine back light; it hides the appearance of various objects, and there is a layer of ice moss on it; In the deep silence, people can only hear the erratic, fuzzy and indescribable rubbing sound of snowflakes falling. Is it more a feeling than a feeling, or the interlacing movement of dust particles, as if filling the air and covering the earth? . The groom came out again with the lantern, and by the hand he was holding on to a poor horse who was reluctant to come out.He brought the animal close to the shaft, fastened the harness, and looked back and forth for a long time to fasten the various harnesses on the animal, because he had the lantern in one hand, so he only had the other hand. It was time to work, and he went to lead the second horse. At this time, he noticed the passengers who were motionless, and found that they were all white, so he said: "Why don't you get in the car, at least it is covered. .” They had no doubt not thought of this level before, and now they all hurried to the car.The three male passengers arranged their wives in the first seats, and they all followed; afterward, the other travelers, whose veiled faces were indistinct, took the remaining seats without exchanging a word with each other. . There is some straw on the ground in the car, where the feet of the passengers are hidden.The female guests sitting at the top all brought the copper hand stoves filled with chemical charcoal cakes. After burning this kind of thing, they mentioned its various benefits in a low voice, and repeated to each other that they had already know things. Finally, the cart was harnessed, and because it was difficult to pull, two more horses were added to the usual four. Someone asked outside the cart, "Have all the passengers boarded?" A voice inside the cart answered. : "Yes." Everyone set off.The car went slowly and slowly, almost all small steps.The wheels were hidden in the snow; the whole carriage groaned and groaned, and the animals slipped and panted, steaming with sweat.The long whip in the hand of the driver kept crackling, flying in all directions, twisting into a knot and spreading like a thin snake, and suddenly whipped an animal's kicked rump, and the horse was severely beaten. With one blow, he ran nervously. But the sky is getting brighter step by step unconsciously.The flakes of snow that were once compared to cotton rain by a purely native Rouen traveler were no longer falling.A dim gleam of light leaked through the snowdrifts, and the clouds were thick and dense, making the plain, which now had a row of trees covered in snow and now a hut with a snow helmet on it. , appearing more dazzling. In the car, everyone took advantage of the dim light of dawn to look at each other curiously. At the top, in the best seats, Mr. and Mrs. Bird, the proprietors of a liquor store in Bridge Street, dozed off facing each other. He used to work as a clerk with a boss who was losing money, bought the owner's shop and made a fortune.He sold very bad wines at low prices to small wine merchants in the country, and among his acquaintances and friends he was regarded as a cunning wretch, a scheming and merry Doudino. Mandi. His reputation for furtiveness was so well known that Mr. Tournay, in the governor's drawing-room one evening, made the object of his mockery of the man whose surname was "Bird" by using words of consensual disapproval, Monsieur Tournay, a writer of fables and songs, pungent and delicate, is a local honor; seeing that the ladies of the evening seemed to be dozing off, he proposed a game of "birds flying"; He knew from his tone that what he wanted to say was that birds cheated money, and the words automatically passed through the governor's living room and flew to living rooms in the city, making people in the whole province laugh with their mouths wide open for a whole month. Besides, Mr. Bird was known for jokes of every nature, good or bad; and no one could speak of him without immediately adding, "He's wonderful, the Bird." He is short in stature, with a belly like a balloon, and a russet face sandwiched between two long gray and white beards. His wife, tall, strong, composed, with a loud voice, and quick and determined in her ideas, was an authority in the shop, buoyed by his cheerful activity. Beside them sat a more dignified man, M. Carre-Lamadon, of a noble class, a man of great importance, who started in the cotton trade, owned three mills, and was awarded the Legion of Honor. Officer's Medal, currently serving as a member of the State Senate.Throughout the imperial era, he was always the leader of a well-intentioned opposition. According to his own statement, he fought only with a sword without a blade, attacking the opponent first, and then echoing a few times, in order to demand a high reward.Madame Carre-Lamadon was much younger than her husband, and had always been the "comfort" of the well-born officers of the garrison at Rouen. Facing her husband, she looked very petite, exquisite, and beautiful. She was wrapped in leather clothes, and looked at the miserable scene inside the car with dejected eyes. At their side were the Count and Count Hubert Brevet, who came from one of the oldest and noblest families in Normandy.The count was a handsome old gentleman, who tried to embellish his clothes to emphasize his natural resemblance to Henry IV, who, according to an honorable legend in his family, had made a lady of Bravet pregnant. As a result, her husband was made an earl and made governor of the province. Count Hubert de Prevat is also a member of the state senate like Mr. Calais-Lamadon, representing the Orleyan party in this state. His wife is the daughter of a small captain in Nantes. The history of their marriage It has always been considered mysterious.However, the countess is very generous, she receives guests more gracefully than anyone else, and is believed to have been in love with one of Louis Philippe's sons, so all the nobles entertained her well, and her living room It is always the first place in the local area, the only place where the old love atmosphere is preserved, and it is troublesome to enter. The property of the Brevet family is all real estate, and it is said that they have an annual income of about 500,000 gold francs. These six people constitute the basic passengers of this car, all belong to the stable and powerful society with regular income, and they all believe in Catholicism and understand the doctrine, and are powerful and powerful people. By chance, the benches on one side of the car were full of women; on the seat next to the countess, there were two nuns, who were holding a long string of beads and praying to the Father and praying.One of them was old, with pockmarks all over her face, as if she had been shot very close to the face by a cannonball.The other, feeble, had a beautiful sickly head and a breast showing consumptive disease, which had been corroded by the same cannibalistic faith that had made them saints of mutilated flesh.Opposite the two nuns, a man and a woman attracted everyone's attention. The man was well-known, Gornudet, who was called "Friend of Democracy"; many respected people regarded him as the bane.For twenty years he had dipped his beer in a mug of beer in democratic cafes here and there in his long, fiery red beard, and the fortune bequeathed to him by his father, a confectionery merchant, was quite large. For the riches he squandered with his brethren and friends, and finally waited impatiently for the republic to place itself in the proper place to show the innumerable achievements of the revolutionary drink.On September 4th, he may have been tricked by a practical joke into thinking he had been appointed governor, but when he came to office, the refusal of the civil servants who had always been the masters of the office forced him to Had to abdicate.Besides, he was a good gentleman, harmless and helpful, and on this occasion he did his best to lay out the defenses with a zeal that no one could match.He had many holes dug in the plain, he cut down all the young trees in the neighboring forests, he laid traps on all the highways, and when the enemy approached, he was satisfied that his measures were enough. Hurry back to the city.Now he remembered that he could do something more useful in Havre, where new fortifications would at once become indispensable.As for the woman, one of the so-called stunners, she is famous for getting fat in her youth, and she got a nickname that is in line with the reality, Suet Ball. , the fingertips are all plump, so full that there is a circle at the place where each small bone joins with another, just like a string of short sausages: the skin is smooth and taut Tight, her breasts are so full that they protrude from the dress, but she is always coveted and chased by others, her fresh complexion is so pleasing to the eyes.Her face was like a reddened apple, a peony about to bloom; on the upper half of her face, there were a pair of vivid black eyes, surrounded by deep and dense eyelashes casting a circle of shadows inward; , a charming mouth, narrow and moist enough to make people want to kiss, revealing a row of shiny and very slender teeth inside. In addition, people say that she has all kinds of qualities that cannot be evaluated. As soon as she was recognized, several intimate conversations began to flow among the honor-loving women, and the words "prostitute" and "social shame" were uttered loudly and endlessly by them. So it made her lift her head.At this time, she looked at the people in the car with challenging and bold eyes for a week, and then a deep silence was restored immediately, and everyone bowed their heads, except for Boss Bird. He watched her happily.But presently the conversation of the three ladies resumed, and in the presence of this "girl" they suddenly became almost intimate friends.They felt that in the face of this shamelessly prostituted woman, they should unite as a group the dignity of a married woman; because legal love has always been higher than free love. Seeing Cornudet, the three men also drew close to each other due to a conservative instinct, and talked about money with an attitude of contempt for the poor. The losses caused by the hopelessness of reaping, said with the aplomb of a great lord of millions that these misfortunes only made him miserable for a year.Mr. Carai-Lamadon, who had a bitter experience in the cotton industry, had carefully remitted 600,000 gold francs to England for emergency use at any time.As for Boss Bird, he had already discussed with the French military supply authority and sold all the ordinary wine in his wine cellar to the government, which made the government owe him a very large sum of cash. He is now planning to Get it at Harvard. At last all three men exchanged a friendly and prompt glance.Although the specific situation of each person is different, they are all rich, they are all members of that big guild, they are all rich people who can teach gold coins to ring crisply when they put their hands in their trouser pockets, so they feel that each other is the same. brother. The carriage went so slowly that by ten o'clock in the morning it had covered only four miles.The men got out of the car and walked a total of three times on the way up the slope. Everyone gradually became uneasy, because they were supposed to have lunch at Dot's place, but now they couldn't get there in the dark.So when the car got stuck in the snow and it took two hours to pull it out, everyone went to explore the tavern on the main road. The desire to eat increased step by step, making everyone who was hungry flustered; but no one saw a restaurant or a wine shop, because after the French hunger procession passed, there were Prussians coming, All business people are scared away. The gentlemen went to the farms by the road to look for food, but they found no bread, for the suspicious peasants were afraid that the soldiers, who had nothing to eat, would seize by force what they found. , so both hide their stores. It was almost one o'clock in the afternoon, and Boss Bird threatened that he really felt very empty in his stomach.Everyone had been suffering as he had for a long time; this ever-expanding urge to feed had at last shut their mouths. Now and then someone yawned, another imitated him almost at once; each one yawned when it was his turn to be influenced, but in accordance with his personality and sophistication and social position, or with a loud voice. Open your mouth, or open it slightly and then raise a hand to cover the big hole that spits out hot air.Ball-of-Fat bent over several times, as if searching for something in the skirt.She hesitated for a moment, looked at the people in the same car, and then she quietly straightened up.Everyone's face was pale and drawn.Mr. Bird was sure he could pay a thousand francs for an elbow.His wife made a gesture as if in protest, and then she didn't move.Hearing about spending money indiscriminately, she has always been pained, and even took such jokes as truth. The count said: "I actually feel bad, why didn't I think of bringing some food before?" Something?" Everyone blamed themselves in the same way. Cornudet, however, brought a bottle full of bagasse wine, and he invited everyone to drink a little; they all refused him coldly.Only Boss Bird agreed to drink two drops. Later, when he handed back the bottle, he thanked him: "After all, it is useful. It can warm people up, and it can trick people into not wanting to eat anything." The method on the boat in the lyrics: share the fattest passenger.This lingo, directed at Ball-of-Fat, is jarring to the well-educated.No one answered him; only Gornudi smiled.The two nuns stopped pinching their rosary beads, their hands were wrapped in their long sleeves and they kept their eyes down firmly, no doubt returning to God for the pain that God sent them. At last, it was three o'clock. At this time, the car came to the middle of an endless plain, and there was no village in sight. Ball-of-Fat bent down lively and pulled out a big basket covered with a white napkin from under the bench. She first took out from the basket a small pottery basin, a delicate silver cup, and then a large earthen bowl, which contained two cut chickens, which were covered with jelly. I also saw that there were many good things wrapped in the basket, cakes, fruits, and sweets. All these foods were prepared for the three-day trip, so that people did not have to deal with the kitchen of the inn.Between these food parcels stretched the necks of four wine bottles.She took a chicken wing and ate it elegantly, with the little bread of the kind called "Regent" in Normandy. All eyes were directed at her, and soon the fragrance dissipated, which heightened one's sense of smell, and made one's mouth profusely drool, while at the same time there was a painful constriction of the cheekbones under the ear.The contempt of the "girl" by the ladies became more violent, it was almost like a jealousy, and they wanted to kill her, or throw her under the cart with silver cups and baskets and all kinds of food. go in the snow. But Boss Bird kept his eyes fixed on the earthen bowl that held the chicken.He said: "It's very nice, this lady used to be more thoughtful than us. Some people always think of everything." She looked up at him and said, "Do you want to eat, sir? It's enough to be hungry from morning to now." I have to bear it." He bowed his body: "Speak the truth. I won't refuse, I can't bear it anymore. It's like fighting a war, right, ma'am?" At the end, he looked around Returning in a circle, he continued: "At such a time, it is very happy to meet someone helping me." He brought a newspaper, and now he spread it on his knees so as not to stain his trousers. , and then took out of his pocket a small knife that never left his body, opened it and picked up a chicken leg full of shiny jelly with the point, he bit it open with his teeth, and came back with a burst of obvious satisfaction. Chewing, causing a long sad sigh in the car. But Ball-of-Fat invited the two nuns with a humble and sweet voice to share her light meal.The two of them accepted it immediately, and after a vague thank you, they quickly ate without raising their eyes.Cornudet also did not refuse the gift from his traveling companion. He and the two nuns spread newspapers on their knees to form a sort of table. Several mouths kept opening and closing, swallowing, chewing, and digesting like wolves and tigers.Boss Bird sat in the corner and ate happily, while whispering to persuade his wife to follow his example.She resisted for a long time, and then after a constant back and forth in her stomach, she agreed.At this time, her husband, in a polite way, asked their "traveling companion" if he would allow him to take a small piece and pass it to Mrs. Bird."Yes, of course, sir," she said with a kind smile, and held up the earthen bowl. Someone uncorked the first bottle of wine, but an embarrassing thing happened: there was only one glass.So it had to be passed to the second person after one person finished drinking.Only Cornudet put his lips to the wet spot of Ball-of-Fat's glass, no doubt out of flattery.At this time, the Count de Bravet and Mrs. Calais-Lamadon, surrounded by these eating and drinking people and made short of breath by the smell of the food, had to suffer just like Dandal. Such hateful tortures.Suddenly, the factory manager's young spouse let out a sigh that caused many people to turn their heads. Her face was as white as the snow outside, her eyes were closed, and her forehead drooped: she had lost consciousness.His husband was so anxious that he begged everyone to help him.Everyone lost their minds when the elder nun, supporting the patient's head, thrust Ball-of-Fat's glass between the sick man's lips, and made her swallow a few drops of the wine.The pretty dame moved, opened her eyes, smiled, and said in a dying voice that she felt all right now.However, in order to keep the symptoms from recurring, Mammy forced her to drink a full glass of wine, adding, "It's because I'm very hungry, and there's nothing else to do." As a result, Ball-of-Fat, flushed and in a dilemma, stammered, looking at the four passengers, men and women, who had always had empty bellies: Madam donated, but..." At this point, she was afraid of causing a confrontation, so she didn't go any further.Boss Bird spoke up: "There is no need to say more! In such a situation, we are all brothers and should help each other. Hurry up, ladies, don't talk nonsense, please accept it, of course! We will know whether we will still find it." Got a room to spend the night? If you go this way, you won’t be able to reach Dort before noon tomorrow.” They were still hesitant, and none of them dared to take responsibility and say, “Yes.” But the earl came to solve the problem.He turned around to face this timid fat "girl", and said to her, showing the grace and generosity of his son from a family: "We accept it with a grateful attitude, madam." Only the first step is troublesome.Those who crossed the Lübigong River in one stroke could do whatever they wanted.Everything in the basket was moved out.It also contained a foie gras jelly, a lark jelly, a smoked ox tongue, some pears from Crassain, a side of sweet bread from Bishop's Bridge, some small sweets, and a full of vinaigrette-soaked frankincense melon and A small magnetic bowl with shallots, suet balls, like all women, love raw vegetables the most. Naturally, I had to talk to this "girl" after eating.So we chatted. At first, the posture was cautious, but later, because of her good attitude, everyone became more casual.The two ladies of Brevet and Carais-Lamadon, who knew how to deal with the world, are now very pleasant, especially the Countess, who showed the immaculate appearance of a high-ranking lady. Affable and modest look, and come coquettish.But the tall bird lady has always had the mentality of a security policeman, so she is still stubborn, talking less and eating more. Everyone naturally talked about the war.Horrible facts about the Prussians, heroic deeds of the French were narrated; and the fleeing men and women respected the courage of others, and soon everyone began to tell personal experiences, and Ball-of-Fat spoke with a real Indignant, in the passionate language that girls tend to express when they are naturally angry, describing how she left Rouen, she said: "At first I thought I could stay. The house was full of food, and I would like to raise several I'm a soldier, never leave my country and run somewhere else. But when I saw those fellows, those Prussians, I couldn't help it! They made me so full of anger that I cried all day with shame. Ha! If I were a man, go forward! I watched them from the window, those fat pigs with pointed helmets, and my maid took my hands lest I throw my table and chairs at them的脊梁上。随后有几个到我家里来住宿了；那时候，我扑到了其中第一个的脖子上。掐死他们并不比掐死其余的人格外难！倘若没有人抓着我的头发，我是可以结果那一个的。事后我不得不躲藏了。到末了，我找着了机会就动身了，现在我在这儿。” 大家称赞她了。在这些没有表示那么猛干的旅伴的评价中间，她的地位增高了；戈尔弩兑静听着她，一面保持一种心悦诚服者的赞叹而且亲切的微笑；甚至于就像一个教士听见一个信徒赞美上帝，因为长胡子的民主朋友都有爱国主义专卖权，正和穿道袍的汉子们都有宗教专卖权一样。轮到他发言，他用一种理论家的语调，用那种从每天粘在墙上的宣言里学得来的夸张口吻发言了，末后他用一段雄辩作了结论，用威严的态度攻击那个“流氓样的巴丹盖。” 不过羊脂球立刻生气了，因为她是波拿巴党，她的脸蛋儿红得像是一颗樱桃，噘着嘴巴气忿地说：“我真要看看你们坐在他的位子上会怎么干，你们这些人。那大概是很像样的，对呀！这回正是你们出卖了他，这个人！倘若人都被你们这样胡作非为的人统治，那么只好离开法国了！”戈尔弩兑是意气自若的，始终保持一种高高在上的轻蔑微笑，不过大家觉得骂街的字眼差不多要出口了，这时候，伯爵插入中间费着劲儿安定那个怒气冲天的“姑娘”，一面用权威的态度声言一切诚实的见解都是可以敬重的。伯爵夫人和厂长夫人，她们的脑子里素来怀着正经人对于共和国而起的无理憎恨，以及一切妇女对于神气活现实行专制的政府而抱的天然爱惜，都不由自主地觉得自己倾向于这个难能可贵的卖淫妇了：她的情感和她们的真很相像。 提篮空了。十个人不用费事吃空了它，一面认为它当初没有编得更大一点未免可惜。谈话又继续了一会，不过自从吃完了以后却多少冷落一些。 夜色下来了，黑暗渐渐变成了深沉的，寒气在人消化食物的时候是更其使人觉得的，羊脂球尽管富于脂肪，寒气也有些使得她发噤，于是卜来韦夫人把自己的袖珍手炉送给她用，那里边的炭从早上到现在已经换了好几回，羊脂球立刻接受了这种好意，因为她觉得自己的脚冻木了。迦来－辣马东夫人和鸟夫人把她俩的借给了两个嬷嬷。 赶车的点燃了车外的风灯。灯光是明亮而闪动的，照见辕子两边的牲口臀部的汗气像云气一样飘浮；大路两边的雪仿佛在移动的亮光底下伸展。 车子里什么也分辨不出来了，不过在羊脂球和戈尔弩兑中间忽然起了一种动作；鸟老板的眼睛正在暗中窥探，他相信看见那个大胡子突然向旁一偏，如同沉重地接受了什么没有声音的打击。 前面的大路上出现一星一星的灯火了。那就是多忒镇。他们走了１１小时，再加牲口在路上吃了四次草料休息了两小时，一共就是１３小时了。车子开到了镇上，在招商旅馆的门口歇下来。 车门开了！一阵听惯了的声音教所有的旅客感到心惊肉跳；那正是军刀鞘子接接连接撞着路面。立刻就有一个日耳曼人的声音嚷着几句话。 车子虽然停了，不过谁也没有下来，仿佛正有人等着旅客一下车就来屠杀。这时候，赶车的出面了，他从车外取下一盏风灯拿着向车里一照，登时照明了车子内部那两行神色张皇的脸儿，因为惊惧交集，眼睛都是睁大的，嘴巴全是张开的。 在赶车的旁边，灯光当中站着一个日耳曼军官，一个非常之瘦的长个儿青年人，头发是金黄的，军服紧紧地缚着他的腰身仿佛是一个女孩子缚着腰甲，平顶的漆皮军帽歪歪地偏向一边，使人觉得他很像一家英国旅馆里的小使。他两撇长得过度的髭须直挺挺地翘起，不断地向上收束，最后只有一茎金黄色的毫毛，纤细得教人望不见它的杪末，那像是压着他的嘴角儿，牵着他的腮帮子，在嘴唇上印出一道下坠的折纹。 他用阿尔萨斯口音的法语请旅客们下车，用一道生硬的语气说：“各位可愿意下车，先生们和夫人们！” 两个嬷嬷用那种惯于听受一切征服力的圣女式的柔顺态度首先表示了服从，接着下车的是伯爵两夫妇，而厂长两夫妇跟在他们后边，随后才是鸟老板推着他那个高大的老婆在他头里走。他的一只脚刚着地，就用一种谨慎超于礼貌的情感向军官说了一声：“先生你好。”另一个却倨傲得像是能力万全的人一般望着鸟老板没有答礼。 羊脂球和戈尔弩兑尽管本来都坐在门口边，下车却在最后，而且在敌人跟前显得又稳重又高傲。胖“姑娘”极力镇定自己，使自己显得安详，民主朋友用一只具有悲剧意味而且略略发抖的手捋着自己的火红长胡子。他和她都懂得在这种遭遇中间每一个人多少代表着祖国，所以都愿意保持一点庄严态度；并且同样都因为他们同车的旅伴们的软弱样子而发生反感，所以她极力显出自己比她那些女旅伴，那些顾爱名誉的妇人来得自负，他呢，觉得应当以身作则，在整个态度上继续他那种已经由破坏大路开始了的抗敌使命。 一行人都走到旅馆的宽大的厨房里了，日耳曼人教他们出示了那份由总司令签了名的出境证，那上面是载着每一个旅客的姓名，年貌和职业的，他长久地端详着这一行人，把他们本人和书面记载来作比较。 随后他突然说道：“这对的。”接着他走开了。 这时候，人人都松了一口气，因为依然都还饿着肚子，就教人预备宵夜。为了安排那非得花半小时不可；于是趁着旅馆里两个女佣像是着手料理的时候，旅客们去看屋子了。屋子都在一条长的过道里，尽头有一扇玻璃门写着一个表示意义的号码。 大家终于坐在饭桌上，这时候，旅馆的掌柜亲自走出来。那原是一个做马贩子的，一个害着气喘病的胖子，他嗓子里始终呼啸，发哑，带着痰响。他父亲传给他的姓氏是伏郎卫。he asked: “哪一位是艾丽萨贝特·鲁西小姐？” 羊脂球吃惊了，转过头来回答： "it's me." “小姐，普鲁士军官立刻要和您说话。” “和我吗？” “是呀，倘若您的确是艾丽萨贝特·鲁西小姐。” 她摸不着头脑了，思索了一下，随后爽利地说： “这是可能的，不过我不会去。” 她的周围发生一阵骚动，每个人都发表意见，探究这道命令的来由，伯爵走近她跟前说： “您错了，夫人，因为您的拒绝是能够引起种种重大困难的，不仅对于您自己，而且甚至对于您的全体旅伴也一样。人总是从来不应当和最强的人作对的。他这种要求确实不能引起任何危险；无疑地是为了一点儿漏了的手续。” 大家都和伯爵一致了，央求她，催促她，重复地劝告她，终于说服了她；因为谁都害怕一个冒昧举动可能带来种种麻烦。最后她说： “确实是为了各位，我才这样做。” 伯爵夫人握着她的手。 “这样，我们谢谢您。” 她出去了。大家等着她转来吃饭。 由于没有像这个性情暴躁的“姑娘”被人传唤，每一个人都发愁了，并且暗自预先想好些卑屈的办法，以便自己也被传唤的时候可以使用。 不过，１０分钟以后，她回来了，脸上绯红，喘得连话都说不出，而且非常生气，她吃着嘴说道：“哈，混蛋！混蛋！”全体都急于要知道底细，不过她什么也不说；末后伯爵再三盘问，她才用一种非常庄严的神气回答：“不成，那和各位没有关系，我不能说。” 于是大家围着一个高大的汤罐坐下了，其中有一阵卷心白菜的香味散出来。他们固然受了惊慌，不过这顿宵夜却是快乐的。苹果酒的味道不错，由于省钱，鸟家两夫妇和两个嬷嬷都喝着它。其余的人叫的都是葡萄酒；戈尔弩兑叫的是啤酒。他有一套特别的方式去开酒瓶，去让酒吐出泡沫，偏着杯子去细看，接着就举在眼睛和灯光的中间去玩赏它的颜色。在他喝的时候，他那一丛大胡子本来保存了这种他心爱的饮料的色彩，现在竟像是因为受到爱抚而颤抖起来；他斜着眼光盯着他的杯子，仿佛这样就尽到了他今生今世的唯一职责。他毕生只有两件大的癖好：一件是浅颜色啤酒，而另一件是革命，竟可以说他心里想使这两件癖好能够彼此接近，并且能够彼此交融如同水乳似的，所以他确实不能尝着这一件的滋味而不念及另一件。 伏郎卫先生两夫妇都坐在桌子的另一头吃东西，男的呢，喘得像是一个坏了的火车头，他肺部呼出吸进的气太多，以致无法在吃饭的时候谈天；不过他的女人却永远是叽叽呱呱的。她讲起自己在普鲁士人初到时得来的种种印象，他们做过的事，他们说过的话，她咒骂他们，首先因为他们害得她花了钱，其次，因为她有两个儿子从军去了。她尤其爱对伯爵夫人谈天，因为和一个有地位的夫人谈天在她是受到了宠遇。 随后，她压低声音来说那些微妙的事了，她丈夫不时阻止她：“你别开口总好一些，伏郎卫夫人。”不过她绝不买帐，仍旧继续说下去： “对啊，夫人，那些人做的事不过是吃马铃薯和猪肉，以后又是猪肉和马铃薯。而且千万别相信他们都是清洁的。——哈，简直不成！——说句不客气的话，他们四处随意拉撒。设若您看见他们连着整天整天的操演哟；他们操演起来都在那边的一片地里：向前进，向后退，向这边转，向那边转。——设若他们在他们国内至少种地，或者修路！那还罢了。——但是并没有，夫人，这些军人对谁都没有益处。是不是应当由可怜的百姓养活他们使他们只去学着屠杀！——我自己不过是一个没有受过教育的老妇人，这是真的，不过我看见他们费尽气力去从早到晚在地面上踏过去又踏过来，就暗自说道：'在世上正有好些人为了有益于人求得那么多的发明，另外好些人却费着这么多的气力来使自己可以害人！真的，难道杀人不是一件令人憎恶的事？无论是普鲁士人，是英国人，是波兰人或者是法国人。'——倘若有人在一个害过他的人身上寻报复，那是错的，因为法律惩罚寻报复的人；不过到了有人把我们的孩子当作野味一般开枪去围剿的时候，既然有人把勋章赏给那些最会摧毁我们孩子的人，所以那是对的，这又怎么说呢？——不成，您看这是怎么回事，我简直弄不懂！” 戈尔弩兑提高嗓门说道： “在侵略一个爱和平的邻国的时候，打仗是一种野蛮行为；在防护祖国的时候，那是一种神圣义务。” 老妇人低着头说： “对呀，防护祖国那是另外一件事，不过人难道不应当杀绝那些用打仗来寻乐的帝王吗？” 戈尔弩兑的眼光如同着了火一样了。 “好极了，女公民！”他说。 迦来－辣马东先生深沉地思索起来。他虽然非常迷信出名的将官，不过这个乡下老妇人的常识却引起了他的思考：这么多的人手空着不做事自然就是坐吃山空的，若是用着这些人手在一个国家做事可以造成何等的繁荣，这么多的被人废置不用的劳动力，若是用在大规模的工业上真得要好几百华才用得完。 不过鸟老板呢，离开座位走到旅馆掌柜身边用很低的声音和他谈话了。那胖子笑着，咳嗽着、吐着痰，他的大肚子因为身边那个人的诙谐而快乐得一起一伏地动着，后来他向他买进了六件半桶头的红葡萄酒，到明年春天普鲁士人走了以后收货。 宵夜刚好吃完，大家乏得不成样子，都去休息了。然而鸟老板早已看到了许多事，他教妻子上了床，自己却向房门上的钥匙洞儿里贴着眼睛向外望，一会儿又贴着耳朵向外听，这样轮番地做个不停，而目的就是要发现他所谓“过道里的秘密”。 将近在一小时之末，他听见了一阵窸窸窣窣的声音，于是赶忙去望，终于望见了羊脂球，她披的是一件滚着白花边的蓝色山羊毛织品的浴衣，他觉得她比白天还更丰满一点。她端着一只烛台，向过道尽头那间标着很大号码的屋子走。不过旁边又有一张门也轻轻地开了，等到羊脂球在几分钟以后转来，戈尔弩兑跟在她后面了，他连坎肩都没有着，教人看见他的衬衣上背着一条背带。他们正低声谈着，随后又都停着不动。羊脂球仿佛毅然决然把守了自己的房门。不幸鸟老板听不见他们说些什么；不过到末了，他们提高了嗓门，他才听见了几句。戈尔弩兑用激烈的态度坚持己见，他说：“我们瞧吧，您真没有想通，这于您算个什么？” 她像是生气了，回答道： “不成，好朋友，这些事情有时候是不能做的；并且，在这儿，那是件丢人的事。” 他无疑地简直没有懂得，就问那是为什么。于是她很生气了，更提高了音调： “为什么？您不懂得为什么？这时候，有好些普鲁士人在旅馆里，也许就在隔壁房子里，不懂吗？” 他不说话了。她是不肯在敌人近边受人爱抚的，这种妓女的爱国廉耻心应该在戈尔弩兑的心上唤醒了正在衰弱的品格吧，因为他仅仅在和她拥抱了以后，就蹑着脚回到自己的屋子里去。 鸟老板浑身都是火了，他离开了钥匙洞儿，在屋子里赶忙轻轻地一跳，戴上了棉布睡帽，就揭开了那床盖着他配偶的粗硬身躯的被盖，用一个拥抱弄醒了她，一面低声慢气地说：“你可爱我，亲人儿？” 这时候，整个一所房子全是没有声息的了。不过一会儿之后，在一个难于确定的方位，可能是在地下室也许是在搁楼，又起了一阵有力的和单调而有规律的抽鼾声音，一种迟钝而且拖长的噪音还带有锅炉受着蒸汽压力样的震动。伏郎卫先生睡着了。 旅客们本来决定第二天八点起程，所以都看准钟点在厨房齐集，不过车子呢，顶棚上满是积雪，孤零零地停立在天井当中，没有牲口也没有赶车的。有人枉费气力去找他了，无论在马房里，在草料房里或者在车房里都找不着。于是所有的男人都决定到镇上去走一趟，他们出门了。走到了镇上的广场，看见礼拜堂正在广场的尽头，而两旁是许多矮房子，其中有好些普鲁士兵。他们看见的第一个正给马铃薯削皮，第二个，比较远一点的，正洗刷一间理发店，另外一个满脸的长胡子一直连到眼睛边的，吻着一个哭的婴孩，并且搁在膝头上摇着教他安静；好些胖乡下妇人，丈夫们都是属于作战部队的，用手势指点那些顺从的战胜者去做他们应当做的工作，譬如劈柴，给面包浇汤和磨咖啡之类；有一个甚至于替他的女房东，一个衰弱不堪的老祖母洗衣衫。