The Hour and the Man, An Historical Romance

by Harriet Martineau

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

  GO OR STAY?

  The Commander-in-chief was not long closeted with Governor Raymond: forthis was a day when minutes were precious. It was observed that therewas a sudden activity among the messengers of the Governor, among thesoldiers, and among the citizens; and every one felt that the voice ofToussaint was giving orders in every corner of the town, before he hadyet come forth. The report spread that Moyse L'Ouverture was come; andhe was soon seen, superintending the placing of cannon in the streets,and the mustering of soldiers in the squares. The presence of the youngman inspired an enthusiasm inferior only to that which waited on thesteps of his uncle. Its influence on Moyse was seen in the fire of hiseye, the quickness of his movements, and the hilarity of his air. Heappeared to notice every one who cheered, or waved hat or handkerchiefto him, and to overhear all that was said as he passed along. In oneinstance he stopped to reply.

  "I little thought," he heard an old negro merchant say to aneighbour--"I little thought ever to see an Ouverture planting cannonagainst his own colour."

  "Nor do you see it now, friend," said Moyse. "The insurgents in theplain are of all colours--almost as many whites as blacks arediscontented with the Commissary, and--"

  "Turn your guns upon the Commissary, then, young soldier!"

  "There is no need, friend. We shall be rid of the Commissary by aneasier method; and these guns will be wheeled home, as harmless as theycame. My belief is that not a drop of negro blood will be shed; and tothat end do we plant our cannon. If we tranquillise the whites of thetown, and empty Government-house of the French, the negroes of the plainwill find none but friends when they arrive."

  "Oh, ay! That is your policy, is it?"

  "That is L'Ouverture's policy. Tell it everywhere. He is the bestfriend of the blacks who best makes it known."

  The explanation passed from mouth to mouth; and the new proclamation,signed by Toussaint and Hedouville, from hand to hand. The proclamationwas posted in the corners of the streets; it was read aloud in thesquares; it was sent, by messengers of every colour, among theinsurgents in the plain. The effect of this, connected with the report,which every moment gained strength, that the Commissary was about toquit the colony was so evident, that Toussaint's wishes seemed likely tobe accomplished. The insurgents did not, indeed, disband: they had beentoo often deceived by the Commissary's bland promises to do that beforethey had gained their point: but there was every reason to believe thatthey would march upon the town, only to secure the departure ofHedouville and his adherents, and the fidelity of the government to theterms of the proclamation.

  When Toussaint came forth from his conference with Raymond, Afra andEuphrosyne were awaiting him in the corridor. He would have passed themwith a smile; but he saw that Afra was urging Euphrosyne to speak, andthat the blushing Euphrosyne dared not do so. He therefore stopped totell Afra that his daughters had sent their love to her; that she wasgoing to Pongaudin in a day or two; and that her friends there would bevery glad to see her.

  "Am I really going? Does my father say that I may?"

  "He is going too: he will be there before you."

  "My poor Euphrosyne, what will you do?" exclaimed Afra. "This isEuphrosyne Revel," she continued to Toussaint; "and--"

  "Revel!" he said. "Have not you an aged relative in this town, mydear?"

  "In that room," hastily answered Afra. "He is very old, and muchalarmed to-day; and he cannot believe that he and Euphrosyne are safe,even here. If you will only assure 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, yousay?"

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

  Toussaint was well aware that Monsieur Revel might not like, would notwish, to see him, or any black. Among all the hatreds which haddeformed the colony, none more fierce had existed than that betweenMonsieur Revel and the negro race. He had been a cruel master; hencehis incessant terrors now. He had been marked out for vengeance at thetime of the revolution, and his family had perished for his crimes; andhence the detestation in which, as the survivor of these victims, he wasregarded by most who knew the story. Euphrosyne knew nothing of it; nordid her young companion. There was no one to tell them uselessly sopainful a tale; and there was nothing in Monsieur Revel's presentconduct to awaken a suspicion of the truth. He rarely saw a black: andthe tenderness which lies in some corner of the hardest hearts was byhim lavished upon his only remaining descendant. Little did she supposenow, how much better her grandfather was known by Toussaint than byherself.

  "Trust me!" said Toussaint, smiling. "I will not annoy Monsieur Revel.I will merely reassure him, and tell him a little good news; and thenleave him to his repose."

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

  She flew along the corridor, and, with joyous smiles, prepared MonsieurRevel for some great honour and pleasure, when Toussaint entered, andbowed 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 riseor not, but who would not ask his visitor to sit down, "I come toencourage you to dismiss all fears. By the resolution of the Commissaryto sail for France this day all further disputes are obviated. We havestrong hopes that peace will not be disturbed."

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

  "I will take care of them. Those who are unwilling to remain, in theabsence of the Commissary, can depart with him. There is shippingenough 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 afraidof anything here. I do not believe there is anything to be afraid ofhere; is there?"

  "Indeed, I believe not."

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

  "Your father, my dear, will not be here," said Toussaint. "He isappointed to the legislature, in the interior. I protect this town tilla new governor is appointed. I told you we hoped to see you atPongaudin. You will pass your time there, with my family, whileMonsieur Raymond attends his duties in the legislature. I go, sir, toprovide for the peace of the town. If I can be of service to you, youhave 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 bycoming: and I would not be otherwise than civil. I hope I was not rudeto the Commander-in-chief."

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

  Afra gently said that she understood it was Hedouville who hadendeavoured to turn everything topsy-turvy, and those who understood theaffairs of the colony better, who hoped to keep them straight.Euphrosyne protested that it was impossible to get home, to pack uptheir goods: and even if they were at home, there was no time to do itproperly. When she found all her objections of this class unavailing,she gravely said that she fully believed what her grandfather had justdeclared--that he would die before they had been a week at sea; andnothing, therefore, should make her consent to go. A compromise was atlength agreed upon. Euphrosyne promised to enter the convent, if hergrandfather should desire it: and on this promise, he consented to sayno more about going to sea.

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

  "Monsieur Pascal here already! I am gratified--I am grateful!" saidToussaint, 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'sprivate room, and that the reports of messengers from the city should bebrought instantly to him there. Monsieur Pascal and he then sat downbeside a table, with pen, ink, and paper before them.

  "Monsieur Pascal," Toussaint began, "the Commissary sails for Francethis day, with as many as desire to accompany him. You know the reasonswhich 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 attachmentto 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 thusexclusively to me. Till to-day, if I fell, your way to France, your wayin France, was open. After to-day, it will no longer be so. I am sosurrounded with dangers, that I can scarcely escape ruin or death. Themulattoes conspire against my power and my life. The blacks, for whom Ihave made myself responsible, are yet full of passion, and not to berelied on in the present infancy of their education. The Frenchofficials are so many malignant spies--excepting yourself, indeed," headded, with a smile. "Bonaparte, who rules everywhere, is surrounded byour emigrants, who attribute their sufferings to the blacks; and he isjealous of me. I would rather say he distrusts me. Now you see myposition. I ask no white to share its perils. If you go withHedouville, you shall carry with you my friendly farewell."

  "I will stay with you."

  "Thank God! Then we are friends indeed! Now to business. In thepressing affairs of to-day, we must not overlook the future security ofthe colony. The story which Hedouville will tell at home must be metand illustrated by our statement. Write so fully to the First Consul asthat he may clearly see that it is to Hedouville's ignorance andpresumption 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 undertakethe 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 earlyarrival, this town would have been burned to-day, for want of even ashow of defence. He is setting out now for the legislature, to which Ihave appointed him, and where he will be valuable. Will you assume hisoffice?"

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

  "I have no fixed mode of governing. I merely act as seems to me good atthe 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, thereis no mulatto fit for it! and the mulattoes need conciliation. If theysee the office bestowed on a black, or occupied by me, in the interimthey will feel themselves injured by Raymond's removal. You see theadvantages of your filling the office."

  "I see yet more plainly the disadvantages, unfit as I am. I cannotaccept it."

  "Very well. While you are writing, I will ascertain how theprovisioning of the ships goes on, and will give you as much time aspossible. But there is not a moment to lose. I will return presentlyto sign."

  Toussaint walked up and down the corridor, receiving reports, andissuing orders every moment. He found that the harbour was covered withboats carrying out hogs, fowls, vegetables, and water, according to hisorders: but no baggage had been sent down from the quarters of theFrench officials, though porters had been waiting for two hours past.Scouts had come in, with news of the approach of the insurgents. Thisinformation was communicated to Hedouville, with a hint that the shipswere nearly provisioned; but no answer was returned. Moyse sent wordthat the preparations in the town were nearly complete, and the spiritof the inhabitants improving every hour, if only the Commissary wouldmake haste and be gone. Toussaint found the moment was coming for himto give the word to fire the alarm gun.

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

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

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

  He signed and sealed them, and introduced the officer who was to beresponsible for their delivery, assuring him that he would be welcomeback to the honours which would follow the faithful discharge of histrust. 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 willstay with my master fill he wakes. Mademoiselle Afra has sent for you,mademoiselle, to see from the upper gallery what is going on. Theharbour is so crowded with boats, that they can hardly move; and it istime they were moving pretty fast; for the battle is beginning at theother end of the town; and the Commissary is not off yet, though the gunwas 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 asignal?"

  "So they say everywhere. This is the way, mademoiselle. MonsieurPascal is up here--the secretary, you know--and Mademoiselle Raymond,and her gouvernante, and several more, who have nothing to do with thefighting."

  "But I do not want to see any fighting," said Euphrosyne, turning uponthe stairs to descend. "Tell Mademoiselle Raymond that I cannot bear tosee fighting."

  "There is no fighting yet, mademoiselle, indeed: and many say there willnot be any. Indeed you must see such a fine sight as this. You can seethe Commander-in-chief galloping about the square, with his twotrompettes at his heels."

  Euphrosyne turned again, and ran up to the top, without once stopping.There she was hastily introduced to Monsieur Pascal, and placed by thegouvernante where she could see everything.

  By this time it had become a question whether the Commissary and hissuite could get away. They were making every effort to do so; but itwas clear that their road would have been blockaded if theCommander-in-chief and his trompettes had not ridden round and round theparty of soldiers which escorted them, clearing a passage by the powerof a voice and a presence which always prevailed. Meantime, a huge bodyof people, which filled all the streets in the northern quarter, wasgaining ground, pressing forwards against the peaceable opposition ofthe town's-people, and the soldiers, commanded by Moyse. The clamour ofvoices from that quarter was prodigious, but there were no shots. Thewharves were covered with gentlemen, ladies, children, servants, andbaggage, all being precipitated by degrees into boats, and rowed away,while more were perpetually arriving.

  "Is not this admirable?" said Monsieur Pascal. "The secret has actuallybeen kept that the Commissary is on his way to the water side. See! thecultivators are pressing on in this direction. They think he is here.If they knew where he was, they might catch him. As it is, I believe hewill escape."

  "Oh! are they coming here? Oh, my poor grandfather!" cried Euphrosyne,turning very pale.

  "Fear nothing," said Afra. "They will presently learn that there isnothing to come here for. Will they not, Monsieur Pascal?"

  "No doubt: and if not, there is nothing to fear, I believe. Not a shothas been fired yet, but from the alarm gun."

  "Oh, how it echoed from the Haut-du-Cap!" cried Afra. "I wonder whatthe cultivators understood by it. See! my father's barge! There isfighting there, surely." />
  As Hedouville and his suite approached the wharf, the Governor's barge,which had lain at a little distance from the shore, began to press in,among the crowd of other boats, at a signal from one of the trompettes.The other boats, which were taking in terrified women and children,resisted this movement, and refused, at such a moment, its usualprecedence to the Governor's barge. There was a hustling, a struggling,a shrieking, an uproar, so loud as to reach the ears and understandingsof the insurgents. The word spread that the Commissary was escapingthem. They broke through their opponents, and began a rush to thewharves. Not a few shots were now fired; but the young ladies scarcelyheeded them in the excitement of this decisive moment.

  "Oh, they will seize him! They will tear him in pieces!" cried Afra.

  "He cannot--no, he never can get away!" exclaimed Euphrosyne.

  "And he gave me the sweetest smile as he was going out!" said theweeping gouvernante.

  "There! Bravo! Bravo!" cried Monsieur Pascal; and Pierre echoed"Bravo!"

  "What is it? What is it?" cried the girls.

  "He is safe! He and his party--they are all safe! Not in the barge--that is upset. You see those two green boats, now pulling off. Theyare there. They leaped into those boats just in time."

  "Oh, look, look! what dreadful confusion!" cried Euphrosyne, coveringher eyes with her hands.

  "It is not so sure that they are safe yet," observed Pierre. "See howthe blacks are pouring into the water!"

  "And carrying the ladies and children with them, I fear," said MonsieurPascal, gazing anxiously through his glass.

  In fact, the negroes had no idea of giving up the pursuit because theyhad reached the water. Hundreds plunged in; and their heads were seenbobbing about all the surface of the bay. The rowers, however, pulledwell, and presently left the greater number behind, to find satisfactionin the coolness of the element.

  "There is no great harm done," said Monsieur Pascal, still gazingthrough his glass. "They have picked up two ladies and three children;and none seem to be missing."

  "It is well that you and Monsieur were not there, Euphrosyne," observedAfra.

  Euphrosyne shuddered, and Pierre looked all amazement at the absurdityof such an idea.

  "No fear for us, Mademoiselle," said he. "See how empty the streetsare, down below. None but the guard left, within half a mile."

  It did indeed appear as if the whole population of the town and plainwas collected on the shores of the bay. Those who had thrown themselvesinto the sea had to wait for a footing on land, unless they chose toswim round the point--which some of them did. When at length the crowdbegan to move up into the town, it was because the Commander-in-chiefwas riding away, after having addressed the people.

  "What have you been about, child?" exclaimed Monsieur Revel, an hourafter. "You are never beside me when I wake."

  Euphrosyne did not point out that this was the first time she had failedto watch his siesta. She said that she had been seeing the Commissaryset sail.

  "What, already! He is in a great hurry, I think."

  "The wind is quite fair, grandpapa. I suppose that is the reason why hemade all the ships in the harbour sail the same way. He has carried offthree frigates, and all the shipping in the roads. The sea is quiteclear, grandpapa. There is not a single sail in sight, all along, asfar as you can see. They are all off for France."

  "What in the world made him do that?"

  "Perhaps we shall hear, some day. To be sure, he had to carry a goodmany people away with him."

  "Did many whites go with him?"

  "I do not know how many whites. They say fifteen hundred wentaltogether; but many of these were mulattoes; and some few blacks, whowent for a frolic, and will come back again when they have seen France."

  "Strange doings! Strange doings!" sighed the old man.

  "And we shall have some glorious doings to-morrow, grandpapa. There wasa little bustle and struggle when the Commissary went away--I am gladyou were asleep, and did not hear it. There will be no more--there willbe no riot now, everybody says--the Commander-in-chief has behaved sofinely, and the people are so fond of him. The danger is all over; andthe town's-people have begged him--the Deliverer, as they call him--toattend the great church to-morrow, in state. Te Deum will be sung inall the churches, and it is to be a great fete-day. Are you notpleased?"

  "Not at all pleased that Hedouville is gone, and fifteen hundred of hisfriends, and all the shipping."

  "Well, but we are all at peace now, and everybody satisfied."

  "Why are we here, then? Why am I not at home?"

  "We will go home in a day or two. The streets will be noisy to-night;and besides, one removal is enough for one day. Afra will follow herfather after to-morrow--he is gone, you know, this morning--"

  "Whose guest am I, then? If I am the guest of the negro Toussaint--"

  "You are the guest of Monsieur Raymond while Afra is here. When shesets out, we will go home."

  "And shall I have to be swung up to the balcony, and have my brainsdashed out, while all the nuns are staring at me?"

  "Oh, no," replied Euphrosyne, laughing. "There will be nothing then toprevent your going in your own carriage to your own door. I am afraidwe shall not find my pretty little humming-birds there. They will thinkI have forgotten them."

  "Ay, those humming-birds," said Monsieur Revel, appearing to forget allhis troubles.