The Hour and the Man Part 29

"Certainly not. My name will suffice, if you compel me to dispense with yours. This proclamation grants--"

Hedouville here gave whispered directions to Delon, who hastened towards the house; and to another, who made for the barrack-yard.

"From every quarter," said Toussaint, "you will have confirmation of the news I brought. I will speak presently of what must be done. This proclamation," pointing to the torn paper, "grants an amnesty to all engaged in former conflicts of race, and declares that there are no 'returned emigrants' in the island--that they are all considered native proprietors--that all now absent shall be welcome again, and shall be protected--that the blacks are free citizens, and will so remain; but that they shall continue for five years to till the estates on which they live, for one-fourth of the produce."

"I do not see the grounds of your disgust with my proclamation," said Hedouville. "I think your anger absurd."

"I have no doubt you do. This proves, with a mult.i.tude of other circ.u.mstances, that you must go."

"Admirable! And leave the colony to your government!"

"Just so. If you ask the whites of the island, they will tell you, almost to a man, that I can govern the whites; while events daily show that you cannot rule the blacks. While you have held the t.i.tle of Commissary, you know that you have ruled only by my permission-- sometimes strengthened by my approbation--oftener spared by my forbearance. I am aware that these gentlemen are not of that opinion,"

he continued, his voice a.s.suming the mildness which always distinguished it when he spoke of his personal injuries. "They believe that if two or three brigands could be got to seize in his camp the ape with the Madras on his head, all would be well. But they are mistaken. They may play the brigand, and seize me now; but then the town will be burning before night."

"You should not believe all the saucy things that are told you--you should not care for the impertinence of young soldiers," said Hedouville, who suspected that his affairs were reality in a critical state, and had now resumed his usual smoothness of manner. He led the way up the alley between the rose-trees, that the torn proclamation might be no longer in sight.

"No doubt," observed an officer, gravely, "the Commissary will report to the First Consul (if you really persist in sending the Commissary away)--he will doubtless report to the First Consul the prodigious power you hold here, and how great a rival Bonaparte has on this side the water."

"And how willing a servant," added Toussaint--"how willing to bear the burden of government for the good of France."

"Burden!" exclaimed all.

"Yes," replied Toussaint: "where is there a heavier burden? Do you suppose that men choose their own office in life? If so, should I have chosen such a one as mine? Was the pleasure of Heaven ever more clearly revealed than in my case? Ask the First Consul whether it was possible for me to be other than I am. The revolution of Saint Domingo proceeded without any interference from me--a negro slave. I saw that the dominion of the whites could not last, divided as they were among themselves, and lost in the numbers of their foes. I was glad that I was a black. The time came when I was compelled to act. I a.s.sociated myself with the Spaniards, who were the allies of my king, and who had extended protection to the loyal troops of my colour. But this protection served no end. The republic proclaimed the general liberty of the blacks. An unerring voice told me that my allegiance was thenceforward due to the republic. The blacks in their new condition wanted a leader. They chose me to lead them--to be the chief predicted by Raynal, as General Laveaux declared. Inspired by this call, I entered into the service of France. The services that I have rendered prove that it was indeed the voice of G.o.d that called me. Why do I tell you this?--Because I owe an account of my life to you? No, indeed!--I tell you all this that you may render my account to the First Consul, whom, it appears, I cannot reach by letter. I charge you, by your fidelity to the mother-country, to repeat to Bonaparte what I have said."

"You could do it more accurately and forcibly yourself," observed Hedouville. "Let me advise that you go instead of me."

"You know," replied Toussaint, "who it was that said that I am the Bonaparte of Saint Domingo, and that the colony could not exist without me. It was your brother functionaries who said it; and never did they say anything more true."

The naval captain, Meronet, observed that his s.h.i.+p, now in the roads, happened to be that which had conveyed the Commissary; and that it would greatly flatter him, after having brought out Commissary Hedouville, to carry back General Toussaint L'Ouverture.

"Your s.h.i.+p, sir," replied Toussaint, "will not contain a man like me--a man laden with the destinies of a race."

"But you speak of the burden of your office," observed one of the aides.

"It must be great; and all men need occasional repose. Suppose you retire to France for an interval of repose?"

"Perhaps I may," replied Toussaint, "when this shrub," pointing to the sucker of a logwood tree, "shall be large enough to make a s.h.i.+p to take me there."

"You could devolve your cares upon your friend Raymond, General, if you do not wish fully to trust the whites. Be persuaded to visit your brother in destiny and glory, as you call Bonaparte."

"Raymond is my friend, as you say, and a good man; but he is not called to be arbiter of the fate of the colony. See! Here are your messengers, Commissary."

The officers entered from the barracks, with news that the plain was really in a state of commotion, and that no adequate defences appeared to be provided by the authorities of the town.

"I charge myself with the defence of the town," said Toussaint. "Your part, Commissary, is to sign the new proclamation instantly; and to prepare to sail for France, with as many persons as desire to accompany you. On your promise to do this, I will guarantee the public peace. In this case, you incur no further dishonour than that of not understanding the temper and the affairs of the blacks. If you refuse to go, I shall arrest you here, and denounce you to the government of France, as the cause of the insurrection which will undoubtedly ensue. You will not choose to incur this infamy. Therefore," he continued, turning to Captain Meronet, "you will have the goodness to return to your s.h.i.+p, and prepare it for the reception of the Commissary. He will probably join you in the course of this day."

Again addressing the astonished functionary, he continued, "You shall be protected to the latest possible moment, for the convenience of making your arrangements. When I can protect you no longer, I will cause the alarm gun on the height behind the barracks to be fired. At that signal, you will hasten to the boats, and be gone. a.s.sure yourself of my justice, and render me an equal measure at the court of France.

Farewell!"

As he entered Government-house, the officers looked at each other in consternation.

"What is to be done?" asked more than one.

"It is true enough," said Hedouville, "that neither I nor any one else understand these people. The danger is really pressing Delon."

"Most pressing, there is no doubt."

"Then I have done with this mongrel colony; and I am not sorry. At home I shall find means to vindicate my honour."

"You mean to depart, then, Commissary?"

"When we hear the alarm gun. Not sooner. It is possible that it may be a mere threat."

"If so, it will be the first mere threat in which this black has been detected."

"That is true. He usually acts first, and speaks afterwards.

Gentlemen, we shall have to go. I must first see about this proclamation, and discover whether anything else can be done. If not, Captain, au revoir!"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

GO OR STAY?

The Commander-in-chief was not long closeted with Governor Raymond: for this was a day when minutes were precious. It was observed that there was a sudden activity among the messengers of the Governor, among the soldiers, and among the citizens; and every one felt that the voice of Toussaint was giving orders in every corner of the town, before he had yet come forth. The report spread that Moyse L'Ouverture was come; and he was soon seen, superintending the placing of cannon in the streets, and the mustering of soldiers in the squares. The presence of the young man inspired an enthusiasm inferior only to that which waited on the steps of his uncle. Its influence on Moyse was seen in the fire of his eye, the quickness of his movements, and the hilarity of his air. He appeared to notice every one who cheered, or waved hat or handkerchief to him, and to overhear all that was said as he pa.s.sed along. In one instance he stopped to reply.

"I little thought," he heard an old negro merchant say to a neighbour--"I little thought ever to see an Ouverture planting cannon against his own colour."

"Nor do you see it now, friend," said Moyse. "The insurgents in the plain are of all colours--almost as many whites as blacks are discontented 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 an easier method; and these guns will be wheeled home, as harmless as they came. My belief is that not a drop of negro blood will be shed; and to that end do we plant our cannon. If we tranquillise the whites of the town, and empty Government-house of the French, the negroes of the plain will 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 best friend of the blacks who best makes it known."

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

When Toussaint came forth from his conference with Raymond, Afra and Euphrosyne were awaiting him in the corridor. He would have pa.s.sed them with a smile; but he saw that Afra was urging Euphrosyne to speak, and that the blus.h.i.+ng Euphrosyne dared not do so. He therefore stopped to tell Afra that his daughters had sent their love to her; that she was going to Pongaudin in a day or two; and that her friends there would be very 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 is Euphrosyne Revel," she continued to Toussaint; "and--"

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