CHAPTER VI. A WANDERER
After many vicissitudes and hazards, Fitzgerald succeeded in making hisescape from France, and reaching Coblentz, where a small knot ofdevoted Royalists lived, sharing their little resources in common,and generously contributing every aid in their power to their poorerbrethren. This life, if one of painful and unceasing anxiety, was yetsingularly devoid of incident. To watch the terrible course of thattorrent that now devastated their native country; to see how in thatresistless deluge all was submerged--throne, villa, home, and family; tosit motionless on the shore, as it were, and survey the shipwreck, wastheir sad fate.
According to the various temperaments they possessed did men bear thisseason of probation. To some it was like a dreary nightmare, a long halfsleep of suffering and oppression, leaving them devoid of all energy,or all will for exertion. Others felt stimulated to be up and doing, towrite and plot, and intrigue with their fellow-exiles in Italy and thenorth of Germany. The very transmission of the sad tidings which camefrom Paris became an accustomed task; while some few, half resigned to aruin whose widespread limits seemed to menace the whole of Europe, beganto weave plans for emigrating to a new world beyond the seas.
Gerald halted, and deliberated to which of these two latter he wouldattach himself. If the idea of a new colony and a new existence, whereeach should stamp his fate with his own impress, had its attractions,there was also much that fascinated in the heroism that bound men to alosing cause, and held them faithful and true where so many fell offin defection. Perhaps it was the personal character of the menwho professed these opinions ultimately decided his choice; forD'Allonville, Caumartin, and Lessieux, who then lived at Coblentz, gaveto these sentiments all the glowing ardour of a high and noble chivalry.Nor was it without a certain charm for a young mind to see himself, asit were, a participator and agent in the cause of great events. Byzeal to encounter any difficulty, readiness to go anywhere, or dare anyperil, Fitzgerald had won the esteem and confidence of men high in theexiled Prince's favour. They grew to talk with him and confide in him,showing him private letters from exalted personages, and even at timesto take his counsel in affairs which required prompt action. Young,active, able to endure fatigue without inconvenience, he offered himselffor every charge where such qualities might be available; and thus hetraversed Europe, from Hamburg to Italy, from the Rhine to the Vistula,bearing despatches, or as often himself charged with some specialcommunication too delicate to commit to writing, and wherein his tactwas intrusted with the details.
At last it was deemed essential to have a number of agents in Franceitself--men capable of watching and recording the changes of publicopinion, who might note the rising discontents of the popular mind,and observe where they had their source. It was a rooted faith in theRoyalist party that sooner or later the nation would react against theterrible doctrines of the anarchists, and welcome back to France the menwhose very names and titles were part of her glory: the mistake was insupposing that the time for this reaction was at hand, and in believingthat every passing shadow was its herald.
Gerald's personal courage, his adroitness in the use of disguise, hisunfailing resources in every difficulty, pointed him out as one welladapted for this employ; and he was constantly intrusted with secretmissions to this or that part of France, occasions on which he asinvariably distinguished himself by his capacity. The very isolation inwhich he stood, without family or connections, favoured him, removinghim from the sphere of those jealousies which oftentimes marred anddefeated the wisest plans of the Royalists. He was not a Rohan nor aCourcelles--a Grammont nor a Tavanne--whose family influence was oneday or other to be dreaded. Let him win what fame he might, gain whatcredit, attract what notice, he carried with him no train of followersto profit by his success and bar up the avenues of promotion; for sowas it--strange and scarce credible though it seems--men were alreadyquarrelling over the spoils ere the victory was won; ere, indeed, thebattle was engaged, or the enemy encountered.
BOOK THE THIRD