The Rainbow Bridge by Aubrey Flegg Read Free Book Online

acknowledged their salute with a nod, but he seemed more interested in the painting.
    ‘Good heavens, Morteau, where did you find this gem? Look at her! She is Dutch – of course she is – her hair, her skin. Haven’t I stared calf-eyed across the aisle in church at girls such as this? Look at her dress, yards of priceless green silk – a painter’s nightmare. But it’s the girl that holds my eye. See how she leans forward, as if she has just madesome point in argument, to her lover perhaps. Poor fool, he’d have to have his wits about him. I wonder what was the occasion for the portrait? The artist often leaves clues about his subject, you know.’ The General was leaning close, examining the canvas, inch by inch. ‘This is unusual … for a girl, that is. You see, there are books – so we know she can read – but not books on etiquette or house management, as you might expect for a young bride. And look, here is a globe and, if I’m not mistaken, a telescope. A young astronomer perhaps, but also a musician – the guitar and the pretty spinet tell us that. Now, what about the painting hanging on the wall? It’s a seascape so that could mean a lover across the seas, but the sails are aslant so it may not be plain sailing. Wouldn’t it be nice to know who she was?’
    ‘Her name is Louise, sir!’ A strangled voice interjected. Gaston had forgotten about the boys, and the interruption reminded him of their misdemeanour. He turned. Both cadets stood stiff as ramrods.
    ‘Who said you could put a name to her, let alone speak?’ He noticed Pierre blushing to the roots of his hair. ‘Well?’
    ‘Sir, it’s … it’s inscribed on the urn, sir, on its plinth. It says “Louise”, sir.’
    ‘It does, you know,’ agreed the General, examining the urn, which stood as a centrepiece to the arrangement on the table. Then he straightened his back. ‘But you still haven’t told me how you came by this lady.’
    Before Gaston could reply, Pierre blurted out, ‘Lieutenant Morteau jumped into the canal and saved her, sir.’ The admiration in his voice was evident.
    ‘Colbert!’ Gaston said sharply. ‘Who gave you permission to speak?’
    ‘Well, Lieutenant,’ said the General, ‘I envy you yourprize. But, as you rescued her, then she rightfully belongs to you. Mind that you keep her safe.’ He smiled at the portrait. ‘No beauty, but definitely a girl of character.’
    Out of the corner of his eye, Gaston noticed the boys stiffen. To his horror, young Colbert even made a gesture towards his sword! It was high time they left.
    ‘Enough!’ He ordered. ‘Cadets, dismiss!’ They turned to the door. ‘And don’t drag your sabres down the steps!’ he called after them. He turned to the General with a laugh. ‘You shouldn’t have said that she was no beauty, sir. You were in danger of your life. It would be a bad start to 1795 if you were sliced up by two of my clowns.’ The door darkened and Raoul appeared with a steaming jug and two glasses. ‘Ah … the punch at last. By God, but I need this; that canal water has me chilled to the bone.’
    ‘Proost! As we say here in the Netherlands. Here’s to your promotion,’ the General raised his glass, ‘and I don’t accept that nonsense about them having to promote you; I have heard good reports of you.’ The General drank. ‘So, are your parents well? I have not forgotten your family’s kindness to me. How have they coped with the Terror? I just don’t understand you French: the most civilised nation in the world and you have to start cutting off each other’s heads.’
    ‘With a humane beheading machine,’ Gaston said uneasily.
    ‘You tell that to the poor wretch on the tumbrel on his way to be guillotined! Hopefully, with the beheading of Robespierre in July, the worst is over. Did it affect you at home?’
    ‘On the day I left, we had an incident that could have turned nasty,’ Gaston said. ‘An agent provocateur came into the village and