la constantin-第13部分

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〃On　my　word；〃　said　Trumeau；　as　he　went　off；　〃it　would　have　been　a　great　mistake　to　have　spoken。　　I　have　got　that　wretch　of　a　Quennebert　into　my　clutches　at　last；　and　there　is　nobody　but　himself　to　blame。　He　is　taking　the　plunge　of　his　own　free　will；　there　is　no　need　for　me　to　shove　him　off　the　precipice。〃

The　ceremony　took　place　next　day。　　Quennebert　conducted　his　interesting　bride　to　the　altar；　she　hung　with　ornaments　like　the　shrine　of　a　saint；　and；　beaming　all　over　with　smiles；　looked　so　ridiculous　that　the　handsome　bridegroom　reddened　to　the　roots　of　his　hair　with　shame。　　Just　as　they　entered　the　church；　a　coffin；　on　which　lay　a　sword；　and　which　was　followed　by　a　single　mourner；　who　from　his　manners　and　dress　seemed　to　belong　to　the　class　of　nobles；　was　carried　in　by　the　same　door。　　The　wedding　guests　drew　back　to　let　the　funeral　pass　on；　the　living　giving　precedence　to　the　dead。　　The　solitary　mourner　glanced　by　chance　at　Quennebert；　and　started　as　if　the　sight　of　him　was　painful。

〃What　an　unlucky　meeting！〃　murmured　Madame　Rapally；　〃it　is　sure　to　be　a　bad　omen。〃

〃It's　sure　to　be　the　exact　opposite；〃　said　Quennebert　smiling。

The　two　ceremonies　took　place　simultaneously　in　two　adjoining　chapels；　the　funeral　dirges　which　fell　on　the　widow's　ear　full　of　sinister　prediction　seemed　to　have　quite　another　meaning　for　Quennebert；　for　his　features　lost　their　look　of　care；　his　wrinkles　smoothed　themselves　out；　till　the　guests；　among　whom　was　Trumeau；　who　did　not　suspect　the　secret　of　his　relief　from　suspense；　began　to　believe；　despite　their　surprise；　that　he　was　really　rejoiced　at　obtaining　legal　possession　of　the　charming　Madame　Rapally。

As　for　her；　she　fleeted　the　daylight　hours　by　anticipating　the　joyful　moment　when　she　would　have　her　husband　all　to　herself。　　When　night　came；　hardly　had　she　entered　the　nuptial　chamber　than　she　uttered　a　piercing　shriek。　　She　had　just　found　and　read　a　paper　left　on　the　bed　by　Trumeau；　who　before　leaving　had　contrived　to　glide　into　the　room　unseen。　　Its　contents　were　of　terrible　import；　so　terrible　that　the　new…made　wife　fell　unconscious　to　the　ground。

Quennebert；　who；　without　a　smile；　was　absorbed　in　reflections　on　the　happiness　at　last　within　his　grasp；　heard　the　noise　from　the　next　room；　and　rushing　in；　picked　up　his　wife。　　Catching　sight　of　the　paper；　he　also　uttered　a　cry　of　anger　and　astonishment；　but　in　whatever　circumstances　he　found　himself　he　was　never　long　uncertain　how　to　act。　　Placing　Madame　Quennebert；　still　unconscious；　on　the　bed；　he　called　her　maid；　and；　having　impressed　on　her　that　she　was　to　take　every　care　of　her　mistress；　and　above　all　to　tell　her　from　him　as　soon　as　she　came　to　herself　that　there　was　no　cause　for　alarm；　he　left　the　house　at　once。　　An　hour　later；　in　spite　of　the　efforts　of　the　servants；　he　forced　his　way　into　the　presence　of　Commander　de　Jars。　　Holding　out　the　fateful　document　to　him；　he　said：

〃Speak　openly；　commander！　　Is　it　you　who　in　revenge　for　your　long　constraint　have　done　this？　　I　can　hardly　think　so；　for　after　what　has　happened　you　know　that　I　have　nothing　to　fear　any　longer。　　Still；　knowing　my　secret　and　unable　to　do　it　in　any　other　way；　have　you　perchance　taken　your　revenge　by　an　attempt　to　destroy　my　future　happiness　by　sowing　dissension　and　disunion　between　me　；and　my　wife？〃

The　commander　solemnly　assured　him　that　he　had　had　no　hand　in　bringing　about　the　discovery。

'Then　if　it's　not　you；　it　must　be　a　worthless　being　called　Trumeau；　who；　with　the　unerring　instinct　of　jealousy；　has　run　the　truth　to　earth。　　But　he　knows　only　half：　I　have　never　been　either　so　much　in　love　or　so　stupid　as　to　allow　myself　to　be　trapped。　　I　have　given　you　my　promise　to　be　discreet　and　not　to　misuse　my　power；　and　as　long　as　was　compatible　with　my　own　safety　I　have　kept　my　word。　　But　now　you　must　see　that　I　am　bound　to　defend　myself；　and　to　do　that　I　shall　be　obliged　to　summon　you　as　a　witness。　　So　leave　Paris　tonight　and　seek　out　some　safe　retreat　where　no　one　can　find　you；　for　to…morrow　I　shall　speak。　　Of　course　if　I　am　quit　for　a　woman's　tears；　if　no　more　difficult　task　lies　before　me　than　to　soothe　a　weeping　wife；　you　can　return　immediately；　but　if；　as　is　too　probable；　the　blow　has　been　struck　by　the　hand　of　a　rival　furious　at　having　been　defeated；　the　matter　will　not　so　easily　be　cut　short；　the　arm　of　the　law　will　be　invoked；　and　then　I　must　get　my　head　out　of　the　noose　which　some　fingers　I　know　of　are　itching　to　draw　tight。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　sir；〃　answered　the　commander；　〃I　fear　that　my　influence　at　court　is　not　strong　enough　to　enable　me　to　brave　the　matter　out。　　Well；　my　success　has　cost　me　dear；　but　it　has　cured　me　for　ever　of　seeking　out　similar　adventures。　　My　preparations　will　not　take　long；　and　to…morrow's　dawn　will　find　me　far　from　Paris。〃

Quennebert　bowed　and　withdrew；　returning　home　to　console　his　Ariadne。




CHAPTER　IX

The　accusation　hanging　over　the　head　of　Maitre　Quennebert　was　a　very　serious　one；　threatening　his　life；　if　proved。　　But　he　was　not　uneasy；　he　knew　himself　in　possession　of　facts　which　would　enable　him　to　refute　it　triumphantly。

The　platonic　love　of　Angelique　de　Guerchi　for　the　handsome　Chevalier　de　Moranges　had　resulted；　as　we　have　seen；　in　no　practical　wrong　to　the　Duc　de　Vitry。　　After　her　reconciliation　with　her　lover；　brought　about　by　the　eminently　satisfactory　explanations　she　was　able　to　give　of　her　conduct；　which　we　have　already　laid　before　our　readers；　she　did　not　consider　it　advisable　to　shut　her　heart　to　his　pleadings　much　longer；　and　the　consequence　was　that　at　the　end　of　a　year　she　found　herself　in　a　condition　which　it　was　necessary　to　conceal　from　everyone。　　To　Angelique　herself；　it　is　true；　the　position　was　not　new；　and　she　felt　neither　grief　nor　shame；　regarding　the　coming　event　as　a　means　of　making　her　future　more　secure　by　forging　a　new　link　in　the　chain　which　bound　the　duke　to　her。　　But　he；　sure　that　but　for　himself　　Angelique　would　never　have　strayed　from　virtue's　path；　could　not　endure　the　thought　of　her　losing　her　reputation　and　becoming　an　object　for　scandal　to　point　her　finger　at；　so　that　Angelique；　who　could　not　well　seem　less　careful　of　her　good　name　than　he；　was　obliged　to　turn　his　song　of　woe　into　a　duet；　and　consent　to　certain　measures　being　taken。

One　evening；　therefore；　shortly　before　Maitre　Quennebert's　marriage；　the　fair　lady　set　out；　ostensibly　on　a　journey　which　was　to　last　a　fortnight　or　three　weeks。　　In　reality　she　only　made　a　circle　in　a　post…chaise　round　Paris；　which　she　re…entered　at　one　of　the　barriers；　where　the　duke　awaited　her　with　a　sedan…chair。　　In　this　she　was　carried　to　the　very　house　to　which　de　Jars　had　brought　his　pretended　nephew　after　the　duel。　　Angelique；　who　had　to　pay　dearly　for　her　errors；　remained　there　only　twenty…four　hours；　and　then　left　in　her　coffin；　which　was　hidden　in　a　cellar　under　the　palace　of　the　Prince　de　Conde；　the　body　being　covered　with　quicklime。　　Two　days　after　this　dreadful　death；　Commander　de　Jars　presented　himself　at　the　fatal　house；　and　engaged　a　room　in　which　he　installed　the　chevalier。

This　house；　which　we　are　about　to　ask　the　reader　to　enter　with　us；　stood　at　the　corner　of　the　rue　de　la　Tixeranderie　and　the　rue　Deux…Portes。　　There　was　nothing　in　the　exterior　of　it　to　distinguish　it　from　any　other；　unless　perhaps　two　brass　plates；　one　of　which　bore　the　words　MARIE　LEROUX…CONSTANTIN；　WIDOW；　CERTIFIED　MIDWIFE；　and　the　other　CLAUDE　PERREGAUD；　SURGEON。　　These　plates　were　affixed　to　the　blank　wall　in　the　rue　de　la　Tixeranderie；　the　windows　of　the　rooms　on　that　side　looking　into　the　courtyard。　　The　house　door；　which　opened　directly　on　the　first　steps　of　a　narrow　winding　stair；　was　on　the　other　side；　just　beyond　the　low　arcade　under　whose　vaulted　roof　access　was　gained　to　that　end　of　the　rue　des　Deux…Portes。　　This　house；　though　dirty；　mean；　and　out　of　repair；　received　many　wealthy　visitors；　whose　brilliant　equipages　waited　for　them　in　the　neighbouring　streets。　　Often　in　the　night　great　ladies　crossed　its　threshold　under　assumed　names　and　remained　there　for　several　days；　during　which　La　Constantin　and　Claude　Perregaud；　by　an　infamous　use　of　their　professional　knowledge；　restored　their　clients　to　an　outward　appearance　of　honour；　and　enabled　them　to　maintain　their　reputation　for　virtue。　　The　first　and　second　floors　contained　a　dozen　rooms　in　which　these　abominable　mysteries　were　practised。　　The　large　apartment；　which　served　as　waiting　and　consultation　room；　was　oddly　furnished；　being　crowded　with　objects　of　strange　and　unfamiliar　form。　　It　resembled　at　once　the　operating…room　of　a　surgeon；　the　laboratory　of　a　chemist　and　alchemist；　and　the　den　of　a　sorcerer。　There；　mixed　up　together　in　the　greatest　confusion；　lay　instruments　of　all　sorts；　caldrons　and　retorts；　as　well　as　books　containing　the　most　absurd　ravings　of　the　human　mind。　　There　were　the　twenty　folio　volumes　of　Albertus　Magnus；　the　works　of　his　disciple；　Thomas　de　Cantopre；　of　Alchindus；　of　Averroes；　of　Avicenna；　of　Alchabitius；　of　David　de　Plaine…Campy；　called　L'Edelphe；　surgeon　to　Louis　XIII　and　author　of　the　celebrated　book　The　Morbific　Hydra　Exterminated　by　the　Chemical　Hercules。　　Beside　a　bronze　head；　such　as　the　monk　Roger　Bacon　possessed；　which　answered　all　the　questions　that　were　addressed　to　it　and　foretold　the　future　by　means　of　a　magic　mirror　and　the　combination　of　the　rules　of　perspective；　lay　an　eggshell；　the　same　which　had　been　used　by　Caret；　as　d'Aubigne　tells　us；　when　making　men　out　of　germs；　mandrakes；　and　crimson　silk；　over　a　slow　fire。　　In　the　presses；　which　had　sliding…doors　fastening　with　secret　springs；　stood　Jars　filled　with　noxious　drugs；　the　power　of　which　was　but　too　efficacious；　in　prominent　positions；　facing　each　other；　hung　two　portraits；　one　representing　Hierophilos；　a　Greek　physician；　and　the　other　Agnodice　his　pupil；　the　first　Athenian　midwife。

For　several　years　already　La　Constantin　and　Claude　Perregaud　had　carried　on　their　criminal　practices　without　interference。　　A　number　of　persons　were　of　course　in　the　secret；　but　their　interests　kept　them　silent；　and　the　two　accomplices　had　at　last　persuaded　themselves　that　they　were　perfectly　safe。　　One　evening；　however；　Perregaud　came　home；　his　face　distorted　by　terror　and　trembling　in　every　limb。　　He