marie antoinette and her son-第107部分

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the　republic　conquered　the　cities　El　Arish　and　Gaza；　he　took　part　by
the　side　of　Kleber　in　the　storming　of　Jaffa。　He　was　there　when　the
captured　Jaffa　had　to　open　its　gates　to　the　victors。　He　was　there
when；　in　the　great　caravansary；　four　thousand　Turkish　soldiers
grounded　their　arms　and　surrendered　themselves　as　prisoners；　after
receiving　the　promise　that　their　lives　should　be　spared。　He　was
there；　too；　the　son　of　Marie　Antoinette；　when　the　unfortunates　were
driven　down　to　the　sea…coast　and　shot；　in　order　that　their　enemies
might　be　rid　of　them。　He　was　there；　the　son　of　Louis　XVI。；　when
Bonaparte　visited　the　pest…house　in　Jaffa；　he　walked　through　the
sick…rooms　at　the　side　of　his　uncle　Kleber；　who　noticed　how　the　face
of　the　young　man；　which　had　so　often　been　calm　in　meeting　death　on
the　battle…field　or　in　the　storm　of　assault；　now　quivered；　and　the
paleness　of　death　swept　over　his　cheeks。

〃What　was　the　matter；　my　son？〃　asked　Kleber；　as　he　returned　home
from　this　celebrated　visit　to　the　pest…house。　〃Why　did　you　turn　pale
all　at　once；　Louis？〃

〃General；〃　responded　Louis；　perplexed；　〃I　know　not　how　to　answer。〃

〃You　ought　not　to　have　gone　with　me　to　the　hospital；〃　said　Kleber；
shaking　his　head。　〃You　know　I　did　not　want　you　to　go　at　first；　but
you　insisted　on　it；　and　begged　and　implored　so　long　that　at　last　I
had　to　yield　and　let　you　accompany　us。　But；　I　confess　it　myself；　it
was　a　dreadful　sight；　these　sick　people　with　their　swollen　bodies
covered　with　blood　and　running　sores。　I　understand　now　why　you
trembled　and　turned　paleyou　were　afraid　of　this　dreadful
sickness？〃

〃No；　general；〃　answered　Louis；　softly〃no；　I　have　no　fear。　Did　you
not　notice　that　I　sprang　forward　and　assisted　General　Bonaparte；
when　he　lifted　up　the　poor　sick　man　who　lay　on　the　floor　before　the
door；　and　that　I　helped　carry　him　into　the　room？〃

〃I　saw　it；　Louis；　and　I　was　much　pleased　with　your　courage；　and　was
therefore　surprised　afterward　when　you　turned　pale　and　trembled；　and
I　saw　tears　in　your　eyes。　What　agitated　you　all　at　once　so　much？〃

The　young　man　slowly　raised　his　head　and　looked　at　Kleber　with　his
great　blue　eyes。　〃General；〃　he　said；　softly；　〃I　myself　do　not　know
what　agitated　me　so　much。　We　were　both　standing　before　the　bed　of　a
sick　man；　to　whom　I　handed　a　pitcher　of　water　which　he　begged　for
earnestly。　He　fixed　his　great　eyes　upon　me；　and　his　quivering　lips
murmured：　'God　bless　you！　all　saints　and　angels　protect　you！'　As　he
spoke　these　words；　there　resounded　in　my　heart　the　echo　of　a　time
long　since　past。　It　seemed　to　me　as　if　suddenly　a　dark　curtain
parted；　and　I　looked　as　in　a　dream　at　a　wondrous；　brilliant
spectacle。　I　saw　a　beautiful　and　dignified　woman　of　princely　figure；
of　noble；　majestic　nature。　With　her　I　saw　two　children；　a　girl　and　a
boy；　whom　she　led　by　the　hand；　and　with　whom　she　walked　through　a
long　hall　which　was　filled　with　rows　of　beds。　And　as　she　walked
there；　it　seemed　as　if　the　sun　lightened　up　the　dismal　hall；　and
illumined　the　pale　faces　of　the　sick　ones。　They　raised　themselves　up
in　their　beds　and　extended　their　thin；　emaciated　hands　to　the　tall
lady；　and　thanked　her　with　earnest　blessings　for　her　visit　and　her
comforting　words。　There　was　only　one　of　the　patients　who　did　not
rise；　but　lay　stiff　upon　his　bed　and　moaned　and　sighed　and　whispered
unintelligible　words；　which　no　one　heeded；　because　the　attention　of
all　was　fixed　upon　the　great　visitor。　But　the　boy　who　was　walking　by
the　side　of　the　tall　lady　had　understood　the　sobs　of　the　sick　one。
He　left　his　mother；　took　the　jug　which　stood　upon　a　table　between
two　beds；　filled　a　glass　with　water　from　it；　and　held　it　to　the　dry；
quivering　lips　of　the　sick　one。　He　drank　greedily；　and　then　fixed
his　eyes　upon　the　boy　and　lisped　the　words：　'God　bless　you！　all
saints　and　angels　protect　you！'　And　all　the　people　repeated　aloud：
'God　bless　you；　all　saints　and　angels　protect　you！'　The　dignified
lady　stooped　with　a　heavenly　smile　to　her　son；　pressed　a　tender　kiss
upon　his　golden　locks；　and　repeated　the　same　words　aloud。　This；
general；　was　the　fantasy　which　suddenly　appeared　before　my　eyes　when
the　patient　spoke　those　words　to…day。　It　seemed　to　me　as　if　I
perceived　all　at　once　a　long…silent　song　of　home。　I　heard　the
wonderful　voice　of　the　exalted　lady　who　spoke　those　words。　It　seemed
to　me　as　if　I　felt　the　kiss　which　she　then　imprinted　on　the　head　of
the　five…year…old　boy；　felt　it　to　my　inmost　heart；　and　it　glowed
there　with　the　fire　of　an　undying　love；　and　shook　my　whole　being；
and　filled　my　eyes　with　tears。　You　will　not　chide　me　for　that；
general；　for　those　were　the　lips　of　my　mother　who　pressed　that　kiss
of　blessing　on　her　unhappy　son。〃

He　ceased；　tears　choked　his　utterance；　and；　as　if　ashamed　of　his
deep　emotion；　he　hid　his　face　in　his　hands。

General　Kleber　turned　away　too；　and　put　his　hand　over　his　eyes；　as
though　a　film　had　come　over　them。　Then；　after　a　long　pause　he　gently
laid　his　hand　upon　the　shoulder　of　the　young　man；　who　was　still
sitting　with　covered　face。

〃Such　memories　are　holy；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　honor　them；　my　dear；
faithful　son。　May　the　blessing　which　then　fell　from　the　lips　of　a
woman　whom　I　too　knew　and　honored；　but　whose　name　may　never　be
spoken　between　us；　may　it　be　fulfilled　to　you！　May　angels　and　saints
protect　you　when　men　shall　no　longer　have　the　power；　and　when　fate
shall　separate　you　from　those　who　have　devoted　their　love　and
fidelity　to　you！〃

The　youth　let　his　hands　fall　from　his　face；　and　looked　at　the
general　with　a　startled；　searching　glance。

〃What　do　you　mean；　uncle？　You　do　not　mean　to　say　that〃

〃That　we　must　part？　Yes；　my　dear　nephew；　that　is　what　I　must　say；〃
interrupted　Kleber；　sadly。　〃This　word　has　long　been　burning　in　my
soul；　and　it　is　necessary　that　I　speak　it。　Yes；　we　must　part；
Louis。〃

〃Why；　oh　why？〃　asked　Louis；　bitterly。　〃Why　will　you　too　drive　me
away？　You；　the　only　one　who　loves　me　a　little！〃

〃Exactly　because　I　love　youexactly　for　that　reason　must　I　separate
myself　from　you。　Since　we　came　to　Egypt　you　have　been　sickly；　your
cheeks　have　become　pale。　The　fulness　of　your　limbs　has　gone；　and　the
dry　and　hard　cough　that　troubles　you　every　morning　has　long　made　me
anxious；　as　you　know。　On　that　account；　after　all　the　appliances　of
my　physician　failed；　I　applied；　as　you　know；　to　the　physician　of　the
commanding　general；　to　Corvisart；　and　he　has　subjected　you　to　a
thorough　examination。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Louis；　thoughtfully；　〃he　has　investigated　me　with
the　carefulness　of　a　merchant　who　is　about　to　buy　a　slave　and　means
to　test　him。　He　made　a　hearing…trumpet　of　his　ear　and　laid　it　on　my
breast；　and　listened　while　I　had　to　breathe　as　if　I　were　a　volcano。
He　put　his　ear　to　my　heart；　he　told　me　that　his　father　had　been
physician　at　the　French　court；　and　that　the　murdered　queen　had　a
great　deal　of　confidence　in　him；　and　then　he　wondered　that　my　heart
beat　so　violently　while　he　told　me　this。〃

〃And　the　result　of　all　these　investigations　is；　that　you　must　return
to　Europe；　Louis；〃　said　Kleber；　sadly。　〃Corvisart　had　declared　it　an
unavoidable　necessity　for　your　constitution；　and　the　command　of　the
physician　must　be　obeyed　as　if　it　were　the　command　of　God。　You
cannot　endure　the　climate　of　Egypt；　so　says　Corvisart；　and　if　your
life　is　not　to　be　shortened　and　you　to　be　made　a　perpetual　invalid；
you　must　return　to　Europe　as　quickly　as　possible；　for　only　there
will　you　recover　and　grow　strong。　You　see　therefore；　Louis；　that　I
must　separate　from　you；　although　it　is　a　sore　thing　for　me　to　do；
for　I　love　you　as　my　own　son；　and　I　have　no　one　in　the　world　who　is
nearly　related　to　me。〃

〃And　I；　whom　else　have　I　in　the　world？〃　asked　Louis；　bitterly。　〃Who
has　interest　in　me　excepting　you？　Ah；　general；　do　not　drive　me　from
you。　Believe　me；　it　is　better　for　me　if　for　a　few　short　and　happy
years　I　live　at　your　side；　and　then　breathe　my　last　sigh　in　your
faithful　and　tender　arms；　than　if　I　have　to　wander　solitary　and
friendless　through　the　strange；　cold　world；　where　no　one　loves　me；
and　where　I　shall　always　be　surrounded　by　enemies；　or　by　those　who
are　indifferent。　It　may　be　that　my　body　will　gain　health　and
strength　in　the　air　of　Europe；　but　my　heart　will　always　be　sick
there；　for　it　will　lose　its　home　when　it　shall　have　lost　you；　my
fatherly　friend。〃

General　Kleber　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃In　youth　one　sorrows　and
forgets　it　quickly。〃

〃General；　do　you　say　that　to　me；　after　seeing　me　weep　in　the
hospital　because　the　word　of　a　dying　man　called　back　the
recollection　of　my　earliest　childhood？　Oh；　believe　me；　my　heart
forgets　its　sorrows　never；　and　if　I　must　return　to　France；　to　Paris；
it　will　seem　to　me　as　if　I　had　always　to　be　climbing　the　hill　of
Calvary　with　bloody　feet　to　reach　the　top　where　I　might　perish　on
the　cross。　For；　believe　me；　general；　my　whole　life　will　be　nothing
but　such　a　wandering　through　scenes　of　pain　if　you　drive　me　from　the
refuge　that　your　love　has　offered　me。　Leave　me　here；　let　me　live　in
secrecy　and　silence　beneath　the　pinions　of　your　love；　and　do　not
believe　what　the　physicians　tell　you。　Man's　life　lies　in　the　hands
of　God；　and　if　He　will　sustain　it；　it　is　as　safe　in　the　deserts　of
Egypt　as　in　Paris；　the　capital　of　the　world。〃

〃Because　God　will　sustain　your　life；　Louis；　for　that　very　reason；　He
instructs　me；　through　the　voice　of　the　physician；　what　my　duty　is；
bids　me　conquer　my　own　grief；　and　send　the　son　of　my　heart　to　his
distant　home。　No；　Louis；　it　is　a　decided　thing；　we　must　part；　you
must　return　to　France。〃

〃And　if　it　is　true；〃　asked　Louis；　bitterly；　〃if　I　am　then　really　to
return　to　France；　why　must　we　part？　Why　must　I　return　without　you？
Why；　if　you　really　love　me；　do　you　not　accompany　me？　I　heard　you　say
yesterday　that　several　ships；　with　a　part　of　our　troops；　were　to
return　to　France。　Why；　then；　can　you　not　go　back　with　me？〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Kleber；　sadly。　〃I　will　tell　you；　Louis：　because
Bonaparte　will　not　allow　it。　Listen；　my　son；　I　will　communicate　a
secret　to　you：　there　has　news　come　within　the　last　few　days；　the
first　that　we　have　received　for　ten　months。　The　newspapers　which
have　arrived　bring　very　unwelcome　intelligence；　they　inform　us　that
all　the　advant