marie antoinette and her son-第114部分

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make　use　of　this　instrument　to　intimidate　that　fourth　party　of　which
you　spoke　beforethe　Bonapartists。　But　you　have　been　mistaken；
Fouche；　this　reckoning　does　not　doyour　cunning　has　overreached
itself。　You　do　not　terrify　me；　and　if　it　could　really　happen　that
the　French　nation　should　offer　me　an　imperial　crown；　at　the　same
time　that　I　should　accept　it；　I　should　put　my　foot　on　the　neck　of
all　rebels　and　pretenders。　With　a　single　tread　I　would　crush　them
all。　I　want　no　parties；　no　political　factions；　I　want　to　bring　all
these　risings　and　agitations　to　silence。　There　shall　be　no　secret
societies　in　France；　and　against　each　and　every　conspirator；
whatever　his　rank　may　be；　I　will　bring　from　this　time　forth　the
whole　weight　of　the　law。　Mark　this；　Fouche！　I　mean　to　make　an　end　of
all　parties；　and　only　when　you　shall　give　their　chiefs　into　my　hand…
…not　for　my　personal　vengeance；　for　I　cherish　no　vengeance　against
those　cowardly　worms　of　conspirators；　but　for　the　righteous
punishment　and　retaliatory　laws　of　Franceonly　when　you　are　able；
by　one　grand　coup；　and　one　well…founded　charge；　to　destroy　all
conspiracies；　and　bring　all　secret　coalitions　to　the　light；　only
then　shall　you　become　chief　of　policeonly　then　will　the　future
emperor　give　you　the　title　of　duke。〃

〃General；　I　build　on　your　word；　and　I　am　sure　of　becoming　chief　of
police　and　duke。　We　will　put　an　end　to　all　conspiracies。〃

〃And　to　the　Monsieur　Louis；　too；〃　cried　Bonaparte；　eagerly。　〃It　is　a
disagreeable　and　troublesome　figure。　So　long　as　he　lives　he　would
live　in　the　ermine　of　the　imperial　cloak　like　a　troublesome　insect；
which　always　stings　and　pricks。　One　must　not　allow　such　insects　to
find　their　way　into　his　fur；　and　this　Monsieur　Louis　must　be　put　out
of　the　way　once　for　all。　I　hope　he　has　entered　deeply　enough　into
the　conspiracy；　not　to　come　out　of　it　again　with　a　whole　skin！〃

〃General；　I　have　told　you　already；　that　day　before　yesterday　his
dependants　saluted　him；　in　a　secret　gathering；　as　their　king。　It　is
true；　indeed；　that　the　poor　little　fellow　strongly　opposed　it；　and
obstinately　refused　to　accept　all　honors；　but　the　fact　remains
unchanged。〃

〃And　on　the　ground　of　this　fact　shall　he　be　apprehended；〃　cried
Bonaparte；　with　a　threatening　voice。

〃There　must　be　an　example　made；　and　this　Louis　is　a　suitable　person
for　it。　He　must　be　the　bete　de　souffrance　for　all　the　rest。　He　is
the　head　of　a　conspiracy；　we　will　crush　this　head；　and　the　limbs
will　fall　of　themselves。　Besides　the　sensitive　souls　who　love
nurses'　stories　and　believe　in　every　thing；　there　will　be　no　one　who
will　weep　for　him。　No　one　will　lament　his　death；　but　he　will　be　a
warning　to　all。　Direct　yourself　to　this；　Fouche；　and　set　all　the
infernal　machines　of　your　intrigues　in　operation　that　we　may　put　an
end　to　conspiracy。〃

〃General；　only　one　thing　is　wanting；　it　is　that　I　be　at　the　head　of
the　police；　and　have　the　power　in　my　hands　to　make　my　infernal
machines　effectual。〃

〃But　I　have　told　you　that　I　will　appoint　you　as　minister　only　when
you　give　me　incontrovertible　proofs　that　your　conspiracies　are　not
the　fabric　of　your　own　phantasy。〃

〃Very　well；　general；　now　that　we　are　at　one；　I　am　prepared　to　give
you　these　proofs。　I　have　told　you　that　the　royalists　and　republicans
have　united　for　the　purpose　of　taking　your　life。　They　have　chosen
fifty　men　by　ballot；　in　foreign　parts；　who　are　to　come　to　Paris　and
accomplish　here　the　great　work　of　your　destruction。　These　fifty
assassins　have　arrived　in　Paris；　and　their　chief　men　had　an
interview　yesterday　with　the　chiefs　of　the　conspiracies　here。〃

〃Fouche！〃　cried　Bonaparte；　with　a　threatening　voice；　〃think　well
what　you　are　saying。　You　are　playing　for　the　stake　of　your　own　head！
If　these　fifty　assassins　are　creatures　of　your　own　imagination；　it
is　you　who　will　have　to　pay　for　it。〃

〃These　fifty　men　have　been　in　Paris　since　the　day　before　yesterday；〃
rejoined　Fouche；　quietly。　〃They　came　hither　by　different　roads；　and
appearing　like　simple　travellers；　and　yesterday　they　had　their　first
interview　with　the　chief　of　the　republican　party。〃

〃Who　is　this　chief？　Name　him；　or　I　will　call　you　a　liar　and
impostor！〃

〃This　chief；〃　said　Fouche；　slowly；　and　measuring　every　word；　〃this
chief　is　General　Moreau。〃

Bonaparte　uttered　a　low　cry；　an　ashy　paleness　suffused　his　cheeks；
he　pressed　his　lips　together；　and　his　eyes　flamed　out　such　darts　of
rage　that　even　Fouche　trembled　and　lowered　his　gaze。

〃Moreau；〃　muttered　Bonaparte；　after　a　long　pause；　〃Moreau　a
conspirator；　a　traitor！　Moreau　in　an　alliance　with　assassins　whom
the　royalists　are　sending　out　against　me！　I　knew　very　well　that　he
was　my　enemy；　but　I　did　not　think　that　his　enmity　would　lead　him　to
be　a　murderer！〃

He　walked　up　and　down　with　quick　steps；　his　hands　folded　behind　his
back；　then　stopped　short　before　Fouche　and　looked　him　full　in　the
face。

〃Fouche；　do　you　abide　by　your　assertion；　that　Moreau　is　a
conspirator？〃

〃I　abide　by　it；　general。〃

〃And　those　fifty　assassins；　whom　the　royalists　have　sent；　are　in
Paris？〃

〃Yes；　general；　they　are　in　Paris；　and　Georges　and　Pichegru　are　at
their　head。〃

〃Fouche；〃　cried　Bonaparte；　clinching　his　fist　and　raising　it
threateningly；　〃Fouche；　so　sure　as　God　lives；　I　will　have　you　hanged
as　a　traitor　if　you　have　lied！〃

〃General；　as　surely　as　God　lives；　I　have　spoken　the　truth。　I　came
here　to　show　you　what　I　am；　and　what　Regnier　is。　I　have　waited　here
till　the　whole　net　of　these　conspiracies　should　be　spread　out　and　be
fully　complete。　The　time　has　come　when　I　must　speak；　and　now　I　say
to　you；　general；　take　some　steps；　for　there　is　danger　on　foot！〃

Bonaparte；　trembling　with　emotion；　had　thrown　himself　into　an　arm…
chair；　and　took；　as　was　his　custom　in　moments　of　the　greatest
excitement；　his　penknife　from　the　writing…desk；　and　began　to　whittle
on　the　back　of　the　chair。

Fouche　stood　leaning　against　the　wall；　and　looked　with　complete
calmness　and　an　invisible　smile　at　this　singular　occupation　of　the
general；　when　the　door　of　the　cabinet　was　opened；　and　the　Mameluke
Roustan　appeared　at　the　entrance。

〃Consul；〃　he　said；　softly；　〃Councillor　Real　is　again　here；　and
pressingly　desires　an　audience。〃

Bonaparte　rose；　and　threw　away　the　knife。　〃Real！〃　he　cried　in　a　loud
tone。

The　man　who　was　summoned　immediately　appeared　at　the　open　doora
tall；　grave　personage；　with　a　face　so　pale　and　distorted　that
Bonaparte　noticed　it；　despite　his　great　agitation。

〃What　is　it；　Real？〃　he　asked；　eagerly。　〃Have　you　spoken　with　the
condemned　man？〃

〃Yes；　general；　I　have　spoken　with　him；〃　whispered　Real；　with　pale
lips。

〃And　it　is　as　I　said；　is　it　not？　This　Doctor　Querolle　has　only
pretended　to　be　able　to　make　great　disclosures；　only　to　prolong　his
own　life　a　few　hours。　He　has　poisoned　his　wife；　in　order　to　marry
his　mistress；　and　the　poisoner　is　executed。〃

〃General；〃　cried　Fouche；　almost　with　an　air　of　joy；　〃I　knew
Querolle；　and　I　knew　that　his　wife　poisoned　herself。　Querolle　is　not
a　poisoner。〃

〃What　is　he　then；　M。　Omniscience？〃

〃General；　he　is　a　conspirator！〃

〃A　conspirator！〃　repeated　Bonaparte；　and　now　his　troubled　face
turned　again　to　the　councillor。　〃Real；　what　do　you　know？　What　did
the　condemned　man　say　to　you？〃

〃Consul；　he　swore　that　he　was　innocent　of　the　death　of　his　wife；　but
he　acknowledged　himself　a　member　of　a　conspiracy；　the　object　of
which　is　to　murder　General　Bonaparte。　He　asserts　that　the　royalists
and　republicans　have　allied　themselves；　that　fifty　emissaries　of　the
Count　de　Lille　and　the　Duke　d'Enghien；　Pichegru　and　Georges　at　their
head；　have　crept　into　Paris；　that　they　had　an　interview　yesterday
with　General　Moreau；　and　with　the　so…called　King　Louis　XVII。；　who　is
secreted　in　Paris；　and　that　at　this　hour　those　fifty　men　are
prowling　around　the　streets　of　the　city；　and　are　watching　the
Tuileries；　waiting　for　an　opportunity　to　kill　the　First　Consul。〃

The　troubled　eye　of　Bonaparte　turned　slowly　from　the　pale　face　of
Councillor　Real　to　the　calm；　sagacious　face　of　Fouche；　which　guarded
itself　well　from　expressing　any　token　of　triumph　and　satisfaction。
The　consul　then　walked　slowly　through　the　room；　and　with　his　foot
pushed　open　the　door　leading　into　the　great　reception…room；　in
which；　at　this　hour　every　day；　all　the　dignitaries　of　the　republic
were　assembled；　to　receive　the　orders　of　Bonaparte。

〃Murat！〃　cried　Bonaparte；　loudly；　and　at　once　the　person　summoned；
General　Murat；　at　that　time　governor　of　Paris；　appeared　at　the　door
of　the　cabinet。

〃Murat；〃　said　Bonaparte；　in　the　tones　in　which　he　issued　his
commands　on　the　battle…field；　〃give　orders　at　once　that　the　gates　of
Paris　be　closed；　and　that　no　stranger　be　allowed　to　go　out　of　the
city　till　you　have　further　orders。　You　will　come　to　me　in　an　hour；
and　receive　a　proclamation　to　your　soldiers；　which　you　will　sign；
have　it　printed　and　posted　at　the　street…corners　of　Paris。　Make　all
these　preparations！　Go！〃

Murat　withdrew　from　the　room　with　a　salutation　of　deference；　and　now
the　commanding　voice　of　Bonaparte　summoned　his　chief　adjutant　from
the　reception…room。

〃Duroc；〃　said　the　First　Consul；　with　calm；　almost　solemn　voice；　〃you
will　go　with　twelve　soldiers　in　pursuit　of　General　Moreau；　and
arrest　him　wherever　you　find　him。〃

The　noble；　open　face　of　Duroc　grew　pale；　and　put　on　an　expression　of
horror　and　amazement。　〃General；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　beg　that…〃

But　this　time　Bonaparte　would　not　listen　to　the　soothing　words　of
his　favorite。

〃No　replies！〃　he　thundered。　〃You　have　only　to　obey！　Nothing　more！〃

Duroc；　pale　and　agitated；　withdrew；　and　Bonaparte　closed　the　door　of
the　cabinet。　〃Real；〃　he　said；　〃return　to　the　prison　of　the　condemned
man；　take　him　his　pardon；　and　bring　him　to　me；　that　I　may　hear　him
myself。　Hasten！〃

Real　withdrew；　and　Bonaparte　and　Fouche　remained　alone。

〃You　have　given　your　proofs；　Fouche；　and　now　I　believe　you。　When
wolves　are　to　be　hunted　down　you　are　a　good　bloodhound；　and　we　will
begin　the　chase。　I　make　you　from　this　moment　chief　of　the　secret
police；　your　first　duty　will　be　to　bring　this　matter　to　an　end；　and
help　me　to　tear　to　pieces　the　whole　murderous　web；　your　reward　being
that　I　will　nominate　you　again