marie antoinette and her son-第93部分

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〃If　it　succeeds；〃　he　muttered〃if　it　succeeds；　I　shall　be　free　from
the　mountainous　weight　which　presses　upon　me　day　and　night　and　shall
become　a　healthy　man　again。〃

〃And　if　it　does　not　succeed；〃　whispered　Jeanne　Marie；　〃the　worst
that　can　happen　to　us　is　what　has　happened　to　thousands　before　us。
We　shall　merely　feed　the　machine；　and　our　heads　will　tumble　into　the
basket；　with　this　difference；　that　I　shall　not　be　able　to　make　any
mark　in　my　stocking。　I　would　rather　die　all　at　once　on　the
guillotine　and　have　it　over；　than　be　dying　here　day　after　day；　and
hour　after　hour；　having　nothing　to　expect　from　life　but　pain　and
ennui。〃

〃And　I；　too；〃　said　Simon；　decidedly。　〃Rather　die；　than　go　on　leading
such　a　dog's　life。　Let　your　doctor　come　to　me　to…morrow　morning。　I
will　talk　with　him！〃

Early　the　next　day　the　doctor　came　in　his　long；　black　cloak；　and
with　his　peruke；　to　visit　the　sick　Mistress　Simon。　The　guards　at　the
gate　leading　to　the　outer　court　quietly　let　him　pass　in；　and　did　not
notice　that　another　face　appeared　in　the　peruke　from　that　which　had
been　seen　the　day　before。　The　two　official　guards　above；　who　had
just　completed　their　duties　in　the　upper　story；　and　met　the　doctor
on　the　tower　stairs；　did　not　take　any　offence　at　his　figure。　The
director　of　the　Hotel　Dieu　was　not　personally　known　to　them；　and
they　were　familiar　with　but　little　about　him；　excepting　that　he　took
the　liberty　of　going　about　in　his　old…fashioned　cloak；　without
giving　offence　to　the　authorities；　and　that　he　had　permission　from
those　authorities　to　come　to　the　Temple　for　the　purpose　of　visiting
the　wife　of　Simon。

〃You　will　find　two　patients　to…day　up　there；〃　said　one　of　the
officials　as　he　passed　by。　〃We　empower　you；　doctor；　to　take　the
second　one；　little　Capet；　under　your　charge。　The　boy　appears　to　be
really　sick；　or　else　he　is　obstinate　and　mulish。　He　answers　no
questions；　and　he　has　taken　no　nourishment；　Simon　tells　us；　since
yesterday　noon。　Examine　into　the　case；　doctor；　and　then　tell　us　what
your　opinion　is。　We　will　wait　for　you　down　in　the　council…room。　So
make　as　much　haste　as　possible。〃

They　passed　on；　and　the　doctor　did　really　make　haste　to　ascend　the
staircase。　At　the　open　door　which　led　to　the　apartment　of　the　little
Capet　and　his　〃guardian；〃　he　found　Simon。

〃Did　you　hear；　citizen？〃　asked　the　doctor。　〃The　officials　are
waiting　for　me　below。〃

〃Yes；　I　heard；　doctor；〃　whispered　Simon。　〃We　have　not　much　time。
Come！〃

He　motioned　to　the　physician　to　pass　along　the　corridor　and　to　enter
the　room；　while　he　bolted　and　locked　the　outer　door。　As　the　doctor
entered；　Mistress　Simon　lay　upon　her　bed　and　looked　at　the　new…comer
with　curious；　glowing　eyes。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked；　rising　quickly　from　her　bed。　〃You　are　not
Doctor　Naudin　whom　I　expected；　and　I　do　not　know　you！〃

Meantime　the　doctor　walked　in　silence　to　her　bed；　and　stooped　over
Jeanne　Marie；　who　sank　back　upon　the　pillow。

〃I　am　the　one　who　is　to　help　you　escape　from　the　Temple；〃　he
whispered。　〃Doctor　Naudin　has　sent　me；　to　work　in　union　with　him　and
you　in　effecting　your　release　and　that　of　the　unfortunate　Capet。〃

〃Husband；〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie　to　the　cobbler；　who　was　just　coming
in；　〃this　is　the　man　who　is　going　to　deliver　us　from　this　hell！〃

〃That　is　to　say；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　a　firm；　penetrating　voice；
〃I　will　free　you　if　you　will　help　me　free　the　dauphin。〃

〃Speak　softly；　for　God's　sake；　speak　softly；〃　said　Simon　anxiously。
〃If　any　one　should　hear　you；　we　are　all　lost！　We　will　do　every　thing
that　you　demand　of　us；　provided　that　we　can　in　that　way　escape　from
this　miserable；　good…for…nothing　place。　The　air　here　is　like　poison；
and　to　have　to　stay　here　is　like　being　buried　alive。〃

〃And　then　the　dreams；　the　frightful　dreams；〃　muttered　Jeanne　Marie；
with　a　shudder。　〃I　cannot　sleep　any　more　in　this　dreadful　prison；
for　that　pale；　fearful　woman；　with　great；　fixed　eyes；　goes　walking
about　through　the　Temple　every　night；　and　listens　at　the　doors　to
see　whether　her　children　are　alive　yet；　and　whether　we　are　not
killing　them。　Lately；　she　has　not　only　listened　at　the　doors；　but
she　has　come　into　my　room；　and　passed　my　bed；　and　gone　into　the
chamber　of　little　Capet。　Simon　was　asleep；　and　did　not　see　her。　I
sprang　up；　however；　and　stole　softly　to　the　door；　for　I　thought
somebody　had　crept　in　here　in　disguise；　possibly　Citizen　Toulan；　who
had　already　twice　made　the　attempt　to　release　the　Austrian　and　her
children；　and　whom　I　then　denounced　at　headquarters。　There　I　saw
although　it　was　entirely　dark　in　the　hallthere　I　saw　little　Capet
lying　asleep　on　his　mattress；　his　hands　folded　over　his　breast；　and
with　an　expression　of　countenance　more　happy；　altogether　more　happy；
than　it　ever　is　when　he　is　awake。　Near　the　mattress　kneeled　the
figure　in　white；　and　it　seemed　as　if　a　radiance　streamed　out　from　it
that　filled　the　whole　room。　Its　face　was　pale　and　white；　just　like　a
lily；　and　it　seemed　as　if　the　fragrance　of　a　lily　was　in　the
apartment。　Her　two　arms　were　raised；　as　if　she　would　utter　a
benediction；　over　her　sleeping　boy；　around　her　half…opened　lips
played　a　sweet　smile；　and　her　great　eyes；　which　had　the　aspect　of
stars；　looked　up　toward　heaven。　But　while　I　was　there　in　a　maze；　and
watched　the　figure　in　a；　transport　of　delight；　there　occurred；　all
at　once；　something　wonderful；　something　dreadful。　The　figure　rose
from　its　knees；　dropped　its　arms；　turned　itself　around；　and　advanced
straight　toward　me。　The　eyes；　which　had　been　turned　so　purely
heavenward　before；　were　directed　to　me；　with　a　look　which　pierced　my
breast　like　the　thrust　of　a　knife。　I　recognized　that　look…that　sad；
reproachful　glance。　It　was　the　same　that　Marie　Antoinette　gave　me；
when　she　stood　on　the　scaffold。　I　was　sitting　in　the　front　row　of
the　knitters；　and　I　was　just　going　to　make　the　double　stitch　for　her
in　my　stocking；　when　that　look　met　me；　those　great；　sad　eyes　were
turned　toward　me；　and　I　felt　that　she　had　recognized　me；　and　her
eyes　bored　into　my　breast；　and　followed　me　even　after　the　axe　had
taken　off　her　head。　The　eyes　did　not　fall　into　the　basket；　they　were
not　buried；　bat　they　remain　in　my　breast；　they　have　been　piercing　me
ever　since；　and　burning　me　like　glowing　coals。　But　that　night　I　saw
them　again；　as　in　lifethose　dreadful　eyes；　and　as　the　figure
advanced　toward　me；　it　raised　its　hand　and　threatened　me；　and　its
eyes　spoke　to　me；　and　it　seemed　as　if　a　curse　of　God　were　going
through　my　brain；　for　those　eyes　said　to　me'Murder！'spoke　it　so
loudly；　so　horribly；　that　it　appeared　as　if　my　head　would　burst；　and
I　could　not　cry；　and　could　not　move；　and　had　to　look　at　it；　till；　at
last；　I　became　unconscious。〃

〃There；　see　there；　doctor；〃　cried　Simon；　in　alarm；　as　his　wife　fell
back　upon　the　pillow　with　a　loud　cry；　and　quivered　in　all　her　limbs；
〃　now　she　has　convulsions　again；　and　then　she　will　be；　for　a　day　or
two；　out　of　her　mind；　and　will　talk　strangely　about　the　pale　woman
with　dreadful　eyes；　and　when　she　goes　on　so；　she　makes　even　me　sad；
and　anxious；　and　timid；　and　I　grow　afraid　of　the　white　ghost　that
she　says　is　always　with　us。　Ah！　doctor；　help　us！　See；　now；　how　the
poor　woman　suffers　and　twists！〃

The　doctor　drew　a　bottle　from　his　breast…pocket；　and　rubbed　a　few
drops　upon　the　temples　of　the　sick　woman。

〃Those　are　probably　the　famous　soothing…drops　of　Doctor　Naudin？〃
asked　Simon；　in　astonishment；　when　he　saw　how　quiet　his　wife　became；
and　that　her　spasms　and　groans　ceased。

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　doctor；　〃and　the　eminent　physician　sends　them　as
a　present　to　your　wife。　They　are　very　costly；　and　rich　people　have
to　pay　a　louis…d'or　for　every　drop。　But　Doctor　Naudin。　gives　them　to
you；　for　he　wishes　Jeanne　Marie　long　to　enjoy　good　health。　How　is　it
with　you　now？〃

〃I　feel　well；　completely　well；〃　she　said；　as　the　doctor　rubbed　some
drops　a　second　time　on　her　temple。　〃I　feel　easier　than　I　have　felt
for　a　long　time。〃

〃Give　me　your　hand；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Rise　up；　for　you　are　well。
Let　us　go　into　the　chamber　of　the　poor　boy；　for　I　have　to　speak　with
you　there。〃

He　walked　toward　the　chamber…door；　leading　Jeanne　Marie　by　the　hand；
while　Simon　followed　them。　Softly　and　silently　they　entered　the　dark
room；　and　went　to　the　mattress　on　which　the　child　lay。

The　boy　stared　at　them　with　great；　wide…opened　eyes；　but　they　were
without　expression　and　life；　and　only　the　breath；　as　it　came　slowly
and　heavily　from　the　half…opened　lips；　showed　that　there　was
vitality　still　in　this　poor；　little；　shrunken　form。

The　doctor　kneeled　down　beside　the　bed；　and；　bending　over　it；
pressed　a　long；　fervent　kiss　on　the　delicate；　hot　hand　of　the　child。
But　Charles　Louis　remained　motionless；　he　merely　slowly　dropped　his
lids　and　closed　his　eyes。

〃You　see；　doctor；　he　neither　hears　nor　sees；〃　said　Simon；　in　a　low；
growling　voice。　〃He　cares　for　nothing；　and　does　not　know　any　thing
about　what　is　going　on　around　him。　It　is　a　week　since　he　spoke　a
word。〃

〃Not　since　the　day　when　you　wanted　to　compel　the　child　to　sing　the
song　that　makes　sport　of　his　mother。〃

〃He　did　not　sing　it？〃　asked　the　doctor；　with　a　tremulous　voice。

〃He　is　a　mulish　little　toad；〃　cried　Simon；　angrily。　〃I　begged　him　at
first；　then　I　threatened；　and　when　prayers　and　threats　were　of　no
use　I　punished　him；　as　a　naughty　boy　deserves　when　he　will　not　do
what　his　foster…father　bids　him　do。　But　even　blows　did　not　bring　him
to　it；　the　obstinate　youngster　would　not　sing　the　merry　song　with
me；　and　since　then　he　has　not　spoken　a　word。　＇Footnote：　Historical。…
…See　Beauehesne'a　〃Histoirede　Louis　XVII。；〃　vol。　ii。＇　He　seems　as　if
he　had　grown　deaf　and　dumb　as　a　punishment　for　not　obeying　his　good
foster…father。〃

〃He　is　neither　deaf　nor　dumb；〃　said　the　doctor；　solemnly。　〃He　is
simply　a　good　son；　who　would　not　sing　the　song　which　made　sport　of
his　noble　and　unfortunate　mother。　See　whether　I　am　not　right：　see
these　tears　which　run　from　his　closed　eyes。　He　has　heard　us；　he　has
understood　us；　and　he　answers　us　with　his　tears！　Oh；　sire；〃　he
continued　passionately；　〃by　the　sacred　remembrance　of　your　father
and　your　mother；　I　swear　devotion　to　you　until　death；　I　swear　that　I
have　come　to　set　you　free；　to　die　for　you。　Look　up；