marie antoinette and her son-第94部分

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have　come　to　set　you　free；　to　die　for　you。　Look　up；　my　king　and　my
darling　one！　I　intrust　to　you　and　to　both　these　witnesses　my　whole
secret；　I　let　the　mask　fall　to　show　myself　to　you　in　my　true　form；
that　you　may　confide　in　me；　and　know　that　the　most　devoted　of　your
servants　is　kneeling　before　you；　and　that　he　dedicates　his　life　to
you。　Open　your　eyes；　Louis　of　France；　and　see　whether　you　know　me！〃

He　sprang　up；　threw　off　the　great　peruke；　and　the　long　black　cloak；
and　stood　before　them　in　the　uniform　of　an　official　guard。

〃Thunder　and　guns！〃　cried　Simon；　with　a　loud　laugh。　〃it　is〃

〃Hush！〃　interrupted　the　other〃hush！　He　alone　shall　declare　who　I
am！　Oh；　look　at　me；　my　king；　convince　these　unbelieving　ones　here
that　your　mind　is　clear　and　strong；　and　that　you　are　conscious　of
what　is　going　on　around　you。　Look　at　me；　and　if　you　know　me；　speak
my　name！〃

And　with　folded　hands；　in　unspeakable　emotion；　he　leaned　over　the
bed　of　the　child；　that　still　lay　with　closed　eyes。

〃I　knew　that　he　could　hear　nothing；　and　that　he　was　deaf；〃　growled
Simon；　while　his　wife　folded　her　trembling　hands；　and　with　tearful
eyes　whispered　a　prayer。

A　deep　silence　ensued；　and　with　anxious　expectation　each　looked　at
the　boy。　At　length　he　slowly　raised　the　heavy；　reddened　eyelids；　and
looked　with　a　timid；　anxious　glance　around　himself。　Then　his　gaze
fixed　itself　upon　the　eloquent；　speaking　face　of　the　man　whose　tears
were　falling　like　warm　dew…drops　upon　his　pale；　sunken　features。

A　quiver　passed　over　the　coutenance　of　the　boy；　a　beam　of　joy
lighted　up　his　eyes；　and　something　like　a　smile　played　around　his
trembling　lips。

〃Do　you　know　me？　Do　you　know　my　name？〃

The　child　raised　his　hand　in　salutation；　and　said；　in　a　clear；
distinct　voice：　〃Toulan！　Fidele！〃

Toulan　fell　on　his　knees　again　and　covered　the　little　thin　hand　of
the　boy　with　his　tears　and　his　kisses。

〃Yes；　Fidele；〃　he　sobbed。　〃That　is　the　title　of　honor　which　your
royal　mother　gave　methat　is　the　name　that　she　wrote　on　the　bit　of
paper　which　she　put　into　the　gold　smelling…bottle　that　she　gave　me。
That　little　bottle；　which　a　queen　once　carried；　is　my　most　precious
possession；　and　yet　I　would　part　with　that　if　I　could　save　the　life
of　her　son；　happy　if　I　could　but　retain　the　hallowed　paper　on　which
the　queen's　hand　wrote　the　word　'Fidele。'　Yes；　you　poor；　pitiable
son　of　kings；　I　am　Fidele；　I　am　Toulan；　at　whom　you　have　so　often
laughed　when　he　played　with　you　in　your　prison。〃

A　flash　like　the　sunlight　passed　over　the　face　of　the　child；　and　a
smile　illumined　his　features。

〃She　used　to　laugh；　too；〃　he　whispered〃she；　too；　my　mamma　queen。〃

〃Yes；　she　too　laughed　at　our　jests；〃　said　Toulan；　with　a　voice
choked　with　tears；　〃and；　believe　me；　she　looks　down　from　heaven　upon
us　and　smiles　her　blessing；　for　she　knows　that　Toulan　has　come　to
free　her　dear　son；　and　to　deliver　him　from　the　executioner's　hands。
Tell　me　now；　my　king　and　my　dearly…loved　lord；　will　you　trust　me；
will　you　give　to　your　most　devoted　servant　and　subject　the　privilege
of　releasing　you？　Do　you　consent　to　accept　freedom　at　the　hands　of
your　Fidele？〃

The　child　threw　a　timid；　anxious　glance　at　Simon　and　his　wife；　and
then；　with　a　shudder；　turned　his　head　to　one　side。

〃You　make　no　answer；　sire；〃　said　Toulan；　imploringly。　〃Oh！　speak；　my
king；　may　I　set　you　free？〃

The　boy　spoke　a　few　words　in　reply；　but　so　softly　that　Toulan　could
not　understand　him。　He　stooped　down　nearer　to　him；　and　put　his　ear
close　to　the　lips　of　the　child。　He　then　could　hear　the　words；
inaudible　to　all　but　him；

〃He　will　disclose　you；　take　care；　Toulan。　But　do　not　say　any　thing；
else　he　will　beat　me　to　death！〃

Toulan　made　no　reply；　he　only　impressed　a　long；　tender　kiss　upon　the
trembling　hand　of　the　child。

〃Did　he　speak？〃　asked　Simon。　〃Did　you　understand；　citizen；　what　he
said？〃

〃Yes；　I　understood　him；〃　answered　Toulan。　〃He　consents；　he　allows　me
to　make　every　attempt　to　free　him；　and　is　prepared　to　do　every　thing
that　we　ask　of　him。　And　now　I　ask　you　too；　are　you　prepared　to　help
me　release　the　prince？〃

〃You　know　already；　Toulan；〃　said　Simon；　quickly；　〃that　we　are
prepared　for　every　thing；　provided　that　our　conditions　are
fulfilled。　Give　me　a　tolerable　position　outside　of　the　Temple；　give
me　a　good　bit　of　money；　so　that　I　may　live　free　from　care；　and　if
the　new　place　should　not　suit　me；　that　I　could　go　into　the　country；
and　not　have　to　work　at　all；　give　my　Jeanne　Marie　her　health　and
cheerfulness　again；　and　I　will　help　you　set　young　Capet　free。〃

〃Through　my　assistance；　and　that　of　Doctor　Naudin；　you　shall　have　a
good　place　outside　of　the　Temple；〃　answered　Toulan；　eagerly。
〃Besides　this；　at　the　moment　when　you　deliver　the　prince　into　my
hands；　outside　of　this　prison；　I　will　pay　you　in　ready　money　the　sum
of　twenty　thousand　francs；　and　as　for　the　third　condition；　that
about　restoring　her　health　to　Jeanne　Marie；　I　am　sure　that　I　can
fulfil　this　condition　too。　Do　you　not　know；　Simon；　what　your　wife　is
suffering　from？　Do　you　not　know　what　her　sickness　is？〃

〃No；　truly　not。　I　am　no　doctor。　How　should　I　know　what　her　sickness
is？〃

〃Then　I　will　tell　you；　Citizen　Simon。　Your　wife　is　suffering　from
the　worst　of　all　complaints；　a　bad　conscience！　Yes；　it　is　a　bad
conscience　that　robs　her　of　her　sleep　and　rest；　it　is　that　which
makes　her　see　the　white；　pale　form　of　the　martyred　queen　in　the
night；　and　read　the　word　'murderer'　in　her　eyes。〃

〃He　is　right！…oh；　he　is　right！〃　groaned　Jeanne　Marie；　falling　on　her
knees。　〃I　am　to　blame　for　her　death；　for　I　denounced　Toulan　to　the
authorities　just　when　he　was　on　the　point　of　saving　her。　I　tortured
her！oh；　cruelly　tortured　her；　and　I　laughed　when　she　ascended　the
scaffold；　and　I　laughed　too；　even　when　she　gave　me　that　dreadful
look。　But　I　have　bitterly　regretted　it　since；　and　now　she　gnaws　at
me　like　a　scorpion。　I　wanted　to　drive　her　away　from　me　at　first；　and
therefore　I　was　cruel　to　her　son；　for　I　wanted　to　put　an　end　to　the
fearful　remorse　that　was　tormenting　me。　But　it　grew　even　more
powerful　within　me。　The　more　I　beat　the　boy；　the　more　his　tears
moved　me；　and　often　I　thought　I　should　die　when　I　heard　him　cry　and
moan。　Yes；　yes；　it　is　a　bad　conscience　that　has　made　me　sick　and
miserable！　But　I　will　do　right　after　this。　I　repentoh；　I　repent！
Here　I　lay　my　hand　on　the　heart　of　this　child　and　swear　to　his
murdered　mother　I　will　do　right　again！　I　swear　that　I　will　free　her
son！　I　swear　by　all　that　is　sacred　in　heaven　and　on　earth　that　I
will　die　myself；　unless　we　succeed　in　freeing　this　child！　I*　swear
to　you；　Marie　Antoinette；　that　I　will　free　him。　But　will　you　forgive
me　even　then？　Will　you　have　rest　in　your　poor　grave；　and　not　come　to
my　bedside　and　condemn　me　and　accuse　me　with　your　sad；　dreadful
eyes？〃

〃Free　her　son；　Jeanne　Marie；〃　said　Toulan；　solemnly；　〃and　his　mother
will　forgive　you；　and　her　hallowed　shade　will　no　longer　disturb　your
sleep；　for　you　will　then　have　restored　to　her　the　peace　of　the
grave！　But　you；　Citizen　Simon；　will　you　too　not　swear　that　you　will
faithfully　assist　in　releasing　the　royal　prince？　Do　you　not　know
that　conscience　is　awake　in　your　heart　too；　and　compels　you　to　have
compassion　on　the　poor　boy？〃

〃I　know　it；　yes；　I　know　it；〃　muttered　Simon；　confused。　〃His　gentle
eyes　and　his　sad　bearing　have　made　me　as　weak　and　as　soft　as　an　old
woman。　It　is　high　time　that　I　should　be　rid　of　the　youngster；　else
it　will　be　with　me　just　as　it　is　with　my　wife；　and　I　shall　have
convulsions　and　see　ghosts　with　daggers　in　their　eyes。　And　so；　in
order　to　remain　a　strong　man　and　have　a　good　conscience　and　a　brave
heart；　I　must　be　rid　of　the　boy；　and　must　know　that　I　have　done　him
some　service；　and　have　been　his　deliverer。　And　so　I　swear　by　the
sacred　republic；　and　by　our　hallowed　freedom；　that　I　will　help　you
and　do　all　that　in　me　lies　to　release　little　Capet　and　get　him　away
from　here。　I　hope　you　will　be　satisfied　with　my　oath；　Toulan；　for
there　is　nothing　for　me　more　sacred　than　the　republic　and　freedom。〃

〃I　am　satisfied；　Simon；　and　I　trust　you。　And　now　let　us　talk　it　all
over　and　consider　it；　my　dear　allies。　The　whole　plan　of　the　escape
is　formed　in　my　head；　all　the　preparations　are　made；　and　if　you　will
faithfully　follow　all　that　I　bid　you；　in　one　week's　time　you　will　be
free　and　happy。〃

〃So　soon　as　a　week！〃　cried　Simon；　delightedly。　〃Yes；　in　a　week；　for
it　happens　fortunately　that　one　of　the　officials　of　the　Public
Safety　service　is　dangerously　sick　and　has　been　carried　to　the　Hotel
Dien。　Doctor　Naudin　says　that　he　can　live　but　three　days　longer；　and
then　the　post　will　be　vacant。　We　must　be　active；　therefore；　and　take
measures　for　you　to　gain　the　place。　Now　listen　to　me；　and　mark　my
words。〃

They　had　a　long　conversation　by　the　bedside　of　the　little　prince；
and　they　saw　that　he　perfectly　understood　the　whole　plan　which
Toulan　unfolded　in　eloquent　words；　for　his　looks　took　on　a　great
deal　of　expression；　he　fixed　his　eyes　constantly　on　Toulan；　and　a
smile　played　about　his　lips。

Simon　and　Simon's　wife　were　also　perfectly　satisfied　with　Toulan's
communication；　and　repeated　their　readiness　to　do　every　thing　to
further　the　release　of　the　prince；　if　they　in　return　could　only　be
removed　from　the　Temple。

〃I　will　at　once　take　the　steps　necessary　to　the　success　of　my　plan；〃
said　Toulan；　taking　his　leave　with　a　friendly　nod；　and　kissing　the
boy's　hand　respectfully。

〃Fidele；〃　whispered　Louis；　〃Fidele；　do　you　believe　that　I　shall　be
saved？〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；　my　dear　prince。　The　grace　of　God　and　the　blessing
of　your　exalted　parents　will　be　our　helpers　in　bringing　this　good
work　to　a　completion。　Farewell；　and　preserve　as　long　as　you　remain
here　the　same　mood　that　I　found　you　in。　Show　little　interest　in　what
goes　on；　and　appear　numb　and　stupid。　I　shall　not　come　again；　for
after　this　I　must　work　for　you　outside　of　the　prison。　But　Doctor
Naudin　will　come　every　day　to　see　you；　and　on　the　day　of　your　flight
I　shall　be　by　your　side。　Till　then；　God　bless　you；　my　dear　prince！〃

Toulan　left　the　prison　of　the　little　Capet　and　repaired　at　once　to
the　H6tel　Dieu；　where　he　had　a　long　conversation　with　Doctor　Naudin。
At　the　end　of　it；　the　directo