marie antoinette and her son-第95部分

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the　H6tel　Dieu；　where　he　had　a　long　conversation　with　Doctor　Naudin。
At　the　end　of　it；　the　director　of　the　hospital　entered　his　carriage
and　drove　to　the　city　hall；　in　whose　largest　chamber　a　committee　of
the　Public　Safety　officials　were　holding　a　public　meeting。　With
earnest　and　urgent　words　the　revered　and　universally　valued
physician　gave　the　report　about　the　visits　which　he　had　made　at　the
Temple　for　some　days　at　the　command　of　the　authorities；　and　about
the　condition　of　affairs　there。　Petion　the　elder；　the　presiding
officer　of　the　committee；　listened　to　the　report　with　a　grave
repose；　and　the　picture　of　the　low　health　of　the　〃little　Capet；〃
while　he　paid　the　most　marked　attention　to　that　part　of　the　report
which　concerned　the　Simons。

〃Citizen　Simon　has　deserved　much　of　the　country；　and　he　is　one　of
the　most　faithful　supporters　of　the　one　and　indivisible　republic；〃
said　Petion；　when　Doctor　Naudin　ended　his　report。　〃The　republic
must；　like　a　grateful　mother；　show　gratitude　to　her　loyal　sons；　and
care　for　them　tenderly。　So　tell　us；　Citizen　Naudin；　what　must　be
done　in　order　to　restore　health　to　Citizen　Simon　and　his　wife。〃

〃They　are　both　sick　from　the　same　cause；　and；　therefore；　they　both
require　the　same　remedy。　That　remedy　is；　a　change　of　air　and　a
change　of　location。　Let　Simon　have　another　post；　where　he　shall　be
allowed　to　exercise　freely　out　of　doors；　and　where　he　shall　not　be
compelled　to　breathe　only　the　confined　air　of　a　cell；　and　let　his
wife　not　be　forced　to　listen　to　the　whining　and　the　groaning　of　the
little　sick　Capet。　In　one　word；　give　to　them　both　liberty　to　move
around；　and　the　free　air；　and　they　will；　without　any　doubt；　and
within　a　short　time；　regain　their　health。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Petion；　〃the　poor　people　lead　a　sad　life　in　the
Temple；　and　are　compelled　to　breathe　the　air　that　the　last　scions　of
tyranny　have　contaminated　with　their　poisonous　breaths。　We　owe　it　to
them　to　release　them　from　this　bad　atmosphere；　in　consideration　of
their　faithful　and　zealous　service　to　the　country。　Citizen　Simon　has
always　taken　pains　to　repair　the　great　neglect　in　Capet's　education；
and　to　make　the　worthless　boy　prove　some　day　a　worthy　son　of　the
republic。〃

〃But　even　if　Simon　should　remain　in　the　Temple；　he　would　not　be　able
to　go　on　much　longer　with　the　education　of　the　boy；〃　said　the
hospital　director；　with　a　shrug。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that；　citizen　doctor？〃　asked　Petion；　with　a
pleasant　lighting　up　of　his　eyes。

〃I　mean　that　the　boy　has　not　a　long　time　to　live；　for　he　is
suffering　at　once　from　consumption　and　softening　of　the　brain；　and
the　latter　disease　will　soon　reduce　him　to　an　idiot；　and　render　him
incapable　of　receiving　instruction。〃

〃You　are　convinced　that　the　son　of　the　tyrants　will　not　recover？〃
asked　Petion；　with　a　strained；　eager　glance。

〃My　careful　examination　of　his　case　has　convinced　me　that　he　has　but
a　short　time　to　live；　and　that　he　will　spend　the　larger　part　of　this
time　in　an　idiotic　state。　On　this　account　Simon　ought　to　be　removed
from　the　Temple；　in　order　that　his　enemies　may　not　be　able　to
circulate　a　report　about　this　zealous　and　worthy　servant　of　the
republic；　that　he　is　guilty　of　the　death　of　little　Capetthat
Simon's　method　of　bringing　him　up　killed　him。　And　besides；　in　order
that　the　same　charge　should　not　be　laid　to　the　one　and　great
republic；　and　it　be　accused　of　cruelty　to　a　poor　sick　child；　kindly
attentions　should　be　bestowed　on　him。〃

Petion's　countenance　clouded；　and　his　eyes　rested　on　the　physician
with　a　sinister；　searching　expression。

〃You　have　a　great　deal　of　sensibility；　doctor；　and　you　appear　to
forget　that　the　boy　is　a　criminal　by　birth；　and　that　the　republic
can　have　no　special　sympathy　with　him。〃

〃For　me；〃　answered　Naudin；　with　simplicity；　〃every　sick　person　at
whose　bed　I　am　called　to　stand；　is　a　poor；　pitiable　Iranian　being；
and　I　never　stop　to　think　whether　be　is　a　criminal　or　not；　but
merely　that　he　is　a　sufferer；　and　then　I　endeavor　to　discover　the
means　to　assist　him。　The　hallowed　and　indivisible　republic；　however；
is　an　altogether　too　magnanimous　and　exalted　mother　of　all　her
children　not　to　have　pity　on　those　who　are　reduced　to　idiocy；　and　in
sore　sickness。　The　republic　is　like　the　sun；　which　pours　its　beams
even　into　the　dungeon　of　the　criminal；　and　shines　upon　the　just　and
unjust　alike。〃

〃And　what　do　you　desire　that　the　republic　should　do　for　the
offspring　of　tyrants？〃　asked　Petion；　peevishly。

〃I　desire　not　much；〃　answered　Naudin；　with　a　smile。　〃Let　me　be
permitted　to　visit　the　sick　child　from　time　to　time；　and　in　his
hopeless　condition　to　procure　him　a　little　relief　from　his
sufferings　at　least；　and　let　him　be　treated　like　the　child　he　is。
Let　a　little　diversion　be　allowed　him。　If　it　is　not　possible　or
practicable　for　him　to　play　with　children　of　his　age；　let　him　at
least　have　some　playthings　for　his　amusement。〃

〃Do　you　demand　in　earnest　that　the　republic　should　condescend　to
provide　playthings　for　her　imprisoned　criminals？〃　asked　Petion；　with
a　scornful　laugh。

〃You　have　commanded　me　to　visit　the　sick　boy　in　the　Temple；　to
examine　his　condition；　and　to　prescribe　the　necessary　remedies　for
his　recovery。　I　can　offer　no　hope　of　recovery　to　the　patient；　but　I
can　afford　him　some　relief　from　his　sufferings。　Some　of　my　medicines
are　called　playthings！　It　lies　with　you　to　decide　whether　the
republic　will　refuse　these　medicines　to　the　sick　one。〃

〃And　you　say　that　the　little　Capet　is　incurable？〃　asked　Petion；
eagerly。

〃Incurable；　citizen　representative。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Petion；　with　a　cold　smile；　〃the　republic　can
afford　to　provide　the　last　of　the　Capets　with　toys。　They　have　for
centuries　toyed　fearlessly　with　the　happiness　of　the　people；　and　the
last　thing　which　the　people　of　France　give　back　to　the　tyrants　is
some　toy　with　which　they　may　amuse　themselves　on　the　way　to
eternity。　Citizen　doctor；　your　demands　shall　be　complied　with。　The
first　place　which　shall　become　vacant　shall　be　given　to　Citizen
Simon；　that　he　may　be　released　from　prison　and　enjoy　his　freedom。
The　little　Capet　will　be　provided　with　playthings；　and；　besides；　you
are　empowered　to　give　him　all　needful　remedies　for　his　relief。　It　is
your　duty　to　care　for　the　sick　child　until　its　death。〃




CHAPTER　XXVII。

THE　HOBBY…HORSE。


In　accordance　with　the　instructions　of　Petion；　playthings　were
procured　and　carried　into　the　gloomy　chamber　of　the　prince　on　the
very　next　day；　and　set　by　the　side　of　the　sick　boy。　But　Mistress
Simon　labored　in　vain　trying　to　amuse　the　little　Louis　with　them。
The　men　danced；　the　wooden　cocks　crowed；　the　dogs　barked；　and　to　all
these　sounds　the　child　paid　no　heed；　it　did　not　once　open　its　eyes；
nor　care　in　the　least　for　the　many…colored　things　which　the
officials　had　brought　him。

〃We　must　try　something　else；〃　said　the　compassionate　officer。　〃Do
you　know　any　plaything　which　would　be　likely　to　please　little　Louis
Capet？〃

〃Give　him　a　riding…horse；〃　cried　Simon；　with　a　coarse　laugh。　〃I　am
convinced　if　the　obstinate　youngster　should　hear　that　there　was　a
riding…horse　outside；　and　that　he　might　ride　through　Paris；　he　would
be　well　on　the　spot　and　get　up。　It　is　pure　deceit；　his　lying　there
so　pale　and　without　interest　in　any　thing　about　him。〃

〃You　are　very　cruel；　citizen；〃　muttered　the　official；　with　a
compassionate　glance　at　the　child。

〃Cruel？　Yes；　I　am　cruel！〃　said　Simon；　grimly。　〃But　it　is　the　cursed
prison　air　that　has　made　me　so。　If　I　stay　here　a　week　longer；　Jeanne
Marie　will　die；　and　I　shall　become　crazy。　The　director　of　the
hospital　told　us　this；　and　you　know；　citizen；　that　he　is　the　most
clever　doctor　in　all　France。　See　if　you　would　not　be　cruel　if　you
had　such　an　idea　as　that　in　your　head！〃

〃Well；　citizen；　you　have　at　least　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　that
it　will　not　last　long；〃　answered　the　officer；　consolingly。　〃The
first　vacancy　is　to　be　given　to　you。〃

〃Well；　I　hope　it　will　come　soon；　then；〃　said　Simon；　with　a　sigh。　〃I
will　take　a　vow　to　you。　If；　in　a　week；　I　shall　be　released　from　this
place；　and　get　a　good　situation；　I　will　give　little　Capet　a　horse　to
remember　me　by。　That　is；　not　a　horse　on　which　he　might　ride　out　of
prison；　but　a　wooden　one；　on　which　he　can　ride　in　prison。　Say；
little　Capet；〃　called　Simon；　stooping　over　the　bed　of　the　child；
〃would　you　not　like　to　have　a　nice　wooden　horse　to　play　with？〃

Over　the　pale　lips　of　the　boy　played　the　faint　tint　of　a　smile；　and
he　opened　his　eyes。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　softly〃　yes；　I　should　like　to
have　a　wooden　horse；　and　I　should　have　a　good　time　with　it。〃

〃Come；　citizen；〃　said　Simon；　solemnly；　〃I　take　you　to　witness　my
vow。　If　I　receive　another　place；　I　give　a　hobby…horse　to　little
Capet。　You　grant　me　the　privilege；　citizen？〃

〃I　allow　you；　Citizen　Simon；　and　I　will　report　the　matter　to　the
Public　Welfare　Committee；　that　it　shall　surprise　no　one　by　and　by；
and　I　am　sure　no　one　will　gainsay　you　in　your　praiseworthy　offer。
For　it　certainly　is　praiseworthy　to　prepare　a　pleasure　for　a　sick
child；　and　the　great　republic；　which　is　the　gracious　mother　of　all
Frenchmen；　will　pity　the　poor　child；　too。　I　wish　you　success；
citizen；　in　the　fulfilment　of　all　your　hopes；　and　trust　that　you
will　speedily　be　released　from　your　trying　imprisonment。〃

And；　in　fact；　this　release　did　not　have　to　be　waited　for　long。　A　few
days　brought　the　accomplishment　of　Doctor　Naudin's　prophecy；　and　the
official　guard；　who　was　then　sick　at　the　Hotel　Dieu；　died。　The
director　of　the　hospital　hastened　to　inform　the　authorities　of　this
event；　and　on　the　same　day　Simon　was　appointed　his　successor。　The
same　official　who　had　brought　the　sick　prince　the　playthings；　came
again　to　inform　Simon；　of　his　release；　and　was　delighted　at　the
stormy　outbreak　of　rapturous　joy　with　which　the　tidings　were
received。

〃We　will　be　off　directly；〃　cried　Simon。　〃Our　things　have　all　been
packed　for　three　days；　and　every　thing　is　ready。〃

〃But　you　must　wait　patiently　till　to…morrow；　my　friends；〃　said　the
official；　with　a　smile。　〃Your　successor　cannot　enter　upon　his　duties
here　in　the　Temple　before　tomorrow　morning　at　ten　o'clock；　and　till
then　you　must　be　content　to　wait　quietly。〃

〃That　is