marie antoinette and her son-第98部分

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When　the　night　came；　and　the　last　rounds　had　been　made　past　the
closed　doors　of　Simon's　rooms；　and　the　officials　had　withdrawn　into
the　great　hall；　where　they　stayed　during　the　night…watch；　there　was
an　unusual　stir　within　Simon's　apartments。　Jeanne　Marie；　who　had
thrown　herself　in　her　clothes　upon　the　bed；　slipped　out　from　beneath
the　coverlet。　Simon；　who　was　standing　near　the　door　listening；
advanced　to　the　little　prince；　and　bade　him　in　a　whisper　to　get　up。

The　child；　which　now　seemed　to　have　recovered　from　its　indifference
and　stupidity；　rose　at　once；　and　at　Simon's　further　command　made　an
effort　to　remove　his　clothes；　and　to　put　on　in　their　place　the
coarse　woollen　suit　and　the　linen　trousers　which　Simon　drew　out　of
his　bed　and　handed　to　him。

The　toilet　was　soon　completed；　and　the　little　prince　looked　with　a
timid；　inquiring　glance　at　Simon；　who　was　regarding　him　with　a
searching　eye。

〃And　the　stockings；　master？〃　he　asked。　〃Do　not　I　have　any
stockings？〃

〃No；〃　growled　Simon〃no；　the　son　of　a　washerwoman　wants　no
stockings。　There　are　some　wooden　shoes　which　will　be　laid　for　you　in
the　basket；　and　you　put　them　on　afterward；　if　we　are　fortunate　in
getting　away。　But　you　must　cut　his　hair；　Jeanne　Marie。　With　long
hair　he　will　not　look　like　a　boy　from　the　people。〃

Jeanne　Marie　shuddered。　〃I　cannot；〃　she　whispered；　〃it　would　seem　to
me　as　if　I　were　cutting　off　his　head；　and　the　woman　in　white　would
stand　behind；　and　pierce　me　through　with　her　great　eyes。〃

〃Come；　come；　that　old　story　again！〃　growled　Simon。　〃Give　me　the
scissors；　then；　I　will　take　care　of　it；　for　the　boy　must　part　with
his　hair　before　he　goes　into　the　basket。　Come；　come；　do　not　shrink
and　curl　up　so；　I　was　not　speaking　of　the　guillotine…basket；　but　of
your　dirty…clothes　basket。　Come；　Capet；　I　want　to　cut　your　hair。〃

He　took　the　great　shears　from　the　work…basket；　and　sat　down　on　a
stool　by　the　side　of　the　table；　on　which　burned　a　dim　tallow　candle；
throwing　an　uncertain　light　through　the　apartment。　〃Come；　Capet！〃

The　boy　stole　up　with　an　insecure　step；　and　shrank　together　when
Simon　seized　him　and　drew　him　between　his　knees。

〃Do　not　hurt　him；　Simon。　Be　careful　of　him；〃　whispered　Jeanne　Marie；
sinking　on　the　floor　and　folding　her　hands。　〃Remember；　husband；　that
she　is　here；　and　that　she　is　looking　at　you；　and　that　she　bores　into
my　head　with　her　eyes　when　you　do　any　harm　to　the　child。〃

Simon　looked　around　with　a　shy　and　anxious　glance。　〃It　is　high　time
that　we　were　away　from　here；〃　he　growled〃high　time；　if　I　am　not　to
be　crazy　as　well　as　you。　Stoop　down；　Capet；　so　that　I　can　cut　your
hair　off。〃　The　child　let　his　head　fall；　but　a　faint；　carefully
suppressed　sob　came　from　his　breast；　while　Simon's　shears　went
clashing　through　his　locks；　severing　them　from　his　head。

〃What　are　you　crying　for；　Capet？〃　asked　Simon；　zealously　going
forward　with　his　work。

〃I　am　so　sorry；　master；　to　have　my　locks　cut　off。〃

〃You　probably　suppose；　you　vain　monkey；　that　your　locks　are
particularly　beautiful？〃

〃Oh；　no；　master！　It　is　only；〃　sighed　the　boy　with　his　eyes　full　of
tears〃　it　is　only　because　her　hand　has　rested　on　them；　and　because
she　kissed　them　when　I　saw　her　the　last　time。〃

〃Who　is　she？〃　asked　Simon；　roughly。

〃My　mamma　queen；〃　replied　Louis　with　such　a　tone　of　tenderness　as　to
bring　tears　into　the　eyes　of　Jeanne　Marie；　and　even　to　move　the
cobbler　himself。

〃Hush！〃　he　said；　softly。　〃Hush！　you　must　never　call　your　mother　by
such　a　name。　After　to…morrow　morning　you　are　to　be　the　son　of　a
washerwoman。　Remember　that；　and　now　be　still！　There；　your　hair　is
done　now。　Pick　up　the　locks　from　the　floor　and　lay　them　on　the
table；　Jeanne　Marie。　We　must　leave　them　here；　that　the　officer　may
find　them　in　the　morning；　and　not　wonder　if　he　does　not　recognize
the　urchin。　Now　we　will　bring　the　wash…basket；　and　see　whether　young
Capet　will　go　into　it。　〃

He　brought　out　of　the　chamber　a　high；　covered　basket；　grasped　the
boy；　thrust　him　in；　and　ordered　him　to　lie　down　on　the　bottom　of　the
basket。

〃He　exactly　fits！〃　said　Simon　to　his　wife。　〃We　will　now　throw　some
dirty　clothes　over　him；　and　he　can　spend　the　night　in　the　basket。　We
must　be　ready　for　any　thing；　for　there　are　many　distrustful
officials；　and　it　would　not　be　the　first　time　that　they　have　made
examinations　in　the　night。　Little　Capet　must　remain　in　the　basket；
and　now　we　will　take　his　substitute　out　of　the　horse。〃

He　went　to　the　hobby…horse；　took　out　some　screws　which　ran　along　the
edges　of　the　upholstery；　and　then　carefully　removed　the　upper　part
of　the　animal　from　the　lower。　In　the　hollow　thus　brought　to　light；
lay　a　pale；　sick　boy；　with　closed　eyesthe　nephew　of　the　Marquis　de
Jarjayes；　the　last　descendant　of　the　Baroness　de　Tarclif；　now；　as
all　his　ancestors　had　done；　to　give　his　life　for　his　king。

Jeanne　Marie　rose　from　her　knees；　took　a　light　from　the　table；　and
approached　the　child；　which　was　lying　in　its　confined　space　as　in　a
coffin。

The　little　prince　had　raised　himself　up　in　his　basket；　and　his　pale
face　was　visible　as　he　looked；　out　of　his　large　blue　eyes；　with
curiosity　and　amazement　at　the　sick　child。

〃He　does　not　look　like　the　king's　son；〃　whispered　Jeanne　Marie；
after　a　long；　searching　study　of　the　pale；　bloated　face　of　the
idiot。

〃We　will　put　his　clothes　on　at　once；　then　he　will　look　all　right；
for　clothes　make　the　man。　Stand　up；　little　one；　you　need　to　get　up。
You　are　not　to　stay　any　longer　in　your　curious　prison。〃

〃He　does　not　understand　you；〃　said　Jeanne　Marie。　〃Do　not　you
remember　that　Toulan　told　us　that　the　boy　is　perfectly　deaf　and
dumb？〃

〃True；　I　had　forgotten　it；　and　yet　it　is　fortunate　for　us；　for　a
deaf　and　dumb　person　cannot　disclose　any　dangerous　secrets。　Come；
Jeanne　Marie；　give　me　the　clothes；　we　will　dress　up　the　little　mute
like　a　prince。〃

They　put　upon　him　the　velvet　jacket；　the　short　trowsers　of　black
cloth；　the　shoes　and　stockings　of　the　prince；　who　still　was　looking
out　of　his　basket　at　the　pale；　softly…moaning　child；　which　was　now
placed　by　Simon　and　his　wife　on　the　mattress。

〃There；〃　said　Simon；　throwing　the　coverlet　over　the　boy；　〃there；　the
royal　prince　is　ready；　and　we　can　say；　as　they　used　to　do　at　St。
Denis；　when　they　brought　a　new　occupant　into　the　royal　vault；　'Le
roi　est　mort；　vive　le　roi！　'　Lie　quietly　in　your　basket；　Capet；　for
you　see　you　are　deposed；　and　your　successor　has　your　throne。〃

〃Master；〃　whispered　Louis；　anxiously　and　timidly；　〃master；　may　I　ask
you　a　question？〃

〃Well；　yes；　you　may；　you　little　nameless　toad。　What　is　it？〃

〃Master；　will　the　sick　child　have　to　die；　if　I　am　saved？〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　youngster？　What　are　you　at？〃

〃I　only　mean；　masterI　only　wanted　to　say　that　if　the　poor　boy　must
die；　if　he　takes　my　place；　whyI　should　rather　stay　here。　For〃

〃Well；　go　on；　stupid！　what　do　you　mean　by　your　'for？'　You　would
rather　remain　here？〃

〃Yes；　master；　if　another　is　to　die　and　be　beaten　and　tortured；　for
blows　hurt　so　much；　and　I　should　not　like　to　have　another　boy
receive　them　instead　of　me。　That　would　be　wicked　in　me；　and〃

〃And　you　are　a　stupid　fellow；　and　do　not　know　any　thing　you　are
talking　about；〃　said　Simon；　shaking　his　fist　at　him。　〃　Just　put　on
airs；　and　speak　another　such　a　foolish　word；　and　I　will　not　only
beat　you　to　death；　but　I　will　beat　this　miserable；　whining　youngster
to　death　too；　and　then　you　will　certainly　be　to　blame　for　it。　Down
with　you　into　the　basket；　and　if　you　venture　to　put　your　head　up
again；　and　if　to…morrow　you　are　not　obedient　and　do　just　what　we　bid
you；　I　will　beat　you　and　him；　both　of　you；　to　pieces；　and　pack　you
into　the　clothes…basket；　and　carry　you　away。　Down　into　the　basket！〃

The　boy　sank　down　out　of　sight；　and　when；　after　a　little　while；
Jeanne　Marie　cautiously　looked　to　see　whether　he　had　fallen　asleep；
she　saw　that　Louis　Charles　was　kneeling　on　the　bottom　of　the　basket；
and　raising　his　folded　hands　up　to　heaven。

〃Simon；〃　she　whispered〃　Simon；　do　not　laugh　at　me　and　scold　me。
You　say；　I　know；　that　there　is　no　God；　and　the　republic　has　done
away　with　Deity；　and　the　Church；　and　the　priests。　But　let　me　once
kneel　down　and　pray　to　Him　with　whom　little　Louis　Charles　is　talking
now；　and　to　whom　the　Austrian　spoke　on　the　scaffold。〃

Without　waiting　for　Simon's　answer；　Jeanne　Marie　sank　upon　her
knees。　Folding　her　hands；　she　leaned　her　forehead　on　the　rim　of　the
basket；　and　softly　whispered；　〃Louis　Charles；　do　you　hear　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　lisped　the　child；　〃I　hear　you。〃

〃I　ask　your　forgiveness；〃　whispered　Jeanne　Marie。　〃I　have　sinned
dreadfully　against　you；　but　remorse　has　taken　hold　of　my　heart；　and
tears　it　in　pieces　and　gives　me　no　rest　day　or　night。　Oh；　forgive
me；　son　of　the　queen；　and　when　you　pray；　implore　your　mother　to
forgive　me　the　evil　that　I　have　done　her。〃

〃I　will　pray　to　my　dear　mamma　queen　for　you；　and　I　know　she　will
forgive　you；　for　she　was　so　very　good；　and　she　always　said　to　me
that　we　must　forgive　our　enemies；　and　I　had　to　swear　to　my　dear　papa
that　I　would　forget　and　forgive　all　the　wrong　that　men　should　do　to
me。　And　so　I　forgive　you；　and　I　will　forget　all　the　bad　things　that
Master　Simon　has　done　to　me；　for　my　papa　and　my　mamma　wished　me　to。〃

Jeanne　Marie　let　her　head　sink　lower；　and　pressed　her　hands　firmly
against　her　lips　to　repress　the　outcries　which　her　remorseful
conscience　prompted。　Simon　seemed　to　understand　nothing　of　this　soft
whispering；　he　was　busily　engaged　in　packing　up　his　things；　and　no
one　saw　him　hastily　draw　his　hand　over　his　eyes；　as　if　he　wanted　to
wipe　away　the　dust　which　suddenly　prevented　his　seeing。

Gradually　it　grew　still　in　the　gloomy　room。　The　whispering　in　the
basket　ceased。　Jeanne　Marie　had　retired　to　her　bed；　and　had　wept
herself　to　sleep。　Upon　the　mattress　lay　the　sick；　sobbing　child；　the
substitute　of　King　Louis　XVII。；　who　was　in　the　basket。

Simon　was　the　only　one　who　was　awake；　and　there　must　have　been
dismal　thoughts　that　busied　him。　He　sat　upon　the　stool　near　the
candle；　which　was　nearly　burned　out；　his　forehead　was　corrugated　and
clouded；　his　lips　were　closely　pressed　together；　and　the　little；
flashing　eyes　looked　out　into　the　empty　space　full　of　anger　and
threatenings。