derues-第10章

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ltered？　and　do　you　not　think　my　husband　will　be　shocked　when　he　sees　me　like　this？〃

〃You　are　unnecessarily　anxious；〃　replied　Derues；　〃it　is　rather　a　failing　of　yours。　　Did　I　not　see　you　last　year　tormenting　yourself　about　Edouard's　health；　when　he　was　not　even　thinking　of　being　ill？　I　am　not　so　soon　alarmed。　　My　own　old　profession；　and　that　of　chemistry；　which　I　studied　in　my　youth；　have　given　me　some　acquaintance　with　medicine。　　I　have　frequently　been　consulted；　and　have　prescribed　for　patients　whose　condition　was　supposed　to　be　desperate；　and　I　can　assure　you　I　have　never　seen　a　better　and　stronger　constitution　than　yours。　　Try　to　calm　yourself；　and　do　not　call　up　chimeras；　because　a　mind　at　ease　is　the　greatest　enemy　of　illness。　　This　depression　will　pass；　and　then　you　will　regain　your　strength。〃

〃May　God　grant　it！　for　I　feel　weaker　every　day。〃

〃We　have　still　some　business　to　transact　together。　　The　notary　at　Beauvais　writes　that　the　difficulties　which　prevented　his　paying　over　the　inheritance　of　my　wife's　relation；　Monsieur　Duplessis；　have　mostly　disappeared。　　I　have　a　hundred　thousand　livres　at　my　disposal；that　is　to　say；　at　yours；and　in　a　month　at　latest　I　shall　be　able　to　pay　off　my　debt。　　You　ask　me　to　be　sincere；〃　he　continued；　with　a　tinge　of　reproachful　irony；　〃be　sincere　in　your　turn；　madame；　and　acknowledge　that　you　and　your　husband　have　both　felt　uneasy；　and　that　the　delays　I　have　been　obliged　to　ask　for　have　not　seemed　very　encouraging　to　you？〃

〃It　is　true；〃　she　replied；　〃　but　we　never　questioned　your　good　faith。〃

〃And　you　were　right。　　One　is　not　always　able　to　carry　out　one's　intentions；　events　can　always　upset　our　calculations；　but　what　really　is　in　our　power　is　the　desire　to　do　rightto　be　honest；　and　I　can　say　that　I　never　intentionally　wronged　anyone。　　And　now。　　I　am　happy　in　being　able　to　fulfil　my　promises　to　you。　　I　trust　when　I　am　the　owner　of　Buisson…Souef　you　will　not　feel　obliged　to　leave　it。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　should　like　to　come　occasionally；　for　all　my　happy　recollections　are　connected　with　it。　　Is　it　necessary　for　me　to　accompany　you　to　Beauvais？〃

〃Why　should　you　not？　　The　change　would　do　you　good。〃

She　looked　up　at　him　and　smiled　sadly。　　〃I　am　not　in　a　fit　state　to　undertake　it。〃

〃Not　if　you　imagine　that　you　are　unable；　certainly。　　Come；　have　you　any　confidence　in　me？〃

〃The　most　complete　confidence；　as　you　know。〃

〃Very　well；　then：　trust　to　my　care。　　This　very　evening　I　will　prepare　a　draught　for　you　to　take　to…morrow　morning；　and　I　will　even　now　fix　the　duration　of　this　terrible　malady　which　frightens　you　so　much。　　In　two　days　I　shall　fetch　Edouard　from　his　school　to　celebrate　the　beginning　of　your　convalescence；　and　we　will　start；　at　latest；　on　February　1st。　　You　are　astonished　at　what　I　say；　but　you　shall　see　if　I　am　not　a　good　doctor；　and　much　cleverer　than　many　who　pass　for　such　merely　because　the　have　obtained　a　diploma。〃

〃Then；　doctor；　I　will　place　myself　in　your　hands。〃

〃Remember　what　I　say。　　You　will　leave　this　on　February　1st。〃

〃To　begin　this　cure；　can　you　ensure　my　sleeping　to…night？〃

〃Certainly。　　I　will　go　now；　and　send　my　wife　to　you。　　She　will　bring　a　draught；　which　you　must　promise　to　take。〃

〃I　will　exactly　follow　your　prescriptions。　　Goodnight；　my　friend。〃

〃Good…night；　madame；　and　take　courage〃；　and　bowing　low；　he　left　the　room。

The　rest　of　the　evening　was　spent　in　preparing　the　fatal　medicine。　The　next　morning；　an　hour　or　two　after　Madame　de　Lamotte　had　swallowed　it；　the　maid　who　had　given　it　to　her　came　and　told　Derues　the　invalid　was　sleeping　very　heavily　and　snoring；　and　asked　if　she　ought　to　be　awoke。　　He　went　into　the　room；　and；　opening　the　curtains；　approached　the　bed。　　He　listened　for　some　time；　and　recognised　that　the　supposed　snoring　was　really　he　death…rattle。　　He　sent　the　servant　off　into　the　country　with　a　letter　to　one　of　his　friends；　telling　her　not　to　return　until　the　Monday　following；　February　3rd。　　He　also　sent　away　his　wife；　on　some　unknown　pretext；　and　remained　alone　with　his　victim。

So　terrible　a　situation　ought　to　have　troubled　the　mind　of　the　most　hardened　criminal。　　A　man　familiar　with　murder　and　accustomed　to　shed　blood　might　have　felt　his　heart　sink；　and；　in　the　absence　of　pity；　might　have　experienced　disgust　at　the　sight　of　this　prolonged　and　useless　torture；　but　Derues；　calm　and　easy；　as　if　unconscious　of　evil；　sat　coolly　beside　the　bed；　as　any　doctor　might　have　done。　　From　time　to　time　he　felt　the　slackening　pulse；　and　looked　at　the　glassy　and　sightless　eyes　which　turned　in　their　orbits；　and　he　saw　without　terror　the　approach　of　night；　which　rendered　this　awful　'tete…a…tete'　even　more　horrible。　　The　most　profound　silence　reigned　in　the　house；　the　street　was　deserted；　and　the　only　sound　heard　was　caused　by　an　icy　rain　mixed　with　snow　driven　against　the　glass；　and　occasionally　the　howl　of　the　wind；　which　penetrated　the　chimney　and　scattered　the　ashes。　　A　single　candle　placed　behind　the　curtains　lighted　this　dismal　scene；　and　the　irregular　flicker　of　its　flame　cast　weird　reflections　and　dancing　shadows　an　the　walls　of　the　alcove。　　There　came　a　lull　in　the　wind；　the　rain　ceased；　and　during　this　instant　of　calm　someone　knocked；　at　first　gently；　and　then　sharply；　at　the　outer　door。　　Derues　dropped　the　dying　woman's　hand　and　bent　forward　to　listen。　　The　knock　was　repeated；　and　he　grew　pale。　　He　threw　the　sheet；　as　if　it　were　a　shroud；　over　his　victim's　head　drew　the　curtains　of　the　alcove；　and　went　to　the　door。　　〃Who　is　there？〃　he　inquired。

〃Open；　Monsieur　Derues；〃　said　a　voice　which　he　recognised　as　that　of　a　woman　of　Chartres　whose　affairs　he　managed；　and　who　had　entrusted　him　with　sundry　deeds　in　order　that　he　might　receive　the　money　due　to　her。　　This　woman　had　begun　to　entertain　doubts　as　to　Derues'　honesty；　and　as　she　was　leaving　Paris　the　next　day；　had　resolved　to　get　the　papers　out　of　his　hands。

〃Open　the　door；〃　she　repeated。　　〃Don't　you　know　my　voice？〃

〃I　am　sorry　I　cannot　let　you　in。　　My　servant　is　out：　she　has　taken　the　key　and　locked　the　door　outside。〃

〃You　must　let　me　in；〃　the　woman　continued；　〃it　is　absolutely　necessary　I　should　speak　to　you。〃

〃Come　to…morrow。〃

〃I　leave　Paris　to…morrow；　and　I　must　have　those　papers　to…night。〃

He　again　refused；　but　she　spoke　firmly　and　decidedly。　　〃I　must　come　in。　　The　porter　said　you　were　all　out；　but；　from　the　rue　des　Menetriers　I　could　see　the　light　in　your　room。　　My　brother　is　with　me；　and　I　left　him　below。　　I　shall　call　him　if　you　don't　open　the　door。〃

〃Come　in；　then；〃　said　Derues；　〃your　papers　are　in　the　sitting…room。　Wait　here；　and　I　will　fetch　them。〃　　The　woman　looked　at　him　and　took　his　hand。　　〃Heavens！　how　pale　you　are！　　What　is　the　matter？〃

〃Nothing　is　the　matter：　will　you　wait　here？　　〃But　she　would　not　release　his　arm；　and　followed　him　into　the　sitting…room；　where　Derues　began　to　seek　hurriedly　among　the　various　papers　which　covered　a　table。　　〃Here　they　are；〃　he　said；　〃now　you　can　go。〃

〃Really；〃　said　the　woman；　examining　her　deeds　carefully；　〃never　yet　did　I　see　you　in　such　a　hurry　to　give　up　things　which　don't　belong　to　you。　　But　do　hold　that　candle　steadily；　your　hand　is　shaking　so　that　I　cannot　see　to　read。〃

At　that　moment　the　silence　which　prevailed　all　round　was　broken　by　a　cry　of　anguish；　a　long　groan　proceeding　from　the　chamber　to　the　right　of　the　sitting…room。

〃What　is　that？〃　cried　the　woman。　　〃Surely　it　is　a　dying　person！〃

The　sense　of　the　danger　which　threatened　made　Derues　pull　himself　together。　　〃Do　not　be　alarmed；〃　he　said。　　〃My　wife　has　been　seized　with　a　violent　fever；　she　is　quite　delirious　now；　and　that　is　why　I　told　the　porter　to　let　no　one　come　up。〃

But　the　groans　in　the　next　room　continued；　and　the　unwelcome　visitor；　overcome　by　terror　which　she　could　neither　surmount　nor　explain；　took　a　hasty　leave；　and　descended　the　staircase　with　all　possible　rapidity。　　As　soon　as　he　could　close　the　door；　Derues　returned　to　the　bedroom。

Nature　frequently　collects　all　her　expiring　strength　at　the　last　moment　of　existence。　　The　unhappy　lady　struggled　beneath　her　coverings；　the　agony　she　suffered　had　given　her　a　convulsive　energy；　and　inarticulate　sounds　proceeded　from　her　mouth。　　Derues　approached　and　held　her　on　the　bed。　　She　sank　back　on　the　pillow；　shuddering　convulsively；　her　hands　plucking　and　twisting　the　sheets；　her　teeth　chattering　and　biting　the　loose　hair　which　fell　over　her　face　and　shoulders。　　〃Water！　water！〃　she　cried；　and　then；　〃Edouard；my　husband！Edouard！is　it　you？〃　Then　rising　with　a　last　effort；　she　seized　her　murderer　by　the　arm；　repeating；　〃Edouard！oh！〃　and　then　fell　heavily；　dragging　Derues　down　with　her。　　His　face　was　against　hers；　he　raised　his　head；　but　the　dying　hand；　clenched　in　agony；　had　closed　upon　him　like　a　vise。　The　icy　fingers　seemed　made　of　iron　and　could　not　be　opened；　as　though　the　victim　had　seized　on　her　assassin　as　a　prey；　and　clung　to　the　proof　of　his　crime。

Derues　at　last　freed　himself；　and　putting　his　hand　on　her　heart；　〃It　is　over；〃　he　remarked；　〃she　has　been　a　long　time　about　it。　　What　o'clock　is　it？　　Nine！　　She　has　struggled　against　death　for　twelve　hours！〃

While　the　limbs　still　retained　a　little　warmth；　he　drew　the　feet　together；　crossed　the　hands　on　the　breast；　and　placed　the　body　in　the　chest。　　When　he　had　locked　it　up；　he　remade　the　bed；　undressed　himself；　and　slept　comfortably　in　the　other　one。

The　next　day；　February　1st；　the　day　he　had　fixed　for　the　〃going　out〃　of　Madame　de　Lamotte；　he　caused　the　chest　to　be　placed　on　a　hand…cart　and　carried　at　about　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning　to　the　workshop　of　a　carpenter　of　his　acquaintance　called　Mouchy；　who　dwelt　near　the　Louvre。　　The　two　commissionaires　employed　had　been　selected　in　distant　quarters；　and　did　not　know　each　other。　　They　were　well　paid；　and　each　presented　with　a　bottle　of　wine。　　These　men　could　never　be　traced。　　Derues　requested　the　carpenter's　wife　to　allow　the　chest　to　remain　in　the　large　workshop；　saying　he　had　forgotten　something　at　his　own　house；　and　would　return　to　fetch　it　in　three　hours。　　But；　instead　of　a　few　hours；　he　left　it　for　two　whole　dayswhy；　one　does　not　know；　but　it　may　be　supposed　that　he　wanted　the　time　to　dig　a　trench　in　a　sort　of　vault　under　the　staircase　leading　to　the　cellar　in　the　rue　de　la　Mortellerie。　　Whatever　the　cause；　the　delay　might　have　been　fatal；　and　did　occasion　an　unforeseen　encounter　which　nearly　betrayed　him。　　But　of　all　the　actors　in　this　scene　he　alone　knew　the　real　danger　he　incurred；　and　his　coolness　never　deserted　him　for　a　moment。

The　third　day；　as　he　walked　alongside　the　handcart　on　which　the　chest　was　being　conveyed；　he　was　accosted　at　Saint　Germain　1'Auxerrois　by　a　creditor　who　had　obtained　a　writ　of　execution　against　him；　and　at　the　imperative　sign　made　by　this　man　the　porter　stopped。　　The　creditor　attacked　Derues　violently；　reproaching　him　for　his　bad　faith　in　language　which　was　both　energetic　and　uncomplimentary；　to　which　the　latter　replied　in　as　conciliatory　a　manner　as　he　could　assume。　　But　it　was　impossible　to　silence　the　enemy；　and　an　increasing　crowd　of　idlers　began　to　assemble　round　them。

〃When　will　you　pay　me？〃　demanded　the　creditor。　　〃I　have　an　execution　against　you。　　What　is　there　in　that　box？　　Valuables　which　you　cart　away　secretly；　in　order　to　l