derues-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃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　laugh　at　my　just　claims；　as　you　did　two　years　ago？〃

Derues　shuddered　all　over；　he　exhausted　himself　in　protestations；　but　the　other；　almost　beside　himself；　continued　to　shout。

〃Oh！〃　he　said；　turning　to　the　crowd；　〃all　these　tricks　and　grimaces　and　signs　of　the　cross　are　no　good。　　I　must　have　my　money；　and　as　I　know　what　his　promises　are　worth；　I　will　pay　myself！　　Come；　you　knave；　make　haste。　　Tell　me　what　there　is　in　that　box；　open　it；　or　I　will　fetch　the　police。〃

The　crowd　was　divided　between　the　creditor　and　debtor；　and　possibly　a　free　fight　would　have　begun；　but　the　general　attention　was　distracted　by　the　arrival　of　another　spectator。　　A　voice　heard　above　all　the　tumult　caused　a　score　of　heads　to　turn；　it　was　the　voice　of　a　woman　crying：

〃The　abominable　history　of　Leroi　de　Valine；　condemned　to　death　at　the　age　of　sixteen　for　having　poisoned　his　entire　family！〃

Continually　crying　her　wares；　the　drunken；　staggering　woman　approached　the　crowd；　and　striking　out　right　and　left　with　fists　and　elbows；　forced　her　way　to　Derues。

〃Ah！　ah！〃　said　she；　after　looking　him　well　over；　〃is　it　you；　my　gossip　Derues！　　Have　you　again　a　little　affair　on　hand　like　the　one　when　you　set　fire　to　your　shop　in　the　rue　Saint…Victor？〃

Derues　recognised　the　hawker　who　had　abused　him　on　the　threshold　of　his　shop　some　years　previously；　and　whom　he　had　never　seen　since。　〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　continued；　〃you　had　better　look　at　me　with　your　little　round　cat's　eyes。　　Are　you　going　to　say　you　don't　know　me？〃

Derues　appealed　to　his　creditor。　　〃You　see；〃　he　said；　〃to　what　insults　you　are　exposing　me。　　I　do　not　know　this　woman　who　abuses　me。〃

〃What！you　don't　know　me！　　You　who　accused　me　of　being　a　thief！　　But　luckily　the　Maniffets　have　been　known　in　Paris　as　honest　people　for　generations；　while　as　for　you〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Derues；　〃this　case　contains　valuable　wine　which　I　am　commissioned　to　sell。　　To…morrow　I　shall　receive　the　money　for　it；　to…morrow；　in　the　course　of　the　day；　I　will　pay　what　I　owe　you。　　But　I　am　waited　for　now；　do　not　in　Heaven's　name　detain　me　longer；　and　thus　deprive　me　of　the　means　of　paying　at　all。〃

〃Don't　believe　him；　my　good　man；〃　said　the　hawker；　〃lying　comes　natural　to　him　always。〃

〃Sir；　I　promise　on　my　oath　you　shall　be　paid　tomorrow；　you　had　better　trust　the　word　of　an　honest　man　rather　than　the　ravings　of　a　drunken　woman。〃

The　creditor　still　hesitated；　but；　another　person　now　spoke　in　Derues'　favour；　it　was　the　carpenter　Mouchy；　who　had　inquired　the　cause　of　the　quarrel。

〃For　God's　sake；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃let　the　gentleman　go　on。　　That　chest　came　from　my　workshop；　and　I　know　there　is　wine　inside　it；　he　told　my　wife　so　two　days　ago。〃

〃Will　you　be　surety　for　me；　my　friend？〃　asked　Derues。

〃Certainly　I　will；　I　have　not　known　you　for　ten　years　in　order　to　leave　you　in　trouble　and　refuse　to　answer　for　you。　　What　the　devil　are　respectable　people　to　be　stopped　like　this　in　a　public　place？　Come；　sir；　believe　his　word；　as　I　do。〃

After　some　more　discussion；　the　porter　was　at　last　allowed　to　proceed　with　his　hand…cart。　　The　hawker　wanted　to　interfere；　but　Mouchy　warned　her　off　and　ordered　her　to　be　silent。　　〃Ah！　ah！〃　she　cried；　〃what　does　it　matter　to　me？　　Let　him　sell　his　wine　if　he　can；　I　shall　not　drink　any　on　his　premises。　　This　is　the　second　time　he　has　found　a　surety　to　my　knowledge；　the　beggar　must　have　some　special　secret　for　encouraging　the　growth　of　fools。　　Good…bye；　gossip　Derues；　you　know　I　shall　be　selling　your　history　some　day。　　Meanwhile

〃The　abominable　history　of　Leroi　de　Valine；　condemned　to　death　at　the　age　of　sixteen　for　having　poisoned　his　entire　family！〃

Whilst　she　amused　the　people　by　her　grimaces　and　grotesque　gestures；　and　while　Mouchy　held　forth　to　some　of　them；　Derues　made　his　escape。　Several　times　between　Saint…Germain　1'Auxerrois　and　the　rue　de　la　Mortellerie　he　nearly　fainted；　and　was　obliged　to　stop。　　While　the　danger　lasted；　he　had　had　sufficient　self…control　to　confront　it　coolly；　but　now　that　he　calculated　the　depth　of　the　abyss　which　for　a　moment　had　opened　beneath　his　feet；　dizziness　laid　hold　on　him。

Other　precautions　now　became　necessary。　　His　real　name　had　been　mentioned　before　the　commissionaire；　and　the　widow　Masson；　who　owned　the　cellar；　only　knew　him　as　Ducoudray。　　He　went　on　in　front；　asked　for　the　keys；　which　till　then　had　been　left　with　her；　and　the　chest　was　got　downstairs　without　any　awkward　questions。　　Only　the　porter　seemed　astonished　that　this　supposed　wine；　which　was　to　be　sold　immediately；　should　be　put　in　such　a　place；　and　asked　if　he　might　come　the　next　day　and　move　it　again。　　Derues　replied　that　someone　was　coming　for　it　that　very　day。　　This　question；　and　the　disgraceful　scene　which　the　man　had　witnessed；　made　it　necessary　to　get　rid　of　him　without　letting　him　see　the　pit　dug　under　the　staircase。　　Derues　tried　to　drag　the　chest　towards　the　hole；　but　all　his　strength　was　insufficient　to　move　it。　　He　uttered　terrible　imprecations　when　he　recognised　his　own　weakness；　and　saw　that　he　would　be　obliged　to　bring　another　stranger；　an　informer　perhaps；　into　this　charnel…house；　where；　as　yet；　nothing　betrayed　his　crimes。　　No　sooner　escaped　from　one　peril　than　he　encountered　another；　and　already　he　had　to　struggle　against　his　own　deeds。　　He　measured　the　length　of　the　trench；　it　was　too　short。　　Derues　went　out　and　repaired　to　the　place　where　he　had　hired　the　labourer　who　had　dug　it　out；　but　he　could　not　find　the　man；　whom　he　had　only　seen　once；　and　whose　name　he　did　not　know。　　Two　whole　days　were　spent　in　this　fruitless　search；　but　on　the　third；　as　he　was　wandering　on　one　of　the　quays　at　the　time　labourers　were　to　be　found　there；　a　mason；　thinking　he　was　looking　for　someone；　inquired　what　he　wanted。　　Derues　looked　well　at　the　man；　and　concluding　from　his　appearance　that　he　was　probably　rather　simpleminded；　asked

〃Would　you　like　to　earn　a　crown　of　three　livres　by　an　easy　job？〃

〃What　a　question；　master！〃　answered　the　mason。　　〃Work　is　so　scarce　that　I　am　going　back　into　the　country　this　very　evening。〃

〃Very　well！　　Bring　your　tools；　spade；　and　pickaxe；　and　follow　me。〃

They　both　went　down　to　the　cellar；　and　the　mason　was　ordered　to　dig　out　the　pit　till　it　was　five　and　a　half　feet　deep。　　While　the　man　worked；　Derues　sat　beside　the　chest　and　read。　　When　it　was　half　done；　the　mason　stopped　for　breath；　and　leaning　on　his　spade；　inquired　why　he　wanted　a　trench　of　such　a　depth。　　Derues；　who　had　probably　foreseen　the　question；　answered　at　once；　without　being　disconcerted

〃I　want　to　bury　some　bottled　wine　which　is　contained　in　this　case。〃

〃Wine！〃　said　the　other。　　〃Ah！　　you　are　laughing　at　me；　because　you　think　I　look　a　fool！　　I　never　yet　heard　of　such　a　recipe　for　improving　wine。〃

〃Where　do　you　come　from？〃

〃D'Alencon。〃

〃Cider　drinker！　　You　were　brought　up　in　Normandy；　that　is　clear。　Well；　you　can　learn　from　me；　Jean…Baptiste　Ducoudray；　a　wine　grower　of　Tours；　and　a　wine　merchant　for　the　last　ten　years；　that　new　wine　thus　buried　for　a　year　acquires　the　quality　and　characteristics　of　the　oldest　brands。〃

〃It　is　possible；〃　said　the　mason；　again　taking　his　spade；　〃but　all　the　same　it　seems　a　little　odd　to　me。〃

When　he　had　finished；　Derues　asked　him　to　help　to　drag　the　chest　alongside　the　trench；　so　that　it　might　be　easier　to　take　out　the　bottles　and　arrange　them：　The　mason　agreed；　but　when　he　moved　the　chest　the　foetid　odour　which　proceeded　from　it　made　him　draw　back；　declaring　that　a　smell　such　as　that　could　not　possibly　proceed　from　wine。　　Derues　tried　to　persuade　him　that　the　smell　came　from　drains　under　the　cellar；　the　pipe　of　which　could　be　seen。　　It　appeared　to　satisfy　him；　and　he　again　took　hold　of　the　chest；　but　immediately　let　it　go　again；　and　said　positively　that　he　could　not　execute　Derues'　orders；　being　convinced　that　the　chest　must　contain　a　decomposing　corpse。　　Then　Derues　threw　himself　at　the　man's　feet　and　acknowledged　that　it　was　the　dead　body　of　a　woman　who　had　unfortunately　lodged　in　his　house；　and　who　had　died　there　suddenly　from　an　unknown　malady；　and　that；　dreading　lest　he　should　be　accused　of　having　murdered　her；　he　had　decided　to　conceal　the　death　and　bury　her　here。

The　mason　listened；　alarmed　at　this　confidence；　and　not　knowing　whether　to　believe　it　or　not。　　Derues　sobbed　and　wept　at　his　feet；　beat　his　breast　and　tore　out　his　hair；　calling　on　God　and　the　saints　as　witnesses　of　his　good　faith　and　his　innocence。　　He　showed　the　book　he　was　reading　while　the　mason　excavated：　it　was　the　Seven　Penitential　Psalms。　　〃How　unfortunate　I　am！〃　he　cried。　　〃This　woman　died　in　my　house；　I　assure　youdied　suddenly；　before　I　could　call　a　doctor。　　I　was　alone；　I　might　have　been　accused；　imprisoned；　perhaps　condemned　for　a　crime　I　did　not　commit。　　Do　not　ruin　me！　　You　leave　Paris　to…night；　you　need　not　be　uneasy；　no　one　would　know　that　I　employed　you；　if　this　unhappy　affair　should　ever　be　discovered。　　I　do　not　know　your　name；　I　do　not　wish　to　know　it；　and　I　tell　you　mine；　it　is　Ducoudray。　　I　give　myself　up　to　you；　but　have　some　pity！if　not　for　me；　yet　for　my　wife　and　my　two　little　childrenfor　these　poor　creatures　whose　only　support　I　am！〃

Seeing　that　the　mason　was　touched；　Derues　opened　the　chest。

〃Look；〃　he　said；　〃examine　the　body　of　this　woman；　does　it　show　any　mark　of　violent　death？　　My　God！〃　he　continued；　joining　his　hands　and　in　tones　of　despairing　agony；〃my　God；　Thou　who　readest　all　hearts；　and　who　knowest　my　innocence；　canst　Thou　not　ordain　a　miracle　to　save　an　honest　man？　　Wilt　Thou　not　command　this　dead　body　to　bear　witness　for　me？〃

The　mason　was　stupefied　by　this　flow　of　language。　　Unable　to　restrain　his　tears；　he　promised　to　keep　silence；　persuaded　that　Derues　was　innocent；　and　that　appearances　only　were　against　him。　　The　latter；　moreover；　did　not　neglect　other　means　of　persuasion；　he　handed　the　mason　two　gold　pieces；　and　between　them　they　buried　the　body　of　Madame　de　Lamotte。

However　extraordinary　this　fact；　which　might　easily　be　supposed　imaginary；　may　appear；　it　certainly　happened。　　In　the　examination　at　his　trial。　　Derues　himself　revealed　it；　repeating　the　story　which　had　satisfied　the　mason。　　He　believed　that　this　man　had　denounced　him：　he　was　mistaken；　for　this　confidant　of　his　crime；　who　might　have　been　the　first　to　put　justice　on　his　track；　never　reappeared；　and　but　for　Derues'　acknowledgment　his　existence　would　have　remained　unknown。

This　first　deed　accomplished；　another　victim　was　already　appointed。　Trembling　at　first　as　to　the　consequences　of　his　forced　confession；　Derues　waited　some　days；　paying；　however；　his　creditor　as　promised。　He　redoubles　his　demonstrations　of　piety；　he　casts　a　furtive　glance　on　everyone　he　meets；　seeking　for　some　expression　of　distrust。　　But　no　one　avoids　him；　or　points　him　out　with　a　raised　finger；　or　whispers　on　seeing　him；　everywhere　he　encounters　the　customary　expression　of　goodwill。　　Nothing　has　changed；　suspicion　passes　over　his　head　without　alighting　there。　　He　is　reassured；　and　resumes　his　work。　　Moreover；　had　he　wished　to　remain　passive；　he　could　not　have　done　so；　he　was　now　compelled　to　follow　that　fatal　law　of　crime　which　d