derues-第2章

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It　would　be　a　curious　study　for　the　moralist　to　observe　how　the　first　thought　of　crime　develops　itself　in　the　recesses　of　the　human　heart；　and　how　this　poisoned　germ　grows　and　stifles　all　other　sentiments；　an　impressive　lesson　might　be　gathered　from　this　struggle　of　two　opposing　principles；　however　weak　it　may　be；　in　perverted　natures。　In　cases　where　judgment　can　discern；　where　there　is　power　to　choose　between　good　and　evil；　the　guilty　person　has　only　himself　to　blame；　and　the　most　heinous　crime　is　only　the　action　of　its　perpetrator。　　It　is　a　human　action；　the　result　of　passions　which　might　have　been　controlled；　and　one's　mind　is　not　uncertain；　nor　one's　conscience　doubtful；　as　to　the　guilt。　　But　how　can　one　conceive　this　taste　for　murder　in　a　young　child；　how　imagine　it；　without　being　tempted　to　exchange　the　idea　of　eternal　sovereign　justice　for　that　of　blind　…fatality？　　How　can　one　judge　without　hesitation　between　the　moral　sense　which　has　given　way　and　the　instinct　which　displays　itself？　how　not　exclaim　that　the　designs　of　a　Creator　who　retains　the　one　and　impels　the　other　are　sometimes　mysterious　and　inexplicable；　and　that　one　must　submit　without　understanding？

〃Do　you　hear　them　coming？〃asked　Pierre。

〃I　hear　nothing；〃　replied　Antoine；　and　a　nervous　shiver　ran　through　all　his　members。

〃So　much　the　worse。　　I　am　tired　of　being　dead；　I　shall　come　to　life　and　run　after　them。　　Hold　the　books；　and　I　will　undo　the　noose。〃

〃If　you　move；　the　books　will　separate；　wait；　I　will　hold　them。〃

And　he　knelt　down；　and　collecting　all　his　strength；　gave　the　pile　a　violent　push。

Pierre　endeavoured　to　raise　his　hands　to　his　throat。　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　cried　in　a　suffocating　voice。

〃I　am　paying　you　out；〃　replied　Antoine；　folding　his　arms。

Pierre's　feet　were　only　a　few　inches　from　the　ground；　and　the　weight　of　his　body　at　first　bent　the　bough　for　a　moment；　but　it　rose　again；　and　the　unfortunate　boy　exhausted　himself　in　useless　efforts。　　At　every　movement　the　knot　grew　tighter；　his　legs　struggled；　his　arms　sought　vainly　something　to　lay　hold　of；　then　his　movements　slackened；　his　limbs　stiffened；　and　his　hands　sank　down。　　Of　so　much　life　and　vigour　nothing　remained　but　the　movement　of　an　inert　mass　turning　round　and　round　upon　itself。

Not　till　then　did　Antoine　cry　for　help；　and　when　the　other　boys　hastened　up　they　found　him　crying　and　tearing　his　hair。　　So　violent　indeed　were　his　sobs　and　his　despair　that　he　could　hardly　be　understood　as　he　tried　to　explain　how　the　books　had　given　way　under　Pierre；　and　how　he　had　vainly　endeavoured　to　support　him　in　his　arms。

This　boy；　left　an　orphan　at　three　years　old；　had　been　brought　up　at　first　by　a　relation　who　turned　him　out　for　theft；　afterwards　by　two　sisters；　his　cousins；　who　were　already　beginning　to　take　alarm　at　his　abnormal　perversity。　　This　pale　and　fragile　being；　an　incorrigible　thief；　a　consummate　hypocrite；　and　a　cold…blooded　assassin；　was　predestined　to　an　immortality　of　crime；　and　was　to　find　a　place　among　the　most　execrable　monsters　for　whom　humanity　has　ever　had　to　blush；　his　name　was　Antoine…Francois　Derues。

Twenty　years　had　gone　by　since　this　horrible　and　mysterious　event；　which　no　one　sought　to　unravel　at　the　time　it　occurred。　　One　June　evening；　1771；　four　persons　were　sitting　in　one　of　the　rooms　of　a　modestly　furnished；　dwelling　on　the　third　floor　of　a　house　in　the　rue　Saint…Victor。　　The　party　consisted　of　three　women　and　an　ecclesiastic；　who　boarded；　for　meals　only；　with　the　woman　who　tenanted　the　dwelling；　the　other　two　were　near　neighbours。　　They　were　all　friends；　and　often　met　thus　in　the　evening　to　play　cards。　　They　were　sitting　round　the　card…table；　but　although　it　was　nearly　ten　o'clock　the　cards　had　not　yet　been　touched。　　They　spoke　in　low　tones；　and　a　half…interrupted　confidence　had；　this　evening；　put　a　check　on　the　usual　gaiety。

Someone　knocked　gently　at　the　door；　although　no　sound　of　steps　on　the　creaking　wooden　staircase　had　been　heard；　and　a　wheedling　voice　asked　for　admittance。　　The　occupier　of　the　room；　Madame　Legrand；　rose；　and　admitted　a　man　of　about　six…and…twenty；　at　whose　appearance　the　four　friends　exchanged　glances；　at　once　observed　by　the　new…comer；　who　affected；　however；　not　to　see　them。　　He　bowed　successively　to　the　three　women；　and　several　times　with　the　utmost　respect　to　the　abbe；　making　signs　of　apology　for　the　interruption　caused　by　his　appearance；　then；　coughing　several　times；　he　turned　to　Madame　Legrand；　and　said　in　a　feeble　voice；　which　seemed　to　betoken　much　suffering

〃My　kind　mistress；　will　you　and　these　other　ladies　excuse　my　presenting　myself　at　such　an　hour　and　in　such　a　costume？　　I　am　ill；　and　I　was　obliged　to　get　up。〃

His　costume　was　certainly　singular　enough：　he　was　wrapped　in　a　large　dressing…gown　of　flowered　chintz；　his　head　was　adorned　by　a　nightcap　drawn　up　at　the　top　and　surmounted　by　a　muslin　frill。　　His　appearance　did　not　contradict　his　complaint　of　illness；　he　was　barely　four　feet　six　in　height；　his　limbs　were　bony；　his　face　sharp；　thin；　and　pale。　Thus　attired；　coughing　incessantly；　dragging　his　feet　as　if　he　had　no　strength　to　lift　them；　holding　a　lighted　candle　in　one　hand　and　an　egg　in　the　other；　he　suggested　a　caricature…some　imaginary　invalid　just　escaped　from　M。　Purgon。　　Nevertheless；　no　one　ventured　to　smile；　notwithstanding　his　valetudinarian　appearance　and　his　air　of　affected　humility。　　The　perpetual　blinking　of　the　yellow　eyelids　which　fell　over　the　round　and　hollow　eyes；　shining　with　a　sombre　fire　which　he　could　never　entirely　suppress；　reminded　one　of　a　bird　of　prey　unable　to　face　the　light；　and　the　lines　of　his　face；　the　hooked　nose；　and　the　thin；　constantly　quivering；　drawn…in　lips　suggested　a　mixture　of　boldness　and　baseness；　of　cunning　and　sincerity。　　But　there　is　no　book　which　can　instruct　one　to　read　the　human　countenance　correctly；　and　some　special　circumstance　must　have　roused　the　suspicions　of　these　four　persons　so　much　as　to　cause　them　to　make　these　observations；　and　they　were　not　as　usual　deceived　by　the　humbug　of　this　skilled　actor；　a　past　master　in　the　art　of　deception。

He　continued　after　a　moment's　silence；　as　if　he　did　not　wish　to　interrupt　their　mute　observation

〃Will　you　oblige　me　by　a　neighbourly　kindness？〃

〃What　is　it；　Derues？〃　asked　Madame　Legrand。　　A　violent　cough；　which　appeared　to　rend　his　chest；　prevented　him　from　answering　immediately。　When　it　ceased；　he　looked　at　the　abbe；　and　said；　with　a　melancholy　smile

〃What　I　ought　to　ask　in　my　present　state　of　health　is　your　blessing；　my　father；　and　your　intercession　for　the　pardon　of　my　sins。　　But　everyone　clings　to　the　life　which　God　has　given　him。　　We　do　not　easily　abandon　hope；　moreover；　I　have　always　considered　it　wrong　to　neglect　such　means　of　preserving　our　lives　as　are　in　our　power；　since　life　is　for　us　only　a　time　of　trial；　and　the　longer　and　harder　the　trial　the　greater　our　recompense　in　a　better　world。　　Whatever　befalls　us；　our　answer　should　be　that　of　the　Virgin　Mary　to　the　angel　who　announced　the　mystery　of　the　Incarnation：　'Behold　the　handmaid　of　the　Lord；　be　it　unto　me　according　to　Thy　word。'〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　the　abbe；　with　a　severe　and　inquisitorial　look；　under　which　Derues　remained　quite　untroubled；　〃it　is　an　attribute　of　God　to　reward　and　to　punish；　and　the　Almighty　is　not　deceived　by　him　who　deceives　men。　　The　Psalmist　has　said；　'Righteous　art　Thou；　O　Lord；　and　upright　are　Thy　judgments。'〃

〃He　has　said　also；　'The　judgments　of　the　Lord　are　true　and　；　righteous　altogether；'〃　　Derues　promptly　replied。　　This　exchange　of　quotations　from　Scripture　might　have　lasted　for　hours　without　his　being　at　a　loss；　had　the　abbe　thought　fit　to　continue　in　this　strain；　but　such　a　style　of　conversation；　garnished　with　grave　and　solemn　words；　seemed　almost　sacrilegious　in　the　mouth　of　a　man　of　such　ridiculous　appearancea　profanation　at　once　sad　and　grotesque。　Derues　seemed　to　comprehend　the　impression　it　produced；　and　tuning　again　to　Madame　Legrand；　he　said

〃We　have　got　a　long　way　from　what　I　came　to　ask　you；　my　kind　friend。　I　was　so　ill　that　I　went　early　to　bed；　but　I　cannot　sleep；　and　I　have　no　fire。　　Would　you　have　the　kindness　to　have　this　egg　mulled　for　me？〃

〃Cannot　your　servant　do　that　for　you？〃　asked　Madame　Legrand。

〃I　gave　her　leave　to　go　out　this　evening；　and　though　it　is　late　she　has　not　yet　returned。　　If　I　had　a　fire；　I　would　not　give　you　so　much　trouble；　but　I　do　not　care　to　light　one　at　this　hour。　　You　know　I　am　always　afraid　of　accidents；　and　they　so　easily　happen！〃

〃Very　well；　then；〃　replied　Madame　Legrand；　〃go　back　to　your　room；　and　my　servant　will　bring　it　to　you。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Derues；　bowing；〃many　thanks。〃

As　he　turned　to　depart；　Madame　Legrand　spoke　again。

〃This　day　week；　Derues；　you　have　to　pay　me　half　the　twelve　hundred　livres　due　for　the　purchase　of　my　business。〃

〃So　soon　as　that？〃

〃Certainly；　and　I　want　the　money。　　Have　you　forgotten　the　date；　then？〃

〃Oh　dear；　I　have　never　looked　at　the　agreement　since　it　was　drawn　up。　I　did　not　think　the　time　was　so　near；　it　is　the　fault　of　my　bad　memory；　but　I　will　contrive　to　pay　you；　although　trade　is　very　bad；　and　in　three　days　I　shall　have　to　pay　more　than　fifteen　thousand　livres　to　different　people。〃

He　bowed　again　and　departed；　apparently　exhausted　by　the　effort　of　sustaining　so　long　a　conversation。

As　soon　as　they　were　alone；　the　abbe　exclaimed

〃That　man　is　assuredly　an　utter　rascal！　　May　God　forgive　him　his　hypocrisy！　　How　is　it　possible　we　could　allow　him　to　deceive　us　for　so　long？〃

〃But；　my　father；〃　interposed　one　of　the　visitors；　〃are　you　really　sure　of　what　you　have　just　said？〃

〃I　am　not　now　speaking　of　the　seventy…nine　Louis　d'or　which　have　been　stolen　from　me；　although　I　never　mentioned　to　anyone　but　you；　and　he　was　then　present；　that　I　possessed　such　a　sum；　and　although　that　very　day　he　made　a　false　excuse　for　coming　to　my　rooms　when　I　was　out。　Theft　is　indeed　infamous；　but　slander　is　not　less　so；　and　he　has　slandered　you　disgracefully。　　Yes；　he　has　spread　a　report　that　you；　Madame　Legrand；　you；　his　former　mistress　and　benefactress；　have　put　temptation　in　his　way；　and　desired　to　commit　carnal　sin　with　him。　This　is　now　whispered　the　neighbourhood　all　round　us；　it　will　soon　be　said　aloud；　and　we　have　been　so　completely　his　dupes；　we　have　helped　him　so　much　to　acquire　a　reputation　for　uprightness；　that　it　would　now　be　impossible　to　destroy　our　own　work；　if　I　were　to　accuse　him　of　theft；　and　you　charged　him　with　lying；　probably　neither　of　us　would　be　believed。　　Beware；　these　odious　tales　have　not　been　spread　without　a　reason。　　Now　that　your　eyes　are　open；　beware　of　him。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Madame　Legrand；　〃my　brother…in…law　warned　me　three　years　ago。　　One　day　Derues　said　to　my　sister…in…law；I　remember　the　words。　　perfectly；'I　should　like　to　be　a　druggist；　because　one　would　always　be　able　to　punish　an　enemy；　and　if　one　has　a　quarrel　with　anyone　it　would　be　easy　to　get　rid　of　him　by　means　of　a　poisoned　draught。'　　I　neglected　these　warnings。　　I　surmounted　the　feeling　of　repugnance　I　first　felt　at　the　sight　of　him；　I　have　responded　to　his　advances；　and　I　greatly　fear　I　may　have　cause　to　repent　it。　　But　you　know　him　as　well　as　I　do；　who　would　not　have　thought　his　piety　sincere？who　would　not　still　think　so？