derues-第20章

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s　the　rats　have　drunk　the　wine　and　eaten　the　chest；　for　there　certainly　is　nothing　there　any　more　than　there　is　in　my　hand　now。　　Nevertheless；　I　saw　what　I　saw。　　A　big　chest；　very　big；　quite　new；　and　corded　all　round　with　strong　rope。〃

〃Now；　what　day　was　that？　　〃asked　the　hawker。

〃What　day？　　Well；　it　wasno；　I　can't　remember。〃

〃Nor　I　either；　I　am　getting　stupid。　　Let's　have　another　little　glass…shall　we？　just　to　clear　our　memories！〃

The　expedient　was　not　crowned　with　success；　the　memories　failed　to　recover　themselves。　　The　crowd　waited；　attentive；　as　may　be　supposed。　Suddenly　the　hawker　exclaimed：

〃What　a　fool　I　am！　　I　am　going　to　find　that；　if　only　I　have　still　got　it。〃

She　felt　eagerly　in　the　pocket　of　her　underskirt；　and　produced　several　pieces　of　dirty；　crumpled　paper。　　As　she　unfolded　one　after　another；　she　asked：

〃A　big　chest；　wasn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　very　big。〃

〃And　quite　new？〃

〃Quite　new。〃

〃And　corded？〃

〃Yes；　I　can　see　it　now。〃

〃So　can　I；　good　gracious！　　It　was　the　day　when　I　sold　the　history　of　Leroi　de　Valines；　the　1st　of　February。〃

〃Yes；　it　was　a　Saturday；　the　next　day　was　Sunday。〃

〃That's　it；　that's　it！Saturday；　February　1st。　　Well；　I　know　that　chest　too！　　I　met　your　wine　merchant　on　the　Place　du　Louvre；　and　he　wasn't　precisely　enjoying　himself：　one　of　his　creditors　wanted　to　seize　the　chest；　the　wine；　the　whole　kettle　of　fish！　　A　little　man；　isn't　he？a　scarecrow？〃

〃Just　SO。〃

〃And　has　red　hair？〃

〃That's　the　man。〃

〃And　looks　a　hypocrite？〃

〃You've　hit　it　exactly。〃

〃And　he　is　a　hypocrite！　　enough　to　make　one　shudder！　　No　doubt　he　can't　pay　his　rent！　　A　thief；　my　dears；　a　beggarly　thief；　who　set　fire　to　his　own　cellar；　and　who　accused　me　of　trying　to　steal　from　him；　while　it　was　he　who　cheated　me；　the　villain；　out　of　a　piece　of　twenty…four　sous。　　It's　lucky　I　turned　up　here！　　Well；　well；　we　shall　have　some　fun！　　Here's　another　little　business　on　your　hands；　and　you　will　have　to　say　where　that　wine　has　got　to；　my　dear　gossip　Derues。〃

〃Derues！〃　cried　twenty　voices　all　at　once。

〃What！　　Derues　who　is　in　Prison？〃

〃Why；　that's　Monsieur　de　Lamotte's　man。〃

〃The　man　who　killed　Madame　de　Lamotte？〃

〃The　man　who　made　away　with　her　son？〃

〃A　scoundrel；　my　dears；　who　accused　me　of　stealing；　an　absolute　monster！〃

〃It　is　just　a　little　unfortunate；〃　said　widow　Masson；　〃that　it　isn't　the　man。　　My　tenant　calls　himself　Ducoudray。　　There's　his　name　on　the　register。〃

〃Confound　it；　that　doesn't　look　like　it　at　all；〃　said　the　hawker：　〃　now　that's　a　bore！　　Oh　yes；　I　have　a　grudge　against　that　thief；　who　accused　me　of　stealing。　　I　told　him　I　should　sell　his　history　some　day。　　When　that　happens；　I'll　treat　you　all　round。〃

As　a　foretaste　of　the　fulfilment　of　this　promise；　the　company　disposed　of　a　second　bottle　of　liqueur；　and；　becoming　excited；　they　chattered　at　random　for　some　time；　but　at　length　slowly　dispersed；　and　the　street　relapsed　into　the　silence　of　night。　　But；　a　few　hours　later；　the　inhabitants　were　surprised　to　see　the　two　ends　occupied　by　unknown　people；　while　other　sinister…looking　persons　patrolled　it　all　night；　as　if　keeping　guard。　　The　next　morning　a　carriage　escorted　by　police　stopped　at　the　widow　Masson's　door。　　An　officer　of　police　got　out　and　entered　a　neighbouring　house；　whence　he　emerged　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later　with　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　leaning　on　his　arm。　　The　officer　demanded　the　key　of　the　cellar　which　last　December　had　been　hired　from　the　widow　Masson　by　a　person　named　Ducoudray；　and　went　down　to　it　with　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　and　one　of　his　subordinates。

The　carriage　standing　at　the　door；　the　presence　of　the　commissioner　Mutel；　the　chatter　of　the　previous　evening；　had　naturally　roused　everybody's　imagination。　　But　this　excitement　had　to　be　kept　for　home　use：　the　whole　street　was　under　arrest；　and　its　inhabitants　were　forbidden　to　leave　their　houses。　　The　windows；　crammed　with　anxious　faces；　questioning　each　other；　in　the　expectation　of　something　wonderful；　were　a　curious　sight；　and　the　ignorance　in　which　they　remained；　these　mysterious　preparations；　these　orders　silently　executed；　doubled　the　curiosity；　and　added　a　sort　of　terror：　no　one　could　see　the　persons　who　had　accompanied　the　police　officer；　three　men　remained　in　the　carriage；　one　guarded　by　the　two　others。　　When　the　heavy　coach　turned　into　the　rue　de　la　Mortellerie；　this　man　had　bent　towards　the　closed　window　and　asked

〃Where　are　we？〃

And　when　they　answered　him；　he　said

〃I　do　not　know　this　street；　I　was　never　in　it。〃

After　saying　this　quite　quietly；　he　asked

〃Why　am　I　brought　here？〃

As　no　one　replied；　he　resumed　his　look　of　indifference；　and　betrayed　no　emotion；　neither　when　the　carriage　stopped　nor　when　he　saw　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　enter　the　widow　Masson's　house。

The　officer　reappeared　on　the　threshold；　and　ordered　Derues　to　be　brought　in。

The　previous　evening；　detectives；　mingling　with　the　crowd；　had　listened　to　the　hawker's　story　of　having　met　Derues　near　the　Louvre　escorting　a　large　chest。　　The　police　magistrate　was　informed　in　the　course　of　the　evening。　　It　was　an　indication；　a　ray　of　light；　perhaps　the　actual　truth；　detached　from　obscurity　by　chance　gossip；　and　measures　were　instantly　taken　to　prevent　anyone　either　entering　or　leaving　the　street　without　being　followed　and　examined。　　Mutel　thought　he　was　on　the　track；　but　the　criminal　might　have　accomplices　also　on　the　watch；　who；　warned　in　time；　might　be　able　to　remove　the　proofs　of　the　crime；　if　any　existed。

Derues　was　placed　between　two　men　who　each　held　an　arm。　　A　third　went　before；　holding　a　torch。　The　commissioner；　followed　by　men　also　carrying　torches；　and　provided　with　spades　and　pickaxes；　came　behind；　and　in　this　order　they　descended　to　the　vault。　　It　was　a　dismal　and　terrifying　procession；　anyone　beholding　these　dark　and　sad　countenances；　this　pale　and　resigned　man；　passing　thus　into　these　damp　vaults　illuminated　by　the　flickering　glare　of　torches；　might　well　have　thought　himself　the　victim　of　illusion　and　watching　some　gloomy　execution　in　a　dream。　　But　all　was　real　and　when　light　penetrated　this　dismal　charnel…house　it　seemed　at　once　to　illuminate　its　secret　depths；　so　that　the　light　of　truth　might　at　length　penetrate　these　dark　shadows；　and　that　the　voice　of　the　dead　would　speak　from　the　earth　and　the　walls。

〃Wretch！〃　exclaimed　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　when　he　saw　Derues　appear；　〃is　it　here　that　you　murdered　my　wife　and　my　son？〃

Derues　looked　calmly　at　him；　and　replied

〃I　beg　you；　sir；　not　to　add　insult　to　the　misfortunes　you　have　already　caused。　　If　you　stood　in　my　place　and　I　were　in　yours；　I　should　feel　some　pity　and　respect　for　so　terrible　a　position。　　What　do　you　want　me？　and　why　am　I　brought　here？〃

He　did　not　know　the　events　of　last　evening；　and　could　only　mentally　accuse　the　mason　who　had　helped　to　bury　the　chest。　　He　felt　that　he　was　lost；　but　his　audacity　never　forsook　him。

〃You　are　here；　in　the　first　place；　to　be　confronted　with　this　woman；〃　said　the　officer；　causing　the　widow　Masson　to　stand　opposite　to　him。

〃I　do　not　know　her。〃

〃But　I　know　you；　and　know　you　well。　　It　was　you　who　hired　this　cellar　under　the　name　of　Ducoudray。〃

Derues　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　answered　bitterly

〃I　can　understand　a　man　being　condemned　to　the　torture　if　he　is　guilty；　but　that　in　order　to　accomplish　one's　mission　as　accuser；　and　to　discover　a　criminal；　false　witnesses　who　can　give　no　evidence　should　be　brought　a　hundred　leagues；　that　the　rabble　should　be　roused　up；　that　divers　faces　and　imaginary　names　should　be　bestowed　on　an　innocent　man；　in　order　to　turn　a　movement　of　surprise　or　an　indignant　gesture　to　his　disadvantage；　all　this　is　iniquitous；　and　goes　beyond　the　right　of　judgment　bestowed　upon　men　by　God。　　I　do　not　know　this　woman；　and　no　matter　what　she　says　or　does；　I　shall　say　no　more。〃

Neither　the　skill　nor　threats　of　the　police　officer　could　shake　this　resolution。　　It　was　to　no　purpose　that　the　widow　Masson　repeated　and　asseverated　that　she　recognised　him　as　her　tenant　Ducoudray；　and　that　he　had　had　a　large　case　of　wine　taken　down　into　the　cellar；　Derues　folded　his　arms；　and　remained　as　motionless　as　if　he　had　been　blind　and　deaf。

The　walls　were　sounded；　the　stones　composing　them　carefully　examined；　the　floor　pierced　in　several　places；　but　nothing　unusual　was　discovered。

Would　they　have　to　give　it　up？　　Already　the　officer　was　making　signs　to　this　effect；　when　the　man　who　had　remained　at　first　below　with　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　and　who；　standing　in　shadow；　had　carefully　watched　Derues　when　he　was　brought　down；　came　forward；　and　pointing　to　the　recess　under　the　stairs；　said

〃Examine　this　corner。　　The　prisoner　glanced　involuntarily　in　this　direction　when　he　came　down；　I　have　watched　him；　and　it　is　the　only　sign　he　has　given。　　I　was　the　only　person　who　could　see　him；　and　he　did　not　see　me。　　He　is　very　clever；　but　one　can't　be　for　ever　on　one's　guard；　and　may　the　devil　take　me　if　I　haven't　scented　the　hiding…place。〃

〃Wretch！〃　said　Derues　to　himself；　〃then　you　have　had　your　hand　on　me　for　a　whole　hour；　and　amused　yourself　by　prolonging　my　agony！　　Oh！　I　ought　to　have　known　it；　I　have　found　my　master。　　Never　mind；　you　shall　learn　nothing　from　my　face；　nor　yet　from　the　decaying　body　you　will　find；　worms　and　poison　can　only　have　left　an　unrecognisable　corpse。〃

An　iron　rod　sunk　into　the　ground；　encountered　a　hard　substance　some　four　feet　below。　　Two　men　set　to　work；　and　dug　with　energy。　　Every　eye　was　fixed　upon　this　trench　increasing　in　depth　with　every　shovelful　of　earth　which　the　two　labourers　cast　aside。　　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　was　nearly　fainting；　and　his　emotion　impressed　everyone　except　Derues。　　At　length　the　silence　was　broken　by　the　spades　striking　heavily　on　wood；　and　the　noise　made　everyone　shudder。　　The　chest　was　uncovered　and　hoisted　out　of　the　trench；　it　was　opened；　and　the　body　of　a　woman　was　seen；　clad　only　in　a　chemise；　with　a　red　and　white　headband；　face　downwards。　　The　body　was　turned　over；　and　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　recognised　his　wife；　not　yet　disfigured。

The　feeling　of　horror　was　so　great　that　no　one　spoke　or　uttered　a　sound。　　Derues；　occupied　in　considering　the　few　chances　which　remained　to　him；　had　not　observed　that；　by　the　officer's　order；　one　of　the　guards　had　left　the　cellar　before　the　men　began　to　dig。　Everybody　had　drawn　back　both　from　the　corpse　and　the　murderer；　who　alone　had　not　moved；　and　who　was　repeating　prayers。　　The　flame　of　the　torches　placed　on　the　ground　cast　a　reddish　light　on　this　silent　and　terrible　scene。

Derues　started　and　turned　round　on　hearing　a　terrified　cry　behind　him。　　His　wife　had　just　been　brought　to　the　cellar。　　The　commissioner　seized　her　with　one　hand；　and　taking　a　torch　in　the　other；　compelled　her　to　look　down　on　the　body。

〃It　is　Madame　de　Lamotte！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　answered；　overwhelmed　with　terror；〃　yes；　I　recognise　her！〃

Unable　to　support　the　sight　any　longer；　she　grew　pale　and　fainted　away。　　She　and　her　husband　were　removed　separately。　　One　would　have　supposed　the　discovery　was　already　known　outside；　for　the　people　showered　curses　and　cries　of　〃Assassin！〃　and　〃Poisoner！〃　on　the　carriage　which　conveyed　Derues。　　He　remained　silent　during　the　drive；　but　before　re…entering　his　dungeon；　he　said

〃I　m