derues-第3章

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s　well　as　I　do；　who　would　not　have　thought　his　piety　sincere？who　would　not　still　think　so？　　And　notwithstanding　all　you　have　said；　I　still　hesitate　to　feel　serious　alarm；　I　am　unwilling　to　believe　in　such　utter　depravity。〃

The　conversation　continued　in　this　strain　for　some　time；　and　then；　as　it　was　getting　late；　the　party　separated。

Next　morning　early；　a　large　and　noisy　crowd　was　assembled　in　the　rue　Saint…Victor　before　Derues'　shop　of　drugs　and　groceries。　　There　was　a　confusion　of　cross　questions；　of　inquiries　which　obtained　no　answer；　of　answers　not　addressed　to　the　inquiry；　a　medley　of　sound；　a　pell…mell　of　unconnected　words；　of　affirmations；　contradictions；　and　interrupted　narrations。　　Here；　a　group　listened　to　an　orator　who　held　forth　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　a　little　farther　there　were　disputes；　quarrels；　exclamations　of　〃Poor　man！〃　　〃Such　a　good　fellow！〃　　〃My　poor　gossip　Derues！〃　　〃Good　heavens！　what　will　he　do　now？〃　　〃Alas！　he　is　quite　done　for；　it　is　to　be　hoped　his　creditors　will　give　him　time！　　〃Above　all　this　uproar　was　heard　a　voice；　sharp　and　piercing　like　a　cat's；　lamenting；　and　relating　with　sobs　the　terrible　misfortune　of　last　night。　　At　about　three　in　the　morning　the　inhabitants　of　the　rue　St。　Victor　had　been　startled　out　of　their　sleep　by　the　cry　of　〃Fire；　fire！〃　　A　conflagration　had　burst　forth　in　Derues'　cellar；　and　though　its　progress　had　been　arrested　and　the　house　saved　from　destruction；　all　the　goods　stored　therein　had　perished。　　It　apparently　meant　a　considerable　loss　in　barrels　of　oil；　casks　of　brandy；　boxes　of　soap；　etc。；　which　Derues　estimated　at　not　less　than　nine　thousand　livres。

By　what　unlucky　chance　the　fire　had　been　caused　he　had　no　idea。　　He　recounted　his　visit　to　Madame　Legrand；　and　pale；　trembling；　hardly　able　to　sustain　himself；　he　cried

〃I　shall　die　of　grief！　　A　poor　man　as　ill　as　I　am！　　I　am　lost！　　I　am　ruined！〃

A　harsh　voice　interrupted　his　lamentations；　and　drew　the　attention　of　the　crowd　to　a　woman　carrying　printed　broadsides；　and　who　forced　a　passage　through　the　crowd　up　to　the　shop　door。　　She　unfolded　one　of　her　sheets；　and　cried　as　loudly　and　distinctly　as　her　husky　voice　permitted

〃Sentence　pronounced　by　the　Parliament　of　Paris　against　John　Robert　Cassel；　accused　and　convicted　of　Fraudulent　Bankruptcy！〃

Derues　looked　up　and　saw　a　street…hawker　who　used　to　come　to　his　shop　for　a　drink；　and　with　whom　he　had　had　a　violent　quarrel　about　a　month　previously；　she　having　detected　him　in　a　piece　of　knavery；　and　abused　him　roundly　in　her　own　style；　which　was　not　lacking　in　energy。　　He　had　not　seen　her　since。　　The　crowd　generally；　and　all　the　gossips　of　the　quarter；　who　held　Derues　in　great　veneration；　thought　that　the　woman's　cry　was　intended　as　an　indirect　insult；　and　threatened　to　punish　her　for　this　irreverence。　　But；　placing　one　hand　on　her　hip；　and　with　the　other　warning　off　the　most　pressing　by　a　significant　gesture

〃Are　you　still　befooled　by　his　tricks；　fools　that　you　are？　　Yes；　no　doubt　there　was　a　fire　in　the　cellar　last　night；　no　doubt　his　creditors　will　be　geese　enough　to　let　him　off　paying　his　debts！　　But　what　you　don't　know　is；　that　he　didn't　really　lose　by　it　at　all！〃

〃He　lost　all　his　goods！〃　the　crowd　cried　on　all　sides。　　〃More　than　nine　thousand　livres！　　Oil　and　brandy；　do　you　think　those　won't　burn？　The　old　witch；　she　drinks　enough　to　know！　　If　one　put　a　candle　near　her　she　would　take　fire；　fast　enough！〃

〃Perhaps；〃　replied　the　woman；　with　renewed　gesticulations；　〃perhaps；　but　I　don't　advise　any　of　you　to　try。　　Anyhow；　this　fellow　here　is　a　rogue；　he　has　been　emptying　his　cellar　for　the　last　three　nights；　there　were　only　old　empty　casks　in　it　and　empty　packing…cases！　　Oh　yes！　　I　have　swallowed　his　daily　lies　like　everybody　else；　but　I　know　the　truth　by　now。　　He　got　his　liquor　taken　away　by　Michael　Lambourne's　son；　the　cobbler　in　the　rue　de　la　Parcheminerie。　　How　do　I　know？　　Why；　because　the　young　man　came　and　told　me！〃

〃I　turned　that　woman　out　of　my　shop　a　month　ago；　for　stealing；〃　said　Derues。

Notwithstanding　this　retaliatory　accusation；　the　woman's　bold　assertion　might　have　changed　the　attitude　of　the　crowd　and　chilled　the　enthusiasm；　but　at　that　moment　a　stout　man　pressed　forward；　and　seizing　the　hawker　by　the　arm；　said

〃Go；　and　hold　your　tongue；　backbiting　woman！〃

To　this　man；　the　honour　of　Derues　was　an　article　of　faith；　he　had　not　yet　ceased　to　wonder　at　the　probity　of　this　sainted　person；　and　to　doubt　it　in　the　least　was　as　good　as　suspecting　his　own。

〃My　dear　friend；〃　he　said；　〃we　all　know　what　to　think　of　you。　　I　know　you　well。　　Send　to　me　tomorrow；　and　you　shall　have　what　goods　you　want；　on　credit；　for　as　long　as　is　necessary。　　Now；　evil　tongue；　what　do　you　say　to　that？〃

〃I　say　that　you　are　as　great　a　fool　as　the　rest。　　Adieu；　friend　Derues；　go　on　as　you　have　begun；　and　I　shall　be　selling　your　'sentence'　some　day〃；　and　dispersing　the　crowd　with　a　few　twirls　of　her　right　arm；　she　passed　on；　crying

〃Sentence　pronounced　by　the　Parliament　of　Paris　against　John　Robert　Cassel；　accused　and　convicted　of　Fraudulent　Bankruptcy！〃

This　accusation　emanated　from　too　insignificant　a　quarter　to　have　any　effect　on　Derues'　reputation。　　However　resentful　he　may　have　been　at　the　time；　he　got　over　it　in　consequence　of　the　reiterated　marks　of　interest　shown　by　his　neighbours　and　all　the　quarter　on　account　of　his　supposed　ruin；　and　the　hawker's　attack　passed　out　of　his　mind；　or　probably　she　might　have　paid　for　her　boldness　with　her　life。

But　this　drunken　woman　had　none　the　less　uttered　a　prophetic　word；　it　was　the　grain　of　sand　on　which；　later；　he　was　to　be　shipwrecked。

〃All　passions；〃　says　La　Bruyere；〃all　passions　are　deceitful；　they　disguise　themselves　as　much　as　possible　from　the　public　eye；　they　hide　from　themselves。　　There　is　no　vice　which　has　not　a　counterfeit　resemblance　to　some　virtue；　and　which　does　not　profit　by　it。〃

The　whole　life　of　Derues　bears　testimony　to　the　truth　of　this　observation。　　An　avaricious　poisoner；　he　attracted　his　victims　by　the　pretence　of　fervent　and　devoted　piety；　and　drew　them　into　the　snare　where　he　silently　destroyed　them。　　His　terrible　celebrity　only　began　in　1777；　caused　by　the　double　murder　of　Madame　de　Lamotte　and　her　son；　and　his　name；　unlike　those　of　some　other　great　criminals；　does　not　at　first　recall　a　long　series　of　crimes；　but　when　one　examines　this　low；　crooked；　and　obscure　life；　one　finds　a　fresh　stain　at　every　step；　and　perhaps　no　one　has　ever　surpassed　him　in　dissimulation；　in　profound　hypocrisy；　in　indefatigable　depravity。　　Derues　was　executed　at　thirty…two；　and　his　whole　life　was　steeped　in　vice；　though　happily　so　short；　it　is　full　of　horror；　and　is　only　a　tissue　of　criminal　thoughts　and　deeds；　a　very　essence　of　evil。　　He　had　no　hesitation；　no　remorse；　no　repose；　no　relaxation；　he　seemed　compelled　to　lie；　to　steal；　to　poison！　　Occasionally　suspicion　is　aroused；　the　public　has　its　doubts；　and　vague　rumours　hover　round　him；　but　he　burrows　under　new　impostures；　and　punishment　passes　by。　　When　he　falls　into　the　hands　of　human　justice　his　reputation　protects　him；　and　for　a　few　days　more　the　legal　sword　is　turned　aside。　　Hypocrisy　is　so　completely　a　part　of　his　nature；　that　even　when　there　is　no　longer　any　hope；　when　he　is　irrevocably　sentenced；　and　he　knows　that　he　can　no　longer　deceive　anyone；　neither　mankind　nor　Him　whose　name　he　profanes　by　this　last　sacrilege；　he　yet　exclaims；　〃O　Christ！　　I　shall　suffer　even　as　Thou。〃　　It　is　only　by　the　light　of　his　funeral　pyre　that　the　dark　places　of　his　life　can　be　examined；　that　this　bloody　plot　is　unravelled；　and　that　other　victims；　forgotten　and　lost　in　the　shadows；　arise　like　spectres　at　the　foot　of　the　scaffold；　and　escort　the　assassin　to　his　doom。

Let　us　trace　rapidly　the　history　of　Derues'　early　years；　effaced　and　forgotten　in　the　notoriety　of　his　death。　　These　few　pages　are　not　written　for　the　glorification　of　crime；　and　if　in　our　own　days；　as　a　result　of　the　corruption　of　our　manners；　and　of　a　deplorable　confusion　of　all　notions　of　right　and　wrong；　it　has　been　sought　to　make　him　an　object；　of　public　interest；　we；　on　our　part；　only　wish　to　bring　him　into　notice；　and　place　him　momentarily　on　a　pedestal；　in　order　to　cast　him　still　lower；　that　his　fall　may　be　yet　greater。　What　has　been　permitted　by　God　may　be　related　by　man。　　Decaying　and　satiated　communities　need　not　be　treated　as　children；　they　require　neither　diplomatic　handling　nor　precaution；　and　it　may　be　good　that　they　should　see　and　touch　the　putrescent　sores　which　canker　them。　Why　fear　to　mention　that　which　everyone　knows？　　Why　dread　to　sound　the　abyss　which　can　be　measured　by　everyone？　　Why　fear　to　bring　into　the　light　of　day　unmasked　wickedness；　even　though　it　confronts　the　public　gaze　unblushingly？　　Extreme　turpitude　and　extreme　excellence　are　both　in　the　schemes　of　Providence；　and　the　poet　has　summed　up　eternal　morality　for　all　ages　and　nations　in　this　sublime　exclamation

　　　　　　　　　　〃Abstulit　hunc　tandem　Rufini　poem　tumultum。〃

Besides；　and　we　cannot　insist　too　earnestly　that　our　intention　must　not　be　mistaken；　if　we　had　wished　to　inspire　any　other　sentiment　than　that　of　horror；　we　should　have　chosen　a　more　imposing　personage　from　the　annals　of　crime。　　There　have　been　deeds　which　required　audacity；　a　sort　of　grandeur；　a　false　heroism；　there　have　been　criminals　who　held　in　check　all　the　regular　and　legitimate　forces　of　society；　and　whom　one　regarded　with　a　mixture　of　terror　and　pity。　　There　is　nothing　of　that　in　Derues；　not　even　a　trace　of　courage；　nothing　but　a　shameless　cupidity；　exercising　itself　at　first　in　the　theft　of　a　few　pence　filched　from　the　poor；　nothing　but　the　illicit　gains　and　rascalities　of　a　cheating　shopkeeper　and　vile　money…lender；　a　depraved　cowardice　which　dared　not　strike　openly；　but　slew　in　the　dark。　　It　is　the　story　of　an　unclean　reptile　which　drags　itself　underground；　leaving　everywhere　the　trail　of　its　poisonous　saliva。

Such　was　the　man　whose　life　we　have　undertaken　to　narrate；　a　man　who　represents　a　complete　type　of　wickedness；　and　who　corresponds　to　the　most　hideous　sketch　ever　devised　by　poet　or　romance…writer：　Facts　without　importance　of　their　own；　which　would　be　childish　if　recorded　of　anyone　else；　obtain　a　sombre　reflection　from　other　facts　which　precede　them；　and　thenceforth　cannot　be　passed　over　in　silence。　　The　historian　is　obliged　to　collect　and　note　them；　as　showing　the　logical　development　of　this　degraded　being：　he　unites　them　in　sequence；　and　counts　the　successive　steps　of　the　ladder　mounted　by　the　criminal。

We　have　seen　the　early　exploit　of　this　assassin　by　instinct；　we　find　him；　twenty　years　later；　an　incendiary　and　a　fraudulent　bankrupt。　What　had　happened　in　the　interval？　　With　how　much　treachery　and　crime　had　he　filled　this　space　of　twenty　years？　　Let　us　return　to　his　infancy。

His　unconquerable　taste　for　theft　caused　him　to　be　expelled　by　the　relations　who　had　taken　charge　of　him。　　An　anecdote　is　told　which　shows　his　impudence　and　incurable　perversity。　　One　day　he　was　caught　taking　some　money；　and　was　soundly　whipped　by　his　cousins。　　When　this　was　over；　the　child；　instead　of　showing　any　sorrow　or　asking　forgiveness；　ran　away　with　a　sneer；　and　seeing　they　were　out　of　breath；　exclaimed

〃You　are　tired；　are　you？　　Well；　I　am　not！〃

Despai