the countess of saint geran-第4章

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park　and　discussed　the　chances　of　their　situation。　　M。　de

Saint…Maixent　brought　before　the　marchioness　the　enormous　injury

which　this　event　would　bring　them。　　He　then　said　that　even　supposing

the　news　to　be　true；　there　were　many　rocks　ahead　to　be　weathered

before　the　succession　could　be　pronounced　secure。



〃The　child　may　die；〃　he　said　at　last。



And　he　uttered　some　sinister　expressions　on　the　slight　damage　caused

by　the　loss　of　a　puny　creature　without　mind；　interest；　or

consequence；　nothing；　he　said；　but　a　bit　of　ill…organised　matter；

which　only　came　into　the　world　to　ruin　so　considerable　a　person　as

the　marchioness。



〃But　what　is　the　use　of　tormenting　ourselves？〃　he　went　on

impatiently；　〃the　countess　is　not　pregnant；　nor　can　she　be。〃



A　gardener　working　near　them　overheard　this　part　of　the　conversation；

but　as　they　walked　away　from　him　he　could　not　hear　any　more。



A　few　days　later；　some　outriders；　sent　before　him　by　the　count；

entered　the　chateau；　saying　that　their　master　and　mistress　were　close

at　hand。　　In　fact；　they　were　promptly　followed　by　brakes　and

travelling…carriages；　and　at　length　the　countess's　litter　was

descried；　which　M。　de　Saint…Geran；　on　horse　back；　had　never　lost

sight　of　during　the　journey。　　It　was　a　triumphal　reception：　all　the

peasants　had　left　their　work；　and　filled　the　air　with　shouts　of

welcome；　the　servants　ran　to　meet　their　mistress；　the　ancient

retainers　wept　for　joy　at　seeing　the　count　so　happy　and　in　the　hope

that　his　noble　qualities　might　be　perpetuated　in　his　heir。　　The

marquis　and　Madame　de　Bouille　did　their　best　to　tune　up　to　the　pitch

of　this　hilarity。



The　dowager　countess；　who　had　arrived　at　the　chateau　the　same　day；

unable　to　convince　herself　as　to　this　news；　had　the　pleasure　of

satisfying　her　self　respecting　it。　　The　count　and　countess　were　much

beloved　in　the　Bourbonnais　province；　this　event　caused　therein　a

general　satisfaction；　particularly　in　the　numerous　houses　attached　to

them　by　consanguinity。　　Within　a　few　days　of　their　return；　more　than

twenty　ladies　of　quality　flocked　to　visit　them　in　great　haste；　to

show　the　great　interest　they　took　in　this　pregnancy。　　All　these

ladies；　on　one　occasion　or　another；　convinced　themselves　as　to　its

genuineness；　and　many　of　them；　carrying　the　subject　still　further；　in

a　joking　manner　which　pleased　the　countess；　dubbed　themselves

prophetesses；　and　predicted　the　birth　of　a　boy。　　The　usual　symptoms

incidental　to　the　situation　left　no　room　for　doubt：　the　country

physicians　were　all　agreed。　The　count　kept　one　of　these　physicians　in

the　chateau　for　two　months；　and　spoke　to　the　Marquis　of　Saint…

Maixent　of　his　intention　of　procuring　a　good　mid…wife；　on　the　same

terms。　　Finally；　the　dowager　countess；　who　was　to　be　sponsor；　ordered

at　a　great　expense　a　magnificent　store　of　baby　linen；　which　she

desired　to　present　at　the　birth。



The　marchioness　devoured　her　rage；　and　among　the　persons　who　went

beside　themselves　with　joy　not　one　remarked　the　disappointment　which

overspread　her　soul。　　Every　day　she　saw　the　marquis；　who　did　all　he

could　to　increase　her　regret；　and　incessantly　stirred　up　her

ill…humour　by　repeating　that　the　count　and　countess　were　triumphing

over　her　misfortune；　and　insinuating　that　they　were　importing　a

supposititious　child　to　disinherit　her。　　As　usual　both　in　private　and

political　affairs；　he　began　by　corrupting　the　marchioness's　religious

views；　to　pervert　her　into　crime。　　The　marquis　was　one　of　those

libertines　so　rare　at　that　time；　a　period　less　unhappy　than　is

generally　believed；　who　made　science　dependent　upon；　atheism。　　It　is

remarkable　that　great　criminals　of　this　epoch；　Sainte…Croix　for

instance；　and　Exili；　the　gloomy　poisoner；　were　the　first　unbelievers；

and　that　they　preceded　the　learned　of　the　following　age　both；　in

philosophy　and　in　the　exclusive　study　of　physical　science；　in　which

they　included　that　of　poisons。　　Passion；　interest；　hatred　fought　the

marquis's　battles　in　the　heart　of　Madame　de　Bouille；　she　readily　lent

herself　to　everything　that　M。　de　Saint…Maixent　wished。



The　Marquis　de　Saint…Maixent　had　a　confidential　servant；　cunning；

insolent；　resourceful；　whom　he　had　brought　from　his　estates；　a

servant　well　suited　to　such　a　master；　whom　he　sent　on　errands

frequently　into　the　neighbourhood　of　Saint…Geran。



One　evening；　as　the　marquis　was　about　to　go　to　bed；　this　man；

returning　from　one　of　his　expeditions；　entered　his　room；　where　he

remained　for　a　long　time；　telling　him　that　he　had　at　length　found

what　he　wanted；　and　giving　him　a　small　piece　of　paper　which　contained

several　names　of　places　and　persons。



Next　morning；　at　daybreak；　the　marquis　caused　two　of　his　horses　to　be

saddled；　pretended　that　he　was　summoned　home　on　pressing　business；

foresaw　that　he　should　be　absent　for　three　or　four　days；　made　his

excuses　to　the　count；　and　set　off　at　full　gallop；　followed　by　his

servant。



They　slept　that　night　at　an　inn　on　the　road　to　Auvergne；　to　put　off

the　scent　any　persons　who　might　recognise　them；　then；　following

cross…country　roads；　they　arrived　after　two　days　at　a　large　hamlet；

which　they　had　seemed　to　have　passed　far　to　their　left。



In　this　hamlet　was　a　woman　who　practised　the　avocation　of　midwife；

and　was　known　as　such　in　the　neighbourhood；　but　who　had；　it　was　said；

mysterious　and　infamous　secrets　for　those　who　paid　her　well。

Further；　she　drew　a　good　income　from　the　influence　which　her　art　gave

her　over　credulous　people。　　It　was　all　in　her　line　to　cure　the　king's

evil；　compound　philtres　and　love　potions；　she　was　useful　in　a　variety

of　ways　to　girls　who　could　afford　to　pay　her；　she　was　a　lovers'

go…between；　and　even　practised　sorcery　for　country　folk。　　She　played

her　cards　so　well；　that　the　only　persons　privy　to　her　misdeeds　were

unfortunate　creatures　who　had　as　strong　an　interest　as　herself　in

keeping　them　profoundly　secret；　and　as　her　terms　were　very　high；　she

lived　comfortably　enough　in　a　house　her　own　property；　and　entirely

alone；　for　greater　security。　　In　a　general　way；　she　was　considered

skilful　in　her　ostensible　profession；　and　was　held　in　estimation　by

many　persons　of　rank。　　This　woman's　name　was　Louise　Goillard。



Alone　one　evening　after　curfew；　she　heard　a　loud　knocking　at　the　door

of　her　house。　　Accustomed　to　receive　visits　at　all　hours；　she　took

her　lamp　without　hesitation；　and　opened　the　door。　　An　armed　man；

apparently　much　agitated；　entered　the　room。　　Louise　Goillard；　in　a

great　fright；　fell　into　a　chair；　this　man　was　the　Marquis　de

Saint…Maixent。



〃Calm　yourself；　good　woman；〃　said　the　stranger；　panting　and

stammering；　〃be　calm；　I　beg；　for　it　is　I；　not　you；　who　have　any　cause

for　emotion。　　I　am　not　a　brigand；　and　far　from　your　having　anything

to　fear；　it　is　I；　on　the　contrary；　who　am　come　to　beg　for　your

assistance。〃



He　threw　his　cloak　into　a　corner；　unbuckled　his　waistbelt；　and　laid

aside　his　sword。　　Then　falling　into　a　chair；　he　said



〃First　of　all；　let　me　rest　a　little。〃



The　marquis　wore　a　travelling…dress；　but　although　he　had　not　stated

his　name；　Louise　Goillard　saw　at　a　glance　that　he　was　a　very

different　person　from　what　she　had　thought；　and　that；　on　the

contrary；　he　was　some　fine　gentleman　who　had　come　on　his　love

affairs。



〃I　beg　you　to　excuse；〃　said　she；　〃a　fear　which　is　insulting　to　you。

You　came　in　so　hurriedly　that　I　had　not　time　to　see　whom　I　was

talking　to。　　My　house　is　rather　lonely；　I　am　alone；　ill…disposed

people　might　easily　take　advantage　of　these　circumstances　to　plunder

a　poor　woman　who　has　little　enough　to　lose。　　The　times　are　so　bad！

You　seem　tired。　　Will　you　inhale　some　essence？〃



〃Give　me　only　a　glass　of　water。〃



Louise　Goillard　went　into　the　adjoining　room；　and　returned　with　an

ewer。　　The　marquis　affected　to　rinse　his　lips；　and　said



〃I　come　from　a　great　distance　on　a　most　important　matter。　　Be　assured

that　I　shall　be　properly　grateful　for　your　services。〃



He　felt　in　his　pocket；　and　pulled　out　a　purse；　which　he　rolled

between　his　fingers。



〃In　the　first　place；　you　must　swear　to　the　greatest　secrecy。〃



〃There　is　no　need　of　that　with　us；〃　said　Louise　Goillard；　〃　that　is

the　first　condition　of　our　craft。〃



〃I　must　have　more　express　guarantees；　and　your　oath　that　you　will

reveal　to　no　one　in　the　world　what　I　am　going　to　confide　to　you。〃



〃I　give　you　my　word；　then；　since　you　demand　it；　but　I　repeat　that

this　is　superfluous；　you　do　not　know　me。〃



〃Consider　that　this　is　a　most　serious　matter；　that　I　am　as　it　were

placing　my　head　in　your　hands；　and　that　I　would　lose　my　life　a

thousand　times　rather　than　see　this　mystery　unravelled。〃



〃Consider　also；〃　bluntly　replied　the　midwife；　〃that　we　ourselves　are

primarily　interested　in　all　the　secrets　entrusted　to　us；　that　an

indiscretion　would　destroy　all　confidence　in　us；　and　that　there　are

even　casesYou　may　speak。〃



When　the　marquis　had　reassured　her　as　to　himself　by　this　preface；　he

continued：　〃I　know　that　you　are　a　very　able　woman。〃



〃I　could　indeed　wish　to　be　one；　to　serve　you。〃。



〃That　you　have　pushed　the　study　of　your　art　to　its　utmost　limits。〃



〃I　fear　they　have　been　flattering　your　humble　servant。〃



〃And　that　your　studies　have　enabled　you　to　predict　the　future。〃



〃That　is　all　nonsense。〃



〃It　is　true；　I　have　been　told　so。〃



〃You　have　been　imposed　upon。〃



〃What　is　the　use　of　denying　it　and　refusing　to　do　me　a　service？〃



Louise　Goillard　defended　herself　long：　she　could　not　understand　a　man

of　this　quality　believing　in　fortune…telling；　which　she　practised

only　with　low…class　people　and　rich　farmers；　but　the　marquis　appeared

so　earnest　that　she　knew　not　what　to　think。



〃Listen；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　no　use　dissembling　with　me；　I　know　all。　　Be

easy；　we　are　playing　a　game　in　which　you　are　laying　one　against　a

thousand；　moreover；　here　is　something　on　account　to　compensate　you

for　the　trouble　I　am　giving。〃



He　laid　a　pile　of　gold　on　the　table。　　The　matron　weakly　owned　that

she　had　sometimes　attempted　astrological　combinations　which　were　not

always　fortunate；　and　that　she　had　been　only　induced　to　do　so　by　the

fascination　of　the　phenomena　of　science。　　The　secret　of　her　guilty

practices　was　drawn　from　her　at　the　very　outset　of　her　defence。



〃That　being　so；〃　replied　the　marquis；　〃you　must　be　already　aware　of

the　situation　in　which　I　find　myself；　you　must　know　that；　hurried

away　by　a　blind　and　ardent　passion；　I　have　betrayed　the　confidence　of

an　old　lady　and　violated　the　laws　of　hospitality　by　seducing　her

daughter　in　her　own　house；　that　matters　have　come　to　a　crisis；　and

that　this　noble　damsel；　whom　I　Love　to　distraction；　being　pregnant；

is　on　the　point　of　losing　her　life　and　honour　by　the　discovery　of　her

fault；　which　is　mine。〃



The　matron　replied　that　nothing　could　be　ascertained　about　a　person

except　from　private　questions；　and　to　further　impose　upo