the brotherhood of consolation-第17章

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　　brigands；　with　Hiley　at　their　head；　stayed　at　the　chateau　for
　　several　days。　The　woman　Bryond；　assisted　by　her　maid　Godard；
　　prepared　with　her　own　hands　the　food　of　these　men。　She　had　already
　　filled　a　loft　with　hay；　and　there　the　provisions　were　taken　to
　　them。　While　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　government　money　these
　　brigands　made　nightly　sorties　from　Saint…Savin；　and　the　whole
　　region　was　alarmed　by　their　depredations。　There　is　no　doubt　that
　　the　outrages　committed　at　la　Sartiniere；　at　Vonay；　and　at　the
　　chateau　of　Saint…Seny；　were　committed　by　this　band；　whose　boldness
　　equals　their　criminality；　though　they　were　able　to　so　terrify
　　their　victims　that　the　latter　have　kept　silence；　and　the
　　authorities　have　been　unable　to　obtain　any　testimony　from　them。

　　While　thus　putting　under　contribution　those　persons　in　the
　　neighborhood　who　had　purchased　lands　of　the　National　domain；　these
　　brigands　carefully　explored　the　forest　of　Chesnay　which　they
　　selected　as　the　theatre　of　their　crime。

　　Not　far　from　this　forest　is　the　village　of　Louvigney。　An　inn　is
　　kept　there　by　the　brothers　Chaussard；　formerly　game…keepers　on　the
　　Troisville　estate；　which　inn　was　made　the　final　rendezvous　of　the
　　brigands。　These　brothers　knew　beforehand　the　part　they　were　to
　　play　in　the　affair。　Courceuil　and　Boislaurier　had　long　made
　　overtures　to　them　to　revive　their　hatred　against　the　government　of
　　our　august　Emperor；　telling　them　that　among　the　guests　who　would
　　be　sent　to　them　would　be　certain　men　of　their　acquaintance；　the
　　dreaded　Hiley　and　the　not　less　dreaded　Cibot。

　　Accordingly；　on　the　6th；　the　seven　bandits；　under　Hiley；　arrived
　　at　the　inn　of　the　brothers　Chaussard；　and　there　they　spent　two
　　days。　On　the　8th　Hiley　led　off　his　men；　saying　they　were　going　to
　　a　palace　about　nine　miles　distant；　and　asking　the　brothers　to　send
　　provisions　for　them　to　a　certain　fork　in　the　road　not　far　distant
　　from　the　village。　Hiley　himself　returned　and　slept　at　the　inn。

　　Two　persons　on　horseback；　who　were　undoubtedly　Rifoel　and　the
　　woman　Bryond　（for　it　is　stated　that　this　woman　accompanied　Rifoel
　　on　these　expeditions　on　horseback　and　dressed　as　a　man）；　arrived
　　during　the　evening　and　conversed　with　Hiley。

　　The　next　day　Hiley　wrote　a　letter　to　the　notary　Leveille；　which
　　one　of　the　Chaussard　brothers　took　to　the　latter；　bringing　back
　　his　answer。

　　Two　hours　later　Rifoel　and　the　woman　Bryond　returned　and　had　an
　　interview　with　Hiley。

　　It　was　then　found　necessary　to　obtain　an　axe　to　open；　as　we　shall
　　see；　the　cases　containing　the　money。　The　notary　went　with　the
　　woman　Bryond　to　Saint…Savin；　where　they　searched　in　vain　for　an
　　axe。　The　notary　returned　alone；　half　way　back　he　met　Hiley；　to
　　whom　he　stated　that　they　could　not　obtain　an　axe。

　　Hiley　returned　to　the　inn；　where　he　ordered　supper　for　ten
　　persons；　seven　of　them　being　the　brigands；　who　had　now　returned；
　　fully　armed。　Hiley　made　them　stack　their　arms　in　the　military
　　manner。　They　then　sat　down　to　table　and　supped　in　haste。　Hiley
　　ordered　provisions　prepared　to　take　away　with　him。　Then　he　took
　　the　elder　Chaussard　aside　and　asked　him　for　an　axe。　The　innkeeper
　　who；　if　we　believe　him；　was　surprised；　refused　to　give　one。
　　Courceuil　and　Boislaurier　arrived；　the　night　wore　on；　the　three
　　men　walked　the　floor　of　their　room　discussing　the　plot。　Courceuil；
　　called　〃Confesseur；〃　the　most　wily　of　the　party；　obtained　an　axe；
　　and　about　two　in　the　morning　they　all　went　away　by　different
　　paths。

　　Every　moment　was　of　value；　the　execution　of　the　crime　was　fixed
　　for　that　night。　Hiley；　Courceuil；　and　Boislaurier　led　and　placed
　　their　men。　Hiley　hid　in　ambush　with　Minard；　Cabot；　and　Bruce　at
　　the　right　of　the　Chesnay　forest；　Boislaurier；　Grenier；　and　Horeau
　　took　the　centre；　Courceuil；　Herbomez；　and　Lisieux　occupied　the
　　ravine　to　the　left　of　the　wood。　All　these　positions　are　indicated
　　on　the　ground…plan　drawn　by　the　engineer　of　the　government　survey…
　　office；　which　is　here　subjoined。

　　The　diligence；　which　had　left　Mortagne　about　one　in　the　morning；
　　was　driven　by　one　Rousseau；　whose　conduct　proved　so　suspicious
　　that　his　arrest　was　judged　necessary。　The　vehicle；　driven　slowly；
　　would　arrive　about　three　o'clock　in　the　forest　of　Chesnay。

　　A　single　gendarme　accompanied　the　diligence；　which　would　stop　for
　　breakfast　at　Donnery。　Three　passengers　only　were　making　the　trip；
　　and　were　now　walking　up　the　hill　with　the　gendarme。

　　The　driver；　who　had　driven　very　slowly　to　the　bridge　of　Chesnay　at
　　the　entrance　of　the　wood；　now　hastened　his　horses　with　a　vigor　and
　　eagerness　remarked　by　the　passengers；　and　turned　into　a　cross…
　　road；　called　the　road　of　Senzey。　The　carriage　was　thus　out　of
　　sight；　and　the　gendarme　with　the　three　young　men　were　hurrying　to
　　overtake　it　when　they　heard　a　shout：　〃Halt！〃　and　four　shots　were
　　fired　at　them。

　　The　gendarme；　who　was　not　hit；　drew　his　sabre　and　rushed　in　the
　　direction　of　the　vehicle。　He　was　stopped　by　four　armed　men；　who
　　fired　at　him；　his　eagerness　saved　him；　for　he　ran　toward　one　of
　　the　three　passengers　to　tell　him　to　make　for　Chesnay　and　ring　the
　　tocsin。　But　two　brigands　followed　him；　and　one　of　them；　taking
　　aim；　sent　a　ball　through　his　left　shoulder；　which　broke　his　arm；
　　and　he　fell　helpless。

　　The　shouts　and　firing　were　heard　in　Donnery。　A　corporal　stationed
　　there　and　one　gendarme　ran　toward　the　sounds。　The　firing　of　a
　　squad　of　men　took　them　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　wood　to　that
　　where　the　pillage　was　taking　place。　The　noise　of　the　firing
　　prevented　the　corporal　from　hearing　the　cries　of　the　wounded
　　gendarme；　but　he　did　distinguish　a　sound　which　proved　to　be　that
　　of　an　axe　breaking　and　chopping　into　cases。　He　ran　toward　the
　　sound。　Meeting　four　armed　bandits；　he　called　out　to　them；
　　〃Surrender；　villains！〃

　　They　replied：　〃Stay　where　you　are；　or　you　are　a　dead　man！〃　The
　　corporal　sprang　forward；　two　shots　were　fired　and　one　struck　him；
　　a　ball　went　through　his　left　leg　and　into　the　flank　of　his　horse。
　　The　brave　man；　bathed　in　blood；　was　forced　to　give　up　the　unequal
　　fight；　he　shouted　〃Help！　the　brigands　are　at　Chesnay！〃　but　all　in
　　vain。

　　The　robbers；　masters　of　the　ground　thanks　to　their　numbers；
　　ransacked　the　coach。　They　had　gagged　and　bound　the　driver　by　way
　　of　deception。　The　cases　were　opened；　the　bags　of　money　were　thrown
　　out；　the　horses　were　unharnessed　and　the　silver　and　gold　loaded　on
　　their　backs。　Three　thousand　francs　in　copper　were　rejected；　but　a
　　sum　in　other　coin　of　one　hundred　and　three　thousand　francs　was
　　safely　carried　off　on　the　four　horses。

　　The　brigands　took　the　road　to　the　hamlet　of　Menneville；　which　is
　　close　to　Saint…Savin。　They　stopped　with　their　plunder　at　an
　　isolated　house　belonging　to　the　Chaussard　brothers；　where　the
　　Chaussards'　uncle；　one　Bourget；　lived；　who　was　knowing　to　the
　　whole　plot　from　its　inception。　This　old　man；　aided　by　his　wife；
　　welcomed　the　brigands；　charged　them　to　make　no　noise；　unloaded　the
　　bags　of　money；　and　gave　the　men　something　to　drink。　The　wife
　　performed　the　part　of　sentinel。　The　old　man　then　took　the　horses
　　through　the　wood；　returned　them　to　the　driver；　unbound　the　latter；
　　and　also　the　young　men；　who　had　been　garotted。　After　resting　for　a
　　time；　Courceuil；　Hiley；　and　Boislaurier　paid　their　men　a　paltry
　　sum　for　their　trouble；　and　the　whole　band　departed；　leaving　the
　　plunder　in　charge　of　Bourget。

　　When　they　reached　a　lonely　place　called　Champ…Landry；　these
　　criminals；　obeying　the　impulse　which　leads　all　malefactors　into
　　the　blunders　and　miscalculations　of　crime；　threw　their　guns　into　a
　　wheat…field。　This　action；　done　by　all　of　them；　is　a　proof　of　their
　　mutual　understanding。　Struck　with　terror　at　the　boldness　of　their
　　act；　and　even　by　its　success；　they　dispersed。

　　The　robbery　now　having　been　committed；　with　the　additional
　　features　of　assault　and　assassination；　other　facts　and　other
　　actors　appear；　all　connected　with　the　robbery　itself　and　with　the
　　disposition　of　the　plunder。

　　Rifoel；　concealed　in　Paris；　whence　he　pulled　every　wire　of　the
　　plot；　transmits　to　Leveille　an　order　to　send　him　instantly　fifty
　　thousand　francs。

　　Courceuil；　knowing　to　all　the　facts；　sends　Hiley　to　tell　Leveille
　　of　the　success　of　the　attempt；　and　say　that　he　will　meet　him　at
　　Mortagne。　Leveille　goes　there。

　　Vauthier；　on　whose　fidelity　they　think　they　can　rely；　agrees　to　go
　　to　Bourget；　the　uncle　of　the　Chaussards；　in　whose　care　the　money
　　was　left；　and　ask　for　the　booty。　The　old　man　tells　Vauthier　that
　　he　must　go　to　his　nephews；　who　have　taken　large　sums　to　the　woman
　　Bryond。　But　he　orders　him　to　wait　outside　in　the　road；　and　brings
　　him　a　bag　containing　the　small　sum　of　twelve　hundred　francs；　which
　　Vauthier　delivers　to　the　woman　Lechantre　for　her　daughter。

　　At　Leveille's　request；　Vauthier　returns　to　Bourget；　who　this　time
　　sends　for　his　nephews。　The　elder　Chaussard　takes　Vauthier　to　the
　　wood；　shows　him　a　tree；　and　there　they　find　a　bag　of　one　thousand
　　francs　buried　in　the　earth。　Leveille；　Hiley；　and　Vauthier　make
　　other　trips；　obtaining　only　trifling　sums　compared　with　the　large
　　sum　known　to　have　been　captured。

　　The　woman　Lechantre　receives　these　sums　at　Mortagne；　and；　on
　　receipt　of　a　letter　from　her　daughter；　removes　them　to　Saint…
　　Savin；　where　the　woman　Bryond　now　returns。

　　This　is　not　the　moment　to　examine　as　to　whether　the　woman
　　Lechantre　had　any　anterior　knowledge　of　the　plot。

　　It　suffices　here　to　note　that　this　woman　left　Mortagne　to　go　to
　　Saint…Savin　the　evening　before　the　crime；　that　after　the　crime　she
　　met　her　daughter　on　the　high…road；　and　they　both　returned　to
　　Mortagne；　that　on　the　following　day　Leveille；　informed　by　Hiley　of
　　the　success　of　the　plot；　goes　from　Alencon　to　Mortagne；　and　there
　　visits　the　two　women；　later　he　persuades　them　to　deposit　the　sums
　　obtained　with　such　difficulty　from　the　Chaussards　and　Bourget　in　a
　　house　in　Alencon；　of　which　we　shall　speak　presently；that　of　the
　　Sieur　Pannier；　merchant。

　　The　woman　Lechantre　writes　to　the　bailiff　at　Saint…Savin　to　come
　　and　drive　her　and　her　daughter　by　the　cross…roads　towards　Alencon。

　　The　funds　now　in　their　possession　amount　to　twenty　thousand
　　francs；　these　the　girl　Godard　puts　into　the　carriage　at　night。

　　The　notary　Leveille　had　given　exact　instructions。　The　two　women
　　reach　Alencon　and　stop　at　the　house　of　a　confederate；　one　Louis
　　Chargegrain；　in　the　Littray　district。　Despite　all　the　precautions
　　of　the　notary；　who　came　there　to　meet　the　women；　witnesses　were　at
　　hand　who　saw　the　portmanteaux　and　bags　containing　the　money　taken
　　from　the　carriole。

　　At　the　moment　when　Courceuil　and　Hiley；　disguised　as　women；　were
　　consulting　in　the　square　at　Alencon　with　the　Sieur　Pannier
　　（treasurer　of　the　rebels　since　1794；　and　devoted　to　Rifoel）　as　to
　　the　best　means　of　conveying　to　Rifoel　the　sum　he　asked　for；　the
　　woman　Lechantre　became　alarmed　on　hearing　at　the　inn　where　she
　　stopped　of　the　suspicions　and　arrests　already　made。　She　fled
　　during　the　night；　taking　her　daugh