the brotherhood of consolation-第20章

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　　husband；　and　a　rash　enthusiasm　plead　for　her？

＇Hopefully　not。　What　a　ridiculous　case　for　the　defence！　Would　Rumpole
of　the　Bailey　speak　like　this？JB。＇

　　The　greatest　of　all　captains；　the　immortal　genius　which　pardoned
　　the　Prince　of　Hatzfeldt　and　is　able　to　divine　the　reasons　of　the
　　heart；　will　he　not　admit　the　fatal　power　of　love；　invincible　in
　　youth；　which　extenuates　this　crime；　great　as　it　was？

　　Twenty…two　heads　have　fallen　under　the　blade　of　the　law；　only　one
　　of　the　guilty　persons　is　now　left；　and　she　is　a　young　woman；　a
　　minor；　not　twenty　years　of　age。　Will　not　the　Emperor　Napoleon　the
　　Great　grant　her　life；　and　give　her　time　in　which　to　repent？　Is　not
　　that　to　share　the　part　of　God？

　　For　Henriette　Lechantre；　wife　of　Bryond　des　Tour…Minieres；



Her　defender；　Bordin；
Barrister　of　the　Lower　Court　of　the　Department
of　the　Seine。



This　dreadful　drama　disturbed　the　little　sleep　that　Godefroid　took。　He
dreamed　of　that　penalty　of　death　such　as　the　physician　Guillotin　has
made　it　with　a　philanthropic　object。　Through　the　hot　vapors　of　a
nightmare　he　saw　a　young　woman；　beautiful；　enthusiastic；　enduring　the
last　preparations；　drawn　in　that　fatal　tumbril；　mounting　the　scaffold；
and　crying　out；　〃Vive　le　roi！〃

Eager　to　know　the　whole；　Godefroid　rose　at　dawn；　dressed；　and　paced
his　room；　then　stood　mechanically　at　his　window　gazing　at　the　sky；
while　his　thoughts　reconstructed　this　drama　in　many　volumes。　Ever；　on
that　darksome　background　of　Chouans；　peasants；　country　gentlemen；
rebel　leaders；　spies；　and　officers　of　justice；　he　saw　the　vivid
figures　of　the　mother　and　the　daughter　detach　themselves；　the　daughter
misleading　the　mother；　the　daughter　victim　of　a　monster；　victim；　too；
of　her　passion　for　one　of　those　bold　men　whom；　later；　we　have
glorified　as　heroes；　and　to　whom　even　Godefroid's　imagination　lent　a
likeness　to　the　Charettes　and　the　Georges　Cadoudals；those　giants　of
the　struggle　between　the　Republic　and　the　Monarchy。

As　soon　as　Godefroid　heard　the　goodman　Alain　stirring　in　the　room
above　him；　he　went　there；　but　he　had　no　sooner　opened　the　door　than　he
closed　it　and　went　back　to　his　own　apartment。　The　old　man；　kneeling　by
his　chair；　was　saying　his　morning　prayer。　The　sight　of　that　whitened
head；　bowed　in　an　attitude　of　humble　reverence；　reminded　Godefroid　of
his　own　forgotten　duties；　and　he　prayed　fervently。

〃I　expected　you；〃　said　the　kind　old　man；　when　Godefroid　entered　his
room　some　fifteen　minutes　later。　〃I　got　up　earlier　than　usual；　for　I
felt　sure　you　would　be　impatient。〃

〃Madame　Henriette？〃　asked　Godefroid；　with　visible　anxiety。

〃Was　Madame's　daughter！〃　replied　Monsieur　Alain。　〃Madame's　name　is
Lechantre　de　la　Chanterie。　Under　the　Empire　none　of　the　nobiliary
titles　were　allowed；　nor　any　of　the　names　added　to　the　patronymic　or
original　names。　Therefore；　the　Baronne　des　Tours…Minieres　was　called
Madame　Bryond。　The　Marquis　d'Esgrignon　took　his　name　of　Carol　（citizen
Carol）；　later　he　was　called　the　Sieur　Carol。　The　Troisvilles　became
the　Sieurs　Guibelin。〃

〃But　what　happened？　Did　the　Emperor　pardon　her？〃

〃Alas；　no！〃　replied　Alain。　〃The　unfortunate　little　woman；　not　twenty…
one　years　old；　perished　on　the　scaffold。　After　reading　Bordin's
appeal；　the　Emperor　answered　very　much　in　these　terms：　'Why　be　so
bitter　against　the　spy？　A　spy　is　no　longer　a　man；　he　ought　not　to　have
feelings；　he　is　a　wheel　of　the　machinery；　Bryond　did　his　duty。　If
instruments　of　that　kind　were　not　what　they　are；steel　bars；and
intelligent　only　in　the　service　of　the　power　employing　them；
government　would　not　be　possible。　The　sentences　of　criminal　courts
must　be　carried　out；　or　the　judges　would　cease　to　have　confidence　in
themselves　or　in　me。　Besides；　the　women　of　the　West　must　be　taught　not
to　meddle　in　plots。　It　is　precisely　in　the　case　of　a　woman　that
justice　should　not　be　interfered　with。　There　is　no　excuse　possible　for
an　attack　on　power？'　This　was　the　substance　of　what　the　Emperor　said；
as　Bordin　repeated　it　to　me。　Learning　a　little　later　that　France　and
Russia　were　about　to　measure　swords　against　each　other；　and　that　the
Emperor　was　to　go　two　thousand　miles　from　Paris　to　attack　a　vast　and
desert　country；　Bordin　understood　the　secret　reason　of　the　Emperor's
harshness。　To　insure　tranquillity　at　the　West；　now　full　of
refractories；　Napoleon　believed　it　necessary　to　inspire　terror。　Bordin
could　do　no　more。〃

〃But　Madame　de　la　Chanterie？〃　said　Godefroid。

〃Madame　de　la　Chanterie　was　sentenced　to　twenty　years'　imprisonment；〃
replied　Alain。　〃As　she　was　already　transferred　to　Bicetre；　near　Rouen；
to　undergo　her　punishment；　nothing　was　attempted　on　her　behalf　until
every　effort　had　been　made　to　save　Henriette；　who　had　grown　dearer
than　ever　to　her　mother　during　this　time　of　anxiety。　Indeed；　if　it　had
not　been　for　Bordin's　assurance　that　he　could　obtain　Henriette's
pardon；　it　is　doubtful　if　Madame　could　have　survived　the　shock　of　the
sentence。　When　the　appeal　failed；　they　deceived　the　poor　mother。　She
saw　her　daughter　once　after　the　execution　of　the　other　prisoners；　not
knowing　that　Madame　Bryond's　respite　was　due　to　a　false　declaration　of
pregnancy；　made　to　gain　time　for　the　appeal。〃

〃Ah！　I　understand　it　all　now；〃　exclaimed　Godefroid。

〃No；　my　dear　child；　there　are　things　that　no　one　can　imagine。　Madame
thought　her　daughter　living　for　a　long　time。〃

〃How　was　that？〃

〃When　Madame　des　Tours…Minieres　learned　from　Bordin　that　her　appeal
was　rejected　and　that　nothing　could　save　her；　that　sublime　little
woman　had　the　courage　to　write　twenty　letters；　dating　them　month　by
month　after　the　time　of　her　execution；　so　as　to　make　her　poor　mother
in　her　prison　believe　she　was　alive。　In　those　letters　she　told　of　a
gradual　illness　which　would　end　in　death。　They　covered　a　period　of　two
years。　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　was　therefore　prepared　for　the　news　of
her　daughter's　death；　but　she　thought　it　a　natural　one。　She　did　not
know　until　1814　that　Henriette　had　died　on　the　scaffold。　For　two　years
Madame　was　herded　among　the　most　depraved　of　her　sex；　but　thanks　to
the　urgency　of　the　Champignelles　and　the　Beauseants　she　was；　after　the
second　year；　placed　in　a　cell　by　herself；　where　she　lived　like　a
cloistered　nun。〃

〃And　the　others？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃The　notary　Leveille；　Herbomez；　Hiley；　Cibot；　Grenier；　Horeau；　Cabot；
Minard；　and　Mallet　were　condemned　to　death；　and　executed　the　same　day。
Pannier；　condemned　to　hard　labor　for　twenty　years；　was　branded　and
sent　to　the　galleys。　The　Chaussards　and　Vauthier　received　the　same
sentence；　but　were　pardoned　by　the　Emperor。　Melin；　Laraviniere　and
Binet；　were　condemned　to　five　years'　imprisonment。　The　woman　Bourget
to　twenty　years'　imprisonment。　Chargegrain　and　Rousseau　were
acquitted。　Those　who　escaped　were　all　condemned　to　death；　except　the
girl　Godard；　who　was　no　other；　as　you　have　probably　guessed；　than　our
poor　Manon〃

〃Manon！〃　exclaimed　Godefroid。

〃Oh！　you　don't　know　Manon　yet；〃　replied　the　kind　old　Alain。　〃That
devoted　creature；　condemned　to　twelve　years'　imprisonment；　gave
herself　up　that　she　might　take　care　of　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；　and
wait　upon　her。　Our　dear　vicar　was　the　priest　at　Mortagne　who　gave　the
last　sacraments　to　the　Baronne　des　Tours…Minieres；　he　had　the　courage
to　go　with　her　to　the　scaffold；　and　to　him　she　gave　her　farewell　kiss。
That　courageous；　noble　priest　had　also　accompanied　the　Chevalier　du
Vissard。　Our　dear　Abbe　de　Veze　has　therefore　known　all　the　secrets　of
those　days。〃

〃I　see　why　his　hair　is　so　white；〃　said　Godefroid。

〃Alas！　yes；〃　said　Alain。　〃He　received　from　Amedee　du　Vissard　a
miniature　of　Madame　des　Tours…Minieres；　the　only　portrait　of　her　that
exists；　therefore；　the　abbe　became　almost　sacred　in　Madame　de　la
Chanterie's　eyes　when　she　re…entered　social　existence。〃

〃When　did　that　happen？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃Why；　at　the　restoration　of　Louis　XVIII。；　in　1814。　The　Marquis　du
Vissard；　eldest　brother　of　the　Chevalier；　was　created　peer　of　France
and　loaded　with　honors　by　the　king。　The　brother　of　Monsieur　d'Herbomez
was　made　a　count　and　receiver…general。　The　poor　banker　Pannier　died　of
grief　at　the　galleys。　Boislaurier　died　without　children；　a　lieutenant…
general　and　governor　of　a　royal　chateau。　Messieurs　de　Champignelles；
de　Beauseant；　the　Duc　de　Verneuil；　and　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals
presented　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　to　the　king。　'You　have　suffered
greatly　for　me；　madame　la　baronne；　you　have　every　right　to　my　favor
and　gratitude；'　he　said　to　her。　'Sire；'　she　replied；　'your　Majesty　has
so　many　sorrows　to　console　that　I　do　not　wish　that　mine；　which　is
inconsolable；　should　be　a　burden　upon　you。　To　live　forgotten；　to　mourn
my　daughter；　and　do　some　good；　that　is　my　life。　If　anything　could
soften　my　grief；　it　is　the　kindness　of　my　king；　it　is　the　pleasure　of
seeing　that　Providence　has　not　allowed　our　long　devotion　to　be
useless。'〃

〃And　what　did　Louis　XVIII。　do？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃He　restored　two　hundred　thousand　francs　in　money　to　Madame　de　la
Chanterie；　for　the　estate　of　Saint…Savin　had　been　sold　to　pay　the
costs　of　the　trial。　In　the　decree　of　pardon　issued　for　Madame　la
baronne　and　her　servant　the　king　expressed　regret　for　the　suffering
borne　in　his　cause；　adding　that　'the　zeal　of　his　servants　had　gone　too
far　in　its　methods　of　execution。'　Butand　this　is　a　horrible　thing；
it　will　serve　to　show　you　a　curious　trait　in　the　character　of　that
monarchhe　employed　Bryond　in　his　detective　police　throughout　his
reign。〃

〃Oh；　kings！　kings！〃　cried　Godefroid；　〃and　is　the　wretch　still　living？〃

〃No；　the　wretch；　as　you　justly　call　him；　who　concealed　his　real　name
under　that　of　Contenson；　died　about　the　close　of　the　year　1829　or　the
beginning　of　1830。　In　trying　to　arrest　a　criminal　who　escaped　over　a
roof；　he　fell　into　the　street。　Louis　XVIII。　shared　Napoleon's　ideas　as
to　spies　and　police。　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　is　a　saint；　she　prays
constantly　for　the　soul　of　that　man　and　has　two　masses　said　yearly　for
him。　As　I　have　already　told　you；　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　knew　nothing
of　the　dangers　her　daughter　was　incurring　until　the　day　when　the　money
was　carried　to　Alencon；　nevertheless　she　was　unable　to　establish　her
innocence；　although　defended　by　one　of　the　greatest　lawyers　of　that
time。　The　president；　du　Ronceret；　and　the　vice…president；　Blondet；　of
the　court　of　Alencon　did　their　best　to　save　our　poor　lady。　But　the
influence　of　the　councillor　of　the　Imperial　Court　who　presided　at　her
trial　before　the　Criminal　and　Special　Court；　the　famous　Mergi；　and
that　of　Bourlac　the　attorney…general　was　such　over　the　other　judges
that　they　obtained　her　condemnation。　Both　Bourlac　and　Mergi　showed
extraordinary　bitterness　against　mother　and　daughter；　they　called　the
Baronne　des　Tours…Minieres　'the　woman　Bryond；'　and　Madame　'the　woman
Lechantre。'　The　names　of　accused　persons　in　those　days　were　all
brought　to　one　republican　level；　and　were　sometimes　unrecognizable。
The　trial　had　several　very　extraordinary　features；　which　I　cannot　now
recall；　one　piece　of　audacity　remains　in　my　memory　which　will　serve　to
show　you　what　sort　of　men　those　Chouans　were。　The　crowd　which
assembled　to　hear　the　trial　was　immense；　it　even　filled　the　corridors
and　the　sq