marie antoinette and her son-第78章

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am　just　as　much　a　prisoner　as　he　is。〃

〃The　republic　has　done　you　a　great　honor；〃　said　the　knitter；
solemnly。　〃She　has　confidence　that　you　will　make　out　of　the　son　of
the　she…wolf；　out　of　the　worthless　scion　of　tyrants；　a　son　of　the
republic；　a　useful　citizen。〃

〃Good　talk；〃　growled　Simon；　〃and　you　have　only　the　honor　of　the
affair；　and　the　satisfaction　besides　of　plaguing　the　son　of　our
tyrants　a　bit。〃

〃Of　taking　revenge；〃　struck　in　the　knitter〃revenge　for　the　misery
which　my　family　has　suffered　from　the　tyrants。〃

〃But　I；〃　continued　Simon；　〃I　have　certainly　the　honor　of　the　thing；
but　I　have　also　the　burden。　In　the　first　place；　it　is　very　hard　to
make　a　strong　and　useful　citizen；　of　the　republic　out　of　this
whining；　tender；　and　sensitive　urchin。　And　then　again　it　is　very
unpleasant　and　disagreeable　to　have　to　live　like　a　prisoner　always。〃

〃Listen；　Simon；　hear　what　I　promise　you；〃　said　Jeanne　Marie；　laying
her　hard　brown　hand　upon　Simon's　shoulder。　〃If　the　Austrian　atones
to…day　for　her　crimes；　and　the　executioner　shows　her　head　to　the
avenged　people；　I　will　give　up　my　place　at　the　guillotine　as　a
knitter；　will　remain　with　you　here　in　the　Temple；　will　take　my　share
in　the　bringing　up　of　the　little　Capet；　and　you　yourself　shall　make
the　proposition　to　the　supervisor；　that　your　wife　like　yourself
shall　not　be　allowed　to　leave　the　Temple。〃

〃That　is　something　I　like　to　hear；〃　cried　Simon；　delighted；　〃there
will　then　be　at　least　two　of　us　to　bear　the　tedium　of　imprisonment。
So　go；　Jenne　Marie；　take　your　place　for　the　last　time　at　the
guillotine；　for　I　tell　you；　you　will　lose　your　bet；　you　will　have　to
furnish　brandy　and　cakes；　and　stay　with　me　here　at　the　Temple　to
bring　up　the　little　Capet。　So　go；　I　will　go　up　to　the　platform　with
the　boy；　and　wait　there　for　your　return。〃

He　called　the　little　Louis　Charles；　who　was　sitting　on　the　tottering
rush…chair　in　his　room；　and　anxiously　waiting　to　see　whether　〃his
master〃　was　going　to　take　him　that　day　out　of　the　dismal；　dark
prison。

〃Come；　little　Capet；〃　cried　Simon；　pushing　the　door　open　with　his
foot〃　come；　we　will　go　up　on　the　platform。　You　can　take　your　ball
along　and　play；　and　I　advise　you　to　be　right　merry　to…day；　for　it　is
a　holiday　for　the　republic；　and　I　am　going　to　teach　you　to　be　a　good
republican。　So　if　you　want　to　keep　your　back　free　from　my　straps；　be
jolly　to…day；　and　play　with　your　ball〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　the　child；　springing　forward　merrily　with　his　ball〃
oh！　only　be　good；　master；　I　will　certainly　be　merry；　for　I　like　to
play　with　my　ball；　and　I　am　ever　so　fond　of　holidays。　What　kind　of
one　is　it　to…day？〃

〃No　matter　about　your　knowing　that；　you　little　toad！〃　growled　Simon；
who　in　spite　of　himself　had　compassion　on　the　pale　face　of　the　child
that　looked　up　to　him　so　innocently　and　inquiringly。　〃Up　the
staircase　quick；　and　play　and　laugh。〃

Louis　obeyed　with　a　smile；　sprang　up　the　high　steps　of　the　winding
stairway；　jumped　about　on　the　platform；　throwing　his　ball　up　in　the
air；　and　shouting　aloud　when　he　caught　it　again　with　his　little　thin
hands。

Meanwhile　Simon　stood　leaning　on　the　iron　railing　that　surrounded
the　platform；　looking　with　his　searching　eyes　down　into　the　street
which　far　below　ran　between　the　dark　houses　like　a　narrow　ribbon。

The　wind　now　brought　the　sustained　notes　of　the　drums　to　him；　then
he　saw　the　street　below　suddenly　filled　with　a　dark　mass；　as　if　the
ribbon　were　turning　into　crape　that　was　filling　all　Paris。

〃The　people　are　in　motion　by　thousands；〃　cried　Simon；　delightedly；
〃and　all　rushing　to　the　Place　de　la　Revolution。　I　shall　win　my　bet。〃

And　again　he　listened　to　the　sound　that　came　up　to　him；　now
resembling　the　beat　of　drums；　and　now　a　loud　cry　of　exultation。

〃Now　I　think　Samson　must　be　striking　the　head　off　the　wolf！〃　growled
Simon　to　himself；　〃and　the　people　are　shouting　with　pleasure；　and
Jeanne　Marie　is　making　a　mark　in　her　stocking；　and　I；　poor　fellow；
cannot　be　there　to　see　the　fine　show！　And　this　miserable　brat　is　to
blame　for　it；〃　he　cried　aloud；　turning　suddenly　round　to　the　child
who　was　playing　behind　him　with　his　ball；　and　giving　him　a　savage
blow　with　his　fist。

〃You　are　the　cause；　stupid；　that　I　cannot　be　there　today！〃

〃Master；〃　said　the　child；　beseechingly；　lifting　his　great　blue　eyes；
in　which　the　tears　were　standing；　up　to　his　tormentor〃　master；　I
beg　your　forgiveness　if　I　have　troubled　you。〃

〃Yes；　you　have　troubled　me；〃　growled　Simon；　〃and　you　shall　get　your
thanks　for　it　in　a　way　you　will　not　like。　Quick；　away　with　your
tears；　go　on　with　your　play　if　you　do　not　want　your　back　to　make
acquaintance　with　my　straps。　Merry；　I　say；　little　Capet；　merry！〃

The　boy　hastily　dried　his　tears；　laughed　aloud　as　a　proof　of　his
merriment；　and　began　to　jump　about　again　and　to　play　with　his　ball。

Simon　listened　again；　and　looked　down　longingly　into　the　streets；
which　were　now　black　with　the　surging　masses　of　men。　Steps　were　now
heard　upon　the　stairway；　and　Jeanne　Marie　presently　appeared　on　the
platform。　With　a　grave；　solemn　air　she　walked　up　to　her　husband；　and
gave　him　her　stocking；　on　which　three　great　drops　of　blood　were
visible。

〃That　is　her　blood；〃　she　said；　calmly。　〃Thank　God；　I　have　lost　the
bet！〃

〃What　sort　of　a　bet　was　it？〃　asked　the　boy；　with　a　smile；　and　giving
his　ball　a　merry　toss。

〃The　bet　is　nothing　to　you；〃　answered　Jeanne　Marie；　〃but　if　you　are
good　you　will　get　something　by　and　by；　and　have　a　share　in　the
payment　of　the　bet！〃

That　evening　there　was　a　little　feast　prepared　in　the　gloomy　rooms
of　the　Simons。　The　wife　paid　the　wager；　for　the　Queen　of　France　had
really　been　executed；　and　she　had　lost。　She　provided　two　bottles　of
brandy　and　a　plum　cake；　and　the　son　of　the　murdered　queen　had　a
share　in　the　entertainment。　He　ate　a　piece　of　the　plum　cake；　and；
under　the　fear　of　being　beaten　if　he　refused；　he　drank　some　of　the
brandy　that　was　so　offensive　to　him。

From　this　time　the　unhappy　boy　remained　under　the　hands　of　the
cobbler　and　his　cruel　wife。　In　vain　his　aunt　and　his　sister　implored
their　keepers　to　be　allowed　to　see　and　to　talk　with　the　prince。　They
were　put　off　with　abusive　words；　and　only　now　and　then　could　they
see　him　a　moment　through　a　crack　in　the　door；　as　he　passed　by　with
Simon；　on　his　way　to　the　winding　staircase。　At　times　there　came　up
through　the　floor　of　their　roomfor　Simon；　who　was　no　longer
porter；　had　the　rooms　directly　beneath　these　occupied　by　the
princessesthe　crying　and　moaning　of　the　little　prince；　filling
their　hearts　with　pain　and　bitterness；　for　they　knew　that　the
horrible　keeper　of　the　dauphin　was　giving　his　pitiable　ward　a
lesson；　i。e。；　he　was　beating　and　maltreating　him。　〃Why？　For　what
reason？　One　day；　perhaps；　because　he　refused　to　drink　brandy；　the
next　because　he　looked　sad；　or　because　he　asked　to　be　taken　to　his
mother　or　the　princesses；　or　because　he　refused　to　sing　the　ribald
songs　which　Simon　tried　to　teach　him　about　Madame　Veto　or　the
Austrian　she…wolf。

In　this　one　thing　the　boy　remained　immovable；　neither　threats；
abuse；　nor　blows　would　force　him　to　sing　scurrilous　songs　about　his
mother。　Out　of　fear　he　did　every　thing　else　that　his　tormentor　bade
him。　He　sung　the　Marseillaise；　and　the　Caira；　he　danced　the
Carmagnole；　uttered　his　loud　hurrahs　as　Simon　drank　a　glass　of
brandy　to　the　weal　of　the　one　and　indivisible　republic；　but　when　he
was　ordered　to　sing　mocking　songs　about　Madame　Veto；　he　kept　a
stubborn　silence；　and　nothing　was　able　to　overcome　what　Simon　called
the　〃obstinacy　of　the　little　viper。〃

Nothing；　neither　blows　nor　kicks；　neither　threats　nor　promises！　The
child　no　longer　ventured　to　ask　after　its　mother；　or　to　beg　to　be
taken　to　his　aunt　and　sister；　but　once　in　a　while　when　he　heard　a
noise　in　the　room　above；　he　would　fix　his　eyes　upon　the　ceiling　for
a　long　time；　and　with　an　expression　of　longing；　and　when　he　dropped
them；　again　the　clear　tears　ran　over　his　cheeks　like　transparent
pearls。

He　did　not　speak　about　his　mother；　but　he　thought　of　her；　and　once
in　the　night　he　seemed　to　be　dreaming　of　her；　for　he　raised　himself
up　in　bed；　kneeled　down　upon　the　miserable；　dirty　mattress；　folded
his　hands　and　began　to　repeat　in　a　loud　voice　the　prayer　which　his
mother　had　taught　him。

The　noise　awakened　Simon；　who　roused　his　wife；　to　let　her　listen　to
the　〃superstitious　little　monkey；〃　whom　he　would　cure　forever　of　his
folly。

He　sprang　out　of　bed；　took　a　pitcher　of　cold　water；　that　was
standing　on　the　table；　and　poured　it　upon　the　head　of　the　kneeling
boy。　Louis　Charles　awoke　with　a　shriek；　and　crouched　down　in　alarm。
But　the　whole　bed　was　wet；　only　the　pillow　had　been　spared。　The　boy
rose　carefully；　took　the　pillow；　carried　it　into　a　corner　of　the
room；　and　sat　down　upon　it。　But　his　teeth　chattered　with　the　cold　in
spite　of　himself。　This　awakened　Simon　a　second　time；　just　as　he　was
dropping　asleep。　With　a　wild　curse　he　jumped　out　of　bed　and　dressed
himself。

〃That　is　right！〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie；　〃bring　the　brat　to　his　senses。
Make　little　Capet　know　that　he　is　to　behave　respectfully。〃

And　Simon　did　make　the　poor　boy　understand　it；　sitting　on　the
pillow；　shivering　in　his　wet　shirt。　He　seized　him　by　his　shoulders；
shook　him　angrily　from　one　side　to　another；　and　shouted：　〃I　will
teach　you　to　say　your　Pater　Noster；　and　get　up　in　the　night　like　a
Trappist！〃

The　boy　remaining　silent；　Simon's　rage；　which　knew　no　bounds　when　he
thought　he　was　defied　or　met　with　stubbornness；　entirely　took
possession　of　him。　He　caught　up　his　boot；　whose　sole　was　secured
with　large　iron　nails；　and　was　on　the　point　of　hurling　it　at　the
head　of　the　unoffending　boy；　when　the　latter　seized　his　arm　with
convulsive　energy。

〃What　have　I　done　to　you；　master；　that　you　should　kill　me？〃　cried
the　little　Louis。

〃Kill　you；　you　wolf…brat！〃　roared　Simon。　〃As　if　I　wanted　to；　or　ever
had　wanted　to！　Oh；　the　miserable　viper！　So　you　do　not　know　that　if　I
only　took　fairly　hold　of　your　neck；　you　never　would　scream　again！〃

And　with　his　powerful　arm　he　seized　the　boy　and　hurled　him　upon　the
water…soaked　bed。　Louis　lay　down　without　a　word；　without　a
complaint；　and　remained　there　shivering　and　with　chattering　teeth
until　morning。　＇Footnote：　Beauchesne；　〃Louis　XVII。；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。
185。＇

From　this　period　there　was　a　change　in　the　boy。　Until　this　time　his
moist　eyes　had　fixed　themselves　with　a　supplicating　look　upon　his
tormentors　when　they　threatened　him；　but　after　this　they　were　cast
down。　Until　now　he　had　always　sought　to　fulfil　his　master's　commands
with　great　alacrity；　afterward　he　was　indifferent；　and　made　no
effort　to　do　so；　for　he　had　learned　that　it　was　all　to　no　purpose；
and　that　he　must　accept　a　fate　of　slavery　and　affliction。　The　face
of　the　child；　once　so　rosy　and　smiling；　now　took　on　a　sad；
melancholy　expression；　his　cheeks　were　pale　and　sunken。　The
attractive　features　of　his　face　were　disfigured；　his　limbs　grew　to　a
length　disproportionate　to　his　age；　his　back　bent　into　a　bow；　as　if
he　felt　the　burden　of　the　humiliations　which　were　thrown　upon　him。
When　the　child　had　learned　that　every　thing　that　he　said　was
twisted；　turned　into　ridicule；　and　made　the　cause　of　chastisement；
he　was　entirely　silent；　and　o