marie antoinette and her son-第80章

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like　a　sob。　When　Simon　looked　around；　his　wife　lay　pale　and
motionless　on　the　floor；　she　had　sunk　from　her　chair　in　a　swoon。

Simon　grasped　her　in　his　strong　arms　and　carried　her　to　the　bed；
laid　her　gently　and　carefully　down；　and　busied　himself　about　her；
showing　a　manifest　anxiety。

〃She　must　not　die；〃　he　murmured；　rubbing　her　temples　with　salt
water；　〃she　must　not　leave　me　alone　in　this　horrible　prison　and　with
this　dreadful　child。Jeanne　Marie；　wake　up；　come　to　yourself！〃　She
opened　her　eyes；　and　gazed　at　her　husband　with　wild；　searching
looks。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Jeanne　Marie？〃　he　asked。　〃Have　you　pain？　Are
you　sick？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　sick；　I　am　in　pain。〃

〃I　will　go　to　bring　you　a　physician；　you　shall　not　die！　No；　no；　you
shall　not　die；　you　shall　have　a　physician。　The　Hotel　Dieu　is　very
near；　they　will　certainly　allow　me　to　go　as　far　as　there；　and　bring
a　doctor　for　my　dear　Jeanne。〃

He　was　on　the　point　of　hastening　away；　but　Jeanne　Marie　held　him
fast。　〃Remain　here；〃　she　murmured；　〃do　not　let　me　be　alone　with　him…
…I　am　afraid　of　him！〃

〃Of　whom？〃　asked　Simon；　astonished；　and　as　he　followed　the　looks　of
his　wife；　they　rested　on　the　boy；　who　was　still　busy　in　checking　the
blood　that　was　flowing　freely　from　his　swollen　nose。

〃Of　him！〃　asked　Simon；　in　amazement。

Jeanne　Marie　nodded。　〃Yes；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　am　afraid　of　him；　and
I　do　not　want　to　remain　alone　with　him；　for　he　would　kill　me。〃　Simon
burst　into　a　loud；　hoarse　laugh。　〃Now　I　see　that　you　are　really
sick；　and　the　doctor　shall　come　at　once。　But　they　certainly　will　not
let　me　leave　this　place；　for　this　despicable　brat　has　made　us　both
prisoners；　the　miserable；　good…for…nothing　thing！〃

〃Send　him　away；　let　him　go　into　his　own　room；〃　whispered　Jeanne
Marie。　〃I　cannot　bear　to　see　him；　he　poisons　my　blood。　Send　him
away；　for　I　shall　be　crazy　if　I　have　to　look　at　him　longer。〃

〃Away　with　you；　you　viper！〃　roared　Simon；　and　the　boy；　who　knew　that
he　was　meantthat　the　term　viper　was　applied　only　to　himhastily
dried　his　tears；　and　slipped　through　the　open　door　into　his　little
dark　apartment。

〃Now　I　will　run　and　call　the　porter；〃　said　Simon；　hurriedly；　〃he
shall　send　some　one　to　the　Hotel　Dieu；　and　bring　a　physician　for　my
poor；　dear；　sick　Jeanne　Marie。〃

He　hastened　out；　and　turned　back；　after　a　few　minutes；　with　the
report　that　the　porter　himself　had　gone　to　bring　a　doctor；　and　that
help　would　come　at　once。

〃Nonsense！〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie；　〃no　doctor　can　help　me；　and　there　is
nothing　at　all　that　I　want。　Only　give　me　something　to　drink；　Simon；
for　my　throat　burns　like　fire；　and　then　call　little　Capet　in；　for　in
his　dark　room　his　eyes　glisten　like　stars；　and　I　cannot　bear　them。〃

Simon　shook　his　head　sadly；　and；　while　holding　a　glass　of　cold　water
to　her　lips；　he　said　to　himself：　〃Jeanne　Marie　is　really　sick！　She
has　a　fever！　But　we　must　do　what　she　orders；　else　it　will　come　to
delirium；　and　she　might　become　insane。〃

And　with　a　loud　voice　he　called；　〃Capet；　Capet！　come　here；　come
here！　you　viper；　you　wolf's　cub；　come　here！〃

The　boy　obeyed　the　command；　slowly　crept　into　the　room；　and　sat　down
in　the　rush…chair　in　the　corner。　〃He　shall　not　look　at　me；〃　shrieked
Jeanne　Marie；　〃he　shall　not　look　into　my　heart　with　his　dreadful
blue　eyes；　it　hurts　meoh！　so　much；　so　much！〃

〃Turn　around；　you　viper！〃　said　Simon。　〃Look　round　this　way　again；　or
I'll　tear　your　eyes　out　of　your　head！　I〃

The　door　leading　to　the　corridor　now　opened；　and　an　old　man；　leaning
on　a　cane；　entered；　wearing　on　his　head　a　powdered　peruke；　his　bent
form　covered　with　a　black　satin　coat；　beneath　which　a　satin　vest　was
seen；　on　his　feet；　silk　stockings　and　buckled　shoes；　in　his　lace…
encircled　hand；　a　cane　with　a　gold　head。

〃Well；〃　cried　Simon；　with　a　laugh；　〃what　sort　of　an　old　scarecrow　is
that？　And　what　does　it　want　here？〃

〃The　scarecrow　wants　nothing　of　you；〃　said　the　old　man；　in　a　kindly
way；　〃but　you　want　something　of　it；　citizen。　You　have　sent　for　me。〃

〃Ah！　so　you　are　the　doctor　from　the　Hotel　Dieu。〃

〃Yes；　my　friend；　I　am　Citizen　Naudin。〃

〃Naudin；　the　chief　physician　at　the　Hotel　Dieu？〃　cried　Simon。　〃And
you　come　yourself　to　see　my　sick　wife？〃

〃Does　that　surprise　you；　Citizen　Simon？〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　it　surprises　me。　For　I　have　been　told　so　often　that
Citizen　Naudin；　the　greatest　and　most　skilful　physician　in　all
Paris；　never　leaves　the　Hotel　Dieu；　that　the　aristocrats　and　ci…
devants　have　begged　him　in　vain　to　attend　them；　and　that　even　the
Austrian　woman；　in　the　days　when　she　was　queen；　sent　to　no　purpose
to　the　celebrated　Naudin；　and　begged　him　to　come　to　Versailles。

We　heard　that　the　answer　was：　'I　am　the　physician　of　the　poor　and
the　sick　in　the　Hotel　Dieu；　and　whoever　is　poor　and　sick　may　come　to
me　in　the　house　which　bears　the　name　of　God。　But　whoever　is　too　rich
and　too　well　for　that；　must　seek　another　doctor；　for　my　duties　with
the　sick　do　not　allow　me　to　leave　the　H6tel　Dieu。'　And　after　that
answer　reached　the　palaceso　the　great　Doctor　Marat　told　methe
queen　had　her　horses　harnessed；　and　drove　to　Paris；　to　consult
Doctor　Naudin　at　the　Hotel　Dieu；　and　to　receive　his　advice。　Is　the
story　really　true；　and　are　you　Doctor　Naudin？〃

〃The　story　is　strictly　true；　and；　my　friend；　I　am　Doctor　Naudin。〃

〃And　you　now　leave　the　Hotel　Dieu　to　come　and　visit　my　sick　wife？〃
asked　Simon；　with　a　pleasant　look　and　a　flattered　manner。

〃Does　your　wife　not　belong　to　my　poor　and　sick？〃　asked　the　doctor。
〃Is　she　not　a　woman　of　the　people；　this　dear　French　people；　to　whom
I　have　devoted　my　services　and　my　life？　For　a　queen　Doctor　Naudin
might　not　leave　his　hospital；　but　for　a　woman　of　the　people　he　does
it。　And　now；　citizen；　let　me　see　your　sick　wife；　for　I　did　not　come
here　to　talk。〃

Without　waiting　for　Simon's　answer；　the　physician　walked　up　to　the
bed；　sat　down　on　the　chair　in　front　of　it；　and　began　at　once　to
investigate　the　condition　of　the　woman；　who　reached　him　her　feverish
hand；　and；　with　an　almost　inaudible　voice；　answered　his　professional
questions。

The　cobbler　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　and　directed　his　little
cunning　eyes　to　the　physician　in　amazement　and　admiration。　Behind
him；　in　the　corner；　sat　the　son　of　Marie　Antoinette；　humiliated；
still；　and　motionless。　Yet；　in　spite　of　the　injunction　of　Jeanne
Marie；　he　had　turned　around；　and　was　looking　toward　the　bed；　but　not
to　the　knitter　of　the　guillotine　were　his　looks　directed；　but　to
this　venerable　old　gentleman　with　his　powdered　peruke；　his　satin
coat；　silk　stockings；　breeches；　shoe…buckles；　gold　embroidered
waistcoat　and　lace　ruffles。　This　costume　reminded　him　of　the　past；
the　halls　of　Versailles　came　back　to　him；　and　he　saw　before　him　the
shadowy　figures　of　the　cavaliers　of　that　time；　all　clothed　like　the
dear　old　gentleman　who　was　sitting　before　the　bed　there。

〃Why　do　you　look　at　me　in　such　a　wondering　way；　Citizen　Simon？〃
asked　Naudin；　who　was　now　through　with　his　examination。

〃I　really　wonderI　really　do　wonder　immensely；〃　said　Simon；　〃and
that　is　saying　much；　for；　in　these　times；　when　there　are　so　many
changes；　a　man　can　hardly　wonder　at　any　thing。　Still　I　do　wonder；
Citizen　Naudin；　that　you　can　venture　to　go　around　in　this　costume。
That　is　the　style　of　clothing　worn　by　traitorous　ci…devants　and
aristocrats。　Anybody　else　who　dare　put　it　on　would　have　only　one
more　walk　to　take；　that　to　the　guillotine；　and　yet　you　venture　to
come　here！〃

〃Venture？〃　repeated　Naudin；　with　a　shrug。　〃I　venture　nothing；
citizen。　I　wear　my　clothes　in　conformity　with　a　habit　of　years'
standing：　they　fitted　well　under　the　monarchy；　they　fit　just　as　well
under　the　republic；　and　I　am　not　going　to　be　such　a　fool　as　to　put
by　my　soft　and　comfortable　silk　clothes；　and　put　on　your　hateful；
uncomfortable　thick　ones；　and　strut　about　in　them。　I　am　altogether
too　old　to　take　up　the　new　fashions；　and　altogether　too　well
satisfied　with　my　own　suit　to　learn　how　to　wear　your　cloth　coats
with　swallow…tails；　and　your　leather　hose　and　top…boots。　Defend　me
from　crowding　my　old　limbs　into　such　stuffs！〃

〃Citizen　doctor；〃　cried　Simon；　with　a　laugh；　〃you　are　a　jolly；　good
old　fellow；　and　I　like　you　well。　I　do　not　blame　you　for　preferring
your　comfortable　silk　clothes　to　the　new　style　that　our
revolutionary　heroes　have　brought　into　mode；　that　nothing　might
remind　us　of　the　cursed；　God…forsaken　monarchy。　I　wonder　merely　that
they　allow　it；　and　do　not　make　you　a　head　shorter！〃

〃But　how　would　they　go　on　with　matters　in　the　Hotel　Dieu？　Without　a
head　nothing　could　be　done　with　the　sick　and　the　suffering；　for
without　a　head　there　is　no　thinking。　Now；　as　I　am　the　head　of　the
hospital；　and　as　they　have　no　head　to　take　my　place；　and　as；　in
spite　of　my　old…fashioned　clothes；　my　sick　are　cured；　and　have
confidence　in　me；　the　great　revolutionary　heroes　wink　at　me；　and　let
me　do　as　I　please；　for　they　know　that　under　the　silk　dress　of　an
aristocrat　beats　the　heart　of　a　true　democrat。　But　that　is　not　the
question　before　us　now；　citizen。　We　want　to　talk　about　the　health　of
your　wife　here。　She　is　sick；　she　has　a　fever；　and　it　will　be　worse
yet　with　her；　unless　we　take　prompt　measures　and　provide　a　cooling
drink　for　her。〃

〃Do　it；　citizen　doctor；〃　said　Simon；　〃make　my　Jeanne　Marie　well　and
bright　again；　or　I　shall　go　crazy　here　in　this　accursed　house。
Jeanne　Marie　is　sick　just　with　this；　that　she　is　not　accustomed　to
be　idle；　and　to　sit　still　and　fold　her　hands　in　her　lap；　and　run
around　like　a　wild　beast　in　its　cage。　But　here　in　the　Temple　it　is
no　better　than　in　a　cage；　and　I　tell　you；　citizen；　it　is　enough　to
make　one　crazy　here；　and　it　has　made　Jeanne　sick　to　have　no　fresh
air；　no　exercise　and　work。〃

〃But　why　has　she　no　exercise　and　no　work？　Why　does　she　not　go　out
into　the　street　and　take　the　air？〃

〃Because　she　cannot；〃　cried　Simon；　passionately。　〃Because　the　cursed
little　viper　there　embitters　our　whole　life　and　makes　us　prisoners
to　this　miserable；　wretched　prisoner；　Look　at　him　there；　the
infernal　little　wolf！　he　is　the　one　to　blame　that　I　cannot　go　into
the　street；　cannot　visit　the　clubs；　the　Convention；　or　any　meeting；
but　must　lire　here　like　a　Trappist；　or　like　an　imprisoned　criminal。
He　is　the　one　to　blame　that　my　wife　can　no　longer　take　her　place　at
the　guillotine；　and　knit　and　go　on　with　her　work　there。〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie；　with　a　groan；　raising　her　head　painfully
from　the　pillow；　〃he　is　to　blame　for　it　all；　the　shameless　rascal。
He　has　made　me　melancholy　and　sad；　he　has　worried；　and　vexed；　and
changed　me！　Oh！　oh！　he　is　looking　at　me　again；　and　his　eyes　burn
into　my　heart！〃

〃Miserable　viper；〃　cried　Simon；　dashing　toward　the　boy　with　clinched
fists；　〃how　dare　you　turn　your　hateful　eyes　toward　her；　after　her
expressly　forbidding　it？　Wait；　I　will　teach　you　to　disobey；　and　give
you　a　lesson　that　you　will　not　forget。〃

His　heavy　hand　fell　on　the　back　of　the　boy；　and　was　raised　again　for
a　second　stroke；　when　it　was　held　as　in　an　iron　vice。

〃You　good…for…nothing；　what　are　you　doing？〃　cried　a　thundering
voice；　and　two　blazing　eyes　flashed　on　him　from　the　reddened　face　of
Doctor　Naudin。

Simon's　eyes　fell　before　the　angry　look　of　the　physician；　then　he
broke　out　into　a