marie antoinette and her son-第81章

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Doctor　Naudin。

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

〃Citizen　doctor；　I　say；　what　a　jolly　fellow　you　are；〃　he　said；
merrily。　〃You　did　that　just　as　if　you　were　in　a　theatre；　and　you
called　out　to　me　just　as　they　call　out　to　the　murderers　in　a
tragedy。　What　do　you　make　such　a　halloo　about　when　I　chastise　the
wolf's　cub　a　bit；　as　he　has　richly　deserved？〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Naudin；　〃I　was　a　little　hasty。　But　that　comes
from　the　fact；　citizen；　that　I　not　only　held　you　to　be　a　good
republican；　but　a　good　man　as　well；　and　therefore　it　pained　me　to
see　you　do　a　thing　which　becomes　neither　a　republican　nor　a　good
man。〃

〃Why；　what　have　I　done　that　is　not　proper？〃　asked　Simon；　in
amazement。

〃Look　at　him；　the　poor；　beaten；　swollen；　stupefied　boy；〃　said
Naudin；　solemnly；　pointing　to　Louis；　who　sat　on　his　chair；　weeping
and　trembling　in　all　his　limbs〃look　at　him；　citizen；　and　then　do
not　ask　me　again　what　you　have　done　that　is　not　proper。〃

〃Well；　but　he　deserves　nothing　better；〃　cried　Simon；　with　a　sneer。
〃He　is　the　son　of　the　she…wolf；　Madame　Veto。〃

〃He　is　a　human　being；〃　said　Doctor　Naudin；　solemnly；　〃and　he　is；
besides；　a　helpless　boy；　whom　the　one；　indivisible；　and　righteous
republic　deprived　of　his　father　and　mother；　and　put　under　your　care
to　be　educated　as　if　he　were　a　son　of　your　own。　I　ask　you；　citizen；
would　you　have　struck　a　son　of　your　own　as　you　just　struck　this
boy？〃

A　loud；　convulsive　sob　came　from　the　bed　on　which　Jeanne　Marie　lay；
and　entirely　confused　and　disturbed　Simon。

〃No；〃　he　said；　softly；　〃perhaps　I　should　not　have　done　it。　But；〃
continued　he　eagerly；　and　with　a　grim　look；　〃a　child　of　my　own　would
not　have　tried　and　exasperated　me　as　this　youngster　does。　From
morning　till　evening　he　vexes　me；　for　he　does　nothing　that　I　want
him　to。　If　I　order　him　to　sing　with　me；　he　is　still　and　stupid；　and
when　he　ought　to　be　still　he　makes　a　noise。　Would　you　believe　me；
citizen；　this　son　of　the　she…wolf　leaves　me　no　quiet　for　sleep。
Lately；　in　the　night；　he　kneeled　down　in　the　bed　and　began　to　pray
with　a　loud　voice；　so　as　to　wake　both　my　wife　and　myself。〃

〃From　that　night　on　I　have　been　sick　and　miserable；〃　moaned　Jeanne
Marie；　〃from　that　night　I　have　not　been　able　to　sleep。〃

〃You　hear；　citizen　doctor；　my　wife　was　so　terrified　with　that；　that
it　made　her　sick；　and　now　you　shall　have　a　proof　of　the　disobedience
of　the　little　viper。　Capet；　come　here。〃

The　boy　rose　slowly　from　his　chair；　and　stole　along　with　drooping
head　to　his　master。

〃Capet；　we　will　sing；〃　said　Simon。　〃You　shall　show　the　doctor　that
you　are　a　good　republican；　and　that　you　have　entirely　forgotten　that
you　are　the　son　of　the　Austrian；　the　rascally　Madame　Veto。　Come；　we
will　sing　the　song　about　Madame　Veto。　Quick；　strike　in；　or　I　will
beat　you　into　pulp。　The　song　about　Madame　Veto；　do　you　hear？　Sing！〃

A　short　pause　ensued。　Then　the　boy　raised　his　swollen　face　and　fixed
his　great　blue　eyes　with　a　defiant；　flaming　expression　upon　the　face
of　the　cobbler。

〃Citizen；〃　he　said；　with　clear；　decided　tones；　〃I　shall　not　sing　the
song　about　Madame　Veto；　for　I　have　not　forgotten　my　dear　mamma；　and
I　can　sing　nothing　bad　about　her；　for　I　love　my　dear　mamma　so　much；
so　much；　and〃

The　voice　of　the　boy　was　drowned　in　his　tears；　he　let　his　head　fall
upon　his　breast；　ready　to　receive　the　threatened　chastisement。　But；
before　the　fist　of　Simon；　already　raised；　could　fall　upon　the　poor
head　of　the　little　sufferer；　a　thrilling　cry　of　pain　resounded　from
the　bed。

〃Simon；　come　to　me；〃　gasped　Jeanne　Marie。　〃Help　me　draw　the　dagger
out　of　my　breast；　I　am　dyingoh；　I　am　dying！〃

〃What　kind　of　a　dagger？〃　cried　Simon；　rushing　to　the　bed　and　taking
the　convulsed　form　of　his　wife　in　his　arms。

〃Hush！〃　whispered　the　doctor；　who　also　had　gone　to　the　bed　of　the
sick　woman〃hush！　she　is　speaking　in　her　fever；　and　the　dagger　of
which　she　talks　she　feels　in　her　heart　and　conscience。　You　must
spare　her；　citizen；　if　you　do　not　want　her　to　die。　Every　thing　must
be　quiet　around　her；　and　you　must　be　very　careful　not　to　agitate　her
nerves；　lest　she　have　an　acute　typhoid　fever。　I　will　send　her　some
cooling　medicine　at　once；　and　to…morrow　morning　I　will　come　early　to
see　how　it　fares　with　her。　But；　above　every　thing　else；　Simon；
remember　to　have　quiet；　that　your　good　wife　may　get　well　again。〃

〃Who　would　have　told　me　two　weeks　ago　that　Jeanne　Marie　had　nerves？〃
growled　Simon。　〃The　first　knitter　of　the　guillotine；　and　now　all　at
once　nerves　and　tears；　but　I　must　be　careful　of　her。　For　it　would　be
too　bad　if　she　should　die　and　leave　me　all　alone　with　this　tedious
youngster。　I　could　not　hold　out。　I　should　run　away。　Go；　Capet；　get
into　your　room；　and　do　not　get　in　my　way　again　to…day；　else　I　will
strangle　you　before　you　can　make　a　sound。　Come；　scud；　clear；　and　do
not　let　me　see　you　again；　if　your　life　is　worth　any　thing　to　you。〃

The　child　stole　into　his　room　again；　sat　down　upon　the　floor；　folded
his　little　hands　in　one　another；　fixed　his　great　blue　eyes　on　the
ceiling　above；　and　held　his　breath　to　listen　to　every　little　sound；
every　footfall　that　came　from　the　room　above。

All　at　once　he　heard　plainly　the　steps　of　some　one　walking　up　and
down；　and　a　pleased　smile　flitted　across　the　face　of　the　boy。

〃That　is　certainly　my　dear　mamma；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。　〃Yes；
yes；　it　is　my　mamma　queen；　and　she　is　taking　her　walk　in　the
sitting…room；　just　as　she　has　done　since　she　has　not　been　allowed　to
go　out　upon　the　platform。　Oh；　mamma；　my　dear　mamma；　I　love　you　so
much！〃

And　the　child　threw　a　kiss　up　to　the　ceiling；　not　knowing　that　she
to　whom　he　sent　his　greeting　had　long　been　resting　in　the　silent
grave；　and　that　with　the　very　hand　which　was　throwing　kisses　to　her；
he　had　himself　signed　the　paper　which　heaped　upon　his　mother　the
most　frightful　calumnies。

Even　Simon　had　not　had　the　cruel　courage　to　tell　the　boy　of　the
death　of　his　mother；　and　of　the　unconscious　wrong　that　he；　poor
child；　had　done　to　her　memory；　and　in　his　silent　chamber　his　longing
thoughts　of　her　were　his　only　consolation。

And　so　he　sat　there　that　day　looking　up　to　the　ceiling；　greeting　his
dear　mamma　with　his　thoughts；　and　seeing　her　in　spirit　greeting　him
again；　nodding　affectionately　to　him　and　drawing　her　dear　little
Louis　Charles　to　her　arms。

These　were　the　sweet；　transporting　fancies　which　made　the　child
close　his　eyes　so　as　not　to　lose　them。　Immovably　he　sat　there；　until
gradually　thoughts　and　dreams　flowed　into　each　other；　and　not　only
his　will；　but　sleep　as　well；　kept　his　eyes　closed。　But　the　dreams
remained；　and　were　sweet　and　refreshing；　and　displayed　to　the
sleeping　child；　so　harshly　treated　in　his　waking　hours；　only　scenes
of　love　and　tenderness。　And　it　was　not　his　mother　alone　who　embraced
him　in　his　happy　slumbers；　no；　there　were　his　aunt　and　his　sister　as
well；　and　at　last　evenoh　how　strange　dreams　are！at　last　he　even
saw　Simon's　wife　advancing　toward　him　with　kindly　and　tender　mien。
She　stooped　down　to　him；　took　him　up　in　her　arms；　kissed　his　eyes；
and　begged　him　in　a　low；　trembling　voice　to　forgive　her　for　being　so
cruel　and　bad。　And　while　she　was　speaking　the　tears　streamed　from
her　eyes　and　flowed　over　his　face。　She　kissed　them　away　with　her　hot
lips；　and　whispered；　〃Forgive　me；　poor；　unhappy　angel；　and　do　not
bring　me　to　judgment。　I　will　treat　you　well　after　this；　I　will
rescue　you　from　this　hell；　or　I　will　die　for　you。　Oh；　how　the　bad
man　has　beaten　your　dear　angel　face！　But　believe　me；　I　have　felt
every　blow　in　my　own　heart；　and　when　he　treated　you　so　abusively　I
felt　the　pain　of　hell。　Oh；　forgive　me；　dear　boy；　forgive　me！〃　and
again　the　tears　started　from　her　eyes　and　flowed　hot　over　his　locks
and　forehead。　All　at　once　Jeanne　Marie　quivered　convulsively；　laid
the　boy　gently　down；　and　ran　hastily　away。　A　door　was　furiously
opened　now；　and　Simon's　loud　and　angry　voice　was　heard。

The　tones　awakened　the　little　Louis。　He　opened　his　eyes　and　looked
around。　Yes；　it　had　really　all　been　only　a　dreamhe　had　heard
neither　his　mother　nor　Simon's　wife；　and　yet　it　had　been　as　natural
as　if　it　had　all　really　transpired。　He　had　felt　arms　tenderly
embracing　him　and　tears　hot　upon　his　forehead。

Entirely　unconscious　he　raised　his　hand　to　his　brow　and　drew　it　back
affrighted；　for　his　hair　and　his　temples　were　wet；　as　if　the　tears
of　which　he　dreamed　had　really　fallen　there。

〃What　does　this　mean；　Jeanne　Marie？〃　asked　Simon；　angrily；　〃Why　have
you　got　out　of　bed　while　I　was　away；　and　what　have　you　had　to　do　in
the　room　of　the　little　viper？〃

〃If　you　leave　me　alone　with　him　I　have　to　watch　him；　sick　as　I　am；〃
moaned　she。　〃I　had　to　see　whether　he　was　still　there；　whether　he　had
not　run　away；　and　gone　to　report　to　the　Convention　that　we　have　left
him　alone　and　have　no　care　for　him。〃

〃Oh；　bah！　he　will　not　complain　of　us；〃　laughed　Simon；　〃but　keep
quiet；　Jeanne　Marie；　I　promise　you　that　I　will　not　leave　you　alone
again　with　the　wolf's　cub。　Besides；　here　is　the　medicine　that　the
doctor　has　sent；　and　to…morrow　he　will　come　himself　again　to　see　how
you　get　on。　So　keep　up　a　good　heart；　Jeanne　Marie；　and　all　will　come
right　again。〃

The　next　morning；　Dr。　Naudin　came　again　to　look　after　the　sick
woman。　Simon　had　just　gone　up…stairs　to　announce　something　to　the
two　princesses　in　the　name　of　the　Convention；　and　had　ordered　the
little　Capet　to　remain　in　the　anteroom；　and；　if　the　doctor　should
come；　to　open　the　door　to　him。

Nobody　else　was　in　the　anteroom　when　Dr。　Naudin　entered；　and　the
door　leading　into　the　next　room　was　closed；　so　that　the　sick　person
who　was　there　could　see　and　hear　nothing　of　what　took　place。

〃Sir；〃　whispered　the　boy；　softly　and　quickly；　〃you　were　yesterday　so
good　to　me；　you　protected　me　from　blows；　and　I　should　like　to　thank
you　for　it。〃

The　doctor　made　no　reply；　but　he　looked　at　the　boy　with　such　an
expression　of　sympathy　that　he　felt　emboldened　to　go　on。

〃My　dear　sir；〃　continued　the　child；　softly；　and　with　a　blush；　〃I
have　nothing　with　which　to　show　my　gratitude　to　you　but　these　two
pears　that　were　given　me　for　my　supper　last　night。　And　just　because
I　am　so　poor；　you　would　do　me　a　great　pleasure　if　you　would　accept
my　two　pears。〃　＇Footnote：　The　boy's　own　words。See　Beauchesne；　vol。
ii。；　p。　180。＇

He　had　raised　his　eyes　to　the　doctor　with　a　gentle；　supplicatory
expression；　and　taking　the　pears　from　the　pocket　of　his　worn；　mended
jacket；　he　gave　them　to　the　physician。

Then　happened　something　which；　had　Simon　entered　the　room　just　then；
would　probably　have　filled　him　with　exasperation。　It　happened　that
the　proud　and　celebrated　Dr。　Naudin；　the　director　and　first
physician　of　the　Hotel　Dieu；　sank　on　his　knee　before　this　poor　boy
in　the　patched　jacket；　who　had　nothing　to　give　but　two　pears；　and
that　he　was　so　overcome；　either　by　inward　pain　or　by　reverence；　that
while　taking　the　pears　he　could　only　whisper；　with　a　faint　voice：　〃I
thank　your　majesty。　I　have　never　received　a　nobler　or　more　precious
gift　than　this　fruit；　which　my　unfortunate　king　gives　me；　and　I
swear　to　you　that　I　will　be　your　devoted　and　faithful　servant。〃

It　happened　further　that　Dr。　Naudin　pre