marie antoinette and her son-第82章

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swear　to　you　that　I　will　be　your　devoted　and　faithful　servant。〃

It　happened　further　that　Dr。　Naudin　pressed　to　his　lips　the　hand
that　reached　him　the　precious　gift；　and　that　upon　this　hand　two
tears　fell　from　the　eyes　of　the　physician；　long　accustomed　to　look
upon　human　misery　and　pain；　and　which　had　not　for　years　been
suffused　with　moisture。

Just　then；　approaching　steps　being　heard　in　the　corridor；　the　doctor
rose　quickly；　concealed　the　pears　in　his　pocket；　and　entered　the
chamber　of　the　sick　woman　at　the　same　instant　when　Simon　returned
from　his　visit　above…stairs。

Tne　boy　slipped；　with　the　doctor；　into　the　sick…room；　and　as　no　one
paid　any　attention　to　him；　he　stole　softly　into　his　room；　crouched
down　upon　his　straw　bed；　with　fluttering　heart；　to　think　over　all　he
had　experienced　or　dreamed　of　that　day。

〃And　how　is　it　with　our　sick　one　to…day？〃　asked　Doctor　Naudin；
sitting　down　near　the　bed；　and　giving　a　friendly　nod　to　Simon　to　do
the　same。

〃It　goes　badly　with　me；〃　moaned　Mistress　Simon。　〃My　heart　seems　to
be　on　fire；　and　I　have　no　rest　day　or　night。　I　believe　that　it　is
all　over　with　me；　and　that　I　shall　die；　and　that　is　the　best　thing
for　me；　for　then　I　shall　be　free　again；　and　not　have　to　endure　the
torments　that　I　have　had　to　undergo　in　this　dreadful　dungeon。〃

〃What　kind　of　pains　are　they？〃　asked　the　doctor。　〃Where　do　you
suffer？〃

〃I　will　tell　you；　citizen　doctor；〃　cried　Simon；　impatiently。　〃Her
pains　are　everywhere；　in　every　corner　of　this　lonely　and　cursed
building；　and　if　it　goes　on　so　long；　we　shall　have　to　pack　and　move。
The　authorities　have　done　us　both　a　great　honor；　for　they　have　had
confidence　enough　in　us　to　give　the　little　Capet　into　our　charge；
but　it　is　our　misfortune　to　be　so　honored；　and　we　shall　both　die　of
it。　For；　not　to　make　a　long　story　of　it；　we　both　cannot　endure　the
air　of　the　prison；　the　stillness　and　solitude；　and　it　is　a　dreadful
thing　for　us　to　see　nothing　else　the　whole　day　than　the　stupid　face
of　this　youngster；　always　looking　at　me　so　dreadfully　with　his　great
blue　eyes；　that　it　really　affects　one。　We　are　neither　of　us　used　to
such　an　idle；　useless　life；　and　it　will　be　the　death　of　us；　citizen
doctor。　My　wife；　Jeanne　Marie；　whom　you　see　lying　there　so　pale　and
still；　used　to　be　the　liveliest　and　most　nimble　woman　about；　and
could　do　as　much　with　her　strong　arms　and　brown　hands　as　four　other
women。　And　then　she　was　the　bravest　and　most　outrageous　republican
that　ever　was；　when　it　came　to　battling　for　the　people。　We　both
helped　to　storm　the　Bastile；　both　went　to　Versailles　that　time；　and
afterward　took　the　wolf's　brood　from　the　Tuileries　and　brought　them
to　the　Convention。　Afterward　Jeanne　Marie　was　always　the　first　on
the　platform　near　the　guillotine；　and　when　Samson　and　his　assistants
mounted　the　scaffold　in　the　morning；　and　waited　for　the　cars；　the
first　thing　they　did　was　to　look　over　to　the　tribune　to　see　if
Mistress　Simon　was　there　with　her　knitting；　for　it　used　to　seem　to
them　that　the　work　of　hewing　off　heads　went　more　briskly　on　if
Jeanne　Marie　was　there　and　kept　the　account　in　her　stocking。　Samson
himself　told　me　this；　and　said　to　me　that　Jeanne　Marie　was　the
bravest　of　all　the　women；　and　that　she　never　trembled；　and　that　her
eyes　never　turned　away；　however　many　heads　fell　into　the　basket。　And
she　was　there　too　when　the　Austrian〃

〃Hush！〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie；　rising　up　hastily　in　bed；　and　motioning
to　her　husband　to　be　silent。　〃Do　not　speak　of　that；　lest　the
youngster　hear　it；　and　turn　his　dreadful　eyes　upon　us。　Do　not　speak
of　that　fearful　day；　for　it　was　then　that　my　sickness　began；　and　I
believe　that　there　was　poison　in　the　brandy　that　we　drank　that
evening。　Yes；　yes；　there　was　poison　in　it；　and　from　that　comes　the
fire　that　burns　in　my　heart；　and　I　shall　die　of　it！　Oh！　I　shall　burn
to　death　with　it！〃

She　put　her　hands　before　her　face　and　sank　back　upon　the　pillows；
sobbing。　Simon　shook　his　head　and　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　〃It　is　not
that；〃　murmured　he；　〃it　is　not　from　that；　doctor！　The　thing　is；　that
Jeanne　Marie　has　no　work　and　no　exercise；　and　that　she　is　going　to
wreck；　because　we　are　compelled　to　live　here　as　kings　and
aristocrats　used　to　live；　without　labor　and　occupation；　and　without
doing　any　more　than　to　nurse　our　fancies。　We　shall　all　die　of　this；
I　tell　you！〃

〃But　if　you　know　this；　citizen；　why　do　you　not　give　up　your
situation？　Why　do　you　not　petition　the　authorities　to　dismiss　you
from　this　service；　and　give　you　something　else　to　do？〃

〃I　have　done　that　twice　already；〃　answered　Simon；　bringing　his　fist
down　upon　the　table　near　the　bed　so　violently　that　the　bottles　of
medicine　standing　there　were　jerked　high　into　the　air。　〃Twice
already　have　I　tried　to　be　transferred　to　some　other　duty；　and　the
answer　has　been　sent　back；　that　the　country　orders　me　to　stand　at　my
post；　and　that　there　is　no　one　who　could　take　my　place。〃

〃That　is　very　honorable　and　flattering；〃　remarked　the　physician。

〃Yes；　but　very　burdensome　and　disagreeable；〃　answered　Simon。　〃We　are
prisoners　while　holding　these　honorable　and　flattering　posts。　We　can
no　more　leave　the　Temple　than　Capet　can；　for；　since　his　father　died；
and　the　crazy　legitimists　began　to　call　him　King　Louis　XVII。；　the
chief　magistrate　and　the　Convention　have　been　very　anxious。　They　are
afraid　of　secret　conspiracies；　and　consider　it　possible　that　the
little　prisoner　may　be　taken　away　from　here　by　intrigue。　We　have　to
watch　him　day　and　night；　therefore；　and　are　never　allowed　to　leave
the　Temple；　lest　we　should　meet　with　other　people；　and　lest　the
legitimists　should　make　the　attempt　to　get　into　our　good　graces。
Would　you　believe；　citizen　doctor；　that　they　did　not　even　allow　me
to　go　to　the　grand　festival　which　the　city　of　Paris　gave　in　honor　of
the　taking　of　Toulan！　While　all　the　people　were　shouting；　and　having
a　good　time；　Jeanne　Marie　and　I　had　to　stay　here　in　this　good…for…
nothing　Temple；　and　see　and　hear　nothing　of　the　fine　doings。　And
this　drives　the　gall　into　my　blood；　and　it　will　make　us　both　sick；
and　it　is　past　endurance！〃

〃I　believe　that　you　are　right；　citizen；〃　said　the　physician；
thoughtfully。　〃Yes；　the　whole　trouble　of　your　wife　comes　from　the
fact　that　she　is　here　in　the　Temple；　and　if　she　must　be　shut　up　here
always　she　will　continue　to　suffer。〃

〃Yes；　to　suffer　always；　to　suffer　dreadfully；〃　groaned　Jeanne　Marie。
Then；　all　at　once；　she　raised　herself　up　and　turned　with　a
commanding　bearing　to　her　husband。　〃Simon；〃　she　said；　〃the　doctor
shall　know　all　that　I　suffer。　He　shall　examine　my　breast；　and　the
place　where　I　have　the　greatest　pain；　but　in　your　presence　I　shall
say　nothing。〃

〃Well；　well；　I　will　go；〃　growled　Simon。　〃But　I　think　those　are
pretty　manners！〃

〃They　are　the　manners　of　a　respectable　and　honorable　woman；〃　said
the　doctor；　gravely〃a　woman　who　does　not　show　the　pains　and
ailments　of　her　body　to　any　one　excepting　her　physician。　Go；　go；
Citizen　Simon；　and　you　will　esteem　your　good　wife　none　the　less　for
not　letting　you　hear　what　she　has　to　say　to　her　old　physician。〃

〃No；　certainly　not；〃　answered　Simon；　〃and　that　you　may　both　see　that
I　am　not　curious　to　hear　what　you　have　to　say　to　one　another；　I　will
go　with　the　youngster　up　to　the　platform　and　remain　a　whole　hour
with　him。〃

〃You　will　beat　him　again；　and　I　shall　hear　him；〃　said　Jeanne　Marie；
weeping。　〃I　hear　every　thing　now　that　goes　on　in　the　Temple；　and
whenever　you　strike；　the　youngster；　I　feel　every　blow　in　my　brain；
and　that　gives　me　pain　enough　to　drive　me　to　distraction。〃

〃I　promise　you；　Jeanne　Marie；　that　I　will　not　strike　him；　and　will
not　trouble　myself　about　him　at　all。　He　can　play　with　his　ball。
Halloa；　Capet！　Come！　We　are　going　up　on　the　platform。　Take　your　ball
and　any　thing　else　you　like；　for　you　shall　play　to…day　and　have　a
good　time。〃

The　child　stole　out　of　his　room　with　his　ball；　not　looking
particularly　delighted；　and　the　prospect　of　〃playing〃　did　not　give
wings　to　his　steps；　nor　call　a　smile　to　his　swollen　face。　He　left
the　room　noiselessly；　and　Simon　slammed　the　doors　violently　behind
him。

〃And　now　we　are　alone；〃　said　Doctor　Naudin；　〃and　you　can　tell　me
about　your　sickness；　and　about　every　thing　that　troubles　you。〃

〃Ah；　doctor；　I　do　not　dare　to；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　am　overpowered　by
a　dreadful　fear；　and　I　think　you　will　betray　me；　and　bring　my
husband　and　myself　to　the　scaffold。〃

〃I　am　no　betrayer；〃　answered　the　doctor；　solemnly。　〃The　physician　is
like　a　priest；　he　receives　the　secrets　and　disclosures　of　his
patients；　and　lets　not　a　word　of　them　pass　his　lips。　But；　in　order
that　you　may　take　courage；　I　will　first　prove　to　you　that　I　put
confidence　in　you；　by　showing　you　that　I　understand　you。　I　will　tell
you　what　the　disease　is　that　you　are　suffering　from；　and　also　its
locality。　Jeanne　Marie　Simon；　you　are　enduring　that　with　which　no
pains　of　the　body　can　be　compared。　Your　sickness　has　its　seat　in　the
conscience；　and　its　name　is　remorse　and　despair。〃

Jeanne　Marie　uttered　a　heart…rending　cry；　and　sprang　like　an
exasperated　tiger　from　her　bed。　〃You　lie！〃　she　said；　seizing　the
doctor's　arm　with　both　hands；　〃that　is　a　foul；　damnable　calumny；
that　you　have　thought　out　merely　to　bring　me　under　the　axe。　I　have
nothing　to　be　sorry　for；　and　my　conscience　fills　me　with　no
reproaches。〃

〃And　yet　it　is　gnawing　into　you　with　iron　teeth；　which　have　been
heated　blood…red　in　the　fires　of　hell；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　a
compassionate　look　at　the　pale；　quivering　face　of　the　woman。　〃Do　not
raise　any　quarrel；　but　quietly　listen　to　me。　We　have　an　hour's　time
to　talk　together；　and　we　want　to　use　it。　But　let　us　speak　softly；
softly；　together；　for　what　we　have　to　say　to　each　other　the　deaf
walls　themselves　ought　not　to　hear。〃

Simon　had　not　returned　from　the　platform　with　the　boy；　when　Doctor
Naudin　ended　his　long　and　earnest　conversation；　and　prepared　to
leave　his　patient；　who　was　now　quietly　lying　in　her　bed。

〃You　know　every　thing　now　that　you　have　to　do；〃　he　said；　extending
his　hand　to　her。　〃You　can　reckon　on　me　as　I　reckon　on　you；　and　we
will　both　go　bravely　and　cheerfully　on。　It　is　a　noble　work　that　we
have　undertaken；　and　if　it　succeeds　your　heart　will　be　light　again；
and　God　will　forgive　you　your　sins；　for　two　martyrs　will　stand　and
plead　in　your　behalf　at　the　throne　of　God！　Now；　do　every　thing
exactly　as　I　have　told　you；　and　speak　with　your　husband　to…night；
but　not　sooner；　that　you　may　be　safe；　and　for　fear　that　in　his　first
panic　his　face　would　betray　him。〃

〃I　shall　do　every　thing　just　as　you　wish；〃　said　Jeanne　Marie；　who
had　suddenly　become　humble　and　bashful；　apparently　entirely
forgetful　of　the　republican　〃thou。〃　〃It　seems　to　me；　now　that　I　have
disburdened　my　heart　to　you；　that　I　have　become　well　and　strong
again；　and　certainly　I　shall　owe　it　to　you　if　I　do　live　and　get　my
health　once　more。　But　shall　you　come　again　to…morrow；　doctor？〃

〃No；〃　he　replied；　〃I　will　send　a　man　to…morrow　who　understands
better　than　I　do　how　to　continue　this　matter；　and　to　whom　you　can
give　unconditional　confidence。　He　will　announce　himself　to　you　as　my
assistant；　and　you　can　talk　over　at　length　every　thing　that　we　have
been　speaking　of。　Hush！　I　hear　Simon　coming！　Farew