marie antoinette and her son-第83章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


assistant；　and　you　can　talk　over　at　length　every　thing　that　we　have
been　speaking　of。　Hush！　I　hear　Simon　coming！　Farewell！〃

He　nodded　to　Jeanne　Marie；　and　hastily　left　the　room。　Outside；　in
the　corridor；　he　met　Simon　and　his　silent　young　ward。

〃Well；　citizen　doctor；〃　asked　Simon；　〃how　is　it　with　our　sick　one？
She　has　intrusted　all　her　secrets　to　you；　and　they　must　have　made　a
long　story；　for　you　have　been　a　whole　hour　together。　It　is　fortunate
that　you　are　an　old　man；　or　else　I　should　have　been　jealous　of　your
long　tete…a…tete　with　my　wife。〃

〃Then　you　would　be　a　great　fool；　and　I　have　always　held　you　to　be　a
prudent　and　good　man。　But；　as　concerns　your　wife；　I　must　tell　you
something　very　serious；　and　I　beg　you；　Citizen　Simon；　to　mark　my
words　well。　I　tell　you　this：　unless　your　wife　Jeanne　Marie　is　out　of
this　Temple　in　less　than　a　week；　and　enjoys　her　freedom；　she　will
either　lose　her　senses　or　take　her　life。　I　will　say　to　you　this；
besides：　if　Citizen　Simon　does　not；　as　soon　as　possible；　leave　this
cursed　place　and　give　up　his　hateful　business；　it　will　be　the　same
with　him　as　with　his　wife。　He　will　not　become　insane；　but　he　will
lapse　into　melancholy；　and　if　he　does　not　take　his　own　life
consumption　will　take　it　for　him；　the　result　of　his　idle；　listless
life；　the　many　vexations　here；　and　the　wretched　atmosphere　of　the
Temple。〃

〃Consumption！〃　cried　Simon；　horrified。　〃Do　you　suppose　I　am　exposed
to　that？〃

〃You　have　it　already；〃　said　the　doctor；　solemnly。　〃Those　red　spots
on　your　cheeks；　and　the　pain　which　you　have　so　often　in　the　breast；
announce　its　approach。　I　tell　you　that　if　you　do　not　take　measures
to　leave　the　Temple　in　a　week；　in　three　months　you　will　be　a　dead
man；　without　giving　the　guillotine　a　chance　at　you。　Good…by！
Consider　well　what　I　say；　citizen；　and　then　do　as　you　like！〃

〃He　is　right；〃　muttered　Simon；　as　he　looked　after　the　doctor　with　a
horrified　look；　as　Naudin　descended　the　staircase；　〃yes；　I　see；　he
is　right。　If　I　have　to　stay　here　any　longer；　I　shall　die。　The
vexations　and　the　loneliness；　andsomething　still　more　dreadful；
frightful；　that　I　can　tell　no　one　of…have　made　me　sick；　and　the
stitch　in　my　side　will　grow　worse　and　worse　every　day；　andI　must
and　will　get　away　from　here；〃　he　said　aloud；　and　with　a　decided　air。
〃I　will　not　die　yet；　neither　shall　Jeanne　Marie。　To…morrow　I　will
hand　in　my　resignation；　and　then　be　away！〃

While　Simon　was　walking　slowly　and　thoughtfully　toward　his　wife；
Doctor　Naudin　left　the　dark　building；　went　with　a　light　heart　out
into　the　street；　and　returned　with　a　quick　step　to　the　Hotel　Dieu。
The　porter　who　opened　the　door　for　him；　reported　to　him　that　during
his　absence　the　same　old　gentleman　who　had　come　the　day　before　to
consult　him；　had　returned　and　was　waiting　for　him　in　the　anteroom。

Doctor　Naudin　nodded；　and　then　walked；　quickly　toward　his　own
apartments。　Before　the　door　he　found　his　servant。

〃Old　Doctor　Saunier　is　here　again；〃　he　said；　taking　off　his　master's
cloak。　〃He　insisted　on　waiting　for　you。　He　said　that　he　must　consult
you　about　a　patient；　and　would　not　cease　begging　till　you　should
consent　to　accompany　him　to　the　sick　person's　house。　For；　if　a　case
seemed　desperate；　the　great　Naudin　might　still　save　it。〃

〃You　are　an　ass　for　letting　him　talk　such　nonsense；　and　for
believing　it　yourself；　Citizen　Joly；〃　cried　Naudin　with　a　laugh；　and
then　entering　the　anteroom。

An　old　gentleman；　clad　in　the　same　old…fashioned　costume　with　Doctor
Naudin；　came　forward。　Citizen　Joly；　as　he　closed　the　door　somewhat
slowly；　heard　him　say：

〃Thank　God　that　you　have　come　at　last；　citizen！　I　have　waited　for
you　impatiently；　and　now　I　conjure　you　to　accompany　me　as　quickly　as
possible　to　my　patient。〃

Naudin；　opening　the　door　of　his　study；　said　in　reply；　〃Come　in；
Citizen　Saunier；　and　tell　me　first　how　it　is　with　your　sick　one。〃

Nothing　more　could　Joly；　Naudin's　servant；　understand；　for　the　two
doctors　had　gone　into　the　study；　and　the　door　was　closed　behind
them。　After　a　short　time；　however；　it　was　opened。　Naudin　ordered　the
valet　to　order　a　tiacre　at　once；　and　a　few　minutes　later　Director
Naudin　rode　away　at　the　side　of　Doctor　Saunier。

At　a　house　in　the　Rue　Montmartre　the　carriage　stopped；　and　the　two
physicians　entered。　The　porter；　opening　the　little；　dusty　window　of
his　lodge；　nodded　confidentially　to　Saunier。

〃That　is　probably　the　celebrated　Doctor　Naudin　of　the　Hotel　Dieu；
whom　you　have　with　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　it　is　he；〃　answered　Saunier；　〃and　if　anybody　can　help　our
patient；　it　is　he。　Citizen　Crage　is　probably　at　home？〃

〃Certainly　he　is　at　home；　for　you　know　he　never　leaves　his　sick　boy。
You　will　find　him　above。　You　know　the　way；　citizen　doctor！〃

The　two　physicians　passed　on；　ascended　the　staircase；　and　entered
the　suit　of　rooms　whose　door　was　only　partially　closedleft　ajar；
as　it　seemed；　for　them。　Nobody　came　to　meet　them；　but　they　carefully
closed　the　door　behind　them；　drew　the　bolt；　and　then　walked　silently
and　quickly　across　the　anteroom　to　the　opposite　door。

Doctor　Saunier　knocked　softly　three　times　with　a　slight　interval
between；　and　cried　three　times　with　a　loud　voice；

〃The　two　physicians　are　come　to　see　the　patient。〃

A　bolt　was　withdrawn　on　the　inside；　the　door　opened；　and　a　tall
man's　figure　appeared　and　motioned　to　the　gentlemen　to　come　in。

〃Are　we　alone？〃　whispered　Doctor　Saunier；　as　they　entered　the　inner
room。

〃Yes；　entirely　alone；〃　answered　the　other。　〃There　in　the　chamber
lies　my　poor　sick　boy；　and　you　know　well　that　he　can　betray　no　one；
and　that　he　knows　nothing　of　what　is　going　on　around　him。〃

〃Yes；　unfortunately；　I　know　that；〃　answered　Doctor　Saunier　sadly。　〃I
promised　you　that　I　would　bring　you　the　most　celebrated　and　skilful
physician　in　Paris；　and　you　see　I　keep　my　word；　for　I　have　brought
you　Doctor　Naudin；　the　director　of　the　Hotel　Dieu　andthe　friend
and　devoted　servant　of　the　royal　family；　to　whom　we　have　both　sworn
allegiance　until　death。　Doctor　Naudin；　I　have　not　given　you　the　name
of　the　gentleman　to　whom　I　was　taking　you。　It　is　a　secret　which　only
the　possessor　is　able　to　divulge　to　you。〃

〃I　divulge　it；〃　said　the　other；　smiling；　〃Doctor　Naudin；　I　am　the
Marquis　Jarjayes。〃

〃Jarjayes；　who　made　the　plan　for　the　escape　of　the　royal　family　in
the　Temple？〃　asked　Naudin　eagerly。

〃Marquis　Jarjayes；　who　lost　his　property　in　the　service　of　the
queen；　risked　his　life　in　her　deliverance；　and　perhaps　escaped　the
guillotine　merely　by　emigrating　and　putting　himself　beyond　the　reach
of　Robespierre。　Are　you　that　loyal；　courageous　Marquis　de　Jarjayes？〃

〃I　am　Jarjayes；　and　I　thank　you　for　the　praises　you　have　given　me；
but　I　cannot　accept　them　in　the　presence　of　him　who　merits　them　all
much　more　than　I　do；　and　who　is　more　worthy　of　praise　than　any　one
else。　No；　I　can　receive　no　commendation　in　the　presence　of　Toulan；
the　most　loyal；　the　bravest；　the　most　prudent　of　us　all；　for　Toulan
is　the　soul　of　every　thing；　and　our　martyr　queen　confessed　it　in
giving　him　the　highest　of　all　titles　of　honor；　in　calling　him
Fidele；　a　title　which　will　remain　for　centuries。〃

〃Yes；　you　are　right；〃　said　Dr。　Naudin；　laying　his　hand　on　the
shoulder　of　Dr。　Saunier。　〃He　is　the　noblest；　most　loyal；　and　bravest
of　us　all。　On　that　account；　when　he　came　to　me　a　few　days　ago　and
showed　me　the　golden　salt*　bottle　of　the　queen　in　confirmation　of
his　statement　that　he　was　Toulan；　I　was　ready　to　do　every　thing　that
he　might　desire　of　me　and　to　enter　into　all　his　plans；　for　Toulan's
magnanimity　and　fidelity　are　contagious；　and　excite　every　one　to
emulate　him。〃

〃I　beg　you；　gentlemen；〃　said　Toulan　softly；　〃do　not　praise　me　nor
think　that　to　be　heroism　which　is　merely　natural。　I　have　devoted　to
Queen　Marie　Antoinette　my　life；　my　thought；　my　heart。　I　swore　upon
her　hand　that　so　long　as　I　lived　I　would　be　true　to　her　and　her
family；　and　to　keep　my　vow　is　simple　enough。　Queen　Marie　Antoinette
is　no　more。　I　was　not　able　to　save　her；　but　perhaps　she　looks　down
from　the　heavenly　heights　upon　us；　and　is　satisfied　with　us；　if　she
sees　that　we　are　now　trying　to　do　for　her　son　what；　unfortunately；
we　were　not　able　to　accomplish　for　her。　This　is　my　hope；　and　this
spurs　rue　on　to　attempt　every　thing；　in　order　to　bring　about　the
last　wish　of　my　queenthe　freeing　of　her　son。　God　in　His　grace　has
willed　that　I　should　not　be　alone　in　this　effort；　and　that　I　should
have　the　cooperation　of　noble　men。　He　visibly　blesses　our　plans；　for
is　it　not　a　manifest　sign　of　His　blessing　that；　exactly　in　those
days　when　we　are　trying　to　find　a　means　of　approaching　the　unhappy；
imprisoned　son　of　the　queen；　accident　affords　us　this　means？　Exactly
at　the　hour　when　I　went　to　Dr。　Naudin　and　disclosed　myself　to　him；
the　porter　of　the　Temple　came　and　desired　in　behalf　of　Simon's　wife
that　Dr。　Naudin　should　go　to　the　Temple。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　it　was　a　wonderful　occurrence；〃　said　Naudin；
thoughtfully。　〃I　am　not　over…blessed　with　sensibility；　but　when　I
saw　the　son　of　the　queen　in　his　sorrow　and　humiliation；　I　sank　on　my
knee　before　the　poor　little　king；　and　in　my　heart　I　swore　that
Toulan　should　find　in　me　a　faithful　coadjutor　in　his　plan；　and　that
I　would　do　every　thing　to　set　him　free。〃

〃And　so　have　I　too　sworn；〃　cried　Jarjayes；　with　enthusiasm。　〃The
queen　is　dead；　but　our　fidelity　to　her　lives　and　shall　renew　itself
to　her　son；　King　Louis　XVII。　I　know　well　that　the　police　are
watching　me；　that　they　know　who　is　secreting　himself　here　under　the
name　of　Citizen　Orage；　that　they　follow　every　one　of　my　steps　and
perhaps　suffer　me　to　be　free　only　for　the　purpose　of　seeing　with
whom　I　have　relations；　in　order　to　arrest　and　destroy　me　at　one　fell
swoop；　with　all　my　friends　at　the　same　time。　But　we　must　use　the
time。　I　have　come　here　with　the　firm　determination　of　delivering　the
unhappy　young　king　from　the　hands　of　his　tormentors；　and　I　will　now
confess　every　thing　to　you；　my　friends。　I　have　gained　for　our
undertaking　the　assistance　and　protection　of　a　rich　and　noble
patron；　a　true　servant　of　the　deceased　king。　The　Prince　de　Conde；
with　whom　I　have　lived　in　Vendee　for　the　past　few　months；　has
furnished　me　with　ample　means；　and　is　prepared　to　support　us　to　any
extent　in　our　undertaking。　If　we　succeed　in　saving　the　young　king；
the　latter　will　find　in　Vendee　a　safe　asylum　with　the　prince；　and
will　live　there　securely；　surrounded　by　his　faithful　subjects。　The
immense　difficulty；　or；　as　I　should　have　said　a　few　days　ago；　the
impossibility；　is　the　release　of　the　young　prince　from　the　Temple。
But　now　that　I　have　succeeded　in　discovering　Toulan　and　uniting
myself　with　him；　I　no　longer　say　it　is　impossible；　but　only　it　is
difficult。〃

〃And；〃　cried　Toulan；　〃since　I　am　sure　of　the　assistance　of　the　noble
Doctor　Naudin；　I　say；　we　will　free　him；　the　son　of　our　Queen　Marie
Antoinette；　the　young　King　Louis　XVII。　The　plan　is　entirely　ready　in
my　head；　and　in　order　to　make　its　execution　possible；　I　went　a　few
days　ago　to　see　Doctor　Naudin　at　the　Hotel　Dieu；　in　order　to　beg　him
to　visit　the　sick　boy　that　the　marquis　has　here；　and　just　at　that
moment　Simon's　messenger　came　to　the　Temple。　Doctor　Naudin　is　now
here；　and　first　of　all　it　is　necessary　that　he　give