marie antoinette and her son-第84章

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moment　Simon's　messenger　came　to　the　Temple。　Doctor　Naudin　is　now
here；　and　first　of　all　it　is　necessary　that　he　give　us　his　last；
decisive　judgment　on　the　patient。　So　take　us　to　him；　marquis；　for
upon　Naudin's　decision　depends　the　fate　of　the　young　King　of
France。〃

The　marquis　nodded　silently；　and　conducted　the　gentlemen　into　the
next　room。　There；　carefully　propped　up　by　mattresses　and　pillows；
lay　a　child　of　perhaps　ten　yearsa　poor；　unfortunate　boy；　with
pale；　sunken　cheeks；　fixed　blue　eyes；　short　fair　hair；　and　a　stupid；
idiotic　expression　on　his　features。　As　the　three　gentlemen　came　to
him　he　fixed　his　eyes　upon　them　in　a　cold；　indifferent　way；　and　not
a　quiver　in　his　face　disclosed　any　interest　in　them。　Motionless　and
pale　as　death　the　boy　lay　upon　his　bed；　and　only　the　breath　that
came　hot　and　in　gasps　from　his　breast　disclosed　that　there　was　still
life　in　this　poor　shattered　frame。

Doctor　Naudin　stooped　down　to　the　boy　and　looked　at　him　a　long　time
with　the　utmost　attention。

〃This　boy　is　perfectly　deaf！〃　he　then　said；　raising　himself　up　and
looking　at　the　marquis　inquiringly。

〃Yes；　doctor；　your　sharp　eye　has　correctly　discerned　it；　he　is
perfectly　deaf。〃

〃Is　it　your　son？〃

〃No；　doctor；　he　is　the　son　of　my　sister；　the　Baroness　of　Tardif；　who
was　guillotined　together　with　her　husband。　I　undertook　the　care　of
this　unfortunate　child；　and　at　my　removal　from　Paris　gave　him　to
some　faithful　servants　of　my　family　to　be　cared　for。　On　my　return　I
learned　that　the　good　people　had　both　been　guillotined；　and　find　the
poor　boy；　who　before　had　been　at　least　sound　in　body；　utterly
neglected；　and　living　on　the　sympathy　of　the　people　who　had　taken
him　on　the　death　of　his　foster…parents。　I　brought　the　child　at　once
to　this　house；　which　I　had　hired　for　myself　under　the　name　of
Citizen　Orage；　and　Toulan　undertook　to　procure　the　help　of　a
physician。　It　has　now　come　in　the　person　of　the　celebrated　Doctor
Naudin；　and　I　beg　you　to　have　pity　on　the　poor　unfortunate　child；
and　to　receive　him　into　the　Hotel　Dieu。〃

〃Let　me　first　examine　the　child；　in　order　to　tell　you　what　is　the
nature　of　his　disorder。〃

And　Doctor　Naudin　stooped　down　again　to　the　boy；　examined　his　eyes；
his　chest；　his　whole　form；　listened　to　his　breathing；　the　action　of
his　heart；　and　felt　his　pulse。　The　patient　was　entirely　apathetic
during　all　this；　now　and　then　merely　whining　and　groaning；　when　a
movement　of　the　doctor's　hand　caused　him　pain。

After　the　careful　investigation　had　been　ended；　the　doctor　called
the　two　gentlemen　who　had　withdrawn　to　the　window　to　the　bed　again。

〃Marquis；〃　said　he；　〃this　unfortunate　child　will　never　recover；　and
the　least　painful　thing　that　could　happen　to　him　would　be　a　speedy
release　from　his　miserable　lot。　Yet　I　do　not　believe　that　this　will
occur；　but　consider　it　possible　that　the　boy　will　protract　his
unfortunate　life　a　full　year　after　his　mind　has　entirely　passed
away；　and　nothing　is　left　of　him　but　his　body。　The　boy；　if　you　can
regard　such　a　poor　creature　as　a　human　being；　is　suffering　from　an
incurable　form　of　scrofula；　which　will　by　and　by　consume　his　limbs；
and　convert　him　into　an　idiot；　he　is　now　deaf；　he　will　be　a　mere
stupid　beast。　If　it　were　permitted　to　substitute　the　hand　of　science
in　place　of　the　hand　of　God；　I　should　say　we　ought　to　kill　this　poor
creature　that　is　no　man　and　no　beast；　and　has　nothing　more　to　expect
of　life　than　pain　and　torture；　having　no　more　consciousness　of　any
thing　than　the　dog　has　when　he　does　not　get　a　bone　with　which　to
quiet　his　hunger。〃

〃Poor；　unhappy　creature！〃　sighed　the　marquis。　〃Now；　I　thank　God　that
He　released　my　sister　from　the　pain　of　seeing　her　dear　child　in　this
condition。

〃Doctor　Naudin；〃　said　Toulan；　solemnly；　〃is　it　your　fixed　conviction
that　this　sick　person　will　never　recover？〃

〃My　firm　and　undoubted　conviction；　which　every　physician　who　should
see　him　would　share　with　me。〃

〃Are　you　of　the　opinion　that　this　child　has　nothing　in　life　to　lose；
and　that　death　would　be　a　gain　to　it？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　my　belief。　Death　would　be　a　release　for　the　poor
creature；　for　life　is　only　a　burden　to　it　as　well　as　to　others。〃

〃Then；〃　cried　Toulan；　solemnly；　〃I　will　give　this　poor　sick　child　a
higher　and　a　fairer　mission。　I　will　make　its　life　an　advantage　to
others；　and　its　death　a　hallowed　sacrifice。　Marquis　of　Jarjayes；　in
the　name　of　King　Louis　XVI。；　in　the　name　of　the　exalted　martyr　to
whom　we　have　all　sworn　fidelity　unto　death；　Queen　Marie　Antoinette；
I　demand　and　desire　of　you　that　you　would　intrust　to　me　this　unhappy
creature；　and　give　his　life　into　my　hands。　In　the　name　of　Marie
Antoinette；　I　demand　of　the　Marquis　of　Jarjayes　that　he　deliver　to
me　the　son　of　his　sister；　that　he　do　what　every　one　of　us　is
joyfully　prepared　to　do　if　our　holy　cause　demands　it；　that　this　boy
may　give　his　life　for　his　king；　the　imprisoned　Louis　XVII。〃

While　Toulan　was　speaking　with　his　earnest；　solemn　voice；　Jarjayes
knelt　before　the　bed　of　the　poor　sobbing　child；　and；　hiding　his　face
in　his　hands；　he　prayed　softly。

Then；　after　a　long　pause；　he　rose　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　feverish
brow　of　the　boy。　〃You　have　addressed　me；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　name　of
Queen　Marie　Antoinette。　You　demand　of　me　as　the　guardian　of　this
poor　creature　that　I　give　him　to　you；　that　he　may　give　his　life　for
his　king。　The　sons　and　daughters　of　my　house　have　always　been　ready
and　glad　to　devote　their　possessions；　their　happiness；　their　lives；
to　the　service　of　their　kings；　and　I　speak　simply　in　the　spirit　of
my　sisterwho　ascended　the　scaffold　to　seal　her　fidelity　to　the
royal　family　with　her　deathI　speak　in　the　spirit　of　all　my
ancestors　when　I　say；　here　is　the　last　off…spring　of　the　Baroness　of
Tardif；　here　is　the　son　of　my　sister；　take　him　and　let　him　live　or
die　for　his　king；　Louis　XVII。；　the　prisoner　at　the　Temple。〃




CHAPTER　XXVI。

THE　CONSULTATION。


During　the　night　which　followed　the　second　visit　of　Doctor　Naudin；
Jeanne　Marie　Simon　had　a　long　and　earnest　conversation　with　her
husband。　The　first　words　which　the　wife　uttered；　spoken　in　a　whisper
though　they　were；　excited　the　cobbler　so　much　that　he　threatened　her
with　his　clinched　fist。　She　looked　him　calmly　in　the　face；　however；
and　said　to　him　softly；　〃And　so　you　mean　to　stay　perpetually　in　this
hateful　prison？　You　want　to　remain　shut　up　here　like　a　criminal；　and
get　no　more　satisfaction　out　of　life　than　what　comes　from　tormenting
this　poor；　half…witted　boy　to　death？〃

Simon　let　his　hand　fall；　and　said；　〃If　there　were　a　means　of
escaping　from　this　infernal　prison；　it　would　certainly　be　most
welcome　to　me；　for　I　am　heartily　tired　of　being　a　prisoner　here；
after　having　prayed　for　freedom　so　long；　and　worked　for　it　so　much。
So；　if　there　is　a　means〃

〃There　is　such　a　means；〃　interrupted　his　wife。　〃Listen　to　me！〃

And　Simon　did　listen；　and　the　moving　and　eloquent　words　of　his　wife
at　length　found　a　willing　ear。　Simon's　face　gradually　lightened　up；
and　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　now　able　to　release　his　wife　from
an　oppressive；　burdensome　load。

〃If　it　succeeds；〃　he　muttered〃if　it　succeeds；　I　shall　be　free　from
the　mountainous　weight　which　presses　upon　me　day　and　night　and　shall
become　a　healthy　man　again。〃

〃And　if　it　does　not　succeed；〃　whispered　Jeanne　Marie；　〃the　worst
that　can　happen　to　us　is　what　has　happened　to　thousands　before　us。
We　shall　merely　feed　the　machine；　and　our　heads　will　tumble　into　the
basket；　with　this　difference；　that　I　shall　not　be　able　to　make　any
mark　in　my　stocking。　I　would　rather　die　all　at　once　on　the
guillotine　and　have　it　over；　than　be　dying　here　day　after　day；　and
hour　after　hour；　having　nothing　to　expect　from　life　but　pain　and
ennui。〃

〃And　I；　too；〃　said　Simon；　decidedly。　〃Rather　die；　than　go　on　leading
such　a　dog's　life。　Let　your　doctor　come　to　me　to…morrow　morning。　I
will　talk　with　him！〃

Early　the　next　day　the　doctor　came　in　his　long；　black　cloak；　and
with　his　peruke；　to　visit　the　sick　Mistress　Simon。　The　guards　at　the
gate　leading　to　the　outer　court　quietly　let　him　pass　in；　and　did　not
notice　that　another　face　appeared　in　the　peruke　from　that　which　had
been　seen　the　day　before。　The　two　official　guards　above；　who　had
just　completed　their　duties　in　the　upper　story；　and　met　the　doctor
on　the　tower　stairs；　did　not　take　any　offence　at　his　figure。　The
director　of　the　Hotel　Dieu　was　not　personally　known　to　them；　and
they　were　familiar　with　but　little　about　him；　excepting　that　he　took
the　liberty　of　going　about　in　his　old…fashioned　cloak；　without
giving　offence　to　the　authorities；　and　that　he　had　permission　from
those　authorities　to　come　to　the　Temple　for　the　purpose　of　visiting
the　wife　of　Simon。

〃You　will　find　two　patients　to…day　up　there；〃　said　one　of　the
officials　as　he　passed　by。　〃We　empower　you；　doctor；　to　take　the
second　one；　little　Capet；　under　your　charge。　The　boy　appears　to　be
really　sick；　or　else　he　is　obstinate　and　mulish。　He　answers　no
questions；　and　he　has　taken　no　nourishment；　Simon　tells　us；　since
yesterday　noon。　Examine　into　the　case；　doctor；　and　then　tell　us　what
your　opinion　is。　We　will　wait　for　you　down　in　the　council…room。　So
make　as　much　haste　as　possible。〃

They　passed　on；　and　the　doctor　did　really　make　haste　to　ascend　the
staircase。　At　the　open　door　which　led　to　the　apartment　of　the　little
Capet　and　his　〃guardian；〃　he　found　Simon。

〃Did　you　hear；　citizen？〃　asked　the　doctor。　〃The　officials　are
waiting　for　me　below。〃

〃Yes；　I　heard；　doctor；〃　whispered　Simon。　〃We　have　not　much　time。
Come！〃

He　motioned　to　the　physician　to　pass　along　the　corridor　and　to　enter
the　room；　while　he　bolted　and　locked　the　outer　door。　As　the　doctor
entered；　Mistress　Simon　lay　upon　her　bed　and　looked　at　the　new…comer
with　curious；　glowing　eyes。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked；　rising　quickly　from　her　bed。　〃You　are　not
Doctor　Naudin　whom　I　expected；　and　I　do　not　know　you！〃

Meantime　the　doctor　walked　in　silence　to　her　bed；　and　stooped　over
Jeanne　Marie；　who　sank　back　upon　the　pillow。

〃I　am　the　one　who　is　to　help　you　escape　from　the　Temple；〃　he
whispered。　〃Doctor　Naudin　has　sent　me；　to　work　in　union　with　him　and
you　in　effecting　your　release　and　that　of　the　unfortunate　Capet。〃

〃Husband；〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie　to　the　cobbler；　who　was　just　coming
in；　〃this　is　the　man　who　is　going　to　deliver　us　from　this　hell！〃

〃That　is　to　say；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　a　firm；　penetrating　voice；
〃I　will　free　you　if　you　will　help　me　free　the　dauphin。〃

〃Speak　softly；　for　God's　sake；　speak　softly；〃　said　Simon　anxiously。
〃If　any　one　should　hear　you；　we　are　all　lost！　We　will　do　every　thing
that　you　demand　of　us；　provided　that　we　can　in　that　way　escape　from
this　miserable；　good…for…nothing　place。　The　air　here　is　like　poison；
and　to　have　to　stay　here　is　like　being　buried　alive。〃

〃And　then　the　dreams；　the　frightful　dreams；〃　muttered　Jeanne　Marie；
with　a　shudder。　〃I　cannot　sleep　any　more　in　this　dreadful　prison；
for　that　pale；　fearful　woman；　with　great；　fixed　eyes；　goes　walking
about　through　the　Temple　every　night；　and　listens　at　the　doors　to
see　whether　her　children　are　alive　yet；　and　whether　we　are　not
killing　them。　Lately；　she　has　not　only　listened　at　the　doors；　but
she　has　come　into　my