marie antoinette and her son-第86章

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suffering　from？　Do　you　not　know　what　her　sickness　is？〃

〃No；　truly　not。　I　am　no　doctor。　How　should　I　know　what　her　sickness
is？〃

〃Then　I　will　tell　you；　Citizen　Simon。　Your　wife　is　suffering　from
the　worst　of　all　complaints；　a　bad　conscience！　Yes；　it　is　a　bad
conscience　that　robs　her　of　her　sleep　and　rest；　it　is　that　which
makes　her　see　the　white；　pale　form　of　the　martyred　queen　in　the
night；　and　read　the　word　'murderer'　in　her　eyes。〃

〃He　is　right！…oh；　he　is　right！〃　groaned　Jeanne　Marie；　falling　on　her
knees。　〃I　am　to　blame　for　her　death；　for　I　denounced　Toulan　to　the
authorities　just　when　he　was　on　the　point　of　saving　her。　I　tortured
her！oh；　cruelly　tortured　her；　and　I　laughed　when　she　ascended　the
scaffold；　and　I　laughed　too；　even　when　she　gave　me　that　dreadful
look。　But　I　have　bitterly　regretted　it　since；　and　now　she　gnaws　at
me　like　a　scorpion。　I　wanted　to　drive　her　away　from　me　at　first；　and
therefore　I　was　cruel　to　her　son；　for　I　wanted　to　put　an　end　to　the
fearful　remorse　that　was　tormenting　me。　But　it　grew　even　more
powerful　within　me。　The　more　I　beat　the　boy；　the　more　his　tears
moved　me；　and　often　I　thought　I　should　die　when　I　heard　him　cry　and
moan。　Yes；　yes；　it　is　a　bad　conscience　that　has　made　me　sick　and
miserable！　But　I　will　do　right　after　this。　I　repentoh；　I　repent！
Here　I　lay　my　hand　on　the　heart　of　this　child　and　swear　to　his
murdered　mother　I　will　do　right　again！　I　swear　that　I　will　free　her
son！　I　swear　by　all　that　is　sacred　in　heaven　and　on　earth　that　I
will　die　myself；　unless　we　succeed　in　freeing　this　child！　I*　swear
to　you；　Marie　Antoinette；　that　I　will　free　him。　But　will　you　forgive
me　even　then？　Will　you　have　rest　in　your　poor　grave；　and　not　come　to
my　bedside　and　condemn　me　and　accuse　me　with　your　sad；　dreadful
eyes？〃

〃Free　her　son；　Jeanne　Marie；〃　said　Toulan；　solemnly；　〃and　his　mother
will　forgive　you；　and　her　hallowed　shade　will　no　longer　disturb　your
sleep；　for　you　will　then　have　restored　to　her　the　peace　of　the
grave！　But　you；　Citizen　Simon；　will　you　too　not　swear　that　you　will
faithfully　assist　in　releasing　the　royal　prince？　Do　you　not　know
that　conscience　is　awake　in　your　heart　too；　and　compels　you　to　have
compassion　on　the　poor　boy？〃

〃I　know　it；　yes；　I　know　it；〃　muttered　Simon；　confused。　〃His　gentle
eyes　and　his　sad　bearing　have　made　me　as　weak　and　as　soft　as　an　old
woman。　It　is　high　time　that　I　should　be　rid　of　the　youngster；　else
it　will　be　with　me　just　as　it　is　with　my　wife；　and　I　shall　have
convulsions　and　see　ghosts　with　daggers　in　their　eyes。　And　so；　in
order　to　remain　a　strong　man　and　have　a　good　conscience　and　a　brave
heart；　I　must　be　rid　of　the　boy；　and　must　know　that　I　have　done　him
some　service；　and　have　been　his　deliverer。　And　so　I　swear　by　the
sacred　republic；　and　by　our　hallowed　freedom；　that　I　will　help　you
and　do　all　that　in　me　lies　to　release　little　Capet　and　get　him　away
from　here。　I　hope　you　will　be　satisfied　with　my　oath；　Toulan；　for
there　is　nothing　for　me　more　sacred　than　the　republic　and　freedom。〃

〃I　am　satisfied；　Simon；　and　I　trust　you。　And　now　let　us　talk　it　all
over　and　consider　it；　my　dear　allies。　The　whole　plan　of　the　escape
is　formed　in　my　head；　all　the　preparations　are　made；　and　if　you　will
faithfully　follow　all　that　I　bid　you；　in　one　week's　time　you　will　be
free　and　happy。〃

〃So　soon　as　a　week！〃　cried　Simon；　delightedly。　〃Yes；　in　a　week；　for
it　happens　fortunately　that　one　of　the　officials　of　the　Public
Safety　service　is　dangerously　sick　and　has　been　carried　to　the　Hotel
Dien。　Doctor　Naudin　says　that　he　can　live　but　three　days　longer；　and
then　the　post　will　be　vacant。　We　must　be　active；　therefore；　and　take
measures　for　you　to　gain　the　place。　Now　listen　to　me；　and　mark　my
words。〃

They　had　a　long　conversation　by　the　bedside　of　the　little　prince；
and　they　saw　that　he　perfectly　understood　the　whole　plan　which
Toulan　unfolded　in　eloquent　words；　for　his　looks　took　on　a　great
deal　of　expression；　he　fixed　his　eyes　constantly　on　Toulan；　and　a
smile　played　about　his　lips。

Simon　and　Simon's　wife　were　also　perfectly　satisfied　with　Toulan's
communication；　and　repeated　their　readiness　to　do　every　thing　to
further　the　release　of　the　prince；　if　they　in　return　could　only　be
removed　from　the　Temple。

〃I　will　at　once　take　the　steps　necessary　to　the　success　of　my　plan；〃
said　Toulan；　taking　his　leave　with　a　friendly　nod；　and　kissing　the
boy's　hand　respectfully。

〃Fidele；〃　whispered　Louis；　〃Fidele；　do　you　believe　that　I　shall　be
saved？〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；　my　dear　prince。　The　grace　of　God　and　the　blessing
of　your　exalted　parents　will　be　our　helpers　in　bringing　this　good
work　to　a　completion。　Farewell；　and　preserve　as　long　as　you　remain
here　the　same　mood　that　I　found　you　in。　Show　little　interest　in　what
goes　on；　and　appear　numb　and　stupid。　I　shall　not　come　again；　for
after　this　I　must　work　for　you　outside　of　the　prison。　But　Doctor
Naudin　will　come　every　day　to　see　you；　and　on　the　day　of　your　flight
I　shall　be　by　your　side。　Till　then；　God　bless　you；　my　dear　prince！〃

Toulan　left　the　prison　of　the　little　Capet　and　repaired　at　once　to
the　H6tel　Dieu；　where　he　had　a　long　conversation　with　Doctor　Naudin。
At　the　end　of　it；　the　director　of　the　hospital　entered　his　carriage
and　drove　to　the　city　hall；　in　whose　largest　chamber　a　committee　of
the　Public　Safety　officials　were　holding　a　public　meeting。　With
earnest　and　urgent　words　the　revered　and　universally　valued
physician　gave　the　report　about　the　visits　which　he　had　made　at　the
Temple　for　some　days　at　the　command　of　the　authorities；　and　about
the　condition　of　affairs　there。　Petion　the　elder；　the　presiding
officer　of　the　committee；　listened　to　the　report　with　a　grave
repose；　and　the　picture　of　the　low　health　of　the　〃little　Capet；〃
while　he　paid　the　most　marked　attention　to　that　part　of　the　report
which　concerned　the　Simons。

〃Citizen　Simon　has　deserved　much　of　the　country；　and　he　is　one　of
the　most　faithful　supporters　of　the　one　and　indivisible　republic；〃
said　Petion；　when　Doctor　Naudin　ended　his　report。　〃The　republic
must；　like　a　grateful　mother；　show　gratitude　to　her　loyal　sons；　and
care　for　them　tenderly。　So　tell　us；　Citizen　Naudin；　what　must　be
done　in　order　to　restore　health　to　Citizen　Simon　and　his　wife。〃

〃They　are　both　sick　from　the　same　cause；　and；　therefore；　they　both
require　the　same　remedy。　That　remedy　is；　a　change　of　air　and　a
change　of　location。　Let　Simon　have　another　post；　where　he　shall　be
allowed　to　exercise　freely　out　of　doors；　and　where　he　shall　not　be
compelled　to　breathe　only　the　confined　air　of　a　cell；　and　let　his
wife　not　be　forced　to　listen　to　the　whining　and　the　groaning　of　the
little　sick　Capet。　In　one　word；　give　to　them　both　liberty　to　move
around；　and　the　free　air；　and　they　will；　without　any　doubt；　and
within　a　short　time；　regain　their　health。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Petion；　〃the　poor　people　lead　a　sad　life　in　the
Temple；　and　are　compelled　to　breathe　the　air　that　the　last　scions　of
tyranny　have　contaminated　with　their　poisonous　breaths。　We　owe　it　to
them　to　release　them　from　this　bad　atmosphere；　in　consideration　of
their　faithful　and　zealous　service　to　the　country。　Citizen　Simon　has
always　taken　pains　to　repair　the　great　neglect　in　Capet's　education；
and　to　make　the　worthless　boy　prove　some　day　a　worthy　son　of　the
republic。〃

〃But　even　if　Simon　should　remain　in　the　Temple；　he　would　not　be　able
to　go　on　much　longer　with　the　education　of　the　boy；〃　said　the
hospital　director；　with　a　shrug。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that；　citizen　doctor？〃　asked　Petion；　with　a
pleasant　lighting　up　of　his　eyes。

〃I　mean　that　the　boy　has　not　a　long　time　to　live；　for　he　is
suffering　at　once　from　consumption　and　softening　of　the　brain；　and
the　latter　disease　will　soon　reduce　him　to　an　idiot；　and　render　him
incapable　of　receiving　instruction。〃

〃You　are　convinced　that　the　son　of　the　tyrants　will　not　recover？〃
asked　Petion；　with　a　strained；　eager　glance。

〃My　careful　examination　of　his　case　has　convinced　me　that　he　has　but
a　short　time　to　live；　and　that　he　will　spend　the　larger　part　of　this
time　in　an　idiotic　state。　On　this　account　Simon　ought　to　be　removed
from　the　Temple；　in　order　that　his　enemies　may　not　be　able　to
circulate　a　report　about　this　zealous　and　worthy　servant　of　the
republic；　that　he　is　guilty　of　the　death　of　little　Capetthat
Simon's　method　of　bringing　him　up　killed　him。　And　besides；　in　order
that　the　same　charge　should　not　be　laid　to　the　one　and　great
republic；　and　it　be　accused　of　cruelty　to　a　poor　sick　child；　kindly
attentions　should　be　bestowed　on　him。〃

Petion's　countenance　clouded；　and　his　eyes　rested　on　the　physician
with　a　sinister；　searching　expression。

〃You　have　a　great　deal　of　sensibility；　doctor；　and　you　appear　to
forget　that　the　boy　is　a　criminal　by　birth；　and　that　the　republic
can　have　no　special　sympathy　with　him。〃

〃For　me；〃　answered　Naudin；　with　simplicity；　〃every　sick　person　at
whose　bed　I　am　called　to　stand；　is　a　poor；　pitiable　Iranian　being；
and　I　never　stop　to　think　whether　be　is　a　criminal　or　not；　but
merely　that　he　is　a　sufferer；　and　then　I　endeavor　to　discover　the
means　to　assist　him。　The　hallowed　and　indivisible　republic；　however；
is　an　altogether　too　magnanimous　and　exalted　mother　of　all　her
children　not　to　have　pity　on　those　who　are　reduced　to　idiocy；　and　in
sore　sickness。　The　republic　is　like　the　sun；　which　pours　its　beams
even　into　the　dungeon　of　the　criminal；　and　shines　upon　the　just　and
unjust　alike。〃

〃And　what　do　you　desire　that　the　republic　should　do　for　the
offspring　of　tyrants？〃　asked　Petion；　peevishly。

〃I　desire　not　much；〃　answered　Naudin；　with　a　smile。　〃Let　me　be
permitted　to　visit　the　sick　child　from　time　to　time；　and　in　his
hopeless　condition　to　procure　him　a　little　relief　from　his
sufferings　at　least；　and　let　him　be　treated　like　the　child　he　is。
Let　a　little　diversion　be　allowed　him。　If　it　is　not　possible　or
practicable　for　him　to　play　with　children　of　his　age；　let　him　at
least　have　some　playthings　for　his　amusement。〃

〃Do　you　demand　in　earnest　that　the　republic　should　condescend　to
provide　playthings　for　her　imprisoned　criminals？〃　asked　Petion；　with
a　scornful　laugh。

〃You　have　commanded　me　to　visit　the　sick　boy　in　the　Temple；　to
examine　his　condition；　and　to　prescribe　the　necessary　remedies　for
his　recovery。　I　can　offer　no　hope　of　recovery　to　the　patient；　but　I
can　afford　him　some　relief　from　his　sufferings。　Some　of　my　medicines
are　called　playthings！　It　lies　with　you　to　decide　whether　the
republic　will　refuse　these　medicines　to　the　sick　one。〃

〃And　you　say　that　the　little　Capet　is　incurable？〃　asked　Petion；
eagerly。

〃Incurable；　citizen　representative。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Petion；　with　a　cold　smile；　〃the　republic　can
afford　to　provide　the　last　of　the　Capets　with　toys。　They　have　for
centuries　toyed　fearlessly　with　the　happiness　of　the　people；　and　the
last　thing　which　the　people　of　France　give　back　to　the　tyrants　is
some　toy　with　which　they　may　amuse　themselves　on　the　way　to
eternity。　Citizen　doctor；　your　demands　shall　be　complied　with。　The
first　place　which　shall　become　vacant　shall　be　given　to　Citizen
Simon；　that　he　may　be　released　from　prison　and　enjoy　his　freedom。
The　little　Capet　will　be　provi