an historical mystery-第15章

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earth；　then　he　rose　precipitately。　〃The　gendarmes　are　at　the　edge　of
the　forest　towards　Troyes！〃　he　said。　〃Ha；　I'll　get　the　better　of　them
yet！〃

He　helped　the　countess　to　come　out；　and　replaced　the　stones。　When　this
was　done　he　heard　her　soft　voice　telling　him　she　must　see　him　mounted
before　mounting　herself。　Tears　came　to　the　eyes　of　the　stern　man　as　he
exchanged　a　last　look　with　his　young　mistress；　whose　own　eyes　were
tearless。

〃Fool　them！　yes；　he　is　right！〃　she　said　when　she　heard　him　no　longer。
Then　she　darted　towards　Cinq…Cygne　at　full　gallop。



CHAPTER　VIII

TRIALS　OF　THE　POLICE

Madame　d'Hauteserre；　roused　by　the　danger　of　her　sons；　and　not
believing　that　the　Revolution　was　over；　but　still　fearing　its　summary
justice；　recovered　her　senses　by　the　violence　of　the　same　distress
which　made　her　lose　them。　Led　by　an　agonizing　curiosity　she　returned
to　the　salon；　which　presented　a　picture　worthy　of　the　brush　of　a　genre
painter。　The　abbe；　still　seated　at　the　card…table　and　mechanically
playing　with　the　counters；　was　covertly　observing　Corentin　and
Peyrade；　who　were　standing　together　at　a　corner　of　the　fireplace　and
speaking　in　a　low　voice。　Several　times　Corentin's　keen　eye　met　the　not
less　keen　glance　of　the　priest；　but；　like　two　adversaries　who　knew
themselves　equally　strong；　and　who　return　to　their　guard　after
crossing　their　weapons；　each　averted　his　eyes　the　instant　they　met。
The　worthy　old　d'Hauteserre；　poised　on　his　long　thin　legs　like　a
heron；　was　standing　beside　the　stout　form　of　the　mayor；　in　an　attitude
expressive　of　utter　stupefaction。　The　mayor；　though　dressed　as　a
bourgeois；　always　looked　like　a　servant。　Each　gazed　with　a　bewildered
eye　at　the　gendarmes；　in　whose　clutches　Gothard　was　still　sobbing；　his
hands　purple　and　swollen　from　the　tightness　of　the　cord　that　bound
them。　Catherine　maintained　her　attitude　of　artless　simplicity；　which
was　quite　impenetrable。　The　corporal；　who；　according　to　Corentin；　had
committed　a　great　blunder　in　arresting　these　smaller　fry；　did　not　know
whether　to　stay　where　he　was　or　to　depart。　He　stood　pensively　in　the
middle　of　the　salon；　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　sabre；　his　eye　on　the
two　Parisians。　The　Durieus；　also　stupefied；　and　the　other　servants　of
the　chateau　made　an　admirable　group　of　expressive　uneasiness。　If　it
had　not　been　for　Gothard's　convulsive　snifflings　those　present　could
have　heard　the　flies　fly。

When　Madame　d'Hauteserre；　pale　and　terrified；　opened　the　door　and
entered　the　room；　almost　carried　by　Mademoiselle　Goujet；　whose　red
eyes　had　evidently　been　weeping；　all　faces　turned　to　her　at　once。　The
two　agents　hoped　as　much　as　the　household　feared　to　see　Laurence
enter。　This　spontaneous　movement　of　both　masters　and　servants　seemed
produced　by　the　sort　of　mechanism　which　makes　a　number　of　wooden
figures　perform　the　same　gesture　or　wink　the　same　eye。

Madame　d'Hauteserre　advanced　by　three　rapid　strides　towards　Corentin
and　said；　in　a　broken　voice　but　violently：　〃For　pity's　sake；　monsieur；
tell　me　what　my　sons　are　accused　of。　Do　you　really　think　they　have
been　here？〃

The　abbe；　who　seemed　to　be　saying　to　himself　when　he　saw　the　old　lady；
〃She　will　certainly　commit　some　folly；〃　lowered　his　eyes。

〃My　duty　and　the　mission　I　am　engaged　in　forbid　me　to　tell　you；〃
answered　Corentin；　with　a　gracious　but　rather　mocking　air。

This　refusal；　which　the　detestable　politeness　of　the　vulgar　fop　seemed
to　make　all　the　more　emphatic；　petrified　the　poor　mother；　who　fell
into　a　chair　beside　the　Abbe　Goujet；　clasped　her　hands　and　began　to
pray。

〃Where　did　you　arrest　that　blubber？〃　asked　Corentin；　addressing　the
corporal　and　pointing　to　Laurence's　little　henchman。

〃On　the　road　that　leads　to　the　farm　along　the　park　walls；　the　little
scamp　had　nearly　reached　the　Closeaux　woods；〃　replied　the　corporal。

〃And　that　girl？〃

〃She？　oh；　it　was　Oliver　who　caught　her。〃

〃Where　was　she　going？〃

〃Towards　Gondreville。〃

〃They　were　going　in　opposite　directions？〃　said　Corentin。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　gendarme。

〃Is　that　boy　the　groom；　and　the　girl　the　maid　of　the　citizeness　Cinq…
Cygne？〃　said　Corentin　to　the　mayor。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Goulard。

After　Corentin　had　exchanged　a　few　words　with　Peyrade　in　a　whisper；
the　latter　left　the　room；　taking　the　corporal　of　gendarmes　with　him。

Just　then　the　corporal　of　Arcis　made　his　appearance。　He　went　up　to
Corentin　and　spoke　to　him　in　a　low　voice：　〃I　know　these　premises
well；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　searched　everywhere；　unless　those　young
fellows　are　buried；　they　are　not　here。　We　have　sounded　all　the　floors
and　walls　with　the　butt　end　of　our　muskets。〃

Peyrade；　who　presently　returned；　signed　to　Corentin　to　come　out；　and
then　took　him　to　the　breach　in　the　moat　and　showed　him　the　sunken　way。

〃We　have　guessed　the　trick；〃　said　Peyrade。

〃And　I'll　tell　you　how　it　was　done；〃　added　Corentin。　〃That　little
scamp　and　the　girl　decoyed　those　idiots　of　gendarmes　and　thus　made
time　for　the　game　to　escape。〃

〃We　can't　know　the　truth　till　daylight；〃　said　Peyrade。　〃The　road　is
damp；　I　have　ordered　two　gendarmes　to　barricade　it　top　and　bottom。
We'll　examine　it　after　daylight；　and　find　out　by　the　footsteps　who
went　that　way。〃

〃I　see　a　hoof…mark；〃　said　Corentin；　〃let　us　go　to　the　stables。〃

〃How　many　horses　do　you　keep？〃　said　Peyrade；　returning　to　the　salon
with　Corentin；　and　addressing　Monsieur　d'Hauteserre　and　Goulard。

〃Come；　monsieur　le　maire；　you　know；　answer；〃　cried　Corentin；　seeing
that　that　functionary　hesitated。

〃Why；　there's　the　countess's　mare；　Gothard's　horse；　and　Monsieur
d'Hauteserre's。〃

〃There　is　only　one　in　the　stable；〃　said　Peyrade。

〃Mademoiselle　is　out　riding；〃　said　Durieu。

〃Does　she　often　ride　about　at　this　time　of　night？〃　said　the　libertine
Peyrade；　addressing　Monsieur　d'Hauteserre。

〃Often；〃　said　the　good　man；　simply。　〃Monsieur　le　maire　can　tell　you
that。〃

〃Everybody　knows　she　has　her　freaks；〃　remarked　Catherine；　〃she　looked
at　the　sky　before　she　went　to　bed；　and　I　think　the　glitter　of　your
bayonets　in　the　moonlight　puzzled　her。　She　told　me　she　wanted　to　know
if　there　was　going　to　be　another　revolution。〃

〃When　did　she　go？〃　asked　Peyrade。

〃When　she　saw　your　guns。〃

〃Which　road　did　she　take？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃There's　another　horse　missing；〃　said　Corentin。

〃The　gendarmestook　itaway　from　me；〃　said　Gothard。

〃Where　were　you　going？〃　said　one　of　them。

〃I　wasfollowingmy　mistress　to　the　farm；〃　sobbed　the　boy。

The　gendarme　looked　towards　Corentin　as　if　expecting　an　order。　But
Gothard's　speech　was　evidently　so　true　and　yet　so　false；　so　perfectly
innocent　and　so　artful　that　the　two　Parisians　again　looked　at　each
other　as　if　to　echo　Peyrade's　former　words：　〃They　are　not　ninnies。〃

Monsieur　d'Hauteserre　seemed　incapable　of　a　word；　the　mayor　was
bewildered；　the　mother；　imbecile　from　maternal　fears；　was　putting
questions　to　the　police　agents　that　were　idiotically　innocent；　the
servants　had　been　roused　from　their　sleep。　Judging　by　these　trifling
signs；　and　these　diverse　characters；　Corentin　came　to　the　conclusion
that　his　only　real　adversary　was　Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne。　Shrewd
and　dexterous　as　the　police　may　be；　they　are　always　under　certain
disadvantages。　Not　only　are　they　forced　to　discover　all　that　is　known
to　a　conspirator；　but　they　must　also　suppose　and　test　a　great　number
of　things　before　they　hit　upon　the　right　one。　The　conspirator　is
always　thinking　of　his　own　safety；　whereas　the　police　is　only　on　duty
at　certain　hours。　Were　it　not　for　treachery　and　betrayals；　nothing
would　be　easier　than　to　conspire　successfully。　The　conspirator　has
more　mind　concentrated　upon　himself　than　the　police　can　bring　to　bear
with　all　its　vast　facilities　of　action。　Finding　themselves　stopped
short　morally；　as　they　might　be　physically　by　a　door　which　they
expected　to　find　open　being　shut　in　their　faces；　Corentin　and　Peyrade
saw　they　were　tricked　and　misled；　without　knowing　by　whom。

〃I　assert；〃　said　the　corporal　of　Arcis；　in　their　ear；　〃that　if　the
four　young　men　slept　here　last　night　it　must　have　been　in　the　beds　of
their　father　and　mother；　and　Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne；　or　those　of
the　servants；　or　they　must　have　spent　the　night　in　the　park。　There　is
not　a　trace　of　their　presence。〃

〃Who　could　have　warned　them？〃　said　Corentin；　to　Peyrade。　〃No　one　but
the　First　Consul；　Fouche；　the　ministers；　the　prefect　of　police；　and
Malin　knew　anything　about　it。〃

〃We　must　set　spies　in　the　neighborhood；〃　whispered　Peyrade。

〃And　watch　the　spies；〃　said　the　abbe；　who　smiled　as　he　overheard　the
word　and　guessed　all。

〃Good　God！〃　thought　Corentin；　replying　to　the　abbe's　smile　with　one　of
his　own；　〃there　is　but　one　intelligent　being　here；he's　the　one　to
come　to　an　understanding　with；　I'll　try　him。〃

〃Gentlemen〃　said　the　mayor；　anxious　to　give　some　proof　of　devotion
to　the　First　Consul　and　addressing　the　two　agents。

〃Say　'citizens'；　the　Republic　still　exists；〃　interrupted　Corentin；
looking　at　the　priest　with　a　quizzical　air。

〃Citizens；〃　resumed　the　mayor；　〃just　as　I　entered　this　salon　and
before　I　had　opened　my　mouth　Catherine　rushed　in　and　took　her
mistress's　hat；　gloves；　and　whip。〃

A　low　murmur　of　horror　came　from　the　breasts　of　all　the　household
except　Gothard。　All　eyes　but　those　of　the　agent　and　the　gendarmes　were
turned　threateningly　on　Goulard；　the　informer；　seeming　to　dart　flames
at　him。

〃Very　good；　citizen　mayor；〃　said　Peyrade。　〃We　see　it　all　plainly。　Some
one〃　（this　with　a　glance　of　evident　distrust　at　Corentin）　〃warned　the
citizeness　Cinq…Cygne　in　time。〃

〃Corporal；　handcuff　that　boy；〃　said　Corentin；　to　the　gendarme；　〃and
take　him　away　by　himself。　And　shut　up　that　girl；　too；〃　pointing　to
Catherine。　〃As　for　you；　Peyrade；　search　for　papers；〃　adding　in　his
ear；　〃Ransack　everything；　spare　nothing。Monsieur　l'abbe；〃　he　said；
confidentially；　〃I　have　an　important　communication　to　make　to　you〃；
and　he　took　him　into　the　garden。

〃Listen　to　me　attentively；　monsieur；〃　he　went　on；　〃you　seem　to　have
the　mind　of　a　bishop；　and　（no　one　can　hear　us）　you　will　understand　me。
I　have　no　longer　any　hope　except　through　you　of　saving　these　families；
who；　with　the　greatest　folly；　are　letting　themselves　roll　down　a
precipice　where　no　one　can　save　them。　The　Messieurs　Simeuse　and
d'Hauteserre　have　been　betrayed　by　one　of　those　infamous　spies　whom
governments　introduce　into　all　conspiracies　to　learn　their　objects；
means；　and　members。　Don't　confound　me；　I　beg　of　you；　with　the　wretch
who　is　with　me。　He　belongs　to　the　police；　but　I　am　honorably　attached
to　the　Consular　cabinet；　I　am　therefore　behind　the　scenes。　The　ruin　of
the　Simeuse　brothers　is　not　desired。　Though　Malin　would　like　to　see
them　shot；　the　First　Consul；　if　they　are　here　and　have　come　without
evil　intentions；　wishes　them　to　be　warned　out　of　danger；　for　he　likes
good　soldiers。　The　agent　who　accompanies　me　has　all　the　powers；　I；
apparently；　am　nothing。　But　I　see　plainly　what　is　hatching。　The　agent
is　pledged　to　Malin；　who　has　doubtless　promised　him　his　influence；　an
office；　and　perhaps　money　if　he　finds　the　Simeuse　brothers　and
delivers　them　up。　The　First　Consul；　who　is　a　really　great　man；　never
favors　selfish　schemesI　don't　want　to　know　if　those　young