an historical mystery-第16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！


delivers　them　up。　The　First　Consul；　who　is　a　really　great　man；　never
favors　selfish　schemesI　don't　want　to　know　if　those　young　men　are
here；〃　he　added；　quickly；　observing　the　abbe's　gesture；　〃but　I　wish　to
tell　you　that　there　is　only　one　way　to　save　them。　You　know　the　law　of
the　6th　Floreal；　year　X。；　which　amnestied　all　the　/emigres/　who　were
still　in　foreign　countries　on　condition　that　they　returned　home　before
the　1st　Vendemiaire　of　the　year　XI。；　that　is　to　say；　in　September　of
last　year。　But　the　Messieurs　Simeuse　having；　like　the　Messieurs
d'Hauteserre；　served　in　the　army　of　Conde；　they　come　into　the　category
of　exceptions　to　this　law。　Their　presence　in　France　is　therefore
criminal；　and　suffices；　under　the　circumstances　in　which　we　are；　to
make　them　suspected　of　collusion　in　a　horrible　plot。　The　First　Consul
saw　the　error　of　this　exception　which　has　made　enemies　for　his
government；　and　he　wishes　the　Messieurs　Simeuse　to　know　that　no　steps
will　be　taken　against　them；　if　they　will　send　him　a　petition　saying
that　they　have　re…entered　France　intending　to　submit　to　the　laws；　and
agreeing　to　take　oath　to　the　Constitution。　You　can　understand　that　the
document　ought　to　be　in　my　hands　before　they　are　arrested；　and　be
dated　some　days　earlier。　I　would　then　be　the　bearer　of　itI　do　not
ask　you　where　those　young　men　are；〃　he　said　again；　seeing　another
gesture　of　denial　from　the　priest。　〃We　are；　unfortunately；　sure　of
finding　them；　the　forest　is　guarded；　the　entrances　to　Paris　and　the
frontiers　are　all　watched。　Pray　listen　to　me；　if　these　gentlemen　are
between　the　forest　and　Paris　they　must　be　taken；　if　they　are　in　Paris
they　will　be　found；　if　they　retreat　to　the　frontier　they　will　still　be
arrested。　The　First　Consul　likes　the　/ci…devants/；　and　cannot　endure
the　republicanssimple　enough；　if　he　wants　a　throne　he　must　needs
strangle　Liberty。　Keep　the　matter　a　secret　between　us。　This　is　what　I
will　do；　I　will　stay　here　till　to…morrow　and　/be　blind/；　but　beware　of
the　agent；　that　cursed　Provencal　is　the　devil's　own　valet；　he　has　the
ear　of　Fouche　just　as　I　have　that　of　the　First　Consul。〃

〃If　the　Messieurs　Simeuse　are　here；〃　said　the　abbe；　〃I　would　give　ten
pints　of　my　blood　and　my　right　arm　to　save　them；　but　if　Mademoiselle
de　Cinq…Cygne　is　in　the　secret　she　has　notand　this　I　swear　on　my
eternal　salvationbetrayed　it　in　any　way；　neither　has　she　done　me　the
honor　to　consult　me。　I　am　now　very　glad　of　her　discretion；　if
discretion　there　be。　We　played　cards　last　night　as　usual；　at　boston；
in　almost　complete　silence；　until　half…past　ten　o'clock；　and　we
neither　saw　nor　heard　anything。　Not　a　child　can　pass　through　this
solitary　valley　without　the　whole　community　knowing　it；　and　for　the
last　two　weeks　no　one　has　come　from　other　places。　Now　the　d'Hauteserre
and　the　Simeuse　brothers　would　make　a　party　of　four。　Old　d'Hauteserre
and　his　wife　have　submitted　to　the　present　government；　and　they　have
made　all　imaginable　efforts　to　persuade　their　sons　to　return　to
France；　they　wrote　to　them　again　yesterday。　I　can　only　say；　upon　my
soul　and　conscience；　that　your　visit　has　alone　shaken　my　firm　belief
that　these　young　men　are　living　in　Germany。　Between　ourselves；　there
is　no　one　here；　except　the　young　countess；　who　does　not　do　justice　to
the　eminent　qualities　of　the　First　Consul。〃

〃Fox！〃　thought　Corentin。　〃Well；　if　those　young　men　are　shot；〃　he　said；
aloud；　〃it　is　because　their　friends　have　willed　itI　wash　my　hands　of
the　affair。〃

He　had　led　the　abbe　to　a　part　of　the　garden　which　lay　in　the
moonlight；　and　as　he　said　the　last　words　he　looked　at　him　suddenly。
The　priest　was　greatly　distressed；　but　his　manner　was　that　of　a　man
surprised　and　wholly　ignorant。

〃Understand　this；　monsieur　l'abbe；〃　resumed　Corentin；　〃the　right　of
these　young　men　to　the　estate　of　Gondreville　will　render　them　doubly
criminal　in　the　eyes　of　the　middle　class。　I'd　like　to　see　them　put
faith　in　God　and　not　in　his　saints〃

〃Is　there　really　a　plot？〃　asked　the　abbe；　simply。

〃Base；　odious；　cowardly；　and　so　contrary　to　the　generous　spirit　of　the
nation；〃　replied　Corentin；　〃that　it　will　meet　with　universal
opprobrium。〃

〃Well！　Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne　is　incapable　of　baseness；〃　cried　the
abbe。

〃Monsieur　l'abbe；〃　replied　Corentin；　〃let　me　tell　you　this；　there　is
for　us　（meaning　you　and　me）　proof　positive　of　her　guilt；　but　there　is
not　enough　for　the　law。　You　see　she　took　flight　when　we　came；　I　sent
the　mayor　to　warn　her。〃

〃Yes；　but　for　one　who　is　so　anxious　to　save　them；　you　followed　rather
closely　on　his　heels；〃　said　the　abbe。

At　those　words　the　two　men　looked　at　each　other；　and　all　was　said。
Each　belonged　to　those　profound　anatomists　of　thought　to　whom　a　mere
inflexion　of　the　voice；　a　look；　a　word　suffices　to　reveal　a　soul；　just
as　the　Indians　track　their　enemies　by　signs　invisible　to　European
eyes。

〃I　expected　to　draw　something　out　of　him；　and　I　have　only　betrayed
myself；〃　thought　Corentin。

〃Ha！　the　sly　rogue！〃　thought　the　priest。

Midnight　rang　from　the　old　church　clock　just　as　Corentin　and　the　abbe
re…entered　the　salon。　The　opening　and　shutting　of　doors　and　closets
could　be　heard　from　the　bedrooms　above。　The　gendarmes　pulled　open　the
beds；　Peyrade；　with　the　quick　perception　of　a　spy；　handled　and　sounded
everything。　Such　desecration　excited　both　fear　and　indignation　among
the　faithful　servants　of　the　house；　who　still　stood　motionless　about
the　salon。　Monsieur　d'Hauteserre　exchanged　looks　of　commiseration　with
his　wife　and　Mademoiselle　Goujet。　A　species　of　horrible　curiosity　kept
every　one　on　the　qui　vive。　Peyrade　at　length　came　down；　holding　in　his
hand　a　sandal…wood　box　which　had　probably　been　brought　from　China　by
Admiral　de　Simeuse。　This　pretty　casket　was　flat　and　about　the　size　of
a　quarto　volume。

Peyrade　made　a　sign　to　Corentin　and　took　him　into　the　embrasure　of　a
window。

〃I've　an　idea！〃　he　said；　〃that　Michu；　who　was　ready　to　pay　Marion
eight　hundred　thousand　francs　in　gold　for　Gondreville；　and　who
evidently　meant　to　shoot　Malin　yesterday；　is　the　man　who　is　helping
the　Simeuse　brothers。　His　motive　in　threatening　Marion　and　aiming　at
Malin　must　be　the　same。　I　thought　when　I　saw　him　that　he　was　capable
of　ideas；　evidently　he　has　but　one；　he　discovered　what　was　going　on
and　he　must　have　come　here　to　warn　them。〃

〃Probably　Malin　talked　about　the　conspiracy　to　his　friend　the　notary；
and　Michu　from　his　ambush　overheard　what　was　said；〃　remarked　Corentin；
continuing　the　inductions　of　his　colleague。　〃No　doubt　he　has　only
postponed　his　shot　to　prevent　an　evil　he　thinks　worse　than　the　loss　of
Gondreville。〃

〃He　knew　what　we　were　the　moment　he　laid　eyes　on　us；〃　said　Peyrade。　〃I
thought　then　that　he　was　amazingly　intelligent　for　a　peasant。〃

〃That　proves　that　he　is　always　on　his　guard；〃　replied　Corentin。　〃But；
mind　you；　my　old　man；　don't　let　us　make　a　mistake。　Treachery　stinks　in
the　nostrils；　and　primitive　folks　do　scent　it　from　afar。〃

〃But　that's　our　strength；〃　said　the　Provencal。

〃Call　the　corporal　of　Arcis；〃　cried　Corentin　to　one　of　the　gendarmes。
〃I　shall　send　him　at　once　to　Michu's　house；〃　he　added　to　Peyrade。

〃Our　ear；　Violette；　is　there；〃　said　Peyrade。

〃We　started　without　getting　news　from　him。　Two　of　us　are　not　enough；
we　ought　to　have　had　Sabatier　with　usCorporal；〃　he　said；　when　the
gendarme　appeared；　taking　him　aside　with　Peyrade；　〃don't　let　them　fool
you　as　they　did　the　Troyes　corporal　just　now。　We　think　Michu　is　in
this　business。　Go　to　his　house；　put　your　eye　on　everything；　and　bring
word　of　the　result。〃

〃One　of　my　men　heard　horses　in　the　forest　just　as　they　arrested　the
little　groom；　I've　four　fine　fellows　now　on　the　track　of　whoever　is
hiding　there；〃　replied　the　gendarme。

He　left　the　room；　and　the　gallop　of　his　horse　which　echoed　on　the
paved　courtyard　died　rapidly　away。

〃One　thing　is　certain；〃　said　Corentin　to　himself；　〃either　they　have
gone　to　Paris　or　they　are　retreating　to　Germany。〃

He　sat　down；　pulled　a　note…book　from　the　pocket　of　his　spencer；　wrote
two　orders　in　pencil；　sealed　them；　and　made　a　sign　to　one　of　the
gendarmes　to　come　to　him。

〃Be　off　at　full　gallop　to　Troyes；　wake　up　the　prefect；　and　tell　him　to
start　the　telegraph　as　soon　as　there's　light　enough。〃

The　gendarme　departed。　The　meaning　of　this　movement　and　Corentin's
intentions　were　so　evident　that　the　hearts　of　the　household　sank
within　them；　but　this　new　anxiety　was　additional　to　another　that　was
now　martyrizing　them；　their　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　sandal…wood　box！
All　the　while　the　two　agents　were　talking　together　they　were　each
taking　note　of　those　eager　looks。　A　sort　of　cold　anger　stirred　the
unfeeling　hearts　of　these　men　who　relished　the　power　of　inspiring
terror。　The　police　man　has　the　instincts　and　emotions　of　a　hunter：　but
where　the　one　employs　his　powers　of　mind　and　body　in　killing　a　hare；　a
partridge；　or　a　deer；　the　other　is　thinking　of　saving　the　State；　or　a
king；　and　of　winning　a　large　reward。　So　the　hunt　for　men　is　superior
to　the　other　class　of　hunting　by　all　the　distance　that　there　is
between　animals　and　human　beings。　Moreover；　a　spy　is　forced　to　lift
the　part　he　plays　to　the　level　and　the　importance　of　the　interests　to
which　he　is　bound。　Without　looking　further　into　this　calling；　it　is
easy　to　see　that　the　man　who　follows　it　puts　as　much　passionate　ardor
into　his　chase　as　another　man　does　into　the　pursuit　of　game。　Therefore
the　further　these　men　advanced　in　their　investigations　the　more　eager
they　became；　but　the　expression　of　their　faces　and　their　eyes
continued　calm　and　cold；　just　as　their　ideas；　their　suspicions；　and
their　plans　remained　impenetrable。　To　any　one　who　watched　the　effects
of　the　moral　scent；　if　we　may　so　call　it；　of　these　bloodhounds　on　the
track　of　hidden　facts；　and　who　noted　and　understood　the　movements　of
canine　agility　which　led　them　to　strike　the　truth　in　their　rapid
examination　of　probabilities；　there　was　in　it　all　something　actually
horrifying。　How　and　why　should　men　of　genius　fall　so　low　when　it　was
in　their　power　to　be　so　high？　What　imperfection；　what　vice；　what
passion　debases　them？　Does　a　man　become　a　police…agent　as　he　becomes　a
thinker；　writer；　statesmen；　painter；　general；　on　the　condition　of
knowing　nothing　but　how　to　spy；　as　the　others　speak；　write；　govern；
paint；　and　fight？　The　inhabitants　of　the　chateau　had　but　one　wish；
that　the　thunderbolts　of　heaven　might　fall　upon　these　miscreants；　they
were　athirst　for　vengeance；　and　had　it　not　been　for　the　presence；　up
to　this　time；　of　the　gendarmes　there　would　undoubtedly　have　been　an
outbreak。

〃No　one；　I　suppose；　has　the　key　of　this　box？〃　said　the　cynical
Peyrade；　questioning　the　family　as　much　by　the　movement　of　his　huge
red　nose　as　by　his　words。

The　Provencal　noticed；　not　without　fear；　that　the　guards　were　no
longer　present；　he　and　Corentin　were　alone　with　the　family。　The
younger　man　drew　a　small　dagger　from　his　pocket；　and　began　to　force
the　lock　of　the　box。　Just　then　the　desperate　galloping　of　a　horse　was
heard　upon　the　road　and　then　upon　the　pavement　by　the　lawn；　but　most
horrible　of　all　was　the　fall　and　sighing　of　the　animal；　which　seemed
to　drop　all　at　once　at　the　door　of　the　middle　tower。　A　convulsion　like
that　which