an historical mystery-第30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！



〃He　is　the　pivot　of　the　affairthe　danger　lies　there；〃　replied　the
old　lawyer。

〃If　he　is　more　in　danger　than　the　others；　I　think　that　is　just；〃　cried
Laurence。

〃We　see　certain　chances；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Grandville；　〃and　we　shall
study　them　carefully。　If　we　are　able　to　save　these　gentlemen　it　will
be　because　Monsieur　d'Hauteserre　ordered　Michu　to　repair　one　of　the
stone　posts　in　the　covered　way；　and　also　because　a　wolf　has　been　seen
in　the　forest；　in　a　criminal　court　everything　depends　on　discussions；
and　discussions　often　turn　on　trivial　matters　which　then　become　of
immense　importance。〃

Laurence　sank　into　that　inward　dejection　which　humiliates　the　soul　of
all　thoughtful　and　energetic　persons　when　the　uselessness　of　thought
and　action　is　made　manifest　to　them。　It　was　no　longer　a　matter　of
overthrowing　a　usurper；　or　of　coming　to　the　help　of　devoted　friends；
fanatical　sympathies　wrapped　in　a　shroud　of　mystery。　She　now　saw　all
social　forces　full…armed　against　her　cousins　and　herself。　There　was　no
taking　a　prison　by　assault　with　her　own　hands；　no　deliverance　of
prisoners　from　the　midst　of　a　hostile　population　and　beneath　the　eyes
of　a　watchful　police。　So；　when　the　young　lawyer；　alarmed　at　the　stupor
of　the　generous　and　noble　girl；　which　the　natural　expression　of　her
face　made　still　more　noticeable；　endeavored　to　revive　her　courage；　she
turned　to　him　and　said：　〃I　must　be　silent；　I　suffer；I　wait。〃

The　accent；　gesture；　and　look　with　which　the　words　were　said　made　this
answer　one　of　those　sublime　things　which　only　need　a　wider　stage　to
make　them　famous。

A　few　moments　later　old　d'Hauteserre　was　saying　to　the　Marquis　de
Chargeboeuf：　〃What　efforts　I　have　made　for　my　two　unfortunate　sons！　I
have　already　laid　by　in　the　Funds　enough　to　give　them　eight　thousand
francs　a　year。　If　they　had　only　been　willing　to　serve　in　the　army　they
would　have　reached　the　higher　grades　by　this　time；　and　could　now　have
married　to　advantage。　Instead　of　that；　all　my　plans　are　scattered　to
the　winds！〃

〃How　can　you；〃　said　his　wife；　〃think　of　their　interests　when　it　is　a
question　of　their　honor　and　their　lives？〃

〃Monsieur　d'Hauteserre　thinks　of　everything；〃　said　the　marquis。



CHAPTER　XVI

MARTHE　INVEIGLED

While　the　masters　of　Cinq…Cygne　were　waiting　at　Troyes　for　the　opening
of　the　trial　before　the　Criminal　court　and　vainly　soliciting
permission　to　see　the　prisoners；　an　event　of　the　utmost　importance　had
taken　place　at　the　chateau。

Marthe　returned　to　Cinq…Cygne　as　soon　as　she　had　given　her　testimony
before　the　indicting　jury。　This　testimony　was　so　insignificant　that　it
was　not　thought　necessary　to　summon　her　before　the　Criminal　court。
Like　all　persons　of　extreme　sensibility；　the　poor　woman　sat　silent　in
the　salon；　where　she　kept　company　with　Mademoiselle　Goujet；　in　a
pitiable　state　of　stupefaction。　To　her；　as　to　the　abbe；　and　indeed　to
all　others　who　did　not　know　how　the　accused　had　been　employed　on　that
day；　their　innocence　seemed　doubtful。　There　were　moments　when　Marthe
believed　that　Michu　and　his　masters　and　Laurence　had　executed
vengeance　on　the　senator。　The　unhappy　woman　now　knew　Michu's　devotion
well　enough　to　be　certain　that　he　was　the　one　who　would　be　most　in
danger；　not　only　because　of　his　antecedents；　but　because　of　the　part
he　was　sure　to　have　taken　in　the　execution　of　the　scheme。

The　Abbe　Goujet　and　his　sister　and　Marthe　were　bewildered　among　the
possibilities　to　which　this　opinion　gave　rise；　and　yet；　in　the　process
of　thinking　them　over；　their　minds　insensibly　took　hold　of　them　in　a
certain　way。　The　absolute　doubt　which　Descartes　demands　can　no　more
exist　in　the　brain　of　a　man　than　a　vacuum　can　exist　in　nature；　and　the
mental　operation　required　to　produce　it　would；　like　the　effect　of　a
pneumatic　machine；　be　exceptional　and　anomalous。　Whatever　a　case　may
be；　the　mind　believes　in　something。　Now　Marthe　was　so　afraid　that　the
accused　were　guilty　that　her　fear　became　equivalent　to　belief；　and
this　condition　of　her　mind　proved　fatal　to　her。

Five　days　after　the　arrests；　just　as　she　was　in　the　act　of　going　to
bed　about　ten　o'clock　at　night；　she　was　called　from　the　courtyard　by
her　mother；　who　had　come　from　the　farm　on　foot。

〃A　laboring　man　from　Troyes　wants　to　speak　to　you；　he　is　sent　by
Michu；　and　is　waiting　in　the　covered　way；〃　she　said　to　Marthe。

They　passed　through　the　breach　so　as　to　take　the　shortest　path。　In　the
darkness　it　was　impossible　for　Marthe　to　distinguish　anything　more
than　the　form　of　a　person　which　loomed　through　the　shadows。

〃Speak；　madame；　so　that　I　may　be　certain　you　are　really　Madame　Michu；〃
said　the　person；　in　a　rather　anxious　voice。

〃I　am　Madame　Michu；〃　said　Marthe；　〃what　do　you　want　of　me？〃

〃Very　good；〃　said　the　unknown；　〃give　me　your　hand；　do　not　fear　me。　I
come；〃　he　added；　leaning　towards　her　and　speaking　low；　〃from　Michu
with　a　note　for　you。　I　am　employed　at　the　prison；　and　if　my　superiors
discover　my　absence　we　shall　all　be　lost。　Trust　me；　your　good　father
placed　me　where　I　am。　For　that　reason　Michu　counted　on　my　helping
him。〃

He　put　the　letter　into　Marthe's　hand　and　disappeared　toward　the　forest
without　waiting　for　an　answer。　Marthe　trembled　at　the　thought　that　she
was　now　to　hear　the　secret　of　the　mystery。　She　ran　to　the　farm　with
her　mother　and　shut　herself　up　to　read　the　following　letter：

　　My　dear　Marthe；You　can　rely　on　the　discretion　of　the　man　who
　　will　give　you　this　letter；　he　does　not　know　how　to　read　or　to
　　write。　He　is　a　stanch　Republican；　and　shared　in　Baboeuf's
　　conspiracy；　your　father　often　made　use　of　him；　and　he　regards　the
　　senator　as　a　traitor。　Now；　my　dear　wife；　attend　to　my　directions。
　　The　senator　has　been　shut　up　by　us　in　the　cave　where　our　masters
　　were　hidden。　The　poor　creature　had　provisions　for　only　five　days；
　　and　as　it　is　our　interest　that　he　should　live；　I　wish　you；　as　soon
　　as　you　receive　this　letter；　to　take　him　food　for　at　least　five
　　days　more。　The　forest　is　of　course　watched；　therefore　take　as　many
　　precautions　as　we　formerly　did　for　our　young　masters。　Don't　say　a
　　word　to　Malin；　don't　speak　to　him；　and　put　on　one　of　our　masks
　　which　you　will　find　on　the　steps　which　lead　down　to　the　cave。
　　Unless　you　wish　to　compromise　our　heads　you　must　be　absolutely
　　silent　about　this　letter　and　the　secret　I　have　now　confided　to
　　you。　Don't　say　a　word　to　Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne；　who　might
　　tell　of　it。　Don't　fear　for　me。　We　are　certain　that　the　matter　will
　　turn　out　well；　when　the　time　comes　Malin　himself　will　save　us。　I
　　don't　need　to　tell　you　to　burn　this　letter　as　soon　as　you　have
　　read　it；　for　it　would　cost　me　my　head　if　a　line　of　it　were　seen。　I
　　kiss　you　for　now　and　always；

Michu。


The　existence　of　the　cave　was　known　only　to　Marthe；　her　son；　Michu；
the　four　gentlemen；　and　Laurence；　or　rather；　Marthe；　to　whom　her
husband　had　not　related　the　incident　of　his　meeting　with　Peyrade　and
Corentin；　believed　it　was　known　only　to　them。　Had　she　consulted　her
mistress　and　the　two　lawyers；　who　knew　the　innocence　of　the　prisoners；
the　shrewd　Bordin　would　have　gained　some　light　upon　the　perfidious
trap　which　was　evidently　laid　for　his　clients。　But　Marthe；　acting　like
most　women　under　a　first　impulse；　was　convinced　by　this　proof　which
came　to　her　own　eyes；　and　flung　the　letter　into　the　fire　as　directed。
Nevertheless；　moved　by　a　singular　gleam　of　caution；　she　caught　a
portion　of　it　from　the　flames；　tore　off　the　five　first　lines；　which
compromised　no　one；　and　sewed　them　into　the　hem　of　her　dress。
Terrified　at　the　thought　that　the　prisoner　had　been　without　food　for
twenty…four　hours；　she　resolved　to　carry　bread；　meat；　and　wine　to　him
at　once；　curiosity　was　well　as　humanity　permitting　no　delay。
Accordingly；　she　heated　her　oven　and　made；　with　her　mother's　help；　a
/pate/　of　hare　and　ducks；　a　rice　cake；　roasted　two　fowls；　selected
three　bottles　of　wine；　and　baked　two　loaves　of　bread。　About　two　in　the
morning　she　started　for　the　forest；　carrying　the　load　on　her　back；
accompanied　by　Couraut；　who　in　all　such　expeditions　showed　wonderful
sagacity　as　a　guide。　He　scented　strangers　at　immense　distances；　and　as
soon　as　he　was　certain　of　their　presence　he　returned　to　his　mistress
with　a　low　growl；　looking　at　her　fixedly　and　turning　his　muzzle　in　the
direction　of　the　danger。

Marthe　reached　the　pond　about　three　in　the　morning；　and　left　the　dog
as　sentinel　on　the　bank。　After　half　an　hour's　labor　in　clearing　the
entrance　she　came　with　a　dark　lantern　to　the　door　of　the　cave；　her
face　covered　with　a　mask；　which　she　had　found；　as　directed；　on　the
steps。　The　imprisonment　of　the　senator　seemed　to　have　been　long
premeditated。　A　hole　about　a　foot　square；　which　Marthe　had　never　seen
before；　was　roughly　cut　in　the　upper　part　of　the　iron　door　which
closed　the　cave；　but　in　order　to　prevent　Malin　from　using　the　time　and
patience　all　prisoners　have　at　their　command　in　loosening　the　iron　bar
which　held　the　door；　it　was　securely　fastened　with　a　padlock。

The　senator；　who　had　risen　from　his　bed　of　moss；　sighed　when　he　saw
the　masked　face　and　felt　that　there　was　no　chance　then　of　his
deliverance。　He　examined　Marthe；　as　much　as　he　could　by　the　unsteady
light　of　her　dark　lantern；　and　he　recognized　her　by　her　clothes；　her
stoutness；　and　her　motions。　When　she　passed　the　/pate/　through　the
door　he　dropped　it　to　seize　her　hand　and　then；　with　great　swiftness；
he　tried　to　pull　the　rings　from　her　fingers；one　her　wedding…ring；
the　other　a　gift　from　Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne。

〃You　cannot　deny　that　it　is　you；　my　dear　Madame　Michu；〃　he　said。

Marthe　closed　her　fist　the　moment　she　felt　his　fingers；　and　gave　him　a
vigorous　blow　in　the　chest。　Then；　without　a　word；　she　turned　away　and
cut　a　stick；　at　the　end　of　which　she　held　out　to　the　senator　the　rest
of　the　provisions。

〃What　do　they　want　of　me？〃　he　asked。

Marthe　departed　giving　him　no　answer。　By　five　o'clock　she　had　reached
the　edge　of　the　forest　and　was　warned　by　Couraut　of　the　presence　of
strangers。　She　retraced　her　steps　and　made　for　the　pavilion　where　she
had　lived　so　long；　but　just　as　she　entered　the　avenue　she　was　seen
from　afar　by　the　forester　of　Gondreville；　and　she　quickly　reflected
that　her　best　plan　was　to　go　straight　up　to　him。

〃You　are　out　early；　Madame　Michu；〃　he　said；　accosting　her。

〃We　are　so　unfortunate；〃　she　replied；　〃that　I　am　obliged　to　do　a
servant's　work　myself。　I　am　going　to　Bellache　for　some　grain。〃

〃Haven't　you　any　at　Cinq…Cygne？〃　said　the　forester。

Marthe　made　no　answer。　She　continued　on　her　way　and　reached　the　farm
at　Bellache；　where　she　asked　Beauvisage　to　give　her　some　seed…grain；
saying　that　Monsieur　d'Hauteserre　advised　her　to　get　it　from　him　to
renew　her　crop。　As　soon　as　Marthe　had　left　the　farm；　the　forester　went
there　to　find　out　what　she　asked　for。

Six　days　later；　Marthe；　determined　to　be　prudent；　went　at　midnight
with　her　provisions　so　as　to　avoid　the　keepers　who　were　evidently
patrolling　the　forest。　After　carrying　a　third　supply　to　the　senator
she　suddenly　became　terrified　on　hearing　the　abbe　read　aloud　the
public　examination　of　the　prisoners；for　the　trial　was　by　that　time
begun。　She　took　the　abbe　aside；　and　after　obliging　him　to　swear　that
he　wo