an historical mystery-第38章

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for　thirty…six　years　to　our　greatest　diplomat；　the　Prince　de
Talleyrand。　It　was　in　the　course　of　this　very　evening　that　he　made
answer　to　some　one　who　asked　why　the　Prince　showed　such　hostility　to
the　Duc　de　Bordeaux；　〃The　Pretender　is　too　young！〃

〃Singular　advice　to　give　young　men；〃　remarked　Rastignac。

De　Marsay；　who　grew　thoughtful　after　Madame　de　Cadignan's　reproachful
speech；　took　no　notice　of　these　jests。　He　looked　askance　at
Gondreville　and　was　evidently　biding　his　time　until　that　now　old　man；
who　went　to　bed　early；　had　taken　leave。　All　present；　who　had　witnessed
the　abrupt　departure　of　Madame　de　Cinq…Cygne　（whose　reasons　were　well…
known　to　them）；　imitated　de　Marsay's　conduct　and　kept　silence。
Gondreville；　who　had　not　recognized　the　marquise；　was　ignorant　of　the
cause　of　the　general　reticence；　but　the　habit　of　dealing　with　public
matters　had　given　him　a　certain　tact；　he　was　moreover　a　clever　man；　he
saw　that　his　presence　was　embarrassing　to　the　company　and　he　took
leave。　De　Marsay；　standing　with　his　back　to　the　fire；　watched　the　slow
departure　of　the　old　man　in　a　manner　which　revealed　the　gravity　of　his
thoughts。

〃I　did　wrong；　madame；　not　to　tell　you　the　name　of　my　negotiator；〃　said
the　prime　minister；　listening　for　the　sound　of　Malin's　wheels　as　they
rolled　away。　〃But　I　will　redeem　my　fault　and　give　you　the　means　of
making　your　peace　with　the　Cinq…Cygnes。　It　is　now　thirty　years　since
the　affair　I　am　about　to　speak　of　took　place；　it　is　as　old　to　the
present　day　as　the　death　of　Henri　IV。　（which　between　ourselves　and　in
spite　of　the　proverb　is　still　a　mystery；　like　so　many　other　historical
catastrophes）。　I　can；　however；　assure　you　that　even　if　this　affair　did
not　concern　Madame　de　Cinq…Cygne　it　would　be　none　the　less　curious　and
interesting。　Moreover；　it　throws　light　on　a　celebrated　exploit　in　our
modern　annals；I　mean　that　of　the　Mont　Saint…Bernard。　Messieurs　les
Ambassadeurs；〃　he　added；　bowing　to　the　two　diplomats；　〃will　see　that
in　the　element　of　profound　intrigue　the　political　men　of　the　present
day　are　far　behind　the　Machiavellis　whom　the　waves　of　the　popular　will
lifted；　in　1793；　above　the　storm；some　of　whom　have　'found；'　as　the
old　song　says；　'a　haven。'　To　be　anything　in　France　in　these　days　a　man
must　have　been　tossed　in　those　tempests。〃

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　said　the　princess；　smiling；　〃that　from　that　point　of
view　the　present　state　of　things　under　your　regime　leaves　nothing　to
be　desired。〃

A　well…bred　laugh　went　round　the　room；　and　even　the　prime　minister
himself　could　not　help　smiling。　The　ambassadors　seemed　impatient　for
the　tale；　de　Marsay　coughed　dryly　and　silence　was　obtained。

〃On　a　June　night　in　1800；〃　began　the　minister；　〃about　three　in　the
morning；　just　as　daylight　was　beginning　to　pale　the　brilliancy　of　the
wax　candles；　two　men　tired　of　playing　at　/bouillotte/　（or　who　were
playing　merely　to　keep　others　employed）　left　the　salon　of　the　ministry
of　foreign　affairs；　then　situated　in　the　rue　du　Bac；　and　went　apart
into　a　boudoir。　These　two　men；　of　whom　one　is　dead　and　the　other　has
/one/　foot　in　the　grave；　were；　each　in　his　own　way；　equally
extraordinary。　Both　had　been　priests；　both　had　abjured　religion；　both
were　married。　One　had　been　merely　an　Oratorian；　the　other　had　worn　the
mitre　of　a　bishop。　The　first　was　named　Fouche；　I　shall　not　tell　you
the　name　of　the　second；＇*＇　both　were　then　mere　simple　citizenswith
very　little　simplicity。　When　they　were　seen　to　leave　the　salon　and
enter　the　boudoir；　the　rest　of　the　company　present　showed　a　certain
curiosity。　A　third　person　followed　them；a　man　who　thought　himself
far　stronger　than　the　other　two。　His　name　was　Sieyes；　and　you　all　know
that　he　too　had　been　a　priest　before　the　Revolution。　The　one　who
/walked　with　difficulty/　was　then　the　minister　of　foreign　affairs；
Fouche　was　minister　of　police；　Sieyes　had　resigned　the　consulate。

＇*＇　Talleyrand　was　still　living　when　de　Marsay　related　these
circumstances。


〃A　small　man；　cold　and　stern　in　appearance；　left　his　seat　and　followed
the　three　others；　saying　aloud　in　the　hearing　of　the　person　from　whom
I　have　the　information；　'I　mistrust　the　gambling　of　priests。'　This　man
was　Carnot；　minister　of　war。　His　remark　did　not　trouble　the　two
consuls　who　were　playing　cards　in　the　salon。　Cambaceres　and　Lebrun
were　then　at　the　mercy　of　their　ministers；　men　who　were　infinitely
stronger　than　they。

〃Nearly　all　these　statesmen　are　dead；　and　no　secrecy　is　due　to　them。
They　belong　to　history；　and　the　history　of　that　night　and　its
consequences　has　been　terrible。　I　tell　it　to　you　now　because　I　alone
know　it；　because　Louis　XVIII。　never　revealed　the　truth　to　that　poor
Madame　de　Cinq…Cygne；　and　because　the　present　government　which　I　serve
is　wholly　indifferent　as　to　whether　the　truth　be　known　to　the　world　or
not。

〃All　four　of　these　personages　sat　down　in　the　boudoir。　The　lame　man
undoubtedly　closed　the　door　before　a　word　was　said；　it　is　even　thought
that　he　ran　the　bolt。　It　is　only　persons　of　high　rank　who　pay
attention　to　such　trifles。　The　three　priests　had　the　livid；　impassible
faces　which　you　all　remember。　Carnot　alone　was　ruddy。　He　was　the　first
to　speak。　'What　is　the　point　to　be　discussed？'　he　asked。　'France；'
must　have　been　the　answer　of　the　Prince　（whom　I　admire　as　one　of　the
most　extraordinary　men　of　our　time）。　'The　Republic；'　undoubtedly　said
Fouche。　'Power；'　probably　said　Sieyes。〃

All　present　looked　at　each　other。　With　voice；　look；　and　gesture　de
Marsay　had　wonderfully　represented　the　three　men。

〃The　three　priests　fully　understood　one　another；〃　he　continued；
resuming　his　narrative。　〃Carnot　no　doubt　looked　at　his　colleagues　and
the　ex…consul　in　a　dignified　manner。　He　must；　however；　have　felt
bewildered　in　his　own　mind。

〃'Do　you　believe　in　the　success　of　the　army？'　Sieyes　said　to　him。

〃'We　may　expect　everything　from　Bonaparte；'　replied　the　minister　of
war；　'he　has　crossed　the　Alps。'

〃'At　this　moment；'　said　the　minister　of　foreign　affairs；　with
deliberate　slowness；　'he　is　playing　his　last　stake。'

〃'Come；　let's　speak　out；'　said　Fouche；　'what　shall　we　do　if　the　First
Consul　is　defeated？　Is　it　possible　to　collect　another　army？　Must　we
continue　his　humble　servants？'

〃'There　is　no　republic　now；'　remarked　Sieyes；　'Bonaparte　is　consul　for
ten　years。'

〃'He　has　more　power　than　ever　Cromwell　had；'　said　the　former　bishop；
'and　he　did　not　vote　for　the　death　of　the　king。'

〃'We　have　a　master；'　said　Fouche；　'the　question　is；　shall　we　continue
to　keep　him　if　he　loses　the　battle　or　shall　we　return　to　a　pure
republic？'

〃'France；'　replied　Carnot；　sententiously；　'cannot　resist　except　she
reverts　to　the　old　Conventional　/energy/。'

〃'I　agree　with　Carnot；'　said　Sieyes；　'if　Bonaparte　returns　defeated　we
must　put　an　end　to　him；　he　has　let　us　know　him　too　well　during　the
last　seven　months。'

〃'The　army　is　for　him；'　remarked　Carnot；　thoughtfully。

〃'And　the　people　for　us！'　cried　Fouche。

〃'You　go　fast；　monsieur；'　said　the　Prince；　in　that　deep　bass　voice
which　he　still　preserves　and　which　now　drove　Fouche　back　into　himself。

〃'Be　frank；'　said　a　voice；　as　a　former　Conventional　rose　from　a　corner
of　the　boudoir　and　showed　himself；　'if　Bonaparte　returns　a　victor；　we
shall　adore　him；　if　vanquished；　we'll　bury　him！'

〃'So　you　were　there；　Malin；　were　you？'　said　the　Prince；　without
betraying　the　least　feeling。　'Then　you　must　be　one　of　us；　sit　down'；
and　he　made　him　a　sign　to　be　seated。

〃It　is　to　this　one　circumstance　that　Malin；　a　Conventional　of　small
repute；　owes　the　position　he　afterwards　obtained　and；　ultimately；　that
in　which　we　see　him　at　the　present　moment。　He　proved　discreet；　and　the
ministers　were　faithful　to　him；　but　they　made　him　the　pivot　of　the
machine　and　the　cat's…paw　of　the　machination。　To　return　to　my　tale。

〃'Bonaparte　has　never　yet　been　vanquished；'　cried　Carnot；　in　a　tone　of
conviction；　'and　he　has　just　surpassed　Hannibal。'

〃'If　the　worst　happens；　here　is　the　Directory；'　said　Sieyes；　artfully；
indicating　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　the　five　persons　present。

〃'And；'　added　the　Prince；　'we　are　all　committed　to　the　maintenance　of
the　French　republic；　we　three　priests　have　literally　unfrocked
ourselves；　the　general；　here；　voted　for　the　death　of　the　king；　and
you；'　he　said；　turning　to　Malin；　'have　got　possession　of　the　property
of　/emigres/。'

〃'Yes；　we　have　all　the　same　interests；'　said　Sieyes；　dictatorially；
'and　our　interests　are　one　with　those　of　the　nation。'

〃'A　rare　thing；'　said　the　Prince；　smiling。

〃'We　must　act；'　interrupted　Fouche。　'In　all　probability　the　battle　is
now　going　on；　the　Austrians　outnumber　us；　Genoa　has　surrendered；
Massena　has　committed　the　great　mistake　of　embarking　for　Antibes；　it
is　very　doubtful　if　he　can　rejoin　Bonaparte；　who　will　then　be　reduced
to　his　own　resources。'

〃'Who　gave　you　that　news？'　asked　Carnot。

〃'It　is　sure；'　replied　Fouche。　'You　will　have　the　courier　when　the
Bourse　opens。'

〃Those　men　didn't　mince　their　words；〃　said　de　Marsay；　smiling；　and
stopping　short　for　a　moment。

〃'Remember；'　continued　Fouche；　'it　is　not　when　the　news　of　a　disaster
comes　that　we　can　organize　clubs；　rouse　the　patriotism　of　the　people；
and　change　the　constitution。　Our　18th　Brumaire　ought　to　be　prepared
beforehand。'

〃'Let　us　leave　the　care　of　that　to　the　minister　of　police；'　said　the
Prince；　bowing　to　Fouche；　'and　beware　ourselves　of　Lucien。'　（Lucien
Bonaparte　was　then　minister　of　the　interior。）

〃'I'll　arrest　him；'　said　Fouche。

〃'Messieurs！'　cried　Sieyes；　'our　Directory　ought　not　to　be　subject　to
anarchical　changes。　We　must　organize　a　government　of　the　few；　a　Senate
for　life；　and　an　elective　chamber　the　control　of　which　shall　be　in　our
hands；　for　we　ought　to　profit　by　the　blunders　of　the　past。'

〃'With　such　a　system；　there　would　be　peace　for　me；'　remarked　the　ex…
bishop。

〃'Find　me　a　sure　man　to　negotiate　with　Moreau；　for　the　Army　of　the
Rhine　will　be　our　sole　resource；'　cried　Carnot；　who　had　been　plunged
in　meditation。

〃Ah！〃　said　de　Marsay；　pausing；　〃those　men　were　right。　They　were　grand
in　this　crisis。　I　should　have　done　as　they　did〃；　then　he　resumed　his
narrative。

〃'Messieurs！'　cried　Sieyes；　in　a　grave　and　solemn　tone。

〃That　word　'Messieurs！'　was　perfectly　understood　by　all　present；　all
eyes　expressed　the　same　faith；　the　same　promise；　that　of　absolute
silence；　and　unswerving　loyalty　to　each　other　in　case　the　First　Consul
returned　triumphant。

〃'We　all　know　what　we　have　to　do；'　added　Fouche。

〃Sieyes　softly　unbolted　the　door；　his　priestly　ear　had　warned　him。
Lucien　entered　the　room。

〃'Good　news！'　he　said。　'A　courier　has　just　brought　Madame　Bonaparte　a
line　from　the　First　Consul。　The　campaign　has　opened　with　a　victory　at
Montebello。'

〃The　three　ministers　exchanged　looks。

〃'Was　it　a　general　engagement？'　asked　Carnot。

〃'No；　a　fight；　in　which　Lannes　has　covered　himself　with　glory。　The
affair　was　bloody。　Attacked　with　ten　thousand　men　by　eighteen
thousand；　he　was　only　saved　by　a　division　sent　to　his　support。　Ott　is
in　full　retreat。　The　Austrian　line　is　broken。'

〃'When　did　the　fight　take　place？'　asked　Carnot。

〃'On　the　8th；'　replied　Lucien。

〃'And　this　is　the　13th；'　said　the　sagacious　minister。　'Well；　i