an historical mystery-第7章

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These　were　his　first　words。　His　wife　had　rushed　after　him；　unable　to
speak。

〃Go　back　to　the　house；　hide　in　a　thick　tree；　and　watch　the　country　and
the　park；〃　he　said　to　his　son。　〃We　have　all　gone　to　bed；　no　one　is
stirring。　Your　grandmother　will　not　open　the　door　until　you　ask　her　to
let　you　in。　Remember　every　word　I　say　to　you。　The　life　of　your　father
and　mother　depends　on　it。　No　one　must　know　we　did　not　sleep　at　home。〃

After　whispering　these　words　to　the　boy；　who　instantly　disappeared　in
the　forest　like　an　eel　in　the　mud；　Michu　turned　to　his　wife。

〃Mount　behind　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　pray　that　God　be　with　us。　Sit　firm；
the　beast　may　die　of　it。〃　So　saying　he　kicked　the　horse　with　both
heels；　pressing　him　with　his　powerful　knees；　and　the　animal　sprang
forward　with　the　rapidity　of　a　hunter；　seeming　to　understand　what　his
master　wanted　of　him；　and　crossed　the　forest　in　fifteen　minutes。　Then
Michu；　who　had　not　swerved　from　the　shortest　way；　pulled　up；　found　a
spot　at　the　edge　of　the　woods　from　which　he　could　see　the　roofs　of　the
chateau　of　Cinq…Cygne　lighted　by　the　moon；　tied　his　horse　to　a　tree；
and　followed　by　his　wife；　gained　a　little　eminence　which　overlooked
the　valley。

The　chateau；　which　Marthe　and　Michu　looked　at　together　for　a　moment；
makes　a　charming　effect　in　the　landscape。　Though　it　has　little　extent
and　is　of　no　importance　whatever　as　architecture；　yet　archaeologically
it　is　not　without　a　certain　interest。　This　old　edifice　of　the
fifteenth　century；　placed　on　an　eminence；　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　a
moat；　or　rather　by　deep；　wide　ditches　always　full　of　water；　is　built
in　cobble…stones　buried　in　cement；　the　walls　being　seven　feet　thick。
Its　simplicity　recalls　the　rough　and　warlike　life　of　feudal　days。　The
chateau；　plain　and　unadorned；　has　two　large　reddish　towers　at　either
end；　connected　by　a　long　main　building　with　casement　windows；　the
stone　mullions　of　which；　being　roughly　carved；　bear　some　resemblance
to　vine…shoots。　The　stairway　is　outside　the　house；　at　the　middle；　in　a
sort　of　pentagonal　tower　entered　through　a　small　arched　door。　The
interior　of　the　ground…floor　together　with　the　rooms　on　the　first
storey　were　modernized　in　the　time　of　Louis　XIV。；　and　the　whole
building　is　surmounted　by　an　immense　roof　broken　by　casement　windows
with　carved　triangular　pediments。　Before　the　castle　lies　a　vast　green
sward　the　trees　of　which　had　recently　been　cut　down。　On　either　side　of
the　entrance　bridge　are　two　small　dwellings　where　the　gardeners　live；
connected　across　the　road　by　a　paltry　iron　railing　without　character；
evidently　modern。　To　right　and　left　of　the　lawn；　which　is　divided　in
two　by　a　paved　road…way；　are　the　stables；　cow…sheds；　barns；　wood…
house；　bakery；　poultry…yard；　and　the　offices；　placed　in　what　were
doubtless　the　remains　of　two　wings　of　the　old　building　similar　to
those　that　were　still　standing。　The　two　large　towers；　with　their
pepper…pot　roofs　which　had　not　been　rased；　and　the　belfry　of　the
middle　tower；　gave　an　air　of　distinction　to　the　village。　The　church；
also　very　old；　showed　near　by　its　pointed　steeple；　which　harmonized
well　with　the　solid　masses　of　the　castle。　The　moon　brought　out　in　full
relief　the　various　roofs　and　towers　on　which　it　played　and　sparkled。

Michu　gazed　at　this　baronial　structure　in　a　manner　that　upset　all　his
wife's　ideas　about　him；　his　face；　now　calm；　wore　a　look　of　hope　and
also　a　sort　of　pride。　His　eyes　scanned　the　horizon　with　a　glance　of
defiance；　he　listened　for　sounds　in　the　air。　It　was　now　nine　o'clock；
the　moon　was　beginning　to　cast　its　light　upon　the　margin　of　the　forest
and　to　illumine　the　little　bluff　on　which　they　stood。　The　position
struck　him　as　dangerous　and　he　left　it；　fearful　of　being　seen。　But　no
suspicious　noise　troubled　the　peace　of　the　beautiful　valley　encircled
on　this　side　by　the　forest　of　Nodesme。　Marthe；　exhausted　and
trembling；　was　awaiting　some　explanation　of　their　hurried　ride。　What
was　she　engaged　in？　Was　she　to　aid　in　a　good　deed　or　an　evil　one？　At
that　instant　Michu　bent　to　his　wife's　ear　and　whispered：

〃Go　the　house　and　ask　to　speak　to　the　Comtesse　de　Cinq…Cygne；　when　you
see　her　beg　her　to　speak　to　you　alone。　If　no　one　can　overhear　you；　say
to　her：　'Mademoiselle；　the　lives　of　your　two　cousins　are　in　danger；
and　he　who　can　explain　the　how　and　why　is　waiting　to　speak　to　you。'　If
she　seems　afraid；　if　she　distrusts　you；　add　these　words：　'They　are
conspiring　against　the　First　Consul　and　the　conspiracy　is　discovered。'
Don't　give　your　name；　they　distrust　us　too　much。〃

Marthe　raised　her　face　towards　her　husband　and　said：

〃Can　it　be　that　you　serve　them？〃

〃What　if　I　do？〃　he　said；　frowning；　taking　her　words　as　a　reproach。

〃You　don't　understand　me；〃　cried　Marthe；　seizing　his　large　hand　and
falling　on　her　knees　beside　him　as　she　kissed　it　and　covered　it　with
her　tears。

〃Go；　go；　you　shall　cry　later；〃　he　said；　kissing　her　vehemently。

When　he　no　longer　heard　her　step　his　eyes　filled　with　tears。　He　had
distrusted　Marthe　on　account　of　her　father's　opinions；　he　had　hidden
the　secrets　of　his　life　from　her；　but　the　beauty　of　her　simple　nature
had　suddenly　appeared　to　him；　just　as　the　grandeur　of　his　had；　as
suddenly；　revealed　itself　to　her。　Marthe　had　passed　in　a　moment　from
the　deep　humiliation　caused　by　the　degradation　of　the　man　whose　name
she　bore；　to　the　exaltation　given　by　a　sense　of　his　nobleness。　The
change　was　instantaneous；　without　transition；　it　was　enough　to　make
her　tremble。　She　told　him　later　that　she　went；　as　it　were；　through
blood　from　the　pavilion　to　the　edge　of　the　forest；　and　there　was
lifted　to　heaven；　in　a　moment；　among　the　angels。　Michu；　who　had　known
he　was　not　appreciated；　and　who　mistook　his　wife's　grieved　and
melancholy　manner　for　lack　of　affection；　and　had　left　her　to　herself；
living　chiefly　out　of　doors　and　reserving　all　his　tenderness　for　his
boy；　instantly　understood　the　meaning　of　her　tears。　She　had　cursed　the
part　which　her　beauty　and　her　father's　will　had　forced　her　to　take；
but　now　happiness；　in　the　midst　of　this　great　storm；　played；　with　a
beautiful　flame　like　a　vivid　lightning　about　them。　And　it　was
lightning！　Each　thought　of　the　last　ten　years　of　misconception；　and
they　blamed　themselves　only。　Michu　stood　motionless；　his　elbow　on　his
gun；　his　chin　on　his　hand；　lost　in　deep　reverie。　Such　a　moment　in　a
man's　life　makes　him　willing　to　accept　the　saddest　moments　of　a
painful　past。

Marthe；　agitated　by　the　same　thoughts　as　those　of　her　husband；　was
also　troubled　in　heart　by　the　danger　of　the　Simeuse　brothers；　for　she
now　understood　all；　even　the　faces　of　the　two　Parisians；　though　she
still　could　not　explain　to　herself　her　husband's　gun。　She　darted
forward　like　a　doe；　and　soon　reached　the　road　to　the　chateau。　There
she　was　surprised　by　the　steps　of　a　man　following　behind　her；　she
turned；　with　a　cry；　and　her　husband's　large　hand　closed　her　mouth。

〃From　the　hill　up　there　I　saw　the　silver　lace　of　the　gendarmes'　hats。
Go　in　by　the　breach　in　the　moat　between　Mademoiselle's　tower　and　the
stables。　The　dogs　won't　bark　at　you。　Go　through　the　garden　and　call
the　countess　by　the　window；　order　them　to　saddle　her　horse；　and　ask
her　to　come　out　through　the　breach。　I'll　be　there；　after　discovering
what　the　Parisians　are　planning；　and　how　to　escape　them。〃

Danger；　which　seemed　to　be　rolling　like　an　avalanche　upon　them；　gave
wings　to　Marthe's　feet。



CHAPTER　IV

LAURENCE　DE　CINQ…CYGNE

The　old　Frank　name　of　the　Cinq…Cygnes　and　the　Chargeboeufs　was
Duineff。　Cinq…Cygne　became　that　of　the　younger　branch　of　the
Chargeboeufs　after　the　defence　of　a　castle　made；　during　their　father's
absence；　by　five　daughters　of　that　race；　all　remarkably　fair；　and　of
whom　no　one　expected　such　heroism。　One　of　the　first　Comtes　de
Champagne　wished；　by　bestowing　this　pretty　name；　to　perpetuate　the
memory　of　their　deed　as　long　as　the　family　existed。　Laurence；　the　last
of　her　race；　was；　contrary　to　Salic　law；　heiress　of　the　name；　the
arms；　and　the　manor。　She　was　therefore　Comtesse　de　Cinq…Cygne　in　her
own　right；　her　husband　would　have　to　take　both　her　name　and　her
blazon；　which　bore　for　device　the　glorious　answer　made　by　the　elder　of
the　five　sisters　when　summoned　to　surrender　the　castle；　〃We　die
singing。〃　Worthy　descendant　of　these　noble　heroines；　Laurence　was　fair
and　lily…white　as　though　nature　had　made　her　for　a　wager。　The　lines　of
her　blue　veins　could　be　seen　through　the　delicate　close　texture　of　her
skin。　Her　beautiful　golden　hair　harmonized　delightfully　with　eyes　of
the　deepest　blue。　Everything　about　her　belonged　to　the　type　of
delicacy。　Within　that　fragile　though　active　body；　and　in　defiance　as
it　were　of　its　pearly　whiteness；　lived　a　soul　like　that　of　a　man　of
noble　nature；　but　no　one；　not　even　a　close　observer；　would　have
suspected　it　from　the　gentle　countenance　and　rounded　features　which；
when　seen　in　profile；　bore　some　slight　resemblance　to　those　of　a　lamb。
This　extreme　gentleness；　though　noble；　had　something　of　the　stupidity
of　the　little　animal。　〃I　look　like　a　dreamy　sheep；〃　she　would　say；
smiling。　Laurence；　who　talked　little；　seemed　not　so　much　dreamy　as
dormant。　But；　did　any　important　circumstance　arise；　the　hidden　Judith
was　revealed；　sublime；　and　circumstances　had；　unfortunately；　not　been
wanting。

At　thirteen　years　of　age；　Laurence；　after　the　events　already　related；
was　an　orphan　living　in　a　house　opposite　to　the　empty　space　where　so
recently　had　stood　one　of　the　most　curious　specimens　in　France　of
sixteenth…century　architecture；　the　hotel　Cinq…Cygne。　Monsieur
d'Hauteserre；　her　relation；　now　her　guardian；　took　the　young　heiress
to　live　in　the　country　at　her　chateau　of　Cinq…Cygne。　That　brave
provincial　gentleman；　alarmed　at　the　death　of　his　brother；　the　Abbe
d'Hauteserre；　who　was　shot　in　the　open　square　as　he　was　about　to
escape　in　the　dress　of　a　peasant；　was　not　in　a　position　to　defend　the
interests　of　his　ward。　He　had　two　sons　in　the　army　of　the　princes；　and
every　day；　at　the　slightest　unusual　sound；　he　believed　that　the
municipals　of　Arcis　were　coming　to　arrest　him。　Laurence；　proud　of
having　sustained　a　siege　and　of　possessing　the　historic　whiteness　of
her　swan…like　ancestors；　despised　the　prudent　cowardice　of　the　old　man
who　bent　to　the　storm；　and　dreamed　only　of　distinguishing　herself。　So；
she　boldly　hung　the　portrait　of　Charlotte　Corday　on　the　walls　of　her
poor　salon　at　Cinq…Cygne；　and　crowned　it　with　oak…leaves。　She
corresponded　by　messenger　with　her　twin　cousins；　in　defiance　of　the
law；　which　punished　the　act；　when　discovered；　with　death。　The
messenger；　who　risked　his　life；　brought　back　the　answers。　Laurence
lived　only；　after　the　catastrophes　at　Troyes；　for　the　triumph　of　the
royal　cause。　After　soberly　judging　Monsieur　and　Madame　d'Hauteserre
（who　lived　with　her　at　the　chateau　de　Cinq…Cygne）；　and　recognizing
their　honest；　but　stolid　natures；　she　put　them　outside　the　lines　of
her　own　life。　She　had；　moreover；　too　good　a　mind　and　too　sound　a
judgment　to　complain　of　their　natures；　always　kind；　amiable；　and
affectionate　towards　them；　she　nevertheless　told　them　none　of　her
secrets。　Nothing　forms　a　character　so　much　as　the　practice　of　constant
concealment　in　the　bosom　of　a　family。

After　sh