derues-第14章

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t　will　have　to　be　someone　else。　　〃What　makes　you　think　he　is　short　of　money？〃

〃Oh！　　oh！〃　said　the　cure；　〃a　man　who　has　money　either　pays　his　debts；　or　is　a　cheat。　　Now　Heaven　preserve　me　from　suspecting　Monsieur　Derues'　honesty！〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　him？〃

〃Do　you　remember　Brother　Marchois　of　the　Camaldulians；　who　came　to　see　me　last　spring；　and　who　was　here　the　day　Monsieur　Derues　arrived；　with　your　wife　and　Edouard？〃

〃Perfectly。　　Well？〃

〃Well；　I　happened　to　tell　him　in　one　of　my　letters　that　Monsieur　Derues　had　become　the　purchaser　of　Buisson…Souef；　and　that　I　believed　the　arrangements　were　concluded。　　Thereupon　Brother　Marchois　wrote　asking　me　to　remind　him　that　he　owes　them　a　sum　of　eight　hundred　livres；　and　that；　so　far；　they　have　not　seen　a　penny　of　it。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　〃perhaps　I　should　have　done　better　not　to　let　myself　be　deluded　by　his　fine　promises。　　He　certainly　has　money　on　his　tongue；　and　when　once　one　begins　to　listen　to　him；　one　can't　help　doing　what　he　wants。　　All　the　same；　I　had　rather　have　had　to　deal　with　someone　else。〃

〃And　is　it　this　which　worries　you；　and　makes　you　seem　so　anxious？〃

〃This　and　other　things。〃

〃What；　then？〃

〃I　am　really　ashamed　to　own　it；　but　I　am　a　credulous　and　timid　as　any　old　woman。　　Now　do　not　laugh　at　me　too　much。　　Do　you　believe　in　dreams？〃

〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　cure；　smiling；　〃you　should　never　ask　a　coward　whether　he　is　afraid；　you　only　risk　his　telling　a　lie。　　He　will　say　'No；'　but　he　means　'Yes。'〃

〃And　are　you　a　coward；　my　father？〃

〃A　little。　　I　don't　precisely　believe　all　the　nursery；　tales；　or　in　the　favourable　or　unfavourable　meaning　of　some　object　seen　during　our　sleep；　but〃

A　sound　of　steps　interrupted　them；　a　servant　entered；　announcing　Monsieur　Derues。

On　hearing　the　name；　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　felt　troubled　in　spite　of　himself；　but；　overcoming　the　impression；　he　rose　to　meet　the　visitor。

〃You　had　better　stay；〃　he　said　to　the　cure；　who　was　also　rising　to　take　leave。　　〃Stay；　we　have　probably　nothing　to　say　which　cannot　be　said　before　you。〃

Derues　entered　the　room；　and；　after　the　usual　compliments；　sat　down　by　the　fire；　opposite　Monsieur　de　Lamotte。


〃You　did　not　expect　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　ought　to　apologise　for　surprising　you　thus。〃

Give　me　some　news　of　my　wife；〃　asked　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　anxiously。

〃She　has　never　been　better。　　Your　son　is　also　to　perfect　health。〃

〃But　why　are　you　alone？　　Why　does　not　Marie　accompany　you？　　It　is　ten　weeks　since　she　went　to　Paris。〃

〃She　has　not　yet　quite　finished　the　business　with　which　you　entrusted　her。　　Perhaps　I　am　partly　the　cause　of　this　long　absence；　but　one　cannot　transact　business　as　quickly　as　one　would　wish。　　But；　you　have　no　doubt　heard　from　her；　that　all　is　finished；　or　nearly　so；　between　us。　　We　have　drawn　up　a　second　private　contract；　which　annuls　the　former　agreement；　and　I　have　paid　over　a　sum　of　one　hundred　thousand　livres。〃

〃I　do　not　comprehend；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Lamotte。　　〃What　can　induce　my　wife　not　to　inform　me　of　this？〃

〃You　did　not　know？〃

〃I　know　nothing。　　I　was　wondering　just　now　with　Monsieur　le　cure　why　I　did　not　hear　from　her。〃

〃Madame　de　Lamotte　was　going　to　write　to　you；　and　I　do　not　know　what　can　have　hindered　her。〃

〃When　did　you　leave　her？〃

〃Several　days　ago。　　I　have　not　been　at　Paris；　I　am　returning　from　Chartres。　　I　believed　you　were　informed　of　everything。〃

Monsieur　de　Lamotte　remained　silent　for　some　moments。　　Then；　fixing　his　eyes　upon　Derues'　immovable　countenance；　he　said；　with　some　emotion

〃You　are　a　husband　and　father；　sir；　in　the　name　of　this　double　and　sacred　affection　which　is；　not　unknown　to　you；　do　not　hide　anything　from　me：　I　fear　some　misfortune　has　happened　to　my　wife　which　you　are　concealing。〃

Derues'　physiognomy　expressed　nothing　but　a　perfectly　natural　astonishment。

〃What　can　have　suggested　such　ideas　to　you；　dear　sir？〃　　In　saying　this　he　glanced　at　the　cure；　wishing　to　ascertain　if　this　distrust　was　Monsieur　de　Lamotte's　own　idea；　or　had　been　suggested　to　him。　The　movement　was　so　rapid　that　neither　of　the　others　observed　it。　Like　all　knaves；　obliged　by　their　actions　to　be　continually　on　the　watch；　Derues　possessed　to　a　remarkable　extent　the　art　of　seeing　all　round　him　without　appearing　to　observe　anything　in　particular。　　He　decided　that　as　yet　he　had　only　to　combat　a　suspicion　unfounded　on　proof；　and　he　waited　till　he　should　be　attacked　more　seriously。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　said；　〃what　may　have　happened　during　my　absence；　pray　explain　yourself；　for　you　are　making　me　share　your　disquietude。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　exceedingly　anxious；　I　entreat　you；　tell　me　the　whole　truth。　　Explain　this　silence；　and　this　absence　prolonged　beyond　all　expectation。　　You　finished　your　business　with　Madame　de　Lamotte　several　days　ago：　once　again；　why　did　she　not　write？　　There　is　no　letter；　either　from　her　or　my　son！　　To…morrow　I　shall　send　someone　to　Paris。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　answered　Derues；　〃is　there　nothing　but　an　accident　which　could　cause　this　delay？　　。　　。　　。　　Well；　then；〃　he　continued；　with　the　embarrassed　look　of　a　man　compelled　to　betray　a　confidence；…　…〃well；　then；　I　see　that　in　order　to　reassure　you；　I　shall　have　to　give　up　a　secret　entrusted　to　me。〃

He　then　told　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　that　his　wife　was　no　longer　at　Paris；　but　at　Versailles；　where　she　was　endeavouring　to　obtain　an　important　and　lucrative　appointment；　and　that；　if　she　had　left　him　in　ignorance　of　her　efforts　in　this　direction；　it　was　only　to　give　him　an　agreeable　surprise。　　He　added　that　she　had　removed　her　son　from　the　school；　and　hoped　to　place　him　either　in　the　riding　school　or　amongst　the　royal　pages。　　To　prove　his　words；　he　opened　his　paper…case；　and　produced　the　letter　written　by　Edouard　in　answer　to　the　one　quoted　above。

All　this　was　related　so　simply；　and　with　such　an　appearance　of　good　faith；　that　the　cure　was　quite　convinced。　　And　to　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　the　plans　attributed　to　his　wife　were　not　entirely　improbably。　Derues　had　learnt　indirectly　that　such　a　career　for　Edouard　had　been　actually　under　consideration。　　However；　though　Monsieur　de　Lamotte's　entire　ignorance　prevented　him　from　making　any　serious　objection；　his　fears　were　not　entirely　at　rest；　but　for　the　present　he　appeared　satisfied　with　the　explanation。

The　cure　resumed　the　conversation。　　〃What　you　tell　us　ought　to　drive　away　gloomy　ideas。　　Just　now；　when　you　were　announced；　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　was　confiding　his　troubles　to　me。　　I　was　as　concerned　as　he　was；　and　I　could　say　nothing　to　help　him；　never　did　visitor　arrive　more　apropos。　　Well；　my　friend；　what　now　remains　of　your　vain　terrors？　　What　was　it　you　were　saying　just　as　Monsieur　Derues　arrived？　　。　　。　　。　　Ah！　we　were　discussing　dreams；　you　asked　if　I　believed　in　them。〃

Monsieur；　de　Lamotte；　who　had　sunk　back　in　his　easy…chair　and　seemed　lost　in　his　reflections；　started　on　hearing　these　words。　　He　raised　his　head　and　looked　again　at　Derues。　　But　the　latter　had　had　time　to　note　the　impression　produced　by　the　cure's　remark；　and　this　renewed　examination　did　not　disturb　him。

〃Yes；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　〃I　had　asked　that　question。〃

〃And　I　was　going　to　answer　that　there　are　certain　secret　warnings　which　can　be　received　by　the　soul　long　before　they　are　intelligible　to　the　bodily　senses…revelations　not　understood　at　first；　but　which　later　connect　themselves　with　realities　of　which　they　are　in　some　way　the　precursors。　　Do　you　agree　with　me；　Monsieur　Derues？〃

〃I　have　no　opinion　on　such　a　subject；　and　must　leave　the　discussion　to　more　learned　people　than　myself。　　I　do　not　know　whether　such　apparitions　really　mean　anything　or　not；　and　I　have　not　sought　to　fathom　these　mysteries；　thinking　them　outside　the　realm　of　human　intelligence。〃

〃Nevertheless；〃　said　the　cure；　〃we　are　obliged　to　recognise　their　existence。〃

〃Yes；　but　without　either　understanding　or　explaining　them；　like　many　other　eternal　truths。　　I　follow　the　rule　given　in　the　Imitation　o　f　Jesus　Christ：　'Beware；　my　son；　of　considering　too　curiously　the　things　beyond　thine　intelligence。'〃

〃And　I　also　submit；　and　avoid　too　curious　consideration。　　But　has　not　the　soul　knowledge　of　many　wondrous　things　which　we　can　yet　neither　see　nor　touch？　　I　repeat；　there　are　things　which　cannot　be　denied。〃

Derues　listened　attentively；　continually　on　his　guard；　and　afraid；　he　knew　not　why；　of　becoming　entangled　in　this　conversation；　as　in　a　trap。　　He　carefully　watched　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　whose　eyes　never　left　him。　　The　cure　resumed

〃Here　is　an　instance　which　I　was　bound　to　accept；　seeing　it　happened　to　myself。　　I　was　then　twenty；　and　my　mother　lived　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Tours；　whilst　I　was　at　the　seminary　of　Montpellier。　After　several　years　of　separation；　I　had　obtained　permission　to　go　and　see　her。　　I　wrote；　telling　her　of　this　good　news；　and　I　received　her　answerfull　of　joy　and　tenderness。　　My　brother　and　sister　were　to　be　informed；　it　was　to　be　a　family　meeting；　a　real　festivity；　and　I　started　with　a　light　and　joyous　heart。　　My　impatience　was　so　great；　that；　having　stopped　for　supper　at　a　village　inn　some　ten　leagues　from　Tours；　I　would　not　wait　till　the　next　morning　for　the　coach　which　went　that　way；　but　continued　the　journey　on　foot　and　walked　all　night。　　It　was　a　long　and　difficult　road；　but　happiness　redoubled　my　strength。　　About　an　hour　after　sunrise　I　saw　distinctly　the　smoke　and　the　village　roofs；　and　I　hurried　on　to　surprise　my　family　a　little　sooner。　　I　never　felt　more　active；　more　light…hearted　and　gay；　everything　seemed　to　smile　before　and　around　me。　　Turning　a　corner　of　the　hedge；　I　met　a　peasant　whom　I　recognised。　　All　at　once　it　seemed　as　if　a　veil　spread　over　my　sight；　all　my　hopes　and　joy　suddenly　vanished；　a　funereal　idea　took　possession　of　me；　and　I　said；　taking　the　hand　of　the　man；　who　had　not　yet　spoken

〃'My　mother　is　dead；　I　am　convinced　my　mother　is　dead！'

〃He　hung　down　his　head　and　answered

〃'She　is　to　be　buried　this　morning！'

〃Now　whence　came　this　revelation？　　I　had　seen　no　one；　spoken　to　no　one；　a　moment　before　I　had　no　idea　of　it！〃

Derues　made　a　gesture　of　surprise。　　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　put　his　hand　to　his　eyes；　and　said　to　the　cure

〃Your　presentiments　were　true；　mine；　happily；　are　unfounded。　　But　listen；　and　tell　me　if　in　the　state　of　anxiety　which　oppressed　me　I　had　not　good　reason　for　alarm　and　for　fearing　some　fatal　misfortune。〃

His　eyes　again　sought　Derues。　　〃Towards　the　middle　of　last　night　I　at　length　fell　asleep；　but；　interrupted　every　moment；　this　sleep　was　more　a　fatigue　than　a　rest；　I　seemed　to　hear　confused　noises　all　round　me。　　I　saw　brilliant　lights　which　dazzled　me；　and　then　sank　back　into　silence　and　darkness。　　Sometimes　I　heard　someone　weeping　near　my　bed；　again　plaintive　voices　called　to　me　out　of　the　darkness。　I　stretched　out　my　arms；　but　nothing　met　them；　I　fought　with　phantoms；　at　length　a　cold　hand　grasped　mine　and　led　me　rapidly　forward。　　Under　a　dark　and　damp　vault　a　woman　lay　on　the　ground；　bleeding；　inanimateit　was　my　wife！　　At　the　same　moment；　a　groan　made　me　look　round；　and　I　beheld　a　man　striking　my　son　with　a　dagger。　I　cried　out　and　awoke；　bathed　in　cold　perspiration；　panting　under　this　terrible　vision。　　I　was　obliged　to　get　up；　walk　about；　and　speak　aloud；　in　order　to　convince　myse