la constantin-第1章

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La　Constantin

by　Alexandre　Dumas；　Pere







CHAPTER　I


Before　beginning　our　story；　we　must　warn　the　reader　that　it　will　not　be　worth　his　while　to　make　researches　among　contemporary　or　other　records　as　to　the　personage　whose　name　it　bears。　　For　in　truth　neither　Marie　Leroux；　widow　of　Jacques　Constantin；　nor　her　accomplice；　Claude　Perregaud；　was　of　sufficient　importance　to　find　a　place　on　any　list　of　great　criminals；　although　it　is　certain　that　they　were　guilty　of　the　crimes　with　which　they　were　charged。　　It　may　seem　strange　that　what　follows　is　more　a　history　of　the　retribution　which　overtook　the　criminals　than　a　circumstantial　description　of　the　deeds　for　which　they　were　punished；　but　the　crimes　were　so　revolting；　and　so　unsuitable　for　discussion；　that　it　was　impossible　for　us　to　enter　into　any　details　on　the　subject；　so　that　what　we　offer　in　these　pages　is；　we　confess　quite　openly；　not　a　full；　true；　and　particular　account　of　a　certain　series　of　events　leading　up　to　a　certain　result；　it　is　not　even　a　picture　wherein　that　result　is　depicted　with　artistic　completeness；　it　is　only　an　imperfect　narrative　imperfectly　rounded　off。　　We　feel　sure；　however；　that　the　healthy…minded　reader　will　be　grateful　for　our　reticence　and　total　disregard　of　proportion。　In　spite　of　the　disadvantage　which　such　a　theme　imposes　on　any　writer　with　a　deep　sense　of　responsibility；　we　have　resolved　to　let　in　some　light　on　these　obscure　figures；　for　we　can　imagine　no　more　effective　way　of　throwing　into　high　relief　the　low　morals　and　deep　corruption　into　which　all　classes　of　society　had　sunk　at　the　termination　of　the　factious　dissensions　of　the　Fronde；　which　formed　such　a　fitting　prelude　to　the　licence　of　the　reign　of　the　grand　roi。

After　this　explanation；　we　shall；　without　further　preamble；　introduce　the　reader　to　a　little　tavern　in　Paris；　situated　in　the　rue　Saint…Andre…des…Arts；　on　an　evening　in　November　1658。

It　was　about　seven　o'clock。　　Three　gentlemen　were　seated　at　one　of　the　tables　in　a　low；　smoky　room。　　They　had　already　emptied　several　bottles；　and　one　of　them　seemed　to　have　just　suggested　some　madcap　scheme　to　the　others；　the　thought　of　which　sent　them　off　into　shouts　of　laughter。

〃Pardu！〃　said　one　of　them；　who　was　the　first　to　recover　his　breath；　〃　I　must　say　it　would　be　an　excellent　trick。〃

〃Splendid！〃　said　another；　〃and　if　you　like；　Commander　de　Jars；　we　can　try　it　this　very　evening。〃

〃All　right；　my　worthy　king's　treasurer；　provided　my　pretty　nephew　here　won't　be　too　much　shocked；〃　and　as　he　spoke　de　Jars　gave　to　the　youngest　of　the　three　a　caressing　touch　on　the　cheek　with　the　back　of　his　hand。

〃That　reminds　me；　de　Jars！〃　said　the　treasurer；　〃that　word　you　have　just　said　piques　my　curiosity。　　For　some　months　now　this　little　fellow　here；　Chevalier　de　Moranges；　follows　you　about　everywhere　like　your　shadow。　　You　never　told　us　you　had　a　nephew。　　Where　the　devil　did　you　get　him？〃

The　commander　touched　the　chevalier's　knee　under　the　table；　and　he；　as　if　to　avoid　speaking；　slowly　filled　and　emptied　his　glass。

〃Look　here；〃　said　the　treasurer；　〃do　you　want　to　hear　a　few　plain　words；　such　as　I　shall　rap　out　when　God　takes　me　to　task　about　the　peccadilloes　of　my　past　life？　　I　don't　believe　a　word　about　the　relationship。　　A　nephew　must　be　the　son　of　either　a　brother　or　a　sister。　　Now；　your　only　sister　is　an　abbess；　and　your　late　brother's　marriage　was　childless。　　There　is　only　one　way　of　proving　the　relationship；　and　that　is　to　confess　that　when　your　brother　was　young　and　wild　he　and　Love　met；　or　else　Madame　l'Abbesse。〃

〃Take　care；　Treasurer　Jeannin！　　no　slander　against　my　sister！〃

〃　Well；　then；　explain；　you　can't　fool　me！　　May　I　be　hanged　if　I　leave　this　place　before　I　have　dragged　the　secret　out　of　you！　　Either　we　are　friends　or　we　are　not。　　What　you　tell　no　one　else　you　ought　to　tell　me。　　What！　would　you　make　use　of　my　purse　and　my　sword　on　occasion　and　yet　have　secrets　from　me？　　It's　too　bad：　speak；　or　our　friendship　is　at　an　end！　　I　give　you　fair　warning　that　I　shall　find　out　everything　and　publish　it　abroad　to　court　and　city：　when　I　strike　a　trail　there's　no　turning　me　aside。　　It　will　be　best　for　you　to　whisper　your　secret　voluntarily　into　my　ear；　where　it　will　be　as　safe　as　in　the　grave。〃

〃How　full　of　curiosity　you　are；　my　good　friend！〃　said　de　Jars；　leaning　one　elbow　on　the　table；　and　twirling　the　points　of　his　moustache　with　his　hand；　〃but　if　I　were　to　wrap　my　secret　round　the　point　of　a　dagger　would　you　not　be　too　much　afraid　of　pricking　your　fingers　to　pull　it　off？〃

〃Not　I；〃　said　the　king's　treasurer；　beginning　to　twirl　his　moustache　also：　〃the　doctors　have　always　told　me　that　I　am　of　too　full　a　complexion　and　that　it　would　do　me　all　the　good　in　the　world　to　be　bled　now　and　then。　　But　what　would　be　an　advantage　to　me　would　be　dangerous　to　you。　　It's　easy　to　see　from　your　jaundiced　phiz　that　for　you　blood…letting　is　no　cure。〃

〃And　you　would　really　go　that　length？　　You　would　risk　a　duel　if　I　refused　to　let　you　get　to　the　bottom　of　my　mystery？〃

〃Yes；　on　my　honour！　　Well；　how　is　it　to　be？〃

〃My　dear　boy；〃　said　de　Jars　to　the　youth；　〃we　are　caught；　and　may　as　well　yield　gracefully。　　You　don't　know　this　big　fellow　as　well　as　I　do。　　He's　obstinacy　itself。　　You　can　make　the　most　obstinate　donkey　go　on　by　pulling　its　tail　hard　enough；　but　when　Jeannin　gets　a　notion　into　his　pate；　not　all　the　legions　of　hell　can　get　it　out　again。　Besides　that；　he's　a　skilful　fencer；　so　there's　nothing　for　it　but　to　trust　him。〃

〃Just　as　you　like；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃you　know　all　my　circumstances　and　how　important　it　is　that　my　secret　should　be　kept。〃

〃Oh！　among　Jeannin's　many　vices　there　are　a　few　virtues；　and　of　these　discretion　is　the　greatest；　so　that　his　curiosity　is　harmless。　　A　quarter　of　an　hour　hence　he　will　let　himself　be　killed　rather　than　reveal　what　just　now　he　is　ready　to　risk　his　skin　to　find　out；　whether　we　will　or　no。〃

Jeannin　nodded　approvingly；　refilled　the　glasses；　and　raising　his　to　his　lips；　said　in　a　tone　of　triumph

〃I　am　listening；　commander。〃

〃Well；　if　it　must　be；　it　must。　　First　of　all；　learn　that　my　nephew　is　not　my　nephew　at　all。〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃That　his　name　is　not　Moranges。〃

〃And　the　next？〃

〃I　am　not　going　to　reveal　his　real　name　to　you。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　I　don't　know　ft　myself；　and　no　more　does　the　chevalier。〃

〃What'　nonsense！〃

〃No　nonsense　at　all；　but　the　sober　truth。　　A　few　months　ago　the　chevalier　carne　to　Paris；　bringing　me　a　letter　of　introduction　from　a　German　whom　I　used　to　know　years　ago。　　This　letter　requested　me　to　look　after　the　bearer　and　help　him　in　his　investigations。　　As　you　said　just　now；　Love　and　someone　once　met　somewhere；　and　that　was　about　all　was　known　as　to　his　origin。　　Naturally　the　young　man　wants　to　cut　a　figure　in　the　world；　and　would　like　to　discover　the　author　of　his　existence；　that　he　may　have　someone　at　hand　to　pay　the　debts　he　is　going　to　incur。　　We　have　brought　together　every　scrap　of　information　we　could　collect　as　to　this　person；　hoping　to　find　therein　a　clue　that　we　could　follow　up。　　To　be　quite　open　with　you；　and　convince　you　at　the　same　time　how　extremely　prudent　and　discreet　we　must　be；　I　must　tell　you　that　we　think　we　have　found　one；　and　that　it　leads　to　no　less　a　dignitary　than　a　Prince　of　the　Church。　　But　if　he　should　get　wind　of　our　researches　too　soon　everything　would　be　at　an　end；　don't　you　see？　　So　keep　your　tongue　between　your　teeth。〃

〃Never　fear；〃　said　Jeannin。

〃Now；　that's　what　I　call　speaking　out　as　a　friend　should。　　I　wish　you　luck；　my　gallant　Chevalier　de　Moranges；　and　until　you　unearth　your　father；　if　you　want　a　little　money；　my　purse　is　at　your　service。　　On　my　word；　de　Jars；　you　must　have　been　born　with　a　caul。　　There　never　was　your　equal　for　wonderful　adventures。　　This　one　promises　well…spicy　intrigues；　scandalous　revelations；　and　you'll　be　in　the　thick　of　it　all。　　You're　a　lucky　fellow！　　It's　only　a　few　months　since　you　had　the　most　splendid　piece　of　good　fortune　sent　you　straight　from　heaven。　　A　fair　lady　falls　in　love　with　you　and　makes　you　carry　her　off　from　the　convent　of　La　Raquette。　　But　why　do　you　never　let　anyone　catch　a　glimpse　of　her？　　Are　you　jealous？　　Or　is　it　that　she　is　no　such　beauty；　after　all；　but　old　and　wrinkled；　like　that　knave　of　a　Mazarin？〃

〃I　know　what　I'm　about；〃　answered　de　jars；　smiling；　〃　I　have　my　very　good　reasons。　　The　elopement　caused　a　great　deal　of　indignation；　and　it's　not　easy　to　get　fanatics　to　listen　to　common　sense。　　No；　I　am　not　in　the　least　jealous；　she　is　madly　in　love　with　me。　　Ask　my　nephew。〃

〃Does　he　know　her？　　〃

〃We　have　no　secrets　from　each　other；　the　confidence　between　us　is　without　a　flaw。　　The　fair　one；　believe　me；　is　good　to　look　on；　and　is　worth　all　the　ogling；　fan…flirting　baggages　put　together　that　one　sees　at　court　or　on　the　balconies　of　the　Palais　Roy：　ah！　I'll　answer　for　that。　　Isn't　she；　Moranges？〃

〃I'm　quite　of　your　opinion；〃　said　the　youth；　exchanging　with　de　jars　a　singularly　significant　look；　〃and　you　had　better　treat　her　well；　uncle；　or　I　shall　play　you　some　trick。〃

〃Ah！　　ah！〃　cried　Jeannin。　　〃You　poor　fellow！　　I　very　much　fear　that　you　are　warming　a　little　serpent　in　your　bosom。　　Have　an　eye　to　this　dandy　with　the　beardless　chin！　　But　joking　apart；　my　boy；　are　you　really　on　good　terms　with　the　fair　lady？〃

〃Certainly　I　am。〃

〃And　you　are　not　uneasy；　commander？〃

〃　Not　the　least　little　bit。〃

〃He　is　quite　right。　I　answer　for　her　as　for　my　self；　you　know；　as　long　as　he　loves　her　she　will　love　him；　as　long　as　he　is　faithful　she　will　be　faithful。　　Do　you　imagine　that　a　woman　who　insists　on　her　lover　carrying　her　off　can　so　easily　turn　away　from　the　man　of　her　choice？　　I　know　her　well；　I　have　had　long　talks　with　her；　she　and　I　alone：　she　is　feather…brained；　given　to　pleasure；　entirely　without　prejudices　and　those　stupid　scruples　which　spoil　the　lives　of　other　women；　but　a　good　sort　on　the　whole；　devoted　to　my　uncle；　with　no　deception　about　her；　but　at　the　same　time　extremely　jealous；　and　has　no　notion　of　letting　herself　be　sacrificed　to　a　rival。　　If　ever　she　finds　herself　deceived；　good…bye　to　prudence　and　reserve；　and　then〃

A　look　and　a　touch　of　the　commander's　knee　cut　this　panegyric　short；　to　which　the　treasurer　was　listening　with　open…eyed　astonishment。

〃What　enthusiasm！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Well；　and　then〃

〃Why；　then；〃　went　on　the　young　man；　with　a　laugh；　〃if　my　uncle　behaves　badly；　I；　his　nephew；　will　try　to　make　up　for　his　wrong…doing：　he　can't　blame　me　then。　　But　until　then　he　may　be　quite　easy；　as　he　well　knows。〃

〃Oh　yes；　and　in　proof　of　that　I　am　going　to　take　Moranges　with　me　to…night。　　He　is　young　and　inexperienced；　and　it　will　be　a　good　lesson　for　him　to　see　how　a　gallant　whose　amorous　intrigues　did　not　begin　yesterday　sets　about　getting　even　with　a　coquette。　　He　can　turn　it　to　account　later　on。

〃On　my　word；〃　said　Jeannin；　〃my　notion　is　that　he　is　in　no　great　need　of　a　teacher；　however；　that's　your　business；　not　mine。　　Let　us　return　to　what　we　were　talking　about　just　now。　　Are　we　agreed；　and　shall　we　amuse　ourselves　by　paying　out　the　lady　in；　her　own　coin？〃

〃If　you　like。〃

〃Which　of　us　is　to　begin？〃

De　Jars　struck　the　table　with　the　handle　of　his　dagger。

〃More　wine；　gentlemen？〃　said