an historical mystery-第8部分

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after　we　sign　the　deed　of　sale　before　Grevin〃　Violette　stared　at
Michu　and　grew　livid。　〃Ah！　you　came　here　to　spy　upon　a　Jacobin　who　had
the　honor　to　be　president　of　the　club　at　Arcis；　and　you　imagine　he
will　let　you　get　the　better　of　him！　I　have　eyes；　I　saw　where　your
tiles　have　been　freshly　cemented；　and　I　concluded　that　you　did　not　pry
them　up　to　plant　wheat　there。　Come；　drink。〃

Violette；　much　troubled；　drank　a　large　glass　of　wine　without　noticing
the　quality；　terror　had　put　a　hot　iron　in　his　stomach；　the　brandy　was
not　hotter　than　his　cupidity。　He　would　have　given　many　things　to　be
safely　home　and　able　to　change　the　hiding…place　of　his　treasure。　The
three　women　smiled。

〃Do　you　like　that　wine？〃　said　Michu；　refilling　his　glass。

〃Yes；　I　do。〃

After　a　good　half…hour's　decision　on　the　time　when　the　buyer　might
take　possession；　and　on　the　various　punctilios　which　the　peasantry
bring　forward　when　concluding　a　bargain；in　the　midst　of　assertions
and　counter…assertions；　the　filling　and　emptying　of　glasses；　the
giving　of　promises　and　denials；　Violette　suddenly　fell　forward　with
his　head　on　the　table；　not　tipsy；　but　dead…drunk。　The　instant　that
Michu　saw　his　eyes　blur　he　opened　the　window。

〃Where's　that　scamp；　Gaucher？〃　he　said　to　his　wife。

〃In　bed。〃

〃You；　Marianne；〃　said　the　bailiff　to　his　faithful　servant；　〃stand　in
front　of　his　door　and　watch　him。　You；　mother；　stay　down　here；　and　keep
an　eye　on　this　spy；　keep　your　eyes　and　ears　open　and　don't　unfasten
the　door　to　any　one　but　Francois。　It　is　a　question　of　life　or　death；〃
he　added；　in　a　deep　voice。　〃Every　creature　beneath　my　roof　must
remember　that　I　have　not　quitted　it　this　night；　all　of　you　must　assert
thateven　though　your　heads　were　on　the　block。　Come；〃　he　said　to
Marthe；　〃come；　wife；　put　on　your　shoes；　take　your　coat；　and　let　us　be
off！　No　questionsI　go　with　you。〃

For　the　last　three　quarters　of　an　hour　the　man's　demeanor　and　glance
were　of　despotic　authority；　all…powerful；　irresistible；　drawn　from　the
same　mysterious　source　from　which　great　generals　on　fields　of　battle
who　inflame　an　army；　great　orators　inspiring　vast　audiences；　and　（it
must　be　said）　great　criminals　perpetrating　bold　crimes　derive　their
inspiration。　At　such　times　invincible　influence　seems　to　exhale　from
the　head　and　issue　from　the　tongue；　the　gesture　even　can　inject　the
will　of　the　one　man　into　others。　The　three　women　knew　that　some
dreadful　crisis　was　at　hand；　without　warning　of　its　nature　they　felt
it　in　the　rapid　actions　of　the　man；　whose　countenance　shone；　whose
forehead　spoke；　whose　brilliant　eyes　glittered　like　stars；　they　saw　it
in　the　sweat　that　covered　his　brow　to　the　roots　of　his　hair；　while
more　than　once　his　voice　vibrated　with　impatience　and　fury。　Marthe
obeyed　passively。　Armed　to　the　teeth　and　with　his　gun　over　his
shoulder　Michu　dashed　into　the　avenue；　followed　by　his　wife。　They　soon
reached　the　cross…roads　where　Francois　was　in　waiting　hidden　among　the
bushes。

〃The　boy　is　intelligent；〃　said　Michu；　when　he　caught　sight　of　him。

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　o