the two brothers-第51节
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Hochon how grieved I am at this affair; in which; however; I have
had no hand;it is the result of some chance which; as yet; I do
not understand。〃
When the note reached Madame Bridau; she was suffering from a nervous
attack; and the potions which Monsieur Goddet was trying to make her
swallow were powerless to soothe her。 The reading of the letter acted
like balm; after a few quiverings; Agathe subsided into the depression
which always follows such attacks。 Later; when Monsieur Goddet
returned to his patient he found her regretting that she had ever
quitted Paris。
〃Well;〃 said Madame Hochon to Monsieur Goddet; 〃how is Monsieur
Gilet?〃
〃His wound; though serious; is not mortal;〃 replied the doctor。 〃With
a month's nursing he will be all right。 I left him writing to Monsieur
Mouilleron to request him to set your son at liberty; madame;〃 he
added; turning to Agathe。 〃Oh! Max is a fine fellow。 I told him what a
state you were in; and he then remembered a circumstance which goes to
prove that the assassin was not your son; the man wore list shoes;
whereas it is certain that Monsieur Joseph left the house in his
boots〃
〃Ah! God forgive him the harm he has done me〃
The fact was; a man had left a note for Max; after dark; written in
type…letters; which ran as follows:
〃Captain Gilet ought not to let an innocent man suffer。 He who
struck the blow promises not to strike again if Monsieur Gilet
will have Monsieur Joseph Bridau set at liberty; without naming
the man who did it。〃
After reading this letter and burning it; Max wrote to Monsieur
Mouilleron stating the circumstance of the list shoes; as reported by
Monsieur Goddet; begging him to set Joseph at liberty; and to come and
see him that he might explain the matter more at length。
By the time this letter was received; Monsieur Lousteau…Prangin had
verified; by the testimony of the bell…ringer; the market…women and
washerwomen; and the miller's men; the truth of Joseph's explanation。
Max's letter made his innocence only the more certain; and Monsieur
Mouilleron himself escorted him back to the Hochons'。 Joseph was
greeted with such overflowing tenderness by his mother that the poor
misunderstood son gave thanks to ill…lucklike the husband to the
thief; in La Fontaine's fablefor a mishap which brought him such
proofs of affection。
〃Oh;〃 said Monsieur Mouilleron; with a self…satisfied air; 〃I knew at
once by the way you looked at the angry crowd that you were innocent;
but whatever I may have thought; any one who knows Issoudun must also
know that the only way to protect you was to make the arrest as we
did。 Ah! you carried your head high。〃
〃I was thinking of something else;〃 said the artist simply。 〃An
officer in the army told me that he was once stopped in Dalmatia under
similar circumstances by an excited populace; in the early morning as
he was returning from a walk。 This recollection came into my mind; and
I looked at all those heads with the idea of painting a revolt of the
year 1793。 Besides; I kept saying to myself: Blackguard that I am! I
have only got my deserts for coming here to look after an inheritance;
instead of painting in my studio。〃
〃If you will allow me to offer you a piece of advice;〃 said the
procureur du roi; 〃you will take a carriage to…night; which the
postmaster will lend you; and return to Paris by the diligence from
Bourges。〃
〃That is my advice also;〃 said Monsieur Hochon; who was burning with a
desire for the departure of his guests。
〃My most earnest wish is to get away from Issoudun; though I leave my
only friend here;〃 said Agathe; kissing Madame Hochon's hand。 〃When
shall I see you again?〃
〃Ah! my dear; never until we meet above。 We have suffered enough here
below;〃 she added in a low voice; 〃for God to take pity upon us。〃
Shortly after; while Monsieur Mouilleron had gone across the way to
talk with Max; Gritte greatly astonished Monsieur and Madame Hochon;
Agathe; Joseph; and Adolphine by announcing the visit of Monsieur
Rouget。 Jean…Jacques came to bid his sister good…by; and to offer her
his caleche for the drive to Bourges。
〃Ah! your pictures have been a great evil to us;〃 said Agathe。
〃Keep them; my sister;〃 said the old man; who did not even now believe
in their value。
〃Neighbor;〃 remarked Monsieur Hochon; 〃our best friends; our surest
defenders; are our own relations; above all; when they are such as
your sister Agathe; and your nephew Joseph。〃
〃Perhaps so;〃 said old Rouget in his dull way。
〃We ought all to think of ending our days in a Christian manner;〃 said
Madame Hochon。
〃Ah! Jean…Jacques;〃 said Agathe; 〃what a day this has been!〃
〃Will you accept my carriage?〃 asked Rouget。
〃No; brother;〃 answered Madame Bridau; 〃I thank you; and wish you
health and comfort。〃
Rouget let his sister and nephew kiss him; and then he went away
without manifesting any feeling himself。 Baruch; at a hint from his
grandfather; had been to see the postmaster。 At eleven o'clock that
night; the two Parisians; ensconced in a wicker cabriolet drawn by one
horse and ridden by a postilion; quitted Issoudun。 Adolphine and
Madame Hochon parted from them with tears in their eyes; they alone
regretted Joseph and Agathe。
〃They are gone!〃 said Francois Hochon; going; with the Rabouilleuse;
into Max's bedroom。
〃Well done! the trick succeeded;〃 answered Max; who was now tired and
feverish。
〃But what did you say to old Mouilleron?〃 asked Francois。
〃I told him that I had given my assassin some cause to waylay me; that
he was a dangerous man and likely; if I followed up the affair; to
kill me like a dog before he could be captured。 Consequently; I begged
Mouilleron and Prangin to make the most active search ostensibly; but
really to let the assassin go in peace; unless they wished to see me a
dead man。〃
〃I do hope; Max;〃 said Flore; 〃that you will be quiet at night for
some time to come。〃
〃At any rate; we are delivered from the Parisians!〃 cried Max。 〃The
fellow who stabbed me had no idea what a service he was doing us。〃
The next day; the departure of the Parisians was celebrated as a
victory of the provinces over Paris by every one in Issoudun; except
the more sober and staid inhabitants; who shared the opinions of
Monsieur and Madame Hochon。 A few of Max's friends spoke very harshly
of the Bridaus。
〃Do those Parisians fancy we are all idiots;〃 cried one; 〃and think
they have only got to hold their hats and catch legacies?〃
〃They came to fleece; but they have got shorn themselves;〃 said
another; 〃the nephew is not to the uncle's taste。〃
〃And; if you please; they actually consulted a lawyer in Paris〃
〃Ah! had they really a plan?〃
〃Why; of course;a plan to get possession of old Rouget。 But the
Parisians were not clever enough; that lawyer can't crow over us
Berrichons!〃
〃How abominable!〃
〃That's Paris for you!〃
〃The Rabouilleuse knew they came to attack her; and she defended
herself。〃
〃She did gloriously right!〃
To the townspeople at large the Bridaus were Parisians and foreigners;
they preferred Max and Flore。
We can imagine the satisfaction with which; after this campaign;
Joseph and Agathe re…entered their little lodging in the rue Mazarin。
On the journey; the artist recovered his spirits; which had; not
unnaturally; been put to flight by his arrest and twenty…four hours'
confinement; but he could not cheer up his mother。 The Court of Peers
was about to begin the trial of the military conspirators; and that
was sufficient to keep Agathe from recovering her peace of mind。
Philippe's conduct; in spite of the clever defender whom Desroches
recommended to him; roused suspicions that were unfavorable to his
character。 In view of this; Joseph; as soon as he had put Desroches in
possession of all that was going on at Issoudun; started with
Mistigris for the chateau of the Comte de Serizy; to escape hearing
about the trial of the conspirators; which lasted for twenty days。
It is useless to record facts that may be found in contemporaneous
histories。 Whether it were that he played a part previously agreed
upon; or that he was really an informer; Philippe was condemned to
five years' surveillance by the police department; and ordered to
leave Paris the same day for Autun; the town which the director…
general of police selected as the place of his exile for five years。
This punishment resembled the detention of prisoners on parole who
have a town for a prison。 Learning that the Comte de Serizy; one of
the peers appointed by the Chamber on the court…martial; was employing
Joseph to decorate his chateau at Presles; Desroches begged the
minister to grant him an audience; and found Monsieur de Serizy most
amiably disposed toward Joseph; with whom he had happened to make
personal acqua