el dorado-第13节

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was　warmly　clad　in　a　rough　woollen　shirt　and　cloth　breeches；　with
coarse　grey　stockings　and　thick　shoes；　but　he　also　saw　that　the
clothes　were　indescribably　filthy；　as　were　the　child's　hands　and
face。　The　golden　curls；　among　which　a　young　and　queenly　mother　had
once　loved　to　pass　her　slender　perfumed　fingers；　now　hung
bedraggled；　greasy；　and　lank　round　the　little　face；　from　the　lines
of　which　every　trace　of　dignity　and　of　simplicity　had　long　since
been　erased。

There　was　no　look　of　the　martyr　about　this　child　now；　even　though；
mayhap；　his　small　back　had　often　smarted　under　his　vulgar　tutor's
rough　blows；　rather　did　the　pale　young　face　wear　the　air　of　sullen
indifference；　and　an　abject　desire　to　please；　which　would　have
appeared　heart…breaking　to　any　spectator　less　self…seeking　and
egotistic　than　was　this　Gascon　conspirator。

Madame　Simon　had　called　him　to　her　while　her　man　and　the　citizen
Heron　were　talking；　and　the　child　went　readily　enough；　without　any
sign　of　fear。　　She　took　the　corner　of　her　coarse　dirty　apron　in
her　hand；　and　wiped　the　boy's　mouth　and　face　with　it。

〃I　can't　keep　him　clean；〃　she　said　with　an　apologetic　shrug　of　the
shoulders　and　a　look　at　de　Batz。　　〃There　now；〃　she　added；　speaking
once　more　to　the　child；　〃drink　like　a　good　boy；　and　say　your
lesson　to　please　maman；　and　then　you　shall　go　to　bed。〃

She　took　a　glass　from　the　table；　which　was　filled　with　a　clear
liquid　that　de　Batz　at　first　took　to　be　water；　and　held　it　to　the
boy's　lips。　　He　turned　his　head　away　and　began　to　whimper。

〃Is　the　medicine　very　nasty？〃　queried　de　Batz。

〃Mon　Dieu！　but　no；　citizen；〃　exclaimed　the　woman；　〃it　is　good
strong　eau　de　vie；　the　best　that　can　be　procured。　　Capet　likes　it
reallydon't　you；　Capet？　　It　makes　you　happy　and　cheerful；　and
sleep　well　of　nights。　　Why；　you　had　a　glassful　yesterday　and
enjoyed　it。　　Take　it　now；〃　she　added　in　a　quick　whisper；　seeing
that　Simon　and　Heron　were　in　close　conversation　together；　〃you
know　it　makes　papa　angry　if　you　don't　have　at　least　half　a　glass
now　and　then。〃

The　child　wavered　for　a　moment　longer；　making　a　quaint　little
grimace　of　distaste。　　But　at　last　he　seemed　to　make　up　his　mind
that　it　was　wisest　to　yield　over　so　small　a　matter；　and　he　took
the　glass　from　Madame　Simon。

And　thus　did　de　Batz　see　the　descendant　of　St。　Louis　quaffing　a
glass　of　raw　spirit　at　the　bidding　of　a　rough　cobbler's　wife；　whom
he　called　by　the　fond　and　foolish　name　sacred　to　childhood；　maman！

Selfish　egoist　though　he　was；　de　Batz　turned　away　in　loathing。

Simon　had　watched　the　little　scene　with　obvious　satisfaction。　　He
chuckled　audibly　when　the　child　drank　the　spirit；　and　called
Heron's　attention　to　him；　whilst　a　look　of　triumph　lit　tip　his
wide；　pale　eyes。

〃And　now；　mon　petit；〃　he　said　jovially；　〃let　the　citizen　hear　you
say　your　prayers！〃

He　winked　toward　de　Batz；　evidently　anticipating　a　good　deal　of
enjoyment　for　the　visitor　from　what　was　coming。　　From　a　heap　of
litter　in　a　corner　of　the　room　he　fetched　out　a　greasy　red　bonnet
adorned　with　a　tricolour　cockade；　and　a　soiled　and　tattered　flag；
which　had　once　been　white；　and　had　golden　fleur…de…lys　embroidered
upon　it。

The　cap　he　set　on　the　child's　head；　and　the　flag　he　threw　upon　the
floor。

〃Now；　Capetyour　prayers！〃　he　said　with　another　chuckle　of　amusement。

All　his　movements　were　rough；　and　his　speech　almost　ostentatiously
coarse。　　He　banged　against　the　furniture　as　he　moved　about　the
room；　kicking　a　footstool　out　of　the　way　or　knocking　over　a　chair。
De　Batz　instinctively　thought　of　the　perfumed　stillness　of　the
rooms　at　Versailles；　of　the　army　of　elegant　high…born　ladies　who
had　ministered　to　the　wants　of　this　child；　who　stood　there　now
before　him；　a　cap　on　his　yellow　hair；　and　his　shoulder　held　up　to
his　ear　with　that　gesture　of　careless　indifference　peculiar　to
children　when　they　are　sullen　or　uncared　for。

Obediently；　quite　mechanically　it　seemed；　the　boy　trod　on　the　flag
which　Henri　IV　had　borne　before　him　at　Ivry；　and　le　Roi　Soleil　had
flaunted　in　the　face　of　the　armies　of　Europe。　　The　son　of　the
Bourbons　was　spitting　on　their　flag；　and　wiping　his　shoes　upon　its
tattered　folds。　　With　shrill　cracked　voice　he　sang　the　Carmagnole；
〃Ca　ira！　ca　ira！　les　aristos　a　la　lanterne！〃　until　de　Batz　himself
felt　inclined　to　stop　his　ears　and　to　rush　from　the　place　in
horror。

Louis　XVII；　whom　the　hearts　of　many　had　proclaimed　King　of　France
by　the　grace　of　God；　the　child　of　the　Bourbons；　the　eldest　son　of
the　Church；　was　stepping　a　vulgar　dance　over　the　flag　of　St。　Louis；
which　he　had　been　taught　to　defile。　　His　pale　cheeks　glowed　as　he
danced；　his　eyes　shone　with　the　unnatural　light　kindled　in　them　by
the　intoxicating　liquor；　with　one　slender　hand　he　waved　the　red　cap
with　the　tricolour　cockade；　and　shouted　〃Vive　la　Republique！〃

Madame　Simon　was　clapping　her　hands；　looking　on　the　child　with
obvious　pride；　and　a　kind　of　rough　maternal　affection。　　Simon　was
gazing　on　Heron　for　approval；　and　the　latter　nodded　his　bead；
murmuring　words　of　encouragement　and　of　praise。

〃Thy　catechism　now；　Capetthy　catechism；〃　shouted　Simon　in　a
hoarse　voice。

The　boy　stood　at　attention；　cap　on　head；　hands　on　his　hips；　legs
wide　apart；　and　feet　firmly　planted　on　the　fleur…de…lys；　the　glory
of　his　forefathers。

〃Thy　name？〃　queried　Simon。

〃Louis　Capet；〃　replied　the　child　in　a　clear；　high…pitched　voice。

〃What　art　thou？〃

〃A　citizen　of　the　Republic　of　France。〃

〃What　was　thy　father？〃

〃Louis　Capet；　ci…devant　king；　a　tyrant　who　perished　by　the　will　of
the　people！〃

〃What　was　thy　mother？〃

〃A　〃

De　Batz　involuntarily　uttered　a　cry　of　horror。　　Whatever　the　man's
private　character　was；　he　had　been　born　a　gentleman；　and　his　every
instinct　revolted　against　what　he　saw　and　heard。　　The　scene　had
positively　sickened　him。　He　turned　precipitately　towards　the　door。

〃How　now；　citizen？〃　queried　the　Committee's　agent　with　a　sneer。
〃Are　you　not　satisfied　with　what　you　see？〃

〃Mayhap　the　citizen　would　like　to　see　Capet　sitting　in　a　golden
chair；〃　interposed　Simon　the　cobbler　with　a　sneer；　〃and　me　and　my
wife　kneeling　and　kissing　his　handwhat？〃

〃'Tis　the　heat　of　the　room；〃　stammered　de　Batz；　who　was　fumbling
with　the　lock　of　the　door；　〃my　head　began　to　swim。〃

〃Spit　on　their　accursed　flag；　then；　like　a　good　patriot；　like
Capet；〃　retorted　Simon　gruffly。　　〃Here；　Capet；　my　son；〃　he　added；
pulling　the　boy　by　the　arm　with　a　rough　gesture；　〃get　thee　to　bed；
thou　art　quite　drunk　enough　to　satisfy　any　good　Republican。〃

By　way　of　a　caress　he　tweaked　the　boy's　ear　and　gave　him　a　prod　in
the　back　with　his　bent　knee。　　He　was　not　wilfully　unkind；　for　just
now　he　was　not　angry　with　the　lad；　rather　was　he　vastly　amused
with　the　effect　Capet's　prayer　and　Capet's　recital　of　his
catechism　had　had　on　the　visitor。

As　to　the　lad；　the　intensity　of　excitement　in　him　was　immediately
followed　by　an　overwhelming　desire　for　sleep。　Without　any
preliminary　of　undressing　or　of　washing；　he　tumbled；　just　as　he
was；　on　to　the　sofa。　　Madame　Simon；　with　quite　pleasing
solicitude；　arranged　a　pillow　under　his　head；　and　the　very　next
moment　the　child　was　fast　asleep。

〃'Tis　well；　citoyen　Simon；〃　said　Heron　in　his　turn；　going　towards
the　door。　　〃I'll　report　favourably　on　you　to　the　Committee　of
Public　Security。　　As　for　the　citoyenne；　she　had　best　be　more
careful；〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　woman　Simon　with　a　snarl　on　his
evil　face。　　〃There　was　no　cause　to　arrange　a　pillow　under　the　head
of　that　vermin's　spawn。　Many　good　patriots　have　no　pillows　to　put
under　their　heads。　　Take　that　pillow　away；　and　I　don't　like　the
shoes　on　the　brat's　feet；　sabots　are　quite　good　enough。〃

Citoyenne　Simon　made　no　reply。　　Some　sort　of　retort　had　apparently
hovered　on　her　lips；　but　had　been　checked；　even　before　it　was
uttered；　by　a　peremptory　look　from　her　husband。　　Simon　the
cobbler；　snarling　in　speech　but　obsequious　in　manner；　prepared　to
accompany　the　citizen　agent　to　the　door。

De　Batz　was　taking　a　last　look　at　the　sleeping　child；　the
uncrowned　King　of　France　was　wrapped　in　a　drunken　sleep；　with　the
last　spoken　insult　upon　his　dead　mother　still　hovering　on　his
childish　lips。



CHAPTER　VIII
ARCADES　AMBO

〃That　is　the　way　we　conduct　our　affairs；　citizen；〃　said　Heron
gruffly；　as　he　once　more　led　his　guest　back　into　his　office。

It　was　his　turn　to　be　complacent　now。　　De　Batz；　for　once　in　his
life　cowed　by　what　he　had　seen；　still　wore　a　look　of　horror　and
disgust　upon　his　florid　face。

〃What　devils　you　all　are！〃　he　said　at　last。

〃We　are　good　patriots；〃　retorted　Heron；　〃and　the　tyrant's　spawn
leads　but　the　life　that　hundreds　of　thousands　of　children　led
whilst　his　father　oppressed　the　people。　　Nay！　what　am　I　saying？
He　leads　a　far　better；　far　happier　life。　He　gets　plenty　to　eat　and
plenty　of　warm　clothes。　　Thousands　of　innocent　children；　who　have
not　the　crimes　of　a　despot　father　upon　their　conscience；　have　to
starve　whilst　he　grows　fat。〃

The　leer　in　his　face　was　so　evil　that　once　more　de　Batz　felt　that
eerie　feeling　of　terror　creeping　into　his　bones。　　Here　were
cruelty　and　bloodthirsty　ferocity　personified　to　their　utmost
extent。　　At　thought　of　the　Bourbons；　or