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第101节

marie antoinette and her son-第101节

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doctor's arm with both hands; 〃that is a foul; damnable calumny;
that you have thought out merely to bring me under the axe。 I have
nothing to be sorry for; and my conscience fills me with no
reproaches。〃

〃And yet it is gnawing into you with iron teeth; which have been
heated blood…red in the fires of hell;〃 said the doctor; with a
compassionate look at the pale; quivering face of the woman。 〃Do not
raise any quarrel; but quietly listen to me。 We have an hour's time
to talk together; and we want to use it。 But let us speak softly;
softly; together; for what we have to say to each other the deaf
walls themselves ought not to hear。〃

Simon had not returned from the platform with the boy; when Doctor
Naudin ended his long and earnest conversation; and prepared to
leave his patient; who was now quietly lying in her bed。

〃You know every thing now that you have to do;〃 he said; extending
his hand to her。 〃You can reckon on me as I reckon on you; and we
will both go bravely and cheerfully on。 It is a noble work that we
have undertaken; and if it succeeds your heart will be light again;
and God will forgive you your sins; for two martyrs will stand and
plead in your behalf at the throne of God! Now; do every thing
exactly as I have told you; and speak with your husband to…night;
but not sooner; that you may be safe; and for fear that in his first
panic his face would betray him。〃

〃I shall do every thing just as you wish;〃 said Jeanne Marie; who
had suddenly become humble and bashful; apparently entirely
forgetful of the republican 〃thou。〃 〃It seems to me; now that I have
disburdened my heart to you; that I have become well and strong
again; and certainly I shall owe it to you if I do live and get my
health once more。 But shall you come again to…morrow; doctor?〃

〃No;〃 he replied; 〃I will send a man to…morrow who understands
better than I do how to continue this matter; and to whom you can
give unconditional confidence。 He will announce himself to you as my
assistant; and you can talk over at length every thing that we have
been speaking of。 Hush! I hear Simon coming! Farewell!〃

He nodded to Jeanne Marie; and hastily left the room。 Outside; in
the corridor; he met Simon and his silent young ward。

〃Well; citizen doctor;〃 asked Simon; 〃how is it with our sick one?
She has intrusted all her secrets to you; and they must have made a
long story; for you have been a whole hour together。 It is fortunate
that you are an old man; or else I should have been jealous of your
long tete…a…tete with my wife。〃

〃Then you would be a great fool; and I have always held you to be a
prudent and good man。 But; as concerns your wife; I must tell you
something very serious; and I beg you; Citizen Simon; to mark my
words well。 I tell you this: unless your wife Jeanne Marie is out of
this Temple in less than a week; and enjoys her freedom; she will
either lose her senses or take her life。 I will say to you this;
besides: if Citizen Simon does not; as soon as possible; leave this
cursed place and give up his hateful business; it will be the same
with him as with his wife。 He will not become insane; but he will
lapse into melancholy; and if he does not take his own life
consumption will take it for him; the result of his idle; listless
life; the many vexations here; and the wretched atmosphere of the
Temple。〃

〃Consumption!〃 cried Simon; horrified。 〃Do you suppose I am exposed
to that?〃

〃You have it already;〃 said the doctor; solemnly。 〃Those red spots
on your cheeks; and the pain which you have so often in the breast;
announce its approach。 I tell you that if you do not take measures
to leave the Temple in a week; in three months you will be a dead
man; without giving the guillotine a chance at you。 Good…by!
Consider well what I say; citizen; and then do as you like!〃

〃He is right;〃 muttered Simon; as he looked after the doctor with a
horrified look; as Naudin descended the staircase; 〃yes; I see; he
is right。 If I have to stay here any longer; I shall die。 The
vexations and the loneliness; andsomething still more dreadful;
frightful; that I can tell no one of…have made me sick; and the
stitch in my side will grow worse and worse every day; andI must
and will get away from here;〃 he said aloud; and with a decided air。
〃I will not die yet; neither shall Jeanne Marie。 To…morrow I will
hand in my resignation; and then be away!〃

While Simon was walking slowly and thoughtfully toward his wife;
Doctor Naudin left the dark building; went with a light heart out
into the street; and returned with a quick step to the Hotel Dieu。
The porter who opened the door for him; reported to him that during
his absence the same old gentleman who had come the day before to
consult him; had returned and was waiting for him in the anteroom。

Doctor Naudin nodded; and then walked; quickly toward his own
apartments。 Before the door he found his servant。

〃Old Doctor Saunier is here again;〃 he said; taking off his master's
cloak。 〃He insisted on waiting for you。 He said that he must consult
you about a patient; and would not cease begging till you should
consent to accompany him to the sick person's house。 For; if a case
seemed desperate; the great Naudin might still save it。〃

〃You are an ass for letting him talk such nonsense; and for
believing it yourself; Citizen Joly;〃 cried Naudin with a laugh; and
then entering the anteroom。

An old gentleman; clad in the same old…fashioned costume with Doctor
Naudin; came forward。 Citizen Joly; as he closed the door somewhat
slowly; heard him say:

〃Thank God that you have come at last; citizen! I have waited for
you impatiently; and now I conjure you to accompany me as quickly as
possible to my patient。〃

Naudin; opening the door of his study; said in reply; 〃Come in;
Citizen Saunier; and tell me first how it is with your sick one。〃

Nothing more could Joly; Naudin's servant; understand; for the two
doctors had gone into the study; and the door was closed behind
them。 After a short time; however; it was opened。 Naudin ordered the
valet to order a tiacre at once; and a few minutes later Director
Naudin rode away at the side of Doctor Saunier。

At a house in the Rue Montmartre the carriage stopped; and the two
physicians entered。 The porter; opening the little; dusty window of
his lodge; nodded confidentially to Saunier。

〃That is probably the celebrated Doctor Naudin of the Hotel Dieu;
whom you have with you?〃 he asked。

〃Yes; it is he;〃 answered Saunier; 〃and if anybody can help our
patient; it is he。 Citizen Crage is probably at home?〃

〃Certainly he is at home; for you know he never leaves his sick boy。
You will find him above。 You know the way; citizen doctor!〃

The two physicians passed on; ascended the staircase; and entered
the suit of rooms whose door was only partially closedleft ajar;
as it seemed; for them。 Nobody came to meet them; but they carefully
closed the door behind them; drew the bolt; and then walked silently
and quickly across the anteroom to the opposite door。

Doctor Saunier knocked softly three times with a slight interval
between; and cried three times with a loud voice;

〃The two physicians are come to see the patient。〃

A bolt was withdrawn on the inside; the door opened; and a tall
man's figure appeared and motioned to the gentlemen to come in。

〃Are we alone?〃 whispered Doctor Saunier; as they entered the inner
room。

〃Yes; entirely alone;〃 answered the other。 〃There in the chamber
lies my poor sick boy; and you know well that he can betray no one;
and that he knows nothing of what is going on around him。〃

〃Yes; unfortunately; I know that;〃 answered Doctor Saunier sadly。 〃I
promised you that I would bring you the most celebrated and skilful
physician in Paris; and you see I keep my word; for I have brought
you Doctor Naudin; the director of the Hotel Dieu andthe friend
and devoted servant of the royal family; to whom we have both sworn
allegiance until death。 Doctor Naudin; I have not given you the name
of the gentleman to whom I was taking you。 It is a secret which only
the possessor is able to divulge to you。〃

〃I divulge it;〃 said the other; smiling; 〃Doctor Naudin; I am the
Marquis Jarjayes。〃

〃Jarjayes; who made the plan for the escape of the royal family in
the Temple?〃 asked Naudin eagerly。

〃Marquis Jarjayes; who lost his property in the service of the
queen; risked his life in her deliverance; and perhaps escaped the
guillotine merely by emigrating and putting himself beyond the reach
of Robespierre。 Are you that loyal; courageous Marquis de Jarjayes?〃

〃I am Jarjayes; and I thank you for the praises you have given me;
but I cannot accept them in the presence of him who merits them all
much more than I do; and who is more worthy of praise than any one
else。 No; I can receive no commendation in the presence of Toulan;
the most loyal; the bravest; the most prudent of us all; for Toulan
is the soul of every thing; and our martyr queen confessed it in
giving him the highest of all titles of honor; in calling him
Fidele; a title which will remain for centuries。〃

〃Yes; you are right;〃 said Dr。 Naudin; laying his hand on the
shoulder of D

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