from the memoirs of a minister of france-第34节

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〃Ah！〃　　I　answered；　beginning　to　understand。　　〃And　the　salt　is　for　a　bath　for　his　feet；　is　it？〃

The　woman　nodded。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　as　Maignan　came　in　with　my　saddlebags　and　laid　them　on　the　floor；　〃he　will　swear　still　louder　when　he　gets　the　bill；　I　should　think。〃

〃Bill？〃　　the　housewife　answered　bitterly；　looking　up　again　from　her　pots。　　〃A　tax…gatherer's　bill？　　Go　to　the　dead　man　and　ask　for　the　price　of　his　coffin；　or　to　the　babe　for　a　nurse…fee！　　You　will　get　paid　as　soon。　　A　tax…gatherer's　bill？　　Be　thankful　if　he　does　not　take　the　dish　with　the　sop！〃

She　spoke　plainly；　yet　I　found　a　clearer　proof　of　the　slavery　in　which　the　man　held　them　in　the　perfect　indifference　with　which　they　regarded　my　arrivalthough　a　guest　with　two　servants　must　have　been　a　rarity　in　such　a　placeand　the　listless　way　in　which　they　set　about　attending　to　my　wants。　　Keenly　remembering　that　not　long　before　this　my　enemies　had　striven　to　prejudice　me　in　the　King's　eyes　by　alleging　that；　though　I　filled　his　coffers；　I　was　grinding　the　poor　into　the　dustand　even；　by　my　exactions；　provoking　a　rebellion　I　was　in　no　mood　to　look　with　an　indulgent　eye　on　those　who　furnished　such　calumnies　with　a　show　of　reason。　But　it　has　never　been　my　wont　to　act　hastily；　and　while　I　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　kitchen；　debating　whether　I　should　order　the　servants　to　fling　the　fellow　out；　and　bid　him　appear　before　me　at　Villebon；　or　should　instead　have　him　brought　up　there　and　then；　the　man's　coarse　voice；　which　had　never　ceased　to　growl　and　snarl　above　us；　rose　on　a　sudden　still　louder。　　Something　fell　on　the　floor　over　our　heads　and　rolled　across　it；　and　immediately　a　young　girl；　barefoot　and　short…skirted；　scrambled　hurriedly　and　blindly　down　the　ladder　and　landed　among　us。

She　was　sobbing；　and　a　little　blood　was　flowing　from　a　cut　in　her　lip；　and　she　trembled　all　over。　　At　sight　of　the　blood　and　her　tears　the　woman　seemed　to　be　transported。　　Snatching　up　a　saucepan；　she　sprang　towards　the　ladder　with　a　gesture　of　rage；　and　in　a　moment　would　have　ascended　if　her　husband　had　not　followed　and　dragged　her　back。　　The　girl　also；　as　soon　as　she　could　speak；　added　her　entreaties　to　his；　while　Maignan　and　La　Trape　looked　sharply　at　me；　as　if　they　expected　a　signal。

All　this　while；　the　bully　above　continued　his　maledictions。　〃Send　that　slut　back　to　me！〃　　he　roared。　　〃Do　you　think　that　I　am　going　to　be　left　alone　in　this　hole？　　Send　her　back；　or〃　and　he　added　half…a…dozen　oaths　of　a　kind　to　make　an　honest　man's　blood　boil。　　In　the　midst　of　this；　however；　and　while　the　woman　was　still　contending　with　her　husband；　he　suddenly　stopped　and　shrieked　in　anguish；　crying　out　for　the　salt…bath。

But　the　woman；　whom　her　husband　had　only　half…pacified；　shook　her　fist　at　the　ceiling　with　a　laugh　of　defiance。　　〃Shriek；　ay；　you　may　shriek；　you　wretch！〃　　she　cried。　　〃You　must　be　waited　on　by　my　girl；　must　youno　older　face　will　do　for　youand　you　beat　her？　　Your　horses　must　eat　corn；　must　they；　while　we　eat　grass？　And　we　buy　salt　for　you；　and　wheaten　bread　for　you；　and　are　beggars　for　you！　　For　you；　you　thieving　wretch；　who　tax　the　poor　and　let　the　rich　go　free；　who〃

〃Silence；　woman！〃　　her　husband　cried；　cutting　her　short；　with　a　pale　face。　　〃Hush；　hush；　he　will　hear　you！〃

But　the　woman　was　too　far　gone　in　rage　to　obey。　　〃What！　　and　is　it　not　true？〃　　she　answered；　her　eyes　glittering。　　〃Will　he　not　to…morrow　go　to　Le　Mesnil　and　squeeze　the　poor？　　Ay；　and　will　not　Lescauts　the　corn…dealer；　and　Philippon　the　silk…merchant；　come　to　him　with　bribes；　and　go　free？　　And　de　Fonvelle　and　de　Curtin　they　with　a　DE；　forsooth！plead　their　nobility；　and　grease　his　hands；　and　go　free？　　Ay；　and〃

〃Silence；　woman！〃　　the　man　said　again；　looking　apprehensively　at　me；　and　from　me　to　my　attendants；　who　were　grinning　broadly。　〃You　do　not　know　that　this　gentleman　is　not〃

〃A　tax…gatherer？〃　　I　said；　smiling。　　〃No。　　But　how　long　has　your　friend　upstairs　been　here？〃

〃Two　days；　Monsieur；〃　she　answered；　wiping　the　perspiration　from　her　brow；　and　speaking　more　quietly。　　〃He　is　talking　of　sending　on　a　deputy　to　Le　Mesnil；　but　Heaven　send　he　may　recover；　and　go　from　here　himself！〃

〃Well；〃　I　answered；　〃at　any　rate；　we　have　had　enough　of　this　noise。　　My　servant　shall　go　up　and　tell　him　that　there　is　a　gentleman　here　who　cannot　put　up　with　a　disturbance。　　Maignan；〃　I　continued；　〃see　the　man；　and　tell　him　that　the　inn　is　not　his　private　house；　and　that　he　must　groan　more　softly；　but　do　not　mention　my　name。　　And　let　him　have　his　brine　bath；　or　there　will　be　no　peace　for　anyone。〃

Maignan　and　La　Trape；　who　knew　me；　and　had　counted　on　a　very　different　order；　stared　at　me；　wondering　at　my　easiness　and　complaisance；　for　there　is　a　species　of　tyranny；　unassociated　with　rank；　that　even　the　coarsest　view　with　indignation。　　But　the　woman's　statement；　which；　despite　its　wildness　and　her　excitement；　I　saw　no　reason　to　doubt；　had　suggested　to　me　a　scheme　of　punishment　more　refined；　and　which　might；　at　one　and　the　same　time；　be　of　profit　to　the　King's　treasury　and　a　lesson　to　Gringuet。　　To　carry　it　through　I　had　to　submit　to　some　inconvenience；　and　particularly　to　a　night　passed　under　the　same　roof　with　the　rogue；　but　as　the　news　that　a　traveller　of　consequence　was　come　had　the　effect；　aided　by　a　few　sharp　words　from　Maignan；　of　lowering　his　tone；　and　forcing　him　to　keep　within　bounds；　I　was　able　to　endure　this　and　overlook　the　occasional　outbursts　of　spleen　which　his　disease　and　pampered　temper　still　drew　from　him。

His　two　men；　who　had　been　absent　on　an　errand　at　the　time　of　my　arrival；　presently　returned；　and　were　doubtless　surprised　to　find　a　second　company　in　possession。　　They　tried　my　attendants　with　a　number　of　questions；　but　without　success；　while　I；　by　listening　while　I　had　my　supper；　learned　more　of　their　master's　habits　and　intentions　than　they　supposed。　　They　suspected　nothing；　and　at　day…break　we　left　them；　and；　the　water　having　duly　fallen　in　the　night；　we　crossed　the　river　without　mishap；　and　for　a　league　pursued　our　proper　road。　　Then　I　halted；　and　despatching　the　two　grooms　to　Houdan　with　a　letter　for　my　wife；　I　took；　myself；　the　road　to　Le　Mesnil；　which　lies　about　three　leagues　to　the　west。

At　a　little　inn；　a　league　short　of　Le　Mesnil；　I　stopped；　and　instructing　my　two　attendants　in　the　parts　they　were　to　play；　prepared；　with　the　help　of　the　seals；　which　never　left　Maignan's　custody；　the　papers　necessary　to　enable　me　to　enact　the　role　of　Gringuet's　deputy。　　Though　I　had　been　two　or　three　times　to　Villebon；　I　had　never　been　within　two　leagues　of　Le　Mesnil；　and　had　no　reason　to　suppose　that　I　should　be　recognised；　but　to　lessen　the　probability　of　this　I　put　on　a　plain　suit　belonging　to　Maignan；　with　a　black…hilted　sword；　and　no　ornaments。　　I　furthermore　waited　to　enter　the　town　until　evening；　so　that　my　presence；　being　reported；　might　be　taken　for　granted　before　I　was　seen。

In　a　larger　place　my　scheme　must　have　miscarried；　but　in　this　little　town　on　the　hill；　looking　over　the　plain　of　vineyards　and　cornfields；　with　inn；　market…house；　and　church　in　the　square；　and　on　the　fourth　side　the　open　battlements；　whence　the　towers　of　Chartres　could　be　seen　on　a　clear　day；　I　looked　to　have　to　do　only　with　small　men；　and　saw　no　reason　why　it　should　fail。

Accordingly；　riding　up　to　the　inn　about　sunset；　I　called；　with　an　air；　for　the　landlord。　　There　were　half…a…dozen　loungers　seated　in　a　row　on　a　bench　before　the　door；　and　one　of　these　went　in　to　fetch　him。　　When　the　host　came　out；　with　his　apron　twisted　round　his　waist；　I　asked　him　if　he　had　a　room。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　shading　his　eyes　to　look　at　me；　〃I　have。〃

〃Very　well；〃　I　answered　pompously；　considering　that　I　had　just　such　an　audience　as　I　desiredby　which　I　mean　one　that；　without　being　too　critical；　would　spread　the　news。　　〃I　am　M。　Gringuet's　deputy；　and　I　am　here　with　authority　to　collect　and　remit；　receive　and　give　receipts　for；　his　Majesty's　taxes；　tolls；　and　dues；　now；　or　to　be；　due　and　owing。　　Therefore；　my　friend；　I　will　trouble　you　to　show　me　to　my　room。

I　thought　that　this　announcement　would　impress　him　as　much　as　I　desired；　but；　to　my　surprise；　he　only　stared　at　me。　　〃Eh！〃　　he　exclaimed　at　last；　in　a　faltering　tone；　〃M。　Gringuet's　deputy？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　dismounting　somewhat　impatiently；　〃he　is　ill　with　the　gout　and　cannot　come。〃

〃And　youare　his　deputy？〃

〃I　have　said　so。〃

Still　he　did　not　move　to　do　my　bidding；　but　continued　to　rub　his　bald　head　and　stare　at　me　as　if　I　fascinated　him。　　〃Well；　I　amI　meanI　think　we　are　full；〃　he　stammered　at　last；　with　his　eyes　like　saucers。

I　replied；　with　some　impatience；　that　he　had　just　said　that　he　had　a　room；　adding；　that　if　I　was　not　in　it　and　comfortably　settled　before　five　minutes　were　up　I　would　know　the　reason。　　I　thought　that　this　would　settle　the　matter；　whatever　maggot　had　got　into　the　man's　head；　and；　in　a　way；　it　did　so；　for　he　begged　my　pardon　hastily；　and　made　way　for　me　to　enter；　calling；　at　the　same　time；　to　a　lad　who　was　standing　by；　to　attend　to　the　horses。　But　when　we　were　inside　the　door；　instead　of　showing　me　through　the　kitchen　to　my　room；　he　muttered　something；　and　hurried　away；　leaving　me　to　wonder　what　was　amiss　with　him；　and　why　the　loungers　outside；　who　had　list