an historical mystery-第29节
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Malin！〃
〃And his seat！〃 said the younger。
〃Mansart designed it for noble stock； and the populace will get their
children in it！〃 exclaimed the elder。
〃If that were to come to pass； I'd rather see Gondreville in ashes！〃
cried Mademoiselle Cinq…Cygne。
One of the villagers； who had entered the grounds to examine a calf
Monsieur d'Hauteserre was trying to sell him； overheard these words as
he came from the cow…sheds。
〃Let us go in；〃 said Laurence； laughing； 〃this is very imprudent； we
are giving the old marquis a right to blame us。 My poor Michu；〃 she
added； as she entered the salon； 〃I had forgotten your adventure； as
we are not in the odor of sanctity in these parts you must be careful
not to compromise us in future。 Have you any other peccadilloes on
your conscience？〃
〃I blame myself for not having killed the murderer of my old masters
before I came to the rescue of my present ones〃
〃Michu！〃 said the abbe in a warning tone。
〃But I'll not leave the country；〃 Michu continued； paying no heed to
the abbe's exclamation； 〃till I am certain you are safe。 I see fellows
roaming about here whom I distrust。 The last time we hunted in the
forest； that keeper who took my place at Gondreville came to me and
asked if we supposed we were on our own property。 'Ho！ my lad；' I
said； 'we can't get rid in two weeks of ideas we've had for
centuries。'〃
〃You did wrong； Michu；〃 said the Marquis de Simeuse； smiling with
satisfaction。
〃What answer did he make？〃 asked Monsieur d'Hauteserre。
〃He said he would inform the senator of our claims；〃 replied Michu。
〃Comte de Gondreville！〃 repeated the elder Simeuse； 〃what a
masquerade！ But after all； they say 'your Majesty' to Bonaparte！〃
〃And to the Grand Duc de Berg； 'your Highness！'〃 said the abbe。
〃Who is he？〃 asked the Marquis de Simeuse。
〃Murat； Napoleon's brother…in…law；〃 replied old d'Hauteserre。
〃Delightful！〃 remarked Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne。 〃Do they also say
'your Majesty' to the widow of Beauharnais？〃
〃Yes； mademoiselle；〃 said the abbe。
〃We ought to go to Paris and see it all；〃 cried Laurence。
〃Alas； mademoiselle；〃 said Michu； 〃I was there to put Francois at
school； and I swear to you there's no joking with what they call the
Imperial Guard。 If the rest of the army are like them； the thing may
last longer than we。〃
〃They say many of the noble families are taking service；〃 said
Monsieur d'Hauteserre。
〃According to the present law；〃 added the abbe； 〃you will be compelled
to serve。 The conscription makes no distinction of ranks or names。〃
〃That man is doing us more harm with his court than the Revolution did
with its axe！〃 cried Laurence。
〃The Church prays for him；〃 said the abbe。
These remarks； made rapidly one after another； were so many
commentaries on the wise counsel of the old Marquis de Chargeboeuf；
but the young people had too much faith； too much honor； to dream of
resorting to a compromise。 They told themselves； as all vanquished
parties in all times have declared； that the luck of the conquerors
would soon be at an end； that the Emperor had no support but that of
the army； that the power /de facto/ must sooner or later give way to
the Divine Right； etc。 So； in spite of the wise counsel given to them；
they fell into the pitfall； which others； like old d'Hauteserre； more
prudent and more amenable to reason； would have been able to avoid。 If
men were frank they might perhaps admit that misfortunes never
overtake them until after they have received either an actual or an
occult warning。 Many do not perceive the deep meaning of such visible
or invisible signs until after the disaster is upon them。
〃In any case； Madame la comtesse knows that I cannot leave the country
until I have given up a certain trust；〃 said Michu in a low voice to
Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne。
For all answer she made him a sign of acquiescence； and he left the
room。
CHAPTER XII
THE FACTS OF A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR
Michu sold his farm at once to Beauvisage； a farmer at Bellache； but
he was not to receive the money for twenty days。 A month after the
Marquis de Chargeboeuf's visit； Laurence； who had told her cousins of
their buried fortune； proposed to them to take the day of the
Mi…careme to disinter it。 The unusual quantity of snow which fell that
winter had hitherto prevented Michu from obtaining the treasure； and
it now gave him pleasure to undertake the operation with his masters。
He was determined to leave the neighborhood as soon as it was over；
for he feared himself。
〃Malin has suddenly arrived at Gondreville； and no one knows why；〃 he
said to his mistress。 〃I shall never be able to resist putting the
property into the market by the death of its owner。 I feel I am guilty
in not following my inspirations。〃
〃Why should he leave Paris at this season？〃 said the countess。
〃All Arcis is talking about it；〃 replied Michu； 〃he has left his
family in Paris； and no one is with him but his valet。 Monsieur
Grevin； the notary of Arcis； Madame Marion； the wife of the receiver…
general； and her sister…in…law are staying at Gondreville。〃
Laurence had chosen the mid…lent day for their purpose because it
enabled her to give her servants a holiday and so get them out of the
way。 The usual masquerade drew the peasantry to the town and no one
was at work in the fields。 Chance made its calculations with as much
cleverness as Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne made hers。 The uneasiness of
Monsieur and Madame d'Hauteserre at the idea of keeping eleven hundred
thousand francs in gold in a lonely chateau on the borders of a forest
was likely to be so great that their sons advised they should know
nothing about it。 The secret of the expedition was therefore confined
to Gothard； Michu； Laurence； and the four gentlemen。
After much consultation it seemed possible to put forty…eight thousand
francs in a long sack on the crupper of each of their horses。 Three
trips would therefore bring the whole。 It was agreed to send all the
servants； whose curiosity might be troublesome； to Troyes to see the
shows。 Catherine； Marthe； and Durieu； who could be relied on； stayed
at home in charge of the house。 The other servants were glad of their
holiday and started by daybreak。 Gothard； assisted by Michu； saddled
the horses as soon as they were gone； and the party started by way of
the gardens to reach the forest。 Just as they were mountingfor the
park gate was so low on the garden side that they led their horses
until they were through itold Beauvisage； the farmer at Bellache；
happened to pass。
〃There！〃 cried Gothard； 〃I hear some one。〃
〃Oh； it is only I；〃 said the worthy man； coming toward them。 〃Your
servant； gentleman； are you off hunting； in spite of the new decrees？
/I/ don't complain of you； but do take care！ though you have friends
you have also enemies。〃
〃Oh； as for that；〃 said the elder Hauteserre； smiling； 〃God grant that
our hunt may be lucky to…day；if so； you will get your masters back
again。〃
These words； to which events were destined to give a totally different
meaning； earned a severe look from Laurence。 The elder Simeuse was
confident that Malin would restore Gondreville for an indemnity。 These
rash youths were determined to do exactly the contrary of what the
Marquis de Chargeboeuf had advised。 Robert； who shared these hopes；
was thinking of them when he gave utterance to the fatal words。
〃Not a word of this； old friend；〃 said Michu to Beauvisage； waiting
behind the others to lock the gate。
It was one of those fine mornings in March when the air is dry； the
earth pure； the sky clear； and the atmosphere a contradiction to the
leafless trees； the season was so mild that the eye caught glimpses
here and there of verdure。
〃We are seeking treasure when all the while you are the real treasure
of our house； cousin；〃 said the elder Simeuse； gaily。
Laurence was in front； with a cousin on each side of her。 The
d'Hauteserres were behind； followed by Michu。 Gothard had gone forward
to clear the way。
〃Now that our fortune is restored； you must marry my brother；〃 said
the younger in a low voice。 〃He adores you； together you will be as
rich as nobles ought to be in these days。〃
〃No； give the whole fortune to him and I will marry you；〃 said
Laurence； 〃I am rich enough for two。〃
〃So be it；〃 cried the Marquis； 〃I will leave you； and find a wife
worthy to be your sister。〃
〃So you really love me less than I thought you did？〃 said Laurence
looking at him with a sort of jealousy。
〃No； I love you better than either of you love me；〃 replied the
marquis。
〃And therefore you would sacrifice yourself？〃 asked Laurence with a
glance full of momentary preference。
The marquis was silent。
〃Well； then； I shall think only of you； and that will be intolerable
to my husband；〃 exclaimed Laurence； impatient at his silence。
〃How could I live without you？〃 said the younger twin to his brother。
〃But； after all； you can't marry us both；〃 said the marquis； replying
to Laurence； 〃and the time has come；〃 he continued； in the brusque
tone of a man who is struck to the heart； 〃to make your decision。〃
He urged his horse in advance so that the d'Hauteserres might
