an historical mystery-第46节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
political manager had promised to bring her the result in the course
of that evening。
Madame and Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne were announced。 Laurence; whose
principles were unyielding; was not only surprised but shocked to see
the most illustrious representatives of Legitimacy talking and
laughing in a friendly manner with the prime minister of the man whom
she never called anything but Monsieur le Duc d'Orleans。 De Marsay;
like an expiring lamp; shone with a last brilliancy。 He laid aside for
the moment his political anxieties; and Madame de Cinq…Cygne endured
him; as they say the Court of Austria endured de Saint…Aulaire; the
man of the world effaced the minister of the citizen…king。 But she
rose to her feet as though her chair were of red…hot iron when the
name was announced of 〃Monsieur le Comte de Gondreville。〃
〃Adieu; madame;〃 she said to the princess in a curt tone。
She left the room with Berthe; measuring her steps to avoid
encountering that fatal being。
〃You may have caused the loss of Georges' marriage;〃 said the princess
to de Marsay; in a low voice。 〃Why did you not tell me your agent's
name?〃
The former clerk of Arcis; former Conventional; former Thermidorien;
tribune; Councillor of State; count of the Empire and senator; peer of
the Restoration; and now peer of the monarchy of July; made a servile
bow to the princess。
〃Fear nothing; madame;〃 he said; 〃we have ceased to make war on
princes。 I bring you an assurance of the permit;〃 he added; seating
himself beside her。
Malin was long in the confidence of Louis XVIII。; to whom his varied
experience was useful。 He had greatly aided in overthrowing Decazes;
and had given much good advice to the ministry of Villele。 Coldly
received by Charles X。; he had adopted all the rancors of Talleyrand。
He was now in high favor under the twelfth government he had served
since 1789; and which in turn he would doubtless betray。 For the last
fifteen months he had broken the long friendship which had bound him
for thirty…six years to our greatest diplomat; the Prince de
Talleyrand。 It was in the course of this very evening that he made
answer to some one who asked why the Prince showed such hostility to
the Duc de Bordeaux; 〃The Pretender is too young!〃
〃Singular advice to give young men;〃 remarked Rastignac。
De Marsay; who grew thoughtful after Madame de Cadignan's reproachful
speech; took no notice of these jests。 He looked askance at
Gondreville and was evidently biding his time until that now old man;
who went to bed early; had taken leave。 All present; who had witnessed
the abrupt departure of Madame de Cinq…Cygne (whose reasons were well…
known to them); imitated de Marsay's conduct and kept silence。
Gondreville; who had not recognized the marquise; was ignorant of the
cause of the general reticence; but the habit of dealing with public
matters had given him a certain tact; he was moreover a clever man; he
saw that his presence was embarrassing to the company and he took
leave。 De Marsay; standing with his back to the fire; watched the slow
departure of the old man in a manner which revealed the gravity of his
thoughts。
〃I did wrong; madame; not to tell you the name of my negotiator;〃 said
the prime minister; listening for the sound of Malin's wheels as they
rolled away。 〃But I will redeem my fault and give you the means of
making your peace with the Cinq…Cygnes。 It is now thirty years since
the affair I am about to speak of took place; it is as old to the
present day as the death of Henri IV。 (which between ourselves and in
spite of the proverb is still a mystery; like so many other historical
catastrophes)。 I can; however; assure you that even if this affair did
not concern Madame de Cinq…Cygne it would be none the less curious and
interesting。 Moreover; it throws light on a celebrated exploit in our
modern annals;I mean that of the Mont Saint…Bernard。 Messieurs les
Ambassadeurs;〃 he added; bowing to the two diplomats; 〃will see that
in the element of profound intrigue the political men of the present
day are far behind the Machiavellis whom the waves of the popular will
lifted; in 1793; above the storm;some of whom have 'found;' as the
old song says; 'a haven。' To be anything in France in these days a man
must have been tossed in those tempests。〃
〃It seems to me;〃 said the princess; smiling; 〃that from that point of
view the present state of things under your regime leaves nothing to
be desired。〃
A well…bred laugh went round the room; and even the prime minister
himself could not help smiling。 The ambassadors seemed impatient for
the tale; de Marsay coughed dryly and silence was obtained。
〃On a June night in 1800;〃 began the minister; 〃about three in the
morning; just as daylight was beginning to pale the brilliancy of the
wax candles; two men tired of playing at /bouillotte/ (or who were
playing merely to keep others employed) left the salon of the ministry
of foreign affairs; then situated in the rue du Bac; and went apart
into a boudoir。 These two men; of whom one is dead and the other has
/one/ foot in the grave; were; each in his own way; equally
extraordinary。 Both had been priests; both had abjured religion; both
were married。 One had been merely an Oratorian; the other had worn the
mitre of a bishop。 The first was named Fouche; I shall not tell you
the name of the second;'*' both were then mere simple citizenswith
very little simplicity。 When they were seen to leave the salon and
enter the boudoir; the rest of the company present showed a certain
curiosity。 A third person followed them;a man who thought himself
far stronger than the other two。 His name was Sieyes; and you all know
that he too had been a priest before the Revolution。 The one who
/walked with difficulty/ was then the minister of foreign affairs;
Fouche was minister of police; Sieyes had resigned the consulate。
'*' Talleyrand was still living when de Marsay related these
circumstances。
〃A small man; cold and stern in appearance; left his seat and followed
the three others; saying aloud in the hearing of the person from whom
I have the information; 'I mistrust the gambling of priests。' This man
was Carnot; minister of war。 His remark did not trouble the two
consuls who were playing cards in the salon。 Cambaceres and Lebrun
were then at the mercy of their ministers; men who were infinitely
stronger than they。
〃Nearly all these statesmen are dead; and no secrecy is due to them。
They belong to history; and the history of that night and its
consequences has been terrible。 I tell it to you now because I alone
know it; because Louis XVIII。 never revealed the truth to that poor
Madame de Cinq…Cygne; and because the present government which I serve
is wholly indifferent as to whether the truth be known to the world or
not。
〃All four of these personages sat down in the boudoir。 The lame man
undoubtedly closed the door before a word was said; it is even thought
that he ran the bolt。 It is only persons of high rank who pay
attention to such trifles。 The three priests had the livid; impassible
faces which you all remember。 Carnot alone was ruddy。 He was the first
to speak。 'What is the point to be discussed?' he asked。 'France;'
must have been the answer of the Prince (whom I admire as one of the
most extraordinary men of our time)。 'The Republic;' undoubtedly said
Fouche。 'Power;' probably said Sieyes。〃
All present looked at each other。 With voice; look; and gesture de
Marsay had wonderfully represented the three men。
〃The three priests fully understood one another;〃 he continued;
resuming his narrative。 〃Carnot no doubt looked at his colleagues and
the ex…consul in a dignified manner。 He must; however; have felt
bewildered in his own mind。
〃'Do you believe in the success of the army?' Sieyes said to him。
〃'We may expect everything from Bonaparte;' replied the minister of
war; 'he has crossed the Alps。'
〃'At this moment;' said the minister of foreign affairs; with
deliberate slowness; 'he is playing his last stake。'
〃'Come; let's speak out;' said Fouche; 'what shall we do if the First
Consul is defeated? Is it possible to collect another army? Must we
continue his humble servants?'
〃'There is no republic now;' remarked Sieyes; 'Bonaparte is consul for
ten years。'
〃'He has more power than ever Cromwell had;' said the former bishop;
'and he did not vote for the death of the king。'
〃'We have a master;' said Fouche; 'the question is; shall we continue
to keep him if he loses the battle or shall we return to a pure
republic?'
〃'France;' replied Carnot; sententiously; 'cannot resist except she
reverts to the old Conventional /energy/。'
〃'I agree with Carnot;' said Sieyes; 'if Bonaparte returns defeated we
must put an end to him; he has let us know him too well during the
last seven months。'
〃'The army is for him;' remarked Carnot; thoughtfully。
〃'And the people for us!' cried Fouche。
〃'You go fast; monsieur;' said the Prince; in that deep bass voice
which he still preserves and which now drove Fouche back into himself。
〃'Be frank;' said a voice; as a former Conventional rose from a corner
of the boudoir and showed himself; '