an historical mystery-第8节
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after we sign the deed of sale before Grevin〃 Violette stared at
Michu and grew livid。 〃Ah！ you came here to spy upon a Jacobin who had
the honor to be president of the club at Arcis； and you imagine he
will let you get the better of him！ I have eyes； I saw where your
tiles have been freshly cemented； and I concluded that you did not pry
them up to plant wheat there。 Come； drink。〃
Violette； much troubled； drank a large glass of wine without noticing
the quality； terror had put a hot iron in his stomach； the brandy was
not hotter than his cupidity。 He would have given many things to be
safely home and able to change the hiding…place of his treasure。 The
three women smiled。
〃Do you like that wine？〃 said Michu； refilling his glass。
〃Yes； I do。〃
After a good half…hour's decision on the time when the buyer might
take possession； and on the various punctilios which the peasantry
bring forward when concluding a bargain；in the midst of assertions
and counter…assertions； the filling and emptying of glasses； the
giving of promises and denials； Violette suddenly fell forward with
his head on the table； not tipsy； but dead…drunk。 The instant that
Michu saw his eyes blur he opened the window。
〃Where's that scamp； Gaucher？〃 he said to his wife。
〃In bed。〃
〃You； Marianne；〃 said the bailiff to his faithful servant； 〃stand in
front of his door and watch him。 You； mother； stay down here； and keep
an eye on this spy； keep your eyes and ears open and don't unfasten
the door to any one but Francois。 It is a question of life or death；〃
he added； in a deep voice。 〃Every creature beneath my roof must
remember that I have not quitted it this night； all of you must assert
thateven though your heads were on the block。 Come；〃 he said to
Marthe； 〃come； wife； put on your shoes； take your coat； and let us be
off！ No questionsI go with you。〃
For the last three quarters of an hour the man's demeanor and glance
were of despotic authority； all…powerful； irresistible； drawn from the
same mysterious source from which great generals on fields of battle
who inflame an army； great orators inspiring vast audiences； and （it
must be said） great criminals perpetrating bold crimes derive their
inspiration。 At such times invincible influence seems to exhale from
the head and issue from the tongue； the gesture even can inject the
will of the one man into others。 The three women knew that some
dreadful crisis was at hand； without warning of its nature they felt
it in the rapid actions of the man； whose countenance shone； whose
forehead spoke； whose brilliant eyes glittered like stars； they saw it
in the sweat that covered his brow to the roots of his hair； while
more than once his voice vibrated with impatience and fury。 Marthe
obeyed passively。 Armed to the teeth and with his gun over his
shoulder Michu dashed into the avenue； followed by his wife。 They soon
reached the cross…roads where Francois was in waiting hidden among the
bushes。
〃The boy is intelligent；〃 said Michu； when he caught sight of him。
These were his first words。 His wife had rushed after him； unable to
speak。
〃Go back to the house； hide in a thick tree； and watch the country and
the park；〃 he said to his son。 〃We have all gone to bed； no one is
stirring。 Your grandmother will not open the door until you ask her to
let you in。 Remember every word I say to you。 The life of your father
and mother depends on it。 No one must know we did not sleep at home。〃
After whispering these words to the boy； who instantly disappeared in
the forest like an eel in the mud； Michu turned to his wife。
〃Mount behind me；〃 he said； 〃and pray that God be with us。 Sit firm；
the beast may die of it。〃 So saying he kicked the horse with both
heels； pressing him with his powerful knees； and the animal sprang
forward with the rapidity of a hunter； seeming to understand what his
master wanted of him； and crossed the forest in fifteen minutes。 Then
Michu； who had not swerved from the shortest way； pulled up； found a
spot at the edge of the woods from which he could see the roofs of the
chateau of Cinq…Cygne lighted by the moon； tied his horse to a tree；
and followed by his wife； gained a little eminence which overlooked
the valley。
The chateau； which Marthe and Michu looked at together for a moment；
makes a charming effect in the landscape。 Though it has little extent
and is of no importance whatever as architecture； yet archaeologically
it is not without a certain interest。 This old edifice of the
fifteenth century； placed on an eminence； surrounded on all sides by a
moat； or rather by deep； wide ditches always full of water； is built
in cobble…stones buried in cement； the walls being seven feet thick。
Its simplicity recalls the rough and warlike life of feudal days。 The
chateau； plain and unadorned； has two large reddish towers at either
end； connected by a long main building with casement windows； the
stone mullions of which； being roughly carved； bear some resemblance
to vine…shoots。 The stairway is outside the house； at the middle； in a
sort of pentagonal tower entered through a small arched door。 The
interior of the ground…floor together with the rooms on the first
storey were modernized in the time of Louis XIV。； and the whole
building is surmounted by an immense roof broken by casement windows
with carved triangular pediments。 Before the castle lies a vast green
sward the trees of which had recently been cut down。 On either side of
the entrance bridge are two small dwellings where the gardeners live；
connected across the road by a paltry iron railing without character；
evidently modern。 To right and left of the lawn； which is divided in
two by a paved road…way； are the stables； cow…sheds； barns； wood…
house； bakery； poultry…yard； and the offices； placed in what were
doubtless the remains of two wings of the old building similar to
those that were still standing。 The two large towers； with their
pepper…pot roofs which had not been rased； and the belfry of the
middle tower； gave an air of distinction to the village。 The church；
also very old； showed near by its pointed steeple； which harmonized
well with the solid masses of the castle。 The moon brought out in full
relief the various roofs and towers on which it played and sparkled。
Michu gazed at this baronial structure in a manner that upset all his
wife's ideas about him； his face； now calm； wore a look of hope and
also a sort of pride。 His eyes scanned the horizon with a glance of
defiance； he listened for sounds in the air。 It was now nine o'clock；
the moon was beginning to cast its light upon the margin of the forest
and to illumine the little bluff on which they stood。 The position
struck him as dangerous and he left it； fearful of being seen。 But no
suspicious noise troubled the peace of the beautiful valley encircled
on this side by the forest of Nodesme。 Marthe； exhausted and
trembling； was awaiting some explanation of their hurried ride。 What
was she engaged in？ Was she to aid in a good deed or an evil one？ At
that instant Michu bent to his wife's ear and whispered：
〃Go the house and ask to speak to the Comtesse de Cinq…Cygne； when you
see her beg her to speak to you alone。 If no one can overhear you； say
to her： 'Mademoiselle； the lives of your two cousins are in danger；
and he who can explain the how and why is waiting to speak to you。' If
she seems afraid； if she distrusts you； add these words： 'They are
conspiring against the First Consul and the conspiracy is discovered。'
Don't give your name； they distrust us too much。〃
Marthe raised her face towards her husband and said：
〃Can it be that you serve them？〃
〃What if I do？〃 he said； frowning； taking her words as a reproach。
〃You don't understand me；〃 cried Marthe； seizing his large hand and
falling on her knees beside him as she kissed it and covered it with
her tears。
〃Go； go； you shall cry later；〃 he said； kissing her vehemently。
When he no longer heard her step his eyes filled with tears。 He had
distrusted Marthe on account of her father's opinions； he had hidden
the secrets of his life from her； but the beauty of her simple nature
had suddenly appeared to him； just as the grandeur of his had； as
suddenly； revealed itself to her。 Marthe had passed in a moment from
the deep humiliation caused by the degradation of the man whose name
she bore； to the exaltation given by a sense of his nobleness。 The
change was instantaneous； without transition； it was enough to make
her tremble。 She told him later that she went； as it were； through
blood from the pavilion to the edge of the forest； and there was
lifted to heaven； in a moment； among the angels。 Michu； who had known
he was not appreciated； and who mistook his wife's grieved and
melancholy manner for lack of affection； and had left her to herself；
living chiefly out of doors and reserving all his tenderness for his
boy； instantly understood the meaning of her tears。 She had cursed the
part which her beauty and her father's will had forced her to take；
but now happiness； in the midst of this great storm； played； with a
beautiful flame like a vivid lightning about them。 And it was
lightning！ Each thought o
