derues-第15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！


illes；　refused　to　receive　them；　saying　he　had　no　vacant　room。　　This　might　have　disconcerted　anyone　but　Derues；　but　his　audacity；　activity；　and　resource　seemed　to　increase　with　each　fresh　obstacle。　　Leaving　Edouard　in　a　room　on　the　ground　floor　which　had　no　communication　with　the　rest　of　the　inn；　he　went　at　once　to　look　for　lodgings；　and　hastily　explored　the　town。　After　a　fruitless　search；　he　found　at　last；　at　the　junction　of　the　rue　Saint…Honore　with　that　of　the　Orangerie；　a　cooper　named　Martin；　who　had　a　furnished　room　to　spare。　　This　he　hired　at　thirty　sous　per　day　for　himself　and　his　nephew；　who　had　been　taken　suddenly　ill；　under　the　　name　of　Beaupre。　　To　avoid　being　questioned　later；　　he　informed　the　cooper　in　a　few　words　that　he　was　a　doctor；　that　he　had　come　to　Versailles　in　order　to　place　his　nephew　in　one　of　the　offices　of　the　town；　that　in　a　few　days　the　latter's　mother　would　arrive　to　join　him　in　seeing　and　making　application　to　influential　persons　about　the　court；　to　whom　he　had　letters　of　introduction。　　As　soon　as　he　had　delivered　this　fable　with　all　the　appearance　of　truth　with　which　he　knew　so　well　how　to　disguise　his　falsehoods；　he　went　back　to　the　young　de　Lamotte；　who　was　already　so　exhausted　that　he　was　hardly　able　to　drag　himself　as　far　as　the　cooper's　house。　　He　fainted　on　arrival；　and　was　carried　into　the　hired　room；　where　Derues　begged　to　be　left　alone　with　him；　and　only　asked　for　certain　beverages　which　he　told　the　people　how　to　prepare。

Whether　it　was　that　the　strength　of　youth　fought　against　the　poison；　or　that　Derues　took　pleasure　in　watching　the　sufferings　of　his　victim；　the　agony　of　the　poor　lad　was　prolonged　until　the　fourth　day。　The　sickness　continuing　incessantly；　he　sent　the　cooper's　wife　for　a　medicine　which　he　prepared　and　administered　himself。　　It　produced　terrible　pain；　and　Edouard's　cries　brought　the　cooper　and　his　wife　upstairs。　　They　represented　to　Derues　that　he　ought　to　call　in　a　doctor　and　consult　with　him；　but　he　refused　decidedly；　saying　that　a　doctor　hastily　fetched　might　prove　to　be　an　ignorant　person　with　whom　he　could　not　agree；　and　that　he　could　not　allow　one　so　dear　to　him　to　be　prescribed　for　and　nursed　by　anyone　but　himself。

〃I　know　what　the　malady　is；〃　he　continued；　raising　his　eyes　to　heaven；　〃it　is　one　that　has　to　be　concealed　rather　than　acknowledged。　Poor　youth！　whom　I　love　as　my　own　son；　if　God；　touched　by　my　tears　and　thy　suffering；　permits　me　to　save　thee；　thy　whole　life　will　be　too　short　for　thy　blessings　and　thy　gratitude！〃　　And　as　Madame　Martin　asked　what　this　malady　might　be；　he　answered　with　hypocritical　blushes

〃Do　not　ask；　madame；　there　are　things　of　which　you　do　not　know　even　the　name。〃

At　another　time；　Martin　expressed　his　surprise　that　the　young　man's　mother　had　not　yet　appeared；　who；　according　to　Derues；　was　to　have　met　him　at　Versailles。　　He　asked　how　she　could　know　that　they　were　lodging　in　his　house；　and　if　he　should　send　to　meet　her　at　any　place　where　she　was　likely　to　arrive。

〃His　mother；〃　said　Derues；　looking　compassionately　at　Edouard；　who　lay　pale；　motionless；　and　as　if　insensible；〃his　mother！　　He　calls　for　her　incessantly。　　Ah！　monsieur；　some　families　are　greatly　to　be　pitied！　　My　entreaties　prevailed　on　her　to　decide　on　coming　hither；　but　will　she　keep　her　promise？　　Do　not　ask　me　to　tell　you　more；　it　is　too　painful　to　have　to　accuse　a　mother　of　having　forgotten　her　duties　in　the　presence　of　her　son　。　　。　　。　　there　are　secrets　which　ought　not　to　be　toldunhappy　woman！〃

Edouard　moved；　extended　his　arms；　and　repeated；　〃Mother！　　。　　。　　。　mother！〃

Derues　hastened　to　his　side　and　took　his　hands　in　his；　as　if　to　warm　them。

〃My　mother！〃　the　youth　repeated。　　〃Why　have　I　not　seen　her？　　She　was　to　have　met　me。〃

You　shall　soon　see　her；　dear　boy；　only　keep　quiet。〃

〃But　just　now　I　thought　she　was　dead。〃

〃Dead！〃　cried　Derues。　　〃Drive　away　these　sad　thoughts。　　They　are　caused　by　the　fever　only。〃

〃No！　　oh　no！　。　　。　　。　　I　heard　a　secret　voice　which　said；　'Thy　mother　is　dead！'　。　　。　　。　　And　then　I　beheld　a　livid　corpse　before　me　。　　。　　。　It　was　she！　。　　。　　。　　I　knew　her　well！　and　she　seemed　to　have　suffered　so　much〃

〃Dear　boy；　your　mother　is　not　dead　。　　。　　。　　。　　My　God！　what　terrible　chimeras　you　conjure　up！　　You　will　see　her　again；　I　assure　you；　she　has　arrived　already。　　Is　it　not　so；　madame？〃　he　asked；　turning　towards　the　Martins；　who　were　both　leaning　against　the　foot　of　the　bed；　and　signing　to　them　to　support　this　pious　falsehood；　in　order　to　calm　the　young　man。　　〃Did　she　not　arrive　and　come　to　his　bedside　and　kiss　him　while　he　slept；　and　she　will　soon　come　again？〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Madame　Martin；　wiping　her　eyes；　〃and　she　begged　my　husband　and　me　to　help　your　uncle　to　take　great　care　of　you〃

The　youth　moved　again；　and　looking　round　him　with　a　dazed　expression；　said；　〃My　uncle？〃

〃You　had　better　go；〃　said　Derues　in　a　whisper　to　the　Martins。　　〃I　am　afraid　he　is　delirious　again；　I　will　prepare　a　draught；　which　will　give　him　a　little　rest　and　sleep。〃

〃Adieu；　then；　adieu；〃　answered　Madame　Martin；　〃and　may　Heaven　bless　you　for　the　care　you　bestow　on　this　poor　young　man！〃

On　Friday　evening　violent　vomiting　appeared　to　have　benefited　the　sufferer。　　He　had　rejected　most　of　the　poison；　and　had　a　fairly　quiet　night。　　But　on　the　Saturday　morning　Derues　sent　the　cooper's　little　girl　to　buy　more　medicine；　which　he　prepared；　himself；　like　the　first。　　The　day　was　horrible；　and　about　six　in　the　evening；　seeing　his　victim　was　at　the　last　gasp；　he　opened　a　little　window　overlooking　the　shop　and　summoned　the　cooper；　requesting　him　to　go　at　once　for　a　priest。　　When　the　latter　arrived　he　found　Derues　in　tears；　kneeling　at　the　dying　boy's　bedside。　　And　now；　by　the　light　of　two　tapers　placed　on　a　table；　flanking　the　holy　water…stoup；　there　began　what　on　one　side　was　an　abominable　and　sacrilegious　comedy；　a　disgraceful　parody　of　that　which　Christians　consider　most　sacred　and　most　dear；　on　the　other；　a　pious　and　consoling　ceremony。　　The　cooper　and　his　wife；　their　eyes　bathed　in　tears；　knelt　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　murmuring　such　prayers　as　they　could　remember。

Derues　gave　up　his　place　to　the　priest；　but　as　Edouard　did　not　answer　the　latter's　questions；　he　approached　the　bed；　and　bending　over　the　sufferer；　exhorted　him　to　confession。

〃Dear　boy；〃　he　said；　〃take　courage；　your　sufferings　here　will　be　counted　to　you　above：　God　will　weigh　ahem　in　the　scales　of　His　infinite　mercy。　　Listen　to　the　words　of　His　holy　minister；　cast　your　sins　into　His　bosom；　and　obtain　from　Him　forgiveness　for　your　faults。〃

〃I　am　in　such　terrible　pain！〃　cried　Edouard。　　〃Water！　water！　Extinguish　the　fire　which　consumes　me！〃

A　violent　fit　came　on；　succeeded　by　exhaustion　and　the　death…rattle。　Derues　fell　on　his　knees；　and　the　priest　administered　extreme　unction。　　There　was　then　a　moment　of　absolute　silence；　more　impressive　than　cries　and　sobs。　　The　priest　collected　himself　for　a　moment；　crossed　himself；　and　began　to　pray。　　Derues　also　crossed　himself；　and　repeated　in　a　low　voice；　apparently　choked　by　grief

〃Go　forth；　O　Christian　soul；　from　this　world；　in　the　name　of　God　the　Father　Almighty；　who　created　thee；　in　the　name　of　Jesus　Christ；　the　Son　of　the　living　God；　who　suffered　for　thee；　in　the　name　of　the　Holy　Ghost；　who　was　poured　out　upon　thee。〃

The　youth　struggled　in　his　bed；　and　a　convulsive　movement　agitated　his　limbs。　　Derues　continued

〃When　thy　soul　departs　from　this　body　may　it　be　admitted　to　the　holy　Mountain　of　Sion；　to　the　Heavenly　Jerusalem；　to　the　numerous　company　of　Angels；　and　to　the　Church　of　the　First…born；　whose　names　are　written　in　Heaven〃

〃Mother！　　。　　。　　。　　My　mother！〃　cried　Edouard。　　Derues　resumed

〃Let　God　arise；　and　let　the　Powers　of　Darkness　be　dispersed！　　let　the　Spirits　of　Evil；　who　reign　over　the　air；　be　put　to　flight；　let　them　not　dare　to　attack　a　soul　redeemed　by　the　precious　blood　of　Jesus　Christ。〃

〃Amen；〃　responded　the　priest　and　the　Martins。

There　was　another　silence；　broken　only　by　the　stifled　sobs　of　Derues。　The　priest　again　crossed　himself　and　took　up　the　prayer。

〃We　beseech　Thee；　O　beloved　and　only　Son　of　God；　by　the　merits　of　Thy　sacred　Passion；　Thy　Cross　and　Thy　Death；　to　deliver　this　Thy　servant　from　the　pains　of　Hell；　and　to　lead　him　to　that　happy　place　whither　Thou　didst　vouchsafe　to　lead　the　thief；　who；　with　Thee；　was　bound　upon　the　Cross：　Thou；　who　art　God；　living　and　reigning　with　the　Father　and　the　Holy　Ghost。〃

〃Amen；〃　repeated　those　present。　　Derues　now　took　up　the　prayer；　and　his　voice　mingled　with　the　dying　gasps　of　the　sufferer。

〃And　there　was　a　　darkness　over　all　the　earth

〃To　Thee；　O　Lord；　we　commend　the　soul　of　this　Thy　servant；　that；　being　dead　to　the　world；　he　may；　live　to　Thee：　and　the　sins　he　hath　committed　through　the　frailty　of　his　mortal　nature；　do　Thou　in　Thy　most　merciful　goodness；　forgive　and　wash　away。　　Amen。〃

After　which　all　present　sprinkled　holy　water　on　the　body。。。。

When　the　priest　had　retired；　shown　out　by　Madame　Martin；　Derues　said　to　her　husband

〃This　unfortunate　young　man　has　died　without　the　consolation　of　beholding　his　mother。。。。　　His　last　thought　was　for　her。。。。　There　now　remains　the　last　duty；　a　very　painful　one　to　accomplish；　but　my　poor　nephew　imposed　it