marquise de brinvilliers-第12节

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The　doctor　was　about　to　answer；　encouraging　her；　when　the　door　opened：　it　was　dinner　coming　in；　for　it　was　now　half…past　one。　　The　marquise　paused　and　watched　what　was　brought　in；　as　though　she　were　playing　hostess　in　her　own　country　house。　　She　made　the　woman　and　the　two　men　who　watched　her　sit　down　to　the　table；　and　turning　to　the　doctor；　said；　〃Sir；　you　will　not　wish　me　to　stand　on　ceremony　with　you；　these　good　people　always　dine　with　me　to　keep　me　company；　and　if　you　approve；　we　will　do　the　same　to…day。　　This　is　the　last　meal；〃　she　added；　addressing　them；　〃that　I　shall　take　with　you。〃　　Then　turning　to　the　woman；　〃Poor　Madame　du　Rus；〃　said　she；　〃I　have　been　a　trouble　to　you　for　a　long　time；　but　have　a　little　patience；　and　you　will　soon　be　rid　of　me。　　To…morrow　you　can　go　to　Dravet；　you　will　have　time；　for　in　seven　or　eight　hours　from　now　there　will　be　nothing　more　to　do　for　me；　and　I　shall　be　in　the　gentleman's　hands；　you　will　not　be　allowed　near　me。　　After　then；　you　can　go　away　for　good；　for　I　don't　suppose　you　will　have　the　heart　to　see　me　executed。〃　　All　this　she　said　quite　calmly；　but　not　with　pride。　　From　time　to　time　her　people　tried　to　hide　their　tears；　and　she　made　a　sign　of　pitying　them。　Seeing　that　the　dinner　was　on　the　table　and　nobody　eating；　she　invited　the　doctor　to　take　some　soup；　asking　him　to　excuse　the　cabbage　in　it；　which　made　it　a　common　soup　and　unworthy　of　his　acceptance。　　She　herself　took　some　soup　and　two　eggs；　begging　her　fellow…guests　to　excuse　her　for　not　serving　them；　pointing　out　that　no　knife　or　fork　had　been　set　in　her　place。

When　the　meal　was　almost　half　finished；　she　begged　the　doctor　to　let　her　drink　his　health。　　He　replied　by　drinking　hers；　and　she　seemed　to　be　quite　charmed　by；　his　condescension。　　〃To…morrow　is　a　fast　day；〃　said　she；　setting　down　her　glass；　〃and　although　it　will　be　a　day　of　great　fatigue　for　me；　as　I　shall　have　to　undergo　the　question　as　well　as　death；　I　intend　to　obey　the　orders　of　the　Church　and　keep　my　fast。〃

〃Madame；〃　replied　the　doctor；　〃if　you　needed　soup　to　keep　you　up；　you　would　not　have　to　feel　any　scruple；　for　it　will　be　no　self…　indulgence；　but　a　necessity；　and　the　Church　does　not　exact　fasting　in　such　a　case。〃

〃Sir；〃　replied　the　marquise；　〃I　will　make　no　difficulty　about　it；　if　it　is　necessary　and　if　you　order　it；　but　it　will　not　be　needed；　I　think：　if　I　have　some　soup　this　evening　for　supper；　and　some　more　made　stronger　than　usual　a　little　before　midnight；　it　will　be　enough　to　last　me　through　to…morrow；　if　I　have　two　fresh　eggs　to　take　after　the　question。〃

〃In　truth；〃　says　the　priest　in　the　account　we　give　here；　〃I　was　alarmed　by　this　calm　behaviour。　　I　trembled　when　I　heard　her　give　orders　to　the　concierge　that　the　soup　was　to　be　made　stronger　than　usual　and　that　she　was　to　have　two　cups　before　midnight。　　When　dinner　was　over；　she　was　given　pen　and　ink；　which　she　had　already　asked　for；　and　told　me　that　she　had　a　letter　to　write　before　I　took　up　my　pen　to　put　down　what　she　wanted　to　dictate。〃　　The　letter；　she　explained；　which　was　difficult　to　write；　was　to　her　husband。　　She　would　feel　easier　when　it　was　written。　　For　her　husband　she　expressed　so　much　affection；　that　the　doctor；　knowing　what　had　passed；　felt　much　surprised；　and　wishing　to　try　her；　said　that　the　affection　was　not　reciprocated；　as　her　husband　had　abandoned　her　the　whole　time　of　the　trial。　　The　marquise　interrupted　him：

〃My　father；　we　must　not　judge　things　too　quickly　or　merely　by　appearances。　　M。　de　Brinvilliers　has　always　concerned　himself　with　me；　and　has　only　failed　in　doing　what　it　was　impossible　to　do。　　Our　interchange　of　letters　never　ceased　while　I　was　out　of　the　kingdom；　do　not　doubt　but　that　he　would　have　come　to　Paris　as　soon　as　he　knew　I　was　in　prison；　had　the　state　of　his　affairs　allowed　him　to　come　safely。　　But　you　must　know　that　he　is　deeply　in　debt；　and　could　not　appear　in　Paris　without　being　arrested。　　Do　not　suppose　that　he　is　without　feeling　for　me。〃

She　then　began　to　write；　and　when　her　letter　was　finished　she　handed　it　to　the　doctor；　saying；　〃You；　sir；　are　the　lord　and　master　of　all　my　sentiments　from　now　till　I　die；　read　this　letter；　and　if　you　find　anything　that　should　be　altered；　tell　me。〃

This　was　the　letter

〃When　I　am　on　the　point　of　yielding　up　my　soul　to　God；　I　wish　to　assure　you　of　my　affection　for　you；　which　I　shall　feel　until　the　last　moment　of　my　life。　　I　ask　your　pardon　for　all　that　I　have　done　contrary　to　my　duty。　　I　am　dying　a　shameful　death；　the　work　of　my　enemies：　I　pardon　them　with　all　my　heart；　and　I　pray　you　to　do　the　same。　　I　also　beg　you　to　forgive　me　for　any　ignominy　that　may　attach　to　you　herefrom；　but　consider　that　we　are　only　here　for　a　time；　and　that　you　may　soon　be　forced　to　render　an　account　to　God　of　all　your　actions；　and　even　your　idle　words；　just　as　I　must　do　now。　　Be　mindful　of　your　worldly　affairs；　and　of　our　children；　and　give　them　a　good　example；　consult　Madame　Marillac　and　Madame　Couste。　　Let　as　many　prayers　as　possible　be　said　for　me；　and　believe　that　in　my　death　I　am　still　ever　yours；　D'AUBRAY。〃

The　doctor　read　this　letter　carefully；　then　he　told　her　that　one　of　her　phrases　was　not　rightthe　one　about　her　enemies。　　〃For　you　have　no　other　enemies；〃　said　he；　〃than　your　own　crimes。　　Those　whom　you　call　your　enemies　are　those　who　love　the　memory　of　your　father　and　brothers；　whom　you　ought　to　have　loved　more　than　they　do。〃

〃But　those　who　have　sought　my　death；〃　she　replied；　〃are　my　enemies；　are　they　not；　and　is　it　not　a　Christian　act　to　forgive　them？〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃they　are　not　your　enemies；　but　you　are　the　enemy　of　the　human　race：　nobody　can　think　without；　horror　of　your　crimes。〃

〃And　so；　my　father；〃　she　replied；　〃I　feel　no　resentment　towards　them；　and　I　desire　to　meet　in　Paradise　those　who　have　been　chiefly　instrumental　in　taking　me　and　bringing　me　here。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃what　mean　you　by　this？　　Such　words　are　used　by　some　when　they　desire　people's　death。　　Explain；　I　beg；　what　you　mean。〃

〃Heaven　forbid；〃　cried　the　marquise；　〃that　you　should　understand　me　thus！　　Nay；　may　God　grant　them　long　prosperity　in　this　world　and　infinite　glory　in　the　next！　　Dictate　a　new　letter；　and　I　will　write　just　what　you　please。〃

When　a　fresh　letter　had　been　written；　the　marquise　would　attend　to　nothing　but　her　confession；　and　begged　the　doctor　to　take　the　pen　for　her。　　〃I　have　done　so　many　wrong　thing's；〃　she　said；　〃that　if　I　only　gave　you　a　verbal　confession；　I　should　never　be　sure　I　had　given　a　complete　account。〃

Then　they　both　knelt　down　to　implore　the　grace　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　They　said　a　'Veni　Creator'　and　a　'Salve　Regina'；　and　the　doctor　then　rose　and　seated　himself　at　a　table；　while　the　marquise；　still　on　her　knees；　began　a　Confiteor　and　made　her　whole　confession。　　At　nine　o'clock；　Father　Chavigny；　who　had　brought　Doctor　Pirot　in　the　morning；　came　in　again。　　The　marquise　seemed　annoyed；　but　still　put　a　good　face　upon　it。　　〃My　father；〃　said　she；　〃I　did　not　expect　to　see　you　so　late；　pray　leave　me　a　few　minutes　longer　with　the　doctor。〃　　He　retired。　　〃　Why　has　he　come？〃　asked　the　marquise。

〃It　is　better　for　you　not　to　be　alone；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃Then　do　you　mean　to　leave　me？〃　cried　the　marquise；　apparently　terrified。

〃Madame；　I　will　do　as　you　wish；〃　he　answered；　〃but　you　would　be　acting　kindly　if　you　could　spare　me　for　a　few　hours。　　I　might　go　home；　and　Father　Chavigny　would　stay　with　you。〃

〃Ah！〃　she　cried；　wringing　her　hands；　〃you　promised　you　would　not　leave　me　till　I　am　dead；　and　now　you　go　away。　　Remember；　I　never　saw　you　before　this　morning；　but　since　then　you　have　become　more　to　me　than　any　of　my　oldest　friends。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　good　doctor；　〃I　will　do　all　I　can　to　please　you。　If　I　ask　for　a　little　rest；　it　is　in　order　that　I　may　resume　my　place　with　more　vigour　to…morrow；　and　render　you　better　service　than　I　otherwise　could。　　If　I　take　no　rest；　all　I　say　or　do　must　suffer。　You　count　on　the　execution　for　tomorrow；　I　do　not　know　if　you　are　right；　but　if　so；　to…morrow　will　be　your　great　and　decisive　day；　and　we　shall　both　need　all　the　strength　we　have。　　We　have　already　been　working　for　thirteen　or　fourteen　hours　for　the　good　of　your　salvation；　I　am　not　a　strong　man；　and　I　think　you　should　realise；　madame；　that　if　you　do　not　let　me　rest　a　little；　I　may　not　be　able　to　stay　with　you　to　the　end。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　the　marquise；　〃you　have　closed　my　mouth。　　To…morrow　is　for　me　a　far　more　important　day　than　to…day；　and　I　have　been　wrong：　of　course　you　must　rest　to…night。　　Let　us　just　finish　this　one　thing；　and　read　over　what　we　have　written。〃

It　was　done；　and　the　doctor　would　have　retired；　but　the　supper　came　in；　and　the　marquise　would　not　let　him　go　without　taking　something。　She　told　the　concierge　to　get　a　carriage　and　charge　it　to　her。　　She　took　a　cup　of　soup　and　two　eggs；　and　a　minute　later　the　concierge　came　back　to　say　the　carriage　was　at　the　door。　　Then　the　marquise　bade　the　doctor　good…night；　making　him　promise　to　pray　for　her　and　to　be　at　the　Conciergerie　by　six　o'clock　the　next　morning。　　This　he　promised　her。

The　day　following；　as　he　went　into　the　tower；　he　found　Father　Chavigny；　who　had　taken　his　place　with　the　marquise；　kneeling　and　praying　with　her。　　The　priest　was　wee