the notch on the ax and on being found out-第60章
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which Guillotin made； and which he showed to private friends in a
hangar in the Rue Picpus； where he lived。 The invention created
some little conversation among scientific men at the time； though I
remember a machine in Edinburgh of a very similar construction； two
hundredwell； many； many years agoand at a breakfast which
Guillotin gave he showed us the instrument； and much talk arose
among us as to whether people suffered under it。
〃And now I must tell you what befell the traitor who had caused all
this suffering。 Did he know that the poor child's death was a
SENTENCE？ He felt a cowardly satisfaction that with her was gone
the secret of his treason。 Then he began to doubt。 I had MEANS to
penetrate all his thoughts； as well as to know his acts。 Then he
became a slave to a horrible fear。 He fled in abject terror to a
convent。 They still existed in Paris； and behind the walls of
Jacobins the wretch thought himself secure。 Poor fool！ I had but
to set one of my somnambulists to sleep。 Her spirit went forth and
spied the shuddering wretch in his cell。 She described the street；
the gate； the convent； the very dress which he wore； and which you
saw to…day。
〃And now THIS is what happened。 In his chamber in the Rue St。
Honore； at Paris； sat a man ALONEa man who has been maligned； a
man who has been called a knave and charlatan； a man who has been
persecuted even to the death； it is said； in Roman Inquisitions；
forsooth； and elsewhere。 Ha！ ha！ A man who has a mighty will。
〃And looking toward the Jacobins Convent （of which； from his
chamber； he could see the spires and trees）； this man WILLED。 And
it was not yet dawn。 And he willed； and one who was lying in his
cell in the convent of Jacobins； awake and shuddering with terror
for a crime which he had committed； fell asleep。
〃But though he was asleep his eyes were open。
〃And after tossing and writhing； and clinging to the pallet； and
saying 'No； I will not go；' he rose up and donned his clothesa
gray coat； a vest of white pique； black satin small…clothes； ribbed
silk stockings； and a white stock with a steel buckle； and he
arranged his hair； and he tied his queue； all the while being in
that strange somnolence which walks； which moves； which FLIES
sometimes； which sees； which is indifferent to pain； which OBEYS。
And he put on his hat； and he went forth from his cell： and though
the dawn was not yet； he trod the corridors as seeing them。 And he
passed into the cloister； and then into the garden where lie the
ancient dead。 And he came to the wicket； which Brother Jerome was
opening just at the dawning。 And the crowd was already waiting
with their cans and bowls to receive the alms of the good brethren。
〃And he passed through the crowd and went on his way； and the few
people then abroad who marked him； said； 'Tiens！ How very odd he
looks！ He looks like a man walking in his sleep！' This was said
by various persons：
〃By milk women； with their cans and carts； coming into the town。
〃By roysterers who had been drinking at the taverns of the Barrier；
for it was Mid…Lent。
〃By the sergeants of the watch； who eyed him sternly as he passed
near their halberds。
〃But he passed on unmoved by their halberds；
〃Unmoved by the cries of the roysterers；
〃By the market women coming with their milk and eggs。
〃He walked through the Rue St。 Honore； I say：
〃By the Rue Rambuteau；
〃By the Rue St。 Antoine；
〃By the King's Chateau of the Bastille；
〃By the Faubourg St。 Antoine。
〃And he came to No。 29 in the Rue Picpusa house which then stood
between a court and garden
〃That is； there was a building of one story； with a great coach
door。
〃Then there was a court； around which were stables； coach…houses；
offices。
〃Then there was a housea two…storied house； with a perron in
front。
〃Behind the house was a gardena garden of two hundred and fifty
French feet in length。
〃And as one hundred feet of France equal one hundred and six feet
of England； this garden； my friend； equaled exactly two hundred and
sixty…five feet of British measure。
〃In the center of the garden was a fountain and a statueor； to
speak more correctly； two statues。 One was recumbent；a man。
Over him； saber in hand； stood a Woman。
〃The man was Olofernes。 The woman was Judith。 From the head； from
the trunk； the water gushed。 It was the taste of the doctor：was
it not a droll of taste？
〃At the end of the garden was the doctor's cabinet of study。 My
faith； a singular cabinet； and singular pictures！
〃Decapitation of Charles Premier at Vitehall。
〃Decapitation of Montrose at Edimbourg。
〃Decapitation of Cinq Mars。 When I tell you that he was a man of
taste； charming！
〃Through this garden； by these statues； up these stairs； went the
pale figure of him who； the porter said； knew the way of the house。
He did。 Turning neither right nor left； he seemed to walk THROUGH
the statues； the obstacles； the flower beds； the stairs； the door；
the tables； the chairs。
〃In the corner of the room was THAT INSTRUMENT； which Guillotin had
just invented and perfected。 One day he was to lay his own head
under his own ax。 Peace be to his name！ With him I deal not！
〃In a frame of mahogany； neatly worked； was a board with a half
circle in it； over which another board fitted。 Above was a heavy
ax； which fellyou know how。 It was held up by a rope； and when
this rope was untied； or cut； the steel fell。
〃To the story which I now have to relate； you may give credence； or
not； as you will。 The sleeping man went up to that instrument。
〃He laid his head in it； asleep。〃
〃Asleep？〃
〃He then took a little penknife out of the pocket of his white
dimity waistcoat。
〃He cut the rope asleep。
〃The ax descended on the head of the traitor and villain。 The
notch in it was made by the steel buckle of his stock； which was
cut through。
〃A strange legend has got abroad that after the deed was done； the
figure rose； took the head from the basket； walked forth through
the garden； and by the screaming porters at the gate； and went and
laid itself down at the Morgue。 But for this I will not vouch。
Only of this be sure。 'There are more things in heaven and earth；
Horatio； than are dreamed of in your philosophy。' More and more
the light peeps through the chinks。 Soon； amidst music ravishing；
the curtain will rise； and the glorious scene be displayed。 Adieu！
Remember me。 Ha！ 'tis dawn；〃 Pinto said。 And he was gone。
I am ashamed to say that my first movement was to clutch the check
which he had left with me； and which I was determined to present
the very moment the bank opened。 I know the importance of these
things； and that men change their mind sometimes。 I sprang through
the streets to the great banking house of Manasseh in Duke Street。
It seemed to me as if I actually flew as I walked。 As the clock
struck ten I was at the counter and laid down my check。
The gentleman who received it； who was one of the Hebrew
persuasion； as were the other two hundred clerks of the
establishment； having looked at the draft with terror in his
countenance； then looked at me； then called to himself two of his
fellow clerks； and queer it was to see all their aquiline beaks
over the paper。
〃Come； come！〃 said I； 〃don't keep me here all day。 Hand me over
the money； short； if you please！〃 for I was； you see； a little
alarmed； and so determined to assume some extra bluster。
〃Will you have the kindness to step into the parlor to the
partners？〃 the clerk said； and I followed him。
〃What； AGAIN？〃 shrieked a bald…headed； red…whiskered gentleman；
whom I knew to be Mr。 Manasseh。 〃Mr。 Salathiel； this is too bad！
Leave me with this gentleman； S。〃 And the clerk disappeared。
〃Sir；〃 he said； 〃I know how you came by this： the Count de Pinto
gave it you。 It is too bad！ I honor my parents； I honor THEIR
parents； I honor their bills！ But this one of grandma's is too
badit is； upon my word； now！ She've been dead these five…and…
thirty years。 And this last four months she has left her burial
place and took to drawing on our 'ouse！ It's too bad； grandma； it
is too bad！〃 and he appealed to me；
