marie antoinette and her son-第128章
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！
whispered Elizabeth in gentle tones； 〃I shall soon be with my
brother and my sister。 Give me your hand； my brother。 You shall
conduct me to death； and I will give you my hand above； at the
opening of the new life； and conduct you to Marie Antoinette。
'Sister；' I will say to her； 'this is the one true and good heart
which beat on earth for you； and I bring it to you that you may
rejoice in it in heaven。' Toulan； there is only one title of honor
for all men； and that is Fidele。 It is sanctioned even by the word
of God： 'Be thou faithful unto death； and I will give thee a crown
of life。'〃
Just at that moment the axe rattled； there was a muffled sound； and
the head of the Marchioness Crussol d'Amboise fell into the basket。
〃Elizabeth Capet； it is your turncome up！〃
〃I come。〃
She ascended the scaffold。 Arrayed； as she was； in this white robe；
her transparent face was like that of an angel。 It seemed to Toulan
as if her foot no longer rested on the earth。 He followed her to the
scaffold； and as she was about to ascend the steps； he laid his hand
upon her arm。
〃Princess； I have a secret to impart to you。 I have promised with a
solemn oath that my lips should disclose it to no mortal； but you；
Elizabeth； belong already to the immortals； the peace of God
illumines your brow； and I want you to have one last joy before you
ascend into heaven。 This is my secret： The boy who is confined in
the Temple is not the dauphin。 I have fulfilled the promise which I
gave the queen。 I have saved the dauphin； and he is now in Vendee；
under the safe care of Prince de Conde。〃
〃Elizabeth Capet； come up； or we must bring you by force。〃
〃I am coming。 Farewell； Fidele！ you have spoken the truth； you have
given me a last joy！ I thank you； now kiss my lips； give your sister
a parting kiss； Fidele。 Farewell； my brother！〃
He touched the lips that were illumined with a sad smile〃Farewell；
my sister！〃
She ascended the steps； and； reaching the scaffold； she calmly laid
aside the veil； and prepared her toilet for death。
At the foot of the scaffold Toulan remained upon his knees； his
great eyes； which had been directed to Elizabeth； beamed with
rapture； and in his heart there were words written with a finger of
diamondwords hallowed and comforting； that Toulan read in
meditation and prayer： 〃Love vanquishes death； love is victorious
even over life； love； which is the highest friendship； and
friendship； which is the highest love； rise so far above every thing
earthly； that thou must surrender every thing for them； every thing
which thou hast valued upon earth； every thing which has stood to
thee in the most tender relations。 In this love thou hast lived； and
in this love thou shalt die and ascend into heaven。〃
〃Toulan； come up！ Do you not hear us calling you？ Do you not see
that Elizabeth Capet has made place for you？〃
He had not seen when the noble head of the princess fell into the
basket； he had not heard the executioner call him； he had only read
in his heart the revelation of love。
He ascended the steps； and his countenance beamed with the same
light of rapture which had surrounded Elizabeth's brow。
A piercing scream came from the crowd； as a young wife fell
senseless into the arms of her neighbors； while the boy who stood
near her extended his hands to the scaffold； and called； loudly；
〃Father； dear father！〃
Toulan did not turn to them。 No earthly sorrow had place in this
soul； which had overcome pain； and received eternal joy into itself。
Calmly he laid his head beneath the axe。 〃God is love；〃 he said；
aloud。 〃He that abideth in love； abideth in God； and God〃
The axe descended； and left Toulan's last words unspoken。
BOOK VI。
CHAPTER XXIX。
WITHOUT NAME AND RANK。
The Prince de Conde was walking with quick steps up and down his
apartment。 His brow was cloudy； his eyes wore a sad look； and at
times he raised his hand； as if he would remove a veil that darkened
his sight。
〃It must he；〃 he said； decisively； after a while。 〃Yes； it must be；
I see no other means of saving him from the snares of his enemies
and friends。 He must leave； and that at once。〃
He walked hastily to the table； pulled the bell violently； and
ordered the servant who came in to bring the boy who came yesterday
to him。
A few minutes later； the door opened； and a boy of ten。 or twelve
years； with great blue eyes； fair hair； graceful form； and delicate
complexion； came into the room。 At his appearance the Prince de
Conde seemed deeply moved。 He hastened with open arms to meet the
boy； pressed him closely to his heart； and kissed his fair hair and
eyes。
〃Welcome； a thousand times welcome！〃 he said； with trembling voice。
〃How long have I desired to see this moment； and how happy I am that
it has come at last！ You are saved； yon are restored to freedom； to
life； and there is in store for you； I hope； a great and brilliant
future！〃
〃Then I shall have to thank you for it； my cousin；〃 said the boy；
with his sweet； resonant voice。 〃You have released me from the
dreadful prison； and I thank you for life。 I am glad； too； that I
see you at last； for I wanted so much to express my thanks； and
every evening I have prayed to God to grant me the happiness of
greeting my dear cousin； the Prince de Conde。〃
The joyous light had long since faded from the face of the prince；
and a cloud was gathering on his brow； as； with a timid； searching
look； he glanced around； as if he feared that some one besides
himself might hear the words of the boy。
〃Do not call me your cousin；〃 he said； softly； and even his voice
was changed； and became cold and husky。
The boy fixed his great blue eyes with an expression of astonishment
on the gloomy countenance of the Prince de Conde。
〃You are no longer glad to see me here？ Is it disagreeable to you
for me to call you my cousin？〃
The prince made no answer at once； but walked up and down with great
strides； and then stood still before the boy； who had calmly
observed his impatient motions。
〃Let us sit down；〃 said the Prince de Conde〃 let us sit down and
talk。〃
He gave his hand to the boy； led him to the divan； and took his own
place upon an easy…chair； directly opposite to the child。
〃Let us talk；〃 he repeated。 〃I should like to know； in the first
place； whether you have a good memory； for I have been told that
your head has suffered； and that you have no recollection of the
past。〃
A gentle； sad smile played around the lips of the boy。
〃I have been silent about the past； as I have been commanded to；〃 he
said； 〃but I have not forgotten it。〃
〃Do you remember your mother？〃 asked the prince。
The boy trembled convulsively； a glowing red passed over his cheeks；
and a deep paleness followed。
〃Monsieur；〃 he asked； with a tremulous voice； 〃would it be possible
for me to forget my dear mamma queen？my mamma queen who loved her
little Louis Charles so much？ Ah； sir； you would not have asked that
if you had known how much pain you give me。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the prince； embarrassed。 〃I see you
remember。 But let me try you once more。 Will you tell me what
happened to you after being taken away from your cruel foster…
parents？ What were those people's names； and what were they？〃
〃My foster…parents； or my tormentors rather； were called Mr。 and
Mistress Simon。 The man had been a cobbler； but afterward he was
superintendent and turnkey in the Temple； and when I was taken away
from my mamma； sister； and aunt； I had to live with these dreadful
people。〃
〃Did you fare badly there？〃
〃Very badly； sir； I was scolded and ill…treated； and the worst of
all was that they wanted to compel me to sing ribald songs about my
mamma queen。〃
〃But you did not sing these songs？〃 asked the Prince de Conde。
The eyes of the boy flamed。 〃No；〃 he said； proudly； 〃I did not sing
them。 They might have beaten me to death。 I would rather have died
than have done it；〃
The prince nodded approvingly。 〃And how did you escape from these
people？〃 he asked。
〃You know； Prince de Conde；〃 answered the boy； smiling。 〃It is you
who helped me escape。〃
〃Tell me about this matter a little；〃 said the prince； 〃
