an historical mystery-第23章

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to　drop　all　at　once　at　the　door　of　the　middle　tower。　A　convulsion　like
that　which　a　thunderbolt　might　produce　shook　the　spectators　when
Laurence；　the　trailing　of　whose　riding…habit　announced　her　coming；
entered　the　room。　The　servants　hastily　formed　into　two　lines　to　let
her　pass。

In　spite　of　her　rapid　ride；　the　girl　had　felt　the　full　anguish　the
discovery　of　the　conspiracy　must　needs　cause　her。　All　her　hopes　were
overthrown！　she　had　galloped　through　ruins　as　her　thoughts　turned　to
the　necessity　of　submission　to　the　Consular　government。　Were　it　not
for　the　danger　which　threatened　the　four　gentlemen；　and　which　served
as　a　tonic　to　conquer　her　weariness　and　her　despair；　she　would　have
dropped　asleep　on　the　way。　The　mare　was　almost　killed　in　her　haste　to
reach　the　chateau；　and　stand　between　her　cousins　and　death。　As　all
present　looked　at　the　heroic　girl；　pale；　her　features　drawn；　her　veil
aside；　her　whip　in　her　hand；　standing　on　the　threshold　of　the　door；
whence　her　burning　glance　grasped　the　whole　scene　and　comprehended　it；
each　knew　from　the　almost　imperceptible　motion　which　crossed　the
soured　and　bittered　face　of　Corentin；　that　the　real　adversaries　had
met。　A　terrible　duel　was　about　to　begin。

Noticing　the　box；　now　in　the　hands　of　Corentin；　the　countess　raised
her　whip　and　sprang　rapidly　towards　him。　Striking　his　hands　with　so
violent　a　blow　that　the　casket　fell　to　the　ground；　she　seized　it；
flung　it　into　the　middle　of　the　fire；　and　stood　with　her　back　to　the
chimney　in　a　threatening　attitude　before　either　of　the　agents
recovered　from　their　surprise。　The　scorn　which　flamed　from　her　eyes；
her　pale　brow；　her　disdainful　lips；　were　even　more　insulting　than　the
haughty　action　which　treated　Corentin　as　though　he　were　a　venomous
reptile。　Old　d'Hauteserre　felt　himself　once　more　a　cavalier；　all　his
blood　rushed　to　his　face；　and　he　grieved　that　he　had　no　sword。　The
servants　trembled　for　an　instant　with　joy。　The　vengeance　they　had
called　down　upon　these　men　had　come。　But　their　joy　was　driven　back
within　their　souls　by　a　terrible　fear；　the　gendarmes　were　still　heard
coming　and　going　in　the　garrets。

The　/spy/noun　of　strength；　under　which　all　shades　of　the　police　are
confounded；　for　the　public　has　never　chosen　to　specify　in　language　the
varieties　of　those　who　compose　this　dispensary　of　social　remedies　so
essential　to　all　governmentsthe　spy　has　this　curious　and　magnificent
quality：　he　never　becomes　angry；　he　possesses　the　Christian　humility
of　a　priest；　his　eyes　are　stolid　with　an　indifference　which　he　holds
as　a　barrier　against　the　world　of　fools　who　do　not　understand　him；　his
forehead　is　adamant　under　insult；　he　pursues　his　ends　like　a　reptile
whose　carapace　is　fractured　only　by　a　cannonball；　but　（like　that
reptile）　he　is　all　the　more　furious　when　the　blow　does　reach　him；
because　he　believed　his　armor　invulnerable。　The　lash　of　the　whip　upon
his　fingers　was　to　Corentin；　pain　apart；　the　cannonball　that　cracked
the　shell。　Coming　from　that　magnificent　and　noble　girl；　this　action；
emblematic　of　her　disgust；　humiliated　him；　not　only　in　the　eyes　of　the
people　about　him；　but　in　his　own。

Peyrade　sprang　to　the　hearth；　caught　Laurence's　foot；　raised　it；　and
compelled　her；　out　of　modesty；　to　throw　herself　on　the　sofa；　where　she
had　lately　lain　asleep。　The　scene；　like　other　contrasts　in　human
things；　was　burlesque　in　the　midst　of　terror。　Peyrade　scorched　his
hand　as　he　dashed　it　into　the　fire　to　seize　the　box；　but　he　got　it；
threw　it　on　the　floor　and　sat　down　upon　it。　These　little　actions　were
done　with　great　rapidity　and　without　a　word　being　uttered。　Corentin；
recovering　from　the　pain　of　the　blow；　caught　Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…
Cygne　by　both　hands；　and　held　her。

〃Do　not　compel　me　to　use　force　against　you；〃　he　said；　with　withering
politeness。

Peyrade's　action　had　extinguished　the　fire　by　the　natural　process　of
suppressing　the　air。

〃Gendarmes！　here！〃　he　cried；　still　occupying　his　ridiculous　position。

〃Will　you　promise　to　behave　yourself？〃　said　Corentin；　insolently；
addressing　Laurence；　and　picking　up　his　dagger；　but　not　committing　the
great　fault　of　threatening　her　with　it。

〃The　secrets　of　that　box　do　not　concern　the　government；〃　she　answered；
with　a　tinge　of　melancholy　in　her　tone　and　manner。　〃When　you　have　read
the　letters　it　contains　you　will；　in　spite　of　your　infamy；　feel
ashamed　of　having　read　themthat　is；　if　you　can　still　feel　shame　at
anything；〃　she　added；　after　a　pause。

The　abbe　looked　at　her　as　if　to　say；　〃For　God's　sake；　be　calm！〃

Peyrade　rose。　The　bottom　of　the　box；　which　had　been　nearly　burned
through；　left　a　mark　upon　the　floor；　the　lid　was　scorched　and　the
sides　gave　way。　The　grotesque　Scaevola；　who　had　offered　to　the　god　of
the　Police　and　Terror　the　seat　of　his　apricot　breeches；　opened　the　two
sides　of　the　box　as　if　it　had　been　a　book；　and　slid　three　letters　and
two　locks　of　hair　upon　the　card…table。　He　was　about　to　smile　at
Corentin　when　he　perceived　that　the　locks　were　of　two　shades　of　gray。
Corentin　released　Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne's　hands　and　went　up　to
the　table　to　read　the　letter　from　which　the　hair　had　fallen。

Laurence　rose；　moved　to　the　table　beside　the　spies；　and　said：〃Read
it　aloud；　that　shall　be　your　punishment。〃

As　the　two　men　continued　to　read　to　themselves；　she　herself　read　out
the　following　words：

　　Dear　Laurence；My　husband　and　I　have　heard　of　your　noble　conduct
　　on　the　day　of　our　arrest。　We　know　that　you　love　our　dear　twins　as
　　much；　almost；　as　we　love　them　ourselves。　Therefore　it　is　with　you
　　that　we　leave　a　token　which　will　be　both　precious　and　sad　to　them。
　　The　executioner　has　come　to　cut　our　hair；　for　we　are　to　die　in　a
　　few　moments；　he　has　promised　to　put　into　your　hands　the　only
　　remembrance　we　are　able　to　leave　to　our　beloved　orphans。　Keep
　　these　last　remains　of　us　and　give　them　to　our　sons　in　happier
　　days。　We　have　kissed　these　locks　of　hair　and　have　laid　our
　　blessing　upon　them。　Our　last　thought　will　be　of　our　sons；　of　you；
　　and　of　God。　Love　them；　Laurence。

Berthe　de　Cinq…Cygne。
Jean　de　Simeuse。


Tears　came　to　the　eyes　of　all　the　household　as　they　listened　to　the
letter。

Laurence　looked　at　the　agents　with　a　petrifying　glance　and　said；　in　a
firm　voice：

〃You　have　less　pity　than　the　executioner。〃

Corentin　quietly　folded　the　hair　in　the　letter；　laid　the　letter　aside
on　the　table；　and　put　a　box　of　counters　on　the　top　of　it　as　if　to
prevent　its　blowing　away。　His　coolness　in　the　midst　of　the　general
emotion　was　horrible。

Peyrade　unfolded　the　other　letters。

〃Oh；　as　for　those；〃　said　Laurence；　〃they　are　very　much　alike。　You　hear
the　will；　you　can　now　hear　of　its　fulfilment。　In　future　I　shall　have
no　secrets　from　any　one。〃


　　1794；　Andernach。　Before　the　battle。

　　My　dear　Laurence；I　love　you　for　life；　and　I　wish　you　to　know　it。
　　But　you　ought　also　to　know；　in　case　I　die；　that　my　brother；　Paul…
　　Marie；　loves　you　as　much　as　I　love　you。　My　only　consolation　in
　　dying　would　be　the　thought　that　you　might　some　day　make　my　brother
　　your　husband　without　being　forced　to　see　me　die　of　jealousywhich
　　must　surely　happen　if；　both　of　us　being　alive；　you　preferred　him
　　to　me。　After　all；　that　preference　seems　natural；　for　he　is；
　　perhaps；　more　worthy　of　your　love　than　I

　　Marie…Paul。


〃Here　is　the　other　letter；〃　she　said；　with　the　color　in　her　cheeks。


　　Andernach。　Before　the　battle。

　　My　kind　Laurence；My　heart　is　sad；　but　Marie…Paul　has　a　gayer
　　nature；　and　will　please　you　more　than　I　am　able　to　do。　Some　day
　　you　will　have　to　choose　between　uswell；　though　I　love　you
　　passionately


〃You　are　corresponding　with　/emigres/；〃　said　Peyrade；　interrupting
Laurence；　and　holding　the　letters　between　himself　and　the　light　to　see
if　they　contained　between　the　lines　any　treasonable　writing　with
invisible　ink。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Laurence；　folding　the　precious　letters；　the　paper　of
which　was　already　yellow　with　time。　〃But　by　virtue　of　what　right　do
you　presume　to　violate　my　dwelling　and　my　personal　liberty？〃

〃Ah；　that's　the　point！〃　cried　Peyrade。　〃By　what　right；　indeed！it　is
time　to　let　you　know　it；　beautiful　aristocrat；〃　he　added；　taking　a
warrant　from　h