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that his only real adversary was Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne。 Shrewd
and dexterous as the police may be； they are always under certain
disadvantages。 Not only are they forced to discover all that is known
to a conspirator； but they must also suppose and test a great number
of things before they hit upon the right one。 The conspirator is
always thinking of his own safety； whereas the police is only on duty
at certain hours。 Were it not for treachery and betrayals； nothing
would be easier than to conspire successfully。 The conspirator has
more mind concentrated upon himself than the police can bring to bear
with all its vast facilities of action。 Finding themselves stopped
short morally； as they might be physically by a door which they
expected to find open being shut in their faces； Corentin and Peyrade
saw they were tricked and misled； without knowing by whom。
〃I assert；〃 said the corporal of Arcis； in their ear； 〃that if the
four young men slept here last night it must have been in the beds of
their father and mother； and Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne； or those of
the servants； or they must have spent the night in the park。 There is
not a trace of their presence。〃
〃Who could have warned them？〃 said Corentin； to Peyrade。 〃No one but
the First Consul； Fouche； the ministers； the prefect of police； and
Malin knew anything about it。〃
〃We must set spies in the neighborhood；〃 whispered Peyrade。
〃And watch the spies；〃 said the abbe； who smiled as he overheard the
word and guessed all。
〃Good God！〃 thought Corentin； replying to the abbe's smile with one of
his own； 〃there is but one intelligent being here；he's the one to
come to an understanding with； I'll try him。〃
〃Gentlemen〃 said the mayor； anxious to give some proof of devotion
to the First Consul and addressing the two agents。
〃Say 'citizens'； the Republic still exists；〃 interrupted Corentin；
looking at the priest with a quizzical air。
〃Citizens；〃 resumed the mayor； 〃just as I entered this salon and
before I had opened my mouth Catherine rushed in and took her
mistress's hat； gloves； and whip。〃
A low murmur of horror came from the breasts of all the household
except Gothard。 All eyes but those of the agent and the gendarmes were
turned threateningly on Goulard； the informer； seeming to dart flames
at him。
〃Very good； citizen mayor；〃 said Peyrade。 〃We see it all plainly。 Some
one〃 （this with a glance of evident distrust at Corentin） 〃warned the
citizeness Cinq…Cygne in time。〃
〃Corporal； handcuff that boy；〃 said Corentin； to the gendarme； 〃and
take him away by himself。 And shut up that girl； too；〃 pointing to
Catherine。 〃As for you； Peyrade； search for papers；〃 adding in his
ear； 〃Ransack everything； spare nothing。Monsieur l'abbe；〃 he said；
confidentially； 〃I have an important communication to make to you〃；
and he took him into the garden。
〃Listen to me attentively； monsieur；〃 he went on； 〃you seem to have
the mind of a bishop； and （no one can hear us） you will understand me。
I have no longer any hope except through you of saving these families；
who； with the greatest folly； are letting themselves roll down a
precipice where no one can save them。 The Messieurs Simeuse and
d'Hauteserre have been betrayed by one of those infamous spies whom
governments introduce into all conspiracies to learn their objects；
means； and members。 Don't confound me； I beg of you； with the wretch
who is with me。 He belongs to the police； but I am honorably attached
to the Consular cabinet； I am therefore behind the scenes。 The ruin of
the Simeuse brothers is not desired。 Though Malin would like to see
them shot； the First Consul； if they are here and have come without
evil intentions； wishes them to be warned out of danger； for he likes
good soldiers。 The agent who accompanies me has all the powers； I；
apparently； am nothing。 But I see plainly what is hatching。 The agent
is pledged to Malin； who has doubtless promised him his influence； an
office； and perhaps money if he finds the Simeuse brothers and
delivers them up。 The First Consul； who is a really great man； never
favors selfish schemesI don't want to know if those young men are
here；〃 he added； quickly； observing the abbe's gesture； 〃but I wish to
tell you that there is only one way to save them。 You know the law of
the 6th Floreal； year X。； which amnestied all the /emigres/ who were
still in foreign countries on condition that they returned home before
the 1st Vendemiaire of the year XI。； that is to say； in September of
last year。 But the Messieurs Simeuse having； like the Messieurs
d'Hauteserre； served in the army of Conde； they come into the category
of exceptions to this law。 Their presence in France is therefore
criminal； and suffices； under the circumstances in which we are； to
make them suspected of collusion in a horrible plot。 The First Consul
saw the error of this exception which has made enemies for his
government； and he wishes the Messieurs Simeuse to know that no steps
will be taken against them； if they will send him a petition saying
that they have re…entered France intending to submit to the laws； and
agreeing to take oath to the Constitution。 You can understand that the
document ought to be in my hands before they are arrested； and be
dated some days earlier。 I would then be the bearer of itI do not
ask you where those young men are；〃 he said again； seeing another
gesture of denial from the priest。 〃We are； unfortunately； sure of
finding them； the forest is guarded； the entrances to Paris and the
frontiers are all watched。 Pray listen to me； if these gentlemen are
between the forest and Paris they must be taken； if they are in Paris
they will be found； if they retreat to the frontier they will still be
arrested。 The First Consul likes the /ci…devants/； and cannot endure
the republicanssimple enough； if he wants a throne he must needs
strangle Liberty。 Keep the matter a secret between us。 This is what I
will do； I will stay here till to…morrow and /be blind/； but beware of
the agent； that cursed Provencal is the devil's own valet； he has the
ear of Fouche just as I have that of the First Consul。〃
〃If the Messieurs Simeuse are here；〃 said the abbe； 〃I would give ten
pints of my blood and my right arm to save them； but if Mademoiselle
de Cinq…Cygne is in the secret she has notand this I swear on my
eternal salvationbetrayed it in any way； neither has she done me the
honor to consult me。 I am now very glad of her discretion； if
discretion there be。 We played cards last night as usual； at boston；
in almost complete silence； until half…past ten o'clock； and we
neither saw nor heard anything。 Not a child can pass through this
solitary valley without the whole community knowing it； and for the
last two weeks no one has come from other places。 Now the d'Hauteserre
and the Simeuse brothers would make a party of four。 Old d'Hauteserre
and his wife have submitted to the present government； and they have
made all imaginable efforts to persuade their sons to return to
France； they wrote to them again yesterday。 I can only say； upon my
soul and conscience； that your visit has alone shaken my firm belief
that these young m