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vengeance on the senator。 The unhappy woman now knew Michu's devotion
well enough to be certain that he was the one who would be most in
danger； not only because of his antecedents； but because of the part
he was sure to have taken in the execution of the scheme。
The Abbe Goujet and his sister and Marthe were bewildered among the
possibilities to which this opinion gave rise； and yet； in the process
of thinking them over； their minds insensibly took hold of them in a
certain way。 The absolute doubt which Descartes demands can no more
exist in the brain of a man than a vacuum can exist in nature； and the
mental operation required to produce it would； like the effect of a
pneumatic machine； be exceptional and anomalous。 Whatever a case may
be； the mind believes in something。 Now Marthe was so afraid that the
accused were guilty that her fear became equivalent to belief； and
this condition of her mind proved fatal to her。
Five days after the arrests； just as she was in the act of going to
bed about ten o'clock at night； she was called from the courtyard by
her mother； who had come from the farm on foot。
〃A laboring man from Troyes wants to speak to you； he is sent by
Michu； and is waiting in the covered way；〃 she said to Marthe。
They passed through the breach so as to take the shortest path。 In the
darkness it was impossible for Marthe to distinguish anything more
than the form of a person which loomed through the shadows。
〃Speak； madame； so that I may be certain you are really Madame Michu；〃
said the person； in a rather anxious voice。
〃I am Madame Michu；〃 said Marthe； 〃what do you want of me？〃
〃Very good；〃 said the unknown； 〃give me your hand； do not fear me。 I
come；〃 he added； leaning towards her and speaking low； 〃from Michu
with a note for you。 I am employed at the prison； and if my superiors
discover my absence we shall all be lost。 Trust me； your good father
placed me where I am。 For that reason Michu counted on my helping
him。〃
He put the letter into Marthe's hand and disappeared toward the forest
without waiting for an answer。 Marthe trembled at the thought that she
was now to hear the secret of the mystery。 She ran to the farm with
her mother and shut herself up to read the following letter：
My dear Marthe；You can rely on the discretion of the man who
will give you this letter； he does not know how to read or to
write。 He is a stanch Republican； and shared in Baboeuf's
conspiracy； your father often made use of him； and he regards the
senator as a traitor。 Now； my dear wife； attend to my directions。
The senator has been shut up by us in the cave where our masters
were hidden。 The poor creature had provisions for only five days；
and as it is our interest that he should live； I wish you； as soon
as you receive this letter； to take him food for at least five
days more。 The forest is of course watched； therefore take as many
precautions as we formerly did for our young masters。 Don't say a
word to Malin； don't speak to him； and put on one of our masks
which you will find on the steps which lead down to the cave。
Unless you wish to compromise our heads you must be absolutely
silent about this letter and the secret I have now confided to
you。 Don't say a word to Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne； who might
tell of it。 Don't fear for me。 We are certain that the matter will
turn out well； when the time comes Malin himself will save us。 I
don't need to tell you to burn this letter as soon as you have
read it； for it would cost me my head if a line of it were seen。 I
kiss you for now and always；
Michu。
The existence of the cave was known only to Marthe； her son； Michu；
the four gentlemen； and Laurence； or rather； Marthe； to whom her
husband had not related the incident of his meeting with Peyrade and
Corentin； believed it was known only to them。 Had she consulted her
mistress and the two lawyers； who knew the innocence of the prisoners；
the shrewd Bordin would have gained some light upon the perfidious
trap which was evidently laid for his clients。 But Marthe； acting like
most women under a first impulse； was convinced by this proof which
came to her own eyes； and flung the letter into the fire as directed。
Nevertheless； moved by a singular gleam of caution； she caught a
portion of it from the flames； tore off the five first lines； which
compromised no one； and sewed them into the hem of her dress。
Terrified at the thought that the prisoner had been without food for
twenty…four hours； she resolved to carry bread； meat； and wine to him
at once； curiosity was well as humanity permitting no delay。
Accordingly； she heated her oven and made； with her mother's help； a
/pate/ of hare and ducks； a rice cake； roasted two fowls； selected
three bottles of wine； and baked two loaves of bread。 About two in the
morning she started for the forest； carrying the load on her back；
accompanied by Couraut； who in all such expeditions showed wonderful
sagacity as a guide。 He scented strangers at immense distances； and as
soon as he was certain of their presence he returned to his mistress
with a low growl； looking at her fixedly and turning his muzzle in the
direction of the danger。
Marthe reached the pond about three in the morning； and left the dog
as sentinel on the bank。 After half an hour's labor in clearing the
entrance she came with a dark lantern to the door of the cave； her
face covered with a mask； which she had found； as directed； on the
steps。 The imprisonment of the senator seemed to have been long
premeditated。 A hole about a foot square； which Marthe had never seen
before； was roughly cut in the upper part of the iron door which
closed the cave； but in order to prevent Malin from using the time and
patience all prisoners have at their command in loosening the iron bar
which held the door； it was securely fastened with a padlock。
The senator； who had risen from his bed of moss； sighed when he saw
the masked face and felt that there was no chance then of his
deliverance。 He examined Marthe； as much as he could by the unsteady
light of her dark lantern； and he recognized her by her clothes； her
stoutness； and her motions。 When she passed the /pate/ through the
door he dropped it to seize her hand and then； with great swiftness；
he tried to pull the rings from her fingers；one her wedding…ring；
the other a gift from Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne。
〃You cannot deny that it is you； my dear Madame Michu；〃 he said。
Marthe closed her fist the moment she felt his fingers； and gave him a
vigorous blow in the chest。 Then； without a word； she turned away and
cut a stick； at the end of which she held out to the senator the rest
of the provisions。
〃What do they want of me？〃 he asked。
Marthe departed giving him no answer。 By five o'clock she had reached
the edge of the forest and was warned by Couraut of the presence of
strangers。 She retraced her steps and made for the pavilion where she
had lived so long； but just as she entered the avenue she was seen
from afar by the forester of Gondreville； and she quickly reflected
that her best plan was to go straight up to him。
〃You are out