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！
done in the days of his happiness； his cheeks flushed with color；
and out of his large blue eyes； which rested with inexpressible
tenderness upon the bird； there issued the rays of intelligence and
sensibility。 He had now something to love； something to which all
his gentle sympathies could flow out； which hitherto had all been
suppressed beneath the harsh treatment of his keepers。
He was no longer alone； he was no longer joyless！ His little friend
was there in the great cage among the twittering companions who were
indifferent to the little prince。 In order to know him at first
sight； and always to be able to recognize him； Louis took the rose…
colored ribbon from the neck of the automaton； and tied it around
the neck of his darling。 The bird sang merrily at this； and seemed
to be as well pleased with the decoration as if it had been an order
which King Louis of France was hanging around the neck of a favorite
courtier。
It was a fortunate thing for the boy that Simon himself was fond of
birds； else the objections of his wife would soon have robbed the
little fellow of his last remaining comfort。 It was for the keeper a
little source of amusement； an interruption in the dreadful monotony
of his life。 The birds were allowed to stay therefore； and their
singing and twittering animated a little the dark； silent rooms； and
reminded him of the spring； the fresh air； the green trees！
But very soon this source of comfort and cheer was to be banished
from the dismal place！ On the 19th of December； 1793； the inspectors
of the Temple made their rounds。 Just at the moment when they
entered the room of the little Louis Capet； the automaton began to
sing with his loud； penetrating voice； 〃Oh！ Richard； oh my king！〃
The officials came to a halt upon the threshold； as though petrified
at this unheard…of license； and fixed their cold； angry looks now
upon the bird…； now upon the boy； who was sitting upon his rush…
chair before the cage； looking at the birds with beaming eyes。
A second time the automaton began the unfortunate air； and the
exasperated inspectors strode up to the cage。 〃What does this mean？〃
asked one of them。 〃How does any one dare to keep up； in the
glorious republic； such worthless reminders of the cursed monarchy。〃
〃Only see；〃 cried another〃see the order that one of the birds is
wearing。 It is plain that the old passion of royalty still lurks
here； for even here ribbons are given away as signs of distinction。
The republic forbids such things； and we will not suffer such
infamy。〃
The inspector put his hand into the cage； seized the little canary…
bird with the red ribbon； and squeezed him so closely that the poor
little creature gave one faint chirp and died。 The man drew him out；
and hurled him against the wall of the room。
The little boy said not a word； he uttered not a complaint； he gazed
with widely…opened eyes at his dead favorite； and two great tears
slowly trickled down his pale cheeks。
The next day the inspectors gave a report of this occurrence；
couched in terms of worthy indignation； and all hearts were stirred
with righteous anger at the story of the automaton that sang the
royal aria； and of the living bird that wore the badge of an order
about its neck。 They were convinced that the secret royalists were
connected with this thing； and it was registered in the communal
acts as 〃the conspiracy of the canary…bird。〃
The little winged conspirators； the automaton as well as the living
birds； were of course instantly removed from the Temple； and Simon
had the double vexation of receiving a reprimand from the
authorities； and then the losing his little merry companions from
the prison。 It was all the fault of this little； good…for…nothing
boy； who knew how to make long faces； and allowed himself to waken
and disturb his master in the night by his crying and sobbing。
〃The worthless viper has spoiled my sleep for me；〃 growled Simon the
next morning。 〃My head is as heavy as a bomb； and I shall have to
take a foot…bath； to draw the blood away from my ears。〃
Jeanne Marie silently carried her husband the leaden foot…bath； with
the steaming water； and then drew back into the corner； in whose
dismal shadow she often sat for hours； gazing idly at her 〃calendar
of the revolution；〃 the long stocking； on which traces of the blood
of the queen were still visible。
Meanwhile； Simon took his foot…bath； and while he did so； his
wicked； malicious eyes now fell upon his wife； who had once been so
cheerful and resolute； and who now had grown so sad and broken； now
upon the boy； who； since yesterday； when his canaries had been taken
from him； had spoken not a word； or made a sound； and who sat
motionless upon the rush…chair； folding his hands in his lap； and
gazing at the place where his dead bird lay yesterday。
〃This life would make one crazy；〃 growled Simon； with the tone of a
hyena。 〃Capet；〃 he cried aloud； 〃take the towel and warm it at the
chimney…fire； so as to wipe my feet。〃
Louis rose slowly from his chair； took the towel and crept to the
chimney…fire to spread it out and warm it； but the glow of the coals
burned his little thin hands so badly； that he let the cloth fall
into the fire； and before the trembling； frightened child had time
to draw it back； the towel had kindled and was burning brightly。
Simon uttered a howl of rage； and； as with his feet in the water he
was not able to reach the boy； he heaped curses and abuse upon him；
and not alone on him； but on his father and mother； till his voice
was hoarse； and he was exhausted with this outpouring of his wrath。
Deceived by the quiet which followed； little Louis took another
towel； warmed it carefully at the chimney； and then cautiously
approached his master； to wipe his feet。 Simon extended them to the
boy and let himself he served as if by a little slave； but just as
soon as his feet were dry he kicked the boy's head with such force
that without a cry Louis fell down； striking his head violently on
the floor。 Perhaps it was this pitiful spectacle that exasperated
the cobbler still more。 He beat the unconscious boy； roused him with
kicks and with the noise of his curses； raised his clinched fists
and swore that he would now dash the viper in pieces； when he
suddenly felt his hands grasped as in iron clamps； and to his
boundless astonishment saw before him the pale； grim face of his
wife； who had come out from her corner and fixed her black；
glistening eyes upon him； while she held his hands firmly。
〃What is it； Jeanne Marie？〃 said Simon； surprised！ 〃why are you
holding me so？〃
〃Because I do not want you to beat him to death；〃 she said； with a
hoarse； rough voice。
He broke out into loud laughter。 〃I really believe that the knitter
of the guillotine has pity on the son of the she…wolf。〃
A convulsive quiver passed through her whole frame。 A singular；
gurgling sound came from her chest； she put both her hands to her
neck and tore the little kerchief off； as if it were tied tight
enough to strangle her。
〃No；〃 she said； in a suppressed tone； 〃no compassion on the wolf's
brood！ But if you beat him to death； they will have to bring you t