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！
killing them。 Lately； she has not only listened at the doors； but
she has come into my room； and passed my bed； and gone into the
chamber of little Capet。 Simon was asleep； and did not see her。 I
sprang up； however； and stole softly to the door； for I thought
somebody had crept in here in disguise； possibly Citizen Toulan； who
had already twice made the attempt to release the Austrian and her
children； and whom I then denounced at headquarters。 There I saw
although it was entirely dark in the hallthere I saw little Capet
lying asleep on his mattress； his hands folded over his breast； and
with an expression of countenance more happy； altogether more happy；
than it ever is when he is awake。 Near the mattress kneeled the
figure in white； and it seemed as if a radiance streamed out from it
that filled the whole room。 Its face was pale and white； just like a
lily； and it seemed as if the fragrance of a lily was in the
apartment。 Her two arms were raised； as if she would utter a
benediction； over her sleeping boy； around her half…opened lips
played a sweet smile； and her great eyes； which had the aspect of
stars； looked up toward heaven。 But while I was there in a maze； and
watched the figure in a； transport of delight； there occurred； all
at once； something wonderful； something dreadful。 The figure rose
from its knees； dropped its arms； turned itself around； and advanced
straight toward me。 The eyes； which had been turned so purely
heavenward before； were directed to me； with a look which pierced my
breast like the thrust of a knife。 I recognized that look…that sad；
reproachful glance。 It was the same that Marie Antoinette gave me；
when she stood on the scaffold。 I was sitting in the front row of
the knitters； and I was just going to make the double stitch for her
in my stocking； when that look met me； those great； sad eyes were
turned toward me； and I felt that she had recognized me； and her
eyes bored into my breast； and followed me even after the axe had
taken off her head。 The eyes did not fall into the basket； they were
not buried； bat they remain in my breast； they have been piercing me
ever since； and burning me like glowing coals。 But that night I saw
them again； as in lifethose dreadful eyes； and as the figure
advanced toward me； it raised its hand and threatened me； and its
eyes spoke to me； and it seemed as if a curse of God were going
through my brain； for those eyes said to me'Murder！'spoke it so
loudly； so horribly； that it appeared as if my head would burst； and
I could not cry； and could not move； and had to look at it； till； at
last； I became unconscious。〃
〃There； see there； doctor；〃 cried Simon； in alarm； as his wife fell
back upon the pillow with a loud cry； and quivered in all her limbs；
〃 now she has convulsions again； and then she will be； for a day or
two； out of her mind； and will talk strangely about the pale woman
with dreadful eyes； and when she goes on so； she makes even me sad；
and anxious； and timid； and I grow afraid of the white ghost that
she says is always with us。 Ah！ doctor； help us！ See； now； how the
poor woman suffers and twists！〃
The doctor drew a bottle from his breast…pocket； and rubbed a few
drops upon the temples of the sick woman。
〃Those are probably the famous soothing…drops of Doctor Naudin？〃
asked Simon； in astonishment； when he saw how quiet his wife became；
and that her spasms and groans ceased。
〃Yes；〃 answered the doctor； 〃and the eminent physician sends them as
a present to your wife。 They are very costly； and rich people have
to pay a louis…d'or for every drop。 But Doctor Naudin。 gives them to
you； for he wishes Jeanne Marie long to enjoy good health。 How is it
with you now？〃
〃I feel well； completely well；〃 she said； as the doctor rubbed some
drops a second time on her temple。 〃I feel easier than I have felt
for a long time。〃
〃Give me your hand；〃 said the doctor。 〃Rise up； for you are well。
Let us go into the chamber of the poor boy； for I have to speak with
you there。〃
He walked toward the chamber…door； leading Jeanne Marie by the hand；
while Simon followed them。 Softly and silently they entered the dark
room； and went to the mattress on which the child lay。
The boy stared at them with great； wide…opened eyes； but they were
without expression and life； and only the breath； as it came slowly
and heavily from the half…opened lips； showed that there was
vitality still in this poor； little； shrunken form。
The doctor kneeled down beside the bed； and； bending over it；
pressed a long； fervent kiss on the delicate； hot hand of the child。
But Charles Louis remained motionless； he merely slowly dropped his
lids and closed his eyes。
〃You see； doctor； he neither hears nor sees；〃 said Simon； in a low；
growling voice。 〃He cares for nothing； and does not know any thing
about what is going on around him。 It is a week since he spoke a
word。〃
〃Not since the day when you wanted to compel the child to sing the
song that makes sport of his mother。〃
〃He did not sing it？〃 asked the doctor； with a tremulous voice。
〃He is a mulish little toad；〃 cried Simon； angrily。 〃I begged him at
first； then I threatened； and when prayers and threats were of no
use I punished him； as a naughty boy deserves when he will not do
what his foster…father bids him do。 But even blows did not bring him
to it； the obstinate youngster would not sing the merry song with
me； and since then he has not spoken a word。 ＇Footnote： Historical。…
…See Beauehesne'a 〃Histoirede Louis XVII。；〃 vol。 ii。＇ He seems as if
he had grown deaf and dumb as a punishment for not obeying his good
foster…father。〃
〃He is neither deaf nor dumb；〃 said the doctor； solemnly。 〃He is
simply a good son； who would not sing the song which made sport of
his noble and unfortunate mother。 See whether I am not right： see
these tears which run from his closed eyes。 He has heard us； he has
understood us； and he answers us with his tears！ Oh； sire；〃 he
continued passionately； 〃by the sacred remembrance of your father
and your mother； I swear devotion to you until death； I swear that I
have come to set you free； to die for you。 Look up； my king and my
darling one！ I intrust to you and to both these witnesses my whole
secret； I let the mask fall to show myself to you in my true form；
that you may confide in me； and know that the most devoted of your
servants is kneeling before you； and that he dedicates his life to
you。 Open your eyes； Louis of France； and see whether you know me！〃
He sprang up； threw off the great peruke； and the long black cloak；
and stood before them in the uniform of an official guard。
〃Thunder and guns！〃 cried Simon； with a loud laugh。 〃it is〃
〃Hush！〃 interrupted the other〃hush！ He alone shall declare who I
am！ Oh； look at me； my king； convince these unbelieving ones here
that your mind is clear and strong； and that you are conscious of
what is going on around you。 Look at me； and if you know me； speak
my name！〃
And with folded hands； in unspeakable emotion； he leaned over the
bed of the child； that still lay with closed eyes。
〃I knew that he could hear nothing； and that he was deaf；〃 growled
Simon； while