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！
We were convinced of it when； looking through the keyhole of the
door； we saw goods carried away。 On the following day we heard the
door of the room； in which my brother had been； opened； and
recognized the steps of men walking around； which confirmed us in
the belief that he had been carried away。〃
The pitiful wagon； which gave its hospitality to the knitter of the
revolution； as well as to a king； drove slowly and carefully through
the streets； unnoticed by the people who hastily passed by。 Now and
then they encountered a commissioner who came up to Toulan； greeted
him as an acquaintance； and asked after his welfare。 Toulan nodded
to them confidentially and answered them loudly that he was very
well； and that he was helping Simon move out of the Temple and going
with him to Porte Macon。
The commissioners then wished him a pleasant journey； and went their
way； but the farther they were from the wagon； the quicker were
their steps； and here and there they met other commissioners； to
whom they repeated Toulan's words； and who then went from there and
again told them over to their friends in the streets； in quiet；
hidden chambers； and in brilliant palaces。 In one such palace the
tidings caused a singular commotion。 Count Frotte； who lived there；
and whom the public permitted to live in Paris； ordered his
travelling carriage to be brought out at once。 The postilion； with
four swift horses； had already stood in the court below half an
hour； waiting for this order。 The horses were quickly harnessed to
the carriage； which was well filled with trunks； and scarcely had it
reached the front door； when the count hurried down the grand
staircase； thickly wrapped in his riding…furs。 At his right sat a
little boy of scarcely ten years； a velvet cap； trimmed with fur；
upon his short； fair hair； the slender； graceful form concealed with
a long velvet cloak； that fell down as far as the shoes with golden；
jewelled buckles。
Count Frotte seemed to bestow special care and attention upon this
boy； for he not only had him sit on his right； but remained standing
near the door； to give precedence to the boy； and then hastened to
follow him。 He pressed the servants back who stood near the open
door； bowed respectfully； and gave his hand to the lad to assist him
in ascending。 The youth received these tokens of respect quietly；
and seemed to take it as a matter of course that Count Frotte should
carefully put furs around his feet and body； in order to protect him
from every draft。 As soon as this was done； the count entered the
carriage； and took his place at the left of the boy。 The servant
closed the carriage…door with a loud slam； and the steward advanced
with respectful mien； and asked whither the count would order to go。
〃The road to Puy；〃 said the count； with a loud voice； and the
steward repeated to the postilion just as loudly and clearly； 〃The
road to Puy。〃
The carriage drove thunderingly out of the court…door； and the
servant looked after it till it disappeared； and then followed the
house…steward； who motioned him to come into the cabinet。
〃I have something to tell you； citizen；〃 said the steward； with a
weighty air； 〃but first I must beg you to make me a solemn promise
that you will continue a faithful and obedient servant of the count；
and prove in no way false to your oath and your duty。〃
The servant pledged himself solemnly； and the steward continued：
〃The count has undertaken a journey which is not to be spoken of；
and is to remain； if possible； a secret。 I demand of you； therefore；
that if any one asks where the count has gone； you answer that you
do not know。 But above all things； you are not to say that the count
is not travelling alone； but in company with the young…gentleman；
whose name and rank I know just as little about as you。 Will you
promise to faithfully heed my words？〃
The servant asserted it with solemn oaths and an expression of deep
reverence。 The steward beckoned to him to go； and then looked at him
for a long time； and with a singular expression as he withdrew。
〃He is a spy of the Safety Committee；〃 he whispered to himself。 〃I
am convinced that he is so； and he will certainly go at once and
report to the authorities； and they will break their heads thinking
what the count has to do in Puy； and who the boy is who accompanies
my lord。 Well； that is exactly what we want： to put the bloodhounds
and murderers on a false scent。 That is just the object of the
count； and for that purpose M。 Morin de Gueriviere has lent his only
son； for all that we have and are； our lives； our children； and
every thing else； belong to our king and lord。 I hope； therefore；
that the count's plan will succeed； and the Safety Committee be put
on a false scent。〃
Meanwhile the pitiful carriage containing Simon's goods had slowly
taken its way through the streets and halted at its goal； the
custom…house near Porte Macon。 Before the building stood a woman in
the neat and tasteful costume of the washerwomen from the village of
Vannes； which then； as now； was the abode of the washerwomen of
Paris。
〃Well；〃 cried the woman； with a loud laugh； helping Mistress Simon
dismount from the wagon〃 well； you have come at last。 For two
hours I have been waiting for you； for you ordered me to be here at
eleven； and now it is one。 What will my husband and my little boy
say about my coming home so late？〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Jeanne Marie； with a kindly voice。 〃Our
ride was a good deal slower than I thought； for the things were
packed only loosely； and if we had ridden faster they would easily
have been injured。 But； I will not detain you longer； and you shall
have my wash at once。 There are a great many clothes this time； and
I have therefore thrown them all at once into the basket； so you can
put the basket right upon your wagon and bring the things back in
it。 Halloa； Simon； and you； commissioner； take hold and lift the
basket down； and carry it out to the washerwoman's wagon that is
standing near the gate。〃
The two men immediately lifted the great basket out； and carried it
to the open cart which stood there； in which lay arranged in regular
order great bundles of dirty linen。 Near the gate stood the sub…
collector； whose superior Simon now was； and it therefore did not
occur to him to examine the basket which his new chief was putting
in the washerwoman's wagon。 Some busybodies who stood around turned
their whole attention to the wagon which contained the furniture and
goods of the new collector； who was； of course； a very important
person in this remote quarter； and Jeanne Marie endeavored with her
loud words and choleric gesticulations to fasten the attention of
the idlers upon herself。 Nobody regarded the two men； who had just
put the basket into the washerwoman's cart； and no one heard the
words that they softly spoke together。
The washerwoman had raised the cover； and was rolling around the
clothes； as if she wanted to examine the contents of the basket。
〃Sire；〃 she whispered； softly； as she did so〃sire； do you hear
me？〃
A weak； faint voice replied； 〃I hear you。〃
〃And shall you be able to bear it； if you stay a