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！
me； and covered my head with a cap。 Then she drove me into the park；
gave me a letter； and said： 'You will give this letter to a
gentleman who will meet us。' We went in silence through the paths
and alleys of the park； and I confess that my heart beat right
anxiously； and that I had to think a great deal upon the fifteen
thousand francs； in order to keep my courage up。〃
〃Did you go with the countess alone； or was some one else with you？〃
〃The gentleman who first made my acquaintance； and who was； as I
believe； the husband of the countess； accompanied us。 After we had
walked about for a while； he stopped and said： 'Now you must walk
alone； I shall； however； be there at the right time to make a noise；
and to put the amorous lover to flight。' Then he stepped into the
thicket； and we were alone。 On this the countess gave me a rose； and
said： 'You will give this rose with the letter to the person； and
say nothing more than this。 You know what that signifies。' The
countess made me repeat that three times； and then said： 'You need
not add a single word to that。 The queen herself has selected these
words； and she will hear whether you repeat them correctly； for she
will stand behind you； and be a spectator of the whole scene。' On
this the countess withdrew； leading me into a thicket； and soon the
gentleman came； and I came out of the place of my concealment。 After
he had made me some very deep reverences； I handed him the rose and
the letter； and repeated the very words the countess had taught me。
The gentleman sank upon his knee； and kissed the hand which I
extended with the rose。 At this moment we heard a noise； as if of
men's steps approaching； and the countess came running up。 'For
God's sake！' she cried； 'we are watched！ Quick； quick； come！' and
she drew me hurriedly away。 We left the garden； and returned to the
dwelling of the countess； and there I remained alone； for the
countess and her husband said； laughing； that they must go and
console the old gentleman for having so short a rendezvous； and for
being so quickly disturbed。 I asked whether I had done my part well；
and the countess said that the queen was very well satisfied with
methat she had stood in the thicket； and had observed all。 Early
next morning we rode back to Paris； and when we had arrived at their
hotel； the countess paid me the fifteen thousand francs all
correctly； but she made this condition； that I must go to see my
George as soon as possible； and that till I should go； I must remain
in a little room in her house。 I wrote at once to George and
announced my coming； and the time seemed endless till I received his
answer； although the countess paid a great deal of attention to me；
and always invited me to her petits soupers； where we had a right
merry time。 As soon as the answer had come from my George； who wrote
me that he was expecting me； I took my departure in an elegant post…
carriage； like a lady； for the countess was not willing that I
should travel in a diligence； and her husband had paid in advance
for all relays of horses as far as Brussels； so that I had a very
agreeable； comfortable ride。 And this； I think； is all that I have
to relate； and my son will not have an unquiet night； for I have
kept my word； and told every thing truthfully。〃
〃You have nothing to add to this？〃
〃What could I add to this？〃 asked Oliva； sighing。 〃You know as well
as I the end of my history。 You know； that a fortnight after that
little scene at Versailles； I was arrested by police agents in
Brussels； and brought to Paris。 You know； also； that I swore to take
my life if my dear George were not allowed to visit me daily in
prison。 You know that my dear child was born in prison； and that it
is now half a year old； while his poor mother is accused； and not
yet gained her freedom。 You know that all！ What have I that I could
add to this？ I beg you； let me go and return to my child； for my
little George is certainly awake； and his father does not know how
to quiet him when he cries。〃
〃You may go to your child；〃 said the president； with a gentle smile。
〃Officer； conduct Madame Oliva back to the witness…room。〃
Madame Oliva expressed her thanks for this by throwing a kiss of the
hand to the president and the judges； and then hastily followed the
officer； who opened the door of the adjoining room。 As it swung
back； a loud cry of a child was heard； and Madame Oliva； who was
standing upon the threshold； turned her fair face back to the
president with a triumphant expression； and smiled。
〃Did I not tell you so？〃 she cried。 〃My son is calling； for he is
longing for me。 I am coming； my little George； I am coming！〃
She sprang forward； and the door closed behind her。
〃You have heard the statements of the witness；〃 said the president；
addressing Countess Lamotte。 〃You see now that we have the proof of
the ignominious and treacherous intrigues which you have conducted。
Will you； in the face of such proofs； still endeavor to deny the
facts which have been given in evidence？〃
〃I have seen neither proofs nor facts；〃 answered Lamotte；
scornfully。 〃I have only been amazed at the self…possession with
which the queen goes through her part； and wondered how far her
light…mindedness will carry her。 She is truly an adroit player； and
she has played the part of Madame Oliva so well； that not a motion
nor a tone would have betrayed the queen。〃
〃How； madame？〃 asked the president； in amazement。
〃Do you pretend to assert that this witness； who has just left the
hall； is not Madame Oliva； but another person？ Do you not know that
this witness； this living portrait of the queen； has for ten months
been detained at the Bastile； and that no change in the person is
possible？〃
〃I only know that the queen has played her part well；〃 said Lamotte；
shrugging her shoulders。 〃She has even gone so far； in her desire to
show a difference between Madame Oliva and the queen； as to make a
very great sacrifice； and to disclose a secret of her beauty。 She
has laid aside her fine false teeth； and let us see her natural
ones； in order that we may see a difference between the queen and
Madame Oliva。 Confess only； gentlemen； that it is a rare and comical
sight to have a queen so like a courtesan； that you can only
distinguish the one from the other by the teeth。〃
And the countess broke out into scornful laughter； which found a
loud echo in some of the veiled ladies in the tribune。
〃Moderate your pleasantry； madame；〃 commanded the president。
〃Remember that you are in a grave and perilous situation； and that
justice hangs over you like the sword of Damocles。 You have already
invoked your fate； in calling God to witness that the innocent shall
not suffer for the guilty； and now this word is fulfilled in
yourself。 The whole edifice of your lies and intrigues crumbles over
you； and will cover your head with the dust of eternal infamy。〃
〃I experience nothing of it yet； God be thanked；〃 cried Lamotte；
shrugging her shoulders。
〃You will be punished for these shameless deeds sooner than you
expected；〃 answered the president； solemnly。
〃You said that you wanted proof that that was not the queen who gav