the brotherhood of consolation-第27章
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He put himself into secret communication with the prefect and the
magistrates。 What was the result？ Never was any conspiracy； in
which a great number of persons took part； so rapidly discovered
and dealt with。 Within six days after the committal of the crime
all the guilty persons were followed and watched with an
intelligence which showed the most accurate knowledge of the
plans； and of the individuals concerned in them。 The immediate
arrest； trial； and execution of Rifoel and his accomplices are the
proof of this。 We repeat； the chancellor knows even more than we
do on this subject。
If ever a condemned person had a right to appeal to the
Sovereign's mercy it is Henriette Lechantre。
Though led astray by love； by ideas of rebellion which she sucked
in with the milk that fed her； she is； most certainly； inexcusable
in the eyes of the law； but in the eyes of the most magnanimous of
emperors； will not her misfortunes； the infamous betrayal of her
husband； and a rash enthusiasm plead for her？
＇Hopefully not。 What a ridiculous case for the defence！ Would Rumpole
of the Bailey speak like this？JB。＇
The greatest of all captains； the immortal genius which pardoned
the Prince of Hatzfeldt and is able to divine the reasons of the
heart； will he not admit the fatal power of love； invincible in
youth； which extenuates this crime； great as it was？
Twenty…two heads have fallen under the blade of the law； only one
of the guilty persons is now left； and she is a young woman； a
minor； not twenty years of age。 Will not the Emperor Napoleon the
Great grant her life； and give her time in which to repent？ Is not
that to share the part of God？
For Henriette Lechantre； wife of Bryond des Tour…Minieres；
Her defender； Bordin；
Barrister of the Lower Court of the Department
of the Seine。
This dreadful drama disturbed the little sleep that Godefroid took。 He
dreamed of that penalty of death such as the physician Guillotin has
made it with a philanthropic object。 Through the hot vapors of a
nightmare he saw a young woman； beautiful； enthusiastic； enduring the
last preparations； drawn in that fatal tumbril； mounting the scaffold；
and crying out； 〃Vive le roi！〃
Eager to know the whole； Godefroid rose at dawn； dressed； and paced
his room； then stood mechanically at his window gazing at the sky；
while his thoughts reconstructed this drama in many volumes。 Ever； on
that darksome background of Chouans； peasants； country gentlemen；
rebel leaders； spies； and officers of justice； he saw the vivid
figures of the mother and the daughter detach themselves； the daughter
misleading the mother； the daughter victim of a monster； victim； too；
of her passion for one of those bold men whom； later； we have
glorified as heroes； and to whom even Godefroid's imagination lent a
likeness to the Charettes and the Georges Cadoudals；those giants of
the struggle between the Republic and the Monarchy。
As soon as Godefroid heard the goodman Alain stirring in the room
above him； he went there； but he had no sooner opened the door than he
closed it and went back to his own apartment。 The old man； kneeling by
his chair； was saying his morning prayer。 The sight of that whitened
head； bowed in an attitude of humble reverence； reminded Godefroid of
his own forgotten duties； and he prayed fervently。
〃I expected you；〃 said the kind old man； when Godefroid entered his
room some fifteen minutes later。 〃I got up earlier than usual； for I
felt sure you would be impatient。〃
〃Madame Henriette？〃 asked Godefroid； with visible anxiety。
〃Was Madame's daughter！〃 replied Monsieur Alain。 〃Madame's name is
Lechantre de la Chanterie。 Under the Empire none of the nobiliary
titles were allowed； nor any of the names added to the patronymic or
original names。 Therefore； the Baronne des Tours…Minieres was called
Madame Bryond。 The Marquis d'Esgrignon took his name of Carol （citizen
Carol）； later he was called the Sieur Carol。 The Troisvilles became
the Sieurs Guibelin。〃
〃But what happened？ Did the Emperor pardon her？〃
〃Alas； no！〃 replied Alain。 〃The unfortunate little woman； not twenty…
one years old； perished on the scaffold。 After reading Bordin's
appeal； the Emperor answered very much in these terms： 'Why be so
bitter against the spy？ A spy is no longer a man； he ought not to have
feelings； he is a wheel of the machinery； Bryond did his duty。 If
instruments of that kind were not what they are；steel bars；and
intelligent only in the service of the power employing them；
government would not be possible。 The sentences of criminal courts
must be carried out； or the judges would cease to have confidence in
themselves or in me。 Besides； the women of the West must be taught not
to meddle in plots。 It is precisely in the case of a woman that
justice should not be interfered with。 There is no excuse possible for
an attack on power？' This was the substance of what the Emperor said；
as Bordin repeated it to me。 Learning a little later that France and
Russia were about to measure swords against each other； and that the
Emperor was to go two thousand miles from Paris to attack a vast and
desert country； Bordin understood the secret reason of the Emperor's
harshness。 To insure tranquillity at the West； now full of
refractories； Napoleon believed it necessary to inspire terror。 Bordin
could do no more。〃
〃But Madame de la Chanterie？〃 said Godefroid。
〃Madame de la Chanterie was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment；〃
replied Alain。 〃As she was already transferred to Bicetre； near Rouen；
to undergo her punishment； nothing was attempted on her behalf until
every effort had been made to save Henriette； who had grown dearer
than ever to her mother during this time of anxiety。 Indeed； if it had
not been for Bordin's assurance that he could obtain Henriette's
pardon； it is doubtful if Madame could have survived the shock of the
sentence。 When the appeal failed； they deceived the poor mother。 She
saw her daughter once after the execution of the other prisoners； not
knowing that Madame Bryond's respite was due to a false declaration of
pregnancy； made to gain time for the appeal。〃
〃Ah！ I understand it all now；〃 exclaimed Godefroid。
〃No； my dear child； there are things that no one can imagine。 Madame
thought her daughter living for a long time。〃
〃How was that？〃
〃When Madame des Tours…Minieres learned from Bordin that her appeal
was rejected and that nothing could save her； that sublime little
woman had the courage to write twenty letters； dating them month by
month after the time of her execution； so as to make her poor mother
in her prison believe she was alive。 In those letters she told of a
gradual illness which would end in death。 They covered a period of two
years。 Madame de la Chanterie was therefore prepared for the news of
her daughter's death； but she thought it a natural one。 She did not
know until 1814 that Henriette had died on the scaffold。 For two years
Madame was herded among the most depraved of her sex； but thanks to
the urgency of the Champignelles and the Beauseants she was； after the
second year； placed in a cell by herself； where she lived like a
cloistered nun。〃
〃And the others？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃The notary Leveille； Herbomez； Hiley； Cibot； Grenier； Horeau； Cabot；
Minard； and Mallet were condemned to death； and executed the same day。
Pannier； condemned to hard labor for twenty years； was branded and
sent to the galleys。 The Chaussards and Vauthier received the same
sentence； but were pardoned by the Emperor。 Melin； Laraviniere and
Binet； were condemned to five years' imprisonment。 The woman Bourget
to twenty years' imprisonment。 Chargegrain and Rousseau were
acquitted。 Those who escaped were all condemned to death； except the
girl Godard； who was no other； as you have probably guessed； than our
poor Manon〃
〃Manon！〃 exclaimed Godefroid。
〃Oh！ you don't know Manon yet；〃 replied the kind old Alain。 〃That
devoted creature； condemned to twelve years' imprisonment； gave
herself up that she might take care of Madame de la Chanterie； and
wait upon her。 Our dear vicar was the priest at Mortag
