the brotherhood of consolation-第53章
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happy； who rescued her from her coffin； she who saved your grandson
from disgrace； and has given you an old age of peace and honor〃 He
stopped short〃is a woman whom you sent innocent to prison for twenty
years； to whom； as a magistrate； you did the foulest wrong； whose
sanctity you insulted； whose beautiful daughter you tore from her arms
and condemned to the cruellest of all deaths； for she died on the
guillotine。〃
Godefroid； seeing that Vanda had fallen back half fainting on her
chair； rushed into the corridor and from there into the street；
running at full speed。
〃If you want your pardon；〃 said Baron Bourlac to his grandson； 〃follow
that man and find out where he lives。〃
Auguste was off like an arrow。
The next morning at eight o'clock； Baron Bourlac knocked at the old
yellow door in the rue Chanoinesse； and asked for Madame de la
Chanterie。 The portress showed him the portico。 Happily it was the
breakfast hour。 Godefroid saw the baron； through one of the casements
on the stairs； crossing the court…yard； he had just time to get down
into the salon where the friends were all assembled and to cry out：
〃Baron Bourlac is here！〃
Madame de la Chanterie； hearing the name； rose； supported by the Abbe
de Veze she went to her room。
〃You shall not come in； tool of Satan！〃 cried Manon； recognizing their
former prosecutor and preventing his entrance through the door of the
salon。 〃Have you come to kill Madame？〃
〃Manon； let the gentleman come in；〃 said Monsieur Alain。
Manon sat down on a chair as if both her legs had given way at once。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the baron in an agitated voice； recognizing Monsieur
Joseph and Godefroid； and bowing to Monsieur Nicolas； 〃mercy gives
rights to those it benefits。〃
〃You owe us nothing； monsieur；〃 said the good old Alain； 〃you owe
everything to God。〃
〃You are saints； and you have the calmness of saints；〃 said the former
magistrate； 〃you will therefore listen to me。 I know that the vast
benefits I have received during the last eighteen months have come
from the hand of a person whom I grievously injured in doing my duty。
It was fifteen years before I was convinced of her innocence； and that
case is the only one； gentlemen； for which I feel any remorse as to
the exercise of my functions。 Listen to me！ I have but a short time to
live； but I shall lose even that poor remnant of a life； still so
important to my children whom Madame de la Chanterie has saved； unless
she will also grant me her pardon。 Yes； I will stay there on my knees
on the pavement of Notre…Dame until she says to me that word。 I； who
cannot weep； whom the tortures of my child have dried like stubble； I
shall find tears within me to move her〃
The door of Madame de la Chanterie's room opened； the Abbe de Veze
glided in like a shadow and said to Monsieur Joseph：
〃That voice is torturing Madame。〃
〃Ah！ she is there！〃 exclaimed the baron。
He fell on his knees and burst into tears； crying out in a heart…
rending voice： 〃In the name of Jesus dying on the cross； forgive；
forgive me； for my daughter has suffered a thousand deaths！〃
The old man fell forward on the floor so prone that the agitated
spectators thought him dead。 At that instant Madame de la Chanterie
appeared like a spectre at the door of her room； against the frame of
which she supported herself。
〃In the name of Louis XVI。 and Marie…Antoinette whom I see on their
scaffold； in the name of Madame Elisabeth； in the name of my daughter
and of yours； and for Jesus' sake； I forgive you。〃
Hearing those words the old man raised his head。 〃It is the vengeance
of angels！〃 he said。
Monsieur Joseph and Monsieur Nicolas raised him and led him to the
courtyard； Godefroid went to fetch a carriage； and when they put the
old man into it Monsieur Nicolas said to him gravely：
〃Do not return here； monsieur； the power of God is infinite； but human
nature has its limits。〃
On that day Godefroid was admitted to the order of the Brotherhood of
Consolation。
End
