el dorado-第14章
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unlocked the massive door。 He curtly ordered the lanthorn…bearer
and de Batz to go through； then he himself went in； and finally
once more re…locked the door behind him； the soldiers remaining on
guard on the landing outside。
Now the three men were standing in a square antechamber； dank and
dark； devoid of furniture save for a large cupboard that filled
the whole of one wall； the others； mildewed and stained； were
covered with a greyish paper； which here and there hung away in
strips。
Heron crossed this ante…chamber； and with his knuckles rapped
against a small door opposite。
〃Hola！〃 he shouted； 〃Simon； mon vieux； tu es la？〃
From the inner room came the sound of voices； a man's and a
woman's； and now； as if in response to Heron's call； the shrill
tones of a child。 There was some shuffling； too； of footsteps；
and some pushing about of furniture； then the door was opened； and
a gruff voice invited the belated visitors to enter。
The atmosphere in this further room was so thick that at first de
Batz was only conscious of the evil smells that pervaded it；
smells which were made up of the fumes of tobacco； of burning
coke； of a smoky lamp； and of stale food； and mingling through it
all the pungent odour of raw spirits。
Heron had stepped briskly in； closely followed by de Batz。 The man
Dupont with a mutter of satisfaction put down his lanthorn and
curled himself up in a corner of the antechamber。 His interest in
the spectacle so favoured by citizen Heron had apparently been
exhausted by constant repetition。
De Batz looked round him with keen curiosity with which disgust
was ready enough to mingle。
The room itself might have been a large one； it was almost
impossible to judge of its size； so crammed was it with heavy and
light furniture of every conceivable shape and type。 There was a
monumental wooden bedstead in one corner； a huge sofa covered in
black horsehair in another。 A large table stood in the centre of
the room； and there were at least four capacious armchairs round
it。 There were wardrobes and cabinets； a diminutive washstand and
a huge pier…glass； there were innumerable boxes and packing…cases；
cane…bottomed chairs and what…nots every…where。 The place looked
like a depot for second…hand furniture。
In the midst of all the litter de Batz at last became conscious of
two people who stood staring at him and at Heron。 He saw a man
before him； somewhat fleshy of build； with smooth； mouse…coloured
hair brushed away from a central parting； and ending in a heavy
curl above each ear； the eyes were wide open and pale in colour；
the lips unusually thick and with a marked downward droop。 Close
beside him stood a youngish…looking woman； whose unwieldy bulk；
however； and pallid skin revealed the sedentary life and the
ravages of ill…health。
Both appeared to regard Heron with a certain amount of awe； and de
Batz with a vast measure of curiosity。
Suddenly the woman stood aside； and in the far corner of the room
there was displayed to the Gascon Royalist's cold； calculating
gaze the pathetic figure of the uncrowned King of France。
〃How is it Capet is not yet in bed？〃 queried Heron as soon as he
caught sight of the child。
〃He wouldn't say his prayers this evening；〃 replied Simon with a
coarse laugh； 〃and wouldn't drink his medicine。 Bah！〃 he added
with a snarl； 〃this is a place for dogs and not for human folk。〃
〃If you are not satisfied； mon vieux；〃 retorted Heron curtly； 〃you
can send in your resignation when you like。 There are plenty who
will be glad of the place。〃
The ex…cobbler gave another surly growl and expectorated on the
floor in the direction where stood the child。
〃Little vermin；〃 he said； 〃he is more trouble than man or woman
can bear。〃
The boy in the meanwhile seemed to take but little notice of the
vulgar insults put upon him by his guardian。 He stood； a quaint；
impassive little figure； more interested apparently in de Batz；
who was a stranger to him； than in the three others whom he knew。
De Batz noted that the child looked well nourished； and that he
was warmly clad in a rough woollen shirt and cloth breeches； with
coarse grey stockings and thick shoes； but he also saw that the
clothes were indescribably filthy； as were the child's hands and
face。 The golden curls； among which a young and queenly mother had
once loved to pass her slender perfumed fingers； now hung
bedraggled； greasy； and lank round the little face； from the lines
of which every trace of dignity and of simplicity had long since
been erased。
There was no look of the martyr about this child now； even though；
mayhap； his small back had often smarted under his vulgar tutor's
rough blows； rather did the pale young face wear the air of sullen
indifference； and an abject desire to please； which would have
appeared heart…breaking to any spectator less self…seeking and
egotistic than was this Gascon conspirator。
Madame Simon had called him to her while her man and the citizen
Heron were talking； and the child went readily enough； without any
sign of fear。 She took the corner of her coarse dirty apron in
her hand； and wiped the boy's mouth and face with it。
〃I can't keep him clean；〃 she said with an apologetic shrug of the
shoulders and a look at de Batz。 〃There now；〃 she added； speaking
once more to the child； 〃drink like a good boy； and say your
lesson to please maman； and then you shall go to bed。〃
She took a glass from the table； which was filled with a clear
liquid that de Batz at first took to be water； and held it to the
boy's lips。 He turned his head away and began to whimper。
〃Is the medicine very nasty？〃 queried de Batz。
〃Mon Dieu！ but no； citizen；〃 exclaimed the woman； 〃it is good
strong eau de vie； the best that can be procured。 Capet likes it
reallydon't you； Capet？ It makes you happy and cheerful； and
sleep well of nights。 Why； you had a glassful yesterday and
enjoyed it。 Take it now；〃 she added in a quick whisper； seeing
that Simon and Heron were in close conversation together； 〃you
know it makes papa angry if you don't have at least half a glass
now and then。〃
The child wavered for a moment longer； making a quaint little
grimace of distaste。 But at last he seemed to make up his mind
that it was wisest to yield over so small a matter； and he took
the glass from Madame Simon。
And thus did de Batz see the descendant of St。 Louis quaffing a
glass of raw spirit at the bidding of a rough cobbler's wife； whom
he called by the fond and foolish name sacred to childhood； maman！
Selfish egoist though he was； de Batz turned away in loathing。
Simon had watched the little scene with obvious satisfaction。 He
chuckled audibly when the child drank the spirit； and called
Heron's attention to him； whilst a look of triumph lit tip his
wide； pale eyes。
〃And now； mon petit；〃 he said jovially； 〃let the citizen hear you
say your prayers！〃
He winked toward de Batz； evidently anticipating a good deal of
enjoyment for the visitor from what was coming。 From a heap of
litter in a corner of the room he fetched out a greasy red bonnet
adorned with a tricolour cockade； and a soiled and tattered flag；
which had once been white； and had golden fleur…de…lys embroidered
upon it。
The cap he set on the child's head； and the flag he threw upon the
floor。
〃Now； Capetyour prayers！〃 he said with another chuckle of amusement。
All his movements were rough； and his speech almost ostentatiously
coarse。 He banged against the furniture as he moved about the
room； kicking a footstool out of the way or knocking over a chair。
De Batz instinctively thought of the perfumed stillness of the
rooms at Versailles； of the army of elegant high…born ladies who
had ministered to the wants of this child； who stood there now
before him； a cap on his yellow hair； and his shoulder held up to
his ear with that gesture of careless indifference peculiar to
children when they are sullen or uncared for。
Obediently； quite mechanically it seemed； the boy trod on the flag
which Henri IV had borne before him at Ivry； and le Roi Soleil had
flaunted in the face of the armies of Europe。 The son of the
Bourbons was s
