derues-第12章
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The letter written at Buisson…Souef arrived at Paris the morning of the 14th of December。 In the course of the day an unknown man presented himself at the hotel where Madame de Lamotte and her son had stayed before； and inquired what rooms were vacant。 There were four； and he engaged them for a certain Dumoulin； who had arrived that morning from Bordeaux； and who had passed through Paris in order to meet； at some little distance； relations who would return with him。 A part of the rent was paid in advance； and it was expressly stipulated that until his return the rooms should not be let to anyone； as the aforesaid Dumoulin might return with his family and require them at any moment。 The same person went to other hotels in the neighbourhood and engaged vacant rooms； sometimes for a stranger he expected； sometimes for friends whom he could not accommodate himself。
At about three o'clock； the Place de Greve was full of people； thousands of heads crowded the windows of the surrounding houses。 A parricide was to pay the penalty of his crimea crime committed under atrocious circumstances； with an unheard…of refinement of barbarity。 The punishment corresponded to the crime： the wretched man was broken on the wheel。 The most complete and terrible silence prevailed in the multitude eager for ghastly emotions。 Three times already had been heard the heavy thud of the instrument which broke the victim's limbs； and a loud cry escaped the sufferer which made all who heard it shudder with horror； One man only； who； in spite of all his efforts； could not get through the crowd and cross the square； remained unmoved； and looking contemptuously towards the criminal； muttered； 〃Idiot！ he was unable to deceive anyone！〃
A few moments later the flames began to rise from the funeral pile； the crowd began to move； and the than was able to make his way through and reach one of the streets leading out of the square。
The sky was overcast； and the grey daylight hardly penetrated the narrow lane； hideous and gloomy as the name it bore； and which； only a few years ago； still wound like a long serpent through the mire of this quarter。 Just then it was deserted； owing to the attraction of the execution close by。 The man who had just left the square proceeded slowly； attentively reading all the inscriptions on the doors。 He stopped at Number 75； where on the threshold of a shop sat a stout woman busily knitting； over whom one read in big yellow letters； 〃Widow Masson。〃 He saluted the woman； and asked
〃Is there not a cellar to let in this house？〃
〃There is； master；〃 answered the widow。
〃Can I speak to the owner？〃
〃And that is myself； by your leave。〃
〃Will you show me the cellar？ I am a provincial wine merchant； my business often brings me to Paris； and I want a cellar where I could deposit wine which I sell on commission。〃
They went down together。 After examining the place； and ascertaining that it was not too damp for the expensive wine which he wished to leave there； the man agreed about the rent； paid the first term in advance； and was entered on the widow Masson's books under the name of Ducoudray。 It is hardly necessary to remark that it should have been Derues。
When he returned home in the evening； his wife told him that a large box had arrived。
〃It is all right；〃 he said； 〃the carpenter from whom I ordered it is a man of his word。〃 Then he supped； and caressed his children。 The next day being Sunday； he received the communion； to the great edification of the devout people of the neighbourhood。
On Monday the 16th Madame de Lamotte and Edouard； descending from the Montereau stagecoach； were met by Derues and his wife。
〃Did my husband write to you； Monsieur Derues？〃 inquired Madame de Lamotte。
〃Yes； madame； two days ago； and I have arranged our dwelling for your reception。〃
〃What！ but did not Monsieur de Lamotte ask you to engage the rooms I have had before at the Hotel de France？〃
〃He did not say so； and if that was your idea I trust you will change it。 Do not deprive me of the pleasure of offering you the hospitality which for so long I have accepted from you。 Your room is quite ready； also one for this dear boy；〃 and so saying he took Edouard's hand； 〃and I am sure if you ask his opinion； he will say you had better be content to stay with me。〃
〃Undoubtedly；〃 said the boy； 〃and I do not see why there need be any hesitation between friends。〃
Whether by accident； or secret presentiment； or because she foresaw a possibility of business discussions between them； Madame de Lamotte objected to this arrangement。 Derues having a business appointment which he was bound to keep； desired his wife to accompany the Lamottes to the Hotel de France； and in case of their not being able to find rooms there； mentioned three others as the only ones in the quarter where they could be comfortably accommodated。 Two hours later Madame de Lamotte and her son returned to his house in the rue Beaubourg。
The house which Derues occupied stood opposite the rue des Menoriers； and was pulled down quite lately to make way for the rue Rambuteau。 In 1776 it was one of the finest houses of the rue Beaubourg； and it required a certain income to be able to live there； the rents being tolerably high。 A large arched doorway gave admittance to a passage； lighted at the other end by a small court； on the far side of which was the shop into which Madame de Lamotte had been taken on the occasion of the accident。 The house staircase was to the right of the passage； and the Derues' dwelling on the entresol。 The first room； lighted by a window looking into the court； was used as a dining room； and led into a simply furnished sitting…room； such as was generally found among the bourgeois and tradespeople of this period。 To the right of the sitting…room was a large closet； which could serve as a small study or could hold a bed； to the left was a door opening into the Derues' bedroom； which had been prepared for Madame de Lamotte。 Madame Derues would occupy one of the two beds which stood in the alcove。 Derues had a bed made up in the sitting…room； and Edouard was accommodated in the little study。
Nothing particular happened during the first few days which followed the Lamottes' arrival。 They had not come to Paris only on account of the Buisson…Souef affairs。 Edouard was nearly sixteen； and after much hesitation his parents had decided on placing him in some school where his hitherto neglected education might receive more attention。 Derues undertook to find a capable tutor； in whose house the boy would be brought up in the religious feeling which the cure of Buisson and his own exhortations had already tended to develop。 These proceedings； added to Madame de Lamotte's endeavours to collect various sums due to her husband； took some time。 Perhaps； when on the point of executing a terrible crime； Derues tried to postpone the fatal moment； although； considering his character； this seems unlikely； for one cannot do him the honour of crediting him with a single moment of remorse； doubt； or pity。 Far from it； it appears from all the information which can be gathered； that Derues； faithful to his own traditions； was simply experimenting on his unfortunate guests； for no sooner were they in his house than both began to complain of constant nausea； which they had never suffered from before。 While he thus ascertained the strength of their constitution； he was able； knowing the cause of the malady； to give them relief； so that Madame de Lamotte； although she grew daily weaker； had so much confidence in him as to think it unnecessary to call in a doctor。 Fearing to alarm her husband； she never mentioned her sufferings； and her letters only spoke of the care and kind attention which she received。
On the 15th of January； 1777； Edouard was placed in a school in the rue de 1'Homme Arme。 His mother never saw him again。 She went out once more to place her husband's power of attorney with a lawyer in the rue de Paon。 On her return she felt so weak and broken…down that she was obliged to go to bed and remain there for several days。 On January 29th the unfortunate lady had risen； and was sitting near the window which overlooked the de
