derues-第21章

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！


estioned　him；　but　obeyed　his　wishes　in　everything；　and　that　he　had　now　gone　away　without　saying　where　he　was　going。　　She　acknowledged　that　Madame　de　Lamotte　had　lodged　with　them　for　six　weeks；　and　that　she　knew　that　lady　had　been　at　Versailles；　but　since　then　she　had　heard　nothing。　　All　Monsieur　de　Lamotte's　questions；　his　entreaties；　prayers；　or　threats；　obtained　no　other　answer。　　He　went　to　the　lawyer　in　the　rue　de　Paon；　to　the　schoolmaster；　and　found　the　same　uncertainty；　the　same　ignorance。　His　wife　and　his　son　had　gone　to　Versailles；　there　the　clue　ended　which　ought　to　guide　his　investigations。　　He　went　to　this　town；　no　one　could　give　him　any　information；　the　very　name　of　Lamotte　was　unknown。　　He　returned　to　Paris；　questioned　and　examined　the　people　of　the　quarter；　the　proprietor　of　the　Hotel　de　France；　where　his　wife　had　stayed　on　her　former　visit；　at　length；　wearied　with　useless　efforts；　he　implored　help　from　justice。　　Then　his　complaints　ceased；　he　was　advised　to　maintain　a　prudent　silence；　and　to　await　Derues'　return。

The　latter　thoroughly　understood　that；　having　failed　to　dissipate　Monsieur　de　Lamotte's　fears；　there　was　no　longer　an　instant　to　lose；　and　that　the　pretended　private　contract　of　February　12th　would　not　of　itself　prove　the　existence　of　Madame　de　Lamotte。　　This　is　how　he　employed　the　time　spent　by　the　unhappy　husband　in　fruitless　investigation。

On　March　12th；　a　woman；　her　face　hidden　in　the　hood　of　her　cloak；　or　〃Therese；〃　as　it　was　then　called；　appeared　in　the　office　of　Maitre　N…；　a　notary　at　Lyons。　　She　gave　her　name　as　Marie　Francoise　Perffier；　wife　of　Monsieur　Saint…Faust　de　Lamotte；　but　separated；　as　to　goods　and　estate；　from　him。　　She　caused　a　deed　to　be　drawn　up；　authorising　her　husband　to　receive　the　arrears　of　thirty　thousand　livres　remaining　from　the　price　of　the　estate　of　Buisson…Souef；　situated　near　Villeneuve…le…Roi…lez…Sens。　　The　deed　was　drawn　up　and　signed　by　Madame　de　Lamotte；　by　the　notary；　and　one　of　his　colleagues。

This　woman　was　Derues。　　If　we　remember　that　he　only　arrived　at　Buisson　February　28th；　and　remained　there　for　some　days；　it　becomes　difficult　to　understand　how　at　that　period　so　long　a　journey　as　that　from　Paris　to　Lyons　could　have　been　accomplished　with　such　rapidity。　Fear　must　have　given　him　wings。　　We　will　now　explain　what　use　he　intended　to　make　of　it；　and　what　fable；　a　masterpiece　of　cunning　and　of　lies；　he　had　invented。

On　his　arrival　in　Paris　he　found　a　summons　to　appear　before　the　magistrate　of　police。　　He　expected　this；　and　appeared　quite　tranquil；　ready　to　answer　any　questions。　　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　was　present。　　It　was　a　formal　examination；　and　the　magistrate　first　asked　why　he　had　left　Paris。

〃Monsieur；〃　replied　Derues；　〃I　have　nothing　to　hide；　and　none　of　my　actions　need　fear　the　daylight；　but　before　replying；　I　should　like　to　understand　my　position。　　As　a　domiciled　citizen　I　have　a　right　to　require　this。　　Will　you　kindly　inform　me　why　I　have　been　summoned　to　appear　before　you；　whether　on　account　of　anything　personal　to　myself；　or　simply　to　give　information　as　to　something　which　may　be　within　my　knowledge？〃

〃You　are　acquainted　with　this　gentleman；　and　cannot　therefore　be　ignorant　of　the　cause　of　the　present　inquiry。〃

〃I　am；　nevertheless；　quite　in　ignorance　of　it。〃

〃Be　good　enough　to　answer　my　question。　　Why　did　you　leave　Paris？　　And　where　have　you　been？〃

〃I　was　absent　for　business　reasons。〃

〃What　business？〃

〃I　shall　say　no　more。〃

〃Take　care！　you　have　incurred　serious　suspicions；　and　silence　will　not　tend　to　clear　you。〃

Derues　hung　down　his　head　with　an　air　of　resignation；　and　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　seeing　in　this　attitude　a　silent　confession　of　crime；　exclaimed；　〃Wretched　man！　what　have　you　done　with　my　wife　and　my　son？〃

〃Your　son！〃　said　Derues　slowly　and　with　peculiar　emphasis。　　He　again　cast　down　his　eyes。

The　magistrate　conducting　the　inquiry　was　struck　by　the　expression　of　Derues'　countenance　and　by　this　half　answer；　which　appeared　to　hide　a　mystery　and　to　aim　at　diverting　attention　by　offering　a　bait　to　curiosity。　　He　might　have　stopped　Derues　at　the　moment　when　he　sought　to　plunge　into　a　tortuous　argument；　and　compelled　him　to　answer　with　the　same　clearness　and　decision　which　distinguished　Monsieur　de　Lamotte's　question；　but　he　reflected　that　the　latter's　inquiries；　unforeseen；　hasty；　and　passionate；　were　perhaps　more　likely　to　disconcert　a　prepared　defence　than　cooler　and　more　skilful　tactics。　He　therefore　changed　his　plans；　contenting　〃himself　for　the　moment　with　the　part　of　an　observer　only；　and　watching　a　duel　between　two　fairly　matched　antagonists。

〃I　require：　you　to　tell　me　what　has　become　of　them；〃　repeated　Monsieur　de　Lamotte。　　〃I　have　been　to　Versailles；　you　assured　me　they　were　there。〃

〃And　I　told　you　the　truth；　monsieur。〃

〃No　one　has　seen　them；　no　one　knows　them；　every　trace　is　lost。　　Your　Honour；　this　man　must　be　compelled　to　answer；　he　must　say　what　has　become　of　my　wife　and　son！〃

〃I　excuse　your　anxiety；　I　understand　your　trouble；　but　why　appeal　to　me？　　Why　am　I　supposed　to　know　what　may　have　happened　to　them？〃

〃Because　I　confided　them　to　your　care。〃

〃As　a　friend；　yes；　I　agree。　　Yes；　it　is　quite　true　that　last　December　I　received　a　letter　from　you　informing　me　of　the　impending　arrival　of　your　wife　and　son。　　I　received　them　in　my　own　house；　and　showed　them　the　same　hospitality　which　I　had　received　from　you。　　I　saw　them　both；　your　son　often；　your　wife　every　day；　until　the　day　she　left　me　to　go　to　Versailles。　　Yes；　I　also　took　Edouard　to　his　mother；　who　was　negotiating　an　appointment　for　him。　　I　have　already　told　you　all　this；　and　I　repeat　it　because　it　is　the　truth。　　You　believed　me　then：　why　do　you　not　believe　me　now？　　Why　has　what　I　say　become　strange　and　incredible？　　If　your　wife　and　your　son　have　disappeared；　am　I　responsible？　　Did　you　transmit　your　authority　to　me？　　And　now；　in　what　manner　are　you　thus　calling　me　to　account？　　Is　it　to　the　friend　who　might　have　pitied；　who　might　have　aided　your　search；　that　you　thus　address　yourself　？　　Have　you　come　to　confide　in　me；　to　ask　for　advice；　for　consolation？　　No；　you　accuse　me；　very　well！　then　I　refuse　to　speak；　because；　having　no　proofs；　you　yet　accuse　an　honest　man；　because　your　fears；　whether　real　or　imaginary；　do　not　excuse　you　for　casting；　I　know　not　what　odious　suspicions；　on　a　blameless　reputation；　because　I　have　the　right　to　be　offended。　　Monsieur〃　he　continued；　turning　to　the　magistrate；　〃　I　believe　you　will　appreciate　my　moderation；　and　will　allow　me　to　retire。　　If　charges　are　brought　against　me；　I　am　quite　ready　to　meet　them；　and　to　show　what　they　are　really　worth。　　I　shall　remain　in　Paris；　I　have　now　no　business　which　requires　my　presence　elsewhere。〃

He　emphasised　these　last　words；　evidently　intending　to　draw　attention　to　them。　　It　did　not　escape　the　magistrate；　who　inquired

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Nothing　beyond　my　words；　your　Honour；　Have　I　your　permission　to　retire？〃

〃No；　remain；　you　are　pretending　not　to　understand。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　these　insinuations　so　covertly　made。〃

Monsieur　de　Lamotte　rose；　exclaiming

〃Insinuations！　　What　more　can　I　say　to　compel　you　to　answer？　　My　wife　and　son　have　disappeared。　　It　is　untrue　that；　as　you　pretend；　they　have　been　at　Versailles。　　You　deceived　me　at　Buisson…Souef；　just　as　you　are　deceiving　me　now；　as　you　are　endeavouring　to　deceive　justice　by　inventing　fresh　lies。　　Where　are　they？　　What　has　become　of　them？　I　am　tormented　by　all　the　fears　possible　to　a　husband　and　father；　I　imagine　all　the　most　terrible　misfortunes；　and　I　accuse　you　to　your　face　of　having　caused　their　death！　　Is　this　sufficient；　or　do　you　still　accuse　me　of　covert　insinuations？〃

Derues　turned　to　the　magistrate。　　〃Is　this　charge　enough　to　place　me　in　the　position　of　a　criminal　if　I　do　not　give　a　satisfactory　explanation？〃

〃Certainly；　you　should　have　thought　of　that　sooner。〃

〃Then；〃　he　continued；　addressing　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　〃I　understand　you　persist　in　this　odious　accusation？〃

〃I　certainly　persist　in　it。〃

〃You　have　forgotten　our　friendship；　broken　all　bonds　between　us：　I　am　in　your　eyes　only　a　miserable　assassin？　　You　consider　my　silence　as　guilty；　you　will　ruin　me　if　I　do　not　speak？〃