derues-第25章
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Derues stopped； but the magistrate signed to him to go； intimating； however； that he was on no account to leave Paris。
〃But；〃 said Monsieur de Lamotte； when they were alone； 〃this man is indeed guilty。 My wife has not betrayed me！ She！forget her duties as a wife！ she was virtue incarnate！ Ah！ I assure you these terrible calumnies are invented to conceal double crime！ I throw myself at your feet；I implore your justice！〃
〃Rise； monsieur。 This is only a preliminary examination； and I confess that； so far； he comes well out of it； for imagination can hardly understand such a depth of deceit。 I watched him closely the whole time； and I could discover no sign of alarm； no contradiction； in either face or language； if guilty； he must be the greatest hypocrite that ever existed。 But I shall neglect nothing： if a criminal is allowed to flatter himself with impunity； he frequently forgets to be prudent； and I have seen many betray themselves when they thought they had nothing to fear。 Patience； and trust to the justice of both God and man。〃
Several days passed； and Derues flattered him self the danger was over： his every action mean while was most carefully watched； but so that he remained unaware of the surveillance。 A police officer named Mutel； distinguished for activity and intelligence beyond his fellows； was charged with collecting information and following any trail。 All his bloodhounds were in action； and hunted Paris thoroughly； but could trace nothing bearing on the fate of Madame de Lamotte and her son。 Mutel； however； soon discovered that in the rue Saint Victor； Derues had failedthree successive times； that he had been pursued by numerous creditors； and been often near imprisonment for debt； and that in 1771 he had been publicly accused of incendiarism。 He reported on these various circumstances； and then went himself to Derues' abode； where he obtained no results。 Madame Derues declared that she knew nothing whatever； and the police； having vainly searched the whole house； had to retire。 Derues himself was absent； when he returned he found another order to appear before the magistrate。
His first success had encouraged him。 He appeared before the magistrate accompanied by a lawyer and full of confidence； complaining loudly that the police； in searching during his absence； had offended against the rights of a domiciled burgess； and ought to have awaited his return。 Affecting a just indignation at Monsieur de Lamotte's conduct towards him； he presented a demand that the latter should be declared a calumniator； and should pay damages for the injury caused to his reputation。 But this time his effrontery and audacity were of little avail； the magistrate easily detected him in flagrant lies。 He declared at first that he had paid the hundred thousand livres with his own money but when reminded of his various bankruptcies； the claims of his creditors； and the judgments obtained against him as an insolvent debtor； he made a complete volte…face； and declared he had borrowed the money from an advocate named Duclos； to whom he had given a bond in presence of a notary。 In spite of all his protestations； the magistrate committed him to solitary confinement at Fort l'Eveque。
As yet； nothing was publicly known； but vague reports and gossip； carried from shop to shop； circulated among the people； and began to reach the higher classes of society。 The infallible instinct which is aroused among the masses is truly marvellous； a great crime is committed； which seems at first likely to defeat justice； and the public conscience is aroused。 Long before the tortuous folds which envelop the mystery can be penetrated； while it is still sunk in profound obscurity； the voice of the nation； like an excited hive； buzzes around the secret； though the magistrates doubt； the public curiosity fixes itself； and never leaves go； if the criminal's hiding…place is changed； it follows the track； points it out； descries it in the gloom。 This is what happened on the news of Derues' arrest。 The affair was everywhere discussed； although the information was incomplete； reports inexact； and no real publicity to be obtained。 The romance which Derues had invented by way of defence； and which became known as well as Monsieur de Lamotte's accusation； obtained no credence whatever； on the contrary； all the reports to his discredit were eagerly adopted。 As yet； no crime could be traced； but the public presentiment divined an atrocious one。 Have we not often seen similar agitations？ The names of Bastide； of Castaing； of Papavoine； had hardly been pronounced before they completely absorbed all the public attention； and this had to be satisfied； light had to be thrown on the darkness： society demanded vengeance。
Derues felt some alarm in his dungeon； but his presence of mind and his dissimulation in no wise deserted him； and he swore afresh every day to the truth of his statements。 But his last false assertion turned against him： the bond for a hundred thousand livres which he professed to have given to Duclos was a counterfeit which Duclos had annulled by a sort of counter declaration made the same day。 Another circumstance； intended to ensure his safety； only redoubled suspicion。 On April 8th； notes payable to order to the amount of seventy…eight thousand livres； were received by Monsieur de Lamotte's lawyer； as if coming from Madame de Lamotte。 It appeared extraordinary that these notes； which arrived in an ordinary stamped envelope； should not be accompanied by any letter of advice； and suspicion attached to Madame Derues； who hitherto had remained unnoticed。 An inquiry as to where the packet had been posted soon revealed the office； distinguished by a letter of the alphabet； and the postmaster described a servant…maid who had brought the letter and paid for it。 The description resembled the Derues' servant； and this girl； much alarmed； acknowledged； after a great deal of hesitation； that she had posted the letter in obedience to her mistress's orders。 Whereupon Madame Derues was sent as a prisoner to Fort l'Eveque； and her husband transferred to the Grand…Chatelet。 On being interrogated； she at length owned that she had sent these notes to Monsieur de Lamotte's lawyer； and that her husband had given them her in an envelope hidden in the soiled linen for which she had brought him clean in exchange。
All this certainly amounted to serious presumptive evidence of guilt； and if Derues had shown himself to the multitude； which followed every phase of the investigation with increasing anxiety； a thousand arms would have willingly usurped the office of the executioner； but the distance thence to actual proof of murder was enormous for the magistracy。 Derues maintained his tranquillity； always asserting that Madame de Lamotte and her son were alive； and would clear him by their reappearance。 Neither threats nor stratagems succeeded in making him contradict himself； and his assurance shook the strongest conviction。 A new difficulty was added to so much uncertainty。
A messenger had been sent off secretly with all haste to Lyons； his return was awaited for a test which it was thought would be decisive。
One morning Derues was fetched from his prison and taken to a lower hall of the Conciergerie。 He received no answers to the questions addressed to his escort； and this silence showed him the necessity of being on his guard and preserving his imperturbable demeanour whatever might happen。 On arriving； he found the commissioner of police； Mutel； and some other persons。 The hall being very dark； had been illuminated with several torches； and Derues was so placed that the light fell strongly on his face； and was then ordered to look towards a particular part of the hall。 As he did so； a door opened； and a man entered。 Derues beheld him with indifference； and seeing that the stranger was observing him attentively； he bowed to him as one might bow to an unknown person whose curiosity seems rather unusual。
It was impossible to detect the slightest trace of emotion； a hand placed on his heart would not have felt an increased pulsation； yet this stranger's recognition would be fatal！
Mutel approached the new…comer and whispere
